《God of Blackfield》 Chapter 1: Blackfield (1)

Chapter 1: ckfield (1)

The scorching heat and dust particles prated the barracks. ¡°We¡¯ll be neutralizing the leader of SISS, a group of Sunni Muslims. We have a total of five units and forty-nine men, including us, and the enemies are individually armed. They have an estimated force between 350 and 500.¡± Commander Shan exined today¡¯s operation while pointing at the map with his baton. ¡°What did he say?¡± Dayeru asked. The Algerian¡¯smand of French wascking, so his question came in English, which he knew a bit better. ¡°Be quiet.¡± Kang Chan immediately cut him off with a curt response. ¡°The 3rd unit will be in charge of clearing the way and covering us. Bear this in mind¡ªthe only target is the enemy leader, Masan. Once the target has been neutralized, break contact. Ignore all remaining hostiles.¡± ¡°Channy?¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Kang Chan lifted his hand, acting as though he was about to hit Dayeru. Dayeru ducked and rolled his big eyes. ¡°Departure in 30 minutes. Any questions? Yes, Kang Chan?¡± As soon as he was done speaking, Shan gestured to Kang Chan with his chin. All eyes focused on Kang Chan. ¡°Is the pullback time the same as before?¡± Kang Chan asked in fluent French. Shan nodded without hesitation. That marked the end of the operational briefing. There was half an hour left before departure; that was enough for them to check their equipment and smoke a cigarette. ¡°Channy!¡± Dayeru¡¯s arms,ing out of his sleeveless shirt, were as thick as Kang Chan¡¯s thighs. He was a bald Algerian-born man with big eyes. Due to his darkplexion, his eyes and white teeth shone particrly brightly. When Dayeru got angry, his better judgment would go down the drain. Because of that personality trait, he was an absolute sore loser. Even then, he had nothing on Kang Chan, the unit captain. That was because Kang Chan was more venomous than him. ¡°Daye!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Kill. And fall back when I tell you to. Got it? Kill! I¡¯ll signal! Fall back! Understood?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± In dozens of battles together,rge and small, Dayeru had only followed Kang Chan. Since Dayeru couldn¡¯t understand the fast-paced instructions in French flowing out of the walkie-talkie, Kang Chan¡¯s clear and simple exnations and instructions were his only lifeline. Chi-ik! ¡°It¡¯s time to go.¡± Kang Chan got up as soon as he heard the squad leader¡¯s order, and the members of his unit followed suit. Each unit was supposed to have twelve people; Kang Chan¡¯s had a Korean captain¡ªhimself, three Algerians, one Australian, two Americans, and two French soldiers, so he was missing three. The officialnguage used was French, and even thoughnguage proficiency was the most important test, Kang Chan had insisted on passing Dayeru and ultimately bringing him to Africa. African winds were dry and hot. When one inhaled, it felt as though the heat would melt the insides of their noses and lungs, so covering their noses and mouths with mufflers felt cooling instead. With about 20 minutes left before they got to their destination, Kang Chan took a cigarette out of his pocket and put it in his mouth. nk. Tch. Tch. Tch-it. The gasoline in Zippo lighters often evaporated on a hot day, so people often ended up getting burned, and there were cases where pockets would catch on fire because of fiber friction. Thus, in ces like these, the Zippo lighter fluid was mixed with kerosene. It was harder to light them, but in any case, it was better than running out of lighter fluid and not being able to use them at all. ¡°Hoo.¡± Kang Chan thoroughly exhaled the cigarette smoke. ¡®2007.¡¯ Whenever he went tobat, he didn¡¯t want to get into the habit of counting the days, so he deliberately recalled the year, over and over again. It had started off as a promise to himself that he wouldn¡¯t be someone that lived from day to day, but it had now be a habit. ¡°Captain.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kang Chan was so ustomed to speaking Korean that unless it was under special circumstances, he would speak in Korean. And strangely enough, the emotions were urately conveyed in urgent moments. ¡°Harem tonight, okay?¡± ¡°Nokay!¡± Smithen was an ignorant American. He would always talk about his dream of marrying a pretty Frenchdy, building a ranch and vineyard, and starting up his own winery. However, none of hisrades believed he could make that dreame true. His w was that he liked women too much, and his merit was that hisrades could restfortably during the time he went out to look for women. ¡°Stop!¡± Hearing Kang Chan mumbling that word to himself, all the members of his unit stopped moving, like they were frozen solid. It was a grasnd. There was still some time left before the dry season, so there were still some bushes here and there. Kang Chan threw his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it as he quickly scanned the surroundings. ¡®What is this feeling?¡¯ The most indisputable reason why Kang Chan had been able to survive in this brutalnd thus far, as well as the reason why the members of his unit believed in his words rather than weapons, was his sixth sense¨C¨Cthe foreboding sensation he was experiencing right now. 2km to the destination. The members of his unit were frantically scanning the area, trying their best to find the cause behind Kang Chan¡¯s reaction. ¡°Hey, Malkov!¡± Kang Chan faced Malkov and pointed his index and middle fingers at his own eyes before gesturing towards his 10 o¡¯clock and 2 o¡¯clock with his fingers. He was telling Malkov to look in those directions with his binocrs. ¡°No, Channy.¡± Malkov shook his head. ¡°What?¡± If any of the soldiers didn¡¯t participate in an operation without providing a specific reason, they¡¯d be deported if they were lucky, and if they were unlucky, the death penalty was a possibility as well. Thump. Thump. But what on earth was making him feel so uneasy that his heart was pounding? Kang Chan took a deep breath. He put his index and middle fingers together, and designated each and every one of their positions, starting from the left. The members moved swiftly after seeing his gestures as if already engaging the enemy. Pow! Pow! Pow! Like a scene from a movie, even Smithen ran and jumped behind a rtively barren tree that exposed pretty much everything behind it. ¡®That bastard!¡¯ Seeing the dust behind Smithen rise like a re, Kang Chan inhaled twice to suppress his murderous intent. Now, all that was left was Dayeru. ¡°Daye.¡± Because the letters at the end of Dayeru¡¯s name made it sound Japanese, Kang Chan had started calling him ¡®Daye¡¯ for short, and at some point, the rest of the members had also started calling him by the same nickname. Dayeru rushed over to Kang Chan, wobbling left and right. Kang Chan¡¯s eyes were glistening, lighting his sun-scorched face. He was an Asian man with a slender face and big eyes, as well as a slim build. More than one or two people had ended up wrecked because they had misjudged his abilities. Of course, as rumors about him spread, nobody picked a fight with him anymore. ¡°Kill on sight,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°On sight?¡± The words ¡®kill on sight¡¯ had actuallye out of Kang Chan¡¯s mouth. Needless to say, he had said it in Korean. Dayeru had spent thest five years together with Kang Chan, and since it was only the seventh time he had heard those words, it meant that today was truly going to be a tough day. He nodded and thought about how Koreans were extremely ruthless. His understanding of the words ¡®on sight¡¯ was that he had to kill absolutely everyone. What kind of people lived by such a principle? ¡°Why aren¡¯t you moving?¡± Dayeru bolted for the position he was assigned to. ¡°Hmm.¡± Kang Chan got the eight members of his unit to spread out in a semicircr formation, with Dayeru in the center, and he squatted behind thetter. ¡®Since we''re screwed either way, might as well not regret it.¡¯¡¯ It was a thought that surfaced as he wondered if he had made the right choice just now. In any case, deportation was almost guaranteed because of the contributions they had made in the past. It was better to be discharged than to get all his men killed in this damnednd. Initially, Kang Chan had thought his premonitionsing true was mere coincidence. However, he had changed his mind after ignoring them anding face to face with death as a result. The loss of a fewrades had been very effective in convincing him to trust his sixth sense. Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! At that moment, sharp sounds of something cutting through the air could be heard. ¡°Channy!¡± Malkov flung his binocrs down onto the ground and called out to Kang Chan. Thetter had already seen it too. Almost all of their allies walking around had been gunned down by a sniper. ¡°Fuck.¡± It was a trap. They hadpletely fallen into it. ¡°Which bastard?!¡± If that was the case, the information must have been leaked from an inside source. Kang Chan quickly turned around and looked behind. The enemy was approaching them from afar. They were being surrounded, as though they were fish dragged in by a. ¡°Listen up!¡± Kang Chan always spoke in Korean at times like these. ¡°Kill on sight!¡± Kang Chan nced at hisrades. ¡°Retreat to Alpha Kilo! Do-you-copy? Retreat to Alpha Kilo!¡± It was a safe location Kang Chan had designated before their departure. Kang Chan had been doing this ever since he was appointed as captain, so naturally, the headquarters didn¡¯t know about the ce. They were just mercenaries, and if they missed their opportunity to retreat, then no one would rescue them. Hence, Kang Chan always designated a separate ce and waited there, before joining his men separately. That was the reason why he was still only a captain of a unit even after all his great contributions, as well as the reason why his unit listened to his orders, even if that meant risking their lives. ¡°Channy!¡± When Kang Chan turned his head around, he saw Dayeru¡¯s eyes glistening with a murderous look. ¡°Nokay, today?¡± ¡°Kill them all!¡± Dayeru opened his mouth wide, baring his white teeth. It meant that he understood why Kang Chan would go to such lengths. Kang Chan quickly looked away. They were so close to the enemy that all it took was ten more steps for them to be able to distinguish the enemy¡¯s faces. They were Sunnites without a doubt, as they covered their faces with a headscarf and wrapped the end of their turban around their chin from left to right. ¡°Mont!¡± Kang Chan put two of his fingers together and pointed towards his 11 o¡¯clock as he yelled. The Frenchman¡¯s name was too long to be called out in full duringbat; hence, Kang Chan called him ¡®Mont¡¯ for short. As soon as he pointed at the enemy carrying an anti-tank RPG, their excellent sniper, Montechelle, aimed his rifle perfectly. Taaahng! ¡°Hey! Can¡¯t you shoot properly!¡± ¡°Je suis desol¨¦!¡± nk. Taahng! As dust rose in the air, the enemy holding the grenadeuncher was sprawled out on the ground. At the same time, dirt sttered from under Kang Chan¡¯s feet. Kang Chan quickly picked up his gun and pulled the trigger. Taahng! The familiar smell of gunpowder prated his nose and his target immediately copsed to the ground. Tatatatatatatahng! All kinds of gunshots sounded off at the same time, making his ears go numb. ¡®500 people.¡¯ Taahng! Every time he pulled the trigger, enemies would copse one by one. ¡®We have enough bullets.¡¯ Kang Chan rolled over onto his back and raised only his upper body. ¡°Mont!¡± He raised his left index finger and wrapped it around three fingers on his right hand. The tactic was ridiculously simple¡ªthe three of them would cover and protect the sniper, Montechelle. If somebody were to die, they¡¯d put his gun down, prop the body up, and use it as a cover. Rolling back onto his stomach, Kang Chan continuously pulled the trigger. Taahng! Taahng! Taahng! The gunshots in this damnednd sounded like crap. Kang Chan pulled the trigger as fast as possible. His heart was still pounding hard, something felt off. ¡°Fuck!¡± An instantter, he heard Smithen¡¯s yell. Right now, however, there was no time for him to turn around to take a look. His job was to watch over hisrade next to him. Each had to kill even one more person before all their enemies got to the ground and took cover. Monteschelle aimed for the heads of those with heavy firearms and those lying prone, while the other members of their unit killed those that came close. 70m. Taahng! Taaahng! Taaahng! Kang Chan heard some chatter on the other side, then the enemyid prone and ceased advancing. Kang Chan finally let his gun¡¯s muzzle down and crawled over to Smithen, staying as close to the ground as possible. ¡°Shit! Does it hurt?¡± Smithen gasped for breath and looked at Kang Chan. The other Algerian, Abs, was pressing hard against the right side of Smithen¡¯s abdomen, but red blood was oozing out through the spaces between his fingers. ¡°Do you need morphine?¡± ¡°No morphine, Channy. Huff huff.¡± If the entrance wound in his abdomen was that bad, then the exit wound had to be the size of a palm, which meant the bullet had basically ripped out his internal organs. Kang Chan looked at their surroundings once again, thinking about how he had to find a way to stop Smithen from bleeding out. ¡°Channy.¡± When Kang Chan turned his head around, Smithen looked at him with an utterly na?ve gaze, trying his best to cling to a small sliver of hope. ¡°Am I nokay?¡± ¡°You fool. Who am I? Smithen. Who. Am. I?!¡± Smithen smiled widely. ¡°God. Of. Huff huff!?ckfield. Huff! Hu¡­¡± He barely finished his words before taking a deep breath. Abs looked up at Kang Chan. I know. He doesn¡¯t have much time left.? Krrrrrrreung!!! At that moment, a loud mechanical roar resounded in their vicinity. ¡®They even have a tank?¡¯ But his heart was still pounding hard. In other words, more danger lurked around the corner. It was now time for him to make a decision. ¡®We¡¯ll charge straight ahead.¡¯ Kang Chan was ready to go to the enemy¡¯s base, where their leader was hiding. As he was about to exin the situation to his men¡­ Thud! A dull sound was heard, and the entire world turned white. ¡®Shit¡­¡¯ It hurt so much that it felt as though his head and neck were being ripped apart. *** A bright light pierced his eyes. The back of his head and neck hurt as if they had been broken, and he had lost all his strength as if a vacuum cleaner had sucked it out of his entire body. ¡®I¡¯m not dead?¡¯ He tried to open his eyes, but he couldn¡¯t even lift a finger. ¡®Water¡­water.¡¯ He was thirsty. His throat was so dry, like a dried-up rice paddy during a drought, that he couldn¡¯t speak properly. ¡°Doctor, over here!¡± ¡®I¡¯m asking for water¡­¡¯ Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. The machine started beeping. He could feel somebody pulling his eyelids open, but all he could see was white light. ¡®I¡¯m asking for water.¡¯ ¡°Can you hear me? Blink if you can hear me.¡± ¡®You dumb ass. I can only blink if you don¡¯t let go of your hand.¡¯ This time around, he felt somebody grabbing his hand. ¡°Try clenching your hand.¡± Kang Chan wanted to drink water so badly that he tried his best to move his hand. ¡°Good! Very good!¡± He could hear people constantly talking about something being good, but nobody actually gave him any water. ¡®Waaater.¡¯ As though he was falling asleep once again, Kang Chan lost consciousness. 1. The actual word used here is ???, meaning ¡°unconditionally¡±, but it doesn''t quite work in this context in English, so we used an equivalent 2. Rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulderunched missile mostmonly used against armored vehicles 3. ¡®I¡¯m sorry'' in French. Chapter 2: Blackfield (2)

Chapter 2: ckfield (2)

When Kang Chan woke up the second time around, not only did the back of his head and neck hurt, but his nose hurt ridiculously as well. ¡°Waaaater.¡± ¡°Doctor!¡± ¡®Please. Don''t just call for the doctor. Give me some water.¡¯ ¡°Waaater.¡± After a brief ruckus, Kang Chan finally felt something moist on his lips. He wasn¡¯t given any actual water; instead, they simply ced a wet gauze over his mouth. He didn¡¯t care about anything else¡ªhe just needed a ss of water for his parched throat. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because he works out, but his body is definitely recovering quickly.¡± While it was true that he did have a rtively good physique, it was his first time hearing someone say that he worked out. But why were they speaking in Korean? After sucking in some water from the gauze, Kang Chan felt like he wasing back to his senses. He tried his best to force his eyes open, and after a brief struggle, he was finally able to move his half-open eyes and look around. He was in the hospital. Intricately connected machines were attached to each bed. Kang Chan knew why his nose hurt¡ªarge tube was going down his nose to his throat. ¡°Can you see me?¡± Kang Chan nodded his head slightly. One, two, three women: one with short hair, another with a bob cut, and one with her hair tied up. Height, chest, waist, hips. His trained eye instinctively assessed the features of the enemy. ¡°Water, please.¡± One of the women skillfully ced a new gauze on his lips. ¡°Ptooey! I¡¯m asking for water.¡± Do they think I¡¯m some recruit or something? ¡°You can¡¯t have any water yet.¡± She ced the wet gauze on his lips again. Perhaps his act of spitting out the gauze was effective¡ªthe gauze was soaked in quite a fair amount of water this time. After ¡®replenishing¡¯ himself like that twice, Kang Chan came to his senses. He started looking right and left, as he could finally open his eyes and move them properly. ¡°Where am I?¡± ¡°Have youe to your senses?¡± Kang Chan nodded slightly. ¡°Do you remember what happened?¡± Do these people think I¡¯m an idiot? ¡°Yeah, so loosen this thing around my neck.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do that.¡± Thedy with short hair and a small chest answered with a firm voice. There weren¡¯t any facilities like that in Africa, so he must have been transported here by ne. If that were the case, then he must have been unconscious for quite some time. ¡°How many days was I in aa?¡± ¡°Three days.¡± ¡°Where is this?¡± ¡°Samjeong Hospital.¡± ¡°Samjeong, Korea?¡± Thedy with short hair looked at Kang Chan weirdly. She looked like she was around 27 years old; she had small eyes and a high-bridged nose, making her features look very sharp. Just then, a doctor decked in an operating gown approached him. ¡°How do you feel? Do you feel any pain anywhere?¡± Droopy eyes wearing high-index lens sses; he looked as though he hadn''t slept in two days. Chubby face, early thirties. ¡°Get this off me.¡± Kang Chan tried to move his neck. ¡°It¡¯s better to wear the neck brace for the time being.¡± As the doctor responded, the bell rang. ¡°Have a good visit with your parents, they must be very happy.¡± Parents? What parents? As soon as the doctor left, a group of people instantly flocked to Kang Chan. ¡°Chan! Our dear Chan!¡± Permed hair,te forties. Big eyes, somewhat high nose, short stature. ¡°Can you see me? Can you recognize me? It¡¯s mom.¡± Kang Chan blinked and tried to identify thedy. A woman I don¡¯t know is iming to be my mother. How should I respond to this?? Kang Chan wondered if it was just a dream. *** It had been two days since the visitation, but Kang Chan was confused about everything that happened. After asking time and time again, what he had gotten thus far was that it was currently 2010, and his name was indeed Kang Chan, but he was a senior at Shinmuk High School. He had fallen off the roof of a five-story building in school, but a tree had broken his fall. Nheless, he had fallen upside down onto the ground, and was rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, he hadn¡¯t broken any bones, but he had some kind of amnesia, and delusions of grandeur. His father was Kang Dae-Kyung, and his mother was Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Chan was their only son. He was neither good nor bad when it came to his academics; he was rather obedient, and he liked working out, so he did it regrly. *** ¡°Doctor, can my son be cured?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook wiped her tears with her handkerchief. The tall and old-fashioned Kang Dae-Kyung was sitting next to her. He also had the same sad look on his face. ¡°It¡¯s good that the cervical spine injury we were concerned about was so minor that it was truly a miracle but¡­¡± Kang Chan¡¯s doctor, Heo Ji-Hwan, looked up again after ncing at theputer. ¡°Even the psychiatrist says that there¡¯s no cure right now. It¡¯s understandable for him to have amnesia, but as for how serious his delusions are, I¡¯m sorry, but it¡¯s best for you to just protect andfort him for the time being.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung patted Yoo Hye-Sook on the shoulder as she lowered her head. *** Entering Chorok Apartments in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Kang Chan quietly followed Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s lead. Judging from the luxury car and the area where the apartment block was located, it was evident that he led a fairlyfortable life. Unit 701. After getting off the elevator, Kang Dae-Kyung opened the door, and Yoo Hye-Sook led Kang Chan to the room on the left. Kang Chan looked around the room. ¡°Do you remember this ce? It¡¯s your room.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook started tearing up again. ¡°You¡¯re doing it again. He¡¯ll be fine after resting for a bit. Go rest up.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung consoled Yoo Hye-Sook and went out of the room. There was a bed with a headboard by the window, and a bookshelf and a wardrobe leaning against the wall on the other side. And so he could sit immediately, there was a desk right by the entrance with aputer on it. And that was everything he had in the room. Kang Chan looked at himself in the mirror on the wall. ¡®Is this a dream? Am I dead? What exactly is going on?¡¯ Now that he looked at himself, he didn¡¯t like the way he looked either. He sat down at the desk and rested his head on both hands. ¡®Could it be that those dead men were so pissed that they put a curse on me?¡¯ A shaman? That was ridiculous. If such ck magic existed, who would even die? Moreover, Kang Chan had seen several shamans die via beheading. ¡°Whatever. I¡¯ll just stay here for a while and see what happens. I might get an answer as time goes on.¡± Kang Chan sat down at the desk and rummaged through the drawers. ¡°This bastard doesn¡¯t smoke either?¡± Right now, he needed cigarettes. While he was searching for them, Kang Chan began scouring through the desk and shelves because he wanted to know what kind of person the original owner of his body was. He was 179cm tall, and he had quite a bit of muscle, so he wasn¡¯t weak, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t quite like the impression his face gave off. The corners of his eyes made him look kind, and he had a nose with a rounded tip, just like Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t his style. Kang Chan flipped open the books on the bookshelf one by one. Since all he had were just reference books, self-teaching books, and workbooks, Kang Chan was about to sigh when he tilted his head and scrutinized a book. That was because aside from the ten pages at the front and back of the book titled ¡®Math Solutions¡¯, the rest of the pages were filled with misceneous notes. [I¡¯ll kill them. I¡¯ll kill all the people that bullied me.] ¡®Seriously, this bastard. If you¡¯re going to kill them, just kill them. Why would you leave such evidence behind?¡¯ Kang Chan decided to sit on the bed and slowly read it. [I brought them money again today. Even though I worked out so much, my heart was racing and I couldn¡¯t breathe, so I couldn¡¯t do it in the end. Why am I like this? Am I really a fool? Why do I feel so anxious and struggle to breathe whenever I¡¯m in front of them?] ¡®What the heck? He was actually bullied by them or something?¡¯ [Even though they knew I didn¡¯t take Mi-Young¡¯s photo, the other guys still insulted me. Coward. They did that on purpose. I¡¯ll kill them all.] ¡°Whew.¡± Kang Chan closed the book and threw it next to the bed. Suddenly, his craving for cigarettes became even more intense. *** It took a week for Kang Chan to get used to living in the apartment. Figuring out how to use the bidet and water purifier was fucking hard, but it was even harder learning how to use his smartphone. Naturally, the appliance that helped him the most was the television. During this period of time, Kang Chan refrained from speaking as much as possible; after eating his meals, he would sit in the living room and fiddle with the remote control, surfing through the channels and learning the ways of the world. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook would watch him. Their faces showed determination, but their eyes betrayed their worries. Kang Chan finally learned how to properly use a smartphone after a week. Naturally, he had many other questions aside from that. ¡®Let¡¯s leave it. I¡¯ll figure it out one by one.¡¯ However, he didn¡¯t ask any more questions, because he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say the words ¡®mom¡¯, or ¡®mother¡¯. *** It took two weeks for Kang Chan to get somewhat used to his new life. Unlike the first week, he mainly spent his second week browsing theputer and the inte, which was truly a whole new world for him. However, while Yoo Hye-Sook was rather tolerant of him watching the television, she was particrly concerned about him using theputer. That didn¡¯t mean Kang Chan felt the same way, so he was able to experience the new world to his heart¡¯s content by sleeping less. *** After dinner, before going to bed, Kang Dae-Kyung sat across from Yoo Hye-Sook as he drank a cup of tea. ¡°Is he still on theputer?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so worried about him.¡± ¡°Just let him be for now. At least he came back to life.¡± ¡°I try to think of it that way, but it¡¯s not working. And as the days go by, the look in his eyes is bing scarier and scarier, so it¡¯s making me really worried as well. What do you think?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung pursed his lips and exhaled heavily. ¡°I did feel the same way too. Sometimes my heart sinks when I look into his eyes but¡­ tsk, it¡¯s probably because it was such a major ident that the shock and trauma haven¡¯t gone away. He¡¯s our son who came back to life. Let¡¯s just be grateful for now. Like what you said when he was in the intensive care unit¡ªas long as he¡¯s alive, we won¡¯t worry about his academics or anything else ever again. So let¡¯s just be grateful for now, okay?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook nodded with a helpless look on her face. *** Kang Chan was sitting in front of theputer. The contents of the African War from 2005 to 2007 were disyed on the screen. However, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t find anything particrly informative. There were no records of the French mercenaries, and he couldn¡¯t find anything by running a search on the short list of names. ¡°Let¡¯s take one step at a time and slowly dig for information.¡± In any case, Kang Chan wasn¡¯t expecting to find something right away, so he took a deep breath and slowly typed in the next search term. Buzzz¡ª. At that moment, his smartphone vibrated shortly. It was the first time it had rang since he got it, so Kang Chan quickly picked up his phone. It was a text message from a person named Lee Ho-Jun. Buzzz¡ª Buzzz¡ª Buzzz¡ª Just as he was about to check the text, three more consecutive messages came in. [Dickhead. I heard you went home? But you didn¡¯t bother reporting to me? Do you have a death wish? Call me now.] [You know what happens when you ignore me, right? Stop fooling around and call me now. Bring the money you owe from the past month too.] [Hey! Are you not going to call me?] Kang Chan looked at the text messages and smirked. Whoever wanted to talk on the phone could just call the other party first, so he didn¡¯t get why this guy was kicking a huge fuss, telling him to call. And on the other hand, the content of the messages was hrious. ¡®They call themselves his parents and they don¡¯t even know their son¡¯s being treated like this?¡¯? Buzzz¡ª [You motherfucker! Why the fuck did you delete the messages? Hurry up and download the messages. Call me first.] ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± Kang Chan decided to call Lee Ho-Jun first. As soon as he tapped on the blue image that looked like a phone, an upbeat tune, simr to the ones yed on the TV was heard. However, the tune stopped immediately and curse words started pouring out. ¡ª Hey! Kang Chan! You fucking bastard, you got a death wish? Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh. It was the first insult he had heard in seven years. If his unit members had heard about it, they wouldn¡¯t have believed it. ¡ª Did you justugh? You fucker, did that fall knock your brains out?! Hey! Heeey! Aren¡¯t you gonna say anything?! ¡°Lee Ho-Jun?¡± ¡ª Yeah, you bastard. Did you finally get your shit together? Answer me already, you fucker. Hey! You got the money? ¡°What money?¡± ¡ª Ha! Little dickhead, you really went cuckoo, huh? Did the doctors transnt you a pair of balls? Did they give you a bunch of courage pills, motherfucker?! ¡°Heh heh heh heh.¡± ¡ª Did you really go insane, you bastard? Come out now! ¡°Kiddo, it¡¯s nighttime now, so I¡¯ll see you tomorrow. Where do you want to meet?¡± ¡ª Hey, you motherfucker! ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Kang Chanughed, finding Lee Ho-Jun very cute. He wanted to leave the house right away to see what kind of person he was, but he didn¡¯t want to exin to Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook why he was leaving the housete at night. As Kang Chanughed, Lee Ho-Jun went haywire, swearing hard at him. ¡°Stop cursing and call me tomorrow.¡± Kang Chan hung up and switched off the phone immediately. ¡°Whew¡­ How exactly did you live your life?¡± Kang Chan shook his head while staring into the mirror hanging on one side of the room. *** The next morning. While having breakfast, Kang Chan saw an opportunity and broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯ll be going out for a bit today.¡± ¡°Oh? Where to?¡± Perhaps he was surprised that Kang Chan took the initiative to speak first¡ªKang Dae-Kyung asked him a question back in response, and Yoo Hye-Sook even stopped chewing and looked at him. ¡°I¡¯m just going to meet with some friends and walk around.¡± ¡°Yeah! That¡¯s a good idea. You should do that. I¡¯ll be going to work, so get some pocket money from your mom and get some fresh air.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± That was the end of the conversation, but excitement and concern lingered on Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s faces the entire time until they were done with their breakfast. When Kang Chan went back to his room and turned on his phone, more than fifty messages flooded his inbox. ¡°Huehuehue.¡± He was at a loss for words this time around, so heughed. After the phone was done vibrating from all the messages received, Kang Chan made a phone call. Strangely, the other party didn¡¯t answer. ¡°What¡¯s with these people?¡± He looked at his phone and muttered to himself. Buzzz¡ª. [Come to school before ss is over.] A short message popped up on his phone. Chapter 3: School Zone (1)

Chapter 3: School Zone (1)

Kang Chan opened the wardrobe and chose a pair of jeans and a ck cotton T-shirt to put on. Now, he needed money. Kang Chan suddenly recalled the money he had saved back when he was a mercenary. He wouldn¡¯t be able to use it, but he had to look into it. As soon as Kang Chan left his room, Yoo Hye-Sook stood up in surprise. She then handed him ten 10,000 won bills. ¡°Is this enough for me to get a haircut?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s enough. Since it¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve gone out, you should treat your friends to some pizza.¡± Kang Chan looked at Yoo Hye-Sook. Judging from the look in her eyes, she genuinely loved and cared about her son. But why didn¡¯t she know about her son being bullied? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Okay, be careful and don¡¯t be home toote. When you cross the road¡­¡± Kang Chan had been walking out the door but at that, he quickly looked back. Yoo Hye-Seok jerked her head back. ¡°I¡¯ll call if I¡¯m going to bete.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook nodded twice. Kang Chan then left the apartment. It felt strange. Being aware that someone out there was worried about him, that he had a mother who cared for him... such feelings were foreign to Kang Chan. As soon as he left the building, the first thing he wanted to do was buy a pack of cigarettes and smoke it. After putting up with his cravings for quite some time, he had a strong urge to smoke. However, something else was the priority right now. ¡°Let¡¯s get a haircut first,¡± Kang Chan muttered to himself, walking into a conspicuous hair salon. ¡°Oh my! If it isn¡¯t Chan! I heard that you got hurt. Are you okay now? Your mother told me about it. You want to get a haircut?¡± A woman in her early thirties weed him. She babbled so many words so quickly that even if she had rehearsed them, it wouldn''t be odd if she ran out of breath. ¡°Sit here. How do you want me to cut it?¡± ¡°Please cut it short, like a military crew cut.¡± ¡°Oh? Chan, if you grow your hair out¡­¡± ¡°Just cut it, please.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh! Alright.¡± The owner of the salon seemed astonished. She reached for the shaver from the shelf in front of her and began shaving his hair. As she did, little by little, Kang Chan started to like how he looked. ¡°Could you please cut it a little shorter?¡± ¡°Oh? Yeah?¡± There was something sharper about his gaze. Now that he had his usual hairstyle back, he was at least starting to look like his old self. Kang Chan had finally gotten the style he wanted. The owner then proceeded to wash his hair and dry it. ¡°Do you have any hair gel?¡± ¡°Of course! What would you like to do?¡± ¡°Just give me some please.¡± Kang Chan slicked his short bangs back using the gel the owner gave him. ¡®Yeah! That¡¯s Kang Chan right there!¡¯ It had been a while since he hadst smiled that contentedly. He was happy because, in the mirror, he could see the old him with the same look in his eyes. After leaving the salon, Kang Chan went straight to the convenience store in the same building. ¡°One pack of Marlboro and a lighter.¡± The young man at the counter appeared to be a college student. He nced at Kang Chan. ¡°Please show me your ID.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You have to show me your ID, or I can¡¯t sell you any cigarettes.¡± ¡°Since when?¡± The student, clearly a part-timer, hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I have been in a good mood. I¡¯ll show it to you next time, so stop making a fuss and sell me the cigarettes and lighter.¡± Kang Chan felt like he was slowly regaining his old self. The actual timbre of his voice wasn¡¯t important¡ªwhat made him d was that he had found the right tone to match his personality. The hesitant student nced around the store as he quickly handed Kang Chan the pack of cigarettes and a lighter. After paying for the items, Kang Chan left the building and walked out of the apartmentplex. He sat on a rock on a flower bed at one side, whipped out a cigarette, and leisurely put it in his mouth. Chk chk. ¡°Hooo.¡± It felt good. Kang Chan looked at the smoke dispersing and felt as though the past and present were properlying together. He had to take the bus to get to school. After smoking two cigarettes, Kang Chan took a taxi to Shinmuk High School. He was still unfamiliar with the buses and subway lines, and, more importantly, he felt that taking public transportation was inconvenient. ¡®It feels like I¡¯m on leave.¡¯ He felt much better when he leaned against the backseat of the taxi. After about ten minutes, Kang Chan got off in front of the school and casually walked in. ¡®But which ss am I in?¡¯ He was in a pickle. Even after walking through the main gate, he didn¡¯t know where to go. Kang Chan looked at his surroundings before randomly walking toward a building. ¡°What kind of school has three buildings? It looks more like a business district. Does it even look like a ce for students?¡± Kang Chan strode towards the building in front of him. He could see a field covered in synthetic grass with lines drawn on it for the purpose of ying ser, with goalposts ced at both ends of the field. ¡°What now?¡± Just as Kang Chan stood in front of the building, agonizing over what to do¡­ Ding dong dang. The bell rang and all of a sudden, it was as though the building had woken up from its slumber¡ªthe sound of chatter and noises from desks being dragged filled the air. Students wearing school uniforms came into view. ¡®There are girls too, huh?¡¯ Kang Chan stared nkly at the students. ¡°Yoo! Kang¡ª Chaaan!¡± Someone called out to him as they approached him. Judging from the way the guy ced his hands in his pockets and his condescending bodynguage as he walked, it was evident that he was up to no good. The other students were cautiously steering clear of the guy approaching Kang Chan. ¡°You¡¯re not wearing your school uniform, and you¡¯ve done your hair like that on top of it. You out of your mind?¡± The guy standing in front of Kang Chan ced his right index finger by his head and twirled it. The students in the building peeked out their heads to watch, while those who were at a distance away from Kang Chan and the guy also stopped to watch. Kang Chan recognized his voice immediately. Still, he felt he should at least confirm the identity of the enemy before engaging inbat. ¡°Lee Ho-Jun?¡± ¡°Yeah, you bastard! I''m Lee Ho-Jun, the guy who had to personally get his own cigarettes and lunch because of how utterly inattentive you¡¯ve been. Have you finallye to your senses now?¡± Smack! The whole ce instantly became quiet. It was as if someone had silenced themotion. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to drag this out; he didn¡¯t fancy being insulted by a nobody like Lee Ho-Jun, much less wasting his time to educate him. Smack. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow.? Kang Chan pped Lee Ho-Jun on the other cheek, and then openly struck him in the neck, chest, and stomach. ¡°Cough! Huuuuff.¡± It seemed that Lee Ho-Jun couldn¡¯t breathe¡ªhe bent his upper body over and opened his mouth in an unsightly manner. Nevertheless, since Lee Ho-Jun was fairly tall, his head was at Kang Chan¡¯s waist level. Kang Chan grabbed Lee Ho-Jun¡¯s hair. ¡®Are you watching this? I don¡¯t know where you are, but take a good look at him getting beaten up and feel better.¡¯ Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack. Quite a lot of blood had already dripped onto the lower half of Lee Ho-Jun¡¯s face, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t stop hitting him. SMACK! Kang Channded a hard final blow on Lee Ho-Jun¡¯s cheek and grabbed him by the hair. He then looked at Lee Ho-Jun¡¯s swollen left eye and cheek, as well as his mouth, before tilting his head to the side. ¡®Is it because this isn¡¯t my body? Judging from this, he still has some defiance left, huh?¡¯ Kang Chan held Lee Jun-Ho¡¯s head down and struck him hard on the cheek five more times. ¡°Hey, you!¡± Kang Chan heard someone yelling, and a middle-aged man passed through the crowd and stopped in front of him. ¡°You punk! What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Kang Chan looked at the man and guessed he was a teacher. ¡°This bastard has been ordering me to get cigarettes for him and taking my money from me. I¡¯m finally standing up for myself after keeping silent for so long, are you punishing me for that?¡± ¡°What? You bastard! Who do you think you are talking to me like that!¡± The teacher bellowed. Kang Chan suddenly flew into a rage. ¡°Watch yournguage! Why? Do you want to get beaten up too? Are you sure you can do it?¡± As soon as Kang Chan jerked his left hand loose, Lee Ho-Joon sprawled out on the floor. Kang Chan took a step forward and walked up to the teacher. He emitted the malicious aura he normally had whenever he fought in its full glory, and the teacher couldn¡¯t look him in the eye. ¡°Give it a rest. I have all the evidence of that bastard extorting money from me, as well as how much he has bullied and put me through, so don¡¯t bother taking his side.¡± ¡°You little¡­punk. Do you want to get expelled from school?¡± . ¡°Do whatever you want. I still have matters to attend to, so leave us alone now.¡± Lee Ho-Jun had barely managed to wipe the blood dripping under his nose with the back of his hand when Kang Chan grabbed him by the hair once again. The girls gasped in shock, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Lee Ho-Jun. I¡¯m not done with you. Shall we have a little chat?¡± ¡°Huh? What?¡± ¡°You said you were inconvenienced because I didn¡¯t get you cigarettes and lunch, right? Since you told me toe, there must be more things you want to say to me, no?¡± At that moment, the petrified Lee Ho-Jun grabbed Kang Chan¡¯s wrist and started iling about. The teacher then grabbed Kang Chan by the waist. ¡°Why are you doing this? If you continue, you really won¡¯t be able to attend school anymore. Stop this right now!¡± Kang Chan suddenly turned around to look at the teacher, only to see a look of sincerity in his eyes. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t afraid of being expelled from school¡ªhe just didn¡¯t want to be disrespectful to a teacher who was sincere. He let go of Lee Ho-Jun¡¯s hair and took a deep breath. ¡°Okay, I get your point, so please let go of me.¡± The teacher¡¯s face twitched as he nced at Kang Chan, then propped Lee Ho-Jun up and helped him into the building. The students were still surrounding Kang Chan from a distance, as if there was still some show to look at. Every time Kang Chan turned his head around, they would look away and avoid his gaze. Kang Chan slowly left the building and made his way right to the top of the grandstand facing the field, and sat down. ¡®Why did it have to be at lunchtime? Tsk. I should¡¯vee after school ended.¡¯ He felt unsettled; it was as if he had left something unfinished. His mood took a turn for the worse as he thought about the subordinates he couldn¡¯t protect. As he was staring at the field and spacing out, a couple of shadows appeared around him. ¡°Oh? This motherfucker looks crazy, huh?¡± Kang Chan turned his head around and smirked. The corners of that student¡¯s eyes and face looked intimidating, but there was a sloppy vibe to him that couldn¡¯t be overlooked. Six. One of them has something in his pocket. A utility knife? Kang Chan smirked. ¡°This bastard is smiling after beating up an idiot huh?¡± Kang Chan slowly got to his feet. Since he had been sitting at the top of the grandstand, he ended up being one step below the guys that appeared. He clenched his fist, but straightened out his thumb and ced it on top of his index finger. One hard jab with that hand and the weaklings around him wouldn¡¯t be able to get back up. Jab. Kang Chan suddenly jabbed the outer thigh of the guy standing right in front of him with his right thumb, right in the middle. Jab! Jab! Jab! Before the guy could react, Kang Chan had already jabbed him in the ribs, the sr plexus, andst but not least, his Adam¡¯s apple. ¡°Cough!¡± The guy shrieked in pain and copsed. Meanwhile, the rest of the guys charged at Kang Chan. Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Punch! Smack! Going up against their feeble fists was such a piece of cake that it almost made him yawn. Kang Chan deflected their punches with his palms, then knocked them to the ground by striking them in the abdomen or their Adam''s apple, one by one. Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! It all happened in the blink of an eye. By the time the students on the field went ¡®Huh?¡¯ the six boys were already rolling on the ground. Kang Chan reached out his hand towards the boy he thought had a utility knife. In the pocket of the boy¡¯s pants, he indeed discovered a thick knife. Rip. ¡°Bastard. Why are you carrying this around with you?¡± Kang Chan grabbed the edge of the boy¡¯s pants, lifted him up, and walked down the grandstand, dragging him along. ¡°Ah! Agh! Aaaaagh!¡± The boy, whose head was hitting the cement stairs, let out a shrill scream. Pow. Kang Chan got down to the field and kicked the boy in the abdomen as hard as he could. As soon as he walked back up the grandstand, the boys he had knocked down tried to scurry away, even as they were still on the ground. ¡°Who was the first guy that cursed at me?¡± There was no way he would forget what an enemy looked like. One of the boys was shaking his head. Kang Chan grabbed him by the hair; as he fell over, Kang Chan dragged his body with him as he ran down the grandstand. Thud thud thud thud.? ¡°Ack! Agh!¡± Blood seeped through the torn part of his school uniform. ¡°Oy, you over there. Come here quickly!¡± ¡°Fuck you!¡± Kang Chan chuckled. Firstly, it would be troublesome if this guy were to run away. He mercilessly struck the nape of the guy, whose uniform was nowpletely torn apart at the front, with the edge of his hand Bam! Thud! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Kang Chan¡¯s movements were truly swift. Kang Chan¡¯s body looked as though it was floating as he went up the stairs two steps at a time. ¡°Care to repeat yourself?¡± The other boy hadn¡¯t expected Kang Chan toe up that quickly. Kang Chan grabbed the boy¡¯s head. ¡°Ah! Ah!¡± Kang Chan paid no attention to his screams. He beckoned to the three remaining guys under the grandstand with a nod. As soon as the malicious boy squirmed and screamed, the three of them went down with frightened looks on their faces. How would they be able to escape the clutches of Kang Chan, who used such an insane, cruel, and high-level technique? Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! The sounds of the smacks bounced off the walls around the field. It was lunchtime, so the other students had alreadye outside and surrounded him, but all that was heard was the unbelievably loud sounds of Kang Chan hitting the wannabe bullies. Kang Chan lifted up the head of the guy he was holding. ¡°Oh my¡­¡± As soon as the guy struggled to regain consciousness, his saliva mixed with blood dripped down from his mouth. Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! It was a terror tactic. If the opponent had other allies, Kang Chan would have to prevent either of them from acting up by teaching one of them a lesson as deterrence. By this point, the person who was struck would not feel any pain. Instead, their will would be broken from then on. Kang Chan could sense from the hand grabbing the boy¡¯s hair that thetter was losing strength in his legs. ¡°Shall we stop now?¡± Bam. Kang Chan kicked the boy in the abdomen and he fell forward. Kang Chan then made his way down the grandstand while dragging him along. Some of the girls screamed, but it didn¡¯t drown out the sound of his body grinding against the cement. Thud! When Kang Chan got to the ground, he flung the boy aside, as though he was tossing out something dirty. ¡®Whew. I do feel kind of bad when I think of your parents, though.¡¯ Looking at his surroundings, he realized it was toote to salvage the situation. Kang Chan felt as though he had paid off his debt to the previous owner of his body. Wasn¡¯t it better to get expelled from school rather than murdering people ormitting suicide? ¡°Since things have already gotten to this point, I should wrap it up properly huh?¡± Wasn¡¯t the ending the most important thing? Kang Chan slowly scrutinized the three boys drenched in blood, as well as the three other terrified boys standing across from him. Three middle-aged men hurriedly walked over, as if they had been waiting for the situation to calm down. ¡®They must be teachers.¡¯ Kang Chan nced over at the teacher in the middle. Judging from the way he walked, Kang Chan could tell that the teacher had received special military training. Chapter 4: School Zone (2)

Chapter 4: School Zone (2)

The three men shifted their gazes between the boys and Kang Chan. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Those bastards brought it with them.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Kang Chan smirked. Was that so important? ¡°Answer me. Who brought it?¡± Kang Chan turned around and looked at the boy whose back was covered in blood. ¡°If he¡¯s the one who brought it, then I¡¯d say he got his just desserts. You shouldn¡¯t have taken it this far, though. It¡¯s hard for us to cover it up now that things have gotten this far.¡± ¡®What is he saying?¡¯ ¡°He¡¯s a school bully that goes around harassing other students. Serves him right for being beaten up, but right now, you¡¯re the problem we have to deal with. In any case, these six attacked you, and they have a weapon. When the school violence preventionmittee holds an investigation, we¡¯ll take care of it, so give me the knife and go home first.¡± A teacher with an angr jaw held out his pudgy hand. Kang Chan handed over the knife without saying a word. ¡°If you were going to do this anyway, shouldn¡¯t you have taught him a lesson earlier?¡± The teacher patted Kang Chan. He seemed to be feeling rather bitter. ¡°Go home and exin things to your parents. And starting tomorrow, you have toe to school no matter what. Also, I heard from Mr. Seo that you have evidence against them?¡± Kang Chan finally understood what he meant. ¡°Bring it tomorrow so we can submit it to the violence preventionmittee.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The teacher kept scrutinizing Kang Chan. It seemed like there was something about his posture and the look in his eyes that was very familiar, enough to have caught the teacher¡¯s attention. The other two teachers got the other students to bring the boys that had copsed to the ground back into the school. ¡°Where did you learn how to do that?¡± Kang Chan smirked and looked at the teacher. ¡°You must have gotten that gut of yours by training hard, right?¡± ¡°I was simply born with it.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have another chat next time.¡± Perhaps the teacher felt that Kang Chan wouldn¡¯t reveal the truth that easily, so he simply turned around and left. Kang Chan wanted to smoke a cigarette. However, he couldn¡¯t smoke on school grounds no matter what, so he slowly walked away. The students scattered across the field like a pack of dogs, and Kang Chan watched them, as though he was seeing them off. Kang Chan went into a snack bar located next to the main gate of the school. ¡°Wee.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have a pork cutlet please.¡± Kang Chan sat down and shifted his gaze to the TV. There were ten tables and two men were sitting across from him. There was also a youngdy in front of them, eating tteokbokki and kimbap in a neat and tidy manner. ¡°Here you go.¡± Meanwhile, ady wearing an apron gave him his pork cutlet. Thin slices of meat and the smell of cheap sauce and old grease. Kang Chan looked at the pork cutlet without saying a word. It was thest thing he had eaten before leaving Seoul. He had been dying to eat some, but he had barely eaten it only a few times because he didn¡¯t have a penny to his name back then. Even though he had eaten steak countless times, he had always thought about it. Kang Chan used a fork and knife to cut the pork into long strips, then into squares. He found that it tasted better when he did that and then ate it with chopsticks. It wasn¡¯t that amazing, but he ate it nheless. Just as he was finishing¡ª Buzzz¡ª Buzzz¡ª Buzzz¡ª ¡°Hello?¡± ¡ª Chan, is that you? Where are you? What happened? Yoo Hye-Sook asked a bunch of questions, sounding flustered. ¡°I¡¯m eating some pork cutlet in front of the school.¡± ¡ª It¡¯s chaotic at school right now. I heard that even the police went there. What happened? ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when I get home.¡± ¡ª Chan, where are you right now? I¡¯ll go to you! ¡°I said I¡¯ll tell you when I go home, didn¡¯t I?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s voice dropped a few tones, and there was a moment of silence. Kang Chan hung up the phone. He was annoyed at the thought that Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s over-protectiveness might¡¯ve yed a part in making the owner of his body a weakling. ¡°In any case, it¡¯s better than murdering someone ormitting suicide.¡± Kang Chan muttered to himself. He ate everything on the te, including the shredded cabbage, and got up from his seat. After paying for the food, he walked for a bit before sitting down on a chair in front of a convenience store and smoking a cigarette. ¡°Hoo.¡± The cigarette hit the right spot. A world without bullets flying at him out of the blue; a world where people wore colorful clothes and short skirts, and had slim bodies; a world that was full of luxury cars. Kang Chan breathed in that view¡ªand slowly exhaled the cigarette smoke. . ¡®I¡¯ve gotten what I wanted.¡¯ That was the case back when he was a kid. If he were living in a world where he didn¡¯t have to worry about making ends meet, Kang Chan felt that he would probably do very well in school. ¡®Should I just go to France once I graduate, or maybe flunk out?¡¯ There was a time for studying. How was he going to manage his academics if he suddenly became a high school senior? He had been terrible at studying in his previous life too. *** Kang Chan took a taxi back to the apartment. ¡®Passcode?¡¯ It was a keyless smart lock. Kang Chan rang the doorbell; he had recently been discharged from the hospital and he couldn¡¯t remember the passcode. From behind the door, he heard footsteps hastening over before Yoo Hye-Sook opened it. Kang Dae-Kyung was behind her, with a flustered look on his face. Kang Chan stepped into the house in a dignified manner. ¡°Please sit. I have something I¡¯d like to show you in a moment.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s face twitched, and in spite of his will, he walked over to the dining table in the kitchen. Kang Chan wanted to take this moment to alleviate the injustice and frustrations the owner of his body had felt. He took out the math workbook where the boy had offloaded his thoughts and feelings, and ced it on the table. ¡°Please take a look at this.¡± Kang Chan gave the workbook to Yoo Hye-Sook and showed Kang Dae-Kyung the text messages in his phone. As they epted it, their bodynguage seemed to be telling him to say everything he wanted. They nced at Kang Chan from time to time but soon, their faces began to harden. By the time Kang Dae-Kyung put down the smartphone, Yoo Hye-Sook hadn¡¯t even read the first half of what her son had written in the workbook. She was covering her mouth as tears rolled down her face. Quite some time passed like this. ¡°Please exchange what you have with each other and take a look at it.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Please take a look.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s face twitched once again, but he opened up the math workbook given to him by Yoo Hye-Sook. He gazed at thest page for a while before looking up. ¡°I went to school today. He told me to give him the money I owed him for cigarettes and food while I was gone.¡± ¡°Hoo.¡± ¡°I went to school feeling determined to confront them. Then, another six people tried to attack me. One of them had a knife¡­¡± ¡°Oh my goodness¡­!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice. I handed the knife over to the teacher, and the school¡¯s violence preventionmittee will be holding an investigation.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything all this time?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. As you could see written there¡­ I just thought it would be better thanmitting suicide or killing those kids.¡± Kang Chan was speaking so coldly, in such a matter-of-fact tone, that the two people seemed to have calmed down a lot too as a result. ¡°The school said that because too many students saw what happened, it would be hard for you to go to school like this. As your father, what can I do to make things better for you?¡± Father? Kang Chan looked at Kang Dae-Kyung in a new light. Has there been anybody who took my side like this when I had done something wrong? Instead of hitting me after drinking, he¡¯s going to help me resolve the incident I¡¯ve caused? ¡°I feel sorry for the students that were hurt, but as long as you¡¯re safe and sound, that¡¯s all that matters. I¡¯m d you didn¡¯t end up dying or killing them.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked away from Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s shocked gaze. ¡°That was how I felt back when you were at the hospital too. I just wanted you to stay alive.¡± ¡°Honey?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung shot Yoo Hye-Sook a brief nce and stopped her from saying more. ¡°But promise me one thing.¡± What is this feeling I¡¯m experiencing?? Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s sincerity was making Kang Chan experience some sort of warm, fuzzy feeling. ¡°Promise me that if something like this happens again in the future, you¡¯lle to me first and tell me about it. I¡¯ll be content if you do that.¡± ¡°There may be more fights in the future.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t kill others or get killed, right?¡± ¡°I give you my word.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good enough for me.¡± The fact that Kang Dae-Kyung was thankful that he was alive lingered in Kang Chan''s heart. It was an emotion he had never experienced before, even from the toon leader or thepanymander after an arduous battle. ¡°I was told to start attending school from tomorrow onwards.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be dangerous?¡± When Kang Chan smirked, the look on Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s face shifted as he understood the absurdity of his own words, while Yoo Hye-Sook just looked petrified. ¡°Hmm. Fine. You deal with this your own way.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You still don¡¯t know how our son feels after reading his diary? Boys might really choose death if you push them into a corner like that. Do you want our child to die? Or do you want him to go to prison for murder? Don¡¯tpare Chan to your friends¡¯ children. Our son is simply different.¡± ¡°Did I say anything? Still, he has to graduate from high school!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook replied. She didn''t want to let it go. An awkward silence ensued. Beep beep. Beep beep. Beep beep. Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s phone started ringing. ¡°Hello?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung answered the call, with a puzzled expression. A terrified look appeared in his wife¡¯s eyes, but he shook his head, as if he was telling her not to be worried. Kang Dae-Kyung could only stutter as the tense voice continued to pour out from the other end of the line. Kang Chan¡¯s ears pricked up¡ªit was Arabic. It was a slightly softer tone of Arabic,mon among French speakers. The speaker on the other end of the line was most likely an Algerian living in France. ¡°Pass me the phone.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Kang Chan took the phone from the perplexed Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Hello. Mr. Kang Dae-Kyung is busy, so I¡¯ll take the call for him instead. Please repeat what you said slowly.¡± Fluent French? Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked at each other, eyes wide. They had sent Kang Chan to an expensive English academy, but now he was suddenly fluent in French for some reason. ¡ª It¡¯s urgent. The price and quantity of this shipment of cars don¡¯t match, so they can¡¯t get through customs. It was evident the person on the other end of the line was looking down on them. ¡°Please hold on for a second.¡± ¡ª Hurry up. Kang Chan figured out his interlocutor was the kind to get agitated very easily and start spouting nonsense when he got angry, and the most effective way to deal with such people was to be firm. ¡°Oy, cut the verbal vomiting. I told you to wait, didn¡¯t I?¡± As Kang Chan sounded very fluent, he was taking the lead in this conversation. Perhaps the person on the other end of the line was startled because all he could hear was just breathing sounds. ¡°He said that the shipment of cars cannot get through customs because the price and quantity don¡¯t match. What is he talking about? What should I tell him?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°He said it¡¯s urgent and everything¡¯s a mess.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung darted his eyes around for a moment ¡°Tell him that fifty cars will be arriving today. And perhaps the documents we had sent and the items don¡¯t match, so we¡¯ll check it out right away and inform the customs and their office.¡± Kang Chan repeated his father¡¯s words to his interlocutor. ¡ª It¡¯s a mess over here. What should we do? If we don¡¯t move the items by the end of today, the shipping andbor costs incurred will be very high. ¡°Hang on.¡± The other party wasn¡¯t intimidated by his harsh tone. After Kang Chan conveyed what he had said to Kang Dae-Kyung, thetter responded that they would take responsibility for any losses incurred due to discrepancies in the documents. ¡°We will take responsibility for it, so verify the total amount of damages incurred, and we will personally call the customs office, so give me the name and phone number of the person in charge.¡± ¡ª What? ¡°I¡¯m asking for the name and phone number of the person in charge.¡± Kang Chan suddenly became suspicious. He had a gut feeling. They couldn¡¯t drag things out in situations like this. ¡°Or I can send a mercenary friend over to resolve the matter first.¡± Are these bastards trying to pull a fast one? ¡°If need be, we can kick up a big fuss at the customs office, so tell me what exactly the issue is. Where are you? Tell me your location. I¡¯ll send three of my Algerian men over.¡± ¡ª Well, uhm, do we really have to take it that far? Ah! It¡¯s fine. I found the right documents. Kang Chan sniggered so loudly that the other person could hear him. ¡°Oy, next time organize your documents properly. Okay?¡± ¡ª Yeah. As soon as his interlocutor hung up, Kang Chan ced the phone down in front of Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°He found the right papers, so the matter has now been resolved.¡± A strange tension filled the air around the table. ¡°I learned French on the inte every night. Chat sites are well-developed these days, and French sites are easily essible, so it wasn¡¯t that hard.¡± Who would believe that? Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s eyes were strongly expressing his doubt, but there was nothing he could do about it. His son had never been taught French in school, and they had never sent him to private sses either, and yet he sounded like a native speaker. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that. And I¡¯ve been so troubled because I thought you were looking at terrible things on theputer at night.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s eyes sparkled, still full of tears. It kind of gave Kang Chan goosebumps, but he simply remained silent. ¡°Look into otherpanies to do business with. It seems like they were trying to shift the me to you because of thenguage barrier,¡± he said after a moment. Kang Dae-Kyung nodded and licked his lips. ¡°Three people from the France office wille over next month. We were nning to sell their cars. It¡¯s a very good deal, but we¡¯ll change to a differentpany once everything¡¯s been settled. ¡°Please do that. I¡¯ll be in my room.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Without meaning to, Kang Dae-Kyung gave his permission, so Kang Chan headed for his room. ¡°Honey! Our son is actually a genius, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°People can only get to his level if they live abroad among the locals for at least ten years. Are kids picking up skills that fast these days?¡± ¡°How else would they have learned it? Should we take this opportunity to upgrade theputer? Oh, right! I should go to a French restaurant for brunch with Seong-Hee. She¡¯s the one whose son goes to an international school. I hate it when she brags about him. This is great!¡± Looking at Yoo Hye-Sook pping her hands, Kang Dae-Kyung was so tempted to say, ¡®I wish I were as simple-minded as you,¡¯ but he held himself back. 1. Korean rice cakes 2. Korean seaweed rice rolls Chapter 5: Bullies? (1)

Chapter 5: Bullies? (1)

Kang Chan spent the whole night figuring out how to get to school using public transportation and which ss he was in. Truth be told, he had reincarnated¡ªinto a wealthy family he had longed for at that. Kang Chan wanted to give studying an actual shot, but gave up in less than an hour since he didn¡¯t understand anything. He found English and Math to be the most absurd subjects. What was the point of learning sentences that would never be used in real life and math forms only used by math majors? ¡®This bastard doesn¡¯t even have books?¡¯ A timetable was taped to the desk, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t understand why there were only a few books. What he had thought was a self-learning book at first turned out to be a textbook, and he only found out after rummaging through his things for quite some time. Before he knew it, it was morning. After breakfast, Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan if he wanted a ride to school, to which Kang Chan immediately nodded. He would rather get a ride and feel ufortable around his father than try to figure out how to use public transport in the morning. Kang Dae-Kyung easily drove their car out of the underground parking lot and onto the main road. Kang Chan gazed out of the window on the passenger side and looked at the morning scenery. ¡°You¡¯re my son, right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked out of nowhere. ¡°I¡¯m fine with whatever you¡¯ve be as long as you¡¯re alive. After looking at your diary and text messages yesterday, I understand why you¡¯ve changed. But I hope you can return to how you used to be. I want to see you smile from time to time.¡± ¡®I wonder if I¡¯ll be able to y the role of this person¡¯s son.¡¯ Kang Chan couldn¡¯t answer. ¡°I couldn¡¯t be more proud of you when you took the call and resolved the issue yesterday. I used to think that people who bragged about their childrencked discretion, but today, I¡¯m one of those people.¡± Kang Chan smiled with ease for the first time.?He wished he had been born as the son of these people. ¡°Over there, right?¡± Even though Kang Chan didn¡¯t respond to him, Kang Dae-Kyung still dropped him off in front of the school. ¡°See you in the evening.¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t get yourself hurt.¡± Before closing the door, Kang Chan poked his head into the car and noticed Kang Dae-Kyung appearing very emotional. His eyes had turned red. Grin. That was all there was to their interaction. Kang Chan had nothing to say, and Kang Dae-Kyung had already said what he wanted to say. After getting out of the car, Kang Chan found the main gate right ahead. Students were flocking to the wide-open main gate, but there were mixed reactions as soon as he appeared. A student quickly outdistanced and avoided him; a student gave him a furtive nce; another openly stared at him... However, there was one thing they all had inmon¡ªnone of them could make eye contact with him. Kang Chan entered the school gate, his bag slung over his right shoulder, and the first person he saw was the teacher that had given off a familiar vibe yesterday. He held a long stick used to discipline students, and his gaze immediately shifted to Kang Chan. ¡°Wear your bag properly before entering the school premises.¡± Smirk. All the students¡¯ eyes darted between Kang Chan and the teacher. However, Kang Chan walked right past the teacher without correcting anything. He held the teacher¡¯s gaze until he had to look over his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll let it slide this once.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The teacher smirked in the same way. ¡®I should find out what his name is.¡¯ Even though he was a bit old, Kang Chan liked him. *** 12th Grade, ss 2. His ssmates¡¯ reactions were not much different from the ones he had gotten in the hallway. When Kang Chan walked into the ssroom, the loud students instantly became silent and carefully made their way to their seats. They looked at him without making direct eye contact with him. Kang Chan looked around the ssroom and realized that the number of students in his ss was surprisingly small, but that didn¡¯t mean he could tell where his seat was, leaving him no choice but to call out to the student sitting at the back by the door. ¡°Hey, where¡¯s my seat?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh! Right over there.¡± Kang Chan walked over to the seat the boy had pointed to and sat down. It was the second row from the front and the second column from the left. ¡®This is the perfect spot to get sniped at. There aren¡¯t any blind spots. Tsk!¡¯ As he was internally expressing his dissatisfaction, a strange tension filled the ssroom. Kang Chan turned around and made eye contact with Lee Ho-Jun as thetter entered the ssroom. Lee Ho-Jun was startled, but judging from his bodynguage, it was evident that he wasn¡¯t going to yield to Kang Chan. He sat down in the middle seat at the back of the ssroom. ¡®That¡¯s what happens when you don¡¯t fully teach someone a lesson.¡¯ Kang Chan could tell from Lee Ho-Jun¡¯s eyes that he was vigntly waiting for an opportunity to get back at him. Lee Ho-Jun wanted to show everyone he didn¡¯t lose to Kang Chan. It was a foolish thought on his part. ¡®For all I know, he might even attack me during ss in a bid to save his face.¡¯ However, Kang Chan shook his head and got rid of the terrible thoughts in his mind. ¡®He¡¯s a child. I¡¯m up against a?child, what¡­¡¯ ¡°Hey! Kang Chan!¡± Kang Chan let out a short sigh and turned his head around. ¡°Come up to the roof during lunchtime.¡± It was Lee Ho-Jun. He spoke while clenching his teeth. The bruise on his left cheek and the cuts on his lips and around his eyes were very noticeable. ¡°To make things easier, if you have backups, just bring them with you all at one go.¡± On the other hand, Kang Chan found the fact that Lee Ho-Jun still tried to look tough despite being unable to respond to him adorable. *** His sses were truly a test of patience. They had homeroom with a teacher Kang Chan didn¡¯t recognize, followed by four hours of ss. The ambience was so heavy that the other students were cautious even when it came to breathing. And that was the same for the teachers as well. Kang Chan was not stupid¡ªhe was just ignorant. He soon became sick of listening to words he couldn¡¯tprehend at all. Ding dong dang. It was finally lunchtime. Screeech! Lee Ho-Jun got up from his seat and left through the back door. ¡®I¡¯m hungry.¡¯ The smell of curry and banchan whetted Kang Chan¡¯s appetite, but he had a promise to keep. Kang Chan got to his feet. ¡°Chan.¡± A girl sitting in the first column from the left and fourth row called out to him. She had huge eyes and shoulder-length hair with bangs that covered her forehead. It was no exaggeration to say that she looked like a bad impersonation of Snow White. She had a rather sharp nose and was well-endowed, unlike the average female student. ¡°I heard this morning that the Shimdeok bullies havee too.¡± It seemed as though she plucked up the courage to say that. There was a slight look of righteous indignation, as well as pity, on her face. ¡°You¡¯re not going to go, right?¡± she asked. ¡°What would happen if I choose not to go?¡± That was when Kang Chan saw her name tag on her chest. ¡®Kim Mi-Young¡­ Wasn¡¯t she the girl that had something to do with some photo?¡¯ ¡°You could always avoid him.¡± ¡°What if he stilles after me?¡± ¡°Then you tell the homeroom teacher.¡± Kang Chan took a deep breath. ¡°You¡­ know I didn¡¯t take the picture, right?¡± Kang Chan instantly noticed that the other students were tense. ¡°When I remained silent and was treated like a fool, not a single soul came to help me, and now that things have gotten to this point, you¡¯re acting like you care about me?¡± Kim Mi-Young looked like she was about to cry. Kang Chan slowly turned around and left the ssroom. They were young children, but they could be very cruel in some ways. ¡®Yeah. This is all because I didn¡¯t put an end to it.¡¯ Kang Chan decided to drop out of school today. Smirk. He was nning to swing by the rooftop before getting some pork cutlets. ¡®I¡¯ll go to France and start all over again.¡¯ It was getting a bit burdensome to start feeling affection towards someone else¡¯s parents. And when he thought about his subordinates who had died without knowing why, he felt like he had left the restroom without washing his hands¨C¨Cdirty and bothered. ¡®If I was going to be sent back, I should¡¯ve been sent back to the past.¡¯ Naturally, that was on the premise that Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were his parents. When Kang Chan was going up to the roof, some sloppy-looking male students and female students with thick makeup¡ªlooking as though they had just finished their shift at a bar¡ªtagged along. Kang Chan stopped in his tracks on the stairs. He turned around and looked at the girl in front. She had rolled up her skirt so much that he could see her underwear when she was climbing up the stairs. ¡°Go back downstairs.¡± ¡°Ah, fuck! Who the hell do you think you are?¡± Before he even finished speaking, the girl had already started acting aggressively with him. There were a lot of women like her in France as well. They had guts and went around wearing knuckle dusters. Kang Chan took two steps toward the girl. The ck lines around her eyes were so thick that it looked as though her eyes were attached separately to her face. ¡°What? You want to try me?¡± p! The boys at the bottom of the stairs caught the girl. As expected, she had copsed from the p. ¡°Fuck. Off. Before I kill you.¡± Looking at the girl, Kang Chan decided to wrap things up by viewing them as enemies rather than treating them as students or children. They weren¡¯t children¡ªthey were monsters in children¡¯s clothing. When people became adults, they¡¯d gain the fundamental ability to discern right from wrong, but these kids wouldn¡¯t even be able to do that. As soon as his eyes gleamed, the students on the stairs hesitated before going down. Kang Chan watched them until they reached the bottom before walking again toward the roof. ¡®I¡¯ll crush all of you to pieces.¡¯ He was already going to quit school anyway, so he was determined to take out these bastards. Kang Chan grabbed the handle of the roof door and shoved it open. He didn¡¯t want to be blinded by the sudden bright light, nor did he want to get ambushed by any of them and get into a brawl. ¡®Fools.¡¯ There were about ten people squatting while smoking. Perhaps they felt confident, considering they didn¡¯t evenunch a surprise attack on him. Kang Chan walked out onto the rooftop before shutting the door tightly. ¡°Look at you,ing here on your own. Good job taking the initiative!¡± ¡®That bastard is the leader, huh.¡¯ The sloppy guy looked at Kang Chan and spoke smugly. As soon as he tossed his cigarette, they all stood up and approached Kang Chan. Kang Chan looked at the weapons three of them were holding and felt relieved. A fillet knife, an iron pipe, and a piece of lumber with nails embedded in it. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t believe there were people like them in school. ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve grown some guts after your fall. Trynding in the parking lot today and smash your head to pieces.¡± Kang Chan took a deep breath. ¡°So I fell previously because of you guys, huh?¡± ¡°What? You cried for help and acted like a fool before running away, no? I didn¡¯t hit you at all, motherfucker. Has this bastard gonepletely insane?¡± Kang Chan nced at Lee Ho-Jun. He had a look of great anticipation on his face. ¡°Whatever, it all worked out. I was getting fucking annoyed ¡®cause I couldn¡¯t collect any money.¡± The guy Kang Chan had assumed to be their leader spoke insidiously as he walked towards him. This guy had good instincts.?He was born with that attitude. Walking at a distance meant that he could take the opportunity to calcte if he should extend his foot or throw a fist. ¡°You motherfucker, keep your eyes wide open!¡± The leader swiftly swung his fist at him. Kang Chan went around him, put his right arm in an armlock, and struck the boy¡¯s neck hard with his left elbow. ¡°Keuk.¡± The rest of the students rushed in to attack Kang Chan as he twisted the leader¡¯s arm and struck him again on the neck with his left elbow. Tuk. ¡°Ack! Aghh!¡± Even though he hadpletely broken his opponent¡¯s arm, Kang Chan didn¡¯t let go of it. He grabbed the boy by the neck and shoved him in the way of the iing iron pipe. Pow. The move startled the person swinging the iron pipe. His head had probably been smashed open, since Kang Chan could feel blood gushing from the boy¡¯s head on his hand. He had been grabbing the boy¡¯s broken right arm, but now, he dropped it to grab the left arm before twisting it a little. Pow. Pow pow. Pow pow pow. Kang Chan then used his left hand to bend the boy¡¯s left wrist and used it to hit the other three boys in their Adam¡¯s apples, creating a brief opening. Taking advantage of it, he leapt up and kicked the faces of the two boys next to him, ced the left arm of the boy he was grabbing between his legs, and descended. Crack. ¡°Gaaaaaaaah!¡± The boy fiendishly waved both arms and struggled, but Kang Chan wouldn¡¯t let go of him. ¡°Come here!¡± As soon as Kang Chan pulled his arms forcefully, the boy¡¯s arms stretched out grotesquely long. ¡°Agh. Arrrgh.¡± ¡°Fucking bastard. You¡¯re fucking loud.¡± Pow. Kang Chan kicked the nape of the boy, whose body had stooped over. He no longer moved after being thrown to the floor, as though he was dead. The rest of them hesitantly surrounded him. Kang Chan red at them. ¡°You!¡± The guy with the filet knife became terrified. 1. A collective name for small side dishes served alongside rice in Korean cuisine, such as kimchi, fish cakes, etc¡­ Chapter 6，Part1: Bullies? (2)

Chapter6£¬Part1: Bullies? (2)

As quick as lightning, Kang Chan pounced on the guy with the iron pipe. Pow. Pow. Pow. He jabbed his thumb into his target¡¯s neck, abdomen, and ribs. Taking advantage of the jump¡¯s velocity, he then forcefully kneed the boy in the thigh. ¡°Cough.¡± The iron pipe was already in Kang Chan¡¯s hand. ¡°If you go around carrying this¡­¡± Boong. Pow! With all his strength, he then smashed the center of the boy¡¯s bent knee with the iron pipe. ¡°Aghhhhhh!¡± Next, Kang Chan struck the shoulder of the boy, who was now rolling on the ground and holding his knee. Boong¨C¨C Pow. ¡°Gahhhhh!¡± Boong¨C¨C Pow. Thud. Not wanting to break his promise to Kang Dae-Kyung that he wouldn¡¯t kill another person, Kang Chan held himself back when he hit the boy in the neck. Nevertheless, the boy fell to the ground as if he was dead. ¡°These bastards.¡± Kang Chan tossed the iron pipe aside and red at the boy with the fillet knife. ¡°At the very least, if you want to carry a knife with you¡ª¡± ¡°Die!¡± The boy screamed and lunged with his knife toward him. Woosh! Kang Chan swiftly grabbed his wrist, yanked it, and forcefully mmed his right elbow against the guy¡¯s face. Thump. Kang Chan twisted the boy¡¯s left hand, forcing him to hold the fillet knife up. He then grabbed the knife with his right hand and held it in a reverse grip. Poke. Poke. Poke. Poke. Kang Chan struck both of his shoulders and both sides of his waist. ¡°Gaahhh!¡± The boy¡¯s entire body was nowpletely drenched with blood, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t let go of him. Pow. Kang Chan struck his nape hard with the fillet knife¡¯s handle. Thud. The boy fell t on his face and became as quiet as a corpse. The guy holding the nail bat took a step back. Kang Chan looked at him, tilting his head to one side. ¡°You have one hell of an advantage. My weapon is shorter than yours, no?¡± ¡°You motherfucker!¡± Right as the boy cursed at him, Kang Chan bent his index and middle fingers and jabbed him in the eyes. Jab. Jab. Jab. It all happened in an instant. Kang Chan thrust his fingers into his opponent¡¯s right elbow and both shoulders in an instant, rendering the guy incapable ofbat for at least two months. Everything after that happened at the speed of lightning. With the students dispirited, Kang Chan could give them a break. Except for Lee Ho-Jun and the boy with the nail bat, he struck each of the students¡¯ right elbow and both shoulders with the knife. ¡°Euhhh!¡± A cry of pain resounded. In reality, muscles would only sting before they started throbbing if they were poked. It wouldn¡¯t hurt this excessively. ¡°Lee Ho-Jun.¡± Lee Ho-Jun backed away from Kang Chan. ¡°You¡¯re the only ones left. I¡¯m going to dig out your eye. Decide which side you want to keep before I make a hole in your fucking body. Otherwise, I¡¯ll just dig both out.¡± Lee Ho-Jun was utterly terrified, and he couldn¡¯t run away in his condition. Things would¡¯ve been better if Kang Chan had done this during their first encounter. Kang Chan now realized the importance of wrapping things up properly, but he still had business to take care of. He walked straight toward the guy with the nail bat. ¡°Ugh! Fuck!¡± Boong. . Kang Chan ran toward the nail bating at him and flung its wielder¡¯s right arm over his left shoulder before twisting his elbow in the opposite direction. Crack. ¡°Gaaah! Gahhhh!¡± ¡°Be quiet, motherfucker.¡± If Kang Chan cut them some ck, then something like this would happen again. Hence, he mped the boy¡¯s broken arm between his legs and bent it even more. Crack. As Kang Chan twisted the boy¡¯s arm violently, the sounds of bones breaking resounded from his shoulder. ¡°Hoo!¡± Kang Chan let go of the arm and picked up the nail bat that had fallen to the ground. There were more than ten nine-inch nails embedded in it. ¡°Bicycle chains were popr back in my day.¡± Kang Chan stood facing the guy that was now drooling and sobbing. Whoosh. Pow! Kang Chan struck him hard in the neck. Not wanting to kill him, he used the bottom part of the nail bat, breaking it just below the nails as he pounded the boy onto the ground. The boy soon stopped moving, just like the others. ¡°Lee Ho-Jun, have youe to a decision?¡± The guys that hadn¡¯t lost consciousness looked more startled than Lee Ho-Jun. Kang Chan thought about what to do for a moment. Lee Ho-Jun couldn¡¯t attack again because he was already utterly discouraged. ¡®Do I have to teach him a lesson?¡¯ ¡°Bring me a cigarette first.¡± Lee Ho-Jun couldn¡¯t even move. ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it twice, motherfucker! It¡¯s annoying!¡± Lee Ho-Jun hurriedly walked over in response, handing him a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the pocket of his pants. Chik chik. ¡°Hoo.¡± Kang Chan returned the pack of cigarettes and lighter to Lee Ho-Jun, who couldn¡¯t make eye contact with him. ¡°You got beaten up yesterday, so I¡¯ll cut you some ck.¡± Lee Ho-Jun doubted it, but he didn¡¯t dare speak up. Rattle. ¡°Ack!¡± The door to the rooftop swung open and hit the guy that had been stabbed with a knife, making him scream. The teacher Kang Chan had met this morning came up to the roof and scanned the surroundings. He exhaled heavily. Rattle. He quickly closed the door. ¡°Are you not going to put out that cigarette?¡± ¡°Please read the room. Can¡¯t you turn a blind eye just this once?¡± Though dumbfounded for a moment, the teacher soon disyed a look of resignation. ¡°Give me one too.¡± Lee Ho-Junplied like a good student. ¡°Hoo.¡± Kang Chan and the teacher sat down on the floor as they smoked. ¡°None of them needs urgent medical attention, right?¡± ¡°I just made sure they won¡¯t be able to fight for the next three or four months.¡± The teacher nodded in response. ¡°Oh? They¡¯re not from our school, huh?¡± The teacher turned his head toward the boy that had fallen t on his face. ¡°I heard they¡¯re Shimdeok bullies, is that right?¡± Lee Ho-Jun quickly nodded in response to Kang Chan¡¯s question. ¡°Don¡¯te to school anymore,¡± the teacher told Kang Chan. ¡°I was nning not to anyway.¡± ¡°Why? Are you thinking of bing a gangster or something?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to France.¡± The teacher¡¯s face hardened upon hearing Kang Chan¡¯s response. However, he shook his head lightly shortly after, snapping himself out of his thoughts. ¡°You¡¯re very simr to someone I know.¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Kang Chanughed so hard he wheezed. ¡°If you knew who I really am, you¡¯d be very shocked.¡± The teacher smiled after hearing his reply but didn¡¯t respond further. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We need to send those bastards to the hospital,¡± the teacher said. ¡°I¡¯m going home.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fool around. Get back to ss. You must tie up all loose ends properly before leaving the country. If you get charged with a crime, you¡¯re doomed. Stay in school because I¡¯m going to push for self-defense or standing up against violence angle. Wearing a school uniform will help the extenuating circumstances.¡± The teacher got up and dusted off his pants. ¡°Can you get that bastard to make a statement in our favor?¡± The teacher asked Kang Chan while staring at Lee Ho-Jun. Kang Chan slowly got up and looked at Lee Ho-Jun. ¡°Tell them these people were trying to seek revenge for the incident that happened a few days ago, and you were dragged here today to fight back. You didn¡¯t bring any weapons with you, right?¡± The teacher asked. ¡°Why would I carry such a thing with me?¡± ¡°True.¡± ¡°Why¡¯re you looking out for me?¡± Kang Chan asked just as the teacher turned around. The teacher looked over his shoulder and gave him a meaningful smile. ¡°Because I¡¯m grateful that you did what I couldn¡¯t do,¡± the teacher replied, looking into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. As he turned back to the rooftop door and opened it, he found a bunch of students standing in front of him. ¡°What are you doing standing here? Go back downstairs!¡± He yelled at the students. ¡°Ha, considering I have to file a report to the police and deal with them, things are nokay today.¡± Kang Chan felt as though the whole world had stopped after hearing the words the teacher mumbled to himself. ¡°Hey, you. Stop.¡± The teacher sighed so hard and loud that his upper body shook. ¡°Hey, brat! Are you acting like this just because we shared a cigarette together? You¡¯re going to regret it if you take it too far.¡± Kang Chan stared suspiciously at him. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting smug because I¡¯veplimented you too much!¡± The teacher approached Kang Chan. It seemed as though he couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. It was Kang Chan¡¯s first time feeling this tense ever since he reincarnated, and it wasn¡¯t tension from a simple fight. It was sharp, simr to what he felt on the battlefield, where he risked his life. ¡°I¡¯ve barely made up my mind, so don¡¯t kick up a big fuss, kid, but I had also been thinking about leaving everything behind and going to France.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you too old?¡± ¡°Still! Be respectful when you speak to me from now on.¡± The teacher¡¯s ego seemed to have been bruised. It was as if he was more upset about Kang Chan¡¯sment about his age than about the fact that the kid was speaking to him informally. The two locked res without an inch of concession, seemingly about to pounce on each other at any given moment. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± ¡°Hey! Kang Chan!¡± ¡°You knew my name all along, didn¡¯t you?¡± The teacher shook his head slightly without avoiding his gaze. ¡°You knew my name, right?¡± After hearing the same question for the second time, the teacher nodded. ¡°I know that name.¡± Could it be¡­? Kang Chan looked straight into the teacher¡¯s eyes. ¡°Who am I?¡± And then¡­ he saw the teacher¡¯s eyes tremble. ¡°Say the next line too,¡± the teacher replied, his voice emotional. ¡°God of¡­¡± ¡°ckfield.¡± The teacher finished Kang Chan¡¯s clearly articted words. It was a truly astounding moment. 1. This was spoken in English. Chapter 6，Part2: Bullies? (2)

Chapter6£¬Part2: Bullies? (2)

As the afternoon sses started, Kang Chan sat inside the counseling office with Mr. Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Man.¡± Kang Chan sighed. Seok Kang-Ho nced at him and tried to study his face. ¡°Do you have any cigarettes?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You can¡¯t smoke inside the counseling office¡­¡± Seok Kang-Ho responded. Kang Chan raised his hand and acted as though he was about to smack Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°...Sir.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak informally,¡± Kang Chan chided. Seok Kang-Ho lifted his angr jaw and looked at Kang Chan¡¯s fierce eyes before smacking his lips and lowering his gaze. This was nuts.?Dayeru was Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s¡ªno, Seok Kang-Ho was Dayeru¡¯s alter ego¡­? In any case, they were the same person. The timing was simr, just that Dayeru had been in his wife¡¯s arms while Kang Chan had been in the hospital. ¡°Was it good?¡± ¡°What was¡­Sir?¡± ¡°Being in your wife¡¯s arms.¡± ¡°Even if my wife dies, I have no regrets.¡± ¡°Oh my, look at this dumbass.¡± . ¡°Someone¡¯s listening.¡± ¡°You¡¯re full of shit.¡± ¡°Are you really going to drop out of school?¡± Seok Kang-Ho quickly changed the topic as soon as the conversation stopped working in his favor. ¡°I told you I was going to France!¡± ¡°You¡¯re nning to return to that hellish ce?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chan pursed his lips and tapped the table with his index finger. ¡°This is strange. There was clearly a spy among us. If we don¡¯t find out why, I won¡¯t be able to sit still, because I¡¯ll keep thinking about my men who died an unjust death.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go during the school holidays. Vacation starts in a month and a half, so go with me then. Even if it¡¯s just during the holidays, I¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°Do you think we¡¯re going on a pic?¡± ¡°Then what do you want to do? They won¡¯t ept me. I¡¯m old.¡± ¡°Just stay here. You have a wife and a stable job. What¡¯s the issue?¡± ¡°Hoo.¡± Seok Kang-Ho ran his fingers through his hair with hisrge hand, feeling frustrated. It was true he had gotten older, but more importantly, it was just like Kang Chan said: he had be attached to this ce. Within a short span of time, his wife and child had already captured his heart. Well, he used to be a lonely man after all. ¡°Do you still remember how to speak Algeria¡¯snguages?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Strangely, although I speak Korean naturally, I¡¯m still fluent in Algeria¡¯snguages. I was pretty shocked initially.¡± That could happen. ¡°Don¡¯t be difficult. Let¡¯s go during the school holidays. I want to teach a couple of guys a lesson, and the thought¡¯s been driving me insane over here. The timing will be just right if we take care of them.¡± Seok Kang-Ho hit his chest twice with his palm. ¡°Those fes we saw today are in an alliance. They have gangsters backing them up. Even without them, they were nning to capture me.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Oh? They¡¯re not easy to deal with.¡± ¡°Shut up. Are you really going to fight children because you have nothing better to do?¡± ¡°You saw what happened today. They may be students, but they totally act like neighborhood gangsters. Let¡¯s say we¡¯re doing something good and wait till the vacation! That¡¯s all I¡¯m asking. What do you think?¡± ¡°You told me you were going to do that.¡± ¡°As a teacher, wouldn¡¯t I be criminally prosecuted for cruel treatment the moment I get caught? I have to wear a mask too. There are a lot of things I¡¯m concerned about.¡± Kang Chan tilted his head. ¡°Are you truly Dayeru?¡± ¡°Why? If not, how would I have known you were the God of ckfield?¡± ¡°But how did you be so narrow-minded?¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t want to go to prison after being reincarnated.¡± That might well be the case. ¡°Tsk.¡± ¡°Will you help me?¡± ¡°Bring me a cigarette.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Seok Kang-Ho got up from his seat, looking happy. ¡°One month?¡± The duration didn¡¯t really matter all that much. But that didn¡¯t mean he was going to fight with those little brats. Kang Chan looked at the window of the counseling office, and Seok Kang-Ho came back shortly after. He dragged the sofa over and blocked the door. ¡°The counseling office cannot be locked because of the female students.¡± ¡°Ah, right! I pped a girl earlier. Have you dealt with her?¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothing new to her, so it¡¯s not a big deal. As for the other guys, I dealt with them appropriately and sent them to the hospital. Since they were in possession of dangerous weapons as a group, they wouldn¡¯t be able to make much noise. As a teacher, I also told them what I was going to tell the cops, so it seems like I¡¯ve more or less managed to cover up the incident.¡± Kang Chan smoked his cigarette without saying a word. ¡°So let¡¯s go during the school vacation in a month.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked so pitiful that Kang Chan couldn¡¯t bring himself to say no. ¡°Sure. If I don¡¯t flunk out, we¡¯ll go during vacation, but I don¡¯t want to deal with those children.¡± Kang Chan thoroughly exhaled the cigarette smoke once more in front of the sad Seok Kang-Ho. *** Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s efforts were all in vain, as the hospital filed a report with the authorities. Since there were too many patients with stab wounds, the emergency room had to report it in ordance with their rules and regtions. It was already the second time Kang Chan showed up to school and was greeted by patrol cars. Seok Kang-Ho insisted on writing a letter guaranteeing he would take Kang Chan to the precinct instead of letting the police drag him into a patrol car and haul him there, so the police officers questioned Kang Chan in the counseling office instead. ¡°Seriously, what kind of person are you?¡± The policeman that took the report frowned, looking fed up. Ten people had waited on the rooftop with weapons and had lured Kang Chan there, so he found it hard to believe what had happened after that. He smacked his lips and looked at his co-worker sitting next to him. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about it,¡± one of the policemen said. ¡°Then, this brat will be expelled from school. He¡¯s going to feel very victimized.¡± The other responded. ¡°If something goes wrong, we might get in trouble trying to cover up the incident.¡± At that moment, Seok Kang-Ho, who had been walking on eggshells, stepped forward. ¡°Naturally, I¡¯ll pay for the hospital fees and take responsibility so the victims won''t file anywsuits. Please handle this amicably.¡± ¡°I understand what you¡¯re trying to say, but people change their minds very easily. My neck will be on the line if this isn¡¯t handled properly. A lot of children got injured, and I don¡¯t know what their parents are going to do.¡± The officer responded to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°What kind of parents would want their child to be expelled from school? As you can see from his records here, he had always been a kind and introverted person prior to the incident. He was also admitted to the hospital for over a month because of an ident that gave him a delusional disorder. I¡¯m sure there was also a teacher you were thankful for back when you were a student, no?¡± Kang-Ho continued to plead Kang Chan¡¯s case. The two police officers smacked their lips and looked through the report. ¡°It¡¯s a revenge attack, and the majority of the people he hospitalized are known to be school bullies, so there wouldn¡¯t be any other charges. If there¡¯s an issue, I¡¯ll resign from teaching.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to do that, sir.¡± ¡°How can I call myself a teacher if I were to forsake such a student?¡± Perhaps he was clenching his teeth, but Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s face was twitching. ¡°Hmm, can you really ensure nobody files for any charges?¡± ¡°Officer?¡± ¡°I will assume all responsibility. Nothing would¡¯ve happened if the hospital hadn¡¯t reported it.¡± Seok Kang-Ho pleaded. Even though his subordinate¡¯s eyes were full of concern, the police officer in charge of the case stared at Kang Chan while pursing his lips. ¡°Can you promise not to do such a thing ever again?¡± Kang Chan tightened his jaw hard to stop himself fromughing. ¡°Alright. We¡¯re letting you off because of your teacher, understood? Your teacher saved you, so be remorseful for what you¡¯ve done, okay?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Kang Chan responded that way, not because of his desire to go to school, but because he felt sorry for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°In that case, Mr. Seok, I¡¯ll go to the hospital and visit the victims. If they sign a statement stating they won¡¯t file for any charges, then we¡¯ll pretend this never happened. Instead of saying they got hurt from a fight, please think of other reasonable excuses.¡± ¡°Thank you. Thank you. I¡¯ll go to the hospital first andfort the children then. Thank you very much.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it hard to teach kids these days? Seeing you reminds me of a teacher who cared deeply about me in the past. So I¡¯m determined to help him today as well. Please ensure there will be no problems in the future.¡± When the police officer got up, Seok Kang-Ho got up as well. How else could he react in such a situation? Looking down, Kang Chan got up from his seat and stood next to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°You have to hold it in, son. From now on, no matter who bullies you, you have to think of your teacher¡¯s kindness. Control your anger and put up with them. Understand?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± How would the police have reacted if they had heard Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s suggestion to beat up the bullies? ¡°I¡¯ll trust you, Mr. Seok. I¡¯ll be going to the hospital in about two hours, and because it¡¯s been reported to the central center, the students must say it wasn¡¯t an assault. If they don¡¯t, then there¡¯s nothing else I can do.¡± ¡°If they wanted to report him, do you think they would¡¯ve kept silent the entire time before the hospital reported it? You really don¡¯t have to worry about that. Thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m moved by the fact that people like you exist, Mr. Seok. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± After the two police officers left, Kang Chan sat down. Seok Kang-Ho walked the two of them out and came back shortly after. ¡°Please head back to ss.¡± ¡°You want me to go to ss?¡± ¡°I have to go to the hospital too, and haven¡¯t you been here for too long?¡± ¡°Your words are getting curter by the second, huh?¡± ¡°Huh, hmm. I¡¯m old. Let¡¯s just leave it at that and move on.¡± Kang Chan smirked. Indeed, Dayeru was originally a year older than him. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to be treated respectfully. He had no choice but to go to ss. Since ss was ongoing, the ssroom was quiet. Chapter 6，Part3: Bullies? (2)

Chapter6£¬Part3: Bullies? (2)

Rattle. When Kang Chan opened the door and entered, all eyes were on him. Startled, Lee Ho-Jun turned his head around as quickly as possible. Even the female teacher in her mid-thirties couldn¡¯t say anything. All she did was walk on eggshells around Kang Chan. He slowly sat down in his seat and looked at the teacher. ¡°Ah, let¡¯s continue with the ss.¡± The teacher proceeded with the ss as if she snapped out of hypnosis. It was a Japanese ss, and the discussion was about the story of how Cheol-Su entered a snowy vige and provoked the owner by asking about the price of the udon he wasn¡¯t even nning on getting. It was much better than math, but Kang Chan was still in a daze. The ss ended. Screech When one of the male students in front of Kang Chan stood up, his chair made a loud noise. He hunched over anxiously and nced at Kang Chan nervously. Even during the break, everyone was still stiff. Kang Chan smacked his lips and leaned back in his chair. The students going to the bathroom moved around solemnly and somberly, like monks in a monastery. Just then, Lee Ho-Jun approached Kang Chan. He ced a can of juice and a piece of bread on his desk. Was this guy truly rotten to the core? Kang Chan looked at him dumbfoundedly. ¡°The tenth- and eleventh-graders will swing by to greet you after ss.¡± Despite Kang Chan¡¯s gaze, Lee Ho-Jun said what he wanted to say. ¡°Take those back.¡± Feeling embarrassed and overwhelmed by Kang Chan¡¯s gaze, he took the juice and bread and returned to his seat. As everyone was looking at them, the ssroom was filled with a great deal of tension. Kang Chan felt suffocated as well, so he let out a small sigh. Noticing the other students¡¯ attention had shifted away from him, he subconsciously turned around and found female students staring at him. He recognized one of them due to her swollen left cheek. ¡°Hey! Kang Chan!¡± The girl stood next to him, and three girls wearing childish makeup stood behind her. It was as if they had the word ¡®delinquent¡¯ written all over their foreheads. ¡°Free up some time after ss.¡± The girl demanded. ¡°Stop fooling around and leave.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Screech! Kang Chan got up from his seat and faced her, the smell of the beauty products she used greeting him. The bloodthirsty vibe Kang Chan emitted was on apletely different level from the bravado disyed by the ordinary students, so all the girl could do was look angry. She couldn¡¯t even open her mouth. The girl stared at Kang Chan¡¯s right hand, seemingly afraid of being pped again. This sort of thing happened a lot in France too. Lovers of the men he had beaten up had approached him with concealed knuckle dusters on their hands, and he had also seen finger-length awls hidden in the hair of some women who were undressing. Problems would always arise when he cut them some ck. ¡®Do I have to make sure there isn''t any troubleter on this time around too?¡¯ He felt strangely soft-hearted when he saw her wearing a school uniform. ¡®This isn¡¯t a battlefield. Wouldn¡¯t it be okay to let it slide?¡¯ However, Kang Chan decided not to. He made up his mind. If she were to say one more word¡­ As if the girl had read Kang Chan¡¯s mind, she turned around. The three people behind her looked at him with the same scowl on their faces, but that was it. ¡®I¡¯m tired.¡¯ Kang Chan smacked his lips, sat down, and made eye contact with the voluptuous Snow White with the bangs. This was cumbersome. He wanted to quickly go to France and go through the whole process before going to Africa. He had never thought he would ever miss the dirt and bullets in his life. His sses ended after two grueling hours of hardship. ¡°Phew.¡± Kang Chan heaved a sigh of relief. Ten sloppy-looking students entered the ssroom through the front door. They immediately stood in a line, bowed deeply starting from the first person, and greeted Kang Chan. Kang Chan wanted to cry because the school had students like them, and even more so because they greeted him in such a manner. ¡°Fuck off.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After hearing what he said, the sleazy group of students bid him goodbye in unison and left. Kang Chan missed home. He quickly got up from his chair and slung his bag over his shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s leave together.¡± He heard a cautious voice. ncing at where it came from, he realized it was Snow White. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going home?¡± Is she going in the same direction?? Kang Chan didn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t know how to use public transport, so he thought this might be helpful. He walked right ahead, and Snow White followed behind. They left via the back door. The girl that got pped leaned against the wall with her arms folded and stared at him. The three worthless people standing behind her looked Snow White up and down. Kang Chan had no reason to pay any attention to them, but Snow White seemed to be afraid of them. ¡°You¡¯re dead.¡± The girl threatened Snow White Kang Chan heard the warning loud and clear. Unable to look up properly, Snow White simply looked at the floor. However, they weren¡¯t picking a fight with Kang Chan. He didn¡¯t know why the girl that got pped was following him around like that, but he couldn¡¯t just p her for standing there. The students that recognized Kang Chan quickly stayed close to the walls and made way for him to pass through. There was even a guy that pulled his friend aside when thetter didn¡¯t see Kang Chan passing by, as if Kang Chan had an infectious disease or something. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, but Kang Chan went down the stairs pretending not to notice. As they walked towards the main gate, Snow White seemingly eased up. Evidently, she wasn¡¯t aware that Kang Chan¡¯s nerves were on edge. ¡°I think Eun-Sil likes you.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Eun-Sil?¡± ¡°Eun-Sil! The girl waiting in the hallway.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Be careful. I heard she sleeps around.¡± Is that something to be careful about? ¡®She¡¯s going to faint when she sees the French.¡¯ That was all he had time to think since he saw four big men in ck suits staring at him as soon as he turned around to leave the main gate. A child in a school uniform was standing next to them but disappeared quickly in the sea of students. ¡°Well, this is worse than Africa.¡± Kang chan looked at the ck car parked on the side of the road before looking at the four men again. ¡°Oy,e here.¡± One of them scowled, raised his hand, bent it slightly, and beckoned him with his index finger. Kang Chan then walked up to him. Snow White couldn¡¯t move at all, and the other students crowded around them. The man nced at the students with an annoyed look before returning his attention to Kang Chan. ¡°Are you Kang Chan?¡± ¡°Yeah, so?¡± ¡°This motherfucker¡¯s getting smart with me, huh.¡± The look in his eyes could destroy a person. ¡®Got to be careful of gangsters¡­ Oh, right! There are no guns in Korea.¡¯ Kang Chan felt more at ease. ¡°We¡¯re going to a nice ce. Get in the car.¡± The man nodded and pointed to the car. ¡°Tsk.¡± ¡°Motherfucker. Don''t piss me off. Hurry up and get in the car.¡± Kang Chan smirked andughed. ¡°Oppa!¡± Kang Chan caught a whiff of the scent of the beauty products he had smelled twice before. It was the girl named Eun-Sil. Things were bound to be as bad as they were right now since he hadn¡¯t taken care of them properly. Eun-Sil twisted her hip in a strange way and stood on one leg, showing confidence. The man pointed to the car to Eun-SIl. ¡°Get in the car too, you little shit!¡± The man snarled at Kang Chan. 1. ssrooms in Korean schools have two doors¨C¨Cone at the front and one at the back. Chapter 7: You’ve Never Been Given A Good Beating, Have You? (1)

Chapter 7: You¡¯ve Never Been Given A Good Beating, Have You? (1)

The students crowded around them while the girl named Eun-Sil observed the situation with her arms folded. The guy seemed to be getting irritated. ¡°Get in the car quick, you bastard.¡± Kang Chan nced at Eun-Sil, who lowered her gaze as though to say, ¡®What are you going to do about it?¡¯ But in an instant, Kang Chan saw her mouthing the word ¡®dick¡¯. Kang Chan smirked. Whenever he let things slide, be it in front of the school or because of gangs and girls, things always turned out this way. These guys were professionals, but they were also disgusting fes that intervened in students¡¯ affairs. That being the case, it was only right for Kang Chan to treat them ordingly¨C¨Cgive them a real fight, not a squabble with children in school uniforms. ¡°Let¡¯s do it your way.¡± He lowered the bag slung over his shoulder and approached the thug. ¡°Oh?¡± The guy was startled. Bam! Kang Channded a headbutt that could have knocked out even the 130kg Dayeru. The thug fell backward, and Kang Chan grabbed him by the chin and the back of his head before delivering a powerful knee strike. Crrk. Kang Chan¡¯s kneended on the thug¡¯s groin, making a terrifying sound that left all the male students petrified. made all the male students petrified. Crack. He then twisted the thug¡¯s neck, causing an injury severe enough to put him in a cast for about six months. The thugs didn¡¯t expect a mere student would dare charge at them. ¡°Did youe here to y?¡± Another thug had been at the side, observing Kang Chan with a dumbfounded look. Only when they made eye contact did hee back to his senses. Kang Chan knocked away the fist thrown by the guy on the left like he was swatting a fly. Cha-ak. Pow pow pow. He then jabbed the guy in the throat, abdomen, and armpit with his thumb. ¡°Cough.¡± Clenching his fist and extending his middle knuckle, Kang Chan punched him hard in the jaw. ¡°Cough!¡± Kang Chan grabbed the guy by his hair and jaw in the blink of an eye, then twisted his neck, just as he had done to his previous opponent. Craaack. ¡°You bastard!¡± Nevertheless, even though time was ticking, the guy swung a fillet knife at Kang Chan. Kang Chan quickly twisted his upper body. Swoosh. Professionals were indeed different.?The knife cut across Kang Chan¡¯s waist fairly deeply, triggering tearful screams from the female students. ¡°You bastard, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± It didn¡¯t matter how much the other person yelled¨C¨CKang Chan only focused on the side of his body. His clothes were torn apart, and blood was oozing out of his wound. Since he was no longer in his original body, his speed and power were no longer at the level they used to be. ¡°Tsk!¡± Kang Chan shook his head and expressed his annoyance. But even though those guys could seize the opportunity to win the fight, they didn¡¯t attack him. ¡®They probably didn¡¯t see thising.¡¯ They most likely didn¡¯t think that things would turn out like this when they were simply trying to capture a student. He was so strong that they were forced to use their knives. They checked their surroundings, looking all flustered. Things would take a turn for the worse if the cops were toe. ¡°You''ve never been beaten to a pulp, have you?¡± ¡°The hell did you say, motherfucker?!¡± Kang Chan waited for the enemy to let their guard down before taking the opportunity to attack them. It was clear that the guy had experience using a knife. Instead of stabbing him, the guy swung the knife a little to the right. Kang Chan stretched out his left hand toward the hilt as far as possible. Tok. Pok. The sound rang almost at the same time. Kang Chan¡¯s left palm had been sliced, but he had curled his right hand and used his index and middle fingers¡¯ second knuckles to stab the guy in the eyes. Pok.? ¡°Ack!¡± As the fillet knife fell to the ground, Kang Chan quickly grabbed the guy¡¯s hair with his left hand and took two steps back. Thest remaining thug could only flinch, unable to attack him. Regardless of how hard he tried, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t twist the heads of thest two guys, who had witnessed him doing that to their other two colleagues. They had instinctively stiffened¡ªthat was their bodies¡¯ way of protecting themselves. If he were to try and twist their necks, they would end up dead or paralyzed. Kang Chan pressed the thug¡¯s head down with his left hand instead and hit his face with his right palm. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. The thug struggled. ¡°Fuck! Let go of me! Let go!¡± Blood clogged the thug¡¯s mouth and nose. He struggled, but Kang Chan, holding his hair, continued hitting him in the face. It sounded gruesome, and Kang Chan menacingly ring at thest remaining thug only made it even more gut-churning. Huge drops of blood dripped onto the floor and sttered everywhere whenever Kang Chan hit him. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. The guy he was beating up lost consciousness, and the thug witnessing everything looked utterly terrified. Finally, Kang Chan stopped. He grabbed the guy¡¯s chin and hair, then twisted his neck. Crack. Thud! Blood dripped from Kang Chan¡¯s left hand, making it look as though he was wearing a red glove on his right hand, made from the blood of the thug that had copsed. Sadly, a lot of time had been wasted here. When Kang Chan abruptly lunged forward, the guy backed away from him, startled. Kang Chan picked up the knife with his hand that was covered in blood. He then grabbed the right hand of the guy whose neck he had just twisted. ¡°Hey, you motherfucker!¡± Thest man standing yelled at Kang Chan. Smirk. Slice.?Kang Chan cut a finger off the hand in his grasp. ¡°Aaaghhh!¡± A scream echoed, as though there was a choir harmonizing together. He only needed a thumb anyway. Even if Kang Chan were to cut any of the other four fingers at the base, this guy would still be able to use a pair of chopsticks, albeit barely, from now on. ¡°Fuck off.¡± ¡°You crazy bastard!¡± Gangsters would always be gangsters, even if they were intimidated. The guy swung the knife again. ¡°Get the fuck out of here before the policee, you imbecile. And bear this in mind¨C¨CI will break your neck.¡± Kang Chan meant what he said. He didn¡¯t want the police toe and kick up a big fuss, while on the other hand, he absolutely didn¡¯t want to let the guy that had attacked him with a knife get away scot-free. ¡°Hey! Get out of here now!¡± The man seemed to havee to his senses the moment he heard Kang Chan mentioning the police. As soon as Kang Chan yelled, the sloppy-looking students looked at his face and moved the guys that had copsed to the car. ¡°I¡¯ll stab you in the fucking gut!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t embarrass yourself. Take good care of your neck.¡± Meanwhile, the other students continued loading the thugs sprawled out on the floor into the car. ¡°If you want to work out, you have to do it right, you moron.¡± Kang Chan muttered to himself as he looked at the wound on his left palm. It was a mistake that never would¡¯ve happened before. If Dayeru¡ªno, if Seok Kang-Ho were to see that, he would¡¯veughed at Kang Chan. Nheless, Kang Chan still had unfinished business. Kang Chan approached Eun-Sil as he watched his opponents getting into the car. After seeing the knife and blood, witnessing the guys that had copsed being beaten up, and meeting Kang Chan¡¯s ring eyes, Eun-Sil trembled and her lips paled. ¡°I¡¯m warning you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do it.¡± With a trembling voice, she retracted what she had said, while Kang Chan kept telling himself not to twist her neck. ¡°If you get in my face one more time, you¡¯ll get it from me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sor¡ª¡± Smaaaack! It was a full swing. Kang Chan didn¡¯t care whether she was terrified or trembling with fear. Instead, he made sure to thoroughly teach her a lesson so he wouldn¡¯t have to twist her neck, break her arm, or kill herter. Thud. The girl fell to one side, and her skirt rode up, revealing her gray underwear. ¡°Get her out of here.¡± Kang Chan ordered her three useless friends that were hiding at one side. The girls hesitated. ¡°Get moving already.¡± They flinched and supported Eun-Sil up by putting their arms below her armpits. ¡°Snow White.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s words seemed to have confused Kim Mi-Young. Naturally, she didn¡¯t know what he was talking about. ¡°Get my bag.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh!¡± Kim Mi-Young quickly walked over and picked up his bag, and Kang Chan headed back to school first. Even though Seok Kang-Ho would be the one left picking up the pieces, Kang Chan had to treat the wound on his hand. *** Kang Chan wrapped his left hand with the handkerchief Kim Mi-Young had given him as he went to the nurse¡¯s office. The nurse in her forties was bewildered upon seeing his wound. ¡°We have to disinfect your wound first,¡± the nurse said, not knowing whom she was talking to. She brought a ss bottle containing an antiseptic solution, along with a pair of tweezers. ¡°Do you have a needle and thread?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t even sew, but disinfecting it will open the wound, and it''ll take quite some time for it to heal. So, do you have a needle and thread?¡± ¡°You have to go to the hospital to get it stitched up after we disinfect your wound.¡± The hospital? Wouldn¡¯t that be cumbersome? At a nce, the wound was approximately ten centimeters long and had to be stitched up since it was deep. It was so big that Kang Chan almost couldn¡¯t grip it properly. Rattle. Just then, Seok Kang-Ho rushed into the nurse¡¯s office. ¡°What happened?¡± Kang Chan showed Seok Kang-Ho his palm. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡± Unlike how he was like in Africa, Dayeru had be a lot more quick-witted. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s disinfect the wound first before you go. He¡¯s bleeding at the waist too.¡± Kang Chan picked up Kim Mi-Young¡¯s handkerchief and wrapped it around his left hand once again. ¡°Don¡¯t do that. We have to disinfect the wound and bandage it,¡± the nurse protested. ¡°Are you going to use that on that little punk?¡± As soon as Seok Kang-Ho intervened, there was nothing the nurse could do. ¡°Are we¡­going to the hospital?¡± Kim Mi-Young was gaining on them, so Kang Chan had to be careful with his words. ¡°We should.¡± Kang Chan obediently followed behind Seok Kang-Ho without saying a word. Seok Kang-Ho pointed to an old supact car parked right next to the school. ¡°Go home,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Mi-Young. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospital with you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just go home. I heard you have to go to hagwon?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll take care of it, so go home. High school seniors have no time to waste. Run along. Give me his bag,¡± Seok Kang-Ho chimed in. Kim Mi-Young looked as though she was about to cry. She didn¡¯t leave. Without saying a word, Kang Chan took his bag from her and threw it into the back of the car. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded at Kim Mi-Young and got into the car. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°The gangsters were waiting for me.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s driving skills were questionable. He clumsily drove out of the school gate and noticed a patrol car on one side of the road and two policemen in uniform in a store. ¡°This might pose a problem,¡± Seok Kang-Ho muttered as he looked at the police. ¡°Hey!¡± Screeeech! That startled a student. They looked even more startled after seeing Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan. ¡°Move out of the way!¡± After Seok Kang-Ho gestured to the student to move, the student quickly stepped aside. ¡°Pay attention!¡± Kang Chan yelled. ¡°I was looking at the police.¡± Kang Chan wanted to take over the steering wheel, but because of the current circumstances, he cooled off by tying the handkerchief that was wrapped around his hand a little tighter. ¡°It¡¯ll be okay, right?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°The cops,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. Was this person really the imprudent Dayeru? ¡°The police came, so I took care of everything and bounced. Those people wouldn¡¯t report to the cops, and I have no intention of reporting it, so it¡¯s not an issue.¡± ¡°That seems to be the case.¡± ¡°And how would they be able to bring themselves to tell the students that three of them had their necks twisted?¡± ¡°You twisted their necks?¡± Seok Kang-Ho was shocked. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°How bad was it?¡± ¡°They won¡¯t be able to get into fights for about six months.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was relieved. ¡°We can¡¯t go to the hospital right now. Come to my house first and change out of your bloodstained clothes.¡± Kang Chan looked down at his wound. As expected, there was a huge, dark, hideous bloodstain spanning from his abdomen down to the bottom. ¡°Tsk. Do whatever you want.¡± Kang Chan stared nkly out the window, leaning his head against the passenger seat. It was a peaceful world, a world that was far frombat or death, but he didn¡¯t feel very happy. How would things be if he were in Africa right now? 1. It¡¯s a private academy/cram school for students in Korea. Chapter 8，Part1: You’ve Never Been Beaten To A Pulp, Have You? (2)

Chapter8£¬Part1: You¡¯ve Never Been Beaten To A Pulp, Have You? (2)

Kang Chan suddenly grew curious about something. ¡°Did I die?¡± ¡°You were shot in the neck and bled to death.¡± ¡°Fuck! What about you?¡± Seok Kang-Ho smiled bitterly. ¡°I think I was shot once in the forehead, but I¡¯m not too sure. I just felt a burning sensation on my forehead. Then I woke up to my wifeforting me and asking if I had a nightmare.¡± ¡°That must¡¯ve been nice.¡± ¡°We had a round tomemorate my survival.¡± Kang Chan smirked and shifted his gaze to the front once again. The car passed through blocks of fairly old-looking apartmentplexes. ¡°What about the others?¡± ¡°Right after you got shot, I was next.¡± Seok Kang-Ho pulled up in front of the innermost apartmentplex. ¡°You live here?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t afford anything better on a teacher¡¯s sry. This is Gangnam, so even this is rather expensive.¡± That was none of Kang Chan¡¯s concern. He smacked his lips as he got out of the car. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s apartment was on the third floor. After walking down the shabby hallway and up a flight of uneven steps, his apartment was the unit on the right¨C¨Cunit 302. ¡°Wonder if my wife is home.¡± Rattle rattle. The door was locked. Seok Kang-Ho inserted one of the keys attached to his keychain into the lock and turned the doorknob. Even though it was noon, it was very dark inside his apartment. There was a room close to the entrance on the right, and the kitchen was located by the wall on the right. At the end of the living room, where the sofa and TV were, there were three doors. Seok Kang-Ho opened the door to the room furthest from the entrance and entered it. He came back out right away with a set of shabby sweatpants and a T-shirt. ¡°This is the bathroom. Please wash up and change your clothes.¡± Kang Chan removed his school uniform and tossed it aside before making his way to the bathroom in his underwear. The sink, bathtub, and toilet had all turned yellow. After turning on the faucet, Kang Chan washed his hands first before carefully wiping off the dried blood from his waist. Fortunately, the wound wasn¡¯t too deep, and some of its parts had more or less closed up due to coagtion. ¡°I can just leave these parts alone.¡± Kang Chan then ced his bloodstained right hand under the running water, and undid the handkerchief tied around his left hand. He carefully washed his left hand. ¡°Tsk!¡± Thinking about the guy with a knife in front of the school swiftly filled him with annoyance. ¡°Motherfucker!¡± I should¡¯ve just killed him. Why did I let him live? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked loudly, perhaps having heard him cursing. ¡°Not you!¡± Creak. ¡°What did you say?¡± Seok Kang-Ho, who had been leaning on the doorway, popped his head into the bathroom. ¡°I just lost my temper while looking at the wound on my hand.¡± ¡°I thought you were picking a fight with the sink this time around.¡± Kang Chan instantly frowned. He hadn¡¯t fought those guys because he had wanted to, nor had he been the one to call the gangsters out. He hadn¡¯t wanted to fight in his previous life, and he still didn¡¯t want to fight in his current life. Does he think I only know how to fight with others?? Uncontroble rage abruptly overwhelmed Kang Chan. Seok Kang-Ho gulped. His eyes looked tense. ¡°Daye.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Watch your tongue.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s eyes still looked angry even after chastising Seok Kang-Ho, so thetter lowered his gaze. ¡°Close the door.¡± Creeeaaak. He closed the door slowly and cautiously, the creaking sound of the door dragging on longer than it previously had. ¡°Hooo.¡± Kang Chan lifted his head and looked in the mirror. It¡¯s not my fault I had a father who always hit me whenever he drank alcohol and a mother who was fine with her husband beating her every day. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask to be born into this world.¡± Kang Chan looked in the mirror and clenched his teeth. He was now the perfect copy of his old self in terms of both his appearance and the intensity in his eyes. Even though he had reincarnated, he was still the same. He was a guy who had jumped off the roof¡ªafter being reincarnated into his body, what else could he have done? Was he supposed to just die after buying those bullies food, giving them money, and getting cigarettes for them? ¡°Fuck! What am I supposed to do!¡± Kang Chan¡¯s reflection in the mirror was staring back at him. His eyes gleamed as he pursed his lips. ¡°Hooo!¡± Whatever.? Kang Chan was always hungry. He wanted to eat pork cutlet so badly, but he would rather die than ask someone to buy it for him or freeload off someone else. He had absolutely never stolen anything from anyone before. On the other hand, he had also never let anybody that looked down on him get away with it, because being born to fucking shitty parents and being disregarded by his father was already enough. ¡°Tsk.¡± Kang Chan took a deep breath and got these feelings off his chest. He had the habit of doing this whenever something unpleasant happened, since it made him feel a little better. By the time he got out of the bathroom, Seok Kang-Ho had made some coffee while waiting for him. After changing into a new set of clothes, Kang Chan sat down at the table with four chairs around it. He took a sip of coffee from a tacky-looking mug. It was sweet¨C¨Cthe instant coffee was really sweet. ¡°You¡¯re not bleeding?¡± ¡°Stop looking around and sit down. Let¡¯s go after drinking the coffee. Right! Soak the uniform in water.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Cold water.¡± ¡°Oh,e on! It¡¯s not my first rodeo¨C¨CI¡¯ve bled out a lot before.¡± Soaking bloodstained clothes in hot water would cause the blood to harden, preventing the stains froming off. In short, the clothes would have to be thrown away. Kang Chan looked at his left hand, which was pale and stiff. ¡°Do you have thread and needle here?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid. Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have any?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to the hospital!¡± Seok Kang-Ho took a deep breath, then gulped the hot coffee in one go. He instantly writhed in pain¡ªthe coffee was so hot that he probably felt his esophagus and stomach burning. . Kang Chanughed. Maybe things like that remained unchanged from their time in Africa. He only finished half the coffee, and then they left Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s apartment. *** After Seok Kang-Ho, who was admiring Kang Chan¡¯s ce of residence, had left, thetter sat on a bench next to his apartmentplex. His left hand was so thoroughly bandaged that it felt ufortable. There was also a long strip of gauze covering the wound on his waist, even though it wasn¡¯t visible. Kang Chan had been charged a regr patient¡¯s fee, but he was insured. Seok Kang-Ho had organized the bills properly and nned to bring Kang-Chan¡¯s medical insurance card to the hospital the next day in order to get a refund. This reflected how meticulous and frugal he was. Dayeru looked happy. He was a lonely man, just like Kang Chan, so thetter had developed more of an attachment to him than to his other men. Perhaps he looked happy because he was happy with his wife? Kang Chan casually nced at the bandage on his left hand. ¡°Chan, is that you?¡± Kim Mi-Young was standing there with her bag on her shoulders. ¡°Oh my goodness! What should we do!¡± ¡°About?¡± ¡°Your hand. Oh my goodness. Did the doctor say it was serious? They didn¡¯t say you needed surgery?¡± Kim Min-Young said everything in one breath. She walked on eggshells around him as she lowered her gaze and looked at the bandage that was wrapped around his hand. She was annoying. ¡°Go inside.¡± Kang Chan felt as though he was talking to a child¡­ until the outline of Kim Mi-Young¡¯s chest caught his eye. He sat up straight with an annoyed look on his face, acknowledging that she wasn¡¯t a child¨C¨Cat least in the chest department. ¡°I have some time left before my tutoring ss.¡± Kim Mi-Young sat down a slight distance away from him. It seemed like she had a tutoring ss right aftering back from hagwon. For her to need all this extra help with her academics, was she rather stupid? ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I knew you didn¡¯t take the photo, but I didn¡¯t have the courage to speak up. The more I talk about it, the more it shifts their attention to my chest, and I didn¡¯t want that. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Kang Chan almost looked down, but he forced himself to look straight. ¡°I don¡¯t know who it is either. There was clearly nobody there when I changed into my gym clothes. After you fell from the roof and went to the hospital, I couldn¡¯t do anything for quite some time,¡± Kim Mi-Young added. ¡°Forget about it.¡± Kim Mi-Young ced her hands between her thighs and sat perfectly still. ¡°It was very terrifying to watch you hit Eun-Sil,¡± she continued with her head lowered. Kang Chan wished she would stop leaning her body forward. ¡°If hitting me will make you feel less angry, do it.¡± Kim Mi-Young quickly turned her body to face Kang Chan. With her hands between her thighs and head lowered, she closed her eyes. Kang Chan clenched his teeth, and his eyes trembled. His gaze kept¡­ ¡°Tsk. I¡¯m not mad anymore so stop talking about this and just go.¡± ¡°Really? So you¡¯ve forgiven me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Chan, in that case, do you want to go to school with me tomorrow onwards?¡± ¡®Did they use to go to school together?¡¯ ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Alright, see you here tomorrow then.¡± As soon as Kang Chan nodded, Kim Mi-Young quickly got up and scampered off. She would look a lot better if her hairstyle was less tacky. Kang Chan sat there for a little longer. Not wanting to continue pondering about those thoughts he had earlier, he got to his feet. Chapter 8，Part2: You’ve Never Been Beaten To A Pulp, Have You? (2)

Chapter8£¬Part2: You¡¯ve Never Been Beaten To A Pulp, Have You? (2)

As soon as he keyed in the passcode and entered the apartment, Yoo Hye-Sook happily came out to greet him, but she was startled. She looked at the shabby sweatpants he was wearing and the bandage wrapped around his hand. ¡°I hurt myself working out, so I went to my teacher¡¯s house to change into a new set of clothes before going to the hospital.¡± ¡°Where? How bad was it? Did the doctor say everything¡¯s okay? Is there any problem?¡± She was genuinely concerned, but she was overreacting. It was annoying. As soon as Kang Chan frowned, Yoo Hye-Sook stopped talking. ¡°They said I¡¯m okay." Yoo Hye-Sook was a victim as well. She was a victim who had lost her perfectly normal son and had to be nice to a stone-cold man. Kang Chan suppressed his annoyance; he wanted to repay his debt to the owner of his body, even if it was just a small gesture. ¡°Have you had your dinner?¡± Perhaps, Yoo Hye-Sook felt hurt by his reaction:¨C her eyes had turned red as she teared up. ¡°I haven¡¯t.¡± ¡°In that case, go rest first. I¡¯ll call you when dinner¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan went into his room and plopped onto the bed. *** When Kang Chan jerked awake from his nap, it was already dark in his room. He had slept more soundly than expected, probably because of the shot they had given him in the hospital when they had stitched up the wound in his palm. ¡°So you didn¡¯t get to talk to him about it, huh?¡± Kang Chan heard Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s voice. ¡°I think Chan hates me.¡± ¡°What makes you say that? He¡¯s probably just a little on edge because of the ident.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. The way he looks at me now ispletely different than before. He probably thinks it¡¯s all my fault.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook was crying. ¡°Nonsense! I¡¯ll lecture himter.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t do that.¡± Kang Chan could hear Yoo Hye-Sook inhaling through her nose loudly. ¡°Just like what you said, I¡¯m going to just be satisfied with the fact that he survived. Even if he res at me¡­or resents me, I¡¯ll be content either way because he¡¯s alive. Sobs.¡± Kang Chan heard Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s voice once again. She seemed to have calmed down a little. ¡°Honey, if Chan didn¡¯t wake up from hisa back then, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to continue living. So I¡¯m going to stop being greedy, like what you said before. Regardless of how good Seong-Hee¡¯s son is, he cannot even bepared to Chan¡¯s toes.¡± ¡°Now, now, dear. Seong-Hee¡¯s son has to be better than toes, right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung casually remarked. He started tofort his wife. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Chan tomorrow.¡± ¡°I told you not to do that. If he ends up hating me even more, it¡¯ll make things even harder.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Kang Chan was hungry, but he couldn¡¯t step out of his room. Hey in bed and stared nkly at the ceiling. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook werepletely different from his parents in his past life. Even though a fucked-up son had appeared in their lives out of the blue, they were determined to let go of their greed. What would have happened if Kang Chan had been born as their son right from the beginning? They had conceived a son because they wanted a child, but they wouldn¡¯t have wanted a son like him, would they? ¡°What would you want me to do?¡± Kang Chan asked the owner of his body. ¡°What exactly do you want me to do?¡± The ceiling didn¡¯t give him a response. Kang Chan¡¯s new life was very confusing. *** It was morning. Kang Chan hadn¡¯t gotten much sleepst night, probably because of the shot he had gotten at the hospital. In truth, he was so used to sleeping on battlefields that he had never had insomnia before. He had the habit of waking up early, and it was still the same now. Knock knock knock. ¡°Chan, have you gotten up?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As soon as Kang Chan opened the door and left the room, Yoo Hye-Sook trod carefully around him. Like a guilty person. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± With the words ¡®I¡¯ll be careful¡¯ written all over her body, Yoo Hye-Sook hurried over to the kitchen. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Oh! Yeah, and you?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung responded. ¡°Yes, I had a good night¡¯s rest.¡± ¡°How¡¯s your hand? I heard from your mom that you hurt yourself. Was it bad?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung was trying his best to hide the worried look in his eyes. ¡°I hurt myself while working out. The doctor said it will take approximately a month for it to heal.¡± ¡°It could¡¯ve been really bad. Let¡¯s dig in.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The three of them started eating. ¡°You said that your teacher lent you some clothes?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Should we pay him a visit as a formality?¡± ¡°Just forget about it. It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said he would lecture him, but it seemed as though he was also trying his best not to get on Kang Chan¡¯s nerves. They somehow managed to get through breakfast together. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll give you a ride to school.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to school with Mi-Young.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook instantly looked up and tried her best to stayposed. ¡°You don¡¯t have any ns this weekend, right?¡± Kang Chan wondered what it was about. It urred to him that it was Friday today. ¡°On Sunday morning, your mom is¡ª¡± ¡°Hey! Didn¡¯t I tell you not to say anything!¡± Unlike how she spoke to Kang chan, Yoo Hye-Sook snapped at Kang Dae-Kyung. As soon as she did that, Kang Dae-Kyung smacked his lips and grabbed his suit jacket. ¡°Drive safe.¡± As soon as Kang Dae-Kyung nodded and left the house, Kang Chan went into his room. He grabbed his extra uniform and put it on. He then recalled that he had left his bag with Seok Kang-Ho. ¡®Seok Kang-Ho will probably bring it to school and pass it to me.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m leaving now.¡± ¡°Okay. Be safe.¡± Kang Chan tried to be nice. However, he felt it was more difficult than fighting ten people armed with fillet knives, so he decided to give it another shot after he had practiced more. When Kang Chan left through the entrance on the first floor of the apartmentplex, Kim Mi-Young, who was tapping the ground with her foot, smiled widely at him. ¡®No self-respect.¡¯ As soon as Kang Chan nodded, Kim Mi-Young ran over to him. ¡°How¡¯s your hand?¡± Kang Chan raised his left hand and simply walked without saying anything. The bus stop was right in front of the apartmentplex. There were quite a number of students there, probably because all the students were going to school at this hour. However, the moment Kang Chan arrived, the students slowly backed away from him, one step at a time. Everybody was avoiding his gaze¡ªno, nobody was making eye contact with him. Right when Kang Chan smacked his lips, a bus approached the bus stop and the students flocked toward it. Screech, screeech. As soon as the door opened, the students got on the bus. Considering the students and Kim Mi-Young were taking that bus, naturally, it was safe to assume it was heading toward their school. Kang Chan confidently got on the bus, but there was a problem¨C¨Che didn¡¯t have any money. ¡°Are you not going to tap your card?¡± the driver asked. Card? What card? As soon as Kang Chan looked nkly at the driver and began a staring contest with him, Kim Mi-Young quickly ran over. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± After looking at Kang Chan¡¯s facial expression, she told the driver that she would tap her card a second time. She then ced her small wallet on the card reader at the front. Beep. ¡®Damn. If I had taken the bus alone, I would¡¯ve been humiliated.¡¯? Kang Chan followed Kim Mi-Young to the back of the bus. There were a lot of students on it, but strangely, the aisle was clear of students. Startled, the unpleasant-looking guys in the backseat got up to their feet. ¡°Please take a seat here, hyung-nim.¡± ¡®What did he just say?¡¯ The other students pretended not to notice them, simply looking ahead. Kim Mi-Young was also staring at Kang Chan with a surprised look in her eyes. ¡°Stop talking nonsense and just sit down.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m only standing because my legs are numb.¡± There were six guys crowding around Kang Chan. As soon as they got up from their seats and stood in the bus that was already filled with students, the rest of the students grimly kept their arms close to their bodies and tried their best not to make physical contact with them, albeit with a lot of difficulties. These bastards love doing this, huh? Why are they going to school then? Wouldn¡¯t it be better for them to just quit school and go to France or be a gangster?? More students boarded the bus at the next stop. ¡°Ah! Seriously! Students, move to the back of the bus!¡± Even though the driver raised his voice out of frustration, the students refused to move past the middle portion of the bus, where the rear door was, because the six guys standing around Kang Chan looked vicious. Even if Kim Mi-Young hadn¡¯t been awkwardly staring at Kang Chan, thetter would¡¯ve still felt very ufortable. At that moment¡­ ¡°Ah, fuck! Hurry up and move to the back of the bus.¡± Someone in front swore harshly, and three boys that looked as though they had been beaten up came into view after making their way through by pushing the other students. But that was it. As soon as they made eye contact with Kang Chan, the boys poked their heads out of the window like enlisted soldiers on trains. For all he knew, they may have been waving their hands too. Judging by how they were wearing different school uniforms, Kang Chan knew they weren¡¯t even from the same school. He smirked because he saw the look of satisfaction on the faces of the six guys standing behind him. His bus ride to school was very eventful. 1. ¡¯Hyung¡¯ is used by guys to refer to other guys who are older than them, and is also used as a sign of respect, especially among thugs. It is also used by a guy to address his biological older brother. Hyung-nim is a more formal/respectful version. Chapter 9，Part1: Only You(1)

Chapter9£¬Part1: Only You(1)

When Kang Chan entered the school gate, Seok Kang-Ho was standing there with a discipline stick. There was no need to acknowledge and greet one another. Kang Chan went straight to the ssroom. He received a lot of attention from the other students on the stairs and in the hallway. Wherever he went, there was silence, as though he was a monster named ¡®Sound Eater.¡¯ The same went in the ssroom. An unusual scene unfolded in the ssroom¨C¨Cstartled by his arrival, the noisy students chattering away shut their mouths and returned to their seats. Finding his bag on his chair, Kang Chan put it away and sat down. Perhaps Seok Kang-Ho had brought it to school and ced it there. At that moment, a group of idiots entered the front door. They formed three lines and stood in front of him. ¡°Wee.¡± It wasn¡¯t a one-off greeting. They bowed their heads in order, starting from the front row. Without a doubt, they were mimicking gangsters. Kang Chan let it go the first time around because they were unaware that he didn¡¯t like it, but he didn¡¯t want to see something like this again. ¡°Who are you people?¡± Kang Chan demanded. ¡°We¡¯re 10th and 11th graders.¡± ¡°Did someone order you to do this?¡± ¡°No,¡± the guy standing at the end of the line on the left answered firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t ever do this again.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± When Kang Chan got up from his seat, the boy flinched. The students sitting at their desks quickly lowered their heads. ¡°Get out. Never do anything like this again in the future.¡± It was nauseating to see them going around in a group like that, unting their ¡®power¡¯. Thinking Kang Chan would attack them at any moment, the boy tried his best to win him over, but bloodthirst filled Kang Chan¡¯s eyes instead. The 11th grader was simply way too young to be equipped with the skills to deal with those eyes of Kang Chan¡¯s. The boys bade him goodbye in a strange manner and left the ssroom. Looking more nervous than the day before, the homeroom teacher kept homeroom brief and then left. It was now time for ss. Most of the teachers that entered the ssroom fixated their eyes on Kang Chan¡¯s left hand, which was resting on his desk. And as soon as the bell rang, they hurriedly left out of fear. It was a grueling time. ¡®This is bad for everyone.¡¯ It was seriously hard on the students, who had to go to the bathroom with their heads lowered like monks, as well as Kang Chan, who was forced to sit through the sses as if he had been captured and was being tortured. At longst, the morning sses had ended, and it was now time for lunch. Even though Kang Chan was hungry, he didn¡¯t like the idea of dealing with the other students¡¯ stares and the suffocating atmosphere in the cafeteria. He agonized about his next course of action. ¡°Kang Chan.¡± At that moment, however, he heard a voice. It was Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Come out.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan happily left the ssroom. The hallway and stairs were filled with students, but they automatically made way for Kang Chan to pass through, just like Moses¡¯ miracle. After passing through the hallway and stairs, Seok Kang-Ho finally spoke. ¡°I did a good job, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Thanks for helping me this time around.¡± ¡°Hehehe. I went over because I thought you¡¯d be having a hard time. I¡¯m d I did. What would you like for lunch?¡± ¡°Pork cutlet.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at him without saying anything. It was lunchtime, so the restaurant was rather crowded because of the office workers that worked nearby. Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan sat down at a table and ordered two pork cutlets. When Seok Kang-Ho saw how Kang Chan cut his pork cutlet like he normally did and ate it with his chopsticks, he followed suit. ¡°So you can eat it like this, too. Chopsticks are really great.¡± Since there were a lot of people, they barely spoke to each other, save for Seok Kang-Ho mumbling to himself. The meal ended without any exchange of words. Needless to say, Seok Kang-Ho paid for the meal. After leaving the restaurant, both of them returned to the school premises. A lot of people stared at them as they made their way to the rooftop of the school building. Rattle. There were quite a number of students on the rooftop, but they flinched at the sight of Seok Kang-Ho. And when they saw Kang Chan standing behind him, they quickly left. The two of them sat down and leaned against the rooftop door, smoking the cigarettes Seok Kang-Ho brought with him. ¡°Can¡¯t the school keep the rooftop door locked?¡± ¡°Of course we¡¯ve tried locking it. Why wouldn¡¯t we after a student fell from here? But no matter how many times we lock it, it keeps reopening as if there¡¯s a ghost at work.¡± Seok Kang-Ho slowly exhaled cigarette smoke. ¡°And if we lock the door to this ce, the toilets in school would all be clogged up on the day itself, so we just let it slide.¡± That could happen. ¡°I have a favor to ask you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Kang Chan asked. Seok Kang-Ho threw the cigarette butt on the floor and put it out. He spoke with much difficulty. ¡°There are four students being bullied here in school. Their situation¡¯s pretty bad. I want you to watch over them.¡± Kang Chan held out his hand. Seok Kang-Ho gave him another cigarette. ¡°Hoo, it¡¯ll be more difficult for them to fend for themselves once I leave in a month and a half¡¯s time. Let¡¯s not overdo it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you cut ss.¡± Seok Kang-Ho gave a very attractive offer that tempted even ¡®the great¡¯ Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of training you to be a school athlete. If you go to college using your practical skills, the teachers would be more than happy to have you, so wouldn¡¯t it be good for everyone?¡± Why is this guy going to such great lengths? ¡°You need to start working out too. Considering you got wounded so easily by a mere knife, you wouldn¡¯t be able to survive in Africa anyway,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. When Kang Chan looked suspiciously at him, Kang-Ho licked his lips. ¡°After spending my life as a loner, the first person I relied on was you, captain. When I saw blood gushing out of your neck, I thought the world had turned its back on me. But I was reincarnated. I kept thinking about this the entire time you were at the hospital.¡± ¡°Thinking about what? Saving those students from being bullied?¡± ¡°There¡¯s clearly a reason why I¡¯ve been brought back to life, right? I don¡¯t think I was given this baffling opportunity just to simply live paycheck to paycheck and be with a wife, who¡¯s content with the little things in life, and a daughter, to whom I haven¡¯t developed much of an attachment yet.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Seems like the owner of your body¡¯s thoughts still remain, huh?¡± ¡°That seems to be the case. Especially since when Ie to school, I remember a list of things to do.¡± ¡°Not for me. I have no recollection at all. Neither do I know why I was reincarnated like that. More importantly, I¡¯m taking all these sses, but I know nothing.¡± Kang Chan flicked off the remaining embers on the cigarette. ¡°Could the student that got bullied desperately wanted to take revenge?¡± ¡°Stop watching so many dramas,¡± Kang Chan spoke as he scoffed at him. Seok Kang-Ho grinned in response. At times like these, he was definitely Dayeru. ¡°Let¡¯s say you and I were reincarnated. A lot of people were killed that day, including troops from the other units. In any case, it was ¡®kill or be killed¡¯ for all of us there during thatbat, but it would be a different story if somebody had made us walk into that trap. I have to find out who it was.¡± Kang Chan looked up at the sky full of white clouds. Even though it hadn¡¯t been long, it was a view he had gotten used to. ¡°Let¡¯s go. sses are about to start.¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°How many people did you say are being bullied?¡± ¡°Four.¡± Kang Chan sighed heavily, while Seok Kang-Hoo looked satisfied. *** Keeping Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s promise to let him cut sses from next week onwards in mind, Kang Chan made his way back to the ssroom. Lunch wasn¡¯t over yet, so there were still empty seats around. After entering the ssroom, Kang Chan looked strangely at Lee Ho-Jun, whose face had been thoroughly beaten up. Now that he thought about it, he wasn¡¯t at his desk this morning. Startled upon noticing Kang Chan, the guy lowered his head. ¡®Oh my, what a pathetic fe.¡¯ Kang Chan went to his seat. ¡°What did you eat?¡± ¡°Pork cutlet.¡± Snow White nodded, looking disappointed. Since she was still a young girl, it was possible for her to be momentarily infatuated with Kang Chan¡¯s ¡®bad boy¡¯ exterior. Kang Chan felt he should distance himself from her whenever an opportunity presented itself. Chapter 9，Part2: Only You(1)

Chapter9£¬Part2: Only You(1)

Now that all the grueling afternoon sses and afternoon homeroom were done, Kang Chan wanted to go home as soon as possible. He was about to leave the ssroom when Kim Mi-Young called out to him. ¡°Wait for me.¡± The other students were watching them. If he were to treat her harshly in front of them, Kim Mi-Young wouldn¡¯t approach him ever again. However, all of the attention from the other students wasn¡¯t the reason why Kang Chan didn¡¯t do it. As much as Kim Mi-Young wasfortable around him, he was starting to feel the distance between them closing. Naturally, it wasn¡¯t that important, but he didn¡¯t want to lord over her in front of those students. ¡°Hurry, let¡¯s go.¡± As soon as he agreed to leave the school with her, Kim Mi-Young¡¯s face lit up, and the ambiance within the ssroom changed dramatically. He wasn¡¯t going to be attending sses from next week onwards anyway, so he felt it would be good to leave it at that. However, Kang Chan¡¯s mood was instantly ruined after walking out the back door. It was Eun-Sil and her three worthless minions. Kang Chan calmed himself down and looked at Eun-Sil. She had dark bruises on her face, neck, arms, and just below her skirt. ¡°Give me a couple of minutes.¡± She was evidently afraid. It was certain from the fact that she kept her eyes on Kang Chan¡¯s right hand the entire time. But what was more important than her fear of him? Kang Chan nced over at Snow White first. ¡°Shall I wait for you in the ssroom?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to go to hagwon?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She was a slow-witted child thatcked self-respect. ¡®Could she possibly have fallen for me?¡¯ Kim Mi-Young went back into the ssroom, looking both anxious and somewhat jealous. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the rooftop.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°No, it¡¯s really not what you¡¯re thinking.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what it is, but if it¡¯s some bullshit, it ends here.¡± Kang Chan watched Eun-Sil shake her head vigorously, then followed her up the stairs. The three useless minions stopped in front of the stairs like faithful dogs. The rooftop was as crowded as before, but the students smoking all over the ce immediately rushed out. ¡°I¡¯m Heo Eun-Sil.¡± Heo Eun-Sil stood by the railing that overlooked the field, and the first thing she announced was her name. Why wasn¡¯t she wearing a name tag, though? ¡°Don¡¯t be mad and listen to what I have to say. I¡¯m really not trying to piss you off.¡± ¡°Okay, so just get to the point.¡± Heo Eun-Sil took a deep breath and spoke with much difficulty. ¡°The guys from yesterday¡­ told me to bring you to them.¡± Heo Eun-Sil quickly looked at Kang Chan¡¯s right hand. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t done that, they wouldn¡¯t leave Ho-Jun and me alone¡­¡± Tears rolled down her face, which was still caked with makeup. ¡°They said they would sell me off. They¡¯re more than capable of doing that.¡± She looked absolutely frightened and terrified. ¡°Report them to the cops.¡± Heo Eun-Sil looked flustered after hearing Kang Chan¡¯s suggestion. ¡°When you and Ho-Jun bullied the other students, weren¡¯t you relying on those thugs to back you up? Have you ever considered the feelings of those students you bullied? Did you even consider the feelings of the guy that jumped off the building? Cut the bullshit. Regardless of whether you sell your body or get beaten into a pulp, it¡¯s up to you guys to figure it out for yourself.¡± Heo Eun-Sil looked desperate. His subordinates used to have the same look on their faces whenever they werepletely surrounded by the enemy. She was hoping he would do something about it or give her the solution to her problem. ¡°If I don¡¯t take you to them within the day¡­ I¡¯ll have to face them all head-on today.¡± Kang Chan smirked. What kind of bullshit is this? The women that ended up getting entangled with the Sunnites were pitted against approximately fifty men, and they had their noses and ears cut off before being hung on a tree under the guise ofmitting the cardinal sin of sexually arousing men. ¡°Please help me. I¡¯m begging you. I¡¯ll do anything you say if you help me.¡± Heo Eun-Sil sped her hands together, begging Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll do it whenever you want to, and I¡¯ll do it with anybody you ask me to. Please don¡¯t let them sell me off. I¡¯ll die if they ship me off to an ind. Please.¡± This was what happened when one was terrified of violence. They would burn with the desire to escape that very moment and would do anything they could to save themselves, not knowing that there was something more terrifying awaiting them. Heo Eun-Sil looked at Kang Chan¡¯s cold eyes and slumped down against the parapet wall. At the rate this was going, there was a 70% chance she¡¯d jump off the building. There had been times when recruitsmitted suicide. They would die if they lost a battle, and would live if they won. Nevertheless, while there were aggressive guys like Dayeru who yelled and attacked the enemy, there were also recruits that pulled the trigger on themselves in a bid to reduce their suffering after watching the enemy stab hisrades to death countless times. The battles on ckfield were vicious, and closebat between arade and an enemy was as brutal as could be. When Kang Chan saw the pink underwear between Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s thighs as she was squatting, he shifted his gaze far away to the field. What did the owner of his body, or the person that gave him his new life, truly want? Did they want him to put an end to bullying, like what Dayeru mentioned? Did they send a man who had died in Africa thousands of miles away to this ce just for that reason? All of a sudden, Kang Chan desperately craved a cigarette. ¡°Will you really do what I order you to do?¡± he asked Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s eyes sparkled as she fixed her gaze on Kang Chan and got up to her feet. ¡°Do you want to do it now?¡± Heo Eun-Sil didn¡¯t know what the right answer was. She pulled up her skirt, revealing her pink underwear. Kang Chan raised his hand as though he was going to hit her. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid and get me a cigarette.¡± Heo Eun-Sil stared nkly at Kang Chan with her skirt pulled up. ¡°You''re not gonna bring me a cigarette?¡± ¡°I can! My girls have it. I¡¯ll get it for you right away.¡± She pulled her skirt back down and ran off. ¡°Ugh, I got myself involved in some mess.¡± When he looked up at the sky, Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s face suddenly came to Kang Chan¡¯s mind. He recalled what she said in the living room while she was crying, and the look she had on her face when she looked at him while trying her best to walk on eggshells around him. Rattle. Thud. Perhaps because her skirt was too tight, Heo Eun-Sil fell amid her rush to get up to the rooftop. What a mess. ¡°Here you go, oppa.¡± Even though she had grazed her knees and palms, and they were bleeding, Heo Eun-Sil took out a cigarette with a happy face and flicked the lighter. It wasn¡¯t her first or second time doing this¨C¨Cshe was very proficient at it. Chk chk. ¡°Hooo.¡± What kind of school was this? He was having an equally hard time here as he did in Africa. Heo Eun-Sil watched him with sparkling eyes as he smoked. ¡°You smoke, right?¡± Heo Eun-Sil nodded in response. ¡°Give me one more and smoke one too, if you want.¡± ¡°Really? Thank you, oppa.¡± Heo Eun-Sil ced a cigarette in her mouth and exhaled smoke with ease. ¡°Where should I go?¡± ¡°Huh? Hoo hoo.¡± Heo Eun-Sil hastily exhaled the smoke. ¡°If you say you¡¯ll meet them, they¡¯ll tell me the location.¡± ¡°Stop calling me ¡®oppa¡¯.¡± It was giving him goosebumps. ¡°Then what should I call you?¡± ¡°Just call me by my name. Don¡¯t call me ¡®oppa.¡¯ It¡¯s gross.¡± Heo Eun-Sil hesitated, but it was not his concern. ¡°I¡¯m busy this entire week. Can I meet them on Monday?¡± Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s face fell immediately. Indeed, why would these bastards even listen? ¡°Oppa¡­no, I mean Chan¡­ maybe if you call them, they might agree to it.¡± It was cumbersome. As soon as Kang Chan nodded, Heo Eun-Sil hurriedly ran off again. This time around, she returned to the rooftop without falling and with a phone in her hand. She dialed a phone number, looking very nervous. Shortly after, she spoke, her voice shaking. ¡°Hello? Oppa? It¡¯s me. Kang Chan said he¡¯s busy today¡­¡± The person on the other end of the line started swearing. Kang Chan grabbed the phone from her and put it to his ear. ¨C¨C You crazy bitch, you wanna die?¡­ ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan.¡± Sudden silence enveloped the call. ¡°I¡¯m busy, so I¡¯ll see you on Monday. Give me the location.¡± ¨C¨C You better show up on Monday, then. If you don¡¯t, the students will get seriously hurt. The person on the other end of the line was unexpectedly more civil than he expected, even though he spoke in an inarticte voice, just like every other gangster. ¡°Cut the crap and just tell me where to go.¡± ¨C¨C I¡¯ll tell that bitch Eun-Sil by Monday. She¡¯ll let you know. When Kang Chan nced at her, Heo Eun-Sil gulped. Oh my, this poor girl.? ¡°Fine. And I have a favor.¡± Silence ensued once again. ¡°From today onwards, Eun-Sil will be with me. Text her the location instead of calling her. It ruins my mood.¡± The person on the other end of the line startedughing out loud. ¨C¨C Okay. Pass the phone to Eun-SIl. Kang Chan handed the phone back to her. ¡°Yes, oppa. Yes. Yes. I¡¯ll be sure to take care of it. Yes, oppa. No, it¡¯s really Kang Chan. Yes, talk to you soon, oppa.¡± It was full of crap. After hanging up, Heo Eun-Sil seemingly eased up. ¡°Thank you.¡± Perhaps because she was no longer as tense as before, she stumbled. Naturally, Kang Chan didn¡¯t catch her. ¡°Give me your number.¡± Heo Eun-Sil did as instructed. ¡°Here. If there¡¯s anything you want me to do, give me a call.¡± If the womanizer Smithen were still alive, they¡¯d be a match made in heaven. ¡°Stop talking nonsense, and don¡¯t wear any makeup to school on Monday. That goes for you and those half-witted girls.¡± A mixture of emotions could be seen on Heo Eun-SIl¡¯s face. After giving her that order, Kang Chan left the rooftop and went down. Are they transgender people? The three worthless minions flinched and backed away. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what exactly he was getting from doing something like that. 1. Schools in Korea typically have two homerooms:¨C one in the morning before sses start, and one in the afternoon, after all the sses are over. Chapter 10: Only You (2)

Chapter 10: Only You (2)

When Kang Chan came down from the rooftop, the downcast Kim Mi-Young¡¯s startled face greeted him. He had told her to wait for him in the ssroom, but it seemed like she had been feeling uneasy. However, what was there to feel uneasy about? Kang Chan pondered over what he should do over the weekend. He was nning to make Yoo Hye-Sook feel as at ease as possible, so he pushed his ns to Monday. Even though he was only her son on the surface, Yoo Hye-Sook would be separated from her son forever in a month and a half¡¯s time. Hence, he wanted to at least leave her some good memories. He didn¡¯t get to share any good memories with his mother from his past life and it hurt so much that he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do this to someone else. ¡°Chan, can we walk home?¡± Kim Mi-Young suggested as they walked out of the school gate, albeit with much difficulty. He didn¡¯t think it would be a problem since walking a little more wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference. When Kang Chan nodded, Kim Mi-Young smiled and started walking. ¡°So¡­ are a lot of guys interested in that?¡± What the hell is she saying? ¡°And you guys watch porn, too. I heard guys like girls who do that. Is that really the case?¡± Even though he didn''t know why she was talking about porn, Kang Chan knew what Kim Mi-Young was getting at. He couldn''t help but sigh. ¡°Hey!¡± Startled by Kang Chan¡¯s exmation, Kim Mi-Young stared at him nkly. Her face was so red that anybody who¡¯d see them would easily misunderstand the situation. ¡°Stop talking nonsense. Focus on your studies.¡± Kim Mi-Young trudged on, looking crestfallen. ¡°I¡¯m not as charming as Eun-Sil. And my chest is so big that the other kids tease me about it.¡± ¡®Goddammit!¡¯?Kang Chan clenched his teeth. She was childish and obstinate. She looked physically mature, but she wasn¡¯t as mature mentally. Heo Eun-Sil was too shameless, and Snow White was like a child. Something was seriously wrong with this school. ¡®In any case, why did she even bring that up?¡¯ Kang Chan suddenly remembered Heo Eun-Sil. She hadn¡¯t rolled down her skirt when she went to get the cigarette. Perhaps Kim Mi-Young saw that. He had certainly be Smithen. ¡°Do you like me?¡± Kang Chan felt goosebumps forming when he said that. But it was a crazy situation. Kim Mi-Young nodded the moment he asked the question, her cheeks and eyes red. Could this airhead¡­ Am I her first love? ¡°Whenever I think of you, my heart races and skips a beat, and I can¡¯t help but smile.¡± Kang Chanughed out loud immediately. It seemed like Snow White had gathered her courage to confess her feelings to him. Kang Chan sighed in a way that Snow White wouldn¡¯t notice. ¡°That¡¯s why it bothers me that you¡¯re seeing Eun-Sil. If it¡¯s because of that, I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll do it too.¡± ¡°Gaaah!¡± Kang Chan unintentionally let out his frustration. If he were to turn her down coldly, Kim Mi-Young would be extremely upset. She might push him away and resent him for the rest of her life. ¡°Eun-Sil.¡± But Kang Chan identally called her by the wrong name. Kim Mi-Young paused for a second and looked back at him. Tears were already welling up in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. That¡¯s not what I meant¡­" Kang Chan wanted to give up and forget about it, but he gritted his teeth and held it in. ¡®Let¡¯s not get agitated.¡¯ He had made a huge promise to himself, but why were all these kids so extreme? Even more than the people living in Africa, that hellhole. ¡°There¡¯s nothing between me and Eun-Sil. She only wanted to talk to me because the gangsters wanted to call me due to the fight we had yesterday.¡± Snow White didn¡¯t lift her head. When Kang Chan nced at her, he realized Snow White was crying. Goddammit! I¡¯m not equipped to deal with this, and I don¡¯t have an aptitude for it either.? Kang Chan was a lot morefortable dealing with the enemy attacking him with knives than with Yoo Hye-Sook or Kim Mi-Young. ¡°What are you doing tomorrow?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t have to force yourself to hang out with me. I know you¡¯re not interested in me.¡± Kim Mi-Young was crying as she spoke. Would it be okay to leave her as she was? However, Kang Chan was bothered by the coldness in her voice and how her eyes were glued to the ground. ¡°Will you be mine?¡± Kim Mi-Young stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked at him suspiciously. Passers-by were looking at them; a female student in a school uniform was crying in front of a male student with a bandaged left hand. Kang Chan ignored the gazes of the elderly people that walked past while clicking their tongues. ¡°Do you love me?¡± How old was she exactly? Regardless, if he were to say no, it would mean that everything he said before was a lie. Why did he have to mention Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s name out of the blue? What a useless bitch. Snow White waited eagerly for his answer. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Really?¡± There seemed to be a change of role, but Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be yours?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. Kang Chan immediatelyughed out loud but hastily said something to cover it up. ¡°Iughed ¡®cause I like you. Because I really like you. From today onwards, you¡¯re mine. You absolutely cannot fall for other guys. You should only have eyes for me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be the only man I¡¯ll love.¡± Goddammit! Don¡¯t say that! Kang Chan felt he should change Snow White¡¯s nickname to ¡®Simpleton¡¯. It took slightly over thirty minutes for them to walk home. Kim Mi-Young was very talkative the entire time. She asked him, ¡®Why am I Snow White?¡¯ to which Kang Chan answered, ¡®It¡¯s a secret,¡¯ and they moved on from that topic. Regardless of how slow-witted he was, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t say it was because her bangs were tacky. They arrived at the entrance of the apartment. ¡°Mi-Young!¡± A stick-thin, middle-aged woman called out to Kim Mi-Young. Snow White ran over to her while Kang Chan walked casually. ¡°Mom, this is Chan. You know Chan, right?¡± Kang Chan bowed his head slightly and said a simple greeting. ¡°Did you not go to hagwon?¡± Her mother questioned her in an angry tone. When Kang Chan nced at Mi-Young, it was clear she had lied to him about not having to go to hagwon. ¡°Something came up.¡± ¡°You guys are students! What could¡¯ve possiblye up? Don¡¯t you know you can¡¯t live like a proper human being if you don¡¯t go to college? You should at least go to a college in Seoul. And you. I¡¯ve heard bad rumors about you recently.¡± Her mother cornered Kang Chan in front of the embarrassed Kim Mi-Young. It was as if Mi-Young¡¯s mother was chastising her husband for squandering his sry on gambling. At that moment, her gaze shifted to his left hand. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Kang Chan then made his way toward his house because he felt that he would make everyone feel ufortable in the event he lost his temper if he continued standing there. ¡°Bye, get home safe!¡± Kang Chan raised his hand in response without looking back at Kim Mi-Young. He heard her mother telling her, ¡®You know what happens when you hang out with someone like him, right? I can¡¯t have that happen!¡¯ but he didn¡¯t care. No, in fact, he hoped internally for that to happen. ¡®Please stop her from hanging out with me.¡¯? He felt more relieved thinking that perhaps one of his problems would resolve itself if things went well. Kang Chan took the elevator and went home. ¡°Wee home.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook cautiously greeted Kang Chan. Kang Chan was trying his best to be nice to her. It was something he had promised himself he would do even if it was hard. It would be over in a month and a half at the most. ¡°Is there anything to eat?¡± ¡°Hmm? You want to eat something?¡± Kang Chan wasn¡¯t hungry¨C¨Cit was just an excuse to strike up a conversation with her. ¡°We have nothing at home, though. What should I do?¡± He just had to pick the wrong question. Yoo Hye-Sook had opened the fridge. Aside from some side dishes, all they had was a slice of cheese. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll buy some fruits for you.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked very happy and grateful. It seemed like she considered him asking for something to eat a good thing. ¡°Shall we go together?¡± She stopped just as she grabbed her purse to leave, looking flustered. Her eyes turned red within a few seconds. ¡°Let¡¯s go together. It¡¯ll be heavy to carry back.¡± ¡°Is that okay with you?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be?¡± Kang Chan ced his bag down and put on his shoes again. He assumed she was holding herself back from asking questions like ¡®You don¡¯t hate me?¡¯ or ¡®Do you really want to go together?¡¯, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t dig deeper. They got to the front of the elevator. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan muttered. Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s lower lip trembled while looking straight at the elevator door. ¡°I knew you were just being nice but I was still rude to you. I guess the incident thoroughly shocked me. I¡¯ll try my best to do better from now on. And thank you.¡± They were in a small space, so Kang Chan¡¯s voice echoed a little. Feeling sorry for his body¡¯s owner, and both sorry and grateful for Yoo Hye-Sook, who was just being nice to the wrong person, he spoke with sincerity. Yoo Hye-Sook sniffled and wiped her tears with her long fingers. When the elevator opened, Kang Chan held the door for her and pressed the button for the first floor. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t say a word because the small elevator was filled with Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s emotions. As she sniffled, it felt as though the pain and sadness she had been struggling with had left her body through her tears. Fortunately, the elevator didn¡¯t stop on other floors. After leaving the main entrance and smelling the fresh air outside, Yoo Hye-Sook took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m so happy that I no longer envy anyone in this world.¡± Could she really love a son who kept getting into trouble, did nothing but grumble all the time, and did as he pleased? ¡°Chan! Should we ask your father to buy dinner?¡± After asking him the question, she acted as though she had made a mistake. It seemed like she thought she had gone too far. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s eyes widened. She looked beautiful. This was the look of a mother who genuinely loved her child. Kang Chan never thought he would see that look ever in his life. ¡°Let me call him.¡± They stood in front of the apartmentplex as she called Kang Dae-Kyung. After saying a bunch of childish phrases like ¡®Chan thanked me!¡¯ and ¡®My son loves me so much!¡¯, Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung finally decided on the restaurant. ¡°Your dad wants us to go to his workce.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook hung up, only then realizing that she was wearing house clothes, which seriously bummed her out. But it was already gettingte, so they took a taxi anyway. ¡°The intersection at Yeongdong Bridge, please.¡± After Yoo Hye-Sook gave the directions to the driver, The hidden awkwardness began to surface. ¡°What are we eating?¡± Kang Chan decided to try his best to converse with her. He thought 45 days might be too short to create memories that a person would cherish for a lifetime. Yoo Hye-Sook appeared to be a talkative person by nature or maybe it was just because she was briefly excited, but she didn¡¯t stop talking. When she mentioned that if anything were to happen to him back at the hospital, she was prepared to die with him and that she had lost the will to live after seeing his cold eyes, Kang Chan felt emotional. It had to have been very hard on her. ¡°Right! Didn¡¯t you say you have ns on Sunday?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Hmm? Do you want toe with me? Can you?¡± ¡°Of course. Where are we going?¡± ¡°You know Aunt Seong-Hee, right? She¡¯s always bragging about her son, so I was nning to take all of us to a French restaurant. I¡¯m childish, aren¡¯t I?¡± There are mothers like her in this world, huh?? Finding Yoo Hye-Sook adorable, Kang Chanughed. ¡°You¡¯re not childish at all.¡± ¡°Thank you, my dear son. Are you really going to go with me?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook teared up even at the littlest things Kang Chan said. Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s office was located in the same direction as Nonhyeon-dong from Yeongdong Bridge. Shortly after, Kang Dae-Kyung emerged from the building looking happy. ¡°Honey!¡± Kang Chan chuckled softly after hearing Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s voice that was full of aegyo. ¡°Are you done with work?¡± ¡°Yeah! Let¡¯s see. Wow! My dear son has brought his mom back to how she used to be.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked at the two of them alternatively with a genuine smile on his face. He was truly happy to see them. ¡°Hmph. What did I do to deserve this?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Let¡¯s go.¡± The three of them headed to a famous restaurant known for its spicy seafood stew. There were quite a lot of people there because it was Friday evening, but the restaurant owner was very happy to see Kang Dae-Kyung, who seemed to be a regr here. Since Kang Chan was already ying the part of a good son, he obediently greeted the owner. The owner guided them to their seats and Kang Dae-Kyung proceeded to ce their order. ¡°You mind if I have some soju? You can drive us back.¡± With Yoo Hye-Sook looking happier, and Kang Chan putting in the effort to be a good son, Kang Dae-Kyung also tried to smile at the end of every sentence. It was a sight Kang Chan never could¡¯ve imagined. Kang Dae-Kyung asking for permission to have a drink felt unfamiliar, but it was nice. Yoo Hye-Sook bragged to Kang Dae-Kyung about how Kang Chan was going to have a meal with her and her friend on Sunday. *** After having a pleasant meal, Kang Chan was truly in high spirits. He washed up, returned to his room, andid down in bed. ¡°I hope you can see this. I¡¯ll be doing my best as well, so don¡¯t be too upset about having your body taken away from you. I¡¯ll try even harder to be a good son during the remaining time I have left here.¡± Kang Chan muttered to himself while facing the ceiling. Bzzzzz. His phone vibrated. He was toozy to take his phone around with him and had thought it had died, but it seemed like it was still on. [I just got done with hagwon. Can we meet by the bench for a bit?] It was a message from Kim Mi-Young. What should he do? It was 9:50 P.M. ording to his phone. [Are you asleep?] Texting was cumbersome, and he could go for a smoke anyway, so he called Kim Mi-Young. ¨C Hello? ¡°Yeah, when should we meet?¡± ¨C¨C I¡¯m already at the bench. Grinning, Kang Chan told her to wait for him, then hung up. ¡°I¡¯m going for a walk!¡± Kang Chan left immediately after hearing an ¡®Okay!¡¯ing from the master bedroom. Snow White was kicking the floor, as usual. ¡°Chan!¡± It was his first time seeing Kim Mi-Young smile so brightly. She ran toward him as if she was going to hug Kang Chan at any moment. ¡®Ugh!¡¯ ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be going home? Your mom is going to get worried.¡± ¡°Hagwon ended early. I was supposed to do some self-studying before taking the hagwon bus, but I decided toe home on my own. I have thirty minutes of free time.¡± She looked extremely ted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about my mom.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Adults can be like that. Have you eaten?¡± ¡°I had a sandwich. I can always go home and eat somethingter. Also, I¡¯m on a diet.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to lose any weight. You look good.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kim Mi-Young smiled. ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, let¡¯s go eat something. I¡¯ll buy you pork cutlets.¡± Being with Kim Mi-Young made Kang Chan feel like he was just hanging out with his youngest sibling whom he had a huge age gap with. Hence, he grew morefortable being around her. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m on a diet. I want to be thinner than Eun-Sil.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like girls like her. They¡¯re too skinny. Girls that look healthy like you are more attractive.¡± ¡°Really? Is that really the case?¡± Is there nowhere to smoke??Kang Chan looked around, trying to find a secluded ce to smoke. ¡°Let¡¯s¡­¡± After hearing Kim Mi-Young speak, Kang Chan suddenly came to his senses. ¡°Snow White.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°I want to treat you right. Let¡¯s go on a 2-day 1-night trip during school vacation. Maybe to a beach. Let¡¯s do that, okay?¡± Kim Mi-Young¡¯s cheeks blushed under the scarlet light. ¡°Instead¡­¡± What now? ¡°Can we kiss each other? Everyone else is doing it.¡± He couldn¡¯t lose his temper. ¡®Hold it in. Hold it in.¡¯ Kim Mi-Young seemed to be afraid when Kang Chan¡¯s eyes looked angry. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a kiss if youe in first ce in the final exam.¡± Kang Chan secretly smiled delightedly after seeing Kim Mi-Young¡¯s surprised face, delighted with the really good excuse he came up with. He was nning to go to France during the school vacation, after all. He admired his ability to adapt fast. ¡°I¡¯ve been in first ce all along. I¡¯lle in first ce again this time around!¡± Up until Kim Mi-Young responded to him. 1. Cute disy of affection that is often expressed through a cute voice, changes to speech, etc. Chapter 11: I Don’t Know About That (1)

Chapter 11: I Don¡¯t Know About That (1)

¡°You have to kiss me!¡± Kang Chan had to run all night to avoid Kim Mi-Young, who was as big as a five-story building. After a while, his eyes snapped open, and he sighed heavily. ¡°It was just a dream.¡± His throat was parched. Snow White wasn¡¯t ugly. In fact, she was rather pretty, had charming eyes, and a fantastic set of breasts. However, she was just a high school student. She was merely infatuated with him right now, just like how girls her age had a crush on teachers or celebrities. However, even if he had morning wood every morning, or even if it was hard to control his urges, he didn¡¯t want to do anything that would scar Snow White for life. And more importantly, getting involved with underage girls was a crime. It was an ufortable start to a fresh morning. Kang Chan went to the bathroom and took a shower mainly using his right hand while keeping his bandaged left hand raised high. The worst thing about prolonged confrontation with their opponents in the African deserts was theck of water. They were only given three 1.5 liter bottles of water each day, drinking half of it and showering with the other half under normal circumstances. That was why Dayeru¡ªwith his huge build¡ªonly showered once every two days. Aftering out of the bathroom, Kang Chan saw Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook sitting in the living room. ¡°Did you take a shower?¡± ¡°Yes. Did you sleep well?¡± Kang Chan greeted his parents. ¡°Yeah! Are you going somewhere?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± At his confusion, Yoo Hye-Sook felt like her assumption was correct. ¡°There¡¯s no school this weekend. Did you not know that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Saturday, though.¡± ¡°Yeah. Today is the second Saturday of the month.¡± Kang Chan racked his brain to figure out what Yoo Hye-Sook was talking about. He didn¡¯t a clue what it was, but it was at least evident he didn¡¯t have to go to school today. ¡°Oh really? I thought I had sses today.¡± ¡°I knew it. You forgot, didn¡¯t you?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Chan smiled, feeling relieved. Kang Chan thought he only didn¡¯t have afternoon sses, but now it seemed like he took a full day off every other week. After breakfast, Kang Dae-Kyung went to work, and Kang Chan turned on theputer in his room to browse the inte. Buzz. Just then, he received a text. [What are you doing?] It was obviously from Seok Kang-Ho. Strangely, Kang Chan found texting inconvenient. ¡°Hello?¡± ¨C¨C It¡¯s me. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¨C¨C What are you doing today? ¡°I don¡¯t know. It turns out I don¡¯t have sses today, so I¡¯m a little disconcerted.¡± ¨C¨C Let¡¯s meet if it¡¯s okay with you. I have to give you your clothes as well. I¡¯ll be in front of your apartmentplex in approximately thirty minutes. What¡¯s up with this guy? Then again, they had always been together even on vacation. ¡°Okay. Buy a few packs of cigarettes when you get here. It¡¯s hard for me to buy some without an ID.¡± ¨C¨C Got it. Kang Chan had thirty minutes of free time. He turned off theputer, got changed, and went to the living room. Yoo Hye-Sook was sitting on the sofa watching TV. There were three rooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen in their apartment. The balcony was connected to the living room. Yoo Hye-Sook turned her head toward Kang Chan. She looked lonely just a moment ago, but happiness removed all traces of it the moment she turned her attention to him. Did a child mean this much to a mother? She had been waiting, lonely and in solitude, for him to open his door. Just looking at his face made her feel happy¡­ ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­going to meet with Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.¡± ¡°Your teacher? Why?¡± ¡°We became closer after the recent incident. He said there was something he wanted to talk to me about. He wanted to have lunch together because he happened to be passing by this area.¡± Even though Yoo Hye-Sook was no longer shocked, she still looked worried. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have to get my school uniform back as well.¡± ¡°Ah! That teacher!¡± Only then did Yoo Hye-Sook feel relieved. ¡°I¡¯ve washed your teacher¡¯s clothes. Invite him over so I can say hello to him. No¨C should I go out to greet him instead?¡± Simply thinking about it was suffocating enough. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll introduce you to him next time.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook walked over from one side of the living room holding a paper bag, then she took out five 10,000 won bills from her wallet. ¡°Everything¡¯s really okay, right?¡± Kang Chan had gotten a little used to her behavior now. Moreover, upon remembering how lonely she looked, he no longer found her annoying. ¡°Oh, my son.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook opened her arms and put them around Kang Chan¡¯s neck. Perfunctorily, in a bid to make an effort to be a better son, he bent his upper body since Yoo Hye-Sook might feel hurt if he were to reject her. However, the moment Yoo Hye-Sook hugged him tightly¡­ ¡°Thank you, my dear son. I love you.¡± For some reason, Kang Chan felt sad out of the blue the moment she patted him on the back. Even when he grumbled, she held in her sadness and put up with him. Yoo Hye-Sook had wanted to die together with him if things had gone wrong when he was still hospitalized. And just a single apology from him orying eyes on him when he came out of his room was enough to te her. Mom. ¡°Sob.¡± Kang Chan immediately burst into tears. It had been twenty years since hest cried. He didn¡¯t cry even when he left Seoul, and he didn¡¯t cry either when he witnessed his unfortunate mother getting beaten up the day before he left. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, my dear son. I love you the most in this world. I¡¯ll protect you no matter what anybody says.¡± ¡°Sob. Sob.¡± The more Kang Chan tried holding back his tears, the more he lost control over them. It was like he was trying to release the sadness he had pent up for thest twenty years. Just once. Just one time. He wanted to be hugged like he was right now. He never longed for anything more desperately in this world than to be in his mother¡¯s arms. In truth, she loves me. She doesn¡¯t hate me¨C¨Cshe truly loves me.? ¡°You must¡¯ve had a very hard time, my son.¡± Even though Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s right shoulder was wet from all his tears, she continued patting his back. ¡°Haa!¡± After exhaling heavily, Kang Chan calmed down a little. Yoo Hye-Sook couldn¡¯t even wipe his tears. She looked at him. ¡°Are you feeling better, dear?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan felt embarrassed, and he thought what happened was cringe-worthy. He wiped his tears with his sleeve and walked toward the front door. ¡°Have a good time.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He still couldn¡¯t bring himself to call her ¡®mom.¡¯ Kang Chan took the stairs because he didn¡¯t want to bump into a certain someone. It was a wise choice. By the time he had left the entrance of the apartmentplex, his emotional heart had hardened. Kang Chan sat on the bench and looked at the bandage around his hand. I must not be weak. ¡°Come to your senses, you fool. I¡¯m not the one they love.¡± That was the truth. If Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were to learn about Kang Chan¡¯s true identity, would they still shower him with as much love as they were doing right now? ¡°I¡¯m leaving anyway.¡± He couldn¡¯t just forget the members of his unit that died unjustly. And for him to avoid Snow White, who was waiting for school vacation, and for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, who were protecting and treating aplete stranger as their son, going to France was the right thing for Kang Chan to do. ¡°Tsk.¡± Kang Chan suddenly felt annoyed because he seemed to be constantly coveting someone else¡¯s parents. Honk honk. He heard a car honk and Seok Kang-Ho calling out to him. Seok Kang-Ho drove off right after Kang Chan got in the car. ¡°Have you been waiting long¡ªhuh? Did you get an eye infection?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably because the wind blew into my eyes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s serious. You used to be able to withstand sandstorms without a problem. At this rate, forget going to Africa. You¡¯ll be eliminated from the recruitment process in France.¡± Kang Chan crying probably didn¡¯t even cross Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s mind. That was clearly how they lived back then. If Dayeru¡¯s eyes were red, Kang Chan would¡¯ve also thought he had an eye infection. ¡°Where are we going?¡± It was after the morning rush hour, so the roads weren¡¯t congested. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to do at home. Let¡¯s just go to the suburbs, cook a chicken or something, eat it, then take a nap.¡± ¡°Cook a chicken?¡± ¡°Hahaha, why are you acting like a country bumpkin? We can just get it at a restaurant for 30,000 won.¡± Kang Chan had never expected Dayeru to call him a country bumpkin ever in his life. When he turned his head slightly toward Dayeru, it seemed like thetter had adapted rather well to his current self. ¡°Daye.¡± When Kang Chan called his name using his old voice, Seok Kang-Ho stopped smiling and looked at him. ¡°Are you satisfied with who you are right now?¡± Seok Kang-Ho grinned. ¡°So it¡¯s finallye.¡± ¡°What did?¡± ¡°I was like you, too. I felt like I was going crazy living in someone else¡¯s body. I don¡¯t like it, but I can¡¯t say Ipletely hate it either. To put it bluntly, there¡¯s no way to go back to my old self, anyway, and it¡¯s not like anybody will believe me if I told them about it.¡± Kang Chan nodded. While he was at the hospital, it seemed like Seok Kang-Ho was a mess in school and at home. ¡°My wife and my daughter were the ones who straightened me out. This body is too old to be a mercenary, and I can¡¯t help but wonder what would happen to the ones I¡¯d be leaving behind if I were to leave.¡± His train of thought wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°Haha. After all, I get lonely.¡± ¡°Bullshit.¡± ¡°In any case, I thought that if the universe was crazy enough to give me a second chance, I should just ept it and live a good life.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not because of your wife?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s be honest. The women in France are much more attractive.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Her looks are average, but every time she runs to me to hug me after seeing me struggling with life, she bes prettier to me. But just as I was making up my mind to ept my new life, you came along.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Remember the time you took the utility knife? At that time, I wondered if you had taken over the student¡¯s body.¡± ¡°So that was why you said it was because of repeated training.¡± ¡°Phew! It¡¯s nice to not feel lonely and to have someone to talk to. I can¡¯t say much about going to France, but, frankly, it¡¯s a pity.¡± They had already left the city center and were driving fast. ¡°It¡¯s very peaceful here, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯re saying that after getting into fights two days into going to school?¡± Seok Kang-Ho retorted. ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Kang Chan startedughing as well. ¡°Ah! I¡¯m nning to meet with the gangsters on Monday.¡± Kang Chan suddenly remembered to tell Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Where? I¡¯lle with you.¡± ¡°Give it a rest. It¡¯s a hassle. Right! Have you helped me get out of ss?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get it approved on Monday morning, so you don¡¯t have to go to sses in the afternoon onward.¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± ¡°Has it been that hard on you?¡± ¡°Forget about it.¡± What was the point of talking about it? Kang Chan stared nkly out the window. It wouldn¡¯t be terrible to live like this¨C¨Cif only all of this belonged to him and none of his unit members suffered an unjust death. After driving for about an hour along an open road, Seok Kang-Ho pulled over at a valley close to Gapyeong. Chicken stew. Maekgeolli mixed with soda. Naps. Knee-deep waters. He loved all of it. It felt like he had gotten the break he had always imagined during an intense battle. Chk chk. ¡°Hoo!¡± The two of them thoroughly exhaled the cigarette smoke while sitting on the restaurant¡¯s low wooden bench. ¡°How many people do you think you¡¯ve killed so far?¡± Dayeru asked Kang Chan out of the blue. While Kang Chan was recalling his past battles, Seok Kang-Ho smiled bitterly as he spoke. ¡°Would we have collectively killed at least a hundred people?¡± ¡°Probably around that many. Why are you talking about this when we¡¯re having a good time?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Hoo! Do you not know me well?¡± ¡°You give back as much as you receive from others¡­ and you take care of our unit members.¡± ¡°You know it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a waste.¡± ¡°This is good. Wouldn¡¯t it be better for me toe back alive? When I¡¯m back, let¡¯s visit this ce again.¡± ¡°Ha! Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°Just leave it at that, you punk!¡± The two of themughed out loud at the same time, but because Seok Kang-Ho started drooling, Kang Chan chastised him, calling him a ¡®dirty bastard,¡¯ 1. Originally, students had to go to school on Saturdays as well, but from 2010 onwards, the Korean public school system changed so that the students have 2 Saturdays off per month. 2. Korean sparkling rice wine Chapter 12: I Don’t Know About That (2)

Chapter 12: I Don¡¯t Know About That (2)

Kang Chan came home in high spirits. Yoo Hye-Sook happily weing him also felt nice. ¡°My dear son! What did you do today?¡± ¡°We went to the stream in Gapyeong, had chicken stew, and talked about all kinds of things.¡± ¡°What a wonderful teacher. I¡¯m truly grateful for him. How did he even wash your school uniform so thoroughly? It¡¯s so clean.¡± What would she have thought of Seok Kang-Ho as a teacher if she saw them smoking cigarettes together? Kang Chan gave a vague response, then went into his room and fell asleep. *** Kang Chan woke up early the next day. By the time he got to the living room, breakfast had already been prepared. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say we were having brunch today?¡± ¡°But what if you get hungry? Here, eat. I have to go do my makeup.¡± ¡°Do you not realize I¡¯m here too?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Stop acting like a child. If you¡¯re hungry, go you feed yourself!¡± When Yoo Hye-Sook red at him, Kang Dae-Kyung obediently sat down at the dining table. She had prepared soybean paste stew, napa cabbage kimchi, cucumber kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts, and an unknown stir-fry dish for breakfast. Even though Kang Chan and Yoo Hye-Sook had be a lot morefortable around each other, he still felt awkward being around Kang Dae-Kyung, especially when they were alone like they were right now. Let¡¯s give it our best shot. 45 days. Kang Chan wanted to repay them for what they had done for him, even if it was just a small gesture on his part. ¡°How¡¯s your car import businessing along?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m doing my best, so we¡¯ll just have to see the results.¡± Just as Kang Chan picked up some seasoned bean sprouts with a pair of chopsticks, Kang Dae-Kyung continued. ¡°Ah! Remember how you took the call for me previously? Because of that, I could brag about my son for the first time in my life.¡± ¡°Feel free to let me know whenever you need my help.¡± ¡°Oh yeah?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan decided to put in a little more effort. ¡°Who will be interpreting for the peopleing over from the French office?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°I think you should hire a credible interpreter, considering what happened previously.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be careful.¡± When they were done with breakfast, they wrapped up the conversation. ¡°Honey! Put the dirty dishes in the sink and the leftovers in the fridge.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook urately deduced that they were done eating. Deep down, Kang Chan was surprised since she did that purely based on gut feeling. After washing up, Kang Chan changed into a modest pair of pants and a T-shirt. ¡°Oh no, we¡¯rete. Do my clothes and bag look good, honey?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook kept grilling Kang Dae-Kyung until he finally said, ¡®They look fantastic.¡¯ They could only leave the house after hearing that from him. When they exited the underground parking lot, Yoo Hye-Sook looked nervous and excited at the same time. ¡°Ah, right. Do you want to meet those people from the French office? I want to brag about you, and you can also check to see if the interpreter is doing their job right.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked his son. ¡°You¡¯re giving our child a hard time! Why would you bring him along?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook scolded him. ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Kang Chan wanted to give Kang Dae-Kyung a pleasant memory as a gift. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°Oh no, our son is going to have to work hard. But if you go, it would take some weight off your dad¡¯s shoulders. Isn¡¯t that right, honey?¡± ¡°Of course. Just thinking about it makes my shoulders feel lighter.¡± It was a Sunday morning so the roads were rtively empty. They got to their destination in no time. If they had known this, Kang Chan and Yoo Hye-Sook would''ve taken a taxi instead of asking Kang Dae-Kyung to give them a ride since he probably wanted to rest. ¡°Eat lots of delicious food, and brag about our son as much as you want.¡± ¡°Okay, honey. See you.¡± Kang Chan was slowly getting goosebumps, so he quickly said goodbye to Kang Dae-Kyung. They got out of the car, which was parked right in front of the restaurant. Martin Levasseur. The restaurant was named after a street in France. It was akin to naming a restaurant ¡®Masan¡¯ or ¡®Jeonju¡¯ in Korean. That wasn¡¯t important, though. It was just a restaurant they were having a meal at. When Kang Chan followed Yoo Hye-Sook into the restaurant, which was rather crowded. Half of their customers were Korean, and the other half were French. ¡°Over here.¡± Kang Chan saw a middle-aged woman sitting inside the restaurant with her hand raised to catch their attention. ¡®I get why she doesn¡¯t want to lose to her friend.¡¯ Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s friend, Seong-Hee, was wearing an elegant outfit. More importantly, she looked very confident. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you!¡± ¡°Hello, how are you?¡± Kang Chan greeted Seong-Hee. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Chan. I heard you¡¯ve hurt yourself. Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a lot better now.¡± ¡°Oh my! Your hand hasn¡¯t healed?¡± ¡°No, not yet.¡± Kang Chan was determined to do his very best. There was a table for four in front of a bench seat that was leaning against a wall. Kang Chan got Yoo Hye-Sook to sit on the inside, while he sat on the outside. . There were three girls at the next table that looked half-Korean and half-French. One of them was so attractive that she caught Kang Chan¡¯s eye. She looked just like a sexy Barbie doll. Kim Seong-Hee and Yoo Hye-Sook had been friends for twenty years. Her husband worked in finance, and her son¡¯s name was Bang Dae-Shik. He was a skinny and high-strung bespectacled boy of medium stature. He was a senior at Daesan Foreign Language High School. Kang Chan promptly gathered the other party¡¯s characteristics. ¡°The tiger moms have recently organized a private tutoring ss. I¡¯ll save you a spot, so make sure you send Chan there.¡± Kim Seong-Hee shook her index finger, like a parent who was criticizing a student with poor grades. She was conceited. ¡°How are his grades in English?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°Not bad? Get your act together! If he¡¯s attending a regr high school instead of a foreignnguage one, he should be the top student in his school. Oh my, I get so frustrated whenever I look at you.¡± Like Heo Eun-Sil, Bang Dae-Shik was looking down on Kang Chan. Do you want me to teach you a lesson like what I did to her? Kang Chan tried his best to calm himself down by looking at Yoo Hye-Sook. After seeing her drooping shoulders, Kang Chan felt so bad for her that he even pitied her. To Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s disappointment, it was a brunch buffet. Furthermore, all the servers were Koreans. Regardless of how much she wanted to show off Kang Chan¡¯s proficiency in French, she didn¡¯t have any opportunity to do so. If they were having an ¨¤ carte dinner, they would at least be able to call for the manager and elegantly ce their order in French. ¡°Monsieur!¡± Kim Seong-Hee spoke in a conceited way even when she called out to an employee who was obviously Korean. ¡°Bring me another ss of water.¡± The best part was she asked for a ss of water in Korean. ¡°My son goes to a foreignnguage high school, so he already knows how to say some simple words in French. He has only been there for a month, but he can already introduce himself. Why else do you think I picked such a restaurant? The children will put in as much effort as the mothers put into them. I¡¯m telling you, this is very important!¡± ¡°My son speaks French too.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook finally got in a word. ¡°Oh? Which hagwon does he go to? Daechi-dong? Cheongdam-dong? Did he take private sses? Oh my! Oh my! My son is learning from a French student who was introduced to us by the French embassy. Where is Chan learning from?¡± ¡°He learned it on his own from the inte¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Kim Seong-Hee and Bang Dae-Shik openlyughed at them. Yoo Hye-Sook nced at Kang Chan. She looked crestfallen. There was anger, frustration, and emptiness in her eyes. She had been looking forward to this day for so long, but it wasn¡¯t turning out the way she thought it would. ¡®Tsk. Should I order something special instead?¡¯ It was so childish. Not to mention, that was a level of proficiency even Bang Dae-Shik would be able to do as well. While Kang Chan was briefly agonizing over what to do, he kept overhearing the conversation going on at the next table, which had initially caught his attention. Perhaps it was because he didn¡¯t want to hear how conceited Kim Seong-Hee was when she spoke. Even though all thedies at the next table were mixed, two of them looked French, and the other one looked Korean. The issue here was their conversation. The girls cleverly mixed Korean and French the entire time they were talking about doing the deed. The Barbie doll talked about how the guy she met two nights ago was worn out after doing it only twice, and how when she slept with a ck guy, he was so good in bed that they stayed up all night. She wasn¡¯t shy about it at all. The three girls werepletely carried away. They had attractive blonde hair, blue deep-set eyes, defined features, and mannequin-like figures. But their conversation was akin to a detailed report of a depraved Barbie doll¡¯s nightlife. Even though people in France were open-minded enough to have open marriages, it was rare to find degenerates like these girls. Kang Chan looked at them speechlessly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he understands what we¡¯re saying.¡± The Barbie doll remarked in French while looking straight at Kang Chan. Speechless, Kang Chan could only smirk at her. ¡°You understood what we¡¯re saying?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t eavesdrop on purpose. It simply caught my attention because the conversation here was boring. I¡¯m sorry if I offended you.¡± The three girls stared at him, amazed by his proficiency in French. That wasn¡¯t all. Kim Seong-Hee and Bang Dae-Shik also shifted their gazes between Kang Chan and the Barbie doll with nk looks on their faces. The Barbie doll seemed fascinated by Kang Chan. ¡°You¡¯re good at French, huh. Do you live here?¡± ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s not what you¡¯re thinking. This is a family brunch type of situation.¡± The Barbie doll stole a nce at Yoo Hye-Sook, then winked at him. ¡°The imbecile across from me can barely introduce himself, while the other two women can¡¯t speak French at all, so you don¡¯t have to greet them.¡± Kang Chan told her. That level of French was what Yoo Hye-Sook wanted to show off. And he was even easily carrying out a conversation in French with a dazzling French beauty. She promptly remarked, ¡®My son learned French on the inte. He must be a genius,¡¯ and talked about how Kang Chan helped his father when he received a call from France. She bragged about her son, looking proud. The Barbie doll could understand Korean. She looked at Kang Chan and smiled meaningfully at him when she saw how proud Yoo Hye-Sook was of him. ¡°Just think of it as making a middle-aged woman happy. I¡¯ll return the favor in the future if I get the chance to do so.¡± ¡°Sounds good. I¡¯m Michelle. This is Cecil and Cindy.¡± ¡°Kang Chan.¡± When the Barbie doll introduced herself and the other two girls, he simply replied with his name. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ll help you out. I think it¡¯s going to give you the upper hand. What do you think? Wouldn¡¯t it be fun to ridicule the imbecile?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a hassle.¡± The Barbie doll bit her lip, then said, ¡°You¡¯re very charming. Do you want to meet with me tonight?¡± ¡°Woah!¡± Michelle¡¯s two friends next to her eximed. Yoo Hye-Sook would curse France for the rest of her life if she were to understand their conversation. Luckily, she seemed a little more excited. ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± ¡°Why? You seem like a fun guy. What do you say?¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± He wasn¡¯t Smithen¡¯s reincarnation. The funny thing was that the two girls next to her were looking at Kang Chan while swallowing hard. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal. The three of us will go all out to make you look good in front of your family, and in return, you¡¯ll bring it tonight. Sounds good?¡± These girls¡­? Kang Chan didn¡¯t have time to be mad or stop them. The Barbie doll leaped to her feet and stood behind Kang Chan, while the other two stood at his side each. At that moment, everyone in the restaurant immediately looked at Kang Chan¡¯s table. ¡°You must be proud to have such a wonderful son. He¡¯s so fluent in French that it seemed as though he had lived In France. I¡¯m Michelle. This is Cecil, and this is Cindy.¡± She deliberately spoke very fast in French. Meanwhile, Michelle was pressing her chest against the back of Kang Chan¡¯s head. Puzzled, Kim Seong-Hee looked at Bang Dae-Shik. ¡°I think they¡¯re saying hi to us¡­?¡± Bang Dae-Shik looked equally puzzled. The sly and evil Michelle blinked innocently, shifting her gaze among the three people, as though she was wondering why they didn¡¯t react. ¡°Dear, what is she saying?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook smiled innocently at Michelle as she asked Kang Chan. ¡°She just wants to say hi because she had fun talking to me. Her name is Michelle.¡± The Barbie doll nodded and said hello to Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°This is Cecil, and she¡¯s Cindy.¡± ¡°Oh my, I see. Tell them I said hi.¡± Kang Chan turned around and looked at Michelle. And then he leaned his upper body away from the chair. Her bare chest within her blouse was right in front of his face. ¡°Thank you. I think that¡¯s enough, so let¡¯s stop here.¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s a breach of contract. Give me your number. If you don¡¯t give it to me, I will speak in Korean from now on and humiliate you.¡± Kang Chan clenched his teeth and forced a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here.¡± ¡°This is yourst chance. I¡¯m feeling hot. Make up your mind fast or you¡¯re going to regret it.¡± Kang Chan almost dragged her out of there, but he held it in with his superhuman will. He was fighting a losing battle today. He had no way out because Yoo Hye-Sook was being held hostage. Kang Chan continued forcing a smile and gave her his number. After Michelle saved it, she suddenly leaned her head closer. ¡°Why are you so old-fashioned? I¡¯m just saying hi, darling.¡± Smooch. Smooch. When Michelle gave Kang Chan a bise¡¯ greeting, the other two girls smiled delightedly, yet insidiously, and greeted him too. ¡°You didn¡¯t give me the wrong number, right?¡± ¡°Tsk, I don¡¯t do things like that.¡± ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯m going now. We¡¯re looking forward to seeing youter!¡± As soon as the three girls left, everyone else looked away and resumed what they were doing. ¡°Hye-Sook, which site did Chan use to learn French?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. He found it on his own, so I don¡¯t know.¡± Kim Seong-Hee looked at Kang Chan, her eyes filled with envy and jealousy. ¡°I just bought a French grammar book and studied it, and I looked for French sites and chat rooms.¡± Kang Chan told her. Kim Seong-Hee red at Bang Dae-Shik as though she was going to lecture him hard. The mes raging in her eyes seemed about to spread to her bangs at any moment. ¡°Dae-Shik! You need more French sses.¡± Bang Dae-Shik pursed his lips, looking as if he was about to cry. After brunch, Kim Seong-Hee left first. ¡°Son! I¡¯m sooooo happy.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s smile reminded him of Snow White, but Kang Chan couldn¡¯t even react because she linked arms with him. The feeling of his mother clinging onto his right arm and leaning on him made him feel warm and fuzzy. When she turned to look at Kang Chan, she was looking up at him with the happiest face in the world. ¡°Were you okay today?¡± ¡°Of course! I think I¡¯ll even walk home from here.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook was actually skipping down the street. It must have been a good memory, right? Kang Chan hoped that was the case. ¡®Thank you. And I¡¯m sorry.¡± 1. The original term used in Korean is ¡®pig mom(s)¡¯, which refers to mothers who spare no effort in trying to improve their children¡¯s grades by grouping them together for private tutoring sessions. They strategize, lobby, and gain ess to and negotiate with the best tutors. 2. Traditional French way of greeting someone by ¡®kissing¡¯ them on both cheeks, without the lips actually touching the cheek. Chapter 13: Even When You Knew? (1)

Chapter 13: Even When You Knew? (1)

The morning after getting home, Yoo Hye-Sook repeated what happened at the restaurant to Kang Dae-Kyung about five times. Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s reaction was surprising. Every time he heard Yoo Hye-Sook recounting the story, he would smile widely without showing any signs of annoyance. Kang Chan was engrossed in browsing the inte on theputer in his room. He had been trying his best to look for records of the battles in Africa but to no avail. Buzzz- Buzzz- Buzzz- Kang Chan picked up his phone and smiled softly. [Are you home?] It was a text from Kim Mi-Young. He called her in response. ¨C¨C Hello? ¡°Yeah.¡± ¨C¨C Where are you? ¡°At home.¡± ¨C¨C Can youe out for a bit? I have some free time after hagwon. ¡°You have to go to hagwon even on Sundays?¡± ¨C¨C It¡¯s for my academic records. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what she meant by that, but he took her word for it. ¨C¨C You can¡¯te out? ¡°Where are you?¡± ¨C¨C Tron Square. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know where that was. He hesitated for a moment, but he didn¡¯t want to disappoint Kim Mi-Young, who was already there. ¡°Where do you wanna meet?¡± ¨C¨C Eunbo Bookstore. It¡¯s on the third floor. A joyful reply came from the other end of the line. Kang Chan changed into his jeans and T-shirt and went into the living room. ¡°I¡¯m going out to see Mi-Young for a bit.¡± ¡°Mi-Young? Your ssmate, Kim Mi-Young?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked worried. Kang Chan was puzzled, but he wasn¡¯t the type to be inquisitive and get to the bottom of it. He proceeded to put his sneakers on at the front door. ¡°Do you still have some allowance left?¡± ¡°I still have the money you gave me yesterday.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan smiled at Yoo Hye-Sook and walked out the front door. *** ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Even Kang Dae-Kyung noticed that Yoo Hye-Sook looked tense. ¡°I¡¯m worried her mother will say something terrible about our son again.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung blinked. ¡°Her mother is well-known in this apartmentplex. She previously went to the house of her daughter¡¯s close friend to talk to her parents, telling them to keep their daughter away from hers so she wouldn¡¯t interfere with her daughter¡¯s studies.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Her dad¡¯s a judge.¡± ¡°What has that got to do with our children being friends?¡± ¡°Honey! Mothers aren¡¯t like that. It really hurts a parent¡¯s pride to hear someone say something like that. If Mi-Young¡¯s dad wasn¡¯t a judge, she would¡¯ve been so badly bullied that she wouldn¡¯t have been able to go to school. Her mother even went to the school and requested them not to put students that disrupt sses in the same ss as her daughter.¡± ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung shook his head, speechless. ¡°Things will be okay, right?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be? Seong-Hee¡¯s son isn¡¯t even close to being on Chan¡¯s level.¡± ¡°What do we do if shees knocking on our door?¡± ¡°What do you mean? All we have to do is agree and say ¡®okay.¡¯¡± ¡°Honey!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just focus on thinking about brunch with Seong-Hee today. Why worry about something that hasn¡¯t even happened yet on such a good day?¡± It seemed like Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s words had a positive effect on Yoo Hye-Sook, considering a whimsical smile appeared on her face. ¡°Since our son isn¡¯t home, let¡¯s have that steamy session I¡¯ve been waiting for¡­¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked dumbfounded. Kang Dae-Kyung continued, ¡°We couldn¡¯t do it properlyst night because Chan went out.¡± ¡°Have you been taking drugs without my knowledge?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get in trouble if we take drugs here. Don¡¯t be like that. Okay?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook walked over to Kang Dae-Kyung, who was sitting on the sofa, and sat on hisp. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Chan.¡± She proceeded to hug Kang Dae-Kyung tightly. *** Tron Square was so close to their apartment that Kang Chan only had to pay the minimum taxi fare. At first nce, it looked huge, but as soon as he entered the mall, he found the lobby the size of a ser field packed with people. Kang Chan took the esctor and made his way up to the third floor. Eunbo Bookstore¡¯s entrance design was that of a monster¡¯s mouth facing the esctor, looking as though it was devouring it. Kim Mi-Young was easy to spot since she stood by the entrance, looking at the peopleing up the esctor. ¡°Chan!¡± Kim Mi-Young jumped joyously and greeted Kang Chan. She was cute. Just like a maknae female friend. ¡°Are you buying some books?¡± he asked her. ¡°No.¡± Kang Chan stared at Kim Mi-Young. That was when the realization hit him. Even though she was smiling broadly, she had the typical look that lonely people had. Perhaps Kang Chan was the only person she found sce in. Among the people that signed up to be mercenaries, there were quite a lot of them who had the same look on their faces because they had a lonely life. Those men were tough¨C¨Cthey tried to prove themselves through fights. ¡°I want to watch a movie. I have some money,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. Kim Mi-Young looked kind of sad. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go watch one. What do you want to watch?¡± His response seemed to have flustered and dumbfounded her. People would usually have that look on their faces if someone beat the living daylights out of them and then handed them a bottle of beer afterward. While Kang Chan was on the esctor with Kim Mi-Young, he thought about the first time he met Dayeru. Kang Chan had almost killed him in their third and final fight. ¡°It¡¯s my birthday today,¡± Mi-Young suddenly spoke up. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I said it¡¯s my birthday today.¡± I see. Kang Chan nodded. Kim Mi-Young looked at Kang Chan with a sad look on her face. Was she hinting at him to give her a present? Kang Chan had never celebrated his birthday in his life and had never met anyone who wanted him to do anything for their birthday. He decided to think about it during the movie. Ironically, there were no seats, probably because it was Sunday. All the movie tickets starting in the next three hours had been sold out, including the movie with the poster of a pretty woman smiling broadly while standing next to a dumb-looking man. Kim Mi-Young¡¯s shoulders drooped. Was she that disappointed because they couldn¡¯t catch a movie? ¡®What should I do?¡¯ Even if he wanted to do something for her, he needed to know what his options were. Kang Chan then looked around. Kim Mi-Young whipped out her flip phone from her pocket and her face immediately turned pale after seeing the name of the caller. Kim Mi-Young nced at Kang Chan, then answered the phone. ¡°Hi, mom.¡± She shifted her gaze down to the floor. ¡°No, I was done with hagwon earlier than expected, so I swung by Eunbo Bookstore to buy a book.¡± Kim Mi-Young looked like she was about to cry. ¡°Mom, there¡¯s a book I¡¯m interested in. Can I read it here before I go home?¡± Kang Chan seemed to have an idea of what her mother¡¯s reply was. Kim Mi-Young still looked sad. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s my birthday today, though.¡± Such defiance would only give the other party even more justification to stand their ground. ¡°Okay.¡± Then their call ended ording to Kang Chan¡¯s expectations. Kim Mi-Young felt resentful, disappointed, and so angry that it seemed like she was about to explode. Nheless, she had no choice but to suppress those feelings even though they were already mixing and entangling with one another. It could all be seen in her eyes. Kang Chan gestured to the entrance with a nod. The girl was no longer jumping for joy and instead walked with drooping shoulders. ¡°Snow White.¡± ¡°The hagwon probably called her. I studied really hard toplete the test early today, though¡­¡± ¡°You have to take tests at hagwon too?¡± ¡°If you make mistakes, you have to stay there until you get the right answer. That¡¯s why I tried my best to get them all right on my first try. My mom probably told the hagwon to text her.¡± ¡®You have a difficult life too, huh.¡¯ When Kang Chan suddenly wanted to console her, he smirked to himself. Since when did he be such a caring person? He felt like he could hear Seok Kang-Ho teasing him. Kang Chan held out his right hand and grabbed Kim Mi-Young¡¯s hand. She looked at him in surprise. ¡°Birthdays may be important, but I hope you¡¯ll study hard ande in first ce in the entire school.¡± Kang Chan could feel goosebumps all over his back, but hepletely ignored his body¡¯s reaction to his words. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for our promise, I would¡¯ve kissed you here today. What a pity.¡± Kang Chan clicked his tongue. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He regretted looking at Kim Mi-Young¡¯s blushing face. He truly didn¡¯t expect her to look so happy because of what he said in passing. Kang Chan suddenly pulled her closer to him. ¡°Huh?¡± Kim Mi-Young froze the moment Kang Chan held her in his arms. Even though she talked about their rtionship so casually, she seemed very nervous when he hugged her. ¡°Cheer up. And do well on your exams. Even though we¡¯re not doing anything for your birthday today, I¡¯ll celebrate it with you next year. Okay?¡± Snow White buried her head in his arms and hugged him tightly. There was still some space between them below the waist, though. Kang Chan patted Kim Mi-Young on the back just as Yoo Hye-Sook did to him. ¡°Happy birthday.¡± Those passing by looked at them with judgmental eyes. It was emotional. Anything more than a hug would be dangerous. It waspletely different seeing her as a maknae female friend versus feeling her chest pressed against him. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Kang Chan stepped away from the blushing Kim Mi-Young. ¡°I¡¯m happy.¡± Kang Chan grinned. Yoo Hye-Sook said she was happy in the morning, and Kim Mi-Young said the same thing in the afternoon. Had he ever made anyone happy before in his life? There had been a couple of times when his men thanked him for saving them during difficult battles, but nobody had ever told him he made them happy. Kang Chan walked back to the apartmentplex holding Kim Mi-Young¡¯s hand. He was worried for nothing¨C¨CKim Mi-Young¡¯s mother wasn¡¯t waiting for her outside. ¡°Go home and study hard.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Kang Chan found Kim Mi-Young cute. However, he was also worried because he tended to blindly focus on one particr thing. ¡°Run along.¡± ¡°Alright. You should go home too.¡± Kim Mi-Young skipped into the apartmentplex. ¡®Am I doing something wrong?¡¯ At this rate, would the naive child be okay once he suddenly vanished to France? He was also worried about Yoo Hye-Sook. He had to think of a good excuse to go to France. Nothing eventful happened after he got home. Kang Chan was more worried about his sses than his rendezvous with the gangsters tomorrow. Just like that, Kang Chan¡¯s Sunday came to an end. 1. It¡¯s a Korean term that refers to the youngest person in any group, like a friend group, or at work, etc. Chapter 14，Part1: Even When You Knew? (2)

Chapter14£¬Part1: Even When You Knew? (2)

Monday morning. Kang Chan was walking onto the school grounds with Kim Mi-Young when he saw Seok Kang-Ho standing in front of the school gate with a hard look on his face. ¡®What¡¯s with him? Did he fail to get me out of my sses?¡¯ When their gazes met, Seok Kang-Ho gave him a look that told Kang Chan to meet him before lunch. The students that ran into Kang Chan on the stairs or in the hallway still avoided making eye contact with him, and silence still followed wherever he went. ¡°Ha,¡± Kang Chan sighed, feeling frustrated, but would anything change? ¡®Why don¡¯t I just give studying a shot?¡¯ What about an easy subject like Japanese? Just as Kang Chan was staring at the textbook intensely¡­ ¡°Kang Chan!¡± It was Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan obediently followed behind him down the hallway. Both of them kept their mouths shut the entire time they were walking since there might be other people around. It looked as though a student was being hauled into the teacher¡¯s office because he had seriously gotten himself into trouble, but Kang Chan had no reason to be concerned about anything like that. Seok Kang-Ho took Kang Chan to the basement of the school building where the teacher¡¯s office was located. There was a partition wall to the left of the entrance, and a structure on the semi-basement with a window that overlooked the field. ¡°I¡¯m going to use this ce for the athletic club.¡± It had a squareyout, each side spanning thirty meters. It was a decent space. Although there were only three chairs at the moment, after cleaning up and adding some equipment, it would be a good enough make-shift gym for Kang Chan to get fit before leaving for France. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Hang on.¡± Seok Kang-Ho left and returned a couple of momentster with two paper cups. Squeaak. nk! ¡°Ah, it¡¯s hot!¡± Coffee seemed to have sshed onto Dayeru¡¯s lips when he closed the door while holding a cup of coffee in his mouth. Strangely, he wasn¡¯t good with hot drinks or food. Both of them sat downfortably. ¡°The gangsters you¡¯re meeting today are not your usual thugs,¡± Seok Kang-Ho began. ¡°Is that why you were frowning this morning?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the issue here.¡± ¡°So what do you suggest I do? Run away? Or report it to the cops?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get the police to help us with them.¡± Kang Chan chuckled. ¡°This is no time to beughing. If things go south, you¡¯ll be going to France on crutches!¡± Seok Kang-Ho spoke in a frustrated tone, dragging the end of his sentence. ¡°If you call the cops, Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun would be done for, no?¡± ¡°Do you really think that would happen?¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t you say they¡¯re not the usual thugs?¡± Seok Kang-Ho grunted in response. ¡°Daye.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Legio Patria Nostra.¡± ¡°The Legion is our Fathend. ¡° ¡°And?¡± ¡°We will not retreat.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Then why are you suggesting I run away?¡± Seok Kang-Ho seemed as though he hadn¡¯t given up on persuading Kang Chan. ¡°Even though Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun are total trash, I gave them my word that I would go. I¡¯d rather be stabbed with a knife than go back on my word,¡± Kang Chan continued. Seok Kang-Ho puffed out his chest and exhaled, sounding like he was groaning. ¡°Okay. In that case, make sure youe see me before you leave.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to sharpen a knife for you.¡± ¡°Hahahaha, are you trying to put me behind bars?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to use a knife anyway. Isn¡¯t it better if it fits in your hand?¡± ¡°I¡¯d be disgraced if they were to do a body search. I¡¯ll figure out what to do on my own.¡± Seok Kang-Ho finished the rest of the coffee in one go. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll go get the bullied students¡¯ records.¡± As soon as Seok Kang-Ho left, Kang Chan walked over to the window that was facing the field. The window was at his waist level. From the outside, the window would be on the second floor of the building, so a nce through it would be enough to see the entire field. There was such a thing as fate, and it felt as though it was endlessly forcing him to face a life-and-death battle. Kang Chan went to France because he didn¡¯t want to be someone without anything to his name or power. But now, the life he wanted was all around him. Maybe he should just try living afortable life. Being in the middle of the pack, closing an eye when others got bullied, as well as living with a harmonious family that loved him¡­ ¡°Tsk!¡± Considering Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s personality had influenced Dayeru, Kang Chan felt unhappy about the possibility that he was exhibiting the personality of his body¡¯s owner. Let¡¯s not live like a coward. A bowl of pork cutlet. What was the difference between the pork cutlet he had been craving badly up until the day before he left Korea and the one he was having right now? Was he supposed to make peace with the guys that were much bigger than the students they were harassing and turn his back on those who had died an unjust death? He smirked. ¡°You messed with the wrong person.¡± Squeaaak. Seok Kang-Ho was opening the iron door when he paused. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the look in your eyes?¡± m. It seemed like fixing the door was of utmost priority. ¡°These are the bullied students.¡± ¡°What? Two tenth-graders and two eleventh-graders?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kang Chan looked at the four files containing the students¡¯ records and looked up at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not in the same grade?¡± Kang Chan questioned. ¡°There are twelfth graders that are being bullied too, but the tenth graders have it the worst. Graduation is just around the corner for the twelfth graders, but the tenth graders have to put up with the harassment for the rest of their remaining high school life, so more often than not, students like them end up dropping out or making extreme choices.¡° ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Even if they were to transfer to a different school, things would remain the same because of the damned inte. If it was posted on the school website that they transferred to another school because they got bullied here, they would automatically be bullied at the new school too, so they¡¯d have nowhere to escape.¡± Kang Chan bit his lips hard and nodded. ¡°Are there any other students who are being bullied apart from these?¡± ¡°These four students have it the worst. There are ten other students who are struggling as well, but their situations are rtively better.¡± Seok Kang-Ho seemed happy and curious at the same time. ¡°Let¡¯s form an athletic club,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s form an athletic club. That way, even after I leave during the school vacation, they can unite together and deal with their bullies. Wouldn¡¯t that be better?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°Single out the remaining students and bring me their records. I¡¯ll round them up during lunch and sign them up for the athletic club.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that. It would be a lot easier for us to get the budget for the exercise equipment. I¡¯ll be the teacher-in-charge.¡± The excited Seok Kang-Ho made his way back to the ssroom. Even though it was an impromptu n, it wasn¡¯t bad. Shortly after, Seok Kang-Ho reappeared with ten more files. Two of the students were female. Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chen then removed their jackets and started cleaning the space, sweeping and scrubbing the floor. ¡°By the way, which subject are you supposed to be teaching right now?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Perhaps Seok Kang-Ho couldn¡¯t hear him properly over the scrubbing sounds, but he rubbed his forehead with his sleeve and frowned. ¡°I¡¯m asking you which subject you¡¯re teaching.¡± ¡°P.E..¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡± Just like that, morning came and went. *** Lunchtime. The tenth graders took their lunch in their ssrooms, while the eleventh and twelfth graders ate in the school cafeteria. Tenth grade, ss 3. The ssroom was very noisy because it was lunchtime. Some students shared a desk with their good friends, sitting across from one another and eating together, while some students ate by themselves. With his head lowered, Moon Ki-Jin forced himself to eat. The other students sat far away from him as though there were infectious viruses on the desk he sat at. It was like a remote ind floating within the ssroom. It all started when a close friend of his started hanging out with the bullies. The bullies then told everyone not to hang out with him for unspecified reasons. As a result, not only Moon Ki-Jin¡¯s close friend but even the entire ss started to turn their backs on him one by one until he had bepletely invisible to them. There were people that looked for him, though. The bullies. Even though he tried resisting, begging, texting, and even buying food for them, the more he did those things, the more severe the bullying and teasing became. Lately, all Moon Ki-Jin wanted to do was jump off the roof. That was because he saw how a sunbae in twelfth grade named Kang Chan fought against a gangster. He had also heard that that sunbae had been an errand boy in the past, but he had changed after falling off the roof of a building. When he heard that Kang Chan went up against six people at once on the field, it gave him goosebumps. Kang Chan looked so terrifying when he fought the gangsters in front of the school that Moon Ki-Jin didn¡¯t have the time to think of anything else. 1. The Korean hierarchy in school, at work, or in the military, is clearly shown by how Koreans call the people who have been in thepany/military longer, or students in a higher grade, ¡®senior¡¯(??). Chapter 14，Part2: Even When You Knew? (2)

Chapter14£¬Part2: Even When You Knew? (2)

The noisy ssroom instantly went silent, as though someone had turned down the volume. Moon Ki-Jin was terrified, so he lowered his head even further, burying his head in his food tray. Considering he didn¡¯t have any money, he might have to stand in front of his ssmates with kimchi in his mouth again if the bullies came looking for him. He wanted to die. He should¡¯ve run yesterday, but he didn¡¯t have the courage to. Hence, he cried for a long time on his apartment¡¯s balcony instead. ¡°Moon Ki-Jin! Which one of you is Moon Ki-Jin?¡± Moon Ki-Jin teared up. Strangely, he teared up whenever he was teased while he was eating even though he knew his ssmates would tease him even more if he did. ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± The figure of a person appeared before Moon Ki-Jin. It seemed somebody had given him up. ¡°Are you Moon Ki-Jin?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Even though they were in the same grade, talking to the bullies with respect was better for him. He clenched his teeth hard in a bid to hold back his tears, but he also felt afraid the other party might misunderstand and think he was trying to resist. The ssroom was dead silent. The rice, soup, and kimchi had blurred because of his tears. ¡°Look up.¡± Moon Ki-Jin swallowed the food in his mouth and slowly lifted his head. However, he couldn¡¯t look up, so he stared at the waist of the student standing before him. The student was holding a bundle of papers in his left hand. ¡°Moon Ki-Jin?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He felt a little more at ease since he had already made up his mind. If they were to torment him today, that would be it. In the evening, he would certainly¡­ ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan from the twelfth grade. Can I talk to you for a second?¡± Moon Ki-Jin slowly looked up. He looked at his waist, belly, chest, and then his face. ¡®Oh my goodness!¡¯ It was Kang Chan, the winner of the fight against four gangsters in front of their school, and the twelfth grade senior that used a fillet knife to cut off the finger of an unconscious person. Moon Ki-Jin was scared at first, but his fear soon turned into disbelief. ¡°Are you not done eating yet?¡± Was there something wrong with his food? He struggled to even give Kang Chan an answer. Moon Ki-Jin shook his head after wiping his tears with the back of his hand. ¡°I guess not. Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll buy you something good. Okay?¡± Moon Ki-Jin nodded. Smack! Moon Ki-Jin felt like he couldn¡¯t breathe for a moment since Kang Chan had just hit him on the head, but it didn¡¯t hurt. ¡°Hey, if a hyung asks you a question, you should answer.¡± ¡°... Yes.¡± When he nodded and barely answered, Kang Chan smiled softly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Kang Chan gestured toward the door with a nod and looked at the students around them. And then he grinned, causing all the students to lower their heads. In truth, Moon Ki-Jin was also scared. *** Eleventh grade, ss 5. Cha So-Yeon was eating a piece of bread in a hurry in the ssroom today as well. This was because the bullies would surround her if she were to go to the school cafeteria, harassing her or throwing banchan at her. Cha So-Yeon became a loner once it became known that her mother was selling salted fish at the market. Her mother had worked hard to move to Gangnam. She told her to study hard, but all Cha So-Yeon wanted to do was go back to Daejeon. It was Daejeon, but the other students teased her by asking, ¡®You take the cultivator to school, right?¡¯ And after she was seen with her mother at the market, theypletely isted her. When Cha So-Yeon found out that a close friend was at the market, she introduced the friend to her mother, but that became the source of trouble for her. She got choked up. Even though she was beating herself in the chest, Cha So-Yeon couldn¡¯t bring herself to drink water because she didn¡¯t want to hear sarcastic remarks like, ¡®Who put salted fish in the kettle?¡¯ She hated it¨C¨Cschool, Gangnam, everything. She felt apologetic toward her mother for resenting her even though she sometimes shivered in the cold market just to provide for them. ¡°Cha So-Yeon?¡± Startled, Cha So-Yeon lifted her head, finding a student with a bandaged left hand standing by the front door. ¡°Hello.¡± Cho Se-Ho was a bully who was said to have connections to a gang. He got up to his feet and greeted Kang Chan. ¡°Who¡¯s Cha So-Yeon?¡± ¡°Over there, hyung-nim.¡± As soon as Cho Se-Ho politely pointed to her, the student with the bandaged hand walked toward her with long strides. Cha So-Yeon¡¯s heart pounded so hard that she had trouble breathing. The student was now standing in front of her desk. ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan from twelfth grade.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I have a favor to ask of you. Do you have time?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± Kang Chan smiled at her. ¡°Why are you so shocked? I have something to talk to you about, which is why I¡¯m asking you to spare me some of your time. Would that be okay?¡± Ah! Kang Chan, the terrifying twelfth grader! Cha So-Yeon subconsciously nodded. Kang Chan smiled again. ¡°Do people in this school only ever answer with nods?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± He didn¡¯t look like a bad person when he smiled. However, he did use a fillet knife to cut off the finger of an unconscious person. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Cha So-Yeon got up from her seat. Kang Chan red at Cho Se-Ho. Thetter¡¯s eyes looked truly terrifying. Had he always been such a person? ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, I¡¯m Cho Se-Ho from eleventh grade. I was one of the people that went over to your ssroom to greet you.¡± When Kang Chan smirked, Cho Se-Ho flinched. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Cha So-Yeon truly didn¡¯t know what he meant. *** Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and the fourteen other students they had rounded up during lunch had gathered at the storage room they decided to use for the athletic club. ¡°I¡¯m going to form an athletic club. Mr. Seok Kang-Ho over here¡­ will be the teacher-in-charge.¡± The students stared at them, looking puzzled. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do if you don¡¯t want to be a part of it, but if you¡¯re interested in signing up, write your name on the application form. And since I decided to skip the first afternoon ss, let¡¯s eat pork cutlet before leaving.¡± It was evident that Seok Kang-Ho would be paying from how he licked his lips. ¡°Any questions?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, you! What?¡± Kang Chan pointed to one of them. Moon Ki-Jin had already made up his mind. ¡°What kind of exercises will we be doing?¡± ¡°Basic physical strength training, self-defense, and Dakyu. Moon Ki-Jin and everyone else were dumbfounded after hearing Kang Chan¡¯s unexpected answer. ¡°Sounds fun, right?¡± Kang Chan said with a smile. Who would dare to reply to him, ¡®No, I don¡¯t think it would be fun.¡¯? Squeaaak. The door opened at that moment, and the owners of the snack bar in front of the school walked in with a huge container. ¡°You ordered pork cutlet, yes?¡± ¡°Yes, please bring it over here.¡± Seok Kang-Ho got up and greeted the owners. ¡°Hey! Why aren¡¯t you guys getting your food?¡± One by one, the students got up and went to get their food. Just like what Kang Chan said, there was pork cutlet on each of the huge tes. ¡°You brought chopsticks, right?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked the owner. ¡°Of course, sir.¡± The owner took out a handful of wooden chopsticks from his back pocket. He had also given them three stic bottles of soda and coke each. Where were they going to eat? Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho sat on the floor when the students were looking around the room. ¡°You two female students. Put those on the floor and sit on them.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was pointing to the cushion on the chair. ¡°Pork cutlets taste best when you cut them into pieces and eat them with a pair of chopsticks.¡± When Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan cut the long strips of pork cutlet into squares and picked them up with the chopsticks, the female students followed suit too. ¡°It¡¯s delicious, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Eat slowly or you¡¯ll get indigestion. Do you want cider or coke?¡± ¡°Huh? Cider, please.¡± It was the first time in two months that Cha So-Yeon had such a pleasant lunch. She made up her mind and decided to write her name on the application form. 1. Korean side dishes. 2. The stereotype is that Daejeon isn¡¯t very modernized or city-like. Although it is a city, people living in Seoul generally think that anywhere outside of Seoul is country-like. 3. A cultivator is a piece of agricultural equipment used for secondary tige 4. Respectful way of calling a person ¡®hyung¡¯ 5. An equestrian sport in East Asia that¡¯s simr to polo Chapter 15，Part1: They Have No Idea (1)

Chapter15£¬Part1: They Have No Idea (1)

After lunch, they sat back down on the chairs, forming a circle. ¡°As you all know, I¡¯m Kang Chan from ss 2, and I¡¯m currently in twelfth grade. Introduce yourself, starting from the person on the right. This has nothing to do with signing up for the athletic club, so don¡¯t feel pressured.¡± There were two students from twelfth grade, six from eleventh grade, and six from tenth grade. All fourteen students said their names, ss, and grade in turn. ¡°Even if you join the club, attendance is notpulsory. It¡¯s all up to you, but if anybody¡¯s having a hard time in school,e look for us immediately. I know the woes of being an errand boy better than anyone else.¡± Perhaps because they had just eaten pork cutlets together, the atmosphere was very rxed. ¡°Lastly, using your current grades as a yardstick, if your GPA for the entire academic year were to drop even by 0.01, you¡¯ll be kicked out. Keep that in mind.¡± Kang Chan continued. The atmosphere instantly became chilly but he didn¡¯t seem to care. ¡°Sunbae-nim?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± An eleventh grader, Lee Deok-Gi, raised his hand. ¡°I don¡¯t know what Dakyu is.¡± Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho with a smirk. ¡°Ahem. ce a stic bottle in the center of a circle with a diameter of ten meters. And then you run with a foot volleyball in your hand and try to hit it. That¡¯s all.¡± The students blinked. They didn¡¯t understand what he was trying to say. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You¡¯ll get it when you try it. From tomorrow onwards, we¡¯ll be working out an hour before ss starts, and two hours after ss ends, so prepare some gym clothes orfortable tracksuits.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± a couple of male students responded. ¡°Let me reiterate that it¡¯s not mandatory for you to take part in all the activities, so don¡¯t feel pressured. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Head on back to ss after the fifth period ends. If you want to join the club, fill out the application form before you go.¡± Moon Ki-Jin raised his hand after Seok Kang-Ho was done speaking. ¡°I¡¯ll sign up now, teacher.¡± ¡°Me too!¡± Cha So-Yeon raised her hand as well. One by one, all the students walked over and grabbed an application form. The bell eventually rang while they were filling out the application forms and asking a variety of questions, marking the end of the fifth period. The students went back to their ssrooms with mixed emotions on their faces, leaving behind Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I¡¯m just upset that the school isn¡¯t doing its job of watching over the students. You saw their faces when they were eating the pork cutlets, right? It breaks my heart.¡± Kang Chan looked at him and smiled softly. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I think this body has consumed me.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked embarrassed. ¡°Anyway, I have to go. I¡¯ve got a ss to teach.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be warming up here,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°Okay.¡± As soon as Seok Kang-Ho left, Kang Chan took off his shirt and walked over to the window before slowly beginning to do his warm-up exercises. ¡°Huh?!¡± He eximed in surprise after putting his left arm behind his neck and pulling it with his right hand, leaning his upper body to the side. Was it because his physical age was young? His body was more flexible than he expected. ¡°What if I do this?¡± This time around, he stretched his legs to the front and back as much as possible. ¡°Ack!¡± He managed to stretch his legs further than expected, but his inner thighs hurt as he did. Afterward, he did his warm-up exercises for approximately ten minutes before looking out of the window due to the noise outside. He saw Seok Kang-Ho on the field. Seok Kang-Ho was making his students y Dakyu. Back in Africa, units oftenpeted against one another when they didn¡¯t have any special operations. Not only were they running until they were out of breath, but it was also the next best physical activity that offered low risks of injury, which was why the legion didn¡¯t stop them from ying it. The rules were simple¡ªall they had to do was run with a ball and knock over a stic bottle. Doing so would end the game. However, if the opponent were to touch the yer that was holding the ball, thetter¡¯s team would lose the ball. Hence, the yers had to pass the ball before that happened. Moreover, they also had to make the shot outside the circle and¨C-simr to handball¡ªit would only count if the yer jumped and made the shot mid-air. In truth, there wasn¡¯t much to debate about in a game of Dakyu. There were asional disputes about yers stepping on the edge of the circle before jumping or throwing the ball after their foot touched the ground, but Dayeru would resolve any issues whenever that happened in the past. Kang Chan¡¯s heart raced when he watched the students y Dakyu, a game he had forgotten about. Back then, if the womanizer Smithen knocked over the stic bottle, he would celebrate the win like a ser yer who had scored a goal in the World Cup. ¡®Fucking bastard.¡¯ Kang Chan clearly remembered the look in Smithen¡¯s eyes when he said the words ¡®God of ckfield¡¯ with his dying breath. It was faith. That was why that fucking bastard didn¡¯t want to take any morphine. He didn¡¯t want to be a burden even in his final moments. Rattle. On another note, the door needed to be fixed as soon as possible. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking all over for you.¡± A female student approached him without hesitation. Who was it? ¡°Heo Eun-Sil?¡± Heo Eun-Sil looked like apletely different person without any makeup. ¡°The oppas told me they¡¯ll be picking us up and that they¡¯ll being to the back gate because of what happenedst time.¡± She looked pretty, but there was something about her face that seemed disproportionate. In any case, Kang Chan thought she looked much better with makeup. ¡°I got it. Leave.¡± Heo Eun-Sil silently studied Kang Chan¡¯s expression. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Can I join the athletic club too?¡± Caught off-guard, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t respond right away. ¡°Even if Ie to school, I have nothing to do and I don¡¯t understand what the teachers are teaching anyway.¡± Even though she wasn¡¯t wearing any makeup, her bad standing posture remained the same. Heo Eun-Sil was perpetually leaning her body weight on one leg. It wouldn¡¯t be weird for someone to wonder if she was born like that. ¡°Then why are you going to school?¡± ¡°I want to quit school, too. That¡¯s why I ran away from home several times before. But ¡®cause my mom tried to overdose, I agreed to graduate from high school on the condition that I can do whatever I want.¡± Her life itself was tiring. ¡°Heo Eun-Sil.¡± Heo Eun-Sil quickly nced at his right hand. ¡°I¡¯ll discuss it with the other students tomorrow and let you know. Now, leave.¡± ¡°Is that really necessary? Op¡ªI mean, isn¡¯t it up to you?¡± This bitch had already gotten a taste of cheap, dirty, and worthless authority and power. Kang Chan thought about how great it would¡¯ve been if Heo Eun-Sil were a guy since, if that were the case, he would¡¯ve beaten her until she was at death¡¯s door and made sure she wouldn¡¯t be able to go near him ever again. Seemingly deducing his emotions through his eyes, Heo Eun-Sil quickly turned around and walked toward the door. ng. That damn door needed to be fixed. Kang Chan shook off his annoyance and resumed doing his warm-up exercises. Even though his strength and agility were definitely lower, his body was much more flexible now. Gangsters? Gangs? They have no idea¡ªthe kind of resolve one must have when surrounded by and facing countless enemies wielding crescent-shaped swords. What it¡¯s like to see countless des slicing apart fallen allies, and what it¡¯s like hearing the dreadful screams. What it feels like to fight using a dagger next to arade who had been mutted beyond recognition.? Those people wielded a fillet knife and went berserk with it for the sake of protecting their interests, but Kang Chan lived as a killer to survive and save at least one more person before being killed. Parents? School? Life? Kang Chan smirked. If he were to take those into consideration, the right call would¡¯ve been to call the cops, just as Dayeru said. But were those things more important than Smithen¡¯s faith, who called out ¡®God of ckfield¡¯ while clinging on to his dear life? If he were to make apromise, he would eventually be won over by the things he enjoyed now. ¡®Moron.¡¯ If it weren¡¯t for the womanizer Smithen¡¯s final moments¡­ Rattle. Kang Chan red at the door and found Kim Mi-Young standing there, so he quickly eased up. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°All the ssrooms are in chaos right now. Students have been badgering the members of the athletic club at every chance they get during the breaks because they want to join the club too.¡± When Kang Chan grinned, Kim Mi-Young looked a little relieved. ¡°Can I join too?¡± she asked. ¡°What?¡± Kim Mi-Young kept ncing at the door. ¡°I heard Eun-Sil is going to join the club too. I have onest ss for the day, so I¡¯lle here after it ends. I¡¯m joining the club.¡± Kim Mi-Young ran out after she was done speaking. Coincidentally, Seok Kang-Ho then entered the room. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°She said she wants to join the athletic club.¡± ¡°This is bing a problem. Apart from her, many other students want to join the club after sses end.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still good at running, huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a P.E. teacher, you know. By the way, there¡¯s only an hour left. What are you going to do?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be arriving at the back gate.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s gaze sharpened as it had before when he was Dayeru. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°Daye.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back no matter what.¡± ¡°No matter what?¡± When Kang Chan nodded, Seok Kang-Ho sighed heavily. ¡°Fucking morons. They should¡¯ve messed with someone they could handle. But then again, those people are idiots.¡± He spoke just like Seok Kang-Ho, but the look in his eyes was that of Dayeru¡¯s. ¡°Captain.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I like my wife.¡± Kang Chan chuckled lowly. ¡°So don¡¯t do something silly and make a P.E. teacher go to jail for acts of violence.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Ayy, fuck! Don¡¯t be like this. Let me go with you.¡± ¡°Forget about it. Remember Mang?¡± ¡°Tch! You¡¯re bringing that up again.¡± Seok Kang-Ho tilted his head, looking displeased. Chapter 15，Part2: They Have No Idea (1)

Chapter15£¬Part2: They Have No Idea (1)

Kang Chan left the athletic club room the moment the bell rang after sses had ended. He didn¡¯t like the attention he was getting from the other students. Since Seok Kang-Ho was in charge of the roll call, he didn¡¯t have to go to the school assembly or homeroom. When Kang Chan reached the back gate, he found three slim, short-haired men in ck suits and white shirts standing in front of a ck car. ¡°Are you Kang Chan?¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Get in.¡± Not only did they have short hair, but the bottom part of their suit pants were also tapered, like leggings. It was an outfit that was hard for the opponent to grab in a fight. Naturally, they weren¡¯t wearing any neckties. Click. Kang Chan got into the back seat of the car, sitting directly behind the passenger seat. The three men got in after, upying the driver, passenger, and remaining back seats. ¡®Stupid bastards.¡¯ There was a fillet knife hidden in the left chest area of the guy in the passenger seat despite his suit still being buttoned. The guy sitting in the back seat next to Kang Chan also had one inside his pants. They drove along the alley and circled around the school. The atmosphere within the sedan was chilly, almost as if its interior had been covered in ice. Kang Chan looked out the window. Students whose sses had finished were flocking out of the school gate. The three men¡¯s heads never moved, making it seem like their heads were bolted to their bodies. Kang Chan thought they were bringing him to some secluded factory. However, the car stopped in front of a two-story building located next to a huge hotel instead. The building was ck with snacks scattered all around the entrance and ¡®Cotton Candy¡¯ scribbled in white on one side of the walls. Kang Chan waited. Click. Face twitching, the guy in the passenger seat got out and opened the door for Kang Chan, but it didn¡¯t matter to Kang Chan since it wasn¡¯t like he was going to get hit in the face. The man then pointed to the door leading to the basement. It was a so-called hostess bar. The stairs were so wide that three men could walk side by side, and it led to a carpeted floor with a counter on the left and a hallway that forked into two paths. A man Kang Chan had never seen before was standing in front of the counter. He pointed to the hallway on the right, which was quite long and had doors on both sides¡ªsix on the left and five on the right, with the third one on the right being guarded by a man in a ck suit. Upon noticing Kang Chan, he opened the door behind him. Kang Chan entered the room. The room had a huge chandelier hanging above a marble table with bottles of water, beverages, and about a dozen knocked-over cups on it. It also had a bathroom, which was just across the door he had just entered. There were five men inside. Kang Chan figured that the person in front of him, who was sitting at the very center, was the so-called boss. He had sharp eyes and a thick neck, forearms, shoulders, and chest that looked twice as big as Kang Chan¡¯s. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d see a boy in school uniform in a ce like this! Are you Kang Chan?¡± He looked around forty years old. ¡°Come, sit. Hey! Get up and make some room for him.¡± ¡°Yes, hyung-nim.¡± The two guys on the right quickly got up from their seats, and Kang Chan sat down next to the boss without hesitation. ¡°I like the intensity of your gaze! Oh! It¡¯s excellent! Yeah. That¡¯s how a young person should be.¡± The boss was more talkative than expected. He ced his arms on the table, leaning forward. ¡°I¡¯m not here to drink with you.¡± Kang Chan replied. The boss pursed his lips and nced at Kang Chan. Kang Chan¡¯s calm attitude and intense gaze seemed to bother him. ¡°There are people out there looking to put you six feet under. They used to say the same about me, but now, even the hyung-nims avoid me when they see me. The choice is yours, though. Will you obediently be one of us? Or will you spend the rest of your life living with regret?¡± At that moment, it felt like anotheryer of tension was ced on top of the existing tension. Kang Chan looked at the gangsters staying silent. The boss clenched and opened his fist on the table, nodding in sync with the rhythm. It seemed like he was doing it out of habit rather than in an attempt to scare him. ¡°It makes sense that you made a fool out of three of my guys. Ah! Didn¡¯t you say he injured ten students too?¡± ¡°Nine, hyung-nim.¡± The boss nodded again then swiftly returned his gaze at Kang Chan. ¡°Ha! I can see that. This little dipshit needs to be taught a lesson.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh softly. He tried to hold it in as much as he could, but he couldn¡¯t stop it from blurting out anymore after seeing those men test his patience and make decisions as they pleased. ¡°Are youughing?¡± ¡°Should I be crying then?¡± Kang Chan asked. The guys sitting next to him and across from him cursed at him and sprung to their feet but sat back down when their boss raised his hand. ¡°Do you know what death is?¡± Kang Chan turned his head to either side. ¡°Do you?¡± he asked in response. The boss looked like he was boiling with rage. ¡°He¡¯s one crazy bastard.¡± ¡°Yeah, punk. So don¡¯t mess with the school that a lunatic like me attends,¡± Kang Chan retorted. ¡°You little bastard!¡± The boss¡¯ right hand swung toward Kang Chan¡¯s face out of the blue. It seemed like the boss was trying to p Kang Chan, but his thick forearm slowed his movements tremendously. Smack. Kang Chan grabbed the boss¡¯ hand with his left hand and punched his nape almost at the same time. Pow. In doing so, he prevented the boss from using any strength immediately. Kang Chan then mercilessly broke the boss¡¯ right finger that he was tightly holding onto. Crack. ¡°Gah!" Pow. Simultaneously, the guy sitting next to Kang Chan aimed a punch at his face, but it was all too easy for Kang Chan to dodge. Using his right index and middle fingers, Kang Chan stabbed the boss¡¯ eyes hard. ¡°Ack!¡± ¡°Hey, you bastard!¡± The guy next to Kang Chan attacked him. Bastards like him were the most foolish ones. Pow. Kang Channded an elbow strike on his forehead. Thump. The two guys across from him were already standing on the table. Kang Chan immediately lowered his stance a bit and kicked both of them in the shin. Crash! The two men fell t on their faces before Kang Chan, who then swiftly struck them in the neck. Pow. Pow. ¡°Cough!¡± ¡°Cough cough!¡± The two men writhed in pain with only their legs on the table as their boss tried to leave, clutching one of his eyes. The narrow space between the sofa and the table forced him into an awkward stance, however. ¡°Where are you going, you bastard!¡± When Kang Chan swiftly got onto the table, the guy sitting by the bathroom whipped out a fillet knife. The door connected to the hallway also flung open. From atop the table, Kang Chan kicked up. Thud. The boss¡¯ awkward posture put him at just the right height. If Kang Chan were to stop here, the boss would seek revenge. Crack. ¡°Cough!¡± The boss turned limp when Kang Chan twisted his neck. Kang Chan leaped to the innermost sofa and hauled his body up. ¡°You fucking bastard! Let go of him!¡± Kang Chan had no idea the hostess bar was this spacious. About a dozen men in ck suits entered the room. ¡°Let go, you bastard!¡± Swish. Swish. The guy sitting by the bathroom swung his fillet knife menacingly. ¡°Take him.¡± . Kang Chan¡¯s response seemed to have surprised them. ¡°You bastard!¡± ¡°I twisted his neck, so if I drop him, it won¡¯t be good for him. Make sure you catch him properly, fucker.¡± Flustered, the guy holding the fillet knife, quickly looked toward the entrance. The one standing in front of the dozen men nodded. Hesitates. ¡®Imbeciles.¡¯ The guy with the fillet knife then walked over to him hesitantly, and Kang Chan shoved their boss toward him with immense force. This startled his opponent, since Kang Chan had mentioned moments before that the boss might die because his neck had been twisted. Whoosh! Kang Chan charged toward them and aggressively pushed the back of the boss¡¯ head, aiming at the forehead of the man reaching out. Whack. Crash! Tangled up, the boss and the man with the fillet knife tumbled under the table. ¡°You bastard!¡± A few of the other guys thought of climbing over the table to get to Kang Chan, but they hesitated because Kang Chan had grabbed their downed ally¡¯s knife and was standing on the chair once again. Kang Chan¡¯s heart pounded against his chest. He hadn¡¯t felt so nervous in a long time. Unlike the gangsters, Kang Chan held the fillet knife in a reverse grip, with the edge toward his opponents. As soon as he put his left foot down from the chair to the table, the three men who had climbed up on top of it paused. ¡°You idiots. Do you really have nothing better to do with your fucking lives than mess with students in school?¡± Kang Chan taunted them. ¡°You bastard! I¡¯ll rip your mouth apart!¡± Thud. Kang Chan stood on top of the table. The guy that had copsed after his boss crashed into him and the guys previously standing in the back were busy dragging their boss out. ¡°There are fifty people outside waiting for you, you fucking bastard! You won¡¯t be getting out alive today! This ce will be your grave even if it means I¡¯ll get sentenced to death, you fucking son of a bitch!¡± one of the gangsters yelled at him. Kang Chan slowly clenched his left hand. His wound had probably opened up¡ªit felt damp and was throbbing with pain. ¡°You¡¯re not a bunch of weaklings, so why do you only hang around outside the school picking on students?¡± ¡°You fucking bastard!¡± Seemingly losing his cool, the guy yelling at him charged forward with a fillet knife. Swish! Kang Chan extended his left hand and shifted his grip up the handle, positioning it closer to the de. His opponent stared at him, apparently flustered by Kang Chan¡¯t movements. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Kang Chan stabbed him in the forearm four times. Pew! ¡°Aaaaack!¡± He screamed in pain when Kang Chan shed his wrist for the final blow. Kang Chan then shoved him away. Crash! ¡°Aagh! Ack!¡± The guy fell on the cups scattered on the floor and grabbed his wrist, crying in pain. He seemed to have mistakenly thought Kang Chan had sliced his artery open. Moron. The guy got himself all startled. The two remaining gangsters couldn¡¯t even run. One of them was shaking. Kang Chan smirked. Bastards like him were especially merciless to people who were weak. Meanwhile, a few guys leaped onto the sofa from both sides. Swish! The guy on the left sofa swung his knife toward Kang Chan¡¯s waist. Seven threats and three targets. Whoosh! The moment the knife swung past him, Kang Chan sprung forward and shoved his assant. As the man¡¯s shoulder was now facing Kang Chan, Kang Chan jabbed at the guy¡¯s shoulder muscles. Pow. Pow. ¡°Gahh!¡± Pow. Pow. Next, Kang Chan struck both his armpits, rendering the bastard unable to wield a knife. Bam. Even so, Kang Chan still mmed his forehead into his face. Swoosh. The guy who seemed terrified earlier thrust his knife forward and charged, appearing to have found an opening. Did he not know that the human body stiffened up when one was afraid? Kang Chan ruthlessly stabbed him in the right arm. Stab.? ¡°Gaaaaaargghh!¡± ¡°Come here, you fucking bastard!¡± When Kang Chan moved toward the middle sofa, the guy charged at him, almost as if Kang Chan had caught him with a fishing line and was pulling it in. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Kang Chan had no desire to let him go. He forcefully jabbed the thug¡¯s muscles just above his knees, then struck his shoulder muscles. ¡°Aghhh! Eckkk!¡± Such cries and screams would destroy hisrades¡¯ morale. Kang Chan shed the guy¡¯s right wrist with the fillet knife. ¡°Never do this ever again.¡± In tears, the man nodded. Pew! ¡°Aaaaghhh!¡± Kang Chan flung him aside and climbed onto the table once again. Hesitate. When the guy at the table suddenly leaped down, the men in front of Kang Chan took that as a signal to retreat. By now, the dance floor was filled with gangsters. Kang Chan jumped down to the left sofa and grabbed the right hand of the guy that had passed out after getting headbutted. He red fiercely at the men standing in front of him. Pew! Kang Chan was showing them that their lives would be over if he were to ever catch them. It didn¡¯t matter if it was repulsion or fear he instilled in them. He was fine with it. Those feelings guing their minds would stiffen their movements, which would ultimately tire them out quicker when fighting against him. When Kang Chan jumped onto the floor from the sofa, some of those at the back headed toward the door. One would think they were tenacious bastards, but they were just tenacious high schoolers wearing ck suits and standing in line. They¡¯d bow and apologize out of fear. You messed with the wrong person. ¡°Move out of the way!¡± Amotion sprung at the door. Soon, two men with baseball bats entered the room. Did they think their weapons¡¯ length would give them an advantage? If that were true, the long swords in Africa would¡¯ve long killed Kang Chan and his unit! ¡°You motherfucker. Fuck around and see what happens!¡± Whooosh! Whoosh! The bat made a rather powerful sound because of its size. ¡°Just try me, you fucking bastard!¡± Kang Chan shouted back. Crash. It seemed as though the thugs thought Kang Chan was being backed into a corner. The three guys with fillet knives charged at the same time, following the lead of the man with the bat. Bam. Kang Chan kicked the bat with his right foot. Whoosh! Kang Chan grabbed the fillet knifeing from the left and yanked it toward him. Based on the way it stung, it had definitely cut his hand even though it was bandaged. Pew! Pow! As Kang Chan jerked the de in his direction, he shed its wielder¡¯s wrist and stabbed the forearm. He then yanked the thug even closer to him. ¡°Gaghhhhh!¡± ank. The bright, resonant sound of the aluminum bat hitting the guy¡¯s head rang throughout the room. Blood gushed out as if in celebration of a home run. Crash! Kang Chan positioned the gangster with the split head in front of him as he charged forward. Pow. Pow. Two knives ruthlessly stabbed into Kang Chan¡¯s meat shield. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pew! Pew! Kang Chan stabbed the person holding a bat in the forearm and shoulder, then mercilessly shed the necks of the two guys with fillet knives. They could die, but if he tried to be careful and let them live, then he would be the one to die. Pew! At that moment, Kang Chan felt a prick in his left shoulder. Pew! Pow! He shed the wrist of the man that stabbed him in the shoulder, then stabbed him in the forearm. ¡°Gaaahhhh!¡± Kang Chan had to retreat for now. He dragged with him the guy whose forearm he had just stabbed, causing his victim to let out a shrill scream. A knife was still sticking out right below Kang Chan¡¯s left vicle, and it would¡¯ve been a disaster if he hadn¡¯t moved out of the way reflexively. Damn it. ¡®There¡¯s a lot of them.¡¯ Kang Chan twisted the knife and pushed upward. ¡°Gaaaaaahhh!¡± When the guy twisted his body¡­ Pow! Kang Chan struck his throat with his left hand. ¡°Cough!¡± The guy fell to his knees, coughing in front of Kang Chan. ¡°Would you like me to take out the knife for you?¡± ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± The bastard nodded. Pow. Pow. Pow. Kang Chan smirked as he pulled out the knife, then stabbed the man¡¯s shoulder and back muscles. Pow! He then kneed the thug in the face. Clink nk. Kang Chan tossed the knife the guy was holding aside and pulled out the knife that was embedded in his own left shoulder, causing his blood to spurt out intermittently like a broken faucet. He clenched his left fist. Tingle. The pain traveled through his nerves and reverberated throughout his body. Drip. Drop.? Blood was dripping from the bandage around his left hand, as if it had been dipped in blood. More importantly, his current body was the issue here. It was slow andcked strength, preventing him from moving as he pleased. Had he been in his original body, these stupid amateur knife users wouldn¡¯t have been able to wound him. His left cheek was throbbing with pain after being hit the first time. Tingle. He tried to act as if nothing had happened and took half a step, but his shoulder hurt so badly that it felt like it had been torn off. At that moment, amotion at the door interrupted the short confrontation. A man had appeared, holding a bright blue katana. 1. The direct trantion of this sentence is: ¡®It was shaped like an upended ck box of snacks, with the name of thepany, ¡®Cotton Candy¡¯, scribbled in white.¡¯ but because it wouldn¡¯t work as well in English, we tranted the meaning of it instead. Chapter 16: They Have No Idea (2)

Chapter 16: They Have No Idea (2)

If Kang Chan were to carelessly confront the guy with the katana, he would be shed. ¡°You need to be chopped up into pieces before being taken to Cheonan.¡± The guy holding the katanaughed maniacally. He had the eyes of someone who had killed another human being before. ¡°I raise dogs over there.¡± What was he talking about? Staying silent in the face of the enemy¡¯s provocation would give one more confidence. ¡°Fucking bastard! I¡¯ll give you credit for wanting to take care of your friends.¡± ¡°Huehuehuehue.¡± This bastard was dangerous. Instead of getting angry, he imagined how Kang Chan would look when he was dead. That meant that he had had a simr experience before. Kang Chan extended his left shoulder forward and lowered his stance, which was nothing like what he had been doing thus far. Once. If he were to get seriously injured here¡­ Kang Chan¡¯s eyes shone for a second. ¡°What is this!¡± ¡°You fucking bastard!¡± ¡°Aaaaahhhhh!¡± Profanity and yells were hearding from the other end of the hallway. The people that were blocking the door turned toward the direction of the noises, breaking into amotion. ¡°Ptooey!¡± Kang Chan tried spitting on the floor, but there was no spit. ¡°Fuck, your throat is so parched you can¡¯t even produce any spit.¡± The katana wielderughed, his face contorting. Kang Chan looked straight into the man¡¯s eyes, lifted his left hand, and put the bandage on his mouth. ¡°Tch. Tch.¡± He sucked his own blood. Because of the piercing pain in his left shoulder, his gaze naturally sharpened. When themotion outside became louder, the guy with the katana became concerned as well. Kang Chan slowly moved the bandage away from his mouth. With the blood concentrated around his mouth, half of his face was covered in blood. ¡°Ptooey!¡± Kang Chan instantly spat out the blood in his mouth at the guy. The moment the guy turned his head to the right and dodged it¡­ ¡°Ptooey!¡± Kang Chan spat out the rest of the blood and moved, seemingly about to pounce forward. Swish. A person who had lost his bnce wouldn¡¯t be able to swing their sword much. As soon as the sword swung past him, Kang Chan extended his right foot and kicked the guy¡¯s wrist. Whoosh. Just once. Right before his opponent could raise his katana¡­ Pow. Kang Chan thrust his fillet knife into the thug''s right arm, just above his elbow, and dragged it upwards. ¡°Gaaaahhhh!¡± Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Kang Chan then stabbed the guy¡¯s elbows and both sides of his chest. nk.? The moment his opponent swung his katana downward¡­ Pew! Pow.? Kang Chan¡¯s left forearm and right shoulder were cut open as well. It was such a dangerous situation that if Kang Chan hadn¡¯t stopped the guy with the katana, he would¡¯ve been stabbed in the neck. Pow. Pew! Pew! Pow. The blood that spurted out startled some of the people around them, while there were also some that got excited at the sight of it. Terrified by the sight of blood and gore, some thugs blindly attacked him, unaware of what they were doing. Kang Chan roughly blocked their attacks with his bandaged left hand and stabbed, shed, and stabbed again at random. ¡°Huff. Huff. Huff. Huff.¡± Kang Chan was out of breath. What kind of workout did the owner of his body do exactly? He was still so weak. Nevertheless, Kang Chan was thest person standing in the room. About a dozen people that had copsed on the floor surrounded him, writhing in pain. The floor was covered in so much blood that shoes were sticking to the floor. Nobody else entered the room probably because Kang Chan had defeated their strongest men. Kang Chan noticed his vision had turned white, and neither his shoulder nor his left hand, which had cuts all over, hurt at all. Even in Africa, whenever this happened, the enemy couldn¡¯t easily attack him. God of ckfield. One might not know this, but the enemy troops were the ones who had given that nickname to Kang Chan. It meant ¡®god of death.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ll kill all of them.¡¯ Kang Chan tilted his neck to the left. Strangely, whenever he became mad, he¡¯d find himself unable to tolerate all the bastards in the world because he found them annoying. As soon as Kang Chan pounced at them, the men in front of the door scattered across both the left and right hallways. ¡°Where are you going?¡± The mor was getting louder and louder. Kang Chan slowly walked out of the door. Swish. A fillet knife came swinging toward him, but it was too slow¡ªan attack filled with reluctance due to sheer terror. Pew! Pow! ¡°Cough!¡± The guy retreated with his arms bent. Kang Chan¡¯s body was as fast as it was before. ¡°Come here!¡± When he red at the thugs, a couple of them hesitated and ran into a nearby room. Kang Chan turned to those who remained in the hallway. I¡¯ll kill them all! I¡¯ll kill all the people that killed my people. What do I have? Family? Money? Happiness? Honor? Love? I only have my unit members. And they took that away from me? Pew! Pow. Pow. As quick as lightning, Kang Chan charged at the guy that was retreating away from him and stabbed him in the arm and shoulder. ¡°Gaaaah!¡± His target screamed, struggling to escape. Kang Chan yanked his shirt and suit. ¡°You can¡¯t even protect a few people, huh?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Kang Chan stared at the thug¡¯s throat¡ªright below his Adam¡¯s apple. ¡°HEY!¡± Kang Chan came to his senses after hearing someone calling out to him. When he looked up, he found a man at the end of the hallway wearing a monkey¡­ ¡°Daye?¡± ¡°You must not kill them!¡± Plop.? Kang Chan pushed the guy he was grabbing onto aside. Crazy bastard. He had never imagined anyone would ever wear a monkey mask to such a fight. It was already over, anyway. The men in front of Kang Chan and the guys close to Seok Kang-Ho could only hesitate. Nobody attacked them. ¡°If any of the bastards go near the school in the future, I will definitely cut off their heads.¡± The basement hallway. The only thing that drowned out Kang Chan¡¯s voice was the asional ghastly groans. ¡°The bastards who don¡¯t want to fight, go into the room in the front.¡± As soon as Kang Chan craned his neck and red at them, they entered the room as instructed, one to two men at a time. Kang Chan slowly walked toward Seok Kang-Ho. Perhaps because he had regained his rationality, he felt a sharp pain every time he walked. Stagger. It seemed like his left leg had been wounded as well, considering he couldn¡¯t move it very well. Seok Kang-Ho took a very deep breath as he spoke, ¡°Fuck. I thought I was never going to see you again.¡± Did he have an eye infection? Kang Chan could see Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes through the holes in the mask¡ªthey were red, bloodshot. ¡°Where did you even find that?¡± The monkey seemed happy. He had a big smile on his face. ¡°It¡¯s a monkey with an English name. Let¡¯s go.¡± Seok Kang-Ho supported Kang Chan¡¯s upper body, and they walked toward the entrance. ¡°If you get into the car like this, people are going to report it.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was right. What could they do? If Kang Chan had a nket, he would cover himself with it and leave the ce. ¡°Hang on.¡± Since Seok Kang-Ho was supporting Kang Chan, the front part of his clothes got covered in blood too. Seok Kang-Ho went to the counter and started rummaging around with his head lowered. At that moment, when the monkey with the big smile abruptly raised his head, more of those bastards flocked toward the stairs at the entrance. Kang Chan was leaning against the wall but quickly stood up straight. The men with iron pipes and fillet knives held their ground at a distance away in front of him, staring at the two instead of charging at them immediately. Kang Chan stretched his neck. ¡°School uniform? I guess he must really be a high school student?¡± The man standing in front of him spoke, looking surprised. ¡°Hurry up! Go in and check the situation out!¡± ¡°Yes, hyung-nim.¡± As soon as the person who replied nodded, the guys standing by rushed inside. A yell was heard immediately, but it didn¡¯t seem like a fight. ¡°It¡¯s Oh Gwang-Taek. Everybody knows who Gwang-Taek of Sinsa-dong is.¡± He was slim for a gangster, so he had a simr body shape as Kang Chan. ¡°I was ready to take action anyway. I heard in the parking lot that Ki-Bum had been taken to the hospital, so I rushed here.¡± ¡°You got any cigarettes?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You bastard¡­¡± Oh Gwang-Taek red at the guy who swore, ¡°Mind your own fucking business, motherfucker.¡± The guy lowered his head. ¡°You bastard, you think you could do this? If you want to talk about age, go to the seniormunity center, you fucker.¡± Gwang-Taek continued to criticize him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, hyung-nim.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek red at him and looked him up and down once more before looking at Kang Chan again. He then took out a pack of cigarettes with about ten cigarettes left and a lighter. He looked at the hand Kang Chan extended and smirked. He put two cigarettes in his mouth, lit them, then handed one of them to Kang Chan. ¡°Hoo.¡± It felt good. Kang Chan leaned against the wall and slid down to sit on the floor. ¡°Daye,e here.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± From the counter, Seok Kang-Ho made his way through the crowd and went over to Kang Chan¡¯s side. ¡°Give me another cigarette.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Dayeru took the pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He ced a cigarette in his mouth, his face looking just like a smiling emoji. ¡°Wow, a high school student and a monkey mask. Ah, guess Park Ki-Bum won¡¯t be able to go around talking about this.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek was dumbfounded. When he exhaled smoke, a guy came out from inside the bar. ¡°There are no dead bodies. Five guys are seriously injured. It seems like the gang is finished with this.¡± After Oh Gwang-Taek nodded, he looked at Kang Chan. ¡°There¡¯s a particr hospital that we go to. Let¡¯s head there. Those bastards need to be treated too. If news about a high school boy destroying gang members with a knife gets out, the gangsters in Gangnam would all be beaten into a pulp.¡± ¡°After one more cigarette.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek gave a low chuckle and turned his head to the back. ¡°Block the front, and park the car. Make sure they¡¯re unable to see this ce from the opposite building. Remove all the CCTV footage and take them with you.¡± ¡°Yes, hyung-nim.¡± The two guys hurried upstairs. ¡°Hurry up. The Intelligence Division must have gotten suspicious too.¡± ¡°Hoo!¡± Kang Chan put out his cigarette on the floor. ¡°Ugh,¡± He groaned as he tried to get up. Seok Kang-Ho quickly supported him. ¡°Hey! Get rid of that monkey mask.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it off when we reach the hospital.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek looked at the two of them with a puzzled look on his face. When Kang Chan barely managed to get up, the guy that ran down the stairs reported that he was ready. He was even holding a nket too. ¡°I¡¯m going to the hospital with them, so take the injured people to the hospital and tie up all loose ends properly.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek ordered. When Kang Chan started walking, the man opened up the nket and put it over Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. Chapter 17: Thank You (1)

Chapter 17: Thank You (1)

The first thing Kang Chan saw when he came to his senses was Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s worried face. ¡°Are you feeling a little better?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Thest thing Kang Chan remembered was him leaning on Seok Kang-Ho in the car. The volume of blood in the two blood bags gradually decreased, as though they werepeting with each other. ¡°You have so many cuts that we nearly had to use a sewing machine.¡± Smirk. ¡°Give me some water.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Seok Kang-Ho first reached out toward the bottom of Kang Chan¡¯s bed and turned the lever. Squeak. Squeak. Squeak. He slowly adjusted the angle of the bed, propping Kang Chan¡¯s upper body up and putting him in a morefortable position. Seok Kang-Ho handed him a ss of water afterward, which he downed. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°1:15 am. I¡¯ve called your parents and told them you¡¯re going to sleep over at my ce tonight and to call youter.¡± Kang Chan was in a 4-bed ward, with a bed in each corner of the room. ¡°Do you want something to eat?¡± Just as Seok Kang-Ho asked, the door opened, and Oh Gwang-Taek entered the room. He pulled up an empty chair by the bed and sat down next to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Give me a cigarette.¡± Kang Chan demanded. Oh Gwang-Taek looked dumbfounded, but he took out a cigarette without saying a word and gave it to Kang Chan anyway. ¡°Ugh!¡± Kang Chan tried extending his left hand only for his expression to contour in pain. He held out his right hand instead. Chik chik. ¡°Hoo.¡± When Oh Gwang-Taek offered Seok Kang-Ho some cigarettes as well, he took one out and put it in his mouth. ¡°Daye, I want a cup of coffee.¡± ¡°Alright. Coffee?¡± Seok-Kang agreed before extending the offer to Oh Gwang-Taek as well. Oh Gwang-Taek shook his head lightly. Seok Kang-Ho made a cup of coffee next to the bed across from Kang Chan. ¡°Why are you shaking your head?¡± Kang Chan asked Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°I heard he¡¯s a teacher. Is that right?¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Ha! Looking at the interaction between you two, it all sounds so wrong.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek appeared to be in histe thirties. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. Just leave it at that,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s hot!¡± The two of them chuckled softly when they heard Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s short outburst. ¡°Here you go.¡± Kang Chan took a sip of the instant coffee. It tasted quite nice. ¡°Thanks to you, Gangnam¡¯s fine for now. I¡¯ve made a deal with the cops and reporters too, so there won¡¯t be any issues with those punks.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek spoke as Kang Chan took another sip of coffee. ¡°Is there anything I can do for you?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek asked. ¡°Just leave the students in school alone.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek nodded. ¡°As for the punks in the parking lot, we had a lot to talk about because of what happened.¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s in order, then,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°Hoo! It¡¯s great that you¡¯re notplicating things,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek exhaled deeply. ¡°You should be careful. Rumors about you have been circting among the gangs. I told them the family register was wrong and that you¡¯re actually my friend and family. Even so, it¡¯ll take some time for it to blow over.¡± These stupid gangsters were still using the twenty-year-old dumb excuse of the family register being incorrect. It sounded stupid to both the person saying it and the person listening to it in silence. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t very happy about it, but it had already been done. ¡°I gave my business card to your teacher.¡± ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek,¡± As soon as Kang Chan called him out, he red at Kang Chan sharply. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about my life, but I don¡¯t want you people anywhere near me. Especially not anywhere near the school.¡± The ambiance drastically changed in an instant. Kang Chan and Oh Gwang-Taek looked each other in the eye. ¡°You said your name was Kang Chan, right?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek spoke softly. ¡°I told you about the whole family register bullshit because I acknowledge who you are, with or without your ID.¡± Slurp.? The tension was slowly rising. However, the sound of Seok Kang-Ho slurping his coffee exquisitely interrupted them. Oh Gwang-Taek subconsciously broke eye contact with Kang Chan. Dumbfounded, a mncholic smile crept up his lips. ¡°I give up. Hey! Quit yapping about random bullshit and just be friendly, motherfucker. Wouldn¡¯t that give me a reason to stop the other people from loitering around the school and messing with the students?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek shook his head. ¡°By the way, what subject does your teacher teach?¡± ¡°P.E.¡± ¡°Ha, I can see that.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek got up in an exaggerated manner. ¡°I ordered some of my men to stand guard outside. Let them do their job. The Ulsan guys might be up to something.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°If you want to eat something, let them know.¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°You can¡¯t eat the nurses, though.¡± They allughed at the joke with a simr look on their faces. ¡°I¡¯ll get going,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek raised his hand and left the room, looking exhausted. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that guy seem like a decent chap?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± In truth, it was hard to predict what the oue would¡¯ve been if the gangsters had attacked them in the basement. ¡°You can leave now.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you to go home. You made the kids promise toe to school an hour earlier. Are you going to disappoint them by beingte yourself?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Seok Kang-Ho seemed to have forgotten about them. ¡°Mi-Young sent you a bunch of messages up until midnight. Did something happen between you guys?¡± ¡°She¡¯s my first love.¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± ¡°Tsk, you dirty bastard.¡± Seok Kang-Ho wiped his drool. ¡°She looks like an innocent girl, though. How did it happen?¡± ¡°Things just kind of went awry.¡± Seok Kang-Houghed out loud. ¡°Why are youughing?¡± ¡°I was just thinking about her aspirations. She¡¯s always been the top student, so all the teachers show great interest in her. ¡° Kang Chan had never thought about that, so he just stared at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°She wrote that she wanted to be a good wife and mother, but she changed it to diplomat after her homeroom teacher persuaded her.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so funny about it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Huh? You don¡¯t find it funny?¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at him in surprise. ¡°Haa!¡± Frustrated, Kang Chan sighed. Strangely, the simple-minded Kim Mi-Young and Seok Kang-Ho, who would randomlyugh at unfunny things, frustrated him. ¡°Leave.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay here and go straight to school at dawn.¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. Kang Chan left it at that since there was nothing else to say. ¡°Please call home tomorrow morning,¡± Seok Kang-Ho added. ¡°I left my phone at home, though.¡± ¡°You can just use mine.¡± ¡°Oh,e on. How am I going to reach you if something happens and I have to contact you urgently? When will I be discharged from the hospital anyway?¡± ¡°In about a month, probably.¡± ¡°So I have to be bedridden for a week, huh?¡± The first person Kang Chan thought of was Yoo Hye-Sook. What kind of excuse could he use to prevent her from worrying about being hospitalized for a week, and how was he going to exin why he was wrapped up in bandages like a mummy? ¡°Just tell my parents I got into a car ident.¡± ¡°A car ident?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Yeah. Just pick one of the guys outside and say he¡¯s the perpetrator.¡± Seok Kang-Ho turned his head. He looked like he was thinking. ¡°We have toe up with an excuse. How are we going to exin this otherwise?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Call Oh Gwang-Taek and tell him to collude with the doctor.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded. ¡°Anyway, you have to take care of those students at the very least. It sucks that I won¡¯t be there from day one, but we might end up making a fool out of them if we don¡¯t handle it well.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes sparkled. While both of them were talking to each other, the doctor and nurse on-call dropped by to check on Kang Chan, but they didn¡¯t say anything even though they saw traces of them smoking. There was a preconceived notion that the hospital was associated with gangsters, but the middle-aged doctor looked surprisingly decent and affable. Seok Kang-Ho left at dawn with a sad look on his face, and Kang Chan fell asleep once again. He was feeling drowsy from all the drugs the hospital made him take. When Kang Chan woke up, he wished he could go back to the battlefield in Africa. *** A nurse entered the room and gave him his medications via the IV line. He woke up because she had to take his temperature and blood pressure. ¡°Can I get a ss of water?¡± ¡°Yes, just a minute, please.¡± The nurse had to pack up the equipment. The door opened and a man dressed in a suit entered with a huge food tray. It smelled good. ¡°Please eat, hyung-nim. Did you manage to get some rest?¡± However, Kang Chan got annoyed by the stupid ¡®hyung-nim¡¯ treatment. Should he just kick him out? ¡®Ugh,e on.¡¯ Nheless, Kang Chan gritted his teeth and calmed himself down. He found it ridiculous for the gangster to serve him food from the hospital. The guy respectfully ced the tray on one side and turned the lever to adjust the bed¡¯s angle. He then lifted the table attached to the side of the bed and ced it in front of Kang Chan. He moved so skillfully that one would¡¯ve thought he was a professional caregiver. The guy was clearly an unruly delinquent back when he was a student, but he wouldn¡¯t have expected himself to serve food to others after fulfilling his lifelong goal of bing a gangster. The guy ced the tray on the table, removed its cover, and bowed respectfully to Kang Chan. He appeared to be twenty or twenty-one years old. ¡°Enjoy your meal, hyung-nim.¡± He wouldn¡¯t have prepared such a spread for his parents. Kang Chan felt bitter about it, but that didn¡¯t mean he¡¯d skip his meal. ¡°Ha!¡± Kang Chan looked down at the tray and sighed loudly. White rice was good. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t pregnant, but he had lost a lot of blood, so he understood why the guy prepared some seaweed soup for him. But he didn¡¯t get why there were ribs and gulbi for breakfast. How on earth was Kang Chan supposed to wrap his head around the fact that the beautifully-sliced raw fish was prepared by the same person that was wielding the fillet knife in a fight yesterday? Ignorant gangsters. Kang Chan was so speechless that he just stared at the guy standing in front of him. The guy blinked in return, flustered. Kang Chan eventually decided to let it go since the gangster hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. Kang Chan held the bowl in his left hand out of habit. It stung. What¡­? Before Seok Kang-Ho left, he couldn¡¯t even move his left arm. However, when he inadvertently grabbed the bowl of rice just now, it stung, but it didn¡¯t hurt any more than that. Kang Chan realized the nurse didn¡¯t give him any water and simply left because that guy had entered the room. ¡°Give me a ss of water.¡± ¡°What was that, hyung-nim?¡± ¡°I said give me a ss of water!¡± ¡°Yes, hyung-nim.¡± It was Kang Chan¡¯s first time feeling this annoyed being called ¡®hyung-nim.¡¯ The gangster returned to the room with a jug of water and bowed to him before pouring him a ss. Afterward, he bowed to him again. If a fucking bastard like him were to get promoted¡­ Kang Chan drank it. When he picked up the chopsticks, he noticed the man swallowing his saliva in his peripheral vision. Oh, what a poor fe. Yeah. You and I both have crappy lives.? There was no harm in sharing a meal together. ¡°Go grab a bowl.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, hyung-nim.¡± When Kang Chan red at him, the guy ran out and returned immediately. It wasn¡¯t like there was a mountain of rice bowls right outside in the hallway, so he was actually quite a handy person. ¡°Sit.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, hyung-nim.¡± ¡°Stop annoying me and just sit, you bastard.¡± ¡°Yes, hyung¡ª¡± ¡°Stop calling me ¡®hyung-nim¡¯!¡± After bowing again, he obediently sat on the other side of the bed like a newlywed bride. ¡°All these three dishes¡ª-this one, this one, and this one. Eat them with some rice.¡± The man was about to respond, but when Kang Chan red at him again, he kept his mouth shut. ¡°I hate gangsters, so finish your food fast.¡± When Kang Chan scooped up some rice, the gangster began eating as well, seemingly trying his best to do so as quietly as possible He quickly scarfed down all the ribs, gulbi, and raw fish. They finished their breakfast, finding it satisfying. ¡°Bring me a cup of coffee and a cigarette.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± The man was about to call him ¡®hyung-nim¡¯ but stopped himself when Kang Chan lifted his hand, as though he was about to smack him. He cleared the tray, handed him a cigarette, and made him a cup of coffee. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Jang Geun-Du, hyu¨C...ng.¡± Kang Chan red at him, which made the end of his sentence sound weird. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°8:10 A.M.¡± ¡°Jang Geun-Dup.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Jang Geun-Dup checked Kang Chan¡¯s expression. ¡°Ha! Never mind.¡± Kang Chan was thinking of giving him some advice, but what could he even say to him to stop him from being a gangster? After Kang Chan had finished his coffee and put out his cigarette in the paper cup, Jang Geun-Dup grabbed the cup and tray and took them out. Kang Chan moved his neck and shoulders slowly since he wasn¡¯t in good physical condition, noticing something strange in the process. He felt throbbing pain when he was stabbed right under the corbone, but he couldn¡¯t feel it now. Kang Chan gently squeezed his left hand. It felt stiff. How? How could it be? Kang Chan shifted his gaze and saw that the IV fluid had been changed. ¡°Ah!¡± He recalled the nurse inserting some medication into the IV line. They probably gave him some painkillers. Thud. Kang Chan smiled. He heard a woman¡¯s voice outside the room. Soon after, the door burst open. Yoo Hye-Sook hesitated before approaching Kang Chan. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Her eyes were red and she could barely speak properly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan apologized to her. Yoo Hye-Sook cried as she stared at Kang Chan, who was covered in bandages. ¡°What did the doctor say? How bad are your injuries?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked amid her tears. ¡°He said I¡¯m fine. I can be discharged in a week.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk to the doctor when your fatherester. You don¡¯t have any serious injuries, do you?¡± ¡°Please worry about yourself instead. I¡¯m okay.¡± Kang Chan smiled as he moved his arms around. It stung. He could feel throbbing pain. His body was protesting against his actions, but Kang Chan kept a smile on his face. However, judging from the oue alone, his n failed. The bandages around his left shoulder, arm, and hand were a ghastly sight even to Kang Chan himself. ¡°Be even more careful from now on.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Witnessing Kang Chan¡¯s movements seemed to have made Yoo Seo-Sook feel slightly relieved. ¡°Your father is going to check with the hospital you were previously admitted to. Let¡¯s get a full check-up. The car ident might cause long-term effects, so we have to be careful.¡± The situation made even the great Kang Chan feel flustered. He couldn¡¯t argue that his knife wounds were caused by a car running over him. ¡°There are some scary men standing outside. They¡¯re not causing you any problems, are they?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook seemed to gradually regain her rationality. She removed her jacket, hung it in the wardrobe, and examined the hospital room with suspicion in her eyes. ¡°What kind of hospital reeks so strongly of cigarettes?¡± ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°What exactly is your father doing? Why isn¡¯t he here yet? Our dear son is injured. We need to move you to another hospital as soon as possible.¡± Kang Chan desperately needed toe up with an excuse so he wouldn¡¯t have to relocate to another hospital. 1. Seok Kang-Ho is speaking formally to Kang Chan in Korean, while Kang Chan is speaking to him informally, which is weird because he¡¯s supposed to be his teacher. 2. It is tradition for women who have just given birth to have seaweed soup. 3. Dried yellow corvina 4. Korean sashimi Chapter 18: Thank You (2)

Chapter 18: Thank You (2)

¡°How did this happen?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I was hit by a car when I left Mr. Seok¡¯s house.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook nodded. ¡°Who hit you?¡± ¡°One of the bas¡ªpeople standing outside. They¡¯re here to apologize,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°They look like they¡¯re here to scare you instead. Let¡¯s report them to the police when your father gets here.¡± ¡°No!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook, who had been staring at the door, turned her attention to Kang Chan. ¡°They¡¯ve sincerely apologized to me. They told me not to worry about the hospital bills and treatment fees and just focus on recovery. They stayed here untilte in the night before leaving.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook seemed to find it suspicious, but she didn¡¯t say anything else. It seemed like she didn¡¯t want to agitate Kang Chan anymore after remembering the strains that had been between them until recently. ¡°Have you had your breakfast? Should I buy you something? Is there anything you want to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten. Have you had your breakfast?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook suddenly hit her chest. ¡°I got the call right after your father left for work. I was so shocked it felt like eating would upset my stomach even more.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t describe what he was feeling¡ªit was a little irksome, but it didn¡¯t upset him. Not even being in the presence of a trustedrade in the middle ofbat couldn¡¯tpare to this feeling offort. ¡°We should get you some medicine. We¡¯re already in a hospital anyway,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Seeing you made me feel better.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes and smiled timidly. ¡°Please give me your hand.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked confused. Kang Chan extended his left hand and pulled Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s hand toward him. He then firmly pressed the area between her thumb and index finger. ¡°Ah!¡± Even though she let out a short scream and writhed in pain, Yoo Hye-Sook looked happy. ¡°It hurts!¡± She was making a fuss, but the look on her face suggested she was dying to tell Kim Seong-Hee, ¡®My son massaged me here when I had an upset stomach!¡¯ 45 days. He tried to instill good memories in her mind, but it felt like she had shown him a beautiful face instead and gifted him a sense offort and small moments of happiness in his everyday life, which he could cherish for a lifetime. ¡°How did you get hit that you¡¯re hurt this badly anyway?¡± Kang Chan wasn¡¯t wearing a top since they had to bandage his chest, shoulder, and arm due to the wound on his left shoulder, left hand, and both forearms. He didn¡¯t tell her that, though. There was also a bandage around his waist, so hardly any bare skin was exposed. ¡°I scraped myself against the road when I fell.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook grimaced, appearing to be imagining the scene. She was examining his bandages with a look of doubt and relief. The door opened, and the doctor and nurse entered the room. Yoo Hye-Sook got up to her feet right away. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± The doctor asked. ¡°I feel fine.¡± The doctor smiled gently at Kang Chan first before ncing at Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Kang Chan¡¯s mother.¡± ¡°Ah! You must have been very worried about him.¡± ¡°Yes, I was, doctor. He¡¯s badly hurt, isn¡¯t he? Will any of his injuries cause any long-term effects? He was gravely injured just a month ago.¡± The doctor responded to Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s question with a bright smile. ¡°You have nothing to worry about. I¡¯ve already done all the necessary tests as soon as he was admitted, and I found no major abnormalities. He¡¯ll be fine as long as he eats properly and gets sufficient rest.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook still looked worried. ¡°My son was hospitalized at Samjeong Hospital previously, doctor. If it¡¯s okay with you, I¡¯d like to admit him back to that hospital.¡± The doctor nced at Kang Chan. ¡°Sure, if that¡¯s what you want.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± That¡¯s not how this is supposed to go! Kang Chan wasn¡¯t exactly in the position to say anything, so he just looked at the doctor. ¡°The chief of surgery of that hospital is my friend. You received special care from Dr. Heo Ji-Hwan back then. If need be, I can give him a call.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Chan looked surprised. ¡°Patients that aren¡¯t critically ill or need intensive care get sent here due to the limited number of hospital beds there,¡± The doctor warmly reassured her. ¡°The driver that caused the ident was willing to pay any amount of money to empty this room so your son can get the entire ward to himself. Weplied, but we have patients that are waiting for a bed, so¡­¡± Kang Chan thought the man seemed like a crafty fellow. ¡°Let me know what time works for you. I¡¯ll give Dr. Heo a call.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, doctor. That won¡¯t be necessary¡­ When his fatheres, I¡¯ll discuss it with him and let you know. Now that I think about it, there¡¯s no need to switch hospitals.¡± The doctor nodded. ¡°As you wish.¡± ¡°Will my son really be okay?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± ¡°After he arrived at the hospital, we notified general surgery, internal medicine, thoracic surgery, and neurology. After running some tests, they¡¯ve concluded there wasn¡¯t any issue with his health.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Before she knew it, the doctor had already won over Yoo Hye-Sook with his words. What a scary person. ¡°Could you please step out for a moment?¡± The doctor asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°We need to change his dressing and bandages. It¡¯s better for you not to be here to see it. Normally, he would have to go to the treatment room, but we¡¯ve been doing it here instead since he¡¯s a VIP patient. That¡¯s why we didn¡¯t admit any other patients in this ward.¡± ¡°Ah, I see. I¡¯ll be waiting outside,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook told Kang Chan, then left the room with pity in her eyes. Looking benign, the doctor removed Kang Chan¡¯s bandages with the nurse¡¯s help. Kang Chan genuinely wondered what kind of person he was. Rustle. The doctor¡¯s focus seemingly deepened as he cut the bandages in the middle with a pair of scissors and peeled them off. ¡®Ugh!¡¯ Kang Chan stopped himself from yelping. ¡°The blood that seeped through the bandages had hardened. I¡¯ll apply as much ointment as possible, but it won¡¯t have much of an effect on such wounds.¡± Plop plop. When the doctor tried to remove the bandages, they stuck to the skin, almost pulling it off the flesh, before they peeled off. After removing the bandages, the doctor tilted his head and looked at the blood-soaked bandages and Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder a couple of times. ¡°Is there an issue?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The doctor kept his head tilted, a quizzical look now on his face. ¡°The stitches came off. It normally takes around fifteen days¡­¡± ¡°Do you have to stitch up the wound again?¡± ¡°No. What I¡¯m trying to say is that your wound healed quite fast.¡± The doctor nced at the nurse with a puzzled look, perhaps to ask her what she thought about it, but all she could do was stare with her eyes wide open. ¡°Could this be an idiosyncrasy? Dr. Heo said the same thing. You were previously hospitalized after falling off a five-story building, right?¡± The doctor asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Kang Chan answered. The doctor nodded. ¡°They were shocked, too. You were supposed to be hemiplegic but your condition suddenly improved to the point where you could be discharged immediately. It bewildered Dr. Heo.¡± Kang Chan was shocked as well. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at your other wounds,¡± The doctor said. The doctor removed the other bandages with a serious look on his face. It wasn¡¯t a matter of pain. Now concerned, Kang Chan checked his wounds as well. ¡°Hmm, there¡¯s not much to say apart from the fact that this is an idiosyncrasy. You¡¯ve recovered so much that you can already just receive outpatient treatment.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve recovered to such an extent?¡± ¡°No.¡± Kang Chan looked away from his wound and shifted his gaze to the doctor. ¡°Your physical condition¡¯s way better than that.¡± Coming from such a sly person? Kang Chan smiled softly. ¡°Still, let¡¯s change your dressing and get you bandaged up.¡± The doctor cleaned his wounds with the disinfectant the nurse had prepared and applied some ointment before bandaging his wounds. ¡°Thank you for helping me with my mother.¡± He was more grateful to him for reassuring Yoo Hye-Sook rather than the fact that he had convinced her not to relocate him to the other hospital. ¡°My younger brother seemed to have be a gangster when I was studying abroad. He had a hard time beingpared to me, so he snapped and argued he was better than me when ites to using weapons.¡± The doctor kept turning his head while he bandaged Kang Chan up as if he were gossiping about someone else. ¡°He died in the emergency room. He was probably worried he would be reported to the police, so he stalled for time. That son of a bitch insisted he couldn¡¯t go to a hospital even if he died,¡± The doctor continued as he secured the bandages with a tape. ¡°I despise gangsters. Still, I do what I do because I don¡¯t want people to die hesitating toe to the hospital.¡± He continued. The kind doctor didn¡¯t avoid Kang Chan¡¯s intense gaze. ¡°I have a favor,¡± He said. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I heard you¡¯ll be the one dominating Gangnam from now on.¡± It wasn¡¯t like he was running aundromat. After Kang Chan smiled, the doctor added, ¡°You cane anytime you want, and you can send anyone here, too, but don¡¯t die or kill anyone. It¡¯s overwhelming whenever that happens.¡± ¡°What are you going to do if it bes an issue?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯ve earned enough money. If I lose my license, I¡¯ll just move to America.¡± The doctor appeared to be waiting for Kang Chan¡¯s response. ¡°Okay, I don¡¯t want to live as a killer either.¡± The doctor smiled pleasantly. ¡°I¡¯ll give you another phone number. So call me if it¡¯s urgent.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying I shoulde back here again?¡± ¡°No, but won¡¯t the gangsters going up against you be in danger?¡± When Kang Chan chuckled softly, the doctor looked at him and smiled. ¡°Can I be discharged today?¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be difficult. Well, it¡¯s reported that around 0.1% of the people in the world have idiosyncrasies, but frankly, it¡¯s my first time seeing it for myself, so I have to examine you further. If we let it fester, you might have to amputate your left arm.¡± This doctor had a knack for saying bad news while looking at ease. ¡°But I can be discharged, right? I don¡¯t mind staying here, but there are a lot of students at school who¡¯ll be in trouble if I don¡¯t go back.¡± The doctor looked into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Is it true that you got to where you are right now because you were standing up to school bullies?¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t answer. ¡°I can discharge you if you receive outpatient treatment over the next five days. But you have to promise that if I say you need to be rehospitalized, you¡¯ll listen to me no matter what.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The doctor was more understanding than Kang Chan had expected. ¡°Doctor.¡± The doctor removed his rubber gloves and returned his gaze to Kang Chan. ¡°Thank you,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be thanking you. Since you¡¯re not iming medical insurance, I¡¯m being paid heftily.¡± Kang Chan felt like if he were to beat up this crafty fellow, his fist would ricochet instead. ¡°If you show up at this hospital dead, I¡¯ll remove your organs without your parents¡¯ knowledge and sell them.¡± The doctor made a horrifying remark, then left the room. His words would¡¯ve prompted Yoo Hye-Sook to strangle him if she had heard him. Judging by how Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t enter immediately, it seemed like she was either talking to the doctor or had gone to his office together with him. *** Kang Dae-Kyung created amotion after he rushed to the hospital. However, when both Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook met with the doctor, his charms rendered them as powerless as birds constricted around by a snake. They went through with the discharge procedure. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t possibly ask for his school uniform, which was covered in blood and rips. While Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung were talking to the doctor, Kang Chan changed into a pair of stic waist pants and a T-shirt. Naturally, they had no choice but to ept the gangsters¡¯ help. As promised, Oh Gwang-Taek paid for the hospital bills. However, one of the gangsters standing outside gave them an envelope, which became an issue. ¡°Please receive the outpatient treatment and use this to get some herbal medicine as well.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take care of that. We don¡¯t want to ept the settlement money right now. What if he suffers from long-term effectster on?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s parents rejected the money. ¡°You misunderstand. This is not the settlement money. We¡¯ll put it in writing that we¡¯ll take responsibility for everything if he were to suffer from any long-term effects. If you don¡¯t ept this, my boss would severely reprimand me.¡± He spoke rather politely, but he couldn¡¯t mask his attitude and voice, which were unique to gangsters. ¡°I ask for your kind understanding.¡± The guy even did a 90-degree bow. Naturally, the men standing behind him did the same. Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Dae-Kyung. It was a very difficult situation. ¡°Please ept it. You may return it to the boss next time.¡± When Kang Chan interjected, Kang Dae-Kyung finally epted it, albeit reluctantly. ¡°Thank you!¡± This time around, the gangster did a normal bow of respect. Kang Chan wanted to quickly get away from these guys. The car was in the underground parking lot of the hospital. However, there were also about a dozen gangsters standing there looking at Kang Chan and bowing to him. The ambiance was weird. There was something suspicious about it, but Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung couldn¡¯t say anything. Kang Dae-Kyung sped away, leaving the hospital, as though he was escaping them. The hospital was in Gangnam, so it wasn¡¯t too far from their apartment. They felt more relieved after they got home. Kang Chan was thinking about going to school. ¡®Should I buy a set of school uniforms?¡¯ Even after washing his uniform, the sharp cuts from the knives still remained. It was an issue future Kang Chan would have to think about. Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s startled voice reverberated from the living room. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Why are you wearing your uniform? You¡¯re not going to school! You should just rest for today.¡± ¡°No, If I can go, I should go. Anyway, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked at the check on top of the envelope. ¡°I¡¯m just shocked because of the amount written on the check. It¡¯s a check for 50 million won.¡± That crazy bastard! In any case, she had no intention of epting that ill-gotten money. ¡°You¡¯re returning it to him the next time you see him anyway,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that. This is making me feel ufortable for some reason.¡± After Kang Chanforted Yoo Hye-Sook, she asked, ¡°Your father is going to work. Do you want him to give you a lift?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Kang Chan went to the underground parking lot. ¡°Is there anything you still haven¡¯t told me?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked when they got into the elevator. He had been looking worried for quite a while now, and it seemed like he was waiting for a moment alone with him to ask him about it. Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Kang Chan and waited for a response. Ding. Without saying a word, they walked to the car upon arriving at the underground parking lot, got in it, and left. It was frustrating. Kang Chan even thought he might as welle clean about everything he had done thus far. They were already halfway to the school, which was ten minutes away from their apartment. ¡°Do you like pork cutlet?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kang Dae-Kyung nced at him while he was driving. He looked upset and angry. ¡°Do you want some?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. Nevertheless, he yielded to Kang Chan. They parked the car at the snack bar in front of the school and ordered two tes of pork cutlets. ¡°I got into a fight,¡± Kang Chan broke the silence. ¡°Hmm.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung exhaled and groaned. ¡°I was up against the gangsters that looked after the students I previously fought in school.¡± They were served the pork cutlets after Kang Chan finished speaking. ¡°Nobody died, but the fight seemed to have been beneficial to the group of people affiliated with the hospital. I decided to call it quits on the condition that we no longer cross paths, which also meant they¡¯d have to leave the school and its students alone.¡± ¡°Why did you lie about it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want mom to be worried.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung appeared to have mixed feelings. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan apologized. ¡°Let¡¯s talk while we eat. Eat up.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung saw how Kang Chan cut up his pork cutlet into pieces and ate it with a pair of chopsticks. He then followed suit. ¡°Let¡¯se here again with your mom next time.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung seemed relieved. ¡°You know your mom made sacrifices for me, right?¡± He continued. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what he was talking about, but he had to pretend he did. ¡°She also sacrificed herself to give birth to you. The doctor tried to stop her, but she risked her life anyway.¡± Seemingly thirsty, Kang Dae-Kyung took a sip of the soup. ¡°Your mom is endearing despite what she¡¯s like. I do my best to understand her even when she¡¯s making me do something troublesome or when she¡¯s grumbling. After all, she risked her life to give me the best gift in the world¡ªyou.¡± Kang Chan swallowed the remaining pork cutlet in his mouth. ¡°When we nearly lost you, I thought I was going to lose both you and your mom. She told me not to tell you about it, but she never left the ICU when you were bleeding nonstop.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make your mom cry. I don¡¯t need you to go to college. If that upsets your mom, I¡¯ll deal with it myself.¡± Both of them smiled awkwardly. ¡°Thank you for being honest with me today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan apologized again. He looked pitifully at Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s smile. 1. It¡¯s said that pressing on the web between your thumb and index finger helps with indigestion, nausea, and headaches. 2. It¡¯s a wordy:¨C the word ¡®????¡¯ means ¡®crease¡¯, but it also means ¡®dominate¡¯. 3. Approximately US$38,000 Chapter 19: You Don’t Want To? (1)

Chapter 19: You Don¡¯t Want To? (1)

Kang Chan headed to school after parting ways with Kang Dae-Kyung, walking along the path above the grandstand¡ªthe empty field serving as his background¡ªuntil he arrived at the gymnasium. Rattle. The gymnasium. Kang Chan moved one of the chairs leaning against the wall to the window. He then sat down, took a deep breath, and exhaled heavily. He couldn¡¯t believe he came to school. It was as confusing to him as dying and being reincarnated into someone else¡¯s body. Even though he had reincarnated, things had been chaotic. On top of that, he had an idiosyncrasy that allowed his wounds to heal very quickly. ¡®What exactly do they want from me?¡¯ Kang Chan had never gotten lucky in life. ¡°Tsk!¡± He never liked handouts, preferring to get an exnation as to why people gave him things or asked him to do certain things. Judging by the time, it was currently the fifth period. While Kang Chan was staring at the field, the bell rang, marking the end of ss. Momentster¡­ Rattle. Seok Kang-Ho seemed to pause for a moment, so Kang Chan walked right up to him. ¡°Are you insane? What are you doing in school?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chan smiled softly and pointed to the chair. ¡°I was given the green light toe to school. Even the doctor was surprised by my fast recovery. He said I have an idiosyncrasy that is present in about 0.1% of the world poption. Apparently, I was miraculously discharged from the hospital much earlier than expected as well when I fell from the roof in the past.¡± Seok Kang-Ho brought a chair over and sat down next to Kang Chan. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying!¡± ¡°That sounds about right. You returned to school without any issues after only a month,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°It¡¯s great, but it makes me feel kind of uneasy because I don¡¯t really like getting lucky like this.¡± Seok Kang-Ho couldn¡¯t seem to sympathize with him. ¡°Anyway, have there been any issues?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°There have been strange rumors going around in school, probably because of the students affiliated with the gangsters. Some say you were in a critical situation after being stabbed by a knife. Some say you were dead, and there was also a rumor about someone seeing you get arrested at the police station. I can¡¯t reveal to anyone that I know the full story, can I?¡± ¡°Many of them are relieved, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Hahahaha, they think they won''t be seeing you in school this year.¡± He wondered how difficult things would¡¯ve been without Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s help. ¡°Right, the anti-bullyingmittee has decided to drop the matter,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Lee Ho-Jun said nobody had hit him, and the other students insisted that they fell from the grandstand. But rumors have been going around this morning, so I don¡¯t know if they¡¯ll end up spilling the truthter in the afternoon.¡± Kang Chanughed hollowly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take a day off today?¡± ¡°Strangely, I wanted to see you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like men!¡± Seok Kang-Ho grumbled whileughing. ¡°How¡¯s the athletics club doing?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°There aren¡¯t any problems in particr apart from students badgering me about wanting to join the club.¡± ¡°Maybe I should do ap around the school.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t marking territory your specialty? Take it easy on them. The students with weak hearts would most likely pass out.¡± They burst outughing at the same time. ¡°We gathered for a bit today, and Iid down some ground rules before dismissing the club members. Since it was right before ss, I didn¡¯t see the need to make them break a sweat. Rumors about you have been going around the teachers¡¯ office since the end of the first period as well,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Kang Chan simply stared at him. ¡°The teachers probably think you died,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. ¡°They¡¯re going to be disappointed.¡± Seok Kang-Houghed distinctively. ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case. Quite a number of teachers are concerned because of the students that are being bullied.¡± Seok Kang-Ho had a bitter look on his face. ¡°Please don¡¯t make that face. There¡¯s not much a teacher can do. We now live in a world where you¡¯ll get sued if you hit someone, and if you curse at them, video clips of it can end up circting online on the day itself. There are even teachers that get beaten up.¡± Kang Chan felt as bitter as Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Are you going to stay here? I stopped by because it was empty, but I have to go to the teachers¡¯ office.¡± Seok Kang-Ho said he would be on time for the athletics club, and then made his way to the teachers¡¯ office. Kang Chan remembered he had to take the medicine the doctor at the hospital had prescribed him. He also remembered the promise he made to the doctor. If he wanted to strengthen his body, he needed topletely recover as soon as possible. Kang Chan left the gymnasium to get some water. There was a water faucet inside the main building, though there was also the cafeteria and a nearby snack store. He decided to go to the snack store. He didn¡¯t want to put his mouth anywhere near the water faucet, and he didn¡¯t want to go to the cafeteria since it wasn¡¯t lunchtime yet. The snack store was located in a temporary building between the field and the back gate. It was quite a distance away from the ssrooms, so the students had to sprint all the way there if they wanted to stop by between their sses. It was Kang Chan¡¯s first time going to that ce. Since it was close to the back gate, he decided to take the route that would pass by the teachers¡¯ office. The surroundings were very quiet. However, despite how peaceful the school was, he could hear noisesing from the narrow space between the building and the wall. Kang Chan took a peek inside, finding four boys hiding and smoking cigarettes. ¡®Shouldn¡¯t they be in ss?¡¯ They looked like 10th graders, but one of the students appeared to be even younger. Kang Chan smirked and cautiously stepped back. Smoking wasn¡¯t something he encouraged, nor was it something to be praised, but he had no intention of interfering with other students¡¯ deviant behaviors. What could he say to stop them from harming themselves using the pocket money their parents had given them? It was cumbersome. He couldn¡¯t help but shake his head just thinking about telling those boys not to smoke. Kang Chan dropped by the snack store, bought a bottle of water, then returned to the gymnasium. Rattle. Now that the club members had gotten close to one another, he felt that there was no need for him to intervene. *** As soon as the sixth period ended, noises filled the buildings. The 11th and 12th graders¡¯ ssrooms were located in different buildings, and Kang Chan entered the building used by the 11th graders. The children looked startled. It was as if they had seen a ck-cloaked grim reaper carrying a huge scythe. Smirk. As soon as Kang Chan went up the stairs and turned to face the hallway, all the students fell silent, shocked. ¡®Tsk!¡¯ Their gazes made it seem like they had just seen a zombie, leaving a bad taste in Kang Chan¡¯s mouth. 11th grade, ss 5. The door was half open. Slide. The students stiffened up as though someone had shouted ¡®Freeze!¡¯ Cha So-Yeon looked stunned, and Cho Se-Ho, who was slumped over his desk, looked up and blinked at him repeatedly. Kang Chan walked up to Cha So-Yeon. ¡°Sunbae-nim?¡± ¡°Everything okay?¡± Kang Chan asked her. ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± ¡°Are you going to the gymnasium after ss ends?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cha So-Yeon responded. When Kang Chan smiled and turned around, Cho Se-Ho came to his senses and stood straight. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Cha So-Yeon bid him farewell a bitte. Kang Chan raised his right hand in response. Next up was Moon Ki-Jin, a 10th grader. ¡®This isn¡¯t even a battlefield¡­¡¯ Kang Chan felt like he was proving to everyone he was still alive. *** There was a guy gauging Kang Chan¡¯s mood, a flustered student, and a 10th grader who looked like they had a hard day at school. The students entering the gymnasium had all kinds of expressions on their faces. They greeted Kang Chan and looked at him with wonder, while those that were already seated observed him quietly. Rattle! When Kang Chan turned his head, he saw Kim Mi-Young standing outside, poking her head in through the doorway. There were tears in her eyes. ¡°Come in!¡± Kim Mi-Young hesitated and entered. ¡°Are you okay?¡± She asked. Kang Chan nodded in response. ¡°Are you really okay?¡± ¡°I really am. I heard there were strange rumors about me?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Look at me.¡± As long as Kang Chan didn¡¯t take off his school uniform, nobody would suspect his injuries were grave. ¡°Sob.¡± Kim Mi-Young started crying out of nowhere in front of all the other students. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I¡¯m perfectly fine, so why are you crying?¡± Kang Chan stood up andforted Kim Mi-Young. Don¡¯t tell me I like her as a woman. But Kim Mi-Young had to have been unbearably anxious for her to cry in a ce like this. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to ruin a young girl¡¯s fantasy in front of the other students, and it felt like he was consoling a younger sister who was afraid of losing her older brother anyway. Nothing more, nothing less. It would all be over once school vacation had started. Kim Mi-Young managed to wipe the tears from her face. ¡°You have to go to hagwon, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Mi-Young shook her head. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t have hagwon, but that she wasn¡¯t going to attend the ss. ¡°Don¡¯t skip it. Text me after you¡¯re done with your ss. I¡¯ll be at home.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kim MI-Young asked. They were having a conversation in front of the athletics club members, who were ncing suspiciously at them. ¡°Go to hagwon. And text me after.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Kim Mi-Young seemed to have finally calmed down. She only left the gymnasium after Kang Chan nodded twice. Shortly after, four more people entered the gymnasium, and finally, Seok Kang-Ho showed up. They arranged the chairs in a circle, and Seok Kang-Ho sat down on an empty chair by the door. He looked at the members of the club and asked, ¡°Did you bring your workout clothes?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± They answered. ¡°In that case, the girls will be changing in the counseling office. As for the boys, you may change here. When you¡¯re done, gather at the field.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Seok.¡± The children rushed out of the gymnasium after changing. ¡°In any case, you¡¯ve achieved celebrity status.¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°Why?¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at him and said in an amused tone, ¡°The school was thrown intomotion after the news about youing to school started spreading.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t find that amusing at all. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯m going to make the students y a good round of Dakyu.¡± Seok Kang-Ho got up from his chair, looking happy. ¡°Hurry up. Let¡¯s y a round of Dakyu!¡± He told Kang Chan and left the gymnasium immediately after. ¡°Did that bastard forget I¡¯m injured?¡± Kang Chan smirked and got up. All attention was on the athletics club¡¯s members. There were quite a number of students sitting at the grandstand and watching them. As soon as Kang Chan appeared, all eyes focused on him. ¡°Tsk!¡± Looking at the gazes of these high school students, Kang Chan felt like he was the odd one out. Kang Chan sat on an empty seat and watched the club members split themselves into two groups before ying Dakyu. They still looked clumsy. Then again, it was only their first day, so he shouldn¡¯t have high expectations. Additionally, they were running around not knowing why they had to engage in this activity. One by one, the students that were watching them got up and left. Seok Kang-Ho roughly set the mood and walked over to Kang Chan leisurely before sitting down next to him. ¡°They¡¯re not going to be able to do this every day,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. When Kang Chan nced at Seok Kang-Ho, he continued. ¡°They have to wash up after this, and it¡¯s almost finals. It¡¯ll be hard for them to study properly after running around like this. Doing this twice a week should be enough.¡± ¡°It¡¯s up to you,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kang Chan shifted his gaze back to the field. Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan¡¯s side profile. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°France¡­¡± Kang Chan slowly turned his head and looked at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t go,¡± Seok Kang-Ho responded. Kang Chan smirked. When he looked at the field once again, a 10th grader, Kim Min-Soo, was cheering after knocking over the stic bottle. ¡°Minors require parental consent,¡± Seok Kang-Ho added. ¡°There¡¯s always a way.¡± Seok Kang-Ho smacked his lips loudly. ¡°My memory of Smithen¡¯s face and others¡¯ have be unclear. One side had to fall on that battlefield anyway, and survival wasn¡¯t guaranteed, so I¡¯ve been wondering if I really have to go there,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You¡¯re still ultimately going to go there, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°If I can¡¯t find the man responsible for our deaths, I¡¯lle back here again.¡± ¡°Fat chance. If you take charge and lead your newrades, the enemy is going to give you another cool nickname. Since you still have the same name, they¡¯ll probably call you ¡®God of ckfield Jr.¡¯¡± ¡°Your English has improved a lot, huh?¡± Kang Chan said in admiration, to which Seok Kang Ho responded, ¡°I am a teacher, after all.¡± The sound of students running around and screaming caught their attention. ¡°The enemy was the one who pulled the trigger, but we need to find out how and why they targeted us. The operation was supposed to begin 30 minutester, but we heard the radio announcing our departure 25 minutes before that. That meant it was safe at the frontlines. In other words, we got sniped.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded with a serious look on his face. ¡°Apart from our unit, all the other soldiers were shot to death, which means they had positioned their snipers ording to our numbers. Considering we began the operation 25 minutes earlier, their leader was probably the one that shot us,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°What can people do about dying on the battlefield? If they get enraged, they¡¯ll just shoot and sh the enemy like lunatics before dying. But Daye¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a different story when ites to feeding you, me, or our unit members to the enemy as prey. After seeing the look in Smithen¡¯s eyes, I can¡¯t confidently ept the current life I¡¯m enjoying without repaying my debt to that bastard.¡± Seok Kang-Ho exhaled loudly. ¡°The parents of this body¡¯s owner are truly wonderful, so much so that I don¡¯t want to let them go. Whenever I feel their love for me, I feel sorry and grateful for them. And I start refusing to leave whenever that happens. Thinking about the amount of pain they¡¯d have to go through when they send me off, or if they were to receive a notice that I¡¯ve been killed in action, scares me.¡± ¡°Why did you leave out your first love?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang smirked. ¡°She¡¯s not my first love. And I¡¯m not the son they know, trust, and love. Frankly, I¡¯m deceiving those good people, which is all the more reason for me to leave. Isn''t it too cowardly of me to abandon the people who believed in me for things that aren¡¯t mine to begin with?¡± When Cha So-Yeon fell down, the other students ran over and helped her up. ¡°It¡¯s the first time in my life I''ve experienced love from others. I hate that it¡¯s not actually meant for me.¡± Seok Kang-Ho grunted. He ced his hands on his knee and got up. ¡°Fucking bastard. You have to find out who he is and cut his head off beforeing back.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Kang Chan got up too. An hour had passed. The two girls went to the watch room to wash up, and the boys washed off the dirt on their bodies using the water faucet. Since Kang Chan had received a generous allowance from his parents, he gave them money, and Moon Ki-Jin bought ice pops for the club members to share on the field. The students¡¯ faces were still flushed. They chatted with one another, looking relieved. When Seok Kang-Ho warned them that they would be kicked out of the athletics club if their grades were to drop, Cha So-Yeon suggested studying together in the morning when the club members would gather. Seok Kang-Ho readily epted her suggestion. It was just the first day, but it seemed like they were already relying on one another. Seok Kang-Ho proposed to have dinner together. Avoiding his gaze, Kang Chan left school. Six of the students took the bus. It was nice to see them smiling while reeking of sweat. ¡°Bye.¡± After seeing Cha So-Yeon get on the bus, Kang Chan realized he didn¡¯t know which bus to take and that he didn¡¯t have a transportation card. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t possibly be incapable of buying his own transportation card and finding out which bus to take. However, he simply walked home. Apart from being greeted by high schoolers he didn¡¯t recognize at times, he didn¡¯t feel particrly bad. He was now used to the apartment. When Kang Chan opened the front door, he saw Yoo Hye-Sook approaching him, probably because she heard the sound of him keying in the passcode. ¡°You¡¯re back, dear?¡± Kang Chan smiled at her. ¡°Are you feeling alright? Have you taken your medicine?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. Kang Chan smiled softly. ¡°Why are you smiling?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just happy to be home,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°Oh, my! Do you want some fruit?¡± ¡°Would you like to have some?¡± Kang chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Sure.¡± He had gotten used to conversations like that. After changing out of his school uniform, Kang Chan had some melon and watermelon with Yoo Hye-Sook and spent time with her. 1. In the original text, the author described that Kang Chan felt like a sardine that was identally caught in a school of mackerels. The word ¡®????¡¯ means ¡®mackerel¡¯, but it is also a term used for ¡®high schoolers¡¯. Chapter 20，Part1: You Don’t Want To? (2)

Chapter20£¬Part1: You Don¡¯t Want To? (2)

Kang Chan entered his room and looked at his phone on his desk. After inserting a fully-charged battery and turning it on, a bunch of text messages flooded in. He received a lot of texts from Kim Mi-Young, followed by a couple from unknown numbers. [Hi Channy, it¡¯s Michelle. Call me back.] [Call me.] [It¡¯s such a turnoff for you to keep ignoring me.] [I don¡¯t like where this is going.] [It seems like you¡¯re telling me to get lost, huh? I¡¯m debating about it.] There were five text messages. Kang Chan looked at the messages for a moment before pressing the call button. ¨C¨C ¡®ello? ¡°Michelle? It¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± ¨C¨C Channy? ¡°Yeah. You texted me?¡± ¨C¨C You read my texts? I was disappointed you didn¡¯t pick up my calls. ¡°I was hospitalized. I just got discharged today.¡± ¨C¨C Did you hurt yourself? Is it because of the bandaged hand I saw that day? Why did women ask more than one question at a time? ¡°I¡¯m fine. What¡¯s up?¡± ¨C¨C You shouldn¡¯t get thedies all excited and then y dumb. My friends were really looking forward to it, too. ¡°You know I¡¯m a high schooler, right?¡± ¨C¨C You probably know what it¡¯s like in France. You were so cold that day, and you¡¯re being cold right now, too! You¡¯re kind of strangely charming whenever you turn me down, you know. You give off the vibe of a wounded beast. Hooo! Should I ask if she¡¯s Smithen? ¨C¨C Are you free today? Michelle had a sweet voice. No, it was seductive. ¡°My upper body is all wrapped up in bandages.¡± ¨C¨C Ahh! How sexy! Was she a crazy bitch? ¨C¨C We¡¯ll get your blood pumping. ¡°I¡¯m not free today¡­¡± ¨C¨C You¡¯re really strange. There are men begging on their knees to be with us. ¡°Go meet with those men, then.¡± ¨C¨C Whoa! I really like you. In that case, let¡¯s grab something to eat. Perhaps you might change your mind after that. ¡°Fine.¡± Kang Chan agreed to meet with Michelle and her friends on Saturday afternoon, saying he would text her as soon as he had decided on the location. There was a chance he wouldn¡¯t meet with them, though. In any case, he didn¡¯t tly reject her when she had offered to help him the other day, so he was nning to draw a clear line between them without Yoo Hye-Sook around. Kang Chan didn¡¯t hate women. He did have his fair share of experience with women back in France, but it was all purely lust. He never dated any of the women because he didn¡¯t want to find love in a hellhole like that. He passed the time browsing the inte until it was time for dinner. Regardless of how many times he had searched for terms rted to France, Africa, and the battle that fateful day, he couldn¡¯t find anything. Then again, it would be rather odd for information pertaining to it to be circting on the inte. Kang Chan had dinner with just Yoo Hye-Sook. The steamed egg was delicious so he finished all of it, leaving nothing behind. The sight ted Yoo Hye-Sook. She looked quite happy, almost as if she had won a cookingpetition. Kang Chan took his medicine after watching TV for a while. Kang Dae-Kyung got home at around 9 pm. ¡°Wee home,¡± Kang Chan greeted him. ¡°You must be tired, honey,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°I feelpletely fine now that I¡¯ve seen you and Chan.¡± ¡°Oh my!¡± She responded. It was a scene that gave Kang Chan goosebumps. However, Kang Chan could tell there was a tinge of awkwardness on Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s facial expression. It was simr to the facial expressions of his unit members when they were seriously injured but acted as though it was nothing. Such behavior could only mean one thing¨C¨Cthey didn¡¯t want to break theirrades¡¯ morale. Kang Chan feigned ignorance and went back to his room. That was all one had to do if they were to see someone hiding something. There had to have been a reason why Kang Dae-Kyung was hiding something from them. About 30 minutester, Kang Chan went outside to the bench. Shortly after, he saw Kim Mi-Young looking at her phone while walking into the entrance of the apartment. She seemed to be waiting for a response after sending a text. ¡°Snow White!¡± Kim Mi-Young lifted her head in surprise and smiled brightly at Kang Chan. The reason why he didn¡¯t mercilessly turn her down was right before him. ¡°You¡¯re exhausted, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± She responded with relief in her eyes, seemingly having found a safe ce to rest after a long journey. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just eat something at home,¡± She responded. At most, all he had to do was meet with her and chat with her at the bench. He wondered if that ever bored her or if she found it troublesome. Even though she was naive and frustrating, Kim Mi-Young¡¯s presence didn¡¯t make Kang Chan feel ufortable¡ªa sensation he never experienced in France. It wasn¡¯t too bad because he just felt like he had a younger sister he wanted to protect within society instead of on the battlefield. Afterforting her, he could just tell her, ¡®I¡¯m going to study abroad in France. Let¡¯s meet after we be sessful.¡¯ Wouldn¡¯t that be a great excuse? He was nning to use the same excuse on Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. And then, he could immediately apply to the army after six months. People¡¯s memories of others would gradually be fainter and fainter when they were out of sight. Just like how even Kang Chan¡¯s memory of Smithen¡¯s face was blurry now. Kim Mi-Young rambled on about things that had happened at hagwon and looked at Kang Chan from time to time, smiling. Little by little, Kang Chan gained a better understanding of Kim Mi-Young¡¯s situation¡ªher mother decided everything for her. It seemed like she followed her mother¡¯s wishes, even when it came to who she could be close friends with and who she had to distance herself from. She had an old, basic keypad phone because smartphones were a waste of time. ¡°Right! What do you wanna be in the future?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Mi-Young. He asked because he suddenly remembered what Seok Kang-Ho said and because he had nothing else to say. ¡°Um¡­a diplomat.¡± Kang Chan just nodded. People could change their aspirations whenever they felt like it, after all. At that moment, Kim Mi-Young¡¯s phone started buzzing. ¡°I¡¯m in front of the apartment building now. I¡¯ll be going up any minute.¡± Kang Chan got up too. It was time to go home. *** Up until Friday, the days were so peaceful they came across as boring. After Kang Chan was done with his sses, he swung by the hospital to disinfect his wounds. Apart from his shoulder and left hand, his wounds had healed significantly enough to only need gauzes. ¡°By next Monday, you should be able to start taking showers.¡± ¡°That soon? Will I be able to do physical activities, then?¡± Kang Chan was surprised. ¡°It¡¯ll be difficult for you to do strenuous physical activities, but I think you should be able to walk briskly. Don¡¯t ever overexert yourself,¡± The doctor warned him with a warm smile. It seemed like he would still be fine after removing half the bandages wrapped around his body. Besides, he could even shower now. When he returned home, Kang Chan had dinner with Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Is there something you¡¯re worried about?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Huh? Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± It was apparent that Yoo Hye-Sook was now aware of what Kang Dae-Kyung was trying to hide. When Kang Chan entered the room, Yoo Hye-Sook had to bottle up her worries. Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t force Kang Chan to study, probably because he had fallen from the roof of a building and was just in a car ident. Were they thinking of suggesting he take a break from school this year and resume studying next year? While Kang Chan and Yoo Hye-Sook were watching TV together, Yoo Hye-Sook would go into her bedroom whenever she received a call, returning to the living room after it had ended with a disappointed look on her face. Kang Dae-Kyung got home after the clock struck 9. ¡°I¡¯m home.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung forced a smile. Yoo Hye-Sook looked at him with pity. What should Kang Chan do? Should he continue feigning ignorance until the very end? Just then, Kang Chan saw Yoo Hye-Sook hitting her own chest, evidently forcing herself to eat. She probably forced her food down so Kang Chan wouldn¡¯t have to eat alone. When Kang Dae-Kyung changed into somethingfortable and went to the living room, Kang Chan became determined to do something about it. ¡°Would you like to take a walk?¡± Kang Chan asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Huh?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook was still in the room. After hesitating for a bit, Kang Dae-Kyung said, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯lle with you,¡± then went into the master bedroom. ¡°Where are you nning to go at this hour?¡± ¡°We¡¯re just spending quality time between men. Even if you¡¯re jealous, please bear with it.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung came out of the room with a cardigan and forced himself to make a joke. ¡°Honey!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook called out to Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Yeah?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook quickly nced at Kang Chan in an attempt to tell her husband not to say anything that would make Kang Chan worry. ¡°Don¡¯t stay out toote.¡± Nheless, she said something entirely different, hiding her true feelings. Chapter 20，Part2: You Don’t Want To? (2)

Chapter20£¬Part2: You Don¡¯t Want To? (2)

Kang Chan and Kang Dae-Kyung got out of the elevator and walked toward the bench on one side. Kang Chan didn¡¯t say a word. Kang Dae-Kyung didn¡¯t have to ask him why he wanted to leave the house to know why, and he had no intention of forcing him to do anything. ¡°I was nning to import cars from France. I decided to get 50 of them first. They are going to be disy and test drive cars. After that, there was a high chance we¡¯ll make huge profits since we¡¯ll be submitting customers¡¯ orders separately.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung let out a long sigh. ¡°You know Suh Jeong Group, right? They have a subsidiary called Suh Jeong Motors. They made an offer to import the cars I was going to import, clearly greedy for the market I pioneered.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked slightly relieved. ¡°Then I received a call from France. They said if I were to purchase 500 cars in one go, they would give me exclusive rights to import them. Since we made a deal with them first, they imed it was the best offer they could make. They made that offer knowing I couldn¡¯t do that, essentially forcing me to work together with the big corporation.¡± ¡°What kind of cars are you importing?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s called Chiffre. You¡¯ve heard of it, right?¡± Kang Chan exhaled cautiously. Chiffre was a luxury sedan. The local price was approximately 90 million Korean Won. If they were 90 million won each, 500 of them would cost¡­ a huge sum of money. ¡°Will you suffer a huge loss if you were to back out of the deal?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to forfeit the down payment we made for the 50 cars, or we have to pay the remaining sum of money and buy them before reselling them. Either way, the losses we¡¯d incur are about the same. I feel sorry for you and your mother, but I got a loan using our house as coteral. If things go south, we¡¯d be in a very tough situation. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother me,¡± Kang Chan responded. Kang Dae-Kyung looked at him for a moment and smiled sadly. ¡°I¡¯m worried about you and your mom. I tried everything I could to hide it from you two, but I failed. It¡¯s especially harder for me when ites to deceiving your mom.¡± ¡°It was very obvious.¡± ¡°Was it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung couldn¡¯t control his facial expressions. ¡°Your mom barely managed to survive you getting into an ident. If something happens to me this time around, your mom might¡­¡± Did Yoo Hye-Sook have any chronic illness? ¡°Her doctor said it would be very dangerous if she were to have a bloody discharge again¡­ If your mom copses or seems to be having a bloody discharge when I¡¯m not around, you need to do whatever it takes to rush her to Sam Jeong Hospital¡¯s emergency room. They have your mom¡¯s chart, so they¡¯ll know what to do.¡± If she risked her life and bled in the ICU to give birth to Kang Chan, then¡­ Kang Dae-Kyung covered his face with his hands. ¡°The French executives we have an appointment with next week are arriving this week. Suh Jeong Motors made a very attractive offer to the Korean branch manager. They¡¯re probably hoping to wrap things up with us quickly so they can proceed with the offer they made with the branch manager.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung only talked about it briefly, but it sounded like it was already a done deal. If they were on a battlefield, this would be the perfect time to quickly gather the survivors and order them to retreat. ¡°It¡¯ll all work out,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Hoo! There truly are times when sons can be a pir of strength. You¡¯re still young, so it must be a huge shock to you, but I didn¡¯t want to lie to you either. If things be difficult for us for some time¡­ It¡¯ll be all my fault. Your mom hasn''t done anything wrong, so if you want to resent someone¡­¡± ¡°Thank you for being honest with me.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung forced a smile. ¡°So they¡¯ll be arriving tomorrow or the day after, huh?¡± Kang Chan remarked. ¡°They¡¯re arriving tomorrow. We decided to take the day off and meet with them on Sunday at lunch.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we n to go together?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung shook his head. ¡°Since this is the final stretch, I¡¯lle with you,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll do well.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung didn¡¯t want Kang Chan to see him bow down to them or witness the deal fall apart. ¡°The only thing I can do is interpret for you. Considering mother seems to have been calling around asking for help, we should join forces and give it our best shot. If it doesn¡¯t work out, at least we did everything we can. Please let me go with you.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes and exhaled heavily. ¡°Alright. Even if it doesn¡¯t work out, help me out until the very end. Your mom¡­¡± Kang Dae-Kyung clenched his teeth hard, keeping his emotions in check. ¡°Let¡¯s pretend everything¡¯s alright so your mom wouldn¡¯t worry¡­ Let¡¯s do our best.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung shifted his gaze to the seventh floor, where their apartment was. ¡°I¡¯ll head up first,¡± Kang Chan said. There were moments when men needed time alone. When Kang Chan walked through the front door, Yoo Hye-Sook looked behind him. ¡°Father said he wanted to get some fresh air beforeing back.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook nodded grimly. There were mixed emotions written all over her face¡ªfear of the difficult times ahead, concern for Kang Dae-Kyung, and pity toward Kang Chan. Kang Chan went into his room. He had to look for the money he kept in his bank ount in France. He didn¡¯t have much, but he had hardly touched it, so he probably had approximately 150 million Korean Won. ¡®I would¡¯ve been regarded as dead, so will my biological parents receive the sum of money instead? No, it¡¯s my personal individual ount. I know the passcode.¡¯ If everything went ording to n, he¡¯d find it. At that moment, Kang Chan received a text message, so he called the sender. ¨C¨C ¡®ello, Channy! ¡°Let¡¯s push back our meetup by a week, Michelle.¡± ¨C¨C Channy, this is too disrespectful. ¡°Something important came up at home. Let¡¯s meet next week.¡± A loud sigh came from the other end of the line. ¨C¨C Monday. ¡°Got it.¡± ¨C¨C Don¡¯t reschedule it again. ¡°Text me the time and location. I¡¯ll definitely be there.¡± ¨C¨C Alright. After hanging up, Kang Chan scoured the inte. ¡°There it is!¡± He found Cr¨¦dit Paris¡¯ website. Contrary to his expectations, however, there was no way for him to ess his bank ount since he didn¡¯t apply for inte banking in the first ce. And he also couldn¡¯t remember his ount number. Kang Chan heard Kang Dae-Kyung entering the apartment and going into the master bedroom with Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Chan wanted to help him in any way possible, even if it was just a little. *** Kang Chan went to school that Saturday. He told Seok Kang-Ho about Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s problem. ¡°Oh no. I don¡¯t have any of my sry left in France.¡± Seok Kang-Ho quickly turned his head and stared into the void. ¡°Wait, I might be able to get a loan using my house as coteral.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves. Finding my savings in Cr¨¦dit Paris is the best thing we can do right now, but their only branch office is in Hong Kong. I¡¯ll call them on Monday and look into it first,¡° Kang Chan responded. ¡°I¡¯m worried about your mother.¡± ¡°She¡¯ll be fine.¡± He was fortunate to have Seok Kang-Ho by his side. Kim Mi-Young sent Kang Chan a text message that Saturday evening, but he lied to her, saying he had a cold, so they only talked on the phone. Kang Chan was so worried about Yoo Hye-Sook that he had no time to think about anything else. ¡®If I pray, will my prayers be answered?¡¯ Despite enemies attacking him in the countless battles he had fought, he never did resort to praying. *** The next morning, Yoo Hye-Sook was on the brink of tears during breakfast. Even so, she put on a strong front and held it in. She looked like she felt bad for Kang Dae-Kyung and sorry for Kang Chan at the same time. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want her to eat because he was afraid she would get indigestion, but he couldn¡¯t stop her since he thought it would make Yoo Hye-Sook feel even worse. After having a tension-filled morning, Kang Dae-Kyung and Kang Chan stood at the front door. Kang Dae-Kyung was wearing a suit, while Kang Chan had neat cotton pants and a shirt on. ¡°See youter,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook finally burst into tears. ¡°We¡¯ll give it our all. I¡¯m sorry, honey.¡± While Kang Dae-Kyung was hugging her, Kang Chan quietly walked out the front door. Momentster, Kang Dae-Kyung left the house. His eyes were red. Kang Dae-Kyung was silent the entire time they were taking the elevator down to the underground parking lot. He remained silent even when the car left the apartmentplex and entered the main road. ~ Kang Dae-Kyung finally broke the silence after pulling over at the hotel at the bottom of Namsan Mountain. ¡°I feel like I can maintain my confidence until the end. My son¡¯s with me, after all.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung smiled at Kang Chan with every ounce of energy and courage left in his body. ¡°There will be two executives and an interpreter from mypany. I¡¯ll be upfront with them about you being my son. I¡¯ll also tell the French executives that you¡¯re assisting with the interpretation.¡± Even though it was bound to fail, Kang Chan really hoped everything would be okay. Kang Chan nced at the sky just before they entered the lobby. ¡®Help these two people in exchange for my life.¡¯ They walked through the revolving door. Kang Chan flew into a rage. ¡®This is the first time I¡¯ve ever asked you for anything since I was born. After dealing me a bad hand, a fucked up life, the least you can do is grant my wish just this once! Do this for me, and I¡¯ll die smiling even if the price I have to pay is to be hacked to death in Africa.¡¯ Kang Chan clenched his teeth. They were already in the lobby, and the lounge was just inside it. "They¡¯re already here, huh,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. The executives and interpreter got up when they made eye contact with Kang Dae-Kyung. By the time Kang Dae-Kyung approached the table, the two French executives had also gotten up from their seats. ¡°Bonjour.¡± It was Shan, themander that briefed them about the operation that day. And the person next to him was Smithen. Both of them stood up to greet Kang Dae-Kyung. Kang Chan felt as though his heart and brain had froze. Chapter 21: Things that Couldn’t be Imagined (1)

Chapter 21: Things that Couldn¡¯t be Imagined (1)

¡®Why are those assholes Shan and Smithen here?¡¯ Kang Chan felt like the question was tightly entangling him. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s face randomly popped up in his mind While he was deep in thoughtWhat would Seok Gang-Ho say? Ah shoot! That wasn''t important right now. Kang Chan knew Smithen was alive and well. After all, he was on the verge of death but wasn¡¯t actually killed. To be blunt, however, Shan and Smithen hadn¡¯t even saved a country. How was he supposed to understand that the two assholes had be executives for Gong Te automobilepany? After shaking hands with Kang Dae-Kyung, Shan and Smithen looked at Kang Chan strangely. ¡°Chan, please have a seat and introduce yourself.¡± Kang Chan then realized that he was standing in a hotel lobby, and those two were here as the vice president and an executive of a French automobilepany. ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan. I¡¯m here to assist with interpretation.¡± When Kang Chan offered his hand hurriedly as if he was caught off guard, Shan confidently leaned his head and smiled as if he knew something. ¡°I¡¯m Shan. You have really good pronunciation, and your social habits are also familiar. This is Smithen, the director in charge of Asian affairs.¡± ¡°Bonjour, Kang Chan.¡± When Smithen finished his greeting, he sent Shan an amused nce. They all sat down. Kang Chan was able to gain his bearings while a female employee wearing a very revealing royal blue skirt and a white blouse took orders. Smithen licked his lips while looking at the female employee¡¯s butt. ¡®The director in charge of Asian affairs? You should introduce yourself as the director in charge of adultery instead.¡¯? ¡°Smithen.¡± Shan gave a low warning. As Smithen looked away, his eyes met Kang Chan¡¯s. ¡°Is the name Kang Chanmon in Korea?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s heart had barely calmed down when it started hammering violently again at the question. He secretly wanted to jump in, twist Smithen¡¯s neck, and ask him if he remembered ¡®God of ckfield¡¯. But that kind of action was only suitable for the old Daeryu. ¡°There would be around 20 people with the same name in a phone book. I assume that you know someone with the same name?¡± At that moment, Shan quickly looked at Kang Chan. ¡°I only asked because your name seemed familiar.¡± ¡®Familiar?¡¯ Kang Chan smirked while looking at Smithen. ¡°Your names sound familiar to me as well.¡± While Smithen was making a somewhat ufortable expression, their coffee and juice arrived. ¡°Mr. Vice President, our Kang Yoo Motors is having difficulties epting your sudden proposal. So we are hoping to lower the exclusive contractual terms of 500 cars.¡± The interpreter passed on Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s words. He was around 40 with a slim body and greased hair that was neatlybed, which made him seem like an old-fashioned public official. ¡°We never changed the terms. If desired, Kang Yoo Motors can purchase and sell 50 cars as per the contract. In such a case, we¡¯ll also sell the cars to Suh Jeong Motors under the same contract. Friendlypetition in good faith needs to be respected. It brings good results.¡± ¡°We have already paid half the price of the 50 cars. If the bnce is paid as per the contract, Kang Yoo Motors will monopolize the exclusiveness of AS for the ¡®Chiffre¡¯ in Korea. You and Suh Jeong Motors need to consider this fact.¡± While the interpreter passed on Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s words to Shan, Smithen found the server and kept staring at her. ¡°We acknowledge the exclusiveness with AS, but only if the following prerequisites are fulfilled: you must have facilities that meet the regtions of the Gong Te headquarters, stock up the mandatory parts, and hire employees.¡± Shan responded. The interpreter raised his head again after interpreting to Kang Dae-Kyung and the two executives of Kang Yoo Motors. ¡°The facility has contracts with 10 car centers that are currently running and are nning on using the employees there. The parts will be equipped with consumables that can be reced immediately.¡± ¡°It only needs to meet the regtions of the headquarters,¡± Shan briskly replied as he ced the coffee mug down. Even a newbie that doesn¡¯t know anything about businesses like Kang Chan could see that they were pathetically hanging on. Shan looked like a businessman on the outside, but he had the same expression and look in his eyes that Kang Chan had seen on the battlefield. . ¡®Those fuckers. Did they somehow survive, get discharged, and be executives because they were recognized for their work?¡¯ Someone that sold off their teammates could be watching out for them, which meant that a deal had been made in exchange for his crew¡¯s death. Kang Chan stared at Smithen¡¯s thick neck. ¡®I should twist his neck first. The truth wille out then.¡¯ The boring conversation allowed Kang Chan to calm down and regain hisposure. He found it funny that Shan had turned into a businessman and that Smithen couldn¡¯t keep his eyes away from the female employee. However, it was still hard for Kang Chan to endure the desire to rush in and attack. As the conversation continued, Kang Dae-Kyung and the two executives'' faces darkened, while Shan remained rxed. It seemed like he was conveying that the result had already been decided. When one executive was about to state that they were going to consider legal actions, Kang Chan quietly shook his head. They wouldn¡¯t even think of that if they knew Shan, that fucker. That smile only ever appeared whenever he was waiting for the other party to provoke him first. As soon as the words ¡®legal actions¡¯ were delivered, it was clear that Shan would leave the ce, stating that Kang Yoo Motors had declined their final consideration. If they knew how cruel Shan could be after his smile disappeared, they wouldn¡¯t consider saying such simple threats. If it ended like this, then those two would ignore Kang Chan in order to sever their ties with Kang Yoo Motors. ¡°One moment please.¡± Kang Chan interrupted the interpreter and stood up. ¡°Mr. Vice President, it seems that you came here with your mind made up, but could you give us some time?¡± Even though he tried, when Kang Chan asked Shan a question he couldn¡¯t hide the glint in his eyes. ¡°It seems to me that Kang Yoo Motors won¡¯t be able to fulfill the requirements. Is there really any need for us to waste time?¡± Kang Chan forced a smile when he saw Shan¡¯s face harden. ¡°That¡¯s true. But we can¡¯t be entirely certain of the possibilities, can we? Hence, it should be usible to at least provide us with the time that¡¯s equivalent to half the price of 50 cars.¡± The interpreter was still busy interpreting Kang Chan¡¯s words to Kang Dae-Kyung and the two executives. ¡°Monsieur Kang? It seems that you don¡¯t have authority here. Are you allowed to give such offers?¡± When the interpreter passed on Shan¡¯s words, Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Kang Chan, flustered. It was as if his high schooler son just took over and said something foolish. ¡°Mr. Vice President, please give me time to persuade the president. It won¡¯t take longer than 5 minutes.¡± Shan gave Smithen a subtle nce. ¡°I hope you seed.¡± He epted Kang Chan¡¯s words with good grace and an amused expression. ¡°Don¡¯t interpret what I¡¯m about to say.¡± Kang Chan first warned the interpreter not to open his mouth. ¡°If the situation remains unchanged, the deal will be over right here. I think it¡¯ll be better to take some time to consider it some more before resuming negotiations.¡± Shan gazed at the interpreter but then looked elsewhere with a sly smile when the interpreter didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°French people are snobs and won¡¯t ept offers even if we cling on. It will be better to take some time and consider legal actions or propose different conditions.¡± Kang Chan spoke stiffly because the executives and the interpreter were there. There might be a solution to the Kang Yoo Motors situation, but Kang Chan couldn¡¯t tell Kang Dae-Kyung and the executives that he had fought with Shan and Smithen in Africa even if it meant cutting off the two men¡¯s necks. Moreover, he needed to figure out how they survived. When Kang Chan noticed Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s hesitation, he spoke, ¡°Father.¡± Kang Chan desperately needed time. ¡°Remember the previous phone call? From my knowledge, it hasn¡¯t been long since the two became executives.¡± The interpreter checked the paperwork and nodded. Wasn¡¯t it obvious? The two men were soldiers until 2007, and it was now 2010. ¡°Let¡¯s end it here for today and buy some time. We need to act ordingly against them in response to their characteristics.¡± A short moment passed. Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s eyes now seemed determined. ¡°Are you confident?¡± asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Mr. President!¡± One executive protested with a frown. ¡°I¡¯ll find a solution for the person waiting,¡± answered Kang Chan. This was about Yoo Hye-Sook, which only the two of them knew. Kang Dae-Kyung smiled handsomely. ¡°Thank you for waiting, Mr. Vice President. We have two conditions.¡± Shan leaned his head forward slightly. It was his habit whenever he asked for others¡¯ opinions. ¡°We require a week, and one night of that week.¡± Shan gave a broad grin. ¡°Remarkable. Will a week really be sufficient?¡± The question was asked to the interpreter. When Kang Dae-Kyung replied through the intrpreter, ¡°Yes, it¡¯ll be enough,¡± Shan looked at Kang Chan again. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®one night¡¯?¡± ¡°We¡¯re thinking of providing an unimaginable experience.¡± Smithen''s eyes sparkled. ¡°Hmmm¡­ Will you give up your exclusive rights to AS if 500 cars aren¡¯t bought in a week?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about that.¡± The interpreter hurriedly tranted Kang Chan¡¯s stern reply. The two executives groaned, but Kang Dae-Kyung kept staring at Kang Chan with a surprisingly calm demeanor. ¡°Please confirm if the president also agrees.¡± The interpreter passed on his words, and Kang Dae-Kyung answered with a nod. ¡°Korea is a surprising country.¡± ¡®Why wouldn¡¯t it be, Shan?¡¯ Even the things happening in front of them were hard to handle. ¡°All Asians look simr. Speaking of which, Kang Chan looks very simr to someone. Especially the way he speaks, the look in his eyes, his expression, and how he suits a bandage in his hand.¡± Little did they know, even Kang Chan¡¯s neck-twisting techniques were the same. Kang Chan regained hisposure. ¡°Is everything in order, then?¡± Shan nodded widely. ¡°Sounds good. When will the said night take ce?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll let you know by tomorrow.¡± ¡°We have ns, so please make the reservation at least one day in advance.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The conversation ended there. Everyone stood up and said their goodbyes. Only after Shan and Smithen walked towards the elevator did the Kang Yoo Motor group sit down. The two executives sighed while side-eyeing Kang Chan. Even Kang Dae-Kyung seemed like he was regretting what had happened, but what could they do now? The boat¡ª no¡ªthe two men, had already gone up the elevator. The two executives scolded and expressed their concerns by asking ¡°What are you thinking?¡± and ¡°This is very reckless,¡± but Kang Dae-Kyung remained surprisingly still. He told them he would see them at the office and left with Kang Chan. Kang Chan nced at the sky while walking out of the lobby with Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡®It must be fun to watch, right? No matter what happens, I won¡¯t resent you as long as the contract with Kang Yoo Motors goes well.¡¯? Kang Dae-Kyung sighed heavily after getting in the car. Then he burst outughing. ¡°Ha! Now that I think about it, what I did was really strange. I can understand the executives¡¯ expressions now.¡± ¡°Do you regret it?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kang Dae-Kyung only stared at him while lowering his head towards the steering wheel. ¡°Are you really my son?¡± Kang Chan only smiled. ¡°Are you still going to say that you learned French online?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe me even if I told you.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s upper body heaved as heughed with a ¡°Hah!¡± He seemed dumbfounded. Throughout the drive, Kang Dae-Kyung muttered to himself, ¡°Lease? No that¡¯s not it,¡± and ¡°Could we connect with the capital? What about interest?¡± but it seemed like he couldn¡¯t afford to handle therge cost of purchasing the cars. When they arrived at the underground parking lot, Kang Dae-Kyung seemed stumped. ¡°What should we tell your mom?¡± ¡°How about we tell her that we were able to buy a week?¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°What if she asks about the solution?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung shook his head. ¡°How am I running a business when I¡¯m asking my son these questions?¡± Both of them got on the elevator. ¡°Tell her that the executives found a way.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think about getting help from the gangsters from before.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung warned him. ¡°Then please make a reservation at an appropriate ce.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about confronting them, then I¡¯ll do it instead.¡± At Kang Chan¡¯s nce, Kang Dae-Kyung smiled awkwardly. ¡°Keep it a secret from your mom.¡± Even if that wasn¡¯t what he was nning, Kang Chan still decided to refuse Kang Dae-Kyung since he wouldn¡¯t be able to handle what Kang Chan was nning on doing that day. The atmosphere was fairly good when the front door of the apartment opened. It had already happened anyway, and there was an absurd sense of relief that they still had a week. ¡°Did she go somewhere?¡± When Kang Chan saw Kang Dae-Kyung going inside the master bedroom, he went inside his room, picked up his phone on his desk, and gave Seok Kang-Ho a call. ¨C¨C What happened? Seok Kang-Ho sounded worried. He knew of today¡¯s meeting, after all. ¡°Do you have time to spare?¡± ¨C¨C I¡¯ll be at the front door of your house. Come out in about 30 minutes. ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s heart started hammering again when he ended the call. This was different from meeting Seok Kang-Ho for the first time. Kang Chan decided to leave the house first. Meanwhile, Kang Dae-Kyung was sitting on the living room couch. ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°What about mom?¡± ¡°She¡¯s sleeping because she had a hard time yesterday.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung stared at the master bedroom like a student hiding his grades. ¡°There¡¯s a person I know in France. I believe they might be helpful.¡± This was Kang Chan¡¯sst hope. Kang Dae-Kyung seemed suspicious of it, but he couldn¡¯t disguise the small amount of hope he had. ¡°Is it a person you met in the inte?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t say that he got to know Seok Kang-Ho in Africa. Hence, instead of replying, he just smiled. ¡°I¡¯m going out for dinner. I¡¯ll be back.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung, saddened by hisck of abilities, faced the reality that their only hope was someone his son met in the inte. Nheless, he felt proud of Kang Chan above all else. Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s smile looked painful to Kang Chan. Kang Chan felt confused as he walked out the front door and pressed the button for the elevator. This was more than Shan and Smithen. The gap in mental capacity and a senior high schooler¡¯s body also yed a role. As his current appearance was being ingrained in his brain, his previous appearance was bing harder to remember. He also felt apologetic every time he thoughtlessly swore at Seok Kang-Ho. Ding There was a mirror inside the elevator. Currently, there was the Kang Chan with only his appearance and the Kang Chan with only his thoughts. Which one was real? Kang Chan sharply red at the high schooler in the mirror. The look in his eyes was the same as before. So were the bandage that was wrapped around his hand, his uncanny smirk, the way he talked, and his personality. ¡®Do I have to live like this?¡¯ He might be stuck in a form that would be impossible to escape until death. Ding.? The elevator sound indicated that he had arrived on the first floor. It was like a warning that he should devote his best to what was in front of him instead of messing around. Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Fuck it, let¡¯s twist their necks first!¡± He walked unhurriedly to the bench. Sunday afternoon. He took a deep breath, curious about how Seok Kang-Ho would react. 1. AS stands for After Service in Korea 2. The Korean phrase ¡°the boat already left¡± is simr to the English phrase ¡°missed the bus.¡± Basically, they were too slow and it was toote to do anything Chapter 22: Things that Couldn’t be Imagined (2)

Chapter 22: Things that Couldn¡¯t be Imagined (2)

Sitting on the bench, Kang Chan felt much morefortable as he stared at the people walking about. Strangely, he evenughed as well. Gong Te automobile? Vice President? Executive? He truly hoped they obtained their positions through normal means after barely surviving. If that were the case, he¡¯d be able to shake their hands, smile, greet them while bumping shoulders, and say that he was also alive but in this form. There wouldn¡¯t be any need to worry about his pride or be greedy. He was thinking of epting the reality if asking them to be considerate and avoid negatively affecting Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s Kang Yoo Motors wasn¡¯t possible. But there were hints of dirty deeds in Shan and Smithen¡¯s faces. Their faces and the look in their eyes were simr to when they were beaten up almost to the point of death as a punishment and forced into a corner after they had assaulted and beaten a 16-year-old African girl. ¡®Smithen, that fucker.¡¯? After he had sworn never to taint the name of their crew, it was never brought up again. Kang Chan had actually lived with the thought that the look he had seen in Smithen¡¯s eyes at thest moment was a debt that he had to repay. Kang Chan realized that his eyes were glinting. Beep Beep.? Raising his gaze, a familiar car came into view. However, his thirst for blood that had already been roused didn¡¯t disappear so easily. When Kang Chan went into the car, Seok Kang-Ho looked him over with surprised eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere where we can smoke and talk openly.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Kang Chan smirked in response. ¡°I don¡¯t know who that asshole is, but I feel really bad for him,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Smithen.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was surprisingly calm, but only for a second. Soon, his face turned towards Kang Chan. ¡°Watch the road.¡± Screech. They almost got into an ident while trying to merge onto the main road, but Kang Chan continued smiling with a murderous look in his eyes. ¡°Smithen¡¯s alive?¡± After noticing Kang Chan¡¯s expression, Seok Kang-Ho became curious about where and how he found out. ¡°Shan was with him.¡± ¡°Haha. Hahaha.¡± ¡°Those two fuckers appeared together as Gong Te automobile¡¯s Vice President and executive.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I told you to watch the fucking road!¡± ¡°Fuck. I got a ticket.¡± Swish. They passed by a camera that was hanging above the road. ¡°Where are they?¡± ¡°Namsan hotel.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°I decided to give them one night.¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve just blown off their necks instead!¡± ¡°Our priority is to figure out how they survived. It would be depressing if we barge in and everything goes wrong.¡± Tilting his head, Seok Kang-Ho asked, ¡°Since I died right after you did, let¡¯s assume they survived. Regardless, isn¡¯t it harder to believe that they were able to be the Vice President and executive of an automobilepany than being able toe back to life right after death? Especially Smithen. That fucker¡¯s stupider than me.¡± In all honesty, Dayeru was more stupid, but that wasn¡¯t important right now. ¡°There¡¯s got to be something we¡¯re not aware of.¡± ¡°Ha! Let¡¯s just go.¡± Kang Chan shook his head. ¡°We need to prepare. We can just ignore it if we understand it after looking into it. If not, we¡¯ll just twist their neckspletely.¡± Seok Kang-Houghed suspiciously. He saw the old Dayeru that he hadn¡¯t seen in a while. They arrived in Misariafter driving for about 20 minutes. Upon leaving the main road and taking the curvyne, they saw a coffee shop with tables outside. They sat down at one of the tables with a view of the nearby river. ¡°We¡¯ll get two coffees!¡± The employee walked toward them but quickly went inside. ¡°What happened?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. While grabbing a cigarette from Seok Kang-Ho, Kang Chan exined the situation in detail up until the point where he arrived at and left the hotel. This fight couldn¡¯t be forced upon Seok Kang-Ho and wasn¡¯t something Kang Chan could ask of him. It had to be decided by Dayeru himself, considering he couldn¡¯t throw him aside and tell him to step out either. When he finished exining, the strange feeling of excitement they always felt before battle rose within them. ¡°Those fuckers¡­¡± ¡°You think the same, right?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s be sensible. If Smithen¡ªthat stupid fucker¡ªis an executive for Gong Te, then I should be the Minister of France or something.¡± It seemed Seok Kang-Ho truly believed that Smithen was more stupid than him. ¡°When are we doing this?¡± ¡°We need a n and a quiet location first.¡± They needed to prepare a ce where they could hide from people¡¯s eyes. Seok Kang-Ho groaned while clenching his teeth. Regardless, those two also survived death, but while Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho now had the body of a high schooler and a middle-aged man, Smithen and Shan had their original bodies. They had to be prepared for the fact that it could be Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s necks that could be blown. ¡°What do you think about getting Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s help?¡± Kang Chan already thought about that, but if they got help from gangsters because they were in a hurry, then how could they handle school bullies when kids like Cha So-Yeon and Moon Ki-Jean were bullied? ¡°Tsk!¡± Kang Chan solidified his decision. What¡¯s wrong was wrong; you can¡¯t justify wrongdoings. ¡°Let¡¯s do it ourselves.¡± ¡°Understood. Then the biggest problem would be finding a suitable ce.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s search around first. If we can¡¯t find any, we¡¯ll stuff them in a car and go out to the outskirts.¡± ¡°Huhuhuhu.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes were glinting so much that if other people saw them, they might be mistaken for nning a murder. ¡°I¡¯m currently thinking we can do it on Tuesday.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s lips curved bitterly. It was Dayeru¡¯s smile, which only appeared during battle, especially when facing fights that required him to take out his dagger to survive viciously and fiercely. ¡°I¡¯m excited.¡± ¡°So am I.¡± Both of them smiled like idiots at the same time. Swish. Just after Seok Kang-Ho had wiped his mouth with his sleeve¡­ Brr. Brr. Brr.? Kang Chan¡¯s phone vibrated. It was Michelle. ¡°Bingo!¡± Kang Chan had a sudden thought. ¡°Hello!¡± ¨C Channy! I¡¯m assuming that your family issues worked out! ¡°No! It¡¯s a bit screwed up.¡± ¨C Sorry, your voice sounded bright so I assumed it went well. ¡°It¡¯s fine, where are we meeting tomorrow?¡± ¨C Should we meet at the hotel? ¡°Sounds good!¡± ¨C It¡¯s weird that you¡¯re so assertive. ¡°Come over, I¡¯ll buy dinner.¡± ¨C Bien! What hotel? What time? ¡°Namsan, tomorrow at seven.¡± ¨C Okay, Channy! I¡¯m hot already! See you tomorrow! Kang Chan grinned after cing his phone on the table. Naturally, Seok Kang-Ho seemed curious. Since he started telling him already, Kang Chan exined exactly how he ended up meeting Michelle. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you now have the female luck that you didn¡¯t have in your previous life?¡± ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Seok Kang-Ho smiled with a ¡°Huhuhu.¡± ¡°Bring the car to the hotel tomorrow.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that it was happening on Tuesday?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nning on spending time at the hotel lobby tomorrow evening. Michelle¡¯s friends are very eye-catching so Smithen will definitelye if he sees them.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Seok Kang-Ho seemed amused. ¡°After all, he isn¡¯t someone to stay in his room even if hees backte. He¡¯ll definitely lurk around clubs. So let¡¯s park the car nearby and drag him with us if things don¡¯t go well.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make an appointment for Tuesday night since we might spend time at Suh Jeong Motors tomorrow. But if Smithen takes the bait then we¡¯ll grill him. Tsk! If it doesn¡¯t work out, then we can twist all of their necks on Tuesday. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± Did he always have such a cruel expression? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked him curiously. ¡°Lighten up. You look like you¡¯re about to twist someone¡¯s neck right now.¡± ¡°Speak for yourself. Your eyes look like you¡¯ll arrest someone if they¡¯re caught during an inspection,¡± Seok Kang-Ho responded. Kang Chan didn¡¯t have anything to say. Even though he tried, he couldn¡¯t hide his glinting eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s try to find a solution for your father¡¯s work.¡± ¡°That would be ideal, but that¡¯s an entirely different issue.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan while biting on a new cigarette. ¡°Our priority is to unlock the secrets behind the deaths of our crew. If we try to fix my father¡¯s work instead, then it will all go downhill. For a guy that looks at trophies first¡­¡± ¡°No one ended up surviving.¡± Kang Chan nodded. However, when battles were won, trophies always followed. ¡°Change that look in your eyes. I¡¯m hungry. There¡¯s a ce that makes really good doenjang jjigae baekban. Let¡¯s go there,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°You need to loosen up as well.¡± Seok Kang-Ho blinked. ¡°Let¡¯s eat. Hopefully, it¡¯ll disappear while we eat,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± What made his heart freeze became something that excited him as soon as he met Seok Kang-Ho. ¡®Am I feeling happy because I¡¯m going to be in a bloody fight?¡¯ Kang Chan shook his head. He decided to think that it was because he was given an opportunity to live life again without the burdens that always weighed down his shoulders. He also was honestly excited about the possibility that the situation with Kang Yoo Motors might turn out well. Failure? Poverty? None of that scared him. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook weren¡¯t people that would change with those things. However, he sincerely wanted to see Yoo Hye-Sook smile brightly after Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s work went well. Throughout dinner, the conversation revolved around Shan and Smithen, but they made no progress. As Seok Kang-Ho dropped Kang Chan off, he said that he would search for a suitable ce as soon as he got home and then inform Kang Chan once he found one. It didn¡¯t matter if he couldn¡¯t find a suitable ce as they could just pick a quiet ce that was along the way. Regardless, Kang Chan thought it would be great if they could grill Smithen first. He was a simple guy. He felt fear when he was alone, and there would be no time for him to n what to say. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± When Kang Chan entered the house, Kang Dae-Kyung was stirring something in front of the stove with a rice paddle. ¡°Your mom isn¡¯t feeling well.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t she go to the hospital?¡± ¡°I was thinking of going with her tomorrow.¡± It looked like Kang Dae-Kyung had made porridge before. ¡°I¡¯ll see her after I change my clothes.¡± He probably smelled like cigarettes. Kang Dae-Kyung wouldn¡¯t say anything, but Yoo Hye-Sook was different. Kang Chan also didn¡¯t want to see her in clothes covered in dust when she wasn¡¯t feeling well. When Kang Chan walked into the master bedroom after changing and lightly washing his face, he saw Kang Dae-Kyung cing a small table in front of Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked tired as if all of her energy was sucked out of her. ¡°I had doenjang jjigae baekban with my teacher.¡± Kang Chan moved the side table¡¯s chair closer and sat down beside Yoo Hye Sook¡¯s bed. ¡°Have a bite.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung ced porridge, water, and a side dish on the table. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°I should be the one apologizing.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°This is all my fault. I¡¯m sorry. So eat even just a little for me. Please?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook had just raised the spoon and looked at Kang Chan when Kang Dae-Kyung continued. ¡°Channy was amazing today. He bought us some time. The two executives were at a loss for words.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung perfectly and positively interpreted the day¡¯s events and told the story. Of course, it was hard to say that he lied because the ending remained the same. Yoo Hye-Sook looked like she wanted to hear more. ¡°The Vice President and the Executive in charge of Asian affairs for Gong Te automobilepany, a Frenchpany, were there. Our senior managing director and the managing director were having a hard time with the interpreter but Channy spoke eloquently.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook kept her eyes on Kang Dae-Kyung as she ate the porridge. ¡°The conversation started with the Vice President and the executive in a surprised state, and the interpreter was busy passing on their words. Unfortunately, the directors were at a constant loss for words.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook nced at Kang Chan. Is she really that happy about such trivial talk? When the story ended with Kang Chan buying one week of time, Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s expression was a perfect mix of happiness and worry. ¡°I might be able to get in touch with someone who can help tomorrow or the next day.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung sent a look to Kang Chan that said not to overdo it and to limit their lying. ¡°Don¡¯t get your hopes up. We will know the oue by Wednesday at thetest.¡± The two of them seemed confused. ¡°The person I was chatting with was very close to Shan. He decided to contact us. They¡¯ll let us know the results by Wednesday.¡± Could we trust that? Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s faces seemed to be asking him that. ¡°We have to try something. We can try our best, but if it doesn¡¯t work out, we will have to live ording to what we have. Get better soon. Seeing you like this saddens me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chan.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook stretched her hand toward Kang Chan, wanting to hold his hand. Kang Chan leaned in and hugged her. ¡°You brought me back to life in the hospital. All that matters is that the three of us are together, so get well soon.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do that. Thank you, Chan.¡± Kang Chan patted Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s back and forced himself to look at her tear-ridden face. Yoo Hye-Sookughed, seemingly embarrassed. ¡°You heard that, right? How can we lose strength when Chanie is holding on like this? I¡¯m sorry, but cheer up.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said after Kang Chan left the room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What do you keep apologizing for?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung also gently held Yoo Hye-Sook andforted her. *** Kang chan had returned to his room and turned on hisputer when his phone rang. ¡°Hello?¡± ¨C It¡¯s me. Took him long enough. ¡°What?¡± ¨C I found a suitable ce to fight. Phew! This stupid fucker!?Kang Chan didn¡¯t have anything to say. ¨C It¡¯s not far from the hotel. It won¡¯t take long if we can drag them into the basement and get them in the car. I¡¯ll prepare the knife myself.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¨C Will you be okay fighting them in that body of yours?¡± Now that he thought about it, Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s inquiry made sense. ¡°We need to end it soon somehow. If we take too long and Shan calls the police, then things will go awry in many ways.¡± ¨C It would be weird if he came into my room at night. Is this guy really smarter than Smithen? ¡°It¡¯s still better to be careful.¡± ¨C Understood. I¡¯ll also give you my card so use that in the meantime. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about that tomorrow when we meet.¡± ¨C Sleep well. The call ended soon after. ¡°Tsk!¡± He didn¡¯t feel good about this. Smithen was as strong as the previous Dayeru. Kang Chan felt worried about Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s well-being in one part of his heart. 1. Misari is the name of a neighborhood in South Korea Chapter 23，Part1: Things that Couldnt be Imagined (3)

Chapter23£¬Part1: Things that Couldn''t be Imagined (3)

There was nothing more important than getting a good night''s sleep before the final showdown. Kang Chan got rid of all the useless thoughts that filled his head andy in bed. ¡®Tsk! Surprisingly, however, he couldn¡¯t fall asleep, which was a first since he had be a soldier. The worry about Seok Kang-Ho, the sense of betrayal from Smithen¡­ ¡®It will all end in two days, maximum.¡¯? After Kang Chan tossed and turned in bed for about twenty minutes, he finally fell asleep. That was a first since he became a soldier. *** He woke up at the same time as usual. ¡®You¡¯re up first, Smithen.¡¯ He didn¡¯t feel bad. After he warmed up, he cut off the bandage on his shoulder and wrist. It was better to warm his shoulder up to prepare for his fight against Smithen. It seemed okay to unwrap the bandages, but the problem was the knife cuts on his left hand. ¡®It¡¯s not like I¡¯m Frankenstein¡¯s monster.¡¯ Not only were there six wounds, but the stitches made the areas look even uglier. He decided to re-bandage his hand after he washed up. Due to his injuries, it had been so long since he had a shower thisplete and refreshing. It still stung whenever shampoo and soapy water touched his wounds, but the cold water made him feel reinvigorated. After he finished showering and applying medication to his injuries, he and Kang Dae-Kyung had breakfast without Yoo Hye-Sook since Kang Dae-Kyung wanted her to get more sleep. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± If all went well, he might not have to go to France. It wouldn¡¯t feel good for Kang Chan to leave while Yoo Hye-Sook was in despair from their difficult situation. The elevator mirror reflected the fierce look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. *** When ss started, the athletic club room became quiet as well. Kang Chan called the hotel in front of Seok Kang-Ho, who was watching with an expression full of excitement and expectation. ¡°Please connect me to room 1901.¡± ¨C Only designated people can call that room... Whom should I say is calling? ¡°Please say that it¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± On-hold music yed for a moment, then someone picked up. ¨C Hello? Smithen answered in a greasy voice. ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan. I¡¯m calling to let you know about tomorrow¡¯s appointment.¡± ¨C Ah! Right. What time is it happening? ¡°How about 7 pm?¡± ¨C One moment, please. He seemingly discussed it with Shan. ¨C 7 sounds good. Should we meet in the lobby? ¡°Let¡¯s do that. Oh! I also have ns to meet some beautifuldies there. I thought I should let you know just so you don¡¯t get the wrong idea in case you see me.¡± Seok Kang-Ko grinned. ¨C I¡¯m jealous. See you tomorrow. The call ended. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this fucker?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did he say that he doesn¡¯t like women?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked in response. Kang Chan thought about the details of the call for a moment. ¡°It seems like he¡¯s with the Suh Jeong Motors representatives? He hung up when we were talking about women.¡± ¡°Phew! Don¡¯t worry about it. There are probably only two things left in that fucker¡¯s mind right now: dinner and women.¡±Kang Chan nodded. Smithen?was someone who was unable to take his eyes away from female servers even in that short moment. But for him to show disinterest at the mention of women¡­?? ¡°Maybe he acted that way because he¡¯s currently having important discussions with Suh Jeong Motors?¡± Kang Chan wondered. ¡°You¡¯re probably right. In that case, let¡¯s have it out with him after we break his head. If he¡¯s the guy that sold off our crew¡¯s lives, I have no ns of letting him go easily.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho smiled bitterly at the same time. ¡°Will you be okay, though?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°About what? Are you worried that my neck is going to be twisted by someone like Smithen?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t answer. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve been doing nothing all this time. You¡¯ve seen me run with the kids. It¡¯s going to be me that twists that fucker¡¯s neck.¡± It wasn¡¯t like Seok Kang-Ho would listen even if Kang Chan tried to stop him anyway, and it wasn¡¯t something Kang Chan could try to stop either. When Kang Chan nodded, Seok Kang-Ho took out a card from his shirt¡¯s pocket and handed it to him. ¡°Let¡¯s stop worrying about nothing and deal with what¡¯s urgent. Pay with this today, and dress nicely since you might go to the club tonight.¡± ¡°I can just wear what I normally wear,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Pardon?¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°They won¡¯t even let you in if you wear what you wore yesterday. Save yourself from being humiliated right at the entrance¡­ Actually, let¡¯s go buy some clothes right now,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°ss isn¡¯t over yet!¡± ¡°Haha. Aren¡¯t I your teacher?¡± Seok Kang-Ho went shopping with Kang Chan and bought him a ck suit, a well-fitting shirt, and new shoes at a big discount store. ¡°You look good. When you go outter, get your hair done at a hair salon. Since we¡¯re doing this, might as well not give them any doubt. Isn¡¯t it better that you take care of Smithen today first instead of handling both of them at the same time?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. He had a point. Kang Chan was worried that Seok Kang-Ho might just be pretending to be strong and how strong Smithen would be. *** As soon as ss ended, Kang Chan headed home. Seok Kang-Ho nned to contact Kang Chan after he took care of the kids in the athletic club and parked the car by 7 pm in front of the hotel. When Kang Chan arrived back home, Yoo Hye-Sook was asleep in bed. Kang Dae-Kyung greeted him after letting him know that he and Yoo Hye-Sook had gone to the hospital. There was still time. Their n was stillcking since it was made in a rush, but it was going to be hard to find an opportunity as good as today if they took more time and other things into consideration. Thinking Yoo Hye-Sook might get anxious if she saw his newly bought clothes, Kang Chan decided to leave early. Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s expression turned grim when he saw Kang Chan all dressed up. ¡°I¡¯ll be back,¡± Kang Chan told Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Is today the day?¡± ¡°It¡¯s tomorrow, but there¡¯s someone I need to be introduced to so I¡¯m going out.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung let out a deep sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t overwork yourself, Chan. I¡¯m thankful for your help, but I don¡¯t want you to do something that a high schooler shouldn¡¯t do.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Okay. You look all grown up now that you¡¯re wearing this. Did you buy this online as well?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung held Kang Chan¡¯s arms and smiled. The tight-fitting clothes and shoes felt ufortable to Kang Chan. He went out of the apartment truly hoping today¡¯s mission would go ording to n. He also hoped that Smithen and Shan had be executives under normal circumstances, which would make him feel bad for cursing and holding a grudge against them. If that were the case, he¡¯d actually consider sucking up to Smithen and Shan for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s sakes. He got his hair done at a different hair salon to avoid the chatty woman. He hoped that today¡¯s hard work would pay off. Taking a taxi to the hotel, Kang Chan thought about thest thing he remembered about Smithen that night: the final look in his eyes as he stared at Kang Chan while letting out a big breath. Had those eyes been a lie? He was about to find out. Slowly, his heart started beating faster, but it calmed back down when he arrived at the hotel. The lobby was crowded enough. Dressed in a ck suit with a white shirt and a thin tie, his reflection in therge entrance¡¯s ss wall didn¡¯t look bad. Kang Chan went to the lobby and ordered a ss of juice. Soon, a female employee ced his order in front of him in a ssy manner as he enjoyed the stunning view just outside the lobby¡¯s external ss wall. Kang Chan found suits ufortable, especially when they were so tight-fitting like what he was wearing. There was a huge possibility that the guys from Suh Jeong Motors went out with Smithen and Shan to have fun. If that were the case, then Kang Chan needed to count on Smithen¡¯s tendency to not be satisfied with?having?fun just once a day. He needed to see the oue today somehow. If he tried to take both Shan and Smithen at the same time, then he and Seok Kang-Ho would definitely be at a disadvantage. He was especially worried about Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s old physique. ¡®I should end it before Dayeru steps up.¡¯ Kang Chan clenched his teeth and braced himself for the fight. As he did, two men in navy blue suits stopped in front of him. ¡°How do you do, hyung-nim?¡± Both of them bowed deeply before he had a chance to stop them. It was a relief that their voices weren¡¯t loud. Kang Chan looked over the lobby, finding the people nearby ncing at them but thankful that he didn¡¯t find Shan and Smithen among them. ¡°I¡¯m Suh Do-Seok, hyung-nim. I saw you in the basement that day.¡± These fuckers were never helpful to him throughout their lives. ¡°Leave.¡± ¡°We understand, hyung-nim. If there¡¯s anything you need¡­¡± Kang Chan¡¯s eyes were already glinting with bloodthirst, and as he red at them sharply, they grandly bowed and turned to leave. Fucking gangsters. Why are they at such a fancy hotel? 1. ¡¯Hyung-nim¡¯ is a way for men to address other men who are older or of higher social status, and -nim is a suffix that makes it more formal and respectful. Chapter 23，Part2: Things that Couldnt be Imagined (3)

Chapter23£¬Part2: Things that Couldn''t be Imagined (3)

As Kang Chan turned his head away to avoid people¡¯s attention, he saw Suh Do-Seok ordering something at the counter. It seemed like he was trying to pay for the juice, and Kang Chan let him be for the moment because he didn¡¯t want to draw people¡¯s attention. Buzz¡ª [I¡¯m on my way now.] It was Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s message. There was no need for Kang Chan to respond since Seok Kang-Ho woulde either way. It was 6 pm, and he felt somewhat hungry. Buzz¡ª?Buzz¡ª?Buzz¡ª This was why Kang Chan didn¡¯t like bringing his phone with him. Things like this were a hassle. Although it was an unknown number, Kang Chan picked it up because it was an important day. ¡°Hello?¡± ¨C It¡¯s me, Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡®Tsk!¡¯ ¨C I heard that you were in the Namsam hotel in a suit. Isn¡¯t the teacher with you? Is this fucker stalking me?? Kang Chan looked over the lobby. ¨C Suh Do-Seok, the one you greeted, is a senior director there. If you need anything, just let him know. ¡°I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¨C Don¡¯t be so hard on me. I¡¯m just trying to thank you. We were able to monopolize Gangnam thanks to your work. ¡°I don¡¯t need any of that. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Kang Chan swiftly ended the call. ¡®This doesn¡¯t feel right.¡¯ ¡°Tsk!¡± Keeping his frustration in check, he returned his attention to the view. As his emotions calmed down a little, he turned back toward the lobby, only to see everyone else looking toward the entrance. Kang Chan followed their gaze to see three peopleing in. It was Michelle and her two friends. ¡°Hah!¡± The moment Kang Chan sighed¡­ ¡°Channy!¡± Michelle¡¯s eyes widened as she saw him. When she waved her hand at him, everyone¡¯s attention deliberately turned to Kang Chan. Michelle was wearing a ck skirt and a thin blouse that was basically transparent, Cecile was wearing leggings and a tight top, and Cindy¡ªthe only one that looked Korean¡ªwas wearing a denim skirt and a top that showed a few good centimeters of skin above her belly button. They stood out so much that everyone in the lobby, including the female server, was staring. There was no doubt they could catch Smithen¡¯s attention. ¡°Chanie? You look so sexy wearing that!¡± Pretending to be happy to see him, Michelle disyed a surprised expression. They were really pretty, all three of them. ¡°Wee.¡± ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± When the three of them sat down, the jealous stares from the men around him made even Kang Chan feel ufortable. All three of them were wearing see-through clothes that clearly showed their underwear. Michelle in particr was wearing a blouse that was transparent enough to explicitly show her sensuality. Seemingly unbothered by the attention they were getting, they ordered beers. ¡°What¡¯s today¡¯s n?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going to the club after dinner.¡± ¡°Here? The club in this hotel?¡± . ¡°Yep.¡± All three of them seemed satisfied. ¡°Michelle, I need to tell you something.¡± Michelle nced at her two friends and then looked at Kang Chan. ¡°There¡¯s an American named Smithen that¡¯s staying in this hotel. If hees, then he might sit with us.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s all five of us together?¡± She seemed to be having the wrong idea. Fortunately, Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to lie about this kind of thing. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. We only agreed to have dinner today. Just have fun, and if he shows up, then there''s something I have to talk about with him.¡± ¡°Did you want to meet us here because of him?¡± Seemingly suspicious of him, Michelle grabbed a beer. ¡°Something like that. This is important work for me.¡± He felt sorry for Michelle, but it was all the same for Kang Chan. It would be the end if Smithen didn¡¯t show up until they were at the club, and if he showed up Kang Chan would have to drag them somewhere with another excuse. ¡°Hmmm.¡± Michelle blinked. ¡°Is this about the family issue that you said got messed up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just about that. There¡¯s something I need to personally check,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°It could be fun with the five of us.¡± Even though he had told them that wasn¡¯t the n, when Michelle raised her ss, Cecile and Cindy smiled slyly and clinked their drinks against hers. They decided to go to the Western restaurant on the other side of the lobby. However, when they went to the counter to pay for the beer, the bill had already been settled. ¡°It¡¯s already paid for. Pleasee again anytime.¡± A middle-aged man with a navy suit and a silver name tag respectfully bowed toward Kang Chan. There was nothing good about being stubborn when eyes were on them. As such, Kang Chan thanked them and went into the restaurant. ¡°Chanie! Are you richer than we thought?¡± Looking at Kang Chan in surprise, Michelle linked arms with him, close enough for his arm to touch her breasts. It was ufortable, but for the sake of dealing with Smithen, he was willing to endure it. It was clear that Oh Kwang-Taek¡¯s influence extended into the Western restaurant as well. As soon as they arrived, a ssy-looking female manager greeted them respectfully and led Kang Chan into the restaurant. Her respectful actions didn¡¯t suit someone like him. It wasn¡¯t that he disliked being treated like a VIP, but he hated the fact that he mighte across as cocky because he was merely borrowing the authority of gangsters. How might the hotel employees feel about serving him? Did they feel the same way they did when serving the other customers? The employees might be holding in their vomit. ¡®Smithen, that fucker!¡¯ Though it was in vain, he couldn¡¯t help getting angry at Smithen for forcing this situation on him. Kang Chan took a seat right in front of the artificial garden along the inside of the middle wall. Upon checking the menu, he grew even more annoyed. The steak they were nning to order was twenty times the price of a regr pork cutlet, which meant that the four of them would eat the money equivalent of eighty pork cutlets. He ordered in an appropriate range while feeling sorry for Seok Kang-Ho. After the female manager removed the unnecessary tes, she brought and poured a bottle of wine into their sses. ¡°To thank you for gracing us with your presence. We have prepared a wine suitable for your choice of dinner. If you prefer a different wine, please let us know!¡± They were doing a perfect job at catching people¡¯s attention, that was for sure. Kang Chan assumed that this process would repeat even if he refused, so he took it after thanking her. Michelle and her two friends seemed slightly hyped up. They had be friends due to a few things they had inmon: age twenty-six, mixed ethnicity, graduated from the same university in France. They even currently lived in the same neighborhood, Bang Bae-Dong. Michelle was an editor for a Fashion magazine, Cecile was a broker for HNC, and Cindy seemed to be unemployed, as she described herself as a ¡®frencer¡¯. Kang Chan had held the impression that pretty girls were rather empty-headed, but what they told him about their jobs seriously challenged his stereotypes. Of course, he couldn¡¯t say anything about it since there was no way for him to verify whether they were telling the truth. As the dinner progressed, they presented a lot of questions for Kang Chan, ranging from how he had learned French, why they were treated this way in the hotel, what he meant by ¡®family business¡¯, and even why his hand was bandaged. To answer their questions, he needed to exin everything else, which was that he had reincarnated into a new body upon death. However, he didn¡¯t really want to be treated as a delusional person. In any case, all that mattered was that they were the center of attention in the restaurant. Sometimes, an olderdy would point at them andin, but the female manager would continue to smile and shake her head. The atmosphere had been warming up for about an hour when Kang Chan¡¯s phone vibrated. Buzz¡ª [I¡¯m in the basement.] After Kang Chan checked Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s message, Kang Chan called him back. ¨C What¡¯s wrong? ¡°Come up instead. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re going to recognize you, right?¡± ¨C That¡¯s true. ¡°Wait for me at the lobby.¡± ¨C Understood. He exined to Michelle that there was a person rted to his work waiting, and added that Smithen was the key to a very important contract so he nned on negotiating with him right then and there. It was around 7:30 pm when the three of them finished the bottle of wine, and it was still too early to go to a club. Cecile ordered another bottle of wine. As they emptied the new bottle, Kang Chan¡¯s heart started pounding. ¡®Will Smithen show up? Will I be able to drag him to a quiet ce? How did he be a businessman?¡¯ When the feeling of nervousness and strange excitement started to take ce in his heart, Michelle looked at Kang Chan with eyes full of lust. ¡°Chanie, those eyes of yours are very charming.¡± Would she still say that if I twist her neck? He smirked at her bullshit. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ª? It was Seok Kang-Ho. ¨C It¡¯s Smithen. He¡¯s looking around the lobby. He¡¯s here! Kang Chan quickly looked at the entrance. ¨C Huh? Did he go up again? Should I go out and grab him for now? ¡°What¡¯s happening? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¨C Serpent venimeux? It meant ¡®venomous snake¡¯ in French. 1. Bang Bae-Dong is a neighborhood in Seoul that¡¯s considered uptown, which means that they¡¯re all from rich families Chapter 24，Part1: Things that Couldnt be Imagined (4)

Chapter24£¬Part1: Things that Couldn''t be Imagined (4)

There was no way that a snake would be roaming around a fancy hotel like this. Considering Seok Kang-Ho described it in French, he had to be referring to the French gang. Hitman, human trafficking, drugs. ¡®Serpent Venimeux¡¯ was the biggest French organization that did anything for money. They were easily recognizable due to the red snake tattooed right above their left thumb, its head thick like a scar due to the mercury added to the ink when tattooing that part. Seok Kang-Ho even had experience fighting them once in Paris, so there was no way he could have mistaken them. When it came to the Serpent Venimeux, even Kang Chan wouldn¡¯t have been sure about his back if he hadn¡¯t gone to Africa back then. ¨C Three of them are seemingly protecting Smithen. That fucker. This was very unexpected. ¨C I don¡¯t think today¡¯s the day. Dayeru sounded freaked out. If they were to stop here, then Seok Kang-Ho and even Michelle, who was obliviously drinking wine, would get hurt. Plus the threedies had many reasons to go to France. ¨C It looks like they¡¯re going into the club. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll call back after thinking about it a bit. Don¡¯t even think about moving alone..¡± ¨C Understood. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s voice sounded surprised and discouraged. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Now slightly calmer, Michelle asked as she looked him over. No matter how much Kang Chan would regret this, he couldn¡¯t carelessly drag them into this. ¡°Smithen, the guy we were nning to negotiate with showed up, but he¡¯s with the ¡®Serpent Venimeux.¡¯¡± The trio¡¯s faces hardened quickly. There was no way the girls wouldn¡¯t know about that organization due to one famous case. A detective had shot and killed a member of the ¡®Serpent Venimeux,¡¯ and the gang had gotten revenge by dismembering his wife and cing her head on his bed and her limbs on his children¡¯s beds. There wasn¡¯t much time left until 8 pm. ¡®It¡¯s happening today.¡¯ If they missed today¡¯s opportunity, then they would have to handle Smithen and Shan at the same time. However, if they weren¡¯t careful, Serpent Venimeux might actually prove easier to handle than those two. Kang Chan turned his head and sought out the manager. ¡°Do you need anything?¡± asked the female manager after quicklying to his side. ¡°I heard that Suh Do-Seok was the managing director here. Can you bring him over?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the senior director. I¡¯ll contact him right away.¡± Suh Do-Seok¡¯s position wasn¡¯t important right now. Kang Chan became anxious and kept ncing at the clock. After about three minutes, Suh Do-Seok quickly walked toward Kang Chan and greeted him grandly. ¡°I heard that you were looking for me, hyung-nim?¡± Suh Do-Seok asked. Kang Chan talked to him as quietly as possible. ¡°Four French people went into the club. Think you could get all the customers out of there and lock the door from the outside after I go in?¡± Suh Do-Seok looked at Kang Chan with flustered eyes, seemingly wanting to know what was going on. ¡°You might have to close the club today,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Gwang-Taek hyung-nim is a shareholder so it might be good for you to talk to him.¡± Kang Chan took his phone out right away. Since he had Gwang-Taek¡¯s number saved, all he needed to do was press a button. ¡®Answer quickly.¡¯ ¨C Yo! Kang Chan! ¡°I¡¯m short on time, so I¡¯ll get straight to the point. Close the club for today.¡± ¨C What? What did you just say? ¡°Close the club for today.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek stayed silent for a moment. ¨C What¡¯s wrong? That¡¯s a famous hotel. Closing it so abruptly will cause a lot of problems. There¡¯s also the problem with other shareholders. ¡°Just do what I¡¯m telling you to do right now, Oh Gwang-Taek. If I survive this, I¡¯ll owe you one.¡± Another moment of silence. ¨C Will you really owe me one? Although that question was like asking if he was going to dip his foot into a pit or swamp, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t afford to think about the future. ¡°Suh Do-Seok is right next to me. I¡¯ll hand over the phone.¡± When Kang Chan pushed the phone toward him, Suh Do-Seok took it with two hands. ¡°Yes, hyung-nim. I was told to lock him and four foreigners inside. Pardon? Understood, hyung-nim.¡± Suh Do-Seok handed Kang Chan the phone again. ¡°Hello?¡± ¨C I did what you wanted. Take my guys with you since it will be problematic if things get out of hand. In all honesty, Kang Chan felt greedy. If they could handle the French gang¡­ ¨C Take Do-Seok and his younger brother for now. I¡¯ll be sending the others after our call. They should arrive in about 30 minutes. Smithen wasn¡¯t someone to stick around in a club with nobody in it for thirty minutes. And Suh Do-Seok didn¡¯t seem like someone that was good at fighting even though he was a gangster. Kang Chan actually felt at ease. It was better to solve this with Seok Kang-Ho instead of being in debt to gangsters, regardless of whether Kang Chan would live or die. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just lock the door.¡± ¨C Like I said, I¡¯ve already given them the order to do that. ¡°Thanks.¡± Kang Chan turned off the phone before Gwang-Taek could say anything else. ¡°Michelle, as you probably heard, let''s stop here for today. Suh Do-Seok, you go and get everyone out,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Understood, hyung-nim.¡± Suh Do-Seok said his goodbyes and turned away. ¡°You¡¯re going to die if you provoke them,¡± Michelle told Kang Chan, seemingly frightened.. ¡°This is Korea, and there would be no reason for me to go to France if everything works out today,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°I just need to finish my business with him today. Anyway, I¡¯ll get going now. It won¡¯t be good if you¡¯re seen with me. I¡¯ll call youter,¡± ¡°Channy, how about we go and seduce Smithen toe out alone instead?¡± Michelle asked just as Kang Chan was about to stand up and leave. While looking all scared? Kang Chan smirked and shook his head. ¡°You guys have to go to France one day.¡± Her potentially tempting offer didn¡¯t reach his ears because his mind was already set. He nodded to Michelle once and stood up. ¡°This is already paid for. Pleasee again anytime,¡± said an employee. It was a waste of time to receive goodbyes. Seok Kang-Ho was staring at the stairs that led to the club in the basement with a terribly subdued expression. Kang Chan first went to the table he was sitting at. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s expression was perfectly venomous. ¡°Not only Shan but more of the gang members mighte out tomorrow, so let¡¯s end it today,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°What are you going to do about the other customers?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked, his eyes glinting as he looked at him. ¡°We decided to let them all out and lock the door.¡± ¡°Understood. Let¡¯s go.¡± Both of them smiled when Seok Kang-Ho answered. ¡°Ah, shoot!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed, his expression swiftly turning serious. ¡°I left the knife in the car.¡± Shit. No wonder it was messed up from the start. ¡°It will take about five, maybe ten minutes to retrieve it,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. It wasn¡¯t Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s fault, considering they didn¡¯t really n to empty the club in the first ce. ¡°Let¡¯s just ask Suh Do-Seok for it and head in first,¡± answered Kang Chan. The French gang might have good aim, but theirbat skills werecking. Dayeru managed to take down six of them back then before they took out their guns so it was worth a shot. Kang Chan was thankful for the manager¡¯s hand motion that signaled that the bill had already been settled. The cost of a cup of coffee wasn¡¯t the problem. He was just thankful that the manager bought them time. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho then ran into two young women that had beenining at the entrance of the basement while they were going up the stairs. ¡°Daye, let¡¯s hit those three first. Since they don¡¯t know who we are, it¡¯s best to do it while they have their guard down.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Suh Do-Seok stood at the entrance where the music was so loud that it made his heart pound. Kang Chan then shook his head toward him as a sign to not greet him, as such carelessness would only make Smithen more suspicious. It was too early for customers toe in. There was an empty space in front of the DJ box, which had seats surrounding it. Smithen was drinking a small bottled beer while sitting at the left part of the entrance. Kang Chan immediately walked toward Smithen. He needed to remove the glint in his eyes. Soon after, Kang Chan and Smithen¡¯s eyes met. Grin. When Smithen smiled, the three gang members looked at Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. It was hard to tell if they were carrying knives or guns from the outside. ¡°Monsieur Kang!¡± ¡°You were here?¡± Kang Chan asked. As expected, Smithen looked behind Kang Chan. ¡°I came here to save a seat before I brought three beautifuldies. As you can see we¡¯re short one person. Care to join?¡± asked Kang Chan. Smithen held out his hand and gestured to the chair. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho sat facing each other because those were the only seats left. Seok Kang-Ho also seemed like he was struggling to keep his emotions in check, just like Kang Chan did the day before. ¡°Beer?¡± Smithen asked. ¡°Sure.¡± When Smithen raised his head to order, he tilted his head with a confused look. Kang Chan and the three gang members followed Smithen¡¯s stare and saw Suh Do-Seok ushering a woman with a great body and long straight hair out of the club. Chapter 24，Part2: Things that Couldnt be Imagined (4)

Chapter24£¬Part2: Things that Couldn''t be Imagined (4)

Since the entrance was at the back, all three gang members had to almost turn their entire upper bodies to follow Smithen¡¯s stare. At that moment, Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡®Now!¡¯ Kang Chan then grabbed the beer on the table and smashed it onto the back of the head of one gang member. Pow! Simultaneously, Seok Kang-Ho did the same to the guy beside him. Pow! Crash. Smithen kicked the table with his foot and used that momentum to push his body back. Stab. Stab. Stab.. Kang Chan continuously stabbed the armpit and the lower part of his first target¡¯s chin with the broken bottle. It was the same gang member that had the back of his head smashed by Kang Chan at the beginning. Pow. Crash. Pow. Seok Kang-Ho tried to finish his opponent as well, but, the remaining gang member brutally hit his face, chin and side. Crash. Seok Kang-Ho fell toward the ground with the gang member he had attacked. Meanwhile, Kang Chan ran toward the remaining gang member. Pow. Crash. Pow-pow. The gang member blocked Kang Chan¡¯s attacks with his hand, which showed he was aware of a soldier¡¯s basicbat skills. However, he wasn¡¯t especially talented or skilled. Crash. Pow. Pow. Pow. Kang Chan had no choice but to rush in. After all, if his opponents survived or escaped, the situation would get worse. Crash. His current enemy threw a chair as he tried to distance himself. ¡°Fucker!¡± Seok Kang-Ho swore as he charged at Smithen. Punch. Punch. Punch. Punch. Their battle became a fistfight, which wasn¡¯t surprising since the gang members were stupid. Pop. The moment an enemy struck Kang Chan¡¯s cheek, Kang Chan punched the gang member¡¯s chin and continued to strike him in between his nose and cheek with his elbow. Crunch.? This was enough for the target¡¯s bone to be sunken-in. Thud. They got rid of the gang members surprisingly easily. However, Kang Chan, who had turned toward Smithen, stopped in his tracks. Smithen had the bloodied Seok Kang-Ho in a sleeper hold. If Smithen applied any more strength, Seok Kang-Ho would die. It was hard to tell where and how he got hit, but Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes were so out of focus that only the whites of his eyes were visible.. ¡°I¡¯m assuming you aren¡¯t doing this for the contract?¡± asked Smithen. Blood was seeping from Smithen¡¯s left eye, and his lips were also ripped. The music had already been turned off. Kang Chan didn¡¯t hide the look in his eyes under the dark lights. Smithen stretched his neck from side to side, a habit he did when he was feeling confident about an uing fight. You still don¡¯t know what I want even after hearing my name, Smithen?¡± Smithen looked at Kang Chan with a strange smile on his lips. ¡°I know your name.¡± ¡°How did you survive? Was it you that betrayed our crew?¡± asked Kang Chan. Smithen seemingly couldn¡¯t believe it, and even if he could, he wouldn¡¯t want to. ¡°I guess you don¡¯t believe me? The one you¡¯re holding is Dayeru. What do you think? Is it more believable now?¡± As if finding Kang Chan¡¯s reply shocking, Smithen backed away two steps when Kang Chan slowly approached him. ¡°Who are you? What¡¯s your identity?¡± Smithen asked. Smithen¡¯s eyes glinted as if he slightly regained his bearings. ¡°You don¡¯t know me? Like I said, I¡¯m Kang Chan. The guy that you clung onto with an almost dying expression. God of ckfield, Kang Chan.¡± ¡°How¡­?¡± Having a hard time taking this surprise in, the cocky Smithen shook his head in fright. It wasn¡¯t a surprise that he had a hard time taking it in. ¡°Maybe the dead guys pushed me back to life because they wanted me to twist the traitor¡¯s head for giving them unjust deaths,¡± Kang Chan replied. As Kang Chan kept talking, he slowly made his way toward Smithen. Smithen had incredible strength, so if Seok Kang-Ho couldn¡¯t get his bearings or if Kang Chan failed to stop Smithen in one shot, Smithen would be able to break Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s neck. ¡°I knew there was a reason I didn¡¯t want toe to Korea,¡± Smithe said, his eyes bing venomous upon deciding to ept the situation. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you for sure this time.¡± Kang Chan slowly made his way to Smithen. He had to end this quickly for Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I think it¡¯ll be different than before.¡± Just then, Seok Kang-Ho briefly shook his head, seemingly regaining consciousness. ¡®How stupid. He should¡¯ve just signaled.¡¯ The moment Smithen started to twist Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s neck, Kang Chan rushed onto Smithen. Crunch. Pow. ¡°Keuk!¡±?Smithen grunted. Kang Chan had just stabbed his eye with his thumb, freeing Seok Kang-Ho and causing him to fall backward onto the table. Crash. Pow. Crash. Pow. Pow. Pow. Smithen didn¡¯t fall, however. Rather, they exchanged blows in rapid session. Pow. Pow! ¡®Keuk.¡¯ When Kang Chan stabbed Smithen¡¯s armpit, Smithen¡¯s fist struck Kang Chan¡¯s side, knocking the air out his lungs. Pow. Pow. Pow.? But Kang Chan would die if he gave Smithen any break. Kang Chan hit Smithen¡¯s chin three times with his left elbow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow.? Smithen¡¯s speed and strength were different, which was why Smithen didn¡¯t fall. He still aimed for Kang Chan¡¯s neck and the pit of his stomach even though he couldn¡¯t keep his left eye open. In the blink of an eye, Kang Chan attacked a few times and got hit in return. Kang Chan threw a fake punch, then followed it up with an elbow strike. Tok. Crash. Pow.? Smithen hit Kang Chan¡¯s side after he gave up on protecting his chin. Pow-pow-pow-pow-pow. This was the most important part of the battle. Kang Chan would die the moment he backed off or stopped attacking. In a matter of seconds, Kang Chan had hit Smithen¡¯s neck, stomach, and side. Kang Chan also got hit as well. With their hands tangling up in between them, he couldn¡¯t even keep track of the times he had hit Smithen.u Tok! Just then, Smithen grabbed Kang Chan¡¯s hair. He was trying to end it with his strength. Pow. Crash! Pow. Pow-pow. Kang Channded elbow strikes on Smithen¡¯s chin and neck mercilessly. Grab. It happened in mere seconds. Seemingly giving up on protecting his face, Smithen grabbed Kang Chan¡¯s chin with his right hand. Crash. As Kang Chan hit Smithen¡¯s chin with his elbow, Smithen twisted his neck forcefully. However, Kang Chan turned his body in that same direction in response, using the speed he gained from that to hit Smithen¡¯s temple with another elbow strike. Thud. Kang Chan watched Smithen fall to the side but couldn¡¯t run toward him due to the pain he felt every time he breathed. It was as if he was being stabbed with a knife with each air intake. Even his neck was in pain. However, he needed to end this. He gritted his teeth and walked toward Smithen. ¡°Gaaaaaah.¡± Smithen wasn¡¯t unconscious yet, which wasn¡¯t surprising since his strength and durability was second only to Dayeru. Kang Chan ducked down and grabbed Smithen¡¯s hair. Kang Chan then pounded his fist with all his might onto Smithen¡¯s left eye. Pop! Kang Chan hit Smithen¡¯s eye so hard that if his fist was pointy, Smithen¡¯s eye would¡¯ve burst open. Pop! ¡°Aaahhh!¡± He delivered another blow, his middle finger¡¯s second knuckle digging into Smithen¡¯s right eye. Smithen grabbed his right eye as he screamed. Thick fluids seeped out from underneath his hand. When Kang Chan released Smithen¡¯s head, he flopped around the floor while holding onto his eye. Kang Chan felt horrible pain in both of his sides whenever he walked. It was like having a de digging into him. He persisted, however, until he reached the entrance. Knock knock knock. ¡°Suh Do-Seok! It¡¯s me, Kang Chan!¡± The door opened hurriedly and Suh Do-Seok came running in with about fifteen gangsters, all of them equipped with weapons. ¡°Bring Seok Kang-Ho to the hospital immediately,¡± ordered Kang Chan. ¡°Yes, hyung-nim!¡± About three or four of them ran off. Kang Chan again walked across the hall, feeling as if he had broken bones tearing through his skin. ¡®Gah.¡¯ ¡°Give me that,¡± Kang Chan told one of the gangsters. The gangster then gave the metal pipe to him. A respectful greeting wasn¡¯t important. All Kang Chan wanted was to know if Seok Kang-Ho was alive or not. However, he really needed to end this. Whoosh! ¡°Ugh!¡± One of the Serpents Venimeux members rolled around the floor after Kang Chan hit him on the shoulder. Crash! Crash! Even Kang Chan nched from the horrible pain in his shoulder after hepletely broke his target¡¯s shoulder and knee bones and. ¡°This is Korea, you fuckers,¡± Kang Chan growled. Kang Chan cleanly finished the remaining two men¡¯s shoulders and knees as well. ng. Kang Chan threw the metal pipe, letting it roll on the floor, and grabbed a nearby beer bottle. Shatter. Kang Chan approached Smithen after breaking the bottle on a table, giving it sharp and pointy edges. ¡°Smithen.¡± Kang Chan grabbed Smithen¡¯s hair and brought his lips toward Smithen¡¯s ear. ¡°I won¡¯t kill you. I¡¯ll even send you to the hospital. But as of today, you¡¯ll have to give up on sleeping with women,¡± Kang Chan told Smithen. An abundant volume of fluid from Smithen¡¯s right eye, which he was covering with his hand, had covered his cheeks and chin. ¡°Live a long life, Smithen, long enough to be boring.¡± That wasn¡¯t a threat. Kang Chan didn¡¯t even want to know if Smithen was the one that betrayed them or if he was on the traitor¡¯s side. Kang Chan only wanted to give a satisfying punishment to a dirty man. ¡°Shan¡­ Shan sold it,¡± said Smithen. ¡°It¡¯s toote, you idiot,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kang Chan looked at the broken bottle after smirking. ¡°It¡¯s diamonds and drugs. He¡¯s nning on using Kang Yoo Motors,¡± Smithen went on, leaving Kang Chan with no other choice but to be a bit more patient. Chapter 25: It Went Well For You, Right? (1)

Chapter 25: It Went Well For You, Right? (1)

¡°Repeat what you just said,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Shan¡­¡± ¡°Not that!¡± They were talking in French, preventing the gangsters from understanding them. One of them was looking at Kang Chan in awe, though. ¡°Drugs, it¡¯s drugs. It¡¯s in the cars that will be imported this time,¡± Smithen said. ¡°Your words don¡¯t add up. I heard that the cars were going to Suh Jeong Motors!¡± ¡°We were nning on giving fifty cars to Suh Jeong Motors with the condition that we¡¯ll receive the remaining bnceter. The other condition was that we¡¯ll hand over the cars every time Kang Yoo Motors sold them, and we nned on retrieving the drugs before handing the cars over.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t understand everything Smithen said, but he was certain that Kang Dae-Kyung would be in danger. Crunch. ¡°Gah.¡± Kang Chan violently stabbed Smithen in between his left shoulder and chest with the broken bottle. Considering the broken bottle left many pieces stuck in Kang Chan¡¯s hands, words wouldn¡¯t be able to describe Smithen¡¯s injuries. However, Kang Chan still couldn¡¯t leave him like that due to how strong he was. Smithen still had his right arm, which was more than enough for him to attack Kang Chan. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s this?¡± The gangsters found a strange-looking knife in the Serpents Venimeux member they were moving. Kukri. It was a ded weaponmonly used to sh through necks and body parts. It had a slight recurve from the tip to the middle part of its de. He should¡¯ve taken that out sooner. If I had that in my hand I wouldn''t have been injured from the bottle. ¡°Give me that.¡± The gangster quickly handed the Kukri to Kang Chan. ¡°The left is for Dayeru. This one¡¯s for me,¡± Kang Chan said. Stab! ¡°Agh! Arrgh!¡± The knife hit the part where Smithen¡¯s right shoulder met his chest. He wouldn¡¯t be able to put strength on his right arm from now on. ¡°Move this fucker to the hospital,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Understood, hyung-nim.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s side hurt so much that he couldn¡¯t even feel pain from his right hand, which was covered in ss shards. Nevertheless, he followed the gangsters and crossed the kitchen that was in the hall. When the small metal door opened, he saw a big van blocking the door and shielding them from prying eyes. *** A doctor was already waiting when they arrived because the gangsters had contacted the hospital beforehand. The doctor let out a deep sigh as he watched patient after patient being brought inside. Now that Kang Chan thought about it, he didn¡¯t even know the doctor''s name. ¡°What happened to Seok Kang-Ho, the one that arrived here earlier?¡± Kang Chan asked the doctor. ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait and see.¡± Son of a bitch. He survived.? Kang Chan suddenly felt drained with all the tension seemingly leaving him. The doctor followed Smithen and the gang members while the nurse in charge of Kang Chan this whole time removed each shard of ss in his hand with a tweezer. Having finished, the nurse looked awkwardly at Kang Chan because if he were to bandage Kang Chan¡¯s right hand as well, it would look like he was wearing mittens. ¡°Let¡¯s remove the bandage on the left hand,¡± Kang Chan told the nurse. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°But what¡¯s the name of the doctor here?¡± Before Kang Chan had finished his question, the doctor came into the room. ¡°I¡¯m Yoo Hun-Woo.¡± His entrance made Kang Chanugh bitterly. Doing as Kang Chan requested, the nurse removed the bandage, then left the room. ¡°Are you okay?¡± the doctor asked as he looked over Kang Chan. When Kang Chan tried moving his upper body, he grimaced in pain as he held his ribs. ¡°Let¡¯s see that.¡± The doctor pressed Kang Chan¡¯s side with his hand. Each time he did, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but groan. ¡°We¡¯ll need to take an X-ray,¡± the doctor told him. Kang Chan agreed to an X-ray when he was told they would get the results immediately. ¡°Do you see that? Three of your left ribs are broken. Forget fractured¡ªthey¡¯re on the verge of being shards. You walked here and asked for my name in this state?¡± ¡°Since I can¡¯t see my insides, I just considered myself very injured,¡± answered Kang Chan. The doctor¡¯s eyes looked at Kang Chan as if he was looking at a monster. ¡°You should be hospitalized. If you overexert yourself, your bones will break and stab your organs,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo replied. ¡°Just bandage me, please.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± There was still Shan left. He wasn¡¯t as stupid as Smithen, and he wouldn¡¯t mess things up even if a woman seduced him. On top of that, there might be more Serpents Venimeux members. ¡°Please bandage me as tightly as possible. If I get confined, the two people you saw before will be in danger.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo sighed, his expression somber. ¡°There¡¯s a high possibility the small bone shards are already digging into your lungs or organs. Without usingplicated medical terms, this basically means you¡¯re the one in danger right now. Do you want toe back here dead?¡± ¡°If that happens, then take all my organs out and sell them.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s going to buy organs with punctures all over?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo retorted to Kang Chan¡¯s rare joke. ¡°Please just bandage me up,¡± Kang Chan repeated. ¡°Why are you like this? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re trying to do, but you might faint on the way there.¡± Kang Chan understood that Yoo Hun-Woo was frustrated, but he had to get to Shan. Plus, if Smithen was right, then there was a chance that Kang Chan could make things right with Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s business. ¡°If I don¡¯t go, everything will go wrong. My mother might pass away as well,¡± said Kang Chan. Yoo Hun-Woo pursed his lips then nodded. ¡°Okay. However, even if it¡¯s ufortable, don¡¯t take off the bandage, ande to the hospital as soon as possible when you¡¯re done.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo left for a moment, came back with a chest brace that looked like a breastte, and tied it on Kang Chan. He¡¯d probably end up catching more attention than Michelle due to it. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about taking this off,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo warned. ¡®How did he know?¡¯ Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Still, though it looked ugly, it made moving and breathing morefortable. When Kang Chan left the treatment room and went to the fifth floor, the guys that Oh Gwang-Taek sent lined up along the hallway and greeted him with their usual tiresome greetings.d Kang Chan first went to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s room. Perhaps hoping for the best, he thought Seok Kang-Ho wouldin and ask for a cigarette the moment he entered. However, he found Seok Kang-Ho unconscious and had a cervical cor around his neck. Kang Chan stood next to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s bed and looked down at him. ¡°I¡¯ll be back after I¡¯m done,¡± Kang Chan told him. Stupid bastard. But thanks, you fucker. Seok Kang-Ho should¡¯ve just backed off even a little bit if his strength wascking, but all he had left of Dayeru was his personality. Afraid they would¡¯ve attacked Kang Chan if he didn¡¯t, he rushed in vigorously. From drugs to the Serpents Venimeux, things had gotten more out of hand than Kang Chan had expected. With the two new variables in y, ending it clumsily or quietly was no longer an option. ¡°You idiot, you better be awake when Ie back.¡± Kang Chan suddenly felt lonely. He felt like stroking Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s head but left the patient room instead, finding the idea gross. Smithen and the Serpents Venimeux members were in the room next to Seok Kang-Ho. The two gangsters guarding the door jumped up to greet Kang Chan. There were a total of four beds inside, each side having two beds separated by a small gap. Bandagespletely covered Smithen¡¯s face and body, while the gang members had at least their faces and hands uncovered. The gang member¡ªwhose nose Kang Chan had broken¡ªsmiled menacingly and shook his head, conveying that Kang Chan had messed with the wrong person. The gang member remained rxed even though he saw Kang Chan smirk. ¡°I admit that we let our guard down, but you and your family won¡¯t survive.¡± He even ¡®threatened¡¯ Kang Chan. This always happened whenever he didn¡¯t end things properly. Kang Chan looked at the two gangsters in the room. ¡°Go and get the Kukri,¡± ordered Kang Chan. ¡°Pardon, hyung-nim?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about the knife these fuckers had.¡± ¡°Understood, hyung-nim.¡± One of them quickly left. Kang Chan really didn¡¯t want Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s help to this extent. But he needed it to monitor these people and protect Seok Kang-Ho. Falling into a ditch? The only thing that changed was that the battle he had been prepared to die in was now in Seoul instead of Africa. These guys were different from high school bullies or the gangsters in the basement parking lot, and he needed to deal with them ordingly. When the gangster returned with a Kukri, the Serpent Venimeux members¡¯ smiles vanished. Perhaps they remembered how it was used to burst Smithen''s eyeball and stab his shoulders at the end of their fight. Kang Chan grabbed the Kukri¡¯s handle and unsheathed it. He felt bad for Doctor Yoo Hun-Woo, but stabbing these bastards with a beer bottle wouldn¡¯t keep them down for long. The moment Kang Chan let his guard down, the two guys watching this room and even Seok Kang-Ho in the next room would have a hard time surviving. ¡°Do you really want to get your family killed?!¡± yelled one Serpent Venimeux member. Smirk.? ¡°We¡¯re French people that came here for business!¡± another eximed. ¡°You should say that at the embassy,¡± Kang Chan replied. The other two gang members¡¯ expressions soured, seemingly having expected this oue. ¡°Who do you think we are¡­¡± ¡°Tais-toi! (shut up!)¡± Kang Chan yelled. The Kukri wasn¡¯t carried around forbat. It was mostly used to cut the necks of those who had been immobilized by being shot near their knees. It was more effective when used in front of families or other people, and even if there wasn¡¯t anyone around, it brought more shock than being shot to death. If these gang members had guns, then Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho would''ve already died with bullets in their thighs or knees and their necks slit open. From now on, it was a fight to protect what was theirs. Being faithful to the basics brought better results in more difficult fights. And the basics of the basics started from a perfect finish. ¡°Putain Merde!¡± one gang member yelled angrily as Kang walked closer to them. If it was to be forcefully tranted, it would be mean along the lines of ¡®Fuck.¡¯ Stab. Stab. Slice! Slice! Stab. Stab. Kang Chan stabbed the shoulder and armpit of the gang member that raised his head and threatened him. Kang Chan then sliced his shoulder muscle. The Kukri¡¯srge de brought better results than expected. The two gang members lying beside the first gang member red at Kang Chan. It was to hide their fears. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab.? Despite their actions, Kang Chan didn¡¯t n on going easy on them. He repeated what he did to the Serpent Venimeux member that threatened him to the other two. In doing so, he lowered the chances of incidents happening in the hospital. ¡°Move these fuckers to another room,¡± he ordered. The two gangsters called for the others that were outside, then dragged the beds outside. He heard a nurse¡¯s shocked cry, but that wasn¡¯t important. ¡°Smithen, you fucking traitor,¡± Kang Chan said. For as long as this fucker¡¯s legs were working, he was still dangerous. ¡°I didn¡¯t know! Shan came with the rescue team after confirming that even our unit had been annihted, but I was still alive. That¡¯s it!¡± Smithen eximed. ¡°But why did you look after Shan¡¯s back? You should¡¯ve told everyone that he betrayed us.¡± Smithen didn¡¯t say anything. If Kang Chan let this guy loose, something would happen for sure. Kang Chan was thinking of ending it. ¡°Diamonds. Shan sold us for the diamonds. The Serpent Venimeux members were there when I regained my bearings, so I had no other choice.¡± ¡°Then you should¡¯ve said he was the traitor the moment you were saved in the hospital!¡± Kang Chan yelled. Slice. Kang Chan sliced Smithen¡¯s left hip muscle. ¡°Arrgh!¡± Smithen¡¯s upper body jerked upward. ¡°How many more are there other than Shan?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Two! Two!¡± ¡°What weapons do they have?¡± ¡°Glock 19s!¡± They did bring guns, after all. If Kang Chan hadn¡¯t taken care of Smithen in the club and instead met him on Tuesday, there was a high possibility that they would¡¯ve brought guns. Slice! Kang Chan made sure to end it properly and left the patient¡¯s room. The nurse that was going into the next room looked at him with eyes full of fear and disdain. Kang Chan nned on going to the hotel first. He was going to finish everything by today. No matter how thoughtless Shan could be, he still wouldn¡¯t be dumb enough to open fire in a fancy hotel.. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Yoo Hun-Woo walked toward Kang Chan with a very angry expression. ¡°If you keep acting like this in here, then we can no longer provide you with medical services,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo warned him. He was just being faithful to his job, but so was Kang Chan. ¡°They¡¯re members of an infamous gang in France. If I left them as they were, they probably would¡¯ve killed Seok Kang-Ho, the idiots in the hallway, you, and the nurses. Should I still pretend that I didn¡¯t see them and leave?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo gulped. ¡°I didn¡¯t kill them. Nobody died. I simply refused to leave them alone knowing other innocent people could die. Just say the word and I¡¯ll never set foot in this hospital again,¡± Kang Chan continued. It was the truth. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to stay in a ce that didn¡¯t want him anyway, and he didn¡¯t want to live with regrets because he didn¡¯t finish things properly. ¡°Are there any gang members left?¡± the doctor asked. ¡°There¡¯s still three, and two of them have guns.¡± For some reason, Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to lie to Yoo Hun-Woo even though the gangsters in the hallway would understand their conversation because they spoke in Korean. ¡°Are they part of the gang that tried to escape prison using a helicopter?¡± Kang Chan smirked. If Yoo Hun-Woo were to hear the horrible murders they hadmitted, he¡¯d probably spearhead selling their organs himself. ¡°I can¡¯t just let go of a patient that frequently pays me without relying on medical insurance. I¡¯ll be waiting. No need to go to a different hospital,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo told Kang Chan, then went into Smithen¡¯s room. He seemed tired but didn¡¯t have any intention of giving up. ¡°Always keep your guards up around the three guys over there,¡± Kang Chan ordered a gangster. ¡°Understood, hyung-nim.¡± The answer seemed rote and careless. The problem was how to handle Shan and the two gang members. Simply going up to their room didn¡¯t feel right, and Kang Chan thought Shan and the others most likely wouldn¡¯te out even if he blindly called them. Kang Chan needed to finish things one at a time. Smithen, that fucker, probably went down to the club after talking about Kang Chan. Kang Chan needed to sort things out quickly, but he urgently had to go return to the hotel. Kang Chan stopped walking momentarily to think. Smithen knew all of Shan¡¯s secrets, so it was only right for Shan to be anxious. How worried did Shan have to be to hire three gang members to watch Smithen, a guy that said he was going to the club to meet women? Who was more desperate? Solidifying his decision, Kang Chan went into Smithen¡¯s room again. Yoo Hun-Woo and the nurse turned back to look at him while they were stitching up Smithen¡¯s side. ¡°Smithen,¡± Kang Chan called out. Smithen felt a special type of fear due to his eyes being covered. He tried his best to figure out what was going on by shaking his head back and forth. ¡°What did you do with the money that you earned from selling diamonds?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t see Smithen¡¯s expression since his face was bandaged up. ¡°Don¡¯t try to y tricks in front of me.¡± When Kang Chan spoke in French, Yoo Hun-Woo and the nurse looked at him in shock. ¡°It¡¯s in a swiss bank,¡± Smithen replied. ¡°Then why did he let you live? If Shan killed you earlier, then it would¡¯ve been over.¡± ¡°We shared the password to the bank ount so that I would get half, and Smithen would get the other half. If he kills me, he¡¯ll never find the money¡­¡± Smithen wasn¡¯t this smart. ¡°You¡¯re not this smart. This is myst warning, don¡¯t try to y tricks on me. Why did Shan let you live?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not making this up! Shan made it this way after visiting the hospital so that I keep my mouth shut! There are still ten million euros left!¡± It can''t be a diamond that¡¯s as big as a human¡¯s head¡­ ¡°ckhead?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Channy! ckhead!¡± ckhead was the rough diamond that appeared every twenty or something years in the African diamond mine. Rumored to be cursed, one would apparently feel desire upon looking at it, and it would lead them to their death if they couldn¡¯t ovee that desire. Even Kang Chan had never seen it before. ¡°What about the drugs?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Shan only has the sample.¡± Damn it! If things go south, then I¡¯d have to take care of the drugs as well. ¡°Who¡¯s buying them?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Channy. I really don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the bank password?¡± Smithen didn¡¯t reply, as if he tried to not let go of hisst lifeline. ¡°Doctor, please step out for a moment,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, please. This patient will die if you continue.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t kill him.¡± When they spoke in Korean, Smithen turned his head from side to side, seemingly anxious. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want the money. If Shan didn¡¯t tell him the password then there was no way Kang Chan could find it with only half the password. However, he needed to have at least the smallest proof as bait topletely bring the bastard down. ¡°Smithen, tell me the password,¡± Kang Chan repeated. The look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes made Yoo Hun-Woo sigh and walk away. ¡°Smithen¡­ Smithen 0702 of 0913 Africa.¡± This son of a bitch! Chapter 26: It Went Well For You, Right? (2)

Chapter 26: It Went Well For You, Right? (2)

Kang Chan realized his phone was missing after he came out of Smithen¡¯s room. He thought it went missing in the club during the fight. ¡°Contact Gwang-Taek for me,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Yes, hyung-nim.¡± The fight had already started, and Kang Chan nned on winning. Kang Chan took the phone the gangster respectfully handed to him. ¨C What¡¯s up? You speak a foreignnguage as well? Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s voice was filled with surprise. Kang Chan moved to a corner to keep the gangsters from hearing their conversation. ¡°I was told there¡¯s a drug sample in the Namsan hotel. Do you know anything about it?¡± - What? Could this fucker be the one buying the drugs? Kang Chan sharply red at the men that stood along the hallway with the thought that they could be enemies at any moment. - Speak clearly. There are drugs in the Namsan hotel? ¡°It¡¯s a sample!¡± - That¡¯s the same thing! Which fuckers did it? Which sons of bitches are fucking around in someone else¡¯s business without permission? Kang Chan felt slightly relieved, but he couldn¡¯t let his guard down. - Hey! Which bastard did it? What kind of fuckers are they?! ¡°Three French guys have the sample, which means there¡¯s someone buying it.¡± - And those fuckers don¡¯t know who? ¡°Are you even listening to me? Like I said, they don¡¯t know. And those bastards are part of the Serpents Venimeux, a French gang. Two of them apparently have guns. - Seito? To Kang Chan, it sounded like a Japanese gang. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of ending it today. Find a suitable location for it, then I¡¯ll call them out. If they don¡¯te, then I¡¯m thinking of going to the hotel.¡± - Hey! I barely managed to patch things up at the club. It¡¯s a relief that it''s open right now or else I would¡¯ve been in deep trouble. Let¡¯s drag them outside. There¡¯s a quiet vi near the riverside of Namyangju. You can do it there. I¡¯ll also send a car to both the hospital and the hotel, so use that. ¡°Okay. The French aren¡¯t pushovers, though, so be careful. If they decide to take revenge, things will get out of hand.¡± - Shit! What makes you think I¡¯d bow down on my own turf? Stop the bullshit and tell my men what you need. I¡¯ll be going as well but to where? The hotel? Or should I be at Namyangju? Oh Gwang-Taek didn¡¯t seem like he would listen if Kang Chan told him to stay out of this. - It¡¯s really weird, though. Regardless of who it is, I should¡¯ve heard about it if someone was dealing drugs. Should I investigate the fucking drug addicts? ¡°Don¡¯tplicate things.¡± - Fine. Let me know where you¡¯re going once it¡¯s decided. Kang Chan called over a gangster with a gesture of his chin after he ended the call. ¡°Find out the hotel¡¯s number,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°I know its number, hyung-nim.¡± It was about 10 am. A gangster quickly dialed the number and handed it to Kang Chan. ¨C This is the Namsan hotel, how can I help you? ¡°Please connect me to Mr. Shan in room 1901 and tell him that Kang Chan is calling.¡± - Please wait. Kang Chan heard the on-hold music. ¡®Pick up, Shan.¡¯ - ¡®Ello. It wasn¡¯t Shan¡¯s voice. ¡°Please connect me to Mr. Shan.¡± - He can¡¯t take calls right now. I¡¯ll pass on your message if you tell me what you want to say to him. Kang Chan could feel that things had gotten messed up a little. ¡°Understood. Then I¡¯ll ask that you memo what I say. Are you ready to write it down?¡± Kang Chan momentarily heard rustling sounds. Is Shan really not there? ¡°Pass on the message that the God of ckfield is waiting along with swiss bank and drugs.¡± There was no answer from the other end. Kang Chan then turned off the phone. The man in front of Kang Chan looked at him with a strange expression. These fuckers¡¯ eyes turned respectful the moment they heard him speak in French. ¡°Do you know Suh Do-Seok¡¯s number?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Pardon, hyung-nim?¡± ¡°I asked if you know Suh Do-Seok¡¯s number in the Namsan hotel?¡± The gangster found the phone directory and handed over the phone after pressing the call button. - What! ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± - Hyung-nim! Suh Do-Seok speaking. His arrogant voice suddenly turned polite. That had to be a skill. ¡°Is there a French man named Shan near the lobby?¡± - Well, a person hase down to the club looking for the whereabouts of a foreigner named Smithen. ¡°What did you tell them?¡± - I told him Smithen visited the club before it opened and then left. ¡°How many are left from the people that first came with Shan?¡± - I¡¯ll call you after I check, hyung-nim. ¡°Since you¡¯re looking into it, find out where that bastard Shan is right now and how many people visited him today. And if there are any, find out who they are and let me know through this number. Oh, right! Was my phone not left in the club?¡± - I¡¯ll look into it, hyung-nim. That fucker didn¡¯t clean up the club himself, so it would be hard for him to know where his phone was. ¡°Do you have cigarettes?¡± Kang Chan asked the gangsters. Strangely enough, Kang Chan had been asking other people for cigarettes a lot these days. The most annoying thing was when people didn¡¯t give back the lighter after they asked. After Kang Chan handed over the phone to the gangsters, he opened the metal door at the end of the hallway and went to the stairs outside. Click. Click. ¡°Whoo!¡± It was hot and humid, and yet, it was also pleasantly cool. How many people were aware that things like this were happening in the middle of Gangnam? Leaning on the stairs¡¯ handrails, Kang Chan got lost in his thoughts for a moment. He was unhappy that Seok Kang-Ho wasn¡¯t here. Was this the reason Seok Kang-Ho tried to eat with him at least once a day? When Kang Chan let out a long exhale after extinguishing the cigarette, a gangster opened the door and handed over the phone, telling him it was Suh Do-Seok on the line. ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± ¨C The French man named Shan is currently talking to a Korean customer in the restaurant. ording to the restaurant¡¯s manager, the Korean seems to be an official from an automobilepany. Shan is meeting Suh Jeong?Motors thiste?at night? Then who were the people he met when I called in the morning? ¨C There are two foreigners left, and they¡¯re currently down at the restaurant with Shan. They could be down there to pass on the memo Kang chan left a little while ago. ¡°Good job.¡± - Oh, also, I couldn¡¯t find your phone. ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan was certain that Smithen wasn¡¯t lying at this point. Smithen was aware of his personality, after all. Smithen wouldn¡¯t have mixed in lies unless he was nning on living without women for the rest of his life. Kang Chan ended the call and took some time to himself. Now the odds were in his favor. ¡°Call Suh Do-Seok again,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Yes, hyung-nim.¡± The gangster politely handed over the phone. - What?! I¡¯m busy¡ª ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± - Yes, hyung-nim? It really was a skill. Anyhow. ¡°Let me know when those bastards return to their rooms. I¡¯m going to call them to get them out, then do a thorough search of their rooms. You should have plenty of time.¡± The response came after a short pause. - I can¡¯t search their rooms with my authority, hyung-nim. It¡¯s probably going to be difficult even if Gwang-Taek hyung-nim orders it. It¡¯s only possible in urgent situations such as death, long unpaid stay, and fire. That seems logical. ¡°I see. Then just let me know when they return to their rooms.¡± Kang Chan received the call when he pulled out another cigarette and smoked about half of it. - They¡¯ve gone up to their rooms, hyung-nim. ¡°Got it.¡± Kang Chan continued to smoke the rest of the cigarette after calcting the time it took them to take the elevator, then called the hotel. - ¡®Ello? It was Shan. ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± For a moment, Shan stayed silent. ¡°I called because I thought you needed it, but I¡¯ll hang up if you¡¯re not interested.¡± - I assume that you heard it from Smithen, but stop bbing around when you don¡¯t even know what the God of ckfield means. Just tell me where Smithen is. Do that, and I¡¯ll give you the exclusive rights to import the cars. What¡¯s he saying? Is he perhaps..? Shan seemed to have misunderstood that Smithen betrayed him. After all, that was more rational than assuming that Kang Chan reincarnated into another body. In this case, it wouldn¡¯t be bad to match what Shan was saying. ¡°Kang Yoo Motors doesn¡¯t have the money to pay the initial payment.¡± - Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle the initial payment for fifty cars, so stop meddling already and tell me where Smithen is. ¡°The confirmation of the contractes first.¡± - There¡¯s an organization involved in this situation¡ªone you¡¯d be surprised to know about. So stop acting cute and tell me where Smithen is. ¡°The contractes first, Shan. If you say anything else, you might as well assume Smithen will be gone forever.¡± When Shan didn¡¯t answer, Kang Chan thought ¡®oh shoot¡¯ to himself. Shan wasn¡¯t the type to crumble even if Kang Chan acted like this. ¡®Tsk!¡¯ What else could Kang Chan do? That was his personality. - How can you guarantee that we¡¯ll get Smithen after the contract has been signed? Nheless, the bait he used proved to be quite effective. ¡°I¡¯m not the one that¡¯s at a loss here, Shan. I saw quite a lot of money in Swiss bank.¡± - Hmm. It was quite a long groan. - It will take some time to attest and announce the contract even if I have the right to make an arbitrary decision. ¡°That type of excuse isn¡¯t like you, Shan.¡± - And you really seem like the Kang Chan I knew in the past. This time it was Kang Chan who remained silent. If Kang Chan obstinately said ¡®God of ckfield¡¯ in a weird moment, Shan would obviously think Kang Chan was trying to insist on having his way based on what he heard from Smithen. - Is Smithen with you? ¡°How could I have found out about ckhead or the Swiss bank otherwise?¡± - Okay. Thene to the hotel business center by 10 tomorrow. Let¡¯s conclude the contract and finish this. This was the frightening part about Shan. He definitely noticed some things yet didn¡¯t recklessly act up despite how desperate he was. He didn¡¯t n on leaving any evidence behind. - Why aren¡¯t you answering? Wouldn¡¯t Yoo Hye-Sook also be in danger if people start following Kang Dae-Kyung? ¡°Understood. 10 am, at the business center.¡± - Let me see Smithen first before we sign the contract. The call ended with that. That was very much like Shan. He had responded to Kang Chan¡¯s bait by throwing a really delicious bait himself, ensuring Kang Chan would have to take Smithen to the hotel. He was suspicious of Kang Chan, but ten million euros was too big for Shan to give up. On the other hand, Kang Chan was desperate for that automobile contract. It was already 10:30 pm. Not only wasn¡¯t it good to take Smithen to the hotel now, but he needed to let Kang Dae-Kyung know about the contract quickly. However, Kang Chan had bruises all over his face, a breastte on his chest, and bandages on his right hand. He had no other choice but to call Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Channy.¡± - Channy? Where are you? Why haven¡¯t you been answering your phone? Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s voice sounded like he was trying to keep his anger down. Kang Chan also heard ¡°Is that Chanie?¡± from Yoo Hye-Sook nearby. - Your mom¡¯s been so worried. You¡¯reing home now, right? ¡°I¡¯ll get going now.¡± Kang Chan decided to head home first. If Kang Chan hadn¡¯t heard that Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s health was deteriorating, he wouldn¡¯t have gone home tonight and would¡¯ve just told Kang Dae-Kyung about the contract on the phone. There was still time left until 10 am tomorrow. Kang Chan first ordered the gangsters to bring some clothes, then called Suh Do-Seok. Kang Chan told him to confirm if there was a reservation at the business center for 10 am tomorrow, and to contact him if Shan goes outside or if he has more visitors. He also made sure to call Oh Gwang-Taek. Kang Chan told Oh Gwang-Taek that he¡¯d figure things out tomorrow since he nned on meeting them at 10 am tomorrow in the hotel. Kang Chan then hung up the phone, took off the breastte, changed into clothes that were bought in a hurry, and even wore sneakers. *** Kang Dae-Kyung was near the bed Yoo Hye-Sook was using. ¡°Our son ising. Happy now?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. Despite looking tired and having no strength due to her depleted energy, Yoo Hye-Sook smiled. ¡°Do you like our son that much?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked again. ¡°Having Chanie¡¯s what I¡¯m most thankful for after meeting you.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Yoo Hye-Sook with an appalled expression. ¡°I realize that when I saw you giving birth to Chanie. You stopped bleeding after you held Chanie, even though it didn¡¯t stop even after you¡¯ve used six hundred packs of blood beforehand. Do you remember the medical team¡¯s reaction? They started tearing up because they were touched.¡± ¡°Why are you bringing that up again?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell Chanie everything when he gets married¡ªthat you held on until you almost died in the ICU, then stopped bleeding when our son woke up. Be honest. You were nning on dying with him, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°How could I do that when I have you?¡± ¡°Geez! Don¡¯t lie through your teeth.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, honey.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook caressed Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s hand. ¡°Shake it off and get better soon if you understand. We were told that your condition can be serious if you start bleeding again due to your uterine fibroids. You have to be strong for Chanie¡¯s sake.¡± When Yoo Hye-Sook answered ¡°I will¡±, Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s phone rang. ¡°What¡¯s going on at this hour? Hello?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung answered the call, perplexed. ¡°Yes. Yes. Pardon?¡± Wondering what was happening, Yoo Hye-Sook focused on Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s expression. ¡°Is that true? Did you confirm this yourself?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked again in a sense of disbelief. ¡°What about thewyer? Did you contact him? And the journalists? 10 am tomorrow? Senior director. Have you really checked everything? Is there not a chance that the interpreter misunderstood something? You¡¯ve confirmed this with the headquarters in France, right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung ended the call after verifying the information a few times, then nkly looked at Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°What happened? What¡¯s wrong, honey?¡± ¡°They¡¯re going to sign the contract because of Chanie. With the initial payment of the contract for fifty cars, they¡¯ll give us exclusive rights to Gong Te automobile in Korea for the next twenty years.¡± ¡°What? What are you talking about?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked as she forcefully raised her upper body to sit and lean against the backboard of the bed. ¡°Honey, I asked what you were saying.¡± ¡°They¡¯re apparently signing the contract because of Chanie. They said they¡¯re going to agree to our exclusive rights for twenty years with the initial payment of the contract Gong Te automobile previously sent. This isn¡¯t just with the ¡®Chiffre,¡¯ either. They¡¯re going to give us exclusive rights to all car models that Gong Te produces. The senior director was so excited that he didn¡¯t know what to do. They want to sign the contract in front of the journalists at 10 am tomorrow,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Honey, is that true? Really?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s eyes were full of tears. ¡°Did I yell at Kang Chan toe home quickly without knowing about this?¡± ¡°What if our son had a hard time dealing with this and hadn¡¯t even eaten? How nervous would he have been while he was doing something this big?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. *** When Kang Chan got out of the car at the entrance of the apartment, the gangsters that drove him said that they would wait there, and Kang Chan epted. If Shan wanted to, he could¡¯ve easily found Kang Chan¡¯s home address. Kang Chan wanted to prepare for the possibility of something happening until he had it out with Shan tomorrow. Kang Chan looked ugly in the reflection in the elevator mirror. ¡®Smithen, that fucker.¡¯? His face looked distorted. What if Seok Kang-Ho hadn¡¯t been there? Kang Chan felt like Shan had decided to take Smithen with him to France since everything had already been ruined. Shan was cold-hearted enough to do that. ¡®Should?I cover up everything?from here and forget everything?¡¯ Kang Chan had found out who the bastard that sold off their crew was. What would his dead unit members say when he only punched Smithen, who was now on their side, and let Shan go? Ting. The elevator¡¯s ding made him remember to head home first. Kang Chan held onto his side, exhaled slowly, then pressed the password for the apartment. When he opened the door, he found Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook walking out of the master bedroom. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for beingte. Are you feeling better?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Chan¡¯s face with shocked eyes. Their gaze thennded on Kang Chan¡¯s bandaged right hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? How did you get hurt this badly?¡± ¡°It was from working out,¡± Kang Chan answered. Kang Chan looked at Kang Dae-Kyung because Yoo Hye-Sook was crying her eyes out. ¡°I got the call. I was told that the contract was being signed thanks to you,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Kang Chan. ¡°You got a call?¡± ¡°Yes, from the senior director that you saw at the hotel. He told me about the contract signing at 10 am tomorrow. Did that friend of yours you¡¯ve told us about help you?¡± ¡°I guess so. This is what you wanted, right?¡± ¡°My son.¡± Unable to continue speaking, Yoo Hye-Sook hugged Kang Chan. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Thinking about how nervous you must¡¯ve been alone tears me apart.¡± ¡°Father did all the hard work. And, as great as the contract is, I like it better when you cheer up, mother.¡± Kang Chan hugged Yoo Hye-Sook. He felt warm. And cozy. He was in horrible pain due to his side, but the hardships that he had endured that day seemed to be melting away like snow. 1. Namyangju is a city in South Korea Chapter 27，Part1: So What do you Want me to Do? (1)

Chapter27£¬Part1: So What do you Want me to Do? (1)

Kang Chan¡¯s parents weren¡¯t fools, so he ended up lying that he randomly started boxing when they asked about the injuries on his face. And his hand? He just told them that he got injured. Kang Chan was thankful for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s warm hearts for first asking about his face and if he had dinner instead of asking him about the contract. ¡°Why do you keep crying?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I¡¯m trying not to. I¡¯m just happy to see you, and I feel sorry for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± . ¡°No, I''m your mom. I should be the one apologizing.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook wiped her tears with the front of her long, straightened finger. She was beautiful, pretty, pitiful, and cute. ¡°Have you always been a crybaby, mom?¡± Even Kang Chan was surprised by what he just said. He didn¡¯t know he could say the word ¡®mom¡¯ so naturally. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. She only acts that way toward you. She¡¯s never acted like that toward me, that¡¯s for sure,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung answered. ¡°Honey!¡± ¡°Look at her. I¡¯m always the easy target,¡± Kang Dae-Kyungined. ¡°When did I do such a thing!¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung mischievously shook his head and stood up from his spot. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a walk with our son. We¡¯re going to have a conversation that is strictly for men only.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°But he¡¯s having a hard time. Imagine how nervous he was while he was dealing with all this alone.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay, I''m not having a hard time,¡± Kang Chan said. When Kang Chan stood up, Yoo Hye-Sook followed them to the door. Seeing her without any energy made him feel bad. ¡°Mom.¡± ¡°Yes, my son.¡± ¡°I really hope you get better soon.¡± ¡°I will. I¡¯ll cheer up so that you won¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± Kang Chan wanted to hug her but couldn¡¯t hold his hand out because he felt like he¡¯d suddenly burst into tears likest time. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Kang Chan told her instead. Kang Chan calmed down while he was on the elevator. The two of them walked further in and sat on a big rock that decorated a garden because there were people on the bench today of all days. ¡°Did you get help from the gangsters that I met back then?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung didn¡¯t seem to bepletely happy about the contract. ¡°Father.¡± ¡°Be honest. I stayed quiet because I didn¡¯t want to ruin your mom¡¯s happiness, but I want you to tell me exactly what¡¯s happening.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung seemed to be struggling in front of Kang Chan. His eyes contained the guilt of closing a deal by selling his son. ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning on lying to you and actually was going to tell you about itter.¡± Kang Chan truly didn¡¯t want to lie to this kind of person. ¡°Did you threaten them like they do in movies?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. When Kang Chanughed lightly, Kang Dae-Kyung awkwardlyughed, too. It seemed even Kang Dae-Kyung found his own question silly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to get the contract. I was just trying to do a favor for someone on the inte, but Shar¡ª Mr. Shan proposed the offer out of the blue. I was also taken back,¡± Kang Chan said. Half of his words were true, the other half a lie. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll believe you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I should be the one saying that since you made your mom smile brightly. The senior director sounded like a crazy person on the call, but he did say you were amazing and that he underestimated you. Your mom was right beside me listening to that call, seemingly happier about the call itself than the contract.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung took a deep breath. ¡°I owe you big time for this.¡± He then stretched out his hand and ced it on Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s go back. Your sick mom will be eagerly waiting.¡± I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s a father as amazing?as him in the world. Both of them wore silly grins as they walked to the entrance of their apartment. ¡°Don¡¯t get hurt. Even though we try not to, we worry for days when we see our child get hurt.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook was on the couch when the both of them went inside the apartment. ¡°You should be lying down. Why are you sitting like this when it¡¯s hard for you?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Yoo Hye-Sook. Yoo Hye-Sook grinned broadly while looking at Kang Chan. ¡°Geez, you love our son so much! How are you going to let him get married at this rate?¡± said Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°When he gets married, I¡¯m only going to see him once a month,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook answered. ¡°Why?¡± Kang Chan asked out of sheer confusion. ¡°Apparently that¡¯s how mothers can get along with their son.¡± Kang Chan really couldn¡¯t understand what she was saying. ¡°Oh, right! My teacher, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, is hospitalized from a car ident so I want to stay there for tonight,¡± said Kang Chan. Why did he have to use ¡®car ident¡¯ as an excuse when he already used itst week? It was toote to take it back now, though. ¡°Since he stayed by my sidest time, I want to be there today,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°You must be so tired already. Can¡¯t you just rest for today?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Dae-Kyung gave Kang Chan a tired look behind Yoo Hye-Sook while she fussed over Kang Chan. As Kang Chan was trying to stop her when she said she wanted to visit Seok Kang-Ho, he asked Kang Dae-Kyung for help. He didn¡¯t need to say anything¡ªthey just shared a momentary nce. ¡°Should we have something delicious for dinner tomorrow after we sign the contract?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°You should at least have apany get-together with the employees,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook replied. ¡°You¡¯re right. Then let''s have dinner in two days. How does that sound?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s do that,¡± Kang Chan answered. Yoo Hye-Sook helplessly followed Kang Chan to the entrance Kang Chan couldn¡¯t bear to tell them that he had to miss school tomorrow since they were already going through so many hardships. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to give me a hug?¡± Kang Chan asked, sensing that Yoo Hye-Sook was hesitating. She seemed worried that he might not like it or he¡¯d find her constant desire to hug him bothersome. ¡°Thanks, Chan.¡± ¡°Me too, mom.¡± Kang Chan stroked Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s back in front of Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s tired face. *** Kang Chan arrived at the hospital just past midnight. The gangsters in the hallway greeted him grandiosely and told him the unexpected but good news. ¡°The teacher woke up, hyung-nim.¡± At that moment, there couldn¡¯t be better news than this. Kang Chan hastily walked into Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s room. He found Seok Kang-Ho looking at the ceiling but turned his eyes to the side with all his might. ¡°You survived?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Did you think I was going to die in that fucker¡¯s hands?¡± Seok Kang-Ho groaned after he finished talking. ¡°Are you injured anywhere, captain?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°My rib bones are fractured and my right hand¡¯s in this state.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s seemingly amused smirk turned into a frown. ¡°Give me a cigarette, please.¡± ¡°Cigarette?¡± Kang Chan asked. He had gotten rid of his since he had to go home. Kang Chan went outside to get cigarettes again from the gangsters and thought of paying them back by buying a carton of cigarettes and about ten lighters tomorrow. ¡°Here!¡± Kang Chan lit two cigarettes and put one of them in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s mouth. Seok Kang-Ho wasying down straight with his head fixed in ce, looking up toward the ceiling. He could only blow the smoke upward like a factory¡¯s chimney. As the two of them smoked one more cigarette each, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho what had happened up to that point in a slow, detailed manner. ¡°It went well,¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. ¡°More importantly, the problem is what we¡¯re going to do about Shan tomorrow.¡± ¡°Agh! It¡¯s hot!¡± Seok Kang-Ho yelled. Kang Chan quickly grabbed the cigarette in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s mouth but the sparks had already dropped onto his cheek. Seok Kang-Ho really hated hot things. Kang Chan then wiped his cheek with a tissue that he roughly soaked in water. ¡°Let¡¯s just let Shan go tomorrow,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, the way he was positioned making it seem like he was trying to convince the ceiling. ¡°There¡¯s your father¡¯s contract as well, but from the looks of it, there seems to be no question about it. It looks like Shan is going to take Smithen with him. We now know the culprit, and we¡¯ve beaten Smithen up enough, so let¡¯s just let them go. We don¡¯t have to think about it too much. That¡¯s better than you getting hurt or your father¡¯s contract being broken.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°What do you think I¡¯ll do?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to throw a fit and say that you¡¯re going to grill Shan until the end?¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°Ugh, my neck.¡± Kang Chanughed out loud. ¡°I didn¡¯t eat dinner,¡± Seok Kang-Ho seemed to be hungry amidst all of this. ¡°Should I buy you kimbap?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Sure.¡± After the two of them chuckled, Kang Chan remembered something that he had forgotten about. ¡°Don¡¯t get mad, but I just remembered something, Seok Kang-Ho.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Kang Chan went to the bed¡¯s underside and turned a lever. 1. kimbap is a cheap but popr food in Korea that is easy to eat Chapter 27，Part2: So What do you Want me to Do? (1)

Chapter27£¬Part2: So What do you Want me to Do? (1)

When Kang Chan turned the lever before speaking, Seok Kang-Ho eximed. ¡°Damn it! Why didn¡¯t you do this while I was smoking?¡± ¡°I told you not to get angry.¡± Kang Chan ordered a gangster that was in the hallway to buy them kimbap and a few snacks. He then made coffee. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you fractured your ribs?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°So? It¡¯s not like the coffee cup will jump at me.¡± ¡°Have you be considerate?¡± ¡°You want to get hit?¡± It was strangely pleasing. When the kimbap arrived, Seok Kang-Ho intensely ate the two rows of kimbap while frowning. ¡°Let¡¯s tell my wife tomorrow that it was a car ident,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°That¡¯s already been done.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked back at him, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t exin any further. ¡°That wife of mine will try to get a lot ofpensation,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. Kang Chan stared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you get mixed up?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ve already said that I had made up my mind to just live like this. We¡¯ve already avenged the fallen, and I¡¯m with you, so I know that I¡¯m not crazy. What else is there to do but live this life as I see fit?¡± That might be the answer. But Kang Chan wasn¡¯t willing to just let Shan go. ¡°Please help me move a bit,¡± Seok Kang-Ho requested. ¡°You should rest.¡± ¡°I have to see Smithen, that son of a bitch, again. I won¡¯t be able to see him again once he¡¯s been taken to the hotel tomorrow, right?¡± It would be hard to stop him from doing that. Kang Chan brought a wheelchair that was in one part of the hallway and went to Smithen¡¯s room with Seok Kang-Ho. Smithen was looking around when they entered. He had been separated from the French gang. His body looked hideous. All of his limbs and his eye werepletely bandaged, and there were sprouts of yellow hair on his chest, the lower part of his stomach, and in between his thighs. ¡°Smithen.¡± Smithen flinched when Kang Chan said his name. ¡°Dayeru is here.¡± Seok Kang-Ho didn¡¯t know French, so he definitely needed an interpreter. ¡°You fucker, I¡¯ll forgive you with this.¡± There really wasn¡¯t anything equivalent to Korean swear words, so Kang Chan just appropriately passed on Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯ll never do this, but when you leave tomorrow, live your entire life apologizing to our brothers that died an unjust death.¡± When Kang Chan passed on Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s words, Smithen''s face leaned toward Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Are you really the God of ckfield?¡± Smithen asked. ¡°What are you saying after you already said everything?¡± ¡°I acted that way back then because I was shocked. I lost my bearings after the name Dayeru was mentioned and the situation unfolded. I figured Shan worked in the back to get the password when he was alone,¡± Smithen said. ¡°I bet Shan doesn¡¯t know that you almost got beaten to death after assaulting a sixteen-year-old girl.¡± Kang Chan told Smithen. Smithen didn¡¯t say anything. A small moment of silence passed. ¡°Does Dayeru speak Arabic?¡± Smithen asked soon after. ¡°He definitely does since he¡¯s Algerian. But you don¡¯t know Arabic.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± This stupid fucker really didn¡¯t change one bit. ¡°I borrowed money from Dayeru. Please ask how much that was, exactly.¡± When Kang Chan passed on his words, anger seemingly filled Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°That son of a bitch borrowed from me three times after drinking because he needed to buy women. No, it¡¯s actually four times if we include that time he ran away after stealing money that I had in my top¡¯s pocket while I was in the bathroom.¡± Kang Chan passed on Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s exact words. Smithen¡¯s Adam''s apple moved when he gulped. ¡°Captain.¡± ¡°Tsk! Keep it up, and I¡¯ll wheel you back to your room. I¡¯m getting annoyed,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°The sound you make when you¡¯re annoyed is the same as well. Is this really possible?¡± ¡°How do you think we feel?¡± Kang Chan asked Smithen. Smithen seemed to finally ept the reality. ¡°We¡¯re going to hand you over to Shan tomorrow. We didn¡¯t tell him your part of the password, so head over to France.¡± Smithen asked for one when Seok Kang-Ho bit down on a cigarette. Kang Chan then saw a guy with only his mouth and nose out of the bandage smoking. ¡°I know Shan¡¯s password,¡± said Smithen. What¡¯s he saying? ¡°I have a share with Gong Te automobile under my name. Half of it was paid by the money from selling diamonds, Serpents Venimeux paid the other half. So if I go to France like this, I¡¯m going to die.¡± Smithen really lived life while doing various things. ¡°Please protect me. Then I¡¯ll tell you the entire bank password.¡± ¡°Smithen.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to join this clingy trade. ¡°I¡¯m treating you to this extent because I believe that you were honest at the end. I have no ns on touching the price for the death of our crew so stop talking bullshit and go negotiate with Shan tomorrow. Of course, there¡¯s no telling what I¡¯m going to do to Shan before that happens,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°There are ten mafia members from both China and Japan at the hotel that¡¯s in front of the city hall and in the Banpo hotel. If Shan asked that you hand me over when you guys made the deal, that means he¡¯s nning on doing something with them. Please spare me,¡± Smithen begged. ¡°Phew.¡± Things were really getting out of hand. If possible, Kang Chan wanted to run to Shan thiste at night and beat him up. On the other hand, he also truly wanted to step out. ¡°It seems like Shan nned on handing over the drugs to Japan and China. When they called me yesterday, they had finished discussing that in the room. They¡¯ll obviously be filled with vengeance, so I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t just stay put,¡± Smithen continued. ¡°You can¡¯t live in Korea,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Please make me the branch manager of Korea for Gong Te automobile.¡± Appalled, Kang Chanughed. ¡°What¡¯s that fucker saying?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chan bit on a cigarette and told him exactly what Smithen had said. ¡°Ask him how he discovered Smithen¡¯s password. He doesn¡¯t have the brain to do tricks right?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°Are you perhaps asking because you¡¯re tempted by the money?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so bad about that? It would be better to donate it to ces that help those in need than to let them use it for evil. The dead would also hope for that as well, wouldn¡¯t they?¡± Is this guy really Dayeru? ¡°What¡¯s there to do other than asking questions right now and waiting until tomorrow to determine if he¡¯s telling the truth? We can go and beat up all the Chinese and Japanese gangs in the hotel at night, which is what you''re good at.¡± ¡°And after that?¡± ¡°We should cut off Shan¡¯s neck tomorrow the moment all parties involved have signed the contract,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. As Kang Chan listened to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s answer, he actually felt betrayed. He couldn¡¯t believe this fucker was this smart. ¡°So you¡¯re saying we should let that fucker be the branch manager of Korea Gong Te automobile?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Do you think you can just stand by and watch him go after women here?¡± ¡°So what should we do?¡± ¡°Since he¡¯ll die no matter where he goes anyway, let''s just keep him in school. Do you think he¡¯s going to hit on high schoolers in front of you? After he got almost beaten to death in Africa? Afterward, we can just slyly hand over a female to Smithen. Isn¡¯t it a match made in heaven? Won¡¯t that sound like heaven for him?¡± Had this bastard been studying on his own?? Kang Chan quickly looked at Smithen. ¡°Smithen, how did you discover Shan¡¯s password?¡± Shan wasn''t a normal, cool-headed guy. He wasn¡¯t the type to just spill important information like a password to a dumbass like Smithen¡­ ¡°It¡¯s the God of ckfield,¡± Smithen told Kang Chan. ¡®These stupid fuckers!¡¯ ¡°And how did you know that?¡± ¡°I found out when I was saying the password in the bank. There was a time when Shan told me to call the bank as he requested to withdraw money. Before saying the numbers I always say ¡®Smithen of Africa¡¯ first, I got confused that day. I said ¡®God of ckfield¡¯ instead, then the automated voice told me to say the next password.¡± It was ridiculous. ¡°When I said ¡®Smithen 0702 of 0913 Africa¡¯ the voice confirmed that it had been taken care of. That¡¯s how I discovered his password,¡± Smithen continued. These two dumbasses were giving him quite a lot of shock. At the very least, the only issue left now was how to get rid of Shan. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware that Shan always keeps his back safe, right? He willpletely trust the Japanese and Chinese gangs, so let¡¯s get rid of them first,¡± said Smithen. Smithen was so excited it was as if he was the one that was going to do all of this. ¡°What¡¯s there left to do? Let¡¯s send Shan to France quietly after the contract signing ends tomorrow. That way, the Serpents Venimeux guys will be the ones to end itpletely. That¡¯s better than doing it ourselves,¡± Smithen continued. Now the tail was wagging the dog.. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Shan think you¡¯re going to betray him since you¡¯re with us?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Even if he does, what¡¯s he going to do? Plus Shan won¡¯t believe it since we both have a part of the password. Until now, there was no reason for the gang to butt in, but we bought a share of Gong Te automobile because Shan was greedy. If he wants to live, he¡¯s definitely going to try and pay back the damages with the money in the bank after taking me to France. I¡¯m going to die if there¡¯s no money, and Shan is going to n his next move.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Kang Chan thought about it. ¡°Captain. One of my eyeballs is broken, and my right arm is unusable. I also didn¡¯t n on betraying you. Please spare me just this once,¡± Smithen begged. Kang Chan exhaled deeply again. ¡°Let¡¯s spare that fucker.¡± Seok Kang-Ho added to the conversation, seemingly understanding what Smithen said. 1. This is a saying used to describe a situation in which an important or powerful person, organization (in this case Shan with the SV gang) is being controlled by someone or something that is much less important or powerful (Smithen, Kang Chan, and Seok Kang-Ho) Chapter 28: So What Do You Want me to Do? (2)

Chapter 28: So What Do You Want me to Do? (2)

Everything roughly made sense. Kang Chan wheeled Seok Kang-Ho out of Smithen¡¯s room. All of the gangsters stood up when they emerged. He Kang Chan looked at one of them. ¡°Call Gwang-Taek,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Yes, hyung-nim.¡± When Seok Kang-Ho returned to his room, he held his neck and sat on the bed, groaning. It was much morefortable for him to talk with his back straight. ¡°Have you called your family?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of calling them after tomorrow. How am I going to exin the gangsters in the hallway to my family if theye running over immediately?¡± ¡°Say that they¡¯re the offender.¡± ¡°Nah. My wife is the type of woman to grab them by their cor and demandpensation from them.¡± When Seok Kang-Ho side-eyed the hallway, a gangster came in with the phone. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Kang Chan answered. - Hey! What happened? ¡°There are Chinese and Japanese guys in the hotel that¡¯s in front of the city hall and in the Banpo hotel. I was told they¡¯re the ones nning on buying the drugs.¡± - Japan and China? They¡¯re pulling out all the stops. Do you know the names of the organizations involved? ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± - How many are there? ¡°Apparently ten from each country.¡± - It¡¯ll be easy to distinguish a group that big. ¡°I need a room tomorrow morning at the Namsan hotel.¡± - Do-Seok can do that. ¡°I¡¯ll be at the hospital, so contact me through this number.¡± - Understood. The gangster took the phone and bowed respectfully before leaving the room. Kang Chan really didn¡¯t want to fight the Serpents Venimeux¡ªeven if he was told that he¡¯d have to fight a drug organization otherwise¡ªunless they had to fight with all of the evil in the world. He was only going to get Shan. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked out of the blue, confusing Kang Chan. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to beat up the Chinese and Japanese gangs?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s heart cooled down when he heard Seok Kang-Ho say those words so easily and confidently. ¡°Daye.¡± Attempting to determine how Kang Chan would react, Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Did you think I¡¯d lead those fuckers in the hallway in a fight? I epted their help because of our location and out of fear that I won¡¯t be able to avenge our unit if things go wrong. I¡¯m expecting to meddle in a fight between gangs to pay the price for that. Yet you still want me to take them with me even though just hearing them call me ¡®hyung-nim¡¯ already bothers me so much? Is that it?¡± Seok Kang-Ho finally seemed to realize his mistake. ¡°I didn¡¯t think ahead that far.¡± Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho for a moment, then took out two new cigarettes. They each bit down on one. ¡°Let¡¯s be fair. That¡¯s the reason why both of us fought until the end, even though it meant you¡¯d end up like that. Once we¡¯ve signed the contract with Gong Te automobile, I¡¯m thinking of asking my father to pay for the hospital and hotel fees. If we don¡¯t, then we¡¯d be no different from the stupid fuckers that act out because they¡¯ve got gangsters backing them up. That holds true even now.I¡¯m only using their help because I need to protect you. I can¡¯t be here all the time. The least I can do is avoid dragging them into fights,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Understood.¡± Kang Chan then stood up, made two coffees, and gave one to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Shan isn¡¯t the type to go down so easily,¡° Kang Chan said. ¡±Do you think that snake-like fucker will believe Smithen¡¯s words? He definitely would¡¯ve taken the possibility of Smithen snitching into consideration, which means we¡¯re going to get attacked if we rush in recklessly.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes widened when he subconsciously tried to nod despite his neck injury. ¡®Stupid fucker.¡¯ Kang Chan ended up smirking. Soon after, the door opened, and a gangster walked in. ¡°Gwang-Taek hyung¨Cnim is calling, hyung¨Cnim.¡± He handed Kang Chan the phone. - I¡¯ve found and will take care of them. How dare those fuckers conduct business on someone else¡¯s property? ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek.¡± - What?! Kang Chan thought for a moment. But he needed to say what needed to be said. ¡°Tell me right now if you¡¯re going to make me finish them off after you¡¯ve half-assed dealing with them.¡± - What are you trying to say? ¡°You can¡¯t just beat them up because you have connections, can you? Just step out of this if that¡¯s the case.¡± - Ha! You fuck. With his emotions seemingly all over the ce, Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s sudden response sounded like he was provoking Kang Chan. - What do you take me for? A pushover because I¡¯m making you feelfortable? Don¡¯t fuck around too much. There''s a limit to how much I¡¯m willing to take. Smirk. Now this is what gangsters are like. I almost?grew attached to him. Kang Chan decided to take this opportunity to draw the line. ¡°Do you want me to bow down to you because I asked you to close the club and take us to the hospital, Oh Gwang-Taek? Seok Kang-Ho and I still would¡¯ve been fine even if your club didn¡¯t close, you son of a bitch.¡± - You fucker! ¡°It ends here. I¡¯ll do you a favor as I promised, but don¡¯te near me otherwise.¡± Kang Chan ended the call and slowly stood up. Seok Kang-Ho forcibly twisted his body and ced his legs down from the bed. The gangster beside Kang Chan looked him over with a nervous expression. The phone rang, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t pick it up. ¡°Get out. Take the rest of the guys and leave the hospital. You better listen while I¡¯m still ying nice. I don¡¯t want to fight you guys since you helped us today.¡± When Kang Chan handed over the phone, another gangster came into the room. ¡°Gwang-Taek hyung¨Cnim is calling.¡± The gangster came toward him but stopped in his tracks when Kang Chan red sharply at him. ¡°Get out,¡± Kang Chan ordered. When the gangsters left, he felt like he suddenly realized all of his mistakes all at once. epting a fucking gangster¡¯s hand to catch Smithen was his first mistake, considering he could never depend on them. Kang Chan shouldn¡¯t have relied on such dirty aid even if hecked the manpower and wanted to protect Seok Kang-Ho. The two gangsters quietly left the room. ¡°Aren¡¯t we leaving the hospital?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°This isn¡¯t their hospital, is it? And we¡¯re the ones who¡¯ll be paying the hospital bills anyway. Even if we did want to leave, there¡¯s nowhere for us to move Smithen and the three bastards with him.¡± Kang Chan found it nice to see Seok Kang-Ho smirk. ¡°Were you nning on handing over the Chinese and Japanese gangs to Oh Gwang-Taek from the beginning?¡± Phew! I can¡¯t believe I forgot that he was like this. To think I was even surprised by his sudden bursts of intelligence. ¡°Did you think I would be crazy enough to pick unnecessary fights with people even if doing so won¡¯t help us achieve our goal? Use your brain a little.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan in amazement. They had to use this time to prepare for tomorrow. ¡°Shan needs two things from Smithen: The bank password and an excuse to give to the French gang,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°What do you mean by excuse?¡± ¡°He needs them to think Smithen conspired with me and ruined everything by trying to steal the money.¡± ¡°Would they really go easy on Shan if he did that?¡± ¡°Were you even listening to me when I was interpreting for you? Smithen said that Shan would be able to live if he can hand over the money in the bank.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t that make him poor?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Tsk!¡± Kang Chan got annoyed. ¡°With the way things are going, Shan¡¯s probably going to get Smithen''s shares of Gong Te automobile. That stupid fucker¡¯s going to sign the contract and live infort.¡± ¡°That fucker¡¯s a sick bastard,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s realization made even Kang Chanugh because of how ridiculous he sounded. The problem was the contract. If it weren¡¯t for it, they could just beat Shan up either tonight or tomorrow morning once an opportunity presented itself, but Shan¡¯s bait was so good it made it difficult for them to move recklessly. ¡®That¡¯s why that son of a bitch called the senior director separately.¡¯ That made it difficult to call off the contract. Kang Dae-Kyung might be okay, but Yoo Hye-Sook would have a hard time dealing with the shock. ¡®They¡¯re never going to end it quietly.¡¯ Would Shan really go to France quietly if they handed Smithen over? That was another problem. Since they were already on bad terms, how would he be able to quietly approach Shan once they had gone to France? The French gang would probably line up and joyously wait for him at the airport. Just then, Kang Chan awoke from his thoughts because a nurse came into the room. ¡°It¡¯s time to get your shot,¡± the nurse said. ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going in the IV so you just need to stay still.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was about to show his butt but immediately stopped, his face covered in awkwardness. It was just one shot, but the moment the nurse left, Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes rxed. ¡°I¡¯m tired. You should sleep as well, captain,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Just go to sleep.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was already asleep by the time Kang Chan turned the lever and lowered the bed. He fell asleep so fast that Kang Chan actually wondered if the nurse put poison in the needle. Looking at the sleeping Seok Kang-Ho, he finalized his decision. Kang Chan had a lot on his mind. He didn¡¯t act like himself because he thought about Kang Dae-Kyung, Yoo Hye-Sook, and even the contract with Gong Te automobile. Kang Chan went out of the room and headed to the stairs outside. Hot air breezed past him even though it was already evening. He lit and smoked a cigarette as he thought about what to do after finishing the deal with Shan. Would he go to France and live as the previous Kang Chan or live the life that was suitable for his current body like Seok Kang-Ho was doing? Regardless of which side he¡¯d choose, he wanted to live a fulfilling life. It would be best for everyone if Kang Chan chose to live the life that suited him instead of rejecting it and saying that it wasn¡¯t his. If it weren¡¯t, however, it would only be right for him to boldly reject it. While Kang Chan was organizing his thoughts, he noticed a few ck cars heading to the front of the hotel. A nce was enough for him to know the way they arrived was unusual. When they stopped in the driveway, gangsters in suits got out one after the other, and the gangsters in the hallway ran to greet them. ¡®This isn¡¯t going to be an easy night.¡¯ Kang Chan went into the hallway and sat in front of Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s room. Momentster, gangsters emerged from the elevator and the stairs. Smirk. The first one out of the elevator was Oh Gwang-Taek. Kang Chan stood up, and Oh Gwang-Taek faced him with a hardened expression. The look in his eyes was that of a gang leader. ¡°Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Stay out of this mess if it makes you uneasy,¡± Kang Chan replied. Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s face grimaced. ¡°Ha, you fucker. You really don¡¯t know when to stop, do you?¡±. Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s words were awkward to reply to. ¡°I¡¯m not going to tell you to be a gangster. Think of this as me paying you back for putting Gangnampletely under my control. But keep this in mind: I¡¯ve never once backed down in my life. If I did, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten this far. So don¡¯t ever provoke my pride like that again. You understand?¡± When Kang Chan stared at him cockily, Oh Gwang-Taek bit his cheek once. ¡°Say that it was a car ident again. Let¡¯s end our rtionship with me being responsible for the hospital bills and settlement until the teacher¡¯s discharged from the hospital. Is that good enough for you, you son of a bitch?¡± Hisst swear words seemed somewhat timid to Kang Chan. ¡°I moved all of my guys to the floor below, but I¡¯m going to keep two of them in the hallway. And I¡¯m going to go annihte the Japanese and Chinese guys now, so don¡¯t worry about that either. Understand?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Live well. Study hard or else you¡¯re going to be a gangster.¡± When Oh Gwang-Taek was done talking, he red at Kang Chan as if he was going to kill him before stepping away. He was a gang leader. But Kang Chan felt bad since he seemed like a pretty good guy. He needed to get his bearings. *** Kang Chan felt much better after sleeping for about three hours in the empty bed in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s room. After washing his face, he left behind a disappointed Seok Kang-Ho and moved Smithen to the Namsan hotel. The hospital¡¯s ambnce dropped them at the hotel. They then used the freight elevator in the hotel¡¯s basement to move Smithen to a suite in the innermost part of the seventeenth-floor hallway. The suite had arge living room and a bedroom, both of which had bathrooms. Kang Chan showered after having toast for breakfast. His mind and body felt refreshed. Dull pain was stilling from his side, but he had no issues breathing or twisting around. ¡°Is it really only the two of us here?¡± Smithen asked. He seemed afraid. ¡°Why are you acting like that? It¡¯s like you haven¡¯t been on a battlefield before.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t been on one since my body¡¯s been reduced to this state, have I?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about,¡± Kang Chan reassured Smithen. They passed the time watching some news and enjoying a cup of coffee. At 9 am, Kang Chan picked up the phone in the room and asked that the hotel pass on his memo to Shan¡¯s room. The phone rang about five minutester. ¡°Ello?¡± - Kang Chan? It was Shan. ¡°Room 1701. If you want to check on Smithen,e alone.¡± - And what if I get attacked? ¡°Considering how desperate we are for the contract, would we really do that?¡± - Fair point. ¡°I¡¯ll hand over Smithen once awyer has confirmed that nothing¡¯s wrong with the contract.¡± - That doesn¡¯t sound fair. What if Smithen disappears after we sign the contract? ¡°How do you want to do this, then?¡± - I¡¯m going to bring one person with me. He¡¯s going to stay there until we¡¯re done with the contract signing. Kang Chan paused for a moment. ¡°Sounds good.¡± - I¡¯ll be in the room in 10 minutes. Smithen gulped when Kang Chan ended the call. ¡°Are you really sure about this?¡± Smithen asked. ¡°Who am I?¡± Smithen firmly shut his mouth. ording to the weather forecast, today was going to be quite hot. Ding dong. The bell rang. Kang Chan slowly opened the door after looking through the peephole on it. Shan walked into the room with his pointy nose in the air. Behind him was a tall, white, blond man in a ck suit. Shan looked back and forth between Kang Chan and Smithen. ¡°What are you trying to pull?¡± ¡°As you can see, his injuries are severe,¡± Kang Chan answered. Shan didn¡¯t seem to believe his words. ¡°Unwrap the bandages, Smithen,¡± Shan ordered. ¡°I can¡¯t. My arms have been stabbed,¡± Smithen replied. Kang Chan shrugged when Shan sharply looked at him. ¡°Unwrap the bandages,¡± Shan ordered the Serpents Venimeux member. The white-skinned man walked over to Smithen with a sardonic expression and uncovered Smithen¡¯s face. Smithen groaned in the process, but the man didn¡¯t care at all. It took a while before he could remove all the bandages, but when he was done, he frowned. Even Shan seemed to be fairly surprised. Smithen¡¯s face was torn all over and covered in bruises. Most importantly, his right eye socket was empty. ¡°What have you done?¡± Shan sharply red at Kang Chan. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a small price to pay for selling off his crew?¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°You should stop ying around. I can just take Smithen right here, right now.¡± ¡°If you do that, a lot of people will being up here, Shan. Why don¡¯t you leave for now and return once you¡¯ve signed the contract?¡± When Shan gestured to Kang Chan with his chin, the gang member took out a technical gun and a silencer, which he attached to the gun. ¡°Keep quiet and stay here until Ie back from the contract signing. Keep in mind that it doesn¡¯t matter who you are. We only need Smithen.¡± ¡°Do as you wish.¡± ¡°What about the other three gang members?¡± asked Shan. ¡°I¡¯ll let them go since they¡¯re just baggage to me once you take Smithen out of my hands. Do whatever you want with them. I don¡¯t care if you get rid of them or take them with you.¡± When Shan left the room, the tall man sat in the chair in front of the round table in the corner. ¡°Let¡¯s bandage this guy,¡± said Kang Chan. The gang member shook the gun toward Kang Chan, signaling him not to get closer and sit away from them. ¡°It¡¯d be better to bandage him since you¡¯re nning on taking him outside. What would you do if other people end up seeing him like this once you¡¯ve taken him out?¡± Clearly displeased, the gang member red at him, but Kang Chan slowly approached and bandaged Smithen again anyway. When Kang Chan finished bandaging Smithen, it was already around 9:40 am. ¡°I can sit there, right?¡± Kang Chan gestured to the sofa with his chin, to which the man replied with a quick nod. Kang Chan walked to the sofa, took the thermos bottle on the table, poured himself a cup of coffee, and took a sip. They watched a TV program about unique foods in China until the clock struck 10 am. Momentster, as Kang Chan finished his coffee, the phone rang. The man gestured to it with his chin. ¡°Hello?¡± - The contract signing ended sessfully. We¡¯ve checked it with thewyer, and Shan is now on his way up. It was Suh Do-Seok. Kang Chan ended the call. ¡°I was told that the contract signing ended sessfully,¡± He announced. The Serpents Venimeux member just looked at Kang Chan emotionlessly. Chapter 29: A New Start (1)

Chapter 29: A New Start (1)

Ding-dong. The doorbell rang after Kang Chan gave Smithen a ss of water. The Serpent Venimeux gang member pointed to the door by gesturing to it with his gun twice. ¡°Stop messing around and open the door.¡± The expressionless gang member frowned, but Kang Chan¡¯s attitude didn¡¯t change. Ding-dong. The gang member walked toward the door and opened it, his bodynguage seemingly saying he was going to let this go just this once. Click. Shan entered with a keen look in his eyes. Another gang member came in after him and stood in front of the door, his hands ovepping. ring at Kang Chan and Smithen sharply, Shan sat on the sofa. He aggressively loosened his tie and threw it on top of the coffee table. ¡°We¡¯ve signed the contract and upheld my end of the bargain. It¡¯s your turn now,¡± Shan told Kang Chan. Smirk. One side of Shan¡¯s face twitched. It was clear Kang Chan¡¯s smirk offended him. ¡°I¡¯ve said this before, but you¡¯re really simr to the Kang Chan that I knew. Especially with that offending smirk and the fact that you make me lose face. When Kang Chan sat on the edge of the table in front of Shan, Shan side-eyed the thug with the gun, seemingly displeased. ¡°What did that Kang Chan do to make you lose face, Shan?¡± Kang Chan asked. Shan looked over the room, seemingly trying to figure out his intention, then looked back at him. ¡°Was the ckhead more important than the lives of your crew? Enough to shove your henchmen¡¯s heads to the enemy¡¯s guns?¡± Kang Chan prodded. Shan smiled vulgrly. He then shook his head and looked at Smithen. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that bastard bbed about the God of ckfield and whatnot, but it looks like you were a step ahead of that stupid fucker,¡± Shanmented. ¡°Don¡¯t try to y tricks on me and just answer the question.¡± At that moment, Shan¡¯s expression turned as cold as a snake. That change was typical of him when he needed to make a cold judgment. Shan spoke as he tilted his head slightly. ¡°If you keep acting like this, your beautiful mother will be sliced into so many pieces nobody would be able to identify her.¡± Smirk. At that moment, Shan¡¯s venomous expression returned. ¡°Tell them toe in,¡± Kang Chan said. When Kang Chan briefly gestured with his chin toward the gang member positioned in front of the door, the gang member opened the door and let two Asians in. They then stood in front of the gang member, looking at Kang Chan and Shan. ¡°Oh, my. I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d see you so surprised, Shan,¡± Kang Chan continued. Smithen moved the bandages just enough to look at Kang Chan and Shan with his remaining eye. ¡°There¡¯s a time in life when you¡¯ll face a trap that¡¯s impossible to escape from, Shan. You¡¯ve just fallen into the God of ckfield¡¯s trap. Do you understand the situation now?¡± Kang Chan asked Shan. Even though Shan had quickly shifted his gaze to Smithen, Kang Chan continued to speak. ¡°I didn¡¯t think that Shan, known as the ¡®ice of the desert,¡¯ would use such a password.¡± Gritting his teeth, Shan let out a groan-like noise. ¡°To summarize today¡¯s n, you¡¯re going to die here, Shan,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Did you send money to France?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°It was the price of the shares that Smithen had, plus we got you as a bonus. I don¡¯t think your dirty body¡¯s worth seven million euros, though.¡± As his expression changed once more, Shan suddenly gave the two Asians that had just entered a quick look. ¡°I caught them yesterday, but France contacted me, saying they won¡¯t release more Serpents Venimeux members in Korea if I let France continue their deal with the Chinese gang. And those Chinese guys standing by in front of the apartment I live in? They said they¡¯ll protect the apartment with their lives.¡± Atst, Smithen harshly gritted his teeth. ¡°So, what should we do now, Shan?¡± Kang Chan asked. Shan red at Kang Chan as he visibly showed his anger. ¡°The decision is up to you. You either get out of here after killing me,¡± Kang Chan said. Smirk. A satisfied smile swiftly passed by Shan¡¯s face. ¡°Or you can just die here. It¡¯s impossible to find the remains of those the Chinese guys over there have chopped,¡± He continued. ¡°There are security cameras here. Won¡¯t you also be in trouble if a foreigner disappears from this hotel?¡± ¡°Tsk tsk tsk, Shan.¡± Kang Chan shook his head. The glint in Shan¡¯s eyes quickly settled down. ¡°How are you going to do it?¡± Shan asked Kang Chan. ¡°We¡¯re going to end it our way.¡± The way mercenaries fight?¡¯ Shan looked at Kang Chan, appearing to have a hard time believing what he heard. ¡°Are they going to ept it if I kill you?¡± Shan asked. ¡°Of course!¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°This country is really hard to understand.¡± Shan folded the sleeves of his shirt above his forearms. The gang member blocking the door took two knives from the Chinese and gave them to Shan and Kang Chan. ¡°Are you really the God of ckfield?¡± Shan asked Kang Chan. ¡°Does it matter? You¡¯re going to die soon anyway.¡± When the two put their left hand forward, the gang member tightly tied their left wrists, securing it with a figure eight knot,. Unblinking, Kang Chan and Shan red at each other. ¡°If you¡¯re really Kang Chan, then you¡¯re probably well aware that you almost ruined my ns that day as well. You couldn¡¯t escape my gun in the end, though, Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Oh. My. God,¡± Smithen spewed out while sitting in the wheelchair. Both Kang Chan and Shan got into position after they stretched and cracked their necks. He would¡¯ve been fine if Shan were to slice or stab him. However, Shan instead tried to pull Kang Chan off bnce as he drew in and let go of his left arm. In the blink of an eye, they had turned two times in the same spot. ¡°Were you also the one that shot Dayeru?¡± Kang Chan asked Shan. Despite Kang Chan¡¯s fiery eyes, Shan didn¡¯t get discouraged. Whish. Swish. Whish. Whish. His neck. I have to aim for his neck no matter what. Amateurs would try to stab their opponent¡¯s arms and cut their shoulders. Their necks would be stabbed or slit in those moments, and it would already be toote by the time they realized it. ¡°Are you talking about the dirty Algerian that sold his soul to an Asian?¡± Shan retorted. Shick. Slice! Maximizing his long arms, Shan reached in and cut Kang Chan¡¯s right shoulder. He then smiled bitterly. ¡°Well, I killed everyone else except for Smithen, that son of a bitch.¡± Whish. Swish. Slice. Whish. Swirl. It didn¡¯t take long for Shan to cut Kang Chan¡¯s right shoulder again. Due to Shan¡¯s long arms, he appeared to have an implicit advantage in this fight. Swish. Whish. ¡°If I had also shot that guy, he¡¯d already be long dead,¡± Shan continued, his knife swiftly passing by Kang Chan twice as he spoke. ¡°Shan.¡± Whish. Swish. Whish. Whish. Kang Chan used his left hand to control the space in between them while constantly moving his upper body from side to side, barely dodging his opponent¡¯s glinting knife multiple times. ¡°Goodbye,¡± Kang Chan told Shan. Swish. Whish! Shan didn¡¯t respond. However, just as he aimed for Kang Chan¡¯s neck¡­ Stab! Kang Chan deeply impaled his knife into Shan¡¯s left armpit. Crunch. He then hacked his knife down from there. ¡°Aarrgh!¡± Slice! Slice! Pit! Shan¡¯s screams and the sounds of bones cracking filled the room. Even at that moment, however, Shan managed to slice into Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder two more times. ¡°Arrrgh!¡± Shan¡¯s knees buckled and he copsed. ¡°We¡¯re all going to hell, so go and start apologizing to the crew because I¡¯m going to split your chest the same way when I meet you there,¡± Kang Chan told Shan. Thud. When Kang Chan sliced the fabric that bound him to Shan, Shan immediately fell forward. The two Chinese guys brought out a neatly folded body bag from behind their backs, unfolded it, and put Shan in it. Then the Serpent Venimeux member in front of the door came toward Kang Chan and handed him a phone. ¡°The boss wants to talk to you.¡± Kang Chan stared at the phone that was handed to him before cing it next to his ear. ¡°¡®Ello?¡± - I was able to lessen my shame thanks to you. ¡°Don¡¯t forget the two promises.¡± - A gentleman keeps their promises and values their honor. Contact us anytime when you need our help. Tell me your name. Kang Chan looked down on Shan, who was twitching inside the bag, before answering. ¡°God of ckfield.¡± - Huhuhu. Your name is quite grand. Just once, you¡¯re free to call us for help anytime and anywhere. They ended the call on that note. The tall thug with a gun walked forward. ¡°We¡¯ll get going now,¡± He told Kang Chan. ¡°Why do you insist on taking Shan?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We also have to take care of our partners¡¯ honor.¡± He looked into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes and nodded. ¡°The gang leader told us to pass on his thanks for the deal and the deposit. As you requested, Gong Te automobile will appoint Smithen as their Korean branch manager,¡± The mobster added. A Chinese gang member spoke softly when the Serpent Venimeux gang member finished talking. ¡°They¡¯re expressing their gratitude for the impressive battle and the deal. And they also hope that you visit China one day,¡± The thug passed on the Chinese guy¡¯s words to Kang Chan. ¡°Tell them I¡¯ll kill them if I see them again.¡± The gang member smirked, then spoke in Chinese. It seemed that he had phrased the words more positively seeing as how the Chinese gang member smiled and bowed his head, looking satisfied. ¡°It¡¯s best we part ways,¡± The gang member said. Kang Chan knew that as well. The gang member in front of the door took off his jacket and gave it to Kang Chan. Kang Chan epted it since his right shoulder was covered in blood and needed to be covered. The jacket had a noticeable Chanel logo at the back of its cor. A Chinese gang member snapped his fingers once, and argeundry cart was wheeled into the room. The guys put Shan¡ªwho was still twitching¡ªinside the cart and left shortly as if nothing happened. ¡°Let''s go, Smithen.¡± Kang Chan grabbed a thin nket from the bed, ced it on Smithen, and pushed his wheelchair. *** Suh Do-Seok¡ªwho was waiting in front of the ambnce, greeted Kang Chan when they reached the basement. He then anded Kang Chan a phone afterying Smithen down on a portable roway bed. ¡°Gwang-Taek hyung-nim wanted me to pass this on as his final present. The number is the same as yourst phone.¡± When Kang Chan just stared at him in silence, Suh Do-Seok continued. ¡°He said that if you refuse this, he¡¯s going to find you at your school. And he also wanted to thank you for taking care of the Japanese and Chinese gangs.¡± Kang Chan took the phone with a smirk. ¡°There¡¯s going to be a lot of things to take care of,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°The price for emptying that floor has already been deposited this morning, so all we need to do is clean up and take care of the CCTV.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s pretend that we don¡¯t know each other next time.¡± Suh Do-Seok bowed low as if he didn¡¯t hear anything. ¡°Goodbye, hyung-nim.¡± Kang Chan got in the backseat of the ambnce. The car slowly moved. ¡°How do you want me to live from now on?¡± Smithen asked Kang Chan. ¡°We sent over seven million euros for the price of the shares that were used by the gang, so there are still three million euros left.¡± ¡°That should be split between you and Dayeru, captain. The twelve million euros worth of stocks that I own is enough for me.¡± ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m going to ept that money?¡± ¡°Please just think of it as a form ofpensation. I¡¯ll be selling my stocks and using the money I¡¯ll earn from them wisely, and I¡¯ll also be getting a monthly sry and a car as Gong Te automobile¡¯s Korean branch manager.¡± That was true. ¡°I just need some money right now since I¡¯ll be staying at the hospital for quite some time,¡± Smithen continued. ¡°Understood.¡± Their bodies leaned to one side. The ambnce seemed to have turned a corner. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d get to live in Korea,¡± He told Kang Chan. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, then go somewhere else¡ªa resort with a great view or even a ce full of women. Smithen peeked out and looked at Kang Chan through the bandages. ¡°I¡¯m going to live here. I¡¯m going to be by your and Dayeru¡¯s side for the time being,¡± Smithen replied. Kang Chan didn¡¯t answer. *** When they arrived at the hospital, they first admitted Smithen into a room before treating Kang Chan. ¡°You¡¯re really our hospital¡¯s best VIP,¡± Yoo Hyun-Woo said. Even without Yoo Hyun-Woo¡¯s remarks, Kang Chan and the entrance security guard were able to recognize each other. Kang Chan even asked the security guard to buy him some clothes as a favor. ¡°This is a hospital!¡± The security guard eximed. ¡°Think of it as customer service.¡± Kang Chan then went into Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s room. ¡°Was it difficult?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°A cigarette is best for that kind of situation.¡± Kang Chan feltfortable when he was with Seok Kang-Ho. Both of them had a cigarette. Moving stiffly, Seok Kang-Ho made coffee and handed it to Kang Chan. Kang Chan slowly told him what had happened in the hotel. ¡°Son of a bitch. I should¡¯ve seen his side being split. Was that fucker¡¯s blood red as well?¡± Kang Chan stared at Seok Kang-Ho while letting out a heartyugh. ¡°I thought killing him would make me happy, but I actually don¡¯t feel that good,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Do you want to go out for a drink?¡± ¡°The fuck are you saying? Why would I want to watch over you while you drink?¡± Kang Chanined. ¡°Huh? I¡¯m already drinking coffee, aren¡¯t I? That should be enough to tell you that I can eat by myself now. Despite how I look, I¡¯ve actually already eaten kimbap.¡± ¡°Phuhu,¡± Both of themughed. ¡°You¡¯ve be smarter,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Kang Chan shifted his eyes to Seok Kang-Ho as he drank coffee. ¡°Even if I consider it possible to make a deal with Serpent Venimeux, I still couldn¡¯t have predicted you¡¯d also use the Chinese and Japanese gangs.¡± ¡°Being unable tomunicate during a military operation is the worst. I figured that fucker Shan was going to contact them in the morning. Since the Serpent Venimeux gang had been wanting to finish their deal with them as well, I gained and gave what I should and gave what I should give.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s answer made Seok Kang-Ho smirk. ¡°You did well. I feel happy now that I don¡¯t have to watch my back anymore. And it¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± ¡°There are about three million euros left, and Smithen wants us to split it in half and take it,¡± Kang Chan said. Seok Kang-Ho blinked. ¡°What?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°How much money is that in Korean Won?¡± ¡°Not sure. Hmm¡­ Wouldn¡¯t it be about four and a half billion won?¡± ¡°Then I don¡¯t have to worry about thepensation from the car ident?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chanughed, finding Seok Kang-Ho absurd. ¡°Sure. Use it wisely since your hospital bills will be huge, and you¡¯re going to need to pay a lot for other things as well. Let¡¯s put the rest into charity.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered. Kang Chan was thankful that he wasn¡¯t being greedy. ¡°Oh, right! My wife will likely visit. I should tell her to stop by at ater time.¡± ¡°You called? Why did you do that when they¡¯re going to worry?¡± Kang Chan asked. Smiling pleasantly, he dusted off his seat and stood up. ¡°You can stay. I just told her to move her visit to ater time anyway,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I want to get some rest anyway since I didn¡¯t get to sleep properly yesterday.¡± Kang Chan smiled again and left Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s room. He then headed to the security office, changed his clothes, and left the hospital. Kang Chan wanted to rest. He was considering taking the taxi to go home, Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have any money in his pocket. ¡°Tsk!¡± Left with no other choice, he walked home. The city looked quite peaceful, even though it had just swallowed today and yesterday¡¯s brutality. After walking for about 40 minutes, the apartment finally came into view. He sat on a bench for a moment and caught his breath. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ Kang Chan wanted to make a decision before going home, opening the apartment door, and greeting Yoo Hye-Sook. Should he ept his current self or leave to find his previous self? Kang Chan stared nkly at the sky. What would the original owner of this body say? Would it be okay if I truly epted Yoo Hye-Sook as my mom and Kang Dae-Kyung as my father? It was a hard decision to make, however, and all he wanted to do for now was rest. Kang Chan smiled bitterly as he took the elevator, realizing he wanted to see Yoo Hye-Sook.? When Kang Chan opened the door and went inside, Yoo Hye-Sook was standing in front of the entrance. ¡°You must¡¯ve had a hard time, my precious son,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook told Kang Chan. Kang Chan took off his shoes at the entrance feeling grateful. Her face seemed like she was genuinely more worried about him than being happy about the contract. ¡°I heard that father''s contract went well?¡± He asked. Yoo Hye-Sook was strangely teary even though he smiled widely. ¡°Yes, and he said that it¡¯s all because of you. Your dad was even crying when he called after the contract signing. I don¡¯t remember how many years it has been since hest did that.¡± ¡°As I said before, father did everything.¡± ¡°Thank you. I love you, Kang Chan.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook opened her arms and hugged him. The difficult things from the past few days slowly melted away, and a weird emotion emerged. He was¡­ happy. Chapter 30，Part1: A New Start (2)

Chapter30£¬Part1: A New Start (2)

After consoling Yoo Hye-Sook, Kang Chan fell asleep the moment he went into his room. He slept soundly. By the time he woke up, it was almost 6 pm. He shook his head. ¡°Ow.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s right shoulder and ribs were throbbing as if the adrenaline went away when he woke up. After slowly loosening up, he checked his injuries¡ªhis right hand that used to be covered in ss shards, his left hand with stitch scars, his stinging side, and his right shoulder, which had just been stitched so it wouldn¡¯t fall apart. . Even in Africa, it was rare for him to get injured this badly. He felt like he was getting a vacation after a long battle. Back then, he¡¯d usually head to a bar and have a nice drink after getting some sleep in him. Unfortunately, he was just a high schooler now. In other words, he would only embarrass himself if he acted hastily and sloppily without Seok Kang-Ho. Upon hearing noises outside his room, he got out of bed, changed intofortable workout pants and a shabby shirt to hide his injuries, and went out to the living room. ¡°What are you up to?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I¡¯m preparing dinner.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook pointed to the pot. She seemed like she still hadn¡¯t recoveredpletely. ¡°Get out of the kitchen, please,¡± Kang Chan told Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Why? I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°There¡¯s something that I want to eat.¡± Kang Chan put a pan on top of the gas stove and put oil in it. Eggs, olive oil, green pepper, and a few vegetables. Kang Chan thought about asking to eat out, but he figured Yoo Hye-Sook would just say she didn¡¯t want to. He didn¡¯t really want to, either. He chopped the vegetables into thin slices, added them to the well-beaten eggs, and seasoned them with salt. He then rolled the eggs up while its top part was still slightly undercooked, turning them into a somewhat edible omelet. Kang Chan had eaten so many times that he had grown sick of it, but it was much better than eating what Yoo Hye-Sook made while she was sick. Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Chan in amazement. She thought his knife skills and the way he rolled up the eggs were extraordinary. ¡°You¡¯re really good at this,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°I learned it from the inte.¡± ¡°Really? I should use the inte more often.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook had a somewhat naive part about her, which was why she¡¯d often take jokes seriously. Kang Chan set the table, transferred the finished omelet to a te, then ced it in front of Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°This one¡¯s mine,¡± He sat opposite her. She raised her eyes from the omelet and looked at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t have to eat if you¡¯re not feeling well.¡± ¡°This is the first dish you cooked for me. It¡¯s too valuable for me to just eat it,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook answered. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. I can make it for you every day if you want, so please, eat up. Dishes made with eggs taste really bad when they get cold.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook sliced a part of the omelet with a fork and ced it in her mouth. ¡°Mmm!¡± The eggs were seasoned just right, had a moist center, and were mixed with crunchy vegetables. It actually tasted good. ¡°What do you think?¡± Kang Chana asked. ¡°This is really good. It¡¯s even better than the dishes at the restaurant I go to.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate to let me know whenever you want to eat it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that offer.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± It tasted quite good, perhaps partly due to the fact that it had been so long since hest had omelets, and that he was eating with Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe it,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Can¡¯t believe what?¡± Kang Chan asked as he ate. ¡°I can¡¯t believe your father had signed the contract.¡± That was a reasonable reaction. Who would find it easy to believe that their high schooler son closed a deal with the help of someone they met on the inte? Seemingly worried, Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s expression cast down. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Did you get hurt or something because of the contract? I got a call from the school that you missed today¡¯s ss. Your dad told me to act like I didn¡¯t know, but¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t say anything and just kept gauging Kang Chan¡¯s mood because of that, even though the thought troubled her deeply. Since she was aware of that, she probably couldn¡¯t feelpletely happy about the contract. Kang Chan decided to make her and Kang Dae-Kyung feel better. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t go to school today because I spent time with someone who¡¯s departing for France. I should¡¯ve told you, but I couldn¡¯t because I thought you¡¯d think it¡¯s because of the contract, which would end up making you feel bad.¡± After finishing his exnation, Kang Chan smiled broadly, seemingly imitating Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°And I¡¯m also thinking of going to the University for Athletics, so I joined the athletics club. Mr. Seok Kang-Ho is our club advisor,¡± He continued. ¡°University?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s eyes sparkled. The shadow on her face disappearedpletely in an instant. ¡°Is that also why you¡¯ve been seeing that teacher a lot these days?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯d probably be meeting with him more often in the future.¡± There was nothing wrong with setting things up in advance to prepare for any type of situation. ¡°What do you want to do in the future, Kang Chan?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked as she munched on the omelet happily. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about that yet. I¡¯m just preparing to go to a university right now, though I¡¯m also thinking of studying abroad in France.¡± ¡°Studying abroad?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s face lit up so much it made Kang Chan feel bad. He only said that because he wasn¡¯t sure what could happen, but he didn¡¯t expect her to like it so much. ¡°Oh, my! Studying abroad in France! That¡¯s amazing. Since you¡¯re so good at French, it won¡¯t be difficult for you,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. Kang Chan smiled faintly. ¡°What?¡± She asked. ¡°Aunt Seong-Hee popped into your head, didn¡¯t she?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook smiled awkwardly. It was only an omelet, but Yoo Hye-Sook was so happy it was as if she was served a grand feast. Her worries about his injuries and school absence seemed to havepletely disappeared when he talked about going to a university and studying in France. ¡°Thank you for this very delicious dinner,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook told Kang Chan. Since Kang Chan was the one that cooked their dinner anyway, he decided to do the dishes as well, allowing Yoo Hye-Sook to keep resting. Yoo Hye-Sook sat down on the sofa when he finished cleaning up. ¡°You know the only thing left for you to do is cheer up, right?¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Thank you, Chan.¡± Kang Chan talked to her for a few more moments before going into his room. It was around 7 pm when Kang Chan¡¯s phone on his desk started emitting a blinking blue light. Upon checking it, he found a text message. [Give me a call please.] Have I told him that I¡¯ve gotten a new phone??Kang Chan could immediately tell who sent the message even though it came from an unknown number. Kang Chan called it. - It¡¯s me. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± - Have you had dinner? ¡°I just ate. Is there something wrong?¡± - I got a call from the school that the athletics club will close for the time being until I go back to work since it has no acting club advisor. Apparently, none of the teachers want to take the role. What the fuck is this¡­ ¡°What¡¯s going to happen, then?¡± - You have to attend your sses for the time being. ¡°When are you going to be discharged from the hospital?¡± - They said in about two weeks because I was insistent. ¡°Tsk!¡± - Endure it even if it bores you. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll try to visit after my sses tomorrow.¡± Kang Chan ended the call. ¡°Haaaa.¡± He sighed loudly. Unfortunately, there was no other choice. What if I just stay in the athletics club when I go to school? Then he would be acting just like the bullies. ¡°Damn it.¡± He had just finished a tiresome battle, but he was already being forced to face something so boring and tedious. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª He got another text message. [Channy. You still haven¡¯t contacted me. You¡¯re okay, right?] Since he could already tell who sent it, he called the number immediately. - Channy? ¡°Yeah. Did I make you worry?¡± - Are you okay? Is everything alright? ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine, and everything worked out in the end. - That¡¯s good to hear. We were worried sick. Where are you now? ¡°My house. This week doesn¡¯t work for me, so let¡¯s have dinner around next week instead.¡± - Then how about having a cup of tea at least before that? ¡°I¡¯ve got matters to attend to. I¡¯ll see you next week.¡± - Okay, Channy. I¡¯ll be in touch. Bye. Kang Chan felt bad about that day, and he also remembered Smithen. Hence, he decided to have dinner with her sometime next week instead. This was his new life¡ªone he was grateful for. Kang Chan normally would¡¯ve found this cumbersome before, but he appreciated it now. He turned theputer on and browsed through the inte until he heard the apartment door opening and Yoo Hye-Sook asking, ¡°Didn¡¯t you have thepany dinner today?¡± Kang Chan went out to the living room. ¡°Wee home,¡± Kang Chan greeted Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Thank you. How are you feeling?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung seemed to be having mixed emotions. ¡°What about yourpany dinner, honey?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I attended but left early because they were going for round two.¡± ¡°Tsk, you should¡¯ve used this day to show your appreciation to those who worked hard up to this point.¡± ¡°The senior executive and the managing director are still there. And it didn¡¯t feel right for me to stay there since they kept talking about Channy.¡± ¡°Still.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked down and took a good look at Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Look at you, though. Has my wife regained her energy?¡± ¡°Jeez.¡± She still hadn¡¯t fully recovered, but she was clearly getting better. ¡°We¡¯re having dinner tomorrow, right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung went into the master bedroom after Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Chan answered. Kang Chan¡¯s injuries and failure to go to his sses seemed to be weighing on Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s mind, driving him crazy. Nevertheless, it seemed like he decided to wait until Kang Chan opened it up himself. However, unable to tell Kang Dae-Kyung the truth, Kang Chan thought only time would fix things. 1. The raws don¡¯t say out right who Kang Chan is talking to, but it is our understanding that it¡¯s Michelle. However, it seems like the author left it out intentionally so we have left it out as well. Chapter 30，Part2: A New Start (2)

Chapter30£¬Part2: A New Start (2)

When Kang Chan went into his room, he found another text message. He was busy. [I¡¯ll arrive at the apartment at 8:30 pm. Are you still in a lot of pain? I can¡¯t help but worry since you didn¡¯t show up to school today.] [Text me anytime you see this message.] Wouldn¡¯t it be more efficient to send everything she had to say in one message instead of sending multiple texts like this? Kang Chan called the number. - Chan! ¡°Where are you?¡± - I¡¯ll be there in about 5 minutes. How are you feeling? ¡°I¡¯m okay now.¡± - Can we meet? What should I do? Kang Chan didn¡¯t really want to move because of the pain in his side and his shoulder. But when Kim Mi-Young¡¯s voice turned lifeless upon asking thatst question, it reminded him of her crying in the athletics club room not too long ago. ¡°Sure. See you at the bench.¡± - Okay. I¡¯ll be there soon. After ending the call, Kang Chan got an idea. He took twenty dors with him from the drawer on his desk and went out to the living room. ¡°I¡¯m going out to see Mi-Young. I¡¯ll be back after,¡± said Kang Chan. Yoo Hye-Sook came out of the master bedroom. ¡°Your dad¡¯s in the shower. Have fun.¡± After telling her he wouldn¡¯t take long, Kang Chan took the elevator. There were a lot of people on the bench, possibly because it had gotten hotter. Kang Chan was thinking about going out anyway, so he walked to the entrance of the apartment. Momentster, Kim Mi-Young got off a yellow hagwon bus and awkwardly ran to him. ¡°You¡¯re going to fall,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Are you still in pain?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay now.¡± Kang Chan thought it was the right decision to go out when he saw Kim Mi-Young¡¯s eyes. ¡°There were a lot of people on the bench. Why don¡¯t we take a walk instead?¡± He asked. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°As I said, I¡¯m fine.¡± Kim Mi-Youngughed with a ¡°Huhuhu,¡± and walked next to him. It felt like Kang Chan was walking with his younger sister while on vacation, which didn¡¯t feel bad. ¡°Let¡¯s go to school together starting tomorrow,¡± He told Kim Mi-Young. ¡°You have to go early because of the athletics club.¡± ¡°The athletics club will close for about two weeks because Mr. Seok Kang-Ho got into a car ident.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kim Mi-Young seemed so happy about the news that Seok Kang-Ho would¡¯ve been upset if he saw her. ¡°So he¡¯ll be discharged just right before the final exams, then?¡± She asked. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t aware of that. ¡°Exams! I¡¯m going to ce first in the school no matter what. I¡¯m confident. Studying¡¯s been so funtely.¡± Kim Mi-Young lowered her head, seemingly embarrassed. Phew, you baby. Kim Mi-Young acted her age by liking celebrities for how they appeared, which was how she seemed to like Kang Chan as well. Kang Chan thought it was a relief that she at least found studying fun. However, he still hadn¡¯t finished his ¡°homework¡± of making an appropriate excuse within the remaining two weeks. Walking on the outer road of the apartment, they took a turn. ¡°Do you want some pastries?¡± He asked. ¡°No.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to buy a cake. My father signed a big contract today and I want to celebrate that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really sweet.¡± What¡¯s so sweet about that? They headed into a pastry shop and bought a simple-looking cake that Kim Mi-Young picked. A few people looked at them as they walked home, but it wasn¡¯t enough for him to care. About 30 minutes had passed and they had talked about various topics by the time they got back to the apartment building. ¡°Go home and study hard,¡± Kang Chan bid her goodbye. ¡°I will. See you tomorrow morning. Bye.¡± Kim Mi-Young ran off. Well, it¡¯s not bad to make her devote herself to studying this much. Kang Chan turned away after confirming that Kim Mi-Young had entered the apartment. When he got out of the elevator and took out the cake, Kang Chan ced three candles in the middle. He smirked as he did this while crouching down. If someone had told him to do this in the past, he would¡¯ve stepped on the cake immediately. Kang Chan also lit up the candles, then held the box that had the cake on top of it and opened the front door. ¡°Is that you, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook was about to go out to meet him but stopped in her tracks. She covered her mouth and nose with both hands. ¡°What? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. He seemed to have finished showering. Following Yoo Hye-Sook out to the entrance, he stopped with his mouth closed firmly. ¡°Congrattions on the contract, father,¡± Kang Chan greeted him. ¡°You should be the one being congratted.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Dae-Kyung while wiping her tears with her fingertips, keeping her face hidden. ¡°You¡¯re the one who nned and prepared for it. And it¡¯s only right for mom and me to help out whenever we can. Blow the candles out quickly, but buy me something delicious tomorrow in return,¡± Kang Chan replied. It didn¡¯t take long for Kang Dae-Kyung to feel at least a little bit better. ¡®You don¡¯t need to get hurt anymore?¡¯ ¡®Yes, it¡¯s really all over.¡¯ They nced at each other tomunicate. ¡°Thanks. How about we all blow out the candles together?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung offered, holding Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s back and Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Thanks, Kang Chan. You worked hard as well, honey,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Are you crying?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked her. ¡°I¡¯m just thankful!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung smiled broadly, seemingly feeling much better. ¡°Congrattions! Your hard work paid off!¡± Kang Chan eximed. ¡°You worked hard for this, honey.¡± ¡°The candles are melting. Now, one, two, three! Whoo!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung blew at the candles. They then went to the table and each had a slice of cake. Yoo Hye-Sook sounded quite happy as she passed on Kang Chan''s desire to attend a university and possibly study abroad in France. At this rate, Kang Chan was going to have to go to France even if he didn¡¯t want to. After spending about an hour listening to what people in thepany were saying about him and what had happened during the contract signing, he went into his room. He could finally sleep infort. His injuries started to throb when he went to bed, but he still quickly fell asleep. *** The morning after was peaceful. Kang Chan¡¯s injuries felt less painful after a good night¡¯s sleep. He had breakfast with Kang Dae-Kyung, who now seemed at ease, and Yoo Hye-Sook, who looked much healthier. Afterward, he went down and walked to the bus stop with Kim Mi-Young. Kang Chan brought his bus card with him, and he got a separate allowance in the morning. With nothing else that could bother him, he thought of focusing on school for the time being. When Kang Chan got on the bus, the students sitting at the back stood up one after the other. Do they get on at the final stop? He hated how they surrounded him and how the other innocent students were forced to a corner. ¡°Sit down,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Despite their ufortable positions, the students only awkwardly gauged his mood when his expression darkened. He moved to the very back on purpose since that would help the other students in the middle go to school in peace. It was nice to be at school. Kang Chan went through the entrance with Kim Mi-Young. He did find it strange to see a different teacher carrying out Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s roles, but it would at least all be over in two weeks. ¡°Sunbae-nim ¡± Kang Chan turned toward where the voice came from, finding Cha So-Yeon. It was nice to see her greeting him brightly and without fear or anxiety. ¡°Have you heard the news? I was told that the athletics club will close for two weeks,¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡° I heard about it yesterday. How are you, though, sunbae-nim? ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll see youter.¡± ¡°I see. Goodbye.¡± Kang Chan went up to the building for the twelfth-graders after he parted ways with Cha So-Yeon. Going through the hallway and up the stairs, he went into the ssroom. The ce immediately fell silent as usual. Phew. It was gloomy, but there was no solution. Lee Ho-Jun lowered his head after he saw Kang Chane in, his face looking quite unusual. Frankly, it was so obvious he got beat up. Considering his actions, it definitely wasn¡¯t farfetched for Lee Ho-Jun to get roughed up that much. However, his parents should¡¯ve noticed such grave injuries at this point. Now wasn¡¯t the time to worry about other people, though. Kang Chan sat down in his seat with mixed feelings. The only one that had a bright face right now was Kim Mi-Young. The moment she sat down, she opened her book and photocopied paper on the desk, and started to focus. Should I disturb her so that she doesn¡¯t get first ce? Kang Chan ended up smiling lightly to himself. A strange nervousness went around the entire ssroom. When Kang Chan turned his gaze to the back door, he found a girl standing there with a hardened expression. Madama?Butterfly?? Heo Eun-Sil seemed surprised as well. She did after all lock eyes with Kang Chan when she walked in with white makeup that reminded him of Kabuki actors. Kang Chan had two options on how to deal with those types of bitches: beat her up until she was at death¡¯s door to stop her froming near him or actually beat her up until she died. ¡°Tsk!¡± That type of thing should only be done if he was interested. He would be crazy to waste his strength on that type of thing. Kang Chan turned his interest and attention away from her. Kang Chan was thinking of organizing his past little by little, and the first step he had to take was to find an ount in a bank called the ¡®Cr¨¦dit Paris.¡¯ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª The vibrations seemed louder since the ssroom was quiet. Kang Chan decided to take his phone with him due to what had happened with Shan, but it was of course still bothersome and annoying. It was Seok Kang-Ho. ¡®He¡¯s a teacher. Why is he texting me during ss?¡¯ Kang Chan opened the message. [Smithen¡¯s asking for our bank ount. He¡¯s apparently going to split and deposit his shares to us?] Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª He got another message while he was nked out. [Word went around about the shares because that crazy fucker had asked the hospital staff for an interpreter. My wife is now going crazy. Please sort it out soon.] Kang Chan sighed deeply and turned off his phone. 1. Sunbae-nim is a respectful way of referring to more experienced people in the same school, workce, or group. 2. Madama Butterfly refers to the Italian opera that¡¯s based in Japan. Kang Chan thinks of this when he looks at Heo Eun-Sil because the main character in the opera was a Geisha. 3. Kabuki actors performed in popr Japanese dramas with white makeup Chapter 31，Part1: Distribution (1)

Chapter31£¬Part1: Distribution (1)

Smithen spoke English because he was American, so there would¡¯ve been a few people he could¡¯ve talked to in the hospital. Smithen had about twelve million euros in stocks, which would be around eighteen billion in Korean Won. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know how much Smithen nned to give Seok Kang-Ho. However, it certainly wouldn¡¯t be an amount an ordinary housewife with a school teacher husband could handle. ¡®Smithen said he wanted to split the leftover money in the bank. Why is he doing that with his stocks too?¡¯ Kang Chan let out a long sigh, but there was currently nothing he could do. ss started. The topic was about Chulsoo again. He was still in Japan, bothering and angering the store owner by constantly asking about prices, but he was about toe across the Yakuza. During math ss, Kang Chan found himself unable to understand anything. How was he supposed to know how long a bullet would take to hit a target if someone shot a gun from a moving car? He wasn¡¯t a spy or a sniper. It seemed like the people who wrote the textbook weren¡¯t aware of it, but shooting required senses, experience, and guts. It was something one had to be born with. There was no point in trying to find the answer. Studying in school wouldn¡¯t be enough to make someone pull the trigger while aiming at an actual person. Lunchtime saved Kang Chan, who was on the verge of copsing because he was tired of enduring ss. He really didn¡¯t expect to miss Seok Kang-Ho buying him pork cutlets this much. ¡°Let''s go eat,¡± Kim Mi-Young said as she got up from her seat with a bright expression, but the thought of going to the cafeteria alone was enough for Kang Chan to lose his appetite. Should I just buy ramen or something from the snack bar? ¡°Aren¡¯t you going?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡®Ugh. I¡¯m going, I¡¯m going.¡¯ The other students would probably be morefortable around Kang Chan if he kept showing a side of his that they could rte to. Damn it. However, Kang Chan¡¯s hopepletely shattered when he got to the hallway. The students on their way to the cafeteria went to the sides of the hallway and lowered their heads. He could sense their fear of him. ¡®Tsk!¡¯ He couldn¡¯tpletely me them, though. It would be weirder if they treated Kang Chan as a pushover and provoked him after he cut a hand in front of the school with a fillet knife. But now that he didn¡¯t have a reason to go to France anymore, he had to be friendlier than before, especially since he¡¯d have to continue going to school even in the second semester. He wanted to tell the students, ¡®Look. Snow White¡¯s walking next to mefortably,¡¯ but strangely, the students looked away quickly when Kang Chan tried conveying his thoughts. The student cafeteria was in the basement of a building where the teachers¡¯ offices were located. Kang Chan thoughtlessly went down the basement stairs. ¡°Chan,¡± called Kim Mi-Young. ¡®What¡¯s wrong?¡¯ When he nced at her, he found her standing at the end of the stairs. ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting in line?¡± She asked. Kang Chan was momentarily dumbfounded. He didn¡¯t think they had to get in line from here, considering they still had to go around the stairs two more times to get to the cafeteria. However, he didn¡¯t want to get special treatment from this kind of ce. If quick service were what he wanted, eating ramen or pastries from the snack bar would¡¯ve been better. He went up the stairs as if nothing happened. This was the first time Kang Chan had gone to the student cafeteria. Not wanting to surprise or frighten the students walking by, Kang Chan purposely moved Snow White toward the wall so he could face both her and the wall. ¡°Ah fuck, the student cafeteria fucking sucks!¡± Just then, two guys walked past him with their hands in their pockets and headed down the stairs with a swagger. They had had their pants altered to fit like leggings. ¡°I heard the Salted Shrimp ising to the cafeteria again,¡± one of them said. ¡°She¡¯s acting fucking cocky because she¡¯s in the athletics club, even though that bitch fucking stinks!¡± the other guy answered. Snow white quickly assessed Kang Chan¡¯s mood. Are they perhaps talking about Cha So-Yeon??Kang Chan was confused but pretended not to notice for now. It wasn¡¯t ideal to call and yell at them just because they said a few words, and he doubted that even the apostle of justice would yell at the students one by one to get in line. The line moved forward quicker than he had expected. ¡®This isn¡¯t too bad.¡¯ Kim Mi-Young looked quite happy while she was against the wall. She even described the menu and the dishes¡¯ taste in the cafeteria to him by saying, ¡°The curry is really good,¡± and ¡°there¡¯s a lot of times when the soup is salty,¡± among other things. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t quite sure if it was really a relief that someone in the school, not to mention a ssmate, acted thisfortably around him. If Snow White wasn¡¯t here, he would¡¯ve bought ramen from the snack bar instead, isting himself from the others. When they went around the stairs twice, the smell of a variety of different dishes hit him through the wide-open metal door. ncing inside, he saw a catering table on the right side of the metal door, with neatly arranged long tables in front of it. It looked like the students received food in their own food tray, then sat down and ate wherever they wanted. Meanwhile, a few cocky guys brushed past them while ignoring the line, and each time the students in front and behind Kang Chan looked over at him. Why are you just standing there? Can¡¯t you just do something about those guys? Kang Chan understood what their gazes were trying to say. However, it wasn¡¯t like him to call and stop those types of guys one by one. He had never been to this cafeteria before, after all. Peeking inside, he suddenly tilted his head. Cha So-Yeon? He recognized her with just a nce since she was the only one with nobody around her in the bustling cafeteria. Cha So-Yeon had her head down and was only looking at the food tray. Is this how she acted outside the athletics club? Kang Chan had heard about this, but it was his first time seeing it in person. She had greeted him with such a bright face, but this was how she was treated whenever she was alone. There was racism in France and Africa. But they didn¡¯t openly give someone such a hard time like that. Kang Chan breathed deeply as he clenched his teeth. Calm down. What was the point of beating up the kids here? It would only further iste Cha So-Yeon if he were tosh out at some cocky guys and a few others. The students in front and behind Kang Chan began to look nervous as their gazes alternated between him and Cha So-Yeon. Kang Chan stayed in line with a cold expression. When his eyes sharpened, even Kim Mi-Young anxiously looked at him and Cha So-Yeon. They finally went inside the metal door. Kang Chan slowly and confidently looked around the cafeteria¡¯s interior. Eyes turned to him one by one, and the cafeteria grew quiet in an instant. Screeech. Screech. A few eleventh-graders quickly stood up from their seats and greeted Kang Chan with serious expressions. When the tactless kids noticed Kang Chan, even the sounds of chopsticks hitting disappeared. A few older women handing out the food peeked out from the kitchen, curious about what was happening. They then looked at the student in front of them, seemingly asking who Kang Chan was. An eleventh-grader ran toward him. ¡°Please sit. Let me¡­¡± ¡°Leave,¡± Kang Chan told the student. His eyes no longer easily rxed when he was filled with spite, perhaps because of his experience with Shan. The cafeteria began serving lunch in a very quiet and reverent way. Nervous, Cha So-Yeon had lowered her head and couldn¡¯t even move her utensils. Why does a kid like her have to exist? Do all of the other fuckers in here smell something that I don¡¯t? Do they all?have a dog¡¯s sense of smell? When it was finally his turn, even the olderdy seemed nervous. After being served, Kang Chan went in front of Cha So-Yeon, food tray and milk in hand. Click. Kang Chan red sharply around the cafeteria again after putting his food tray on the table, noticing that some of the guys eating had quickly ced their utensils down. When Kim Mi-Young sat next to Kang Chan, Cha So-Yeon slowly raised her eyes and seemingly checked out the cafeteria¡¯s current mood. She seemed surprised, flustered, and happy to see him. Her eyes looked like that of a child¡¯s upon finding their guardian after getting lost. Kang Chan didn¡¯t sit down yet. Three tables across from him, he saw the guys that walked past the line in leggings. When Kang Chan looked at them and smirked, they shook their heads like frightened dogs. What should I do with these fuckers? Should I blow each of their heads off with the food tray? ¡°Chan.¡± If Kim Mi-Young didn¡¯t call him with a concerned voice, then he might¡¯ve really done that. He had done that before as a soldier. He had just finished a difficult battle then, which meant he was especially spiteful since he was on edge. Nobody provoked Kang Chan when he was like this. Even in Africa, people learned to stay away from him after he turned an Algerian from another unit into a bloody mess when the Algerian became cocky and said, ¡°He¡¯s making a sour face just because he killed a few people.¡± He lost a medal and the prize money that came with it because of that incident. ¡°Chan, let¡¯s eat.¡± Kim Mi-Young tried to calm him down again, which came across as whiny. The girl he thought of as his little sister was here. Unfortunately, as he turned away from the bastards to suppress his anger, Kang Chan noticed Cha So-Yeon¡¯s empty surroundings again. re. ¡°Chan, please.¡± ¡°Phew.¡± By the time Kang Chan raised his gaze again, the guys standing had now lowered their heads. Nobody, not one person, was able to eat yet. Kim Mi-Young gently held Kang Chan¡¯s hand. What¡¯s this? When he turned his head, he found Kim Mi-Young smiling despite her frightened expression. It was funny. Kang Chan¡¯s spite disappeared, and he actually felt sorry for the other innocent kids, the moment he felt her warm hand on his and saw her expression. 1. This is referring back to a previous chapter¡¯s lesson 2. Yakuza is a Japanese transnational organized crime gang. In other words, they are the Japanese mafia 3. The direct trantion of the original sentence would be ¡°Keep trying to find the answer for a hundred days,¡± but I reced it because this worked better in English Chapter 31，Part2: Distribution (1)

Chapter31£¬Part2: Distribution (1)

The moment Kang Chan sat down, the suffocating atmosphere died down. When Kang Chan, Kim Mi-Young, and Cha So-Yeon began eating their lunch, the other students gradually resumed eating as well, The other students ate solemnly, however, as if they were at a memorial ceremony. Kim Mi-Young kept asking questions, and Cha So-Yeon answered to seemingly relieve the vicious atmosphere. Kang Chan didn¡¯t butt in as they were mostly talking about studying. ¡°Can you teach me math for an hour every morning then, unnie?¡± Cha So-Yeon asked. ¡°Let¡¯s try that. It¡¯ll be fun.¡± As they finished lunch, Kang Chan felt relieved that he got to school safely. If he didn¡¯t, Cha So-Yeon would¡¯ve been increasingly isted. This didn¡¯t seem like a problem that could be solved with violence since he couldn¡¯t force students to sit close to Cha So-Yeon or get along with her. He could prevent them from openly despising her, but it would be hard to make them befriend her through force. He needed a way to make this work. After lunch, they had a brief chat near the athletics club, then headed to ss. ¡°Snow White,¡± Kang Chan called out. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Thanks for holding my hand back there.¡± ¡°Huhuhu.¡± He needed to fix herugh. And it looked like she misunderstood why he thanked her for holding his hand. The afternoon sses bound Kang Chan to a seal, although the Koreannguage ss was surprisingly bearable. It wasn¡¯t that boring, either, since he used its time to contemte how he could erase the stigma stamped on kids like Cha So-Yeon and Moon Ki-Jin. Finally ss ended as if a long seal was released. Kang Chan decided to head home first. It didn¡¯t feel right to go to the hospital while wearing his school uniform after he made such a scene. ¡°Let¡¯s walk home,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. ¡°Sure.¡± There wasn¡¯t anything wrong with that. Kim Mi-Young kept bbing about the bad kids and how afraid she was in the cafeteria until they arrived at the apartment. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Bye.¡± Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª After parting ways with Kim Mi-Young, he was about to enter the apartment building when his phone vibrated. Upon checking it, he found a message he assumed came from Seok Kang-Ho. [It starts now, Kang Chan.] What¡¯s this? The caller ID was ¡®000000¡¯. ¡®Who¡¯s this dickhead?¡¯ That was the end of it. Kang Chan smirked and took the elevator. Confident people would never result to methods like this. They would just confront their enemy head-on instead of doing something as cowardly as this. Kang Chan washed up and changed his clothes when he got home, then headed to the hospital. He first sought out Yoo Hun-Woo and got his ribs X-rayed. Upon looking into the results, the doctor¡¯s face filled up with surprise. Next was the injury on his shoulder. Yoo Hun-Woo pursed his lips, then sighed loudly as he sanitized and bandaged his shoulder. ¡°Does it look bad?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m worried because it looks too good. If everyone in the world was like you, doctors would starve.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo continued with a serious expression. ¡°Let¡¯s test out your tissues when there''s time. If your cells¡¯ regeneration and division are faster than normal, we¡¯d probably get unexpected results.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do thatter.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t force you to do it because you¡¯d have to pay for it, but please make some time for it.¡± A doctor like Yoo Hun-Woo wouldn¡¯t encourage something like that to make more money. Nevertheless, Kang Chan dyed the test for now since he didn¡¯t want to give Yoo Hye-Sook more things to worry about at the moment. Kang Chan took the elevator and went up into Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s room. ¡°Wee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho greeted him. ¡°Hi, Channy!¡± Smithen eximed. . Seok Kang-Ho greeted Kang Chan with a displeased expression. ¡°What¡¯s that fucker doing in here?¡± Kang Chan asked. upying the bed across from Seok Kang Ho, Smithen was sitting with his back on the bed, his left eye and mouth uncovered. ¡°He¡¯s been spouting bullshit because he¡¯s bored and scared. We need to speak the samenguage tomunicate, but I only speak Korean and Arabic, and that fucker only speaks French and English. I¡¯m going to be bored to death soon,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered. Kang Chan looked at Smithen, who was avoiding his eyes. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Kang Chan asked him. ¡°It was boring being alone, so I tried to take this time to learn Korean.¡± He¡¯s good at bullshitting. Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho again. ¡°Where¡¯s your wife?¡± ¡°She went home to take care of our kid. I told her toe tomorrow after she sleeps since I can move on my own anyway,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°Make me a cup of coffee.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Daye!¡± Smithen eximed as Seok Kang-Ho made a cup of instant coffee, letting him know he also wanted a cup ¡°Just make him one,¡± Kang Chan said. Seok Kang-Ho, wearing a stic neck brace, red at Smithen, but Kang Chan calmed him down. Kang Chan could almost feel his head starting to throb just by watching these two guys together. ¡°This tastes really fantastic,¡± Smithen said. Smithen¡¯s entire physique, which was normally covered with curly yellow hair, had now been tightly bandaged. Kang Chan stared at him as he drank coffee. Kang Chan had mixed emotions¡ªincluding pity and spite¡ªfor Smithen since he only had his left eye and mouth visible. ¡°What¡¯s with all the bullshit about you wanting to split up the stocks?¡± Kang Chan asked after opening the window. They all bit down on a cigarette. Smithen looked at Kang Chan after cing his hand down, which he was using to drink coffee and smoke. ¡°There are three million euros in the bank ount, and I have twelve million euros in stocks. Splitting that into three, it should be around five million euros per person. I¡¯m willing to split it equally on one condition. I need cash right now, so let me use one million euros in the bank ount,¡± Smithen answered. ¡°I already have stocks and money, so just use it, you bastard!¡± ¡°No, Channy.¡± Smithen gave Kang Chan a serious look. ¡°Please forgive me for what I did in the past and ept me as your teammate again. I already paid the price with my right eye and my broken body. I just thought that I was going to eventually end up bing like Shan once I start getting more money since that would make me greedy. I¡¯m not saying you should be more greedy about money. I¡¯m just asking for one more chance¡ªa chance to be the God of ckfield¡¯s subordinate.¡± ¡°Are you going to keep pretending like you¡¯re a decent person, you son of a bitch?¡± ¡°Yes, Channy. Please continue to treat me like that¨Chow you did before.¡± It was the first time Kang Chan saw a guy being happy while getting sworn at. ¡°I understand. But leave the stocks be. Dealing with that¡¯s going to be annoying in more ways than one.¡± ¡°Channy.¡± Smithen didn¡¯t look like he was going to back down. ¡°We should split it equally since it¡¯s just the three of us left. If it bothers you that much, I¡¯m going to find other ways to give it to you.¡± Smithen was stubborn. He wouldn¡¯t listen even though he had been fairly beaten up. Kang Chan red at him profoundly. ¡°This son of a bitch must be crazy,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said while looking into his phone, sounding irritated. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Ah, a stupid fucker sent me a text message that said, ¡®You¡¯re going to die soon.¡¯ Geez, what an unlucky day.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the sender ID?¡± ¡°Let me see, what¡¯s this? It¡¯s six zeros.¡± Feeling uneasy, Kang Chan walked toward Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Look at this.¡± Seok Kang-Ho deleted the message and threw his phone on the bed after showing Kang Chan the text. ¡°What fucker is doing this?¡± Kang Chan took his phone out and showed Seok Kang-Ho the text message he received earlier. ¡°What? What¡¯s this?¡± Seok Kang-Ho raised his eyes from the phone and looked at Kang Chan. ¡°The fucker knows both of our numbers?¡± ¡°It could just be a prank of one of those sons of bitches that got beat up in school. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan had a sudden thought. ¡°What if this person has the phone that I lost at the hotel?¡± He asked. ¡°Nah, we took care of everything starting with the Serpent Venimeux. There isn¡¯t anyone left that could¡¯ve picked it up and sent us both a message. You also said that Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s henchman cleaned up the ce.¡± ¡°Is that right?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not act so alert. Since you still seem to be on the edge, how about we go somewhere and take a nice¡­ Oh, right. You¡¯re still a student.¡± Seok Kang-Ho licked his lips, his eyes filled with pity for Kang Chan. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is we shouldn¡¯t be so sensitive. If you¡¯re still worked up, then let¡¯s have a drink or something,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I also had a close call at noon, but I just let it go.¡± Kang Chan told them what had happened during lunch now that they were on the topic. ¡°Kids can be so fucking cruel in their own ways,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. That was true. ¡°Anyways, what are we going to do about that fucker?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chan looked at Smithen. ¡°That fucker basically wants to evenly split up the stocks and the money in the bank into three in exchange for a new, clean start.¡± ¡°What do you think, captain?¡± Smithen lightly observed their reactions with his head down. ¡°That bastard most likely doesn¡¯t have pure intentions. I didn¡¯t make a big deal out of it when he offered us the money, but I have my doubts now that he¡¯s also offering to split up the stocks.¡± ¡°He asked you to let him join us, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. If you were him, would you rather stay with us or sell your stocks and live afortable life somewhere you won¡¯t have to worry about others?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Smithen quickly looked away when his eye met Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s strange that he¡¯s avoiding my gaze. That bastard normally didn¡¯t act that way since he saw me as a pushover back then. He even used to boast openly about stealing my wallet and running away,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho, confused by what he was saying. ¡°He kept protesting that there was more money in the wallet than I had said, but he can¡¯t even look me in the eye after saying that he¡¯d split it evenly among the three of us? That doesn¡¯t make any sense. I find his behavior really weird.¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± That wasn¡¯t urgent at the moment. Kang Chan had just finished thinking he should just watch him for now. ¡°Hear me out, captain,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°And don¡¯t jump to conclusions with what I¡¯m about to say.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s split the money and stocks between the three of us,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, then proceeded to protest when he noticed Kang Chan¡¯s reaction, seemingly finding it unwarranted. ¡°Hey, I told you not to jump to conclusions.¡± 1. Unnie is a term used by females to address other females that are older than them or females that are of higher social status Chapter 32，Part1: Distribution (2)

Chapter32£¬Part1: Distribution (2)

¡°He used to trick me all that time, and I¡¯m sure that fucker is hiding something this time as well. Something will probablye up after we split everything up, which is why he insists on splitting the money and stocks as soon as possible. He wants to do it before a problem urs and he¡¯s forced to give it to a different and unrted party,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. Maybe he¡¯s right. Kang Chan looked at Smithen. ¡°If you¡¯re still in doubt, then you can hold onto my share of the split as well, Captain,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. Kang Chan thought Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s words carried weight. This was Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s prize for surviving hell, making Kang Chan wonder if he even had the right to tell him what to do with his share of the split. He honestly thought about passing on the money to their deceased unit members¡¯ families, but his crew rarely talked about their past. And they all grew up in solitude. They didn¡¯t have affectionate family members that Kang Chan could search for and give the money to. ¡°Understood. Let¡¯s go with your suggestion after we ask him a few more questions and after we¡¯ve ensured he has no other schemes.¡± Kang Chan called Smithen over after finishing their conversation. ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying, Smithen. I¡¯ve also taken Daye¡¯s opinion into consideration. But I need you to bepletely clear about this: Are you still hiding something from us?¡± Smithen gave Kang Chan a quick nce. ¡®He¡¯s hiding something.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m not. What else is there for me to hide at this point?¡± He gave an answer Kang Chan found irrelevant. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want a guy that used to be on Shan¡¯s side to join them for his own personal agendas. ¡°Smithen,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Yes?¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s nervous gaze alternated between the two of them when Kang Chan¡¯s tone changed. ¡°Let¡¯s pretend our conversation about the stocks never happened,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡±From now on, you¡¯re on your own. I¡¯ll send you one million euros since I¡¯m the one that¡¯s made this decision. It ends here.¡± Deciding that the leftover money should be Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s, Kang Chan smirked and turned his head away from Smithen. ¡°I think someone was backing Shan up. I can¡¯t get into details since I¡¯m not sure if someone really was, though, let alone who they were,¡± Smithen confessed. ¡°Is that why you said the stocks should be split?¡± ¡°About that¡­¡± It seemed like Smithen also wanted to share the danger. Kang Chan passed on what Smithen had just said to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°You son of a bitch!¡± Seok Kang-Ho swore. Smithen recognized that swear word. ¡°I¡¯m really not hiding anything anymore, captain. So please, let me join you once we¡¯ve split the money and stocks equally,¡± He begged, his eye now filled with seriousness and honesty. ¡°Phew¡­ Okay. I¡¯ll believe everything you¡¯ve said for now,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Thank you, captain! Thank you, Dayeru!¡± Smithen flinched when he tried to move, his expression turning sour. ¡°What is it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I was going to make a cup of that fantastic coffee to express my gratitude.¡± This guy truly was full of bullshit. Kang Chan ended the situation by telling Seok Kang-Ho to make coffee. While drinking coffee, Smithen requested a private teacher to teach him Korean since he was in a hurry and a house that wasn¡¯t far from Kang Chan¡¯s ce. He didn¡¯t mind even if he had to pay monthly rent. ¡°Alright,¡± Kang Chan agreed, remembering one of Michelle¡¯s friends, Cindy, who was some kind of frencer. Now that he thought about it, the girl named Cecile said that she worked at a brokerage firm. He wasn¡¯t sure if they would actually work properly. ¡°I should go. I have ns for dinner today,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Can¡¯t you send that fucker to another room first? He acts like that even when my wife¡¯s here.¡± Smithen sat and leaned against the bed as he gauged their reactions with an expression that mirrored his confusion on what was being said. A hairy man sitting down with only his eye and mouth visible was an ugly sight to see. ¡°Endure it only for now. I¡¯lle up with something by tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan made Smithen promise not to tell anyone about what happened in Africa except him and Seok Kang-Ho before leaving. *** Upon getting home, Kang Chan found Yoo Hye-Sook wearing afortable outfit. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going out for dinner today?¡± He asked. ¡°Of course we are. Your dad also said that he¡¯s arriving soon.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked happy despite her expression visibly disying her inner struggles. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Kang Chan asked. As he did, the door opened and Kang Dae-Kyung walked. ¡°Wee home,¡± Kang Chan greeted him. They seemed to be having dinner at home. ¡°Thank you. Are you ready to go, honey?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Yeah. I can just go out like this.¡± Based on their conversation, however, they were clearly going out to eat. ¡°You should¡¯ve just told us to go down,¡± Kang Chan told Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°I was dying to see your mom.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being cheesy!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. ¡°Time to go, my queen.¡± cing a hand on the small of Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s back, Kang Dae-Kyung walked to the entrance with her. Are they hiding something? Kang Chan could do nothing but follow them in this situation. Kang Dae-Kyung led them to the car in the underground parking lot, drove the car out of the apartment, and merged onto the main road. On the way, he kept talking to Yoo Hye-Sook about various things, such as the interviews he did today and what articles were released. Kang Chan kept quiet and just watched the two of them from the back seat. They looked happy. Kang Dae-Kyung soon stopped the car somewhere he didn¡¯t expect. Could it be? Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook smiled mischievously while looking at Kang Chan. ¡°I said that we¡¯de here with your mom next time, didn¡¯t I?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Kang Chan. That was true. But he didn¡¯t know they would go to a snack bar in front of his school on such a day. Momentarily confused, Kang Chan got out of the car and went inside the snack bar with Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. They then ordered pork cutlets. ¡°I made a promise to your mom,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Kang Chan. Yoo Hye-Sooklooked at Kang Dae-Kyung softly and lovingly. ¡°It was that if we don¡¯t have debt and own a house and car, we¡¯d use our extra money to help children in need.¡± Do people like them really exist in the world? They¡¯re using their hard-earned money to help other people? ¡°It was what your mom asked me to do after she first held you. It¡¯s our way of reminding ourselves not to be selfish and expressing our gratitude for being blessed enough to watch you grow. I did actually brag about eating pork cutlets here with youst time, but I didn¡¯t know she¡¯d want toe here today.¡± They were served pork cutlets. Kang Dae-Kyung quickly cut the pork cutlets, ced it in front of Yoo Hye-Sook, and handed her some chopsticks. ¡°Are you disappointed?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Chan. ¡°No. This was a bit unexpected, but I don¡¯t mind.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook smiled broadly, which she hadn¡¯t done in a long time. They started eating. ¡°When did the two of you meet?¡± Kang Chan asked. He immediately realized how thoughtless his question was when he saw their confused expressions. They had probably told him about it before. ¡°Ever since the ident, I¡¯ve been having instances when I can¡¯t remember conversations I¡¯ve had in the past,¡± Kang Chan exined. Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s expression suddenly held pity, but there was nothing they could do. Kang Dae-Kyung nodded and answered him. ¡°We met in college. All of the pictures are in our house.¡± ¡®I should take a look at themter.¡¯ ¡°I see,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°My family was actually very poor back then,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung continued. ¡°Honey, why are you bringing that up again?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook tried to whine and stop him with a grumble, but Kang Dae-Kyung remained firm. ¡°We didn¡¯t leave in a rural area, but I needed to work part-time relentlessly to afford school books and transportation fees. Not long after I was admitted as a freshman, I was told that the students were going to an MT , but I wasn¡¯t financially capable of attending things like that.¡± ¡°Did mom pay for it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Now that I think back to it, your mom has been deeply in love with me since then.¡± ¡°Honey!¡± When Kang Chan and Kang Dae-Kyung startedughing together, Yoo Hye-Sook appeared to be making excuses. ¡°I felt really bad for him because he came to school every day looking like he hadn¡¯t eaten. Your dad¡¯s eyes were already quite big back then, but whenever he had to buy books or something came up that involved paying money, his eyes would widen even more, almost as if he was scared.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t you pay the MT fees for him because you were somewhat interested in him?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Right? Right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung added. ¡°Honey!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook firmly closed her mouth and red at Kang Dae-Kyung when people started looking at them. ¡°We¡¯re kidding. Eat up,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Yoo Hye-Sook. It was a pleasant dinner. Kang Chan was worried because the oil used to make the pork cutlets weren¡¯t good. Fortunately, she ate heartily, seemingly finding the dish delicious. ¡°She bought all of my lunches since then without missing a day. When I did my military service in Cheorwon, she made sure to visit me twice every month,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung continued. Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Yoo Hye-Sook with loving eyes. ¡°Once during my military service, we had to clean up snow all day because it snowed so much it was as if there was a hole in the sky. All of us thought no one would visit, but she did even though the cold was making her tremble. Even the executives in the military camp came out and greeted her, and I got two nights and three days of vacation thanks to her. This still alwayses up when I meet up with my crew from back then.¡± Kang Chan looked at Yoo Hye-Sook with surprised eyes. ¡°When I was discharged from the military, your mom got offered to study abroad at the expense of the government, but she gave it up without telling me. She chose to stay by my side until I graduated and got a job.¡± Kang Chan had always thought there had to be a sufficient reason why Kang Dae-Kyung was good to her. ¡°Your maternal grandmother stealthily told me about it after we had you. While in tears, she also said that your mom probably ended up surviving because she met you.¡± Kang Chan wanted to ask about his grandmother but thought that would ruin the mood, so he just nodded along. Kang Dae-Kyung and Kang Chan finished their food, while Yoo Hye-Sook still had about half of her dish left. ¡°Even if it seems inadequate, let¡¯s consider this our family dinner since your mom chose this menu because she wanted to celebrate our achievement in a special way. This doesn¡¯t mean that we should live like penny pinchers, though. We¡¯re going to continue using a portion of our earnings to help children in need,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°You guys are still doing that?¡± Kang Chan asked. Shoot! Looks like this is also a wrong question. Kang Dae-Kyung quickly remedied the atmosphere. ¡°We haven¡¯t stopped donating a certain portion of my paycheck,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung replied. The dinner ended appropriately. 1. MT stands for Membership Training, an event, usually held in remote locations, that University students attend to socialize and participate in training activities with others that are often in the same club or academic major 2. Cheorwon is a South Korean county in the province of Gangwon Chapter 32，Part2: Distribution (2)

Chapter32£¬Part2: Distribution (2)

At sunset, they parked the car beside the Han River and went for a walk. There were quite a lot of people. ¡°There¡¯s going to be a ¡®Chiffre¡¯ presentation next week. I heard that Mr. Smithen, who¡¯s been appointed as the manager of the Korean branch, and the French Ambassador areing. I hope you attend with your mom that day.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung gave him a grateful gaze, then spoke to Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Chan looked at the heedlessly flowing river while he listened to their inquisitive conversations that consisted of ¡°What should I wear?¡±, ¡°What about that outfit you wore when we met Seong-Heest time? That looks good¡±, and ¡°I heard the Ambassador¡¯sing¡ªOh, right! Can I invite Seong-Hee?¡± I should get used to this. There¡¯s no reason to go to France and be a soldier if I¡¯m not going to look for my body. ¡®I¡¯m thinking of epting this life. Please understand.¡¯ Kang Chan conveyed his intentions to his body¡¯s owner, who might be somewhere. He then thought about why this happened and why it didn¡¯t only happen to him but to Seok Kang-Ho as well. He was curious if there were others that had been reincarnated like him. Considering they didn¡¯t walk that long, it seemed like they strolled around specifically for Yoo Hye-Sook because she ate greasy food. After a while, the three of them arrived home. Kang Chan first called Michelle. ¡°Maybe she went to a club?¡± She didn¡¯t pick up even though he called twice. He didn¡¯t sweat it, thinking she¡¯d call once she had checked her phone. *** The next day, Kang Chan thought about ways to remove the stigma on kids like Cha So-Yeon and Moon Ki-Jin throughout morning ss. His sses were no longer as painful, perhaps because of the various matters he had to think about. Some teachers even seemed satisfied with his attitude in ss, but they never prevented him from sleeping or told him to properly pay attention in ss. When lunch break came, Kang Chan headed to the cafeteria with Kim Mi-Young again. ¡°Sunbae-nim!¡± Cha So-Yeon called. Cha So-Yeon was standing in front of the cafeteria. She brightly greeted Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Yeong. ¡°Were you waiting for us?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes.¡± That wasn¡¯t a bad thought. It looked like he had no choice but to eat lunch with them for the time being. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª He got a text when he was going down the stairs to follow the line. [Channy, I just woke up because I finished work in the morning. What¡¯s up?] What does she do for a living anyway, and why does it finish in the morning? Kang Chan pressed the call button. - Channy, aren¡¯t you in ss? ¡°It¡¯s currently our lunch break.¡± - Sorry. The photoshoot ended in the morning, so I couldn¡¯t call back. ¡°It¡¯s okay. This isn¡¯t urgent anyway, but Smithen, the manager of Gong Te automobile¡¯s Korean branch, needs a personal teacher to teach him Korean, so I¡¯m thinking of introducing Cindy if she doesn¡¯t have anything special ongoing right now. He¡¯s currently in the hospital, though.¡± - Okay, I¡¯ll ask her and call back. Is there anything else? Don¡¯t you suddenly feel a little hot and bothered today? ¡°I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Kang Chan ended the call. There were too many students around him to respond to that kind of bullshit. Just talking quietly since he was standing in line was already so annoying. Why should he answer if he was feeling hot? He thoughtlessly turned his attention toward the kids around him and noticed that the two guys that wore leggings and the guys that greeted him yesterday were at the end of the line. When their eyes met, they greeted him again in a way that obnoxiously imitated gangsters. They quickly shook their heads when Kang Chan smirked andughed. It was always sickening to be greeted by those dickheads. Especially during lunch. *** It had be a routine for Kang Chan to walk home with Kim Mi-Young, even though it had only been two days. Would she believe him if he told her that she was the first one that managed to stop him when he almost exploded? She was definitely going to smile strangely if he told her, but it was the truth. Dayeru had once stopped him in Africa when an Algerian guy sneered at Kang Chan while he was smoking. A young, new recruit had just died in a bloody mess during his second battle that day. If Dayeru didn¡¯t fend off Kang Chan while Dayeru was getting stabbed in the forearm, the Algerian would¡¯ve certainly died. The upper levels of the apartment soon came into view behind the buildings. ¡°I¡¯m going in. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow morning. Bye,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow. Bye.¡± Kim Mi-Young ran off with a happy expression. Her face was full of the hope that she would see him again tomorrow. Kang Chan went inside the house, had a brief talk with Yoo Hye-Sook, changed clothes, then headed to the hospital. He got a call when he got into the taxi and told the driver his destination. It was Michelle. ¡°Hey.¡± - Do you have time today? Cindy is unavable because of her broadcasting work, but she has a friend that¡¯s willing to do it. She wants to meet and talk to you and Smithen for a bit today.¡± Kang Chan felt worried for a moment but decided to ept it. ¡°Tell her toe to the Bang Ji Hospital, room 503. That¡¯s where Smithen¡¯s admitted. I¡¯m on my way there now.¡± - Okay, Channy. Bang Ji Hospital, room 503. Michelle ended the call with a joyous tone. She would¡¯ve been a pretty good friend one way or another if she weren¡¯t so crazy for him. After arriving at the hospital, Kang Chan first sought out Yoo Hun-Woo and got the injury on his shoulder treated. ¡°Though your shoulder has a scar now, more of the sutures have fallen off. At this point, it doesn¡¯t even need to be bandaged anymore. How¡¯s the pain?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked Kang Chan. ¡°I never felt any today.¡± Still looking surprised, Yoo Hun-Woo sanitized his injury and ced gauze on it. As soon as Kang Chan went into the patient room, both Seok Kang-Ho and Smithen greeted him as if they had met their savior. ¡°Did something happen?¡± He asked them. ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m just bored since I have to spend the entire day stuck with a guy I can¡¯t even talk to. Do you want coffee?¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. Kang Chan looked at Smithen while Seok Kang-Ho made coffee. ¡°I was told that Gong Te automobile has appointed you as the manager for their Korean branch. And in a few minutes, your Koreannguage teacher will be arriving to meet with us.¡± ¡°A female?¡± Smithen asked, then gauged Kang Chan¡¯s mood. When Kang Chan simply stared at him in silence, he took the coffee with a smirk. Smithen¡¯s behavior didn¡¯te across as a surprise. He had lived his whole life with only his ability to endure attacks. Even now, that fucker was probably confident he¡¯d survive being beaten up for 30 minutes. Heined that he was going to go crazy for having to stay still for a moment to learn Korean. After he smoked another cigarette, the door opened and a mediocre-looking French girl with insanelyrge breasts came in. Kang Chan stood up and greeted her. She introduced herself as Alice. ¡°Everyone, meet Alice. That¡¯s Seok Kang-Ho, and this is Smithen, the manager of Gong Te automobile¡¯s Korean branch.¡± The three of them chaotically greeted each other. ¡°That¡¯s the person you have to teach, Alice. Would you like to conduct a trial run now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯d like to talk to him for a bit first.¡± Smithen smirked when she walked over to him, his remaining eye about to pop out toward her chest. Alice stood up from her spot when Kang Chan was talking to Seok Kang-Ho about school. ¡°I¡¯ll start teaching him tomorrow. We can decide on my rates then. Is that alright?¡± Alice told Kang Chan. ¡°Sure. Goodbye.¡± ¡°Bye.¡± Alice left the room with Smithen feeling bad. ¡°I¡¯d like to stay in a different room starting tomorrow,¡± Smithen told Kang Chan. He sounded serious. ¡°I¡¯m requesting this because I don¡¯t want my Koreannguage sses to disturb Dayeru¡¯s rest. No, Channy. Does that look in your eyes mean that you¡¯re suspicious of me?¡± ¡°Be quiet,¡± Kang Chan warned. Smithen quickly shut his mouth and turned his gaze to the side. ¡°What¡¯s he saying?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°He wants to stay in a separate room starting tomorrow.¡± ¡°Son of a bitch.¡± Seok Kang-Ho swore in Kang Chan¡¯s stead. Kang Chan looked for a nurse and requested another private room, then prepared to leave after seeing Seok Kang-Ho hadid down. ¡°Goodnight, Channy.¡± Kang Chan only responded to Smithen¡¯s goodbye with a tired smile, finding him pitiful even though he didn¡¯t trust him. Kang Chan felt bad for him due to his current situation. After all, the only thing he could do was say goodbye to the very person that destroyed his right eye. ¡®Sleep well.¡¯ Kang Chan said his goodbyes in his head, then left the room. *** On Friday, Kang Chan headed to the hospital as soon as sses had finished. Seok Kang-Ho was now alone in the room. He was sitting on the bed watching TV, but his face seemed puffed up, most likely because he had done nothing but stay in the hospital for the past few days. ¡°Why do you visit every day?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°Where¡¯s Smithen?¡± ¡°He kept bullshitting the hospital employees, asking how he could activate a phone all morning, and now he hasn¡¯t gone anywhere after his Koreannguage teacher arrived. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± Kang Chan went to the room right beside Seok Kang-Ho and knocked, not wanting to see something he shouldn¡¯t. Alice opened the door. ¡°Channy.¡± Her blush was suspicious, but it would only tire him out if he let every little thing bother him. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Smithen sat on the edge of the bed and greeted Kang Chan. ¡°Can you contact Gong Te automobile?¡± He asked Smithen. ¡°I should be able to.¡± ¡°Then call them and tell them not to let the Korean branch office know what hospital you¡¯re admitted to until you¡¯ve been discharged. Letting those involvede here will onlyplicate things. I¡¯ll also get you a house to move into once I¡¯ve withdrawn the money.¡± ¡°Understood. Do you have a phone?¡± Kang Chan took out his phone and handed it to him. ¡°Wait, what time is it in France?¡± Smithen asked. ¡°Probably around 11am?¡± ¡°Do you know their international number?¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± Alice went out of her way and actually pressed the number for him before Kang Chan exploded. It seemed she had figured out that there was something weird between Kang Chan and Smithen¡¯s rtionship, but she didn¡¯t butt in any further. Smithen exchanged contact information with the responsible employee working in the rtive department after he sufficiently exined his reasoning, allowing him to directly contact the employee instead of the Gong Te headquarters for things that needed the French headquarters¡¯ approval. ¡°Alice, step out for a moment,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Okay!¡± She willingly headed outside the room. ¡°Smithen, how could the French headquarters take care of things as if nothing happened even though Shan disappeared?¡± ¡°Channy, the influence of the Serpent Venimeux in France is beyond imagination. How else could I have be the director of Asian affairs, right? The Korean embassy also would¡¯ve been contacted even if they didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying that the headquarters were aware of this drug deal?¡± ¡°They could be, or they initially weren¡¯t. Either way, they probablyter became aware of it, considering how the whole situation involving Shan got resolved and how easily I became the branch manager of Korea. They usually just want to cover it up because nothing goodes out of things getting out of hand.¡± ¡°Those dirty fuckers.¡± Smithen nced outside the door. ¡°Apparently, there¡¯s a presentation for Gong Te automobile next week,¡± Kang Chan told Smithen. ¡°I can take Alice and go there in a wheelchair.¡± ¡°Sure. What are you going to do for dinner?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going out with her.¡± Kang Chan stood up, shaking his head. Alice was sitting in a long waiting chair but promptly went inside the room when he left. Considering the mood between them, they¡¯d most likely give birth to a child first before Smithen could learn Korean. ¡°The coffee¡¯s gone cold,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. The two of them talked about multiple matters as Kang Chan drank the coffee that Seok Kang-Ho handed to him while heined. 1. The Han River (Hangang) is a major river in South Korea. It¡¯s a hotspot for people looking to hang out, go on walks, and even eat 2. Sunbae-nim is a respectful way of calling others that are more experienced in a school,pany, or group Chapter 33，Part1: Things are Starting to Get out of Hand

Chapter33£¬Part1: Things are Starting to Get out of Hand

When Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s family said that they were going to visit him on Saturday morning and nned on staying with him on Sunday as well, Kang Chan decided not to visit him this weekend. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s family were bound to meet each other someday, but he currently didn¡¯t look presentable, and their first meeting didn¡¯t have to be in the hospital. Yoo Hye-Sook had recovered to some degree, and she was happy the entire Saturday since she kept receiving congrattory calls from her acquaintances. ¡°Yep! It¡¯s 3 pm next Saturday. Thanks, sweetie!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook smiled from ear to ear as she invited Kim Seong-Hee to the presentation for Gong Te automobile next Saturday. Kang Chan hoped this peace wouldst. Kang Chan had lunch, then asked Michelle if he could have a private meeting with Cecile. Doing business with a brokerage firm in Korea was burdensome, considering word about therge amount of money they had in the bank and in stocks could get out. They discussed how they¡¯d allocate the stocks, the issue with remittance in the Swiss bank ount, and how to track down Kang Chan¡¯s money that was in Cr¨¦dit Paris. There were a lot of problems. They first took care of the stocks in the form of donations, which meant he¡¯d have about half of that amount in taxes. Since the money woulde from overseas, it would be difficult to report it as foreign exchange. ¡°My head hurts. Just leave it, and I¡¯ll order Smithen to collect itter. It wouldn¡¯t be a problem if the branch manager of Korea brings his own money with him, right?¡± Kang Chan asked Cecile. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll contact you after I look into it more.¡± They parted ways on that note that Saturday. The next day, Kang Chan received a call from Cecile while he was resting at home. She proposed that he use a fairly petty andplicated method, suggesting Smithen should put up the stocks as coteral to receive a loan at the HNC branch, then collect the money that was in the Swiss bank to repay it. It would be expedient if they took it as Smithen lending money to Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho in the end. Cecile also told him it would solve the problem of bringing money into Korea immediately and the problem of receiving gift tax. ¡°Seok Kang-Ho and I have to pay him back, then?¡± - We can create a bond expiration paperwork in advance. Our legal team will prepare that themselves. ¡°What about the taxes?¡± - I¡¯m proposing that we don¡¯t handle it as a donation. Since everyone else does this too, it won¡¯t stand out, and the paperwork will perfectly cover it up. ¡°Will this be a vition of thew or not?¡± ¨C Let¡¯s just say that it¡¯s an expedient, Channy. I¡¯ll take care of it myself. ¡°Tsk! Don¡¯t do anything that¡¯ll create more problems. I don¡¯t want to live like a coward.¡± - As I said, leave this to our team. ¡°Okay.¡± What on earth is she saying? Kang Chan trusted Cecile to handle everything after he pointed out just three things. Smithen himself didn¡¯t need to prepare anything, so Kang Chan was told everything would be resolved if he went to Smithen¡¯s room in the afternoon and got his signature on six pages of documents. Seok Kang-Ho had a bank ount, and Kang Chan needed to create one on Monday. Damn it! Kang Chan felt annoyed, finding it quite tedious. He told Seok Kang-Ho to put everything in his ount, but Seok Kang-Ho said that it would be wiser to deposit the money into separate ounts. This gave Kang Chan no choice but to go to the bank on Monday at lunch time. *** Monday. Kang Chan bore through the morning sses, ate lunch, then went to the bank to open an ount. Afterward, he took a picture of the first page of the paperwork and sent it to Cecile. No matter how many times he thought about it, these actions were out of character for him. He gritted his teeth and did as Smithen asked, however, upon remembering how he whined about wanting a house. - Please sign the promissory note at dinner tonight, Channy. Thew firm will hold onto it, and the loan will be released sequentially when Smithen repays it. Kang Chan was told that after the stocks were split into three, the stocks would be taken care of in a way that would prevent Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho from selling them immediately. Kang Chan couldn¡¯tpletely understand what she was saying, but everyplicated and headache-inducing matter appeared to have ended at least. He felt better when he went to the hospital and visited Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Did something happen?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I just can¡¯t take all these requirements for bank ounts and paperwork. I¡¯d much rather be ordered to join a knife fight.¡± ¡°Phuhuhu,¡± Seok Kang-Houghed as he made him a cup of coffee. ¡°Smithen¡¯s apparently going to move into an apartment with Alice after the moneyes in tomorrow,¡± He said. ¡°Tsk! That¡¯s actually better. That¡¯s the best way to learn anguage. There¡¯s also no one that can take care of that injured bastard right now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Daye.¡± Seok Kang-Ho gave Kang Chan a serious look after he put the rest of the coffee in. ¡°The money that¡¯ll be deposited tomorrow is all yours. It¡¯s for the price of your life. Do what you want with it,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Can I do that?¡± ¡°Smithen will be buying a house, phone, and clothes immediately. He¡¯s going crazy. So do what you want with it¡ªwhether you want to give it to your wife, buy a car, or drown in alcohol.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I gave it to you.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t we get this money because of that bloody fight with Shan? I feel bad for getting an equal share of it.¡± ¡°Stop with the nonsense and give me a cigarette instead,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. They put a cigarette in between their lips. ¡°Let¡¯s end the money talks here,¡± Kang Chan concluded. ¡°Alright.¡± Seok Kang-Ho knew his personality. Kang Chan would never bring up conversations that he had already closed. While they were talking about school, Cecile came in. After she got Kang Chan¡¯s signature on a whopping six sheets of documents, she took out two more pages. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°This is for applying a charge to the ount that¡¯s in Credit Paris. Write your social security number and password here. You¡¯ve told me you remember them. The legal team should be able to take care of it with that information.¡± Kang Chan signed this with more care, feeling as if this money was more precious than the money that came over from the Swiss bank. ¡°Channy. We¡¯ll be deductingmission fees,pany expenses, and a month''s worth of interest from the money that¡¯ll be deposited tomorrow. You know that, right?¡± ¡°How much will that be?¡± ¡°About fifty thousand dors per person?¡± ¡°Okay. You did well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thankful that you raised my work performance. Let me buy you a drink next week in return.¡± ¡°Does it matter who buys it?¡± ¡°Fair enough, Channy. I¡¯ll go now since this meeting is strictly for official matters only.¡± Cecile left without saying anything else. ¡°She seems okay when she¡¯s like that,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Yeah. And she¡¯s dressed neatly as well.¡± They had finally finished the long organization of the documents. The thought made Kang Chan feel kind of strange, perhaps because it was as if his life in France and Africa had ended. *** Tuesday. Kang Chan turned on his phone at lunch and saw two messages. [Deposit from HNC.] [Deposit from HNC.] Why did these fuckers send two separate transactions? They¡¯re just annoying people. He didn¡¯t even try to read the amount in the first message as it had too many numbers. However, his heart fluttered strangely when he checked the second message. Kang Chan immediately called Cecile. - Channy, I was actually debating on calling you. ¡°What¡¯s with the second deposit of two hundred thirty million won?¡± - It¡¯s from Credit Paris. You had signed a contract with an operating profit use, which has umted quite a lot of money. I can¡¯t believe you made such a decision, Channy. Even Kang Chan wasn¡¯t aware of it. If things had gone wrong, he probably would¡¯ve lost his capital. At any rate, he again reminded himself of the lesson that he shouldn¡¯t trust the fuckers in the financial sector. ¡°Thank you for all your efforts. I can¡¯t express my gratitude enough. After all, this money actually means something to me.¡± - You¡¯re such a strange person. Anywho, due to the amazing currency exchange rate, you got over 1.5 billion won from the Swiss ount. There aren¡¯t that many people your age that would have that much wealth. Our ounting team will manage it, so make sure to inform me if Korea¡¯s National Tax Service or other rted organizations contact you. ¡°Got it.¡± Kang Chan ended the call to eat lunch. Kang Chan¡¯s presence in the cafeteria seemed weed since nobody cut in line, pretended to be tough, or acted dramatic and silly anymore. They actually even left two seats in front of Cha So-Yeon for Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young. They took all the other seats beside them, eatingfortably even with Kang Chan nearby. *** Kang Chan checked his phone on his way home after ss, finding six missed calls from an unknown number. He pressed the call button. - Hello, Mr. Kang Chan? I¡¯m Song Gi-Wook, the Bank of Korea¡¯s Sin-Mook branch manager. I called to introduce myself because of the deposit you¡¯ve made. I was wondering if you¡¯d be interested in using our bank¡¯s other products. I¡¯d be more than d to visit you at your earliest convenience. Is this person acting like this even though he knows I¡¯m a student? ¡°I have no ns on touching it for the time being so just leave it.¡± Kang Chan quickly turned off the phone before the caller could say anything further. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just a solicitor.¡± It was an expression that would make Song Gi-Wook, the branch manager, dwell on his own misfortune and cry sorrowful tears, but what could he do? It was one hundred times better than Song Gi-Wook bbing to him because he had about one point eight billion won in his bank ount. 1. Operating profit is the total earnings from its core business, excluding the deduction of interest or taxes. So Kang Chan signed a contract with Credit Paris when he deposited the money, and since the bank was sessful, he also got some money Chapter 33，Part2: Things are Starting to Get out of Hand

Chapter33£¬Part2: Things are Starting to Get out of Hand

Smithen moved to arge vi with a view of the Han River below it, and Seok Kang-Ho got discharged on Friday, eliminating all reasons for Kang Chan to visit the hospital. His school life was peaceful, and Kang Chan had the money that he had earned as a soldier in his bank ount. It was a somewhat happy week. On Saturday morning, Yoo Hye-Sook began to look like she was heading onto a battlefield. ¡°It¡¯s probably better for us to get ready ourselves, right?¡± Kang Chan asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°That seems like the wise thing to do.¡± Kang Chan stopped Kang Dae-Kyung from going into the kitchen and made omelets. Momentster, the three of them sat at the table and ate the omelets that Kang Chan had made. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m going to the salon. What time are you going out?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Around 12 pm.¡± ¡°Oh my, Chan! You look really amazing!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed in a high-pitched tone. Kang Chan could no longer remember how long it had been since hest heard it. If he could continue listening to it, then even he was confident about living like Kang Dae-Kyung and walking on eggshells around Yoo Hye-Sook. . ¡°Kang Chan is going to be amazing today. The suit I picked for him looks really great on him,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. She seems so happy about her husband and son looking amazing and being in the spotlight. Yoo Hye-Sook disappeared into the master bedroom. ¡°Thanks. To tell you the truth, I would¡¯ve done anything just to see her act like that again,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Kang Chan. ¡°You¡¯re the one who did everything, though. Why are you saying that now?¡± ¡°Because I never wanted to sell my son for it.¡± When Kang Chan discreetly sent a nce toward the master bedroom, Kang Dae-Kyung gauged Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s reaction with a face that said, ¡®Oh shoot!¡¯ ¡°Will there really be no more danger from now on?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then can I be genuinely happy today?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked again. ¡°Yes. We¡¯ve already talked about this. Kang Dae-Kyung exhaled deeply when Kang Chanughed lightly. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know how much he longed for a father like Kang Dae-Kyung. It didn¡¯t matter if he drank alcohol or if their family wasn¡¯t well off. All he needed was a father he could sometimesugh with and open his heart to when they sat together. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°It¡¯s because you look amazing.¡± ¡°You little punk!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung went in front of the sink when Kang Chan stood up. ¡°Leave the dishes there,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Let¡¯s do it together, just like how we were together for this contract.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t stop this. He felt like he was receiving something that couldn¡¯t be bought with money. He felt really sorry for his body¡¯s owner, but he never wanted to lose this. *** Kang Chan got into the taxi with a very nervous Yoo Hye-Sook a little after 2:30 pm. The level of attention she put into this day was too strange for him to understand, so he just decided to ept it. ¡°What should we do? There¡¯s a lot of traffic,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookined. This was expected since it was a Saturday. He wanted to leave earlier, but they couldn¡¯t because Yoo Hye-Sook kept changing outfits and essories. ¡°Do I look okay? I won¡¯t be an embarrassment to your dad, right?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. Thest part of her question made Kang chan smirk. The Latz hotel was on a hill, making it seem like the first floor was on the basement level externally when looking at it from the hotel lobby. That was where they¡¯d be presenting the new car. By the time Kang Chan had gone inside, Kang Dae-Kyung was already standing on a podium and exining Kang Yoo Motors¡¯ vision while basking in the cameras¡¯ shes. ¡°Your dad looks amazing,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookmented. Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Dae-Kyung with an expression that made her look like a girl in love. Kang Chan was wearing a form-fitting ck suit, a white shirt, and a thin tie. ¡°Congrattions, sweetie!¡± Kim Seong-Hee walked closer and grabbed Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s hand when she found them. Her expression was filled with jealousy. ¡°How have you been?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Seong-Hee. ¡°Hello, Chan. I hope you¡¯re doing well. How¡¯s studying going for youtely?¡± ¡°He¡¯s nning to study abroad in France,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook answered instead. ¡°Oh, my! That¡¯s good. It¡¯s totally possible since he¡¯s so good at French.¡± Kim Seong-Hee¡¯s eyes were burning with envy, but Kang Chan decided to take it as a good thing for now. ¡°Channy.¡± The clueless Smithen then approached Kang Chan in a wheelchair, which Alice was pushing. ¡°When did you arrive?¡± Kang Chan asked Smithen. It was a relief that Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Seong-Hee couldn¡¯t understand what they were saying since they were speaking in French. ¡°I arrived about an hour ago thanks to Alice.¡± Smithen looked at Alice lovingly. How long has it been since they first met? Kang Chan introduced Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Seong-Hee as formally as he could with a gentle expression. ¡°Smithen, meet Mrs. Yoo Hye-Sook, the wife of Kang Yoo Motors¡¯ president, Mr. Kang Dae-Kyung. This is her friend Mrs. Kim Seong-Hee. Act proper around them.¡± Kang Chan turned his head again and introduced Smithen in Korean. ¡°Mother, this is Mr. Smithen. The Gong Te automobile¡¯s Korean branch manager.¡± ¡°Oh! They are beautiful wives!¡± Smithen eximed. Yoo Hye-Sook seemed satisfied with the French conversation they were having, while it seemed to make Kim Seong-Hee very ufortable. ¡°I¡¯ll see you two often from now on. I¡¯ll invite you to my ce soon,¡± Smithen offered. ¡°Chan, what is he saying?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°He¡¯s saying that he¡¯s happy to meet you two.¡± After Kang Chan had appropriately ended the introductions, a thin French guy that looked to be in his early fifties approached Kang Chan with two entourages. ¡°Mr. Smithen, is this person Mr. Kang Chan?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You should introduce yourself, Mr. Ambassador.¡± It seemed like the two had met earlier. The ambassador held out his hand to Kang Chan. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan. I''m Lanok, the French Ambassador to Korea.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan.¡± Lanok had peculiar French features¡ªfrom his thin face, sharp nose and fierce eyes. In other words, his impression made him look like a difficult guy to handle. Gong Te¡¯s Korean branch manager showed up in a wheelchair, and now the Ambassador of France sought out a mere high schooler in person. Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Seong-Hee¡¯s gazes alternated between Lanok and Kang Chan in shock. Honestly, even Kang Chan himself was surprised. He introduced Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Seong-Hee to Lanok. Kim Seong-Hee actually seemed stupefied. ¡°Can I talk to you in private for a moment, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± ¡°With me?¡± ¡®What¡¯s there that would require a French Ambassador to tell me in private?¡¯ The proposal was out of the blue, but considering the Ambassador¡¯s request, it could only mean something important was going on. Kang Chan smiled at Yoo Hye-Sook, told her he was going to leave for a moment and followed Lanok outside the event hall. Kang Chan saw an Indonesian-styled awning in therge lobby. The tables and chairs were stylishly ced nearby. The entourage ced two coffees in espresso cups in front of them, then moved farther away. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I want to take this time to talk to you about matters involving Shan.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect the French Ambassador would mention Shan this quick. ¡°Gong Te automobile is an automobilepany that represents France. Our country wasn¡¯t aware that Shan tried to conduct a drug deal, so I¡¯d like to express my gratitude in France¡¯s behalf for steering us away from disgrace and shame, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Lanok was talking in circles when all he needed to say was thanks. It made Kang Chan¡¯s head hurt, but he continued listening in silence anyway since he seemed to have more to say. Lanok smiled formally and continued. ¡°Since France¡¯s Intelligence Bureau has cleanly dealt with Shan¡¯s matters, we¡¯d like to request for your cooperation to avoid disgraceful rumors from circting afterward.¡± In short, he wanted Kang Chan to keep his mouth shut. ¡°How was Shan taken care of?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°He was on his way to the airport when he got in a car ident. Sadly, he died in the crash.¡± How could he get hit by a car when the Chinese took Shan and sliced him to pieces? Lanok most likely just stated how he died on paper. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°France wants to pass on its sign of appreciation. We would like to invite you to be an international student at a National University in Paris with full schrships, and, if you wish, an opportunity for you to obtain French nationality,¡± Lanok offered. ¡°That¡¯s very extreme, considering this is for Shan¡¯s matters.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also a bonus,¡± Lanok''s smile looked natural for the first time. ¡°We¡¯ve taken care of the remittance issue with the Swiss in France, so the Korean National Tax Service isn¡¯t going to have any issue with it. And Gong Te automobile is going to give you stocks with the condition that you¡¯ll take care of the taxes. You probably won¡¯t have to worry about money for the rest of your life.¡± ¡®These fuckers were aware of everything.¡¯ Kang Chan smiled bitterly. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past. Is it necessary for the Ambassador to insist oning here and acting like this?¡± He asked. ¡°There¡¯s going to be a Presidential election in two years. The leading candidate is connected to Gong Te by a rtive. Hence, if word gets out to the world and it deteriorates into a scandal, the election¡¯s results and the politicalndscape will be hard to keep under our control. The internal interests of Europe that you, Mr. Kang Chan, don¡¯t understand are also a bit tangled in this.¡± I knew it. ¡°You can rest assured, then.¡± ¡°Thank you. Lastly, if you have any favors that you want to personally ask me, feel free to contact this number.¡± Lanok took out a business card wallet and handed him a small business card. Kang Chan received and looked at it, then returned his gaze to Lanok. ¡°Could I by any chance get the battle records of a mercenary?¡± Kang Chan asked. Lanok tilted his head, finding his inquiry interesting, before answering. ¡°It¡¯s best to leave everything rted to Shan alone, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take note of that.¡± Kang Chan willingly stepped down instead of delving further since there wasn¡¯t any need for him to get on the Ambassador¡¯s nerves. ¡°I got an interesting report from the Main Directorate. You, Mr. Kang Chan, are a teenager with no record of learning French from anywhere. Where on earth did you learn it?¡± ¡°Would you believe me if I said I learned it through the inte?¡± ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s not surprising as Korea is a leader in IT,¡± Lanok replied, though his expression showed he didn¡¯t believe him. He then turned his head toward the event hall, conveying that their conversation was over. ¡°You should go back,¡± Kang Chan told Lanok. ¡°That would be wise.¡± Both of them stood up from their seats. ¡°If word gets out, then the DG SE will take care of loose ends,¡± Lanok quietly spoke to Kang Chan with a very friendly expression. The DG SE was an organization that mainly operated in the shadows, assassinating key figures and executing the dirty jobs of the government. Kang Chan had never seen anyone talk about murder with such a soft expression. ¡°It would¡¯ve been better if you didn¡¯t say thatst part.¡± Lanok¡¯s formal smile didn¡¯t change despite Kang Chan¡¯s reply. When they walked into the event hall, they found Smithen on the tform, wishing for the development of Kang Yoo Motors and Gong Te automobile. Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Seong-Hee quickly came toward him. ¡°Is everything okay, Chan?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t think of any excuse to give. ¡°He invited me to be a full schrship student in a National University in Paris.¡± He didn¡¯t mean to brag but just blurted that out since he had to give a suitable answer to why the Ambassador had to urgently talk to him in private. However, when Kang Chan saw the end of Kim Seong-Hee¡¯s lips tremble, he truly felt bad for her and her son Bang Dae-Sik, who didn¡¯t even attend the event. After Smithen¡¯s speech ended, the lights dimmed and music red loudly. Pak! A car drove through the wall and slowly went forward with a spotlight on it. The wall was made of styrofoam, but the lighting made it look real. The audience apuded as cameras shed ceaselessly. Simultaneously, two models came up from the left side of the presentation hall and stood at each side of the car. Everyone in the presentation hall focused on the car. Amongst the reporters that continued to take pictures, there was a beautiful woman that especially stood out. ¡®Michelle?¡¯ She was busy giving orders to a cameraman and a female employee with her finger. She wore a ck suit and a white blouse¡ªnot a translucent outfit. 1. The Korean word for this was ????, which is directly tranted as Main Directorate. However, since the description is simr to the CIA, we went with DG SE, the French equivalent of the?CIA Chapter 34，Part1: Things are Starting to Get out of Hand (2)

Chapter34£¬Part1: Things are Starting to Get out of Hand (2)

They were funny. How many people that were at Gong Te automobile¡¯s presentation venue were unaware of ¡®Chiffre¡¯ in Korea, when it was developed in IT? Kang Chan wondered if anyone was genuinely congratting them while he watched their fake cheers and ps. One person seemed genuine about it, at least. Yoo Hye-Sook. As she watched Kang Dae-Kyung open the driver seat door near the model, she raised her hand, covering her nose and lips. ¡°My father looks amazing,¡± Kang Chanmented. When he wrapped his arms around Yoo Hye-Sook, she ended up crying. ¡°Your dad struggled a lot because he met me, but he constantly looked over both of us without ever losing that amazing look of his.¡± A joyfulugh came out. Yoo Hye-Sook wiped her tears with the end of her long finger and pped timidly. When the excitement all around the presentation venue died down, Michelle also came down from the podium. Since there was no reason to pretend he didn¡¯t know her ande across as impolite, he raised his hand to get her attention. ¡°Channy!¡± Damn it. I should¡¯ve pretended I didn¡¯t know her. Michelle was already eye-catching, but she still boisterously ran to Kang Chan, her long blonde hair fluttering behind her. ¡°Michelle! Speak in French.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t have time to stop her, so he came up with a contingency n instead. ¡°It¡¯s so good to see you!¡± Michelle eximed. Thankfully, she followed his instruction. However, Michelle kept her entire body close to Kang Chan and kept kissing his cheek as if he was her lover whom she hadn¡¯t seen for months, even though Yoo Hye-Sook was right in front of them. She was overacting, which wasn¡¯t like her normal self. ¡°Calm down. There are people here that you metst time. You should greet them first,¡± Kang Chan said. If Michelle spoke Korean here, they would basically be confessing they were acting when they first met. Finally, she moved away from Kang Chan. Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Seong-Hee had strange looks on their faces. Michelle had good senses, but she had two sides to her. She greeted Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Seong-Hee in French and even bowed at them brightly. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Kang Chan asked Michelle. ¡°The magazinepany that I work at is releasing a feature story for ¡®Chiffre¡¯ next month. What about you, Channy?¡± ¡°I was the one that introduced Smithen. Didn¡¯t you hear from Alice?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not close enough to contact each other privately.¡± Michelle gazed at Alice with a formal expression, then returned her attention to Kang Chan with a bright smile. ¡°My father¡¯s the president of Kang Yoo Motors,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Channy, you were a part of a royal family?¡± ¡°No, not at all.¡± Kang Chan thought it was time for him to arrive. Sure enough, Smithen approached Kang Chan, his left eye turning into a heart as soon as he did. ¡°You know of such beauty, Channy?¡± Smithen asked. Kang Chan thought about kicking them away, but Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Seong-Hee were beside him. More importantly, Smithen was Gong Te automobile¡¯s Korean branch manager. He had no choice but to just let him greet Michelle properly. Kang Chan was told that it was the first time that Alice and Michelle had seen each other in person. Smithen kept showing interest in Michelle but had to leave because of the reporters and the event organizer¡¯s request. He seemed very disappointed, while Alice seemed relieved. The hotel employees looked busy preparing simple snacks and drinks. When the people gathered around to socialize, Kang Dae-Kyung approached Michelle, greeted her, then took Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Seong-Hee with him. Michelle was definitely different from her usual self. It wasn¡¯t new for her to keep her body close to Kang Chan or anything. However, she brought drinks over and never left Kang Chan¡¯s side. ¡°Channy, can you have a beer with me after the event?¡± Michelle asked. Her eyes looked like she was imitating Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Sure.¡± Michelle helped him meet Cecile, and she also introduced him to Alice, so Kang Chan agreed to go withoutints. Lanok then approached Kang Chan. When Kang Chan introduced Michelle to him, Lanok greeted her in a very formal way and said, ¡°I really should go now. I wish for your sess, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± He then left the scene. ¡°Channy, how do you know that person?¡± ¡°I just saw him for the first time today.¡± Michelle couldn¡¯t seem to believe him. ¡°He¡¯s famous for being arrogant, and there are rumors that he¡¯s aiming for the presidential seat after the uing election. He¡¯s definitely not someone that would walk up to someone by himself and say hello first¡­¡± Michelle replied. Why would any of that matter? Kang Chan suddenly felt ufortable being in this kind of ce. ¡°Want to go?¡± Kang Chan asked Michelle. ¡°Now?¡± Michelle seemed happy to hear that. Kang Chan walked toward Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving ahead with a friend. Would that be okay?¡± Kang Chan asked. Yoo Hye-Sook became worried when she looked at Michelle. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Your mom¡¯s going with me, anyway,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung replied. ¡°Thank you. Then I¡¯ll be going. You were really amazing today.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook still looked worried even as Kang Chan smiled and turned away, but he left anyway, pretending not to notice since he didn¡¯t have any means to ease her worries. *** Kang Chan and Michelle sat down on the top floor of the event venue, which had an outdoor terrace. Since it was a Saturday, it had a good number of people, but it wasn¡¯t enough to be crowded. Most importantly, Kang Chan liked that he could smoke here. Kang Chan smoked slowly after they ordered two beers. He didn¡¯t have to worry about Kang Dae-Kyung or Yoo Hye-Sook witnessing something they shouldn¡¯t since he could see the people walking around through the ss wall. Taking a sip of beer, he actually felt a bit rxed. Kang Chan then untied the knot in his tie and unbuttoned his cor. ¡°Ooh! You look so sexy right now,¡± Michelle said. ¡°You need to go to a hospital. You¡¯re acting a bit weird.¡± Michelle¡¯s eyes curved when she smiled. She was charming, so much so that everyone sitting on the terrace nced at her. But that was it. Not only was Kang Chan not interested in sex without love, but he also didn¡¯t have any intentions to cling onto Michelle and tell her to only look at him when she was already used to an open lifestyle. ¡°Channy, do you not like sex?¡± I was wondering when she was going to ask that.? Kang Chan smirked. He didn¡¯t want to respond to her question, but Michelle seemed to be waiting for an answer. ¡°I don¡¯t want to do it without love,¡± Kang Chan told Michelle. ¡°Can¡¯t people just enjoy it because they¡¯re attracted to each other?¡± ¡°You do that. I¡¯m not interested.¡± ¡°Then are you inexperienced?¡± Michelle copied Kang Chan, taking a sip of her beer. It didn¡¯t seem like a bad idea to take this opportunity to draw the line. ¡°It¡¯s not that. I did lose interest after I had sex without love. I felt empty, and my loneliness just felt like it deepened. I wondered what I was doing when I turned away. That¡¯s all.¡± Michelle looked at Kang Chan, confused. ¡°Channy, are you really a high schooler?¡± Shoot! I should¡¯ve just said that there was something wrong with my body. Instead, he thoughtlessly told her how he felt in France. ¡°Can you enjoy it with me if I love you?¡± Michelle asked again. The way she spoke changed, but it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°That¡¯s going to be difficult. I don¡¯t want chastity, but I also don¡¯t want an open lifestyle.¡± ¡°Sure. So is it possible if I throw away everyone else from now on and love only you?¡± ¡°Michelle.¡± Kang Chan looked at Michelle seriously while biting down on a cigarette. ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯ll immediately start loving each other when we start doing that. I don¡¯t want to break up because it got boring after we¡¯ve had sex for some time. So you should be yourself and have fun with good people. If you¡¯re ufortable with meeting me because there¡¯s no sex involved, then let¡¯s not see each other anymore.¡± ¡°Agr¨¦able (You¡¯re cool!)¡± Phew! What¡¯s the point of saying anything? Michelle looked at Kang Chan with a flushed face. Kang Chan could only look back at her as well since he felt eerie for some reason. ¡°Je t''aime, Channy.¡± Kang Chan stared nkly at Michelle for a moment because of how serious she sounded. And because her deep blue eyes were wet with tears. ¡°Pull yourself together.¡± ¡°No, Channy. I feel weird. It seriously hurts my pride to say this, but those eyes of yours sway me for some weird reason. I actually first found out about my feelings when you said that you were going to meet Cecilest Saturday. That actually put me at a loss on what to do. I even asked Cecile for a favor that evening¡ªto consider you as mine for the time being because I think I love you.¡± No wonder Cecile left without doing anything unusual in the hospital. ¡°This makes me ufortable, Michelle.¡± ¡°Is it because of my past?¡± ¡°I said that doesn¡¯t matter to me. But you talk about love just as easily as asking to spend the night together. What are you going to do if the choice that you make now is wrong? Are you sure we can have a good break up? I can¡¯t do that. Losing someone is so horrible that I have no confidence in letting them go once I¡¯ve grown to love them. Even if it means death.¡± Damn it. Kang Chan held back from swearing after he finished talking. His intention was to clearly draw the line through a serious conversation, but his n had gonepletely awry and seemed to have actually made the situation worse. ¡°J¡¯taime. J¡¯taime, Channy.¡± It sounded like she was saying ¡®I¡¯ll kill you. I¡¯ll kill you.¡¯ ¡°Tsk!¡± Kang Chan got slightly annoyed when Michelle appeared to be losing control of her emotions after not getting her way with him, even though she could get any man that she wanted. 1. Technically, the exact trantion would be agra?t, which is Catn, not French. But agr¨¦able is used here because she speaks French and not Catn Chapter 34，Part2: Things are Starting to Get out of Hand (2)

Chapter34£¬Part2: Things are Starting to Get out of Hand (2)

Just as Kang Chan decided that he should leave, a beautiful, eye-catching woman walked toward their table. He assumed she would just walk by and go to the table behind them. ¡°Hello, unnie?¡± Unexpectedly, however, she greeted Michelle brightly and examined Kang Chan. ¡°Oh my! What brings you here?¡± Michelle asked. The eyes ncing at them in the Terrace now explicitly jumped to Michelle when she spoke Korean so naturally and stood up. ¡°I was looking for you to say hello after the event. The reporter, Mr. Jung, told me that you came here.¡± ¡°I see, good job. Mr. Kang Chan, this is Eun So-Yeon, the model for the car today. Mr. Kang Chan is the son of Kang Dae-Kyung, the president of Kang Yoo Motors, and is the person I love.¡± She was so good at bullshitting. It wasn¡¯t right for him to be rude to Eun So-Yeon just because he didn¡¯t like how she introduced him, so Kang Chan just stood up and simply bowed his head. ¡°I¡¯ll be going now, then. The two of you should talk,¡± Kang Chan said goodbye. It was a good opportunity to leave, but things rarely went ording to n. When Eun So-Yeon saw Michelle¡¯s unhappy expression, she tried to stop him, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t do it for my sake. I¡¯m just here to say hello.¡± People¡¯s eyes were on them already, and he also didn¡¯t want to create a situation ufortable for everyone. Adding to that the fact that Eun So-Yeon was also the model of Kang Yoo Motors, Kang Chan decided to stay and have a cup of tea instead. He thought she was beautiful in a natural and healthy way but thought she didn¡¯t have the charms to draw people in as much as Michelle. Eun So-Yeon ordered herb tea. ¡°Do you have other work to do?¡± Michelle asked Eun So-Yeon. ¡°I only have a drama shoot tomorrow.¡± ¡°The ?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m d it¡¯s quite popr. That special article you wrotest time was well-received.¡± Kang Chan wasn¡¯t even interested in their conversation. The few drama episodes that he watched after he changed bodies were around half of all the dramas that he watched in his life, and he knew nothing of that industry. Eun So-Yeon got up first after she had drunk about half of her tea. ¡°I¡¯ll get going now. It was nice meeting you.¡± After respectfully saying goodbye, Eun So-Yeon left first. ¡°We should also go,¡± Kang Chan told Michelle.¡°Is it because I said something unnecessary?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a part of it.¡± Michelle seemed unhappy, but there was nothing that he could do. ¡°Then let¡¯s go after we drink this beer,¡± She said. ¡°Sure.¡± It wouldn¡¯t take long for her to get over him, considering she had been living an open lifestyle. ¡°Oh right, Channy. You should acquire apany.¡± Kang Chan only looked at her nkly. ¡°Thepany that Eun So-Yeon is a part of is good. Word got out that the president has some problems. Maybe that¡¯s why they¡¯re trying to sell it right now.¡± ¡°Do you really think that I¡¯ll do that, Michelle?¡± ¡°No.¡± Michelleughed when Kang Chanughed out loud. ¡°I think you never will, but I also think you¡¯ll be really good at it. Most importantly, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll make money by grilling the kids that are in difficult situations.¡± ¡°Forget about it.¡± Michelle also seemed like she didn¡¯t have intentions to keep rmending it. She downed all of her beer without wasting any time. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Channy.¡± Michelle quickly grabbed the bill when Kang Chan stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for this with thepany¡¯s credit card.¡± It was two beers and a cup of tea, so Kang Chan didn¡¯t feel ufortable letting her pay. Two reporters were waiting on the sofa and walked toward them when they went out to the entrance of the hotel. ¡°If you can¡¯t ept me, Channy, then I won¡¯t cling to you. But don¡¯t push me away.¡± Kang Chan silently stared at Michelle. He felt that she was being truthful now. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that make it harder for you?¡±He asked. Two reporters just gauged their mood a step away from them. ¡°Let¡¯s continue casually seeing each other. You just have to start liking me, right?¡± Michelle smiled at Kang Chan, seemingly satisfied when he grinned. *** By the time Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook came home, Kang Chan had already arrived and changed his clothes. ¡°Kang Chan! When did you arrive?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I just got changed. You guys should go out and have an intimate dinner for once.¡± ¡°I actually tried to coax her, but she said that she can¡¯t do that without you, so we just came home,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung replied. Kang Chan actually assumed that they came home because Kang Dae-Kyung looked tired, but there was no need to verify that. After they lightly washed up, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook drooped down on the sofa as if the nervousness left their bodies. ¡°Oh! You haven¡¯t had lunch, have you?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Chan. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I actually had a light lunch with the friend I met earlier, so let''s just have dinner.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do that.¡± It seemed like they were fairly tired. ¡°Have you been meeting thatdy named Michelle after we first saw her, Chan?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook prodded. ¡°We¡¯ve talked on the phone at times and met once in person for her to learn Korean and for me to learn French. I guess she was happy to see me today since it was purely out of coincidence,¡± Kang Chan replied. The number of lies kept increasing with time. Yoo Hye-Sook seemed relieved, at least. ¡°Oh, right! Honey, the Ambassador of France offered Channy the opportunity to study abroad with a government schrship.¡± Kang Chan had no choice but to lie again after he saw Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s eyes light up. It was because he couldn¡¯t exin what had happened with Shan. *** Kang Chan had just finished breakfast and was browsing the inte when got a message on Sunday morning. [Can youe out?] This guy was already wearing a neck brace but still didn¡¯t know how to rest. Kang Chan called him. - It¡¯s me. ¡°Stay at home. Where are you thinking of going with a neck you can¡¯t even turn?¡± - To the front of your apartment. Dumbfounded, a feebleugh came out. However, he would indeed be happy to see him, and he did have something to tell him as well. Kang Chan left the house after using Seok Kang-Ho as an excuse. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car started beeping from far away as soon as Kang Chan went out of the entrance. ¡°You really should rest for a bit,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I was thinking of doing that, but I was bored. I also want to see your face.¡± The car went out of the apartment and entered onto the main road. ¡°I saw the event yesterday through the articles. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t go,¡± Seok Kang-Ho apologized. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It would¡¯ve been bad to introduce you there, and you wouldn¡¯t have heard anything good if you went there with a neck brace. Oh, right! Michelle came to cover the event.¡± ¡°Really? I guess it¡¯s true that she works at a magazinepany.¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± The car went on the outer road. ¡°Let¡¯s have a cup of coffee at the store that we went to before,¡± Seok Kang-Ho offered. Kang Chan really liked that proposal. They arrived in about 20 minutes, took the same table as before, and ordered coffee. Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho what Lanok had told him. ¡°Things are weirdly getting out of hand,¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. ¡°We just have to keep our mouth shut.¡± ¡°For us, that¡¯s true. But what are we going to do if Smithen, that fucker, babbles to the girl named Alice or something?¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t think of that, but it was totally possible. Smithen really was a tiring guy, after all. ¡°I¡¯m going to school starting tomorrow, and the athletics club will reopen on Friday,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°I heard they were going to reopen it as soon as you¡¯ve returned. Is there a problem?¡± Kang Chan asked out of worry for the athletics club members he had to take care of, not because he wanted to ditch his sses. ¡°There¡¯s exams from tomorrow until Thursday. I know that you¡¯re living life without caring about school, but you should at least be aware of that.¡± When Seok Kang-Ho smiled mischievously, Kang Chan saw Kim Mi-Young pout from the other side of the river. 1. Literally meaning older sister, unnie is a term used by females to address their older female sibling, other females that are older than them, or females that are of higher social status Chapter 35，Part1: Sharply (1)

Chapter35£¬Part1: Sharply (1)

5 am. Monday morning. Kang Chan quietly got out of the apartment in workout pants and afortable cotton t-shirt. ¡°Whoo!¡± He tilted his body in multiple directions and slowly warmed up his muscles after taking in a deep breath. His injuries have healed a lot, so he was about to go for a long run. Kang Chan got out of the apartment at an appropriate speed because he felt that his muscles were somewhat warmed up. The roads and sidewalks were empty except for a car that was quickly moving with the headlights on, and a few diligent people. He regained his previous body¡¯s capabilities in the final minutes of his fight against the gangsters in the parking lot and when he fought with a knife in the hallway. The condition of his body back then was exactly the same as it was in Africa. If he didn¡¯t have that sensation, it would¡¯ve been hard to defeat Shan. Kang Chan inhaled in two separate intervals. Shan had a lot of experience, but he had be physically weaker since he had been amander for so long. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to lose his sharpness as Shan did. Adjusting to his new body to live a peaceful life was one thing. To lose his sharpness was another. He didn¡¯t want to be one of those knife-wielding gangsters, and he also didn¡¯t have to seek revenge anymore, but he still wanted to maintain his physique. ¡®Damn it!¡¯? He ran out of breath after running for about two kilometers. That was his body¡¯s limit. The useless journal of this body¡¯s previous owner said that he didn¡¯t skip his workout, yet his limit was just a measly 2 kilometers. Kang Chan gritted his teeth and tried to maintain his speed. His body would ept new limits once he had ovee this pain. He exhaled heavily after running for about three kilometers. He had gotten a burst of energy, making him feel like he could run to the end of the earth. ¡®What is this fucker?¡¯ He pondered if that was a good thing, but concluded only ignorant and oblivious people would think that way. After all, considering it didn¡¯t take him that long to get to this point, he¡¯d be in even more horrendous pain around the five-kilometer mark. Kang Chan focused on maintaining a consistent speed through his breathing. Sure enough, when he ran about two more kilometers, so much pain tormented Kang Chan so much that he felt like his waist was being broken. ¡®Do what you want.¡¯ One shouldn¡¯tpromise with pain. As expected, it didn¡¯t take that long for him to reach the worst of it. He was winded, and his body no longer wanted to run. However, he had never yielded to this kind of pain before. It wasn¡¯t like he was trying to run a marathon¡ªhe just wanted to maintain his body¡¯s sharpness. Kang Chan thought about the runway in the dreary outskirts of France and the zing red sunset in Africa. Back then, he used to run until he was out of breath whenever he remembered those that had died inbat. ¡°Captain! Did I do well?¡± Kang Chan remembered the time a soldier wanted him to praise him. Kang Chan had heard that the guy applied to be a mercenary after graduating from school in a foster home. He looked quite young for a twenty-year-old French guy, and he yelled, ¡°Sorry!¡± all night long after his first battle. He wasn¡¯t the only one that did that. After their first battle or after getting their first kill, people would normally spew out the feelings they had at that moment as if they were sleep talking. Those that yelled ¡°die!¡± were mostly ones with previous experience in killing, and those that yelled ¡°Wah! '''' and ¡°No!¡± were often those scared but pretending to be strong. But it was the first time that Kang Chan had heard someone yell, ¡°sorry!¡± Stupid fucker.? That soldier looked into the corpse of someone around his age for quite a while, followed right behind Kang Chan until he finished running, then asked, ¡°Did I do well?¡± bringing two bottles with him even though Kang Chan was already about to shower. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t protect that fool in the next battle. There were too many of them. Despite the order to retreat, Kang Chan killed all the enemies in front of him relentlessly and ran over to the soldier. However, by the time he got to him, his corpse was already unrecognizable. Son of a bitch. Why did that fool yell ¡°Channy!¡± at the end if he was going to do that? Kang Chan gritted his teeth. If his waist couldn¡¯t endure even this much, then it might as well just snap and break. When the Algerian guy sneered at him in the distant past, Kang Chan made a bloody mess out of him and severely beat up the man¡¯s captain and his two crew members as well when they all lunged at him. Only Dayeru understood him when he did all of those. This was also why Kang Chan couldn¡¯t forget the look in Smithen¡¯s eyes, which he had shown at thest moment. Kang Chan was thest person those who lived in loneliness¡ªturning them desperate¡ªdepended on. He never wanted to betray that trust. Damn it! He had mistakenly gone the wrong way. Even though he ran about ten kilometers based on the GPS, the entrance of the apartment was still over one kilometer away. His body knew best how much he ran. ¡®You¡¯re given to the wrong owner.¡¯ Kang Chan¡¯s physique had begun bing sore all over to convey he had covered the promised ten kilometers, but he pretended not to notice it. ¡°Huff Huff, Huff Huff.¡± . After going into the apartment area¡¯s entrance, he headed to the bench. Breathing heavily, he bent over and ced his hands on his knees. He was sweating so much that it was as if he was standing in the middle of a rain. He was dizzy and felt like he was going to puke. Kang Chan moved to the yground to avoid the eyes of those going to work early. He hung his feet on a rung and did pushups and chin-ups, then went on the parallel bars. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ He decided to stop here for today. *** ¡°Oh my! Look at all that sweat. Have you just finished working out?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook greeted Kang Chan with a bright expression as she was preparing breakfast. ¡°You¡¯re already awake?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°It¡¯s the same time as usual.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to wash up a bit.¡± ¡°Sure. Make it quick so we can eat together.¡± Kang Chan took the clothes he was going to change into, went into the bathroom, and took a shower. The stiff pain felt somewhat good. Only scars remained from his injuries. When he had finished and gone out, he found Kang Dae-Kyung helping Yoo Hye-Sook take out the side dishes. ¡°You look good. Maybe I should join you starting from tomorrow?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°You should. You need to exercise as well,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook answered. It would be a headache if Kang Dae-Kyung really dide with him, though. Not only would he distract Kang Chan, but Kang Dae-Kyung would also surely end up in the emergency room if he tried copying him. Thankfully it seemed like Kang Dae-Kyung wasn¡¯t going to insist on joining him in the morning. Kang Chan had breakfast, went out of the apartment in a happy mood, and met Kim Mi-Young. Kim Mi-Young smiled, seemingly in a good mood as well. ¡°Did something good happen this morning?¡± He asked. ¡°We have exams. Let¡¯s go somewhere this Sunday.¡± Kim Mi-Young looked at Kang Chan with a strange expression. ¡°Don¡¯t you have to go to hagwon?¡±?asked Kang Chan. ¡°I can have the Sunday off during exam weeks.¡± She had the body, the twinkling eyes, and the sharp features. And to top it all off, she was smart. If only she were a bit more mature, she would¡¯ve been worth raising. He was about to develop feelings for her, but Kang Chan felt like he wasmitting a crime when he saw her smiling innocently and spouting nonsense. Kang Chan quickly moved his gaze to the bus when he realized he had been unconsciously looking at her lips. Kids were really fast at adjusting. It hadn¡¯t even been a few days, but they were no longer cautious or afraid of Kang Chan riding the bus. It felt like Kim Mi-Young¡¯s chatter and the sight of herughing with a ¡°huhuhu¡± while talking to him yed a big role in lessening the cautiousness of the kids. This was also the case in the cafeteria. When they went inside the main gate, he saw Seok Kang-Ho with a neck brace. Kang Chan was happy to see him. That was where their very refreshing Monday morning ended. After all, their exams had started. Why do I have to stay in my seat even though I¡¯ve finished answering the test? After writing his name, Kang Chan answered as best as he could. He looked at Kim Mi-Young at some point, finding her quite charming with her head craned to the side as she focused on the exam. Kang Chan quickly shook his head. He felt like he was continuing to sink into the lures of crime. Guilt rushed through him at the same time since he felt like an older brother desiring his younger sister. Chapter 35，Part2: Sharply (1)

Chapter35£¬Part2: Sharply (1)

sses ended after Kang Chan finished the exams for three subjects. This was really good. Kang Chan followed Seok Kang-Ho to the athletics club room after he said goodbye to Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Didn¡¯t you get a text message?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°Why? Did you text me?¡± Kang Chan took two chairs that they had ced on one side of the athletics club room as Seok Kang-Ho made coffee. ¡°Huh? Then that means that this son of a bitch only sent me a message?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m talking about the six zeros¡ªthe message that says ¡®you¡¯re going to die.¡¯¡± So that¡¯s what he was talking about. ¡°Did you get another one of those?¡± ¡°I got it this morning. Why is he only texting me?¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°Who¡¯s the fucker behind this?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not let it bother us. I can just change my number if it gets too much. That would definitely surprise that guy. He¡¯ll be like ¡®huh?¡¯?Phuhuhu,¡± Seok Kang-Houghed. Does he really find it that funny? ¡°Oh! I¡¯m also going to a three-day, four-night retreat during the break,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Since they couldn¡¯t go on the field trip, the eleventh-graders decided to substitute the field trip with the retreat.¡± ¡°Sounds fun.¡± Kang Chan quipped. ¡°Fun? What¡¯s so fun about looking after children during the break while everyone else is resting? I wonder if they¡¯d give the task to someone else if I use my neck injury as an excuse.¡± The two of them had pork cutlets for lunch. Kang Chan checked his phone when he got a text message. [Honey, are you avable on Saturday?] It was Michelle. Kang Chan pressed the call button. - Honey! ¡°I¡¯m going to hang up. You must be looking for someone else.¡± He heard the sound of Michelle¡¯s peculiar cheerfulugh through the phone. ¨C Cecile, Cindy, and I decided to eat together, and I was hoping you could join us. What day works for you: Saturday or Sunday? They were nning to meet again anyway. Plus Kim Mi-Young had already ced dibs for Sunday. ¡°I think Saturday¡¯s better.¡± - Okay. Saturday it is. See you then, honey. ¡°Sure.¡± *** Kang Chan felt like he was testing his physical limitations. Starting on Wednesday, he increased his running speed a bit and more than doubled his previous number of chin-ups. ¡®Tsk! Do I need to discuss this with the doctor as well?¡¯ His body was acting a bit strange. He couldn¡¯t ignore the fact that his muscle soreness, which urred when he worked out strenuously, had disappearedpletely after an hour or two. Kang Chan was thinking of getting examined since he had plenty of money. He went to the bank after exams ended on Wednesday, was issued a cash card, and learned a surprising fact at the bank. Apparently, he had be viable to take a driving test since his birthday was on March 13. After about 30 minutes had passed since he left the bank, the branch manager called and apologized for his absence. Since he didn¡¯t have anything vital to say, Kang Chan simply hung up. Kang Chan continued on that route and applied for a driving test with Seok Kang-Ho, then went out to the outskirts. ¡°Let¡¯s have eel,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. It took them about an hour to arrive at a secluded restaurant in Gimpo that specialized in roasted eel. ¡°Ah, that son of a bitch!¡± Seok Kang-Ho yelled as he looked into his phone, evidently annoyed. ¡°Is it the six zeros?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking if the caller ID is six zeros.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded. ¡°What is up with that fucker? Can we catch him if we go to the telephone office and look into it?¡± Kang Chan asked just as the eel was served, causing their topic to swiftly change. They talked about many things, such as the book that they bought while they were applying for the driving test, tricks to pass the exam, and things going on at school. ¡°Will Mi-Young get first ce this time as well?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Probably. There¡¯s a huge difference between her and second ce, plus she only got one question wrong during the entire exam period, including the exams that she did today,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied while cing two pieces of well-cooked eel into his mouth. ¡®Tsk!¡¯ Kang Chan thought about Kim Mi-Young¡¯s face while he was looking into the open view through the ss window of the restaurant. ¡®Well, a kiss can¡¯t be that bad.¡¯ It¡¯s not like it will kill me, plus I¡¯m doing it because she did well on her exams¡­ ¡°What are you thinking so intensely about?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. Things like this didn¡¯t really need to be said. . *** When the exam period ended and the athletics club reopened on Friday, Kang Chan saw bright faces. Everyone including Cha So-Yeon had a joyous expression, but Moon Ki-Jin in particr seemed satisfied. He had apparently made a new friend again. They spent time talking to each other instead of exercising. It had been a while since theyst gathered together, after all. When the kids had gone home, Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho, ¡°What if we buy some workout equipment?¡± ¡°For the club?¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked around the athletics club¡¯s interior. ¡°Why don¡¯t you register at a gym somewhere during the break?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°It¡¯s going to bother me since there would be a lot of people there. The athletics club is within the appropriate distance for me toe running from home, plus it¡¯s easier to meet you here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. That would allow me to also exercise a bit when we meet.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s buy some,¡± Kang Chan insisted. ¡°Sure.¡± They decided to let Kang Chan choose and order the workout equipment. It was nearly time to go home. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner first before you go. I found a ce that makes amazing stir-fried octopus,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°Why are you going crazy about what you eattely?¡± ¡°I am? Phuhuhu.¡± Seok Kang-Houghed, tilting his head. ¡°Ever since I got discharged from the hospital, I¡¯ve been strangely wanting to eat amazing dishes and bear witness to any amazing sights with you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s exercise together during the break. Your neck brace will be removed by then, right?¡± ¡°It should be. Now that I think about it, Smithen, that fucker, has been real quiettely,¡± ¡°Let him be. Do you think he¡¯ll be sane right now?¡± ¡°Phuhu. Let¡¯s go. I heard that you¡¯re busy on Saturday and Sunday. Let¡¯s eat spicy octopus mixed with rice before heading home.¡± Seok Kang-Ho seemed to be moving a lot morefortable now, considering he could now turn his neck a little. *** On Saturday, Kang Chan spent the morning watching TV with Yoo Hye-Sook and left the house after Kang Dae-Kyung arrived home. Kang Chan arrived at the Latz Hotel at 5 pm. Michelle¡¯s group was already there. ¡°Honey!¡± Jealous eyes immediately jumped to him when Michelle grandly waved her hand. Instead of hugging him, it would be more urate to say she quite literally threw herself at him. They were at the same outdoor terrace that he visitedst Saturday. After Michelle hugged Kang Chan and clung to him, she noisily kissed both of his cheeks. ¡°Wee, Channy.¡± Cecile and Cindy hugged him and lightly kissed his cheek. They didn¡¯t seem to be wearing underwear since he could feel the peaks of their chests poking against him when they hugged him. They first ordered a bottle of beer for everyone, then they spent time listening to Cindy talk about how difficult it was to finish one special program. ¡°But Channy.¡± ¡°What?¡± Cindy called Kang Chan while grabbing a peanut snack that was given to them as part of the service. ¡°I heard from Alice that you and Smithen met in Africa. What does that mean?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s heart sank heavily. That son of a bitch had let his big mouth run loose after all. ¡°She asked Smithen why you treat him that way because she found it weird. Smithen told her that it was because of something that had happened in Africa, but even if he told her, she wouldn¡¯t believe him. Alice asked me if I knew anything about it, but we¡¯ve never talked about such things before,¡± Cindy continued. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± It didn¡¯t seem like she was baiting him out from her expression. After this weekend, he needed to warn Smithen not to spill anything else. On the terrace, they simply ordered steaks and a bottle of wine. Kang Chan agreed to stop by the club that was in the basement of the Latz hotel when Michelle asked, which seemed to have made her very satisfied. After they ordered another bottle of wine and drank about half of it, darkness slightly descended. The atmosphere became more romantic when the dainty oil candles on every table lit up. He would¡¯ve thought he was having dinner with a beauty somewhere in France if it wasn¡¯t for the man in his fifties that was talking loudly two partitions across from him. And it would¡¯ve been even more fun if they were with Seok Kang Ho. If only he were young and weren¡¯t married. Kang Chan ended up smiling lightly when he suddenly wanted to see Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Honey.¡± Kang Chan thoughtlessly turned his gaze to Michelle when she called him. She proposed a toast while holding onto a wine ss. ¡°To a beautiful night,¡± Michelle said. ¡°With the four of us?¡± Cindyughed loudly when Kang Chan raised his ss with a joke. 1. Gimpo is a city in South Korea Chapter 36，Part1: Sharply (2)

Chapter36£¬Part1: Sharply (2)

In all honesty, Kang Chan didn¡¯t have that much fun at the club. The drooling idiots¡¯ gazes as they watched the three French women with him made him feel ufortable, and it wasn¡¯t like he¡¯d appreciate the bodies of the other women in the dance floor. Hence, he just left the ce at around 10:30 pm. He felt much morefortable since Michelle wasn¡¯t desirously clinging to him. Kang Chan felt like he was acting like a clown while wearing clothes that didn''t suit him when they were leaving the club. Kang Chan missed Seok Kang-Ho, Kim Mi-Young, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. After he went home, Kang Chan, Kang Dae-Kyung, and Yoo Hye-Sook ordered and ate fried chicken for the first time, then watched a movie together. It was one hundred times more enjoyable than the club. He wanted to drink beer, but couldn''t since even Kang Dae-Kyung drank c. Kang Chanughed, feeling like he had be a diligent high schooler now. *** Kang Chan left just in time to get to the meeting spot by 10 am, and headed to the bus stop Kim Mi-Young told him about via text. ¡°Chan!¡± He automatically smiled when he saw Kim Mi-Young waving her hand at him while smiling brightly. He definitely felt morefortable with her than with Michelle. ¡°Where do you want to go?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°The Yongin amusement park!¡± That proposal was just like her. They took the subway to the Sports Complex, which had a shuttle bus. Chatter chatter. Their conversation never ended. She told him about a part she found funny in a TV program she watched yesterday, and that she regretted getting two questions wrong in the recent exam. ¡®That¡¯s it!¡¯ She hadn¡¯t gotten her grades yet, so he had just wasted time trying to find an excuse. When they went on the tour bus, Kim Mi-Young took out her earphones from the bag that was on her shoulder and ced one end of it into Kang Chan¡¯s ear. A song with a fast beat was ying. The ride to the amusement park itself was fun since they had fun music ying, and Kim Mi-Young had a bright expression on her face. Ring. But he clearly heard her ringtone amongst the music. Kim Mi-Young looked at Kang Chan with an annoyed face after she looked into her phone. ¡°What is it?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s heart sank coldly the moment he looked into her phone. [You¡¯re going to die.] The caller ID was of course ¡®000000¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s probably just a prank,¡± Kang Chan said. In moments like this, it was better to just act like it was nothing and move on. Kang Chan calmly controlled his emotions to prevent them from showing in his eyes. ¡°I get these once a day. It¡¯s honestly quite offensive,¡± Kim Mi-Young told Kang Chan. ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°I think it startedst week. I even showed it to my mom.¡± What kind of fucker is doing this? Kang Chan didn¡¯t think that bastard would do this to Kim Mi-Young as well. Kim Mi-Young soon forgot about it when he didn¡¯t make a big deal out of it. The amusement park was full of people. Within three hours, they had omurice for lunch and went on three rides. He began to think, ¡®Why do I have to pay to scream and fall from a high ce?¡¯ It was already evening by the time they had finished looking around the zoo and watching a seal and monkey show. shy lights lit up each ride. After having kimbap and udon for dinner, he decided it was time to go. ¡°I want to ride that.¡± But Kim Mi-Young pointed to a ride that was basically ridden as if they were standing up. It was a ride where the small cylinder spun in a circle and came back down again. ¡°Sure,¡± Kang Chan answered. There weren''t a lot of people queuing up for it anyway. Kang Chan ended up bursting intoughter when they got the tickets and sat down inside. It was because Kim Mi-Young had awkwardly lowered her gaze when they sat facing each other inside a cylinder that was narrow enough for their knees to touch. She was a kid that most likely looked forward to this moment, from the moment the exams ended up to now, even though she hadn¡¯t gotten her grades yet. When the ride slowly turned, little by little the appearance of the amusement park unfolded before their eyes. ¡°Can we kiss?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. Kim Mi-Young stole a nce, but when Kang Chan didn¡¯t say anything, she quickly lowered her head. Kang Chan suddenly thought about the threatening text message. Regardless of the promise or other bullshit, it would be very irresponsible of him to start something with Kim Mi-Young when there was a lunatic like him near them. ¡°Give me your hand,¡± said Kang Chan. Kim Mi-Young carefully held out her hand, and Kang Chan gently held it. ¡°Let¡¯s do everything on your birthday after we graduate from high school. That is if we haven¡¯t changed our minds by then,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Mi-Young. ¡°I won¡¯t change! I¡¯m not going to change!¡± She seemed upset and felt wronged. She would¡¯ve been excited for this moment in the days leading up to it, but Kang Chan had pushed it away. ¡°Come here,¡± said Kang Chan. Kang Chan hugged her tightly after he pulled her to hisp. Kim Mi-Young trembled. It seemed like she was still having a hard time taking this much skinship in , even though she had feelings for him. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you. Let¡¯s wait until then so that we won¡¯t regret it. But in return, let¡¯s wear the rings that I prepared,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Mi-Young. Kim Mi-Young gently embraced Kang Chan¡¯s neck when he kissed her on the forehead. Was it because of the atmosphere? He wanted to have her. ¡°You can wait for me, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. She nodded. Kim Mi-Young smiled with a flushed face. His words most likely had a more intense effect than a simple kiss, but saying that made him feel much morefortable than actually kissing her. He needed to find out who sent the text message, no matter what. *** On Monday morning, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho the moment he came into the athletics club that Kim Mi-Young had also received the same message. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°It¡¯s either someone¡¯s picked up the phone that I lost, or it¡¯s the guys that were hiding behind Shan¡¯s back.¡± ¡°This is even more problematic since it¡¯s happening in the same time frame. If Shan had someone behind his back, wouldn¡¯t they be ced in an ufortable position if word gets out?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Tsk! That¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about right now? You should worry about yourself first.¡± ¡°What are you even saying?¡± Seok Kang-Hoined with a frown. ¡°You can¡¯t even use your neck properly. Don¡¯t make me kill the person that did that to you.¡± ¡°This neck brace will be gone before I go to the retreat.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to the retreat? Just use your neck as an excuse to give the task to someone else.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already decided, so it can¡¯t be changed now.¡± Should I twist his neck just until he doesn¡¯t die? When Kang Chan red at him with a profound expression, Seok Kang-Ho got up from his spot while shaking his head. ¡°Let¡¯s buy some workout equipment instead. They¡¯re cheaper in the ces near Dongdaemun , so let¡¯s look around and have lunch there. Buying workout equipment for the athletics club is an official duty.¡± Seok Kang-Ho wasn¡¯t the type to listen even if Kang Chan tried to stop him, so they headed to Dongdaemun as Seok Kang-Ho suggested. ¡°Ask about the death threats at the telephone office tomorrow. I¡¯m going to see if anyone else has received that message,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Oh! That sounds good.¡± ¡°And let¡¯s go meet Smithen at dinner. We should hear in detail why he thought someone was backing Shan up, and we also need to tell him to watch his mouth,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Sure.¡± They shopped for workout machines after they had finished their discussion, picking only those that would work the muscle group they needed to target since it would only slow them down if they made their forearms stupidly bigger. They had cold buckwheat noodles for lunch. ¡°Oh! I feel much better,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Where are they holding the retreat?¡± ¡°I was told it¡¯ll be at Jirisan.¡± ¡°In this heat?¡± ¡°Tell me about it. I was told the kids voted among the possible ces to go, but it would¡¯ve been hard to choose the beach since it would¡¯ve been costly.¡± After they ate the refreshingly cold Buckwheat noodles, they headed to school while feeling slightly rejuvenated. Kang Chan took out his phone when he remembered their n for the evening. - Hi, Channy! ¡°Smithen, where are you right now?¡± - I¡¯m out shopping with Alice. ¡°What are you doing for dinner?¡± - I don¡¯t have any special ns. ¡°Then let¡¯s meet up.¡± - Okay, Channy. How about my ce at dinner time? ¡°Sure. Text me your address.¡± - Yes, Channy. Kang Chan got Smithen¡¯s address via text after ending the call and waiting for a bit. ¡°Isn¡¯t the written test for the driver¡¯s license this week?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Seok Kang-Ho smiled strangely while twisting his neck, even though he couldn¡¯t rotate it properly. ¡°Do you think that I¡¯ll fail that?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°You never know. Apparently, there¡¯s a lot of people that don¡¯t line up their answers properly and mark their answers one bubble after where they¡¯re supposed to.¡± When they returned to school, lunchtime was already over. sses ended while Kang Chan had a cup of coffee alone in the athletics club, searching and calling a few security guardpanies. ¡°I¡¯lle back after I change my clothes at home.¡± ¡°You should put extra clothes here tomorrow. It¡¯s going to be cumbersome if you have to go home to change every time we go somewhere,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. That was true. Kang Chan spent about 30 minutes with the kids in the athletics club and left after telling them that the workout equipment would arrive tomorrow and that they could work out anytime they wanted from then on. ¡°Chan,¡± Kim Mi-Young called. ¡°Huh? Why haven¡¯t you gone home yet?¡± ¡°I wanted to see you before I go.¡± Kim Mi-Young was sitting in the stands. He kept noticing her breasts, possibly because of what he felt yesterday. ¡°Did you get a text message today?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°What? Ah, that weird perverse text message.¡± When annoyance swept through Kim Mi-Young¡¯s face, Kang Chan didn¡¯t need to hear an answer. At this point, he needed to catch the suspect regardless of whether it was a prank or not. 1. Yongin is a city in South Korea 2. Omurice is a Japanese dish that includes rice mixed in with vegetables, topped with an omelet and ketchup 3. Udon is a Japanese dish made from thick noodles 4. Skinship is a Korean term that refers to physical affection. 5. Dongdaemun District is one of 25 districts in Seoul, South Korea 6. Jirisan is a mountain located in the southern part of South Korea. Chapter 36，Part2: Sharply (2)

Chapter36£¬Part2: Sharply (2)

After he had a shower and changed clothes at home, Kang Chan spoke to Yoo Hye-Sook in a joking manner. ¡°I heard that text messages that say, ¡®you¡¯re going to die,¡¯ are a trend nowadays.¡± ¡°Really? No wonder! Did you also get a text message like that?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. Kang Chan suddenly felt outraged, but he forced himself to look calm and collected. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m telling you just in case, but don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t know why they¡¯re doing that. It feels really insulting.¡± After Kang Chan consoled her with a few more words, he left the house. Seok Kang-Ho was waiting in front of the apartment. ¡°Phew, what¡¯s up with that look in your eyes?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°My mother apparently got the same text message too.¡± ¡°Ah, good gracious. Those fuckers are dickheads. It looks like a lot of people are going to die again.¡± Kang Chan breathed out quietly. At this point, it was going beyond insulting. It felt like an invisible opponent had suddenly approached him while he was wasting his time with Michelle. They got caught in the evening rush hour, so they arrived at Smithen¡¯s ce at around 7 pm. It was a fairlyrge and luxurious vi. When they went inside, Smithen stood up from the living room sofa. ¡°Wee!¡± Smithen pointed to the sofa after he greeted them in poor Korean. The bandages on his face had been reced with gauze now, making him look fairly human. Alice brought out sandwiches and coffee, and they all ate together while looking at the Hangang river. ¡°Cigarettes?¡± Smithen also asked in poor Korean. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho followed a waddling Smithen and sat at a table outside the living room. The view was great, as they were able to see the river and the road beside it in one nce. ¡°Pleasee here often,¡± Smithen said. He seemed quite rxed. ¡°Smithen, remember when you said there could be someone backing Shan up?¡± But his face hardened immediately at Kang Chan¡¯s words. ¡°Tell me in detail why you thought that way.¡± ¡°Did something happen? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Smithen asked in fast French. ¡°There¡¯s something suspicious going on, so I need you to give me an exnation.¡± ¡°As I said, it was just a gut feeling. It also looked like he was getting orders from someone. That¡¯s all,¡± Smithen answered. Kang Chan¡¯s expression hardened while he was looking at Smithen, finding his answer subtly mixed with truth and lies. ¡°Dayeru has been getting threatening text messages. I¡¯m going to look into it starting tomorrow, but if somethinges upter, or if Dayeru gets hurt even in the slightest bit, then even I am not sure what I¡¯d do as a consequence,¡± Kang Chan warned. Seok Kang-Ho couldn¡¯t understand what they were saying. ¡°One more thing. It seems like you told Alice about Africa,¡± He continued. ¡°About that, Channy¡­¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you say since no one will believe it anyway. But Smithen, just don¡¯t forget that that mouth of yours can cause trouble anytime.¡± Kang Chan brought out a cigarette and bit on it. ¡°Phew. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to be with you until the end. You¡¯re also probably nning to go somewhere in a few years. I¡¯m not going to stop you, nor do I have ns on stopping you,¡± Kang Chan continued. When Kang Chan¡¯s eyes burned fiercely, Smithen seemingly grew anxious. He couldn¡¯t even give an excuse. ¡°But watch you say, at least from now on. Someone is watching. And remember that for at least the next two years, a lot of people can die because of what you say,¡± Kang Chan continued. Kang Chan leaned onto the back of the chair after he extinguished the cigarette. He had said everything that he wanted to say. A warning to this extent was the best if he wasn¡¯t going to torture him. Kang Chan was just about to stand up after a moment of silence had passed. ¡°Channy, Shan got orders from someone,¡± Smithen said while he looked around the river and the living room. ¡°He seemed to think that I wasn¡¯t there, but when Iter asked who that was, he said the same thing that you just said¡ªthat I¡¯m going to certainly die if I tell this to anyone. I saw him talk that way on the phone two more times after that, and I pretended I didn¡¯t notice on purpose.¡± ¡®Damn it!¡¯ There really was something. But the Serpent Venimeux would cut anyone¡¯s head or limbs and ce it on the bed if they were ordered to do so. They didn¡¯t send that kind of message. This could mean that the person behind Shan and another enemy were trying to go for Kang Chan¡¯s surroundings. Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho his thoughts and what Smithen had said. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that things ended well with the Serpent Venimeux?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Exactly. The messages seemed to havee from Korea, but Serpent Venimeux has definitely figured out that someone was backing Shan up.¡± ¡°Phew, this is fuckingplicated. How about we ask the Ambassador about the potential issues with France?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. Kang Chan shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not a good idea. Wouldn¡¯t it only let him know that we¡¯re aware of something? We¡¯re better off just catching the guy sending the messages as soon as possible and quietly moving on instead. This will getpletely forgotten when the French presidential election is over, anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, now that you mention it,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°For now, let¡¯s just head home.¡± Kang Chan got up from his spot. ¡°Smithen, be careful when you¡¯re outside for the time being. And really watch what you say. Call me right away if there¡¯s something urgent,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Understood.¡± Smithen was stupid but strong in the past, but now he looked like a coward that only had his wits left. ¡°We¡¯re going,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Channy.¡± Smithen called Kang Chan while slightly looking over the inside of the living room. ¡°Should I let Alice go?¡± ¡°That¡¯s up to you,¡± He answered. Kang Chan went into the living room after he saw Smithen nodding. ¡°We¡¯ll get going now, Alice,¡± Kang Chan bid her goodbye. ¡°Pleasee again.¡± She really wasn¡¯t pretty, but her breasts were amazing. And it would be around this time for someone like Smithen to miss interacting with new females. Seok Kang-Ho gave Kang chan a ride to the apartment. When they parted ways, Kang Chan went into his room and stared nkly at his phone. There really weren''t a lot of people on his contact list. Kang Chan would¡¯ve been at ease if it were actually the parking lot gang that was ying tricks behind their backs. Did Michelle and her friends also get this type of text message? Kang Chan thought about calling but shook his head. It wasn¡¯t important whether one more or one less person got a text right now. Let¡¯s catch him first.? If this took too long, then he¡¯d consider discussing this with Lanok, the Ambassador of France. Kang Chan himself could endure being in danger for as long as his situation required it, but he needed to prevent something from happening to Seok Kang-Ho, Kang Dae-Kyung, and Yoo Hye-Sook. He felt like he was standing off with an enemy that was lying in wait to ambush him. An ufortable nervousness swept through Kang Chan, simr to when he was searching a hill where a bullet could hit him at any moment. ¡®Was I too rxed?¡¯ Kang Chan thought this was the punishment for thinking he¡¯d be able to live in peace after finishing the deal with Shan, which in turn resulted in the loss of his sharpness. *** Seok Kang-Ho headed straight to the police station after Kang Chan briefly saw him in the athletics club. To figure out who sent the text messages, Seok Kang-Ho was told that the police had to receive aint about the threats first before they could order the start of the investigation. In the morning, a carload that contained about two and a half tonnes of workout equipment was delivered, which Kang Chan roughly arranged. He also positioned the electric fans given as freebies in appropriate locations. Kang Chan then called a security guardpany without letting anyone know. - What you said yesterday is possible. But it will require fifty million won as an advance deposit, and fifty million won per month. ¡°I¡¯ll deposit it right away. Please start as soon as possible, and don¡¯t forget that this must be done secretly.¡± - We¡¯ll deal with the task once we¡¯ve confirmed the deposit, then we¡¯ll pay you a visit. After he ended the call, Kang Chan immediately ran to the bank and deposited the money. While he was there, he also applied for telebanking and an inte banking service. Kang Chan had heard that the president of the securitypany had previously worked at the Presidential Security Service. Before he could even leave the bank, he already got a confirmation call. Just as Kang Chan asked, they told him they would start their mission immediately. This would protect Yoo Hye-Sook, Kang Dae-Kyung, Kim Mi-Young, and also Seok Kang-Ho, even though he felt bad. He felt a bit relieved for now. Seok Kang-Ho arrived at the athletics club a little after 11 am. ¡°The cyber police or something started right away. Apparently, the person used a professional message forwarding service, and they applied for it overseas. The cyber police also said that they¡¯ve taken care of it, so we won¡¯t get those messages starting from today,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°Overseas?¡± ¡°Apparently, spam mail can be created so that it originates from an address that¡¯s in China, Thand, or the Philippines, and even Korean people can do that as well.¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± ¡°Hey! It takes up so much space when it¡¯s assembled,¡± said Kang Chan. Seok Kang-Ho turned his eyes to Kang Chan after he pulled the lever on the workout equipment. ¡°Forget about it. There are a lot of gangsters that be criminals through petty crimes, aren¡¯t there? It¡¯s obviously going to be the losers,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. Could that really be true? Is it going to end quietly like this? Seok Kang-Ho tried to lift a piece of workout equipment while wearing a neck brace but soon made a pained expression when he moved his neck. Sillyughter burst out. As they snickered together, the bell rang to signify lunchtime. ¡°Where are we going to have lunch?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°We should go to the student cafeteria so we can take care of the kids.¡± ¡°Alright. Then I¡¯ll eat with the teachers of the student department. We¡¯re going to need to buy a lock and put it on the workout equipment, won¡¯t we?¡± Kang Chan stood up after Seok Kang-Ho. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s phone vibrated briefly. 1. About 36,000 USD 2. The student department is focused on improving the lives of students, outside of their grades. Their duties include punishing bullies or students that go against the rules of the school and guiding the students Chapter 37，Part1: He’s Teaching me a Lesson Until the End (2)

Chapter37£¬Part1: He¡¯s Teaching me a Lesson Until the End (2)

Seok Kang-Ho immediately frowned after checking the text message. ¡°These fuckers are also quite incredible.¡± He handed over the phone to Kang Chan. [You¡¯re going to die anyway.] Who could it be? Kang Chan felt like he¡¯d run over, beat up, and catch that guy if he just knew where he was, even if he were in Africa. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s catch this guy after we have lunch and replenish our energy,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Chan assumed the guy might be connected to the parking lot gang because, if it was the guy Shan was taking orders from, then he wouldn¡¯t have excluded Smithen. Rather, he would¡¯ve been the first one to receive the text. If that were the case, then Kang Chan needed to find the guys and finish them offpletely while he was being protected by the securitypany. ¡°What are you going to do after ss?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°I have to go early today. There¡¯s someone I have to meet.¡± ¡°I see. I also have a meeting about the retreat. Let¡¯s go eat something good tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± It looked like Dayeru was bing more and more like Seok Kang-Ho. Should I treat him like a teacher and as someone older? Kang Chan shook his head. Things like this would be solved with time. When they arrived at the cafeteria, the kids seemed hyped up. This was especially true for the eleventh-graders, as they had both the break and the retreat. Kang Chan finished eating while he sat next to Kim Mi-Young, who was happily talking to Cha So-Yeon. *** After sses ended, Kang Chan walked home with Kim Mi-Young. He then changed his clothes and immediately headed out to a nearby coffee specialty store. ¡°I¡¯m the president, Kim Tae-Jin. I didn¡¯t know that you were a high schooler, Mr. Kang-Chan.¡± Although Kim Tae-Jin didn¡¯t hide his surprise even as he handed over his business card, Kang Chan liked the sharp look in his eyes. ¡°Is there anything else besides the text messages?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯s everything for now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot of money to spend for only threatening text messages. It would be best to tell us everything you know for the safety of those that need guarding.¡± ¡°It could be a mafia organization, but I¡¯m not sure about that either.¡± ¡°We can connect with almost every gangster in South Korea. Even if all we know is their name, we should be able to act first. The best way to guard our objective is to remove the risk factor before something could even transpire.¡± ¡°Please just stand guard for now. That¡¯s enough.¡± As soon as Kang Chan finished his answer, Suh Sang-Hyun, the executive director, butted in. ¡°You probably don¡¯t know this since you¡¯re still just a student, but even the gangsters can¡¯t walk over our president. And why would we work needlessly when we can just immediately remove the root cause?¡± Kang Chan sharply looked at Suh Sang-Hyun. He kept talking thoughtlessly just because he knew some things about gangsters and Kang Chan was still a high schooler. Could someone like him do his job properly? Suh Sang-Hyun just red right back, as if not to lose. ¡°Director Suh,¡± Kim Tae-Jin called. But Suh Sang-Hyun shut his mouth when Kim Tae-Jin briefly shook his head. ¡°If you want to help, then please just look into who sent the text messages. And Mr. Seok Kang-Ho will go on a three-day, four-night retreat next week at Jiri Mountain. Please make sure that people don¡¯t notice you guys there as well,¡± Kang Chan said. Kang Chan signed the contract and received the receipt. The contract process ended with that. ¡°Then we¡¯re done here, right? If so, I¡¯ll get going now,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°We¡¯ll try our best.¡± Kang Chan left the coffee specialty store right after shaking both of their hands. ¡°That brat sure is arrogant just because he has some money,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun said while observing Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s mood. He was about to call Kang Chan rude but decided to y it safe due to Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s aura. ¡°He¡¯s the son of the Kang Yoo Motors president, right?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked eight years in the security office?¡± ¡°Eight years and three months, to be exact.¡± Kim Tae-Jin looked at Suh Sang-Hyun with pity. ¡°And you still didn¡¯t feel anything while looking into that student¡¯s eyes?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked again. ¡°Pardon?¡± Kim Tae-Jin stared in the direction of the exit Kang Chan took. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I''d get to see those kinds of eyes again. Have I gotten too sensitive nowadays?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°What''s it like?¡± ¡°I thought that I had seen the Neck Ghost.¡± ¡°Pardon?!¡± Suh Sang-Hyun quickly looked after eximing. ¡°You said you checked on the president of Kang Yoo Motors, right?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Yes, our guys are guarding him even now, but there¡¯s nothing unusual to report.¡± ¡°The look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes is of someone that has killed people. A lot of people.¡± ¡°Is it that bad I didn¡¯t notice?¡± Kim Tae-Jin nodded. ¡°It¡¯s quite easy to discern if one thinks they can kill another by the look in their eyes. However, noticing the look of a person that could twist someone else¡¯s neck at any second is difficult. That¡¯s why they can win without much effort. From what I¡¯ve seen, if you and that student fought right there and then, you definitely would¡¯ve died.¡± ¡°No way. Aren¡¯t you just being overly sensitive?¡± Kim Tae-Jin smiled bitterly. ¡°I was just like you when I fought with the Neck Ghost. But having my chest stabbed made me realize the importance of experience. You¡¯ll learn of it eventually.¡± Suh Sang-Hyun couldn¡¯t say anything else because he knew Kim Tae-Jin was being sincere. There wasn¡¯t anyone on their side that hade back after killing as many of the enemies in the DMZ as Kim Tae-Jin. Since the state of affairs had changed, it would be difficult for someone like Kim Tae-Jin to emerge again in the future. Of course, this was excluding the legend in the DMZ that Suh Sang-Hyun most respected. ¡°Focus. There¡¯s something suspicious about this case. ce two more guys for each person,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Is it that bad?¡± When Kim Tae-Jin gazed at him sharply, Suh Sang-Hyun quickly answered with an ¡®Understood.¡¯ ¡°If someone like him goes crazy, then not only you, but everyone else that has failed to guard their detail will lose their necks.¡± Can he really do that in today¡¯s world? But as if he read Suh Sang-Hyun¡¯s mind, Kim Tae-Jin shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t think that he¡¯s going to calcte what¡¯s going to happenter. He would just click his tongue, not bothering to worry about things like that.¡± ¡°Do you really think so?¡± asked Suh Sang-Hyun. Kim Tae-Jin pursed his lips while looking down at the contract. ¡°If the task was to guard someone against that student, then I would¡¯ve never taken on the role. It would be better to pay the financial penalties of twice the original amount.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll increase the number of guys immediately.¡± ¡°Search through that student¡¯s surroundings. If needed, I¡¯ll call the National Intelligence Service and the National Police Agency as well.¡± Suh Sang-Hyun got rid of his doubts. The Kim Tae-Jin that he knew wasn¡¯t someone that would ever spout nonsense about this kind of thing. *** After Kang Chan came home, he surfed the inte when his phone vibrated. It was Oh Gwang-Taek. It was just in time because he was feeling rather unsettled by the parking lot gangsters. ¡°Hello?¡± ¨C Kang Chan, everything¡¯s alright on your end, right? ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan could instantly tell that Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s voice didn¡¯t sound good. - Remember Do-Seok from the Namsan Hotel? He got attacked. He¡¯s in the hospital right now but isn¡¯t doing well. So be sure to be extra careful from now on. Was it the parking lot?gangsters?after all? Kang Chan felt strangely relieved, even though he felt sorry for Suh Do-Seok. - Things like this happen in our work all the time, but it¡¯s strange this time. He¡¯s injured so much that he can¡¯t work anymore. I can¡¯t help but wonder if he got robbed as well. ¡°Is there a reason why Do-Seok would be a target?¡± -That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you this. There have been many cases where they attack the business, but there aren''t a lot of cases where they attack the employee themselves. And they did it too cleanly for this to just be a robbery. So be extra alert for now. I¡¯ll send over my guys if need be, so don¡¯tin and just pretend that you didn¡¯t notice anything. Should I say it, or should I not? Kang Chan made up his mind after debating about it for a moment. ¡°We also got threatening text messages.¡± - What? What did you just say? ¡°A few people around me, including Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, got text messages saying we¡¯re going to die. It seems like someone¡¯s picked up the phone I lost in the hotel, but I think it roughly connects to what I heard about Do-Seok.¡± Since he had already told him the gist of it anyway, Kang Chan decided to tell him everything¡ªfrom the process of reporting it to the police to receiving the texts even today. - It¡¯s those fucking parking lot gangsters. Those fuckers! Okay. Anyway, take care of yourself. ¡°Okay.¡± He ended the call without any unnecessary talk. Kang Chan felt better as it seemed like he honestly got to know who the enemy was. And with the look in Kim Tae-Jin''s eyes, he wouldn¡¯t lose to people like the parking lot gangsters. ¡®It¡¯s also not good to go around searching for the fucking gangsters.¡¯ Kang Chan licked his lips. Now that he had identified the suspects as the parking lot gangsters, it became awkward to search for them without Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s help. ¡®Those fucking dickheads.¡¯ Thinking about it, Kang Chan didn¡¯t actually get any threatening text messages. It wasn¡¯t like he was upset, but he got strangely angry. 1. The DMZ refers to the demilitarized zone, which is a strip ofnd that acts as a barrier between North and South Korea Chapter 37，Part2: He’s Teaching me a Lesson Until the End (2)

Chapter37£¬Part2: He¡¯s Teaching me a Lesson Until the End (2)

Kang Chan¡¯s running speed kept getting faster during his morning workouts, which surprised even himself. ¡°Huff huff.¡± After he came back to the apartment, a feebleugh escaped him even while he was breathing heavily. With this body, wouldn¡¯t he have gone to the Olympics if he was a track and field athlete? This probably had something to do with his fast regeneration, but if the previous Kang Chan was like this in the past, then he probably wouldn¡¯t have realized his skills because he couldn¡¯t get past the two-kilometer limit in the end. After Kang Chan had breakfast, he went to school and then headed out with Seok Kang-Ho. He passed the written and practical driving tests which included the indoor driving course test, and the outdoor road tests ¡°Oh!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s expression was full of mischief when Kang Chan came out after receiving the driver¡¯s permit. He was able to fairly move his neck now, and the friction between his skin and the neck brace was probably why the fabric at the top of the neck brace had turned dark. ¡°When are you getting your safety lessons?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°They told me to receive it tomorrow.¡± ¡°Then are you getting your license tomorrow as well? Phuhuhu.¡± Kang Chan side-eyed Seok Kang-Ho when heughed strangely. The two of them then returned to school. ~ Kang Chan used the new workout equipment because there were still about an hour of sses left. Not used to the intensity, his muscles protested that he was being too harsh, but Kang Chan wasn¡¯t the type to listen. After working out to his heart''s content and washing up in the night-duty room, his body and mind felt sharper. With Seok Kang-Ho busy preparing for the retreat, Kang Chan went home with Kim Mi-Young, then he had dinner with Yoo Hye-Sook. His nerves were on edge, but he tried hard to not show it. It would¡¯ve been better if they were wiping their weapons together, and if they were in a situation where they could each watch out for their own lives instead, but he was still thankful that they weren¡¯t on a battlefield. If he were in Africa with Yoo Hye-Sook, he would definitely have gone out every night to cut off the enemies that were going against them the next day. Kang Chan always had his phone in his pocket, even when he was in the living room. *** The next day, Kang Chan went with Seok Kang-Ho to receive a two-hour-long safety lesson. He couldn¡¯t believe they were teaching someone that had already gotten their license to not fool around and drive properly. After it was done, Kang Chan came out of the test site while listening to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s joke. ¡°The driver''s license must be hot because it¡¯s fresh out of the oven.¡± Seok Kang-Ho didn¡¯t return to school, however. Instead, he headed to a nearby public parking lot. ¡°Why are we here?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Please get out of the car.¡± Is he nning on stopping here to smoke? Kang Chan looked around their surroundings as he got out of the car, but Seok Kang-Ho took out a keyring from his pocket and handed it to him. ¡°It¡¯s a present,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. It looked like Seok Kang-Ho had hung a ck business card on the keyring, where a small military purpose dagger was hung. ¡°What is it?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Oh,e on! Just press it once.¡± When Kang Chan looked at it, he found open and closed lock symbols on it. It also had a car symbol with its trunk open. Kang Chan had just raised his gaze from the keyring. ¡°It¡¯s for the ¡®Chiffre.¡¯ I had a hard time making sure to bring it out by today,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Kang Chan was at a loss for words. ¡°Phuhu. What¡¯s with that expression? Is it because this is the first time you¡¯re receiving a present or something?¡± How did this fucker know that? Of course, he had the phone that Oh Gwang-Taek bought him, but he didn¡¯t think that was a present. ¡°Ah jeez! I said to unlock the car door!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed again. Kang Chan pressed the button. The dark blue car right in front of them made a ¡®beep beep¡¯ sound, then its emergency lights shed. ¡°It¡¯s a full option car, and I also put insurance on it. Apparently, you¡¯re the second customer in South Korea to buy it with all of the options. Do you like it?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°You also drive that kind of car, don¡¯t you? That must have cost you a fortune.¡± ¡°Hey! It¡¯s a present! I couldn¡¯t use a cent of the money I got because it didn¡¯t feel like mine, but now I think I can finally give my wife some of it.¡± Kang Chan stared at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°What, you don¡¯t like the color?¡± ¡°Is that car under my name?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°About that. I registered it under my name for now because I figured your father would likely know right away.¡± Cost aside, Kang Chan was thankful Seok Kang-Ho considered those details as well. ¡°Daye.¡± Seok Kang-Ho subtly gauged Kang Chan¡¯s mood. ¡°It¡¯s the first present I''ve ever received in my entire life. Maybe that¡¯s why I like it a lot.¡± Seok Kang-Ho smiled when Kang Chan smirked, seemingly satisfied. ¡°Thanks,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Phuhu. Your words right now don¡¯t suit you, you know.¡± Seok Kang-Ho took out a cigarette for him when Kang Chan licked his lips. ¡°I probably would¡¯ve gone crazy if you weren¡¯t here. I should be the one thanking you because you¡¯re the reason why I got my revenge¡ªwhich I couldn¡¯t even imagine doing¡ªand received a lot of money,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. Kang Chan found this kind of conversation somewhat awkward. He looked around the car after putting out his cigarette, then realized that the two men in the car outside of the parking lot were looking their way. They could either be the guards or the gangsters. But the former was more likely. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t park the car here, and you drive this for the time being,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan with an upset expression after he sat in the passenger seat. ¡°I don¡¯t have any way to exin why I¡¯m driving around this car. So you drive it, then I¡¯ll borrow it when I need it. We move together anyway, so it wouldn¡¯t be efficient to stop by here every time.¡± Seok Kang-Ho''s face seemed to say, ¡°Oh shoot!¡± How could he say that a school teacher bought him a ¡®Chiffre,¡¯ a very expensive car, when it would''ve already raised suspicions if they bought him a beat-up car? ¡°Do that for now,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Damn.¡± ¡°You still haven¡¯t given the money to your wife?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°I can¡¯t use it for some strange reason.¡± ¡°They¡¯re going to die waiting. Give it to her quickly. And I¡¯m going to say this again, but the money talks have to end here.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Dayeru looked like a weight had been lifted off of him. ¡°Should we go out for lunch tomemorate the new car?¡± Kang Chan asked. There would be no one to take a close look at Kang Chan even if he drove because he changed into a cotton shirt at school. Kang Chan awkwardly pressed the start button and started the car. The world had really changed a lot. But wouldn¡¯t it be safer and more reliable to insert the key and start the car? The car left the parking lot. ¡°Bloody hell! Please slow down!¡± Seok Kang-Hoined as Kang Chan merged into the main road. In all honesty, Kang Chan had broken out in a cold sweat simr to when he went out to the battlefield. ¡°Ah! That son of a bitch,¡± Kang Chan yelled. ¡°Phuhu. I was like that when I drove for the first time as well. I feel like I¡¯m going out to the battlefield whenever I take the wheel. You need to endure it.¡± They headed to the Chinese restaurant. The owner of the store seemed upset when they only ordered two Jajangmyeons despite parking a ¡®Chiffre¡¯, an amazingly fancy and expensive car. Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho about his call with Oh Gwang-Taek, and he had the same thoughts as Kang Chan about it. *** Starting Saturday, Seok Kang-Ho no longer received threatening text messages. Kang Chan subtly asked Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Mi-Young about it, confirming that they hadn¡¯t received them since Saturday as well. It could be because Oh Gwang-Taek did something or because the suspects thought that there was no point in sending more texts. They didn¡¯t receive any even on Sunday morning. It seemed like Seok Kang-Ho had a lot to prepare since the break would begin on Monday, and the retreatsted from Tuesday to Friday. Having worked his body to its limits yesterday, Kang Chan didn¡¯t work out that Sunday. Sufficient rest was also important, after all. After Kang Chanzed in the morning while watching a TV program rted to movies with Yoo Hye-Sook, they cooked noodles for lunch. Although Yoo Hye-Sook was curious about him going to university, she didn¡¯t say anything else about him resting. He turned on hisputer after he went into his room. Having gotten used to searching on the inte nowadays, he searched for international blogs that were uploaded by individuals or any rted material. The matters with Shan had ended, but he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there were any articles or materials rted to Shan online. Hence, he still spent a lot of time on international sites, especially when searching for materials in French. Yoo Hye-Sook came into his room with fruits to give to Kang Chan, then just left with a very happy expression after she saw him working so hard on theputer. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ª He thoughtlessly lifted his phone when it vibrated. The caller ID was ¡®000-0000-0000¡¯ Kang Chan breathed deeply, then pressed the call button. - Ello. The voice sounded familiar. Kang Chan didn¡¯t reply right away. - Monsieur Kang, it¡¯s Lanok. That was weird. ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan. I didn¡¯t respond immediately because of the strange caller ID. Is this your phone number?¡± - This is the exclusive number for the Information Bureau, so a unique number popped up. It¡¯s to block recording, bugging, and eavesdropping. Even if you record this, you¡¯ll probably only hear static instead of our conversation when you listen to itter. ¡°I see.¡± ¨C We have a problem, Monsieur Kang. I wish to discuss it with you in person. Can you spare me some time? Lanok¡¯s voice sounded like it was mixed with the static in the background, but all that mattered was what he was saying. Kang Chan ended the call after they agreed to meet at the hotel in Hannam-dong. ~ Kang Chan had just arrived at the hotel in Hannam-dong. ¡°Monsieur Kang?¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Follow me,¡± the French man led Kang Chan. His outfit and actions made a nce enough for Kang Chan to think he was an Information Bureau agent. When they went on the elevator, the man inserted the card key and pressed the button for the 16th floor. He then led Kang Chan to room 1601, opened the door, then retraced his steps. The living room was quiterge. The door of the bedroom was closed, so there was no way for him to know who was inside. When Kang Chan walked in, Lanok stood up and greeted him. He was with one other person. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, could you turn off your phone?¡± Lanok requested. ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Chan removed its battery. The man with the ambassador then took out a detection stick used in airport security and approached him. Do they really have to do?all of this? ¡°I ask for your cooperation,¡± Lanok remarked. Kang Chan frowned because of Lanok¡¯s calm attitude, but he did as asked for now. After the entourage finished searching Kang Chan to the tips of his toes, he prepared two cups of coffee, then went into the room and closed the door. Kang Chan wordlessly sipped on the beverage. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, we just received surprising news from the Information Bureau.¡± Lanok seemed like he was in a predicament but didn¡¯t seem surprised. ¡°It was news that Shan is alive.¡± 1. In Korea, there are two steps in the practical portion of the driving test. It includes the ¡°indoor¡± driving course test that¡¯s done in a safe environment where people have to follow the automated instructions to pass. See this photo for what a test course could look like: After that, participants have to pass the on-road driving exam, which is graded by an evaluator 2. Jajangmyeon is a Korean noodle dish topped with a thick sauce 3. Hannam-dong is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in South Korea Chapter 38: Its Teaching me a Lesson until the End (2)

Chapter 38: It''s Teaching me a Lesson until the End (2)

Coffee almost came out of Kang Chan¡¯s nose. ¡°Based on the remittance form from France, there¡¯s a high possibility that the Chinese had betrayed us. We¡¯re trying our best to find Shan, having judged that he might still be staying in South Korea,¡± Lanok told Kang Chan. Click. He put his cup down on the table with enough force to cause a loud noise. ¡°Are you sure Shan is still alive?¡± Kang Chan had definitely broken Shan¡¯s ribs near his heart. Even if a doctor had been waiting, it would¡¯ve been hard to survive that kind of injury. ¡°The Intelligence Bureau wiretapped his phone call to France.¡± Lanok sharply looked over Kang Chan, then spoke again. ¡°He used the ¡®Ice of the Desert¡¯ as his code name, which he used during his military service. His voice also matched Shan¡¯s, ording to our voice verification system.¡± I should¡¯ve split open his heart. An opponent iparably stronger than the parking lot gang now had Kang Chan in their sights. ¡°Do you also know what he said in the call?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°I was told it was these two sentences: ¡®It¡¯s the Ice of the Desert. My enemy¡¯s in South Korea, and I have to kill him no matter what.¡¯¡± Son of a bitch. Who¡¯s killing who? ¡°Even the Intelligence Bureau doesn¡¯t know how to take care of this problem.¡± Lanok looked straight at Kang Chan. ¡°My country is focusing on finding the person backing Shan up, their efforts mainly revolving around the remittance material. They¡¯re also investigating if their purposes are rted to the French election.¡± ¡°Have they found anything yet?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Not yet.¡± Kang Chan took a sip of his coffee. ¡°I think the Chinese organization is making their move. We hope that Shan will target you, which would make it easier to solve this situation. If we see how Shan¡¯s backer moves, then we¡¯ll be able to know for certain.¡± ¡°We should entrap Shan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± This old fucking roon is openly treating me as bait?*? Kang Chan had a sudden urge to smoke. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, do you perhaps have cigarettes?¡± Lanok was of course on an entirely different level from a gangster. When Lanok looked for a cigarette in the inner room, an employee came out and brought out a zippo lighter and an ashtray instead of a disposable lighter. Lanok bit on arge cigar. ¡°We were worried about that day¡¯s CCTV records, so our analyst ran over, but the employee in charge had already been attacked by then. Hence, what I¡¯ve been worried about would likely happen.¡± Lanok puffed on the cigar and exhaled the smoke away from Kang Chan. He continued. ¡°So, my country has to choose between one of two choices: to either kill you or to work together with you to catch Shan.¡± ¡°I like how simple that is,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± Lanok seemed dumbfounded. ¡°I can ept that you somehow know French you¡¯ve never learned before, the way you handled that fight with Shan and your rtionship with Smithen. But it¡¯s a different story if things get worse, especially if Shan is alive,¡± Lanok said. From Kang Chan¡¯s perspective, Lanok had already reached a conclusion. After all, a roon like him didn¡¯t make decisions through discussions. To them, conversations were just means to justify the option they had chosen. ¡°Considering there¡¯s a limit to how much our agent can move around in Korea, I n on doing everything in my power to help you for now. Let¡¯s first set up or acquire a corporation. If funds are needed, then our Intelligence Bureau will pay for it,¡± Lanok continued. What¡¯s he trying to do now? ¡°It¡¯ll be easier for you to move if you have a rtively powerful position than as a student. And it would be even better if you can¡¯t be associated with Gong Te.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not very keen on that offer,¡± replied Kang Chan. Kang Chan shook his head as he was reminded of how he acted like a clown while wearing clothes that didn¡¯t suit him in the club a few days ago. ¡°If Shan¡¯s backer is connected to China, and if that connection is rted to the Chinese regime, then this isn¡¯t simply about your personal resentment.¡± Kang Chan slightly relented when Lanok showed pity for the first time. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll decide after I seriously think about it,¡± He replied. ¡°Would you like to have dinner with me?¡± Does he really want to sit face to face and eat in this situation? ¡°Let¡¯s do thatter,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°Alright.¡± They had just stood up from their spot when Lanok spoke again, politely. ¡°You should acquire a French nationality, Mr. Kang Chan. I honestly want to work with you for the future I want to create.¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve said that from the beginning,¡± Kang Chan answered. Lanokughed loudly for the first time, making him feel like he had just seen Lanok¡¯s honest emotions. ¡°If you wish, I¡¯ll also make it so that everyone you designate will be able to acquire a French nationality.¡± ¡°Thank you for the offer.¡± It was a tempting offer, but he ended the conversation with a short reply. Kang Chan left the hotel and hailed a taxi. He needed a ce that was full of people¡ªa ce where he wouldn¡¯t be alone and catch others¡¯ attention. ¡°Tron Square, please,¡± Kang Chan told the driver, remembering the ce he visited with Kim Mi-Young. Since it was a Sunday afternoon, there was no traffic on the way to it. The French Presidential Election? That was bullshit. He just needed to beat up Shan, who had sold off his crew, and the other higher-ups that could be supporting and controlling him, if any. All of this happened because he didn¡¯t end things properly again. Son of a bitch. ¡®Even now, he¡¯s still teaching me a lesson.¡¯ It didn¡¯t matter how often it was emphasized. There really was nothing more important than properly closing off every situation. While Kang Chan was gritting his teeth, the taxi arrived at the destination. Just as he had expected, Tron Square was crowded with people. As he sat on a chair in the lobby on the first floor, he thought about many things, arriving at only one conclusion: cut Shan¡¯s windpipe and destroy his backer if there was one, even if he had to ept Lanok¡¯s help. That''s right! This isn¡¯tplicated. Kang Chan looked up at Tron Square¡¯s high ceiling. ¡®Why on earth did I reincarnate like this?¡¯ ¡°Tsk!¡± Even though he wasn¡¯t in a good mood, he knew he should kill Shan first before thinking about that. Those fucking Chinese cowards. They spoke so highly about their pride when they took Shan, only for them to exchange it for a bit of money. ¡®I have to deal with all of this before the break ends.¡¯ If it really were the Chinese mafia, then he needed to contact Oh Gwang-Taek. There really was a lot of excitement in his life. He got curious about how each person that tightly filled the first floor of Tron Square lived their lives and what emotions they were feeling. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here!¡± Kang Chan ced his hands on his knees and pushed himself up. The fight had already started. It would be best for him to focus on stabbing Shan in the neck or heart for now, then think about what he should do afterward. This situation was much better than if he were to worry about what to do without knowing the enemy. ¡®Come at me quick, Shan.¡¯ After making a decision, he got the urge to smoke a cigarette. The cigarette and lighter that he brought from Lanok¡¯s room were in his pocket. Kang Chan had tried to return it, but he took it with him in the end since it was just a cheap zippo lighter for military purposes. There was a flower bed at the backside of Tron square, in between the building and the parking lot¡¯s wire fence. Since the area in front of the flower bed was as tall as his waist and looked like an appropriate ce to smoke, he headed there. Kang Chan was thinking of heading home after staying there long enough to sufficiently remove the smell of smoke from his body. Now in front of the flower bed, he pulled out a cigarette and bit on it, then pulled out the lighter. ck. Chik. As he tried to light up his cigarette, Africa popped into his mind. It had been quite a long time since hest thought of the country. Smack. Pow. Kang Chan had just inhaled a puff of the cigarette. He heard someone getting beaten up from the opposite side of the flower bed. However, the flower bed was as tall as his waist and was made up of blooming nts that grew above the flower bed itself, preventing him from having a clear view of the other side properly. p! The sound of a cheek being pped echoed all the way to where he was. The fucking children did live diligently. But how did those fuckers go across the flower bed? Kang Chan tilted his head to peek around the flower bed, where he found a path he could take, but only if he walked sideways. It was narrow enough to make it difficult to go through if someone held their ground to prevent being dragged inside. ¡®What¡¯s that?¡¯ Kang Chan was stunned. It was Lee Ho-Jun and Heo Eun-Sil. Kang Chan leaned against the wall and looked inside. Lee Ho-Jun had his pants down to his knees. That¡¯s not impossible to happen to that fucker, but Heo Eun-Sil wasn¡¯t a bitch that would get beaten up by just anyone. Just then, a guy with arge build tightly grabbed the end of Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s breast and twisted it. Because he did that, Kang Chan caught a glimpse of a knife-wielding guy, who was behind the man that twisted Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s breast. This is absurd! They weren¡¯t in a quiet backcountry area in Africa. It didn¡¯t make sense for something like this to happen in the middle of downtown Seoul. When Heo Eun-Sil twisted in pain, three girls near her chortled with delight. With Lee Ho-Jun¡¯s pants down, Kang Chan saw his thigh had turned ck and blue from being bruised. ¡®The kids that you guys bullied would¡¯ve been more miserable than that.¡¯ It irritated him. Nobody forced them to be there. That was just the life they chose to live. Pow. Pow. p. Lee Ho-Jun and Heo Eun-Sil continued to get hit. They couldn¡¯t even defy them. When Kang Chan finished smoking, he took onest nce before leaving. The same guy that pulled on Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s breast then pulled her cor and tried to press a lit cigarette on her breasts. Why are they being so cruel? And why was he seeing something he would only see in a war between tribes in Africa, in the middle of Seoul? ¡°Tsk.¡± When Kang Chan clicked his tongue in displeasure, the man with the lit cigarette turned to him. ¡°What?! Get lost, you fucker!¡± A peal of lightughter broke out from Kang Chan. ¡°Is this son of a bitch crazy? The fuck are you snickering for?¡± ¡°You. Come here.¡± When Kang Chan cocked his finger whileughing, the guy shook off Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s cor and immediately walked through the path beside the flower bed. ¡°I¡¯m here. What now, bitch?¡± The guy asked Kang Chan. This fucker seemed like he was asking because he was really curious. Pow. Pow. Kang Chan swiftly stabbed his thumb into the guy¡¯s neck and the pit of his stomach. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± When Kang Chan¡¯s target grabbed his throat and let out hideous screams, several people turned their heads toward them. Kang Chan grabbed the guy¡¯s head with his left hand. Smack! SMACK!!! Thud. His opponent copsed to the floor. ¡°Hey! You son of a bitch!¡± A man cursed from the opposite side of the flower bed, and about fifteen people came out, some jumping over the flower bed while others emerged from the path beside it. ¡°This is going to drive me crazy.¡± There were a lot of them, but his words weren¡¯t out of fear. It was out of annoyance that there were more peopleing over. Whoosh. Kang Chan jumped and ran up the flower bed in one go. Pow! Pok! Pow! He then beat up the three guys that went after him, hitting them with his elbow and fists. They wouldn¡¯t die even if they fell from this height. Smack!* Kang Chan then jumped down, kicking the head of a guy blocking the flower bed in the process. He let out a sigh when he looked at Lee Ho-Jun and Heo Eun-Sil. ¡°Who are you?¡± There were still close to ten guys surrounding Kang Chan. About three of them were girls. ¡°Who are those fuckers?¡± asked Kang Chan, gesturing toward the group with his chin. ¡°The union of bullies,¡± Heo Eun-Sil answered. ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me, you son of a bitch,¡± said the guy. Kang Chan smirked and looked at him. He was the one that had been holding a knife that was about a handspan long. He had a fair build and looked like he had guts. Shouldn¡¯t he know that if he can kill people, then he can also be killed in turn? ¡°You son of a bitch!¡± His opponent yelled when Kang Chan approached him head-on. Swish. Swish! Thud! When the guy flinched and swung twice, Kang Chan snatched his wrist, pulled him over, and smashed his right elbow into the guy¡¯s face. Thump. Kang Chan then immediately grabbed the guy¡¯s finger and twisted it. Crunch! ¡°Gaah!¡± With blood covering his mouth and nose, his screams sounded quite nasal. Kang Chan turned the guy¡¯s right arm over, ced it on his shoulder, hung both of his hands on the guy¡¯s forearm, and puled down. Crunch! ¡°Aaahhh!¡± ¡°Son of a bitch. You¡¯re way too fucking loud. Stop right there!¡± Kang Chan yelled. The guys that were leaving the flower bed flinched and looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Lee Ho-Jun will be using this bitch that I had just taken out to find everyone that leaves. For those that don¡¯t want to use their arm for the rest of their lives, feel free to leave now.¡± ¡°Fuck you! Fuck!¡±?The guy at the middle of the path of the flowerbed swore as he moved back. Tatata! Kang Chan immediately went through the flower bed and stepped down on the opposite side. They probably didn¡¯t expect he¡¯de over this quickly. Pow pow pow! The man whose stomach pit, neck, and nose bridge Kang Chan had injured croaked. ¡°Hey! Drag this fucker inside,¡± ordered Kang Chan. The guy that met Kang Chan¡¯s gaze dragged the struggling guy inside with a surprised face. ¡°You go inside as well.¡± The first guy he beat up tried to gauge Kang Chan¡¯s mood. ¡°Son of a bitch¡­¡± Kang Chan growled. Swoosh. The guy went inside real quick. Kang Chan jumped over the flower bed again and headed inside. He was really busy thanks to the fucking children. ¡°Ughh.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay quiet?¡± Kang Chan asked. The man he had broken the arm of parted his lips while clenching his teeth. It looked like he was having a hard time breathing due to the blood blocking his nostrils. ¡°Who¡¯s the fucking leader here?¡± asked Kang Chan. It seemed like Lee Ho-Jun didn¡¯t understand what he meant. Just then¡­ ¡°Um, he provoked you because he didn¡¯t know that you¡¯re Kang Chan,¡± said the guy on one side, trying to appease to Kang Chan¡¯s mood. ¡°Shut up! Who¡¯s your fucking leader?¡± Kang Chan asked again. The guy who had just spoken looked at the man with the broken arm. Kang Chan approached the guy crumpled in the corner and looked at him while squatting down. ¡°Bullies? Fucking nonsense. If I ever hear you guys meeting and fucking around again, you¡¯re all going to die.¡± Kang Chan was thinking of making them live as if they were dead for at least half a year if he saw defiance in their eyes. Sure enough, although the guy had lowered his gaze, Kang Chan still saw resentment and spite lingering in his eyes. This guy would have Kang Chan in his sights again, just like how Shan survived because Kang Chan did an awful job in finishing him. Tok. Kang Chan tightly grasped the guy¡¯s head. ¡°Ugh!¡± aap! Heo Eun-Sil flinched and shuddered, and Lee Ho-Jun was no different. aap! ¡°Ugh. Ughh¡­¡± aap! Kang Chan bent over again and looked into the guy¡¯s face. Smirk. When their eyes met, the guy quickly avoided Kang Chan¡¯s gaze. But it seemed like he didn¡¯t want to let his men see him losing confidence. This fucker would definitely gather the kids again. And he would call Lee Ho-Jun or Heo Eun-Sil to try to take his anger out on them for what he experienced now. Kang Chan released the guy¡¯s head and snatched his left arm. ¡°Uggh!¡± ¡°Be quiet, motherfucker,¡± said Kang Chan. The guy struggled when Kang Chan ced the former¡¯s right arm around thetter¡¯s right shoulder. Twisted, his right arm trembled hideously. Kang Chan got out to the outside, preventing the guy from stopping him. Crack! ¡°Gaaaah!¡± Tok! When Kang Chan pulled the guy¡¯s head toward him, his face was finally filled with fear. ¡°Are you going to meet up again?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Nuh, nuh!¡± The guy shook his head and wailed. Kang Chan red sharply at the nearby bullies he stood up. ¡°Do what you want, but if I hear that any of you fuckers bullied anyone, I¡¯m going to break all of your arms.¡± He meant every word he said. ¡°Take this fucker and get lost,¡± Kang Chan ordered. The guys hesitated. Three of them then supported their leader, and all of them disappeared. Kang Chan took out a cigarette and bit on it. Lee Ho-Jun and Heo Eun-Sil stayed by the wall and were looking at Kang Chan. ¡®Fuck it.¡¯ He was tired of swearing at them. ¡°Phew.¡± Kang Chan exhaled the cigarette smoke to relieve his annoyance. Chapter 39，Part1: Lets End it (1)

Chapter39£¬Part1: Let''s End it (1)

¡°Thanks,¡± Heo Eun-Sil thanked Kang Chan while gauging his mood. ¡°Hey, I told you not to wear makeup in school, right?¡± Kang Chan told Heo Eun-Sil. ¡°I had to because I got bruised.¡± Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s head dropped to the floor. This bitch¡¯s ability to endure attacks was also almost on Smithen¡¯s level. ¡°Lee Ho-Jun, why are you getting beaten up again?¡± asked Kang Chan. This time, Lee Ho-Jun¡¯s head dropped to the floor. Right, what¡¯s the point of hearing his answer? Kang Chan was about to walk away while shaking his head. ¡°We¡¯re getting beat up because the gangsters that previously watched over us have disappeared, and the eleventh-graders in our school don¡¯t go out when the bullies meet up.¡± There was a subtleint in Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s exnation. ¡°Then you guys just don¡¯t have to show up either!¡± ¡°We have to show up because the sunbae of the guy that got beaten earlier and the guys that got their arms broken is a gangster. If we don''t show up, we¡¯ll get killed.¡± ¡®Tsk.¡¯ Kang Chan found them to be a nuisance. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he was even doing this. Kang Chan got out of the flower bed and took a taxi. What should I do with my life from now on? This was the first time he thought about it since he reincarnated. Study abroad in France? Even if Lanok got him admitted to a school, he would just be a stupid student who could only speak French. He also didn¡¯t want to be a mercenary. He only risked his life back then because there was no other hope for him. Why would he go to a scene of carnage when there was not even a single person he could seek revenge on? Kang Chan could get a position at Kang Yoo Motors if he asked Kang Dae-Kyung for it after he graduated high school. It also wouldn¡¯t be bad to start from the bottom, but he didn¡¯t want to get a job with Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s help. If he wasted his time like this all throughout the break and second semester, he would be no different than Lee Ho-Jun or Heo Eun-Sil. Since Lanok had told him to try running apany, Lanok would definitely find an appropriatepany for him if he asked for help. But Kang Chan wanted to figure this out by himself. After he ate, Kang Chan called Michelle and asked if it was possible to acquire thepany that she mentioned before. Michelle answered that it would cost around five hundred million won and that it would take about a month to determine if it was even possible to acquire it. He quickly ended the call before his body got hot. ¡®Let do it one at a time. I should also try to study a bit.¡¯ *** Since the break started on Monday, they still had 4th period. Thanks to that, everyone gathered in the athletics club room and had pork cutlets. The ninth-graders were rxed, the tenth-graders were hyped up for the retreat, and the twelfth-graders didn¡¯t feel anything special. ¡°What time are you guys leaving tomorrow?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Our call time is 9am, then we¡¯ll leave by bus,¡± Cha So-Yeon and another eleventh-grader answered as if they were singing together. ¡°I don¡¯t know about the other kids, but you guys can¡¯t fool around.¡± ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, you¡¯re too harsh!¡± ¡°The athletics club should show a good example.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve just barely gotten closer with the other kids. We¡¯ll get branded again if we pretend that we¡¯re nerds during the retreat,¡± Cha So-Yeonined to Seok Kang-Ho, who had a mischievous expression. It was good to hear her say something that could be hurtful with ease. ¡°Sunbae-nim, can¡¯t you go with us?¡± Focused on eating his pork cutlet, Kang Chan wondered what they meant. ¡°You should go with us!¡± Cha So-Yeon continued. ¡°Only you guys would love it if I came. The rest of the eleventh-graders won¡¯t be able to have fun. Then you¡¯ll be branded forever,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°That¡¯s not true! There¡¯s actually a lot of kids in our ss that wish you would go.¡± ¡°Are they crazy?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked whileughing. ¡°You¡¯re a teacher, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho. How can you say something like that?¡± ¡°Phuhu.¡± This time, Kang Chanughed as well. He almost spilled his food, nearly making him a ¡®dirty fucker.¡¯ ¡°There¡¯s a lot of kids in the cafeteria that would get upset if you don¡¯te. They like your presence a lot because, nowadays, we all get to line up and eat in peace, and nobody bullies anyone anymore. That¡¯s why you should go with us, sunbae-nim!¡± Cha So-Yeon eximed again. ¡°Get a hold of yourself. How could a twelfth-grader go there?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°You can juste separately.¡± ¡°Where would I sleep?¡± ¡°You can sleep in the teacher¡¯s room. Or you can sleep in our room too.¡± If Kim Mi-Young heard that¡­ He didn¡¯t even want to imagine it. After they had eaten the pork cutlets, Kang Chan patted them on the back and told them to have fun, then told the ninth-graders and twelfth-graders toe and work out with the new workout equipment whenever it wasfortable for them, starting tomorrow. ¡°Let¡¯s go out somewhere with just the two of us after Ie back from the retreat,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°When are you getting your neck brace removed?¡± ¡°I decided to remove it by myself at dinner. I can move my neck around quite a bit now.¡± Seok Kang-Ho turned his head from side to side as a demonstration. ¡°But I¡¯m curious. Those fuckers aren¡¯t contacting us. Is there nothing else going on?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t tell him yet since the issue could distract him throughout the retreat. Hence, when Seok Kang-Ho had actually asked him about it, he couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®oh shoot!¡¯ ¡°I was actually thinking of telling you this after youe back from the retreat, but I actually met Lanok yesterday. I¡¯m talking about the Ambassador of France that we met at the ¡®Chiffre¡¯ presentation,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Ah! What did that gentleman say?¡± Kang Chan exhaled, then replied ¡°I was told that Shan is still alive.¡± ¡°W-w-what?¡± ¡°I made sure to split him from his heart all the way down to his side, but there had apparently been a call to France with the name, ¡®Ice of the Desert.¡¯ He said that there¡¯s a guy in South Korea that he has to kill, no matter what.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that the Chinese guys were going to take care of him?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°They¡¯ve apparently also sent money in France.¡± ¡°What? Doesn¡¯t that mean there¡¯s someone Shan has a backer after all? Hold on, then wouldn¡¯t we just need to find and grill the guy that sent the money?¡± ¡°I said that I was going to do that, but would you send money under a name that would easily get you caught?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Hmmm.¡± Seok Kang-Ho breathed out deeply. ¡°Just take care of yourself for now,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Speak for yourself. I was actually thinking of twisting your neck to prevent you from going anywhere.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t be able to rashly attack me since I¡¯m with the kids. I don¡¯t think that fucker Shan¡¯s the type to order another person to kill us, after all. Nothing big is going to happen until his body heals.¡± Kang Chan shook his head toward Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down. If that fucker is gnashing his teeth in anger, then this won¡¯t be an easy fight.¡± ¡°Jeez! I suddenly don¡¯t want to go to the retreat now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± Seok Kang-Ho imitated Kang Chan and made a displeased sound. ¡°Someone has to go in my stead, but there¡¯s no one suitable for that right now. I¡¯ll be careful, so be extra careful in the meantime. If it makes you ufortable, then just don¡¯te out of your room until Ie back.¡± Seok Kang-Ho wasn¡¯t the type to listen, and it was also hard to tell him to ignore school schedules. ¡°What are you going to do in the evening?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I¡¯m going to be at home.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll stop by your ce in the evening after I¡¯m done preparing for the trip. Let¡¯s have a cup of tea at Misari.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan headed home after their conversation ended. *** After arriving home and taking a simple shower, Kang Chan searched the inte about the drama productionpany that Michelle talked about. ¡®She said that an actor was affiliated with thatpany, which means that they work together and do something called management.¡¯ Now that he was on the topic, he looked into the actor named Eun So-Yeon. There were no eye-catching roles other than the fact that she was in the recent daily drama, This Time, I¡¯m Going to Do What I Want. as the youngest daughter. Kang Chan also looked into the ¡®D.I. Family¡¯, which was written as Eun So-Yeon¡¯s entertainment agency. There were no male actors, and they only had three female actresses. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Kang Chan was dumbfounded. Michelle didn¡¯t seem like she would try and soothe him with something like this. ¡®I¡¯ll ask herter.¡¯ 1. In Korea, even though it¡¯s called a break, there are ten optional half days at the beginning and end of each break, which is practically attended by all students Chapter 39，Part2: Lets End it (1)

Chapter39£¬Part2: Let''s End it (1)

Kang Chan looked into taking the entrance exam in the College of Physical Education. The practical exam! Wouldn¡¯t something like this work? He could just say that his specialty was something like ¡®closebat.¡¯ Since he had received an offer to be a closebat instructor even in France, shouldn¡¯t he be seen as a student that got treated as a professor, at the very minimum? ¡°Get a hold of yourself!¡± Kang Chan mumbled to himself. Yoo Hye-Sook soon called him from the living room. He walked out of his room and had watermelon with her. ¡°What are you going to do during the break?¡± Kang Chan first exined the athletics exam that he saw before, and answered that he was thinking of getting ready for that. ¡°What about studying abroad in France? You said that they¡¯ll even give you full schrships, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going there after studying in Korea for about two years. I also want to stay with you for a bit longer,¡± answered Kang Chan. ¡°Hurry up and eat, Chan. Do what¡¯s best for you. You don¡¯t have to take me into consideration.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook, holding a watermelon slice, looked so full of happiness. ¡°Aunt Seong-Hee has been spreading rumors, so I¡¯ve been getting a lot of that kind of calls nowadays. There were also a lot of calls asking me to look into studying abroad in France.¡± Kang Chan wanted to ask if it would be okay not to go to university but stopped as he didn¡¯t want to insist on breaking her happiness. He left the house after dinner, using Seok Kang-Ho as an excuse. ¡°Have fun, Chan.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s nasal twang got better with time. He could understand why Kang Dae-Kyung tried hard to be good to her, enough for him to look like he didn¡¯t have a spine. Even though Yoo Hye-Sook acted cute and smiled a lot, she would risk her life and rush forward if put in a situation where she had to protect her husband and son. She had guarded a patient ward and was prepared to die for them. Kang Chan could understand why Kang Dae-Kyung acted that way. Seeing a woman like her be happy made him happy as well. ¡®Would Mi-Young act like that as well?¡¯ Kang Chan shook his head. Their vibe and atmosphere were too different in all respects. Beep. Beep. When he went out to the entrance of the apartment, a different xon sound from before called Kang Chan. ¡°New cars really are great,¡±mented Seok Kang-Ho. They drove in a joyous mood and went to the outdoor table that was located in the restaurant they went to before. ¡°Have you finished preparing for the trip? Kang Chan asked. ¡°I just need to pack my clothes. Why? Are you worried?¡± ¡°Tsk! I¡¯m asking because you¡¯re still physically recovering.¡± Kang Chan thought he wouldin, but Seok Kang-Ho nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t let myself die in a strange manner. If something happens, then I¡¯ll run for my life. I¡¯m pretty good at running, remember?¡± Kang Chan just drank coffee. He was thinking of keeping the guards he had put on him a secret until the end. ¡°Let¡¯s visit the beach after the retreat,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°The sea?¡± ¡°Or the lower part of a mountain streamlet. It would be fun to take the athletics club members or Mi-Young there. Honestly, those ces are just generally fun to visit with a group.¡± ¡°Let''s do that.¡± Even though Kang Chan didn¡¯t know if they would actually go or not, there was no reason to insist on not going. ¡°It would¡¯ve been a really fun break if only that fucker Shan didn¡¯t exist.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s words were right on. They drank tea and talked about their time in Africa, how they fought after they drank in France, and how stupid Smithen was, then came back home. Seok Kang-Ho handed him the keys to the car after he parked it in the public parking lot. ¡°Keep that and use it when you need it. Since we¡¯re on break, It¡¯s going to be cumbersome if something happens and you need a ride.¡± ¡°Hey! I would rather take a taxi. Driving made me feel like I¡¯m going to be a killer if I¡¯m not careful.¡± ¡°Huhuhu. There¡¯s nothing like driving to increase your patience.¡± Seok Kang-Ho took the car that he originally rode and dropped off Kang Chan. ¡°Have fun,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Call me if something happens.¡± Seok Kang-Ho left the apartment when Kang Chan patted the roof of the car twice. ¡®I wouldn¡¯t be able to live without that fucker.¡¯ Kang Chan burst intoughter because of the sudden thought. *** On Tuesday morning, Seok Kang-Ho called him to say ¡°I¡¯m leaving now,¡± and Cha So-Yeon immediately texted him. [Pleasee if you change your mind, sunbae-nim. I asked the kids and they all said that they wish that you woulde.] Three days and four nights. Michelle had also said that she would tell him the results of their endeavor after this week had passed anyway, so Kang Chan decided to focus on working out, which he hadn¡¯t done in a while. ¡°I¡¯ll be back after I work out,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Chan! Drink this before you go.¡± Kang Chan walked closer to the table as Yoo Hye-Sook poured a dark liquid from a stic bag into a cup. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Working out has to be giving you a hard time, so I bought this.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smile. Not because of the medicine, but because Yoo Hye-Sook looked pretty while she cared for him. ¡°You should give that to my father instead. He¡¯s the one that¡¯s been having a really hard time,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°I prepared one for your father as well. Your dad will get sulky if I don¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± She didn¡¯t make herself one. ¡°Drink up. I¡¯m okay. I feel full just by watching you eat, and I gain strength just by watching you take the medicine,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°This isn¡¯t right.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy some for myself next time.¡± The look in her eyes made him drink it. ¡°Where do you buy something like this?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°There¡¯s a herbal clinic in front of the apartment. That¡¯s where I bought it.¡± He drank herbal medicine for the first time in his life. In his previous life, he never took vitamins. He was thankful and happy not because of the medicine itself but because he was getting this much love and attention. ¡°That¡¯s amazing. I¡¯m feeling strengthened already,¡± He said before leaving the house. He wasn¡¯t aware of it until now since it never interested him, but the building inside the entrance had a sign that said ¡®Herbal Clinic.¡¯ The Herbal Clinic quickly understood who he was referring to when he mentioned Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Chan requested the medicine based on her previous medical records and then paid for it. Fortunately, he had already gotten a debit card. ¡°Should we deliver it to your apartment?¡± What should I do? Kang Chan thought about it for a moment, then said that he¡¯de back to pick it up himself before heading to school. He needed to go home for dinner anyway, plus he thought the delivery would fluster Yoo Hye-Sook. ~ A school being empty didn¡¯t feel right. The ninth-graders that were on the sports field all greeted him, and he just smiled in response because they didn¡¯t seem afraid anymore. After warming up, Kang Chan went into the athletic club room and worked out using the equipment. Water, exercise. Water, exercise. And when his muscles could no longer take any more strains, he practiced his closebat skills. The main point was to pinpoint the middle of the opponent¡¯s movement with the end of his finger. Bare hands vs. bay. Bay vs. bare hands. Bay vs. bay. The movements slightly differed ording to who held the sword. It was such a subtle difference that even the gangsters who had a bit of talent wouldn¡¯t be able to understand it properly. ¡°Huk huk.¡± Kang Chan sat on a chair, feeling healthy fatigue after so long. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª Kang Chan urgently picked up his phone when it started to vibrate. [Where are you?] It was Kim Mi-Young. Kang Chan called right away. - Chan! ¡°I¡¯m at school working out.¡± - I finished with hagwon. Should I stop by there so we can go home together? ¡°Sure.¡± It looked like even Kim Mi-Young had spare time since they were on break. While Kang Chan was warming up again, the athletics club room door rattled open, and Kim Mi-Young went in. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Kim Mi-Young ran into Kang Chan¡¯s arms as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve been missing you so much since yesterday evening,¡± said Kim Mi-Young. ¡°You¡¯re going to get sweat on you.¡± He couldn¡¯t even stroke her back because his arm was also full of sweat. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll just stay like this for a moment.¡± Their roles seemed to have changed somehow, but that wasn¡¯t a bad thing. He was wearing a thin shirt and thin rubber band pants because he was working out. When he felt Kim Mi-Young¡¯s chest, his body got hot, even though she wasn¡¯t Michelle. ¡°Stop,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Okay.¡± She now looked flustered for running and hugging him out of nowhere. Kang Chan decided to go home. If he was going to walk, then there was no reason to insist on washing up in the night-duty room. Chatter chatter. As they talked about different topics, Kim Mi-Young told him that there were times when she asionally missed him so much. ¡°I¡¯ll be having two days off from hagwon. Since I¡¯m going on a family vacation during one of them, we can use the other to go out,¡± Kim Mi-Young suggested. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. And if you have time, call me ande to school so we can go home together.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± After Kang Chan sent home a happy Kim Mi-Young, he picked up the herbal medicine from the clinic before going up to the apartment. ¡°Wee home. What¡¯s that?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. Kang Chan wordlessly passed her the box of medicine while holding onto it with the handle. ¡°This is¡­!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook raised her gaze from it. ¡°I received some money from Gong Te automobile for interpreting for them. I wanted all of us to have medicine together.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook had a nk expression on her face. ¡°I¡¯m going to wash up,¡± said Kang Chan. Kang Chan got some clothes and went back out to the living room, finding Yoo Hye-Sook wiping her tears. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I feel like my heart is going to explode out of happiness.¡± Kang Chan moved closer to her and hugged her lightly. ¡°Stay healthy, okay? When you were sickst time, my father and I didn¡¯t feel happy at all.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook ended up smiling with tears in her eyes. After that, Kang Chan washed up and had dinner with her. Around 7:30 pm, he went to his room and turned on theputer. However, just as the wallpaper on his monitor popped up¡­ Thump. Thump. His heart began to beat in an unusual way. He had never felt this way since he reincarnated. After all, this only ever happened to him when he was on the battlefield. Thump. Thump. It meant that something dangerous was right around the corner. Kang Chan nced at the door. Yoo Hye-Sook was in the living room. Thump. Thump. Was this a warning that Kang Dae-Kyung, Seok Kang-Ho, or Kim Mi-Young was in danger?* Is it one out of the three of them? Where are they? Who do I have to protect? Badum badum. He first needed to call and talk to the securitypany¡¯s Kim Tae-Jin. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª? Kang Chan had just stretched his hand to get the phone on his desk when it started vibrating. On the screen, the name ¡®Seok Kang-Ho'' appeared. Chapter 40，Part1: Lets End It (2)

Chapter40£¬Part1: Let''s End It (2)

Kang Chan immediately answered the call. There was no need for a lengthy speech in this situation. ¡°It¡¯s me. Exin the situation.¡± - You knew? I¡¯m in the lodging in the middle of Jiri Mountain. They called me and told me toe out alone quietly. If I don¡¯t, they said they¡¯ll kill my wife and daughter. This was an unexpected course of events. ¡°Can you get in touch with them?¡± - Both of them aren¡¯t answering their phones. Seok Kang-Ho seemed like he was at least a little bit relieved. ¡°Tell me your home address and their phone numbers.¡± Seok Kang-Ho gave him his address and his family members¡¯ phone numbers. He then gave him the phone number used to threaten him. ¡°Don¡¯t move until I call you.¡± - Understood. By the time Kang Chan had ended the call, his heartbeat had settled down a bit. Kang Chan immediately called Kim Tae-Jin. - Hello? ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± - Kang Chan? Ah! Mr. Kang Chan! How can I help you? ¡°Are you aware that there are guys scattered near Seok Kang-Ho?¡± - Pardon? What did you just say? ¡°I think there are people skulking at Jiri Mountain. They¡¯ve told Seok Kang-Ho toe out of the lodging by himself, and he has no choice but to obey because his family¡¯s being used as hostages. You and the team just need to protect Seok Kang-Ho until I save the hostages. A moment of silence passed. - Are you sure? Kim Tae-Jin sounded surprisingly calm. - Let¡¯s report this to the police. ¡°Mr. President, they¡¯re from the Chinese mafia. And they¡¯ve also got a grudge, so it won¡¯t take much for them to start hurting the hostages.¡± - Okay. Where are the hostages? ¡°I¡¯m nning on going to their house.¡± - The chances of the hostages being there are almost zero. Do you know their phone numbers? If you do, then please tell me. We¡¯ll be able to locate them in 5 minutes. Kang Chan told him all the numbers Seok Kang-Ho provided, including the one used to threaten him. He then changed and stuffed his phone, car key, a cotton shirt, and workout pants in a bag and left the room. In an attempt to hide the fury in his eyes, he rubbed them with his palm. ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho is going to the retreat for the eleventh-graders today, and he just called to tell me I should join them since they¡¯re leavingter.¡± ¡°To the retreat?¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯m popr. He said that he¡¯s already waiting outside.¡± She seemed somewhat suspicious of it but didn¡¯t say anything else other than to be careful. Kang Chan called Seok Kang-Ho as he ran down the stairs. ¡°It¡¯s me. I actually put a person from a securitypany on you. Answer the phone if they call. And they said that they can locate your wife and daughter within 5 minutes. I¡¯m going to go and take care of it, so¡­¡± After leaving his ce, Kang Chan ran towards the apartmentplex exit. ¡°Endure it until then.¡± - Thank you. Call me once you¡¯ve saved my family. All this anger boiling up inside me is making it so hard to just stand by and wait. ¡°Alright.¡± No matter what anyone said to reassure him, Kang Chan would¡¯ve had a hard time enduring through a situation where Kang Dae-Kyung or Yoo Hye-Sook had been taken hostage. That was why he couldn¡¯t tell Seok kang-Ho to stay still. Kang Chan got in the taxi and headed to the public parking lot, making another call in the process. - Hi! Chany. ¡°Smithen, Seok Kang-Ho is in danger. Lock the door and don¡¯t go anywhere no matter what.¡± - Oh! I¡¯m in the department store, but I¡¯ll leave now. ¡°Then get out of there immediately and go to the Namsan hotel by taxi. And stay in the room until I call you. - Okay, Chany! When he spoke French, the taxi driver had just peeked behind him. Then, Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang. - The two of them are together. They¡¯re at a flower farm in Hanam. ¡°Please text me their address.¡± - I¡¯m going as well, Mr. Kang Chan, so please wait. ¡°I should be nearby. So please send me the address first.¡± - Alright. But don¡¯t move on your own no matter what happens. Wait until I get there. He got a text message when he ended the call. Arriving in the public parking lot, he got into his car and started it. Kang Chan entered the address in the GPS device and pressed ¡®guide.¡¯ It said it would take him about 30 minutes to arrive at the destination. The tires started screeching. He drove like a lunatic and was able to drive with more speed as he went onto the highway. When the speedometer showed 160km/h, the woman in the GPS device started to yell desperately that this was a speed-enforced area. After driving for about 10 more minutes, he merged into the exitne on the right, left the highway, then crossed a bridge. After five more minutes, he finally arrived at his destination. It was arge greenhouseplex with more than twenty units. Within it, Kang Chan saw a van and a car parked near one of the greenhouses that had a thick fabric surrounding it for heat instion. Kang Chan went past the greenhouseplex and parked the car on the curve which was a blindspot that prevented them from seeing the other side. As soon as he exited the car, he opened the trunk and took out a handspan-long screwdriver in the toolbox. He then put it in the back pocket of his jeans. His body condition wasn¡¯t that bad. Kang Chan called for thest time. - Hello? ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek. I¡¯m at Hanam. Mr. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s family is being held hostage here. I¡¯ll text you the address, so please clean up afterward.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek momentarily grew silent but soon replied, sounding quite shocked. - Hanam? Hey! I can get there in 20 minutes¡ªno, 10 minutes! So just tell me where they are and wait for a moment! I''m going. I¡¯m going to go, so¡­. ¡°Look at your text messages.¡± After he ended the call, Kang Chan sent Oh Gwang-Taek the text that Kim Tae-Jin had sent him. It¡¯s done. Kang Chan threw his phone in the car and locked the car door. They could be watching from a distance. After stuffing his keys in a patch of overgrown grass by the side of the road, he slowly walked to the other end of the greenhouse, where there was a creek with a disgusting odor. Thankfully there wasn¡¯t any separate surveince. That much was to be expected, though, since it would be difficult to deploy that unless it was a military operation. Kang Chan lowered his stance and quickly moved toward his targeted greenhouse. It was quite far away. The next unit had a car parked in its vicinity. He could see the outline of the greenhouse since it was made of stic. Kang Chan lowered himself further until he was almost lying down on his stomach. Carefully looking inside, he found two guys in baggy suits standing by. If they had guards even at the other side of the entrance, then there would be quite a lot of people here. There were two guys. Kang Chan took out the screwdriver that he had ced in his back pocket and held it in a reverse grip. Those sons of bitches are?holding a family hostage. The greenhouse was seven to eight meters long. Fortunately, it was just by the roadside, so the sound of the cars driving by was quite loud, and its floor was made up of soil. One of the fuckers put his hand in his pocket. Kang Chan examined his surroundings onest time. The two guys were talking while facing each other, giving Kang Chan a clear view of the back of one of them. He heard themugh loudly. Chinese. When the guy with his back toward Kang Chan jabbered about something, the otherughed so hard he leaned back. Tatata. Kang Chan ran out like a sprinter. Amid hisugh, the expression of the man facing Kang Chan¡¯s direction suddenly hardened when he started running toward them. Stab. Kang Chan stabbed through the man¡¯s adam¡¯s apple with his screwdriver. People wouldn¡¯t be able to make loud noises immediately with their vocal cords pierced. ¡°Gah. Guhh.¡± Crack! Kang Chan twisted the neck of the guy whose back was facing him in the same direction the guy turned his head to look at the source of themotion. Kang Chan then pounced and twisted the neck of the guy he had stabbed with the screwdriver. Crack. Kang Chan quickly caught the guy andid him down on the floor silently to prevent him from falling, which would¡¯ve caused a lot of noise. Seemingly copsing, the first guy had sunk to his knees so he didn¡¯t make that much noise, but this fucker fell over to the side. Noticing they had knives strapped at the back of their waist, Kang Chan took both of them by the handle. He then lowered his stance again and headed toward the entrance. He saw about four men inside the van. But he couldn¡¯t actually scout the greenhouse¡¯s interior since it was covered by a dark fabric. Kang Chan thought about going inside through the entrance, but the guys in the van weighed on his mind. He wasn¡¯t afraid of their numbers, but he was worried they might get the chance to hurt the hostages as he fought them. Kang Chan again moved toward the area where the two guys had copsed. He then stood closer to the greenhouse by the farm¡¯s entrance. After Kang Chan took out the knife and cut the string that held the fabric together, he carefully started to cut the inside part of the iron support. ¡®Phew.¡¯ A middle-aged woman that looked like Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s wife sat against the greenhouse while holding onto her daughter. One, two, three, four, five¡­ Six men in total. Three of the fuckers had ced chairs together and were lying on top of them while two of them were sitting and looking into their phones. Thest fucker was the problem. He had his knife out and was scratching his cheek with the end of it. The key to winning this fight depended on how fast he had gone in. Kang Chan didn¡¯t have that much time to think either since he didn¡¯t know what kinds of things Seok Kang-Ho could go through. He used his knife to carefully cut the vinyl near the iron support. Due to the knife¡¯s extremely sharp de, the vinyl didn¡¯t even make a sound while he was cutting through it. 1. Hanam is a city in South Korea Chapter 40，Part2: Lets End It (2)

Chapter40£¬Part2: Let''s End It (2)

Kang Chan examined what was in front of him, including the floor that led to his target. It would be hard to believe, but there had been cases of people tripping while running in battle. Not only were they nervous, but they also didn¡¯t examine the floor. This resulted in either stepping on a sunken part of the ground or their feet getting caught on a jagged stone, which would''ve never happened under normal circumstances. Creak. As Kang Chan examined the greenhouse¡¯s interior again to see if he missed anyone, the door of the entrance opened, and two guys walked inside. It seemed like it was rotation time. The guy holding the knife was moving toward the entrance. Smack. Kang Chan pushed against the vinyl and immediately ran forward. ¡°ÄãÊÇ˭ѽ?(Who are you?)¡± Whish! Kang Chan threw the knife with all his might. The guy with the knife! Kang Chan wanted to aim for his neck or forehead, but he aimed for the body instead since he wasn¡¯t used to his weapon. Stab! ¡°Uurgh!¡± It embedded below his target¡¯s heart, causing him to copse as he screamed. ¡°Aaaghhh!¡± When Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s wife and daughter embraced each other, Kang Chan was in front of them. ¡°Who?¡± one of them asked. All seven guys pulled out a knife and surrounded Kang Chan. The door then burst open, and the two men that had just left entered again. Surprised, they jabbered, seemingly about the two guys that died. ¡°Aren¡¯t you Kang Chan?¡± The guy with the mustache had just asked with a strange ent. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho sent me,¡± Kang Chan slightly twisted his head toward the back and quickly told Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s wife and daughter. ¡°Hold on for just a little longer.¡± When the mustache guy quickly spoke in Chinese, the others widened their perimeter around Kang Chan. ¡®This could be dangerous.¡¯ Kang Chan now had to fight and block all three directions in one spot. Thankfully, the hostages had their backs against the greenhouse, but if Kang Chan didn¡¯t protect them, his opponents would immediately seize that opportunity to stab them. The two guys standing on Kang Chan¡¯s nks climbed up the walls of the greenhouse and waited for a chance to attack the hostages. The three guys that stood facing Kang Chan took a different stance than the rest. They seemed to have learned martial arts. Swish! Just as Kang Chan leaned backward to avoid the dagger swinging past him, the guy standing by to his left swung his knife toward the hostages. Shick. Stab. Stab. ¡°Gahh.¡± Kang Chan snatched and stabbed the guy¡¯s wrist. Slice! However, they managed to cut Kang Chan¡¯s right shoulder in return. ¡°Argh!¡± It happened in an instant. Kang Chan would¡¯ve stabbed him more than three times if he could, but the trio in front of him was skilled enough to prevent him from getting that much of an opportunity. While the guy whose forearm had been stabbed retreated, the other two attacked Kang Chan. And because the knives were serrated, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to remove them once they were embedded. Swish! Swish! ¡°Argh!¡± The guys on either side of Kang Chan deliberately looked for an opportunity to attack the hostages, while those in front of him looked for an opportunity to attack him. Swish! The guy on the right swung the knife toward the hostages. Stab. Slice! Kang Chan stabbed the guy¡¯s forearm and sliced his armpit¡­ Slice! Slice! But they cut his left shoulder and forearm in retaliation. ¡®Tsk!¡¯ They first deliberately attacked the hostages to create an opening in their defenses. He had to persevere through this situation since he couldn¡¯t just rashly pounce on them. Screech. As Kang Chan red at the guy in front of him, the door of the greenhouse opened, and Kim Tae-Jin entered wearing dress pants and a shirt. He didn¡¯t seem too surprised with what he found in the greenhouse. The first guy to have his forearm stabbed pounced on Kim Tae-Jin. Smack.?Pow. Pow. Pow. Kim Tae-Jin swatted away the guy¡¯s wrist, then continued to hit the guy in the pit of his stomach, neck, and chin. Afterward, he immediately picked up the knife that had been dropped to the floor and came toward Kang Chan¡¯s side. ¡°I told you to wait,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°You can protect the two people behind us, right?¡± ¡°I should be able to do that.¡± He had already seen Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s capabilities. It¡¯s going to be a bit different from now on! When Kim Tae-Jin answered, Kang Chan immediately took a step forward. Martial arts? Without any hostages, they weren¡¯t that powerful. Holding his knife in a reverse grip, he twisted his body, seemingly about to pounce on the guy on the left, then stretched out his knife toward the neck of the guy to his right. Swish! Just like he anticipated, the guy in the middle tried to stab him. Tok! Kang Chan wouldn¡¯t be able to catch that kind of knife. Screech! Hence, stabbed the groove on the back of his opponent¡¯s weapon instead. Stab! When Kang Chan grabbed his target¡¯s wrist with his left hand, he hit Kang Chan¡¯s right eye with his left hand. Stab. After piercing through his opponent¡¯s forearm in his grasp, Kang Chan swiftly moved backward. ¡°Aagh!¡± Stab! Even while he was screaming, the guy hit the back of Kang Chan''s neck. Stab. Stab. Stab Meanwhile, Kang Chan stabbed the guy¡¯s chest twice, then the back of his neck. ¡°Guhh.¡± Thud. The chances of this guy surviving were low. Kang Chan red at the two remaining enemies. Slice. Slice! Kim Tae-Jin and the guy that pounced on him each attacked each other. The two hostages were so terrified they couldn''t even scream. They could only hang their heads low while embracing each other. ¡°What are you doing?! Kill the hostages quick!¡± Swish! Just as the mustache man yelled in anger, Kang Chan threw his knife toward the guy to his left. Stab! ¡°Gahh!¡± Thud. Kim Tae-Jin handed him a knife when Kang Chan extended his hand, then he quickly picked up the knife of the guy that had fallen. ¡°Do it again, you son of a bitch!¡± Swish! When Kang Chan thrust one of his knives forward, the guy in front of him flinched. Swish! Kang Chan then violently threw it at the guy to his right. Stab. Damn it! Holding onto the knife embedded in his chest, the guy hesitantly moved back. Son of a bitch! I need to take his knife away! As soon as Kim Tae-Jin handed Kang Chan a knife, Kang Chan pounced on their enemy. Swish! The mafia member in front of him swung at him and quickly moved away. It was taking too long, which meant Seok Kang-Ho was in that much more danger. Creak. After a while, the door opened for the second time. ¡°What the hell is this?!¡± someone eximed. It was Oh Gwang-Taek. And behind him entered more than twenty guys. They had iron pipes, filet knives, and baseball bats. Whoosh. With the Chinese mafia members flustered, Kang Chan immediately lunged forward. Slice! Slice! Slice! Kang Chan swiftly swung his weapon at his opponent with every flip of his arm, slitting the necks of two of his opponents open. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Kang Chan then stabbed the enemy¡¯s shoulder and nape without mercy. ¡°Urgh.¡± Thud. One guy had copsed, and the other had twisted due to the knife still stuck between his shoulder and neck. They dared to touch his family? That person twisting in pain was the same that tried to kill the hostages until thest moment. Oh Gwang-Taek approached Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Slice! Thud. His opponent had already copsed, yet Kang Chan was still enraged. ¡°I said that¡¯s enough. Is your shoulder okay?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek asked again. ¡°Phew. Thanks foring.¡± Kang Chan looked at the injury on his shoulder, then turned his head toward Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Please contact those around Mr. Seok Kang-Ho,¡± Kang Chan said. As Kim Tae-Jin took out his phone from his pants while covering his wound, Kang Chan approached Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s wife, who was in tears. ¡°Please stay at the hotel for now. I¡¯ll give you a call as soon as I get in touch with the teacher,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s wife. It looked like she didn¡¯t understand what he said, but she nodded anyway. Their daughter, who looked to be in middle school, caught a clearer view of Kang Chan. ¡°They¡¯re not answering the phone,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. When Kang Chan stood up, Kim Tae-Jin looked into his phone and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on him, so please take care of his family members,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Let¡¯s use my car. We¡¯ll be able to reach him a bit quicker since it has a siren installed,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. That wasn¡¯t bad either. Kang Chan urgently sought out Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°Please apany these two in the Namsan hotel until I call. And clean up here as well.¡± ¡°I¡¯lle with you guys.¡± ¡°You should stay here. I feel like more of these fuckers are in Seoul.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek gritted his teeth and red at the three guys that had copsed a moment ago. ¡°Go!¡± Oh Gwang-Taek yelled. ¡°Thanks.¡± Kang Chan left, and Kim Tae-Jin followed him. Kang Chan first went to his car and took his phone and bag. Kim Tae-Jin had arge ck car, which was parked right in front of Kang Chan¡¯s. It was time to go. Kim Tae-Jin took a pistol out of his pocket and threw it into the back seat. ¡°You had a gun?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s a gas gun, so it¡¯s useless in that kind of fight.¡± When Kim Tae-Jin started the police car and pressed a switch, the siren on it red, and the warning lights on top of the partition at the rear window started shing quickly. Kang Chan called Seok Kang-Ho three times, but he didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Do you know where in Jiri Mountain he is?¡± Kim Tae-Jin inquired. ¡°I should be able to find out on our way there.¡± The car elerated swiftly. Kang Chan took out the thin cotton shirt from his bag, ripped it apart, and tied it around his wounds. Kim Tae-Jin nced at him, then took a strip of the same cotton shirt that Kang Chan had handed over. He wrapped up his forearm without saying anything. ¡°Phew!¡± Kang Chan eximed. Blood seeped through, but he felt morefortable with pressure constantly being applied to his wounds. The car had already entered the highway. ¡°The road will be quieter after about an hour. There¡¯s a medicine box with bandages in the trunk, so we should be able to patch up our injuries properly once we reach a more secluded area,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. Kang Chan turned and looked at Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°It had been such a long time since I used it, so I forgot.¡± Why would the president of a securitypany fight with knives, after all? 1. This was written as ?? which is a transliteration of ¡®who¡¯ in Chinese. Chapter 41，Part1: Lets End it (3)

Chapter41£¬Part1: Let''s End it (3)

After they entered the highway, Kim Tae-Jin drove as if he was driving a car without brakes. ¡°Where did you learn how to tie the knot?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. When Kang Chan looked at him with confusion, Kim Tae-Jin gestured toward his shoulder and forearm with his chin. ¡°Not only that, but you¡¯re also friends with Oh Gwang-Taek and have the close-quartersbat skills of a special forces unit. And you stabbed someone with a knife without a moment of hesitation.¡± Kim Tae-Jin shook his head from side to side. ¡°I want to have you as an instructor for ourpany immediately. To be honest, if it weren¡¯t for your age, I¡¯d want to spar against you.¡± Taking it as empty words, Kang Chan looked through his contact list. ¡°How many people have you killed?¡± Kim Tae-Jin prodded. Why is he asking me that? When Kang Chan raised his gaze from the phone, Kim Tae-Jin was looking straight ahead. It was already 9:30 pm. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t focus as his nerves were on edge. He was worried about the state Seok Kang-Ho would be in. Kang Chan called Cha So-Yeon, who answered after three rings. - Sunbae-nim! ¡°Yeah. Where are you guys staying right now?¡± - Why? Are youing? ¡°That¡¯s not it. I¡¯m just nning on pranking Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.¡± - That¡¯s a shame. Near Cha So-Yeon, he could hear the girls chorusing, ¡°Pleasee over, sunbae-nim!¡± - We¡¯re in the Youth hostel in Jiri Mountain¡¯s Natural Recreational Forest! ¡°Really?¡± - Mr. Seok Kang-Ho left earlier with his three guests, all of which were wearing suits. Kang Chan tightly gritted his teeth. ¡°Okay. Anything else?¡± - The kids keep saying that we should try drinking alcohol. ¡°Okay. Have fun.¡± - Yes, sunbae-nim. Keep safe. Kang Chan ended the call and told Kim Tae-Jin the address that Cha So-Yeon provided. ¡°I know that ce,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. The car¡¯s speedometer rarely went below 200km/h. ¡°If my guys can¡¯t get in touch with me, then I don¡¯t think this situation¡¯s going to end quietly. ¡± Kim Tae-Jin examined the difficulties of their circumstances as if he was talking to himself. ¡°What do you want the police to do? They listen to me to some extent,¡± He asked. ¡°It¡¯s best if they turn a blind eye to all of this until I contact them.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kim Tae-Jin nodded. After speeding nonstop, they stopped at a simple service area. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the trunk,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. The two got out of the car, and Kim Tae-Jin opened the trunk and took out arge box. Click. When he opened it, Kang Chan first saw bandages and several different medications. Kim Tae-Jin opened the trunk and took out arge box. He gestured at it with his gaze, seemingly suggesting that Kang Chan should take a look inside. ¡°There¡¯s a bay in there, which I used when I was in the DMZ. There are other things as well. Feel free to take out anything you like,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Thank you.¡± Kang Chan took out the bay, a thin wire, and a camo cream. Kim Tae-Jin returned the medicine partition to the first aid kit, took bandages from the medicine partition, and skillfully tied it around Kang Chan¡¯s injuries. Kang Chan¡¯s wounds already had blood clots closing them. However, they reopened, and he began to bleed again. He had previously bandaged them up with a ripped cotton strip, but that was nothingpared to actual bandages. Kang Chan took out a different shirt from his bag and changed into it, hiding his injuries underneath it. They left after putting the box back in the trunk. ¡°Is it alright if I smoke?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Only if you open the window.¡± Kang Chan retrieved a cigarette and lighter from his bag and bit down on the cigarette. ng. Chik. It felt like there was a typhoon inside the car due to how fast they were going. ¡°Let¡¯s buy a few rows of kimbap at the next service area,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°Sure.¡± As Kang Chan extinguished the cigarette, his phone rang. - We¡¯ve escorted Mr. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s wife and daughter to the Namsan hotel. I¡¯ve also ordered my guys to stand by in the rooms next door and in front of it, so you don¡¯t have to worry about them anymore. ¡°Thanks for your help, as always.¡± - And we¡¯ve taken care of the four corpses. As for the remaining fuckers, we¡¯re going to fuck them up ande to an agreement with the Japanese gang leader. So don¡¯t worry about them either. ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek.¡± - What? Kang Chan wanted to thank him, but he already did. He wanted to apologize for what happenedst time as well, but he couldn¡¯t get the words out. Kang Chan heardughter over the phone. - You even know president Kim Tae-Jin? ¡°I got to know him through this issue.¡± - Sure enough, I¡¯m crazy for trying to understand a guy like you. Kang Chan smirked. - We¡¯ll leave in about 5 minutes. Where do we need to go? ¡°I¡¯m beginning to feel ufortable with how helpful you¡¯re being.¡± - I¡¯m hanging up. The call ended immediately. Kim Tae-Jin only focused on driving, seemingly uninterested in Kang Chan¡¯s phone call. They arrived at the next service area after about 30 minutes. Kim Tae-Jin parked the car, ran out by himself, and bought two iced coffees and four rows of kimbap. ¡°It¡¯ll be best to eat it now since we¡¯re going to arrive in an hour. I made the coffee a bit stronger on purpose.¡± Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s voice sounded like he was taking care of a junior soldier that would be going out on a military operation. Kang Chan didn¡¯t feel bad because he felt like he met a senior soldier in the military. They ced the coffee and kimbap on top of the trunk and ate while standing up. ¡°The employees I put on guard duty have transmitters in their shoes. I¡¯ll give you the tracker, which should prove useful.¡± Kang Chan wordlessly drank the iced coffee. After finishing up their meals in two minutes, they disposed of their trash and left. On the road, Kang Chan opened the glove box in front of the passenger seat as Kim Tae-Jin suggested, finding a palm-sized tracker inside it. ¡°It won¡¯t be able to catch a signal yet because we¡¯re still far from them, but it should start working properly when we¡¯re within two kilometers of them since we¡¯re deep in the mountain. Would that be enough?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°It should be.¡± As Kim Tae-Jin drove, Kang Chan smoked another cigarette and heedlessly looked outside the window. ¡®Just be alive.¡¯ He clenched his teeth. ¡®Don¡¯t turn me into a killer.¡¯ He also wanted to let Seok Kang-Ho know that his wife and daughter were safe. However, although he had the number of the person threatening Seok Kang-Ho, he couldn¡¯t just give it a call. He was afraid doing so would just make them more cautious and make things worse. The Natural Recreational Forest of Jiri Mountain. A sign appeared not long after the road started to get curvy, but Kim Tae-Jin still didn¡¯t slow down much even while turning the corner. After about 15 more minutes, they arrived at arge building with a sign that said ¡®Youth Hostel.¡¯ Kim Tae-Jin parked the car near the front of the hostel, but the tracker still didn''t pick up any signals. ¡°At this point, they¡¯re either at the pension house or the vi in the inner part of the mountain,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. As Kim Tae-Jin tilted his head, Kang Chan saw a red light sh on the tracker, but it swiftly disappeared. Kang Chan pointed to where it was, then looked around the surroundings. Looking at the direction of the signal, it seemed to havee from the mountain to the right of the hostel. ¡°They¡¯re probably at that mountain,¡± Kang Chanmented. Kim Tae-Jin drove the car into the parking lot at the back of the building. ¡°Since they didn¡¯t contact you even after kidnapping Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, it probably didn¡¯t go well.¡± He didn¡¯t have the time to respond to that kind of talk. Kang Chan wrapped the thin wire around his left hand, then took out the camo cream and applied it to his face. On the mirror of the passenger seat¡¯s sun visor, Kang Chan¡¯s eyes were burning. ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± Seemingly unable to let Kang Chan go alone, Kim Tae-Jin tried to get out of the car while sighing. Kang Chan grabbed onto his forearm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but please stay here. Fend off the police and look for hospitals that we can take Seok Kang-Ho or the employees to. It will be difficult for both of us if word gets out.¡± Kim Tae-Jin tightly gritted his teeth and looked straight at Kang Chan. ¡°Are you confident that you¡¯lle back alive?¡± ¡°Seok Kang-Ho wille back alive.¡± Kim Tae-Jin smiled strangely. ¡°This will sound shameless, but please look out for our members as well. I¡¯ll give back twice the amount of the downpayment in return,¡± He requested. Kang Chan thought it was great he got to meet someone like him. Kang Chan got out of the car and red at where the signal came from. There was a short wall made out of rocks near the back of the parking lot. ¡°Whoo.¡± Kang Chan breathed out loudly, kicked a rock, and went up the mountain. The mountain was steep, but it was still summer, so the tree trunks were still sturdy and strong. That helped a lot. After he climbed for about 10 minutes, the mountain became tter, but he still couldn¡¯t move rashly due to the shadows formed by the Youth Hostel¡¯s lights. Kang Chan caught his breath again. Rather than the enemy appearing, what he was truly afraid of was discovering Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s corpse. Chapter 41，Part2: Lets End it (3)

Chapter41£¬Part2: Let''s End it (3)

Kang Chan carefully made his way through the forest but suddenly froze, seemingly unable to move any further. Seok Kang-Ho was dangling upside down on arge tree, his arms tied behind him. Is he dead? Kang Chan¡¯s heart sank upon noticing Seok Kang-Ho wasn¡¯t moving at all. He didn¡¯t know how long it had been, but if Seok Kang-Ho had been in that state the entire time Kang Chan and Kim Tae-Jin had been driving down from Seoul, then he¡¯d be in a critical state even if he was alive. There were also three men that looked like security guards tied to the trunk of the tree. They could be booby-trapped or just used to lure him out, but they were most definitely baits. How long could a person stay alive while hanging upside down? It differed for every individual, but four hours was the absolute human limit. Once blood burst out from the victim¡¯s ear and nose after their eyes bled, it was basically over for them. Kang Chan wielded his dagger in a reverse grip. Step. Step. There was no need to walk quietly. The tied-up security guards profusely shook their heads when they saw Kang Chan. Blood had dried in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s hair, and they had put a gag on his mouth. ¡°Seok Kang-Ho.¡± Kang Chan called out to him before doing anything else. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± He couldn¡¯t talk properly, which meant his vocal cords couldn¡¯t move due to all the blood concentrated in his head. He also probably couldn¡¯t think or make sound judgments. ¡°Your family is safe.¡± ¡°Phuhu¡­¡± Among the shadows, there were guys crammed up on all sides apart from where Kang Chan came from. ¡°You should leave, Captain. Kill all of these sons of bitches for meter.¡± Seemingly having been lying in wait, more than ten guys with katanas stepped into view. ¡°Daye.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Did you forget who I am?¡± Seok Kang-Ho didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Jeez, this is so piteous I can¡¯t watch anymore,¡± one of their opponents said out of nowhere. ¡°You thought you¡¯d gotten rid of us, didn¡¯t you, Kang Chan? This is your and that fucker¡¯s grave. Then it¡¯ll be Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s grave. Do you understand, you son of a bitch?¡± Kang Chan sharply red at his surroundings. There were more than fifty men, and among them was someone he recognized: the guy that said he¡¯d twist his neck one day in front of the school. Kang Chan cracked his neck from side to side as he smirked. He nned to kill all of them as quickly as he could. That was the only way to save Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Huhu. We were told you¡¯ll definitelye alone if we capture that teacher by using his family as bait, but I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d reallye. I¡¯ll acknowledge one thing, though: your obnoxious guts.¡± Shan! Shan was clearly backing these fuckers. Kang Chan slowly walked forward, watching his opponents lift their weapons up. Tatata. Kang Chan then burst into a charge. Swish. The guy in front of him swung his katana downward. ¡®Dickhead!¡¯ Slice! Kang Chan narrowly avoided it, then sliced the guy¡¯s neck with the bay. Clink nk. ¡°Cough!¡± Kang Chan¡¯s victim grabbed his neck, his blood seeping through his fingers and bursting out of him like a fountain. Swish. Just like what the guy was doing, long, ded weapons needed to be swung diagonally to minimize the areas one could use to dodge. Kang Chan jumped backward and immediately pounced on him. Thud. He grabbed a wrist that was in the middle of moving up, then headbutted the guy. Slice! Afterward, Kang Chan ended his new target¡¯s life. Pak! Kang Chan mmed into the guy whose blood was gushing out and shoved him forward. Slice! Slice! Slice! Having been stabbed thrice, the guy started to lose consciousness, leaving only the whites of his eyes visible. Stab! At the same time, Kang Chan pushed back the head of the man he previously used as a shield, then stabbed the nape of the enemy right behind him. ¡°Urgh!¡± Slice! Slice! While his knife was still embedded in his target, Kang Chan pulled his target toward him and used him to block two attacks. Stab! Kang Chan turned as he thrust the dagger deep into the chest of the guy beside him, then charged onward, pushing him along. ¡°Agh! Aaaagh! Aaagh!¡± With his lungs pierced, the man screamed desperately. Whoosh. Kang Chan twisted the knife, and the guy swiftly lost strength. Slice! The right side of his back stiffened. Pow. Pow. Pow. Kang Chan grabbed the guy that still had a knife embedded in him and used him as a shield. Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Four knives swiftly stabbed into Kang Chan¡¯s meatshield. Swish! A filet knife then flew toward him, which he grabbed the inner part of with his left hand. ng. He caught the de¡¯s inner edge right in his hand since he had wrapped it with wire. Pow! ¡°Urgh!¡± Right after, Kang Chan stabbed it into the guy¡¯s forearm and yanked on it. Humans were adaptable creatures. When Kang Chan used their crew members as meatshields a few times, his opponents no longer attacked recklessly. Stab! As soon as Kang Chan pulled the knife out of the guy¡¯s forearm, he rammed it into the inside of the guy¡¯s corbone. ¡°Gaah!¡± ¡°Be quiet, you son of a bitch,¡± Kang Chan growled into the guy¡¯s ear, causing those nearby to flinch. It looked like the guy was in Kang Chan¡¯s arms. Kang Chan moved his left hand to his right, which was still stabbing the guy, and quickly untied the wire. Kang Chan then wrapped the end of the wire around his current victim¡¯s neck in front of the bound security guards, who watched him in bewilderment. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± After pulling the knife out of the guy, Kang Chan violently pushed him forward. Two of his opponents tried to catch his victim in return, and three of them pounced on him. Swish! Kang Chan violently pulled on the wire. ¡°Cough!¡± Plop. The guys running toward Kang Chan got caught on and tangled with the wire and the man it was tied to. Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! In an instant, Kang Chan stabbed the guys four times. Screech. He then cut off the wire. Stab. Slice! At that moment, Kang Chan started to feel pain in his left waist and his right back. He felt like those parts of him were burning. Slice! Slice! Slice! Kang Chan sliced the arm that had stabbed his left waist three times, then stepped on the guys that fell and ran forward. If he turned around just because he got attacked from the back, then he would just get attacked from the back again. Pow!?Slice! Stab! Stab! Stab! He grabbed onto the arm of the guy that pounced on him, sliced his neck, then stabbed the guy beside him three times. Slice! At the same time, someone shed his right shoulder. Stab! Kang Chan stabbed the side of the guy in front of him and threw him to the side. Stab! Slice! Kang Chan narrowly avoided two katana shes. Slice! Slice! In retaliation, Kang Chan sliced the forearms of the two guys that pounced on him, then leaned his back against a tree. ¡°Whoo.¡± With that, his physical condition had returned to when he was still a mercenary. But he felt like he was gradually losing energy due to the stab wounds on his side. He wasn¡¯t aware of it since they were wearing ck suits, but the upper bodies of the security guards tied to the tree were also covered in blood. Pak! Kang Chan cut the rope tied around the security guard closest to him. The guys hesitated as they carefully looked out and approached Kang Chan¡¯s surroundings. It looked like there were still forty of them left. ¡°Release Seok Kang-Ho when I lead them away,¡± Kang Chan whispered to the security guards, then twisted his head from side to side. These fuckers weren¡¯t interested in Seok Kang-Ho or the security guards. But they could kill them if Kang Chan went too far away, so he made sure he wouldn¡¯t go any further away from them than ten meters. ¡°Come at me, you insect-like fuckers!¡± Kang Chan yelled. Kang Chan looked around his surroundings as he grated on their nerves. He had to provoke them so they would focus on him. ¡°You garbage motherfuckers. There are so many of you but you still can¡¯t kill me! Are you shitheads scared, huh? Little sons of bitches are afraid of one man?¡± ¡°You fucker!¡± Swish! One of them swung his katana diagonally at Kang Chan, and Kang Chan simply bent his upper body backward, efficiently dodging it. Scared, the guy didn¡¯t pounce on him. Whoosh! Kang Chan pounced on the guy, hugged his waist, and thrust his knife into the guy¡¯s side. ¡°Aargh!¡± Whoosh! It would be troublesome if he managed to summon up his strength. Hence, Kang Chan twisted his weapon while it was still inside, causing his opponent to lose all strength. Kang Chan got rid of the guy after he ran for about three steps, and while that happened he even got stabbed in his back two times. When he stood up, his enemies lined up in front of him to block him. ¡°Huhuhu,¡± Kang Chanughed strangely and smiled at those approaching him. Behind his foes that had taken up arms out of spite, he noticed the three security guards had stood up. Now he just had to keep his opponents¡¯ eyes on him until the security guards had freed Dayeru. At that moment, Kang Chan heard footsteps from behind him. Nervous, he quickly looked over. ¡°The police took action.¡± Kim Tae-Jin had arrived at Kang Chan¡¯s side. There was someone else with him. ¡°Jeez, this looks just like a battlefield,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun spoke, seemingly dumbfounded. The guys that stood facing Kang Chan appeared flustered and unable to pounce on him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that it was going to be a predicament for you?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°I couldn¡¯t endure it. My blood was boiling.¡± Kang Chan smirked, then red straight ahead. They¡¯d be able to keep Seok Kang-Ho alive with this. Chapter 42，Part1: To Catch A Fish (1)

Chapter42£¬Part1: To Catch A Fish (1)

¡°Since Director Suh and I are here, let¡¯s just attack those that pounce on us,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said while ncing at Kang Chan¡¯s injuries. As a matter of fact, Kang Chan could no longer put strength in his hand. He red straight ahead with fiery eyes. ¡°Untie them quickly!¡± At the security guard¡¯s words, one of the katana-wielding guys that had been standing a fair distance away from them turned his head toward the guard. Kang Chan needed to bring his attention back toward him. Whoosh! When Kang Chan jumped in, three to four des immediately attacked him. Smack. Stab. Stab. Thud. Smack. Stab. Slice! He hit, stabbed, and sliced the wrist of the enemy so quickly his movements were no longer visible. His enemies were so full of spite that it would¡¯ve been hard for Kang Chan to endure if Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun hadn¡¯t run in from both sides. Kang Chan looked at the guy holding the katana. The three security guards were holding their ground against him. Slice! While distracted, Kang Chan got his side cut. Stab stab! As Kang Chan stabbed the guy¡¯s arm twice, a new enemy blocked his way. Slice! Slice! Without wasting a second, Kang Chan slit the new enemy¡¯s neck. ¡°Urgh!¡± St! His victim¡¯s blood spurted all over his upper body, causing his surroundings to look red due to the blood in his eyes. ¡°Ptooey!¡± When a security guard jumped up to avoid the katana, Seok Kang-Ho directly came into view. Kang Chan was going to save Seok Kang-Ho, even if it meant his eyes falling out or his side splitting apart. Stab! Stab! ¡°Aagh!¡± The guy whose nape and armpit had been stabbed let out a desperate scream. ¡°Step aside!¡± Slice! When the guy standing in Kang Chan¡¯s way just flinched, Kang Chan shed through his adam¡¯s apple with a katana. Sin? Retribution? Hell? Seeing Seok Kang-Ho die while tied up was hell. Kang Chan flinched. His side got wounded again. Stab! Kang Chan stabbed his attacker¡¯s arm and yanked it. ¡°Gaaah!¡± ¡°Come here!¡± Despite being entirely covered in blood, Kang Chan hugged his neck and ran forward. Slice! And due to Suh Sang-Hyun¡¯s inability to follow him, one of their enemies managed to add another sh wound to Kang Chan¡¯s left side. Stab! Stab! Slice! After being stabbed three more times, the man Kang Chan had caught went limp. Whoosh! Kang Chan charged forward, pushing his captive away. Slice! Slice! His left side got sliced again. By that point, thest security guard blocking the way to Seok Kang-Ho backed down from their battle against the katana wielder. Stab! Stab! Slice! Kang Chan stabbed and shed the two enemies standing in his way. Just the katana wielder lifted his weapon over Seok Kang-Ho, Kang Chan sprang forward. Stab! ¡°Urgh!¡± When Kang Chan¡¯s knife pierced through the katana wielder¡¯s neck, he smirked. Though still tied and on the floor, Seok Kang-Ho moved his head. Everything was okay now. Kang Chan carried histest victim and turned back, his side burning as if being cauterized with fire. Thud. When Kang Chan let go of the guy, he fell to the ground like a bundle of straw. ¡°Huff. Huff.¡± Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun breathed heavily beside him. After Kang Chan grabbed onto the end of the wire that remained on his left hand with his right, he used it to tightly tie the bay onto his right hand. It was too dull the nerves on his hand, the fingertips of which were trembling. He would¡¯ve copsed long ago had he not recovered his previous physical abilities. ¡°Ugh.¡± Kang Chan then heard Seok Kang-Ho say something as he tried to move. ¡°Fuck.¡± The first thing that Seok Kang-Ho did after recovering was curse. Now there were about twenty of their opponents left. Kang Chan wiped the blood from around his eyes with his forearm. It had dried up, which made it sticky, but he could now see much better. The moment Kang Chan caught his breath and red in front of him, Seok Kang-Ho stood up and went beside him while grinding his teeth. Seok Kang-Ho held the katana that was covered with blood. ¡°Go and stay in the back,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s fight together. If you join the fray, then we¡¯ll be able to kill all of those sons of bitches.¡± Just as Kang Chan smirked, seemingly satisfied, Kim Tae-Jin looked at Kang Chan as if he was tired of his antics. He then spoke to their opponents in fluent Chinese. ¡°Oh? ¡± Kim Tae-Jin answered again when the guys asked another question, seemingly flustered. When the guy fiercely red at Kang Chan, he spoke to Kim Tae-Jin about two more times. ¡°Sounds good![ref]This was written as ???(ºÃ)?which is a transliteration of ¡®good¡¯ in Chinese.[/ref]¡± Even Kang Chan knew what this meant. When the guy looked behind him and yelled something, those standing around started to sort out the guys that had copsed on the floor. ¡°We decided to end the fight here,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. Kang Chan looked at Kim Tae-Jin, keeping his guard up. ¡°I told them Oh Gwang-Taek is on his way.¡± Kim Tae-Jin also had multiple cuts on his upper body, and there were even about two ces where his skin had been deeply split open. ¡°You¡¯re also at your limit, and we need to clean up the bodies as well.¡± Smirk. Kang Chan¡¯s anger didn¡¯t disappear. He couldn¡¯t bear to see them leaving this ce alive. Not only did they capture Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s family, but they also hanged him upside down. I can¡¯t let them go like this. I¡¯m going to kill all of them. ¡°Kang Chan!¡± Kim Tae-Jin jarringly called out to him. Kang Chan suddenly turned and red fiercely at him. ¡°This isn¡¯t the end! You still have people that you have to protect! If killing those guys would end everything, then I¡¯d be fighting until the end as well, but you have to think about the people that you¡¯ve left.¡± Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s eyes also burned fiercely. He was a real man. It had been a long time since Kang Chan saw someone with such eyes. It should be okay to do as he says for once, right? ¡°I¡¯m sorry for rashly speaking informally to you, but there are still people that you have to protect. Mr. Seok Kang-Ho will also be in a predicament if he overworks himself. Let¡¯s leave it be for now.¡± Is that it? I still have people to protect? When Kang Chan briefly breathed out, Kim Tae-Jin smiled in amazement with only the end of his eyes. ¡°Phew!¡± Suh Sang-Hyun copsed to the ground as if his nervousness had left him. Kang Chan could see at a nce that he had a deep injury right above his knee. Suh Sang-Hyun shook his head when he saw Kang Chan standing upright with fiery eyes. The guys that had copsed to the ground had been roughly taken care of after about ten minutes. Some of the injured walked on their own, while the rest were carried on the remaining twenty-something men¡¯s shoulders or backs. ¡°Walk quickly!¡± The guy that talked to Kim Tae-Jin abruptly yelled in Korean, then approached Kang Chan. ¡°We¡¯re stopping here. I didn¡¯t know there was a warrior that could do this much by himself in South Korea,¡± He told Kang Chan, then nced at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°The Han Chinese fuckers are going toe themselves next time. We¡¯re going to cover up all of the maneuvers executed on our dead and injured, so don¡¯t die like a coward to the Han Chinese fuckers.¡± The guy turned his head toward Kim Tae-Jin and said a few more words to him in Chinese, then turned around. ¡°Ah!¡± The guy sharply gazed at Kang Chan again. ¡°Also, don¡¯t evere to Yanbian and Harbin. Looking at Kang Chan¡¯s side, he smirked and walked away. Kang Chan swallowed a groan, walked to the tree, and copsed. He felt like he was suddenly losing strength. ¡°Ah, fuck!¡± Seok Kang-Ho, following him, swore sharply upon noticing Kang Chan¡¯s side. Kang Chan smiled faintly, his eyes staring straight ahead. Yoo Hye-Sook popped into his mind. His side hurt so much he couldn¡¯t breathe anymore. Rip! Kim Tae-Jin ripped one of the security guards¡¯ jackets into a long strip, then approached Kang Chan, who just stared at him. ¡°You¡¯re bleeding too much,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. Kim Tae-Jin wrapped the fabric around Kang Chan¡¯s chest, pulled it tight with all his might, then tied it. ¡°You can¡¯t pass out. The car will be brought to the road at the back,¡± Kim Tae-Jin continued. Strangely, Kang Chanughed. Whenever he did, Yoo Hye-Sook popped into his mind. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s face crumpled. Seeing his crew members alive always brought Kang Chan happiness. ¡°You okay?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be the one asking that question!¡± ¡°Are you crying?¡± ¡°I have an eye infection!¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kang Chan was grateful that he was alive. ¡°Fuck¡­ You should¡¯ve just saved my family.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know who I am, you dickhead?¡± Seok Kang-Ho untied the wire from Kang Chan¡¯s right hand. ¡°Why did you tie this so tightly? Are you insane?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. When Kang Chan smiled brightly, Seok Kang-Ho wiped his tears with his forearm. ¡°I was told that the car has arrived right next to the road at the back. Let¡¯s go,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said, and Seok Kang-Ho knelt in front of Kang Chan with his back facing him. ¡°Will you be okay?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Please just get him on my back.¡± Kim Tae-Jin and the security guards lifted Kang Chan and ced him on Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s back. They were still deep in the forest in the middle of the night. And whenever Seok Kang-Ho took a step, Kang Chan felt as if the skin on his side was being ripped raw. ¡°How old is Mr. Kang Chan?¡± Suh Sang-Hyun asked while limping. ¡°He said that he¡¯s friends with Oh Gwang-Taek,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered. ¡°A high schooler is friends with him?¡± ¡°The family register is wrong. Can¡¯t you tell by the way I treat him?¡± ¡°Then he¡¯s four years older than me?¡± When Suh Sang-Hyun looked at Kim Tae-Jin in surprise, Kim Tae-Jin said, ¡°He¡¯s younger than me.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan! You can¡¯t fall asleep!¡± Kim Tae-Jin ced his hand on the back of his neck and shook it roughly. After walking for about 5 more minutes, multiple guys in functional attire came running toward them, one after the other. ¡°Have you finished the preparations?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°We have. We did everything ording to your orders.¡± Kim Tae-Jin spread out the stretcher that the employees brought in front of Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Let¡¯sy him down on this. It¡¯s going to be much quicker than carrying him alone,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. Seok Kang-Ho lowered his stance, and the four employees ran over andid Kang Chan down on the stretcher. They were definitely quick. Kang Chan could no longer feel anything properly. ¡°Get a hold of yourself!¡± To Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s words sounded like they were echoing. The stars, moon, and white-clumped clouds slowly faded away. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan! Can you hear me? We need to hurry up! ¡± yelled Kim Tae-Jin. The guys¡¯ heavy breathing as they carried the stretcher sounded exaggerated. Seok Kang-Ho and his family survived. That was a relief. 1. This was written as ???(ÊÇÂð)?which is a transliteration of ¡®oh?¡¯ in Chinese. 2. The Han people are an ethnic group in China that constitute the majority of the Chinese people 3. Yanbian, or the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture is a city in China and is an Autonomous Prefecture, or an Autonomous administrative division of China because a lot of Korean people live there 4. Harbin is a city in China Chapter 42，Part2: To Catch A Fish (1)

Chapter42£¬Part2: To Catch A Fish (1)

Africa? His surroundings were hazy. A rope was tied around Yoo Hye-Sook, who was yelling something. ¡®I have to go?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t move at all, almost as if he was tied to a pole. ¡®Let go!¡¯ He couldn¡¯t even get his voice to work. An Arab guy stood in front of Yoo Hye-Sook with a long knife. ¡°Chan! Just go!¡± ¡®Let go! Let go! You son of a bitch!¡¯ He didn¡¯t even know who was holding onto him. ¡°Chan!¡± At that moment, his body was set free. Whoosh! Kang Chan flung forward like a lightning strike, immediately feeling extreme pain. He couldn¡¯t open his eyes. He lost consciousness once again. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. When he opened his eyes upon hearing someone calling him from far away, he saw Yoo Hyun-Yoo¡¯s face asking, ¡°Are youing around?¡± ¡°Is he okay?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked the doctor. ¡°At this rate, he¡¯s probably going to say that he wants to be discharged by tomorrow.¡± Surprisingly, Kim Tae-Jin was the one sitting beside his bed. ¡°You can¡¯t drink water yet, Mr. Kang Chan. You also can¡¯t smoke or drink coffee. Of course, you can¡¯t drink alcohol or ¡®see¡¯ the nurse either,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo spoke shamelessly even as Kim Tae-Jin stared at him dumbfoundedly. When Yoo Hun-Woo left the room, Kim Tae-Jin began to speak. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho stayed in the hospital all night without even sleeping a wink. He had just left a moment ago to go back to Jiri Mountain, but he told me he wants you to call him when you wake up.¡± Kang Chan felt as if he was talking to a senior in the military. ¡°Please speakfortably with me,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Tae-Jin. Kim Tae-Jin stared at Kang Chan, then smiled pleasantly. ¡°I¡¯m forty-nine. I usually don¡¯t like speaking informally with people, but I think it wouldn¡¯t be that bad to treat you a bit morefortably.¡± His chest and forearms were also entirely wrapped with bandages. ¡°Please raise the bed,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°You should just stay where you are.¡± When his eyes met Kang Chan¡¯s, however, he sighed and twisted a lever at the underside of the bed. ¡°Please give me some water,¡± Kang Chan then requested. ¡°Didn¡¯t the doctor say that wasn¡¯t allowed?¡± Kang Chan stared at Kim Tae-Jin. He seemed like he was tired of Kang Chan¡¯s antics. But a momentter, he poured water into a paper cup for him. ¡°Only drink a little,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°Okay.¡± Kim Tae-Jin sat by Kang Chan¡¯s side again. ¡°I roughly heard stories from Oh Gwang-Taek, and also heard what happened with Gong Te automobile.¡± Something that Kang Chan hadpletely forgotten about then struck his mind. ¡°Is my phone here?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yeah, here.¡± Kim Tae-Jin took out the phone beside the bed and handed it to Kang Chan. He had missed calls from Yoo Hye-Sook, Kim Mi-Young, Michelle, and Smithen. Kang Chan first called Smithen. The dial tone rang twice. - Ello! Chany? ¡°Yeah. Are you still at the Namsan hotel?¡± - Yes, Chany! What do you want me to do? ¡°I¡¯m going to send a security detail over. Once you get in touch with them, stay within their radar. Did anything happen?¡± - Not really. Are you okay? ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll see youter.¡± After he ended the call, Kang Chan asked Kim Tae-Jin to guard Smithen as well. ¡°I¡¯ll order it right away.¡± Kim Tae-Jin raised the phone, called his employees, and ordered them to start guarding while telling them about the Namsan hotel and Smithen¡¯s number. ¡°I¡¯m going to say this in advance, but the protection will all be done at no cost for the time being. I already sent two employees to Mr. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s family, and I¡¯ll also give back twice the amount of the down deposit,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Don¡¯t take me for a cheap person.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. I¡¯m doing this out of pride.¡± They could talk about thister. ¡®What time is it right now?¡¯ Kang Chan looked at the time on his phone. It was 11:30 am. He pressed the button and called Seok Kang-Ho. - Hello! ¡°You¡¯re going to make my eardrums burst.¡± - Did you survive? Are you okay? ¡°Yeah.¡± - I¡¯ll visit you tomorrow! Please stay in the hospital until then! ¡°Come visit after the retreat ends.¡± - What are you saying? Tomorrow is when the retreat ends. Kang Chan was momentarily speechless. - You were unconscious throughout Wednesday. It¡¯s already Thursday. Anyway, stay in the hospital for now. I¡¯lle over tomorrow. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan realized that it was Thursday only after he ended the call. ¡°It¡¯s already Thursday, huh.¡± Kim Tae-Jin nodded. ¡°Saying that yesterday morning was a critical moment, he stayed by your side through it all. He¡¯s got quite the unique personality,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. Yoo Hun-Woo probably said that he needed to take out Kang Chan¡¯s organs. ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°What¡¯s there for a figurehead to be busy about? We just act as the face during big contracts.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t have anything to say in response to that kind of answer. ¡°The car was taken to the parking lot of the hospital, so that¡¯s that,¡± Kim Tae-Jin continued. He nced at Kang Chan. ¡°Why don¡¯t you join ourpany after you graduate? I¡¯ll treat you well.¡± He wants me to follow someone around? Kang Chan wanted to decline his offer no matter what the circumstances were, so he only smirked. ¡°Where did you learnbat techniques? We certainly didn¡¯t teach you those,¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°From the inte.¡± Kim Tae-Jin smiled briefly as if to say he shouldn¡¯t mess around. ¡°You destroyed an organization by twisting the neck of Park Ki-Bum, the leader of the parking lot gang, and you can order around the Korean branch manager of Gong Te automobile. To top it all off, you fought against fifty people.¡± Kim Tae-Jin shook his head. ¡°Just thinking about it is crazy,¡± Hemented. Who would understand my situation? Even Kang Chan had trouble understanding it because things just escted way too quickly after he reincarnated. ¡°The Chinese guys and the guys that survived from our recent fight said that they¡¯ll take care of the bodies of the parking lot gang that was in the Jiri Mountain. And Oh Gwang-Taek said that he¡¯s going to go to Ulsan to tell the parking lot gang not to say anything,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. It looked like that was what he and the Chinese guy talked about when they said a few words to each other in Chinese back then. Yoo Hun-Woo came in again after about 30 minutes had passed. ¡°Did you drink water?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked. Kim Tae-Jin avoided his eyes when he looked at the cup. ¡°Anyway, are you okay?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked Kang Chan again. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I would¡¯ve let this pass if you were injured anywhere else since it would be easier to determine your physical condition, but being stabbed in the waist is a bit dangerous. I didn¡¯t cut your abdomen open because it looked like you didn¡¯t suffer any organ damage, but you¡¯re going to need a major surgery if you eat something wrong and it creates a problem. Since you drank water, let¡¯s wait for at least six hours,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo spoke seriously. ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t say anything else as this was the first time he saw Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s expression being this serious. When Kim Tae-Jin left after saying that he¡¯ll be back after having lunch, Kang Chan called Yoo Hye-Sook. - Hello? Chan? Where are you? ¡°I couldn¡¯t answer the phone because I was having fun.¡± - Why do you sound so tired? Did you get injured? ¡°No. Why are you so worried?¡± - Phew. I had a horrible dream two days ago. You have no idea how anxious I¡¯ve been since then. ¡°What was the dream about?¡± - You were crying while covered in blood, but I couldn¡¯t get close to you. I was so anxious. I couldn¡¯t go visit you at your retreat because your father stopped me. Hearing your voice makes me feel much better, though. Are you really okay?¡± ¡°I am. Oh, right! I might stay here for a few more days. The mountain is really nice.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t respond. He could feel she was doubting him. ¡°You shoulde down and visit with my father next week. It¡¯s beautiful here.¡± - Is everything really alright? ¡°Of course. I just really really like it here.¡± - You don¡¯t need money? ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho decided to stay here with me after sending the kids home. I also want to get ready for the entrance examination for the University of Physical Education.¡± - Phew! She let out a sigh, seemingly now feeling at ease. - I¡¯ll call back after I discuss this with your father, Chan. ¡°Sure. I''ll make sure to answer your calls from now on.¡± - Okay, Chan. He felt morefortable after ending the call. He then called Michelle. Michelle answered immediately and made a fuss. She had received word that it was possible to acquire the D.I. Family¡ªthepany that she told him about before. ¡°How much will it cost?¡± - Five hundred million. ¡°They only have three actresses. Is that really a fair price?¡± - The other two girls aside from Eun So-Yeon are quite popr. I think the price is justified.¡±¡°Michelle.¡± - Yeah? ¡°I¡¯ll acquire it if you take on the role of running thepany for me. Otherwise, let¡¯s forget about it. I don¡¯t even have that much knowledge about it, and I don¡¯t want to bother myself with something that¡¯s not worth it.¡± - Are you going to acquire thepany because of me and for me, Chany? Kang Chan turned his head away from the receiver and sighed. He was trying to acquire thepany because he remembered what Lanok had said, but she always went too far. Kang Chan wanted to buy Kim Tae-Jin¡¯spany if he could. ¡°Call meter after you think about it.¡± - Okay, Chany. Kang Chan quickly ended the call because her voice was coquettish. Yeah. I should just endure this until we catch Shan. Kang Chan tightly clenched his teeth. 1. Ulsan is arge city in South Korea Chapter 43，Part1: To Catch Fish (2)

Chapter43£¬Part1: To Catch Fish (2)

Kang Chan felt like he received a warning from Shan. If Shan could coax the destroyed parking lot gang by using the Chinese organization, then it also meant he had finished his secret investigation about Kang Chan. Kang Chan felt the need for an organization. If he had one, then Shan wouldn¡¯t be able to do something as reckless as looking for an opportunity to attack his family, and they would be left with no choice but to attack him directly. ¡®I should acquire thepany that Michelle told me about first.¡¯ Lanok would perfectly figure thepany out. Kim Tae-Jin was the perfect fit right now. He had the skills, was the president of a securitypany, had pride, and most of all, the look in his eyes was undoubtedly fierce. ¡®But how should I exin it to him?¡¯ Should I just be honest and tell him that I reincarnated in a high schooler¡¯s body? Kim Tae-Jin would definitely rmend that he consult with a psychiatrist. ¡®Tsk.¡¯ As he thought about multiple matters, the phone rang. It was Kim Mi-Young. - Hello? ¡°Where are you?¡± - I¡¯m done with hagwon. Why didn¡¯t you answer your phone yesterday? She sounded upset. ¡°I left my phone somewhere else. I wasn¡¯t home.¡± - Where were you? Did you by any chance go to the retreat? ¡°Why would I go there? I just came to Jiri Mountain to look into something Mr. Seok Kang-Ho asked me to. Let¡¯s see each other next week. I think I have to stay here this week.¡± - I don¡¯t have hagwon next week. Would you be able to meet me then? ¡°Yeah. We did say we¡¯ll go out together.¡± - You really wille, right? Kim Mi-Young¡¯s excited voice consoled Kang Chan a little bit. He ended the call after talking a bit more, and Shan-rted matters threw themselves at him again as if they had been waiting. ¡®I¡¯m going to go crazy at this rate.¡¯ He needed to organize his thoughts. Kim Tae-Jin soon walked in. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t sure if it was because he didn¡¯t want to smell like food, or if he just liked keeping himself clean and presentable, but he smelled like refreshing toothpaste, having just brushed his teeth. ¡°Do you have some time to spare?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°As I said before, I¡¯m usually free. You¡¯re not bothering me, so let me know if there¡¯s anything I can do for you.¡± Kang Chan liked that he was treating him so casually. ¡°There¡¯s something I want to discuss with you. Please have a seat.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Kim Tae-Jin sat down on the chair beside the bed. Kang Chan first brought up his rtionship with Shan. Shan had sold off his crew during a military operation in Africa, and he now had forces backing him up, even though they hadn¡¯t revealed themselves yet. As for Smithen, he had joined Kang Chan¡¯s side after repenting for his sins. That was the summary of the story he told Kim Tae-Jin. When Kim Tae-Jin remained silent, Kang Chan briefly detailed why the fight with the parking lot gang happened. Kim Tae-Jin knew of the incident that happenedter on to some degree, so Kang Chan didn¡¯t need to say much about that. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that this fight will end only if you find the person named Shan,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kim Tae-Jin looked at him with eyes full of questions. ¡°It¡¯d most likely be easier for you to understand if you just think of all this as me getting tangled up in this mess when I tried to get a contract with Gong Te automobile.¡± ¡°But I also want to hear the version that¡¯s hard to understand,¡± Kim Tae-Jin replied. ¡°It exins how I know French, my rtionship with Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, and even mybat techniques, but you wouldn¡¯t be able to ept it. It¡¯d be better for you to just let it go right now.¡± Kim Tae-Jin exhaled heavily. ¡°Would doing that be the best for us both?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Yes.¡± Kim Tae-Jinughed at the absurdity of the situation before continuing the conversation. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like you¡¯re telling me this because you want me to protect you properly¡­¡± ¡°I want help with catching Shan.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Oh Gwang-Taek be better for that?¡± ¡°Shanmanded a Special Forces Unit. If he were to bring other people with him, then gangsters wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against them.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Kim Tae-Jin nodded but suddenly raised his gaze. ¡°You said he¡¯s French, right? Wouldn¡¯t it be tantly obvious if someone from that countryes here?¡± ¡°Shan will devise a method for sure. If you don¡¯t want it, you don¡¯t have to ept this role,¡± Kang Chan responded. Kim Tae-Jin frowned and pursed his lips together. ¡°Hmm, did you know that I worked in the Presidential Security office?¡± ¡°I saw that in the advertisement pitch on the Inte,¡± answered Kang Chan. Kim Tae-Jin had a long face. ¡°We¡¯ve hired people to be bodyguards in ourpany right after they¡¯ve graduated. Those kids¡¯ lives would be in danger upon meeting agents with professional training, so I¡¯ll cooperate on finding Shan under the condition that you work as their instructor.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s forget what I told you.¡± When Kang Chan refused without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Kim Tae-Jin licked his lips. ¡°Think about it seriously for once.¡± Kang Chan was the type to get enraged upon witnessing his crew members die. And Kim Tae-Jin still wanted him to teach newbies that just graduated? In other words, there was no chance he¡¯d ept Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s proposal. The atmosphere became a little stiff, but it was better than taking on a role that he didn¡¯t want to do. Kang Chan was hungry, but Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s serious warning weighed on his mind. If he had to undergo aparotomy, then Yoo Hye-Sook was going to search through the entire Jiri Mountain. They talked about multiple matters. He got an injection at some point, which made him feel drowsy an hourter. Kim Tae-Jin remained by his side until then. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª The vibration from the phone woke Kang Chan up. Kang Chan jolted awake and noticed Kim Tae-Jin wasn¡¯t beside him. Kang Chan blinked twice when he looked at his phone¡¯s screen. [111-1111-1111] ¡®Is it Lanok?¡¯ Kang Chan pressed the pick-up button. ¡°Hello?¡± - Kang Chan. ¡°Shan?¡± As if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him, Kang Chan¡¯s sleepy brain swiftly became alert. - You ruined my amazing n again. ¡°It seems like your side has healed a bit.¡± - You¡¯re going to regret what you just said for your entire life. He faintly heard the mechanical sound of the hospital over the phone. Kang Chan checked the caller¡¯s number again. - I usually don¡¯t like a war of attrition. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m going to stab your heart with a knife soon.¡± Shan snorted. - The people around you will be in danger if you provoke me. You should know that by now, considering the kind of warning you¡¯ve been given. His words were difficult to immediately respond to. - I¡¯ll call again after four days. The call ended. It felt like Shan had great difficulty talking by the end of their conversation. ¡®Should I let Lanok know?¡¯ Wanting to raise his bed, Kang Chan pressed the button by his bedside. Soon after, a nurse came in. ¡°Please raise the bed,¡± Kang Chan said. As the nurse followed his request, Yoo Hun-Woo came in and checked his temperature and heart rate. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked. ¡°I¡¯m really hungry.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s a good sign. Let¡¯s see your injury.¡± He lowered the bed that the nurse had just raised. After Yoo Hun-Woo ordered the nurse to get ready to sanitize the injury, he took off the bandages and looked at the injury on his waist. Rip. Whenever bandages came off his body, blood oozed out and a tingling pain coursed through him. Yoo Hun-Woo was still examining Kang Chan¡¯s injury and pressing his abdomen a few times when the nurse brought in a rack with wheels. ¡°Based on its appearance, there doesn¡¯t seem to be any problems, and there are no issues with palpitations either. Your injuries are already healing,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. ¡°Let¡¯s check the ones on your side as well. Since you¡¯re recovering quickly, changing your bandages more often would be better for you.¡± Kang Chan felt bad for the nurse because they had to raise the bed again. After Yoo Hun-Woo made Kang Chan sit, he cut the bandage with a scissor and slowly peeled it off his body again. This time, even Kang Chan groaned twice and he had cold sweat running down his forehead. ¡°You didn¡¯t feel it when you got stabbed?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Being stabbed is probably more painful than removing the bandages. I¡¯m just amazed that you can endure so much pain.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo examined Kang Chan¡¯s wounds with a frown. ¡°You¡¯re injured in sixteen areas. It seems the department handling the approved painkillers and blood is bing suspicious since we¡¯ve used too much of them within the past month.¡± Kang Chan nced at the nurse. If anyone said anything, then Yoo Hun-Woo wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid getting entangled with them. ¡°Rest assured that no one within the hospital will say anything. Nothing will happen unless an external party says anything,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said dismissively as he applied an antiseptic to him. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know why Yoo Hun-Woo thought that way or why he was so confident, but he found it difficult to ask. ¡°You¡¯re recovering at a slower rate than before, perhaps because you have a lot more injuries. You should stay here until this weekend.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Kang Chan answered. Letting his body recover to some degree before going home would be ideal. ¡°I¡¯ll let you start eating normally tomorrow if you can eat porridge without problems for dinner.¡± Kang Chan had no choice but to obediently follow that as well. 1.parotomy is a surgical incision into the abdominal cavity Chapter 43，Part2: To Catch Fish (2)

Chapter43£¬Part2: To Catch Fish (2)

As Kang Chan spent a bit of time watching TV, Kim Tae-Jin walked in. ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡¯ Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°You should go and rest for a bit.¡± Kim Tae-Jin looked more like a critical patient than Kang Chan since the gauze wrapped around him waspletely visible through his shirt. ¡°Director Suh has been admitted downstairs, so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°Is he badly injured?¡± ¡°They said that he nearly wouldn¡¯t have been able to use his legs for the rest of his life. He probably has nothing to say, considering he¡¯s the one in charge of training our employees yet he messed up and got himself injured so badly.¡± Kim Tae-Jin stared at Kang Chan after he finished talking. It looked like he wanted to say something. Kang Chan turned off the TV and looked at him. ¡°On paper, it says that Shan died in a car ident on his way to France. And a friend of mine in the Intelligence Agency told me that the French government even requested cooperation to prevent it from getting reported in the news. Is there more to this that I¡¯m not aware of?¡± ¡®Oh shoot,¡¯?Kang Chan thought. He said something unnecessary because of his greed to create an organization. It was going to be a very difficult fight to win if he made even the DGSE his enemy. ¡°I¡¯ll stop here if telling me about it would cause you problems.¡± Kim Tae-Jin surprisingly stepped back. ¡°I have performed duties where I had to protect our side in the DMZ, and I¡¯ve raided enemy guard posts as a means of revenge,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. Kang Chan only listened as it was an abrupt story. ¡°It suited my aptitude. And I also wanted to live my life as a soldier that way. But everything went out the window when I lost five of my crew members to a North Korean Special Operation corps member known as the ¡®Neck Ghost.¡¯¡± Kim Tae-Jin clearly still carried his anger from that incident. ¡°That man would¡¯ve also been severely injured, considering the blood smeared on the swords of the dead. However, because I went really berserk since then¡­ Phew! I got discharged from the military. That¡¯s as expected, though, since I would¡¯ve run to Pyongyang if I was left alone. After that, I started working in the security office.¡± Kim Tae-Jin kept his head high as he told his story. Afterward, he raised his gaze and looked at Kang Chan. ¡°I have two colleagues that managed to be perfectly injury-free during those days. One of them is in the Information Bureau now, and the other is a General of that corps. My colleague at the Information Bureau told me never to touch Shan¡¯s matters, and that China and France¡¯s recent movements were suspicious. Ridiculously enough, I received another piece of news that made me unable to endure everything.¡± When Kim Tae-Jin clenched his fist, his bandaged forearm twitched. ¡°I was told that the Neck Ghost is in China¡¯s Intelligence Bureau. I¡¯ve finally found the very man that slit six of my crew members¡¯ necks and disappeared. I don¡¯t know his name or his age, but I remember his face. I fought against him, after all.¡± ¡°I''m guessing you¡¯ll go to China,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I was told he¡¯s in Korea right now.¡± It was surprising news, but that also meant Kim Tae-Jin had a chance to get revenge. However, he looked at Kang Chan with a strange smile on his lips. ¡°There was a guy on the list of names that Shan had talked to on the phone before he came to Korea¡­¡± Who and who talked on the phone? Kang Chan¡¯s eyes suddenly widened. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Shan appear if I pursue the Neck Ghost?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. Confused, Kang Chan pulled himself together for a moment. Even though it could be a lead, he thought it was too hasty of Kim Tae-Jin to think that the Neck Ghost was in Korea because of Shan. Kim Tae-Jin seemed to have guessed what Kang Chan was thinking. ¡°There¡¯s thispany that designs and manufactures PCB equipment. It¡¯s called the Kwang-Myung Joint venture, and their president had just arrived here in Korea. He¡¯s staying at the Seoul Hotel.¡± It was true that a spy hade into South Korea at that point in time, though they didn¡¯t know if the spy was from China or North Korea. He had thought he had lost all hope, but Kang Chan finally felt like he had caught onto Shan¡¯s trail. ¡°It¡¯s also hard for me to approach him right now. The Chinese agents are close by, and our agents from the Information Bureau are watching him as well. They said that thepany will load a cargo and get out of Korea after ten days.¡± ¡°A cargo?¡± ¡°It means that they¡¯re going to load the PCB equipment in Korea and then leave. But I was told that the guy chartered a cargo ship.¡± It was a different story if that were the case. ¡°Are you saying that he¡¯s taking Shan with him?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°If we take the extent of his injuries into consideration, then that inference might be right.¡± Kang Chan wanted to shout. Kim Tae-Jin seemed satisfied with the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. ¡°That guy came up while I was searching through Shan¡¯s previous trails. I caught on because they had officially talked on the phone as the president of the Chinesepany and the vice president of Gong Te automobile. It would¡¯ve been difficult to identify the president as the Neck Ghost if it wasn¡¯t for my friend in the Information Bureau.¡± Kim Tae-Jin said that they had ten days. ¡°I decided to get help from my friend in the Information Bureau,¡± Kim Tae-Jin continued. Kang Chan had just looked at him with puzzled eyes. ¡°I¡¯m going to catch the Neck Ghost, and you¡¯re going to catch Shan.¡± Smirk. Kang Chan was the type to join in such a n. ¡°The Neck Ghost¡¯s Chinese name is Wui Min-Gook. The Information Bureau is investigating thepany of the other party that traded with him, but they at least know it¡¯s an organization that manufactured PCB equipment since its foundation. Thanks to that, they discovered that a major stockholder was manipting their stock prices, but that''s not important to us.¡± He hadn¡¯t heard such pleasing news in a while. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± Kim Tae-Jin nodded and smiled brightly. ¡°We¡¯re still trying to figure out Wui Min-Gook¡¯s schedule and movement path, but I¡¯ll let you know about it as soon as I get more intel. For now, focus on recovery and building up strength for the fight.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m already feeling great.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten how the Neck Ghost slit my crew members¡¯ throats. I need to pay him back this time for sure.¡± If he could, Kang Chan wanted to have sweet coffee and a cigarette, but he had suppressed his desires for now. ~ Soon after, he had porridge for dinner. Kim Tae-Jin left the room, saying that he¡¯d be back after checking on Suh Sang-Hyun and having dinner. Since he was starving, Kang Chan cleanly finished the bowl of porridge. About an hour after he had dinner, Yoo Hun-Woo visited him. ¡°Do you feel any pain, or are you getting any weird sensations?¡± The doctor asked. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo smiled faintly and pressed his stomach a few times. ¡°You can¡¯t drink alcohol, no matter what.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± He seemed to be assuming Kang Chan wouldn¡¯t be able to wait until morning. ¡°Let the nurse know immediately if you experience sudden stomach pain or any rted problem. Even if you experience it after you¡¯ve been discharged, contact us as quickly as you can,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo continued. ¡°I will.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo prescribed him a few injection medications as he turned around. Kang Chan organized his thoughts while sitting on the bed. Why did Shan say he¡¯s going to call in four days? Is he going to meet with Wui Min-Gook, the Neck Ghost? How much should I tell Lanok? Of course, he didn¡¯t tell Kim Tae-Jin about Lanok either. Kang Chan thought he just had a lot on his mind and that he looked somewhat like a coward. However, on the other hand, if could catch Shan, it would all be over. He couldn¡¯t let him live this time. Shan survived even though Kang Chan had split open his side down to the bone. Kang Chan first decided to continue acquiring thepany that Michelle would be in charge of. He then thought of preparing for the possibility of Shan not showing up this time, and of ways to decrease Lanok¡¯s suspicions. ¡®Let¡¯s stop here.¡¯ It would be best to keep his thoughts simple. The moment Kang Chan smiled satisfactorily, the door of the patient room opened, and Oh Gwang-Taek walked in. He was wearing a clean suit and a light green shirt without a tie. ¡°You¡¯ve recovered?¡± He asked. When Kang Chan smirked, Oh Gwang-Taek began making coffee. ¡°I was starting to think I¡¯ve be a mortician,¡± Heined while walking over to Kang Chan with cups of coffee. He handed one to Kang Chan and took out a cigarette. ¡°Open the window,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Should I? Okay.¡± It was weird that Oh Gwang-Taek obediently listened to him, but nothing bad had happened due to it anyway. Instant coffee and cigarettes. Kang Chan felt like the hardships in his mind and body instantly disappeared. ¡°Did you finish taking care of the parking lot gangsters?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek suddenly made a sour face, appearing to dislike Kang Chan¡¯s expression. ¡°What the! I already told you that I have properly taken care of them this time! The other gangs near Ulsan all took over, so they¡¯re never going to go anywhere near the parking lot or the car wash center ever again! Park Ki-Bum is going to immigrate to the Philippines next week.¡± ¡°You worked hard.¡± Slurp. Oh Gwang-Taek noisily drank coffee, then exhaled smoke like he was sighing. ¡°Just think of it as an after-service since I didn¡¯t properly take care of the parking lot gang. I¡¯m going,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek said and stood up after he threw the cigarette into the paper cup. He seemed like he had something to say but decided to stay silent instead. ¡°Do you have something to say?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek turned his head toward Kang Chan as he held onto the door. He then smirked and left. That fucker seemed a bit different somehow. Regardless, Kang Chan owed him one. He leaned against the bed in a happy mood. After some time, his phone rang. Upon looking at it, he discovered the caller was Seok Kang-Ho. Despite how impatient he was, Seok Kang-Ho managed to endure for so long. ¡°Hello?¡± - How was dinner? ¡°I ate. What about you?¡± - I just finished, but I could barely eat since I had to take care of the kids. I¡¯m going to go up and visit you in the evening. ¡°Why? You should just visit when you¡¯re free tomorrow. Don¡¯t overwork yourself.¡± - That¡¯s not it¡ªmy wife and daughter are so afraid they keep making a fuss about reporting the incident to the police. Something¡¯s bound to happen if I don¡¯t console them. ¡°True. It¡¯s difficult for normal people to put up with such traumatic experiences.¡± - I¡¯ll see youter. ¡°Keep safe on the way here.¡± - Will do. He felt more reassured when Seok Kang-Ho said he¡¯d be visiting him. 1. PCBs or Printed Circuit Boards are used to mechanically support and electronically connect electronicponents using conductive pathways, tracks or signal traces to another in a controlled manner Chapter 44，Part1: What the Heart Wants (1)

Chapter44£¬Part1: What the Heart Wants (1)

Kang Chan forcefully sent Kim Tae-Jin away, who insisted to stay by his side. Soon after, his phone rang. It was Michelle. - I¡¯ve decided to take your offer. Let¡¯s acquire thepany. When should we do it? ¡°Do it at your earliest convenience. I¡¯ll just send you the money.¡± - No, it would be better if youe and check it out as well. ¡°Do I really need to do that?¡± - Fine. I¡¯ll just dy this for the next opportunity. You should at least greet the employees after the takeover isplete, though. ¡°Okay. Then make an appointment with everyone next week.¡± Kang Chan sighed when he ended the call. He understood why Michelle was worried. She had to quit her job for this, after all, and quite arge amount of money would be going into this endeavor. ¡®I¡¯m hungry.¡¯ Acquiring apany was one thing. Hunger was another. He could understand why Seok Kang-Ho kept forcing down kimbap when he had the neck brace. Kang Chan had just tilted his body to go to the bathroom. Slide. The door opened, and Seok Kang-Ho came inside. ¡°What? Didn¡¯t you say that you were going home first?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I came here from my house.¡± When Kang Chan looked at the clock, it was almost 11am. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± His gaze fell on the stic bag Seok Kang-Ho was carrying. ¡°Phuhu. It¡¯s Bossam. This was what I wanted to eat the most when I wasst hospitalized.¡± ¡°Good job!¡± Seok Kang-Ho promptly supported Kang Chan after lifting the stic bag and showing it to him. ¡°Your injury was gruesome. Is it okay for you to move?¡± He asked. ¡°My physical constitution is special, so yes.¡± Kang Chan could use the bathroom with ease since Seok Kang-Ho had moved the IV pack for him. They moved a table into the room and ate nearly all the Bossam together, which made Kang Chan feel much better. ¡°Right! What did you tell your family?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I actually didn¡¯t have anything to say.¡± After he ced the food waste in the stic bag, Seok Kang-Ho made coffee. ¡°So I sold out Oh Gwang-Taek. I lied and told them I received settlement money after getting into a car ident, but it seemed the Chinese thought we received drugs instead. I then told her something along the lines of receiving another settlement money under unbelievable conditions. However, if the outside world were to know about the kidnapping or whatever, I could really get killed.¡± ¡°Did they believe you?¡± ¡°When I first gave her five hundred million won to buy a house and told her that I was going to receive another five hundred million won the next day, she just nodded. She probably thought there was no way a teacher could get that much money any other way.¡± Seok Kang-Ho handed him a cup of coffee. ¡°Did you make eye contact with my daughter?¡± What¡¯s he saying? ¡°She said you looked straight into her eyes and told her not to worry. I saw hearts in her eyes. She¡¯s still in middle school,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°Hey! Jeez, hahaha.¡± Dumbfounded, Kang Chanughed but soon held onto his side with a frown. ¡°She totally thinks that you¡¯re a knight in shining armor. She told me that you looked back in a very cool way and said ¡®I came because Mr. Seok Kang-Ho sent me!¡¯ My wife asked what happened and said that she needed to visit you in the hospital, but I convinced her to just express her thanks over a mealter instead. Do what you want.¡± ¡°I feel frustrated.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be bad for you to meet them, you know.¡±. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Kang Chan agreed. He then told Seok Kang-Ho about the phone call with Shan and the Neck Ghost, which he heard from Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Hmm.¡± Seok Kang-Ho smiled, his eyes burning. ¡°You should also work out during the break. And you should join Kim Tae-Jin¡¯spany as an instructor if need be,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°I already told you a teacher can¡¯t have two jobs.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bullshit. Instead of being a teacher, working both as abat instructor and a Gong Te automobile executive would match your aptitude more. And it¡¯ll be better since you can use your time in peace.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s no break.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s true.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t know any other jobs that gave summer and winter breaks. ¡°Since that fucker Shan imed he¡¯s going to call in four days, doesn¡¯t that mean he has some tricks up his sleeve?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I¡¯ve actually been thinking about that as well. The people backing him up are scary, so he probably had made a n. Still, part of me feels like he just warned us as a prank, not to show he¡¯s determined to seed no matter what this time.¡± ¡°Have a fast recovery so we can exercise together.¡± Seok Kang-Ho kept gritting his teeth, his expression showing he was still angry. ¡°I¡¯ve also quit smoking. Starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll be gritting my teeth and working out,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. That was a personal choice, so it wasn¡¯t something he couldment on. It seemed like Seok Kang-Ho still hadn¡¯t recovered from the fatigue caused by staying up all night at the hospital yesterday, going to Jiri Mountain, and going back down to the city, considering heid down on the bed opposite Kang Chan. A momentter¡­ Kang Chan shook his head. It was hard to put up with Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s loud snoring. *** The next morning, Kim Tae-Jin visited him but had no special news. After having lunch, Seok Kang-Ho left to go to school and check if the eleventh-graders hade back safely. Buzz¡ª He checked his phone when it vibrated, finding a text with a lot of zeros after the words, [Philip Jung. Deposit]His phone rang immediately afterward. - Monsieur Kang. It¡¯s Lanok. ¡°Mr. Ambassador. I was actually just about to call you.¡± - I see. Let me go tell you why I called first. Gong Te automobile stocks have been deposited into your stock ount. Please think of it as a token of appreciation for protecting Gong Te automobile¡¯s honor. ¡°I noticed there¡¯s also been a deposit made into my bank ount.¡± - It¡¯s yourpany acquisition fund. We deposited a billion won, but we can provide additional support up to a certain limit if more is needed. ¡°That¡¯s actually what I wanted to tell you about. I¡¯m going to buy a drama production and managementpany for five hundred million won. I¡¯ll return the money since I can afford that much myself.¡± - That¡¯s an excellent decision, but please use the money as acquisition funds and for operational costs. We should meet up once you¡¯ve acquired thepany. ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan decided to tell him the details about the issue with Shan. ¡°Something happened between Shan and me, and I also received a call from him yesterday. He said that he¡¯ll call me again in four days, so I¡¯ll probably receive a call two days from now.¡± There was a moment of silence. - I¡¯ll adjust my schedule so we can meet up as soon as possible. Kang Chan felt like he had checked one task off of his list when he ended the call. It was hard to keep everything under control now that things had gotten out of hand. On the other hand, catching Shan would solve all their problems. All that was left was for Kang Chan to n for the possibility of Shan¡¯s backer being in France, give thepany he¡¯d be acquiring to Michelle, and lead a normal life with Seok Kang-Ho. Isn''t that so simple? However, the unnecessary stocks and money that kepting in made him feel more ufortable. Slide. As Kang Chan ced the phone down, Suh Sang-Hyun entered the room in a wheelchair. He seemed like he was feeling awkward, but he didn¡¯t appear to be dispirited or anything. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Suh Sang-Hyun smiled awkwardly. ¡°I came by because Tae-Jin hyung-nim said you two have finished talking. I find it amazing how that gentleman said he¡¯s going to drop the honorifics and talk casually with you even though he¡¯s not the type to normally do that.¡± As he rolled the wheelchair forward, the IV pack attached to it swayed back and forth. Suh Sang-Hyun stopped in front of Kang Chan¡¯s bed. ¡°His inability to yield to others once he¡¯s started considering someone his person is a habit he formed while he was still in the military. That¡¯s why he normally can¡¯t speak informally to new employees since that incident. He probably won¡¯t be able to do that until he¡¯s avenged his dead crew members,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun continued. His angled chin and slitted eyes looked strong, but he didn¡¯t appear to have been born with a natural talent, considering Suh Sang-Hyung¡¯s capabilities, which Kang Chan had seen during the fight. ¡°Phew¡ªI find it hard to ept that you¡¯re actually older than me, but I also can¡¯t just disregard you since you¡¯re friends with Gwang-Taek hyung-nim. I¡¯ll keep treating you this way, but feel free to treat me however you want.¡± Suh Sang-Hyun licked his lips after ncing at Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m going to call you hyung after we spend some time together. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Do as you wish,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Phew! I would¡¯ve at least argued if I didn¡¯t witness your skills, but what a surprise! You¡¯re just like Tae-Jin hyung¡¯s younger self.¡± He vividly showed how much he liked Kim Tae-Jin through his expression and the way he spoke. ¡°Please help us catch the Neck Ghost,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun said. ¡°We¡¯ve already finished talking about that. You don¡¯t have to personally ask me for it.¡± Suh Sang-Hyun nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going. That¡¯s all I wanted to say.¡± Suh Sang-Hyun turned the wheelchair around and left. Kang Chan tilted his head because Sang-Hyun was uselessly decisive, but he didn¡¯t have any reasons to think otherwise. *** The weekend passed by in the most boring way. Kang Chan got a call from Cecile about the stock deposit, and he had a conversation that wasn¡¯t anything special about his first meeting with all of thepany¡¯s executives and staff members, which would be held after he had signed thepany acquisition contract. One could say it was special in its own right, though. Even though he had told Michelle to take care of everything herself, she still appointed awyer and insisted that Kang Chan needed to be there no matter what. Since she was the type to draw clear boundaries when it came to her work, he couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Something changed in his everyday life, though. He had been receiving calls once a day from Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Mi-Young, and Cha So-Yeon also called to let him know she had returned safely from the retreat. 1. Bosssam is a Korean pork dish Chapter 44，Part2: What the Heart Wants (1)

Chapter44£¬Part2: What the Heart Wants (1)

They set his discharge date to Tuesday morning. Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun seemed like they couldn¡¯t understand the decision, but they nodded when the sly and wily Yoo Hun-Woo gave them an exnation. ¡°We have five men monitoring Wui Min-Gook from the shadows, and they¡¯re also observing the ship in the contract. I¡¯ll contact you immediately if we notice any developments,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told Kang Chan. Kim Tae-Jin visited the hospital on Monday afternoon. He looked like he had been getting increasingly nervous as the days passed. It didn¡¯t matter, though, for as long as they could catch Shan. Slide. As Kang Chan nodded, Seok Kang-Ho came in. His face looked quite pale and thin, which was as expected since he had started working out again, but he surprisingly also looked quite worried. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan asked. Seok Kang-Ho came toward his bed after exchanging nods with Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Have you broken a kid¡¯s arm by any chance?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. Kang Chan blinked. ¡°Yeah! I did that to someone at Tron Square.¡± ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, his father has sued you, saying that you broke both of his son¡¯s arms. It¡¯ll be a problem if this situation gets out of hand, but I don¡¯t think we can talk our way out of this since they aren¡¯t from our school.¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± Kang Chan exined everything that happened that day while they were on the topic. He didn¡¯t expect the leader of the union of bullies would sue him. ¡°What should we do about this? It would probably work if Lee Ho-Jun and Huh Eun-Sil testified for you,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. ¡°Leave them be. If I ask them for a favor, then I¡¯ll have to keep seeing them act like that,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Don¡¯t you just need to prove that he was the one with the knife?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll probably listen to that. But in return, won¡¯t they just act all tough and say that they¡¯re going to sue when they¡¯re put in a simr situation again? There¡¯s no way weak-minded kids like Cha So-Yeon and Moon Ki-Jin would sue. So just leave them. We¡¯re either going toe to an agreement when I meet them or I¡¯m going to beat him up even more.¡± Kang Chan actually considered the thought. ¡°What you just said right now is all true, right?¡± But Kim Tae-Jin suddenly butted into the conversation. At that moment, a displeased look appeared in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. Why would he tell Seok Kang-Ho a cowardly lie? ¡°I apologize if that offended you. I just asked because you can probably im what you did was an act of self-defense if your story¡¯s true. Let¡¯s talk after I make a phone call.¡± Kim Tae-Jin took his phone and went outside for a moment. ¡°I heard his father is a gangster. If he sued, then he must¡¯ve found the situation considerably unfair,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°I didn¡¯t go beyond that since I just did that for Lee Ho-Jun and Huh Eun-Sil. If Cha So-Yeon and Moon Ki-Jin were the ones getting beaten up like that at Tron Square¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrible.¡± Seok Kang-Ho made a sour expression. He looked like he didn¡¯t even want to think about it. ¡°The kids have been working out with the equipment we bought, and they¡¯ll be going out starting this morning for a run. They¡¯re definitely quick since they¡¯re still kids,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Kang Chan felt strangelyfortable when he heard about school-rted matters. As Seok Kang-Ho had told him about what happened in the retreat, Kim Tae-Jin walked in. ¡°The police station is going to order a re-investigation, so let¡¯s wait patiently for now. They¡¯re going to do it not because we asked for it, but because they need to call Lee Ho-Jun and Huh Eun-Sil and investigate if they got threatened or beaten up. It would be best if you respond as soon as the resultse out,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told Kang Chan. ¡°Thank you.¡± Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s countermeasures made Kang Chan feel bad for frowning a moment ago. *** On Tuesday morning, Kang Chan tried paying the hospital bills, but Kim Tae-Jin had already paid for it. ¡°I know getting the VIP treatment is great and all, but you should rest for a bit before finding a way to send yourself back here, especially since I¡¯ll be going on a five-day vacation next week,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo weed Kang Chan discharge so much he even personally came to his room. ¡°Don¡¯t overuse your muscles, and if you notice even the tiniest sign that your injuries are festering, then you have to contact us immediately,¡± He continued. ¡°I will. Thank you.¡± Kang Chan left behind Suh Sang-Hyun, who looked at him with jealousy. He left the hospital with Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Let¡¯s go to school after we buy and change into new clothes and have lunch,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. He did need clothes. They went to a nearby department store in a freshly cleaned Chiffre, bought clothes, then had cold noodles for lunch. He felt good. Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho about thepany that Michelle was going to acquire and the money that Lanok deposited every now and then, but Seok Kang-Ho only listened. On their way to school, Kang Chan got a call from Kim Mi-Young. - When are youing to Seoul? ¡°I¡¯m on my way to school right now.¡± - Really? Then I¡¯ll go to school as well. Their voices and vibes were very different, but he felt she had some simrities with Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Where are you right now?¡± - A crossroad in Non-Hyun Dong. ¡°Stay there. I¡¯ll go there.¡± - Okay! I¡¯m at the bus stop. That was right on the way to the school. He told Seok Kang-Ho about it, so he stopped the car at the bus stop. Beep. Beep. Everyone else stared, but Kim Mi-Young simply nced at the car. She only came running when Kang Chan lowered the window and called her. ¡°Is this your car, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho?¡± asked Kim Mi-Young. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± When Seok Kang-Ho answered in a dazed manner, Kim Mi-Young admired the car and said ¡°The car is really nice,¡± and ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were rich, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.¡± The look in her eyes seemed like she was deeply in love with Kang Chan, which was enough for Seok Kang-Ho to keep ncing at them in the rearview mirror. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, we should go to Tron Square and have Patbingsu before we go to school,¡± Kim Mi-Young suggested. Waiting for the light to change, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho looked back at the same time. ¡°There¡¯s a really good Patbingsu there.¡± Tron Square of all ces? ¡°But you have to go home,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°My mom is going to a gathering for couples today, so I can have dinner with you guys before I go home.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan. ¡°You two should go eat before heading home,¡± Seok Kang-Ho rmended, probably because of the desperate look in Kim Mi-Young¡¯s eyes. She looked like Yoo Hye-Sook when she had been sitting alone in the living room. ¡°You guys should also use the car,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. He gave Kang Chan a sign again. Kang Chan was worried about Yoo Hye-Sook since she would be waiting for him at home, but he decided to spare Kim Mi-Young some time anyway. Seok Kang-Ho got out of the car in front of the school. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho? Why are you getting out?¡± asked Kim Mi-Young. Flustered, Kim Mi-Young followed suit and got out of the car as well. By the time she did, Seok Kang-Ho was already heading toward the school. ¡°Get in,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Kim Mi-Young¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have a license.¡± Kim Mi-Young got in the passenger seat after Kang Chan got in the driver¡¯s seat. He ended up smiling lightly because she seemed so surprised. ¡°Wear your seatbelt,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You really have a license? That¡¯s something we can get too?¡± ¡°I am licensed. Why would Mr. Seok Kang-Holet me borrow his car if I don¡¯t?¡± Kim Mi-Young seemed a little bit reassured when Seok Kang-Ho was mentioned, and her expressionpletely changed when he started driving, merging into a highway. Kang Chan liked seeing her happy. He honestly wished that she wasn¡¯t a high schooler. He wondered if he wasmitting a crime for being swept into the emotions of an innocent child, who had been living in a bubble and only knew how to study. The word ¡®High schooler¡¯ also seemed to act like armor that could never be taken off. ¡®That can change with time, right?¡¯ She was good at studying, so the way she saw the world would probably change once she had gotten into a good university. ¡°I look stupid, don¡¯t I?¡± Kim Mi-Young¡¯s sudden question awakened Kang Chan from his thoughts. ¡°Why do you think that way?¡± ¡°Just because. After carefully thinking about it, I realized my one-sided feelings are probably annoying you or giving you trouble.¡± When Kang Chan gave her a faint smile, she also smiled. However, upon ncing at her, he noticed the pain in her smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do. It was just excitement at first, but my feelings for you grew too big one day. I now constantly wait for you to contact me and want to see you. I even think of you sometimes when I¡¯m studying,¡± Kim Mi-Young confessed calmly, making it easier for Kang Chan to understand. She seemed to have gotten a growth spurt. At that moment, they arrived at the cafe in Misari. After parking the car, they sat at an outdoor table that had a view of the river. She breathed in deeply. ¡°This is a really nice ce!¡± Kim Mi-Young eximed. If she added the word ¡®son¡¯ in her sentence, it certainly would¡¯ve sounded like Yoo Hye-Sook was the one who just spoke. They ordered coffee and juice when an employee came over. ¡°I know you just did as I asked back then out of consideration for my feelings, but I¡¯m not going to change my mind. I¡¯m going to make you love me deeply in the future, so wait for me until then,¡± said Kim Mi-Young. Why did this kid suddenly grow up so fast? Kim Mi-Young lifted her shoulder, seemingly embarrassed when she saw Kang Chan smiling widely. She was definitely pretty. She had big, clear eyes, a milkyplexion, and a bright smile. It felt like a girl he had thought of as his younger sister suddenly grew up and appeared in front of him. Was it because he got greedy at the amusement park? Or was it because his heart fluttered when he hugged her that time? ¡°Are you going to France to study abroad?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. What¡¯s she saying now? ¡°There¡¯s a widespread rumor in the apartmentplex that you¡¯ve received a full, government-paid schrship in France. My mom couldn¡¯t believe it until a simr rumor came from a different school. A mom that was personally there had apparently told all the other moms at that school about it. Your name has be famous in all the hagwons?in Daechi-Dong.¡± Kim Seong-Hee? Do moms get to know each other when things like that circte between them? ¡°French is excellent. Taking online French sses has even be a trend nowadays, and a lot of kids are getting scolded for not being able to get the hang of anguage that can be learned with ease.¡± Wryughter came out. ¡°I¡¯m also going to go to France to study abroad,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. ¡°Huh? But there¡¯s a chance that I won¡¯t go, though.¡± Kim Mi-Young nked out, then side-eyed him, seemingly telling him not to joke around. ¡®Why is she like this?¡¯ Kang Chan breathed in deeply. ¡®Are her thoughts childish because she¡¯s physically young?¡¯ Kang Chan felt like the sight of her smiling brightly was being carved into his heart. 1. Non-Hyun Dong is a ward within Gangnam-Gu, South Korea 2. Patbingsu is a popr Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings. In this case, it is topped with Pat, or red beans 3. Daechi-Dong is an affluent neighborhood in Gangnam Chapter 45，Part1: What the Heart Wants (2)

Chapter45£¬Part1: What the Heart Wants (2)

¡°Why are you staring at me?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked Kang Chan. ¡°Because looking at you makes me happy.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smile when she looked embarrassed. She had been spouting nonsense for so long but dramatically matured in a sh. Is it because she¡¯s a woman? ¡°Snow White.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Kang Chan called Kim Mi-Young, who was looking at their surroundings. ¡°You could meet someone really amazing when you go to college.¡± Kim Mi-Young smiled brightly first. ¡°That¡¯s mean,¡± She then retorted. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°That also implies there¡¯s a chance you¡¯ll meet a prettier and better woman than me in the future.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°Then why do you think that I¡¯ll meet someone better?¡± Would you look at that. Kang Chan felt like he got hit. ¡°I¡¯m not good at anything else other than studying,¡± Kim Mi-Young continued. That shouldn¡¯t be said in front of someone that was bad at studying. ¡°That¡¯s why I decided to study abroad. We¡¯ll be able to stay together in France. If my parents disapprove, then I¡¯m going to live there permanently. I¡¯ve been taking online French sses.¡± Kim Mi-Young frowned. ¡°The sses have proven to be very difficult, but they brighten me up since they make me feel like we¡¯re together.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t properly understand any of what she said afterward. ¡®This certainly feels different from Africa.¡¯ Kang Dae-Kyung, Yoo Hye-Sook, and Seok Kang-Ho. Those people would find it hard to live on properly if something unfortunate happened to Kang Chan. There was also Kim Tae-Jin, who had dropped the honorifics and spoke casually to him, even though Kang Chan had heard he found doing so difficult due to the painful memory of losing his subordinates. ¡°What?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked Kang Chan. ¡°Nothing. Seeing you makes me happy.¡± ¡°Thanks. Huhuhu.¡± Even her uniqueugh sounded great. They spent time talking about what happened at Kim Mi-Young¡¯s hagwon and about the TV program that she said she had watched two days ago. They then enjoyed dinner at the Baekban restaurant, which Kang Chan had visited with Seok Kang-Ho. Kim Mi-Young seemed bemused when Kang Chan paid the bill with a card. ¡°You have a card as well?¡± She asked. ¡°I¡¯m just using money that¡¯s in my bank ount.¡± After paying for their meal, he received the details of the transaction via text. It was hard to determine how much money he exactly had since his remaining bnce had too many zeros. He felt like he needed to split up his bank ount. ¡°Let¡¯s return the car to Mr. Seok Kang-Ho together,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. That sounded tedious, considering about two employees from Kim Tae-Jin¡¯spany should be following her around even at that moment. After Kang Chan dropped off Kim Mi-Young at the apartment, parked the car in a public parking lot, then took a cab home. His heart fluttered when he went on the elevator of the apartment. He then inputted the code on the keypad and opened the door, finding Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung together. ¡°Chan!¡± ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Kang Chan greeted. Yoo Hye-Sook hugged him, then checked his condition. ¡°I guess my workout was a bit excessive,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°Your face has be so thin. Is there anything you want to eat?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook offered. ¡°I actually ate before going home. What are those, though?¡± Kang Chan looked at the documents on the table. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s the list of orphanages and refuges that your dad and I are nning to support.¡± Kang Chan went to the table since he liked seeing Yoo Hye-Sook, whom he hadn¡¯t seen in such a long time, and because he was curious about the ces they were going to support. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°No.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung now finally found the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Kang Chan. He still wouldn¡¯t have been able to say anything if Yoo Hye-Sook hadn¡¯t left the table to warm up the herbal medicine for Kang Chan. ¡°Their situations are a lot worse than we thought,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°May I see?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Kang Chan looked at the documents. Each ce needed six million won monthly for expenses, but the ones that had received a total of four and a half million won from the support and subsidy fundsbined looked betterpared to the others. Can they really live properly in such situations? ¡°They¡¯re all suffering from the same situation. They told us that things had gradually be more difficult for orphanages and refuges recently, but there¡¯s a limit to our capabilities. There isn¡¯t a ce that doesn¡¯t weigh on our minds,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Kang Chan. ¡°Drink this first, Chan,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. She ced the medicine in front of Kang Chan. ¡°Did the two of you drink this?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been taking it sparingly because you¡¯re the one who bought it for her, but if I didn¡¯t stop her, she would¡¯ve drank it all up, the stic pack included,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung quipped. ¡°You always tease me!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. When Yoo Hye-Sook side-eyed Kang Dae-Kyung, he ducked his head. It was great to see them like that. Kang Chan wanted to live this if he ever started a family of his own in the future. ¡°We¡¯re thinking of going to the Sang-Jung orphanage on Sunday. Do you want to go with us?¡± ¡°I do, but I¡¯d probably have to meet with Mr. Seok Kang-Ho that day.¡± ¡°Alright. Then we can just visit it when we¡¯re all free,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung replied. Kang Chan went into his room after spending about an hour with them. Cozy. Upon entering his room,fort swiftly embraced him. After taking the medicine he received from the hospital, Kang Chan surfed on the Inte, which he hadn¡¯t done for a long time. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª Kang Chan picked up his phone, realizing that he hadpletely forgotten about Shan. ¡°Hello?¡± - What did you do to get discharged from the hospital so quickly? The bastard sounded like he had been trailing and keeping an eye on Kang Chan. Realizing he momentarily let his guard down, Kang Chan returned to his senses. - I heard you had a great time. ¡°Call me again when you actually have something to say aside from this nonsense.¡± - Whoa whoa, Kang Chan. Even though he tried to appearid back, Shan sounded like he wascking in energy again. This was already the second time his strength had been depleted during a phone call. It served as evidence that he hadn¡¯tpletely recovered from his injuries yet. - You caught me off guard for a moment there, but I called you because I recognize your skills. You should give my offer some thoughts. ¡°Just tell me what you want, Shan.¡± - Help us with our work for twenty billion won. What is this fucker trying to say now? - I already know everything, Kang Chan. Kill Lanok. You¡¯re fully capable of that, aren¡¯t you? You just need a fitting strategy to do it, or you can just tell me where he''d surely go to, and the twenty billion won will all be yours. Kang Chan smirked. - Think about it carefully, but there¡¯s not a lot of time. If you ept our condition, then you won¡¯t need to hire those worthless bodyguards anymore. How much does this fucker actually know? - If we find out Lanok¡¯s appointments first, then you¡¯ll never see one of your most precious loved ones ever again. Apparently, all it takes is a billion won for a car ident or an unexpected robbery to ur. Would those sloppy security guards be able to prevent that as well? ¡°Shan.¡± - You have until tomorrow to decide. There¡¯s only ten days left, Kang Chan. If you can¡¯t decide before then or if we solve the problem ourselves, then you¡¯re going to lose someone before you even get the chance to go crazy this time. Oh! It¡¯ll probably be a female. After Shan had finished talking, Kang Chan heard him breathing heavily. The call then ended, but it felt as if someone had taken the phone and dropped the call. It wouldn¡¯t be wise to call Lanok right now. Shan saying that Kang Chan had about ten days left matched perfectly with Wui Min-Gook¡¯s n to leave Korea with the ship they chartered. Kang Chanid in bed after he had the medicine that the hospital gave him. Shan asking him to kill Lanok didn¡¯t anger him. But him saying one of Kang Chan¡¯s female loved ones would disappear forever? Son of a bitch. No matter what happens, I¡¯m going to stab a knife into your heart or neck. *** When Kang Chan went to school the next morning, he found Seok Kang-Ho exercising with the tenth and eleventh-graders. His spite had increased to the point where he had quit smoking and especially focused onbat techniques. Seok Kang-Ho was a gym teacher and showed talent in his movements, but he had clearly gotten old. ¡°What are they doing, Mr. Kang-Ho?¡± asked one of the students. ¡°It¡¯s self-defense.¡± ¡°Please teach us as well.¡± Bored of working out using the exercise equipment, the kids crowded around him. Seok Kang-Ho nodded to their request. Closebat techniques were difficult exercises to memorize in this way. There wasn¡¯t a problem with him teaching those to them, though, since it wasn¡¯t like he was secretly giving them ssified information. Seok Kang-Ho first taught them the basic stance in hand-to-handbat. The kids seemed to have thought he was teaching Taekwondo. As they tried to follow his teachings without understanding the meaning behind his movements, they ended up in very odd positions. After Seok Kang-Ho finished teaching them the basics three to four times, Kang Chan called him over in the middle of the lesson by gesturing at him with his eyes. . ¡°Shan had called me,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°It¡¯s already been four days? Ah, that¡¯s right. What did he say?¡± Kang Chan told him the exact details of the phone call. ¡°That fucker think he¡¯s a big shot,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t I right? That bastard sold off his subordinates just for a diamond, then smuggled drugs, and now he¡¯s saying he¡¯ll give you twenty billion won if you kill the ambassador! I said that because the dickhead¡¯s acting dramatic and silly, which is absurd! It¡¯s as if he¡¯s in a position so important he can determine the future of France.¡± It was a refreshing evaluation, enough for Kang Chan to feel like a load had been taken off of his chest. Chapter 45，Part2: What the Heart Wants (2)

Chapter45£¬Part2: What the Heart Wants (2)

¡°Did you call Lanok?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of calling him a bitter. I¡¯m nning on taking this opportunity to use him as bait.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Someone''s bound to act if Lanok and I conspire and reveal his location to Shan. Lanok will attack Shan¡¯s backer, and we canjust focus on catching Shan,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°But what if Lanok gets attacked when we do that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for France¡¯s Intelligence Bureau to take care of by themselves. Shan wouldn¡¯t being with a filet knife to kill Lanok, would he? He¡¯s going to shoot Lanok or use a different method. We won¡¯t even need to butt in.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered. When Seok Kang-Ho went into the athletics club room after roughly finishing their discussion regarding the issues they had to deal with, Kang Chan called Lanok. - The Ambassador is in the middle of an interview right now, Monsieur Kang. But he¡¯ll contact youter. Kang Chan felt dispirited when someone unrted to the matters at hand answered the call. Well, it was lunch time anyway. He ordered a few dishes from a Chinese restaurant and ate with everyone. Afterward, Kang Chan drank coffee and rested for a moment. When he got tired of watching the kids practice self-defense so horribly, Kang Chan decided to leave the athletics club room. His phone rang as he did. ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± - I¡¯m sorry that I couldn¡¯t personally answer your call, Monsieur Kang. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You probably have a lot on your tes. I called you to discuss the call I received from Shan yesterday. Kang Chan also told Lanok the details of the phone call. - We need to change the bait. Kang Chan smiled tiredly, but Lanok sounded serious. - when he calls today, please tell him to give you about two days to think. I¡¯ll make a reservation at a hotel for tomorrow evening. I¡¯ll see you then if that¡¯s okay with you. ¡°Understood, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan noticeably rxed after he ended the call. Kim Tae-Jin was going after Shan, so there was a chance they¡¯d find him first. There was also the possibility of Lanok catching Shan¡¯s backer. Regardless of which side caught him, they definitely wouldn¡¯t be half-assing their job since they both had their own motives. Now that he was reminded of Kim Tae-Jin, Kang Chan thought about calling him but decided against it. Not only was it natural for those being followed, but he couldn¡¯t even guess how on edge Kim Tae-Jin had to be while trailing after someone. Kang Chan then went into the athletics club room, finding the kids repeating the basic stance with Seok Kang-Ho. ¡®Phew.¡¯ Their posture was dumbfounding. Because of their stance, they could be stabbed in the neck with just one hand movement if they stood face to face against an enemy. Shaking his head, Kang Chan slowly warmed up. ¡°Can we use this move in a fight, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho?¡± A lot of people seemed to support Cha So-Yeon¡¯s question. It looked too sloppy, even for them. ¡°You¡¯ll know once you see the demonstrationter,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Alright.¡± Their answer didn¡¯t contain faith. Kang Chan thought he should leave them be, but Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s gaze on Kang Chan was full of disappointment. He was irritated, wishing he had someone to spar with. Seok Kang-Ho persevered and followed through with his decision to quit smoking, but practicing against the empty air would¡¯ve disheartened him. Kang Chan stood right in front of Seok Kang-Ho while tilting his head from side to side. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes seemed to be asking, ¡®What are you trying to do?¡¯ ¡°You should warm up a bit with me,¡± Kang Chan said. Grin. Satisfied, Seok Kang-Ho smiled, thinking he could be worried and happy at the same time. The athletics club room instantly became quiet when Kang Chan stepped forward. While both of them had their bodies slightly twisted, they aligned their hands with their necks like boxers. So far, all they had been showing was what the kids were practicing. Shick.? Seok Kang-Ho flinched twice and immediately attacked with his thumb. Tatata. Kang Chan blocked his attack with his elbow, then aimed for Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s jaw. Seok Kang-Ho shoved the elbow away and targeted Kang Chan¡¯s side and neck in return. Pak. Pak. Whoosh. Their hands shed against each other four to five times in an instant. Afterward, they stepped away from each other. Even though they were excited, the kids couldn¡¯t even yell not only because they had just realized how deadly the basic movements they were practicing could be,, but also because Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s fierce eyes overwhelmed them. Whoosh. Pak. Pak. Bam! The two continued their sparring match. Kang Chan shoved away Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s fist and elbow, then rammed the edge of his hand into Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s side. The kids¡¯ faces immediately crumpled. It was as if they were the ones that got hit. Seok Kang-Ho pounced on Kang Chan after twisting his body from side to side. Pak. Whoosh. Pak-pak-pak. Whoosh. Kang Chan swatted Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s hand away, then struck his neck and side. If Kang Chan had a knife, Seok Kang-Ho would¡¯ve already been sprawled out on the floor. But that was where their bout ended. Kang Chan felt a surge of stiff pain in his side and back, where he had been stabbed with a knife. When Kang Chan stepped back while frowning, Seok Kang-Ho also eased up his stance. ¡°Wow.¡± The kids finally yelled their excitement out. A few of them even pped. Amid his attempt to soothe Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s disappointment, Kang Chan managed to light a fire in the innocent kids¡¯ hearts. As soon as he stepped out, they all stood up and started to practice the basics on their own. Seok Kang-Ho followed Kang Chan outside. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I just feel a bit cramped up, but it¡¯s nothing to worry about. Anyway, what do you n on doing with your body? It¡¯s so stiff.¡± ¡°Tell me about it. I didn¡¯t believe it at first since I had no idea this body was this slow. My arm and torso feel heavy. It¡¯s like I have sand bags on them.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s spar properly starting tomorrow. I¡¯ll help you get back in shape.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that after you fully recover. Honestly, I couldn¡¯t give it my all because I was anxious.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Kang Chan could see why Seok Kang-Ho would¡¯ve felt that way, and he thought he should try and devise a way to somehow spar with him while he was recovering. He rested for a moment, then headed home with Kim Mi-Young, who hade to the athletics club after finishing hagwon. ¡°Chan! Can we go out on Saturday?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°Saturday?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m going to Kang-chon on Friday but I got permission to hang out as much as I want on Saturday.¡± ¡°Is there anywhere you want to go?¡± ¡°I want to see the sea.¡± ¡°The sea?¡± ¡°Yeah. I want to eat raw fish, see the refreshing beach, and feel the sand under my feet.¡± ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Huhuhu.¡± Is she that happy about that? After parting ways with Kim Mi-Young in front of the apartment and going inside his home, Kang Chan got a call from Michelle to confirm if he¡¯d be at the hotel reservation at 11 am tomorrow morning to sign the D. I. acquisition contract. Since Kang Dae-Kyung came home early, the three of them ate grilled pork belly for dinner together. They discussed many things as they ate, such as the olderdies in the apartment that were jealous of Kang Chan, and that the ¡®Chiffre¡¯ was starting to gain poprity by word of mouth. Their home was as filled with happiness as it was with the smell of meat. After having dinner, then eating fruits together in the living room, Kang Chan went back to his room. As if it had been waiting for that exact moment, his phone vibrated. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª [111-1111-1111] It felt like the caller id on the phone was eating a part of his happiness. On the other hand, Kang Chan thought that Shan¡¯s life was also fucking pitiful. There was no way that poor fucker had felt the happiness of grilling and eating pork belly with family. There wasn¡¯t even grilled pork belly in France. His phone ceaselessly vibrated, telling him to just pick up the call already. ¡°Hello?¡± - Have you made up your mind? ¡°I need two more days to think about it. - There isn¡¯t much time left. ¡°Okay.¡± - Then I¡¯ll call back after two days. ¡°Shan.¡± Kang Chan stopped Shan before he could end the call. ¡°Since you¡¯re probably not going to send the two billion won first, how can you guarantee that money?¡± Kang Chan had thought of this question in the afternoon. Since he was dealing with Shan, he needed to at least show this much caution. - I¡¯ll tell you how once I¡¯ve made up my mind. ¡°The methodes first, Shan. We¡¯re not in a rtionship where we can trust each other, are we?¡± - I¡¯m going to hand over the Swiss bank ount. ¡°It¡¯ll be over for me if you change the password before I can withdraw the money. I wouldn¡¯t have any means to bring that much money over to Korea either. I need a better way. A moment of silence passed. - I don¡¯t know what Lanok rambled to you, but something massive and unimaginable will happen if I catch him. It¡¯ll change the dynamics of entire Europe, Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯s for the Europeans to worry about. What¡¯s important for me is how I¡¯m going to get the twenty billion won and the safety that I¡¯ll be guaranteed with afterward. Even if I sell Lanok, both sides will be chasing after me without even getting paid if you guys fail to catch him. Don¡¯t treat me as if I''m that naive, Shan.¡± - Hmm. If you¡¯re that serious about this, then I¡¯ll find a more certain way. ¡°I want to hear about it when you call in two days.¡± The call ended abruptly. That fucker needed to learn phone manners before anything else. ¡®He¡¯s got to be irritated.¡¯ Kang Chan couldn¡¯t resist grating on Shan¡¯s nerves. Shan was someone who needed to be in charge, so seeing Kang Chan take charge would probably annoy him. How many pork cutlets can I buy with twenty billion won? Shit, I don¡¯t even know how much money that is. Kang Chan really didn¡¯t want the money. He didn¡¯t even need it right now. Excluding the sry he earned as a mercenary, he didn¡¯t really value the money that was in his bank ount. Around ten days. It didn¡¯t matter if Kang Chan used Lanok as bait or if Kim Tae-Jin caught Wui Min-Gook. He only needed to catch Shan. It was a game of cat and mouse. Kang Chan was looking to kill Shan, and Shan was looking to kill Lanok, but Lanok was using Kang Chan, creating a damned rtionship. On top of that, Wui Min-Gook, the Neck Ghost, and Kim Tae-Jin had also be involved in this. This wouldn¡¯t be just another reckless fight. They were looking to kill each other. ¡®Let¡¯s end this quickly, Shan.¡¯ Kang Chan didn¡¯t want this to drag on. 1. Kang-chon is a vige in South Korea Chapter 46，Part1: Business? (1)

Chapter46£¬Part1: Business? (1)

Thursday morning. The open area of the apartment looked peaceful. But Kang Chan was at war with a cunning enemy that was hiding like a fucking rat while looking for an opportunity. Taking a deep breath and strengthening his resolve, he warmed up, then ran out of the apartment. ¡®Come at me!?You¡¯re wee to attack me!¡¯ A shooting? An ambush? Would the bastards aiming to kill Lanok and leave in ten days use guns in the middle of South Korea? Instead of Kang Chan¡¯s death, the media and the prosecution would conductrge-scale interference in such an urrence. It was fortunate that firearms weren¡¯t allowed in South Korea. Damn it! Feeling as if he had been shot, sharp pain started to course through his body¡ªincluding his side, waist, and back. This critical moment simr to when he had a knife in his hand while facing an opponent. Kang Chan straight-up ignored the pain. It was difficult to protect those he loved with physical strength that required him to tie a knife to his hand with a wire. ¡°Huff huff.¡± He had run out of breath. Running was quite strange. If one were to stop running for a couple days, they¡¯d be clearly reminded of their limit once they started running again. ¡®Do what you want!¡¯ If it festered, he just needed to disinfect his injury and ignore the pain. He exhaled heavily upon reaching the five-kilometer mark. ¡°Huff huff. Huff huff.¡± By the time he had circled back to the apartment¡¯s park, Kang Chan was sweating like it was raining. After stretching for about five minutes, he went up the apartment using the stairs. Not only did he not want to fill the elevator with the smell of sweat, but he also needed to cool his heated body down slowly. Upon opening the door to their home and heading in, Yoo Hye-Sook, who was preparing breakfast, and Kang Dae-Kyung, who looked like he had just woken up, greeted him. ¡°Oh my! Look at how sweaty you are,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookmented. She seemed to have assumed that Kang Chan went on a run to prepare for the University of Physical Education¡¯s entrance exam. ¡°How far did you run?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°About ten kilometers.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked startled. ¡°I would¡¯ve copsed if I came with you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. You just need to start exercising through walking first.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The danger of Kang Dae-Kyung joining Kang Chan in his morning workouts noticeably decreased with just a few words. ¡°I¡¯lle out after I wash up,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Sure, my love. I¡¯ll make you a delicious breakfast,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook replied. ¡°Okay. I look forward to it.¡± Kang Chan had noticed Yoo Hye-Sook was the type to appreciate one¡¯s words, which was why he faithfully replied to her. She always did pass happiness, gratitude, and love to others. Heading to the bathroom, Kang Chan thought he needed to get rid of Shan as soon as possible. When the intense shower of cold water hit and doused him, the burning pain that made him feel as if his skin was on fire died down a bit. ¡®Did I overexert myself?¡¯ Kang Chan immediately shook his head. He never would¡¯ve had such a thought if he was in Africa. After drying his hair, he looked in the mirror. As he got used to his current look, his previous appearance became hazier. At the very least, however, the look in his eyes was far from that of a teenager¡¯s. He looked into the mirror while cing his arm on the sink. ¡°If you can hear me, then you probably saw everything that has happened up to this point. I¡¯m trying my best. Don¡¯t think that I stole your parents. Consider this as my way of finding an oue where we can all be happy.¡± It was embarrassing and awkward, which was different from thest time he talked to the previous owner of this body, but he at least wanted to portray his emotions. If the previous owner of his body could hear and understand what he was saying, then the previous owner would¡¯ve also already been aware of all the thoughts he had to endure anyway. As Kang Chan went out after washing up, Yoo Hye-Sook finished preparing breakfast. ¡°What are your ns for today?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. ¡°I promised to meet some people, so I¡¯ll be out until dinner. Why do you ask?¡± They sat down at a table and started to eat, starting from Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°I¡¯m nning on meeting Smithen, the Korean branch manager. There¡¯s been a constant increase in Orders here in Korea, but that gentleman strangely hasn¡¯t done anything. I¡¯m worried he¡¯d be dissatisfied with the interpretation, so I thought I should meet him with you instead.¡± ¡°Really? But does it have to be the branch manager of Korea that has to do something?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°His signature on the invoice is mandatory. We also need the headquarters¡¯ help because orders are flooding in beyond our expectations.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Your dad is talented, Chan.¡± It was nice to see her so proud. ¡°Oh? Why are youplimenting me? That¡¯s unlike you,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Honey!¡± ¡°No, no. Let¡¯s just eat quickly.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s mischievous gaze met Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll try calling him,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You will?¡± ¡°Yes. He gave me his business card thest time we met, and I also thanked him for helping us sessfully sign the contract. It wouldn¡¯t be that difficult to make a private appointment with him.¡± ¡°That would be great.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook brought more stew for Kang Dae-Kyung when he had finished eating his Kimchi stew. ¡°But how many more cars do you currently need?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Thest batch was all used for disy or demonstration. I think we¡¯ll need at least two hundred cars for now.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung shook his head as if to say it wasn¡¯t that big of a deal when Kang Chan and Yoo Hye-Sook expressed their surprise. ¡°It¡¯s not something to be that amazed about.¡± ¡°Really? But isn¡¯t that still impressive?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Impressive enough to have everyone¡¯s eyes on me, I guess? Something like that.¡± They finished dinner merrily. Of all the ces, they decided toplete the acquisition contract at 11 am at the Namsan Hotel. Kang Chan called Smithen when Kang Dae-Kyung had gone to work. - Hi Channy! ¡°Where are you?¡± - I¡¯m at home. I haven¡¯t gone outside since that day. That fucker would no doubt live for a long, long time. ¡°I was told that the purchase order sheet for the cars of Kang Yoo Motors needs your signature. Sign more copies than they need so they''ll have extra. And I don¡¯t think you¡¯re the target right now, so feel free to go out starting today, but make sure you keep a low profile and that the ces you¡¯ll be going to are crowded. - Will that be really okay? ¡°I think everything will be decided within two weeks, so just be careful until then. Oh, right! Call the headquarters of Gong Te and ask them to quickly send over the cars that had been ordered. - Okay, Channy. I¡¯ll call them right away. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to sign first.¡± - I¡¯ll call Kang Yoo Motors immediately and tell them to bring over the documents. Then I¡¯ll call the headquarters as soon as I sign. ¡°Okay. How¡¯s your injury?¡± - I¡¯ll go to the hospital today and get an artificial eye if it¡¯s okay to go out. Then I¡¯ll look much better. Is he saying that to make me feel bad? ¡°Okay.¡± - Channy. Just as he was about to hang up, Smithen called out to Kang Chan again. - Can I apply to study at a Koreannguage institute? Kang Chan was wrong. This fucker had always been insincere. ¡°Wait the next two weeks out for now. After that, doing that shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± - Okay, Channy. Kang Chan sighed when he ended the call. There was no doubt that Smithen had gotten tired of the woman he was with, or he simply wanted new women. *** Kang Chan spoke to Seok Kang-Ho on the phone, then left the house a bit before 10 am. Since it was an important day, he wore afortable-looking jacket. He went to the bank and got a cheque worth five hundred million won, then headed straight to the hotel. The meeting took ce in the conference room at the Namsan Hotel¡¯s basement, which was a business center. Thewyer¡¯s or D. I¡¯s office would¡¯ve been a much better and morefortable venue. This wasn¡¯t Michelle¡¯s way of handling things. By the time Kang Chan had gotten out of the taxi at the hotel and entered the conference room, a lot of people were already there. ¡°Channy!¡± She hugged Kang Chan and noisily kissed both of his cheeks. ¡°Channy, This is Kim Seong-Gil, the CEO of D.I. He made a reservation at this hotel today on purpose,¡± Michelle introduced. Kim Seong-Gil stood up and held out his hand intrusively. His big head,rge and bright eyes, and thick neck and body seemed to indicate he was a former gangster. ¡°And this is Mr. Kim Seon-Il, the vice president,¡± Michelle continued. ¡°I¡¯m Kim Seon-Il.¡± He held his hand out without bothering to hide his distaste for Kang Chan. ¡°And this is attorney Choi-Young, awyer from thew firm Taeyang. He¡¯ll be in charge of the contract.¡± After Kang Chan had greeted them, Michelle turned toward three women. ¡°And these are our actresses So-Yeon, whom you¡¯ve already met, Lee Ha-Yeon, and Seong So-Mi. We decided to meet with the other trainees and employees after the contract signing.¡± The heavy makeup wearers Lee Ha-Yeon and Seong So-Mi nodded at Kang Chan to greet him, then sat down. Kang Chan sat down in the middle after theplicated greetings ended, leaving only Michelle and Eun So-Yeon standing. On Kang Chan¡¯s left sat Choi Young, and on his right sat Michelle. ¡°I already examined the contract with thewyer,¡± Michelle said. Thewyer, Choi-Young, slid the contract toward Kang Chan and Kim Seong-Gil. It wasn¡¯t like it was going to change even if he looked at it now. Kang Chan wordlessly took out a cheque for five hundred million won and handed it to Michelle. ¡°A young gentleman with a lot of money,¡± Kim Seong-Gilmented provokingly. The way he spoke was full ofints, so much so that Kang Chan would¡¯ve thought he was surely picking a fight with him if he saw him elsewhere. Kang Chan smirked in response, and the atmosphere instantly turned cold. ¡°Where do I need to sign?¡± asked Kang Chan. He wanted to end this quickly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you bring your stamp?¡± The youngwyer, Choi Young, asked in a flustered way. ¡°No. I thought all I needed to do was sign.¡± ¡°Ha, my god.¡± Vice president Kim Seon-Il gave Kang Chan a distasteful gaze. Are these fuckers crazy? If people saw that, they would probably think those two were being robbed of theirpany. ¡°Michelle, do these people know French?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°No, why?¡± When Kang Chan spoke French, everyone looked at him in surprise. ¡°They seem to haveints. Don¡¯t do this if this contract is going to cause trouble.¡± Unlike Kang Chan, Michelle thankfully didn¡¯t lose her smile. ¡°They probably feel disappointed for having to sell thepany. They were producing a drama when it all came crumbling down, after all. In this industry, people earn as much as they put in, yet they still had to sell thepany despite already having struggled to get investments. That made them result in such perverse behaviors. I mean, just look at them! They look like the rough and tumble type. They most likely hope you¡¯d invest in theirpany instead even though they¡¯ve already decided to sell it.¡± Kang Chan nodded, then turned to Choi Young. ¡°Can¡¯t it be done with a signature?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter for the acquirer, but you will need to give us your ID and registered dry seal for notarizationter.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Kang Chan signed where Choi-Young had pointed to. He then exhaled to get rid of his difort and handed over the pen to Michelle. 1. The Korean phrase used here was ???? ?? ??????. There''s a saying how people act how they look, and Michelle¡¯s saying that since they look rowdy, they''re definitely going to be harsh people Chapter 46，Part2: Business? (1)

Chapter46£¬Part2: Business? (1)

After Kang Chan signed, Kim Seong-Gil spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Hey, Mr. Acquirer, if possible, please don¡¯t fire the employees that stayed.¡± What¡¯s he saying now? Kang Chan first looked at Michelle. ¡°Employment preservation isn¡¯t in the terms of the contract,¡± Michelle replied. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking.¡± Kim Seong-Gil¡¯s way of speaking was strange. It wasn¡¯t formal, but it wasn¡¯t informal either. ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll do that if it¡¯s possible.¡± When Michelle answered, Kim Seong-Gil pointed to the contract with his thumb. ¡°If you¡¯re okay with it, then please add it to the contract in your own handwriting.¡± Kang Chan smirked and looked at Kim Seong-Gil. It ends here. It would only be burdensome in the future if he acquired thispany. These ruffians wouldter argue that they faced losses when they handed it over to him. Moreover, he didn¡¯t want to go through all this trouble just to acquire thepany. ¡°Let¡¯s stop this.¡± Kang Chan grabbed the cheque from the table and put it in his inner chest pocket. He then grabbed the signed contract and ripped it vertically and horizontally. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Smirk. When Kang Chan smiled, Kim Seong-Gil bent his chair¡¯s backrest backward and cracked his neck. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be in the right state of mind since you¡¯re still young and have some money, kid. Regardless, you now have to buy thepany at a billion won.¡± Eun So-Yeon turned to Michelle, looking like she was about to cry. Michelle previously felt bad for her. Kang Chan secretly shook his head. Michelle wasn¡¯t a fool that would make him spend five hundred million won just to save that girl. However, at the very least, she certainly did an awful job at handling her work. This wasn¡¯t right. Kang Chan was about to stand up. ¡°It seems you don¡¯t know me that well. In this industry, it¡¯s hard for people to ignore me. You¡¯re well aware of that, aren¡¯t you, Ms. Michelle? That¡¯s why you should ept my generosity of selling you thepany for only a billion won. Or you can just give us five million won as the price for ying with us and leave. I¡¯ll give back double that amount after we¡¯ve finished producing a drama.¡± There was no use crying over spilled milk. Looking offended, Michelle red at Kim Seong-Gil. She was really pretty when she was angry. The unnecessary thought made Kang Chan smirk. He got up from his spot. At that moment, he noticed the other two girls with gaudy makeup smiling strangely. Heo Eun-Sil. It was the exact smile that the bitch wore when she called him a ¡®dick¡¯ in front of the school. ¡°Do you want to stay longer? Or do you want to leave with me?¡± Kang Chan asked Michelle. ¡°Sit down!¡± Kim Seong-Gil growled, draping his left arm on the chair. A head suddenly popped in from the conference room that was beside theirs, and the employee at the entrance counter hurriedly approached them. ¡°Ah! I¡¯m sorry. I tried to be quiet. Please go back to what you were doing,¡± Kim Seong-Gil apologized. At this rate, he was going to cause trouble. Despite Kim Seong-Gil¡¯s attempt to lure him with danger, Kang Chan walked off as Michelle grabbed her bag. Kim Seon-Il hurriedly blocked the entrance. ¡®Phew. Why do things like this keep happening?¡¯ ¡°Our President hasn''t finished talking yet, you son¡ª¡± Pow! ¡°Cough!¡± Kim Seon-Il bent forward when Kang Chan stabbed his side with his half-bent fingers. As he pulled Kim Seon-Il¡¯s head, Kang Chan blocked the space from which Kim Seong-Gil could approach. Pow. Pow. Pow. Kang Chan bent his hand up and hit Kim Seon-Il¡¯s face with his palm. It only took two hits for Kim Seon-Il¡¯s blood to stter all over. ¡°Hey, you son of a bitch!¡± Kim Seong-Gil tried going over the table, but Kang Chan swiftly shoved Kim Seon-Il away, faced Kim Seong-Gil, and hit his leg with his right arm. Crash. Crack! Kim Seong-Gil fell from the thick table and onto a chair, crushing it to pieces. He ended up on the floor. Frightened, Michelle stood right against the wall, and Choi-Young stood at the innermost corner of the conference room with the three talents. ¡°Ugh!¡± Kim Seong-Gil tried to get up, but Kang Chan violently struck his shoulder with his right foot. Crack. ¡°Gaaah!¡± The people that sprang out of the conference room next door quickly ran off when they saw the blood-stained carpet and the gruesome scene. She wants me to acquire apany that¡¯s run by these fuckers? Kang Chan sharply red at Michelle, then grasped onto Kim Seon-Il¡¯s head, which was now covered in blood. Just then¡­ ¡°Please don¡¯t do it.¡± Eun So-Yeon stopped Kang Chan with a trembling voice. Unlike her, the other two bitches had their heads right against the wall to hide their faces. This crazy bitch pretended to be nice while working under such pathetic fuckers. Pow! Pow! Pow! Kang Chan had recovered enough to regain his capabilities when he worked as a mercenary, allowing him to give them a proper and powerful beating. ¡°Sir!¡± As he hit them three times, two healthy, robust men ran to Kang Chan. They appeared to be security guards. He was already enraged, though. Kang Chan sharply red at the guys. ¡°How have you been, Hyung-nim?!¡± Seemingly crazy, the two guys hastily stepped back and greeted him while bowing deeply. It was a disconcerting sight. ¡°I¡¯m Joo Chul-Bum, the one that served Do Seok hyung-nim, hyung-nim.¡± Damn it. He felt as ufortable as being caught relieving himself at the business center. Thud. Kang Chan pushed Kim Seon-Il¡¯s head, which he had been holding onto, against the wall. ¡°Apany all of the customers here to the conference room upstairs and give them two VIP hotel vouchers each. The Namsan Hotel will pay for it.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After giving orders to the man with him, Joo Chul-Bum blocked the entrance, preventing anyone from looking into the room. As Kang Chan calmed himself down, the basement business center waspletely emptied. ¡°Did these fuckers go against you, hyung-nim?¡± Joo Chul-Bum asked. ¡°Stop spouting nonsense and leave.¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking because I let them use this conference room when these fuckers requested for it, hyung-nim. I only cut them some ck since I knew them when they were still gangers. If something displeases you, then I¡¯ll take care of it, hyung-nim.¡± After finishing his exnation, Joo Chul-Bum kicked Kim Seon-Il¡¯s bloodied head. ¡°Get the fuck up and offer your respects, motherfucker. He¡¯s Gwang-Taek hyung-nim¡¯s friend,¡± Joo Chul-Bum said. Kim Seon-Il, who was wiping his blood off with his palm, flinched and looked at Kang Chan. ¡°You fucking dickheads should¡¯ve said something about hyung-niming. This is why I shouldn¡¯t take care of ex-gangsters. I¡¯ll deal with you guyster,¡± Joo Chul-Bum continued. The two of them hesitated and stood up, then greeted Kang Chan with a deep bow. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this so Gwang-Taek hyung-nim won''t hear about it, hyung-nim. Please go over there for now, hyung-nim,¡± Joo Chul-Bum told Kang Chan. ¡°Forget about it. I¡¯m leaving. Just send me the hospital bill for these fuckers and the price for immediately emptying this ce. I¡¯m going to go see Gwang-Taek myself if I don¡¯t hear from you by the end of the day, so do your best to take care of this.¡± Looking troubled, Joo Chul-Bum stepped back. ¡°Please spare me just this once, hyung-nim. If Gwang-Taek hyung-nim finds out from the kids, I¡¯ll get fired, hyung-nim.¡± Kang Chan felt like he was getting nauseous from hearing Joo Chul-Bum repeat ¡®hyung-nim¡¯ so many times. Just then¡­ ¡°I only acted that way because I didn¡¯t know who you were, hyung-nim. I¡¯d be in your debt if you could turn a blind eye to my behavior just this once and continue buying ourpany, hyung-nim.¡± Kim Seong-Gil bowed deeply while clutching his shoulder. Bullshit. Kang Chan didn¡¯t even want to look at him. ¡°If you leave now, we¡¯ll fall out of favor with Gwang-Taek hyung-nim, and nobody will want to buy ourpany, hyung-nim.¡± Kim Seon-Il hastily clung to Kang Chan while wiping his bloody nose with his palm. Gangsters never fucking changed. They would only act like humans after they had been beaten up. Unable to decide, Kang Chan turned to Michelle, only to see her lower her head, which made him feel bad. This whole predicament was his fault, considering he told her to buy thispany without even checking it out first. Their rtionship also wasn¡¯t meant for business. He felt like a coward for asking her to do this, then getting angry after things didn¡¯t go well. ¡°I¡¯m going to proceed with thepany acquisition, Mr. Choi-Young. Can I still acquire it if Michelle signs as the acquirer in my stead?¡± He asked. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll take care of it so there won¡¯t be any issues,¡± Choi-Young swiftly answered. Kang Chan looked at Kim Seong-Gil again. ¡°This is yourst chance. If you have any more conditions to add, then state them now. If I ever learn you cowardly said even just one word behind my back¡­¡± Kang Chan said too much. If they talked behind his back, there really wasn¡¯t anything he could do other than beat them up. ¡°Thank you, hyung-nim.¡± Fortunately, Kim Seong-Gil responded quickly. Kang Chan took out the cheque and handed it to Michelle. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for getting angry,¡± Kang Chan apologized to Michelle. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Channy. I¡¯m sorry for how this turned out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to drink coffee at the lounge. Stop by once you¡¯re done here.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Michelle nodded and smiled awkwardly. She was certainly about a hundred times prettier when she was angry than when she was smiling. When Kang Chan walked out of the conference room, he heard a loud p, followed by Joo Chul-Bum saying, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with youter, fucking son of a bitch.¡± Someone most likely got pped in the face. When he stepped into the lounge, the manager hurriedly led him to a seat. This was why he hated this hotel. After he ordered a coffee, Kang Chan momentarily wondered why he was so mad. Damn it. He suppressed his desire for cigarettes on a whim when Seok Kang-Ho told him that he had quit smoking. He quit smoking once. That was back in Africa, and something simr happened that time as well. Dayeru and a few other crew members even brought him cigarettes and begged for him to smoke again because he kept losing his temper over even the smallest things. When his coffee had been served, Kang Chan took a sip of it. As he did, his phone rang. Who is it?! Despite his sudden burst of annoyance, he picked up the call. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador.¡± - Monsieur Kang, I made a reservation for 5 pm today at the Namsan Hotel. Does that work for you? Damn it. I have to find a way out of this at any cost. Strangely, he was always tangled with this hotel. ¡°Understood, Mr. Ambassador.¡± - I¡¯ll see you at 5 pm, then. After he ended the call, Kang Chan decided he shouldn¡¯t stop smoking unless he had caught Shan. Just as Kang Chan lifted his cup of coffee again, he noticed Michelle and the three girls heading to the lounge. Everyone¡¯s eyes werepletely focused on the four women. Chapter 47，Part1: Business? (2)

Chapter47£¬Part1: Business? (2)

The four women approaching Kang Chan all had different expressions. Michelle looked sorry but happy to see him, Eun So-Yeon seemed both surprised and happy, Lee Ha-Yeon looked suspicious and rude, and Seong So-Mi appeared to be imitating Lee Ha-Yeon. ¡°I have signed the contract, Channy,¡± Michelle said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you go through so much.¡± The people around them couldn¡¯t take their eyes off the four women. ¡°The trainees and employees are probably already on their way to this hotel, Channy. What should we do?¡± She asked. ¡°We all should just have lunch together.¡± He answered not because he liked them, but because he didn¡¯t want to insist they go back when they were already on their way. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to working with you,¡± When Eun So-Yeon greeted Kang Chan by bowing her head, the other two bitches made bitter expressions. They looked like they couldn¡¯t publicly express their distaste for Kang Chan because they saw him beat people up and because Joo Chul-Bum bowed to him respectfully. Kang Chan didn¡¯t even want Eun So-Yeon to greet him, much less those bitches. Bluntly put, he felt like he was sitting across two old Huh Eun Sil¡¯s, which didn¡¯t make him feel good. As Michelle finished her phone call, a hotel employee came over. They ordered tea. ¡°They said they¡¯re almost here.¡± ¡°What do you want for lunch?¡± Kang Chan asked Michelle. ¡°There¡¯s an amazing Japanese restaurant here,¡± Lee Ha-Yeon suggested. Detestable bitches would always be detestable, no matter what they did. ¡°Don¡¯t we need a reservation to eat there?¡± Eun So-Yeon asked. Michelle tilted her head when Lee Ha-Yeon told them her preferences out of nowhere. ¡°We can ask an employee about it.¡± Kang Chan noticed Eun So-Yeon hiding her displeasure, and Michelle also didn¡¯t seem up for it. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you want to go to a Japanese restaurant?¡± Kang Chan asked in French. ¡°She¡¯s probably saying that on purpose,¡± Michelle joyously answered. ¡°A lot of employees and trainees are on their way here. She¡¯s acting high and mighty because she¡¯s the most popr out of the three actresses here, and because you¡¯re young.¡± Amazed, the two bad bitches looked at Kang Chan. ¡°So what does therge number of peopleing here have to do with going to a Japanese restaurant?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Channy, that ce is really expensive. The bill cane out to about five times the price of everyone going to a buffet or a normal restaurant. So it¡¯s going to cost over five million won just for food.¡± Kang Chan finally understood the bullshit behind why Lee Ha-Yeon wanted to go to a Japanese restaurant. ¡°How long before her contract ends? Just let her go,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°That would instantly make it difficult to maintain thepany, Channy. We get to keep it and our trainees because of her. And her contract ends in a year, which is partly why she¡¯s acting like this. Her value has gone up a lot.¡± When Kang Chan looked at Lee Ha-Yeon while smirking, she smiled just like Huh Eun-Sil. He really wanted to take her to the roof of the school or Tron Square. ¡°Will terminating her contract cause problems?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a dangerous thought, Channy. This is business. You can only make money if you persevere through the displeasure.¡± ¡°Okay, so is there a problem in terminating her contract or not?¡± Kang Chan prodded. ¡°There isn¡¯t. But doing so would result in thepany needing about an additional thirty million won per month in expenses, Channy.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± When he ended the conversation, Kang Chan took a sip of coffee, then raised his head. The manager standing with her hands sped together in front of her courteously approached him when their eyes met. . ¡°Can you check if there are seats avable in the Japanese restaurant?¡± Kang Chan asked the manager. ¡°How many seats should we prepare?¡± Kang Chan looked at Michelle. ¡°Including all the employees and trainees, we¡¯ll have about twenty people,¡± Michelle answered in his stead. ¡°I¡¯ll look into it and let you know.¡± The manager headed toward the entrance. ¡°You seem to have a lot of money,¡± Lee Ha-Yeon quipped after wiping the lipstick mark off her cup with her thumb. ¡°Did you insist to eat at the Japanese restaurant without even knowing that?¡± The corner of Lee Ha-Yeon¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°I heard that you¡¯re just a high schooler,¡± She said. ¡°So?¡± The atmosphere turned cold, but it didn¡¯t matter. Kang Chan would just treat her like that bitch Huh Eun-Sil if she kept acting like her. Frowning, Lee Ha-Yeon turned her head away. ¡°The office is in Cheongdam-dong,¡± Michelle told Kang Chan. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan briefly answered. Soon, about fifteen people entered the hotel. A nce was enough to tell they were the employees and trainees. When Michelle stood up and gestured at them, some of them crowded into the lounge while greeting them. The table was crowded, considering there weren''t even spots for them in the first ce. After a while, the manager tactfully returned to Kang Chan. ¡°We have finished getting your seats ready. We¡¯ll prepare ordingly if you decide to go there, or do you prefer to stay here and have tea?¡± Of course, they chose the restaurant. With Kang Chan in the lead, they headed to the Japanese restaurant on the other side of the conference room. The employees and trainees each scrutinized Kang Chan with varying expressions, then looked at each other, their gazes asking what happened. When they went down the stairs, a stone ornament released water from its mouth, seemingly greeting Kang Chan. ¡°Wee. It¡¯s an honor to serve you,¡± An older female manager politely greeted Kang Chan. Upon reaching the innermost part of the restaurant, they found multiple tables brought together in an area made with partitions. Kang Chan sat in the middle, and beside him sat Michelle and Eun So-Yeon. In front of him were three older guys and three bulky guys. Lee Ha-Yeon and Seong So-Mi sat diagonally from them, and the younger kids in jeans and shirts filled the leftover spots. They were all girls, which was almost uncanny. As they were given wet towels and tea, Michelle pointed to the person in front of her. ¡°This is Mr. Lim Soo-Sung, the general manager.¡± A man big enough to be described as a giant bowed his head. ¡°That¡¯s Mr. Kim Jae-Tae, the department head. And beside him are the road managers.¡± Sittingfortably, Kang Chan greeted them with a bow of his head. ¡°And those are the employees in charge of wardrobe and makeup. The rest are the trainees.¡± ¡°How do you do?¡± The restaurant manager approached Kang Chan when the trainees finished greeting him with such young voices. ¡°How should we prepare the meal?¡± She asked. Kang Chan looked at Michelle. ¡°We should have sashimi,¡± The distasteful bitch said. ¡°Please give us sashimi.¡± Kang Chan ordered raw fish without responding to Lee Ha-Yeon. ¡°I heard that you¡¯re a friend of Gwang-Taek hyung-nim,¡± Lim Soo-Sung told Kang Chan¡ªin a booming voice that was peculiar to giants¡ªafter they were done cing their order. ¡°Are you a gangster?¡± Lim Soo-Sung prodded. ¡°No, but I do know a few people.¡± He did seem awkward, but the look in his eyes wasn''t challenging. He was in an ufortable situation. Kang Chan wanted to end this quickly and smoke. He spoke to Michelle in French: ¡°Michelle, I want to smoke. Do you have any cigarettes?¡± ¡°Yeah, I do, and I want to smoke as well. Do you want to go outside for a bit?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± When Kang Chan spoke in a foreignnguage, the trainees looked at him with faces full of respect. ¡°We¡¯ll be back shortly. We¡¯re just going to step outside for a bit,¡± Michelle excused both of them. They then went up the stairs and headed to the smoking area outside the entrance. ¡°Here.¡± Click. ¡°Whoo.¡± Kang Chan felt much better. He suddenly felt generous, and like he could concede with most things unless someone had punched him. ¡°I''ll send you about three hundred million won to your bank ount tomorrow. Use that to manage thepany,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Channy, that¡¯s too much money.¡± ¡°And look into producing another drama. Someone from France will likely being to Korea.¡± ¡°From France?¡± ¡°They¡¯reing for matters rted to drama production, so look into dramas rted to France if possible.¡± Michelle briefly shook her head. ¡°We need at least two billion won to produce a drama, Channy.¡± What bullshit was this? ¡°Popr leading actors all require a deposit, and the same goes for the writers and directors. That¡¯s why I¡¯m trying to keep Lee Ha-Yeon. Her participation brings about a sense of trust in all respects. And D.I. hasn¡¯t aplished anything in drama production yet, which is why president Kim Seong-Gil couldn¡¯t get an investment.¡± ¡°So how much can we earn from it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°If it goes well, then we¡¯ll hit the jackpot. If it doesn¡¯t, then we¡¯ll lose all of our principal.¡± The taste of the cigarette suddenly turned bitter. Why did Lanok say that this was an excellent choice? ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll make a phone call about the drama production. Then there¡¯s going to be no reason for me to see that girl Eun So-Yeon or something again, right?¡± ¡°She¡¯s only being slipped into where Lee Ha-Yeon is being taken to. That¡¯s how we progress our trainees¡¯ growth as well. Things like that will be an opportunity for even Eun So-Yeon if we produce a drama since we can choose who ys the parts, Channy.¡± Kang Chan stayed silent, not wanting to know more. ¡°But you were really sexy when you fought a little while ago,¡± Michellemented. That wasn¡¯t something a bitch that had retreated and trembled right against a wall should say. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat.¡± ¡°Okay, Channy.¡± As Michelle walked gleefully, her ample breasts swayed between her ck jacket. She was definitely an excellent woman, but only as eye candy. The tables were already full of elegant-looking dishes when they returned to the restaurant, and many of the trainees were pouring drinks. They ordered alcohol when general manager Lim Soo-Sung asked for it. ¡°Please say a few words.¡± ¡°Michelle is going to be in charge of the practical affairs from now on. Everyone, please take care of her." Kang Chan gave a brief speech as Lim Soo-Sung rmended, and they all downed their ss. Afterward, they began to eat. 1. Cheongdam-dong is a ward of the Gangnam District in Seoul. It¡¯s known for being an affluent neighborhood Chapter 47，Part2: Business? (2)

Chapter47£¬Part2: Business? (2)

As they ate, Kang Chan and Michelle talked about drama production and the inner workings of a broadcasting station in French. Kang Chan also asionally answered Lim Soo-Sung¡¯s questions. When the trainees seemingly felt the food they ordered wouldn¡¯t be enough, Kang Chan ordered more. ¡°Can we really eat as much as we want?¡± A girl asked cautiously. Even from Kang Chan¡¯s inexperienced eyes, she looked like she was never going to be very sessful. ¡°Yeah. Since you¡¯re already eating anyway, do so to your heart¡¯s content.¡± When Kang Chan casually responded, the trainees began choosing dishes from the menu on their own, which caused quite amotion. ¡°How much money do they each get?¡± asked Kang Chan. Michelle, grabbing a piece of raw fish, shook her head. ¡°We only provide them with amuter allowance. They all live in a dorm together, and we hardly give them any money.¡± ¡°In return, thepany pays for their gym memberships and other expenses,¡± Lim Soo-Sung added. If this was what this industry was like, then there was nothing he could do about it. Kang Chan didn¡¯t like it, but he kept quiet for now. They took nearly two hours to finish lunch. It was going to be quite costly, but he felt great seeing the trainees eat as much as they wanted since they looked like they were starving. Not having to see the two bitches sitting with troubled expressions also made him quite happy. He couldn¡¯t help but feel this was thew of this jungle. Lee Ha-Yeon treated the trainees as lower-ss people, and she treated the manager, wardrobe staff, and makeup employees as if they were her ves. She never had to pour a ss of water or alcohol herself since she kept ordering the nearby trainees and employees for everything¡ªeven getting a facial tissue to wipe her mouth with. After they ate everything, including the fruits that were given as dessert, the rtively long meal ended. ¡°Where are you going to go now, Channy?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°I have one more appointment at 5 pm here.¡± ¡°Then can you have a ss of beer with me?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± He epted. He had something he wanted to talk about with Michelle anyway. ¡°Now, then! Time to leave.¡± Lim Soo-Sung announced after ensuring they were all done eating, and everyone got up from their spots. ¡°We enjoyed the meal today.¡± When Lim Soo-Sung thanked Kang Chan, the trainees loudly chorused, ¡°we enjoyed the meal.¡± The manager at the counter held out their bill, her expression a mixture of gratitude and guilt because of how much he¡¯d be spending. ¡°We¡¯ve also given you the executive discount,¡± She said. Damn. If our total is five million and three hundred thousand won with the discount, then how much is it without it? He shouldn¡¯t say this since he enjoyed the meal as well, but he could¡¯ve bought a year¡¯s worth of the medicine that made Yoo Hye-Sook happy with the price of this one meal. The trainees turned their heads away and went outside, pretending not to see it. Kang Chan held out his card. A momentter¡­ ¡°The credit card limit keeps stopping the transaction from going through.¡± I can''t believe I¡¯m hearing such bullshit. ¡°It seems like your card no longer has any remaining bnce, Mr. President. Don¡¯t you have another card?¡± When Lee Ha-Yeon and Seong So-Mi, who had been watching him,ughed as if finding this situation funny, Michelle took out her card. ¡°Use this for now, Channy.¡± Oh, shoot! This card has a limit of fifty thousand won per transaction.? ¡°Please try to pay the bill after splitting it up to fifty thousand won per transaction,¡± Kang Chan told the manager. ¡°Okay.¡± When the manager ssily took care of the card, the transaction finally went through. ¡°Thank you. We¡¯ll see you again next time,¡± the manager said. Kang Chan didn¡¯t really want to see her again, so he just smiled at her and went outside. ¡°We¡¯ll be going ahead.¡± ¡°Until next time, Lim Soo-Sung bid him goodbye with his deep voice after the two bitches with caked makeup left. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. President,¡± the others then chorused. Eun So-Yeon said goodbyest. She was hiding in the crowd. Finally, everyone started to leave. Kang Chan felt very relieved since he no longer had to be around an old Huh Eun-Sil. Michelle tactfully took out a cigarette for him. . ¡°I¡¯ll get you apany card, which has a high credit limit. Use that from now on. Your personal expenses can just be deducted from the operational budget you¡¯ve provided, so don¡¯t feel pressured.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do thatter.¡± I doubt I¡¯ll ever need to use money like this again. Kang Chan rxed and enjoyed the cigarette. They came back to the lobby and ordered a beer each, then talked about work. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t tell Michelle that Lanok was the one who wanted to produce a drama, but he ordered her toe up with a n anyway. ¡°I didn¡¯t suggest doing this to pressure you, Channy.¡± Michelle seemed to think that he was making things too big. ¡°And Eun So-Yeon is definitely a good kid. We just need to support her a bit more, and she¡¯ll definitely grow,¡± Michelle continued. ¡°No, I already had something in mind. And it doesn¡¯t matter to me what happens to Eun So-Yeon, so just proceed with the drama production. I¡¯ll leave the rest to you.¡± Michelle tilted her head, then smiled strangely. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Are you perhaps doing this because of me, Channy?¡± I¡¯m doing this because of Lanok! He couldn¡¯t tell her that either, though. ¡°I¡¯m doing this to earn money,¡± answered Kang Chan. ¡°How about we go to our room and talk there instead?¡± Michelle¡¯s eyes fluttered as she tossed back her blonde hair. ¡°Just drink beer,¡± Kang Chan answered, then smirked when they clinked their sses against each other. There was no question Michelle looked like a doll from head to toe, which made him wonder why he couldn¡¯t feel any sexual urges toward her. It was nonsensical, but if he had no choice but to sleep with either Michelle or Snow White¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. He stopped thinking. ¡°Hello?¡± - Channy, it¡¯s Smithen. ¡°Why did you call? What¡¯s wrong?¡± - I¡¯ve signed the paperwork for the headquarters, and I was just on a call with them. They said they¡¯d only be able to ship Korea¡¯s supply after about three months because of Chiffre''s high poprity. ¡°Can¡¯t they just take out two hundred cars for us?¡± - They said it would be difficult to provide that many because the orders from Korea opted for quite a lot of options. This is unbelievable. They want us to wait for our turn, even though we¡¯re selling ¡®Chiffre,¡¯ that expensive car, for them. ¡°Okay.¡± - I got an artificial eye put in. It hardly looks fake. ¡°Good job.¡± - I¡¯m going to go home after having dinner, Channy. ¡°Do what you want. Just be quick and don¡¯t unnecessarily go to inappropriate ces.¡± - Okay, Channy. It¡¯s like I¡¯m raising a kid over here. He checked the time after ending the call. It was only 2 pm. Kang Chan felt Michelle¡¯s warm gaze when he was contemting on what to do for three hours. He should send her home first before thinking about that problem. ¡°I should go. It¡¯s almost time for my next appointment,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I feel hurt, Channy.¡± Michelle truly did look unsatisfied. ¡°We¡¯re going to see each other frequently from now on anyway.¡± ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s see each other very often, Channy.¡± He felt genuinely relieved when she left after doing her noisy cheek kisses to bid goodbye. Kang Chan first called Kim Tae-Jin. - Hello? ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan. Can you talk right now?¡± - Of course. How can I help you? Kim Tae-Jin had a sense of familiarity, almost as if they served in the military together, even though they hadn¡¯t seen each other that much. ¡°Do you have any employees that can properly fight withbat techniques?¡± - Many of our employees can perform martial arts, but only a few can execute actualbat techniques. Even if there were, their experience came from the special forces, so their skills would look terrible at your level. Why? Have you finally decided to start teaching them? Kim Tae-Jin sounding so happy weighed on his mind. Even if it didn¡¯t, it would still be beneficial since it would improve their skills. ¡°For now, please send only a few of them to the school. I¡¯ll try teaching them while I exercise with them.¡± - Ha! Did I have a good dream yesterday? I guess things like this really do happen. Okay, I¡¯ll send about four employees that are a bit better than others. ¡°Go ahead. Has there been any updates?¡± - We¡¯ll most likely catch their trail soon. ¡°Alright. Take care.¡± Kang Chan smiled satisfactorily after he ended the call, having found excellent sparring partners for Seok Kang-Ho. Now he needed a ce where he could sit and smoke infort. It would be?better to go and take a nap in the room that Lanok had reserved instead of?going somewhere ufortable. When Kang Chan called Lanok and told him he¡¯d be arriving early, Lanok provided him with the name the room was booked under without hesitation. Kang Chan went to the front desk and told them the name used for the reservation. Soon after, they gave him the key to the room. Entering the elevator, he inserted the hotel card and pressed the button for the neenth floor. Now that he thought about it, however, he didn¡¯t have cigarettes. Kang Chan tried to leave the elevator right before the doors closed, but he bumped shoulders with someone that suddenly came in. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan apologized, then left. However, upon getting an eerie feeling, he swiftly turned around. The man was ring straight at Kang Chan. Only those that hadpleted special training and killed a lot of people could have such a burning look in their eyes. Neither of them looked away, even as the doors gently closed. It was impossible to press the upper buttons in a guest elevator without a card key. Hence, the man waited for Kang Chan to press a button before getting in at thest minute. The elevators that were on his left and behind him were on floors far from the first floor. ¡®Shan?¡¯ The guy that he had bumped shoulders with wasn¡¯t just a part of a mafia organization. He had received professional training. The look in his eyes was so fierce that it was Kang Chan¡¯s first time seeing them since he reincarnated. Kang Chan called Lanok while crossing the lobby. As the ringtone buzzed, he scanned his surroundings. - Monsieur Kang. Have you arrived at the room? ¡°Mr. Ambassador. There are people in this hotel who seem to have received special training. We should move to another ce." Chapter 48.1: My Person (1)

Chapter 48.1: My Person (1)

Lanok finally spoke after a moment of silence. - Even the Intelligence Agency would have a hard time wiretapping this phone, and I reserved the hotel room myself, so this can only mean we have a traitor among us. Kang Chan stood in front of the hotel entrance. He genuinely wanted to catch the guy even if he had to run up the emergency stairs, but it was best to act calmly in this situation. ¡°There¡¯s a chance he was actually after me, but Shan wouldn¡¯t insist on starting something with me right now.¡± - You wouldn¡¯t fail to recognize someone who has undergone special training. Was that person perhaps Asian? ¡°Yes.¡± Lanok sounded calm again, like his original self. - Even the embassy can¡¯t be free from wiretapping. I think it¡¯s best we look for a different meeting ce. ¡°Then the enemy could try staging a car ident during transportation.¡± - There are very few ces in downtown Seoul where crashing into my bulletproof Mercedes can instantly kill me, Monsieur Kang. He sounded at ease as if he was talking about someone else¡¯s matters. - Please reserve a new room, Monsieur Kang. I¡¯ll be heading over to the Namsan Hotel now. I¡¯d prefer it if we go up to the room together from the entrance, so I¡¯ll contact you when I arrive. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be dangerous?¡± - With your capabilities, Monsieur Kang, I don¡¯t think anyone would be able to kill me. This sly fellow dares act like this? - I¡¯ll y the role of bait. I¡¯ll also send out two pieces of incorrect intel from our side. If someone appears in those ces, then that would serve as proof that we have a spy among us. Either way, we¡¯ll get valuable information from it. ¡°Understood.¡± - I¡¯ll arrive in about thirty minutes. Kang Chan sharply looked around after ending the call. Those who had received special training would definitely stand out if they were immediately assigned to actualbat afterward. That was generally the case for the new recruits deployed to Africa. By the time they had survived three to four battles, they most likely would¡¯ve already killed, give or take, ten people. As a result, they would be needlessly sensitive and their eyes were fierce. Later on, those soldiers could provoke aplete stranger and get beaten up until they were half-dead and regretting their actions. People like Dayeru had more training. Their gazes always seemed either rxed or crazy. However, upon finding a goal to strive toward, their eyes would burn so much that they¡¯d appear cruel, like a leopard that had found its prey while resting on a tree. Hence, for them, just ncing around would be enough to identify those who had received special training with seventy percent uracy. If their eyes met, they¡¯d be ny percent urate. And if their shoulders happened to bump into each other, then it would be nearly impossible for them to be wrong. After all, their bodies would react instinctively. They would pass that sharp nervousness traveling through them onto each other the moment their shoulders made contact. Smirking, Kang Chan twisted his head from side to side. Right now, all he had to worry about was Lanok¡¯s safety, since he had almost reached the physical condition he used to have back in Africa. And it only kept getting better whenever he fought with a knife. He even felt that he was starting to regain his peak while oveing his problems with running. Kang Chan went to the front desk and asked them to call Joo Chul-Bum. After about a minute, Joo Chul-Bum hastily approached Kang Chan, bowed deeply in front of him, and greeted him. ¡°I want to smoke,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I¡¯ll apany you, hyung-nim.¡± Kang Chan followed Joo Chul-Bum to the inner part of the entrance¡¯s right side. He didn¡¯t notice it until he had passed the restaurant, but there was a door that said ¡®Employees Only¡¯ between the bathroom and the restaurant. When Joo Chul-Bum pressed the card on thenyard around his neck against the lock, the door opened. There were rooms on both sides of the hallway. Joo Chul-Bum ced the card key again on the second door on the right. ¡°This is my office, hyung-nim.¡± Inside were a table and a sofa. Joo Chul-Bum brought out a cigarette from the desk drawer, lit it, and handed it to Kang Chan. He then filled a paper cup with water. ¡°Please sit.¡± Joo Chul-Bum bowed once more and sat opposite Kang Chan. ¡°I need a room in about 10 minutes. Don¡¯t use my name. Just use a fake one. I¡¯ll be checking out today as well, so I¡¯ll pay for it then,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it, hyung-nim.¡± Kang Chan looked at Joo Chul-Bum, tutting. ¡°I¡¯m not a gangster, and I also don¡¯t like being given special treatment, so just let me pay for all the services we used today. I¡¯ll also pay for the room ordingly. That way, I can keeping to this ce without feeling guilty or burdened.¡± Joo Chul-Bum raised his gaze, then lowered his head. ¡°Understood, hyung-nim.¡± Strangely, Kang Chan had received Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s help many times. It was as if their knot kept getting twisted and tightened after a single entanglement. Joo Chul-Bum called the front desk and ordered them to empty a suite, then asked Kang Chan what he was going to do with Kim Seong-Gil. ¡°We¡¯ve already signed the contract. Is there a reason why I should see him again?¡± Kang Chan asked. It was an obvious answer. ¡°But did you, by any chance, really acquire D.I, hyung-nim?¡± The damn sound of ¡®hyung-nim.¡¯ ¡°What?¡± Kang Chan asked back. Joo Chul-Bum looked troubled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Um¡­ About Lee Ha-Yeon.¡± ¡°What about that bitch?¡± Kang Chan swore, annoyed even just at the thought of her. Joo Chul-Bum actually seemed happy to hear him say that, though. ¡°She sometimes visits this ce. I thought I should tell you since it wouldn¡¯t hurt for you to be careful.¡± It¡¯s not a big deal! Why should I be careful around a fully-grown bitch in a hotel? Joo Chul-Bum seemed to have understood the meaning behind Kang Chan¡¯s expression. ¡°About that, those people are all in broadcastingpanies, involved in dramas, and on the same side as business executives, hyung-nim.¡± Kang Chan only blinked. ¡°Lee Ha-Yeon sells her body, hyung-nim. That bitch can betray you any time, so you should always keep an eye on her.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Kang Chan lit up the cigarette again and bit it. Chk chk. ¡°Hoo!¡± Michelle had effectively shoved him into a pit. Why on earth did she say they should do this? There was no way a magazine¡¯s editor-in-chief would be oblivious to such issues. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t even nning to look back at thepany once Shan had been subdued. So why is this fucker saying something like this? Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang when he extinguished the cigarette. - I¡¯m arriving in 5 minutes, Monsieur Kang. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll be at the entrance.¡± Kang Chan immediately stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Grab the room key and meet me in front of the lobby,¡± Kang Chan told Joo Chul-Bum. ¡°Copy that, hyung-nim.¡± When they reached the lobby, Joo Chul-Bum went to the front desk, and Kang Chan headed to the entrance. After a bit of waiting, a ck car, a dark blue Benz, and a ck van parked in front of the entrance. Lanok got out of the Benz. Ten or so agents rushed out from the vehicles behind and in front of the dark blue Benz and surrounded Lanok. Kang Chan knew that they were acting like this because Lanok¡¯s life was on the line, but this was still a bit excessive, especially if they had to be mindful of how other people looked at them. ¡°Monsieur Kang.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± After shaking Lanok¡¯s hand, Kang Chan led the way into the hotel. Joo Chul-Bum, who was standing in front of the front desk, ran over to Kang Chan with a surprised face and handed him the room key. Room 2101. Still surrounded by agents, they waited for the elevator. Overwhelmed by their numbers and atmosphere, the other customers didn¡¯t dare ride with them. When the elevator stopped, Lanok, Kang Chan, and five agents went in and immediately closed the door. From there, their trip to the guest room remained uneventful. After examining the room, the agents brought out the coffee pot and prepared tea. Meanwhile, Kang Chan and Lanok sat facing each other on the living room sofa, smoking cigarettes and cigars. The agents weremendable and amodating, considering they had even prepared cigarettes for Kang Chan. ¡°Monsieur Kang. The North Korean spy has been disying unusual movements,¡± said Lanok. Kang Chan only watched Lanok silently. ¡°That could be because of a request from the Chinese or a coboration between North Korea and China. Nevertheless, we still haven¡¯t figured out their numbers ore up with a list of names.¡± ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± Lanok looked at Kang Chan while exhaling cigar smoke to the side. ¡°Shan told me the oue of your affairs will change Europe¡¯s dynamic, but that doesn¡¯t interest me. The acquisition of that obnoxious entertainmentpany doesn¡¯t even suit my aptitude. Hence, China and North Korea¡¯s interference is none of my business.¡± Lanok took a sip of his coffee while listening to Kang Chan. ¡°Too many factions have joined this battle with Shan. I want to know who his backer is if there is one, but I¡¯m not willing to get dragged into something like an intelligence war. Stocks? Remittance? I don¡¯t need those things either. I¡¯ll step away from this if you¡¯re hiding something from me while we¡¯re working together.¡± ¡°I understand, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok nodded. ¡°Even our Intelligence Bureau thought this would only be rted to the French election. They didn¡¯t expect there would be this huge chunk dangling from it. Honestly, even I am flustered by it.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ll easily get what you want if your agents and the DGSE act,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Unfortunately, Mr. Kang Chan, a lot of constraints have been ced on the Intelligence Bureau¡¯s movements because China has be a part of this as well.¡± ¡°If there were people watching me, then they all would¡¯ve been aware that I also acquired apany. Would that even help?¡± Since it had already been brought up, Kang Chan decided to organize the situation. He wanted topletely entrust hispany to Michelle, and, excluding matters rted to Shan, he didn¡¯t want to be dragged into anything, especially not an intelligence war. Lanok looked at Kang Chan as if he hade to a decision. ¡°Please just help us with two things. First, please announce as early as possible that yourpany¡¯s producing a drama. We¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± ¡°How much time do we have to do that?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You have until tomorrow.¡± Kang Chan used Lanok¡¯s money to acquire thepany anyway, so he didn¡¯t mind doing as Lanok wanted. ¡°Second, inform Shan of my future moves, and please take the twenty billion won that he offered,¡± Lanok continued. Kang Chan tilted his head. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of simultaneously dealing with the matters revolving around the flow of money and those that revolve around my actions. Help me with these two issues, and I won¡¯t say anything else.¡± Considering that was all he had to do, then it wasn¡¯t such a bad request. ¡°Understood. But I also have a favor to ask in return,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Please go ahead.¡± Lanok smiled at Kang Chan and looked at him with interest. ¡°I would like the Gong Te headquarters to prioritize the shipment of Korea¡¯s orders, and I want you to be aware that I¡¯ll be moving independently as well for matters rted to catching Shan.¡± Lanok elegantly lowered his head a bit, then raised his phone. The call onlysted a short while. ¡°They¡¯ll start producing the cars tomorrow and will load them onto ships as soon as possible. And from now on, all Korean orders will be given priority in batches of 10.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.¡± ¡°Consider it my way of showing you my sincerity, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± The conversation rted to work ended there. It seemed like Lanok nned to stay in the hotel until he had identified who the traitor was. Chapter 48.2: My Person (1)

Chapter 48.2: My Person (1)

Kang Chan also had extra time, so he called Michelle and told her to announce that they were going to produce a drama by tomorrow. - That¡¯s impossible, Channy! Even if we¡¯re the producers, we still need to discuss it with Lee Ha-Yeon. ¡°Just make Eun So-Yeon the main actress. I¡¯ll take responsibility for it.¡± - Everyone willugh at us if we announce that we¡¯re producing a drama with Eun So-Yeon as the lead actress despite theck of scripts, director, and such. ¡°Michelle, are you going to do it or not?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s words seemed to have flustered Michelle. - Okay, Channy. I¡¯ll talk to Eun So-Yeon and have it announced tomorrow. But don¡¯t expect it to be given prominent coverage. People will most likely think it¡¯s just a fake announcement made to promote Eun So-Yeon. ¡°Okay.¡± After ending the call, Kang Chan exined the details of their conversation to Lanok, to which Lanok said he understood. ¡°It seems to me that you don¡¯t like drama-rted work,¡± Lanokmented. ¡°I can¡¯t even spend a long time watching TV.¡± ¡°I see. Do you want to have dinner together?¡± French people took so long when eating their meals that it became boring. Since Lanok couldn¡¯t really leave, Kang Chan epted his offer. While they ate, they mostly talked about working out and what they did as hobbies, but as they were served cake for dessert, Lanok brought up his family for the first time. ¡°My one daughter is the biggest sce in my life.¡± It was a hard conversation for Kang Chan to respond to, considering he didn¡¯t have a child. ¡°If you find someone you truly love, then don¡¯t ever let them get away, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± What is he saying? That doesn¡¯t suit him. But as that thought came to his mind, Kang Chan ended up smiling lightly, having suddenly remembered Kim Mi-Young. They talked about different topics until 8 pm when Lanok¡¯s phone rang. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Lanok ended the call with those words, even though he had only listened the entire time. ¡°You can go now. It seems like you got what you wanted,¡± Lanok told Kang Chan. They all went out of the guest room together and parted ways at the lobby. Wanting to leave the hotel quickly, Kang Chan went to the front desk. . ¡°Those people already paid for the room, hyung-nim,¡± said Joo Chul-Bum. ¡°Alright. You did great today.¡± Kang Chan left Joo Chul-Bum and headed home. *** ¡°Wee home, Chan. Have you had dinner?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Chan. ¡°I ate dinner before going home.¡± ¡°Really? Then should we have watermelon?¡± Should life be like this? Kang Chan had lightly washed up and was eating watermelon when Kang Dae-Kyung arrived home. ¡°Wee home,¡± Kang Chan told Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Yeah, thanks.¡± He half-heartedly responded to their greeting and sat at the table where the watermelon was. ¡°Gong Te headquarters contacted us today. They said they¡¯ll cooperate as much as they can regarding matters rted to you, and that they¡¯ll load the shipments as soon as they can. What¡¯s going on?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. ¡°Ah! The ¡®Chiffre¡¯.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked alternatively at the two of them. ¡°I had a phone call with branch manager Smithen today. I asked him to contact their headquarters, and it seems like he did. I also asked the person who helped mest time for a favor as well.¡± ¡°You should do business. Our employees are stupefied. We thought it would take at least two months because it was a veryplex order, considering the ¡®Chiffre¡¯ as a whole. The sales department even had a group dinner today because they can handle new orders starting tomorrow.¡± ¡°Are you saying that Chany made it so they would import the cars as quickly as they could, Chany?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung nodded. ¡°And because of that, I think we can sell about two hundred more cars right now.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t seem to know what that meant. Kang Dae-Kyung smiled warmly in return. ¡°I think the earnings from that would be enough to help the five orphanages we¡¯re nning on supporting for about a year more?¡± ¡°Two hundred cars are worth that much?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°That''s right!¡± Delighted, Yoo Hye-Sook pped. ¡°Are you happy?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Of course! Thanks to our Chan¡¯s help, we can now help more people! Thanks a lot, Chan!¡± There probably wasn¡¯t a betterpliment in the world than Yoo Hye-Sook hugging him and stroking his back right now. ¡°You should quickly wash up,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook told Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°You¡¯re telling me to leave right after hearing all of the good news? Okay.¡± ¡°Honey!¡± Kang Chan also stood up when Kang Dae-Kyung got up. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Chan. ¡°Please take care of my father. He¡¯ll get upset otherwise. After all, he just got back home from a day¡¯s hard work.¡± Kang Chan gave her a pleasant smile and went into his room. His body, which became dirty throughout the day, now felt clean aftering back home and seeing Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. *** After running about ten kilometers and going to school a bit early, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho everything that had happened the day before while drinking mixed coffee with him. ¡°I don¡¯t know everything, but I want to p that rude bitch in the face,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Seok Kang-Ho licked his lips when Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Shepletely fooled the people watching her pretending to be nice on TV. I really thought that bitch was a in and well-behaveddy.¡± ¡°You watch those kinds of things as well?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°It¡¯s hard to avoid it when my wife and daughter ask me to watch it with them. I can¡¯t do anything about it since people keep calling things like that ¡®family bonding.¡¯¡± While the two of them were having small talk, the kids arrived one after another. ¡°Should we start warming up now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Why don¡¯t you rest for a few days?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten about my regenerative capabilities? Be ready for today.¡± Just as the smirking Seok Kang-Ho raised himself from the stands, a car and a van stopped in front of the main gate. Robust men then exited the vehicles and entered the school. ¡°Who are those fuckers? Huh? Isn¡¯t that president Kim Tae-Jin?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Shoot! He hadpletely forgotten. Kang Chan examined the people that came in while telling Seok Kang-Ho what he and Kim Tae-Jin had talked about on the phone yesterday. The person leading the pack was Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Why did youe in person?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°How could I miss such a good opportunity?¡± After Kim Tae-Jin shook hands with Seok Kang-Ho, he turned his gaze to the employees that came with him. ¡°Meet Mr. Kang Chan. He¡¯ll be acting as your instructor starting today. And this is Mr. Seok Kang-Ho. He¡¯s a teacher but will also act as your instructor,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told the employees. ¡°We¡¯re looking forward to learning from you.¡± They stood in such a way that if they had added ¡®hyung-nim¡¯ at the end of their sentences, they would¡¯ve seemed like gangsters. ¡°What are we doing first?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go for a run?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good choice. Where do we change?¡± ¡°We have an athletics club room.¡± Kim Tae-Jin followed Kang Chan inside the athletics club room and nodded approvingly while looking at their facilities. Afterward, Kim Tae-Jin and the employees greeted the kids as a group, then let anyone who wanted to run with them join them. After the female students got changed, the male students and the employees put on sportswear together. Kim Tae-Jin also walked out in workout attire. ¡°Now! Let¡¯s get started!¡± There were six employees, so they made two three-person rows, and behind them stood the students, Kim Tae-Jin, and Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan jogged slower than usual. He didn¡¯t want to use a lot of energy since he had already run ten kilometers in the morning. After about twops, Kang Chan slightly turned his gaze toward the employees, finding a strange smile on their faces. They followed Kim Tae-Jin because he confidently said that they would learn, only to find out their instructors were a high schooler boy and a gym teacher when they arrived. Moreover, the kids that wanted to work out with them seemed to be new at this. ¡®Is that so?¡¯ It would be difficult to train them properly with that kind of attitude. Hence, Kang Chan decided to dampen the employees¡¯ spirits. Onep of the sports field was about four hundred meters. Kang Chan slowly increased his speed, but it still fell short of the speed of his morning workouts. After about tenps, the sound of their breathing started to get rough, and half of the kids had dropped out and gasped for breath at the stands. Kang Chan increased his speed a little bit more. After sixteenps, all of the kids had dropped out. At that moment, his speed was already quite simr to his morning run. ¡°Huff huff. Huff huff.¡± His body harshly rebelled against his wishes, as if to say, didn¡¯t you already run this morning? ¡®The new recruits are here!¡¯ He saw the six employees gritting their teeth. It had now be a contest of pride. ¡®Alright. Let¡¯s see who wins.¡¯ Gritting his teeth as well, Kang Chan increased his speed a bit more. He could hear Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s ragged breathing from the very back, but he couldn¡¯tpromise now. ¡®Don¡¯t be discouraged by the new recruits.¡¯ The sun shone down fiercely on the sports field, making it feel as if they were in Africa. ¡°Huff huff huff huff!¡± The sounds of the employees'' ragged breathing rushed out sporadically. He had forgotten how manyps he had run at this point. Nevertheless, Kang Chan increased his speed a little bit more. It was delightful. It felt as if his limits, which pain had tightly held onto and prevented from being released, suddenly skyrocketed. Thud! When an employee fell to the ground, three other employees copsed one after another. After two moreps, only Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Kim Tae-Jin remained. ¡°Please spare us!¡± Kang Chan would¡¯ve probably run until he copsed if it wasn¡¯t for Kim Tae-Jin¡¯sbored shout. ¡°Hak! Hak!¡± Keeping himself up by resting his hands on his knees, Kang Chan exhaled heavily. Meanwhile, Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho had sprawled out in the stands. The kids tactfully filled a kettle with water and poured it on them. Nobody stopped them. About five minutester, Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho pushed themselves up, soaked with water and sweat. ¡°You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°Hand-to-handbat is going to be even harder,¡± Kang Chan smirked as he responded to Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s grudging question. Chapter 48.2: My Person (2)

Chapter 48.2: My Person (2)

Kang Chan also had extra time, so he called Michelle and told her to announce that they were going to produce a drama by tomorrow. - That¡¯s impossible, Channy! Even if we¡¯re the producers, we still need to discuss it with Lee Ha-Yeon. ¡°Just make Eun So-Yeon the main actress. I¡¯ll take responsibility for it.¡± - Everyone willugh at us if we announce that we¡¯re producing a drama with Eun So-Yeon as the lead actress despite theck of scripts, director, and such. ¡°Michelle, are you going to do it or not?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s words seemed to have flustered Michelle. - Okay, Channy. I¡¯ll talk to Eun So-Yeon and have it announced tomorrow. But don¡¯t expect it to be given prominent coverage. People will most likely think it¡¯s just a fake announcement made to promote Eun So-Yeon. ¡°Okay.¡± After ending the call, Kang Chan exined the details of their conversation to Lanok, to which Lanok said he understood. ¡°It seems to me that you don¡¯t like drama-rted work,¡± Lanokmented. ¡°I can¡¯t even spend a long time watching TV.¡± ¡°I see. Do you want to have dinner together?¡± French people took so long when eating their meals that it became boring. Since Lanok couldn¡¯t really leave, Kang Chan epted his offer. While they ate, they mostly talked about working out and what they did as hobbies, but as they were served cake for dessert, Lanok brought up his family for the first time. ¡°My one daughter is the biggest sce in my life.¡± It was a hard conversation for Kang Chan to respond to, considering he didn¡¯t have a child. ¡°If you find someone you truly love, then don¡¯t ever let them get away, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± What is he saying? That doesn¡¯t suit him. But as that thought came to his mind, Kang Chan ended up smiling lightly, having suddenly remembered Kim Mi-Young. They talked about different topics until 8 pm when Lanok¡¯s phone rang. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Lanok ended the call with those words, even though he had only listened the entire time. ¡°You can go now. It seems like you got what you wanted,¡± Lanok told Kang Chan. They all went out of the guest room together and parted ways at the lobby. Wanting to leave the hotel quickly, Kang Chan went to the front desk. . ¡°Those people already paid for the room, hyung-nim,¡± said Joo Chul-Bum. ¡°Alright. You did great today.¡± Kang Chan left Joo Chul-Bum and headed home. *** ¡°Wee home, Chan. Have you had dinner?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Chan. ¡°I ate dinner before going home.¡± ¡°Really? Then should we have watermelon?¡± Should life be like this? Kang Chan had lightly washed up and was eating watermelon when Kang Dae-Kyung arrived home. ¡°Wee home,¡± Kang Chan told Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Yeah, thanks.¡± He half-heartedly responded to their greeting and sat at the table where the watermelon was. ¡°Gong Te headquarters contacted us today. They said they¡¯ll cooperate as much as they can regarding matters rted to you, and that they¡¯ll load the shipments as soon as they can. What¡¯s going on?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. ¡°Ah! The ¡®Chiffre¡¯.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked alternatively at the two of them. ¡°I had a phone call with branch manager Smithen today. I asked him to contact their headquarters, and it seems like he did. I also asked the person who helped mest time for a favor as well.¡± ¡°You should do business. Our employees are stupefied. We thought it would take at least two months because it was a veryplex order, considering the ¡®Chiffre¡¯ as a whole. The sales department even had a group dinner today because they can handle new orders starting tomorrow.¡± ¡°Are you saying that Chany made it so they would import the cars as quickly as they could, Chany?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung nodded. ¡°And because of that, I think we can sell about two hundred more cars right now.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t seem to know what that meant. Kang Dae-Kyung smiled warmly in return. ¡°I think the earnings from that would be enough to help the five orphanages we¡¯re nning on supporting for about a year more?¡± ¡°Two hundred cars are worth that much?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°That''s right!¡± Delighted, Yoo Hye-Sook pped. ¡°Are you happy?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Of course! Thanks to our Chan¡¯s help, we can now help more people! Thanks a lot, Chan!¡± There probably wasn¡¯t a betterpliment in the world than Yoo Hye-Sook hugging him and stroking his back right now. ¡°You should quickly wash up,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook told Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°You¡¯re telling me to leave right after hearing all of the good news? Okay.¡± ¡°Honey!¡± Kang Chan also stood up when Kang Dae-Kyung got up. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Chan. ¡°Please take care of my father. He¡¯ll get upset otherwise. After all, he just got back home from a day¡¯s hard work.¡± Kang Chan gave her a pleasant smile and went into his room. His body, which became dirty throughout the day, now felt clean aftering back home and seeing Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. *** After running about ten kilometers and going to school a bit early, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho everything that had happened the day before while drinking mixed coffee with him. ¡°I don¡¯t know everything, but I want to p that rude bitch in the face,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Seok Kang-Ho licked his lips when Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Shepletely fooled the people watching her pretending to be nice on TV. I really thought that bitch was a in and well-behaveddy.¡± ¡°You watch those kinds of things as well?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°It¡¯s hard to avoid it when my wife and daughter ask me to watch it with them. I can¡¯t do anything about it since people keep calling things like that ¡®family bonding.¡¯¡± While the two of them were having small talk, the kids arrived one after another. ¡°Should we start warming up now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Why don¡¯t you rest for a few days?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten about my regenerative capabilities? Be ready for today.¡± Just as the smirking Seok Kang-Ho raised himself from the stands, a car and a van stopped in front of the main gate. Robust men then exited the vehicles and entered the school. ¡°Who are those fuckers? Huh? Isn¡¯t that president Kim Tae-Jin?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Shoot! He hadpletely forgotten. Kang Chan examined the people that came in while telling Seok Kang-Ho what he and Kim Tae-Jin had talked about on the phone yesterday. The person leading the pack was Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Why did youe in person?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°How could I miss such a good opportunity?¡± After Kim Tae-Jin shook hands with Seok Kang-Ho, he turned his gaze to the employees that came with him. ¡°Meet Mr. Kang Chan. He¡¯ll be acting as your instructor starting today. And this is Mr. Seok Kang-Ho. He¡¯s a teacher but will also act as your instructor,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told the employees. ¡°We¡¯re looking forward to learning from you.¡± They stood in such a way that if they had added ¡®hyung-nim¡¯ at the end of their sentences, they would¡¯ve seemed like gangsters. ¡°What are we doing first?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go for a run?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good choice. Where do we change?¡± ¡°We have an athletics club room.¡± Kim Tae-Jin followed Kang Chan inside the athletics club room and nodded approvingly while looking at their facilities. Afterward, Kim Tae-Jin and the employees greeted the kids as a group, then let anyone who wanted to run with them join them. After the female students got changed, the male students and the employees put on sportswear together. Kim Tae-Jin also walked out in workout attire. ¡°Now! Let¡¯s get started!¡± There were six employees, so they made two three-person rows, and behind them stood the students, Kim Tae-Jin, and Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan jogged slower than usual. He didn¡¯t want to use a lot of energy since he had already run ten kilometers in the morning. After about twops, Kang Chan slightly turned his gaze toward the employees, finding a strange smile on their faces. They followed Kim Tae-Jin because he confidently said that they would learn, only to find out their instructors were a high schooler boy and a gym teacher when they arrived. Moreover, the kids that wanted to work out with them seemed to be new at this. ¡®Is that so?¡¯ It would be difficult to train them properly with that kind of attitude. Hence, Kang Chan decided to dampen the employees¡¯ spirits. Onep of the sports field was about four hundred meters. Kang Chan slowly increased his speed, but it still fell short of the speed of his morning workouts. After about tenps, the sound of their breathing started to get rough, and half of the kids had dropped out and gasped for breath at the stands. Kang Chan increased his speed a little bit more. After sixteenps, all of the kids had dropped out. At that moment, his speed was already quite simr to his morning run. ¡°Huff huff. Huff huff.¡± His body harshly rebelled against his wishes, as if to say, didn¡¯t you already run this morning? ¡®The new recruits are here!¡¯ He saw the six employees gritting their teeth. It had now be a contest of pride. ¡®Alright. Let¡¯s see who wins.¡¯ Gritting his teeth as well, Kang Chan increased his speed a bit more. He could hear Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s ragged breathing from the very back, but he couldn¡¯tpromise now. ¡®Don¡¯t be discouraged by the new recruits.¡¯ The sun shone down fiercely on the sports field, making it feel as if they were in Africa. ¡°Huff huff huff huff!¡± The sounds of the employees'' ragged breathing rushed out sporadically. He had forgotten how manyps he had run at this point. Nevertheless, Kang Chan increased his speed a little bit more. It was delightful. It felt as if his limits, which pain had tightly held onto and prevented from being released, suddenly skyrocketed. Thud! When an employee fell to the ground, three other employees copsed one after another. After two moreps, only Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Kim Tae-Jin remained. ¡°Please spare us!¡± Kang Chan would¡¯ve probably run until he copsed if it wasn¡¯t for Kim Tae-Jin¡¯sbored shout. ¡°Hak! Hak!¡± Keeping himself up by resting his hands on his knees, Kang Chan exhaled heavily. Meanwhile, Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho had sprawled out in the stands. The kids tactfully filled a kettle with water and poured it on them. Nobody stopped them. About five minutester, Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho pushed themselves up, soaked with water and sweat. ¡°You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°Hand-to-handbat is going to be even harder,¡± Kang Chan smirked as he responded to Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s grudging question. Chapter 49.1: My Person (2)

Chapter 49.1: My Person (2)

It wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say everything they did after their tiring running session was almostpletely a product of willpower since they could no longer use their strength properly¨C-not with their hands. After getting enough rest, Kang Chan began thebat techniques ss on the sports field, which had six mattressesid a good distance from each other. Since some students came to school to self-study on the weekdays or because they were a part of the athletics club, there were quite a lot of kids in the stands. ¡°How about you perform a demonstration first, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho?¡± On Kang Chan¡¯s suggestion, Seok Kang-Ho stepped forward while cracking his neck. ¡°Before we begin, we need two volunteers,¡± Kang Chan said. As soon as he finished his sentence, the securitypany employee with an angr chin smirked. He then approached Seok Kang-Ho head-on with a disdainful look in his eyes. idents always happened with this kind of fucker. Step onto the mattress." Kang Chan instructed. Swish. The guy showed signs of displeasure toward Kang Chan. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? Get moving before I kill you,¡± Kang Chan ordered. The atmosphere¡¯s temperature instantly dropped. It could be felt even from the stands. The employee nced sideways, and Kim Tae-Jin only stared at him calmly, as if telling him to do as he pleased. ¡°Let¡¯s spar,¡± the employee told Kang Chan. It seemed like the employee had gained confidence. Smirk. Kang Chan walked toward him. The guy raised his hand while putting his right foot back. He seemed to have learned martial arts. Dickhead! The fucker had confidence in his martial arts. If only he knew how much slower the foot waspared to the hand, he wouldn¡¯t have recklessly taken such a stance. Sure enough, when Kang Chan took two more steps forward, the guy lifted his right foot. Pak! Stepping on the fucker¡¯s shin to push it away, Kang Chan stabbed his opponent¡¯s side with his thumb. The guy bent forward upon getting hit on the shin, then held out his left hand to block Kang Chan. Pow. Pow-pow. Pow. However, Kang Chan had already pulled his fist back. He struck his enemy¡¯s chin with his right elbow, then violently stabbed the guy¡¯s neck, stomach pit, and side again with his thumb. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± Screaming in pain, his opponent copsed to the ground and rolled around from side to side. The employees that seemed unsatisfied quickly lowered their gaze when Kang Chan looked at them. ¡°Why do you think we practicebat techniques? If you just came here to y, go kick a ball on the side then leave. Don¡¯t mess around while others are practicing.¡± Kang Chan looked at the employee still holding onto his neck and writhing, then raised his gaze again. ¡°Combat is all about life or death. How dare you guys act arrogant when you struggle and can¡¯t even win against one bare hand?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that just because you depleted our strength when you made us run excessively on purpose and because you attacked without warning? Don¡¯t belittle our skills.¡± One of the employees strongly opposed Kang Chan, seemingly bing conscious of Kim Tae-Jin and the students. Kang Chan looked straight at the guy. ¡°How about the five of you try sparring against me all at once? How¡¯s that? I¡¯ll face you all alone.¡± The guys exchanged nces, then got up and stepped forward while dusting off their butts. ¡°Don''t hold back. And don¡¯t ever run away like cowards unless you really want me to kill you all,¡± warned Kang Chan. He felt exactly the same as when they had gotten new recruits in Africa. The guy that had copsed barely managed to get up, step away from the training ground, and shamble to the stands. Kang Chan looked at his opponents after cracking his neck. ¡°I¡¯m going to start.¡± Aside from the one guy that had learned boxing, their postures showed they had learned a variety of martial arts. As the five employees surrounding Kang Chan hesitated, Kang Chan turned to the guy on his right in such a precise manner that it may as well have been: obey themand, ¡®right face!¡¯. Ta-ta. Pow-pow-pow. Kang Chan deflected his target¡¯s fist as if he was swatting a fly away, then immediately stabbed his neck, stomach pit, and armpit. He then turned sharply to the left. Crunch! Kang Chan swung his left elbow as he turned, hitting the man behind him on the nose. Tatatata. He then continuously punched away the arms of his other opponents while taking a step forward. Bam!? The guyining earlier got hit in the pit of his stomach with a sharp fist, causing him to copse backward with his eyes and mouth wide open. Three down. Two to go. Ta-dak. After swatting away an arm, he charged at the guy to his right as if he was running into his arms. Pow-pow-pow-pow-pow-pow. Kang Chan stabbed him so fast Kim Tae-Jin flinched. When Kang Chan rapidly thrust both of his thumbs into his target¡¯s armpit, neck, stomach pit, side, and his side again, his target pitifully rolled around the floor as if he got shot. Unable to go on the offensive against Kang Chan, thest employee standing just looked at his fallen colleagues in an awkward stance. ¡°I¡¯m warning you. If you can¡¯te at me right now, you¡¯ll never be able to throw yourself at the enemy. If you¡¯re afraid of knives, and of being beaten and stabbed, then leave this industry and look for a new job now.¡± The guy pounced forward with a sloppy punch. Kang Chan lifted his opponent¡¯s arm, put it over his shoulder, and turned around. If he pulled the guy¡¯s wrist downward from here, he¡¯d break his elbow. Swish! Crunch! ¡°Gaaaaaahhh!¡± . Having had his arm twisted, the guy screamed eerily while holding onto his elbow. The fucker was exaggerating his pain. Thud. Kang Chan grabbed onto the man¡¯s cor and looked straight into his eyes. ¡°Be quiet.¡± ¡°Ugh. Urrrggghh.¡± ¡°You showed cowardice in the end. You didn¡¯t fight even as your colleagues copsed to the ground. What do you think will happen if people entrusted their backs to someone like you in an actual battle? Put some careful thought into that until your arm gets better, but please don¡¯t stay in this industry if you can¡¯t stop yourself from acting that way.¡± The guy nodded. The sports field stayed quiet even though Kang Chan had let go of the guy¡¯s cor. ¡°You seem tired.¡± Kim Tae-Jin broke the silence. His blood seemed to be boiling, considering he was looking at him sharply despite having asked a question. ¡°I ran about ten kilometers this morning.¡± Kim Tae-Jin nodded. The employees that had barely calmed down and the terrified kids breathed loudly as if they were freed from magic. ¡°What do you think? Are they worth teaching?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°They''ve got potential. Three of them have a natural talent for hand-to-handbat.¡± Kim Tae-Jin looked at Kang Chan with a smirk. He understood what he meant. Since Kang Chan said only three of them had talent, all five of them would cling to Kang Chan and put their lives on the line for him from now on. It was a method that the special unit instructors liked to use after beating up new recruits. ¡°What should we do with him?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked again. ¡°I only broke his arm a little, so it should heal in three months. If he still wants to train after he recovers, then I¡¯ll take responsibility and teach him.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± the employee yelled, holding onto his arm. He shed tears as he tried to ovee his pain. ¡°You. Come here,¡± Kang Chan ordered. The employee wiped his tears with his left forearm and stepped forward. He didn¡¯t avoid Kang Chan¡¯s eyes, even though Kang Chan approached and stood so near him their noses almost touched. ¡°This is yourst warning. If you show cowardice again, then I¡¯m going to break your arm so that you¡¯ll never be able to use it again,¡± warned Kang Chan. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Do you still want to proceed?¡± ¡°I do!¡± The employee answered him while his mouth was full of saliva. Smiling, Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Your arm will get better in three months. Walk whenever you have time¡ªwhether ten or twenty kilometers, walk. That will speed up your rehabilitation.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that!¡± ¡°You may go back now.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± As the employee walked away proudly, Kim Tae-Jin looked at Kang Chan with a strange smile. ¡°How about we continue this after lunch?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°Should I?¡± Moving only his upper body, Kim Tae-Jin turned and looked at the students sitting in the stands. There were about fifty people, including the athletics club members. ¡°Can I buy lunch for the students here?¡± The kids stirred. ¡°Fifteen Tangsuyuks would be enough for us all, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Kim Tae-Jin continued. In response, a boy in the middle yelled, ¡°Thank you for the meal!¡± They then immediately sent the employee with the broken arm to the hospital. Afterward, they decided to put Moon Ki-Jin in charge of ordering Jjajangmyun, Jjamppong, and fried rice. Those who needed to wash up then did what they had to do. Just as Kang Chan headed to the sports field after using a faucet to wash up, Cha So-Yeon brought Kang Chan¡¯s phone to him and told him it was ringing. ¡°What, Michelle?¡± - we announced that we¡¯re going to produce a drama on an online newspaper today for now, Channy. Her voice didn¡¯t sound bright for some reason. ¡°Thank you for your hard work. But what¡¯s wrong? - As soon as the article got released, I received a lot of phone calls from reporters I¡¯m close with. They asked about what happened because of a rumor going around about it being a scam. And¡­ ¡°Go on.¡± - Lee Ha-Yeon is making a fuss. She¡¯s asking how we could announce we¡¯re producing a drama with Eun So-Yeon and without her. She threatened to move agencies or refuse TV appearances if we don¡¯t take down the article immediately. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say her contract doesn¡¯t end until next year?¡± - There are bound to bepanies that would willingly offer to pay the contract infringement penalty because our investment isn¡¯t that high. She warned she won¡¯t just let things go if you don¡¯t apologize, and I think she¡¯s the one who told the reporters that this is a scam as well. ¡°Then let her leave. We¡¯ll be paid the contract infringement penalty anyway, which is good.¡± - If we let her go, Eun So-Yeon and the two rookies will all be fired from their supporting roles, and they¡¯ll also lose their roles in the next drama they¡¯d be starring in because of Lee Ha-Yeon. Kang Chan nodded. Rather than the fact that she quit her job to work for him, Michelle worried about the loss he could suffer. However, if they let her worry drag them around, those actresses would just do the same thing again. ¡°Michelle.¡± -Yes, Channy. ¡°Fire that bitch, and call me after you do.¡± Michelle failed to respond to Kang Chan''s firmmand. ¡°I apologize for saying this after telling you I¡¯d entrust thepany to you, but I don¡¯t care if I suffer a loss for as long as I get to deal with this properly. So j\do as I say.¡± - Okay, Channy. When Michelle hung up the phone, Cha So-Yeon seemed surprised and curious. Nevertheless, Kang Chan walked to the sports field, pretending not to notice. Over sixty people ate lunch together, including Kim Tae-Jin and his employees. When Kang Chan asked Kim Tae-Jin if he was going to go into the athletics club room, he shook his head, saying he preferred to eat with them. Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Kim Tae-Jin sat in a circle and ate fried rice. ¡°Have they made their next move yet?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°They haven''t set a firm departure day, so we¡¯ve been checking hourly. I¡¯ll let you know when they¡¯ve decided on a date. And when they do, let¡¯s work together on that day.¡± ¡°Alright. Should we take care of the Neck Ghost before then?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s response came out weird because his mouth was full of fried rice. ¡°Are you teaching in the afternoon as well?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°I want to get warmed up, but I¡¯m afraid you''ll break my arm..¡± When Kang Chan smiled lightly, Seok Kang-Ho responded to Kim Tae-Jin, ¡°You should do it with me.¡± 1. Tangsuyuk is a popr Korean-Chinese meat dish with sweet and sour sauce. It¡¯s avable in Chinese restaurants in Korea 2. Jjamppong is a popr Korean-Chinese noodle soup with red, spicy seafood. It can be vored with a pork-based broth as well. 3. Fried rice is another popr dish in Korea that originated from Chinese Fried rice Chapter 49.2: My Person (2)

Chapter 49.2: My Person (2)

After they had lunch, whichsted thirty minutes, they drank coffee from a paper cup. Everyone grouped up and sat infort at the stands. After a while, all of the kids that were watching headed toward the ssroom or to the library. They needed to rest for about 30 more minutes. They had decided that Seok Kang-Ho would be in charge of teaching the employees three times a week from now on, and Kang Chan would serve as a backup instructor. About 30 more minutes had passed. When Seok Kang-Ho called them in, the employees¡¯ expressions and gazes were very serious. He was killing two birds with one stone. With Seok Kang-Ho at the helm, he¡¯d see definite results even if he practiced that way for just two weeks. Moreover, it was clear the employees¡¯ skills would also improve for that reason. Kim Tae-Jin sat on the stands with his elbow on his legs, then nced at Kang Chan. ¡°Where did you learn to fight like that?¡± When Kang Chan onlyughed, Kim Tae-Jin shook his head while licking his lips. ¡°A high schooler that speaks French and has thebat techniques of a foreign legion. Wh-oo.¡± Ignoring Kim Tae-Jin, Kang Chan watched the spar between Seok Kang-Ho and the employees. It was best not to say anything in this situation, considering Kim Tae-Jin wouldn¡¯t believe him no matter what he said anyway. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan picked up his phone when it rang. It was Lanok. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador.¡± When Kang Chan answered the phone in French, Kim Tae-Jin looked straight ahead with mixed emotions on his face. - Monsieur Kang, how¡¯s the drama production annoucement? ¡°Actually, I was just told that the announcement was uploaded to an online newspaper today.¡± ¡°You have a trustworthy way of handling affairs, as expected. Please apply for an investment from a Frenchpany called Yungs Ventures by tomorrow. It¡¯ll yield great results.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that, Mr. Ambassador.¡± - One more thing. Next Wednesday at 3 pm, I¡¯m nning on visiting the Municipal Baseball Stadium at Yong-in. It¡¯s not an official event, so please call Shan and tell him about it. If you can use this matter as an excuse for him to transfer the two billion won, then please get him to remit the money to Korea as well. An amount thatrge will be difficult to hide, especially since it¡¯s a foreign exchange remittance. ¡°That sounds too dangerous, Mr. Ambassador.¡± - I¡¯m d to have met someone like you, monsieur Kang. I¡¯ll be waiting for good results. ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± - What is it? ¡°I want to express my sincere gratitude for what you did with Gong Te automobile. Kang Yoo Motors¡¯ employees were very happy.¡± - That¡¯s pleasing news. Lanok¡¯sugh was thest thing he heard from the call. Kang Chan ended it feeling somewhat ufortable. ¡°What¡¯s it like to guard a baseball stadium?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Baseball stadium? Are you talking about baseball stadiums where there are baseball games?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kim Tae-Jin immediately frowned. ¡°I''ve only done it twice, but crazy would be the correct term to describe their security detail. Not only could they not look away for even a moment, but they had to be ready to throw themselves whenever there was a homerun or a hit.¡± ¡°What if there are ten to twenty security guards?¡± ¡°Will there be an assassination attempt?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Let¡¯s say that there will be.¡± Kim Tae-Jin pursed his lips, then shook his head. ¡°If you tell me to perform an assassination in that situation, then I¡¯m about 90% sure that I¡¯ll seed.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Kang Chan had finally figured out why he felt ufortable. The n was too impractical. He knew Lanok intended to do whatever it took to catch Shan¡¯s backer, not Shan himself, but it was still too dangerous. When Kang Chan didn¡¯t say anything else, Kim Tae-Jin wordlessly watched the spar. Seok Kang-Ho seemed to be in his element. From beginning to end, he consistently taught the employees, sparred with them, and taught them again. Even though he most likely no longer had any strength left due to the earlier running session, he still seemed to be having fun training them. ¡°Our kids have already changed,¡± Kim Tae-Jinmented. Kang Chan noticed it as well. That was why attitude was important. It was the biggest reason why instructors or seniors dampened the spirits of new recruits as soon as they arrived. ¡°Think they¡¯ll be a great help to you?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°They still have a long way to go.¡± ¡°How many people do you think there are in Korea that are like you or that teacher? They just met a bad match. Those kids had gotten rid of three or four gangsters equipped with filet knives.¡± When Kang Chan smiled lightly, Kim Tae-Jin also smiled, seemingly finding it funny. ¡°Should I also go out and warm up?¡± ¡°Want me to be your opponent?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°No way. I don¡¯t want to be sent rolling on the floor in front of the kids.¡± Kim Tae-Jin firmly refused and went out to the sports field. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz. He kept getting a lot of phone calls today. ¡°Michelle, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Channy. Lee Ha-Yeon wants to meet with you and put a clear end to her business with you. It seems like her pride has been hurt a lot. Can youe to thepany today?¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± He was displeased, but he did need to deal with her properly. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be there by 4 pm. Text me the address.¡± - Thanks, Channy. It was close to 3 pm. Kang Chan stealthily stood up, went to the night duty room, and showered. The cold water jolted him awake when it poured on him. However, while drying himself off, he felt so tired he was starting to fall asleep. ¡®Did I overexert myself too much?¡¯ He did in fact overexert himself, but if he was going to start teaching, he needed to do it properly to help Seok Kang-Ho. And, if he were being honest, his inability to bear watching recruits act arrogant also came out. His clothes were a bit shabby because they were for training, but it didn¡¯t matter. When Kang Chan walked into the athletics club room, he found the kidsying their heads on their desks, sleeping, perhaps because of the fatigue from their workout earlier. They still had their books open. Soon, however, they were startled awake and got up. ¡°Go home so you can sleep infort.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Cha So-Yeon answered while thrashing her head to keep herself awake. They were good kids. Fortunately, their expressions had gotten brighter. ¡°Sunbae-nim, can I also be like you if I train hard enough?¡± asked Moon Ki-Jean. Kang Chan smiled brightly and grabbed his bag of clothes. He then stroked Moon Ki-Jin¡¯s head, who was looking over his mood. ¡°You¡¯re going to be much better than me. But don¡¯t forget that if your grades drop, you won¡¯t be able to participate in the athletics club anymore.¡± ¡°Ah! Alright.¡± Moon Ki-Jin looked fully awake now. When Kang Chan went outside, Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho were holding onto their sides and frowning. ¡°I have to leave now, I¡¯m afraid,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Phew, yeah. Thanks for today. Ugh, I¡¯m going to go after I train a bit more with the teacher.¡± Seok Kang-Ho only gazed at him to bid him goodbye since there were students and other people around them. Now that he thought about it, Seok Kang-Ho looked especially taciturn today. ¡°We¡¯ll see you in the next ss, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan went out of the sports field as the employees said goodbye with their thick voices, then got in the taxi in front of the school and told the driver the address. After happily dozing off for about fifteen minutes, he arrived at his destination. He got out of the taxi and looked, noticing a sign with a blue background that said ¡®D.I.¡¯ in white letters. The building didn''t look too bad, but it had no elevator. Kang Chan walked up to the third floor and opened the door, finding arge area surrounded by mirrors on three sides. ¡°Huh? Oh, hello!¡± When one of the kids greeted him, the other kids followed suit. Looking around, Kang Chan saw the kids sweating a lot. There were also two fans barely running on the floor. ¡°Where¡¯s Michelle?¡± Kang Chan asked the kids. ¡°She¡¯s in that office.¡± Kang Chan took off his shoes and put on the indoor slippers by the entrance. One of the kids then opened the office door and said, ¡°Ms. Director! Mr. President is here!¡± Soon after, Michelle, Lim Soo-Sung, and Kim Jae-Tae all came out in an orderly fashion and greeted him. ¡°Wee, sir.¡± Kang Chan found her abruptly calling him ¡®sir¡¯ strange, but he just assumed that she did that because they were in thepany. If she was going to call him that, then she shouldn¡¯t talk to him informally either. Michelle looked like she was unusually tired. ¡°Wee.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Kang Chan acknowledged Lim Soo Sung and Kim Jae-Tae, then followed Michelle into the office. It was smaller than he thought. There were three tables, and in the middle of it was a sofa and a small room. It seemed to be the president¡¯s personal workspace. When Kang Chan went in, Lee Ha-Yeon, Seong So-Mi, and Eun So-Yeon got up from the sofa and greeted him. Lee Ha-Yeon only pretended to stand up but immediately sat down and crossed her legs. When Kang Chan sat down, Michelle sat beside him. Lim Soo-Sung, Kim Jae-Tae, and the other employees sat at the desk and the spare chairs with their heads down. ¡°I heard you wanted to see me?¡± Kang Chan asked Lee Ha-Yeon. ¡°Don¡¯t talk down to me¡­ please.¡± When Kang Chan smirked, Lee Ha-Yeon stared into the air, seemingly dumbfounded. ¡°If you have something to say, then be quick about it and leave. I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°Before I leave, I need you to apologize¡­ please.¡± She ended her sentences in a weird way twice now. ¡°Lee Ha-Yan.¡± ¡°Lee Ha-Yan? Did you just call me Lee Ha-Yan?¡± Angered, Lee Ha-Yeon uncrossed her legs. ¡°It¡¯s the same thing. Anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter. Stop spouting nonsense and leave.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t apologize, then the actors from thispany will never be able to y a role in a drama or movie that I appear in ever again, and everyone¡¯s going to say that the drama being produced with Eun So-Yeon as the leading role is a scam. So apologize to me right now!¡± Michelle, Eun So-Yeon, the wardrobe and makeup employees, and even the road managers all lowered their gazes. ¡®It seems like this bitch is quite influential?¡¯ Smirking, Kang Chan looked at Seong So-Mi. ¡°What about you?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m with Ha-Yeon unnie on this issue,¡± Seong So-Mi shrugged her shoulders. ¡°What about you, Eun So-Yeon?¡± Eun So-Yeon just observed Michelle and Lee Ha-Yeon, unable to say anything. ¡°Give me their contracts,¡± Kang Chan said. Kang Chan looked at Michelle. They seemed to have had them prepared since Kim Jae-Tae, the department head, swiftly ced a ck clipboard in front of Kang Chan. Lee Ha-Yeon¡¯s contract was at the very top. Kang Chan first grabbed Lee Ha-Yeon¡¯s contract and ripped it vertically. Lim Soo-Sung breathed out, which sounded like a groan. Next was Seong So-Mi¡¯s contract. ¡°You said you feel the same way, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kang Chan asked again. Kang Chan also ripped Seong So-Mi¡¯s contract the same way. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer, Eun So-Yeon. Does that mean you also feel the same way?¡± Kang Chan also grabbed Eun So-Yeon¡¯s contract vertically. Chapter 50.1: Ill do it Properly (1)

Chapter 50.1: I''ll do it Properly (1)

¡°I want to stay.¡± But Eun So-Yeon¡¯s subdued voice stopped Kang Chan¡¯s hand. ¡°Think about it carefully. It would most likely anger me if you sayter that you regret your decision and that you want to leave,¡± Kang Chan warned. Lee Ha-Yeon looked at Eun So-Yeon with contempt. ¡°I¡¯m going to stay. I really want to work with Michelle unnie¡ªno, director Michelle.¡± Kang Chan looked at the contract. It said that the investment was thirty million won. He wanted to wake up his sluggish body. ¡°If we have coffee, get me a cup,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Startled by his words, a female employee stood up and headed to a water dispenser.. He slowly scanned through the documents under the contracts. The investment was the fund that covered the trainees¡¯ food, amodation, gym, and other daily expenses. Their contractsted ten years, and it forced them to pay back six times the amount that went into them. They also had topensate thepany with five hundred million won should they cancel the contract. ¡®They are essentially ves.¡¯ Kang Chan smiled bitterly as he took the coffee that the female employee handed to him. ¡°General manager Lim,¡± called Kang Chan. ¡°Yes, Mr. President.¡± ¡°Do all the employees here also have this kind of contract?¡± ¡°Only department head Kim Jae-Tae, our ountant Ms. Choi Yoo-Jin, and I are full-time employees. The rest are all temporary contract workers.¡± After Kang Chan had ripped the contract, Lee Ha-Yeon crossed her legs again and looked at Kang Chan while swinging her leg. ¡°How much are the makeup employees¡¯ sries?¡± Kang Chan asked Lim Soo-Sung. ¡°The makeup artists and wardrobe stylists are paid one and a half million won monthly. The road managers get one million two hundred thousand won.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t get bonuses?¡± ¡°No, they don¡¯t.¡± Kang Chan smirked, bringing the cup of coffee to his mouth. At the same time, Lee Ha-Yeon tilted her head with an expression that seemed to say, ¡®Has he finally figured things out?¡¯ ¡®Tsk.¡¯ This office was full of kids who practiced non-stop in a room so hot they couldn''t stop sweating, just to get the chance to participate in a drama that Lee Ha-Yeon starred in, employees who could only get paid if Lee Ha-Yeon earned money for thepany to pay them, and Michelle who was trying her best to keep Kang Chan from harm. ¡®I need to deal with this properly, don¡¯t I?¡¯ Kang Chan nodded, having made up his mind. His pride couldn¡¯t tolerate the trainees having to please such a trashy bitch just so they could earn a supporting role. It was as if it wasn¡¯t sad enough that they were practicing without a sry. Since he had made a decision, the right course of action now was to get things moving as fast as possible. ¡°Michelle?¡± Yes, sir?¡± ¡°How much do you make per month?¡± Michelle¡¯s blue eyesnded on Kang Chan. She seemed flustered. ¡°I actually haven''t decided yet. I was hoping to decide after having a discussion about itter.¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°How much do you earn in a month, General manager Lim?¡± ¡°About two and a half million won.¡± Their sries were at a miserable level. Kang Chan¡¯s pride was hurt. ¡°Give me a pen,¡± Kang Chan ordered. When Michelle raised her head, the ountant Choi Yoo-Jin quickly brought a pen. ¡°Let¡¯s start from the beginning.¡± Kang Chan grabbed one of the employee¡¯s contract, then pushed the contracts of the trainees to the side. ¡°General manager Lim. Is there a building nearby where we can obtain two floors about the same size as this ce?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°The lower floor is empty.¡± ¡°Please get it leased to us. By today, if possible.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I need another office, so please just get the lower floor leased. It would be better if you can get it done today.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get to it.¡± Lim Soo-Sung checked how Michelle was feeling about this situation. ¡°Ah, right. How much money do you need?¡± Kang Chan asked. Lee Ha-Yeon made an expression that said, ¡®I knew it.¡¯ ¡°A fifty million won deposit should be enough to make it happen,¡± Lim Soo-Sung responded. ¡°Then please obtain and furnish it as our new office. Please do the same to my room, and give the people using this office a room as well. It should berge enough for all of us, right?¡± ¡°It is.¡± ¡°Good. This ce will serve as the trainees¡¯ lounge.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Lim Soo-Sung nodded with a dazed expression. ¡°Starting this month, please hire the wardrobe stylists and makeup artists as full-time employees with a monthly sry of two and a half million won each.¡± The employees¡¯ heads popped up. Smiling brightly, Kang Chan then said, ¡°Pay the road managers two million won each,¡± and took a sip of coffee. He then turned his head toward Michelle. ¡°Michelle will get one hundred fifty million won per year.¡± ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°General manager Lim and department head Kim Jae-Tae will respectively get seventy million won and fifty million won yearly.¡± Lim Soo-Sung and Kim Jae-Tae¡¯s faces turned red. Kang Chan looked at Choi Yoo-Jin, who seemed stunned. ¡°How much do you earn, Ms. Choi Yoo-Jin?¡± ¡°Pardon? Me? One million won per month.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s start your sry at two million won per month since it¡¯ll keep increasing for as long as you don¡¯t quit anyway. Is that alright with you?¡± ¡°Yes! Thank you! Thank you, Mr. President!¡± Choi Yoo-Jin bowed her head as if to imitate gangsters. ¡°Keep supporting the trainees just like we¡¯ve been doing, and give them seven hundred thousand won each. That should motivate them to practice. And change all of their contracts in a way that would allow them to leave any time,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Lee Ha-Yeon snorted. ¡°Lastly, Eun So-Yeon.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Kang Chan looked into the contract. ¡°It says in your contract that you received thirty million won as an investment. Is that right?¡± asked Kang Chan. When Eun So-Yeon lowered her head, Michelle quickly answered in her stead, ¡°she only received half of that.¡± ¡°Forget this fucking shitty contract. Rewrite hers tomorrow. We¡¯ll be investing one hundred million won in her. Change the terms of her contract so that she¡¯ll only have to pay back what she¡¯s been given if she wants to go somewhere else.¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t know anything,¡± Lee Ha-Yeon said. She swung her foot around. But even as she did, her expression showed a hint of regret. It seemed as if she thought she would¡¯ve gotten something as well if only she endured it. ¡°Michelle, do you know a Frenchpany called ¡°Yungs Ventures?¡± Kang Chan asked. Michelle¡¯s eyes widened enough for Kang Chan to get flustered even though he was the one that asked the question. Even Lee Ha-Yeon and Seong So-Mi seemed interested in the topic. And Lim Soo-Sung was no different, considering he leaned his head forward to listen closer. ¡°That¡¯s an international investmentpany. They support a lot of joint film and drama productions, but their minimum investment is more than ten billion won.¡± Is that something to be surprised about? Shan kept yapping about twenty billion won that ten billion won didn¡¯t really register for him. Honestly, he still hadn¡¯t figured out how many pork cutlets he could buy with ten billion or twenty billion won. ¡°Request cooperation for drama production from thatpany tomorrow.¡± ¡°With Yungs Ventures? We haven¡¯t even decided on anything other than having Eun So-Yeon as our lead actress, sir. We most likely won¡¯t even be able to make them look our way.¡± Kang Chan smirked, then nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve already talked to Yungs Ventures. You just need to send a formal application for investment.¡± For a moment, Michelle couldn¡¯t move an inch, almost as if she had been frozen. ¡°Whoo, okay, okay, Channy¡ªsir.¡± Michelle answered with a nk look on her face, having recalled Kang Chan being rted to French ambassador Lanok, Gong Te automobile, and the French gang that she saw at Namsan Hotel. ¡°Uh, Mr. President,¡± Lim Soo-Sung cautiously called Kang Chan. ¡°Have you really talked to Yungs Ventures? Please don¡¯t get me wrong¡ªI¡¯m not doubting you. All I¡¯m trying to say is that this will cause an uproar in the entertainment industry since this will be their first time investing in Korea.¡± Lim Soo-Sung was as big as Namsan, but he could barely finish speaking. He seemed flustered. ¡°They¡¯ll definitely answer. As far as I know, they¡¯ll only be giving us their minimum investment, but we¡¯ll know for sure once we get the results after applying for an investment tomorrow.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about the drama that D.I is producing, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Woah!¡± A sudden exmation came from outside the room, but it got quiet in an instant. ¡°They¡¯re acting like that most likely because they¡¯ll each get an opportunity to take on even a small role since we¡¯re producing the drama ourselves. If Yungs Ventures invests in it, then it¡¯ll certainly be exported to Japan and many countries in Europe.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Lim Soo Sung looked like he couldn¡¯t believe it, even as he was answering him. Eun So-Yeon had frozen up like a statue. ¡°I¡¯m going to send three hundred million won tomorrow, so lease the floor below us, then refurbish it. I want us to befortable in it. And don¡¯t forget to take care of our investment in Eun So-Yeon and the trainees¡¯ wages.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Michelle answered. ¡°Everything has been dealt with now, right? If so, then I¡¯m going.¡± ¡°Channy! Sorry, sir. Have dinner with me before you go.¡± ¡°I wish I could, but I have to go. This was an abrupt appointment, after all. General manager Lim.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. President.¡± ¡°Please make sure I won¡¯t ever see those two in this office or the floor below us starting tomorrow.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Lee Ha-Yeon looked like she had her money taken away from her, and Seong So-Mi appeared to be resenting Lee Ha-Yeon. Kang Chan didn¡¯t care how those pathetic bitches felt. As soon as Kang Chan stood up, all of his employees except the two bitches sprang to their feet as if on cue. When Kang Chan stepped outside after Kim Jae-Tae swiftly opened the door for him, the trainees gave him a round of apuse. ¡°One, two, three!¡± ¡°Thank you so so much, Mr. President! We¡¯ll work hard!¡± After one of the trainees counted, they all loudly chorused their goodbyes to him. As Kang Chan smiled brightly and headed to the entrance, some of the kids covered their mouths as they screamed and jumped. Lim Soo-Sung said his goodbyes and quickly closed the door. It seemed like he wanted to let him be alone with Michelle. Whoosh! Kang Chan almost fell backward when Michelle ran into his arms. ¡°Mmh.¡± She gave him a surprise kiss. Since the French bitch was so excited at that moment, and they were in a situation where he could fully ept it, Kang Chan lightly returned her kiss, then moved his head back. ¡°You¡¯re heavy.¡± While she was glued to Kang Chan, her body warmed up enough for him to feel how hot she was. ¡°You were so amazing today that I feel like I can¡¯t breathe, sir.¡± Michelle pressed her lower body too close to his while wiggling her hips, so Kang Chan firmly shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here, Michelle. I¡¯m sorry for entrusting you with such a hard task.¡± ¡°No, sir. I¡¯m perfectly happy right now.¡± Smooch. Michelle kissed him again and finally detached herself. ¡°Have you by any chance done business in the past?¡± Business my ass. He was just acting like his personality¡ªhe hadn¡¯t even sold a single ammunition before. Kang Chan shook his head while smiling. His body reacted instinctively, so when he wasing down the stairs after waving his hand, he walked as if he had a weird gait. Chapter 50.2: Ill do it Properly (1)

Chapter 50.2: I''ll do it Properly (1)

When Kang Chan came home, he saw a lot of documents on the table. Yoo Hye-Sook seemed happy. After hearing her say, ¡°Chan!¡± about three times, he washed up lightly and went to the table. ¡°Are those the document from before?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Yeah. I think we can support more ces now thanks to you, so I¡¯m going to sort them out beforehand.¡± ¡°Are you sure that you aren¡¯t going to regret it?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook nced at Kang Chan, then smiled brightly. ¡°I don¡¯t really fancy luxury bags or clothes like other women. But I do have this as my extravagance. I¡¯m doing this because I want to. Your dad, fortunately, understands me, and I hope you understand me as well, Chan.¡± ¡°You look really happy. That¡¯s good enough for me.¡± ¡°Thanks, chan. I¡¯ll prepare dinner for you after I examine these for ten more minutes.¡± Not wanting to disturb her, Kang Chan went to his room. When he plopped down onto the bed, his phone rang. It was as if it had been waiting for an opportunity to call him, waiting to eat away his happiness. ¡°Shan.¡± - Got good news for me? ¡°I¡¯ve got a great one. Baseball stadium. How¡¯s that?¡± - That¡¯s excellent, Kang Chan. What¡¯s the time and location? There was a strange excitement to his voice, but it was at times like this that Kang Chan needed to bring this fucker back down to earth. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid like Smithen, Shan. What about the money?¡± - What if I hand over the money and you break your promise? Or was that the n in the first ce?? ¡°If you can¡¯t trust me, let¡¯s pretend this never happened, Shan.¡± - Can you still do that knowing doing so would cause one of your loved ones to disappear from this world? It surely felt like Shan was the one holding the knife by the handle. If hegged behind even just once, then he¡¯d continue to be dragged. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you needed this to eat the entirety of Europe, Shan? Shouldn¡¯t twenty billion won be nothing more than pork cutletspared to that? Why did I use pork cutlets as an example of all things? There have got to be a lot of cooler things I couldpare it to. - Hmm, how much time is left until that event? ¡°Guessing like that isn¡¯t good, Shan.¡± - I¡¯m trying to transfer the funds through thepany. It needs time, so there is a need to schedule a time together. Someone seemed to be by Shan¡¯s side, helping him. ¡°The money needs to be in my hands by Monday. If I haven¡¯t received it by then, I¡¯m going to assume this deal isn¡¯t happening. And Shan¡­¡± Kang Chan only heard him gulp. ¡°Just know that you¡¯re not far away from my eyes either.¡± Kang Chan turned off his phone after he finished talking. That son of a bitch is going to be a bit irritated. ¡°Chan! Let¡¯s eat.¡± ¡°Coming!¡± Kang Chan happily headed to the living room to have dinner. *** When he came back to his room andy down in bed, he felt terribly sleepy. He expected as much, though. After all, he abruptly ran twenty kilometers. ¡®Let¡¯s just sleep for a bit!¡¯ It felt like his body was shouting, which was something that Michelle would make him do. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan felt somewhat d. He needed to ovee this limit. ¡°Yeah! Mi-Young!¡± - It¡¯s me! I just got home. Can you go to the beach tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yeah. But let¡¯s leave at around 10 am. Does that work for you?¡± - Yeah! Huhuhuhu. ¡°I¡¯ll get a car ready in front of your apartment in the morning, so I¡¯ll see you at the entrance.¡± - Okay! Sleep well. See you tomorrow. ¡°Sleep well.¡± His lips curved into a somewhat satisfied smile when he ended the call. Just as he was about to put down the phone on the desk¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? He was really busy today. Why is Seok Kang-Ho calling at this hour? ¡°Hello? Why are you calling?¡± - What are you doing? ¡°I¡¯m just lounging around. What¡¯s going on?¡± - I¡¯m in front of the apartment. Let¡¯s have a cup of tea if that¡¯s okay with you. ¡°That sounds good. I¡¯ll be right down.¡± Kang Chan went down the apartment after saying that he was going toe back after having a walk. Beep beep. Seok Kang-Ho waved his hand from the driver''s seat. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± asked Kang Chan. As a matter of fact, Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes were sunken in. ¡°Not as much as you. But I feel refreshed, which I haven¡¯t felt in a while.¡± Kang Chan understood what he meant. He didn¡¯t feel bad since it reminded him of his previous life as a mercenary, which he hadn¡¯t thought about in so long. ¡°I¡¯m going to move into the apartment next to yours next week.¡± When Kang Chan smiled lightly, Seok Kang-Ho scratched his head. ¡°My wife said that was her dream, so I just told her to do it,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. ¡°Good job.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to go to sleep if you keep saying nonsense.¡± ¡°What are you saying? We should have a cup of tea and smoke a cigarette.¡± ¡°What did you just say? Didn¡¯t you say that you quit smoking?¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t something a human should do.¡± As theyughed, they headed to the coffee shop in Misari. Kang Chan slowly told him about wanting to use the car to go to the beach with Mi-Young tomorrow, him making his move next Friday, Lanok¡¯s bait and Shan¡¯s reaction, and what happened in D.I. ¡°You¡¯re going out on Wednesday, right?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I should.¡± ¡°I should go as well.¡± Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho with a serious expression. ¡°Lanok doesn''t know I''ve told you about these matters. He could easily misunderstand that word leaked from my end if things identally go wrong. So let me discuss it with Lanok first.¡± ¡°That could happen.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded while biting a cigarette. ¡°Ah! You¡¯ve fired that bitch named Lee Ha-Yeon or something, right?¡± He asked. ¡°That¡¯s right. Why do you ask?¡± Kang Chan also took a cigarette while watching Seok Kang-Ho exhale smoke. He definitely smoked a lot more when he was alone with this fucker. ¡°I¡¯ve been asking around. It seems like her poprity is no joke. She appears to have some influence that gets her roles in dramas.¡± Cigarette smoke blew out with every movement of Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s mouth. ¡°Tsk. I would¡¯ve knocked her out with a p if she stayed near me any longer. I¡¯m pretty sure I already said this before, but she¡¯s an old Huh Eun-Sil. I feel so relieved.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just like you.¡± Seok Kang-Houghed, then extinguished the cigarette. They spent time talking about their training earlier that day, Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s decision to start running every morning starting tomorrow, and how Seok Kang-Ho felt much better because his wife kept sending him hot nces every night after giving her a billion won, even though they had just experienced a kidnapping. Languid, Kang Chan felt as if he was sitting with Seok Kang-Ho at dinner after finishing training. If the end of a battle left spite, then the end of training left a somewhat refreshed feeling. Kang Chan dropped Seok Kang-Ho off and parked the car in the apartment¡¯s parking lot. He listed it as a guest car, so leaving it there for about a day wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Kang Chan appropriately said goodnight when he came home, theny in his bed. Amid his dizziness, he felt terribly fatigued. It was as if he was falling from a high ce. ¡®Should I run twenty kilometers every day starting tomorrow?¡¯ With his body seemingly turning off his consciousness, Kang Chan fell into a deep sleep. *** It was already morning by the time he woke up, but he felt like he had only dozed off for a moment. Kang Chan got up and stretched, feeling as light as a feather. He then went outside in a light outfit, warmed up a bit more, and ran out of the apartment. His muscle pain and fatigue seemed to be disappearing. And the pain he felt while running approached him like a strange, pleasant sensation. Naturally, he only ran ten kilometers. Running twice the distance he was used to in one go was far too dangerous. The best thing he could do was split the distance between morning and afternoon running sessions, then finally run for twenty kilometers all at once after he had be fully ustomed to the distance. He also had Lanok¡¯s affairs to attend to on Wednesday, so he had to keep his body in top condition. ¡°Phew. Don¡¯t you find that difficult?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°But you work in apany, which is just as difficult, if not harder.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s profuse sweating seemed to frighten Kang Dae-Kyung. Kang Chan had breakfast with his parents after he took a shower and remitted money five times to the D.I¡¯sw firm¡¯s bank ount. He needed to increase the transfer limit. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go to the Sang-Jeong orphanage tomorrow?¡± asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Sure. I¡¯lle with you guys.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll finally get to go somewhere together after so long.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook seemed as happy as Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°What are your ns for today, Chan?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going to the beach with Mi-Young. She also said she wants raw fish.¡± ¡°With Mi-Young?¡± ¡°Yes. Why?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook quickly hid her surprised reaction and smiled awkwardly. ¡°That sounds fun. Do you have an allowance?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung quickly butted into the conversation to make the atmospherefortable. ¡°I have enough. I still have money left that I previously received from interpretation.¡± ¡°You¡¯re seeing her properly, right?¡± Kang Chan smiled lightly at Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s cautious question. ¡°She¡¯s my friend. I¡¯ll be sure to tell you both upfront if I find someone I like. But there¡¯s no one like mom. I want to be with a woman as pretty as she is.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung smiled with a look in his eyes that said, ¡®You got better at it! It looks like it worked well on your mom.¡¯ ¡°Oh my! You should find a woman much prettier than I am,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said, but she couldn¡¯t hide her smile. When Kang Chan left after having breakfast, Yoo Hye-Sook ced tea in front of Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Are Mi-Young¡¯s parents weighing on your mind?¡± ¡°You¡¯re only asking that because you don¡¯t know mothers that well. If Mi-Young¡¯s grades drop at this rate, then Channy will get all of the resentment.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t happen. I¡¯m not saying this because he¡¯s my child, but if I were Mi-Young¡¯s father, I would never reject our Channy.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook blinked at Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°He speaks French like a native, has been invited to study in France as a government-funded schrship student, and exerts his influence on Gong Te automobile better than most ministers or vice ministers in Korea. Most importantly, when I see the look in his eyes, I feel like he¡¯ll do things right, regardless of what he does.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung showed a pleasurable smile after seeing Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s expression, which made her look like she was dreaming. ¡°I still vividly remember the look in Channy''s eyes during our first meeting with Gong Te automobile. I think he said that he¡¯s doing it for you, who was waiting back here at home. At that moment, I thought I probably didn¡¯t need to worry about you for as long as he¡¯s here.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook covered her mouth with her hand, then stood up from the chair and hugged Kang Dae-Kyung tightly. ¡°But you need to stay beside me no matter what,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung continued. ¡°I¡¯m always going to be by your side. Let¡¯s watch Channy grow together.¡± When Yoo Hye-Sook hugged him tighter, Kang Dae-Kyung lifted Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°That¡¯s okay, right?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook quickly nodded. Chapter 51.1: Ill do it Properly (2)

Chapter 51.1: I''ll do it Properly (2)

Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young were on the way to the beach in the direction of the airport, which Seok Kang-Ho had told him about. There was quite a lot of traffic, as it was a Saturday and the holiday season. They weren¡¯t in a hurry, though, so they just listened to music, bobbing their heads to the beat as they got onto the highway. Perhaps because there wasn''t a lot of ¡®Chiffres¡¯ in Korea yet, the passengers of the passing cars on both sides of the road all looked alternately between Kang Chan, the car, and Kim Mi-Young as they drove by. Kim Mi-Young looked happy while watching Kang Chan drive. She would sometimes do her peculiar ¡°Huhuhu¡±ugh, causing the corners of her eyes to beautifully bend downward. It was such a great sight to see. Around 11 am, they merged into thene that exited to the airport. It seemed like they were going to arrive just in time for lunch. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. There was nothing that could do a better job of ruining the mood than a phone call, especially if Michelle was the caller, and he was in the middle of a date. Kang Chan turned off the music and answered the phone in French. ¡°Ello.¡± - Sir!! Michelle sounded flustered and surprised. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s going on?¡± Michelle was quick-witted. When Kang Chan spoke in French, she used the samenguage to match him. - We just got a call from Yungs Ventures a moment ago! Even though today is a Saturday, the CFO of Yungs Ventures called ourpany himself! Was receiving a single international call something to be this excited about? Kang Chan sighed slightly. He was worried that Shan had done something due to the surprise in her voice. - Yungs will be investing one billion won in us for their first round of investment, boss! If needed, they said that they¡¯ll invest more in the second round! The media outlets in Europe were the first to find out, and they¡¯ve been calling us to confirm it! We''re going crazy!! This is insane, sir! From Kang Chan¡¯s perspective, she clearly wasn¡¯t in her right mind. - What should I do? I think I¡¯ve gone crazy! And all of the employees here feel the same way! What should we do?! If they were alone, he would¡¯ve quickly run over and pped each of them once. ¡°It¡¯s a Saturday. Don¡¯t give the employees unnecessary trouble. Just clock out and go home.¡± - No, sir! Today is on me. We all decided to go to Namsan Hotel together. The interior business operator will also being a bitter since we¡¯ve signed a lease for the office! Kyaaa! I¡¯m so happy I feel like my heart¡¯s going to explode! When Kang Chan moved the phone away from him while making a sour face, Kim Mi-Young looked at him in surprise. ¡°It went well, right?¡± -Yesss! Sir! Kang Chan quickly ended the call. He¡¯d only suffer if he kept talking to such a crazy bitch. His phone rang again. ¡°It¡¯s hard for me to talk for a long time here, Michelle.¡± - Mr. President, it¡¯s Lim, the general manager. They¡¯re taking turns calling me? - We¡¯ll try our best to never miss or mess up this opportunity, which you¡¯ve given us. The employees said they have something to say. From far away, Kang Chan could hear someone saying, ¡°One, two, three!¡± so he quickly distanced the phone from his ear. - We¡¯ll work hard, Mr. President! Thank you so so much! We love you! Kyyaaaa! Kang Chan turned off his phone as he let out a feebleugh. Kim Mi-Young looked really confused. ¡°Sorry if that bothered you,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Mi-Young. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who was that and why are they calling you Mr. President?¡± Kang Chan gave Kim Mi-Young a subtle nce, then ced his phone down on the cup holder. He didn¡¯t want to lie to Kim Mi-Young, Seok Kang-Ho, and his family unless the truth would require letting them know he was injured or putting them in danger. Even if that wasn¡¯t the case, it was still difficult to tell them the truth without even the tiniest altercation. ¡°I¡¯ve actually taken on the role of president for apany called D.I.¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°Apany? President?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s a drama productionpany, but my parents don¡¯t know yet. The person that had introduced Gong Te automobile to us is close to an investmentpany that mainly invests in drama production, so I decided to temporarily take the role until the investment is over.¡± Once thepany got on the right track, he actually nned on entrusting it to Michelle. That¡¯s why it didn¡¯t weigh that much on his mind. ¡°Your amazing foreignnguage skill is certainly bringing you a lot of great opportunities.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of saving the money that I earned from this so I won¡¯t have to ask my parents for help when I study abroad in Franceter.¡± Kim Mi-Young¡¯s face grew radiantly bright but darkened much quicker. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°You¡¯ll be earning that moneyboriously. But you¡¯re a full, government-paid schrship student, so you don¡¯t have to pay tuition. I don¡¯t like that.¡± ¡°Phuhu.¡± Kim Mi-Young nced at Kang chan with an upset expression. ¡°In the past, my mother got chosen as a government-paid schrship student as well, but she gave all of that up while waiting for my father, who had to do his mandatory military service. Hearing about it made me jealous, but you probably won¡¯t be able to do something like that, right?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Why not? If you serve in the military, then I¡¯m just going to study hard while waiting for you.¡± Seeing her sincerity made Kang Chan happy. ¡°I feel the same way. But for now, let¡¯s do our best so no one will have to make any sacrifices. That way, I''ll be a husband of a diplomat or something like that. Andter, when you do an interview, say that your husband paid for your tuition fees. That would make me look really cool.¡± The nickname Simpleton, which he had forgotten about, suddenly popped into his mind when he noticed Kim Mi-Young¡¯s moist eyes and flushed cheeks. ¡°You can do that, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Of course.¡± He stroked her hair. Kang Chan liked seeing her smile brightly. She was like a younger sister sometimes, but he also saw her as a woman every now and then.. If they kept seeing each other little by little like this and she didn¡¯t change aside from maturing a bit more, then living together wouldn¡¯t seem like such a bad move. Kang Chan felt the same way about studying abroad. He felt like she¡¯d really be a diplomat and a wife if he told her to do so. The effect of talking about studying abroad together and being a diplomat wife was surprisingly good. It cheered Kim Mi-Young up enough to sp her hand with Kang Chan¡¯s and sway it around while humming to herself. They arrived at the beach at around 1:30 pm. When they got off the road and passed a narrow alley, the sea unfolded before their eyes. There were so many restaurants lined up along the sea that it was impossible to find an empty spot. The merchants clung onto Kang Chan¡¯s car like a swarm of bees, offering grilled ms and lodgings, then gestured with their hands that they were selling delicious raw fish. Kang Chan parked the car at the innermost house in the alley that Seok Kang-Ho had told him about, then went into a restaurant. The olddy told them to get out of the car and gave Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young an awkward smile. ¡°You young folks look really good together. Pleasee in. Let us serve you well.¡± She seemed to be ignoring their identities with great effort despite having gotten out of a foreign car she had never seen before. Kang Chan sat down on a terrace by the seaside. ¡°Wow! This is really nice!¡± Kim Mi-Young eximed. ¡°What would you guys like?¡± The olddy that owned the restaurant used the menu to suddenly put a stop to Kim Mi-Young¡¯s admiration. ¡°Please give us raw tfish,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Raw tfish! What about alcohol?¡± When the olddy noticed Kim Mi-Young¡¯s face had hardened, she skillfully ignored her and turned her attention to Kang Chan. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Please just serve us raw fish.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± If he came here with Seok Kang-Ho, he would¡¯ve already ordered a bottle of soju, a bottle of beer, and had a ss with him. He thought about ordering them but decided against it, thinking it could surprise Kim Mi-Young. Kim Mi-Young smiled as her gaze alternated between Kang Chan and the sea. The seawater came up to the front of the restaurant, so they were able to see families led by children, lovers, and friends ying right in front of their eyes. ¡°Your grades can¡¯t drop,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Mi-Young. The sea had caught Kim Mi-Young¡¯s eyes, but she smiled brightly after she looked at Kang Chan. A momentter, the owner brought a lot of food to their table, but the raw fish honestly wasn¡¯t that good. Kang Chan wondered if they had caught a tfish that had starved, as the raw fish itself was very thin and dry. Was it only two days ago? The expensive raw fish that he had at Namsan Hotel came into his mind, which made him feel sorry for Kim Mi-Young, Kang Dae-Kyung, and Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°This is amazing,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. She ced and wrapped the raw fish into one of the very few pieces of lettuce they were served with, then deliciously ced it into her mouth. ¡°What?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked, finding him staring. ¡°You¡¯re gorgeous.¡± ¡°Hmhmhm.¡± Herugh sounded weird due to the food in her mouth. With his arm hanging on the rail of the terrace, Kang Chan talked to her while asionally having raw fish to keep pace with her. Would it be about five years or seven years until she became a diplomat? The answer was going toe out as he nurtured her while diligently feeding her raw fish, Tteokbokki pork cutlets, and other dishes.?The oue could disappoint him, but he was sure he wouldn¡¯t regret it even if Kim Mi-Young changed her mind halfway through. They were served Maeun-tang?after they finished eating the raw fish. Like the name, it tasted like they just added ramen seasoning to a few vegetables and the fish that had just bones left. Even though Kim Mi-Young said that it was good, she didn¡¯t eat a lot of it. ¡°Do you want to walk by the beach?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yeah! Yeah!¡± Fool. The people at the table next to them nced at them, but it didn¡¯t matter to Kang Chan. To him, she was beautiful. ¡®She¡¯s the top student in our school, even though she might not look like it.¡¯ He got up from his spot while having the same thoughts as the olderdies in the apartment. He paid for the meal by card, then they went out to the seaside. ¡°Wow!¡± They ran away from the seawater that rushed toward them, then ran into the sea, following the retreating wave. Kim Mi-Young jumped around the beach for about 30 minutes, which eventually got her shoes and anklespletely wet. They then sat down on top of the cement wall that separated the sandy beach and the road and looked at the sea. ¡®I wish I could smoke a cigarette!¡¯ Kang Chan thought to himself. Kim Mi-Young then leaned her head against his shoulder. It was a peaceful time. He had good parents, Seok Kang-Ho, with whom he could reminisce about his past life, Kim Mi-Young, and Kim Tae-Jin, whom he got along with just recently. He was surrounded by quite a lot of good people. It was a shame that the only way to protect them was to catch Shan, but he had to do it for the people that were still with him and to avenge those he had lost. Their clothes had dried up after another 30 minutes had passed, but Kim Mi-Young¡¯s shoes were still wet. Moreover, a lot of sand was smeared onto it. They went into the restaurant and got their car key, but the olderdy brought a hose and abruptly doused her feet with water. ¡°You¡¯ll ruin your car if you get in it in that state.¡± Though she was startled, Kim Mi-Young dusted off the dirt all over her shoes while looking apologetic at Kang Chan. ¡°What are you doing? Carry her on your back.¡± The olderdy gestured at Kim Mi-Young with her gaze. It would embarrass Kim Mi-Young if he said he didn¡¯t want to do that here. Hence, he happily lowered his stance in front of her. ¡°I¡¯ll get your car out, so just dust off the sand inside her shoes, thene back after you guys walk to the beach. This is what everyone does when theye here,¡± the olderdy told Kang Chan. Kang Chan actually felt sorry for treating the wrong bitches to expensive raw fish and treating Kim Mi-Young to dried ones. He carried her on his back and walked the path that led to the beach. ¡°Chan.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± He turned his head without thinking, and Kim Mi-Young kissed his cheek. Her body felt hotter than Michelle¡¯s. ¡°I really like you, Chan! Thank you¡± Though he heard Kim Mi-Young¡¯s confession from behind him, he couldn¡¯t respond. It was still too early. He wanted to give her the choice until more time had passed¡ªuntil it would be okay to disclose their rtionship to others. The beach wasn¡¯t that long, which was good because if it was a little bit longer, then Kim Mi-Young could¡¯ve been burnt. 1. In Chapter 10, Kang Chan thought he should change her nickname. 2.? Soju is a popr clear Korean distilled alcoholic beverage 3. Tteokbokki is a popr Korean food made out of rice cakes with sweet and spicy sauce 4. Maeun-tang is also known as spicy fish stew. As its name suggests, it¡¯s a hot spicy Korean dish with fish and various vegetables Chapter 51.2: Ill do it Properly (2)

Chapter 51.2: I''ll do it Properly (2)

. Before they went home, they headed to Gangnam to have spaghetti and a bowl of bingsu each at a patbingsu specialty store. When Kang Chan parked the car in the public parking lot, Kim Mi-Young appeared crestfallen. ¡°Come here,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Mi-Young. When Kang Chan widened his arms for her, she cuddled up to him. ¡°Study really hard starting tomorrow. You have to be a diplomat, remember?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yeah!¡± Kim Mi-Young resolutely answered while burying her cheek into Kang Chan¡¯s chest. ¡°I had so much fun today, Chan. Thanks.¡± Kang Chan softlybed his fingers through her hair. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Kang Chan said. Kang Chan patted Kim Mi-Young while smiling. They took a taxi home. Kim Mi-Young went in first. Kang Chan called Seok Kang-Ho while sitting down on the bench and told him that he parked the car in the public parking lot. He also told him to rest until tomorrow evening. Seok Kang-Ho then said he was out eating with his family, so he¡¯d call him back once he was home. When Kang Chan went into the house, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were watching TV. The three of them had fruits andughed while watching an entertainment show. That brought about a safe end to his Saturday. As hey in bed, Kang Chan stared nkly at the ceiling. ¡®Let¡¯s put a quick end to this, Shan.¡¯ There wasn¡¯t a lot of time left until the big day, so he wanted to quickly win. *** Soldiers also rested on Sundays, but only if there wasn¡¯t a war or a battle. Kang Chan skipped his morning workout, which made him feel sluggish. His body knew as well, which was why it was coaxing him to run. However, rest would make his body struggle the next day since it wouldn¡¯t want to run again. One of the basics of exercising was oveing one¡¯s physical limitations. Kang Chan, Kang Dae-Kyung, and Yoo Hye-Sook had omelets that Kang Chan had made for breakfast, which they hadn¡¯t done in a while. They then left to go to the Sangjeong orphanage at around 10:30 am. The car that was parked in the basement was a ¡®Chiffre¡¯. ¡°You changed your car?¡± Kang Chan asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°People find it weird that I¡¯m driving around something else.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung went in the driver''s seat while feeling proud, Yoo Hye-Sook got in the passenger seat, and Kang Chan naturally went in the back. They arrived at the Sangjeong orphanage after about 40 minutes of driving. Like every other Sunday morning, the road was still empty. They first met someone known as the director, who had a look in his eyes that was sharper and sterner than expected. It would''ve been better if he appeared a bit more merciful, but he couldn¡¯t say anything about it. Since they were talking about supporting the operating expenses, Kang Chan sat on the broken bench in the orphanage¡¯s garden, then examined his surroundings. The building was shaped like a horizontal and reversed ¡®L.¡¯ Divided into two, its left side served as the orphanage and the right side as the nursing home. He saw the employees putting in and carrying rice, doenjang-guk, kkakdugi, and danmuji in arge metal pale, perhaps because it was lunchtime. ¡®Do they eat something like that?¡¯ After all, they did say the most well-off orphanages stillcked about two million won a month. Just as Kang Chan was looking at the entrance with a bitter gaze, a girl whose hair looked like it was cut by someone that she lived with grabbed onto the door and slightly peeked her head out. The girl quickly hid away when her eyes met Kang Chan¡¯s, then carefully stuck her head out again. When Kang Chan brightly smiled, the girl tilted her head, which made her appear shy, then hid behind the door. ¡°What are you doing here? You should go have lunch.¡± A small-framed woman that looked to be in her mid-twenties nced at Kang Chan, then grabbed the child¡¯s arm and went inside. Kang Chan¡¯s past life suddenly came to his mind. He wanted to eat pork cutlets like crazy. Even if he didn¡¯t steal, there were kids that were willing to buy something like that for him. He just needed to ask them for help. ¡®Wouldn¡¯t I be able to at least properly feed the children if I give this ce the money in my bank ount and the sry I get from D.I?¡¯ As Kang Chan nkly stared ahead, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook came out. ¡°You should look at the kids¡¯ living quarters,¡± said the director. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We¡¯ll greet themter to avoid disturbing their meal.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung politely shook hands with the director, and Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung bowed their heads. They then went outside the orphanage. They got in the car and headed home, but the atmosphere seemed quite frigid. ¡°Should we have lunch before going home?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked after about 5 minutes had passed, but they headed straight home instead since that was what Yoo Hye-Sook wanted. He shouldn¡¯t try to butt into everything just because he was curious. Kang Chan went to his room after having lunch, used hisputer to search the Inte for the things he was curious about, theny in bed. ¡®Should I work out instead?¡¯ It would be great to at least go for a walk. Just as he raised his body¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz. The phone rang. Shan was calling. He had been waiting for this. ¡°Hello?¡± - Kang Chan, I¡¯ll give you the username and password to an ount in Hong Kong¡¯s Silver Harvest Bank tomorrow. Korea has strict regtions, so that¡¯s the only option I had unless we wait until Monday. Kang Chan had been told that the money was in Switzend, but it seemed to have been transferred to Hong Kong for now. Kang Chan thought of talking to Lanok. ¡°That¡¯s good, Shan. I¡¯ll let you know about the time and location once I¡¯vee to a decision and changed the password tomorrow morning.¡± - Keep in mind that even though you can change its password, that ount forbids remittance for seven days. ¡°There¡¯s no reason for me to rush.¡± Kang Chan hung up the phone. Shan was probably nning on leaving Korea after taking care of Lanok. Kang Chan called Lanok and told him about the call. - Monsieur Kang. You¡¯re to tell me the ount and password as soon as you receive it only through a phone call. Text messaging is dangerous. ¡°As you wish, Mr. Ambassador. But if we keep going down this road, then you¡¯ll have to tell me the details about your baseball appointment this Wednesday by tomorrow.¡± - That goes without saying, Monsieur Kang. Their conversation ended. At the very least, they¡¯d finally discover the organization hoping to attack Lanok by Wednesday. And if things were to go well, then they¡¯d also catch Shan. Kang Chan got lost in his worries for a moment. It would be dangerous to trust the French agents alone to keep Lanok safe in the baseball stadium. He had to ensure their n would proceed seamlessly. Solidifying his resolve, Kang Chan picked up his phone. - How can I help you on a Sunday? ¡°Can I see you tomorrow for a short while?¡± - I¡¯m more than willing to meet with the instructor whenever he needs me. Where would you like to meet? The school, or do you prefering to ourpany? If he was going to tell Kim Tae-Jin about it, then he might as well tell Seok Kang-Ho too. ¡°I wish to see you in school.¡± - Okay. I¡¯ll be there first thing in the morning. He felt like a burden was taken off his shoulder. What Lanok needed to do was find the person that deposited the money in the ount anywhere between Monday to Wednesday since doing so would give them a rough outline. However, if a problem urred with Lanok even after they did all of this, then Kang Chan would be surrounded by enemies on all sides. The DGSE could try to go for Kang Chan since they¡¯d need to cover up his conversations with Lanok. Crazy fuckers. Why would they make him worry while saying things about the dynamics of Europe or whatnot while in Korea? A week. Everything should be able to be taken care of in exactly a week. *** On Monday morning, Kang Chan had breakfast when he returned from his workout. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook still hadn¡¯t brightened up. After a bit since Kang Dae-Kyung left for work, Kang Chan had to leave as well. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± asked Kang Chan. Yoo Hye-Sook smiled at Kang Chan, who had just entered the living room. Her smile had disappointment in it. ¡°Your dad and I wanted to designate how our financial donation should be used, but all the orphanages said that wasn¡¯t possible. We wanted to pay for the kids¡¯ food, clothes, and education, but the orphanage said that the money could also be used for administrative expenses, and that they also can¡¯t show us any rted information; so your dad is also very upset right now.¡± So that was what had been going on. When Kang Chan nodded, Yoo Hye-Sook added, ¡°The kids are often in the back of my mind. Your dad says it would be useless if we can¡¯t dictate how our donation will be spent. Even so, I still wanted to send it over.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite a difficult situation." ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about it. I¡¯ll find a good way to handle this.¡± ¡°Okay. I believe in you,¡± Kang Chan said. He then pleasantly smiled for her and went out of the apartment. 1. doenjang-guk, or soybean paste soup, is made up of doenjang (soybean paste) and other ingredients such as vegetables and seafood 2. kkakdugi, or diced radish kimchi is a type of kimchi that is popr as a side dish 3. danmuji, or pickled radish, is a pickled preparation of radish that originated from traditional Japanese cuisine Chapter 52.1: You betrayed me? (1)

Chapter 52.1: You betrayed me? (1)

When Kang Chan walked into the school, he saw a sight so unexpected all he could do was blink. The employees from the securitypany and the kids in the athletics club were running in a line. They were annoying him in so many ways. Before Kang Chan could reach the athletics club room, Kim Tae-Jin came out. ¡°You¡¯re early,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°How can I letziness get the best of me when Kang Chan himself asked to see us?¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t really know what to reply to that. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho went to the faculty office, but he said he¡¯ll be back,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°Let¡¯s talk once he gets back if you¡¯re not busy.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Kim Tae-Jin casually replied, then turned his gaze to the sports field. ¡°If only I could go back to that age, then I would have given everything I had just to do that.¡± Even Kim Tae-Jin reincarnating at this school? The thought of it alone made Kang Chan shudder. I heard they practiced on their own throughout the weekend. They reviewed where and how they got hit, and also researchedbat stances. But what I like the most is how the fire in their eyes revived.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°I gave the employee that had his arm broken a paid vacation. He said he¡¯s going to climb Jiri Mountain every morning and evening, and that he¡¯s going to ruminate about his acts of cowardice every time he¡¯d feel pain in his arm. After that, he bowed to me and expressed his gratitude for introducing you to him. His fire now burns the strongest out of them all.¡± When Kang Chan smiled faintly, Kim Tae-Jin discretely looked at him. ¡°A lot of my employees want toe here,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Didn¡¯t Mr. Seok Kang-Ho decide to go to thepany every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday?¡± ¡°I want you toe with him once every week. What do you say?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t immediately give him an answer. The determined look Kim Tae-Jin had shown him when they saved Seok Kang-Ho and his family made it hard to outright refuse him. ¡°Huh? When did you get here?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked as he cautiously looked around his surroundings. He had approached them from the back while they were watching the sports field. ¡°Is there somewhere we can talk with just the three of us?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°We can go to the night-duty room. That¡¯s the best ce we can use since we can smoke and have a cup of tea in there as well.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± The three of them immediately headed to the night-duty room. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know there was a ce like this in this school.¡± Kim Tae-Jin looked around the night-duty room, appearing to be amazed. Seok Kang-Ho handed them coffee. In order, Kang Chan told them that he met Lanok on Friday, about his phone conversation with Shan and Lanok, and about Lanok¡¯s n to go to the baseball stadium on Wednesday. Kim Tae-Jin looked dazed when Kang Chan was done. ¡°From the French Presidential Election to something that will change the dynamics of Europe¡­ At this point, wouldn¡¯t the Korean Information Agency already caught wind of this?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you have a friend there?¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°It¡¯s hard toe across intel from other fields unless you¡¯re in charge of it. Employees of that ce don¡¯t even know the names of their colleagues that are under other departments.¡± That wasn¡¯t such a farfetched concept. That agency took care of valuable information, after all. ¡°I think Shan will leave Korea after eliminating Lanok. But whenever I remember the guy I encountered in an elevatorst Friday, I can¡¯t help but feel like Lanok is taking this situation too lightly,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°He probably isn¡¯t,¡± Kim Tae-Jin spoke as he stretched his neck from side to side. ¡°The capabilities of France¡¯s DGSE are world-famous since they keep supplying not only mercenaries but talented people from different fields. And do you really think they¡¯ll lower their guard now, considering they¡¯re most likely aware that the Chinese have made their move as well?¡± Kim Tae-Jin had a point. ¡°A bodyguard¡¯s most important duty is cooperation, but doing that bes a problem if we can¡¯t reveal our mission or identities. The French agents could mistake us for the enemy. It¡¯s a hard problem to deal with. Kang Chan only nodded. After all, despite havingbat experience, he had no experience in guard and escort duty. ¡°I¡¯ll order my men to spread out in the auditorium and around the stadium¡¯s vicinity. Our opponents will also have limited ways to mobilize their agents. That can be used to our advantage.¡± Pursing his lips, Kim Tae-Jin momentarily appeared to be doing calctions. ¡°If they can¡¯t use guns, then we¡¯ll probably be able to stop them somehow¡­¡± ¡°What if they use guns?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Tae-Jin shook his head. ¡°Then we¡¯re definitely going to die. It¡¯s an unofficial appointment of the French Ambassador, so inspecting the stadium in advance is going to be difficult.¡± Something suddenly came to Kang Chan¡¯s mind as he took a sip of his coffee. ¡°Then how about we preupy possible sniping locations a day in advance? It¡¯ll probably work if you check the area out and assign people to ces that seem dangerous to you.¡± ¡°Are you assuming they can use guns?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t they first get rid of Lanok, then just deal with the aftermath? That¡¯s what I¡¯d do, at least, considering the oue of this whole ordeal can change Europe¡¯s entire dynamics. Kim Tae-Jin nodded. ¡°Hmmm, it¡¯s going to be quicker if I look into whether we can use the baseball stadium the day before.¡± ¡°If things go wrong, then Lanok and his team could misunderstand our motives,¡± said Kang Chan. It was difficult toe to a definite conclusion for this matter right now. Kim Tae-Jin suddenly straightened up. ¡°Ah! Is that why the Neck Ghost abruptly came to Korea? To get rid of Lanok? If that¡¯s the case, then he¡¯s definitely going to mobilize the North Korean special corps as well.¡± When Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho looked at him, Kim Tae-Jin nodded and continued. ¡°You said Shan will have difficulties moving because of his current condition, right? On top of that, it doesn¡¯t matter whether it¡¯s China or France that kills Lanok¡ªthey¡¯ll still basically suffer from diplomatic conflict. But it¡¯s a different story if North Korea does it. Considering they¡¯re people that can spend two billion won just to get information, how much do you think they¡¯d pay people that can assassinate the Ambassador?¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re saying there¡¯s a high possibility that they¡¯re going to use firearms, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s the most likely scenario.¡± Why are things bingplicatedly tangled up? When Kang Chan frowned, Kim Tae-Jin got up from his spot first. ¡°I should head to thepany. You said that it¡¯ll take ce at the Municipal Baseball Stadium in Yong-In, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho left the night-duty room after Kim Tae-Jin did. When they returned, about half of the kids were now on the stands, their faces red. The rest were still running around the sports field. After Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho parted ways with Kim Tae-Jin, they went into the athletics club room. He couldn¡¯t pull himself together right now. Everything was just too disorganized. ¡°We decided to make those employees teach the kids basic stances, and that I¡¯ll be training them in the afternoon,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°Who thought of that?¡± That was a good schedule, even for the kids. ¡°The employees were the first to suggest it. What are you doing? We should exercise.¡± Yeah. That would be wise. Kang Chan stood up after Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan worked out with Seok Kang-Ho using the gym equipment for about an hour, then practiced hand-to-handbat for about 30 minutes. The muscle tension and physical exertion caused by their workout session felt great. Going to the night-duty room, Kang Chan washed up and changed. When he returned, Seok Kang-Ho was getting ready for the afternoon training. ¡°Don¡¯t overexert yourself. Won¡¯t you copse at this rate?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Don''t worry, I¡¯m taking herbal medicine.¡± ¡°Good job.¡± ¡°It definitely feels like I¡¯m regaining my senses because of the workouts I¡¯ve been doing. I also think that my sluggish body has gotten a bit quicker.¡± If Seok Kang-Ho had his past memories, then he would certainly regain his abilities to some degree. He didn¡¯t know about anything else, but Dayeru was a natural at one thing: fighting. ¡°Captain.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I shoulde with you on Wednesday.¡± It felt like Dayeru was ring at him while huffing angrily. His eyes were imbued with fury from having to dangle from a tree and his family getting kidnapped. ¡°Will you get angry if I stop you?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯s a cruel act.¡± ¡°Phuhu,¡± Kang Chanughed, but Seok Kang-Ho didn''tugh along with him. ¡°Okay. Go for it,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Phuhuhu, thank you.¡± Shan, the man who had Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s family kidnapped, was involved in this, so there was no way Kang Chan could tell Seok Kang-Ho to not get involved in this. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. When his phone rang, Kang Chan quickly picked it up. It was Michelle. Shaking his head, he pressed the call button. ¡°Yeah, Michelle.¡± - Do you have a moment to talk, Channy? Fortunately, she sounded like she had regained her senses, but it seemed her excitement hadn¡¯tpletely disappeared yet. ¡°Yeah. Talk.¡± - We¡¯ve received a lot of inquiries rted to the drama production, and we¡¯ve decided to use the work of a writer that I know. The casting from the management side has been amazing since word got out about the investment. Proceeding with those wouldn¡¯t be a problem, would it? Kang Chan had indeed decided to take this work seriously, but he didn¡¯t want to deal with matters like this through a call. ¡°Keep leading the production in the direction that you want for now, then let¡¯s discuss the rest when we have time.¡± - The script is already done. We¡¯ll be giving our talents priority for the roles, then then take care of the remaining ones through auditions. I was told that the construction for the office on the floor beneath us will be finished this week, soe visit next Monday. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll do that.¡± Chapter 52.2: You betrayed me? (1)

Chapter 52.2: You betrayed me? (1)

Right after he ended the call with Michelle, his phone immediately started vibrating. When Kang Chan gestured at Seok Kang-Ho with his eyes, Seok Kang-Ho nervously looked around their surroundings. ¡°Hello?¡± - It¡¯s Shan. I¡¯m about to tell you the bank ount and its password. Get something to write it down with. When Kang Chan imitated writing with his hand in the air, Seok Kang-Ho quickly brought him paper and a pen. ¡°Go ahead.¡± - Alright, here goes. The ount number is 13765-golden-33255, and the password is 888-sprteu-2010. That¡¯s it. I¡¯ll give you ten minutes to check its bnce, then I¡¯ll call to get Lanok¡¯s schedule. ¡°Okay.¡± Shan ended the call. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°Why is that fucker so confident? Honestly, I can just secretly transfer this money elsewhere, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Perhaps he has someone to back him up?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s think about it after telling Lanok about this.¡± Kang Chan called Lanok and handed him the ount and password that he received. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, I find it suspicious that Shan is handing over these bank details so easily. Please take this suspicion into consideration when you investigate the ount. Shan said he¡¯ll call back in ten minutes, at which point I¡¯ll be giving him the time and location of your appointment.¡± - Understood. I¡¯ll give you a call if, by any chance, something new emerges. The call ended with Lanok¡¯s polite voice. Kang Chan became very annoyed when he hung up the phone. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did he tell you to stand by?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. Shoot! Seok Kang-Ho didn¡¯t know French. ¡°That¡¯s not it¡ªI¡¯m just annoyed because I had to rack my brain out while exchanging the ount numbers. This would all be over if we just knew where that son of a bitch was. The dynamics of Europe or some other bullshit is none of my concern¡± ¡°Phuhu. I did notice you were doing your best to hold back your anger for some reason. How about we go to the roof after your call with Shan? We haven¡¯t been there in a while, and from what I can see, you¡¯recking nicotine.¡± Am I too obvious? Kang Chan licked his lips while discreetly looking down once at his chest. ¡°We only need to wait two more days. Even if it doesn¡¯t happen then, wouldn¡¯t Shan still make a move this week?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I also have nothing to be afraid of since we¡¯ll be fighting side by side. I¡¯m just worried those fuckers would act like cowards and take hostages.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s kill him this time, no matter what it takes,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± His phone rang with the call from Shan as they were smirking together. ¡°Shan, are you ready to write it down?¡± - Get on with it, Kang Chan. ¡°It¡¯s the Municipal Baseball Stadium in Yongin, at 3 pm. - You¡¯re sure, right? When Kang Chan didn¡¯t say anything, Shan left behind an unpleasantugh, then hung up. That fucker is definitely hiding something! ¡°You¡¯re doing that again. Let¡¯s go to the roof quick,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Seok Kang-Ho got up first, then gestured to Kang Chan. ¡°It¡¯s not there. Here! Let¡¯s take the path near the eleventh graders¡¯ ssrooms.¡± When Seok Kang-Ho came out of the athletics club room, he pointed to the building for the eleventh-graders. ¡°Almost all of the twelfth-graders show up to school because they have to self-study. This is better since the kids stressed from studying go to that ce to rx.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was a teacher, so he definitely knew a lot. Since when did this fucker be this considerate, though? Kang Chan silently followed Seok Kang-Ho to the building for the eleventh-graders. More eleventh-graders came to school than he had expected. The kids loitering on the stairs and the hallway still lowered their eyes or moved out of the way when they saw Kang Chan. They finally reached the roof. When Kang Chan opened the door and entered, a male student and a few female students turned away, startled. The girls looked familiar. Where did I see them from? He remembered. They were the bitches that acted as Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s worthless minions. Kang Chan found it suspicious that female twelfth-graders were on the roof of the eleventh-graders¡¯ building, but was there anywhere bitches with legs couldn¡¯t go to? Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho sat and smokedzily while leaning against the door. He felt better. ¡°Did you know that the faculty office had asked if they could not let you graduate?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. What¡¯s he saying? ¡°Phuhu. Why do you look so surprised? Because of you, the bullies no longer cause trouble, and there¡¯s been a decrease in the number of victims of bullying. That¡¯s what the teachers that think that way say amongst themselves.¡± ¡°If I could go to a training center, I would rather be there than in school. I¡¯m already bored to death right now.¡± Kang Chan shook his head. They want me to continue ying a role that I don¡¯t fit into? This doesn¡¯t make sense. Smoking and chatting with Seok Kang-Ho made Kang Chan feel better. Everything woulde to an end this Wednesday. If it didn¡¯t, then it would still probably end this week, considering how things were going. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Houghed when their eyes met. Screech. Kang Chan went down from the roof feeling refreshed, which he hadn''t felt in a while. However, before they could reach the bottom of the stairs, they found Eun-Sil¡¯s three worthless minions and two male students¡ªwhom he didn¡¯t know¡ªstanding there. Did they wait until Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho left the roof? Kang Chan kept heading down the stairs with a smirk. ¡°Can you talk for a moment¡­¡± Unfortunately, one of the worthless minions made Kang Chan stop walking as she mumbled the end of her sentence. They¡¯re so annoying. I¡¯m already so busy yet they¡¯re still bothering me. When Kang Chan sharply red at them, the two guys lowered their heads. ¡°It¡¯s because of Eun-Sil and Ho-Jun.¡± What was worse was that it was lunchtime. Starving a person that followed a regr meal time made them even more violent. ¡°We¡¯ll take a minute of your time. The three worthless minions each said something, then the girl at the very right side nced at Kang Chan. ¡°Please go on ahead. I¡¯ll follow after hearing what they have to say,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Hmm. Okay.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at the kids up and down, then went down the stairs. ¡°What is it?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°We¡¯ll tell you at the roof.¡± These bitches practicedmunication every day. Otherwise, it would be difficult for them to take turns saying something. Kang Chan went up to the roof after a shallow exhale. Smirk.? It had be a habit to keep an eye on the people behind him by monitoring their shadows reflected through the rear window in case they were trying to ambush him. When they arrived, one of the two male students brought out a drink, and the other took out a cigarette. They then handed both to Kang Chan. They were like human vending machines. ¡°Stop it. Just be quick and tell me what you guys want to say,¡± said Kang Chan. When Kang Chan raised his gaze, Worthless Minion #2 spoke, which was as expected. ¡°Come to the group of bullies with us, just this once.¡± What is she saying? For Kang Chan, it sounded like she was asking him to p her in the face or break her arm. ¡°The students from our school all keep getting beaten up as soon as they see us because of what happened at Tron Square recently. Eun-Sil and Ho-Jun go out to the group of bullies every day,¡± Worthless Minion #3 exined. Kang Chan focused and red at Worthless Minion #1 again. ¡°Word got out that the strongest member got his arm broken when he got beaten up that day, and the other bullies unluckily got caught as well back then, even though you actually didn¡¯t take care of them.¡± That was true. ¡°Their retaliation¡¯s making it impossible for us to even go outside. The eleventh-graders also get called to go there once a week, so they either do as told or run away from them.¡± Kang Chan extended his hand to the male student. ¡°Give me a cigarette.¡± ¡°Yes, hyung-nim.¡± ¡°Son of a bitch! I¡¯m going to fucking hit you. If you call me hyung-nim one more time, I¡¯m going to rip your mouth apart,¡± warned Kang Chan. ¡°Yes, hyung¡­¡± The title sounded strange, but it wasn¡¯t like he called him hyung-nim. After lighting up the cigarette, Kang Chan looked at the worthless minions with a frustrated expression. ¡°I¡¯m curious. Why do Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun keep going there if they know they¡¯re just going to get beat up? asked Kang Chan. ¡°Because if they don¡¯t, the moment they go outside, the bullies will gang up and beat them up badly.¡± Worthless Minion #3 couldn¡¯t talk properly because she kept hastily changing the jargon to refined words. ¡°What do you guys want me to do when I go there with you guys?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Please just tell them not to mess with the kids from our school from now on.¡± Kang Chan smirked when he heard Worthless Minion #1¡¯s urgent reply. ¡°You guys tormented your fellow ssmates until theymitted suicide, but now that you feel bad, you guys want me to do something? Do you even understand the feelings of the kids that jumped down from the roof, transferred to another school, or got tormented until they were forced to starve throughout lunch?¡± Enraged, Kang Chan stopped talking. These kids were just selfish animals. If they thought someone was weaker than them, they would form a pack and rip them apart. If that didn¡¯t suffice, they would then hide behind someone stronger. ¡°We were going to cut ties with them at Tron Square that day. Unfortunately, our n was ruined, which led us to this situation.¡± Worthless Minion #2 hurriedly lowered her head when Kang Chan red at her. ¡°Stop the bullshit and just live diligently while getting beaten up for the rest of your life. And don¡¯t forget to think about how the kids you guys tormented probably felt whenever you guys get hit,¡± said Kang Chan. Just as Kang Chan was heading to the door of the roof while shaking his head¡­ ¡°If you stop the group of bullies from beating us whenever we go outside, then we¡¯ll get rid of the bullying, the kids that force others to run errands for them, and the kids that steal money.¡± Their offer was tempting, so Kang Chan turned his head around and nced behind him. ¡°Amongst the kids that got injured on the roofst time, there are kids that areing to school after the break ends. If it¡¯s them and Heo Eun-Sil, then they can keep the promise of what we just said. It¡¯s true.¡± The three worthless minions nodded with sparkling eyes. Could he trust these bitches? His heart was telling him ¡®no.¡¯ But he still wanted to give them a chance for the sake of making their school a ce where Cha So-Yeon wouldn¡¯t be bullied even if he wasn¡¯t around. ¡°Where are they?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°They¡¯re at a ce that¡¯s twenty minutes away by car.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s heart sank coldly. That was a typical line from someone who had set up a trap. It was no different from ¡°It¡¯s not that far,¡± or ¡°getting to that ce is easy.¡± He calcted whether he could get caught up in this bullshit. After all, there was a chance he¡¯d have to stay up all night at the baseball stadium tomorrow. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Kang Chan smirked while nodding. Trap? I¡¯ll make it so they¡¯ll never be able to even think about things like setting up a trap ever again. Chapter 53.1: You betrayed me? (2)

Chapter 53.1: You betrayed me? (2)

Kang Chan tilted his head whileing down from the eleventh-graders¡¯ building. Would they have asked him for this kind of favor if he hadn¡¯t run into them on the roof? If they wouldn¡¯t have, then that just meant they only clung to Kang Chan because he appeared when he could be of use to them. ¡®Tsk!?That¡¯s nothing.¡¯ Everything woulde to light once he had gone there. The next problem was lunch, which he could do nothing about. If the kids scattered while he ate, it would be hopeless. ¡°Stay here for a moment,¡± Kang Chan told the students. Kang Chan went into the athletics club room and briefly told Seok Kang-Ho about what happened. ¡°Ah, that. Those dickheads always do this when we¡¯re busy. This will only tire you out at this rate, especially if they also reveal what happened at Tron Square recently,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Still, they did say they¡¯re going to put aplete stop to the bullying.¡± ¡°You believe that?¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m stupid?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s just ignore them. You¡¯re only acting like that because you have no idea how they torment powerless kids¡ªit¡¯s no joke. Sure, they¡¯d stop bullying the kids in this school, but we wouldn''t know about it if they ever used your name to torment kids in other schools instead.¡± ¡°I have to go since I already told them that I¡¯lle with them, but I¡¯ll be back. Ah, right! There¡¯s a chance I¡¯ll leave immediately when I get there, so let¡¯s talk on the phone when I¡¯m done,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright. Please be careful.¡± Kang Chan left the school right after his conversation with Seok Kang-Ho ended. The kids said that they needed to take a taxi. Since there were six of them, Kang Chan and the two male eleventh-graders rode in the same taxi. ¡°Please go to the main gate of Ulsan Park.¡± These fuckers had a wide range of ces for their activities. They reached their destination in about 17 minutes. As Kang Chan paid the fare and got out of the taxi, the three worthless minions got out of the taxi that was right behind them. ¡°This way.¡± As they walked from Ulsan Park¡¯s main gate, they looked to the right. The three worthless minions walked toward the second of the four buildings connected with a long iron pipe. The second building was smaller than the other buildings because there was a parking lot in the front. They can tantly enter this ce? How can students use this building so openly when the constructionpany isn¡¯t on break? Nevertheless, Kang Chan went inside the building for now. A bunch of unusable resources and paint buckets upied the first floor. He had to use the stairs to go up because the elevator wasn¡¯t working. The dark stic covering the ss dimmed the second floor¡¯s interior. Kang Chan slowly looked arounding in through the entrance. Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun were kneeling at the innermost side of the second floor, their heads and faces unsurprisingly a mess. By that point, just looking at them tired him out. Next to them stood a guy that was in the same ss as Cha So-Yeon. He was with other men and women that didn¡¯t look unscathed either. There were about twenty people in there, five of which were female. ¡°You two, get up,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun looked at Kang Chan, then hesitantly stood up. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I told you guys I¡¯d break your arms if I ever catch you meeting up again while yapping about bullies?¡± Kang Chan looked past the students that were standing. ¡°Don¡¯t talk informally to me when you¡¯re also young, you fucker. You just need to take them.¡± A guy with sharp, snake-like eyes red at Kang Chan with distaste. Kang Chan just thought of him as vulgar, not tough. ¡°You guys get out,¡± ordered Kang Chan. The eleventh-graders all hastily stood behind Kang Chan, and Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun slowly came behind him while warily observing the Snake Eye. ¡°Hey you punk, snake eye. Don¡¯t ever call the kids from our school or mess with them from now on,¡± Kang Chan growled, then turned to the students. ¡°Why are you guys still here? Didn¡¯t I tell you all to go?¡± He red at the entrance for a moment. Now that he thought about it, the Three Worthless Minions weren¡¯t at Tron Squarest time, and now, they still stood quite a distance from him. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t even see the two guys that came with him in the taxi anywhere, possibly because they went downstairs. Kang Chan nodded, then looked at Heo Eun-Sil. ¡°Is the snake eye¡¯s father a gangster?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°That sunbae¡¯s father owns this building.¡± What a dumbass. Does she think?he¡¯s?a real estate agent? ¡°That¡¯s right. We were told he¡¯s the boss of the Shin Yeon-Dong gang,¡± Lee Ho-Jun quickly added. ¡°So you guys can¡¯t go downstairs right now because those fucking gangsters could be there?¡± . ¡°Yeah,¡± Lee Ho-Jun quietly answered. Kang Chan looked at the three worthless minions with a dumbfounded face. ¡°So after you three bitches saw me on the roof, you guys called here and thought of selling me?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°You forced us to do it. We used to be popr at the group of bullies.¡± Kang Chanughed, finding them absurd. ¡°Were you guys lying about putting aplete stop to bullying at our school?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Things will really change when the kids that were hospitalizedst time return to school.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s face reddened. He would¡¯ve been less embarrassed if he had been fooled by kids that had a brain, but he had beenpletely fooled by the lure of these empty-headed bitches. ¡°Then is Snake Eye over there the higher-up of the fucker that got his arm broken at Tron Square?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me, motherfucker. I¡¯m two years older than you,¡± said Snake Eye. Kang Chan looked back at Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun. ¡°Then who¡¯s that fucker¡¯s superior?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°The president of the student body.¡± Kang Chan frowned because he didn¡¯t know what they were talking about. ¡°Stop talking nonsense and decide quickly. If you guys are going to get rid of bullying, taking money from other kids, and forcing kids to run errands, thene with me. Otherwise, just stay here if you like this,¡± Kang Chan told the kids from his school. ¡°Are you going to protect us until the end if we follow you right now?¡± Heo Eun-Sil of course had better guts. That was evident despite her swollen face and having to lean on one foot. ¡°Sure. But in return, don¡¯t ever pull crap at school ever again,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°I can do whatever I want with those fucking bitches, right?¡± A kid fiercely red at the three useless minions, enough for Heo Eun-Sil to go, ¡®Oh?¡¯ Well, it wasn¡¯t like those bitches were good people. ¡°Do what you want,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll get rid of them with Ho-Jun and the eleventh-graders. But make it so that they can¡¯t touch us outside, and,¡± Heo Eun-Sil said, ¡±that the fuckers you injured on the roof won¡¯t be able to mess around when they get discharged.¡± Is this bitch calcting in advance? Heo Eun-Sil had such an amazing look in her eyes. It was fierce enough to make the sloppy guys unable to defy her. ¡°Okay.¡± When Heo Eun-Sil red at the three worthless minions while tightly clenching her teeth, the three worthless minions sent Snake Eye a sad nce. Now that they roughlye to a decision, it would be best to finish things quickly. Kang Chan began walking toward the snake-eye. ¡°What are you doing?! Get your asses here quick!¡± Snake Eye yelled while urgently climbing up the wall. Soon, guys with big builds rushed up the stairs. Finding them absurd, Kang Chanughed. Only one of them looked like he could fight. The rest all looked like swines that were fed with pig food. Kang Chan found this fight somewhat questionable. He was certain they were of his fight with the parking lot gang. If so, then why did they still send seven weaklings to fight him? When Kang Chan tilted his head, one of the pigs lifted a baseball bat. Bam! Pow! As soon as the guy raised his arm, Kang Chan curled his fingers halfway, then stabbed the guy¡¯s armpit with his now-pointed fist. ¡°Cough!¡± Pow. Pow. Pow. As his target crouched down and clutched his armpit, Kang Chan hit his armpit, philtrum, neck, and stomach pit. The pain sent the guy writhing on the ground. This was too easy. He could take his opponent seriously when they could at least fight back a little. Kang Chan suddenly pounced on the rest of his opponents and knocked them out by stabbing their necks, stomach pits, and sides. These fuckers didn¡¯t even arm themselves with filet knives. At any rate, it ended too easily. Kang Chan walked to Snake Eye like that. ¡°Don¡¯te closer!¡± His shout echoed inside the building. Tok.? Kang Chan grasped the guy¡¯s hair and jerked him forward as if to hug him. Crrk. Kang Chan then headbutted his opponent right on the very center of his forehead. Kang Chan quickly supported Snake Eye just as he was about to copse from being beaten to a pulp. He then hung Snake Eye¡¯s right arm over his shoulder and supported his weight. As Kang Chan looked around him, Snake Eye¡¯sckeys avoided his gaze. Eventually, his eyesnded on the three worthless minions. Crack. Thud.? When Kang Chan let go of his arm, Snake Eye sprawled out onto the floor in a weird position. ¡°If any of you fuckers still want to continue this, go ahead. I¡¯ll just keep breaking your arms. As I said, don¡¯t mess with these kids. From now on, I¡¯ll break all of your arms if you ever gather in this ce again,¡± Kang Chan warned, then left the building. When he went outside of the building after finishing that asburd street battle, it made Kang Chan mistake his surroundings for a holiday destination. The kids followed him outside. Kang Chan felt hungry, but only expensive-looking pastry shops and restaurants were nearby. He turned to look at the kids behind him. ¡°Is there a ce that serves pork cutlets here?¡± ¡°Yes! We just need to turn into that alley,¡± Lee Ho-Jun answered with difficulty. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem since he had decided to protect them just this once and there was something he needed their determination on anyway. ¡°Let¡¯s eat pork cutlets before we go. But if any of you need to go, feel free to do so,¡± Kang Chan told the kids. It wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say that these dickheads had trouble making their own decisions. They just blindly followed whatever a person would say for as long as they were afraid of them. If he told them to eat poison, they would reply with, ¡°it¡¯s bitter.¡± Chapter 53.2: You betrayed me? (2)

Chapter 53.2: You betrayed me? (2)

Since the snack bar wasn¡¯t that small, it managed to amodate all of them. Kang Chan told them to order pork cutlets, ramen, and kimbap for themselves, but one of the fuckers ordered both pork cutlets and ramen. Startled, the office workers and other customers that were entering the snack bar left. After all, the faces of those with Kang Chan had been fucked up. They got their order quite fast, almost as if the staff was telling them to leave as soon as they had finished eating. Kang Chan sliced all of the pork cutlets and ate them with chopsticks. ¡°What should we do starting tomorrow?¡± Heo Eun-Sil asked as she ate pork cutlets. Her mouth was swollen due to the beating she received. ¡°Come to school. Stay with the athletics club until it¡¯s time to go home. If someonees looking for you guys, then tell Mr. Seok Kang-Ho about it first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Heo Eun-Sil gobbled up the food. ¡°But keep this in mind. If I hear you¡¯re up to something weird in school, then consider yourselves dead,¡± warned Kang Chan. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Ho-Jun and I will take care of everything rted to that if you just stop the guys that got injured when they get discharged. In return, I get to do whatever I want with the sperm bitches .¡± She¡¯s really spouting such dirty remarks while I¡¯m eating? ¡°You see, those bitches are from Jeongja-dong.¡± The tactless bitch kept telling him things that he didn¡¯t even want to know. ¡°Drop us off at the bus stop. We¡¯ll go to school starting tomorrow, but let us call you if those gangster oppas seek us out,¡± Heo Eun-Sil said.This bitch really was feisty. Kang Chan gave her permission to do that, then told her that they should contact Lee Ho-Jun if ever a problem urred. Although from how she acted, Heo Eun-Sil would probably call him. They parted ways at the bus stop after they were done with lunch, then Kang Chan called Seok Kang-Ho. He assumed Seok Kang-Ho was working out since he didn¡¯t pick up, but Seok Kang-Ho called a momentter. - I was in the middle of a spar. The kids told me you called. Are you okay? ¡°On the contrary, the fight was so easy it¡¯s making me ufortable, and¡­¡± Kang Chan briefly exined what had happened today. - Seems like everything went well. I¡¯ll call youter when I¡¯m done here. ¡°Sure.¡± After Kang Chan hung up, he realized he had basically done everything he needed to do today. All that was left to do now was go home, rest, and look into entertainment-rted materials. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Just as Kang Chan was checking a bus¡¯ number, he got a call from Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Hello?¡± - Are you in school? ¡°No. I¡¯m in front of Ulsan Park. What¡¯s going on?¡± - It seems like Wui Min Gook¡¯s ship is set to leave on Wednesday. They were supposed to submit an application to obtain a license to operate ships three to five days prior, but it seems like people made things easy for them since their matters were about exports. Do you have any guesses as to why he¡¯s leaving on Wednesday? ¡°Not at the moment, no.¡± - If this goes on, then it could mean Wui Min-Gook didn¡¯te to Korea for Lanok¡¯s head. Or he¡¯s thinking of deporting people that could be suspected since his men at the special corps have finished getting preparations. ¡°Then we need to attempt to go for their ship.¡± - We have to do that as early as possible, but we should first monitor their movements until tomorrow before we set ourselves on a decision. After all, Wui Min-Gook hasn¡¯t gone to any ces that could raise suspicions yet. ¡°I see. I understand now. You said that the boat is at the Incheon Port, didn¡¯t you?¡± - The Dong-myeong Port, to be exact. They haven¡¯t decided on a time yet.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The call ended. ¡®Shan isn¡¯t the type to get caught, no matter what he¡¯s up to. What is it? What¡¯s he hiding?¡¯ Would he consider stowing away in a different ship? The method itself seemed usible. Due to his severe injuries, Shan would find it difficult to move rashly. Not even he could pull off a disy of strength, if he was going to move in a wheelchair or on a bed. Shan was the one that kidnapped Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s family and hung him upside down as soon as he regained consciousness. But he didn¡¯t do those with a clear goal in mind. He merely did that to warn them. He probably wants me to cooperate with Lanok, right? But then he suddenly leaves Korea out of the blue on the nned day? ¡°Ah! That son of a bitch.¡± The way he tried to y all sorts of tricks was far more annoying than warfare. ¡°Tsk.¡± Kang Chan recalled the eyes of the guy that he had bumped into in a hotel elevator. If Seok Kang-Ho ran into that guy, their encounter would end with a result Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to imagine. Even Kang Chan would find it difficult to have confidence in his chances of winning if more than three guys like that man pounced on him. ¡®I should think about this at home.¡¯ Just as Kang Chan had decided that he should get on the bus after shaking off his annoyance¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. His phone rang again. He felt like he¡¯d never bring his phone with him ever again after this whole situation was over. It was Lanok. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador.¡± - Monsieur Kang. Was Shan''s phone number by any chance made up of single digits? ¡°Yes. It was all made up of 1¡¯s. I think I told you this before.¡± - I see. I¡¯ll give you two pieces of news. First is that the bank ount is an appointed ount that¡¯s impossible to send or transfer money from. The money inside will be deposited back into the appointer¡¯s ount after seven days. You¡¯re bing more and more like trash, Shan. - Now for the second piece of news. Formunications security, the Intelligence Bureaus of each country have different frequency bands. Shan used France¡¯s. We couldn¡¯t figure out his calls¡¯ contents, but we got his location. ¡°Pardon? His location?¡± Nice! Kang Chan clenched his right fist, then bent away from the grandma that was sitting next to him. - We think he¡¯s at Geomdan in Incheon. There are a lot of abandoned factories there. Our Intelligence Bureau agents are currently looking for medical supplies or traces of them buying medicine. They¡¯re also on the lookout for heart-rate monitor beeps and other mechanical sounds caused by treatment machines and frequencies, to name a few. We should get good news shortly. Kang Chan smirked. - France¡¯s DGSE employees need toe in through D.I. However, if Wui Min-Gook and Shan learn the exact locations of the agents at Geomdan as they¡¯re searching for traces, then the agents will be forced into an uphill battle. I hope you help us with this issue. ¡°That¡¯s what we have been hoping for.¡± - You will be of great help, Monsieur Kang. There¡¯s a saying that a faithful friend has the appearance of a God. I hope that you don¡¯t get injured from this. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t answer. He didn¡¯t expect Lanok to say something so emotional. It was as if he got a surprise kiss. However, being emotionally moved and killing someone were two different matters altogether. Kang Chan got out of the bus stop and called Kim Tae-Jin again to tell him about his call with Lanok. - Are you still in front of Ulsan Park? ¡°Yes, I¡¯m at the bus stop.¡± - I¡¯ll be there shortly. Considering these new developments, it would be best for you to move with us starting today. ¡°Let¡¯s do that for now, then.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s heart fluttered when he hung up the phone. After waiting for a moment and enduring his boredom, Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s car stopped right in front of the bus stop with the emergency lights on. After Kang Chan had gotten in, they headed to his school. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho will also being with us,¡± Kang Chan said. Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s eyes seemingly became calcting, but he didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°What should we do about the men training under you?¡± He asked. ¡°Actualbat will still prove difficult for them. I¡¯d take them with us so they could practice if we were just dealing with gangsters. Unfortunately¡­¡± Kang Chan shook his head when he remembered the eyes of the man he saw in a hotel elevator. Honestly, they wouldn¡¯t be a match for even Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho. Even if Kim Tae-Jin could now handle Wui Min-Gook, the Neck Ghost, since thetter had gotten older, they would still be as good as dead if three of their opponents could give Kang Chan a proper fight. Increasing their numbers now would be useless. Of course, the three of them could buy a bit of time before they were to die, but Kang Chan would never use his crewmates that way. In the end, only the three of them were left. Suh Sang-Hyun thankfully managed to do his part, albeit barely. However, Kang Chan heard that he needed to stay in the hospital for a month more. ¡°You want to get rid of Wui Min-Gook yourself, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Tae-Jin was well-aware that they werecking people. Still, he nodded with a firm look in his eyes. ¡°That bastard has to die by my hands.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Kang Chan began formting a strategy. Kang Chan needed to hold their other opponents off until Kim Tae-Jin had killed Wui Min-Gook and Seok Kang-Ho killed Shan. ¡°Ah, shoot! Did you bring your bay?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I have one for each of us in the trunk. I also brought gaiters, arm guards, chest protectors, and helmets for us.¡± ¡°It would be nice if its de was a little bit longer.¡± Kang Chan voiced out, hinting at the perfect length of the bay that would match his hand as if he was talking to himself. ¡°I also brought two bays used in the foreign legion,¡± Kim Tae-Jin responded with a strange smile. He then quickly nced at Kang Chan, then looked forward again. ¡°Don¡¯t you get nervous?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°I do feel a little bit worried.¡± ¡°Worried?¡± Kang Chan quickly nodded after he strongly pursed his lips. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s because Mr. Seok Kang-Ho hasn''t returned to form yet, and I feel like your senses and skills have be quite dull,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll admit that,¡± Kim Tae-Jin replied with a hardened expression: ¡°I don¡¯t mind if I die here. Just help me kill the Neck Ghost.¡± Kang Chan only looked forward without answering. 1. The nickname ¡®sperm bitches¡¯ is a y on words. The word sperm in Korean is pronounced as ¡®Jeongja¡¯, which is the same way ¡®Jeongja-dong¡¯ is pronounced. The girls are from Jeongja-dong. 2. Jeongja-dong is a neighborhood in South Korea 3. Geomdan is an area in Incheon, a city in South Korea Chapter 54.1: A Dog that Chased the Chicken (1)

Chapter 54.1: A Dog that Chased the Chicken (1)

When Kang Chan and Kim Tae-Jin arrived at the athletics club room, Seok Kang-Ho was drying his wet hair with a towel. ¡°How can I help you? Huh? You¡¯re here as well, Mr. President?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°We have good news,¡± Kang Chan said. Kang Chan approached the water purifier and made coffee. ¡°What is it? Have we tracked Shan down or something?¡± Kang Chan stirred the coffee with a teaspoon, then looked over his shoulder and smirked. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s with that smile? Have you really found him?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know his exact location yet, but they¡¯ve determined he should be around Geomban in Incheon. They said they¡¯ll search the area and contact us as soon as they find where he is,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°Wow!¡± Kang Chan sat down on a chair after he handed a coffee to Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Since we now know the agents are over there, the two of us should take the fight to our enemy, ¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Alright,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered while draping his towel on an empty chair. ¡°With only the two of you? What about me?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°But Wui Min-Gook isn¡¯t in Geomban.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Kim Tae-Jin responded while looking dazed. ¡°Shan will do whatever it takes to contact Wui Min-Gook since his life is on the line here. Please remain on standby outside. We¡¯ll proceed ording to the oue.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good n.¡± ¡°Phuhu, we¡¯ll get rid of Shan this time for sure. Let¡¯s tie that fucking son of a bitch upside down,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Kang Chanughed. The three of them decided to go to Geomdan and wait there. It was around 4 pm. They used Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s car to go there. As soon as they were on the road, Seok Kang-Ho fell asleep in the back seat. ¡°I understand that he¡¯s tired, but I didn¡¯t expect anyone could sleep with a situation like this ahead of them,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said after ncing at Seok Kang-Ho through the rearview mirror. It wasn¡¯t like there was anything he could do about it since he had always been like that. Hence, Kang Chan didn¡¯t really have anything to say back. They left before rush hour, so there didn¡¯t seem to be any traffic. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Kang Chan picked up the phone when it rang. Oh Gwang-Tek was calling. ¡°Hello?¡± - It¡¯s me. Can you talk for a bit? ¡°Go for it.¡± They were still far from Geomban, Incheon, so there was no reason for Kang Chan to decline. - Did you break the arm of Kwon Sae-Jik¡¯s fucking son? ¡°I don¡¯t know who that is, but I did break the arm of a snake-eyed kid.¡± - Did you do that in Kwon Sae-Jik¡¯s building? It¡¯s the one in front of Ulsan Park. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kim Tae-Jin nced at Kang Chan with eyes that asked, ¡®what¡¯s going on now?¡¯ - Kwon Sae-Jik is the man that rallied the Yeong-dong gang members and formed the Shin Yeong-dong gang when the former disbanded. That fucker¡¯s been looking for a reason to attack us, and now he has your name for that. I¡¯m not scared of him, but you better be extra careful for the next few days just in case. ¡°Do gangsters really need a justification to fight?¡± - Even in this field, if someone recklessly invades another person¡¯s territory, gangs above and even below them will pressure them. They have to be far stronger than the rest to do that. Otherwise, others will pick a fight with them using their action as justification. Anyway, take extra precautions for now. ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan hung up the phone, then exined the situation to Kim Tae-Jin, starting from him breaking the snake-eyed man¡¯s arm earlier in the day to his call with Oh Gwang-Tek. ¡°I heard that guy Kwon Sae-Jik is more of a schemer than a gangster because of how sly he is. People don¡¯t think highly of him either. As far as I know, a lot of kids still follow him because they¡¯ll be given a store or a building if they stay under him.¡± Based on Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s words, even he seemed to dislike Kwon Sae-Jik. ¡°Nowadays, the richest gangsters are the strongest. I heard that no matter how good someone treats others, they¡¯ll leave their side if they don¡¯t have money. In that sense, Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s assessment is good. He doesn¡¯t starve his people, and he also values the loyalty in their world,¡± Kim Tae-Jinmented. ¡°Even so, he¡¯s still a gangster.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± They exited the highway to a narrower road, which was a lot more clogged. ¡°Geomdan is just past this industrial road, but we won¡¯t find a decent restaurant there. Let¡¯s have dinner somewhere around here while we wait instead,¡± Kim Tae-Jin suggested. ¡°Sure.¡± Kim Tae-Jin parked the car in a Korean restaurant that had a wide parking lot. After they woke up Seok Kang-Ho, who was sleeping deeply, and went into the restaurant, they made three orders of Kimchi-jjigae. ¡°About what we were talking about a moment ago,¡± Kang Chan quietly brought up the conversation while the side dishes were being served. ¡°I¡¯ve actually been restless all day because the gangsters I fought were dumbfoundingly bad. As I expected, they were just hiding their real objective..¡± Kim Tae-Jin listened intently as he drank water. ¡°What if they''re leading our attention, including Lanok''s, to Geomdan for the same reason? What is it that they really want?¡± ¡°Are you saying we should think of Geomdan as bait?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The olderdy that ced the jjigae on the table turned off the gas me, then left. Kang Chan thought about the different reasons he and the two of them could have. Seok Kang-Ho was the first to speak again. ¡°Lanok has been those fuckers¡¯ target all this time, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Kim Tae-Jin seemed to agree with Kang Chan¡¯s answer. When the two people waited for what Seok Kang-Ho would say next, Seok Kang-Ho stirred the jjigae with his utensil. ¡°I¡¯m just stating what¡¯s been happening.¡± Why did he even expect more from Seok Kang-Ho, considering this matter required him to use his brains? Kim Tae-Jin tilted his head, then made a phone call. ¡°Yeah, good work out there. Where is he now?¡± Seok Kang-Ho concentrated on Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s call while turning down the heat. ¡°Paju? Is there an industrialplex there? Yeah, yeah. Okay, I understand.¡± After Kim Tae-Jin hung up the phone, he told them Wui Min-Gook was in Paju. ¡°They said Wui Min-Gook visited the outlet mall and just went into a restaurant on the outskirts. Why don¡¯t you call Lanok?¡± The jjigae was now boiling deliciously, but no one could begin eating. Kang Chan quickly picked up his phone. - The ambassador is currently doing an interview. ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± - I¡¯m aware of that, Monsieur Kang. ¡°Is the ambassador at the embassy right now?¡± There was a momentary pause. It seemed like the person had asked if it was okay to disclose Lanok¡¯s location to Kang Chan. - Lyon and Paju have set up a sister-city agreement with each other. The ambassador is attending that event. He ns to leave after he finishes dinner and another event here. Kang Chan mouthed the word ¡®Paju¡¯ to Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Please listen carefully. The ambassador is in danger. There¡¯s a high possibility that the special agents from North Korea are there. I¡¯ll be heading there right now, so please tell me his exact location.¡± - That¡¯s quite the shocking revtion, Monsieur Kang. Unfortunately, I can only tell you about the ambassador¡¯s location with his permission. ¡°Understood. Then we¡¯ll be leaving for Paju for now. Please do what you have to do for me to get on a call with the ambassador as soon as possible. How many agents are nearby?¡± - That¡¯s ssified information as well. I¡¯m sorry, Monsieur Kang. ¡°I understand. But please take measures to get the ambassador to call me immediately. His situation can get very dangerous.¡± It hadn¡¯t even been 5 minutes since Kang Chan ended the call when all three of them finished eating and got up at the same time. ¡°I was told that Lanok is at Paju and Lyon¡¯s sister-city agreement event,¡± said Kang Chan. As soon as they hit the road, Kang Chan felt conflicted. If Kang Chan were to make the wrong judgment here, then they had to stop looking for Shan. Otherwise, Kang Chan would also be the one who meddled recklessly and messed up their entire n for nothing. ¡®Still, we should go. Our priority is saving Lanok.¡¯ He could kill someone who had escaped his graspter, but he couldn¡¯t revive a dead person. As Kang Chan hardened his resolve, Seok Kang-Ho handed over his phone from the back seat. ¡°This is the venue for the sister-city event with Lyon today, and at night there¡¯s also a festival at night where people catch trout while holding a torch.¡± Kim Tae-Jin parked the car to the side and checked the location. ¡°It¡¯s hard to guess how Wui Min-Gook will attack Lanok,¡± Kim Min-Gook told Kang Chan. ¡°I heard Lanok¡¯s car is a bulletproof Benz. Wouldn¡¯t he be okay in it?¡± ¡°He would be if he was escaping. If they attack him while he¡¯s parked, surviving for even just ten minutes would prove difficult. They¡¯d rip through theyers of bulletproof ss.¡± After familiarizing himself with the location, they hit the road again. ¡°Why don¡¯t we attack Wui Min-Gook first?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Tae-Jin quickly turned his gaze from the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Cleaning up the mess wouldn¡¯t be a problem, would it?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad n. If nothing happens today, then let¡¯s take the fight to Wui Min-Gook.¡± Kim Tae-Jin answered firmly. They didn¡¯t have any notable conversation afterward. Since Kim Tae-Jin knew the national road and even the old roads in detail, they easily reached their destination. ¡°That seems to be the ambassador¡¯s car,¡± Kim Tae-Jinmented. ¡°They most likely can¡¯t cause trouble here, so they¡¯re waiting for him to leave.¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably it.¡± They parked the car quite a distance away from the venue and popped its trunk open. They then took the bays and hid them behind their backs. ¡°What about body armor?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°They¡¯re too eye-catching.¡± Kim Tae-Jin thought about it for a moment, then closed the trunk. 1. Also known as Kimchi Stew, Kimchi-jjigae is a popr stew-like Korean dish made up of Kimchi and other ingredients 2. Paju is a city in South Korea 3. Lyon is a city in France 4. sister-city agreement is when two cities form a ¡®sisterhood¡¯ or a close rtionship between two politically and geographically different localities, to help each other and promotemercial and cultural ties Chapter 54.2: A Dog that Chased the Chicken (1)

Chapter 54.2: A Dog that Chased the Chicken (1)

Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho were smoking at one side when Kang Chan got a call from Lanok. ¡°Hello? Mr. Ambassador?¡± - Monsieur Kang, I heard our enemy ns to attack me here at Lyon, not at Geomdan. Is that intel reliable? ¡°To a certain degree. At the very least, we¡¯re certain that a Chinese man that used to be in the North Korean army is nearby.¡± Kang Chan heard Lanok gasp. He seemed surprised. - That¡¯s information even our Intelligence Bureau doesn¡¯t have. Your skills are very astounding. How many people did they mobilize? ¡°We¡¯re not sure. There are three of us on standby on my end.¡± - Understood. I¡¯ll call you after the event ends. Let¡¯s leave together. ¡°Copy that.¡± The call ended. Kang Chan felt relieved. This would mark the end of fights that only ever bored him. He didn¡¯t know why they weren¡¯t receiving help from the Korean government when it was about matters that would change the dynamics of Europe or whatever, but they just needed toe to a conclusion today. ¡°Kang Chan.¡± Kim Tae-Jin urgently called Kang Chan, who was stretching his neck while sitting by the sidewalk. ¡°It¡¯s the Neck Ghost.¡± Swoosh. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho quickly raised themselves up and followed Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s gaze. ¡°See that van? Five more guys other than Wui Min-Gook got in there. I didn¡¯t see any other car.¡± Kim Tae-Jin examined the front and back part of the van from a distance. ¡°That amount of people should be enough to capture Lanok,¡± Kim Tae-Jinmented. The car was parked outside the venue¡¯s actual parking lot. Wui Min-Gook got out of the car and bought beverages, then got in the car again. Nobody left the car afterward. Kim Tae-Jin confirmed with his employees following Wui Min-Gook that only those people had gone out this afternoon. ¡°It means that they had abandoned Shan. It seems like their n was to go for Lanok after throwing Shan as bait as they got him because Wui Min-Gook was in a hurry, but he wasn¡¯t useful.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also possible.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s going to clean up after those guys?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°We¡¯re going to take care of it. From what I¡¯ve seen, Lanok doesn¡¯t seem to know who exactly came here, even though he knows that an agent from either China or North Korea came to South Korea. I¡¯ll handle this ordingly.¡± When the surroundings darkened, they saw torches in the distance. Whenever the host yelled into the mic, the people also screamed. Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang. - The ambassador¡¯s car is leaving. Please don¡¯t hang up. The one that was calling wasn¡¯t Lanok. It was the agent that he had talked to before. The three of them quickly got in the car and waited for the Benz to get out of the parking lot. - We¡¯re getting out of the parking lot. Do you see us? ¡°We do. We¡¯ll follow behind.¡± Following Kang Chan¡¯s words, Kim Tae-Jin trailed behind Lanok. The van waited for a bit before following behind Kang Chan. ¡°The road that passes the hill over there¡¯s normally quiet and dark since it¡¯s newly built. It doesn¡¯t even have proper street lights yet,¡± Kim Tae-Jin. Kim Tae-Jin pointed to the hill that unfolded before themt. The Mercedez was over the hill, and it suddenly drove out to the right and headed into the forest. Kang Chan¡¯s group naturally followed, and the van didn¡¯t stop either. After passing a road the bumps of which they could feel directly because of the vibrations from the car, the Mercedez stopped somewhere dim and remote. ¡°Lanok¡¯s probably not in the car,¡± Kim Tae-Jin mumbled as if he was talking to himself, then opened the door. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho followed behind and got out of the car. No one had gotten out of the van yet. From the back, another car came in and smashed into the back of the van. Those are the employees I¡¯ve tasked to follow Wui Min-Gook,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. Kang Chan was only looking at the van. The man looking at him from the passenger seat¡ªKang Chan was certain he was the same person he bumped into at an elevator. ¡°Damn it! Hide!¡± Kang Chan urgently yelled and pulled Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s head back. Dazed, Kim Tae-Jin also followed Kang Chan. Click. Slide. All six of them got out of the car. Kang Chan pounded the Benz¡¯s window. Ti-ng. Pak. Ti-ng. Pak. He then heard gunshots and saw sparks flying off the Benz. ¡°Give me a gun quick!¡± Kang Chan ordered. As their opponents quickly approached the Benz, an agent handed him a gun with a silencer. Ti-ng. Ting. Ti-ng. The enemies hurriedly bent down and ran away to the side. ¡°Give me the rest as well,¡± Kang Chan urged. Since there were too many enemies raining down bullets upon them, the agent swiftly handed over two more guns. Kang Chan then gave the weapons to Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Ah, those crazy sons of bitches.¡± Even though they had silencers, their guns didn¡¯t actually be so quiet they¡¯d only produce ¡®pshook¡¯ sounds like in movies. They still made normal gunshot sounds, just much quieter. At this point, everyone that could hear themotion should know the sounds were gunshots. What would people do if we go firing guns around in South Korea? That was a problem for another time. Right now, they had to focus on survival. Kang Chan pointed the van to Seok Kang-Ho, then pointed their right nk to Kim Tae-Jin. They had Glock 19s, which had fifteen bullets. They already fired three. The enemy seemed unable to shoot recklessly as well. But they couldn¡¯t take too much time. The gunshots had rung out already. The military or the police could arrive at any moment. ¡®Lanok certainly seems like an incredible individual.¡¯ At the very least, he was important enough to make people use guns in South Korea. The gun didn¡¯t feel bad in his hand. It wasn¡¯t like they were newbies at this. Ti-ng. Ti-ng. Ti-ng. When Seok Kang-Ho covered fire, sparks sshed from the car. ¡®Okay!¡¯ One of their opponents urgently moved. Ti-ng. ¡°Ugh.¡± Thud. When the guy whose ankle had been shot fell to the ground, his colleague moved. Ti-ng. Thud. Two down. Kang Chan noticed one of their opponents¡¯ feet behind the tire. Ting. Ti-ng. Ti-ng. Swoosh. Rattle. ¡°Urgh.¡± Thud. Three down. The van sank and tilted to one side when its tire burst. Afterward, another man copsed to the ground. Three to go. With their numbers reduced to half, they roughly repeated the same actions. Shouldn¡¯t they be reacting differently, considering they were a part of a special corps? This was bullshit. Those about to die and those about to fail their mission kept making the same mistakes, almost as if the first attempts were just an illusion. Those that remained all grouped up in one ce. ¡°Daye.¡± Kang Chan pointed at the ground, gesturing for him to stop the enemy from using the same method. Seok Kang-Ho quickly crawled under the Benz and pointed his gun forward. Kang Chan then swiftly raised himself up. ¡°Please just focus on dealing with one target,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Tae-Jin. Kim Tae-Jin looked at Kang Chan, flustered. ¡°Once I run into the fight, then go to the very left. Got it?¡± Kim Tae-Jin urgently nodded. One, two. After counting to two with his fingers, he quickly ran out to the right side of the Benz. Swoosh. Ti-ng. Ting. Ting. Seok Kang-Ho shot first. Ting. Ting. Ting. Kim Tae-Jin covered fire ceaselessly as Kang Chan ran toward the van. Ti-ng. Thud. Ti-ng. Thud. Kang Chan killed two guys with a bullet each. However, he couldn¡¯t see the Neck Ghost. Ti-ng. ¡°Ugh!¡± As he stood by the side of the van, he heard a gunshot from the other side. Kim Tae-Jin had fallen to the ground, having been shot in the shoulder. Kang Chan quickly turned around the back of the van. Thud. Wui Min-Gook and Kang Chan pushed the other person¡¯s gun downward at the same time. Pow-pow-pow-pow. Pow-pow. Pow-pow-pow-pow. Within a blink of an eye, their hands shed so many times they lost count. Pa-ak. Pak. Nearly simultaneously, they took out bays that they had hidden in their waist. Kim Tae-Jin was going to face this kind of guy? ¡°Fucking son of a bitch.¡± What¡¯s he saying? Nothing good woulde from stalling here. Kang Chan quickly ran forward. Ta-ta. Tatata. Pow-pow. ¡®I guess people like him truly do exist.¡± It felt as if his imaginary opponent during shadowboxing became real. He didn¡¯t allow even the smallest opening from a hand or eye gesture. Whick! Swish! Pow-pow. It was Kang Chan¡¯s first time seeing a person so tenacious he didn¡¯t even bend backward to avoid the de that passed by so close to his eyes. Pow-Pow-Pow. Slice! When Kang Chan violently slit his wrist, Wui Min-Gook quickly took two steps back. ¡°Ha! You¡¯re amazing¡ªfrom your skills to how you ruin an important mission,¡± Wui Min-Gookmented. Wui Min-Gook red at Kang Chan while tightly grabbing and pressing down on his wrist. Kang Chan needed to finish this. Kang Chan fixed his grip on his bay and approached Wui Min-Gook. Gritting his teeth, Wui Min-Gook pounced toward Kang Chan. Pow-pow-pow. Slice! Slice! Slice! But the fight had already tilted to one side. It could be because he was older, but Wui Min-Gook got powerlessly pushed back after being wounded once. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Kang Chan stabbed Wui Min-Gook¡¯s armpit and shoulder, then ceaselessly shed through his shoulders¡¯ muscles. Slice! Slice! With Kang Chan wounding him to this extent, he would no longer be able to use his strength properly from now on. Rattle! With his back pushed against a car, Wui Min-Gook stood straight. ¡®Do I have to kill him?¡¯ Kang Chan took a moment to decide. ¡°Kang Chan.¡± Kim Tae-Jin called Kang Chan while he was dropping his wounded right shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s let him go. Our gunshots had rung out, so leaving him in this state would be more beneficial for us. Haven¡¯t you severed all of his muscles anyway?¡± Kang Chan looked at Wui Min-Gook, who appeared dispirited. ¡°Leave,¡± Kang Chan told Wui Min-Gook. They had already saved Lanok, and it wasn¡¯t like he had a personal grudge against Wui Min-Gook. When Kang Chan gestured to the car with a nod, Kim Tae-Jin added, ¡°I¡¯m going to order our employee to send you the van tomorrow, Wui Min-Gook. Use the car at the very back for now.¡± Wui Min-Gook only nodded in reply. Afterward, three of his men limped and loaded two of their colleagues, whose upper bodies were covered in blood, into the car. They left as soon as Wui Min-Gook got in. The back seat looked very cramped since they exceeded capacity. 1. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what Wui Min-Gook was saying because the text was written as??? ??,?which is a North Korean expression Chapter 55.1: A Dog that Chased the Chicken (2)

Chapter 55.1: A Dog that Chased the Chicken (2)

Feeling like he was missing something, Kang Chan turned around and looked behind him. Only then did the three agents get out of the car. ¡°Where¡¯s the ambassador?¡± He asked. ¡°He already left in another car,¡± one of the agents answered. This situation made Kang Chan feel somewhat ufortable, but there was no need for Lanok to stick with them. They started to leave. Kang Chan told Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s employee to fix the van and move it somewhere else. He then headed to the hospital with Seok Kang-Ho and Kim Tae-Jin. Seok Kang-Ho drove the car. ¡°Growing old is depressing,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. Kim Tae-Jin wrapped his injury with a bandage he had taken from the trunk. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m fortunately unscathed.¡± He actually wasn¡¯t injured anywhere. ¡°Kang Yoo Motors President Kang Dae-Kyung is your father, right?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan again. ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s gaze discretelynded on Kim Tae-Jin, seemingly wondering why he was asking. ¡°I asked because I recalled people calling a gentleman the DMZ King. It didn¡¯t matter what side they were on, bing his target meant their necks would be cut off with certainty. He was so talented that not even three people could injure him in a fight.¡± ¡°That story¡¯s quite ancient, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Seok Kang-Ho elerated after they got on the highway. *** Yoo Hun-Woo was waiting for Kang Chan¡¯s party, who called beforehand. ¡°I mean, where in South Korea can peoplee to a hospital with a gunshot wound? Is there apletely different world here that I¡¯m not aware of?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo shook his head as he stitched and wrapped bandages around Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s injury. ¡°Luckily, this is only a skin-deep wound. You can start receiving outpatient treatment after a week of hospitalization. We¡¯ll empty a room that you guys have used before,¡± He told Kim Tae-Jin after providing him with a swift and effective treatment. Kang Chan, Kim Tae-Jin, and Seok Kang-Ho headed to their room. After a while, Suh Sang-Hyun joined them. Kang Chan had just made coffee and sat down when he got a call from Lanok. ¡°Kang Chan speaking.¡± - Monsieur Kang, I¡¯d like to thank you for getting us through such arge crisis. Moreover, I also bring good news: we¡¯ve caught Shan. ¡°Pardon? When?¡± - Our agents pounced on him while you were attacking the enemies. He¡¯s in the embassy right now. We¡¯re nning to repatriate him to France tomorrow. Kang Chan momentarily nked out. If what Lanok said was true, then he made the wrong decision. While he was fighting someone else¡¯s battle like a dog, someone else had gotten the chicken. ¡°I find this hard to understand, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s voice had dropped the niceties. - I get what you mean, Monsieur Kang. But I hope you also consider my position. I¡¯d probably return with Shan tomorrow as well. I¡¯ll discuss my schedule with you after this.¡± Lanok ended the call with a professional valediction, and Kang Chan immediately told the people with him about the call. ¡°What the fuck?! That¡¯s bullshit!¡± Kang Chan remained silent as Seok Kang-Ho vented his anger. Even though he had already been tricked before by the Three Worthless Minions, he still got tricked and made a fool of himself again. ¡°Maybe those fuckers were already thinking of hiding Shan from us while they were asking us for help,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°That¡¯s what probably happened.¡± ¡°Regardless, we intervened to catch Shan, not get orders from that guy.¡± Kang Chan looked outside the window. This wasn¡¯t right. If it would mean killing Shan once and for all, Kang Chan would willingly run into the embassy. He smirked. ¡®They¡¯re treating me like an idiot.¡¯ Having made up his mind, Kang Chan called Lanok. - Monsieur Kang. Lanok sounded like he was trying hard to exclude emotions from his voice. ¡°This isn¡¯t right, Mr. Ambassador. If you keep this up, then you best be prepared for the consequences.¡± Upon hearing a low sighing from the other end, Kang Chan decided to hang up the phone with a smirk. - One moment, Monsieur Kang! France¡¯s DGSE demanded Shan be transferred to them alive. This also displeases me, but I¡¯m in a position where it needs to be done no matter what. I promise in all of my honor that Shan would never be able to do something like this again in the future. Can you let this go just this once? ¡°Please allow us to meet Shan.¡± - Monsieur Kang. ¡°Are you saying even that isn¡¯t possible? If so, then I have no choice but to act on my own. It could mean we¡¯d meet in troubling circumstances in the future, but I hope you don¡¯t let that upset you.¡± - Monsieur Kang! Fine! Please give me ten minutes. I¡¯ll call you within that time. ¡°I¡¯ll wait.¡± Kang Chan hung up the phone, then told the others about their conversation. He didn¡¯t know how he would change after seeing Shan. However, at the very least, he wouldn¡¯t be able to tolerate being the dog that lost the chicken. Kang Chan¡¯s eyes burned fiercely, feeling enraged once more. He had never been afraid of something like the Intelligence Bureau or the DGSE. He knew they were powerful, but that didn¡¯t mean he¡¯d let them make a fool of him like this. A whileter, Lanok called and said that he was going to send a car over to the hospital. . ¡°I¡¯lle with you,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Chan epted. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more painful for Shan to put him under the Intelligence Bureau¡¯s custody than killing him now? And with him alive, it would be easier to find out who his backer is. You should suppress your anger,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll decide once I¡¯ve seen him.¡± ¡°Go ahead. I just thought I should remind you not to lose your temper. This is no different from when I decided to spare the Neck Ghost.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t fullyprehend what Kim Tae-Jin meant. ¡°France and China could be in the middle of psychological warfare. Wui Min-Gook and Shan were merely bait, which could be why they couldn¡¯t figure out each other¡¯s actions. For that reason, I hope you can keep your anger in check and make level-headed judgements,¡± Kim Tae-Jin continued. ¡°Understood.¡± A momentter, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho left the room upon getting contacted that the car had arrived in the parking lot. Suh Sang-Hyun looked at Kim Tae-Jin as if he had just woken up from a spell. Throughout their conversation, he couldn¡¯t utter even a single word. ¡°Did he just threaten the French Ambassador? And the Ambassador¡¯s response wasn¡¯t just to ept it but also send a car to pick them up?¡± Suh Sang-Hyun asked. ¡°Kang Chan did dispose of five special forces soldiers, then fought with the Neck Ghost in hand-to-handbat. He made that guy semi-paralytic without even getting injured one bit.¡± ¡°And all of his opponents were armed?¡± ¡°It nearly drove me crazy. He shot someone¡¯s ankles while lying on his stomach, then incapacitated two more using only a bullet each while running.¡± ¡°With a pistol?¡± Kim Tae-Jin nodded. ¡°Ha! He¡¯s an absolute mystery. I could understand attacking with a knife but shooting with a pistol¡­¡± ¡°I also find it bizarre how he hit two of our opponents that time with only two bullets mid-run. He was so urate. If it were me, I would¡¯ve spent a lot more ammo before making any difference. I only realized how eerie it was now. In that situation, he was confident in hitting his targets.¡± ¡°What on earth happened?¡± asked Suh Sang-Hyun. ¡°That¡¯s what I want to know too. In any case, we have to get him into ourpany no matter what. If he does well, he¡¯d likely work in a government position.¡± ¡°Phew.¡± Suh Sang-hyun shook his head, seemingly unable to bring himself to do that. *** The car crossed the Hangang river, then went into the basement parking lot of the French embassy after driving for about 15 minutes. Employees escorted Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho to the elevator, which they rode to the second floor. When they got out, another employee greeted them. ¡°Pleasee this way.¡± Thenky employee walked past the hallway and opened the innermost door. ¡°Wee, Monsieur Kang.¡± Lanok was only wearing a shirt and dress pants. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, this is Seok Kang-Ho. He¡¯s also connected to Shan, who also recently had his family kidnapped.¡± Kang Chan introduced Seok Kang-Ho. Lanok then offered them a seat in the chairs in front of the table. ¡°My country¡¯s decision probably deeply upset you. But I hope you believe and understand that finding out the identity of Shan¡¯s backer was that much important. There are not only agents in the embassy, but also Korean employees. We¡¯re thinking of repatriating them tomorrow morning so that word doesn¡¯t get out,¡± Lanok told Kang Chan. Lanok lifted the kettle that was on the table, then poured them tea. ¡°Where is Shan?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s pay him a visit after we have a cup of tea.¡± ¡°We want to see him first,¡± Kang Chan insisted, leaving Lanok no choice. ¡°As you wish. Follow me.¡± Lanok took the lead. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho followed behind him. Lanok left the room and opened the door closest to the elevator. 1. This refers to the Korean proverb, ? ?? ? ?? ????, which talks about a dog chasing a chicken, only to be left with no other option but to stare at the chicken when it flew up to the roof. In this context, Kang Chan worked hard only for Lanok to im his rewards. Like the dog, Kang Chan can¡¯t do anything to Shan now 2. Korea has very strick gun control Chapter 55.2: A Dog that Chased the Chicken (2)

Chapter 55.2: A Dog that Chased the Chicken (2)

Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho went inside the room, finding Shan lying down on a bed for critically ill patients. He had grown a bushy beard and looked so emaciated it seemed as if he only had skin and bones left. Kang Chan noticed he had two tubes stuck in his left side, which were then connected to a machine. His dead eyes seemed to gain strength the moment he saw Kang Chan. When Kang Chan approached Shan, two agents blocked him, but they stepped away upon noticing Lanok¡¯s eye gesture. ¡°Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan silently red at Shan. He was thinking of killing him if needed. However, seeing him having to depend on machines to survive made Kang Chan think he didn¡¯t even need to do that. Even if the Intelligence Bureau were to take Shan, Kang Chan still wouldn¡¯t have to worry about future troubles. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to kill me?¡± Shan provoked Kang Chan despite already having sunken cheeks. ¡°It looks like I don¡¯t even need to.¡± ¡°You could end up regretting it.¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°There¡¯s a chance I will. If you ever want to find out if I did, then show up in front of me again. I¡¯ll definitely slit your neck then.¡± Kang Chan backed off afterward. Seok Kang-Ho gritted his teeth but soon turned away as he shook his head. After a while, the three of them returned to Lanok¡¯s room again. ¡°France¡¯s Intelligence Bureau is in chaos upon learning North Korea also got involved in this. I¡¯m really thankful for your help. I¡¯m going back to France tomorrow for the time being. I probably won¡¯t return to Korea until Shan¡¯s backer has been revealed.¡± ¡°I see,¡± answered Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll call you sometimes.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Chan smiled bitterly, then expressed that they were going to go. He wanted to leave for two reasons. First, Lanok had to go to France tomorrow morning. Second, he couldn¡¯t push himself to stay here any longer. They parted ways with Lanok after they shook hands in front of the elevator. They went through a lot of shit together. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho got in the car in the basement and returned to the hospital. Kang Chan told Kim Tae-Jin what happened before and after meeting Shan. By the time they left the room, it was already almost 11 pm. ¡°This day is quite long,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Why wouldn¡¯t it be? ¡°It¡¯s strangely disheartening,¡± He continued. ¡°Tell me about it. Tsk!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go have coffee before we go home.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The two of them sat on the terrace of a cafe in front of the hospital. They then smoked while drinking iced coffee. ¡°I can¡¯t believe all we did was suffer today,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Phuhu.¡± Seok Kang-Ho grabbed a napkin and quickly wiped his mouth. ¡°Forget about it. If Shan gets repatriated to his mothend, then that¡¯s the end of that! Let¡¯s focus on living a fun and worry-free life now.¡± Seok Kang-Ho exhaled smoke. ¡°Should we do that?¡± ¡°We definitely should. It¡¯s not like we need a lot of money, anyway. Let¡¯s travel in pursuit of good food and have an outing together.¡± They snickered around for about an hour, which allowed them to get rid of some of the diforts they were feeling. They then took separate taxis home. Kang Chan got into quite a deep sleep on the way. *** Kang Chan felt his fatigue fading after his morning run. It was good. Regardless of whether he was ufortable or not, he had finally taken care of matters rted to Shan, which had been attached to him like a lump. He thought of ending the guard duty of Kim Tae-Jin and his employees after observing the situation for about a month more. After enjoying breakfast, he headed to school feeling quite refreshed. That was until Heo Eun-Sil, Lee Ho-Jun, and the other morons greeted Kang Chan while sitting in a straight line in the stands. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect them to be this diligent. ¡°You¡¯re early.¡± ¡°We promised.¡± If he were to base his judgment solely on their words and actions right now, he would¡¯ve thought they were the type to never break a promise. Kang Chan went into the athletics club room, finding Seok Kang-Ho already inside. ¡°What should we do about them?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°They said they were going to get rid of the bullying, so just let them run with the kids.¡± ¡°Will they really do that?¡± ¡°If they weren¡¯t going to, then why did they even bothering here?¡± ¡°Fair point, but I¡¯m worried this would make the kids that joined before them feel ufortable.¡± Amid their conversation, the athletics club members and Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s employees arrived. Kang Chan told them that the students outside were going to start working out with them during the break. The athletics club members surprisingly epted that quite easily. While athletics club members and the employees were changing, Kang Chan went out to the stands. Including Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun, there were about ten kids. ¡°Go join their morning run,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Okay,¡± Heo Eun-Sil answered. ¡°Should we change into our workout clothes?¡± ¡°Did you even bring one?¡± ¡°We all did.¡± ¡°Then go change.¡± The so-called bullies went into the building to change. Excluding Lee Ho-Jun and Heo Eun-Sil, they were all in eleventh grade, so they couldn¡¯t even properly start a conversation with Kang Chan. When it was time to begin, the five employees stood at the front. Behind them were the athletics club members, and the troublemakers lined up at the very back. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho watched them from the stands. ¡°Ah jeez, this is the first time I¡¯m going to see them run voluntarily,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because they never listened to anyone before no matter what they were told.¡± Is that so? Kang Chan silently watched them run. After fourps, three or four of the students in eleventh grade that joined today started to fall out of the line. The guys staggered while looking over Kang Chan¡¯s mood, then eventually went out to the stands. After three moreps, only Heo Eun-Sil remained of the bullies. On the other hand, all of the kids in the athletics club were still running. He didn¡¯t me them. That was their first time running. Smirk. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh while watching them. Their refusal to lose was currently clearly visible on the athletics club members¡¯ faces. After two moreps, Heo Eun-Sil dropped out as well. Kang Chan decided to stop watching from here. He went into the athletics club room with Seok Kang-Ho and used the exercise equipment. Their workoutsted about two hours. When Kang Chan went outside to shower, the kids sitting on the stands were watching the ones practicing hand-to-handbat in difort. ¡°Wash up first,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Alright.¡± The shower in the night-duty room couldn¡¯t amodate two people. Kang Chan walked to the stands, causing the guys that were sitting cockily to quickly straighten their posture. ¡°Lee Ho-Jun,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Yeah?¡± Lee Ho-Jun¡¯s answer sounded a bit weird. He approached Kang Chan from the side. ¡°About the snake eye from yesterday. You said the president of the student council or something is his superior, right? Who¡¯s that fucker?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°The student president oppa of Kwang-Min University is the head of the group of bullies,¡± answered Heo Eun-Sil. ¡°But you mentioned before that a gangster led that.¡± ¡°On the contrary, that oppa had be more powerful now that the organization disappeared.¡± Heo Eun-Sil butted into the conversation, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t say anything about it. He¡¯d been wanting to get his curiosity answered. ¡°Then will there no longer be any bullies that torment others if I just beat up that fucker?¡± asked Kang Chan. Heo Eun-Sil didn¡¯t answer. ¡°What? Is there still someone left?¡± ¡°To do that, you¡¯ll need to work with the kids that are about to be discharged. The group of bullies has a lot of people.¡± Kang Chan regretted bringing it up since his question didn¡¯t even get answered, leaving him still wondering if there were any more bullies that he had to take care of other than the group of bullies¡¯ president. He couldn¡¯t help but feel as if he made a mistake. He should¡¯ve washed up first. ¡°Even the entire country recognizes Kwang-Min University¡¯sbat club,¡± Heo Eun-Sil continued. Do the gangsters throughout the country recognize their abilities? Smirking, Kang Chan raised himself up. It was a hassle, but this was the best for the time being. Instead of calling others to ask for help and wasting time running around, this was a hundred times better. When Seok Kang-Ho came out of the night-duty room, Kang Chan immediately washed up. He felt refreshed. ¡°Sunbae-nim, what do we do about those hyungs¡¯ lunches?¡± He had juste out of the shower when Moon Ki-Jin asked a question awkwardly in front of the athletics club room. Even bullies needed to eat, after all. ¡°Ah, those sons of bitches.¡± Kang Chan had firmly refused Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s offer to pay for every lunch during the break. Since then, Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan had alternately been paying for it. ¡®Are they taking money from me?¡¯? Kang Chan quickly became displeased about paying for the bullies¡¯ food. However, he soon breathed out deeply to suppress his anger. ¡°Where are you going to order lunch for today?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°From the snack shop.¡± ¡°Then order pork cutlets for me, and get those kids¡¯ orders as well.¡± ¡°Yes, sunbae-nim.¡± Moon Ki-Jin headed to the stands while holding a memo pad and a pen. Kang Chan went outside after changing clothes in the athletics club room. Their delivery arrived after a while, and the male students all ate together in the stands. It was awkward at first, but it wasn¡¯t that ufortable anymore now that they had already done this a couple of times. ¡°What are you going to do in the afternoon?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going to the hospital. Why do you ask? Is there something we¡¯re supposed to do?¡± ¡°I was just curious about what your ns are today.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan after cing two danmujis in his mouth at the same time. ¡°Let¡¯s visit Gapyeong sometime. to celebrate getting rid of Shan.¡± Kang Chan said with a faint smile. Now that he had dealt with matters rted to Shan, Kang Chan now needed to take care of other things one by one, starting from D.I. 1. Gapyeong, or Gapyeong-gun, is a county in South Korea Chapter 56.1: Business is Tedious (1)

Chapter 56.1: Business is Tedious (1)

Kang Chan finally got a half day¡¯s worth of peace, starting from when he returned from Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s room on Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday. He even talked to Kim Mi-Young on the phone and spent time with Yoo Hye-Sook. Hence, he faced Thursday feeling lighthearted. However, Cha So-Yeon soon urgently sought out Kang Chan while he was working out with Seok Kang-Ho in school. ¡°You need to go to the sports field immediately, sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan went out of the athletics club room with Seok Kang-Ho while wiping his sweat with a towel. The sports field had a strange atmosphere. Upon going down the stands, he saw the noses of Moon Ki-Jin and Cho Sae-Ho bleeding. They were ninth and tenth graders respectively. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°They spared against each other. The ninth grader did quite well, but Cho Sae-Ho cowardly punched him as soon as their spar ended, so I involuntarily¡­¡± One of the employees answered. Basically, Moon Ki-Jin won the spar but Cho Sae-Ho punched him when it ended, so the employee hit Cho Sae-Ho in return. Kang Chan turned his head toward Cho Sae-Ho. ¡°Hey,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Yes?¡± Cho Sae-Ho was extremely nervous. To make things worse, Kang Chan had already been feeling apologetic to the athletics club members for bringing the bullies here. Kang Chan slowly looked at the bullies one by one. ¡°So fear prevents you all from living in a world governed by strength, and your hatred of rules prevents you from living in a world filled with them. If you¡¯re so insistent on doing whatever the hell you want, then don¡¯t dirty this ce and go somewhere that¡¯ll allow you to do just that.¡± Kang Chan gritted his teeth while looking at Cho Sae-Ho. ¡°All of you are to stoping here starting tomorrow,¡± He continued. Kang Chan thought he should suppress his anger in this situation but found doing so quite difficult. He kept getting furious. Seok Kang-Ho stopped Kang Chan when he approached Cho Sae-Ho. Kang Chan red at Seok Kang-Ho, and thetter shook his head with a desperate look in his eyes. ¡°Whoo.¡± Kang Chan heavily breathed twice to cool down his anger, then turned away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, everyone. Please let this issue go. I¡¯m going to make sure they nevere here from now on,¡± Kang Chan apologized to the athletics club members, who looked surprised. Kang Chan returned to the athletics club room like that. He had lost his will to work out. Kang Chan sat down on a chair and drank a bit of water. He then wiped his sweat with a towel. As he did, Seok Kang-Ho came in. ¡°Thanks for stopping me back there,¡± Kang Chan thanked Seok Kang-Ho. Seok Kang-Ho sat opposite Kang Chan while smirking, then drank water. ¡°You did a good job suppressing it.¡± ¡°Him fucking around like that angered me. I forced everyone to ept him just to put him in the athletics club.¡± ¡°I know that more than you do. Before all this, though, I was actually surprised because they were quieter than expected. Normally, the bullies would¡¯ve immediately rebelled in that situation.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s emotions had somewhat calmed down when Cha So-Yeon and Moon Ki-Jin cautiously came inside. ¡°Is there something going on again?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°No!¡± Cha So-Yeon exaggeratedly shook her head. Once trained properly, kids like them were perfect as administrative clerks in the army. ¡°What¡¯s going on, then?¡± ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t know how to tell you this.¡± Kang Chan smiled lightly at Cha So-Yeon. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Um, about you telling the bullies not toe here anymore¡­ Can you take that back?¡± The smile on Kang Chan¡¯s facepletely vanished. ¡°Did they say something again? They dare act like this?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not like that, sunbae-nim.¡± Cha So-Yeon frantically waved her hands, and Moon Ki-Jin shook his head as his eyes widened. ¡°We get that Se-Ho did something wrong, but I think everyone can still be close despite that. I feel bad and a bit disappointed they won¡¯t be able to join us anymore because of this incident.¡± When Kang Chan tilted his head, Cha So-Yeon quickly added, ¡°Everyone feels the same way. Of course, there could be one or two that would disagree.¡± Kang Chan looked at her for a moment before finally replying. ¡°Since you guys feel that way, then I¡¯ll reconsider just this once.¡± ¡°Thank you, sunbae-nim.¡± As Cha So-Yeon thanked Kang Chan, Moon Ki-Jin bowed his head. ¡°Hey, Moon Ki-Jin.¡± ¡°Yes, sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been practicing hand-to-handbat for that exact moment, so howe you just stood still when he was about to punch you?¡± Moon Ki-Jin scratched his head while smiling sheepishly. ¡°I can move just fine when sparring, but I freeze for some reason when I¡¯m in a real fight.¡± ¡°Jesus.¡± Kang Chan extended his hand and tousled Moon Ki-Jin¡¯s head, ruffling his hair. ¡°Just let your body move reflexively. You won¡¯t ever be able to act on time if you keep thinking about what to do or how to do it.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of fights, sunbae-nim?¡± ¡°There are times when I¡¯m scared, such as when I¡¯m outnumbered or¡­¡± Kang Chan trailed off. Out of all the things he could say, he almost blurted out that he¡¯d feel afraid if his opponents had guns. After they talked a bit more, Cha So-Yeon and Moon Ki-Jin left the athletics club room. ¡°Those bullies didn¡¯t scare them, did they?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°From my perspective, it seemed like you scared the bullies.¡± When Kang Chan nced at him, Seok Kang-Ho looked somewhere else while pretending not to notice. They soon ordered lunch, and Kang Chan washed up. Their food had arrived by the time he came out. Today¡¯s lunch was Chinese food. Kang Chan ordered fried rice. Kang Chan sat down and had lunch with Seok Kang-Ho and Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s employees. ¡°The kids were very upset,¡± An employee told Kang Chan while putting the fried rice in his mouth. Were they really? They ate the rest of their lunch in silence. Afterward, Kang Chan had coffee with Seok Kang-Ho in the athletics club room. ¡°There¡¯s nothing else going on, right?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m going to teach the afternoon session.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be going ahead, then. Let¡¯s just talk on the phone this evening.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho goodbye, then left the athletics club room. *** Kim Tae-Jin opened the door of his room. ¡°Wee,¡± Kim Tae-Jin greeted. ¡°Pleasee in!¡± Suh Sang-Hyun eximed. Opposite Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s calmness, Suh Sang-Hyun, who was sitting in a wheelchair, looked extremely excited. ¡°Did something good happen?¡± Kang Chan asked. Suh Sang-Hyun looked as if he had won the lottery. Kang Chan¡¯s gaze alternated between the two. ¡°France has put ourpany in charge of safety for international events. France¡¯s Korean Embassy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the KOTRA also contacted us. Oh, and we also got a bunch of interview requests from newspapers and press,¡± Kim Tae-Jin exined. ¡°When did this happen?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Barely an hour ago.¡± Kang Chan sat on the chair beside the bed. ¡°Lanok probably exerted his influence on this. This won¡¯t only bolster our sales. It also instantly made ourpany internationally recognized,¡± Kim Tae-Jin continued. ¡°Good for you, then,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°This is all thanks to you. After discussing it with director Suh, we¡¯re thinking of giving fifteen percent of thepany¡¯s stocks to you.¡± Kang Chan gave Kim Tae-Jin an embarrassed gaze. What use would he have for stocks he couldn¡¯t even use? ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°That¡¯s upsetting. Just take it. The sales we¡¯ll get from France alone will already be over five billion won a year. And we¡¯ll get more orders from the EU. If our sales increase in Korea as well, then it would likely be possible for us to be a listedpany within two years. And we want to give your share in stocks rather than liquidate the amount first. Otherwise, I¡¯d just feel dismayed since it wouldn¡¯t be enough.¡± ¡°I appreciate the gesture, but please just keep the stocks.¡± Kim Tae-Jin smacked his lips as if he was upset. ¡°Alright. The curb market rate will soar because of this contract. If we put that price on fifteen percent of the stocks, it¡¯ll be about two billion won. I¡¯ll sell the stocks and give them to you in cash.¡± ¡°I just told you not to do that.¡± ¡°We were nning on giving Mr. Seok Kang-Ho seven hundred million won in cash, which is equivalent to five percent of the stocks. Anyway, if you keep acting like this, then I¡¯m going to refuse to take orders from France. I don¡¯t want to be the guy that counts profits when you did all the work.¡± ¡°Ah, why are you acting like this? This is making me feel ufortable.¡± Kim Tae-Jin still looked upset despite Kang Chan¡¯sints. ¡°Would you like some coffee?¡± Suh Sang-Hyun asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll make one myself,¡± Kang Chan said.¡± ¡°Why are you like this? Please wait for a moment.¡± Suh Sang-Hyun adeptly turned the wheels of the wheelchair. Kim Tae-Jin still looked upset. Still, Kang Chan really didn¡¯t want to take the stocks. Why would he ept such a reward when he hadn¡¯t even done anything for them? And he had already received a lot of help from them when Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s family was captured alone. Amid the awkward atmosphere, the smell of coffee filled the room. ¡°Take the stocks.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh because Kim Tae-Jin kept insisting like a child. ¡°Just ept our gratitude, Mr. Kang Chan. The employees are going crazy right now out of sheer happiness. After all, we¡¯ll be able to send some of them overseas, myself included, thanks to you. Knowing the president, he¡¯s really going to cancel the contract,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun said. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what to say in reply to that. ¡°In situations like this, It¡¯s best to just give in,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told Kang Chan. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know why Kim Tae-Jin kept insisting, but he knew that Kim Tae-Jin was definitely clinging to him with his pride on the line. And he was doing that in front of Suh Sang-Hyun. ¡°Alright. Then I gratefully ept your offer,¡± Kang Chan finally said. Kim Tae-Jin smiled, seemingly satisfied, and Suh Sang-Hyun spilled coffee while he was clenching both of his fists. Kang Chan also learned something, which was that sharing stocks like this gave the person concerned an enormous sense of belongingness. ¡°When are you being discharged?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Next week.¡± ¡°I¡¯lle again tomorrow if nothing intervenes.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Thank you for the stocks.¡± Kang Chan left the room smiling. 1. KOTRA stands for Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, a state-funded trade and investment promotion organization operated by the Government of South Korea 2. A curb market is a market for selling shares that are not dealt with on the normal stock exchange Chapter 56.2: Business is Tedious (1)

Chapter 56.2: Business is Tedious (1)

Kang Chan was thinking of going home, but he got the urge to head to D.I. the moment when he left the hospital. He was also curious if the trainees were being fed properly. Kang Chan got in the taxi that was waiting in front of the hospital. ¡®Is this how military officers feel when they go around for inspection?¡¯ During his mercenary days, high-ranking individuals often visited the battlefield to ask questions like ¡°Do you find anything ufortable?¡± and ¡°How¡¯s the food?¡± Kang Chan thought they could just stay at the battlefield for a few days if they were that curious, but that didn¡¯t always seem to be the case. As expected, people needed to experience a variety of things. Kang Chan arrived around 3 pm. He went up the stairs after getting out of the taxi, finding the second-floor undergoing construction. Upon reaching the third floor and entering the practice room, he found it quite crowded. ¡°Huh? Hello, Mr. President!¡± A few trainees greeted him while bowing their heads. ¡°Ms. Director, the president is here!¡± One of them yelled toward the inner room as Kang Chan put on indoor shoes. Michelle and Lim Soo-Sung hastily came out. ¡°Wee, boss.¡± ¡°Wee to thepany.¡± Kang Chan greeted them back and went inside the office. ¡°Wee?¡± The employees were obviously doing well. The office looked wider as well since the wardrobe stylists, makeup artists, and road managers weren¡¯t there. ¡°Pleasee in,¡± Michelle told Kang Chan. They went into a narrow room at the innermost corner. Its interior was quite cool since it had a small air conditioner on the wall. Michelle closed the door while holding coffee and a few documents. ¡°Thank you so much for stopping by, sir.¡± ¡°I just had time.¡± Michelle nodded while smiling brightly. ¡°I agreed to work with you the moment you talked to me about doing this because I believed you wouldn¡¯t just be a rich CEO. You¡¯d actually work with your employees. It seems I¡¯m right about that,¡± Shemented. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know about anything else, but this office strangely didn¡¯t make good coffee. ¡°To ensure thepany can progress nicely, we just need to develop Eun So-Yeon and three to four trainees before Lee Ha-Yeon and Seong So-Mi¡¯s contracts end,¡± Michelle continued. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to work in apany that would co-exist with its employees, instead of just apany that just lives off of its employees¡¯ blood, sweat and tears. And in achieving that dream, I¡¯ve been making progress as quickly and enormously as Yungs¡¯ investment. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been so happytely.¡± That was a good resolve in its own way. It was certainly better than what she had been thinking of until now. ¡°What¡¯s with your expression right now, though?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s because of the main male character.¡± ¡°One of the main characters has to be yed by an actor acknowledged by Hallyu,¡± Michelle replied with a serious tone when Kang Chan smirked, ¡°the writer also said that at least the male lead should be a top-tier actor. However, from the perspective of A-tier actors acknowledged by Hallyu, Eun So-Yeon¡¯s skills arecking. Even the broadcasting stations are holding their ground under the notion that they can¡¯t give us public television programming if even our main male character isckluster.¡± He roughly understood what he meant. ¡°What does public television programming mean?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Broadcasting stations used to produce their own dramas before. However, they all give outsourcing production nowadays. So whenever there¡¯s an empty airing spot during the weekends, or Monday to Tuesday and Wednesday to Thursday, productionpanies fiercelypete with each other to take that spot. Basically, the one that decides the next drama is the programming department, and the person responsible for that decision is the Director of Programming.¡± Kang Chan smiled brightly. ¡®She¡¯s quite good. She did say she was the chief editor of a magazinepany.¡¯ She was charming when she was passionate, as much as when she got angry. ¡°The big agencies that are able to win the programming slot are forcing joint production. I was told that we¡¯re getting thirty percent in profit distribution. Hence, the big agencies are pressuring the broadcastingpanies not to give it to others,¡± Michelle continued. That was nothing. He could understand why they acted that way since the fuckers that originally had the vested interests never wanted a new powerful person to emerge. ¡°For the ones with vested rights, the more they earn and are portrayed well, the stronger their resistance is,¡± said Kang Chan. Nevertheless, Michelle¡¯s confident face reassured him. ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t everything be in order if we don¡¯t broadcast the drama on Korean channels?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s a bit dangerous. Even if that¡¯s possible, the pre-sales would cause a conflict in the second round of distribution rights.¡± Kang Chan thought he should just stick to things that he knew. He decided to take this timely opportunity to honestly disclose his true intentions. Hence, he clearly dered that he wanted Michelle to take over thepany if this work progressed properly. ¡°I understand your wishes. I will handle all administrative work, but I hope you stille by sometimes and tend to importantpany duties like what you¡¯re doing now. It¡¯s great having a president our employees respect and have little difficulty confronting. Oh, take a look at this.¡± Kang Chan looked at the card that Michelle had ced in front of him. ¡°This is thepany card for you, sir. Your name is engraved on it. It has quite a high withdrawal limit, so it should be a lot more convenient for you to use. It¡¯ll also benefit thepany since we¡¯ll be taking care of taxes and expenses anyway. If possible, please use this from now on.¡± epting it shouldn¡¯t pose any problems, so Kang Chan thanked her and took the card. ¡°There¡¯s an audition next week. I hope you attend things like that, especially the lead actor casting and the meeting with the Director of Programming,¡± Michelle continued. ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡± Michelle grinned. ¡°And we¡¯re nning on going to a one day, two nightspany retreat that includes all of our employees and trainees. Will youe with us?¡± asked Michelle. ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Please? Everyone is looking forward to youing.¡± ¡°When is it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We¡¯ll book it once you¡¯ve decided.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± The nonstop business talks made Kang Chan feel like his brain was overflowing with too much information. He got up and left the building after receiving the trainees¡¯ sad goodbyes. ¡°Whoo! I feel good!¡± He couldn¡¯t be more lighthearted. *** Kang Chan arrived home early, so he went to the mart that was in front of the apartment with Yoo Hye-Sook, which he hadn¡¯t done in a while. Afterward, they prepared dinner using the ingredients they bought at the mart¡ªvarious fruits that were wrapped with green chili peppers, doenjang, and gochujang. ¡°This is really good,¡± Kang Chan told Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Right? I actually like things like this better than meat.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook certainly looked like she ate more cucumbers and vegetables than rice. ¡°What did you and father decide to do about supporting the orphanages?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve decided to support five orphanages for now by sending them two million won each every month. We¡¯re going to support more orphanages when your dad¡¯s ie increases. It¡¯s not like we could use all of what thepany makes right now. And we also cover more than half of our donations with your dad¡¯s ie.¡± ¡°Would they be able to eat better food when they receive that support?¡± The food in the bucket and the small girl Kang Chan saw in the orphanage suddenly came across his mind. ¡°We were told we couldn¡¯t decide how our donation would be distributed ourselves. I do understand why, though. Orphanages have a lot of bills to pay, including electricity,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook exined, ¡°if they couldn¡¯t pay those on time, then their lives would be even harder. That only makes me feel more heartbroken for those kids,¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± It was fortunate that they had finished eating. They wouldn¡¯t have managed to eat properly otherwise. The two of them did the dishes together. ¡°You¡¯re really amazing,¡± Kang Chan told Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Oh, my.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook seemed to like Kang Chan¡¯spliment. ¡°I just think other people wouldn¡¯t be able to think the same way you do. I¡¯d love to meet someone like you¡ªa woman who¡¯s beautiful in mind, body, and soul.¡± After Yoo Hye-Sook cleaned up all of the side dishes, she went to the sink. ¡°Please stay seated. I just need to finish this,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I¡¯m living infort thanks to you.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook sat on one of the dining chairs looking like she loved the treatment. ¡°Your dad said we should go to the lower part of a mountain streamlet around next weekend. What do you think?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Next weekend?¡± ¡°Yeah. We were supposed to go this weekend, but I have to go to a reunion. Your dad would always apany me because people go there with their significant other. Unfortunately, doing so only made him feel despondent. So I¡¯m going to go there this time and boast about him a lot.¡± ¡°Why would dad be despondent?¡± When Kang Chan turned around and nced behind him, Yoo Hye-Sook appeared to be thinking, ¡®Oh shoot.¡¯ ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He prodded. ¡°As far as I¡¯ve seen, Dad¡¯s amazing.¡± Kang Chan rinsed a te nonchntly. ¡°A few friends of mine were envious of me. Whenever they felt that way, they¡¯d talk about your dad¡¯s job. Hearing about their husbands being the director of a big corporation and the senior vice president of a foreign corporation made him feel bad.¡± ¡°Hmm, I see.¡± ¡°Your dad always made me go even when I said I wasn¡¯t going to, saying he believed I¡¯d lose my rtionships with my friends if we didn¡¯t. Your dad is going to be really amazing this time.¡± That was certainly a good reason toe to the reunion. If something like that happened to Kang Chan, then Yoo Hye-Sook would most likely take her friends¡¯ husbands to a quiet ce and growled at them to educate their wives properly. ¡°Where is it taking ce?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s at the Namsan hotel on Sunday at 11am.¡± Kang Chan almost dropped the te. God damn it.? He should hang a cross in the hotel¡¯s direction or something. Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang when he finished cleaning up and came back to his room. Seok Kang-Ho was calling. - Have you eaten? ¡°I just finished. What about you?¡± - I¡¯ve been busy, so I had just finished ordering food. I¡¯m smoking a cigarette right now. ¡°Why? Is there something going on?¡± - I¡¯m moving tomorrow. ¡°Tomorrow? That¡¯s gotta be hectic.¡± - Yeah, so there¡¯s a chance I won¡¯t be at school tomorrow. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the kids, so don¡¯t worry. Call me after you¡¯re done moving.¡± - Alright. My wife is extremely excited. He happily hung up the phone. Kang Chan then called Smithen, whom he suddenly remembered. - Channy. As if getting a phone call from a long-lost family member, Smithen brightly answered the phone. - Is everything alright on your end? ¡°Yeah. And Shan has been dealt with, so feel free to go out whenever you want.¡± - What about Shan? ¡°We took care of him ourselves.¡± Smithen faltered for a moment, then brought up something else after pretending not to notice. - Okay, Channy. Can I put in the application with anguage school now? ¡°Do what you want.¡± - Thank you, Channy. You, Dayeru, and I should meet up sometime. ¡°Sure.¡± - And we should go on a summer vacation. ¡°I said sure! And to do what you want!¡± Ah, this fucker! - Alright, Channy. If Smithen had listened to him in Africa as well as he did now, then Kang Chan¡¯s need to beat him up would¡¯ve been halved. Kang Chan ced the phone down and plopped onto the bed. How did I reincarnate? Were there other people that reincarnated somewhere in South Korea or the world and were adjusting to their new lives? Amid his thoughts, Kang Chan suddenly realized his parents from his previous life would still be alive. He went to France in 1998 and died in 2007. It was now 2010, so he hadn¡¯t seen them in about thirteen years. Nevertheless, he thought they¡¯d likely still be alive. ¡®What am I going to do after I find them?¡¯ He didn¡¯t resent them despite giving him such a difficult life. And he didn¡¯t resent them even when he wanted to eat pork cutlets so badly but couldn¡¯t since they didn¡¯t have enough money to pay for it. However, Kang Chan never asked them for money so he could pay for his tuition, shoes, and clothes. And the frequent whippings and their cold eyes were hard to endure. How could they have never hugged him throughout his childhood and even until he graduated high school? ¡°Gah!¡± Kang Chan vigorously shook his head and decided to think about something else. 1. Hallyu, or the Korean wave, is a phenomenon of Korean pop culture bing popr in foreign countries 2. In Korea, there are dramas that air only on the weekends, or Monday-Tuesday, Wednesday-Thursday, etc. 3. doenjang, or soybean paste, is a fermented bean paste that is made out of soybean and brine 4. gochujang, or red chili paste, is a sweet, savory, and spicy paste that is often used in Korean dishes Chapter 57.1: Business is Tedious (2)

Chapter 57.1: Business is Tedious (2)

Friday. The kids arrived while Kang Chan was getting changed in the athletics club room. They no longer hesitated around Kang Chan now that they had gotten close to him. On the contrary, they were always very d to see him. All the kids normally arrived around this time. Rattle. As Kang Chan was about to go outside, he tilted his head while looking at the kids that wereing into the athletics club room. Heo Eun-Sil, Lee Ho-Jun, and Cho Sae-Ho entered with them. Kang Chan ended up smirking. Is he thinking of killing me because I told him to note here starting today? If so, he better brought a gun or something with him. Kang Chan was nkly staring at them when Cha So Yeon, Moon Ki-Jin, and other athletics club members all came into the athletics club room. ¡°I was wrong.¡± Cho Sae-Ho was the first to speak up. Kang Chan only observed for now. ¡°I apologized to Ki-Jin and the entire athletics club, and they forgave me. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. Please allow me to work out with you all again.¡± ¡°Sae-Ho has admitted to his mistake and promised he¡¯d never do something like that ever again. Please let the incident go,¡± Heo Eun-Sil said when Cho Sae-Ho finished talking. Damn it. He got strangely soft whenever he saw kids wearing school uniforms. When Kang Chan remained silent, Cha So-Yeon spoke up next. ¡°We told him that you¡¯re going to ept him again if he sincerely apologizes. And since we really do want to work out together, I suggested I go with him to apologize.¡± Cha So-Yeon¡¯s voice was trembling as she spoke. Afterward, she lowered her head. Do I really need to forgive him? Kang Chan thought for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m willing to get hit for what I did. Hitting Ki-Jin that day was a huge mistake.¡± Cho Sae-Ho took a step forward. Now that Kang Chan had thought about it, this fucker was in the same ss as Cha So-Yeon. ¡°The hyungs outside invited me out to dinner yesterday, where they told me a lot of things.¡± Cho Sae-Ho seemed to be talking about Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s employees. ¡°They said I should work hard and be a security guard. They were right. I really want to do that.¡± Kang Chan also wanted to trust him again¡ªto give him onest chance. ¡°Do you guys really think this way?¡± Kang Chan asked the students. ¡°Yes. Please forgive him just this once.¡± Kang Chan looked at Heo Eun-Sil. She didn¡¯t look like she disagreed. ¡°Cho Sae-Ho,¡± called Kang Chan. ¡°Yes.¡± This guy didn¡¯t seem to have any defiance left in him either. Cho Sae-Ho had lost this fight fair and square. ¡°This is yourst chance.¡± Cho Sae-Ho and Cha So-Yeon¡¯s heads popped up. They looked as if they had just received consent for marriage from a stern father. ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡®Does Cha So-Yeon like Cho Sae-Ho?¡¯ The kids profusely thanked him before leaving. Kang Chan heard loud noises outside, making him think things were going well in their own way. Looking closely, he realized Heo Eun-Sil was the bullies¡¯ leader, and Cha So-Yeon led the athletics club. Pretending not to notice, he devoted himself to his workout. After Kang Chan worked out to his heart''s content and drank a cup of water, he went outside to see how things were going. He hung a towel on his neck since he thought of washing up right after. The sports field had a very serious atmosphere. It had a mattressid out, and the kids practiced hand-to-handbat in pairs under the employees¡¯ guidance. They looked extremely serious, but watching them was really funny. Kang Chan had to grit his teeth to hold in hisugh. There was a kid that looked like he had quite a bit of talent, but there was also a guy that looked like he was just pping around. Kang Chan left to wash up while shaking his head. *** After having lunch and watching the kids study from the athletics club room, Kang Chan taught the five employees hand-to-handbat for about an hour, then washed up again and left the school. When he arrived at the apartment, Yoo Hye-Sook wasn¡¯t at home. Kang Chan satfortably and searched on the inte for things rted to drama production, then thought about how he could find his corpsmen if any of them were still alive. He went out to the living room upon hearing the sound of keys rattling rang throughout the house from the entrance. ¡°Channy, you¡¯re home already?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan took the paper shopping bag that Yoo Hye-Sook was carrying. ¡°I bought a shirt for your dad to wear on Sunday since his clothes are very old. I also got you a cotton shirt.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t buy anything for yourself again?¡± ¡°I have a lot of clothes, so it¡¯s fine.¡± Kang Chan smiled wordlessly while thinking that he should buy a suit of clothes for her someday. He then went back to his room and sat at his desk again. Aside from a call with Kim Mi-Young, nothing else happened that day. Seok Kang-Ho called him in the evening, his voice sounding really tired. Kang Chan slept after that, ending his day. It was so peaceful it was almost boring. *** Saturday. Kang Chan worked out in the morning and had breakfast, as usual. He then returned to his room and wondered what he should do today. However, he soon thought he shouldn¡¯t spend time like this. Now that the issues rted to Shan had been dealt with and he had gotten used to his current life, Kang Chan wanted to spend his days properly. He thought of studying again, but he wanted to study a more systematic and practical subject instead of clinging to one he couldn¡¯t even understand right now. Hence, he searched on the inte again. Kang Chan searched through English, Chinese, and Japanese, then thought about what he had been interested in since his past life. . He came up with nothing. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t say anything about studying to bullies.¡¯ Kang Chan was embarrassed enough for his face to be quickly flushed. ¡®Tsk! Since my life turned out this way, should I start working earlier than others?¡¯ It wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing to earn money and help the kids in difficult situations, like what Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were doing. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Seok Kang-Ho called at just the right time. - What are you doing right now? ¡°I just ate, so I¡¯m currently loafing around. Why don¡¯t you rest for a bit? You¡¯re probably tired.¡± ¡°My wife became aplete angel after we moved to the apartment. She told me to go out for the day because she was going to clean up by herself. Let¡¯s go to Yangpyeong today.¡± ¡°Yangpyeong?¡± It was a suggestion weed enough for Kang Chan¡¯s ears to nearly perk up. Using Seok Kang-Ho as an excuse, he went outside. It only took 10 minutes for them to meet since Seok Kang-Ho now lived in the apartment right behind Kang Chan¡¯s. Kang Chan got into Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car at the entrance of the apartment. ¡°This is such a nice advantage to living so close to each other,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Agreed. I think I also feel somewhat reassured. Here, take this.¡± Seok Kang-Ho handed him a cup of iced coffee. As they left, they enjoyed coffee and cigarettes together. Kang Chan told him about what happened with the kids yesterday before anything else. ¡°We should also go to a retreat somewhere,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Michelle also suggested the same thing. Should Ibine those two outings? Going to two separate events is too much of an inconvenience.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re fine with that, then it¡¯s not a bad idea. Things like retreats are more fun with more people.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to her about it.¡± ¡°Sure. In any case, if we¡¯re going to reserve lodging and rent a bus anyway, it¡¯s better to do it in one go. If this pushes through, let¡¯s avoid doing it during the weekends since we¡¯re on break.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you know as soon as I discuss it with her.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The road gradually became congested, perhaps because it was a Saturday. ¡°I think I should be doing something for D.I. too. Starting next week, I¡¯m going to look into drama production work,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Isn¡¯t your aptitude a better match for securitypanies?¡± ¡°I thought about that too, but the idea of following someone around made me realize I couldn¡¯t do that even if it would mean the death of me. ¡°That¡¯s also true. There¡¯s even a chance you¡¯ll have to stay in a car all day if you¡¯re unlucky.¡± Luckily, the traffic became a bit lighter out in the suburbs. Soon, they arrived at a restaurant that specialized in grilled duck. They sat on the wooden bedstead and happily ate grilled ducks, then had kalguksu and drank makgeolli. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about it. I know you can be great at anything you put your mind to,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I actually don¡¯t know how to do anything, except for things rted to warfare. I¡¯m still going to go for it, though, since I don¡¯t want to act like a coward.¡± Seok Kang-Ho smiled after taking his time exhaling cigarette smoke. ¡°The drama production industry is going to be in an uproar for a while,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I doubt you¡¯re going to work quietly.¡± ¡°Hey! I already told you I will! I¡¯m just working for the sake of working, gaining experience!¡± While Kang Chan was talking, his phone rang. It was Michelle. Seok Kang-Ho nced at him, thenughed while saying, ¡°The world isn¡¯t going to let that happen.¡± ¡°Yeah, Michelle.¡± - Sir, I¡¯m calling you because Alion, the second-best productionpany, and the Director of Programming of a broadcasting station¡¯s drama department suddenly asked to see us both tomorrow. Does 1 pm at Namsan Hotel work for you? ¡°Haa.¡± - Why? Do you have an appointment? ¡°No, but is Namsan Hotel thered in honey? I can¡¯t figure out why people keep holding appointments there. Can¡¯t we meet somewhere else?¡± - It¡¯s already been decided. It¡¯s difficult for us to change the location. ¡°Alright. 1 pm tomorrow, right?¡± - Yes! Thank you, sir. We should meet about 30 minutes prior to that appointment. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll be at the lobby.¡± - Yeah. See you tomorrow. Kang Chan sighed loudly after the call ended. ¡°Namsan Hotel again, huh?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°ording to her, yes. It¡¯s not like there¡¯s only one hotel in downtown Seoul.¡± ¡°You¡¯re learning how to do your job, aren¡¯t you? This is work! Please do it properly.¡± ¡°You want to get hit?¡± Kang Chan frowned, but theyughed like idiots immediately after. On their way up to Seoul, Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Hello? Ah, Mr. President. How can I help you?¡± As if he had been expecting it, Kang Chan looked straight ahead. ¡°Yes. Yes.¡± Seok Kang-Ho gave Kang Chan a nce. ¡°Pardon?¡± Seok Kang-Ho sounded startled. Kang Chan looked at him while wondering what was going on. ¡°Ah, yes. It¡¯s a bit flustering. Yes, I understand. I¡¯ll discuss this with the captain and drop by the hospital either today or tomorrow. Yes.¡± After he hung up the phone, Seok Kang-Ho quickly looked at Kang Chan. ¡°That was President Kim Tae-Jin. He asked for my bank ount number, saying he¡¯s going to put seven hundred million won in there,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°So that was what the conversation was about.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked dazed. ¡°I can¡¯t wrap my head around it. All the financial talks I¡¯ve been intely always involve huge amounts of money.¡± ¡°I feel that way too.¡± Seok Kang-Ho focused on driving for a moment, then quipped up once more. ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯m going to send this money to you.¡± ¡°I got the money in stocks, and I already have more than enough. So stop talking nonsense and just give it to your wife too.¡± ¡°Ugh, why did he have to say something as bothersome as that? It¡¯s making me feel unsettled. Let¡¯s go smoke a cigarette,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Sure.¡± They lowered the windows all the way and drove on the highway that ran through the entire country. 1. In Korean, the actual sentence would be, ¡°my wife became aplete bodhisattva¡±, which refers to the second highest-ranked saint after Buddha in Buddhism. In Korean, this just means someone became very nice, almost like an angel. We used angel instead of bodhisattva because it would be easier to understand for an English audience 2. Yangpyeong, or Yangpyeong-gun is a county in South Korea 3. Kalguksu is a Korean noodle dish made out of handmade wheat noodles that are served with broth and other ingredients 4. Makgeolli is a Korean alcoholic beverage with a milky appearance because it¡¯s a lightly sparkling rice wine 5. This is a reference to how bees, or humans, in this case, are attracted to honey¡ªNamsan Hotel. Chapter 57.2: Business is Tedious (2)

Chapter 57.2: Business is Tedious (2)

When he got back home, Kang Chan went on the inte and memorized information rted to drama production again. He made sure to learn the drama industry¡¯s jargons, and he especially read the article, ¡®The Realities of Korean Dramas¡¯ about ten times. Strangely enough, on Saturday evenings, Kang Chan¡¯s family always ended up ordering chicken and watching TV together. They had fun snickering while watching entertainment programs and enjoying watching films that were airedte at night. Not being able to have even a sip of beer used to disappoint him, but c didn¡¯t seem so bad now. On Sunday morning, Kang Dae-Kyung and Kang Chan had to prepare breakfast since Yoo Hye-Sook was too busy making a fuss, which was as expected. Kang Dae-Kyung even put on an apron while saying that he was going to disy his secret talent. He scooped up doenjangguk from the middle with a utensil and ced it in Kang Chan¡¯s mouth. ¡°How does it taste?¡± asked Kang Dae-Kyung. Kang Chan gave him a thumbs up with surprised eyes not because Kang Dae-Kyung looked so full of anticipation but because the doenjangguk was truly delicious. Kang Dae-Kyung nodded, seemingly satisfied. They quickly ate breakfast, then Kang Chan did the dishes. Kang went back to his room and loafed around. When he left his room again, Yoo Hye-Sook was still busy. ¡°Won¡¯t you bete at this rate?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You think so, Chan? How do I look?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Chan raised his thumb while smiling brightly. ¡°You¡¯re really pretty. You¡¯re going to be the star of the show today.¡± ¡°Thanks, Chan! Honey! What are you doing? We should go now.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung urgently came out of the room wearing an eye-catching light blue shirt. It seemed to be the one Yoo Hye-Sook bought for him yesterday. After they approved of Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s shirt, the two of them stood at the entrance. ¡°I also have something to do at Namsan Hotel. I could be at its lobby around 12:30 pm, or I could just drop by the meeting ce out of curiosity,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°It would be great if you coulde. How about we buy pastries together after it ends? The pastries at that hotel are delicious.¡± After an hour had passed since Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook left, Kang Chan also changed clothes. *** The hotel¡¯s lobby was quite crowded because it was a Sunday. Even though Kang Chan had arrived around 10 minutes early, Michelle was already sitting in the lobby. She waved at him. ¡°Channy!¡± Kang Chan momentarily thought Michelle was quite calm. However, she soon clung onto Kang Chan like a bitch whose disease that made her horny rpsed. She noisily kissed his cheeks. The manager ran over and acknowledged him, and Kang Chan ordered coffee. ¡°Alion is going to attack us because Lee Ha-Yeon went there. The broadcastingpany is going to demand that it bes a joint production under the notion that we don¡¯t have experience in producing dramas yet. There¡¯s also a high chance that Alion is going to insist that we distribute the profit seventy-thirty and that they get to cast one of the main roles, regardless of whether it¡¯s for the female or male role,¡± Michelle exined. Wearing a ck suit and a white blouse¡ªand talking about work¡ªmade Michelle look quite charming. ¡°We have to keep the fifty-fifty profit distribution no matter what, but we can let them cast the male lead. It would be great if we can split the profit for the international copyrights in half as well,¡± Michelle continued. ¡°There are multiple broadcastingpanies, right? Do we need to make a decision today?¡± asked Kang Chan. . Michelle shook her head while wrinkling up her nose. ¡°The problem ispanies like Alion have influence over public television. It¡¯ll be difficult for us if even one of them turns against us since the program managers are too close to each other.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Kang Chan processed Michelle¡¯s exnations one by one, considering this to also be a part of learning the job. ¡°Right, Michelle. About thepany staff retreat, would it be okay if we go with the kids from our school?¡± Michelle replied after appearing to think about it for a moment. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll matter, but wouldn¡¯t that put you in an awkward position in front of the employees? I¡¯m not sure how it would look if a high schooler were to ask you to do something in front of the trainees.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s true.¡± Honestly, that was something he hadn¡¯t thought of. Kang Chan epted Michelle¡¯s opinion. In all respects, it seemed like he was going to have to go to two different outings and a family summer vacation during the remainder of the break. *** Alion and the Director of Programming went into the hotel together. Kang Chan turned around and looked behind him upon noticing Michelle¡¯s expression had turned weird, finding Lee Ha-Yeoning toward the table with two people. Kang Chan and Michelle got up from their spot and greeted them. ¡°Hello, President Chan. Director Michelle already knows everyone, but this is David Choi, the president of Alion. I recently joined theirpany. And this is the Director of Programming, Moon Bon-Geun.¡± After Lee Ha-Yeon introduced everyone and they greeted each other, they sat down and ordered tea. ¡°I bet you¡¯ve already heard about the situation, so let¡¯s keep this conversation quick.¡± Even before the tea was served, the man called David, who looked to be around forty years old, arrogantly spoke. He had quite a big build, thick lips, and sharp eyes. ¡°If you make Lee Ha-Yeon here the leadingdy, then we¡¯ll split up the profit in half. If we¡¯re going to cast the main male character, the split will be seventy-thirty. How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Why does it have to be like that?¡± Kang Chan asked when Michelle was looking at him. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll be facing just quite the difficulty persuading someone to be the male lead if Eun So-Yeon is cast as the female lead. The party that goes through more hardship should get more money. The decision is up to you.¡± No matter how much Kang Chan looked at him, it didn¡¯t seem like David studied or lived abroad at all. It was clear that he just put an English name on a Korean man. ¡°Even from the broadcasting station¡¯s position, having Eun So-Yeon as the main actress is a burden in all respects. But they¡¯re acknowledging you guys anyway because Alion has a lot of experience.¡± Director Moon Bon-Geun was apletely easygoing person, but he looked very stubborn. Seemed their words wouldn¡¯t go through him. Kang Chan raised his gaze when their tea was served, finding Lee Ha-Yeon smiling slyly. She didn¡¯t hide her smile despite their eyes meeting. When Kang Chan showed her his peculiar smile, Lee Ha-Yeon looked at him with eyes that seemed to ask, ¡®could it be?¡¯ Business? Wasn¡¯t that something people did to ultimately gain profits? Regardless, he didn¡¯t want to put up with subservient conditions. If he were to lower his head, then the trainees beneath him would have to kneel for something that they would have to pay the full amount for. Kang Chan first looked at Michelle, then asked her a question. ¡°I understand that this condition was given because of the investment that we got from Yungs. Is that correct?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Michelle¡¯s tactfulness was certainly amazing. To think she could speak formally yet in such a friendly way. ¡°We acknowledge Alion¡¯s conditions. In return, each party involved should pay half of the cost for the drama production.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s words made David harshly ce down the coffee cup, seemingly offended. ¡°You misunderstand, young president. If we have to pay half of the costs, then exceptionally better conditions that are better than D.I are lined up. Speak only when you actually know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Mr. Director, you¡¯re saying that it¡¯ll be difficult to program a drama if we don¡¯t work with Alion, right?¡± ¡°You can see it that way.¡± Kang Chan nodded again. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s just pretend that this didn¡¯t happen.¡± The atmosphere instantly became cold at that moment. However, the tactful Michelle held her ground, appearing to be not shaken even in the slightest. ¡°If you act that way, then it¡¯s going to be difficult for you to survive in South Korea,¡± David replied. Kang Chan undauntedly met David¡¯s sharp eyes. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t I be able to survive in this industry even with just Eun So-Yeon alone if I can receive one billion won in investment?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°What are you going to do after, though? You won¡¯t be able to sell your drama anywhere.¡± Kang Chan showed him his peculiar smile while looking straight into David¡¯s eyes. ¡°We can just coborate with China instead. Yungs said they¡¯ll give us one billion won more if needed. With it, we shouldn¡¯t have to worry about losses for as long as Eun So-Yeon bes popr in China. If even just one more actor ying a supporting or minor role bes popr as well, then we¡¯d be making more than we invested,¡± said Kang Chan. That was a passage from the Reality of Korean Dramas, which he saw on the inte. ¡°We can stop China from selling your product if we wish.¡± David came out strong, perhaps because his pride was hurt. Neither of them avoided the other¡¯s gaze for even a moment. In this battle, the first to divert their eyes away would lose. ¡°If that¡¯s how you want to do this, then so be it. From now on, if even one Alion actor tries to star in a drama, or if there¡¯s a drama that Alion has invested even ten cents in, then I¡¯ll block its export to China and Japan. This should be quite fun.¡± David suddenly got very angry. I¡¯m going to hit that fucker¡¯s nose! ¡°Now, now. Let¡¯s not act like this. We met up to cooperate.¡± Moon Bon-Geun couldn¡¯t watch any longer, so he held out his hand and tried to calm each side down. However, the fight had already started. ¡°This industry isn¡¯t a pushover for a rookie like you to agitate at will just because you know a few gangsters and you have the talent to bring in money,¡± David said. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m saying I¡¯m going to do it my way. If you don¡¯t like it, then you don¡¯t have to ept it. Why are you stillining?¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Hey! Everyone, stop! President Choi! Are you really going to ignore my words?¡± When Moon Bon-Geun directly criticized him, David gritted his teeth, then turned his head to Moon Bon-Geun. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± When David stood up, Moon Bon-Geun quickly followed him. ¡°Let¡¯s see who wins.¡± ¡°Do what you want.¡± The three of them left the table. Sons of bitches. If they were going to walk out on them, they should¡¯ve at least left after paying for their coffee. ¡°Phoo!¡± After they went out of the door of the hotel, Michelle exhaled loudly. She lookedpletely different from when she sat with a calm expression throughout the conversation. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan asked Michelle. ¡°I was surprised. I was trying really hard not to get caught that my heart had be a hot mess because of how you acted.¡± It was correct that this bitch definitely had a disease¨Ca disease that made her horny no matter where and when. He needed to introduce director Yoo Hun-Woo to her. Chapter 58.1: They’re Really Doing This?

Chapter 58.1: They¡¯re Really Doing This?

¡°Channy, did you know how to do business in this industry before today?¡± asked Michelle. What¡¯s she saying? Kang Chan nced at Michelle while drinking coffee. ¡°I just found your response so amazing. Despite how they left, I bet they¡¯re going to think you have experience working in some parts of this industry.¡± ¡°I just talked about what I saw on the inte,¡± Kang Chan answered. Michelle was excited, but she looked upset by the time Kang Chan ced the coffee cup down. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m worried about how we should work out the rest of the situation. It would certainly be satisfying to do as you said, but we won¡¯t just be facing losses if we fail after getting the investment. Eun So-Yeon and the trainees will also find it difficult to be sessful.¡± Kang Chan remembered their trainees, who kept leaping out of pure joy. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it, so don¡¯t worry about it too much and just stay put.¡± ¡°Okay, Channy. On a different note, can you spend some time with me today?¡± Kang Chan shook his head upon noticing the coquettish look in her eyes. ¡°My parents are inside this hotel. I told them I¡¯ll be meeting with them.¡± Michelle pursed her lips, seemingly disappointed. A lot of the nearby guys were ncing at her. If Kang Chan wasn¡¯t around, they probably would¡¯ve already asked her to have a cup of tea. ¡°Then I¡¯ll say hi to them before leaving,¡± said Michelle. ¡°Only speak French around them. I told them that you¡¯re learning Korean, so don¡¯t speak Korean too fluently.¡± ¡°Oui.¡± Michelle got up from her spot. Her fluttering blonde hair was always very charming during times like this. She paid for the tea with thepany credit card. Kang Chan heard that the second floor was the Vantree Hall, so they headed up the wide stairs that were in the inner part of the lobby. On the second floor, they were met by noisy conversations and the sight of people eating lunch in a buffet restaurant. When tried to enter the restaurant, a waiter blocked them. ¡°You guys need to put a sticker on you,¡± the waiter said. When Kang Chan was wondering what they were talking about, Michelle intervened. ¡°We¡¯re just here to greet some people. We¡¯ll go right after.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we have to follow the rules.¡± So can we go in or not? Despite Kang Chan¡¯s gaze, the waiter only stood there while pretending not to notice. ¡°Please stick it on both of us,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Understood.¡± The employee started taking off the papers on the back of the stickers. ¡°Wee!¡± A middle-aged female manager came toward Kang Chan as if she was flying. Have I seen her somewhere? ¡°I served you at the restaurant on the first floor before. It¡¯s an honor to meet you again,¡± She continued. ¡°I see. We were just about to go and say hello to my parents. They¡¯re inside.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s head inside. If you tell me their names, I¡¯ll find them for you.¡± With an eye gesture from the manager, the employee quickly backed off. ¡°That will likely be too much of a hassle. I¡¯ll find them myself. What about the sticker?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s not needed. It seems like our employee made a mistake since they didn¡¯t recognize you, but you don¡¯t really need to have it on you.¡± The manager exquisitely bowed her head while smiling. There was no need to continue arguing, so Kang Chan went inside with Michelle and looked around the restaurant while walking around the buffet. Kang Chan cocked his head upon finding Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung sitting at the table in the corner. Kang Dae-Kyung was a mess, having seemingly spilled coffee on his chest and stomach, and Yoo Hye-Sook looked dispirited. Kang Chan got extremely enraged. He felt like he was seeing Cha So-Yeon when she was eating alone in the cafeteria at school some time ago. It¡¯s during moments like this that his eyes burned fiercely. At Kang Chan¡¯s side, the manager sped her hands together in front of her. ¡°Are you looking for the president of Kang Yoo Motors?¡± asked the manager. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kang Chan asked back. The female manager gave Kang Chan an awkward smile. ¡°While they were eating, the person that was sitting next to them dropped their steak onto him. We wiped the stain for him, but we couldn¡¯t do more than that.¡± When Kang Chan turned his head, the manager looked back at him as if asking if he had any more orders for her. ¡°Ms. Manager, I¡¯m going to ask you just one thing honestly. Is there something that I don¡¯t know?¡± asked Kang Chan. The manager seemed to hesitate. ¡°That¡¯s not amon urrence, is it? I think you know best what happened today and what the atmosphere was like. I¡¯m also pretty sure you¡¯ll be honest with me.¡± The manager pursed her lips, then smiled brightly. ¡°Based on the atmosphere while they were eating, it seemed to me like the others were jealous of them. I also got the feeling that they were somewhat disregarding them. I didn¡¯t witness it myself, but ording to the employee that served them food, they said the person was in a position where they couldn¡¯t drop the food at all.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying the person did that on purpose, right?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°I¡¯m just passing on what I heard.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s expression softened, showing he wasn¡¯t going to make a big deal out of this. ¡°I heard them talking while I was wiping their clothes. The madam said they should go home, but the president insisted they should stay until the event ends. However, despite a few people asking them for a business card and voicing out their intention to purchase a car, they still didn¡¯t look that good,¡± the manager continued. Kang Chan roughly understood the situation with the information he got. He slightly bowed his head toward the manager. ¡°Thank you. And please call Joo Chul-Bum over,¡± Kang Chan said, then smiled lightly upon noticing the manager¡¯s eyes hardening. ¡°Please don¡¯t worry,¡± Kang Chan reassured her. ¡°Understood. Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± The title was awkward, but Kang Chan ignored it. He approached Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook with Michelle. As expected, Michelle was the best at catching people¡¯s attention. About half of the buffet restaurant was looking at Kang Chan and Michelle. ¡°Mother!¡± When Kang Chan called, Yoo Hye-Sook raised her head in surprise. She then looked flustered, seemingly not wanting him to see them like that. ¡°You two know Michelle, right?¡± asked Kang Chan. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook got up and greeted Michelle. ¡°Hello? I¡¯m Michelle. I¡¯m learning Korean. I¡¯m really d to see you two again.¡± Even in the midst of this, Michelle put in a marvelous French ent in her Korean. ¡°You''re a fast learner. It¡¯s so good to see you.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook shook hands with Michelle first, and Kang Dae-Kyung only lowered his head while smiling. ¡°It looks like you spilled food,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Unfortunately, we did.¡± When Yoo Hye-Sook turned around and looked back with a pitiful expression, Kang Dae-Kyung wiped his shirt while smiling awkwardly. ¡°That¡¯s a pity. You just bought those clothes,¡± Kang Chan told Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°We can wash it at home. Have you had lunch? If you haven''t, you should eat with us,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook suggested. ¡°Should we do that?¡± Kang Chan asked Michelle if she wanted to eat lunch in French, and she satisfactorily answered with ¡°oui,¡± which everyone understood. More than five couples dropped by and asked who he was since then, and Kang Chan courteously greeted them every time they did. Perhaps it was because Michelle amazed them or it was because of Kang Chan, but people crowded near their table and were showing their interest in them. ¡°You were looking for me?¡± Joo Chul-Bum tactfully took out the ¡®hyung-nim¡¯ when he reached Kang Chan. ¡°There¡¯s a stain on his shirt. Can I get a shirt somewhere?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a tailor shop in the basement. I¡¯ll contact them and have them prepare ordingly. Are you going to have lunch here?¡± ¡°Yes. Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll take all the necessary measures for the shirt right away.¡± Joo Chul-Bum grandly bowed, then walked away. Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung looked stupefied. Those who were watching also looked like something had bewitched them. No one asked what Kang Chan¡¯s rtionship was with him, however. ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch,¡± Kang Chan said. As he was talking, the manager approached him with two other employees. ¡°Will you be dining here?¡± The manager asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yes. I should put on a sticker.¡± ¡°Then please allow me to serve you.¡± With an eye gesture from the manager, the two employees skillfully got rid of everything on the table starting with the tes,id out a new tablecloth, and set out new sets of tes, forks and more. Everything happened in an instant. It was as if they were watching magic unfold. The manager didn¡¯t stop there. Immediately afterward, another employee held out and showcased a wine, then filled Kang Dae-Kyung, Yoo Hye-Sook, Kang Chan and Michelle¡¯s sses. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware you two were Mr. Kang Chan¡¯s parents. It¡¯s an honor to be able to serve all of you. From now on, please feel free to look for us whenever you guys stay here in the hotel,¡± the employee said. Both Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked like they got repeatedly pped. Whilst everyone in the buffet was ncing at them, a clothing rack with a lot of shirts in different colors hanging on it came into the restaurant. Joo Chul-Bum ran ahead of it and bowed. ¡°We prepared this in a hurry, so we¡¯re not sure if any of them will be to your liking.¡± Soon after, approximately more than twenty shirts arrived in front of the table. ¡°Hello, I came from the tailor shop in the basement,¡± a man that had graying hair nced at Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°We thankfully have a shirt that will fit you. How does this look?¡± The man took out three shirts from the hanger and spread them out in front of Yoo Hye-Sook with two hands. ¡°Oh my.¡± As Yoo Hye-Sook admired the shirts, the man chose the shirt in the middle, seemingly satisfied with it. ¡°This is my rmendation. Please try this on. The color of your eyes is beautiful, so I chose a shirt in the same color.¡± The shirt that the man chose for Kang Dae-Kyung was also light blue. ¡°Do you like it?¡± The man asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Yes, I do.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you try it on?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Please go for it. Where can he change?¡± Kang Chan asked the man. With a gesture from the man¡¯s eyes, the two employees that dragged the hanger into the room spread out a folded room divider. ¡°You can change on the other side of the divider,¡± said the man. Isn¡¯t this a bit too much? Kang Chan turned his gaze away, and Joo Chul-Bum only looked ahead while being very still, as if he was a statue. After changing clothes, Kang Dae-Kyung came out. ¡°It looks nice. Thank you. I¡¯ll pay for this on my way down,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°These three have already been paid for.¡± The man put the shirt that Kang Dae-Kyung took off in a fancy shopping bag. ¡°I¡¯ve also put three more shirts inside the bag. As for the shirt you¡¯re wearing, please consider it as a token of my sincerity to serve you and have you dine with us. Please enjoy your stay.¡± When the man left with the employees, Joo Chul-Bum bowed grandly again and followed behind them. Chapter 58.2: They’re Really Doing This?

Chapter 58.2: They¡¯re Really Doing This?

¡°Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked like she suddenly became emotional. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Which dishes are delicious here?¡± asked Kang Chan. Kang Chan ended up smiling lightly due to Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s veryplicated expression. ¡°Let¡¯s eat quickly after we toast. They treat me like this because the person that came from Francest time was a major VIP at this hotel, and the staff greeted me when I was with him. I¡¯m sorry if the treatment displeases you,¡± Kang Chan apologized to his parents. ¡°I wasn¡¯t displeased.¡± ¡°Yeah. You did all of those for us, so this lunch will now be even better. Now, let¡¯s have a toast!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung intervened and sorted out the atmosphere. The four of them had a sip of wine. Kang Chan went around with Yoo Hye-Sook, never leaving her side from start to finish. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Ugh! That has too much oil.¡± ¡°Should we eat galbi?¡± Kang Chan asked again. Kang Chan headed to the galbi section with Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Please have this part, madam. It¡¯s especially delicious,¡± the cook grilling galbi ced a slice of delicious-looking meat on Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s te. Afterward, they were passing the sashimi corner when an employee called out to them. ¡°Madam! This sea bream tastes excellent, so please have some.¡± They then specifically sliced a piece of raw fish for Yoo Hye-Sook and ced it on top of her te. Kang Chan returned to the table with Yoo Hye-Sook. Michelle kept their conversation going. Kang Chan interpreted for her and passed on Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s words in French to Michelle. Since she used to be the editor-in-chief of a magazinepany, Michelle led the conversation with a wide variety of subject matters, making the atmosphere extremely bright. ¡°I¡¯ll try speaking Korean,¡± said Michelle. Michelle looked straight at Yoo Hye-Sook immediately after she swallowed her food. ¡°You¡¯re really beautiful, mother.¡± ¡°Oh my! Thank you so much, Michelle.¡± What a clever bitch. The star of today¡¯s gathering was surely Yoo Hye-Sook. The couples around them took turns approaching, showing their interest in, and exchanging greetings with Kang Chan and Michelle. Kang Chan asked the manager for another favor in the middle of their meal. Soon after, while their fun was reaching its peak amid their lunch, a French person wearing a white Patissier outfit and a high hat came into the hall. ¡°Madam.¡± The manager guided him to Yoo Hye-Sook, to whom he held out a beautifully wrapped box. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my present. I got a shirt for father, and it¡¯s upsetting that I could only get you this,¡± Kang Chan told Yoo Hye-Sook. Yoo Hye-Sook opened the box after observing the expressions of the Patissier and the manager standing nearby. ¡°Oh my!¡± Upon opening the lid, she found pretty slices of cake inside the box. They were beautiful enough for even Kang Chan to acknowledge. When Kang Chan thanked him, the Patissier turned around and left with a satisfied expression. ¡°Channy, I¡¯m so happy,¡± said Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Chan just smiled because he thought Yoo Hye-Sook was going to cry. At the table next to them, people asked if they could also order the same dish, but Kang Chan heard the manager politely refusing them. ¡°Do you like them?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Of course! But these are too precious! How can I eat them?¡± ¡°Please eat them. I¡¯ll buy them for you whenever you crave them from now on.¡± When Yoo Hye-Sook offered the box to Michelle, thetter refused with a smile. ¡°Um, Hye-Sook.¡± An older woman sitting at the table next to them approached Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Sorry for bothering you, but I just suddenly remembered my daughter. Can you do me a favor and order something like that for us as well? ¡°This? My son ordered it for me, so I¡¯m not sure.¡± The older woman smiled awkwardly while looking at Kang Chan, then looked at Yoo Hye-Sook again. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. Can¡¯t you ask him to do that for us?¡± This time, she even acted a bit ¡®cute.¡¯ Kang Chan looked closely at Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s expression. ¡°Channy, can you order this for her?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. He also noticed Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s awkward expression. Kang Chan sought out the manager after turning his head. ¡°You called for me?¡± ¡°I apologize for bothering you, but is it possible to order that again? I want to buy a few of them.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s for you, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. How many should we prepare?¡± When the older woman pped her hands in happiness, a few other older women hastily came over to their table and asked him for the same favor. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but can you fulfill their orders?¡± Kang Chan asked the manager. ¡°As you wish, Mr. Kang Chan. I¡¯ll have them prepared.¡± When the manager left after politely answering him, the olderdies followed behind her, as if they were kids following the sound of a flute. ¡°Ah! I¡¯m full,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°Me too. I really enjoyed it. Thank you, Channy.¡± Kang Chan also ate a lot, just like Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. As the four of them were drinking coffee, Joo Chul-Bum appeared with a simple and chic-looking shopping bag. Bow. Again, all eyes jumped to Kang Chan. ¡°Please ept this gift as proof of my sincerity, madam,¡± said Joo Chul-Bum. The guy carefully ced the shopping bag in front of Yoo Hye-Sook. Everything had been perfect until Joo Chul-Bum did this, but if they declined the gift just because they felt ufortable, then the atmosphere would get ruined. ¡°I¡¯m also quite curious about what¡¯s in it. Please open it,¡± Kang Chan requested. With Kang Chan¡¯s words, Yoo Hye-Sook took out a box that was as big as a cutting board. When she opened it, her expression hardened. Inside was a small Chanel wallet. ¡°That is the best VIP gift the hotel has to offer. We hope it¡¯s to your liking,¡± Joo Chul-Bum told Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Isn¡¯t this too expensive?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°It¡¯s a limited-edition product.¡± This time, the older women ran over like a swarm of bees. Kang Chan and Michelle even had to get up and move out of their way. ¡°What was that?¡± Kang Chan asked with a gentle expression in the corner, but his eyes were burning. ¡°Uh, Gwang-Taek hyung-nim hurriedly sent it over and told us to give it to her no matter what,¡± Joo Chul-Bum answered. ¡°That fucker.¡± Kang Chan quickly looked around their surroundings. ¡°How does that fucker even know I¡¯m here?¡± ¡°It seems like my subordinates on the first floor called him due to the bad situation with the Shin Yeon-Dong gang.¡± Kang Chan twisted his lips. It wasn¡¯t like he could tell Yoo Hye-Sook that they should give back the wallet right now. ¡°Let me take care of today¡¯s bill, including the wallet,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Understood, hyung-nim. But I don¡¯t know the price of the wallet.¡± This wasn¡¯t something that he couldin about, so Kang Chan only nodded. It took ten minutes ofplete disorder before the room finally settled down and became organized again. About half of the older women that witnessed the scene had their eyes glinting. ¡°Can I really ept this, Channy?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Of course. Just this once, please don¡¯t feel bad epting my gift.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Dae-Kyung with a dazed expression. ¡°You should take it. Seeing you holding something like that makes me really happy,¡± said Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Thanks, honey.¡± It was good to see Kang Dae-Kyung stroking her back. When the gathering finally ended, they all headed out of the restaurant together, but the manager of the buffet restaurant handed them a small bag before they could. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°A gift tomemorate the honor of serving your parents.¡± The manager imposed a burden on Kang Chan until the end. ¡°You¡¯ll find our best steak meat inside. I rmend grilling it on a frying pan at home,¡± the manager continued. Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Chan, then epted it. ¡°Thank you. We¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± They then headed out to the lobby. ¡°Do you want to go home with us?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. ¡°No. I should at least say thank you to the people here first. I¡¯ll also have a cup of tea with Michelle.¡± ¡°Okay. Then we¡¯re going first.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook said their goodbyes to Michelle. Yoo Hye-Sook felt sofortable around her that she even hugged Michelle. ¡°Channy!¡± Kang Chan stroked Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s back. *** Having remained at the hotel, Kang Chan visited and thanked each person that took care of them today. The manager of the buffet restaurant even refused to ept the payment for the wine until the very end, saying she gave them the wine because it was good to see Kang Chan taking care of his parents. ¡°In return, Mr. Kang Chan, please allow me to ask you for a favor when I need er on.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t have the heart to refuse, so he only said ¡°alright.¡± When they sat down in the lobby, Michelle looked at Kang Chan with coquettish eyes. ¡°I¡¯m ufortable.¡± ¡°Seeing how you took care of your parents today made me think we¡¯ll have a really peaceful family in the future, Channy.¡± Kang Chan thought he should quickly go somewhere else. *** Beingpletely aware of the negotiations with Alion that Sunday morning, Eun So-Yeon had been feeling uneasy since then. She couldn¡¯t help but be worried about the results of that meeting. ording to those around her, there were rumors that she gave her body to a young president that newly arrived, and that she went around and slept around with an investor that came from France, but she pretended not to notice. Eun So-Yeon really hoped that everything went well. It wasn¡¯t that she felt greedy for the main role. She simply hoped things would work out and that the drama would do well for the sake of Michelle and Kang Chan, both of whom trusted and invested in her. Not long after the appointed time had passed, her phone rang. It was Lee Ha-Yeon. ¡°Hello?¡± - You won¡¯t even greet me properly now? ¡°That¡¯s not it, unnie. Have you been well?¡± - Hmph, are you being sarcastic? ¡°I¡¯m not, unnie.¡± - The negotiation with Alion didn¡¯t work out. And the conversation ended with the actors from D.I. never being able to go on broadcasts in Korea. Eun So-Yeon felt like the glimmer of hope and anticipation she had was breaking like ss. - But I do care about you. Plus what about the kids that practice there? There was something in Lee Ha-Yeon¡¯s words, so Eun So-Yeon only listened. . - There¡¯s a drinking session with Director Moon tonight. Go there and apologize, and make him feel better. If you do that, then I¡¯ll talk to him again. There¡¯s a girl named Ji Yeon-Hee amongst the trainees, right? Take her with you. If you make him feel better today, then there could be a way for you to star in dramas. Eun So-Yeon shook her head while covering her mouth. - Think about how much unnecessary trouble Michelle unnie has to go through because of your inadequacies. Don¡¯te out if you don¡¯t want to. But if you can¡¯t make Director Moon feel better today, then this is really the end for D.I. It¡¯s at 8 pm. I¡¯ll text you the location. Make sure to follow a decision you won¡¯t regret. When the call ended, Eun So-Yeon felt like her energy was draining out of her. She had decided to work with Michelle to not do things of this kind. ¡®Unnie.¡¯ Eun So-Yeon lowered her head while thinking of Michelle. 1. Galbi or grilled ribs is a Korean dish that is usually made of beef short ribs 2. Thisst part refers to the famous legend, the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Chapter 59.1: Why are you smiling like that again? (1)

Chapter 59.1: Why are you smiling like that again? (1)

After parting ways with Michelle at the hotel, Kang Chan headed home. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were in the living room, their expressions profound. ¡°Is something going on?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yeah, Channy.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook answered evasively. Is there something that worries them? While Kang Chan was observing Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s emotions, Kang Dae-Kyung, who was beside Yoo Hye-Sook, said, ¡°Can you talk for a moment?¡± He didn¡¯t seem that at ease either. ¡°I¡¯lle out after I get changed,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Sure.¡± What¡¯s going on? Kang Chan hurriedly changed intofortable clothes and went out to the living room. ¡°We probably answered at least thirty calls after we arrived home,¡± said Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Calls?¡± ¡°Yes, Channy.¡± Kang Chan looked at Kang Dae-Kyung as if to ask what was going on. ¡°About five of them were from people saying they¡¯ll buy a ¡®Chiffre.¡¯¡± They were starting with the good news first. ¡°The couple that spilled the food on your dad¡¯s shirt also called, saying they¡¯ll send a shirt that they bought from a department store by tomorrow,¡± said Yoo Hye-Sook. Is that really a good enough reason to make that face? ¡°And we also got more than twenty calls asking if we can ¡®look after¡¯ their kids.¡± What do they mean to look after their kids? They couldn''t have meant that the callers wanted to send their kids to orphanages as a group. ¡°That aside¡­ Are you the president of D.I.?¡± How did they find out? When Kang Dae-Kyung saw Kang Chan¡¯s expression, the former breathed out heavily as if he was trying to calm down his startled heart. Yoo Hye-Sook, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t hide her shock. ¡°We were told that when people search for Michelle on the inte, articles rted to D.I pop up. And in the articles, your namees up as its president. Some even state that D.I. has recently epted ten billion won in investments from Yungs Ventures,¡± said Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked like he needed an exnation. ¡°A person that I got to know from working on matters rted to Gong Te automobile was looking for a way to invest in a drama productionpany, so I connected them to Michelle. Both sides asked me to take over the role of the president just until the investment goes through in exchange for some stocks and a sry, and I decided to ept it. I didn¡¯t tell you both because I wasn¡¯t going to do it for a long time. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan apologized. Kang Dae-Kyung pressed firmly on the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be sorry for not telling us. We were really surprised to find out our son is the president of a drama productionpany that¡¯s been trending online, though.¡± ¡°When they offered me stocks and a sry, I thought I¡¯d be able to help orphanages with those,¡± Kang Chan said. That was the truth. ¡°I was going to tell both of you after everything has been settled, but this happened instead. I didn¡¯t want to bother you when I haven¡¯t even gotten anything yet, mother.¡± ¡°My goodness! Our Channy has really amazing ways to take care of others!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. ¡°So that¡¯s what happened.¡± Even though he appeared to be epting it, something lingered in Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s mind. When his eyes met Kang Chan¡¯s, Kang Dae-Kyung smiled awkwardly. ¡°Are you perhaps the¡ªuh¡­ What was that? Oh! The alpha. Are you the alpha of the bullies in the Gangnam area?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Kang Chan asked after smiling weakly at his absurd question. Only then did Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook seempletely relieved. ¡°That¡¯s not true, right? Your mom¡¯s friends have called her to say that. We were skeptical, of course, but we couldn¡¯t help but feel worried. That wasn¡¯t true, was it?¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t stopughing. ¡°Of course not. You have nothing to worry about,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± When Kang Chanughed heartily, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s expressions finally returned to normal. ¡°I knew it! Our Channy is a good kid.¡± ¡°Your friends even talked about something like that?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Yeah. A few of them told me that their daughter wants to be an actress or a singer, and asked me to ask you so that you can pave the way for them. Some also told me to ask you to say something because their kid is getting bullied at school.¡± When Kang Chan smiled lightly, Yoo Hye-Sook did as well. ¡°Have you had dinner yet, Channy?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I¡¯m still full. I ate too much earlier.¡± ¡°Then should we eat a slice of cake instead?¡± ¡°Do you want to do that?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s eyes met Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s while Yoo Hye-Sook was in the kitchen. Kang Dae-Kyung seemed proud of him, but he also seemed very concerned about him. ¡°Are you worried?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°A little. Even though I feel proud of how you took care of your mom today, I can¡¯t help but feel worried whenever I hear things that I have difficulties coping with, like this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t tell either of you. I wanted to let you know after I¡¯ve actually earned from it.¡± ¡°I understand. And thanks for today. You made me proud,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. As Kang Chan smiled in embarrassment, Yoo Hye-Sook brought over three slices of cake. All three slices were different, so the three of them shared a little bit of each slice. ¡°Mmm! This is really delicious!¡± eximed Kang Chan. ¡°Don¡¯t get me started, Channy! My friends that bought this from the hotel even called me and asked if they could buy a few more.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook positioned her left hand under her fork as she ate a portion of the cake, preventing crumbs from falling onto herp. A familiar ssic music rang throughout the living room. ¡°Wonder who it is this time?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked into her phone, then quickly pressed the phone to her ear. ¡°Hi, Jin-Sook. Sure. He said it was him. It seems like Channy was nning on keeping it a secret until it was settled because he had taken over the role temporarily. Yeah. Huh?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook discreetly gauged Kang Chan¡¯s expression. ¡°I haven''t talked to him about that yet. Yeah. I¡¯ll try talking to him. Yeah. Your daughter is pretty. Of course. Sure. Yeah.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Yoo Hye-Sook as he put a piece of cake in his mouth, appearing to have found this situation interesting. It was difficult to answer this kind of thing. But just as Yoo Hye-Sook was about to have a piece of cake, ssical music rang out again. ¡°Yeah! Sure. Yeah, he said that it was him. Huh? No. You don¡¯t have to do that, sweetie! I already said that¡¯s not true. It¡¯s okay. Yeah. But you already bought clothes. Not at all, my husband and I already forgot about that, so let it bother you anymore. I¡¯ll talk to him about it no matter what. Tomorrow? No, that won¡¯t work. I have something to do this week. No, really, I do. Yeah. Sure, let¡¯s talk again.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung burst out intoughter when she hung up the phone. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen your phone ring this much ever in my life,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°Honey! I¡¯m in a predicament. She was saying that we should meet up next week. She seems to be feeling bad that she¡¯s asking our Channy to take care of her daughter after she spilled food on you. She even said she¡¯lle over when I¡¯m avable next week, and that she¡¯s already bought five shirts for you as well. She¡¯s making so much fuss over this.¡± Kang Dae-Kyungughed while shrugging. ¡°Mother, please eat the cake.¡± ¡°Sure, Channy.¡± From Kang Chan¡¯s perspective, it seemed like Yoo Hye-Sook felt both proud and embarrassed. She was cute. He didn¡¯t know if it would be right to say it, but he really did find her cute. Now that the news about D.I. had been revealed already, Kang Chan thought it would be best to take care of everything now instead of revealing them one by one like peeling the skin of an onion. ¡°There are things I need to tell you both,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°What is it?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Chan with slightly nervous expressions. ¡°Do you know of a securitypany called Yoo Bi-Corp?¡± ¡°I do. I heard they¡¯re now in charge of France¡¯s official events. Are you¡­?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung started to ask. ¡°Yes. They gave me stocks as well.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯sughter burst out. ¡°And father.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more?¡± Kang Chan gave Yoo Hye-Sook a subtle nce. ¡°Now that I think about it, I also have Gong Te automobile stocks. Can¡¯t we help the kids in the orphanages with it? I think it would be best if we take care of it in a way that would let us get an appropriate amount of interest.¡± ¡°Gong Te automobile stocks?¡± ¡°Yes. When I met themst time, they told me their headquarters was going to send me something apart from the payment I got for tranting. That¡¯s what they sent me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a way for us to get interest from stocks? Well, how much stock do you have?¡± asked Kang Dae-Kyung. Sitting in the middle, Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s gaze alternated between the two. ¡°Um, I don¡¯t know how many I have. I was told that it should be worth about six billion won if I sell it?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked like her soul left her body, and Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s face hardened so much that Kang Chan wondered if he was having a heart attack. After quite a long pause, Kang Dae-Kyung blinked. . ¡°Did you say six billion won?¡± He asked. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s what the employee in the brokerage firm told me, so that¡¯s probably correct.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung failed to understand this situation. It was so absurd it perplexed him. ¡°You¡¯re saying Gong Te gave that to you?¡± ¡°Yes. I received it for introducing a goodpany like Kang Yoo Motors to them instead of apany like Suh Jeong Motors.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re going to donate all of that to help orphanages?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you and mother are doing? I don¡¯t need the money anyway. I¡¯d feel better knowing my mother wouldn¡¯t be heartbroken for not being able to help the children anymore.¡± ¡°Phuhu.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Yoo Hye-Sook while bursting intoughter like Seok Kang-Ho. Yoo Hye-Sook had heard this news in a moment of confusion, so she still looked like she couldn¡¯t distinguish whether it was a dream or reality. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°About what?¡± ¡°About what Channy said.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, honey. I really don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell the employee in the brokerage firm to call the bank tomorrow. Would that much be enough to help all the ces that you two want to help?¡± asked Kang Chan. Kang Dae-Kyung tilted his head. ¡°The interest we¡¯d be getting alone would be enough to help. We wouldn¡¯t even need to touch the principal amount. But with that much, it¡¯d probably be better to create a Foundation in your mom¡¯s name. I¡¯ll look into this a bit more after it¡¯s confirmed tomorrow, so let¡¯s talk about thister.¡± ¡°Alright. I was going to give it to mother anyway, so please feel free to make a decision,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Whoo¡­¡± Kang Dae-Kyung breathed out deeply. ¡°You don¡¯t have anything else to say, do you?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing else,¡± Kang Chan answered. Kang Chan shook his head while smiling. Since he was confessing already, he wanted to tell them that he had about two billion won in his bank ount, but they already had trouble believing he had six billion won in stocks. Adding two billion won on top of that would be going too far. The atmosphere around them had be awkward, but that was a problem that could be solved with time. Kang Chan ended their conversation and went into his room. Yoo Hye-Sook breathed out deeply with her hand on top of her chest. ¡°Honey? This isn¡¯t a dream, is it?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I''d like to ask you the same thing." Since Yoo Hye-Sook was still dumbfounded, Kang Dae-Kyung stroked her shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this after we confirm everything tomorrow. This is just so absurd that I can¡¯t help but feel astonished. That kid is our son, right?¡± asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Honey?¡± ¡°Yeah! I¡¯m just going to believe in our son. I¡¯m just going to think of him as a high schooler son that¡¯s giving us six billion won because it¡¯s what you would be happy about.¡± ¡°Honey, our Channy is okay, right?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Dae-Kyung smiled softly at her. ¡°You saw the inte article. It was apletely legal investment, and everyone finds it amazing. Our Channy likely has excellent capabilities that exceed our imaginations. However, if possible, let¡¯s ept his actions calmly. After all, even if he¡¯s remarkable, he¡¯s still a high schooler and our son.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook stroked the back of Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s hand, which was ced on her shoulder. ¡°Thanks, honey. Your words have made me feel a bit relieved,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Okay.¡± Just as her face regained color, her phone rang again. ¡°Hello? Yeah! Sure!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung sighed deeply beside Yoo Hye-Sook. Chapter 59.2: Why are you smiling like that again? (1)

Chapter 59.2: Why are you smiling like that again? (1)

His parents might be troubled, but Kang Chan felt at ease¡ªrelieved, even, now that he had revealed what he had been hiding. He was sitting at his desk when he got a text message from Kim Mi-Young. They talked for about 10 minutes, then decided to see each other for a moment on Monday evening. ¡®I have to go to D.I.¡¯s office tomorrow.¡¯ Kang Chan was already nning on asking Michelle if there was a way to take care of the favors that were asked of Yoo Hye-Sook once he had met with her. He was still full. ¡®What¡¯s this guy doing?¡¯ Kang Chan remembered Seok Kang-Ho, but he thought thetter could just be spending time with his family after moving. Kang Chan looked at his bed and thought of lying on it, but¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. It was Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Hello?¡± - What are you up to? ¡°Just loafing around.¡± - Let¡¯s go and have a cup of tea without worry. They burst outughing. - Pleasee out now. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan changed into casual attire. *** The Juliana Hotel, which was near the Yeongdong crossroads, was a medium-sized hotel that had a coffee shop and a hostess bar in the basement. The sofa in the coffee shop was made out of fabric and looked plush, but it felt outdated due to its old and worn appearance. ¡°Would those bitches show up?¡± ¡°They probably will for the time being. Their hearts are weak, after all.¡± David Choi and Lee Ha-Yeon conversed while drinking coffee in the corner. Lee Ha-Yeon was wearingfortable attire, a scarf wrapped around her head like a headband, and sunsses big enough to cover half of her face. ¡°Two of the Directors of Programming are evening today. If we make those two drink a bunch of alcohol and push them into a room, we¡¯ll be able to get what we want from them without much work. We can bring Eun So-Yeon to ourpany. What should we do about Ji Yeon-Hee, though?¡± asked David. ¡°Give her a supporting role, then I¡¯ll console her myself.¡± David nodded as his thick lips curved upward. ¡°That¡¯s how people without any background or money be sessful in this industry. That bitch Eun So-Yeon can be a huge star if she just pulled herself together. Why is she making such a big deal out of this when this isn¡¯t even noticeable?¡± David asked. ¡°You¡¯ll just have to teach her about life today.¡± Lee Ha-Yeon was sitting on the sofa as if she was burying herself in it. She stretched her hand and grabbed the teacup. ¡°Can they handle alcohol?¡± David asked again. ¡°They probably won¡¯t know what they¡¯re doing anymore after just three Bomb Shots.¡± ¡°Phew, we can consider that done, then. The remaining problem is the rude kid.¡± ¡°Mr. President, don¡¯t you know people that can fight?¡± asked Lee Ha-Yeon. ¡°Fight?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about gangsters.¡± David looked at Lee Ha-Yeon as if he found her words ridiculous. ¡°I know some that are notorious not just in Gangnam but in the entire country. Why? What are you nning to do?¡± ¡°How about we actually take care of him for good?¡± Lee Ha-Yeon asked, ¡°I¡¯ll call Kang Chan out by stealthily leaking what will happen today.¡± David tilted his head. ¡°Doing that in the hotel is dangerous. I¡¯m going to be in more of a predicament if the directors are found out.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± David frowned at Lee Ha-Yeon¡¯s response. ¡°Don¡¯t recklessly mess around,¡± He warned. ¡°That¡¯s not it. He fights in public anyway. He even did it in the Namsan Hotel. Isn¡¯t it wrong for a president that ims to know famous gangsters in the country to hesitate?¡± ¡°As I said before, he¡¯s acting that way because he¡¯s still young.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± When Lee Ha-Yeon turned her head as if she was annoyed, David twisted his lips. *** Kang Chan drank coffee with Seok Kang-Ho at Misari. He first told Seok Kang-Ho about what happened at the hotel, then discussed for a moment about the retreat schedule. ¡°I was told there¡¯d be a way to help orphanages with the stocks from Gong Te automobile, so I decided to give them to my mother. I was also nning on giving her the money, but the stocks seemed to have shocked her too much. I¡¯ll do it when I get another opportunity instead,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Orphanages? Are you talking about the one that you went tost time?¡± ¡°Yeah. When I went there, I saw they were eating terrible food.¡± Just as Seok Kang-Ho was about to take out a cigarette, he turned his head to Kang Chan. ¡°Then let¡¯s also hand over my share of the stocks that I got to the orphanage.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t. I know you have good intentions, but I had to force them to ept my stocks alone. How do you suppose we exin your share if we also give it to them?¡± ¡°Good point.¡± Kang Chan also took out a cigarette. ¡°I¡¯m still a bit confused. I was twenty-nine when I died. Since it¡¯s 2010 now, then I¡¯m already thirty-two. Having the body of a teenager confuses me. When I go home and talk to my family, I still have moments where I¡¯m like, ¡®Shoot, I''m a high schooler, right?¡¯¡± ¡°At least you got younger. On the other hand, I¡¯m suddenly forty. This is hard to get used to. I can treat my daughter like she¡¯s my child now, but it was difficult for me to even hold her before.¡± Seok Kang-Ho deeply exhaled cigarette smoke. ¡°Still, it¡¯s a relief that it¡¯s you that has a daughter. If it was that fucker Smithen, an awful incident would¡¯ve urred.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded while frowning. ¡°That fucker¡¯s definitely terrible enough for that to happen. I wonder how he¡¯s doing, though,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°I talked to him on the phone. Smithen said he was going to sign up to learn at anguage school.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s set a date and have a meal with him.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Um¡­¡± Seok Kang-Ho carefully brought something up. What¡¯s making this fucker act like that? ¡°What do you think about visiting our house?¡± Kang Chanughed out loud. ¡°My wife said we should thank you while having a housewarming party now that we¡¯ve moved. We¡¯re going to have a housewarming party with the teachers this week, and I was told that other family members areing. So how about sometime next week?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. ¡°Why are you having a hard time asking that?¡± ¡°Because just thinking about it is already awkward in itself.¡±.¡± ¡°I¡¯lle. It¡¯s ufortable, but I should at least know what she looks like so I can say hello whenever I run into her. Let me know when you¡¯ve decided on a date,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Sure.¡± Seok Kang-Ho leaned against the chair with a flop, seemingly relieved. ¡°Do you need anything at your house?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Not really.¡± Finding the straightforward answer funny for some strange reason, Kang Chan burst outughing with a ¡°Phuhu.¡± Though the days were longer now since it was summer, the street lights that surrounded the cafe and the road had turned on. ¡°I wish we can find out why the two of us reincarnated into new bodies like this. There could be other guys somewhere that reincarnated as well,¡± Kang Chanmented. Kang Chan looked at the river while shaking all of the remaining coffee bits into his cup. ¡°I¡¯ve been dreaming about Africately. Honestly, I lived like a crazy bastard picking fights all over the ce until I met you. Then I finally felt the fun of living for the first time.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect Seok Kang-Ho to beat around the bush like this just to say he had be a decent human being after being beaten up. ¡°You were the first person that I couldn¡¯t win against with my strength. Normally, people break by the third time I pounce at them, which I do even though they¡¯re already dispirited. Do you remember ourst fight?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. When Kang Chan smirked, Seok Kang-Ho turned his gaze to the dark sky. ¡°I really thought I was going to die that day. Strangely after that, though, I also thought I wanted to live with you until the end. Point is, on that day, I finally found someone I wanted to follow for the first time.¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t suit you, you punk.¡± ¡°Phuhu, I¡¯m also craving a ss of alcohol today. I remember when we were at Mang. Whew! You were really cool back then.¡± Seok Kang-Ho took out a cigarette and handed one to Kang Chan, then also put one in his mouth. ¡°When you broke off the rope for me even though you were already covered in blood, I thought I¡¯d follow you even to the deepest parts of hell.¡± Seok Kang-Ho raised his coffee cup, then ced it back down upon finding he had already drank all of the coffee in it. These were stories that happened a long time ago. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. At that moment, Kang Chan¡¯s phone vibrated. ¡°Yes, Michelle?¡± - Channy, So-Yeon called and said that Lee Ha-Yeon told her toe out to a bar today with Ji Yeon-Hee, one of our trainees. She said it was thest way to save D.I. ¡°Can¡¯t they just not go there?¡± - That¡¯s true, but she seems afraid since Lee Ha-Yeon told her that the Director of Programming is also going to be there. ¡°Michelle, I¡¯m fine with Eun So-Yeon calling you about her concerns, but I don¡¯t want you to be worried as well. Let¡¯s work fairly. Isn¡¯t that why you asked me to acquire D.I.? You should remain calm and steady at times like this.¡± Kang Chan heard the sound of Michelle inhaling loudly. - I¡¯m sorry, Channy. I think I got rattled a bit because I kept thinking I needed to protect the money that you invested. I¡¯ll work properly from now on. Thank you. ¡°Now that¡¯s more like you. Where¡¯s Eun So-Yeon and Ji Yeon-Hee?¡± - I told them toe to Bang Bae-dong, the restaurant where we first met.¡± ¡°Good job. Be confident, okay?¡± - Okay, Channy. I¡¯ll tell the kids that as well. ¡°Work hard.¡± Kang Chan smirked after he hung up the phone. As expected, problems always urred whenever he didn¡¯t close down matters properly. ¡°Why are you smiling like that again?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chan roughly exined what happened. Lee Ha-Yeon? He needed to put a proper end to her. 1. Yeongdong is a county in South Korea 2. Bomb Shot is a drink where different alcoholic drinks are mixed. It¡¯s much stronger than regr alcohol, so it can get people drunk quicker Chapter 60.1: Why are you smiling like that again? (2)

Chapter 60.1: Why are you smiling like that again? (2)

Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho to give him a ride to the cafe in Bang Bae-Dong. They arrived forty minutes after his call with Michelle. When he went into the cafe, Michelle was startled. Eun So-Yeon and Ji Yeon-Hee were even more so. ¡°Hey, boss!¡± ¡°Hello.¡± After Kang Chan sat down, he ordered a small bottle of beer. Eun So-Yeon was twenty-three this year, and Ji Yeon-Hee was twenty. Though they looked a lot younger than him, there was no way for him to know if they saw themselves as older than him anyway. If they epted and treated Kang Chan ording to the maturity he had in his previous life, then everyone would find the situation okay. Otherwise, they¡¯d all likely be ufortable. That was also the case when he went to France. The contents of the call that Eun So-Yeon passed to him were simple. ¡°Good job. From now on, avoid talking to Lee Ha-Yeon as much as possible,¡± Kang Chan told Eun So-Yeon. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of doing that.¡± The fact that she hadn¡¯t gone to that kind of ce alone was praiseworthy in itself. Kang Chan asked about what Eun So-Yeon and Ji Yeon-Hee were worried about and listened to their opinions. ¡°We really don¡¯t want you or Michelle unnie to face a loss. This would¡¯ve been a different story if D.I. was powerful or if Yeon-Hee or I was a star, but neither of those is true. We just feel upset for not being able to stand our ground right now.¡± ¡°What about you, Yeon-Hee? Do you have anything to say?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°The trainees are very satisfied right now, but they¡¯re worried that the drama would be ruined or that they wouldn¡¯t be able to appear in it because Ha-Yeon unnie is being cruel.¡± Kang Chan roughly understood. ¡°Let¡¯s not rush into things. This is also my fault, considering I was the one who insisted we should produce a drama immediately because we''ve finalized the investment.¡± Honestly, this happened because Lanok had asked him to quicken things up as much as he could, but he didn¡¯t want to use that excuse. ¡°Michelle, is this drama really okay?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°It¡¯s a good drama, boss. There''s arge possibility for it to seed overseas as well.¡± He needed to trust Michelle when it came to things like this. ¡°Can you get a drama production team?¡± Kang Chan asked Michelle again. ¡°The director Pyo Min-Seong said that he just needs to gather other staff members, then he¡¯ll film it. All that remains is the casting.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s start filming the drama.¡± The three women looked at Kang Chan with dumbfounded expressions. ¡°You said that you¡¯re confident, right? So just film it. Make it so that our kids can star in it, if possible,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Are you thinking of doing a pre-production?¡± ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ve secured the investment anyway. Oh, can you test a few kids for me as well?¡± ¡°You mean we should hold an audition?¡± Michelle asked again. ¡°Don¡¯t make it grand. We just need to sound out their potential if possible.¡± Kang Chan recalled Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s awkward expression. ¡°That is something we¡¯re supposed to do anyway.¡± ¡°Tell them clearly if they have no potential,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about things like that. I won¡¯t be conducting the audition alone anyway. Everyone¡¯s going to be watching it, including the trainees.¡± Kang Chan nodded. He was satisfied. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s not worry about the programming anymore and just focus on producing the drama. Since we have no experience, get good actors even if we have to spend more money.¡± Michelle looked like she hade to a decision. ¡°Noted, sir. Since we¡¯re doing this, I¡¯ll cast well-known people even for the supporting roles.¡± Eun So-Yeon and Ji Yeon-Hee looked half-excited and half-worried. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. In the middle of their conversation, Kang Chan received a call from Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Mr. President. How can I help you?¡± - Do you have time to spare right now? ¡°Yes. I¡¯m in Bang Bae-Dong right now, but I can go elsewhere.¡± - Can you visit my room at the hospital, then? ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll leave right now.¡± Kang Chan warned them once more not to let Lee Ha-Yeon rattle them if ever she were to call again. He then got up from his spot. Has he not been discharged still? Kang Chan took a taxi to the hospital. He sometimes wished he had a senior like Kim Tae-Jin¡ªsomeone who genuinely cared for his subordinates or crewmates. When Kang Chan got off at the hospital and opened the door of Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s room, he found Kim Tae-Jin talking with a man that looked easy-going. Yet the atmosphere was heavy. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Why do you have that expression on your face?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked back. The man got up from his seat and turned toward Kang Chan. ¡°Let me introduce him. He¡¯s my friend that I was telling you about. He was in the military with me before, and he¡¯s in the National Intelligence Service now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Kim Hyung-Jung.¡± He had quite a strong grip. ¡°I¡¯ve been pestering him to introduce me to you. It¡¯s nice to finally meet you,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. Kim Hyung-Jung held out his business card. ¡°Do you want a cup of coffee?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°I already drank a lot of coffee today.¡± Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung sat diagonally from each other and faced Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°This friend of mine would¡¯ve tried to sympathized with me even if I were to betray him, saying that there must be a clear reason for it.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what Kim Hyung-Jung was going to say, but he started quite strong. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to say, so I¡¯ll be upfront. To begin with, I¡¯m going to disclose information I recently received from our best intelligence agency. However, I ask that this stays between us,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. ¡°If you don¡¯t want others to know about it, then please just don¡¯t say it.¡± Kang Chan firmly cut off what he was about to say. ¡°I have one person that I trust deeply. I always end up telling him everything. Considering there¡¯s a possibility that you¡¯re going to be suspicious that what you¡¯re about to say has been leaked, then I don¡¯t want to hear it at all,¡± Kang Chan continued. Kim Hyung-Jung nced at Kim Tae-Jin, then replied, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll leave that to your judgment.¡± ¡°Is it that important that I¡¯m made aware of this information?¡± asked Kang Chan. This was the first time Kang Chan saw Kim Hyung-Jung. Regardless of the method, he didn¡¯t want to hear anything that would make him feel burdened. ¡°For my sake, let¡¯s hear what he has to say for now,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan sighed softly. Now that Kim Tae-Jin had said that, Kang Chan thought this was now worth enduring. ¡°France is pushing some sort of n to reign supreme over Europe,¡± said Kim Hyung-Jung. Is this rted to Lanok? Kim Hyung-Jung checked Kang Chan¡¯s reaction before continuing. ¡°They have a n for a railway system that will connect Russia with France. I was told that its codename is ¡®licorne.¡¯¡± ¡°That means unicorn, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Chanmented. Kim Hyung-Jung smiled sheepishly, seemingly apologetic for his poor pronunciation. ¡°The chief manager of that n is someone you also know very well.¡± Lanok! Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t say the name. ¡°The problem is North Korea.¡± Kang Chan tilted his head. ¡°The Unicorn n includes North Korea.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said that with a troubled expression, but it sounded nothing more than unremarkable news to Kang Chan. ¡°North Korea is even showing signs of being severely divided. Its people have split into two factions¨Cthose that suggest North Korea should refuse this case because they support China, and those that argue North Korea should participate in Russia¡¯s n.¡± ¡°And why do you find the need for me to hear about this?¡± asked Kang Chan, not wanting to further interfere in this situation. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, if ¡®Unicorn¡¯ connects with North Korea, South Korea will be put in a very awkward position,¡± said Kim Hyung-Jung. South Korea wouldn¡¯t be put in an awkward position just because they couldn¡¯t buy train tickets for it, would they? ¡°To start, seventy percent of the cargo load will go to North Korea. If that happens, then South Korea will have to be wary of North Korea even when we export goods. However, the bigger problem is China,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. Kang Chan sighed softly. ¡°China would find it hard to ept North Korea being financially independent.¡± Rather than informing a high schooler, this should be said in a meeting with government cab members. Kim Hyung-Jung stopped speaking when he noticed annoyance in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. The room¡¯s atmosphere was already cold, and Kang Chan¡¯s irritated expression didn¡¯t make it any better. ¡°It seems like he wants you to negotiate with Lanok,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. Kang Chan ended up smirking. Was he asking Kang Chan because there was no one else that could negotiate with Lanok about this kind of thing in South Korea? ¡°The chief executives of each country have a secretmunicationswork, which we call an unofficial workce rtionship. Unfortunately, Lanok never approved to be in one with anyone in South Korea. For some reason, though, you seem to be an exception, considering he¡¯s privately talked to you on the phone multiple times already,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°You should¡¯ve just looked for someone else in France if you have time to figure something like that out.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung smacked his lips with Kang Chan¡¯s words. ¡°Honestly, you can¡¯t really get away from this matter either way. You¡¯ve be a figure that not only France but even the Intelligence Bureaus of China, North Korea, Russia, and all European countries are paying attention to,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. Damn it! No wonder ten billion won was suddenly thrown at me when I spoke. ¡°The money that Lanok supported you with all came from France¡¯s Intelligence Bureau, and it was also because of you that Lanok¡¯s opposition was settled properly.¡± Kang Chan felt bitter. ¡°Let¡¯s rest for a bit. I want to smoke a cigarette and drink a cup of coffee,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung got up from his spot while hitting both of his thighs as if he was pping them. ¡°I¡¯ll make it,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°No, let me. It¡¯s only proper for the person asking for a favor to make the coffee.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung gave Kang Chan a pleasant smile, which made him seem like a good person. Chapter 60.2: Why are you smiling like that again? (2)

Chapter 60.2: Why are you smiling like that again? (2)

Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung each smoked a cigarette after thetter made coffee. ¡°For the sake of our country, please help us.¡± When Kang Chan smirked, Kim Hyung-Jung nodded. ¡°In return, we won¡¯t punish this hospital for the act of giving illegal medical treatment, and we¡¯ll give you the televising rights to the drama that you¡¯re producing right now. We¡¯ll also give you immunity from criminal liability within the country, no matter what you do.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung spewed out word after word, seemingly having memorized them. ¡°We¡¯ll also give you the opportunity to receive special admission to a University in Seoul. Lastly, The National Intelligence Service will allocate a fund of ten billion won per year to you.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung twisted his head to avoid exhaling smoke toward those in the room, then took out an envelope from his chest pocket and handed it to Kang Chan. Kang Chan took the envelope for now since Kim Hyung-Jung was also holding a coffee cup. ¡°You can use the card that¡¯s inside the envelope. It¡¯s under the Sam Jeong Group and has no limit, so feel free to use it as much as you want. And if you need money, then you can just withdraw cash from an ATM or call the credit cardpany to remit money to an appointed ount,¡± said Kim Hyung-Jung. Bullshit. Why should money be remitted into my ount when all I pay for is coffee and eat pork cutlets at best? ¡°Isn¡¯t it weird that you¡¯re doing things to this extent to a high schooler?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°This is a request from our country to someone that can contact Lanok through an unofficial workce rtionship. If we get connected to ¡®Unicorn¡¯ as well, then South Korea will be able to grow twice as big as Japan in an instant.¡± ¡°What if Lanok refuses?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Then you should relieve his worries. He¡¯s a typical French person. He has inhibitions with others, but once he considers you as his person, he¡¯d give you unconditional trust.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung swallowed dryly even though he was holding coffee. ¡°If South Korea can¡¯t get connected with the railway system, then you just need to ensure that it doesn¡¯t connect with North Korea either. We hope it links up with North Korea and South Korea, though,¡± said Kim Hyung-Jung. Kang Chan smiled slowly as he observed the look in Kim Hyung-Jung''s eyes, which made it seem they united with some sense of duty. ¡°Those that are against Lanok are in Europe. They nned to destroy him by using drugs to put Gong Te automobile on the line, but you stopped that. The Intelligence Bureaus of other countries are searching desperately for your connection with Lanok regarding that. Of course, we¡¯re about to go crazy from curiosity as well.¡± Kang Chan was about to go crazy out of sheer curiosity as to why he reincarnated too. Kim Hyung-Jung looked like he was anticipating Kang Chan to give him an answer by any chance, but there was no way to exin his reincarnation. ¡°Please help us. For our country.¡± The atmosphere flowed strangely. When Kang Chan turned his gaze, Kim Tae-Jin briefly nodded. ¡°Are you telling me to ept it?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re going to live a normal life anyway.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think this is something I should be doing. I don¡¯t even know how Lanok is going to answer. How about I call him and ask for help after telling him that I¡¯ve heard about this?¡± Kang Chan suggested. When Kang Chan handed him the envelope, Kim Hyung-Jung shook his head. ¡°If you take that, then I¡¯ll get a promotion.¡± This was a far more touching plea, more than all of the conditions that he yapped about before this. When Kang Chan smiled lightly, Kim Hyung-Jung did as well. ¡°I¡¯ll be upfront with Lanok about this and ask for his help. If he refuses, then there''s nothing else that I can do,¡± Kang Chan decided. ¡°Even if it¡¯s just that, we still ask that you do it, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Upon hearing Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s straightforward answer, Kang Chan suddenly got suspicious. There had to be something that he was hiding from him. ¡°Congrattions on getting the promotion,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. I¡¯ll buy you somethingter.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung immediately responded to Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s joke. Is he really getting a promotion just because he asked for one favor from a high schooler? ¡°You probably won¡¯t believe this, but if we get linked up with ¡®Unicorn,¡¯ then we''ll generate about a hundred trillion won each year from it. When you take that into consideration, then the conditions that I offered you are unscrupulous and basically me shamelessly clinging onto your patriotism. If this seeds, I¡¯d likely be the next director of our country¡¯s National Intelligence Service,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. It sounded like a joke, but it also seemed like the truth. In any case, Kim Hyung-Jung looked serious. ¡°You¡¯ll be contacted a few times by tomorrow. I¡¯ll see you again in the afternoon or at dinner after you¡¯ve taken action,¡± said Kim Hyung-Jung. When Kang Chan looked puzzled, Kim Hyung-Jung smiled while saying, ¡°I should get some brownie points from Lanok.¡± He then immediately got up from his spot. It was obvious what he was hinting at¡ªhe wanted Kang Chan to talk to Kim Tae-Jin. They shook hands, then Kim Hyung-Jung left the room. ¡°Today is actually his third visit,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told Kang Chan. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± Kim Tae-Jin looked straight at Kang Chan. ¡°I was worried if this would mean I¡¯d be selling you out and that it could harm you.¡± ¡°What about today?¡± ¡°He asked me to trust him, so I called you.¡± Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s words and the look in his eyes looked cool. ¡°Why don¡¯t you do what he asked?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be that fun if I do it alone.¡± Kim Tae-Jin nodded and smiled knowingly. ¡°I¡¯ll call Kim Hyung-Jung tomorrow and deploy the five employees that you¡¯re training right now to the National Intelligence Service and let them assist you. They¡¯ll get to carry firearms, so they¡¯ll be helpful in case things go awry.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you thinking too far ahead?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°This is a battle between the Information Agencies and National Intelligence Services of different countries. Compared to Europe, China, and Russia, South Koreacks power in all respects. Still, I don¡¯t want to lose. If we¡¯re going to assume we¡¯re going to lose anyway, we might as well not join at all.¡± Considering I''d be doing this with someone like Kim Tae-Jin, and Seok Kang-Ho could excel in this, then... ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°You have to take responsibility in my stead as well since deploying my employees also means we¡¯re going to be allowed to carry firearms,¡± Kim Tae-Jin continued. ¡°It¡¯s going to be much more fun than grappling with gangsters.¡± They smiled at each other. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of putting Mr. Seok Kang-Ho in this, aren¡¯t you?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°If he wants to do it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a fat chance that he¡¯s going to say no with that personality of his.¡± They talked for quite a long time, which they hadn¡¯t done in a while, then Kang Chan returned home. There was a lot on his mind, but what he had to do was simple. He just needed to ask Lanok if he¡¯d help them. If he wouldn¡¯t, then that would be it. Nothing was difficult about that. *** On Monday morning, Kang Chan ate with his family after working out. ¡°The brokeragepany is going to call youter in the day. Please take care of the rest, father,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Alright. If this goes the way you said it will then let¡¯s make a foundation under your mom¡¯s name.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s faces showed that they had be much morefortable in one night. ¡°This is a lot of money, Channy. Wouldn''t you regret it?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Chan smiled happily. ¡°You¡¯re going to get to do what you¡¯ve always wanted. I don¡¯t think anything else I can buy with those stocks can make you happier than this.¡± ¡°Thank you, Channy.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook stopped eating and put her arms around Kang Chan¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Ah, right. I talked to Michelle. She told me to contact thepany right away if there are any kids that want to audition. She¡¯ll take care of them if they just say your name,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Really? Phew, that went well. This isn¡¯t too much of a burden for you, is it?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook still seemed worried about Kang Chan even in the midst of all this. ¡°On the contrary, Michelle said she¡¯s actually asking you to do this, because she¡¯s having a hard time finding rookie actors.¡± ¡°That takes a load off of your worries, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s because of our Channy.¡± By the time they had finished eating, Yoo Hye-Sook had a much brighter expression than before. Kang Chan then asked Kang Dae-Kyung if he could give him a ride to the school. ¡°You want me to? Alright.¡± Kang Chan and Kang Dae-Kyung left together. Just as the car headed out of the basement parking lot, Kang Chan spoke up. ¡°It seems like the person helping me has an amazing amount of power over in France,¡± Hemented, deciding that at least Kang Dae-Kyung should know what was going to happen from now on, even if it was just the gist of it. ¡°The South Korean Government contacted me. They want me to be the bridge between him and our country.¡± . Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Kang Chan, his expression seemingly saying he couldn¡¯t believe what his son just said, then concentrated on the road again. ¡°There could be asions where I¡¯d be acting differently from a regr high schooler. So I wanted to tell at least you about it in advance,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Kang Dae-Kyung first sighed loudly. ¡°Starting from when you seeded with the contract with Gong Te automobile and you got about six billion won¡¯s worth in stocks, I¡¯ve always thought of you as extraordinary. However, the phrase, ¡®there¡¯s no such thing as free in this world¡¯ exists for a reason. Isn¡¯t this dangerous?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just going to be passing on the South Korean Government¡¯s request to him, so it could end quickly. On the other hand, however, there could be things that mother would get worried about.¡± ¡°You expect me not to be worried about you?¡± asked Kang Dae-Kyung. Kang Chan smirked. It seemed like a serious question, but it was strangely funny to him. ¡°No parent wouldn¡¯t like a talented child, but no parent would want their kid to be injured either. We¡¯d like to live with our children for as long as possible, even if their child was a bitcking. You get what I¡¯m saying, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung stroked Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder with his right arm. ¡°It¡¯s a bit gross to hug you as your mom did, but I also want to show my affection.¡± They both smiled gently. Soon after, they arrived in front of the school. When Kang Chan got out of the car and said, ¡°Please drive safely,¡± Kang Chan said upon getting out of the car. Kang Dae-Kyung waved him goodbye. There were still quite a lot of twelfth-graders that came to school, even though they were on a break. Kang Chan opened the door of the athletics club room while thinking he should have coffee, only to find Seok Kang-Ho already making one. ¡°Huh? What brings you here?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a teacher. Have you forgotten? I still have toe here for about a week, even during breaks.¡± Seok Kang-Ho handed Kang Chan a cup of coffee. Kang Chan then told him what transpired earlier. ¡°What do you n to do?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked afterward. ¡°I doubt anything big is going to happen. I just have to call Lanok, after all. If he refuses, then I just need to tell Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung about it.¡± ¡°You said they asked you to at least stop the rail from being connected to North Korea if things don''t work out, didn¡¯t you? Would such a task really be that easy to do? I¡¯m worried, but on the other hand, I¡¯m also envious.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°You¡¯re also a part of this. What made you think you''re going to be able to sit this one out? Even President Kim Tae-Jin and the five employees we¡¯ve been training will be meddling in this matter with us.¡± ¡°But aren¡¯t I a teacher?¡± ¡°Hey! What made you think people capable of taking care of broadcasting programs and giving us immunity from criminal liability aren¡¯t capable of controlling something as little as your work schedule?¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes glinted as he smirked. ¡°You¡¯reing with us, right?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Were you thinking of excluding me?¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho smirked at each other. Kang Chan¡¯s phone soon rang despite it still being so early in the morning. Chapter 61: Unicorn Project (1)

Chapter 61: Unicorn Project (1)

The phone number was just a bunch of zeroes. ¡°Hello?¡± - Monsieur Kang, it¡¯s Lanok. The ¡®Unicorn¡¯ or the rail aside, Kang Chan was d to hear from Lanok. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, I hope you¡¯re doing well.¡± - Unfortunately, I¡¯m not. He sounds fine, though. - I miss you a lot. Was this sly fox able to say things like this? When Kang Chan smiled brightly, he heard the sound of Lanok¡¯sugh over the phone. - Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯ve essentially finished all my affairs here in France. I¡¯ll be arriving in Korea tomorrow. I¡¯d like to see you for a moment in the evening then. Would that work for you?¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Ambassador. Please let me know about the time and location once you¡¯ve decided.¡± - I¡¯ll do that. See you tomorrow. ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan put the phone down and told Seok Kang-Ho about the call. ¡°Why would Lanok seek you out the moment hees to Korea?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be to talk about Shan¡¯s backer or the rail?¡± ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± They had simr thoughts. Since he already epted a call anyway, Kang Chan called Cecile and gave her Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s phone number, then expressed his wish for them to liquidate the stocks and hand them over to Kang Dae-Kyung. - We¡¯ll act ordingly then, Channy. We¡¯ll just need your signature for the remittance. ¡°Alright. Talk to my father first, then let me know when you¡¯re going to remit the money.¡± - Okay. Kang Chan dropped the call. After a while, the athletics club members came in one after another. The girls changed inside. As Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho got out of the athletics club room and walked down the stands, the five employees from Kim Tae-Jin¡¯spany ran over and politely greeted them. ¡°Hello, Mr. Director.¡± Director? Director of what? ¡°There was a notice that you were appointed as the Director of Yoo-Bi Corp as of Monday. We look forward to working with you,¡± one employee exined to Kang Chan. Kang Chan smacked his lips. Kim Tae-Jin pulled it off in the end. Kang Chan had to be careful not to say the wrong thing now. Otherwise, he¡¯d be ruining Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s image. ¡°And tomorrow, we¡¯ll be going to amissioned education session for two weeks,¡± the employee continued. ¡°Commissioned education session? What¡¯s that?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. An employee got really close and answered, seemingly in a whisper, ¡°Hasn¡¯t it been decided that you¡¯re also going with us?¡± ¡°I am?¡± ¡°We heard it¡¯s for the country¡¯s National Intelligence Service, and that you¡¯re also included as a specially employed agent. We¡¯re apparently supposed to enter the Sam-Gun Military Academy tomorrow, but the President said that he¡¯ll call at around 10 am.¡± Seok Kang-Ho turned his head and looked at Kang Chan, but thetter knew nothing about it either. ¡®What on earth did that guy do?¡¯ Seok Kang-Ho appeared to have mixed feelings about it. ¡°We¡¯ll only have the morning training session for today, then.¡± Kang Chan said. The employees then returned to the sports field again. ¡°So I¡¯m one of the specially employed agents in the National Intelligence Service now?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°That seems to be the case. They said Kim Tae-Jin will call at 10 am, so let¡¯s talk about this after that.¡± Kang Chan was in a pretty bad mood. Seok Kang-Ho wasn¡¯t just a random person. Kang Chan was offended Kim Tae-Jin had put Seok Kang-Ho on the list of those that would receive themissioned education session without discussing it with them first. ¡°You should loosen up. As far as I know, President Kim isn¡¯t thoughtless or a bad person. There had to have been a situation that was a good enough reason to do this,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°That¡¯s true, but this still doesn¡¯t make sense. He only informed us about this after deciding for us to join it. Even if we assume it makes sense for me to join, how can he do this to you when you¡¯re going to be directly affected by this?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°As I said, we should listen to what Kim Tae-Jin has to say for now before we decide.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked like he was secretly excited. Having finished changing, the kids headed out to the sports field. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho returned to the athletics club room. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Wondering if it was Kim Tae-Jin, Kang Chan checked the screen, but the call was from an unknown number. He tilted his head, then answered the phone. ¡°Hello?¡± - Is this Mr. Kang Chan? The voice sounded old and dignified. ¡°Yes, it is. Who am I talking to?¡± - Nice to meet you, Mr. Kang Chan. I¡¯m Yoon Hak-Suh, the president of SBC. I¡¯m calling you to convey our interest to broadcast the drama you¡¯re currently producing. Kim Hyung-Jung clearly delivered his words about working on the programming issue. ¡°Thank you, Mr. President.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t know a different procedure, so he first thanked him. - We¡¯ll send over Moon Bon-Geun, our director of programming, to yourpany within the day. Please let him know of any necessary conditions and the price per episode once you¡¯vee to a decision. Feel free to use this number to inform us as well if anything bothers you. We¡¯ll be sure to take action. What would be the best time for him to visit thepany? ¡°3 pm at D.I. works for me.¡± - We¡¯ll send him over at that time, then. Should you happen to pass by Yeouido at any time, then please don¡¯t hesitate to pay ourpany a visit. ¡°I¡¯ll do that when I get the chance.¡± Sing this morning, Kang Chan had been on the verge of going crazy. He looked for Michelle¡¯s phone number as he told Seok Kang-Ho about the call. Rattle. However, Kim Tae-Jin suddenly came into the athletics club room. He was wearing a tidy suit. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten discharged from the hospital?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Mm, can we talk for a moment?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was going to make coffee, but Kim Tae-Jin made him sit. ¡°First, I¡¯d like to apologize for not being able to contact you earlier. Things progressed too quickly this morning.¡± Kang Chan felt unhappy, but it softened to a certain degree when Kim Tae-Jin started with an apology. ¡°Four people from the National Intelligence Service came to my room at the hospital this morning. They insisted that Mr. Seok Kang-Ho and the five employees be given the qualifications of an agent no matter what, which resulted in a long conversation. They didn¡¯t care about anything else. I said I wasn¡¯t going to take on this role without hearing your and Mr. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s opinion first. They then hastily contacted me at around 8 am, telling me that they were going to take care of Mr. Seok Kang-Ho as a specially employed technical agent. He¡¯s going to be handling private information on the scene for now because of his age.¡± ¡°Is that how the talk about the two-week training session came about?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That was the best that I could do to allow him to keep his job as a teacher. I was worried about his age. Hence, we decided to ensure he''d be spending the two-week education session around paperwork.. I¡¯m really sorry for not getting your consent first.¡± Kang Chan thought Kim Tae-Jin looked cool. He hoped he would look like him when he grew old. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s expression seemed to agree with his opinion as well. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I got upset since I didn¡¯t know what was happening,¡± Kang Chan apologized. ¡°That¡¯s totally understandable. That¡¯s how you should think if you care about your people.¡± ¡°Thank you for understanding.¡± ¡°Our employees are going to go to a two-week training session tomorrow, and Mr. Seok Kang-Ho is set to only enter the military academy on paper. We need to be extra cautious not to be involved in any idents or criminal cases, including car idents, during that period,¡± Kim Tae-Jin continued. ¡°Alright,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, seven hundred million won will be deposited into your bank ount today. Since Kang Chan was appointed as the director today, his wage will be arranged separately. I was also informed that the National Intelligence Service will be providing special extra payments. However, they said they¡¯ll take care of it themselves, so we won¡¯t actually know how much they¡¯d be giving until we receive it.¡± Seok Kang-Ho refused multiple times, but Kim Tae-Jin was adamant. In the end, the conversation ended with Seok Kang-Ho treating them to a expensive dinner. Kim Tae-Jin asked for coffee after he finished talking. He didn¡¯t even stop to take a breather. ¡°Phew, I feel a bit relieved now,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°About what?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but be worried since I made a decision on my own. I was also concerned if this meant I sold you out to put five of our employees in the National Intelligence Service.¡± ¡°Is this mission really that great?¡± Kim Tae-Jin grabbed the coffee that Seok Kang-Ho handed to him and nodded. ¡°If I could pay to put them in the National Intelligence Service, I dly would¡¯ve even if it would cost me a billion won. Having experience working in that organization makes a huge difference.¡± As Kang Chan watched Kim Tae-Jin take a sip of his coffee, he realized he forgot to tell him something. ¡°Right! Lanok had called me,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Huh! Shoot!¡± At that moment, coffee spilled onto Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s pants. He wiped it with his hands. ¡°Lanok called you?¡± He asked. ¡°Yes. He said he¡¯s arriving in South Korea tomorrow, and that we should meet in the evening then. We decided to talk again when the time and location have been finalized.¡± Kim Tae-Jinughed, seemingly dumbfounded. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°I just think even the National Intelligence Service¡¯s higher-ups will be powerless against you. They left after pestering me to allow them to quickly contact Lanok since this morning, so let¡¯s see what would happen when Lanok arrives in the country and meets you before anyone else. He¡¯ll probably tell you to state your bank ount information immediately, even if you tell him that the budget has been raised to twenty billion won.¡± ¡°Should I actually ask them to n a two-month training session, then?¡± ¡°Why are you like this?¡± Seok Kang-Ho bluntly replied when he received Kang Chan¡¯s meaningful stare. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea. Money and honor aside, this will greatly benefit our country. Please help with everything you¡¯ve got,¡± Kim Tae-Jin answered Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ve already decided to do it anyway. Let¡¯s take our time discussing the rest after observing how this progresses.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Kim Tae-Jin had quite a great sense of duty. Their conversation continued until lunchtime, and Kim Tae-Jin happily decided to pay for lunch. Kang Chan then told the athletics club members that the employees would temporarily be unable toe to the club starting today. Everyone was upset. Surprisingly enough, Cho Sae-Ho seemed to be even more so. ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t neglect your training and always listen to your instructor properly, you punk. I¡¯ll make it so you can study at the University for Athletics. If that¡¯s not possible, then I¡¯ll at least look into how you can join ourpany. You just need to have the skills for it,¡± one of the employees told Cho Sae-Ho. It seemed like the two of them had enough chemistry for the employee that hit Cho Sae-Ho to stroke his head. After having lunch, Kim Tae-Jin and his employees left the school, and the kids studied in the athletics club room that afternoon. Before he went to D.I., Kang Chan sat with Seok Kang-Ho in the stands. ¡°Thank you. My heart is fluttering with excitement. This hasn¡¯t happened in a long time,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Upon seeing Kang Chan smile, Seok Kang-Ho smiled in return. He looked satisfied. ¡°Whenever I meet you, my life always overflows with excitement. I thought I¡¯d spend the rest of this life as a school teacher, but then something like this happened. Phuhuhu!¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. Kang Chan just smiled brightly at him. How upset and empty would Kang Chan have felt if he didn¡¯t have this kind of guy with him? ¡°I¡¯m going. See you tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Sure. Got any ns this evening?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to spend some time with Mi-Young.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯m going to have a housewarming party with the school teachers today.¡± He decided to meet Seok Kang-Ho tomorrow morning. Kang Chan raised his hand as a form of goodbye, then left the school. *** It was around 1:30 pm when Kang Chan took a taxi to D.I. Cecile called and told him about her phone call with Kang Dae-Kyung. He had only looked into the current price of the stocks, and they had decided to talk again after a few days. Kang Dae-Kyung pretended to be calm, but it seemed like his shock was simply far too strong. No matter what Kang Chan said, his high schooler son just gave them six billion won. Wouldn¡¯t it have been a lot weirder if he was just happy about it? ¡°Tsk.¡± Kang Chan felt sorry for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, both of whom had to go through so much distress because of this matter. As he was thinking of spending some time with them at dinner, the taxi stopped in front of D.I. Now that he thought about it, he hadn¡¯t received any calls from Michelle recently. At any other time, he would¡¯ve gotten at least a few. ¡®Is the construction not finished?¡¯ If that were the case, then Michelle would¡¯ve called him to tell him not toe by today. Moreover, from a nce, he could tell the second floor had already beenpleted. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Kang Chan felt uneasy, but it wasn¡¯t like he was going to go back just because he felt that way. He opened the door of the office. He found a desk inside the wide lobby. There were three rooms to its right and a conference room to its left. Kang Chan smirked while looking around the office. David Choi and Lee Ha-Yeon were sitting arrogantly in the innermost chair with five guys ring at Kang Chan. They were undoubtedly gangsters. Michelle, Lim Soo-Sung, Kim Jae-Tae, their ountant, wardrobe employees, and trainees were crowded into a corner. Even Eun So-Yeon and Ji Yeon-Hee were among them. Kang Chan closed the door and locked it. ¡°Who¡¯s he?¡± One of the gangsters asked crudely. ¡°Hey! He¡¯s the president of thispany.¡± David Choi answered sarcastically while twisting his head to the other side. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Lee Ha-Yeon here asked me to make it so that D.I. could broadcast a drama for old times¡¯ sake, so I gathered people yesterday. I invited two directors of programming, but I¡¯m facing a big loss in return because Eun So-Yeon and the trainee bailed on me. I¡¯m going to getpensation for that. Now that you¡¯vee at just the right time, negotiations should be easy. What are you going to do about this?¡± Smirking, Kang Chan looked at the gangsters. They were quite huge, and two of them had baseball bats. ¡°Are those thugs also Alion employees?¡± He asked. ¡°What? Ha! I heard that you were selling Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s name. Have you gone out of your mind now?¡± ¡°Hey! Are these Alion employees or not?¡± Kang Chan gestured at the gangsters with a nod. Flustered, David looked at the gangsters. ¡°Hey, fucker.¡± Kang Chan looked at the guy that just cursed at him. ¡°Can¡¯t you guys understand me? Answer me. Are they employees of Alion or not?¡± Kang Chan prodded on. The trainees were looking at him with an expression that asked, ¡®that kind of?person really does exist?¡¯ ¡°They¡¯re not employees! What about it?¡± ¡°Then get out.¡± Kang Chan gestured to the door with his gaze. ¡°Is this fucker crazy?¡± The buffed gangster suddenly walked forward. ¡°Hey! Do you want to di¡ª!¡± Bam! Kang Chan swiftly stabbed the gangster¡¯s neck with his middle finger. ¡°Urgh!¡± Most people would lower their heads after being hit with such an attack. The same went for his opponent. Thud. Kang Chan grasped onto the gangster¡¯s hair. Bam! Bam! Bam! He then hit the gangster¡¯s philtrum upward with the ball of his right palm. ¡°Hey! You fucker!¡± Only then did the remaining four gangsters run at Kang Chan, screaming. Holding onto his current opponent¡¯s face, Kang Chan kneed him on the chin. Thud! Crash. The muscr gangster fell backward onto a chair. It broke under his weight, causing him to fall all the way to the floor. Afterward, Kang Chan swatted the fist of the guy to his left, then hit the pit of his stomach with a half-clenched fist. ¡°Cough!¡± His opponents weren¡¯t that good inbat. Kang Chan violently kicked the groin of the gangster charging at him head-on. Thud! ¡°Cough!¡± Just as his current target fell to his knees, his hands grasping his groin, one of the gangsters swung a baseball bat at Kang Chan¡¯s head. Kang Chan dodged and pounced at him the moment the weapon passed by him. Bam! ¡°Keuk!¡± Kang Chan stabbed his enemy¡¯s armpit with his hand, causing thetter to tilt to the side. Crunch! Crunch! Crack! He held onto the gangster with his left arm, then elbowed his face three times. To Kang Chan¡¯s left, the guy that got hit in the pit of his stomach raised his red, flushed face. To his right stood the other gangster holding a baseball bat. He seemed to be hesitating. Stupid fuckers. Smirking, Kang Chan picked up the bat that was on the floor. Anyone who fought with his life on the line would never let their opponent freely pick up a weapon, but these idiots couldn¡¯t pounce at him due to the shock brought by the unexpected gap in their skills. Boong. Crack! ¡°Gaaahh!¡± Kang Chan broke the right corbone of the gangster he had hit the groin of. ¡°You¡¯re too fucking loud,¡± Kang Chanmented. Boong! Crunch! He then hit the gangster¡¯s left knee. Now unable to scream, the gangster¡¯s eyes and mouth just widened. ¡°Geesh!¡± Boo-ng. At that moment, the thug with a baseball bat swung his weapon at Kang Chan from behind. Bang! Why can¡¯t they just block with the bat? Kang Chan swung at the bat that wasing toward him again. Crack! ¡°Urgh!¡± His attackpletely shattered the thug¡¯s right corbone. Kang Chan then turned around, finding the gangster whose stomach pit he hit. Behind the thug was another gangster looking for an opportunity to attack him. Boong! Kang Chan first struck the thigh of the guy that stood in the front. When his target pretended to jump backward, the man tilted to the left with a ¡®Bam!¡¯ sound. Bam! Crack! Bam! Crunch! Kang Chan shattered his target¡¯s shoulder and knee without giving him any time to scream. The gangster stepped away from Kang Chan only for his back to hit the trainees. Unable to go anywhere else, he closed the distance between him and Kang Chan again. Lim Soo-Sung sped his hands together and violently struck the gangster¡¯s neck from above. Baam! ¡°Kyaaak!¡± The gangster sank to the floor as the trainees screamed. Kang Chan grabbed the head of the fainted gangster and dragged him to the middle of the office. Boo-ong! Crack! Boong! Crack! He then broke the gangster¡¯s knee and corbone. Kang Chan walked forward. ¡°Stap!¡± a guy yelled. ¡°Fucking bastard, you¡¯re making a mess!¡± Kang Chan yelled back. The guy that got hit on the face at the beginning struggled while letting out whiny noises. Kang Chan was right in front of Lee Ha-Yeon. Boong! Crack! ¡°Aaaargh!¡± Boo-ong! Crack! ¡°Ugh! Uggh! Urggghh!¡± When Kang Chan red at her, Lee Ha-Yeon quickly dropped her head to the floor in fear. She had turned pale. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with you in a bit,¡± Kang Chan told Lee Ha-Yeon. Kang Chan went to the gangster that only had his corbones broken andpletely broke his knee. He then threw the bat onto the floor. ¡°General Manager Lim, please pile these useless pieces of garbage in a corner,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Understood.¡± Lim Soo-Sung, Kim Jae-Tae, and two of the road managers dragged the gangsters on the floor to one side of the entrance. ¡°Gaaahhh!¡± Kang Chan sharply red at the thug that was screaming. ¡°Are you not going to be quiet?¡± ¡°Ugh. Ugh.¡± In response, the son of a bitch closed his mouth and groaned. Kang Chan slowly walked toward Lee Ha-Yeon. David flinched, but he quickly dropped his head when Kang Chan¡¯s gaze fell on him. ¡°Hey,¡± Kang Chan called Lee Ha-Yeon. ¡°Why¡­ are you calling me?¡± Lee Ha-Yeon stealthily nced up at Kang Chan, then dropped her gaze. Smack! Thud. As she did, however, Kang Chan pped her, causing her to copse to the floor with a flop. Kang Chan pulled Lee Ha-Yeon¡¯s hair to lift her. Lee Ha-Yeon was trembling so much that her body was shaking from side to side. When Kang Chan smirked, Lee Ha-Yeon trembled even more. ¡°Lee Ha-Yeon?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± SMACK! Flop. Lee Ha-Yeon sprawled out on the floor as if she was dead. She couldn¡¯t even move an inch. 1. Yeouido is arge ind at the Han River in Seoul. It serves as Seoul¡¯s main finance and investment banking district. Chapter 62.1: Unicorn Project (2)

Chapter 62.1: Unicorn Project (2)

Kang Chan walked up to David. ¡°Hey.¡± David didn¡¯t answer. He still had his head down, seemingly clinging onto his pride. Kang Chan smirked. He had seen enough fuckers like him for Kang Chan to be bored. David thought he just needed to get out of here. He was one of those guys that thought he¡¯d be able to get revenge and show how scary he could truly be for as long as he managed to survive this moment. Grab. Kang Chan grabbed a fistful of David¡¯s hair and lifted him upward. ¡°Agh! Argh-ah!¡± ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Agh! argh-ah!¡± David straightened up, seemingly about to go up on his toes, as he continued to scream. Smack! His screams suddenly stopped. ¡°Hey!¡± Kang Chan yelled, then smirked. Smack! ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± David flinched when Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Never mess with thest pride of people who are trying to live diligently ever again. That could¡¯ve been just another night for you, but it could¡¯ve left a wound on them for the rest of their lives,¡± Kang Chan continued. Smack! The left side of David¡¯s face was now red and swollen, and blood was running down from his lips and nose. ¡°Is it a crime to be a trainee?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± David¡¯s body started to tremble a bit. ¡°Hey, you son of a bitch.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Smack! ¡°Kheuh. Ugh.¡± Startled, David couldn¡¯t breathe properly. ¡°Is it a crime for the trainees to want to work hard andpete with their skills, regardless of whether it¡¯s in dramas or broadcasts?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°No, it¡¯s not!¡± Smack! ¡°Kheup. Kek. Kek.¡± ¡°Do you all have to do whatever it takes just to crush people that are going through a hard time? What were you guys going to do to those young kids after calling them to a bar, huh?¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°That wasn¡¯t our intention...¡± Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack. ¡°Keuk. Kaughh.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay quiet?¡± asked Kang Chan. David trembled like a leaf rustling in the wind. What should I do with him? Kang Chan strangely flew into a rage. Just because he had a bit more money and was a bit more sessful than others, David would force the type of pain that one would have to carry for the rest of their life onto others without even blinking an eye. Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack. David¡¯s body drooped when Kang Chan hit him five more times. Still holding a fistful of David¡¯s hair, Kang Chan dragged David to where the gangsters were. Thud. Kang Chan¡¯s right hand was already covered in dirty blood. He saw that half of the trainees, Eun So-Yeon, and the ountant were crying. Kang Chan walked to Lee Ha-Yeon, then smirked. She wasn¡¯t moving at all now, even though Kang Chan had seen her wiggling earlier. ¡°I¡¯m going to break both of your knees if you don¡¯t get up right now,¡± Kang Chan warned. Upon hearing his words, Lee Ha-Yeon swiftly raised herself up as she trembled. ¡°Lee Ha-Yeon.¡± ¡°Y-yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m warning you. If I ever see you again¡­¡± Lee Ha-Yeon flinched and cowered while looking at Kang Chan¡¯s right hand. ¡°Go and stay over there,¡± Kang Chan continued. Still shaking pitifully, Lee Ha-Yeon moved to the gangster¡¯s side. She acted tough when she didn¡¯t even have as much guts as Heo Eun-Sil. ¡°Michelle, do we have wet towels here?¡± Kang Chan asked. Unable to answer, Michelle just approached Kang Chan while holding wet wipes. ¡°Clean this ce up a bit,¡± Kang Chan ordered everyone as he wiped his hand. Lim Soo-Sung, Kim Jae-Tae, and the road managers swiftly got to work, starting with returning the chairs and table to their proper positions. After organizing the office a little, Kang Chan heard someone knocking from the outside. The employees looked at Kang Chan and the gangsters with surprised eyes, but they had no other choice now. ¡°Tsk! Please open the door,¡± said Kang Chan. When Kim Jae-Tae walked to the door and opened it, Moon Bon-Geun came inside. He looked at David, Lee Ha-Yeon, and the gangsters. The scene surprised him so much he couldn¡¯t even breathe properly. ¡°Director Moon,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± ¡°Please sit on this side.¡± Kang Chan pointed to the chair that was on one side of the office on purpose. Moon Bon-Geun hesitantly did as instructed. Kang Chan took out another wet tissue, wiped his hands with it, and sat beside him. Moon Bon-Geun was sitting in front of a desk and in a ce where Michelle, their trainees, and employees could easily see him. ¡°I heard you have something to say,¡± Kang Chan said. Kang Chan looked sharply at Moon Bon-Geun. This fucker was also a son of a bitch. This fucker would trample on the weak if he had the opportunity but would immediately back down when faced with overwhelming power. ¡°Uh, our broadcasting station has agreed to broadcast the drama that D.I. is producing. We don¡¯t mind whether it¡¯s aired on Monday-Tuesday or Wednesday-Thursday, or if it¡¯s a mini-series or whatever. Just let us know about your final decision¡ª¡± ¡°Um.¡± Kang Chan interrupted Moon Bon-Geun just as Eun So-Yeon and the trainees covered their mouths, their faces filled with surprise. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about practical affairs. I think it would be better to discuss this with Director Michelle. Would that be okay?¡± ¡°Of course. Let¡¯s do that.¡± On the contrary, Moon Bon-Geun looked like Kang Chan was doing him a big favor. ¡°Michelle, discuss this matter with him in a different room. And tell me if there¡¯s anything about the deal that doesn¡¯t match our conditions,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Noted, sir.¡± Michelle still looked afraid and flustered, but it was nothingpared to the trainees. Michelle and Moon Bon-Geun went to the conference room. ¡°There¡¯s a lounge on the floor above us for the trainees, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes.¡± They had decided to turn their old office into a lounge earlier. ¡°Then go up there and get some rest.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Like a flock ofmbs in the presence of a wolf, the trainees stuck close together as they headed out of the office. ¡°Eun So-Yeon,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°You should go up to the lounge as well and stay with the female employees for now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Eun So-Yeon went out of the office with the wardrobe employees and the ountant. ¡°Can I have a cup of coffee?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll make it.¡± One road manager quickly walked up to the water purifier. After a few moments, the road manager handed Kang Chan a cup of coffee. Thetter felt a little better upon taking a sip of it. ¡°Would you like a cigarette as well?¡± An employee asked. ¡°Please only give me one if you¡¯re going to smoke with me. Otherwise, I¡¯d rather not smoke right now.¡± Lim Soo-Sung seemed quite tenacious and had a strong personality. If he didn¡¯t, he wouldn¡¯t have hit the nape of one of the gangsters, making him faint. Lim Soo-Sung took out a cigarette from the inside pocket of his suit and handed it to Kang Chan. He then sat in front of him and lit a cigarette. Kang Chan¡¯s spite dissipated much faster than before. ¡°Lee Ha-Yeon, wake him up and get out,¡± Kang Chan said. Upon hearing Kang Chan¡¯s words, David got up. He looked disheveled. Stupid fuckers. Having a broken knee made walking extremely difficult, even with one good foot remaining. After all, they¡¯d need to hop to get around, but doing so required moving their broken bones around. The gangsters would have to be carried by their shoulders, but even that wouldn¡¯t be easy since Kang Chan had shattered their corbones. The gangsters got out of the office while miserably crawling on the floor. They needed to change their clean carpet now because of those sons of bitches. When Kang Chan sat for a moment after he finished smoking the cigarette, Michelle and Moon Bon-Geun came out of the conference room. ¡°I¡¯ll get going now.¡± Kang Chan turned his gaze as he stood up. Michelle then nodded, seemingly satisfied. ¡°Thank you for your hard work,¡± Kang Chan told Moon Bon-Geun. ¡°Not at all. We¡¯re happy we get to broadcast such a good drama.¡± Moon Bon-Geun got out of the office almost as if he was running away. ¡°Sit down,¡± Kang Chan said. After Kang Chan sat in his seat, Michelle sank down on a chair that was next to him, seemingly copsing. Her hands were trembling slightly. ¡°Michelle.¡± Michelle looked at him with surprise in her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know the specific details of a business.¡± There was something that Kang Chan wanted to firmly tell her on this timely opportunity. ¡°But at least protect the people that trust and follow you at all costs. And don¡¯t keep anyone by your side if you don¡¯t have the confidence to protect them. If you can¡¯t do that, then stop working in this business. I don¡¯t have ns to make money through dirty means. Even if this fails, just protect my people. Do that, and I¡¯ll never resent you even if I face a loss¡ªno matter how big it is.¡± Michelle nodded while looking straight into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s done, then. There¡¯s no problem with broadcasting the drama now, is there?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. Can we talk for a moment?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°Sure.¡± When Kang Chan answered, Michelle stood up. ¡°There¡¯s something we should talk about in private.¡± Since Kang Chan had already said yes, he just followed her into the innermost room, which had a sophisticated desk and a matching sofa. When Michelle closed the door, she suddenly hugged him around his waist. Kang Chan smiled lightly and stroked her back. She had endured her fears while pretending to be calm, but now she was trembling like a chihuahua that was covered in ice water. They stayed like that for about five minutes, her quiver weakening little by little. ¡°Are you okay now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Thank you. Thank you so much.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a seat, shall we?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Michelle genuinely smiled after she detached herself from him. The two of them sat on the sofa. ¡°This is your room. Do you like it?¡± asked Michelle. ¡°It¡¯s decorated nicely. Anyway, do you regret not epting Alion¡¯s deal?¡± Michelle¡¯s expression was a lot more natural now. ¡°This is what I wanted to do. It¡¯s bigger and much more difficult than I anticipated, but it¡¯s like windfall to me. I¡¯ll bear in mind what you said in the office a moment ago, and I¡¯ll make sure nothing else will bother you that¡¯s rted to the drama. Thank you, Channy.¡± Michelle¡¯srge eyes were filled with sincerity. ¡°Go upstairs. The kids had to have been really surprised, so you shouldfort them.¡± ¡°Sure, Channy.¡± Michelle went out of the room, and Kang Chan stayed on the sofa. Kang Chan felt really down, perhaps because he had just fought people with horriblebat skills. He was in perfect condition, too. Hence, he couldn¡¯t help but feel like a viin when he brawled against such pathetic gangsters. Chapter 62.2: Unicorn Project (2)

Chapter 62.2: Unicorn Project (2)

Just as Kang Chan was feeling down about fighting against gangsters, his phone began vibrating. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan held up his phone, but the call was from an unknown number. ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Ah, yes.¡± - Did you decide to meet Ambassador Lanok tomorrow? ¡°Yes. He said he¡¯s going to let me know the time and location as soon as he arrives in South Korea.¡± - Would you be able to give us some of your time as well after you meet with him, Mr. Kang Chan? Kang Chan tilted his head, but he had already decided to do it. They said it was an urgent national-level matter, so there was nothing that cumbersome about giving them some of his time in the evening. ¡°Alright. Should I contact you through this phone number once I¡¯m done talking to Lanok?¡± - Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan. Kim Hyung-Jung sounded relieved, almost as if he had just achieved a big wish. - Also, I got promoted thanks to you. Kang Chan ended upughing out loud. Why would the National Intelligence Service give a promotion just because he handed a card to a high schooler? - Now that I¡¯ve be the manager, please don¡¯t hesitate to call me immediately if there¡¯s something bothering you or if you need anything. ¡°Mr. Manager.¡± - Yes, Mr. Kang Chan. Kang Chan sounded quieter, which seemed to have made Kim Hyung-Jung nervous. ¡°President Kim Tae-Jin is working with someone that he trusts without regrets. You¡¯re someone like that to me. Now that I''ve decided to do this, let''s give it our all and handle this like equals.. So please stop treating me so formally.¡± Kang Chan heard the sound of his breathing over the phone, which sounded like a groan. - Kim Tae-Jin told me that if I want to work with you, I should prioritize taking care of those that you value over trivial conditions. I understand. I¡¯ll try my best for South Korea and not disappoint my friend who trusts me. Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan. When the call ended, Kang Chan heard someone knocking on the door. ¡°Yes?¡± Michelle came into the room. ¡°Everyone, including the trainees, has alle down to the lobby. They said they have something to tell you.¡± His office was too narrow for everyone toe in. Kang Chan nodded, then went out of the room after Michelle. ¡°Thank you, Mr. President!¡± The employees and trainees greeted him all at the same time the moment they saw him. Kang Chan smiled brightly. It was childish and cheesy, but this was their own way of expressing their feelings. He hoped these trainees and employees would seed. ¡°Is that what you guys wanted to say?¡± asked Kang Chan. Michelle could now smile without trouble. ¡°Honestly, the programming for the drama had finished. Everyone is extremely happy, but they¡¯re also afraid. I came down with them because they said they feel reassured when they¡¯re with you during times like this.¡± Since they were women, the earlier scuffle could have been their first time witnessing someone fight like him. ¡°Let¡¯s sit down. Having apany dinner today isn¡¯t a good idea, so how about we buy and eat snacks instead?¡± Kang Chan asked everyone. Michelle nodded satisfactorily, and the two road managers quickly went outside. They brought the chair at the table and all of the chairs in the conference room into the lobby then sat in a circle. ¡°Are all of our trainees appearing in the drama?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Of course, sir! There¡¯s a difference in screen time, but everyone is starring in more than three episodes, and all of them even have lines,¡± Michelle answered. Kang Chan smiled again after seeing excitement sh across the trainees¡¯ faces. ¡°Casting the male lead won¡¯t be a problem now either since we¡¯ve finalized the programming. Director Pyo also said there¡¯s an actor that he wants to rmend,¡± Michelle continued. When Kang Chan turned his head in the same direction as Michelle¡¯s gaze, he found Eun So-Yeon also looking quite excited.. That was the first time that Eun So-Yeon had looked straight into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. The look in her eyes showed she was enduring something she was afraid of. At that moment, the door opened and the two road managers came in with a big stic bag in each hand. Based on the bags¡¯ size, it looked as if they bought everything from a store. The trainees all ran to them and spread out the snacks with the employees. Kang Chan said they should buy and eat snacks as a joke, but when everything had been spread out, there was so much food that it looked as if they actually did buy everything from a snack bar and a bakery. After preparing coffee, juice, and a few other drinks, they began to eat to their heart¡¯s content. The trainees initially only picked at their food but gradually showed the appetite they had when they were at the Japanese restaurant. Kang Chan mostly talked with Michelle. By the time he thought everyone had eaten their fill, it was already 4:30 pm. ¡°Before I go, I have a favor to ask all of you,¡± Kang Chan said, and all eyes quickly turned to him, almost as if they had been waiting for this exact moment. They seemed to have been looking forward to him saying something to them. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about drama production, broadcasting, or acting. But let¡¯s not live like cowards just because everyone else does. When you all be famouster and are in a position where everyone looks up to you, then I hope you be a figure people would sincerely congratte and be jealous of. This isn¡¯t what we mean when we stated in your contract that we won¡¯t cling to you, but if anyone here disagrees with what I just said and wants to work differently, you¡¯re free to leave anytime.¡± Some of the trainees even shook their heads at Kang Chan¡¯s words. ¡°However, while you¡¯re in thispany, don¡¯t even consider acting like a coward. Let Michelle know if you¡¯re going through something difficult. In that sense, I¡¯m grateful for Eun So-Yeon and Ji Yeon-Hee. They chose to trust Michelle and thepany with this situation.¡± Why is that bitch acting like that? Eun So-Yeon was staring intensely at Kang Chan again. Kang Chan turned his head toward Michelle. ¡°Why don¡¯t we have apany dinner before we start filming?¡± He asked everyone. ¡°Mr. President! We have to go on a diet from now on. So please have thepany dinner after we''re done filming the drama!¡± One of the trainees said that as a joke, and the other kids agreed while pping their hands. . ¡°That¡¯s right! Let¡¯s do that instead, please!¡± Kang Chan and Michelle smiled and responded to them, then got up from their seats. *** Kang Chan took a taxi home. ¡®Taxi fares are no joke.¡¯ Having money in his bank ount was one thing, and paying a lot for the taxi fare was another. Still, it wasn¡¯t like there was any other way to get around. For some strange reason, Kang Chan felt at ease when he saw the apartment. Having decided to meet with Kim Mi-Young in the evening, he immediately headed inside. When Kang Chan pressed the key card against the scanner and opened the door, Yoo Hye-Sook greeted him. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Wee home. You must be exhausted.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I didn¡¯t have any difficult tasks to do today.¡± The five obnoxious gangsters earlier were a piece of cake. He shouldn¡¯t say that out loud, though. ¡°Would you like some fruits?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°No thanks. I ate some snacks before going home.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great to hear.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked like she was trying hard to understand the six billion won that Kang Chan offered them. ¡°It seems like father had called you.¡± ¡°Yes, Channy.¡± She smiled awkwardly. ¡°He said that creating and running a foundation would overall be the most effective move. He seemed very surprised that you really had stocks as well.¡± ¡°Would you like to have a cup of tea? I¡¯ll make it,¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Will you really make me one?¡± Kang Chan ced the kettle on top of the gas stove, then took out green tea and two cups. ¡°Here! This is yours.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook moved the cup that Kang Chan had ced on the table closer to her. ¡°The money is weighing on your mind, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It is.¡± Her answers and actions were simr to Kim Mi-Young''s. Kang Chan forced himself to hold in the urge to burst outughing. Kang Chan found Yoo Hye-Sook really pretty. ¡°Do you feel that way because you¡¯re worried it could harm me?¡± he asked. ¡°Are you really okay?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kang Chan responded to Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s question. ¡°I heard that Branch Manager Smithen also got paid. Gong Te automobile said choosing Kang Yoo Motors over Suh Jeong Motors was an excellent decision, and that while this seems like arge amount of money to us, it¡¯s not that big of a deal for Gong Te automobile,¡± he continued. ¡°Your dad and I have decided to ept this, but I couldn¡¯t help but feel worried and nervous when we¡¯ve confirmed the stocks really do exist and that your dad¡¯s going to create a foundation with it. Maybe I feel this way because your dad and I have never had this much money before.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Smiling, Kang Chan consoled Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Please just think of this as the heavens helping us because you were trying to do something good. That¡¯s how I see it. On the contrary, I feel bad. I did this to make you happy but made you worry instead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true, Channy,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook hastily responded to Kang Chan. ¡°I was just worried this could harm you somehow because I kept recalling how you got injured and came backst time.¡± When Kang Chan smiled, Yoo Hye-Sook smiled as well. Making her feel better this way was the right call. People got used to things like this over time until this no longer made them feel better. Kang Chan had juste into his room after spending time with Yoo Hye-Sook for a moment. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan held up his phone to check if the caller was Kim Mi-Young, but it was from an unknown number. ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan? It didn¡¯t feel right. ¡°Speaking.¡± - I¡¯m Yang Jung-Mook, the Criminal Affairs Department head of the Gangnam Police station. You¡¯ve been used of criminal assault. But you already know which incident I¡¯m talking about, right? Considering how he talked to Kang Chan so informally, he seemed to think thetter was still quite young. - Come to the Gangnam Police Station¡¯s Criminal Affairs Department by 10 am tomorrow. If you don¡¯t, then we¡¯re going to have to take action. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go there tomorrow.¡± As Kang Chan listened to him, he noticed Yang Jung-Mook¡¯s voice was loaded with hostility. ¡®Phew! I¡¯m tired.¡¯ Kang Chany in his bed with a thud. Chapter 63.1: Unicorn Project (3)

Chapter 63.1: Unicorn Project (3)

That evening, Kang Chan walked with Kim Mi-Young for about thirty minutes around the apartment. He fell asleep early afterward. The following Tuesday morning, he decided to run around the apartment first, which caused him to leave the house ratherte. He called Seok Kang-Ho as he was leaving. - Will you be okay? ¡°I doubt anything strange would happen. Alion was the one that brought five gangsters to D.I. anyway, and they also brought weapons. I should be able to reach a reasonable agreement with them.¡± - Do you think the gangsters would actually file awsuit? It has to be that bitch Lee Ha-Yeon and that guy named David or something. You should draw up a report around them instead. I¡¯ll talk to President Kim Tae-Jin while you¡¯re there. ¡°Damn, all of this is messed up. At any rate, I¡¯ll call after I go there and check the situation out.¡± - Sure. Kang Chan got in a taxi and headed to the Gangnam Police Station. ¡°Tsk!¡± The consequences were tedious, but he didn¡¯t regret what he did. Kang Chan truly felt satisfied for defending hispany¡¯s employees and actors, even if he had to beat some people up in the process. After reaching his destination, he went up to the second floor after finding out that was where the Criminal Affairs Department was through the information desk. He then opened a door that had a sign that said ¡®Criminal Affairs Department.¡¯ Upon entering, he found neat, long rows of iron desks and a middle-aged man that seemed to have a bad temper in the innermost part of the room. The man raised his head. ¡°What brought you here?¡± The man at the other side of the door suddenly spoke informally to Kang Chan. What¡¯s he saying? ¡°Kang Chan?¡± the middle-aged man in the innermost part of the room asked as Kang Chan stared intently at him. Is that person the Head of this department? Kang Chan walked toward the man and noticed a namete that said ¡®Yang Jung-Mook, Criminal Affairs Department Head¡¯ on the divider of the desk. ¡°Are you Kang Chan?¡± The man asked again. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Yang Jung-Mook looked at Kang Chan with a murderous look in his eyes. ¡°Sit down.¡± Kang Chan sat on the chair in front of his desk. ¡°You¡¯re a student, right?¡± Yang Jung-Mook asked. ¡°Yes. So?¡± ¡°Hey, punk! How can you im to be a student when you just incapacitated five people with a baseball bat? You also broke a woman¡¯s nose with a p and destroyed another person¡¯s eardrum!¡± Yang Jung-Mook suddenly shouted. Kang Chan smirked. ¡°You¡¯re smiling? Sure, keep smiling. Smile,¡± Yang Jung-Mook sarcastically replied like he was talking to himself as he flipped through the paperwork in front of him. ¡°Tell me what happened yesterday first before I draw up the report about your case,¡± said Yang Jung-Mook. Kang Chan sighed, then told him a concise summary of what happened in order. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that a fight broke out because when you went into the D.I. office, Alion employees were scaring the D.I. staff with baseball bats?¡± Yang Jung-Mook asked. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°You knocked down five people by yourself, and you only pped Lee Ha-Yeon and Choi Bong-Pal?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Choi Bong-Pal?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Choi Bong-Pal! The president of Alion!¡± What an awful name! When Kang Chan smirked, Yang Jung-Mook red at him in a detestable way. ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± ¡°Be careful of what you say,¡± Kang Chan told Yang Jung-Mook. The office quieted down at that moment, almost as if cold water was poured on the surroundings. This was proof that everyone was listening to their conversation. ¡°This fucker¡¯s asking for it!¡±a nearby detective swung a file at Kang Chan''s head. Bam! Kang Chan blocked it with his hand and got up from his seat. ¡°Do you want to die?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°What?¡± Another detective got up from his seat as well, his chair causing a loud, screeching noise. He then started to film Kang Chan with his phone. ¡°If you¡¯re going to investigate me, then do it properly. Don¡¯t mess around like fucking gangsters,¡± Kang Chan warned. ¡°You¡ªI¡¯m going to deal with youter.¡± The detective nced at the cell phone that was filming them, gritted his teeth, and stepped back. Kang Chan looked through the inner part of the office. Except for Yang Jung-Mook, the detective that came toward him just now, and the detective that was holding the cell phone, everyone looked worried. The atmosphere seemed to suggest everyone knew what the case entailed, but they couldn¡¯t criticize Yang Jung-Mook publically, as he was the head of the department. ¡°You¡¯re saying that you¡¯reing out strong, right? Alright. Sit, Kang Chan.¡± Yang Jung-Mook also seemed a bit dispirited. Yang Jung-Mook started reading the conventional lines, such as that his testimony could be used against him and that he had the right to awyer. Afterward, he raised his head. ¡°You have broken the shoulders and knees of five Alion employees yesterday at the D.I. office, correct?¡± asked Yang Jung-Mook. ¡°Yes.¡± Yang Jung-Mook smiled in a vulgar way while looking at theputer monitor. ¡°Furthermore, you pped Lee Ha-Yeon three times, breaking her nose. You then threatened her after she copsed to the floor, saying that you¡¯ll break her knees if she doesn¡¯t get up, correct?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yang Jung-Mok looked satisfied with his answers. ¡°You also pped Alion President Choi Bong-Pal several times and caused his eardrums to burst, which is a severe injury. Correct?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hmm. Together with Lim Soo-Sung, you also assaulted a victim in the office, correct?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± Behind theputer monitor, Yang Jung-Mook red at Kang Chan and straightened his posture. . ¡°We have all of the testimonies now, so juste out clean,¡± Yang Jung-Mook told Kang Chan. ¡°The case about Lim Soo-Sung isn¡¯t true, so please note that down ordingly.¡± ¡°Hmph! So you''re still going to act tough, huh? Alright. Let''s proceed with this for now.¡± After Yang Jung-Mook quickly typed something on hisputer, he stretched his hand toward the printer. ¡°Let¡¯s have your confessions signed with your thumbprint for now. We can gradually go through the restter and spend some time on it,¡± Yang Jung-Mook said. Yang Jung-Mook took out the paperwork from the printer and held it out in front of Kang Chan. It already had his name, address, and hisck of religion written on it. As Kang Chan signed the document with his thumbprint, Yang Jung-Mook gestured with his head to the detective that was beside him. Kang Chan swatted away a hand that was rushing toward him. ¡°Did you get that on camera?¡± asked Yang Jung-Mook. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Charge this fucker for interfering with a public official in the execution of his duty. What are you doing? handcuff him and put him in a detention cell now!¡± The detective in front of Kang Chan came toward him again. ¡°Kang Chan, you have the right to remain silent¡ª¡± ¡°Stop spouting nonsense. Are you really going to try to arrest me?¡± Kang Chan asked, then gritted his teeth. Rattle. The door opened, and Kim Hyung-Jung and other men in suits rushed inside. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Yang Jung-Mook tilted to the side to look at the people that had just entered, then jumped up from his seat. ¡°Salute!¡± Thest man to enter had a muscr build and really fierce eyes. His hair was clearly dyed ck. ¡°Be quiet. Head Yang, do you have the letters ofint that you received from the gangsters?¡± the man asked. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°The letters ofint that came in for Mr. Kang Chan here! Are you not aware that the gangsters listed on theint as intiffs are targets that are to be managed by the fourth team?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡± The man¡¯s face twitched as he looked at Yang Jung-Mook. He then stood in front of Kang Chan. ¡°Good day, Mr. Kang Chan. I¡¯m Lee Eun-Ho, chief of the Gangnam Police station. I apologize for theck of a proper investigation on this case. We¡¯ll be handing Head Yang over to the Department of Internal Affairs, and we¡¯ll let you know about the punishments we''ll be enforcing after we''ve performed a self-audit. I sincerely apologize once again for the inconvenience this has caused you today.¡± When Kang Chan nced at Kim Hyung-Jung, thetter gave him a brief nod. ¡°Tsk! Alright. But I see room for improvement in this ce,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°We¡¯ll spare no efforts in taking all the necessary actions and reporting the results to you.¡± Yang Jung-Mook had a nk look on his face. ¡°We¡¯ll get going now, chief. I hope the measures you implement are sufficient. The prosecution will also investigate Woo Ak-San gang and Alion. I ask that you and others do a good job at this to avoid something shameful needlessly happening to you and the Gangnam Police Station,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°You have nothing to worry about.¡± Lee Eun-Ho bowed his head while politely shaking hands with Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what was going on, but he felt relieved. As Kang Chan left the Criminal Affairs Department, he heard Lee Eun-Ho screaming inside the room. ¡°I said to not take on cases after receiving money!¡± When he got out of the police station, he found three vans parked in a line. ¡°Please get in,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. An agent opened the door that Kim Hyung-Jung had pointed to for him. Kang Chan did as Kim Hyung-Jung requested. Thetter went around to the other side and got in as well. As they drove past the police station¡¯s front gate, Kang Chan heard a police officer inplete uniform loudly yell, ¡°Salute!¡± ¡°Jeez, Mr. Kang Chan! Why would you personally go to things like this?¡± asked Kim Hyung-Jung. This was a bit shameful. ¡°Would you like to head to your school? Or how about we have a cup of tea? I also want to smoke a cigarette.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with that,¡± Kang Chan answered. With a wide smile, Kim Hyung-Jung bent forward and told the driver, ¡°Head to the branch office.¡± ¡°From now on, please call us in advance whenever something like this happens. Criminal immunity is the same thing as pardons. Pardons are given to those that have been found guilty, and Criminal Immunities are for those whose crimes are still being investigated,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung told Kang Chan. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°There are less than ten people in South Korea that can enjoy this right. You should take advantage of it when you have it.¡± This nonchnt attitude of Kim Hyung-Jung was simr to Kim Tae-Jin''s. Chapter 63.2: Unicorn Project (3)

Chapter 63.2: Unicorn Project (3)

After leaving the Gangnam Police Station and about five minutes on the road, Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung stopped in front of an office-use building with a subway station behind it. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± After Kang Chan got out, the car left. Kim Hyung-Jung and Kang Chan went inside the building and took the elevator. ¡°This building is registered under the Nam Young Company. However, it''s really the National Intelligence Service''s Gangnam branch office,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. The elevator was narrow. It only had space for about five people. They went out of the elevator on the fifth floor, and Kim Hyung-Jung took out a card from the pocket of his dress shirt. He then pressed it on the lock, opening the iron door with a click. ¡°We registered this building that way because the solicitors were annoying us too much.¡± A translucent ss partition blocked the room¡¯s interior. Kim Hyung-Jung turned to the right and opened the door inside, the lock of which also required a key card. The room was wide and had a luxurious sofa, bookshelf, and arge desk at the very back of the room. ¡°Have a seat,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung told Kang Chan. Kim Hyung-Jung pressed the inte device on the desk, then sat on the sofa. ¡°Bring us some coffee.¡± A female employee soon entered and served them coffee. Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung each lit up a cigarette, then took a sip of coffee. ¡°You¡¯re ssified as a special agent of South Korea¡¯s National Intelligence Service. Regardless of what you¡¯re up to here or in other countries, all of South Korea¡¯s institutions are set up to cooperate with you.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung nced at Kang Chan, then continued. ¡°Your criminal immunity applies even to murder. We normally don¡¯t tell people that, but I decided you should be aware of that in case things get messed up again like what happened today. No matter the problem that arises, please call us before doing anything. That honestly makes it easier for us to take care of it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± The cigarette smoke gotpletely sucked into the vent in the ceiling. ¡°This isn¡¯t just because of your rtionship with Ambassador Lanok. This is the result of all that transpired up until this point, including the whole situation with the Neck Ghost. This is also because our friend Kim Tae-Jin endured everything until now. Kim Hyung-Jung stretched out his neck to gesture at it. ¡°I¡¯ve even put this on the line.¡± When Kang Chanughed out loud, Kim Hyung-Jungughed with him. ¡°If the rail is connected, then it¡¯ll likely be the greatest administrative achievement in South Korea¡¯s history. Don¡¯t even get me started on the enormous benefits it¡¯d bring to the country. I don¡¯t fear being fired if we fail. I just don¡¯t want South Korea to be constantly wary of Japan and North Korea. That¡¯s why I¡¯m putting my life on the line for this.¡± ¡°Mr. Manager.¡± Kang Chan took out another cigarette, then called Kim Hyung-Jung as he lit it. ¡°You think Lanok¡¯s going to refuse ory down a troublesome condition, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung seemed to have decided to disclose his thoughts, considering the immediate answer he just gave. ¡°We specially employed Mr. Seok Kang-Ho and Yoo Bi-Corp¡¯s five employees because you said that you needed people that you can easily work with,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. ¡°Tsk!¡± It felt like things had progressed too much, but it couldn¡¯t be reversed now. He didn''t want to abandon the mission. ¡°If this seeds, then South Korea will be a central figure that connects the continent. There are six months left until the announcement. In that time frame, South Korea has to be included in that n.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t South Korea just connect to the railter on?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°All countries linked to the rail have to agree, so that¡¯s practically impossible. The interests of each country are all different, after all.¡± ¡°What if North Korea suddenly blocks off the rail?¡± ¡°Any country that does that will be isted without question. And even North Korea isn''t dumb enough to give up on the massive amount of earnings they can get from the customs duty. The biggest reason why China tried so hard to stop North Korea was that they were trying to blockade the Wonsan Seaport, and move the shipping bay to the Dang Dong Port¡± Hearing that made Kang Chan¡¯s head spin. ¡°Currently, the forces opposing Lanok are hesitating now that Shan has been arrested. Moreover, every country¡¯s National Intelligence agents are crowding into Russia. It wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say they¡¯re risking their lives to cling to this matter, considering three gunfights have already broken out in Europe. And meanwhile¡­¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked straight at Kang Chan. ¡°The key figure in the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project ising to South Korea, and he¡¯s meeting you first before anyone else.¡± ¡°That¡¯s thrilling,¡± Kang Chanmented. They both smirked. ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung got up from his seat, walked to the desk, and brought over a menu that had a variety of food choices written on it. ¡°The specialty jjamppong here is amazing,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. When Kang Chan said he wanted that with a smile, Kim Hyung-Jung ordered two bowls of the specialty jjamppong through the inte device. The more Kang Chan talked to him, the better he seemed as a person. In the middle of their meal, Seok Kang-Ho and Kim Tae-Jin both called him because they were worried. Kang Chan apologized to them and told them that he was currently with Kim Hyung-Jung. *** After having lunch, Kang Chan refused Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s offer to give him a ride. Instead, he took a taxi to the school. The jjamppong really was delicious, enough for him to think he shoulde backter with the others. When he went into the school, he found the bullies practicing martial arts in the sports field. Seok Kang-Ho, who was in the stands, turned his gaze to Kang Chan and acknowledged him. ¡°What happened?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. In response, Kang Chan told him what had happened in detail as he looked around their surroundings. ¡°Ah, jeez. Things like that still happen?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°It felt like it was orchestrated. If I was powerless, I wouldn''t have been able to live through such unfair treatment..¡± ¡°I doubt normal citizens could even do what you did, considering they¡¯d already be scared just for having to go to a police station. Anyway, I''m just d this has been resolved.¡± Kang Chan watched Cho Se-Ho while listening to Seok Kang-Ho. He could see quite a bit of talent in him. ¡°President Kim Tae-Jin had deposited money into my ount. I even got two calls from the bank this morning. Can I really ept it?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Manager Kim Hyung-Jung said that I should hold on to the things I¡¯m given. Hang onto it. There¡¯s got to be somewhere you can use it, right?¡± ¡°Tsk. That¡¯s true, but my sry now looks shabby since people keep mentioning hundreds of millions whenever they talk to me.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s stop the money talk here,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright.¡± The two of them turned their attention to the kids that were working out. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan checked his phone when it rang. It was Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°Hello?¡± - Hey. Kang Chan, did you beat up the kids from Woo Ak-San as well? ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s them, but there were five guys that came into my office. The Gangnam Police Station took care of them today.¡± - Ha! No wonder the old men were spouting bullshit. Alright. I¡¯ll stand by and see what happens now that things had ended up like this. Take care of yourself, and don¡¯t overdo it. What Oh Gwang-Taek said at the end could¡¯ve been annoying, but it ended up making Kang Chan smile instead since he said it so casually and familiarly. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Thinking he was such a busy person, Kang Chan held up his phone again. It was Lanok this time. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador.¡± - Monsieur Kang, it¡¯s Lanok. Can we meet at the Namsan Hotel at 3 pm?¡± ¡°You¡¯re already in South Korea?¡± - My schedule ended up like that. Is the time okay? ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll be there.¡± - See you soon. After hanging up the phone, Kang Chan immediately called Kim Hyung-Jung and told him about his call with Lanok. ¡°He¡¯s set to enter South Korea from China,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied, his tone slightly higher than normal. Kang Chan then talked to Kim Tae-Jin. Afterward, he couldn¡¯t help but feel like he now had free time until 3 pm. ¡°Things are really starting to move, huh?,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Seems like it.¡± ¡°Imagine if Lanok just tells you, ¡®I ept your proposal,¡¯ this evening.¡± ¡°Phuhu, how good would it be if he did that?¡± They grinned at each other. Soon after, the bullies crowded the stands. ¡°I¡¯m going to teach them a bit,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°I should also get going.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± While Seok Kang-Ho was warming up after going down the stands, Kang Chan¡¯s eyes met Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s. He had be used to her bare face after seeing it so often. ¡®Why do they keep doing that?¡¯ Heo Eun-Sil was looking straight at Kang Chan, which Eun So-Yeon did yesterday. He couldn¡¯t help but feel something was strangely off. ¡°Gather round, all of you,¡± Seok Kang-Ho soon called them, which made Heo Eun-Sil look away. Kang Chan received the same type of gaze for two days in a row now. The look in their eyes showed that they were afraid, but they weren¡¯t avoiding him. One thing was for certain: Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s guts and ability to take punches were amazing. *** Kang Chan watched the kids work out for a bit more, then took a taxi to the Namsan Hotel. With thirty minutes left to spare, he went into the lobby and ordered a ss of a cold drink. He sat close to a window on purpose. Not wanting to see Joo Chul-Bum or have anyone show up and greet him, he faced the window. Kang Chan ced his phone down on top of the table and held up the drink that the employee brought over for him. Soon, however, he saw two men with extraordinary posturese into the hotel. He didn¡¯t intend to look at them. However, the pirs in the middle of every window were sparkling, causing the window to reflect the entrance. ¡®Who are they? Are they guarding Lanok?¡¯ If not, then they could be employees that Kim Hyung-Jung had sent. The two men looked around the lobby, then hastily headed elsewhere after looking in Kang Chan¡¯s direction. Kang Chan held up his phone. - Please go ahead, Mr. Kang Chan. ¡°Mr. Manager, did you send agents to the hotel?¡± - I only have them positioned on the outskirts of the hotel since I didn¡¯t want to cause any fights with Lanok¡¯s people. Is something wrong? ¡°I asked just to be sure. I¡¯ll call you after I look into it a bit more.¡± - Alright. We¡¯ll remain on standby. Call us immediately if you need help with anything. While Kang Chan was talking on the phone, the two men went inside, towards the right of the hotel and hid. 1. Wonsan Seaport is a seaport in North Korea 2. the Dang Dong Port is an artificial deep-water seaport on the coast of Dang Dong City, China Chapter 64.1: Unicorn Project (4)

Chapter 64.1: Unicorn Project (4)

Things like this asionally happened, even in Africa. Moments when his senses would sharpen and feel danger approaching. During such situations, Kang Chan would make his crewmates stop. And as he looked around his surroundings, bullets would then fly in from unexpected ces, encounter enemies lying in ambush, or even continuously find booby traps. He held up his phone and checked the time. It was 2:45 pm. ¡®Do I need to tell Lanok about this?¡¯ They could be trying to attack Kang Chan, though. As Kim Hyung-Jung said, Kang Chan was the first person Lanok was meeting upon arriving in South Korea. Hence, it was certainly possible for there to be a country hoping to ruin the process of the rail being connected to South Korea. What would I have done if I was in Africa? Obviously, he would¡¯ve made everyone stand where they were. Kang Chan held up his phone. - Monsieur Kang. I was actually just about to call you. I¡¯ve just arrived at the basement and am about to take the elevator. I¡¯ll see you on¡­ floor 19. An elevator that came up from the basement? Kang Chan quickly stood up and walked toward the elevators. The employees recognized him, so they didn¡¯t request him to pay. Rather, they bowed their heads at him to greet him. Kang Chan quickly ran over and passed by the regr elevator that was at the far end of the hotel¡¯s right wing. Nobody was there. If so, then that meant Lanok took the basement freight elevator, which was used to transport Smithen up from the basement in the past. Screech! The iron door that led to the emergency stairs screeched. Just as Kang Chan hastily opened the door and ran out to the path that was on the inner part of the stairwell¡­ Ting! Kang Chan heard the sound of the elevator stopping. When Kang Chan put a hand on the doorway and twisted his body, he saw the two men take out a gun each. Crack! Ti-ng! Simultaneously, Kang Chan struck the face of the man in front of him and pushed the gun of the man beside his other opponent. ¡°Ugh!¡± A scream rang out from within the elevator the moment sparks flew from the marble floor. Kang Chan pounced on the second guy. Pow-pow-pow-pow-pow. They were professionals. Bam! They even managed to properly hit the left side of Kang Chan¡¯s neck. Tak-ta-da-da-dak. Ta-dak! Pak. Their hands collided against each other so quickly he couldn¡¯t even see the face of his opponents. Pak! Pow. Pow. Kang Chan sessfully blocked an elbow with the edge of his hand. However, a thumb burrowed into his eye. Ta-dak! Pak! Kang Chan pushed the thumb away and elbowed the opponent¡¯s neck. Upon seeing his opponent gritting his teeth, Kang Chan realized he was up against someone who was used to getting hit. Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Kang Chan heard the two agents that had sprung out of the elevator engaging in a brutal battle against the other enemy. Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow!? Crack. Crack. The moment Kang Chan elbowed his current opponent¡¯s left eye, Kang Chan¡¯s left eye also got hit in the same way. This was his first time fighting against someone this quick. His opponent was so tenacious he even managed to hide the fact that he was hit so well. Pow! Pow! Pow! Ta-ak! Ta-da-dak! They exchanged blows so fast they ran out of breath. However, his enemy controlled his breathing during their battle. That showed he was a professional. Kang Chan could hear his opponent¡¯s breathing. A flurry of exchanges followed. Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! The edge of his hand, elbow, and wrist hit his opponent. Bam! His opponent kneed his thigh. Pow! Pow! Pow!? In retaliation, Kang Chan repeatedly hit the guy¡¯s right eye. Bam! As Kang Chan did, his foe threw a punch toward his stomach pit. Kang Chan pushed it away with his elbow. At that moment, their eyes finally met. Crack! Kang Chan headbutted his opponent in the face, causing thetter to fall backward and slide down against the wall. When Kang Chan turned around, he noticed one of the agents had fallen on the floor as if he was crumpled, while the other agent¡¯s nose had been severely damaged. Kang Chan and the man the agents were up against earlier simultaneously looked at the gun that had fallen to the ground. The moment the guy bent over, Kang Chan pounced on him. Kang Chan grabbed onto the pistol¡¯s barrel and drove his knee upward. Pow. His opponent blocked Kang Chan¡¯s knee with his elbow, then used that momentum to get up. At that moment, Kang Chan pushed and pointed the muzzle of the pistol at no one. Tak-dak. Bam. Ta-da-tak. Pow. Kang Chan tried to attack his opponent¡¯s right armpit with his right arm, and his opponent attempted to strike Kang Chan¡¯s neck and philtrum with his left arm. Ta-tak. Ta-da-dak. Ta-da-dak. As their arms continuously collided against each other, Kang Chan saw one of the agents standing back up. Dash. Kang Chan executed a feint toward the opponent¡¯s neck, then pushed him toward the agent. Crash. The agent caused Kang Chan¡¯s enemy to trip and fall. Thetter¡¯s strength was amazing, but not knowing when he was about to fall made a huge difference. Kang Chan bent his opponent¡¯s wrist and pushed the pistol away from him. Ti-ng. Ti-ng. ¡°Huff. Huff.¡± Blood spilled out of the chin of Kang Chan¡¯s enemy. While Kang Chan was on top of him, he fell down and seemingly rolled away. Kang Chan felt stiff pain surge up whenever he blinked. Moreover, his neck, side, and thigh hurt so much that he felt like they were going to rip apart. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan barely managed to raise himself. His left thigh had stiffened, and he couldn¡¯t put strength on it. ¡°Search through them,¡± Kang Chan ordered the agents. One of the agents held onto a pistol and searched through the man that had a hole in his chin. Simultaneously, the agent with a bleeding mouth and nose were bleeding searched through the guy leaning against the wall. ¡°It¡¯s poison,¡± The agent with the broken nose told Kang Chan. The face of the man leaning against the wall had a somewhat blue tinge. A nce alone would be enough to tell he looked like he was already dead. ¡°Where¡¯s the ambassador?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°He¡¯s in room 1901.¡± The agents acted as if they were talking to a superior. ¡°What should we do about them? I think it¡¯ll be better if my people clean them up,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°That should be fine.¡± Kang Chan took out his phone and called Kim Hyung-Jung. - Mr. Kang Chan! We heard gunshots from the hotel. Its employees have blocked the elevators to prevent people from going into the scene. ¡°We¡¯re on the first floor by the freight elevator. Two people died¡ªone by gunshot, and the other seemed to have swallowed poison. Please take care of this.¡± - We¡¯re heading in immediately. Our agents are wearing ck suits. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan hung up the phone and told the agents to wait for a moment. It hadn¡¯t even been a minute when six men in ck suits came inside the freight elevator. ¡°The manager sent us here.¡± ¡°Take care of this situation for us,¡± Kang Chan told the employees. ¡°Please feel free to go upstairs. Leave this to us.¡± Kang Chan gestured to the two French agents with a nod. Ting. When the elevator opened, Kang Chan headed inside, and the two agents followed behind him. One of the two took out a handkerchief and covered his mouth with it, but his blood just seeped through it. Ting. When they arrived at the 19th floor, he found two agents waiting for him. They apanied him to Lanok¡¯s room. Kang Chan limped across the hallway and finally went inside room 1901. ¡°Monsieur Kang.¡± Lanok approached Kang Chan and noisily kissed his cheeks. He then led Kang Chan to the sofa. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°I was lucky.¡± An agent poured them tea and ced cigarettes and a lighter on the table. The agent then entered one of the rooms inside. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, I have something that I need to tell you first.¡± ¡°Please go ahead.¡± Kang Chan rubbed his eye with his hand, then took out a cigarette. As he did, Lanok also moved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I was also about to smoke a cigar,¡± said Lanok. Click! After Kang Chan lit up a cigarette, Lanok also lit up a cigar. ¡°The Korean National Intelligence Service contacted me to ask for a favor a few days ago. Oh, and I entrusted them to clean up the scene on the first floor. Two people died down there,¡± Kang Chan said. Lanok just calmly stared at Kang Chan. Kang Chan took a sip of his tea. Afterward, the pain he felt dramatically decreased. He could also see properly now. ¡°Did the Korean government tell you about the rail?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°I heard it¡¯s called the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project. They requested that I ask you to connect South Korea to the rail.¡± Lanok exhaled the smoke of the cigar to the side. ¡°Where did you get the skills to fight against two agents of an enemy country?¡± Lanok asked. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t answer him since it was an abrupt question. ¡°About French¡­ Ah! You told me you learned that through the inte.¡± Kang Chan wanted to exin, but there was no way to do so. ¡°Two of our agents couldn¡¯t fight against one of those men, but you defeated both of them,¡± Lanok continued. Was he watching me? ¡°That means you can fight against four or five of our National Intelligence agents by yourself. A person that skilled in South Korea would be on every country¡¯s radar.¡± Go on, keep trying to figure me out. You¡¯ll never find anything. How could France¡¯s Intelligence Bureau, or the Intelligence Bureau of any country in the world for that matter, understand something even he couldn¡¯t? ¡°Let me ask a different question. So other countries think that you¡¯re a secret agent the South Korean government and I have raised. We can''t say anything about it though, considering we worked together to catch Shan,¡± Lanok continued. Kang Chan didn¡¯t me them for thinking that way. Chapter 64.2: Unicorn Project (4)

Chapter 64.2: Unicorn Project (4)

Kang Chan extinguished the cigarette and took another sip of his tea. ¡°How did you know there were two men out to kill me today?¡± Lanok asked again. As Kang Chan drank tea, he raised his gaze and looked straight at Lanok. Click. The sound of the teacup being ced down was unusually loud. ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± ¡°Go ahead, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t have ns to be servile or bow his head just because he had a favor to ask of Lanok. More importantly, he refused to keep meeting with Lanok if it would just mean he¡¯d keep receiving suspicions from him. ¡°I think each person has a special talent, so please just think mine are meleebat and French. And I just got lucky today. I coincidentally noticed those two through the window in the lobby. Anyway, I¡¯ll stop here. I was hoping to ask you for a favor since I was told ¡®Unicorn¡¯ would be a big help to South Korea. However, I don¡¯t think I can do this kind of thing after all.¡± Lanok¡¯s eyes shone sharply. ¡°I¡¯ll get going now. I wish for your sess,¡± Kang Chan continued. I did my best to save you, and you repay me with suspicions? Kang Chan¡¯s delight when he talked to Lanok on the phone yesterday hadpletely disappeared. They were now in a situation where Kang Chan was essentially ¡®put off¡¯ by Lanok. There was no way to ease Lanok¡¯s suspicion. Kang Chan could confess he got reincarnated, but nobody would believe him even if he were to cut his finger and vow he was telling the truth. Kang Chan let go of his lingering regrets. He didn¡¯t want to keep fighting battles without knowing the reason why anyway. ¡°Monsieur Kang.¡± When Kang Chan stood up, Lanok also stood up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I upset you. I had to gather as much information as possible.¡± That¡¯s what you think. Kang Chan didn¡¯t even say that it was fine. ¡°I¡¯ll consider you as my unofficial workce rtionship partner in South Korea from now on. I have one in every country, and I call all of them my friends. Won¡¯t you be my friend from now on?¡± White people always used such cringeworthy expressions. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a present tomemorate us bing friends. I¡¯ll connect the rail to South Korea. It hasn¡¯t been finalized, though, so I hope that you take this with a grain of salt.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have anything to give you,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°I already received a big present. You saved my life today.¡± When Kang Chan smiled, Lanok opened his arms. Why do French men do this kind of greeting with other men? It was gross, but Lanok was his friend. It would be best to understand his culture. Smooch! Smooch! After Lanok finished noisily greeting him, he smiled while smiling widely like a European mask. ¡°Please take a seat and have dinner with me,¡± Lanok offered. The atmosphere made it difficult to refuse. They sat down and ordered food. Afterward, they bit on a cigarette and a cigar. Considering what just happened, I think your security needs to be strengthened, Mr. Ambassador," Kang Chan suggested. ¡°Please give out an order to Yoo Bi-Corp tomorrow. I think it would be best for you to be the one with the power of appointment, even though Yoo Bi-Corp¡¯s the one in charge of my security in Korea from now on. Isn¡¯t this overdoing things again? Lanok shook his head, seemingly understanding what Kang Chan¡¯s expression meant. ¡°We need to divert the other countries¡¯ attention to Yoo Bi-Corp. Since President Kim Tae-Jin is quite well-known, this n should be more effective." ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll have it done by tomorrow. Do I need to contact you through the embassy?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Contact me through Yoo Bi-Corp. Oh, and about Shan¡­¡± Kang Chan¡¯s senses sharpened. ¡°We still haven''t urately identified his backer, but we''ve concluded they made a deal with the United Kingdom. Shan¡¯s backer had been sent into Loriam¡¯s basement, so they shouldn¡¯t be able toe back alive,¡± said Lanok. ¡°I see.¡± Shan¡¯s backer was trapped in the basement bunker of a military camp, being inside which was apparently worse than death. From what Kang Chan had heard, it supposedly had iron cells inside a gray room, and they locked people in there. Once imprisoned inside, the only contact left they¡¯d have with the outside world was the newspaper they got once a week. Kang Chan had dinner and conversed with Lanok for about two hours, but they never talked about the rail. Lanok told Kang Chan he was married but death had separated him from his wife. He also told him he had one daughter, whom Kang Chan thought he had heard about before. Lanok also told him how golf was his only joy, but he had to stop ying it since he couldn''t guard himself. At any rate, all they did was shoot the breeze. ¡°I¡¯ll contact you again within a few days to let you know how much we¡¯ve progressed with the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project, Mr. Kang chan. China¡¯s currently its biggest obstacle.¡± ¡°Please let me know anytime if you need help.¡± Lanok gave Kang Chan a strange smile after looking at thetter¡¯s left eye. It still stiffened up whenever he blink, and it seemed to have swelled up. ¡°Thank you for today, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°I''m d I got to see you again. Thank you for the present.¡± Kang Chan went out of Lanok¡¯s room and took the elevator. Looking at the mirror inside it, he noticed his eye was swollen¡ªalmost like a beat-up boxer¡¯s. Damn it! Kang Chan never wanted to meet another person simr to his opponents today ever again. Upon arriving on the first floor, he called Kim Hyung-Jung as he headed out the front door. - Mr. Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m on my way out the front door. Where do I have to go?¡± - You just need to stay at the entrance. Kang Chan did as instructed. A momentter, a ck car parked in front of him, and an employee got out of the passenger seat and opened the back door for him. Since people¡¯s eyes were rushing to him, Kang Chan quickly got in. ¡°You worked hard today.¡± The car drove off at the order of Kim Hyung-Jung, who was behind the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°We can¡¯t identify the two men killed in the earlier conflict. We went through the airports and ports¡¯ photo verification process since we thought they used different passports, but we didn¡¯t get any matches there either. They probably smuggled into the country,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung told Kang Chan. Upon leaving the premises of the Namsan Hotel, the car took a left turn and went into the parking lot of an art gallery. "Someone¡¯s waiting for you here,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said again. Kang Chan got out of the car for now. They opened the art gallery¡¯s ss front door and went inside, finding another set of double doors. The room past the doors was full of employees with IDs on the left side of their suits. ¡°This way, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung had also already hung his ID in the same area. Walking along the hallway, they found a sofa among the many paintings lined up on the wall. An old man with white hair got up from his seat and greeted Kang Chan. His build wasn¡¯t that big. Beside him was another man, seemingly his secretary, standing politely. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan?¡± The old man asked. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan could feel a sense of dignity from him that was difficult to ignore. He looked at Kang Chan¡¯s left eye. ¡°I¡¯m Go Gun-Woo. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± Kang Chan politely shook hands with him, then sat on the sofa. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a seat as well, Manager Kim?¡± Go Gun-Woo asked. ¡°I¡¯m okay with standing, Mr. Prime Minister.¡± The Prime Minister? The Prime Minister of this country? Kang Chan looked at Kim Hyung-Jung then returned his gaze to Go Gun-Woo, finding the old man smiling pleasantly. ¡°I¡¯m the Prime Minister of South Korea. A lot of people don¡¯t know that, though, since my abilities arecking. In fact, they say that the citizens not knowing their government¡¯s politicians or cab members are the most ideal,¡± Go Gun-Woo told Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s during times like this that I feel this government is still doing good.¡± While Go Gun-Woo was smiling brightly, tea was ced in front of Kang Chan. ¡°Hmm, honestly, seeing you makes me feel ashamed of myself,¡± The prime minister said calmly. He had stopped smiling. ¡°After all, I caused you a lot of inconvenience because of our inability to create a proper diplomatic channel amid this opportunity for our country to rise up without conditions or constraints.¡± Go Gun-Woo¡¯s bright eyes made Kang Chan think people like Go Gun-Woo could be found in ces he didn¡¯t expect. ¡°Thank you for helping us. I¡¯m d Lanok refused Russia¡¯s invitation and met you first. Moreover, I hope you do your best and keep in mind that what you''re doing is for the sake of the whole country,¡± Go Gun-Woo continued. ¡°I¡¯ve already decided to do that.¡± ¡°Thank you. Is there anything else that you need help with? I was originally supposed toe here with the National Intelligence Service director today, but something urgent came up. From now on, if you need anything¡­¡± Go Gun-Woo turned toward the man standing beside him, and the man ced a business card in front of Kang Chan. ¡°Just contact the number written on there. It¡¯ll only answer your calls. We¡¯ll be on standby around the clock, so all administrative issues that you need help with can immediately be brought to my attention after prior measures are taken. Manager Kim here will take care of any other issues, especially things like what happened today,¡± He continued. ¡°Thank you.¡± When Kang Chan looked down at the business card, Go Gun-Woo rmended he drink his tea. Kang Chan was full, but he took a sip out of courtesy anyway. ¡°Didn¡¯t Lanok say anything special?¡± Go Gun-Woo asked as Kang Chan was putting the cup down. This was probably the question he really wanted to ask. Kang Chan contemted on how much he should say but soon decided to just be honest. ¡°He said I¡¯ll be his unofficial workce rtionship partner for South Korea.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect the old man to be this happy about it. ¡°I heard Lanok always says a specific line to the person he¡¯s chosen as his unofficial workce rtionship partner. Did he say it to you?¡± ¡°Do you mean that he wants me to be his friend?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯s right! You aplished something really amazing today, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Damn it! I didn¡¯t expect he''d be so happy that I became friends with Lanok. ¡°He also said he''d try to connect the rail to South Korea, and that he''ll announce itter once everything has been finalized,¡± Kang Chan added. As soon as he said that, Kang Chan thought Go Gun-Woo was having a heart attack. Chapter 65.1: I’m being sincere (1)

Chapter 65.1: I¡¯m being sincere (1)

¡°Is that really true? Did Lanok really say he¡¯s going to connect the rail to South Korea?¡± Go Gun-Woo asked Kang Chan. ¡°He did. He also said he¡¯ll tell me how this would turn out within a few days. It hasn¡¯t been finalized yet, though, and he''s still thinking of how to push through with this, so he told me to take it with a grain of salt." ¡°Woah!¡± Go Gun-Woo¡¯s exmation was full of false hope. What''s he doing? Kang Chan discreetly looked around him, finding not only the secretary but even Kim Hyung-Jung unable to control their facial expressions. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Go Gun-Woo looked absolutely excited. ¡°Thank you! I feel like I¡¯ve now done my duty to the country as a Prime Minister. If this seeds, then our future generations will prosper for a long time. Thank you so much, Mr. Kang Chan!¡± ¡°Lanok said nothing¡¯s been finalized yet, though,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Go Gun-Woo shook his head. ¡°Once Lanok says he¡¯ll push through with it, then you can already consider it done. He has more than enough power to aplish it.¡± That man is that powerful, huh? Kang Chan just sat there calmly, which caused Gun-Woo tough out loud. His expression seemed to say, ¡®you really have no idea.¡¯ ¡°Manager Kim, I heard Mr. Kang Chan here had a problem today and even had to go to the police station?¡± asked Go Gun-Woo. ¡°Alion is undergoing a tax investigation. Thepany¡¯s also being investigated for other reasons, including forced sex entertainment. Moreover, the police have started to round up the Wook Ak-San gang. Based on the current n, there¡¯s should be a prosecution announcement within two days.¡± Go Gun-Woo nodded. He was clearly boasting about it. Kang Chan almost smirked, but he forced himself to resist the urge to smile. ¡°Your father is the president of Kang Yoo Motors, right?¡± asked Go Gun-Woo. ¡°That¡¯s correct, Mr. Prime Minister.¡± ¡°What about your mother?¡± ¡°She¡¯s preparing to create a Foundation to support orphanages.¡± Go Gun-Woo looked at the secretary, then looked downward. Should I have just said that she¡¯s a housewife? ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have to go now, but let¡¯s have lunch together next week. Please feel free to tell us if you need anything,¡± Go Gun-Woo continued. ¡°Mr. Prime Minister.¡± Go Gun-Woo leaned his head forward a bit and waited for Kang Chan to continue. ¡°I heard that Lanok¡¯s favorite hobby is golf. Unfortunately, he had given up on ying it in France since it caused a lot of difficulties in guarding him. Could you consider making preparations so he could enjoy golf, even if it''s just for a day?¡± ¡°Do you y golf, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± asked Go Gun-Woo. ¡°I have done it poorly a few times.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll contact you as soon as possible.¡± Following Go Gun-Woo¡¯s actions, Kang Chan also got up from his seat. He then politely shook hands with him. ¡°I¡¯ll lead the way, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan followed Kim Hyung-Jung out of the room first and headed to the parking lot opposite where they came in. As soon as they got in the backseat and closed the door, the car immediately left. Kim Hyung-Jung tightly clenched both of his fists. Trembling, his facial expression hardened. Soon, he breathed in deeply. ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten about my personal aspirations for my career. I¡¯m just happy this massive project has moved a step forward, and that South Korea now has a foundation for further growth.¡± ¡°What about the promotion?¡± asked Kang Chan. Kim Hyung-Jung smirked. This man had this type of charm. Kang Chan took out his phone and contacted Kim Tae-Jin. - How did it go? ¡°I think your friend just got a promotion.¡± - What does that mean? ¡°Lanok said he¡¯s going to carry forward with the n to connect the rail to South Korea.¡± - Wow! Kang Chan quickly distanced the phone from his ear. - You¡¯re not lying, are you? Where are you? We need to meet up! We need to have a drink on days like this! I¡¯m paying! Kim Tae-Jin was so loud Kim Hyung-Jung could hear everything. ¡°I¡¯m with manager Kim right now.¡± Beside Kang Chan, Kim Hyung-Jung said, ¡°Please tell him toe to Yeoksam-dong.¡± ¡°He says you shoulde to Yeoksam-dong.¡± - Alright. I''m on my way. ¡°Mr. President!¡± Kang Chan quickly called Kim Tae-Jin before he could drop the call. ¡°Lanok said he wants us to be in charge of his security while he¡¯s here in South Korea. He¡¯s going to put me as the client or something, and he asked that I contact the French Embassy through Yoo Bi-Corp.¡± - Huhuhu, I¡¯m going to go crazy. Since when did heugh like that? - You should¡¯ve contacted me when you left. Ah! If it¡¯s okay, then tell Mr. Seok Kang-Ho to join us as well. ¡°Alright.¡± After Kang Chan hung up, he called Seok Kang-Ho and handed the phone to Kim Hyung-Jung instead of giving him a long exnation.. Kim Hyung-Jung then gave Seok Kang-Ho directions. Unexpectedly, Kim Hyung-Jung chose a hostess bar called the ¡®Bali¡¯ as their meetup point. ¡°I go there a lot. It''s got a great atmosphere and it¡¯s easy for us to talk to each other there," Kim Hyung-Jung exined. When they went inside the bar, a nice-looking woman greeted them and led them to a wide room. Kang Chan was reminded of the time he beat up the parking lot gang¡¯s Park Ki-Bum sometime ago so he didn¡¯t feel great, but there was no need to express that. Kim Hyung-Jung and Kang Chan sat down, leaving the head of the table empty, and were drinking a bottle of water when Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho entered together. Upon seeing Kang Chan¡¯s swollen eyes, their excitement swiftly left their faces. ¡°Huh? What happened to your eye?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I got hit.¡± ¡°Did someone hit you while you were sleeping?¡± ¡°Sit down, then we¡¯ll talk,¡± said Kang Chan. Kang Chan and Kim Tae-Jin sat beside each other, and Seok Kang-Ho and Kim Hyung-Jung greeted each other and sat on the opposite side. Kang Chan first told them about what happened at the hotel earlier in the day, then about how he met Go Gun-Woo. Kim Hyung-Jung also added that there were no traces of the men Kang Chan fought entering the country at all. ¡°I should work out even harder starting tomorrow,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. As Kang Chan smirked, thedy earlier came into the room. No matter how he looked at her, she still looked so elegant that she should be doing embroidery, not working in a bar. ¡°I¡¯m Hong Jin-Ah. I look forward to serving all of you.¡± Hong Jin-Ah greeted Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan, then left the room after saying that she was going to order alcohol and side dishes. The social hierarchy got messed up. Kim Tae-Jin and Kang Chan, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho, Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung¡­ Organizing how they should address and speak to each other was difficult. Kang Chan was technically younger than them, but his skills, titles, and achievementsplicated things. ¡°We should organize it by age,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°That makes me ufortable, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung was so against it he even shook his head. ¡°How about we treat each other in the way we usually do for now? Even though you¡¯re my friend, I think it¡¯s wrong for a person executing their duty to speak rashly and informally.¡± They went along with Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s suggestion for now. A momentter, western liquor, beer, fruits, and fried Namix were served. Kim Hyung-Jung volunteered to make bomb shots, then handed them to everyone. ¡°Now! To the development of South Korea!¡± Kim Hyung-Jung eximed. He looked somewhat cool since he put conviction in such a cliche statement. The four of them downed their alcohol in one go. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan finally drank alcohol, which he hadn''t done in a while. He felt very relieved. For the second round of drinks, Kim Tae-Jin promptly made bomb shots again and handed them to everyone. ¡°People that are destined to meet will meet someday. Let¡¯s have a drink to Kang Chan, who connected us,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told everyone. This also seemed okay. Starting with Kang Chan, they again down their drinks in one go. Seok Kang-Ho quickly grabbed all of the cups, then made bomb shots again, this time with a lot of western liquor. He then gave them to everyone. ¡°I¡¯m going to pay for the drinks tonight,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told everyone. I knew that fucker was going to do that. ¡°I¡¯ll enjoy the drinks, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.¡± Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung drank while roaring withughter. Kang Chan then adequately mixed the drinks and gave everyone bomb shots. Fortunately, there were only four of them. If there were about ten of them, their gathering would¡¯ve ended after everyone had their turn making bomb shots. The three people that received drinks stared at Kang Chan. ¡°For the day we link up with Unicorn!¡± yelled Kang Chan. The four of them emptied their cups with kindred smiles. Afterward, they started pouring drinks for themselves. ¡°I¡¯ll immediately assign the five employees you¡¯re training to Lanok after they¡¯re done with their training,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told Kang Chan. ¡°Please proceed as you see fit.¡± They roughly finished the conversation about work. In the middle of their gathering, Kang Chan texted Kang Dae-Kyung and said that he was going to stay with Seok Kang-Ho today. Kang Dae-Kyung responded by telling him to stay safe. They talked about when Seok Kang-Ho and his family were abducted, how Seok Kang-Ho felt when he was releasing the wire from Kang Chan¡¯s hand, how Kim Tae-Jin ran out of breath when he ran while carrying a stretcher, and about what happened today. The result of the investigation around Alion and the Woo Ak-San gang being announced soon was also a popr subject. All of them drank until the very end of their gathering. What Kang Chan liked the most was that they could drink infort and without worrying about their surroundings. Everyone went home after drinking to their heart¡¯s content. Kang Chan stayed at the Namsan Hotel. 1. Yeoksam-dong is a ward of Gangnam-gu 2. This refers to red catfish that has been dried and fried. It is a popr side dish to alcohol. Chapter 65.2: I’m being sincere (1)

Chapter 65.2: I¡¯m being sincere (1)

In the morning, Kang Chan woke up at the same time as usual. He felt like drinking after so long made the stress he had been umting until now disappear. Kang Chan washed up lightly, then did a few exercises, including push-ups, for about an hour. Having worked up quite a sweat, he took a bath, finishing around 8 am. Drrr¨C. Drrr¨C. The phone in the room rang. ¡°Hello?¡± - Hyung-nim, it¡¯s Joo Chul-Bum. Only this fucker could¡¯ve made it so clear to Kang Chan that he was in the Namsan Hotel. ¡°Why are you calling?¡± - I was told Gwang-Taek hyung-nim is arriving in five minutes and that he¡¯d like to have a meal with you. I sent up undergarments and clothes for you to change into. They already set this n in motion before calling him, making it difficult for Kang Chan to refuse. ¡°Alright. Where should I go?¡± - The restaurant on the first floor serves breakfast. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. His room¡¯s doorbell rang at that moment. - I¡¯ll see youter, hyung-nim. When Kang Chan hung up the phone and opened the door, a male employee politely handed him two clothes hangers and a shopping bag. Not only were there undergarments, socks, and outer garments, but there were even shoes. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± They were so-called luxury clothes. Kang Chan frowned, but they were better than wearing the clothes he had on yesterday, which smelled like cigarettes. Shoot! Kang Chanughed out loud when he looked in the mirror. His eyes already seemed fine. He still felt faint pain whenever he blinked, but it looked somewhat okay now. After changing, he went down to the first floor. Joo Chul-Bum, who was waiting in front of the elevator, quickly took the shopping bag from Kang Chan. From the look in Joo Chul-Bum¡¯s eyes and the gazes from the people around him, it seemed the saying ¡®fine clothes make the man¡¯ was true. Kang Chan had also clearly gotten in shape recently due to his workouts. That also yed a role. When Kang Chan walked into the first floor, a female manager came toward him while politely greeting him. ¡°Mr. Kang, you look really good today.¡± Should I pay attention to what I wear from now on? ¡°Pleasee this way.¡± The manager led him to the table that oh Gwang-Taek upied in the inner part of the restaurant. Thetter got up from his spot. ¡°Why did you want to see me?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s meet up every now and then. Serve us some food." Oh Gwang-Taek sat back down. He then smirked while looking over at Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m really grateful for the present you gave to my motherst time and for these clothes today. But stop doing things like this from now on. I like wearing things that I¡¯mfortable with.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek replied briefly after leaning against the chair. ¡°Those clothes are on the cheaper side of that brand. I thought you¡¯d be spouting bullshit if I bought you expensive ones, so I paid extra attention to their prices.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°I heard about D.I., and that you also often meet with the French ambassador. I¡¯m also against you wearing expensive clothes when you¡¯re working out or going to school, but at least wear clothes that match the asion. That¡¯s just proper courtesy toward the person you¡¯re meeting,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek told Kang Chan. Kang Chan felt like he was being fooled even though what he was saying was right, probably because it was being said by a fucking gangster. ¡°You¡¯re wearing clothes from the same brand right now because I bought that in a rush, but you can mix what you¡¯re wearing today with the clothes that you normally wear. Still, you should also learn how to wear clothes that match the asion for important events.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Kang Chan yelled. ¡°Alright, alright. Don¡¯t worry about those things. I¡¯ll send you clothes that are on sale whenever I remember you while buying things from a store.¡± Kang Chan was reminded again of how frugally Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook lived. That could be the reason why they were often disregarded, but it felt a hundred¡ªno, a thousand times better than just looking luxurious on the outside. ¡°About the Woo Ak-San gang...¡± When Oh Gwang-Taek brought up the Woo Ak-San gang, two employees brought out their breakfast on elegant tes. The kimchi jjigae and the kimchi were subtly ced on a fancy te, so they didn¡¯t look that appetizing. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Kang Chan started to eat. ¡°You know that the police are starting to do a roundup of the Woo Ak-Sang gang, right?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek said after trying the jjigae. Kang Chan nced at Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°Are they connected to you?¡± What should I say? Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to lie to a fucking gangster. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend for that to happen¡ªit just did. The other party was the one that overdid it. Unfortunately, My position makes it awkward for me to stop them. If I work with Alion and make things work with them, then I¡¯d have to put up with issues that are too big in return..¡± Feeling like he waspletely losing his appetite, Kang Chan took a sip of water. ¡°Hey! Eat. Let¡¯s talk while eating,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek insisted. Things would¡¯ve been quite good if this fucker just wasn¡¯t a gangster. Kang Chan watched Oh Gwang-Taek put enough food in his mouth for it to burst, then scooped up food as well. ¡°Even among us gangsters, there are people we call the elders.¡± ¡°Swallow your food before you talk.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek held up the soup bowl and swallowed two or so mouthfuls. ¡°I asked because those old men were spouting bullshit,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek said. ¡°Those fuckers are the ones that submitted aint to the Gangnam Police Station.¡± ¡°I¡¯m also pushing ahead with that fact.¡± Kang Chan ate the rest of his food, ending his meal. ¡°There are a lot of things I¡¯m indebted to you for, and a lot more than I won¡¯t even be able to repay. So on that note, can¡¯t you stop being a gangster?¡± Kang Chan asked. Oh Gwang-Taek ced his spoon down and drank water. "There are younger people here that I have to look after. I can stop doing this if I was just looking out for myself. However, if I step back, then those looking to take over Joo Chul-Bum¡¯s position in this hotel, the ones managing the business, and those that are running the nightclubs are going to find themselves with nowhere to go. Expecting me to be satisfied after abandoning the people that have been following me since they were kids is unreasonable." Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s eyes sparkled quite a bit. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I want to smoke while we talk,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek told Kang Chan. Kang Chan stood up and followed Oh Gwang-Taek. As he did, he got a call from Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I¡¯m having breakfast with Oh Gwang-Taek. I¡¯ll go to school as soon as this ends.¡± - Is something going on? ¡°I¡¯m going somewhere to smoke.¡± - Phuhu, alright. They were going down to the club by the time he ended the call. ¡°Was that Mr. Seok Kang-Ho?¡± asked Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Phew!¡± Oh Gwang-Taek sighed. The club¡¯s lights turned on when they entered, but there wasn¡¯t much to see. They sat at one of the tables, and a waiter served them coffee. He then bowed grandly and left. Kang Chan drank coffee and bit down on the cigarette that Oh Gwang-Taek handed to him. ¡°Speaking of which, help me out just this once,¡± asked Oh Gwang-Taek. What¡¯s he saying out of the blue? When Kang Chan nced at him, Oh Gwang-Taek looked serious. ¡°There are about a hundred members that I need to look after.¡± ¡°Holy fuck, that¡¯s a lot,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Pah!¡± ¡°Geez, you dirty fucker!¡± Kang Chan swore when Oh Gwang-Taek spat out coffee. Oh Gwang-Taek was spilling coffee all over the ce, most likely because of what Kang chan said. A gangster came over and hastily wiped the floor. ¡°This is the first time anyone¡¯s ever talked to me that way.¡± Not only Oh Gwang-Taek, but the guy wiping the floor actually looked at Kang Chan with an expression that showed he respected him. ¡°Shut up and just tell me what you need,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Find us apany that my kids would be enticed by.¡± What does he even mean? ¡°I heard everything you¡¯ve done from Chul-Bum. I¡¯ve bought about two to threepanies from fuckers pretending to be smart, including ountants and employees of a brokerage firm, but it all went bankrupt. These bastards don¡¯t have anything up here.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek hit his head with his index and middle fingers. ¡°I thought about doing something that just requires physicalbor. I even discussed it with President Kim Tae-Jin. However, as you also probably know, fighting with a filet knife and conducting guard duties are two different things,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek continued. ¡°Stop beating around the bush and just tell me what you need. You¡¯re making this hard for me to understand.¡± ¡°Hey! There has to be a government-backed job out there, right? A job that will guarantee revenue for about ten years. Get me a job like that, then I¡¯ll change careers and take all of my men with me,¡± said Oh Gwang-Taek. Is this fucker serious? ¡°All the gangsters my age are broken. They ended up like that after using up all the money they earned from knife fights on horse race bets and casino gamblings. Among the gangsters I¡¯m close with, more than half have alreadymitted suicide. They were prideful, so they didn¡¯t want to be humiliated by the younger kids. A gangster ced a new cup of coffee in front of Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°I acted like a bully¡ªsomething that you don¡¯t like. But that was the only thing I was good at, and I thought it made me look cool. Still, I thought I should also live a bit more like a decent human being..¡± ¡°Did you go to the hospital?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°The hospital? Why? Did something happen to Director Yoo?¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°There¡¯s a saying that something¡¯s bound to happen when you do something that you don¡¯t normally do.¡± ¡°Geesh! That¡¯s going to bring bad luck.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek temperamentally extinguished his cigarette. ¡°My daughter now recognizes me as her dad, but as she did, our rtionship with the Shin Yeong-Dong gang and the Woo Ak-San gang turned sour. It''s not like I''m immune to getting stabbed just because I''m powerful. I just want to live a normal life, but that isn¡¯t working out so well.¡± Is he being sincere? At a nce, it did look like he was being honest. ¡°Fuck! I can say this because you¡¯re not a gangster. There¡¯s also no reason for word about this to get out. If I tell anyone else about this, then the other gangsters will immediately go crazy trying to covet my district.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t someone else try to attack your district again if you step out?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We¡¯d still protect our district, but we¡¯re going to do it while we manage a proper business with the money that I earn. Money is the king even in this field now. People no longer follow others out of sheer loyalty like in the old days. They''d probably only be able to do that for just a year or two. People like Suh Do-Seok and Joo Chul-Bum will stay, but I''m sure the rest will leave. There are even gangsters that have graduated from universities now, making it hard to keep up with how sneaky they are.¡± Kang Chan shook the remaining coffee into his cup. ¡°I can''t promise anything right now, but I''ll look into it. Are you sure you won¡¯t regret thister on?¡± ¡°Do-Seok still hasn''t regained consciousness. Look into the gangsters in Gangnam. My hyung-nims have been trying to coax me so badly, but I¡¯ve never gambled in a casino or betted in horse races. I admit I made a lot of mistakes in the past, so just think of this as a father wanting to raise his daughter properly.¡± Kang Chan understood what Oh Gwang-Taek was trying to say. Still, he felt like something was missing. ¡°If you really want to quit being a gangster and live a normal life, then can you donate all of the money that you¡¯ve earned until now to those in difficult situations?¡± Kang Chan asked. The unexpected suggestion made Oh Gwang-Taek look sharply at Kang Chan. ¡°Forget the idea of getting a fresh start if you¡¯re just going to hold on to everything that you have right now, despite knowing they¡¯re the product of your past wrongdoings. If that¡¯s what you¡¯re trying to do, then just keep living this life. For as long as you¡¯re holding onto the money you obtained in exchange for someone else¡¯s pain, then you¡¯ll just keep being a gangster that has a good business card to your daughter.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek looked as if he got pped. ¡°If you decide to do that, then I¡¯ll help you out,¡± Kang Chan continued. He was being sincere. If this fucker was determined to quit being a gangster, then Kang Chan would love to help him just this once. He wanted to treat him with more familiarity anyway. Chapter 66.1: I’m Being Sincere (2)

Chapter 66.1: I¡¯m Being Sincere (2)

It was already past 10 am by the time Kang Chan parted ways with Oh Gwang-Taek in the hotel. As he left the hotel to go to school, he got a call from Kang Dae-Kyung. - Got a moment? ¡°Yes. How can I help you?¡± - Just a moment ago, the secretary for national affairs from the prime minister¡¯s office called us and said they¡¯re going to help make the foundation under your mom¡¯s name. They also said the government could support a part of the foundation.¡± That old man has really crossed the line! - They asked if we could go to the prime minister¡¯s office tomorrow, which has made your mom extremely worried. What happened? ¡°Should Ie home?¡± - Can you? It was just his son, so why was he so ufortable talking to him? ¡°Sure. I¡¯m on my way.¡± Kang Chan immediately took a taxi home and saved the phone numbers that he had received so far while on the road. As soon as he arrived, he quickly made his way to their apartment. ¡°Channy!¡± eximed Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Wee home,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung greeted. Yoo Hye-Sook looked like a middle schooler who went to the first day of school after a break without doing her homework. When Kang Chan smiled and said, ¡°Oh no, mom is scared!¡± her nervousness appeared to dissipate. The three of them sat at the table. ¡°Do you two remember Ambassador Lanok?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Lanok?¡± ¡°Yes. The French ambassador you two saw at the presentation for Gong Te automobile.¡± ¡°Ah! Yes! What about him?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. Unlike Yoo Hye-Sook, who was getting into Kang Chan¡¯s story, Kang Dae-Kyung looked doubtful, as if he was asking, ¡®Is this true?¡¯ ¡°He has something that could help South Korea. Unfortunately, he''s stubborn and insisted on speaking French. This made things go awry. Thankfully, though, it seems like Mr. Kim Tae-Jin, the Yoo Bi-Corp president, was there with a couple of government officials and theyplied with Lanok''s request. Personally, I''m very confused as well with how things are working out so easily these days.¡± While Yoo Hye-Sook was trying hard to ept what Kang Chan said, Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Kang Chan with a strange smile. ¡°I¡¯ll cancel the request for you two to go to the prime minister¡¯s office tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°No, that¡¯s not what we meant.¡± Surprised, Yoo Hye-Sook glossed over her answer, and Kang Dae-Kyung shook his head and gestured at Kang Chan with his eyes. What on earth is going on here? For the time being, he just followed the gesture that was thrown at him. ¡°If it¡¯s alright for you to go, then please do. It¡¯s for the orphans,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Would it be alright if I do that?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m proud of you for working so hard for kids in difficult situations.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung nodded. ¡°Mother, can I ask you a favor?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Please go to the department store with me. I want to buy you an outfit for tomorrow. This has been on my mind since I bought father a shirtst time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Channy.¡± ¡°Pleasee with me. I just got my payment from Yoo Bi-Corp and D.I., and I heard that children are supposed to buy clothes for their parents with their first sry. Do you have time as well, father?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung gave a straight answer, which made Yoo Hye-Sook look confused. ¡°Come with us, mother.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, honey. Our son said that he got his first sry. We should enjoy the rewards of raising a good son.¡± ¡°Will that really be alright?¡± With Kang Chan and Kang Dae-Kyung working together, they managed to convince Yoo Hye-Sook toe with them. They left the house right after. ¡°Father, where¡¯s the closest department store?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°There¡¯s one right in front of our apartment. Let''s go there.¡± They got in the car in the basement parking lot and immediately got out of the apartmentplex. *** Go Gun-Woo sighed while pursing his lips. ¡°Mr. President, I¡¯ll step down.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll say that won¡¯t be enough. What they want is for us to hand over the position of the Director of the National Intelligence Service.¡± ¡°If that happens, then South Korea won¡¯t ever be able to link up with project ¡®Unicorn.¡¯ You know that, right?¡± President Moon Jae-Hyun took out a cigarette, bit down on it, and lit it up. ¡°Whoo¡­ If it¡¯s a crime that a President came from their opposition party in twenty years, then it¡¯s probably a crime. After all, if we announce the ¡®Unicorn¡¯, then it¡¯ll be difficult for them toe into power again.¡± ¡°We can never hand over the position of the Director of the National Intelligence Service,¡± Go Gun-Woo told the President. ¡°Isn¡¯t that why we¡¯re doing this in the first ce? This is the only option we have, considering they also have the majority of the National Assembly. If need be, they''re going to try impeaching me.¡± Go Gun-Woo sighed deeply. They didn¡¯t have any answers to this predicament. . ¡°Japan is fully supporting them. They¡¯re even distorting the fact that we went to North Korea to connect the ¡®Unicorn.¡¯ And they¡¯d likely assassinate me as well if they ever get the opportunity.¡± ¡°We should destroy a conglomerate and make an example out of it,¡± said Go Gun-Woo. Moon Jae-Hyun smiled bitterly. ¡°If we do that, then they¡¯ll openly unite, and to make matters worse, they¡¯re already angry about the plutocracy control. Plus, as long as they have the press in their hands, they¡¯ll rise up while simultaneously executing political retaliation.¡± ¡°Mr. President! For the country¡¯s sake, get the media under your control just this once.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun exhaled cigarette smoke with a smile. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how much we im our purpose is fair if our methods to realize that purpose are unfair. We¡¯d just be doing what the regime we¡¯ve been criticizing thus far. I don¡¯t think our citizens are that foolish, considering they¡¯re the ones that entrusted us to lead them after thest regime¡¯s twenty years in power. This won¡¯t seed if we betray and disregard them.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun shook his head, then continued, ¡°If stepping down from my position as the president and handing over the regime to them is the price I have to pay to make the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project seed, then I¡¯d dly do that.¡± Go Gun-Woo looked at Moon Jae-Hyun, his eyes showing how sorry he felt for him. The press had been saying whatever they wanted about him and was making him walk on the de of a dagger simply because he couldn¡¯t tell them about the purpose of his visit to North Korea. The President proposed to give the support North Korea was requesting, along with resolving the dispute about the ceasefire line, if they were to connect the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ to South Korea. But the press maliciously distorted the facts and only talked about the ¡®ceasefire line¡¯ part of the proposal. If they just announced the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ instead and revealed that the current opposition party had vested interest and was deceiving the citizens¡­ Moon Jae-Hyun would never give up the ¡®Unicorn.¡¯ He was so intransigent he would willingly give up his position just to connect the rail to South Korea. ¡°Mr. Prime Minister.¡± ¡°Please go ahead, Mr. President.¡± ¡°I would like to meet the student named Kang Chan.¡± ¡°That would be difficult to do officially.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun smiled bitterly. ¡°But it should be fine if you just coincidentally run into him while you¡¯re going through your schedule,¡± Go Gun-Woo continued. Go Gun-Woo wished that Kang Chan was a bit older and had a high-ranking position in the government. He thought it would be great to have someone that would voluntarily beat people up to their heart¡¯s content in situations like this. ¡°Your Excellency, do you y golf?¡± asked Go Gun-Woo. ¡°Haha, don¡¯t you know better than anyone else that I don¡¯t have a talent for sports?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be alright to do it just this once?¡± ¡°People already call me an unqualified President just for watching a performance the day before a typhoon hit South Korea, and you want me to y golf?¡± asked Moon Jae-Hyun. Something crossed Go Gun-Woo¡¯s mind as he looked at Moon Jae-Hyun, who had burst intoughter. *** ¡°Madam, you look really great in that!¡± The clerk didn¡¯t seem to be lying. It was Kang Chan¡¯s first time seeing Kang Dae-Kyung smile this satisfactorily. She was beautiful. Though Yoo Hye-Sook did say she preferred using money to help kids instead of buying clothes, her current outfit still made her stand out. Yoo Hye-Sook was standing in front of a mirror when Kang Chan approached her from the back and ced a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Mother, why don¡¯t you go with this? You look really, really pretty.¡± ¡°Can I really wear this? Isn¡¯t this too expensive?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook was couldn¡¯t take her eyes away from the mirror. ¡°It¡¯s my first sry, so please don¡¯t hesitate to choose what you want,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Channy.¡± ¡°Why are you saying sorry?¡± Kang Chan smiled and looked closely at Yoo Hye-Sook. Tears had welled up in her eyes again. ¡°Mom¡¯s really pretty, isn¡¯t she, father?¡± The employees made a fuss in front of Kang Dae-Kyung, who was smiling like a fool. Yoo Hye-Sook epted Kang Chan¡¯s wish in the end. After Kang Chan paid for the clothes, he also bought shoes for Yoo Hye-Sook. Now carrying a sparkling shopping bag, Kang Chan then grinned at Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Father, you should buy a suit.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook was surprised but soon looked like she was secretly looking forward to it. ¡°You should at least have a suit that matches the asion since you¡¯ll be apanying her tomorrow. You¡¯re the president of Kang Yoo Motors, too.¡± Kang Chan persuaded Kang Dae-Kyung, who felt awkward. He bought thetter a suit, shoes and a belt as a present. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be the only ones with new clothes. I¡¯ll buy you a suit,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Kang Chan. ¡°I bought these clothes this morning. It¡¯s from a fairly expensive brand.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook no longer managed to insist on it after noticing Kang Chan¡¯s outfit. Their dismayed faces weighed on his mind, though. ¡°Please buy me a delicious lunch instead,¡± He said, and the three of them left the department store. Chapter 66.2: I’m Being Sincere (2)

Chapter 66.2: I¡¯m Being Sincere (2)

When Kang Chan returned to the school, the bullies¡¯ sses had already ended. He talked about what happenedst night with Seok Kang-Ho and exchanged jokes like ¡®fine clothes made the man.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s talk for a moment,¡± Heo Eun-Sil called Kang Chan after changing. This bitch¡¯s guts deserved to be acknowledged, at the very least. Seok Kang-Ho inconspicuously left them alone. ¡°Sit down,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Buy me coffee.¡± When Kang Chan''s eyes narrowed down, Heo Eun-Sil quickly looked at his right hand. ¡°Come to our neighborhood and buy me coffee from a coffee shop so the group of bullies and the oppas from Kwang-Min University would see us. We still can¡¯t go outside once we¡¯ve gone home from school. We¡¯ve been keeping our promise to work hard, but we also want to go out.¡± She was afraid, but she again didn¡¯t avoid his gaze. On one hand, it seemed like she was being sincere. But on the other hand, she also seemed like she was lying. ¡°Buy me coffee!¡± Heo Eun-Sil yelled. Kang Chan didn¡¯t really have any appointments to attend to right now, but something always happened whenever he got involved with this bitch. ¡®I did notice she''s been really quiettely..¡¯ While Kang Chan was silently staring at her, Heo Eun-Sil dropped her gaze to the floor. Of all things, why did he remember her getting beat up at Tron Square? She still took a firm stand even while her breast was twisted and while she was getting brutally pped. ¡°Heo Eun-Sil, are you really confident you can rid the school of bullying when sses resume?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°I already told you that I¡¯m confident as long as you stop the kids about to be discharged from the hospital.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook even took medicine to send her kid to school. Howe this bitch is so twisted? ¡°Alright. Call the others,¡± Kang Chan told Heo Eun-Sil. ¡°The others?¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re doing this anyway, wouldn¡¯t it be best to have them join us?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± When Kang Chan smirked, Heo Eun-Sil again looked at his right hand. She was quite a steadfast bitch, even while she was this scared. ¡°If we do that, then the group of bullies won¡¯t believe it. Let¡¯s just go with the two of us today. And make it so the group of bullies and oppas really think we¡¯re close,¡± Heo Eun-Sil said while leaning on one foot. She looked weird since she wasn¡¯t wearing any makeup. If this bitch was a boy, Kang Chan thought he would¡¯ve either beaten her to death or they¡¯d be close friends after beating her to his heart¡¯s content. ¡°Alright. When are we going?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Right now.¡± Kang Chan nodded and got up from his spot. He thought this was worth doing. After all, he did tell them that he was going to protect them under the condition that they get rid of the bullying at school. Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho that he was going home first, then left the school with Heo Eun-Sil. They rode the bus. It¡¯s not like he did this on purpose, but she was like Kim Mi-Young. This bitch never looked away first when her eyes met someone else¡¯s. Still, her delinquent personality showed in how she walked, her posture when she stood, and even in the way she grabbed onto the bus handle. After about twenty minutes on the road, they got off the bus. Across the street, there was a neighbourhood with nearly identical vis all lined up in a row. Heo Eun-Sil walked toward a specialty coffee shop, the smoking area¡¯s folding door of which was wide open. ¡°What do you want to drink?¡± Kang Chan ignored Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s question and walked toward the counter. ¡°I¡¯m going to drink iced coffee. What about you?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll have the same.¡± After Kang Chan paid for their drinks, they sat down on the terrace that was connected to the smoking area. When the buzzer rang a momentter, Heo Eun-Sil brought over the coffee. ¡°Would I also be able to live a normal life?¡± Heo Eun-Si asked Kang Chan. Thetter had just opened the lid and was drinking coffee. ¡°What should I do for a living?¡± Earlier that day, a gangster asked the same question as this strong-willed bitch. ¡°Ho-Jun said he¡¯s going to join the Yoo Bi-Corp, and all of the eleventh-graders are nning to do the same. What about me?¡± Heo Eun-Sil asked again. Dumbfounded, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I¡¯ve be disgusted with the Jeongja bitches after seeing what they do. Those fucking bitches are acting dramatic and silly after joining the group of bullies right now. Watch what I do to them once theye back to school.¡± Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s eyes filled with spite but soon regainedposure. Was that what people called a monodrama? ¡°Don¡¯t treat me harshly when we go back to school, and help me when I look for you,¡± said Heo Eun-Sil. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what to reply to that, so he drank his coffee instead. Soon, he noticed Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s gaze looked past him, then dropped to the ground. ¡°Long time no see?¡± someone asked. At this point, it would''ve been weirder to hope that nothing would happen while he was with this bitch. Kang Chan looked over his shoulder because of the sarcastic tone, finding two guys wearing dickhead-like clothes¡ªspecifically body-hugging t-shirts and tight-fitting workout pants. They looked nasty. Standing close to the table behind them, their eyes alternated between Kang Chan and Heo Eun-Sil. ¡°You¡¯re ignoring me? It seems like you got a bit of courage because you¡¯re not beaten up.¡± Heo Eun-Sil turned her head toward the road. Even those fuckers probably wouldn¡¯t be able topete with this bitch in terms of guts. ¡°Hey!¡± Kang Chan got up and turned around upon sensing someone approaching him from behind. ¡°You fucker¡­¡± The guy swore at Kang Chan. Smack! ¡°Ugh!¡± The guy that was at the back reflexively threw a punch. Kang Chan countered by pulling the guy¡¯s arm and cing it over his shoulder. Crack! ¡°Gaaahh!¡± Fighting weak opponents had be tiring for him. The rebellion in the eyes of the guy Kang Chan had just pped made thetter smirk. On his workout pants, the words ¡®Kwang-Min University¡¯sbat club¡¯ was inscribed in red. These university students acted so childishly. Grab. It was hard to grab his head since he had an athlete¡¯s hairstyle. Fucking amateurs. Kang Chan grasped the guy¡¯s ear. ¡°Ah!¡± Screaming, the guy¡¯s shoulder flinched, a clear indication he was about to throw a punch. Smack! Kang Chan pped the guy¡¯s face. The guy looked at Kang Chan in surprise. He¡¯s still able to focus enough to see my face, right? Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!? Thud! Kang Chan loosened his grip when the lower part of the guy¡¯s ear ripped. He wasn¡¯t on a battlefield, so there was no need for him to tear off his opponent¡¯s ear. ¡°Gaaah.¡± ¡°Be quiet.¡± The guy with the broken arm red sharply at Kang Chan. Kang Chan smirked, then grabbed onto the guy¡¯s broken arm with his left hand and pulled. ¡°Gaaahhhh!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to be quiet?¡± asked Kang Chan. When Kang Chan pressed his inner arm on the guy¡¯s broken arm, the guy¡¯s eyes widened. Crack! When Kang Chan loosened his grip, his opponent dropped hard enough to break his tailbone. ¡°Gaaaah!¡± "You¡¯re still being so loud, you fucker?" Kang Chan asked ¡°Ugh. Urgh.¡± With his eyes glued to the ground, Kang Chan¡¯s enemy struggled to get as far away as possible from him by kicking against the floor to push himself backward. His butt was exposed because his workout pants had dropped halfway through. When Kang Chan nced inside the coffee shop, the people around them quickly avoided his gaze. The guy that was holding and leaning onto the terrace¡¯s railing shook his head, trying hard toe to his senses. People had two ears. Kang Chan reached out and pulled on the university student¡¯s other ear, which made thetter quickly get up. SMACK! Thud! When Kang Chan reached out and grabbed the guy¡¯s ear again, thetter hastily wobbled up. ¡°Hey!¡± He nced at Kang Chan, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t answer. SMACK! His ears, nose, and mouth were already a bloody mess. Kang Chan reached out and pulled his opponent¡¯s ear again. ¡°Ah! Ahhh!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Ur-gh.¡± Kang Chan smirked. Crack! Kang Chan hit the guy¡¯s face hard with his right elbow. The impact caused the guy¡¯s waist to hit the terrace¡¯s railing. The momentum then sent him toppling over the railing and out of the coffee shop¡¯s premises. Thud. "If you go to a university, hang around the university you go to instead of fucking around in front a high schooler." The guy with the broken arm had his head hanging and about half of his butt out to the public. At any rate, Kang Chan had never met any bitch that attracted as much trouble as Heo Eun-Sil before. Just as Kang Chan was about to sit back down, a patrol car stopped in front of the coffee shop. Two police officers in full uniform got out of the car and each approached a student Kang Chan had just fought. Kang Chan took out his phone as the police officer looked for and spoke to the person that reported the incident to the police inside the coffee shop. The police officer then turned his gaze to Kang Chan. - Mr. Kang Chan. ¡°I apologize for bothering you, but I got into a fight and the police are here.¡± - Alright. Please put them on the phone. Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t even ask anything. At that moment, the police officer approached Kang Chan. ¡°Did you assault the two men over there?¡± ¡°Please answer the phone.¡± When Kang Chan offered his phone, the police officer frowned. ¡°Please answer us first. Did you assault them?¡± Kang Chan put his phone back on his ear. ¡°He said he¡¯s not going to answer.¡± ¡°This person is really making things difficult for us.¡± The police officer looked displeased. Soon, the detective in full uniform outside came inside. -Mr. Kang Chan, please ask them what police station they¡¯re from. Kang Chan put his phone down and asked, ¡°I did assault them. Now, which police station are you a part of?¡± ¡°A young fellow like you is really doing this right now when you¡¯re about to get arrested?¡± Kang Chan was swiftly filled with annoyance. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask again. Which police station are you from?¡± ¡°We¡¯re from the Seocho Police Station.¡± The police officer thatter came in answered as if he was going to call Kang Chan¡¯s bluff. ¡°One of the cops said they¡¯re from the Seocho Police Station.¡± - It¡¯ll only take a minute. When Kang Chan hung up the phone, the police officer in full uniform smiled, seemingly finding Kang Chan¡¯s behavior absurd. ¡°ID,¡± The police officer said, then held out his hand. Kang Chan took out his driver¡¯s license from his wallet. ¡°Huh? you¡¯re a minor? Look into him.¡± Just as the police officer was handing over Kang Chan¡¯s ID to his colleague, who was beside him, his phone rang. ¡°Hello? Yes. Yes. I¡¯m Sergeant Lee Chul-Ho of the Seocho Patrol Division. Yes! I am currently on the scene. Yes. Pardon?¡± The police officer nced at Kang Chan. ¡°Yes! He¡¯s in front of me. Yes. I''ll do as you say. Yes, sir!¡± The police officer hung up the phone, took Kang Chan¡¯s ID away from his colleague, then handed it back to Kang Chan. ¡°We weren¡¯t aware those guys threatened you first. We apologize for causing an inconvenience.¡± The guy with the broken arm looked at the police officer with a confused expression. ¡°Take those two to the police station,¡± Lee Chul-Ho told the other police officer. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Do as you¡¯re told.¡± When his partner failed to follow his order, the police officer held up the other arm of the guy who had sunk to his knees. ¡°You both are under arrest formitting violence and making threats.¡± ¡°Guhh.¡± The guy screamed as he got up but quickly closed his mouth when he looked at Kang Chan. After getting the two university students into the patrol car, the police officers drove off. Kang Chan had just sat down and was looking at Heo Eun-Sil when his phone rang. - Mr. Kang Chan, your residence card and National Intelligence Service ID are ready. How about we have dinnerter? Kang Chan epted the offer and hung up the phone. ¡°You¡¯re cool,¡± Heo Eun-Silplimented. Crazy bitch. Kang Chan smirked, but he soon felt his heart sink. Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s eyes were heated up the same way Michelle¡¯s eyes would whenever she was worked up. Chapter 67.1: Dont Go Overboard (1)

Chapter 67.1: Don''t Go Overboard (1)

After parting ways with Heo Eun-Sil, Kang Chan arrived at the Korean restaurant where the reservation was. ¡°I was told the Nam Yang Company made a reservation?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°This way, sir.¡± A middle-aged woman in a navy blue suit led him to a room inside the restaurant. Slide. Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho were already waiting for him. With the table in the middle, Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung sat closer to the walls while Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho sat opposite them. No one showed any signs that they had been drinking alcohol. ¡°Please ept this, Mr. Kang Chan. This is for you, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung held out IDs. One was a resident registration card, and the other had the words ¡®National IntelligenceService¡¯ inscribed in red. ¡°With this, you can ess any government building, regardless of the location. If you ever find yourself in trouble with the police or civil servants, just show them this card and tell them to contact the number written on its back. We¡¯ll take care of the rest,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. Kang Chan liked the resident registration card that stated he was twenty-five years old more than that privilege. From now on, I can smoke without worries! Seok Kang-Ho looked at the ID, seemingly amazed. He then put it in his inner chest pocket. ¡°You may also now schedule a golf session with Ambassador Lanok, Mr. Kang Chan. However, you¡¯ll need to inform us of the date two days ahead.¡± ¡°Can we really do that?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Hyung-Jung. Kang Chan had recently asked them to help Lanok go golfing again as a favor. He wanted to make Lanok happy. ¡°Since it¡¯s an unofficial event, Yoo Bi-Corp has to be in charge of security.¡± Kang Chan thought that shouldn¡¯t be a problem, but Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s face hardened for some strange reason. ¡°The forces that are trying to stop ¡®Unicorn¡¯ are moving on arger scale than we expected. They¡¯re trying to change the Director of the National Intelligence Service, which makes it difficult for us to provide Ambassador Lanok¡¯s security. The President and the Prime Minister are doing their best, but the ambassador could find himself in a dangerous situation.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make a reservation at the Kyung Seoul golf club in Jangheung. As I mentioned earlier, you just need to tell us about the date two days in advance.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll discuss this with him.¡± Kang Chan agreed, but there was something that he was curious about. ¡°Why are they so against connecting the rail to South Korea?¡± Kang Chan asked out of sheer curiosity about what kind of people they were and why they were so opposed to the project. ¡°Those people are looking to be the next administration. From their perspective, if this administration announces that we¡¯ve been connected to the rail, the results of the next election would already be obvious. That¡¯s why they¡¯re willingly putting their lives on the line to stop ¡®Unicorn,¡¯¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. Kang Chan tilted his head. ¡°Japan is desperately supporting those people. Being unable to stop them despite knowing full well what they¡¯ve been up to is quite frustrating for us.¡± It was quite difficult. When they had finished their conversation, Kim Hyung-Jung pressed the buzzer to order food. ¡°I contacted the French embassy and dispatched employees today. Oh, and the National Intelligence Service also sent us three agents as support. Mr. Seok Kang-Ho will also be there while you and Ambassador Lanok y golf. I asked him for help since he¡¯s better than our employees,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. Seok Kang-Ho smirked. He looked satisfied. This fucker was the leader of stupidity, but he fought quite well. Their meal came into the room. As they were eating, Kang Chan listened to them talk about the current political situation, many parts of which made him simmer with rage. *** When Kang Chan returned home from a ten-kilometer run that morning, Yoo Hye-Sook looked like she was out of her mind. Kang Dae-Kyung and Kang Chan prepared breakfast. Yoo Hye-Sook ate her rice so quickly it was as if she drank it like soup. She then ran over to her makeup table. It was still 8 am. Kang Chan and Kang Dae-Kyung leisurely made tea and sat facing each other at the table. ¡°I feel like luck is suddenly flooding in after your ident happened,¡± Kang Dae-Kyungmented. Kang Chan drank tea, having nothing to say to that. ¡°I¡¯m thankful, but I keep getting worried about youtely, perhaps because I¡¯m not capable enough. I keep getting knots in my stomach since I can¡¯t help but wonder if you¡¯re getting hurt or in danger.¡± Kang Chan took the worry in Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s eyes to his heart. ¡®Is he saying I shoulde home no matter what happens?¡¯ However, Kang Dae-Kyung meant something else. ¡°If there¡¯s something you want to do or if you want independence, then don¡¯t worry about our family for the moment. Whenever you aren¡¯t able toe home, just let me know like you did before. Your mom and I believe in you. If you think what you¡¯re up to is the right thing to do, then don¡¯t hesitate to go for it. However, I do hope the three of us will always have each other. You understand me, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Thanks for buying your mom clothes. If I told her I was going to buy some for her, she probably wouldn¡¯t have ever epted it.¡± They smiled warmly. Kang Chan was truly thankful for having the chance to sit down and talk to a father figure. His heart warmed up, which hadn''t happened in a while. There was still some time left before 9 am. They turned on the TV to watch the morning news but found extensive reporting about the Woo Ak-San gang instead. ording to the news, almost a hundred of its members had been arrested and were being charged not only for being a part of a criminal organization, but also for murder, incitement, criminal threats, and extortion. They were also hunting down a member that managed to escape. ¡®Aren¡¯t they going too far with this issue?¡¯ Kang Chan read the chyrons of different news stories at the bottom of the screen, one of which stated that the ¡®President of Alion Entertainment has been arrested.¡¯ It was followed by ¡®Actress Lee Ha-Yeon, engaging in prostitution,¡¯ and ¡®Prosecution aims directly at the entertainment industry.¡¯ ¡°Isn¡¯t Lee Ha-Yeon a famous actress? So things like that still happen, huh?¡± asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°I think so. I¡¯m a bit surprised.¡± Kang Chan agreed with Kang Dae-Kyung and pretended to be shocked. In a way, he truly was. He didn¡¯t expect them to go this far. Kang Dae-Kyung got changed at around 9 am. At 9:30 am, he left the apartment with Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Chan would be leaving for school soon as well. Before that, he called Lanok first, hoping that the ambassador would be happy. - Monsieur Kang, the ambassador is doing an interview. Is it urgent? ¡°It¡¯s not. Please just tell him to call me when he has the time.¡± - Understood. Kang Chan tilted his head. Compared to the previous phone calls, he had received quite a polite response this time. With this out of the way, he headed to school. The results of the kids¡¯ training in the sports field were now showing quite a bit. In particr, the boys¡¯ bodies and postures looked pretty good. Still, if they wanted to do their part, they¡¯d need to go through an intensive training session for about six months. Kang Chan first went into the athletics club room. ¡°Hey,¡± Seok Kang-Ho greeted him. ¡°Hi. Have you had your coffee yet?¡± ¡°I was waiting for you.¡± While Seok Kang-Ho was making coffee, the door of the athletics club room opened. Damn it! Having Seok Kang-Ho make coffee in front of the others didn¡¯t really look good, since they could see it as Kang Chan disregarding him. ¡°I think I ced it somewhere around here,¡± Kang Chan murmured while noisily searching through the desk that was on one side of the room. ¡°Have you found it?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked, then turned around while holding a paper cup in each hand. ¡°It¡¯s not here.¡± ¡°Then look for it after you drink this coffee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Damn it. I can¡¯t believe I have to go through this bullshit just to drink a cup of coffee. Annoyed, Kang Chan turned around and looked behind him. All of the bullies, including Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun, hade into the room. ¡°What?¡± Kang Chan asked the bullies. Have I been letting them get away with too many things? When Kang Chan¡¯s expression hardened, a few of the students dropped their gazes. However, Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun held their ground. ¡°We want to be trained properly.¡± To Kang Chan, it sounded like they were asking him to properly kill them. ¡°All of us here have decided to go into Yoo Bi-Corp and be security guards. Though studying is out of the picture, we still want to do something with our lives,¡± Heo Eun-Sil said. ¡°Get lost.¡± Kang Chan turned away and drank the coffee. ¡°We admit and sincerely feel the things we did before were wrong. That¡¯s why we¡¯re never going to bully anyone from now on, and we¡¯d even get rid of bullyingpletely. Even we want to go to school and be able to dream.¡± Are these shameless fuckers serious? At Kang Chan¡¯s murderous gaze, even Heo Eun-Sil, who had been taking a firm stand, lowered her head. Kang Chan put the coffee down and walked toward Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun. ¡°I¡¯m cutting you all some ck because you said I''m the reason why you''re all getting beaten up by those idiots called the group of bullies or whatever. And I''m tolerating you all since you promised to get rid of all the bullying in this school. But that¡¯s where I draw the line. Just continue what you guys are already doing.¡± ¡°But we said that we were wrong.¡± ¡°To me?¡± Cho Sae-Ho flinched when Kang Chan smirked. ¡°I don¡¯t care if any of you crosses me. I can just beat you all up myself or break your arms. But what about those that transferred schools, tried tomit suicide, and are now suffering from depression because you guys tormented them? Would their wounds disappear just because you all admitted you were wrong and I epted your apology? You still have a long way to go. You¡¯vepletely destroyed other kids¡¯ education and lives, yet you still have the guts to dream of bing security guards?¡± Kang Chan asked, then smirked. ¡°Stop messing around and go back to what you all were doing.¡± ¡°Then what are we supposed to do?¡± asked one of the bullies. ¡°Bring a proper end to what you all have done. Go apologize and get their forgiveness, even if it means having to return all of the money you extorted from them.¡± The kids observed his mood, their bodynguage showing that they didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°You guys are scared, aren¡¯t you? Shameless fuckers. You don¡¯t even have the guts to seek forgiveness and pay your victims back, which could require working a part-time job that¡¯ll pay a few dors an hour. And yet you all want to be a security guard? Were you expecting me to let this issue slide after you¡¯ve apologized to me and pretended the kids that you¡¯ve all tormented so badly don¡¯t exist?¡± Kang Chan gritted his teeth to hold in the urge to hit them. ¡°What made you think everything¡¯s already been fixed just because you¡¯re all now close with the athletics club members? Stop messing around and get the hell out of my face. If any of you utters one more word right now, I might just break your arms in a way that would prevent you from working out ever again.¡± Cowardly fuckers. Would they know the feeling of walking past snack bars about ten times in my previous life just because I wanted to eat pork cutlets, which?weren¡¯t?even that expensive? At the time, Kang Chan endured everything because his pride would¡¯ve gotten hurt if he stole from other kids. This resulted in his inability to forgive those that used their strength to abuse others. Fortunately, when Kang Chan tightly clenched his teeth, the kids went out of the athletics club room. Seok Kang-Ho drank coffee while observing Kang Chan¡¯s behavior. ¡°Do you want me to make you a new one?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Leave it. My mood is ruined. I should work out.¡± Kang Chan took a sip of his coffee, which was now cold, and took out his workout clothes. 1. Jangheung is a South Korean county Chapter 67.2: Dont Go Overboard (1)

Chapter 67.2: Don''t Go Overboard (1)

Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Just as he took out his workout clothes, Kang Chan got a call from Lanok. ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan. Lanok didn¡¯t hide that he was d to talk with him. ¡°Could you give me about a day of your time? You just need to tell me when you¡¯re free about two days in advance.¡± - Is this for a personal matter? ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m going to reserve a golf club.¡± - Hahaha! This was Kang Chan¡¯s first time hearing Lanokugh like that. - Please wait for a moment. While still on the phone, Lanok had a conversation with someone else about whether he could adjust his schedule. - ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, how does next Monday sound?¡± ¡°That works. What about the time?¡± - I think having the tee up early in the morning would be good. It¡¯s pretty hot outside. ¡°I¡¯ll call you after I check. I was told that the golf club is called the ¡®Kyung-Seoul.¡¯¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan listened because Lanok sounded so serious all of a sudden. - Thank you. Can I take someone with me that day? ¡°Of course, Mr. Ambassador. But you should probably think that you¡¯re golfing alone. My golfing skills are a disaster.¡± - Hahaha! Just golfing in and of itself is already pleasant when done with a friend. This weekend was boring, but I¡¯m finally going to get some excitement thanks to you. I¡¯ll be looking forward to it.¡± After Kang Chan hung up the phone, he contacted Kim Hyung-Jung. He then told Kim Tae-Jin about the schedule. ¡°You should also empty your schedule for that day,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Alright,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered with a smile, then drank the rest of his coffee. After doing a strength workout, the two briefly practiced hand-to-handbat. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s skills weren''t bad. ¡°I¡¯m a bit relieved now,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°I feel that way as well¡ªI finally feel like I can move as I used to in my previous life.¡± They ordered and ate lunch after they showered. The atmosphere was cold, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. After all, Kang Chan had told even Oh Gwang-Taek to donate everything he had to the less fortunate in exchange for his help finding apany worth rmending. *** Kang Chan left the school early, since he couldn¡¯t stand the sight of the bullies. His phone rang as he did. The call was from an unknown number. ¡°Hello?¡± - It¡¯s Eun So-Yeon, Mr. President. Her voice slightly trembled, which made her seem like she was nervous. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± - I just saw the news articles and was wondering if you¡¯re okay. Eun So-Yeon shouldn¡¯t be this free, should she? ¡°I¡¯m okay. Don¡¯t you still have work to do?¡± - I do, Mr. President. We had just gone into reading right now. ¡°Reading?¡± - Practicing the script. ¡°Work hard.¡± - I will. Is it alright if you visit us while we¡¯re reading, Mr. President? ¡°Why?¡± - Just because. I think we will all feel encouraged and cheer up if youe by. I also feel a bit shy. The casting has just ended, and many famous people will gather for this. Why is she acting cute? ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll talk with Michelleter.¡± - Please keep it a secret that I called you. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Please get home safely, Mr. President.¡± Why does Eun So-Yeon care about me going home? Kang Chan put his phone in his pocket and went out to the main road. He headed home. He was worried since Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook hadn¡¯t contacted him yet. However, he decided to go home and wait for him instead of calling. He had no information about the situation, after all. *** Kang Chan immediately went to his house after he arrived at the apartment building. Upon opening the door and heading inside, he found Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook in the living room. ¡°Huh? You two were already home?¡± Kang Chan asked. Yoo Hye-Sook had aplex expression on her face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Your mom is very surprised,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung answered. ¡°Have a seat for now.¡± Kang Chan entered the living room and sat with them on the sofa. ¡°We met the prime minister in person. He said he¡¯ll create the foundation for us by next week, and that you took care of a very major concern for the country. He¡¯s also asking you to continue cooperating actively since they¡¯ll need a lot more of your help in the future,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung exined. That old man exaggerated things again. ¡°Channy! Did you perhaps hear about your special admission to a university in Seoul?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook finally spoke. ¡°He told you about that as well?¡± ¡°Oh my goodness!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked like she had just won the lottery. ¡°Oh my! Oh my!¡± She eximed again. ¡°Your mom asked me if she heard it correctly about a hundred times.¡± ¡°I would¡¯ve told the two of you about it earlier if I knew it would make you this happy.¡± Kang Chan had forgotten about the special admission to University. He didn¡¯t really care about it, considering that he didn¡¯t even want to go there. ¡°Let¡¯s eat now. I have to go to Kang Yoo Motors,¡± said Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Ah! You haven¡¯t eaten anything yet, right?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°You haven¡¯t either.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll still be full even if I don¡¯t eat for a few days.¡± ¡°Oh dear,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung smiled and went to the kitchen. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll do it,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook told Kang Dae-Kyung. Yoo Hye-Sook prepared ate lunch in a somewhat disordered manner. ¡°Your mom would¡¯ve likely worried so much she¡¯d fall ill if it wasn¡¯t for you going to University. So I¡¯d like you to pay more attention to her for the time being,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± ¡°However, even if that is the case, don¡¯t neglect your duty to our country.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Honey, let¡¯s eat,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook called. Kang Chan replied that he had already eaten, then went into his room. He didn¡¯t expect she¡¯d be that happy about him going to University, considering she had been so full of worries since he gave them six billion won. Buzz¡ª. Kang Chan picked up his phone when he got a text. It was Kim Mi-Young. [I¡¯m done with hagwon.] She seemed upset. Kang Chan pressed the call button. - Hello? ¡°Should I go out? I¡¯m at home.¡± - Really? Can youe out? ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll go to the bus stop. Let¡¯s have bingsu.¡± - Okay. I¡¯d like that. Kang Chan changed and went out to the living room. ¡°I¡¯m just going to meet with Mi-Young for a bit. I¡¯ll go home after,¡± Kang Chan told his parents. ¡°Is that so? Do you have pocket money?¡± asked Yoo Hye-Sook. Even though Kang Chan said ¡°I do¡±, Yoo Hye-Sook still took out five 10,000 won bills from her wallet. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Have fun.¡± When Yoo Hye-Sook wrapped her arms around Kang Chan¡¯s neck, Kang Dae-Kyung winked from behind her. *** Not long after Kang Chan had arrived at the bus stop, Kim Mi-Young ran over to him. ¡°Huhuhu.¡± While Michelle would¡¯ve already run into his arms in this situation, Kim Mi-Young only smiled brightly. ¡°Was hagwon?hard?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°The studying is okay, but it was hard to endure wanting to see you.¡± Kang Chan smiled at her, took her bag, and ced it over his shoulder. ¡°Do you have time to eat bingsu?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yeah! I have about an hour to do that.¡± They went into a specialty store that was a bit far away from their apartments and ordered bingsu. ¡°I have a question,¡± said Kim Mi-Young. ¡°What is it?¡± Kim Mi-Young took out a Frenchnguage book. She then asked about pronunciation and simr expressions between Korean and French. ¡°You already learned this much?¡± asked Kang Chan. Kim Mi-Young was certainly a smart child with great linguistic skills. And she learned surprisingly fast. Her pronunciation was still poor, but the very reason she had asked for help was that she knew she wascking in that part. Kang Chan read out loud the part that Kim Mi-Young inquired about, then they took turns talking to each other in French. ¡°Can I record this so that I can listen to it on repeatter?¡± asked Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Sure.¡± Kim Mi-Young pressed the ¡®record¡¯ button on her phone, then read after Kang Chan. Together, they read all the parts she pointed to. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m having fun studying French,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. As time went on, the possibility of only Kim Mi-Young going to France increased. Kang Chan felt like he was being purified whenever he was with her. Kang Chan had even been thinkingtely that it would be good if he couldfortably hug her whenever they met and parted ways. If only she weren¡¯t a high schooler¡­?Wait,?what am I thinking?¡¯ Kang Chan licked his lips after eating the patbingsu. 1. In golf, ¡®tee up¡¯ refers to putting the ball on top of the tee. Basically, it¡¯s when they¡¯re about to hit at the golf ball at hole one Chapter 68.1: Dont go Overboard (2)

Chapter 68.1: Don''t go Overboard (2)

Kang Chan spent the Saturday with Yoo Hye-Sook, which he hadn¡¯t done for a while. They had an omelet for breakfast, and for lunch, they went out with Kang Dae-Kyung and had naengmyeon. Before lunch, Kang Chan got contacted and was told that their tee time was set for 7 am. Apart from that, the only other thing he did was tell Lanok¡¯s secretary about the reservation. ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy today, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked while they were walking along the trail of their apartment. ¡°I¡¯m not. I was feeling bad for not being able to spend time with youtely.¡± ¡°I feel that way as well.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung smiled with an expression that said, ¡®Oh? Look at this sweet-talker?¡¯ Walking for a long time was hard since it was hot outside, and it was also burdensome to go out and eat bingsu for Yoo Hye-Sook since she wasn¡¯t the type of person that ate a lot. It was somewhat upsetting, but it wasn¡¯t like today was the only day they could spend time with each other. The three of them went home and rested for a moment. All they could do now was order chicken for dinner and watch a movie while wholesomely drinking c. Kang Chan found it quite fun when he tried it, though. ¡°Come have some fruits!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook called Kang Chan, who was in his room, with a nasal twang in her voice. ¡°The watermelon¡¯s ripeness is just right.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung gestured at the fruit with his hand when Kang Chan went out to the living room. Kang Chan found Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s im to be true when he ate it. As he savored its taste, Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Hello? Hi, Sun-Ok. I¡¯m at home. Yeah. Our Channy? He¡¯s with us. Why do you ask?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook nced at Kang Chan, then made an awkward expression a momentter. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll let him know. Of course! But I was told there¡¯s another person that¡¯s in charge of that role. It¡¯s the Frenchdy that you guys sawst time in the hotel. That¡¯s right! I was told that thedy will take care of everything. Yeah! Sure. I¡¯ll be sure to talk to him, but don¡¯t get your hopes up. Okay, I understand.¡± The watermelon now tasted awful to her because of the phone call. ¡°Why did that phone call make you seem so ufortable? Who was that?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°That was Sun-Ok, that friend of mine that asked us to give her daughter a chance to audition. Don¡¯t you remember?¡± ¡°Ah! The skinny one with dark skin.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t have dark skin.¡± They seemed to have very different viewpoints. ¡°She¡¯s acting that way because she¡¯s asking me to do whatever it takes to include her daughter in the drama that¡¯s being filmed right now in Channy¡¯spany. I was told students would get additional points when they apply for the Theatre and Film department if they¡¯ve appeared in three or more episodes of a series. She wants me to make sure I tell Channy that she¡¯ll even pay for the expenses if needed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right,¡± Kang Dae-Kyungmented. ¡°Which parent that wants to send their child to university wouldn¡¯t do that? I even received a call yesterday asking what I think about being the secretary for next year, honey.¡± Kang Dae-Kyungughed. ¡°At this rate, I¡¯m going to have to hide somewhere if our Channy gets admitted to the Seoul National University.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°The rumors about you getting a schrship to a national university in France caused a lot of jealousy, Channy! There was even a rumor that your dad paid for all of those to happen.¡± Lanok could transfer ten billion won to others with just a few words. How much would I have to pay him to make him send me to university? Twenty billion won? I¡¯d much rather build a university or buy one. ¡°You¡¯re probably in an awkward position. What are you going to do?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook again. ¡°It¡¯s fine. If I do this favor for her, then someone else will ask me for another favor. This will eventually lead to people saying I only ept from certain people. Pretending not to notice these types of things is better.¡± Kang Chan was strangely relieved when he saw her act with tenacity. ¡°Please have some watermelon,¡± Kang Chan told Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Okay.¡± Just as she picked up a watermelon slice, her phone rang again. ¡°Hello? Hi, Jin-Sook! Sure. Yeah. I heard that. Yeah. It seems it would be difficult for Channy to exert his influence and make that work. Yeah, sweetie. Sure. I¡¯ll talk to him again.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung smiled. He looked as if he found this funny. ¡°I was told that Sun-Ok asked Jin-Sook to put in a good word for her since we¡¯re close,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookmented after hanging up the phone. ¡°Approximately how many calls do you get per daytely, honey?¡± ¡°Um¡­ About ten calls?¡± ¡°At this rate, you¡¯re going to be the busiest among us three once we¡¯ve established a foundation that¡¯s worth six billion won,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°Jeez!¡± Worries quickly emerged on Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s bothered face. ¡°Worry about thatter. Let¡¯s just eat for now,¡± said Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°You¡¯re going to help me, right?¡± ¡°Please stop worrying and eat, Mrs. Chief Director of the Foundation,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung skillfully reassured Yoo Hye-Sook. This was the life Kang Chan wanted. *** They decided to schedule the athletics club¡¯s retreat after the event with Lanok ended. When they started filming the drama, the retreat of D.I. also naturally got cancelled. He rested on Sunday. Kang Channguidly woke up and ate breakfast. However, he wasn¡¯t in a good mood. ¡®What¡¯s this? Why am I feeling this way?¡¯ He felt like something was missing. This somewhatx feeling continued to stimte Kang Chan. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª His phone rang just as his frustration made him think of going out for a walk. It was Seok Kang-Ho. - What are you doing? ¡°Justzing around.¡± - Let¡¯s have a cup of tea. ¡°Yeah?¡± What reason did he have to refuse? He was already feeling ufortable anyway. Kang Chan gave an appropriate excuse to his parents and left the apartment. It was really nice to live close to Seok Kang-Ho. It didn¡¯t take that long for them to arrive at the coffee shop in Misari. They sat at their usual spot and ordered iced coffees. ¡°Here, take this.¡± Seok Kang-Ho handed him a square card. ¡°As long as you have this with you, you can unlock your car by pressing the button on the door handle and start the engine¡­ You can basically do everything with it. I¡¯m going to park the car on the first floor of my apartment¡¯s basement parking lot so you can use it whenever you have urgent matters to attend to.¡± ¡°Ah! That¡¯s a good idea,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°I got close to ten million won as my sry for being an agent in the National Intelligence Service.¡± As Kang Chan put the card in his wallet, Seok Kang-Ho abruptly brought another topic up. ¡°The basic sry is simr to that of a teacher''s due to the activity cost and hazard pay, but the total amount is enormously different.¡± ¡°It would be best to just ept it.¡± ¡°It really doesn¡¯t feel right, though. I feel like you should be the one getting this instead,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°What made you think like that?¡± Kang Chan took out a cigarette and bit on it. ¡°I thought our way of life was great, but when you got capturedst time, it made me wonder what the family members we''d be leaving behind do without us. If they give you a lot of money, doesn''t that just mean there''s an equal amount of danger involved?¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not doing anything, am I?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to guard tomorrow.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we just going there to have fun?¡± Kang Chan shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t look down on this. If we encounter five agents simr to the ones I ran into a few days ago in the hotel, then one of us is bound to lose. Two of them got into South Korea through illegal smuggling, so what¡¯s stopping them from sending five more?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Seok Kang-Ho took a sip of his coffee and chewed on the ice. ¡°You should pay more attention. Even if they say they¡¯re security guards or whatever, those that haven¡¯t experienced being in an actual battle are just going to lose. To put it bluntly, think about the two of us pouncing on Lanok when Yoo Bi-Corp is protecting him,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Hmph! Lanok will surely die,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered. Right after, his expression seemingly said, Oh shoot! ¡°See? One of the agents I fought even bit on poison. If five agents with a simr level of determination pounced on them, then Yoo Bi-Corp¡¯s employees won¡¯t be able to handle them.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say they also had guns?¡± ¡°They could fire Glock 19s with one hand.¡± ¡°Phew,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said as he put ice in his mouth and chewed on it. Using Glock 19 with one hand was possible with a little bit of training, but most people used it with two hands due to its strong recoil. ¡°If they can just ovee the recoil, then Glock 19s are the best when we consider fire power. Then that means¡­¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°That serves as proof that they¡¯re professionals.¡± Kang Chan nodded while looking at Seok Kang-Ho. The way Seok Kang-Ho was eating ice looked delicious, so Kang Chan also put an ice cube in his mouth while drinking coffee. Crunch. Crunch. ¡°Hey! This is good,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Phuhu, it¡¯s different from Africa.¡± Ice was hard toe by in Africa, and he didn¡¯t even think about chewing on ice cubes in France. ¡°Daye.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered with a serious tone when Kang Chan called him by his name. ¡°If you notice anyone acting even remotely strange tomorrow, then make sure you kill them no matter what.¡± ¡°No matter what?¡± ¡°Yeah. No matter what.¡± Seok Kang-Ho twisted his head as his eyes shone. ¡°Are your guts telling you something?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. ¡°This just doesn¡¯t feel right. I didn¡¯t think anything of it yesterday, but I started feeling way off the moment I woke up today! If this operation was being done in Africa, I would¡¯ve made all the rookies stay behind.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we just cancel tomorrow¡¯s appointment, then?¡± Kang Chan shook his head with a frown. ¡°We don¡¯t have any valid reason to do that. And we¡¯ve already made a big deal out of this, so it¡¯s hard for us to reschedule just because we don¡¯t feel good about it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Even that fucker Shan always said you¡¯re spouting bullshit whenever you talked about your gut feeling.¡± ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s your first day, so do your best and don¡¯t embarrass yourself.¡± ¡°As I said before, I¡¯ve regained my previous life¡¯s physical condition.¡± When Kang Chan smirked, Seok Kang-Ho also smiled at him. *** Kang Chan returned home after having lunch with Seok Kang-Ho in a nearby Baekban restaurant. He did feel a bit better now, but the displeasure he had been feeling since this morning still hadn¡¯t disappeared. He called Kim Tae-Jin to check how the preparation for the security detail wasing along and to discuss tomorrow¡¯s ns. - Hello? How can I help you? ¡°Mr. President, how many people are being sent to guard Lanok tomorrow?¡± - Honestly, I¡¯m all over the ce because of that. We¡¯ve got the entire golf club under control, but there¡¯s no way to stop people from going up the mountain from the opposite side anding over because it¡¯s open in all directions. Even if we throw in ourpany¡¯s entire manpower, it will still have a lot of openings we won¡¯t be able to cover. My head feels like it¡¯s going to burst since the National Intelligence Agency could only send in three employees to support us. Am I feeling this way because there are too many ces that can¡¯t be guarded? - Is something wrong? ¡°I¡¯m just a bit worried.¡± No matter how much Kim Tae-Jin trusted Kang Chan, it was still difficult for Kang Chan to say he was worried simply because he had a bad feeling about this. - If you¡¯ve got any othermands, then feel free to tell us as many of them as you like. Private securitypanies are supposed to follow their client¡¯s wishes, no matter what. Was that the meaning of a client? - You didn¡¯t know? ¡°Yes. I thought that¡¯s just what we call the person that introduced people to the securitypany.¡± - The client essentially decides every issue when ites to security. Simply put, we¡¯re trusting you with our lives. Anyway, I¡¯ll call you immediately if we run into any problems. ¡°Sure.¡± Upon hearing what being a client meant, Kang Chan felt the pressure on his shoulders increase. ¡°Tsk.¡± Regardless of what others said, tomorrow¡¯s appointment was already fixed. Kang Chan told his parents that he was going out early tomorrow to work out and attend a gathering. After that, he went to bed. It was just 9:30 pm, but he fell asleep right away. 1. Tee time is amonly used phrase in the USA. It refers to the golf club reserved time.The raws technically said ¡®tee-up¡¯, but that refers to when the ball is ced on top of the tee. Chapter 68.2: Dont go Overboard (2)

Chapter 68.2: Don''t go Overboard (2)

The next morning, Kang Chan got up and washed up. He then packed simple clothes and met with Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Phew! I haven¡¯t felt this nervous in a while!¡± Seok Kang-Homented. When Kang Chan got in the car, they left immediately. Since it was just 4 am, the cars driving by still had their lights on. ¡°Are there no coffee shops around here?¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at their surroundings while talking to himself. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a 24/7 store in that corner?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right! Let¡¯s stop there for a moment and buy coffee.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s smoke a cigarette before we leave as well,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Sounds good!¡± Seok Kang-Ho came back with two hot coffees from the coffee shop they had visited before. After smoking a cigarette, they left immediately. ¡°How do you feel?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°So-so. if my heart suddenly starts beating quickly, then an incident¡¯s about to happen. Otherwise, everything will go ording to n.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a fat chance that¡¯s going to happen. Anyways, it seems like you really were born optimized for things like this. How can your hunches even predict when danger¡¯s about to happen?¡± When they merged into the outer road, they drove faster above a hundred kilometers per hour while taking sips of their coffee from time to time. At around 4:30 am, they arrived at the Kyung-Seoul golf club. The golf club had bright lights inside and outside of it, so they recognized it in one nce from far away. ¡°What brought you two here?¡± A Yoo Bi-Corp employee asked. He was wearing aplete uniform. ¡°I¡¯m Seok Kang-Ho. I should be on today''s list.¡± ¡°Please show me your ID.¡± The employee checked Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s ID. He then gestured at the two other employees with his hand, making them move the barricade to one side. When they arrived at the clubhouse, the employee standing by the entrance greeted them. ¡°Park the car up front.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Seok Kang-Ho parked the car a distance away from the clubhouse. ¡°Where¡¯s the president?¡± Kang Chan asked one of the employees. ¡°He¡¯s upstairs.¡± After they had parked the car, Kang Chan went up to the second floor with Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Wee.¡± ¡°Come on in.¡± Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung were wearing a suit without a tie. Seok Kang-Ho, who was wearing dress pants and a shirt, left and returned with a jacket, which he likely forgot in the car. ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast. There¡¯s galbi-tang and toast. What should we eat?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. Kang Chan liked simple things. Everyone followed him and prepared toast. ¡°Twenty of our men have already been lying in ambush sincest evening. Anyway, this is a two-way radio. Please take one as well, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan is number one, Kim Hyung-Jung is number two, and Mr. Seok Kang-Ho is number three.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho hung the two-way radios on their waist. They then attached the radios¡¯ earphones to their ears after hiding the wires under their clothes. Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung shook their heads as they watched the two. Watching how Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho attached the two-way radio to their bodies alone showed that they were skilled at this. They finished their breakfast at around 5:20 am. ¡°We¡¯ve finished deploying all of the guards to the golf club¡¯s outer edges. We can begin the operation as soon as Lanok arrives,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°Can we go around the golf club before Lanok gets here?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Should we? They said that it would take ten minutes with a cart.¡± The four of them went out from the back of the clubhouse and got on a cart. Brrrr. The peculiar noise of an electric car rang out. ¡°I can check things out, right?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Tae-Jin again. ¡°Of course!¡± Kang Chan pressed the mic that was hung on his sleeve. ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan, the one in charge of today¡¯s event.¡± The employees in charge of perimeter security on the hillside periodically stood out. ¡°Report in whenever the cart passes by,¡± said Kang Chan. Chk. ¡°First hole, all clear.¡± Chk. ¡°Second hole, all clear.¡± The other people in the cart also heard what Kang Chan was hearing through the two-way radio. After going around all eighteen holes, they returned to the clubhouse. Kang Chan then pressed the mic button and sent a morse code that said, ¡®beat okay?¡¯ Dumbfounded, Kim Tae-Jin smiled. Kang Chan got a response in morse code that said, ¡®Okay.¡¯ ¡°Is the ambush team only equipped with bays?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kim Tae-Jin looked like he felt sorry for them, so Kang Chan didn¡¯t say anything else on the matter. ¡°You guys prepared pistols, right?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°It¡¯s right here,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung tapped his chest a few times. ¡°Why don¡¯t you also change your shoes?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°I left gloves and other equipment upstairs.¡± ¡°I should do that.¡± Kang Chan wasn¡¯t sure about other factors, but he liked the fact that they didn¡¯t look nervous, at the very least. ¡°Should we have a cup of tea, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°That sounds good.¡± The four of them went upstairs and had a cup of tea, then also smoked a cigarette right below a no-smoking sign. ¡°With you and Ambassador Lanok as the center, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, Kim Hyung-Jung, and I are going to assume a triangle formation. The National Intelligence Service agents are all equipped with pistols, so they''re going to be guarding both of you as well,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°This wille across as a bit excessive for a domestic event, but the fact that the agents you fought used guns in a hotel weighed in my mind. That¡¯s why I ordered twenty men to lie in ambush startingst night. Their role is essentially to keep an eye out for any shootings.¡± Kang Chan still felt like something was tugging on his back, but he found it hard to keep asking more detailed questions. In truth, digging holes and standing by in it sincest night could already be quite excessive, considering they were only out here to y golf. Kang Chan changed his shoes into golf shoes, then ced the gloves in his back pocket. When it came to golf, the only experience he had was hitting the ball three or four times in Africa. What do people find fun about something like this? Chkk. ¡°The VIP has arrived.¡± Upon hearing those words on the two-way radio, the four of them got up and headed toward the entrance on the ground floor. Two ck cars came in. Lanok and a woman with a small build got out from the backseat of the car in the back. Six security guards also got out of the cars and surrounded Lanok. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan. I was so excited I couldn¡¯t get a wink of sleep,¡± Lanok hugged Kang Chan with a bright expression, then kissed both of his cheeks as a form of greeting. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, this is President Kim Tae-Jin of Yoo Bi-Corp,¡± Kang Chan introduced Kim Tae-Jin. Lanok and Kim Tae-Jin shook hands. ¡°And this is Kim Hyung-Jung, the manager of the National Intelligence Service that liaised with the golf club for today. I¡¯d like you to meet Seok Kang-Ho as well, a National Intelligence Service agent.¡± Lanok shook hands with the two of them with a businesslike smile and attitude. ¡°I came here with my daughter, Mr. Kang Chan. This is Adreanne.¡± Kang Chan thought she was a young child because of her small build, but she looked like she was in her mid-twenties. . ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Adreanne. I¡¯m Kang Chan.¡± ¡°I heard my dad has acknowledged you as his friend. Please call me Anne from now on.¡± ¡°As you wish, Anne.¡± Anne was even shorter than the height of Kang Chan¡¯s shoulders. She looked ordinary, but she had a very small frame for a French woman. ¡°Have you two eaten?¡± Kang Chan asked Lanok. ¡°We had a simple meal. How about we have tea and enjoy a cigar before ying golf?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± When Kang Chan gestured toward the upper floor, he saw Lanok¡¯s expression instantly change. ¡®Why is he acting that way?¡¯ However, Kang Chan realized the reason right away. Anne had an unnatural gait. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, since we also have Anne with us, why don¡¯t we enjoy cigars and cigarettes in an open area?¡± ¡°That¡¯s an excellent suggestion, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± When Kang Chan gestured with his eyes, two employees from Yoo Bi-Corp quickly moved. When they went out the back door, the golf club immediately unfolded before them. ¡°Hmm! Whoo! The mountains of South Korea have a unique scent. It¡¯s been so long since Ist inhaled such an exciting aroma,¡± Lanokmented. While Lanok was looking around their surroundings, the employees moved the table and chairs around and prepared three cups of coffee again. Kang Chan took out a cigarette and offered it to her out of courtesy, but Anne actually took it immediately, much to his surprise. Chk chk. Lanok lit up a cigar, then deeply inhaled its smoke. No words were needed right now. Lanok drank tea with a satisfied expression as he looked at their surroundings. The way Anne smoked her cigarette made her seem like a chain smoker ¡°Can I have another cigarette?¡± asked Anne. ¡°Of course.¡± Kang Chan took out another cigarette, gave it to her, and lit it. French women had sunken eyes, so they often appeared to have a gloomy gaze. Anne was no different. She also had a mix of blonde and brown hair that went down to her shoulders and was wearing a blue golf top, a yellow vest, and gray pants. They finishing smoking and also drank coffee in moderation. ¡°Before we go, please excuse me for a moment,¡± Anne said. Lanok and Kang Chan got up from their spots, and Kim Tae-Jin followed behind her with two employees. ¡°That child''s the reason why ying golf makes me happy. She and my wife got attacked when she was seven years old. Her leg was shot, and my wife died on the spot,¡± Lanok told Kang Chan. Was this what he meant by being separated by death? ¡°She''s stopped eating properly and begun feeling anxious about getting in cars since then. I don''t think she''s dating anyone either. She only likes going out to y golf, though.¡± ¡°Were they in a car when they got attacked?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯s right. The assants probably thought I was inside it.¡± A sharp look shed from Lanok¡¯s eyes. 1. A golf club¡¯s clubhouse refers to a building that usually has a locker room, a store that sells golf equipment, and a restaurant 2. galbi-tang, or short rib soup, is a type of soup that¡¯s made primarily of short beef ribs and other ingredients Chapter 69.1: It’s not like we’re in Africa (1)

Chapter 69.1: It¡¯s not like we¡¯re in Africa (1)

After Anne headed out of the building, the three of them walked to the first hole. Kyung-Seoul had a concrete road on one side of the golf course for the people to drive their golf carts on. ¡°Hello,¡± the three caddies waiting for them greeted them as soon as the caddies saw them. The weather was nice, and it didn¡¯t feel that hot since it was still 7 am. ¡°You should go first, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± said Lanok. ¡°Should I?¡± Kang Chan held the driver that the caddie handed to him. After lightly warming up and taking the proper stance, he red at the ball as if he was going to destroy it. ¡®Damn it!¡¯ Bang! The white ball curved to the right side like a banana, then disappeared beyond the mountain. ¡®What happened?¡¯ When Kang Chan looked behind him because he felt awkward, everyone looked flustered. Anne had been trying hard to hold in herughter. Her eyes then met Kang Chan¡¯s. She looked awkward, but it was at least better than her crying. . ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t expect anyone toe out here with dad would y golf like that,¡± Anne said. ¡°You can just smile,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°You really haven¡¯t yed golf,¡± Lanok butted in, perhaps because he thought that Anne was being impolite. However, his expression wasn¡¯t any different from Anne¡¯s. ¡°I think the ball flew out straightst time, but this is a bit different,¡± Kang Chan replied. He turned his gaze, and from there Seok Kang-Ho shrugged. It was Lanok¡¯s turn. Hefortably put the ball on top of the tee. After swinging two to three times to practice, he struck the ball in a cool way. ¡°Nice shot!¡± The shot was worthy of getting praised by the caddies. ¡°Please try again, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± said Lanok. ¡°It¡¯s okay. This is how I normally y golf, so trying again won¡¯t make much of a difference.¡± Anne¡¯s turn came next. ¡°Can I walk to the next hole?¡± Anne asked. What¡¯s she saying? Don¡¯t people hit the ball first before heading to the next hole? But Anne looked serious. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, around what time do we have to finish golfing?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°One moment please,¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Hyung-Jung about their golf club reservation¡¯s duration. ¡°The golf club has beenpletely emptied for today. You two can enjoy golfing infort,¡± Kang Chan ryed what he heard. ¡°You heard that, right? You¡¯ll be able to walk without worries due to how thoughtful Mr. Kang Chan is,¡± Lanok told Anne. ¡°Thank you, dad. Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. And please call me Channy if that¡¯s okay with you, Anne.¡± Anne smiled brightly and walked forward. Kang Chan looked around their surroundings, then positioned himself on Anne¡¯s right. Seok Kang-Ho and the French agents stood guard over Lanok¡¯s right side. Walking through an open and unsheltered golf course increased the risk of being shot far more than riding a cart. There was a mountain to the right of the golf course, and the security guards intended to hide Lanok and Anne from its vantage points as much as possible for now. ¡®This was what Kim Tae-Jin meant.¡¯ They walked about twenty meters down the golf course, finding a separate tee box for women. Anne received a driver that was as tall as her and swung it a few times. Afterward, she struck the ball skillfully. The caddies at the back pped. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, my abilities are not as good as you two in all respects. I¡¯d rather stay by your side like this instead. Is that alright?¡± Kang Chan asked. He truly did feel that way. Anne handed over the driver to a caddie, and the three of them walked side by side. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan said that he¡¯s going to withdraw. Why don¡¯t we continue ying golf with just the two of us?¡± asked Lanok. Anne looked upset but soon nodded. It seemed she had judged that Kang Chan wasn¡¯t skilled enough to y with them no matter how much she thought about it. After Kang Chan told a caddie to exclude him from that point onward, he gave Seok Kang-Ho and Kim Tae-Jin a hand signal. Lanok and Anne took turns hitting golf balls. It was amazing to witness them joyously dropping the ball into the cup. Meanwhile, the French agents wordlessly followed Kang Chan¡¯s eye gestures. Among them were the two agents that fought with Kang Chan in the hotel. They seemed to be waiting for Kang Chan¡¯s orders. Soon, they arrived at the sixth hole on the green that was beyond the big artificialke. Behind the hole was a mountain, which a sniper could use as a good vantage point and take unavoidable shots from.. Moreover, Lanok and Anne also had to fix their posture for about three to five seconds before they hit the ball. Kang Chan sent a morse code with the mic button that was on his sleeve, to which his men replied that there were no problems. ¡°Is everything around the sixth hole in order?¡± asked Kang Chan. Chkk. ¡°All clear up to now.¡± Everybody¡¯s nerves were on edge. Lanok went up to the tee box first. At times like this, Kang Chan had nothing else to trust but his senses. ¡®Will it be okay? Is there nothing wrong?¡¯ Kang Chan looked at the mountain that was behind the hole. Tak! As Lanok¡¯s iron shot made the white ball fly straight, Seok Kang-Ho and Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s eyes looked around in every direction without resting for even a moment. Anne¡¯s turn came. When she went on the top of the tee box, Kang Chan looked at the mountain while repeating the same thing over and over to himself. ¡®Hit it quickly. Quickly.¡¯ However, despite Kang Chan¡¯s wishes, Anne carefully hit the ball. Tak. Kang Chan quickly went to the front to receive the golf club, which put him in a position that covered Anne. Their eyes met. The look in Anne¡¯s eyes asked, ¡®why are you guarding me yourself?¡¯ ¡°We should go,¡± said Kang Chan. He stuck close to Anne as they walked. If someone on top of the mountain was looking for an opportunity, then being below it was dangerous. ¡°Channy, are you a security guard?¡± asked Anne. ¡°No, I¡¯m not. Please just consider my actions as driven by worry that something unfortunate would happen to the ambassador or you. I arranged this golf session, after all.¡± Lanok walked in front of them, which left the two of them walking side by side. ¡°I noticed dad¡¯s security guards were receiving orders from you. Both of us were a little bit surprised because even Louis, who¡¯s really prideful, is following your orders.¡± Kang Chan just smiled. ¡°When Ie out to y golf, I feel like I¡¯m in my mother¡¯s arms,¡± Anne continued. They walked around the artificialke and headed toward the green. Kang Chan wanted to rmend to Anne to use the cart since she had trouble walking, and it was also a much more excellent choice in terms of her security. ¡°My dad has been always busy, so I frequently went on a pic with my mom,¡± Anne continued. Almost all French people frequently went out for a pic. This was especially the case when their child was young. Since restaurants rarely epted young children, families had no choice but to go on pics. ¡°ying golf reminds me of the smell of the grass at that time, which makes me feel like I¡¯m in my mother¡¯s arms.¡± It felt like sadness had tightly coiled around her and was never going away. Anne couldn¡¯t cry to her heart''s content, but she was thinking that her inability to cry was a sign that she had ovee her emotions. About one or two out of ten guys that applied to be a mercenary were like her. They pretended to be strong and tough, but when Kang Chan beat them up over and over again until just before they died, most of them cried their hearts out at the end. The memory of them being abused in an orphanage or a foster home, of their mother dying at their father¡¯s cruel hands, and of their sister suffering a horrible death. Unable to ovee all of those memories and emotions, which they had thoroughly locked inside them, they burst out the mercenaries as tears of rage. The mercenaries then followed Kang Chan around after he beat them up. Should I beat Anne up until she¡¯s nearly dead? No, I shouldn¡¯t think about this. How am I going to cope with the aftermath? Kang Chan smiled, and Anne also smiled at him with deep-set eyes. When they arrived at the green, Kim Tae-Jin looked around their surroundings as if he was insane. Whenever someone assumed a posture to putt, they had to stand in the same spot for a long time. The security guards couldn¡¯t rashly go close to them since doing so would disturb the game. With Kang Chan¡¯s nerves now on edge, choosing the security guards¡¯ positions became almost like a war of nerves., Nevertheless, all of the agents from Yoo Bi-Corp and France followed Kang Chan¡¯s eye gestures withoutints. ¡°Whew!¡± When they went around the sixth hole and were walking on the corner of the mountain, Kang Chan sighed loudly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Anne asked Kang Chan. ¡°The sixth hole is the section where the security guards be the most on edge. Especially when people take a long time in the tee box or during theirst putting, they feel like they¡¯re going to go crazy from worry.¡± ¡°So you really are a security guard.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m not!¡± While Lanok examined Kang Chan and Anne with a gaze that asked ¡®What are you guys doing?¡¯ They arrived at the halfway house. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, how about we smoke a cigarette first before heading to the next hole?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We should do that, dad.¡± Lanok smiled widely like a European mask and nodded. With an iced drink in front of them, they smoked inside the halfway house. The building was a no-smoking area, but no one could stop them anyway. Yoo-Bi Corp¡¯s employees encircled the halfway house¡¯s perimeters. While they were resting for a moment, Seok Kang¨CHo, Kim Hyung-Jung, and Kim Tae-Jin made use of that time to drink water from bottles. ¡°Thedy should get ready to go out to the hole,¡± Lanok said. Anne headed to the bathroom at Lanok¡¯s rmendation. ¡°We should stop around here for your sake, but I can¡¯t do that after seeing Anne¡¯s face,¡± Lanok told Kang Chan. Kang Chan just smiled and took a sip of his drink. ¡°I don¡¯t know how long it has been since I saw her talk to someone thatfortably,¡± Lanok continued. ¡°Does she not talk to other people?¡± ¡°She only has formal conversations, and I also acted simrly after my wife died. I also thought about retiring for Anne.¡± Anne came out of the bathroom as Lanok finished his sentence. 1. A driver is a type of golf club 2. a tee box refers to the start of each hole, where golfers take their first swing 3. The green is the area at the far end of the golf course that is nearest to the hole. The grass is the shortest in this area and easiest to putt. 4. an iron shot refers to hitting the ball with an iron club 5. The Korean text was written as ¡®shadow house¡¯, but we used ¡®halfway house¡¯ as it¡¯smonly used in English. The ¡®halfway house¡¯ refers to afort station where golfers can get light snacks or refreshments during their rounds. In Korea, it¡¯s called the ¡®shadow house¡¯ since it was built to create a shadow, which is especially weed by golfers on a sunny or windy day. 6. The author used the word employee for the Yoo-Bi Corp¡¯s agents Chapter 69.2: It’s not like we’re in Africa (1)

Chapter 69.2: It¡¯s not like we¡¯re in Africa (1)

Once Anne came out of the bathroom, they then went out of the halfway house and yed through the seventh and eighth holes. With the sun now up, the atmosphere grew hot. Since the French agents were focusing on Lanok, Kang Chan was naturally by Anne¡¯s side and protected her, though it was possible that the agents were focusing more on Lanok because he had positioned himself there. Kang Chan just needed to protect her from being shot by blocking the direction of the snipers. Fortunately, it was easy to shield her since she had a small frame. They arrived at the ninth hole. The golf club looked wide and refreshing due to its golf course¡¯s structure, which had a vast fairway and a mountain on the left side. Its right side intersected with the fifth hole. However, from the perspective of a security guard, it was feel suffocated. After Lanok went on top of the tee box, Kang Chan felt frustrated. ¡®Why am I feeling this way?¡¯ Kang Chan first sought out Seok Kang-Ho. Reading Kang Chan¡¯s expression, Seok Kang-Ho went a little bit closer to Lanok while quickly looking around their surroundings. Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung looked like they were confused about what was going on. Bang! Nothing happened. They walked a little bit downward on the golf course, then Anne took her turn. Kang Chan was so nervous he felt like his mouth was drying up. He went slightly further away from the tee box and hastily pulled on the mic that was hung on his sleeve. He pressed a morse code, but there was no answer. Bang! Kang Chan ran over as if he was thrusting himself into the tee box and put his arms around Anne. Badum badum. ¡°Ambush team in the ninth hole, answer!¡± Kang Chan yelled. There was no answer to Kang Chan¡¯s transmission. He had sent the morse code that they confirmed right before they went into the golf course. Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung, who had been listening to the mic with Kang Chan, immediately covered Lanok. ¡°Go to the cart!¡± Kang Chan yelled. Kang Chan held Anne, then shouted in French, ¡°Get to the cart! We¡¯re going to apany the ambassador to the clubhouse!¡± The French agents surrounded Lanok in an instant. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, please head to the cart for now!¡± Kang Chan yelled. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± All of them couldn¡¯t go on the cart from here, as there weren¡¯t enough carts. ¡°I¡¯m going to take responsibility of Anne, so please go to the cart for now!¡± Kang Chan yelled again. Four of the Yoo Bi-Corp employees and one of the National Intelligence Service employee surrounded Kang Chan and Anne. After Lanok waspletely hidden from view¡­ Ta-ng! Bam! ¡°Kyaaaa!¡± With the screams of the caddies, one of the agents that had their arms around Lanok toppled over and fell. ¡°Go!¡± Kang Chan shouted. The agents put Lanok on the cart andpletely hid him while the French agents ran and stuck close to the cart. ¡°You guys go that way with the caddies!¡± Kang Chan ordered. Two of the Yoo Bi-Corp employees led the three caddies and went over toward the fifth hole. Kang Chan lifted Anne straight up as if he was pulling out a tree from the ground and went to the bottom of the mountain that was in front of the tee box. Afterward, he turned Anne around and carried her on his back right away. ¡°Give me your arm!¡± Kang Chan yelled. Is she stupefied? Anne was unresponsive, so Kang Chan ced her right arm over his shoulder. After putting her left arm under his armpit, he made her grab her own arm. ¡°Jacket!¡± Kang Chan yelled again. They had wasted too much time. Ta-ng! Ta-ng! Sparks flew up from the cart, and a French agent copsed. Kang Chan supported Anne with a jacket that a Yoo Bi-Corp employee handed over to him, then tied the jacket diagonally on his shoulder. If the cart passes by, then I won¡¯t be able to protect Anne with this number of people! ¡°Gun!¡± Kang Chan yelled. The moment the agent from the National Intelligence Service got flustered¡­ Ta-ng! Ta-ng! Ta-ng! Gunshots rang out from the front of the cart. Kang Chan pulled on the agent¡¯s cor and snatched the pistol from him. If Anne wasn¡¯t here, then there wouldn¡¯t have been any reason for people to try and attack the employees or the agents. ¡°You guys go up the golf course with the caddies and head to the clubhouse!¡± Kang Chan ordered again. Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Kang Chan ran toward the fifth hole while feeling like he was carryingplete military gear on his shoulder. ¡®Why isn¡¯t Anne crying or screaming?¡¯ Taaahng! The grass in front of Kang Chan violently burst up. Taaahng! When the grass burst up for the second time, he heard people openly shooting guns from the direction of the cart. At the end of the fairway, Kang Chan threw himself toward the fifth hole. Plop! His heart hurt as if it was going to burst because of Anne, who he was carrying on his back. It was a relief that there was at least a little bit of a mountain ridge. He could see the National Intelligence Service agents and the Yoo Bi-Corp employees going toward the clubhouse¡¯s direction with the caddies. ¡°Channy, please let go of me.¡± Kang Chan nced behind him, finding her voice too calm. The look in her eyes showed that there was something she was determined to do. ¡°I¡¯m asking you for a favor. I have always imagined this moment¡ªthe moment when I can go into my mother¡¯s arms¡­¡± Anne continued. Tang! Tang! Tadadang! Ta-ng! The enemy was not only shooting at them. They were pouncing at them while looking to attack the cart. If they stayed like this, then it would be the perfect situation for Anne to die. Their opponents just needed to send two guys to attack them. Kang Chan raised himself up, then ran toward the eighth hole. ¡°Please let go of me!¡± Anne wailed. Damn it! Ta-ng! Right beside them, the grass sprouted upward. Ta-ng! ¡®Urgh!¡¯ Kang Chan felt pain in his shins, almost as if they were being burnt with fire. He staggered, but he just gritted his teeth and kept running anyway. ¡°Why?! Why?! You just have to leave me!¡± Anne yelled again. It was unreasonable to run more than this. Tatata. Kang Chan threw his body into the middle of a grove. ¡°Huff huff. Huff huff.¡± He released the jacket that he had tied. Since Kang Chan had already fallen down, Anne was already about halfway out of the jacket. Kang Chan¡¯s right shin was covered with blood. ¡°Kyaaa! Kyaaa!¡± Kang Chan jumped andnded on top of Anne, who was screaming. Ta-ng! Pak! Ta-ng! The tree that was on their right was caved in, and the grass that was beside it sprouted high toward the sky. ¡°Your leg! You got shot in the leg!¡± Anne yelled. ¡°Anne! Anne!¡± Kang Chan was currently on top of Anne, who was lying on the ground. He strongly grabbed onto her cheeks with both of his hands and looked into her eyes. ¡°I acknowledge that you had gone through a terrible experience. But if you die here, then your father will also die. Don¡¯t you get that?¡± Kang Chan asked. Anne shook her head. ¡°You idiot! Lanok took the risk of going out to the golf club because you like golfing! You think a father that doesn''t love you would act that way? Let¡¯s live for now. If you still want to die after this, then I¡¯ll kill you myself.¡± Even while Anne was looking at him with surprised eyes, she didn¡¯t avoid his gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s live for now. Got that?¡± Kang Chan asked again. Anne nodded reflexively. That¡¯s right! That¡¯s how people live on. It felt like the vibrations from Anne¡¯s beating heart and the sound of her breathing were being directly passed on to Kang Chan. Rustle. Kang Chan then heard someone moving from their surroundings. He came down from Anne¡¯s body. ¡°What should we do?¡± asked Anne. Shh! Kang Chan quickly brought his index finger to his mouth. How many people came to the golf club? Can illegal smuggling be done like this as a group? He kept hearing the sound of gunshots from far away. Damn it. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re in Africa. Kang Chan only raised his thumb from his fist and pointed to his back. Anne nced at Kang Chan¡¯s bloody leg, but she got on his back withoutint anyway. It was a blessing that Anne was tiny. Anne had forgotten how she was holding onto Kang Chan before and was now hugging his neck, so he grabbed her left arm and ced it under his armpit. If he didn¡¯t position her arms this way, she¡¯d be pressing down on her neck while he ran. This position also made her body stick against his back. Anne buried her head into Kang Chan¡¯s back. Kang Chan went toward the boundary between the fairway and the mountain by going around the tree while squatting down as low as possible. Rustle. Kang Chan halted. He stopped in ce, then red at the direction the sound came from. The moment the wind blew softly¡­ Rustle. Kang Chan saw the head of an opponent. Tang Tang. Thud. After Kang Chan fired his gun, he quickly ran further inward. Tang Tang. He saw sparks flying from the inside of a tree. Tang Tang. Tang. Thud! When Kang Chan fired three times in a row, the enemy going up the mountain fell and tumbled back down. Gunshots still rang out from where Lanok was located. ¡®Do a good job, Daye.¡¯ Crunch. Kang Chan gritted his teeth, then climbed up the mountain. Landscaping trees were nted on this mountain. It was a relief that there were trees in sloped ces. They made it difficult to see each other. ¡°Ugh. Ugh.¡± As he was trying to breathe quickly with his mouth closed, the sound of his breathing made him sound like a pervert. At that moment¡­ Rustle. Whish! Tang. Tang. Tang. Tang. Tang.? Thud. Thud. Kang Chan was the first to act. The enemy was still in the same spot. He had killed the enemy, but he had to sacrifice the skin on his elbow and knee to do so. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Kang Chan asked. Anne nodded, her head still pressed against his back. Kang Chan had dealt with three enemies by himself. Now that their location had already been discovered due to the gunfire, they had to move quickly. Kang Chan climbed up a mountain ridge and went toward the clubhouse¡¯s direction. He then tightly grabbed onto Anne¡¯s hands, which were sped around his neck, with his left hand because he could feel that her hands were starting to loosen, little by little. Kang Chan had climbed up about thirty meters into the mountain and was still climbing, but he soon stopped walking. He suddenly had an eerie feeling. ¡®What is it this time? Ah, shoot!¡¯ There should¡¯ve been an employee that was lying in an ambush nearby. The enemy that killed the employee could be waiting inside the employee¡¯s hiding ce. While Kang Chan was looking around their surroundings, he heard rustles. Swish! While he was in a prone position, Kang Chan threw himself down the mountain. Tang. Tang. Tang. Tang. Tang. Craack. Crack. Crkk. He held on with his feet and right arm, preventing his body from flipping over. Kang Chan had gone down the mountain in an instant, but he was about to go out of his mind because of the terrible pain. Pow-pow-pow-pow. In the midst of this, Kang Chan crawled to hide. Brrrr. From far away, several carts cut across the fairway and quickly came over. ¡°Huff. Huff. Are you okay?¡± Kang Chan asked Anne. ¡°I¡¯m okay! I¡¯m okay, Channy!¡± Kang Chan¡¯s left hand, which had been covering Anne¡¯s arm, was injured. Its surface had been grated down enough for his white bone to show. Brrrr. ¡°Kang Chan!¡± Kim Tae-Jin brought a cart right in front of Kang Chan, and Seok Kang-Ho ran over like a crazy person and covered Kang Chan. ¡°Where¡¯s the Ambassador?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°He¡¯s at the clubhouse. Let¡¯s go!¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Take Anne first. There¡¯s one more guy on top of the mountain.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was going to lift up Anne, but she didn¡¯t release her arms that were around Kang Chan. ¡°Anne, go ahead first,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°There¡¯s one guy left.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°Anne!¡± When Kang Chan looked behind him, Anne released her arms, turned around, and kissed Kang Chan. It was hard to shake her off since it seemed like it was a promise to keep on living. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you,¡± Anne told Kang Chan. When Kang Chan nodded, Kim Tae-Jin and the employees ran over and covered Anne. ¡°Please go ahead first. I¡¯ll go there after taking care of the enemy with Seok Kang-Ho.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Kim Tae-Jin protected Anne and ran to the cart. 1. the fairway in golf refers to the stretch between the tee box and the green. It¡¯s the idealnding spot for shots off the tee, and this mowed area is the pathway that leads the golfer from the starting point to the end point Chapter 70.1: Its not like we’re in Africa (2)

Chapter 70.1: It''s not like we¡¯re in Africa (2)

Right after the cart left, Kang Chan and Dayeru went to where the nt of the mountain started. ¡°Try to attack the ambush site,¡± said Kang Chan. Seok Kang-Ho turned his head and bit on the sleeve of his shirt, then ripped it with a ¡®woosh.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s tie your arm up first. And that pistol is dangerous,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. While Seok Kang-Ho was tying his left arm with the fabric, Kang Chan examined the pistol. ¡°Damn it!¡± There was a lot of dirt inside the muzzle. ¡°Use this,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°What about you?¡± After Seok Kang-Ho handed over the pistol, he took out a bay from around his waist. ¡°Give that to me.¡± ¡°Captain!¡± Kang Chan snatched the bay and gave the pistol back to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°We¡¯re going to run up from both sides. If you see sparks, then attack them no matter what,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°There are five bullets left.¡± ¡°Take care of the enemy with less than five bullets.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded. One, two. Pow-pow-pow! The two of them jumped and simultaneously ran up to the ce they had looked at in advance. Kang Chan felt so much pain it was as if a skewer was digging into his right foot. To make things worse, he was sore all over. Tang! Tang! Tang! Dirt sprouted upward in Kang Chan¡¯s surroundings. Was the enemy this close by? Tang. Tang. Tang. Tang. Seok Kang-Ho walked whilepletely showing himself, then fired his gun. Thest shot! Rustle! The enemy that had been lying in ambush had turned toward Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan rushed out with all of his might. Pow-pow-pow-pow! Tang! Seok Kang-Ho¡¯sst bullet fell on top of the ambush site. Crazy fucker! Seok Kang-Ho had exposed himself to give Kang Chan more time. You¡¯re dead meat even if you survive this! Kang Chan threw himself forward while gritting his teeth. Crack! Ta-ng! Gunshots rang out from right beside his ear. He didn¡¯t know which part it was, but it was clear that the enemy had been stabbed with the bay. Kang Chan mercilessly pulled the bay. ¡°Urrgh!¡± The enemy struggled, but his strength had left his body. When Seok Kang-Ho ran over and cleared away the camouge tent, the enemy had been split from his neck down to the pit of his stomach. ¡°Are you okay?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°You¡¯re dead. Huff. Huff.¡± Kang Chan ced his waist on the edge of the hole, theny down. ¡°How many people came here?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°There were more than twenty people on just Lanok¡¯s side alone.¡± Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°About five agents with guns came out as support from the clubhouse.¡± Does that mean that there were guys that Kim Hyung-Jung had been hiding? ¡°Has something like this happened before as well?¡± asked Kang Chan. As Seok Kang-Ho was dragging Kang Chan up, he screamed, ¡°What did you say?¡± Kang Chan looked horrible due to the blood clotting with dirt in it. ¡°About the guns. I didn¡¯t expect to see guns this often in South Korea. Phew!¡± Kang Chan said. Possibly because the nervousness had left him, even the slightest movement made Kang Chan feel like he was being ripped apart. ¡°This is the first time something like this has happened to me as well. But considering that the issue at the hotel hasn¡¯t been reported on the news, maybe we just weren¡¯t aware of situations like this constantly happening before today?¡± That could be true. ¡°This is weird, in all respects,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Let¡¯s go down the mountain for now.¡± Seok Kang-Ho frowned while looking at Kang Chan¡¯s injuries. ¡°About the guy that I ran into at the hotel and the enemies that we fought today¡ªthis wouldn¡¯t have happened if the word didn¡¯t get out about our ns from the National Intelligence Service or Lanok¡¯s team, right?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°That¡¯s true, but I said that we should go down for now!¡± ¡°Damn it! Too many people died! We should find out who¡¯s the fucker behind this!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re going to find them here. We should treat your injuries first.¡± Seok Kang-Ho straightened Kang Chan so that he could stand, then went down the mountain while supporting thetter. The two carts that were waiting immediately came toward them. ¡°Do you have a cigarette?¡± asked Kang Chan. The Yoo Bi-Corp agent in the cart¡¯s passenger seat quickly handed over a cigarette. Click click. Kang Chan perched on top of the cart and flicked the lighter, but the cigarette wouldn¡¯t light up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this?¡± Kang Chan asked. The cigarette had be wet with blood. ¡°Give it to me, ¡±Seok Kang-Ho lit up two cigarettes at the same time and put one in Kang Chan¡¯s mouth. ¡°Whoo!¡± ¡°Shall we go?¡± asked an agent from Yoo Bi-Corp. ¡°Let¡¯s finish smoking first,¡± Kang Chan answered. The Yoo Bi-Corp agent looked at Kang Chan¡¯s body with a dazed expression. To Kang Chan, it felt like he just finished his homework. ¡°Golf is a dangerous sport,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Tell me about it.¡± Seok Kang-Ho sucked on the cigarette while nodding. *** When they arrived at the clubhouse, Kim Tae-Jin ran out before anyone else. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I¡¯m not shot. My skin is just all scraped,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°From the looks of it, your injuries are more severe than a gunshot wound.¡± Kim Tae-Jin seemed like he was relieved. ¡°The Ambassador has been waiting for you. What should we do?¡± Getting treatment was an urgent matter, but sending Lanok home first was the right thing to do. ¡°Please lend me your jacket for a moment,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Tae-Jin. Kang Chan went inside the clubhouse while wearing Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s jacket. ¡°Channy!¡± Anne had been in Lanok''s arms, but she immediately ran over and went into Kang Chan¡¯s arms. ¡®Ugh!¡¯ Kang Chan understood how she felt, but pain was pain. ¡°I was worried!¡± While Kang Chan patted Anne¡¯s back for a bit, Lanok was looking at them. His face held aplicated emotion. The more Anne burrowed into Kang Chan¡¯s arms, the more it felt like salt was being rubbed onto his wounds. If Lanok hadn¡¯t walked over, then Kang Chan would¡¯ve likely thrown Anne to the side. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I won¡¯t forget about today,¡± Lanok said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that this happened while you were ying golf, which you haven¡¯t done in a long time.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Lanok shook his head. ¡°This golf session is where I found the most precious thing to me again.¡± The moment Anne moved away from Kang Chan with difficulty, Kim Hyung-Jung came toward them. ¡°The President came to this ce in person. He was in the car for safety reasons, but he said that he¡¯ll head inside.¡± While Kang Chan was confused about what he was saying, an employee that was behind Kim Hyung-Jung fluently interpreted his words into French. ¡°As I expected, it seems like you didn¡¯t know. As always, you¡¯ve acted like someone I consider as my friend. I¡¯ll be back in a moment,¡± Lanok said, then looked at Anne. She also had bandages wrapped on her arm, but her injury didn¡¯t seem that severe. ¡°I want to stay by Channy¡¯s side,¡± Anne said. ¡°Please let Anne stay here and talk with the President,¡± Kang Chan said. For the first time, Lanok showed a genuine smile. He followed Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Let¡¯s treat you first,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Kim Tae-Jin went upstairs. Anne followed them. Seok Kang-Ho removed Kang Chan¡¯s top and pants for him. From how he looked in the front, it seemed there wasn''t really any sound bone left in his body. ¡°You¡¯re actually going to be a mummy if you get bandaged like this,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Be quiet!¡± Anne, who was behind Kang Chan, continued to stroke Kang Chan¡¯s head. Kang Chan finished receiving the emergency treatment and changed his shoes. He then had a cup of tea and a smoke, at which point Lanok returned. ¡°Channy! Can we see each other again?¡± Anne asked. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°When?¡± It seemed like Lanok was feeling bad to see Anne whining like a child. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, should we have dinner with Anne next week? My treat.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Anne kissed Kang Chan in front of Lanok, and only then did she go into the car. *** After Anne left, Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Kim Tae-Jin all headed toward Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s hospital. ¡°I mean, what did you have to do to be injured like this?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo grumbled as he skillfully finished treating Kang Chan. ¡°For the bullet wound on your leg, the bullet just brushed past the skin so that¡¯s rather fortunate, but you¡¯ll probably need to get a skin graft for your left arm. Let¡¯s admit you to the hospital for about two days. Let¡¯s check your condition then. Please do as I say, as we have to change your bandages and you also have to get a shot.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t refuse because Yoo Hun-Woo said that so firmly. When they went up to his hospital room, it felt like the long day had ended. ¡°Would you like to have coffee? What about you, Mr. President?¡± asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I¡¯d like one.¡± When Seok Kang-Ho made and brought over cups of coffee, they all bit on a cigarette. An air purifier was actually installed on both sides of the bed. ¡°We¡¯ll know for sure when Hyung-Junges here, but I was told that they found circumstantial evidence that the opposing party had helped the enemies be illegally smuggled into the country. They said that they¡¯ll be able to properly counterattack with this chance,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. That was something that the President or the Prime Minister should do themselves. ¡°I was also told that the President originally went there to meet you. Since we saved Lanok thanks to you, it also became an opportunity for both sides to have a favorable impression of each other.¡± Kang Chan wasn¡¯t really in a good mood. ¡°Mr. President, isn¡¯t it somewhat weird that the President goes somewhere with a French interpreter in the normal run of things? Plus, when he¡¯s going somewhere to meet me?¡± Kang Chan asked. There was no change in Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s expression as if he was also already thinking about that fact. Did Kim Hyung-Jung really not know that the President wasing? If they were a team that moved together, then this sort of information should¡¯ve been given beforehand. ¡°Information got leaked out. I don¡¯t know about the fight in the hotel, but we sacrified too many agents today,¡± Kang Chan continued. Kim Tae-Jin tightly bit his cheek, then said, ¡°Let¡¯s discuss that after I do everything that I can do for now. The employees that gave their lives up will be buried in Daejeon, and we made sure they¡¯ll be given a reward as men of national merit. Mypany will also give thempensation as support.¡± Kim Tae-Jin pretended to be calm, but he looked like he was holding in his anger. Kang Chan fully understood that feeling. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan apologized. ¡°Why should you be sorry? We probably kept the sacrifices to a minimum thanks to you. Phew, because I¡¯mcking, the kids that didn¡¯t even get to fully bloom?are?now¡­ I don¡¯t feel great.¡± Kim Tae-Jin¡¯sst words also made Kang Chan worried. Chapter 70.2: Its not like we’re in Africa (2)

Chapter 70.2: It''s not like we¡¯re in Africa (2)

Kang Chan called Kang Dae-Kyung and told him that he wouldn¡¯t be able to go home for about two days. Kang Chan then talked to Yoo Hye-Sook a momentter. He told her he had to go with everyone to the drama¡¯s filming location as an excuse. When Kim Tae-Jin went out of the patient room, he ate dinner with Seok Kang-Ho. Around the time when the two of them were drinking a cup of tea, Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung came into Kang Chan¡¯s room together. ¡°How do you feel, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± asked Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± After taking off his jacket and draping it on a chair, Kim Hyung-Jung sighed deeply. ¡°About sixteen people lost their lives on Yoo Bi-Corp¡¯s side alone, and there¡¯s about that many injured people as well. Two French agents were also killed. Our government is going to deliver thepensation and the blood money through Yoo Bi-Corp, and they¡¯re going to grant the sacrificed men the qualifications to be men of national merit.¡± It was heartbreaking news, but it was better than doing nothing. ¡°We found circumstantial evidence that the enemies had been illegally smuggled into the country through a ship of a shippingpany. We¡¯re currently identifying the National Assembly members and government personnel that are rted to this. They won¡¯t be able to hide this since some agents and caddies died. Considering the President has been there at that time, the government is going to announce that a spy ring that includes National Assembly members and government personnel illegally smuggled North Korean special forces soldiers into the country, and they¡¯re going to go into an extensive round-up. The public sentiment is bound to support the President due to how severe this issue is,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. ¡°Tsk.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t feelfortable. It felt as if they were using the deceased for their own gain. ¡°It seems like the President has obtained a definite answer through the unofficial meeting with Lanok. By using this incident as an opportunity, he¡¯s thinking of strengthening the foundation of the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ business.¡¯¡± That was good, except for the one thing that Kang Chan was curious about. ¡°Mr. Manager.¡± ¡°Please go ahead, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Did you perhaps know that the President wille to the golf club?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s face with his closed mouth was all the answer he needed. ¡°It seems like you knew?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°The act of disclosing that I knew in advance is a vition of the regtion itself, and I didn¡¯t know that something like this would happen.¡± What he said was true. But that wasn''t what Kang Chan had wanted to say. ¡°I have no idea about your regtions. However, I just know that secrets shouldn''t be kept from my people. That''s why I told you I need to tell Seok Kang-Ho everything no matter what on the day that I first met you, after all. I have also already clearly exined this to Lanok.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan. I¡¯m an agent of the National Intelligence Service. And there are rules thate with that job.¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably true,¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°But I don¡¯t want something that I¡¯m not aware of happening around me, because I won¡¯t know when that would harm my people. The fact that sixteen people were sacrificed today is probably irrelevant to you keeping secrets from me, but I hope that something like this doesn¡¯t happen again from now on.¡± ¡°I understand, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked like he didn¡¯t properly understand what Kang Chan was saying. ¡°When did you decide to meet with Lanok?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked Kang Chan. ¡°We decided to have dinner with Anne next week, but the date hasn¡¯t been decided yet.¡± ¡°Please let me know when the time and location have been decided.¡± ¡°Why should I do that?¡± . Kang Chan¡¯s question seemed to have flustered Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°There¡¯s no hidden agenda. It¡¯s just for security and for other conveniences.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of those things myself. You¡¯re not saying that I should report all of my actions because I received an ID from the National Intelligence Service, are you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Of course not. That¡¯s not what I¡¯m saying. I¡¯m only asking because¡­ it¡¯s a veryrge project on a national level,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung equivocated when answering with a look in his eyes that asked why Kang Chan was suddenly acting this way. ¡°I¡¯ll repeat myself since you could be misunderstanding me. I don¡¯t like it when another n that I¡¯m not aware of butts into our n. If I lose Seok Kang-Ho or my people because of that, then a fight will start where the only way to end it would be for the National Intelligence Service to kill me.¡± ¡°It seems like you were displeased about what happened today, but the President had just dropped by as he was passing by the area,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung responded. This person was only looking at what he wanted to see. That, or Kang Chan¡¯s exnation was simply insufficient. Kang Chan decided to exin what he wanted one more time. ¡°The Prime Minister suddenly showed upst time, and now the President dropped by as he was passing by. Let me ask you this. Did the Presidente to the golf club without knowing that I was with Lanok?¡± ¡°About that¡­¡± ¡°Did you not at all calcte the movement paths of the guards for the president when I was discussing Lanok¡¯s security with you?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Hyung-Jung couldn¡¯t answer. ¡°Can you trust and work with a team of people that tattle the ns you make to someone else? Because I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°This is the affair of the country. Didn¡¯t you agree to do this while knowing that?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked back. This person ended here. Kang Chan turned his head and said, ¡°Give me my wallet.¡± When Seok Kang-Ho handed him the wallet, Kang Chan took out the resident card and the National Intelligence Service ID that he had receivedst time. He then ced them at the end of the bed where Kim Hyung-Jung was sitting at. Kim Tae-Jin only silently watched them. ¡°I¡¯ll continue cooperating if my help is needed in connecting the rail. But don¡¯t force me to do it,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Hyung-Jung. When Kim Hyung-Jung looked down at the ID¡­ ¡°I¡¯m also putting my cards here. The sry for my first month of working at the National Intelligence Service hase in, but send me your bank ount tomorrow,¡± Seok Kang-Ho added like a decent person. ¡°We probably each have our own standpoints, but we can''t call ourselves a team if we need to keep things hidden from each other. We work thinking we''re in a team with you and Mr. Kim Tae-Jin, not because we''re National Intelligence Service agents.¡± What the? What Seok Kang-Ho had just said sounded more convincing than Kang Chan, who had been talking until now. Kang Chan tried his best to not let his surprise show. ¡°Okay!¡± Kim Tae-Jin ced his hands on top of both of his legs to make a ¡®Tak¡¯ sound, then said, ¡°Everyone indeed has their own standpoints. Let¡¯s assume that what the three of you want is different, but you two should keep the ID for now. And from now on, you should only monitor Kang Chan¡¯s movements if there¡¯s a special issue, Kim Hyung-Jung.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan is the number one security target for the National Intelligence Service,¡± said Kim Hyung-Jung. Kim Tae-Jin nodded and then said: ¡°That¡¯s a problem that you should persuade your superiors about. Even I, your friend, don''t think it¡¯s right that you¡¯re now tying Kang Chan down to the National Intelligence Service with the excuse that he¡¯s the number one security target when you first sought me out and asked me for help. If you¡¯re thinking of forcing things like that, then taking their IDs today is the right thing to do, even from my perspective.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung pursed his lips as if he was embarrassed, then nodded. ¡°I understand, Mr. Kang Chan. But let¡¯s have you keep the ID for now. Mr. Seok Kang-Ho should also do the same. I¡¯ll discuss this issue with my superiors after going back to the National Intelligence Service.¡± It would be best to end this conversation here for Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s sake. The atmosphere was heavy, but Kim Tae-Jin quietly stood up, then walked over to make coffee. ¡°Did this be a habit since I met with Kang Chan often? I first think of mixed coffee when I¡¯m hungry. Hey now! You should just stay sitting, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho. What¡¯s the big deal about making something like this coffee?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. Kim Tae-Jin then skillfully made the cups of coffee while saying, ¡°I drank this so much I became bored of it when we were in the military.¡± ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s each take a cup,¡± Kim Tae-Jin handed over the paper cup like he was rmending them to drink alcohol. ¡°Anyway, where did you learn how to shoot a pistol, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. After Seok Kang-Ho quickly looked at Kang Chan¡­ ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho was mentioned on several asions, even in our National Intelligence Service and our security office,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung butted into the conversation while looking curious. ¡°I learned from watching movies.¡± Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung smiled like they were pouring out false hope. ¡°I have to go now. I¡¯m going to go to the agents¡¯ funeral, so I might not be able toe here until the day after tomorrow. Contact me if there¡¯s something special going on,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll also go with him. I¡¯ll report Mr. Kang Chan and Mr. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s standpoints to the higher-ups, then I¡¯ll give you an answer in some way,¡± said Kim Hyung-Jung. The two of them stood up. Kang Chan was sorry because he thought that he had been too stubborn for nothing, but even if that was the case, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and just watch everything about their operations being leaked out to people outside of their team. If he had to create a secret retreat route that Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t know as he had done in Africa, then he would rather not meddle in something like this at all. After the two of them left the hospital room, a nurse came in. The nurse injected medication into the IV and gave Kang Chan medicine. ¡°Go home,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep here today. That shouldn¡¯t be a problem, considering there¡¯s a bed here and we¡¯re on school break.¡± ¡°I might kill you if you snore.¡± ¡°Phuhuhu.¡± After talking about what had happened earlier in the day, they turned on the TV because they were bored, but unexpectedly, the news story being extensively reported was about an attempt to assassinate the President in a golf club on the outskirts of Seoul in broad daylight. It discussed various things, such as the fact that the location of the golf course was close to the Panmunjeom because it was in the direction of Jangheung, that there were suspicious circumstances that suggested that people were illegally smuggled into the country, and that there was a spy in the midst of the National Assembly and the nation¡¯s high ranking officials. The dead enemies and the guns that they had used were shown on TV from time to time. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to trust the news as it¡¯s shown now,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Kang Chan also felt the same way. *** The next day, Seok Kang-Ho bought and brought over Haejang-guk early in the morning. After eating breakfast with Kang Chan, he then headed to the school. A momentter, Yoo Hun-Woo came inside the hospital room with a nurse. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Yoo Hun asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m okay aside from the fact that I¡¯m sore.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s check your injuries. I have big expectations about how much you healed.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo pulled off the bandages from Kang Chan while wearing medical-grade gloves. Rip. The bandages that had been wrapped around his chest and arms had clotted with his skin. ¡°It must be really painful, huh?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked again. That wasn¡¯t something that he should say while ripping apart Kang Chan¡¯s flesh. ¡°Hahaha,¡± Yoo Hun-Wooughed. This gentleman always had the talent to make people curious about him. After Yoo Hun-Wooughed as if he was dumbfounded, he looked at Kang Chan with a serious expression. ¡°What is it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m always like this whenever I see your injuries. I don¡¯t think that we need to get a skin graft for your left arm anymore.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo disinfected Kang Chan¡¯s injuries and applied medication on them. Afterward, he wrapped them in bandages again. Medication was injected into the IV and Kang Chan also took the oral medicine that the nurse had handed to him. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, didn¡¯t you say that you got hurt in a golf club yesterday?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked. ¡°Did I say that?¡± ¡°No! No, you didn¡¯t! I¡¯m just going to think that I didn¡¯t hear anything,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo walked out of the room while shaking his head. 1. Panmunjeom refers to the location where the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean war was signed. Before the agreement was signed, Panmunjeom was a small vige that was just north of the de facto border between North and South Korea. In other words, the news is suggesting that North Korea was behind this 2. Haejang-guk, or Hangover soup, refers to every kind of soup in Korean cuisine that can be used to cure hangovers by eating it the next day Chapter 71.1: Lets Try it (1)

Chapter 71.1: Let''s Try it (1)

Seok Kang-Ho brought over galbi-tang that he bought for lunch. He then ate with Kang Chan. ¡°What about the kids?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Their eyes are sparkling with the motivation to learn, so they should be worth teaching. I¡¯ve more or less decided what to do in the evening beforeing here.¡± They finished their meal while talking about school. ¡°You know where the funeral home is, right?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going there in a little bit,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered while putting the empty tes in arge bag. ¡°Let¡¯s go together. I¡¯ll just wash up.¡± ¡°Are you sure? I talked to Mr. Kim Tae-Jin in the morning, and he said that he doesn¡¯t know how it would go since there are a lot of reporters.¡± ¡°Even if so, I don¡¯t think staying here is the right thing to do.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Buy some clothes.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± When Kang Chan came out of the bathroom after washing his hair, Seok Kang-Ho had prepared a ck suit, a shirt, and shoes. The bandages showed through from under his shirt, but it didn¡¯t look that bad. Kang Chan got in the car that Seok Kang-Ho had brought over from the parking lot and left. Sixteen people had died, even though they weren¡¯t in Africa. Kang Chan should¡¯ve looked after them starting the day before instead. If he did, then there wouldn¡¯t have been this many casualties. He felt sorry to the dead employees for expressing the situation like this, but amateurs had been ced in front of professionals. Tsk! They likely lowered their guard under the assumption that the enemies were going to go at them wielding knives like the gangsters, leading them to believe there wouldn¡¯t be a gunfight. That could be the reason why so many employees were killed in that incident. It took Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho around fifteen minutes to arrive at the hospital. At the entrance of the mortuary hung arge card that said ¡®Yoo Bi-Corp Group Memorial Altar.¡¯ Kang Chan also noticed several cars with antennas and the logos of broadcasting stations on them. The Yoo Bi-Corp employee that was controlling the cars immediately saluted and opened the front door when he saw Seok Kang-Ho. As they were going down to the basement, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho were greeted by more Yoo Bi-Corp employees, many of which had bandaged arms or legs. The portraits of the deceased employees were ced within the white chrysanthemums that fully filled up an entire wall. Kang Chan went up to the front with Seok Kang-Ho and bowed his head after burning out an incense. ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ Kang Chan tried not to let anyone get emotionally close to him because he was afraid of saying goodbye like this. When he lifted his head and turned around, Kim Tae-Jin gave a pained smile. ¡°How are you?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°The TV reporters¡¯ eyes are zing with curiosity. It¡¯ll be good for you to just go quickly since that would suggest that you just dropped by.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Kim Tae-Jin shook Kang Chan¡¯s hand. His eyes were bloodshot. Kang Chan knew how Kim Tae-Jin was feeling better than anyone. After Seok Kang-Ho finished greeting Kim Tae-Jin, Kang Chan walked away. At one side of the mortuary, he saw people crying intively. Among them were old mothers, young wives, and children that hadn¡¯t epted the situation yet. Things like this were different from what happened in Africa, where it was hard to find a family member even if they died. There were too many people here in South Korea that had to live on with their grief. Before leaving the funeral home, Kang Chan turned around and looked behind him, finding pictures of people smiling brightly. He also saw Kim Tae-Jin, who had bowed his head while gritting his teeth. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan turned his head to the sound of someone calling him. Suh Sang-Hyun was limping toward him. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t say anything. No, he didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°I have a favor to ask you.¡± Behind Suh Sang-Hyun stood two Yoo Bi-Corp employees. ¡°I¡¯m training again starting next week. At this timely opportunity, we¡¯re also thinking of forming an elite forces. If you by any chancee across our enemies again from yesterday, then please allow me to participate no matter what,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun¡¯s eyes were burning with anger. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this after the funeral.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Just when their conversation was ending¡­ ¡°My precious son! Oh god, you good-for-nothing child! How could you do this to me? You said you¡¯re going toe home today! You told me to make yukgaejang ! Get up! Get up and eat the yukgaejang that I made! You ungrateful child!¡± A wailing elderly woman whose wrinkled face reflected the hardship she had gone through fell in front of the altar. It seemed like she had only just arrived. The broadcast journalists trusted the cameras onto the elderly woman. ¡°Who did this? Who did this to my son?!¡± Kim Tae-Jin walked out and kneeled on the floor. ¡°Please say something! Did you do this to my son?!¡± The elderly woman asked Kim Tae-Jin, then threw herself toward him and grabbed his jacket. Kang Chan noticed Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s hand gesture. He then saw the employees in the vicinity turning their heads and wiping their tears. ¡°Please say something! Did you do this to my son? Say something! Please!¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kim Tae-Jin was fighting back tears while gritting his teeth. A grandmother that was around the same age as the elderly woman soon approached them and hugged the wailing elderly woman. ¡°This gentleman is innocent! He¡¯s the President of thepany that my son had always bragged about! Please don¡¯t do this to him!¡± ¡°This happened because of my mistakes,¡± said Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Why are you ming yourself when they died serving the country?!¡± The grandmother cried. ¡°My son had an honorable death! He died confidently!¡± Crying, the two elderly women wrapped their arms around Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s neck. This was something that Kang Chan couldn''t have imagined in Africa. *** When they returned from the hospital where the funeral was being held, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho smoked a cigarette. That mission was difficult for an ordinary securitypany to handle. ¡°I feel like shit,¡± Kang Chanmented. Seok Kang-Ho nodded. ¡°Is the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ worth this much suffering?¡± ¡°We were like this when so many people died in Africa, remember? That¡¯s why you felt even more sorry for the kids that died,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t think of anything that he could do right now. It felt like things suddenly got too out of hand, which made him feel shocked. It was as if he got attacked while he was defenseless. If Lanok¡¯s schedule didn¡¯t leak out from the National Intelligence Service, then that would mean there was a problem in France. ¡®This means that Lanok is also in danger.¡¯ With the Yoo Bi-Corp employees¡¯ current level, it would be difficult for them to fight professionals if thetter pounced on them, just like yesterday.. They needed a specialized team. A group of professionals?that could take on the enemies. While Kang Chan was drinking a cup of water while frowning, the door of his hospital room opened. Kim Hyung-Jung entered. ¡°Wee,¡± Kang Chan wasn¡¯t that pleased to see him anymore. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, the President wants to see you. Let¡¯s go together.¡± What¡¯s he saying? ¡°The location is Hwng, the ce where you met the Prime Ministerst time. As for your attire, you can just go with what you¡¯re wearing right now,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. ¡°Right now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes. He hastily scheduled this to avoid unwanted attention.¡± The sense of duty that was in Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s face stimted Kang Chan. ¡°Do I need to go out right now?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°We have a car prepared at the entrance.¡± Kang Chan got up from his spot. ¡°You should alsoe with us, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho. The President has been wanting to see you because you were mentioned in the security guard office.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan with a flustered face. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Alright.¡± Seok Kang-Ho breathed in deeply, then stood up as well. The three of them got in the car that had been waiting at the entrance and left the hospital. Immediately after, another car followed right behind them. ¡°I reported what you said yesterday to the director myself. We¡¯re performing a self-inspection on the fact that Lanok¡¯s schedule got leaked, so I¡¯ll let you know when the resultse out.¡± As expected, Kim Hyung-Jung looked like he had a knot in his stomach about this issue. Kang Chan didn¡¯t have anything to reply to that, so he just listened. ¡°National Intelligence Service agents can¡¯t leave their names behind, even if they die. We just engrave a star on the wall of the entrance to symbolize that we won¡¯t forget them. All of us work with that determination. In spite of myself, I think I likely forced you to act the same way since I¡¯ve been living with the promise I made to myself that I won¡¯t be an embarrassment to the agents that had be stars on the wall. I realized a lot of things with this incident.¡± The promise was good, but it felt like it was slightly off the mark from the key point. ¡°A decision was made this morning. The President, the National Intelligence Service Director and the Prime Minister have given their approval for me to form a separate organization. The organization won¡¯t even report to the National Intelligence Service. An SDT (Special Duty Team) is going to form that only gets support in the form of the required personnel, weapons, and expenses, and it¡¯s the first time in Korean history that this is happening.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s expression looked very grim. ¡°On paper, I¡¯ll be the person in charge. I¡¯m going to take responsibility, regardless of what problems arise.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung turned his head, so Kang Chan looked at him. ¡°Please lead the organization, just like how you led everyone at the golf club. This is the best that I can do.¡± Kang Chan never thought of something like this. ¡°I¡¯d be happy even if I can¡¯t be a star. I¡¯d be satisfied with justpleting the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project or if you do your best to help us.¡± Kang Chan smiled lightly. Why are men like him crowding around me? 1. In Korean funerals, incense is traditionally burned as a part of the funeral. This Korean culture dates back thousands of years. Burning incense is believed to remove unclean spirits and refresh the body and soul, which links the deceased to heaven. The incense¡¯s fumes are also believed to alert the spirit of the dead 2. Yukgaejang is a spicy beef soup Korean dish consisting of shredded beef, scallions, and other ingredients simmered for a long time 3. This refers to the art gallery that was mentioned in Book 4 Chapter 71.2: Lets Try it (1)

Chapter 71.2: Let''s Try it (1)

The car arrived at Hwng. The parking lot entrance was perfectly blocked by a car, and from the entrance, employees with sharp eyes were looking at the car that had just arrived. ¡°Pleasee this way. And please excuse me.¡± When Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho headed inside Hwng, an employee politely greeted them, then frisked them with a portable detection stick. After the inspection, another employee guided Kang Chan further into the building. Moon Jae-Hyun and Go Gun-Woo were sitting on the sofa that was in the middle of Hwng. However, they soon stood up. ¡°Mr. President, these are Mr. Kang Chan and Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun shook hands with Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve met them before, Mr. Prime Minister?¡± asked Moon Jae-Hyun. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve met Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.¡± Go Gun-Woo smiled at Kang Chan, then shook hands with Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Let¡¯s sit,¡± said Moon Jae-Hyun. Kim Hyung-Jung, other secretarial staff, and security guards stood in a circle around the sofa. Large ss cups of iced tea were served. ¡°Let¡¯s have tea,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun pointed to the ss cups, then picked one up. Kang Chan also had a sip of the drink. He thought its sharp sweetness wasn¡¯t bad. ¡°I heard that your injuries are severe. Are you okay?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun dropped his gaze as if he was looking at Kang Chan¡¯s shirt, then nodded. ¡°We went to the golf club yesterday purely because I insisted on going,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun calmly continued. ¡°Our chief security officer was adamant about preventing me from going after receiving a report about the gunfight. Breaking through that gentleman¡¯s obstinacy was more difficult than winning an argument against my wife.¡± The chief security officer was standing with an expressionless face. ¡°I couldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. If we can connect the rail, then South Korea will prepare to obtain the foundation needed to be the center of Asia for more than the next five hundred years. There are three years left in my term of office, and we need to finish this within that time. However, Japan won''t just watch this happen. If our opposing partyes into power, then just the sheer fact that Lanok is in South Korea will be dangerous, just like what happened yesterday,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun looked at Kim Hyung-Jung for a moment, then looked at Kang Chan again. ¡°We¡¯ll support everything that¡¯s needed with my Presidential post at stake. Ambassador Lanok told me yesterday that he also put about half of his life on the line to connect the rail to South Korea all because you¡¯re here.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun stood up from his spot after he finished talking, so Go Gun-Woo, Kang Chan, and Seok Kang-Ho quickly did as well. ¡°I have to go now since this isn¡¯t an official schedule,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun exined. Moon Jae-Hyun looked straight at Kang Chan. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. President.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun was radiating a feeling of intense pressure, which Kang Chan had never felt until now. ¡°I sincerely apologize to those that were sacrificed in this incident. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister, the National Intelligence Service Director, and I are still going to proceed with this with our lives on the line. I truly hope you¡¯ll do your best for South Korea, and for our people. Manager Kim here said yesterday that I can¡¯t force things on you,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun continued. Kang Chan felt strange. If men like this were his superiors, then it was worth doing. ¡°Please do us a favor. If a situation ever arises where someone has to die, then let me stand right at the very front,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said. This was a request from a man with fervent eyes. ¡°Understood, Mr. President.¡± ¡°You¡¯re also going to help, right, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. ¡°Of course!¡± Moon Jae-Hyun smiled lightly because Seok Kang-Ho answered like a soldier. After firmly shaking Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s hands, he headed outside. ¡°I have to go ahead of you all today, Mr. Kang Chan. I¡¯ve approved of all of the support that¡¯s required, but this is based on your sacrifice in the end. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Prime Minister.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Go Gun-Woo headed outside After shaking Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s hands in order. *** Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Kim Hyung-Jung swiftly returned to the hospital. They made coffee, and they each bit on a cigarette. As they did, the fact that they had just returned from a meeting with the President finally felt real. ¡°What are we supposed to do now?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°I heard that the President and Ambassador Lanok reached a basic agreement yesterday. I think the right course of action now is to consider it our duty to relieve parts that Lanok is frustrated about in order to ovee the obstacles from China and Japan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung answered as if he had been waiting for Kang Chan to ask that question. ¡°This isn¡¯t easy.¡± ¡°If we get to connect to the rail, then Japan will be nothing but an ind that¡¯s just floating above the ocean. That¡¯s why Japan is desperately trying to get in our way. It¡¯s embarrassing, but they had managed to buy off many high-ranking public officials and National Assembly members. We need to fend them off.¡± ¡°Are you saying that we have to do all of that?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Simply put, you can do everything that you want to do, except for participating in a war.¡± Kang Chan had nothing to say. ¡°We¡¯ll take our time to think about it.¡± ¡°Nothing has changed from what it was like until now. You two just need to know that there¡¯s no need to report what happens in our team beforehand, the National Intelligence Service will protect your families, and both of you will be able to receive every support that¡¯s needed,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s expression seemed to show what he had decided to do. ¡°We¡¯ll do it,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°I knew you¡¯d say that.¡± Saying that they were going to do it made Kang Chan feel rather lighthearted. ¡°I¡¯ll get going now. Call me immediately if you need anything,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung told Kang Chan. ¡°Alright.¡± When Kim Hyung-Jung left the room, Seok Kang-Hopletely leaned back in the chair. ¡°Did we really just meet the President? It doesn¡¯t feel real,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I feel the same way.¡± As the two of them smacked their lips, Yoo Hun-Woo and a nurse came in. ¡°Let¡¯s change your bandages,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo told Kang Chan. ¡°But wasn¡¯t it changed this morning?¡± ¡°Since your injuries heal quickly, we need to change your bandages often.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo skillfully took off the bandages, but the pain wasn¡¯t that bad. ¡°Can I do a biopsy on you?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked. He ced the bandages he had removed from Kang Chan on top of the rack, then continued, ¡°Let¡¯s do it. I''ll pay for the expenses. Your recovery speed is getting quicker. I was actually half in doubt while I was changing your bandages, but there are no reported cases in academic circles where someone¡¯s recovery has sped up like this.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay the expenses for the biopsy, but will it be a problem that my recovery speed is getting faster?¡± Kang Chan asked. Yoo Hun-Woo nced at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Please just tell me. It¡¯s okay for Seok Kang-Ho to hear this.¡± ¡°I read almost all the papers that were published on constitutional idiosyncrasies until now because of your condition, and I found one case where someone''s recovery speed had increased.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo hesitated for a moment, then continued, ¡°That patient aged very quickly. They couldn¡¯t figure out how that happened, so I¡¯m asking you to do the biopsy. I want topare your tissues with that patient''s tissue. After all, this is the only other case that this has happened.¡± ¡°Are you saying that they became old in an instant?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s just one case. Let¡¯s just do the biopsy for now.¡± As a matter of fact, Kang Chan was thinking about doing it. When he agreed to do the biopsy, Yoo Hun-Woo took out a small piece of Kang Chan¡¯s skin from the wound on his left arm, then wrapped his arm in a bandage. ¡°We¡¯ll get the results in about a month,¡± said Yoo Hun-Woo. ¡°That¡¯s quite a long time,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°It is.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo left the room. Seok Kang-Ho looked worried. ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m a little hungry. Let¡¯s buy and eat some pastries.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, then left the room. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to worry in vain. He thought he could just think about this problem once they had gotten the biopsy results. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang when he was thinking about turning on the TV. It was Michelle. ¡°Hello?¡± - Channy. How are you these days? From her voice, it sounded like she was being careful. ¡°Is the drama going well?¡± - There¡¯s nothing wrong with that. They¡¯re rehearsing the script right now, and there¡¯s going to be a production press conference this weekend. ¡°That¡¯s great. As a matter of fact, I was thinking of visiting.¡± - It¡¯ll be great if you cane. The kids would love that. ¡°You¡¯re not going to be happy?¡± - I¡¯m going to be the happiest person when youe by. Michelle replied as if she was confessing, which made Kang Chan smile. - I didn¡¯t contact you because I was determined to make it so that you won¡¯t bother about the drama production. Honestly, our employees and I were all so surprised to find Alion and Lee Ha-Yeon on the news. ¡°They were on the news because they did a lot of wrongdoings.¡± - I¡¯m actually a little scared of you. ¡°Don¡¯t say such useless things. Do the kids practice the script every day?¡± - Yeah. They now get together and practice in the broadcasting station. Our trainees get to act in the drama starting from the first episode, so ourpany''s morale is at an all-time high. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll stop by within the next few days. Tell them to work hard.¡± - I¡¯ll do that. Please contact me ahead of time when you''reing over. There are a lot of times when I¡¯m not there. ¡°Okay.¡± When Kang Chan hung up the phone, he felt like he had returned to his ordinary life, even though drama production was not at all ordinary. Seok Kang-Ho returned carrying pastries and drinks. ¡°I gave everyone on the floor below us and in the nurse¡¯s office pastries,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Good job.¡± When Kang Chan took a bite out of a red bean bread¡­ ¡°Can youe out to school tomorrow?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Why?¡± Seok Kang-Ho had taken out a cream bun and answered while handing Kang Chan a drink. ¡°It''s orientation day. You¡¯re going to be marked as absent if you don¡¯t show up for that.¡± Strangely, Kang Chan smiled. 1. Red bean bread is a pastry that originated in Japan. It¡¯s filled with red bean paste and has a sweet vor Chapter 72.1: Lets Try it (2)

Chapter 72.1: Let''s Try it (2)

To wear his school uniform, Kang Chan had to go home. However, doing so would mean letting Yoo Hye-Sook see his injuries. Things would¡¯ve been simple if he bought a uniform set, but he heard that he had to wait for a few days after he ordered since the first semester had already ended. ¡°Try calling the Prime Minister¡¯s office. Who knows? The Minister of Education might suddenly get rid of the orientation day.¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Dumbfounded, a feebleugh burst out of Kang Chan. He honestly wanted to do that, if only that were possible. ¡°Wait a minute! The kids in the school! Let¡¯s pick a kid that has a simr body type as you and ask them for their school uniform.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho in a daze. He used to be dumb, but it now felt like he was bing smarter. Kang Chan called Cha So-Yeon. Fortunately, one of the twelfth-graders that were studying at that time had an extra uniform. - Sunbae-nim, I¡¯ll bring it for you. ¡°Can you do that?¡± - Yes! Where are you? Kang Chan exined the location of the hospital. After firmly telling her not to let the other kids know that he was at the hospital when she got surprised, he hung up the phone. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. It had only been an hour since they had pastries. Seok Kang-Ho was somewhat strange in his manners. ¡°Go home first since I have to have dinner anyway when So-Yeon gets here. It¡¯s going to be ufortable for her if you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Phuhu, there¡¯s actually a housewarming party in my wife¡¯s family today.¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve told me that earlier. Go home. I¡¯m going to be discharged tomorrow anyway, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll visit you again after it ends.¡± ¡°Just call me. Let me sleep in peace . I almost killed you when you snored in your sleep yesterday,¡± said Kang Chan. Seok Kang-Ho insisted that he was going toe here no matter what, then headed home. The TV bbered about the spy ring incident with determination. Kang Chan watched the report about the meless Minister of National Defense and the Capital Defense Command, then quickly turned off the TV. Now that he was free, he suddenly wanted to see Kim Mi-Young. The look in her eyes when she was talking in French in a poor ent came across his mind. He also recalled her out-dated hairstyle. Am I starting to like a female high schooler the same way Seok Kang-Ho is shaking off his ignorance as he¡¯s getting used to his new body? ¡®At this rate, won¡¯t I be clinging to her?¡¯ The eerie feeling made Kang Chan shake his head. They had agreed to decide if they still felt the same way even after they had be university students, which would be on her birthday next year. ¡°Phew!¡± It was better to have Seok Kang-Ho next to him. Disliking the fact that he kept having useless thoughts, Kang Chan took out his phone and browsed the inte. He couldn¡¯t believe that the hospital was so nice¡ªthey had even plugged in a charger in the room. Just as dinner time hade¡­ Slide! The door of the patient room opened wide and Cha So-Yeon came inside. ¡°So-Yeon? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°Sunbae-nim! Se-Ho got taken away,¡± Cha So-Yeon was on the verge of tears while looking like she was terrified. ¡°We got out of the bus in front of the hospital with the school uniform, but the hoodlums that were at the bus stop dragged Se-Ho away.¡± ¡°Hoodlums?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes! They were wearing tight-fitting workout attire and had short hair. They had dragged Se-Ho away immediately as soon as they saw him.¡± ¡°Do you know Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s phone number?¡± ¡°Yes, I do.¡± ¡°Call her and put me on the phone.¡± Cha So-Yeon put down the stic bag with the clothes in it, then called her. ¡°Here¡¯s the phone, sunbae-nim.¡± Noisy music rang out in the background. He soon heard Heo Eun-Sil saying, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Heo Eun-Sil, It¡¯s Kang Chan. it seems like Cho Se-Ho got dragged away by the university guys fromst time.¡± - Huh? ¡°I¡¯m talking about the guys that we saw at the coffee shop. I heard that he got taken away at the bus stop that¡¯s in front of Bangji hospital. I think it¡¯s them since I was told that they were wearing tight-fitting workout clothes, so I thought I¡¯d ask you.¡± - They wear ck pants and purple tops. When Kang Chan asked Cha So-Yeon about it, she said, ¡°That¡¯s right, sunbae-nim!¡± ¡°Can you guess where he is?¡± - Did you say that you guys are at Bangji hospital? ¡°Yeah! It happened at the bus stop here.¡± - There¡¯s a building with a blue sign for a bank on the opposite side of the hospital. They¡¯re likely in the open area in the parking lot behind that building. ¡°Got it.¡± Kang Chan changed after he hung up the phone. Cha So-Yeon followed after him while looking flustered upon seeing him wearing a ck suit with a shirt. ¡°You stay here,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°I want to go too.¡± She did like Cho Se-Ho. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what could happen if they wasted time, so he went out of the hospital for now. The blue building was on the opposite side of the hospital. Kang Chan crossed the street when there weren''t many cars on the road, but Cha So-Yeon hesitated while looking at the traffic lights. His body throbbed when he started to run, but it wasn¡¯t to the extent of not being able to endure the pain. Turning around the corner of the building and going into the open area, he saw an area that was blocked on three sides because of the building next to it. There were boxes and different kinds of junk piled on the floor, so it was quite hard to see what was happening in there from the outside. Cho Se-Ho was weakly sitting down at the very back, his face entirely covered in blood. The guys that heard Kang Chan¡¯s footsteps all looked behind them. They were all wearing the same tight-fitting workout clothes, which made them look nasty. ¡°Who are you?¡± Kang Chan smirked. It was dumbfounding to see more than ten university students working together just to hit one high schooler. ¡°Are you guys really univesity students?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°So who are you, fucker?¡± Kang Chan knew that his eyes were burning. He still hadn¡¯t been relieved of the spite that had formed because of what happened at the golf club. If he got into a fight in this state, it would be too cruel for the kids. He breathed in deeply to repress his anger. Cha So-Yeon came into the alley at that moment, then looked at Cho Se-Ho and the surroundings with startled eyes. ¡°Hmph!¡± A guy with an angr chin turned his head toward Kang Chan after he saw Cha So-Yeon. ¡°Are you idiots trying to show off in front of a high schooler?¡± Kang Chan asked. The guy with the angr chin came toward Kang Chan with a swagger and stealthily pushed his shoulder backward. He was nning to sucker punch Kang Chan. Swish! Tak! Kang Chan hit the guy¡¯s hand away as if he was swatting away a fly. Flustered, the guy looked at Kang Chan¡ª Bam! Kang Chan curved his index and middle finger and stabbed the guy¡¯s eyes. ¡°Agh! Arghh!¡± Strangely, these fuckers¡¯ screams were loud. Kang Chan then tightly grasped onto the ears of his target, who had short-cropped hair. ¡°Hey! Let go of him!¡± Three or four guys pounced at Kang Chan¡­ Kang Chan violently kicked his current target¡¯s face, which he had been holding between his knees. Crack! Swish! As the head of his current target snapped backward, another man tried to punch Kang Chan. Tak! Ta-dak. Kang Chan continuously hit away his two other enemies¡¯ fists, which were being swung at him, while simultaneously pulling his very first target toward him with his left hand. Kang Chan¡¯s first opponent seemed to have learned some hand-to-handbat, seeing as how he tried to stab Kang Chan in the face with his left elbow even as he was being pulled forward. Tak! Pow-pow-pow. Kang Chan hit the guy¡¯s elbow away with his right hand, then consecutively struck his neck, armpit, and side. ¡°Urgh!¡± Kang Chan immediately grasped the guy¡¯s adam''s apple tightly, which made the others at the back hesitate and prevented them from pouncing at him. ¡°Cough! Ugh!¡± If Kang Chan kept holding onto his opponent like this for another twenty seconds, then the fucker was going to die. University students? It was an undeserved status for guys that just bullied others or imitated gangsters. ¡°You wanna die? Let go!¡± one of the guys yelled. The two guys that were in the back tried to find a gap or a moment of weakness to attack him. Bam! ¡°Cough!¡± Kang Chan released his current target¡¯s neck and violently struck the pit of his stomach. When his opponent bent forward, Kang Chan struck upward with his knee. Pop! The others hesitated upon seeing their two members copse to the ground with their faces burst open. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan was trying hard to not break their arms and was frantically trying to fight back against his immense spite, which was making his eyes try to glint. He tightly closed his eyes and opened them to not cross the boundary. He didn¡¯t want to release his spite while fighting with these newbies. These guys weren¡¯t gangsters. They were just morons that wanted to show off their strength. He knew they were being violent toward the bullies, but he had never seen them doing anything to good kids. ¡®Hold it in. Let¡¯s try to hold it in.¡¯ While Kang Chan was gritting his teeth and trying hard to suppress his anger, one of the guys at the back called someone, and another took out a knife from his bag. ¡°Move. I¡¯m going to kill that fucker today,¡± The man walked toward Kang Chan while shouting spitefully. His long eyes looked like lines that were drawn with a thick pen. ¡°Cha So-Yeon,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Stay outside.¡± Trembling, Cha So-Yeon ran outside of the alley. ¡°Catch that bitch!¡± The knife-wielding guy pounced at Kang Chan while shouting. 1. The original sentence was ¡°it felt like Seok Kang-Ho used to be a dumb caterpir, but he shed his ignorance and was now bing a smart butterfly. We didn¡¯t trante it exactly like that because that figurative description won¡¯t match the context of this novel Chapter 72.2: Lets Try it (2)

Chapter 72.2: Let''s Try it (2)

Kang Chan hooked his foot around the ankle of the university student that was trying to leave the alley, tripping him. Plop. As he fell to the ground, a knife was quickly swung toward Kang Chan. Swish! Kang Chan snatched the attacker¡¯s wrist with his left hand, then ced it on his right elbow so that it was hanging. Crunch. Crack. ¡°Argh!¡± His target¡¯s arm had been properly broken. Crack! Nevertheless, he swung the guy¡¯s armpletely backward again. ¡°Gah! Gaahh! Gaaahhh!¡± Hesitating because of the terrible sight, those at the back couldn¡¯t get closer to Kang Chan. ¡°So you¡¯re gonna act like this to the end, huh?¡± Kang Chan asked. When he picked up the knife that had fallen to the ground, the guy that was sprawled on the floor crawled away from him. ¡°Get out of here now, Cho Sae-Ho. Cha So-Yeon knows where the hospital is. Stay there with her,¡± said Kang Chan. When Cho Sae-Ho stood up while rubbing his nose with the back of his hand¡­ Bam. A guy that was standing next to Cho Sae-Ho violently hit thetter¡¯s face. Pow-pow-pow. Pow-pow-pow. Pow-pow-pow. Kang Chan stabbed people at random, starting with the guy that was in front of him. He stabbed both of their shoulders and armpit. Now, they wouldn¡¯t be able to quickly use their fists forbat or properly carry heavy things. Pow-pow-pow. Pow-pow-pow. Pow-pow-pow. One or two of them tried to sloppily punch him, but it didn¡¯t do anything. With six of them sent to the floor bleeding in no time, the remaining guys stuck close to the wall. Pow-pow-pow. Pow-pow-pow. Pow-pow-pow. Except for the guy that hit Cho Sae-Ho, Kang Chan stabbed all of their shoulders and armpits with his knife. Thest man standing, who was sticking close to a wall as well, looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Hey!¡± Kang Chan yelled. The guy tightly gritted his teeth. Pow-pow-pow-pow! Kang Chan then stabbed his shoulder and armpit. Unable to even scream, his target¡¯s eyes widened. Kang Chan grabbed onto his neck and pushed him toward the wall. ¡°Cho Sae-Ho, get out of here now and go to the hospital with So-Yeon,¡± said Kang Chan. Cho Sae-Ho hesitated, but then quickly ran off. ¡°Hey, you son of a bitch,¡± Kang Chan said again. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± ¡°Do you like living like this? Do you really like going around with a knife in your bag and dragging high schoolers that are weaker than you and beating them up?¡± Pow! ¡°Arghh! Cough!¡± When Kang Chan stabbed the guy¡¯s back muscle on the left side with a knife, he struggled. ¡°If you ever go around while wearing these clothes again¡­¡± Kang Chan warned. Holding the knife in a reverse grip, Kang Chan pressed it on his opponent¡¯s neck, making thetter tremble. Kang Chan then gritted his teeth, holding in his desire to quickly slit his opponent¡¯s neck. At that moment¡­ ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Kang Chan heard someone ask roughly from behind him. When he turned around, he realized gangsters had walked into the area. While the guy that was standing in the front was looking around the surroundings, those next to him took out filet knives from around their waists. A few of them hit the heads of the kids that had copsed onto the floor. After a guy that was at the back quickly walked to the front and whispered to the ear of the guy that was standing in the front¡­ ¡°Are you Kang Chan?¡± Kang Chan was now really disgusted with things like this. If people cut them some ck because they were wearing school uniforms and because they weren¡¯t gangsters yet, then they became those fuckers in the end. ¡°I heard you were reckless, but I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d get into a fight in our turf. I¡¯ll give you that,¡± said the gangster at the very front. Kang Chan looked down at the knife that was being held in a reverse grip. A man who just wanted to eat a bowl of hot Yookgaejang with his old mother risked his life for a monthly sry that wasn¡¯t even thatrge, while these fuckers were showing off and swinging filet knives in a back alley. ¡°You fucking gangsters,¡± Kang Chan cursed. I¡¯ll kill all of you to make those puny university students think that they should never be like you fuckers. When Kang Chan walked forward while smirking¡­ Pow-pow-pow. Pow-pow. Pow-pow. Violent sounds rang out from the back. ¡°What was that? Hey!¡± ¡°We¡¯re under attack! Kill them!¡± Kang Chan was confused. There were three men at the back wearing a suit and a shirt, their movements extraordinary. One of them snapped a gangster¡¯s wrist in an instant, then took away the knife. Pow! Pow! Pow! Their movements were rough, but there was no hesitation in their knife-wielding skills. Bam! Pow! Pow! The three men hit the gangsters¡¯ groins with their knees, hit their adam¡¯s apples with their elbows, and even stabbed their shoulders and back with the knives that they had taken from them. In about three minutes, only two gangsters remained. One of the three men approached Kang Chan and politely greeted him. Meanwhile, one of the remaining gangsters was stabbed with a knife. The other sank to his knees while grasping onto his groin. A knee then hit his face, causing him to fall backward. ¡°I¡¯m Choi Jong-Il. We¡¯re dispatched here under Manager Kim¡¯s orders. He told us to avoid interfering unless necessary, but we stepped in because we thought that this wasn¡¯t right. If you go, then we¡¯ll immediately contact the prosecution and cleanly take care of this gangster organization.¡± What was this? Kang Chan felt like a tiger that had its meal taken away from him in front of his eyes. He wasn¡¯t that angry, though, since he wasn¡¯t a hungry tiger. ¡°Come here and greet him,¡± Choi Jong-Il told the other two men. ¡°I¡¯m Lee Doo-Hee.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Woo Hee-Seung.¡± When Kang Chanughed out loud, Choi Jong-Il looked behind him for a moment. ¡°Along with manager Kim, we have already sent in our letters of resignation to thepany and left. You can leave these dirty matters to us. We''d willinglyy down our lives and die instead for as long as it means you''ll seed with your goal. Even if we have to do it hundreds or thousands of times.¡± ¡°Letter of resignation?¡± Kang Chan asked. Choi Jong-Il made a face that said, ¡®Could it be?¡¯ then closed his mouth. He had an angr chin and a sunburnt face. ¡°You guys submitted a letter of resignation?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°I thought you were already aware of that. Our role is to personally help you,¡± Just after Choi Jong-Il answered¡­ ¡°You fuckers, which family are you a part of?¡± A gangster yelled. ¡°This fucker is so loud!¡± Boong. Pow. Woo Hee-Seung suddenly lifted an iron pipe and struck the gangster¡¯s nape. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud because of the absurd sight. ¡°I¡¯m the leader. I¡¯m going to leave my number in a text message, but a new phone will be given to you tomorrow. If you press a button on the phone, then I¡¯ll act immediately,¡± Choi Jong-Il continued. Bam! Pow! Pow! The gangsters came to their senses, but Lee Doo-Hee and Woo Hee-Seung continuously hit the back of their necks to knock them back out. ¡°Please leave this ce. We¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± Dumbfounded, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t say anything. He liked one thing, though¡ªhe didn¡¯t kill a sloppy gangster because of his spite. He got out of the alley while shaking his head. From the alley, Kang Chan heard someone say ¡°contact the chief of the police station and tell them toe here,¡± and the sound of them swearing, ¡°Who do these sons of bitches think they''re thrusting their knives at??¡± Right after, he heard the sound of an iron pipe hitting something. pow-pow. When Kang Chan returned to his room in the hospital, Cho Sae-Ho already had gauze on his nose and around his right eye. ¡°Sunbae-nim,¡± Cha So-Yeon and Cho Sae-Ho jumped to their feet. Did they perhaps? Cho Sae-Ho¡¯s mouth was swollen. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Kang Chan asked Cho Sae-Ho. ¡°Yes, sunbae-nim.¡± His pronunciation was amazing, considering his mouth and nose were swollen. ¡°I tried my best to teach you, but you got beat up by those morons.¡± ¡°I also hit them a few times.¡± ¡°Forget about it.¡± What use is there for me to talk to him? ¡°Anyway, I was thinking of having dinner, but can you eat with your mouth like that?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°If you¡¯re buying us dinner, then we¡¯ll eat with you before we go home,¡± when Cha So-Yeon answered, Cho Sae-Ho quickly nodded. ¡°What do you guys want to eat?¡± Cha So-Yeon nced at Cho Sae-Ho. People were quite unpredictable. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t believe that Cha So-Yeon would like someone like Cho Sae-Ho when she couldn¡¯t even eat because of the bullies. ¡°Sunbae-nim, please buy us sushi,¡± said Cha So-Yeon. ¡°Sushi?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll be able to eat with his mouth like that?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°No! I can eat properly.¡± In truth, eating sushi was going to be a wiser choice than eating hot soup or meat. Kang Chan called the interphone in the nurse¡¯s office and asked if there was a sushi restaurant near the hospital. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat outside,¡± Kang Chan told the two of them. ¡°Right now?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry and juste with me. Everything¡¯s been taken care of.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan had already changed, so he immediately went outside. When he went out of the entrance of the hospital, the opposite side of the road was packed with patrol cars and emergency vehicles. When Kang Chan mumbled to himself, ¡°What are they doing when there¡¯s a hospital nearby?¡± Cha So-Yeon and Cho Sae-Ho looked at each other and firmly closed their mouths. When the three of them arrived at the sushi restaurant, Cha So-Yeon¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Eun-Sil unnie said that she arrived in front of the hospital?¡± ¡°Tsk! Tell her toe to this restaurant,¡± said Kang Chan. A momentter, Heo Eun-Sil showed up perversely, and the four of them ate sushi. Cho Sae-Ho hesitated at first butter showed he could devour five servings of sushi with the word ¡®special¡¯ in front of the dish¡¯s name by himself when Kang Chan told him to eat without restraints. Kang Chan thought of Kim Mi-Young. ¡®I should¡¯ve called her. We could¡¯ve eaten together.¡¯ But he shook his head soon after. He was about to start a dangerous task. He doubted something that required Kim Hyung-Jung to put those security guards on Kang Chan¡¯s trail and submit a letter of resignation would end easily. ¡®I should give this a proper end.¡¯ Kang Chan firmly made up his mind. He was working with men that submitted letters of resignation to an organization that they had been working for just to help him on this. Making sure that those men got back safely to their organization naturally became his responsibility. ¡®But why is this bitch so quiet?¡¯ The bare-faced Heo Eun-Sil quietly ate sushi. An ident happened no matter what whenever he met her, but they might get away with it today since something had already happened. 1. This is referring to one of the employees of Yoo Bi-Corp that died because of the fight at the golf club 2. Here, the word ¡®special¡¯ refers to the most expensive dishes Chapter 73.1: Are you Confident? (1)

Chapter 73.1: Are you Confident? (1)

The orientation was at 10 am. Kang Chan made Seok Kang-Ho stay at home since he drank alcohol the day before, then he had a good night¡¯s sleep. When morning came, he headed to school early. While Kang Chan was walking through the front gate, he saw the bullies working hard at sweeping the surroundings. ¡®Did the bullies do drugs together as a group?¡¯ Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what they were hoping for, but it also wasn¡¯t something that he should interfere with. The process of going into the ssroom was much easier than it was before. The kids that he ran into at the stairs or in the hallway still got flustered, but they no longer stood against the wall or dropped their heads like before. It was probably because of how he acted in the school cafeteria at lunchtime. ¡°Chan!¡± Kim Mi-Young smiled brightly while waving her hand. Snow White acting like that also definitely yed a role in helping the kids change their attitudes toward him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your arm?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°I got a small scratch while exercising. Look¡ªthere¡¯s nothing wrong with it, see?¡± Kang Chan moved his arm around, and it actually only stung. He didn¡¯t feel any other pain. ¡°Did you get your school uniform''s size reduced?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked again. ¡°No. I just temporarily borrowed Yoon-Seup¡¯s uniform because something happened yesterday.¡± Kim Mi-Young smiled strangely. Was she hiding something? Kang Chan heard people talking about the bullies cleaning the school from time to time, but it stopped when Lee Ho-Jun came inside the ssroom. The homeroom teacher came inside soon after, and the orientation ended with the teacher asking if anything happened during the break and asking the twelfth-graders to focus more on the subjects they werecking at. The school called the students during the break just to say that? But what could he do? The orientation had already ended. When Kang Chan got up from his spot, Kim Mi-Young quickly approached him. Smiling, she said, ¡°Chan, I have free time until dinner today. What about you?¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°My mom went out to a gathering. My hagwon is at 7 pm. I told her that I¡¯m going to study at school until then.¡± It looked like she was anticipating something. ¡°Want to have lunch together?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yeah! We should also watch a movie if it¡¯s okay with you!¡± Kang Chan found Kim Mi-Young¡¯s childish ¡®yeah!¡¯ answer cute. ¡°Sure. Where should we go?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to Tron Square.¡± ¡°Wearing this?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°What should we wear, then?¡± Would it be okay to go to Tron Square while wearing school uniforms? Kang Chan went down the stairs with Kim Mi-Young and dropped by the athletics club room before going. ¡°Sunbae-nim! Unnie!¡± Cha So-Yeon brightly greeted them. Kang Chan talked to Seok Kang-Ho outside of the room. ¡°Security guards?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Three of them cleanly took care of about fifteen gangsters. Kim Hyung-Jung probably put them on you as well.¡± ¡°Hmm, alright. Well, either way, President Kim Tae-Jin has to act before anything happens, so let¡¯s just test the waters today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to go home immediately after dropping by Tron Square with Mi-Young, so let¡¯s meet up in the evening if need be.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan got out of school first with Kim Mi-Young. *** After passing by two Japanese-style tatami rooms, the chef came into the innermost room, knelt on the floor, and carefully ced sushi on the table. ¡°Please enjoy your meal!¡± Nobody said anything until the chef left. After the door on the opposite side closed¡­ ¡°What did the Ministry of Foreign Affairs say that they¡¯re going to do?¡± ¡°It seems like even Japan is flustered, seeing as how they said that we should watch how things develop for now.¡± The four people sat facing each other, their faces holding a mix of worry and anger. ¡°With this incident, half of our power ispletely gone. The Reds are using North Korea as an excuse to deceive the citizens when they didn¡¯t even interfere in this. They¡¯re suffocating us. Yet you only want us to watch? Do you think those people without a good background are going to let this opportunity end just like this? The Seung-il shippingpany is gone, and now we''re in a situation where those that restlessly tried their best for the country are being stripped of their positions and are being kicked out for one reason or another.¡± ¡°Chairman Yang, no one here approves of connecting the rail.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m saying we should defend ourselves more aggressively. If the rail is connected, then there¡¯s also a paper that says that the minimum wage will increase to 10,000 KW per hour immediately. Does that make sense? People that aren¡¯t doing much will make 80,000 KW per day, and if we include the night shift, then the world wille to where they can make a maximum of 200,000 KW per day. And in this damn country, it has be expected for people to fight back against the owners that are keeping them alive. Even if we¡¯re in a crisis, we shouldn¡¯t step back. We need to deal with this aggressively.¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that? Isn''t the problem here the fact that we¡¯ll all be branded and kicked out as traitors at once if even a small link is found between us and the Seung-Il shippingpany if we carelessly interfere right now? The chairperson and a few others are trying their best, so we should endure this for a little bit.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Yang Jin-Woo openly expressed his frustration. ¡°It isn¡¯t just the Financial Supervisory Service or the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. Everything is being reced. At this rate, if legition is wrongfully announced, then we¡¯re going to wither and die.¡± ¡°The chairperson and I are going to stop that.¡± ¡°Chairperson Huh, are you aware that they¡¯re now starting a people¡¯s court with the excuse that they¡¯re clearing away the remnants of Japan and that they¡¯re tracking down the pro-Japanese?¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± Yang Jin-Woo immediately responded to Huh Sang-Soo¡¯s annoying response and said, ¡°We¡¯re now at a time where my family is being reviled as being pro-Japanese or as a traitor for selling out the country when we were the ones that brought in Japan¡¯s advanced culture while throwing away all of our pride. The country became well off because of what we did! We are now living well, enough to have cars! And everyone forgot that we now get to go around foreign countries! The fucking Reds that aren¡¯t even worth bugs are all like this! All I¡¯m saying is, the time when people yell that everyone has to live equally ising.¡± ¡°Ha, my god! Chairman Yang, are you yelling atme right now? Should I apologize or something? Should I bow my head and say that I was wrong?¡± When Huh Sang-Soo¡¯s eyes glinted with anger, Yang Jin-Woo''s spirit immediately died down. After a moment of silence passed¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s endure this for now. What¡¯s urgent is to first figure out where and what on earth went wrong, and to find the person that¡¯s causing us trouble. We¡¯re trying our best to dig up information by focusing on the Yoo Bi-Corp employees right now, so we¡¯ll be able topletely figure out what¡¯s going on soon.¡± ¡°Please at least take care of the legitive bill for foreignborers first.¡± ¡°That bill is going to be passed next week. On the contrary, it¡¯sfortable to pass that bill because it¡¯s concealed this kind of issue. And let¡¯s turn a few temporary workers into permanent workers. The chairperson was also very worried about the foreignborers.¡± ¡°Those fucking Reds! They can¡¯t get rid of the beggar in them and are trying to get more than what they worked for! If they¡¯re going to revile us, then they shouldn¡¯t change, and if they¡¯re going to demand help, then they should bow their heads!¡± ¡°Money is being brought over on arge scale from Japan. When everyone gets that money, please discreetly acquire a few financial institutions.¡± ¡°Is that already underway?¡± Huh Sang-Soo was going to grab the chopsticks, but he held up a ss of water instead as if he was tired of eating food. ¡°It¡¯s going to proceed next month, so everyone please be aware of that and please make some operating costs with that money. I heard that a high schooler is involved in this and that the National Intelligence Service is actively supporting him, but we¡¯re still trying to figure out if that¡¯s true because we¡¯re unsure of whether or not we should trust that information. Plus the French Ambassador, who was granted an Agr¨¦ment, arbitrarily came back to our country, so we¡¯re nning on slicing the National Intelligence Service Director¡¯s neck in this timely opportunity while kicking out the French Ambassador from South Korea as well.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Yang Jin-Woo focused on what Huh Sang-Soo was saying. ¡°We¡¯re all going to im that North Korea nned this, that there are too many Reds in the country, and that the reason this transpired is that the current regime is taking a pro-North Korean policy. And we have to intensively attack one ce.¡± Yang Jin-Woo smiled meaningfully, his expression showing that he understood what Huh Sang-Soo was saying. ¡°Our most urgent task right now is to stop the people that are on the same side as the current party in power from bing cab members, no matter what. Other than them, everyone else is our people. Hence, regardless of who we use, we can make a contract with them.¡± ¡°If only we can just change the Director of the National Intelligence Service.¡± ¡°Japan is going to make something big happen soon.¡± Huh Sang-Soo smiled suspiciously. *** Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young had hand-made hamburgers for lunch, then they watched a movie about two lovers. In the middle of the movie, Kim Mi-Young leaned her head against his shoulder, which Kang Chan didn¡¯t see as a bad thing. They looked through a few stores after the movie ended, then headed home. Strangely, it felt like Kim Mi-Young was calming down the chaos that had been happening. It was as if he had stepped back after being pushed around by the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project that had abruptly run into his life. This was simr to when she held his hand at the cafeteria and calmed him down. ¡°Today made me really happy,¡± Kim Mi-Youngmented. Kang Chan smiled widely while standing face-to-face with Kim Mi-Young. Now that smile made him feelfortable. After they parted ways at the apartment entrance, Kang Chan headed to the hospital again. He got his wound disinfected and his bandages and clothes changed, then returned home. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°You¡¯re here, Channy? Where did you go and why couldn¡¯t youe home for two days? And what¡¯s with your clothes?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I had to meet the employees of the broadcasting station.¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve told me if it was urgent.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that from now on.¡± For some reason, Kang Chan thought about Yoo Hye-Sook when he recalled the crying old mother that clung to Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°You haven¡¯t had dinner, have you?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yes, I¡¯lle out after changing. Where¡¯s father?¡± ¡°He said that he''ll be home soon.¡± Kang Chan went into his room and eventually took out and wore a long-sleeved shirt. If he didn¡¯t, it would be hard to hide the bandages that were wrapped around his left arm. Kang Dae-Kyung arrived about thirty minutester. Kang Chan went out of his room, greeted him, then ate with him. ¡°Why are you wearing a long-sleeved shirt when it¡¯s so hot?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. ¡°My body doesn¡¯t look good right now.¡± ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± Right before he was cornered into a crisis, Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s phone thankfully rang. A friend of hers seemed to be asking her for a favor again, seeing as how she took her phone and went into the room. ¡°Father, I have bandages wrapped around my arm.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung exhaled as if he was groaning, then nodded. ¡°Eat quickly. Let¡¯s go somewhere for a bit.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The two of them ate as if they were pushing food down their throats. 1. Tatami rooms are traditional Japanese-style rooms with traditional tatami flooring, which is a type of mat 2. The Reds are used to describemunists in Korea. They also refer to South Koreans who support North Korea 3. The original was ¡®yelling in front of me.¡¯ The nuance behind that is that he would find it disrespectful for Chairman Yang to yell at someone else in his presence since he thinks very highly of himself. However, it doesn¡¯t sound natural in English so we went with ¡®yelling at me.¡¯ 4. In international affairs, Agr¨¦ment refers to an agreement by a state to receive members of a diplomatic mission from a foreign country. The posting state formally requests consent from the receiving state before appointing a diplomat to the receiving state. Simply put, Lanok was able toe to South Korea as an Ambassador of France because he was granted consent (Agr¨¦ment) from South Korea Chapter 73.2: Are you Confident? (1)

Chapter 73.2: Are you Confident? (1)

Kang Dae-Kyung urgently drank water, then dropped by the master bedroom. They went out of the entrance in a hurry, but it was still hot outside. ¡°Do you want to have a cup of tea?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. ¡°Why not?¡± They went into a specialty coffee shop located on the opposite side of the apartment and sat at a table to their liking. Kang Chan ordered and brought over iced coffees, then ced one in front of Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°I told your mom that we¡¯re going out to buy medicine. Are you badly injured?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°I wrapped it in bandages because my arm is a bit scraped, but it doesn¡¯t look good, plus I have to put medicine on it.¡± The long-sleeved shirt didn¡¯t make him feel that hot since the air conditioner was on high. ¡°Your mom isn¡¯t showing it, but she¡¯s clearly thinking that you¡¯re acting weird. Your mom¡¯s gut feeling is on a level that I cannot catch up.¡± They both smiled while thinking of Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°We don¡¯t have to create a foundation, and you don¡¯t have to go to university. Can¡¯t you opt out of this now? I just want the three of us to live infort. If it means giving you a peaceful school life, then I¡¯ll also hand over Kang Yoo Motors to Gong Te automobile,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung continued. Kang Dae-Kyung had to watch his high schooler son go around outside, understand him offering billions of won to them, and bear with himing home with injuries often. There were a lot of times when Kang Chan wanted to honestly confess to him what had happened until now, but if he were to do that, then he¡¯d have to exin that his body had changed first before saying anything else. How could he do that? Kang Chan pushed down the sigh that was about to emerge. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang while he was in an awkward position. ¡°Answer the call. Let¡¯s talk afterward,¡± said Kang Dae-Kyung. Kim Hyung-Jung was calling him. ¡°Yes, Mr. Manager.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, do you have time to spare in the evening? He obviously knew where Kang Chan was since security guards were following him. ¡°I¡¯m at the coffee shop with my father.¡± - I¡¯ll go there if you¡¯re okay with that. ¡°Sure. And please contact me when you get here.¡± Worry shed across Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s face when Kang Chan ended the call. ¡°Father.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked like he was trying hard to calmly ept everything. ¡°Things went on with just me alone, but it suddenly got out of hand with me in the middle of it all. I can step out of this if I insist on doing so, but I know I¡¯d definitely regret it.¡± ¡°Are you going to regret it because what you¡¯re doing matches your aptitude?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t really want to butt in.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Kang Chan with a face that asked, ¡®but why are you doing this?¡¯ ¡°I wanted to do it because it¡¯s what¡¯s good for everyone and because I really like the people that want to work with me.¡± ¡°Is the Prime Minister included in the people that want to work with you?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯re going to say that you¡¯ve met the President at this rate.¡± Kang Chan forcibly smiled along with Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s silly smile. ¡°We¡¯re creating your mom¡¯s foundation this week. Though the rules are veryplex, we finally got a notice yesterday. Your mom really wanted to put your name in there, but we decided to just go with ¡®Kang-Yoo Foundation.¡¯¡± ¡°That sounds good.¡± ¡°It was originally ¡®Yoo-Kang Chan Foundation.¡¯ But we changed it because we didn¡¯t want people to misunderstand us. Your mom would¡¯ve told you that she was very upset that your name got excluded, so I insisted that the ¡®Kang¡¯ at the front meant your name,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung exined. ¡°I think Kang-Yoo is much better than Yoo-Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung drank the iced coffee while smiling. ¡°You remember what I saidst time, right? That you should do something to the fullest if there¡¯s something that you want to do.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°When I heard that there was a chance you wouldn¡¯t survive when you were admitted to the hospital, I thought to myself that I¡¯m going to let you do anything as you please if you can just live on. I¡¯m going to keep this promise no matter what, so just live. It¡¯s hard for me, but I¡¯m keeping that promise. However, I don¡¯t want to experience that again. You know that, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving first since it seems like you have to meet someone.¡± . ¡°You can stay longer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± When Kang Chan stood up after Kang Dae-Kyung, he reached out and stroked Kang Chan¡¯s back. ¡°Stay by your mom¡¯s side more often rather than doing surprise events. She seems lonely.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do that.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s watch a movie again on Saturday,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said, then left the coffee shop after patting Kang Chan¡¯s back. Kang Chan was thankful and sorry. The fact that he couldn¡¯t confess to him the truth weighed on his mind more than anything. As Kang Chan red at the coffee for a moment, Kim Hyung-Jung reached his table. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Wee. Have you had dinner?¡± ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s order coffee when Mr. Seok Kang-Ho gets here.¡± ¡°Did you contact him?¡± ¡°He said that he¡¯sing right away.¡± Kang Chan said that they should go somewhere else because he was ufortable with the people that could see them since they were right on the opposite side of the apartment. When they went outside, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho toe to the specialty coffee shop located at the intersection. They then walked there. ¡°We¡¯re presuming that the attack at the hotelst time and the attack at the golf club were done by agents of China¡¯s Ministry of State Security. What¡¯s unusual is that they entered the country through Japan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung told Kang Chan. Couldn¡¯t they have done that to hide that China was involved in this? ¡°They entered the country by cargo ship from the Seung-Il shippingpany, and it seems like Japan cooperated in making that happen. The Seung-Il shippingpany is saying that the captain did that because he was greedy about kickbacks. They¡¯re also iming that it¡¯s hard to interrogate other wrongdoings. Anyway, Seung-il shippingpany will get their license revoked because of the tax investigation by the National Tax Service and for other reasons.¡± ¡°We only cut the tail of the problem,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°That¡¯s currently true, but we¡¯re looking for traces of how the money was given to the shippingpany¡¯s captain, so much more solid proof should be found soon. There are also people that we¡¯re suspecting to be involved in this.¡± Things like this were disordered and troublesome. ¡°We used this opportunity to hold the management supervision responsible, which resulted in those in charge of the relevant departments being reced,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung arrived at the coffee shop, and Seok Kang-Ho was already sitting on the terrace with a coffee in front of him. ¡°What happened?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I wasing here by taxi, but I found myself walking, so I just came here.¡± Now even Kim Hyung-Jung seemed like he had adapted to this type of conversation between the two of them. ¡°I already bought iced coffee. That¡¯s okay with you, right?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kim Hyung-Jung. Without needing to say anything, they sat down and drank coffee. Kim Hyung-Jung took out two phones. ¡®This is for Mr. Kang Chan, and this is for Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.¡± Is this the phone that the employees told me about yesterday? ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Seok Kang-Ho raised his eyes from the phone and looked at Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°We installed two types of apps on the home screen. The app on the left is for the radio, and the app on the right is for calling us in case of emergencies. The emergency call app includes a request for help. The moment it¡¯s pressed, your location will be found and the nearby employees will immediately run over.¡± ¡°What about the radio?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be able tomunicate with us immediately within a one-kilometer radius in the center of the city¡± Kim Hyung-Jung answered. ¡°It¡¯s also going to somewhat prevent wiretapping, so you can use that phone from now on. The number is the same, so if you turn off the phone that you¡¯re using right now, you can use the new phone immediately.¡± This was even better since it looked nothing out of the ordinary. It seemed like Kim Hyung-Jung had realized some things because of what happened a few days ago, so he also told exactly what he told Kang Chan to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Mr. manager,¡± Kang Chan called Kim Hyung-Jung after he waited for the conversation to end. ¡°Will something like this happen again in the future?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung couldn¡¯t easily answer and just looked back at him. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to ask is, if they can get Chinese agents into the country like this, won¡¯t simr things keep happening even in the future?¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, there¡¯s a more pressing matter than that.¡± A more pressing matter? Is an army actuallying over? ¡°We can breathe easily by taking this opportunity. However, what the opposition party wants is the position of the Director of the National Intelligence Service. The development of Pyeongtaek port is the precondition to connect the rail, but the opposition party is saying that they want the position in exchange for passing the legitive bill rted to the development of Pyeongtaek port,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. ¡°Then we can just do that, right?¡± ¡°If we hand over the position of the Director of the National Intelligence Service, then we could actually end up giving up on the ¡®Unicorn.¡¯¡± ¡°How so?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s because the opposition¡¯s end goal is to impeach the President. If they can get the position of the National Intelligence Service Director, then they¡¯ll have the capacity to achieve that..¡± Seok Kang-Ho spewed out a ¡°Ha!¡± ¡°How can we solve this?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°We need to get Europe¡¯s approval as fast as possible and officially announce that South Korea is included in the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project. If that happens, then all of our problems would be solved.¡± ¡°In the end, Lanok is holding the key to make that happen,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°That would only be possible if we stop Japan, the opposition party that¡¯s looking to be the next administration, and the distractions from the pro-Japanese.¡± This wasn¡¯t something that could be solved by just guarding people. ¡°The reaction from metropolitan France is also a problem. It seems like they¡¯re examining whether or not they should rece the Ambassador because of the recent attack, but we¡¯re still just monitoring the situation since we haven¡¯t confirmed the information¡¯s credibility yet,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. For now, they had to examine things one at a time. ¡°Is it true that you¡¯ve submitted your letter of resignation?¡± Kang Chan asked again. Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kim Hyung-Jung with surprised eyes. ¡°This was the best that I could do to get rid of the obligation of reporting to my superiors.¡± Since Kim Hyung-Jung had done that, the ways their secrets could leak would definitely diminish. ¡°The security guards were amazing. They had also submitted their letters of resignation, right? How about they take on the role of training the Yoo Bi-Corp employees for the time being instead of guarding me? I can just call them if needed,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°For as long as Lanok is the Ambassador of France, then, either way, South Korea will need you.¡± ¡°But I haven''t beenpletely discovered yet. And since we¡¯re on the topic, would someone actually believe that a mere high schooler is doing this?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung smiled helplessly. ¡°ording to Lanok, there¡¯s a rumor that I¡¯m an agent that South Korea and France have secretly created, but isn¡¯t that rumor not going around in the public yet? It¡¯s about the Intelligence Bureau, after all. Right now, what we need are stronger employees.¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll discuss what you suggested with my friend after the funeral procession ends tomorrow,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied. Kang Chan first needed a reliable organization. An organization of people that are both skilled and trustworthy. 1. This refers to a port that is located in Pyeongtaek, a city in South Korea Chapter 74.1: Are you Confident? (2)

Chapter 74.1: Are you Confident? (2)

Kang Chan went into the house and found his parents in the living room. ¡°How are you?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Chan. Kang Dae-Kyung winked from behind Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I feel a lot better after I took the medicine. I¡¯ll head inside my room for now and sleep.¡± ¡°You overworked yourself too much, which is why you¡¯re not feeling well.¡± ¡°I guess I really did.¡± Kang Chan went into his room andy in bed. He didn¡¯t have a cold, but it was true that he had overworked himself. He heard people say this and that about the opposition party, something about the position of the Director of the National Intelligence Service, and even about impeaching the President. It felt like he had butted into a mud-slinging, which was worse than people pouncing at him with a filet knife. ¡°I should sleep. It¡¯s not like things are going to change even if I worry about it,¡± Kang Chan told himself. He soon fell asleep, then woke up early in the morning. Kang Chan remembered Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s plea to not do immoderate workouts yet, so he skipped working out in the morning. Instead, he adequately washed up and had breakfast. As he was getting ready to go to school, Lanok unexpectedly called him. ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, how¡¯s your condition? ¡°I¡¯ve recovered enough to be able to work out starting next week.¡± - I¡¯m d to hear that. He could feel that Lanok was relieved. ¡°When would be a good time to have dinner next week?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan thought that Anne had urged Lanok to quickly set up the dinner appointment, but it seemed like Lanok called him for another reason. - Can you spare me some of your time for a few days, starting today? ¡°Pardon?¡± Lanok¡¯s sudden request confused Kang Chan. - There¡¯s somewhere that I want to go with you. ¡°Understood. Where should I go?¡± - I¡¯ll see you at the Namsan Hotel. I¡¯d like to see you at 9:30 am. ¡°Alright. I''ll be there.¡± Kang Chan was curious why Lanok wanted to see him after he hung up the phone, but he¡¯d find out in an hour anyway. ¡®What should I tell my parents?¡¯ Things got messed up. He used the excuse that he had a cold and whatnot, but he suddenly wasn¡¯t going to be able toe home for a few days again. Kang Chan wore a shirt and a suit, then went out to the living room. ¡°Channy! Are you going to the broadcasting station today as well?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°The Ambassador said that he wants to see me and go to the countryside together.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t. What do you think you¡¯re doing? You¡¯re sick!¡± ¡°I feel fine right now. I find it fun to meet new people while I go out to ces with others, too.¡± If it was possible, he wanted to alleviate her worries. ¡°I¡¯ll be back,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Alright. He¡¯s going with the Ambassador of France, not just anyone. All of your friends would be jealous if they knew about this,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Still.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t worry, mom.¡± Kang Chan hugged Yoo Hye-Sook and went out of the apartment with Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. ¡°The French Ambassador really called and asked me to clear out my schedule, and said that he wants to meet at the Namsan Hotel.¡± ¡°Should I give you a ride?¡± ¡°Won¡¯t you bete?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung willingly offered to give Kang Chan a ride. After they drove out of the basement parking lot¡­ ¡°Going to the hotel like this reminded me of the time when wepleted a contract together,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung seemed to be reminiscing. ¡°Start using the bag I usually take on business trips next time. Take some underwear, socks, and clothes to change into.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Jeez,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung expressed his feeling bad for Kang Chan like a joke. ¡°Will you be home by the weekend?¡± asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°I should be since I was told that it¡¯ll only take a few days starting today.¡± ¡°Make sure to call me if you won¡¯t be able toe, and call your mom from time to time. I often feel bad for her when I see her quickly pacing around with her phone. She acts like that because she¡¯s worried that you could find yourself in a predicament in front of other people.¡± ¡°But she can just call me to see how I¡¯m doing.¡± ¡°She¡¯s worried that people would look down on you because you¡¯re still a student but you¡¯ll be out working and mingling with your co-workers.¡± There wasn¡¯t that much traffic on the way to the hotel, even though it was rush hour. ¡°I won''t forget. I¡¯ll call both of you,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Alright.¡± After Kang Dae-Kyung dropped Kang Chan off at the hotel, he immediately headed to thepany. Kang Chan went to the lobby and ordered tea, then called Seok Kang-Ho and Kim Hyung-Jung in order and exined the situation. Since he could call them anyway on the ne, he decided to contact them right away if there were any changes. At around 9:20 am, Kang Chan received a call from Lanok. - Can youe out to the entrance? ¡°I¡¯ll be right there. I¡¯m at the lobby.¡± Kang Chan paid for the tea and stood at the entrance of the hotel. Soon, a ck car and a van came toward the hotel at the same time. The car¡¯s backseat window opened, revealing about half of Lanok¡¯s face. Kang Chan immediately got in the back seat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for already making you busy so early in the morning. A schedule was created in a rush, so I was also in a very awkward position,¡± said Lanok. It seemed like Lanok was having a hard time since his dignity as an Ambassador was being tangled up with the familiarity he felt toward Kang Chan. ¡°Would Anne be okay?¡± ¡°Thanks to you, we got to talk about a lot of things for the first time in a long while. Of course, half of our conversation was about you.¡± The car went through the Olympic Expressway, which was used for people to get to work, then went out to the outskirts. The car then immediately went onto the highway. ¡°Are we going somewhere far?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We¡¯re first going to a ce called Osan. I¡¯ll exin the specifics when we get there,¡± Lanok answered while ncing at the two employees that were sitting in the front seats of the car. Kang Chan just epted his answer. ¡°I looked into the admission requirements for entering South Korea¡¯s universities. When the second term starts, the national university in France will send the eptance letter to your school and the Ministry of Education.¡± ¡°But the semester hasn¡¯t ended yet?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m nning on sending an official document in the Ambassador¡¯s name that asks your school to be considerate of you so that you can receive the basic education in France¡¯s cultural center as a full schrship student. If that happens, then you won¡¯t need to insist on going to school.¡± It felt like Kang Chan had received a proper present that was as meaningful as the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project. Lanok yfully nced toward Kang Chan, then frowned. ¡°South Korea¡¯s political situation will change rapidly by today or tomorrow,¡± Lanok continued. Kang Chan just listened to what he was saying. The car was going through the highway at a furious pace. ¡°The biggest reason why I was appointed to South Korea was to secure minimum safety until the next regimees into power since there was no risk of being shot at or assassinated because firearms were regted and public security was in ce.¡± ¡°Will this matter be a problem?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°My country has contacted me and asked what I thought about returning.¡± ¡°I should cling onto you so that you won¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°I told them that there were major reasons to fight against China and Russia.¡± The car passed through Osan¡¯s toll gate. ¡°I¡¯m desperate for a cup of tea and a cigar,¡± Lanokmented. Kang Chan felt the same way. After they passed through the toll gate and drove for about fifteen more minutes, they arrived at the airfield in Osan, much to his surprise. The car passed through the checkpoint and stopped in front of the ne parked at the end of the runway. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Kang Chan turned his gaze toward Lanok. People that were clearly a part of a foreign legion were surrounding the ne. Ignoring Kang Chan¡¯s gaze, Lanok got out of the car. The people wore a green beret with the left side nted downward, military uniform, and boots. They also had a rifle pointed to the ground, its string draped diagonally over their shoulder. Kang Chan got out of the car and looked at them, the feeling of happiness at seeing them, the faint perfume, and the awful memories swiftly resurfaced and struck Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s board the ne, shall we?¡± Lanok asked. Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect he¡¯d be boarding a ne at an airfield he didn¡¯t even know about in Osan. The ne was painted like a military aircraft, but it was clearly a Boeing 737 . Kang Chan was about to go up the ramp, but he hesitated upon looking at the man that stood right at the very front of the ne. G¨¦rard Gee. The new recruit that had yfully followed Kang Chan around was standing with a look in his eyes that showed he had gone through all sorts of difficulties. The scar from a knife that cut across his cheek from the corner of his left eye was extremely eye-catching. You fucking child. Your shoulder is going to break. As G¨¦rard was looking at him with suspicion, Lanok looked down at Kang Chan from the top of the ramp. Let¡¯s get on the ne for now. Kang Chan went up the ramp, and six agents and about ten or so Foreign Legion members went up the ne after him. Compared to the ne¡¯s dull exterior, its interior was tidy. Lanok led Kang Chan further into the ne where arge sofa was. It felt like Kang Chan was being consecutively pped. When Kang Chan went inside, Lanok closed the midway door. Rather than being inside a ne, it felt like they were in a suite room in the Namsan Hotel. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. The warning sound went off four times, and the ne immediately began to move. Lanok probably wasn¡¯t saying that they should go to Jeju-do because he was thankful that Kang Chan saved him at the golf club. ¡°We¡¯ll be able to enjoy tea and cigars after the ne takes off,¡± Lanok told Kang Chan. 1. The Olympic Expressway or daero is an eightne highway located in Seoul, South Korea. The Expressway was created in preparation for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Its purpose was to provide an easier way for foreigners to get to the stadiums. Currently, it¡¯s used frequently as a main route of Seoul. 2. Osan is a city in South Korea 3. A Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing, an aircraft industrypany. It was developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, and it¡¯s the most-sold jet airliner in the world. As of November 2022, more than eleven thousand nes have been built 4. Jeju-do is a province of South Korea that¡¯s located on the ind of Jeju at the Korea strait. It¡¯s popr as a vacation destination Chapter 74.2: Are you Confident? (2)

Chapter 74.2: Are you Confident? (2)

The ne roughly taxied through the runway and began to take off. After about five minutes, it had risen up into the sky and was maintaining its usual altitude. Ding. Ding. Ding. The warning sound went off again, then the door opened and two agents ced toast, baguettes, a teapot and cups, cigars and cigarettes, an ashtray, lighters, and more on top of the table. Lanok poured out the tea himself. ¡°ck tea has a special taste when it¡¯s enjoyed during flight,¡± Lanokmented. Since I''ve gone this far, might as well see where this will take me. Kang Chan had a sip of the ck tea and bit on a cigarette. ¡°Whoo,¡± Kang Chan rxed. After Lanok exhaled a couple of puffs of cigar smoke, he took out a neatly folded document from his jacket¡¯s inner pocket and handed it over to Kang Chan. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s the reason why I stole your time today.¡± Kang Chan unfolded the document that he had received. Before anything else, the red writing on it that said d¨¦c¨¨s (death) stood out, and his previous face that he had forgotten about immediately came into sight. It felt like everything in the world had stopped for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s the record of a person named Kang Chan from France. He died in a war. Themander at that time was Shan,¡± said Lanok. Kang Chan liked that he didn¡¯t have to force himself to exin the document. ¡°The members¡¯ evaluation of the Kang Chan in that document is incredible. The enemies even called him the ¡®God of ckfield.¡¯¡± Lanok looked straight at Kang Chan, then started to speak as if he hade to a decision. ¡°Are you that ¡®God of ckfield¡¯?¡± Kang Chan had always wished for this moment¡ªone where people would understand him without having to subserviently exin his life. However, now that he had received the question that he had been looking forward to, he was unable to answer. ¡°One of the members here had fought alongside the Kang Chan of that time. Can you identify that person?¡± Lanok asked again. Was this the reason why the fucker was standing there? Kang Chan had no reason to hide his identity. ¡°Are you talking about G¨¦rard Gee? But how did you know?¡± Kang Chan asked. When Kang Chan answered while smirking, Lanok inhaled deeply. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this. I can¡¯t believe something like this actually happened. This exins everything¡ªyour ability to speak French, your amazing capabilities, and the reason why you asked me to give you information on the battle in Africast time. Still, this is unbelievable.¡± If Lanok was this shocked, then how shocked would the person in question be? Lanok took a sip of the ck tea, seemingly trying to hide his expression. ¡°Can you tell me what happened at that time?¡± Lanok asked. There was no reason for Kang Chan to not tell him, but Lanok had to satisfy his curiosity first. ¡°How about you tell me how you found out first?¡± Kang Chan extinguished the cigarette, and Lanok deeply inhaled the cigar. After a moment of silence, Lanok answered, ¡°We¡¯re also confused. I think telling you Shan¡¯s testimony first would be the right thing to do. He kept testifying that everything went wrong because of you and that you were the reincarnation of the God of ckfield. We were also curious about how something like this happened because a mere high schooler was the only one to benefit from fighting against Shan, Smithen, and the Serpent Venimeux.¡± That was true. Kang Chan sipped on his ck tea, and Lanok exhaled deeply. ¡°The day after the golf club incident, there was a secret request from the United States for cooperation. They said that they¡¯re looking for the ckhead that disappeared in Africa, and they said that it¡¯s most likely within a three hundred kilometer radius of the Korean Penins.¡± ¡°I was told that Shan sold that and bought the stocks of Gong Te?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s all we know as well. However, the United States is doing its best in looking for the ckhead, and I¡¯m aware that they¡¯re only doing that because it¡¯s rted to the United States¡¯ safety. They¡¯re searching for it so desperately that they¡¯re even willing to wage war with the United Kingdom if necessary.¡± In the end, Kang Chan just smirked. Things kept getting more and more out of hand as time went on. A war between the United States and the United Kingdom had even been mentioned. At this rate, they were soon going to have to fight with octopuses that came from Mars with filet knives. ¡°The United Kingdom is pulling out of the ¡®Unicorn.¡¯ They¡¯re gritting their teeth while saying that they¡¯re going to revive the British Empire¡¯s honor, but the most urgent matter is to know why they¡¯re doing that,¡± said Lanok. Don¡¯t these gentlemen get tired? ¡°Identifying why the United States is trying to attack the United Kingdom when they¡¯re acting like that is also important.¡± Lanok looked at Kang Chan, whose eyes were filled with fascination and was taking out a cigarette. ¡°The United States requested absurd cooperation. They said that the ckhead might not be in the shape of a diamond, but rather is a strange phenomenon. When we heard that, we examined Shan¡¯s testimonies one by one. Things added up while we were searching through the list of the deceased and we checked a familiar name that came up. The European Intelligence Bureau analyzed that the ckhead could be a sort of energy that can mutate into a sort of life energy,¡± Lanok continued. I¡¯m the diamond? When Kang Chan looked down at his body, Lanok burst out withughter. ¡°The ckhead that the United States is talking about clearly isn¡¯t a diamond. We have to find out what they¡¯re referring to from now on,¡± Lanok exined. ¡°Are you nning on taking me to aboratory?¡± ¡°No, I''m not. I¡¯m thinking of meeting Shan.¡± Kang Chan needed an exnation. ¡°To be exact, it¡¯s Shan that wants to meet you. He said that he¡¯ll tell us why the United States and the United Kingdom are acting that way if we allow him to talk to you alone,¡± Lanok said. In the end, Kang Chan¡¯s job after flying for more than fifteen hours was to meet Shan. And he was apparently getting involved in a war between the United States and the United Kingdom. ¡°Do I have to meet Shan?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, Mr. Kang Chan. The fact that you¡¯re my friend hasn¡¯t changed. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t tell even my country about the information rted to the God of ckfield. If you don¡¯t want to meet Shan, then let''s just return after greeting my friends.¡± What was this sly fox hiding? Based on Lanok¡¯s expression, he seemed very rxed. ¡°They¡¯re the decision-makers for the ¡®Unicorn.¡¯ This meeting will be with the unofficial workce rtionships from each country, so it¡¯ll be helpful to you in many ways.¡± ¡°It seems like you¡¯re hiding something,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°There¡¯s no way that¡¯s true.¡± Is Lanok hiding something? ¡°Now, then, Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯d like to hear an exnation of what happened¡ªthe process of how a person that died in Africa became a high schooler in South Korea.¡± It had already been revealed. Kang Chan confessed the things that had happened until now, from the moment the operation in Africa started to his death and what happened after he was reincarnated in a different body. He disclosed everything, except for the fact that Seok Kang-Ho was Dayeru. ¡°That¡¯s a really tall tale,¡± Lanokmented afterward. ¡°I haven¡¯tpletely adapted to everything that had happened yet either.¡± After smacking his lips, Lanok looked into his watch with a strange expression. ¡°Would you like to watch TV since the flight is long? Or even a movie?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°I don¡¯t really like watching TV.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe the president of a drama productionpany doesn¡¯t like watching TV. The investors would be very upset if they heard that.¡± Lanok looked rxed while pouring out more tea for Kang Chan. ¡°Bedrooms have been prepared beside this room. I¡¯m going to use the room on the right, so you should rest for a bit in the room on the left if you¡¯re tired,¡± Lanok stood up and went into the bedroom, seemingly for Kang Chan¡¯s sake. . ¡°I¡¯ll first stay here for a bit longer.¡± ¡°Befortable and enjoy the ne.¡± Lanok walked to the bedroom, leaving Kang Chan alone. Kang Chan leaned back against the sofa and nkly looked at the wall. Should he meet Shan? It wasn¡¯t like there was a need to kill a guy that was locked up in the basement of Loriam. Moreover, would there be a viable reason to live tiredly after carelessly butting into a war between the United States and the United Kingdom? It clearly seemed like Lanok had something to gain out of this. Plus, he now knew Kang Chan¡¯s original identity. Kang Chan shook his head to get rid of hisplicated thoughts. This was no different than meeting all the sly foxes of the world and being caught in the middle of them. ¡®I¡¯ll just p all of them if they mess with me.¡¯ When Kang Chan rxed, G¨¦rard, who was outside, came across his mind. By the time Kang Chan had run over to G¨¦rard, thetter had already gotten a cut on his cheek. They returned after Kang Chan recklessly saved him, and G¨¦rard stubbornly followed him around since then. Kang Chan also remembered how G¨¦rard acted during the operation in Mang. ~ ¡®If you want to live, then don¡¯t leave me.¡¯ ~ G¨¦rard really didn¡¯t leave Kang Chan. When they rescued Seok Kang-Ho, G¨¦rard wiped away his thick tears with the back of his arm. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. As Kang Chan was smirking to himself, his phone rang. ¡°Mr. Manager.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan. Can you talk right now? Kim Hyung-Jung sounded somewhat unsettled. ¡°Yes. What¡¯s going on?¡± - A few things had just transpired. Japan has revealed a Swiss bank ount and imed that it¡¯s the President¡¯s slush fund, and theyunched arge-scale report that there¡¯s circumstantial evidence that a portion of that slush fund was handed over to North Korea by the Director of the National Intelligence Service.¡± The President handed money to North Korea? Even though Kang Chan didn¡¯t know anything about politics, he also thought it was something worth getting reproached. - It was the preliminary work to connect the ¡®Unicorn,¡¯ which was done since we didn¡¯t have an unofficial workce rtionship before you intervened. We haven¡¯t sent them money after that. Was this why they clung onto him that much, and why Go Gun-Woo liked the fact that he became Lanok¡¯s friend so much it was as if he was having a heart attack? ¡°Is it a major problem?¡± - The Director of the National Intelligence Service will step down. The problem is that if that happens, then our agents and I and the work we did to cover your case will alle up to the surface. Kang Chan was about to get tired. - Mr. Kang Chan. ¡°Go ahead.¡± - Please ask Lanok for a favor to let you stay at the embassy in France temporarily. Our agents and I will take responsibility for the safety of your parents. If the director resigns, then it would be wise for you to go to France. We¡¯ll also take action so that your parents can also go there in that situation. ¡°What about you?¡± - I shouldn¡¯t have any problems. Tsk! Something was going on with him! ¡°Isn¡¯t there another way?¡± - We¡¯re looking for ways from various angles. I don¡¯t think there¡¯ll be any special way right now, other than officially announcing the fact that South Korea is included in the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ n. ¡°Understood. Please contact me again if there¡¯s anything special going on.¡± Kang Chan put down the phone, thinking that this was what Lanok had been going for. No wonder the decision-makers for the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ gathered at Loriam of all ces. In the end, Kang Chan would still have to beg for the announcement of the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ even after he had met Shan, which was what Lanok desired. ¡®Shan, you son of a bitch.¡¯ You inserted me into a war between the United States and the United Kingdom. You¡¯re the most unhelpful fucker in the world. I¡¯m going to break?your neck! Chapter 75.1: Various Encounters (1)

Chapter 75.1: Various Encounters (1)

As Kang Chan grumbled while waiting for the chance to see Shan, he got a call from Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°Hello?¡± - Kang Chan, where are you? Let¡¯s meet for a moment if you have time. ¡°It would be hard for me to meet up with you for the next few days. Why do you want to see me?¡± - Did you do something to the Shin Yeon-Dong gang as well? ¡°I did take care of the guys that attacked me in front of the Bang Ji hospital.¡± He heard Oh Gwang-Taek dejectedlyugh over the phone. - The elders want to see you. What do you say? ¡°Hey! I¡¯d prefer you to be my only gangster friend. Wouldn¡¯t you be in an even more awkward position if they get disgraced during my meeting with them?¡± - That¡¯s not what I mean. The gangsters are also getting nervous because the Japanese and Chinese are acting unruly in public, and two organizations have been destroyed. Kang Chan, every gangster in Korea knows the fact that you don¡¯t like our kind. However, if you keep destroying Korean gangs like this, then those backed by the Japanese gangs will be able to take over crucial territories. Moreover, they can just leave by ne if the battles don''t turn in their favor. ¡°You¡¯re scared of something like that?¡± - You told me to stop being a gangster! Can you really still consider someone that now avoids conflict a gangster? That¡¯s why you should be careful about who you pick a fight with. Why is this fuckerining? ¡°At any rate, since this could also put me in trouble, let''s discuss this once I''ve returned to Korea. I''ll only be gone for a few days.¡± - Kang Chan. ¡°What is it, Oh Gwang-Taek?!¡± - Contact me if you¡¯re having a really hard time. ¡°The fuck? Alright, alright.¡± He felt like a fucking gangster¡¯sst words were being etched into his heart. He had to prioritize meeting up with Shan for now. Kang Chan reclined against the sofa and turned on the TV. With the Korean penins as the background, it showed a bundle of money following an arrow in South Korea then going through a human silhouette and going over to North Korea, depicting that it was being handed over to North Korea. Kang Chan justughed because of how absurd it was. Not only the President, but even Kim Hyung-Jung and National Intelligence Service Director Go Gun-Woo, whom he had never seen before, would likely be going through a really hard time right now. ¡°I¡¯ll smoke a cigarette first,¡± Kang Chan told himself. Having instant coffee and ramen on a ne was the best. Most French guys weren¡¯t able toe to their senses after trying a Korean instant coffee. But ramen was a bit different. The guys that frowned in Africa would strangely look like they wanted some whenever they were on a ne. They''d even lick their lips. After learning that Korean instant coffee and ramen were hard toe by in France, they''d collect money amongst themselves to buy those products and bring them over to France. Kang Chan never could¡¯ve imagined when he reincarnated into a high schooler¡¯s body that things would turn out like this. Moreover, seeing the foreign crew members suddenly made him want to be a mercenary again. Being a mercenary wouldn¡¯t cause him trouble, and being in a world where he needed to survive against his enemies likely suited his aptitude more. Exhaling cigarette smoke, he unintentionally looked at the picture of his previous self that was on the table. He then looked at the word ¡®death¡¯ that was stamped in red on top of it. Would Yoo Hye-Sook be able to survive receiving this document? He shook his head no. Kang Chan held up his phone and called someone. The ringtone didn''t y that long. - Channy! ¡°Hi. What are you doing?¡± - I was cleaning. Is there something wrong? ¡°Yes.¡± - What? What¡¯s wrong? Are you hurt anywhere? ¡°No. I just wanted missed you.¡± - Jeez! You really scared me! She sounded like she was in a good mood and like she was acting cute. ¡°I just called because I want to see you. I also thought that you would be worried.¡± - There¡¯s really nothing going on, right? ¡°Of course.¡± Kang Chan suddenly missed Yoo Hye-Sook as he talked to her. Giving up on applying to the foreign legion was the right thing to do, in all respects. ¡°I¡¯ll hang up now. I doubt I¡¯d be able toe home today, but I¡¯ll try to call at least once a day for as long as it¡¯s possible from now on.¡± - You don¡¯t have to do that, Channy. ¡°Pardon?¡± - Just call me asionally. I don¡¯t want you looking over other people¡¯s moods to call me. Talking to you like this is enough to keep me happy for a few days. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll call you when I can.¡± - Okay. I love you, Channy. ¡°I love you too.¡± For some strange reason, Kang Chan felt rxed and confident after the phone call. He also felt as if the rough personality he had as a mercenary right before he reincarnated as a high schooler was returning. The United States? The United Kingdom? No matter how much confidence he had regained, he couldn¡¯t go up against those countries by himself. Kang Chan shook his head and stood up to find the bathroom. There was a bathroom between the bedrooms, but he didn¡¯t want to disturb Lanok when he was asleep, plus he was feeling stuffy so Kang Chan decided to go out of the living room. When he opened the door, he found the agents and Foreign Legion members resting in the big seats that were ced on both sides of the ne, and past them were chairs ced in a long row, from side to side. When Kang Chan¡¯s eyes met an agent¡¯s, he mouthed the word ¡®toilette¡¯ to let them know why he was there. Kang Chan walked past the long sofa, finished his business in the bathroom, then washed his hands. He came out afterward and noticed a paper cup near G¨¦rard, who was sitting back against the sofa. ¡°Do you have instant coffee?¡± G¨¦rard sharply looked up when Kang Chan asked that question. ¡°I¡¯m asking because I like the smell of instant coffee, and I want to bum one and a cigarette off of you. If you feel awkward, I can just get a cigarette from the living room,¡± Kang Chan exined. The scar on G¨¦rard¡¯s left cheek wiggled as if to threaten Kang Chan, but to him, it just looked cute. Perhaps it was because his threat didn¡¯t work or because he found it annoying to deal with Kang Chan, but G¨¦rard nodded to the Foreign Legion member sitting next to him. The young-looking person took Korean instant coffee out of a bag. It was the most inexpensive kind. ¡®What a cute fucker.¡¯ A foreign legion member filled a cup with hot water and made coffee for Kang Chan. The smell of coffee, firearms, and men in military uniforms mixing together felt weird. ¡°Are you not going to give me a cigarette?¡± Kang Chan asked G¨¦rard. ¡°Let¡¯s not go overboard.¡± When Kang Chan looked at him while smirking, G¨¦rard appeared suspicious. ¡°Do you know me?¡± G¨¦rard asked. ¡°I think so?¡± ¡°But this is my first time seeing you?¡± ¡°This is the first time you¡¯ve seen a Korean?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it¡ªWhat I mean is this is the first time I¡¯ve ever met you,¡± G¨¦rard came out strong, seemingly displeased by how Kang Chan was talking to him. ¡°Are you going to give me a cigarette or not?¡± Kang Chan asked again. Seemingly helpless, G¨¦rard took out a cigarette from his left pocket. He gave one to Kang Chan and took one for himself and bit down on it. ¡°Hmm,¡± G¨¦rard exhaled as if he was in a bad mood. He then took out a lighter from his right pocket. Kang Chan recognized the zippo lighter right away¡ªit was Kang Chan¡¯s lighter that he had with him just before he died. ¡®This fucker really took my lighter?¡¯ nk. Chi-ik. G¨¦rard reached out and gave it to Kang Chan. ¡°This is a nice lighter,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Hmph.¡± G¨¦rard lit up the cigarette that he had in his mouth, then put the lighter back in his pocket. He was probably alive because he had transferred to a different military camp. It was a relief that he didn¡¯t die because of Shan. Kang Chan took another sip of the coffee, then smoked again. Nothing good coulde out of messing with prideful people. Having coffee and smoking a cigarette with G¨¦rard in this way was enough for Kang Chan. However, he had one more thing to say. ¡°Before I go, I¡¯ll give you some helpful advice in exchange for the coffee,¡± said Kang Chan. He then exhaled cigarette smoke for thest time while putting the cigarette into the paper cup. ¡°If you¡¯re going to use that lighter in Africa, then mix oil in it. If you don¡¯t, then you could run into trouble at an important moment.¡± G¨¦rard fiercely red at Kang Chan. Things ended there. Kang Chan turned away and got away from his past. Chapter 75.2: Various Encounters (1)

Chapter 75.2: Various Encounters (1)

The ne glided down to the runway after flying for exactly sixteen hours. In the time zone of the Loriam station, it was around 7 am. The members of the foreign legion went off the ne first. Lanok and Kang Chan got offst. Three military officers who had been standing outside of the ne gave Lanok a French salute. ¡°The others have already arrived,¡± one of the military officers said. ¡°Should we go there first, then?¡± Lanok asked. The officer pointed to the Jeep, so Kang Chan and Lanok got in its backseat. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Lanok asked Kang Chan. ¡°No. I liked the in-flight meals. The ne having a bed makes me want to borrow itter..¡± ¡°The United States provided that ne. I¡¯ll borrow it if you say that you need it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to do that. The price of the oil will probably be expensive.¡± They exchanged nonsense while the Jeep drove on the runway. It felt like the barracksid out in the surroundings and the vibration from the car was consoling Kang Chan, who was tired from the long flight. The Jeep got off the runway, then stopped in front of a barrack in the second row. ¡°They¡¯re inside.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Lanok responded to the military officer¡¯s salute by slightly bowing his head. They went inside, finding its bunker-like ceiling and fluorescent lights lighting up its interior. ¡°Lanok!¡± Five middle-aged men exchanged cheek kisses with Lanok to say hello while getting up from their spots. ¡°Allow me to introduce someone. This is Mr. Kang Chan, my new friend.¡± ¡°Wee, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Unable to avoid it, Kang Chan also exchanged cheek kisses with them. At times like this, these fuckers were one of two things¡ªthey either smelled terrible or like strong perfume. They all sat down. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, you can rest for a moment. We¡¯ll talk afterward. We have time today anyway,¡± one of the five men told Lanok. Luckily, everyone spoke French. ¡°We got enough rest inside the ne. Mr. Kang Chan is hoping that you¡¯d all quickly decide the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project¡¯s fate.¡± Lanok had either already figured out what they were thinking, or he had calcted what to do before they even came here. Kang Chan thought that he had no choice but to meet Shan. ¡°Mr. Kang Chang.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan,¡± Kang Chan corrected Ludwig. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Kang Chang? Kang Chawn? Kang Cha-an.¡± Ludwig, who was sitting at the left side of the barrack, answered Lanok after pronouncing Kang Chan''s name all weird, ¡°We have alreadyplied with your request since you¡¯re Lanok¡¯s friend, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan looked at Lanok. He had eaten with this sly fox two times since they woke up, yet Lanok had never brought up the fact that they had already decided on their way here. . Kang Chan tried hard not to make his expression obvious. ¡°Hmm!¡± Lanok skillfully grabbed the five men¡¯s attention. ¡°I sincerely thank all of you. Without wasting more time, let¡¯s officially announce the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project, which includes South Korea. This will be the best present that we can give. Isn¡¯t that right, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± Lanok asked. ¡®I lost.¡¯ Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smile lightly because of Lanok¡¯s meaningful gaze at the end. ¡°Lanok, even though we¡¯ve already decided on the matter, it¡¯s still too early to officially announce the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project,¡± one of the five men said. ¡°Our friend from South Korea is in a difficult situation. If all of you help him this time, then we¡¯ll also receive the same help someday.¡± If Go Gun-Woo were here, he would be having a hard time right now and anxiously grabbing onto his chest. ¡°Ambassador Lanok has epted me as his friend,¡± Kang Chan said. People quickly stared at him with eyes filled with both curiosity and surprise due to his fluent French. ¡°Tomemorate the start of our friendship, he also gave me an enormous present called the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project. I want to sincerely thank Lanok and everyone here for that.¡± Lanok cheered Kang Chan on with a wide smile. ¡°My colleagues in South Korea are in a dangerous situation. I trust that everyone already knows what¡¯s going on. I sincerely ask for your help,'''' Kang Chan continued. The five men had strange expressions, making Kang Chan wonder if he made a mistake. ¡°Lanok,¡± Ludwig called, then grimly started to talk with a strong German ent, ¡°Does this mean that you¡¯re determined for what happens after the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project is announced?¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan has saved both Anne and my life. In regards to everything that needs an unofficial workce rtionship in South Korea, it¡¯ll be fully taken care of through our friend Mr. Kang Chan here. There¡¯s nothing more important than this.¡± Ludwig looked at Vant, who was sitting opposite him, then turned his green eyes to Lanok. ¡°The United Kingdom is staying silent to the end,¡± Ludwigmented. ¡°The United Kingdom will stay silent until thest moment, and they¡¯ll quietly follow us after the announcement is made,¡± Lanok said. ¡°If that¡¯s your decision, then the only thing left is the specific method and procedure to announce the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project.¡± Vant, a Swiss, spoke up and concluded the situation when Ludwig pursed his lips and nodded. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know how long it would take, but it seemed like it had ended the way he wanted it to for now. ¡°I would like to thank everyone,¡± Kang Chan thanked them, yet the atmosphere was still heavy. Was he missing something? These men wouldn¡¯t be able to live for long since they thought too much. ¡°You must be tired, Mr. Kang Chan. Please rest for a moment. The six of us should discuss the remaining problem,¡± said Lanok. Two things were clear¡ªonly Lanok knew about the announcement of the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project that included South Korea and the ckhead and the God of ckfield''s existences. ¡°If it¡¯s okay with everyone, then I¡¯ll go out and take a walk,¡± Kang Chan slowly stood up, opened the door, and went out of the barracks. The sunlight was blinding. Kang Chan, who had been feeling muddled, now felt a little better. At times like this, having a shower, coffee, and cigarettes was the best thing to do. Four members of the foreign legion were standing at ease in front of the barracks. Kang Chan took out a cigarette from his pocket and bit on it. He then twisted his left fist from side to side. His forearm was no longer in that much pain. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo.¡± Kang Chan needed G¨¦rard to be here to get instant coffee, but it seemed like he was now resting since his shift had ended. After about twenty minutes, Kang Chan thought of going in and showering. However, Lanok came outside at that moment. ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± Kang Chan asked Lanok. ¡°We decided to announce it as soon as possible, but I don¡¯t know we would make it in time.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. This is the least I can do for saving our lives and bringing my daughter back to me.¡± It was hard to figure out this sly fox. He seemed to be showing his true self, but there were times when he¡¯d appear to be executing perfectly calcted actions. ¡°Breakfast will be prepared soon,¡± Lanok said. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of showering first.¡± ¡°Clothes for us to change into will be prepared once we''ve been served food. I think it¡¯ll be better if you shower after you eat instead.¡± Since it wasn¡¯t a bad suggestion, Kang Chan decided to go along with it. ¡°Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan called. Lanok, who had been leisurely looking around the surroundings, turned toward him. ¡°Would South Korea¡¯s political situation be stable if the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project is announced?¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯ll probably be stable for thirty years. By Korean standards, the regime won¡¯t change until the sixth presidential election.¡± ¡°I heard that the remittance to North Korea became a problem?¡± ¡°Once the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project has been announced, the United States will immediately insist that the remittance didn¡¯t happen. China¡¯s influence on South Korea will be greater than the United States from that point, so the United States will have to curry favor with the current regime. It¡¯ll also be difficult for Japan to survive if they make an enemy out of the Korean government. Hence, there¡¯ll probably be a widespread correction report and a public apology.¡± If that were the case, then the fight was about how quickly the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ was announced. Wasn¡¯t Lanok perhaps trying to use this opportunity to naturalize Kang Chan into France? Nevertheless, he had to prioritize giving the minimum return to what he had received right now. ¡°Should I meet Shan after I eat?¡± Kang Chan asked Lanok. ¡°There¡¯d be nothing more I could wish for.¡± How can he be this happy in front of me? ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan could see a Jeep and a truck leisurelying toward them from the opposite side of the runway. ¡°Do you really think that protecting the people around you is more valuable than money or power?¡± Why was he asking a question that sounded like it should be in an ethics textbook? Kang Chan turned his gaze while smiling, but Lanok looked serious, much to his surprise. ¡°I just want to protect my people.¡± ¡°Is that always more important than money or power?¡± Lanok asked again. ¡°In the foreign legion, there were almost no instances where I received power or money. If I had followed orders and given up on my subordinates back then, I would be in a higher position right now¡ªhigh enough to not have died because of Shan.¡± Lanok smiled while nodding. ¡°That¡¯s true, now that you mention it. You risked your life in Africa to save one of your subordinates.¡± Around the time when Kang Chan could clearly see that two agents were sitting in the Jeep¡­ ¡°Would you protect Anne if something were to happen to me?¡± Lanok asked. Kang Chan turned his head and sharply looked at Lanok. ¡°I think I can trust you to hold onto your promise,¡± Lanok continued. He looked serious. ¡°Will you protect Anne?¡± He asked once more. He clearly wanted to hear an answer before the Jeep arrived. ¡°Is there something going on?¡± The Jeep changed directions toward the barracks. ¡°If the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project, which we¡¯ve kept as a secret until now, is announced, then our enemies will begin attempting public assassinations. I just want to ensure my daughter¡¯s safety in preparation for that,¡± Lanok exined. The Jeep passed the barrack that was right in front of them, and the truck changed directions. Even though he could dy it, Lanok had rushed the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project¡¯s announcement for Kang Chan. The price for doing that was putting his life at risk. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t say no. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± said Kang Chan. Lanok turned to look at Kang Chan. ¡°Now I¡¯m relieved. Let¡¯s enjoy breakfast.¡± Kang Chan followed Lanok¡¯s hand gesture and went inside the barracks. ¡®Just you wait, Shan.¡¯ 1. The original Korean sentence was, ¡°smelled like he was hugging a big dog that was covered in butter,¡± but we just tranted its meaning because it wouldn¡¯t match the context of this novel Chapter 76.1: Various Encounters (2)

Chapter 76.1: Various Encounters (2)

The seven participants of the meeting ate breakfast together. There was a long dining table in between the living room and the sink, but it felt slightly cramped when everyone sat around it. ¡®Who are these people?¡¯?Kang Chan thought after passing over the bread and jam and as he ate scrambled eggs. Even though they represented Europe, there was no rule that forced them to remain formal while eating. On the contrary, Kang Chan found it better to sit infort like this and eat toasted bread with jam on it. ¡°So I did talk to the President while having lunch, but it seems like it¡¯s going to be difficult in all respects,¡± one man said. ¡°What would happen if we exert our influence slightly on the finance sector and suppress it a bit?¡± Someone else answered. ¡°If you help us like that, then it would be difficult for even the President to refuse.¡± If it wasn¡¯t for Lanok, then the conversation would¡¯ve made Kang Chan believe that he was in the midst of megalomaniacs. ¡°Can I share contact information with you, Mr. Kang Chawn?¡± Kang Chan responded with an ¡°of course,¡± to Ludwig¡¯s question. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you guys Mr. Kang Chan¡¯s phone number once we¡¯re done eating, and I¡¯ll also pass on everyone¡¯s contact information to Mr. Kang Chan,¡± said Lanok. Everyone nodded with satisfied expressions. ¡°I¡¯ll be going first,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°You should go shower,¡± Lanokmented. ¡°That¡¯s what I had in mind.¡± Kang Chan headed to the shower room after cing his te inside the sink. ¡°Lanok, do you trust Mr. Kang Chan?¡± Vant asked. He then ate cereal and looked at the shower room that Kang Chan had walked over to. ¡°If I can make just one phone call in a desperate moment, then I would contact him without hesitation.¡± ¡°Is he that dependable?¡± ¡°He exceeds that,¡± Lanok responded. ¡°Even if so, we would still be unfamiliar people to Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to where Kang Chan had gone off to. When they did, Lanok wiped his mouth with a napkin, then exhaled. ¡°The ¡®Unicorn¡¯ being announced is where everything truly starts. I have already asked that friend to look after Anne,¡± said Lanok. The five men¡¯s gazes¡¯nded on Lanok with apletely different look in their eyes from before. They understood what his words meant. ¡°If any of you are ever in an emergency or find yourself in a difficult situation, then I rmend going to South Korea or contacting Mr. Kang Chan. The reason why I said that we should quickly announce the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ is also based on the fact that I depend on him. Establishing Mr. Kang Chan¡¯s position in the South Korean government is also for our safety. There¡¯s no one else other than Mr. Kang Chan that we can entrust our safety to,¡± Lanok continued. ¡°Are you sure, Lanok?¡± someone asked. ¡°I entrusted him with Anne.¡± The five men exchanged nces. ¡°Hmm. If so, then we truly do need to establish Mr. Kang Chan¡¯s position,¡± someonemented. ¡°Yes, if all of you have epted him as a friend,¡± Lanok answered. They had finished breakfast. ¡°Lanok, the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ has already be an open secret, so announcing it a little earlier wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference. However, it''s important to note that doing so would put you at risk for too long. If a situation urs, nobody would be able to fill in your position,¡± one manmented. ¡°I trust the capabilities of Europe and everyone here. Don¡¯t all of you know better than anyone that our meeting won¡¯t change because of one person?¡± Lanok asked. Vant smiled when Lanok was done speaking, showing he couldn''t win against his persistence. ¡°We started the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ under the pretext of reviving Europe¡¯s economy, then we immediately grabbed onto the continent¡¯s leash. Huhuhu. Wouldn¡¯t the United Kingdom¡¯s position would be right up ¡®shit creek¡¯ as you guys have said, since they held their ground and trusted the United States?¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± The French used the word ¡®merde,¡¯ which meant something like ¡®shit,¡¯ to belittle British people. Laughter broke out because of Vant¡¯sment. ¡°Lanok, have you figured out why the United Kingdom and the United States are side-eyeing each other when it wouldn¡¯t even be enough if theybined forces?¡± someone asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯m also working hard to find out why. Any information we get should be shared using our usual intel distribution method.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that. Anyway, I need a cup of hot coffee.¡± *** Kang Chan went into the shower room and removed his bandages. The pain from his chest wound was now bearable even if water got on it, but pieces of skin still got ripped off with the bandages on the wound on his arm. It didn¡¯t feel right to ask for bandages while he waspletely naked, so he showered with his left arm raised instead. There was only a scar left on the palm of his hand that had been cut by a knife earlier. The water in the shower was hard water, and the soap doesn''tther well. Hence, though showering made him feel refreshed, it didn¡¯t make him feel relieved. Kang Chan dried himself off. Blood still seeped from his left arm. The agents had prepared a suit and a shirt from a luxury brand. It could¡¯ve been Lanok that sent him these clothes. ¡®I do have to buy some clothes.¡¯ Kang Chan carefully put on the shirt and went out of the shower room with his left arm wrapped in a towel. The meal had already ended, and he didn¡¯t see anyone else other than Vant who was drinking coffee while sitting. Kang Chan greeted Vant with his gaze, then went outside. It seemed like the foreign legion members had rotated duties since G¨¦rard and the other crew members were now standing at ease in front of the entrance. Two agents were waiting as well. ¡°Can I get some bandages? I need it for my arm,¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯ll contact the medical personnel,¡± An agent called someone when Kang Chan showed them his left arm. ¡°We¡¯ll bring over the army surgeon. Do you only need to wrap bandages around your arm?¡± ¡°Yeah. Do me a favor,¡± Kang Chan told the agent. The two agents got in the Jeep and disappeared after going through the barracks. Kang Chan wanted to smoke a cigarette, but he decided not to ask for one upon looking around the surroundings since it could like like he was acting out with Lanok backing him up. Nobody liked people acting cocky just because they were in a high-ranking position. ¡°Want a cigarette?¡± G¨¦rard asked Kang Chan. Kang Chanughed out loud. ¡°I was curious if that would be alright. Should I bring over a cup of hot coffee in return?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°There¡¯s four of us,¡± G¨¦rard gestured to the members that stood next to him with his head, then continued, ¡°If it''s alright with you, we''d like to have a cup of instant coffee.¡± Kang Chan went inside, filled five mugs with coffee, then brought them outside. ¡°Here you go!¡± G¨¦rard handed Kang Chan a cigarette. nk. Chi-ik. Chi-ik. Chi-ik.? The cigarette lit up on Kang Chan¡¯s third attempt. This guy had already mixed the lighter fluid with oil, but he put in a bit too much. Kang Chan smoked and drank coffee. Due to the runway and barracks in front of him and the foreign legion members beside him, he felt like Dayeru was going toe out with coffee at any moment. ¡°Are you Korean?¡± G¨¦rard asked Kang Chan. ¡°Why do you ask? Do you want to visit if you get a vacation? If you do, I¡¯ll buy you pork cutlets and bulgogi.¡± Kang Chan thought, ¡®oh shoot,¡¯ as he looked at G¨¦rard¡¯s expression. ¡°A Korean superior that I knew rmended the same dishes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because they¡¯re delicious.¡± G¨¦rard smirked. Was that how this fucker smiled before? ¡°Do you like your unit¡¯s members?¡± Kang Chan asked. G¨¦rard nced at the people standing beside him. ¡°Pull out the moment you think it''s too dangerous. Forget rewards or medals. Your biggest duty as the captain is to survive and save even one person.¡± Perhaps it was because he sucked too deeply on the cigarette, but it looked like G¨¦rard was frowning. Kang Chan was taking a sip of the coffee when the Jeep returned. The army surgeon put down the white cross bag and then approached Kang Chan. When Kang Chan pulled down the towel, the army surgeon frowned. Pieces of his flesh had been pulled off in some areas because he removed his bandages that morning. ¡°We need to disinfect the wound,¡± the army surgeon told Kang Chan. ¡°Please do so.¡± Bubbles formed when the disinfectant touched his wound. While the army surgeon applied medication on top of it, Kang Chan leisurely drank coffee. Bandages were wrapped around his arm and were secured with tape. ¡°Thank you for your hard work,¡± said Kang Chan. Louis the security guard put the army surgeon on the Jeep and retraced their steps. ¡°You seem to be in a high position,¡± G¨¦rardmented. ¡°Why do you think that?¡± ¡°Louis, that gentleman, is in the Intelligence Bureau, so he¡¯s ranked higher than us.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t have anything to reply to his question, so he just drank coffee. With his arm now bandaged, he pulled down his sleeve and buttoned it up to cover the wound. ¡°Put the cup here,¡± Kang Chan told G¨¦rard. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan nced at G¨¦rard for giving him a rough reply, then went into the barracks. Lanok and his party came toward Kang Chan as if they had been waiting for him. They seemed like they were about to leave, considering they were wearing neat and tidy clothes and were holding a bag. ¡°I hope we see each other often now, Mr. Kang Chawn,¡± said Ludwig. ¡°Thank you. Please contact me anytime.¡± The five men hugged and exchanged cheek kisses with Lanok and Kang Chan, then got out of the barrack. 1. Ludwig pronounced Kang Chan¡¯s name incorrectly here 2. Originally, the English word ¡®goddamn¡¯ was used but we decided to use the French word ¡®merde,¡¯ which has a simr meaning in this context because ¡®goddamn¡¯ wouldn¡¯t make sense in actual English. 3. bulgogi is a popr Korean dish made of marinated slices of beef, and the name literally means ¡®fire meat¡¯ 4. Ludwig pronounced Kang Chan¡¯s name incorrectly here Chapter 76.2: Various Encounters (2)

Chapter 76.2: Various Encounters (2)

¡°Shall we meet Shan now?¡± Lanok asked Kang Chan. Lanok and Kang Chan left the barrack and got in the Jeep that had been prepared for them. The foreign legion members didn¡¯t follow them. Rather, they walked toward the runway. The Jeep drove to and headed inside a huge concrete dome about a kilometer away. Its interior was empty except for the lights on the ceiling. It was big enough for Kang Chan to mistake it for an indoor ser field. The Jeep stopped at the innermost part of the dome, and Lanok and Kang Chan got out. ¡°Move the Jeep!¡± An order was given from the speaker as soon as they did. Louis and another agent got on the Jeep and went outside the dome. Whoosh. A motor sound stopped, and the concrete wall opened.. Fascinated, Kang Chan looked closely. The elevator door had been camouged to look like a concrete wall. Lanok got on the elevator first, and Kang Chan went in after him. When the elevator started to move, Kang Chan shook his head. It had no button, so people were operating the elevator while looking at the camera in the cockpit. This dome¡¯s structure made it so that no one could go down to the basement without the help of the people inside the dome. ¡®Ha, you¡¯re fucked now, Shan.¡¯ This building was so secure it made Kang Chan feel relieved. The elevator stopped about a minuteter, and its doors finally opened. Soldiers carrying rifles were standing by in front of them. ¡°Pleasee this way.¡± Following one of the soldiers, Lanok and Kang Chan walked for about fifty meters and passed through a thick iron door. After walking fifty more meters and passing one more iron door, they arrived at arge room. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to stay here for a long time since the room¡¯s air was murky. In the middle was a prison cell, and inside it was Shan. nk! When a soldier opened the prison cell¡¯s door, Lanok gestured to Kang Chan with his eyes to go in. Inside, he noticed that, although still alive, Shan had to depend on two machines to survive. ¡°Kang Chan.¡± It looked like he didn¡¯t have much time left. Kang Chan walked to the left side of Shan¡¯s bed. The upper part of the bed was slightly raised, making it easy for him to see thetter¡¯s face. ¡°Your suit looks cool,¡± Shanmented. ¡°It better be. It¡¯s expensive.¡± Kang Chan looked at Shan while slightly twisting his head. The fucker was trying to deceive them. It was clear he was figuring out the security of this ce and waiting for the day that people would put their guard down. ¡°It would be good for you to practice hiding the look in your eyes, Shan,¡± Kang Chanmented. The corner of Shan¡¯s lips moved slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s do a deal.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to refuse.¡± Meeting Heo Eun-Sil every day was a hundred times wiser than doing something foolish with this fucker. ¡°I¡¯ve got a tempting offer.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even want to hear it. If that''s all you have to say, then I''ll get going now.¡± ¡°God of ckfield.¡± ¡°Stop saying nonsense.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re really the Kang Chan I know, then listen to me.¡± Should I listen to him or just turn away? ¡°I was told that the ckhead wasn¡¯t perfect, and that was apparently the reason why the United Kingdom didn¡¯t immediately do anything when you attacked me in South Korea. They knew I would betray them. However, they¡¯re now making frantic attempts to take me. Why would that be the case?¡± Shan asked. Someone was passing on information to this fucker. ¡°It¡¯s not funny, Shan.¡± ¡°Why would they need me?¡± Shan grated on Kang Chan¡¯s nerves with an expression that showed he found this funny. ¡°The United Kingdom probably didn¡¯t buy the ckhead to create a ring, did they?¡± Shan asked again. It was evident that he was deliberately irritating Kang Chan after getting a clue about something. ¡°If you¡¯re really Kang Chan of the foreign legion, and if something that had never happened before did, then it¡¯s definitely rted to the ckhead.¡± ¡°Why are you rambling like this after saying that we should do a deal?¡± Kang Chan asked. The fire in Shan''s eyes burned stronger. ¡°Something big happened, enough to make you reincarnate into your current vessel. If the same thing happened to Dayeru, then that just serves as further proof of that. I¡¯m also using you as an excuse to trade with the United Kingdom. I told them that if they can take me out of here, I¡¯ll help them find the ckhead. What do you think? If something that difficult to understand is underway, then why not make a deal with me?¡± ¡°Shan,¡± Kang Chan looked straight at him.¡°Go to hell.¡± Shan smiled hideously as his bony face crumpled. Kang Chan felt as if he was seeing a human with only evil left. He left the prison without any lingering regrets, and a soldier immediately locked the door. Kang Chan entered the room in silence, then turned around to walk right back out. It seemed like they couldn¡¯t talk inside, considering Lanok didn¡¯t say even a single word until they got in the elevator and went up. When the elevator door finally opened and they stepped out of the elevator, he breathed in extremely fresh air despite still being in the innermost part of the dome. A Jeep came over a momentter, and both of them got on it. *** The Jeep immediately headed to the runway. After the agents and foreign legion members boarded the ne, it immediately took off. Ding. Ding. Ding. When the signal that told people that the ne had reached the right altitude rang out, an agent brought over tea. Kang Chan lit up a cigarette and told Lanok everything that Shan had said. ¡°It definitely seems certain that what the United Kingdom and the United States are desperately trying to find is at least rted to you,¡± Lanokmented afterward. ¡°It¡¯s also clear that there¡¯s a double agent that has ess to Shan among us.¡± Lanok nodded. If we were going to do this, then wouldn¡¯t it be better to kill Shan instead? Seemingly reading Kang Chan¡¯s expression, Lanok said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush too much. There are still things that we can learn from Shan.¡± Changing Lanok''s decision would be difficult. ¡°We''re bound to find something if we examine the United States and the United Kingdom''s following reactions,¡± he continued. I knew it. A sly fox like Lanok wouldn¡¯t just call his friends to discuss something that wasn¡¯t that important and travel from South Korea to France just to see Shan for five minutes. Today¡¯s meeting and Kang Chan¡¯s meeting with Shan was part of Lanok''s n to examine the reactions of the United Kingdom and the United States. Fortunately, Kang Chan was on the same side as Lanok. Just thinking about having someone like Lanok as his enemy made the back of his head stiff. ¡°It¡¯s best not to tell anyone else that we¡¯re announcing the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project for the time being. If word gets out that the announcement has been finalized, then terror beyond your imagination and international actions will unfold in public.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Ambassador.¡± ¡°South Korea¡¯s current regime staying in power will also keep me safe. I¡¯ll try my best to quicken the announcement,¡± Lanok stood up, then continued, ¡°I¡¯ll be going to my bedroom to rest for a moment.¡± ¡°Please do. I¡¯ll stay here for a bit longer.¡± Left alone, Kang Chan leaned back against the sofa. In the span of two days, he had gone from South Korea to France, then back to South Korea. After arriving in Osan and parting ways, it was difficult to even imagine where Lanok would be tomorrow. Kang Chan was certainly not jealous of his life. Fatigued, he napped for a moment on the sofa instead of the bed. He fell asleep instantly. *** After sleeping for about an hour, Kang Chan woke up feeling much more refreshed. He thought about bumming off mix coffee from G¨¦rard, who was outside, but changed his mind. Not talking to him anymore would be for the best since doing so made him want to talk to G¨¦rard about the past. Sixteen hours after departure, the nended in Osan. By the time Kang Chan had gone down the ramp, G¨¦rard and the other members were already standing far apart from each other around the ne. ¡®Tsk. It would¡¯ve been great if I just said something before leaving.¡¯ G¨¦rard didn¡¯t know Kang Chan anyway. It was disappointing, but it was better than annoying him. Before Kang Chan got in the car, he looked around the runway. His eyes met G¨¦rard¡¯s. ¡®Live a wonderful life.¡¯ That was the end. There was no traffic on their way to Seoul. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Lanok asked Kang Chan. ¡°I ate and slept well. You don¡¯t look like someone who had just gotten off a long-distance flight, either.¡± Actually, Lanok didn¡¯t show signs that he was having difficulties. ¡°I sleep as much as possible during long flights. That makes the travel bearable. Anyway, are you free to have dinner with Anne next week?¡± ¡°Yes. My schedule''s free, so just let me know about the time,¡± Kang Chan answered. Since the highway was empty, the car sped up.. They got out of the Hannam Bridge, and Kang Chan parted ways with Lanok at the intersection in front of Kang Chan¡¯s apartment. He then went into a specialty 24/7 coffee shop. After Kang Chan ordered a cold drink, he sat on the terrace and called Kim Hyung-Jung first. - Mr. Kang Chan! Kum Hyung-Jung sounded very happy to hear from him. ¡°Where are you? I¡¯m at the coffee shop in the intersection where we metst time.¡± - I¡¯m at the Yoo Bi-Corp office. Should I go to the coffee shop? What should they do? What location would be better? The specialty coffee shop was morefortable for Kang Chan. ¡°This is going to be an inconvenience for you, but let¡¯s meet up here.¡± - I¡¯ll head over there immediately. Kang Chan hung up the phone and took another sip of the drink. It was almost 12 am, so he decided to meet and talk to Seok Kang-Ho tomorrow instead. How much should Kang Chan tell them? Would Kim Hyung-Jung really keep his mouth shut if he told him about the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project¡¯s announcement being finalized? On the contrary, would it be okay if Kang Chan didn¡¯t tell them about something this crucial after saying they were a team? He found this matter quite difficult. Kang Chan had consumed half of his drink by the time Kim Hyung-Jung and Kim Tae-Jin had parked and walked to the terrace. The inner struggles that Kim Tae-Jin had gone through lingered on his face. There were things that Kang Chan knew, even though Kim Tae-Jin didn¡¯t insist on telling him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should¡¯ve paid more attention,¡± Kang Chan apologized. ¡°It isn''t your fault, so stop apologizing,¡± Kim Tae-Jin responded as he shook Kang Chan¡¯s hand. His eyes showed that he truly believed it wasn¡¯t Kang Chan¡¯s fault. After saying a few more words to each other, Kim Hyung-Jung bought and brought over two drinks. The three of them then sat facing each other. ¡°I went to France with Lanok,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Within two days?¡± asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Yes. I met Shan at the Loriam station in France, and it seems like he put the condition where he¡¯ll help find the ckhead because he wants to get out of that palce, in all respects.¡± ¡°What did he say?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked again. ¡°I definitely did a fool¡¯s errand.¡± If Kang Chan didn¡¯t bring up the fact that he had reincarnated here, then it would certainly sound like what he did was no different than doing a fool''s errand. ¡°I¡¯m dumbfounded,¡± Kim Tae-Jinmented. ¡°I also feel the same way.¡± Disappointment shed across Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s eyes. ¡°The mood doesn¡¯t seem ordinary, in all respects.¡± ¡°I did see the news as I was traveling,¡± said Kang Chan. Kim Hyung-Jung sighed deeply. 1. The Hannam Bridge is a girder bridge over the Han River in South Korea. It¡¯s usually congested with traffic since it connects wards and districts with each other Chapter 77.1: Settling a Civil Complaint

Chapter 77.1: Settling a Civil Comint

Kang Chan kept his mouth shut about the fact that the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project was going to be announced until the end. He was going to observe until he had found out who disclosed Lanok¡¯s golf club schedule, and if he couldn¡¯t, then at least until a crucial moment happened or the announcement date was finalized. The fact that there could be a terrorist attack if word got out about its announcement had also been in his mind. ¡°When our employees that went to train at the military academy return next week, I¡¯m thinking of bolstering Lanok¡¯s security immediately,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told Kang Chan. ¡°The President seems to be thinking of observing the political situation for now, just like how he became convinced through the one-on-one talk with Ambassador Lanok,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. It was already 2 am. They couldn¡¯t find a good solution in the end, but Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung looked like they had be much more relieved. ¡°You must be tired. You should rest,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told Kang Chan. ¡°Please go on ahead. I¡¯ll smoke another cigarette first.¡± ¡°Why? I can wait and give you a ride before going home.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that. You can head home first. I have to get rid of the cigarette smell before I go home.¡± Kim Tae-Jin smiled as if saying he understood Kang Chan¡¯s situation, then left with Kim Hyung-Jung. Going home was the mostfortable thing for Kang Chan. However, if he went home at this hour, then he¡¯d be disturbing Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s sleep. Kang Chan held his phone and thought for a moment, then pressed Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s number. After the call rang three times or so¡­ - Kang Chan! His voice sounded livelier than ever. ¡°Where are you?¡± - The Namsan Hotel. ¡°Did you ther that ce with honey?¡± - Where are you? I¡¯lle over. Kang Chan decided to go to the hotel instead because it would be extremely difficult to exin where he was and he didn¡¯t want Oh Gwang-Taek to go near his house. Since it was so early in the morning, he arrived at the hotel within five minutes. Its atmosphere was clearly different during the day, seeing as how every table in the lobby currently had lit candles on them. ¡°Hyung-nim!¡± Joo Chul-Bum, who was near the club¡¯s front door, ran over and bowed deeply. ¡°Gwang-Taek hyung-nim is in the club. I¡¯ll apany you there.¡± ¡°Tell him toe up. It¡¯s noisy there.¡± ¡°Understood. Please have a seat.¡± On the stairs that led down to the club and near the lobby, gangsters that Kang Chan hadn¡¯t seen before were staring at him while ncing at him. When Joo Chul-Bum went down to the club, Kang Chan sat in the lobby. Since he had already drunk coffee beforeing here, he ordered a simple cup of green tea instead. A momentter, Oh Gwang-Taek came up the club¡¯s stairs with two middle-aged men. Kang Chan got up from his spot out of courtesy. ¡°This is Kwon Deuk-Mo hyung-nim, whom I served in the past, and this is An Kang-Min hyung-nim. Hyung-nim, this is Kang Chan, the person I¡¯ve been telling you about,¡± said Oh Gwang-Taek. Both of them looked like they were around forty, but their eyes were fierce. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± said Kwon Deuk-Mo. Kang Chan shook the hand that Kwon Deuk-Mo held out. ¡°I¡¯m An Kang-Min.¡± Kang Chan also shook An Kang-Min¡¯s hand without bowing his head. While people were ncing at them, they sat down. The three ordered cold water. ¡°Park Ki-Bum of the parking lot gang, the Woo Ak-Sang gang, and even the Shin Yeon-Dong kids this time. Although we can¡¯t help but fight with knives amongst ourselves and get injured, It¡¯ll be troublesome if you keep acting like this with the government behind your back.¡± An Kang-Min frowned. Kang Chan didn¡¯t order the government to step in, but he couldn¡¯t say that since the situation made it look like he did. ¡°The Chinese and Japanese gangs are no joke. The Japanese fuckers in particr basically throw money to gangsters, so now all our youngsters are quitting and going over to Japan. From now on, if any gangster tries to mess with you, tell us or Gwang-Taek first. We¡¯ll take care of them,¡± An Kang-Min continued. ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Kang Chan answered in such a way because Japan could be acting like that due to the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project. Oh Gwang-Taek nced at Kang Chan with eyes that wondered, ¡®Why are you being so obedient?¡¯ ¡°Is there anything that¡¯s irritating you right now?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll discuss it with Gwang-Taek if something happens.¡± The conversation ended with An Kang-Min nodding. The two gangsters stood up. Kang Chang and Oh Gwang-Taek did as well. ¡°Kang Chan,¡± Kwon Deuk-Mo called Kang Chan with a gruff voice. ¡°You could say that I¡¯m the actual boss of Honam, and Kang-Min here is the actual boss of Gyeongsang-do. Seoul has be Gwang-Taek¡¯s world now. We¡¯ve ced our bets on you to show the other gangs that we support you. Even if we fight amongst ourselves, let¡¯s not bow our heads down to the money of the Japanese or Chinese.¡± He spoke as if gangsters were protecting the country, making Kang Chan smirk. ¡°Attend the event next week with Gwang-Taek. Rather than just hearing about you, it would be best for you to show your face to the other gangsters at least once. That way, the other gangsters won¡¯t cause you trouble by ignorantly picking fights with you,¡± Kwon Deuk-Mo continued. ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Please be safe on your way home, hyung-nim,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek said, then bowed his head. Thud. Kang Chan ploppled down on the chair. ¡°Did something happen?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek asked. ¡°About what?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t understand Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s question. ¡°Not only me, but gangsters around the level of those hyung-nims have a lot of connections with the prosecution, the court ofw, and more, yet I was told that they pulled out and said not to even bring this issue up. Do you have the President¡¯s support or something?¡± ¡°That¡¯s bullshit.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek feeblyughed, seemingly dumbfounded that Kang Chan chastised him. ¡°Let¡¯s go down to the club and have a drink,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek offered. ¡°No thanks. That ce is too loud.¡± ¡°Really? Let¡¯s just go out, then.¡± ¡°To where?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a good ce that sells soju across the street.¡± Kang Chan was tired, but he didn¡¯t feel like he could sleep. ¡°Hey! You should also drink alcohol that a gangster buys you,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek continued. Kang Chan nodded, then got up. When they went out through the main entrance, the two employees at the front door bowed their heads low enough to be at the same level as their waists. ¡°We¡¯re going to my aunt¡¯s ce so you guys stay here,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek ordered. Kang Chan liked that Oh Gwang-Taek stopped his subordinates from following them. There was a convenience store to the left of the hotel, and beside it was a shabby store with ¡®Tented Street Stall¡¯ written crudely. This ce only operated at night, so it was nowhere to be found during the day. They opened the door and headed inside, and a chubby old woman weed Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. What took you so long toe back?¡± They sat down at a table and ordered soju, beer, and a couple of drinking snacks. While Oh Gwang-Taek was making a bomb shot, the old woman urgently brought over a few side dishes for them. ¡°I¡¯ve been going to this store since I was a kid,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek confessed even though Kang Chan didn¡¯t ask. Oh Gwang-Taek then said, ¡°Let¡¯s drink.¡± The two of them emptied their cups in one gulp. ¡°Here.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek handed over the second cup to Kang Chan. ¡°This is our first time drinking alcohol together, you son of a bitch,¡± Oh Gwang-Taekmented. What¡¯s he saying? He was clearly joking, so Kang Chan just smiled softly. He immediately frowned right after, though, because the injury on his left arm was throbbing. Yoo Hyun-Woo didn¡¯t say much, but he did tell Kang Chan not to drink alcohol. Tsk! Wanting to rest for just a day, he continued to drink anyway. The look in G¨¦rard¡¯s eyes, Lanok¡¯s expression as he asked Kang Chan to look after Anne, and the word ¡®death¡¯ stamped in red on his old picture was putting him on edge. It hadn¡¯t even been twenty minutes, but they had already emptied two bottles of soju and four bottles of beer. ¡°You can hold your alcohol, huh?¡± Oh Gwang-Taekmented. ¡°Just order more alcohol.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek brought over soju and beer himself with an expression that seemed to say that he knew Kang Chan would act like this. ¡°I¡¯m going to change everything I own into cash as you suggested. Take responsibility for my wife and daughter if I get stabbed with a knife after doing this,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek said. While Kang Chan might not be destined to have any of his own, he now had two daughters to protect. As he was wordlessly drinking alcohol¡­ ¡°Why are you drinking alcohol on an empty stomach? Here! Eat some of this. Are you eating these days?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek asked. ¡°I ate. Are there kids that are causing you troubletely?¡± ¡°Who would dare to do that?¡± The old woman went back to the kitchen again. She treated Oh Gwang-Taek affectionately enough for Kang Chan to think she was actually his mother. It seemed like Oh Gwang-Taek felt Kang Chan¡¯s stare, because he said, ¡°There were people that wanted her restaurant¡¯s spot in the past. She¡¯s being nice to me out of gratitude for helping her back then. She¡¯s also like an aunt to me since there was a time when she fed me while I was going through a hard time¡­¡± It seemed like Oh Gwang-Taek was getting drunk. ¡°Do-Seok still hasn¡¯t regained consciousness. Looking at that fucker makes my heart so heavy. I thought that I shouldn¡¯t let the people sincerely following me get injured like that at least. I would rather get stabbed with a knife than let that happen. Would you understand if I were to say that I can¡¯t stand to see more of my men in that condition?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek asked, then nked his cup against Kang Chan¡¯s cup and immediately downed the alcohol. ¡°I want to open a way for people like Chul-Bum to live and eat properly so that they won¡¯t be like Do-Seok in the future even when I¡¯m no longer there. I¡¯m going topletely get rid of everything that I have, so make sure to really look into what I asked for.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be dangerous if an organization disappears?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you to look after my wife and daughter when the other gangsters start attacking me.¡± Drunk, Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s eyes glinted. ¡°Unlike the other fucking gangsters, I earned money through my business. That¡¯s why I can confidently talk big in Gangnam at this age. The only thing that I¡¯ve learned is to steal, which is why I¡¯ve been leading a rough life in clubs, hotels, or casinos, but it¡¯s hard to have a long life in this field since it¡¯s extremely brutal.¡± Kang Chan only listened. 1. This is the same military academy that was mentioned in book 4 (Sam-Gun Military Academy) but we¡¯re just writing it as ¡®military academy¡¯ as the raws said Military Academy 3 (3????) 2. In Korean culture, the younger generation is supposed to bow their head as a sign of respect toward the older generation when greeting them and saying goodbye. Kang Chan didn¡¯t bow his head because he isn¡¯t a gangster 3. Honam is a region in South Korea and can refer to multiple provinces, namely Gwangju, South Jeo and North Jeo 4. Gyeongsang province is one of the eight provinces in South Korea and is located in the southeast part of the country 5. Oh Gwang-Taek isn¡¯t actually referring to his aunt here. In Korean culture, people could call others that aren¡¯t actually their family members using family terms as a sign of a close rtionship or as a formality. ¡®Aunt¡¯ ismonly used by customers to refer to female restaurant owners. Other family terms such as uncle, mother, father, sister (unnie), brother (hyung, hyung-nim) etc. could also be used 6. The Korean word for this is ???? (Pojang machua), which is a small tented restaurant on wheels or street stalls. It sells a variety of dishes and drinks, and people go there to eat and drink alcohol like soju. It can easily be found downtown or on small streets Chapter 77.2: Settling a Civil Complaint

Chapter 77.2: Settling a Civil Comint

Oh Gwang-Taek stumbled at around 4 am. Kang Chan called Joo Chul-Bum, and he urgently ran over with two younger guys. ¡°Look after him,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Understood, hyung-nim.¡± Joo Chul-Bum put his hands under Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s armpit, and the other two guys held his legs. They then walked away. ¡°How much do I have to pay?¡± Kang Chan asked the old woman. ¡°Just give me 50,000 KW.¡± The old woman fully filled a cup with a brown liquid and brought it over. ¡°It¡¯s brewed oriental raison water. Please drink this before you go,¡± the old woman told Kang Chan. ¡°Thank you.¡± Kang Chan handed over the money and received the cup. ¡°That man has a good heart,¡± the old womanmented. Could a gangster really be nice? Kang Chan drank the oriental raison water while suppressing augh. ¡°He¡¯s a gangster so he seems to have been in situations where he had to hurt other people, but every time he does, hees here alone, drinks a lot, and cries.¡± That fucker did that? The old woman looked at Kang Chan as she put the bowl on the tray, then continued, ¡°A lot of people wanted this spot before. He relentlessly protected it all by himself so that I could somehow make a living because he knew that my son wasn¡¯t well.¡± The old woman dabbed her tears with her apron, seemingly filled with emotion. ¡°After that, he got as mad as a ho when I said I¡¯m not going to take his money. That¡¯s why I¡¯m also taking 50, 000 KW today. That man would get too upset otherwise. I felt so bad for him when he went up to me and asked if I was rejecting his money because it came from a gangster.¡± Kang Chan thought he could understand how she felt. ¡°I¡¯ll get going. I enjoyed the food,¡± Kang Chan told the old woman. ¡°Come visit if you ever find yourself hungry at night. I won¡¯t take your money since I know what you look like.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Kang Chan left the shop in a good mood. He was thankful to the old woman for saying that. He ran into Joo Chul-Bum who was walking out of the hotel when Kang Chan was stepping into the entrance of the hotel. ¡°We¡¯ve taken Gwang-Taek hyung-nim to his room. Where do you n on spending the night, hyung-nim?¡± ¡°Has that fucker always been a lightweight with alcohol?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°He wasining that you¡¯re just an absurdly strong drinker.¡± Joo Chul-Bum burst out withughter, then quickly regained his neutral expression. Kang Chan immediately went up to his room. When heid in bed, the tiredness that had been hiding swiftly engulfed him. *** Kang Chan woke up around 7 am. He felt refreshed, which was good, but his left arm didn¡¯t feel right. Kang Chan had no choice but to shower with his left arm raised after wrapping it with a towel over the bandages. ¡®Is this fucker sleeping?¡¯ Yesterday, Joo Chul-Bum had taken the clothes that Kang Chan took off, saying he was going to take them to the dry cleaners. As Kang Chan thought about what to do for a moment, the phone rang. - Hyung-nim, are you awake? ¡°I¡¯ve just finished showering.¡± - An employee had gone up to your room but came back down because they thought you were still sleeping. I¡¯ll be right up. A momentter, Joo Chul-Bum brought over the clothes. ¡°Gwang-Taek hyung-nim is waiting at the restaurant.¡± ¡°Has he pulled himself together?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°He worriedly asked if we properly looked after you.¡± They went downstairs while smirking. A female manage of the restaurant then apanied Kang Chan to Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s table, who raised his hand while looking embarrassed upon noticing him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about yesterday,¡± said Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°I drank alcohol in a good mood. Let¡¯s go there again next time.¡± An employee brought over food, and the two of them ate breakfast. ¡°I¡¯ve essentially cleared away everything that I have, so I have about twenty billion won,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek told Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯s filthy fucking rich for a gangster.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because my stake at the casino and the hotel are expensive,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek urgently swallowed the food and drank water, perhaps because he was choking up. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that gangsters from either China or Japan were going toe to Seoul if you leave it behind?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Then wait for now, but don¡¯t do something that¡¯ll get you in trouble.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek looked like he didn¡¯t understand what Kang Chan just said. The Chinese and Japanese forces had to be stopped one way or another until the announcement was made. Even if so, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t exin the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ business to him. ¡°I¡¯m just saying that we shouldn¡¯t allow Seoul be engulfed by fights right now,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take away businesses in vain like what happens in movies.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek smiled as if he found him absurd. *** Kang Chan parted ways with Oh Gwang-Taek and immediately headed to the hospital. He waited for a moment, then met Yoo Hun-Woo and got the bandages on his left arm removed. ¡°Jeez!¡± Yoo Hun-Woo frowned. ¡°It festered. How are the other injuries?¡± ¡°I showered two times, and there weren¡¯t any problems with them.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t drink any alcohol, did you?¡± When Kang Chan didn¡¯t answer, Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s expression became stern. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, this injury was severe enough to show the bone. If you were an average person, it would¡¯ve been enough to put you in the hospital for two months.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be careful next time.¡± After his injuries were disinfected and wrapped in bandages, Kang Chan got two shots. He felt relieved when Yoo Hun-Woo treated him. After going out of the hospital, Kang Chan talked to Yoo Hye-Sook, then Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan told him toe out as he was wearing a suit and a shirt. He met Seok Kang-Ho at a specialty coffee shop that was located between the hospital and the school. Kang Chan told him everything that had happened in the past two days. ¡°What¡¯s the n?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked afterward. ¡°Let¡¯s observe the situation for now since it could reveal the reason we reincarnated.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not like you¡¯re going to go back, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Even if Kang Chan went back to the moment he got shot in the neck, his neck would still be in pain, and he¡¯d still die. ¡°Wait. Wouldn¡¯t that fucker Smithen know something?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Would he know anything special when he just got dragged around?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just meet him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± The time hade for Kang Chan to meet Smithen again. Smithen was such a simple guy he¡¯d rattle on about things Kang Chan didn¡¯t even know about even if he didn''t ask directly. ¡°I want to see G¨¦rard, that fucker,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised.¡± ¡°How different could that little fucking brat be?¡± Kang Chan leisurely told him he got instant coffee from G¨¦rard and that he still had Kang Chan¡¯s lighter. ¡°That fucker! That just makes me want to see him even more now,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. That topic ended there. They chatted for about an hour more and had a simple lunch. ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m already here anyway, so I¡¯m nning on going to where the trainees are practicing the script.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll head back to the school to teach the kids. Right, you shoulde to our house. Is next week okay?¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Kang Chan talked to Michelle on the phone as he got up. He then took a taxi to Yeouido. On the way, the people on the radio continued to have conversations that strongly condemned the issue of sending money to North Korea. The taxi driver tried to talk to him a few times, but Kang Chan pretended not to notice and didn¡¯t say anything. When he arrived at the SBC broadcasting station, Michelle was sitting on a chair in the lobby. She ran over while smiling brightly. ¡°Boss!¡± She now had the habit of throwing herself into his arms. ¡°You look really cool today!¡± Michelle looked him up and down with admiration on her face. As she did, she hung the pass on his jacket. The script practice room was on the third floor. ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± Michelle opened the door and led Kang Chan inside. ¡°Hello!¡± Eun So-Yeon and the trainees got up and greeted Kang Chan. ¡°Boss, meet Pyo Min-Gook, the director.¡± Pyo Min-Gook looked somewhat feminine and seemed to be in his mid-forties. He held out his hand with a kind-looking smile. Kang Chan then greeted the writer, an actor that was said to be quite famous, and the rest of the staff. ¡°Would you like some coffee, Mr. President?¡± Eun So-Yeon came toward him, but Kang Chan shook his head. He had drunk too much of it since yesterday, and he even drank more with Oh Gwang-Taek and Seok Kang-Ho beforeing here. ¡°How are you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m working hard,¡± Eun So-Yeon looked happy. The inner part of the room had a friendly atmosphere. The inner part of the room had a friendly atmosphere. In fact, even the highly reputed actors were polite and didn''t grumble at Kang Chan, who was the President of a drama productionpany. ¡°You look good,¡± Kang Chan told Eun So-Yeon. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Do you need anything?¡± ¡°Um, I want to have a group dinner with the people here.¡± Kang Chan looked at Michelle. There was no way that she didn¡¯t have money, but she looked like she wanted him to pay for it as the President anyway. ¡°Alright. Decide on a reasonable ce and time with Michelle.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. President,¡± Eun So-Yeon happily answered. Kang Chan greeted everyone. Afterward, he went down to the lobby with Michelle and sat on the sofa. At that moment, his phone rang. It was Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Yes, mother.¡± - Hi Channy! Can you talk? Yoo Hye-Sook sounded like she was feeling very awkward. ¡°Yes. What¡¯s wrong?¡± - Um, are you at the broadcasting station? ¡°Huh? How did you know?¡± - It seems like my friend and her daughter are in the area. I got a call asking me to allow them to greet you. If you can¡¯t, I¡¯ll just tell them you¡¯re busy. Does she need to be this apologetic to her son? ¡°It¡¯s okay, Please tell them toe see me. I¡¯ll meet and take care of them.¡± - I¡¯m sorry, Channy. ¡°As I said, it¡¯s alright.¡± After Kang Chan ended the call, he told Michelle about his situation. ¡°You should¡¯ve told me something like that earlier,¡± said Michelle. ¡°Would it be a problem?¡± ¡°There are about three to four empty roles. Or we can just create one. A lot of actors ask to just appear on dramas with the condition that they return the base performance fee.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want that to happen.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± The look in Michelle¡¯s eyes showed she was getting horny, but a middle-aged woman and a daughter arrived in front of Kang Chan while hesitating. ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Yes? Are you the one that called my mother?¡± Kang Chan asked the middle-aged woman. ¡°That¡¯s right. Did she tell you?¡± ¡°Yes. Please speakfortably to me.¡± ¡°Oh jeez! That¡¯s not right.¡± Kang Chan politely greeted her and her daughter. She looked average, but Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s honor was on the line. Kang Chan introduced them to Michelle so they wouldn¡¯t be upset, and the sly Michelle pretended to barely understand Korean. ¡°She said you shoulde to the office tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± The mother and daughter profusely thanked Kang Chan. They then left the broadcasting station with bright expressions. ¡°Since she¡¯s only filming a few episodes, we¡¯ll just hand over the script for those parts. She¡¯ll have to train intensively. There won¡¯t be a lot of instances where she would be with our trainees either,¡± Michelle told Kang Chan. She¡¯d take care of it and do a good job. Kang Chan got up from his spot. ¡°Boss, can you spare some time on the weekend?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I want to drink beer.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Michelle went into his arms with a bright expression, so he stroked his back before leaving the broadcasting station. He was now thinking of going home and resting. After going out of the broadcasting station¡¯s entrance, he walked over to a taxi. ¡®What¡¯s this? Is it because I¡¯m tired?¡¯ He was strangely irritated, so Kang Chan looked around his surroundings. 1. oriental raison water, or ???, is a hardy fruit tree found in Asia that helps treat hangovers. Its scientific name is Hovenia Dulcis. 2. This is based on the idea that actors with good reputations may also be a snob and won''t talk to other people, especially those who aren''t celebrities like Kang Chan. But they''re nice to him because he''s a president of apany in their industry and they have no reason to be rude to him Chapter 78.1: I’ll Make you Regret it (1)

Chapter 78.1: I¡¯ll Make you Regret it (1)

Kang Chan got in a taxi and held up his phone on the way home. He was in a crucial situation, so he couldn¡¯t just overlook this ufortable feeling while pretending to not notice. - Monsieur Kang, the ambassador is doing an interview. This gentleman also led a very busy life. ¡°Put Louis on the phone.¡± . - Please wait for a moment. The agents began treating Kang Chan as their superior after the golf club incident. Their response was now different from just respecting his rtionship with Lanok. - Monsieur Kang, it¡¯s Louis. ¡°Louis, do you believe in your gut feeling?¡± - I¡¯m not sure what you mean. A businesslike voice came over the phone after Louis hesitated. ¡°I don¡¯t have a good feeling about today. This is simr to how I felt at the golf club. Can you tell me the ambassador¡¯s schedule for today?¡± - Please wait for a moment. Over the phone, he heard Louis say, ¡°give me the schedule.¡¯ There was no way that the chief of security wouldn¡¯t be aware of Lanok¡¯s schedule. Louis was checking if it had any suspicious parts. - Monsieur Kang, he has four interviews in the embassy, a lecture in the cultural center, and an interview with the foreign vice-minister today. They¡¯re all conducted in the embassy aside from the lecture, but the cultural center is just right next to the embassy. Yoo Bi-Corp is in charge of guarding the perimeter, and I¡¯m in charge of the ambassador¡¯s personal security detail. Kang Chan found nothing suspicious about Lanok¡¯s schedule. ¡°Louis, if by any chance his schedule suddenly changes or if there¡¯s a new schedule where he has to go out of the embassy, then use my name to cancel it for now.¡± - Copy that. Kang Chan had talked to Louis in French. The taxi driver nced at Kang Chan through the rearview mirror. If it wasn¡¯t Lanok, then who was it? Kang Chan called Kim Hyung-Jung. - Mr. Kang Chan. ¡°Mr. Manager, Is my family safe?¡± - What¡¯s the matter? Did something happen? ¡°I have a bad feeling about this day. Please check on the security team, and can you tell them to be a bit more careful today?¡± - Understood. Are you okay? Choi Jong-Il, the leader, is at Yoo Bi-Corp right now. Should I send him to you? ¡°I¡¯m on my way home right now, so please don¡¯t worry about me.¡± - I¡¯ll contact you after I inspect the situation.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that.¡± This much precaution should be enough. He just had to contact one more person. Kang Chan leisurely called Seok Kang-Ho. - How can I help you? ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about today, so don¡¯t let your guard down.¡± - Is it me again? ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m just feeling the same way I did the morning we went to the golf club. Be careful for now and be on standby just in case.¡± - Alright. No one trusted Kang Chan¡¯s gut feeling as much as Seok Kang-Ho. With thatst phone call, Kang Chan essentially secured everyone. The only ones left were Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung. As soon as he arrived home, Kang Chan was thinking of staying with Yoo Hye-Sook and asking Kang Dae-Kyung to buy them dinner. If he did that, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about them anymore. The midday sunlight flooded into the taxi through the window as the driver bobbed his head to the upbeat music from the radio. Instead of getting annoyed that there was traffic, the driver¡¯s current actions felt much morefortable to Kang Chan. ¡°Are you a security guard?¡± the taxi driver asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m not. I took on that job just for a few days.¡± ¡°You spoke a foreignnguage fluently. Are you sure you¡¯re not working as a security guard for the Blue House or something like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± The taxi driver again bobbed his head to the music with a bored expression. Why would the fact that Kang Chan was a security guard matter to a person that drove taxis? Kang Chan thought about going home after smoking a cigarette, but he immediately got out of the taxi at the apartment because he was worried about Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡®Why am I so sleepy?¡¯ Now that he thought about it, he remembered the shot that he got in the morning. It was 5 pm. Kang Chan opened the front door and went inside. Yoo Hye-Sook walked toward him with interest. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You went through a lot, didn¡¯t you?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. He couldn¡¯t believe being in Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s arms could be this cozy. If she really knew what had happened, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to greet him like this. Rather, she would¡¯ve been worried. ¡°I got a call from my friend. She said that her daughter got to participate in a drama because you took care of them. You didn¡¯t lose face because of me or something like that, did you?¡± ¡°Nah, not really. Michelle said it wasn¡¯t that difficult to make it happen.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Can you tell Michelle that I¡¯m going to buy dinner for her someday?¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Should Kang Chan just go out with Yoo Hye-Sook when he was going to drink beer with Michelle on the weekend? Kang Chan smiled to himself and went to his room. He then changed and plopped onto the bed. He felt much better. He was leisurely looking at the ceiling of his room, which hadn¡¯t happened in a long time. Hopefully,?the day will pass smoothly. Kang Chan fell asleep. Yoo Hye-Sook woke Kang Chan up while telling him to have dinner. The house¡¯s interior was cool because of the air conditioner, which hadn¡¯t been turned on in a long time. ¡®Oh shoot!¡¯ Kang Chan had forgotten about Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Did father say he was going toe homete?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°He went to Yongin, so he¡¯d probably bete. They¡¯re opening a new showroom there.¡± Since a showroom was being opened, it was certainly worth going to Kang Dae-Kyung. Kang Chan felt mentally and physically refreshed now that he had gotten good sleep. It was as if the effects of the medicine had disappeared. ¡®Should I go to Yongin?¡¯ There wasn¡¯t a problem with protecting Kang Dae-Kyung, but if something happened in Seoul, then it would take too long for Kang Chan to return. After they peacefully ate dinner, Kang Chan went into his room and called Kim Hyung-Jung to ask him about Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s current location and situation. Ufortable with just staying home, he changed into a nice suit and a shirt after the call. He then went out to the living room. ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m going to see my father.¡± ¡°Your dad?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at him, seemingly finding his answer unexpected. ¡°I¡¯m nning on surprising him.¡± ¡°Sure! Your dad is going to be very happy.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going anywhere?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Where would I go thiste in the evening? I¡¯m just going to watch a soap opera that I liketer.¡± Kang Chan felt the most relieved when she was at home. He smiled at her and left the house. Now that he thought about it,muting would be annoying. At times like this, it would be best to call Seok Kang-Ho. - What¡¯s going on? ¡°Give me a ride to Yongin.¡± - Alright. Where are you? ¡°I¡¯m outside. I¡¯ll see you at the exit of the basement parking lot.¡± - Alright. Seok Kang-Ho didn¡¯t even ask why he was going to Yongin. Kang Chan walked busily and went to the basement parking lot entrance of Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s apartment. A momentter, Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s ¡®Chiffre¡¯ quickly went out of the exit. Kang Chan got in the car and set up the location in the navigation system. They left immediately. ¡°How do you feel about this?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°Can my gut feelings be right all the time?¡± ¡°Phuhu, it was back in Africa.¡± Seok Kang-Ho smiled slyly when Kang Chan nced at him. ¡°I was feeling stuffy at home, so I¡¯m d you called me,¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. This guy was clearly unfit to be a family man. ¡°I want to live peacefully after quickly announcing the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project. Look at Lanok¨Cis that how a person should live?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°A lot of people are jealous of that life.¡± Kang Chan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯d rather just go to Gapyeong with you every now and then.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan with curiosity. ¡°Aren¡¯t you in your heyday? Your body is in twelfth grade, and your mind is about thirty years old, so you should think about women as well. Aren¡¯t there times when you just be horny?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Is that supposed to happen? ¡°I haven¡¯t felt that way yet since I reincarnated¡­ as a matter of fact, I would¡¯ve had time to do that if my body was normal.¡± Seok Kang-Ho shook his head as if saying that he felt sorry for him. ¡°You should get tested for that instead of taking a biopsy of your arm.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Phuhu.¡± Why is this fucker being so persistent today? ¡°Let¡¯s live in peace. We had no choice but to live tireless lives in the past, but we don¡¯t have to do that now. You should spend some money and eat delicious food. You pretend not to, but it seems to me that you haven¡¯t let go of your past life yet. You earned that money with your capabilities, so you should relieve your body and mind. Is there really no woman that you want to sleep with?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. A woman he wanted to sleep with? The moment he thought of her, it would be a crime. Wait, this fucker is making me think about something else! Chapter 78.2: I’ll Make you Regret it (1)

Chapter 78.2: I¡¯ll Make you Regret it (1)

When Kang Chan sharply turned his gaze, Seok Kang-Ho suddenly held out a cigarette. ¡°There¡¯s a weird look in your eyes again,¡± said Seok Kang-Ho. This man was clearly evolving. ¡°Captain.¡± ¡°Just light your cigarette!¡± Kang Chan handed over one of the two matches that he had lit up to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Do you know what the look in your eyes was like when we were talking about G¨¦rard?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. It was already dark, so the air from outside the window wasn¡¯t hot. ¡°You looked like a homesick new recruit. You deny it, but don¡¯t you want to go back?¡± Is that true? ¡°If you like Mi-Young, then just tell her that you like her. You¡¯re still in high school, so you can sleep with her after you graduate. Either way, find a ce to put your heart in aside from your parents. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯d get a postcard someday that says, ¡®I¡¯m writing this on my way to Africa,¡¯ when I wake up.¡± Kang Chan nkly got lost in his thoughts. Did he really want to go back to Africa? Even though they had already gotten their revenge on Shan? Didn¡¯t he shake his head because Yoo Hye-Sook came across his mind before anything else when he saw the word ¡®death¡¯ on the ne? ¡°If you want to¡­¡± Seok Kang-Ho woke Kang Chan up from his thoughts. ¡°If you don¡¯t think that you can endure living like this and you really want to go back to Africa, then be cold and go. It¡¯s your life, and you have the right to live it as you see fit,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. Kang Chan stared at Seok Kang-Ho. He couldn¡¯t even recall Dayeru¡¯s past appearance. The face that was beside him was Dayeru and Seok Kang-Ho at the same time. ¡°I want to see you be happy now. But if you¡¯re going to leave, then do it quickly. Don¡¯t even bother telling me about it. I don¡¯t want to cling to you while crying and screaming,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. When Kang Chanughed out loud, Seok Kang-Ho showed his peculiar smile andughed as well. Would Kang Chan be happy if he went to Africa? As a new recruit under G¨¦rard? G¨¦rard bing a captain meant that, with the exception of a few guys that went to another military camp, all of the people above him had died. Kang Chan shook his head. He didn¡¯t want that kind of life. On the contrary, he also knew that the wound from his past hadn¡¯tpletely disappeared from his heart. He could be intentionally avoiding loving someone and taking responsibility for them because he was afraid that he¡¯d be like his past father. Kang Chan sighed deeply. What am I doing when even Dayeru is evolving? Anyway, it felt like he had finally put down one of the burdens he had been carrying with difficulty. They soon arrived at their destination in Yongin while chuckling. After they had parked, Kang Chan called someone, and an agent approached them. ¡°He¡¯s having a group dinner at the Korean restaurant over there, but it¡¯s almost done. There are about twenty people eating with him including the salespeople, but we haven¡¯t seen anything suspicious,¡± the agent told Kang Chan. ¡°Have you guys had dinner yet?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We had a simple meal.¡± ¡°Go and have a proper meal.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll rest for twenty-four hours after rotating shifts tomorrow morning.¡± Kang Chan liked that the agent didn¡¯t look inattentive. He returned to the car, and Seok Kang-Ho soon came back as well. He had bought a cup of coffee. ¡°Weren¡¯t you going into the restaurant?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°What a cheap fucker.¡± ¡°I only bought one because I thought you were going into the restaurant. I was going to drink this on my way home. I¡¯ll go buy another one.¡± ¡°We can just share. Give me a cigarette.¡± What use was there to go into the restaurant right now and making the employees ufortable? If nothing special happened, then he was thinking of meeting Kang Dae-Kyung like he only found the restaurant after the group dinner. They took turns drinking the coffee as they smoked a cigarette each. Simr to how the inner part of the alley that the car was parked at was the ¡®food alley¡¯, the smell of food and all sorts of flyers littered the area. Seok Kang-Ho leaned over and groaned. ¡°Do I need to sacrifice myself for the captain?¡± On the piece of paper about the size of a business card was a naked woman covering her chest and groin. ¡°That¡¯s nasty. Throw it away,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Look at this. You¡¯re ill, in all respects. Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡± Was this guy tired? They chuckled as Seok Kang-Ho threw the flyer behind the car. ¡°Go home first,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°As I said before, I¡¯m only going to get bored if I go home now. I¡¯ll just wait when there¡¯s less traffic and take my time on my way back. Anyway, this ce is heaven. There''s massage parlors next to each other.¡± ¡°You¡¯re tired, aren¡¯t you? If you¡¯re acting like this because you want to do stupid things by using me as an excuse, then snap out of it now,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? I¡¯m satisfied with my current wife.¡± Smirking, Kang Chan followed Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s gaze and looked at a massage parlor. As its neon sign shed and turned on¡­ What¡¯s that? Kang Chan¡¯s gaze stopped at the van by the side of the massage parlor. He knew what happened inside it, so a bunch of guys could¡¯ve just gone in. Still, it was weird to see huge men cramped up and waiting in a car. If it weren¡¯t for the light of the massage parlor¡¯s sign, it would¡¯ve been difficult to spot them. ¡°What is it?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Noticing Kang Chan¡¯s expression had sharpened, Seok Kang-Ho followed Kang Chan¡¯s gaze to the van. The silhouettes of the people inside it were only clearly visible when the neon sign was at its brightest. ¡°Why are those guys sitting in there like that?¡± It seemed like Seok Kang-Ho also thought they were acting weird. ¡°Could they have seen us?¡± Kang Chan asked back. ¡°It¡¯s only been twenty minutes at most since we arrived, so it would still be too early to be suspicious of us. Your clothes also suit this ce.¡± Still, their car was a ¡®Chiffre¡¯ of all things. If they were here to attack Kang Dae-Kyung, then they had likely quickly caught on. ¡°Park this car on the opposite side of the massage parlor. If something happens, then I¡¯m going to go home in my father¡¯s car, so follow behind it, said Kang Chan. ¡°Alright.¡± When Seok Kang-Ho left, Kang Chan crossed the street at a crosswalk while calling an agent. - We¡¯re on standby. ¡°How many of you are there?¡± - There are three of us. ¡°Listen carefully. There¡¯s a massage parlor on the road next to the Korean restaurant. The van next to it seems suspicious. I don¡¯t know for sure, but there¡¯s likely another car. I just don¡¯t see it. I¡¯ll go over there and pretend to buy cigarettes to examine that area. You should check out the other side. - Understood. When the signal turned to ¡®walk,¡¯ Kang Chan crossed the pedestrianne and passed by the van. As he did, he quickly counted seven heads in the vicinity, but there could be more. Kang Chan went into the convenience store and bought a cigarette and lighter. As he was looking into the drink partition while pretending to rx, his phone rang. It was Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°What?¡± - Where are you? The van left! The van? - Come out quick! Your father has already left! ¡°Come to the front of the massage parlor!¡± Kang Chan hung up the phone and ran out of the convenience store, As Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car stopped in front of the store, his phone rang again. ¡°Hello?¡± - Your father has left. ¡°Where is he?!¡± - He¡¯s headed toward Seoul. If he continues at this pace, he¡¯ll soon be at the entrance of the highway. We still haven¡¯t found any vehicle other than the van. ¡°We¡¯re on our way.¡± The sudden change in situation flustered Kang Chan, but it was difficult to pull tricks on the side of the street. ¡°He said my father is headed to Seoul,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°It¡¯s going to be difficult to create an ident here.¡± ¡°Right?¡± They were on a twone road. Beep! Screech! Seok Kang-Ho was going to overtake the car in the front, but he urgently turned the steering wheel after looking at the truck. It would be okay, right? This road has quite a lot of traffic, and three agents are tailing him, so it''s going to be okay. They were on a twone road that went around to exit to the highway, and there were a lot of freight trucks that made it difficult to overtake the car up front. Beep! The moment when arge container truck passed by them¡­ Kang Chan¡¯s heart sank. The few seconds it took for him to take out his phone and press the call button felt like hours. - Hello? ¡°Who¡¯s driving my father¡¯s car?¡± - It looks like he called a recement driver. ¡°How far away are you from him?¡± - Thirty meters, and there are four cars in between us. ¡°Is there a truck behind my father¡¯s car?¡± - There¡¯s a van right behind the ¡®Chiffre¡¯, and there¡¯s a truck behind that van. ¡°The truck might push my father¡¯s car if the van changesnes! Get in between them no matter what and stop the truck from pushing!¡± Screech! Seok Kang-Ho was going to overtake the car in front of him, but he returned to hisne again while gritting his teeth. Vrooom! The car swiftly shot forward, enough for their heads to be pushed back. High beams continuously came toward them from the other side of thene, but Seok Kang-Ho forced ahead. Beep! Beep!? Headlights shed. Screeeech! Seok Kang-Ho cut in between two cars, and the cars behind them consecutively and urgently pressed on the brakes. That seemed to have angered the driver behind them, seeing as how their car¡¯s headlights shed twice. ¡°Over there!¡± Seok Kang-Ho yelled. As they turned a corner, Kang Chan saw the ¡®Chiffre¡¯ at the front. At that moment, the van shot forward from the corner to the side of the ¡®Chiffre.¡¯ No! A car sprang forward from behind the truck. It was clearly the agents¡¯. Screech! A van cut in front of the ¡®Chiffre¡¯ while it was turning the corner, and a car bent over backward and turned the corner while brushing past the front of the truck. Crack! Crash! Crash! 1. A ¡®food alley¡¯ (????) refers to an alley where a lot of restaurants and bars are clustered together 2. In South Korea, there are people called ¡®recement drivers¡¯ who bring inebriated people and their cars to their homes. It is an actual upation Chapter 79: I’ll Make you Regret it (2)

Chapter 79: I¡¯ll Make you Regret it (2)

Vroom! The horrible sound of a collision rang out, and white smoke rose from the front. Seok Kang-Ho drove out to thene on the opposite side, while the truck stopped amid its turn into the corner. Screech! Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho ran out at the same time. People got out of the van and the car in front. They then pounced on the ¡®Chiffre¡¯ that Kang Dae-Kyung was in. Swoosh! Kang Chan threw himself toward the man standing by the seat behind the passenger seat. Whish! They were equipped with knives, so Kang Chan violently struck his target¡¯s face with his right elbow and grabbed his wrist. Crack! Kang Chan twisted his opponent¡¯s wrist, causing it to lose strength, and took away his knife. Slice! Slice! Slice! He then swiftly sliced his opponent¡¯s wrist, forearm, and left eye. ¡°Gaaahh!¡± Crash! ¡°Gahh!¡± On the other side of the car, Seok Kang-Ho had shoved someone against the car. He was consecutively slicing his opponent¡¯s shoulder, waist, and thigh. ¡°Kill them!¡± One of the enemies yelled. People wielding filet knives and iron pipes simultaneously ran toward them. Slice! Thud. Kang Chan cut the wrist of the man that pounced at him, then pulled another man¡¯s cor. How could they try to kill Kang Dae-Kyung? He was powerless! Pow! Kang Chan stabbed a knife into someone¡¯s side and ran it through his body toward the armpit. ¡°Gahh! Gah! Gaahh!¡± Whish! Meanwhile, another opponent swung a knife at him. Pow. ¡°Ugh!¡± As the man with the stabbed forearm twisted around, two more swung their knives at Kang Chan. Whish!?Whish! If Kang Chan got overpowered here, Kang Dae-Kyung wouldn¡¯t be able to survive. Slice! Slice! ¡°Huh? W-what?¡± The two men asked in shock. They stepped back while applying pressure on their slit necks. Pak! Blood fountained out in between their fingers. Whoosh! Another swung a knife at Kang Chan. Kang Chan grabbed the attacker¡¯s arm and sliced his wrist, armpit, neck, and eyes. Pit! Slice! Pit! Pit! Pit! ¡°Gaahh!¡± Whoosh! At that moment, another enemy pounced at Kang Chan. Bang! Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. As Kang Chan bumped against the ss window, he stabbed the person¡¯s back multiple times so fast the knife wasn¡¯t even visible anymore. Kang Dae-Kyung could be watching him. Kang Chan had to suppress his anger, but he got so enraged it was as if he was going to go crazy. He quickly twisted the knife that he had stabbed into the guy¡¯s back. ¡°Ugh!¡± Three more opponents pounced on Kang Chan. Slice! Pit! Pit! Pit! Pow! Pow! Kang Chan instantly got through the three, making the rest of them hesitate. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± They were speaking Japanese. Kang Chan red at someone yelling ¡°It¡¯s toote! Stop!¡± The guys got in the van and car, dragging their injured with them. The people that came over to see what was going on ran away after shuddering at the horrible sight. Kang Chan first checked on Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s forearm was bleeding, but it didn¡¯t look life-threatening. ¡°Check on the agents,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan opened the back door of the ¡®Chiffre.¡¯ Kang Dae-Kyung was looking at Kang Chan with surprise in his eyes. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung nodded despite looking stunned. Kang Chan stood upright and examined the surroundings. Their intense battle¡¯s aftermath required an ambnce and a tow truck. However, it was weirdly way too quiet. Kang Chan looked behind him. Seok Kang-Ho was trying to open a crushed car door. The white car waspletely crushed in between the ¡®Chiffre¡¯ and the truck. After about three minutes passed since the cars of the enemy had left¡­ The sound of an ambnce siren rang out. ¡°Daye! Leave it and get the car!¡± Kang Chan yelled. Seok Kang-Ho looked at the car with a sad expression and then walked forward. Oh shoot! To Kang Dae-Kyung, Seok Kang-Ho was just a P.E. teacher. Kang Chan bent down from the waist and held out his hand to Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Father, please get in that car for now.¡± His hands and sleeves were soaked with the blood of his enemies. Kang Dae-Kyung was stupefied and couldn¡¯t walk properly. He had lost strength in his legs partly due to the ident and mainly because of the shock of witnessing the fight that urred afterward. ¡°Please get in quick,¡± Kang Chan said again. Kang Chan seated Kang Dae-Kyung in the backseat, then looked at the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Please go to the hospital for now, and give me a call when you get there,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Alright.¡± When Kang Chan turned away after hearing Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s answer, Kang Dae-Kyung grabbed Kang Chan¡¯s arm. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I have something to sort out at the back of the road. I¡¯ll be with you after I¡¯ve taken care of it.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung shook his head. Kang Chan looked straight into Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s eyes. ¡°Father, please go with Mr. Seok Kang-Ho for now. I have to look after the people that stopped the truck from the back.¡± ¡°You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re going to follow us immediately, right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes. If you stay at the hospital, I¡¯ll go there.¡± From the front, the police officers and medical workers ran over. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, please go to the Bang Ji Hospital if you¡¯re not too injured. And please contact President Kim Tae-Jin and tell him to send more employees to the hospital,¡± said Kang Chan. After he closed the car door, Kang Chan walked to the car that the agents were in. Two police officers were clinging onto the car door and were trying to open it. Beyond the broken ss, the three agents could be seen. They were all over the car and were covered in blood. ¡®They hadn¡¯t even had a proper dinner yet.¡¯ Why did he think about that at this moment? The tow truck driver brought over the equipment. On one side, the cars slowly moved ording to the police officer¡¯s hand signals. Kang Chan went to the truck. The door was wide open, and the driver¡¯s seat was empty. He then went to Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s ¡®Chiffre.¡¯ Beside it was a middle-aged man sitting on the road. He got startled upon seeing Kang Chan. ¡°Are you that car¡¯s driver?¡± Kang Chan asked the man. ¡°Huh? Oh, yes, yes. I did.¡± This person was indeed just a recement driver. ¡°Have you been paid yet?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°No, but it¡¯s fine.¡± Kang Chan took out 100,000 KW from his wallet and gave it to the driver. ¡°Please make sure to go to the hospital and contact Kang Yoo Motors if you¡¯re hurt anywhere,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Thank you. Thank you.¡± Kang Chan walked out to one side, then held his phone. - Mr. Kang Chan. ¡°Mr. Manager, I¡¯m at Yongin. The three agents guarding my father are severely injured. They might¡­¡± - Understood. What¡¯s your exact location? Surprisingly, Kim Hyung-Jung sounded calm. ¡°My father has left for the Bang Ji Hospital with Seok Kang-Ho. I¡¯m at the outskirts of Yongin. I don¡¯t know the exact name of this road, but it¡¯s headed to Seoul.¡± - Has the police arrived? ¡°Yes.¡± - I¡¯ll find out your location, then I¡¯ll contact you. After Kang Chan ended the call, he called Oh Gwang-Taek. - Kang Chan? How can I help you? Do you want to drink again? He didn¡¯t even know why Kang Chan called. He just seemed genuinely happy to hear from him. ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek, let me ask for a favor.¡± - What is it? You asking for a favor scares me. ¡°My father was attacked today at Yongin. Find the people who did it.¡± - What? What did you say just now? ¡°Some people attacked my father at the Yongin-Seoul boundary. They crashed into the back of his car with a truck, then thronged over with two vehicles¡ªa van and a sedan. There was a Japanese guy involved. Can you find them?¡± - What about you? No, wait, your father! Is your father safe? ¡°Three employees either died or are in critical conditions. As you requested, I¡¯ll make it so that the institutions don''t get involved. But find the people who did this.¡± Kang Chan heard the sound of a quiet sigh across the phone. - Hang up. I¡¯ll find them as fast as I can and let you know. Kang Chan smirked after he hung up the phone. Sons of bitches. They followed the Japanese¡¯s orders and tried to kill Kang Dae-Kyung even though they didn¡¯t have any resentment toward him. You guys messed with the wrong person. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan got a call from Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, the video that was taken at the time of the ident is being uploaded on the Inte. Please leave the scene for now. What¡¯s he saying? - It seems like there were people that were recording the scene with their phones. We¡¯re trying to conduct a media ckout about it, but it¡¯s difficult to delete videos that are personally being uploaded. It¡¯s hard for the National Intelligence Service to publicly do something due to the whole incident revolving around money being sent to North Korea, so please leave the scene for now. If you stay there, you¡¯re definitely going to prison. ¡°What about Seok Kang-Ho?¡± - I already called him. We¡¯ll take action as soon as he arrives at the Bang Ji Hospital. You should really leave the area now. ¡°Understood.¡± How could videos be uploaded already? It hadn¡¯t even been that long since the cars were moved after the incident happened. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? ¡°Hello?¡± - Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s voice strangelyforted him. - Don¡¯t worry about the Bang Ji Hospital. They haven''t arrived yet, but thirty of our employees are surrounding its perimeters, and I sent another ten employees to guard their room. I also stationed twenty more employees in front of the apartment as a precaution. ¡°Thank you.¡± - I heard from Hyung-Jung. Leave immediately and stay somewhere safe in Yongin. I¡¯m leaving now, so I¡¯ll arrive in forty minutes. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± - Kang Chan, if something happens to you now, then everything will go awry. I also can¡¯t stand to see the members of mypany getting injured. We didn¡¯t cause this, so let''s avoid others until my friend takes care of everything. We should just watch from afar. Kang Chan heard the sound of a car starting up. It was difficult to refuse this kind of sincerity. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll call you after finding a ce to stay in.¡± - Be quick. I¡¯ll see you in a bit. Kang Chan hung up the phone, looked around his surroundings, and found the recement driver getting in the van. ¡°Mister!¡± Kang Chan called out to him, and the man turned his head in surprise. ¡°Please give me a ride as well!¡± Kang Chan yelled. ¡°Sure! Come quickly!¡± Despite being surprised, the man gave Kang Chan an amicable look. Kang Chan quickly went over and got in the van. The driver said that he was a recement driver and that he should be paid for this. When Kang Chan handed him 50,000 KW for both of them, the driver got excited and said that he¡¯d even go to Seoul if Kang Chan gave him another 50,000 KW. ¡°They told me to go to the police station tomorrow,¡± the recement driver told Kang Chan. ¡°Please go and tell them what you saw.¡± ¡°Alright. But the people that left first¡­¡± Kang Chan smirked at the man. ¡°What just happened has nothing to do with you and is already over, so please don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± the man answered as he nced at Kang Chan. Kang Chan followed the man¡¯s gaze on his upper body, finding bloodstains all over it. It didn¡¯t look too bad since his shirt was ck, but it was stained enough for the blood to be clearly visible whenever light shed across him. Those sons of bitches had even ruined the clothes that he liked. Kang Chan took off the jacket, turned it inside out, and draped it over his arm. About twenty minutester, Kang Chan got out of the taxi at the other side of the restaurant where Kang Dae-Kyung had a group dinner. He went to the coffee shop Seok Kang-Ho had bought coffee from and sat down. After ordering coffee, he contacted Kim Tae-Jin, took out a cigarette, and bit on it. His phone rang. ¡°Hello?¡± - Channy! I saw that there was a knife fight at Yongin. Was that you by any chance? Michelle saw that already? - That video unexpectedly popped up while I was searching for dramas and actors. It keeps on getting deleted, but if I really want to, I can still find it and watch it as many times as I want. That was you, wasn¡¯t it? Michelle¡¯s voice started to tremble when Kang Chan didn¡¯t answer. - Channy! Where are you? Are you hurt? ¡°I¡¯m not injured. I¡¯m okay. But I¡¯d probably have to avoid people for a short while until things settle down. I might not be able to talk to you via phone for the time being as well. - Where are you going to stay? No, stay with me. I have a workroom that¡¯s not in Bang Bae-dong. You can stay there! Where are you? I¡¯ll go there. ¡°Someone¡¯sing here to pick me up, but I¡¯ll contact you if things get ufortable. Don¡¯t worry too much and do a good job in producing the drama.¡± - Channy! Don¡¯t do that! Michelle was on the verge of tears. ¡°I said you¡¯ve got nothing to worry about. Everything¡¯s going to be taken care of soon, so let¡¯s drink beer together then. There¡¯s someone that¡¯sing here, so I have to contact them.¡± - Alright. Make sure to contact me, okay? ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Chan hung up the phone and bit on the cigarette again. The incident was bigger than he had expected. Kang Chan stared at his phone. Should he call Yoo Hye-Sook first? What would she do if he or Kang Dae-Kyung wasn¡¯t there? As Kang Chan was frowning, a car stopped in front of the coffee shop. It was the car that Kang Chan had ridden with Kim Tae-Jin when they were going to Mount Jiri. Kim Tae-Jin got out of the car, then smiled leisurely while looking at Kang Chan. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯m going to buy coffee,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said, then gestured to Kang Chan¡¯s clothes with his eyes. In that short moment, it seemed he had already noticed the bloodstains on Kang Chan¡¯s clothes. ¡°They appear to be making frantic efforts.¡± Kim Tae-Jin sat down opposite Kang Chan a momentter. He put his coffee down on the table. ¡°They¡¯re likely trying to stop us somehow before the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ is announced. Still, I didn¡¯t expect they¡¯d try to kill your father,¡± Kim Tae-Jin continued. ¡°A Japanese was involved in this.¡± Kim Tae-Jin took a sip of his coffee, then tilted his head. ¡°Their actions can¡¯t be exined. If your identity has been revealed, then they should¡¯ve tried to kill you instead. They have nothing to gain by killing your father. At best, it¡¯ll just make you want to get revenge on them¡­¡± Kim Tae-Jin briefly raised his head. Kang Chan also had the same thoughts. But when he carefully thought about it, it seemed like a stretch. They weren¡¯t in a movie. Would they really kill Kang Dae-Kyung just to drive Kang Chan into a wall? ¡°Let¡¯s not go that far,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Hmm, if we take the profit that the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ would bring into consideration, then it might not be true.¡± Kang Chan shook his head. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that everyone will profit if the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ gets connected? From my perspective, the conglomerates don¡¯t have anything to lose. Rather, won¡¯t they earn even more money from it? However, for the Japanese, this is worth screaming and throwing themselves at us. The question is why they¡¯d try to kill my father.¡± Kim Tae-Jin poured about half of his coffee into Kang Chan¡¯s cup, perhaps because he didn¡¯t like his coffee hot. ¡°The conglomerates and those with vested rights could dislike having the current regime being maintained like this since the privilege and benefits that they had enjoyed until now would disappear,¡± Kim Tae-Jin exined. ¡°But didn¡¯t you say that everyone will be well off?¡± ¡°They¡¯re already well off. Anyway, let¡¯s observe the situation for now.¡± ¡°My mother is going to be very surprised.¡± ¡°Is she alone right now?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why I¡¯m worried.¡± Kang Chan was heavy-hearted. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? ¡°Father?¡± Kang Chan answered his phone. - Are you okay? Are you safe? ¡°I¡¯m drinking coffee in downtown Yongin right now. The President of Yoo Bi-Corp is also with me. - Okay. I¡¯m going home now. ¡°Father? You have to do a proper examination.¡± - I was told that there was nothing wrong with me. I¡¯ll have to go home. Your mom¡¯s going to be worried, and I¡¯m going to have to console her. Kang Chan deeply breathed a sigh of relief. - Let¡¯s not tell your mom what happened today for the time being. I¡¯ll just mention it in passing once you¡¯ve gone home and the three of us are together. Okay? ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll do that.¡± - Chan. ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan heard the sound of him inhaling deeply. ¡°You¡¯ll get home safely, right?¡± Kang Chan answered with an ¡°of course.¡± - Your P.E. teacher is a really wonderful person. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud at Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s evaluation of Seok Kang-Ho. - Then I¡¯ll be at home. ¡°Okay.¡± - Wait. What¡¯s going on? - It¡¯s me. Kang Chan heard Seok Kang-Ho. He sounded serious. ¡°Go on.¡± - I¡¯ll call you again after I apany your father home. We¡¯re going to go with the Yoo Bi-Corp employees stationed here, so you probably don¡¯t need to worry. ¡°You worked hard. How¡¯s your injury?¡± - Let¡¯s talk about the detailster. After their strange conversation, Kang Chan heard, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mr. Kang Dae-Kyung,¡± and ¡°Yes, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.¡¯ The call ended then. If Kang Dae-Kyung was at home, then Kang Chan would feel somewhat relieved. The remaining problem was how they¡¯d take care of the videos that got uploaded to the Inte and find out the people behind this. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan looked at his phone, then texted that he was going to contact themter. . ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°It¡¯s Heo Eun-Sil, one of the female students you¡¯ve seen at the school.¡± ¡°Ah! The tenacious-looking female student?¡± Kang Chan wondered if it was possible to describe that bitch like this. Cha So-Yeon, Moon Ki-Jin, and a few other people called him as well, but he declined all of them. Considering how many calls he got, then people likely somewhat recognized him in the video. ¡°Hyung-Jung has to cover up this incident properly,¡± Kim Tae-Jinmented and looked at Kang Chan with a worried expression. ¡°I¡¯m more worried about the three agents that got injured.¡± Kim Tae-Jin wordlessly drank the coffee when Kang Chan said that. After they smoked a cigarette¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s get up,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said and got up. 1. This was written as ???! (¤Ê¤ó¤À¤è!), which is a transliteration of ¡®What¡¯s going on¡¯ in Japanese Chapter 80.1: Let’s Pinpoint Things One by One (1)

Chapter 80.1: Let¡¯s Pinpoint Things One by One (1)

On their way to Seoul, Kang Chan made up his mind. He didn¡¯t know who the people that tried to kill Kang Dae-Kyung were, but letting them get away like this would be stupid. They had stopped those assants for now, but they would certainly attack again. He had learned this lesson so many times in Africa that he had grown tired of it. It wasn¡¯t like the order to imprison them had been issued yet. ¡®We have to find them fast.¡¯ ¡°Have you had dinner yet?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°Yes. What about you?¡± ¡°I have. If the police or the prosecution makes a move, then Kim Hyung-Jung will tell us all about it, so how about we go to the office for now? That would make it easier for him and Mr. Seok Kang-Ho toe to us as well.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± There wasn¡¯t that much traffic past Yongyin. At some point, Seok Kang-Ho called Kang Chan, and Kang Chan told him toe to Yoo Bi-Corp, which was close enough to their houses that they could just run back home if necessary. Seok Kang-Ho had arrived at Yoo Bi-Corp before them and was waiting for them. ¡°How¡¯s your arm?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I only needed four stitches.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was wearing a cotton shirt. It would''ve been ufortable to go around while wearing clothes torn all over. Kim Tae-Jin brought over cold drinks and said, ¡°Now, then. Let¡¯s have a drink and watch that video.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t seen it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Things were chaotic while I was deploying the employees to the hospital and the apartment.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho focused on Kim Tae-Jin¡¯sputer screen with their arms on the table. ¡°Is this it?¡± ¡°Kyyaa!¡± They clicked on the video, and a nearby woman¡¯s scream rang out. The shaky video showed two people fighting gangsters. One of them was wearing a suit, and the other was in a casual outfit. The video was only about forty seconds long, but it showed their outline enough for people that knew Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho to think, ¡®Could that be them?¡¯ The video also showed Kang Chan shing someone from their chest to shoulder with a knife. However, since the video was shot from the driver¡¯s seat, it was thankful difficult to determine what he was doing exactly due to the car covering him. ¡°Some people are iming it¡¯s a promotion for a movie, but a lot are asking why it isn¡¯t being reported in the news if so. The National Intelligence Service is steering the public to believe that it¡¯s for a movie for now, but they seem to be having a hard time convincing everyone,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. They returned to the table. ¡°The situation¡¯s a lot better than it could¡¯ve been since Kang Chan was fortunately on the opposite side of the car and the video mostly only got to capture Mr. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s back. ¡± Kim Tae-Jinmented. Kim Tae-Jin was being optimistic about it. However, bluntly put, the video showed Kang Chan¡¯s face and all of Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Anyway, the National Intelligence Service is making excuses to stop it from being reported on the news. If need be, they¡¯re also going to steer the situation to make it appear as self-defense. That¡¯s why we should just wait for now,¡± Kim Tae-Jin continued. They were all together, but they didn¡¯t have anything special to do. It would also be reckless to go anywhere else right now since Kim Hyung-Jung hadn¡¯t contacted them yet since they came here. Kang Chan thought about calling him, but he decided to wait a bit longer for now after wondering how bad the situation had to be to prevent Kim Hyung-Jung from contacting them. A momentter, Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang. It was Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°Hello?¡± - Kang Chan, it¡¯s me. ¡°Did you find out who they are?¡± - No, but this is a bit strange. ¡°What is?¡± He didn¡¯t appear to be making excuses for being unable to find out their assants¡¯ identity. - I searched high and low, every nook and cranny, but I couldn¡¯t figure out who they are at all. But then I looked at the ¡®knife fight¡¯ video on the Inte. I know one of the people in it.¡± ¡°Who was it?¡± - He used to live with us when we were kids, but he eventually left for China. I think it¡¯s been more than ten years ago. Anyway, he¡¯s the second person Mr. Seok Kang-Ho fought. ¡°Will you be able to find him?¡± - He was with the Japanese gangsters. If he¡¯s on their side now, then even I refuse to leave him be. ¡°Don¡¯t touch him¨Cno matter what.¡± - I get it, I get it. Hey! Why is Mr. Seok Kang-Ho so good with a knife? ¡°Just find that man quickly. Stop talking nonsense.¡± After Kang Chan put the phone down, he told Seok Kang-Ho and Kim Tae-Jin exactly what Oh Gwang-Taek had said. ¡°If so, then doesn¡¯t that mean those gangsters also got into South Korea through Japan?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°That would be the case, wouldn¡¯t it? They¡¯re like the ones that attacked Lanok recently,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°That¡¯s a bit suspicious.¡± It looked like Kim Tae-Jin thought the same. After thirty more minutes had passed, Kang Chan thought they should just go. However, his phone soon rang. - Mr. Kang Chan, where are you right now? ¡°I¡¯m at Mr. Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s office.¡± - Understood. I¡¯ll be there soon. Kang Chan wanted to ask about the three agents¡¯ conditions but didn¡¯t since Kim Hyung-Jung said that he wasing over anyway. After Kang Chan had another drink, Kim Hyung-Jung came into the office. He looked quite tired. ¡°The gangsters that attacked us today aren¡¯t from a domestic organization. We think they¡¯re from China, but we¡¯re going to get an outline of who they are by tomorrow,¡± said Kim Hyung-Jung. Kang Chan told Kim Hyung-Jung what Oh Gwang-Taek had said. ¡°They used the same method asst time,¡± Kim Hyung-Jungmented. ¡°That¡¯s what we think as well. The question is why they targeted my father.¡± ¡°If we figure out who those gangsters are, then that question will be answered.¡± ¡°What happened to the agents?¡± Kang Chan asked expecting bad news. ¡°Fortunately, they¡¯re alive. The agent in the back seat was severely injured, so we were told that he has to be hospitalized for about six months. The other two are suffering from fractures and contusions. However, ording to their current medical results, they¡¯re not critical.¡± ¡°Whoo,¡± Kang Chan sighed as he leaned back on the chair. That was good to hear. He was really happy for them. ¡°I said you could be imprisoned because the police officers that came to the scene at that time were acting suspiciously. The National Intelligence Service has requested cooperation from the press and the broadcastingpanies with the thought of covering up the incident, so you can probably rest easy about that for now,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. ¡°A video of the incident was uploaded multiple times, though?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°We already took measures against the first uploader, and the phone recording has already been deleted. We¡¯re soon going to sort out the situation by concluding that they misunderstood a fight scene for a movie as a real fight.¡± What would¡¯ve happened by now if they didn¡¯t have Kim Hyung-Jung? ¡°Mr. Seok Kang Ho, is your arm okay?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°Yes¨CI only had to have four stitches.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said, then chugged his drink. ¡°Mr. Manager.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan while putting down the cup. ¡°There¡¯s no point in doing just this. If we just let them get away with it this time as well like what happened when they attacked Lanok, then they¡¯ll just keeping until they seed. Have we found a connection between those that attacked us today and those that attacked us at the golf clubst time?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t we get a gist of who they are if we catch the troublemakers today?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but it¡¯s hard to attack their backer with just their testimonies. It also doesn¡¯t help that the current political situation is working against us.¡± If so, then Kang Chan could just attack them himself. He thought of doing it as soon as he became sure of their assants¡¯ identities. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, you¡¯re going to lose if you move rashly,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung warned. ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡± Kang Chan adamantly shook his head. ¡°Those people can do anything while we¡¯re here waiting out of fear of someone from our side getting hurt or killed. Be it Lanok or my father, they would win.¡± Kim Tae-Jin shifted his gaze between Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°If someone dies while we¡¯re stuck here, then it¡¯s going to be toote by that point,¡± Kang Chan continued. Kim Hyung-Jung exhaled as if groaning, and Kim Tae-Jin only listened with a grave expression. After a moment of silence had passed, Kim Hyung-Jung said, ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, no matter how angry you get, you should act within the legal boundaries.¡± He should act within the legal boundaries even though their enemies fired bullets at them in a golf club and tried to kill them with knives on the outskirts of Seoul? Kang Chan was frustrated, but he stayed silent. Things like this shouldn¡¯t be forced. He just had to act on his own. *** Kang Chan left Yoo Bi-Corp in afortable mood and dropped by a specialty coffee shop with Seok Kang-Ho at an intersection near their houses. ¡°Let¡¯s eat bingsu,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. A momentter, he brought over tworge bowls of bingsu. ¡°You should¡¯ve just bought one¨Cwhy did you stupidly order two?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You said that I was cheap a moment ago, and now you¡¯re acting like this?¡± ¡°You seem to be having fun.¡± Seok Kang-Ho stuck a spoon into Kang Chan¡¯s bingsu. ¡°I honestly feel like I can breathe easily again. I was so angry when I was stuck hanging on a treest time.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t me him for thinking that way. He scooped up patbingsu and ate it. ¡°Patbingsu is better than drinks,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°As I said, eating it asionally is alright.¡± Despite having just said that he was angry, he was now eatingrge scoops of patbingsu. Kang Chan ate patbingsu whileughing. ¡°Are you going home?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I should.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do this alone.¡± What¡¯s he saying? ¡°Why are you acting like this? I can obviously tell what you¡¯re going to do based on the look in your eyes. You¡¯re going to run out right away when Oh Gwang-Taek contacts you. I¡¯m saying that you shouldn¡¯t exclude me when you do so.¡± ¡°Is that what my expression is showing?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°How couldn¡¯t I know? Your eyes are burning with anger. Let¡¯s make this clear¡ªare you going to exclude me or take me with you?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of this?¡± Seok Kang-Ho put down his spoon. ¡°Captain, don¡¯t you want hot coffee right now?¡± ¡°Can you also see that in my eyes?¡± ¡°See? It¡¯s the same thing.¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered and went to the counter. What was that? It felt like he heard something amazing, but also like he just got swayed by nonsense. Seok Kang-Ho came back with only one cup of coffee. ¡°Good job,¡± Kang Chan praised Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°See? Don¡¯t you want cigarettes as well?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. Seok Kang-Ho lit up his cigarette, then said in a serious tone, ¡°It¡¯s not like I miss our life in Africa. I like how it is now. Despite being a teacher, I got to abruptly buy an apartment in Gangnam and give my wife a fortune thanks to you. Even after doing all that, I still have a few hundred million won in my bank ount. Still, I want you to recognize me as much as I recognize you, as a man and a member of your crew.¡± This fucker hadpletely gotten rid of his stupidity and was now smarter than before. ¡°What¡¯s with that expression?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Suddenly hearing something cool got my ears muffled.¡± ¡°Phuhu, I have always been a bit cool.¡± Smoking cigarettes and sharing hot coffee made Kang Chan feel much better, though it could¡¯ve been because he confessed how he truly felt about the situation to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Let¡¯s attack them as soon as Oh Gwang-Taek contacts me,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°You packed the kukrist time, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s at home. I should probably sharpen it, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± When Kang Chan nodded, Seok Kang-Ho grinned in response. Chapter 80.2: Let’s Pinpoint Things One by One (1)

Chapter 80.2: Let¡¯s Pinpoint Things One by One (1)

It was almost midnight by the time Kang Chan hade home. He had left his bloody jacket to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Is that you, Channy?¡± When Kang Chan opened the front door of the apartment, Yoo Hye-Sook walked toward him. She looked worried. ¡°Huh? You haven¡¯t slept yet, mother?¡± Kang Chan asked back. ¡°Yeah. Your dad isn¡¯t feeling well.¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t?¡± ¡°He¡¯s taken medicine and is sleeping now, but his neck and back are apparently in a really bad condition. He told me he¡¯ll go to the hospital tomorrow, but he can¡¯t sleep deeply and he also keeps having sleep paralysis. Was he alright while he was with you?¡± ¡°Ah! Yes. He was fine earlier.¡± Kang Chan roughly prevaricated his answer, hurriedly changed, then went out to the living room. Yoo Hye-Sook was sitting on the sofa. ¡°Please don¡¯t worry too much. Let¡¯s take him to the hospital tomorrow,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Okay, Channy.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Chan. She seemed drained. ¡°Right, I got a lot of calls today. People said that a horrible video about a knife fight or something has been uploaded, and they were asking if that was you in the video. Do you know what that¡¯s about?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I did hear about that. I heard it for a movie promotion. Haven¡¯t you watched it?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t watch things like that,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook shuddered. ¡°I thought about calling you a few times, but I didn¡¯t since there was no way you would do that. I was worried that I¡¯d just distract you from work as well with something pointless. Right! You must be tired. Go to your room and rest.¡± ¡°Not at all! I feel good because I¡¯m with you.¡± Kang Chan thought Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s worries were melting away, little by little. ¡°Do you want to eat something?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked afterward. ¡°I had patbingsu not long ago.¡± Kang Chan stroked Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s back¡­ ¡°Are you home, Channy?¡± They heard Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s voiceing from the room. Kang Chan got up, and Yoo Hye-Sook followed after him. ¡°Father. I didn¡¯t greet you because you were sleeping. Are you feeling really sick?¡± ¡°My body¡¯s aching all over,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. When Kang Chan went toward him, Kang Dae-Kyung raised his upper body from the bed with a frown. ¡°Please stay lying down,¡± said Kang Chan. ¡°Your mom wasn¡¯t next to me, so loneliness woke me up.¡± ¡°Honey.¡± While Yoo Hye-Sook was anxiously walking toward him, Kang Dae-Kyung examined Kang Chan¡¯s condition. ¡®You¡¯re okay, right?¡¯?Kang Dae-Kyung seemed to be asking with his eyes. Kang Chan subtly nodded. ¡°I¡¯m going to be able to sleep soundly now,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung smiled while exhaling deeply. ¡°Honey, you teased mest time that I¡¯m a fool for our son, yet you¡¯re acting like this now?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Am I not allowed to like our son?¡± ¡°You actually regained your energy because Channy came home,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t look like she disliked Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s behavior. ¡°You took the medicine, right?¡± Kang Chan asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Yes. You must be tired, so get some rest. Are you going out tomorrow as well?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to see if they ask me to. What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. It¡¯s Saturday tomorrow.¡± It was Saturday already? The week had flown by. They talked for about twenty more minutes, then Kang Dae-Kyungy down again. Yoo Hye-Sook looked much less worried, so Kang Chan went into his room while feeling at least a little bitfortable. Kang Chan was about to sleep when he received a text. [There¡¯s a rumor that the video was a promotion for a movie. You¡¯re okay, right?] The text was from Michelle. It didn¡¯t sit right with him that he made her worried even though he was already in his home¡¯sfort, so he pressed the call button. - Channy! ¡°I¡¯m already home. I couldn¡¯t contact you right away because my father isn¡¯t feeling well.¡± - Are you okay? I don¡¯t have to worry about you, do I? ¡°Yeah. Did you worry a lot?¡± - I was afraid that you¡¯ve gotten hurt or that something had gone wrong. Kang Chan never imagined that she would be on the verge of tears. ¡°I¡¯m okay now. I¡¯m sorry for making you worried.¡± - No, I¡¯m fine. And thanks for being honest with me. I¡¯ll tell you the location of my workroom and give you my keys next time, so use it whenever you need it. ¡°Thanks.¡± What use would he have for that? He still gave a polite answer for Michelle¡¯s sake though, who was on the verge of tears. ¡°Cheer up and go to sleep.¡± - I¡¯ll do that. You get a good rest as well. Kang Chan plopped down onto his bed after putting his phone on the table. He wasn¡¯t going to Africa for now. He could¡¯ve been cowardly putting only half of his foot in this life to keep the door open for him to go to Africa, like what Seok Kang-Ho had said. He looked at the ceiling. ¡°From now on, I¡¯m you. If I keep pulling out, then I could lose not only the two people in the master bedroom but also the others that are precious to me. Starting tomorrow¡­ No, starting now, I¡¯m going to live as the true Kang Chan. I want you to understand that,¡± Kang Chan told the previous owner of his current body. Kang Chan almost lost Kang Dae-Kyung, a person who couldn¡¯t evenfortably lie down until he came home. He felt sorry. Those fucking bastards tried to kill someone like that. I¡¯ll make them regret it to their graves. Everything that I¡¯m about to do, those fuckers asked for it. Kang Chan made up his mind and fell asleep. *** Kang Chan woke up early in the morning, but he skipped his morning run because he was worried that the bandages on his arm would get sweaty. He just did a simple workout, which consisted of pushups and several other exercises, then showered. He didn¡¯t remove the bandages on his arm. ¡°How¡¯s father doing?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook afterward. ¡°He¡¯s can¡¯t move his neck properly. He also told me his back hurts.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook seemed scared. Kang Chan went into the master bedroom. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. His face was swollen. ¡°Please have breakfast. Let¡¯s go to the hospital after,¡± Kang Chan told Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°I should do that, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung appeared willing to do that. While Yoo Hye-Sook was making porridge, Kang Chan made omelets. ¡°Honey!¡± They heard Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s voice from the master bedroom. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is the pain too much?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked as she urgently ran over. Kang Chan followed behind her. ¡°Are you making porridge by any chance?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m making rice porridge. Why? Is there a specific type of porridge that you want to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to have an omelet, so don¡¯t make porridge.¡± ¡°Why are you acting like a child?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Kang Chan burst out withughter in front of Yoo Hye-Sook, who was side-eyeing Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Please have omelets¡ªI¡¯ll quickly make another one. Let¡¯s have breakfast together in the master bedroom. Omelets don¡¯t need side dishes anyway,¡± Kang Chan said. Yoo Hye-Sook seemed relieved despite her grumbling. In the end, they all had omelets. ¡°I¡¯ll just get ready, so wait for a bit. I¡¯ll be quick,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. Kang Chan knew that she was going to say that she was going with them, so he went into his room and called Yoo Hun-Woo. He then went out into the living room and found Kang Dae-Kyung sitting in an ufortable position on the sofa. Kang Dae-Kyung slowly turned his upper body. ¡°I contacted the hospital so that mother wouldn¡¯t be surprised,¡± Kang Chan told Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Good job. I¡¯ll be okay, right?¡± ¡°Please take this opportunity to rest for a few days in the hospital. It should be good for you.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan thought about borrowing a car from Seok Kang-Ho but shook his head. He didn¡¯t want to surprise Kang Dae-Kyung by driving now. When Yoo Hye-Sook was done getting ready, they slowly got out of the front door of their apartment. ¡°Why are there a lot of those kinds of people so early in the morning?¡± Yoo Hye-Sookined while looking at the employees of Yoo Bi-Corp. ¡°I like how strong they look,¡± Kang Dae-Kyungmented. ¡°Honey! What¡¯s good about having scary-looking people like that in front of our house? Isn¡¯t the security office going to do something about this?¡± They arrived at the entrance of the apartment, then got in a taxi. Yoo Hun-Woo sneakily diagnosed Kang Dae-Kyung with body aches caused by overworking, then opined that it would be good for him to be hospitalized for a few days. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with the test results.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo revealed the truth when Yoo Hye-Sook left the examination room to go through the arrangements for hospitalization. ¡°You¡¯re suffering the usual ill effects of a car ident, but it¡¯s better for you to be hospitalized and rest for a few days instead of staying at home just to be safe,¡± Kang Chan moved Kang Dae-Kyung to the patient room. Afterward, he returned to Yoo Hun-Woo again. ¡°Let¡¯s see your injuries,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. There were times when this gentleman looked like he was feeling pleasure when he was ripping bandages off Kang Chan¡¯s wound. ¡°Hmm, you won¡¯t need to bandage your arm anymore since it¡¯s healed this much,¡± Yoo Hun-Woomented. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know the condition of his injury, but it looked ugly right now. ¡°Let¡¯s just bandage it. It looks ugly,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°I don¡¯t rmend it since we¡¯re in summer, but sure, let¡¯s have it bandaged up for a few more days. Feel free to remove the bandages, but please don¡¯t do excessive workouts yet.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo applied medication to it, then skillfully wrapped the bandages around Kang Chan¡¯s arm. ¡°I can¡¯t believe an injury so severe your bone was showing has healed this much within a few days. What¡¯s your blood type?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked afterward. What¡¯s he saying now? ¡°I¡¯m only asking because I want to transfuse your blood to a critically ill patient. If even a portion of your healing ability gets passed on to them, then I¡¯m hoping that would save their life.¡± In the past, Yoo Hun-Woo had said that he was going to take his organs out and sell them, but now he was looking for an opportunity to have his blood like a vampire. Yoo Hun-Woo stared at Kang Chan, then said, ¡°I saw the video yesterday.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t give any excuses since he came to this hospital. ¡°Even though I knew you were safe, I thought I was going to have a heart attack while I was watching it,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo looked like he was sincerely concerned about him. ¡°It seems seeing you fight yesterday has shocked your father. An average person would get traumatized if we just leave them alone in that state. Seeing violence, blood, or knives would be enough for them to get cold sweat, so you should be careful about those things while he¡¯s at the hospital,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo continued. Kang Chan thought he should just take some of his blood out and give it to Yoo Hun-Woo. Chapter 81.1: Let’s Pinpoint Things one by one (2)

Chapter 81.1: Let¡¯s Pinpoint Things one by one (2)

Kang Chan went up to Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s room and found him leaning against the propped-up bed. Yoo Hye-Sook was beside him. Kang Chan dragged a chair and sat next to Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s bed. ¡°Go home and get some rest,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I should see mom when I can.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung smiled awkwardly. It seemed like how Kang Chan had acted yesterday and how he was acting right now were ovepping in front of Kang Dae-Kyung. How scared could Kang Dae-Kyung have been of the knife fight that unfolded before his very eyes? He was just a person that had a normal upbringing and family. His child participating in that battle only made it worse. Kang Chan carefully thought of a way to relieve Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s shock. Rather than trying to relieve his shock, Kang Chan would have more confidence teaching Kang Dae-Kyung how to fight spitefully. They soon got bored despite the TV trying its best to attract their attention. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t figure out what had to be done right now. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Should we order something to eat?¡± Kang Chan asked his parents. ¡°Do you want to?¡± The couple didn¡¯t eat snacks often, so they didn¡¯t show special interest when they answered him. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang, which he took as an opportunity for him to divert their attention. It was Michelle. ¡°Ello!¡± Kang Chan answered in French. - Channy, are you in a predicament? Michelle replied in French as well. Her tactfulness was amazing. ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital. My father¡¯s been hospitalized.¡± - Why? Is he okay? Her reaction was understandable. She didn¡¯t know that Kang Dae-Kyung got in a car ident yesterday, after all. - If you¡¯re okay with it, can I go there? ¡°Where are you?¡± - I¡¯m at D.I. Which hospital is it? The memory of her being on the verge of tears yesterday came across his mind. He also remembered his promise to have a beer with her today. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Kang Chan put down his phone and told his parents that Michelle was going toe here to see Kang Dae-Kyung. They appeared to have found the idea awkward, but they didn¡¯t look like they disliked the news. Kang Chan told Michelle the name of the hospital, then hung up. ¡°We can treat her to lunch when shees,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookmented. Kang Dae-Kyung didn¡¯t know why Yoo Hye-Sook suggested that. After Kang Chan briefly told him that the daughter of Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s friend got to participate in a drama¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Seok Kang-Ho was the one calling Kang Chan this time. ¡°Yes, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.¡± - Are you with your parents? This fucker was still loud even after reincarnating into a different body. Kang Chan lowered the volume of his phone so that his parents wouldn¡¯t notice that Seok Kang-Ho was speaking formally to him. ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital because my father isn¡¯t feeling that good.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung discreetly observed Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s mood. - I heard that he was discharged yesterday. Is he feeling very unwell? ¡°I was told that he has severe body aches. He¡¯s going to be discharged after a few days.¡± - Is there anything we can do? If you were going to go to the hospital, you should¡¯ve told me to bring the car in the morning! Don¡¯t go overboard and just hang up the phone! ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll give you a callter.¡± Kang Chan swiftly ended the ufortable phone call. ¡°My goodness! Your teacher really cares a lot about you. We should at least meet him someday,¡± said Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°We can do that some other time,¡± Kang Chan replied. If possible, they shouldn¡¯t meet Seok Kang-Ho. Kim Hyung-Jung and Kim Tae-Jin also called Kang Chan in order. He gave them simr answers, and everyone seemed to have tactfully understood what was going on. Lanok called him as well. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan. Are you busy today? ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital. My father has been hospitalized due to overwork.¡± - I didn¡¯t know. I¡¯m sorry. ¡°Don¡¯t be. Are you calling for an urgent matter?¡± - No, I¡¯m not. I¡¯ll call youter. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked curious about who Kang Chan had talked to. ¡°That was the ambassador. He asked if I had time today, so I told him that I¡¯m at the hospital. He then said he¡¯ll just call me some other time,¡± Kang Chan told his parents. ¡°If you said that because of me, then you should¡¯ve just made the appointment,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. He felt bad. Rattle. ¡°Hello!¡± What¡¯s going on? Even Kang Chan was flustered that they came here. Yoo Hye-Sook quickly got up from her seat, and Kang Dae-Kyung forced himself up a bit more and leaned against the bed. ¡°We¡¯re here because we heard that the President¡¯s father is unwell. I¡¯m Eun So-Yeon. We met at the ¡®Chiffre¡¯ presentation hall. And these are all D.I. actors.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you! Father, please recover quickly!¡± They cheerfully greeted Kang Chan¡¯s parents as if they were chorusing. Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung seemed to have recognized Eun So-Yeon. ¡°Thank you foring. Please have a seat. What should we do? There aren¡¯t enough chairs!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We have to go to the broadcasting station today to practice the script anyway. And here¡­¡± Eun So-Yeon handed over flowers, and behind her, the trainees held out boxes of drinks and a fruit basket. ¡°You guys shouldn¡¯t have. Please have a cup of tea or eat these fruits with us at least before you go,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook offered. ¡°We got to film a drama thanks to the President, who¡¯s been protecting us. And all of us here are a part of it. We¡¯re not big yet, but even if we¡¯ve be huge stars, we still won¡¯t forget his kindness. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve made a decision,¡± Eun So-Yeon spoke politely. She then looked behind her. ¡°From now on, we¡¯ll make an appearance on all advertisements for ¡®Chiffre¡¯ and all advertisements that the President¡¯s father does in his business for free until we die!¡± the trainees yelled. They had shouted their determination like elementary school students reading a book. Their voices filled the room. ¡°We still have a practice scheduled, so we¡¯ll go now. Father, please get well soon,¡± Eun So-Yeon continued. ¡°Please get well soon!¡± The rest of the trainees yelled. Eun So-Yeon bowed her head toward Kang Chan while looking disappointed, then left the patient room with the trainees. It felt like a huge storm had just swept past the room. ¡°Was that youngdy also affiliated with thepany that you¡¯re in?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yes. I forgot she was at the ¡®Chiffre¡¯ presentation hall.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung was flustered, and Yoo Hye-Sook was slightly blushing. ¡°My goodness! It was really nice to see them. They had such bright expressions,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookmented. Kang Chan just smiled. They definitely came here because Michelle told them to. Sure enough, Michelle arrived with flowers, a fruit basket, and a cake box not long after they left. She forcibly opened the door with the hand that was carrying the flowers. ¡°Wee,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Hello, mother?¡± Michelle was speaking in Korean, though she cleverly used a French ent. Even if he put her in the drama, her acting skills wouldn¡¯t lose to the current actors. Michelle hugged Yoo Hye-Sook and kissed her cheeks, ten greeted Kang Chan in the same way. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Michelle with an expression that seemed to say she should definitely be here. ¡°Please sit. I actually felt bad for asking something unreasonablest time,¡± said Yoo Hye-Sook. Michelle looked at Kang Chan, so he asked her in French, ¡°You¡¯re the one that sent Eun So-Yeon and the trainees here, right?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t unreasonable, mother,¡± Michelle replied to Yoo Hye-Sook in Korean. ¡°Your Korean has improved a lot,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookmented. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Mr. Kang Chan.¡± What a load of bullshit. Was she also acting when she was on the verge of tears yesterday? Anyway, the atmosphere hadpletely changed. Michelle even brought disposable tes and stic forks. The cakes were all in different vors, all of which were delicious. She went above and beyond, almost as if she was their child, and Kang Chan was the one who came here to visit Kang Dae-Kyung. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook got absorbed in their conversation with Michelle. Kang Chan felt like bugs were crawling on his back when Michelle told them about him stopping Alion from exploiting Eun So-Yeon. Yoo Hye-Sook becamepletely absorbed in the story about a scary person visiting them in the office and Kang Chan arriving and protecting the actors and employees so that they wouldn¡¯t get scared. Writing scripts were better for Michelle than acting. Kang Chan wondered how she could tell the story in such an interesting way despite taking out all the violence from it, including him breaking their arms. Later on, he remembered that she was originally an editor for a magazinepany. Kang Dae-Kyung looked like he could roughly guess how Kang Chan acted at that time. 1. When visiting people that are admitted to hospitals in Korea, it¡¯s customary to bring gifts such as fruit baskets, drinks, vitamins or other health products Chapter 81.2: Let’s Pinpoint Things one by one (2)

Chapter 81.2: Let¡¯s Pinpoint Things one by one (2)

At around 11 am, Kang Yoo Motors executives and employees visited them. When they were taking out drinks and greeting each other¡­ Rattle. Kim Hyung-Jung came into the room. ¡°Huh? Mr. Manager,¡± Kang Chan said. Kim Hyung-Jung slightly bowed his head, then stood next to the door. As Kang Chan was wondering ¡®what¡¯s going on?¡¯, about three to four men with their IDs clipped on their left chest came inside. Damn it! Thest person to enter was Go Gun-Woo, the prime minister. Yoo Hye-Sook couldn¡¯t even speak, and Kang Dae-Kyung struggled to raise himself up. Meanwhile, the Kang Yoo Motors executives and employees walked to the foot of the bed. ¡°Hello?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I happened to be in the area, so I thought I¡¯d drop by. It wouldn¡¯t be very disrespectful since I¡¯ve met your parents before, right?¡± Go Gun-Woo asked respectfully, then he approached the bed. ¡°If a patient strains themselves, then that means I, the person who visited you, did something unnecessary. Please just sitfortably.¡± Gun Gun-Woo told Kang Dae-Kyung, then looked around him. The Kang Yoo Motors executives and employees bowed in greeting. ¡°They¡¯re the executives and employees of my father¡¯spany,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°Ah! Right, hispany is Kang Yoo Motors. It¡¯s nice to meet everyone. I¡¯m Go Gun-Woo.¡± The executives and employees went up in order and shook Go Gun-Woo¡¯s hand while bowing deeply. After Go Gun-Woo shook hands with Michelle, who was standing next to Kang Chan, he turned around toward the bed, then said, ¡°Father.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Prime Minister.¡± Go Gun-Woo discreetly looked at Kang Chan, then answered, ¡°Because of my shorings, I had to ask your young son to do something difficult.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked nk. ¡°Watching their child go through so much has to be hard for any parent, but no one can rece your son and do what he¡¯s assigned to do right now. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Go Gun-Woo continued. Gun Gun-Woo turned around and looked behind him afterward. When he did that, the secretary took out a white envelope and gave it to Yoo Hye-Sook. It had a fancy phoenix pattern drawn on its front. ¡°The President sends his sincerity. He hopes that you¡¯ll make a full recovery soon,¡± Go Gun-Woo exined why they gave her the envelope. Yoo Hye-Sook and the Kang Yoo Motors executives and employees appeared to have nked out as well. ¡°How¡¯s the foundationing along?¡± Go Gun-Woo asked his secretary. ¡°Its establishment is nned to be announced on Monday.¡± Go Gun-Woo turned to Kang Chan upon hearing the secretary¡¯s answer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± He was probably apologizing for the fact that Kang Dae-Kyung got attacked. They were in a situation where it would be easy for the people around them to misunderstand them regardless of how Kang Chan answered him, so he found it difficult to hastily answer. ¡°I hope you make a full recovery soon,¡± Go Gun-Woo bid farewell to Kang Dae-Kyung, then went outside. Kim Hyung-Jung used his gaze to say goodbye, then followed the prime minister. The employees of Kang Yoo Motors were still standing at the foot of the bed. ¡°Mother?¡± Kang Chan called Yoo Hye-Sook, causing everyone in the room to snap back to reality. It was as if they had just woken up from a trance. . ¡°Ah! Please have a seat,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook told the employees. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We¡¯ll get going now.¡± The executives and employees refused Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s offer to have lunch before leaving several times, then respectfully said goodbye to Kang Chan on their way out. ¡°Lunch! That¡¯s right¡ªwe should have lunch with Michelle,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookmented. It seemed like she hadn¡¯tpletely gotten herself together yet. ¡°Mother, what would you like to have for lunch? How about I go out and buy something from a nearby store instead?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that¡ªI¡¯m not hungry because I had cake,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook answered. Getting herself together took precedence over food. Michelle had the same thoughts, so she decided to eat lunch sometimeter. ¡®The Prime Minister has this much power, huh.¡¯ Kang Chan nodded at his unfounded thoughts as Michelle made coffee. It smelled even better since they had just finished eating cake. ¡°Thank you, Michelle,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. It felt like the warm coffee had calmed Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook down. When lunchtime came, the peculiar smell of food exuded from outside the room. Rattle. Did the food get here? Kang Chan turned his gaze, only to find Heo Eun-Sil entering. The athletics club members and the bullies followed behind her. Dumbfounded, Kang Chan just smiled. ¡°Hello?¡± One of the kids asked. Thankfully, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were rxed. The kids started to speak while ncing at Michelle, ¡°We heard you¡¯re unwell, so we decided toe here. We¡¯re all having fun at school thanks to him. Please get better soon. And here¡­¡± Cha So-Yeon sheepishly held out a box of drinks. Perhaps it was because she looked shy, but Yoo Hye-Sook took the drinks while profusely thanking her. Meanwhile, Heo Eun-Sil was tantly looking at Michelle. Everything that bitch did made Kang Chan tired. ¡°Please have lunch before you go,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook told the students. ¡°Our teacher said he was going to buy us lunch. We dropped by on our way to the restaurant.¡± ¡°Then please at least take drinks and fruits with you when you leave.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to a beef buffet, so we¡¯ll be eating a lot there,¡± the students responded. Seok Kang-Ho seemed to be buying them lunch. He clearly didn¡¯t like being alone at home. ¡°Goodbye.¡± After they said that, the kids left. For the first time since Heo Eun-Sil appeared in Kang Chan¡¯s life, they parted ways without a hitch. Still, he thought it would be better to be careful today. Kang Chan drank thest bit of the cold coffee. ¡°Channy, what¡¯s the name of the female student that looked at me because I¡¯m pretty?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± They were speaking in French. ¡°I think that female student is interested in you,¡± Michelle replied. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Oh, you clueless boy. How can you be so sharp when ites to other things yet don¡¯t notice something like that? That girl likes you. I think that she can¡¯t bring herself to tell you, though, and that she feels wronged and frustrated. After watching you guys from the side, it seems like you weren¡¯t aware at all. This is fun. She was cute.¡± ¡°That¡¯s horrible. Don¡¯t say something like that even as a joke.¡± ¡°It seems like your indifference is making her worried to death,¡± Michelle said something mysterious, then stared intensely at him. He thought of sending her away with a rough excuse, but the door soon opened again. ¡°Mr. President!¡± Kang Chan eximed. Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun walked in this time. Kang Chan introduced them to everyone. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯m meeting you two. I¡¯m Kim Tae-Jin.¡± Kim Tae-Jin calmly asked them how they were doing, then showed his gratitude toward Kang Chan¡¯s parents while saying that hispany was getting a lot of help thanks to him. When he told them he decided to take this opportunity to meet them, Suh Sang-Hyun held out a fruit basket and an envelope. Kang Chan¡¯s parents refused persistently, but they reluctantly epted it in the end because Kim Tae-Jin was asking them to take it so desperately. Afterward, Kang Chan introduced Michelle to Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun. ¡°Have you had lunch?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°We had cake, so I¡¯ll eat a littleter. What about the two of you?¡± ¡°We actually have a lunch appointment, so we¡¯ll be going now. Let¡¯s see each other again next time. Please take good care of yourself,¡± Kim Tae-Jin left without doing anything unnecessary. Suh Sang-Hyun nced at Michelle so much even Yoo Hye-Sook noticed. He then followed Kim Tae-Jin out with a disappointed look on his face. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked so exhausted it was as if they had done something difficult. They should¡¯ve just stayed at home. Fortunately, there shouldn¡¯t be any more hassles now that most of the people who were likely to visit them already did. ¡°We¡¯re really busy today, huh,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Did you really help all of the people that came to visit today?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. She looked like she had gotten herself together, at least a little bit. ¡°I met those people under different circumstances, so I decided to help them.¡± Kang Chan examined Kang Dae-Kyung. He hoped Kang Dae-Kyung wouldn¡¯t get hurt. Rattle. Stop it already! When Kang Chan quickly turned his head, two French agents came inside. It was Lanok. Yoo Hye-Sook and Michelle followed Kang Chan and also got up from their seats. ¡°Channy!¡± Anne was the first to enter. She limped toward Kang Chan, hugged him, and kissed him on the lips. Damn it! Damn it! Her actions would be nothing out of the ordinary to Lanok, who was French, but it wasn¡¯t something that someone should do in front of Korean parents. ¡°Doing that in front of parents in Korea is rude,¡± Kang Chan told her after gently pushing her away from him. ¡°Hello?¡± Anne looked at Lanok after she greeted Kang Chan¡¯s parents with poor Korean. Kang Chan introduced the two of them to his parents, and Lanok greeted them. As Kang Chan introduced them to Michelle as well, the atmosphere grew strange. Anne and Michelle casually greeted each other¡ªsuggesting that nothing was wrong¡ªbut Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook still observed Michelle¡¯s mood. Lanok rmended a national university in France to Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, then continued on to say that he wanted to give them French nationality, if they were okay with it. Kang Chan burst out withughter after looking at Yoo Hye-Sook. It was clear that she misunderstood Lanok¡¯s words as him asking them to ept Anne as their daughter-inw. ¡°I apologize foring here without contacting you, Mr. Kang Chan. I was wondering what we should do since my schedule was too tight to find time to see you, but Anne said that she was going to see you even if she had toe alone, so here we are,¡± Lanok exined. ¡°Channy, why haven¡¯t you called me even once?¡± Anne asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t because we¡¯ve decided to eat next week.¡± Lanok looked happy about Anne¡¯s change, who used to only stay at home. ¡°Channy, I decided to change,¡± the small-built Anne told Kang Chan with an attitude that suggested she wanted to brag. She was acting that way because she only ever stayed at home, which was a distinct trait of loners. In his previous life, when the guys that had lived a lonely life before bing a mercenary came into his crew and followed him around, they also showed the same look in their eyes as Anne¡¯s. Kang Chan¡¯s eyes discreetly met Michelle¡¯s. She looked to be having fun. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, what¡¯s your schedule for next week?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°I can just match yours.¡± ¡°Then how about we have dinner around Tuesday?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± Their conversation ended there. Lanok passed on an envelope to Kang Chan through an agent. ¡°Channy,¡± Anne walked toward Kang Chan. He held her and patted her back. ¡°Phew.¡± When Lanok left, Kang Chan feltpletely drained. Yoo Hye-Sook checked Michelle¡¯s mood. ¡°Channy, did Anne also fall in love with you, by any chance?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°I only saw her once. When would she have had the time to fall in love with me? She¡¯s probably only acting like that because I came into her life while she was lonely. She¡¯s going to change in an instant once she meets someone she really likes.¡± Michelle smiled as if she found this situation to be funny. ¡°You do know that someone among the agents likes Anne, right?¡± ¡°What?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook nervously shifted her gaze between the two of them because she couldn¡¯t understand what they were talking about. ¡°I¡¯m talking about the man right behind Lanok. The look in his eyes showed he was in love with Anne. Other people likely won¡¯t notice because his expression is so stiff, but he can¡¯t fool my eyes,¡± Michelle exined. Louis? Louis was looking at her that way? Why did this situation be simr to some kind of soap opera? ¡°So. You kissed another woman in front of me, huh?¡± Michelle then asked. Kang Chan¡¯s heart sank while he was looking at her smile. 1. The Prime Minister is calling Kang Chan¡¯s father as ¡°father¡±, because it¡¯s a part of Korean culture to refer to a person¡¯s parents as x¡¯s father or x¡¯s mother, and it would be rude to call Kang Dae-Kyung by his name Chapter 82.1: Catching the Tail (1)

Chapter 82.1: Catching the Tail (1)

Things became peaceful after Lanok left. ¡°Channy, I¡¯m going to stay at the hospital today. Go out with Michelle and have a cup of tea at least or something, then go rest at home. Come here tomorrow,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°What are you going to eat for lunch and dinner?¡± ¡°You think I won¡¯t be able to take care of our meals?¡± Michelle could be feeling ufortable for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I¡¯ll see how things go and call you in the afternoon, then,¡± Kang Chan said. Michelle followed Kang Chan and stood up with him. ¡°Goodbye,¡± Michelle said in poor Korean. ¡°Bye, Michelle. Let¡¯s see each other again next time. I¡¯ll be sure to treat you to a meal,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°You understood that, right? Let¡¯s go,¡± Kang Chan told Michelle in French. ¡°Goodbye,¡± Michelle repeated and hugged Yoo Hye-Sook. It was 2 pm when they left the hospital. Telling Michelle to leave like this wasn¡¯t polite. ¡°We should eat. Where should we go?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Somewhere with a good atmosphere!¡± When Kang Chan nced at her, Michelle linked her arms around his. ¡°Channy, let¡¯s drink beer.¡± ¡°Right now? Is there somewhere that¡¯s open at this hour?¡± The feeling of Michelle¡¯s chest on his arm was ufortable, but it didn¡¯t feel right to remove his arm because he remembered his kiss with Anne and how Michelle was on the verge of tears yesterday. They walked toward the parking lot and stopped in front of her car. It was a small and cute-looking imported car. Kang Chan thought about driving it, but he got in the passenger seat instead. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You don¡¯t have a ce in mind, do you?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Michelle drove the car out of the parking lot with a bright smile. It was a Saturday, so the traffic on the Olympic Expressway was quite heavy. ¡°Channy, I don¡¯t know about the young female student, but pay a bit more attention to Anne. Thatdy¡¯s likely only thinking about you right now. Praise her determination to change and encourage her. When she¡¯s stronger, let her know that there were people that kept looking at her. That security guard, for example. There aren¡¯t only strong people like you in the world.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not angry because of Anne?¡± ¡°I¡¯m satisfied with you being ufortable.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°You¡¯ve got the qualities of a yboy,¡± Michellemented. Michelle side-eyed Kang Chan with a mischievous look in her eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t know how charming you are when you¡¯re indifferent, do you?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who thinks that way.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Michelle coyly turned her head. Her deep-set eyes, sharp nose, blonde hair, and even her breasts he sometimes wanted to touch¡­ What went wrong with her? Should I just sleep with her? However, Kang Chan was afraid of what would happen afterward. He didn¡¯t want to experience the emptiness he felt when he went on vacation to France ever again. ¡°Channy, about the group dinner with the drama production team¡­¡± While they were talking about D.I., they got on the Jayu Motorway. From there, they no longer experienced that much traffic. Their conversation had ended by the time they got off the Jayu Motorway. Not long after, they arrived at arge building made of logs. They were surrounded by mountains, so there wasn''t anything special in the area. Kang Chan liked the refreshing air that rushed toward him when he got out of the car, though. When he got out of the passenger seat and headed to the building¡¯s entrance, Michelle rushed toward him and hugged him. She ced her head on his chest and put her arms around him. She was warm. ¡°Let¡¯s stay like this for a moment,¡± Michelle said. Sure, this much touching is okay. Kang Chan stroked her back. ¡°I¡¯m happy,¡± Michellemented, then raised her head. Her eyes showed she was turned on. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know whether her suddenly throwing herself at him was right, but this wasn¡¯t. When all he did was look at her, Michelle winked. ¡°Michelle, I¡¯m uh¡­ sorry, but¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine even if you don¡¯t love me. Just understand me right now the same way you understood Anne so I can bear through this.¡± The coquettish look in Michelle¡¯s eyes showed she wanted Kang Chan. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? At that moment, Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang. He flinched, perhaps because it was after Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s incident had happened. Michelle stepped away from him while exhaling loudly, sounding disappointed. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. ¡°Hello?¡± - Kang Chan, we found them! The fuckers are in Bundang. They¡¯re staying in a vi-like house in the mountains, but I don¡¯t know how many of them are there yet. Kang Chan returned to his senses when he heard Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s excitement. ¡°Do you know the exact address?¡± - Put ¡®marinated grilled duck¡¯ in Bundang on the navigation. We¡¯ll find it if we follow the road right next to it. It¡¯s the only house there. So, what¡¯s the n? ¡°Stay put, Oh Gwang-Taek.¡± - Hey you fucker! I¡¯m also a gangster! I also lived by fighting with knives! Don¡¯t even try to exclude me from something like this or I¡¯m going there first! ¡°Okay, okay! Then wait until I get there for now. Position your men somewhere else and go to the grilled duck ce alone. Let¡¯s decide what to do after we meet since there could be gangsters outside the vi.¡± - I¡¯m leaving right now, and I¡¯m going to select twenty guys. I¡¯ll see youter. Michelle worriedly looked at Kang Chan who ended the call. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Michelle. Something really important came up.¡± ¡°Where do you have to go? I¡¯ll give you a ride.¡± Withoutints, Michelle went into the driver¡¯s seat. There was still a lingering feeling from his conversation with her, but now wasn¡¯t the time to think about it. Kang Chan inputted the restaurant in Bundang that Oh Gwang-Taek had told him about, and they left immediately. He then called Seok Kang-Ho. - Hello? Are you still at the hospital? ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek said that he found the people that caused the car ident. Put ¡®marinated grilled duck¡¯ in Bundang on the navigation and go there. Don¡¯t forget to pack your kukri.¡± - Alright. Are you on your way there already? ¡°Yes.¡± - 10 minutes! No, I¡¯ll leave in five minutes.¡± It had begun. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know how far he would have to go from here, but he was thinking of ending things with this timely opportunity. ¡°What¡¯s with that look in your eyes?¡± Michelle asked. Kang Chan¡¯s eyes seemed to have been burning up again. He had been momentarily swayed, so he hoped to arrive at Bundang after setting himself straight. ¡°Michelle, there¡¯s actually a girl that I like,¡± Kang Chan confessed. Michelle nced at Kang Chan. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°I know very well what I looked like to you when we first met,¡± She told him bluntly, ¡°I actually lived like that. But I truly do like you. I understand why you like that young girl, but as I had asked you in the past, don¡¯t push me away.¡± Does she really like me? ¡°Date a lot of people because you¡¯re still young and have no experience. I have met someone that I¡¯m going to love wholeheartedly, so waiting for you while watching you from the side like this is enough to make me happy.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you upset or angry?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°No, but in return, hug me the way you did a moment ago every now and then. I¡¯m fully satisfied with that.¡± Kang Chan strangely smiled. How could she possibly say something like that without reservationeven though she looked like a barbie doll? ¡°It¡¯s okay if we kiss sometimes, right?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about that.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do¡ªthat¡¯s too cruel. You also kissed Anne, so what¡¯s the problem with it? Give me the right to kiss you whenever I want twice a month.¡± It felt like the male and female gender roles had somewhat changed. ¡°But your body was really nice,¡± Michellemented. That wasn¡¯t something that someone should say to a person about to go into a fight. ¡°Make the reservation for thepany dinner. I¡¯m doing something with the people that came to visit my father at the hospital earlier, so whether I can go to thepany dinner or not depends on that prior engagement,¡± Kang Chan told Michelle. ¡°Did something happen? I feel like you changed somehow?¡± ¡°Not sure,¡± Kang Chan evasively answered. He did change his mindset when he decided that he was going to forget about Africa, but he couldn¡¯t think of a way to exin how he felt. *** Kang Chan made Michelle stop the car somewhere he could see the restaurant. He then got out. ¡°Go back,¡± Kang Chan told Michelle. ¡°You¡¯re not doing something dangerous, are you?¡± Michelle had been turned on until just recently, but she was now asking with a bit of fear. Kang Chan smiled softly, closed the door, and turned around. The way up to the restaurant was uphill. The low mountain was in front of him, and with that as the background, both sides of the road were full of small trees growing wildly with vines twisted around the trunks. When Kang Chan stepped into the restaurant¡¯s lot, a guy in the parking lot deeply bowed his head. Kang Chan frowned, but he had already received the greeting. It would be better for Kang Chan to head inside the restaurant quickly instead of talking to the guy in vain and confirming that the gangsters had arrived. He should¡¯ve met Oh Gwang-Taek and Seok Kang-Ho further down the road instead. 1. Jayu Motorway or Jayu-ro is a major north-south arterial highway in South Korea. Its southern terminus is in Seoul, and its northern terminus is at the Reunification bridge that leads into the DMZ. North Korea is visible from a section of the highway, and due to the close proximity to North Korea, this highway is heavily fortified with barbed wire and military observatories 2. Bundang is a nnedmunity in South Korea. It was developed to encourage affordable housing and urban decentralization Chapter 82.2: Catching the Tail (1)

Chapter 82.2: Catching the Tail (1)

The restaurant¡¯s interior had arge hall made of ondol, and with that in the center one side had the kitchen and the other side had a room. ¡°Wee.¡± The owner nced at the restaurant''s dining area upon seeing Kang Chan enter alone. ¡°Kang Chan!¡± Oh Gwang-Taek opened the door of one of the rooms inside the restaurant and called Kang Chan. ¡°Are you going to order?¡± The owner had followed Kang Chan to the door, then slightly tilted her head forward. ¡°Another person will be eating with us, but please give us one grilled duck.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek closed the door after ordering. ¡°How did you find them?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Sit. Talk after catching your breath. Here.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek handed him a cigarette. ¡°The fucker I recognized in the video is Cha Yang-Woon. He used to hang around with another bastard. They¡¯re really close, and they even quit being gangsters at the same time when Cha Yang-Woon went to China. We recently heard that Cha Yang-Woon¡¯s friend told people to tell him if they want to go to China, so we caught him, and he told us about this ce. That house was also bought under his name,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek exined, then deeply exhaled cigarette smoke. ¡°What are you going to do if that fucker tells Cha Yang-Woon about us?¡± ¡°I have men with him right now in the van below the restaurant. We heard the fucker was also involved in the fight in Yongin.¡± Kang Chan was relieved, which he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. Should they take care of the sons of bitches in the house first? ¡°What about the other gangsters in the video?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I watched the video with a few guys, but we didn¡¯t recognize anyone else in it, so they¡¯re likely from China.¡± ¡°How much further up do we have to go from here?¡± ¡°I was told that the house is right above the restaurant. We can¡¯t see it since the road is curved, but the fucker said that we¡¯ll be able to hear it immediately if someone yells.¡± Kang Chan smiled as if he was satisfied, and Oh Gwang-Taek shrugged smugly. ¡°Wee.¡± Soon, they heard the owner greeting someone from outside the room. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Oh Gwang-Taek said after opening the door, and Seok Kang-Ho came inside with a small bag. Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho exactly what Oh Gwang-Taek had said. ¡°What are we still doing here? Let¡¯s go there now,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said afterward and patted his small bag. ¡°Let¡¯s wait for now and eat what we ordered. We¡¯ll pounce on them when it gets darker and they¡¯ve all gone home,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°I saw a van and a car below the restaurant, and unless they¡¯re idiots, wouldn¡¯t they realize that there are gangsters here the moment they see the kid standing in the parking lot?¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t see the van or the car when he came here through the single path. ¡°Didn¡¯t youe here from the other side? The car was parked beside a weird real estate building. I easily recognized it with a nce.¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chan did see the real estate building. Either way, if the car was close enough for Seok Kang-Ho to recognize it, then it was likely possible for their enemies to do so as well. ¡°I was told that there are CCTVs?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek asked Kang Chan. ¡°There are security cameras?¡± ¡°I heard there¡¯s two of them.¡± While Kang Chan was wondering what they should do, the grilled duck was served. ¡°Enjoy the meal,¡± the servermented. The thick pumpkin was burnt on the outside and had been split open with a knife. Inside, the cooked duck was steaming. The duck wasn¡¯t important right now, though. What should they do? ¡®The days are longer too since it¡¯s summer.¡¯ They couldn¡¯t blow their chance now that they had unexpectedly seized it. The gangsters at the house saw Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s faces in Yongin, and they already knew Oh Gwang-Taek. Still, it didn¡¯t feel right to send a sloppy gangster there instead because he¡¯d likely just ruin things. ¡°Yes, yes. Three grilled ducks for the house above? Yes. We¡¯ll bring it up right away.¡± The moment they heard the owner say that, their gazes alternated among them. ¡°We can go up to the house with the grilled ducks they ordered. That should work. We still have time, so we should eat our order first,¡± Kang Chan suggested. Kang Chan used chopsticks to take off and eat a piece of breast meat from the grilled duck. A major reason why he had suggested that they eat before going up was that he had skipped lunch and was hungry. ¡°It''ll be ufortable no matter how I address you anyway, so let me just refer to you as Kang-Ho hyung-nim,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek said. ¡°Do what you want.¡± ¡°Please eat this.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek handed over one leg of the duck to Seok Kang-Ho. He then held the other leg and dug in. After about twenty minutes had passed, Oh Gwang-Taek left the room first and then said, ¡°Ma¡¯am! About the ducks that the house above told you to bring¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°We¡¯re about to go there, so just let us know when it¡¯s finished.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be thankful if you do that, but what about the payment?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The conversation ended without a hitch. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho washed their hands to get rid of the oil, then went out to the yard of the restaurant. They stood on the opposite side of the car so they wouldn''t be seen from the road just in case. ¡°Give me the kukri,¡± Kang Chan said. Seok Kang-Ho took out two kukris from the small bag and handed one to Kang Chan. Swoosh. When Kang Chan grabbed the handle and unsheathed the kukri, its terrifyingly sharpened de was revealed. He was satisfied. ¡°I¡¯ll go up with the duck and open the door. Come up to the house then,¡± Kang Chan ordered Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°How would I know you¡¯ve opened the door while I¡¯m down here?¡± ¡°We¡¯re on a mountain. You¡¯re going to hear everything no matter what sound they make.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go there together.¡± ¡°Hey! It¡¯s just three ducks. Those fuckers would catch on to us immediately if we go up together. I can pass through alone somehow since I¡¯m also wearing a casual outfit.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan¡¯s clothes, then twisted his lips. Kang Chan definitely looked like a different person from when he wore a suit. ¡°Give me a cigarette,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°If need be, break a window.¡± As Kang Chan was smoking with Seok Kang-Ho, Oh Gwang-Taek came out of the restaurant with a paper bag that had a stic string hanging on it. ¡°Captain,¡± Seok Kang-Ho called. ¡°What?¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t hear anything for more than five minutes, then I¡¯m just going to go up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan hid the kukri on his waist behind his back, then took the three paper bags from Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°I¡¯m going. Right! How much does this cost?¡± Kang Chan asked Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°It¡¯s 150,000 won. Hey! What¡¯s the signal? Wait for a bit before going. I still have to call my men.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already nned everything out, so just follow Seok Kang-Ho. Put them in a call and tell them to go up the house once you hear me fighting.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going!¡± Kang Chan inhaled, then followed the road up the house. Past the restaurant, the path turned into a dirt track. Kang Chan thought people should¡¯ve put concrete on it and turned it into an actual road. The ground was bare, so it had a long sunken line on either side of the narrow track. They were the distance of car wheels apart. Step. Step. Kang Chan walked while blinking to release the tension in his eyes. Having the kukri on his back felt great. ¡®I see it now.¡¯ Just like what Oh Gwang-Taek told him, the house came into view when Kang Chan went up a bit the mountain path. It was as if it was hiding on the left side. Rather than a vi, it was amon and old two-story western-style house. Inside the barred gate was a parking lot that doubled as a garden, and to its right was the front door. The house also had a veranda on the second floor and marble stairs that led to the second floor from outside the house. The time hade. Here, Kang Chan would find the people that ordered Kang Dae Kyung and Lanok¡¯s death. The gate came up to Kang Chan¡¯s chest. He pressed the bell that was attached to it. The windows were frosted, so he couldn¡¯t see inside the living room from where he was at all. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°I brought the grilled duck,¡± Kang Chan answered. After a short silence had passed¡­ Beep! Rattle! The door opened. Kang Chan got nervous for a moment because he thought that the sons of bitches were suspicious of him. He went across the yard without hesitation. Kang Chan pulled the front door to open it, but it was locked from the inside. ¡°Wait!¡± Someone shouted. Kang Chan could hear the sound of the padlock turning. Creak. The front door opened. A mean-looking man held the door open with his foot, then held out his hand. ¡°How much is it?¡± he asked Kang Chan. ¡°It¡¯s 150,000 won.¡± Kang Chan handed over the three paper bags to the guy. . ¡°Ah, you fucker. You should¡¯ve given them to me after I¡¯ve taken out the money.¡± Kang Chan nced inside the house as the man grumbled. ¡°Here!¡± The guy held out the money, and Kang Chan stared at his face. ¡°What are you doing, fucker?! Take the money already!¡± A guy that had been sitting on the living room sofa leaned his upper body to the side. He then looked in Kang Chan¡¯s direction. The moment when their eyes met, Kang Chan¡¯s heart sank coldly. The look in his eyes showed that he was a professional at the level of the people that went to the hotel to try and kill Lanok. Plus, there weren¡¯t just one or two of them here. ¡°Why is this fucker still isn¡¯t taking the money?¡± As the person that received the ducks was swearing, the guy on the sofa quickly got up. He recognized Kang Chan. No, they recognized each other. ¡°Move!¡± The man yelled while running to the front door. Whoosh! Slice! Kang Chan pulled out the kukri and slit the neck of the person in front of him. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± Crash! As his first opponent grasped onto his neck and bumped against the shoe shelf, Kang Chan ran and took a step into the entrance. The guy that had been on the sofa took a step forward from inside the doorway. Pow. Pow-pow-pow-pow. Slice! Pow-pow. Even though Kang Chan had sliced the guy¡¯s right elbow with the kukri, he still couldn¡¯t overpower him even a bit. Bam! Stab! Kang Chan and his enemy¡¯s elbows crashed against each other twice in front of their faces. At that moment, other people moved quickly into the living room. 1. ondol is a heating system in Korea. Its underfloor heating uses direct heat transfer from wood smoke to heat the underside of the floor Chapter 83.1: Catching the Tail (2)

Chapter 83.1: Catching the Tail (2)

Bam! Stab! Kang Chan positioned the kukri¡¯s de up against the enemy¡¯s arm, preventing the enemy from rashly stopping Kang Chan¡¯s elbow. Smack! Kang Chan then swatted away his opponent¡¯s arm twice with his left hand and attacked with his right hand, moving it from side to side. Stab! Stab! Stab! The kukri¡¯s de prated into the enemy¡¯s armpit, shoulder, and left side of the neck. St! Bang-bang-bang. Crash. Kang Chan¡¯s opponent gushed out blood as he pushed him back. Eventually, his opponent heavily fell backward. As he did, another enemy went up to fight Kang Chan. It was as if he had been waiting. Swish! Swoosh! Swish! Kang Chan¡¯s situation could prove dangerous. Although he and his opponent were equipped with knives, Kang Chan had to use the entrance¡¯s hallway to force his opponents to fight him one by one. Things could swiftly take a turn for the worse if they starteding down from the balcony outside or if they were to open, enter, and pincer him through a window in the living room. ¡°Captain!¡± Seok Kang-Ho was loud. Damn it! Kang Chan discretely looked behind him. Slice! Pit! As he did, his shoulder got sliced twice even though he had moved his upper body back. Swoosh! Kang Chan ran away, seemingly heading for the entrance. A guy inside the house ran after him. Swoosh! Swish. Swish. Swish. Kang Chan swung his kukri four times to fend off the enemy. Bam! He then kicked the paper bag that had been dropped at the entrance. The enemy bent sideways to avoid the paper bag. Bam! Bam! Kang Chan kicked two more paper bags, then immediately threw himself at the enemy at thest moment. The enemy twisted his upper body to avoid the paper bag, then looked at Kang Chan with surprise in his eyes. Slice! Slice! Kang Chan deeply slit his opponent¡¯s neck and the area below his ear. St! The moment the man¡¯s blood started spurting, Kang Chan mmed himself against him to push through, making it seem like Kang Chan was hugging him. Crash! Swish! Swoosh! Swoosh! Two more pounced on Kang Chan, one from each side. All three of them had ded weapons, so they couldn¡¯t just recklessly crash into each other despite fighting at close range. Kang Chan heard the sound of fighting from outside the house. Seok Kang-Ho and Oh Gwang-Taek and his gangsters were now battling the people that had gone down from the second floor through the stairs connected to the balcony outside. He felt as if he was running out of time. ng! Kang Chan blocked the dagger of the enemy to his right with his kukri. Slice! Slice! The guy to his left sliced his waist, but Kang Chan managed to cut the wrist of the man to his right in return. As soon as his opponent¡¯s dagger fell to the ground¡­ Tatatata! Kang Chan pounced on the enemy to his left as if he was running into his arms. Kang Chan blocked his opponent¡¯s knife with his own kukri, then rotated his wrist and flicked the knife aside, following up with cuts to the opponent¡¯s wrist, forearm, and neck. However, the opponent to his right took that as an opportunity to stab him twice¡ªone in his side and another in his armpit. Fortunately, since Kang Chan had sliced the guy¡¯s right wrist beforehand, his opponent¡¯s attack wasn¡¯t powerful enough to make him lose his grip on the kukri. Bam! Pow! Pow-pow. Slice! Gritting his teeth, Kang Chan turned around and stopped a guy from kicking him. He then immediately followed the block by slicing the guy¡¯s thigh. In response, his opponent moved his injured thigh away and looked at him with surprise. He has?time to do that? Kang Chan immediately threw himself at him and used his kukri to cut him. Slice! Slicee! Slice! Bang! The guy that had his armpit, neck and the area beneath his ear sliced fell down. Kang Chan kept hearing the people outside the house screaming and yelling. When he ran outside, he found more than ten gangsters already on the ground, bleeding. Seok Kang-Ho was holding on somehow. Bang! Kang Chan first ran over to and pushed Oh Gwang-Taek away with his shoulder, then fought the enemy in front of him. Pow-pow! Stab! Stab! Slice! Slice! Kang Chan had now realized what was going on. Except for the first two men he fought, their enemiescked actualbat experience. Kang Chan slit his current opponent¡¯s neck, turned around, and pounced on another enemy. Meanwhile, three more gangsters screamed tragically while grasping onto their necks. Kang Chan immediately swung his kukri, shoving the gangsters away. Slice! Slicee! Swing! Swing! His opponent looked at Kang Chan while applying pressure to his neck, his eyes showing he couldn¡¯t believe what just happened. St! Thud. Kang Chan turned around, finding the blood-covered Seok Kang-Ho still in the middle of a fight. His opponent was thest of their enemies. Kang Chan immediately ran over and cut the left shoulder of Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s enemy, who was swinging his knife toward Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan then consecutively shed his neck and the area below his ear. Thud. ¡°Who do these fuckers think they are?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked, seemingly to insult them. ¡°Contact manager Kim and clear the first floor. I¡¯ll search through the second floor.¡± Kang Chan walked past Oh Gwang-Taek, who was just standing around stunned, and ran toward the second floor. He took the stairs outside the house to go up to the veranda, then immediately ran into the second floor. ¡°Tsk!¡± Kang Chan frowned. There were around ten dead gangsters inside, their necks and the area below their ears sliced open. They were probably the people that had allegedly been called in from China One of them was still wriggling, but it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to consider him as good as dead even if he was in the emergency room right now due to those neck and ear wounds he had sustained. After all, the moment an artery between those wounds was cut, it would shrivel up and be smaller than half of its original size. There was one more room on either side of the second floor, the situations of which were even more horrible. Inside them, he found the people he had only injured during the battle were now dead. Someone had sliced through the bandages around them and slit their necks. Who did this, and for what? Kang Chan went down to the yard. Seok Kang-Ho was walking out from the front door. He had ripped his clothes and wrapped the cloth around his arm and shoulder. ¡°We didn¡¯t find anything special on the first floor,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Give me a cigarette.¡± ¡°Here.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s hand was entirely covered with blood, so Kang Chan took a cigarette, lit it up, and put it in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s mouth for him. ¡°I think they¡¯re beginners,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Kang Chan just nodded in agreement. He then yelled, ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek!¡± It seemed like Oh Gwang-Taek hadn¡¯t returned to his senses yet. His eyes were nk as he walked to Kang Chan. ¡°Here.¡± Kang Chan lit up the cigarette that Oh Gwang-Taek had reflexively taken from him. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo.¡± There was nothing better than cigarettes at times like these. ¡°Have you contacted manager Kim?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Yeah. He told us to stay put and not to contact anyone else since he¡¯sing with the medical team.¡± Kang Chan looked around the yard. He was told that more than twenty gangsters came here, but amongst them, only four of them were standing right now, and that included Oh Gwang-Taek. He felt sorry for the dead guys, but in that situation, newbies had basically thrown themselves at professionals. ¡°Do you have another cigarette?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek asked Kang Chan. Kang Chan wordlessly handed over a cigarette to Oh Gwang-Taek. ¡°Is this why you told me to keep out of this?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek asked. Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s eyes were gleaming with anger, perhaps because he hade to his senses. ¡°Answer me.¡± He looked threatening. It was as if he was about to attack Kang Chan. ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek, your men¡¯s determination in knife fights wasn¡¯t inferior, especially those like you. But this is a different kind of battle. Our enemies today were specifically made for fights like this. All they ever did were eat and train to kill others,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°Then what about you and Kang-Ho hyung-nim?¡± Kang Chan nced at Seok Kang-Ho, then looked at Oh Gwang-Taek again. Oh Gwang-Taek couldn¡¯t even take a puff of the cigarette, even though he had asked for it. ¡°I asked what kind of people you and Kang-Ho hyung-nim are!¡± ¡°Both of us used to live in this kind of world. That¡¯s all I can tell you,¡± Kang Chan answered Oh Gwang-Taek. Oh Gwang-Taek looked straight at Kang Chan. He was surprised and angry. This was hard for him to take in. People in his situation would end up doing one of two options. They either pounced. ¡°Whoo!¡± Or they dropped their heads like Oh Gwang-Taek did just now. Kang Chan bit on a cigarette, then held a lighter up to light it. ¡°Give me another one,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek held out his hand after throwing the cigarette that he had been holding to the ground. Click. ¡°Whoo. What should I do? I feel sorry for the fuckers that got killed. What am I supposed to tell them now that they had been killed without even being able to fight back just to protect me?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek asked. Things like this shouldn¡¯t be touched. If Oh Gwang-Taek pounced on Kang Chan, then he would beat him up. But it wasn¡¯t respectful to provoke a person that had lost their subordinates or someone they loved. They heard the noisy sound of a car engine and the sounds of people stepping on gravel. Soon, a van and an ambnce roughly came into their view. Click! The door opened, and the agents and paramedics spilled into the house. Four of them ran into the house without a word, seemingly aware of what transpired here. The four paramedics split into two groups. They then examined the dead gangsters and treated the survivors¡¯ injuries. An agent and a doctor approached Kang Chan at the same time. ¡°We were told that the manager will arrive a bitter since he''s at Samseong-dong right now, so please get some treatment for now. We¡¯ll be transferring the bodies to the police hospital, filling up their death certificates, and handing them over,¡± one of them told Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of my injuries since it¡¯s not severe!¡± Kang Chan called. 1. The original sentence was ¡°a pack of dogs had basically attacked a tiger, but we changed it because it wouldn¡¯t fit this context 2. Samseong-dong is an affluent neighborhood or ward in Seoul, South Korea. It has a lot of upscale shopping malls, and popr restaurants and hotels Chapter 83.2: Catching the Tail (2)

Chapter 83.2: Catching the Tail (2)

¡°Oh Gwang-Taek!¡± Kang Chan called. Oh Gwang-Taek obediently walked over when Kang Chan called him. Even when Kang Chan told him about how the bodies would be taken care of, he only listened silently. Meanwhile, the doctor started treating his injuries. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Kang Chan told the agent. ¡°Understood.¡± When the agent walked away to issue orders to the others, Kang Chan sat on a yellowish stic tub that had fallen on one side of the yard. ¡°You¡¯re not affected?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek asked. Oh Gwang-Taek sat back against a big rock near him with his legs straight out in front of him. He then stroked his face with both hands. ¡°I know you feel angry and empty right now, Oh Gwang-Taek, but you need to get yourself together for now,¡± Kang Chan sounded quieter. At that moment, another agent inside the house approached Kang Chan. ¡°It¡¯s going to take some time to take care of the corpses upstairs, so we requested assistance. Is there anything else that you need?¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine here.¡± The agent turned around and walked to the car. Seok Kang-Ho then came toward Kang Chan and plopped down onto a thin piece of marble floor. He hadpletely taken off his top and had bandages wrapped around his shoulder and chest. ¡°Kukris and bays are different. Kukris are meant to slice through your opponents. Don¡¯t insist on using one if you¡¯re just going to treat it like a bay,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Got it. Please get your shoulder and waist treated.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯d feel bad getting such a small injury treated even though so many people died.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still bleeding, you know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not getting it treated. Leaving my wounds like this makes me feelfortable. I¡¯ll watch how they heal first and get treatment only if I don¡¯t recover properly, so just leave me be for now.¡± Seok Kang-Ho turned his gaze while sighing, and Oh Gwang-Taek gave Kang Chan a strange look. ¡°Get treated,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek told Kang Chan. ¡°Too many people died because I messed up.¡± ¡°How is this your fault?¡± ¡°I ran in there without looking into the situation, and I failed to anticipate that there would be people in there that had gone through special training. Oh Gwang-Taek, I¡¯m currently forcing myself to hold back because now¡¯s the time to be cold, so just leave me be.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s eyes burned furiously as spoke, silencing even Oh Gwang-Taek. Kang Chan missed the hot coffee Michelle made for him in the past. He probably missed its scent. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Kang Chan took out his phone and looked at it. Kim Hyung-Jung was calling him. - Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯ll be there in fifteen to twenty minutes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for bothering you, but please bring something to drink when youe here. Doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s canned coffee or bottled water.¡± - Understood. Kang Chan sighed loudly and looked at the sky. Darkness was approaching as the sun set. A momentter, three or four more ambnces arrived. All the corpses were soon taken care of. ¡°Stay at the hospital, Oh Gwang-Taek. You should stay by their side in theirst moments,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Make sure to contact me once you find out who¡¯s behind this. Otherwise¡ª¡± Oh Gwang-Taek knew what he was going to say won¡¯t work on Kang Chan at all, regardless of what he said. He turned around and walked away while gritting his teeth. They had thought that this was a rabbit burrow, but a badger full of spite had jumped out instead. ¡®What were these sons of a bitches really trying to do?¡¯ Two of their enemies had been properly trained, one had adequate skills, and about seven werecking experience. The ones that had pounced on Kang Chan when they saw him went upstairs after realizing that Seok Kang-Ho arrived. They then slit the necks of those who were hiding. If Seok Kang-Ho hadn¡¯t called Kang Chan, or if Oh Gwang-Taek was the only one who followed him, the enemies would¡¯ve killed the two of them first before trying to kill Kang Chan. Still, even if that was what happened, Kang Chan thought he wouldn¡¯t have died in this fight. However, Oh Gwang-Taek would¡¯ve certainly been killed, and Seok Kang-Ho would¡¯ve been in danger. ¡®What¡¯s this? What were they trying to do?¡¯ Kang Chan nkly red at the corner of the yard until an agent came toward him with a paper cup on top of a magazine. ¡°I got this from the restaurant below.¡± It seemed like Kim Hyung-Jung had ordered them to do this by phone. Kang Chan took a sip of the coffee, then put it beside him since it didn¡¯t meet his expectations. As their surroundings got dark, a car came toward the house with its headlights on. Kim Hyung-Jung got out of it and immediately went toward Kang Chan. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan¡¯s injuries and their surroundings. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here for now, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± The medical team had already left, leaving only the National Intelligence Service around them. ¡°Can the three of us have a conversation for a moment, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Let¡¯s leave first¡ª we should at least go to Yoo Bi-Corp.¡± Kang Chan shook his head. Kim Hyung-Jun stood with a hardened face for a moment, then ordered the agent behind him to ¡°go down and stand by.¡± ¡°Please sit here.¡± Kang Chan sat on a fallen stic bucket, Seok Kang-Ho on a piece of the marble floor deeper intof the yard, and Kim Hyung-Jung on a rock in the garden. ¡°It was Oh Gwang-Taek who had found this ce,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Hyung-Jung. Kang Chan bit on a cigarette and lit it, then handed over the cigarette case and the lighter to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°When I rushed into the house, there were about ten guys that had received special training. Two of them were top-tier, one was good enough, while the rest were so-so. If you weren¡¯t aware of this, then that means you were defenseless until they tried to kill someone, and if you were, then that means you¡¯ve been keeping information from me. Which one is it?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Hyung-Jung. Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan after he bit on a cigarette. ¡°Close to twenty gangsters died,¡± Kang Chanmented, smirked, then continued. ¡°The ¡®Unicorn¡¯? The development of South Korea? I¡¯d be happy to help with that. But it bes a different story if doing so means the people precious to me will keep getting attacked one-sidedly. You¡¯re well aware that my father¡¯s in the hospital right now. You visited him, after all. Who¡¯s next? It¡¯s probably going to be Seok Kang-Ho or my mother, right? After all, they probably wouldn¡¯t have tried to kill Lanok or the Prime Minister with just this amount of men, weak men at that.¡± ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, will you give me a cigarette?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung held out his hand as if he was trying not to listen to what Kang Chan was going to say next. Chk chk. Holding the cigarette butt, Kim Hyung-Jung skillfully lit up the cigarette with a lighter. ¡°Whoo-oo.¡± He looked at the cigarette as he turned it in between his fingers, then took another puff. ¡°We couldn¡¯t identify the people that attacked us at the golf club. No country has information on them. That¡¯s probably going to be the case for the ones that died here today as well. We couldn¡¯t do anything to identify them other than perform examinations on their teeth and test their DNA to get even vague information about them. We¡¯ve concluded that they¡¯re North Korean special forces that had received secondary training in China beforeing into South Korea through Japan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. When darkness descended, the mosquitos started to bite them, one by one. ¡°The information about Lanok¡¯s golf club schedule was most likely leaked by one of his people. China and Japan probably tried to kill Lanok first, then they tried to kill you because they think that you¡¯re a secret agent that France and our government have created,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. This wasn¡¯t the answer that Kang Chan had wanted. When Kang Chan twisted his head to the side with dissatisfaction and didn¡¯t say anything, Kim Hyung-Jung inhaled the cigarette that was close to being finished, then threw it to a corner. ¡°The National Intelligence Service is focusing on Yang Jin-Woo and Huh Sang-Soo since they¡¯re the two leading forces in South Korea that helped the North Korean soldierse into the country,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung told Kang Chan. Kang Chan had never heard of their names before. Of course, he had no thoughts of leaving them alone, but was Kim Hyung-Jung saying that just?knowing them would be a problem? ¡°As a member of the National Assembly on his fifth term, Huh Sang-Soo is in charge of national defense, and Yang Jin-Woo is the chairman of Suh Jeong Group,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. Suh Jeong Group? Kang Chan cocked his head to the side. Where did I hear that name? Suh Jeong? When Kang Chan looked at Kim Hyung-Jung¡­ ¡°It¡¯s the parent group of Suh Jeong Motors, which had beenpletely destroyed because of Kang Yoo Motors,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined further. ¡°If so, then the reason they tried to kill my father¡­¡± ¡°It seems they wanted to take revenge for what had happened in the past while also giving you a warning. The truck driver that ran away from the ident in Yongin was previously affiliated with the Suh Jeong Transportation Company. Unfortunately, by the time we had found him, he was already dead.¡± Kang Chan smirked. Yang Jin-Woo? You son of a bitch. Kim Hyung-Jung sighed. He looked worried. Chapter 84.1: Prelude (1)

Chapter 84.1: Prelude (1)

Kang Chan was thinking of going home in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car. The problem was his wounds. Seok Kang-Ho had bandages wrapped around his upper body, while Kang Chan was still bleeding out. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, let¡¯s get you treated now.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s honest words went against Kang Chan¡¯s wishes, but he had been waiting and left Kang Chan¡¯s wounds alone for far too long. They had to stop the bleeding. ¡°Let¡¯s at least bandage around your wounds. Your parents are in the Bang Ji Hospital, so you should get preliminary treatment here first. We can also buy two shirts to change into.¡± Kang Chan stood up because of Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s suggestion. They headed to the grilled duck restaurant and got on Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s ¡®Chiffre.¡¯ They then merged into the main road, where a car and a van were waiting. Kim Hyung-Jung led Kang Chan to the van. An agent examined Kang Chan¡¯s injuries under Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s orders. ¡°We have to stitch up your wounds,¡± the agent told Kang Chan. ¡°We don¡¯t have the equipment to do that here, so just bandage it.¡± The agent disinfected Kang Chan¡¯s wounds because of his attitude, then tightly wrapped the bandages around them. ¡°Great job.¡± When Kang Chan got out of the car, Kim Hyung-Jung and Seok Kang-Ho walked toward him. ¡°I¡¯ll go home in Mr. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung called him as if he had something to say, but just said, ¡°understood.¡± After parting ways with Kim Hyung-Jung, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho immediately left. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you buy some clothes to change into?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my ce. We can change there.¡± ¡°Ah, right. No one¡¯s home, right?¡± Seok Kang-Homented as he nodded and observed Kang Chan¡¯s mood. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Ease up that look in your eyes. If other people see it, they¡¯re going to think you¡¯re going home to fight.¡± ¡°Thinking that son of a bitch Yang Jin-Woo will get tough behind our backs because he seeded makes it impossible for me to calm down,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°We can¡¯t just run up to someone so famous even a three-year-old would know and twist his neck. Even if we could, we didn¡¯t find any clear evidence to justify it. That fucker probably did this with that in mind.¡± ¡°Son of a bitch. He should just live infort and spend his money if he had that much. Why is he doing something like this? Is he crazy?¡± ¡°Kim Hyung-Jung said that he suffered a loss because of Kang Yoo Motors, right?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Hey! That fucker was the one that butted in. And even if he suffered a loss, how much would it have been? Regardless, that¡¯s not even what¡¯s important!¡± ¡°What is, then?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. ¡°What matters is that that fucker cooperated in attacking Lanok and my father to stop the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project from happening. What I don¡¯t understand is how Yang Jin-Woo could be so quick to kill someone just because he couldn¡¯t get the distribution rights for Gong Te¡¯s automobile. If South Korea gets richer, that fucker Yang Jin-Woo is going to earn more money than anyone else anyway.¡± The traffic frustrated Kang Chan, so he lowered the window. Perhaps it was because of the cool air from the air conditioner, but he thought the air that rushed into the car was quite warm. ¡°Are we missing something?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°We probably are.¡± Seok Kang-Ho didn¡¯t say anything else upon noticing the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. *** A French restaurant in a hotel in South Korea. Yang Jin-Woo, who was in one of its VIP rooms, didn¡¯t pick up the fork even though he had an escargot dish in front of him. Of the four people that met at the Japanese restaurant, only Huh Sang-Soo was currently missing. ¡°What did Assemblyman Huh say?¡± Yang Jin-Woo asked someone. ¡°He only told us to make sure to discard the data.¡± ¡°That¡¯s already done.¡± When Yang Jin-Woo turned his gaze, the man sitting to his left answered while bowing his head. ¡°The perpetrator this time was Kang Chan as well.¡± ¡°General manager Kwak, what I want to hear from you is how we¡¯re going to take care of that crazy bastard,¡± Yang Jin-Woo said. Kwak Do-Young had a big build andrge and bright eyes. Even his hands and feet were big. He was sorge he made the table and the dishes look that much smaller. ¡°We¡¯re being careful until we can reim the National Intelligence Service. We¡¯re searching through Kang Dae-Kyung, Yoo Hye-Sook, and Kang Chan¡¯s previous records that are avable, but we¡¯re grappling with this issue since they hasven¡¯t done any suspicious activities until recently,¡± Kwak Do-Young answered. ¡°General manager Kwak.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Chairman.¡± Yang Jin-Woo took a sip of the water in a crystal cup, then said, ¡°I think I already did everything I could for this country and its people.¡± ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t know that?¡± ¡°I feel the same way about this incident as well. I did everything that people asked me to do for them and the country. But if we still can¡¯t take care of one Red traitor for the Westerners even after I did that, then what was I enduring these kinds of sacrifices for? Forget the traitor¨CI can¡¯t even touch the parents of that dirty fucker. What¡¯s with this situation?¡± ¡°About that, if you give us a bit more time, then¡ª¡± ¡°The traitor has to be given a clear warning. I¡¯ll participate in the next n if it means showing him that the world isn¡¯t easy enough for a breed of humans without a good background to act unruly.¡± Kwak Do-Young sighed with a groan. ¡°Mr. Chairman, what you just said could upset the assemblyman.¡± The edges of Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s lips slightly curled upward. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be disgraced by letting our people, who have been bought by the Westerners, call us traitors even though we¡¯ve given it our all to feed and look after them. I¡¯d much rather step out of this matter.¡± Looking troubled, Kwak Do-Young frowned. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to pass on to the Assemblyman how firm you are about your intentions.¡± ¡°At least one of the parents that made such a traitor should be punished. They¡¯re no better than trash for opposing me and trusting their foolish child! I don¡¯t think Kang Chan will bat an eye even if one of his parents is killed, but still, I wish to see at least see his mother as a corpse.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass on exactly what you said.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll trust you, so I¡¯ll send the required funds by tomorrow.¡± Yang Jin-Woo then turned his gaze. Cho Il-Kwon, the chief secretary, looked at Kwak Do-Young from over his sses. *** ¡°Honey, would it really be okay if we take all of this?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Dae-Kyung. She was looking at the envelopes with a worried expression. ¡°Calm down. There¡¯s no way to return them either anyway. I¡¯m way more d about our son not going around doing bad things than about the money itself.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked like she didn¡¯t understand what he said. ¡°I¡¯m talking about the Prime Minister saying that what Channy is doing right now is difficult and that only he is capable of doing it.¡± ¡°I thought you were talking about something you¡¯re the only one aware of again.¡± ¡°Like what? Channy is also devoted to you.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook smiled as if she was satisfied when Kang Dae-Kyung said that. ¡°Honey, what are you going to eat for lunch?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook then asked. ¡°Go home and look after Channy. You can juste back tomorrow.¡± ¡°No.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook stroked Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s hand after cing the envelope on one side. ¡°I¡¯m going to call Channy and stay here today, so just focus on getting better and getting out of here quickly, honey. I probably let you carry an extremely heavy burden alone. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying nonsense.¡± ¡°You went through a hard time, didn¡¯t you? I wouldn¡¯t have known if you aren¡¯t suffering from body aches like this.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with you? If you¡¯re that sorry, then kiss me!¡± ¡°Honey! What are you going to do if someone sees us!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook pped Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s hand while pursing her lips right away. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it? It¡¯s just the two of us here.¡± ¡°Are you going to stop with just a kiss?¡± ¡°Would I really think about doing something else in here?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked back. ¡°Jeez!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook raised herself up while pretending that she couldn¡¯t win against him, then kissed him. ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± ¡°I definitely am!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook tightly held onto Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m always happy and thankful because I met you, honey.¡± ¡°Why is my madam acting like this today of all days?¡± ¡°Maybe because you and Channy make me so happy.¡± They tightly held each other¡¯s hands. *** On their way up to Kang Chan¡¯s house, Kang Chan talked to Yoo Hye-Sook and decided to stay at home today. As soon as they arrived at the apartment, he handedfortable clothes to Seok Kang-Ho, and Kang Chan changed after lightly washing up. ¡°Put the dirty clothes here. Let''s throw them out when we leave,¡± Kang Chan said. He didn¡¯t know how many clothes he already had to throw out because of how often he got into fights. ¡°What are you going to do for dinner?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I should eat.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to the baekban restaurant in Misari, then have a cup of coffee in the establishment in front of it afterward. It won¡¯t feel right to smoke in here anyway, right?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho got out of the apartment. ¡°Are you thinking of killing Yang Jin-Woo?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yeah.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded, seemingly expecting that would be his answer. ¡°They had tried to kill our people anyway. Regardless of the reason behind their actions, they¡¯re not going to give up until they¡¯re satisfied. And if they¡¯re not going to give up, then we might as well do this our way,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°Have you thought about how you¡¯re going to kill him?¡± ¡°Not yet. Gathering information about that fuckeres first, so there isn¡¯t anything in particr that¡¯se across my mind.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not going to be easy.¡± ¡°Right. I have to think about it for now.¡± Kang Chan stroked his forehead with the hand draped over the open window. Upon arriving at Misari, they had baekban. He wasn¡¯t hungry, but when the food was served, he cleanly emptied the rice bowl. They then went to the coffee shop they went to often and ordered two iced coffees. Afterward, they sat outside at a table that had a view of the river. Click. ¡°Whoo.¡± Coffee was served while they were smoking. ¡°I¡¯ll meet manager Kim tomorrow to see if I can get him to give me information about Yang Jin-Woo. If he does, great. If not, I¡¯ll forget just about it and kill Yang Jin-Woo with just the two of us. Keep that in mind,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Alright.¡± Now that they hade to a decision, Kang Chan felt at ease. Chapter 84.2: Prelude (1)

Chapter 84.2: Prelude (1)

They came back to Seoul, then parted ways in front of the apartment. He couldn¡¯t go to the hospital yet because there was still a lot of spite visible in his eyes. If he went there in this state, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook would immediately ask what was wrong. He felt like he had received an order not to attack first, even though they didn¡¯t know when the enemy would attack because they were right in the enemy¡¯s sights. Close to twenty gangsters had been killed. Kang Chan had always hated them and denied their lifestyle in general, but they shouldn¡¯t have suffered such absurd deaths. If only they were a little bit more careful. If only he didn¡¯t let his guard down because the people involved in the scene of the Yongin ident were former gangsters that Oh Gwang-Taek had recognized. Kang Chan didn¡¯t turn on the lights, even though the living room was very dark. ¡®You have to be cold-hearted, Kang Chan.¡¯ Kang Chan exhaled deeply, then pulled himself together. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Sitting absent-mindedly, his phone screen¡¯s light lit up the living room when he got a text. Did this mean that he should turn on the lights? Kang Chan flicked on the living room light switch and held up the phone. [Where are you?] It was Kim Mi-Young. At that moment, he felt sorry because he remembered his kiss with Michelle. He calmed down at least a little bit as he exhaled deeply. Should I not call her? He was also scared he¡¯d make a mistake he was getting furious at the moment. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. [I¡¯m on my way home from hagwon.] Kang Chan smirked when the image of Kim Mi-Young trudging home while looking crestfallen came across his mind. He hesitated for a moment but pressed the call button anyway. - Hello? ¡°Are you done with your hagwon?¡± - Yeah! Kang Chan felt as if Kim Mi-Young was his younger sister again today. For some strange reason, when he heard her voice his spiteful mind calmed down a little bit. ¡°Would you like to meet up for a bit?¡± - Can you do that? Kim Mi-Young¡¯s voice had a hint of cuteness. How could he say no when she was this happy? ¡°I¡¯ll go out right now.¡± - Okay. Kang Chan trudged down the apartment after hanging up. As he was going out of the entrance, Kim Mi-Young was already at the front gate. She ran toward him after she discovered him. ¡°You¡¯re going to fall!¡± Kang Chan yelled. Kim Mi-Young approached him while smiling brightly. Jeez, you little kid! Kang Chan looked around them. There were a lot of people on each bench because it was a hot day, and perhaps because it was a Saturday. ¡°Would you like to eat patbingsu?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I have to go home early today.¡± Kim Mi-Young looked around them as well. The stares from the people that were sitting seemed to make her ufortable. ¡°Let¡¯s just take a walk instead, then.¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan took Kim Mi-Young¡¯s bag and ced it across his shoulder, then leisurely got out of the apartment. Kim Mi-Young covered her mouth with her hand and yawned. ¡°Are you sleepy?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯ve only been getting three hours of sleep per day nowadays because I¡¯ve been studying French on the side.¡± ¡°Why are you studying that much? You can just finish the university entrance exam first before focusing on that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m preparing to take the DALF at the end of the year.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Was this possible? Her preparation wasn¡¯t to take the DELF, the basic level test, but to take the DALF test, which was for advanced learners only was going to be held in a few days? ¡°I¡¯m studying hard because the certification is at the end of this year. I¡¯m going to study abroad after finishing one semester in South Korea. I made a good decision, right?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°That¡¯s excellent!¡± He was being sincere. If she could pass the DALF, the French qualification test, in only six months, then that meant she learned how to speak like a native in a year. ¡°Studying is so fun. I¡¯m getting more of it done since I made a n that would allow me to study French after studying the school subjects that I had targeted. I get a lot of energy when I think about living with you in France starting next year!¡± Kim Mi-Young eximed. When Kang Chan smiled lightly, Kim Mi-Young smiled along with him. ¡°We¡¯re going to be in France on my birthday next year. You can¡¯t forget what you promised me,¡± Kim Mi-Young reminded Kang Chan. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Huhuhu,¡± Kim Mi-Youngughed in response to Kang Chan¡¯s answer. He expected her to be a bit more mature within the few days that he hadn¡¯t seen her, but she felt like a proper high schooler again now that she heard herugh. Kim Mi-Young looks a bit thicker than Michelle since her chest and butt are bigger in rtion to her waist¡­ what am I doing? Kang Chan shook his head to get rid of his useless thoughts. A lot of the spite left him as he walked with Kim Mi-Young. ¡°I¡¯ll study hard,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. ¡°Alright.¡± When Kim Mi-Young turned her head, the look in her eyes tugged at his heartstrings with a bump. Perhaps it was because she was a child that studied with spite, but the look in her eyes showed she wasn¡¯t going to shatter easily. ¡°Mi-Young, you¡¯re going to enter a university in Seoul first, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yeah. I heard doing so will make it more advantageous for me to study abroad in France.¡± Kang Chan asked that question just in case. After they circled around about half of the apartmentplex¡¯s vicinity, they circled around to the entrance through a shortcut. ¡°You should sleep more, just for today. Tomorrow is Sunday anyway, so you can study a bit more then. You look tired,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Huh? Do I look ugly?¡± At times like this, she was definitely a female adolescent student. ¡°That¡¯s not it¡ªI only said that because I¡¯m worried about you.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll sleep a little early today, then. bye!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kim Mi-Young smiled brightly. When Kang Chan waved his hand, Kim Mi-Young quickly ran off as if she was heading toward a goal that she had set. He wanted to sit on a bench if there weren¡¯t as many people, but there were still many of them since a lot of families hade outside. Kang Chan returned home. A momentter, Yoo Hye-Sook called him. He looked after them by asking if they had dinner and if anything else happened. He then talked to Kang Dae-Kyung for a moment. Kang Chan thought everything was alright since he sounded calm. But what happened to that fucker Oh Gwang-Taek? Even though they were gangsters, they died all too soon. If they went through the police hospital, then they¡¯d certainly be at the funeral home. Hence, it felt ufortable that Oh Gwang-Taek wasn¡¯t calling him. ¡®Should I call him?¡¯ Kang Chan had been ring at his phone, but he went into his room andy down in bed instead. He fell asleep while feeling his injuries throb a little bit. ~ Kang Chan had been nning on waking up early in the morning and taking a shower, but he just washed his hair and his face since the bandages wrapped around his waist and shoulder were severely damper than he had expected. As always, omelets were the best for the morning. This damned dish was okay when he ate with Yoo Hye-Sook or Kang Dae-Kyung, but it tasted so horrible now that he was trying to eat it alone. Kang Chan changed as he thought about going to the hospital. He was going to have to throw out his clothes again because the ones he had worn yesterday had dried bloodstains and were now ck. Yang Jin Woo, you son of a bitch! I should¡¯ve searched for your face on the inte. Kang Chan got changed and went down to the apartment. He put the clothes in a recycling bin before taking a taxi. If the Bang Ji Hospital didn¡¯t recognize Kang Chan, then that would be very suspicious. The doctor on duty examined Kang Chan¡¯s wounds more calmly than Yoo Hun-Woo. He then disinfected, stitched, and wrapped bandages around them. ¡°I don¡¯t think your wounds will be that big of a concern since you received good first aid. Please get a shot and take the prescribed medicine,¡± the doctor told Kang Chan. ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± After Kang Chan got the shot, he went up to Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s room with the prescription in his back pocket. Rattle. ¡°Oh my! Channy!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. ¡°How is father doing?¡± ¡°All good! He¡¯s a lot better now. Have you had breakfast?¡± ¡°Yes. I made myself an omelet.¡± Kang Chan examined Kang Dae-Kyung first, then looked at Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Mother, Have you had breakfast?¡± ¡°This hospital is weird. They served us an abundant meal, like a special meal. They even gave me food as well. They¡¯re not trying to amp up our hospital bills, are they?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Kang Chan burst out withughter at the same time because of what Yoo Hye-Sook had said. ¡°There wasn¡¯t anything else, right?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yes. Nothing happened.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s heart warmed up as he was looking at Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Chan, can you stay at the hospital for a bit by any chance?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes, father. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°I n on sending your mom home so she can get some rest. She keeps saying that I shouldn¡¯t be alone like the other patients since I¡¯m the one suffering from body aches. Honey! Since Channy is here now, go home and get some rest. Come back after.¡± ¡°Please do that. Get some rest while I¡¯m here,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Okay, Channy. I¡¯ll go home, take a shower, and change clothes. I¡¯ll return afterward. Until then, look after your father,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook left the room after stroking Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Have you had tea?¡± Kang Chan asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Your mom made it for me. Feel free to drink something if you want to.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He was going to crave cigarettes if he sloppily drank instant coffee. ¡°You¡¯re worried about me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked an unexpected question, then stared at Kang Chan. ¡°When did you grow up so much that you can now worry about me?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung elevated the head of the bed and leaned against it. He then stroked Kang Chan¡¯s head, tousling his hair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. If what you¡¯re doing is right, then keep doing it. Seeing sincerity in the eyes of the people and students that visited me is enough for me, so don¡¯t needlessly worry about me. If you have to, then ask for my help whenever. I can do that for you, right?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t even answer. He only blinked. ¡°I thought that you were all grown up, but seeing you like this makes me realize you¡¯re still young,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung continued. Kang Chan really liked Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s touch. ¡°Chan.¡± ¡°Yes, father?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t ask you why those people tried to kill me or how you found out about it. However, I hope there wouldn¡¯t be instances where your mom would get startled or injured.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll stop at nothing to make sure of that.¡± Kang Chan thought that he had to kill Yang Jin-Woo as fast as possible. 1. Kang Chan doesn¡¯t actually think of her as a kid here, but he¡¯s saying this because he¡¯s thinking that she¡¯s acting younger than her age 2. DALF, or the Dipl?me approfondi dengue fran?aise (Advanced diploma in Frenchnguage) is a certification of Frenchnguage abilities for non-native speakers of French. It¡¯s administered by France Education International for France''s Ministry of Education. It¡¯s valid for life and the certification has two versions¨CDELF, or the Dipl?me d¡¯¨¦tudes enngue fran?aise (Diploma of Frenchnguage studies) is for beginners and intermediate learners, and DALF, which is the one that Kim Mi-Young is preparing to take, is for advanced learners Chapter 85.1: Prelude (2)

Chapter 85.1: Prelude (2)

The doctor that had stitched up Kang Chan¡¯s waist and shoulder came by to treat them. The son hid his wounds, and the father hid the identity of his illness to appear healthy. However, neither did so with bad intentions. Just as Kang Chan was thinking about calling Kim Hyung-Jung, thetter called him instead just at the right time. - Mr. Kang Chan, how¡¯s your father doing? ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital, and he¡¯s a lot better, thanks to you.¡± - Do you have some time to spare in the afternoon? ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯m in my father¡¯s room right now.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung, who was in front of Kang Chan, gestured that he should go. ¡°Yes! I think we can meet up.¡± - Then please give me a call when you¡¯re leaving the hospital. ¡°Will do.¡± When Kang Chan ended the call, Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Kang Chan as if he was curious about the phone call. ¡°It¡¯s manager Kim. He wants to see me today,¡± Kang Chan told Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°You should go. No matter how important of a role you took on, you shouldn¡¯t disrespect adults.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± It felt good that his father was worried about these things for him. ¡°Did you know that your mom has be dramatically popr among graduates nowadays?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Mom¡¯s popr?¡± ¡°Yeah. People found out what you did for us at the hotel, and how you gave the daughter of her friend a chance to appear in a drama. They also heard that you got admitted to a university in France and a university in Seoul. Your mom¡¯s been feeling as if she¡¯s walking on cloudstely.¡± Kang Chan smiled slightly, and Kang Dae-Kyung smiled in turn after thanking him. While they were talking about random topics, Kang Chan suddenly remembered Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s advice. ¡°Father, can you really move on already despite having gone through something like this? You¡¯re not curious about how I found out?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m curious, but I think it would be best for you if I forget what happened that day. If I ended up discovering what you do, I feel like I¡¯d stop you or interfere. Knowing you and I are safe is enough for me. Still, don¡¯t try to manage everything by yourself. If serving the country proves difficult, then you canin to me sometimes.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Come here. I probably won¡¯t get to do this anymore when you get older.¡± Kang Chan awkwardly went in-between Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s arms when thetter opened them. Pat. Pat. Pat. Kang Dae-Kyung patted his back while only their shoulders were touching. ¡°The look in your eyes on that day is still vivid in my mind. I¡¯m honestly scared, but I¡¯m enduring it, so don¡¯t ever think you¡¯re alone. Open up to me whenever you¡¯re tired or if things be difficult, okay?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get hurt.¡± Rattle. Even before Kang Dae-Kyung could finish talking, the door opened. ¡°Why did youe here so early?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I was worried that Channy would find this difficult.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook smiled pleasantly at them. ¡°Phew, our Channy has been consoling his dad. Give me a hug as well.¡± Kang Chan hugged Yoo Hye-Sook, who had wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°I love you, Channy. I love you so much,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t even respond. He had never thought that this kind of happiness existed in this world and that it would be his. Yoo Hye-Sook peeled some fruits with the knife she brought, and they all ate together for the first time in a long while. For lunch, they had the bossam that Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m going to be discharged tomorrow,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Yoo Hye-Sook afterward. ¡°But the doctor said you should rest for about a week, honey!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have to¡ªI already feel great after a good night¡¯s sleep yesterday. This room is a bit ufortable as well. I¡¯ll tell the director tomorrow about my wishes, and I¡¯ll get discharged if he says that it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll rest for a day or two more at home, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook red at Kang Dae-Kyung with suspicion, then nodded after adding the proviso ¡°we¡¯ll decide after hearing what the director has to say.¡± ¡°You do know you have to go to the Foundation office next week, right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Why should I? You take care of it.¡± ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t you? Drop by for even just a moment since it¡¯s an officetel that¡¯s beside our office. There should be a female employee there.¡± Kang Chan listened and watched them talk about the Kang-Yoo foundation until almost 3 pm. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving now. I¡¯m thinking about meeting the manager,¡± Kang Chan told his parents. ¡°Okay, be quick. I¡¯m going to be discharged tomorrow, so make sure to go home swiftly, okay?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°I¡¯ll call you after seeing how things go.¡± ¡°Be careful out there, Channy,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. Kang Chan left the room. *** Kim Hyung-Jung unexpectedly said that he wished to see Kang Chan at the office in Samseong-dong. Kang Chan could just take a taxi to that ce, though, so he didn¡¯t find it that troublesome. Kang Chan arrived at the building in fifteen minutes. He went up to the fifth floor, and, the moment Kang Chan stood in front of the door, the door opened with a nk. ¡°Pleasee in.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung was inside. ¡°Did I miss a CCTV while I wasing up here?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°But isn¡¯t this a special office without one?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung led Kang Chan to his room, which was located further into the office. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you submitted a letter of resignation?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Let¡¯s talk over tea. Would you like coffee? Or a cold drink?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like both.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a wise choice.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung smiled and left, then returned with two coffees and two drinks on a tray. ¡°I got some cigarettes as well.¡± A cigarette pack was on the table. It was missing three to four cigarettes. ¡°I didn¡¯t smoke a lot since I thought that I also have to take care of my mental health,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. Kang Chan smiled lightly in response. They both took out cigarettes. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo, cigarettes are amazing,¡± Kim Hyung-Jungmented. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what he was talking about, but it looked like Kim Hyung-Jung needed time. In moments like this, just watching him and giving him that was the best thing to do. ¡°We found circumstantial evidence that thirty people that are a part of the North Korean special forces have gone over to China,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung started to exin. ¡°Did theye over to South Korea through Japan again?¡± ¡°They seemed to have initially expected to eliminate Lanok and execute the rest of the terrorist attacks with only the people they sent into the countryst time. They¡¯re probably in a hurry as well, though, since those people all got KIA¡¯d, including their surviving members, thanks to you.¡± Kang Chan waited for Kim Hyung-Jung to continue after taking a sip of the coffee, thinking thetter hadn¡¯t said his main point yet. ¡°Seven of our agents in Berlinid down their lives to obtain this information.¡± Kang Chan exhaled softly. The number of lives sacrificed here was not unlike what would have happened in a local war. ¡°We also caught the movement of China¡¯s Intelligence Bureau while we were chasing Cha Yang-Woon, who came into the country from China. Thanks to that, we¡¯ve ascertained where the North Korean special forces soldiers went,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added as he extinguished his cigarette on the ashtray. He then looked at Kang Chan. ¡°The President has approved ofunching a preemptive attack on the North Korean special forces soldiers that are in Mongolia.¡± Kang Chan sat nkly. He never would have expected this. ¡°This issue can cause a war, so we should also move on from this afterpletely getting rid of our identities. I returned to the National Intelligence Service to do that. My fingerprint, pictures, and every record about me right now have been changed or deleted. Regardless of where I¡¯m caught or who¡¯s searching for me, they won¡¯t be able to find me.¡± Why is Kim Hyung-Jung telling me this? ¡°The President said he¡¯s not going to just watch the enemiesmit merciless terrorist attacks on our territory and that neglecting you while you¡¯re making sacrifices for the country doesn¡¯t sit right with him either. He wanted me to pass on his sincerest apology about what happened with your father.¡± ¡°How many people are going to Mongolia?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, everything that happens from here on out will proceed in absolute secrecy. In about a week, my sessor will contact you. This is the best thing that this country¡¯smander-in-chief and I can do for you.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s calm smile looked very cool. ¡°Can I ask you for information about Yang Jin-Woo?¡± Kang Chan asked. When Kang Chan said that, Kim Hyung-Jung brought over a USB from his desk and handed it to him. ¡°I thought you¡¯d ask, so I wrote down everything about him¡ªfrom his surroundings to suspicious circumstantial evidence rted to him, his movement paths, security, and his funds¡ªand stored them in here. I personally collected all of the intel in it.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung was already prepared for death. He was thinking that this was the best he could do and felt that he had no choice but to die at the end of it. Kang Chan cocked his head. ¡°Mr. Manager, why are you so sure of your death?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Do I look like I am?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t dodge the question.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung inhaled deeply as if he was strengthening his resolve, then said, ¡°We weren¡¯t able to secure a retreat route.¡± What kind of stupid n is that? ¡°The target location is close to the boundaries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. We can get to it, but we have no means of returning after the war.¡± Kang Chan smirked, thenmented, ¡°That also means we¡¯ll ultimately have to fight Mongolian soldiers as well if a war breaks out after you enter Mongolia.¡± ¡°The border guards are near the target spot.¡± ¡°What about entering Mongolia?¡± ¡°That¡¯s going to be done normally. Quite a lot of agents areing with me.¡± Kang Chan thought he understood what was going on. They¡¯d pay someone to get them into Mongolia, but that meant there would be no way to help Kim Hyung-Jung once a war had broken out. If so, then they¡¯d be left with death as their only option. ¡°Why are you going this far?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°This will serve as a strong warning to the force that¡¯s trying to stop the ¡®Unicorn.¡¯ It¡¯ll show the people that ordered others to kill your father our intention not to sit back and just watch anymore.¡± Kang Chan only watched Kim Hyung-Jung because he was dumbfounded. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, please look after the ¡®Unicorn¡¯.¡± ¡°You said it¡¯ll take about a week, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I can¡¯t disclose any more information.¡± ¡°Does President Kim also know about this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve arranged this meeting with you because there¡¯s the promise that I¡¯ve made to you. I can¡¯t force you, but I hope you¡¯ll make sure only the two of us know about this. This is for the members and agents that have prepared to die with me.¡± Kang Chan nodded, then asked, ¡°Can I join?¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± Contrary to Kang Chan¡¯s expectations, it was a t refusal. ¡°If by any chance something happens to you, then the reason why I intervened in this in the first ce would disappear. Mr. Kang Chan, please look after the ¡®Unicorn¡¯.¡¯ That would be enough for me,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. The look in his eyes showed that he was prepared to die. It was the gaze of a soldier with a strong sense of duty. 1. In South Korea, officetel refers to a multi-purpose building with residential andmunity units. It¡¯s a studio apartment or t designed to be a self-contained building that allows its residents to live and work in it Chapter 85.2: Prelude (2)

Chapter 85.2: Prelude (2)

Kang Chan was thinking of eating the jjampong that he had before with Kim Hyung-Jung, but he left his office before dinner. To someone prepared to die, a week would pass by so quickly that it would feel no longer than a day, especially if they had a family or a person they love. On his way home, Kang Chan called Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°You have a suit jacket, right?¡± - I¡¯ve cleaned it and prepared it so I can wear it anytime. ¡°I¡¯m going to go to the funeral home for Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s men. Do you want toe?¡± - Should I wait in front of your house? ¡°I¡¯ll be at the entrance of the apartment in twenty minutes.¡± - Alright. Kang Chan went up to his house and put on dress pants and a clean shirt, then headed out of the apartment. Seok Kang-Ho was already waiting with his Chiffre¡¯s emergency lights on. ¡°Where¡¯s the funeral home located?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I was told it¡¯s in Sanggye.¡± Seok Kang-Ho input the location in the GPS, then immediately left. What should I do with this fucker? Kang Chan nced at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I¡¯m looking at you because that suit doesn¡¯t suit you.¡± ¡°Huh? My wife said to be careful of the young bitches that would be running after me.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. ¡°How¡¯s your father?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. ¡°He¡¯ll probably get discharged tomorrow. I didn¡¯t say anything because I didn¡¯t think it was a bad idea. He was just at the hospital out of fear and because he was going through severe aftereffects due to the idents anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± This time, Seok Kang-Ho discreetly looked at Kang Chan. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Is something going on? What is it? Be honest with me,¡± Seok Kang-Ho pushed. ¡°There isn¡¯t! I just feel down because I¡¯m going to a funeral home with you despite how good the weather is today.¡± ¡°Why do I doubt that?¡± ¡°After dropping by the funeral home, let¡¯s visit the hospital where the agents that got hurt in Yongin are confined.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± They arrived at the funeral home after driving for about forty minutes. Starting from the entrance, it was swarmed with guys that, given their looks, could have just as well held signboards that said ¡®I¡¯m a gangster!¡¯ Three or four people approached them when they entered the parking lot. Kang Chan didn¡¯t really want to deal with them, so he got out of the passenger seat. ¡°Where did youe from?¡± one of the people asked. He looked at Kang Chan while twisting his lips. ¡°Wee, hyung-nim!¡± Another man urgently ran over from the inner part of the parking lot. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know his name but remembered his face. ¡°You fuckers! You don¡¯t know Kang Chan hyung-nim?¡± he asked the others as he arrived in front of Kang Chan. Damn it! The men in the parking lot all bowed, making those walking nearby look at Kang Chan in surprise. The man quickly gestured with his head to help Seok Kang-Ho get out of the car. He then said, ¡°This way, hyung-nim.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho followed him down to the basement. As they descended, Kang Chan remembered that the person they were following was the one who had called people for him when Seok Kang-Ho had been hospitalized because of a neck injury. It seemed like they were using the entire first floor of the basement. While they were passing the hallway, they saw portraits of the deceased hung up in every partition and people that seemed to be their family members, looking stunned. ¡°No! Anything but this! Please!!¡± From far away, they heard the mncholic cries of a mourning old woman. ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek hyung-nim is inside this room, hyung-nim,¡± the guy told Kang Chan. Oh Gwang-Taek was at the innermost partition of the room. When Kang Chan went in, the gangsters inside all stood up and greeted him. ¡°Oh, I wasn¡¯t expecting you. Wee,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek greeted Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. He looked haggard and had his beard grown out. It looked like it had a mind of its own. ¡°Let¡¯s sit. Hey! Bring us coffee,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek ordered one of his subordinates, then took out cigarettes. He bit on one then handed the rest to Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I made the incident appear as a car ident,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek told Kang Chan. What am I supposed to say? Oh Gwang-Taek looked at Kang Chan, then nodded. ¡°I thought that you wouldn¡¯te, since you said so many times that you don¡¯t like gangsters.¡± ¡°Do you need anything?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Just look into the fucker that Cha Yang-Woon brought here.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about that after the funeral.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek gritted his teeth instead of answering him. It didn¡¯t matter what Kang Chan said. Oh Gwang-Taek was so full of spite that nothing could appease him right now. Kang Chan sat at the funeral home for about twenty minutes, then left. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho then headed to the police hospital. When they went into the patient room that Kim Hyung-Jung had told him about, they found two agents beside their colleague, who had half of his body covered in a cast. One of the two agents had crutches, while the other had a cast on one of his arms. Seok Kang-Ho handed over a fruit basket. ¡°Please have a seat,¡± one of the agents offered. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We can¡¯t stay long,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± one of the agents said. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s because of you guys that my father is safe,¡± Kang Chan said, then walked out of the room. The agents bowed with awkward expressions. ¡°Where are we going now?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner and smoke somewherefortable. Is there something that you want to eat? My treat.¡± ¡°How about eel?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± They headed to Gimpo. It felt like they were circling around the outskirts of Seoul. After eating eel until they were full, they sat down at a specialty coffee shop. ¡°Feeling better?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m not angry anymore.¡± ¡°You¡¯re clearly hiding something.¡± This fucker was now quick-witted as well. ¡°Hey, should I sleep with Michelle? Would I be a bit more generous once I relieved everything I¡¯ve been holding in?¡± Kang Chan asked. Seok Kang-Ho grabbed a cigarette while grinning, then asked, ¡°See? You¡¯re even changing the subject now. Stop doing that, Captain. Just tell me what¡¯s going on so you won¡¯t have to carry the burden alone.¡± Kang Chan just took out a cigarette and bit it. ¡°Are you thinking of going to Africa, by any chance?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°No.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s not it, then it¡¯s fine.¡± Kang Chan nodded. *** Kang Chan went home at around 10 pm, and he fell asleep after he talked with Yoo Hye-Sook and washed up a bit. On Monday morning, Kang Chan called Lanok. - Mr. Kang Chan, is there a problem with tomorrow¡¯s appointment? ¡°There isn¡¯t, Mr. Ambassador. I¡¯m calling you to ask you a favor before the meeting tomorrow. I don¡¯t want Anne to know about this.¡± - How much time do you need? ¡°One hour should be enough.¡± - Please wait for a moment. Over the phone, Lanok talked about his schedule with an employee. - Mr. Kang Chan, I have time to meet you at 1 pm today, although it will be tight. Can youe to the embassy? ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll see you then.¡± After he ended the call, Kang Chan washed up, had an omelet, and headed to the hospital. Yoo Hun-Woo, who had been waiting for him, examined his wounds. ¡°They look okay. You¡¯ll even be able to shower starting tomorrow,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said as he dismissively bandaged Kang Chan¡¯s wounds, almost as if he was just putting a band-aid on him. ¡°Can my father be discharged from the hospital?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Hmm! That should be fine, he doesn¡¯t really need any special treatment. It¡¯s safe to say he can get discharged as long as he¡¯s no longer afraid and has calmed down.¡± ¡°He¡¯s going to ask about being dischargedter when you see him in the in-person rounds.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll exin it to him well.¡± After he finished getting treated, Kang Chan went up to Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s room and found him in a much better state than the day before. Yoo Hun-Woo arrived not long after Kang Chan, and they decided that Kang Dae-Kyung would get discharged. Kang Chan returned home with Kang Dae-Kyung, then immediately headed to the French embassy. An agent had been waiting for him at the front door. He apanied Kang Chan to Lanok. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan was happy to see him. They greeted each other ording to French customs. Kang Chan then sat on the seat that Lanok pointed at. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, is this room safe?¡± Lanok nced at Kang Chan, then gestured with his eyes to the agent that had been waiting in front of the door. The agent closed the door, and calm ssical music filled the room. ¡°We¡¯ve blocked nearly all frequencies that are used for wiretapping. Even if someone ced a mic outside, the music would be louder than us, so it would be difficult to catch the conversation. What¡¯s wrong?¡± After Kang Chan took a sip of the tea that Lanok rmended, he picked up a cigarette. While the ssical music was being yed, Lanok, who was sitting with his long legs crossed, listened to what Kang Chan had to say. ¡°Is that really necessary, Mr. Kang Chan? From my perspective, I find it incredibly reckless,¡± Lanok said afterward. He had straightened his posture and was looking at Kang Chan. ¡°I know it¡¯s a difficult favor, Mr. Ambassador, but I can¡¯t just sit on my hands and watch this unfold.¡± Lanok looked like he couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. ¡°I¡¯ll give you an answer to your request at tomorrow¡¯s dinner,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Understood.¡± They stood up from their seats. Lanok¡¯s expression remained extremely grim. 1. Sanggye, or Sanggye-dong, is a neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea Chapter 86.1: Things Went Wrong and Got Messed Up (1)

Chapter 86.1: Things Went Wrong and Got Messed Up (1)

On Monday afternoon, Kang Chan came home, had dinner with his family, and spent time with them watching TV. If he had to insist on picking something special that happened, then it would be the phone call that Yoo Hye-Sook received about their application tounch a Foundation having been approved. In his spare time, he looked at all the materials about Yang Jin-Woo that were on the USB, then checked the important parts. But even if he could understand the other things, he really couldn¡¯t understand how Yang Jin-Woo could provide mary support to six separate women. ¡®He¡¯s a weird fucker.¡¯ Cha Yang-Woon only saw them once every two months at most. He didn¡¯t even sleep with them often, yet he was still providing them with the best apartments and paying their enormous living expenses. Compared to his short height, he had a solid build, small eyes, and a big nose. He had a strange expression that made him look as if he was looking down on others. ¡®Just you wait.¡¯ Kang Chan slowly examined the materials as his eyes shone. Kang Dae-Kyung had decided to rest until Tuesday. He looked like he was itching to go out after he had breakfast, but he couldn¡¯t win over Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s determined eyes. Kang Chan was greatly relieved when he saw Kang Dae-Kyung acting that way. On Tuesday afternoon, Kang Chan headed to the meeting ce in Bang bae-dong. They were meeting at a restaurant that specialized in French cuisine, but it was much smaller than he had expected. ¡°This way, monsieur Kang.¡± An agent personally led Kang Chan from the entrance. ¡°Channy!¡± Anne got up first, and Lanok followed after her. Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect them to be here already. ¡°You¡¯re here early,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°I needed time to speak with Anne privately.¡± ¡°Did I intrude into that conversation?¡± ¡°Not at all. You¡¯re right on time. Now! Should we have a simple drink before the meal?¡± With Lanok¡¯s suggestion, Kang Chan and Anne held up their sses. After Lanok drank the wine, he gestured for the food to be served. Anne was the star of the day. It was great to see her going on about the handful of stories that she had about her school days, the absurd driver shot that Kang Chan had shown at the golf club, and the change she went through since that day, all with a bright face. Lanok looked delighted, and Kang Chan enjoyed listening to her as well. The dinnersted two hours, during which no other customers entered the restaurant. When Lanok gestured with his eyes, a server brought over cigars and cigarettes, an ashtray, and a lighter on a silver tray. ¡°This is today¡¯s foremost service,¡± Lanokmented. Kang Chan smiled satisfyingly, and the three of them leisurely enjoyed the cigarettes. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, Anne has decided to act as a hostess of the embassy from now on,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Really? That¡¯s amazing.¡± When Kang Chan looked back at Anne, she brought her face closer to him while smiling widely. Damn it! I shouldn¡¯t have pretended to be happy. Left with no other choice, Kang Chan quickly kissed her. The smooch was loud but passionless. ¡°I have to go in a little bit, Channy. There¡¯s a social gathering with special guests from Africa, and I have to join them for tea,¡± Anne said afterward, wanting to be praised by him. Kang Chan told her that she was incredible, then gave her a thumbs-up several times. True to her word, Anne got up from her seat thirty minutester. Anne hugged Kang Chan and lightly kissed him. He had been worried about her, but at this rate, it seemed she¡¯d be able to swiftly pull herself together. Those who wanted to be recognized followed the person that recognized them. If someone stood by her, continuously watched over her, and consoled her, then she would soon grow attached to them instead. When Lanok looked around their surroundings, all of the agents went outside of the restaurant. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, as a result of France¡¯s Intelligence Bureau directing all of their strengths into your request, it¡¯s been confirmed that the mission¡¯s target location is at a hill near S¨¹khbaatar and the Selenga river,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Lanok offered a cigarette to Kang Chan, then lit up another cigar again. ¡°This is reckless, Mr. Kang Chan. Please rethink your decision.¡± ¡°I heard there were thirty North Korean special forces soldiers in Mongolia. If we eliminate them, the surrounding countries, including Japan and those that oppose South Korea, would have no choice but to slow down and observe our behavior for a while.¡± Lanok shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s really no reason for you to go there in person for that.¡± Kang Chan breathed deeply, then looked at Lanok. ¡°This is my fight, Mr. Ambassador. It happened because I asked you to include South Korea in the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ and because we decided to move up the announcement date. If I look the other way, who knows how many people will die this time? Our enemies this time don¡¯t care who they kill for their goals as well, which is the reason why you and my current parents got mixed into this in the first ce.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that the specialized team is leaving for Mongolia from South Korea? If needed, I¡¯ll look into a way to help them escape.¡± ¡°Considering there are thirty North Korean soldiers in Mongolia, then we¡¯ll be deploying around the same number of people as well, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°The gun is aimed at me and you. I can''t let those men die just because they''re trying to buy us time or prevent us from getting killed.¡± Lanok deeply inhaled the cigar, then slowly exhaled. He appeared to be stalling on purpose. ¡°Everyone has their own duty to take care of. As far as I can tell, your current role isn¡¯t to go and fight in Mongolia. Rather, it¡¯s to take center stage and ensure the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project can be achieved.¡± It seemed like Lanok had already made up his mind, seeing as how he didn¡¯t say anything else and just red at the wine ss on the table. Kang Chan also didn¡¯t n on backing off, but he didn¡¯t n on begging either. ¡°Thank you for providing me with the mission¡¯s urate location. I¡¯ll join the Korean team, and I¡¯ll contact you when Ie back,¡± Kang Chan told Lanok. There was a limit on how much Lanok could do. Help like this couldn¡¯t be given by force. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Lanok had raised his gaze from the wine ss to Kang Chan. ¡°If things go south, this situation can escte into a war.¡± ¡°Mr. Ambassador, the enemy country ran rampant in South Korea with guns zing. If we just fall behind them, even the agents around you will keep being sacrificed. Battles like this will never end unless the opponent gives up or achieves their purpose.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lanok straightened his cigar, then rubbed it on the ashtray. ¡°I know your secret, and I trust you, so I¡¯ll disclose something to you. The Intelligence Bureaus of each country are assessing you as a secret agent that¡¯s created by France and the Korean government.¡± Kang Chan had already heard that, but Lanok likely had a reason to tell him about it again. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, all of my friends whom you met a while back in Loriam are the head of their country¡¯s Intelligence Bureaus.¡± Damn it! That meeting was onlyposed of big shots? ¡°I might not be a director of any Intelligence Bureau, but if by chance things go wrong and you, God forbid, get captured by the enemies in Mongolia, or if you leave evidence behind, then Europe as a whole won¡¯t be able to free itself from taking responsibility for that.¡± Why is this conversation suddenly heading that way? ¡°You and the team will have to infiltrate Mongolia and kill the members of a specialized team. However, there¡¯s a high chance that doing so would cause this to develop into a world war. After all, China and Japan would do whatever it takes to stop the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ from happening, even if it meant fighting another war.¡± Kang Chan bit on a cigarette whileughing feebly. In the end, there was no way to save Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, we¡¯ll cooperate as much as possible to help them get back home. We¡¯ve got plenty of ways to help since Mongolia receives nearly all of its resources from Canada and the United States. Plus a Europeanpany is producing and selling goods there.¡± Kang Chan was frustrated, but it was difficult to force Lanok not to interfere in this anymore. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving now, Mr. Ambassador, ¡± Kang Chan said and deeply inhaled. He was frustrated and felt like he¡¯d explode if anyone messed with him. When he got outside the restaurant, the French agents urgently went inside. ¡°Phew!¡± Kang Chan slowly walked along the street. ¡°Phuhu.¡± Kang Chan wanted to sigh, but heughed instead. Why was he this angry? There have already been too many deaths, and now more than twenty people will go to Mongolia just to add to that number. He was angry for having to just stand by and watch that happen despite beingpletely aware of their fate. It was currently around 10 pm, so the roads were crowded. If he bumped shoulders with someone like this, it would be hard to handle. To avoid that situation, Kang Chan walked around and looked a secluded ce. . It took him quite a while before finding an underpass that was only big enough for one car to barely go through. It also had a sign that stated he¡¯d reach the riverside of the Hangang river if he went across. When Kang Chan headed to the underpass, the Hangang river swiftly came into view. There were quite a lot of people since it was summer, but the riverside was big enough to amodate them. Kang Chan perched next to the stairs that went down to the river. He got angry, his pride got hurt, and he was ashamed. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Lanok was calling him. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, let¡¯s take the time to rest tomorrow, then meet again two days from now. ¡°Understood.¡± - A person on center stage has to b capable of enduring a bit of pain. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that yet.¡± - Please don¡¯t be in too much distress. You have much greater things ahead of you. ¡°Thank you for saying that.¡± After he ended the call, Kang Chan took out a cigarette and bit it. Chk chk. Chk chk.? ¡°Whoo-oo.¡± 1. S¨¹khbaatar is one of the twenty-one aimags (provinces) of Mongolia 2. the Selenga or Selenge is a major river in Mongolia and Buryatia, a mountainous Russian republic in eastern Siberia Chapter 86.2: Things Went Wrong and Got Messed Up (1)

Chapter 86.2: Things Went Wrong and Got Messed Up (1)

Kang Chan could hear the nearby people¡¯s boisterousughter. They had spread out a mat, sat around in huddles, and were drinking alcohol. Kang Chan shook the cigarette and extinguished it, then put the cigarette butt in a garbage can. As he looked at the river, he felt as if he could breathe easily again, at least a little bit. Amidst the noisy surroundings, he turned his head when he felt someone approaching him. Kang Chan smirked. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Someone asked Kang Chan. ¡°Did you put a tail on me? As far as I can recall, all of my security guards were changed to Yoo Bi-Corp employees.¡± ¡°I used the tracking device on your phone to find you.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung perched next to Kang Chan, then bit on a cigarette and lit it. ¡°Did it bother you that I met with Lanok?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I came here to see you in person. Should I buy canned beer? We should have some on this riverside to liven things up.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung went to a shop. He soon came back with a convenience store bag. Chk! ¡°Here!¡± Kim Hyung-Jung handed him a canned beer, then grabbed another for himself. Kang Chan felt much more refreshed after drinking it. ¡°Let¡¯s have a toast, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung suggested. Kang Chan just watched him in response. ¡°I¡¯m leaving tomorrow,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. Didn¡¯t he say that he was going to leave in a week? ¡°I¡¯ll be back. Please look after the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ until then.¡± ¡°Can you evene back?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Hyung-Jung took a big gulp of the beer, then took out a cigarette and offered it to Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m d to be a part of this mission.¡± ¡°Mr. Manager, more than twenty agents and members of the Foreign Legion are going there. Don¡¯t ever assume everyone¡¯s going to be happy about their deaths. Do you think your sacrifice will instantly make the enemies leave the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ alone? They¡¯ll keeping for the project.. Are you going to keep sending more people to their deaths whenever that happens?¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°This is the best that we can do right now, which is why I¡¯m asking you a favor. I want to make South Korea stronger for the next generation. That would stop people from ever daring to do things like this again. If the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ is connected, we¡¯ll be able to buy good weapons with the enormous wealth that¡¯lle with it, and we¡¯ll be able to adte the agents like kings and ask them to turn South Korea into a very powerful nation. That¡¯s why I can go there smiling.¡± Kang Chan almost fell for Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s words. However, he soon shook his head and argued, ¡°this isn¡¯t an operation. Entering a dangerous location fully aware that no matter what you do in there will result in your death is not an operation. It¡¯s suicide.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung held out his beer toward the river. ¡°The Selenga river is so long that I heard it goes along the border.¡± In front of Kang Chan, who was looking at him with suspicion, Kim Hyung-Jung smiled strangely. ¡°This originally isn¡¯t part of the operation, but I n on going along the border to get to Russia, climb the mountain, and head to Kazakhstan. Please help me when I arrive there.¡± ¡°How are you going to contact me?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Let¡¯s use a satellite phone. That should be enough to have a toast with me, right?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t seem like the person who would lie about something like this. Kang Chan nked his beer against Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s and took a big gulp. ¡°We need Lanok¡¯s help in Kazakhstan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung told Kang Chan afterward. ¡°He already promised to help with that matter.¡± ¡°I knew he would. After all, you didn¡¯t have any other reason to meet Lanok at the embassy yesterday aside from asking him for help in this operation.¡± Kang Chan looked around them. ¡°There isn¡¯t a country that neglects a special security target. You can trust us because it¡¯s on a different level than simply trailing you,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung reassured Kang Chan. ¡°It seems like this phone is the problem, then?¡± ¡°If you throw that away, then I¡¯ll have to write a detailed exnation.¡± They both smiled. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said seriously while looking straight at Kang Chan. ¡°That came out of nowhere.¡± ¡°France has given us more detailed information than what we had been aware of. Our guess is that France¡¯s DGSE is making a move, and they urgently handed over the intel they gathered to us through France¡¯s branch office between yesterday evening and this morning.¡± ¡°You and the members returning safely is far more important than things like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve found a way to survive because of the information they recently gave us. It included the Mongolian border guards¡¯ locations, shifts, and even the path we should follow while going up the river.¡± Tsk! Kang Chan suddenly felt very apologetic toward Lanok. Ah, shoot! He had been holding onto Kim Hyung-Jung for too long. ¡°You should go, Mr. Manager. You should spend time with your family as well if you¡¯re going to go to Mongolia tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I should, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung stood up withoutints. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll give you a ride.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay! Please go home quickly. I¡¯ll head home after having another beer. I doubt I¡¯ll be able to sleep like this anyway.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung nodded, then walked up to Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m d to have met someone like you.¡± ¡°Please tell me that after you¡¯ve returned alive. If you don¡¯te back, then I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ or whatever. I¡¯m throwing it all aside and running to you.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung held out his hand after smiling in a cool way. Kang Chan held onto it tightly, enough for his hand to hurt. After Kim Hyung-Jung swallowed dryly, he turned around, headed to the parking lot, and got in his car. Kang Chan stared nkly at him as his car¡¯s lights turned on and he drove away. Kang Chan then smirked. Kim Hyung-Jung gave him a military salute just as the car was turning around. *** On Wednesday, Kang Chan loafed around at home all day. He didn¡¯t exactly have it in mind to go out. After all, their current situation was chaotic because of what Kim Hyung-Jung was doing. Kang Dae-Kyung went to work, and Yoo Hye-Sook left after saying she¡¯ll be back after meeting a friend and dropping by the Foundation¡¯s office. ¡®Time to get to know you better, you son of a bitch.¡¯ Kang Chan again put Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s information on the screen and examined it as if he was going to memorize it. It wasn¡¯t easy. To put it bluntly, he could easily run over and beat him up with Seok Kang-Ho if that was all he had to do. However, beating Yang Jin-Woo up waspletely different from beating up gangsters or David from Alion. He didn¡¯t want to start something that even the National Intelligence Service would have trouble covering up just so he could punch him a few times. ¡®Should I actually incapacitate this man forever?¡¯ Don¡¯t do that. If Kang Chan did an awful job in finishing him, Yang Jin-Woo would spare no effort in getting revenge. Moreover, if that fucker desperately tried his best to make them suffer even more than he did rather than just getting even, then it would only be burdensome in the future. ¡®Should I kill him?¡¯ That wasn¡¯t easy to do either. If he suddenly killed the country¡¯s best chaebol? Kang Chan shook his head. ¡°Phew! How can I deal with this son of a bitch in a way that would make me feel relieved and not worry about future troubles?¡± Kang Chan asked himself. As Kang Chan was scratching his head¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan held up his phone. ¡°Hello?¡± - Channy! I¡¯m going to get upset if you¡¯ve forgotten about me. That was right¨CKang Chan had forgotten about Smithen. ¡°Weren¡¯t you doing well with a girl? You can just call me if I suddenlye across your mind.¡± - I¡¯m living by myself nowadays. ¡°What about the girl with the big breasts?¡± - We broke upst week. I knew it! - Channy, I received a weird offer. Let¡¯s talk in person. ¡°A weird offer? What is it about?¡± - I said that we should talk about it in person. Was this fucker stringing him along? Now that he had thought about it, Smithen had be very rxed. ¡°When can we meet?¡± - Let¡¯s have dinner tonight. Why not bring Dayeru with you? ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll contact you after I talk to Daye.¡± - Okay, Channy. By the way, I enrolled at anguage institute. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about thatter.¡± - Alright, Channy. Keep me updated. After ending the call, Kang Chan contacted Seok Kang-Ho and set up a time to meet. He then called Smithen again. His schedule suddenly became hectic. He had to wash up, change, and call Yoo Hye-Sook to tell her he was going to go out. Moreover, he decided to meet Seok Kang-Ho an hour before meeting Smithen. When Kang Chan walked out of the entrance of the apartment, Seok Kang-Ho was already waiting for him looking excited. ¡°What¡¯s with you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you gone anywheretely?¡± ¡°Hey! It¡¯s only been two days since Ist went out. My father hasn¡¯t been well.¡± ¡°Please look after me as well. I¡¯m lonely.¡± Kang Chan usually smiled whenever he met this guy. They headed to a specialty coffee shop near Smithen¡¯s house. ¡°Speak of the devil,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Smithen knows how to string someone along by saying that he got a weird offer.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point in doing that when he¡¯s just going to chatter about everything on his own anyway?¡± They bought iced coffees and put them on the table. They then smoked cigarettes. Kang Chan beat around the bush for a moment, then confessed what was going on with Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Were you thinking of going to Mongolia with him without telling me?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked afterward. ¡°That¡¯s not exactly true.¡± ¡°Hmph! No wonder you were acting so weird the other day! I should¡¯ve known better when you changed the subject and said something about sleeping with Michelle and whatnot. I¡¯m upset.¡± ¡°I said it¡¯s not like that!¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll just let this slide, then. I don¡¯t want to be narrow-minded. However, I have a favor to ask in return.¡± ¡°What is it? Just name it. Should I buy dinner?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Please swear on the name of the God of ckfield that from now on, you¡¯ll never leave me out if something like this happens again.¡± Kang Chan thought Seok Kang-Ho was taking this a bit too easily, but he soon turned to look at Kang Chan seriously. ¡°Captain, I¡¯m letting this slide even though I¡¯m very upset that you didn¡¯t tell me. If I could, I¡¯d probably be bawling my eyes out right now. Put yourself in my shoes. How would you feel if I talked about sleeping with other people for your sake, then suddenly disappeared without telling you that I¡¯m actually heading to my death?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Tsk! Why does this fucker suddenly turn into a great speaker when talking about topics like this? ¡°Captain!¡± ¡°Okay. I promise.¡± ¡°Please do it properly.¡± This fucker. I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s really doing this. ¡°Captain?¡± Kang Chan sighed when he saw Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes. The only way to stop Seok Kang-Ho whenever he acted like this was to beat him up to death. ¡°I swear on the name of the God of ckfield that I¡¯ll include you in every operation from now on.¡± Seok Kang-Ho grinned, which made Kang Chan feel as if he just made a big mistake. 1. a chaebol is a powerful conglomerate run by a single family 2. The raws actually used a Korean idiom, which is ???? ? ??? ??. It¡¯s literally tranted as ¡®the tiger wille when you talk about it¡¯, and in chapter 77.2, Seok Kang-Ho suggested that they meet Smithen to see if he knows anything and Kang Chan agreed to do so. Chapter 87.1: Things Went Wrong and Got Messed Up (2)

Chapter 87.1: Things Went Wrong and Got Messed Up (2)

After Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho talked for about an hour, Kang Chan called Smithen. - I know that ce! I¡¯ll leave right now! Smithen answered excitedly. ¡°He said he¡¯sing,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho afterward. ¡°Son of a bitch.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk when Seok Kang-Ho swore out of nowhere. Why would he swear when he looked happy to hear that Smithen was on his way? ¡°Channy!¡± A momentter, Smithen arrived and morously waved his hand. ¡°Wee,¡± Kang Chan told Smithen. ¡°Have you been great? And long time no see, Dayeru! Please stay seated. Let me just buy coffee.¡± Smithen spoke in Korean. His pronunciation was alright. And by all ounts, he looked like a very rxed Western man with his sophisticated clothes. ¡°Did you see that fucker¡¯s eye?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan after Smithen walked away. ¡°I told you he was putting in a prosthetic eye back then.¡± ¡°Ha! I didn¡¯t expect it''d look that realistic.¡± While Seok Kang-Ho was admiring the prosthetic eye, Smithen approached them. ¡°Your Korean has improved a lot,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°It¡¯s thanks to Alice.¡± Smithen was speaking in Korean again. Seok Kang-Ho still looked surprised. ¡°I also got into the advanced ss in the Koreannguage institute,¡± Smithen continued. ¡°You¡¯re talking to me informally, you fucker?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Channy¨CI did that because I spoke informally with Alice, and it has be a habit. Can I smoke?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to ask for my permission. Anyway, it seems like you¡¯re doing well. I¡¯m d.¡± ¡°Whoo. How have you been, Channy?¡± Smithen asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been doing okay. Right! What¡¯s the weird offer about?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah! I got a weird offer!¡± Smithen dramatically responded while flicking the ash off of his cigarette. ¡°They wanted me to sell my shares of Gong Te automobile¡¯s Korean branch. They offered an unbelievable amount for it. Five billion won, to be exact.¡± French and English words were mixed in between his Korean, but he spoke thenguage well enough for even Seok Kang-Ho to roughly understand what Smithen was saying. ¡°Who gave you the offer?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Suh Jeong group? Awyer from aw firm contacted me directly.¡± Kang Chan was dumbfounded. ¡°What did you tell them?¡± ¡°That it¡¯s not for me to decide.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan. ¡°We were right. It¡¯s that fucker Yang Jin-Woo,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°It seems he¡¯s just begging to be killed.¡± ¡°Am I missing something here?¡± Smithen asked. He was observing their mood while turning his head from side to side. ¡°Do you remember the people that tried to steal the contract with Gong Te, when Kang Yoo Motors was already in the process of importing the cars a while ago? They¡¯re from Suh Jeong Motors,¡± Kang Chan answered Smithen. ¡°Ah! Suh Jeong! Huh? They¡¯re the same name?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. They probably keep pestering us because they got ousted back then. Well, they offered you five billion won. You likely want to sell your shares.¡± ¡°No! Channy, I can¡¯t just recklessly sell my shares. I have to get permission from the Gong Te automobile headquarters first.¡± ¡°How many shares do you have?¡± Kang Chan prodded. ¡°Twenty percent of Gong Te automobile¡¯s Korean branch.¡± Kang Chan was momentarily confused. Would the stuck-up Suh Jeong Group¡¯s highly capable people andwyers really offer to buy twenty percent of shares for five billion won without knowing that? Kang Chan thought about it for a moment, then drank his coffee with a smirk. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°They¡¯ve probably wiretapped or are trailing Smithen to see who he contacts after telling this fucker that they¡¯ll buy shares from him. We should all smile so we¡¯ll look good in the photos.¡± ¡°Why would they do something like that? What do they have to gain?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. ¡°Would those fuckers even guess what happened between us and Shan? They have to be trying to look into why things suddenly got messed up halfway through, right? Smithen, have you taken another woman to your house after you broke up with Alice?¡± Kang Chan asked. Smithen couldn¡¯t answer, seemingly anxious of how they¡¯d react. ¡°Fuck you, you son of a bitch!¡± ¡°Dayeru, I¡¯m just¡ª¡± ¡°Be quiet. Settle for one woman, motherfucker.¡± People looked in their direction with fascination when Seok Kang-Ho suddenly shouted. ¡°Let¡¯s let this slide for now. It hasn¡¯t been confirmed yet if a woman has done this. And even if we do look into it, we¡¯re going to let it go once we find out anyway. Do you still meet with that woman?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°About that, Channy¡ª¡± ¡°Are you seeing a lot of women right now?¡± ¡°Yes. Three, to be specific.¡± ¡°You¡¯re seeing all three at once?¡± Kang Chan asked back. ¡°I take turns meeting them.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh heartily. He understood, though. Smithen was good-looking, tall, and muscr due to his mercenary days. Moreover, he was the Korean branch manager of Gong Te automobile. He looked like the type that shallow girls would like. Something suddenly shed across Kang Chan¡¯s mind as he was holding a cigarette. He aligned his index finger to the middle of his lips, signaling both of them to be quiet, then ordered them to move Smithen¡¯s shoes and phone somewhere else. Upon seeing Kang Chan¡¯s expression, Smithen obediently took off his shoes and put his phone in one of them. Seok Kang-Ho then moved it to the far end of the terrace. ¡°Smithen, are you confident you can seduce women?¡± Kang Chan asked afterward. ¡°For you?¡± ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s say that it is..¡± ¡°If so, then I am.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a list of names. Can you sleep with all of them?¡± ¡°Who are they? Are they pretty, Channy?¡± Smithen eagerly asked as he leaned closer toward Kang Chan. ¡°There¡¯s six of them, ranging from their twenties to mid-thirties. How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Please leave it to me, Channy!¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan with eyes that asked, ¡®what¡¯s he saying?¡¯ ¡°You fucker. Does your house require a password to enter?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°No, but I need the card in my wallet to get in,¡± Smithen answered. ¡°Have you ever given it to someone else?¡± ¡°Never. Someone suddenly barging in while I¡¯m having a good time would ruin the mood.¡± The fucker was putting on airs. Kang Chan called Kim Tae-Jin and told him they suspected that someone was wiretapping them. He then asked Kim Tae-Jin how they could solve this issue. - Are you with the person in question? ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve separated his shoes and phone from him.¡± - I¡¯ll send over two employees right now. Where are you? Kang Chan told him the location of the specialty coffee shop and ended the call. He then asked, ¡°What do you guys want to have for dinner?¡± ¡°Channy, do you have pictures of those women?¡± Smithen threw a question but flinched when he saw Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Let¡¯s have pork ribs,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested, ignoring Smithen. ¡°You sure?¡± The two chose what to eat for dinner and talked nonsense for a bit. Soon, Yoo Bi-Corp employees ran over. ¡°Search through him, then look at his shoes and phone over there. Afterward, search his house while we¡¯re having dinner,¡± Kang Chan told the employees. ¡°Understood.¡± The employees took out three phone-shaped devices and a detection stick from a bag. They then slowly scanned Smithen. ¡°There¡¯s nothing on him,¡± one of the employees said afterward. Since they were in a specialty coffee shop, Kang Chan carefully looked around to see if someone nearby was trailing them. Meanwhile, the employees used the detection stick to the shoes and the phone. Be-ep. An employee from Yoo Bi-Corp put his index finger in front of his mouth, then quietly headed to a car with the shoes and the phone. ¡°Oh! That¡¯s surprising,¡± Smithenmented. ¡°I¡¯m more surprised by you, you fucker,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Dayeru! Stop swearing!¡± ¡°What are you saying? Fucking idiot!¡± ¡°Tsk! Stop it,¡± Kang Chan told the two of them. Seok Kang-Ho and Smithen stopped fighting. About ten minutester, a Yoo Bi-Corp employee returned with the shoes and the phone. ¡°High-performance wiretapping devices were installed on both of them. It can record within two kilometers of downtown.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to ask for this as well, but scan the house too. I¡¯ll give you the keycard,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Understood.¡± When Kang Chan gestured with his eyes, Smithen handed over his keycard and told them his address. ¡°It¡¯ll take about an hour. We¡¯ll give you a call when we¡¯re done.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be eating nearby. What are you guys going to have for dinner?¡± ¡°We decided to go somewhere nice after the job.¡± The employees seemed friendlier than how they would treat an ordinary superior. ¡°We¡¯ll be going now,¡± one of the employees said. ¡°Keep up the good work.¡± When the employees left, the three of them went to a restaurant near the specialty coffee shop. It was still early, so they were the first customers. They sat at a table inside the restaurant and ordered pork ribs. They didn¡¯t have to worry about wiretaps anymore. ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone elsee into your house for the time being, Smithen. Protect it as best as you can, even if people from the maintenance office say they¡¯reing for an inspection. Okay?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Alright, Channy.¡± ¡°The leader of the Suh Jeong group is Yang Jin-Woo. That fucker is harboring a grudge against me, Dayeru, and even you. And you¡¯re going to suffer first if you behave carelessly since you¡¯re an easy target. Be careful about that.¡± Smithen grinned. His stomach seemed to have churned when Kang Chan said that he¡¯d suffer. ¡°The list of women that I¡¯m handing over to you tomorrow are all Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s women,¡± Kang Chan continued. Seok Kang-Ho and Smithen looked at Kang Chan with startled eyes. ¡°It appears he meets them once every two months or so, and he had bought them an apartment and pays for their living expenses. I¡¯ll order the Yoo Bi-Corp employees you saw a moment ago to determine the women¡¯s daily routine and give it to you, so make all of those women yours. Make them listen to whatever you say. Okay?¡± Kang Chan asked Smithen. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry, Channy.¡± As the trio grinned at each other, their food was served. As a savory scent rose up with a ¡®chkk¡¯?from the grill, Seok Kang-Ho made bomb shots with the soju and beer that they had ordered. ¡°Let¡¯s have a toast, Channy. I¡¯ll risk my life to seed in what you told me to do,¡± Smithen said. It wasn¡¯t something that Smithen should risk his life for, but Kang Chan just held out his ss. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho heard about the women that Smithen had met while they were having dinner. He had been with quite a lot since Kang Chan hadst seen him. It was clear that some of them likely approached Smithen on purpose. Those women seemingly would¡¯ve had enough guts to install wiretapping devices on Smithen¡¯s phone and shoes, too. ¡°Does that mean those women thought I was stupid?¡± Smithen asked. Smithen seemed to be more resentful about the fact that the reason why the women slept with him wasn¡¯t because of his charms, but that was none of Kang Chan¡¯s business. As they were bing somewhat full, Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang. A momentter, the Yoo Bi-Corp employees came into the restaurant. ¡°We found four devices in different locations¡ªthe bedroom, living room, bathroom, and entrance. We¡¯ve removed all of them. Here¡¯s the keycard,¡± one of the employees told Kang Chan. ¡°You guys did great.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just d we could help, even in this way.¡± When Kang Chan looked at them suspiciously, the two employees politely said goodbye and left the restaurant. Are they hiding something? Even if they were, it was awkward to call them over and ask. So Kang Chan just let it go. Chapter 87.2: Things Went Wrong and Got Messed Up (2)

Chapter 87.2: Things Went Wrong and Got Messed Up (2)

They were currently intoxicated, so it was difficult for them to drive. After sending Smithen home, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho returned to the specialty coffee shop. ¡°What do you n to do to Yang Jin Woo¡¯s women?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I just thought of throwing a job at Smithen that he¡¯ll handle with a sense of duty. He¡¯s a fucker that goes crazy over women anyway. Who knows? One of the six women might spill secrets that we aren¡¯t aware of.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°We should retaliate, considering they even wiretapped Smithen.¡± ¡°Phuhu, I¡¯m looking forward to that,¡± Seok Kang-Ho smiled strangely. Kang Chan called Kim Tae-Jin and briefly exined what was going on with Smithen, then asked him to check the women¡¯s daily schedules. - Do you have to go this far? ¡°Yes. They not only tried to kill my father but installed wiretapping devices in my surroundings. I¡¯m thinking of slowly preparing to fight Yang Jin-Woo.¡± - Alright. Since you¡¯re going to do it anyway, might as well do it properly. ¡°Please put an employee in charge of this matter and have them contact Smithen directly. I¡¯ll tell you the addresses of the womenter.¡± - Don¡¯t send that information through email or other means. Tell me on a phone call instead. ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Kang Chan ended his call with Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Does he still not know what¡¯s going on with manager Kim?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°I think so?¡± ¡°Ha! He¡¯s a scary person. What time would he have left? In any case, wouldn¡¯t we get the gist of the results tomorrow?¡± ¡°Probably. Lanok did ask me to see him tomorrow, so the results should be ready by then.¡± ¡°That sounds about right.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded to himself, drank the coffee, then continued. ¡°The break is going to end in ten days.¡± ¡°Already?¡± ¡°I¡¯m disappointed as well. If I was told to just train with the kids while working out like right now, then I would do it for years.¡± Kang Chan was rxed deep down. Once his school and the Ministry of Education had gotten the eptance letter from France, then that would be the end of his life as a high schooler! *** On Thursday, Kang Chan started to run in the mornings again. He thought he could run a bit more now that he had gotten used to running quite a bit, but he wasn¡¯t nning on being a track and field athlete. Running just this much was enough. Honestly, Kang Chan felt uneasy. He also regretted his actions. The thought that he shouldn¡¯t have sent Kim Hyung-Jung alone even if he had to cling to Lanok kept haunting him. Kang Chan had breakfast, then thought about going to school, which he hadn¡¯t done in a long time. He gave up on the idea, however. Instead, he called Kim Tae-Jin and Smithen and told them the names and addresses of the women, then asked them to do the trivial task of seducing the women. Kang Chan kept breathing deeply because he was frustrated. To stop having useless thoughts, he exercised in his room without any equipment, causing him to sweat like a pig. After he washed up, he had Bibim-guksu[ref] Bibim-guksu, or spicy noodles, is a cold dish that¡¯s made up of very thin noodles and spicy seasoning. It¡¯s one of the most popr traditional noodle dishes in Korean cuisine, especially in the summer[ref/] that Yoo Hye-Sook had made for him for lunch. Is there anything that I should do? Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan urgently picked up his phone. - Channy, are you busy today? ¡°I have a dinner engagement. Why?¡± - It¡¯s about thepany dinner. The other actors all happened to be avable today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say this, but you¡¯ll have to take care of it like how I told youst time. Contact me if something urgent happens, though.¡± - Alright. This appointment is sudden anyway. Is there anything else going on right now? ¡°Not really.¡± - Then give me a call if it ends early, by any chance. Everyone would love it if you drop by, even if for just a moment. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan inhaled deeply after he ended the call with Michelle. Honestly, he couldn¡¯t guarantee that all of the members would survive every battle. This also applied to him. What increased their chances of returning safely was a thorough operation and the capabilities of those joining the operation. Damn it! However, Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what they were capable of, and the operation had been hastily nned. It wasn¡¯t like he wasn¡¯t aware of Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s determination or the feelings of the people that ordered this operation to be done. It was obviously difficult for him to participate in all operations of this kind as well. ¡®Trust him. I have to trust that he¡¯lle back alive.¡¯ In situations like this, he thought that the people that sent their cherished members to the battlefield were really incredible. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? His phone rang at that moment. After Kang Chan red at it sharply for no reason, he held it up. It was Lanok. ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, have you calmed down a little? ¡°I¡¯m sorry for yesterday, Mr. Ambassador. I heard that you helped us, but I didn¡¯t call you because we¡¯d be seeing each other today anyway.¡± Kang Chan first told him what he had in mind because his voice sounded no different than usual. - If you¡¯re avable this evening, would you like to have tea with me? ¡°Of course I¡¯m avable. Where should we meet?¡± - The Namsan Hotel would be good. Please go there first and book a room. I¡¯m nning on going there after a work-rted dinner, so we should be able to meet at around 9 pm. ¡°Understood, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan hung up. He felt greatly relieved after talking to Lanok. If he knew that this was going to happen, then he should¡¯ve at least gotten the contact information of Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s superior. If he did, he would¡¯ve known the results by now since they had a satellite phone with them. As he was smacking his lips, he got a call from Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Hello?¡± - It¡¯s me. Can you go to school for a moment? ¡°Why? What¡¯s going on?¡± - A few of the people that you beat up on the roof a while ago are here to see you. I told them to wait. ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± - Alright. Kang Chan got changed. Since he couldn¡¯t stop this from happening anymore, dealing with it was much better than just pacing at home out of frustration. He even wished that those people would bring strong fighters with them. Yoo Hye-Sook was still busy with phone calls. She had said that she was going to be busy until this week with work rted to the Foundation and the reunion. He didn''t know why they would persistently call when she already said she wouldn''t do it. Kang Chan tactfully said goodbye and headed to school. It didn¡¯t take that long for him to get a taxi since it was already the middle of the day. As he entered the school gate, he couldn¡¯t help but smirk. Even from far away, he could already see someone with a cast on his arm and people with gauze on their heads. When Kang Chan approached them, they hesitantly stood up from their spots. ¡°You guys wanted to see me?¡± Kang Chan asked them. Kang Chan knew his eyes were more fiery than necessary as he was going down the stands. Why was he filling up with spite? Kang Chan didn¡¯t have to act like this. Whatever the reason, he came to school because the men that he beat up said that they wanted to see him. There were three of them in total. ¡°What do you all want?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Sit.¡± Alright, I¡¯ll sit. Kang Chan sat on the stand, then put his arm over his thigh and looked at them. He didn¡¯t have a good feeling about them since they looked seedy and had gauze and bandages wrapped around them. ¡°We¡¯re going toe to school for the second semester,¡± one of them told Kang Chan. Instead of responding, Kang Chan only listened. Keeping an eye on Kang Chan¡¯s mood, the guy continued, ¡°we heard from Eun-Sil and Ho-Jun.¡± ¡°So what do you want?¡± ¡°We just wanted to tell you that we¡¯re nning on attending school again.¡± These fucking idiots are really doing this? Why did they have to tell him that they were returning to school? They were the ones that were going to attend it and pay for it. ¡°I heard that you were waiting for us to return. Cut us some ck. We¡¯re going to keep to ourselves until we graduate,¡± he continued. Kang Chan was dumbfounded. He didn¡¯t know what Heo Eun-Sil had told them, but they clearly thought Kang Chan was going to attack them the moment they came to school. ¡°Stop saying nonsense and just be mindful of your actions,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°We¡¯re good, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡± The trio stood up hesitantly and sluggishly walked out since they couldn¡¯t gain anything. The sight was quite ridiculous. Tsk! Kang Chan had been nkly looking at the sports field when Seok Kang-Ho approached him. ¡°Huh? When did you get here? Have you seen the students that were waiting for you here?¡± Kang Chan told him everything that happened a moment ago. ¡°It seems like Heo Eun-Sil lied again,¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. ¡°Seems like it.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t worry about them.¡± ¡°Why would I?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°What¡¯s up with your expression, then? Is it because of manager Kim by any chance?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t me you. I also don¡¯t feelfortable about this. I couldn¡¯t even work since this morning.¡± ¡°So you feel the same way, huh?¡± ¡°Both of us are probably acting like this out of worry. The Korean special forces are famous for their skills, aren¡¯t they?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. . ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Kang Chan then told Seok Kang-Ho what he had talked about with Kim Tae-Jin, Smithen, and Lanok on the phone in order. ¡°In any case, we¡¯re going to get the result this evening. How did Lanok sound?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Like business as usual.¡± ¡°Phew! I feel like I¡¯m turning into a nervous wreck as time goes on. Did I really grow attached to him even though I haven''t even seen Kim Hyung-Jung that much? Phew!¡± Seok Kang-Ho sighed loudly as if he was spewing out his worries. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± They didn¡¯t really have any other choice, but Kang Chan found it difficult to endure the frustration and anger boiling up inside him. Chapter 88.1: Are You Going to Do This to Anne as Well? (1)

Chapter 88.1: Are You Going to Do This to Anne as Well? (1)

Kang Chan was d he was with Seok Kang-Ho until that evening. After he made a reservation at the hotel, he had fried rice at a Chinese restaurant for dinner, which he hadn¡¯t done in a long time. ¡°Let¡¯s think positively,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Phu,¡± Seok Kang-Houghed. He then stroked his face with his hands. ¡°If you hear some news, please let me know right away.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan parted ways with Seok Kang-Ho, then immediately headed to the hotel. He took a seat facing the window in the lobby. Joo Chul-Bum, who urately deduced that Kang Chan was on the premises, came over and greeted him. ¡°Please give us a call whenever you n oning here, hyung-nim.¡± ¡°Alright. Go and do your work. You¡¯re probably busy,¡± Kang Chan responded to Joo Chul-Bum. ¡°Have you had dinner?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Joo Chul-Bum¡¯s actions weren¡¯t irritating. It seemed as if Kang Chan had grown attached to him. They saw each other often, after all, and he was friendly. Joo Chul-Bum then dropped by the counter before heading to the basement, turning Kang Chan into a coward that didn¡¯t pay for the coffee that he drank again. Kang Chan exhaled and was looking out the window when his phone rang. It would be weird if he didn¡¯t get a phone call from Oh Gwang-Taek while he was at the Namsan Hotel. - Did you drop by the hotel? ¡°Yeah. I have an appointment.¡± - You still haven¡¯t identified the fucker that called the shots? ¡°We¡¯re looking for him, so settle down and wait.¡± - I know that I fall short. Still, don¡¯t exclude me. If that doesn¡¯t work, then I¡¯ll just sharpen your and Kang-Ho hyung-nim¡¯s knives. Why wouldn¡¯t Kang Chan know how Oh Gwang-Taek felt? ¡°Alright. Right! I¡¯m thinking of sending some money to your subordinates¡¯ families. How does that sound?¡± - Don¡¯t worry about that. I actually signed over a store in amercial building that¡¯s frequently visited by customers due to its location. I¡¯ll take care of this. Those fuckers protected me knowing full well doing so would kill them. ¡°Tsk! Anyway, I¡¯ll contact you if we find something and are going to make a move.¡± - Please. Kang Chan put down his phone and resumed nkly looking out the window. His phone rang about thirty minutester. He told Lanok the room number and headed up the room. Lanok arrived about five minutes earlier than 9 pm. ¡°Wee,¡± Kang Chan told Lanok. They greeted each other like Frenchmen. Since it waste at night and Kang Chan couldn¡¯t prepare anything else, he poured them water from the bottle that was provided with the room. They then bit on a cigar and a cigarette respectively. ¡°I apologize for leaving the way I did yesterday,¡± Kang Chan told Lanok. ¡°It¡¯s okay. That made me certain of how you think about those around you. Please don¡¯t worry about it too much.¡± ¡°Thank you for understanding,¡± Kang Chan said. He extinguished the cigarette and had a sip of water. Kang Chan decided to wait for Lanok to talk for now since he had to have a reason to insist on meeting. Lanok did tell him over the phone that they should see each other today, but Lanok wouldn¡¯t have decided to set up an appointment to meet him just because he didn¡¯t have anything better to do or because he missed the hotel room. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± He¡¯s going to talk about Kim Hyung-Jung! Lanok had just called Kang Chan, but he still felt certain that the ambassador was going to talk about Kim Hyung-Jung. His heart raced, and he felt frustrated. ¡°The Korean specialized team has secretly prated into Mongolia, and they were hidden enough to not be caught despite being inside the radar of France''s DGSE. They left Korea at around 4:40 am,¡± Lanok continued. Kang Chan focused on Lanok as much as he could. ¡°It was hard to know their mission¡¯s results until I was talking to you on the phone, but at around 7 pm Korean time, the DGSE contacted me.¡± After Lanok saw the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes, he immediately continued, ¡°the operation failed. Among the twenty-five people that were deployed, about thirteen died. We haven¡¯t figured out how many are injured yet.¡± ¡°What about the rest?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been confirmed yet,¡± Lanok breathed in deeply before continuing. ¡°but we believe that they¡¯ve been captured.¡± Damn it! So this is why I was so frustrated. Kang Chan gritted his teeth. His eyes dropped to the ground. After a moment passed¡­ ¡°It¡¯s unlikely that they¡¯ve actually been taken prisoner, however. If the enemies be aware that South Korea sent them, then as you worried, it¡¯s going to be difficult to clean up afterward. Completely aware of that, they probably chose death,¡± Kang Chan told Lanok. ¡°It seems like the Korean National Intelligence Service used too simple of a method. We¡¯re judging that the enemies got intel about them the moment the Korean specialized team entered Mongolia. The enemies had probably been waiting for them and pounced on them when they got the opportunity.¡± Lanok drank water, seemingly avoiding Kang Chan¡¯s sharp eyes. He then said, ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, you shouldn¡¯t get worked up.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t respond. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to rescue anyone. What you should do now is ensure the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ seeds so that their sacrifices won¡¯t be in vain,¡± Lanok continued. Kang Chan picked up a cigarette. Lanok was never going to cooperate in a rescue operation. Now that it hade to this, then the right thing to do was go to Mongolia for now on the fastest ne tomorrow. ¡°Thank you for letting me know, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Lanok nced at Kang Chan, who was exhaling deeply. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of leaving anyway, aren¡¯t you?¡± Lanok¡¯s question made Kang Chan feel ratherfortable, so he just smiled in response. He had already made a promise to Seok Kang-Ho. Seok Kang-Ho, Kim Tae-Jin, and Suh Sang-Hyun swiftly crossed his mind. Lanok shook his head. He likely wouldn¡¯t understand Kang Chan. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, are you going to do this for me or Anne as well if we¡¯re ever in danger?¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect that question. What was he trying to say? ¡°Let me rephrase that. If we ever find ourselves in a dangerous situation, are you going to throw everything aside ande running to save us regardless of the consequences as well like what you¡¯re doing now?¡± Lanok was looking straight at Kang Chan, who was smiling softly. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador. Honestly, I¡¯m thinking of going to Mongolia tomorrow. I¡¯d do the same for you or Anne if ever you¡¯re ced in this situation. I¡¯m thankful that you¡¯ve been considerate, but I won¡¯t be able to live with myself, even for just a day, if I ever turn a blind eye to someone waiting to be rescued,¡± Kang Chan answered. Lanok sighed deeply, then replied, ¡°I prepared a ne and twelve Foreign Legion members in the Osan airfield. I¡¯ve also prepared enough military uniforms and weapons to arm ten more people.¡± What is he saying? Kang Chan ruminated about what he had just heard. ¡°After getting out of the ne at a military base in the suburbs of Darkhan, you¡¯ll have to take a light aircraft or a helicopter. If things go out of hand now, China is certainly going to start a war.¡± Lanok smiled brightly after he saw the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re going to protect Anne like this as well, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stop at nothing to save her!¡± Lanok stood up from his seat. ¡°There isn¡¯t that much time. Since we don¡¯t know what they¡¯ll do to the captives, leaving as quickly as possible will give you the best chance of rescuing them. We¡¯ve got two advantages, at least. The enemies can¡¯t move their base yet, and they¡¯ve likely let their guards down after confirming that it¡¯s an independent operation done by South Korea. Now, do whatever it takes toe back alive.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan tightly shook Lanok¡¯s hand that was held out. He quickly loosened his grip after seeing Lanok frown, but he unexpectedly didn¡¯t let go of Kang Chan¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯ll hear the detailed briefing inside the ne, but there¡¯s one thing that you have to keep in mind,¡± Lanok continued. He was still holding onto Kang Chan¡¯s hand. ¡°Never bring this up to someone that won¡¯t be able to leave with you tomorrow, and if you¡¯re going to tell anyone, you have to do it in person and in a location that you haven¡¯t been to before. We¡¯ll assemble at 3 am and move by our van. I¡¯ll tell you the location in an hour by phone,¡± Lanok added. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.¡± ¡°Thank me after you¡¯vee back alive. The chief manager of this operation is the God of ckfield. I¡¯ll look forward to your safe return.¡± Lanok looked at Kang Chan with eyes that showed he was fascinated. ¡°Do you really like doing this that much?¡± ¡°To save my people, I¡¯d dly go to hell.¡± After Kang Chan left, Lanok¡¯s assistant quietly walked out of one of the rooms inside. ¡°It still isn¡¯t toote to change your mind, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Lanok shook his head, then turned around and looked behind him. ¡°I won¡¯t have any regrets even if my political career ends with this operation. After all, if this seeds, then a generation would open where the United States would have to obey France. Hence, this is also my fight. If you ever get the chance, take a closer look at Monsieur Kang¡¯s eyes and engrave it in your mind. Someone like that will change the course of events, regardless of whether they want to or not. Monsieur Kang could be the only person that the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ will acknowledge as its owner.¡± Lanok turned his gaze from his assistant, then continued, ¡°erase all records if he fails in the operation.¡± ¡°What should we do about the people that went with Monsieur Kang?¡± ¡°Check the total number of people in the van tomorrow. There¡¯s likely going to be two people including Monsieur Kang, so it would be best for two burnt bodies to be discovered in a car ident.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°This is for France. We have already devoted our lives to our country when we started the ¡®Unicorn.¡¯ If only Monsieur Kang was born in France.¡± Lanok looked at the door that Kang Chan went out of with a terribly subdued look in his eyes. ¡°I would¡¯ve been disappointed if he didn¡¯t go to Mongolia.¡± 1. Darkhan is the secondrgest city in Mongolia Chapter 88.2: Are You Going to Do This to Anne as Well? (1)

Chapter 88.2: Are You Going to Do This to Anne as Well? (1)

Kang Chan sat at a specialty coffee shop that wasn¡¯t that far away from the Yoo Bi-Corp building. From there, he called Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho and asked them to meet him at different times. Kim Tae-Jin arrived first at around 10 pm. ¡°What¡¯s going on thiste at night? The employees are investigating the locations that you sent, so we¡¯ll get the women¡¯s daily routine in approximately three days,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told Kang Chan. ¡°You already told me that. I asked to see you today because I¡¯m going to go to the countryside for about three days, starting tomorrow.¡± ¡°Tomorrow? Is it for something important?¡± ¡°Yes. I hope you¡¯ll protect my parents a bit more intensively while I¡¯m away.¡± Kim Tae-Jin cocked his head, then asked, ¡°is there another reason why you have to ask me even though you know that the National Intelligence Service is guarding them?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just concerned because I¡¯m going to be far away from them.¡± ¡°If what you¡¯re about to do is enough to make you act like this, then it should certainly be important. I¡¯ll assign as many people as possible to guard your parents for about three days.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Where are you going, and why are you so determined?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked again. ¡°I¡¯m nning to go and help someone I¡¯ve taken a liking to. He seems to be in a predicament.¡± ¡°It¡¯s suspicious that you¡¯re avoiding telling me the exact location. I don¡¯t know where you¡¯re going, but I should go as well if needed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something that requires you to go. I¡¯ll be back shortly.¡± ¡°What about Mr. Seok?¡± ¡°He¡¯sing with me,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that you¡¯re leaving me out. This is upsetting.¡± ¡°Please let it slide just this once.¡± When Kang Chan smiled, Kim Tae-Jin stood up while smiling in a simr way. ¡°I¡¯ll be going early because you said that you¡¯re going somewhere far. Have a safe trip, and contact me as soon as youe back.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Kim Tae-Jin left. While Kang Chan was drinking his drink, Seok Kang-Ho arrived. ¡°What did they say?¡± As soon as he arrived, Seok Kang-Ho leaned his head closer to Kang Chan and pulled his chair forward. ¡°The operation failed. Among twenty-five, thirteen died. They believe that twelve of them have been captured as well,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Fuck,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suddenly swore, then tightly gritted his teeth. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°We¡¯re leaving from Osan tomorrow. Twelve Foreign Legion members are joining us, and we¡¯re going to receive the briefing on the ne. We¡¯ll assemble at 3 am and get a ride from Lanok¡¯s people.¡± Seok Kang-Ho understandably nked out for a moment. Soon after, ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Why? Do you want to be left out?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather die!¡± Seok Kang-Ho grinned at Kang Chan. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? [The third exit of the Sinsa Station] Kang Chan got a text message just at the right time. He showed it to Seok Kang-Ho, then immediately erased it. ¡°Was someone here before me?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I met President Kim for a moment to ask him to guard my parents more extensively.¡± ¡°Then I can have that drink, right?¡± ¡°Just buy one.¡± ¡°Please leave me be. I have to go home immediately after having just a sip,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, drank the rest of the drink, then bit on a cigarette. ¡°I feel strange,¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. He appeared to be having mixed feelings. ¡°This kind of operation carried no burden for me back then. But now that you actually say that we¡¯re leaving, my wife, daughter, and the kids are weighing on my mind a little bit.¡± ¡°You should stay back. It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just telling you how I feel! Aren¡¯t you affected?¡± ¡°It hasn¡¯t settled on me yet since this decision is too abrupt and unexpected,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Hmph! We just have to go there and save Kim Hyung-Jung, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes were glinting. ¡°Thank you, captain.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Pleasee out an hour early. Let¡¯s have a cup of coffee together,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. When Kang Chan smirked, Seok Kang-Ho responded with a grin. Kang Chan got in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car and got out when they arrived at the entrance of the apartment. He then called Kim Dae-Kyung. - Hello? ¡°Father, is mother next to you?¡± - Yeah. What¡¯s going on? ¡°I have to go to the countryside at around 2:30 am tomorrow. I¡¯ll be there for about three or four days. I was hoping you could tell mom ahead of time since it could startle her.¡± After a short silence¡­ - I forgot to tell your mom about that. It¡¯s okay! I heard this in the hospital! I see. That was taking ce tomorrow morning! I¡¯ll tell your mom right now. When are youing back? Kang Dae-Kyung was quite loud. ¡°Thank you, father. I¡¯m going home in ten minutes. I¡¯ll just tell her that I¡¯m going to a retreat.¡± - You¡¯re busier than me. Alright. I¡¯ll exin it to your mother properly. Kang Chan looked at the time as he was hanging up. It was 11:10 pm. He was going to leave at 2 am tomorrow, and even though he used ¡°retreat¡± as an excuse¡ªwhich likely wouldn¡¯t work at all¡ªKang Dae-Kyung responded in a cool way. Kang Chan wanted to talk to two more people, no matter what. He texted Kim Mi-Young first for the first time. [Can you call me?] It was already way past 11 pm. Even if she wasn¡¯t sleeping, it could be difficult for her to talk at home. However, since Michelle had said that there was apany dinner today, she was certainly going to pick up. At that moment, his phone rang. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? It was Kim Mi-Young. - It¡¯s me! Huhuhu. ¡°Did something good happen?¡± - I¡¯m just happy because this is the first time you¡¯ve ever texted me first. Kang Chan smiled brightly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you at home?¡± - We had to practice for our written exam so we just finished. I¡¯m on my way home now. Hearing about the subjects that Kim Mi-Young was studying sometimes made Kang Chan feel like he was attending a different school. ¡°Can I see you for a moment?¡± - Of course. How can I say no to you? ¡°I¡¯m in front of the apartment. Where are you?¡± - I¡¯ll be there in five minutes. Kang Chan sat on a bench for a moment and soon saw Kim Mi-Young at the entrance of the apartment. ¡°Over here!¡± Kang Chan yelled. He waved his hand, and Kim Mi-Young quickly came toward him with a wide smile on her face. ¡°You must be tired,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I¡¯m not. Today¡¯s a good day.¡± ¡°What are you happy about?¡± ¡°You texted me.¡± ¡°I texted you because you popped into my head on my way home.¡± Kim Mi-Young smiled brightly. ¡°Did it really make you that happy that I texted you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yeah. I was extremely delighted.¡± Kang Chan thought she was cute, but he also felt bad for her. He was happy he got to see her even though he just wanted to talk to her. ¡°You should go home now, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I have about five more minutes to spare.¡± ¡°It¡¯ste. Go home. Your mom is going to worry.¡± It was a summer night. When his eyes met Kim Mi-Young¡¯s, Kang Chan exhaled softly. He realized her eyes were very pretty. Kim Mi-Young swallowed dryly. Kang Chan knew what she wanted but now was not the time. For the first time, the fact that he might not be able toe back from Mongolia if things went wrong felt real. This could be thest time they see each other. ¡®Have a good life.¡¯ ¡°You should go home. It¡¯s been five minutes,¡± Kang Chan said. Kim Mi-Young smiled while wrinkling her nose as if she was disappointed. ¡°Hug me!¡± ¡°Here?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Kang Chan lightly hugged Kim Mi-Young. They stayed like that for a moment. Kim Mi-Young smelled like green apples. Her scent faintly wafted toward him, which strangely made his heart flutter. ¡°I¡¯m going to go to the countryside for about three days tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan said afterward. ¡°The countryside? Where?¡± ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho know about it. I¡¯ll contact you after Ie back.¡± ¡°Okay. Have a safe trip.¡± ¡°Sleep early, okay?¡± After Kim Mi-Young stepped away from Kang Chan, she quickly ran off. It seemed like she was shy and was feelingplicated. ¡°Whoo!¡± He did the right thing. He should be fully satisfied with being able to unexpectedly see her in person. Kang Chan sat on a bench and called Michelle. She answered after two rings, and he heard loud music before anything else. - Wait a moment. Michelle seemed to be going somewhere since the music slowly faded into the distance. ¡°It seems like thepany dinner is still going strong?¡± - It¡¯s almost finished now. How are you doing? ¡°I have to go to the countryside in the morning. I¡¯m on my way home to pack my things right now. The trip will take about three days.¡± - That¡¯s disappointing. Everyone has been waiting in case youe. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about today. Let¡¯s have another dinner with just ourpany when I return instead. We can all go to karaoke as well.¡± - Okay, Channy! You said you¡¯re going out in the morning, so go home quickly and get even just a bit of sleep. J¡¯taime, Channy.¡± ¡°Okay. Work hard.¡± After he hung up, Kang Chan immediately went up to his house. ¡°Channy!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook greeted Kang Chan. Kang Dae-Kyung soon came out as well. ¡°You two haven¡¯t been able to sleep because of me, have you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I heard that you¡¯re going out at 2 am? You must be tired. Is there anything we can do? Have you had dinner yet?¡± ¡°He¡¯s going to run out of breath trying to answer all your questions,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I¡¯ve had dinner, and I can sleep in the car on the way there. I was told that I don¡¯t have to pack much luggage since they have everything there. They even have workout outfits and toiletries.¡± ¡°Why are you going to a retreat all of a sudden?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Honey, Channy should sleep for even an hour. He¡¯s got to be tired,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung interfered and tried to stop Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°It¡¯s okay. If both of you are okay with it, then let¡¯s order chicken. How does that sound?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You want to eat chicken, Channy? Let''s order quickly, then. This is good. I¡¯m also a bit hungry anyway.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung smiled. He looked as if she found her ridiculous. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, father?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I told your mom I was a bit hungry a moment ago, but she¡ª¡± ¡°Honey!¡± Kang Chanughed loudly. He then ordered chicken. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook both had worry in their eyes, although they were worried aboutpletely different things. When the chicken arrived, they talked about random topics over the food. Fortunately, Yoo Hye-Sook was happy enough to alleviate her worries. Kang Dae-Kyung would certainly take proper care of Yoo Hye-Sook even if they were to receive grave news. Kang Chan felt apologetic toward them, but he couldn¡¯t ignore Kim Hyung-Jung, who could be dying right now. He finished washing up and changing at around 1:45 am. ¡°I¡¯ll be back,¡± Kang Chan told his parents. ¡°Have fun, Channy. Take care.¡± Kang Chan stroked Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s back as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He was about to head off to a ce where he could return in the worst possible state. Kang Chan inhaled deeply, then let go of her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll be back,¡± Kang Chan repeated. ¡°Alright,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung answered with a brief nod. Their eyes met for a moment. ¡®You better be careful.¡¯ ¡®Yes. I¡¯ll be careful.¡¯ Kang Chan went out the front door pretending everything was alright. 1. The Sinsa Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 3 and is located in Sinsa-dong, an upscale neighborhood in Gangnam, South Korea. It has been operating since 1985 Chapter 89.1: Are You Going to Do This? Even to Anne as Well? (2)

Chapter 89.1: Are You Going to Do This? Even to Anne as Well? (2)

As he stood at the entrance of the apartment, Kang Chan discreetly looked up at his house. It still didn¡¯t feel real that he was going to Mongolia. It could turn out to be an insane idea. Kang Chan decided to think about just two things¡ªthat terrorist attacks were going to keep being carried out if they just left the enemies alone, and that abandoning their captured allies wasn¡¯t something that arade who fought with them should do. He took a taxi to the Sinsa station. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± Seok Kang-Ho, who had been waiting for him, approached him. ¡°There¡¯s one ce open over there. Let¡¯s go.¡± Kang Chan walked to where Seok Kang-Ho had pointed with a smirk. It was summer, but he still missed hot coffee in the morning. ¡°Did you sleep?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°We ordered chicken. What about you?¡± ¡°I made love to my wife because it could be thest time I see her.¡± Kang Chan went into the smoking room with a soft smile, opened a window widely, and upied a table. A momentter, Seok Kang-Ho brought over two cups of coffee. ¡°It¡¯s still not toote.¡± Kang Chan reminded Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Why do you keep spouting nonsense?¡± . ¡°Because I doubt either of us has fully realized what¡¯s actually happening.¡± ¡°That¡¯s tr¡ªAgh! Hot!¡± Seok Kang-Ho yelled. ¡°Pull yourself together.¡± Seok Kang-Ho rubbed his lips with the back of his hand, then looked into the coffee shop with dissatisfaction. ¡°We¡¯re going to feel better once we¡¯re on the ne. I thought about it after making love to my wife, but I doubt I can endure staying back by myself. We¡¯ve already decided to go, so stop saying things like that already.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll stop.¡± Seok Kang-Ho handed over a cigarette, smirking. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo¡ªDaye.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t trust a single part of this entire operation. The moment I think something¡¯s even just a bit suspicious, I¡¯ll startpletely ignoring the basic operation. After the briefing inside the ne, we¡¯re going to set up the final evac location in private. Keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Alright. I haven¡¯t seen that look in your eyes in a long time. I¡¯m d I finally get to see it again,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. The closer the time was to 3 am, the more real their departure for an operation felt. Kang Chan slowly looked around his surroundings, finding light escaping from the asional lit-up offices and apartments in the distance. He also watched the cars quickly driving past them. ¡®I should¡¯ve had pork cutlets.¡¯ Kang Chan thought about Kang Dae-Kyung, Yoo Hye-Sook, Kim Mi-Young, and Michelle. It had only been a short while, but quite a lot of things had already happened. Kang Chan exhaled deeply. This feltpletely different than when he was going over to France with not even a penny to his name. He was in good physical condition¡ªfar better than when he was in Africa. He initially thought it was because his new body was still young, but it actually seemed rted to how his regenerative capabilities had gotten better, like what Yoo Hun-Woo had said. Fortunately, Seok Kang-Ho regrly exercised as well. An hour passed by quickly. Soon, a ck van stopped in front of the station. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Alright.¡± The look in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes changedpletely to that of Dayeru¡¯s. Rattle. When Kang Chan approached the van, its door opened. ¡°Please get in, Monsieur Kang,¡± an agent said while examining the van¡¯s exterior. They drove away as soon as the two got in the car and sat down. At times like this, nothing had to be said. As Kang Chan was indifferently looking out the window, the van quickly sped through the road. They were so quick they arrived in Osan in thirty minutes. When the driver, who was also an agent, presented his ID at the entrance, the door opened without anyone even examining what was inside the van. The van immediately headed into the runway and stopped in front of a ne. It was a C295, which was a cargo aircraft for military purposes. The agent, who had been silent throughout the entire trip, finally spoke as he opened the door. ¡°Good luck to both of you.¡± Kang Chan smirked in response. He got out of the car and immediately boarded the cargo aircraft. Unlike its cockpit, the C295¡¯ fusge was empty aside from two rows of roway beds on both sides of the wall. The door of the airne closed. Twelve foreign legion members watched Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho while sitting in a line on the bottom row of roway beds. G¨¦rard sat at the very left. When the two sat on the bed that was on the other side of G¨¦rard, the ne¡¯s propellers immediately began to spin. ¡°I knew it would be you!¡± G¨¦rard yelled to Kang Chan. ¡°What did you say?!¡± ¡°I said I knew you¡¯de here!¡± G¨¦rard repeated as the ne moved. He then nced at Seok Kang-Ho, who was grinning and looked fascinated. The military aircraft flew roughly for about ten minutes, maintaining its usual altitude, then the warning light flickered three times. G¨¦rard walked to the center of the aircraft and yelled, ¡°look at his face! This person here is themanding officer of this operation!¡± ¡°For the sake of convenience, we won¡¯t reveal our names! His codename is¡­¡± G¨¦rard gave Kang Chan a dissatisfied nce, then continued, ¡°the God of ckfield! The person that came with him is¡ª¡± When G¨¦rard turned his head, Seok Kang-Ho answered with ¡°Dayeru!¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t even have the time to stop him. ¡°Damn it!¡± G¨¦rard replied. ¡°Dayeru! What you should remember is that today¡¯s operation is not an official operation! Anyone that wants to be excluded has until the nends to decide! Any questions?¡± G¨¦rard asked afterward. The members didn¡¯t say anything. They only looked at Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho, both of whom were sitting across from them with determined eyes. G¨¦rard then pointed to the back with his index and middle finger, and four members moved a box to the middle of the ne. The box was taller than a human. nk. nk.?Crrrrr. After securing the wheels, a member opened both sides of the box¡¯s doors. It contained military uniforms, military boots, firearms, and bays. The military uniform was yellowish in color and had no markings on it. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho wordlessly took out a military uniform and boots that fitted them. They took a rifle, pistol, bay, magazine, and bullets as well. As they changed, G¨¦rard nced at Kang Chan, whose scars were clearly visible because of the lights inside the ne. Now wearing military uniform, Kang Chan fastened a bay Bowie knife to his right foot and his left thigh. This type ofbat knife became famous when it was shown in the movie Rambo. Toward the back of the Bowie knife¡¯s de was a jagged section. The inside the handle was a fishing line and three or four needles. They then armed themselves with colt 1911s. Kang Chan attached one to the right side of his waist and his left leg. nk. Seemingly intent on not leaving any traces of the Foreign Legion, they equipped themselves with Colt 727 assault rifles, which was also known as the ¡®Abu Dhabi carbine¡¯ since it was essentially an M16 remodeled ording to the United Arab Emirates¡¯ wishes. Kang Chan then attached six magazines to his sides, which went all the way to his back, and one on each of his forearms. Click! Finally, he fastened a magazine on his gun. When Kang Chan lifted his gaze after arming himself, G¨¦rard, who looked dumbfounded, extended his hand. Kang Chan took the beret from G¨¦rard and wore it with the right side nted downward. Click. Click.? Seok Kang-Ho was no different than Kang Chan. G¨¦rard handed over a beret with a dirty expression, and Seok Kang-Ho quickly grabbed and wore it. G¨¦rard kept ring at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°What?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked in Korean. G¨¦rard looked at Kang Chan suspiciously, then turned around. Kang Chan shook his head. The moment they got on the military aircraft, Seok Kang-Hopletely turned into Dayeru. G¨¦rard got armed with the members. About twenty minutester, they returned the box in the center of the aircraft to its original spot. ¡°At 7 am local time, we¡¯re going to get off the aircraft at the Darkhan army base and ride a helicopter to the Onon river! We expect to arrive by 8 am. We¡¯ll cross the mountain from there to reach the area of operation. The trek should take us about six hours.¡± G¨¦rard exined. The n gave them time to conduct a reconnaissance and rest until dinner. After dinner, they¡¯d be able to immediately proceed with a night operation. Hence, Kang Chan just agreed to it. ¡°What¡¯s our evacuation n?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We¡¯ll radio the headquarters after the operation, and they¡¯ll immediately send a helicopter.¡± Kang Chan cocked his head. They could easily get caught if they used a helicopter. However, he had no choice but to ept it for now. They still had approximately a full three hours left. ¡°Go up to your bed and sleep,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho afterward. ¡°The look in that fucker¡¯s eyes is bothering me. It¡¯ll give me a weird dream.¡± ¡°Why did you use that name as a code name in the first ce?¡± ¡°It just came out. It¡¯s cute to see a chick mimicking an eagle, though.¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense and get some sleep.¡± When Seok Kang-Ho received a look from Kang Chan, heid down on a roway bed in the top row. After arming themselves, the Foreign Legion members also started to imfortable beds andy down. The only people left sitting were Kang Chan, G¨¦rard, and a member that looked to be the youngest out of everyone. Kang Chan took out a cigarette from the clothes that he had taken off and bit on it. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo.¡± The cigarette smoke swiftly flew toward the back. Except for the two snipers, nobody else had heavy weapons. It was difficult for Kang Chan to determine their exact capabilities, but he liked that they didn¡¯t have a daft look in their eyes. 1. This is a light cargo aircraft developed by CASA, a Spanish aerospacepany. As of 2021, two hundred of them have been built, and it¡¯s still in service. 2. A bowie knife is a type of fixed-debat knife that¡¯s popr with outdoor crowds. It¡¯s used as a multi-purpose knife for hunting animals in modern times. 3. Rambo is an American movie franchise centered around a series of films featuring John J. Rambo. 4. The raws wrote this as colt 19 (?? 19), but the colt 1911, or the M1911 is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol 5. The raws wrote this as the M727 carbine (M727 ??), an American assault carbine (long gun) developed in the 1980s. 6. The raws had written this part as ?? (Oron), but this refers to the Onon river in Mongolia and Russia Chapter 89.2: Are You Going to Do This? Even to Anne as Well? (2)

Chapter 89.2: Are You Going to Do This? Even to Anne as Well? (2)

Kang Chan ced both of his arms over his knees, then leaned back against the wall. Even though they were flying over as fast as they could, there was a chance they¡¯d only find Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s corpse. Kang Chan breathed out deeply while remembering Kim Hyung-Jung. He knew how betrayal made his blood boil. It somehow felt like he returned to reality after having a good dream, yet on the other hand, he felt like he was still dreaming. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan stepped on the cigarette to extinguish it, but when he raised his gaze, his eyes met G¨¦rard¡¯s. ¡°Would you like a cup of coffee?¡± G¨¦rard asked Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯ll be great.¡± When G¨¦rard nodded, the young member that had been sitting with him went to prepare coffee. He soon wafted the peculiar smell of instant coffee as the member brought over three paper cups. Kang Chan took a sip of the coffee, then bit on a cigarette again. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo.¡± G¨¦rard was tantly looking at Kang Chan. ¡°Get some rest,¡± Kang Chan told G¨¦rard. ¡°I¡¯ll be okay with not sleeping for a day.¡± ¡°The members be anxious if the captain¡¯s nerves are on edge, so rx. However, if a situationes where you feel like it¡¯s dangerous, then be on edge. Let them know if they can rest or if they should be nervous through your expression, the way you talk, and the aura you give out,¡± Kang Chan exined. G¨¦rard tilted his head and looked at Kang Chan. Kang Chan finished drinking his coffee and extinguished the cigarette on the paper cup. He then put the cigarette butt that he had ced on the floor a moment ago in the paper cup as well. He was starting to feel exhausted. ¡®Should I get some sleep?¡¯ Two hours of sleep would be enough. Kang Chan looked at the roway beds while thinking of lying down. ¡°Do you know why I applied for this operation?¡± G¨¦rard suddenly asked a question. ¡°Hey, Captain!¡± Kang Chan called and looked at him, smirking. ¡°If you want to keep the chick next to you alive, then quickly put him to bed and get some sleep, even if it¡¯s just for a bit.¡± Kang Chanid down on a cot and secured himself by pulling the magazine that was hung around both sides of his waist to the side as much as possible. He then covered his eyes with the beret. A momentter, Kang Chan heard G¨¦rard saying, ¡°go to sleep!¡± Kang Chan soon fell asleep. *** Karaaang. Whoooosh! Kang Chan opened his eyes to the sound of the ne¡¯s propellers and the feeling of the altitude changing rapidly. After he shook his head and sat on the bed, he couldn¡¯t help but smirk. The time he had spent in Koreapletely felt like a dream. When Kang Chan raised himself up and brought back a bottle of water, Seok Kang-Ho then G¨¦rard raised themselves up. The lights of the cabin flickered twice. ¡°Phew!¡± Seok Kang-Ho approached Kang Chan and tousled his hair. Kang Chan then opened the bottle of water and poured it out on Seok Kang-Ho. After noisily washing his face, Seok Kang-Ho poured water on Kang Chan in return. Kang Chan washed his face as well and drank the remaining water. Whoosh. The paper cup that Kang Chan had ced beside him fell toward the other side and rolled away as the ne took a wide turn. Its engine rang out loudly, and the altitude fell rapidly. Thud. The wheels touched down on the ground. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know who their pilot was, but the fucker had really bad flying skills. Kaganng. As it made a loud noise, the ne slowed down on the runway. It was as if it was screaming. Kang Chan quickly examined the members. It was easy to tell who was afraid during moments like this. None of their expressions changed except for the youngest. Brrrr. The door of the ne opened. With Kang Chan¡¯s nod, G¨¦rard led the members and ran out. The helicopter that was waiting for them was the CH-47 Chinook. It was shaped like a sausage and had a propeller on the front and back of its body. After Seok Kang-Ho boarded the helicopter, Kang Chan got on itst. The helicopter immediately rose up from the runway. Two members distributed C-rations to everyone. This wasn¡¯t something that they should refuse. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho cleanly went through the bread and biscuit, chocte bar, and even the canned fruits that were inside the C-rations. Ddu-ddu-ddu-ddu-. Over the deafening noise of the helicopter, Kang Chan shouted ¡°Map!¡± toward G¨¦rard. G¨¦rard seemed to have guessed what Kang Chan had said based on his mouth¡¯s movements. He walked toward Kang Chan while taking out a map from the left pocket of his top. ¡°Why are you asking for a map now?!¡± ¡°We should tell the members when we¡¯re marching up the mountain!¡± ¡°Why?!¡± Kang Chan nced at G¨¦rard. ¡°Telling them where to hide in case of an emergency would be ideal! Why ask when you already know the answer!¡± G¨¦rardughed, seemingly dumbfounded. On the map that Kang Chan had spread out, the Onon river and the S¨¹khbaatar area had been marked in detail, and the location of the enemies had been stamped with a red dot. ¡°Captain!¡± Kang Chan called. When Kang Chan turned around and looked behind him, G¨¦rard brought his head closer to Kang Chan¡¯s. ¡°This ce next to this river shall be ¡®alpha¡¯! The heart of this mountain is ¡®beta¡¯! If we lose each other due to unforeseen circumstances, then just hide and stay near whichever of these two is closest to you at the time! I¡¯ll go find you no matter what!¡± Kang Chan exined. G¨¦rard took a deep breath, then asked Kang Chan, ¡°Are all Korean people like you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I asked if all! Korean! People! Are like you!¡± Kang Chan smirked, then gestured to Seok Kang-Ho with his eyes. ¡°Daye and i Are going to form groups! If possible, put the members that can speak Algeria¡¯snguages into his team! ¡°I¡¯m going to go crazy!¡± Calling ¡®Dayeru¡¯ as ¡®Daye¡¯ was a mistake. G¨¦rard looked like he suddenly got pped. ¡°Captain!¡± Kang Chan called. G¨¦rard didn¡¯t answer. He only looked back at him. ¡°Question what you¡¯re curious and suspicious aboutter! Our first priority right now is the members¡¯ lives, followed by this operation¡¯s sess! Your goal is to have all the members here right now in this helicopter when the operation ends! Got it?!¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Alright!¡± ¡°Have the rookie beside you no matter what!¡± G¨¦rard nodded as he tightly clenched his teeth. Ddu-ddu-ddu-ddu-ddu. It took them forty minutes to divide into groups and examine the terrain. They saw a ¡®Ger¡¯ from time to time within the endless earth, but they couldn¡¯t see anything now. After about ten minutes, they saw a small river. Kang Chan felt on edge, which hadn''t happened for a long time. His eyes met Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s as he was turning his gaze, and Seok Kang-Ho grinned. His eyes were glinting. ¡°Rx your eyes. You¡¯re going to scare these people!¡± Kang Chan could understand what he was saying based on his mouth¡¯s movements. He smirked, then looked at the members. It looked like they were all nervous upon seeing Kang Chan and his senses on edge. Ddu-ddu-ddu-ddu-. The helicopter took a wide turn and went farther away from the riverside. Kang Chan quickly examined the terrain stretched out as far as the eye could see. It felt less rugged than what he thought the map portrayed. The wind was cold, but Kang Chan liked it because it made him return to his senses. ¡°Captain!¡± Kang Chan widely separated his index and middle finger and pointed to the back, which meant that they should be on the lookout for danger before they got out of the helicopter. When the members looked at G¨¦rard¡­ ¡°From now on, the God of ckfield willmand the operation!¡± G¨¦rard yelled, ¡°The second group will receive Dayeru¡¯s orders!¡± Six members nodded in response to G¨¦rard¡¯s orders. Ddu-ddu-ddu-ddu-ddu. The helicopter gradually glided down to the ground. Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan. It seemed like he wanted to know how Kang Chan was feeling about this. Whooosh. The back door opened¡­ Bang. And the helicopternded. The two armed guards nodded toward Kang Chan, who then gave G¨¦rard an eye gesture. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± G¨¦rard yelled. They rushed forward. The sound of military boots and the ¡®click¡¯ from the weapons could be heard despite the noisy engine. ¡°Daye!¡± Seok Kang-Ho ran out with Kang Chan¡¯s second nod. After Kang Chan left, the two members that had mounted guard followed behind him. They were running at their full speed. Standing in the middle of this in and warily observing their surroundings was no different from just offering their necks to their enemy for target practice. As they ran seven hundred meters, those who were nervous started to breathe faster. People had to habitually run at least seven kilometers regrly to run seven hundred meters at their top speed in this kind of situation. Otherwise, they¡¯d fall behind. And people would say that the weights of the gun and weapons that they were holding and had hung around their shoulders weren¡¯t that big of a deal? A newbie would never know the feeling of such weight doubling up for every hundred meters they ran at full speed. ¡°Run!¡± Kang Chan yelled. ¡°Huff Huff! Huff Huff!¡± Sure enough, the newbie was already out of breath. He was too nervous. Kang Chan quickly searched through their surroundings. He couldn¡¯t trust anyone. He wasn¡¯t even thinking of Lanok. If anyone that knew of this operation, even those that flew the helicopter and left just a moment ago, said anything, then Kang Chan would experience having a bullet go through his neck again here. An enormous amount of money paralyzed everything about a person. Kang Chan didn¡¯t feel anything. Seok Kang-Ho was running as well. He was the farthest away from Kang Chan. ¡°Captain!¡± Kang Chan called. When G¨¦rard nced at Kang Chan, Kang Chan directed his fist to the front, straightened his index and pointy finger, and signaled for G¨¦rard to go left and to go right. They had now ran halfway toward their target. Kang Chan ran to the new recruit¡¯s side and yelled, ¡°Hey! You son of a bitch!¡± He swore in Korean, but he managed to directly convey his emotions. Startled, the newbie nced at Kang Chan, then turned his gaze to the front. 1. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a military transport aircraft that was developed by an American rotorcraftpany Vertol, and was manufactured by Boeing Vertol. Specifically, it¡¯s a tandem rotor helicopter that''s among the heaviest-lifting Western helicopters and was introduced in 1962 2. The C-ration, Field Ration, or Type C, refers to prepared and canned wetbat ration that was intended to be issued to U.S. militarynd forces when fresh food or packaged unprepared food of mess halls or field kitchens was unavable or couldn¡¯t be cooked or when a survival ration was insufficient 3. a ¡®Ger¡¯ or ¡®Yurt¡¯ is a portable, round tent covered and insted with skins or felt. It¡¯s traditionally used as a dwelling by several distinct nomadic groups in the steppes and mountains of Central Asia Chapter 90.1: Long Fucking Day (1)

Chapter 90.1: Long Fucking Day (1)

The members that had arrived first crouched at the bottom of the mountain, then red at the top part of it. Kang Chan tightly grabbed the back of the neck of the new recruit who was about to fall. After letting go of the flustered squadmate, he sharply looked around them. Meanwhile, the chick adjusted his posture. ¡°Go.¡± G¨¦rard ordered three members to scout ahead with Kang Chan¡¯s briefmand. Before them was a long mountain range that looked as if it had multiple mountains ovepping each other. It was actually considerably far from them. Sunlight asionally peeked through the tall and straight trees. At some point, they heard a weird bird call that went ¡®beep¡¯ amid the wind and the patchy weed. Kang Chan ced the string of the Abu-Dhabi carbine over his right shoulder and walked with his index finger on the trigger. They were amid a cool mountain, so they didn¡¯t sweat. p. Birds flew above them. Wheeng! Wheeng! And they even heard the weird cry of a beast. This was Mongolia. A battle was bound to happen regardless of who caught them, and no excuse could stop it. They would either survive through a desperate escape or die in battle, leaving not even a trace of their existence on paper. They very nervously marched forward. Even though they had sent three men to scout ahead of the groups, they still didn¡¯t know when or at which side the enemy woulde from. The difference between training and an actual battle was whether or not they felt extreme nervousness. In a situation where they didn¡¯t know when or from where a bullet would go through their necks, most people would copse after about six hours of walking. A few members nced at Kang Chan with suspicion. Unlike how he ran at full speed from the helicopter, they thought he didn¡¯t know a thing about marching. Their lives were on the line here, so he should be wary of his surroundings. However, he seemed to be carelessly marching without thinking about the consequences instead¡­ Rustle! Click! Just then, they heard the sound of grass being pushed back from the right side of the woods. Click! Click!? When the members flinched, Kang Chan had already pointed his rifle. By a narrow margin, Dayeru and G¨¦rard followed suit and aimed their weapons as well. What just happened? Was it possible for a person to react like that? Especially against the specialized team of the thirteenth foreign brigade that was overflowing with pride? Was that why they stood with Dayeru, G¨¦rard, and Kang Chan and inserted the rest of the members in between them? Rustle. Rustle. After two more rustles, a shape of a ckish animal went down the mountain. The silence returned. If Kang Chan was their opponent, Dayeru and G¨¦rard would¡¯ve already been killed in that small difference in speed. The members would¡¯ve been turned into corpses the moment they flinched. When G¨¦rard received a nce from Kang Chan, he mouthed, ¡°I¡¯m going to go crazy¡± to himself. He drew a circle in the air with his index and middle fingers and pointed to their front, signaling that the situation ended and to march forward. It wasn¡¯t a world of difference, but they had to admit that Kang Chan¡¯s skills were on another level, even if only a little. *** ¡°Captain,¡± Kang Chan called and stopped their march when the wind that touched their foreheads felt cool. They had been walking for about an hour. ¡°Gather around,¡± Kang Chan continued. G¨¦rard obediently called the members. They had to ce at least the minimum number of sentries to guard them. However, Kang Chan gathered all the members. ¡°Give me the map,¡± Kang Chan ordered again. G¨¦rard spread out the map on the floor. ¡°Look closely. This is where we are right now, and this is where we think the enemy¡¯s base to be. If we go straight toward the back from here¡­¡± With his finger, Kang Chan pointed to a spot in the riverside. ¡°This is location ¡®alpha.¡¯ And this ce just over the mountain is ¡®beta.¡¯¡± Except for Seok Kang-Ho and G¨¦rard, the members looked at Kang Chan with faces that asked, ¡®What¡¯s he saying?¡¯ ¡°Regardless of what I yell out, just listen for the words ¡®alpha¡¯ and ¡®beta.¡¯ If I yell ¡®Alpha, lima,¡¯ then head to location ¡®alpha,¡¯¡± Kang Chan exined. The members observed G¨¦rard¡¯s reaction when they showed Kang Chan they understood through their eyes, only to find G¨¦rard unexpectedly calm. ¡°We¡¯ll take a five-minute break. Guard our vicinity within a ten-meter radius,¡± Kang Chan ordered. They stopped on the top of a slope in the middle of the mountain. Kang Chan decided to rest in this area since it posed no risk of being shot from behind the trees. G¨¦rard didn¡¯t spout nonsense. He just called the three members ahead of them, then stationed four members in four locations that were ten meters apart. While resting, Kang Chan plopped down to the ground and leaned back against a tree to getfortable. After Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and G¨¦rard sat down, the others also found afortable ce to rest. G¨¦rard looked at Kang Chan with a strange expression. ¡°What?¡± Kang Chan asked G¨¦rard. ¡°If we keep going at this speed, it wouldn¡¯t even take us four hours to get to the location.¡± ¡°What¡¯s he saying?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°He¡¯s saying that it won¡¯t even take four hours if we keep going at this speed,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Idiot. Is he nning on walking all day?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°What did he say?¡± G¨¦rard asked Kang Chan. Kang Chan chuckled. These two fuckers kept tiring him out. ¡°Do we have anyone that knows how to speak Algeria¡¯snguages?¡± These people were already curious about Kang Chan. Hence, when he asked them that question, the eyes of two of them suddenly sparkled. Moreover, when Dayeru talked to them, they answered looking surprised and happy. Meanwhile, G¨¦rard sighed as he looked at Dayeru. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± When Kang Chan stood up, three members moved ahead first. The atmosphere was very different than before they rested. *** Kang Chan felt as if something was bothering him. ¡°Stop!¡± Kang Chan ordered, and the members quickly did as instructed. They then nervously examined their surroundings. Having walked for three hours, they had gotten the hang of determining whether Kang Chan was walking leisurely or if he was nervous. However, right now, Kang Chan was exuding bloodthirst. It couldn¡¯t be exined with words. Kang Chan ordered Dayeru, G¨¦rard, and the members to go to their respective positions with his index and middle finger. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Kang Chan slowly looked around them but found nothing noteworthy right now. ¡®Is it nothing?¡¯ Kang Chan couldn¡¯t exin his gut feelings. It happened all the time in Africa and South Korea, but he didn¡¯t know when and what was going to happen. About a minute passed. Just as G¨¦rard looked at Kang Chan with eyes that asked, ¡®what¡¯s wrong?¡¯,?they heard people talking, moving, then stepping on rocks. When Kang Chan got nervous, he heard the sound of his own breathing before anything else, which was the result of his training that had been repeated multiple times and the actualbat experience he had umted over the years. Normally, people would instead get a headache while their cheeks burned or hear the sound of their hearts beating. This was why it was emphasized in every training session to listen to the sound of their breathing. If they heard the sound of their heart beating or felt their head going nk due to nervousness, then there was a high chance that the opponent could hear them breathing. This was happening to the new recruit right now. He had gone through adequate training, but he wascking actualbat experience. The sounds kept getting closer and closer. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t understand what they were saying, but considering that their sentences were pronounced with fortises and ended with sounds such as ¡®tu-deuk¡¯ and ¡®ba-teuk,¡¯ they were clearly speaking Mongolian. Rather than cautiously, they were walkingfortably. Kang Chan took out the bay that he had attached to his right foot. If he had to eliminate them, then he intended to do so without gunshots. Dayeru and G¨¦rard also took out their bays, having figured out Kang Chan¡¯s intention. Three opponents walked past the area just below where Kang Chan and the members were hiding. They had a rifle slung over their shoulders that looked to be a few decades old. Two of them had a mountain animal hanging around their waists. It was as big as a forearm and appeared to have been caught in a trap. Kang Chan nned to run over and pounce on them before they could fire their guns. There was a fair distance between Kang Chan and the trio. However, their voices sounded awfully loud perhaps because they were on a mountain. ¡®Just go.¡¯ Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to kill these talkative people with dirty faces, however. They kept walking, but one of the three nced upward when they were right below Kang Chan without knowing that fourteen guns and three bays were seeking to kill them right above. Their voices had grown fainter about three minutester. After three more minutes, they couldn¡¯t hear them anymore. Kang Chan shook his head when he received a look from G¨¦rard. People like them who hunted for a living had eyes and ears sensitive enough to beparable to mountain animals. After about five more minutes passed, Kang Chan slowly raised himself up. They were leaving. They walked for thirty minutes, then Kang Chan decided they should rest. ¡°Captain.¡± G¨¦rard now understood what Kang Chan wanted from the look in his eyes alone, so he immediately assigned four members to guard their perimeter. They were halfway up the mountain, so they could easily look down and see in all four directions. It was also a great ce to hide since it was packed with trees. ¡°We¡¯ll have lunch before moving onward,¡± G¨¦rard told the members. ¡°Understood.¡± The C-rations were swiftly distributed. 1. Fortis refers to consonants(especially voiceless ones) being strongly articted more so than another consonant articted in the same ce Chapter 90.2: Long Fucking Day (1)

Chapter 90.2: Long Fucking Day (1)

Kang Dae-Kyung hadn¡¯t been able to concentrate on his work since this morning. Breathing feltborious as well, almost as if his chest was tied tightly. ¡°Whoo!¡± He breathed in deeply, but the frustration didn¡¯t go away at all. It felt as if something was taking up space in his lungs, keeping him from getting enough air. The hardest thing he had worked at sinceing to the office at 9 am was fiddling with his phone. ¡®Wouldn¡¯t it be okay to talk to him just this once?¡¯ Kang Dae-Kyung couldn¡¯t bring himself to press the call button, however. He was worried that Kang Chan was talking to someone important, like the Prime Minister, who even came to visit him personally in the hospital and asked him to allow Kang Chan to continue working for the country. The salespeople had even be more energetic recently because the executives that had shaken hands with the Prime Minister told stories about what happened when he visited. ¡°Whoo-oo!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung exhaled, then gave the cigarette that was on top of an employee¡¯s desk a subtle nce. ¡®You¡¯re okay, right?¡¯ He needed to trust Kang Chan. He had to. Kang Chan was still a high schooler, but that son of his performed acts that Kang Dae-Kyung, an ordinary person, couldn''t even understand. Stories about parents that ruined their genius child were verymon. In fact, there were just as many of them as there were geniuses. Kang Dae-Kyung had to endure even though he was worried and wanted to keep Kang Chan by his side. For his son, he had to suppress that desire and watch him. That was what an ordinary father should do. Kang Dae-Kyung recalled how Kang Chan swung a knife while blocking the front of the car. He could be acting like this because of how Kang Chan looked at that moment. Kang Dae-Kyung would never forget the look in his son¡¯s fierce eyes when Kang Chan nced back at him while swinging his knife at his opponent. In the middle of that terrifying battle, Kang Chan even managed to ask him if he was okay. He seemed to be saying that Kang Dae-Kyung had to be okay and was pleading for him to endure everything. ¡®Okay. I¡¯ll endure this as well. I¡¯ll put on a strong front and endure everything, so you also shouldn¡¯t worry about our family. Just¡­¡¯ Kang Dae-Kyung recalled when they went into the Namsan Hotel to meet the Gong Te automobile executives, when Kang Chan returned home with a cake to congratte him forpleting the contract, and when he hugged Kang Chan at the hospital. ¡®Juste back safely.¡¯ Kang Dae-Kyung hit his tight chest with his fist. *** They spent ten minutes having lunch. ¡°Are we resting for twenty more minutes?¡± G¨¦rard asked Kang Chan. ¡°If you want to.¡± G¨¦rard chuckled with a strange expression. In Africa, Kang Chan rested for twenty minutes after having a meal, if possible. They also frequently had early meals if they found a good ce to eat. He had multiple reasons for doing so. Being faced with a tense situation right after eating could cause a really loud a loud ¡®growl¡¯ to emerge from someone¡¯s stomach. Being full could also cause them to lower their guard. Moreover, it was dirty, but some even had to look for an appropriate ce to defecate while clutching their stomachs. ¡°Is that fucker bullshitting again?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°You¡¯re fucking worse!¡± Dayeru quickly turned his head when he saw Kang Chan¡¯s expression. Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect this fucker would adapt this fast. Kang Chan then looked at the new recruit. Among Westerners, some were unexpectedly soft-hearted. They alsocked guts and were a bit timid. Most of them pretended not to be like that at all, but their eyes still showed fear. Whenever new recruits got nervous, they would stiffen and their ability to make judgments would slow down. That was why Kang Chan always went around with the new recruits behind him. They didn¡¯t notice it at first, but as time passed, they started to trust and depend on him. Afterward, they fired their guns with an easy mind. From there, as long as they didn¡¯t die, they would juste out of this with a scar from a knife like G¨¦rard in front of them and frown to act tough. That could¡¯ve been why Kang Chan had run over more relentlessly to save him. He couldn¡¯t give up on someone that had trusted and depended on him. Even though it sometimes required him to slit his enemies¡¯ necks like a demon thirsty for blood, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t give up on someone that he had told to stay behind him. He would even do it all over again if he had to. ¡°I did good, right?¡± Thest memory of one of his subordinates, who had brought him a water bottle and smiled, came across Kang Chan¡¯s mind. ¡°Fuck.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan. I should''ve stopped at nothing to save that son of a bitch. Kang Chan sighed softly. *** Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s nose, left cheek, and the area around his right chin had swelled up. Moreover, the ends of his eyes, his cheek, and the area around his mouth were covered in blood. Creak. Creak. The string hanging from the ceiling made ufortable noises, almost as if finding Kim Hyung-Jung too heavy. He had already lost strength in his legs and couldn¡¯t even stop his knees from bending. He would¡¯ve been rolling on the floor already if not for his two arms that were tied toward the ceiling. ¡°You stubborn fucking son of a bitch!¡± a man yelled. Creak. Creak. Kim Hyung-Jung had multiple cuts and splits on his upper body. He didn¡¯t have a top on, so his blood and bruises were all on full disy. ¡°Tell us your name and the organization that you¡¯re affiliated with, and we¡¯ll let you go as we promised!¡± he yelled again. The man violently and tightly grasped onto Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s bangs, which were soaked with blood. ¡°Well send you to China. From there, you¡¯ll be able to return to South Korea. I¡¯m just asking you to tell me two things. Your name and the organization that you¡¯re affiliated with. Why do you have to keep stalling?¡± The man harshly shoved aside Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s head, then grabbed a long and thin awl. Just then, they heard someone yelling ¡°Ugggh! Gaaah!¡± It was as if the person was yelling right next to them. ¡°See? He¡¯s having that much of a hard time in the room next to us. More importantly, once I pierce your finger with this, then you won¡¯t be able to grow a nail anymore. And if this follows the bones in your finger and pierces through to the other side, it would cut your nerves. Do you understand?¡± the man asked. ¡°Phew.¡± When Kim Hyung-Jung exhaled deeply, his blood, mixed with saliva, seeped out and fell to the ground. ¡°Are you going to talk now?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung reflexively shook his head. ¡°Fucking son of a bitch!¡± The man roughly snatched Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s second finger on his left hand. ¡°Urgh!¡± ¡°Talk already, you fucking son of a bitch!¡± the man yelled again. ¡°Ugh! Arrgggh!¡± Kim Hyung-Jung gritted his teeth and continued to shake his head as if he was crazy. *** They arrived in four hours, including lunchtime. Kang Chan had thought that they¡¯d only find a temporary barrack, but they instead found a small but proper military base. It even had wire fences as tall as a human. Excluding the area where the main entrance was located, the military base was surrounded by mountains. In the middle of it were five cement buildings built around a sports field. It also had a main gate and a guard post on either side. Kang Chan examined the military base¡¯s vicinity with a grave expression. Twenty meters above it was a precipice that was entirely made up of rocks. It didn¡¯t matter what they did. This natural rock formation forcefully made them stand out immediately.. After examining the camp for about ten minutes, Kang Chan gathered the members together and said, ¡°Starting from the left, we¡¯llbel the buildings number 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Radio operator!¡± A member briefly raised his chin and nodded up. ¡°Snipers.¡± Two other members raised their chins simrly in response. ¡°Captain, assign the snipers in teams of two. If possible, send them behind building number 2 and number 5. Make sure they¡¯re perfectly camouged,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Understood.¡± G¨¦rard dispatched the sniper and one member to their ces. ¡°Radio operator, how do we contact the headquarters?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We¡¯ll talk to them using satellite phones.¡± ¡°Can our telephone conversations be wiretapped or our location tracked?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a chance that our location will be detected because we¡¯re using a satellite.¡± If so, then using a phone would be difficult. When Kang Chan was shaking his head, G¨¦rard came towards him. ¡°The rest of us should rest for now,¡± Kang Chan said. G¨¦rard nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to order some of our men to guard the perimeter.¡± ¡°I know at least that much,¡± G¨¦rard answered. While Kang Chan was smirking, G¨¦rard ordered the members. ¡°We¡¯re going to feel cramped,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Tell me about it.¡± Tsk! No matter how urgently they came here, if it was this kind of military base then they should¡¯ve given them more information. ¡°Let¡¯s take a moment to think for now. Identify the number of sentries and when they¡¯re relieved of their duty,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°We¡¯re relieving the guards in thirty minutes.¡± ¡°Pay attention to important details. I¡¯m better for tasks like this.¡± Alone, Kang Chan headed to a ce where he could look down at the military base, then leaned back against an appropriate rock and sat down on the floor. He couldn¡¯t think of any good ways to solve this matter right now. They were going to fight against North Korean special forces soldiers. Plus there were at least thirty of them. If they didn¡¯t ambush the enemies, they¡¯d be fighting a losing battle. Snap. Snap. Just then, he heard the sound of a thumb and middle finger being flicked. Kang Chan quickly walked towards Dayeru. ¡°Didn¡¯t that sounde from a human?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chan braced every nerve and concentrated for a moment, allowing him to hear awful screams, albeit barely. ¡°Whoo!¡± ¡°That was a human¡¯s, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. ¡°They¡¯re probably being tortured.¡± ¡°Ah, fuck,¡± Seok Kang-Ho swore. Despite what was happening, they couldn¡¯t leave right now. If they dangled on a precipice in broad daylight, they¡¯d be nothing more than cheap prizes that were hung up on a shooting gallery in an amusement park. The enemies would take the lives of the members dangling on the precipice as prizes in two shots. They wouldn¡¯t be able to stop the opponents from killing the captives either once they had found out about their rescue operation. On that day, with the sun so high up they¡¯d have to bend their heads backward to see it, the wind carried another scream to them. Chapter 91.1: Long Fucking Day (2)

Chapter 91.1: Long Fucking Day (2)

They heard a horrible scream from far away. They wouldn¡¯t keep hearing it if they didn¡¯t hear it the first time. However, now that they did, it kept reaching their ears. Kang Chan tightly gritted his teeth. The chick he failed to save in Africa came across his mind. ¡°I did good, right?¡± The screams of the new recruit, who wanted to get praised and brought him a water bottle, when he got surrounded by enemy soldiers and was getting stabbed with arge knife just like the scream Kang Chan heard a moment ago. By the time Kang Chan had slit the enemies¡¯ necks and stabbed their hearts, the new recruit was already unrecognizable. If Kang Chan had arrived a minute¡ªno, just thirty seconds sooner, if he got there a bit quicker just as how he saved Dayeru¡­ Kang Chan breathed in deeply when the wind stopped bringing screams toward them. ¡°Daye.¡± Dayeru just silently looked at Kang Chan due to how fierce and fearsome Kang Chan¡¯s eyes had be. ¡°We¡¯re going to attack them. Now.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan solidified his decision and walked back to their camp. G¨¦rard nervously stood up from his spot when he saw Kang Chan. ¡°Captain,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Please go ahead.¡± ¡°It seems like our people are being tortured. We should look for an opportunity to attack them at sunset, but I don¡¯t want to go in there only to find corpses.¡± G¨¦rard was looking straight into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Daeyru and I will go down to the enemy¡¯s military base. Provide sniper support. If the operation fails, take the members and retreat using the same route we took to get here,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Hmph!¡± G¨¦rard snorted as if at a loss for words, then said, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a chick?¡± Did this fucker really just ask that? ¡°A gentleman in the past disregarded me like that before¡­¡± G¨¦rard abruptly stopped talking and tightly gritted his teeth. He then said, ¡°Let mee with you to the enemy¡¯s base.¡± ¡°There are thirty special forces soldiers waiting for us below the precipice.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m saying that we should go there together!¡± G¨¦rard couldn¡¯t bring himself to shout, so he snarled instead. ¡°Don¡¯t act as foolish as the gentleman who sent me somewhere else in the past. Let mee with you and protect you! I''m not going to let anyone go like that ever again! I¡¯m going. I have to!¡± ¡°Captain.¡± ¡°Be quiet! I¡¯m going if you are. Otherwise¡­¡± This fucker was making an unreasonable demand. ¡°I¡¯m going to go down the precipice with two of our members, so if a problem urs, lead the retreat,¡± G¨¦rard told Kang Chan. G¨¦rard didn¡¯t react even after Kang Chan smirked in response. The look in his eyes was the same as Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s when he made Kang Chan promise to include him in every operation. This fucker was still lonely. He lived pretending to be strong and better than everyone else, but he still failed to find someone he could turn to. ¡°We¡¯ll rappel upsidedown to go down the precipice. Prepare three harnesses and three radios. Be on the ground in two seconds.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± G¨¦rard answered, then breathed in deeply. ¡°Call the members before we go down the precipice,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°You don¡¯t have to order me to do things like that. I would¡¯ve done it either way.¡± This fucker has really all grown up. G¨¦rard turned around first. Kang Chan walked toward Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°We¡¯re going with G¨¦rard.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going with that baby chick?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s be real. He¡¯s now a half-grown chick.¡± Seok Kang-Ho grinned. Having already gone past the point where he¡¯d feel anxious or nervous, his eyes grew fierce as well. They could be heading straight to their deaths. Some fuckers would feel overwhelmed with nervousness in situations like this. People like Dayeru, on the other hand, felt a strange sense of pleasure. ¡°Do you have anything important to report?¡± Kang Chan asked Dayeru. ¡°Not yet. I¡¯m more concerned that we aren¡¯t hearing screams anymore.¡± While they were ring at the enemy¡¯s military base, G¨¦rard appeared with the members. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho received radios and hung them on their bodies, then fastened a harness behind their waist. Kang Chan first exined the infiltration route and the n that they were going to carry out afterward. ¡°We¡¯re going tounch an assault now. Dayeru, the captain, and I are going to go down the precipice first. Head down once we¡¯ve secured a foothold. If the operation goes south, then you are to either immediately retreat using the same route we took to get here or head to the locations that I designate, depending on the circumstances. Any questions?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Who¡¯ll give us the order to open fire?¡± someone asked. ¡°Let¡¯s not nitpick about the little details. Shoot at will if you deem the situation to be dangerous. However, wait for my order before opening fire.¡± The members exchanged nces with each other, then briefly nodded. Chk. ¡°One of the sniper teams will position in front of building 2. The other will go in front of building 5. We¡¯re going down the precipice in five minutes. Depending on the circumstances, make sure to shoot to kill. However, refrain from doing so until we¡¯ve cut the wire fence. We n to infiltrate the enemy base from behind building 3, but contact me immediately if there¡¯s a problem,¡± Kang Chan said. Chk. ¡°Group 1, check.¡± Chk. ¡°Group 2, check.¡± With all the members equipped with radios, they were able to listen to everything being said right now. ¡°Chick,¡± Kang Chan called. Everyone¡¯s eyes fell on the new recruit. ¡°If youe down the precipice, don¡¯t jump in the operation until I order you. This is an order.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Kang Chan took out a yellowish bandana from his left forearm pocket and covered his face. Dayeru, G¨¦rard, and the others did as well. After tying the rope to a tree and using a figure-eight knot to tie it behind their backs, they were going to run down from the precipice while looking downward. Going down twenty meters in two seconds was no different from almost falling from the precipice. Despite already wearing two gloves on their left hand, they still had to be prepared to be wounded to some degree. Kang Chan, Dayeru, and G¨¦rard went toward the precipice after getting ready. Chk. ¡°We¡¯re ready to descend. Shooting team, report abnormalities,¡± Kang Chan radioed. Chk. ¡°Group 1 reporting in. No significant changes.¡± Chk. ¡°Group 2 reporting. Three tangos exited building 2. Descending team stand by for a moment.¡± Kang Chan turned his gaze to building 2, but he couldn¡¯t see it properly because it was covered by building 3. G¨¦rard stood at Kang Chan¡¯s left, and Dayeru stood at Kang Chan¡¯s right. Chk. ¡°Group 2 reporting. The threathas been neutralized. There¡¯s nothing significant to report.¡± Kang Chan looked both ways, then leaned forward. They normally would¡¯ve gone out to the precipice and gotten into position first but they couldn¡¯t even do that now. Tatatatatak. They rushed toward the ground as sharp wind came into their eyes. Swoosh. By the time Kang Chan felt like the skin on his left palm and index finger were being ripped apart, the ground was already in front of him. Swooosh! Kang Chan tightly pulled the rope, causing him to straighten up. Thud. Thud. His squadmates seemed to have arrived safely as well. The ropes went up as Dayeru and G¨¦rard lowered themselves to the ground, almost as if they were sticking to it. Chk. ¡°Operations team, be on standby,¡± someone radioed. Kang Chan heard an rm from the radio, then he alsoid down t on the ground. The smell of dirt suddenly went up to his nose. The rope wouldn¡¯t have been able to go up the precipice yet¡­ Whoo. Whoo. Kang Chan heard his own breathing. Chk. ¡°Operation team, move,¡± someone radioed again. As soon as they heard the order from the radio, Kang Chan ran forward. G¨¦rard and Dayeru stayed by his side. ¡°Gaaahhh!¡± When they arrived at building 3, they immediately heard awful screams. Kang Chan first examined the wire fence, then held out his hand. G¨¦rard handed over the cutter. He and Dayeru then held onto the wire fence while examining their surroundings. Chk. ¡°We¡¯ve removed the wire fence. Shooting team, we¡¯re awaiting orders,¡± Kang Chan radioed. Chk. ¡°Infiltration team, enter,¡± someone radioed. Kang Chan quickly went inside the enemy base through the crevice that was created when Dayeru and G¨¦rard pulled the wire fence apart. ¡°Urrghh! Gaahhh!¡± Screams from two or more people kept escaping from building 3. Chk. ¡°Hold your positions, infiltration team. One tango came out of building 3. Reason is unknown. We¡¯re ready to shoot,¡± someone radioed. Bang. The sound of the door being closed soon rang out. Kang Chan took out the bay that he had attached to his foot. Whoo. Whoo. With his head, he gestured and made Dayeru and G¨¦rard stand far apart from him on either side to avoid all of them getting gunned down in the worst moment. Chk. ¡°The enemy went into building 4. Infiltration team, move,¡± someone radioed again. Kang Chan sheathed the bay, pointed to his own eyes with his index and middle finger, then designated ces for Dayeru and G¨¦rard to go to. Afterward, he moved to building 5 and stuck to its wall. Lowering his posture, he examined the guard post. One man was in it. Kang Chan held up his index finger and turned it three times in the air, then pointed to the guard post in front of building 5. Chk. ¡°We see tangos at the third guard post. Stand by,¡± someone radioed. Kang Chan kept hearing his own breathing. He discreetly looked around the mountain, finding no traces of them going down the precipice. The wind calmly circted around the army base as the sunlight warmed it up. Chk. ¡°Clear out the fifth guard post,¡± someone radioed. Tatatatatak. With his posture lowered as much as he could, Kang Chan followed the wired fence to the fifth guard post¡¯s wall. The guard post had no windows. Kang Chan went in between the wired fence and the guard post, then took out his bay and slowly raised himself up. He saw the special forces soldiers. If they treated them carelessly, then everything would end here. The enemy was sitting upright with his rifle in front of him. Kang Chan slowly raised his arms. Swoosh. Shhhiiick. He then ced the bay on the enemy¡¯s neck, covered the enemy¡¯s mouth, and slit his neck with the bay with all of his might. The enemy choked due to the air in his blood and lungs moving the vocal cords. Chk. ¡°Fifth guard post cleared. Infiltrate building 3,¡± Kang Chan radioed. Kang Chan climbed up the window, went into the guard post, then waited while supporting the enemy¡¯s back. As he heard more screams, he saw Dayeru moving from the opposite side. They were doing better than he expected. Kang Chan wiped the bay on the enemy¡¯s body, then sheathed it. Chk. ¡°Clear out the third guard post,¡± Kang Chan radioed, then looked alternatively at the main gate and the third guard post. After a while, two arms came up and the enemy flinched. Two guard posts had been cleared. Rattle.? At that moment, an enemy opened building 4. Kang Chan quickly looked at the third guard post. Dayeru¡¯s hand was still covering the enemy¡¯s mouth. Whoo. Whoo. It was over if the enemies saw them. Kang Chan held his rifle, then turned his gaze to the building. The enemy that came out of building 4 stopped walking in front of building 3 and looked at the guard post. Kang Chan turned his gaze, finding the enemy manning it, and he was turning his head toward the main gate. Kang Chan didn¡¯t see Dayeru. He returned his attention to the enemy, finding him opening the door of building 3 and going inside. Chk. ¡°Third guard post cleared,¡± Dayeru radioed in. Chk. ¡°Third and fifth guard posts have been secured.¡± When Kang Chan answered in French, he saw G¨¦rard in between building 2 and 3. Chk. ¡°Teams standing by, prepare to infiltrate,¡± Kang Chan radioed. A momentter he received a response, ¡°Standing by.¡± Chk. ¡°Shooting team 1, aim for the guard post at the main gate. Shooting team 2, cover them. Teams on standby, proceed with the infiltration.¡± Kang Chan ordered, and the other members came down the precipice. Considering three soldiers coulde down at once, they just had to buy time for two batches. Kang Chan was a nervous wreck as he watched the members. He wasn¡¯t angry because they werete, but he was worried that they¡¯d get shot while they were dangling on the precipice. The first group came down safely. Next was the second group. From what Kang Chan could see, the person at the very left of the precipice was the new recruit. Kang Chan was so frustrated he felt like he was going to go crazy, but there was no other way. The new recruit would build his skills in this way. This was just like riding a bike. As they umted experience, there woulde a day when they would be able to do this naturally. From that moment, their eyes would be more terrifying. After all, their gaze would show they could stab anyone at any moment or pull the trigger without hesitation. 1. Kang Chan, G¨¦rard, and Dayeru are referred to as the ¡®infiltration team¡¯ for most of this operation after they descend, but the author referred to them as ¡®descending team¡¯ here perhaps because they¡¯re about the descend down the precipice Chapter 91.2: Long Fucking Day (2)

Chapter 91.2: Long Fucking Day (2)

Kang Chan exhaled softly. All of them had reached the ground. The rope quickly went back up the precipice again. Having the signaller stay back was the right decision. Right now, pulling up the rope on the precipice was already a big help¡­ ¡°What¡¯s that?!¡± At that moment, they heard a terrifying shout. Chk. ¡°Squad 1, eliminate the tango at the main gate guard post.¡± As soon as Kang Chan ordered that¡­ Whoosh! Bam! Blood spattered from the forehead of the enemy at the main gate guard post. Kang Chan quickly ran to building 3 with his rifle at the ready. G¨¦rard, who was beside the building, moved to the entrance. Dayeru aimed his rifle from the second guard post. Rattle.? The enemy opened the door of building 4. Ta-ang! When Kang Chan pulled the trigger, the guy in front of him fell back with a thud. Ta-ang. Ta-ang. Rattle! When Kang Chan fired two more times, the door of building 3 opened. Ta-ang. Ta-ang.? G¨¦rard, who had been waiting, shot the enemy from beside him. Rattle. Whoosh. As soon as someone opened building 5¡¯s door, a sniper blew his brains out. Bang. Kang Chan stood by the door of building 3 and counted with G¨¦rard through eye gestures, his rifle aimed and ready. One, two. Bang! Swoosh. G¨¦rard kicked the door, and Kang Chan ran inside. Tang. Tang. Tang. Blood spattered all over behind three people. Swoosh. G¨¦rard ran inside as well. There were two desks in front of the entrance and a hallway to their left. There were rooms on both sides. They kept hearing gunshots from outside the building. Kang Chan and G¨¦rard leaned against the room that was at the very front of the building. Whoo. Whoo. The structure of the room required the door to be pulled for it to be opened. G¨¦rard pulled the door, and Kang Chan quickly examined its interior, finding captives inside. He couldn¡¯t even distinguish their faces, which were swollen and covered in blood. Some of their bones had also been exposed, almost as if their fingers had been ripped apart. This was also the case for the next room. Gunshots continued to echo. Every now and then, the unique gunfire of sniper rifles would mix in. Kang Chan stood in front of the next room, then made eye contact with G¨¦rard. Swish! Swoosh. This was his gut feeling. Things like this could really only be described as his senses. The moment the door was opened and they ran inside, Kang Chan was sure there would be an enemy waiting for them. Ta-ang! Thud. Whoo. Whoo. Fortunately, the captives after the first two rooms were fine. Even though they were wounded to the point where they were unrecognizable, Kang Chan knew he hadn¡¯t found Kim Hyung-Jung yet. He could tell by their body types. Ta-da-da-da-da-dang. Ta-da-dang. Ta-da-da-da-da-dang. Kang Chan heard gunfire that he hadn¡¯t heard until now. This meant that the enemies had gotten into their positions to some degree. Rattle! At the same time, two people ran inside the building through the entrance. Ta, Ta-ng. Ta-ng. Kang Chan and G¨¦rard pulled the trigger at almost the same time. Kang Chan fired another bullet. Considering the situation, this showed their snipers were busy enough to let enemies run into building 3. If so, then it also meant that all of their troops were busy. Kang Chan decided to hurry a bit more. So far, the rooms up to the fifth room were empty. G¨¦rard seemed excited for some reason. Kang Chan could tell from the subtle differences in his movements as he moved with his gun aimed. If they weren¡¯t in the middle of an operation, then Kang Chan would¡¯ve already stopped G¨¦rard and swore at him. Considering the gunshots were increasing in number, their troops were at a disadvantage. Seok Kang-Ho was in a guard post that was made up of wooden boards. Kang Chan hesitated for a moment when he walked into the seventh room. He had found Kim Hyung-Jung dangling from the ceiling with both arms tied above him. He also had an awl stabbed into his left index finger. He was alive, though. That was what mattered. If they could ensure the captives¡¯ safety after searching through the rest of this building, then they¡¯d have aplished their objective here. Kim Hyung-Jung gave them a subtle nce, then flinched. Now was not the time to release him. Kang Chan carefully drew back while aiming his gun. There were three rooms left. Damn it! Kang Chan fiercely red at G¨¦rard because he took Kang Chan¡¯s ce. He tightly gritted his teeth, but he couldn¡¯t tell G¨¦rard to change ces right now. ¡®Son of a bitch. I¡¯ll deal with youter.¡¯ When G¨¦rard received a look from Kang Chan, it felt like G¨¦rard¡¯s eyes were saying, ¡®Do whatever you want. Just open the door first.¡¯ Kang Chan was forced to put his hand on the doorknob. The moment when their eyes met¡­ Swoosh. Kang Chan opened the door, and G¨¦rard charged into the room. Tang. Ta-da-dang. Tang. Sounds like this shouldn¡¯t be heard. Kang Chan pushed the door with his foot, then knelt down with his right knee. The enemy had sunk to his knees. Ta-ang! Thud! G¨¦rard? G¨¦rard had copsed in front of the door. Bang. At that moment, the two remaining doors opened, and more enemies jumped out. Ta-ang! Ta-ang! Kang Chan twisted his upper body and opened fire. Bam! Pow! Blood spattered on the wall behind his targets. Kang Chan checked the remaining two rooms first, finding only captives in them. Chk. ¡°We¡¯ve cleared building 3 and secured the objectives. The captain has been shot,¡± Kang Chan radioed. Chk. ¡°Captain? What do you mean?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chan quickly ran over to G¨¦rard and immediately noticed his left shoulder and chest werepletely soaked with blood. He then noticed a hole in between his shoulder and heart. ¡°Captain!¡± Kang Chan yelled. G¨¦rard opened his eyes with difficulty. Kang Chan examined the rest of his body. Fortunately, it seemed the bullet wound on his shoulder was the only injury he sustained. ¡°What about the objectives?¡± G¨¦rard asked. ¡°We¡¯ve safely secured all of them.¡± ¡°What are you doing? Please go out quickly and look after the members.¡± ¡°Son of a bitch.¡± G¨¦rard smirked. ¡°Hearing Korean swear words feels quite great.¡± They had to hurry. G¨¦rard was conscious, but if he kept bleeding like this, he¡¯d be in a critical condition. Ta-ang. Tang. Ta-da-dang. Ta-da-da-dang. Tang. The firefight continued. Chk. ¡°Radio operator,¡± Kang Chan radioed. Chk. ¡°Radio operator here.¡± Chk. ¡°Request for a helicopter. I¡¯m going to check every ten minutes to know when it¡¯sing. The captain is wounded, and the captives are in critical conditions, so request medical supplies as well, especially blood,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Chk. ¡°Understood.¡± Kang Chan went out of building 3¡¯s entrance. Chk. ¡°Firing team, provide the situation report,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Chk. ¡°There¡¯s only the 4th building left. Our troops aren¡¯t wounded.¡± Kang Chan hid at the entrance, then stood and looked at the guard post. Ta-da-dang. Tang. Tang. Ta-dang. Ta-da-dang. Seok Kang-Ho kept shooting from the third guard post, but the enemies were resisting from inside a cement building that made it difficult to take them down. Chk. ¡°Daye, we¡¯ve secured the objectives, but the captain is wounded,¡± Kang Chan said. Chk. ¡°Fuck. How bad is it?¡± This fucker is talking like this on the radio! Chk. ¡°A bullet went through his shoulder. We¡¯ve called in for a helicopter, so we have to take care of building 4 in twenty minutes,¡± Kang Chan answered. Chk. ¡°Alright. What¡¯s the n?¡± Daye asked again. Ta-da-dang. Tang. Tang. Ta-da-da-dang. Fragments of the guard post that Seok Kang-Ho was in were noisily shot off. Chk. ¡°I¡¯m going. Get ready to cover me! Keep covering fire!¡± Kang Chan yelled. Chk. ¡°Alright!¡± Ta-da-da-dang. Tang. Ta-da-dang. Ta-da-da-dang. Chk. ¡°This is the God of ckfield. I¡¯m going into building 4. Starting now, we¡¯re switching to volley fire. Fire three shots at building 4 every time I signal to prevent the enemies froming out. Join me once I¡¯m inside.¡± Chk. ¡°Roger that.¡± Ta-da-da-dang. Tang. Tang. Tang. Chk. ¡°Shooting group 1, I¡¯m running in from building 3. Cover me,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Chk. ¡°Copy.¡± Kang Chan reloaded. Chk. ¡°Cover me!¡± Kang Chan yelled. Ta-da-dang. Ta-da-dang. Ta-da-dang. Ta-da-dang. Ta-da-dang. The gunshot sounds¡¯ rhythm changed. Gunshots from the snipers butted into the middle of the firefight as well. The snipers could now open fire due to the opportunity presented whenever those resisting by the window were forced to hide from the concentrated gunfire. Swoosh! Kang Chan now stood close to the entrance of building 4. Ta-da-dang. Tang. Tang. Ta-da-dang. He kept seeing sparks from inside the building. Whoo. Whoo. Whoo. Whoo. Kang Chan caught his breath. One, two. He then ran into the building, his rifle aimed. Tang. Tang.? When Kang Chan took care of the enemy by the entrance, the others dangling on the window turned around. Tang. Tang. Tang. Tang. Tang. Tang. Click! He quickly examined the building to see if anyone was still moving. It was an old-style amodation. The corpses of the enemies he had taken down were scattered all over the floor, the beds facing each other on either side of the room, and the hallway. The members ran inside and urgently aimed their guns at the corpses. What happened? Did he really go through all of these bodies by himself? Most of their face was covered with a bandana, but their eyes were enough to show their surprise as they looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Form teams of two and search through the rest of the buildings,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down.¡± Four members ran out, and Kang Chan went out of building 4. Chk. ¡°What¡¯s the status of the helicopter?¡± Kang Chan asked afterward. Chk. ¡°It¡¯s expected to arrive in fifteen minutes.¡± When Kang Chan went into building 3, he found Dayeru tying G¨¦rard¡¯s shoulder with a bandana. Kang Chan took out a bay, releasedf the captives, and moved them into the office space starting from the first room. That was what Kim Hyung-Jung would¡¯ve wanted Kang Chan to do. Dayeru helped release and move the captives after taking care of G¨¦rard, increasing their pace. Kang Chan ran to Kim Hyung-Jung, then pulled out the awl that had been stabbed into his index finger before anything else. ¡°Urgh!¡± Kang Chan cut the string that was used to tie Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s hands with a bay. He then held him in his arms. ¡°You okay?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan with surprise in his eyes. ¡°A helicopter is on its way. We¡¯ll wait outside,¡± Kang Chan added. He looked like he was thinking, ¡®Kang Chan?¡¯ Kang Chan had covered most of his face, but Kim Hyung-Jung could still see his eyes. When Kang Chan went out to the office space while supporting Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s shoulder¡­ ¡°Those fuckers are really fucking cruel.¡± They heard Seok Kang-Ho grumble. ¡°Mr. Seok? Is that you?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. Seok Kang-Ho had uncovered his face. When Kim Hyung-Jung saw Seok Kang-Ho smirking, he looked at Kang Chan stupefied. However, there were too many things that Kang Chan had to take care of right now. ¡°I¡¯ll see you in a little while,¡± Kang Chan responded to Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s stare. It took quite a long time to search through the other buildings and move the captives to the office. Chk. ¡°The helicopter should be here in five minutes,¡± someone radioed. Chk. ¡°Sniper team, Signaller, on me,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Chk. ¡°Roger that.¡± Kang Chan took off the bandana covering his face, then approached Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re alive.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung kept frowning because of the pain. Ddu-ddu-ddu-ddu-ddu. From the distance, they heard the sound of helicopter rotors. 1. this refers to the military tactic ¡®volley fire¡¯, which is when soldiers shoot in the same direction en masse (all together) Chapter 92.1: On Their Way Back (1)

Chapter 92.1: On Their Way Back (1)

It had been a while since Kang Chan heard a Chinook¡¯s noise, but he was d to finally hear it again. While the team was moving G¨¦rard and the captives to the front of building 3, the snipers and the signaller came down. The look in their eyes showed pride for their operation¡¯s sess, having managed to defeat infamous enemies. If this were to happen two or three more times, the members would wholeheartedly trust themander. Du-du-du-du-du-du. Helicopter rotor sounds bounced off from the rock wall that surrounded the military base, causing its ringing to echo. Chk. ¡°Delivery team, this is the stork. We see the military base,¡± someone radioed. Chk. ¡°Copy that, stork.¡± The helicopter noises had be so loud that it was as if they wereing from right above them. Du-du-du-du-du-du. The helicopter finally came into view as a dust cloud violently rose upward. With the rock walls trapping the helicopter noises inside, the sounds became loud enough to render Kang Chan unable to think. ¡°Move out!¡± They helped the evacuees toward the Chinook¡¯s door. Likewise, Dayeru ran while holding G¨¦rard in his arms. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Kang Chan yelled again, knowing full well how dangerous a helicopternding and take-off could be. Every second was precious. The members frantically ran until everyone finally got on the helicopter. By the time Kang Chan boarded it as well, it was already in the air. Du-du-du-du-du-du. ¡°Whoo,¡± Kang Chan sighed deeply. The army surgeon on board inserted blood and an IV into G¨¦rard¡¯s arm. ¡°How is he?!¡± Kang Chan asked the army surgeon. ¡°He¡¯s losing too much blood!¡± Kang Chan frowned. Currently, all he could do was watch. Son of a bitch. The idiot got too excited for participating in an operation! Kang Chan felt it was unfair that he believed someone like G¨¦rard had be a middle-sized chicken. The army surgeon, who had inserted two IV medications into G¨¦rard, looked frightened upon seeing the evacuees. He first tended to a person in critical condition. His finger had been sliced open, leaving his bones exposed. Kang Chan sat down and leaned against the helicopter. A Foreign Legion member soon handed over a cigarette. Du-du-du-du-du-du. After trying hard to light up the cigarette, Kang Chan seeded on the second attempt. It might as well have been everyone who bit on a cigarette. Smoking would anger the Chinook¡¯s pilot. However, in this situation, nobody would listen even if they were told to extinguish it. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan felt much better. Biting on a cigarette that someone had put in his mouth, Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan and around the helicopter¡¯s interior, appearing as if he still couldn¡¯t believe what was happening. *** Click. Lanok¡¯s assistant opened the door, approached Lanok¡¯s desk, and leaned toward his ear. ¡°We¡¯ve received word of Monsieur Kang¡¯s sessful rescue operation. They¡¯re on their way back. The Foreign Legion suffered no casualties, only one wounded.¡± While looking at his assistant, Lanok looked as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he had just heard. He checked the clock on the desk. ¡°It¡¯s likely a little over 6 pm in Mongolia.¡± ¡°All of the North Korean special forces soldiers had also been killed in action. This operation will be recorded as the Foreign Legion¡¯s most perfect and brilliant operation in their history.¡± ¡°This result is truly unbelievable,¡± Lanokmented with a slight shake of his head. ¡°How are China and the United States reacting to it?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t confirmed any unusual movements yet.¡± Lanok straightened a ballpoint pen on the desk and gave a strange smile. ¡°China¡¯s n to transport their captives and pressure me and South Korea haspletely fallen through. The special forces soldiers North Korea had deployed to Mongolia have also been killed. This oue will make people think I perfectly gained the upper hand, at least in special warfare.¡± Lanok slightly twisted his head and looked at his assistant. ¡°Contact the DGSE and make sure they reward the members that participated in this operation.¡± ¡°Duly noted.¡± When his assistant left, Lanok sank lower into the chair and mumbled to himself, ¡°Monsieur Kang, this situation has made it truly worthpeting against China.¡± *** The C295 transport aircraft left the Darkhan airport a little past 8 pm local time. It took some time to examine G¨¦rard¡¯s condition and do other things such as looking after the Korean team¡¯s wounds. As usual, they ate c-rations for dinner. Kang Chan only felt relieved when the aircraft had risen up into the sky and began to maintain its usual altitude. The atmosphere also improved when G¨¦rard regained consciousness and asked for a cigarette. They were a specialized team. Hence, even the army surgeon, who had roughly guessed what operation they participated in, didn¡¯t say anything about G¨¦rard smoking. ¡°Would you like some coffee?¡± the new recruit asked Kang Chan. His eyes showed he respected Kang Chan. And although how each member gazed at Kang Chan differed, the look in their eyes was the same. ¡°Do you participate in operations often, by any chance?!¡± the group 1 sniper yelled at Kang Chan from the other side of the helicopter, causing everyone¡¯s eyes to immediately rush toward Kang Chan. ¡°Please let me join you in the next operation as well!¡± the sniper yelled again. When Kang Chan smirked, another soldier yelled even louder, ¡°We¡¯re all thinking the same thing! I was going to tell the captain thatter!¡± The new recruit gave everyone paper cups of instant coffee, then took a seat. As he did, he kept ncing at Kang Chan. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± Kang Chan asked the new recruit. ¡°Can I have your beret and bandana?¡± ¡°What did he say?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°He wants to have my beret and bandana.¡± ¡°Are you sure he didn¡¯t say he wants your signature?¡± Grinning, Seok Kang-Ho looked at the new recruit, who avoided his eyes. Kang Chan took off his beret and ced the bandana in it. He then threw it to the new recruit. He didn¡¯t intend to show off. Rather, he just hoped that the new recruit would find the beret and bandana helpful when he was really scared and breathless. ¡°Fuck, I don¡¯t want to go to work,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Seok Kang-Ho sounded sincere. Although he had been talking about his wife until morning, this fucker had nowe to like this lifestyle. Rxed and sedated by the dozen of IV packs hung up on the ne¡¯s walls, Kim Hyung-Jung and the captives fell into a profound sleep. Kang Chan was taking out a cigarette when his eyes met G¨¦rard¡¯s, who was lying right next to him. ¡°Want one?¡± Kang Chan offered. G¨¦rard shook his head. As Kang Chan bit on a cigarette and tried to light it, G¨¦rard swallowed with difficulty and asked, ¡°When¡¯s the next operation?¡± ¡°There aren''t any more operations now. Even if there were, I refuse to fight alongside a captain who gets too excited during an operation.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t help it.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s exactly why you¡¯ve got a hole in your shoulder.¡± ¡°What else could I do? I like being a part of such missions.¡± ¡°Crazy fucker.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to go visit you if I get a vacation,¡± G¨¦rardsaid with a smirk when Kang Chan swore in Korean. ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have ns to stay with a madman.¡± Kang Chan exhaled cigarette smoke. ¡°Are you going immediately?¡± G¨¦rard asked. ¡°To where?¡± ¡°I mean are you going to leave the Osan army base immediately?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see you off first.¡± Kang Chan smirked, thinking the fucker was acting like that because G¨¦rard met and grew attached to him while he was lonely. There was no way G¨¦rard acted like this because he had found out that he reincarnated. *** Go Gun-Woo and Moon Jae-Hyun started to walk along the trail in the Blue House a little past 9 am. ¡°Mr. President, we¡¯ve received word that the kids who went out for a walk are on their way home.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun briefly looked at Go Gun-Woo, then pretended he didn¡¯t hear anything. He just kept walking forward. ¡°Kang Chan got France¡¯s support and left South Korea in absolute secrecy. This information was clearly intentionally leaked from France¡¯s DGSE,¡± Go Gun-Woo continued. ¡°How many people are returning to South Korea?¡± ¡°We were told there are fourteen individuals, including the manager.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun groaned and gritted his teeth. ¡°We were also told that all of the North Korean special forces soldiers had been eliminated.¡± Go Gun-Woo¡¯s words made Moon Jae-Hyun turn his head and look at Go Gun-Woo. ¡°That¡¯s hard to believe.¡± ¡°It has actually been confirmed. However we still haveto validate the report that fourteen people, including Kang Chan the student, ambushed them. With this opportunity, we¡¯re also thinking of confirming the hotline with France¡¯s DGSE.¡± ¡°What did the director say about this?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. ¡°That it¡¯s what he was hoping for.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun stood at the crossroad in the middle of the trail, then looked down at the Blue House. ¡°We basically pped China mercilessly,¡± Go Gun-Woo worriedlymented. ¡°If we did something worthy of getting hit for, then we should get hit,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun answered without second thoughts. ¡°Even though it won¡¯t be done publically, we have to be as considerate of the dead agents and their families as possible.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already taken actions to make that happen.¡± ¡°The same goes for the agents on their way home and their families. Information leaked out because we did something wrong, not because their capabilities were inadequate. If needed, I¡¯ll meet them in person and apologize.¡± ¡°The Director has promised to meet them. We won¡¯t leave anything out, especially not the agents¡¯ treatment andpensation.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun smiled brightly upon hearing Go Gun-Woo¡¯s answer. ¡°This is the first time in recent years that I¡¯ve felt relieved.¡± Looking as if he was forcibly suppressing a smile, Go Gun-Woo said, ¡°Aside from North Korea, which acted out carelessly because they trusted China, even the people that helped them enter South Korea using North Korea¡¯s backing are going to have a restless sleep.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun nodded, then breathed in deeply. ¡°Meeting Kang Chan would be a predicament in all respects, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a good idea, Mr. President. For Kang Chan¡¯s sake as well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. But as the president and as a man, I still want to reward him for his contributions. Would there be a way to do that?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun turned his gaze away. Go Gun-Woo looked as if he thought of something. 1. We¡¯re assuming that this is a code name that the members are using to refer to the helicopter 2. This was written as ?????, which is a transliteration of ¡®D¨¦m¨¦nageons!¡¯ in French. We think that the author meant ¡®move out!¡¯, but ¡®d¨¦m¨¦nager¡¯ means ¡®moving out¡¯ as in moving house¡¯ Chapter 92.2: On Their Way Back (1)

Chapter 92.2: On Their Way Back (1)

After getting off the helicopter at the Osan airfield, G¨¦rard, the members of the Foreign Legion, Kim Hyung-Jung, and the Korean specialized team were assigned two barracks for them to stay at. ¡°You¡¯re really absurd,¡± Kim Hyung-Jungmented toward Kang Chan despite having trouble speaking. He had bandages wrapped around his head, chest, finger, and thigh. Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s eyes still weren¡¯t clear due to the IV drip constantly sending painkillers into his body. ¡°Please get some rest. I was told an ambnce wille here from Seoul tomorrow morning to transfer you to the police hospital,¡± Kang Chan said. He couldn¡¯t say anything else while looking at Kim Hyung-Jung since he appeared to be feeling angry, wronged, and even miserable. He wouldn¡¯t have that look in his eyes just because he got wounded during an operation they carried out. Anyone would feel simr emotions if they walked into a trap that killed thirteen of the agents that followed them and critically wounded the others. ¡°You were unlucky this time, Mr. Manager. You should get better quickly so we can get revenge. Now that they¡¯ve attacked us, we should strike back and make them pay for all the damages they caused.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung smiled bitterly. ¡°Please sleep.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung closed his eyes softly. Tsk. Kang Chan went out of the barrack, sat at the stairs at the entrance, and bit on a cigarette. Creak. Seok Kang-Ho came out to the stairs from the barrack next door. ¡°You were here? The spicy ramen was amazing. I can make you one real quick if you want.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was sniffling. He looked satisfied. ¡°It¡¯s fine¡ªjust head inside and make a lot of coffee,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°There aren¡¯t instant coffees here.¡± ¡°I know. Just make a cup of light roast coffee.¡± When Seok Kang-Ho stepped through the door and started talking in one of Algeria¡¯snguages, they immediately heard someone reply ¡°Okay¡± Seok Kang-Ho sat next to Kang Chan after closing the door. ¡°Is something bothering you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Kang Chan answered, then crushed the cigarette out into the floor. ¡°You look like you¡¯re on the verge of exploding and actually will if someone messes with you. Didn¡¯t you see the people checking your mood after you came into the barrack?¡± Did I do that? ¡°Anyway, considering you made those men wary of your mood even though you haven¡¯t even been with them for twenty hours yet, it seems you¡¯re born with the ability to make people listen to you,¡± Seok Kang-Ho added. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wary about my mood, then?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been this way.¡± Kang Chanughed out loud. This fucker had truly acted like that from the beginning. ¡°Please feel better. Manager Kim being wounded is unfortunate, but isn¡¯t it good that we brought him back alive? Let¡¯s just focus on that. It¡¯s already a relief that he¡¯s not that severely injured aside from the wound on his finger.¡± Creak. The new recruit brought over mugs in both hands while looking happy. Regardless of the location, the new recruits always ran errands for the seniors¡­ but Kang Chan and Dayeru were the exceptions. The new recruit went inside right away after handing over the coffee. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about the agents that were killed in action. This always happens in this kind of work,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Although he appeared to be Seok Kang-Ho again, he was still Dayeru. Nevertheless, he was acting smart again. At any rate, his ability to adapt was amazing. Creak. The door opened again. G¨¦rard frowned as he came down the stairs with difficulty. He looked pale, and he had bandages wrapped around his shoulder. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I was feeling cramped in there.¡± When Kang Chan smiled lightly, Seok Kang-Ho stood up from his spot with a grin and told Kang Chan, ¡°This fucker really can¡¯t read a room.¡± Seok Kang-Ho''s eyes ufortably met G¨¦rard¡¯s as he headed inside the barrack. These two fuckers were making Kang Chan quite tired. ¡°Sit. Want a cigarette?¡± Kang Chan asked. G¨¦rard carefully approached Kang Chan, then sat by him. Kang Chan lit up two cigarettes and handed one of them to G¨¦rard. ¡°Who are you really?¡± G¨¦rard asked. He exhaled cigarette smoke as if sighing, then looked at Kang Chan. ¡°The fact that we rested for twenty minutes after eating, that you hit all of the enemies you shot either in the heart or the forehead, that you did everything yourself without ordering the members to do it, and swearing in Korean¡ªthose are all well and fine. After all, others could do all of those. However, as far as I know, there has only been one person until now that has forbidden the Foreign Legion members from covering fire.¡± Kang Chan was just looking back at G¨¦rard. ¡°I was happy. I got excited when we were searching the buildings because I had previously thought that I would be happy if I could fight like that onest time with someone I can depend on, even if it meant my death¡­ Hmph! Even if I die, I¡¯d be happy to fight alongside someone who can protect me in any situation. I¡¯ve always missed that kind of day. So please be honest with me. Who are you?¡± G¨¦rard added. The cigarettepletely burned up while it was in between G¨¦rard¡¯s fingers. ¡°Captain,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°It¡¯s G¨¦rard. The operation is already over, so call me G¨¦rard. We all know each other¡¯s names anyway. Now, what¡¯s your real name? Ah! Is it a secret?¡± ¡°Are you going to believe me if I tell you?¡± ¡°Whether I believe it or not is up to me. Just be upfront with it, please. If I go back like this, then I¡¯m going to shoot some random bastard¡¯s head off unintentionally because I¡¯m confused.¡± Kang Chan smirked, then said with a sigh, ¡°my name is Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Damn it. Don¡¯t y with me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me, fucker?¡± G¨¦rard looked at Kang Chan with puzzled eyes when Kang Chan suddenly swore in Korean. ¡°There¡¯s not even a way to exin everything, so just make of that what you will. How should I or Daye exin ourselves? Would you believe us if we say that our bodies changed or if I say that I died and my spirit had been shoved into this body by the time I opened my eyes? There¡¯s no way to exin what happened. So just think whatever you want.¡± ¡°Let me ask you one thing,¡± G¨¦rard said afterward. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°How much oil am I supposed to mix in gasoline?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. ¡°Mix 3 parts oil with 1 part gasoline when you¡¯re going to Africa. You mixed in too much oilst time. Where did you get that lighter?¡± ¡°No one was taking the mementos, so I did.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know the saying that you¡¯ll be unlucky if you take a dead person¡¯s stuff?¡± ¡°Hmph! Can people still say that if they realize you¡¯ve returned to life like this?¡± G¨¦rard asked. ¡°Crazy fucker.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t swear in Korean out of nowhere.¡± Kang Chan smiled, then took a sip of the coffee. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to join an operation for three months. Please schedule the next one when I get back,¡± G¨¦rard requested. ¡°I don¡¯t participate in operations anymore.¡± G¨¦rard looked at Kang Chan with a hint of dissatisfaction on his face. ¡°What do you do in South Korea?¡± ¡°I go to school.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°What do you understand?¡± Kang Chan was suddenly worried about the future. ¡°I mean that I understand that you go to school. Why do you ask?¡± Why is this fucker acting like this as well? ¡°I¡¯m going inside,¡± G¨¦rard said. When Kang Chan looked at G¨¦rard¡¯s back, who had carefully stood up and headed into the barracks, he sighed for some strange reason. *** 6 am. Six ambnces went into the military airfield in Osan. ¡°I¡¯ll visit you in the hospital, Mr. Manager,¡± Kang Chan carefully held Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s bandaged hand. He then watched him until the back door of the ambnce was closed. At 6:30 am, Kang Chan had breakfast with G¨¦rard and the crew members. The menu was toast, cereal, and fruits. Afterward, Kang Chan and G¨¦rard sat on the stairs in front of the barracks and drank a mug of coffee each. When Kang Chan offered him a cigarette, G¨¦rard took it. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo.¡± ¡°When are we seeing each other again?¡± G¨¦rard asked. Kang Chan, who had been looking at the runway, looked at G¨¦rard while smirking. ¡°I wanted to see you once, no matter what. I¡¯m already thankful that I did, but we even fought together. I don¡¯t want to see an idiot again that gets a hole in his shoulder because he got excited like a dickhead.¡± G¨¦rard smirked, then stood up from his spot. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®understood¡¯?¡± This fucker had learned a trick that made people uneasy. ¡°I¡¯m saying that I understand that you, a person who doesn¡¯t want to see someone who had been shot in the shoulder, are going to school.¡± When Kang Chan smiled faintly, the door opened and the members came out. They were all wearingfortable outfits and were each carrying a bag. Only the new recruit was carrying two bags. ¡°We¡¯ll be going now,¡± G¨¦rard told Kang Chan. ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan immediately turned around. From there, they were going back to where they all lived. They shouldn¡¯t drag on this type of farewell for a long time. Seok Kang-Ho nkly looked at Kang Chan. ¡°God of ckfield!¡± That shout didn¡¯t sound as if it came from G¨¦rard. When Kang Chan looked behind him, he found the members saluting with the sun rising above their shoulders. 1. This was written as ??? ?, which is a transliteration of ¡®okay¡¯ in one of Algeria¡¯snguages Chapter 93.1: On Their way Back (2)

Chapter 93.1: On Their way Back (2)

Kang Chan slightly smiled at the Foreign Legion members, then walked toward the entrance. Seok Kang-Ho followed him. Two French agents, who had been waiting for them, politely opened the van. They left as soon as the two got in. The members getting on the military transport aircraft watched the van leave. Have a safe way home. And survive. The van soon turned toward the main gate, preventing Kang Chan from seeing the members anymore. ¡°Monsieur Kang, there¡¯s a phone call for you.¡± The agent sitting in the passenger seat handed him a phone. ¡°Ello.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s Lanok. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador?¡± - Can I see you for a moment? ¡°Sure. Where should I go?¡± - Pleasee straight to the embassy in that car. ¡°Understood.¡± Kang Chan handed over the phone to the agent. ¡°Lanok wants to see us. Let¡¯s drop by the embassy for a bit,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Alright.¡± The van went onto the highway, then headed to the embassy using the bus-onlyne. He saw peaceful, everyday life on the way¡ªpeople going through their everyday lives and fully filling up the highway without knowing about the horrible tortures or desperate battles happening behind the scenes. Kang Chan knew that the spite that he had within him hadn¡¯t been relieved. He often felt this way after joining a fight. If they had lost Gerard, Kang Chan wouldn''t have dealt with people for at least two days. He wanted to get a good night¡¯s sleep. He wanted to relieve the spite that was lurking inside him, even by sleeping. It didn¡¯t take long for the van to reach the embassy, despite the morning rush hour. The agents quickly opened the door and guided Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho to the upper floor. They soon arrived in Lanok¡¯s office. Lanok¡¯s assistant and Louis had been standing at the entrance. They bowed their heads toward Kang Chan. Lanok came toward them the moment they went inside the office. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± After they shook hands, they sat at the spot that Lanok had pointed to. The employees immediately prepared simple cookies and tea. Click! Lanok¡¯s assistant and Louis headed outside and closed the door behind them. ¡°Thank you for your hard work,¡± Lanok said. It was difficult to respond to things like this. ¡°The United States and China and its Intelligence Bureau were thrown into chaos this morning. Not only are they surprised, but their pride has likely been hurt as well,¡± Lanok continued. Lanok pointed to the tea, then added, ¡°We have given the best rewards to the Foreign Legion specialized team asid out by our regtion. Moreover, even though it¡¯s small, we prepared something for the person that worked with you as well. Consider it the Intelligence Bureau of France¡¯s gesture of sincerity.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t refuse since Lanok was saying that he was giving it to Seok Kang-Ho. Seok Kang-Ho kept munching on a biscuit, unaware of what Lanok was saying. ¡°Shok Kwang-Ho? We¡¯re going to deposit five hundred million won in cash to his bank ount. We¡¯ve alreadypromised with the Korean government, so you won¡¯t have to worry about problems like taxes.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.¡± They had to consider the money as hazard pay. Kang Chan turned his head and told Seok Kang-Ho exactly what he heard right now. ¡°What about you?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked afterward. . ¡°He¡¯s only talked about you so far.¡± ¡°Am I allowed to take that?¡± ¡°He¡¯s saying that France is giving it to you, so I don¡¯t see why not.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s too much,¡± Seok Kang-Ho argued, but he immediately stopped talking after he saw Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. ¡°He¡¯s saying thank you, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan answered instead. Seok Kang-Ho awkwardly bowed his head, and Lanok responded in a rxed and sophisticated manner. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, you remember that I was going to give you shares of Gong Te automobilest time, right?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten about that. Please don¡¯t be pressured to make that happen.¡± ¡°I knew you would say that. It took time because it was arge amount, but we¡¯ve managed to convert it into cash through our recent trade with the Korean National Intelligence Service.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that. I already have enough money to live.¡± Lanok took a sip of the tea looking as if he thought that Kang Chan was incredible. He then put down the teacup. ¡°You¡¯re probably only saying that because you have no idea how valuable the operation you¡¯ve executed truly is. Europe¡¯s friends, Russia, and a few countries can now breathe easily again because of your sess. All of my friends whom you¡¯ve seen at Loriam have passed on their gratitude, and my position has be more solid thanks to you. This oue is hard to put any price on.¡± Just what is he trying to say that¡¯s making him drag it out like this? ¡°We¡¯re expecting the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ to be announced a bit earlier than we had initially thought,¡± Lanok said. If things like this were what Lanok wanted to say, then Kang Chan liked it. ¡°Europe¡¯s friends have also shown their sincerity, little by little. They¡¯re expressing extreme satisfaction with this operation. After all, those friends of ours have always been a target for assassination. The truth is, they¡¯re satisfied because if this operation failed, they would¡¯ve had no choice but to be wary of China¡¯s mood.¡± ¡°I went there to rescue manager Kim. You helped us with that. I¡¯m already satisfied with being able to bring all twelve agents back home,¡± Kang Chan responded. Crunch. Crunch. What a tactless fucker! When Kang Chan and Lanok smiled lightly, Seok Kang-Ho, who had been munching on cookies, smiled along with them without even knowing what they were saying. ¡°Six countries have expressed their sincerity. All thirty billion won are going to be deposited into your bank ount. Of course, we¡¯ve also finished discussing this with the Korean government, so you won¡¯t have to worry about problems like taxes,¡± Lanok added. ¡°That¡¯s too much.¡± ¡°In addition, twenty billion won will also be deposited into your bank ount. It came from the liquidation of the Gong Te automobile shares, and they were converted into Korean won. I promised to give you. Consider this my and my friends¡¯ sincerity, as I had promised to give you this.¡± Kang Chan had met Lanok multiple times, so he already knew that there was something else that Lanok wanted to say just from looking into his eyes. ¡°Europe¡¯s friends will likely ask me¡ªor you, to be precise¡ªto participate in operations,¡± Lanok continued. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t immediately understand what he was saying. ¡°This means that they¡¯re going to rely on me to take care of raids rted to the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project.¡± They wanted him to continue to participate in more battles like this? Kang Chan couldn¡¯t answer right away. He did want to repay Lanok for calling the Foreign Legion specialized team for this rescue operation, and he was also willing to participate in operations to rescue his captured allies or if it was absolutely necessary to aplish the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project. But on the other hand, he didn¡¯t want to keep joining battles of this nature. ¡°I understand that it¡¯s not something you can decide on immediately. Please take your time thinking about it,¡± Lanok said when Kang Chan didn¡¯t respond. ¡°That would be ideal.¡± ¡°And Mr. Kang Chan¡­¡± Lanok took out and handed over a USB from the pocket of his vest that he wore inside the suit. ¡°That contains detailed information rted to Woo-Ang Jeon-Woo,¡± Lanok said when Kang Chan looked at him. It made Kang Chan unable to stop himself from bursting out with energeticughter. ¡°Please rest for a few days. Let¡¯s have dinner together someday,¡± Lanok told Kang Chan. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°You must be tired, yet I still took away your time in vain because I wanted to see you.¡± ¡°What are you saying? I¡¯m a bit morefortable now that we¡¯ve met again.¡± As he stood up from his spot, Kang Chan thought, ¡®Oh shoot! This sly fox got me again!¡¯ Their conversation ended without giving Kang Chan time to refuse the fifty billion won. Soon after, they left the embassy. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho got in the embassy¡¯s van, then headed to the specialty coffee shop that was located in the intersection in front of their houses. They sat on the familiar terrace, had iced coffees, then smoked. It felt like Kang Chan had just woken up from a long dream. ¡°I feel nk,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Same.¡± When Kang Chan took a sip of the coffee¡­ ¡°Since we told everyone that we¡¯ll be back in three days, should we go somewhere first?¡± Seok Kang-Ho grumbled as if he was disappointed. ¡°I just want to go somewhere I can get a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to a jjimjilbang, have a hot bath, and sleep. We should eat something delicious afterward.¡± ¡°That sounds nice.¡± Finding Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s suggestion tempting, Kang Chan stood up right away. He wanted to relieve his spite. He strangely became full of spite after a battle. *** On top of having restless sleep, Kang Dae-Kyung felt like he got bombarded starting that morning due to Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s school friends, whom they had seen at the hotel, gathering with their spouses to congratte the start of their Foundation. Even if it was called an office, it was just a small twenty square meter officetel. ¡°Honey, what should we do?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. Kang Dae-Kyungforted Yoo Hye-Sook, who was flustered. He then gathered the visitors to Kang Yoo Motors¡¯ office, which was located in the building right next to the officetel. ¡°Oh my! Hye-Sook! Congrattions.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung was a businessman, so he wasn¡¯t ignorant of the sense of superiority that was in the expressions of the women that greeted Yoo Hye-Sook. He fully understood the mockery in the strange nces that showed they were thinking, ¡®Even if you think you¡¯re all that just because you have a good son, you¡¯re still nothing,¡¯ and ¡®I heard that it was a Foundation, but it¡¯s only an office this big?¡¯ That wasn¡¯t all. ¡°Could I receive an estimate for a car? It¡¯s time for us to change my wife¡¯s car.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung also clearly knew the intentions of the husbands that looked down on him by treating him as if he was a salesperson, even though they knew fully well that he was the President of Kang Yoo Motors. ¡®I¡¯m this powerful, so don¡¯t act out just because you have a good son. Listen well to what I ask you to do, then I¡¯ll buy a car from you.¡¯ Their gazes and attitudes were so obvious that anyone could fully understand what they were thinking unless they were stupid. Kang Dae-Kyung gave in for Yoo Hye-Sook, and Yoo Hye-Sook did as well to avoid disrupting Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s business. Nevertheless, it was dumbfounding that they were acting arrogant even though they walked in here without anyone asking them toe. Since it was morning, even the sales representatives that didn¡¯t have any appointments had all worked on preparing refreshments and tried their best to entertain the guests, but Kang Yoo Motors was the definition of disordered because the number of people that only a hotel could handle hade into the office. ¡°Hey! Give me more drinks.¡± The second man to receive Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s business card spoke informally and treated the employees rudely, which was ufortable to hear. The female employee that was selected to work for the Foundation was still young. Right after graduating high school, she was a child that was trying to work hard because of her difficult family circumstances, but they were walking over her just because of her appearance. ¡°So you¡¯re saying it¡¯s going to be a little over one hundred million won if I pay in a lump sum?¡± the husband asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°That¡¯s right, Mr. President.¡± ¡°Why are you like this¡ªisn¡¯t there an employee discount? I¡¯m buying this because of you, so shouldn¡¯t you give me a discount? I told you I¡¯m paying in cash. Why is thispany acting so cheap when even all German carpanies are giving discounts? How are you going to make any sales at this rate?¡± The man, who had already received an estimate sheet three times, clearly never had the intention to buy a car. Even so, he still kept loudly negotiating the price. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, honey¡± Yoo Hye-Sook apologized. ¡°For what? This always happens in the car business industry.¡± Kang Dae-Kyungforted Yoo Hye-Sook while pretending that nothing was wrong. 1. Lanok pronounced Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s name incorrectly here, with a French ent 2. Lanok means Yang Jin-Woo here, but says his name with a French ent 3. Jjimjilbang refers to arge traditional Korean bathhouse where people can enjoy different spa treatments. People go there to eat, sweat, socialize, rx, and sleep Chapter 93.2: On Their way Back (2)

Chapter 93.2: On Their way Back (2)

The guests showed interest by saying many things that Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook weren¡¯t thankful for at all, such asining that the office was too small, asking if they would even receive support funds because of their Foundation¡¯s current state, and asking how many cars Kang Yoo Motors sells per month. They also had conversations about Kang Chan once in a while. A lot of people snorted while looking at the flower pots that the Prime Minister and the President had sent. ¡°Please move aside for a moment.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook then saw a mane inside and ask people to move while asking for their understanding. Kang Dae-Kyung sighed quietly enough to prevent Yoo Hye-Sook from noticing. He couldn¡¯t imagine how much they were going to show off if they came here with their own employees. He also found it ridiculous that they came here to see if they could benefit from Kang Chan yet were acting powerful and influential by having someone make way for them. Did anyone tell them toe here? Did Kang Dae-Kyung or Yoo Hye-Sook ever brag that their son was great? Kang Dae-Kyung still felt suffocated because he was worried about Kang Chan. He just wished his son would show up and say, ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± or give them a call at least. He didn¡¯t need any of this. ¡°Honey,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook called and held his hand. ¡°Yeah?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung forced himself to smile. He didn¡¯t want to let Yoo Hye-Sook know that he was worrying about their son. ¡°Oh my!¡± At that moment, they heard someone being surprised near the door. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked at their surroundings to check what was happening. Upon seeing the person that came into the office at almost the same time, they stiffened in shock. People pped. President Moon Jae-Hyun walked inside while greeting the people that were pping with his gaze. ¡°Mr. President. This is Mr. Kang Dae-Kyung, and this is Mrs. Yoo Hye-Sook, who took on the role of the Foundation¡¯s chief director,¡± a middle-aged man who had his hair neatlybed back introduced the married couple before the security guards who were sharply ring at the entrance and the windows. ¡°This is President Moon Jae-Hyun,¡± the middle-aged man introduced the President to Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. Did they still really have to introduce the President? ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you. I¡¯m Moon Jae-Hyun.¡± ¡°Hello, sir!¡± Looking flustered, Kang Dae-Kyung held Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s hand. At that moment, Moon Jae-Hyun unexpectedly squeezed his hand and said, ¡°I heard from the Prime Minister that you¡¯re experiencing a lot of inner struggles because I¡¯mcking as the President.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung couldn¡¯t have guessed that he would hear something like that. No, he couldn¡¯t even have dreamed that the President would appear before him in person. ¡°You must be Kang Chan¡¯s mother,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun lightly shook hands with Yoo Hye-Sook while smiling. ¡°It¡¯s great to see so many people doing amazing things, but I feel ashamed and as if I couldn¡¯t do as much.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Flustered, Yoo Hye-Sook immediately made the President a person that had done something shameful. ¡°I¡¯ll have to go now, unfortunately. I only dropped by for a bit in the middle of my schedule because I heard that you two were doing amazing things.¡± When something suddenly came across Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s mind, he said, ¡°Thank you for what you sent to the hospitalst time and for the flower pots.¡± ¡°The flower pot is deducted from the expediency fund, but what I¡¯ve sent to the hospital was bought with a month¡¯s worth of my sry. I¡¯ve been nagged a lot because of that,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun burst out withughter after his strange response. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll get going now.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said his goodbyes to Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook with his gaze, then strolled out of Kang Yoo Motors. ¡°Honey, what did the President mean just now?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked afterward. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking what he meant by our inner struggles. Is he talking about Channy, by any chance?¡± ¡°We heard from the Prime Minister at the hospital that Channy connected them with a higher-up in France because he knew them. Maybe he was talking about that?¡± The office was still silent. Everyone was in a daze. Kang Dae-Kyung absently looked around the office, and the people that made eye contact with him politely bowed their heads. ¡°Oh my!¡± the new female employee of the Foundation yelled. Still out of her senses, she ended up spilling a drink on a man who was already hot-tempered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! That was my fault!¡± the female employee apologized. ¡°It¡¯s okay! It¡¯s okay! Why should you be sorry for this kind of thing? Everyone can make mistakes when they¡¯re busy¡ªyou¡¯re human! It¡¯s not like the drink was poison or anything!¡± ¡°Honey! Why are you talking informally? She said she¡¯s an employee of this Foundation!¡± the wife yelled. ¡°Ah! Did I do that? I apologize. I talked that way because you just seemed like my niece and my daughter. It¡¯s okay, right?¡± The man observed Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s mood while consciously giving a wide smile¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t need a discount when I¡¯m buying a good car! Um, I¡¯ll pay in installments for a year, so please bring over the contract when you can. I should be the one grateful for being able to buy a good car!¡± the man eximed. Kang Dae-Kyung watched people thank them by bowing their heads whenever their eyes met. He really missed Kang Chan. *** ¡°Hey! This is amazing!¡± Kang Chan eximed. ¡°Phuhuhu,¡± Seok Kang-Houghed as he was eating boiled eggs like a famished person. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that we should go somewhere to eat?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Would I not be able to eat food just because I ate a few of these?¡± Kang Chan thought that if it were him, he wouldn¡¯t be able to eat anymore. Should I buy?anthelmintic?and feed it to Seok Kang-Ho? After sleeping soundly for about two hours, they woke up and took a hot bath. They then came out. He felt much more refreshed after receiving a massage from a machine. Everything was okay, except for the surprised looks that they received from people after they saw the scars on their bodies. Kang Chan looked at the clock. It was 2 pm. ¡°Let¡¯s go out for lunch,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Right now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m craving something spicy. Let¡¯s have stir-fried octopus and rice.¡± Kang Chan could onlyugh. As they got changed, Kang Chan retrieved his phone that he had left at the front desk to charge. They then went out of the jjimjilbang. On the way, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho about the money that Lanok said he¡¯d give him. ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. Didn¡¯t this fucker get greedy about money? Well, to be fair, Kang Chan would¡¯ve said the same thing and ended the conversation if Seok Kang-Ho had told him that. ¡°The person who received a lot of money should buy lunch,¡± Seok Kang-Ho added. At times like this, Kang Chan strangely felt poor and thought a couple tens of thousands of won was a lot. ¡°Should I pay?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Phuhuhu.¡± Kang Chan wanted tough like Seok Kang-Ho did, to snicker as he responded. He wished the spite would leave him already. ¡®Should I meet Mi-Young?¡¯ Kang Chan thought for a moment, then shook his head. She was studying. He was thinking of calling Yoo Hye-Sook after eating. *** Cho Il-Kwon Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s chief secretary, pushed up his sses resting on top of his thick nose with his index finger. ¡°There¡¯s clearly a rtionship between them. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook weren¡¯t rxed enough to do things like this.It¡¯s also suspicious that Moon Jae-Hyun dropped by this morning,¡± a man told Cho Il-Kwon. They weren¡¯t in the office of the chief secretary but were on one of the top floors of an office building where they could look down at the Gyeongbokgung Pce Cho Il-Kwon turned over the A4-sized photos on the desk one by one. Kang Dae-Kyung going to work, Yoo Hye-Sook walking out of the apartment wearing shabby clothes and carrying a bag, and the couplefortably going about their daily lives were unfolded in order every time Cho Il-Kwon turned over the photos. ¡°Please check this one out. The people here and here are the same guys. They¡¯re clearly employees of a private security guardpany. Considering Kang Chan goes to Yoo Bi-Corp often, there¡¯s a high chance that they¡¯re Yoo Bi-Corp employees,¡± the man continued. ¡°I heard that the guys that were wounded in Yongin were admitted to the police hospital?¡± ¡°Yoo Bi-Corp and the police hospital are under contract with each other. We think that¡¯s because the police hospital is overall the best in the country for treating external wounds and bone injuries.¡± ¡°And how high are the chances that they¡¯re government agents?¡± Cho ll-Kwon asked again. ¡°It¡¯s unlikely. ording to the regtions, they¡¯re supposed to be moved to a military hospital if they¡¯re government agents. Moreover, the hospital bills were all paid in cash.¡± ¡°Who did that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult to track the source since they paid in cash.¡± Cho Il-Kwon nodded while pursing his lips. ¡°You know why we¡¯re doing this, right?¡± ¡°We¡¯re only loyal to you and the Chairman. We don¡¯t know anything more than that.¡± Cho Il-Kwon smiled. ¡°The next regime should be run by a person the Chairman wants. People that don¡¯t even have lineageing into power are the same as unlicensed people driving a car. Act relentlessly for the country and for the people. Have a sense of duty that you¡¯re doing work to maintain this country¡¯s public order.¡± ¡°Serving you and the Chairman is an honor.¡± ¡°Go now. If possible, find ways for Yoo Hye-Sook to get into a believable ident. I can¡¯t believe the members of the National assembly have been disgraced because they trusted a mere gangster,¡± Cho Il-Kwon looked at the man standing in front of the desk, dumbfounded. ¡°A robbery should work,¡± the man suggested. ¡°A robbery?¡± ¡°Our best option is to call two people from Vietnam and arm them with knives. We¡¯ll say that they came into South Korea as apprentices for somepany, gambled, andmitted an idental crime out of anger when they lost their money.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°The line of people who¡¯d want to do it themselves would reach all the way to Vietnam if we offer a billion won.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll take some time, won¡¯t it?¡± Cho Il-Kwon asked. The man smiled. ¡°We¡¯ve already prepared quite a lot of people.¡± ¡°The Chairman is going to be happy.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. General Manager.¡± Cho Il-Kwon looked out the window with a satisfied expression. 1. Anthelmintics or anthelmintics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms and other internal parasites from the body by either stunning or killing them without causing significant damage to the host. 2. the Gyeongbokgung Pce was the main royal pce of the Joseon dynasty. It was Built in 1395 in Northern Seoul. People can now visit it. Chapter 94.1: You’re doing this because you want to die, right? (1)

Chapter 94.1: You¡¯re doing this because you want to die, right? (1)

Kang Chan didn¡¯t exactly like spicy foods, but the stir-fried octopus he was eating with Seok Kang-Ho put him in a good mood. He chuckled as the spiciness set his tongue on fire. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s grab some iced coffee and a cigarette,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Okay, okay. Let¡¯s go.¡± Kang Chan left the restaurant with Seok Kang-Ho feeling much better. They headed to the specialty coffee shop just across it. ¡°Your eyes look a bit like a human¡¯s now,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Was it that bad?¡± ¡°Those in the Foreign Legion noticed it, which should tell you something.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± ¡°Phuhu, you had the same look in your eyes back in Africa. Phew! When was that? When I almost had my forearm chopped off just to stop you was the first time I thought you were scary. If that knife hadn''t stabbed my arm, you would¡¯ve been kicked out of the Foreign Legion. Do you remember that?¡± Seok Kang-Ho suddenly brought out a memory that Kang Chan had barely managed to forget. ¡°Ah, right. It¡¯s just a feeling, but don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve be much sharper than when we were in Africa? From what I¡¯ve seen, you were even quicker than you were in your prime, especially when you were shooting while running from the guard post,¡± Seok Kang-Ho added. ¡°When building 4 was opened?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! You were famous even in the past for shooting on the move, but you actually pulled off perfect headshots this time. I was astonished.¡± Did I do that? ¡°Phuhu, Before we left, one of the two Algerian members asked me to bring him along for the next operation. You remember the sniper who asked you when you would be participating in an operation again, right? He thought that we were part of the Korean specialized team.¡± ¡°At this rate, I feel like you¡¯re going to go over to France behind my back.¡± ¡°Phuhu.¡± Seok Kang-Houghed and drank his coffee, then chewed on the leftover ice. ¡°I was happy because I went there with you. I don¡¯t know about others, but I bet that fucker G¨¦rard is terrified of going on an operation without you.¡± ¡°Forget about it. Let¡¯s go home,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho stood up. It was about time they headed back to their daily lives. Kang Chan got in a taxi with Seok Kang-Ho and got off at the entrance of the apartment. All he cared about right now was seeing Yoo Hye-Sook before anything else. He never imagined that he would live a life where he would feel this happy about his home and family. Ding. Upon getting out of the elevator, Kang Chan immediately opened the door and entered the house. He examined the living room and looked into the master bedroom, but Yoo Hye-Sook was nowhere to be found. Did she go somewhere? Her missing from home when there was someone looking for an opportunity to kill her was not a good sign. Just in case something had happened, Kang Chan found his mother¡¯s number in his phone and pressed the call button. The dial tone beeped a few times, but she didn¡¯t answer. As a cold glint appeared in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes, the call connected. - Hello? Is it you, Channy? ¡°Yes, Father. Is something wrong? Where¡¯s Mother? And why do you sound like that? - Nothing''s wrong. I¡¯m just happy to get a call from you. Are you sick or¡­ Kang Dae-Hyung trailed off for a moment. - You aren¡¯t injured, right? He almost whispered the question. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m at home right now. - What? Really? Have you finished work? ¡°Yes. Why were you the one that answered Mother¡¯s phone, though?¡± - The Foundation office opened today, so your mom¡¯s busy with the guests that came to visit. Kang Chan felt Kang Dae-Kyung sounded different from usual. ¡°Is there really nothing going on, Father?¡± - What would happen to me? I¡¯m just happy to hear your voice. ¡°Should I go there? I should congratte mom.¡± - No. Kang Dae-Kyung answered immediately. - It¡¯s going to end soon, and I¡¯m going to go home early today anyway, so you should just rest. I¡¯ll see you at home. You aren¡¯t going anywhere, right? ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll see youter, then. - Okay. See youter. Kang Chan hung up, still feeling as if something was off. He didn¡¯t feel like his parents were in danger, however, or that they were in a crisis. He went to his room, changed intofortable clothes, then plopped onto the bed. He didn¡¯t care about anything else, but he had to quickly take care of the people behind the attack in Yongin. *** The material that Lanok had handed over to Kang Chan about Yang Jin-Woo investigated the case in a different directionpared to the material the National Intelligence Service had given him. In particr, there was a lot of information about the ways Yang Jin-Woo managed his slush fund and information about his bank ount, the politicians connected to him, detailed personal information about his chief secretary, Cho Il-Kwon, and even information about the separate office and the personal organization that Cho Il-Kwon led. As Kang Chan read it, the massive amount of information made him feel as if he had Yang Jin-Woo right under a microscope. ¡°So this shows that fucker Cho Il-Kwon did all of the actual work. Tsk, he even secretly hoarded twenty billion won from Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s slush fund. What a greedy fucking snake,¡± Kang Chan said to himself. Cho Il-Kwon had indeed bought two apartments for women to stay in. However, he clearly had a beautiful wife in the attached family photo, not to mention a daughter in the first year of middle school. ¡°Well, well, would you look at these fuckers!¡± Among the people that Cho Il-Kwon controlled, the most noticeable one was Yoon Bong-Sup, the fixer that used to be in a gang. He had a substantial criminal record¡ªthree convictions for violent crimes, making threats,borw and Foreign Exchange Act vitions, , and more. The material even recorded the fact that he was acquitted in two cases of instigating murder. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk as he looked at Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s face, which was ring at him from the PC screen. ¡®So you¡¯re the guy who actually did the dirty work, huh?¡¯ The material was recorded in great detail. It even had personal information about Yoon Bong-Sup, his ce of residence, and the ces that he frequented. ¡°Let me take a look at you first.¡± Kang Chan would get the answer to whether Yoon Bong-Sup was involved if he checked things from the bottom up. If Yoon Bong-Sup received orders from Cho Il-Kwon and was paid a sizable amount of money, then there was a high chance that he was connected to the attack in Yongin. As Kang Chan was ring at the photo of Yoon Bong-Sup, he heard the front door opening. Kang Chan closed the material that he was looking at on theputer, then immediately went out of his room. ¡°Channy!¡± ¡°Wee home. Congrattions on the Foundation, Mother.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook hugged Kang Chan as soon as she took off her shoes. It was nice. Being hugged by Yoo Hye-Sook was really nice. Kang Dae-Kyung looked relieved as he examined Kang Chan¡¯s expression. ¡°Did something go wrong at the retreat, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°No. I was told that I didn¡¯t have to do more work since Ipleted the tasks that were prepared for me better than people expected.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook nodded. She looked as if she had no idea what Kang Chan was saying. ¡°Did something good happen?¡± she asked. ¡°I probably just look happy because I got to see the two of you early.¡± Kang Dae-Kyungughed cheerfully. ¡°Honey¡­ You¡¯re the one who told me that I¡¯m doting on our son too much, but look at you now!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Yup. I really enjoy seeing my son these days.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung remained firm even after seeing Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s dumbfounded expression. After the couple got changed and came out to the living room, the three of them sat on the sofa. They told Kang Chan about the event, starting with the people that visited. They also mentioned that the President had visited them in person, but Kang Chan had no idea about that. ¡°Maybe he dropped by on his way somewhere because the Prime Minister told him about the Foundation?¡± He actually had no clue why that had happened. For dinner, they had bibimbap, which Yoo Hye-Sook had made with vegetables, kimchi, and fried eggs. As Kang Chan enjoyed the delicious rice bowl, he suddenly thought of G¨¦rard. No¡ªrather than appreciate the food, that fucker was the type to look at others weirdly and start ranting. At any rate, they enjoyed dinner and whiled away the time while watching TV together. *** In the morning, Kang Chan ran a bit faster than usual, wanting to shake his depressing thoughts off. They had saved Kim Hyung-Jung, and aside from G¨¦rard, nobody was injured. Seok Kang-Ho was given five hundred million won, and Kang Chan heard that fifty billion won was going to be deposited into his bank ount. Fifty billion won? In his previous life, Kang Chan had received three to five million won monthly for shooting things every day in Africa. He got slightly annoyed because he wondered how many awful tasks they were going to pile on him to get their money¡¯s worth. Of course, people had very different ways of counting money, depending on how important it was to them. If the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project earned profits in the trillions, as he had been told, then it wasn¡¯t unusual for him to be paid fifty billion won. However, no matter how much money they gave him, that wouldn¡¯t guarantee Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s safety. Huff. Huff. Breathing heavily, Kang Chan arrived at the bench in front of the apartment. Even though he hadn¡¯t been able to do anything when Kang Dae-Kyung had gotten attacked, he wasn¡¯t going to let anyone mess with Yoo Hye-Sook. Who do those sons of bitches think they¡¯re messing with? The spite that he had barely suppressed suddenly surged. However, he was now in a much better condition. ¡°Why don¡¯t you rest for just a day?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked when Kang Chan entered the apartment. ¡°I like doing this, father.¡± ¡°Wash up quickly and let¡¯s have breakfast, Channy¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Alright.¡± He took a good look at Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s content expression and Yoo Hye-Sook, who was preparing breakfast. He then went into the shower. After breakfast, Kang Chan sent off Kang Dae-Kyung. He then went into his room, called Kim Tae-Jin, and told him that he had arrived home earlier than he had promised and to set up an appointment with him at 9:30 am at Yoo Bi-Corp. Kang Chan wore a in shirt with a suit jacket. Yoo Hye-Sook had now grown ustomed to him wearing these kinds of clothes. ¡°Mother, I¡¯m going out.¡± The word ¡®mother¡¯ now came out very naturally from his mouth. He really liked that. ¡°Have fun, Channy!¡± ¡°I will.¡± Is this what they call happiness? Kang Chan took a taxi to Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s office. 1. someone who solves problems and gets things done 2. Bibimbap is a Korean rice bowl topped with vegetables, kimchi, eggs, etc. The term literally means ¡®mixed rice.¡¯ It¡¯s enjoyed after mixing all the ingredients together Chapter 94.2: You’re doing this because you want to die, right? (1)

Chapter 94.2: You¡¯re doing this because you want to die, right? (1)

¡°Wee. It seems like things went well?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yes. Thank you for taking on the role of protecting my parents. I came here to tell you to withdraw the employees starting today.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re back now, I¡¯ll do that. The National Intelligence Service is going to keep guarding them, right?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t told that they were going to stop, so yes.¡± Kang Chan hesitated for a moment, but he decided not to tell Kim Tae-Jin about what had happened to Kim Hyung-Jung. It was not the kind of topic that others could discuss without the person in question bringing it up. ¡°How should I pay you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°If you¡¯re going to say something like that, I¡¯m never going to see you ever again.¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like this!¡± As Kim Tae-Jin frowned, an employee brought over tea. ¡°That aside, why hasn¡¯t Kim Hyung-Jung contacted me? Has he contacted you, at least?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°He hasn¡¯t.¡± Kang Chan felt a prick in his conscience, but Kim Hyung-Jung actually hadn¡¯t contacted him either. He spent about thirty minutes with Kim Tae-Jin, then stood up from his seat. ¡°Tell Mr. Seok Kang-Ho to drop by sometime. Does he n on not meeting up with me anymore?¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°Let¡¯s eat together next time.¡± ¡°I look forward to it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll schedule it as soon as possible.¡± Kang Chan left Yoo Bi-Corp¡¯s office and took a taxi to Sinsa-dong. At the intersection in the Sinsa station, he looked at an eight-story steel-and-ss building to the right of the Hannam bridge. ¡°It must be that building,¡± Kang Chan told himself. Kang Chan went into the specialty coffee shop right next to the building, bought an iced coffee, and sat down on the terrace. Yoon Bong-Sup usually stayed on the fifth floor of that building in the morning, then went elsewhere after having lunch. From running a private loanpany to cing foreign workers in different workces, he lived quite a busy life. ¡°Huh?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s eyes sparkled as he was lighting up a cigarette. He saw Yoon Bong-Sup. The man had a big build and hunched shoulders, but it was his nted eyes, protruding cheekbones, and mean-looking lips that made Kang Chan certain he was Yoon Bong-Sup. If there was something different about him from the photo, it was the shade of his skin, which was dark enough for Kang Chan to wonder if he was ck. Yoon Bong-Sup was going into the building where his office was located, apanied by two Southeast Asians with fierce eyes. Kang Chan put out his cigarette and got up immediately. In any case, his fight was with Yang Jin-Woo. It would be reported to Cho Il-Kwon if Kang Chan messed with this fucker, which in turn would make Yang Jin-Woo act. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t thinking of beating up Yoon Bong-Sup without any evidence. He visited him to ensure they wouldn¡¯t mess with Kang Dae-Kyung or Yoo Hye-Sook and to let them know that he was already watching Yang Jin-Woo. Doing that usually caused the enemy to either hesitate and stop what they were doing or tantly try to kill their target. Kang Chan went into the building, pressed the button for the elevator, and waited for a moment. He then went up to the fifth floor. The organization was called Gentleman Inc. Kang Chan checked the namete on the left side of the office door. Afterward, he opened the tempered-ss door and went inside. This was Kang Chan¡¯s first time seeing an office with a sofa right in front of the door. Three mean-looking guys sat there, ring at Kang Chan. ¡°What brings you here?¡± asked the man at the desk on the left side of the sofa. There were two desks in the room. Beside the desks sat a woman in her thirties. She looked as if she would never be sessful. ¡°I¡¯m here to meet Yoon Bong-Sup,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Who are you? Where did youe from?¡± the man at the desk frowned. When he stood up, the three on the sofa also lumbered to their feet and checked to see if there was anyone else behind Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan. Yoon Bong-Sup is inside, right?¡± ¡°Kang Chan?¡± ¡®These fuckers know my name.¡¯ The look on their faces showed they clearly recognized him. As he looked around, he saw the door to a conference room on his left, and another door with a namete that said ¡®President¡¯s Office¡¯ on the right. ¡°Yoon Bong-Sup is inside, right?¡± Kang Chan asked again. For some reason, these people weren¡¯t acting recklessly. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to waste his time on these goons, so he immediately headed to the room on the right. They knew his name thanks to Oh Gwang-Taek. The ones in the office didn¡¯t even stop Kang Chan. They just followed him with confused expressions. Kang Chan opened the door, finding a sofa right in front of the door in this room as well. It was quite wide, and on its right side was a stately desk and a bookshelf. Kang Chan¡¯s gaze was attracted to the things on the table in front of the sofa. They were photos of Yoo Hye-Sook. Among them was her walking from the entrance of the apartment with a stic bag. There were also close-up photos of her face. What¡­are those? Yoon Bong-Sup looked down at the photo, then raised his eyes toward Kang Chan again. The two Southeast Asians sitting on the sofa on the other side of Yoon Bong-Sup were looking at Kang Chan and Yoon Bong-Sup with an expression that said they had no idea what was going on. These fuckers dare? Kang Chan had been barely holding himself back from killing them for attacking Kang Dae-Kyung, and now he found out that they were up to something else too. ¡°Fuck. No wonder I had a bad dream,¡± Kang Chan told himself. There was no way that someone who knew Yoo Hye-Sook wouldn¡¯t know Kang Chan. Click. Kang Chan closed the door. Reading the room, the two Southeast Asians got up immediately. ¡°Sit down,¡± snapped Kang Chan. However, they ignored his sharp tone. Kang Chan smirked. These two were in a room with Yoon Bong-Sup, looking at photos of Yoo Hye-Sook. They also had the guts to re at him and ignore his orders. Kang Chan immediately went to them. The one closer to him flinched, while the other quickly took a step back. When Kang Chan slightly raised his right hand, the man reflexively raised his left arm. Kang Chan grabbed his wrist and yanked it hard. The man was clearly experienced. As Kang Chan pulled him forward, he used the momentum of the pull to throw a hard right at Kang Chan. Bam! Kang Chan deflected the man¡¯s fist as if he was swatting a fly away, then twisted his left arm. ¡°Argh!¡± The attack caused the man to bend over. As soon as he did, his face met Kang Chan¡¯s left foot at full speed. Crunch! His head shot up, but since his left arm was still locked, it bounced back down. Crunch! When Kang Chan kicked him in the faceagain, blood mercilessly spattered on the table, the floor, and Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s face and chest. Crash! He fell down, face-nting on the sofa. Kang Chan pulled his left arm up, then stomped on his elbow with his right foot as hard as he could. Crack! With a terrifying sound, the dislocated arm was pulled beyond its natural length. He fainted, but Kang Chan still dragged him by the arm to the front of the door and twisted his neck. He was fully aware that the goon could die, but he couldn¡¯t care less. When Kang Chan straightened his posture, the remaining Southeast Asian urgently looked at Yoon Bong-Sup. You think you have time to chat? Kang Chan darted toward the Southeast Asian still standing between the table and the sofa. Thetter tried to avoid Kang Chan by moving toward the desk. At the same time, Yoon Bong-Sup put his hand under the table. Kang Chan turned around, twisting his hips and elbowing Yoon Bong-Sup square in the face in one swift motion. Crack! When Kang Chan grasped onto Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s hair with his left hand, the filet knife that thetter was holding fell under the table. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Kang Chan struck Yoon Bong-Sup four times with his elbow. Cough! Cough! Yoon Bong-Sup choked as he breathed in the blood flowing down his face. His nose waspletely crushed, and his left cheekbone had caved in. Only the right side of his face still looked somewhat normal. When Kang Chan stood up and looked behind him, he found the other Southeast Asian in abat stance, holding a pointy knife. ¡°What¡¯s this? Are we ying tag?¡± Kang Chan asked. Smirking, Kang Chan jumped over the long three-seater sofa. He and his opponent were now facing each other from each side of the desk. When Kang Chan moved, the man quickly backed away, keeping his distance. You think I¡¯m gonna let you off just like that even though you were looking at a photo of Yoo Hye-Sook while carrying that kind of knife? Whoosh! Kang Chan jumped onto the top of the desk. Swoosh! When the man darted toward the door, Kang Chan jumped down. Whish! The guy swung the knife widely, but Kang Chan had already guessed that he would do that. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. He shed at Kang Chan again and again, showing substantial knife-fighting experience. Whoosh. You didn¡¯t expect me to do this, did you? Kang Chan grabbed the knife by the de! With a speed that almost made it look like a single attack, he struck his opponent in the ribs, armpit, and neck. ¡°Gahh!¡± Kang Chan grabbed and twisted his target¡¯s right arm, causing the knife to turn toward the ceiling. The former then grabbed thetter¡¯s weapon, blood dripping on the floor from the deep gash in his left palm. Thud! Kang Chan drove the knife as deep as he could into the guy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ugh! Urgh!¡± Thud! Kang Chan stabbed him in the same ce. The knife pierced through the man¡¯s shoulder and out the other side. Blood streamed down and pooled on the floor. He had absolutely no intention to let these people off easily. Clink-nk. Kang Chan threw the knife on the floor, then mercilessly stepped on the man¡¯s elbow with his right foot. Crack! ¡°Eeepp! Eep!¡± His screams were quite strange. ¡°You do know I¡¯m not done yet, don¡¯t you?¡± Kang Chan asked. He grabbed the man¡¯s head and kneed him in the face four times. Following the gut-wrenching crunchy sounds of bones being crushed, the man fell limp. ¡°This is myst move,¡± Kang Chan said. Crunch. Thud. Throwing his opponent to the side, Kang Chan turned his gaze toward thest person still standing in the room. ¡°Yoon Bong-Sup! I should also take care of you, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Yoon Bong-Sup was sitting on the sofa, leaning heavily against the backrest as if he was trying to phase through it to escape. 1. Sinsa-dong is an upscale neighborhood in Gangnam with fashionable vibes. It¡¯s packed with small boutiques and design stores, including both mainstream and luxury brands. It also has wine bars and hip restaurants, making it a popr neighborhood to visit. Chapter 95.1: You’re doing this because you want to die, right? (2)

Chapter 95.1: You¡¯re doing this because you want to die, right? (2)

¡®Let¡¯s not kill him. I shouldn¡¯t kill him.¡¯?Repeating those words to himself, Kang Chan approached Yoon Bong-Sup. ¡®I should find out if Cho Il-Kwon ordered him to kill Yoo Hye-Sook first.¡¯ However, when he saw the blood that had spattered on Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s photo, which was on top of the table, Kang Chan¡¯s lid ended up flipping. Bang! Crash! Kang Chan booted Yoon Bong-Sup in the chest, knocking over the sofa as thetter toppled over. Right next to the table, Kang Chan noticed the filet knife that Yoon Bong-Sup had tried to pick up but missed. Kang Chan smirked. This son of a bitch was looking for an opportunity to kill my mother? Even at a nce, Yoon Bong-Sup clearly intended to use foreigners, then send them back to their country. Kang Chan picked up the knife. ¡®I should not kill him!¡¯ Kang Chan knew what not to do. He even yelled it in his mind. But of all asions, Kang Chan had to run into a situation¡ªone that would¡¯ve flipped his lid even on a day when he was feeling perfectly normal¡ªwhile he was still feeling spiteful. Kang Chan frowned while holding himself back from killing Yoon Bong-Sup, who was crawling and wiggling on his back. If Kang Chan killed that fucker right now, then he would have to run over and kill Cho Il-Kwon and Yang Jin-Woo immediately as well. ¡°Hey,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°You son of a bitch. Why are you whining like a child?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir!¡± Kang Chan stepped on Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s right shoulder with all his might. Crunch! ¡°Urgh! Ugh! Urgh!¡± Yoon Bong-Sup groaned like a puppy that got kicked. ¡°Hey, you son of a bitch.¡± ¡°Yes¨Cugh¡­¡± Yoon Bong-Sup flinched. ¡°Whoo, let¡¯s talk like civilized people.¡± Kang Chan truly considered doing so. But during the short moment that Kang Chan was walking to sit on the table, he saw Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s eyes checking the door. This fucker was still expecting the guys outside to call someone that would save him. Of course, Kang Chan knew that Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s subordinates wouldn''t just stay quiet and do nothing. They couldn¡¯t fight him right now since they had heard Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s name, whom they knew, but Kang Chan guessed they were at least asking for help or gathering people. After all, they were aware that he came alone. Their arrival was what Yoon Bong-Sup was waiting for with anxious eyes. ¡°Yeah? I¡¯ll also call someone, then,¡± Kang Chan said. Kang Chan first stepped on Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s neck. Bang! ¡°Argh! Agh! Argh!¡± ¡°You son of a bitch! I almost dropped my phone!¡± Kang Chan yelled. Kang Chan stepped on Yoon Bong-Sup, who was struggling, and held the knife in his right hand. Kang Chan had taken out his phone, thinking he was really about to kill anyone who would disturb them. Right now, he was so full of hostility that it felt as if it would explode out of him. For the first time, Kang Chan pressed the radio app on his phone. Drrr. ¡°It¡¯s Choi Jong-Il.¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°We¡¯re on the fifth floor of the building you¡¯re currently in. We¡¯ve also got some agents stationed by the entrance. ¡± Knowing this would happen, Kang Chan said, ¡°Come into the Gentleman Company on the fifth floor.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± When Kang Chan pressed the app one more time, the red light shing on his screen turned off. ¡°Urgh. Ugh. Urgh.¡± ¡°Ah! Sorry, I was talking to someone on the phone. I was stepping on you for too long, wasn¡¯t I?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Cough! Cough! Cough!¡± Yoon Bong-Sup tightly grasped onto his throat as he gasped for breath. ¡°Son of a bitch. Have you caught your breath now?¡± Bang!? ¡°Ugh! Urgh! Urgh!¡± Only the right side of Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s face was visible now. Moreover, his eye was so swollen it looked as if it was about to burst. If Kang Chan kept his foot on Yoon Bong-Sup for just thirty seconds longer, the fucker would¡¯ve died already. Kang Chan removed his foot from Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s face. ¡°Cough! Cough! Cough!¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Agh! Arghh! Urghh!¡± Startled, Yoon Bong-Sup let out a strange groan that sounded as if he was crying. He only ever really looked scared now. I¡¯ve had multiple opponents a hundred times more spiteful than people like you in Africa. ¡°What the!¡± At that moment, Kang Chan heard a rough shout and people fighting out. He also heard the sound of a desk falling to the ground. Bang! The door was forcibly opened when one of the foreigners that had fallen to the floor was violently pushed into the room. ¡°It¡¯s Choi Jong-Il.¡± ¡°Guard the door. Don¡¯t let anyonee in, no matter who they are. Make sure nobody interferes even if they¡¯re the police or some other bullshit,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Understood.¡± Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s eyes were full of fear. ¡°Are you willing to talk now?¡± Kang Chan asked. Yoon Bong-Sup nodded. Bang! ¡°Urgh! Ugh! Ugh!¡± ¡°Son of a bitch, you dare nod instead of answering me?¡± Yoon Bong-Sup sounded like the croaks of a frog that had gotten stepped on. Kang Chan removed his foot from Yoon Bong-Sup just before he died. As Yoon Bong-Sup inhaled as if he was sobbing, Kang Chan heard people engaged in brutalbat outside the room again. Kang Chan smirked. Startled, Yoon Bong-Sup trembled. Kang Chan perched on the armrest of the sofa that had fallen to the ground, then took out a cigarette. Bang! He then heard a loud noise that sounded as if someone had hit the door with an iron pipe or a baseball bat. Simultaneously, the door caved in right at the height where a human¡¯s head would be. People kept yelling and screaming outside, but he wasn¡¯t worried. He had seen Choi Jong-Il¡¯s skills. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo!¡± The yelling soon decreased a little, but they still continued to hear furniture breaking and horrible screams. Although they were on the fifth floor, they could also hear the noisy sirens of police cars from the roads. A glimmer of hope shed across Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s eyes. Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan deeply inhaled the cigarette smoke, then exhaled it as if he was sighing. Acting out because gangsters backed them up and Kang Chan acting out because he trusted National Intelligence Service or Lanok were both dirty deeds. However, if it meant saving Yoo Hye-Sook, Kang Chan was willing to do even worse things. Yoo Hye-Sook couldn¡¯t buy expensive clothes for herself, not even once, because of the kids in the orphanage. Moreover, even though she had to give up her well-off lifestyle to marry her husband, she never hated him and only ever felt sorry for him whenever people looked down on him. After all, Yoo Hye-Sook had never resented anyone. Moreover, she had even decided to follow her son to the grave if he died due to his earlier injuries. When he survived, she held her tears back even as she witnessed and epted all the changes that he had gone through. They¡¯re trying to kill a woman like that? Strangely, Kang Chanughed. ¡°Cho Il-Kwon ordered you to kill my mother, right?¡± Kang Chan asked quietly after exhaling the cigarette smoke. Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s face was covered in blood, and he was barely breathing. At this rate, he would eventually faint. ¡°Oh, so you think you can just faint, huh?¡± When Kang Chan stood up, Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s right eye shook. ¡°Let¡¯s end this quickly. Did Cho Il-Kwon order you to kill my mother?¡± Pow! ¡°Ugghh!¡± Kang Chan stabbed the knife into Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s broken right shoulder. In doing so, the fucker would only barely be able to use his right arm to eat. ¡°If you ever hesitate to answer me again, I¡¯ll dig your eyeball out next. Got it?¡± ¡°Yeeaaaa!¡± Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s answer came out strangely since he had been stabbed. The sound of people fighting outside had already died down. ¡°The police can¡¯te in here, so make sure you carefully think your answers through. Otherwise, I¡¯ll make sure nobody would be able to find you even after I¡¯ve killed you, wrapped you up in a carpet, and carried you outside,¡± Kang Chan said. Yoon Bong-Sup nodded, then urgently answered with a strange sound. ¡°Did Cho Il-Kwon order you to kill my mother?¡± Kang Chan was looking straight into Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s eyes. If he did something stupid again, Kang Chan was thinking of just killing him and going straight to Cho Il-Kwon. ¡°Yeea!¡± It sounded like Yoon Bong-Sup was speaking Japanese. ¡°Good. Do you have evidence to back up your im?¡± ¡°The recording, phone¡­ there¡¯s a recording on the phone. I also put a billion won in the trunk of a car for the expectated cost.¡± Sons of bitches. They were going to use a billion won to kill a civilian in this world where some children would have to scoop up rice into a bucket so they could eat? ¡°Where are the car keys?¡± Kang Chan prodded on. ¡°Inside the closet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it, you fucker. See how much better it is for the both of us when you tell me things quickly?¡± Smack! Kang Chan violently pped Yoon Bong-Sup, then stood up. Yoon Bong-Sup still had a knife stabbed into his shoulder, so he couldn¡¯t even twist his body properly. Tears mixed with blood dripped down his face. Kang Chan headed to the desk. When he opened the closet behind the chair and searched through a suit, finding the keys to a Benz in one of its pockets. Afterward, he looked for the phone. He searched under the desk since the phone wasn¡¯t on top of it, discovering that it had fallen to the ground in front of the chair¡¯s wheel. He didn¡¯t know the phone¡¯s model. Knock. Knock. Knock. Kang Chan heard someone knocking on the door that was broken at the top. ¡°It¡¯s Choi Jong-Il.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Choi Jong-Il opened the door a little and poked his head in. When he saw Yoon Bong-Sup on the ground, he swung the door fully open. Creak. Choi Jong-Il¡¯s shirt was drenched in blood, and more could be seen oozing from the right side of his forehead. He also had a handkerchief wrapped around his left hand as if he was wounded. ¡°The police have decided to arrest the people who came in here for multiple reasons, including the creation of an illegal organization and instigation of murder. We¡¯ve also contacted the prosecution,¡± Choi Jong-Il said. ¡°Are your wounds severe?¡± Choi Jong-Il smiled lightly as if he heard a funny joke. ¡°Yoon Jong-Sup said that evidence is recorded in this phone. Find it and y it,¡± Kang Chan continued. When Kang Chan handed over the phone, Choi Jong-Il examined it. ¡°It has a password.¡± Chapter 95.2: You’re doing this because you want to die, right? (2)

Chapter 95.2: You¡¯re doing this because you want to die, right? (2)

Once Choi Jong-Il realized the phone had a password, he and Kang Chan turned to Yoon Jong-Sup at the same time¡­ ¡°2796. It¡¯s 2796.¡± Choi Jong-Il immediately entered the passcode into the phone. After a while, he said, ¡°There¡¯s more than a few recordings.¡± ¡°y the most recent once.¡± Choi Jong-Il scrolled through the phone with his index finger for a moment, then double-tapped on the screen. ¡°You were looking for me?¡± The recording started. After some time, they heard, ¡°Find ways for Yoo Hye-Sook to get into a believable ident,¡± and ¡°A robbery should work.¡± They even heard, ¡°The line of people who¡¯d want to do it themselves would reach all the way to Vietnam if we offer a billion won.¡± Kang Chan sat on a desk and handed over a cigarette to Choi Jong-Il, who epted it. He then immediately took out a lighter and lit it. ¡°Is there any other evidence?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked. ¡°Yoon Jong-Sup said the one billion won he received is in the trunk of his car.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably going to be one hundred thousand won cheques and cash. If we hand over the recordings, the people arrested here, Yoon Jong-Sup, and the two foreigners, then we¡¯ll be able to convict them of instigating murder.¡± Kang Chan shook his head while exhaling cigarette smoke. ¡°That would only cut the tail of the problem. Let¡¯s keep the evidence for now. We¡¯ll settle this after paying Cho Il-Kwon a visit.¡± ¡°How did you know I was here? As far as I¡¯m aware, weren¡¯t you told that the Yoo Bi-Corp employees are training?¡± ¡°Manager Kim told me no country would ever leave a special security target alone. Honestly, I thought there would at least be someone else in my vicinity.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take them to the hospital. If we leave them like that for much longer, they¡¯ll bleed to death.¡± Kang Chan turned his head and looked at Yoon Jong-Sup. A puddle of blood had formed under him and the two foreigners. ¡°Take care of them yourself. I already stopped a big incident from happening when I came here to warn them, so I have no more business with them,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Please wait for just twenty minutes at the coffee shop that you were at earlier.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go out in these clothes.¡± Blood had hardened on his left hand, and his right sleeve, shirt, knees, and feet were covered in blood. ¡°We¡¯ll contact the hospital and prepare clothes right away,¡± Choi Jong-Il said, then headed outside. The agents also had to change anyway. Remembering something that he hadpletely forgotten about, Kang Chan went to the table and looked at the photo of Yoo Hye-Sook, which seemed ominous due to the blood sttered on it. Leaving this in a ce like this displeased him. Kang Chan brought over the iron trashcan inside the desk, threw the photos in it, and lit it up with a lighter. Crackle. The photos gradually turned to ash as their corners curled up. ¡®You¡¯re next, Cho Il-Kwon.¡¯ . Now that it hade to this, Yang Jin-Woo and Cho Il-Kwon would be busy cutting their tails, so it would be difficult for them to start something else. Even if so, Kang Chan didn¡¯t want Cho Il-Kwon to just be sloppily convicted for something like inciting murder and letting Yang Jin-Woo escape. After burning all of the photos, Kang Chan left the room. He didn¡¯t like the smoke stinging his eyes. The ambnce and the police arrived almost at the same time. As soon as they did, they started receiving orders from Choi Jong-Il. Kang Chan went to the bathroom, lightly washed his hands, and applied medication that one of the agents had bought from the pharmacy. Afterward, he bandaged his left hand. As he did, an agent prepared clothes and shoes for him. It was probably difficult for the agents to handle the cost ofundry with a low-paying job. Choi Jong-Il had gauze on his forehead and bandages around his hand, but the blood seeped through them, making him look like he had been involved in a fight. *** ¡°Tell all of the agents toe here,¡± Kang Chan told Choi Jong-Il. They had already fought together, so what use was there for them to hide now? Choi Jong-Il smiled awkwardly in response. ¡°What are you doing? We should all have a drink, then catch Cho Il-Kwon,¡± Kang Chan said again. ¡°Are we also going with you?¡± ¡°You guys are going to follow me anyway, right? Do you guys have a car?¡± ¡°Yes, and we do.¡± ¡°See?¡± When Choi Jong-Il took out his phone and contacted the agents, two of them appeared. Like Kang Chan and Choi Jong-Il, they also had bandages around them, so the people in the specialty coffee shop kept an eye on them. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to a building in Sejongno. Cho Il-Kwon has created a personal office on the twenty-first floor of that building.¡± Choi Jong-Il didn¡¯t bother asking how Kang Chan found out about that. After spending ten minutes drinking coffee, they got in a gray mid-sized car and went to a building in Sejongno. Lee Doo-Hee and Woo Hee-Seung sat at the front, and Choi Jong-Il and Kang Chan sat at the back of the mid-sized car. Since it was a Saturday, the way downtown was quite crowded. When Kang Chan saw the cars that had densely filled up the roads, he as if he was being suffocated. What were the limits of a person¡¯s greed? Most individuals couldn¡¯t even dream of having as much money as they had, so how could some of these people still try to kill someone just because they couldn¡¯t own the distribution rights for cars they weren¡¯t even in line for in the first ce? How can they think of killing a housewife of a family that didn¡¯t even know anything? ¡°We¡¯re here. It¡¯s that building up ahead.¡± Lee Doo-Hee twisted his head and looked at the building to their right. After parking the car at the entrance, Woo Hee-Sung and Choi Jong-Il got out of the car with Kang Chan. The road was congested, but the building was quiet. The three got in the elevator and pressed the button for the twenty-first floor. ¡°Did you check if Cho Il-Kwon is here?¡± one of the agents asked. ¡°He stays here if he doesn¡¯t have any special schedule. He¡¯ll drop by a woman¡¯s apartment in Bang Bae-Dongter before eating dinner. He¡¯ll then go home to his house in Daechi-Dong.¡± This information was written in the schedule that Lanok had handed to Kang Chan. Room 2107. The keypad lock above the door¡¯s handle made it look difficult for them to open it. ¡®If we knock, he¡¯s going to ask who we are first¡­¡¯ If he saw Kang Chan¡¯s face, then Kang Chan would be basically saying ¡®I¡¯m Kang Chan.¡¯ What should they say? It would be detrimental to say his name from outside the office when its door was still locked. As Kang Chan smacked his lips, Choi Jong-Il gestured with his eyes, then suddenly pressed the bell. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Kang Chan nkly looked at the door¡­ - Who is it? ¡°I came here to run errands for Bong-Sup hyung-nim!¡± Kang Chan stepped aside to get out of the peephole¡¯s field of view. Would something like that fool him? - He didn¡¯t say anything about sending someone to run errands? ¡°He told me to inform you that he has to urgently go to Vietnam?¡± Click. Choi Jong-Il smirked while looking at Kang Chan. But Cho Il-Kwon was a difficult guy to handle. He kept the door chaintched, preventing the door from opening all the way. ¡°Just give me the documents.¡± The moment they clearly heard Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s voice¡­ Choi Jong-Il put his arm through the gap between the door and the frame, then violently struck downwards. Crunch. Whoosh! The door chain immediately fell off, and the door swung open. ¡°What?! What is¡ª!¡± Bam. Choi Jong-Il punched the pit of Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s stomach, causing him to double over in pain and preventing him from screaming. ¡°Please go in.¡± Kang Chan went into Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s office, feeling dumbfounded. ¡°Cough.¡± Cho Il-Kwon kept screaming after barely getting his breathing under control¡­ Pow! Choi Jong-Il struck Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s neck. ¡°Urgh!¡± Cho Il-Kwon hunched his fat body forward. He was standing between the desk and bookshelf, which were ced near the window, and the sofa in the middle of the office. Tsk! Kang Chan went to Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s desk before anything else. This son of a bitch. As expected, a photo of Yoo Hye-Sook was on one side of it. Just as spite radiated from Kang Chan¡¯s eyes¡­ Pow! It seemed Cho Il-Kwon was about to make a sound again, seeing how Choi Jong-Il had punched the pit of his stomach once more. By the time Kang Chan approached Cho Il-Kwon, his sses were already halfway down his nose, and he was in so much pain he vomited saliva. ¡°This fucker is definitely going to scream and spout some bullshit if he ever regains his senses. If you entrust him to me for just twenty minutes, I¡¯ll make it so that won¡¯t ever happen.¡± Kang Chan realized how Choi Jong-Il felt when he looked into his eyes. Choi Jong-Il had interfered first because he had guessed that Kang Chan would kill him if heid his hands on him. Yeah. That could be the wise thing to do. Yang Jin-Woo wouldn¡¯t budge even if they killed this son of a bitch. ¡°Alright. You¡¯ve started to beat him up anyway,¡± Kang Chan answered, then sat on Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s desk, took out a cigarette, and bit on it. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo.¡± Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s beat down sounded very rhythmic, perhaps because he was fat. ¡°Urgh. Ugh.¡± Choi Jong-Il tightly grasped Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s head and lifted it. He then took off the sses that were hanging on his chin. ¡°Cho Il-Kwon,¡± Choi Jong-Il called. ¡°Ugh.¡± Pow. Pow.? Choi Jong-Il struck the pit of Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s stomach and his neck again. Afterward, he looked straight at him. ¡°He¡¯s going to ask you questions, and you¡¯re going to answer immediately. If you scream or do something stupid, I¡¯ll twist your neck. What happens to you is on you now.¡± Cho Il-Kwon urgently nodded. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Choi Jong-Il struck the back of Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s neck a couple more times. The hits were light enough to keep him from fainting. Why did he keep beating Cho Il-Kwon up when he had already said that he was going to listen to Kang Chan? Kang Chan cocked his head while inhaling cigarette smoke. ¡°There¡¯s still five minutes left. If you faint, I¡¯ll kill you and bury you where I buried Yoon Jong-Sup a little while ago,¡± Choi Jong-Il exined. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow.? Jeez, you cruel fucker! When Kang Chan turned his head, he saw Woo Hee-Seung quietly ring at Cho Il-Kwon from the corner of the room. 1. Sejongno is a street in downtown Seoul and is named after King Sejong the Great of Joseon. It has a great symbolic significance due to its central location Chapter 96.1: Let’s do this until the End (1)

Chapter 96.1: Let¡¯s do this until the End (1)

Seeing the look in Woo Hee-Seung¡¯s eyes, who was quietly standing in the corner, made Kang Chan¡¯s heart sink. South Korea¡¯s best agent, and a superior whom Woo Hee-Seung respected, was beating up an ordinary person. Kang Chan hadfortably epted that it would be better to let Choi Jong-Il beat Cho Il-Kwon up since Kang Chan could end up killing him otherwise. He thought Choi Jong-Il interfered because he shared the same sentiment, so Kang Chan took it lightly. ¡°Let¡¯s stop.¡± Kang Chan ordered. Choi Jong-Il stopped beating up Cho Il-Kwon. Kang Chan felt bitter. It was fine until he suddenly thought of calling Choi Jong-Il to Sinsa-dong instead of Oh Gwang-Taek. However, Kang Chan shouldn¡¯t have used South Korea¡¯s best agent to beat up Cho Il-Kwon. He shouldn¡¯t get their hands dirty for this kind of ugly fight. ¡°Do you guys want tea?¡± Kang Chan asked the two agents. ¡°I¡¯ll make some.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Kang Chan poured bottled water into the electric kettle on one side of the room, turned it on, and then poured instant coffee into a paper cup. In truth, Choi Jong-Il and the two agents were government employees dispatched to help out during incidents and prepare for an attack from outside the country. They weren¡¯t sent to be at Kang Chan¡¯s beck and call and for his personal matters. He had ordered the agents, people who lived with pride, to handle such a trifling matter. When the water started to boil, Kang Chan poured some into the paper cup containing the coffee mix. He was ashamed. It felt as if he had begun thoughtlessly using people just because he acquired power by working with the people responsible for the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ and France''s Intelligence Bureau. Kang Chan calmed down a little when he smelled the instant coffee. ¡°Cho Il-Kwon, go over there and stay seated,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Kang Chan didn¡¯t intend to cut Cho Il-Kwon some ck, however. Regardless of whether he killed him or let him live, he was ready to do it himself. Groaning, Cho Il-Kwon sat on the sofa near the wall. Kang Chan handed over coffee to Choi Jong-Il and Woo Hee-Seung. He then took out and offered them cigarettes. ¡°Open all the windows,¡± Kang Chan ordered. As Woo Hee-Seung opened four windows, the heat outside suddenly rushed into the room and overpowered the air conditioner. They lit up a cigarette and shared coffee with each other. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± As he should, Kang Chan apologized for his mistakes and wrongdoings. It was for the best. Choi Jong-Il and Woo Hee-Seung looked at Kang Chan, seemingly asking what he meant. ¡°Even though this is my fight, I needlessly made you guys interfere. I got too angry because my family is involved in this,¡± Kang Chan continued. He couldn¡¯t just say things about what they had done as agents because Cho Il-Kwon, who was sitting on the sofa with his head hung, could hear them. ¡°Please let it pass just this once.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t mind it too much.¡± Their strange smiles showed they understood what Kang Chan meant. Kang Chan felt a lot calmer after drinking coffee. He had gone through the fight in Mongolia, Yoon Jong-Sup, the blood-sttered photos of Yoo Hye-Sook, and was now dealing with Cho Il-Kwon. He certainly felt as if he suddenly came to his senses in the middle of a fight that he had been dragged into before he could even think about it. ¡°What¡¯s your n?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked. Kang Chan stopped drinking the coffee and looked at Cho Il-Kwon. ¡°I¡¯ll ask a few questions. If he gives me nonsensical answers, I¡¯ll throw him out the window.¡± He really wasn¡¯t above doing so. Cho Il-Kwon had thought lightly of killing people because he mooched off of power that wasn¡¯t even his. He secretly hoarded Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s slush fund and ordered people to kill a civilian to keep it. Cho Il-Kwon had money and the chief secretary position, but Kang Chan had even more money and the power to kill Cho Il-Kwon. It didn¡¯t matter whether Kang Chan ordered someone else to kill Cho Il-Kwon or if he killed Cho Il-Kwon himself. ¡°Let¡¯s settle this quickly and go out to eat,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Understood.¡± After drinking the rest of his coffee, Kang Chan sat across Cho Il-Kwon. ¡°Yoon Jong-Sup has given me all the evidence. He recorded your entire conversation.¡± Cho Il-Kwon looked at Kang Chan¡¯s chest, then tightly gritted his teeth. ¡°Yoon Jong-Sup also said that a billion won is in the trunk of a car. I know you did everything because Yang Jin-Woo ordered you to. Give me the evidence of that and of you all bringing in those obnoxious people from Japan. Confess about Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s sins that I¡¯m not aware of. Oh, I also know everything about the slush fund, so don¡¯t even think about saying something about it. I even know everything about the twenty billion won that you hid.¡± Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s face flushed, then he quickly looked away. This son of a bitch was thinking of trying to y tricks again. That wasn¡¯t surprising for this kind of fucker. ¡°You two should stay outside for a moment,¡± Kang Chan told the agents. He wasn¡¯t trying to scare Cho Il-Kwon. He didn¡¯t tell the agents to get out because of his spite or anger. Kang Chan was just saying that he was going to fight his own battles by himself. Creak. Rattle. Choi Jong-Il and Woo Hee-Seung left Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s apartment. ¡°Cho Il-Kwon?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes, sir?¡± Son of a bitch, his answers are good. ¡°You know me, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cho Il-Kwon replied so quickly that Kang Chan didn¡¯t even have the time to p him. ¡°Let¡¯s go through this step by step. What¡¯s the real reason Yang Jin-Woo wants to kill me?¡± Cho Il-Kwon briefly looked away because he didn¡¯t want to answer but soon said, ¡°He knows you¡¯re rted to matters concerning the rail¡¯s connection.¡± ¡°Yeah, and I''m saying that people can earn more money if that rail gets connected, so why is he fuckingining!¡± Kang Chan became very irritated. ¡°He believes that if theborers be financially stable, they¡¯re going to have more conditions, more thoughts, and more reasonable demands from the rich and the political circle¡­¡± As Cho Il-Kwon nced over and checked Kang Chan¡¯s reaction, Kang Chan became really curious about something. ¡°Hey¡ª!¡± he yelled. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The son of a bitch answered so quickly Kang Chan got cut off. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that just mean Korea will earn an outrageous amount of money if we get connected to the rail? The chaebols are the ones who will profit the most from this, so can¡¯t they just listen to people¡¯s reasonable demands and whatnot?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°If the rail brings us close to a hundred trillion won in revenue, then the regime won¡¯t change for the next thirty to fifty years. ording to research findings, if we continue with how things are done with this current regime, the chaebols will be disassembled and disappear.¡± Kang Chan straightened his posture and breathed out slowly. ¡°Is that why you¡¯re showing your loyalty to Yang Jin-Woo with this bullshit? When Yang Jin-Woo orders you to kill normal people?¡± ¡°I was wrong.¡± Kang Chan noticed Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s eyes were moving quickly to think of a way to get out of this situation. How could he say he was wrong when his eye movements showed otherwise? He¡¯s looking for an opportunity to escape while he¡¯s in front of me? ¡°You and Yang Jin-Woo helped out the people brought in from Japanst time, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kang Chan asked, then smirked. Although this fucker was scared of Choi Jong-Il right now, he wasn¡¯t too scared of Kang Chan. Since Kang Chan was speaking nicely, Cho Il-Kwon became more and more rxed. He was even tantly looking for an opportunity to escape now. ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Chairperson Huh Sang-Soo and assistant Kwak Do-Young were the ones in charge of bringing people in from Japan. The chairman and I only provided support by giving them the money that they said was needed.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Huh Sang-Soo?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°He¡¯s a member of the National Assembly, and he¡¯s from a noble family whose members have been part of the National Assembly for generations. In fact, its Chairman is his older brother Huh Ha-Soo. Kang Chan smirked. Yeah, keep bullshitting. Kang Chan remembered the recording of Huh Sang-Soo talking about what would happen if people without a lineage got behind the wheel. ¡°A noble family? Can they still be called a noble family if they secretly brought in North Korean special forces to prevent South Korea from getting the opportunity to advance, even if it meant assassinating people? Why is that fucker Huh Sang-Soo or something so opposed to the rail anyway?¡± ¡°He¡¯s opposed to it because of his past. His family used to export rice since they had received a title from the Japanese emperor. If this current government continues to stay in power and the citizens gain wealth, then previous settlement problems are bound to resurface.¡± Kang Chan burst into a sillyugh. In the end, all he kept hearing were bullshit. ¡°Do you have evidence of money being sent over to Huh Sang-Soo?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Kang Chan took out a cigarette while smirking. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo, do you smoke?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°No.¡± The wind blew in through the open window. ¡°Um, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± When Kang Chan looked at Cho Il-Kwon, Cho Il-Kwon slightly raised his head. Their eyes met. ¡°I can give you five billion won for now.¡± This son of a bitch is only offering five billion won when he has twenty billion won? I¡¯m going to receive fifty billion won. ¡°That¡¯s all I can give you right now. If I take out more money than that, it¡¯s going to be indicated on the slush fund.¡± ¡°Whoo!¡± When Kang Chan deeply exhaled cigarette smoke, Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Six months! No¡ªif you wait just one year, I¡¯ll give you an additional three billion won.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter while holding the cigarette. This son of a bitch keeps treating me as if I¡¯m an idiot. ¡°You know what, I¡¯ll give you an additional five billion won in a year. That¡¯s the best offer I can give you.¡± ¡°Even if you give me the money, what¡¯s stopping you from going behind my back and trying to kill me again?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Pardon? About that, I¡¯ll interfere and make sure that¡ª¡± ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Yes, sir?¡± ¡°Can you even do anything with Yang Jin-Woo ordering you around? Won¡¯t you just hire someone and badmouth a person¡¯s background to them again? Why would you pay me a yearter when you can just end things cleanly by hiring a foreign hitman to kill me for a billion won?¡± ¡°If you feel that way, then I¡¯ll give you six billion won¡ªno, I¡¯ll give you seven billion won right now.¡± How painful would what he had just heard be if he was extremely poor like in his past life or if Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were in a difficult situation and he didn¡¯t even have a cent in his bank ount? Cho Il-Kwon basically showed he broke poor people¡¯s hearts this way, In the end, he¡¯dugh, mock, and look down on his unfortunate victims even though he himself didn¡¯t have a good lineage either and was just sponging off Yang Jin-Woo while working under him. Chapter 96.2: Let’s do this until the End (1)

Chapter 96.2: Let¡¯s do this until the End (1)

When Kang Chan dropped his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it, Cho Il-Kwon raised his head. ¡°I¡¯ll guarantee your safety and your family¡¯s,¡± Cho Il-Kwon continued. ¡°How?¡± ¡°The chairman listens to what I say to some degree. If you trust me and leave now, then¡ª¡± SMACK! ¡°Cho Il-Kwon?¡± Startled, Cho Il-Kwon straightened his posture. On his cheek was a handprint with enough details for Kang Chan to see his fingerprints. SMACK! Thud! Cho Il-Kwon buried his face into the armrest of the sofa, then straightened back up while trembling so much his head shook. SMACK! The outer edge of Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s left eye and the end of his lips got torn and were bleeding, and his cheek had be swollen. He stood up with difficulty. With his bandaged left hand, Kang Chan tightly grasped onto Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s head. Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Since Cho Il-Kwon had thin skin, rips started appearing all over his cheek. It was as if someone had cut him with a razor de. The blood seeping out from around his eyes, his nose, and the end of his lipspletely covered his face. Kang Chan¡¯s grip on Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s hair tightened even more. Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack. Having lost strength, Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s head shook from side to side. Just like Yoon Bong-Sup, this fucker was about to faint. ¡°If you don¡¯t open your eyes properly, I¡¯m going to call the people outside so we can bury you,¡± Kang Chan threatened. Cho Il-Kwon flinched, then put strength in his head to open his eyes properly. This son of a bitch is trying so hard because he doesn¡¯t want to die.? ¡°Give me all the evidence for what you said just now. Got it?¡± People in a crisis answered with a nod first before expressing their agreement using words. Smack. Smack. Smack. ¡°You dare nod instead of answering me, you son of a bitch?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir!¡± When Kang Chan released him, Cho Il-Kwon wavered. ¡°I want all evidence brought over before this cigarette is extinguished,¡± Kang Chan ordered. While taking out a cigarette, Kang Chan sharply red at Cho Il-Kwon. He had never red at Cho Il-Kwon with such eyes until now because he felt sorry for ordering Choi Jong-Il to do something irrelevant. Cho Il-Kwon urgently dropped his gaze. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo, bring them over.¡± Cho Il-Kwon staggered once as he urgently went to the desk. Son of a bitch.? Those that worked for Yang Jin-Woo were sons of bitches who weren¡¯t any different from bullies who clung to gangsters tomit atrocities or Cho Il-Kwon who stayed by Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s side and thought that it was okay to rashly kill people. However one thing set them apart: bullies directly exercised violence, while Cho Il-Kwon hid behind violence using money and his petty power. When Kang Chan stood up, Cho Il-Kwon started to hastily open drawers. What an idiot, I was just going over to get a paper cup to ash my cigarettes in. That fucker would sacrifice even his wife if it meant getting out of this mess. Once their power had been taken away from them and they had been subjected to unimaginable violence, anyone would act like that. Countless people had been snapped and broken by that fucker¡¯s petty power and violence. When the cigarette made a ¡®chkk!¡¯ sound inside the paper cup, Cho Il-Kwon brought over a bundle of documents and a USB. He then stood in front of the sofa. ¡°Exin what those are,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°The material in here shows the date and the amount of money sent to chairperson Huh Sang-Soo and the money that was used to¡­¡± Cho Il-Kwon hesitated but noticed Kang Chan¡¯s expression. ¡°It includes expenses the chairman has used for personal reasons and information about the incidents that have been covered up.¡± ¡°What are the incidents that have been covered up?¡± The fucker had already spilled so much information, so why would he hesitate now? Although Kang Chan was frowning, he had be curious deep down. ¡°The chairman is a pedophile, so¡­¡± What did he just say? ¡°We couldn¡¯t bring ourselves to buy children that were too young, so we bought girls that were more than ten years old and¡­¡± Kang Chan felt his blood boiling. ¡°We mostly bought kids that had run away from their homes.¡± Kang Chan wanted to rip Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s mouth. ¡°How old is Yang Jin-Woo this year?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°He¡¯s fifty-nine years old.¡± A sudden thought came into Kang Chan¡¯s mind. ¡°You have a daughter, right?¡± ¡°I do. This year she¡¯s¡­¡± Cho Il-Kwon closed his mouth, seemingly having figured out Kang Chan¡¯s intention. ¡°She¡¯s in first-year middle school. How do you think you would¡¯ve felt if Yang Jin-Woo touched her?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Yet you could still cover up the incident by paying the girls who were sexually assaulted behind closed doors?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t do that directly¡ªYoon Bong-Sup¡­¡± Kang Chan breathed in loudly. He almost killed Cho Il-Kwon right there and then. It would be so easy to stab Cho Il Kwon¡¯s neck, twist his head, throw him out the window, or strike the pit of his stomach. Kang Chan gritted his teeth and turned his gaze to the rest of the material. ¡°That also has information about the chairman¡¯s family, including Yoon Bong-Sup, and proof that money was remitted to two private organizations with guys like Yoon Bong-Sup,¡± Cho Il-Kwon exined. ¡°Two other organizations have people like Yoon Bong-Sup?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve put all the evidence in there.¡± ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan exhaled loudly. ¡°What do you want to do now?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go out to a foreign country.¡± This son of a bitch thinks he can go to a foreign country with twenty billion won? Dream on! ¡°Cho Il-Kwon, how many years will people stay in jail if they¡¯re convicted of something like instigating murder?¡± ¡°Five to ten years.¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Do you want to stay in a hospital for now? Or do you want to go to jail?¡± ¡°Please let me go, just this once!¡± Kang Chan smirked. This fucker who¡¯s terrified of so many things was trying to negotiate while ying tricks again. Kang Chan tightly grasped Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s hair. ¡°Even if you guys are sent to prison, you¡¯re all going to be released for having an illness anyway. If so, then you should just head straight to the hospital.¡± SMACK! Kang Chan pped Cho Il-Kwon with all his might, causing his head to snap to one side. Kang Chan then let go of Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s hair and reached over with his right arm, pulling on Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s left sleeve. Thud. When he mmed Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s head onto the sofa¡¯s armrest, his arm naturally bent. This son of a bitch is unbelievably tactful! Kang Chan stood up from his spot and grabbed Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s wrist with his left hand. He then put his knee over Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s elbow and struck down with all of his might. Crack! Cho Il-Kwon, who had fainted, regained consciousness because of the pain, but then immediately fainted again. Even though Kang Chan had already beaten him up so much, he¡¯d only be in a hospital for a year with his current injuries. Kang Chan grabbed Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s head. He then threw it the other way as he pulled his right hand. Crack! Cho Il-Kwon would now have to stay in a hospital for a total of two years. Kang Chan had three to seven years left to add. That was easy. Kang Chan grabbed Cho Il-Kwon by the hair and pulled him up, straightening his upper body. The bandages on Kang Chan¡¯s left hand were now drenched in the blood that covered Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s face. Kang Chan grabbed onto Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s head with both hands, then quickly and briefly twisted it. Crunch! Thud! Cho Il-Kwon wouldn¡¯t die from that, but he¡¯d have to live the rest of his life sitting or lying down if he was unlucky. He probably would never be able to move his neck or his body below his waist ever again either. This much should be enough to punish the fucker for now. Kang Chan took the material on top of the table, then headed to the desk and found photos of Yoo Hye-Sook. One of them had fallen to the floor, and drops of blood had fallen onto the other. This son of a bitch! While gritting his teeth, Kang Chan folded the photos and put them in his inner chest pocket. It didn¡¯t look like there was a ce for him to burn the photos in this office. Rattle. Creeaak. When Kang Chan opened the door and headed outside, Choi Jong-Il and Woo Hee-Sung, who had been standing in front of the door, moved aside. ¡°What should we do?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ve twisted Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s neck, so send him to the hospital.¡± ¡°Understood. It¡¯ll just take a minute.¡± Choi Jong-Il went inside the office while holding onto the door, then came outside after they heard a ¡®click.¡¯?He had changed the password to the office. ¡°This will allow the hospital officials to open this office themselves and take Cho Il-Kwon,¡± Choi Jong-Il exined. It seemed this guy also had a wide range of talents. ¡°Let¡¯s go out to eat,¡± Kang Chan said. Choi Jong-Il radioed someone while they were going down the apartment. When they got to the entrance, a car was already waiting for them. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere where we can eat in peace,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°There''s a restaurant that sells delicious hanjeongsik down this road.¡± ¡°Okay. It should be a ce where we can talk among ourselves.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a good ce for that. You know where it is, right?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked Lee Doo-Hee. ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan gazed out the window upon hearing Lee Doo-Hee¡¯s answer. Should they report Cho Il-Kwon to the police? If they did, Yang Jin-Woo would make even more effort to cover up Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s wrongdoings. That fucker was worse than dogs. When Kang Chan was tightly gritting his teeth while recalling the impression he had of Yang Jin-Woo, which was based on the report¡­ 1. Hanjeongsik refers to a full-course set meal where a variety of foods are served based on traditional Korean standards. In the past, it was served to royals Chapter 97.1: Let’s do this until the End (2)

Chapter 97.1: Let¡¯s do this until the End (2)

After deciding what restaurant they should go to, Choi Jong-Il called someone. ¡°There¡¯s a patient in the building on Sejongno Street. He¡¯s in room 2107. Take him to the hospital and make sure the police or the prosecution can¡¯t interfere.¡± Choi Jong-Il dropped the call after passing on only the necessary information. ¡°Do you call that number for the police as well?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°If the headquarters contact them directly, the police will already be aware of the situation before they go to the scene. That eliminates the need for exnations.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t know they could contact the police that way. The restaurant came into view after passing Gwanghamun and driving for about ten more minutes. A restaurant emerged when they drove for about ten minutes after they passed the Gwanghwamun. The restaurant was a hanok that had been renovated in a sophisticated way. ¡°Wee.¡± An easygoing elder pointed to the door inside the living room. Rattle. They opened the hanji paper door and went inside, finding four cushions. ¡°Please stay here for a moment,¡± the elder said. Kang Chanfortably sat inside the room. He didn¡¯t want the four of them to make a show out of trying to get the others to sit first. Choi Jong-Il sat across from Kang Chan. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this ce take people¡¯s orders?¡± Kang Chan asked Choi Jong-Il. ¡°I called ahead and ordered.¡± When did he do that? Kang Chan asked another question, ¡°Can we smoke here?¡± ¡°Yes. There¡¯s even an ashtray.¡± ¡°Great. I¡¯m thinking of smoking after we eat.¡± He felt as if he was just sitting in a room in a regr house. ¡°I did something wrong to the agents. Let me buy dinner topensate for that,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Please don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Just as they had finished their conversation, they heard people outside the room. A small table was soon brought inside. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smile a little. Choi Jong-Il had said that this restaurant served hanjeongsik, but things like this should be called baekban. Just as Kang Chan was about to pick up his utensils, his phone rang. Oh Gwang-Taek was calling him. ¡°Hello?¡± - Kang Chan, it¡¯s me. ¡°Why did you call?¡± - Did something happen to you at Sinsa-dong? ¡°I fought with the fixers that belong to a certainpany. It was for something personal.¡± - It wasn¡¯t rted to Bundang, was it? Oh Gwang-Taek sounded somewhat tired. ¡°No. As I said, they were fixers of apany.¡± - Alright. I just asked because three or four gangsters were among the people that were beaten up. I knew you were the one who did it the moment I heard what happened. If it¡¯s okay with you, let¡¯s meet up for a bit tomorrow. ¡°Tomorrow won¡¯t work. Let¡¯s see each other some other time.¡± - Alright. After Kang Chan ended the call, he scooped up a spoonful of doengjang-jjigae and ate it. ¡°This is amazing!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard this restaurant is good. Seems like the rumors are true.¡± Utensils could be heard being used throughout the room. They talked about various normal topics while eating, which could be why it just took them thirty minutes to finish their food. Lee Doo-Hee went out of the room and came back with coffee and an ashtray. After Kang Chan lit up a cigarette¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll pay for lunch,¡± Choi Jong-Il offered. ¡°Why are you like this? I already said I¡¯ll pay for it as an apology.¡± ¡°I just thought I¡¯d offer anyway.¡± Was Choi Jong-Il nning on asking him for a favor? From the sound of it, that didn¡¯t seem like the case. ¡°I¡¯m paying for this. You can pay for the next one instead.¡± Their conversation ended with Choi Jong-Il smiling in response. ¡°Speaking of which, let¡¯s change our bandages before we leave,¡± Kang Chan said. Lee Doo-Hee went to the car and brought over bandages and medication. Afterward, all four of them changed their bandages into clean ones. ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going over to beat up Yang Jin-Woo.¡± ¡°Yang Jin-Woo isn¡¯t a pushover. You should examine the material you received a moment ago from Choi Il-Kwon a bit more and look for an opportunity to use it. Meet Yang Jin-Woo after you find evidence that can eliminate all chances of him being able to run away.¡± Kang Chan nodded. In fact, meeting Yang Jin-Woo would already be difficult in itself, much like his meeting with Cho Il-Kwon. Just as Choi Jong-Il had said, even if they were to run into each other, it would be hard to take care of Yang Jin-Woo. ¡°Tsk, fine! Let¡¯s call it a day. It won¡¯t be bad for me toy low while examining the material anyway,¡± Kang Chan answered, then stood up while thanking them. Kang Chan paid sixty thousand won for the food. After Kang Chan burned the photos of Yoo Hye-Sook in front of the hangari ashtray outside the restaurant, he got in the car that Lee Doo-Hee was driving. He was then dropped off at the entrance of the apartment. Kang Chan immediately went up to his house. When he remembered the photos on Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s table, he unconsciously sighed. What would he have done if he didn¡¯t visit Yoon Bong-Sup and Cho Il-Kwon today? At any rate, he should take care of Yang Jin-Woo quickly. Ding. Kang Chan got out of the elevator, walked to their unit, and immediately opened the front door. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook greeted Kang Chan from the living room. ¡°Wee, Channy.¡± ¡°Wee home.¡± ¡°Father, you¡¯re home early.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already resentful for having to work on a Saturday, so it¡¯s only right that Ie home early. Have you had lunch? What¡¯s wrong with your hand this time?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Oh my, Channy! Did you injure your hand? How bad is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had lunch, and I just got scratched a bit while doing some good.¡± ¡°How could you get hurt when you¡¯re doing some good? You should be more careful,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook replied. Despite being scolded, Kang Chan was happy for getting to see Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Chan changed intofortable clothes, then inserted the USB that he had received from Cho Il-Kwon into hisputer. ¡°Ha!¡± This son of a bitch! Kang Chan initially thought Cho Il-Kwon had organized the remitted money into charts. But no matter how stupid Cho Il-Kwon was, there was no way he wouldn¡¯t know what jargon like H1 Statement of ounts, fixed costs, and current assets meant. Kang Chan looked through all the documents just in case Cho Il-Kwon had secretly written the remitted money in any of the tables, but they were all just titled ¡®bnce sheets¡¯ and ¡®ie statements.¡¯ Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. It was a crime that he didn¡¯t check the evidence even though he was up against someone smart and clever. He smiled again when he opened the documents that he had ced in the inner chest pocket of his jacket. Under the title, which was along the lines of ¡®H1 Statement of ounts Per Subsidiary¡¯ the target sales and amount of sales they achieved were organized, looking nice and neat. Ah! That son of a bitch! ¡®What was he going to do if I had checked this on the spot?¡¯ If anything, Kang Chan thought Cho Il-Kwon had balls of steel for risking his life in such a way. Should Kang Chan visit him at the hospital? Since Choi Jong-Il had admitted Cho Il-Kwon to one anyway, he could just go there quickly and¡­ Tsk! Kang Chan decided to just be thankful for now that he managed to protect Yoo Hye-Sook. He then made engraved in his mind not to make this kind of mistake again against Yang Jin-Woo. ¡°Channy! Let¡¯s have dinner!¡± Kang Chan rubbed his eyes twice just in case his eyes were glinting, then went out to the living room. *** While Kang Chan was having breakfast on Sunday, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook said that they didn¡¯t have any special ns. For some reason, though, Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s phone kept ringing, and none of the conversations ended quickly. ¡°Mom seems very popr,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°I personally think it¡¯s good to see her that busy,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung replied. Kang Dae-Kyung nced at the master bedroom, then asked, ¡°Nothing else is going on, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan momentarily hesitated, wondering if he required Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s help with protecting Yoo Hye-Sook. But the moment he saw Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s worried eyes, Kang Chan decided to take care of this without him. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Kang Chan¡¯s phone, which was on top of his deck, started to ring. ¡°Seems like it¡¯s your turn this time. Go answer it quickly,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. Kang Chan hurriedly went into his room. ¡°Hello?¡± - What are you doing? It was Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I¡¯m just loafing around.¡± - Let¡¯s go out. Why don¡¯t we go to Misari? We always go there at times like these. Let¡¯s have a cup of coffee there, then grab some lunch. Kang Chan agreed to the n. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook had told him that they didn¡¯t have anywhere to go today anyway. ¡°Sure. Should Ie out now?¡± - I¡¯m in front of the apartment. Kang Chan hung up while smiling slightly, then called Choi Jong-Il. - It¡¯s Choi Jong-Il. ¡°I¡¯m going to go to Misari and have a cup of tea. I called you because I¡¯m worried about my mother. Instead of following me, just protect her.¡± - I reported to my superiors yesterday, so more agents have been assigned to your parents since this morning. Twelve of them even have your mother as their sole responsibility. I was actually going to ask you to introduce two of them to your mother.¡± ¡°You want me to introduce two agents to her?¡± - They¡¯re female agents that are in their mid andte twenties. Please tell her that one of them was dispatched to manage the Foundation from the Prime Minister¡¯s office, and I hope we cane up with a believable excuse that would let the other agent guard your mother from a close distance. As for your father, six agents have joined hispany as salespeople. Kang Chan felt like he had received a tremendous gift. The worry taking up a part of his heart seemed to have somewhat shrunk. ¡°Thanks. They said they¡¯re just staying at home today, so I¡¯ll think of a good excuse and introduce the agents to her tomorrow.¡± - Are you meeting Mr. Seok Kang-Ho? ¡°Yeah.¡± - I see. So that¡¯s why I saw the security guards that are in charge of protecting Mr. Seok Kang-Ho earlier. ¡°Why don¡¯t we have everyone greet each other and have a cup of coffee?¡± - We¡¯re all going to have to write a detailed exnation or get a sry deduction if we do that. Kang Chan smiled lightly and hung up the call in a good mood. He changed into jeans and afortable shirt. ¡°Father, I¡¯m going to see my teacher for a moment.¡± ¡°Did something good happen?¡± ¡°Yes! Something really good happened.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung didn¡¯t pry further. ¡°Be careful, okay? I¡¯ll tell your mom that you¡¯ve gone out, so feel free to go now. She¡¯s talking to someone on the phone.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± Kang Chan felt much better. 1. Gwanghwamun is the main andrgest gate of the Gyeongbok Pce in Seoul, South Korea. It¡¯s located at the three-way intersection at the northern end of Sejongno Street. It is thendmark and symbol of Seoul¡¯s long history as the capital city of the Joseon Dynasty 2. A hanok is a traditional Korean house that was first designed and built in the 14th century during the Joseon dynasty 3. the hanji paper door is a door in hanoks made out of hanji paper, which is made out of mulberry trees in ancient Korea 4. Literally defined as ¡®white rice,¡¯ baekban refers to home-cooked meals that consist of a bowl of rice, soup, and side dishes 5. doengjang-jjigae or soybean paste stew is a traditional Korean stew made primarily with soybean paste among other ingredients 6. a hangari is a traditional Korean jar with a narrow top and bottom and a bulging middle. It is made out of baked y and is used for preserving pickled foods. A smaller version of the traditional hangari can also be used as an ashtray. Chapter 97.2: Let’s do this until the End (2)

Chapter 97.2: Let¡¯s do this until the End (2)

Seok Kang-Ho was waiting for Kang Chan at the entrance of the apartment, so it didn¡¯t take long for him to get into the car. ¡°Did something good happen?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Not exactly.¡± As they left, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho everything that had happened the day before. ¡°What? So you¡¯re saying that you left me out for something like that?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked afterward. Rather than getting mad about Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s n or Cho Il-Kwon¡¯s petty tricks, this fucker was spouting bullshit about something irrelevant instead. ¡°Hey! That¡¯s not the point!¡± Kang Chan eximed. ¡°Then what¡¯s the problem?!¡± ¡°Did you even listen to what I told you?¡± Dumbfounded, Kang Chan burst out withughter as they arrived at Misari. After ordering coffee and lighting up a cigarette, Kang Chan thought he had returned to his everyday life with Seok Kang-Ho again. ¡°Do you know we¡¯ve got a break until thising week?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Really?¡± It didn¡¯t matter to Kang Chan, though, since Lanok had said that he would take him out of school in the second semester. Kang Chan took a sip of his coffee when it was served to him, then his phone rang. He had forgotten about this fucker. ¡°Hello?¡± - Captain, it¡¯s Smithen. ¡°Got news for me?¡± - I¡¯ve already met all of them and even slept with one. Already? Smithen had gotten some progress, but he hadn¡¯t said anything important yet. ¡°So, did you get something?¡± - This is amazing. I think I¡¯ll be able to sleep with four people in a week. Captain, this task is fantastic. It¡¯s also thrilling. Kang Chan red at the innocent river. He didn¡¯t send Smithen to the women just so he could sleep with them. ¡°Smithen, I¡¯m asking if you¡¯ve obtained any information.¡± - No, captain. It¡¯s an interim report. ¡°Alright. Call me if you get information.¡± Kang Chan tightly gritted his teeth after he hung up, so Seok Kang-Ho discreetly observed his behavior. ¡°What did he say that¡¯s making you angry?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Smithen said that he even slept with one of the women yet hasn¡¯t gotten any information yet.¡± ¡°He¡¯s an idiot,¡± Seok Kang-Ho swore when Kang Chan held up his coffee. It was strange, but this fucker wasn¡¯t close with their crew members in their previous life. He had always acted as if he was bullying everyone by himself, so he only followed Kang Chan that much more. ¡°If we don¡¯t have anything else to do, then let¡¯s go visit Manager Kim,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. ¡°Let me think about it.¡± It wasn¡¯t like Kang Chan hadn¡¯t thought about doing that as well. ¡°Half of his members died, and the other half had to be rescued from captivity because he failed to aplish the operation. He probably wants to die right now, so I¡¯m not sure about us suddenly going over to visit him. If I were him, I doubt I would want to meet anyone right now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded while picking up the coffee cup. ¡°Right! President Kim Tae-Jin was upset that you never contacted him, not even once. I told him that we should eat together sometime, to which he replied that he¡¯s going to be waiting with bated breath.¡± ¡°Should I call him right now, then?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked while grinning. Kang Chan nodded since it didn¡¯t seem like a bad idea. ¡°Hello? Mr. President? It¡¯s Seok Kang-Ho.¡± Seok Kang-Ho happily began conversing with Kim Tae-Jin. However, without even doing small talk, he immediately started to exin how to get to Misari. ¡°Please take your time.¡± Seok Kang-Ho put down his phone, then said, ¡°He said that he¡¯sing here.¡± Deciding to rest for the day, Kang Chan smirked while looking at the riverside in the distance. Yang Jin-Woo. How do I kill that fucker? *** The official office of Yang Jin-Woo, the chairman of Suh Jeong Group, was located on the twenty-ninth floor of the Suh Jeong Group¡¯spany building in Teheran-ro in Gangnam. He used an entire floor that was close to thirty-five thousand square feet as his office. Moreover, even though it was Sunday, everyone in the secretary¡¯s office hade to work. Thirteen employees were on stand-by with grave expressions as well. The floor had five meeting rooms, two waiting rooms, three conference rooms, an office with a desk, and a bedroom that had a shower facility. Lastly, there was a lounge where people could practice golf. It also had simple exercise equipment. Yang Jin-Woo sat facing Kwak Do-Young, looking ufortable and displeased, in the first meeting room. ¡°Does this country even havews? The chief secretary of Suh Jeong-Group got beat up so much in his own office that he got crippled, yet you just want me to sit back and watch? What on earth are you guys thinking?¡± Yang Jin-Woo asked. Kwak Do-Young sighed deeply. His head was slightly lowered. ¡°I don¡¯t know how busy Chairperson Huh is, but I understand what he¡¯s thinking now since he has already sent you twice. From this moment onward, I¡¯m going to take care of everything by myself, so please tell him that.¡± ¡°Mr. Chairman, I don''t think you need to take this that far.¡± Displeased, Yang Jin-Woo smiled. ¡°For as long as it¡¯s for Chairperson Huh, I¡¯ll act as I please. If people threaten me for such a shallow reason, then I¡¯m confident that I won¡¯t die even if I were alone. I¡¯ll deal with this myself from now on, so please tell him that I don¡¯t want him to contact me for the time being.¡± Yang Jin-Woo turned his head toward the window, then suddenly red at Kwak Do-Young. ¡°My god! This isn¡¯t even a presidential election, yet they still took ten billion won from me to bring in dozens of people into the country. Ten billion won! Even so, you still want me to hold in my anger? They even hurt Chief Secretary Cho, who had been working with me all this while, after taking the money! If I said I would pay ten billion won for Kang Chan¡¯s head, there would be a ton of people who would bring it to me on a tray tonight!¡± ¡°Mr. Chairman, we have made all the preparations needed to deal with Kang Chan. Our ns were ruined only because Moon Jae-Hyun interfered in the middle of it all.¡± ¡°Moon Jae-Hyun?! Until when are you going to use that guy as an excuse?! He doesn¡¯t even have a good background! Considering how bad the current situation is, can you all still reim the regime even without the rail being connected to us?! There are evenbor unions being formed in the building that I¡¯m in, not to mention factories! Is that all you can do? me Moon Jae-Hyun even though you guys have taken more than twenty billion won from me within the past few months while dogs are sitting and facing each other at a dining table and are asking for the utensils?!¡± Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s veins bulged with anger, showing his determination. It also evidenced that he had concluded that he should no longer expect anything from Suh Sang-Soo. ¡°Everything would turn out fine if we can just get the position of Director of the National Intelligence Service,¡± Kwak Do-Young exined. ¡°When will that happen? After I¡¯ve been rendered severely disabled like Chief Secretary Cho and am already lying in a hospital? I¡¯ve already taken measures.¡± ¡°Mr. Chairman¡­¡± ¡°How dare you re at me!¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t my intention. I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Chairman.¡± Kwak Do-Young immediately lowered his head. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t say this, but I have something to tell you so you wouldn¡¯t misunderstand us further.¡± Yang Jin-Woo, who had turned his head toward the window, shifted his eyes toward Kwak Do-Young. ¡°The chairperson and the assemblyman are in China right now,¡± Kwak Do-Young continued. ¡°Hmph! They want Chinese food for lunch, huh?¡± ¡°Moon Jae-Hyun had sent over a specialized team to Mongolia.¡± Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s head slightly turned toward Kwak Do-Young. ¡°We¡¯re having a hard time digging out the details, but we know China¡¯s senior official and the chairperson have failed to aplish the matter they had been preparing with the utmost secrecy because of Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s actions.¡± ¡°So in short, you¡¯re saying that they lost my money!¡± Yang Jin-Woo yelled. ¡°China currently has thirteen bodies affiliated with the Korean specialized team. This is expected to receive widespread media coverage on the inte and the news sooner orter. Their identities will be kept hidden, but wouldn¡¯t at least one person know who they are if their faces are disclosed? What do you think would happen if people find out that Moon Jae-Hyun is the one who sent them to Mongolia?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to do that to Moon Jae-Hyun?¡± ¡°Moon Jae-Hyun is hard to deal with. However, this would force the Director of the National Intelligence Service to step down. China will also state that they won¡¯t pursue the matters any longer or cause more trouble. The chairperson and the assemblyman are still currently busy in China,¡± Kwak Do-Young added. Before Yang Jin-Woo knew it, he was already looking straight at Kwak Do-Young. ¡°Anyway! I¡¯ll keep an eye out. I¡¯ve already done something on our end, so please keep that in mind!¡± Yang Jin-Woo said. ¡°I¡¯ll be looking forward to your wise judgment.¡± Kwak Do-Young bowed his head. Yang Jin-Woo opened the drawer of the end table, then pushed an envelope toward Kwak Do-Young. ¡°Here! I¡¯m giving you this to show my gratitude for how good you¡¯ve been to me, even if we don¡¯t get to see each other in the future anymore.¡± ¡°Please think about the chairperson¡¯s passion, Mr. Chairman. I¡¯ll contact you when we get good news.¡± ¡°You should take it. If you refuse, then I really will stop meeting up with you anymore, assistant Kwon.¡± Kwak Do-Young sighed quietly as he put the envelope in his inner chest pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll leave now.¡± He then went out of the meeting room after saying goodbye in a disciplined manner. ¡°Hmmm.¡± Yang Jin-Woo sighed, then held up the phone on the end table and called someone. ¡°What happened? The Serpent Venimeux? Yeah! We should use a renowned organization like theirs! We shouldn¡¯t be like Chief Secretary Cho, who just tried to steal money! That¡¯s right! We should send Asians instead of Westerners. Be quick, but be careful!¡± After ending the call with a satisfied expression, Yang Jin-Woo pressed the inte on top of the end table. - Yes, Mr. Chairman. ¡°Come inside for a moment.¡± - Understood, Mr. Chairman. Click. The door opened, and a neatly dressed female employee walked toward Yang Jin-Woo. She looked quite young. When Yang Jin-Woo walked to the window, the female employee¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°What are you doing? Why aren¡¯t youing here?¡± Yang Jin-Woo asked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Chairman.¡± The female employee walked to the window with her head lowered, and Yang Jin-Woo roughly pulled her toward him. Bang. She bumped against the window as Yang Jin-Woo pulled her skirt upward from her back. He then pulled down her underwear even quicker. ¡°Bend over already!¡± Yang Jin-Woo yelled. Yang Jin-Woo was too busy pulling the female employee¡¯s waist toward him with one hand and unbuckling his belt with the other. Hence, he didn¡¯t see the female employee close her eyes in shame. 1. Teheran-ro is a street in the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea. Due to the high number of inte-rtedpanies operating there, Teheran-ro is bing one of the busiest streets in South Korea. 2. An average house is two thousand five hundred square feet Chapter 98.1: Strangely, he gets pushed aside (1)

Chapter 98.1: Strangely, he gets pushed aside (1)

After having lunch with Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho, Kang Chan immediately went home. He already had dinner and was watching TV when he got a text message from Kim Mi-Young. [Are you home?] Ah, shoot! Kang Chan had told her that he wasing home in about three days. He called her soon after, then met with her at the apartment¡¯s bench. She seemed pale, enough for Kang Chan to be worried. ¡°Why do you look so pale?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I have to study. I¡¯m going to study abroad in France no matter what.¡± Kang Chan stared at Kim Mi-Young. She had been quietly putting her heart into her sses so she could study abroad with him. ¡°Mi-Young, should we just go to a university in Seoul? If you¡¯re fine with it, let¡¯s prepare for that instead.¡± ¡°A university in Seoul?¡± ¡°Yes. I actually got epted to a university in Seoul as well. I got a special admission or something, so I¡¯ll probably get notified in the second semester,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, so take it easy. You told me you¡¯re going to finish one semester in a Seoul university anyway while preparing to study abroad in France. You should study French after we¡¯ve seen how everything turns out.¡± She appeared to be disappointed at first, but she soon looked thankful for his consideration. She suddenly grew up. It felt as if the tough times had brought out the maturity in Kim Mi-Young¡¯s face. Kang Chan hugged Kim Mi-Young, who wasing toward him. He smiled quietly. Unlike how she had gone into his arms awkwardly and was stiff at first, she was now hugging him back so tightly it seemed as if she was embracing him with all her strength. Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young sighed. ¡°What are you going to do if someone sees us?¡± Kang Chan asked. They were in front of the apartment building. The olderdies in their neighborhood were so good and fast at gossiping it was as if they could spread new rumors via telepathy. Kim Mi-Young raised her head to see Kang Chan, the look in her eyes passing on her desperate wish. Smooch. Kang Chan kissed Kim Mi-Young¡¯s forehead. Kim Mi-Young smiled brightly as her snow-white face blushed. ¡°Let¡¯s go on a trip again once I get epted to a Seoul university,¡± Kim Mi-Young suggested. ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Chan felt as if he could hear Kim Mi-Young¡¯s heartbeat. A strange excitement engulfed him as her body temperature and breathing were passed onto him. A momentter, Kim Mi-Young, who had been snuggling her head on Kang Chan¡¯s chest, took a step back while looking disappointed. ¡°Go home and cheer up. Okay?¡± ¡°Okay! Don¡¯t forget that we decided to go on a trip,¡± Kim Mi-Young replied. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Bye!¡± Sunday passed with Kang Chan leaving behind strange excitement and disappointment. *** On Monday, two female employees joined Kang-Yoo Foundation as requested by the Prime Minister¡¯s office. ording to the request, one of them was going to manage the Foundation, while the other was going to work for just three months as a form ofmissioned education. Six of the salespeople at Kang Yoo Motors were agents. One of them was tasked to guard the office with their life, while those that worked outside stood by within the area. Another agentmuted to and from work with Kang Dae-Kyung with the excuse that they lived nearby, so Kang Chan worried less, to some degree. Yoo Hye-Sook seemed surprised that there was more work in the Kang-Yoo Foundation than she expected, but she still looked happy. Although she felt sorry for not being able to take care of Kang Chan properly, she at least seemed satisfied with having something to do. After positioning the agents, Kang Chan spent the day searching for information about Yang Jin-Woo. He then had dinner, then sat on the sofa. ¡°Is work really that difficult?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. He held onto her shoulders and carefully massaged them. ¡°Ah! Ah!¡± She twisted her shoulders whenever Kang Chan put strength in his hands, but she seemed to like it. ¡°What should we do? I can¡¯t take care of you while I¡¯m working,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°You¡¯re doing work that helps those who are in more difficult situations than us, so don¡¯t worry. However, don¡¯t strain yourself, okay?¡± ¡°Thanks, Channy,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said, then turned her arms and stroked Kang Chan¡¯s hand. ¡°Fortunately, the new employees are doing great.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. Thank you, Channy.¡± Kang Chan thought that there could be a cool response in situations like this, but he just ended up smiling. Kang Dae-Kyung soon returned home. Kang Chan went into his room after they talked for about an hour. When he sat at his desk, his phone shed a blue light. He didn¡¯t notice he received a call, perhaps because the vibration was overwhelmed by the sound of the TV. It was Lanok. Kang Chan quickly pressed the talk button. - Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s Lanok. ¡°Mr. Ambassador. I apologize for not being able to answer your call right away.¡± - It¡¯s alright. It happens. Can we meet tomorrow for a moment if it¡¯s okay with you? Lanok probably didn¡¯t want to meet just to see him. ¡°Understood. Where should I go?¡± - The Namsan Hotel would be good. Is this gentleman thinking of?devoting his life?to the Namsan Hotel? Kang Chan couldn¡¯t say anything about the location, though. - Would 11 am be okay? Let¡¯s have lunch together. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll be there.¡± Lanok had to have something he wanted to say, but it was difficult to figure out what he was thinking since he was such a sly person. Then again, why should Kang Chan annoyingly guess, when he was going to find out tomorrow at lunch anyway? *** Tuesday morning. Kang Chan sent off Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, who were going to work together. This was to be expected, as the Kang-Yoo Foundation was right next to Kang-Yoo Motors. ¡°Channy, what will you have for lunch?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll be eating with the Ambassador of France this afternoon.¡± ¡°Alright. Enjoy lunch.¡± Kang Chan joyously stroked her back, finding it great to see her happy. ¡°Drive safely,¡± Kang Chan said. His parents went to work. Kang Chan found it dumbfounding for a high schooler to have a lunch appointment with the Ambassador of France and for his parents to be surrounded by around twenty National Intelligence Service agents at work. The people concerned werepletely unaware of all of those happening, too. Kang Chan decided to have a cup of coffee and then change clothes since Joo Chul-Bum would likely somehow find out that he came to the hotel and meet him. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Just as Kang Chan took off his clothes, his phone rang. ¡°Hello?¡± - Channy, we got to export our drama! Michelle sounded excited. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Where is it being exported to?¡± - All over Europe. This is the first time a South Korean drama is being sold to all of Europe! If it does well, we might just earn back our investments before the drama is even finished. Articles are going to be published soon! Eun So-Yeon could be a world-famous star. No¡ªI¡¯m going to make that happen no matter what, Channy! It was a relief she wasn¡¯t near him right now. Whenever she got this excited, she would get turned on and throw herself at him. - Aren¡¯t you happy? ¡°Why won¡¯t I be? You¡¯ve done and gone through so much, Michelle.¡± - While I have you on a call, drop by sometime to cheer our employees on. Everyone is down because you couldn¡¯te to thestpany dinner. ¡°Is everyone at the broadcasting station today?¡± - We¡¯ll have everything done by 4 pm since we don¡¯t have an outdoor shoot today. The trainees are staying at thepany. They keep practicing even though we¡¯ve told them to go back to their dorm. Since So-Yeon is persistently practicing the script as well, everyone is going to be at the office. Kang Chan remembered the trainees and how they jumped up and down with happiness. ¡°I¡¯ll call you and let you know if I cane over after my lunch appointment.¡± - I didn¡¯t expect to ever get this far when I started working at this job. Thank you, Channy. Thank you so much. ¡°Why are you thanking me when you did all the work? I¡¯ll call youter after I see how things go.¡± After he hung up the phone, Kang Chan changed into a shirt and a suit. He was going to get through today safely and without getting into any fights! Kang Chan was wearing a luxury suit, but it was already difficult to count how many times he had washed it. He hoped to return home with it still wearable at least for today. *** Kang Chan arrived at the hotel at around 10:20 am. He couldn¡¯t help butugh for having actually gotten used to it now. Kang Chan ordered coffee after sitting down in the lobby, but Joo Chul-Bum got to him faster than they could even serve it. How can this fucker do this? ¡°Wee, hyung-nim.¡± ¡°Hey! Greet me normally. Don¡¯t refer to me as hyung-nim.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about anyone else, but I at least want to serve you as my hyung-nim until the end.¡± He¡¯s full of shit. ¡°Reserve a suite for me,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Understood, hyung-nim. If you¡¯re going to smoke, then I¡¯ll apany you to my room¡ªI can tell the employees to bring the coffee there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s troublesome.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back after I¡¯ve taken care of your order.¡± Joo Chul-Bum went to the front desk, and an employee brought over coffee. Drrrr. The coffee cup noisily shook because the hands of the female employee, whom he hadn¡¯t seen before, were trembling profusely. tter. The cup almost fell. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± The female employee had leaned downward to ce the cup on the table, allowing Kang Chan to read the name tag on her chest. ¡®Probationary employee Lee Ji-Yeon.¡¯ Looking startled, the female manager ran toward Kang Chan. ¡°I apologize, Mr. Kang Chan. There was an event yesterday, so we only have two probationary employees this morning. It seems she made a mistake while I was looking elsewhere. I¡¯ll prepare a new coffee.¡± The female manager gestured with her eyes to Lee Ji-Yeon. Her reaction was excessive, considering that the employee had only spilled some coffee on the saucer. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡ªplease just leave it. I won¡¯t be able toe here anymore if you keep acting like that since it makes me ufortable.¡± While Kang Chan was refusing the female manager¡¯s offer with a faint smile, Joo Chul-Bum approached them. ¡°Is something wrong, hyung-nim?¡± ¡°I spilled some of the coffee while epting the cup. Sit down. Do you want coffee?¡± ¡°Do you have time?¡± ¡°I came here a little earlier to have a cup of tea or coffee with you.¡± ¡°Thank you, hyung-nim,¡± Joo Chul-Bum bowed while looking touched. He then sat down. ¡°Please give us some coffee,¡± Kang Chan said. The female manager went back with Lee Ji-Yeon with a thankful expression. ¡°I prepared room 1701 for you, hyung-nim.¡± Joo Chul-Bum politely handed over the card key. That room was where Kang Chan had cut open Shan¡¯s side, but it didn¡¯t really matter. ¡°How is Gwang-Taek nowadays?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°He¡¯s sharp, hyung-nim. So much so that even nearby gangster organizations are keeping an eye on him.¡± As Joo Chul-Bum lowered his head with a dismal expression, the female manager brought over the coffee herself. ¡°And how¡¯s Do-Seok?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°He still hasn¡¯t regained consciousness, hyung-nim.¡± There was nothing that he could say about this. Chapter 98.2: Strangely, he gets pushed aside (2)

Chapter 98.2: Strangely, he gets pushed aside (2)

Kang Chan was drinking coffee when his phone rang. Cecile was calling him. ¡°Hello?¡± - Channy! Fifty billion won has been remitted to your bank ount! ¡°Really? So that has been deposited, huh.¡± - Who on Earth are you really? The branch manager is kicking up a fuss while telling me to let him meet you right now! ¡°I¡¯m busy, so let¡¯s talkter.¡± - Sorry! Please call me. ¡°Alright.¡± It seemed the money that Lanok had told Kang Chan about had been deposited. Perhaps it was because he couldn¡¯t see it in front of him, but it didn¡¯t feel real at all. ¡°Did you get displeasing news?¡± Joo Chul-Bum asked. Did I look displeased? Kang Chan gave a vague response and resumed drinking coffee until his phone rang again. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, it¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯m arriving in five minutes. ¡°Understood.¡± Kang Chan told Joo Chul-Bum that he would see himter, then went to the entrance. A momentter, a ck car and a van parked in front of him. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± They gave each other a French greeting, then immediately headed to the guest room. After preparing tea, a cigar, and an ashtray, the secretary and the agents headed into the inner part of the living room. ¡°I have one bad news and one good news,¡± Lanok started. Why did Westerners like using that kind of expression? It wasn¡¯t funny at all. While biting on a cigar, which he hadn¡¯t lit up yet, he continued. ¡°The bad news is that China has the bodies of the Korean specialized team members who died in the recent operation. It seems they¡¯re preparing photos to let people confidently recognize them. We have concluded that they¡¯ll go through several procedures to file an officialint to the Korean government, then they¡¯ll report this on the news and make major headlines soon.¡± Tsk! Kang Chan didn¡¯t know about the countries¡¯ international interests, but the situation made the agents who were saved from captivity, the dead agents, and the National Intelligence Service, which was in charge of the operation, unable to avoid being internationally shamed. Right now, Kang Chan was worried about Kim Hyung-Jung the most. ¡°What¡¯s the good news?¡± Kang Chan asked after taking out a cigarette and lighting it. ¡°I got contacted by Europe¡¯s friends yesterday.¡± Since they were so sly and wily, Kang Chan couldn''t even guess what they had talked about. As he was thinking that, he remembered what he hadpletely forgotten about. ¡°Ah! Mr. Ambassador, I heard you deposited the money today, yet I haven¡¯t thanked you for that. Thank you, and please tell your friends as well that I¡¯m thankful for the money.¡± ¡°You look like you¡¯re not very happy about it?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°It just doesn¡¯t feel real to me yet.¡± Looking as if he found Kang Chan funny, Lanok continued, ¡°We¡¯re expecting to announce the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project next week. Two days after that, articles that will list the countries that they¡¯re estimating to be a part of the project will be published in the newspapers, making that information circte.¡± Is the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project really happening? Kang Chan looked at Lanok while feeling stunned. ¡°Please meet up with the Prime Minister as soon as possible and tell him my intentions. Can you request cooperation for something as well?¡± ¡°A request for cooperation?¡± Kang Chan asked. Chk chk! Like the sly fox that he was, Lanok held up the lighter and finally lit up his cigar only after making Kang Chan curious. ¡°China intends to put me and the South Korean government in trouble, so we¡¯re determined to announce the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project in South Korea. The people in charge of it, which are in Europe and Russia, are thinking ofing to South Korea because of that. If they proceed with it, then China will also have topletely abandon the news reports they n on broadcasting. Can you request South Korea¡¯s cooperation for that, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± Kang Chan smiled brightly at Lanok. ¡°You¡¯re trying to make it so I¡¯d make an enormous contribution to our government. Do you, by any chance, want something else than that?¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± That was Kang Chan¡¯s second time seeing Lanokugh like this. ¡°Even the heads of the National Intelligence Service of each country are alling here, so we¡¯re thinking of requesting cooperation with South Korea¡¯s National Intelligence Service as well. We want to put you in charge of that,¡± Lanok said. He puffed on the cigar, then continued. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, once the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project is announced in South Korea, about fifty trillion foreign capital will hope toe into this country by the end of the year. Almost everypany will try to build a branch office, an assembly nt, or a logistics center here. The property value that South Korea has right now will increase by a minimum of over three times its current value.¡± That didn¡¯t sound that good. Noticing Kang Chan¡¯s expression, Lanok looked curious about what he was thinking. ¡°If that happens, then won¡¯t only the rich people that already have real estate properties be even more well-off? It¡¯ll put the people that are trying to buy homes in even more difficult situations.¡± Lanok softly exhaled as he nodded. ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true. Thepanies that wille into the country from abroad will need to employ Korean employees, and they will obviously focus on housing, wages, and welfare to preupy talented people. Hence, the pre-existing Koreanpanies will also have no choice but to follow them if they don¡¯t want to lose talented people. Moreover¡­¡± Lanok smiled strangely as he was watching Kang Chan¡¯s expression rxing. ¡°The smallpanies that were underrgepanies will obtain the opportunity to work with the bestpanies in the world. It will open a world where the organizations and the chaebols in South Korea will find it difficult to survive by using the same pre-existing way that they¡¯re currently used to. As a result, even the employees that work at smallpanies will be able to enjoy a more abundant, rxing life than now, with just their wages.¡± That was what Cho Il-Kwon had said! Kang Chan vaguely guessed what Cho Il-Kwon had told him. ¡°Lastly, the country will get an enormous amount of tax revenue. The welfare for the poorest people or the elderly will increase to a level that¡¯spletely different than now¡ªit will reach a level that people can''t even imagine,¡± Lanok added. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°This year is just the start. From now on, an economic effect will ur that¡¯s several times greater than before. This is the reason why China and Japan are willing to go as far as assassinating people. After all, Japan will bepletely ignored in this market and will copse contrary to South Korea, which will rise.¡± Thanks to Lanok¡¯s exnation, Kang Chan roughly understood why people had been clinging onto the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project so persistently. ¡°Will you request cooperation?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice but to do that anyway. They¡¯re going to be really happy.¡± ¡°Even though I¡¯m not sure of it¡­¡± Lanok had a sip of the tea that he had been holding, then continued. ¡°They probably won¡¯t be able to sleep for a few days.¡± Kang Chan smiled brightly, and Lanok burst outughing. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know about anything else, but he was at least relieved that Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s efforts weren¡¯t fruitless. They ordered lunch in the hotel room and ate together while talking mostly about Anne¡¯s recent activities. Lanok had a very bright expression as he told Kang Chan the news, perhaps because she was doing better than he had thought. They then had dessert as Lanok asked, as if in passing, ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, is there something that demands your money right now?¡± Kang Chan only nced at him. ¡°Please invest twenty billion won in stocks, and about thirty billion won in futures by tomorrow. Selling both of them a weekter is the wisest.¡± ¡°I know stocks, but what are futures?¡± Kang Chan asked. Lanok smiled in a rxed manner. ¡°If you tell the brokerage firm that you¡¯re trading with about it, they¡¯ll know what that means. But please don¡¯t tell other people about this, no matter what.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just not do that¡ªI don¡¯t even know what that is, and I¡¯m not greedy about money. I don¡¯t want to earn easy money by taking advantage of the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ announcement.¡± I knew this would happen. Lanok¡¯s expression showed that was what he was thinking. ¡°I told you to sell them a weekter because that¡¯s when the people that want to buy stocks and futures will be desperately cing orders. Of course, they are also going to earn at least several times more than their original amount. Hence, with a week¡¯s worth of investments, you would be able to help even more people in difficult situations. There¡¯s still a lot of kids that are starving to death in Africa.¡± Lanok sounded strangely convincing. ¡°I know I¡¯ve already told you this, but you should never tell anyone outside your circles about this. If you find it hard to buy stocks, then please tell me your stock ount number and password. I¡¯ll have my assistant take care of it,¡± Lanok added. ¡°That¡¯ll be great.¡± ¡°Excellent decision, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Lanok put down his dessert fork. He then smiled as if he was satisfied while wiping his mouth with a napkin. 1. futures are derivative contracts to buy or sell an asset at a future date at an agreed price. It allows investors to secure a specific price and protect against future price swings. They can expose themself to a much greater value of stocks than they could when buying the original stocks Chapter 99.1: Strangely, he gets pushed back (2)

Chapter 99.1: Strangely, he gets pushed back (2)

After Kang Chan parted ways with Lanok, he called Cecile first because Lanok had asked him to do so twice. - Hello? Channy? ¡°Can you talk right now?¡± - Of course. I¡¯m sorry for calling you a little while ago when you were busy. I probably just got flustered because I have never dealt with that amount of money except with a few VIP customers in our firm. ¡°Forget about that. I¡¯m going to ce an order for stocks with twenty billion won, and the thirty billion won will be for¡­ futures? I¡¯m going to ce orders for that. All of that is possible, right?¡± - Oh! You¡¯re going to invest in derivatives? To trade futures, your signature is mandatory. You have to prove that you were notified of its risks as well. Where are you right now? I¡¯ll prepare it right away ande over. ¡°I¡¯ll call you in an hour or two, then. I might meet Michelle at dinner, so we can just meet over there if you¡¯re okay with that.¡± - Okay, Channy! I¡¯m going to empty out all of my future appointments, so call me anytime. ¡°Alright.¡± Just as Kang Chan finished the call, Joo Chul-Bum approached him. ¡°Are you going? How are you going to get home, hyung-nim?¡± ¡°I have someone to call and someone to meet, so I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°Alright, hyung-nim. Please take care of yourself.¡± If anyone who didn¡¯t know them saw this situation, they would certainly think of Kang Chan as a gangster. Kang Chan first went into the lobby and ordered something because he had to, then looked for the number that was supposed to be waiting around the clock for his call. He then pressed the call button. The ringtone only rang once before it got picked up. - How may I help you? Had someone really been assigned to just wait for Kang Chan¡¯s call for twenty-four hours every day? ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± - Yes, I know. Tell me what you need, and I¡¯ll take action right away. The person was polite, but they couldn¡¯t get rid of the somewhat business-like feeling in the phone call. ¡°I wish to see the Prime Minister as soon as possible. Can you contact him?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk because he felt the female employee hesitate. - Is it for an urgent matter? ¡°Yes.¡± - I¡¯ll contact him right away and get back to you. Kang Chan hung up. He then put down his phone whileughing in a silly way. How boring and hard could it have been for the employee waiting for Kang Chan¡¯s call? If Kim Hyung-Jung was avable, Kang Chan wouldn¡¯t even have dialed that number. The drink that he had ordered had been served when his phone rang. ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s Go Gun-Woo. I heard you have to meet me for something? ¡°Yes, Mr. Prime Minister. I wish to tell you something in person.¡± - Is it for something urgent? ¡°It¡¯s something rted to the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project.¡± - Alright. Where are you right now? Go Gun-Woo suddenly started to speak quickly. ¡°I¡¯m at the Namsan Hotel. I can go to you, so please just tell me where to go.¡± - You don¡¯t have to do that. Hmm¡­ Go Gun-Woo stalled for a moment, perhaps because he was checking the time, then continued. - I¡¯ll send a car to the hotel in twenty minutes. See you soon. ¡°Understood, Mr. Prime Minister.¡± Kang Chan stared at the drink while cing his phone on top of the table. He didn¡¯t want to drink it since it hadn¡¯t been long since he had lunch. Should I have just asked for a cup of water instead? Kang Chan leaned back against the chair, then saw Lee Ji-Yeon. Considering she was a probationary employee, she was likely at least a high school graduate. She looked young enough to be in middle school, though. She was obviously nervous, too, and looked flustered. She was stiff, and her movements didn¡¯t seem natural. Since it wasn¡¯t graduation season, Kang Chan wondered if she had just been staying at home when she got the job. Kang Chan turned his gaze to the window. He couldn¡¯t say that the kids that only studied were happier than Lee Ji-Yeon, but Kang Chan thought that she might want a life where she could study. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? While lost in thought and looking outside the window, his phone rang again. ¡°Hello?¡± - I¡¯m contacting you from the Prime Minister¡¯s office. If youe out to the entrance of the Namsan Hotel, you¡¯ll find a car ready for you. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll head out now.¡± They were also quick¡ªit hadn¡¯t even been twenty minutes yet since their phone call. He paid for his drink and went out to the entrance, finding a man standing next to a ck car. The man opened the back door. Click. When Kang Chan got in the car, the man closed the door for him and quickly got in the passenger seat. ¡°We¡¯re going to the ce that the Prime Minister told you about,¡± the man told Kang Chan as the car drove off. Kang Chan roughly guessed where they were heading. It was the art gallery where he met Go Gun-Woo. The man in the passenger seat immediately got out and apanied Kang Chan inside the building. Neatly dressed agents and employees were all already waiting with their IDs on their clothes, but no one was on the sofa. ¡°He¡¯s arriving in five minutes. Please wait for a moment,¡± someone told Kang Chan. Kang Chan sat on the sofa. Five minutes was nothing. While he was slowly looking at the paintings hung up on the walls, Kang Chan wondered what went on in this art gallery. He had looked at about four paintings when he heard footsteps getting faster. The secretary and an agent had gone inside. Kang Chan stood up from his spot when he saw Go Gun-Wooing into the entrance. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯m sorry for beingte,¡± Go Gun-Woo apologized. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. I requested to see you urgently, after all.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a seat. Get us some tea.¡± Kang Chan really wanted to refuse the tea. Go Gun-Woo sat down, then exhaled. ¡°You have gone through so much this time. I should¡¯ve met you earlier and thanked you, but a lot of things were going on.¡± Kang Chan certainly did go through a lot of things, though he did receive a lot of help while he was taking care of Yoon Bong-Sup and Cho Il-Kwon. The secretary ced the tea on the table. ¡°Let¡¯s talk after having tea,¡± Go Gun-Woo continued. Kang Chan only ced his lips on the teacup and immediately put it down because he was full. ¡°Mr. Prime Minister, I¡¯m sorry to ask this of you, but could you send out all of the entourages?¡± Go Gun-Woo looked around their surroundings, surprised. ¡°Is what you¡¯re going to say that important?¡± It wasn¡¯t like Kang Chan didn¡¯t understand Go Gun-Woo¡¯s response, but there weren¡¯t just one or two people around them. Kang Chan thought he shouldn¡¯t tell him about the news in front of fifteen people or so. ¡°Yes. I apologize, but I think that¡¯s the right thing to do,¡± Kang Chan replied. Go Gun-Woo cocked his head for a moment, then answered while looking as if he had made up his mind. ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°Ten minutes? That should be enough.¡± Right after Kang Chan answered¡­ ¡°Alright. Everyone, please excuse us for a moment.¡± The employees and the agents standing along the wall of the art gallery all went outside with a look from Go Gun-Woo. Only then did Kang Chan start telling him the news. ¡°I had lunch with Ambassador Lanok today. The first thing he told me was that China has the bodies of the Korean specialized team members and that they are going to pressure him and the Korean government by sending photos of the bodies to the press.¡± Go Gun-Woo held up the teacup while pursing his lips, seemingly to hide the fact that he was angry rather than just being thirsty. ¡°Lanok then told me they¡¯re going to announce the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project next week,¡± Kang Chan added. Go Gun-Woo, who was holding the teacup, froze like a wax figure. ¡°He told me to pass on his intention to announce it in South Korea. The people in charge of Europe and Russia¡¯s Intelligence Bureaus areing here for it, and he also said that they want to take this opportunity to establish ties with our National Intelligence Service.¡± Click. Go Gun-Woo put down the cup as roughly as Lee Ji-Yeon, causing the tea to stter on the table. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I couldn¡¯t anything properly after you said the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project is being announced next week, so please correct me if I¡¯m wrong. Did you just say it will be done in South Korea, the heads of the other countries¡¯ Intelligence Bureaus are all attending that announcement, and they¡¯re going to exchange information with our National Intelligence Service?¡± Even though he seemed excited, Go Gun-Woo still clearly understood what Kang Chan had told him. Kang Chan thought Prime Ministers were indeed different from other people. ¡°That¡¯s correct. I heard that the people responsible for the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ and the heads of the other countries¡¯ Intelligence Bureaus are alling.¡± ¡°Phuhuhu.¡± Go Gun-Woo wasughing like Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°This is¡­ How should I put it? Phuhuhu.¡± Go Gun-Woo organized what Kang Chan had said so neatly only to utterplete nonsense and continue to burst out with strangeughter as if he was crazy. ¡°I¡¯m feeling very emotional, but it also doesn¡¯t feel real," said Go Gun-Woo. He smiled awkwardly at Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll call you by tomorrow. Of course, this is an issue that our government should fully cooperate with Lanok, but we also have to decide on the staff that¡¯ll be working at the announcement, so we need around a day.¡± ¡°Please do what you have to do¡± ¡°Haa.¡± Since Go Gun-Woo had stood up while exhaling, Kang Chan also stood up with him. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Go Gun-Woo held out his hand as if they were going to shake hands, but he tightly held onto Kang Chan¡¯s right hand with both of his hands instead. ¡°Thank you. Your name might be excluded from the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project right now, but the President and I are never going to forget about you. Once the announcement has been made, we¡¯ll let the world know of your contributions.¡± ¡°No thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! Please don¡¯t do that,¡± Kang Chan stopped Go Gun-Woo while shaking his head. Kang Chan would feel annoyed and inconvenienced by that. He thought he would be able to rx more after the announcement, but what Go Gun-Woo was saying would instead only further restrain him. Go Gun-Woo let out a heartyugh upon seeing Kang Chan¡¯s expression, then quietly exhaled again. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss thister. Where are you going now? I¡¯m on my way out anyway, so I can drop you off.¡± ¡°Mr. Prime Minister, I¡¯m fine with taxis.¡± ¡°Hmm, I guess that¡¯s alright. If that¡¯s the case, then let me drop you off by the hotel instead.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Kang Chan left the art gallery with Go Gun-Woo, then went out of the car near the main gate of the hotel. He managed to immediately get a taxi since they were lined up in front of the hotel and were waiting for customers. On his way to D.I., he called Michelle and Cecile. He was really busy today. The ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project? Trading stocks and futures with fifty billion won? He didn¡¯t want this life, but he was thinking of trying his best anyway. He did feel burdened as well by the constantly increasing amount of money that he kept getting. It wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say it was as if he was being dragged into a pit that was hard to escape from. Tsk! I¡¯ll just keep earning and see how things go for now. To help those in difficult situations, the more money the better. Kang Chan smirked while looking outside the window. The world looked quite unfair. 1. In finance, derivatives are contracts between two or more parties based upon the asset or assets. The underlying assets can be stocks, bonds,modities, and currencies Chapter 99.2: Strangely, he gets pushed back (2)

Chapter 99.2: Strangely, he gets pushed back (2)

Kang Chan arrived at D.I., then headed into the office that was on the second floor. ¡°Hello?¡± The wardrobe stylists and makeup artists were the first to greet him. They had been sitting at the desk with tired expressions. Department Head Kim Jae-Tae and their ountant Choi Yoo-Jin then stood up and greeted him, and Michelle and Lim Soo-Sung urgently came out of their respective rooms. ¡°Wee back,¡± Lim Soo-Sung said. ¡°Wee back, boss!¡± Michelle greeted Kang Chan. At a nce, the employees had bright expressions, but they couldn¡¯t hide the fact that they were tired, which was to be expected. ¡°You all seem to be having a very hard time¡ªdon¡¯t we need more employees?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Not at all!¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need more employees, Mr. President.¡± The wardrobe stylists and the road managers said no and even waved their hands. ¡°Mr. President, we can recruit more employees after we¡¯re done producing the drama and checking the viewers¡¯ reactions. This drama will serve as work experience for not only myself but all of the employees. We¡¯re even getting calls from people that want to work for us for free, so you don¡¯t need to worry about us.¡± The employees even nodded to Lim Soo-Sung¡¯s response. What more could be said when the employees themselves were the ones saying they didn¡¯t need more people? Kang Chan went to the President¡¯s room with Michelle. ¡°Mr. President, would you like anything to drink?¡± Choi Yoo-Jin asked, and Kang Chan replied with coffee. When Kang Chan looked behind him while sitting on the sofa, he noticed documents neatly ced on top of the desk. ¡°Those are documents that the President should review and see for himself,¡± Michelle exined. ¡°I told you to take care of those yourself.¡± ¡°I know, Channy, but I prepare to report the documents to the President anyway because that makes the employees more nervous and keep their guards up. If I tell them I¡¯m currently the acting President, then everyone will be disappointed.¡± Kang Chan smiled softly as Choi Yoo-Jin brought over the coffee. ¡°We got the official contract from Europe by email. Once thew firm is done examining it, you will have toe here in person for the contract signing. Since the atmosphere has changed, even the rtionships between the actors have improved so much that the veteran actors who have supporting roles in the drama are teaching the trainees on the side,¡± Michelle continued. She looked excited. ¡°I feel as if everything I hoped for when I said I¡¯ll try working in this job has been achieved. That¡¯s why the employees and I don¡¯t realize that we¡¯re having a hard time.¡± Kang Chan put down the cup after he drank the coffee. ¡°Don¡¯t assume that you can endure everything forever just because you can handle it right now, Michelle. The leader has to see two steps ahead. That way, you can quickly decide if we should provide more support or if we need to stop here. What you have to do right now is to decide when we should work on the next drama, and to hire more people who are well-suited for the tasks at hand. Cooperate with the employees in this drama, then make it so that the employees who have just been hired can properly get used to working here for the next drama.¡± Michelle looked at Kang Chan with admiration in her eyes. You should go to war and fight for your life. You naturally learn things like this. Someone knocked and opened the door. ¡°Hello?¡± It was Cecile. Michelle weed her in. Cecile asked for tea, then sat down on a chair. ¡°I forcibly stopped the branch manager when he tried toe with me, so I might get fired if you move your ount to another brokerage firm,¡± Cecile told Kang Chan. Michelle turned her head while looking confused at what Cecile was saying when someone brought tea into the room. ¡°Now! Here you go. You have to sign the ces that I¡¯ve circled with a pencil. After that, you¡¯ll be able to ce orders immediately.¡± Cecile took out a few pages of documents from a paper envelope that had the mark of the brokerage firm stamped on it, then ced them in front of Kang Chan. ¡°Trading derivatives is dangerous. You should read the document first before deciding, Channy,¡± Cecile exined. Kang Chan roughly pretended to read the documents, then quickly finished signing. ¡°Channy, you¡¯re thinking of trading stocks?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°Yes. I want to try and study it. Right, what¡¯s the password for the orders?¡± Kang Chan asked Cecile. ¡°You don¡¯t need that¡ªjust call me anytime, Channy. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°Someone else might call in my stead, though.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take their order and call you to confirm, then. Will that be alright?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± When would the fifty billion won feel real? Cecile took the documents and put them back in the paper envelope. Looking satisfied, she then said, ¡°I¡¯ll buy us dinner today. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Everyone has to eat, though. That includes the trainees upstairs,¡± Michelle mentioned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Michelle! I got apany credit card thanks to Channy! Eat to your heart¡¯s content today! It probably won¡¯t be a problem for as long as I don¡¯t spend over twenty million won!¡± ¡°Oh my! How did that happen?¡± ¡°Channy has entered into an enormous contract with us! Whenever he makes an order, there¡¯s a billion won inmission from the stocks and the futures, but from that, our branch will get three hundred million won inmission, and I¡¯ll get thirty million won inmission. So let¡¯s eat without worrying today, Michelle!¡± ¡°Wow! That¡¯s amazing, Cecile! Congrattions!¡± ¡°This is all thanks to you Michelle. You connected me to Channy.¡± The two talked noisily, then made a hugemotion as they hugged in the end. ¡°Channy, thank you so much.¡± Kang Chan just smiled in response to Cecile thanking him. Lanok made this happen¡ªKang Chan didn¡¯t even know much about what he was doing. Michelle was definitely perspective, and she had a way of thinking that was peculiar to French women, so she didn¡¯t ask how much money Kang Chan was investing despite seeing Cecile¡¯s excitement. They all had sashimi at a nearby Japanese restaurant for dinner. Kang Chan chose that menu since the trainees requested to only eat light meals. They shouldn¡¯t gain weight, after all. The atmosphere was stillpletely harmonious, though, because nobody acted arrogant like Lee Ha-Yeon. ¡°When are you guys going to appear on TV?¡± ¡°The trailer is starting next week and the drama will be broadcasted ten days after that. So-Yeon, Yeon-Hee, and Eun-Jeong over there are all in the trailer.¡± The trainees looked at Michelle with big smiles on their faces; they appeared to be happy just hearing that news. The group ate, conversed, and just had fun for quite some time. The employees seemed to be feeling secure as they were watching Kang Chan, perhaps because of what happened with Alion in the past. If there was one thing that bothered Kang Chan, it was Eun So-Yeon. ¡®She seems to be hiding something.¡¯ Kang Chan felt ufortable with the look in Eun So-Yeon¡¯s eyes whenever their gazes met. Even if so, it was weird to ask, ¡®What¡¯s wrong with you?¡¯ in the middle of eating. He also wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything if sheter said that she wants to terminate her contract and go somewhere else. Dinner ended after they had dessert. ¡°Michelle, Cindy said that she¡¯s done with work now. It¡¯s been a while, so why don¡¯t we all go out together and have a ss of wine¡ªmy treat,¡± Cecile offered. ¡°Should we? What do you think, boss? Come with us.¡± ¡°I have to go home now¡ªI have something to do that requires me to be there a bit early,¡± Kang Chan said. Michelle looked disappointed, but rather than clinging to him, she just went with it. Kang Chan got in a taxi and headed home first. That was the end of his long Tuesday. *** On Wednesday, Kang Chan had breakfast and sent off Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, then turned on hisputer. Yang Jin-Woo was still around. While he was searching about Yang Jin-Woo and the Suh Jeong group on the inte, he came across a short news report that stated that a female employeemitted suicide yesterday by jumping off the Suh Jeong group¡¯spany building in Gangnam. ¡®Depression?¡¯ The news report only included testimony from a colleague that stated that the female employee suffered from depression. Kang Chan was also going to suffer from depression if he didn¡¯t take care of Yang Jin-Woo quickly. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? While Kang Chan was looking at hisputer screen with a profound expression, his phone rang. ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s Go Gun-Woo. ¡°Yes, Mr. Prime Minister.¡± - Our government wholeheartedly epts Ambassador Lanok¡¯s request and will cooperate to the fullest of our capabilities. Please pass that on to him. Afterward, can you tell him that we hope he¡¯ll give us an official request? ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do that.¡± - Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m only passing on what I¡¯ve been told.¡± After Kang Chan hung up, he immediately called Lanok. He first passed on Go Gun-Woo¡¯s intentions, then told him Cecile¡¯s work number. - We will likely make the official request tomorrow. I don¡¯t know if the announcement would be dyed a bit, but the official request will publicize the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project. It¡¯s better to be careful since we don¡¯t know what China is going to do. ¡°Understood, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan hung up, then red at the material about Yang Jin-Woo that was on his monitor. Should I have a cup of coffee first? Kang Chan went to the kitchen and boiled water. As he did, Cecile called him to confirm the person in charge of the orders. He just answered three questions, and the call ended. As Kang Chan took his coffee back to his desk, he got another damn phone call. He had been getting calls nonstop today since morning. ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Ah! Mr. Manager, how are you?¡± - I¡¯m a lot better now, thanks to you. If it¡¯s alright with you, can we have a cup of tea? ¡°Of course! Where should I go?¡± - Let¡¯s meet at the specialty coffee shop located at the intersection where we metst time. Let¡¯s invite Mr. Seok Kang-Ho as well if it¡¯s okay with you. I want to thank him. ¡°When should we meet?¡± - At your earliest convenience. ¡°Please choose the time that¡¯sfortable for you.¡± - How about around 11 am, then? ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± It should be difficult for him to move yet, but it seemed his pride wouldn¡¯t let him stay in bed any longer. Kang Chan first told Seok Kang-Ho about the meeting¡¯s details, then sharply red at his monitor again. For some strange reason, this son of a bitch kept being pushed back. 1. Derivative trading is when traders specte on the potential price action of a financial instrument with the aim of achieving gains, all without having to own the asset itself Chapter 100.1: Who would be quicker? (1)

Chapter 100.1: Who would be quicker? (1)

When Kang Chan arrived at the specialty coffee shop at 11 am, Kim Hyung-Jung was already sitting near the terrace and had opened the door of the smoking room. He was wearing a gray suit and a shirt, but he still had scars all over his face. On his left index finger, he was wearing a cast. ¡°Mr. Manager!¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Kang Chan felt pity and worry, but he felt happiness first and foremost when he saw Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Aren¡¯t you straining yourself too much?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m okay. It doesn¡¯t feel right to stay hospitalized for this kind of wound.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung raised his index finger that was in a cast. ¡°What do you want to drink? My treat,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°Let¡¯s order when Mr. Seok Kang-Ho gets here.¡± That wasn¡¯t a bad idea. Just as Kang Chan sat down, Seok Kang-Ho got out of the taxi and walked toward them. ¡°Have you ordered yet?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°No. Order coffee for me.¡± ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, I hate to ask, but could you get me coffee as well? I¡¯m injured and can¡¯t move very well,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung requested. ¡°Of course, don''t worry about it,¡± Seok Kang-Ho gave a straightforward answer, then walked to the counter to order. ¡°I¡¯ve talked with Kim Tae-Jin,¡± Kim Hyung-Jungmented. ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°I told him that I got a little wounded while on a business trip, but he made a fuss and said that he wanted to see me. I¡¯m thinking of meeting him in the afternoon, but I still can¡¯t make up my mind about what excuse to give. In our line of work, saying we got wounded immediately makes anyone think it happened during an operation.¡± Kang Chan smiled lightly as Seok Kang-Ho came toward them with three cups of coffee on a tray. ¡°Now! Let¡¯s drink coffee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Seok Kang-Ho ced the tray on the table, then looked at Kim Hyung-Jung while taking out a cigarette. ¡°Getting to see you again feels good.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho. Thanks to you, I can still sit down with the two of you, have coffee, and smoke a cigarette.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± It felt a little awkward, but things like this were often forgotten after a day or two. ¡°How did you two end up joining the Foreign Legion¡¯s specialized team, though?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked, then brought his cup up to his lips while discreetly looking around their surroundings. ¡°We were prepared to go to Mongolia with just us two if we had to. Fortunately, this gentleman visited and pestered Lanok twice. He initially nned to go to Mongolia without me, but I caught him.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung nodded in response to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s grumbling. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. The Director came to the hospital in person, and as he apologized about the information being leaked, he mentioned that he thought the Foreign Legion went to Mongolia because Mr. Kang Chan intervened.¡± ¡°Why would you give yourself a headache by thinking of things like that? We¡¯re alive, so let¡¯s just have a drink and shake it off once your wounds have healed.¡± Seok Kang-Ho then chewed on ice. Kang Chan thought for a moment and made a decision. ¡°Mr. Manager, I was told that the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project is nned to be announced next week here in South Korea, so we expect the people in charge of it and the heads of the other countries¡¯ Intelligence Bureaus toe here.¡± Seok Kang-Ho stopped chewing on the ice, then discretely looked around their surroundings. ¡°It seems the European countries are nning to leak this information first, probably around tomorrow. Just this morning, I was informed that the South Korean government has also decided to cooperate,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kim Hyung-Jung pursed his lips, then deeply sighed. ¡°It¡¯s really happening.¡± ¡°You went through so much trouble for this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Still, I can¡¯t help but be dumbfounded because it¡¯s actually happening.¡± ¡°Even the Prime Minister said that it doesn¡¯t feel real.¡± ¡°I feel the same way right now,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said with a nod, then drank coffee. ¡°Are you going back to work immediately?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Lying down actually puts me in even more pain, so I decided to return to work tomorrow.¡± Kang Chan felt as if a reliable ally had just returned. ¡°I heard that a lot of things had happened within the past few days.¡± Kim Hyung-Jungmented. Since they were on the topic, Kang Chan exined everything starting from how he coincidentally met Yoon Bong-Sup while digging into Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s past and how he met Cho Il-Kwon afterward. ¡°I want to go over and kill him right now, but I can¡¯t make up my mind on what I should do about this,¡± Kang Chan said. He held up a cigarette, and Seok Kang-Ho and Kim Hyung-Jung also took out their own ¡°Let¡¯s just twist his neck. Can¡¯t all this be resolved if we just tell that fucker Smithen to find out when Yang Jin-Woo goes to which woman¡¯s house so we cane over and kill him as he¡¯sing out of one of those houses?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a good way to settle this.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung shook his head in response to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°While it can be done because Mr. Kang Chan has criminal immunity, things get a bit moreplicated with Yang Jin-Woo involved, but not because he¡¯s a chaebol. It¡¯s because he also has a lot of personal connections in Japan and China, and he has quite a lot of connections with worldwide figures that are rted to sports as well. If we kill him, then it¡¯ll be significantly burdensome for the government to take care of the aftermath.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we just avoid getting caught?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. You stupid fucker! While Kang Chan rubbed his face in frustration, Kim Hyung-Jung carefully answered, ¡°That¡¯s true, but without a suspect, the police will have difficulties trying to cope with the criticism that will follow that. On the other hand, if people be aware of even a small clue, then that¡¯ll also be a problem. With Yang Jin-Woo, it¡¯s also difficult to control the press.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about this some more as well. Mr. Kang Chan, we can¡¯t stop you if you really want to do it, but we should try finishing it in a way that would give us minimal problems in the future.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung smiled, then looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s a bit early, but I¡¯ve been meaning to treat the two of you to lunch.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy lunch,¡± Kang Chan interfered, but he couldn¡¯t stop Kim Hyung-Jung. Since it was a hot day, they decided to simply eat dumplings and naengmyeon. Afterward, Kim Hyung-Jung left first, saying that he was going to meet up with Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°If things go wrong, his emotions are going tost a long time,¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. ¡°Yeah.¡± The sadness and despair that were in Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s eyes were the problems. It would be better not to send amander who had just lost a lot of his subordinates to the next battle. There had been numerous cases where themander ended up dying because they went ahead with an impractical attack. ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I have to go to school. There¡¯s quite a lot of documents that I have to take care of because next week is the first day of school.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be at home. That should keep mefortable.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to make a move because of Yang Jin-Woo, then you better take me along with you. Don¡¯t act alone likest time.¡± ¡°Hey! As I said before¡ªthings ended up like that because I had just gone over to check who they were on that day.¡± ¡°Phew! Yang Jin-Woo you motherfucker! Son of a bitch!¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s curses could be enough for anyone to misunderstand that Yang Jin-Woo had tried to kill Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s family. After the incident at Mount Jiri, Seok Kang-Ho expressed a lot of anger over things that messed with their family. ¡°You should go to school with me if you¡¯re bored.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I exercised long enough in the morning.¡± ¡°Jeez! Should I just resign and join Yoo Bi-Corp?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you don¡¯t want to work there because there are no breaks?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Seok Kang-Ho headed to school while smacking his lips in pity, and Kang Chan returned home. He sat at his desk after changing intofortable clothes, unable toe up with a viable way to beat up and catch Yang Jin-Woo. ¡®Should I just kill this fucker?¡¯ Kang Chan thought. It wasn¡¯t easy, but if he and Seok Kang-Ho put their minds to it, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible to aplish. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan ran his fingers through his hair. He couldn¡¯t spend eternity looking for nice ways to settle this since Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s lives were on the line. ¡®I¡¯ll keep looking for a good n until the end of this week. If I don¡¯te up with any, I¡¯ll just kill him.¡¯ In any case, Yang Jin-Woo was the one who started this fight. Kang Chan didn¡¯t turn on hisputer. Every time he saw Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s photo, he was reminded of the photos of Yoo Hye-Sook that he saw a few days ago. That made it hard to hold in his anger. Being at home was great, except for the fact that it was a horrible ce to smoke. *** In the afternoon, the news channel and the inte started to report stories about the Eurasian rail. With a provoking title like ''Enormous Business Changes World Economy Dynamics,'' the new reports hinted that while it wasn''t finalized, it was absolutely certain that it would happen. They also discussed the astronomical economic effects that would result from the Eurasian rail. In addition, there were reports that said they were almost certain that North Korea was included, and the majority of the news stated that South Korea would likely be excluded. As Kang Chan listened to the news reports, he found them so convincing that even he thought, ¡®Is South Korea really excluded from this?¡¯ Kang Chan talked for a bit with Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung, then spent time in the afternoon working out at home. His senses felt sharper than ever, not to mention his physical condition. After a shower, he returned to his room and saw that Seok Kang-Ho had called him. Kang Chan immediately pressed the call button. - Hello? It¡¯s me. ¡°I was showering. Why did you call?¡± - The eptance letter and the schrship certificate from the national university in France have arrived from the French embassy. An official document also came with it, asking the school to excuse you from sses because you¡¯ll be getting lessons at the French cultural center starting from the second semester. The faculty office is in chaos right now, and the principal is foaming at the mouth and saying shit like we need to advertise this to the press. They¡¯re even urgently stamping a certificate ofmemoration because they want to give it to you in front of the entire student body at the opening ceremony. ¡°What¡¯s a certificate ofmendation?¡± - It¡¯s basically a certificate that the school awards you for being a good model student. It makes the school¡¯s name look better or something as well, I guess? The fuck? Model student? Making the school¡¯s name better? It felt as if centipedes were crawling on his back, even though he just listened to what was going to happen. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m going to skip school on Monday, so cover it up yourself.¡± ¡°The school is just going to wait until Tuesday, then. I can somehow stop them from advertising it in the press by saying we have to confirm that with the French embassy first, but it¡¯s going to be difficult for you to avoid receiving the certificate ofmemoration in front of the entire student body. What are you doing for dinner? Let¡¯s eatter after school.¡± ¡°Alright. In any case, let¡¯s not go overboard.¡± - I¡¯ll call you after work. Kang Chan got very annoyed, but he wouldn¡¯t have to deal with it if he didn¡¯t go to school. He was thinking of not attending school in the second semester anyway. That was the end of his ufortable school life, at the very least. He even got a proper ID that the South Korean government gave him. It felt as if a big part of his worry was being resolved. Chapter 100.2: Who would be quicker? (1)

Chapter 100.2: Who would be quicker? (1)

Kang Chanpletely dried his hair, ced the towel in theundry room, then returned to his room. Soon after, his phone rang. Yoo Hye-Sook was calling him. Is something going on? ¡°Hello?¡± - Channy! I heard your school received an eptance letter from the national university in France! ¡°How did you find out?¡± - You knew about it? The principal called us himself and said that we raised you well! I¡¯m feeling so emotional¡ªI¡¯m proud and thankful for you at the same time. Yoo Hye-Sook couldn¡¯t keep talking anymore, perhaps because she had burst into tears. What should he say at times like this? At that moment, from the phone, Kang Chan heard Kang Dae-Kyung asking, ¡°Who are you on the phone with, and why are you crying?¡± After some time¡­ - Is that you, Channy? ¡°Yes, father. Is mother crying?¡± - She is, but she¡¯s just overwhelmed with emotions, so don¡¯t worry about it. I heard that you got an eptance letter. Congrattions. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t think of what to say in response this time as well. - I think I¡¯m going to have tofort your mom a bit, so I¡¯ll call youter. ¡°Alright.¡± Could she really be happy enough for her to sob despite already knowing for certain that this was going to happen? Kang Chan felt an ominous feeling that he would have no choice but to attend the back-to-school ceremony, so he sat at his desk, frowning. There were only a few days left now, so Kang Chan picked up the phone and dialed Smithen¡¯s number. - Hello? This is Smithen. Smithen answered in Korean. ¡°Smithen, let me know immediately if you ever find out Yang Jin-Woo is going to visit a woman¡¯s house¡ªregardless of whose house it is¡ªstarting next week.¡± - Next week? Kang Chan deliberately spoke in French, but Smithen still answered in Korean. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I¡¯m just telling you to tell me as soon as you confirm the day that has the highest possibility of Yang Jin-Woo going over to visit a woman¡ªregardless of when he¡¯s visiting them¡ªstarting next week.¡± - Alright. Kang Chan was sure that this fucker was with a woman. The fact he was acting respectable gave him away. It would be good if Kang Chan first killed Yang Jin-Woo, that son of a bitch¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? His phone rang again. - Channy! ¡°Are you okay, Mother?¡± - Of course. I just got emotional when I suddenly remembered what you told me while hugging me when you were six, and it also reminded me of the past. We decided to buy dinner for the employees of your dad¡¯spany and the employees of this foundation¡ªdo you want toe over? What a horrible suggestion! ¡°I¡¯m going to meet Mr. Seok Kang-Ho for dinner.¡± - Ah! That¡¯s right! I need to thank that teacher as well. Will you tell him that I¡¯m really thankful and that I¡¯ll visit him one day?¡± ¡°I will.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t n on doing it. After he hung up the phone call with Yoo Hye-Sook, Kang Chan looked at his phone with a cold expression. How could Cho Il-Kwon order people to kill a woman like her? *** After Kang Chan had baekban at Misari with Seok Kang-Ho, they headed to the cafe. They ordered and drank coffee, then smoked. ¡°What do you think about buying something like this?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Captain, you¡¯re financially stable, right? Wouldn¡¯t it be nice if you buy something like this and turn it into a cafe that only allows people we know inside? You can even create a workout facility in the backyard over there. That will give us afortable ce to talk in, and we won¡¯t have to be considerate of other people when we smoke there.¡± For the first time, Kang Chan looked around the back part of the cafe. He couldn¡¯t me Seok Kang-Ho for suggesting that. ¡°We can divide it in half and make this part a personal area for you, and that part the exercise area,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. ¡°How much does something like this cost?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll look into it. It¡¯ll be great if you create a personal area in a ce like this since you¡¯re not going to attend school.¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan took a sip of his coffee, then said, ¡°I¡¯m thinking of monitoring Yang Jin-Woo until this week. If needed, I¡¯ll probably twist his neck next week. Let¡¯s do that together.¡± ¡°Okay! I couldn¡¯t eat properly because that son of a bitch was bothering me anyway. That''s a good idea.¡± That wasn¡¯t something a guy that ate two bowls of rice for dinner should say, but Kang Chan pretended not to notice and just moved on. ¡°I already called Smithen. We¡¯re going to go to Yang Jin-Woo immediately as soon as we get his schedule. Keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Phuhuhu,¡± Seok Kang-Houghed as his eyes glinted instead of answering. ¡°I feel as if my body loosened up after the operation in Mongolia. I feel it especially when I run and work out. Oh! The kids are also bing awfully good, perhaps because they¡¯re kids¡ªespecially Ho-Jun, and, uh, Eun-Sil! Those two have talent.¡± ¡°Forget about it.¡± Even if they had improved, with their current abilities, their necks would be immediately twisted if they got into a proper fight now. *** Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook returned home at around 9 pm. ¡°Channy!¡± Kang Chan hugged Yoo Hye-Sook and stroked her back while smiling softly. ¡°You¡¯re like a daughter being hugged by her dad,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung joked. ¡°Honey!¡± Even as Yoo Hye-Sook got angry at Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s joke, she was smiling. After the two got changed, they sat in the living room with Kang Chan. ¡°Eat some fruits.¡± Kang Chan was full, but it wasn¡¯t like he couldn¡¯t eat a few slices of oriental melon, so he picked up the fork. ¡°Right! Have you heard the news about the Eurasian rail?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s such a shame. If we just kept the stocks from Gong Te that you had, it would have immediately be twenty-four billion won.¡± ¡°Twenty-four billion won? Would its value really increase that much?¡± Kang Chan asked. How did he calcte that to end up with that result? ¡°It¡¯s possible. Stocks can immediately double in value, after all. Moreover, Russia and France are key members of the rail, so the stocks of France¡¯s Gong Te have likely increased even more. If six billion won doubles in value, then it¡¯ll be twelve billion won, and if it doubles in value again, then it¡¯ll be twenty-four billion won. It probably wouldn¡¯t even take a week for all that to happen.¡± Now that Kang Dae-Kyung exined it, it certainly seemed possible. If that were the case, if Kang Chan bought twenty billion won in stocks, it¡¯ll be forty billion won, and then eighty billion won? Kang Chan had said that he was going to buy thirty billion won in futures, so would that be sixty billion won, then sequentially be one hundred and twenty billion won? If hebined the two of them¡­ Kang Chan shook his head with a brief exhale. ¡°It seems we lost out because I wanted to create a Foundation,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said, looking sorry as she gazed at Kang Chan. Even so, Kang Chan could never tell them that he invested fifty billion won. ¡°Please don¡¯t say that. If we put it that way, then it¡¯ll be on our minds whenever we help, regardless of the amount of money. Let¡¯s not calcte things like that and just help those in difficult situations whenever we financially can. I¡¯m not jealous one bit about the stocks¡¯ price increase,¡± Kang Chan replied. He secretly felt a prick of conscience, but he wouldn¡¯t have been that jealous even if he didn¡¯t invest fifty billion won. Seok Kang-Ho and Smithen still had their stocks, though, which Kang Chan thought was a relief. *** [The ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project includes South Korea.] [It will be announced sometime next week in South Korea.] [A major event that marks a milestone in South Korean history.] On Thursday morning, breaking news was shown at the bottom of every news channel, almost as if the world had turned upside down. There were even news shes continuously being reported. Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect Kang Dae-Kyung would stand up in disbelief at what was happening when he turned on the TV for a bit after breakfast. ¡°Honey, aren¡¯t you going to work?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I should. It¡¯s already amazing that the Eurasian rail is being connected to South Korea, but to think the announcement is going to be done here as well. It¡¯s really amazing how the current government made that happen without even making a rumor.¡± ¡°Honey!¡± ¡°Yes, yes! Okay. I should go.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung stood up looking disappointed, then headed to the entrance with Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Drive safely,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Thank you, Channy.¡± When the two went to work, Kang Chan sat in front of the TV for a moment. It honestly hadn¡¯t hit Kang Chan yet, but it at least felt as if something big had happened as he watched the news talk about it. The news also talked about stock prices and mentioned that the price of real estate was going to surge and what the GNP and GDP per capita would be once the rail is connected. Moreover, they kept reporting that inquiries about investments from foreignpaniesing into the country were flooding in already. Did people have to be that excited about something that hadn¡¯t even been announced yet? The public probably would never even know about the agents who died in Mongolia, unable to even leave their names behind in history. They probably wouldn¡¯t even be able to imagine the agents¡¯ pain when they were tied up and a long awl was stabbed into their fingers because they wouldn¡¯t reveal their identity or the organization they belonged to. Would the public even know how dirty people acted to stop this from happening? Kang Chan turned off the TV and went to his desk. 1. oriental melon is a group of yellow Cucumis melo cultivars that are cultivated in East Asia 2. GNP refers to Gross National Product 3. GDP refers to Gross Domestic Product Chapter 101.1: Who Would be Quicker? (2)

Chapter 101.1: Who Would be Quicker? (2)

Since the dinner on Thursday, the atmosphere had been overwhelming. Everyone Kang Chan met spoke about the Eurasian rail. Even the news kept talking about things relevant to it, including stock prices being likely to surge and properties on sale were being cancelled and taken off the market. People were quite quick. Kang Chan shook his head while watching the news, which was reporting that the size of the remittances that were being brought in from foreign countries one by one was several times greater than normal or whatnot. The people remitting money at times like this likely already had enough money to live on. Why were they still making so much fuss over making even more money? Starting Saturday morning, the news that turned the entire nation into an expert in the Eurasian rail changed course. It started topetitively report about the people that are expected to attend the announcement on Thursday. What was funny was that Kang Chan didn''t know anyone aside from Lanok, but it wasn¡¯t a big deal. While thinking of going out to have lunch with Seok Kang-Ho, Kang Chan¡¯s phone vibrated. ¡°Hello? Mr. Manager!¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, can you talk right now? He sounded as if he had recovered at least some of his energy. ¡°Yes, but you sound exhausted for some reason.¡± - All the employees of the National Intelligence Service feel the same way. What do you think about having delicious jjampong for lunch today? ¡°That¡¯ll be great! As a matter of fact, I was already thinking about jjampong before you asked.¡± - Pleasee over, then. I¡¯ll call Mr. Seok Kang-Ho as well. ¡°Alright!¡± Kang Chan left the house after telling Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook that he was going out for lunch. He arrived at his destination twenty minutester, then immediately headed up to the fifth floor. Click! As Kang Chan stood at the entrance, Kim Hyung-Jung opened the door for him. ¡°Wee, Mr. Kang Chan. Mr. Seok Kang-Ho is already here. He arrived just a moment ago.¡± Kang Chan walked inside and headed into the room with Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Wee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°This is great¡ªI was bored so I was debating if I should call you and have lunch together. The jjamppong here is amazing,¡± Kang Chan said. Kim Hyung-Jung smirked, then ordered three servings of jjampong. In the past few days, the pain in his eyes had significantly decreased and the wounds on his face had healed up. Kim Hyung-Jung started to talk about the operation in Mongolia little by little, showing that he was oveing his wounds faster than they had expected. Kang Chan only listened. Was it because they were the National Intelligence Service or was it because they were in Samseong-dong? Either way, the jjampong was delivered quite fast after they ordered. ¡°Phew! This is amazing!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed about ten times before they finished eating. The trio then bit on a cigarette with a cold iced drink in front of them. Only then did Kim Hyung-Jung bring up what he had been meaning to say. ¡°Europe¡¯s Intelligence Bureau has expressed that they hope you will attend this event.¡± Kang Chan recalled the faces of the people he met at Loriam. ¡°That¡¯s why the French embassy sent you an invitation. They¡¯re trying to use it to get you to attend. The Prime Minister has told me to pass on that he hopes you will ept it.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t that open up the possibility of me being shown on TV?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That won¡¯t happen. The people in charge of the countries¡¯ Intelligence Bureaus attending this event always follow a closed-door policy for meetings. You¡¯re going to be moving separately from them.¡± If that was the case, then it wouldn¡¯t hurt toe. ¡°Alright, but does Lanok also know about this?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°The suggestion came from France''s DGSE.¡± Lanok was clearly the one who suggested it. It didn¡¯t really matter, though. Kang Chan just had to attend the event to meet Ludwig or Vant, whom he saw at Loriam. ¡°This event is surprisinglyplicated. Since the heads of the attending countries¡¯ Intelligence Bureaus will all be gathering here, we¡¯ll be facing?problems with security and agents that will be difficult to sort out,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. That was certainly a possibility. After about thirty more minutes of talking about different topics, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho left the building. Parting ways like this would be upsetting, so Kang Chan thought about having another cup of tea with Seok Kang-Ho first. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else for now. It¡¯ll be ufortable for everyone if we run into someone we know while we¡¯re uselessly lurking around here,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± The two headed to the main street and got in a taxi¡­ Beeep. Beeep. Beeep. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Hello? Ah! Mr. President. Pardon? Right now? You¡¯re working even though it¡¯s a Saturday? Ah, that¡¯s right. One moment please.¡± Seok Kang-Ho put down his phone and looked at Kang Chan. ¡°The real estate agency says that a building near Misari was put on the market as a distress sale, so let¡¯s drop by for a bit.¡± He¡¯s already doing this even though it¡¯s not an urgent matter? ¡°We¡¯re on our way,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, then hung up while Kang Chan still looked puzzled. Seok Kang-Ho then told the taxi driver the address of the building in Teheran-ro. ¡°Real estate prices are going crazy right now because of the Eurasian rail announcement. The building is currently priced for urgent sale on the market, so we should definitely buy it. A bank loan they took will pull it from them anyway, so I was told that thendowner is willing to do the contract signing today if we buy it at the previous market price, which would be less upsetting for thendowner. Let¡¯s check it out for ourselves first, though, then decide after.¡± ¡°You go there and take a look. I¡¯ll be at a nearby specialty coffee shop. You just have to sign the contract, then send over the payment, right?¡± Kang Chan wasn¡¯t busy, but he didn¡¯t want to sit in a ce like that if he had a choice. ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s do that, but¡ª¡± Seok Kang-Ho nced at the taxi driver, then whispered in Kang Chan¡¯s ear, ¡°Thend costs two billion won.¡± Two billion won? They were going to spend that much just to exercise and to drink coffee a bit morefortably? Seok Kang-Ho shook his head when he saw the look Kang Chan was giving him. ¡°Jeez! Let¡¯s just buy it. It¡¯s up to the seller how much he¡¯ll sell it anyway. If it doesn¡¯t work out, then I¡¯ll just give back the money to you even if I have to sell my stocks.¡± Tsk! Then again, what Seok Kang-Ho said also made sense. Why would Kang Chan keep money in his bank ount that he wasn¡¯t even nning on using for a long time? Preparing a ce where Kang Chan could exercise without worry andfortably stay with Seok Kang-Ho in the second semester would be a hundred times wiser than that. Kang Chan stared outside the window. It was a Saturday, so the traffic was quite heavy. While thinking the signboards around them were very shy, he suddenly sawrge letters that said ¡®Suh Jeong - Best Value!¡¯ That was right! The Suh Jeong group¡¯spany was in Teheran-ro. ¡®There are so many fucking people.¡¯ For some reason, sturdy men in suits were standing around the front of the building. ¡°What are you looking so intently at?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. . ¡°That.¡± Kang Chan gestured with his chin. Seok Kang-Ho leaned over and looked up at the building. ¡°Huh? That was here?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. ¡°Apparently.¡± Seok Kang-Ho followed Kang Chan¡¯s gaze, then saw the group of people as he moved his head from side to side to get a good look. ¡°I heard that there¡¯s a picketing because of their female employee thatmitted suicide. Is that why they¡¯re crowding that ce?¡± Kang Chan looked back at him, seemingly asking what he was talking about. Seok Kang-Ho continued, ¡°There was a short news report about the deceased¡¯s family iming that the police concluded it as suicide even though there¡¯s evidence that she died unjustly.¡± ¡°Would picketing even make Suh Jeong bat an eye?¡± ¡°Phew! What else could they do? Don¡¯t you think they¡¯re doing that because that¡¯s their only option?¡± Amid their conversation, they arrived at their destination. ¡°Go sign the contract. I¡¯ll be in the coffee shop over there,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan ordered a cup of coffee and brought it to an unupied table. Sittingfortably, he smoked a cigarette. After about forty minutes, Seok Kang-Ho entered the coffee shop. ¡°Phew! What kind of ce doesn¡¯t let people smoke inside?¡± He sat on the other side of Kang Chan whileining. He then took out a cigarette and bit on it. ¡°We decided to deposit the initial payment of a hundred million won today and repay the one billion and six hundred million won bank loan on Monday. We¡¯ll then pay the remaining bnce excluding the overdue interest, which might have to be deducted from the three hundred million won,¡± Seok Kang-Ho exined. ¡°What¡¯s your ount number? I have my card with me, so I can go to the bank and deposit the money now.¡± ¡°I paid with what I have for now. This is the contract.¡± Seok Kang-Ho took out an envelope that had thepany name of a real estate agency stamped on it, then ced it on top of the table. ¡°Hey! Is it okay for us to buynd worth two billion won when we haven¡¯t even seen it in person yet?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Hey now! That property is valuable enough for the bank to lend us a hundred and six billion won. They can¡¯t fool us because everything about thend¡ªeven satellite photos¡ªis on the inte these days, so don¡¯t worry about that. Since it¡¯ll be on its third auction next week, we also got a discount of five hundred million won. It¡¯s not easy to findnd like this.¡± Kang Chan felt uneasy for some reason, but he just let it pass because Seok Kang-Ho was so confident. ¡°Anyway, make sure youe to school on Monday,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Stop spouting nonsense. I¡¯m not going. Why should I get shamed in front of the kids?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that¡ªjuste to school on Monday. That way, the school will send the Seoul university eptance letter to your house. If that also blows upter on, then it¡¯ll be tiring. Just attend and think of it as a graduation ceremony.¡± Why is this fucker acting like this? ¡°You¡¯re hiding something, aren¡¯t you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m your teacher, am I not? Please just attend. Think of it as you helping me out.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Did the school really say that they¡¯re giving me a certificate ofmemoration?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already stamped everything beforeing here.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even remember anything about the school other than breaking kids'' arms, yet they still want me to ept a reward for being a good student and whatnot?¡± Seok Kang-Houghed with a ¡®Phuhu,¡¯ and then quickly wiped his nose. ¡°Regardless, you still have toe. It¡¯s only for a day anyway. We decided to broadcast you receiving the reward in the principal¡¯s office. Let¡¯s do that, at the very least.¡± The conversation ended with both of them grinning. ¡°Let¡¯s go get a hamburger,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. ¡°It hasn¡¯t even been two hours since we had jjamppong.¡± ¡°So? We should eat if we¡¯re hungry.¡± Kang Chan forgot to buy and feed this fucker anthelmintics. After having dinner with Seok Kang-Ho, Kang Chan came home and ordered chicken while watching a movie with Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sookte at night. Spending time like this with just his family was very nice. 1. picketing is a form of protesting where people congregate outside a ce of work or where an event is taking ce. It can be used to draw attention to a cause. Chapter 101.2: Who Would be Quicker? (2)

Chapter 101.2: Who Would be Quicker? (2)

Sunday morning. ¡°Channy! Let¡¯s have breakfast!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook called. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook had told Kang Chan that apart from going to the supermarket after lunch, they would stay at home all day. With so many National Intelligence Service agents guarding them, Kang Chan didn¡¯t really lose sleep over his parents going to the supermarket. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t too worried since his parents seemed thankfully satisfied with the new employees. After eating, Kang Chan went into his room and turned on hisputer. While browsing, he remembered the scene that he saw in front of the building yesterday. However, no matter how hard he searched for what Seok Kang-Ho told him and how many search words he used, he found no news articles about the picketing aside from the one titled ¡®Miss Lee suicide¡¯ and the one that stated she suffered from depression ¡°What the? Did this fucker do something to get rid of the evidence?¡± Kang Chan asked himself. It wasn''t impossible. Considering even the knife fight on the national road in Yongin was kept secret, there was no way a chaebol like Yang Jin-Woo wouldn''t be able to stop the spread of articles about an employeemitting suicide. In the afternoon, he went to the supermarket with his parents. He couldn¡¯t believe that this mundane kind of life gave him happiness. He was in a highschooler¡¯s body, but since he was quite mentally old, he also thought that it wouldn¡¯t be bad if he married a bit earlier than others. Whom should he marry, though? Kim Mi-Young? She hadn¡¯t even graduated yet. Kang Chan shook his head while smirking to himself. He decided to wait at least until she graduated from university. After a simple lunch at a restaurant, they headed home. Looking for an opportunity, Kang Chan then brought up the subject of his schedule on Wednesday while pretending that nothing was wrong. ¡°Do you two remember the Ambassador of France? His name is Lanok,¡± Kang Chan told his parents. ¡°Yes. What about him, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook peeled off the skin of the yellow melon on the tray, then sliced them and ced them neatly on a te. ¡°He told me there¡¯s someone that he wants to introduce to me among the people that are visiting Korea, so he asked what I thought about attending as the French interpreter at the presentation hall,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°Really?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook first looked at Kang Dae-Kyung, surprised. ¡°That¡¯s a good opportunity. What do you want to do?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. ¡°I want to attend if the two of you are okay with it. I also want to know how that type of event progresses.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be a good experience for you,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung sent him a worried nce as he answered. He seemed to be asking if it wouldn¡¯t be ufortable. ¡°Right! Channy, you¡¯re going to get the certificate of eptance from a national university in France tomorrow, right?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll receive it at school tomorrow. I think I¡¯ll be going to the French cultural center starting the day after that.¡± ¡°Is that okay with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll decide once I¡¯ve received the special admission letter to a Seoul university and after I see how everything goes. I¡¯m still not sure whether a university in Seoul or France would be better.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook burst into tears again. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I just remembered when you were hospitalized. I decided back then to forget about you going to college like what your dad had said, so I¡¯m thankful that you got epted to a university that everyone wants to get into.¡± While Kang Chan was looking down at the oriental melon, not knowing what to say¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? His phone rang. ¡°Go. You should answer it,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said and gestured with his eyes. Kang Chan went into his room. ¡°Hello?¡± - It¡¯s me. Let¡¯s go check out thend that we bought yesterday if you don¡¯t have anything special going on. That wasn¡¯t a bad idea. After giving a usible excuse, Kang Chan immediately left the house and found Seok Kang-Ho already waiting for him in the car. He immediately got in the passenger seat. ¡°Your family doesn¡¯tin?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°About what?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you go to Gapyeong with your family for a day?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even get me started. It seems they want me to go out of the house because I¡¯m a distraction to my daughter when she¡¯s studying.¡± ¡°... How big of a ruckus do you cause at your house?¡± Seok Kang-Ho shook his head when Kang Chan looked at him. ¡°We couldn¡¯t send her to a hagwon or get her private lessons before because we couldn¡¯t pay for them with a school teacher¡¯s sry. But now that we have some money left over after moving to an apartment, they¡¯re both going crazy.¡± ¡°Your daughter¡¯s not mad?¡± ¡°The weird girl likes to study. She also can¡¯t stand falling behind the other kids.¡± ¡°Why would you call your daughter a girl? And why would you act like that¡ªisn¡¯t it good if she¡¯s studying hard?¡± Seok Kang-Ho smirked. ¡°She¡¯s dumb. We sent her to hagwon, paid for private lessons, and she¡¯s studying so much that she¡¯s sacrificing her sleep, but she¡¯s barely fifth in her ss.¡± ¡°Being fifth in her ss is excellent!¡± ¡°How could you say that? It takes so much money for her to study! I would¡¯ve saved up that money instead and sent her to study abroad. Their eyes ze up with fury as they re at me if I just so much as turn on the TV!¡± Kang Chan had to change the subject because the displeased Seok Kang-Ho kept grumbling. ¡°Hey! I searched online, but there wasn¡¯t any article about the picketing anywhere. Where did you see that?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Huh? Oh, I¡¯ll look for itter and call you.¡± There was no point in him reading the news article. After all, there was nothing he could do about it. He was satisfied that it changed the subject, though. They reached their destination after a while. Thend was in a fairly good location. It had a view of the river, and it wasn¡¯t far away from the roads. But before them was an eyesore of an iplete building that had ¡®Foreclosed¡¯ written in red on white fabric in three different locations. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked, finding themselves in an unexpected situation. Seok Kang-Ho immediately took out his phone and pressed the screen to call someone. ¡°Hello! I¡¯m Seok Kang-Ho, the person that bought thend in Misari yesterday. Yes. I¡¯m here now, and I see that it¡¯s under a property lien. What¡¯s this?¡± Kang Chan perched somewhere nice and smoked a cigarette as Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s voice got louder and louder. No wonder he was so confident. ¡°When did you say something like that!¡± Right after Seok Kang-Ho yelled, two men with big builds approached them from the other side of the building, dragging their feet on the ground. When Kang Chan tilted his head and looked at them, he noticed a small container tent behind the building. It was positioned in a way that seemed to hide it from view. They were annoying him in so many ways. ¡°What brings the two of you here?¡± One of the men asked, sounding raspy. His head, which was about twice as big as Kang Chan¡¯s, alternated between Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I heard that thisnd was bought yesterday. Are you two the new owners, by any chance?¡± ¡°Alright! The people that you told me about just came. I¡¯ll call again once I¡¯m done talking to them!¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, then hung up. He looked at the guy with the big head. ¡°I bought thisnd yesterday, but I didn¡¯t know about the property lien. What happened?¡± Kang Chan smirked when he saw the man spit on the ground. The guy behind the big-headed man stared at Kang Chan, looking ufortable. ¡°You two bought goodnd. Thendowner went bankrupt while this building was being built, and he didn¡¯t pay for the construction costs. If you two just pay us what we¡¯re owed, we¡¯ll be out of your hair by tomorrow,¡± the big-headed man replied. ¡°And how much is that?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. The guy smiled sleazily. ¡°Just two billion won.¡± Kang Chanughed dryly. Seok Kang-Ho was happy for getting a five hundred million won discount for and that was worth two and a half billion won. Unfortunately, that led them to his situation where if they exchanged blows, the two men would shift the me on them and make them pay one and a half billion won. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Kang Chan said, and then stood up. They got fooled because they were stupid. It was their fault for impulsively buying thend without checking out the site first and for thinking the price ofnd would absolutely increase because of the Eurasian rail. If it was just the hundred million won initial payment, then they got away easily. ¡°Go! I¡¯ll send you a hundred million won tomorrow, so be more careful next time,¡± Kang Chan insisted, then walked to the car while dusting off his butt. ¡°Those sons of bitchespletely treated me as if I¡¯m an idiot!¡± Seok Kang-Ho yelled. ¡°This happened because we were greedy. Didn¡¯t you also expect thisnd to be several times more valuable once the Eurasian rail is connected? Just shake it off and move on. The Gong Te stocks that you own are going to increase in price a lot. In just ten days, I heard they will increase from twelve billion won to twenty-four billion won, so just think of this as an opportunity to learn a good lesson.¡± The two men gave them a nk look. It seemed they thought that Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho would cling to them because otherwise, they would regret the lost deposit. ~ Sitting at the cafe that they always went to, they smoked and drank coffee. Seok Kang-Ho got angry multiple times, his eyes burning. ¡°Stop it. We won¡¯t be any different from gangsters if we beat up people just because we got fooled because of our own stupidity. Or do you want to take this to court? Sue for fraud? Just let it go,¡± Kang Chan said. It wasn¡¯t as if Kang Chan didn¡¯t understand how Seok Kang-Ho felt. He also knew how big a hundred million won was. However, it would be best to stop pursuing this matter further. ¡°Right! The fifty billion won that I told you aboutst time has been deposited into my brokerage ount. I¡¯ll take it out soon and send you some,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Why would you send that to me? I received money from Lanok.¡± ¡°See? When did we ever get greedy about money? We suffered this loss because we were uselessly greedy, so just shake it off and remember never to do this ever again. Anyway, I¡¯ll send you some money.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it¡ª¡± ¡°Daye.¡± Seok Kang-Ho flinched when he heard Kang Chan briefly call him. ¡°Let it go. How many times do I have to say that this happened because we were greedy before you understand? Yes, those fuckers did act dirty. Still, there¡¯s no way to get that money back. So just move on,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m sorry.¡± When Kang Chan drank coffee with a smirk, Seok Kang-Ho exhaled. ¡°Phew!¡± He had finally gotten rid of his lingering anger. ¡°Sons of bitches. They took a hundred million won in the blink of an eye,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°It¡¯s a relief that you only sent a hundred million won as a down payment because yesterday was Saturday. Imagine what would you have done if it was a weekday and you could pay off the money owed to the bank and the remaining bnce.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Yeah. We still have luck remaining on our side. Let¡¯s be careful from now on.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Sunday passed like that. Chapter 102.1: Die or Kill Someone (1)

Chapter 102.1: Die or Kill Someone (1)

The second semester had begun. Kang Chan felt as if everything was unfamiliar, including the school that he was leaving early for, the students crowding in front of the school gate, and even Seok Kang-Ho, who was giving the students a sharp look while holding a training stick. Kang Chan went to school with Kim Mi-Young. She didn¡¯t seem aware that he was getting the eptance letter today. ¡°I¡¯m going to drop by the athletics club, so you go up first,¡± Kang Chan told Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s watch a movieter. I have some time to spare since it¡¯s the first day of school.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I can. I might have to go home first before going anywhere else, but I¡¯ll let you know after seeing how things go.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± After saying goodbye to Kim Mi-Young, Kang Chan headed to the athletics club room. Click ¡°Hello!¡± the kids greeted. The athletics club room was packed to the brim with kids. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why aren¡¯t you in your ssrooms?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We had a morning meeting to get rid of bullying, and to put a stop to people taking money from other kids, and forcing them to run errands. We¡¯ll start today,¡± Heo Eun-Sil answered from inside the room. She had removed her makeup and looked different, but more importantly, the look in her eyes had changed. Now that Kang Chan had thought about it, the look in Moon Ki-Jean¡¯s eyes was quite lively. The same went for Lee Ho-Jun, Cho Sae-Ho, and Cha So-Yeon. ¡°You¡¯re all in the athletics club, so don¡¯t ever act out in the bullies¡¯ stead,¡± Kang Chan told the kids. ¡°Alright, sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with you guys helping kids that are having a difficult time, but I¡¯m not okay with you ¡®helping¡¯ irrelevant kids and fostering a scary atmosphere by attacking in groups. Got it?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be careful, sunbae-nim.¡± This should be enough. But when did the look in their eyes change? Kang Chan smirked as he sat in an empty seat and listened to the kids¡¯ discussion. After a while, Seok Kang-Ho opened the door with a click and poked his head. ¡°Go to your ssrooms now.¡± As instructed, the kids headed to their respective ssrooms. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. The atmosphere made it seem as if Kang Chan was being dragged away. Unfortunately, he had no choice but to follow Seok Kang-Ho to the principal¡¯s office. The door was wide open. The lights in the office were on, and there was also a camera inside that would broadcast the moment Kang Chan received the awards. ¡°Mr. Principal, I brought Kang Chan, the senior student,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Oh!¡± The principal patted Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder with a broad smile on his face. After themotion that came with greeting Kang Chan, an employee from the teacher¡¯s office gestured to the principal. ¡°Ehem! We will now begin the opening ceremony for the second semester in the year 2010.¡± His loud voice rang out from the speakers all over the building. With the principal¡¯s speech over, the time hade to give out the letter of eptance, the schrship certificate, and the certificate ofmemoration. ¡°Kang Chan, a senior student, has been given a full schrship to a national university in France. We hereby present to him the letter of eptance, the schrship certificate, and the certificate ofmemoration.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± eximed the people listening from the entire building. The awarding ceremony ended on that note. ¡°Sunbae-nim! Congrattions!¡± the kids greeted Kang Chan when he returned to the athletics club room. They had run over to him as if they were flying. Kim Mi-Young was with them, looking full of worry. Hence, Kang Chan smiled lightly. ¡°What happened? I didn¡¯t know!¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°I was notified rather suddenly too. I¡¯m thinking of going home and giving this to my parents. I¡¯lle back here after. What do you want to do?¡± ¡°Can Ie with you?¡± ¡°Of course. Cha So-Yeon, tell the teacher about this. When I get back, lunch is on me. Let¡¯s eat together.¡± Thinking that today was hisst day at school, Kang Chan wanted to at least have a meal with them. After instructing Cha So-Yeon, he headed home with Kim Mi-Young. ¡°You¡¯re really not going to France?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°I already told you that I¡¯m not!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t go alone!¡± ¡°Even if I do want to go, we have decided to go there together once you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°Yeah! But if you end up going to the military, I¡¯ll write you a letter every day and visit you every week.¡± She was taking this too far. Kang Chan walked with Kim Mi-Young, which he hadn¡¯t done in a while. After some time, they arrived at the apartment. ¡°Don¡¯t just stay here. Come with me,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You want me to go to your house with you?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll just give these to my parents. We¡¯ll leave right after.¡± Though hesitant, Kim Mi-Young followed Kang Chan and went on the elevator. Ding. When they arrived at the seventh floor and opened the front door, Yoo Hye-Sook noisily ran over. However, she hesitated when she saw Kim Mi-Young. ¡°This is Mi-Young. I decided to buy my friends lunch at school tomemorate these rewards, but I didn¡¯t think it would be right to go home alone, so I took her with me,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± Kim Mi-Young greeted Kang Chan¡¯s parents. ¡°Come in. Stay for a bit.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung gestured for them toe inside. The four of them sat at the table. ¡°Here you go, Mother.¡± When Kang Chan saw Kang Dae-Kyung giving him a look, Kang Chan held out the letter of eptance, schrship certificate, and certificate ofmemoration. Tears suddenly welled up in Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s eyes, but she cried a little less because Kim Mi-Young was with them. While they were having a simple cup of tea, Kang Chan got changed. He no longer had to wear his school uniform ever again. Kang Dae-Kyung offered to give them a ride to their school on his way to work, so the four of them headed to the basement parking lot. During the entire drive, Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s phone never stopped ringing, not even for a moment. How did the olderdies learn that Kang Chan had received the eptance letter? ¡°Enjoy your lunch. Ah, right! Channy, do you have money?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I still have plenty of allowance. I¡¯ll call you at dinner.¡± After waving them goodbye, Kang Chan went past the school gate, finding the kids running in the sports field. ¡®Would you look at them?¡¯ Just like what Seok Kang-Ho had said, they were in better shape. It looked as if they would be able to properly y their part if they just kept practicing persistently like that for a little more than a year. ¡°Can we watch a movie after lunch?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked Kang Chan. ¡°Do you have time?¡± ¡°The schedule of my hagwons matches the school¡¯s regr ss schedule, but since we have no sses today, I just have to go home by 5 pm.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± It would be nice to watch a movie. Kang Chan wanted tofort Kim Mi-Young anyway since she was tired from studying. While sitting in the stands, they saw Seok Kang-Ho walking toward them with a grin, but it was soon reced with a more dignified expression when he saw Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch. My treat!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed, then took out a white envelope and smacked it two times with his hand. ¡°Phuhuhuhu, the school gave the teachers a bonus. Let¡¯s have meat today.¡± This fucker shouldn¡¯t have pretended to be serious. What was even the point of changing his expression if this was how he was going to act? Kang Chan worked out a bit, then headed to a BBQ restaurant with the kids. ¡°Sunbae-nim, when are you going to start attending the French cultural center?¡± one of the kids asked. ¡°Tomorrow.¡± ¡°Huh? Does that mean you won¡¯te to school anymore starting tomorrow?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The kids looked jealous and upset, but that didn¡¯t stop them from eating a lot of meat. Kang Chan parted ways with the kids in front of the school, then headed to the movie theater with Kim Mi-Young. The first movie they ever watched together was a romanticedy, but it wasn¡¯t that funny. They had patbingsu afterward. Before parting ways, Kang Chan asked her not to study so much that she¡¯d tire herself out. Kang Chan called Seok Kang-Ho before he went home. - Where are you? ¡°I¡¯m at the movie theater in Cheongdam-dong. You?¡± - I just left the school. Let¡¯s have a cup of coffee. ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Chan met Seok Kang-Ho at the specialty coffee shop in the intersection where he frequently saw him at. ¡°What were you up to?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I watched a movie.¡± ¡°Was it good? If it is, I¡¯ll watch it with my wife as well.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t if I were you. It¡¯s just about an idiot who keeps wavering because of a woman. He cried in the end, which made the girl fall in love again,¡± Kang Chan said. He then shook his head. ¡°Ah! I got a call from the real estate agency. Thursday is the auction day. They also said that they¡¯ll give us some discount on the property lien if we want,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Forget about it. If we get involved with those fuckers that way again, it¡¯ll just tire us out.¡± Seok Kang-Ho smacked his lips, perhaps because he still couldn¡¯t give up the building since he was the one who showed it to Kang Chan. Even if so, Kang Chan would never change his mind. ¡°Have you heard anything from Smithen?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°No. Since we have made up our minds to kill Yang Jin-Woo anyway, let¡¯s take our time nning it out.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°Now, then. Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho headed home, ending Kang Chan¡¯s Monday in a good mood. *** Tuesday. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook had gone to work when Kang Chan received a call from Lanok to tell him that they should meet at the hotel after lunch. Kang Chan had been meaning to meet him anyway to thank him for the eptance letter and discuss their schedule on Wednesday and Thursday. They decided to meet at 2 pm. Kang Chan thought about having a sandwich for lunch, so he went to the hotel a bit earlier. He was already sitting in the lobby by 1 pm. Just as he was ordering coffee and a sandwich, Joo Chul-Bum appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Are you having lunch here?¡± Joo Chul-Bum asked. ¡°Yes. I have an appointment at 2 pm. Just likest time, I¡¯ll be using a room, so prepare one for me.¡± ¡°Understood, hyung-nim.¡± Joo Chul-Bum went to the front desk. Kang Chan took his time finishing his sandwich. He then looked all around him while drinking coffee, but he didn¡¯t find Lee Ji-Yeon. ¡°Here is the key to the room,¡± Joo Chul-Bum brought over a card key. It was around 1:40 pm when Kang Chan thanked him and received it. After about fifteen minutes, Lanok arrived at the hotel. Chapter 102.2: Die or Kill Someone (1)

Chapter 102.2: Die or Kill Someone (1)

Once Lanok arrived at the hotel, he and Kang Chan headed up to the hotel room. The first thing Kang Chan did was thank him for the eptance letter. Having sat infort, they started smoking and drinking tea. However, Lanok brought up something unexpected. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, if youe out to the venue tomorrow, Louis will hand over a pistol to you.¡± ¡°A pistol?¡± ¡°The Intelligence Bureaus¡¯ heads have all decided to guard themselves. Likewise, my friends and I are nning to put our security in your hands. All five of my friends that you met at Loriam have agreed to this.¡± Kang Chan was confused. Why did he have to do this? ¡°Mr. Ambassador, from my understanding, doing the meetings in South Korea means that you¡¯re entrusting your safety and the way things will proceed to the South Korean government. Are you asking for a separate security detail?¡± ¡°Officially, that¡¯s how it would go. However, meetings with the heads of the Intelligence Bureaus aren¡¯t that easy. That¡¯s why my friends and I are asking you to take responsibility for our security,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Think about the agents¡¯ pride.¡± Lanok nced inside the room and nodded. ¡°Louis has rmended you. He said he isn¡¯t sure how it would go if you were only guarding me, but no one is better than you when ites to security and managing even the agents of the other Intelligence Bureaus.¡± Kang Chan sighed quietly. All he ever had to think of for the past two days was seeing familiar faces. Now, he suddenly had work to do¡ªone that was going to put a lot of pressure on him, no less. ¡°If I and my friends give you leadership over the agents, then even the heads of the Intelligence Bureaus of Russia and the other countries will have no choice but to follow. Although you¡¯re rumored to be an agent I and the South Korean government created, it will still be better for everyone to have a South Korean agent in control of the situation,¡± Lanok added. Kang Chan felt bitter. Controlling the agents was totally different from being inbat. Although Kang Chan had experience patrolling the outer perimeters and escorting people at close range, professional security details were still different. ¡°We n to hold the event at one of the international building and international hotel. The exact schedule will be released on Wednesday morning. It¡¯s best to keep that in mind.¡± Lanok spoke as if everything had actually been confirmed. ¡°The thirty-fifth brigade and the Korean 606 will be in charge of guarding the outer perimeter. I heard that the National Intelligence Service will oversee general security, and the presidential security service will handle close-range security. Ah, that¡¯s just for the official meeting. Guards are not allowed during the unofficial meeting except at the outer perimeters. It¡¯s a distinct characteristic of the meetings involving the heads of Intelligence Bureaus,¡± Lanok continued. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. There was no way that this sly and wily person would call anyone for no reason. Kang Chan thought Lanok had something in mind that required making him represent their security. ¡°Will you take on the role?¡± Lanok asked. It was difficult for Kang Chan to decline right now, considering Lanok was asking him so seriously. ¡°I will, Mr. Ambassador, but is there another reason you¡¯re telling me something this the day before the event?¡± Lanok smiled as if he didn¡¯t expect such a question. There was certainly something that he didn¡¯t tell Kang Chan. ¡°One of the Intelligence Bureau¡¯s heads will likely seek asylum. If they do, the worst-case scenario will be a gunfight urring. We need a person that can exin the situation to the presidential security office and the South Korean National Intelligence Service and make them understand it immediately, and no one fits such a job as well as you do.¡± See? Although Lanok kept telling him good things in the beginning, he was clearly hiding something. ¡°Can I tell the National Intelligence Service about this?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You can¡¯t, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Lanok adamantly shook his head. ¡°If evidence is found that the South Korean government prepared for such a situation, the people concerned will certainly be killed. That¡¯s how Intelligence Bureaus normally operate. Moreover, there¡¯s a chance nobody will actually seek asylum, so it would be best for you to be the only one to know about this.¡± Damn it! I shouldn¡¯t have asked?the?real reason why I had to take this role. ¡°Come to the embassy at 10 am tomorrow. We can head out together. I prepared everything¡ªfrom your suit to your equipment¡ªso all you have to prepare is yourself,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Understood, Mr. Ambassador. I¡¯ll get the schedule at that time as well, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Now that Kang Chan had decided to help Lanok, he decided to do it properly since there was actually something that he wanted from Lanok as well. ¡°What are you nning on doing to WuYang Jin-Woo?¡± Lanok asked, almost as if he read Kang Chan¡¯s mind, ¡°I¡¯m nning to wait for an opportunity until the end of this month, and if I don¡¯t get any, I¡¯ll probably get help from France¡¯s DGSE. I¡¯m thinking of using a satellite to track his location, then kill him when he¡¯s staying out overnight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s certainly possible to cooperate with the DGSE to execute that n.¡± The DGSE had no reservations when it came to assassinations as well. ustomed to such things, Lanok had no qualms with Kang Chan¡¯s intentions at all. ¡°He will be a huge and recurring burden to South Korea, and we still have no idea what his ns are even though the Eurasian rail has already been announced. That¡¯s why taking this opportunity to remove him isn¡¯t such a bad idea,¡± Lanok said, then lifted his cup of tea. However, he suddenly looked at Kang Chan as if he just thought of something. ¡°WuYang Jin-Woo is a pervert¡ªa pedophile. If he can¡¯t satisfy that desire, he would rape a very young-looking female employee. He has shown extreme tendencies multiple times before whenever he can¡¯t satiate his carnal desires. It would be beneficial for you to use this information in the future.¡± ¡°You investigated him that deeply?¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, we investigate almost everyone that¡¯s in the top 0.1% in more than the one hundred thirty countries that we¡¯repeting with. Even my country confidently remembers WuYang Jeon-Woo because he satisfies his perversion by periodically going out to Africa and Southeast Asia.¡± That son of a bitch really was going around shaming the country. ¡°WuYang Jeon-Woo can lose his position because of the operation in Mongolia and the announcement of the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project. Just watching someone that dangerous isn¡¯t wise, which is why I¡¯m supporting your n,¡± Lanok added. Kang Chan felt bitter, but he already nned to twist Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s neck anyway for Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, there¡¯s something that makes me curious.¡± ¡°Go on. I don¡¯t keep secrets from my friends.¡± What he said was just as unreliable as Kang Chan saying that he learned French on the inte, so he just decided to ask what he was curious about. ¡°Is there another reason why you¡¯re insisting on doing the announcement of the Eurasian rail in South Korea?¡± For his own sake, Kang Chan would never say something like this ever again just to benefit the position of the South Korean government. ¡°Hmm, there are two, actually. The first reason is to send a strong warning to China, Japan, and North Korea, and the second is to figure out what the United States and the United Kingdom. are doing.¡± ¡°The United States and the United Kingdom?¡± ¡°I already told you this before, but we¡¯re trying to figure out why the United Kingdom is looking for the ckhead, why Shan still hasn¡¯t given up hope, and what rtion Shan has to the ckhead. Moreover, the United States is silently watching the United Kingdom while also searching for the ckhead through a different organization. Why do you think they¡¯re doing that, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Why do you think the United Kingdom and the United States are persistently trying to find a diamond even though the international economic power and roles they''ve been maintaining until now are about to be taken away by France and Russia?¡± Would I be asking if I knew? ¡°I¡¯m not sure?¡± Kang Chan asked. It was something that was difficult for Kang Chan to even guess. ¡°The key is going to be in you¡­ if you believe that a person can die and reincarnate into a different person¡¯s body, that is. The United States and the United Kingdom can¡¯t take that into ount. That¡¯s only natural, though, considering it took even me a considerable amount of time to be convinced about it as well.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s question ended in vain. The only thing he got out of it was a headache. He decided to just think about tomorrow¡¯s schedule. ¡°Once the Eurasian rail is announced, the United Kingdom and the United States are going to start making moves in full swing,¡± Lanok added. Why would Kang Chan pay attention to the United States and even the United Kingdom when he wasn¡¯t even an international figure? Kang Chan drank tea to get rid of hisplicated thoughts. ¡°Do you really not want to be naturalized in France?¡± Lanok asked. Lanok had said quite a lot of things today that Kang Chan hadn¡¯t even thought about. ¡°South Korea is a cramped ce to stay in for someone who possesses abilities like yours,¡± Lanok continued. ¡°Are you telling me to join the Foreign Legion?¡± ¡°No way,¡± Lanok said andughed, seemingly amused. ¡°I¡¯m just asking because I think it would be in your best interest to do work that is a bit more active. Honestly, I want to turn you into a powerful person in the DGSE.¡± Kang Chan shook his head while smiling lightly. He didn¡¯t want to live the rest of his life worrying about a bullet flying at him at any moment. ¡°I can¡¯t help but wonder what you would have been like if you had just a little bit more ambition or greed,¡± Lanok added. ¡°If I was like that, you wouldn¡¯t have epted me as your friend.¡± ¡°Do you really think so?¡± The two gave knowing smiles, then stood up from their spots. ¡°I¡¯ll see you at 10 am tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I¡¯ll send a car to your apartment. Be out at front by 9:10 am.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just go there by taxi.¡± ¡°The weight that you¡¯re carrying in this event isn¡¯t light. Respectful treatment like that is a matter of course.¡± Kang Chan couldn''t refuse anymore when Lanok insisted. Kang Chan sent off Lanok to the basement parking lot after they left the hotel room. Since the announcement was right around the corner, they entered and left the hotel using different entry points as a precaution. Did I take on an unnecessary job? There was no point in regretting it now. It had already been decided, so there was nothing he could do about it. Kang Chan took the elevator up to the first floor so he could take a taxi home. As he headed toward the exit, he walked past the front desk and the lobby to the ride. ncing into the lobby, he saw Lee Ji-Yeon. She had her hands politely sped in front of her as she listened to what the female manager was telling her. Was shete? Or did she go absent from work without prior notice? She looked very haggard, but everyone was going through their own situations. Kang Chan didn¡¯t have to know about all of them. The moment Kang Chan turned his head toward the entrance¡­ the man standing beside the entrance suddenly caught his attention. ¡®Who¡¯s that fucker?¡¯ The man felt intense. It would be ridiculous to think such a person was just an ordinary civilian. The look in his eyes was different. Kang Chan quickly examined the guy. ¡®Serpent Venimeux?¡¯ He was Asian and had the head of a snake tattooed on his left hand¡ªthe Serpent Venimeux had agreed to get rid of it because it was too eye-catching, but it held its ground because it was tradition. ¡®What is that fucker waiting for, though?¡¯ The man was looking at the lobby. Considering he came here from France, he probably wasn¡¯t doing that because he didn¡¯t have enough money to buy coffee. ¡®Does he have a crush on someone in the lobby?¡¯ Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk. That was nonsense. ¡®Ah! That fucker is fucking bothering me.¡¯ While Kang Chan was shaking off his annoyance, Lee Ji-Yeon headed out of the lobby. The man¡¯s eyes followed her. 1. Korean 606 is a military division that the author has created for this novel. 2. Lanok pronounced Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s name incorrectly here, probably with a French ent Chapter 103.1: Die or Kill Someone (2)

Chapter 103.1: Die or Kill Someone (2)

Honestly, it would¡¯ve been possible that the man liked Lee Ji-Yeon if she were attractive enough for her to really stand out. However, she was skinny and looked so young she would seem like a child at first nce. Actually, considering Cha So-Yeon and Cho Se-Ho were dating, could it be possible? At any rate, the guy at least seemed to be clearly following Lee Ji-Yeon when she headed to the entrance. Damn it! The Serpent Venimeux wouldn¡¯t follow Lee Ji-Yeon just because they were bored. Kang Chan ended up trailing the man. Considering she had left the hotel and was walking outside, Lee Ji-Yeon was probably going to take the bus. ¡°Miss Lee Ji-Yeon!¡± Kang Chan called out. Son of a bitch! He would¡¯ve been surprised. Startled, Lee Ji-Yeon turned around to look behind her. She momentarily nked out, but she soon urgently bowed her head. Why does she look like that? ¡°Hello?¡± Lee Ji-Yeon¡¯s face was thin, and she looked at Kang Chan with frightened eyes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you working today?¡± Lee Ji-Yeon hesitantly approached Kang Chan. She probably thought of him as a gang leader because of how Joo Chul-Bum treated him and the things that the female manager likely told her. ¡°Uh, I came here to inform the hotel that I won¡¯t be able toe to work.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan carefully looked at her. ¡°My family¡¯s going through something bad.¡± All Kang Chan could do was nod to matters like this. He couldn¡¯t just ask her questions like ¡®What exactly is happening?¡¯ and ¡®What¡¯s wrong?¡¯ After all, he had made her stop walking in the middle of the street even though he wasn¡¯t a stalker. However, he still had to look into why the Serpent Venimeux was following her around. ¡°Where do you live?¡± ¡°At Sanggye-Dong.¡± Kang Chan suddenly thought of an amazing idea. ¡°This is good¡ªI¡¯m headed there as well, so let¡¯s go take a taxi together. Going there alone would be boring.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not going home right now, sir.¡± Damn it! Now I have to go to Sanggye-Dong for no reason. While Lee Ji-Yeon was looking at Kang Chan, who was at a loss for words, she said goodbye and bowed her head, implying that she was leaving. ¡°Where are you going now?¡± Kang Chan prodded further. The doorman at the entrance looked at Lee Ji-Yeon as if he felt bad for her. It definitely looked as if Kang Chan was flirting with a powerless female employee. ¡°I¡¯m going to Suh Jeong¡¯spany building at Teheran-ro.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m protesting alone because my unnie died unjustly,¡± Lee Ji-Yeon replied daringly, perhaps because she didn¡¯t like how Kang Chan kept bothering her. She then dropped her gaze, seemingly realizing she was a bit too bold. She was protesting alone? At thepany building of Suh Jeong? ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say this, but can you spare me some of your time?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Sir, please just let me go.¡± Kang Chan could feel people looking at him, but that wasn¡¯t important right now. ¡°I just think I might be able to help you. It¡¯ll only take a minute.¡± Lee Ji-Yeon looked hesitant, but she answered with an ¡°alright¡± a momentter. ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡± Kang Chan looked at the Serpent Venimeux member, who was reflected on the ss, as he walked through the entrance. He had to be in an awkward position. Kang Chan entered the lobby, and the female manager came toward them as she nced at Lee Ji-Yeon, seemingly confused about what was going on. ¡°I¡¯m here to have a cup of coffee,¡± Kang Chan told the manager. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Please call Joo Chul-Bum over for a moment.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Kang Chan rmended a seat to Lee Ji-Yeon, then sat across from her. ¡°Do you want to drink something?¡± Kang Chnan asked. ¡°I¡¯ll drink coffee.¡± As Kang Chan ordered two cups of coffee, Joo Chul-Bum approached them. ¡°You were looking for me?¡± Joo Chul-Bum asked while ncing at Lee Ji-Yeon. For some reason, it sounded as if he was asking ¡®Did this bitch do something wrong?¡¯ Kang Chan even saw Lee Ji-Yeon flinch. ¡°Have a seat.¡± ¡°Alright, hyung-nim.¡± Kang Chan got very annoyed because he called him hyung-nim, but that wasn¡¯t important right now. ¡°Listen, and don¡¯t look behind you.¡± ¡°Yes, hyung-nim.¡± Joo Chul-Bum brought his head closer to Kang Chan. ¡°A member of the French gang Serpent Venimeux is on the sofa on the opposite side of the lobby. I¡¯m going to talk to that fucker and take him to your office. You remember the room that I smoked a cigarette inst time, right? Empty that room, and¡ªdon¡¯t look behind you!¡± Joo Chul-Bum was about to turn his head, but he flinched. ¡°I¡¯m going to beat him up if he defies me, so clean up the mess.¡± ¡°Understood, hyung-nim. I¡¯ll be waiting in front of the front desk, then.¡± Joo Chul-Bum stood up and walked toward the front desk. Kang Chan spoke to Lee Ji-Yeon again. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but someone is trailing you. That¡¯s why I called you. If your¡­ unnie? You said that she was your unnie, right? If she died unjustly, then I can probably help you, so let¡¯s talk after I take care of that man. Will that be okay?¡± Having heard Kang Chan¡¯s conversation with Joo Chul-Bum, Lee Ji-Yeon¡¯s eyes widened in shock when she learned someone was trailing her. ¡°Yes.¡± An employee approached them and ced coffees in front of Kang Chan and Lee Ji-Yeon. Back when Kang Chan beat up and caught Shan, the Serpent Venimeux told him that they owed him a favor, but he didn¡¯t save their number. Rather than dealing with this using troublesome means, it was better to just use his name. Kang Chan checked one more thing before he stood up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to ask, but can you think of any reason why someone would tail you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lee Ji-Yeon shook her head, but she seemed to have suddenly remembered something. ¡°Would someone tail me because I protested in front of the Suh Jeongpany building?¡± ¡°An organization like Suh Jeong will find it difficult to make a move because of something like that.¡± ¡°I see.¡± After getting an answer, Kang Chan immediately stood up and approached the gang member. What a fucking child. He was pretending not to know Kang Chan even though they both knew each other. ¡°Serpent Venimeux, let me ask you for a favor,¡± As Kang Chan spoke in Fre, the gang member sharply red at him. ¡°I don¡¯t know who it was, but someone from the Serpent Venimeux told me they would do me a favor if I say my name. Call your superiors for me.¡± ¡°You seem aware of our organization. If so, then are you not aware of the horrible oue that this act of yours will bring?¡± Kang Chan looked straight into the gang member¡¯s eyes while smirking. ¡°Why don''t you behave while I''m being polite? Otherwise, you''ll end up like the ones who came before you, which means you¡¯ll be leaving this ce with broken limbs.¡± The gang member, who appeared to be around his early thirties, cocked his head. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°God of ckfield.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± the man asked after they bluntly answered each other¡¯s questions. ¡°Tell me why you¡¯re following that woman around.¡± Doubt shed across the gang member¡¯s eyes. He seemed to think, ¡®Can I do that?¡¯ ¡°There¡¯s a quiet office inside this hotel. Why don¡¯t we talk there over a cigarette?¡± Kang Chan offered. When Kang Chan nodded toward the office, the gang member stood up as if he had no other choice. Bam!? However, in an instant, the gang member closed in on Kang Chan and tried to stab his eyes. Bam! Pow! Pow! Pow! Kang Chan swatted away his hand and hit his neck, the pit of his stomach, and his armpit with all his might. ¡°Kyaak!¡± someone screamed. As Joo Chul-Bum came over, Kang Chan draped the gang member¡¯s arm over his shoulder. The employee at the front desk and the employees in the lounge immediately headed to themotion and reassured the customers. Meanwhile, Kang Chan saw Lee Ji-Yeon looking at them with a surprised and scared expression. ¡°Miss Manager, please tell Miss Lee Ji-Yeon to wait for me.¡± ¡°As you wish, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan quickly headed to Joo Chul-Bum¡¯s office. ¡°It¡¯s this one, hyung-nim.¡± Joo Chul-Bum opened the door slightly and waited for Kang Chan to enter. ¡°Bring over coffee and an ashtray,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Okay, hyung-nim.¡± Joo Chul-Bum had left by the time the gang member lying on the sofa briefly tousled his hair while frowning. He seemed to being to his senses. ¡°I will only cut you some ck once. If you do something unnecessary again, I¡¯ll break your arm. You better keep that in mind,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Ugh, so you¡¯re doing this despite knowing who we are?¡± ¡°Why were you following Lee Ji-Yeon?¡± Kang Chan took out a cigarette and handed it over to the gang member. When the gang member took it obediently, Kang Chan took out a lighter and lit up the gang member¡¯s cigarette and the one Kang Chan was biting. ¡°Can I make a call before I give you an answer?¡± the gang member asked. ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± As the gang member took out his phone and called someone, Joo Chul-Bum brought over two cups of coffee and ced it on the table. ¡°You can stay outside. I¡¯ll be heading to the lobby as soon as this ends anyway,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright, hyung-nim.¡± The gang member exined the situation to someone on the phone. When the call ended, he put his phone on top of the table. ¡°I was told that they¡¯ll check and call back within five minutes,¡± the gang member told Kang Chan. ¡°Have some coffee.¡± The gang member silently massaged his neck and his side while ring at the coffee that Kang Chan had pointed to. Five minutes passed ufortably. Neither of them said a word. It would be alright even if nobody called back. After all, Kang Chan had at least confirmed that they were following Lee Ji-Yeon. Hence, he was thinking of making it impossible for the gang member to keep following her. If he had to, he would even break one of his arms. Kang Chan was leaning back against the sofa and lighting up his second cigarette when the gang member¡¯s phone rang. He said ¡°oui¡± about three times, then held out his phone to Kang Chan. ¡°Ello,¡± Kang Chan answered the phone while looking at the man sitting in front of him. - It¡¯s been a long time since we talked. The man¡¯s voice was insidious enough for Kang Chan to clearly remember the one phone call he had with him. - I did say that I¡¯ll do you a favor if you ask for it using your name. What do you want, God of ckfield? Thinking he wanted to p the caller¡¯s face just once someday, Kang Chan answered, ¡°Why is this man in front of me following a woman? Is it rted to Yang Jin-Woo?¡± A short silence came from the other end of the line, but he soon got an answer. - Hey. How close are you to Lanok? Kang Chan told him to answer, but the caller asked a question instead. From his voice, Kang Chan felt as if he was strangely looking forward to his answer. ¡°He calls me his friend.¡± - A friend of Lanok¡­ He sounded worried, but it was difficult for Kang Chan to know what the guy was worried about. - There¡¯s something called luck in life. Luck always offers opportunities. The ones who seed are those who know how to quickly take that opportunity, and the ones who fail are the idiots who blow it away out of stubbornness and reckless bravado. ¡°I wish you¡¯d stop the life lesson now and just answer my question.¡± Kang Chan heard the callerughing out loud when he said that. - It would be difficult for us to be enemies with Lanok. If you promise to keep the Serpent Venimeux out of what will happen afterward with the information that I give you today, then I¡¯ll give you valuable information. Kang Chan nced at the man sitting across from him, finding him still massaging his neck. Kang Chan only asked him why he was following Lee Ji-Yeon, so he naturally got suspicious of why Lanok was mentioned and why the guy on the phone was asking to leave out the Serpent Venimeux from this, which was something difficult. - We received thirteen million euros from WuYang Jeon-Woo. How much is that? Twenty billion won? It has to be around that much.? He was using such arge sum of money just to follow Lee Ji-Yeon around? - The man in front of you is Phillip. Excluding him, we have recently sent over four people to South Korea and handed over a total of one hundred pounds of C4 to WuYang Jun-Woo. Kang Chan¡¯s mind momentarily nked out. Damn it! That crazy son of a bitch! One pound of C4 was 1.3 times stronger than a grenade. The bomb could be transformed into any shape like y, so detectors also had trouble finding it. If they were all detonated at the same time¡­ An entire floor of the international building would explode and disintegrate. 1. Sanggye-dong is a neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea Chapter 103.2: Die or Kill Someone (2)

Chapter 103.2: Die or Kill Someone (2)

Kang Chan was shocked to hear about how much C4 was there. ¡°Who is it? Tell me exactly who you guys handed the C4 over to so I¡¯ll have something to say to Lanok.¡± - Whoa! Calm down. I said calm down, my friend. If this guy were near Kang Chan, Kang Chan would have already broken his arm or ruptured his eyeball. - We don¡¯t reveal the person directly concerned about things like this. I just did business, and I betted on your luck while risking my loyalty. I already told you this much, so you should be able to solve the rest. Kang Chan took a deep breath. Since the event hadn¡¯t started yet, what the caller was saying also made sense. If they used bomb detection dogs, they might be able to find it immediately because of the nauseating stic smell of the C4. It had a fishy smell as well. - It seems like the sister of the woman Phillip has been following knew about it. Since she could¡¯ve ced evidence of that anywhere in her house, we were thinking of finding them. ¡°Were you the ones who killed her as well?¡± . - That was of course part of the contract. The woman was already dead when we arrived, though. Kang Chan felt as if he had to act quickly. It was a hundred pounds of C4. Even if they were to start looking for it now with eyes zing with fury, they still wouldn¡¯t have much time before the event tomorrow morning. Ten pounds of C4 was approximately four and a half kilograms. Unless a bomb detection dog went into the venue, if just five people ced the C4 around their waists and pressed a switch, the explosion would be powerful enough to guarantee the deaths of everyone in attendance. Yang Jin-Woo! You crazy fucking son of a bitch! - Please pass on our sincerity to Lanok. ¡°How about you guys stop following that woman around starting today?¡± - What¡¯s the point of following her when we have already gotten caught? Put Phillip on the phone. Oh! And¡­ Kang Chan cocked his head. - I wish you luck, my friend. Son of a bitch. How could he say that after selling that many bombs? Kang Chan handed over the phone to Phillip. The gang member answered twice, then dropped the phone call. Looking dissatisfied, he stood up. He had no business here now. However, just as Kang Chan turned toward the door¡­ Whish. The gang member whipped out his hand. Bam. Kang Chan grabbed the gang member¡¯s wrist with his right hand. He then twisted it and hooked his own left hand around the gang member¡¯sr elbow. What an idiot. He¡¯s surprised even though he¡¯s the one who attacked first! Crack. ¡°Urgh!¡± This was what happened if people acted based on their useless pride. As Kang Chan opened the door and walked out of the office, he heard the gang member swearing in French while sobbing inside. Kang Chan opened the door in the hallway, finding Joo Chul-Bum waiting for him. ¡°I broke the man¡¯s arm. Send him to the hospital and end things there. Don¡¯t pay for his medical expenses,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Understood, hyung-nim.¡± As Kang Chan was headed to the lobby, he immediately called Kim Hyung-Jung. - Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Mr. Manager, I was told that Yang Jin-Woo has brought in a hundred pounds of C4. The seller is the French gang Serpent Venimeux. There might be evidence, so I¡¯ll go to look for that for now. - Mr. Kang Chan, did you just say a hundred pounds of C4? Kim Hyung-Jung naturally sounded as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. ¡°It would be difficult to get more details, so please just figure out if there¡¯s anything weird around Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s surroundings for now and check if anyone like Yoon Bong-Sup has returned from a foreign country or received cargo by ship or ne. I heard two of them are now here. I¡¯ve broken the arm of a Serpent Venimeux member in the Namsan Hotel just now, and I was told that four more people aside from him hade into the country, so please check the list of names that have entered the country as well. I was told that the man whose arm I broke is called Phillip.¡± - Just a moment! Just a moment, Mr. Kang Chan. Kim Hyung-Jung called Kang Chan, perhaps because Kang Chan spoke so quickly. ¡°Mr. Manager, please start looking into it for now. Let¡¯s talk again once we have the results.¡± Kang Chan entered the lobby, approached, Lee Ji-Yeon, and sat down. ¡°Who was that man from a moment ago?¡± Lee Ji-Yeon asked. She looked flustered. It was difficult to be honest in situations like this. ¡°We handed him over to the police, so we should find out once they have investigated him.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Lee Ji-Yeon answered and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to ask this, but you¡¯re saying that your unnie died unjustly, but the police concluded that shemitted suicide, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes.¡± With fidgety fingers and her head down, Lee Ji-Yeon started to tell Kang Chan about her life. There were three people in her family: their single mother, her unnie Lee Ji-Eun, and Lee Ji-Yeon. Her unnie was three years older than Lee Ji-Yeon. She was specially appointed to the Chairman¡¯s secretary¡¯s office because she caught the attention of Cho Il-Kwon, the chief secretary, while he was inspecting one of the subsidiaries of Suh Jeong Motors. However, shemitted suicide not even a month since she started working there. Lee Ji-Eun did have a hard time when she started to work in the Chairman¡¯s secretary¡¯s office, but Lee Ji-Yeon had never even heard of her being depressed. Lee Ji-Yeon also told Kang Chan that recently, her unnie told her that she was just going to work at the Chairman¡¯s secretary¡¯s office until she got a job with a full-time position and that she was already looking for another job. However, despite being so determined, Lee Ji-Eunmitted suicide. As Kang Chan was looking at Lee Ji-Yeon¡¯s worn-out sneakers, jeans, and her stretched-out cotton shirt, he suddenly remembered something. ¡°Does your unnie also look young like you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes. She actually looked even younger than me.¡± Could it be? That can¡¯t be, right? Frowning, Kang Chan looked outside the window. What Lanok had told him crossed his mind. If he had killed that son of a bitch just a bit more quickly, this would have been prevented. Kang Chan should have run over to Yang Jin-Woo after beating up Cho Il-Kwon. He collected himself for now. ¡°Do you have something that you can submit as evidence?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I have my unnie¡¯s notes.¡± ¡°Notes? What do they say?¡± ¡°Things like, ¡®I need to endure everything for my mom and sister,¡¯ and, ¡®I figured out a scary fact.¡¯ My unnie was never the type tomit suicide.¡± ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying. Anyway, I¡¯ll contact youter. Go home for now and make sure to keep the notes safe. Oh, one more thing. Don¡¯t ever visit the Suh Jeongpany building for now.¡± Lee Ji-Yeon seemed to suspect something when she raised her head. Looking into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes, she answered, ¡°Alright.¡± After sending Lee Ji-Yeon home, Kang Chan sat back down his seat earlier. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Kang Chan held up his phone, which was ringing. It was Lanok. If Lanok didn¡¯t call him, Kang Chan would¡¯ve been the one to call. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, have you been to the United States recently, by any chance? Why is he spouting?nonsense?this urgently? ¡°That¡¯s impossible. You¡¯re also quite aware of my schedule, aren¡¯t you? - That¡¯s weird. The United States¡¯ Intelligence Agency seems certain that someone rted to the ckhead is in South Korea. Your name was even mentioned. I can¡¯t figure out who handed information that even France¡¯s DGSE doesn¡¯t know over to the United States. Do you have any guesses? ¡°I really don¡¯t know. That aside, Mr. Ambassador, I met the Serpent Venimeux earlier in the day at the Namsan Hotel.¡± Kang Chan told Lanok about the C-4 that had been brought into the country. - I can¡¯t believe they would leak out information again after selling everything that they could. As expected, they¡¯re cunning. They always get away with things by doing things like this. If it wasn¡¯t for you, they would¡¯ve made the same offer to the DGSE. The Serpent Venimeux are known to specialize in trading with matters rted to weapons and drugs. This sly person was still spouting nonsense even though there was a bomb that could explode in the event at any given moment? - Mr. Kang Chan, if we think about how important the Eurasian rail announcement is, then your discovery is just a part of it. The DGSE has discovered and removed three terror organizations so far. Moreover, Ludwig and his people have also blockaded two locations. Vant has done the same. Kang Chan suddenly felt drained. All the tension seemed to have left him while listening to Lanok. - The reason we didn¡¯t discover those bombs even though the Serpent Venimeux did something like that is that the DGSE and all of the Intelligence Bureaus of Europe are focused on preventing terror attacks. This announcement is that important. After hearing Kang Chan sigh, Lanok exined the situation to him as if he was teaching someone who would be doing things like this often in the future. - With that being the case, our problem now is figuring out how the United States even knew your name. You sly person! That¡¯s not important right now! We have a hundred pounds of C4 on the loose in South Korea! ¡°Mr. Ambassador! I requested a biopsy in the past when I learned that I have a physical constitution so rare it¡¯s in the top one percent in the world. I don¡¯t know if the samples were sent to the United States, but I¡¯ve sent some overseas.¡± - Oh no! Lanok sighed, disappointed. - Understood, Mr. Kang Chan. Since we have an outline of the situation for now, I¡¯ll have to sabotage them as much as I can and find out what they really want. Please keep this in mind¡ªnow that the United States knows about you, the United Kingdom will also find out within a week. Considering you already know about it, what does that make you? - France''s DGSE is ahead of them by about a week. In this world of information, that¡¯s a tremendous amount of time. Lanok¡¯s answer made it seem as if he read Kang Chan¡¯s mind. It made Kang Chan look around his surroundings. - In any case, let¡¯s discuss the rest tomorrow in person. The call ended. Did that sly person really just think such an enormous bomb was something that could just be discussed tomorrow? As Kang Chan sighed, the female manager approached him in a sophisticated manner and changed his coffee to a new one. Chapter 104.1: Did people really need to do this? (1)

Chapter 104.1: Did people really need to do this? (1)

Feeling calmer when he had a sip of the fresh coffee that the female manager had brought over, Kang Chan made the phone call that he had to put off for a moment. - Mr. Kang Chan. Kim Hyung-Jung sounded as if he was in a rush. - I checked, but we haven¡¯t found anything yet. The National Intelligence Service¡¯s branch in the airport¡¯s customs in the National Intelligence Service are immediately deporting suspicious arrivals right now, and we have also gotten a report about the movements of the people on the cklist of the National Police Agency¡¯s foreign affairs division. However, we haven¡¯t noticed anything strange so far. Are you sure that the information is trustworthy? Kang Chan briefly exined what he had talked about with Lanok. - We have also figured out three different ways that Europe will act. The problem is that we can¡¯t figure out the circumstances around the C-4 and the circumstances around the enemies being smuggled into the country. ¡°Mr. Manager, I¡¯m sorry for the trouble, but can you include Seok Kang-Ho among the security guards for tomorrow? He¡¯ll have weapons for protecting people at close range. I would also like to see the security n if you have ess to it.¡± - I can¡¯t make a decision about this on my own since this concerns the president¡¯s security service, so I¡¯ll contact you as soon as I have spoken to the director. After dropping the call, Kang Chan leaned toward the window. The attack had already happened. He thought that they could finally put a stop to Yang Jin-Woo with the event tomorrow. A momentter, Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang. - Mr. Kang Chan, the Director has granted me permission to support you in any way you please. Fortunately, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho has the qualifications of an agent. If he has any pistol preferences, I¡¯ll be sure to get it. ¡°He would want two pistols¡ªthe Beretta M9 and the Glock 19. He will also need four mags and a walkie-talkie. That should be enough.¡± - Mr. Seok Kang-Ho will be using all of that? ¡°Yes. Lanok said that he¡¯ll prepare weapons for me, so I¡¯ll get my weapons from him. Prepare two bays as well, please. I want to secure them on my ankle.¡± - Understood. Regarding the security n, you may only see it in the office in Samseong-dong. ¡°I¡¯m currently at the Namsan Hotel, but I¡¯ll head there now. Is that okay?¡± - Of course. I¡¯ll call Mr. Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan hung up and looked at the time. It was 5:30 pm. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh. What kind of life was this? Why didn''t he have any days that didn¡¯t require him to have a weapon in hand? Was it really true that Yoo Hun-Woo had requested a biopsy to be done in the United States? Kang Chan went out of the hotel and got in a taxi. As they left, he called Yoo Hun-Woo. - Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯m out at a gathering right now, so it will take about an hour for me to get to the hospital. Are you severely wounded? ¡°I¡¯m not wounded, Mr. Director. I called you because I want to ask you something.¡± - You¡¯re not wounded? Kang Chan smirked because Yoo Hun-Woo sounded disappointed. ¡°It¡¯s about the biopsy we talked about a while ago. Did you request that to be done in the United States, by any chance?¡± - Yes. I sent it to the Sampleton Research Institute in Washington. It¡¯s the most prestigious research institute in the world, so we can trust its findings, regardless of what it says. Damn it! Lanok was right! - Why do you ask? What is this about? ¡°I was just curious if you identally sent it somewhere inappropriate.¡± - Their services are expensive, but they¡¯re trustworthy. Yoo Hun-Woo quietlyughed. ¡°I just used that as an excuse to call you. I just wanted to talk with you for a bit.¡± After they exchanged a few more words, Kang Chan hung up. The taxi came across traffic when they passed the Hannam Bridge, forcing them to slow down. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? ¡°Hello?¡± - It¡¯s Seok Kang-Ho. What¡¯s going on? Manager Kim asked me toe, but he sounded strange. ¡°It¡¯s not something we can talk about over the phone, so let¡¯s meet up first. Can youe?¡± - I¡¯m on my way to Samseong-dong right now. Have you had dinner yet? ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± - Great. Come over and let¡¯s eat together. Kang Chan hung up the phone. Twenty minutester, he arrived in Samseong-dong. He went up to the fifth floor. When Kim Hyung-Jung opened the door, they headed straight to his room. ¡°Wee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho greeted Kang Chan with a grave expression, perhaps because he had heard what was going on. After they ordered three bibimbap, Kang Chan told them everything, including his meeting with Lanok earlier in the day, the Serpent Venimeux incident, and what happened to Lee Ji-Yeon. He was already done talking when the food arrived. This neighborhood had a really fast delivery service. After their meal, which they finished in five minutes, Kim Hyung-Jung brought over and ced three drinks on the table. ¡°Let¡¯s go over the schedule first,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said, biting on a cigarette. He walked over to the desk, brought over a pile of documents and floor ns, and ced them on the table. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, please take a look at this. The ones marked with a ¡®V¡¯ are the segments of the event that the President is attending. Since the announcement will be made with the other countries, Ambassador Lanok is expected to announce it with everyone gathered around him.¡± Kang Chan skimmed through the entire schedule. It wasn¡¯t as tightly packed as he was expecting. ¡°Our problem lies in the private meetings that the heads of the other countries¡¯ Intelligence Bureaus hold among themselves in between the segments. They decide when to conduct those on the spot, making those moments especially bothersome when ites to guarding them.¡± ¡°I was told that they¡¯ll take care of their own security during those meetings,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°That¡¯s also driving us crazy. The building and the hotel we¡¯ll be using for the event use the same passage, so more than a hundred armed agents will be in the building next to the hotel. Some peopleined about it, but since we¡¯re very pressed for time and the announcement has a strong symbolic meaning, everyone just let it slide and epted it.¡± Kang Chan started to think that the other countries just passed the headache onto South Korea. Instead, he could feel his nervousness disappearing.. ¡°Mr. Manager, assuming the worst-case scenario happens and we find ourselves in the middle of a gunfight between the Intelligence Bureaus, what would your contingency measure be?¡± The room momentarily fell silent. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we assume the worst since all the foreign Intelligence Bureau agents will possess a gun? I¡¯m just curious about the standard procedure for situations like that.¡± ¡°Hmm, the security office will focus on guarding the VIPs, and the National Intelligence Service will step in to stop the gunfight. We will also deploy the 606 members to the scene.¡± ¡°Can C-4 be brought into the event?¡± Cocking his head, Kim Hyung-Jung spread out the floor n on the table. ¡°We had ced an inspection sign in the venttion, the joint, and all of the doors. The 606 have been stationed in those locations, and they¡¯re expected to remain on stand-by there until the event starts. That would make installing C-4s in the building difficult.¡± ¡°If so, then that means that they¡¯re going to bring in the C-4 in the middle of the event, right?¡± ¡°Assuming they do, they¡¯ll have trouble smuggling it in since the 606 members will be watching everyone for the next two days, including those working in the kitchen. All the attendees will also have to pass through security and bomb detection dogs.¡± ¡°Do we have the entire building under our control?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Unfortunately, that¡¯s impossible. If they didn¡¯t decide to hold this event on such short notice, we honestly wouldn¡¯t even have to prepare things separately like this. We wouldn¡¯t have even used one of the internationally owned buildings and hotels.¡± Kang Chan looked up from the map, his gazending on Hyung-Jung. ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t control all the people within the building. Even if we assume that we can somehow stop anything from happening on one floor, it''s basically impossible to contain any more than that. Plus¡­¡± Kim Hyung-Jung stopped and sighed mid-sentence. ¡°There¡¯s an unimaginable number of reporters interested in this event. ording to the press center, ny journalismpanies and nearly four hundred people have officially requested the right to cover this event already. Even variety programs are doing all sorts of lobbying to try and butt into covering this event in one way or another, so it¡¯s absolutely torturous.¡± ¡°It seems I epted a useless offer simply because I wasn¡¯t aware of things like this.¡± Kang Chan wasn¡¯t being sarcastic, but he didn¡¯t regret his decision either. ¡°That¡¯s not true, Mr. Kang Chan. You shouldn¡¯t think about things like that.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung leaned back against the chair and picked up a cigarette. ¡°Even though we weren¡¯t originally a part of the ¡®Unicorn¡¯ project, the announcement is an opportunity for South Korea to be properly recognized as one of the main contributors of the Eurasian rail along with Russia and France. That¡¯s why the government happily epted this offer despite all of the uncertain elements thate with this event.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung lit up the cigarette. Looking straight at Kang Chan, he then continued, ¡°The Director said a moment ago that he feels extremely apologetic for having to borrow your power for this event right after the operation in Mongolia. I feel the same way. You have no idea how thankful I am to you for seizing this opportunity. If the conference was done without South Korea, I would¡¯ve led the specialized team again so they would include us.¡± Kang Chan smirked. Seok Kang-Ho and even Kim Hyung-Jung smiled as well. ¡°Whoo! Let¡¯s sort things out one at a time for now, Mr. Manager,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°How should we do that?¡± Kang Chan began to reveal the ideas he had thought of. ¡°I¡¯ll take charge of Lanok¡¯s safety and the agents from the five countries. In the event of a gunfight against the Intelligence Bureaus¡¯ agents, I¡¯ll try to suppress them by myself first, and if that proves impossible, I¡¯ll request help. If that time everes, I need to have authority over the operation.¡± ¡°That¡¯spletely possible, considering even the Intelligence Bureaus¡¯ agents will be mixed in with everyone,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said while extinguishing the cigarette. ¡°Secondly, that operational authority will be a problem if the enemy manages to infiltrate the event or a bombing incident transpires. In such a situation, the foreign Intelligence Bureaus¡¯ agents will prove to be a problem as well. You need to choose someone to have the operational authority. Then, I think that I can tell the Intelligence Bureaus¡¯ agents that the person is going to take control.,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I¡¯ll discuss things with the Director at 10:00 am tomorrow. I¡¯ll give you a name after that. The Director will probably discuss it with the chief officer of security first before giving me an answer.¡± ¡°I think this should be enough. If we get into a gunfight with the Intelligence Bureaus¡¯ agents, make sure you stop at nothing to follow my decisions when ites to the deployment of foreign military strength.¡± ¡°Roger that. However, Mr. Kang Chan¡­¡± Kim Hyung-Jung hesitated. There was only one reason why he would behave this way. ¡°If I¡¯m attacked, everything will still work out for as long as the National Intelligence Service epts Seok Kang-Ho and Louis gets the authority over the operation,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Understood.¡± Even though it wasn¡¯t anything special, Kang Chan felt more relieved now that he had a general outline of what to do. It was now way past 10 pm. ¡°The Chinese are subtly offering their hand to our government. The people who led thetest terrorist attack might also make ast desperate attempt,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. ¡°For some reason, I suspect China would also support the terrorist attacks until the very end.¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible. If the terrorist attack fails, China will just apologize through a diplomatic channel and try to maintain a good rtionship.¡± Kang Chan also made sure that Kim Hyung-Jung would make the right authorities investigate the case of Lee Ji-Yeon¡¯s unnie again. Afterward, he left Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s office with Seok Kang-Ho. 1. the Beretta M9 is a semi-automatic pistol that has been the standard firearm of the United States Armed Forces since 1985. Chapter 104.2: Did people really need to do this? (1)

Chapter 104.2: Did people really need to do this? (1)

¡°Can we have a cup of tea?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°Did you think we¡¯ll head home without doing that first?¡± The two went to the specialty coffee shop at the intersection. Seok Kang-Ho grinned. Their conversation now would be different from the one with Kim Hyung-Jung. Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho about what he had heard about the United State¡¯s Intelligence Bureau, which was something he didn¡¯t tell Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Can you guess what that''s about?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked afterward. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but it could be somehow rted to us being reincarnated into these bodies.¡± ¡°Phew, let¡¯s just leave it at that. It¡¯s something we¡¯ll learn about when the timees anyway. Shouldn¡¯t we focus on the event tomorrow?¡± ¡°What about the sses that you teach?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I have already discussed it with Manager Kim before you arrived. He said that he¡¯ll take care of it himself and told me to not even worry about things like that. Aside from my face appearing on TV, I¡¯ve got nothing to worry about,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, then chewed and ate ice again. ¡°Tsk! Combat aside, I¡¯m a bit ufortable. Security detail operations aren¡¯t our expertise.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Agh!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I bit my tongue while chewing on ice. Wow!¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°Would my tongue get paralyzed if I eat ice?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Seok Kang-Ho stuck out his tongue a couple of times, then picked up a cigarette. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about visiting the hospital sometime.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was going to the hospital? When Kang Chan looked at him, Seok Kang-Ho continued, ¡°I realized I¡¯ve been strangely going crazy about food. My body has been getting so hot as well. It¡¯s as if I¡¯m constantly angry about something. I thought it was just the summer at first, but after some time, I concluded that wasn¡¯t the reason, so I¡¯m thinking of getting myself checked up.¡± ¡°In all honesty, you have been going a bit crazy over foodtely.¡± ¡°Even though I have just eaten, I¡¯ll still eat two or three pastries at home before I sleep.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating that much because you have started working out?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You think so?¡± From a nce, Seok Kang-Ho looked healthy. There wasn¡¯t anything different or strange about him. ¡°The official schedule starts at 11 am tomorrow. I¡¯ ¡¯ll be inside with the National Intelligence Service agents, so I¡¯ll see you when we arrive. What¡¯s your gut feeling about this?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I don¡¯t feel anything yet.¡± ¡°Everything will be alright, then.¡± Kang Chan decided to think of it the same way. ¡°Let¡¯s smoke before we go home,¡± Kang Chan suggested. He then took out a cigarette and lit it. Kang Chan felt calm yet strangely ufortable at the same time. However, there wasn¡¯t anything he could do. He could only act once he had encountered it. He arrived home at around 11 pm. Yoo Hye-Sook greeted Kang Chan. Kang Dae-Kyung was already asleep, and Yoo Hye-Sook looked as if she was forcing herself not to fall asleep perhaps because she had to go to work at the foundation. ¡°Why are you still awake?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I was just about to head to bed. I can sleep in peace now that you¡¯re home. You¡¯re going to the event tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°Yes. You should go to bed quickly.¡± ¡°Okay, Channy. Sleep well.¡± Kang Chan lightly washed up and went to bed. *** Just like any other day, Kang Chan lightly warmed up as he went down the stairs the next morning. The morning air was now cold and brisk. ¡°Phew!¡± Kang Chan controlled his breathing, then started to run around the apartmentplex. Although he still had some difficulties, he was in much better condition than when he was in Africa. He couldn''t help but wonder whether he should run a marathon. He would be running for about twelve kilometers if he went around the apartmentplex from the entrance. He controlled his pacing for the first 11 kilometers, then sprinted at full speed for thest one. Regardless of his condition, he always did feel pain during thisst kilometer. ¡°Huff. Huff. Huff. Huff.¡± Kang Chan caught his breath in front of a bench, then cooled down by doing easy bodyweight exercises. Afterward, he went up the stairs again. Even though it wasn¡¯t even 7 am yet, he could already see students in their school uniforms and people going to work. ¡°Channy! Did you go out to exercise? You should rest on days like this,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°It¡¯s okay. If anything, I¡¯d feel heavy if I skip this.¡± If Kang Chan skipped working out for every day with a big event just as Yoo Hye-Sook suggested, then he wouldn¡¯t have even just thirty days to work out in a year. Comments like that would¡¯ve annoyed him if he heard it before, but it made him happy now. He had breakfast with Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°You¡¯re staying with everyone else at the hotel today, right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes. After the official announcement has been made tomorrow, I¡¯ll drop by the French embassy beforeing home. I¡¯ll probablye home reallyte.¡± ¡°I heard that the entire schedule of this event will be broadcasted live on TV. A lot of people are saying that everyone should gather around and watch it together as if it¡¯s some kind of world cup game. Some are even looking forward to what the President will say during his wee speech at tonight¡¯s dinner.¡± ¡°People are looking forward to things like that?¡± When Kang Chan enjoyed the kongnamul guk, which he found was to his liking. Yoo Hye-Sook happily brought over more kongnamul guk. ¡°Everyone¡¯s obviously interested in that. After all, we¡¯re told that this event will make South Korea rich. We couldn¡¯t even imagine that happening.¡± ¡°What do you think about this?¡± Kang Chan asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I don¡¯t know about anything else, but I don¡¯t want anything else for as long as your mom is healthy and I have someone as dependable as you by my side. What do you think, honey?¡± ¡°Me? I also want the same thing as you,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook answered. Kang Chan had gotten used to talking while eating. While thinking that he wanted to finish this event quickly so he could return to his everyday life, he finished eating breakfast. Since Yoo Hye-Sook was currently heading to work every day, they had breakfast about twenty minutes earlier than before. After all, It took that much more time for her to put makeup on. Even then, they always left around five minuteste. ¡°Don¡¯t overwork yourself. Just get good some experience, thene home, okay?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung advised. ¡°Channy! Be careful.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do that.¡± After sending off his parents that morning, he sat in the living room. He was told that the car would arrive at 9:10 am, so he still had about forty minutes to spare. During moments like this, he didn¡¯t have to rush to do something. He acted like this in the past as well. The morning before a battle, Kang Chan wouldn¡¯t do anything special other than washing up and eating. One of his subordinates always wrote a will, and another neatly organized his personal belongings. There was also a guy who noisily¡ªor devotedly¡ªprayed to God. Kang Chan justfortablyid down among them. Whenever he did, Dayeru or Gerard would always bring over coffee. Kang Chan absently picked up the TV remote that was next to him, thinking about watching the news channel that Kang Dae-Kyung watched every morning. Click. When he pressed the power button, the blue LED light shed from under the tv as it turned on. [We¡¯re in front of the international hotel, which is where the representatives of different countries will be going to for the announcement of the historic Eurasian rail. With the specialized team of the military currently guarding the hotel rigorously, the rail will be announced tomorrow after delegations from each country have gathered here and signed a written agreement.] [Alright. Reporter Huh Min-Young, how are the citizens reacting to this?] [We can¡¯t see a weing crowd, perhaps because it¡¯s a weekday and because it¡¯s morning rush hour, but all citizens are happy about this event. They¡¯re expecting a lot from the Eurasian rail. Just take a look at these interviews. The screen suddenly changed. Yoon So-Ra (university student) [This is something that I could never have imagined! I¡¯m going to be thirty-seven in ten years, and they¡¯re saying that the national ie per person will be two hundred thousand dors by then! I¡¯m also really proud that this historic announcement will be done in South Korea! Hooray South Korea! Way to go!] Jung Hyun-Tae (business owner) [I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been this proud for being born in South Korea. It¡¯s not because we¡¯re going to get a lot of money but because South Korea is at the center of this historic event. I can¡¯t believe there wille a time when the United States, a country that China and Japan have to be wary of, will entrust South Korea with distributing resources. Way to go, South Korea!] [Now! It¡¯s about 8:50 am local time. Let us check out how each country is reacting to the announcement of the Eurasian rail. Reporter Joo Sang-In.] [Joo Sang-In reporting in.] [How are foreign countries reacting before the important announcement tomorrow?] [First, in the midst of rising excitement in Europe and Russia, Japan and China''s reactions are strangely different¡­] Beep. Kang Chan turned off the TV. It was time for him to get ready. He wore a shirt and a suit. When he saw his school uniform, which was hung up on one side of his closet, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh. He suddenly thought that he wanted to go to school even though there wasn¡¯t anything for him to do there other than to stay in the athletics club room, have lunch, re at the textbooks with a strange gaze, and listen to sses that he had trouble understanding. It was time to leave. Kang Chan subtly looked into the master bedroom and closed the door. He then went out of the entrance after checking if the window of the veranda was closed properly. Ding. The elevator door opened. 1. Also known as Korean bean sprout soup, the kongnamul guk is a cheap and easy soup to make. Like its name, it consists of bean sprouts, soy sauce, garlic, water, and seasonings. Chapter 105: Did people really need to do this? (2)

Chapter 105: Did people really need to do this? (2)

Kang Chan arrived at Lanok¡¯s office at around 9:40 am. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, I apologize for getting here a little earlier than expected,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°That¡¯s actually even better. How do you feel?¡± Lanok stood up from his desk, then pointed to the table that was in the middle of the office. ¡°Since we still have time to spare, would you like to have a cup of tea with me?¡± Lanok ordered something by giving a look to someone, then guided Kang Chan to the table. Lanok tilted the silver kettle and poured out some tea onto cups, the strong scent of ck tea permeating the room. Kang Chan lifted the cup and took a sip, then carefully put the cup down. ¡°I need to smoke a cigar. Would you like a cigarette?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°I brought my own.¡± Kang Chan took out a cigarette as Lanok cut the end of a cigar with a cutter, then bit on it. ¡°We¡¯ve confirmed that C-4 has been brought into the country this morning, and we also got an intelligence report from more than three organizations that people are going to attempt a terrorist attack at the event venue. However, we are yet to find out who the key force behind this is,¡± Lanok said. People wouldn¡¯t purchase C-4 just to enjoy fireworks. They were obviously going to attempt a terrorist attack. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a very difficult event,¡± Lanok continued. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°I ended up being the face of the event, Mr. Kang Chan, which means you might be shown on TV as well. Moreover, if a problem arises at the event tomorrow¡­¡± Lanok continued while looking straight at Kang Chan, ¡°You have to guarantee Anne¡¯s safety.¡± Why would Lanok say this? Kang Chan cocked his head. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, if you have spections, it would be best to tell me about them. I don¡¯t know much about being a security guard, but there¡¯s a huge difference between knowing and preparing for what could happen and getting attacked while oblivious to the dangers present.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it, Mr. Kang Chan. I simply told you about the dangers thate with this kind of gathering because, naturally, many variablese into y when multiple Intelligence Bureaus gather to meet.¡± Kang Chan took another sip of his tea. He doubted the sly Lanok would say anything even if he pestered him. Tsk! Kang Chan was so absorbed in talking about Anne that he couldn¡¯t even question his face appearing on TV. When would I be able to win against this sly person in terms of pure conversational skills? Knock. Knock. Knock. As Kang Chan thought about something unnecessary, Lanok¡¯s assistant came in and said, ¡°Mr. Ambassador, it¡¯s time.¡± ¡°Everything you require is in the room next door. We¡¯ll leave whenever you¡¯re ready,¡± Lanok told Kang Chan. ¡°Got it.¡± Kang Chan stood up and followed the assistant to the room next door. ¡°Bonjour, Monsieur Kang.¡± Louis and one agent were waiting for him. ¡°You can change into this, then prepare whatever weapons you want,¡± Louis told Kang Chan. ¡°Will do.¡± Kang Chan got changed as soon as Louis and the agent left the room. He then examined the weapons on the desk. ¡®What are they telling me to choose?¡¯ The pistol options he had were only the Beretta 93R and two kinds of Glocks. Kang Chan took two gun holsters and sheathed Glock 19s into them. He fastened one of them on the right side of his waist and the other on his left ankle. Afterward, he put magazines in four magazine pouches and fastened them on the back of his belt. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t have any bays prepared for him. ¡®Is Lanok saying that any fights we¡¯ll get into are a product of information warfare, so we should be able to end them quickly using pistols?¡¯ Smirking, Kang Chan opened the door. Louis, who was waiting for him outside, handed over a walkie-talkie. Damn it! If you were going to give something like this to me, you should¡¯ve done so before I put on my jacket. Kang Chan took off his jacket and hung the walkie-talkie at the left side of his waist, the microphone on his sleeve, and the earphone on his ear. He then put on the jacket again. Whoo! I¡¯m done preparing. ¡°We¡¯re the only ones going inside the venue. We were told that they limited the number of agents allowed inside to two agents per Intelligence Bureau,¡± Louis said. Kang Chan nodded. On the contrary, for events like this, having fewer people in there could be better. As Kang Chan headed to the office, Lanok walked out of it. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°Yes. We can leave whenever.¡± Lanok walked through the hallway while smiling like a European mask. Crowds of reporters had already swarmed to the yard of the embassy. The shutters of the reporters¡¯ cameras kept going off from every direction. Lanok waved at them and turned from side to side a couple of times, then immediately got in the car. Kang Chan sat next to Lanok, and Louis sat in the front. When the car left, a van followed behind them. ¡°When we arrive, ten agents will look for you. Your codename for today is God of ckfield. Is that okay?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan turned toward Lanok. ¡°A meeting with the Intelligence Bureaus is simr to a gathering of immature boys. Overpower them, and they will no longer be able to exercise their power. After all, it¡¯s difficult to speak up in a situation where they can¡¯t protect themselves. I believe you understand what I¡¯m trying to say here.¡± Kang Chan turned his gaze toward the front whileughing out loud, and Louis, who was ncing at them, quickly looked forward. *** [One by one, the representatives of all countries in charge of the Eurasian rail are nowing into the presentation hall. They are either going to stay at their respective embassies or will be at the international building for the first meeting, which will be at noon in Korean time. Ah! The Head of Russia¡¯s Intelligence Bureau has just entered.] ¡°Honey, I¡¯m strangely nervous,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Why? I know this will be a historical event, but you don''t have to be nervous. Just watch and enjoy it.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were sitting on a chair. Employees were around them, some having brought over their own chairs and some just standing in front of the TV. Nearly all of the salespeople had either their morning appointments canceled or didn¡¯t have any to begin with, so they decided to watch TV together today. Their office was quiet enough for even the female employee of the foundation to be able to watch TV with them. [The Ambassador of France is nowing into the presentation hall as well. He¡¯s the key figure of the Eurasian rail, having taken on the role as its Founder and the first Operation Committee member. The Ambassador of France is this project¡¯s real decision-maker.] A car stopped on the screen, and as Lanok got out of it, the door on the right opened as well. ¡°Oh! Honey! That¡¯s our Channy!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. ¡°Huh? It really is!¡± When the camera zoomed in on Lanok waving his hand toward his surroundings as if he was waiting for Kang Chan. *** ¡°Wow!¡± A roar loud enough for the Shinmuk High School to reverberate rose from the school. Since the event was happening at the same time as the start of the second semester, the students were watching the broadcast instead of having ss. Having heard the news that Kang Chan had been admitted to a national university in France as a full schrship student, the students were already watching the entrance of the Ambassador of France with interest. Hence, when they saw Kang Chan, they screamed as if they had gone crazy. [It seems Ambassador Lanok is currently apanied by an Asian. However, we don¡¯t know who he is yet.] ¡°He¡¯s a student in our ss!¡± a male student yelled. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± the students chorused. Unable to hold in their excitement, some of the kids even smacked their desks. Kim Mi-Young watched the screen with her hands tightly sped in front of her chest. Kang Chan looked so cool that she felt as if she was having trouble breathing. The other kids in their ss looked as if Kang Chan had bewitched them as well. Wearing a form-fitting suit, Kang Chan didn¡¯t seem to shrink down even as he stood next to Lanok. The kids felt deeply touched when they saw Lanok waiting for and entering with Kang Chan despite being the Ambassador of France, the Founder of the Eurasian rail, and the first Operation Committee member. ¡°Wow!¡± The students eximed when the camera focused on Kang Chan¡¯s face as he looked at a French person, who the students didn¡¯t know the name of, get out of the car. Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°He still smiles like that despite where he is right now!¡± The kids kept yelling while watching Kang Chan smirk. Lee Ho-Jun, who was sitting at the very back, tightly clenched his fists while looking as flushed as Kim Mi-Young. He wanted to be a man like that. *** ¡°Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! Our President is so cool! I can¡¯t handle this!¡± Aside from the wardrobe employee who had yelled in excitement, all of the D.I. employees were spellbound as they focused on the TV. It would¡¯ve only been natural for anyone to be intimidated in that situation, but when they saw Kang Chan smirk at thest moment, the expressions of the female employees and the trainees were almost simr. Michelle looked as if she could no longer hide the emotions brimming in her heart. Seeing Michelle¡¯s reaction, Eun So-Yeon lowered her gaze to her tightly sped hands. *** As they were walking toward the venue, Lanok turned and leaned his head toward Kang Chan. ¡°Aren¡¯t you nervous?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°Should I be?¡± Lanok lifted his head and walked onward. His expression seemed to say, ¡®As I expected.¡¯ Following the direction of the sign that said ¡®main conference room,¡¯ they arrived at a spacious area the size of a sports field. Circr tables were all over the ce. The guide by the entrance confirmed Lanok¡¯s identity and led them to their seats, which were the closest to the tform. Since the four Intelligence Bureau Heads each had two of their own entourages sitting with them at each circr table, the tables were big enough for all twelve people to sit at. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Ludwig and Vant, who were already sitting at the table, stood up from their seats and exchanged cheek kisses with Kang Chan. Two people came over from the table right next to them and happily greeted Kang Chan as well. As a result, the people naturally started paying attention to him. ¡°Let me set the frequency of the walkie-talkie,¡± Louis approached Kang Chan as if he was Kang Chan¡¯s subordinate, then set the walkie-talkie¡¯s frequency. ¡°There are only twelve people tuned in to this frequency. If you want to change the channel, press this button,¡± Louis exined. Kang Chan nodded, then looked at the people sitting at the same table as him, including the agents across him. They all looked unique¡ªone of them was bulky, another had fierce and sharp eyes, and another looked nimble. However, none of them gave off an eerie feeling simr to the man he ran into at the hotel. Looking around the vast hall, Kang Chan finally understood what Lanok meant. ¡®This is why Lanok wanted to bring me here with him.¡¯ Unlike the eleven people that had said that they would follow Kang Chan, each table had one or two agents that gave off an eerie feeling. Only those who were born with a natural talent and had gone through a lot of battles could have the same look in their eyes. Regardless of whether they had natural talent or not, it wasn¡¯t easy surviving on awful battlefields for ten years since they were twenty-one years old. And leaving the battlefield and bing an agent again and gaining experience was a different story. Plus when they were over thirty years old, their senses and strength decreased. Kang Chan understood at least a little bit why Lanok strongly rmended bing a citizen of France. Click. Click. When the two exits closed, employees in uniforms ced two tes¡ªa sd and a steak¡ªin front of the attendees. There were eight circr tables. ording to basic math, that would mean there should be a total of ny-six attendees. Despite that many people inside, it was quiet. The eyes of those at the other tables, as they nced at Kang Chan, showed they were being cautious, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t really care. As the food was being prepared, Lanok stood up and took the microphone in front of the stage. He then greeted, ¡°Hello, everyone. Thank you foring. I¡¯m Lanok.¡± Three or four people wore the headsets hung on their chairs, but most people were just listening to Lanok speak French. ¡°I wee everyone that gathered here for this historic moment. After our meals, we will be moving to the main conference room. I hope we can create a cooperative framework for the peaceful establishment and operation of the Eurasian rail.¡± Even though there were close to a hundred attendees, only asional coughs could be heard. The rest were just the sounds of people putting down their food. ¡®The eyes of the elderly are fucking fierce,¡¯?Kang Chan thought as he looked at his surroundings. Some of the people were overweight and had a lot of wrinkles. One of them had thick sses, but his eyes glinted so much that it looked as if he wouldn¡¯t lose to anyone. Kang Chan¡¯s eyes kept going to the three nimble-looking men sitting two tables diagonally away from him. They had pale skin, thin faces, and firm physiques. They seemed to be from Russia, and they all had extraordinary impressions. The atmosphere made Kang Chan feel as if he had gone back to after he applied to be a mercenary in Africa. He was sitting with those who passed through the first round of training, and some of theirpetition had already been eliminated and sent home. The current atmosphere was the same as back then¡ªit made Kang Chan feel as if someone like Dayeru or G¨¦rard would suddenly jump out from somewhere and re at people. The only thing different from that time was that they were currently wearing a suit and had a steak in front of them. ¡°As stated in the schedule that was given to everyone, we will all head to the main conference room together at 2 pm,¡± Lanok said. He looked around his surroundings, then raised the ss in front of him. ¡°Let¡¯s have a toast to the establishment of the Eurasian rail.¡± Following him, everyone raised the wine ss in front of them. ¡°For the Unicorn,¡± Lanok continued. ¡°For the Unicorn,¡± everyone else repeated. The meal progressed after Lanok¡¯s speech. Ludwig and Vant took turns talking to Lanok about nonsensical things, but considering that throughout their conversation words such as ¡®elderly¡¯ and ¡®treasure¡¯ were seemed to be jokingly mixed in, those terms were probably something that only made sense to them. Kang Chan ate in a way that followed formal table etiquettes. It didn¡¯t taste bad, but honestly, he was bored. Unlike being in the battlefield, sitting as if they were Lanok¡¯s mercenaries made him feel irritating nervousness spreading out to the entire room. When Kang Chan thought about this gathering continuing until tomorrow, he felt like writhing. ¡®This isn¡¯t something that a person should do.¡¯ Acting as a security guard at the golf club suffocated him, and feeling his opponents'' energies subtly beginning to tighten like a noose around his neck was also exhausting. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smile faintly to himself when he thought that he would do a really good job if he was told toplete the operation in Mongolia three or four more times instead of doing this. What would Seok Kang-Ho be doing right now? Kang Chan just wished Seok Kang-Ho wouldn¡¯t say ¡®fuck¡¯ on the walkie-talkie. There wasn¡¯t even one guy that didn¡¯t get beat up among the guys that pounced on Kang Chan after seeing him do well. Since he was bored, Kang Chan kept having so many unnecessary thoughts. After he ate, he smiled a bit at the jokes Vant made every now and then and the jokes he heard from across the table. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, please be careful around the Russian Intelligence Bureau. Almost everyone here is watching you right now. It wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say that half of the people that are here already know about the operation in Mongolia,¡± Lanok told Kang Chan as he pretended to look somewhere else. ¡°A lot of the people here can also lipread, which is why most people cover their lips like a habit when they talk,¡± Lanok exined. They lived quite ufortable lives. Kang Chan nodded to let Lanok know he understood. ¡°Lanok!¡± An elderly fat man at the table furthest away from them slightly raised his right hand. ¡°It seems like the elderly man wants to boast about what he did,¡± Lanokmented. Lanok wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up. Louis stood up after Lanok while looking at Kang Chan. Should I just stay here? No, I shouldn¡¯t be thinking about this. What benefits would I even gain from bringing shame to Lanok here? Kang Chan wordlessly followed Louis and walked next to Lanok. Everyone¡¯s eyes, including the Russian agents¡¯, tantly followed him. ¡°Long time no see, Jean-Jacques.¡± As soon as Lanok reached the elderly man, an agent stood up and excused himself. What on earth is happening? Listening to what the elderly man was saying appalled Kang Chan. The man was praising himself and said that Lanok shouldn¡¯t forget about his contributions even though he had be the Founder of the rail and the Operation Committee member. Damn it. This isn¡¯t a meeting with elementary school students. The people gathered here were all Heads of the Intelligence Bureaus of France, Russia, Germany, and Switzend¡ªsome of the most powerful countries in the world¡ªyet they were acting like this. Lanok didn¡¯t show his dissatisfaction while talking to the elderly man named Jean-Jacques. Rather, he pacified him while smiling peculiarly like a European mask, but he didn¡¯t give a definite answer about the things that the elderly man wanted. Just what kind of person was Lanok? ¡°I¡¯ll set a separate meeting for uster, then,¡± Lanok said. He stood up and shook hands with Jean-Jacques, then walked somewhere else. It was funny, but the atmosphere prevented anyone fromughing. After all, the pride and honor of every country were at stake here. If the official representatives would be writing the agreement with the fixed framework in the building next door, then this was where they sat down and unofficially made the practical decisions. There were still a lot of things in the world that Kang Chan had to learn and master. ¡°Lanok.¡± As Lanok walked somewhere else, a Russian that Kang Chan had been carefully observing raised his hand. ¡°Vasili(§£§¡§³§ª§­§ª§«)!¡± Lanok walked to the table, then happily shook hands with the man named ¡®Vasili.¡¯ ¡°Just because the rail is finalized doesn¡¯t mean you should keep your distance from me too much,¡± Vasili said in fluent French. ¡°How could I ever disregard you when I have to be in the good graces of the next chairman of operations so I can survive and resign from that position?¡± ¡°Hmph, your sharp tongue never changes. Is that man with you the one called your secret weapon?¡± ¡°If I attracted your attention, then it¡¯s an honor. Let me introduce you two to each other. This is Mr. Kang Chan, whom I have epted as my friend. Mr. Kang Chan, this is Vasili, a friend of mine who came from Russia¡¯s vicious KGB.¡± Vasili held out his hand, his expression seemingly saying he thought Lanok was absurd. ¡°I¡¯m Vasili.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan.¡± They tightly grabbed onto each other¡¯s hands and shook them. Vasili was verypetent, but that was it. When they returned to their seats, Louis looked less nervous. Kang Chan somewhat got used to the atmosphere. Now there were only two things left to do¡ªcontinue this tedious schedule, which had only been going on for two hours, and keep an eye out for the terrorist attack that could happen within that time. 1. Beretta 93R is an Italian selective-fire machine pistol, designed and manufactured by Beretta (an Italian firearm manufacturingpany) in thete 1970s for police and military use. It is derived from their semi-automatic Beretta 92 Chapter 106.1: End it Quickly (1)

Chapter 106.1: End it Quickly (1)

Even after lunch, the Kang Yoo Motors employees were still in front of the TV. They had even locked the doors to the office on the second floor and refused visitors. [Reporter Lee Sang-Min? I heard that the Asian that was with the Ambassador of France was a South Korean high schooler?] [Yes. The student apanying the ambassador of France this morning is revealed to be Kang Chan, a senior student at Shinmuk High School. People say that he¡¯s such a remarkable student that he was invited two days ago to be a full schrship student at a national university in France. Here¡¯s our interview with the Principal of Shinmuk High School.] The screen changed to a video of the principal saying that Kang Chan ¡®served as a good example for other students¡¯ and that this was the ¡®result of the school¡¯s project to bring up talented people¡¯ as if he was reading a book. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were showing mixed emotions. They started to get calls when Kang Chan appeared on TV, and by the time they had finished lunch, they were even getting calls from people that they no longer remembered. Visitors swarmed into their office as well, ultimately making them lock the doors. The principal¡¯s interview was now being broadcasted. [We¡¯re guessing that the father of Kang Chan¡ªKang Yoo Motors president Kang Dae-Kyung¡ªintroduced Kang Chan to the Ambassador of France in the process of bringing the distribution rights of Gong Te automobile, but for a country that doesn¡¯t have a representative for the Eurasian rail yet, it¡¯s the same thing as gaining a valuable, talented student who will go into the international world.] Before the reporter was even done talking, all the phones in Kang Yoo Motors had already started to ring. [The Shinmuk High School is currently substituting all sses by watching the coverage of the Eurasian rail event until tomorrow. The Ministry of Education has told the high school to decide if students should watch TV ording to the principal¡¯s discretion. This was Lee Sang-Min on the scene.] After the report, an advertisement was shown. The new female employee carefully approached Yoo Hye-Sook and asked, ¡°Mrs. Chief Director, would you like a cup of coffee?¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure. What about you, Mr. President?¡± ¡°I''d like one as well.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The female employee turned around. Meanwhile, the sales department employees were yelling on all the phones in thepany. There were even people knocking on the door to the office, which was closed. ¡°It¡¯s probably best for you not to go to the foundation office, right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes, honey. I¡¯m thinking of staying here today and quietly going home.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung nodded. As he did, the executive director approached them. ¡°Mr. President, Over a thousand customers have expressed their desire to order a ¡®chiffre¡¯ today. At this rate, we¡¯ll have five hundred more car orders by the end of the day.¡± ¡°Mr. executive director, taking orders when we don¡¯t have the stocks toplete them isn¡¯t right. Please don¡¯t take them.¡± ¡°We¡¯re already doing that, but we can¡¯t stop the customers who are asking for queue numbers.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung sighed quietly when the executive director turned around while looking awkward. Kang Dae-Kyung didn¡¯t want to sell cars like this. It felt as if he was selling his son. *** Fourrge TVs facing different directions had been installed in the middle of the conference room, creating a square with two rows of seats facing each side in a circle. The back row was about fifty centimeters higher than the front row to give everyone a clear view of the TVs. In front of all the Heads of the International Bureaus was a desk with a mic and a headset. The room was prepared so that if any material was put on the scanner on the desk, it would appear on the TVs. However, nobody was taking out the materials. Ludwig, Vant, and Lanok¡¯s friend were sitting in the front, and at the back sat Lanok. Sitting beside him were two people whom Kang Chan had seen at Loriam. Kang Chan, Louis, and all the other countries¡¯ agents guarded both sides of their country¡¯s Intelligence Bureau Heads, creating quite a strange atmosphere. ¡°I¡¯m Vasili.¡± Vasili sped his hands and draped them over the desk, then leaned forward toward the microphone. His raspy voice was heard across the room through the microphone and the look in his eyes really suited him. ¡°Since the Founder and the first operationmittee member has been decided, let''s now decide how to form the organizations before taking a break. Even though the organizations will be formed by the vice-chairman and the operationmitte, it¡¯ll be good to first decide how many people will be in themittee.¡± When Vasili finished talking¡­ ¡°Vasili.¡± The overweight man sitting in the middle of Vasili and Lanok slightly raised his hand. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the vice-chairman and the operationmitteee from a country like Romania, where the rail hasn¡¯t been immediately connected?¡± Vasili¡¯s eyes looked as if he was disgraced. Why is that fucker acting like that? ¡°Romania and Ukraine use the Soviet Union¡¯s railroad constructionpany. The Head of an Intelligence Bureau should be able to urately read a situation. Europe shouldn¡¯t be cut off from gas because of something worthless, should it?¡± The atmosphere turned cold. The threat was perfect. ¡®Why is this fucker bullshitting?¡¯ Kang Chan thought as he looked at Vasili. At that moment, his eyes met the gaze of the man sitting to Vasili¡¯s left. When Kang Chan smirked, Vasili looked at him with dissatisfaction. Kang Chan¡¯s eyes wouldn¡¯t fall out just because Vasili was ring sharply at him. Hence, he didn¡¯t break eye contact. ¡°I doubt you understand what we¡¯re talking about because this is your first time attending this kind of meeting, so let me exin to you how things work here. Don¡¯t you ever look at me in that manner, especially when I¡¯m speaking,¡± Vasili continued. At that moment, everyone except for Lanok looked at Kang Chan. If Kang Chan backed down in moments like this, he would¡¯ve already be a powerful executive in the Foreign Legion. ¡°I¡¯m not your agent, Vasili. So don¡¯t tell me what to do,¡± Kang Chan replied. The Romanian representative¡¯s gaze alternated between Vasili and Kang Chan. Vasili¡¯s snort was clearly heard through the microphone. ¡°Lanok, did you incite this kind of fight?¡± In the end, Vasili looked away first. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan is my friend, and I don''t have the right to order or stop anyone here, Vasili. Not even Ludwig and Vant.¡± ¡°This is appalling.¡± Vasili leaned back into the chair, then turned his head toward the agent. ¡°If that¡¯s the Founder¡¯s stance, then there¡¯s nothing I can do,¡± Vasili continued while ncing at Kang Chan. ¡°Russia will have no choice but to back down.¡± The agent¡¯s cheek moved, seemingly gritting his teeth. He was still ring straight at Kang Chan. The agent¡¯s eyes showed his strong pride yet also extreme patience. ¡°With this happening, why don¡¯t we send the agents out so only the core members would be here, Lanok? Ah, of course, Mr. Kang Chan isn¡¯t an agent, but I would love for him to leave as well since he isn¡¯t even an official member yet. Will you request that?¡± Kang Chan naturally understood Vasili¡¯s French. When Kang Chan nced beside him, he found Lanok showing mixed emotions. ¡°I¡¯ll be outside,¡± Kang Chan told Lanok. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Lanok and Kang Chan smiled at each other, then Kang Chan slowly got up from his seat. The two Russian agents had already stood up and were walking toward the entrance. *** ¡°Will you smoke a cigarette, Monsieur Kang?¡± Louis asked. As soon as they left the main conference room, Louis gave Kang Chan a look while pointing outside. Why would I refuse that? The other countries¡¯ agents were also scattered in groups of three or four in the designated smoking area. From far away, Kang Chan saw the two Russian agents ncing at him while smoking. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo.¡± Kang Chan breathed in deeply, then asked, ¡°The meeting ends at 5 pm, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. The Ambassador will be going to the presidential dinner afterward.¡± ¡°What about the others?¡± ¡°This evening, the Director of the National Intelligence Service will be hosting a dinner where we ate earlier.¡± Kang Chan deeply exhaled cigarette smoke. He then thought about asking Louis who Lanok was but decided against it. ¡°It seems like they¡¯re giving people coffee.¡± In the direction where Louis had turned his head toward, employees in uniforms had set up a table and were handing out coffees. ¡°Would you like one?¡± Louis asked. ¡°Sure.¡± Louis walked toward the table. He was being polite, but it looked as if he was trying not to step out of the designated line. Soon after, he handed over a mid-sized paper cup to Kang Chan. ¡°Almost all of the Intelligence Bureaus¡¯ Heads heading back to their countries tonight.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this event supposed to continue until tomorrow?¡± ¡°They schedule another day to follow customs. All the actual decisions are made at the current meeting, so it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to assume nearly everyone will be heading home after the Director of the National Intelligence Service¡¯s dinner.¡± ¡°Living like that must be tiring.¡± Louis smiled awkwardly. What Michelle had told him suddenly came across Kang Chan¡¯s mind. ¡°How is it going with Anne?¡± Kang Chan asked. Startled and flustered, Louis spat out coffee. He moved the paper cup away from his mouth, then looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Why are you so surprised?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°You know about it? Does the Ambassador also know?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think he does.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. It wasn¡¯t like Anne was the third daughter of Mr. Choi. Kang Chan sipped on his coffee because it seemed Louis didn¡¯t want to say more on the matter. As he did, he saw Kim Hyung-Jung walking out from the ss door that led to the meeting room and looking around. ¡°Mr. Manager!¡± Kim Hyung-Jung quickly approached Kang Chan when he raised his hand. ¡°The walkie-talkie wasn¡¯t working, so I ran over,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°We changed the frequency to a special one. I was going to change the frequency after this meeting since I¡¯d be joining you then anyway. What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Can we talk in private for a moment?¡± Kang Chan excused himself to Louis after noticing Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s expression, then walked to one side of the building. ¡°It seems like the bomb hasn¡¯t been brought into the building yet, but I¡¯m worried. This is a hotel, after all. The group of Chinese tourists right above us is also weighing on my mind,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung urgently told Kang Chan when they reached the marble flower bed. Kang Chan only listened. ¡°If you tune in to channel two, you¡¯ll connect with me, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, and everyone else on the security team. I¡¯ve already designated the channel, so you just have to connect. I went with Mr. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s opinion and unified your codename as ¡®God of ckfield.¡¯¡± ¡°Alright. That aside, is something bothering you?¡± ¡°You''ve been talked about way too much on the news. You seem to be gathering a lot of national interest and reaction because South Korea doesn¡¯t have a representative here.¡± Kang Chan naturally frowned. ¡°I also can¡¯t help but think about the fact that the constructionpany that built the international building and international hotel is Suh Jeong Constructions.¡± ¡°They built this building?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been told. I was also informed that the Rutu¡¯s hotel¡¯s management team is the one managing it.¡± Perhaps because he had seen Kang Chan¡¯s abilities in Mongolia, but Kim Hyung-Jung told him everything, even the little details. In fact, if he didn¡¯t feel that way, it wouldn''t have been easy to even put Seok Kang-Ho on the security team. ¡°Mr. Manager, why isn¡¯t a South Korean representative in the meeting with the Heads of the Intelligence Bureaus?¡± Kang Chan asked. He had been curious about it since he listened to Lanok earlier. ¡°South Korea wasn¡¯t a part of the establishment process. However, if themitteeunches today, we¡¯ll have a seat by the next meeting. Will you be staying here until the meeting ends?¡± ¡°Yes. I should be loyal to Lanok.¡± ¡°Understood. On another note, the chief officer of Presidential security knows about the operation in Mongolia. If there¡¯s something that you want, then feel free to make demands.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung soon left, and Kang Chan returned to Louis. Nothing tense had happened so far since then. 1. This is a reference to a Korean myth about third-born daughters always being the prettiest. There¡¯s even a song based about it called ¡®The Third Daughter of Mr. Choi.¡¯ Many men tried to propose to her, but Mr. Choi loved his daughter so much that he rejected their proposals and didn¡¯t even allow them to see her. However, the narrator of the lyrics tells his story about eventually marrying her after persistently proposing to her. Basically, Kang Chan is saying that Louis shouldn¡¯t be too worried because he isn¡¯t going to have too much trouble with Anne since she isn¡¯t that pretty, so Lanok wasn¡¯t going to prevent him from seeing her. Chapter 106.2: End it Quickly (1)

Chapter 106.2: End it Quickly (1)

Kang Chan just drank coffee on one side of the international building in a suit. Honestly, he was bing less nervous. ¡°Would you like a cigarette?¡± Kang Chan asked. Louis epted the offer. Soon after, they both lit up their sticks. ¡®Being a security guard is fucking hard.¡¯ They had to stay alert even when faced with dull mundanity. Kang Chan shook his head as he sat on the marble of the flower bed. ¡°Monsieur Kang, what do you think about Anne?¡± Louis asked with a serious expression. ¡°Louis, I already like another woman. And Anne is just interested in me because she needs someone she can depend on while shaking off the sadness she¡¯s been holding inside since that incident. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡± Kang Chan took a sip of the cold coffee, then put the cup down beside him. ¡°I would rather go to Mongolia one more time if I was told to go. I really can¡¯t do things like this.¡± Louis forcibly gritted his teeth as if he was holding in hisughter. ¡°You should actfortably when you¡¯re with me. I don¡¯t know if smiling in front of the Ambassador is rude, but to me, it isn¡¯t.¡± Louis smiled awkwardly, then perched on the marble beside Kang Chan. The fucker had really long legs. *** ¡°We have prepared everything.¡± Yang Jin-Woo told someone in the second meeting room. ¡°As soon as it¡¯s out, Lee Ji-Yeon¡¯s case will be closed as her hanging herself because she was pessimistic about her unnie¡¯s death,¡± the man told Yang Jin-Woo. ¡°I heard that there¡¯s also an elderly in her family?¡± ¡°She¡¯s undergoing dialysis for kidney failure. They¡¯re undergoing a lot of financial difficulties because the unnie who bore the cost of the hospital fees died.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want any loose ends.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Go.¡± The man bowed his head and stood up. Yang Jin-Woo went somewhere as well. The first meeting room. Straightening hisrge physique, Kwak Do-Young, the assistant of Chairperson Huh Sang-Soo, greeted Yang Jin-Woo. ¡°Have a seat. How did it go?¡± Yang Jin-Woo asked. ¡°We¡¯ve finished our preparations.¡± Yang Jin-Woo leisurely looked around therge meeting room, then leaned toward Kwak Do-Young. ¡°We aren¡¯t giving our work to them after we put all that effort into this, are we?¡± ¡°The Chairperson, the Assemblyman, and the Chairman have basically raised the Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.¡± ¡°How are we supposed to know what¡¯s going on inside someone¡¯s mind?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing for you to be worried about. The chairman even called him yesterday and had dinner together,¡± Kwak Do-Young quickly added when he saw Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s expression. ¡°He didn¡¯t say anything else.¡± ¡°Whoo, we should be very careful. Look at chief secretary Cho right now¡ªdidn¡¯t he directly show our situation after the Eurasian rail was announced? The current regime ismitting cruel things that we couldn¡¯t have imagined. They¡¯re even saying that South Korea is freeing itself from the influences of China and the United States. This is why people who have nothing to offer aren¡¯t enough. This world has hierarchies, even in schools.¡± Yang Jin-Woo clicked his tongue, then leaned toward Kwak Do-Young again. ¡°Where¡¯s the chairman and the chairperson?¡± ¡°They¡¯re in the meeting hall and the private office.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they go abroad?¡± ¡°Only tourists came into the country from China. What would they go abroad for?¡± ¡°Hu, Hu, hu, hu.¡± Yang Jin-Wooughed breathily, then looked at Kwak Do-Young. ¡°I met the chairman and chairperson Huh when they were still young, but they weren¡¯t as magnanimous as you. I¡¯m really curious about how far you¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only following orders.¡± ¡°Phew, that¡¯s right. That kind of mindset is important. People gain standards ording to what they have. Know that a world will soon be created where you¡¯ll be able to spread your wings properly. Never lose your personal connections in China.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind, Mr. Chairman,¡± Kwak Do-Young answered while bowing his head. *** The meeting ended at exactly 5:30 pm. Kang Chan was outside for over two hours, during which he spent some time talking to Louise about different topics and Kim Hyung-Jung came over two more times. Kang Chan realized two things. One was that he would never be a security guard again even if it cost him his life, and the other was that Choi Jong-Il was going through a really hard time. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯ve kept you waiting for far too long. My friends would like to greet you,¡± Lanok said. He had a bright expression when he came out of the main conference room. Five people including Ludwig hugged Kang Chan and noisily kissed each other¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I hope we see each other a lot more, Mr. Kang Chan. If it¡¯s okay with you, please drop by our country someday as well,¡± one of them said. ¡°I¡¯ll visit it in the future. Until next time.¡± They exchanged greetings for about five minutes while a man who looked like a National Intelligence Service agent was waiting for them on one side of the building. ¡°Good luck to you.¡± Kang Chan felt as if he had finished one assignment. Lanok, Kang Chan, and Louis headed to the international hotel while following an agent of the National Intelligence Service. ¡°Vasili has been elected as the vice-chairman, and Ludwig and Vant are now part of the operationmittee along with two more people. The result is satisfactory,¡± Lanok told Kang Chan. Kang Chan didn''t know what Lanok was talking about, but he wasn¡¯t particrly interested either. They soon headed to the international hotel by following the National Intelligence Service agent. On the way, Kang Chan became worried about how boring the dinner would be. ¡°Only the Ambassador and Mr. Kang Chan are entering the official meeting.¡± The employee standing at the entrance blocked Louis¡¯ way. Honestly, Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to go in either. He wouldn¡¯t gain anything by having his face repeatedly shown on TV. Even if they were in a situation where he would have to stop a terrorist attack, just rashly standing up during the dinner would still be burdensome. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say this, but I¡¯m thinking of staying outside as well,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°The President has invited you himself. We ask you to attend if you don¡¯t have special circumstances that prevent you from doing so.¡± The employee¡¯s remarks made Kang Chan feel as if he had to go in. ¡°I¡¯ll inspect you two for a moment.¡± The agent stopped the employee from raising the detection stick. ¡°These two are exceptions to inspection.¡± Surprised, the employee urgently apologized after checking theputer. ¡°Please go in, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan headed inside with Lanok, who had been looking at them because he was wondering what was going on. ¡°This way.¡± The employee in charge of guiding people to their seats approached them and led them to a table near the front, where a podium was, and the middle of the room. The broadcastingpanies¡¯ cameras were lined up along the walls of the room. Before he sat down, Kang Chan briefly greeted those sitting at the same table as him. Rather than being sharp, they politely greeted Kang Chan and Lanok with stern looks in their eyes. The table had a variety of cups, tes, and utensils on the white tablecloth covering it. Lanok leaned in and whispered in Kang Chan¡¯s ear, ¡°I also can¡¯t digest food properly when I¡¯m eating in ces like this, but it would be best to loosen up your expression a little bit since we¡¯re being broadcasted.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I said that I don¡¯t want toe in here a moment ago.¡± Lanok turned his head to listen to what Kang Chan was saying, then turned to whisper again, ¡°That would have made this boring meal lonely as well.¡± When Kang Chan smiled slightly, Lanok smiled like a European mask. *** [It seems the South Korean student Kang Chan is talking about something funny with the Ambassador of France right now, but we don¡¯t know what they¡¯re talking about exactly.] The screen was filled with Lanok and Kang Chan talking to each other and then smiling. [Although the President hasn¡¯t entered yet, the dining room is already filled with excitement. The people eagerly wait for the time tomemorate the establishment of the historic Eurasian rail.] Kang Yoo Motors was already on the verge of closing the doors to the showroom on the lower floor, but calls were still flooding in. ¡°The President is out on the field right now. If you leave a message, then I¡¯ll ry it to him. Yes. Yes. Yes, I understand.¡± The employees kept hanging up the calls that were looking for Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Honey, our Channy is going to be okay, right?¡± ¡°This happened so suddenly, which is why everyone¡¯s reacting this way. Everyone is going to forget about this soon, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung stroked Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s back, who looked gaunt even though only half of the day had passed. He became worried as well when he noticed all broadcasts werepetitively reporting about Kang Chan and the office was being flooded with calls, though. ¡°Honey, why did Channy hang something like that on his ear?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Huh?¡± The screen was showing the entire dining room again. ¡°You didn¡¯t see? Channy was wearing a gray earphone on his ear?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked again. ¡°He¡¯s probably wearing that because it¡¯s needed for the event,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung decided to overlook the truth for now. *** ¡°Everyone, please wee the President.¡± Following what the host said, everyone stood up and weed President Moon Jae-Hyun and the First Lady with apuse. Moon Jae-Hyun waved as he entered. Behind him, two security guards guarded each side of the entrance. When Moon Jae-Hyun reached the podium, everyone sat down. ¡°I sincerely wee everyone who visited South Korea for the establishment of the Eurasian rail.¡± When Moon Jae-Hyun started his speech, Lanok hung the earphone beside his chair on his ear. Kang Chan listened to Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s speech while looking asfortable as possible. This was better than being in sses that he couldn¡¯t understand. The speechsted for about twenty minutes. Moon Jae-Hyun then walked to the very front seat and proposed a toast. People gave another round of apuse afterward, and the meal course consisting of Korean cuisine started. After that, today¡¯s schedule would be over. Chapter 107.1: End it Quickly (2)

Chapter 107.1: End it Quickly (2)

Kang Chan sat in room 503 in the international hotel. He threw his jacket and tie on the bed and then unbuttoned his shirt. ¡°Whoo! This feels good,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Phuhu, I¡¯m going to order coffee. Do you want yours hot or iced?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Iced for me.¡± ¡°What about you, Mr. Manager?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°I¡¯d like iced coffee as well.¡± While Seok Kang-Ho was calling room service, Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung bit on a cigarette. ¡°It must¡¯ve been difficult,¡± Kim Hyung-Jungmented. ¡°Please don¡¯t even mention it¡ªnobody should even have to go through that,¡± Kang Chan answered as Seok Kang-Ho came over to the table and picked up a cigarette. Chk chk. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo, but isn¡¯t it great that everything went smoothly today?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± With all the official schedules done, the Intelligence Bureaus¡¯ Heads went into their rooms. Kang Chan could rx to a certain extent since the 606 members were guarding all entrances from the fifth to the seventh floor. ¡°How do you feel about this?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m calm.¡± As Kang Chan expressed how he felt, they heard the doorbell ring. ¡°Room service,¡± someone said. Click. With a pistol in hand, Seok Kang-Ho walked along the wall and carefully opened the door. Creak. The male hotel employee, who had stiffened with nervousness, ced the tray with coffees on the table. He then left the room as if he was running away. ¡°The announcement is at 11 am tomorrow. It¡¯s expected to be broadcasted live all over the world on news channels, including CNN. The President and the Prime Minister will be attending it, of course,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°ording to the original n, wasn¡¯t Lanok the one doing the announcement?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Hyung-Jung urgently swallowed coffee, which was full of ice. He then coughed profusely, almost as if he was choking. ¡°Why not answer a bit slower? Here,¡± Seok Kang-Ho reached out to pull out two tissues, then gave them to Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Cough! Cough! It¡¯s very strong,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan with a flushed face after coughing. ¡°As I was saying, wasn¡¯t Lanok the one doing the announcement?¡± Kang Chan repeated. ¡°Ahem! Ahem! The announcement should¡­ Ahem! Hmm. Lanok is still the one doing it. The President and the Prime Minister are just attending to congratte the announcement.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung discreetly checked Kang Chan¡¯s expression. What¡¯s going on? ¡°Will you tell Ambassador Lanok to make the President look good? I know the event is run by the establishmentmittee of the Eurasian rail, but it would be very disappointing for him to just be standing there, considering it¡¯s going to be broadcasted live to the entire world,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. ¡°Do I really have to?¡± ¡°There¡¯s been a lot of discussions about it, but many people voiced that the President should attend and are hoping that he doesn¡¯t look like just another audience at the very least.¡± Kang Chan exhaled softly. Doing things like this was really just the underlings going over the top. ¡°I know you¡¯re in an awkward position. We should be the ones asking him, but unlike how he treats you, Ambassador Lanok is very logical when dealing with business. It¡¯s like he turns into apletely different person.¡± Lanok did have such a side. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why we wanted an unofficial workce rtionship that badly. Hearing him refuse us without batting an eye or seeing his cold expression is enough for us to wonder if he actually has emotions,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. Was Lanok that cold? Kang Chan remembered his first impression of Lanok. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him about it tomorrow morning,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Thank you.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung left the room after spending about ten more minutes with them. ¡°You packed a bay, right?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I ced an extra bay in the closet.¡± ¡°Good job.¡± After they took turns washing up, Kang Chan slept on the twin bed. Sleeping properly whenever he could during an operation was a lesson that he had learned in Africa. If they survived, then he¡¯d have a lot of time to think. *** Kang Chan woke up at 5:30 am, warmed up lightly, and did a few bodyweight exercises. He then had a shower. Everything would be over today. At 11 am, the announcement would be made in the grand ballroom on the international hotel¡¯s second floor. Kang Chan felt at ease because, unlike the operation in Mongolia, he wasn¡¯t in charge of this event. However, he also felt frustrated. It was as if he had just butted into something that he didn¡¯t even know much about. When Kang Chan went out of the bathroom, he found Seok Kang-Ho drinking water at the table. ¡°Did you get a good night¡¯s sleep?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Yeah. go wash up quickly.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan took out and put on the clothes he wore yesterday. They hadn¡¯t even been washed. It wasn¡¯t a big deal to him, though. It was nothingpared to when he was in Africa. Seok Kang-Ho hade out of the bathroom and was changing when Kim Hyung-Jung pressed their room¡¯s doorbell. Seok Kang-Ho opened the door, and Kim Hyung-Jung came into the room with someone unfamiliar. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, this is Jeon Dae-Geuk, the section chief of the presidential security service,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk held out his hand. His prominent cheekbones, the sharp look in his eyes, and his hair, which was slicked back using oil, reminded Kang Chan of military officers. ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan.¡± ¡°I came so early because I wanted to see you and to familiarize myself with how you look before the event today.¡± It seemed Jeon Dae-Geuk was already acquainted with Seok Kang-Ho, considering he lightly greeted him with his eyes. ¡°I¡¯d like to have breakfast with you here. Will that be alright?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked. ¡°Sure. I don¡¯t mind.¡± Kang Chan answered. At that moment, Kim Hyung-Jung opened the door and nodded. Drrrrr. An employee dragged in a long box with wheels and opened the serving cart, forming a square table. Four tes came up from below, all containing foods such as toast, bacon, and eggs. There were also coffee, water, and even juice. They started eating. Jeon Dae-Geuk ate without hesitation even though he had just met Kang Chan. Who would refuse to eat with him? Within five minutes, the foods on all four tes were consumed as if they never existed in the first ce. ¡°You smoke, right, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d. I¡¯ll smoke before I go.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung took out a cigarette, and Seok Kang-Ho opened the electric window as wide as possible. Jeon Dae-Geuk held a cigarette and had a sip of coffee, then looked straight at Kang Chan. ¡°I went into the security service after working in the special forces brigades.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk immediately extinguished the cigarette, which was unexpected. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about the operation in Mongolia. The official position of our government is that it never happened, but personally and as a representative of the South Korean specialized team, I¡¯d like to thank you.¡± Kang Chan just smiled awkwardly, finding thepliment embarrassing. ¡°What I¡¯m jealous about is not the capabilities of the Foreign Legion¡¯s specialized team, but the intelligence capabilities and flexibility of France''s Intelligence Bureau, which epted your request. If simr problems ur in the future or situations arise where you have to make a move, then I ask that you call me first before anyone else.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked as if he didn¡¯t know that Jeon Dae-Geuk would say something like this. ¡°Manager Kim Hyung-Jung here and Kim Tae-Jin from Yoo Bi-Corp are both juniors to me by two years. I¡¯ll interfere if there¡¯s something that they can¡¯t do for you. Consider this promise as my way of saying thank you for making the South Korean specialized team look good as well.¡± When Kang Chanughed out loud, Jeon Dae-Geuk smiled widely. ¡°Section chief, you don¡¯t really smoke, do you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s been about ten years since I quit. I have to care about how I smell since I¡¯m protecting higher-ups at close range. Going somewhere else just to smoke isn¡¯t ideal either, so I just quit.¡± This person seemed okay. Kang Chan especially liked the look in Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s eyes, which was bright even though he was already old. ¡°The director called and told me to just wholeheartedly follow what you want regarding security. Although I normally would¡¯ve tly refused, I now think doing as he instructed is the right decision. You ate like a soldier, and one who had gone through a lot of fieldwork at that. France probably realized that early, and our National Intelligence Service did so a littlete. Anyway, I look forward to working with you today,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk continued. He suddenly stood up, then held out his hand. Jeon Dae-Geuk was the type of person to push things through even if it drove other people crazy, but that didn¡¯t seem like a bad thing. At the very least, he was considerate of Kang Chan and smoked a bit even though he had already quit just so Kang Chan would feel at ease smoking. ¡°Let¡¯s meet a lot more from here on out,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk told Kang Chan as they shook hands. ¡°Alright.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk smiled strangely, then shook hands with Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°You¡¯re going to stay here for a bit longer, right?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Yes.¡± The two left the room¡­ ¡°It''s been a while since I''ve seen eyes that bright. You must not lose him to a country like France, no matter what,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said. ¡°Understood.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud because of the conversation they heard in the hallway¡ªit sounded as if Kim Hyung-Jung had a difficult time replying to Jeon Dae-Geuk. ¡°Phuhuhuhu!¡± Seok Kang-Ho burst out withughter as Kim Hyung-Jung returned to the room. Kim Hyung-Jung closed the door and sat at the portable table again while shaking his head. It felt as if a huge storm had just swept past the room. ¡°Despite how that gentleman acts, he¡¯s themanding officer that the members want to do an operation with the most,¡± Kim Hyung-Jungmented, then lit up a cigarette. He looked at ease. ¡°Ever since he received data and intel about the operation in Mongolia from the National Intelligence Service, he had been looking forward to meeting you. He¡¯s also the only person that Kim Tae-Jin can¡¯t defy.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho burst out withughter again because Kim Hyung-Jung spoke as if he was making excuses for the conversation in the hallway. Chapter 107.2: End it Quickly (2)

Chapter 107.2: End it Quickly (2)

¡°Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s nerves are on edge because there¡¯s information that you¡¯re being managed by France¡¯s DGSE. He strongly believes that to develop as a country, we have to ept and raise the talented people that we find,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. The carefree atmosphere calmed down to a certain degree. ¡°All of the foreign reporters are going to attend the event. There are going to be three lines of security. The security service will be in charge inside the grand ballroom, the National Intelligence Service¡¯s specialized team outside it, and the 606 on its outskirts.¡± The atmosphere changed when they went back to business. ¡°I¡¯m going to support everyone from the outside. We designated Mr. Kang Chan to sit next to Ambassador Lanok in the guest seats, and Mr. Seok Kang-Ho will be near the back of the guest seats. Anyway, I¡¯ll get going now. Let¡¯s finish strong today, then have a drink.¡± When Kim Hyung-Jung left the room, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho took their weapons. ¡°How do you feel today?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I do feel a bit ufortable. Anyway, stop asking me questions like that over and over again. I¡¯m not a fortune teller.¡± ¡°I keep asking you because it hasn¡¯t just been once or twice that we survived thanks to your gut feelings.¡± Kang Chan strapped the bay to his right ankle, then wore the earphone of the walkie-talkie on his ear. For some reason, he sighed loudly when he put on the jacket. Everything would be over after this meeting. The security was thorough. Jeon Dae-Geuk was in charge of it, and the 606 and specialized team were standing by at the event¡¯s venue. Although this historic event was enormous since it would change the dynamics of the world¡¯s economy,mitting a terrorist attack here would be difficult. Kang Chan saw Seok Kang-Ho taking weapons. It felt as if he was wearing clothes that didn¡¯t suit him. ¡°I¡¯ll see youter,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Yeah.¡± Kang Chan left the room at around 9 am. *** Lanok¡¯s room was about three times bigger than Kang Chan¡¯s. Kang Chan heard that Lanok had nonstop interviews untilte at night with the people in charge of the countries that stayed at the same hotel as him, but he didn¡¯t look tired. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, how are you?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°I don¡¯t feel great today. What about you?¡± ¡°I feel the same way. It seems I need ck tea and a cigar.¡± As Lanok¡¯s assistant prepared ck tea for them on the table, Lanok bit on a cigar and lit it. ¡°There¡¯s only the announcement left,¡± Lanokmented. ¡°That¡¯s right, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan exhaled loudly as he put down the teacup he drank out of. He had so much trouble breathing that his chest started to tighten. ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± Lanok looked at Kang Chan, perplexed. ¡°I don¡¯t have a good feeling about this. I don¡¯t know about anyone else, but I think you¡¯d believe me, so I thought I should tell you that. I hope you follow all my decisions at least for today even if it seems impractical.¡± It was going to be difficult for Lanok to believe him, but Kang Chan thought at least Lanok should be aware of this. ¡°Alright,¡± Lanok answered after looking at Kang Chan for a moment. ¡°Is that why your expression is different than usual, by any chance?¡± ¡°Did my eyes glint a bit?¡± ¡°I was starting to wonder if I¡¯ve done anything to displease you,¡± Lanok answered while smiling like a European mask. ¡°This has happened before. I already had a bad feeling about what was about to happen before we got ambushed and before unexpected danger could evene close to us. Even if my guts aren¡¯t always right, it doesn¡¯t hurt to be more careful in moments like this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fascinating.¡± This was also something that couldn¡¯t be exined. ¡°Right¡ªMr. Ambassador, I was told that the President and the Prime Minister are nning to attend the event today, so¡­¡± Kang Chan stopped. Lanok¡¯s expression had changed. Would Moon Jae-Hyun and Go Gun-Woo attending this event something that could surprise this sly fox this much? ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, did you just say that the President and the Prime Minister are attending?¡± ¡°Yes. I heard about it loud and clear. I was even asked to tell you that they¡¯re asking you to make the President look good before the announcement today.¡± ¡°Whoo!¡± Lanok sighed loudly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Ambassador?¡± . ¡°Since I¡¯m hosting this event, I requested yesterday for the Prime Minister to not attend the President¡¯s dinner, and I¡¯ve only invited the Prime Minister to the presentation today because of South Korea¡¯s regtions.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t understand what Lanok was saying. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, the Eurasian rail will rock the world¡¯s economy for the next hundreds of years. If France was left out of this n, then I would havemitted terrorist attacks even if it meant getting the Foreign Legion killed.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung also said something simr. ¡°In South Korea, if the President suffers an ident, then the power will be transferred to the Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister fails to do their work, then the power will be transferred to the Minister of Economy and Finance,¡± Lanok added. Kang Chan had never thought about things like that. ¡°Lee Min-Woo, the minister of South Korea¡¯s Ministry of Economy and Finance was basically raised by Huh Ha-Soo, the chairman of the national assembly, and WooYang Jeon-Woo. The current regime has handed over that position instead of approving the legitive bill because theycked the number of seats.¡± ¡°In that case, if the C-4 was to explode here, then¡­?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Until the next President is elected, Huh Ha-Soo and WooYang Jeon-Woo can operate the government however they want. I don¡¯t know why the South Korean government acted so impulsively like this¡ªmy country¡¯s DGSE has even secretly leaked information because of things like this.¡± This was appalling. ¡°Since Huh Sa-Soo is the chairman of the National Assembly, he definitely would''ve put some kind of condition to force the President and the Prime Minister to attend. It¡¯s probably along the lines of the opposition party keeping quiet and no longer asserting that the Director of the National Intelligence Service and the Prime Minister should be reced. After all, they know how much the current President values his people,¡± Lanok continued. There was something that Kang Chan didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, if this goes wrong, then it would be difficult for Huh Ha-Soo and Yang Jin-Woo to survive. Can they really be desperate enough to put their lives on the line?¡± ¡°WuYang Jeon-Woo is an American citizen, and China and Japan wouldn¡¯t abandon those two anyway. Taking that into consideration, it would be difficult for the South Korean government to find evidence. It¡¯s the same as knowing that youmanded the operation in Mongolia but having no evidence toin about it publicly.¡± Looking slightly flustered, Lanok continued, ¡°What would you do if you were in charge of stopping this meeting today no matter what? Would this meeting really proceed as nned if you handle itpletely prepared to die?¡± What would happen if that really was the case? ¡°We decided to hold this event here in South Korea because it¡¯s difficult to get weapons here and its President and Prime Minister share the same goals. Go Gun-Woo would support the Eurasian rail even if the President dies.¡± Kang Chan breathed out deeply, then held up a cigarette and lit it. ¡°Cancelling this event now will be difficult,¡± Lanok added while looking grim. ¡°Can I tell the security service or the National Intelligence Service about what you just told me?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter., but it would be best to be as careful as possible before the meeting progresses.¡± It was already 9:40 am. Kang Chan immediately pressed the talk button on the walkie-talkie. Chk. ¡°Mr. Kim Hyung-Jung, it¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan received a response the moment he extinguished his cigarette. Chk. ¡°It¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung.¡± Chk. ¡°Something urgent came up. It would be best to meet up as soon as we can. I¡¯m in Ambassador Lanok¡¯s room right now.¡± Chk. ¡°I¡¯m on my way. I¡¯ll be there in ten minutes.¡± Chk. ¡°Please get here even faster. We need you here as soon as possible, even if that¡¯s just a minute quicker.¡± When Kim Hyung-Jung said that he understood, Kang Chan pressed the button on the walkie-talkie again. Chk. ¡°Mr. Jeon Dae-Geuk, it¡¯s Kang Chan. You¡¯ve probably been listening to our conversation and already know what¡¯s going on. Can I see you as well?¡± Chk. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan put down the walkie-talkie¡¯s microphone, which was attached to his sleeve. ¡°You can tell them toe into this room,¡± Lanok said. *** Jeon Dae-Geuk and Kim Hyung-Jung formally greeted Lanok. Listening to Kang Chan¡¯s exnation, their expressions hardened. They seemed to have thought they shouldn''t have any doubts because Lanok was sitting right there and because Kang Chan was adding his own opinions as he interpreted. ¡°Can the President and Prime Minister cancel their n to attend?¡± Kang Chan asked in Korean. ¡°It would be difficult to cancel that for this kind of reason. Even the Ambassador is probably going to say that he¡¯ll attend. It doesn¡¯t matter what type of event it is. If people stop attending just because of the circumstances, there won¡¯t be any events that VIPs can attend.¡± Kang Chan passed on what Kim Hyung-Jung said, and Lanok said that he shared the same sentiments on that part. ¡°We¡¯ll return to our posts for now and push back the reporters a bit more so we¡¯ll have more space. Afterward, we¡¯ll check if there¡¯s no other way to stop the terror attack. It¡¯s already past 10 am, so even if we do this, we¡¯ll still be extremely short on time. Anyway, we¡¯ll contact you about the rest of the matters through the walkie-talkie,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. When Jeon Dae-Geuk and Kim Hyung-Jung left, Lanok looked at Kang Chan as if he was wearing a European mask. ¡°This alone is no different from stopping half of the terrorist attack, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± When Kang Chan smirked, Lanok poured out more ck tea for him. ¡°The dice have already been cast,¡± Lanok continued, ¡°Since they got attacked in Mongolia, China will try their hardest to get revenge. We have to stop them.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± Kang Chan asked out of genuine curiosity. ¡°This is what our lives are like. A lot of people quit because they couldn¡¯t ovee this fear and nervousness, but we won¡¯t gain anything if we keep fearing death.¡± Lanok tightly pressed the half-smoked cigar on the ashtray. ¡°Have you ever been afraid before heading into battle?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about it.¡± With a nod, Lanok said, ¡°I¡¯m heading into battle today, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± All Kang Chan could do was nod in response. 1. Lanok continues to pronounce Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s name incorrectly Chapter 108.1: Lets Kill Everyone (1)

Chapter 108.1: Let''s Kill Everyone (1)

10:15 am. It was now time for them to go out to the event location. Badum-badum. Badum-badum. Kang Chan¡¯s instincts started to tell him that this was dangerous. ¡°The look in your eyes changed again. Is this how you immediately knew something dangerous was about to happen at the golf club as well?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°Yes. Back then, I felt something like this as well.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok called with an intense look in his eyes. ¡°We¡¯ve done our best, so let¡¯s now humbly ept the results, no matter how it turns out. That being said, I¡¯m d you¡¯re with me as I head out to the event venue.¡± Lanok lived with so much determination. Even though his wife was shot to death and his daughter had injured her leg, he lived on to participate in this kind of event all the time. Kang Chan smirked, then breathed in loudly. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I met a great man today.¡± ¡°You must be talking about the chief officer of security.¡± ¡°Yes. With such a strong ally on our side, fighting our enemies will be worth it. We¡¯re also very lucky to have you in events like this.¡± Lanok smiled widely in response. ¡°Now!¡± Lanok stood up, and the agents and his assistant headed out to the waiting room. ¡°Let¡¯s start our war,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Europeans always had a cool way of saying those kinds of expressions. Two agents opened the door and examined the hallway. Louis and Kang Chan went out of the room in order. Lanok followed behind them. Badum-badum. Badum-badum. Kang Chan¡¯s nerves were on edge. As Louis moved quickly ording to Kang Chan¡¯s nces, the different agents nervously inspected the hallway and the front of the elevator. A member of the 606 was at the end of the hallway by the elevator. They were on the fifth floor. Ding. The elevator opened. Louis got in first, then Kang Chan, then Lanok. Someone pressed the button for the second floor. The door closed and the elevator, which was filled with a strangely nerve-wracking atmosphere, descended. 4¡­ 3¡­ 2¡­ Ding. When the door opened, an enormous amount of sh, the sounds of camera shutters, and blinding lights shone onto Lanok and Kang Chan. *** [Finally, Lanok Belmonde Pardieu, the Ambassador of France, Founder of the Eurasian rail establishment, and first Operation Committee member has appeared for today¡¯s historic announcement. Beside him is Kang Chan, the Shinmuk High School student who has been with Lanok since the start of this event. He does not seem dispirited at all, which is praiseworthy and something that we¡¯re proud of. Everyone! This is one for the books. We¡¯re honored to be able to broadcast the moment South Korea will confidently position itself as a key yer in the world¡¯s economy that will lead for the next several centuries.] ¡°Wow!¡± the kids eximed loud enough to shake the Shinmuk high school¡¯s ss windows. Even the teachers looked flushed with excitement and had both of their hands tightly sped in front of them because the announcer¡¯s excited shout was instigating them. *** The military band performed Arirang with discipline at the same time Lanok entered. The representatives from each attending country all stood up and greeted Lanok and Kang Chan with apuse. Kang Chan quickly examined their surroundings, noticing the five security guards in charge of Lanok¡¯s safety adjusting locations ording to Lanok¡¯s movements. The second floor was spacious. The distance that they walked after they stepped out of the elevator and went to the grand ballroom was long enough to be over twenty meters. One, two, three, four, five. Kang Chan instinctively measured the distance. He could hear the sounds of his own breathing, which showed just how nervous he was. The sounds of shutters and shes kept bursting out from the cameras as they followed Lanok. ¡°Move!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push!¡± ¡°Those in the front¡ªduck down a bit!¡± The reporters who went up the foldabledders and the reporters that blocked them grappled against each other. In between them, the agents paved the way for Kang Chan and Lanok. The grand ballroom¡¯s door waspletely opened. If it weren''t for the two 10-meter walls on either side of the room, the entire second floor would have seemed like an open-space area. Kang Chan¡¯s eyes briefly met Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s, who was standing at the wall on the right. They immediately looked away from each other, but that short moment was enough for Kang Chan to read Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s expression. He looked surprised by the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. An agent guided Lanok to the seat at the front and center, then gestured to the seat next to it to Kang Chan. Lanok turned from side to side with his hand raised in greeting and while smiling like a European mask to his heart''s content. In front of their table was a tform, and to the side of where Seok Kang-Ho was standing were a man and a woman who looked like the hosts. They were standing in front of the small podium and were quickly checking their scripts. Badum-badum. Badum-badum. Kang Chan''s heart seemed to be yelling at him, ¡®Get out. Get out of here. Please get out of this ce.¡¯ After quickly observing his surroundings, Kang Chan looked at Lanok. I¡¯ve already decided to join this battle anyway, so I might as well fight them with everything I¡¯ve got. Kang Chan smirked, having strengthened his resolve. *** ¡°Oh my! What should I do? What should I do? Our president¡¯s smile even appears in my dreams! A D.I. employee eximed. The screen was showing Kang Chan, who was smiling. The event woulde to a close after the announcement at 11 am. With the majority of people in front of the TV watching the announcement, the businesses in South Korea came to a halt. D.I. was no exception. After canceling their morning shoot, all the employees, including Michelle and their ountant Choi Yoo-Jin watched TV. [President Moon Jae-Hyun and Prime Minister Go Gun-Woo have decided to attend today¡¯s event and are expected to arrive soon. If the President and our government are the ones leading the Eurasian rail, then we¡¯re sure that the next generation like Kang Chan will raise up South Korea and put it at the top of the world. My fellow citizens! You are currently bearing witness to an event that will go down in South Korea¡¯s history forever.] *** [The President and the Prime Minister are making their entrance now.] The male host spoke in Korean, while the female host quickly interpreted it in English and French. Bam-ba-baba, bam-ba-baba, bam-ba-ba-ba. The military band performed Arirang again as Moon Jae-Hyun and Go Gun-Woo went up the stairs. As the foreign countries¡¯ delegations all stood up and apuded, Kang Chan quickly examined their surroundings. The scene was chaotic¡ªfilled with shes, shutters, and voices of foreign reporters. Jeon Dae-Geuk, who was also quickly looking over their surroundings, met Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. He looked nervous. Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s eyes were glinting, and he was so full of spite that it looked as if he would shoot anyone who¡¯d block him immediately regardless of who they were. Badum-badum. Badum-badum. Kang Chan¡¯s heart was beating so quickly that it made him feel as if he was running around his apartmentplex like he always did during mornings. Whoo. Whoo. Whoo. Whoo. Kang Chan could hear his own breathing. The sounds from the military band, cameras, reporters, and apuse sounded so far away, and everything seemed to be flowing slowly. Kang Chan was now in perfectbat mode. In this condition, he was confident he could defeat anyone he would run into. Whoo. Whoo. Whoo. Whoo. Kang Chan examined his surroundings again from left to right, then observed those who were close to him and then those far away. He looked at the hosts, the agents, and the person in charge from Europe, who was sitting at the very right. He also looked at the tform again, the security guards in the grand ballroom, the reporters, and the National Intelligence Service agents positioned far away. As Kang Chan looked at those nearby again, he noticed Lanok¡¯s pinky finger slightly trembling. Lanok was smiling as if he was wearing a mask and was looking at his surroundings with an arrogant gaze, but he couldn¡¯t suppress his pinky finger from trembling. Kang Chan remembered Lanok saying that he was going out to battle as well. Moon Jae-Hyun and Go Gun-Woo reached their seats, which were to Lanok¡¯s left. Moon Jae-Hyun stood beside Lanok and shook hands with him, then unexpectedly held out his hand to Kang Chan as well. Kang Chan politely shook hands with him. *** [In front of the first operationmittee member of the Eurasian rail, South Korea¡¯s present and future are shaking hands with each other. This historic scene hints toward South Korea¡¯s further development.] Kang Dae-Kyung held Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s trembling hand tightly. They didn¡¯t know why, but Yoo Hye-Sook had a nightmare and started trembling the moment she sat in front of the TV. It only got worse whenever Kang Chan was shown on TV. Kang Dae-Kyung reached around her shoulder and hugged her. They didn¡¯t go to work today. Their phones were on silent mode, they closed the door to their apartment, and they even unplugged the power cord of their home phone. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. You should trust and watch Channy. He¡¯s doing so well. Why are you so scared when it¡¯s about to end in a few hours?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m trying not to be, but¡­¡± Yoo Hye-Sook, who looked pale from fright, tightly held Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s hand. ¡°Our Channy shouldn¡¯t work at high ces.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s eyes were also trembling despite making a joke that sounded forced, but Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t notice. ¡°He¡¯s going to do a good job. It¡¯s okay. Everything is going to be okay,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung mumbled as if trying to reassure himself. Would it be okay, though? As he kept repeating that it would be okay, Kang Dae-Kyung remembered the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes when he begged him to be okay. On TV, Kang Chan shook hands with Go Gun-Woo, then sat down. 1. Arirang, or ???, is a Korean folk song sung in both North and South Korea. It represents the symbol of unity in the region divided by the Korean War. It is estimated to be over six hundred years old. Chapter 108.2: Lets Kill Everyone (1)

Chapter 108.2: Let''s Kill Everyone (1)

[We wee everyone to this historic event.] [Ladies and Gentlemen.] The sound of camera shutters rang throughout the event venue. The male and female announcers took turns saying their lines, signaling the start of the event. Meanwhile, Kang Chan¡¯s eyes met Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s about two times, then he clearly conveyed his intentions to Jeon Dae-Keuk. The look in their eyes made sense for people who had fought and experienced life on battlefields. Only those who were in a nerve-wracking matter of life or death could understand their gazes. ¡®I trust you. Do what has to be done.¡¯ Kang Chan felt reassured, but trust didn¡¯t stop idents from happening. ¡°It¡¯s time to announce the Eurasian rail.¡± The host¡¯s line made the noisy performance, apuse, and camera shutter sounds erupt again. ¡°Beforehand, we would like to wee to the stage Lanok Belmonde Pardieu, the chairman of the Eurasian rail establishment, for a congrattory message.¡± While the female host was interpreting, Lanok stood up from his seat and greeted Moon Jae-Hyun with a nod, then turned his head toward Kang Chan. As Lanok smiled, his glinting eyes conveyed his thoughts to Kang Chan. ¡®I trust we¡¯ll win this war, but if we lose, I ask that you take care of Anne.¡¯ Lanok meant that, at the very least, Kang Chan had to survive. His eyes also showed he believed that Kang Chan had the ability to do so. Kang Chan responded to Lanok¡¯s fake smile with his peculiar smirk. ¡°Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan said after standing up as well. Being prepared to die wasn¡¯t good. The will to survive until the very end was far more important. ¡°Do you know my codename?¡± Kang Chan asked. The sound of camera shutters rang throughout the event venue. ¡°God of ckfield.¡± In front of the President, the Prime Minister, numerous cameras, and the countless people watching him on TV, a high schooler was stalling the event while shaking the hand of the Founder of the Eurasian rail. ¡°My enemies created that codename. It means ¡®a god of Africa who brings death.¡¯ I¡¯m going to win the war today, so please take care of Anne yourself,¡± Kang Chan continued. An honest smile appeared inside Lanok¡¯s mask, but it disappeared quicker than it appeared. ¡®Did you read the look in my eyes?¡¯? ¡®Of course.¡¯ Things like this didn¡¯t have to be said. Lanok and Kang Chan smiled brightly at the same time. ¡°Sounds good. We¡¯ll need to confuse our enemies,¡± Lanok said. ¡°We should do that. I have your back.¡± *** [This is surprising. South Korea¡¯s high schooler and Lanok are talking to each other before his congrattory speech. Lanok¡¯s expression ispletely different from how he usually looks. I have been working on CNN as a reporter for politics for ten years now, but this is my first time seeing such a smile from him. Considering Lanok always ces political meaning in all of his movements, even if he¡¯s just moving a finger, it¡¯s safe to say that his smile is passing on a definite message.] The foreign reporters beside or in front of the cameras quickly passed on the situation using their microphones. *** ¡°To the honorable President of South Korea, his fellow citizens, and the representatives of every country connected to the Eurasian rail that has attended this event for this historic moment,¡± Lanok said, and the female host quickly and urately interpreted his words into Korean. Kang Chan¡¯s heart sank coldly. Badum-badum. Badum-badum. Badum-badum. Badum-badum. The pulsation of his heart had changed. This had only ever happened a few times to Kang Chan. It felt as if the enemy¡¯s gun was pointed at his neck or forehead from somewhere. . Not even a word of the speech wasing into Kang Chan¡¯s head. He would die the moment he missed the sound of his own breathing. Where were they? Who was acting suspiciously around him? Was one of the involved countries¡¯ attending representatives going to take out their gun? Kang Chan once again scanned his surroundings from left to right, then from close by to the far distance. At times like this, the one he could trust the most was Dayeru. ¡®We¡¯re almost there. Get ready.¡¯ ¡®Alright.¡¯ ¡®Kill them no matter what.¡¯ ¡®No matter what?¡¯ Dayeru briefly nodded after receiving a nce from Kang Chan. Kang Chan saw everything¡ªfrom a foreign reporter with a microphone gulping to a reporter¡¯s finger pressing a button on a camera. Kang Chan exhaled quietly, then tilted the pistol holster to the back. The security guards instantly looked at Kang Chan. ¡®What are you doing?¡¯?Jeon Dae-Geuk red at Kang Chan as if he was going to draw his gun at any moment. ¡®I¡¯m doing what I want to do.¡¯ Jeon Dae-Geuk tightly gritted his teeth, then quickly looked at the nearby security guards. They were thinking, ¡®Figure out their locations. Figure out the situation. Be on the lookout for danger.¡¯ Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum. ¡°What I¡¯m the happiest about regarding the connection of the Eurasian rail to South Korea is the chance I¡¯ve been given to eat Korean food nonstop,¡± Lanokmented, causingughter and apuse to erupt. ¡°South Korea¡¯s President and Prime Minister attended this honorable event today. This is a sudden request, but as the Founder, I would like to ask the President to give us a congrattory message.¡± Lanok looked behind him. Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum. ¡®You shouldn¡¯t be standing with the President.¡¯ ¡®The Prime Minister is far away, so it¡¯ll be fine. We just have to protect the Prime Minister.¡¯ When Moon Jae-Hyun stood up, people pped again. There were so many people crowded outside the hotel cheering and apuding that it seemed as if they were listening to a coverage of a ser game. Lanok and Moon Jae-Hyun shook hands. Do it quickly! Kang Chan¡¯s nerves were so on edge that the pit of his stomach began to feel hot. Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum. Lanok and Moon Jae-Hyun patted each other¡¯s shoulders. Lanok then walked to Kang Chan¡¯s side. As if he had gone crazy, Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s gaze alternated between the reporters, the foreign countries¡¯ representatives, and the security guards. When Lanok sat next to Kang Chan, Moon Jae-Hyun started to speak on the microphone. ¡°To our honorable citizens of South Korea, our foreign guests who visited South Korea for the establishment of the Eurasian rail, and Founder Lanok Belmonde Pardieu, who is responsible for it. Today, I¡¯m¡­¡± Kang Chan examined Lanok after pushing back the pistol holster. Lanok¡¯s right pinky finger was still, but when Lanok walked over, it started trembling again. ¡°Now, we¡¯re going to be the leader of this great era,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said as he held out his right hand to the front, seemingly to emphasize what he was saying. A loud roar and apuse were heard from outside the hotel. Will this event really end so peacefully?? They were in South Korea. Was something actually going to happen here? It wasn¡¯t like a missile could be fired from the outside¡­ Kang Chan''s cheeks felt as if they were burning. He quickly looked at the right side of the grand ballroom. It was blocked by a cement wall, yet they could still clearly hear the shouts of the people outside? Kang Chan raised his left hand and pressed the button on his walkie-talkie. Chk. ¡°Mr. Manager, the right side of the grand ballroom is blocked from the inside. Is a wall also blocking it from the outside?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk, the security guards, and Seok Kang-Ho quickly looked at Kang Chan upon hearing him through the walkie-talkie. Chk. ¡°I¡¯m in the car of the situation room right now to find out. The grand ballroom¡¯s external wall is a ss window, but panels are blocking it from within to stop any shootings.¡± Kang Chan tightly gritted his teeth. Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s congrattory speech was about halfway done. Chk. ¡°Is there a building built by Suh Jeong Constructions or owned by Suh Jeong Group across from the hotel?¡± Kang Chan asked again. Chk. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, all of the buildings across the hotel are being controlled by the 606 and the thirty-fifth brigade.¡± Really? Am I overreacting again? Chk. ¡°Mr. Manager, does the building behind the one across from the hotel have a clear view of the hotel¡¯s second floor? The Mistral or the I has an effective range of up to five kilometers,¡± Kang Chan questioned. Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s head popped up. He had thought about the possibility of a gunfight, but he didn¡¯t take into consideration that their enemies couldunch a surface-to-air missile. Mistrals and Is could fire a missile as long as an arm with auncher that was as tall as a human. Kim Hyung-Jung couldn¡¯t answer immediately. Chk. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, we couldn¡¯t calcte that far.¡± Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum. Kang Chan''s heart raced like crazy. People hade in and sat on the second floor of the hotel, so it was now tightly packed. If there were special operation forces members prepared to die just to fire an I, no one would survive, especially considering the situation inside the hotel was being broadcasted on TV. Kang Chan pressed the button on the walkie-talkie while quickly meeting Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s eyes. Chk. ¡°It¡¯s the God of ckfield. The snipers on the roof of the hotel are to check all of the buildings that are on the other side of the event venue. The target is a portable anti-air missile. If you see anything of the sort, you are to shoot on sight. Report afterward.¡± Chk. ¡°It¡¯s the chief officer of security. Follow the orders of the codename God of ckfield.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk looked at Kang Chan while gritting his teeth. Moon Jae-Hyun was about to end his congrattory remarks quicker than Kang Chan had thought. Where are they going to use the C-4? How can they kill Moon Jae-Hyun and Go Gun-Woo at the same time? Chk. ¡°Mr. Manager, what facilities are on the third floor?¡± Kang Chan asked. Chk. ¡°A buffet restaurant and a normal restaurant. We emptied both of them.¡± Chk. ¡°What about the fourth floor?¡± Chk. ¡°Empty guest rooms.¡± God damn it! Chk. ¡°Send the 606 to check the guests on floors eight to eleven. The enemies can break the ss with the C-4 and rappel down. There¡¯s a chance they¡¯re armed,¡± Kang Chanmanded. After listening to Kang Chan¡¯smands, Jeon Dae-Geuk looked at him with an expression that said, ¡®Could it be?¡¯ Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s speech ended. There was no answer. Everyone heard Kang Chan¡¯s codename, but they couldn¡¯t follow hismand toward the guests. Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum. Kang Chan felt as if time had slowed down. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, if I shout, then please do whatever it takes to run over to that man,¡± Kang Chan said. Lanok stood up from his seat. He briefly nodded while looking at Seok Kang-Ho. France had recognized Kang Chan¡¯s abilities, but South Korea was unaware of it. When Kang Chan turned his gaze, Jeon Dae-Geuk brought his left hand to his mouth after seeing Lanok nod. Chk. ¡°It¡¯s the chief officer of security. 606, search through the hotel immediately! If you keep refusing to follow the God of ckfield¡¯s orders, I¡¯ll hold everyone ountable.¡± Chk. ¡°The 606 is moving in. We don¡¯t have enough people. Requesting permission to send in the thirty-fifth brigade as well.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk sent a fierce look at Kang Chan. Chk. ¡°Send in the thirty-fifth brigade.¡± Chk. ¡°The thirty-fifth brigade is moving in.¡± Lanok and Moon Jae-Hyun shook hands in front of the podium, and camera shutters noisily rang out. Badum-Badum-Badum-Badum. Badum-Badum-Badum-Badum. Kang Chan gritted his teeth to ovee the warning his heart was telling him. At that moment¡­ Chk. ¡°We have discovered the missile. We have discovered the missile. Open fire. I repeat. Open fire,¡± someone urgently reported on the walkie-talkie. 1. The Mistral, or the Missile Transportable Anti-a¨¦rien L¨¦ger (Transportable lightweight anti-air missile), is a French infrared homing short-range air defense system. 2. the 9K38 I is a Russian/Soviet man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile system. Chapter 109: Lets go and Kill Everyone (2)

Chapter 109: Lets go and Kill Everyone (2)

¡°Move!¡± Kang Chan yelled. The moment Kang Chan sprang to his feet, Jeon Dae-Geuk and a security guard threw themselves at Moon Jae-Hyun. Whoosh! Meanwhile, Seok Kang-Ho and the agents threw themselves at Lanok. ¡°Stick to the wall!¡± Kang Chan yelled again. Grumble! Banng! A powerful explosion reverberated, sending intense vibrations through the building. It wasn''t a missile. The C-4 had exploded on the floor above. A scream then echoed. It was loud enough to ovee themotion inside the hotel. They had to stick to the wall if they wanted to live. ¡°Go to the back! The building is crumbling! I said to go to the back!¡± Kang Chan yelled as if he was crazy. The security guard and the National Intelligence Service¡¯s specialized team pushed the reporters away, and Kang Chan shoved the attendees sitting nearby to the area that was diagonal to the window. Rumble! The C4 exploded on the fourth floor. ¡°Escape to the back!¡± Detonating just fifty pounds of C-4 on the fourth floor would¡¯ve made enough rubble fall to make the second and third floors copse, since they didn¡¯t have pirs. Rumble. The third floor crumbled. Chk. ¡°Missile! Missile! Run away!¡± Someone yelled into the walkie-talkie. Jeon Dae-Geuk and Seok Kang-Ho, who were basically carrying Moon Jae-Hyun and Lanok respectively, were mmed into the corner. ¡°Go inside!¡± Kang Chan shoved away a European who had frozen up. Chk. ¡°Missile!¡± someone yelled on the radio again. We get it already, you son of a bitch! You should have shot them before they couldunch the missile! The security guards threw themselves on Moon Jae-Hyun, Go Gun-Woo, and Lanok, one over another. Rumble! The second floor began to copse. Damn it! ¡°Cover your ears! Your ears! Cover your ears!¡± Kang Chan ordered. Kang Chan threw himself down, covering the foreigner that he saw in front of him. Crack! Crack! Crack! The ceiling crumbled down, followed by the sound of an explosion loud enough to tear their eardrums and for them to feel shockwaves. BANG! Swoosh! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Swish! As heat, wind, and fragments bounced off the buildings, cement powder swept across Kang Chan. Whooosh.? Kang Chan had be so numb it was as if he was seeing everything unfold from underwater. Fckkk! Kang Chan had gone through countless experiences like this. He couldn¡¯t even feel the backside of his entire body. Among the pile of what seemed like dead bodies covered in cement powder, some of the people twitched. Ta-da-dang! Ta-da-da-dang! Ta-da-dang! Ta-da-dang! ¡°Kyaa!¡± Swish! Swish! Swish! From outside the window, ck lumps dropped to the ground. Those crazy fuckers! They were prepared for a war. That¡¯s why they even rappelled down to the second floor. Forcing himself to turn around, Kang Chan took out his pistol from the holster on his waist. Crack. ck lumps flew into the second floor. Kang Chan aimed at his opponents without hesitation. Ta-ang! The gunshots quickly returned him to his senses. Ta-ang. Ta-ang. Ta-ang. He shot four times, each one causing one of his enemies¡ªwho were wearing ck clothes and dangling on the ropes like monkeys¡ªto fall to the ground. Honestly, he didn¡¯t even know if they were his enemies or not. Ta-ang. Ta-ang. Ta-ang. ¡°Phew!¡± Kang Chan instantly knew that was Dayeru shaking his head, even if he didn¡¯t see it. Ta-ta-ta-ta-tang. Pow! Pow! Ta-da-dang. Ta-da-da-da-dang. Gunshots stirred up the dirt inside the building. Red lights fromser scopes could now be seen everywhere. Ta-da-da-da-dang. Ta-da-da-dang. Ta-da-da-dang. Tang. Continuous gunshots rang from the floor above and outside the building. Rubble had blocked the bottom half of the windows and the right side of the entrance. Kang Chan bent down to move quickly. ¡®Urgh!¡¯ He felt horrible pain from his waist and the back of his neck. Dayeru! Shoot them! Tang! Tang-tang! Tang!? That had to be Seok Kang-Ho¡ªthat fucker always fired pistols that way. Tang! Thud. Tang! Thud. Gritting his teeth, Kang Chan raised his head and found one of the enemies¡¯ser scopes pointed at Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s forehead. Click! Ta-ang! Thud!? Kang Chan swiftly shot down the enemy and moved forward. nk! He then picked up a rifle. As he did, he felt as if his entire backside was being ripped apart. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! After taking the rifle, he looked at Seok Kang-Ho. The C-4 was wrapped around the waist of a corpse. Swish! nk! Swish! nk! Kang Chan threw two rifles toward Seok Kang-Ho and Jeon Dae-Geuk, then went up the mountain of rubble while holding onto the back of the dead enemy¡¯s neck. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk yelled. Ta-da-dang! Ta-dang. Tang. Ta-da-dang! At that moment, they heard gunshots from the entrance. Swoosh! Seok Kang-Ho and Jeon Dae-Geuk leaned against the wall to the left of the entrance and aimed at their opponents. Meanwhile, Kang Chan was still dragging the deceased enemy. Why is this son of a bitch so heavy? He felt as if he was being ripped apart, but he couldn¡¯t stop now. Ta-da-dang! Pow! Tang! Pow! Ta-ang! Tang! Ta-dang. As piles of dirt sttered at the front of Kang Chan¡¯s feet, Seok Kang-Ho and Jeon Dae-Geuk kept up the cover fire. ¡®Urrgh!¡¯ Swish! ¡°Kyaaaaaah!!¡± They heard a scream when the dead body fell outside the building. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± As Kang Chan pulled the second corpse by the neck, Lanok forcibly stood up, tousling his hair. ¡°Please don¡¯te here! There¡¯s C-4 wrapped around the enemy¡¯s waist!¡± Kang Chan warned. Ta-ang! Tang! Ta-ang! Ta-da-dang! Seok Kang-Ho and Jeon Dae-Geuk quickly looked at Kang Chan. They needed to ignore the pain, because at one point, they might get used to it like Kang Chan right now. Swish. When he threw the second dead body outside, they heard a louder scream. Beep. At that moment, they heard a beep. Damn it! ¡°Lie down on your stomach!¡± Kang Chan yelled. Seok Kang-Ho and Jeon Dae-Geuk braced themselves against the wall, and Kang Chan threw himself behind another dead body nearby. Whoosh! They heard another loud explosion. Rumble. What remained of the ceiling copsed. ¡°Whoo!¡± His ears had been renderedpletely useless, so he didn¡¯t hear anything. Where is Lanok? Kang Chan didn¡¯t see him, but he couldn¡¯t even think right now. He saw four red lights by the entrance, alling fromser scopes. The window was almostpletely blocked. Kang Chan had been mmed into a corner, and the enemies couldn¡¯t even see him because he was hidden by a pile of rubble. Kang Chan took out the pistol that he had attached to his ankle. From his position, the enemies looked like they were standing in line. The red light from theser scope headed toward Seok Kang-Ho and Jeon Dae-Geuk¡­ Four guys standing in a straight line, huh? Shooting people exactly in the forehead or the heart with a Glock that had a really strong recoil? Kang Chan would feel outraged whenever he failed to save people. He straightened his back and pulled the trigger. Ta-tanng! Tang. Tang. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. The four men in front of the wall to the left of the entrance dropped to the floor. Still unable to hear properly, Kang Chan felt as if he had shot them while wearing a headset. With difficulty, Kang Chan then crawled toward their enemies. At some point, he started faintly hearing his knees dragging against the ground. He didn¡¯t know if the walkie-talkie was still intact, but if it was, he needed proper hearing to use it. Kang Chan first thought about taking the rifle of the man who had fallen closest to him, but¡­ Damn it! A red light flickered from the waist of the third enemy that Kang Chan had taken down. He also had a C-4 belt wrapped around him. As Kang Chan raised himself up to crawl, he looked at Seok Kang-Ho, who had copsed. If the C-4 exploded now, Seok Kang-Ho and Jeon Dae-Geuk would be ripped apart. They were too busy to even crawl away, so they wouldn¡¯t have time to do anything else. Kang Chan gritted his teeth as he looked at Seok Kang-Ho. You idiot! You think I¡¯d let you die?! ¡°Urgh!¡± Kang Chan dragged Seok Kang-Ho away. The ceiling in the hallway had copsed, and the entrance of the elevator had been blown away. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.? The red light started to sh quickly, and theser scopes beeped. Kang Chan continued to drag Seok Kang-Ho. Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep.? Kang Chan dropped Seok Kang-Ho in front of the crumbled hallway. Thanks to the wall, he had at least saved Seok Kang-Ho. Thud. Kang Chan waspletely exhausted, but he still had to crawl. That was the only way to win in this fight. Hence, Kang Chan kept crawling. Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep. Bee-eeep. Bang! *** The screen shook hard as people screamed. ¡°Urgh,¡± let out the reporter amid their lines. [An explosion happened from the second floor again.] The cameraman, whose head and face was covered in dust, pointed the camera at the cloud of dust rising up from the second floor. [Having failed their suppression tactic, the 35th brigade and the 606¡¯s special operation members are now tightly surrounding the building. We still can¡¯t confirm the terrorist organization behind this or if there are any survivors.] *** The Shinmuk High School fell silent. It was already past lunch time, but no one could move. One of the children had be pale with fright while another cried profusely. On TV, the international building had beenpletely destroyed, and foggy smoke and a cloud of dust was rising from the second floor. Kim Mi-Young sat there unmoving, staring nkly, with an ashen face. She was so scared that she couldn¡¯t even cry. It felt as if the world and everything in it had stopped. *** ¡°Honey! Honey!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung yelled. He urgently wet the towel with water and rubbed it on Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s face and neck. Yoo Hye-Sook had turned so pale with fright that she seemed dead. However, when water dripped down from the unwrung towel to her upper body, she managed to open her eyes, albeit barely. ¡°Honey, what should we do? Our poor Channy¡­ I have to go. He¡¯ll be waiting for me there,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go, but you need to gain energy first. You need energy to get there!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, honey. We have to go.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it. I got it, so please pull yourself together, okay?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung eventually burst into tears as well. He wasn¡¯t supposed to cry. But no matter how much he tried to hold in his tears, he couldn¡¯t stop his tears from falling. *** ¡°Hmm.¡± Yang Jin-Woo sat alone in the lounge, his right fist tightly clenched as he looked at the building with smoke rising from it. ¡°Whoo!¡± Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.? He breathed out loudly, then smacked his left breast a few times. ¡°Hahaha.¡± It wasn¡¯t time tough yet, but no matter how hard he tried to look serious, he couldn¡¯t stopughing. *** Kang Chan twitched and barely moved his index finger. ¡°You thought I was going to die, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kang Chan asked. Lying on his stomach, Kang Chan tapped his ear. ¡°Damn it! Now, I won¡¯t be able to answer phone calls anymore. Urgh!¡± They were very lucky that the wall hadn¡¯t crumbled. Kang Chan gritted his teeth. With difficulty, he lifted and nted his right palm on the ground. Just as Kang Chan was about to push himself up, Seok Kang-Ho grabbed and lifted Kang Chan¡¯s left arm, which was on the ground. Kang Chan smirked. The dust hadpletely covered the area around Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes, which were so red they looked like a ghost¡¯s. ¡°Please wait for a bit. I¡¯ll stand up and help you sit,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°I can¡¯t hear you.¡± ¡°What are you saying? Ugh! I said I¡¯ll raise you up.¡± ¡°I said I can¡¯t hear you.¡± Gritting his teeth, Seok Kang-Ho helped Kang Chan up. ¡°Ugh! If we get out of here alive, then¡ªurgh! Let¡¯s twist the necks of all of those sons of bitches. Urgh,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, dragging Kang Chan with him. Aftering helping Kang Chan sit and lean against the wall, Seok Kang-Ho sank to his knees with a thud. Kang Chan smirked once more. Seok Kang-Ho grinned. ¡°We survived again,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go and kill them.¡± . ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I said¡ªI said we didn¡¯t die.¡± ¡°I already said I got it. I¡¯m going to kill everyone, and I¡¯ll start with the fuckers who nned this and the fucking friends of those fuckers, so prepare ordingly.¡± ¡°Phuhu.¡± Dumbfounded, Seok Kang-Houghed. At the same time, Jeon Dae-Geuk twitched and moved his head. *** Chk. ¡°We¡¯re re-entering in three minutes! I repeat! We¡¯re re-entering in three minutes!¡± Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!? Kim Hyung-Jung put down the walkie-talkie and smacked the table like a crazy person. When the explosives were detonated, the entry team that had been waiting at the entrance retreated again. The hallway was blocked. If they approached it incorrectly and the bomb went off, the team would be written off as casualties. All they could do now was make the bomb explode from where they were. However, that could seal the fate of those still inside the building. Chk. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Chk. ¡°Mr. Section Chief!¡± Chk. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho!¡± They shouldn¡¯t have hesitated. They shouldn¡¯t have hesitated when Kang Chan told them to search through the guest rooms. Kim Hyung-Jung couldn¡¯t get rid of his stereotypes, even though he was already aware of Kang Chan¡¯s capabilities due to the operation in Mongolia. He couldn¡¯t believe he thought about what to report to the higher-ups while sitting in the situation room and got worried about the diplomatic friction that could result from messing with Chinese tourists before a terrorist attack. Chk. ¡°nt the explosive,¡± the officer-in-charge of the 606¡¯s intrusion said over the walkie-talkie. Chk. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Chk. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan! Please answer me!¡± Chk. ¡°You¡¯re the God of ckfield, aren¡¯t you?! Is that nickname all there is to you?!¡± Kim Hyung-Jung red at the walkie-talkie while gritting his teeth. He was having trouble breathing, even though he was only sitting in the situation room. ¡°Fuck!¡± Bang! The agents beside Kim Hyung-Jung couldn¡¯t even stop him. ¡°Whoo! Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯m going to get revenge for this no matter what! I don¡¯t care if that means having to quit my job in the National Intelligence Service!¡± Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s re switched to the screen that was showing the smoke rising from the building¡­ Chk. ¡°It¡¯s the God of ckfield.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung froze. Chk. ¡°Cease the entry operation.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung, who had nked out for a moment, raised the walkie-talkie to his mouth so quickly that his hand seemed to teleport. Chk. ¡°Entry team, cease all operations! I repeat! Entry team, cease all operations!¡± Chk. ¡°The entry team has stopped,¡± someone responded to Kim Hyung-Jung. Chk. ¡°It¡¯s the God of ckfield. All of the VIPs are safe. I repeat. All three VIPs are safe. The hallway is dangerous, so prepare adder truck to the window.¡± Chk. ¡°Understood, God of ckfield,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied. ¡°Arrgghh!¡± Kim Hyung-Jung shouted as if he had gone crazy, having put down the walkie-talkie and tightly clenched his fists. *** [There has been a rapid change in the situation! The entry team has retreated, and adder truck is urgently being connected to the second floor. The space we see is barely big enough for a person or two to pass through. We haven¡¯t been able to confirm if the President or the Founder is alive! While the armed members are guarding the building, thedder truck has now reached the window on the second floor.] As the reporters yelled, the members aboard the truck¡¯s aerial lift headed to the second floor. [They¡¯re clearing up space from inside the building. We still haven¡¯t confirmed if the President or the Founder of the establishment is still al¡ª!] ¡°Wow!¡± The people nearby and the citizens watching the situation from a building kept shouting as if they had gone crazy. [It¡¯s the President! Surrounded by the specialized team, President Moon Jae-Hyun is currentlying down thedder!] *** ¡°Please go next, Mr. Ambassador.¡± With difficulty, Kang Chan smiled at Lanok while leaning against the mountain of rubble piled up in front of the window. ¡°When are you going toe down?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°If I appear on TV one more time from here, I won¡¯t be able to take revenge for this.¡± Whooosh. ¡°Mr. Ambassador! Pleasee out quickly!¡± Someone yelled. Lanok looked outside, then looked at Kang Chan again. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯ll mobilize everything I can to support this revenge.¡± Kang Chan smirked. Lanok briefly nodded, then went out through the hole. ¡°Wow!¡± An uproar and loud apuse followed. Kang Chan struck his chest with his right arm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you having trouble breathing?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked, looking surprised. ¡°Cigarettes¡ªI was checking to see if I had cigarettes.¡± The wounded Go Gun-Woo was lying down on one side of the room. Meanwhile, those that could move among the representatives used thedder and went down first. ¡°Urgh, please tell them to send over a cigarette first. Manager Kim is great, but he¡¯s too square,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. ¡°Wow!¡± Before Seok Kang-Ho even finished talking, an enormous uproar erupted from outside the building. Chk. ¡°Manager Kim.¡± Chk. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan! Ambassador Lanok has just said that the Eurasian rail isn¡¯t going to submit to any kind of threat and announced the establishment, then shook hands with the President!¡± At any rate, the gentleman also had amazing showmanship. Chk. ¡°Manager Kim.¡± Chk. ¡°Please go ahead, Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Chk. ¡°Please give us cigarettes and a lighter. And contact my family¡ªthey¡¯re probably worried right now.¡± Chk. ¡°The paramedics are heading in right now. I¡¯ll send over the cigarettes and the lighter right after they go in, and I¡¯ll contact your parents immediately once I¡¯ve located them through the security guards assigned to them.¡± Rattle. Two men who looked like army surgeons came in through the hole. ¡°Here!¡± When Jeon Dae-Geuk raised his hand, the two army surgeons ran toward Go Gun-Woo. A momentter, Jeon Dae-Geuk approached Kang Chan with difficulty. ¡°How did you realize they were going tounch a surface-to-air missile?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk sounded as if he was imitating Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°If I was going to attack this ce, that¡¯s what I would¡¯ve done.¡± ¡°You would¡¯ve used C-4 as well?¡± ¡°I would¡¯ve done even worse things than that.¡± Thud. Jeon Dae-Geuk sank to his knees and leaned against the wall across from Kang Chan. Rustle. A member urgently came into the room and looked at Jeon Dae-Geuk. ¡°Manager Kim told us to bring these.¡± He was holding cigarettes and a lighter. ¡°Give them to him.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk looked very tired. *** Beep. Beep. Beep. ¡°Mr. President! It¡¯s me, assistant manager Kim! We heard that your son is safe! Mr. President!¡± The assistant manager knocked on the door. Rattle! Kang Dae-Kyung opened the door with wide eyes. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°They contacted thepany because you didn¡¯t answer your phone. They said that your son is safe and that they¡¯ll contact you when he has been transferred to a hospital! I ran over immediately because they told me that you¡¯re probably very worried and I should tell you quickly.¡± Thud! Kang Dae-Kyung sank to his knees at the entrance. 1. This was written as ¡®Couvre tes oreilles!¡¯, which means ¡®Cover your ears!¡¯ in French 2. No,ser sights don¡¯t beep. Laser tag guns do. Chapter 110.1: Where is He Right Now (1)

Chapter 110.1: Where is He Right Now (1)

Five members entered the room and checked their surroundings. In any other situation, they would have stuck to the n. However, taking Moon Jae-Hyun, Lanok, and Go Gun-Woo out of the building was far more important. Right now, they had to rescue the wounded as quickly as possible and avoid any further copse or attacks that could happen. Small rocks and powder fell down from the ceiling in a flurry. Apalled, Jeon Dae-Geuk looked at Kang Chan. He then looked around their surroundings again. Seok Kang-Ho put a cigarette in between Kang Chan¡¯s lips, then flicked the lighter. Chk chk. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan¡¯s back and waist hurt so much that moving even just a bit proved difficult. A few more agents entered and took care of the wounded. With help, those who could move descended thedder from the event venue. The broken wall was basically blocked, and the light permeating through the drilled holes drew long lines that illuminated dust particles. ¡°Mr. Section Chief, I¡¯ll apany you outside the building,¡± someone said. Jeon Dae-Geuk looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Please go first. I probably need the medical team¡¯s help to get out of here,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Let¡¯s talkter.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk was trying hard to ept their current situation. As amander who mainly worked in the field with special forces, Jeon Dae-Geuk saw today¡¯s incident as a painful defeat. When Kang Chan extinguished the cigarette, he feltnguid. ¡°Can you move?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Are you asking me that because you¡¯re thinking of catching Yang Jin-Woo?¡± People who could easily read people¡¯s mind like this fucker was rare. ¡°Doing that now would be hard. We can certainly kill him, but why should we die with him? Hold your anger in for now. We¡¯ll kill him in the best way possible,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. Damn it! Kang Chan straightened his back while gritting his teeth, then looked around his surroundings, which were a mess. It was so unfair that he had to leave Yang Jin-Woo alone. Yang Jin-Woo got them three times already¡ªstarting from the ambush on Kang Dae-Kyung, the operation in Mongolia, and even today. Barely stopping his attack didn¡¯t satisfy Kang Chan. If Yang Jin-Woo would do anything to stop them, then they also wouldn¡¯t refuse to fight. Patients kept being carried outside. Chk. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, we have contacted your parents. Pleasee out now,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. Chk. ¡°Mr. Manager, take care of the other patients first. Seok Kang-Ho and I will go to the Bang Ji hospital.¡± Chk. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll tell the others.¡± *** Yoo Hun-Woo cut all of Kang Chan¡¯s clothes with scissors, then showered him with disinfectants. Three doctors rushed toward Kang Chan, who was lying on his stomach. Meanwhile, a nurse washed his hair with a strange medicine. They removed the foreign objects embedded in his skin with tweezers, disinfected his wounds, applied medication, and wrapped bandages again. They then did an x-ray and a CT scan on him, checking some of his body parts including his waist, spine, neck, and back. ¡°Whoo, we don¡¯t have to worry too much. Please head up to the patient''s room¡ªI¡¯ll visit you this evening after checking on Mr. Seok Kang-Ho in the room next door. If you feel sick, even in the slightest, tell us immediately,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said afterward. Not only Kang Chan, but even Yoo Hun-Woo was tired. After being moved to his room, Kang Chan nkly sat on his bed¡­ Rattle. ¡°Channy!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook, looking pale with fright, ran toward Kang Chan. ¡°Are you okay? Are you really okay? Aren¡¯t you severely wounded?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay. I¡¯m sorry for making you worried.¡± As Yoo Hye-Sook checked and examined his face and body, Kang Chan made her sit on the bed and held her hand. ¡°See, Mother? Nothing¡¯s wrong with me.¡± ¡°Sob, okay. That¡¯s a relief. Sob.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t cry,¡± Kang Chan said. Yoo Hye-Sook cried for quite a while. Kang Chan held her hand until she breathed out with a ¡°whoo.¡± Afterward, Kang Chan looked at Kang Dae-Kyung, who appeared to have aged ten years in a day. This was what a child meant to the parents. Kang Chan found the deep love that he couldn¡¯t feel during his previous life in Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s aged face and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s cries. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? Did you have lunch?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. When Kang Chan smiled slightly, Yoo Hye-Sook felt as if she was bing a little bit calmer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan apologized. ¡°Why are you sorry, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked again. ¡°Father, please sit here.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung brought over a chair as if suddenly regaining his bearings, then sat next to the bed. Kang Chan massaged Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s hand, which was icy cold. ¡°This must be difficult for you to do, Channy!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± Kang Chan wished doing this would warm up Yoo Hye-Sook at least a little bit. ¡°It seems like your mom is returning to her senses now,¡± Kang Dae-Kyungmented, looking a little relieved. ¡°Mother, are you okay now?¡± Kang Chan asked. When he looked at her, Yoo Hye-Sook breathed loudly while wiping her remaining tears. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to go abroad to study,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°You think so too?¡± Kang Chan asked Kang Dae-Kyung. For some reason, Yoo Hye-Sook couldn¡¯t refute it. ¡°Ah! Mother has finally smiled!¡± ¡°Oh my!¡± When Kang Chan extended his hand, Yoo Hye-Sook hugged him from the side, and only their shoulders touched. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan apologized again. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong, and I¡¯m just d and okay now that I¡¯m sure you¡¯re safe.¡± Kang Chan could tell Yoo Hye-Sook had softened up because of the warmth that he felt on his shoulder, the way she spoke, and the look in her eyes after she straightened her back and gazed at Kang Chan. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t have any critical injuries?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°My back¡¯s a little hurt, but I was told that it¡¯s not serious.¡± ¡°How bad is it?¡± ¡°They really said it isn¡¯t serious. You know the director here, right? So please don¡¯t worry.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook sighed in relief, finally letting go of her worries. She felt fine now. Rattle! Crying, Michelle opened the door to Kang Chan¡¯s room. ¡°Channy!¡± ¡°Michelle?¡± Kang Chan asked. Michelle quickly ran over and hugged Kang Chan. ¡°I was so worried. I thought things were going to go wrong! You have no idea how anxious I was just thinking about not being able to see you again!¡± Michelle unconsciously yelled in French, using thenguage she was mostfortable with. She was crying so hard that Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked at each other in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m really okay,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Honey, let¡¯s buy some fruits and something to drink,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung suggested. ¡°Sure, honey.¡± When Kang Dae-Kyung gave her a look, Yoo Hye-Sook got off the bed. Michelle cried that profusely. Damn it! Michelle hugged him so tightly that the wound on his back throbbed. Rattle. After about five minutes since Kang Chan¡¯s parents discretely went out of the room, Michelle stopped crying and look at Kang Chan. ¡°Are you okay now?¡± Kang Chan asked. Michelle nodded as her blond hair fluttered. She was still teary-eyed. ¡°Channy, don¡¯t work. I¡¯ll work hard to make money.¡± ¡°Phuhu.¡± Perhaps it was because he was spending too much time with Seok Kang-Ho, but heughed in a simr way. ¡°I¡¯m being serious. Do what you want, but stop doing things like this, Channy.¡± European women normally wouldn¡¯t say things like that. Michelle was thinking like an Asian. ¡°What about the people in thepany?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°They¡¯re at today¡¯s afternoon shoot. They all looked grim because you got injured.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be there?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay here for a bit longer.¡± Rattle. The door carefully swung open, and Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook peeked inside the room. Kang Chan burst out in awkwardughter, and Michelle quickly got up and politely greeted them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Father and Mother,¡± Michelle apologized in Korean. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be sorry for worrying about our Channy. It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. Please sit. Would you like a cup of coffee?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I-I¡¯ll make it.¡± Michelle persistently made them sit, then went over to the water heater. ¡°Your Korean has improved a lot,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookmented. ¡°Thank you, Mother.¡± Michelle quickly made four cups of coffee and brought them on a tray. She offered one to Kang Dae-Kyung first. ¡°Father.¡± ¡°Ah! Alright.¡± ¡°Channy, tell your father to speakfortably to me,¡± Michelle spoke in French, making Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook look at Kang Chan. ¡°Aren¡¯t you overreacting?¡± Kang Chan asked in French. ¡°Channy!¡± ¡°She¡¯s saying that you two should speakfortably to her,¡± Kang Chan told his parents. ¡°Wow! How can you have really amazing ways to take care of others?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Mother, please have coffee as well.¡± ¡°Alright. You should have a seat as well. Thank you foring here¡ªyou must be tired because of work.¡± Michelle handed Kang Chan some coffee, put the tray down on one side, then sat in a chair. Kang Chan felt tired for some reason. They talked for about thirty minutes, then Michelle stood up from her seat. ¡°Why are you getting up? Are you thinking of going already? Have dinner with us first,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook suggested. Michelle asked Kang Chan to interpret for her, then said, ¡°Please stay herefortably today. I¡¯ll treat the two of you to a meal once Mr. Kang Chan gets better. I looked into a delicious andfortable French restaurant.¡± ¡°Father, I¡¯ll see you next time,¡± Michelle said. When she extended her arm for a handshake, Kang Dae-Kyung awkwardly hugged her instead like a stern father hugging his cute daughter. ¡°Mother, it¡¯s a relief that he¡¯s okay.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook hugged Michelle like they were close friends and even stroked her back. Soon after, Michelle left. ¡°Channy, how old was that youngdy again?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Huh? I¡¯m not sure. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°She¡¯s so pretty and gentle.¡± There was something strange with the look in Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s eyes, but Kang Chan pretended not to notice. Chapter 110.2: Where is He Right Now? (1)

Chapter 110.2: Where is He Right Now? (1)

Rattle. The door soon opened again. Kang Chan thoughtlessly looked toward it. A thin middle-aged woman came in, followed by a stern-looking middle-aged man and,stly, Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Hello?¡± the woman greeted. Kang Chan remembered! She was Kim Mi-Young¡¯s mother. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook stood up and greeted Kim Mi-Young¡¯s parents. Kim Mi-Young was standing at the very back, and her eyes were swollen because she had cried so much. ¡°Forgive us. It''s our first meeting, yet we¡¯re already being rude. I¡¯m Kim Gwan-Sik. We came here after looking into where Kang Chan was in many ways, even though we knew that everyone would be ufortable because our daughter was crying so much.¡± ¡°Thank you foring,¡± one of Kang Chan¡¯s parents said. They awkwardly greeted each other. ¡°Come here quickly and see Channy¡ªyou¡¯ve been crying so much,¡± Kim Gwan-Sik told Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Ugh!¡± Kim Mi-Young loudly burst into tears, each one filled with relief and embarrassment. Kim Gwan-Sik smiled bitterly, and the gaze of Kim Mi-Young¡¯s mother alternated between Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young. She looked ufortable. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Did you worry a lot?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I thought you¡¯d get injured while I was watching the broadcast. Sob.¡± ¡°Look at me! I¡¯m fine. So stop crying now, okay?¡± Kim Mi-Young¡¯s eyes were very swollen, and her nose was red. ¡°Please have a seat for a moment,¡± said Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Despite being a father as well, we did something rude because she was crying so hard she couldn¡¯t even attend her hagwon ss. I¡¯d be grateful if you can think of this as me bing soft-hearted for my daughter,¡± Kim Gwan-Sik said. ¡°Raising a child is certainly difficult.¡± In front of Kang Dae-Kyung and Kim Gwan-Sik, Kim Mi-Young looked as if she barely calmed herself down. ¡°You aren¡¯t severely wounded?¡± Kim Gwan-Sik asked. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kim Gwan-Sik nodded, looking at Kang Chan. ¡°I heard on the TV that you got hurt. I know that your father introduced you to that position, but please don''t get mad at him or resent him. You didn¡¯t get hurt because of him. Please just think of this as you getting hurt while serving your country.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kim Gwan-Sik really looked like a stern father. Kim Mi-Young looked at Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Wee. Thank you for worrying about our Channy.¡± Kim Mi-Young hung her head in embarrassment, unable to answer. ¡°Ah, why are we just standing around? Please, let¡¯s have a cup of tea.¡± Kim Gwan-Sik looked at Kim Mi-Young, then said, ¡°We¡¯re in your care, then.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook stood up, and Kim Gwan-Sik looked at Kim Mi-Young¡¯s mother with fierce eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll help you,¡± Kim Mi-Young¡¯s mother offered. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You came here to see Kang Chan, so please just take a seat. I¡¯ll handle this,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. Kim Mi-Young¡¯s mother pretended that she couldn¡¯t win against her and just sat next to Kim Gwan-Sik. ¡°To think he did something like this for the country¡­ Having such a dependable son must make you happy and proud,¡± Kim Gwan-Sik told Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true. Seeing him get injured makes me wish he was a pretty daughter instead.¡± ¡°Hahaha, I heard that boys are like that. Ah! Thank you.¡± Kim Gwan-Sik politely epted the paper cup. ¡°You said that you¡¯re going abroad to study in France?¡± Kim Gwan-Sik asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going to university in Seoul instead.¡± Kim Gwan-Sik¡¯s gaze alternated between Kim Mi-Young and Kang Chan, seemingly asking what Kang Chan was saying. Kang Chan decided to treat him a bit more politely for Kim Mi-Young¡¯s sake, who likely cried and frantically begged her parents toe here. ¡°I changed my mind because I think I can get special admission to a university in Seoul. I¡¯m thinking of deciding whether I should study abroad after learning a bit more of the basics,¡± Kang Chan exined. Would you look at?that? Kim Gwan-Sik cocked his head as he looked at Kang Chan. Funnily enough, Kim Mi-Young¡¯s mother no longer seemed to have anyints. ¡°What are you thinking of doing in the future?¡± Kim Gwan-Sik asked. ¡°I want to be a diplomat,¡± Kang Chan blurted, remembering Kim Mi-Young¡¯s old wish. ¡°Hmm.¡± Kim Gwan-Sik nodded with a strange expression, then gave Kim Mi-Young a subtle nce. ¡°Are you a bit relieved now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°We¡¯re probably making his parents ufortable. Why don¡¯t we leave now?¡± Kim Gwan-Sik asked. Kim Mi-Young disappointedly stood up, her eyes still puffy. ¡°You¡¯re going home already?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°We have already inconvenienced you three far too much.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Kim Gwan-Sik shook hands with Kang Dae-Kyung, then wordlessly patted Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Goodbye,¡± said Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Bye. Thank you, Mi-Young,¡± Kang Chan¡¯s parents said. Kim Mi-Young¡¯s mother bowed her head, looking less displeased, then headed out of the patient room. ¡°Was that Mi-Young¡¯s father?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°This is my first time seeing him as well.¡± ¡°He seems like a good guy.¡± ¡°Right? Honey?¡± Kang Chan and Kang Dae-Kyung both knew that the backbitingment Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t say at the end was, ¡®But her mom¡­¡¯ A momentter, Yoo Hun-Woo came into the room with a nurse. He greeted Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, then stood in front of Kang Chan. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°If you vomit, feel any tingling sensation, or if you think there¡¯s anything wrong at all, then you have to tell us right away.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo nodded, then turned. ¡°After dinner, we¡¯re going to use IV medication that¡¯s a bit stronger. He¡¯ll go into a deep sleep, which is the best thing for him right now. I¡¯ll monitor him as closely as possible, so you two should head home after dinner. There¡¯s nothing more important than creating an environment where the patient can sleep soundly.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked disappointed, but they seemed to agree with what Yoo Hun-Woo had said. As expected! If Kang Chan had to choose a sly fox that could go up against Lanok, Yoo Hun-Woo was the only one he could think of. The three of them ordered bossam for dinner. Yoo Hye-Sook had calmed down and smiled every now and then, and Kang Dae-Kyung seemed to have rxed as well. They talked about Michelle, Kim Mi-Young, and how proud and worried they were as they watched what happened on the TV. Rattle. At around 8 pm, the nurse handed over the medication and inserted a needle in the IV line. ¡°It would be best for you to go home now,¡± the nurse said. The two stood up from their seats at the nurse¡¯s kind suggestion. ¡°Sleep well, Channy. I¡¯ll visit you again in the morning. Do you want to eat anything?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°No, I¡¯m okay. Please don¡¯t worry.¡± Behind Yoo Hye-Sook, who was hugging Kang Chan, Kang Dae-Kyung nodded. Approximately five minutes after Kang Chan¡¯s parents left, the door opened, revealing Seok Kang-Ho. He was dragging an IV pole with him as he walked so stiffly it was as if he felt ufortable all over. ¡°Have you recovered a bit?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chanughed out loud. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even get me started. My back hurts so much it¡¯s hard for me to even move an inch! Anyway, I asked the director to make your parents leave. Phew!¡± Seok Kang-Ho frowned as he brought over a chair and sat down. ¡°Here. I got cigarettes,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said afterward. Kang Chan swung himself out of bed. ¡°Huh? Why are you getting out of bed?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Stay seated. I¡¯m going to the bathroom.¡± It didn¡¯t matter how much he moved. His back, waist¡­ everything hurt whenever he did. Kang Chan made coffee aftering out of the bathroom. ¡°I¡¯ll make it,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m already up anyway.¡± After making two cups of coffee and putting them on a tray, Kang Chan dragged the IV pole and walked to the bed. Chk chk. Ah! As expected, instant coffee and cigarettes were the best when hospitalized. ¡°We were really lucky. There were a total of three Is, but because we shot down two of them, the enemies detonated the C-4s first. I was told that they fired the remaining I between the first and second floors. However, since the second floor crumbled first, it acted as a barrier,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. When Kang Chan looked at him, Seok Kang-Ho exhaled cigarette smoke. ¡°Manager Kim dropped by earlier today. Your parents were here, so he told me to tell you that he¡¯ll drop by againter instead. Anyway, are we just going to leave the people who did this alone?¡± When Kang Chan smirked, Seok Kang-Ho smiled suspiciously and added, ¡°Ah! Oh Gwang-Taek called multiple times. He kept throwing a fuss because you weren¡¯t answering your phone, so I told him you had reasons preventing you from doing so. I¡¯ve said this before, but that fucker cares more than he seems.¡± Now alone with Seok Kang-Ho, Kang Chan started to remember the things left undone and pushed back. ¡°How many of our people died?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Huh? You don¡¯t know even though it was on the news? There were no fatalities. Five people are severely injured, but they already announced that their injuries weren''t life-threatening. Manager Kim confirmed that as well.¡± If so, then that was really a relief. ¡°Let¡¯s meet and get some information from manager Kim tomorrow, then use that to n our next move. We¡¯re going to return what we received to those sons of bitches,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± The two of them spent time together. *** The next morning, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook dropped by the hospital and, looking disappointed, went to work at around 10 am. They had no choice but to go to work despite the current situation since they had already gone absent yesterday. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Channy,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook apologized. What should she be sorry about? ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m really fine, so please be at ease when you work.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll visit again in the evening.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook was so gaunt it was as if she was sick, but her eyes looked lively. The very first person to visit Kang Chan after his parents left the room was Kim Hyung-Jung. They called Seok Kang-Ho over as well and sat together. ¡°We still haven¡¯t identified the terrorists. We¡¯ve searched everything¡ªtheir fingerprints, how they look, the wounds on their bodies, and their tattoos, but all we can do is believe that they were from the Chinese special forces; we haven¡¯t discovered anything else,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. That was a matter of course. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to confirm since the Is and the firearms¡¯ serial numbers have been erased as well. Yang Jin-Woo and Huh Ha-Soo seem to have had a central role in the attack, but they both left the country this morning. Right! Mr. Kang Chan¡­¡± Kang Chan looked at Kim Hyung-Jung as he extinguished his cigarette in the paper cup. ¡°About Lee Ji-Yeon, thedy that works at the Namsan Hotel¡­¡± Kang Chan wordlessly waited for Kim Hyung-Jung to continue. ¡°She was found dead this morning, having hung herself. We couldn¡¯t pay attention to her since everyone, including Choi Jong-Il, had been mobilized at the event yesterday, but while tracking her down, we eventually confirmed her death. She¡¯s in the mortuary right now. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Crack! When Kang Chan clenched the paper cup, the remaining coffee, which had turned ck since the cigarette ash had mixed with it, spilled out to his hand. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo, that son of a bitch! Where is he right now?¡± Kang Chan asked. Raising his head and looking at Kang Chan, Kim Hyung-Jung answered with a grim expression, ¡°He¡¯s in New York, United States. He¡¯ll probably stay at his property in Las Vegas starting tomorrow.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung then exhaled deeply. Chapter 111: Where is He Right Now? (2)

Chapter 111: Where is He Right Now? (2)

¡°Can you make me a passport that matches the ID you gave me a while ago?¡± Kang Chan asked. The room¡¯s atmosphere was heavy. Kang Chan didn¡¯t look away from Kim Hyung-Jung even as he was wiping his hand with the tissue that Seok Kang-Ho had handed to him. ¡°You¡¯re drawing international attention because of this event, and there¡¯s also intel that you¡¯re a secret agent that Ambassador Lanok and South Korea have raised, so the United States will be on high alert and closely monitor you the moment you enter their country.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung sighed deeply, then continued, ¡°The people responsible for the attack are National Assembly Chairman Huh Ha-Soo, Chairperson Huh Sang-Soo, assistant Kwak Do-Young, and Yang-Jin-Woo. Yang Jin-Woo is in the United States, and the other three are in China. I¡¯ll create a n that would make them all go to South Korea.¡± ¡°What about Lee Ji-Yeon¡¯s killer? I heard that two of Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s private organizations are still around,¡± Kang Chan asked again. Kim Hyung-Jung picked up a cigarette. ¡°That¡¯s currently under investigation.¡± Kang Chan calmed down a little bit, but his eyes still glinted. ¡°We will give Lee Ji-Yeon¡¯s hospitalized mother the full support that the country can provide her, so let¡¯s suppress our anger a little until we can drag Yang Jin-Woo and Huh Ha-Soo here,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°Have you thought of a way?¡± ¡°We¡¯re still looking into it from multiple angles.¡± Having seen Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s will, Kang Chan didn¡¯tin. They were in a difficult situation, after all. ¡°Right! I left my phone in the hotel, but I came here because of the ident,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°It will be there as you left it because the guest rooms are being restricted to preserve evidence. We¡¯ll bring it over to you as soon as possible. Mr. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s phone will be there as well, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan after exhaling smoke. ¡°The Director and the Chief Officer of Security are also waiting for a chance to catch them. The problem is the diplomatic pressure from China and the United States, but we¡¯re also determined to cope with that.¡± ¡°Why would China and the United States pressure us?¡± Seok Kang-Ho suddenly butted in. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo has American nationality, and Huh Sang-Soo is Chinese. South Korean citizenship always automatically disappears if people acquire citizenship from a foreign country, but we believe China gave him citizenship secretly.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying that one of the National Assembly members is Chinese?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s expression crumpled. ¡°The man who has American citizenship despite earning all of his sry in South Korea is already a problem, but now we also have to worry about a politician fucker with Chinese citizenship.¡± ¡°They acquire South Korean nationality if they win in the election. Checking if they have another nationality is difficult since they don¡¯t report it and revealing it would cause problems every time a legitive bill is passed, so we have just been leaving it alone and moving on while pretending not to notice.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that these fuckers are patriots loyal to the United States and China,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Kang Chanughed in a silly way, but he didn¡¯t have anything else to say. ¡°If needed, we¡¯re considering making them go to Southeast Asia. That would make it easier to do an operation because the influences of China and the United States aren¡¯t immediately effective over there,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. ¡°Please have the section chief take care of that,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright.¡± At lunch, the three ordered galbi-tang, but it tasted mediocre. After eating, Kim Hyung-Jung soon stood up and left. ¡°What did you tell your family?¡± Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I said that I¡¯m on a business trip.¡± ¡°They believe that a teacher goes on business trips?¡± ¡°I¡¯m usually very well-behaved, and the National Intelligence Service is paying me close to ten million won as my sry, so they repeatedly told me to take care of myself. Phuhu.¡± *** Lanok¡¯s assistant entered the room and urgently approached the desk. ¡°We heard that the DGSE has killed two Serpent Venimeux underbosses.¡± Lanok covered the document he was looking at and sat up straight. ¡°We won¡¯tpromise until they give us the information that I want. Kill their leader quickly as well. We have to use this opportunity to make the Serpent Venimeux bow down to us.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell them that.¡± ¡°How¡¯s Louis?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°I heard he¡¯ll be discharged in a week, but¡­¡± ¡°Is Anne with him?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad thing.¡± Lanok smiled a bit as he put his pen on top of the desk, disappointment shing across his face. ¡°Track down WooYang Jeon-Woo, Huh Ha-Soo, and Huh Sang-Soo. Afterward, report to me about the movements of China, the United States, and the U.K. or whenever a Serpent Venimeux is killed.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± When the assistant left the room, Lanok exhaled loudly. ¡°I introduced a tiger, but you got your heart stolen by a wolf,¡± Lanok spoke to himself. He shook his head slightly, thenid out the document again. *** Rattle. While Kang Chan was having small talk with Seok Kang-Ho, four men in ck suits entered the room. Although they were Asians, they looked like Europeans. They also had a tattoo on their left thumb. After Kang Chan broke the arm of a man in the Namsan Hotel a while ago, the man told him that a total of five people came into the country. The other four men were now in front of him. Kang Chan, who was sitting on the chair in front of the bed with Seok Kang-Ho, smirked. In response, the man standing at the front raised his hands and showed his palms. ¡°We don¡¯t want any misunderstandings,¡± the man spoke in Korean. ¡°Tell me what you want,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Is it alright if we take a seat?¡± Kang Chan nodded, and the man brought over a chair and sat across from Kang Chan. The other three men stood with their hands sped in front of them in front of the door. ¡°I¡¯m Xavier. Can we smoke here?¡± ¡°Tell those men behind you to make coffee so we can all have a cup,¡± Kang Chan said. When Xavier turned his head and issued an order, one of them immediately walked toward the water heater. However, he hesitated. ¡°Pour out all of the coffee bits in the bag into the cup,¡± Kang Chan told him in French, and the man finally started to make coffee properly. The three men bit on a cigarette that Seok Kang-Ho had handed over. ¡°We have a favor to ask you,¡± Xavier said. One of the subordinates awkwardly put the coffee down, then walked toward the door. Ask me a favor? Are these fuckers out of their minds? Kang Chan stole a nce at Xavier and the three men standing at the back. ¡°Lanok has ordered his men to kill all of the heads of the Serpent Venimeux. They have taken down two underbosses and five regional executives already. Our leader hopes that the God of ckfield will arbitrate this issue,¡± Xavier continued. This was Kang Chan¡¯s first time hearing this. ¡°At this rate, we will alsoy everything in our organization on the line and start assassinating Lanok and those around him,¡± Xavier added. After sipping on his coffee, Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Xavier, I have neither the power nor the desire to tell Lanok what to do, so drink your coffee and leave.¡± However, Xavier, who was looking at the paper cup that Kang Chan had put down, didn¡¯t back off. ¡°There will be a reward for arbitrating this. Please say what the God of ckfield wants.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want anything. Your rtionship with me ended with you doing business with Yang Jin-Woo.¡± ¡°What if we catch Yang Jin-Woo for you?¡± What¡¯s he saying? Kang Chan nkly stared at Xavier due to the unexpected offer. ¡°One of Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s sons is in France, and his daughter and his other sons are in the United States. We¡¯ll kill them, their spouses, and their children, and we¡¯ll catch Yang Jin-Woo. How does that sound?¡± Xavier continued. It was a shocking condition, but it was difficult to willingly ept it. Kang Chan took out another cigarette. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo also fooled us. If we kill his children and spread rumors, Yang Jin-Woo will inevitably run away to South Korea. When he does, we¡¯ll catch him. However, in return, we ask that you arbitrate so we can establish friendly rtions with Lanok.¡± Chk chk. Kang Chan thought about it while lighting up his cigarette. Lanok wasn¡¯t simple-minded. He even ordered his men to kill all of the Serpent Venimeux executives just because they sold weapons. ¡°Why is Lanok attacking you guys?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We don¡¯t exactly know why either. It would be best to meet Lanok and find out what he wants.¡± The fucker had great Korean pronunciation, but the way he spoke was so awkward. Kang Chan suddenly thought of the man whose arm he broke. ¡°Why are you still in South Korea? Were you the ones who killed Lee Ji-Yeon?¡± The moment Kang Chan¡¯s eyes glinted, Seok Kang-Ho straightened his back and frowned. ¡°That wasn¡¯t us. We¡¯re still here to¡­¡± Xavier urgently responded to Kang Chan, ¡°Receive the data that Yang Jin-Woo was supposed to give us.¡± Xavier hesitated for a moment when the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t change. ¡°Huh Sang-Soo is a member of the National Assembly that¡¯s in charge of national defense, so Yang Jin-Woo was supposed to get information about the arrangement of the South Korean military from Huh Sang-Soo and ry it to us.¡± ¡°Is that what Yang Jin-Woo deceived you all about?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the biggest matter.¡± ¡°Sons of bitches,¡± Seok Kang-Ho took out a cigarette while swearing. ¡°How do I contact you?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°We¡¯ll give you our phone number before we go.¡± ¡°Alright. Now leave.¡± ¡°We ask that you take care of this quickly.¡± When Kang Chan red at him sharply, Xavier quickly ced his business card on the table and stood up. Tsk! ¡°Ugh! Why did those fuckers work with those kinds of gangsters? Didn¡¯t they have anyone else to work with? Is it possible for the National Intelligence Service to not know about this?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Tell me about it.¡± ¡°Manager Kim said he¡¯singter, so let¡¯s ask him then. Unfortunately, of all things, both of us left our phones at the hotel.¡± Things were a bit chaotic, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to butt into this kind of fight. *** Having left the hospital, Xavier called someone while getting in the car. ¡°I have just finished meeting with Kang Chan. I don¡¯t know how it¡¯ll go since it seems like he doesn¡¯t like us very much.¡± - You have to hurry. Lanok is already full of spite, and our organization is faltering because of that crazy fucker Yang Jin-Woo. Lanok ordering the DGSE to kill us is surprising, but nobodyining about his order is even more so. He has some kind of power that we¡¯re not aware of. Anyway, we¡¯ll start by hanging the necks of Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s son, his wife, and his child at the apartment back in France. Use that in the negotiation. ¡°Understood.¡± - Don¡¯t go against the God of ckfield. He¡¯s the key. Don¡¯t forget about the meaning behind the smile Lanok showed on TV and the time that his daughter started to act when she met the God of ckfield. Hurry. ¡°I won¡¯t let my guard down.¡± - You know why I¡¯m insisting on sending you, my adopted son, to South Korea right? ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± After Xavier ended the call, he put his phone in his inner chest pocket. ¡°Where is that stupid fucker Philip?¡± Xavier asked someone. ¡°We have him in a hotel on the outskirts of Seoul.¡± ¡°He¡¯s no better than trash. His arm broke as soon as he came to South Korea, and he couldn¡¯t even fulfill one mission. Slit his neck open today and bury him near the hotel.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Xavier tightly gritted his teeth, then looked outside the window. *** Rattle. Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan stiffened in surprise when the door opened. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho!¡± It was Kim Mi-Young. Shouldn¡¯t she still be in ss? Fortunately, Kang Chan wasn¡¯t smoking right now. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I came here to see Channy. Why are you wearing a hospital gown?¡± Kim Mi-Young¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t as swollen now, but they were still pretty bad. ¡°I got a bit injured when I went to the countryside. Anyway, don¡¯t you have sses?¡± ¡°School ended early because we had mock exams today.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Kim Mi-Young approached them and looked surprised upon seeing the paper cup on the table. ¡°Was it you who smoked, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho?¡± ¡°Huh? Huh?¡± Seok Kang-Ho discretely picked up the cigarettes and lighter on the table. ¡°I¡¯m in pain, so I¡¯ll go back to my room now. I¡¯ll see youter.¡± As Kang Chan sighed quietly, Seok Kang-Ho awkwardly went out. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho is too much.¡± Kim Mi-Young stacked the paper cups and threw them away in the trash can. She then tried hard to open the window a bit more. ¡°Leave it¡ªthat¡¯s the best that we could do. Did you do well on your test?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Mi-Young nodded, smiling brightly. She wasmendable. ¡°Good job.¡± If her grades dropped because she came to the hospital crying and screaming yesterday¡­ Kang Chan suddenly remembered the cold expression of Kim Mi-Young¡¯s mother. ¡°Um, my father asked me a lot of questions after we went home yesterday,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. ¡°About what?¡± ¡°He asked me if I liked you.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t even guess what she could have said. ¡°You¡¯re curious, right?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°So I told him everything¡ªthat I was nning on studying abroad with you, and that we decided to go to a university in Seoul again.¡± ¡®I¡¯m going to go crazy.¡¯ Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Why are youughing?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked again. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡ªI was just happy that you were honest with him.¡± ¡°Really? My dad was also happy.¡± He was happy with that stern face? Kang Chan listened to what Kim Mi-Young was saying while trying hard to not show his expression. Was it because of the gap between her mental age and her body? Kim Mi-Young looked so much more mature since the break ended. She had dark eyebrows and long eyshes. Her eyes had always beenrge, so that wasn¡¯t new. However, now that her baby fat had disappeared, she looked more mature. Since she always hadrge breasts and a good body shape, people could mistake her to be older than a high schooler at first nce. Chatter chatter. Kang Chan, who was annoyed because of Yang Jin-Woo, Huh Ha-Soo, and Xavier, slowly calmed down while listening to Kim Mi-Young talk. The first time this happened was when she held his hand at the student cafeteria even though he was full of spite. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked, perplexed, when she noticed Kang Chan staring at her. ¡°Just because. Looking at you makes me happy.¡± ¡°Huhuhuhu.¡± Thisugh also seemed to be a part of her charm perhaps because he had gotten used to it now. Rattle. At some point, the door opened, and Eun So-Yeon walked inside. Stopping in her tracks, her gaze alternated between Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Come in.¡± Kang Chan looked behind her, but it seemed Eun So-Yeon came alone since she immediately closed the door. Kim Mi-Young stood up from her seat and greeted Eun So-Yeon, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Hello,¡± Eun So-Yeon said. After exchanging awkward greetings, Eun So-Yeon ced fruits on the table next to the coffee cups. Kim Mi-Young had clearly seen Eun So-Yeon on TV. ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy?¡± Kang Chan asked Eun So-Yeon. ¡°I¡¯m free until the afternoon. I dropped by on my way to thepany because Director Michelle said that you were here yesterday.¡± ¡°Have a seat. Right! This is my friend, Kim Mi-Young. Kim Mi-Young, this is Eun So-Yeon,¡± Kang Chan introduced them. The two awkwardly and slowly nodded. ¡°I saw you on TV. This is fascinating,¡± Kim Mi-Youngmented. Eun So-Yeon smiled pleasantly at Kim Mi-Young. Her aura had changed a lot, and she seemed a lot more sophisticated than before. Kang Chan also thought that her eyes became somewhat deeper. It was weird topare, but Kang Chan thought it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say that her aura was simr to Gerard¡¯s. ¡°Have a seat,¡± Kang Chan told Eun So-Yeon. ¡°Please sit, unnie.¡± When Eun So-Yeon was about to sit down, Kim Mi-Young quickly went to the water heater and made coffee. ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Eun So-Yeon offered. ¡°It¡¯s okay, unnie. Let me do it. I already started.¡± Eun So-Yeon hesitantly sat down, then examined Kang Chan. ¡°Are you feeling okay?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m severely wounded. How¡¯s the drama going? Is it doable?¡± ¡°Even now, I still can¡¯t believe that I¡¯m in it. I¡¯m also feeling anxious and having trouble sleeping perhaps because it¡¯s going to premiere next week. All of the actors feel this way.¡± ¡°Why do you all feel that way? You guys worked hard.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± Kim Mi-Young brought over two cups of coffee, then ced them in front of Kang Chan and Eun So-Yeon. ¡°You¡¯re not drinking coffee, Ms. Mi-Young?¡± Eun So-Yeon asked. ¡°I can¡¯t handle coffee that well¡ªI tried a couple of times, but I ended up being unable to sleep properly.¡± ¡°You¡¯re pretty.¡± Kim Mi-Young timidly smiled and blushed in response. Smiling brightly, which she hadn¡¯t done in a long time, Eun So-Yeon looked at Kim Mi-Young. ¡°But you appear on TV. I¡¯m really jealous. Ugh, just thinking about it makes me nervous,¡± Kim Mi-Youngmented. ¡°I also get nervous.¡± ¡°You do? Thest time I saw you, you weren¡¯t nervous at all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it¡ªI get really nervous in the bathroom before I shoot something like that. There are times when I can¡¯t even go outside because my hands are shaking too much.¡± ¡°But how do you appear like you¡¯repletely fine on TV?¡± ¡°I also find that weird. When the time to shootes and the camera lightse on, my nervousness justpletely disappears.¡± ¡°Wow! That¡¯s fascinating.¡± ¡°Right? I think so as well.¡± Kang Chan just watched the two for a moment, finding the sight of them talking to each other quite fun. After about five minutes had passed¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll get going now,¡± Eun So-Yeon stood up, seemingly disappointed. Kim Mi-Young also looked as if she felt the same way. ¡°Ms. Mi-Young, let¡¯s see each other again next time,¡± Eun So-Yeon said. ¡°Sure, unnie. I¡¯ve actually always wished to have an unnie like you and brag to my friends about her. Everyone¡¯s going to stare if I go out with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go and see you whenever. Just call me.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The two even exchanged numbers. For some reason, Kang Chan felt as if he was being swept into somethingplicated. 1. Lanok pronounces his name incorrectly here 2. Here, the ¡®tiger¡¯ is Kang Chan, and the ¡®wolf¡¯ is Louis Chapter 112.1: Absurd Events Unfold (1)

Chapter 112.1: Absurd Events Unfold (1)

When Kim Mi-Young left for hagwon, Kang Chan headed to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s room. ¡°I should¡¯ve stayed in this room earlier,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Tell me about it. What would you have done if Mi-Young came in while we were smoking?¡± Just thinking about it already felt like a hassle. ¡°Someone else visited you, right?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°An actor dropped by. Phew, I should see how things go tomorrow and get discharged.¡± ¡°You should stay here with me for one more day.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter because Seok Kang-Ho spoke as if he was rmending something good. Soon, they heard the door to Kang Chan¡¯s room being opened. ¡°It seems like someone¡¯s here,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Who could it be?¡± As Kang Chan forcibly raised himself up, Kim Hyung-Jung opened the door and entered. ¡°You¡¯re early,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°It¡¯s 5 pm. I told everyone that I¡¯m returning your phones to you two as an excuse to leave work. I bought three samgye-tang as take-out from the restaurant in front of our office in case you two were hungry. Anyway, here¡¯s your phone, Mr. Kang Chan, and this one is Mr. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s.¡± Kang Chan shook his head upon receiving his phone. His phone was so full of missed calls and text messages that it felt heavy in his hands. Without checking any of them, Kang Chan immediately erased the calls and text messages. The three then sat around the table and ate samgye-tang. It was certainly tastier than the food delivered to them from this neighborhood. ¡°Phew! I¡¯ll be a pig if I stay at Manager Kim¡¯s office,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said afterward. ¡°If you doe, I¡¯ll immediately empty out a room for you.¡± ¡°Phuhu, I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do if you make me sit at a desk all day.¡± They ate to their heart''s content for the first time in so long. Since he was the one in the best condition, Kim Hyung-Jung made coffee. Meanwhile, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho cleaned up a bit and threw the trash in the trash can. Once they were all sitting around the table again, Kang Chan told them what the Serpent Venimeux had told them earlier. ¡°Ambassador Lanok was the first to make a move, after all,¡± Kim Hyung-Jungmented. ¡°Do you have any guesses why he¡¯s doing this?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°I don¡¯t, but he clearly wants something. Isn¡¯t there a saying along the lines of, ¡®Give me what I want willingly or else I¡¯ll kill all of you until I get it¡¯?¡± ¡°But the ones Lanok is killing don¡¯t know what he wants.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung smiled, seemingly finding Kang Chan funny. ¡°Lanok is thinking of killing them by using this matter as an excuse. Doing so hits two birds with one stone¡ªit warns them, and it also allows him to take revenge. Lanok will probably make his demands once his anger subsides to a certain extent. At that point, the Serpent Venimeux will likely give him what he wants without hesitation. But if something simr happens again, I¡¯m not sure. They probably won''t ever be able to sell weapons to anything or anyone rted to Ambassador Lanok.¡± Having heard that, Kang Chan realized Kim Hyung-Jung could be right. ¡°Ha! That gentleman is scary,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°I agree,¡± Kang Chan also agreed. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s son is indeed in France. He¡¯s managing funds held in offshore ounts, but we still haven¡¯t figured out how much he currently has,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. ¡°I was told that he also has sons in the United States,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo has six sons.¡± ¡°Does he have any daughters?¡± ¡°Just one. She¡¯s also in the United States. Oh, his children came from five different mothers.¡± At any rate, Yang Jin-Woo was a fucker Kang Chan couldn¡¯t understand at all. ¡°Anyway, I have passed on your intentions to the director and applied for your passport to be made. We¡¯ll also likely find a way to force Yang Jin-Woo to return to the country soon,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of meeting Lanok sometime tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You¡¯re already being discharged?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked upset, and Kim Hyung-Jung looked surprised. In any case, Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to stay at the hospital now that he could already move around. After talking for about an hour, Kang Chan quickly stood up. He heard someone looking for him from his room. When he opened the door and went out, he saw the back of Yoo Hye-Sook, who was heading to the nurse¡¯s office. ¡°Mother!¡± ¡°Channy! I was about to go looking for you because you weren¡¯t in your room. Where were you?¡± ¡°I was in the room next door because I was bored. You¡¯re here early.¡± ¡°I was worried. Anyway, I brought sushi. Your dad bought it from a delicious restaurant. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Afraid that she would see Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s name on the door beside Kang Chan¡¯s room, Kang Chan quickly looked after Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Look! Doesn¡¯t it look delicious, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. Kang Chan felt as if his stomach was about to burst. ¡°Quick, take a bite,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook urged. ¡°Alright. You should eat as well.¡± Kang Chan held up the chopsticks and had a piece of sushi. It was good, but that didn¡¯t mean it would make him hungry. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you not feeling well?¡± Looking worried, Yoo Hye-Sook was about to put down her chopsticks. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I just thought of Father since it tastes amazing.¡± ¡°If we eat this, he said he¡¯ll buy chicken when hees here.¡± . ¡°What?¡± ¡°You should eat a lot especially when you¡¯re not feeling good. Your dad is treating us¡ªwhich he hadn¡¯t done in a long time¡ªso don¡¯t worry and just eat as much as you want.¡± How could Kang Chan refuse anything she was cajoling with that kind of expression? Didn¡¯t Kang Dae-Kyung say that she was so worried when the incident happened that she even fainted in front of the TV? Fine! This will make my mother happy! Since I¡¯m going to eat it anyway, I might as well enjoy it! Kang Chan thought about confessing that he had samgye-tang, but with a sense of duty, he relentlessly ate sushi. He just kept thinking about Yoo Hye-Sook, who would¡¯ve been disappointed otherwise. ¡°Wow! This is really good,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Since you like it this much, I¡¯ll start buying it for you every now and then.¡± Her response instinctively made him shake his head, but he forcibly smiled at her. It wasn¡¯t like his stomach would explode just because he had a lot of food. If eating with Yoo Hye-Sook would make her that happy, then it would be worth coping with it just this once. Kang Chan secretly controlled his breathing. Rattle. The door soon opened, and Michelle entered the room with a bright expression. ¡°Wee, Michelle!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook greeted. ¡°Hello, Mother!¡± Kang Chan¡¯s heart sank when he noticed the box that Michelle was holding. ¡°Mother, please have some of this,¡± Michelle said. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s cake and sandwiches.¡± ¡°Oh my, that¡¯s very nice of you. It seems like you haven¡¯t had dinner yet¡­ What should we do? We just ate. We would¡¯ve waited for you had we known that you wereing.¡± ¡°Yes, mother.¡± Michelle looked at Kang Chan, pretending that she couldn¡¯t understand Yoo Hye-Sook when Yoo Hye-Sook said many things at once. ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy?¡± Kang Chan interrupted very briefly. Flustered, Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Chan as well¡­ ¡°Mother, I¡¯ll have a sandwich. You should eat cake,¡± Michelle suggested. ¡°You must be smart. How can your Korean improve so fast?¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She¡¯s not clever! She¡¯s cunning! Just as Kang Chan thought, ¡®Oh shoot,¡¯ Michelle opened the box. They made coffee and put cake and sandwiches in front of him. ¡°Here you go, Channy!¡± Kang Chan ate the cake that Yoo Hye-Sook scooped up for him, then sat far away from them using the excuse that he was full. As if she was proving how many things she could express with short sentences, Michelle talked to Yoo Hye-Sook while eating a sandwich. He listened to Kim Mi-Young and Eun So-Yeon talk to each other earlier today. This evening, he did the same to Yoo Hye-Sook and Michelle. ¡°The clothes in Dongdaemun are really nice,¡± Michellemented. ¡°I¡¯ve heard people say that, but I also heard that you can get scammed if you go there without knowing how things work.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s buy thepany¡¯s clothes sponsored by the magazinepany.¡± ¡°Would there be clothes that fit me, Michelle?¡± ¡°Of course, mother.¡± From the very beginning, it felt as if this situation was bing more and moreplicated. Kim Mi-Young and Eun So-Yeon had exchanged numbers, and now Yoo Hye-Sook and Michelle were doing the same. As Kang Chan sighed with a profound expression, Kang Dae-Kyung came inside. When Kang Chan smelled the yangnyeom chicken, he made up his mind to get discharged tomorrow no matter what. *** The three stayed with Kang Chan until 8 pm. When the nurse injected him with medication, they stood up and left. Left alone, he went to the counter where the nurses were to get digestive medicine, but as soon as he reached it, he flinched. The nurses offered him bossam, which they were enjoying. Kang Chan got startled, but he didn¡¯t forget to ask them for digestive medicine. As soon as he was given some, he visited Seok Kang-Ho to avoid the smell of food. Having taken digestive medicine, Kang Chan thought he would feel much better if he smoked a cigarette. Rattle. Kang Chan opened the door to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s room only to stop in his tracks for a moment. Sitting together, Kim Tae-Jin, Kim Hyung-Jung, and Seok Kang-Ho greeted Kang Chan. They were eating jokbal and bossam. ¡°You weren¡¯t answering your phone, so I decided toe here unannounced. Wee. I gave plenty of food to the nurses¡¯ office and the security office, and I also brought plenty of food for you. Why do you look so upset? Is it because we ate first? We tried to wait for you and made sure not to even open your food,¡± Kim Tae-Jin exined. ¡°This one¡¯s yours. Come eat quickly,¡± Seok Kang-Ho added. Kang Chan almost kicked the table, but he suppressed the urge with a superhuman will. Instead, he avoided them by going to another room for a bit. ¡°Whoo.¡± Kang Chan lit up and smoked a cigarette. Thinking that Kang Dae-Kyung or Yoo Hye-Sook wasn¡¯t going toe and see him made his stomach feel a littlefortable. 1. Samgye-tang or ginseng chicken soup is a Korean traditional soup meant for health. 2. Yangnyeom chicken is fried chicken that¡¯s seasoned with sweet and spicy sauce 3. Jokbal is a Korean dish that consists of pig''s trotters cooked with soy sauce and spices Chapter 112.2: Absurd Events Unfold (1)

Chapter 112.2: Absurd Events Unfold (1)

¡°That¡¯s why your expression was like that a moment ago!¡± Kim Tae-Jin smiled as if he now understood. ¡°I was so worried while I was watching the TV. I immediately ran over because I couldn¡¯t contact Kim Hyung-Jung either, but I at least got to talk to him a little today. Let¡¯s keep each other informed, okay? Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, you shouldn¡¯t keep things to yourself either.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Kang Chan nodded because there was sincerity in Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s words. ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek called me about ten times as well. It should be on the list of your missed calls, so give him a callter,¡± Kim Tae-Jin added. ¡°There were too many notifications, so I erased all of them as soon as I got my phone. I¡¯ll call himter after I see how things go.¡± ¡°Alright. No matter how busy we are, we should update each other every now and then,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. He then leaned back against the chair and looked at Kang Chan. ¡°I saw Section Chief Jeon today. He talked about you.¡± ¡°About me?¡± ¡°Yeah. He suddenly called me and asked what I thought about you. He also told me that we needed a lot of people like you in the future and that we can¡¯t lose you to France no matter what.¡± Shaking his head, Kim Tae-Jin, ¡°Howe that gentleman hasn¡¯t changed at all despite having grown older? Kim Hyung-Jung, I heard that you said that Kang Chan and I are close?¡± ¡°The section chief told me to tell him about what happened since I met Mr. Kang Chan, so I also told him that I asked you to introduce me to Mr. Kang Chan. When I did, he asked if you and Mr. Kang Chan are close, and I replied, ¡®Yes.¡¯¡± Kim Tae-Jin nced at Kim Hyung-Jung and ended upughing. Being alive was quite a good thing¡ªespecially if he was with good people. *** Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook dropped by the hospital the next morning, then headed to work. Kang Chan then told Yoo Hun-Woo that he was going to be discharged. ¡°Will you be okay? Moving around is still ufortable for you.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. ¡°Yes. It would be better to be at home instead if I¡¯d just be lying down anyway.¡± ¡°Alright. But if you get dizzy or if you feel like vomiting, then we need to hospitalize you immediately.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo looked at Kang Chan as if he was joking. ¡°You looked much cooler on TV. I had a hard time avoiding the reporters the day after the announcement. It¡¯s been quiet since then though, perhaps because the people involved with the announcement kept them at bay for me. Anyway! You did something huge. I feel proud that I treated you.¡± ¡°You know that what you just said doesn¡¯t suit you, right?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo smiled slightly and jokingly tapped Kang Chan¡¯s forearm. He then left the room. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t get discharged right away, however, because he didn¡¯t have clothes to change into. As Kang Chan was thinking of what to do, Seok Kang-Ho opened the door and came in. ¡°I also decided to be discharged,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Will you be okay?¡± ¡°What would I do by myself here once you leave? Staying at home and telling them I¡¯m just having body aches is much better. Let¡¯s go to Misari and have a cup of tea this evening.¡± ¡°Alright. That¡¯s certainly better. We can¡¯t even smoke a cigarette in peace here since we don¡¯t know who will be visiting and when.¡± However, despite having reached a conclusion, they still didn¡¯t have clothes to change into. In the end, Choi Jong-Il bought clothes and shoes for both of them. *** When Kang Chan returned home, he felt as if everything wasing to an end. He saw the familiar building, elevator, entrance, living room, and his room. Kang Chan went into his room and sat at his desk. South Korea had be part of the Eurasian Rail, and the announcement had been made. It was as if he had just woken up from a long dream and sat on his bed. Why would he feel that way? His surroundings were so quiet that it seemed everything had calmed down. However, Lee Ji-Yeon came across Kang Chan¡¯s mind. He remembered her hand trembling as she put down a teacup and her tired and frightened eyes when he called out and stopped her. She held up a sign to protest and ask people to reveal her unnie¡¯s unjust death while looking around nkly like a child. However, before she could unearth her unnie¡¯s unjust death, she hanged herself to death. How scared and wronged could she have felt? Kang Chan slowly inhaled, then exhaled. No matter how much money or power a person had, there were things that they should and should never do. Not only did Yang Jin-Woo attack Kang Dae-Kyung and try to go for Yoo Hye-Sook, but he also killed two young and pitiful women like bugs even though they were dreaming of earning as much as they could and being happy with their widowed mother for the first time since all of their hardships had ended. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo,¡± Kang Chan said as if Yang Jin-Woo was inside his monitor. ¡°You messed with the wrong person, you son of a bitch.¡± ring at his monitor and tightly gritting his teeth, Kang Chan continued with a smirk, ¡°Just you wait, motherfucker.¡± Kang Chan had fought countless battles, but this was his first time hating someone as much as Yang Jin-Woo. Kang Chan decided to start again from the beginning. He would do things perfectly one at a time. Although he had always done that, he thought of finishing things especially perfectly this time. After recing the battery on his phone, Kang Chan pressed the call button. - Mr. Kang Chan. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, how do you feel?¡± - Refreshed, thanks to you. As a matter of fact, I was thinking about visiting you at the hospital this afternoon or tomorrow morning. ¡°I¡¯ve been discharged.¡± - You never cease to surpass my expectations. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, I¡¯d like to meet with you for a moment if that¡¯s okay with you.¡± - Of course. Where should we meet? ¡°Anywhere you¡¯refortable.¡± - It would be difficult to meet at the hotel since you¡¯re too well known right now, so let¡¯s just meet at my office. ¡°Sounds good. What time would befortable for you?¡± - Would you like to have lunch together? ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be there by 12 pm.¡± Kang Chan hung up, then went out to the living room and slowly warmed up. There was already a scab on the stab wounds the fragments inflicted, but the area where he was hit by a big chunk of cement was so stiff it was as if he got badly beaten up. ¡®Ugh.¡¯ Nevertheless, he continued warming up. For as long as his bones weren¡¯t broken and his muscles hadn¡¯t been ripped apart, nothing could warm him up as much as stretching. Kang Chan was straining himself. He should probably rest, but they werecking too much time for him to just be lying around. Kang Chan warmed up for about thirty minutes, got changed, and left the apartment. His body was screaming at him, but as usual, he ignored it. ¡®Ugh, you were given to the wrong owner.¡¯ Kang Chan held out his hand toward the taxi. *** ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Kang Chan smiled when he saw Lanok. They hugged and exchanged noisy cheek kisses like Frenchmen, an odd sense ofradeship flowing between them. ¡°Have a seat. We should have a light cup of tea before we eat,¡± Lanok suggested. When Lanok pointed to the table with his long arm, the assistant poured out ck tea. After asking each other how they were doing, Kang Chan confessed everything to Lanok about Xavier visiting him. ¡°Xavier is the adopted son of Fabrix, the Serpent Venimeux leader. He¡¯s also the only sessor crueler than Fabrix,¡± Lanok said afterward. ¡°He has a lot of sessors?¡± Lanok nodded. ¡°Having a lot of sessors is insurance for Fabrix. He gets to keep living because of them. With his adopted sons and subordinates keeping each other in check, nobody can mess with Fabrix. He¡¯s the most cunning, cruel, and vicious Serpent Venimeux leader in history.¡± Kang Chan drank tea while nodding. That kind of man begged Lanok for his life. How cunning, cruel, and vicious was this sly and wily fox? ¡°I just want one piece of information from Fabrix,¡± Lanok said. What kind of information was it that Lanok couldn¡¯t get from even the DGSE? Sincerely curious, Kang Chan waited for Lanok to continue. ¡°I just want to know where the Serpent Venimeux bought the C4 and the Is from.¡± Kang Chan cocked his head. ¡°Can¡¯t you just get that information from the Intelligence Bureau or the DGSE?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Kang Chan slowly inhaled. Protecting the seller was the first rule in arms dealing. Revealing who they got their weapons from would result in a punishment iparable to drug dealing. Like Kim Hyung-Jung had said, this sly and wily fox nned to perfectly beat up the Serpent Venmeux and proceed with what he wanted. ¡°But if that happens, then the Serpent Venimeux will have to fight a war with the seller,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°That¡¯s their problem to choose, not mine. However, I will firmly punish them for selling thosemodities to use for an event that I¡¯m attending to avoid something like this from happening again.¡± When Kang Chanughed out loud, Lanok continued with a faint smile. ¡°We have different ways of fighting, but that¡¯s what scares me every now and then. If you start fighting in the same way I do, I will be no match for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not fight you at all.¡± ¡°I feel the same way.¡± For the first time in his life, Kang Chan felt sorry for the Serpent Veniemux. They were even willing to kill Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s children to save themselves, but revealing the identity of their arms dealer would be far more humiliating than erasing their tattoo, which was what they had been doing until now. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok called after he put down the teacup. ¡°Will you arbitrate this issue with the Serpent Venimeux?¡± ¡°If I was their leader, I wouldn¡¯t reveal our arms dealer.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t either.¡± What¡¯s Lanok thinking this time? ¡°Please tell them that I¡¯ll hold in my anger around here if they make Xavier the leader.¡± ¡°Mr. Ambassador, may I ask the reason behind that decision?¡± ¡°Xavier is an agent of the United States¡¯ Intelligence Bureau. The United States has worked hard for so long to put him in France.¡± Why was Lanok living such aplicated life? Kang Chan smirked andughed feebly. ¡°If so, then wouldn¡¯t it be bad if he bes the leader?¡± Kang Chan asked. Lanok smiled meaningfully. ¡°He will pass over the military intel that he received from Huh Sang-Soo to the United States. After all, what the United States wants is the list of names of the weapons brokers, the transactional information, and the military secrets of other countries. We¡¯ll instigate a fight between Japan and China.¡± It was a great answer. Kang Chan thought that Lanok was just getting revenge on and warning the Serpent Venimeux because he was angry and to avoid something like this from happening again. However, Lanok had actually secretly calcted something like this as well. Kang Chan wanted to learn how to use people in a cool way instead of just being able to kill his enemies. Damn! Kang Chan never imagined that he would be jealous of the sly and wily Lanok. Chapter 113.1: Absurd Events Unfold (2)

Chapter 113.1: Absurd Events Unfold (2)

Kang Chan and Lanok headed to another ce, and as soon as they got seated, the employees served their meal. The employees left right after. During French meal courses, food had to be served continuously, so they usually didn¡¯t excuse themselves after serving all of the food on the table. If they weren''t saying that they should mix the sd and steak together, someone had clearly ordered them to leave. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, China and Japan will attack us using any means necessary,¡± Lanok sliced the steak. ¡°Please pay special attention to Japan. Unlike China, they don¡¯t have anyone to depend on or anywhere to retreat to.¡± ¡°Rather than me, that seems like something that the government should interfere with.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Lanok wiped his mouth with a napkin, then had a sip of the wine. ¡°We¡¯re about to engage in a desperate espionage warfare. It would be best for you to keep this in mind as well.¡± ¡°Mr. Ambassador, is there anything else you want to tell me?¡± ¡°Not right now, no.¡± Smiling meaningfully, Lanok held up his knife and fork again. Why did he take a break in the middle of their meal? A meal should be eaten in one go, but they spent 2 hours alternating between eating and taking a break *** On the second floor of a luxurious mansion in Las Vegas¡­ Ondol wasid out under the hanji paper door, which was unusual in the United States. A luxurious table was in the middle of the room. Yang Jin-Woo was sitting across from a man. ¡°Chairman Yang, we¡¯re nning on continuing the construction of the suspended underwater tunnel project,¡± the man said. ¡°No wonder. I thought it was strange for Japan to say they¡¯re building a highway and a railroad under the sea. It seems like Japan has been aware that the Eurasian Rail would be established since then.¡± Yang Jin-Woo didn¡¯t appear to be particrly interested. ¡°The underwater tunnel will cost a hundred trillion won. Japan will bear the full amount.¡± ¡°Hmph, so now you¡¯re saying that you¡¯ll take the transported goods that will be flocking to South Korea to Japan? If that¡¯s the case, then South Korea will just be a transit stop that the goods will just pass through. Yang Jin-Woo exhaled loudly while pursinghis lips¡­ ¡°We¡¯ll entrust all of the construction of the underwater tunnel to you, Chairman Yang.¡± ¡°Will the South Korean government ept that?¡± The proposal was amazing enough to make people go crazy, but Yang Jin-Woo just seemed to snort at it. ¡°They naturally wouldn¡¯t approve of it easily. However, doesn¡¯t the opposition party have the majority?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true, Mr. Kanemaru. Even though the opposition party has the majority, Moon Jae-Hyun is receiving an enormous amount of support from the citizens.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no future for the Eurasian Rail right now. Meanwhile, the underwater tunnel is something that all South Korean constructionpanies can immediately work on. We just have to make the South Korean public demand for the tunnel to be constructed.¡± Looking as if he was pacifying Yang Jin-Woo, Kanemaru continued, ¡°Japan will internationally and extensively announce that they have be South Korea¡¯s economic subordinate country through my country¡¯s broadcasts and press. They will then criticize all of the economic effects that the underwater tunnel could cause for being taken away by South Korea. Japan will be able to fully satisfy and excite South Korea by doing all of that.¡± Kanemaru didn¡¯t miss Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s small smile. ¡°We¡¯ll say that you obtained the rights to construct the tunnel. If a first-ss constructionpany from South Korea forms the consortium, then even better. Moreover, if the majority of the Assembly members demand for the construction to push through, then even the current regime won¡¯t be able to stop it. We¡¯ll provide ten trillion won for the groundwork.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± ¡°Chairman Yang, the Prime Minister has also put out an extreme proposal to deposit two trillion won to the Bahamas as a way of recognizing your hard work.¡± Yang Jin-Woo looked outside the window as if he wasn¡¯t interested. A moment of silence passed¡­ ¡°This matter will let you turn the tables around in South Korea. Moreover, Japan¡¯s Intelligence Bureau will take care of everything that would block your way, regardless of what they are,¡± Kanemaru continued. Yang Jin-Woo inhaled softly. ¡°I have always felt that South Korea would have difficulties matching Japan¡¯sprehensive ns and decisions, no matter how much it tries.¡± ¡°But at least you¡¯re part of South Korea, right?Japan still finds it unfortunate that you weren¡¯t born in Japan.¡± Kanemaru lightly smiled. He then pped once as he turned around. Rattle. The door opened, and ten men in suits entered. Assuming a triangle formation, they bowed. ¡°Kotaro,¡± Kanemaru called. ¡°Yes!¡± The man at the very front answered as he lowered his head to the ground. ¡°This is your new owner. You¡¯ll be serving him from now on.¡± ¡°Yes! Pleased to meet you!¡± ¡°He¡¯s the best agent Japan¡¯s Intelligence Bureau has ever seen in the past hundred years. He¡¯ll aplish everything that you want, no matter what it is,¡± Kanemaru exined. Yang Jin-Woo nodded as he looked at the man bowing to them. Yang Jin-Woo seemed satisfied. *** After parting ways with Lanok, Kang Chan called Oh Gwang-Taek. - Hello? Kang Chan! Where are you? ¡°I¡¯m at the Seodaemun. I lost my phone and just found it recently.¡± - Anyway! Hey! Don¡¯t go home yet¡ªlet¡¯s meet up! ¡°Sure. Where do you want to meet?¡± - The Namsan Hotel? ¡°Going there is currently ufortable for me. Can¡¯t we go somewhere quiet?¡± - Somewhere quiet? Let¡¯s just get a room in the hotel instead. There¡¯s hardly any other ce where we can quietly drink coffee nowadays. Strangely, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t escape from the Namsan Hotel. ¡°Fine. I¡¯m leaving right now, so I¡¯ll be there in thirty minutes.¡± - Alright, alright. For as long as you get here. Kang Chanughed quietly. Oh Gwang-Taekughed with him, then hung up. Kang Chan hailed a taxi and soon reached the hotel. Joo Chul-Bum, who had been waiting at the entrance, bowed deeply toward Kang Chan. ¡°What are you doing? Get inside quickly,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Yes, hyung-nim.¡± Kang Chan hurriedly entered the hotel. However, he couldn¡¯t help but stop walking for a bit in front of the lobby when he saw a new employee busily working. ¡°Would you like to have a cup of tea before going up to the room?¡± Joo Chul-Bum asked. ¡°It¡¯s fine, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Alright, Hyung-nim.¡± Joo Chul-Bum headed to the elevator, his expression showing deep respect for Kang Chan. Upon reaching room 1701, Joo Chul-Bum took out a card key and opened the door. ¡°Hey!¡± Oh Gwang-Taek stood up from the sofa and approached Kang Chan. ¡°How are you doing? You¡¯re fine, right?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek appeared to be sincerely worried, which Kang Chan found burdensome. ¡°Son of a bitch! If you were going to appear on TV, you should¡¯ve taken me with you.¡± The two sat on the sofa, and Joo Chul-Bum courteously poured them coffee. Meanwhile, Kang Chan bit on a cigarette. ¡°I¡¯ll be downstairs,¡± Joo Chul-Bum said. ¡°Okay, sure,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek answered. Joo Chul-Bum courteously said his goodbyes and left the room. ¡°We still haven¡¯t figured out who caused the fight in Bundang,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I know! Did you even have the time for that, considering how busy you were? Either way, it¡¯s fine. All that matters is you survived that mess.¡± Strangely, Oh Gwang-Taek seemed to be having a hard time. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°About what?¡± Kang Chan noticedGwang-Taek''s eyes widening in shock. When Kang Chan extinguished the cigarette and stared at him, Oh Gwang-Taek rubbed his face first in frustration. ¡°I couldn¡¯t say this to my subordinates, but¡­¡± Oh Gwang-Taek stopped mid-sentence, then took out and bit on a cigarette again. ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling strangely anxious. It¡¯s as if every person I run into on the street is hiding a knife. I¡¯m anxious even when I¡¯m at home and at the hotel. Phew! I can¡¯t talk to my people, though, since I feel embarrassed about it.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t think a gangster would have such a side. This gang leader was feeling the same fear that captains felt whenever they lost crew members inbat. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? I told you this because of who you are. Even if I¡¯m like this, I¡¯m still confident that I won¡¯t lose to anyone,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek added. Kang Chan smirked. Getting results from things like this was only a matter of time. Oh Gwang-Taek would either ovee this and rise above the situation or copse. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Amid their conversation, Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang. The call was from an unknown number. ¡°Hello?¡± - It¡¯s Xavier. Did this fucker call because he knew that Kang Chan had met Lanok? Kang Chan instinctively frowned, thinking they were following him. - I have something to tell you. We have taken care of the three family members of Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s son, who¡¯s in France. They did what to whom? The family of Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s son? ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s son had a child? Who ordered you to do that?¡± - The leader did. It¡¯s his way of showing his sincerity. We beheaded all of them. ¡°Hey! You son of a bitch!¡± Oh Gwang-Taek suddenly raised his head. Xavier grew silent. ¡°You said that they¡¯re still kids! Their old man and the father hadmitted crimes and sins, but what did the kid do wrong, you son of a bitch?!¡± - Although we did ask you to arbitrate this issue, it still isn¡¯t right for you to talk in that manner. Was this fucker really an agent of the United States¡¯ Intelligence Bureau? Oh Gwang-Taek looked strangely at Kang Chan, who was exhaling deeply. - We already gave the order to our people that are in the United States as well. They will be cutting their necks by now. Kang Chanughed feebly. Why was Lanok trying to make this kind of fucker the leader of the Serpent Venimeux? ¡°Xavier, call them right now and tell them to stop. I¡¯ll arbitrate this matter then.¡± - I¡¯ll do that now. Kang Chan¡¯s energy drained out of him when he heard Xavier¡¯s cold voice. 1. This was written as ??!, which is a transliteration of ¡®Yes!¡¯ in Japanese. 2. This was written as ¡°??! ??? ???! ??? ???? ???????!¡±, which is a transliteration of ¡®Yes! Pleased to meet you!¡¯ in Japanese. 3. The Seodaemun District is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea. Chapter 113.2: Absurd Events Unfold (2)

Chapter 113.2: Absurd Events Unfold (2)

Hating Yang Jin-Woo and killing kids werepletely different things. This wasn¡¯t a war between African tribes. Beheading innocent children wasn¡¯t something that Kang Chan could ept, regardless of what the purpose was. Kang Chan held up a cigarette. The situation strangely kept bing messier and messier. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What got you so mad?¡± Oh Gwang-Taek asked. ¡°Don¡¯t even get me started¡ªall kinds of thugs butted into the Eurasian Rail. Phew! Let¡¯s leave it at that.¡± Oh Gwang-Taek took out and bit on another cigarette, deciding not to pry further. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Kang Chan quickly held up his phone. - It¡¯s Xavier. I heard that they have already finished beheading them. ¡°They beheaded all of Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s family members that are in the United States?¡± - They started with his two sons, followed by his daughter and her husband and three children. They killed seven people in total. Crazy sons of bitches. Kang Chan was well aware of the Serpent Venimeux¡¯s cruelty, but this was his first time actually witnessing it for himself. He was so dumbfounded that all he could do was smirk. - That¡¯s all for now. I¡¯ll let you know immediately once we¡¯ve figured out Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s ns. ¡°Phew!¡± Something so nonsensical just happened. Kang Chan had stiffened, and he felt grim. After tly refusing the people who called him to request an interview, Kang Chan held up his phone and passed on what he had talked about with the Serpent Venimeux a moment ago to Lanok. - Things are getting so messed up andplicated. Did this sly and wily fox really not expect this to happen? - For now, let¡¯s see what will happen. ¡°Okay. However, I don¡¯t want to arbitrate this issue anymore.¡± - Alright. I¡¯ll take care of this myself. Kang Chan put down his phone and leaned back against the sofa. Messing with family left him with no other choice but to be needlessly cruel. Now that things hade to this, killing Yang Jin-Woo as soon as possible and ending this fight was the wise thing to do. *** Nothing unusual happened since Kang Chan had parted ways with Oh Gwang-Taek and headed home. However, his phone was a problem. Not only Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s phones but even Kang Chan¡¯s phone unexpectedly rang nonstop, making it difficult for them to talk on the phone to other people. All of the phone calls were from people requesting an interview or asking Kang Chan to appear on TV, but he obviously had no reason to ept those requests. Yoo Hye-Sook in particr received a lot of phone calls from her friends, who knew a reporter, asking for an interview just this once for their sake. The next day, Kang Chan started doing his morning workouts. For the past two days, the National Intelligence Service had been trying hard to figure out the identities of the terrorists by directing all of their strengths into it. They also made aint and requested cooperation from China but didn¡¯t achieve anything special. Diplomacy was funny. China prepared the North Korean military in secret only for all of them to die, and, pretending not to know anything about it, South Korea made aint and requested cooperation. ¡°Phew.¡± Kang Chan soon felt refreshed and morefortable. Since then, he hadn''t received a phone call from Xavier. Kang Chan had no reason to insist on contacting someone who kills children, so he decided to just forget about him. If Xavier suddenly appeared in front of Kang Chan again, Kang Chan might just twist his neck. ¡°Wash up quickly, Channy. Let¡¯s eat,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Is it okay for you to be working out already?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m feeling better now.¡± Kang Chan answered. He then had a refreshing shower and went out to the kitchen. As the three ate, they all put their phones on silent. Kang Chan was about to be curious about what the people requesting an interview with him since before they even had breakfast looked like. After their meal, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook went to work, and Kang Chan got a text message. [Is something going on? Answer the phone.] When did this fucker call me? Kang Chan called Seok Kang-Ho. - Hello? Is everything alright? ¡°I just put my phone on silent because so many people are calling me to request an interview. Why did you call?¡± - Let¡¯s have a cup of coffee if you don¡¯t have something special going on. I feel strangely frustrated as well. ¡°Alright. How long will it take you to get here?¡± - Let¡¯s see each other in an hour. ¡°Got it.¡± Kang Chan slowly got ready to meet Seok Kang-Ho. His phone continued to light up because of iing calls. Every time he checked who was calling, he just found an unknown number. This was nuts. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t change his phone number right now. *** Kang Chan met Seok Kang-Ho in front of the apartment, then headed to Misari together. Since it was still early in the morning, it seemed they were the coffee shop¡¯s first customers today. While looking at the river that stretched as far as the eye could see, Kang Chan had a sip of the coffee he had ordered. He felt relieved. Kang Chan first told Seok Kang-Ho that the Serpent Venimeux had murdered Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s sons and daughter. ¡°Damn it. The kids didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Aren''t you going to get implicated in vain?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked afterward. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Considering what that fucker Yang Jin-Woo is capable of, it wouldn¡¯t take long for him to find out who did it, so wouldn¡¯t he try to look for an opportunity to kill the Serpent Venimeux?¡± ¡°I know he has a lot of money, but do you think it¡¯ll be easy for him to fight them? Lanok can go against the Serpent Venimeux because he¡¯s Lanok. If Yang Jin-Woo tries to fight the Serpent Venimeux with money, my neck would be slit first before he could win.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Still drinking coffee, Kang Chan then told Seok Kang-Ho about his meeting with Oh Gwang-Taek and lunch with Lanok. ¡°What will you do now?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. ¡°Tsk! I do feel ufortable because innocent kids got swept into this mess, but I¡¯m still determined to end Yang Jin-Woo once and for all.¡± ¡°Why are innocent kids the ones dying when Yang Jin-Woo is the one who did something wrong? Damn it!¡± ¡°Tell me about it. However, if we just leave Yang Jin-Woo alone, that fucker will likely look for opportunities again to try and kill my parents. That makes it difficult to just leave him be. Not to mention there are also those women who died pitifully.¡± ¡°Will Yang Jin-Woo even return to the country?¡± Seok Kang-Ho took out and bit on a cigarette. He then draped both of his arms across the table as if to wrap himself around it. ¡°We should see how things go. ording to Xavier, they think Yang Jin-Woo will return to the country if they kill his family, and manager Kim also said that he¡¯s looking for ways to bring him back here, so there will probably be a way.¡± ¡°Whoo. So I heard Lanok say that Xavier is an agent of the United States¡¯ Intelligence Bureau.¡± ¡°Exactly. It seems like there¡¯s an organization simr to France''s DGSE in the United States.¡± Frowning, Kang Chan stroked his head. Instead ofplicatedly getting entangled, it was a hundred times better to just meet up and duke it out. ¡°What will you do starting tomorrow?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything special to do. Going to school isn¡¯t a good idea either, so I¡¯ll just look for somewhere I can work out nearby.¡± ¡°Look at this¡ªwe should¡¯ve just bought thatndst time.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk. It seemed Seok Kang-Ho still couldn¡¯t give up thatnd. Kang Chan¡¯s phone continued to ring as they drank coffee. Every time it did, he checked the called ID just in case it was someone he knew. ¡°Just seeing that makes me feel like I¡¯m going to go crazy,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°How do you think I would feel as the one actually getting these calls?¡± After Kang Chan grumbled, he got a call again. This time, it was Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Look at this,¡± Kang Chan quickly held up his phone and answered. ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung. Where are you? ¡°I¡¯m at Misari with Seok Kang-Ho.¡± - I heard that Yang Jin-Woo is returning to South Korea. If you two are nning to stay at Misari for a bit longer, I¡¯lle over. ¡°Sounds good. We were thinking of having lunch here, so please join us.¡± When Kang Chan put down his phone, Seok Kang-Ho asked, ¡°Did he say that he¡¯sing here?¡± ¡°He said that Yang Jin-Woo is returning to South Korea.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kang Chan wordlessly took out a cigarette. Why did he feel so ufortable despite having heard that Yang Jin-Woo was returning to South Korea? Was it because Kang Chan gained sympathy for him now that he had lost his children and grandchildren? Kang Chan looked at the river as he exhaled cigarette smoke. I have to do this. I¡¯ll take care of this one step at a time. He had to take care of Yang Jin-Woo and the espionage war. Kang Chan worked on this issue just to help South Korea get connected to the Eurasian Rail. Since then, he hade so far. He had already aplished so much and had even made the Eurasian Rail announcement event happen ahead of schedule. Now, all he had to do to live infort was put an end to this by taking down Yang Jin-Woo. ¡°Son of a bitch. Once he returns to South Korea, then let¡¯s do whatever it takes to end him. We¡¯ll live infort afterward,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s husky voice woke Kang Chan up from his thoughts. Kim Hyung-Jung arrived just as the coffee shop employees served them the second order of coffee they had ced. ¡°That gentleman seems so busy that his feet almost never touch the ground,,¡± Kang Chanmented. Kim Hyung-Jung ordered coffee first before going to their table. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°We¡¯re okay¡ªwe both got discharged. Please sit,¡± Kang Chan said. With all three of them now seated, Kim Hyung-Jung looked around their surroundings. ¡°Let¡¯s wait for the coffee to be served before we start.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see why not,¡± Kang Chan replied. In thest several days, Kim Hyung-Jung lost more weight. ¡°You must be very tired,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m dying because I¡¯m up to my neck in reports. We have to figure out the identities of the dead terrorists, how the weapons used in the terrorist attack got into South Korea, and a bunch of other things like their port of entry into the country. I also have to organize the data we¡¯ve gathered ording to the information that you¡¯ve given me. Phew! This is crazy.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung opened his hand and stroked his face as if he was washing it. He took a sip of the coffee when it arrived. After examining their surroundings again, he continued, ¡°Yang Jin-Woo is returning to the country. The flight he booked willnd in South Korea tomorrow afternoon, but we have intel that he¡¯s apanied by an agent from Japan¡¯s Intelligence Bureau.¡± ¡°That fucker is still doing all sorts of things to survive despite all of the bullshit he has done. He¡¯s an American citizen, and he¡¯s also involved with Japan¡¯s National Intelligence Service? Give me a break,¡± Seok Kang-Hoined. ¡°We still don¡¯t have evidence that Yang Jin-Woo directly intervened in the attack. Are you aware that Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s children in France and the United States have been murdered?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°I heard that even his grandchildren were murdered.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. If Yang Jin-Woo is still nning toe into the country with Japan¡¯s Intelligence Bureau despite everything that has happened, then that means someone is backing him up or that he has a failproof n.¡± Kang Chan just listened to Kim Hyung-Jung. Regardless of what he said and believed, the fact that he was going to die didn¡¯t change. Kang Chan decided to think of that and that alone. Chapter 114.1: I’ll Follow Your Orders (1)

Chapter 114.1: I¡¯ll Follow Your Orders (1)

With the strong feelings caused by the Eurasian Rail announcement now subsiding, the request for the underwater tunnel¡¯s construction immediately caught public attention. As a result, the requests to interview Kang Chan basically disappeared. However, since Yang Jin-Woo rapidly became the center of attention, it was difficult to do anything to him right now. Around Lunch on Saturday, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho visited Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s office at Samseong-dong. ¡°Let¡¯s order tangsuyuk today as well.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung happily epted Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s request. After their meal, Kim Hyung-Jung prepared tea and cigarettes for them, then handed over a report to Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯s the data that the National Intelligence Service has analyzed. As Yang Jin-Woo said, if the highway and the rail that will be using the underwater tunnel get connected, then almost all of the profits from the Eurasian Rail will go to Japan.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we show things like this on TV or in the press?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to do that right now.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung sighed as he extinguished the cigarette on the ashtray as if he was stabbing it. ¡°Japan has already reported on TV that they lost to South Korea. Moreover, the public has heard that Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s children were murdered because their lives were used to ckmail him into canceling the underwater tunnel. As a result, Yang Jin-Woo has been receiving a lot of sympathy. We describe situations like this like the wind. No matter how much objective data we show, there wouldn¡¯t be any no point if it¡¯s windy. This strategy has been proven to be effective for election campaigns.¡± ¡°What if South Korea doesn¡¯t give them permission to connect the highway and the rail?¡± ¡°Japan will still proceed with the construction of the tunnel, and we will have to face civil resistance whenever their progress gets reported on the news. What¡¯s worse is that there¡¯s also the National Assembly elections next year, so if we make the wrong move, we won¡¯t even be able to protect the Eurasian Rail.¡± ¡°This fucker is a powerful enemy,¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯sment seemed to be the most appropriate description of Yang Jin-Woo. ¡°Taking any measure right now is also difficult. If Yang Jin-Woo suddenly dies, we have no idea what the public sentiment will turn into,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung nced at Kang Chan. ¡°Mr. Manager,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you find this too stupid?¡± Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kim Hyung-Jung, perhaps because he felt that Kang Chan wasing off strong. ¡°We have the President and many government institutions, including the National Intelligence Service, yet you¡¯re saying that we¡¯ll still just stand by and watch something like this happen?¡± ¡°That¡¯s our current reality.¡± Smirking, Kang Chan shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s funny. Not only is there no evidence that Yang Jin-Woo tantly tried to kill the President and the Prime Minister but you¡¯re also telling me that we can¡¯t stop him from trying to sell the profits of the Eurasian Rail to Japan because you¡¯re scared of public sentiment.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung tightly gritted his teeth as he red at the cigarette. ¡°Is my criminal immunity still valid?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I use it against Yang Jin-Woo?¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan! We shouldn¡¯t deal with this using our emotions.¡± ¡°Then how do you n to deal with this without using our emotions?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t answer. ¡°He tantly attacked my father, hired a foreign hitman to kill my mother, and killed two pitiful sisters. Please don¡¯t say that I don¡¯t have any evidence.¡± Kang Chan knew that Kim Hyung-Jung wasn¡¯t the decision-maker, but it was difficult for him to ept that they just kept being stupidly attacked. ¡°What should I do? Get naturalized in France with my parents because my parents¡¯ lives are in danger here and I can¡¯t even do anything about it because my opponent has a lot of money and power? Do you really think they¡¯ll be okay just because close to twenty National Intelligence Service agents are protecting them?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Hmm.¡± Kang Chan took out a cigarette and bit on it. ¡°If there really isn¡¯t a way, then I¡¯ll take care of Yang Jin-Woo myself and go to France.¡± Chk chk. ¡°Whoo, this is the best that I can do. What happens to the Eurasian Rail after that ispletely up to the South Korean government. Had I known that we wouldn¡¯t be able to find a way to fight back against a plot this obvious, I never would have started this,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll pass on your thoughts to the Director.¡± The atmosphere was heavy. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung called. Kang Chan just looked at him in response. ¡°The Intelligence Bureaus of France and the United States bothmit assassinations only during emergencies. We¡¯re not staying put because we can¡¯t do that. Rather, we¡¯re worried that methods like this could be used to maintain the regime in the future.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung deeply exhaled cigarette smoke. ¡°That¡¯s what Russia is like right now. Theymit political maniption and assassinations. Our President is not afraid of the public sentiment¡¯s estrangement. He¡¯s simply worried about developing the country and settling democracy.¡± Kang Chan saw enthusiasm in Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s eyes. . Kim Hyung-Jung went to Mongolia to willingly sacrifice his life for his country, and despite enduring horrible pain, he refused to disclose his identity and the country he belonged to. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I spoke harshly,¡± Kang Chan apologized. ¡°Don¡¯t be. Honestly, I will use you as an excuse to outright tell the Director what I have in my mind.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung spread out his hand and stroked his face. Kang Chan could clearly see his frustration about the reality that he couldn¡¯t have his way. ¡°Can we stop the underwater tunnel if Yang Jin-Woo dies?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo has ten security guards with them. Based on how they move, they clearly received special training.¡± Now the situation had really be difficult. ¡°We should be able to momentarily stop the underwater tunnel project. I also thought about breaking up the Suh Jeong group, but if things go wrong and Japan sends in funds and acquires the Suh Jeong group, then there will no longer be any way to stop the tunnel. Another problem that we have is that the opposition party that holds the majority of the National Assembly is supporting Yang Jin-Woo,¡± Kim Tae-Jin exined. ¡°What about Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s movements?¡± ¡°He only goes to and from his house andpany. He also strictly moves within the range of CCTVs, so covering up his death as an ident will prove difficult.¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± Shooting Yang Jin-Woo and killing him was impractical in South Korea. It would be very difficult to clean up the mess because the nation¡¯s attention was focused on him. ¡°How much time do we have until the construction of the underwater tunnel officially starts?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°If our government doesn¡¯t approve of it, then it''ll be absolutely difficult to connect it. However, if we take everything into consideration, including the opposition party impeaching the President and the public sentiment backing them up, then we probably have about a month to spare.¡± The situation was so absurd that Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh. To think that this time, they had to stop the people that did everything they could to stop the Eurasian Rail. This wasn¡¯t a ser or baseball game, but they now had to switch ces between defense and offense. ¡°Killing Yang Jin-Woo could lead to the President¡¯s impeachment, which is the worst thing that can happen. The opposition party will put forward the reason that we failed to protect a citizen. If that happens, the underwater tunnel¡¯s construction will proceed again,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°What¡¯s with the people who are supposed to be National Assembly members?¡± Seok Kang-Ho expressed his anger whileining. ¡°To get this matter approved, Japan will release an enormous amount of funds even if it would require mobilizing all of the economic power they currently possess,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. ¡°Making Japan pull out of this matter is ultimately the best way to stop this from happening, then,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°If that actually happens, I¡¯ll take care of Yang Jin-Woo myself,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho couldn¡¯t help but dejectedlyugh when they felt Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s desperation to stop the underwater tunnel. ¡°Let¡¯s put some more thought into this,¡± Kang Chan said. They wouldn¡¯t be able to find an answer right now anyway, so they ended their discussion there. *** Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho left Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s office and headed to the specialty coffee shop at the intersection in front of their houses. As soon as they arrived, Seok Kang-Ho went to the counter to order their drinks. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan held up his phone when it rang. The call was from an unknown number. He wasn¡¯t getting that many calls requesting an interview anymore, so he answered it. ¡°Hello?¡± - It¡¯s me. Kang Chan had heard this voice somewhere before. - It¡¯s me, Eun-Sil. Ha! Is something about to happen again? Kang Chan looked around his surroundings before answering. ¡°Why did you call me?¡± - Can we meet for a bit? ¡°What¡¯s going on? Just tell me on the phone.¡± - We have to talk in person. It doesn¡¯t matter where¡ªjust give me a location and I¡¯ll meet you there. To Kang Chan, it was as if she just said, ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter where you are. I¡¯ll bring trouble to you.¡¯ Thinking Heo Eun-Sil wouldn¡¯t just back down, Kang Chan told her where they were and toe here in an hour. ¡°Who was that?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Despite having voraciously eaten all of the tangsuyuk by himself earlier, he still brought over patbingsu that was as big as a washbowl again. ¡°Eun-Sil. She told me she has something to say, so I told her toe here in an hour.¡± ¡°Eun-Sil? You mean Heo Eun-Sil?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up with her this time?¡± Seok Kang-Ho ate a spoonful of patbingsu as he cocked his head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about. Let¡¯s take care of the problems in our way.¡± ¡°If I could, I would have already organized mercenaries and gone to Japan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also a good idea¡ªurgh!¡± Seok Kang-Ho hit his head. ¡°Wow! I¡¯m getting brain freeze! I ate way too much patbingsu in one go.¡± Spending time with Seok Kang-Ho was worth it since Kang Chan got tough whenever they were together. Chapter 114.2: I’ll Follow Your Orders (1)

Chapter 114.2: I¡¯ll Follow Your Orders (1)

Heo Eun-Sil entered the specialty coffee shop around ten minutes since Seok Kang-Ho left. She was wearing a tight t-shirt and short shorts that barely covered her underwear. Plus since she only applied red lipstick, it looked as if she had the words ¡®I have fun a lot¡¯ written all over her body. After she looked at Kang Chan, she immediately headed to the counter after saying ¡°What do you want to drink?¡± ¡°You looked cool on TV.¡± Heo Eun-Sil sat across from Kang Chan, and she talked to him while taking off the stic from the straw. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I called you because of the festival.¡± ¡°The festival?¡± Kang Chan waited for a moment because she had the straw in her mouth. ¡°Our school has a fall festival. It¡¯s done in two high schools along with Shimdeok, and they¡¯re going all out by gathering the parents as well. So help us.¡± After she put down the drink, Heo Eun-Sil looked at Kang Chan as if she was asking him for something that she entrusted to him. ¡°I¡¯m the operationmittee member of the festival.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°We don¡¯t want to lose to Shimdeok Highschool this time, so all the athletics club members decided to be operationsmittee members. This will be myst festival since I won¡¯t be able to go to college.¡± ¡°What do we have to do to win?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We need a lot of residents toe to the school festival for the performance on thest day.¡± ¡°Are you asking me to call people to the festival?¡± Heo Eun-Sil looked at Kang Chan with eyes that asked why he was pretending to not know what she was saying. ¡°I heard that the father of one of the students there runs an entertainment agency, so Shimdeok is inviting So Yoo-Ran and AMP. Don¡¯t you know AMP? It¡¯s an up-anding girl group.¡± Phew, what did I expect from meeting this bitch? In the end, she was asking me to call celebrities to the school festival. ¡°I heard that our high school has had inquiries from students looking to transfer since we have gotten rid of bullying. For the first time, I find it fun to go to school nowadays, so I wanted to make myst festival cool.¡± Shouldn¡¯t she say things like this seriously for it to be convincing? However, she was just perversely sitting back against the chair and swinging her crossed leg. ¡°I¡¯ll buy clothes today. Apany me,¡± Heo Eun-Sil continued. Does this bitch have something on me that even I am not aware of or has she gone crazy because she can¡¯t act like a delinquent anymore?? ¡°I only have clothes like this. I¡¯m also trying to wear normal-looking clothes like the other kids, but I really don¡¯t know what to wear at all, so pick them for me,¡± Heo Eun-Sil exined. ¡°You can go with Ho-Jun for things like that.¡± ¡°How can I trust him? He¡¯s just like me.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t know anything else, but he had to at least acknowledge this bitch¡¯s guts. ¡°I also didn¡¯t put on makeup because you told me not to,¡± Heo Eun-Sil added. Kang Chan was about to get annoyed. He already had a lot of things he had to pay attention to, and here she was thinking of him as a pushover¡­ ¡°Come with me just for today. I won¡¯t ask you for this kind of favor ever again. I really just want to live an honest life.¡± She thought she looked and sounded cute. ¡®Ha!¡¯ Kang Chan looked at Heo Eun-Sil with a profound expression. There was no way for him to know what this bitch was thinking. He would rather look into a math textbook. ¡°I can¡¯t even choose my own clothes,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°That just means you¡¯ll be choosing clothes worn by simpletons, right?¡± Kang Chan genuinelyughed this time. Fine. Since she ims she wants to live a normal life now that she has quit bullying, why shouldn¡¯t I go with her and help her buy clothes just this once?? ¡°Where do they sell the clothes that you want?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Tron Square.¡± Kang Chan was as tired of that ce as he was of the Namsan Hotel. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go.¡± When Kang Chan stood up, Heo Eun-Sil readily followed him. They hailed a taxi, and Kang Chan sat on the passenger¡¯s seat. ¡°Tron Square, please,¡± Kang Chan told the driver. No one said anything on the way. Kang Chan thought he knew what the driver was thinking just by looking at his expression¡ªin the back seat, Heo Eun-Sil was sitting perversely and swinging her crossed legs. It was Saturday, so Tron Square was extremely crowded. Clothing stores were lined up on the second and third floors, which were connected to a department store. However, they were all expensive. ¡°There are cheap clothes inside over there,¡± Heo Eun-Sil said. It was hard topare her to Michelle, but Heo Eun-Sil also attracted people¡¯s attention. She looked cheap and like a deliquent. It would be difficult to clearly disy those two things as this bitch did. Unlike his worries, barely anyone recognized Kang Chan. Heo Eun-Sil went into a store that was quiterge even for Tron Square standards. The products were cheap, and there were quite a lot of young people inside. Behind Heo Eun-Sil, who was choosing clothes, Kang Chan stood nkly. Unlike when he went to the department store to buy Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s clothes with Kang Dae-Kyung, Kang Chan felt so suffocated it was as if a rope was tied around his neck. ¡°How¡¯s this?¡± Heo Eun-Sil asked. ¡°Is that for babies? It¡¯s the same as what you¡¯re wearing right now.¡± ng. Heo Eun-Sil roughly put down the clothes that she had picked out, then asked, ¡°What about this one?¡± ¡°Are you doing this on purpose?¡± ¡°Doing what?¡± ¡°That¡¯s shorter than what you¡¯re wearing right now.¡± ¡°This is short?¡± Heo Eun-Sil quickly turned around when she saw that the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes had changed. ¡°Heo Eun-Sil?¡± Even though Kang Chan was calling her, Heo Eun-Sil pretended not to know him. ¡°Hey.¡± This wasn¡¯t right at all. He just wasted his time. Kang Chan apanied her because he remembered the look in the new member¡¯s eyes when he asked Kang Chan for his hat and bandana and because Heo Eun-Sil said that she would live an honest life for once. However, enduring this any longer was difficult. Kang Chan was about to turn around and leave. Whoosh! Heo Eun-Sil suddenly turned around. ¡°I don¡¯t know! I really don¡¯t! That¡¯s why I asked you to help me! I don¡¯t know what to wear because you aren¡¯t choosing clothes for me first! What kind of clothes do you like? What will make me look like a normal kid?!¡± Everyone nearby looked at them. The look in Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s eyes and her expression seemed to show that she found this situation unfair. She wanted to pick the right clothes, but she was failing at it. Even though Kang Chan didn¡¯t know why this bitch was trying this hard, he could at least clearly tell that she wanted to make this work. ¡°Leave,¡± Kang Chan said. Heo Eun-Sil reflexively looked at Kang Chan¡¯s right hand, afraid that he would hit her. ¡°Get out of the store.¡± When Kang Chan took Heo Eun-Sil out of the store, she looked very disappointed. On the hallway, they found a bench without a backrest. ¡°Sit,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Heo Eun-Sil sat down loudly with a plop, then crossed her legs. She looked as if she felt mistreated as she nced at Kang Chan, who was calling someone. ¡°Hello?¡± - Channy! Where are you? ¡°I¡¯m at Tron Square. Michelle, I¡¯m sorry to ask this of you, but can you send a wardrobe stylist over?¡± - You¡¯re buying clothes, Channy? I¡¯ll go! ¡°That¡¯s not it¡ªthere¡¯s this female student who wants to wear normal clothes but can¡¯t choose what to buy. Just let me know if there¡¯s a wardrobe stylist avable since it¡¯ll be ufortable if youe here.¡± - Is it your new woman, by any chance? ¡°Don¡¯t say unnecessary things.¡± Kang Chan replied tly, making Michelle quickly change her tone. - Sorry, Channy. There¡¯s an outdoor shoot at Yeouido and Nonhyeon-dong, so hmm, they¡¯ll get to Tron Square in twenty minutes. Where exactly are you? ¡°I¡¯m at the hallway on the second floor.¡± - I¡¯ll tell the employee to leave right now. Are you free today? Let¡¯s have dinner together. Kang Chan had shown her that he was free. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll call you once I¡¯ve taken care of this.¡± - Okay, Channy. When he ended the call, Heo Eun-Sil was still sitting with her legs crossed. Her shorts were so short it actually looked as if she wasn¡¯t wearing any bottoms. They had to wait twenty minutes. ¡°I¡¯m going to go smoke a cigarette. Do you want to stay here?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± Heo Eun-Sil stood up. They went down the stairs from the second floor and headed to the flower bed where Kang Chan beat up the kidsst time. Kang Chan took out a cigarette, then sighed. ¡°Do you want to smoke?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± How could the same ¡°yeah¡± sound so different as an answer? Now that he thought about it, he had never bought Kim Mi-Young a single T-shirt. While they were smoking, some people carefully bowed to Kang Chan as they passed by. When Kang Chan nced at them, Heo Eun-Sil kindly exined who they were. ¡°They¡¯re the bullies from Shimdeok Highschool.¡± They returned to the second floor, and after ten minutes of waiting, the wardrobe stylist arrived. ¡°Hello!¡± The employee greeted Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for calling you on a Saturday.¡± ¡°Not at all. I don¡¯t ever feel like I¡¯m having a hard time whenever I¡¯m at work, Mr. President!¡± The wardrobe stylist looked more excited than Heo Eun-Sil, who was the one that was going to buy clothes. ¡°Since ourpany is producing a drama that has our actors ying both the lead and supporting roles, the productionpany will be even more powerful for as long as the wardrobe and the makeup employees remain responsible for the lead actors. Not only me, but all the employees have so much energy nowadays that it¡¯s as if we ate mountain ginseng!¡± the employee eximed. This was surprising. Kang Chan looked for an opportunity to introduce Heo Eun-Sil to the employee, then asked the employee to look for clothes that Heo Eun-Sil could wear regrly. . ¡°How much are you thinking of spending?¡± the employee asked. Kang Chan looked at Heo Eun-Sil, but for the first time, he felt her hesitating. It was just for a really short moment, but Kang Chan remembered what he felt when he was parting ways with the kids that said that they should eat pork cutlets, which was very absurd. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for it, so if it¡¯s not something very expensive, then you don¡¯t have to worry about money,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Understood, Mr. President.¡± Heo Eun-Sil didn¡¯t look at Kang Chan to the end. The wardrobe stylist looked around their surroundings with an expression that was hard to tell if she didn¡¯t know or if she was pretending to not know anything about Kang Chan and Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s rtionship. Soon after, she went into a store. She did the work of many people by herself very quickly and without problems. The wardrobe stylist, who had gone around four stores, instantly made Heo Eun-Sil look normal. She didn¡¯t look tacky at all. The employee told Heo Eun-Sil how to wear the clothes and which ones to pair together among those that they had bought. The employee also advised her about the different styles she could go with. For some reason, Heo Eun-Sil didn¡¯t say unnecessary things and just put on the clothes that the female employee told her to wear and epted the clothes that the employee picked for her. The female wardrobe stylist left in less than an hour. Honestly, Heo Eun-Sil looked like a different person. ¡®I should also buy proper clothes.¡¯ Kang Chan didn¡¯t know that clothes could make a person look this different. ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± Kang Chan asked. Heo Eun-Sil didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Let¡¯s smoke before we leave,¡± Kang Chan continued. Shopping around was very tiring. Kang Chan went in front of the flower bed again, took out cigarettes, and lit them up with Heo Eun-Sil. In any case, they were finally done. As Kang Chan thoughtlessly looked around his surroundings, he suddenly had a weird feeling. ncing to his side, he found Heo Eun-Sil crying. She¡¯s crying with just a few clothes? Did the wardrobe stylist¡¯s expertise touch her? Kang Chan shook his head. This bitch tires people out¡­ ¡°This is the first time,¡± Heo Eun-Sil said, wiping the back of her hand that she used to rub her nose on her butt. ¡°This is the first time someone didn¡¯t request anything after buying clothes for me.¡± This crazy bitch¡ªyou should wipe your tears. Why are you only wiping your nose? ¡°I hated losing more than dying, but there was nothing that I could do. Every time I tried to do a good job, nobody helped¡­ me. Urgh.¡± Heo Eun-Sil sniffled. She should stand up straight when talking. ¡°Give me another cigarette,¡± Heo Eun-Sil said. Kang Chan just quickly gave her one. ¡°I want to finish the festival nicely. I¡¯ll show the sperm bitches and the bullies from Shimdeok that even I can do a good job. I¡¯ll also try to be a wardrobe stylist.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t know who she would be working with, but that actor would be the best in the universe when it came to wearing clothes that made them look vulgar. ¡°Give me that unnie¡¯s phone number so I can ask questions and about hagwons that I can go to. Urgh!¡± Heo Eun-Sil said. This bitch tired him out so much. 1. It wasn¡¯t exined, but we think that So Yoo-Ran is a singer in the novel. 2. mountain ginseng, or ?? has many benefits and has antidiabetic and anticancer effects. It also causes cardiovascr improvements. Chapter 115.1: I’ll Follow Your Orders (2)

Chapter 115.1: I¡¯ll Follow Your Orders (2)

Not calling Michelle after Kang Chan sent Heo Eun-Sil home wasn¡¯t polite. He obviously called her, and Michelle also appeared at Tron Square in twenty minutes while attracting a lot of attention. ¡°Channy!¡± The moment Michelle went into his arms, it felt as if a lot of people were looking at him. It seemed some of the people were thinking, ¡®Is that the guy that I saw on TV?¡¯ so he quickly went somewhere else. ¡°I brought my car. Let¡¯s go get dinner,¡± Michelle said. For as long as he could get out of Tron Square, it was all the same to Kang Chan. Michelle had parked the car in the basement parking lot, so they immediately headed to Bang bae-dong. ¡°There''s a restaurant frequented mostly by French people,¡± Michelle continued. She was definitely quick-witted. On the way to the restaurant, Kang Chan was told that the drama would premiere thising Tuesday and that they were expecting good responses from the viewers. ¡°It¡¯s this ce,¡± Michelle said. They headed deep into the alley in Bangbae-dong, seemingly burrowing into it. Eventually, they reached a small restaurant that was small enough to make Kang Chan wonder if it was a snack bar. If they didn''t have their menu by the entrance, people would¡¯ve had trouble figuring out that it was a restaurant. Heading inside, they found about ten tables. But theyout was simple enough for there to be seven tables for two people. They didn¡¯t make a reservation, but since it was still too early to have dinner, they got a seat at the innermost, quiet part of the restaurant. The food unexpectedly tasted quite good. They had an early dinner while drinking the wine that they ordered. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of inviting your mother to this restaurant,¡± Michelle said. Kang Chan looked at Michelle, who was smiling. He wanted to settle something one more time. ¡°Michelle, let me be honest. I already like someone. So-Yeon even met her when she came to the hospital.¡± ¡°So-Yeon went to the hospital? When?¡± Michelle showed interest in what he said about Eun So-Yeon, who wasn¡¯t really important to the conversation. ¡°No wonder! She¡¯s certainly different since she¡¯s an actress,¡± Michelle said afterward. ¡°What¡¯s different about her?¡± Michelle gave Kang Chan a sly nce. ¡°Channy, you do know that So-Yeon also likes you, right?¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not ill?¡± Bursting out withughter just as she was drinking wine, Michelle urgently took a napkin and wiped her mouth. ¡°You¡¯re really charming when you¡¯re like this,¡± Michelle said. A Frenchman and a Frenchwoman sat down at the table next to them, but Kang Chan and Michelle could stillfortably converse since they didn¡¯t know Korean. ¡°She¡¯s not the only one. The wardrobe employees and several actors are probably having a hard time because of you.¡± ¡°Stop it. Even if they did like me when they saw me on TV, I¡¯m not interested at all. I don¡¯t like them,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You¡¯re always like that, but that only makes the people who like you even more frustrated.¡± Michelle seemed to feel indifferent. ¡°Compared to So-Yeon, I think I¡¯m happy. I¡¯ve dated a lot of men in the past, so you should also date a lot of people if you can. However, I¡¯ll only give uppletely if you end up marrying some other woman,¡± Michelle added. She looked as if she found this situation funny. ¡°Phew!¡± Kang Chan wanted to smoke and have coffee. ¡°There¡¯s a bar behind this ce that has a simr atmosphere. Would you like to go there and smoke?¡± Michelle asked. Her tactfulness was amazing. After paying for their meal, Kang Chan followed Michelle and went to the wine bar that was right behind the restaurant. Kang Chan thought the two establishments should¡¯ve just been one restaurant. They went into the narrow alley beside the restaurant, finding a table in a yard that was as small as his palm. They could smoke there without worry. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know that there was this kind of ce in Bangbae-dong. It was somewhere that Yoo Hye-Sook would really like. They ordered coffee, then took out a cigarette. Yeah, I should take my time enjoying myself just for today. Kang Chan became more generous. ¡°While I was watching TV, I thought about which one would give me more happiness: not being able to see you ever again, or still getting to meet you but in this situation,¡± Michelle said. She had turned weird since they started filming a drama. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± Michelle added. Why was she acting cute? She was very pretty, too. ¡°Just allow me to live like this,¡± Michelle continued. ¡°Forget about it. I get what you¡¯re saying, so let¡¯s stop here.¡± The female employee who brought over their coffee looked at Michelle and Kang Chan strangely, then quickly headed into the bar. Michelle was wearing a suit. Clothes like this really suited her well. ¡°Right, Channy. If you¡¯re avable tomorrow, then let¡¯s buy some clothes. You looked really good in the suit you wore when you were on TV.¡± ¡°Should we do that?¡± Even if she didn¡¯t ask, he already thought of buying clothes. He didn¡¯t know which ones would look good on him, though, so Michelle¡¯s suggestion wasn¡¯t bad. When the skies darkened, the lights in the yard turned on. ¡°Channy, don¡¯t you have desires?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°Desires for what?¡± ¡°Like making a lot of money or bing famous. Things like that. Isn¡¯t there something that you really want to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Right now, he wanted to kill Yang Jin-Woo. Kang Chan suddenly realized he was living in quite a different world from Michelle. This was going to be difficult for Yoo Hye-Sook, Kang Dae-Kyung, and Kim Mi-Young to ept. He once again felt surprised that he didn¡¯t have a hard time thinking of killing someone. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was just thinking about what I want to do.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re not an ordinary person. You are acquainted with Ambassador Lanok, abruptly appeared on TV, have amazing personal connections, and have lots of money that I sometimes get to see.¡± Looking serious, Michelle continued, ¡°However, when I looked at you, you didn¡¯t look happy aplishing any of those things. But did you know that your eyes smile whenever you¡¯re with your mother, when you were eating with your parents at the Namsan Hotel, and when you were at the hospital? While I was looking at you smiling, I thought I really didn¡¯t want to let you slip through my fingers.¡± In the end, her conclusion went to that topic¡­ ¡°Channy, find work that will make you happy. One that can make you smile the same way you do when you¡¯re looking at your mother. I heard that the money you entrusted to Cecile wasn¡¯t little, so at least use some of it. Look for what will really make you happy.¡± Her big eyes were filled with truth and desperation. ¡°Are you satisfied with what you¡¯re doing right now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes, except for one thing.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that? Wait! Don¡¯t answer.¡± When he saw the look in her eyes be coquettish, Kang Chan thought he already knew the answer. He felt as if the gender roles had changed. ¡°Can I drink wine?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°Sure.¡± Since Kang Chan had already made time for her, he didn¡¯t want to upset her. While they were drinking more wine, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t stop thinking, ¡®What do I really want to do?¡¯ Thirty minutester, French people had upied a handful of tables. The oil candles on the tables were lit, and quiet jazz music yed in the background. The atmosphere wasn¡¯t bad. Michelle stood up and approached Kang Chan, then sat on top of his leg, seemingly climbing on top of him. French people didn¡¯t even bat an eysh at things like this. ¡°You¡¯re heavy,¡± Kang Chanined. Michelle mischievously wrinkled her nose, then briefly kissed Kang Chan¡¯s nose. ¡°This is my reward for making me worry while you were at the hospital.¡± Michelle stretched out her arms and tightly hugged Kang Chan. The smell of her skin, the feeling of her chest on his face, the heat from her body, and even her breath that brushed past his hair¡­ It would be dangerous if they kept this up. ¡°Hug me. I was really scared because I thought something would go wrong for you,¡± Michelle said. Remembering Michelle crying in the hospital, Kang Chan hugged her. ¡°I won''t request for more if we can keep living like this. I¡¯d like it if you stop doing dangerous things like that, though. I¡¯ll even make money for us if I have to and if you¡¯re okay with it,¡± Michelle added. Michelle raised her head and looked into Kang Chan with her big blue eyes. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°Channy, I get really turned on when you act like this.¡± Michelle gave him a mischievous look, kissed his nose one more time, then stood up. Chapter 115.2: I’ll Follow Your Orders (2)

Chapter 115.2: I¡¯ll Follow Your Orders (2)

Kang Chan woke up to a calm Sunday, which hadn¡¯t happened in a long time. Thanks to Yang Jin-Woo using the underwater tunnel to stir the whole country, Kang Chan rarely got phone calls. Of course, it was a slightly different story for Yoo Hye-Sook. They had toast, milk, omelets, coffee, and tea for breakfast. Yoo Hye-Sook looked happy as she ate the breakfast that Kang Dae-Kyung and Kang Chan prepared. The Chiffre was selling well, and work for the Foundation was also making great progress. ¡°What are your ns for today, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of buying clothes with Michelleter.¡± ¡°Clothes?¡± ¡°Yes. Ones that arefortable. I¡¯ll also buy a suit since I keep having to go to stern formal events.¡± ¡°I see! You definitely need those. Do you have money? Should I give you some?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I get a sry from D.I.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook drank tea as she nodded in response to Kang Chan¡¯s excuse that he had just made up¡­ ¡°Mother, what would you like me to do in the future?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked at him with perplexed eyes, perhaps because the question came out of nowhere. ¡°Honestly I¡¯m not really sure what I like to do and what I should do for a living in the future,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Did you think of that just now?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Michelle asked me about it yesterday, and I couldn¡¯t answer. Now I¡¯m curious about what you two think about it.¡± When Kang Dae-Kyung received a look from Yoo Hye-Sook, he smiled widely. ¡°I forget that you¡¯re a high schooler when I look at you sometimes, but now that you¡¯ve said something like that, you finally seem like one.¡± Seeing Kang Chan smiling softly, Kang Dae-Kyung continued with a gentle expression. ¡°If you don¡¯t know what you want to do in the future yet, then just focus on the present. What are you so worried about? You¡¯re still young. Figuring out what you really want to do and who you want to spend the rest of your life with takes time.¡± ¡°You should go to university first,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. Kang Dae-Kyung smiled as if he knew that she would say something like that. ¡°So take your time thinking about it so you¡¯ll end up doing something that you really want to do and marry someone you really love.¡± ¡°Is what you¡¯re doing right now something that you wanted to do?¡± Kang Chan blurted out, not really having any specific purpose. He didn¡¯t even intend to ask the question. ¡°After being discharged from the military, making your mom happy was what I wanted to do the most.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect such an answer. ¡°For me, it didn¡¯t matter what I did for a living. I would be happy for as long as I got to start and protect a family with your mom. That¡¯s why there¡¯s only really one thing that made me think, ¡®I should really do that.¡¯¡± ¡°What was that?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Marrying your mom.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t believe that he could say something like that so seriously. Kang Chan looked to the side, finding Yoo Hye-Sook looking awkward but touched at the same time. ¡°Regardless of what kind of woman you date, if it¡¯s someone you love, then your mom and I are satisfied. The same goes for your job as well. However, we do wish that you don¡¯t do something or date someone who will make us worry. You understand, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan was thankful that he could talk about something like this with his father. He also thought that he wanted to be like Kang Dae-Kyung as a father. ¡°Let¡¯s clean this up,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook offered. ¡°Hey! We¡¯re just cleaning up after a meal on Sunday. Don¡¯t take away the joy that I get from doing this with our son.¡± ¡°Honey!¡± Kang Chan quickly stood up and cleaned up the tes because he thought that he would cringe because of the look in their eyes and the way they talked. After they finished cleaning up, Kang Chan got changed and went out to the living room. ¡°I¡¯ll be back,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Okay, Channy. Have fun,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Have fun,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°I will.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook sent off Kang Chan and walked over to the living room. ¡°Honey, our Channy grew up again, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°You think so? I¡¯ve been feeling as if Channy was about ten years older than his agetely, but now, for the first time in so long, I was reminded that he¡¯s still a teenager.¡± ¡°Honey! If Channy is ten years older, wouldn¡¯t that make him twenty-nine right now?¡± ¡°There¡¯s been a lot of times when I felt that he was,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung continued, ¡°So I doubt I would be that surprised even if he says that he¡¯ll get married right this instant.¡± ¡°Who would he marry? He wouldn¡¯t marry Michelle by any chance, would he? Honey?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with thatdy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook, who was in front of Kang Dae-Kyung, looked worried. ¡°She¡¯s older, and she¡¯s also a foreigner.¡± ¡°Oh dear, madam. Didn¡¯t you see how Channy treats thatdy? He totally treats her like a child. Let¡¯s stop talking about who Channy likes. Even if he says he¡¯s marrying Mi-Young, I think you¡¯ll still worry.¡± ¡°Why would I be worried about her?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t look too happy talking to Mi-Young¡¯s mom.¡± ¡°I was just worried that she would give Channy a hard time because she was putting on airs,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook exined. ¡°See? You already even thought about it,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung smiled, and Yoo Hye-Sook yfully side-eyed him. ¡°Honey, how hard would it have been for us if my mother-inw was against our rtionship while you waited for me and when you gave up studying abroad because of me? Just as she did for us, let¡¯s not get greedy and ask too much from our Channy. While we wait for him to return from the military, let¡¯s practice bing selfless and respecting his choices,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung added. Kang Dae-Kyung then stroked Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s back, who looked upset. *** Kang Chan met up with Michelle and headed to the department store to buy things such as clothes, shoes, and sneakers. He started with suits from so-called luxury brands, then boughtfortable clothes that would be okay for him to wear when he met Lanok, but the prices for those were beyond imagination. Honestly, Kang Chan wondered if it was right to spend this much on clothes. ¡°You can mix and match the clothes that you¡¯ve been wearing until now with the clothes you bought today,¡± Michelle said, so Kang Chan didn¡¯t say anything about it. Two hourster, Kang Chan waspletely exhausted. It was as if he ran nonstop for about half the day. ¡°Let¡¯s buy some clothes for your mother this time, Channy,¡± Michelle suggested. ¡°For my mother?¡± ¡°She¡¯ll be upset if you just go home on this kind of day. You should also buy a tie for your father.¡± Was that true? It was something that he never thought about, but he was honestly thankful that she was being considerate. ¡°Channy, I¡¯ll buy the clothes for your parents.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not do that¡ªyou already chose clothes for me.¡± ¡°Treat me to lunch in return, then.¡± Kang Chan found it difficult to stop her since she said that it was to show her sincerity. The long shopping spree ended there. Kang Chan wanted to eat Korean food because he had been eating Western food since breakfast. However, since he was treating her to lunch, he decided to just eat what Michelle wanted to have. Michelle parked the car near Hannam-dong. ¡°The Yukgaejang here is good,¡± Michellemented. Kang Chan smirked, thinking she read his mind. They enjoyed their delicious lunch, then had tea at a nearby cafe. The sunlight during the leisurely Sunday afternoon wasn¡¯t bad. ¡°Let¡¯s go now,¡± Kang Chan said afterward. Michelle obediently stood up from her seat. Even though Kang Chan thought that she was being clingy, she treated himfortably at times like this. ¡°Hug me right now because I won¡¯t be able to hug you in front of your house,¡± Michelle said. She wasn¡¯t suffering from ack of love, but when he reached out and hugged her, Michelle buried her face in his chest. ¡°You won¡¯t do something that will make me worried again, will you?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°Why would I do something like that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get hurt, Channy.¡± Michelle gently pushed herself away from Kang Chan, then held his hand. It didn¡¯t take long for them to arrive in front of Kang Chan¡¯s house. ¡°Let¡¯s talkter, Channy.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Chan got out of the car with the clothes and immediately went up to his house. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Kang Chan said. Yoo Hye-Sook, who was watching TV, greeted Kang Chan at the entrance. ¡°Did you have fun? Are those what you bought today?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan put down the shopping bag in front of the entrance, then looked for the clothes he bought for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°What else did you buy?¡± Kang Chan found and handed over the clothes he bought for them to Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Michelle bought these for you two. She said that this is for father, and this is for mother.¡± ¡°Michelle did?¡± The unexpected present seemed to have caught Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook by surprise. Kang Chan left his clothes in his room and headed back out, finding his parents unwrapping their clothes. ¡°Oh my! This is really pretty! What do you think, honey?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°It suits you!¡± The blouse that Yoo Hye-Sook was holding looked sophisticated, even to Kang Chan. ¡°Yours is a tie? Michelle has great taste. I should really go to Dongdaemun with her next time,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookmented. This was what Michelle was talking about. While looking at his parents, who appeared to be satisfied with what they got, he thought that he should¡¯ve bought some more for them. ¡°Channy, would you like to have some fruits?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked afterward. ¡°Should I?¡± Kang Chan thought it wouldn¡¯t be bad to enjoy the leisurely Sunday afternoon with his family as well, which he hadn¡¯t done in a long time. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It seems like there has been a massive earthquake in the deep waters of the Antic and Pacific Oceans. Due to the tsunami watch, the beaches across Hawaii and Europe are in an uproar,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung exined. As Yoo Hye-Sook brought over fruits and peeled them, Kang Dae-Kyung exined the news that was being reported on TV. If something was on the news nowadays, then it broke the record. ¡°ording to the news, there has never been an earthquake as wide and strong as this one, and two earthquakes have never urred at the same time in two seas. Since the entire tectonic tes could shake if things go wrong, they report that ces like Los Angeles and Hawaii and some small inds are worried that they might cease to exist,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung added. No matter how bad it was, it wouldn¡¯t be as dangerous as Yang Jin-Woo. Kang Chan handed the oriental melon to Kang Dae-Kyung and ate a slice. If not for the massive tsunami, he wished an earthquake like that to happen between South Korea and Japan as well. 1. Hannam-dong is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in South Korea. It has been continuously shown in South Korean content as a wealthy and luxurious area Chapter 116: It begins now (1)

Chapter 116: It begins now (1)

Monday. After Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook went to work, Kang Chan sat in the living room and suddenly felt a sense of being detached from the rest of the world. ¡°I should get some work done.¡± Kang Chan had just decided to take care of Yang Jin-Woo when he received a call from Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Hello?¡± -Mr. Kang Chan, if it¡¯s all right with you, can we meet in my office? ¡°Sure. I¡¯m on my way.¡± Their conversation ended without the typical formalities. Assuming Kim Hyung-Jung had something important to say, Kang Chan immediately changed clothes. He then left the apartmentplex, got into the back of a taxi, and watched the passing view outside. The streets were peaceful. Project Unicorn, terrorist attacks, the underwater tunnel, earthquakes, and tsunamis¡ªthe monotony of daily life swallowed these significant events discussed on the news, creating a blissful ignorance. Special agents suffered wretched deaths in Mongolia to create and protect the country¡¯s peace. However, Huh Ha-Soo betrayed his nation, and bastards like Yang Jin-Woo killed the powerless while enjoying wealthy andvish lifestyles. Was he born again to protect themon citizens from those sons of bitches? Kang Chan smirked. ¡°How grand,¡± he said without realizing it. ¡°Pardon?¡± the driver asked. ¡°I was just talking to myself about the nice weather.¡± ¡°Sure is. I can smell autumn in the mornings and evenings now.¡± The elderly driver nced at Kang Chan through the rearview mirror. ¡°Suits like that must be expensive, huh?¡± ¡°This?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t reply right away. This attire, which he had bought with Michelle, definitely wasn¡¯t cheap even ording to his standards. ¡°My son was recently employed. I want to get him a suit, but it¡¯s not easy. He¡¯s short and chubby like me. The least I can do is dress him up well, but goodness, it¡¯s hard with my paycheck.¡± The driver¡¯s expression was filled with pride, yet it was also filled with regret for not being able to give his son an expensive outfit. ¡°Your son must have gotten a nice job.¡± ¡°Samjeong,¡± the driver replied and peeked back. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t aware of how nice a job like that was, but it was harder to pretend not to notice the driver¡¯s expectant eyes. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°Everyone says that, but we¡¯ll have to see. Huhuhu.¡± He looked happy. The driver praised his son a few times more before they arrived at Samseong-Dong. ¡°Thank you. Have a good day.¡± ¡°You too, sir.¡± Kang Chan paid the fare, thinking the driver was ten million times better than Yang Jin-Woo as a father. Sure enough, the door opened the moment he stepped on the fifth floor. ¡°Wee, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not waiting around to see when I arrive, so how do you open the door for me every time?¡± ¡°We have an employee whose job is to monitor the building,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied as he led Kang Chan in. That made sense. After closing the door, Kim Hyung-Jung brought over coffee and sat across from Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s smoke first.¡± They lit the tips of their cigarettes. ¡°To be honest, I was nning to submit a letter of resignation. I would rather quit and take care of Yang Jin-Woo myself than lose you,¡± he said with intense resolve in his eyes. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know if the man was obstinate or just simple-minded. Kim Hyung-Jung reciprocated Kang Chan¡¯s light smile. ¡°I already told the Director of the National Intelligence Service. I used your name and said ¡®that¡¯s what Mr. Kang Chan wanted me to deliver,¡¯ so you have to exin this properly.¡± ¡°Why are you beating around the bush?¡± ¡°There¡¯s this thing called the Grand Circle.¡± ¡°Grand Circle?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an organization of chaebols and politicians that collude with each other. Depending on their motives, they would even use methods like marriage to establish rtionships with each other.¡± What bullshit. Did they think they were living in the Middle Ages? ¡°For those with endless greed for power and wealth, entering the Grand Circle means getting to enjoy generational wealth.¡± ¡°Whew! Don¡¯t chaebols and politicians already live infort? I don¡¯t understand why they still have to do such a thing.¡± ¡°Probably to protect their riches. I presume they wish to eternally benefit from their fortune amid new political powers and citizens bing more conscious.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why the opposition party objected to the Eurasian Rail so profusely.¡± Frowning, Kang Chan took a sip of his coffee. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo stands at the top of the Grand Circle. His recently deceased daughters-inw and son-inw were children from the top chaebol families, and one was the daughter of the former prime minister. Kang Chan felt apologetic to the dead, but that was fucked up. ¡°That¡¯s part of why eliminating Yang Jin-Woo can¡¯t be done rashly. If something goes wrong, you may have to fight against everyone with vested interests. Currently, it would be difficult to handle them if they temporarily move their businesses and fortunes overseas and pose political challenges as well.¡± ¡°Can businesses be moved in that manner?¡± ¡°Yes, and they can even sell the vendorpanies that are essential for our everyday life abroad.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t quite understand what Kim Hyung-Jung was saying. ¡°If they sell thepanies that are necessary for our daily lives overseas, costs will inte.¡± ¡°Is that possible?¡± ¡°The privatepanies that purchased patents from the government during past political eras can do that because they have a monopoly. Gas, for example.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll coborate to set up apany abroad and attempt to control things from overseas. Meanwhile, within Korea, they¡¯ll find a reason to impeach the president.¡± ¡°Whew!¡± Kang Chan lifted his cigarette, finding the topic frustrating to listen to. ¡°What I¡¯m about to tell you is something that neither the President nor the Prime Minister knows. It¡¯s an independent action on the Director¡¯s part.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung took a deep breath, then continued with a rigid expression. ¡°He has decided to form a special team that¡¯s positioned above thew to eliminate people who support terrorist attacks within the Grand Circle, like Yang Jin-Woo, and politicians who sell our military¡¯s secrets like Huh Ha-Soo.¡± Not even the cigarette could make Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s expression rx. ¡°I will take responsibility. If any scandals arise as a result of this decision, it will be due to my independent judgment. The Director agreed to take responsibility as well. We three are the only ones who know about this.¡± Kang Chan let out a low sigh. ¡°If things go awry, you¡¯ll be wrongly framed as a murderer and might still be criticized even after death.¡± ¡°I recall you being just as determined when you said you¡¯d kill Yang Jin-Woo and leave for France.¡± Society and the taxi driver who drove Kang Chan here wouldn¡¯t know that people like them existed. ¡°Your strength is undoubtedly required for this task. Will you assist us?¡± Kang Chan smiled wryly, and Kim Hyung-Jung smiled simrly in response. ¡°The thought of being able to create the country that I dream about excites me. I despise how the citizens suffer over expensive electricity bills while businesses rake in trillions of won. I resent how a select few fill their wallets by controlling services that should be run by the government. If it means our citizens get to live in a country where the bare necessities of medical care are guaranteed and no one takes their life because it¡¯s too taxing, I¡¯ll willingly walk the path to hell now.¡± It was a fine aspiration, but it all sounded too grand to Kang Chan. ¡°I will definitely connect the Eurasian Rail to create a South Korea where citizens are happy and grateful to be born.¡± The tension on Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s face didn¡¯t ease up. ¡°Surely you¡¯ll help me?¡± He wanted to hear Kang Chan¡¯s answer and gain certainty. ¡°I just wanted to kill Yang Jin-Woo, so how did it get blown out of proportion like this?¡± ¡°Even if we kill him, others will spring up like mushrooms and sh with you.¡± This matter wouldn¡¯t end so easily. It would require getting their hands dirty with blood again and again. Moreover, initiating it meant Kang Chan would have to say goodbye to his dream of living a normal life. He didn¡¯t know what he was going to do with his future, but at the very least, he wanted to be the pir of his own family, just like Kang Dae-Kyung. Would Kang Dae-Kyung, Yoo Hye-Sook, and Kim Mi-Young understand and ept this decision? It could mean making them live with fingers pointed at them for the rest of their lives. What if he lost the battle against those with vested interests? Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook would face a more miserable death than the sisters Yang Jin-Woo killed. Kang Chan looked at Kim Hyung-Jung. Could he ignore the determination of a man with eyes like that? With Kim Hyung-Jung now having brought a solution to the table, could Kang Chan still back out after he had condemned the man for acting like a coward a few days ago in this exact office? If this was his fate, and this was the reason why some of the people he had met died in battle¡­ then the answer was yes. He would confidently stand against them. ¡°Can you include Seok Kang-Ho?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the person in charge, aren¡¯t I? I didn¡¯t report this to the Director either.¡± ¡°Starting today, that bastard Yang Jin-Woo will be having a hard time sleeping.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung held out his hand. Although it made Kang Chan feel awkward, he still grabbed it and shook hands with him. It wasn¡¯t like he could refuse. After that, they discussed their strategy. Their immediate financial necessities would be covered by the ten billion won allocated for the Unicorn Project, and Kim Hyung-Jung would procure the necessary weapons and tools through unofficial channels. Kim Hyung-Jung informed Kang Chan of a few other matters before spreading out pictures and documents from a yellow folder. ¡°The French Information Bureau provided these materials. This one is the data on the ten guards that Yang Jin-Woo has around him.¡± Kang Chan flipped through the documents. The guards receivedmissioned education in Russia, and a few of them had been dispatched as agents to the Arabian Penins before, among other locations. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°I was surprised as well when I saw their experience. Right, also, Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s remaining three sons all have divorce suits going.¡± What was this now? As he watched Kang Chan down the rest of his coffee, Kim Hyung-Jung exined the situation. ¡°They probably realized something was wrong, considering chaebols all have their own sources of information as well. They¡¯re probably trying to show that this is irrelevant to them. It¡¯s along the lines of ¡®we¡¯ll cut off ties, so don¡¯t touch us.¡¯¡± Those motherfuckers. Kang Chan smiled dryly. *** Yang Jin-Woo was looking out the window with puffed-out cheeks reminiscent of a pouting toad. Beep! The inte in his office rang. Click.? He pressed a button. -Assemblyman Huh Sang-Soo, Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo, and their assistant Kwak Do-Young aren¡¯t picking up. The only thing the assemblyman¡¯s office told me is that he¡¯s absent. The short report was delivered in a careful tone. Yang Jin-Woo lifted his hand from the inte without bothering to reply. ¡°Do they think the underwater tunnel isn¡¯t going to cut it?¡± His hands and feet were being tied up. Even if he had a lobbying fund of ten trillion won at his disposal, it was only useful if someone was willing to take it. On top of that, his children¡¯s spouses had them in court for divorce. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I have to suffer this humiliation because of Moon Jae-Hyun, that lowly punk. Ha, hahaha.¡± In contrast with the sound of hisughter, Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s eyes glinted sharply. Click.?He pressed the inte button again. -Yes, Chairman Yang. ¡°Assemble a meeting with the directors. Every single one.¡± -Yes, sir. Releasing the button, Yang Jin-Woo palmed his forehead and looked in front of the door. ¡°Tell Mr. Kanemaru to proceed as nned.¡± ¡°Hai!¡± Kotaro replied with a bow. Yang Jin-Woo continued, ¡°Now that things havee to this point, eliminate that boy and his parents immediately. I trust you can do it?¡± ¡°He¡¯s only a high-schooler, sir.¡± ¡°The security detail around him isn¡¯t ordinary. Never let your guard down.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you what an elite agent is capable of.¡± Yang Jin-Woo nodded. *** Seok Kang-Ho stepped into the coffee shop at the intersection, then nodded and headed straight for the counter. The terrace was teeming because it was already evening, making it difficult to speak of critical matters. ¡°We won¡¯t get to talk properly here. It¡¯s too noisy,¡± Seok Kang-Ho grumbled, bringing over iced coffee. He wasn¡¯t exaggerating. They could hear the words being spoken at the table next to them quite clearly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s just wait for now and grab dinner when he arrives.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan. ¡°Captain, do you have about a billion won?¡± Why was this punk talking about money? ¡°I¡¯ve given up on thend we tried to buy, but I want to buy a nice little building.¡± ¡°A building?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s spend the money we have right now to buy a building together. It will eliminate the need for us to travel around to coffee shops like this, and we can also use the rent we get as pocket money.¡± It was an enticing suggestion. ¡°No need to use your money then. I still have mine.¡± ¡°What do you think, though? We can put together a gym, and if we set up an office, we¡¯ll also be able to take care of everything there without having to go around ces.¡± ¡°Are there any you¡¯ve been looking at?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll look into it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush and lose the money likest time.¡± ¡°Hey! Please forget about that.¡± Seok Kang-Ho sipped his iced coffee looking abashed. Soon after, Smithen entered, attracting the attention of everyone inside. ¡°Captain!¡± ¡°Sit.¡± ¡°Let me just get some coffee first.¡± His Korean pronunciation was awkward, but he could now clearly deliver what he was trying to say. A whileter, Smithen sat down with a cup of coffee. ¡°There¡¯s no news about Yang Jin-Wooing.¡± ¡°He¡¯s probably not in the mood right now.¡± ¡°I heard he stilles once or twice a year.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked surprised at Smithen¡¯s response. ¡°Your Korean has improved a ton.¡± ¡°I¡¯m smarter than you,¡± Smithen replied smugly. ¡°What did you just say, you son of a bitch?¡± ¡°I said cursing is bad.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Kang Chan cut them off. A Caucasian man and a sturdy-looking Korean man exchanging profanities definitely caught the eyes of the people around. ¡°You haven¡¯t had dinner yet, have you?¡± ¡°I certainly have not.¡± Smithen¡¯s reply was a little strange, but he got the point across. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat. What do you want?¡± ¡°Pork galbi.¡± What has this bastard been going around doing? As Kang Chan looked at him curiously, Smithen stood up. They headed to a restaurant that had a selection of pork galbi, Smithen¡¯s choice. The blonde, blue-eyed American wrapped pieces of meat in lettuce and stuffed them in his mouth, then washed them down with Bomb shots. ¡°Ajumma, some spicy peppers and gochujang please.¡± People looked at him again as he raised his hand to order. ¡°Your Korean¡¯s great.¡± ¡°Thank you, pretty ajumma.¡± ¡°You talk so kindly too. Do you need anything else?¡± ¡°Will you give us soybean paste soupter, ma¡¯am?¡± Smithen continued chattering. Kang Chan deeply sighed as he looked at him. ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve seen you somewhere. Are you a celebrity?¡± ¡°I must resemble someone. Another beer, please.¡± Kang Chan put in another order to divert the waitress¡¯ attention elsewhere. ¡°Smithen.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Captain,¡± Smithen responded with yet another weird phrase after stuffing more meat into his mouth. ¡°You don¡¯t have to associate with Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s women anymore.¡± Smithen swallowed his food with a troubled face. ¡°Captain, I would like to spend two months or so cutting them off slowly rather than doing it instantly. I hope that would be alright¡± ¡°You take care of it.¡± ¡°My, that is a relief, sir.¡± His speech sounded somewhat feminine, likely due to having learned from a woman. ¡°Daye, my ss is empty.¡± Seok Kang-Ho scowled, then carefully observed Kang Chan¡¯s mood while pouring him some alcohol. ¡°Captain, please, I would like to know.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Please, what do you n to do now?¡± That rough voice speaking in such a feminine manner started to get on Kang Chan¡¯s nerves. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of calling it off,¡± he said. ¡°Call it off?¡± ¡°I¡¯m quitting,¡± Kang Chan rified. ¡°I see¡­¡± Seok Kang-Ho seemed surprised, and Smithen seemed to doubt Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s take things easy. All this is bothersome.¡± He was feeling full and wanted to leave the restaurant, but Smithen stood up only after scarfing down some rice mixed with soybean paste soup. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yeah. Take it easy and tie loose ends properly.¡± ¡°I will, sir.¡± Smithen left with a regretful expression. Meanwhile, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho headed back to the coffee shop. It was a lot quieter than before. ¡°You¡¯re not really thinking of taking your hands off Yang Jin-Woo, are you?¡± Seok Kang-Ho brought two drinks over and slid closer to Kang Chan. ¡°I just said that because Smithen was around. Actually¡­¡± Kang Chan told him what he had discussed with Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°That''s a total elite squad. Mr. Kim has guts I wasn¡¯t aware of.¡± ¡°The n is to eliminate Yang Jin-Woo as soon as we find a way to do it. I have also been getting a bad feeling, so be careful for the time being.¡± ¡°Gotcha.¡± Seok Kang-Ho grinned in satisfaction. ¡°Daye.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s smile instantly disappeared at Kang Chan¡¯s low voice. ¡°I have a bad feeling. Stay alert and be wary of your surroundings.¡± ¡°That bad?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling it since this afternoon. Something¡¯s off.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be careful, so don¡¯t worry. Let¡¯s finish him off quickly.¡± ¡°Definitely.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nced around. 1. ¡®Yes!¡¯ in Japanese Chapter 117: It begins now (2)

Chapter 117: It begins now (2)

Tuesday. Waking up at dawn, Kang Chan left the house, much like he always did. The brisk air of morning break was already hinting at autumn. ¡°Whew.¡± He stretched his muscles, which had stiffened overnight. While pulling his right arm with his left and pretending to twist his body, he scanned his surroundings. Someone was observing him. He only saw a few people heading to work early, but no one seemed particrly suspicious. ¡®I can¡¯t even exercisefortably because of this son of a bitch.¡¯ He didn¡¯t want to skip his workout, though. After examining his surroundings a few more times, he warily left the apartmentplex. However, the unpleasant feeling made it difficult to focus on running. Running defenselessly despite knowing someone was out for you was as foolish as jogging in the middle of a battlefield. Kang Chan slowed down to a walk after running a kilometer. Choi Jong-Il was somewhere out there, but agents could eliminate him in one strike. Moreover, in this situation, ground-to-air missiles were already being brought into y. His gut feeling meant shit if the game were to end with a single bullet. He frowned and let out a deep breath. That was enough of his workout for now. ¡®I¡¯m using the sidewalk, so I probably won¡¯t get hit by a car.¡¯ However, just as he turned toward the apartmentplex¡¯s entrance¡­ Vrrrrrrrroom.?He whipped around at the harsh engine noise, finding a motorcycle sweeping past him. ¡®So that¡¯s the punk.¡¯ It was all his gut. These kinds of things took ce duringbat too. Enemies opened fire without any specific target, but their purpose wasn¡¯t to kill the opponent. Rather, it was to keep them tense and wear them out. Only one bastard would do this. ¡°This is how you¡¯reing at me?¡± He chuckled and went up home. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook weren¡¯t up yet. He quietly entered his room and called Seok Kang-Ho first. The call rang for a bit before Seok Kang-Ho finally picked up. -What¡¯s wrong? He seemed to have woken up just now, considering he frantically answered and he still sounded hoarse. ¡°I think Yang Jin-Woo is after me. Since you participated in the security that day and we meet often, they probably know about you as well.¡± -They¡¯re making their move this early? He sounded so hoarse Kang Chan wanted to make him drink some water. ¡°Some guy passed by me on a motorcycle, and I think it¡¯s them. Be careful when you¡¯re on the streets. It¡¯s the end of both of us if we get into a car ident or get sent to prison.¡± -That son of a¡ª! Ahem, got it. Anything else? ¡°Who is it?¡± someone sleepily asked over at Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s side. ¡°Nothing, aside from the fact that I didn¡¯t get to work out.¡± -Okay. Let¡¯s talkter. Kang Chan hung up and shook off his bad mood. Afterward, he started to exercise in his room. He would shower earlier than normal today. When he came out into the living room, Yoo Hye-Sook wasing out of the bedroom. ¡°Son!¡± She looked at the clock in the living room, her face flustered. ¡°I just worked out in my room today.¡± ¡°Why? Are you not feeling well?¡± ¡°No. I just wanted to take a break for a day.¡± He smiled at her, then headed inside the bathroom. ¡®I¡¯ll do what you want.¡¯ Since the Yang Jin-Woo still had the Japanese agents and two other organizations like Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s at his disposal, he probably wanted to exert some power. Yang Jin-Woo wouldn¡¯t be willing to back out or yield, considering he knew of a method that could provide greater peace of mind. Once this kind of battle began, nothing good would arise from dragging things out. If he was being targeted, then that meant Kang Dae-Gyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were as well. After showering, he helped Yoo Hye-Sook prepare breakfast. Afterward, he ate together with Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Have a good day.¡± ¡°Bye, son.¡± ¡°See you in the evening.¡± When the two left for work, he immediately dialed Kim Hyung-Jung and informed him that he would be going to the office in Samseong-Dong. *** Kang Chan exined the events that transpired earlier that morning to Kim Hyung-Jung, who brought over some coffee. ¡°Hmm, since you¡¯re the one saying that, you¡¯re probably right.¡± Knowing what happened at the international hotel, Kim Hyung-Jung nodded in agreement. ¡°You know Yang Jin-Woo has two other organizations like Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s, don¡¯t you, Mr. Kim?¡± ¡°That information was in the materials I showed you during yourst visit.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s attack them today,¡± dered Kang Chan. Kim Hyung-Jung abruptly looked up from his coffee cup. ¡°The fact that they¡¯re targeting me means they¡¯re prepared and ready. We¡¯ll lose if we spend too much time thinking about this. Kim Hyung-Jung couldn¡¯t reply. ¡°How many times have you lost already? Let¡¯s do things my way.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± mused Kim Hyung-Jung. Kang Chan pulled out a cigarette. Looking stiff, Kim Hyung-Jung did the same as well. ¡°They have a lot more men.¡± ¡°As long as we have you, Seok Kang-Ho, and me, an organization like Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s doesn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± ¡°What about the aftermath?¡± The conversation paused. Kim Hyung-Jung flicked the lighter on. ¡°You said it doesn''t matter if we¡¯re not inside the boundaries of thew. Why else would they not be able to report the incident with Cho Il-Kwon and Yoon Bong-Sup? I n on making the agentse here, so let¡¯s beat the evidence out of them.¡± ¡°All ten of them?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked, ¡°Do you think you can take on that many?¡± ¡°It¡¯s easily worth a try.¡± Even though Kang Chan grinned, Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s expression remained solemn. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, this could reveal how the surface-to-air missile was acquired. That will be the end of Yang Jin-Woo.¡± ¡°That¡¯s done within the boundaries of thew.¡± ¡°You¡¯re truly hard to predict, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung sighed as if admitting his defeat. ¡°Let¡¯s call Choi Jong-Il.¡± Kang Chan tilted his head at the unexpected proposal. ¡°I heard he already provided assistance in dealing with Yoon Bong-Sup and Cho Il-Kwon.¡± ¡°I thought only you and the director were aware of this.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t Mr. Seok know as well? That agent of ours went as far as submitting a resignation letter, so he¡¯ll take part this time as well.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung lifted his phone and looked at Kang Chan. ¡°If it makes you ufortable, I¡¯ll tell him I was tasked with this business.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just worried their futures will be ruined after getting involved with something they don¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°Choi Jong-Il has been my subordinate for a while now. If he knows I left him out of this mission, he¡¯ll resent me quite a bit.¡± ¡°He might say no.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, Kim Tae-Jin and I went around shing the throats of our enemies at the DMZ. Back then, for every neck I slit, I thought that our country was no longer looked down upon. It¡¯s for our citizens who sent their precious sons to the military. That¡¯s also why I entered the National Intelligence Service.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan with determined eyes. ¡°If there¡¯s anything dirty that has to be cleaned for the benefit of our country, I¡¯ll do it with my own hands.¡± ¡°I acknowledge your resolve.¡± ¡°I know Choi Jong-Il. I practically taught him. What¡¯s more, this task involves Japanese agents. Our agents will never fall short against them.¡± The atmosphere was a little strange, but it wasn¡¯t unpleasant. ¡°Go ahead and call them.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung dialed a number with a satisfied look. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s me. All three of youe on up. Oh! You know that coffee shop out front? Grab some americanos. One for Mr. Kang Chan, too.¡± Putting the phone down, Kim Hyung-Jung sipped his now-room-temperature coffee and took in a deep breath. ¡°This is embarrassing, Mr. Kang Chan, but I¡¯ve been suffering from nightmares every day since I returned from Mongolia. It¡¯s the same dream every time. The moment I step into the mountains, a countless number of wolves dash forward and tear me apart.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung fiddled with the lighter. ¡°I wanted to apologize to the agents who are already gone and kill all the bastards connected to their deaths. If that wasn¡¯t possible, I wanted to at least travel around brutal battlefields.¡± He had wanted to die on the battlefield out of guilt. Kang Chan understood how he felt. ¡°But it seems like my job has embeddedws and regtions into me. I¡¯m trapped inside those limits. If I had orders to assassinate someone from an enemy nation, I would¡¯ve done it in a breath. However, my mind still perceives Yang Jin-woo as a citizen of South Korea who has to be protected ording to thew.¡± Rap rap rap.? Someone knocked on the door although Kang Chan didn¡¯t hear anyone outside. The room¡¯s soundproof walls were incredible. Kim Hyung-Jung stood up. ¡°From now on, I will consider Yang Jin-woo as a spy dispatched by an enemy nation.¡± Click. Kim Hyung-Jung opened the door after he was done talking. Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee entered. Lee Doo-Hee set five cups of coffee on the table. Kang Chan grinned, feeling d to see them. ¡°Sit.¡± The three bowed and, at Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s order, sat around the table. ¡°I have a special mission.¡± He got straight to the point. ¡°We¡¯ll be assassinating a key figure, and the country and the National Intelligence Service will not acknowledge the mission as per usual. The figure is so influential that if we fail, the pain it could cause to our families is unimaginable. Make your choice.¡± Choi Jong-Il spoke without even a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Thank you for the opportunity to be of service to my country.¡± Did they practice responses beforehand? Kang Chan just watched on. ¡°Who¡¯s the target?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you guys saying anything?¡± ¡°We deemed it unnecessary because our team leader has spoken for us,¡± responded Woo Hee-Seung. Lee Doo-Hee just nodded. ¡°The target is Yang Jin-Woo.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Choi Jong-Il looked satisfied. ¡°Ranks don¡¯t matter anymore. Let¡¯s speak more casually.¡± With that, the mood instantly changed. The men sipped coffee and smoked cigarettes. The smoke all five of them exhaled was sucked in by the ceiling¡¯s venttor like a whirlpool. ¡°Do you have a strategy already?¡± ¡°There are two more private organizations like Yoon Bong-Sup¡¯s. We¡¯ll attack them today, collect as much information as we can, and deal with the ten agents who came in from Japan.¡± ¡°Are we allowed to kill?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessary when ites to the gangsters, but that¡¯s the n for the Japanese agents.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung strode to his desk and brought over a few documents. ¡°These are Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s remaining organizations. There¡¯s almost no information on them, likely because Yang Jin-Woo himself manages them.¡± ¡°They¡¯re houses.¡± In Kang Chan¡¯s hand was a picture of a two-story house with arge garden. ¡°One¡¯s in Seongnam, and the other is in Hannam-Dong. They¡¯ll probably contact the other if one¡¯s attacked.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s statement made the others in the room look at him. ¡°Let¡¯s attack Hannam-Dong first. The Japanese agents will probably join the frontlines when we head to Seongnam. They outnumber us, and they also have pride as agents.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± Having fully made his decision Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t back out. ¡°Why did you leave them alone when you¡¯ve already investigated this much?¡± ¡°Yang Jin-Woo would dly fly to the US and throw a fit from there if we take them by surprise and fail to find anything. If we tried to get him with something small, then he would spout bullshit about how he''s being framed or that it''s a trap, so we were trying to find decisive evidence.¡± That made sense. People would question why a chaebol would do such a thing when he already had everything. Kang Chan nodded and wrapped up the conversation with that. ¡°We¡¯ll use a van for transportation.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung was fast when he put his mind to something. ¡°Guns and bays should be enough for weapons, right?¡± Guns too? Well, it was better safe than sorry since they didn¡¯t know what the Japanese agents were going to bring. Kang Chan nodded. All they had to do now was execute the n and one other thing. After a moment of contemting what to do about Seok Kang-Ho, Kang Chan picked up his phone. That damned promise! *** The license te of the van parked in the underground garage was changed. On one side of the parking lot were tools needed to change tes along with 20 extra tes. Contrary to the battlefields in Africa, espionage warfare had a different kind of subtlety to it. The parking lot was spaciouspared to the size of the building. Three vans, tworge and two small passenger vehicles, and one Mercedes Benz and BMW. ¡°Here, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung opened the inner section of the parking garage with a key and handed him a revolver and a bay. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I was just thinking I should loot this ce someday.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be shot immediately if you sneak in.¡± Really? He looked around but didn¡¯t see any ce for security to watch from. ¡°There are only two entrances to this garage. Anyone who wants toe inside has to send a notification beforehand. Behind the channels, machine guns are waiting in ambush.¡± Kang Chan nodded in response. He holstered his bay at his ankle and attached his gun to his waist. He was mostfortable with it on his back, behind his right hip. ¡°Please prepare Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s too.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± As soon as they finished preparations, tension filled the lot. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Kang Chan climbed into the car at Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s words. Lee Doo-Hee, who had an elongated head, did the driving, while Woo Hee-Seung rode in the passenger seat. Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung rode in the middle, and Choi Jong-Il was at the back. Kim Hyung-Jung pressed a few buttons on his phone. After the beep sound, they left. ¡°This ce doesn¡¯t seem fit for emergency dispatches.¡± ¡°Emergency dispatches aren¡¯t relevant here because we specialize in strategic analysis, agent cement, and special missions.¡± There was an exit to the side of the building. It was past the channel from the parking garage. If it wasn¡¯t for Seok Kang-Ho, they would have eaten some delicious jjamppong before leaving. Kang Chan pulled out his phone and pressed call. -Are you on your way? ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll arrive in about fifteen minutes.¡± -Whew. I left work early. This bastard probably ate nervousness for lunch. ¡°Come out to the main road.¡± -I¡¯m in front of the snack bar. Should I buy some kimbap? ¡°Hey! Let¡¯s at least eat properly.¡± -Okay.? Kim Hyung-Jung made a knowing smile when Kang Chan hung up. Traffic wasn¡¯t too heavy, so Seok Kang-Ho joined them soon. While the car zoomed down the road, Seok Kang-Ho exchanged greetings with Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee, and was given weapons. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes were already teary from anxiety. They didn¡¯t know when this battle would end. Some people could ask, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be alright to skip a meal since it¡¯s an important fight?¡± However, those were the ones who didn¡¯t know the feeling of strength leaving your body in the middle of an intense battle. Rookies couldn¡¯t eat properly because of how nervous they were, and they fell first. They learned the hard way why soldiers stuffed their throats with food during the short breaks they got in front of their dead enemies or corpses of their allies¡ªwhy they forced food down before an operation or a battle. There was a possibility that they would have to skip dinner if a fight was drawn out, so to survive, it was wise to eat a good meal when they could. Lee Doo-Hee turned right after crossing the Hannam Bridge and parked the car in front of a restaurant near the road. It was a little early for lunch, so it wasn¡¯t bustling yet. They ordered bibimbap. The restaurant owner hesitantly brought out their food. It wasn¡¯tmon for six men to quietly sit around waiting for the food after pouring their water cups and setting their cutlery. They finished their meal in five minutes. After paying for the food, they bought coffee at the shop right next to the restaurant, then drank it in front of the van. At least twenty minutes were required. Gangsters wouldn¡¯t be able to kill any of them, but the agents from Japan were a problem. Ten against six wasn¡¯t a bad fight. ¡°The coffee tastes especially delicious when I think of how I¡¯ll beat up those motherfuckers.¡± Seok Kang-Ho chuckled with glinting eyes. Chapter 118: Do You Have Any More To Pull Out? (1)

Chapter 118: Do You Have Any More To Pull Out? (1)

The group had already crossed the Hannam Bridge and eaten lunch, and Kang Chan had finished smoking his cigarette and drinking coffee as well. They were ten minutes away from their destination. It was time to go. However, when Lee Doo-Hee threw away Kang Chan¡¯s empty coffee cup into the trash, Kang Chan¡¯s heart suddenly started to thump faster. Badump. Badump.? ¡®Damn it.¡¯ They couldn¡¯t have nted mines at the house, could they? Kang Chan turned to look at the others. ¡°What is it?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. He covered his cigarette with a hand as he lit it. ¡°I have a bad feeling. It¡¯s significant enough for me to stop an operation that¡¯s already underway.¡± ¡°That bad?¡± After Kang Chan nodded, Seok Kang-Ho nced around. ¡°What is it, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± The bad feelings he got were a pain in the ass to exin¡ªno, it was virtually impossible to exin them. ¡°Mr. Kim Hyung-Jung, please just trust me on this. Let¡¯s go over the conditions again. I¡¯m getting the same bad feeling that I had back at the event.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s head to a quiet ce for now.¡± Having observed the entire situation during the day of the event, Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t raise any doubts and just followed Kang Chan¡¯s wishes. They all climbed into the car and entered an alley. Badump. Badump. It was ridiculous. He had no means of being certain about the specifics every time this happened. Nevertheless, even though he didn¡¯t have the slightest idea of what dangers they would face and when they would appear, his heart continued to beat faster. Kang Chan red outside through the windshield. ¡®What is it? What did I leave out?¡¯ He did say they should attack first, but before the mission even started, he suddenly got an ominous feeling. It wasn¡¯t as if they were here under someone¡¯s orders. The people who were aware of this operation were all here. ¡°Mr. Kim Hyung-Jung, we¡¯re the only ones who know about this mission, correct?¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain of it.¡± Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee also had stiff expressions although they didn¡¯t understand what was happening. Kang Chan took a slow, deep breath. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? At that moment, his phone rang. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and saw the name ¡®Smithen¡¯ disyed on the screen. ¡°Cut to the chase.¡± At times like this, no other words were required. -Captain, these people are trained. I closed the curtains and bolted through the door.? ¡°How did you find them?¡± -I was making love next to the window.? He was speaking rapid French. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? Next to Kang Chan, Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s phone vibrated. ¡°Hold on for now. I¡¯ll call you again once it¡¯s been taken care of.¡± -Yes, sir. Smithen was under attack? Was this the reason he had a bad feeling? Kang Chan turned around after dropping the call. ¡°All right. Hold on a minute.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked frantic. ¡°I just got a report. People who seem to be enemy agents are currently in meetings with your father and mother.¡± ¡®What?¡¯? Kang Chan didn¡¯t have time to think. He immediately put Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s phone against his ear. ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan. Exin the situation.¡± -Two agents are speaking to your father regarding the mass purchase of his automobiles, and two more are discussing with your mother about making donations to the foundation. Our agents are behind them, but we have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Those motherfuckers! ¡°Do our people have firearms?¡± -The two team leaders do. ¡°If the situation deems it necessary, shoot to kill.¡± -We need Manager Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s approval for opening fire. Kang Chan handed the phone to Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°He says they need your approval to open fire.¡± The look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes was so vicious that Woo Hee-Seung, who had been looking back at them, quickly turned his gaze to Kim Hyung-Jung. As soon as he got his phone back, Kim Hyung-Jungmanded, ¡°Shoot if necessary.¡± Seok Kang-Ho and the others grasped what was going on. ¡°Let¡¯s head to Father¡¯s office first.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung nodded at what Kang Chan said. ¡°Did that son of a bitch Yang Jin-Woo make the first move?¡± ¡°Let me make a few more calls first before we talk.¡± As the car¡¯s engine started, Kang Chan pressed the call button and held his phone to his ear. -Boss, I¡¯m in the middle of a meeting. Can we talkter? Even Michelle? ¡°Michelle, don¡¯t talk and just listen. This is extremely important.¡± Just in case, he spoke in French. ¡°If you¡¯re with other people, say you like mountains. If you¡¯re alone, say you like the beach. Don¡¯t show anything on your face.¡± -I prefer the beach.? Damn it! ¡°You¡¯re at the office, right?¡± -Yes, it¡¯s official business.? ¡°You could be in danger. Find a way to at least get a female employee to be with you. Leave if you can.¡± -Got it, Boss. ¡°Exin to them that I¡¯m not your boss.¡± -I said I got it.? He hung up, feeling blindsided. He was a step toote. The car had crossed over the Hannam Bridge and was waiting for the traffic signal. Kang Chan made another call and looked at Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°How many agents do you have that can be mobilized immediately?¡± ¡°Mobilizing them all will give away this operation.¡± That was true. As Kang Chan nodded, his call connected. -What brings me the pleasure of your call at this time? ¡°Director, the entertainmentpany D.I., Smithen¡¯s house, which you protectedst time, and Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s home are in danger. They could be agents from Japan¡¯s Intelligence Bureau, and they could be carrying firearms. Can you dispatch some people?¡± -We¡¯ll cooperate with the police in those areas. Give me their addresses. Kang Chan listed the locations and their phone numbers one by one. The call ended before he could say thanks. ¡°Manager, please oversee the situation from the car, and look into where Yang Jin-Woo is currently.¡± He could now see Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s building from afar. ¡°Seok Kang-Ho, go with Woo Hee-Seung to my dad¡¯s office.¡± His eyes met with Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°If your gut tells you to, don¡¯t hesitate to kill.¡± ¡°Got it. Leave it to me.¡± The car rolled to a halt. ¡°Choi Jong-Il, do you know where my mother¡¯s office is?¡± ¡°I do.¡± The moment the van¡¯s door slid open, Kang Chan immediately jumped out. There were quite a few people because it was an officetel. ¡°Go up the stairs.¡± Under Kang Chan¡¯smand, Choi Jong-Il went through the entrance to the staircase, which was next to the elevator. They ran up the flights by two or three stairs at a time. Yoo Hye-Sook being surprised was a problem forter in the future. Saving her came first. The knife at his ankle asionally came into view, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t hesitate. As they dashed up together in their suits, one woman they met on the way jumped in surprise and clung to the walls. ¡°Over here!¡± Creak. Choi Jong-Il opened the door, panting. The moment they stepped into the hallway, a woman who appeared to be an agent quickly hastened over. ¡°They¡¯re sitting facing each other on the office¡¯s sofa. Two agents and the team leader are on standby behind Ms. Yoo.¡± If not for the agents, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook would¡¯ve been dead already. Kang Chan nodded and caught his breath in front of the office door. Whew.? ¡®These motherfuckers dare target my mother?¡¯ Choi Jong-Il followed right behind him. Kang Chan flung open the door and went inside. Three tense female agents were standing behind Yoo Hye-Sook, and sitting opposite them on the sofa were two men who had clearly received special training. ¡°Son!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked both surprised and delighted, while the two men quickly moved their right hands behind them. Kang Chan immediately threw himself at the man closest to him, elbowed his face, then kicked the other man¡¯s shoulder. Pow! The fight transpired in a matter of moments. However, the enemy blocked Kang Chan¡¯s elbow and jabbed him in the side. Crash!? As Kang Chan fell on the table, Choi Jong-Il and two female agents raced toward the guy that was further away. Pow pow! Pow! Pow! Pow pow pow!? Kang Chan got up and threw a punch. As soon as they made eye contact, Kang Chan felt that the bastard in front of him had a lot ofbat experience! Pow!? Choi Jong-Il gripped his enemy¡¯s right wrist as he took a hit to his waist. One female agent dragged Yoo Hye-Sook behind the desk. Pow pow pow! Pow! Pow pow! As Kang Chan consecutively traded punches and elbows in-between the table and sofa with the enemy, a female agentnded on the table, having been punched in the throat. Pow!? The enemy struck aside Kang Chan¡¯s outstretched hand. At the same time, Kang Chan pushed his opponent¡¯s elbow away. If given the chance, they would pull out their guns. That was why Choi Jong-Il was tightly holding onto the right wrist of the man he was facing. He didn¡¯t expect them to be this strong. They had wasted too much time already. Kang Chan parried yet another elbow. The guy¡¯s left fist immediately followed, and Kang Chan voluntarily let the bastard hit him! Pow!? ¡®Kegh!¡¯ The moment the enemy¡¯s left fistnded on Kang Chan¡¯s sr plexus, his own right fist made contact with the man¡¯s chin. ¡°Kegh!¡± Shit! The punch he took to the gut knocked the wind out of him. Son of a bitch!? Kang Chan got the man in a chokehold and held it as tightly as he could. Crack!? He had to move, but he couldn¡¯t budge because he couldn¡¯t breathe. Thwack!? A female agent took a hit right on the face and fell back. Kang Chan bit the inside of his cheek. ¡°Keghh!¡± The horrific pain and metallic taste of blood instantly shot him back to reality. He could breathe again. With Choi Jong-Il still holding onto the other guy¡¯s right hand, Kang Chan was given the perfect opportunity to attack. Pow! ¡°Cough!¡± The man wobbled as Kang Chan struck his neck. Pow! Pow! Pow!? Kang Chan struck him in the neck three more times. The moment the enemy bent over, Kang Chan jabbed him in the throat with the knuckle of his middle finger. Kang Chan grabbed the enemy¡¯s head. He had to finish the fight right here, right now. Crack!? With the man¡¯s head now facing the wrong direction, Kang Chan had eliminated both of the enemies. The man he was holding copsed in front of the sofa as soon as he let go. Choi Jong-Il sat on the ground grabbing his chest. One female agent¡¯s face was covered in blood. When Kang Chan turned around, he saw Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s petrified eyes. As he walked forward, the agent who fell on the sofa got up just as Yoo Hye-Sook shook her head in surprise. He stopped. It seemed like Yoo Hye-Sook was having a hard time epting that Kang Chan was a murderer. Not many people could easily ept killing others¡ªespecially women. Yoo Hye-Sook would make those eyes even if she knew Kang Chan wasn¡¯t her real son. ¡°Father¡¯s in danger too,¡± Kang Chan said, blood dripping out of his mouth. He had bit his cheek so hard that his mouth was filled with blood. ¡°These women are special agents sent from the National Intelligence Service. Please follow them.¡± The agent next to Yoo Hye-Sook answered her phone and talked briefly before nodding at Kang Chan. It meant Kang Dae-Kyung was safe. Yoo Hye-Sook began to tremble. Choi Jong-Il barely managed to stand up behind Kang Chan. ¡°Escort her to a safe ce.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± When he turned around, he saw a female agent covering her bleeding nose and their two opponents who had copsed into strange positions. Kang Chan wiped his mouth with his palm. Gulp.? Blood continued to spill from his cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Father.¡± He forced a smile. His voice was a little strange because of the blood he had swallowed, but Yoo Hye-Sook remained silent. Her eyes still showed the same emotion as before. This was how it had to be. It was supposed to be like this from the beginning, but he had been deceiving her all this time. Kang Chan took a deep breath, then headed to the door. ¡°Kang¡­ Chan.¡± Just then, Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s shaking voice made him stop in his tracks. When he turned around, Yoo Hye-Sook was already standing. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ okay, right?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t say a word to his mother, even though she was clearly trying to ovee her fear and horror. ¡°You¡¯re okay, right, Son?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook pushed herself to approach Kang Chan, then lifted her poor, trembling hands to touch his cheek. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ fine. So you can¡¯t get hurt either, okay?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°I¡­ I was just so surprised. But I¡ª¡± Yoo Hye-Sook stretched out her shaking arms. ¡°I love you. I love you, my son.¡± She was trying to ovee and ept it. Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s warm embrace felt like a luxury he couldn¡¯t afford. ¡°Mother, go home with Father.¡± Kang Chan signaled with his eyes, and a female agent approached Yoo Hye-Sook and held her shoulders. Yoo Hye-Sook nodded, seemingly trying to tell him not to worry. Kang Chan nodded back, then immediately left the office. As he headed down the stairs, three male agents on the way up bowed to Choi Jong-Il. ¡°Mr. Kang is also fine.¡± ¡°Was anyone injured?¡± ¡°Three agents were hurt, but it¡¯s not life-threatening.¡± ¡°Clean up the rest and escort Mr. Kang Dae-Kyung and Mrs. Yoo Hye-Sook home.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Kang Chan immediately headed to the Kang Yoo Motors office with Choi Jong-Il. ¡°Father.¡± Although his face was as pale as a sheet, Kang Dae-Kyung seemed to be in better shape than his wife. ¡°Mother is safe, but she seemed a little taken aback.¡± ¡°I¡¯llfort her. You¡¯re not hurt, are you?¡± ¡°No.¡± He swallowed the blood in his mouth so it wouldn¡¯t spill out. When he looked around, he saw the table in splinters and the area around the two bastards covered in blood. ¡°Please take care of Mother.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung gritted his teeth and patted Kang Chan¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked directly into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes and nodded. Kang Chan turned around as Seok Kang-Ho, Choi Jong-Il, and Woo Hee-Seung followed him. It was a relief that there were quite a few agents at Kang Yoo Motors. Leaving the building, Kang Chan immediately hopped in the car. Kim Hyung-Jung appeared to already have received reports about the situation. Drrrrk. The van¡¯s door shut. ¡°Manager Kim, I¡¯ll lead the mission today.¡± ¡°I started with that in mind. You do everything you want to do, Mr. Kang Chan. It has been confirmed that Yang Jin-woo is currently at his Pyeongchang-Dong home. It appears we were misinformed about how many agents entered from Japan. There were at least twenty more in Pyeongchang-Dong.¡± Kang Chan nodded and lifted his phone. It was answered on the third ring. -Yeah! It¡¯s me. ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek, we found the punks rted to the Bundang incident fromst time.¡± -What? Really? Wait! Where are you? Kang Chan! Don¡¯t go alone! Oh Gwang-Taek sounded frantic. ¡°The bastards might have guns, so be careful. There are two ces to hit, so split your guys into teams. I also have a request.¡± -What is it? If you want me to stand back and watch, I¡¯ll throw hands with you too. Kang Chan chuckled before continuing, ¡°I won¡¯t be going to any of the two locations. I have to go to a different ce, so I was going to ask you to kill all the people that are at the two locations. That¡¯s the request.¡± -I will. Do you think you can block off the police? If not, I have to prepare to take the me. ¡°Wait.¡± Kang Chan momentarily put down his phone. ¡°Can you hold the police off?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Everyone in the car, including Kim Hyung-Jung, had heard the phone conversation, so the car was brimming with tension. ¡°Oh Gwang-Taek, we can keep the police away. Don¡¯t be too loud, and try not to make gunshot noises if possible.¡± -Leave it to me. Also, Kang Chan¡ª Oh Gwang-Taek continued without giving Kang Chan time to reply. -Thank you.? ¡°Enough with that bullshit. Let¡¯s grab some drinks together if we get out of this alive.¡± -Got it. The call ended. Kang Chan breathed in deeply. Considering their enemies¡¯ skills, their team of six fighting against twenty of those enemy agents would be a suicide mission. ¡°Please put in a call to Mr. Jeon Dae-Geuk for me.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung had likely prepared himself for Kang Chan to lead the mission. As if he was Kang Chan¡¯s subordinate, he obediently pressed the call button as ordered and immediately handed over the phone. -Jeon Dae-Geuk speaking. What is it? ¡°This is Kang Chan.¡± -Kang Chan? Oh! Kang Chan! To what do I owe this honor? ¡°Mr. Jeon Dae-Geuk, we¡¯ll beunching an attack on the agents that came from Japan. As you might have already guessed, this is a covert operation. We need you and any subordinate you can trust.¡± Was his exnation too short? Should he have said their opponent was a man about to carry out a terrorist attack or that the enemy was Yang Jin-Woo? He heard Jeon Dae-Geuk breathe about two times before he replied. -I and five others will go. How many are on their side? ¡°There are at least twenty. We will have twelve on our side if we include your people.¡± -Where do we meet? ¡°Mr. Kim Hyung-Jung will tell you the location.¡± Kang Chan handed the phone back to Kim Hyung-Jung. Thetter answered a few questions and gave the name of a hotel as they made arrangements to meet in front of it. Finally, Kang Chan called onest person. -Hello? My people have all been dispatched, and the guys at D.I. were confirmed to be mere investors. Where are you? Kang Chan thanked Kim Tae-Jin and gave him the same exnation that he had just given Jeon Dae-Geuk. -Actually, I did think you and Kim Hyung-Jung seemed a bit strange these days. I¡¯ll take Sang-Hyun as well. Will that be all right with you? ¡°Let¡¯s do that. As for the meetup ce¡­¡± When Kang Chan nced at Kim Hyung-Jung, Kim Hyung-Jung replied, ¡°Oryun Hotel.¡± ¡°He says the meeting ce is at Oryun Hotel.¡± -I¡¯ll leave immediately. Kang Chan hung up and turned back. Kim Hyung-Jung smirked as he spoke up. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo, that son of a bitch! Let¡¯s do whatever it takes to end him.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho smirked, and Choi Jong-Il and Woo Hee-Seung quickly looked ahead. 1. An officetel (office+hotel) is very much like a studio in a multi-purpose building where there are both residential andmercial units. At times, the rent is paid by the employer and the person living in it just needs to pay utilities as the officetel could be considered as a work expense. Chapter 119.1: Do You Have Any More To Pull Out? (2)

Chapter 119.1: Do You Have Any More To Pull Out? (2)

Having arrived at the Oryun Hotel first, Kim Tae-Jin told everyone to meet at an area behind the hotel. It was a parking garage that belonged to a massive building. When they drove behind the building, they saw Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun standing in a corner.? Drrrrk.? ¡°Wee.¡± The members exchanged greetings as they stepped out of the car. ¡°Section Chief Jeon Dae-Geuk said it would take him around ten more minutes to arrive, so let¡¯s sit down and talk for now.¡± Kim Tae-Jin pointed to the cafe diagonally across the parking lot he had checked out earlier. They could upy all three of the tables outside, and he especially liked that they could smokefortably. They put the tables together and sat around them. Woo Hee-Seung and Lee Doo-Hee took everyone¡¯s orders. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s gaze alternated between Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung. There was no need for aplicated exnation. Kang Chan began to give an ount of all the incidents rted to Yang Jin-Woo. Kim Tae-Jin nodded as he listened. Finally, as their order was served, a ck van arrived in the parking lot. Seeing Jeon Dae-Geuk step out of the car, Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung stood up like soldiers greeting their direct superior officer. Suh Sang-Hyeon was visibly stiff from nervousness. Everyone else, including Kang Chan, stood up as well to wee Jeon Dae-Geuk, who was apanied by five stocky employees. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk shook Kang Chan¡¯s hand, then Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s. He only gave Kim Tae-Jin a nce. ¡°Let¡¯s sit.¡± ¡°After you, sir.¡± ¡°Has the troublemaker finally grown up a little?¡± Jeon Dae-Geukmented. Kim Tae-Jin peeked at Kang Chan with slight embarrassment. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, let¡¯s sit down.¡± After Jeon Dae-Geuk and Kang Chan got on their chairs, the rest also sat down. ¡°What would you like to drink?¡± ¡°Looks like everyone¡¯s drinking coffee. I¡¯ll have that as well.¡± Lee Doo-Hee headed back inside the cafe to bring drinks for Jeon Dae-Geuk and his employees. ¡°Are you trying to eliminate Yang Jin-Woo?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk nodded upon hearing Kang Chan¡¯s answer. ¡°I came here without informing the president. If any issues arise because of today¡¯s incident, these five subordinates and I will no doubt be on the express track to prison. I don¡¯t know about me, but these kids have bright futures ahead of them.¡± Jeon Dae-Gyuk suddenly turned to face Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Look after them and take responsibility for their employment after they get out of jail.¡± ¡°Understood, sir.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk looked back at Kang Chan. ¡°I believe you said they¡¯re agents from Japan, correct?¡± Kang Chan briefed Jeon Dae-Geuk about what had just happened. When he turned to Kim Hyung-Jung in the middle of his exnation, Kim Hyung-Jung nodded in agreement and added that this operation was kept secret from the National Intelligence Service as well. ¡°Hmph, I suppose the National Intelligence Service¡¯s Director is finally earning his keep.¡± With a satisfied expression, Jeon Dae-Geuk looked at the people seated at the tables. ¡°You can¡¯t avoid the rain just because you¡¯re scared your feet will get wet. The fact that we have Mr. Kang Chan in times of danger like this is a blessing for people like us¡ªa blessing! My only sorrow is that I didn¡¯t meet you when I was your age.¡± Jeok Dae-Geuk kept a solemn face as he spoke these cringy words. ¡°No matter what the oue is today, as former members of South Korea¡¯s special forces, don¡¯t leave space for an ounce of regret in your actions.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The only ones who didn¡¯t respond were Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense for us to just watch while our enemies run wild in our mothend. The Director of the National Intelligence Service finally seems to have regained his senses. Suh Sang-Hyun!¡± ¡°Yes, sir! Suh Sang-Hyun reporting for duty, sir!¡± Suh Sang-Hyun replied firmly as he stood upright with a dignified posture. ¡°What is our motto!¡± ¡°If I can protect the country with my blood, I am happy!¡± ¡°Good! As soldiers, we have lived on the fruits of our mothend. Now, thanks to Mr. Kang Chan, we have obtained the opportunity to repay that debt. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes, sir! Understood!¡± Those who answered were filled with pride. What in the world was this? The atmosphere was so different from the special forces of France¡¯s Foreign Legion that Kang Chan almost burst outughing. But at the same time, their sense of duty impressed him to the point that he felt a lump in his chest. ¡°From now on, Mr. Kang Chan will be inmand. For the sake of making things smoother, let¡¯s skip the formalities with each other.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± When Kim Tae-Jin responded, everyone rxed. Now it felt more like the atmosphere of the Foreign Legion during a mission. These people were quite impressive. They drank coffee and smoked cigarettes, even Lee Doo-Hee. The atmosphere waspletely different from what it had been. ¡°We initially estimated the number of agents who entered South Korea to be around ten. However, based on today¡¯s events, it¡¯s difficult to guess now. It has been confirmed that there are at least twenty Japanese agents at Yang Jin-Wo¡¯s house, but we couldn¡¯t determine their full effectives.¡± After listening to Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s exnation, Jeon Dae-Geuk nced at Kang Chan. ¡°There is no strategy. The n is to make our entrance and corner them until we kill Yang Jin-Woo.¡± ¡°That is the most foolish method I¡¯ve ever heard of in any operation.¡± ¡°That may be true. However, Yang Jin-Woo dared pull what he did today because we continued to hold back despite all his provocations. I think the time hase to show him our resolve and strength.¡± ¡°Five of my men and me, plus Mr. Kang Chan, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, two from Kim Tae-Jin, and four from Kim Hyung-Jung,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk counted as he folded his fingers. He lifted his gaze as if confirming the numbers with Kang Chan. ¡°So, we are fourteen people against twenty Japanese agents?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°We can only call ourselves former members of South Korea¡¯s special forces if we can handle that much.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk smiled mysteriously, then turned his head. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better for you to drop out of this operation since you have be slow?¡± he asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°I have never had azy day while running the securitypany. Also, I¡¯ve already participated in two operations with Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan had done operations with Kim Tae-Jin? ¡°Even though Suh Sang-Hyeon was injured in the second operation, I was unharmed.¡± It wasn¡¯t until he heard that exnation that Kang Chan understood what Kim Tae-Jin meant. Catching the Neck Ghost and rescuing Seok Kang-Ho¡ªthose two could certainly be considered operations. ¡°What about the weapons, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± ¡°Guns and bays.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk nodded, then said, ¡°Two of the employees I brought used to be snipers in the military. Just keep that in mind. I don¡¯t have any further questions.¡± Two employees bowed their heads as Jeon Dae-Geuk spoke. ¡°Mr. Jeon Dae-Geuk, there¡¯s a high probability we¡¯ll have to fight with knives.¡± ¡°You mentioned having guns during the attack on your parents?¡± ¡°I nned on aiming for a vulnerable spot when I had a chance, but I never intended to shoot from the beginning. If Yang Jin-Woo ends up opening fire, he¡¯ll definitely have no room for excuses. We don¡¯t need gunshot noise either, so the chances are high the fight will not involve firearms.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°If one side bes extremely disadvantaged, that side will have no choice but to draw out their guns. If possible, it would be best to make them use their guns first, which in turn would mean they¡¯d attempt to shoot the National Intelligence Service manager and the section chief of the president¡¯s security detail.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk expressed his admiration while Kim Hyung-Jung nodded in understanding. ¡°How do we get in? If they don¡¯t open the door, there¡¯s nothing we can do. The neighboring house might report us.¡± Kang Chan hadn¡¯t taken that situation into calction, but Kim Hyung-Jung answered in his stead. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s estate is designed so others can¡¯t look into the house from the neighboring houses. And we can climb over the walls to unlock the gate.¡± ¡°Phuhuhu, a National Intelligence Service manager and the section chief of the president¡¯s guards are making ns to break in by jumping over fences.¡± Jeon Dae-Geukughed like Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I¡¯ll ring the bell first. They¡¯ll recognize me anyway, and they¡¯ll probably open the door without worry if they see there are only a few people.¡± ¡°Whatever works. Well then, time for a smoke!¡± Following Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s words, everyone lit their cigarettes. ¡°You¡¯re truly amazing, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re even more amazing, Mr. Jeon Dae-Geuk.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk looked at Kang Chan, curiosity in his eyes. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re not considering what might happen if things go south.¡± ¡°Phu.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk snorted and shook his head. ¡°As I said before, most of us here have already received too much from the country. If tarnishing one¡¯s name means the country can advance forward, I should obviously be the first in line.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk took another sip of his coffee upon seeing Kang Chan¡¯s smile. ¡°Some of the top ten chaebols and a few members of the National Assembly may have noticed what Yang Jin-Woo is up to. If today''s event serves as a warning and prevents them from running around freely, I¡¯ll be satisfied no matter what the oue is.¡± After Kang Chan put out his cigarette in the ashtray, Jeok Dae-Geuk got up, supporting himself by pressing down on his thighs. ¡°Shall we get started?¡± Everyone, including Kang Chan, took a deep breath and left the cafe. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± While they moved to the parking lot, Jeon Dae-Geuk stopped Kang Chan. ¡°No matter what happens, you must survive. The burden will be carried by old people like me, so someone like you, who has great abilities and a bright future, has to live and aplish greater things.¡± He was beingpletely sincere. Jeon Dae-Geuk wrapped an arm around Kang Chan and patted his back. If only someone like Jeon Dae-Geuk had been hismander¡­ Kang Chan suddenly thought that it would have been nice to have served in the military under someone like Jeon Dae-Geuk. ? They decided to take two vans. Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyeon boarded Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s van to get their guns. The engine started. ¡°Daye, don¡¯t worry about the aftermath. If you get caught, just kill them.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Don¡¯t rush ahead alone.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The car turned and exited the parking lot. Malice rose in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. He had simply wanted to avenge the unjustly killed sisters and make sure Kang Dae-Gyung and Yoo Hye-Sook could never be targeted again, but things had be messier than expected. Shan, that son of bitch. After him, every problem had blown out of proportion. When the traffic light turned green, they turned onto the road next to the hotel and crossed to the other side. As they continued up the road, tall, castle-like houses appeared on both sides. They increased in size as the team drove on. Vrooom.? The van sped up and climbed the final hill, entering a narrow alley on the right nked by tall walls. They soon reached a wrought iron gate that looked to be about four times the size of a standard school gate. Ridiculous luxury like this probably made the average person seem like a beggar in the owner¡¯s eyes. The van stopped in front of the main gate. There were cameras above the front gate, and on the left wall was a small door for vehicle ess. The space seemed to have been built by caving the wall in.. The van that Jeon Dae-Geuk was in stopped right next to them. Kang Chan unboarded the car and red at the cameras. ¡°Whew.¡± What kind of lunch did they eat in houses like these? ¡°Yang Jin-Woo, did you stuff yourself well for lunch? I had bibimbap.¡± There was really nothing special about living. Earning a lot of money, eating well, wearing expensive clothes, and living in a good house? That was all nice and something to be envious about. Who would criticize anyone for living like that? But why would anyone kill the unfortunate sisters, bring in weapons and foreign agents, and kill South Korea¡¯s perfectly fine agents just to prevent the whole nation from living just as prosperously? What reason could there be for such bullshit? Kang Chan smirked. The measly right to sell automobiles that Kang Dae-Gyung received? What did Yoo Hye-Sook do that was so wrong when all she did was be overjoyed that she could support a few orphanages? Kang Chan stood at the front, while Jeon Dae-Geuk and Seok Kang-Ho backed him up from behind. He strode toward the main gate. However, just before he pressed the bell, the entire door creaked. The right corner of therge gate opened as if it was detached from the rest of the gate. Pft.? ¡®So, you really want to do this, huh?¡¯ This was the beginning. There was no knowing what would happen or who woulde out dead once they entered this door. Chapter 119.2: Do You Have Any More To Pull Out? (2)

Chapter 119.2: Do You Have Any More To Pull Out? (2)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kang Chan took a deep breath and stepped in through the door. There were stairs in front of him. A space that was about five square meters was surrounded by stone walls as tall as a person,pletely blocking the estate¡¯s interior from view. Even his house was ridiculous. Kang Chan red at the stone staircase ahead of him. What if someone shot him while he climbed up? Should he draw his gun? After a moment of contemtion, he simply went up the stairs. He trusted his instinct. If someone had been waiting with a gun, his heart would have been racing by now. As he clunked up the stairs, the upper levels gradually came into view. Soon, he stopped in front of a building that looked to him like a monster with its mouth wide open and seemingly about to devour the yard next to it. The first floor had a porch and ss ceilings like an opera house, and above it, on a cement dome, were windows to the second and third floors. He would only be exaggerating a little if he were to say the front yard was as massive as a school field. On top of that, it was decorated with natural grass, neatly trimmed trees, garden stones, and an artificial pond to the side. Kang Chan red at the building from the end of the garden. The man wouldn¡¯t shoot him after opening the door for him, especially since it was highly likely that Yang Jin-Woo knew Kang Chan and the identity of the people behind him. ¡®You tenacious bastard. Your end hase.¡¯ He could try to squirm like a worm and make money even after bing a ghost, but he wouldn¡¯t live past this day to harm anyone else. ¡°Hoo.¡± Kang Chan breathed in deeply and took another step. The grass was soft and well-groomed. He was already halfway through when the left entrance opened and men began pouring out. ¡®Yang Jin-Woo?¡¯ A dark gray suit jacket, dress shirt, and deep blue pants. The person walking out was undoubtedly Yang Jin-Woo. What was he so confident about to pull this crap? Kang Chan could only tilt his head in confusion. Six Caucasian men were walking on either side of Yang Jin-Woo. Three of them clearly had the gait and posture of former agents. Pft.? That wasn¡¯t all. After all the Caucasian men had gone out, Japanese agents stepped out into the clearing as well. The ss doors closed just as Yang Jin-Woo stopped in front of Kang Chan. By this point, there were almost thirty Japanese agents behind him. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you would visit without any appointment, Mr. Jeon.¡± Why was this guy so confident? Did the Caucasians have some kind of abilities that Kang Chan didn¡¯t know about? Yang Jin-Woo addressed Jeon Dae-Geuk and turned his gaze back to Kang Chan. ¡°So, you¡¯re the kid named Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Yang Jin-Woo, pretending to be calm won¡¯t change the oue.¡± Yang Jin-Woo let out a sigh. ¡°This is why people without principles won¡¯t cut it. You still haven¡¯t learned how the world works, and you¡¯ve never experienced having it beneath you. Well, it¡¯s not so much your fault as it is the fault of your parents for raising you by just feeding you and thinking they have already fulfilled their responsibility. Because of you, your parents will inevitably pay the price.¡± Yang Jin-woo chewed his cheek and looked at Jeok Dae-Geuk, who was behind Kang Chan. ¡°Ahem! Mr. Jeon, it was an unexpected visit, but I¡¯ll excuse myself as I have something to do.¡± Just as Yang Jin-Woo was about to move¡­ ¡°Cut the bullshit and stay still, Yang Jin-Woo. Otherwise, I¡¯ll put a hole through your forehead.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk tsk, you uneducated child.¡± Yang Jin-woo turned to the Caucasian man standing next to him. ¡°Chairman Yang is a U.S. citizen,¡± the American spoke fluently in Korean. ¡°We are from the embassy.¡± The man took out an I.D. from his suit pocket and handed it to Kang Chan. Kang Chan finally understood why Yang Jin-Woo was acting this way. This son of a bitch had the prestige of the United States behind him and put on this show to brag about it. He wanted to demonstrate that no one in South Korea could touch him with force or thew by disying the power of the Japanese agents and the U.S. Embassy. ¡°If there are any illegal assaults or acts that obstruct his passage, the U.S. government will not overlook them. You are currently threatening a U.S. citizen. I sternly warn you not to obstruct Chairman Yang any longer.¡± When Kim Hyung-Jung and Jeon Dae-Geuk sighed from behind, Yang Jin-Woo had a smug expression. ¡°You worthless scum, wee to the real world. A world your parents will never know even if they live a thousand years longer. Those without money are nothing more than servants and ves. They breed offspring for their masters, rejoice in being able to have a meal, and die when they are told to! ves!¡± ¡°Shut up, you son of a bitch!¡± Seeing Kang Chan¡¯s eyes, Yang Jin-Woo quickly looked at the American. ¡°This is a warning.¡± ¡°You shut up too, you fucking bastard. This isn¡¯t the States, so I¡¯ll kill you if you say one more word.¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± Click!? Kang Chan pulled out his gun. Seok Kang-Ho also immediately drew his gun and pointed it at the American. The three American agents flinched but couldn¡¯t move a muscle when they saw who Seok Kang-Ho was aiming at. For the first time since this meeting started, Yang Jin-Woo had a bewildered look in his eyes. ¡°Hey! A ve, motherfucker? A ve?¡± Kang Chan smirked at Yang Jin-Woo. ¡°You think you¡¯re so strong? You think America will protect you? Fine. Let¡¯s see how long you¡¯ll be protected.¡± Kang Chan turned his gaze to the flustered American. ¡°Call the French Embassy.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Kang Chan moved the gun he was aiming at Yang Jin-Woo to the American¡¯s face. ¡°If you keep annoying me, I¡¯ll kill you first. Call the French Embassy and ask for Lanok. If you ask again, I¡¯ll blow your damn head off.¡± Kang Chan actually intended to pull the trigger. If he left this fucking bastard Yang Jin-Woo alive, it would only cause more problems. It didn¡¯t matter whether he started bullshit with Japan or America backing him. The oue would be the same. War? Bullshit. The United States would wage war just because of Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s death? Bullshit. Perhaps everyone here would receive life sentences, but war was out of the question. The American carefully put his hand into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and made a puzzled expression. He didn¡¯t know the number. Damn it. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know the number either. Just then, Kim Hyung-Jung, who was behind Kang Chan, called the French Embassy. Beep beep beep. Beep¡ª He put the phone to his ear. ¡°Is this the French Embassy?¡± he asked, then nced briefly at Kang Chan. ¡°Tell them that Kang Chan is asking for Ambassador Lanok.¡± There was no response for about 30 seconds. As Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s nce ufortably alternated between the Americans, Seok Kang-Ho shifted the muzzle of his gun whenever the Japanese agents tried to do anything suspicious. ¡°Hello. Lanok? This is Frank.¡± The man who introduced himself as Frank exined the situation in English while asionally narrowing his eyes at Kang Chan. ¡°Just a moment.¡± He extended his arm and handed the phone over. ¡°All??¡± -Mr. Kang Chan, are you trying to have me mediate the withdrawal of the U.S. Embassy? Lanok was quick to catch on, perhaps because he was a sly fox. ¡°Well, it would be better if it ended well. I used your name, so I thought the consequences would be less severe.¡± As he spoke in French, Yang Jin-Woo nced at Frank, seemingly curious about what was happening. -Hmm, I see. I understand. This could make things difficult for you, though, Mr. Kang Chan.? ¡°I¡¯m willing to ept that, Ambassador.¡± From the other end of the phone came a deep sigh. -Please give the phone to Frank.? ¡°Thank you, Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan replied, then handed the phone back. ¡°Hello?¡± The conversation continued for about a minute. Most of what was said was answered by a simple ¡°Yes!¡± in English that anyone could understand. Soon after, Frank looked at Kang Chan in surprise. When the call ended, he exhaled deeply, eyes still on Kang Chan. ¡°From this moment on, the United States will revoke Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s U.S. citizenship for breaching the conditions for dual citizenship and viting thew prohibiting support of terrorism.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Yang Jin-Woo whipped his head around. ¡°The United States government and the DIA appreciate your cooperation, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan was also taken aback by the situation. ¡°If it¡¯s alright with you, the U.S. Embassy will now withdraw. If any legal or diplomatic issues arise, the U.S. Embassy will testify that you acted in self-defense.¡± Frank¡¯s gaze was serious, just as it had been when dealing with Yang Jin-Woo a moment ago. Something Kang Chan didn¡¯t know about had taken ce, but he couldn¡¯t ask about it right now. ¡°Go.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan. Three of our agents can help you if needed.¡± As Yang Jin-Woo tried to retreat, he froze in ce upon seeing Kang Chan¡¯s gun move. His eyes moved back and forth. ¡°We¡¯re good.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I sincerely respect your decision to cooperate for world peace.¡± Had this man suddenly lost his mind? Was it necessary to suck up to Kang Chan and say killing Yang Jin-Woo was an act of cooperation for world peace? Frank bowed curtly, then left with his team. Things had taken a strange turn, but at least that took care of Yang Jin-Woo. ¡°Oh no! What are you going to do? You¡¯re not an American anymore.¡± Kang Chan had pulled out his gun first, preventing the Japanese agents from doing anything. Kang Chan decided to only kill Yang Jin-Woo and tidy up the situation. There was no need for the blood of thirty Japanese agents to spill. He didn¡¯t even need a gun to kill Yang Jin-Woo. ¡°Daye.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Kang Chan put his gun in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s left hand. This way, he could fire at least 30 consecutive shots. ¡°If anyone moves, you¡¯re allowed to open fire.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Seok Kang-Ho took two steps to the right. ¡°South Korea is a country under the rule ofw! Section Chief Jeon! If you do this, you¡¯re finished! Thew states that I have the right to be protected¡ª!¡± Pow! Kang Chan clenched his fist, with a protruding index knuckle supported by the thumb, and struck Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s abdomen. ¡°Ugh!¡± Yang Jin-Woo clutched his stomach as he bowed over like a gangster greeting their superior. Thud.? Kang Chan grabbed Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s hair. Blood dripped down as Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s cheek trembled like in theics. Yang Jin-Woo dropped to his knees after being struck only five times. He was grabbing his head in a posture that made it seem like he was desperately praying to Kang Chan. ¡®Are you watching this? I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t protect you. I¡¯ll at least send this guy over to you today¡­¡¯ This bastard was going straight to hell, though, so he probably wouldn¡¯t meet those kind kids. Thwack! ¡®Anyway, I hope you can let go of your anger and move on to a better ce now.¡¯ Thwack! Kang Chan lifted Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s head with his left hand. The man¡¯s left cheek was swollen, and vibrant red blood trickled down from his eyes, nose, and mouth. ¡°Motherfucker, I thought your blood would be gold, but look! It¡¯s just red.¡± ¡°Uhuhu¡­¡± Thwack! The flesh on Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s cheek trembled uncontrobly. Blood sttered to the right. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo?¡± ¡°Uhuhu¡­¡± Thwack! ¡°Khuhuhu!¡± ¡°Are youughing now?¡± Yang Jin-Woo frantically shook his head. Thwack! ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± ¡°Yang Jin-Woo?¡± Thwack! After pping Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s cheek hard, Kang Chan stayed still for a moment. With the midday sun shining down, the garden looked stunning. Thanks to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s pointed guns, the Japanese agents could only grit their teeth, unable to move recklessly. Both sides knew whether or not Seok Kang-Ho would pull the trigger or not and what his skills were like. Yang Jin-Woo carefully looked up at Kang Chan. Kang Chan smirked and lifted his right foot to stomp on Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s left thigh with all his might. ¡°Ugh! Ahhh!¡± Kang Chan tilted his head. ¡°Is it because you stuffed yourself well? Why won¡¯t this break properly?¡± Despite cracking noises filling the garden, no sounds came out of Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s wide-open mouth. ¡°AAAHHH!!!¡± It was a littlete, but Yang Jin-Woo eventually let out a scream that sounded as if it came from the depths of his lungs. ¡°Jeon-san!¡± one of the Japanese agents suddenly shouted. Kang Chan raised his gaze. ¡°Fight proudly against the agents of Great Japan! If you want, we can match your numbers! No, we¡¯ll fight with only half!¡± What were those idiots saying? ¡°If not, we¡¯ll draw our guns. Let¡¯s see who ends up dead!¡± The glinting, venomous gaze spread among the Japanese agents like a contagion. ¡°You bastards! You attempted to kill powerless people, and you have the audacity to speak so boldly?¡± ¡°Jeon-san!¡± The Japanese agent ignored Kang Chan and called Jeon Dae-Geuk out again. ¡°Daye.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°Shoot that son of a bitch.¡± ¡°Yes¡ª¡± Before Seok Kang-Ho could pass down his sentence, Jeon Dae-Geuk ced his hand on Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder. ¡®Surely he wouldn¡¯t fall to such tant provocation, would he?¡¯ When Kang Chan turned around, however, he saw the mad look in Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let me request this of you.¡± It was a blunt statement. He also spoke informally, which was something he¡¯d never done before. ¡°Let me request this of you as a man who led an era of South Korea¡¯s special forces. Let us kill those bastards with our own hands.¡± ¡°Section Chief Jeon!¡± Kim Tae-Jin called, but Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s gaze remained on Kang Chan. ¡°You¡¯re not considering the consequences?¡± ¡°Would I havee here if I cared about something like that?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s retort rendered Kang Chan speechless. ¡°Kang Chan, I entrusted themand to you. You make the decision. But I hope you allow these old soldiers to protect their pride. Look behind you.¡± While Kim Tae-Jin and Kim Hyung-Jung had mixed expressions, everyone else looked furious. ¡°They will be the core of South Korea¡¯s agents from now on. Allow us to fight to protect our pride without the help of the United States or the interference of France.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡®Are you that confident?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s why you need to help.¡¯ ¡®Why are you going this far?¡¯ ¡®We¡¯re soldiers. Soldiers who have only lived on the battlefield.¡¯ It was madness. Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s absurd request struck Kang Chan¡¯s heart. ¡°We don¡¯t care if we die here. It will be a story that will forever protect the pride of the agents present¡ªa lesson that no one can recklessly raise havoc in the Republic of Korea.¡± Kang Chan turned to look at Yang Jin-Woo. The dirty bastard was sobbing, saliva flowing from his mouth. Chapter 120: Im Sick of This! (1)

Chapter 120: I''m Sick of This! (1)

Kang Chan briefly hesitated, caught in a dilemma between honoring Jeon Dae-Geuk''s request and steering clear of a potentially perilous trap. After a moment''s contemtion, he firmly grasped Yang Jin-Woo''s head and confronted his adversaries head-on. "Alright, fine. I''ll give you what you want but only under some conditions. First, drop all your guns, and second, give me a moment to take care of this scoundrel." The Japanese agent who had spewed nonsense earlier visibly flinched when Kang Chan treated them as if they were absolute imbeciles. "So, all that high and mighty act was just an attempt to deceive us and rescue this scumbag? Just what does this fucker mean to you, anyway?" Kang Chan lowered his gaze, noticing a glimmer of hope in Yang Jin-Woo''s eyes despite his pained moans. Thwack!? Kang Chan kicked Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s abdomen. ¡°Trying to strain your brain out of this, you son of a bitch?¡± ¡°Ughh! Ughh!¡± Hunched over, Yang Jin-Woo trembled. He made a feeble attempt to straighten up, desperately seeking relief from the excruciating paining from his fractured thigh bones. ¡°You fucker!¡± Kang Chan growled. Pow! ¡°Aghhhh!¡± The scorching midday sun shone down on Yang Jin-Woo''s disfigured, blood-soaked face. ¡°We will give you two trillion if you hand over Chairman Yang!¡± the agent urgently shouted. ¡°The Eurasian Rail will go up in smoke if I let go of this punk, yet all you¡¯re offering is a measly two trillion? You can keep it, you fucking moron!¡± Pow! ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± ¡°Shut up, motherfucker! You acting like this makes me look like some kind of money-hungry hostage-taker!¡± Kang Chan pretended to lift his foot, making Yang Jin-Woo involuntarily flinch. Whack! ¡°Kuhuh! Kuhuhuh!¡± Yang Jin-Woo''s condition was rapidly deteriorating. His swollen face was covered in tears, snot, and blood, and he drooled with each pitiful cry. ¡°Yang Jin-Woo.¡± ¡°Y-yes, sir?¡± This pathetic man lost the will to fight more easily than Kang Chan expected. Kang Chan tilted his head in annoyance and peered down at him. ¡°Don¡¯t let me catch you doing something like this again.¡± With his hair still clutched in Kang Chan¡¯s hand, Yang Jin-Woo frantically nodded. It seemed he thought Kang Chan would spare him. ¡°Tell me what you want!¡± the Japanese agent shouted again. Thud!? Tightening his grip on Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s hair, Kang Chan slowly lifted his gaze. ¡°What I want? For this bastard to die!¡± ¡°No!¡± Crack! Kang Chan twisted Yang Jin-Woo''s neck. Eerie silence devoured the surroundings, the world seemingly frozen over. Taken aback, Jeon Dae-Geuk, Kim Tae-Jin, and even Kim Hyung-Jung nked out. Thud.? Yang Jin-Woo slumped lifelessly,ing to rest on Kang Chan¡¯s left side. "What''s your n now? If you still insist on safeguarding your precious pride, I''m more than willing to throw down with you." ¡°Bakayaro!¡± the agent spat out. "Quit your nonsensical bbering and make up your mind already." ¡°Yoroshii!¡± Still ring at Kang Chan, the agent cautiously retrieved his gun and tossed it aside. Taking that as a cue, the other agents around him followed suit, pulling out their firearms and piling them up on the ground near Seok Kang-Ho, who maintained his aim, ready to pull the trigger if anyone tried anything stupid. ¡°Mr. Jeon, tell the two snipers to keep their guns.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk responded. ¡°Choi Jong-Il, go and toss these guns in front of the main gate.¡± Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee threw all the guns down the stairs, all of themnding near the front gate. With a gesture from Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho picked up the enemy¡¯s guns and tossed them near the gate as well. Finally, Kang Chan turned to Jeon Dae-Geuk. The snipers had their guns pointed at the Japanese agents, which meant they could put an end to everything now and ensure everyone on their side would leave safely. ¡°This is sheer madness,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°I know, but this fight will go down in history as a source of pride for our agents. Whether we win or lose, this will forever be known as an act that symbolizes the dignity of South Korea¡¯s agents. Thank you, Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan nodded slightly in acknowledgment¡ªa subtle gesture of understanding. He pulled out the bay holstered at his ankle and held it tightly in a reverse grip. Kashing.? The short de gleamed sharply in the midday sunlight as it left its scabbard. In response, their opponents also pulled out concealed weapons from their waists and ankles. The garden shimmered with shes of sunlight reflected off the gleaming des. For every man on Kang Chan¡¯s side, there were two enemies. Though it seemed insignificant right now, that difference¡¯s effects would be painfully apparent once the battle started. It would feel as if they were each contending with fifteen enemies at once. There was also no knowing who the Japanese agents were going to attack first. They could opt to target the weak ones first to reduce the South Korean agents¡¯ numbers, or they could prioritize taking down the stronger adversaries to gain an advantageous foothold in the fight. Kang Chan took a deep breath and, with narrowed eyes, looked at the Japanese agents in front of them. As he mentioned earlier, this was, without a doubt, pure madness. He gritted his teeth. In exchange for Kim Tae-Jin and Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s assistance in killing Yang Jin-Woo, he decided to lend them his aid in this battle against the Japanese agents. ¡°Daye, cover our right nk.¡± ¡°Copy that.¡± Seok Kang-Ho got into position. ¡°Choi Jong-Il, left nk,¡± Kang Chan instructed again. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook momentarily shed in Kang Chan''s mind as Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il nked him. She had looked¡­ frightened. However, she disappeared from his mind as quickly as she hade. Since he had already decided to join the fight anyway, he thought he might as well take down as many as he could and divert the attention away from his allies. The first agent to face Kang Chan quickly swung his dagger. However, he was caught off guard when Kang Chan suddenly charged forward. Kang Chan swung his bay multiple times, slitting the agent¡¯s wrists and neck. blood spurted out of the deep wounds. Without wasting a second, Kang Chan then deflected and forcefully struck down the next agent¡¯s forearm and swiftly cut him three times. Sounds of bodies dropping to the ground came from where Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il were fighting, but Kang Chan had no time to nce back. The enemies¡¯ blood sttered on his face. Kang Chan had fought so many dirty battles like this that he had be as familiar with this as he was with the back of his hand. This was nothing new. Jeon Dae-Geuk, Kim Tae-Jin, and Kim Hyung-Jung also rushed in, joining him. They were followed closely by the other members who formed a protective circle around them to guard them. ¡°Kegh!¡± The battle¡¯s first cry rang out. Interestingly enough, Kang Chan could identify whether it was from an ally or an enemy. Just now, the shriek was from a Japanese agent. Unflinchingly, Kang Chan swung his bay with mechanical precision, devoid of any emotion. Pant. Pant. With his acute senses, he could hear rapid breaths and also survey his surroundings with rity. Blood sttered across the battlefield. The new agent facing Kang Chan shifted his gaze downward, readying his dagger for an attack. Kang Chan could see everything clearly. In quick session, he shed the man¡¯s armpit and neck. ¡°Ack!¡± It wasn¡¯t easy to hold back screams after being heavily wounded. No matter how well-trained anyone was, they would need one hell of a resolve to choke back their shouts when it really came down to it. The enemy¡¯s eyes showed momentary confusion when Kang Chan abruptly lunged forward, grabbing his head. The move caught the agent by surprise. He didn¡¯t expect Kang Chan to suddenly target his head. In this battle to the death, this fight where they could just cut a man¡¯s throat open, Kang Chan unwaveringly used every ounce of his strength to bring them down. Anyone surprised for having a fistful of their hair grabbed¡­ was bound to get their necks slit. With a swift motion from Kang Chan, blood spurted out of the agent¡¯s neck. ¡°Agh!¡± As Kang Chan gashed the side of another man, Kang Chan¡¯s ears caught Choi Jong-Il¡¯s pained shout. Fweeck! Fweeck! When he turned to look, he saw Choi Jong-Il getting stabbed in the armpit, then near his heart. Pow!? Kang Chan instinctively rammed into Choi Jong-Il with his shoulder, veering Choi Jong-Il away from the dagger aimed at his throat. It cut his face instead, but it was surely better than dying. Shing! ¡®Ack!¡¯ In the heat of the battle, Kang Chan swiftly shed the enemy¡¯s armpit, but his left side wascerated in the process. The enemy¡¯s speed was truly impressive. He easily deflected the relentless onught of Kang Chan¡¯s elbow strikes and bay swings. Kang Chan pushed away the agent¡¯s attack with the ball of his palm. Exploiting the opening Choi Jong-Il left in their formation, the enemy cut Kang Chan¡¯s back and shoulders. However, Kang Chan just put the searing pain aside and focused on the man in front of him. Fighting a battle of speed and precision, Kang Chan and the agent¡¯s barrage of attacks collided in rapid session. It was a life-or-death situation. One mistake, and they could find themselves lying on the ground. However, if Kang Chan could just outpace his opponent, a chance to eliminate him would certainly arise. Thwack! Pow! Pow! Pow! ¡°Agh!¡± Just then, Choi Jong-Il, who was defending against the attacking agents to the left of Kang Chan, let out another grunt. The noise momentarily diverted Kang Chan¡¯s attention. Seizing the opportunity, the enemyunched a sudden attack. Kang Chan instinctively pulled back his neck, but not before his corbone and right side were viciously cut. Sounds of bones being struck rang out as they exchanged a flurry of elbows, punches, and weapon swings. However, Kang Chan stood resolute, refusing to falter. Crack! Their gazes locked in a fierce confrontation as their elbows collided. ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± ¡°Bakayaro!¡± Kang Chan was soon stabbed in the armpit, causing his arm to tremble slightly. However, he simply further steeled his resolve. At this rate, there would be no end to their fight. When the agent tried to stab him again, Kang Chan blocked it with his left hand, the de piercing all the way through his palm. Kang Chan then closed his fingers and tightened his grip around the dagger¡¯s cross-guard, preventing the enemy from using it. The agent flinched in shock. Wasn¡¯t expecting this, were you? The agent hastily lifted his other arm, but Kang Chan had his bay ready. Shing! Shing! Shing! Shing! Elbow, shoulder, forearm, and armpit¡ªhe relentlessly targeted the agent¡¯s vulnerable points. In a desperate attempt to get away, the agent twisted the dagger lodged in Kang Chan¡¯s palm. ¡®Agh!¡¯ However, letting go was thest thing Kang Chan would consider doing. He thrust his bay into the agent''s throat twice, leaving behind two deep holes. Blood fountained out from the agent¡¯s injuries. Until the veryst moment of the agent¡¯s life draining out of his eyes, he red at Kang Chan with hatred. Shik! Kang Chan¡¯s every single nerve tingled the moment he pulled out the dagger from his palm. When he turned to look at Seok Kang-Ho, he saw his teammate also covered in blood. Kang Chan had never imagined that he would be fighting to the death like this again. He never asked to be born into this world, nor did he want to reincarnate into another body. Yet, for some reason, bloodshed and carnage relentlessly pursued him throughout both of his lives. As he thrust his bay into an enemy''s throat, Yoo Hye-Sook suddenly crossed his mind. What would she say if she saw him mercilessly killing these people? It was already challenging enough for her to ept that her son had snapped another man''s neck. What expression would she have if she saw him impaling a bay in an enemy¡¯s neck? Fweeck! Damn it! Distracted by the thought, he had another near-death moment. Shing! Shing! Shing! None of these remaining bastards seemed as persistent as the opponents that he faced earlier. Unfortunately for them, Kang Chan decided to kill as many of them as possible. That was the only way to ensure the survival of hisrades. Where do you think you¡¯re going? He wrenched back the shoulder of an enemy advancing toward Choi Jong-Il. Fueled by malice and adrenaline, Kang Chan no longer felt any pain in his left hand. It merely throbbed a little. ¡°Aghhh!¡± His bay found its mark in the enemy''s throat, causing a wretched scream to tear through the air and blood to spurt out of the injury. Finally catching a short break, Kang Chan scanned the chaos around him and soon spotted the enemy who had been gunning for Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan had probably been stabbed in his left forearm, but it strangely didn¡¯t hurt at all. Shing. Shing. Shing. Shing.? If this was the destiny he had to live, so be it. He would wholeheartedly embrace it. He would survive until the end. Even if Yoo Hye-Sook abandoned him, even if Kang Dae-Kyung turned his back on him, he would persevere. He would survive and go to Gapyeong with Seok Kang-Ho to eat chicken legs if that was what he had to do. Kang Chan relentlessly thrust his dagger, pouring all his frustration into each stab. Why did fate have to be so merciless to him? Why couldn''t he lead a normal life like everyone else? Why? Why! Stab. Stab. Stab. Slit. Slit. Slit.? He kept going until someone grabbed onto him, making him flinch and breaking his rhythm. ¡°Captain!¡± It was Dayeru. Dayeru clutched Kang Chan with his blood-stained arms, holding on as tightly as he could. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± ¡°Haah. Haah.¡± This fool dared interrupt him? ¡°It¡¯s over, Captain. Everything¡¯s over.¡± ¡°Haah. Haah.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked directly into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes, then nodded in acknowledgment of what Kang Chan was experiencing. Only then did terrible pain surge throughout Kang Chan. ¡°Do you have a cigarette?¡± Grinning, Seok Kang-Ho released let go of Kang Chan, and, with a grunt, took out a cigarette. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s upper body was drenched in blood and covered in deep wounds. ¡°Here.¡± Kang Chan lit the cigarette and took a deep drag from it as he looked around. There were only five people standing: Kim Hyung-Jung, Choi Jong-Il, and three agents he didn¡¯t know. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung approached Kang Chan with an exhausted expression. ¡°I¡¯ve contacted the hospital.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung copsed to the ground as if gravity pushed him down. With a hand applying pressure on his right cheek, Choi Jong-Il walked toward them from behind Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Tenk you.¡± His pronunciation was strange because of the blood caught in his throat. ¡°Want a smoke?¡± ¡°Yus.¡± Seok Kang-Ho handed Choi Jong-Il a cigarette as Kang Chan chuckled. Pale bodies littered the front yard and soaked it in blood. A few of them were still twitching in pain. ¡°Do you have a phone? Please call Bang Ji Hospital for me.¡± Choi Jong-Il asked for a phone from the other agents and dialed the number for Kang Chan. -Hello? ¡°Director, it¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± -Mr. Kang Chan, if you called me to brag about getting a new number, I¡¯m going to get mad.? ¡°Director, Seok Kang-Ho and I have suffered severe wounds. We can¡¯t get to the hospital like this.¡± -Where are you? Yoo Hun-Woo unexpectedly sounded grave. ¡°We¡¯re in Pyeongchang-Dong. I don¡¯t know the address, but it¡¯s Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s house.¡± -I¡¯m on my way now. I can send a nearby doctor to help first if you need me to. ¡°I¡¯ll just wait for you, Director.¡± -All right.? The call ended curtly. ¡°Hand me another cigarette.¡± Seok Kang-Ho gave him another stick. The lighter was soaked in blood, so he had to use his old cigarette to light the new one. ¡°Let¡¯s go sit over there, Channy.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The two limped over and leaned against a tree. They were beyond tired. ¡°Hu.¡± The cigarette smoke vanished into thin air. ¡°Captain, did you know you killed at least ten of them?¡± ¡°I did?¡± ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t know. You seemed totally out of it after killing that snake over there. Ow.¡± Seok Kang-Ho groaned as he tried to adjust his upper body. ¡°Let¡¯s visit Gapyeong when we recover.¡± Kang Chan chuckled, then agreed that they should do that sometime. It was strange, but he wasn¡¯t worried about who had died or how his allies who had copsed on the ground were doing. Damn it.? He felt as if he crossed a line that he could never uncross. In the distance, the sound of an ambnce wailed. Chapter 121.1: I’m Sick of This! (2)

Chapter 121.1: I¡¯m Sick of This! (2)

The National Intelligence Service agents arrived while the medics were taking care of the wounded. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan! Are you really going to the Bang Ji Hospital?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. . ¡°Yes, Mr. Manager, so please rest easy and leave first. Anyway, should we really call agents to this covert operation?¡± ¡°We have enough reason to because the Japanese agents are here.¡± Since Kim Hyung-Jung said it was okay, Kang Chan thought it should be fine. ¡°Thank you for granting the section chief¡¯s wish,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said with difficulty. He had just asked the medical team, who was going to help him, to wait for a bit. ¡°The operation in Mongolia destroyed the morale of the special forces members, so he probably did this to breathe life into them again. He wanted to show that we also have the ability toplete operations that are as difficult as the one that France¡¯s Foreign Legion had done. Please just consider this as our defiance against defeat, even if only in spirit.¡± ¡°I was already aware of how everyone felt before the battle started. That¡¯s why I chose to fight with you all. Now, please get treated.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung copsed to the stretcher the medical team had prepared, unable to endure any longer. Two new agents then approached Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. They stood behind them, guarding their perimeter. Yoo Hun-Woo ran over while Kang Chan was wondering if they should¡¯ve just gone to the same hospital as the others. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Yoo Hun-Woo looked surprised when he saw the yard. However, he quickly controlled his expression as he approached Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. After Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Hoy down in the ambnce with the help of the agents and two paramedics, the ambnce immediately left. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware something this horrifying was happening...¡± Yoo Hun-Woo muttered to himself as they quickly drove to the hospital. *** Yoo Hye-Sook was lying in bed, looking gaunt. ¡°Let¡¯s get you to the hospital already. Yourplexion looks terrible,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°I¡¯m okay, honey. I was just startled. It¡¯s really bearable now.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said, then stared at Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°You already knew Channy is involved with the National Intelligence Service, didn¡¯t you?¡± Hesitant to answer, Kang Dae-Kyung wordlessly held Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s hand. ¡°I never thought the female employees could fight like that. Did you also know about that?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s just think that we can¡¯t understand everything because our son is too remarkable. Look! He was the youngest attendee in the presentation hall for the Eurasian Rail, and he made people like the President and Prime minister seek us out.¡± ¡°Honey, I feel so sorry for not knowing that side of Channy. I was so scared that I trembled when I saw our son.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook burst into tears while pursuing her lips. ¡°It breaks my heart so much that I was the reason Channy looked so sad, honey. He did what he had to do to save me, yet all I did in return was make him upset. What should I do? I feel so guilty!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung reached out and wiped Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s tears away. ¡°Channy really cares about you. He gave me a heads-up that you¡¯ll be worried no matter what he does or where he goes. He even immediately got worried about you when you hit your chest because you might have indigestion. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll understand. It¡¯s not like your love for our Channy has changed, right?¡± ¡°It would never change!¡± ¡°Then everything will be okay. You just have to give him a big hug when hees home, then we¡¯ll just act like nothing happened. like now. Okay?¡± ¡°Our Channy isn¡¯t doing anything dangerous, is he?¡± ¡°My goodness, madam. Channy¡¯s heart will break if he sees you like this. Please be up and about quickly.¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m going to do that. I¡¯ll recover and protect our Channy.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung nodded with a faint smile. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that. Let¡¯s be parents that can hug him whenever he¡¯s having a hard time. Okay?¡± ¡°Alright. It still breaks my heart that Channy might be out there feeling upset.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook burst into tears again. Kang Dae-Kyung gently stroked her head. *** ¡°I can¡¯t believe you gave such an order, Director.¡± ¡°Mr. President, this matter concerns the agents. You understand why the chief officer of security made that decision, don¡¯t you?¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun, the Director of the National Intelligence Service, didn¡¯t budge an inch even though he was talking to Moon Jae-Hyun. ¡°This isn¡¯t something that can be exined by something like loyalty or spirit. The head of a chaebol family was murdered in broad daylight in aw-governed country. I am well aware of the crimes that the chaebolmitted, but proving someone guilty before punishing them ording to thew is the country¡¯s biggest duty and the reason why I¡¯m in this position as the President.¡± Seemingly frustrated, Moon Jae-Hyun took out a cigarette. ¡°That¡¯s not even all. South Korea¡¯s Chief Officer of Presidential Security joined the knife fight and, as a result, is now in critical condition. Does it make sense to you that I, the actual President, wasn''t aware of this happening and that I¡¯m now receiving your letter of resignation?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun sighed. As he lit up his cigarette, Hwang Ki-Hyung took out a white envelope and put it down in front of Moon Jae-Hyun. ¡°I¡¯ll resign and take responsibility for this matter. I¡¯m truly happy and thankful that I was able to serve and work under you. I don¡¯t know how this matter will be settled, but please ept my letter of resignation, Mr. President. That way, I¡¯ll be able to end things and fix any problems that could arise,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun said. Moon Jae-Hyung inhaled loudly, then slowly exhaled. ¡°Mr. President, please allow me onest piece of advice.¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun looked at Moon Jae-Hyun with stern eyes. ¡°Appoint Kang Chan as the South Korean representative for the Eurasian Rail.¡± ¡°Phew, he¡¯s still a high schooler.¡± ¡°Mr. President, it will take three years for the Eurasian Rail to be operational. Please think about how much Kang Chan would have grown by then and what he can aplish by the time he¡¯s thirty. This is a golden opportunity for South Korea to get someone like Lanok.¡± ¡°Everyone knows that, but people will bite at us and chew us out like a pack of dogs for appointing a young student to such an important position. Who would interfere and protect Kang Chan?¡± ¡°Even so, you still have to do it. We haven¡¯t been able to properly teach anyone, even if they were talented, because of their age, school ties, and regionalism. If the Eurasian Rail proceeds as nned and Kang Chan keeps growing at this rate, South Korea¡¯s conviction will be well received by the entire world in ten years,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun argued. Moon Jae-Hyun bent the cigarette in the ashtray as he softly exhaled. ¡°How¡¯s the section chief?¡± ¡°I heard that today or tomorrow is the critical moment, and then we¡¯ll know if he will survive.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Jeon Dae-Geuk med me a lot when our juniors¡¯ morale plummeted due to the operation in Mongolia. He even called me just to hurl an enormous amount ofints and ask why we couldn¡¯t give the same support that France did.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun smiled dejectedly and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s definitely the section chief I know. How long will it take for him to make a full recovery?¡± ¡°Even if he survives, he won¡¯t be able to move for three months.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun picked up two envelopes that had ¡®Letter of Resignation¡¯ written on them. ¡°I can¡¯t believe the Chief Officer of Security will be going on a paid vacation for three months on this momentous asion. I can¡¯t just forgive him for that.¡± ¡°Mr. President?¡± ¡°Furthermore, while we¡¯re nning to support Kang Chan, the Director of the National Intelligence Service is thinking of running away instead of being extra alert. What will you do if Kang Chan finds out about this?¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun couldn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Let¡¯s protect him. Let¡¯s give it a try, at least. I¡¯ll do everything I can, so you and the section chief should do your best as well. We¡¯ll create a talented person that¡¯s powerful enough to give a warning to the United States, Russia, and China with just a phone call,¡± Moon Kae-Hyun said. Moon Jae-Hyun looked at the letters of resignation, then at Hwang Ki-Hyun. Rip. Rip. ¡°From now on, don¡¯t ever think about writing a letter of resignation until I fire you,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun continued. ¡°Understood, Mr. President.¡± ¡°Moreover, you are to report covert operations to me at all times.¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Alright. The Director of the National Intelligence Service should have that much determination and tenacity. Right! I heard that Kang Chan¡¯s parents got attacked too?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct, Mr. President.¡± ¡°Please ask them if we can have a meal together at the safe house. If we¡¯re going to appoint a minor, then we need the parents¡¯ consent.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have it arranged.¡± Finally looking rxed, Moon Jae-Hyun took out another cigarette. ¡°Will we really be able to create the South Korea that we dream of?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll do whatever it takes to turn it into reality.¡± ¡°Yes, we will. You¡¯re right. We¡¯ll make it happen.¡± After nodding in agreement, Moon Jae-Hyun dropped the cigarette on the floor. Chapter 121.2: I’m Sick of This! (2)

Chapter 121.2: I¡¯m Sick of This! (2)

Upon reaching the hospital, Kang Chan had his wounds stitched up before being moved to a patient room. Much to his surprise, Lanok and Louis were already inside, waiting for him. The nurses stopped pushing the hospital bed, and Kang Chan raised himself up. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, have you been waiting for me?¡± ¡°I arrived a little while ago.¡± Lanok pursed his lips while examining Kang Chan¡¯s body. ¡°From what I heard about the situation, I didn¡¯t think that something like this would ever happen. Why did you do all of this?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t exin it either. The nurse helped Kang Chan transfer to the patient bed, propped up the head of the bed, then left the room. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Kang Chan asked Louis. Louis nodded solemnly. ¡°Then make us a cup of coffee.¡± Lanokughed. Louis suppressed his. ¡°Did the matters with the American embassy put you in a difficult position?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m in a predicament,¡± Lanok admitted. ¡°In the information warfare between the United Kingdom and the United States, even Russia is involved. The international situation is like a loose cannon right now¡­ or a crazy woman dancing.¡± Kang Chan listened to the unexpected news. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve started this, we might as well give it a proper end. It would be best to take down National Assembly Chairman Huh Ha-Soo and Assemblyman Huh Sang-Soo as well. Those two will definitely look for opportunities to kill you,¡± Lanok added. Kang Chan decided to use this timely opportunity to ask for advice. Lanok was, after all, more informed about South Korea¡¯s situation than Kang Chan. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, is there a way to stop Japan¡¯s underwater tunnel project?¡± Louis brought over coffee in paper cups, stopping their conversation for a moment. ¡°They¡¯ll hesitate for quite a while since the bodies and guns of Japanese agents were discovered in Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s house. The National Assembly and the opposition party will most likely just assert those as a political maneuver, but the South Korean government hasn''t approved the underwater tunnel yet, so there¡¯s still time. If we can reveal that Huh Sang-Soo sold state secrets, then things will be easier,¡± Lanok exined. ¡°So the best course of action is to catch those two?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Lanok only took a sip of his coffee, making it seem as if he only put his mouth on the paper cup. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a difficult fight.¡± ¡°You¡¯re probably right.¡± Lanok put the paper cup down beside him. ¡°Louis? Do you have cigarettes?¡± Kang Chan asked, suddenly getting the urge to smoke. Lanok and Louis looked surprised. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I have permission to smoke in this hospital, which is why I did everything I could to get confined here.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why there are several air purifiers installed in this patient room,¡± Lanokmented as Louis ced cigarettes and a lighter in front of Kang Chan. ¡°Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan offered a cigarette to Lanok, thinking he probably didn¡¯t bring a cigar. Lanok epted it. The cigarette looked short between his long, slender fingers. Chk chk. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok called after they had lit up their cigarettes. ¡°Yes?¡± Lanok, who was looking at his cigarette as he exhaled smoke, looked up. ¡°You should get naturalized in France.¡± Lanok had rmended the same thing before. This matter wasn¡¯t urgent enough to be brought up this seriously in a patient room, though, so Kang Chan only stared at him in response. There had to be a good reason why this sly and wily fox opened the topic now. ¡°The South Korean government might not be able to protect you. I¡¯m not saying that they will abandon you, but South Korea is still inferior when ites to information warfare, and the situation is bing more and moreplicated,¡± Lanok added, ignoring the cigarette smoke from the lit cigarette in his hand. ¡°My country¡¯s Intelligence Bureau and the DGSE would likely have to put lives at risk to cling onto this. Hence, no matter how much I assert my influence, it will be difficult for me to mobilize everything in my country for you. You should get French nationality for now. That would allow me to publicly say that I¡¯m your supporter.¡± He was definitely hiding something. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, I think it would be best for you to tell me what this is about instead,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure yet since the information we received is so ridiculous and absurd that we¡¯re still processing and confirming if it¡¯s false information. Even so, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Russia have been making unusual moves. In information warfare, there¡¯s a lot of times when it¡¯s a fight that¡¯ll end when people die after rising up against false rumors, so we need a little more time.¡± Lanok changed the subject, which made Kang Chan assume this issue was simply that sensitive. ¡°You should focus on recovery for now. I¡¯ll update you once I¡¯ve gotten more urate and reliable information. That aside, the agents that Louis is leading will be guarding the hospital¡¯s perimeter for now. They naturally won¡¯t cause any conflicts with the South Korean agents, so don¡¯t worry,¡± Lanok added. Cocking his head, Kang Chan dropped the cigarette butt into the paper cup. No matter how curious he became, Lanok wouldn¡¯t tell him any more than what he had already revealed. Hence, moving on for now would be for the best. However, Kang Chan was certain that something was up¡ªsomething important enough for Lanok to appoint guards to him and even mobilize French agents. ¡°I¡¯ll be in touch, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok said. Lanok stood up and left the patient room. Soon after, Kang Chan sighed while looking out the window. It felt like things were getting messier. Kang Chan just wanted to live a normal,fortable life, but the world kept preventing it. Would he finally be able to achieve his dream once he had taken care of every fucker that he had to kill? Rattle. The door to his room soon opened. Seok Kang-Ho entered not long after. ¡°Was it Lanok who visited you?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Two Frenchmen are outside your room right now, guarding the door.¡± Kang Chan nodded, then told Seok Kang-Ho exactly what Lanok had told him. ¡°If he was going to tell you, then he should¡¯ve confessed everything. Lanok has a petty side to him,¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. This fucker definitely wouldn¡¯t fit in the information field. The two shared a cigarette. Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan had the majority of their entire upper body wrapped in bandages. Kang Chan¡¯s left hand was bandaged especially thick, making it lookrge enough to be a boxing glove. ¡°What do you n on telling your family?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ve thought about it every now and then, but I still don¡¯t know what to tell them.¡± Kang Chan remembered Yoo Hye-Sook bing pale with fright. ¡°What about you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯ll just tell them I got hurt doing something that Yoo Bi-Corp asked me to do. I¡¯m thinking of taking out about fifty million won from my bank ount as well. I¡¯ll give it to them and tell them I got a bonus.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± ¡°Anyway, someone has to bring over the phone that I left in the van¡­¡± Rattle. Before Seok Kang-Ho could finish what he was saying, someone opened the door. Four men, all of them clearly agents, stood along the room¡¯s wall. Afterward, a man with sharp eyes came inside. Seemingly around histe fifties, the man was slightly overweight and looked quite nice, but that was perhaps why his gaze felt fierce. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan?¡± The man asked. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then you must be Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked at the man with suspicion as he answered. ¡°I¡¯m Hwang Ki-Hyun, the Director of the National Intelligence Service. I should¡¯ve introduced myself to you two ways earlier, but I¡¯m cautious about making public appearances,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun politely greeted them. Afterward, an agent ced a chair behind him. ¡°I brought some coffee. Would the two of you like some?¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun asked. Another agent brought forward three disposable cups that were clearly bought from a specialty coffee shop. They had certainly brought something unusual for a patient visit. ¡°Please have some coffee. Feel free to smoke as well. I don¡¯t mind,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun continued. ¡°I already did a little while ago,¡± Kang Chan responded. Hwang Ki-Hyun nodded, then drank coffee. ¡°I heard that tomorrow is the critical moment for the section chief. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll survive. I went over and told him things that would wind him up, after all.¡± His expression and the way he talked made him seem friendly. ¡°What did you tell him?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That I¡¯ll disband the special forces if he dies. If he does survive, I told him I¡¯d establish a new specialized team in the National Intelligence Service.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho burst intoughter when the image of Jeon Dae-Geuk suddenly waking up popped into their heads. ¡°Many more weapons were discovered in the basement of Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s building. We¡¯re thinking of closing this matter by having the joint investigation headquarters make an announcement about it tonight.¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun observed Kang Chan¡¯s mood, then continued, ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, we¡¯re thinking of appointing you as the South Korean Representative of the Eurasian Rail. The President has already approved of it, so there shouldn¡¯t be any problems unless somethinges up. The position is new, so we don¡¯t even need the National Assembly¡¯s consent for this.¡± The people visiting him kept bringing up unexpected news. He didn¡¯t even want to take any position. ¡°We would need the National Assembly¡¯s consent to give you better treatment than what a vice minister receives, so we¡¯ll just give you the same level of treatment on the surface. However, we¡¯ll also give you the authority to issue orders,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun added when he saw Kang Chan pursing his lips, seemingly already prepared for Kang Chan¡¯s disapproval. ¡°Only those ranked equal or higher than the Assistant Director of the National Intelligence Service have that authority. You don¡¯t have to report to me since you¡¯ll be doing special missions, and you¡¯ll get a yearly budget of a hundred billion won, an unlimited amount of reserve funds, and an unlimited number of employees that you can mobilize.¡± ¡°One moment, Mr. Director. I don¡¯t want to take on that position,¡± Kang Chan said. Hwang Ki-Hyun nodded. ¡°Manager Kim told me you¡¯re definitely going to refuse. There¡¯s still time, so I hope you at least give some more thought to it before deciding.¡± Kang Chan frowned. Hwang Ki-Hyun wasn¡¯t the type to easily back down. Nevertheless, he wasn¡¯t that happy about Hwang Ki-Hyun¡¯s suggestion. Even though it was worth joining the information warfare since his identity would be kept undercover, he simply didn¡¯t want to butt into it. Chapter 122: What Should We Do? (1)

Chapter 122: What Should We Do? (1)

After saying what he had wanted to say, Hwang Ki-Hyun ordered an agent to hand over the phones Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho left. He seemed to have forgotten about it, but he clearly just didn¡¯t want anything to disturb their conversation. Nevertheless, his sly acting looked very natural. Kang Chan thought South Korea had its own sly and wily fox after all. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, please think about it slowly while you¡¯re recovering,.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Director.¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun patted Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder and left the room. ¡°Hmm, he seems approachable, but he has an oddly fierce atmosphere around him,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Right? Ah, shoot!¡± Kang Chan quickly called Smithen, who would still be stuck at home. - Hello? Captain! ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me! How¡¯s everything on your side?¡± - The agent-looking men disappeared when the security guards arrived. ¡°Everything should be alright for now. Be careful, and never ever go out to the suburbs by yourself.¡± - Alright. After hearing Smithen¡¯s awkward answer, he checked who had called him while he didn¡¯t have his phone. Kang Dae-Kyung had called him three times, and Michelle and Oh Gwang-Taek had called him once. Kang Chan called Oh Gwang-Taek first. - Kang Chan, we got revenge. Kang Chan heard Oh Gwang-Taek¡¯s delighted voice as soon as thetter picked up the call. - Those sons of bitches had all sorts of weapons. I even took five of their pistols. What should we do? ¡°Did you guys clean up afterward?¡± - We took care of them in our own way. Even with all of thembined, there weren¡¯t even twenty of them. What a scary fucker. At any rate, the pistols Oh Gwang-Taek had would cause a lot of problems. ¡°Return the pistols. Where did you guys leave the bodies? It¡¯ll be a pain if people talk about itter, but if we know where the bodies are, we should be able to cover the matter up even if they¡¯re discovered.¡± - They can¡¯t be discovered. They need to have parts intact for that. ¡°What are you saying?¡± - We mixed them with the molten metal at the factory I own. Some of their parts will still be around when the molten metal is poured on a cast, but that much impurity won¡¯t even be a problem since we mainly make iron gates there. Kang Chan was appalled. How could Oh Gwang-Taek say something horrible so straightforwardly? ¡®I should be aware of the name of thepany that this fucker owns?¡¯ Regardless, it seemed this matter wasing to an end. ¡°Okay. Anyway, I¡¯ll send someone over. Hand over the pistols to them discreetly. That would allow me to protect you.¡± - Copy. Where are you? Let¡¯s have a drink tonight. ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital. Let¡¯s just meet up after I get discharged.¡± - Where are you? Are you at the Bang Ji Hospital? ¡°Hey! A woman will being. Don¡¯t ruin the mood and just meet up with me once I get out of here.¡± - Okay, okay. Make sure you contact me. Onest thing¡­ Oh Gwang-Taek hesitated for a moment. He was clearly about to thank Kang Chan. ¡°Be quiet. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± After hanging up, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho about the call. ¡°Is he just like any other gangster after all? I feel like we¡¯re never going to live a normal life.¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. ¡°Tell me about it. Things are increasingly getting out of hand.¡± While Kang Chan was drinking the coffee that Hwang Ki-Hyun gave them before he left, Seok Kang-Ho took out a cigarette and handed it to him. ¡°Captain, you looked tired while we were fighting a moment ago. You also looked enraged.¡± Seok Kang-Ho exhaled smoke through his mouth and nose as he spoke. ¡°We¡¯ve been participating in this kind of fight nonstop since we reincarnated. We should take a break. Even back in Africa, we used to go on vacations after battles like this, didn¡¯t we? Let¡¯s take at least half of the month off after we get discharged. The beach or even abroad would be great. If those don¡¯t work, we should at least go to Jeju-do.¡± Kang Chan nodded as he exhaled and groaned at the same time. In all honesty, Kang Chan had so much trouble letting go of the knife and the gun that he even wondered if they reincarnated specifically to fight. ¡°Would that fucking National Assembly Chairman leave us alone?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Pff! That fucker won¡¯t be able to do anything because he¡¯ll be busy observing people¡¯s moods for quite some time, so let¡¯s at least think that we¡¯re going to rest for now.¡± ¡°Okay, sure.¡± What Seok Kang-Ho had said wasn¡¯t wrong. After nodding in agreement, Kang Chan called Michelle. - Channy! Are you okay? ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m sorry for making you worry for no reason. I must¡¯ve be a bit sensitive.¡± - It¡¯s fine. You were just looking out for me. I called you because I was worried, but I decided to just wait since I was afraid I would disturb you. Thank you, Channy.¡± Her voice sounded seductive. However, before Kang Chan could hang up¡­ - Where are you right now? Kang Chan¡¯s expectation was spot on. ¡°I¡¯m with other people. Why do you ask?¡± - Our drama is premiering today at 8:30 pm! We¡¯re all at thepany right now. It would¡¯ve been great if you were also here. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll also watch it if I can.¡± - Take care of yourself, Channy. If you get hurt, then Eun So-Yeon, Kim Mi-Young and I will be crying together. ¡°Hey!¡± Kang Chan flinched. Shouting made his wounds sting. He heard Michelleughing as if she found it funny. - I¡¯ll hang up. J¡¯taime, Channy. Theplicated phone call ended. ¡°The drama being produced by D.I. is apparently airing today,¡± Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°What time?¡± ¡°She said 8:30 pm.¡± ¡°We should watch it together after having dinner. Why haven¡¯t you called your family, though?¡± Kang Chan sighed, then exined what had happened at the Foundation¡¯s office. ¡°Phuhu, I guess you¡¯re weak when ites to things like this. Don¡¯t think. Just call her. Didn¡¯t you say that she hugged you after? She probably can¡¯t even eat dinner right now because she¡¯s so bothered that she showed that kind of expression to you. I¡¯ll be back after calling my family as well, so give her a call already,¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. Even though Seok Kang-Ho was frowning, he left the room still somehow looking as if he found the situation funny. Would that fucker really know much about things like this? ¡°Whew.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung popped into Kang Chan¡¯s mind. He looked as if he was trying hard to ept Kang Chan and had put in quite a lot of effort to pretend that nothing was wrong. Yeah. Even though I don¡¯t know what they have to say to me, calling them right now is the right thing to do.? With a heavy heart, Kang Chan pressed the call button. The call rang twice before it was picked up. - Channy! That one word conveyed all of her happiness, worry, sympathy, and pity to Kang Chan. ¡°Mother? What happened to your voice?¡± Kang Chan unexpectedly felt troubled. - I probably sound off because I feel bad for how I reacted and because I was afraid that I broke your heart with the weird expression I showed you earlier today. Where are you? Have you had dinner? Are you okay? You¡¯re not hurt, are you? Kang Chanughed. He was initially annoyed because Yoo Hye-Sook was so worried about him, but he now felt happy. ¡°I¡¯mpletely fine. Have you had dinner?¡± - Not yet. ¡°Why not? Please eat dinner already. I heard that the drama that D.I. is producing will air at 8:30 pm, so please watch it.¡± - Okay, we will. Are youing home today? ¡°No. It¡¯ll probably take a few days for me toe home since I still have things to do here, but let¡¯s go on a vacation for a few days once I get back, Mother.¡± Kang Chan heard Yoo Hye-Sook sob and burst into tears. He also heard Kang Dae-Kyung ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± - Hello? Is that you, Channy? ¡°Yes, Father. What¡¯s with Mother?¡± - I should be the one asking you that. What did you tell her that made her cry? ¡°I told her we should go on a vacation for a few days once I get back home.¡± - That¡¯s something worth crying for your mom. She¡¯s been lying down all day because she was afraid that you were upset. Ow! Based on what Kang Chan heard, Yoo Hye-Sook seemed to have hit Kang Dae-Kyung. Theyughed soon after. - Are you alright? ¡°Yes, Father.¡± - Do you also understand that your mom acted that way earlier because she was surprised? ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Kang Chan heard Kang Dae-Kyung breathing softly, he heard Yoo Hye-Sook saying, ¡°Give me the phone, honey.¡± - Your mom is asking me to put her on the phone. Kang Chan heard her sniffling. - Thanks, Channy. I love you. How could he hate a mom like this? ¡°I love you, Mom.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook burst into tears for the second time. - I love you. I love you Channy. In the background, Kang Dae-Kyung said, ¡°If someone else saw you like this, they¡¯d think Channy lives in a foreign country. How are you going to send him to France? Ow! Alright, alright.¡± ¡°Mother, please don¡¯t worry too much and make sure to have dinner, okay? If you look sick when I get home, I¡¯m really going to be upset.¡± Kang Chan nced at the door. He didn¡¯t think of it when he said ¡®I love you¡¯ earlier, but he was now bothered that Seok Kang-Ho would hear him. - Okay. I¡¯ll put your dad on the phone. Yoo Hye-Sook now sounded calm, making Kang Chan feel relieved. It was as if a heavy burden was lifted off his shoulders. - Chan, you know that both of us are on your side forever, right? ¡°Of course.¡± - If you¡¯re struggling,e home whenever. No matter what you did, we¡¯ll be happy to have you back. You don¡¯t have to tell us anything if you don¡¯t want to. We just wish you¡¯de home to us. ¡°I will.¡± Kang Chan was sincerely thankful for having parents like them. - When are youing home? ¡°I don¡¯t know how many days this will take to finish.¡± - Alright. Call your mom at least once a day. ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan heard Yoo Hye-Sook saying, ¡°Honey, wait a second,¡± in the background after he had finished his conversation with Kang Dae-Kyung, but the call had already dropped. Kang Chan thought that Kang Dae-Kyung probably pretended not to hear her and just pressed the end button because he was worried that it would prolong the call too much. Kang Chan felt refreshed and as if he was on top of the world. He also felt hungry not long after. Rattle. Yoo Hun-Woo opened the door and came inside with a nurse. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I feel particrly different than usual?¡± Perhaps it was because bandages were wrapped around Kang Chan earlier in the day, but Yoo Hun-Woo just examined if blood had seeped out from the bandages, then stood up straight. ¡°You should be really careful when using your left hand. If things go wrong, you could lose your strength on it permanently. The pain will be quite severe as well since your bones held the knife in ce and got ground when you were stabbed,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. ¡°Alright.¡± While the nurse was injecting medication into the IV, Yoo Hun-Woo stared at Kang Chan. The nurse put medicine on top of the table, then left the room first. ¡°People from the National Intelligence Service dropped by. They said that if the hospital needs any medicine in the future, I can charge them as I please. They also told me not to worry because they¡¯ll take action for that to happen,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. ¡°That went well.¡± ¡°I have a favor to ask, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°What is it? Is there someone you hate?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo smiled, his expression seemingly saying, ¡°No way.¡± He then said, ¡°It¡¯s fine even if the hospital doesn¡¯t get support from any institutions. I just hope I can continue treating gangsters like I do now.¡± Kang Chan looked at Yoo Hun-Woo as if he didn¡¯t understand, so thetter borated, ¡°I¡¯m saying this out of unnecessary concern, but I¡¯m afraid that I won¡¯t be able to treat the people who really need to be treated because some institution came here to investigate or became interested.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best and help you with your concern, then. If, by any chance, someone stops you, then please call me immediately.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After talking about a few more things, Yoo Hun-Woo left. Around ten minutester, Seok Kang-Ho entered the room, frowning due to the pain he was enduring. ¡°Have you called your parents?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Yeah. They liked it.¡± ¡°See? That¡¯s how a parent feels.¡± Kang Chan had nothing to say to things like this. ¡°Let¡¯s order meat for dinner. Considering we also lost a lot of blood, we should have jokbal and Jaengbanguksu! What do you think?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Sure.¡± While Seok Kang-Ho was ordering their food, Kang Chan leaned back against the bed. ¡®I should think about thingster.¡¯ Kang Chan decided to rest for now. Bing naturalized in France? Bing the South Korean representative for the Eurasian Rail? He could take his time thinking about those after eating jokbal and watching the drama on TV. *** Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho ate a filling meal, then turned on the TV and rxed. They were full, had made a cup of coffee, and had cigarettes beside them. They couldn¡¯t wish for more. However, watching the news made theirfortpletely vanish. With the Japanese agents¡¯ bodies lined up in the background, the TV showed a news report about Yang Jin-Woo for forty minutes. The news started with why Yang Jin-Woomitted all his atrocities, then continued on to why he tried to install the underwater tunnel. The news also stated they were still figuring out the identities of the dead agents. All of that seemed fairly convincing. The news called it the worst rebellion incident since the establishment of South Korea. It also included interviews with citizens and pictures of Yang Jin-Woo, some of which showed him shaking hands with others. The news seemed to be saying Yang Jin-Woo was a chaebol who had dreamed of being the perfect traitor. By the end of the news, the reporter said that the ones who solved this incident were the National Intelligence Service¡¯s nameless agents, then closed it off with, ¡°we pray for the bliss of the nameless agents who sacrificed themselves to put a stop to this rebellion.¡± The news report made Kang Chan smoke. ¡°People will probably move on from this one way or another with that kind of news report?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°You think so?¡± There were a significant number of parts that were different from what actually happened, but Kang Chan wasn¡¯t going to talk about it. They talked while watching the news. Soon after, the drama started. The title was Jinsook is Pretty. Damn. What an awful title! Kang Chan watched the drama while being slightly suspicious of Michelle¡¯s tastes. He cringed whenever he saw someone he knew appear on TV and act like they were someone else. Contrary to his expectations, however, Seok Kang-Ho kept saying, ¡°This is fun. It¡¯s well made.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t know about anything else, but he at least agreed that Eun So-Yeon looked pretty. The way she tried to lead her poor family in the drama seemed to make her look pretty. When the drama ended, Seok Kang-Ho pursed his lips and nodded. ¡°Ha! This is going to be a hit.¡± ¡°You think so? I¡¯m not sure how I feel about it.¡± ¡°My wife and daughter have been making me watch dramas with them, so I¡¯m confident in my skills to judge a good drama. If the drama keeps going at this quality, it¡¯s definitely going to be a hit.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t feel the need to correct Seok Kang-Ho about the drama bing a hit. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep here,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Is there a reason why we have to insist on sleeping in separate rooms? Staying in the same room means we get to talk to each other any time we want. We can just sleep in the beds across from each other.¡± ¡°Hey! I already told you that you snore.¡± ¡°So?! My wife said that she couldn¡¯t sleep because she couldn''t hear me snoring. Just be understanding for now. It¡¯s only for a few days.¡± Jeez, this boring fucker. Kang Chan just gave up because it wasn¡¯t like Seok Kang-Ho would listen to him even if he said anything. ¡°Do you think that fucker G¨¦rard has fully recovered by now?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°His shoulder waspletely pierced. No matter how fast he heals, it¡¯ll take at least three months.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t he say he¡¯ll go to South Korea sometime?¡± ¡°What will he do if hees here? He should just keep living peacefully. Do you really think either of us would remain still if we learn that that fucker died or has gotten himself captured in an operation somewhere? We¡¯d get so furious that we¡¯d run wild and head straight to his rescue. Phew! Just thinking about it makes me feel crazy,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Phuhu, that fucker! I can''t help butugh whenever I remember how he tried to look cool just because he had be a half-grown chick.¡± Seok Kang-Ho wiped his nose with the hospital gown¡¯s sleeve. Snot seemed to have gotten out of his nose while he wasughing. ¡°Anyway, Captain, if you¡¯re going to be the South Korean representative of the Eurasian Rail, please make a position for me as well. I¡¯ll quit working at the school.¡± What¡¯s he saying? Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho as thetter pursed his lips. ¡°We have been fighting nonstop since we reincarnated. Considering things have been gradually getting out of hand, there¡¯s definitely something going on,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. He looked excited. ¡°Instead of constantly being forced to fight, we should prepare in advance as well. We should create our own organization and handpick the agents that we need. Aren¡¯t they going to create an office for you?¡± ¡°What are you doing? Pull yourself together.¡± ¡°In any case, won¡¯t we feelfortable after we knock down the Huh brothers? It¡¯s also not right to keep asking for help every time we fight, so we should create a proper organization instead and take the initiative.¡± Kang Chan stared at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Captain, I mean it.¡± He actually did look serious. ¡°While we were fighting Yang Jin-Woo, I realized there is a ton of nasty fuckers in the world. Since we¡¯ve already started taking them down, we might as well eliminate them all,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. When Kang Chan burst intoughter, Seok Kang-Ho smirked. ¡°Daye.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Wanting to get something straight, Kang Chan asked, ¡°Do you want to continue participating in fights like the one that urred today?¡± ¡°Even if we try, it doesn''t seem like we¡¯ll be able to avoid fighting.¡± ¡°What about your family? We were lucky today, but one day they might get a death notice.¡± ¡°About that¡­¡± Seok Kang-Ho stopped mid-sentence. ¡°You were the lonely Dayeru in Africa, but aren¡¯t you the head of your family here? What about the people you¡¯ll leave behind?¡± Seok Kang-Ho hung his head for a moment, then looked straight at Kang Chan. ¡°What else can I do? I only feel like I¡¯m alive when I¡¯m fighting with you. When we went to Mongolia and when we stood before our enemies today, I thought that even if I were to die, I¡¯d die happy. Having a home to return to is good and all, but if I keep working at that school, I¡¯ll lose my will to live.¡± Seok Kang-Ho sighed deeply. ¡°If I didn¡¯t remember anything from my past life, I would¡¯ve gotten ustomed to this way of life and just lived as Seok Kang-Ho. But after fighting together with you twice, I started missing our suspenseful lives. If I was just your age, I would¡¯ve gone back to Africa already.¡± Seok Kang-Ho dropped his head. ¡®Ha! Tsk.¡¯ What should I do with this fucker? Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho with a profound expression. 1. Jaengbanguksu is a cold noodle dish served on arge tter with a lot of fresh vegetables. Jaengban means a tter or tray in Korean, and guksu means noodles. Chapter 123.1: What Should We Do? (2)

Chapter 123.1: What Should We Do? (2)

The next five days peacefully passed by like a dream. Spending most of his time just eating and ying Kang Chan¡¯s injuries healed so perfectly that it was as if they were never there. Seok Kang-Ho''s recovery, however, was a different story. Although the hole in Kang Chan¡¯s palm had been stitched up and wrapped in thick bandages, his grip strength still hadn¡¯tpletely returned. Every passing day, he had a conversation on the phone with Yoo Hye-Sook and Kim Hyung-Jung. He also received good news about Jeon Dae-Geuk regaining consciousness. They still lost two agents during the battle, however. Was it worth sacrificing the lives of those two men to restore the specialized team''s fighting spirit and bravado? It seemed like a simple question, but the answery in a gray area. Jeon Dae-Geuk had been inbat before and even fought at the front of the fray, so Kang Chan didn¡¯t me or criticize him. However, as a former captain who valued the lives of his squad members above all else, he couldn''t help but have deep thoughts about the matter. Saturday morning, Kang Chan had already enjoyed a satisfying breakfast. He sat alone, lost in his thoughts until Seok Kang-Ho''s ¡°Phuhu¡±ughter brought him back to reality. The way Seok Kang-Ho doubled overughing while watching TV made him seem like a friendly old man around the block. His sharp features, prominent eyebrows, and study build obviously marked him as someone to avoid picking a fight with, but that didn¡¯t apply to Kang Chan. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? Seok Kang-Ho turned his head toward the sudden ringing. Kang Chan raised his phone to his ear. It was Cecile. ¡°Hello?¡± -Channy, are you avable to talk right now? Why did she sound as if she was preparing him for bad news? Had there been significant losses to his portfolio? ¡°Yeah. Go ahead.¡° -A sell order came in yesterday, so I sold all your owned stocks and closed out your futures positions. Combining the value of the sold stocks and futures contracts, your earnings total to about two hundred and thirty billion won. You¡¯ll be able to withdraw the bnce on Tuesday.? Damn. It seemed that there were shrewd people out there making money in ways like this. ¡°Yeah?¡± -Channy, aren¡¯t you surprised by the amount? ¡°It just hasn¡¯t sunk in yet,¡± Kang Chan replied, realizing that she didn¡¯t sound calm. Rather, she was so stunned that she felt numb. -If you ever need the money, just let me know anytime. You¡¯re one of the most important VIPs at our brokerage firm, so the branch manager personally manages your ount. Also¡­ Did she want to ask him for a favor or something? -I got a bonus of over 300 million with this. Channy, is it really okay for me to have all this to myself? ¡°You said it yourself. It¡¯s your bonus.¡± -I mean, I know the kind of person you are, but in cases like these, I usually give about 40% back to the ount owner. People generally purchase cars with this money. If you want, I can get you a car for your parents.? ¡°Why are you suggesting that?¡± -So you won¡¯t transfer your ount to another brokerage firm.? Kang Chanughed so hard that he almost snorted. ¡°I have to discuss this with the person who told me to do this, but I¡¯ll do my best not to transfer my portfolio somewhere else. There¡¯s nothing I can do about the withdrawal, but I¡¯ll keep my ount open while the transactions are still being processed, so don¡¯t worry about it too much. -Channy, if you do that, I¡¯ll get a promotion.? ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± -Let me buy you dinner sometime. Thank you, Channy. Thank you so much.? Her voice was slowly returning to normal, so Kang Chan wrapped up the call and hung up. Two hundred thirty billion? It was preposterous. Since Lanok earned that money for him, Kang Chan decided to discuss with him about what to do with it. He had no desire for it. He had only ever spent the money in his bank ount on taxi fares, coffee, and some clothes. What was he supposed to do about 230 billion won? How many pork cutlets could that buy? Was there a way to deliver pork cutlets to hungry children in Africa? ¡°What was that all about?¡± ¡°Lanok told me to put the money he sent me into a brokerage ount, so I did, but the stocks and futures I invested in made it grow to two hundred and thirty billion won.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a rich man!¡± eximed Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s not really mine, is it? I¡¯m going to call Lanok and send it to him.¡± ¡°Ah! That has to be such a bother.¡± Seok Kang-Ho turned back to the TV. ¡°Phuhu.¡± ¡°Huh? What¡¯s with thatughter?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Hey! You can¡¯t grasp how much all that money is either, can you?¡± Seok Kang-Ho grinned. ¡°I still have the seven hundred million that President Kim Tae-Jin gave me. It¡¯s just collecting dust in my bank ount. The stocks are untouched too. Those already make me ufortable, and now you¡¯re saying you now have two hundred and thirty billion won? Whew! My head hurts just thinking about it.¡± Kang Chan was now certain that he should call Lanok and sort things out. It would be best to call him now or else he could forget about this, so he immediately looked for Lanok¡¯s number in his phone and pressed the call button. -Mr. Kang Chan. ¡°How have you been, Ambassador Lanok?¡± -I¡¯ve just been a little busy thanks to you. Kang Chan could hear the smile in Lanok¡¯s voice as he cracked a joke. ¡°I received a call from the brokerage firm. They said I currently have about two hundred and thirty billion won. Please give me your bank ount information so I can send the money over immediately.¡± -Mr. Kang Chan! That money is rightfully yours. I have no reason to take it. Your assets would¡¯ve be worth at least four hundred billion if you held on to them for a week longer, but I sold them earlier as you wanted me to. So please, use it as you see fit, Mr. Kang Chan.? -You¡¯ll need that money soon. Information warfare can give you immense profits, but it also brings tremendous expenses. It¡¯s merely my way of expressing gratitude for saving me and my friends during the announcement of the Eurasian Rail. Rather than feeling burdened by it, you should use it for anything you need, Mr. Kang Chan.? Kang Chan sighed, then frowned. Seok Kang-Ho nced over at him as he headed off to boil some coffee. -You should learn how to graciously ept gifts that are given to you out of sincerity. There was nothing he could say to that. -Well, would you like to have dinner next week? Kang Chan felt like he could understand the emotions hidden in Lanok¡¯s dry tone a little bit now. The dinner invitation just now actually meant that there was something he wanted to discuss. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll call you once I¡¯m discharged from the hospital.¡± -I¡¯ll be waiting. When Kang Chan hung up, Seok Kang-Ho handed him a steaming cup of coffee. On the television screen, arge man was being overpowered by two smaller men. The audience erupted in noisyughter. Seok Kang-Ho reached over and switched off the television, then extended a cigarette to Kang Chan. The two lit their cigarettes up and smoked. ¡°He said he won¡¯t even take a penny because it¡¯s his way of expressing gratitude for saving him during the Eurasian Rail event. It all sounds like nonsense to me, though.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like the money is going to rot. Can¡¯t you just leave it in there?¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. Do you need any money?¡± ¡°No! I said I still have seven hundred million plus the money Ambassador Lanok gave me!¡± Seok Kang-Ho firmly shook his head, declining the offer. ¡°Captain. Let¡¯s use the money to buy a big building.¡± Seok Kang-Ho kept talking about buying a building as if he was just buying a toy. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s put some more thought into this,¡± Kang Chan agreed reluctantly. ¡°Sure. We have to recover first anyway, so there¡¯s no rush.¡± ¡°Land and building prices have gone through the roof, haven¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure they haven¡¯t jumped in price as much as your money has skyrocketed. We¡¯re not buying a building to profit off of it. We just want to keep it, so it should be enough. If ites down to it, you can make D.I. and the Yoo Bi-Corp move into the building.¡± ¡°That¡¯s actually a pretty good idea!¡± Seok-Kang Ho seemed to be steadily getting smarter. It was strange, but Kang Chan¡¯s mood always improved whenever he had a conversation with this punk. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho had be more rxed by the time the door slid open and Yoo Hun-Woo entered the room. Why was he here? He had already made his morning rounds. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo greeted. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo nodded at Seok Kang-Ho with a serious expression, then walked over to Kang Chan. Feeling apologetic, Kang Chan quickly put out his cigarette. ¡°Haah, I¡¯m really sorry, but you¡¯ll have to donate some blood for me.¡± ¡°Blood?¡± Kang Chan questioned. Yoo Hun-Woo nodded gravely. ¡°We have a patient who attempted suicide by jumping off a building. The patient¡¯s just a young high school student, but he¡¯s in such a critical condition that there doesn¡¯t seem to be anything else we can do. I¡¯m really sorry, Mr. Kang Chan, but I can¡¯t just turn a blind eye to this. Please don¡¯t feel disrespected and¡ª¡± ¡°Go.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You said he¡¯s in a critical condition, didn¡¯t you? Let¡¯s hurry and go, then. You just need my blood, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan¡­!¡± ¡°I said let¡¯s hurry and go!¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Kang Chan got up, and Yoo Hun-Woo turned to leave. Seok Kang-Hoo promptly followed after them. As they exited the ward, the two National Intelligence Service agents standing by escorted the group. Yoo Hun-Woo led them to an examination room on the second floor. ¡°Don¡¯t we have to do a blood test?¡± ¡°You¡¯re type O, so there¡¯s no need for one, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± replied Yoo Hun-Woo. Kang Chan used to be type B in his past life. Hey on the bed inside the room as Yoo Hun-Woo instructed. A nurse then brought out a needle and pricked him with it slightly. Chapter 123.2: What Should We Do? (2)

Chapter 123.2: What Should We Do? (2)

Kang Chan couldn''t help but wonder who jumped off a building this time. No, it doesn¡¯t matter. Just survive. Wake up with your own memories intact.? The empty blood bag soon filled up to the top. As Yoo Hun-Woo prepared to remove the needle, Kang Chan voiced his thoughts, ¡°Is that really enough?¡± ¡°Any more, and it may wear you out.¡± "I''m fine, so let''s do it one more time. It¡¯s not like donating more blood will kill me," Kang Chan asserted. ¡°You could still experience shock. It hasn''t been too long since your injury.¡± Despite his warning, Yoo Hun-Woo hesitated to remove the needle due to Kang Chan¡¯s insistence. ¡°There''s no difference between shedding blood due to a stab wound and donating blood. Let''s do it again.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± An anxious agent tried to intervene, but Seok Kang-Ho waved him off, restraining him. The nurse swiftly took the stic blood bag filled with Kang Chan''s blood and left the room. Shortly afterward, the second bag was filled. "Doctor! The patient shows no abnormal symptoms from the blood," the nurse reported, rushing over to Yoo Hun-Woo. Yoo Hun-Woo handed her the freshly drawn blood and instructed, "Transfuse as well quickly." "Let''s lie down a little longer, okay?" Yoo Hun-Woo suggested, pressing a cotton ball to Kang Chan''s forearm and preventing him from getting up. Kang Chan couldn''t help but let out a faintugh at the feeling of being babied. After about three minutes, Kang Chan finally rose from the bed. Yoo Hun-Woo thanked him several times, then took the elevator to go straight up to the upper floors. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s because you recover quickly?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Yeah. Since my body is unique in some ways, Director Yoo once said that a transfusion with my blood could be helpful to patients in dire conditions.¡± "Well, if that turns out to be true, it''s not necessarily something to be entirely pleased about. Families of severely ill patients might swarm to you if word gets out," Kang Chan hadn''t considered that perspective. Seok Kang-Ho''s point seemed valid. ¡°I''m sure Director Yoo will handle it well. Anyway, I''m curious about the person who jumped. I wonder if they''ll be reborn in a strange body like we were.¡± ¡°Phuhu.¡± Kang Chan opened the door to their ward and settled down. He didn''t notice any issues with his body. ¡°Perfect, this means we need to have to eat meat for lunch again,¡± Seok Kang-Ho half-joked. ¡°Ugh. I''m starting to get a bit tired of meat.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk! You need to eat properly whenever you have the chance.¡± Although he was no longer a teenager in the middle of a growth spurt, Seok Kang-Ho remained adamant about indulging in meat at least once a day. He excitedly hummed to himself as he scanned the menu. ¡°By the way, I¡¯m going to get discharged on Monday,¡± Kang Chan announced. ¡°Let¡¯s do that. I can just stay at home then,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°Don¡¯t you have to stay here a little longer?¡± ¡°All they do is change my bandages once a day and give me shots. I can just visit the hospital for that. I don¡¯t want to be stuck alone in a hospital ward.¡± That was understandable. He was probably bored out of his mind for having to stay in a hospital room for over a week. Moreover, as he said, it would be better for him to stay at home with his family. What would he do alone in a hospital ward? ¡°I choose you! This one looks good. Let¡¯s fill our stomachs to the brim with braised short ribs.¡± ¡°Order some for the agents outside too.¡± ¡°They said they¡¯re not allowed to eat when they¡¯re on duty. They couldn¡¯t have any of the kimchi wraps with pork that I got themst time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bullshit.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Seok Kang-Ho agreed. After eating lunch, the two leisurely lounged around. Kang Chan felt as if he was putting on pounds after doing nothing but lying down and indulging in food for about a week. They spent the entire afternoon watching TV. While Seok Kang-Ho dozed off, snoring loudly, Kang Chan watched the news broadcasts and the asional kdrama. To be honest, it was boring. However, thinking of the hardworking actors and crew at D.I., hepelled himself to watch and ended up finding a few dramas that were interesting. He probably wouldn¡¯t take time out of his own schedule to watch them, though. "Ahhhh!" Seok Kang-Ho stretched his arms and let out a hoarse grunt. He got up from his bed and dragged his drip stand over to sit next to Kang Chan. ¡°Urgh! I¡¯m sleepy even if I do nothing but sleep.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably because your body is trying to recover.¡± "You''re right. Good Lord, life is just a never-ending cycle of pain. I get sleepy after a meal, and then I wake up hungry again. What should I have for dinner today?" Seok Kang-Ho asked loudly. It was ridiculous. Kang Chan nced incredulously at the guy who, immediately after waking up from a lengthy nap, was now meticulously scrutinizing the menu. Just as Seok Kang-Ho red at the menu like a hunter sizing up his prey, the door slid open. Yoo Hun-Woo entered the room apanied by a nurse. ¡°How are you feeling, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo carefully observed Kang Chan¡¯splexion, eventually looking relieved. He then turned his attention to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Let¡¯s change your bandages, Mr. Seok.¡± ¡°Right now, doc?¡± ¡°Yes. Your condition is different from Mr. Kang Chan''s. Your wounds are still in the process of healing, so we have to change your bandages regrly. Please put that down and prepare ordingly.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s treatment took approximately twenty minutes. Judging by his tired expression, it was evident that he would insist on having a hearty meal of meat to replenish his energy after enduring such horrible difort. ¡°What is the current condition of the patient you told us about earlier?¡± Kang Chan asked. "The patient is still in critical condition, but it''s nothing short of a miracle that the student is still alive. We are all holding onto hope for the patient¡¯s recovery," Yoo Hun-Woo replied, removing histex gloves and massaging the back of his neck wearily. At that moment, Seok Kang-Ho looked up from the menu and asked, ¡°Director, I''m curious. Why do you personally care for every single patient in the hospital?¡± ¡°I don''t personally care for?every single patient, but the student has been a frequent visitor to our hospital, so I felt a special empathy towards them.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the kid jumped off a building?¡± Kang Chan interjected. ¡°Well, I shouldn''t discuss personal details about our patients, but since you have assisted us and possibly yed a role in saving the patient''s life, I suppose I can share this information. This student has endured injuries and immense stress since the beginning ofst year due to bullying at school. Since he dropped out of school, the patient has been receiving therapy sessions at our hospital. And, well, you know the rest.¡± Damn all those school bullies! Kang Chan¡¯s eyes immediately zed with anger. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, when you first arrived at our hospital, you mentioned that you had to be discharged because you had to attend to students who were being bullied. Do you recall?¡± Of course, Kang Chan remembered. He nodded, then replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°One of the reasons why I couldn¡¯t bring myself to make you stay was because of this particr patient. Both of the student¡¯s parents are genuinely good people, but¡­gosh. It¡¯s truly unfortunate.¡± ¡°Hm? Director, is the student you¡¯re talking about right now a girl? It was a Shim something¡­oh! Shim Su-Jin!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed, and Director Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s startled expression confirmed he was correct. Kang Chan was even more surprised, though. How did this punk remember something that happenedst year? He and Seok Kang-Ho were reborn at the same time, so how did Seok Kang-Ho know that? ¡°That¡¯s weird. Su-Jin''s parents informed us back then that she would be transferring to another school,¡± mused Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°She couldn¡¯t adjust at the new school either. She had to find a way to ovee the mental trauma on her own, but it seems she was unable to.¡± ¡°Haah!¡± Seok Kang-Ho sighed noisily while Kang Chan sat in front of him,pletely bewildered. Tsk!? Still confused, Kang Chan suddenly felt a burst of annoyance. ¡°Which son of a bitch harassed her so much that they pushed her to this point? Since it happenedst year, they¡¯re still attending the same school, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°Who is it?!¡± ¡°Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun. They were in the same ss as Shim Su-Jinst year.¡± Motherfucker!? Kang Chan gritted his teeth. ¡°Are you a teacher at Su-Jin¡¯s former school, Mr. Seok?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo leaned closer to Seok Kang-Ho, seemingly wanting to verify the truth himself, but he quickly adjusted his posture when they made eye contact. ¡°Director Yun, do you think it would be of any help if the perpetratorse forward and sincerely apologize to her?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It may not provide immediate relief, given her current unconscious state,¡± Director Yun thoughtfully replied. ¡°Well, please do let me know when she regains consciousness. I¡¯d like to visit her myself.¡± ¡°You, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± ¡°As you already know, I have my own experience with jumping off a building. Even while unconscious, in the darkness, I could hear the voices of those around me. It would be unjust for her to leave this world feeling wronged. I hope she can have some closure and have some peace of mind before it¡¯s toote.¡± ¡°Getting closure is considered an effective form of therapy by psychiatrists, but how will she get closure by simply receiving an apology?¡± Kang Chan grinned at Yoo Hun-Wo. ¡°I beat some sense into Lee Ho-Jun and Heo Eun-Sil, just enough so they wouldn¡¯t die. Wouldn¡¯t she feel less wronged if she faces her end after hearing their oue?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo looked astounded. ¡°Those little shits have truly reflected on their behavior and are earnestly striving to turn over into new leaves. If I tell them toe and apologize, they¡¯ll apologize genuinely,¡± Seok Kang-Ho added, supporting Kang Chan¡¯s suggestion. Yoo Hun-Woo nodded with a contemtive expression, weighing the options. ¡°Hmm. I will discuss this matter with her parents first. While there is a possibility of positive results, Su-Jin''s condition remains critical, and I cannot make any guarantees.¡± The three all sighed simultaneously. Chapter 124.1: Something I Never Would’ve Done (1)

Chapter 124.1: Something I Never Would¡¯ve Done (1)

When Yoo Hun-Woo left the room, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho both took out a cigarette. ¡°Hey! How do you remember the name of a kid who stopped going to our schoolst year and that Lee Ho-Jun and Heo Eun-Sil bullied her?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Huh?¡± Startled, Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan. ¡°You didn¡¯t think about that?¡± ¡°Not really. It just came across my mind as if it was something I¡¯ve always known. I have even forgotten that I reincarnated this year because the feeling and the situation of that moment in my memories was so natural.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± This waspletely different from Kang Chan¡¯s case. Kang Chan exhaled deeply about three or four times. He shouldn¡¯t say anything about Seok Kang-Ho remembering things. ¡°I remember Su-Jin as a very tender-hearted kid, yet this still happened to her. Whoo!¡± Seok Kang-Ho exhaled cigarette smoke with a sigh, then pursed his lips with a dissatisfied expression. Seok Kang-Ho looked like a bandit worrying about a bullied student. It made it so hard for Kang Chan to rte to what he was saying that he thought about getting Seok Kang-Ho a razor or something so he could shave. ¡°What did the bullies do to her to make hermit suicide? And considering they bullied Su-Jin so much that they pushed her to cross that line, the school should have expelled Lee Ho-Jun and that bitch Eun-Sil already. Why did the school let her keep suffering so much?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Pfft, people don¡¯t hit others so openly anymore, you know? The bullies subtly harass their victims instead, just like what they did to Cha So-Yeon and Moon Ki-Jean. They don¡¯t take the kids¡¯ money immediately either. Rather, they would start by handing over a hundred won and ordering the kids to buy food for them or stuff like that. Meanwhile, the girls would surround other female students and take pictures of their chests. As I said, it¡¯s difficult to get evidence.¡± ¡°Jeez!¡± Kang Chan extinguished his cigarette by pressing it on the coffee cup. Frowning, Seok Kang-Ho guzzled water. ¡°Fortunately, you saved those kids when you started attending school. Right now, our school is getting a flood of transfer inquiries from kids in Seoul because they find it difficult to keep studying because they¡¯re being bullied,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, then discretely looked over Kang Chan¡¯s mood. ¡°What?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Captain, Lee Ho-Jun and Heo Eun-Sil are also victims.¡± What¡¯s he saying? Seeing Kang Chan¡¯s expression, Seok Kang-Ho quickly continued, ¡°I¡¯m not saying that what they did was good but that they ended up doing those things because the school couldn¡¯t create a proper school environment for them. Now, the bullies are stepping up and getting rid of bullying themselves. They¡¯re even stopping people from making other students run errands for them. Except for Heo Eun-Sil beating up three girls, our school¡¯s environment has seriously improved.¡± Feeling strangely annoyed and angry at the same time, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t get rid of his frown. Seok Kang-Ho promptly made coffee. ¡°Things like this can¡¯t be fixed in a day or two, so drink a cup of delicious coffee and loosen up¡ªah! H-hot!¡± Dropping the coffee cup to the floor, Seok Kang-Ho grabbed his chest as he frowned. His wound seemed to have stung when he moved frantically. ¡°Are you okay? Get over there,¡± Kang Chan said. After making Seok Kang-Ho sit, he wiped the floor and made two cups of instant coffee. ¡°Here.¡± Kang Chan put one of them in front of Seok Kang-Ho, who had a coffee stain on his hospital gown. Thetter dly epted the drink. ¡°Let¡¯s have a quick dinner after drinking coffee. People often get annoyed if they¡¯re hungry,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Would this fucker understand that people can also get annoyed if they eat too much? ¡°Hey! You should get tested,¡± Kang Chan suggested. Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan while taking a sip of his coffee. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking of buying and making you take anthelmintics for quite some time now. Your eating habits just don¡¯t seem normal at all. It¡¯s hard to eat as much as you do while hospitalized, you know.¡± ¡°Hey! I lost a lot of blood!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you eat three pastries before you sleep at home?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°See? When was thest time you¡¯ve had anthelmintics?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I took one after reincarnating. My wife gave it to me.¡± Seok Kang-Ho cocked his head, then immediately red at the menu. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t stop Seok Kang-Ho right now, though, since he wanted to eat. ¡°Captain, let¡¯s order spicy nakji-bokkeum and rice.¡± ¡°Sure! That¡¯s better than meat,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°Phuhu, it also has red sauce!¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk while looking at Seok Kang-Ho, who excitedly picked up the phone. If this fucker didn¡¯t exist, Kang Chan would¡¯ve been living quite a boring life. Kang Chan thought about buying a building and living with Seok Kang-Ho. It wasn¡¯t exactly because he liked being alone with him. Rather, he just wanted to create situations that Seok Kang-Ho would find really interesting. Kang Chan could ask Yoo Bi-Corp to have its employees act as security guards, which was hectic, or get Seok Kang-Ho to go on operations with Kim Hyung-Jung. As for himself¡­ He hadn¡¯t made a decision yet. Honestly, just as Seok Kang-Ho said, living an ordinary life could be boring. He knew that. However, Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to go through the pain of losing a member in an operation again. They lost two in their most recent operation alone. If Seok Kang-Ho, Kim Hyung-Jung, or even Kim Tae-Jin were among the casualties? Kang Chan shook his head. It was during times like this that Kang Chan wanted to see Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. They were probably aware by now that their new employees were agents. How many people could say, ¡®She¡¯s just tenacious,¡¯ after seeing a female employee persistently fighting back against a trainedbatant after being hit in the face? What would they be doing right now? If nothing was up, then for tonight¡¯s dinner they were likely eating chicken while watching a movie on TV. Despite being frustrated because of the fucking bullies, Kang Chan easily calmed down. *** Both wearing a suit, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were sitting at a circr table with a white tablecloth draped over it. They looked as if they couldn¡¯t shake off their nervousness. Before them, sitting at the same table, were President Moon Jae-Hyun, Prime Minister Go Gun-Woo, and National Intelligence Service Director Hwang Ki-Hyun. Their meal wasn¡¯t served yet. ¡°Despite having to take responsibility for the country, the three of us here clung onto your son instead due to ourck of ability. As a result, we made you two go through a difficult time,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said. ¡°I see,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook answered. As Kang Dae-Kyung discreetly examined everyone¡¯s mood, the three people before them smiled at the same time. ¡°As a matter of fact, South Korea initially wasn¡¯t a part of the Eurasian Rail,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun began upon receiving a nce from Moon Jae-Hyun. As if he was giving a briefing, he proceeded to tell Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook that Kang Chan was the one who connected South Korea to the Eurasian Rail through Lanok and made it so that it would be announced in South Korea. ¡°As the President, I am infinitely grateful to Kang Chan. However, when I tried actually to reward him, I became cautious of the world and how they will think. That¡¯s why I have invited the two of you to dine with us today and express my gratitude,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun added. Perhaps it was because they just told a story about Kang Chan¡¯s heroic deeds, but Yoo Hye-Sook became much more rxed. ¡°Next week, a special admission certificate to Seoul National University will arrive at the school. France seems to be doing whatever it takes to take our Kang Chan, but we¡¯ll stop at nothing to protect him. As his mother, please help us prevent a foreign country from taking away someone as talented as Kang Chan,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun continued. Kang Dae-Kyung softly held Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s trembling hand. ¡°If you need something or if there¡¯s anything that makes the two of you ufortable, then please don¡¯t hesitate to call the number that we¡¯ll be giving you after the meal. We will have an employee on standby around the clock, waiting to answer your call. No matter what it is, the National Intelligence Service Director and I, as the Prime Minister, will take responsibility and take care of it. If it¡¯s something that is so important that it would require a higher-ranking person to decide, then the President himself will help us,¡± Go Gun-Woo softly told Kang Chan¡¯s parents. ¡°The two of you have truly raised an amazing son. As the President of South Korea, I sincerely thank the both of you.¡± Tilting his head and looking at Yoo Hye-Sook, Moon Jae-Hyun then asked, ¡°Seems like you, unlike Mr. Kang Chan, can cry a bit?¡± The four men, excluding Yoo Hye-Sook, burst intoughter at the same time. The food was served when Go Gun-Woo gave the employees a nce. Just as a French course should, appetizers were served first. ¡°Please indulge yourselves¡ªwe can talk while eating,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said, then picked up the fork and began to eat infort. He clearly over-exaggerated his movements to make Yoo Hye-Sookfortable. ¡°I actually like Korean food, but gulbi or galbi-jjim is difficult to eat since it requires being held with both hands to eat it. The Prime Minister has even nagged me quite a lot of times now because of how I eat it. It¡¯s quitefortable to eat with Africans, though. The two of us really ate to our heart''s content when we were with them.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked at him, seemingly feeling a little less nervous now. ¡°We ate around six servings of the galbi that day, didn¡¯t we? Ah! You were also there, weren¡¯t you, Mr. Prime Minister?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. ¡°Mr. President, the two of you ate eight servings of ribs back then.¡± Bursting intoughter, Kang Dae-Kyung quickly held up the napkin to hide it. It made him seem as if he was sobbing. ¡°The galbi-jjim from this restaurant is really good,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun added. Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s gaze at Moon Jae-Hyun turned cautious. ¡°We had Western food prepared because we were afraid that the two of you wouldn¡¯t be able to eat since you have to keep up appearances. Moreover, what would Kang Chan think of me if the two of you go home and speak ill of me, saying that I, the President, gobbled down food while smearing it all over my hands and face?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s efforts to make Kang Chan¡¯s parentsfortable certainly changed the atmosphere. ¡°If you have spare time for me next month, then I¡¯ll treat you to really good ribs.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung answered. 1. Nakji-bokkeum or stir-fried octopus is a popr dish in Korea. It is also recently made, its origins dating back only two centuries. It was first introduced in the early 1960s. 2. Galbi-jjim or braised short ribs are a variety of jjim or Korean steamed dishes made with galbi. Galbi-jjim is generally made with beef or pork short ribs. Chapter 124.2: Something I Never Would’ve Done (1)

Chapter 124.2: Something I Never Would¡¯ve Done (1)

As Kang Chan and his parents started eating in earnest with the President of South Korea, their conversations revolved mainly around their kids and how they were making them worried. Hwang Ki-Hyun even asked Moon Jae-Hyun to use his influence to turn his damned son into a member of the special forces because his wife was so worried about him. ¡°We should never abuse our powers,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun responded. ¡°Mr. President! This is for the country. You just have to put him in the special forces.¡± Despite his pleas, Moon Jae-Hyun firmly rejected the notion. Could the National Intelligence Service Director really not take care of that one thing by himself? It was childish, but Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook became a lot less nervous because of it. By the time the main dish was served, even Yoo Hye-Sook was joining in the conversation from time to time. ¡°Meeting Kang Chan made me disappointed in my own son so. I even thought about asking Kang Chan to take care of him for about a year,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun said. ¡°Saying that will get you in trouble!¡± Moon Jae-Hyun replied, startled. ¡°If that doesn¡¯t work, then maybe we can at least get my son to lodge with Kang Chan¡¯s parents,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun continued, making everyone in the roomugh. *** After eating dinner until they were full, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho leaned back against the bed¡­ The door opened, and Yoo Hun-Woo came inside. ¡°Does it hurt anywhere in particr?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked Seok Kang-Ho with a cautious expression after examining him. Afterward, Yoo Hun-Woo said, ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, Su-Jin¡¯s parents hope that you¡¯ll do what you just said if it¡¯s perfectly okay with you. They want to help Su-Jin relieve her deep sorrows, even if just a little bit before she passes.¡± ¡°How is she doing right now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°She likely won¡¯t survive past this evening.¡± Kang Chan sighed softly. ¡°Can I go there right now?¡± ¡°For as long as you¡¯re okay with it, it doesn¡¯t matter what time you go. However, you will have to change your hospital gown due to the smell of cigarettes. You will also have to disinfect yourself since she¡¯s in the ICU.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°I should go as well,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, only to frown as he stood up. ¡°You stay here. It will be difficult to exin why you¡¯re here if the parents see you as well. I¡¯ll go there alone for now. You should visit her after we see how things go,¡± Kang Chan reasoned. Seok Kang-Ho looked at Yoo Hun-Woo, but thetter didn¡¯t side with him. ¡°Alright,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered. Kang Chan left the patient room with Yoo Hun-Woo. It wasn¡¯t like Seok Kang-Ho was going to go with them just because his lips twisted with dissatisfaction. Kang Chan got changed in the nurses¡¯ office, washed his face, and sprayed disinfectant all over him. ¡°I told Su-Jin¡¯s parents that you intervened and helped out during the blood transfusion due to the urgent situation and because our hospital wascking blood. We¡¯re both going to be in a real predicament if the patient¡¯s condition improves and word about it gets out,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo exined. ¡°Let¡¯s just not talk about that.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to hide the fact that you helped out.¡± They got on the elevator and went up to the ninth floor. From the entrance alone, the ICU was definitely different from a regr patient room. To its left was an area full of guardians. It had ¡®waiting room¡¯ written on the que attached to it. Yoo Hun-Woo gave two of the people inside a nce, then went into the office across the waiting room. ¡°This is Kang Chan, the student that I told the two of you about,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo told Su-Jin¡¯s parents. ¡°Hello?¡± As soon as Kang Chan greeted them, Sim Su-Jin¡¯s mother immediately covered her mouth and started to cry. ¡°We heard that you gave our daughter a blood transfusion. Thank you.¡± Sim Su-Jin¡¯s father told Kang Chan after exhaling softly. He looked haggard. ¡°I only gave a small amount of blood. Anyway, please speakfortably to me,¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t even sit yet. ¡°I heard that you¡¯ll relieve our Su-Jin¡¯s deep sorrows¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I know this is shameless, but please do,¡± Still sobbing, Su-Jin¡¯s mother barely managed to get the words out. ¡°We disinfected ourselves beforeing up here, so we should see the patient first. Let¡¯s talk afterward,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. The parents stepped aside to one side of the room. Grief filled the eyes of Su-Jin¡¯s mother. While some peoplemitted suicide, leaving their parents behind and brokenhearted, those who did them wrong dreamed of living a new life after saying they felt remorse for what they had done. Damn it! Where and what in the world went wrong? Yoo Hun-Woo opened the automatic door of the ICU by using the inte. When they entered, they were met with another set of doors. ¡°This way, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo pointed to their right, where he took out green clothes so thin and light that it was as if they were made out of hanji. ¡°Put this on your head,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo put on the same thing. Yoo Hun-Woo pressed a button, and they were showered with disinfectant. Afterward, he opened the automatic door. On both sides of the room were big beds, each one having an enormous number of machines and devices connected to it. With mechanical beeps in the background, the doctors and nurses busily moved as if they were on a battlefield. Yoo Hun-Woo took Kang Chan to the bed on the left side of the room. With Su-Jin¡¯s entire body basically wrapped in bandages, only her eyes, nose, hands, and feet were visible. Be-ep. Be-ep. Be-ep. Be-ep. The machine that Kang Chan had only ever seen on TV drew vertical lines, telling him that Sim Su-Jin was still alive. When Yoo Hun-Woo nced at Kang Chan, thetter approached Sim Su-Jin. What am I supposed to say? Now that he was actually facing her, he didn¡¯t know what to say. What could Kang Chan tell a girl¡ªwho was in so much pain that she decided tomit suicide¡ªthat could make her want to live tirelessly? Kang Chan looked at Shim Su-Jin¡¯s eyes, which were slightly visible through a crevice in the bandages. She had a thick tube inserted under her neck, leaving her nose exposed. ¡°Shim Su-Jin,¡± Kang Chan called, then carefully put his hand on top of hers. She was cold to the touch, almost as if her hand had been left in a refrigerator. ¡°I believe you¡¯re listening. I jumped off the roof before the summer break as well. It was fucking painful. Fortunately, I faintly heard someone talking.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo watched them from a good distance away from the foot of the bed. Another doctor and a nurse in scrubs were standing behind him. ¡°They transfused my blood into you because we were wondering if my blood could pass on the energy that revived me. Anyway, there¡¯s one more thing that I have to tell you. I jumped off the roof because I was bullied as well. However, I survived and developed guts. After that, I fought like a crazy person. I even fought Lee Ho-Jun and Heo Eun-Sil.¡± He wondered what he was doing, but he couldn¡¯t stop. ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan, a senior at Shinmuk High School. You might have heard of me because, until the start of my senior year, people told me that I used to hand over my money and act as others¡¯ errand boy. Despite doing all of those, I¡¯m still alive.¡± To a girl that was dying, Kang Chan was saying things that Seok Kang-Ho would likely say. ¡°It¡¯s unfair, isn¡¯t it? You were angry and felt mistreated because you didn¡¯t receive any help even though you were really desperate. You can¡¯t die because you received my blood, though, so shake this off and get better soon. When you have recovered, let¡¯s go to school together. I¡¯ll beat up everyone who bothers you until you no longer feel angry.¡± Kang Chan stroked Shim Su-Jin¡¯s hand. ¡°Cheer up, kid. I beat up and got rid of every bully out there, including those in Shimdeok High School, the weird university kids that are apparently the bullies¡¯ higher-ups, and even Park Ki-Bum and his parking lot gang that controlled those university kids. Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, one of our P.E. teachers, is also waiting downstairs. If you want me to prove what I said, he¡¯ll help me do just that.¡± Kang Chan then talked about her parents, whom he met outside the ICU, and about him seeing a side of Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook that he didn¡¯t know about. This was something that Kang Chan had never done before¡ªsomething that he would¡¯ve never done in the past. However, having felt Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s love, and after seeing kids like Cha So-Yeon and Moon Ki-Jean, he now wanted to help Shim Su-Jin using any means. Since he had started talking about his life already, Kang Chan decided to tell her about Cha So-Yeon and Moon Ki-Jean, what had happened in the school cafeteria, and Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun almost getting beaten to death at Tron Square. As Kang Chan talked to Shim Su-Jin for a little less than an hour, Yoo Hun-Woo, the other doctor, and the nurse stood beside them, watching. Rather than protecting Kang Chan, it felt as if they were waiting because they didn¡¯t know when Shim Su-Jin would stop breathing. ¡°I¡¯m going. Remember my name. The hospital will contact me. If they tell me you have woken up, I¡¯ll run over immediately. My blood is in your veins now, so I don¡¯t mind doing that. Endure it. Endure it and survive, and I¡¯ll take care of everything for you after that. Okay?¡± Kang Chan ended. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.? Just as Kang Chan finished talking, the rhythm of the machine¡¯s sounds changed. Whoosh. Yoo Hun-Woo, the doctor, and the nurse urgently ran toward Shim Su-Jin. Yoo Hun-Woo gave an order that Kang Chan didn¡¯t understand, and the doctor and the nurse immediately carried it out. Medication was injected into the IV, and a momentter, Shim Su-Jin¡¯s parents urgently ran over. Yoo Hun-Woo looked at Kang Chan, then briefly shook his head. Damn it! Kang Chan was angry, but for now, he had to move out of the way for her parents. Shim Su-Jin¡¯s mother shed a shower of tears as she reached out her hand toward Su-Jin¡¯ from the other side of Kang Chan. Her mother carefully stroked the bandages wrapped around Su-Jin¡¯s face as if it was her bare skin. Kang Chan stood up as Shim Su-Jin¡¯s father approached her as well. Seeing a middle-aged man with graying hair tearing up and crying was extremely painful. At that moment¡­ Shim Soo-Jin stirred. Kang Chan quickly raised his head and looked at Yoo Hun-Woo. Be-ep. Be-ep. Be-ep. Be-ep.? With surprise in his eyes, Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s gaze alternated between the machine and Kang Chan. Not long after, Su-Jin stirred again! Her hand clearly moved. ¡°Mom¡­¡± ¡°Su-Jin! Su-Jin!¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± ¡°Su-Jin! Su-Jin!!¡± Her mother called Sim Su-Jin as if she had gone insane. 1. hanji, or Korean paper is traditional handmade paper from Korea. Chapter 125.1: Something I Never Would’ve Done (2)

Chapter 125.1: Something I Never Would¡¯ve Done (2)

Kang Chan stepped out of the way for Shim Su-Jin¡¯s father. Shim Su-Jin¡¯s voice cracked. She seemed to be having difficulties talking, but they definitely heard her calling her mother from under the bandages. After that, the ICU began reminding Kang Chan of a battlefield. ¡°Please go to the back!¡± Yoo Hun-Woo firmly yelled. Shim Su-Jin¡¯s parents stood beside Kang Chan, breathlessly watching their daughter. Ten minutes flew by in an instant. ¡°Whoo!¡± Yoo Hun-Woo sighed as he stepped away from the bed. Approaching the onlookers, he shook his head, but it was difficult to know what that meant. ¡°Doctor Yoo Hun-Woo!¡± one of Su-Jin¡¯s parents yelled. ¡°Her pulse and breathing have stabilized for now. We have to monitor how she does tonight,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. ¡°She called for me! You heard that!¡± Shim Su-Jin¡¯s mother eximed. ¡°Honey!¡± Su-Jin¡¯s father held her shoulder, but they looked as if they had used up all of their energies. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the office first,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. As Shim Su-Jin¡¯s parents followed Yoo Hun-Woo, their gaze remained on the bed until thest moment. It was as if they found it hard to walk away. ¡°Please have a seat,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo told everyone. Su-Jin¡¯s parents sat on the sofa, and Kang Chan sat across from them. Rattle. Yoo Hun-Woo brought over an office chair in the middle of the office. Kang Chan fully understood why he looked tired. ¡°This would be difficult for the parents to hear, but we will probably only be certain whether she just recovered a little bit of energy prior to her death or that was a sign that she¡¯s recovering at the end of the night,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. ¡°Urgh!¡± Su-Jin¡¯s mother began sobbing. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo tried to reassure them. ¡°Thank you,¡± Su-Jin¡¯s father said with a sigh, then turned his head toward Kang Chan and expressed his gratitude again. Kang Chan remained silent. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, let¡¯s head downstairs,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. When Yoo Hun-Woo and Kang Chan stood up, Su-Jin¡¯s parents did as well. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I couldn¡¯t be of help,¡± Kang Chan apologized to Su-Jin¡¯s parents. ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough that we got to hear her voice again? Since we don¡¯t have much time, we¡¯ll talk to you again after tonight.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo walked away after Kang Chan finished talking to them. Kang Chan followed behind him. After entering the elevator and waiting for its doors to close, Yoo Hun-Woo nced at Kang Chan. Their eyes met. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m just thankful.¡± Kang Chan simply smirked in response. ¡°A lot of doctors start their own medical business because they can¡¯t stand their patients dying on them. They avoid working for university hospitals even though they are more than capable to do so and they would get great treatment there. Watching patients die every day, we often feel skeptical about this job,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo added. ¡°Didn¡¯t you also save me?¡± The elevator opened. Kang Chan stepped out of the elevator and headed to his room. Yoo Hun-Woo was the one following him now. Rattle. Seok Kang-Ho stood up while holding his chest. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll know whether she will survive or not tonight,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Mr. Director, have you had dinner?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I haven''t eaten yet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too bad! Should I order a jjajangmyeon for you?¡± ¡°Sounds good!¡± Yoo Hun-Woo replied, then went to goy down on the empty bed across from Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan¡¯s beds. As Yoo Hun-Wooid down, Kang Chan made coffee, and Seok Kang-Ho ordered jjajangmyeon. A momentter, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho heard Yoo Hun-Woo snoring lightly. ¡°What the? That gentleman is the director of this hospital, yet he just fell asleep in someone else¡¯s patient room?¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Despite speaking crudely, he walked over and put a nket over Yoo Hun-Woo. ¡°He must¡¯ve been having a hard time.¡± Seok Kang-Ho then approached Kang Chan and held up a cigarette. However, he put it back down after looking at Yoo Hun-Woo. ¡°It¡¯s strange, but you attract people,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°What?¡± Seok Kang-Ho took a sip of coffee, then looked at Yoo Hun-Woo again with a smirk. ¡°I find myself depending on you whenever you¡¯re around. No matter how difficult the situation I¡¯m in or even when I start thinking, ¡®How am I going to get out of this?¡¯ I just know that we¡¯ll find a way somehow for as long as you¡¯re there. Something like that.¡± ¡°Hey! I was shot in the neck and died as well.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s snores were like the sounds a cat made whenever they were in a good mood. ¡°You still don¡¯t get it even after looking at that gentleman? He probably would¡¯ve wanted to depend on someone right now as well. He¡¯s probably like that fucker G¨¦rard right now,¡± Seok Kang-Ho added. ¡°Phew, forget about it.¡± Being able to console people was great and all, but not being able to smoke cigarettes was bullshit. ¡°Go get changed out of those weird clothes. You look like you just got back from a semiconductor factory,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Kang Chan took off the clothes that he had put on when he went into the ICU. The jjajangmyeon arrived some time after Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho what happened upstairs. It didn¡¯t feel right to wake up someone sleeping soundly, so Seok Kang-Ho ate Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s jjajangmyeon whileining instead. He ate everyst bite, cleaning his tepletely. Yoo Hun-Woo woke up about thirty minutester. He left the patient room feeling upset because they didn¡¯t wake him up when the jjajangmyeon arrived. Damn it. He can tell a nurse to order another one. Saturday ended not long after. *** Doing his morning rounds, Yoo Hun-Woo entered Kang Chan¡¯s room with a bright expression. ¡°What happened?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°She¡¯s responding well. We think she¡¯s bing stable, so we¡¯re watching her with hope,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo answered while unwrapping the bandages around Kang Chan¡¯s left hand, then asked Kang Chan if moving it was painful. ¡°I¡¯ll wrap a thinyer of bandages around your left hand. If your hand trembles when you clench it, that means it¡¯s in a dangerous condition and you have toe back and get it checked immediately,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo warned. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do that.¡± After treating Kang Chan, Yoo Hun-Woo cut Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s bandages. Several pieces of skin were taken off with the bandages, the sight making Kang Chan groan. Fortunately, Yoo Hun-Woo said that wasn¡¯t a bad sign. Yoo Hun-Woo disinfected Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s wounds, applied medication, then wrapped them in bandages again. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo thanked him out of nowhere. The best thing to do during moments like this was to just smile in response. After Yoo Hun-Woo left, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Hofortably rxed. They felt as if they had gone on a vacation for about a week. ¡°What are you going to do starting tomorrow?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Considering everyone is hospitalized right now, including manager Kim, I think I¡¯ve be a bit free¡­ What about you?¡± ¡°I asked the school to hire a new teacher for a couple of months.¡± When Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho, he borated, ¡°Just think of it as a substitute teacher. Since running and jumping is difficult for me right now, I¡¯m thinking of taking time off for about a year. There¡¯s still that National Assembly member who¡¯s trying to sell off military secrets, too. Taking that into consideration, wouldn¡¯t it be better for you if I have a bit more time?¡± Thinking the idea didn¡¯t seem that bad, Kang Chan nodded. Seeing how Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s knife wounds weren¡¯t healing as fast as Kang Chan¡¯s, he definitely had to rest for a bit. Since Seok Kang-Ho also had spare money in his bank ount and received a sry from the National Intelligence Service anyway, he didn¡¯t have to worry about his livelihood. Sitting on his bed, Kang Chan looked outside the window. It bothered him that he didn¡¯t get a single text message from Kim Mi-Young. ¡®I should leave her be. She¡¯s a senior in high school.¡¯ He was like a kid whose younger sister recently grew up dramatically. However, no matter how much Kim Mi-Young would change in college, Kang Chan thought of epting her. All that was left for him to do was spend the rest of the day resting properly. As he leaned back against the bed¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang as if to ask, ¡®Why are you trying to rest?¡¯ It was Lanok. Lanok said he¡¯ll wait for me to get discharged before contacting me. Is this for something urgent? ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, how are you feeling? ¡°I¡¯m thinking of getting discharged tomorrow.¡± - I¡¯m sorry for calling you on your day off, but Vasili contacted me. However, this isn¡¯t something we can talk about over the phone, so I was hoping we could meet up. Is it okay for me to visit you at the hospital? Vasili was Russia¡¯s representative for the Eurasian Rail. That fucker looked mean. ¡°Sure. How long will it take you to get here?¡± - I¡¯ll be there in ten minutes. ¡°Alright, Mr. Ambassador.¡± After hanging up, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho about the phone call, then asked him to stay in the room next door for a bit. Seok Kang-Ho threw several paper cups in the trash can, then left the room. Lanok arrived not long after. Chapter 125.2: Something I Never Would’ve Done (2)

Chapter 125.2: Something I Never Would¡¯ve Done (2)

After a brief greeting, Kang Chan and Lanok sat facing each other at the table in front of the bed. ¡°It¡¯s impressive that you really have recovered enough to get discharged,¡± Lanokmented. ¡°I was told that my body constitution is unique. I got a biopsy done because of it in the past, and it was sent to a research institute in the United States.¡± Lanok nodded, then crossed his legs. Louis prepared a cigar for Lanok, and Kang Chan bit on a cigarette. They both started smoking. ¡°Vasili has requested for an arbitration,¡± Lanok started while turning the lit cigar with his fingers. ¡°He offered to give us the bodies of the South Korean agents who joined the most recent operation in Mongolia in exchange for the bodies of the Japanese agents found in Yang Jin-Woo¡¯s house.¡± Kang Chan cocked his head while tapping his cigarette on the paper cup, shaking the ashes off. Even though he knew about the operation in Mongolia, Vasili had been pretending as if he didn¡¯t know anything because it was executed in absolute secrecy. Even so, he now tantly wanted to exchange bodies. ¡°Vasili has intervened. With Russia mediating, we no longer have to discuss or question things like purpose, result, and nationality. However, that¡¯s not what¡¯s important.¡± Lanok looked around the patient room, then softly continued, ¡°Vasili isn¡¯t the type to arbitrate things like this, and even if he did want this, he definitely isn¡¯t the type to intervene in the frontline. Vasili likely had to do this to create an excuse toe to South Korea.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t he juste to South Korea? People like Vasili can make any kind of excuse, can¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Russia and Vasili do have the capabilities to do that. Taking that into consideration, why would he have to make such a lousy excuse toe here? There is a possibility that Vasili was the one who suggested exchanging bodies.¡± If even the sly and wily Lanok didn¡¯t know and was unsure about it, then there was no chance Kang Chan would know it. Extinguishing his cigarette, Kang Chan waited for Lanok to continue. ¡°Vasili is probablying here to meet you. No matter how hard I think about it, there is nothing for Vasili or Russia to gain from the South Korean government right now. Considering he¡¯s also bringing over the South Korean agents¡¯ bodies, which were in China¡¯s possession, he has already negotiated with Japan as well,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Why do you think Vasili ising to meet me?¡± ¡°Most likely because of the two things that he has requested from me. One was to mediate the body exchange with the South Korean government, and the second was for me to apany him in meeting you.¡± ¡°Vasili said that?¡± ¡°A lot of countries currently see you as something simr to my sessor.¡± Lanok looked behind him and nodded at Louis, who then brought them tea in a paper cup. ¡°Vasili wants an answer by Wednesday. If the South Korean government agrees to this, then he has said that he¡¯ll fly to South Korea using a private ne on Friday. He wants to exchange bodies immediately at the airport,¡± Lanok added. ¡°What do you think about this?¡± Lanok looked down at the cup for a moment, then looked up. His slim face and fierce eyes, which were distinctive of French people, made him appear extremely tenacious during times like this. ¡°I¡¯ll go with whatever you decide to do. Since this exchange of bodies is just some kind of excuse that Vasili has made to meet you, this most likely won¡¯t happen if South Korea says that they only want to exchange bodies.¡± ¡°Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Yes, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°You¡¯re skeptical about this, aren¡¯t you?¡± Kang Chan asked as he picked up a cigarette, certain that Lanok was still hiding something. He couldn¡¯t understand Lanok¡¯s small reactions in the past, but he could now decipher what they meant. This happened much more often since the day he noticed Lanok¡¯s pinky finger trembling. ¡°I do have my guesses, but I can¡¯t confirm any of them yet. That¡¯s why I personally want to meet Vasili. I want to know why in the world someone so prideful is trying toe to South Korea just to meet you,¡± Lanok responded. ¡°Should I tell the South Korean government about this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably a good idea.¡± Lanok¡¯s smile told Kang Chan there was a different scheme behind that answer as well. Phew! They live such tiring lives. ¡°Please give me an answer by Wednesday noon. As soon as you do, I¡¯ll n our schedule with Vasil,¡± Lanok said, then took a sip of the tea in the paper cup. ¡°Will the South Korean government even ept the offer?¡± ¡°They will be extremely thankful for it.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Lanok was a cut above Kang Chan in analyzing and predicting the results of information warfare. Hence, he obediently epted Lanok¡¯s answer. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, if Russia intervenes, the South Korean government truly won¡¯t be able to protect you. Since this requires risking the lives of the DGSE and my country¡¯s Intelligence Bureau, this will give Russia, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom the opportunity to stand together as one and look for opportunities to kill you. Moreover, if things go wrong, Japan and North Korea will certainly side with them.¡± ¡®Why would Russia, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom try to kill me?¡¯ Lanok softly exhaled when he saw Kang Chan¡¯s expression. ¡°Let¡¯s meet Vasili. We should discuss this afterward.¡± ¡°Mr. Ambassador, are you in a dangerous situation as well because of me?¡± Lanok sharply looked at Kang Chan. ¡°There¡¯s a lesson passed down like an irond rule in the Intelligence Bureau: if there everes a time when you¡¯re drawn to a person, then drop everything and quit.¡± ¡°What happens if they don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Please give me a response after contacting the South Korean government. I¡¯ll take care of the rest. You have until Wednesday noon.¡± Kang Chan knew that Lanok was avoiding his question, but there was no way to force him to answer. ¡°Alright, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Lanok stood up from his seat and left. Kang Chan looked at the clock. Lanok spent a total of twenty minutes with him. Kang Chan looked for Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s number and was about to call him when Seok Kang-Ho opened the door and entered. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Have a seat.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t have anything to hide from him, so he told him everything about his conversation with Lanok. ¡°Ah, those fuckers. Why are they making this soplicated? How good would it be if they just straightforwardly said, ¡®This is where we draw the line,¡¯ and, ¡®This will happen if we do this, so why don¡¯t we do this instead?¡¯¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. It did sound straightforward, but Kang Chan doubted those in charge of information warfare would ever do that. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I¡¯ll call manager Kim and ask him for an answer first. Lanok told me they won¡¯t refuse.¡± ¡°As a matter of fact¡­¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded. These were the bodies of the agents who sacrificed their lives for the country. Refusing this offer was undesirable, especially for Kang Chan. Kang Chan called Kim Hyung-Jung and exined the situation. - I¡¯ll report this to the Director and give you an answer as soon as possible. ¡°The deadline is until Wednesday noon. The exchange will happen in the airport, and thest condition is that Vasili wille into Seoul.¡± - Understood. Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan. This would allow them to retrieve the agents who went to Mongolia with them. Hearing the grief in Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s soft voice, Kang Chan quietly hung up. ¡°It¡¯s strange, though,¡± Seok Kang-Homented again. ¡°What is?¡± ¡°I mean, what¡¯s in it for Russia to seek you out? You also said that the big countries are all looking for an opportunity to kill you, and France keeps telling you to naturalize to their country to protect you, but they¡¯re not telling you the details. What on earth is going on?¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± At any rate, they would get some answers if Kang Chan met Vasili. It had been a while since he had rested without worry, so Kang Chan had thought to enjoy it a bit, but he was already heavy-hearted even though it was still early in the day. At times like this, I should eat something delicious. Kang Chan sharply red at Seok Kang-Ho. Having been conditioned to eat all week, Kang Chan thought of eating something as soon as his mood turned foul. They ordered lunch and enjoyed coffee and cigarettes. Afterward, they rxed on the bed. Kang Chan called Yoo Hye-Sook and told her that he would be going home tomorrow. He then called Michelle, who told him that the feedback about the drama were better than they had expected. - If it wasn¡¯t for the Chairman Yang incident, the drama would¡¯ve done much better. That son of a bitch had continued to cause trouble even as he died. He had just finished making calls and had put his phone down on one side of the bed when Yoo Hun-Woo entered. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Considering there were no rounds during lunchtime, Yoo Hun-Woo most likely came here to tell them about Shim Su-Jun¡¯s condition. ¡°Su-Jin has woken up,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. ¡°Really?¡± Startled, Seok Kang-Ho sat up as Yoo Hun-Woo nodded. Thetter had a satisfied look on his face. ¡°She¡¯s beenining about the pain, but her heartbeat and body temperature, among other things, have all gone back to normal. Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Of course. As a doctor, moments like this feels really rewarding.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s expression turned apologetic as he looked at Kang Chan. ¡°However, it seems like she doesn¡¯t remember anything about you. She hasn¡¯t talked about you at all, and it also doesn¡¯t feel right to ask about it, so I pretended not to know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s actually better. Getting involved with random strangers is ufortable. All I want is for her to recover quickly until she¡¯s healthy enough to get discharged.¡± ¡°Her bones were so finely broken that she will be in that state for a year. Moreover, she will be in extreme pain during treatment. Still, you have no idea how pretty she looks whenever she smiles because she survived. Anyway, Su-Jin¡¯s parents will try to thank you once the afternoon visits end, so please spare them some of your time.¡± Kang Chan shook his head. Letting it end on this note would be for the best. ¡°Please tell them that they don¡¯t have to. I just want to rx here and get discharged tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s talk about thister during the evening rounds.¡± After sharing the good news, Yoo Hun-Woo left the room. Deep down, Kang Chan felt better. Chapter 126.1: What Do I Want to Do? (1)

Chapter 126.1: What Do I Want to Do? (1)

Kang Chan had already declined to meet up with Yoo Hun-Woo twice before dinner, yet he still ended up following him to the director''s office to meet with Shim Su-Jin¡¯s parents. Not only was he worried about how Su-Jin¡¯s parents felt, but it was also difficult for him to keep ignoring Yoo Hun-Woo when he had already visited him three times. As Kang Chan followed Yoo Hun-Woo into the director¡¯s office on the eleventh floor, Shim Su-Jin¡¯s parents quickly stood up from the sofa. They still seemed tired, but they now looked lively. ¡°Kang Chan!¡± Shim Su-Jin¡¯s mother walked over to Kang Chan and grabbed his hand. He had a feeling that Yoo Hye-Sook had the same expression as Su-Jin¡¯s mother back when he was confined in the ICU. Kang Chan was really happy that things had worked out for them. ¡°Please have a seat.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo sat in an armchair as he gestured at the sofa for them. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not upset by Su-Jin not remembering you,¡± Su-Jin¡¯s mother said. Kang Chan smiled lightly and told them that it was okay. ¡°Here you go. I guess you can call me a university professor.¡± Su-Jin¡¯s father handed over a business card to Kang Chan, which said ¡®Shim Min-Deok, Go Jeong University¡¯s Department of Political Science and International Rtions.¡¯ ¡°As my wife just said, don¡¯t be too upset.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m actually d that she doesn¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Su-Jin¡¯s mother quickly answered, still looking apologetic. By the time Yoo Hun-Woo¡¯s secretary brought over tea, they had already gone through everything there was to say. ¡°Drop by the university anytime. In life, when people meet like this, they be support systems for each other,¡± Su-Jin¡¯s father said, then thanked him. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to do that.¡± Kang Chan felt just as grateful toward them. ¡°We¡¯re also thinking of going home, which we hadn¡¯t done in a long time. Thanks to you, we¡¯ll finally be able to get a good night¡¯s sleep for the first time in so long. I heard that you¡¯re getting discharged tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Thank you. Thank you so much.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo quickly butted into the conversation when he saw Kang Chan smiling awkwardly. ¡°Right, I think enough thanks have gone around. The two of you should head home and get some rest. Don¡¯t worry about anything today and just have a good night¡¯s sleep. Come back during visiting hours tomorrow. Her parents looking well-rested and happy will make things a lot better for Su-Jin as well.¡± Su-Jin¡¯s parents stood up and thanked Kang Chan a few more times before leaving the Director¡¯s office. ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Thank you for your hard work,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo answered with a pleased smile. ¡°I¡¯m getting discharged tomorrow, but I don¡¯t have any clothes to wear,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Again?¡± ¡°Why ask that when you already know why?¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll be happy to prepare clothes for you tomorrow,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo responded. ¡°Please prepare clothes for Mr. Seok Kang-Ho as well.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± When Kang Chan stood up to leave, Yoo Hun-Woo got up and left with him. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a family?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I have a wife beautiful enough to make me speechless, and I also have three gym rats for sons. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t theyin about you working on a Sunday?¡± ¡°I made sure my family understands that priests and doctors can¡¯tin about working on holidays, especially when I started treating people in secret.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo talked as if he had been firm with his family, but from what Kang Chan saw, it was more likely that he had slyly persuaded them. *** The next morning, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho changed into the clothes Yoo Hun-Woo had bought for them, then dropped by the specialty coffee shop at the intersection. ¡°The weather is amazing,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Is it because it''s already autumn? Thendscape is definitely picturesque. Get a table on the terrace. I¡¯ll buy coffee.¡± Kang Chan bought two cups of coffee and headed back outside. ¡°Do you have all of the previous Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s memories?¡± Kang Chan asked, then took a sip of his coffee. He suddenly wanted to look properly into what he could remember. ¡°Apparently so. You also think it¡¯s strange, don¡¯t you? Don¡¯t you think it makes no sense that I understand and speak Korean? It¡¯s been this way since I reincarnated, though, so I¡¯ve gotten used to it.¡± Actually, everything, including Dayeru being able to speak Korean, didn¡¯t make any sense. ¡°I also inherited the emotions of this body¡¯s previous owner. Since I know his past, my wife and daughter are less suspicious of me. Remember when I had a housewarming party? I knew all my rtives and even all my colleagues who visited our house,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. Kang Chan nced at Seok Kang-Ho. That seemed to be the reason why Seok Kang-Ho sometimes looked deep in thought. ¡°It¡¯s already worrisome that Vasili is paying us a visit, but that fucker named Xavier could still be in South Korea as well. The United Kingdom and the United States are also getting involved, which is unusual, so be extra careful for the time being,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I don¡¯t even want to go out, but let¡¯s at least visit Misari once a day. I feel like I¡¯d die from frustration andck of activity if I do nothing but lie around at home.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± They stood up and left after smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee for a bit. Kang Chan didn¡¯t notice it when they were in the hospital, but Seok Kang-Ho seemed ufortable whenever he moved. It was especially noticeable when he was getting in the taxi. After they parted ways in front of the apartment, Kang Chan immediately went up to his apartment. As soon as he unlocked the door and headed inside¡­ ¡°Channy!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook delightedly greeted Kang Chan. ¡°You didn¡¯t go to work?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You said you wereing home today, so I didn¡¯t! I wanted to see you before I head out. What¡¯s wrong with your hand?¡± ¡°Just a small wound. The doctor said it should be fully healed by the end of this week.¡± ¡°You should be more careful. Does it hurt a lot?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. This was their first time seeing each other since Yoo Hye-Sook got attacked, which was perhaps why she still looked and sounded awkward. Kang Chan walked toward her and embraced her. Whenever they hugged like this, Kang Chan could tuck her head under his chin. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Of course. You¡¯re protecting me.¡± Kang Chan smiled a bit as Yoo Hye-Sook stroked his back. What more had to be said? When they were upset or couldn¡¯t properly convey their feelings, hugging was the best. ¡°I made you upset, didn¡¯t I?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡ªyou were very startled.¡± ¡°I was.¡± Kang Chan put down his arms. ¡°Channy, do you want some fruit?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked again. ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like some.¡± Noticing that Yoo Hye-Sook wanted to say something, Kang Chan sat down at the table. Yoo Hye-Sook took out a melon from the fridge, sliced them to make them easier to eat, then peeled them. ¡°The employees told me that they couldn¡¯t have protected me and that one or two of them could have been injured if it weren¡¯t for you. Here you go!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook took a slice of melon using a fork and handed it to Kang Chan. ¡°I also heard that because of the Eurasian Rail, some countries are trying to stop you by sending people to assassinate me and your dad. And I¡¯ve also been told that you¡¯ve done your best to prevent them from doing so. Eat up, Channy.¡± ¡°Please eat with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll eat after I peel this.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t do anything else but start eating when he saw Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s expression. ¡°Your dad and I will also be stronger. We decided to keep our chin up so that we won¡¯t be a distraction to you while you¡¯re working hard for the country,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook continued. Is she hiding something? Kang Chan noticed Yoo Hye-Sook looked proud. He was curious, but he had trouble asking her about it. ¡°All of our employees decided to stay in thepany. They said that South Korea will be very well-off when the Eurasian Rail gets connected¡­ Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked when she noticed his smile. ¡°Mother, you met someone, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Phuhu, you do know it¡¯s obvious when you lie, right? You and Father are really bad at lying.¡± ¡°Is it really that obvious?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Chan took a fork to get another slice of the melon, then handed it to Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Pretend you didn¡¯t notice anything. Your dad and I have decided to keep it a secret,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Alright. Please eat up.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook epted the fork and ate the slice of melon. ¡°If it brings you too much trouble, I can quit working for the country now,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Mrmph!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s answer came out weird because of the fruit in her mouth. She quickly swallowed the fruit, then said, ¡°Do whatever makes you happy, not what your dad and I want. There are a lot of things we don¡¯t know much about because we¡¯ve been living normal lives. That¡¯s why it¡¯s taking us some time to get used to this, but all I really want and hope for is that you¡¯re not doing anything dangerous.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook then looked at Kang Chan¡¯s left hand. She was clearly hiding the fact that she felt bad for him and was trying to ovee it. Simr to how Yoo Hun-Woo had persuaded Kang Chan not to switch hospitals, someone had really persuaded Yoo Hye-Sook. They shouldn¡¯t make a decision right now, so Kang Chan just said, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have to go to work?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I do. I actually have a car I can use to go to and from work now.¡± What¡¯s she talking about? ¡°Your dad bought it for me so I can visit ces with the two female employees.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± Kang Chan meant what he said. Their security guards didn¡¯t have to keep up a disguise anymore, and above all else, Yoo Hye-Sook would be in much less danger once she had epted them. ¡°I''ll go to work after lunch,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. Since it was about 11 am, Kang Chan agreed that it was a good idea. After eating enough fruits, Kang Chan headed to the bathroom to take a shower. Kang Chan took off his clothes and noticed that some of his new wounds were still red. Every part of his body had been either wounded or scarred in a knife fight. Although he doubted Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sooj would go to a swimming pool any time soon, he thought he wouldn¡¯t be able to join them. Kang Chan felt as if he was on top of the world after his shower. It had been a while since he had been able to take one. Chapter 126.2: What Do I Want to Do? (1)

Chapter 126.2: What Do I Want to Do? (1)

For lunch, Kang Chan and Yoo Hye-Sook had doenjang-guk, kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts, and seasoned cucumbers. It had also been a while since he had eaten a home-cooked meal. Kang Chan ate until he was so full he wondered if his appetite had grown while he was with Seok Kang-Ho. After doing the dishes, Yoo Hye-Sook called a female employee, talked, then walked to the front door. ¡°Have a good day at work,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Thank you, Channy.¡± What¡¯s she thankful for? Kang Chan thought he should be the one feeling thankful for having her as a mom. Once Yoo Hye-Sook left, Kang Chan went into his room, then called Kim Hyung-Jung to ask him for a favor. In the middle of the afternoon, Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan that the special admission letter from Seoul National University had arrived and that Kang Chan had to go to the school on Wednesday and pick it up. When he started talking about awards, Kang Chan tly refused and told him that he would never do things like that ever again. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook both got home at around 6:30 pm. They all had dinner together for the first time in quite a long while. ¡°I¡¯m so full. Want to go for a walk?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan after dinner. Kang Dae-Kyung looked as if he had something to say, so Kang Chan agreed withoutint. Once they were out of the house, Kang Dae-Kyung asked, ¡°Is your hand really okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Someone from the floor below them got in the elevator, preventing Kang Dae-Kyung from saying anything else until they had left the building. ¡°Let¡¯s sit over there,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said, pointing at an empty bench by the pavilion. Upon reaching it and sitting down, they both gotfortable. ¡°Your mom and I ate with the President, the Prime Minister, and the Director of the National Intelligence Service,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung opened up. So that¡¯s what happened. Kang Chan smiled faintly. ¡°It was really difficult at first, but after a while, even your mom started feelingfortable around them. They treated us really well.¡± ¡°Is that why Mother has changed?¡± ¡°She does look like she has changed, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung inhaled loudly, then exhaled slowly. ¡°They told us that they want to appoint you as the South Korean representative of the Eurasian Rail.¡± ¡°They want to appoint me?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung nodded while pursing his lips. ¡°They¡¯re thinking of using the excuse about our government having trouble refusing because Ambassador Lanok, the Eurasian Rail founder, rmended you. If you take on such an important role, they said the other countries that want to distract you will use any means to do so, which is why they hope we¡¯ll do our best to help you.¡± ¡°What do you think about it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Why would you ask that? What¡¯s really important is what you think.¡± What Kang Dae-Kyung had said was obvious, but it seemed new again. ¡°I don¡¯t want you doing something that you don¡¯t like for our sake. We already told you this before, but you don¡¯t even have to go to college if you don¡¯t want to. I promised you that I would your mom if she makes a fuss, didn¡¯t I?¡± Kang Dae-Kyun added. Theyughed quietly. ¡°I made a promise with your mom that we would not try to mold you into something that you¡¯re not and that we wouldn¡¯t stop you from bing an influential person just because we¡¯re scared and worried for you. However, there¡¯s something that we¡¯re honestly scared of. You know what that is, don¡¯t you?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. There was no way that Kang Chan wouldn¡¯t know that they were scared of someone attacking them and him getting hurt. ¡°It¡¯s difficult for us to understand and ept what you have shown us, but we think you have an innate ability in that field, unlike us. The Director of the National Intelligence Service has said that if you keep growing at this rate, you would be an important figure by the time you¡¯re thirty and that no country in the world will ever be able to trample you.¡± Will I even still be alive by then? ¡°Personally, I would be happier if you¡¯re living happily than if you became an important figure. Your mom feels the same way. But if that kind of life makes you happy, then I want you to know that you don¡¯t have to hide the fact that you¡¯re working for the country for my sake and your mom¡¯s.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°You¡¯re bound to get hurt in this line of work, aren¡¯t you?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung smiled awkwardly while looking at Kang Chan. ¡°Give your mom the special admission letter to Seoul National University no matter what.¡± ¡°You knew about that?¡± ¡°They told us during the meal that they will send the letter to the school today. Your mom is eagerly waiting for it.¡± Kang Chan no longer had any choice but to go to school on Wednesday. ¡°Kang Chan,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung called. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Your mom is working extremely hard to make up for the fact that she looked upset in front of you and is also trying really hard to ept what you do. I hope you¡¯ll be more understanding toward her.¡± ¡°Of course I will.¡± ¡°Oh dear, when did you grow up so fast?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung reached out and tousled Kang Chan¡¯s hair. ¡°It feels like just yesterday, you were still the kid who cried and screamed because you couldn¡¯t get on the esctor by yourself.¡± ¡°I did that?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Are you going to pretend that you don¡¯t remember?¡± Kang Chan actually didn¡¯t. ¡°Fine. Men should have pride, after all,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung added, then stood up. ¡°Phew!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go home. Your mom is probably getting worried,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said afterward. That was how Kang Chan¡¯s Monday ended. *** The next day, Kang Chan headed to Samseong-dong once Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook had left for work. He didn¡¯t know why Kim Hyung-Jung had unexpectedly called and asked to meet at the office, but he went anyway. Click. When Kang Chan arrived at the fifth floor, an employee he had never met before opened the door and greeted him. ¡°The manager is waiting for you,¡± the employee said. He tapped a keycard on the scanner and opened the door to Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Kim Hyung-Jung eximed. Kang Chan burst outughing as he entered the room. Below the window in front of him was Kim Hyung-Jung, lying on a hospital bed. More than two-thirds of Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s body was wrapped in bandages. ¡°Do you have to do things like this?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°The National Police Hospital doesn¡¯t allow smoking. Phew! This is actually better.¡± For some reason, the people around Kang Chan were bing weirder and weirder. ¡°Kim Tae-Jin is being discharged tomorrow,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. ¡°Already?¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t the type to y tricks to get discharged earlier, but I was told that he was getting discharged. Want to smoke?¡± Kang Chan walked past the table. Just as he was about to sit down beside the hospital bed, someone opened the door with a click. An employee brought over coffee and an ashtray. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know about anything else, but he thought that the employees probably hated doing things like this. Kang Chan put a cigarette in Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s mouth and lit it up for him. He then lit another for himself. ¡°The National Intelligence Service has decided to ask you to take over the role of being responsible for the dead agents and entrust you with full authority to issuemands. They¡¯re also thinking of approving any request you may have, Kim Hyung-Jung said. Kang Chan was going to do it either way, but this made him feel light-hearted. ¡°The transmitter you requested is on top of my desk,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. Kang Chan turned his head, finding a small box on top of the desk. ¡°The box has a tie pin, buttons, a belt, and three thumbtacks. ce the thumbtacks on the heel of your shoe. Once you install it, you¡¯ll be able to use it for three months.¡± ¡°What about the receiver?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯ll send you an app that will allow you to check on it from your phone.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung reached out his arm, which was tightly wrapped in bandages, and stiffly held up a cup. It looked risky, but he managed to drink coffee without spilling any of it. ¡°I feel much better now because it feels like I relieved at least some of our dead members¡¯ deep sorrows,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. Kang Chan hadn¡¯t asked about it yet, but Kim Hyung-Jung already talked about it. He did look like he was in a much better mood, though. ¡°If Vasilies into South Korea on Friday, the Intelligence Bureau is going to issue a first-ss alert. If he gets murdered in our country, the aftermath won¡¯t be easy to handle,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. ¡°He doesn¡¯t look like a person who can be killed so easily, though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also a problem. Vasili will use whatever methods are avable to him for his own benefit. In a word, he¡¯s¡­ extreme.¡± When Kim Hyung-Jung saw Kang Chan smirking, he swallowed dryly with difficulty. ¡°In truth, if Vasili knows you, then he won¡¯t act hastily.¡± ¡°Are you really going to stay here?¡± ¡°As I said, this is better than being in a hospital.¡± In truth, Kim Hyung-Jung was staying at the office not because it was better than a hospital but because he wanted to provide support to the event on Friday. If it meant finding the agents that Kang Chan had left behind, he would have done the same. Chapter 127.1: What Do I Want to Do? (2)

Chapter 127.1: What Do I Want to Do? (2)

Kang Chan adamantly turned down Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s invitation to have dinner together before he left. The offer of delicious jjamppong was definitely tempting, but Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s current condition didn¡¯t bode well for them lightheartedly enjoying a meal together. Kang Chan suddenly felt as if his appetite had increased after living with a greedy and gluttonous foodie for a week. Thinking of the foodie in question, he pulled out his phone. -Where are you? ¡°I just made a quick stop by Samseong-Dong,¡± Kang Chan replied. -Wait, really? Does that mean Mr. Kim already got discharged? ¡°Yeah, but he¡¯s not in the best state right now. Anyway, have you had lunch yet?¡± -It¡¯s only eleven, sheesh. Hurry on over. I¡¯ll be waiting in the underground parking garage, so let¡¯s take a little trip to Suwon.? ¡°Suwon?¡± -Suwon¡¯s traditionally cut galbi ribs are to die for.? Kang Chan snorted and got in a taxi right away. He estimated that he would arrive at their apartmentplex in a couple of minutes since it wasn¡¯t very far. On the way over, he opened the box that he had just received and saw the various portable handheld transmitters that Kim Hyung-Jung mentioned meticulously organized within the box¡¯s spongeyer. ¡®This should do it for now.¡¯ There had to be a reason why Vasili wasing to see him. The uing battle wouldn¡¯t involve shooting at each other. It was a war of information so the transmitters were more fitting than a gun. Since Kang Chan had made up his mind to fight in this contest, he would prepare everything he would need for the battle. The moment he got off the taxi, he saw Seok Kang-Ho waiting on the road in front of the apartmentplex with his car. ¡°You should¡¯ve just waited for me inside the parking garage!¡± Kang Chan admonished. ¡°I took it slow and steady, and this much isn¡¯t too hard for me to drive,¡± replied Seok Kang-Ho. When Kang Chan sat behind the wheel, he noticed Seok Kang-Ho had already input their destination¡¯s address in the car¡¯s navigation system. Fine, if you¡¯re that desperate to eat, let¡¯s eat! Since the still-recovering Seok Kang-Ho insisted on having meat, Kang Chan decided to be generous and go along with it. Kang Chan drove away, following the course the navigation system suggested. ¡°Is your face bloated or what?¡± ¡°Nah, I gained weight,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered nonchntly. Kang Chan didn¡¯t have anything to say to that. On the way to Suwon, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho about his conversation with Kim Hyung-Jung, then ordered him to take two of the handheld transmitters. ¡°The receiving transmitter set will be programmed into our phones, so tell your wife and daughter to always carry their transmitters around. Let¡¯s not get stupidly taken by surprise likest time.¡± ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ve officially decided to join the operation?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Well, there¡¯s not exactly any other way out, is there? It doesn¡¯t feel right to turn down taking over for our deceased team members either. I don¡¯t know what it is that Vasili wants, but we should take small steps to prepare for whatever lies ahead.¡± Kang Chan then nced at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you want to continue doing this type of work too?¡± ¡°Phuhu, you¡¯re the best, Captain. I knew you¡¯d look after me,¡± Seok Kang-Ho responded and let out his trademarkughter, expressing his satisfaction. ¡°Carefully think it over, all right? A single mistake or moment of hesitation can end you. Information warfare is a different type of battle than what we¡¯re used to, so make sure you always keep your guard up,¡± Kang Chan warned. ¡°Got it, Cap. Let¡¯s have a nice, hearty meal so we¡¯ll have the strength to fight.¡± The ce that Seok Kang-Ho chose was located in front of a traditional folk vige¡¯s entrance road. The restaurant was massive, yet it was still filled to the brim with customers. All the food items that Seok Kang-Ho rmended were absolutely tasty. Kang Chan thought he shoulde here with Kang Dae-Hyung and Yoo Hye-Sook sometime. ¡°Cap, are you going to school tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes. I have no other choice because my parents know now,¡± Kang Chan replied as he scratched the edge of his eyebrow with his index finger. Kang Chan felt as if he smelled like galbi after eating the meat that was slowly cooked over a charcoal grill. ¡°Let¡¯s get something to drink before we head back.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± There wasn¡¯t any reason to say no. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho enjoyed some coffee together before driving back to Seoul. *** On Tuesday evening, Kang Chan gave Lanok his answer. Their call didn¡¯tst that long since they made arrangements for him to stop by the embassy after school on Wednesday. They would finish their conversation there. Damn it! He would have to wear his school uniform since he was going to school, so unless he wanted to lug a whole suit to ss, he would have to stop by his house to change before heading to the embassy. Kang Chan arrived at school at about ten in the morning. The school gates were closed, but the small door next to the security guard¡¯s office was open. First-year students were ying with a ball out on the field. The moment Kang Chan stepped in, the students who recognized him bowed in his direction even though he didn¡¯t ask them to. Their faces were a mix of envy, respect, and a little trace of horror. Pretending not to see them, he made his way to the clubroom. The door clunked open, and he was greeted by the distinct smell of sweat. It was a relief that the students had at least cleaned up after themselves, or else Kang Chan would have thrown out all the sports equipment right that instant. After briefly scanning the room, he headed to the teacher¡¯s office. The office was already quiet, but when Kang Chan entered, an even heavier silence descended on the room briefly before the room exploded with noise. Teachers approached him to shake his hand and even take pictures with him. Fine! You can take a few pictures as long as you don¡¯t make announcements over the inte.? While Kang Chan was politely greeting his fans, the teacher who had been in charge of the school year¡¯s opening ceremony quickly hurried over. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Hello, sir,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°The principal is waiting for you. Let¡¯s get going.¡± Kang Chan obediently followed him to the principal¡¯s office. As Kang Chan and the principal drank tea together, thetter encouraged him for a whole ten minutes to continue doing good things for the advancement of the school. Kang Chan managed to persuade him not to make an announcement on the inte, but he had to take about five celebratory pictures with him. Twenty minutester, Kang Chan received his certificate of special admission from the principal¡¯s office. Fortunately, it ended a lot faster than he had expected. Now, he had some time to kill. Should he wait until break and then stop by his ssroom? Kang Chan shook his head. He didn¡¯t want to disrupt his ssmates from their studies. Ha. Heughed at himself. If he was being honest, the only reason he wanted to go to the ssroom was because he wanted to see Kim Mi-Young. ¡®That¡¯s enough acting like an idiot, Kang Chan. Don¡¯t be a coward and just go.¡¯ Kang Chan got up from his seat in their clubroom. Unless there were extenuating circumstances, there wouldn¡¯t be a reason for him to return to the school until graduation day once he left. A lot had taken ce in such a short amount of time. Just then, the door clicked open, and Lee Ho-Jun entered wearing his tracksuit. He paused when he saw Kang Chan. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Kang Chan greeted. He forced a rxed expression. ¡°What are you doing here? Why aren¡¯t you in ss?¡± ¡°I spoke to the school about wanting to be a sports major, so they allowed me to spend my ss time exercising in the athletic club. That¡¯s also what Heo Eun-Sil is doing.¡± There was no reason not to believe Lee Ho-Jun. Kang Chan didn¡¯t have to supervise them or pick at their words to confirm whether they were telling the truth. He just wanted to go home quickly. Just as he was about to stand up, the door opened again. This time, Heo Eun-Sil came in. Her face was bare of any makeup. ¡°When did you get to school?¡± Heo Eun-Sil asked. ¡°Just now,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Great. I¡¯ve actually been meaning to contact you.¡± That had to be a sign that another problem was in the works. Nothing had happened after the clothes incident, and there was still the tab to be paid. Perhaps that was it this time. ¡°What are you thinking of doing for the school festival?¡± Heo Eun-Sil asked. Kang Chan let out a heavy sigh as he watched Heo Eun-Sil hang a towel around her neck. The victim was painfully lying in a hospital bed because all her bones were crushed, but the assant¡¯s greatest concern was what to do for a school festival. ¡°Heo Eun-Sil.¡± Heo Eun-Sil quickly looked at him when his voice dropped multiple tones. ¡°You and Lee Ho-Jun know Shim Su-Jin, don¡¯t you?¡± Kang Chan asked in a low voice. They nced at each other before turning back to Kang Chan. ¡°She recently attempted tomit suicide by jumping off a building. She barely survived. I heard you two harassed her horribly. Even though she transferred to another school, she couldn¡¯t adjust and had to receive therapy. Even then, she still jumped.¡± The two seemed to remember who Shim Su-Jin was. ¡°You two stay out of the school festival. As I said before, don¡¯t seek forgiveness from me or the school. We¡¯re not in the ce to be handing that out. It¡¯s the bullied students who have the right to forgive you.¡± ¡°How long do we have to do this for?¡± ¡°Until everyone forgives you,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°We can¡¯t even find all of them.¡± ¡°Just continue living your life, and then when youe across news of your victims like now, go and apologize. Got it?¡± Heo Eun-Sil looked down at the ground. Chapter 127.2: What Do I Want to Do? (2)

Chapter 127.2: What Do I Want to Do? (2)

Kang Chan had never seen Heo Eun-Sil drop her gaze before today. ¡°I¡¯ll stay out of preparing for the festival,¡± Heo Eun-Sil epted. The moment he heard her response, he felt like he had made a mistake; after all, he didn¡¯t have any authority over the festival or over her, to begin with. Kang Chan always felt drained after meeting these two. ¡°Sure, whatever,¡± he replied. Kang Chan walked away. ¡°Where¡¯s the hospital?¡± However, Heo Eun-Sil stopped him again. Kang Chan doubted that Heo Eun-Sil was asking so she could go and throw a fit in Shim Su-Jin¡¯s room, not unless she didn¡¯t fear for her life anymore. He figured an apology from Heo Eun-Sil couldn¡¯t hurt Shim Su-Jin¡¯s recovery. ¡°Bang Ji Hospital.¡± Listening to Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s uneven breathing, he hoped for the first time that things would work out for this rude girl. Go and beg for forgiveness. Ask for forgiveness every time youe across someone you hurt. Kang Chan hoped she would have at least that much courage to face her past. ¡°I¡¯ll tie up loose ends with Su-Jin first. If Su-Jin epts my apology, promise me you¡¯ll help out with the festival,¡± Heo Eun-Sil requested. Why was she so intent on their club¡¯s participation in the school festival? It wasn¡¯t like she was getting paid for it. Kang Chan smirked. As he did, the bell rang, marking the end of ss. He left the clubroom and walked over to where the senior ssrooms were. It was probably the break between the second and third periods now, but students were still dashing for the student store. A few students spotted Kang Chan and flinched before stopping in their tracks. Those same students had avoided his gaze like the gue not too long ago. Now, however, they seemed to be wanting to start up a conversation with him as they stole nces at him. As they peeked at him, they couldn¡¯t help but stare at the bandages on his left hand. How adorable those little kids are. Kang Chan moved past them and climbed up the stairs. Themotion instantly died down, and a wide path was made in front of him like before, but the atmosphere wasn¡¯t as stiff as it used to be. ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan!¡± one female student even whispered. Having finally reached his ssroom, he found the back door open because it was currently break time. Kang Chan poked his head inside and looked for Kim Mi-Young. Students crowded around him and gazed up at him with fascinated eyes. However, although the noise in the ssroom suddenly quieted down, Kim Mi-Young didn¡¯t look up from the textbook she was studying. ¡°Hey, Snow White!¡± Kim Mi-Young jumped in surprise before looking back. As she did, Kang Chan¡¯s heart sank. She had lost so much weight that her cheeks were half the size they used to be. She floundered up from her desk and ran over to Kang Chan. ¡°Why did you lose so much weight?¡± ¡°Did youe to pick up your admission certificate?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°Don¡¯t try to change the subject. Are you not feeling well?¡± he chided. Kim Mi-Young grinned. Seeing her smile made him miss her light ¡°hehehe¡±ughter. ¡°I¡¯m going to apply early to the Seoul National University. I¡¯ll attend school with you no matter what,¡± Kim Mi-Young said firmly. ¡°Do you still practice French?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yup!¡± she replied eagerly. ¡°You hopeless girl!¡± Kang Chan ruffled her hair. A few female students around them covered their mouths and shrieked. Kim Mi-Young had grown up so fast. She hadpletely lost her baby fat and seemed like a real youngdy now. ¡°I said I don¡¯t like girls who are too thin, remember?¡± ¡°Then buy me a lot of yummy things once finals are over, okay?¡± Kang Chan thought about having Kim Mi-Young take a break from her studies soon. It was a shame they were at school. He would¡¯ve patted her on the back if they were elsewhere. Ding, ding.? The bell rang, signaling that sses were resuming. Kim Mi-Young could neither let go of Kang Chan¡¯s hand nor look away from his face. That was how much she liked him. Even so, she had delved into her studies without contacting him because she was determined to go to the same school as him. ¡°I¡¯ll get going now. Text me when you have time, okay?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Kim Mi-Young replied energetically. Kang Chan felt more at ease after hearing her voice. He nodded and turned to leave the ssroom as sses resumed. *** Upon returning to their apartment, Kang Chan left his special admission certificate to the Seoul National University on the dining table. He then made some scrambled eggs for himself and changed out of his school uniform. This was where things would really begin. . He picked up the breastpin and thumbtack-shaped transmitter before leaving theplex. Kang Chan took a taxi and headed straight for the embassy. When he arrived, an agent was already waiting for him to guide him inside. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Lanok greeted. Lanok was the same as ever. However, Kang Chan thought he could catch the small differences in his facial expressions now. As always, they sat across from each other at the table, and tea was served. ¡°He¡¯s scheduled to arrive at six in the evening on Friday. They requested for the exchange to happen at the airport so Vasili¡¯s ne can fly straight to Japan afterward.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll inform my colleagues about it,¡± Kang Chan replied, finding no reason to say no to that request. ¡°Vasili said he wants to have dinner together. I¡¯m not looking forward to dinner with that guy, but we have to listen to what he has to say, so I hope you take that into consideration as well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Kang Chan replied, then pulled out the breastpin and thumbtack-shaped transmitter from his inner pocket andid them on the table. ¡°They¡¯re transmitters, I see,¡± Lanok mused. Damn it. He hadn¡¯t expected Lanok to be stumped by what they were, but he felt the enthusiasm in him being drained when Lanok guessed what they were so effortlessly. ¡°Ambassador Lanok, if you keep one of these two transmitters on you, I¡¯ll be able to know where you are on my phone,¡± Kang Chan said. Lanok watched Kang Chan with a careful gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly what being friends with you means, Mr. Ambassador, but I also don¡¯t know what I might do if I fail to protect you. I won¡¯t be able to do anything if I¡¯m not certain I can protect the people who are special to me,¡± Kang Chan added. A smile slowly drew on Lanok¡¯s lips. ¡°There is nothing more dangerous than revealing my location in real-time to intelligence agents.¡± I suppose so.? Kang Chan thought that made sense. ¡°Are you getting bad feelings as you didst time?¡± Lanok inquired. ¡°Not to that extent yet. However, I want to prepare as much as I can before anything happens.¡± Lanok took a sip of his tea as if he was trying to mask his contemtive eyes. He put his teacup back onto the saucer with a click, then looked back at Kang Chan as he rubbed his index finger and thumb together. ¡°I¡¯ll connect a transmitter used by the DGSE to your phone, Mr. Kang Chan. However, I can block the transmissions whenever I want to. Moreover, should I find myself in a predicament that would require your assistance, I can use it to contact you immediately.¡± It was a better transmitter than what Kang Chan had prepared for him. Kang Chan had no reason to refuse. ¡°Thank you, Ambassador Lanok.¡± ¡°I should be the one thanking you. That aside, I¡¯m certain there¡¯s a reason why Vaisili insists on meeting you during his trip.¡± ¡°Based on what you said, it seems like you already have a guess about what that could be, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan conjectured. Lanok made a curt nod at him. ¡°There are all kinds of messy intel going around right now. The problem is that your name keeps getting mentioned at the core of it all. The United States managed to find you with the results of the biopsy, the French government is attempting to naturalize you as one of our citizens, and Vasili himself wants to meet you. However, the reason behind all that hasn¡¯t been exactly revealed yet.¡± Kang Chan let out a deep sigh. ¡°Among the information that we¡¯re constantly picking up, some are extremely absurd. That¡¯s why I¡¯m eager to see what Vasili would bring with his arrival,¡± Lanok added. ¡°Is Xavier still in South Korea?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes, he is. His original mission was to receive military intelligence from Huh Sang-Soo, but I¡¯m assuming his aim now is to keep an eye on what you do, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a little ridiculous,¡± Kang Chan scoffed. ¡°Well, that¡¯s information warfare for you. The moment the parties learn what it is that each other really wants, countless lives will be sacrificed. And the greater the profits thate with the intelligence, the more lives will be lost,¡± Lanok exined. That wasn¡¯t just the case for information warfare. The many mercenary lives that were sacrificed from participating in Africa¡¯s civil wars were all a result of who could profit more as well. ¡°There are now two days left before Vasili arrives. We¡¯ll learn the reason behind all this then,¡± Lanok dered. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Will you being directly to the airport on Friday?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you know about that tomorrow morning,¡± Kang Chan replied. Lanok smiled, wrapping up their talks of Vasili. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, don¡¯t turn down the offer if you¡¯re designated as South Korea¡¯s representative for the Eurasian Rail.¡± ¡°I heard you would be rmending my appointment for the position. Is that correct?¡± ¡°I received a request from the Korean government¡¯s National Intelligence Service.¡± Lanok lifted the teapot and poured them some more tea. ¡°Of course, naturally, I said I would,¡± Lanok said. It was time toe to a decision now. Kang Chan looked Lanok directly in the eye. ¡°Ambassador Lanok, do you think I can do a good job as South Korea¡¯s representative?¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re the best suited for that position, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°But if I ept, I can say goodbye to being naturalized as a citizen of France.¡± Lanok chuckled, amused, at what Kang Chan said. ¡°At least you won¡¯t be an enemy of France,¡± Lanok said with a smile, but for some reason, Kang Chan didn¡¯t get the feeling that the ambassador was joking. Chapter 128: The Brown Bear’s Visit (1)

Chapter 128: The Brown Bear¡¯s Visit (1)

At four in the afternoon that Friday, Kang Chan arrived at Incheon International Airport and immediately headed to the National Intelligence Service Airport Office on the second floor. He pressed the inte button, and a female employee with an identification card pinned to her chest came out and escorted Kang Chan inside. The National Intelligence Service¡¯s office interior had narrow corridors betweenpletely sealed spaces, making it difficult for outsiders to eavesdrop on what was happening inside each room. The doors didn¡¯t even have the typical nametes hanging on them to describe their purpose. The female employee knocked on the door of the innermost room. Soon after, a man in his mid-40s weed Kang Chan inside. ¡°Pleasee in,¡± he said. The sharp-looking man pointed to the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m Heo Chang-Seon, the one I¡¯m in charge of the National Intelligence Service¡¯s office here at Incheon Airport.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Kang Chan.¡± Standing on opposite sides of the center table, they exchanged greetings and took a seat on the sofa. The female staff member who had guided Kang Chan inside brought two cups of coffee and half-filled paper cups of water. ¡°Director Kim instructed me to make sure you have an ashtray,¡± Heo Chang-Seon stated. ¡°Are you not a smoker?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You¡¯ll be the first to smoke in this office.¡± Heo Chang-Seon took out a cigarette from his pocket and offered it, his sharp expression still intact. When Kang Chan epted the cigarette, Heo Chang-Seon lit it for him. ¡°We have finished all preparations. As soon as Ambassador Lanok arrivester at 4:40 pm, we will head directly to the VIP lounge. I confirmed the ambassador¡¯s expected time of arrival at the airport just before you arrived.¡± The conversation felt more like Heo Chang-Seon was giving Kang Chan a report. While Heo Chang-Seon exhibited pride in overseeing a section of the airport, Kang Chan didn¡¯t feel any sense of friendliness from him. An awkward silence hung between them. Kang Chan put his half-smoked cigarette into the paper cup filled with water. ¡°Can I take a look around the site of arrival?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You¡¯re wondering if you can do that right now?¡± Heo Chang-Seon inquired in disbelief. ¡°Yes,¡± Kang Chan replied. Some things could be understood without having to be said. This was one of those. It was only natural that Kang Chan would want to inspect the site. He wanted to quickly leave and get out of this office due to Heo Chang-Seon¡¯s grumpy attitude. ¡°It¡¯s quite a distance,¡± Heo Chang-Seon warned. Kang Chan raised his gaze just enough to look Heo Chang-Seon in the eye. ¡°Division Chief Heo,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Go ahead, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Heo Chang-Seon responded. ¡°I said I want to see the site,¡± Kang Chan repeated. What was wrong with this man? Heo Chang-Seon¡¯s expression made it clear he was ruffled by Kang Chan¡¯s request. Did this self-important guy, who took pride in having some responsibility over the airport, feel frustrated because he had to deal with a high school student who had only probably gotten in through connections? Kang Chan didn¡¯t want the Korean agents to have any tension in a meeting where top-level officials from France and Russia would be participating. To that end, it would be best for him to leave this office quickly before his temper erupted. Heo Chang-Seon stood up and handed Kang Chan an ess card that had beenid on the desk. The card waspletely ck and only had the number zero written on it. ¡°Hang this on your chest,¡± Heo Chang-Seon ordered. Kang Chan used the clip to attach the identification card to his left breast. ¡®Idiot.¡¯ Kang Chan inwardly shook his head as he followed Heo Chang-Seon out of the office. Men like Heo Chang-Seon were everywhere. While there were humble individuals like Kim Hyung-Jung who risked their lives to carry out missions for their mothend, there would always be arrogant bastards intoxicated by the authority in their hands. Damned bastards like him could never do missions where their lives could be lost in vain, like the Mongolian operation. However, they would always be left with a bitter taste in their mouths because they couldn¡¯t understand nor embrace the agents¡¯ honorable sacrifice. Did he want to be in the spotlight when important people like Vasili and Lanok arrived? It was aughable idea. If Vasili and Lanok hadn¡¯t arranged to meet with Kang Chan quietly to avoid causing a fuss, high-ranking officials from the National Intelligence Service, far superior to Heo Chang-Seon, would have eagerlye running at the drop of a hat. Heo Chang-Seon led Kang Chan toward customs and into an elevator. They then headed straight out to the runway. Employees saluted Heo Chang-Seon as he walked by them, and even in the way the idiot nodded, Kang Chan could feel a sense of arrogance. Maybe it was only because of his first impression of Heo Chang-Seon that Kang Chan felt that way, but who knew? As the two stepped onto the runway, the noise from airnes and various equipment rushed past their ears. ¡°Get in!¡± Heo Chang-Seon shouted over the noise. Heo Chang-Seon gestured to the open-roofed industrial jeep waiting for them, then climbed into the passenger seat. What was the point of Kang Chan saying anything about that? In situations like these, it was best to just quietly take a seat. The jeep followed the line drawn on the runway, then turned right, facing the airport. Moving away from where travelers could see them, they reached an area blocked from view with modr walls around all sides. A unit of about thirty-five soldiers strong was standing guard around it. The jeep stopped approximately ten meters away from the site. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Heo Chang-Seon announced. Kang Chan stood up and got off the jeep. He took two steps toward the passenger seat, Heo Chang-Seon was right in front of him. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here on site, so please escort Ambassador Lanok to this ce when he arrives,¡± Kang Chan asserted. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Heo Chang-Seon asked confusedly, doubting his ears. ¡°I¡¯m not going to the VIP lounge. Please escort the ambassador over here when he arrives,¡± Kang Chan reiterated. Heo Chang-Seon glowered at Kang Chan. He looked annoyed because Kang Chan dared disrupt his ns. Kang Chan turned around, took out a cigarette, and put it in his mouth. ¡°Smoking is forbidden on the runway,¡± Heo Chang-Seon nagged. ¡°Whew,¡± Kang Chan breathed out. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t here today to introduce Ambassador Lanok to this stupid bastard or sit still and obediently take orders from him. He walked toward the modr walls. The 35-member unit wasn¡¯t a small force, but it was obvious what kind of soldiers would be chosen for a special operation like this. They seemed to recognize Kang Chan. A senior soldier who appeared to be their leader gave him a short salute. Kang Chan nodded and stood by the senior soldier¡¯s side. Vroom.? Not long after, the jeep carrying Heo Chang-Seon stopped in front of him. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯m aware of your friendly rtionship with Ambassador Lanok. However, there is a certain etiquette that must be followed in certain ces,¡± Heo Chang-Seon arrogantly dered. Nothing about this moronic punk struck Kang Chan the right way. Pft.? Seeing Kang Chan¡¯s smirk, Heo Chang-Seon gritted his teeth. For quite some time, Kang Chan had forgotten people like Heo Chang-Seon existed because,tely, he had only ever met people who put their lives on the line to make South Korea a better ce like Kim Tae-Jin, Kim Hyung-Jung, and more recently, Go Gun-Woo, Choi Jong-Il, and Jeon Dae-Geuk. It hadpletely slipped Kang Chan¡¯s mind that there were people like Heo Chang-Seon too. The very reason he didn¡¯t want to continue in this line of work was that he hated deranged idiots who got off on power and appearances. Those people were also in the military. For everymander who fought and bled out on the battlefield, there were over a hundred dumb punks decorated in fancy uniforms loftily pointing at random ces on a map with extravagant batons to seem impressive. Kang Chan breathed in deeply. It would be truly embarrassing if he caused an incident at the airport over something like this. Lanok, who was as sly as a snake, and the viper-like Vasili would surely notice something was amiss in this ufortable atmosphere. For the sake of the agents who had waited for a long time to return home, Kang Chan was willing to clench his teeth to hold in his temper. However, if he let Heo Chang-Seon¡¯s crap continue, Kang Chan would certainly be horribly disgraced in front of Lanok and Vasili. This idiot would clearly try to act up because of his self-importance as the National Intelligence Service¡¯s Airport Division Chief. Kang Chan pulled out his phone. It was already 4:30 pm. Lanok would be arriving soon. Kang Chan pressed the call button and put the phone to his ear. Heo Chang-Seon watched him with a scowl on his face. -Mr. Kang Chan, what¡¯s the matter? Kim Hyung-Jung frantically answered the phone in an anxious tone. ¡°Mr. Kim Hyung-Jung, I¡¯m calling because I have a favor to ask,¡± Kang Chan began. Themander of the 35-member brigade was watching Kang Chan as well. ¡°I¡¯m having trouble with the airport¡¯s division chief. If you don¡¯t take action, I¡¯ll step out of the task of retrieving our soldiers¡¯ bodies and head straight to the dinner instead.¡± Heo Chang-Seon¡¯s expression seemed to show he was angrily grumbling, ¡°What the hell!¡± inside his head. -You¡¯re inpletemand of the site today, Mr. Kang Chan. I¡¯ll take care of it asap.? ¡°Also, since I¡¯m out on the runway right now, please contact the airport¡¯s office and have them guide Lanok here as soon as he arrives.¡± -Got it. Is the division chief next to you, by any chance? Kang Chan heard Kim Hyung-Jung exhaling lowly as if he was forcing himself to be patient. ¡°He is. Please don¡¯t ask me to switch the phone over to him,¡± Kang Chan replied. -I didn¡¯t know the situation was so bad that you of all people would say that. Understood. I will contact the office first. As soon as Kang Chan hung up, his phone immediately rang again. ¡°Ambassador Lanok,¡± he greeted. -Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯ll be there in five minutes. ¡°I¡¯m currently out on the runway. I asked them to bring you here as soon as you arrive. This is the perfect ce for a smoke.¡± When Kang Chan started speaking in French, Heo Chang-Seon carefully observed Kang Chan¡¯s expression in an attempt to read his reaction. -I expected nothing less from you. I understand. I¡¯ll see you soon. After wrapping up the call, Kang Chan took out another cigarette, bit on it, and lit it up. Whether Kang Chan was out working or running an operation, if he didn¡¯t do things his way, he would start feeling unwell. Was it because he had a crappy temper? That could be a part of the reason. However, in Africa, failing a mission tranted directly to death. And what were the consequences now? The negotiations for the Eurasian Rail could fall apartpletely for South Korea. The fallen soldiers arriving today, the agents who had been injured at the conference hall, and the agents who died in the fight to stop Yang Jin-Woo¡ªthey sacrificed themselves for this day toe to fruition. Yet a man like Heo Chang-Seon was still prioritizing having his pride and authority acknowledged in this situation? Bullshit. Kang Chan would rather get the stupid man out of his sight as soon as possible than show this embarrassing scene to Vasili. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, Director!¡± Heo Chang-Seon said. Kang Chan looked away from the runway and turned toward Heo Chang-Seon, who had urgency in his tone. ¡°No, sir! It¡¯s not like that¡­¡± Heo Chang-Seon pathetically pleaded. The person on the other side was shouting so loud that even Kang Chan could hear the words ¡°son of a¡­¡± through the noise from where he was standing. ¡°I¡¯ll go to you immediately, sir.¡± After the call, Heo Chang-Seon gave the driver some instructions, then looked back at Kang Chan. Heo Chang-Seon was fucking lucky to be leaving unharmed after prioritizing his pride and authority when they were supposed to be weing fallen soldiers home. Vroom.? The lucky bastard soon disappeared from Kang Chan¡¯s sight. Kang Chan saw themander of the unit smiling. Some things just weren¡¯t worth trying to fix and were better to let them go. Kang Chan was still frowning when six ck sedans and military buses rushed onto the runway. Although they were on a runway, few could just drive across the asphalt without a care in the world. It was interesting how there were yellow, blue, and white lines painted onto the cement, and there were even traffic lights in the middle of the runway. Lanok and some agents got out of the sedans, and honor guards stepped out of the buses. Kang Chan approached the sedans and greeted Lanok. ¡°Vasili will arrive in about five minutes. Why don¡¯t we have some refreshments while waiting?¡± Lanok suggested. ¡°Here, right now?¡± Kang Chan asked in disbelief. Lanok gestured with his eyes, and Louis appeared with a thermos and somerge paper cups. ¡°To the French, wine and tea are needed just as much as we need air,¡± Lanok joked. He put the paper cups on the sedan''s trunk and filled it with tea. Kang Chan took out a lighter and lit his cigarette when he saw Lanok bite on a cigar. ¡°Once today¡¯s event is over, the DGSE will send the reception program of the transmitters to your phone. I should warn you about something, though. Every time you check my location, your location will also be reported to the DGSE.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The scent of ck tea on the airport¡¯s runway actually wasn¡¯t all that bad. ¡°Ambassador Lanok, how capable is South Korea¡¯s intelligence agency?¡± Kang Chan randomly asked. He had always been curious about it. ¡°The DGSE¡¯s human resources have always been recognized aspetent. The agents¡¯ passion, determination, and perseverance are top-notch. Unfortunately, the system has always been a weakness for the agency,¡± Lanok replied as if he had been expecting Kang Chan to ask. As Kang Chan took a sip of his tea and nced up, Lanok continued, ¡°To demonstrate how great your strength is in information warfare, you have to invest quite a bit of time. You have to stabilize your agents and manage them so that they won¡¯t betray you, and you have to keep purchasing cutting-edge equipment. I apologize for being so direct, but repeated acts of corruption and misconduct have continued to crush the passion and perseverance of the agents in South Korea.¡± Lanok shouldn¡¯t be the one apologizing for that. ¡°Until now, South Korea has trained their agents to be loyal to the governments rather than cing emphasis on their ability. They also sold satellites that the National Intelligence Service intended to use for a cheap price so they could get bribes to fill their own pockets.¡± Kang Chan slightly regretted asking the question. ¡°The agency barely scraped by thanks to the sacrifices and perseverance of its agents. The current capability of South Korea¡¯s intelligence agency would likely rank around 40th in the world,¡± Lanok finished. ¡°So in other words, it¡¯s not that impressive,¡± Kang Chan noted. Lanok tilted his head in amusement as if to say that it was up to Kang Chan to judge that. Kang Chan smiled wryly. On one side of the modr walls, the honor guards had assumed a formation. Aircraft marshals and vehicles that transported cargo arrived one after another. It was too noisy to have a conversation. Kang Chan followed Lanok¡¯s gaze, finding a Boeing 737 aircraft approaching from behind a tow car. It was marked with a Chinese airline¡¯s logo. ¡°Well, that must mean the negotiations with China are now over,¡± Lanok remarked. ¡°Help from China was required to get the fallen soldiers anyway, right?¡± Kang Chan questioned. ¡°Vasili brought a ne from Russia. However, the Chinese intelligence agency must have provided him with a Chinese civilian aircraft as well,¡± Lanok exined. This was the first time that Kang Chan saw Lanok smirk. ¡°I wonder why China is extending this favor of goodwill to you, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok pondered. As the tow car passed through the barrier, the aircraft was guided by a marshal who carried signs in his hands. As the roar of the engines was blocked by the barrier, the aircraft marshal crossed his arms above his head, and the ne jerked and came to a halt. The rigging moved forward, and the stairs were connected to the ground. ¡°Now then, shall we go greet him?¡± Lanok asked. Kang Chan and Lanok headed for the bottom of the stairs. The doors opened, and Vasili, dressed in a ck suit from top to bottom, immediately descended the stairs. Kang Chan supposed he was meeting a bucket load of sharp-eyed men today. It wasn¡¯t just Vasili. The three agents behind him also had looks so dirty it was as if they had taken time to practice beforehand. ¡°Lanok!¡± Vasili greeted. Vasili embraced Lanok with exaggerated expressions and kissed him on the cheeks. It was ufortable, but Kang Chan had no choice but to ept these kinds of greetings. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Vasili addressed next. Kang Chan lightly embraced Vasili and kissed him near the cheek, only making the sound without actually touching him. Vasili seemed to have his guard up, but that was probably only natural given the time and ce. After exchanging greetings, Vasili turned to Lanok. However, he was stopped by Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s wait for the fallen soldiers to get off the ne before we get going. I want to show what respect I can toward them first,¡± Kang Chan asserted. As the highestmander, it was probably more appropriate to let others handle the soldiers¡¯ remains and just focus on escorting Vasili first. However, Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to leave yet. Perhaps it was because of his experience in Africa, but that wasn¡¯t important. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t take the soldiers¡¯ return lightly. After all, they died far away from their mothend. Fortunately, their tombstones had already been prepared in the military cemetery in Daejeon. These soldiers could have bullet wounds, so they would be taken to the military hospital for identification by the end of the day. They would only be returned to their families¡¯ arms after they had been cremated. The first coffin was brought down from the aircraft. Four ceremonial guards waiting on both sides of the ne respectfully spread the national g of South Korea over the coffin. The officer standing guard in the front then ced a badge version of the g on the head of the coffin and struck it with the edge of his hand. The badge was just the size of a palm. Thud.? These deaths protected South Korea. The living fought, shed, got beaten up, and beat up each other to protect this nation, allowing it to stand safely. The members of the brigade watching the coffin also had solemn expressions. The grave and sad sound of trumpets rang out from somewhere. Soon after, the second coffin began to descend through the rail of the aircraft. Swoosh! The South Korean national g was spread over the coffin, and with the sound of another thud, a badge the size of a palm was embedded onto the top of the coffin. The only way Kang Chan could show respect was to watch and observe. Nevertheless, he at least wanted to make sure he did this. As Kang Chan stood without budging, Vasili looked at him with curious eyes. ¡°My, what an interesting fellow,¡± Vasilimented with interest. ¡°If it¡¯s all right with you, let¡¯s go have some tea together over there, Vasili,¡± Lanok offered. Vasili nodded at an odd angle. The two headed for the ck sedan. Chapter 129.1: The Brown Bear’s Visit (2)

Chapter 129.1: The Brown Bear¡¯s Visit (2)

All the coffins that were wrapped in the South Korean national g were loaded onto the buses. While the coffins of the Japanese agents were being carried onto the ne, themander of the 35th Brigade and the staff officer of the honor guard saluted Kang Chan. Kang Chan met each of their gazes and gave a brief nod before turning back around. Walking out of the barrier of modr walls, he saw Lanok and Vasili drinking tea from paper cups on the trunk of a ck sedan. ¡°Are you finished with your business?¡± Lanok asked gently. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Then let¡¯s go have dinner. I made a reservation,¡± Lanok suggested. From about ten meters away, the agents from the National Intelligence Service were waiting for them to move. ¡°I¡¯ll head to the restaurant with Vasili,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll be right behind you two,¡± Kang Chan responded, then headed for the sedan that the National Intelligence Service agents had brought. Kang Chan provided the Russian and French agents apanying Vasili and Lanok with separate sedans. He himself rode with the National Intelligence Service agents. Kang Chan had never met these agents before, so he was debating whether he should introduce himself. While he was contemting that, Lanok¡¯s sedan stopped at a restaurant that was only twenty minutes away from the airport. The sedan Kang Chan was riding in followed closely behind. It was a restaurant that specialized in Hanwoo, which was beef from native Korean cattle. Considering how a French agent was already standing by at the entrance and that Lanok¡¯s aide was waiting for them in the parking lot, Lanok seemed to have reserved the entire ce. When Kang Chan stepped out of the car, Lanok immediately guided them inside the restaurant. Three tables had been set up individually in the vast, spacious interior. Just a nce was enough to determine that the agents from France, Russia, and Korea were meant to upy the tables so they could have their own meals while, a separate ce was prepared further inside the restaurant for Lanok, Kang Chan, and Vasili. ¡°Korean barbecue is absolutely delicious,¡± Lanok remarked. It was funny. A French was introducing a Korean restaurant to a Russian and a Korean who followed along. Soon, they entered a room where there was a depressed section of flooring. Seats with backrests were ced in a triangle around the table. Kang Chan unintentionally ended up sitting in the middle. While they waited for the thick sirloin to be served, the charcoal fire meant to cook the meat emitted waves of heat toward them. They had soju and beer for drinks. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I heard there¡¯s a dangerous drink here in Korea. Do you know how to make it?¡± Vasili jokingly asked. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re talking about bomb shots?¡± Kang Chan asked back. Based on the way Vasili smirked, it seemed he already knew what the cocktail was and had tried it. Kang Chan had no reason to refuse to make it. He had been feeling mncholic due to the agents who had finally returned home anyway. He eagerly mixed some soju and beer together, then poured a ss for each of them. Exchanging any words at this point was unnecessary. After clinking their sses together, they downed the drink in one gulp. An employee entered the room to cook the meat for them as they had four more of the bomb shot cocktails. The young employee carefully sliced the meat into edible portions, and the three began their meal. ¡°It truly does taste fantastic,¡± Vasili eximed in awe. Even though the mealsted for about 40 minutes, there was little conversation aside from the asional expressions of admiration regarding the food. The same went for the three French agents, three Russian agents, and three Korean agents eating in therger hall. As a result, a peculiar sense of tension enveloped the restaurant. Once they set down their chopsticks, waiters brought out coffee and ashtrays. With no one to nag or object, Kang Chan and Vasili took out their own cigarettes while Lanok received a cigar and lit it up. ¡°I believe it is about time you exin why you want to meet Kang Chan, Vasili,¡± Lanok dered. Lanok and Vasili were evidently fierce rivals who weren¡¯t all thatfortable with each other. ¡°Lanok, the British intelligence agency discovered one of the two missing energy sources that disappeared from ckhead in South Korea,¡± Vasili stated solemnly. Vasili blew out a long puff of smoke and looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Interestingly enough, it was around the same time the United States discovered the source through the Sampleton Research Institute. The British detected a signal from the source while inspecting the Eurasian Rail conference hall with their satellite surveincework,¡± Vasili continued in a wry tone. What in the hell was this crap about? Energy sources that had gone missing from ckhead? Sampleton Research Institute? Kang Chan had heard about them before since that was where Yoo Yun-Woo sent Kang Chan¡¯s biopsy, and the diamond that Shan had sold off was called ckhead. But what was this about two missing energy sources? Kang Chan had never stolen anything like that if that was what Vasili was using him of. Kang Chan pressed his cigarette against the ashtray, putting it out. ¡°Vasili, exin how you¡¯re involved in this first,¡± Lanok said. ¡°That¡¯s what you and Kang Chan should be exining to me!¡± Vasili shouted. Although they had happily eaten sirloin and drank shots just moments before, the atmosphere changed in an instant. Vasili glowered sharply, but Lanok stood his ground with a hard expression that was perfectly devoid of any emotion. ¡°Why did the British intelligence agency purchase cetinium and denadite? What was the cause of the two earthquakes that urred in the deep sea recently? Why did the United States finish preparing tounch nuclear missiles? Andstly¡­¡± Vasili paused, ring at Kang Chan as if he were going to kill him. ¡°Why does Kang Chan have one of the missing energy sources from ckhead? You and Kang Chan should be exining all of those to me, not the other way around.¡± Lanok remained silent. ¡°If I don¡¯t receive any proper exnation, then both my country and China will start preparing tounch nuclear missiles as well, Lanok. I¡¯m here today to deliver a final warning,¡± Vasili continued. ¡°If all the intelligence that is currently circting around the internationalmunity is misinterpreted, it will mark the start of a nuclear war. Russia and China are genuinely warning you about what could happen.¡± Things had been escting quickly recently, but how could a nuclear war be suddenly put on the table? Kang Chan inwardly shook his head from side to side. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Vasili called. The Russian man had only called Kang Chan¡¯s name, but it strangely sounded as if he was sneering at him. He pulled out a small business from his pocket and handed it over. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you find difficult to ask of or discuss with Lanok, you can call the number on this card. Doesn¡¯t matter when you call. I¡¯ll be sure to answer it.¡± With Kang Chan¡¯s gaze on him, Vasili turned to Lanok. ¡°I¡¯m well aware that intelligence isn¡¯t something one should get on their knees to beg for. However, consider yourself warned that if France makes the wrong move this time, a war that no one will be able to stop will break out. I don¡¯t know how or why Mr. Kang Chan possesses the energy from ckhead, but the time hase to cooperate with the internationalmunity on this matter. China is of the same mind on this, Lanok,¡± Vasili warned, then got up. What a presumptuous and selfish guy.? ¡°Well then, I will be heading straight to the airport from here. I¡¯m sure this snake of a man here reserved a restaurant so close to the airport because he was anticipating that¡¯s what I would do,¡± Vasili said loftily. When he stood up and walked out into the parking lot, the three Russian agents stood up and followed him out. They immediately set off for the airport with a few National Intelligence Service agents. After the chaotic afternoon, they were met with an evening that was beyond tumultuous. Did Vasili reallye all the way to South Korea with the bodies of the soldiers just to say those few words of warning? ¡°That exchange surely gave me quite a bit to ponder over. Why don¡¯t we leisurely drink tea together?¡± Lanok suggested. ¡°That sounds good, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan epted. When Kang Chan gestured with his eyes, two National Intelligence Service agents stood up and carried a table and chairs outside the restaurant. Perhaps because this barbecue restaurant often had asions like this, the owner readily brought out a square can that was filled with charcoal and firewood to work as a heater. . The vibe and scene were picturesque. The reddish hue across the sky during sunrise or sunset was even redder near the sea. The heat emanating from the firewood pushed far the chilly air lingering in their surroundings. As an agent brought out some coffee for them, Kang Chan nced around. Before he knew it, agents dressed in formal suits had gotten in formation around the restaurant. The smell of coffee, the mes rising from the firewood, the heat, and the red sky. Kang Chan took a sip of coffee and leisurely leaned back in his chair to gaze up at the evening sky. A nuclear war? The idea felt more unreal to him than 230 billion won. Everyone had their own assigned tasks. Rifleman, sniper, heavy weapon operator, and radio operator¡ªif one person could do all those jobs, what need would there be for squads, toons, and battalions? In all honesty, President Moon Jae-Hyun couldn¡¯t handle everything by himself, and even powerful nations couldn¡¯t solve all the problems in the world alone. Hence, while the great world powers shed against each other, all South Korea had to do was diligently focus on its own development. Nuclear missiles? Kang Chan didn¡¯t have to worry about something that he didn¡¯t even possess. 1. This is known as poktanju in Korea Chapter 129.2: The Brown Bear’s Visit (2)

Chapter 129.2: The Brown Bear¡¯s Visit (2)

¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I think the UK is using the energy contained in ckhead to create earthquakes,¡± Lanok said, his expressions no longer hidden behind a poker face. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Ambassador, but that¡¯s simply too hard for me to believe at all,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I fully understand where you¡¯reing from. Even the DGSE wasn¡¯t certain of this. However, observing Vasili¡¯s actions today answered my question.¡± ¡°Does such a machine really exist?¡± Kang Chan doubtfully asked. ¡°Our country refers to it as a subterranean shock device. The ckhead used to contain nine unique energy sources, but two of them were taken by the UK through Shan. We suspect that one of them is with you, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok answered. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s the reason why I resurrected?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t know for sure. However, considering the energy was discovered in the UK¡¯s satellite and in the biopsy you sent to the United States for examination, its source is clearly somewhere inside your body,¡± Lanok further exined. In that case, the other missing energy source was probably Seok Kang-Ho. Lanok probably thought the same thing, but he didn¡¯t delve into it any further. ¡°We had intelligence that the earthquakes caused by the UK in the Antic and the Pacific Ocean were a part of that experiment. As time goes on, the attention of intelligence agencies from various countries will be focused on you.¡± ¡°I thought the UK seeded in their experiment,¡± Kang Chan said inquisitively. ¡°Well, who knows?¡± Lanok shook his head. ¡°If their experiment was indeed sessful, they wouldn¡¯t be interested in the lost energy, and the United States wouldn¡¯t act this way either. There is clearly something going on behind all this. We have to find and uncover that to match the puzzle pieces that Vasili is so curious about.¡± Why did they have to make things soplicated? Kang Chan gazed at the mes rising from the firewood, then nced back up. ¡°Was that why you told me to be a French citizen?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s one of the main reasons,¡± Lanok replied, not fully answering the question. People with hot tempers should never engage in conversation with Lanok because they would probably die from frustration. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, but you keep an eye on your surroundings,¡± Lanok advised. ¡°Yes, I will, Mr. Ambassador.¡± They didn¡¯t talk about anything special in particr after that. About ten minutester, Lanok left the restaurant. Kang Chan took the sedan provided by the National Intelligence Service to head home. It was Friday, so the roads were quite congested. Kang Chan called Kim Hyung-Jung. -Mr. Kang Chan! ¡°I assume you have received a report from the airport by now?¡± -I just met with the soldiers from the unit. Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.? Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s voice was low, making it seem as if he was trying to suppress his anger. ¡°Vasili returned to the airport a while back, and I just parted ways with Ambassador Lanok. I¡¯m going to take it easy today, but I¡¯ll call you again tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan said. It was difficult to meet up with Kim Hyung-Jung since he was at the military hospital. After ending the call, Kang Chan rang up Seok Kang-Ho. -Is it over? ¡°Yeah. Have you had dinner yet?¡± -Of course. Where are you right now? ¡°I¡¯m actually on my way back. If you¡¯re up to driving, let¡¯s go to Misari and have some tea.¡± -Got it. Should I head out now? ¡°I¡¯ll call you once I¡¯m in front of the apartment. The traffic¡¯s a bit heavy.¡± -Okay, I¡¯ll be waiting. By the time Kang Chan was about to reach the apartment and call Seok Kang-Ho, Seok Kang-Ho was already waiting in front of the building. Kang Chan immediately hopped into Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car. ¡°Good work today,¡± Seok Kang-Ho greeted. They drove away from theplex. ¡°Apparently, there¡¯s some unique energy inside ckhead,¡± Kang Chan began to tell Seok Kang-Ho about everything that happened today. ¡°So you¡¯re saying we both resurrected because of the energy from ckhead?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked afterward. ¡°Yup.¡± They arrived at the cafe in Misari as they continued to talk. It was Friday night, so there were quite a few customers. Other guests had taken the seats that Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho usually sat in, so they sat under the parasol out back instead. After ordering coffee and lighting a cigarette, Kang Chan finally felt as if he had returned to his everyday life. ¡°What do you n to do?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I have no idea. I feel numb,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°True. It¡¯s not like we have any nuclear missiles to shoot, so what can we do?¡± Kang Chan nced at Seok Kang-Ho, who had pulled out a cigarette and was holding it in his hand. ¡°They haven¡¯t discovered me yet, have they?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you think Lanok would have his suspicions, though?¡± Kang Chan pondered. ¡°Yeah, but that Vasili guy probably met with you today so he can scare me intoing out.¡± Was that really the case? Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho with awe. This punk is improving day by day. ¡®Those motherfuckers. Nuclear weapons are already awful enough, but they¡¯re even making earthquakes now? What if all of Earth sinks because of them?¡± Seok Kang-Ho snapped. ¡°I doubt they¡¯d do anything that would kill themselves.¡± ¡°I know, but it¡¯s not like Earth will move ording to their will. It¡¯s not something they can quickly glue back together once it cracks.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Ugh. Let¡¯s just stick our heads in the dirt for now,¡± Seok Kang-Ho wisecracked. Kang Chan chuckled. *** Kang Chan got home at around 11 o¡¯clock. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were still in the living room. ¡°You haven¡¯t gone to sleep yet?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kang Chan thought it could be because they saw his admission certificate for Seoul National University. ¡°Have you had dinner? Want me to cut you up some fruits?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Sounds good. I¡¯lle back out after changing,¡± Kang Chan responded. When he walked out to the living room infortable clothes, Yoo Hye-Sook put some grapes down in front of him. ¡°How was your day? Was it tough?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°It was fine,¡± Kang Chan nonchntly replied. Kang Chan obviously couldn¡¯t tell her that he had met Vasili and Lanok as themander in charge of receiving deceased soldiers¡¯ bodies. Seeing the concern on Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s face, Kang Chan forced a bright expression. ¡°Have you seen the admission certificate?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I have, but I can¡¯t say I¡¯m entirely happy. I¡¯m worried you¡¯re putting too much on yourself.¡± ¡°The kids who study hard to get into college don¡¯t have it any easier either.¡± ¡°You¡¯repletely right, son!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook replied as if they were having a light chat. ¡°Just think of it that way,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you.¡± Kang Chan picked up a grape after putting Yoo Hye-Sook at ease. ¡°The drama is really entertaining. I¡¯ve been catching up on all the episodes with your dad. I saw all the actors who came to the hospital, which is pretty interesting.¡± ¡°You¡¯re watching it too, Father?¡± Kang Chan asked in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s a show produced by thepany that my son is the director of. Of course I¡¯m watching it,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung answered. If Kang Dae-Kyung said the drama was interesting to watch, Kang Chan would have felt like he didn¡¯t have to be as worried about the production anymore. ¡°Anyhow, I¡¯m thinking of selling the carpany,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung spoke again. ¡°Really? Why?¡± Kang Chan carefully observed Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s expression because it didn¡¯t seem as if he broached this subject lightly. ¡°After you made an appearance on TV, some of the customers started ordering cars with some other purpose in mind. If you end up being assigned an important role rted to the Eurasian Rail, I feel like I¡¯ll get offered multiple bribes in return for favors. I¡¯m already getting those kinds of requests right now.¡± That wasn¡¯t an issue that could be solved in the immediate future. Kang Chan wanted to take his hands off of the jobs he was involved in if he could. He wanted to live normally, or at least pretend to live normally, but it would be a while before that could happen. Should I just move to France after all? Kang Chan shook his head. If Kang Chan left by himself to a different country, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook would be treated like the parents of someone who betrayed his mothend, and if all three of them moved together, his parents would be too lonely in the foreign nation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you have to go through that. It must be tough,¡± Kang Chan sympathized. ¡°To be frank, I should be grateful to have these kinds of problems. Nobody my age is being troubled with these issues because of how great their sons are. However, when I see people reaching out to me to buy cars after decades of no contact, I can¡¯t help but be worried. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve already epted any favors, though.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t do anything but smilefortingly. There was really nothing that could be done about these situations. ¡°I¡¯ll figure out how to handle it, so don¡¯t worry about it too much,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung assured his son. ¡°Got it,¡± Kang Chan replied. After their conversation, Kang Chan returned to his room. He was dead tired, so he headed straight to bed. He was physically fine, but he felt as if he had been injured and was bleeding mentally¡­ as if he had just spent the day experiencing the type of war that Lanok fought. That was how exhausted he currently was. ¡®Two energy sources disappeared from ckhead?¡¯ . The timing was just spectacrly perfect for him too. Unfortunately, sending his biopsy to the research institute in the middle of this mess further worsened the situation. Kang Chan smiled dryly. When it came down to it, information warfare wasn¡¯t all that fancy as he made it out to be. Kang Chan had unwittingly ended up at the center of this whole ordeal, but much to his frustrations, he was unfamiliar with his surroundings. Pft.? Kang Chan shook his head and tried to fall asleep. Even if he was facing great perils that put the whole world at stake, he had to get some sleep whenever he could. Chapter 130.1: What is it? (1)

Chapter 130.1: What is it? (1)

On Saturday, Kang Chan woke up at the crack of dawn and slowly began to warm up in front of the park at the apartmentplex. He still had faint traces of his previous injuries. They made him feel so heavy that it was as if they were trying to convince him to take a break. He had taken off the bandages on his left hand yesterday, however, making him feel at least a bit lighter. He properly stretched his muscles, then started jogging outside the apartmentplex, following his usual routine and path. The clear autumn sky and cold air refreshed Kang Chan¡¯s mind. He had decided to do his best with what was within his control. Rather than letting iprehensible events that were out of his control ruin his focus, he thought it would be far wiser to just maintain his best condition and keep his bnce. No events should faze him. ¡°Haah. Haah.¡± With each intensifying breath, the stagnant weight in his chest seemed to be dissipating little by little. That damned ckhead. Kang Chan died because of that diamond, but it was its very energy that brought him back to life. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder what could have happened if he remained in Africa. Considering his vtile temperament, getting promoted would¡¯ve been a challenge. He had already rested for a few days, but he still found it difficult to catch his breath. Kang Chan recalled the newbie who had gone to Mongolia with them¡ªthe one who took a bandana and a beret. G¨¦rard had been left out of the operation due to his injury. However, based on the look in his eyes as he brought over their coffee, he had probably practiced and trained relentlessly since he returned to Africa. ¡°Whew. Hoo, hoo.¡± It was ridiculous, but a few new recruits imitated Kang Chan¡¯s attitude while training. Having remembered how he aimed his gun at some tiny noise in the mountains, they often proceeded to create rustling sounds with their mouths during training, aiming their own guns with a click. There were other simr cases where they copied him. Some of the recruits would practice smirking all day, and others would practice aiming their rifles as they ran. While it could look easy, quite a few soldiers fell and got hurt because they tried to steady their aim while running. Stay alive. Cover yourself in your beret and bandana, and copy how I hold my bay in reverse if that¡¯s what it would take for you to survive.? ¡°I did a good job, didn¡¯t I?¡± Don¡¯t die like that idiot. Live.? Just like G¨¦rard, who would copy me every chance he got.? Kang Chan could already see the apartmentplexing into view. He had run faster than normal thinking of Africa. His back hurt so much that it felt as if it was going to snap, but it had never snapped before. He knew he would be perfectly fine. Kang Chan focused on his breathing. Run forward! If I stop here, I can¡¯t prevent the deaths of the members I lead.? ¡°Haa! Haa! Haa! Haa!¡± He ran into theplex, bent over in front of a bench with his hands on his knees, and let out loud puffs of air. It had been a while since he had gone on a run, so he had run as if his life was at stake. Just then, Kang Chan sharply raised his gaze at an approaching presence. ¡°Would you like some water?¡± Kang Chan¡¯s gaze traveled up the hand holding out a water bottle. He soon burst intoughter. ¡°You already got discharged?¡± Kang Chan asked. Choi Jong-Il had a long bandage on his right cheek. ¡°If it¡¯s alright with you, can I join in on your run from now on?¡± Choi Jong-Il requested. ¡°Whew, that¡¯s refreshing! Why suddenly join me, though?¡± Kang Chan asked curiously. ¡°I figured out what I¡¯mcking,¡± Choi Jong-Il responded seriously. ¡°Phuhuhu,¡± Kang Chanughed, looking at Choi Jong-Il. If Kang Chan ended up getting close to Choi Jong-Il like this, he would have yet another person to take care of, and he would have to make an effort again so this punk wouldn¡¯t die. Although Kang Chan couldn¡¯t express it, he couldn¡¯t guarantee that he would forget Choi Jong-Il if thetter died. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ So why would you give me a water bottle? It¡¯s a bit small though. ¡°Feel free to tag along anytime,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Thank you.¡± Choi Jong-Il seemed to have a change in attitude. Kang Chan finished drinking the rest of the water and nced back at him when Choi Jong-Il opened a different topic. ¡°One of myrades from the 35th Brigade asked me to deliver a message to you.¡± What was Choi Jong-Il talking about? ¡°I heard you watched until all our fallen soldiers descended from the ne. You even made France¡¯s ambassador and the director of Russia¡¯s intelligence agency wait until you were done, so my friend wanted me to pass on his sincere gratitude to you. Now that he knows there¡¯s someone who treats the special forces so well, he can now die confidently in an operation knowing he¡¯s in good hands¡­¡± ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± Kang Chan eximed. The warmhearted sense of awe in Choi Jong-Il¡¯s words was instantly shattered. ¡°If he has time to spout such useless nonsense, tell him he should train like a madman and be determined toe back alive no matter what it takes.¡± When Kang Chan twisted the cap back on the empty water bottle, Choi Jong-Il held out his hand again. ¡°I have no need for men who die heroic deaths. Rather, they should focus on staying alive. I prefer soldiers who aggressively survive and stand before me with zing eyes during the next operation,¡± Kang Chan dered. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°What about Doo-Hee and Hee-Seung?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°They¡¯re waiting for me in the car,¡± Choi Jong-Il replied. Kang Chan nced around the entrance of theplex. ¡°Why don¡¯t we grab lunch together?¡± ¡°Do you have time?¡± The two grinned at each other. *** Yoo Hye-Sook greeted Kang Chan when he returned to their residence. ¡°Have you just finished working out?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes. Oh, I smell something good,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°I made some kimchi stew,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook exined. ¡°I¡¯lle back out after washing up.¡± Kang Chan was more than grateful he was born again so he could experience the small joys of everyday life like these. The three sat down at the dining table once Kang Chan came out of the shower. ¡°Are you going to work today, Father?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m off today. Why do you ask?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung inquired, looking quite curious. He took a sip of a spoonful of the soup. ¡°I was thinking we could all go have lunch with the agents who protect you both.¡± ¡°Would that be alright?¡± ¡°You already know there are guards on you. It¡¯s not something to hide, anyway, so it¡¯s perfectly fine.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Yoo Hye-Sook, but she didn¡¯t seem to have any qualms about the idea either. After breakfast, Kang Chan took a tie pin and a tack-shaped transmitter from his room. ¡°Father, if you go around wearing this, I¡¯ll be able to track your location immediately regardless of where you are. This one¡¯s yours, Mother. You can stick it to your bag. But if you pull it out, it will deactivate, so please put it in a bag you always carry around.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s expressions were a mix of both fascination and concern. ¡°I know it could be ufortable, but I¡¯ll make sure nothing about your private lives is leaked. I¡¯ll keep my lips sealed.¡± ¡°You punk!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung replied exaggeratedly with a joking smile. ¡°Alright. Nothing I can¡¯t do for my son who¡¯s trying to protect me. Do I have to turn a switch on or anything?¡± ¡°Yes, Father,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kang Dae-Kyung turned the pin around in his hand as he examined it with interest. Afterward, he stuck it to the shirt he was wearing. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it pinned to my wallet. I end up switching the bag I carry pretty often. Is that okay?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook confirmed. ¡°Sure. I¡¯m sorry for asking this from you, Mother.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re just doing this to protect us.¡± Kang Chan expressed his gratitude upon seeing the worry on Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s face. He then called Choi Jong-Il and asked the agent to invite all the employees who were avable. It was to Kang Chan¡¯s surprise that Choi Jong-Il said everyone would be attending. ¡°What? No one¡¯s going on dates with their significant other? It¡¯s Saturday.¡± -From what happened at the Eurasian Rail conference hall, the incident with Yang Jin-Woo, and your recent retrieval of the fallen soldiers¡­ The God of ckfield has be quite popr among the agents and members of the National Intelligence Service¡¯s special team. Everyone takes pride in the work they¡¯re doing, so who would turn down an invitation from you? It wasn¡¯t a bad feeling at all. ¡°Alright, then. Should we do meat? Or hoe, the raw fish?¡± -Meat sounds good. ¡°Then make a reservation somewhere that¡¯s not too shabby, and tell everyone to dressfortably. Today¡¯s a weekend, after all. I¡¯m sure you already know what people will think if we all get together and the agents are wearing their ck suits. The look in their eyes is already scary enough.¡± -Understood.? They made arrangements to meet at one in the afternoon, and Kang Chan ryed the time to Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°What should I do? Kang Chan. What should I wear?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked worriedly. Kang Chan chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s the weekend. I told everyone toe wearingfortable clothes. If you dress to the nines, the guards might feel ufortable.¡± ¡°You think so?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook headed inside the bedroom. The TV was currently broadcasting news. ¡°Have youe to a decision?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung suddenly inquired. ¡°About what?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Doing work for the country,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung replied. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m still not sure yet,¡± Kang Chan began to confess. ¡°I had to give you and Mother transmitters, you¡¯re guarded 24/7, and you might even have to give up your business because of me¡­ What do you think I should do, Father?¡± It was unlike him, but Kang Chan hoped Kang Dae-Kyung could give him an answer. It was the first time in his life Kang Chan thought it would be okay to leave such a critical decision to someone else. Chapter 130.2: What is it? (1)

Chapter 130.2: What is it? (1)

¡°What do you think I should do about my business?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked in response to Kang Chan¡¯s question about what he should do. Kang Chan silently looked back at his father. The first answer that came to mind was, ¡°Whatever you want,¡± since he genuinely hoped Kang Dae-Kyung would do what he really wanted and not be stressed worrying about this and that. Was this how Kang Dae-Kyung wanted to reply to Kang Chan¡¯s question? Kang Dae-Kyung smiled, and a look shed across his face as if he suddenly remembered something. ¡°Oh! There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to ask. Is it okay for you to speak down to the employees? They seem to be older than you from what I saw,¡± he said. ¡°Ah! That!¡± Kang Chan could never tell the truth about that. ¡°It¡¯s intentional. We¡¯ve been practicing talking this way to each other because I¡¯m higher ranked than them. We¡¯re trying to get used to it since I often meet the French ambassador and other countries¡¯ agents.¡± ¡°I suppose that seems necessary,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung agreed, nodding at the sorry excuse Kang Chan gave. ¡°But still, make sure you¡¯re not rude to adults, okay?¡± ¡°Yes, Father,¡± Kang Chan replied, actually taking to his father¡¯s advice to heart. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Not long after, the phone began to ring. Kang Chan went inside his room to pick it up. ¡°Hello?¡± -Channy! Where are you? ¡°Home.¡± -Do you want to grab lunch together? I can be at your house in a few. ¡°I¡¯m taking my mother and father to lunch with the guards.¡± -I want toe too.? Did this woman never get shy? ¡°I¡¯ll ask my parents first. If they say yes, then maybe. Don¡¯t you think the guards will feel ufortable, though? -The food will taste better if there¡¯s a pretty girl at the table with them.? ¡°Well, let¡¯s hang up for a minute. I¡¯ll call you back after asking them.¡± -If it¡¯s too ufortable, let¡¯s just have some tea together after you have lunch.? The drama had already started airing, and Kang Chan saw no reason to refuse. He hung up first so he could go and ask. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook seemed pleased they would get to see Michelle again¡ªa lot more than Kang Chan had expected. After asking Choi Jong-Il as well, Kang Chan told Michelle about their decision. *** The restaurant staff had curtained off a huge space. About twenty members had gathered for the lunch invitation. ¡°Mr. Kang! Mrs. Yoo!¡± ¡°Michelle, hi! Nice to see you!¡± Michelle dashed forward, seeming more excited to see Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook than Kang Chan. Thankfully, that eased some of the awkwardness that was evident in Yoo Hye-Sook from being in front of the guards. Kang Chan first introduced Michelle to the employees, then introduced Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee to Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Chan intended for this to be a light and casual lunch together, but this gathering had a stiff atmosphere instead, making it seem more like apany dinner. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook sat in the middle. Kang Chan and Michelle were across from them, and Choi Jong-Il and the other guards sat around them. Someone had to break the silence or they would continue like this. ¡°Thank you, everyone. Please continue to keep my father and mother as safe as you always have,¡± Kang Chan bravely attempted. Kang Chan scanned the employees sitting around him. The female agent who had taken a hit directly to the face still had some thinly folded gauze stuck on her nose bridge. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m all okay now,¡± she answered. Kang Chan nodded and asked the employees what they wanted to eat. ¡°Before that, I have a request.¡± The female agent with the gauze on her nose spoke again, raising her hand. It was still an awkward atmosphere, so everyone¡¯s gazes immediately shot at her. ¡°After that day, Mr. Kang and Ms. Yoo have been acting uneasy around us. I ask that you both treat us all morefortably.¡± Kang Chan turned his gaze to his parents with a smile, and everyone looked at Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°W-well, I was feeling apologetic that you all have to work hard because of us. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re important people who have to be guarded so carefully,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook stuttered as if she was making an excuse. She seemed flustered. These kinds of things were difficult to mediate, and it wasn¡¯t exactly Kang Chan¡¯s ce to help either. ¡°Cha Min-Jeong!¡± Just then, Choi Jong-Il called the female agent¡¯s name in a firm tone. It seemed the employee with an injured nose was named Cha Min-Jeong. ¡°You¡¯re from unit 606, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°What is 606¡¯s chant!¡± ¡°The mothend summoned me here!¡± powerfully shouted the female agent. ¡°Hwang Seok-Gi!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± loudly replied the male agent who had guarded Kang Chan¡¯s parents by acting as one of the salespeople. ¡°You¡¯re from the special forces, correct?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°What¡¯s our chant!¡± ¡°If I can protect the country with my blood, I am happy!¡± Was it necessary to go that far, considering they were about to eat? However, knowing Choi Jong-Il, Kang Chan just decided to watch silently. ¡°As you can see, this is why we¡¯re gathered,¡± Choi Jong-Il said with the bandage on his right cheek, directing his words at Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Thanks to your son, we¡¯re able to live ording to our chants. Our jobs are closest to the heart of connecting South Korea and the Eurasian Rail.¡± Choi Jong-Il looked left and right before continuing again. ¡°Allowing your son to focus on the Eurasian Rail without having to worry about the safety of his parents¡­ it is a truly honorable task for us. We don¡¯t have to be praised or have our names go down in history. Even when you just tell us to buy a piece of green onion or a mere pack of ramyeon, we take pride in what you have entrusted us to do.¡± Kang Chan looked away because he was cringing so hard he got goosebumps. Soon after, he sighed. He understood why the agents were sitting with their faces filled with pride, but why was Michelle moved to the point of getting teary? ¡°Please, treat us as your family, a little sister or brother, or even a niece or nephew. Use us as you wish. Allow us to fill any holes in your security that way. The reason why Cha Min-Jeong asked you to treat us morefortably is so we can also request things from you both with more ease as well.¡± Choi Jong-Il¡¯s words were definitely effective. Seeing Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s cheek twitch and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s eyes tear up, Kang Chan knew Choi Jong-Il¡¯s strategy had gone to n. ¡°I hear what you all are saying. My personality won¡¯t allow me to suddenly treat everyonefortably, but I¡¯ll make an attempt to do so going forward,¡± said Yoo Hye-Sook. Someone started pping, and the other agents joined in, causing a loud ripple of apuse to break out. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. What does everyone want to eat?¡± asked Kang Chan. ¡°We¡¯ll have galbi.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s order galbi first. Feel free to order anything you want after, okay?¡± ¡°Can we really eat to our heart¡¯s content?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s put down our ranks when we¡¯re eating. Show me how much you can eat,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Understood,¡± Choi Jong-Il replied. Someone stepped out to order for all of them, and soon, a mountain of meat was brought inside. They only had a few bottles of beer because they didn¡¯t want to let their guard down even in the slightest, so Kang Chan couldn¡¯t bring himself to offer them more. The amount was just enough for everyone to have a single ss. Kang Dae-Kyung poured Kang Chan¡¯s ss himself, looking at his son proudly. There was a lot ofpetition for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s sses. They had a round of rock, paper, and scissors while the meat was being cooked, which resulted in one of the salespeople filling Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s ss, while Michelle imed Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s. Of course, Michelle could only do this because another salesperson who had emerged victorious gave her the opportunity. ¡°We¡¯re in your hands. Please take good care of us,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said as he held out his ss. ¡°Thank you for the meal,¡± the employees replied. Kang Chan and Michelle turned to the side and downed half of their sses. The meal officially began. No idiot acted ufortable after Kang Chan said they should put down their ranks, so everyone was enjoying themselves. ¡°Here, Mr. Kang,¡± Michelle said, wrapping a well-cooked piece of meat in some lettuce before giving it to Kang Dae-Kyung. Kang Chan felt a sense of danger. It was so natural he wondered if Michelle had visited their home when he was gone. Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s face was filled with satisfaction. ¡°Mrs. Yoo.¡± ¡°Mm! It tastes even better since you¡¯re the one making me this wrap, Michelle,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. Michelle was definitely adept on asions like these. She cooked the meat perfectly, cut it into nice pieces, and even ate it deliciously. She had tied her hair back at some point. Now, on Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s tes, she was skillfully putting the side dishes of fermented crab that she had cooked over the grill. ¡°Michelle, the drama¡¯s so good,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. ¡°Oh, your friend¡¯s daughter is making an appearance next week, Mrs. Yoo.¡± Michelle was using fluent Korean. However, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t seem to question the speed at which Michelle¡¯s Korean had improved and just went with it. The ambiance was great, and the meat was mouthwatering. However, Kang Chan peeked at his phone. Why did he feel like something was off? ¡°So what happens to the girl?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Unfortunately, that¡¯s a secret, Mrs. Yoo,¡± Michelle tactfully replied with a smile. ¡°Even from me?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook mischievously asked back. Kang Chan felt as if he was pushed a step away from the morous mood. The noise was crumpled up in a ball and slowly moving away from him. What is it? Is there a bomb at the restaurant or something? Kang Chan slowly examined his surroundings. His senses were standing sharp. The meat in someone¡¯s chopsticks, smoke rising from the grills,ughter, whispers, someone calling for another, and fingers holding a cup of water¡­ Kang Chan could see and hear it all. . ¡°Kang Chan? What is it?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. Suddenly, everything rushed back at him. ¡°I¡¯m full. I¡¯ll be back to eat more after getting some air,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kang Chan turned to Choi Jong-Il, who understood just by the look in his eyes. There were just some things one would immediately know after oveing death together. ¡°Whew! I must have eaten too much as well. I¡¯ll head outside for a moment. I¡¯ll be back,¡± Choi Jong-Il said. Kang Chan carried his phone outside the curtained area. It was Saturday afternoon, which meant there were quite a few customers in the restaurant. After a brief scan of the area, Kang Chan walked outside. When he reached the restaurant¡¯s front entrance, Choi Jong-Il spoke up. ¡°What is it?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked. He had also been sharply examining their surroundings even since he saw Kang Chan¡¯s expression. Chapter 131: What is it? (2)

Chapter 131: What is it? (2)

¡°I¡¯m getting a shitty feeling right now,¡± Kang Chan said. Kang Chan nced around his surroundings before turning back to Choi Jong-Il. ¡°Do you have a gun on you?¡± he asked. ¡°All the guards have been given permission to keep weapons with them at all times since the attack a while back,¡± Choi Jong-Il replied. Kang Chan checked his phone. He had two applications meant for tracking locations, which meant all he had to do was press a button to check the location he wanted. ¡°Geez, what is it?¡± Kang Chan had secured the transmitters because he thought calling the people he was worried about would just make them more anxious. However, the problem was that he was concerned about too many people. He couldn¡¯t ount for all of them. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? Choi Jong-Il¡¯s gaze shot to Kang Chan¡¯s phone as quickly as Kang Chan moved. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me. Cut straight to the point,¡± Kang Chan briskly asserted. -Kang Chan.? A different, undesired voice came from Smithen¡¯s side of the call. -So you already knew something was amiss, hm? ¡°Don¡¯t pull antics and just say what you want.¡± -Good, as you wish.? Choi Jong-Il rapidly scanned the interior of the restaurant. -The view from this guy¡¯s house is absolutely brilliant. Come alone. Understood? Don¡¯t try anything stupid. I¡¯m prepared to die with this guy, and that would be the end of your chance. After him, another will¡ª ¡°Motherfucker, do you not know what cutting to the point means? So you want me toe alone, is that it?¡± Kang Chan spoke coldly. It felt as if the person on the other side of the line flinched at Kang Chan¡¯s words. ¡°Traffic is heavy on Saturday, so it will take me at least two hours even if I rush over to that ce.¡± -Fine.? The other person seemed to be swallowing the words that they wanted to say. ¡°Damn it!¡± Kang Chan raged. Choi Jong-Il nced around their surroundings again. ¡°It¡¯s the Korean branch manager for Gong Te automobile. You know Smithen, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I do.¡± ¡°That punk seems to have been taken captive. They want me toe alone.¡± ¡°We should wrap up the lunch first since it¡¯s not safe.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. The meal was almost over anyway. I¡¯ll contact Ambassador Lanok and Seok Kang-Ho, so you get Director Kim Tae-Jin and Manager Kim Hyung-Jung.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The two pressed their phones against their ears and made the appropriate calls. Louis answered in Ambassador Lanok¡¯s stead, but he ryed the information to the ambassador right after. Seok Kang-Ho answered his phone right away. ¡°Smithen was captured.¡± Kang Chan heard Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s rough intake of breath over the call. -Where are you? I¡¯ll head over right away.? ¡°I¡¯m at lunch with my parents and the guards. It¡¯ll be done in less than thirty minutes. You should be waiting in front of the apartment already when I call you again. How are you feeling?¡± -I¡¯ll be waiting with my dressings off. ¡°Got it.¡± As Kang Chan finished making all the necessary calls, he noticed Choi Jong-Il was also done making his own rounds. ¡°I hear the both of them are safe. They said they want you to contact them so they can prepare special agents to standby as backup,¡± Choi Jong-Il ryed. ¡°Let¡¯s go back inside for now.¡± Kang Chan stressfully rubbed his eyelids with his fingers. When he entered the curtained area with Choi Jong-Il again, they found the table was full of fruits that were served as dessert. An agent retorted something, causingughter to ripple throughout the room. ¡°Are you feeling any better?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked with a smile on his face. ¡°Yes. I feel like I can finally breathe now.¡± ¡°Channy, are you okay?¡± Michelle asked this time. ¡°Yeah. Did you get to eat a lot?¡± ¡°Of course I did.¡± Michelle patted her stomach in satisfaction. ¡°Well, are you both ready to leave?¡± Kang Chan asked Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. It appeared the agents read the look in Kang Chan and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s eyes. They immediately got up while expressing their gratitude for the meal. Kang Chan paid for the meal outside. The agents who weren¡¯t on duty left the restaurant first. ¡°Channy, do you have time to get some tea with me?¡± Michelle asked in front of Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-sook, who were waiting for him. ¡°I have to go home and change clothes before heading somewhere. Sorry, Michelle. Let¡¯s have tea together next time,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Okay, Channy.¡± Michelle instantly realized Kang Chan¡¯s eyes and expression were different than normal. She didn¡¯t grab onto him any longer. ¡°Why not? You should go and drink some tea before leaving.¡± ¡°Some stuff came up, so there¡¯s somece I have to be,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°That¡¯s a shame.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook seemed most upset about the fact that Kang Chan wouldn¡¯t be drinking tea with Michelle. ¡°Why don¡¯t we drink together then, Mrs. Yoo?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°That sounds wonderful. Honey, let¡¯s have a cup of tea first before heading back home.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung seemed to wee the idea as well. Kang Chan felt better knowing the guards would protect them. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go home first, Father, Mother. I apologize for cutting things short even though it¡¯s been a while since west ate outside together.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Go take care of whatever it is that needs you,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung voiced. ¡°See youter, son,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook added. ¡°Channy, let¡¯s call soon,¡± Michelle finished. Parting ways from the three, Kang Chan climbed into the car Lee Doo-Hee brought and hurried home. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, Manager Kim asked me to tell you to give him a call.¡± Kang Chan felt more urgent now that they were on the move. He pulled out his phone to check the time. It was 3 p.m. He pressed the call button next. -Mr. Kang Chan, we¡¯ve deployed agents from the special team around Mr. Smithen¡¯s home. We¡¯ve been monitoring suspicious individuals, but no one hase up yet. There were no suspicious traces in Mr. Smithen¡¯s call records either. ¡°I¡¯m heading home to change, then I¡¯ll be going straight to Smithen¡¯s home with Seok Kang-Ho. They¡¯ll be able to see us from the entrance, so what should we do? The caller threatened me saying I had toe alone, and he seemed prepared to take his own life with Smithen¡¯s if he discovered anything suspicious.¡± -That¡¯s strange. With Yang Jin-Woo taken care of, there should be a shortage of avable channels for illegal entry. Their motive could be to eliminate you, Mr. Kang Chan.? ¡°Please check if there is a way to get inside aside from the front door. The caller probably won¡¯t be alone, so they could be watching us from the rooftop. Please have our snipers positioned in the vicinity.¡± -Understood.? Getting off in front of the entrance of the apartmentplex, Kang Chan immediately headed up and changed out of his clothes to a formal suit. As he left his house and dashed down the stairs, he made another call. -I¡¯m in front of theplex. Choi Jong-Il is with me. ¡°Got it.¡± The moment he ran out of the apartment building, he was greeted by Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I¡¯m going in that car, so follow behind. You know where Smithen¡¯s house is, right?¡± ¡°I do, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il replied. ¡°Oh, right. Call Manager Kim and ask for two pistols and two bays.¡± ¡°They¡¯re already in the car,¡± Choi Jong-Il assured. Kang Chan nodded gratefully to Choi Jong-Il and signaled with his eyes for Seok Kang-Ho to get in the Chiffre with him. Vroom.? ¡°Don¡¯t you think the kidnappers are giving you too much time?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°You also think so?¡± Kang Chan had been wondering about it. Sure enough, Seok Kang-Ho considered it strange as well. ¡°The reason they¡¯re holding Smithen hostage is because of you, Captain.¡± ¡°The caller was bbering about how he would make himself explode immediately if he saw I wasn¡¯t alone at the entrance.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean he could still detonate the bomb even if you go inside?¡± Kang Chan pursed his lips and focused ahead. ¡°Do you have a cigarette?¡± Seok Kang-Ho wrinkled his face as he reached out into his pants pocket to take out a cigarette and lighter. It seemed as if his injury throbbed. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? Having put the cigarette in his mouth, Kang Chan made eye contact with Seok Kang-Ho. The caller was Smithen. Kang Chan ced the phone in front of the rearview mirror and pressed the speaker button. ¡°Hello?¡± -Tell me your estimated time of arrival.? Seok Kang-Ho raised his index finger to show Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll arrive within an hour. What are your demands?¡± -For you toe in alone.? ¡°Switch the phone to Smithen.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s eyes shed because there was no answer. However, not long after, Smithen exhaustedly spoke into the phone. -Captain.? Like an idiot, Smithen clearly sounded terrified. ¡°Smithen, I¡¯m on my way. Just stay alive, alright?¡± Kang Chan heard Smithen gulp. ¡°Don¡¯t forget who I am. Endure it. Got it?¡± -Yes, Mr. Captain.? As Kang Chan smirked, the call abruptly ended. He lit two cigarettes and handed one to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°How long do you think it will take?¡± ¡°Since it¡¯s Saturday, it¡¯ll take 30 minutes at most.¡± Kang Chan felt himself calm down a bit after smoking with the window rolled down. ¡°Captain, let¡¯s not head inside.¡± Kang Chan puffed out a breath of smoke out the window, then nced at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°What if they nted a bomb?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked worriedly. ¡°Smithen, that punk, seemed pretty scared, huh?" Kang Chan opened the cup of coffee in between the driver and passenger seats and tapped the cigarette ash into it. ¡°That bastard lost an eye after getting beat up by me, and he can¡¯t move properly either. You know he lost his bravado ever since,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Let¡¯s go in together.¡± ¡°He sounded serious when he said he would set off a bomb immediately if I didn¡¯te alone.¡± There was no other solution they could immediatelye up with. ¡°Son of a bitch! I knew I was worried for a good reason!¡± Seok Kang-Ho grumbled. Listening to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯sints, Kang Chan extinguished the cigarette and closed the coffee lid. Buzz. He received another call. ¡°Manager Kim, we¡¯ll arrive in another ten minutes.¡± -Mr. Kang Chan, we¡¯ve parked a ck van near the ce where we atest time across the Hannam Bridge. We¡¯re currently waiting on standby, but one of their people is standing on guard on the rooftop, so it¡¯s hard to deploy our snipers. ¡°I¡¯ll stop by the ck van first.¡± After hanging up, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho what Kim Hyung-Jung told him. Fortunately, the stop light turned green as soon as they crossed the Hannam Bridge, so they weren¡¯tte. There were two sedans parked in front and behind the ck van. After parking the car, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho approached the van, and the doors slid open. ¡°Youe in too,¡± Kang Chan told Choi Jong-Il before climbing in. Kim Hyung-Jung was wearing arge shirt, but his upper body was still bandaged. Kang Chan felt apologetic for involving an injured person in the situation, but he had little time to get Smithen to safety to say anything. ¡°We have no idea what the kidnapper looks like.¡± An agent next to Kim Hyung-Jung handed them coffee and cigarettes from a specialty shop that they had prepared in advance. ¡°There is one person on the rooftop who appears to be an enemy lookout. There are no ces for snipers to infiltrate behind the building, and we couldn¡¯t find any spots to hide at the front entrance. Mr. Smithen¡¯s vi is the tallest building in the area as well, so it isn¡¯t easy to deploy our agents.¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± Kang Chan tilted his head. He didn¡¯t even meet Smithen that often. Even if the enemies had done background checks, it wouldn¡¯t have been easy for them to create a n to kidnap Smithen. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, do you havemunication with the kidnapper?¡± ¡°Yes, I think so.¡± ¡°Then give him a call and say you want to secure Smithen¡¯s safety. Deal with him firmly.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung gestured with his eyes, and an agent handed Kang Chan a cord. ¡°Please plug it into your phone.¡± It looked just like a phone charger, so it wasn¡¯t difficult to plug in. When Kang Chan pressed the call button, the dials sounded throughout the van. Kim Hyung-Jung swirled his finger. Click. The call was answered, but the other party remained silent. ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan. I¡¯m nearby.¡± -Come in.? ¡°How will my safety be insured?¡± -How disappointing. I gave you enough time. If you don¡¯t show up at the entrance within the next 10 minutes, know that you¡¯ll never see Smithen again. The call was disconnected. ¡°How long will it take to get to Smithen¡¯s house?¡± ¡°Five minutes should be enough.¡± Kang Chan let out a low breath. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s head over there for now.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung ordered the driver of the van to start for the road, and the van immediately departed. ¡°Here, take this.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t think Kang Chan could be convinced not to go in, so he pulled out and gave Kang Chan pistols and bays. However, when Kang Chan lifted the gun, Kim Hyung-Jung eventually shook his head. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, you can¡¯t go inside like this.¡± It would all be over if a bomb went off as soon as Kang Chan opened the door. I know. I know, but if I don¡¯t, Smithen dies.? Kim Hyung-Jung sighed and proceeded to speak through gritted teeth. ¡°We can use a signal disruptor. It will prevent the use of any remote controls and wireless phones among other items within a 500-meter radius.¡± There were truly a lot of interesting contraptions in this world. ¡°When you give us the signal, we will instantly cut off power. Afterward, we will begin the operation,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± At the end of Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s words, the van came to a stop ahead. ¡°This is the house opposite Mr. Smithen¡¯s. The moment you give us the signal, we will cut off power and immediately eliminate the enemy on the rooftop. After that, we will deploy our agents to the balcony.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung handed Kang Chan a watch with a ck strap. ¡°We will listen in to your conversation through this watch. If the situation seems to be heading in the wrong direction, we will use the signal disruptor, but that means we won¡¯t be able to hear what¡¯s happening inside anymore.¡± ¡°How do I give the signal?¡± ¡°Give us a code word before you go in.¡± Nothing immediately came to mind. ¡°Let¡¯s go with ¡®unconditionally.¡¯¡± Kang Chan nodded at Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s abrupt remark. When Kang Chan turned his gaze to Seok Kang-Ho, he saw Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes glinting. ¡°Daye, if I die, shoot all those bastards for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll not only kill those motherfuckers, but also their parents, children, and acquaintances. I¡¯m going to kill anyone connected to those sons of bitches.¡± ¡°I¡¯m off then.¡± ¡°Captain.¡± Kang Chan nced at Seok Kang-Ho from where he was holding the van door handle. ¡°Don''t turn me into a killer.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Kang Chan met eyes with Kim Hyung-Jung and Choi Jong-Il onest time before getting out of the van and heading straight for Smithen¡¯s house. As he entered the alley, he recognized the buildings from when he hade here before. Kang Chan remembered thinking the balcony was pretty nice, but it was actually getting in the way now. The alley was short. When he sharply looked up, he found it hard to see inside because of the curtains. He entered the front door and went up the stairs. Although he was carrying a gun at his waist, it would definitely be taken from him the moment he entered. Finally, Kang Chan stood in front of the main door. He kept his gun as it was, but he subtly removed the bay holstered to his leg and ced it between the door and the wall. Ding.? When he pressed the bell, he heard the sound of the door being utched. The front door opened with a click. Inside, a man wearing a bandana on his head nodded at Kang Chan. Kang Chan saw a gun in the man¡¯s hand. When Kang Chan stepped in further, he saw two more enemies. Smithen was tied to a chair at the dining table. It looked as if he had taken a beating in the struggle because his eyes, mouth, and white shirt were covered in blood. The enemy who examined Kang Chan pulled out the gun at his waist, then pointed at the chair in front of the balcony. Kang Chan walked over with his shoes still on and sat down. One enemy approached him and held a gun behind Kang Chan¡¯s right ear. ¡°Can I have a smoke?¡± Nobody answered, but Kang Chan slowly pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth anyway. There was an enemy in front of the door, another next to Smithen, and another holding a gun to Kang Chan¡¯s ear. Kang Chan lit up his cigarette with a click of his lighter. It didn¡¯t seem like anything inside would change immediately even if these bastards lost power. ¡°Let me give Smithen a cigarette too.¡± Why aren¡¯t they answering? Did these guys really juste to blow themselves up? Kang Chan pretended to observe the living room as his eyes met Smithen¡¯s. Just then, the guy next to Smithen opened his jacket. ¡°Haah!¡± Kang Chan sighed as if he was exhaling the smoke. The enemy had a palm-sized C-4 hanging on his upper body. If that exploded, no one in this living room would get out alive. ¡°What is it you want?¡± Click. The sound of a trigger being pulled echoed behind Kang Chan¡¯s ear. Chapter 132.1: The Hidden Things (1)

Chapter 132.1: The Hidden Things (1)

Kang Chan¡¯s eyes shed the moment he heard the sound of the breechblock being pulled. Time seemed to have slowed down. Haah. Haah.? Even the sound of his breathing felt elongated. The man standing near the entrance tilted his head as the man with the C-4 hanging from his body lowered his jacket to its original position. The barrel of the gun touching the back of Kang Chan¡¯s ear slightly recoiled, then touched him again. Did these punks think he was an easy target just because he obediently sat down when they instructed him to? How dared they pull the breechblock behind him? Were they agents or members of the special forces or something? Could these bastards take him on in a fight? Using his thumb and middle finger, Kang Chan held in ce the cigarette in his mouth. He then bent his elbow as if he was flicking off a spark. Idiot! If you pull the breechblock, it will fire two hundred milliseconds faster when you click the trigger! KC watched the cigarette go by from the corner of his right eye as he threw it backward. Kang Chan reached behind, swiftly gripped the barrel of the gun behind his ear, and pushed it up. Bang! As an ear-splitting sound almost tore his eardrums apart, he felt scorching heat near his right eye. The bullet flew by, the acrid smell of gunpowder heightening his senses. Kang Chan adjusted the gun barrel and pushed his thumb, which he had ced onto the gun¡¯s trigger. Bang! Another bullet was fired. The enemy with the C-4 hanging on his body clutched his chest as he fell to the floor with a thud. Kang Chan kept pulling the trigger, firing bullets in merciless session. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! People were quickly approaching him. Still seated, Kang Chan twisted his body and threw a left punch into the right gut of the enemy standing behind him. In return, he sustained a blow between his right jaw and neck. Thump! The two crashed to the floor, their right hands still holding onto the gun tightly. Wrapping his left hand around his right hand, Kang Chan forcefully rotated to the right. The enemy¡¯s right arm cracked. Broken at the joints, it was twisted at an odd angle. Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Kang Chan jabbed the enemy¡¯s neck with his right elbow four times, causing the enemy¡¯s broken arm to jolt each time. At the same time, the sounds of ss shattering from the balcony noisily rang out, announcing the entrance of masked agents. ¡°Shoot the bastard next to the table! Now!¡± Kang Chan gritted out. As ordered, two agents quickly dashed forward. Barely managing to get up, Kang Chan frowned when he saw his thumb stuck in the barrel of the gun. He didn¡¯t realize it during the fight, but his thumb had almost gotten twisted. He couldn¡¯t even pull it out now because of how swollen it was. Kang Chan removed the magazine and the bullets inside the chamber with repetitive clicks, then pulled the trigger all the way to make space for his thumb toe out. Bam! Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il frantically rushed in through the front door as soon as the masked agents unlocked it for them. ¡°Daye! That punk has a C-4 around his body. Tell them to keep the jamming device running and get the bomb disposal team to hurry in.¡± Kang Chan smacked his head with his right palm. His ear was still ringing from the gunshot, and he couldn¡¯t see properly because his right eye was throbbing. Choi Jong-Il quickly ran back out. An agent untied Smithen¡¯s binds. ¡°Captain!¡± Smithen shouted. ¡°Smithen, head outside! Quick!¡± Kang Chan ordered. Two agents supported Smithen outside. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you up, Cap.¡± Seok Kang-Ho frowned as he helped Kang Chan stand up. Seeing the blood staining his shirt, it seemed his injury had split open again most likely because he rushed inside so quickly earlier. The agents tightly tied up and gagged the enemy whom Kang Chan had punched. The area was hectic. Over ten agents busily ran around inside Smithen¡¯s house. ¡°What about the guy on the rooftop?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We shot him the moment we heard gunshots. Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± Seok Kang-Ho urged, looking at the enemy who had fallen near the dining table. Not long after, Choi Jong-Il came running over. ¡°The jamming device is now operational,¡± he said as he helped pull Kang Chan up to his feet. ¡°We should get out of here first,¡± Choi Jong-Il continued. Kang Chan lightly shook his head. His senses were still disoriented, preventing him from measuring the distance of objects surrounding him. As a result, his steps were unsteady. Choi Jong-Il tightly held onto Kang Chan¡¯s upper body and quickly led him outside Smithen¡¯s house. Ambnces, police cars, and ck vans had been parked on the road to block off any civilians froming close to the scene, but they none of them red sirens. Once he had gone outside, Kang Chan did his best to collect even just some of his bearings. ¡°Get me to Bang Ji Hospital,¡± Kang Chan said. He and Seok Kang-Ho hopped into the back of an ambnce, which had a bed waiting for them. The doors closed shut, and they heard Choi Jong-Il give curt orders to drive to Bang Ji Hospital from the front. Kang Chan lightly tapped his head with his hand again. ¡°What is it?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Everything feels so numb it seems as if I¡¯m drunk. I think it¡¯s because the gun was shot right next to my ear. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s still a relief, though. At least that¡¯s all the damage we sustained,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. Soon after, he headed toward the front of the ambnce and asked, ¡°What about Smithen?¡± . ¡°He¡¯s already on the way to the Bang Ji Hospital!¡± Choi Jong-Il shouted through the barrier. It hadn¡¯t even been a week since Kang Chan was discharged, but he was already going back to the hospital again. When they arrived at the hospital, Kang Chan¡¯s senses finally returned, eliminating his numbness. Kang Chan¡¯s neck was throbbing where it had been punched, and he could still hear monotonous ringing in his ears. However, the tipsy, drunk-like feeling had at least mostly disappeared. His thumb was fixed straight with a cast, then he got an MRI scan of his head, Fortunately, they found no noticeable abnormalities, which meant there was no reason for Kang Chan to be hospitalized. Meanwhile, Seok Kang-Ho had his wound disinfected and got new bandages wrapped around it. After getting themselves treated, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho headed for the hospital room where Smithen was hospitalized. Kang Chan felt some of his worry ease when he saw four agents guarding the door to Smithen¡¯s room. ¡°Captain,¡± Smithen greeted as he sat up from the bed. ¡°Do you want some coffee?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes, please,¡± Smithen replied in his feminine Korean. Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho to sit down while he prepared coffee for the three of them. He also opened the windows. Smoking and drinking a cup of coffee made Kang Chan feel a lot better. ¡°So, what happened?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°They knew the password to my house, sir,¡± Smithen replied. Kang Chan let out a low sigh. ¡°Did you bring girls into your home again?¡± he asked admonishingly. Smithen¡¯s gaze dropped to the floor. ¡°Damn it, you son of a bitch! You still haven¡¯te to your senses after thest incident?¡± Seok Kang-Ho swore at Smithen. Smithen couldn¡¯t bring himself to retort back at him. ¡°Smithen.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°If something like this happens again, I¡¯m turning a blind eye to you,¡± Kang Chan dered. ¡°I sincerely apologize,¡± Smithen apologized in his feminine Korean again. Kang Chan left it at that and pulled out another cigarette. What exactly was going on? ¡°Did the bastards not say anything else?¡± ¡°Not at all, sir.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t learn what the enemies were going to demand because they had been killed so quickly. ¡°We have agents standing by outside your room, so have some peace of mind, okay?¡± Kang Chan sympathetically said. ¡°Agents?¡± Smithen repeated, unsure what the word meant. Kang Chan quickly gave an exnation in French. ¡°Oh! I see now. Agents.¡± ¡°Once you get discharged and go home after this, start being more careful in the future. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Smithen replied. Kang Chan nced at Smithen one more time before leaving the hospital room. Smithen had the sturdy and buff build that was characteristic of Caucasian men and still had strong-looking shoulders and forearms. However, he could no longer properly use his strength. Smithen¡¯s pride had probably been quite hurt in this incident, likely making him feel even more pathetic about himself. ¡°Manager Kim is waiting for you inside,¡± an agent informed Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho as soon as they headed outside the hospital. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho stepped into the van in the parking lot. They immediately drove off. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the office in Samseong-Dong,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung suggested. ¡°You look like you need to be hospitalized again too, Mr. Kim. If it¡¯s because hospitals are too stuffy, why don¡¯t you get hospitalized at the Bang Ji Hospital as well?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Things are not looking so good right now. It¡¯s better that we speak in the office,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied. Kang Chan took off the watch and handed it to Kim Hyung-Jung before he could forget to give it back. ¡°We have defused the bomb. It seems like the enemy had no chance to set it off because the button-shaped detonator was kept at his waist. They weren¡¯t expecting to get shot like that either, and the bomb was most likely just used for intimidation than to actually cause damage,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung briefed them. The enemy wasn¡¯t holding the button in his hand, so Kim Hyung-Jung was probably right that the purpose of the bomb was merely to intimidate. ¡°The enemy who had the bomb was killed on site, and the one with the gunshot wound died a few moments ago. We captured the man whom you fought and took measures to prevent him from killing himself, but haven¡¯t done anything else to him yet.¡± As Kim Hyung-Jung spoke, the van arrived in Samseong-Dong and drove down to the underground parking area. When they entered the garage, an agent rolled over a wheelchair and assisted Kim Hyung-Jung into it. When they ascended to the office on the fifth floor, a doctor came inside to examine Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s injuries, administer a shot, and connect him to an IV. It made Kang Chan feel as if he was back at the hospital again. ¡°You haven¡¯t had dinner yet, have you?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. To be frank, Kang Chan wasn¡¯t that hungry, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to turn Kim Hyung-Jung down, so they ordered hot stone bibimbap to be delivered to the office. Chapter 132.2: The Hidden Things (1)

Chapter 132.2: The Hidden Things (1)

By the time the food arrived and Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Kim Hyung-Jung finished eating, it was already past seven in the evening. Throughout the course of their meal, they received no report that they had to pay special attention to. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll be on our way now. Give me a call if there are any updates,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I will,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied. After parting ways with Kim Hyung-Jung, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho headed to the coffee shop at the intersection. Kang Chan had to n countermeasures. He couldn¡¯t just let people he knew take turns falling in danger one by one like what happened today. He knew wouldn¡¯t be able to take action every time this happened. The enemies would only be more cruel and vicious as these incidents went on. ¡°I should¡¯ve killed them as soon as I learned what those motherfuckers wanted,¡± Kang Chan said frustratedly. ¡°Enough with that crap. It¡¯s already a relief that no one got hurt any more than they have right now,¡± Seok Kang-Ho chided. It had been a while since they had lemon tea together. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho sat across from each other. ¡°I have to find a solution. This isn¡¯t right. I don¡¯t know who will be attacked at what time, and it¡¯s not like I can guard everyone I know,¡± Kang Chan mused. ¡°That is also true,¡± Seok Kang-Ho agreed. ¡°Tsk! That means we¡¯ll have to drop everything and run to save even Heo Eun-Sil or Lee Ho-Jun if they get kidnapped!¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded, then lifted his gaze. ¡°How do you think those bastards targeted Smithen, though? The bugging device back then was one thing, but this is a bit strange, isn¡¯t it?¡± Seok Kang-Ho questioned. ¡°I also find that suspicious. No matter how much I rack my brain, I can¡¯t think of anyone who knows Smithen.¡± The two contemted an answer for about thirty minutes, but they couldn¡¯te up with a usible exnation of how Smithen got kidnapped. Taking into consideration Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s condition, Kang Chan thought it was probably best for them to return home now. ¡°Let¡¯s head back,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Are you sure you can go home with those injuries?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°You have it way worse than I do. Go home and rest, and be wary of your surroundings.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan split ways in front of theplex, but Kang Chan sat on a bench for a while instead of heading straight into his apartment. Kang Chan¡¯s entire right hand was wrapped in a cast to keep his thumb stationary inside. He had just gotten the cast off his left hand, but now it was his right hand¡¯s turn. He couldn¡¯t go home to his parents like this. Kang Chan slowly took the cast off. He would be fine as long as he was careful with his thumb. When he was in Africa, he never got a cast for small injuries like these. He removed the cast with his left hand and ced it next to him on the bench. Just then, he saw Kim Mi-Young heading inside through the apartmentplex entrance. ¡°Kim Mi-Young!¡± Kang Chan called. Kim Mi-Young jumped in surprise. She then ran over with her trademark bouncy steps. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°Have you just finished cram school?¡± Kang Chan asked back. ¡°Yup!¡± Kim Mi-Young¡¯s face was still as thin as when he had seen her back at school. ¡°What¡¯s the cast for?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°I sprained my finger, but I decided to take it off because it doesn¡¯t really hurt. Have you had dinner yet?¡± ¡°I did!¡± Kim Mi-Young sat down on the bench next to Kang Chan. Kids these days really grew up fast. Kang Chan felt a sense of unfamiliarity at the way she suddenly seemed to have grown up into an adult. ¡°What is it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s been a while since Ist saw you, so I¡¯m just happy to be with you again,¡± Kim Mi-Young applied with a broad smile. ¡°How are your studies? Are you having trouble?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s definitely hard,¡± Kim Mi-Young replied. Kim Mi-Young extended her arms in front of her, seemingly stretching after a long night. ¡°But the hardest part is not being able to see you.¡± ¡°Are you sure you miss me?¡± Kang Chan asked abruptly before he knew it. Kim Mi-Young slowly turned her head and looked at him. ¡°Do you remember when you appeared on TV?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°When? At the conference hall?¡± Kang Chan inquired. ¡°Yes. I was at school then, but while I was watching, I suddenly felt scared,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. ¡°But I¡¯m not hurt. I¡¯m sitting here just fine, as you can see,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°Not because of that,¡± Kim Mi-Young rified. She was already pretty, but she would be even prettier if she changed her bangs a little bit. ¡°You¡¯re already shaking hands with the president at important events, Kang Chan, but I¡¯m still just a normal, in high school senior. I want to do whatever it takes to be admitted into the political science department at Seoul National University,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. ¡°You¡¯re smart enough for that,¡± Kang Chan reassured. ¡°No. I¡¯m going to be at the top of the ss. My dad said people from wealthy families, the chaebols, won¡¯t leave someone as incredible as you alone.¡± ¡°Your dad said that?¡± ¡°I heard him speaking with my mom,¡± Kim Mi-Young responded. Kang Chan smiled faintly. He already had enough of chaebols because of his experience with Yang Jin-Woo, and he hadn¡¯t even thought about what Kim Mi-Young was worried about. ¡°Kang Chan, buy me some coffee,¡± Kim Mi-Young demanded. ¡°Do you have time?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes!¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t feel like going home right away anyway. ¡°Give me your bag,¡± he said. Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young left the apartmentplex together. ¡®Should I go back to school?¡¯ Walking side by side with Kim Mi-Young, he realized how easygoing those days were. ¡°So, about So-Yeon unnie,¡± Kim Mi-Young suddenly opened. Kang Chan initially had no idea who she was talking about. ¡°She¡¯s super pretty in the drama,¡± Kim Mi-Young continued. ¡°Oh! Are you talking about Eun So-Yeon? You have time to watch TV?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I just watched for a few minutes. Some girls showed the drama to me on their phones after cram school. It has been really popr these days, and it has a super cool soundtrack too.¡± They walked across the street to the coffee shop. Kim Mi-Young ordered an Americano with less coffee, and Kang Chan just got a bottle of water. They found a table and sat down. Kim Mi-Young continued to chatter. She was the same as ever. She spoke endlessly about her after-school lessons and events that took ce at school. Through it all, she sounded as if she was working extremely hard to keep the promise she made to him. ¡°Dad said he would pay for me to study abroad in France if I wanted.¡± Kang Chan just smiled back at her. ¡°And he said I shouldn¡¯t bother you because the work you¡¯re doing is super important. He said you would be annoyed if I got in your way instead of being diligent in my own studies,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. ¡°He said that about me?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Now that they were together, Kang Chan recalled the loneliness that had been hidden deep within her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m really okay with it, so if you¡¯re going through a tough time or if you think of me after cram school, text me. I¡¯lle out to see you for a little bit if I¡¯m home,¡± Kang Chan told her. Kim Mi-Young shook her head. ¡°The applications for early admittance are due soon. After that, I¡¯ll contact you.¡± Kim Mi-Young was probably so sessful in her studies because she was this stubborn. ¡°For the first time, I¡¯m having fun studying. I¡¯ve just been going along with what my mom made me do in the past, but I enjoy it whenever I solve problems,¡± she said. ¡°Alright. But you should take it easy with studying French. You have to take care of yourself too,¡± Kang Chan chastised. ¡°I will,¡± Kim Mi-Young replied. Kim Mi-Young wrapped both hands around her coffee cup and looked at Kang Chan. She was only wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans. Although her outfit was in, and she wasn¡¯t dressed up at all, her sparkling eyes were beautiful. If Kang Chan¡¯s emotions could bepared to cluttered and messy pieces inside a bottle, he felt like they had now neatly and calmly sunk to the bottom after someone had given it a shake. Strangely, whenever he was with Kim Mi-Young, he didn¡¯t feel so high-strung and could be at ease. ¡°What is it?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°I¡¯m just happy to be with you,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Hehehehe. Thanks.¡± Kang Chan adored her uniqueughter now. ¡°Oh, right! I heard Ho-Jun and Eun-Sil frequently visit a hospital these days.¡± Did those two get beaten up? Receiving a curious look from Kang Chan, Kim Mi-Young continued, ¡°There¡¯s a girl named Shim Su-Jin that they used to bully in the past. They apparently go to the hospital to apologize, since that¡¯s where she is. They go together after school ends. Sometimes, other students go with them too,¡± she exined. ¡°Do they cause trouble or anything like that at school?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°No, they¡¯re always on their best behavior! No one gets bullied at our school anymore. If someone tries to be mean, the teachers immediately look for Ho-Jun and Eun-Sil.¡± When Kang Chan smirked, Kim Mi-Young looked upset, thinking he was smirking at her. . This was nice. His emotions, which had been restless due to the recent incidents, seemed to be serenely settling down, and the brimming tension inside him from the event this morning was alleviated. Kang Chan suddenly wanted to hug Kim Mi-Young. Once he did, the exhaustion in him would also be melted away. ¡°What?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m just happy I get to look at you. It¡¯s been too long,¡± Kim Mi-Young said with a bright smile. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, though. You should head inside now,¡± Kang Chan urged. ¡°Can¡¯t you stay a little longer?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked pleadingly. ¡°Is that really okay with you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s fine,¡± Kim Mi-Young replied. Kang Chan nodded. He was in a tranquil state. Strangely, however, he still couldn¡¯t get rid of the anxiety that had taken ce in the back of his mind. Chapter 133.1: The Hidden Things (2)

Chapter 133.1: The Hidden Things (2)

Kang Chan received a call from Lanok around nine o¡¯clock on Sunday morning to make ns to have lunch together. Kang Chan ended up leaving the apartment a little early, though. Having arrived at Namsan Hotel first, he asked to see Joo Chul-Bum. If Kang Chan was going to run into Joo Chul-Bum at some point anyway, he would rather get the dreaded meeting over with when he was expecting it. He waited for Joo Chul-Bum in the hotel¡¯s lounge. ¡°You¡¯re here, sir?¡± Joo Chul-Bum greeted extremely politely as he approached Kang Chan. ¡°Come sit down. What do you want to drink?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯ll go with coffee, hyung-nim,¡± Joo Chul-Bum replied. Kang Chan ordered two cups of coffee. ¡°Do-Seok hyung-nim has woken up,¡± Joo Chul-Bum said when Kang Chan finished ordering. ¡°Really?¡± Kang Chan eximed. Suh Do-Seok having finally regained consciousness after months in the hospital was certainly wee news. ¡°He can¡¯t speak properly yet, but he can at least clearly express what he likes or dislikes now. Gwang-Taek hyung-nim and the others are currently in the hospital with him,¡± Joo Chul-Bum stated. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I¡¯ll contact you, so let¡¯s go visit him together someday,¡± Kang Chan suggested. Their conversation paused for a moment when their coffee was served. The two chatted for a little longer until Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang. When it did, Kang Chan immediately headed up to the room. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Lanok greeted as he held out his hand. Goddammit, that hurts! Kang Chan¡¯s thumb throbbed at the unexpected handshake, but he didn¡¯t show it on his face. He wasn¡¯t expecting to be in this much pain since he was taking the injury lightly. Tears sprang to his eyes because of the pain. When Kang Chan sat down, Lanok¡¯s secretary carried out some tea and cigarettes. ¡°How are you? Did you get hurt anywhere?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°How did you know, Mr. Ambassador?¡± Kang Chan asked in surprise. ¡°South Korea does not have the tendency to take care of business with subtlety,¡± Lanok replied. Kang Chan had intended to tell Lanok about the incident anyway, so it didn¡¯t matter. As Kang Chan exined yesterday¡¯s events in detail, Lanok lit up his cigar and carefully listened. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, is information warfare supposed to involve putting the people around you in danger?¡± Lanok briefly shook his head. ¡°No. And you would reach the same answer if you observe the agents of Korea¡¯s National Intelligence Service. Your case is highly atypical, Mr. Kang Chan. You drew many people¡¯s attention in a short span of time, and even more so because this is a vital matter for some countries, such as Britain.¡± Lanok lifted arge paper file that was on the table and handed it to Kang Chan. Kang Chan nced at him, but Lanok remained silent as if indicating to him to look at what it was. When Kang Chan opened the envelope, three passports and threerge pictures fell out, each one with personal information clipped to it. ¡°These are the three men who attacked you,¡± Lanok announced. Just how far did this sly snake¡¯s ability reach? Kang Chan looked at Lanok for a moment before scanning the pictures and the information. ¡°They¡¯re ex-SAS from the UK. Their abilities can match the special forces of the Foreign Legion. Since you handled those three all by yourself, you¡¯ll find yourself faced with stronger enemies next time.¡± The unfortunate exnation made Kang Chan sigh. ¡°Currently, your nationality is a weakness. South Korea has never fought in any retaliatory battles so far,¡± Lanok added. When Kang Chan lifted his gaze, Lanok had a sharp glint in his eyes. ¡°In a case like this, France would retaliate until it has worn out its opponent. France will set a target and won¡¯t hesitate to carry out assassinations. That threatens others not to touch the valuable assets of our homnd. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re well aware of how the DGSE conducts business as well,¡± Lanok stated. Kang Chan picked up a cigarette, and Lanok lit it up for him. ¡°The previous incident in Mongolia is known to be a French operation. Thankfully, that is the reason why I was able to avoid conflict with China, but you still remain an easy target, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Then I should get back at the UK,¡± Kang Chan replied. Lanok shrugged his shoulders in an ¡°if that¡¯s what you want¡± attitude. ¡°Information warfare is like a fight between children who possess weapons. It¡¯s why national power is necessary. Do you think South Korea can handle the UK in a full-scale war?¡± Lanok questioned. ¡°Will there be a full-scale war?¡± Kang Chan asked curiously. ¡°You may think that it¡¯s immature of them, but don¡¯t think Britain will just take it lying down. They may exert their influence in the internationalmunity and impose economic sanctions or even engage in military demonstrations. If you fail any operation and leave evidence, you will havemitted a grave mistake in the internationalmunity,¡± Lanok exined. ¡°Sounds like adults intervening in kids¡¯ fights,¡± Kang Chan scoffed. ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s exactly it. In any case, national interest will take precedence above all else. Because it¡¯s so important, it¡¯s that much more difficult for a country with weak national power to confront and fight a stronger country. This is precisely the reason Vasili acted so rudely during ourst meeting.¡± ¡°Then if it¡¯s as you say, I shouldn¡¯t attack the UK,¡± Kang Chan said, expecting confirmation. ¡°Not if you attack them perfectly where it hurts,¡± Lanok corrected. Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Eliminate your chosen target perfectly without leaving any evidence. If such incidents are repeated once or twice, the UK won¡¯t be able to attack you so recklessly anymore,¡± Lanok furthered. ¡°You speak as if I should assassinate someone like it was done to the director of the French DGSE.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Kang Chan had been half-joking, but Lanok replied in a serious tone. Lanok shook the ash off his cigar and leaned back on the sofa again. ¡°Assassinating the head of the UK¡¯s intelligence agency would be the most effective, I¡¯m sure,¡± Lanok dered. ¡°Are you being serious right now, Mr. Ambassador?¡± Kang Chan eximed. ¡°I don¡¯t joke about such matters,¡± Lanok responded. Why was Lanok suggesting he take such extreme lengths? Seeing Kang Chan¡¯s expression, Lanok continued, ¡°Regardless of whether you like it or not, information about you has been spread in the world of intelligence. I¡¯m sorry to say this, but South Korea is still weak when ites to international strength, and the National Intelligence Service¡¯s capabilities are mediocre. To survive in this precarious situation, you have to show your opponents that they have to be prepared to put their lives at stake if they n on targeting you, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± The statement was so blunt that it sounded as if it should be used to describe wars between tribes in Africa. However, listening to Lanok¡¯s exnation made Kang Chan realize how brutal and cruel the fight he had gotten himself involved in was. ¡°It will be difficult for you to target the head of the British intelligence service immediately, so it would be better to eliminate the person who facilitated the entrance of these three men to South Korea instead. After all, it¡¯s only a matter of time before the people involved find out who killed whom and why.¡± Kang Chan slowly inhaled, then let out a deep breath. He was genuinely grateful Lanok was a friend of his, not a foe. ¡°The Speaker of the National Assembly, Huh Ha-Soo, assisted in their entrance to South Korea. The Chinese intelligence agency provided them with their passports, and they entered through Hong Kong. I¡¯m sure the Korean intelligence agency must have gathered this information by now as well.¡± ¡°But China gave Vasili a ne and even returned the fallen soldiers,¡± Kang Chan countered. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, from China¡¯s point of view, if another country attempts to eliminate you, they have no reason to oppose it. Don¡¯t forget, in information warfare, you will always regret it if you make decisions by looking at only a single side,¡± Lanok kindly exined as if he was a teacher educating a student. ¡°The same goes for you and me. We can meet up to coordinate if the interests of France and South Korea happen to be in disagreement. However, if the interests of the two countries sh too severely, the DGSE may proceed and act without informing me. That is the nature of information warfare.¡± ¡°I really hate it,¡± Kang Chan remarked. He took a sip of tea from his cup and picked his cigarette back up. ¡°The I that was discovered at the conference hall was sold by the Russian government. The Serpents Venimeux purchased it and handed it over to Yang Jin-Woo.¡± ¡°Is Vasili aware of this fact?¡± Kang Chan asked with a sigh. ¡°If Vasili wasn¡¯t aware of the smuggling of weapons in his own country, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to climb as high as his current position,¡± Lanok snorted. That son of a bitch! ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I understand how angry you may be. However, you have to forget about Vasili for the time being. If you provoke him, South Korea will have to pay a heavy price. Russia will begin to provide North Korea with unlimited weapons and financial support, which means that even if the United Stateses to South Korea¡¯s aid, it will likely be after the country is already in ruins.¡± Tsk!? It was difficult to kill the bastards who really had to be killed. ¡°You should begin by taking measures to keep your family safe and sound. Since Huh Ha-Soo and Huh Sang-Soo are targeting you, I know you won¡¯t feelfortable if you don¡¯t.¡± ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll have to start there,¡± Kang Chan surmised. ¡°Now then, shall we finish the rest of our conversation over a meal?¡± Lanok asked in a tone that made it seem as if they were speaking about a pleasant subject. Kang Chan thought that this moment could be a break from Lanok¡¯s daily life, at least in the sense that Lanok was having a lunch appointment with a friend and talking about a topic that wasn¡¯t too serious based on his standards. Lunch was served as a French feast. Therge meal was a little heavy for the morning, but it didn¡¯t matter. Kang Chan continued to ask things he was curious about, and Lanok took time to generously answer each question. Kang Chan felt as if he was currently in the middle of a one-on-one tutoring session. Meanwhile, Lanok seemed to be very pleased that Kang Chan was taking an interest in international affairs and the nature of intelligence agencies. Chapter 133.2: The Hidden Things (2)

Chapter 133.2: The Hidden Things (2)

The meal ended when Kang Chan and Lanok lowered their forks and knives with a click, and a lightly frozen ice cream was brought out as dessert. ¡°The greatest advantage you have in information warfare is your animalistic instinct,¡± Lanokplimented, scooping the ice cream with his spoon as if he was carving it. ¡°While yourck of experience in this type of fight and South Korea¡¯sck of national power may be a weakness, your decisions and actions could change the oue.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying I need to demonstrate my abilities?¡± Kang Chan questioned. ¡°It will not be easy, but it¡¯s the best course of action for now,¡± Lanok replied. Kang Chan pushed his ice cream aside and pulled the coffee in front of him. ¡°Is there still a chance I can remove myself from the information war?¡± Kang Chan asked with some hope. Lanok tilted his head as if Kang Chan had given the wrong answer. ¡°As long as South Korea requires a person to covertly carry out business until the Eurasian Rail is built, the country will not stop relying on you and will continue to request your service. If you decide not to be involved with the information war, I won¡¯t force anything on you. However, please don¡¯t rmend someone else to me to rece you in your position,¡± Lanok dered. Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Haah! Well, Mr. Ambassador,¡± said Kang Chan, letting out a loud sigh, which Lanok observed with a questioning smile. ¡°Can I ask you for a favor? Will you assist me by recruiting French mercenaries?¡± ¡°You¡¯re my friend, Mr. Kang Chan. And I have never refused a friend¡¯s request for something that is within my ability,¡± Lanok said surely. So I really will be doing this, then. I¡¯ll take any help I can get.? Since Kang Chan was going to fight this war anyway, he didn¡¯t want to give up and step back, especially since seeding meant he could protect those special to him. Seeing Kang Chan¡¯s expression, Lanok gave him a mysterious smile. ¡°Does this mean you¡¯ve made up your mind?¡± Lanok inquired. ¡°To some extent, yes,¡± Kang Chan responded. Lanok extended his wine ss toward Kang Chan. Although it made him ufortable, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t refuse this one considering the meaning behind it. The sound of sses clinking echoed in the room. ¡°I will show you my abilities at their finest,¡± Lanok announced. ¡°Should I be scared?¡± Kang Chan asked jokingly. ¡°Of course not,¡± Lanok replied with a twinkle in his eyes, clearly amused. ¡°Intelligence agencies across the world are nervously awaiting your formal debut. The greater your name bes known, the higher my reputation will climb in turn. So, perhaps I should give you a gift instead.¡± Lanok slightly raised his index finger and signaled at his secretary. His secretary, who had brought out the cigars, cigarettes, and therge paper file previously, cleared everything away from the table with the exception of the coffee cups. ¡°The brothers Huh Ha-Soo and Huh Sang-Soo are currently in China. They will return to South Korea in a week, and the Korean National Intelligence Service should be able to get the exact date of their arrival. There are already rumors that the brothers have cooperated with the British intelligence agency and sold Korean military secrets to the United States. This should be enough to make a fancy debut, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Lanok prepared all of this in advance? What would he have done if our conversation never headed in this direction and I never mentioned it? Lanok studied Kang Chan¡¯s expression as if asking what the matter was. ¡°You truly are a scary person, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan said exhaustedly. ¡°Hahaha,¡± Lanokughed out loud as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. Lanok¡¯s secretary quickly nced over as if he was seeing a miraculous spectacle. ¡°I can¡¯t believe the very man who made Vasili bring the corpses of the soldiers is saying that to me! Mr. Kang Chan, at your age, I traveled around the world to make myself familiar with the people at the grassroots level of various intelligence agencies,¡± Lanok said as he stoppedughing, looking Kang Chan straight in the eye. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate your power. If you were to ask Vasili right now, the Russian would probably even hand over a nuclear warhead to you.¡± What? Why would Vasili go so far as to give him a nuclear warhead? ¡°Before a world that revolves around you arrives, people will want to do either one of two things. They can be friends with you¡­¡± Lanok trailed off, ncing at his cigar before looking back at Kang Chan. ¡°Or they can get rid of you.¡± Pft.? Lanok seemed to be satisfied by Kang Chan¡¯s smirk. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, am I really your friend?¡± Lanok suddenly asked. It was a horrifyingly cringy and goosebump-inducing question, but Lanok looked serious. ¡°You¡¯re like a mentor to me, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Therefore, Kang Chan genuinely replied with an embarrassed answer. Lanok just stared at Kang Chan without budging. Not longer after, however, he suddenly took a deep breath and slowly began to speak with a determined expression. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan. In this case, like you did Anne, I hope you can help France,¡± Lanok stated firmly. ¡°Mr. Ambassador?¡± Kang Chan asked, not quite sure what Lanok meant. ¡°Until the dayes when you have established yourself and gained your footing, I will put everything I have on the line. To be honest, I had already made up my mind to do so since the Mongolian operation ended, but I¡¯m only telling you this now. Starting now, you¡¯ll be on the path to building a solid career among intelligence agencies. If something happens to me in the meantime, please protect Anne and the country of France.¡± Kang Chan felt as if the conversation was moving too fast and too far out of his grasp. ¡°And just as I helped you, please find and mentor a talented individual in France. If you can promise me that, I believe I¡¯ll be able to go to sleep peacefully starting today,¡± Lanok finished with a smile. Lanok¡¯s sparkling eyes were awaiting Kang Chan¡¯s answer. Not only Lanok but also his secretary and Louis were watching him with anxious expression. ¡°I promise, Mr. Ambassador. However, as long as I¡¯m alive, you won¡¯t have to worry about being killed. You already know how my instinct is exceptionally sensitive and sharp,¡± Kang Chan asserted. ¡°Hahaha! I see! That instinct of yours momentarily slipped my mind!¡± Lanok chuckled goodnaturedly. This was a first. Lanok hadughed out loud in front of Kang Chan a few times before, but this was the first time he wasughing so wholeheartedly. Kang Chan stayed for about an hour longer before saying goodbye, so their lunch appointmentsted a whopping three hours. Lanok got up from his seat and extended his arms to Kang Chan from next to the door. However, he didn¡¯t say anything. Seriously, is something going on with him? Kang Chan was bothered to see Lanok acting differently from how he usually did. ¡°Mr. Ambassador,¡± he said, stopping Lanok in his tracks as Louis opened the door. ¡°I¡¯m a very simple-minded person and can¡¯t control my emotions very well. Promise me that you wille to me first if you are ever in danger.¡± Kang Chan¡¯s expression hardened when he saw Lanok¡¯s pupils clearly shaking from his statement. Lanok was definitely not the type to betray such a wavering gaze. ¡°I promise,¡± Lanok replied. ¡°Please don¡¯t turn me into a killer,¡± Kang Chan firmly asserted. Kang Chan finally realized why Seok Kang-Ho had used that expression, but that wasn¡¯t what was important right now. Kang Chan nced at the secretary and Louis, gesturing that they should quickly call him if something were to happen to the ambassador. ¡°Au revoir, ¨¤ demain.¡± With that French goodbye uttered impressively, Lanok left the room. Is it okay to let him go like this? Should I have grabbed him and forced him to swear on Anne¡¯s name to call me if he finds himself in danger? It urred to Kang Chan that the strange bit of anxiety that had suffocatingly followed him around since yesterday could have been caused by Lanok. Kang Chan shook his head. However, even if Kang Chan were to implore and plead that of Lanok, Lanok would never change his decision if he had already made his mind up. Since it was toote now, the wisest choice Kang Chan could take was to quickly make his name known among intelligence agencies. No matter who or which country it was, anyone who touched his people would forever have to suffer the consequences and beg him to stop. God of ckfield. The name his enemies had given him would naturally have to be epted across all intelligence agencies. This was the fastest and wisest way to protect those around him, including Lanok. When Kang Chan arrived at the first floor of the hotel, it was already four in the afternoon. He was striding into the lobby with two folders in hand when he stopped and smiled. Oh Gwang-Taek was staring back at him from the hotel lounge. Joo Chul-Bum was standing at his side. ¡°Hey, dog! Kang Chan!¡± Oh Gwang-Taek shouted. That dumb gangster bastard! The hotel was busier than normal and was filled with people because it was Sunday, but Oh Gwang-Taek just had to bellow Kang Chan¡¯s name as if he was a long-lost family member. It was nice to see him. Kang Chan suppressed theugh that threatened to escape and walked toward the lounge. ¡°Hey! Punk!¡± Oh Gwang-Taek greeted. He grabbed Kang Chan¡¯s hand tightly. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know he would receive this kind of passionate wee. As a matter of fact, Kang Chan¡¯s thumb was twisted so enthusiastically that he almost threw a punch at the idiot. After the dreadful handshake, they sat down in the lounge. ¡°You already had lunch, right? Then have dinner with me,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek insisted. ¡°Hmm. All right,¡± Kang Chan agreed. ¡°Right, man! Do-Seok is back up.¡± ¡°I heard earlier. I¡¯m nning on visiting soon too.¡± ¡°He said something weird, though,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek mused. ¡°What is it?¡± Kang Chan asked. Although Kang Chan never ordered anything, the server brought out some coffee for them. ¡°The fight that day. We thought it was the parking lot gang that was behind it. But apparently, it was some foreign guys,¡± Oh Gwang-Taek said. ¡°What?¡± Kang Chan asked in surprise. ¡°You beat some French guy back then, right? Do-Seok said that seemed to be why they were attacked.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kang Chan asked disbelievingly. ¡°Yeah, punk!¡± What was going on? Were the gangsters including Do-Seok attacked after Kang Chan took care of Shan? Either way, Suh Do-Seok shouldn¡¯t have been swept up in that incident. Chapter 134.1: We Should Go (1)

Chapter 134.1: We Should Go (1)

After having dinner at a gukbap restaurant, Kang Chan tried to kill some time before going home. While he didn¡¯t drink a lot of bomb shots, he still smelled like alcohol, so he didn¡¯t want to go back immediately. Kang Chan held up his phone and made a call. - This is Choi Jong-Il. ¡°Are you guys free? Let¡¯s go have a cup of coffee.¡± Kang Chan thought he heard someone snort, it seemed like someone had failed to hold in theirughter, but there was nothing wrong with that so Kang Chan ignored it. He didn¡¯t have to wait even a minute before he saw Lee Doo-Hee driving a car and parking by the hotel entrance. ¡°Did you guys have dinner?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We had bibimbap.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s head over to the specialty coffee shop at the intersection.¡± As if to signal that they should go, Choi Jong-Il nced at Lee Doo-Hee. They left immediately. Kang Chan looked outside the window. He didn¡¯t have a problem debuting as an agent internationally by picking a fight with Britain. However, he couldn¡¯t help but have trouble deciding whether he actually should debut when he thought about the sacrifices that woulde with fights like this. Unlike in Africa, where he just had to follow orders, the fight that Kang Chan was about to start required him to make decisions and give orders himself. Was it really okay for him to sacrifice others to fulfill his personal desire of properly protecting those around him? ¡°Whoo!¡± Just as Kang Chan got the urge to smoke, the car stopped. ¡°Do you want me to get you a coffee?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yeah, a light roast one. What are you all waiting for? Let¡¯s get out of the car.¡± Everyone headed to the terrace, including Lee Do-Hee, who had closed the door of the driver¡¯s seat. After Woo Hee-Seung brought over their coffee, the four made themselvesfortable and bit on cigarettes. ¡°Choi Jong-Il,¡± Kang Chan called after lighting a cigarette. The three looked at him at the same time. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of finally fighting properly, but now that I¡¯ve thought about it, this will be almost like gueri warfare.¡± ¡°Are you thinking of infiltrating an enemy country?¡± Kang Chan nodded in response. Although it could be seen as childish, Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to lie in front of these kinds of men. ¡°Is that possible?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked again. ¡°France will support me. They will provide nes, weapons, entry into the enemy country, and even the troops and information I¡¯ll need for the operation. The operation won¡¯t have South Korea¡¯s approval, so if we die, our deaths won¡¯t cause any damage.¡± Choi Jong-Il grinned like Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Ever since we fought Yang Jin-Woo, the three of us have been imagining us going out on operations like the powerful nations¡¯ Intelligence Bureaus do. Rather than dying to get just one piece of information, we have always wanted to punish people for messing with our agents. Even if that gets us killed by being torn to shreds, we¡¯ll die happy. We won¡¯t resent you either if our bodies don¡¯t make it back home.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that too grandiose?¡± ¡°If we can show South Korea¡¯s¡ª¡± Choi Jong-Il eximed but abruptly paused, perhaps thinking his voice was too loud. ¡°If it means getting to show the National Intelligence Service¡¯s power to the world and stopping other countries from looking at South Korea as a pushover, then we¡¯ll do anything.¡± Kang Chan turned his head to look at the others. Woo Hee-Seung and Lee Doo-Hee didn¡¯t avoid his gaze. Kang Chanughed. Men like them died young in this fucked up world. They would return to the airport in body bags after doing all kinds of unpleasant work. Fuckers like Huh Sang-Soo or Yang Jin-Woo seized that honor and acted cocky. ¡°You all received special training, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We have gone through every training you can think of, even the UDT.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Kang Chan replied. Seemingly excited, Choi Jong-Il drank coffee. ¡°Let¡¯s schedule a training session to test you all. If you fail, then you just aren¡¯t capable enough. We can¡¯t do anything about that,¡± Kang Chan said. Choi Jong-Il smiled as if he found Kang Chan funny. ¡°I want you to split into infiltration and defense teams for the training. Who can I contact that can get this done quickly?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°The Section Chief is your best bet,¡± Choi Jong-Il said, sounding as if they should run over to Jeon Dae-Geuk right now. ¡°Yeah? I give him a call, then,¡± Kang Chan took out his phone and called Jeon Dae-Geuk. The call rang thrice before it was picked up. - Hello? Kang Chan heard Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s husky voice. ¡°Section Chief, it¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± - Huh? Kang Chan? Hey! How could you not visit me in the hospital when I¡¯m dying? Kang Chan burst out withughter. Jeon Dae-Geuk did as well. - Are you okay? ¡°Yes.¡± There was an emotion that was difficult to exin in the question that Jeon Dae-Geuk asked, that was what made Kang Chan think this gentleman was born as a soldier by nature. . - Come over. ¡°Right now?¡± - Why are you asking that? Can¡¯t you? ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chanughed after hanging up. ¡°He wants us toe over right now.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked. ¡°I should go.¡± Choi Jong-Il stood up before anyone else. *** Jeon Dae-Geuk was staying in a VIP room, but it wasn¡¯t anything special. When they opened the door and went inside, a heavily bandaged Jeon Dae-Geuk grinned at them. He was leaning against the headboard of his bed. Kang Chan almost gave him a salute. To him, Jeon Dae-Geuk was a true soldier. ¡°Have you had dinner?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yes.¡± When Kang Chan sat in front of the bed, Choi Jong-Il and the other two people stood behind him. Jeon Dae-Geuk nced at the trio. ¡°Are you guys trying to intimidate me by standing behind Kang Chan? From the looks of it, you guys seem to bepletely enamored with him now.¡± ¡°We¡¯re betting our lives on him,¡± Choi Jong-Il answered. Jeon Dae-Geuk smirked, then looked at Kang Chan. ¡°What did you do to make them act like that?¡± Havinge this far, Kang Chan had no reason to deny anything or avoid the topic. Hence, he firmly made up his mind. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of retaliating against the countries that have been provoking South Korea.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk inhaled loudly. ¡°Have you thought about what would happen if you guys fail?¡± ¡°Yes, but we can¡¯t properly connect the Eurasian Rail if we keep getting beat up like this. I also keep watching anymore as we sacrifice agents and our members just so we can barely stop our enemies.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk tightly gritted his teeth. ¡°South Korea won¡¯t be able to properly support you.¡± ¡°France will be supporting me in the form of transportation, information, weapons, and even troops if required.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk swallowed dryly, he looked at Kang Chan and the three people that were standing behind him. ¡°What can I do to help?¡± ¡°I want to train people to form infiltration and defense teams.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a facility that you guys can use at the First and Third Airborne Forces. I¡¯ll mobilize the special forces soldiers of the DMZ.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t know why, but the skin around Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s eyes was red. ¡°Was it the God of ckfield thatmanded the operation in Mongolia?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked when their eyes met. ¡°Yes,¡± Kang Chan answered with a nod. ¡°Kang Chan.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk reached out and grabbed his hand. ¡°I prepared for an operation to Mongolia about five times or so but eventually gave up. The United States interfered and put pressure on us, and we had to keep observing China¡¯s reaction. Even in Europe, more than ten of our National Intelligence Service¡¯s agents are sacrificed every year.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk nodded while smiling awkwardly. ¡°You don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve been waiting for someone like you to show up¡ªsomeone who can exert their influence in France¡¯s DGSE, someone that even the head of Russia¡¯s Intelligence Bureau visit has to visit in person, and more than anything¡­¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk seemed to be getting very emotional. ¡°... someone who can bring back the bodies of those who sacrificed themselves in an operation! Today is the second happiest day of my life.¡± ¡°When¡¯s your happiest day?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°The day I became a South Korean soldier.¡± Kang Chan and Jeon Dae-Geukughed out loud at the same time. ¡°Damn it! I should have a drink on a day like this. Hey! Go buy five bottles of soju,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk ordered. Choi Jong-Il didn¡¯t budge an inch, as if he didn¡¯t hear anything. ¡°Hey, you fucker! Don¡¯t ruin this touching moment and just go quickly.¡± ¡°You have to suppress the urge to drink today, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il responded. ¡°No! I feel like my chest is going to explode. I have to calm it down.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t drink. Focus on getting better quickly andmand the operation instead. We¡¯ll be able to fight without worry if someone we trust will bemanding everyone within the country,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You think so?¡± People like Jeon Dae-Geuk were made to be in the field. ¡°When do you want to start training?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked. ¡°I¡¯ll start gathering the personnel tomorrow. We can probably start on Wednesday.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll think of a decent ce with the First and Third Airborne Forces and mobilize the DMZ¡¯s specialized team. That aside¡­¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk looked around his surroundings, then lowered his voice. ¡°Which country is our first target?¡± ¡°Either China or the United Kingdom.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡ªow!¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk burst out withughter but soon frowned and pressed his hand against the bandages wrapped around his side. ¡°Those sons of bitches! They always look down on us!¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°This is nothing.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk nodded. ¡°Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°I started this to protect the people around me. It¡¯s actually embarrassing because you¡¯re thanking me too much.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not something to be embarrassed about. We¡¯ve been careful and wary of others too many times now. Even though we couldn¡¯t protect them, many agents died without resentment for the sake of their missions¡ªall of them were valuable and kind-hearted. I have watched those fuckers step forward and say they¡¯ll happily die for the country too many times now! Phew!¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s emotions suddenly seemed all over the ce, but Kang Chan wasn¡¯t worried about what would happen once they had gone on the operation. After all, Jeon Dae-Geuk remained level-headed during the incident at the presentation hall. 1. Gukbap is a Korean dish made by putting cooked rice into hot soup or cooking the rice in soup, typically in earthenware. 2. WARFLOT, or The Republic of Korea Navy Special Warfare Floti is a special operations force of the Republic of Korea Navy. It¡¯s also known as the UDT (Underwater Demolition Team) because that¡¯s the most publicly known branch of the floti Chapter 134.2: We Should Go (1)

Chapter 134.2: We Should Go (1)

Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s emotions seemed all over the ce, but Kang Chan wasn¡¯t worried since he had see how level-headed Dae-Geuk could be. ¡°If they entrust you with the position of the Founder of the Eurasian Rail, just pretend that you can¡¯t win against them and take on the role,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said. See? Jeon Dae-Geuk already seemed to havee to his senses. ¡°Take on a position. Having someone that represents South Korea will be something extremely importantter on. It¡¯s something that you have to do if you want to properly reward those that follow you as well,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk continued. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°Please soar higher than I or the President has done. You have to make sure that people will remember you first before anyone else when someone from South Korea runs into danger on foreign soil. Please make sure the agents can smile as they¡¯re dying because they know you¡¯re there for them. I¡¯ll also try my best.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk was going too far, but it was difficult to say anything else here. Jeon Dae-Geuk had burst out withughter like a crazy person and applied pressure to his wounds twice before they left the room. It was already close to 11 pm. On his way home, Kang Chan watched the scenery unfolding outside the window. Everything was now starting. I¡¯ll make the Intelligence Bureaus all around the world acknowledge the ¡®God of ckfield.¡¯ If someone messes with those around me, then the god who brings death is bound to appear.? Was it childish? Kang Chan wondered if people could still say that in death. *** Kang Chan started his Monday morning with a phone call from Jeon Dae-Geuk. He told Kang Chan that he had arranged a first-ss training area near Jeungpyeong, and that he would prepare the special forces soldiers of the DMZ, the Third Airborne Forces, and the members of the 606 at the date that Kang Chan chose. Things were progressing amazingly. But the problem was Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s condition. Kang Chan called Seok Kang-Ho and headed to a cafe in Misari. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Strangely, my wound keeps opening up.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked annoyed. ¡°Remember when I met Lanok yesterday?¡± Kang Chan exined what had happened yesterday, then told Seok Kang-Ho his ns for the future as well. ¡°Phuhu, so you¡¯re saying that we¡¯re going to an operation?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked afterward. He hadughed with an expression that waspletely different from a moment ago. ¡°I¡¯m going to test them. Those who fail won¡¯t be able to join.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that only natural?¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re going to make the teams by units, each team will have a maximum of twelve people. We also have to get a good sniper. You should take two snipers in this training session,¡± Kang Chan said, then frowned while looking at the river in the distance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I feel ufortable, but I can¡¯t pinpoint what¡¯s causing it.¡± Whenever Kang Chan said something like this, Seok Kang-Ho took it seriously. ¡°Are you not concerned about your parents?¡± ¡°I told Choi Jong-Il to frequently check on them.¡± ¡°Who else? Won¡¯t they kidnap Smithen again?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I heard that he¡¯s in the hospital. I told the agents to keep Smithen there. Even if he gets discharged, the agents guarding him right now will keep taking care of him.¡± ¡°What about Ambassador Lanok?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. ¡°He wasn¡¯t in a very good mood when we parted ways, which bothered me. The look in his eyes was a bit weird as well. It felt like something was wrong, but he was hiding it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a major concern. What about Mi-Young or thatdy Michelle? Won¡¯t they target those two as well?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. At any rate, the people around me will be watched over starting today. They even said thatst time, the agents will start protecting Mi-Young. Argh! I feel like I¡¯m going to suffocate. We have to know what¡¯s going on before we can run over or something!¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded in agreement. He had been closest to Kang Chan at times like this, so he could understand Kang Chan much better than anyone else. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of starting the training on Wednesday. We¡¯ll both make our own teams, but we should get our members from the 606 and the special forces soldiers of the DMZ. Let¡¯s choose the defense soldiers from the Third Airborne Forces,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright.¡± Seok Kang-Ho understood him whenever he was giving orders about the operation, which was really nice. ¡°You don¡¯t regret getting involved in this, do you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Why are you asking that? I have the will to live now because of this. I¡¯m happy, Captain. Phuhuhu.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. There was something pitiful about a guy grinning and talking about happiness despite their eyes being filled with bloodthirst. But still, Kang Chan having a colleague like this was incredible. After having lunch at Misari, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho headed to Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s office in Samseong-dong. They didn¡¯t have to tell Kim Hyung-Jung since Jeon Dae-Geuk had already briefed him on what they were nning. Kim Hyung-Jung found it very unfair that his wounds still hadn¡¯t properly healed. Kang Chan would lead Team 1, which would consist of eleven personnel, and Team 2 would have twelve members, including Seok Kang-Ho. With the list of applicants in their hands, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho each chose their team members. Kang Chan included Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee in his team. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, the Director wants me to tell you something,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. After preparing everything, Kim Hyung-Jung, who was sitting at the table with an IV in his arm, looked at Kang Chan. ¡°If by any chance there¡¯s an emergency, the Director said that you should use him as an excuse and that you should take care of the issue as something that he has personally ordered you to do.¡± Kang Chan thought that South Korea got connected to the Eurasian Rail thanks to people like them. ¡°Alright,¡± Kang Chan answered. He and Kim Hyung-Jung were both thinking that an emergency where he would have to act like that was not going to happen. *** Kang Chan had a busy day, but it wasn¡¯t even 6 pm yet when he returned home because it was around that time that Monday-to-Tuesday dramas aired. He still had this ufortable feeling, which bothered him, but there wasn¡¯t really anything that he could do about it. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook hadn¡¯t arrived home from work yet. Kang Chan quickly washed up and got changed. Just as he was walking out of his room, the front door opened, and his parents entered the apartment. ¡°Wee home,¡± Kang Chan greeted. ¡°You¡¯re home early,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°Yes. You two must be tired.¡± ¡°Not anymore since I¡¯ve seen you,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook replied. She actually looked happy that he was at home. After Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook got changed, the three of them prepared dinner, which consisted of soup, refrigerated side dishes, and dried seaweed. ¡°Starting this Wednesday, I might stay at Jeungpyeong for a few days,¡± Kang Chan told his parents. ¡°Jeungpyeong? Why are you going to Jeungpyeong?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°I heard they¡¯re holding something like a workshop for government employees there. I¡¯ll be meeting people that I will probably be working with, and I¡¯ll also check out the tasks I¡¯ll be doing.¡± ¡°Have you decided to work there?¡± ¡°Yes. Since it¡¯s something that I have to do anyway, I¡¯ve decided to give it my all instead of constantly trying to avoid it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not bad.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung nodded. They ate dinner while consoling Yoo Hye-Sook, who was worried. Kang Dae-Kyung did the dishes, and Kang Chan prepared tea. ¡°The drama is airing today, right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. He went to the living room while drying his hands on the kitchen towel. It was strange seeing Kang Dae-Kyung acting like this¡ªnot only did Kang Chan not watch TV that often, but he had also never seen men taking an interest in dramas before. When the drama started, the three of them sat down and conversed for a few more moments. Eun So-Yeon filled her role quite well. Kang Chan immediately liked how steadfast she looked while oveing her hardships. ¡°Oh my! She¡¯s really in the drama!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. In the middle of the drama, the daughter of Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s friend appeared. Even Kang Chan thought she wasn¡¯t suited to y a lead role, but her scene at least swiftly passed by without any awkwardness. Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s phone rang before the end of the drama. ¡°I saw her. She looked really pretty. Why are you thanking me? Okay, sweetie.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook received phone calls from a few more people. She looked happy. The drama ended while Kang Chan was thinking that he would protect their happiness. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan¡¯s phone, which was on top of his desk, started ringing. He quickly went into his room. - Channy, did you watch the drama? ¡°Yeah. I watched it with my parents at home.¡± - If it¡¯s okay with you, then let¡¯s go out for a beer. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s have a drink.¡± Promising to meet Michelle, Kang Chan headed out to the living room. He parted ways with herst Saturday quite awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯ll be meeting up with Michelle for a bit,¡± Kang Chan told his parents. ¡°It seems she wants to meet you because the drama has ended. Have fun.¡± After talking to Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, Kang Chan got changed, then told them, ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± Michelle had said that she would pick him up at his house. Kang Chan headed outside, then called and checked on the security. They reported nothing unusual. 1. Jeungpyeong is a county in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea Chapter 135.1: We Should Go (2)

Chapter 135.1: We Should Go (2)

Kang Chan met Michelle at 9 pm. He was already waiting in front of his apartment when she arrived. Once he had gotten inside her car, they headed to the wine bar in Apgujeong-dong. Michelle definitely knew the best ces to go. Going into the ¡®Jazz in The Clouds,¡¯ which was located on the second floor, they found an overweight middle-aged woman singing along to the apaniment being performed by a four-person band. The two sat at a corner table, and Michelle ordered for them since she was more familiar with ces like this. They gave the performers a round of apuse when the song called ¡®Summer Time¡¯ ended. Around the same time, Kang Chan and Michelle were served cheese, as a side dish, and wine. ¡°You can smoke in here,¡± Michelle said. She was wearing a ck suit and a white shirt, making it seem as if she coordinated with Kang Chan to wear matching clothes. Kang Chan poured them wine and took a sip, then lit up a cigarette. ¡°Michelle,¡± Kang Chan called. Michelle looked at Kang Chan with her blue eyes. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of working for the government starting this Wednesday. You probably won¡¯t be able to contact me.¡± Michelle blinked. White women were born with really long eyshes. ¡°My presence in your life will probably put you in danger, so here.¡± Kang Chan ced a thumb-tack-shaped transmitter on top of the table. ¡°My mother attached it to her wallet, but you can attach it to anything that you always carry with you. That way, I¡¯ll be able to track your location.¡± Michelle opened her purse, took out a wallet, and attached the transmitter to it. ¡°Like this?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Kang Chan sighed softly. ¡°Channy,¡± Michelle called as she extinguished her cigarette on the ashtray. ¡°For as long as you¡¯re doing this because you want to, and for as long as it gives you that look in your eyes, then I¡¯ll be okay with it even if it¡¯s dangerous. I¡¯d like to be someone who can provide you with rest whenever you¡¯re having a difficult time¡­ After your parents, of course.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I know, but I¡¯m doing this because I¡¯m happy to. I don¡¯t want to be a burden to you, so don¡¯t worry about me and just focus on your work. All I ask in return is that you don¡¯t forget to meet up with me at least twice a month,¡± Michelle said with a mischievous look. Kang Chan just smirked. ¡°If you skip even a month, then I¡¯m going to ask for something bigger the next month. I don¡¯t like that you¡¯re growing up more and more into an amazing man, but that¡¯s probably the real reason why I fell for you,¡± Michelle added. ¡°You¡¯re cringey.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a yer!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a yer?¡± ¡°Not only do you have a pretty female student, but you also have me, Eun So-Yeon, and Kim Mi-Young!¡± Saying that he had something going on with Heo Eun-Sil was out of the question, and he didn¡¯t even know if Eun So-Yeon liked him. It was unfair, but it was also difficult for him to make excuses. Smiling, Michelle brought her face closer to him. Doing things like this as they were talking was just everyday life for French people. When Kang Chan lightly kissed her, Michelle sat up straight with a broad smile. Although a lot of people were dressed up around them, the gazes were still all on Michelle, just like in any other bars they had gone to. ¡°If something dangerous happens, I¡¯ll probably check on your location. Try not to go out alone if possible or be alone with someone you don¡¯t know in secluded ces. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s for work,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Channy, my birthday is next month.¡± Damn it! I¡¯m doing my best to tell you that things will get dangerous! Nevertheless, Michelle still said something irrelevant. The look in her eyes showed that she was really looking forward to it. ¡°You know what I want as my birthday present, right?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°What?¡± Kang Chan really didn¡¯t know. ¡°Let¡¯s spend a night together¡ªjust that day in the entire year. Don¡¯t refuse that.¡± Phew! Kang Chan exhaled deeply. At times like this, changing the subject would be best. ¡°Michelle, I¡¯m thinking of buying a building. Look into that for me,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°A building?¡± Kang Chan told her that Seok Kang-Ho had been scammed not long ago. ¡°What¡¯s the budget?¡± Michelle asked afterward. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I think it won¡¯t hurt to spend up to a hundred billion won.¡± Michelle exhaled with a shocked expression. ¡°I¡¯ll need about two floors. Aside from that, it¡¯d be great if it can amodate Kang Yoo Motors, my mother¡¯s foundation, and D.I. as well,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°What about facilities?¡± ¡°A private elevator that goes down to the basement, a private basement parking lot that I can use, a gym, and showers.¡± ¡°A bedroom!¡± Michelle quickly added. ¡°We¡¯ll probably have to renovate the building¡¯s interior, then.¡± ¡°You think so?¡± Kang Chan cocked his head. Michelle shook her head. ¡°Channy, there¡¯s barely any pre-existing buildings that are built like that. It¡¯ll be better to just buynd and build a new building instead.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that take too much time?¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll look into it. You have the money ready, right?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°The money is with Cecile.¡± ¡°Phew!¡± Michelle sighed. ¡°I fell in love with a man who¡¯s far too great for me.¡± New singers and apanists climbed up the stage and prepared to y. Michelle pointed to the seat next to her, implying that they should watch the performance. Kang Chan sat next to Michelle, and she leaned toward him and hugged him. The apanists sweetly yed ¡®Fly Me to the Moon¡¯. At that moment, Kang Chan realized for the first time that jazz was good. ¡°Channy, don¡¯t do anything dangerous.¡± Michelle held Kang Chan tightly in her arms. ¡°When I was having tea with your father and mother, I realized they¡¯re both proud of you but are also anxious about what you do. I feel the same way. If you find yourself in a really dangerous situation, then think of your parents. Think of me as well. Okay?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Chan raised his right arm and stroked Michelle¡¯s head. ¡°How did you know that my head is my erogenous zone?¡± Michelle asked. When Kang Chan was startled, Michelle smiled mischievously. ¡°Stupid! I already told you that my only request is the present I want for my birthday next month.¡± Phew! I¡¯m definitely no match for Michelle when ites to things like this. As performers began the second song, the host exined that the song was for people who enjoyed dancing. Hence, three or four couples went out to the area in front of the stage. ¡°Let¡¯s go and dance,¡± Michelle said. ¡°I¡¯m shit at dancing.¡± ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Michelle stood up and pulled Kang Chan by the hand. The people around them immediately looked at them. This was crazy. As soon as they got to the dance floor, Michelle reached out and ced her arms inside Kang Chan¡¯s jacket, embracing him. Wrapping his arms around her back, she felt hot. He felt not only Michelle¡¯s chest but her lower body as well. In front of people who were looking at him with envy and jealousy, Michelle snuggled up to Kang Chan, hugging him tightly. He couldn¡¯t help but feel ufortable. At that moment, it felt as if Michelle was consoling herself while loving and longing for Kang Chan. Kang Chan lowered his head on top of Michelle¡¯s, then hugged her softly. ¡°Kiss me,¡± Michelle said. ¡°There are too many people.¡± ¡°Then promise me that you¡¯ll be with me on my birthday.¡± Kang Chan sighed softly. He felt as if the music had been going on forever. ¡°Alright,¡± Kang Chan answered. When he did, the music ended. Michelle looked disappointed, and the guys around them sighed. They all had the same expression. When they went back to their seat, Michelle had a coquettish look in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m happy.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what to reply to things like that. ¡°Channy, if you ever have time, then at least go to Jeju-do with your parents on the weekend,¡± Michelle said. ¡°Jeju-do?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s not like you don¡¯t have the money, so go to Jeju-do. Give your parents good memories. They probably can¡¯t say that to you.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that just because they¡¯re busy?¡± ¡°See? You really don¡¯t know anything when ites to this. Your parents can¡¯t ask that from you because they¡¯re afraid that they¡¯ll burden you. At times like this, you should ask them to spare you some time and surprise them with a trip during the weekend. I¡¯ll book the trip.¡± Kang Chan stared at her nkly, and Michelle justughed as if she found him funny. Jeju-do? That wasn¡¯t a bad idea. He could find some time on the weekend for his parents once they had finished training. *** Michelle was still happy when Kang Chan sent her home. He then took a taxi home, arriving around a little after midnight. For some reason, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were still in the living room. ¡°You¡¯re still awake?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes, but we should head to bed now.¡± Were they worried that I would sleep with Michelle, by any chance? Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh up his sleeve. ¡°Right, are you free this weekend? There¡¯s this ce I want to take you both to,¡± Kang Chan asked his parents. ¡°This weekend? Is it on Saturday or Sunday?¡± ¡°We can probably leave Saturday morning and be back on Sunday.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked at each other. ¡°I¡¯m free on the weekend. What about you?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°¡®I¡¯m not busy, honey. Where are we going, Channy?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡± ¡°But we have to prepare clothes and other things... Are we going to go to a pension house?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°No. It¡¯s a secret. So you¡¯re both free, then?¡± ¡°Yes. Are you really free, honey?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked, to which Kang Dae-Kyung responded with a nod. Kang Chan thought this was probably the first time he had ever seen Yoo Hye-Sook look so excited. Meanwhile, Kang Dae-Kyung looked as if he wanted a hint. Michelle was definitely a cut above Kang Chan for things like this. Kang Chan washed up and headed to bed. *** On Tuesday, Kang Chan met up and headed to Misari with Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I met Michellest night. I told her to find a building that we can buy,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± Due to the current season, red leaves could now be seen along the faraway riverbank. As an employee brought over their coffee, Kang Chan took out a cigarette. ¡°Anyway, how are you feeling?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°My wounds are about healed up.¡± ¡°Already? it''s only been a day.¡± ¡°I went to the hospital yesterday after we parted ways and asked them to tightly tie up my wounds. Don¡¯t even think about using my wounds as an excuse to exclude me from this.¡± ¡°I got it, so don¡¯t overdo it. Don¡¯t give us a headache bying with us all tightly bandaged just to lie down in pain.¡± ¡°Captain,¡± Seok Kang-Ho called Kang Chan with a serious tone. This fucker is acting like this to change the mood, isn¡¯t he? Seok Kang-Ho remained firm even though Kang Chan looked at him suspiciously. ¡°I got a call from the school today.¡± ¡°A call from the school? Why?¡± Kang Chan asked. He couldn¡¯t help but feel worried, thinking they were trying to get him back to school again. ¡°A teacher I¡¯m close with called me to ask how I¡¯m doing. I was told that a lot of kids have been visiting Su-Jin at the hospital, so her and her parents¡¯ anger has melted away. Can you ask the administration to let Su-Jin go to school again?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t they just tell the school that Su-Jin will be attending again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that easy. She didn¡¯t take time off from school; she dropped out. I think she can go back to school if the school board or something exerts its influence.¡± ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t Mr. Yoo Hun-Woo say that she has to be hospitalized for more than a year?¡± Kang Chan argued. ¡°It looks like there¡¯s a way for as long as the administration or the school board gives their approval. Su-Jin¡¯s father is a professor, so he¡¯s looking deep into this, but it seems he can¡¯t make this work by himself.¡± Kang Chan cocked his head. ¡°Let¡¯s look into it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fascinating, isn¡¯t it? I thought Ho-Jun and Eun-Sil could never be decent human beings. I heard that even those discharged from the hospital have been obediently going to school. Phuhu, Ho-Jun apparently hasplete control over them and really pressures them to stop them from ever bullying other kids again.¡± ¡°Do you think they¡¯ve really got their act together?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it only proper for us to correct them whenever they do something wrong and praise them whenever they do something right?¡± Is that right? ¡°Let¡¯s think about this after the training tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright. I just thought I should mention it.¡± Kang Chan red at Seok Kang-Ho, feeling as if he lost. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°No matter how badly you want to go, you can¡¯t go with us if you don¡¯t get better.¡± ¡°Hey! Won¡¯t we see how I¡¯m doing tomorrow?¡± Looking shameless, Seok Kang-Ho tried to take a sip of his coffee but spilled some of it on him. ¡°Ow! Hot!¡± 1. Apgujeong-dong is a neighborhood of Gangnam-gu in Seoul, South Korea. It is considered one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in South Korea 2. this is an actual song by Count Basie and Frank Sinatra Chapter 135.2: We Should Go (2)

Chapter 135.2: We Should Go (2)

Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho had lunch together, then headed to Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s office in Samseong-dong. Kim Hyung-Jung actually looked heartbroken. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I find it unfair that I can¡¯t go with you two.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to feel that way¡ªwe¡¯ll keep doing this in the future.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked very heartbroken, but Kang Chan couldn¡¯t tell him to overexert himself because of his condition. ¡°We have prepared everything. The Third Airborne Forces¡¯ brigademander is under the directmand of the Section Chief, and he¡¯s my and Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s junior by a year. He contacted me not long ago.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at the document in disappointment. ¡°The look in your eyes behind your bandanas and the way Mr. Seok Kang-Ho looked in Mongolia are still vivid to me. You had backed off while pointing the rifle. Phew! I want to join the two of you so bad that I¡¯m feeling frustrated.¡± If they were going out to have fun, Kang Chan would have quickly grabbed him and left. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to get better before the operation starts,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. He then looked up, his eyes glinting. ¡°I look forward to it,¡± Kang Chan said. . ¡°Thank you. In my entire life, I never thought that South Korea¡¯s National Intelligence Service would one day retaliate against other countries.¡± ¡°I heard from the Section Chief that he tried to do that about five times or so but eventually gave up. Well, we haven¡¯t left yet, so we don¡¯t know yet if it¡¯ll actually happen, do we?¡± ¡°Now that France¡¯s DGSE has intervened, this operation has already partly seeded for as long as Vasili remains silent. When the Section Chief was preparing an operation, we couldn¡¯t even train without worry because we had to keep an eye on other people¡¯s moods.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exhaled loudly. ¡°Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Get better soon. I¡¯d like you to be with us if possible.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get better,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung answered with a brief nod. ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°We will.¡± Kang Chan gave Kim Hyung-Jung a firm handshake. It felt as if Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s wishes were being directly passed on to him through their hands. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho left the office and headed to the hospital for Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s treatment. Arriving at around 3 pm, they didn¡¯t have to wait to go into the examination room. They found Yoo Hun-Woo inside. ¡°Huh? Mr. Kang Chan, you already removed the bandages on your right hand?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked. ¡°This? It¡¯s all healed up now, so I removed it. Look, I can move it without problems.¡± Now that he thought about it, Kang Chan didn¡¯t even feel any pain when he shook hands with Kim Hyung-Jung. Yoo Hun-Woo unraveled Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s bandages while shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯ve been moving too much. At this rate, your wound will take a long time to heal. You¡¯re lucky it¡¯s no longer summer. Otherwise, I would have told you to be confined again.¡± Kang Chan red at Seok Kang-Ho, who had lied just so he could go on the operation. ¡°Mr. Yoo Hun-Woo, it doesn¡¯t hurt at all,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said shamelessly. In response, Yoo Hun-Woo firmly pressed on Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s wound. ¡°Ow!¡± ¡°See? It¡¯s swollen, which means you haven¡¯t been resting for the past few days. You can get an infection,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo didn¡¯t back off. Using a tweezer, he picked up a cotton ball soaked in disinfectant and disinfected Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s wound. Whenever he did, Seok Kang-Ho winced in pain. ¡°How about we put some of my blood into Seok Kang-Ho?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Pardon?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo sounded surprised, and Seok Kang-Ho quickly turned his head to look at Kang Chan. ¡°There¡¯s somewhere that we have to go to no matter what, so I was wondering if Seok Kang-Ho would heal a bit more quickly if I give him my blood right now and he gets a good night¡¯s sleepter. Now that I have thought about it, I also became a lot better after sleeping,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Hmm.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo cocked his head. ¡°Let¡¯s try it. That¡¯s the only way he¡¯ll be able to join me anyway, right?¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°I want to try it, but only if you¡¯re okay with it, Mr. Kang Chan. What do you think, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked. ¡°I see no reason for me to oppose it.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s try it. When are the two of you leaving?¡± Yoo Hun-Woo asked. ¡°Tomorrow.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo shook his head and frowned. ¡°I¡¯ll prescribe you strong antibiotics. But if your condition gets worse, you have toe to the hospital immediately. Otherwise, your condition can be really dangerous.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo disinfected and applied medication to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s wound. After wrapping bandages around Seok Kang-Ho, he then transfused Kang Chan¡¯s blood into Seok Kang Ho. The entire operationsted forty minutes. Afterward, Yoo Hun-Woo asked if they could have tea together, so they all sat down together. ¡°Students from the school kepting to the hospital,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo said. So I¡¯ve heard.¡± ¡°It¡¯s unexpected, but Su-Jin is also quickly getting better. Honestly, she¡¯s recovering so fast that it can only be exined by your blood. To top it all off, she¡¯s now mentally stable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not qualified to be a doctor.¡± Perplexed, Kang Chan looked up from the teacup in his hand and looked at Yoo Hun-Woo. ¡°She did get better, but I still gave her a blood transfusion without knowing anything about possible side effects. To make things worse, I did the same thing today even though Mr. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s life isn¡¯t even in danger,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo exined. I guess some doctors think like this. Kang Chan felt as if he was learning new things. ¡°Thank you. Qualified as a doctor or not, I¡¯m sincerely grateful to you for helping me save a student when there was no other way to save her,¡± Yoo Hun-Woo added. This sly and wily fox also had a bothersome way of thanking him. ¡°I heard that the students talked about you. They also knelt in front of the ICU for more than two hours for a few days before leaving. Seeing that melted away the anger of Su-Jin¡¯s parents. At that moment, I couldn¡¯t help but feel as if treating you was truly worthwhile.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t feel that treating me was worthwhile before that?¡± Kang Chanughed. Yoo Hun-Wooughed with him. ¡°Thank you.¡± Yoo Hun-Woo looked relieved now that he had said what he wanted to say. After happily drinking tea, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho left the hospital. ¡°Huh? I feel tired for some reason,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°He probably gave you a high dose of the medication. Let¡¯s head home quickly¡ªI¡¯ll drive.¡± In all honesty, Seok Kang-Ho looked exhausted. Kang Chan drove Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car to his apartment¡¯s parking lot, then walked home. He had dinner at home, watched the D.I. drama with his parents, then fell asleep. *** Wednesday morning. After Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook told Kang Chan to be safe and headed to work, Kang Chan met up with Seok Kang-Ho in front of the apartment. Choi Jong-Il was waiting for them at the back, so they couldn¡¯t waste time. They bought coffee at the specialty coffee shop across the street for them and the others, then left for Jeungpyeong. ¡°Captain, it¡¯s seriously amazing,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°What is?¡± ¡°After having dinner, I slept nonstop after the blood transfusion. When I woke up this morning, all my wounds have closed up.¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± Kang Chan looked at him suspiciously. Seemingly finding it unfair that Kang Chan didn¡¯t believe him, Seok Kang-Ho said, ¡°See for yourselfter. As I said, my wounds havepletely healed.¡± It wasn¡¯t really too surprising since Kang Chan that was what always happened every time he got wounded. ¡°I couldn¡¯t understand how you could remove your bandages after just a good night¡¯s sleep, but I definitely do now that I have gone through it myself.¡± ¡°Hey! Selling my blood will make me rich,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Ugh! You¡¯ll be in trouble if word gets out about this.¡± ¡°Nothing will happen if you just keep quiet.¡± The highway was quite empty, perhaps because it was a weekday. In a little less than two hours, they arrived at where their GPS led them to. However, soldiers were blocking the unpaved road that went into the mountain. ¡°What¡¯s your purpose?¡± one of the soldiers asked. The soldier checked Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s IDs, then opened the barricade. Heading inside, they found four military trucks and two Jeeps in an area that seemed to be the parking lot. There were also two concrete barracks. As Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Choi Jong-Il and his party exited the car, the officers inside the barracks came outside. Choi Jong-Il greeted the officers first, but they already seemed acquainted with each other. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan?¡± one of the officers asked. ¡°That would be me.¡± Kang Chan corrected when the officers greeted Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I¡¯m Choi Seong-Geon, the brigadier general of the Third Airborne forces.¡± After shaking hands, Choi Seong-Geon corrected his greeting toward Seok Kang-Ho, then guided the two into the barrack that he hade out of not long ago. ¡°You guys should alsoe in,¡± Choi Seong-Geon told Choi Jong-Il. ¡°We¡¯ll stay here.¡± ¡°Okay! Would you like me to send over some coffee?¡± ¡°We already had coffee on our way here.¡± With that, Choi Seong-Geon headed inside. The barrack had a simple interior. It didn¡¯t even have a sofa, which most ces had. It was certainly a perfect suit for the field. The first lieutenant quickly made instant coffee and put it on the table. ¡°I heard from the Section Chief and Kim sunbae about what you want to do. The soldiers you selected are waiting in the adjoining room,¡± Choi Seong-Geon told Kang Chan. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Have some coffee.¡± Choi Seong-Geon looked up and examined Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho with his sunburnt face. Instant coffee had its own special taste, but it was even more delicious than usual, perhaps because it was chilly. After all, they were deep in the mountains. When they put down the paper cups, Choi Seong-Geon stood up from his seat. ¡°We have military uniforms and equipment prepared in the adjoining room.¡± In the field, soldiers were all the same. They were straightforward with everything, no matter what it was about. Choi Seong-Geon guided Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho into the barrack next door. As soon as they entered, the soldiers stood up from their seats. They were all wearing ck military uniforms and ck berets. The South Korean g was emroidered on their uniform¡¯s left forearm sleeve. ¡°Everyone, meet Mr. Kang Chan and Mr. Seok Kang-Ho,¡± Choi Seong-Geon introduced. The people looked at them with caution and slight curiosity. ¡°Pleasee out after changing into your uniforms,¡± Choi Seong-Gon said before leaving. Two military uniforms were hung up in front of the locker on the left. Since only men were in the barracks and they didn¡¯t have anything to hide, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho immediately went up to the locker and changed into their uniforms. Kang Chan was covered in scars, and Seok Kang-Ho still had bandages wrapped around him. After changing and putting their berets on their shoulder, they put on their boots. ¡°Team one?¡± Kang Chan called. No one replied. ¡°Team one?¡± Still no answer. It was as if they were saying thatthey were special force soldiers, so Kang Chan should respect them and at the very least follow etiquette if he wanted to order them around. Kang Chan smirked, then shook his head. By the time Seok Kang-Ho discreetly looked over Kang Chan¡¯s mood, Kang Chan had already given up. It seemed Kang Chan had expected too much from them because Jeon Dae-Geuk and Kim Hyung-Jung had talked about their sense of duty so much. ¡°Daye, get our clothes. We¡¯re leaving.¡± Now wearing military boots, Seok Kang-Ho went on top of the bed. When he came down with their clothes, Kang Chan immediately went out of the barrack. Wearing military uniforms, Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee were waiting for them in front of the barracks. ¡°Choi Jong-Il,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Yes?¡± Choi Jong-Il¡¯s answer was a bit stronger than usual, perhaps because he was in uniform. ¡°We¡¯re heading back,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I said we¡¯re heading back. From now on, my team will only consist of you three and Seok Kang-Ho. I¡¯ll find new members myself, so make do with what we have for now,¡± Kang Chan said. As Choi Jong-Il looked over their moods, Seok Kang-Ho got in the driver¡¯s seat withoutining. Choi Jong-Il only turned his head to look at them when Kang Chan walked to the passenger seat. ¡°Choi Jong-Il,¡± Kang Chan called again. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re also thinking of only following my orders once I¡¯ve exined things like the fuckers inside, then you better quit right here!¡± Seok Kang-Ho immediately drove away as soon as Kang Chan went into the passenger seat. They saw Choi Seong-Geon urgentlying out of the barracks and Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee quickly getting in the car. Was Kang Chan crossing the line? That was bullshit. Even French mercenaries answered if people called them. Even if it was distasteful, dirty, and cheap, all soldiers answered when given orders. It didn¡¯t matter if they hadpleted all kinds of special training in South Korea. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to go out to an operation with people that couldn¡¯t even answer. They want me to show my capabilities first? Why? Why should I go through all of that and still take them on an operation? Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang, but he didn¡¯t even take it out. Chapter 136.1: What are you all doing here? (1)

Chapter 136.1: What are you all doing here? (1)

Choi Seong-Geon sat at his office desk as he spoke on the phone. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about this, but I believe what happened is that the young man acted arrogant and eventually decided to leave because he couldn¡¯t handle the soldiers.¡± -Choi Seong-Geon, did you order Code A? ¡°Sir, even without me having to order Code A, isn¡¯t it only natural in this field to prove your worthiness first if you want to lead a special forces team?¡± A long sigh came from the other side of the phone. -Brigadier General Choi Seong-Geon. ¡°Yes, sir?¡± -I didn¡¯t expect you would be so big-headed just because you earned a star that you would dare offer me advice. This matter is highly ssified, so I can¡¯t say more on the matter, but if it meant making Kang Chan return and train the soldiers, Kim Tae-Jin, Kim Hyung-Jung, and I would dly get on our knees.? Choi Seong-Geon looked at his aide with a curious and surprised expression. -From this moment on, I will no longer consider you as my junior. You are a soldier of South Korea, a general who is supposed to serve his mothend willingly. I can¡¯t believe you of all people would ruin such a significant event because of your pathetic pride. I¡¯m embarrassed to have proudly rmended you as my junior.? ¡°Sir! The men on standby right now are all strong enough to hold their own against any enemy.¡± -You idiot. If Kang Chan wanted to, all the men there would have been dead by now. Let me tell you one thing. Even if Kim Tae-Jin, Kim Hyung-Jung, and I were to attack that man all at once, we wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat him. Don¡¯t think it¡¯s because of our age because even Choi Jong-Il willingly submitted to Kang Chan. Can you confidently say any of the men there are more outstanding than Choi Jong-Il? ¡°That can¡¯t be possible.¡± A resigned sigh came from the other line, making it seem as if the caller was trying to control his temper. The call dropped right after. In disbelief, Choi Seong-Geon pressed a button on his phone to confirm if he had really been talking to Jeon Dae-Geuk. ¡°What in the world is going on?¡± Choi Seong-Geon scrolled through his contacts and called another number. When the call connected, he heard another suppressed sigh. ¡°Mr. Kim, this is Choi Seong-Geon. Is that Kang Chan guy that important? Why is Mr. Jeon acting so furious? Mr. Kim, the abilities of my men here are¡ª¡± -Choi Seong-Geon.? ¡°Yes, sir!¡± -I can¡¯t say much on this matter because this is a ssified government secret. However, just know that a single call from Mr. Kang Chan will have France sending their Foreign Legion and Russia dispatching their Spetsnaz¡¯s elite team. That incredible person offered his services for South Korea, but you turned him away because of your stupid pride.? ¡°But he¡¯s still a young child.¡± -It seems you now think that I and Mr. Jeon have low standards just because you have gained a star. Brigadier General Choi Seong-Geon, if it ever bes known that you let Code A happen, it will be the gravest mistake you¡¯ll ever make in your entire life. ¡°You should have told me something that important in advance, sir!¡± -You¡¯ve truly be the definition of a corrupt soldier. The Choi Seong-Geon I knew trusted and put his life at stake with a singlemand from Mr. Jeon. Where did that man go? Do you think the entire world is now at your mercy just because you have a star and the Third Airborne Forces under you? Another low sigh echoed across the call before it dropped. ¡°Just who that bast¡ªthat guy for him to be a ssified government secret?!¡± Choi Seong-Geon shouted as he red at his aide. ¡°We couldn¡¯t find any other information about him other than that he was with the founder of the railway project at the Eurasian Rail conference event,¡± the aide replied. ¡°Well, Mr. Jeon and Mr. Kim aren¡¯t the kind to act like that just so they can try and kiss up to the president. Haah, what the hell is going on?¡± Choi Seong-Geon clenched his teeth and stepped over to the window. ¡®Damn it!¡¯ It was only at that moment that he realized the look that Kang Chan had in his eyes. *** ¡°We can¡¯t even stop by a bathroom because of this outfit,¡± Seok Kang-Ho grumbled. Kang Chan chuckled. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. They were currently wearing ck military wear, military boots, and a South Korean g on their left sleeve. ¡°You should¡¯ve at least picked up the phone,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Whatever. I think this is for the best. We¡¯re heading into a mission where people could die, so I don¡¯t want to choose men who can¡¯t put their hearts into it. Our team in the past used to beposed of men looking to die, and even with them, things still proved difficult. I won¡¯t be able to take it if I drag men who don¡¯t give two shits about the operation only for their lives to be sacrificed.¡± ¡°They just behaved that way because they have no idea who you are. They¡¯ll act differently once they do.¡± Kang Chan smirked and looked at his military wear. ¡°Over half of the soldiers in that barrack have never killed anyone. What could I do with those people?¡± ¡°Honestly, when none of them replied, I thought a few of those men¡¯s arms would be broken soon.¡± ¡°For what? It didn¡¯t look like anything would change even if I did that.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan. ¡°Even with big heads and bigger egos, those people wouldn¡¯t even be able to do half as much as rookies of the Foreign Legion. When they go into the battlefield, they¡¯ll rely solely on their abilities, and they¡¯ll cause a huge mess before dying. Not backing down and submitting to others doesn¡¯t mean you have a strong will. All that matters is whether or not you followmands.¡± Seok Kang-Ho shook his head. He was reminded of the time Kang Chan beat up an arrogant recruit a long time ago. It was quite obvious how much that incident devastated the recruit. ¡°What about me? Why did you beat me into shape and take care of me?¡± Kang Chan smirked and nced at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Because you were just as lonely as I was.¡± ¡°Well, I suppose if you didn¡¯t drag me along, I would already be dead in some alley by now.¡± As they continued talking, Kang Chan¡¯s phone kept ringing. ¡°Park the car. Let¡¯s get out of these clothes,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright.¡± They reached a resting area about five minutester. Seok Kang-Ho parked the car, and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s car stopped right behind them. ¡°Let¡¯s change into something else and have some boiled chicken on the way back before going home.¡± Choi Jong-Il was about to say something but quickly went to his car and pulled out a new outfit. Using the wide-open car doors of the sedan as a curtain, they quickly changed into new clothes. Since they had already stopped, they thought it wouldn¡¯t hurt to have a smoke as well. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho bit on a cigarette each as Choi Jong-Il approached them. ¡°Mr. Jeon wants you to answer his calls, sir.¡± ¡°I will probably just get angry if I speak on the phone now. Give him a call once we hit the road again. Tell him I¡¯ll calm myself down and head back for today, then I¡¯ll go see him tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Kang Chan likely felt even more disappointed because he thought the special forces he saw today would be like Jeon Dae-Geuk, Kim Hyung-Jung, and Choi Jong-Il. However, he did consider the fact that the soldiers probably didn¡¯t take to himself and Seok Kang-Ho all too well because they were chosen to train without knowing anything about the operation. Those men lived on pride, so Kang Chan understood why they would refuse to take orders from a high school student and a P.E. teacher. However, that was the very issue: they wouldn¡¯t listen to his orders. Mercenaries were an extremely defiant bunch. They would never submit to anyone unless they had learned that theirmander was exceptionally stronger. Nevertheless, they at least knew how to respond when they were spoken to. That difference in attitude mattered. Would they still follow orders even though doing so would make them feel like shit or would they act up right from the beginning? If the former type of person requested Kang Chan to demonstrate his capabilities, Kang Chan would have been more than willing to. However, Kang Chan thought there was no reason for him to show his abilities to insubordinate people who would say, ¡°This is how strong I am, so you better listen up,¡± from the beginning. That was just bullshit. Kang Chan smirked. ¡°If you¡¯re fine with it, want to have some maeun-tang for lunch?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked Kang Chan, approaching him just as he was about to step back into the car. ¡°Maeun-tang?¡± ¡°There is a great maeun-tang ce on the way back. It¡¯s near a reservoir in Anseong. Why don¡¯t we have lunch there?¡± That sounded like a good idea. Seok Kang-Ho put the address in the car¡¯s navigation system and immediately drove off. ¡°Cap, seriously, this is amazing,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said as he elerated, leisurely moving the handle. ¡°My injuries¡­ They¡¯re just itchy now. I¡¯m already curious about what Director Yoo will have to say.¡± It was definitely a relief, but if Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s recovery was really as quick as he imed, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but be concerned about word getting out and the possible side effects of this. They left the expressway after driving on the interstate for about an hour and entered a quiet country road. ¡°Whoa! What a fantastic view!¡± Mountains lined up to their left, a reservoir could be seen to the right. The asional fishing rods and parasols set up by fishers made for a picturesque scene. ¡°Now that I think about it, we¡¯ve never gone fishing,¡± Seok Kang-Ho remarked. Kang Chan smiled faintly and rolled down the windows. He stretched out his arm as a refreshing breeze blew inside the car. Fishing, his ass. Kang Chan''s life was anything but idle, and he barely had time to even buy himself some pork cutlets in the past. ¡°Why don¡¯t we stay the night here before going back?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Mr. Jeon Dae-Geuk and Mr. Kim Hyung-Jung will have a breakdown from all the anxiety,¡± Kang Chan replied jokingly. ¡°Phuhuhu. Why not just give them a call then? You can do it after we have lunch.¡± ¡°Fine, I will.¡± The navigation system announced they were about 100 meters from their destination. 1. Spicy fish stew. Chapter 136.2: What are you all doing here? (1)

Chapter 136.2: What are you all doing here? (1)

¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t that man over there Mr. Jeon Dae Geuk?¡± Kang Chan wasrgely taken aback when he turned the corner and was greeted by Jeon Dae-Geuk, who was sitting on the Korean-style wooden bench in front of the diner. As the door opened with a click, Kang Chan suddenly felt apologetic toward Jeon Dae-Geuk. ¡°Section Chief Jeon! What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Well, why weren¡¯t you answering my calls?¡± What in the world? Kang Chan had never met someone like Jeon Dae-Geuk¡ªa man with a spirit so fiery that he would drag his injured body all the way here while sweating from all the pain. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°If you really are, treat me to some expensive maeun-tang!¡± ¡°I will. Please, let¡¯s head inside.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t do anything but surrender to this man. With the help of Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho, Jeon Dae-Geuk walked into the diner. ¡°Choi Jon-Il, tell all the employees standing outside toe in,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk ordered. ¡°Yes, Mr. Jeon!¡± Choi Jong-Il replied. Two people who seemed to have assisted Jeon Dae-Geuk to this ce soon entered the establishment. ¡°I¡¯m a regr at this ce,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said. ¡°So you made Jong-Il rmend this restaurant to me?¡± Kang Chan was astounded. ¡°I would¡¯ve had to chase you around if I didn¡¯t!¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk replied defensively. The floor was warm and cozy. The elderly couple that ran the diner pulled over a nket on top of Jeon Dae-Geuk, who was leaning on a wall. They even gave him a pillow for his back. They tended to him with care. ¡°Why would you move around in this condition, sir?¡± the owner asked. ¡°That young man over there made me worried sick,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk replied with a smile. ¡°I might as well eat heartily now that I¡¯vee all the way here. Extra spicy, please. And enough for the guys outside too.¡± ¡°Got it. It¡¯ll take some time.¡± The elderly couple nced at Kang Chan and left after wrapping Jeon Dae-Geuk in the nket like a cocoon. Not too long after, the elderly man brought over three cups of instant coffee and put them on the table. ¡°You must have beening to this ce for a long time now,¡± Kang Chan noted. ¡°Back when I used to do field operations, I did. Whenever I was feeling down, I woulde here and sleep a night before heading back,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk responded. ¡°You feel down too, Mr. Jeon?¡± Kang Chan asked surprisedly. ¡°What? You think I¡¯m heartless and devoid of any emotions?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk scoffed. Kang Chan scratched the back of his head, feeling as if he made a mistake. If he had someone like Jeon Dae-Geuk in high school, he never would have left for Africa. If only a teacher like Seok Kang-Ho, or mentors like Kim Hyung-Jung and Kim Tae-Jin had been there for him back then¡­ Kang Chan abashedly looked down at his stic cup. Just then, he heard someone utter a greeting from outside the diner, which was then followed by a familiar voice. The door slid open with a creak. This is getting ridiculous. Kim Tae-Jin was helping Kim Hyung-Jung inside. The surprised owner quickly hurried into the side room. ¡°What are all of you doing here?¡± Kang Chan asked, bbergasted. ¡°Why did youe here when you¡¯re not feeling well?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk followed up. ¡°I was craving some maeun-tang,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied. Kang Chan rushed forward and had Kim Hyung-Jung lean on the wall so quickly that he didn¡¯t get to properly exchange greetings with Kim Tae-Jin. The owner brought out another nket and pillow and had Kim Hyung-Jung rest on the pillow before wrapping the nket around him. A momentter, two more coffee cups were carried inside. ¡°Please give us an ashtray,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung requested from the owner. Hearing Kim Hyung-Jung from outside, Choi Jong-Il quickly brought an ashtray for him. ¡°See? This is what happens when you leave me out and do things yourselves,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the businessman?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked. ¡°Are you really in the position to say that?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Jeon Dae-Geuk, pretending to be upset, then red at Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Hey, you said the nagging on the way here was gonna be the end of it,¡± Kim Hyung-Jungined. ¡°Well, I¡¯m still upset!¡± Kim Tae-Jin yelped. Now, Kang Chan really felt as if he hadmitted a great sin. ¡°Take a smoke,¡± Jeon Dae-Geukmanded. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°I¡¯m putting down the ranks right now. Should we have a drink?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked. At Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s words, Kim Hyung-Jung pulled out his hand from the nket and took a cigarette into his mouth, attempting to make Kang Chanfortable. Kang Chan signaled with his eyes to open the door and picked up a cigarette himself. Seok Kang-Ho held the lighter and lit up Kim Hyung-Jung and Kang Chan¡¯s cigarettes first before lighting up his own. ¡°We have this thing called Code A,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk began. ¡°It¡¯s a tradition to disregard the orders of a newmander or amander the soldiers dislike. Those in the special forces probably think it¡¯s a way to protect their pride since they won¡¯t be properly rewarded for things they do. I couldn¡¯t get rid of it during my time.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk then looked at Kim Hyung-Jung for assistance. ¡°I couldn¡¯t inform the soldiers of your experience, Mr. Kang Chan. The misunderstanding most likely sprang up because of that. I will change the training to the First Airborne Forces and switch out all the soldiers as well,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung attempted, hoping to appease Kang Chan. Kang Chan faced Kim Hyung-Jung directly. ¡°Manager Kim Hyung-Jung, Section Chief Jeon Dae-Geuk. I think I was in the wrong to turn around without saying anything, and for not answering my phone. I even made the two of you and Director Kim Tae-Jin head all the way here.¡± Kang Chan extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray and looked at Jeon Dae-Geuk. ¡°I left the training ground without a word for two reasons. First, all the soldiers present were unaware the operation could lead to death, and more than half of the men have never even shot anyone.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk let out a low sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know what Code A is. However, insubordinate soldiers and inexperienced soldiers will only get in the way and cause idents, regardless of how capable they are. If I want to be acknowledged as theirmander, I¡¯ll likely have to break some soldier¡¯s arm to disy my abilities, but that means the operation will already be held back at that point. What will be the point in me continuing to train the soldiers then?¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Hmm,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk sighed deeply again. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, youe to that judgment in that short amount of time?¡± ¡°To be honest, half of my judgment was based on instinct. However, the other half was based on my thought process,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kim Hyung-Jung nced at Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°There¡¯s no answer to something like this. Spec Ops are already hard enough even with themander and soldiers having each other¡¯s backs. No matter how much we exin to the soldiers, they won¡¯t be able to ept Mr. Kang Chan until they witness his abilities,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. It was a harsh judgment, but Kang Chan thought Kim Tae-Jin was right. They could spend days exining the situation to the soldiers, but without any visible proof, Kang Chan would only seem like a high school student to them. It would have been a different story if they were in this together for the long run. While they were training and coordinating with each other, the soldiers would naturally learn to obey Kang Chan. However, the operation was set to begin next week, so if there was any distrust between Kang Chan and the soldiers, all he would be doing was forcing them to march toward their deaths. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this subject anymore,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said in good nature when the atmosphere grew uneasy. ¡°Forget about it for now and just have some tasty maeun-tang. Then, when we get back, we can think about this again.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Kang Chan agreed. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t one to hold grudges or be fixated on an issue, so that conversation ended there. ¡°Anyway, have you already recovered, Mr. Seok?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked. ¡°Yes, I actually have. I healed up faster than I thought,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°And you¡¯re not even bandaged anymore?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked Kang Chan. ¡°You know my body¡¯s unique,¡± Kang Chan said. Kim Tae-Jin shook his head in disbelief. As they made small talk and discussed various topics, a portable gas burner and a wide pot were carried in. The wide pot was filled to the brim with three different types of half-cooked fish. The red soup bubbled deliciously when it was heated up. When no one took thedle to get maeun-tang, Seok Kang-Ho took the initiative and poured some of the soup into his bowl. ¡°Mr. Seok, would you like to try how we eat maeun-tang?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked with a smile. ¡°Sure!¡± Seok Kang-Ho agreed and watched the pot. They chatted for around ten more minutes. Kim Tae-Jin lifted his spoon and smushed the fish, then split the fish from head to tail, making it unrecognizable. As a result, the soup quickly thickened. ¡°After this, we¡¯ll wait for it to boil again. I learned this from my old bosses, who started this. This way, no one will have to feel apologetic about taking more fish for themselves in front of their superiors or subordinates. Everyone can easily get some of the soup without having to worry about offending anyone,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said as he sifted the maeun-tang with thedle. As he said, the soup had be so thick that it was almost like porridge. ¡°Now, let¡¯s dig in.¡± Kim Tae-Jin served Jeon Dae-Geuk a bowl first before serving the others. ¡°Mm!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. Kang Chan scooped up some of the soup with his spoon. It was so good that he found himself smiling in surprise. The door slid open a tiny bit, and the owner brought five bowls of rice and three types of kimchi for them. No other words had to be said to describe how tasty it was. The bones of the fish were a little bothersome, but that small hindrance couldn¡¯t get anyone to give up on this miraculous dish. ¡°It¡¯s really delicious.¡± There was more than enough to go around too. They all had two bowls before they got to the bottom of the pot. Kang Chan put his cutlery down after eating to his heart¡¯s content. If someone asked him to choose between a French feast and this maeun-tang, he would¡¯ve picked maeun-tang in a heartbeat. The table was moved aside after they were done eating, and they were served more coffee. ¡°I¡¯m going to get some shut-eye,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk dered as he brazenlyy down on his side and moved the pillow from his back to under his head. ¡°I¡¯lle back after getting some air,¡± Choi Jong-Il said. ¡°Sure, whatever you want,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied with a smile. With an eye gesture, Kim Tae-Jin helped him up so the remaining four could head out to the Korean-style bench in front of the diner. Chapter 137.1: What are you all doing here? (2)

Chapter 137.1: What are you all doing here? (2)

The reservoir¡¯s scenery, which stretched out across the other side of the street, was quite easy on the eyes. Kang Chan was taking in the sight with admiration when a voice broke the peaceful silence. ¡°Please,¡± Kim Tae-Jin started out of nowhere. ¡°I know the soldiers aren¡¯t up to your standards and that their attitude disappointed you. But Section Chief Jeon, this guy here, and I poured our heart and souls into shaping those soldiers.¡± Kim Tae-Jin nced at Kim Hyung-Jung, then continued, ¡°We have never properlyunched an attack against an enemy nation until now. Even when I used to work on the field with Hyung-Jung at the DMZ, all we did was make our way around North Korea¡¯s guard posts.¡± Kang Chan wasn¡¯t aware of what the Mongolian operation had exactly been, but Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s words killed some of his expectations for it. ¡°A team of soldiers who have experience going to enemy territory¡­ Please make that kind of team for us. We know you¡¯re capable enough to do that. On the way here, I heard from Hyung-Jung that you have the power to call over the special French and Russian mercenaries whenever you¡¯d like. I don¡¯t even have to mention all the great things you¡¯ve done that I have witnessed with my own eyes. Please, forget about the strings attached and don¡¯t worry about them. Would you do me, Mr. Jeon, and Hyung-Jung this favor and help us out just this once?¡± Kim Tae-Jin solemnly requested. When Kang Chan turned around and made eye contact with Kim Hyung-Jung, he immediately realized that he wouldn¡¯t be able to say no to this request. How could he pretend not to notice their pleading and grave eyes? It wasn¡¯t like they were asking him for something petty like babysitting their kids or lending them money. Their request was far nobler than that¡ªthey wanted him to train with the soldiers of South Korea and take them on a field operation. Kang Chan let out a low sigh. ¡°All right,¡± Kang Chan finally agreed. ¡°Really? You¡¯ll do it?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked, looking a lot brighter. ¡°Do you think you would be able to say no if anyone asks you that request so seriously, Director Kim?¡± Kang Chan asked in disbelief. Kim Tae-Jin drew a broad smile on his lips. ¡°Well, now that we¡¯re done with that delicious lunch, I¡¯ll be heading back,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Right now? Already?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked in surprise. ¡°Section Chief Jeon will stay here if I don¡¯t go back, won¡¯t he?¡± Kang Chan asked resignedly. ¡°What made you think that?¡± Kim Tae-Jin sarcastically admonished. ¡°Just hurry and escort him to a hospital, sir. I¡¯ll make my trip back to the training grounds the way we came here,¡± Kang Chan stated. ¡°I¡¯lle with you,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°Trust me, I really will go back,¡± Kang Chan assured him. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I just want to take a look around myself, so let¡¯s head over there together. We can just take one car on the way there. Sang-Hyun is in Cheonan right now, so I¡¯ll tell him toe here so I can head back to Seoul with himter.¡± Kim Tae-Jin had already been discharged from the hospital and was already back to work anyway, so Kang Chan saw no reason to say no. Having made a decision, there was no need for them to drag things out. Everyone got up and immediately headed for the room where Jeon Dae-Guk was lying down. ¡°Mr. Jeon, please get up and hurry to the hospital. I¡¯ll be heading back to Jeungpyeong now,¡± Kang Chan informed Jeon Dae-Geuk. ¡°What?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked in disbelief. He sprang up, but he soon frowned due to the pain brought by the sudden movement. ¡°I¡¯ll be going with him, Section Chief. I¡¯ll tell Sang-Hyun toe over as well,¡± Kim Tae-Jin added. ¡°Are you sure you can go?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked. ¡°I want to take a look around with Kang Chan while I¡¯m here,¡± Kim Tae-Jin replied. ¡°All right. Do what you want, then. Make sure things don¡¯t go badly. Kang Chan, if anyone starts acting up again, just kill them on the spot, got it?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said, only half-joking. Kang Chan chuckled, clearly amused. ¡°I don¡¯t know about killing them, but I¡¯ll break their arms if that¡¯s what it takes to get them in proper shape,¡± Kang Chan assured him. ¡°Thank you,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk gratefully said. ¡°However, in return, you have to go to a hospital immediately, okay?¡± Kang Chan urged. Jeon Dae-Geuk nodded and quickly turned his gaze. ¡°Give Choi Seong-Geon a nice little phone call, won¡¯t you?¡± he ordered Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied, immediately picking up his phone. *** Seok Kang-Ho drove. Kang Chan sat in the passenger seat, and Kim Tae-Jin sat behind Kang Chan. Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee were in another car, and Suh Sang-Hyun said in a phone call with Kim Tae-Jin that he would immediately head over to Jeungpyeong straight from where he was. Kang Chan counted how many people they would have. ¡°Director Kim, are you sure you havepletely recovered?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve already told you this before,¡± Kim Tae-Jin replied. ¡°Then let¡¯s form a team together,¡± Kang Chan suggested, making Kim Tae-Jin seem confused. However, he soon understood what Kang Chan was saying. ¡°Are you sure about that? It¡¯ll be one hell of an embarrassment if we lose,¡± Kim Tae-Jin warned. ¡°Let¡¯s do it anyway. It¡¯s a whole lot better than getting annoyed over team members whose hearts aren¡¯t in it, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Chan rebutted. Kim Tae-Jin, whose face was peering out forward from between the driver¡¯s seat and the passenger seat, made a knowing smile. His blood was boiling up for the uing fight. *** After about another hour on the road, Kang Chan reached the training grounds again. They rode past the barricades at the entrance and stopped in the parking lot. Nothing had changed since he wasst here a couple of hours ago. Choi Seong-Geon headed outside to greet them once again. Seeing Kim Tae-Jin, he greeted him with ax military salute. ¡°Why don¡¯t we head inside first before we begin anything?¡± Choi Seong-Geon offered. He wasn¡¯t able to hide his displeasure, but none of that mattered. It didn¡¯t change the fact that their first impressions had gotten off to a bad start anyway. It was understandable that Choi Seong-Geon was mad because Kang Chan left without so much as a word. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll get changed first,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°General Choi. I¡¯m sure you can lend me and Sang-Hyun some military uniforms and equipment as well?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°You¡¯ll be running the grounds yourself, sir?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked in disbelief. ¡°I want to see what kids these days are like with my own eyes,¡± Kim Tae-Jin replied. Choi Seong-Geon gritted his teeth and let out a quiet sigh. Seeing Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho change into military wear, Choi Jong-Il followed suit and pulled out his own outfit. ¡°What do you n on doing?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked Kang Chan. The question made Kim Tae-Jin turn his gaze to Kang Chan. ¡°Director Kim, Mr. Suh, Seok Kang-Ho, Choi Jong-Il¡¯s group of three, and I will be forming a team,¡± Kang Chan stated. ¡°Seven members? And? What then?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked, acting miffed as if he had just been looked down on. ¡°We will be the infiltrating team,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Hm! How many soldiers should we put on defense then?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked stiffly. ¡°Where will the training take ce?¡± Kang Chan asked in turn. Choi Seong-Geon looked up and pointed at a mountain on the other side. ¡°High-ground training battles take ce on the mountain up front, and we have a separate building prepared for urban operations if you go around back this way.¡± Kang Chan considered the terrain in China and the UK, which was where the operation would take ce. With those countries in mind, he determined that the urban training grounds would be more appropriate to use. ¡°Let¡¯s go with the urban training grounds then. Excluding our team members, how many personnel do we have avable?¡± Kang Chan asked. As he was speaking, a car quickly drove to the area where they were standing. The conversation then briefly paused as they exchanged greetings with Suh Sang-Hyun. ¡°We have twenty-two soldiers who are still waiting on standby to create a team. We also have thirty soldiers from the Third Airborne Forces on standby.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the size of the building?¡± ¡°It¡¯s five stories high.¡± Great. Then there was no need to debate any further. It was the perfect training condition. ¡°We¡¯re going to do assassination target training. Mark the assassination targets and use the remaining soldiers to guard them,¡± Kang Chan dered. ¡°Mmm,¡± Choi Seong-Geon exhaled, seemingly sighing deeply. He then looked directly at Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the target on our side. Since I also have to be wearing the appropriate attire, please do wait a moment. Mr. Kim, the military uniforms should be inside. Youe in too, Suh Sang-Hyun.¡± Suh Sang-Hyun was bewildered, not having any idea what was going on. However, he followed Kim Tae-Jin inside anyway. Kang Chan beckoned over Choi Jong-Il and the other two with a wave of his hand. ¡°We need a sniper,¡± Kang Chan stated. Choi Jong-Il turned his gaze toward Lee Doo-Hee. ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Lee Doo-Hee said, stepping forward. As Kang Chan finished giving a few orders to his men, Choi Seong-Geon, Kim Tae-Jin, and Suh Seong-Hyun came out of the barracks wearing military wear. It was already about 3 o¡¯clock in the afternoon. ¡°Tell the men toe out with the equipment,¡± Choi Seong-Geonmanded the officers as he put his hands at his waist. He was oozing with determination to show Kang Chan his and his men¡¯s abilities. Not long after, soldiers came out of the barracks where Kang Chan had gotten changed earlier. Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s aide handed them radios, and they all stared at the radios sharply. It¡¯s not like the radio will break just because they re at it. But the glint in their eyes was something Kang Chan could work with. Chapter 137.2: What are you all doing here? (2)

Chapter 137.2: What are you all doing here? (2)

Rifles, grenades, and methrowers were put in front of them. Among them were three types of modified K-1 rifles. They were equipped with day/night system rifle scopes and had small rangefinders attached to the side. Click. Click.? Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho picked up the Daewoo Tel K7s and suppressed submachine guns. Kim Tae-Jin, Seok Kang-Ho, and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s party took K-1 rifles. Next up were pistols. They loaded Glock pistols on their right waist and left legs, having mentally calcted the number of rounds that they would need for this training session. Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect that he would be using a bay today. He picked up the ded weapon and drew it from its sheath. The de wasn¡¯t sharp, which was to be expected. However, Kang Chan still had to arm himself with it. Hence, he hung the bay on his right leg. After attaching six rifle magazines and three pistol magazines to his body, an officer walked over to approach him. The officer used a machine that looked like an inspection device to confirm the weapons that Kang Chan was armed with. Afterward, he handed Kang Chan a card the size of a business card, which the machine had produced. ¡°Please insert it into the device in your left pocket,¡± the officer said. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know that his garment included the device the officer was talking about. When he looked inside the left pocket of his upper attire, he found a device which he could insert the card into. When he did, the device let out a click, and all the equipment that he was wearing let out mechanical beeping sounds. Meanwhile, the officer checked everyone¡¯s weapons with the tool and handed them cards. The entire process took about twenty minutes. ¡°The guns produce sound and recoils that are nearly the same as real guns. If someone is killed by a gun, grenade, or bay, it will be recorded on the mainputer. Moreover, the beeping sound that you heard when the cards were inserted into your devices will begin to ring again. Whenever a grenade explodes, the devices of any nearby soldiers will detect it and notify them of injuries and deaths,¡± the officer exined. Technology had truly made remarkable advancements. Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Now, then. We¡¯ll be heading to the training area,¡± added the officer. While Kang Chan¡¯s party was divided up among the jeeps, the soldiers got into the backs of the trucks. One could easily tell another person¡¯s ability based on their posture and attitude when they handle weapons. Consequently, the soldiers had quite a curious look in their eyes as they looked at Kang Chan and climbed into the vehicles. They traveled around back for about a hundred meters on the rough mountain terrain, eventually reaching a in surrounded by mountains. Surprisingly, there were buildings throughout the area. When Kang Chan dropped off the jeep, he felt as if he had just gotten off a bus in the middle of a city. ¡°It was modeled exactly after a certain district in Seoul. I will be on the fifth floor of the stock firm building up ahead. Just like the real thing, the interior of the building isposed of elevators, stairs, and offices,¡± Choi Seong-Geon exined with a proud expression and tone. ¡°Since it is currently fifteen hundred and fifty hours, we will begin when the signal sounds at sixteen hundred and ten hours. Keep in mind that a preemptive attack can beunched from our side as well.¡± Afterward, Choi Seong-Geon saluted Kim Tae-Jin and immediately headed toward the stock firm building. The operation would begin in twenty minutes. Choi Seong-Geon intentionally did not give Kang Chan a map of the city. Kang Chan debated whether or not he should ask him for one, but he decided against it. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean that he shouldn¡¯t make an effort to survey their surrounding buildings. Kang Chan looked at a nearby three-story building. ¡°Let¡¯s go up there for now,¡± he said. Everyone with him understood the intent behind his strategy, so they all followed Kang Chan up to the rooftop of the three-story building that he had set as his initial target location. The miniature city was a lotrger in scale than Kang Chan had expected. The buildings were densely packed within a hundred-meter radius centered around the five-story stock firm building, giving the feeling of being on a movie set. ¡°Seok Kang-Ho, Choi Jong-Il. You two will be in Team Two,¡± Kang Chan announced. Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il nodded in response. ¡°Director Kim, please take charge of Lee Doo-Hee and the sniper team,¡± Kang Chan spoke again. ¡°Understood,¡± Kim Tae-Jin replied. ¡°Mr. Suh Sang-Hyung and Woo Hee-Seung will be in Team Three.¡± The two men also acknowledged Kang Chan¡¯s orders with a nod. ¡°When you want to speak to me over the radio, refer to me as Team One.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the n?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked as he nced around their surroundings. He then turned his gaze back to Kang Chan. ¡°It¡¯s simple, really. Imagine the situation is switched around and that we are the defending side. They will most definitelye out to capture us as soon as the signal sounds,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Hmm,¡± Kim Tae-Jin sighed contemtively, then nodded. ¡°You will be our side¡¯s target, Mr. Kim. ¡± Kang Chan said, then turned to Lee Doo-Hee and called him. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Lee Doo-Hee replied. ¡°The defending side will no doubt position snipers on the rooftop of the five-story building over there. If you spot a window of opportunity and it seems doable, take them out. This is where the victors of the first round will be decided. Even if it¡¯s hard to shoot them, try to attract their attention as much as you can.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Lee Doo-Hee said. ¡°Mr. Suh Sang Hyun and Woo Hee-Seung, block the entrance of the building as best as you can to protect our target,¡± Kang Chan gave orders again. ¡°Then my role is to stay in here?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°Yes, sir. Please draw the attention of the enemies from here,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Got it,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said with a nod. Kang Chan turned to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Guerri warfare, remember?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Got it, Cap,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°Cover me as I infiltrate the building,¡± Kang Chan ordered Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Are you nning to go in immediately?¡± Kim Tae-Jin questioned incredulously. Kang Chan¡¯s only response was a mischievous smile. *** ¡°Cha Dong-Gyun!¡± Choi Seong-Geon shouted. ¡°Yes, General,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun replied sharply. ¡°You lead the squad and go out. Make sure you show that rude little kid the power of the Third Airborne Forces,¡± Choi Seong-Geon ordered. ¡°Understood, sir.¡± ¡°Kwak Cheol-Ho,¡± Choi Seong-Geon called next. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho replied robustly. ¡°You will be in charge of Unit 606 and the special team. Position snipers on the rooftop and move separately from Cha Dong-Gyun. Once you¡¯re outside, eliminate as many enemies as quickly as you can,¡± Choi Seong-Geon ordered again. ¡°Understood, sir,¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho responded. ¡®The rest of you, stand guard on each floor,¡± Choi Seong-Geon gave his finalmand. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the soldiers replied. Choi Seong-Geon sat on the couch in the stock firm and looked outside the window. ¡°Ha! How fucking ridiculous!¡±Choi Seong-Geon eximed, feeling a mixture of astonishment and frustration. ¡°A high school kid and a physical education teacher? And they¡¯re even ssified government secrets? Hahaha!¡± Choi Seong-Geon shook his head and gritted his teeth. Just then, his aide put aptop next to the table for him. In it were columns with card numbers and names. The columns were divided into categories of alive, dead, and injured. At the very bottom marked down the total number of soldiers. So far, all of the soldiers had a green light under the alive section. ¡°Is this the button?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± his aide replied. Choi Seong-Geon pressed the button that was marked with a single ¡°S.¡± As soon as he did, the siren bells in the vicinity began to re three consecutive times. ¡°Ridiculous. I just don¡¯t believe it,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said cynically. After pressing the button, he let out a dubiousugh, seemingly finding the situation absurd. *** Sirens rang throughout the entire miniature city. Lee Doo-Hee positioned himself behind the entrance of the rooftop in a way that allowed him to stay out of sight while still having his rifle aimed at the five-story stock firm building. Behind him, Kim Tae-Jin, Suh Sang-Hyung, and Woo Hee-Seung pressed against the wall of the rooftop in a triangle formation. ¡°Is it really going to be okay for us to stay like this?¡± Suh Sang-Hyun asked worriedly. Kim Tae-Jin gave Suh Sang-Hyun a look as if asking what he meant. ¡°The enemy has fifty-two defending soldiers,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun said. ¡°Who is ourmander?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked firmly. ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­¡± Suh Sang-Hyun trailed off. ¡°Do you really not know why Kang Chan included you and me here?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun replied with uncertainty. He genuinely didn¡¯t seem to have a clue. ¡°Quite a ruckus went down today,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. Kim Tae-Jin quickly scanned the surrounding buildings, then briefly nced at Suh Sang-Hyun. ¡°Apparently, Section Chief and Hyung-Jung gave Choi Seong-Geon a harsh scolding,¡± he added. ¡°They did? Why would they do that?¡± Suh Sang-Hyun asked in surprise. ¡°Kang Chan included us in this fight against fifty-two soldiers out of sheer consideration for Mr. Jeon and Kim Hyung-Jung. He probably wanted to prove to everyone that their judgment wasn¡¯t wrong,¡± Kim Tae-Jin mused. Suh Sang-Hyun turned his head as far as he could to check on their allies, then turned back to Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Did Kang Chan actually say that?¡± Suh Sang-Hyun asked doubtfully. ¡°Do you really think Kang Chan would go around saying such mushy things?¡± Kim Tae-Jin said cynically as if he couldn¡¯t believe that Suh Sang-Hyun would even ask such a thing. Just then, two rounds from what sounded like they were from Daewoo Tel K7s rang out consecutively. Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun quickly looked around, but nothing came into view. *** Beep. Beep. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s going on?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked, confused. Choi Seong-Geon leaned forward so much that it seemed as if he was sticking his face into theptop. Red lights appeared under the dead column. The total number of soldiers that were still alive decreased to fifty. Choi Seong-Geon numbly stared at theptop monitor. It didn¡¯t take long for three more beeping sounds to echo out. The number of soldiers marked dead with the red light increased. For the first time today, Choi Seong-Geon looked shocked. His eyes widened as he looked outside the window. However¡­ Beep. Beep.? More deaths appeared on the monitor. ¡°Did they all line up so the enemy can shoot them all down with ease? Radio Cha Dong-Gyun right now!¡± Choi Seong-Geon bellowed as he turned to his aide. Beep.? ¡°Hey! I told you to get in contact with Cha Dong-Gyun!¡± Choi Seong-Geon shouted again. ¡°General Choi, First Lieutenant Cha Dong-Gyun is already dead,¡± the aide replied. The aide''s stunned expression showed that even he had gone nk due to the shock. Chapter 138.1: In a whole different league (1)

Chapter 138.1: In a whole different league (1)

Choi Jong-Il couldn¡¯t fire a single round of the K7 in his hands. He simply didn¡¯t get the chance to. ¡®Eleven soldiers.¡¯ Choi Jong-Il knew the soldiers of the South Korean special forces and their training like the back of his hand. Moreover, based on what Choi Jong-Il knew of Kang Chan''s meleebat abilities, he already expected his men to have difficulties defeating Kang Chan. However, he didn¡¯t expect their battle would be so one-sided. Bang! Bang! ¡®That¡¯s thirteen now!¡¯ This was on another level. Kang Chan made no sounds as he moved. Crawling forward on one¡¯s belly, moving by twisting one¡¯s body from side to side, opening fire while running, rolling on the ground and immediately assuming a firing position¡­ Choi Jong-Il had learned all of that too. However, he never would have imagined doing it the way Kang Chan did. This wasn¡¯t just a man with a rifle. Choi Jong-Il felt as if he was watching a monster with three arms, one of which was a gun. Kang Chan leaned on the corner of a building and lowered his stance before pointing with his index and middle fingers at the building right in front of him. Seok Kang-Ho had a very sturdy build. However, that same burly and stocky man was currently creeping forward in a hunched position as silently as a cat. Choi Jong-Il initially couldn¡¯t understand what they were doing, but he realized for the first time in his life that if he aimed his rifle¡¯s scope toward the ss window of the building from a short distance away, they could see through the reflection. Seok Kang-Ho pointed four of his fingers. One, two¡­! Kang Chan had a habit of always being half a beat early. By the time he had extended his right leg outward as smoothly as a spider would, his body was already out and turning the corner. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Kang Chan fired precisely four bullets. He didn¡¯t have to fire in rapid session to take down his targets. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Kang Chan returned to his original position and gave a slight nod to Seok Kang-Ho. With Choi Jong-Il covering his back, Seok Kang-Ho advanced onward and upied the area where the special forces soldiers had been assassinated just moments before. ¡®Seventeen!¡¯ Choi Jong-Il stood next to Seok Kang-Ho and nced at the faces of the soldiers whom Kang Chan had swiftly killed. They seemed to be in disbelief at first for having been taken out of the battle so easily, but they soon despaired and, finally, seethed in anger over how powerless they were. They never stood a chance. How could they even ¡°fight back¡± when they werepletely unmatched? If this was a real operation, this would rightfully have been called a massacre, not a battle. Kang Chan¡¯s eyes glinted. He spun his index finger in the air and gestured toward the building to their one o¡¯clock. Choi Jong-Il had no idea why their enemies were lying in wait there, and he also couldn¡¯t figure out how Kang Chan had caught on to their n. However, Choi Jong-Il was certain about one thing. There would most definitely be soldiers on their one o¡¯clock, and they would soon get assassinated! This day was filled with new realizations for Choi Jong-Il. On that note, he came to the realization today that he could move without making a single sound even if he was wearingbat boots for as long as he touched the ground using the outer edges of his feet first. Naturally, however, knowing how to do it and actually putting it into action were two different things. Choi Jong-Il wobbled so badly that he was having a hard time keeping up. Meanwhile, Kang Chan pointed at his eyes with his index and middle fingers, then signaled that there were two soldiers to their left and three to their right. One, two! Bang! Baang! Baang! Bang! Seok Kang-Ho smirked¡ªor at least the man that Choi Jong-Il formerly knew as Seok Kang-Ho did. It was almost as if Seok Kang-Ho had split personalities, much to Choi Jong-Il¡¯s amazement. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s gaze, actions, and even facial expression made him seem like an entirely different person. Choi Jong-Il was soon brought back to reality with a wave from Seok Kang-Ho. ¡®Get a grip, Choi Jong-Il! There are five soldiers here, that¡¯s twenty-two cleared in total!¡¯ There were only thirty men left now. Kang Chan had eliminated twenty-two soldiers in merely twenty minutes, which was equivalent to about one person per minute. With this training operation, Choi Jong-Il learned something important. Fighting Kang Chan in a one-on-one knife battle meant getting severely injured before death. However, fighting him in a gunfight just meant instant death. To put it more urately, Kang Chan only required a single shot to take his opponent down. *** Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.? ¡°Ha. Hahahaha!¡± Choi Seong-Geon burst outughing incredulously as he looked at the entrance with a dazed expression. Choi Seong-Geon didn¡¯t even have to contemte that long to imagine what would happen if Kang Chan were let loose in the DMZ. If they had an enemy like Kang Chan wreaking havoc in the DMZ¡­ Choi Seong-Geon didn¡¯t even want to finish the thought. ¡°Ahem,¡± Choi Seong-Geon coughed embarrassedly. He now understood why Jeon Dae-Geuk and Kim Hyung-Jung furiously scolded him and told him that they would no longer treat him as their junior. They had suffered twenty-two deaths in twenty-one minutes and twenty-six seconds. That means he took down one man every single minute¡­ Beep. Beep. Beep.? ¡°Huhuhuhu.¡± No, he was wrong. The results were far more incredible than what he could hope to imagine. ¡°He still hasn¡¯t used the radios once until now, has he?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked. ¡°No, sir,¡± his subordinate replied. ¡°Ha!¡± Choi Seong-Geon eximed as he red at the button marked with the single letter ¡°S.¡± Once he pressed the button again, the training operation would be over immediately. His soldiers¡¯ pride had probably already been hurt enough. How much damage would it do if all fifty-two of them were defeated and the subject that they had to protect was assassinated? All of that against a team of only seven men, at that¡­ Rumors would inevitably spread among the other soldiers. However, that wasn¡¯t the issue right now. Choi Seong-Geon had to somehow think of a way to restore the devastated pride of his men. Could there be anything more important than keeping the pride of South Korea¡¯s representative, their country¡¯s most elite special forces team, intact? Choi Seong-Geon anxiously gulped as he moved his finger above the button marked ¡°S.¡± *** Weeoo! Weeoo! Weeoo! The moment Kang Chan¡¯s team discovered their next targets and began approaching them, the siren that rang when the training began started ringing again. It was only a little over half past four, so the sun was still high up in the sky. [Training is over! All personnel, gather in front of the stock firm building!] The voice of Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s aide echoed clearly through the miniature city, making it seem as if it was broadcast over the inte by a mayor in a rural vige. Kang Chan straightened up and turned to Choi Jong-Il with a curious look. ¡°It seems the training is over, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Choi Jong-Il said. Kang Chan waspletely aware of that. He heard the announcements as well. He shot a nce toward Choi Jong-Il not because he didn¡¯t understand the announcement but because he wanted to know why the training was suddenly rushed to an end. The soldiers who had been numbly sitting down on the ground got to their feet. As they walked toward the stock firm building, some looked at Kang Chan with sharp gazes while others shot him nces filled with disbelief. ¡°Kang Chan!¡± Kim Tae-Jin shouted in greeting. Kim Tae-Jin, Suh Sang-Hyun, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee walked over to him with their rifles pointed toward the ground. ¡°What happened?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked in confusion. ¡°I¡¯m not really sure,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°I kept hearing gunshots. What were those?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked again. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan assassinated twenty-five soldiers, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il chimed in, answering the question. ¡°What? How many?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked, doubting his ears. ¡°Twenty-five in total, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il repeated. Kim Tae-Jin nodded in understanding, seemingly having realized why the training had ended so abruptly. Kang Chan didn¡¯t understand what the fuss was about. After all, the number meant nothing to him. ¡°Let¡¯s go and see,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. As the party reached the stock firm building, Choi Seong-Geon and his aide walked out to greet them. They then politely saluted Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°I would like to stop the training here,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. ¡°Well, it doesn''t matter to me. Whatever themander says goes, and you¡¯re in charge, General Choi,¡± Kim Tae-Jin responded. ¡°Can I invite you all to dinner?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked. Kim Tae-Jin turned to Kang Chan. ¡°Sure, why not.¡± ¡°Great. Let¡¯s head back down, then,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. Following Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s long strides, the group left the miniature city the same way they came. Not too long after, they arrived at the parking lot in front of the barracks. ¡°You can turn in your weapons to the officer,¡± Choi Seong-Geon stated. That was fantastic. There was certainly no need to lug these heavy things around. Kang Chan took off the radio and the weapons he was carrying and set them down. ¡°Why don¡¯t you head inside for a moment, everyone? Just go and check if the food has been prepared as nned for now,¡± Choi Seong-Geon ordered his aide. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the officer replied. Upon hearing his aide¡¯s affirmation, Choi Seong-Geon opened the door to his barrack. Kim Tae-Jin, Kang Chan, and Seok Kang-Ho followed him inside. Choi Seong-Geon gestured for them to take a seat at the table and brought them cups of instant coffee. ¡°Do you smoke?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yes, I do,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s okay if we smoke, right?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked Kim Tae-Jin. Kim Tae-Jin replied by holding out his hand to ask for a cigarette as well. Kang Chan hadn¡¯t seen the type of ashtray in front of them in a while. It was a massive ss tray that seemed like it would require smoking ten packs of cigarettes to fill it. Choi Seong-Geon offered Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho a Korean-made cigarette before taking one out for himself, and Seok Kang-Ho pulled out a lighter to light up their smokes. ¡°Haan. Sir, what is the real purpose of this training?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked Kim Tae-Jin. His eyes shed sharply, and his tone was dead serious. ¡°I know it¡¯s a ssified government secret. I also admit that it was my fault for not keeping the soldiers in check this morning. However, at the very least, I would like to know why?I¡¯m making my men go through such training before I force them to do it.¡± Oh, so they didn¡¯t tell Choi Seong-Geon either.? Kang Chan finally realized why the atmosphere was so heavy. ¡°That¡¯s a question that only Mr. Jeon can answer. Why don¡¯t you give him a call right now instead?¡± Kim Tae-Jin suggested. ¡°I see,¡± Choi Seong-Geon mused. Choi Seong-Geon peeked at Kang Chan, then pulled out his phone and pressed a few buttons to dial Jeon Dae-Geuk. Chapter 138.2: In a whole different league (1)

Chapter 138.2: In a whole different league (1)

It was only a few seconds when the call connected and Jeon Dae-Guek answered. ¡°Mr. Jeon, this is Choi Seong-Geon. Yes, sir. The training just ended. No, sir. Everything went well. Mr. Jeon, what exactly is the mission of this training?¡± Choi Seong-Geon pressed the cigarette he was smoking in the ashtray to extinguish it and continued speaking into the phone. ¡°I¡¯m well aware it¡¯s a ssified government secret. However, I will swear on the honor of the Field Army that I will keep quiet. Why do my men have to do this training? What lies at the end of this training? And what is the true identity of this man in front of me named Kang Chan?¡± Choi Seong-Geon stared at Kang Chan as he spoke, making it seem as if he was arguing with Kang Chan. He then removed his gaze and turned to the window. ¡°Yes, sir. Please wait a moment.¡± Choi Seong-Geon suddenly held out the phone to Kang Chan. ¡°Hello?¡± Kang Chan answered. -Just what in the world did you do for Choi Seong-Geon to be so heated? Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s question made Kang Chan peek at Choi Seong-Geon. ?-Go ahead and tell him your n. Choi Seong-Geon is full of pride. He¡¯s a soldier through and through. He won¡¯t ever disclose secrets even if a dagger is held against his throat.? ¡°I don¡¯t know where to start. It seems like he has no idea who I am,¡± Kang Chan countered. -I¡¯ll exin that to him, so don¡¯t worry about that. Please tell him.? ¡°Alright, I understand,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kang Chan gave the phone back to Choi Seong-Geon. ¡°Yes, sir. Yes. I do know. Yes. What?¡± Choi Seong-Geon shot Kang Chan apletely different look from before. ¡°Is that really true? Of course, I saw. You should¡¯ve told me that earlier, sir! Understood. Yes, yes. I will give a report to you tomorrow,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. After hanging up the phone, Choi Seong-Geon took a deep breath, then enticingly smiled. ¡°Are you the person called God of ckfield, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± he asked. Kang Chan was a little embarrassed by the nickname, so he just smiled awkwardly and replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That ¡®God of ckfield¡¯ who went on the Mongolian rescue operation?¡± Choi Seong-Geon reiterated. ¡°That¡¯s correct. Seok Kang-Ho and I went on the operation together,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°You were a part of that? When?¡± Kim Tae-Jin jumped in, taken aback because it was his first time hearing of this as well. ¡°You didn¡¯t know, sir? The code name of the Korean agent who brought back Mr. Kim Hyung-Jung is God of ckfield! He¡¯s a role model to all of our soldiers, and they desperately want to meet him!¡± Choi Seong-Geon shouted in excitement. ¡°What? So back then, when Hyung-Jung was injured and you said you had to leave for somece far away for some time¡­ That was when you left for Mongolia?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked, clearly astounded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t tell you,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this! Kang Chan, how could you! You as well, Mr. Seok! How can you do this to me?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked with a betrayed expression. Meanwhile, Choi Seong-Geon now behavedpletely differently from how he did a few moments ago. ¡°The agents who went with Mr. Kim on the operation back then were part of the 606 and the special forces of the DMZ. Those men have not recovered enough yet to train, which is why they¡¯re not here. They¡¯ve been keeping their lips sealed about that mission, but I still heard about the greatness of the God of ckfield. Haha! You should have told me earlier!¡± Choi Seong-Geon eximed as he enthusiastically held out his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to meet you in person, Mr. Kang Chan. Mr. Seok, you must be the one who apanied him on the operation!¡± After shaking Kang Chan¡¯s hand, Choi Seong-Geon held out his hand to Seok Kang-Ho. Choi Seong-Geon gripped Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s hand so hard that Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but grimace in pain just by watching the scene. ¡°Mr. Kim and Mr. Kang Chan. For dinner today, I¡¯ve prepared a feast with a whole pig to cheer up my men. Why don¡¯t you all join us for dinner?¡± ¡°Sure, why not?¡± Kim Tae-Jin epted. ¡°Sounds good to me too,¡± Kang Chan agreed. Choi Seong-Geon grinned widely with a satisfied expression. ¡°Wonderful! Now, all that¡¯s left is why my men are doing this training. Let¡¯s go out and head to dinner after finishing this conversation,¡± he said with a genuinely curious face. Jeon Dae-Geuk had already expressed his approval over the phone, and Kim Tae-Jin was informed of the situation as well, so Kang Chan had no reason to keep the operation a secret anymore. ¡°I am going to take revenge on the countries thatmitted acts of terror in our country,¡± Kang Chan dered. Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s grin instantly vanished. ¡°I believe our first target will be China. I divided the men into multiple teams today to observe them and select twelve people to form a unit,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Did you just say China?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked in shock. ¡°That¡¯s right. China is correct,¡± Kang Chan replied. Choi Seong-Geon seemed to be having a difficult time believing Kang Chan¡¯s words. ¡°France will provide us with the airnes for our transportation, the weapons, and any other additional intelligence we may require,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°Is that how you flew to Mongolia during the previous operation?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Kang Chan responded. Choi Seong-Geon clenched his teeth at the scale of the mission. ¡°We won¡¯t have the South Korean government¡¯s approval for this operation,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. ¡°That¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t tell you about this mission in advance. This will be an individual operation. The governments won¡¯t know about my departures or arrivals into their countries,¡± Kang Chan stated. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said curtly. Fitting of a soldier who had formerly spent all his days on the battlefield, Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s eyes were glinting sharply. Amid their conversation, someone knocked on the door three times. ¡°What is it?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked toward the door. ¡°The meal is ready, sir,¡± his aide replied. ¡°All right. We¡¯ll be out soon,¡± Choi Seong-Geon announced. The sun was still up in the sky, but it was alreadyte in the evening. The shadows cast by the mountain nketed half of the windows of the barrack. ¡°Sir, you should spend the night here today,¡± Choi Seong-Geon offered. ¡°Sure. What about you, Kang Chan?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Kang Chan replied with uncertainty. To be frank, Kang Chan hadn¡¯t made up his mind yet. Based on what he observed at the training today, he would essentially be taking a bunch of rookies out to the battlefield like the newbies that G¨¦rard had brought. It would pretty much be a suicide mission if they went now. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s a long way back, and you already came all the way here anyway. Please be our guest for today,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. He was speaking in a gravelly, old man-like tone that reminded Kang Chan of Jeon Dae-Geuk. Well, I suppose spending a day here can¡¯t hurt. ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll do that.¡± ¡°Fantastic. Then let¡¯s have dinner first and talk again after,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said as he stood up. Everyone followed suit and left the barracks after him. The parking lot was also half-covered by the shadows of the mountains, making the chilly atmosphere seem as if it had descended onto the ground. Ten vertically cut drum barrels had been turned into long fire pits, andrge rubber barrels stacked up with pork meat. ¡°Attention!¡± Choi Seong-Geon shouted, causing all eyes to turn toward them. The soldiers had expressions that had a mix of embarrassment, frustration, incredulity, and surprise. ¡°Let me introduce the men who have worked hard to do the training with us today. This man here is the living legend of the DMZ, my senior, Kim Tae-Jin.¡± The men pped, and Choi Seong-Geon continued. ¡°Over there is Suh Sang-Hyeon, who fought at the DMZ with Mr. Kim Tae-Jin, and this is Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee. They all went through the 606 and the DMZ special forces team. They are all your seniors.¡± Apuse rippled every time a name was mentioned. Firewood had to have been ced in the pits instead of charcoal because the mes zed vigorously. ¡°And this is Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Choi Seong-Geon''s statement was followed by polite but stiff apuse. ¡°Since you probably aren¡¯t familiar with his name, I¡¯ll tell you his code name instead. Mr. Kang Chan is the God of ckfield, the very soldier all of you were so eager to meet.¡± Their surroundings suddenly turned so quiet that one could hear even a pin drop. The fire pits made popping noises from the wood burning, and a few birds chirped as they went by. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you everything because it¡¯s ssified, but the God of ckfield is nning on proceeding with an operation simr to the one they executed in Mongolia. He wants to select members from South Korea¡¯s special forces instead of working with a foreign country¡¯s soldiers,¡± Choi Seong-Geon exined. The soldiers'' expressions and looks changed in an instant. ¡°Then the man next to him is the Seok¡­?¡± ¡°My name is Seok Kang-Ho,¡± Seok Kang-Ho introduced himself. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho is the man who carried out the mission in Mongolia with the God of ckfield.¡± This time, a booming round of apuse began. ¡°First, let¡¯s have some dinner. That¡¯s all I have to say. At ease.¡± ¡°General Choi!¡± the soldier in the middle shouted as he shot his hand up in the air. ¡°What is it?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked. ¡°We would like to express our gratitude toward them for saving our fellowrades.¡± Choi Seong-Geon nced at Kang Chan, then nodded. ¡°Attention!¡± Military boots clicked and thudded together as one. ¡°Salute the God of ckfield!¡± The men, who were scattered throughout the front of the barracks, all neatly saluted together. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t ignore them even if he wanted to. He saluted back at them. ¡°At ease!¡± The soldiers moved as one. It was a solemn but somewhat ufortable atmosphere. The soldiers looked as if they had mixed feelings. ¡°Now eat!¡± ¡°Thank you for the meal!¡± As the soldiers were staring at Kang Chan, Kim Tae-Jin looked around with a smirk. Kang Chan felt ufortable. Chapter 139.1: In a whole different league (2)

Chapter 139.1: In a whole different league (2)

Thick and juicy pork was put on the grill above the stacks of firewood, and mes instantly engulfed it. The soldiers were so adept at cutting the meat into edible portions that this obviously wasn¡¯t their first time doing a barbecue. Kim Tae-Jin helped ease the awkwardness the most. The soldiers could feelfortable around him because he was a senior to Choi Seong-Geon but was no longer an active soldier. Moreover, his rxed, soft charisma naturally drew the men to him. Suh Sang-Hyun asionally chimed in as well, further lightening up the stiff atmosphere. Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s group took to one side of the grill. Fwoosh!? The mes zed mercilessly, but Woo Hee-Seung and Lee Doo-Hee still expertly cut the meat, seemingly unaffected by the heat. The cooked ribs that they cut right off the fire were especially delicious. As Kang Chan ate a piece of meat with his chopsticks, someone came up to him. ¡°My name is Cha Dong-Gyun,¡± said the sharp-eyed soldier who approached Kang Chan. ¡°I was at the conference for the Eurasian Rail too. Back then, I heard your orders over the radio, but I had no idea you were the God of ckfield, Mr. Kang Chan. Before the training began, all we knew about you was that you were a high school student.¡± Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s voice was low and husky. When he turned older, he would definitely take after Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s rugged and coarse voice. ¡°We had a lot of debate among ourselves about whether it made sense that the God of ckfield was both the man at the conference and the man who went to Mongolia. Well, that¡¯s in the past now. Please ept a drink from me, sir,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun said. Cha Dong-Gyun poured a beverage from a stic bottle into a paper cup, then handed it to Kang Chan. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯m curious about, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun continued. Choi Jong-Il watched Cha Dong-Gyun with a bemused expression. ¡°I would like to know why we got defeated before we could evenunch a single counterattack,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun requested. The soldiers around them had been pretending to continue their meal as they listened to their conversation. However, the moment Cha Dong-Gyun asked that question, not a single person moved their chopsticks. Fwoosh! Whoosh! Woo Hee-Seung moved the meat over to the side of the grill that the fire couldn¡¯t reach so the food wouldn¡¯t get burnt as they spoke. ¡°It¡¯s probably the difference between someone who believes they can kill and someone who actually has killed,¡± Kang Chan answered. Cha Dong-Gyun gave a tense smile, but it didn¡¯t seem to be because Kang Chan spoke down to him. Rather, he seemed to disagree with what Kang Chan said. ¡°All the men here have experience participating in missions and operations before. Although they have never been in a situation where they had to kill, none of the soldiers here is scared or distressed over the idea of killing an enemy,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. Kang Chan nodded. Everyone was near the grill, so they could all hear the conversation between Cha Dong-Gyun and Kang Chan. Even Choi Seong-Geon had turned to face Kang Chan. ¡°Just because you¡¯ve gotten your driver¡¯s license doesn¡¯t mean you can immediately start driving like a pro. If you have the guts, you can certainly have a go with your car, but that will most likely get you in an ident, won¡¯t it? Using that same logic, what do you think will probably happen if you go on an operation?¡± Kang Chan rebutted. ¡°So we¡¯re like newborn chicks in your eyes,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun said. ¡°You aren¡¯t like newborn chicks. You are newborn chicks,¡± Kang Chan corrected. The tension made the atmosphere frost over. Meanwhile, Seok Kang-Ho squirmed because the piece of meat he put in his mouth was too hot. Kang Chan had already made up his mind to give these soldiers a chance anyway. He intended to try getting them into shape at least for Jeon Dae-Geuk and Kim Hyung-Jun, who anxiously rushed all the way over to Anseong to persuade him, and Kim Tae-Jin, who willingly agreed to spend the night here. ¡°Refresh my memory. What were the results of the Mongolian operation again?¡± Kang Chan asked. Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s cheek twitched. ¡°There were three Is at the conference hall, weren¡¯t there? One of which was sessfullyunched. What do you n to do if something like that happens during an operation in an enemy country? Are you just going to return to your mothend in a bodybag because you were prepared to die anyway?¡± Kang Chan relentlessly asked. No one dared breathe by the time Kang Chan finished. They all stayed frozen¡ªexcept for Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°He¡¯s jabbing them where it hurts, for sure,¡± Choi Seong-Geon whispered to Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Kang Chan isn¡¯t the type to do that without any reason,¡± Kim Tae-Jin replied under his breath. The tension ran so high that it felt as if a fight would break out at any moment. ¡°Why do you carry around a pistol?¡± Kang Chan asked, looking Cha Dong-Gyun in the eye. ¡°What about your rifle? Or your bay? I¡¯m looking for soldiers who can actually survive situations like the one today, not someone who will protect a conference hall and shoot human-shaped dummy dolls.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t speak as if we have never participated in missions that took ce in other countries. All the soldiers here have experience training with famous teams from foreign nations, and they received high praise as well. On top of that, they are all veterans who have gone on operations in the Middle East too,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun defended. Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Do you think you can really show me what you¡¯re made of?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°How should we do that?¡± Cha Dong-Gyun eagerly asked with glinting eyes. Kang Chan turned his gaze to Choi Seong-Geon. ¡°Can I be in charge of the soldiers¡¯ training tomorrow, General?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Of course,¡± Choi Seong-Geon replied after shortly ncing at Kim Tae-Jin for approval. ¡°Show me what you¡¯re capable of during training tomorrow, then,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Understood, sir,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun responded. His admiration was tinted with a bit of hostility, causing the other soldiers¡¯ eyes to betray the mixed emotions they felt. When Cha Dong-Gyun returned to his seat, Seok Kang-Ho handed Kang Chan a pair of chopsticks. ¡°It¡¯s so good that it¡¯s to die for. Hurry up. Dig in,¡± Seok Kang-Ho urged. Everyone went back to their meal, but the mood had been fully thrown in the dumps. After eating their fill, Kim Tae-Jin, Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Suh Sang-Hyun entered the barrack where Choi Seong-Geon had previously guided them. When they opened the door next to Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s office, they found a few cots that had already been set up. Choi Seong-Geon and his aide had erected the temporary beds because he wanted his guests to restfortably. ¡°You¡¯re really serious about doing this, huh?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°Yes. I keep wanting to go easy on them whenever I see the looks in their eyes,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Why did you provoke them so much earlier, then?¡± Kim Tae-Jin wondered curiously. ¡°Because I¡¯m going to give them the beating of their lives tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan mischievously answered. Suh Sang-Hyun stood in ce with a numb expression, and Seok Kang-Ho just shook his head in disgust and horror. ¡°What do you think? Do they have any potential?¡± Kim Tae-Jin prodded. ¡°They have the skills, but theyck way too much experience. I¡¯m not confident I can provide them with that experience by taking them around either,¡± Kang Chan pondered. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m honestly not surprised that you came to that conclusion. We have always found that to be a shame too. It can¡¯t be helped, though, since they have never gone to other countries and initiated attacks first. The senior soldiers at the DMZ can at least pass on their experience, so we do get some capable soldiers out of that, but none of the soldiers ever got the chance to gain experience in strategies like these,¡± Kim Tae-Jin mused. ¡°Sir, with my abilities, I can still pull my weight wherever I go,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun countered with frustration, jumping into the conversation. It seemed as if he had sympathized with the soldiers¡¯ feelings earlier. Suh Sang-Hyun is right, but he¡¯s also wrong.? ¡°The difference between practice and real-life experience is simple. When you hear the sound of some rustling, will you shoot immediately or wait on standby? Those brief moments are what determine life and death,¡± Kang Chan stated. ¡°These men can shoot at the drop of the hat when ites to it,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun argued, seemingly upset by Kang Chan¡¯s response. ¡°Let¡¯s say they have already snuck into an enemy country. What if they pull the trigger and it was just a wild animal? What happens after that? What if the object they thought was a beast was actually an enemy instead? Instantaneous but correct judgments can only be made with enough experience.¡± ¡°The soldiers have already received that kind of training,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun insisted. ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll see tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan replied. Suh Sang-Hyun didn¡¯t have anything to say to that. The moonlight traveled in through the window and illuminated the room. ¡°My, time flies fast. It feels like just yesterday when I was roaming around the DMZ¡­¡± Kim Tae-Jin muttered to himself. Just then, the sound of Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s snoring echoed throughout the room. ¡°You should hurry and get some sleep. You might not be able to fall asleep after a little while,¡± Kang Chan advised. ¡°Is his snoring that bad?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°It will be hard for you to ignore it,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Then I really should hurry and sleep,¡± Kim Tae-Jin remarked. Kim Tae-Jin pulled the covers over himself and turned over on his side. *** They woke up at six, washed themselves up, and ate breakfast. It was so good that it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say the food was the best part of their special treatment. Even Kim Tae-Jin was satisfied. After they finished their meal, they rxed with some tea and refreshments for about 30 minutes. ¡°What¡¯s your n for the training?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°Just some basic running, mountain warfare, and urban warfare,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Then I guess I should sit out of this one,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said as he shook his head with a smile. When Kang Chan walked outside, the soldiers were already standing in line. Chapter 139.2: In a whole different league (2)

Chapter 139.2: In a whole different league (2)

¡°Today, we¡¯ll be training together. First, running. We¡¯ll head to the makeshift city and run along the exterior of the city. Everyone warm yourselves up,¡± Kang Chan ordered. At his words, the soldiers began to stretch their muscles, using professional movements. Seok Kang-Ho, Choi Jong-Il¡¯s group, and Suh Sang-Hyun stood with the soldiers. ¡°Let¡¯s go if you¡¯re done,¡± Kang Chan dered. ¡°Soldiers, turn left! Begin running!¡± Cha Dong-Gyun shouted, and the soldiers began to run. Pat. Pat. Pat. Pat.? The rhythmic sound of military boots crunching on the ground could be heard as the soldiers moved along. After about a hundred meters, the makeshift city came into view. A road spanned along the outskirts of the city, making it easier to run. Kang Chan ran with them on the left, matching their pace. As he ran with them, he learned that their skills weren¡¯t inferior at all. Even though it was just a running exercise, through their speed, breathing, and the inexplicable energy that they exuded, he learned that they were certainly capable. If these soldiers rigorously trained like the Foreign Legion and umted intensebat experience, they would truly be an exceptional unit. However, the real-lifebat experience obtained from just one battle or operation wouldn¡¯t be enough. They would have to umte and have experience passed down to them during a period where more than half their current members and the new recruits that would rece them would likely die. Kang Chan understood why Jeon Dae-Geuk, Kim Hyung-Jung, and Kim Tae-Jin had been feeling as if the special forces team wasn¡¯t being raised to their full potential. Despite having the determination and endlessly repeating their training, they had never had the opportunity to go into a real battle. It was an unfortunate tragedy. The special forces team was confident in their expected sess in any operation, but they couldn¡¯t make any progress because they feared the consequences that would follow. This wasparable to a talented child not being able to advance properly because their father¡¯s abilities to guide the child to their fullest potential were insufficient. Jeon Dae-Geuk, Kim Hyung-Jung, and Kim Tae-Jin probably felt how the father in the metaphor would feel. Kang Chan continued to think to himself as they ran 10 kilometers in no time. Kang Chan gradually felt his blood heating up. The determination and passion emanating from the soldiers¡¯ bodies were ryed directly to him. ¡°Let¡¯s pick up the pace!¡± Kang Chanmanded as he started to run faster. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.? The soldiers¡¯ upper bodies moved in rhythm from side to side with each step they took forward. Their running formation was still intact although they had run over 10 kilometers and were picking up speed. Kang Chan could see they had trained to no end. They had pushed themselves to the extreme because they couldn¡¯t gain realbat experience. Kang Chan turned his gaze to observe the soldiers. They all looked tired, but they kept moving forward. They were running with the thought that stopping could cause theirrades to die. ¡®These punks.¡¯ It would make Kang Chan ufortable to develop a fondness for these men. If any one of them died, he would face an extremely hard time enduring their loss. However, Kang Chan¡¯s heart was already being moved just by witnessing the soldiers¡¯ determination and passion as they ran. Now, they had already run 20 kilometers. Every single soldier was already wheezing for breath, but none of them showed signs of giving up. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the barracks!¡± Kang Chan shouted upon seeing the path in the mountains that led inside the makeshift city. The running formation veered off the outer road of the small city and entered the mountain path. ¡°Haah! Haah!¡± In front of the barracks, Kim Tae-Jin, Choi Seong-Geon, and his aide watched the soldiers return. Kang Chan and the soldiers werepletely drenched in sweat. ¡°Do you have helmets and bulletproof vests?¡± Kang Chan asked Choi Seong-Geon. ¡°We have it all,¡± Choi Seong-Geon replied. ¡°Please prepare those. Rifles as well,¡± Kang Chan requested. When Choi Seong-Geon gave the order to prepare what Kang Chan asked for, his aide quickly went to work. By the time the soldiers¡¯ breaths had calmed down a little, the officer had finished putting down helmets, bulletproof vests, and rifles in front of them. ¡°Please give us some live ammunition,¡± Kang Chan stated. Choi Seong-Geon whipped around to turn to Kang Chan, and the soldiers all looked at Kang Chan in shock. ¡°Did you just say live ammo?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked, doubting his ears. ¡°Yes. We will conduct today¡¯s training with live ammo,¡± Kang Chan reiterated. Choi Seong-Geon was at a loss for words, and even Kim Tae-Jin couldn¡¯t hide his surprise. ¡°Please exin how you will proceed with the training, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Choi Seong-Geon requested with a stiff re. Kang Chan walked up onto the steps in front of the barracks. ¡°I n tounch a preemptive attack on our enemy countries soon. I need twelve people from the soldiers here. If you wish to volunteer, take a step forward,¡± Kang Chanmanded. The soldiers all took a step forward as one with a thud. It was as if they had rehearsed it in advance. Seok Kang-Ho and Suh Sang-Hyun stepped forward as well. ¡°Today, we will train with live ammunition. You will be split into two teams, but you may only shoot each other on the helmets or on the bulletproof vests. Any soldier who gets injured by gunfire or shoots a member of the opposing team will be eliminated from the candidates. If you are displeased with these conditions, you may step back,¡± Kang Chan announced. Choi Seong-Geon nced at Kim Tae-Jin with a look of protest. Just then, Seok Kang-Ho came forward and took a helmet, bulletproof vest, and submachine gun for himself. Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee followed suit. They put their helmets on despite their faces still drenched in sweat. They also wore their bulletproof vests, tightening the front. ¡°Damn it!¡± grumbled Suh Sang-Hyun. Everyone heard what he said. However, even he came forward and picked up a helmet and vest. ¡°This should be fun,¡± Kim Tae-Jin jokingly said as he also stepped up and picked up a helmet and vest too, surprising everyone in the area. ¡°Sir, how will this kind of training be effective?¡± Cha Dong-Gyun loudly and boldly asked, breaking the silence. ¡°Should we just do realbat instead?¡± Kang Chan sarcastically asked. ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I meant, sir!¡± Cha Dong-Gyun replied. ¡°You told me all of you had trained and prepared!¡± Kang Chan shouted back with force. It came as a shock. The always calm andposed Kang Chan never raised his voice, but he just did. Kim Tae-Jin looked down, pretending to examine his bulletproof vest so he could hide his surprised expression. ¡°What will you do if something unexpected happens while you¡¯re out on a mission? Are you going to make excuses like you are now? Because it¡¯s not what you¡¯re used to, because information was leaked, because you¡¯ve never fought against moving enemies with live ammo?¡± Kang Chan turned his sharp re to the rest of the soldiers. ¡°Never ever forget what it means to have nobat experience! You will go on missions where more than half of you won¡¯t return alive! After that, more new recruits will be sent, and you will go on missions again where even more will die! Those who survive will be veterans, and their experience will trickle down to the new men. Cha Dong-Gyun! How long do you think it will take until then?¡± Cha Dong-Gyun couldn¡¯t find anything to say. ¡°Navy SEALs! Spetsnaz! The elite team of the Foreign Legion! All year long, they all engage in numerous big and small operations and battles. What about you? You should¡¯ve gone out on a new mission after the Mongolian operation was over. Can any of you tell me if you¡¯ve been on new missions since then?¡± Kang Chan red at the soldiers. ¡°It¡¯s madness. I know. But there isn¡¯t a single person in this world who can give youbat experience other than yourself. Simted battles? Bullshit. How do you think you would feel if the soldiers who were shot yesterday were actually killed, but you have to go on the same kind of operation again today anyway?¡± It had been so long since Kang Chan felt his blood boil to this extent. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to train if you don¡¯t want to. However¡­¡± Kang Chan looked directly into Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s eyes. ¡°I need soldiers who will return from operations alive, no matter what it takes¡ªeven if information was leaked, even if they arepletely surrounded by enemies. I need agents who can survive until the very end! None of you understand how it feels to see yourrades fall dead to the ground, covered in blood! So if you¡¯re going to spout bullshit, leave!¡± Seok Kang-Ho peeked at Kim Tae-Jin. Neither of them had ever seen Kang Chan so enraged, so they were quite taken aback. Kang Chan and Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s eyes remained unflinching on each other. It was as if they were having a staring contest. This was it. This was as far as Kang Chan could go. He was moved and touched by the passion of the soldiers and the sincerity of Jeon Dae-Geuk, Kim Hyung-Jung, and Kim Tae-Jin. His blood boiled because of all of that, but he couldn¡¯t force the soldiers to do anything they didn¡¯t want to. The operation required the soldiers to be prepared to die. Kang Chan could inform them and advise them, but he wouldn¡¯t or couldn¡¯t drag them along. Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s cheek twitched. He took two steps forward. ¡°Lieutenant Cha Dong-Gyun, volunteering for live ammo training!¡± he shouted through clenched teeth, gripping a helmet and a vest. ¡°Sergeant Yoo Kwang-Yeol, volunteering for live ammo training!¡± ¡°Staff Sergeant Park Dae-Gi, volunteering for live ammo training!¡± ¡°Second Lieutenant Yoon Sung-Gi, volunteering for live ammo training!¡± The soldiers dered their intentions with strong resolve as if they were making a pact. They stepped forward one by one, grabbed their helmet and vest, and put them on. ¡°You punks!¡± Choi Seong-Geon bellowed stiffly as he watched the soldiers with gritted teeth. Kim Tae-Jin looked up at the sky to hide his red eyes. ¡°Officer! After you provide live ammo, call all the medical officers who are avable and have them report here!¡± Choi Seong-Geon shouted. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± his aide replied. Even as Choi Seong-Geon gave the order, the determined soldiers continued picking up their helmets and vests with clenched teeth. Kang Chan descended down to the barracks and picked up his own equipment. ¡°God of ckfield!¡± Just then, Cha Dong-Gyun called for Kang Chan, his voice strong and resolute. ¡°If South Korea¡¯s special forces will be able tounch preemptive attacks as a result of this training, I will dly give my life!¡± When Kang Chan turned to him, Cha Dong-Gyun neatly turned half a circle and faced the soldiers. ¡°What is our motto?!¡± he shouted. ¡°If I can protect my mothend with my blood, I am happy!¡± Their shout, fierce and intense, echoed proudly throughout the mountains as their blood boiled further. Chapter 140.1: Even If It Means Death (1)

Chapter 140.1: Even If It Means Death (1)

After the soldiers wore their helmets and bulletproof vests and strapped on their radios, the officer came out with a stiff, unreadable expression. He had magazines in his hands. Thunk. Thunk.? The sound of the magazines being set down on the ground weighed down Kang Chan¡¯s heart. Click.? Kang Chan detached the magazine from his rifle and loaded it with 9mm bullets, the tip of each one looking sharper than a bay. After inserting the magazine back with a nk, he pointed his gun¡¯s muzzle at the ground and started to load bullets into his spare magazine. When Seok Kang-Ho began to load his own rifle, the other soldiers rushed to fill their magazines as well. An icy, anxious tension as cold as the winter wind hung over the barracks. ¡°Please give us pistol rounds as well,¡± Kang Chan requested. Choi Seong-Geon nodded. Although Choi Seong-Geon didn¡¯t say anything, hisplex emotions could be clearly seen in his eyes. His aide returned with pistol magazines. nk! nk! Kang Chan pulled the breechblock and inserted bullets in. The tension in the atmosphere was so thick and taut that it felt as if the soldiers would snap with a single touch. Vroom!? Military ambnces marked with white crosses arrived one after another. Army surgeons, medics, and nursing officers rushed off the vehicles with bewildered expressions. An army surgeon quickly ran forward and saluted Choi Seong-Geon. ¡°We¡¯ll be doing live ammo training. Stay on standby. There may be casualties,¡± Choi Seong-Geon directed. ¡°Pardon, sir?¡± the army surgeon asked, doubting his ears. ¡°Hurry and prepare medical facilities inside the barracks!¡± Choi Seong-Geon shouted with a piercing gaze, which he had developed during his time on the battlefield. At the sight, the intimidated army surgeon sprang into action. With all the preparations made, Kang Chan walked up the stairs in front of the barracks. ¡°No automatic or repeated fire. Use single shots or don¡¯t fire at all. If anyone gets injured, the one responsible for the injury will help the injured back to the barracks, understood? Team One, step forward!¡± Kang Chan shouted. Eight of the men quickly came forward with Cha Dong-Gyun at the forefront. ¡°Team Two!¡± This time, eleven soldiers swiftly took a step forward. ¡°I willmand Team One, and Seok Kang-Ho willmand Team Two,¡± Kang Chan announced. The members of Team Two swiftly nced at Seok Kang-Ho to confirm their team leader. ¡°The remaining soldiers will be the upying force. You will bemanded by President Kim Tae-Jin and Director Suh Sang-Hyun! Now, as for the objectives of Team One and Team Two¡­¡± Kang Chan looked at the soldiers one by one before continuing, ¡°You will be responsible for theplete annihtion of the upying force.¡± Kim Tae-Jin let out a low sigh. ¡°The upying forces will depart first, and Team One and Team Two will depart twenty minutes after. Does anyone have any questions?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Can we hide inside the buildings?¡± Kim Tae-Jin immediately spoke up. ¡°Of course,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°The training couldst for a long time, then,¡± Kim Tae-Jin warned with concern. ¡°This is a training simtion to assess the abilities of the soldiers. We will continue until there are only twelve men standing. Any soldier who fails to fire even a single shot during this training will be disqualified,¡± Kang Chan announced. ¡°This is madness,¡± Choi Seong-Geon muttered to himself and quickly nced around. ¡°upying forces, you may now leave,¡± Kang Chan ordered. It was currently around eight in the morning. Kim Tae-Jin and his team checked their radio frequencies and set off in trucks and jeeps. Choi Seong-Seon, his aide, and the army surgeons looked more nervous than the soldiers were. *** ¡°Who is the most senior soldier here?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°I am, sir. I¡¯m First Lieutenant Kwak Cheol-Ho.¡± ¡°You¡¯re now themanding officer, Lieutenant,¡± ¡°Will that be all right?¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho sounded uncertain. ¡°This is a real mission, and someone could actually die. I¡¯ve lost my touch, while you¡¯re currently on active duty. It¡¯s only right that you¡¯re in charge. Now that we¡¯ve proceeded with this mission, we might as well win.¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho looked at Kim Tae-Jin with a puzzled expression. He clearly couldn¡¯t understand why the DMZ legend, someone who had retired long ago, was going this far. ¡°Lieutenant Kwak,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho immediately replied. ¡°I¡¯d be willing to die if it means I can help you all gainbat experience.¡± ¡°I understand, sir,¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho responded as he gritted his teeth. He then turned around. ¡°Did all of you hear what he said?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± the soldiers replied. ¡°Let¡¯s put our lives on the line and do this properly! We will show the abilities of South Korea¡¯s special forces team to the God of ckfield and our very own DMZ legend! What is our motto?!¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho rallied. ¡°If I can protect my mothend with my blood, I am happy!¡± ¡°Good! You will be divided into three teams. Jang Gwang-Jik!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± the second lieutenant replied. ¡°You will take over the three-story building. Annihte our enemies!¡± Kwak Cheol-Homanded. Jang Gwang-Jik turned around and called ten of the soldiers before dashing off together. ¡°Ha Jung-Kook!¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho called. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the staff sergeant responded. ¡°upy the rear building and provide them with cover!¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho ordered. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Ha Jung-Kook also took ten men and hurried up the two-story building that was in front of them. After givingmands, Kwak Cheol-Ho turned to Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Sir! I intend on using that building over there as our base,¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho said. ¡°I said you¡¯re in charge! Don¡¯t report to me,¡± Kim Tae-Jin insisted. ¡°Thank you, sir. Then as for the two of you, please watch over the rooftop of this building with two other soldiers,¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho requested. ¡°Got it. Let¡¯s go!¡± Kim Tae-Jin shouted. Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun left with two men. ¡°Are you really going to do this, sir?¡± Suh Sang-Hyun asked as they ran up the flights. ¡°You do know why Lieutenant Kwak assigned us separately on the rooftop, don¡¯t you?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°He was nicely telling us to stay out of action, wasn¡¯t he?¡± Suh Sang-Hyun snorted. Bam!? Kim Tae-Jin mmed open the rooftop door, which was protruding from the roof like a rooftop apartment. He leaned on a wall where he could see the entrance and slid to the floor. ¡°I can¡¯t remember thest time I was this nervous,¡± Kim Tae-Jin remarked. ¡°This is absurd,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun agreed. Kim Tae-Jin chuckled lightly as if he was thinking the same thing. ¡°I never imagined Kang Chan would have us train using live ammo,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said in disbelief. ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s absurd. If they get shot in the wrong part of their arms or legs, they¡¯ll have to retire. A single mistake can leave them with a hole in their head,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun griped with concern. Kim Tae-Jin turned his gaze toward Suh Sang-Hyun. ¡°Did you see the soldiers¡¯ faces earlier?¡± ¡°They looked like they were going to a real war zone.¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s probably what Kang Chan is aiming for. Even Kang Chan will die if he¡¯s hit in the head with a bullet. Do you think he would conduct this kind of training without knowing that? I¡¯m so grateful I could cry,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°You already cried earlier,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun tly replied. Kim Tae-Jinughed abashedly. Not long after, three siren bells that signaled the start of the training echoed throughout the makeshift city. ¡°This is ridiculous!¡± Suh Sang-Hyun yelped. ¡°Whew, pull yourself together,¡± Kim Tae-Jin told himself as he smacked his own helmet. *** -What? Training with live ammo? ¡°Yes, sir. We have army surgeons waiting on standby since there could be idents,¡± Choi Seong-Geon. Choi Seong-Geon was standing in front of the barracks with his left hand on his waist. ¡°If a problem arises because of this training, I will take full responsibility and resign. However, if any of the men are injured or something worse happens, please assist them in making sure they receive help from the government,¡± Choi Seong-Geon requested. -Understood. I will speak with the head of the National Intelligence Service to make sure that happens. ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. -How¡¯s the training progressing? ¡°The men just left,¡± Choi Seong-Geon replied. -How¡¯s the atmosphere? ¡°It¡¯s reminiscent of a real-life operation. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to convince the soldiers otherwise when I saw the look in their eyes.¡± -We taught those men what they know. Let¡¯s put our faith in them.? ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know what else to do if we still couldn¡¯tunch a preemptive attack after going through all this,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said darkly. . -I understand. With that response, Jeon Dae-Geuk ended the call. Choi Seong-Geon roughly palmed his face with his left hand. *** It took about five minutes to walk to their destination, an area that was a hundred meters away. From there, one could travel on a mountain path and get a view of the makeshift city. ¡°Cha Dong-Gyun, how long will it take to get through the mountains and reach the stock firm building?¡± Kang Chan asked. Cha Dong-Gyun looked at Kang Chan with a surprised expression but still replied, ¡°It should only take twenty minutes since there¡¯s already a path to it for our training course.¡± Kang Chan turned to Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I¡¯ll head around back. Stay on standby here and initiate the operation when it¡¯s time to enter the city,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Got it.¡± Kang Chan nodded, and Cha Dong-Gyun started for the mountains. ¡°Post two guards. The rest can rest,¡± Seok Kang-Homanded. Kang Chan also headed into the mountains after listening to Seok Kang-Ho give his orders. To the left was an uphill path, and to the right, they could asionally see one of the city¡¯s buildings. The soldiers standing on guard were excellent. Just as Kang Chan had noticed when he was running with them, they had clearly developed well-practiced stances through extensive training. ¡°Stop,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Cha Dong-Gyun quickly nced back. Kang Chan quickly scanned his surroundings and pressed a finger against his mouth. He then pointed each soldier to their spots. In response, the soldiers quickly and silently took their positions. Kang Chan sharply observed the entrance path. Something didn¡¯t feel right. An ambush was likely waiting for them. He observed the corner where they would enter, then waved Cha Dong-Gyun over. "There''s a high probability of an ambush ahead. Let''s descend from the mountain this way.¡± ¡°Understood, sir,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun whispered. Relying on the trees for support, Kang Chan began to step down the mountains. Due to the rustling of the grass and leaves, it was impossible topletely eliminate any sound. They were now about twenty meters away. Having infiltrated the outer road of the city, Kang Chan raised his index finger and signaled to his front. The rest of the members cautiously descended one by one. Chapter 140.2: Even If It Means Death (1)

Chapter 140.2: Even If It Means Death (1)

¡°They¡¯re taking too long,¡± a soldier said. ¡°Keep waiting on standby!¡± Kwak Cheol-Homanded through clenched teeth. His palms were drenched in sweat. ¡®Is this what the God of ckfield is aiming for?¡¯ Anxiety and nervousness were apparent on the soldiers¡¯ faces. It was as if they were in a real fight. Kwak Cheol-Ho red at the entrance path. At that moment¡­ Bang! Bang! ¡°Agh!¡± The two gunshots were immediately followed by shouts. Kwak Cheol-Ho¡¯s head instinctively whipped around. Which bastard had actually shot live ammo? Seeing the soldiers'' surprised faces, Kwak Cheol-Ho gritted his teeth further. *** ¡°It sounds like it has started!¡± Suh Sang-Hyun whispered frantically to Kim Tae-Jin, who had turned around from his leaning position against the wall so he could scan his surroundings. At that moment¡­ Bang! Bang! Holes were bored on the wall of the rooftop he was resting on. Kim Tae-Jin urgently got down on the ground. ¡°Argh! This is driving me insane!¡± Suh Sang-Hyun agitatedlyined, speaking the words in Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s mind. *** Cha Dong-Gyun was dumbfounded. It wasn¡¯t just him. The other soldiers and even Choi Jong-Il, who already had experience with Kang Chan from the day before, looked astounded. The moment Kang Chan found two of the enemy soldiers, he rushed toward them while shooting at them. The soldiers were wearing bulletproof vests, but the two sentries still fell back as if someone had pulled them by the napes. What if he shoots them in the neck, chest, or inner thighs by ident? Kang Chan was not only shooting at his enemies. He was running while doing so. Was he that confident in his skills? Cha Dong-Gyun quickly nced at Choi Dong-Il. Was this what live ammo training truly was? For the first time, Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s fingers began to tremble. His fingers wouldn¡¯t have trembled to this extent if Kang Chan was an enemy. *** Seok Kang-Ho red fiercely at the soldiers. ¡°You and you, head back!¡± he growled at the soldier who hadn¡¯t provided cover fire and the soldier who was supposed to rush forward. ¡°Please give me one more chance!¡± the soldier pleaded. ¡°Head back, you motherfuckers! Everyone could¡¯ve died because of you bastards!¡± Seok Kang-Ho shouted. ¡°I won''t run away from the fight again! Please give me a chance!¡± Seok Kang-Ho gritted his teeth and red at the soldier. ¡°Think about why Captain is doing this! Anyone will die if they get shot in the head, but he¡¯s still risking his life for this training. Do you think doing this stimtion will benefit Captain or me in any way? From now on, I will mercilessly send away anyone who doesn¡¯t listen to my orders.¡± The soldiers clenched their teeth. ¡°Get a visual on the base!¡± The soldier who begged for another opportunity turned to look at their target. ¡°Cover me!¡± Seok Kang-Ho shouted as he suddenly leaned forward and aimed his gun at the opposite building¡¯s rooftop. Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! *** The rooftop spewed out cement dust. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Suh Sang-Hyunughed bitterly. Kim Tae-Jin nced at their other two team members. ¡°Return fire.¡± Seeing the tense expressions on the soldiers¡¯ faces, Kim Tae-Jin realized why Kang Chan had chosen to conduct this kind of training. Pew! Pew! Pew! He quickly fired his gun and hid behind the wall with a thud. He had no particr target and just shot in the direction of the mountain. However, he had to do this if he wanted to bring the team members to reality. Their foreheads could be pierced by bullets, and their necks could be blown up too. ¡®Have courage. I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s our fault that you are all like this.¡¯ . Swoosh! Pew! Pew! When he got up and fired two shots, a few bullets from the opposite side hit the wall. ¡°Haah! Haah!¡± Kim Tae-Jin gasped for breath. However, there was a faint smile on his lips. He had seen the determination on the faces of the two soldiers. ¡®Thank you. Take advantage of this opportunity to grow.¡¯ Suddenly, Kang Chan¡¯s face shed in his mind. Kim Tae-Jin thought the long-cherished wish he held his whole life could actuallye true. *** Pew! ¡°Aah!¡± Seeing Kang Chan wave him over, Choi Jong-Il rushed to his side. His mouth was dry. The soldier who had flown back earlier like his nape was dragged was still down. Even so, Kang Chan led their team members forward with hand gestures. Aside from Kang Chan, no one had fired their guns yet. There won¡¯t be any point to the training then! Choi Jong-Il suddenly got an ominous feeling. Soldiers who couldn¡¯t fire a single shot would be eliminated without exception. Choi Jong-Il had witnessed Kim Hyung-Jung, Kim Tae-Jin, and Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s frustration more closely than anyone else. They had despaired multiple times after having to give up on missions despite trying to prepare for them. ¡®I¡¯m not going to let that happen this time! I¡¯m going on this mission!¡¯ Choi Jong-Il knew where Kang Chan¡¯s target was. Click!? Seeing something move, Choi Jong-Il quickly aimed his rifle. Pew! Pow! ¡°Ugh!¡± Thud.? ¡°Haah! Haah!¡± However, Kang Chan fired andnded a bullet first. Choi Jong-Il couldn¡¯t even pull the trigger because he was scared. Kang Chan smirked as he looked at Choi Jong-Il. ¡®Was my skill only at this pathetic level?¡¯ Choi Jong-Il¡¯s pride was severely hurt. ¡°Please let me go,¡± Choi Jong-Il pleaded. Kang Chan had ordered them not to speak, but Choi Jong-Il couldn¡¯t bear it. It was true that he was more scared of pulling the trigger on his fellow soldiers than getting shot himself. However, even if he couldn¡¯t be as daring as Kang Chan, at the very least, he had to aim for the enemy soldiers¡¯ bulletproof vests. Kang Chan nodded and pointed to a location with his finger. He then raised his fingers and began to count. One, two¡­! Pew! Pew! Swoosh! Pow! While Choi Jong-Il ran to his target, his team members covered his back. The enemy soldiers returned fire. Someone had finally pulled the trigger from the other side. It gave Choi Jong-Il peace of mind. He didn¡¯t have to be scared of shooting anymore. It looked as if Cha Dong-Gyun was requesting Kang Chan to send him too. ¡°Hahahaha,¡± Choi Jong-Il let out a strangeugh. *** Pew! Pow! ¡°Aaaahh!¡± One member from Team Two, the team that Seok Kang-Ho was leading, fell to the ground, clutching his thigh. The dirt around him was quickly stained red with blood. Crackle.? ¡°The soldier who just fired has to hurry and help the injured member back!¡± Seok Kang-Ho shouted into the radio. Crackle! ¡°Got it. I¡¯m heading down,¡± Kim Tae-Jin replied to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s radio transmission. All the soldiers could listen to this channel. *** ¡°Argh, damn it!¡± Choi Seong-Geon swallowed the curses at the tip of his tongue and mmed his desk after listening to the radio. He was smoking so many cigarettes that his ss ashtray was already half full. ¡°Where¡¯s the ambnce?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked. ¡°The army surgeon is waiting on standby at the entrance,¡± his aide informed him. There was no knowing where the injured soldier was shot or how much he was hurt. ¡°Motherfucker!¡± Choi Seong-Geon swore. Choi Seong-Geon had devoted all of this time to raising these soldiers to the point that he almost didn¡¯t have time to take care of his own children. You are the strength that supports this country! You are as strong as any elite team in the world! That was what he genuinely believed, and he habitually repeated those words to the soldiers too. Unable to contain his frustration, Choi Seong-Geon stepped out of the barracks to cool down. ¡®Endure and get through this! You will be the soldiers rewriting the history of South Korea¡¯s special forces.¡¯ Rough engine sounds began to approach the barracks, and dust rose from the mountain road. ¡°Just how much did he get hurt?!¡± Choi Seong-Geon growled as he cursed at the vehicle with a white cross that wasing toward him from afar. *** Pew! Pew! Pew! The members of Team Two acted as if they were beside themselves. Although the one who shot their team member was their colleague, they were aggressively firing back at the other side as if he had fallen from the bullet of an enemy. Whoosh!? Their muscles had been stiff from nervousness, but they were all ready to go now. A team member dashed forward and dove toward the ground as he aimed his rifle. Seok Kang-Ho watched him with a satisfied smirk. *** The upying forces were inside the building. It was difficult to know how many were waiting inside, but Team One hadpletely blocked the entrance of the building to prevent anyone from getting out. Kang Chan pointed at his position with his finger, and the rest of the team members immediately understood his n to also block off the other side. Pew! Pew! Swoosh! Pow! This was the dictionary definition of urban warfare. The walls that concealed the soldiers crumbled, leaving cement dust rising as they did. Everyone was aware of what happened over the radio. Not long after, shadows appeared at the entrance of the building. Pew! ng! The head of the soldier standing at the entrance jerked back, and he fell to the ground. ¡®This man can¡¯t be real.¡¯ Cha Dong-Gyun was filled with disbelief and shocked beyond words. The interior of the entrance was dark, and it was difficult to make out any shapes. However, Kang Chan still managed tond a bullet on the soldier¡¯s helmet from twenty meters away. If this was one of theirmon training situations and he was given the time, Cha Dong-Gyun was confident he could urately hit his target as well. However, Kang Chan just suddenly sprang up from where he was giving them directions and made the shot. The soldiers of the upying forces were shooting furiously in their direction from inside the building. What are you gonna do now? That seemed to be what Kang Chan¡¯s eyes were asking them, taunting them. ¡®I¡¯ll do it, and I¡¯ll do it properly. Mark my words.¡¯ Cha Dong-Gyun didn¡¯t want to give up and run away here. If all of them could fight as well as Kang Chan in actualbat situations¡­ if Kang Chan¡¯s dexterity came from extreme and grim operations that resulted in the deaths of half the team members, Cha Dong-Gyun would willingly put his life on the line to learn Kang Chan¡¯sbat style and experience. Kang Chan smirked. This was the first time he had smiled during the operation. With a determined look, Cha Dong-Gyun glowered at the location Kang Chan pointed to. Chapter 141.1: Even if it means death (2)

Chapter 141.1: Even if it means death (2)

A buzz came from the radio. ¡°He was hit in the arm. The soldier who shot him needs to take him to the medics, now!¡± Crackle. ¡°A soldier by the entrance was hit in the thigh! Whoever shot him better hurry and evacuate him!¡± Crackle.? ¡°A soldier just fainted! Get him out of here now!¡± A series of radio transmissions were heard from inside the barracks. The army surgeon quickly nced at Choi Seong-Geon and rushed outside. Four of the medics already had their hands and arms drenched in blood. Meanwhile, a soldier lying on an improvised cot barely managed to regain consciousness. A nursing officer looked at Choi Seong-Geon while switching the soldier¡¯s blood bag. The soldier¡¯s ruptured blood vessels had been sealed off, but that was only a temporary solution. If they wasted any more time, they would have to amputate his arm. ¡°What the hell are they doing?! Why are theyte?!¡± Choi Seong-Geon shouted in frustration. Unable to control his temper, he exhaled heavily. After some time, ambnce sirens echoed from a distance, followed by the de ps of a helicopter. ¡°They¡¯re here! Prepare the soldiers for medevac!¡± Vroom! Creaaak! The soldiers who had already taken out soldiers from the enemy team all dashed outside. The soldiers who required medical attention had different wounds. One had an arm covered in blood, while another was shot in the thigh. There was also the unconscious soldier who had been carried inside the barracks on a stretcher. ¡°The bullet went through him! Prepare to stop the bleeding!¡± urgently shouted a medical officer. His uniform was drenched in so much blood it was almost ck. It evidenced just how chaotic the scene was. Chuf, chuf, chuf, chuf, chuf.? Helicopter chops continued to echo in the background. ¡°Get all the patients to a hospital! You go along with them, and report the situation while you¡¯re there!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± the medical officer replied. A strong gust of dust blew through the windows of the barracks, which were shaking so hard it seemed as if they would crack at any moment. The soldiers rushed forward to transport the patients on stretchers. Meanwhile, the army surgeon pushed aside the medical officer and gave the unconscious soldier chestpressions. ¡°This is madness! They¡¯re all out of their minds!¡± ¡°Gasp! Huff, huff!¡± ¡°Haah, haah!¡± When the soldier finally began to breathe again, the army surgeon slumped heavily into a nearby chair, both relieved and worn out. Helicopter noises, blood-soaked soldiers, and shocked medical officers¡­ This was no different from a warzone. Ring. Ring. Ring. ¡°The line is secure! This is Training Site Thirty-Seven! Yes, sir! Yes! Understood, sir!¡± Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s aide nervously replied. Choi Seong-Geon turned when his aide answered a call. His aide handed him the phone with a bewildered expression. The exact location of this training site had been kept a secret, and none of the soldiers here had disclosed their ranks or positions to anyone. Since they had gone to such lengths to keep the area secured, it was extremely rare for them to have to answer any phone calls. Did something urgent happen that required the skills of the special forces team? ¡°Who is it?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked. ¡°It¡¯s from the Blue House, sir,¡± his aide replied. ¡°What?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked in surprise, quickly taking the phone. ¡°This is Choi Seong-Geon.¡± -General Choi, this is Moon Jae-Hyun.? ¡±Sir! This is Brigadier General Choi Seong-Geon, sir!¡± Choi Seong-Geon robustly shouted. The army surgeon, nursing officer, and medical officers curiously looked over, wondering who he was speaking so politely to. In the meantime, the helicopter took off to take the injured soldiers to a hospital, and the soldiers who had carried the stretchers were returning back inside the barracks. -I heard you¡¯re conducting a special kind of training, General. I apologize. It¡¯s because I¡¯m not capable enough as the president that our country¡¯s soldiers have to train in ways others do not. I am not supposed to know why the soldiers are receiving this training. That¡¯s the only way I can keep our nation safe. However, General Choi, no matter what happens, I will take full responsibility. I swear on my title to protect you and the rest of the soldiers.? Choi Seong-Geon clenched his teeth and turned his gaze out the window, feeling an overwhelming surge of sentimentality. -Thank you, General. I sincerely apologize to the soldiers. Please deliver my gratitude to them as the president and a man who loves South Korea from the bottom of his heart.? ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said, throat choking with emotion. The fact that someone recognized the soldiers¡¯ efforts in going through this hellish training and understood why they had to do this made his heart swell. -If there is anything you should need, you can reach me through Section Chief Jeon. I¡¯m sure that¡¯s the easiest way to establishmunication with me. ¡°We are already receiving everything we need, sir.¡± Crackle.? ¡°There¡¯s a new patient! Hurry and transport him!¡± Crackle.? ¡°Got it!¡± The army surgeon, a medical officer, and the soldiers swiftly ran outside as if they were dodging bullets. -I leave this in your capable hands, General Choi.? Moon Jae-Hyun attempted to finish up the call quickly, likely having heard the radio transmission over the phone. ¡°Mr. President,¡± Choi Seong-Geon began. -Yes, go ahead, General.? ¡°If I can protect my country with my blood, I am happy,¡± he said firmly. -I believe that is the motto of our special forces, isn¡¯t it? I didn¡¯t know you possessed the talent to make people tear up, General. Then¡­ I will contact you again at another time.? The line was disconnected. Choi Seong-Geon wasn¡¯t certain if proceeding with this training was the right thing to do, but the moment he shouted the special forces¡¯ motto, something inside him began to ze. When he handed the phone to his aide, a patient entered the barracks. The army surgeon applied pressure on the shin of the soldier, who was lying on a stretcher. Choi Seong-Geon furrowed his brows and looked at the soldier. ¡°Haah!¡± he eximed. He gritted his teeth and walked out of the barracks. The two soldiers sitting at the entrance sprang to their feet. Choi Seong-Geon pulled out some cigarettes from his pocket and offered them to the soldiers. ¡°We¡¯re all right, sir.¡± ¡°Just take it, punks,¡± Choi Seong-Geon stated. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Choi Seong-Geon was the only one who had a lighter with him, so the soldiers politely held their cigarettes to him to light them up. They turned their heads to the side as they breathed out puffs of smoke. ¡°Haaah.¡± Choi Seong-Geon saw a few soldiers approaching the barracks through the smoke he exalted. They were most likely the soldiers who had gotten shot but on their bulletproof vests. Some of the soldiers who were shot in the sr plexus were carried in on stretchers because they had lost consciousness. The shock of the bullet¡¯s impact had rendered a few of them unable to breathe. ¡°General Choi!¡± they greeted as they saluted him. ¡°Take a smoke, men,¡± Choi Seong-Geon responded. The soldiers tried to politely refuse but when they saw the look in his eyes, they quickly epted the cigarettes. Again, Choi Seong-Geon didn¡¯t hand them the lighter but instead lit their cigarettes for them instead. It had already been three hours since the training started at eight in the morning. *** Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s eyes glinted as sharply as Choi Jong-Il¡¯s piercing gaze. He could see them. The moving shapes in front of him were way clearer than when they had first begun training. Pew! Pew! Pew! The upying forces were also shooting back at them with the firm intent to hit them. Hence, neither side could make any hasty movements. ¡®So this is the purpose of this training!¡¯ Hisrades were carried out in stretchers, bloodied in the blink of an eye. His senses had be so heightened it was as if he could feel every hair on his body. The moment he made a single mistake, bullets woulde flying at his bulletproof vest or helmet. Worse, if he was unlucky, he¡¯d end up with a hole in his arms and legs. This was iparable to the mock battles they had. That kind of training couldn¡¯t evene close to this. Pew! Pew! The moment Woo Hee-Seung leaned forward to take a look, bullets immediately came shooting in his direction. At this rate, this wouldn¡¯t end even if night came. They had already used every drop of energy they had and were now just hanging on through pure resolve. He never imagined he would experience this in a mock battle. Bang! Bang! Pew! Pew! Pew! Cha Dong-Gyun fired three consecutive shots from his position to cover Woo Hee-Seung, who ran out. Just then, the radios began to crackle. ¡°This is the God of ckfield. The morning training is over. I repeat. The morning training is over. Everyone, gather at the entrance,¡±manded Kang Chan. *** ¡°Haaaaaaah,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun sighed as he leaned his head against the wall. Creak.? Even though they had been informed that the training was over, Suh Sang-Hyun still reflexively raised his gun, and Kim Tae-Jin aimed his rifle with a click. It was Team Two. They had reached the entrance of the rooftop. Seeing Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s smirk as he stepped on the rooftop, Suh Sang-Hyun scowled. ¡°Are you all right? Let¡¯s head back down,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Did this man not get nervous? Click. Click.? Suh Sang-Hyun whipped his gaze around every time he heard the sound of a gun. It had be instinctive to him now. *** ¡°Good work, everyone!¡± Team One, which Kang Chan led, and the upying forces that were led by Kwak Cheol-Ho arrived at the entrance with their guns pointed at the ground. Kim Tae-Jin was running on fumes at this point, but he cast Kang Chan a curious look, wondering why he stopped the training. ¡°The agents are too tired. If we go any further with the training, some of the soldiers will actually die,¡± Kang Chan exined. Kim Tae-Jin nodded in understanding. He was aware that even his own focus had waned. He had a little less than half left to go in him. They all left the makeshift city and walked down the mountain path. They were so tired that a hundred meters seemed like a kilometer. ¡°Is the training done for today, then?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°I¡¯m nning on picking back up with it after lunch,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°I see,¡± Kim Tae-Jin responded. Chapter 141.2: Even if it means death (2)

Chapter 141.2: Even if it means death (2)

¡°Sirs!¡± Choi Seong-Geon, who was in front of the barracks with the soldiers who were shot, greeted Kang Chan and the rest of his party from where he was standing. ¡°We will proceed with afternoon training after lunch,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Got it.¡± Choi Seong-Geon replied with a nod instead of speaking, but it wasn¡¯t out of ill intent. Kang Chan stepped up the stairs in front of the barracks. ¡°After your meal, you will have two hours to rest. Get an hour of sleep. Doesn¡¯t matter if you can¡¯t?fall asleep. You have no choice. You never know when mountain warfare will end upsting into nighttime,¡± Kang Chan stated. ¡°You n to keep this up at night too?¡± Choi Seong-Geon suddenly chimed. It was already this hellish in the morning. If they trained at night, the soldiers could actually die. Even so, Choi Seong-Geon had no choice but to ept it. After all, the soldiers¡¯ eyes were zing more furiously than ever before. *** ¡°Enjoy your lunch, sir.¡± Every soldier who passed by Kang Chan greeted him, holding their trays of food. There was no exception to this. ¡°Ha,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun scoffed as he ate a big spoonful of rice. Red, spicy pork, white rice, and five different kinds of side dishes were prepared for the men. If the soldiers wanted, they could choose to have hamburgers instead. There were also three types of fruit stacked up next to one side of the serving table. They had three soup options as well: spicy beef soup, short rib soup, and soybean paste soup. ¡°What do you think of the men now that you¡¯ve trained with them?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked as he raised a spoonful of short rib soup. He only asked the question out of curiosity, but all the soldiers eagerly waited for Kang Chan¡¯s answer. ¡°I think I¡¯ll have to apologize,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°For what?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°They were trained to a higher standard than I initially thought. More than anything, their determination and sense of duty are definitely worthy of praise,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kim Tae-Jin abruptly stopped eating and looked at Kang Chan, the spoon in his hand hanging halfway toward his mouth. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not just saying that to make me feel good?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked suspiciously. ¡°To get the hang of live ammo training this fast¡­¡± Kang Chan trailed off musingly. ¡°The Foreign Legion would probably have to repeat this training at least ten to fifteen times to get used to it. The special forces soldiers are skilled in that regard. We haven¡¯t suffered any deaths yet, either.¡± Kim Tae-Jin grinned until Kang Chan continued. ¡°Of course, none of the soldiers have managed to shoot at their opponents¡¯ helmets yet.¡± In response, Kim Tae-Jin quickly filled his mouth with rice. Before slightly bending over to drink some of the soup, he asked, ¡°You all heard what he said, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kang Chan scanned the faces of the soldiers inside the cafeteria. ¡°I¡¯ll have to admit, I judged you men too harshly in the beginning. I apologize for that. Let¡¯s wrap up our afternoon training with gusto. After the training, let¡¯s get some fresh air in a few days,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Are you referring to the preemptive attack, sir?¡± a soldier asked. Kang Chan smirked in reply instead of answering the question. Kang Chan¡¯s party leisurely finished their meal and sat in front of the barracks, enjoying some bagged coffee and cigarettes. ¡°Sang-Hyun and I will skip out on the afternoon training,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°Got it. I don¡¯t think you have to worry about the soldiers any more, given their abilities,¡± Kang Chan assured him. Kim Tae-Jin looked at Kang Chan as thetter drank his coffee from a paper cup. At the mess hall, Kim Tae-Jin had seen the soldiers willingly following Kang Chan. They observed Kang Chan¡¯s every word, gaze, and even the movements of his hands. If this kind ofmander leads an operation, and his team actually gets to infiltrate another country¡­ Kang Chan gazed at Kim Tae-Jin as if to ask why he was giving him that look. ¡°I¡¯m just looking at you because I like you!¡± Kim Tae-Jin jokingly said, then grinned. He felt happiness so pure he felt like a child again. ¡°Ahem!¡± He was feeling sleepy and cozy, probably because he had eaten lunch, and the tension he felt had disappeared. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get some sleep, sir?¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°Sounds like a good idea,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. Soon after, he headed back inside the barracks. The soldiers also returned to the barracks one by one. It seemed like they were doing it to follow Kang Chan¡¯s instructions, not because they were drowsy. They had taken Kang Chan¡¯smands to sleep as part of their training. Kang Chan took out his phone and checked if there were any missed calls. ¡°These kids aren¡¯t to be taken lightly, Cap. They¡¯re pretty strong,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said as he bit on a new cigarette. ¡°But they stillck experience. They were only slightly better than the recruits from the operation in Mongolia, really. Are you really nning to go with just these soldiers?¡± ¡°What else can I do? They¡¯re all determined to put their lives on the line just so they cane.¡± ¡°Argh! This won¡¯t be easy, huh?¡± Seok Kang-Ho sighed. ¡°Do you want to rest for the uing training session?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°What are you talking about? I was just saying that this is not going to be easy, not that I¡¯m going to stop,¡± Seok Kang-Ho asserted. He looked a little shocked by Kang Chan¡¯s offer. ¡°Are you really feeling okay? Your wounds aren¡¯t acting up?¡± Kang Chan asked, concerned. ¡°About that¡­ I¡¯m pretty much all healed now. There¡¯s seriously no reason anymore for me to still have bandages wrapped around me.¡± Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s recovery speed was now nearly on par with Kang Chan¡¯s. Was it because he had received the energy of the ckhead diamond? *** Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho also got about an hour of sleep. By the time they had washed their faces and headed out of the barracks, Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun were already there. The soldiers bustled around as they washed up, preparing for what was toe this afternoon. They had only finished morning training, but their faces were already so gaunt it was as if they had trained for a full day. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? Kang Chan¡¯s phone began to ring. He had kept it on him since they still had some break time left. ¡°Mr. Ambassador? This is Kang Chan,¡± he answered. -Mr. Kang Chan, where are you right now? ¡°I¡¯m in the Jeungpyeong area right now. Why did you call?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t put his finger on it, but Lanok sounded different. -The UK is preparing a surprise attack. We¡¯re thinking ofunching an attack first, so I was wondering if you couldmand the special forces team of the Foreign Legion.? Kang Chan stared at Cha Dong-Hyun for a moment. The soldiers had gathered in preparation for the afternoon training, and they were now peeking at Kang Chan because he suddenly started to speak fluent French. ¡°When do I have to leave?¡± Kang Chan asked. -You¡¯ll have to depart at dawn the day after tomorrow. This isn¡¯t just urgent because this will be your debut. France will suffer great damage if we can¡¯t stop the attack. We need a perfect victory like in Mongolia. I¡¯m asking you for a personal favor right now, Mr. Kang Chan.? ¡°I understand, Mr. Ambassador. However, I will take the South Korean special forces with me as backup,¡± Kang Chan dered. -This is a fight for France.? ¡°We received help in Mongolia, so it¡¯s only fair that we repay the favor. I am actually coordinating with their soldiers right now, so it will be morefortable to take another team with me.¡± -All right. What do you need me to prepare? ¡°I only need means of transportation and information regarding the operation. I¡¯ll head back to Seoul after this call, so let¡¯s discuss the rest when I get there.¡± -Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.? By the time Kang Chan had hung up, the soldiers were already standing around him while still giving him some space. Kang Chan stood up from where he was sitting on the steps. Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun were naturally waiting for him to begin, while Choi Seong-Geon was looking at Kang Chan with a worried expression. Choi Seong-Geon seemed anxious to know how the afternoon training would be conducted. Kang Chan strode over to Choi Seong-Geon and gestured to Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°What is it?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°Mr. Kim, I¡¯ve just received a request from France to lead the Foreign Legion¡¯s special forces on a preemptive attack operation on the UK. France will take care of the transportation and information and tie up any loose ends. I will choose eight members from these soldiers to join the operation as the Foreign Legion¡¯s backup. You can¡¯t get any betterbat experience than this.¡± Choi Seong-Geon quickly turned to Kim Tae-Jin. The rest of the soldiers nced over at the three, wondering what was going on. ¡°Sir, do you think we can get permission for this?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°It might be hard to give official permission, but they¡¯ll turn a blind eye if Kang Chan requests it. I heard you received help from France during the Mongolian operation,¡± Kim Tae-Jin replied. Choi Seong-Geon looked at Kang Chan with his lips pressed together. ¡°We will have to depart at dawn the day after tomorrow. I will take eight soldiers. Please make arrangements and say they¡¯re using their vacation days instead,¡± Kang Chan requested. Choi Seong-Geon nodded with his lips protruding thickly in a pout. He then asked, ¡°How will you select the soldiers?¡± ¡°I want to leave that to Cha Dong-Gyun.¡± ¡°All right. I take it you will bemanding this operation yourself?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Hearing Kang Chan¡¯s response, Choi Seong-Geon took in a deep breath and nodded. As he did, Kang Chan turned toward the soldiers and approached them. ¡°Today¡¯s afternoon training is canceled,¡± he announced, surprising the nervous soldiers. Disappointment shed across their faces. ¡°Cha Dong-Gyun,¡± Kang Chan began. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun replied. ¡°I need eight soldiers to go with me on vacation at dawn the day after tomorrow. Two of those should be snipers. Create a list and request for the days off from General Choi,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s expression made it difficult to tell if he was smiling or crying. ¡°Can you make the list?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Please leave it to me, sir!¡± Cha Dong-Gyun replied. His sharp, pointed eyes glinted. ¡°We will be going as support this time. Consider it asbat training, got it?¡± ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± Kang Chanughed at the silly response. Chapter 142.1: Just Who Is This Man? (1)

Chapter 142.1: Just Who Is This Man? (1)

Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan had already left for Seoul. Kim Tae-Jin, Suh Sang-Hyun, and Choi Seong-Geon sat in front of the barracks, drinking tea together. ¡°I can¡¯t believe their participation in the French operation was decided with a single phone call. Just who is this man?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked incredulously. ¡°You don¡¯t have to dwell on the answer to that question. Just take what you see and feel at face value,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. Choi Seong-Geon nodded. ¡°All this time, I thought Section Chief Jeon and you were the only scary people in this world. I didn¡¯t know I was just a small fish in a pond.¡± ¡°I was scary? I realized that I had definitely aged when I saw you, though,¡± Kim Tae-Jin remarked. ¡°You definitely were, sir. I still clearly remember the look in your eyes when we went to and returned from the DMZ. Back then, everyone became nervous whenever you entered the barracks. From what I saw earlier, that¡¯s how the soldiers react to Mr. Kang Chan now,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. Kim Tae-Jin nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s consider ourselves lucky to have someone skilled enough to send soldiers on a real field operation so quickly. Some of the soldiers will have to make sacrifices. However, to improve and move forward, the special forces are fated to suffer such pain,¡± Kim Tae-Jin firmly stated. ¡°You¡¯re right. We had no choice but to swallow our frustration and anger because we couldn¡¯t obtain opportunities like this until now. The look in the soldiers¡¯ eyes has changed. I¡¯m both grateful and proud to have men desperatelypeting against each other to go somewhere they could die,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said with a mncholic smile. After some time, someone knocked on the door three times. ¡°What is it?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked. ¡°It¡¯s the list of the men who are requesting their off days, General Choi,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun replied as he entered. Choi Seong-Geon epted the paper from Cha Dong-Gyun, taken aback by how quickly it had been prepared. ¡°Cha Dong-Gyun, you punk! Even if I can understand Kwak Cheol-Ho being on this list, Yoo Kwang-Yeol is a newbie who has just passed his hundredth day here!¡± Choi Seong-Geon protested. ¡°Please talk to them directly, General. I can¡¯t convince them otherwise.¡± ¡°You bastards!¡± Choi Seong-Geon eximed as he shook his head and red at Cha Dong-Gyun. ¡°On a separate note, sir, I¡¯d respectfully like to ask for you to have face-to-face talks with all the soldiers.¡± ¡°Why? Is there a problem?¡± ¡°The men who were disqualified are greatly disappointed in themselves, sir.¡± Choi Seong-Geon let out a loud sigh, not knowing what to do with his men. *** ¡°I don¡¯t understand why the UK is suddenly attacking France. It doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Seok Kang-Ho wondered. ¡°Did the things?we did ever make any sense?¡± Kang Chan countered. ¡°Ha, that¡¯s true,¡± Seok Kang-Ho agreed with a wide grin. He seemed extremely excited at the prospect of leaving on another operation. ¡°I should probably take my wife out tomorrow, then. It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Oh, right! What day is it today?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Thursday. Why?¡± Kang Chan, who had been leaning against the window, abruptly sat up. ¡°That means we¡¯ll be leaving on Saturday, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Chan asked, half-hoping Seok Kang-Ho would say no. ¡°Since we¡¯re supposed to depart at dawn the day after tomorrow¡­ that would be the dawn of Saturday, Cap.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan, then looked ahead again. ¡°I told them to make time on Saturday so we can go on a surprise trip. What should I do?¡± Kang Chan asked despairingly. ¡°You told who?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked, not understanding. ¡°My mother and father. Damn it! They¡¯ll be disappointed. I don¡¯t know about my dad, but my mother seemed to be looking forward to it a lot. Tsk! What should I do?¡± Kang Chan wondered out loud. Seok Kang-Ho didn¡¯t have an answer to questions like these. Kang Chan scowled, unable toe up with a solution. ¡°You should discuss it with your father. That might be the best option,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. ¡°I guess. I¡¯ll talk to him after meeting Ambassador Lanok.¡± Kang Chan sighed again. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯te up with anything right off the bat. In the car on the way to Seoul, he called Lanok and made arrangements to meet. As Kang Chan expected, they were meeting at the embassy. Given the current circumstances, it would be unwise to meet anywhere that could leave them exposed to external forces. Seok Kang-Ho dropped Kang Chan off at the embassy around five-thirty in the afternoon. ¡°You can head home without me since this can take a while if the ambassador invites me to dinner. You should stop by a hospital on your way back,¡± Kang Chan urged. ¡°You¡¯re still saying that after seeing me in the shower stalls earlier today?¡± Seok Kang-Ho jokingly asked. ¡°Don¡¯t take your condition lightly. Make sure you stop by a hospital before you go home,¡± Kang Chan rebuked. ¡°All right, I will. Call me if you need me. I¡¯ll be home for the rest of the day,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°I will,¡± Kang Chan responded. Kang Chan said goodbye to Seok Kang-Ho and thumped the hood of the car before entering the embassy. The agent standing at the entrance immediately led Kang Chan to the office once he saw him. The hallways were packed with agents today, which was unusual. The office door opened with a click. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Lanok greeted as he walked over and hugged Kang Chan. Thest time they met, Lanok had greeted him with a handshake instead. Kang Chan now understood how urgent and anxious Lanok was feeling, which were things he wouldn¡¯t even have any idea about in the past. ¡°Let¡¯s sit down, shall we?¡± Lanok gestured at the table. The chairs in Lanok¡¯s office were fancy, ssic, pleasing to the eyes, andfortable. It was as if he had brought them from France¡¯s medieval times. They were a lot better than the couch. Kang Chan suddenly wanted to gift Yoo Hye-Sook these kinds of chairs too. Lanok poured him some tea and offered him a cigarette before lighting his own cigar. ¡°Let me begin by telling you about the Hadron Collider.¡± With the cigar in his mouth, Lanok handed Kang Chan a few documents that he had prepared in advance. They contained the location and scale of the object and otherplicated information that he couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Under my country¡¯s leadership, nearly the entirety of Europe participated in creating it. Some parts of Russia even joined in. It was installed in the border area between France and Switzend, but most of it is in France.¡± Kang Chan briefly scanned the documents and put them down, focusing on Lanok¡¯s words. ¡°As Britain was developing their subterranean shock device, they seemed to have judged that France¡¯s Hadron Collider serves the same purpose, which is likely why they are attempting to destroy it. They have already dispatched agents to the mountainous region of Martigny Combe in Switzend.¡± ¡°Are we up against the SAS?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°SBS,¡± Lanok replied curtly. Kang Chan let out a low sigh. The elite among the SAS, which was remarkable in its own right already, were handpicked and trained to form the SBS, a unit that had sessfully carried out undisclosed special operations not only in Europe but also in Africa and even during the Gulf War. ¡°We should never leave any loose ends in any operation, but it¡¯s especially important that we don¡¯t leave anything behind that can cause conflict with this specific operation. If the UK manages to find any of our traces, they will try to exploit the situation in any way they possibly can.¡± Kang Chan nodded before speaking up again. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, the uh¡­ Hadron Collider, was it? Can that thing actually cause earthquakes?¡± ¡°There are many misconceptions about it. Simply put, yes, it can. However, it is impossible for France to independently modify it for such a purpose, considering more than twenty thousand people coborated to create it.¡± It was difficult to discern this snake¡¯s true intention from his words alone. Unless Britain was a fool, they would obviously know about what Lanok said as well. Perhaps they were aware but decided to attack anyway to find a reason to pick a fight with France. For now, Kang Chan decided to trust Lanok. ¡°If the SBS is already there, aren¡¯t wete already?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°The mobilization of the special forces of the Foreign Legion was dyed by a day. There¡¯s only one spot for the title of ¡®best team,¡¯ after all. However, GIGN and the Unified Special Operations Command both judged that we would be at a disadvantage in this operation because it¡¯s located in the mountains,¡± Lanok replied. Since the teams were both responsible for different roles and used different equipment, what Lanok was saying waspletely reasonable. Still, in operations like this, time was everything. Only then did Kang Chan sympathize with the urgency in Lanok¡¯s eyes. ¡°It will take approximately twelve hours to get to Switzend,¡± Kang Chan stated, sounding concerned. ¡°Thirteen hours, to be specific. You will also have to travel from the Sion Base by helicopter and on foot through the mountainous area. Taking those into calction, it will take twenty hours without breaks.¡± ¡°What if the SBS makes their move before we arrive?¡± Kang Chan mused. Lanok couldn¡¯t answer. His expression grew stiff. ¡°Would it be difficult to reinforce the collider¡¯s security or strike them directly from Switzend?¡± Kang Chan asked, recalling Ludwig and Vant being good friends with Lanok. ¡°If we inform Switzend about this and request their assistance, we will essentially be revealing the secrets rted to the subterranean shock device and the ckhead diamond to the European intelligence agencies. Although the truth will be revealed at some point anyway, it is wiser to give up the Hadron Collider for now.¡± Kang Chan nodded and lifted his cigarette. If Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s team had practicalbat experience¡ªif there were just five members with skills like Dayeru, Kang Chan would have said he would depart immediately. It wasn¡¯t just out of his personal gratitude to Lanok. The more he gained insight into the field of intelligence, the better these kinds of operations seemed to be for establishing the reputation of South Korea¡¯s special forces. Moreover, the subterranean shock device was created to prevent the Eurasian Rail from being built, which was all the more reason why this was significant. Seemingly understanding Kang Chan¡¯s silence, Lanok kept quiet and just enjoyed his cigar and tea. Chapter 142.2: Just Who is This Man? (1)

Chapter 142.2: Just Who is This Man? (1)

There were only two things left for Kang Chan to confirm. ¡°How many personnel are the Foreign Legion¡¯s special forces mobilizing?¡± Kang Chan questioned. ¡°Two units for a total of twenty-four men,¡± Lanok replied. Rumors were bound to get out regarding operations thisrge. To make things worse, just a single error could cause this whole situation to explode into a full-scale war. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, if I told you I wanted to depart now, could you have a flight prepared for me immediately?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s already waiting for you in Osan,¡± Lanok responded with ease, seemingly anticipating the question. He then changed the topic, ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, what would you like to have for dinner?¡± Kang Chan genuinely wanted to help him and not miss out on this opportunity. However, the soldiers¡¯ck of experience was holding him back right now. In a way, that was a more important factor than their abilities. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, I think It¡¯s best that I take my leave early. I have to confirm a few things. Can I call you again at ater time?¡± Kang Chan requested. ¡°I¡¯ll always be waiting for your calls, Mr. Kang Chan, especially those rted to this particr operation,¡± Lanok replied. ¡°Understood, sir. If that¡¯s all we have to talk about, I¡¯ll get going now,¡± Kang Chan said. . As Kang Chan got up, Lanok stood up as well. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯m well aware that asking for your assistance with this operation is a difficult request to aplish, so I hope you don¡¯t strain yourself any further than you¡¯re already doing. One lost battle won¡¯t mean we lose everything in Europe, but if we lose you, there¡¯s no way to get you back,¡± Lanok implored. Kang Chan had never seen Lanok look this concerned before. Lanok could have chosen to put on a mask to hide his emotions, but it seemed he had decided against doing that in front of Kang Chan. As Kang Chan walked out of the embassy, he took out his phone and checked the time. It was six-thirty in the evening. Afterward, he immediately searched for Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s number and called it, but he had more in mind than just postponing their trip. -Hello? Kang Chan? ¡°Yes, Father. Where are you?¡± Kang Chan asked. -I¡¯m at the office, but I¡¯m just about to leave. Are you back in Seoul now? ¡°Yes. Do you have time to have dinner with me?¡± -What about your mother? ¡°I was hoping to have dinner with just us today. There¡¯s something I want to discuss with you.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung briefly remained silent likely because he was taking a moment to process the situation. -Where are you? I¡¯ll be done in about ten minutes.? ¡°I¡¯ll go to where you are. It¡¯ll probably take about an hour since it¡¯s rush hour.¡± -All right. I¡¯ll be waiting at my office, then. I¡¯ll tell your mother that I have a dinner appointment.? ¡°Got it,¡± Kang Chan replied. After hanging up, Kang Chan called Choi Jong-Il. Almost immediately, Lee Doo-Hee drove up to the back alley of the embassy. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my father¡¯s workce.¡± Kang Chan asked for their help getting to his father because getting a taxi during rush hour would be difficult. Going on this operation with just the South Korean team¡­ If someone told Kang Chan he was being greedy, he wouldn¡¯t have any rebuttal. However, this was far better than a few minorbat experiences. After all, this made sure their abilities would improve. Seeing the soldiers¡¯ abilities during the live ammo training had a great impact on Kang Chan¡¯s decision as well. Kang Chan looked out the window in silence as they drove along, creating an awkward atmosphere. Choi Jong-Il subtly peeked at Kang Chan. He seemed worried that France had rejected the South Korean team¡¯s assistance or that their authorization to participate had been denied at the final stage, which was what happened to countless operations in the past. There wasn¡¯t anything Kang Chan could say to them right now, however. Amid the continued silence, they soon arrived at Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯spany. ¡°I¡¯m going to have dinner with my father. He¡¯ll have his guards on him, so you all have dinner in peace without worrying about us. Let¡¯s try to eat whenever we can, got it?¡± ¡°Understood, sir.¡± Kang Chan stepped out of the car and called his father. Kang Dae-Kyung came down not long after. ¡°Father!¡± Kang Chan greeted, to which Kang Dae-Kyung reciprocated with a smile. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Since we¡¯re eating without Mother, let¡¯s just have something simple,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°Are you sure? I was going to treat you to something nice,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said, patting Kang Chan¡¯s back as they entered the street next to his office¡¯s building. ¡°Why don¡¯t we have a light meal with ox bone soup?¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Kang Chan replied. He followed Kang Dae-Kyung into the ox bone soup restaurant behind the building. Kang Chan was extremely grateful to have a father he could rely on and confide in whenever he had a difficult decision to make. He obviously couldn¡¯t tell his father everything, and even if he could make up his mind now, the South Korean government would likely disapprove of the mission. Still, his father was a source offort. ¡°This ce is actually pretty famous,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung exined. The restaurant did seem popr because it was bustling with a lot of people. It hadn¡¯t even been three minutes since they ordered, but they were already served their ox bone soup. ¡°So, what is it?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked without looking up from the rice and soup he was mixing together. He was obviously attempting to create a casual mood intentionally so Kang Chan could easily tell him what was on his mind. ¡°I was nning on taking you and Mother to Jeju this weekend, Father,¡± Kang Chan started. Kang Dae-Kyung lifted his gaze to look at Kang Chan. ¡°But something came up, so I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to go. Mother seems to be looking forward to it quite a bit. What should I do?¡± Kang Chan contemted. ¡°Is it something that will take a few days again?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kang Dae-Kyung raised his spoon and began to eat. ¡°Eat up. Let¡¯s think about it while eating,¡± he said, eating a spoonful of soup, rice, and diced radish kimchi. ¡°Hmm. Let¡¯s just think of this as you sending me and your mother on a trip as a present, okay? That way, the two of us can rx together. Your mother will still be upset, though, so let¡¯s take a day trip somewhere nearby next week.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan apologized. ¡°I¡¯m more excited since it¡¯ll just be the two of us,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said with a smile, showing Kang Chan that he didn¡¯t have to worry. ¡°Father,¡± Kang Chan hesitantly called. ¡°There¡¯s more?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung joked. Kang Chan grinned. ¡°There¡¯s this thing I really want to do, but it¡¯ll be difficult. I don¡¯t have time to do it multiple times, and there won¡¯t be a better opportunity than this. But it¡¯s something I won¡¯t be doing alone, and if I fail, the people joining me will have to sacrifice something great. I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± ¡°What did the others say about this?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. Kang Chan recalled Cha Dong-Gyun and the other soldiers¡¯ fierce expressions. ¡°I think they want to do it,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Hmmm, then I take it this is something you¡¯ll be taking responsibility for?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung confirmed. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Deep in thought, Kang Dae-Kyung slowly swallowed the food in his mouth. ¡°The person responsible will always find themselves in the toughest spot since he¡¯ll have to ept the oue of his choices. Remember how hard it was for me when our contract with Chiffre ended? No matter the situation, unexpected variables are bound to arise. If you¡¯re confident and determined to face those unknown odds, then you should push through with it. Otherwise, it would be pointless.¡± Kang Chan ate a spoonful of food as he listened to Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°How does seeding in this benefit you?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung questioned. ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°Were you nning on doing something that won¡¯t benefit you at all?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked with a grin. The advantages? The greatest advantage was that he¡¯d be repaying his favor to Lanok. Apart from that, although they would have to put their lives on the line, the South Korean team would obtain valuable experience from this. Moreover, defeating the SBS would proudly disy the might of the South Korean special forces to the rest of the world. After their conversation, they finished the rest of their meal. ¡°I¡¯m going to go straight home from here,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung dered. ¡°By yourself?¡± Kang Chan asked in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s written all over your face that you¡¯re busy. Don¡¯t worry about us ande home once you¡¯ve taken care of your business. I¡¯ll pretend not to know anything about the trip to Jeju until the weekend,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°Got it.¡± They left the restaurant and walked over to where Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s car was parked. ¡°Well, see you at home,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°Thank you, Father.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, son,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said as he thumped Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder. Once Kang Dae-Kyung had driven off, Kang Chan called Kim Hyung-Jung. -Mr. Kang Chan! ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Kang Chan asked. -I¡¯m a lot better now. To what do I owe the pleasure? Kim Hyung-Jung seemed to have noticed that Kang Chan sounded different from normal. ¡°Have you heard that a unit will be going out on an operation as backup?¡± -Yes, I¡¯m aware of it.? ¡°Mr. Kim, I want to take two teams.¡± -Pardon? ¡°I¡¯m asking this of you so we can leave immediately. If we leave the day after tomorrow, we might have to cut the mission short ande back without getting to do anything. The flights are already prepared.¡± A loud intake of air could be heard over the line. ¡°We will be going against the SBS. Half of the soldiers we start with won¡¯t being back.¡± -The SBS? Britain¡¯s SBS? ¡°Yes, sir.¡± It was silent. Kim Hyung-Jung had gone speechless. ¡°These are the best conditions to gain experience. If things go sessfully, the soldiers will be able to obtain ten small operations¡¯ worth of experience with this single mission.¡± -Will you be inmand? ¡°Yes, I will.¡± -I assume you¡¯ll leave as soon as it¡¯s decided? ¡°Yes. I informed them to select eight members, so I¡¯ll need twelve more. Each team will need to have two snipers too.¡± No one would probably be able to imagine this kind of conversation was taking ce in the middle of a street. -I understand. I will talk this over with the director and call you again. However, I should tell you these types of operations have never been approved in the final stage. Moreover, this operation is for France, so it won¡¯t be easy.? After hanging up, Kang Chan looked around his surroundings. He had made up his mind, but other people would be making the important decision. It felt strange. Chapter 143.1: Just Who Is This Man? (2)

Chapter 143.1: Just Who Is This Man? (2)

Kang Chan ordered coffee at a nearby specialty coffee shop. After receiving his order, he sat on the terrace and called Michelle to change his reservation to Jeju-do for his parents. He then talked about the building he was nning to buy. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for the trip upfront. Just text me the bank ount number.¡± - Will do, Channy. As for the building, I still think the most efficient way we can tackle this is to change the interior of a building that¡¯s still under construction. You¡¯ll be able to move into the building in two months, and since it hasn¡¯t even been subdivided yet, you¡¯ll be able to use everything, including the office and the showroom on the first floor. ¡°Look into it a bit more. Let¡¯s check out the building together once you¡¯ve reached a decision. I don¡¯t have time to go there this week because of a sudden business trip.¡± After his conversation with Michelle, Kang Chan smoked a cigarette. He felt frustrated and ufortable. It was as if he had unfinished business that he was forgetting. Seok Kang-Ho would run over if Kang Chan just gave him a call, and even Choi Jong-Il was on standby. However, Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to disturb Seok Kang-Ho while he was spending time with his family, and he had trouble making silly jokes with Choi Jong-Il. ¡®What would Lanok do at times like this?¡¯ Going home could be the wise thing to do, but Kang Chan would rather stay outside instead of going home and feeling suffocated. Exhaling softly, he looked at the people passing by. Michelle definitely would¡¯ve made some time for him if he had said that they should meet up, but he doubted meeting her would make his frustration disappear. Kang Chan took out his phone and looked for Kim Mi-Young¡¯s phone number. She was the only person that he wanted to see right now. Can she get rid of my frustration the same way she did when she held my hand at the school cafeteria? She clearly wouldn¡¯t be able to pick up because she was at her hagwon, but Kang Chan called her nheless. The call rang about four times. - Hi! Kim Mi-Young¡¯s peculiar answer made Kang Chan involuntarily smile. ¡°Where are you?¡± - I¡¯m in front of my hagwon. Why do you ask? ¡°Nothing. I was just thinking about you,¡± Kang Chan answered, still smiling. He didn¡¯t know he was capable of saying something so cringe. - Where are you right now? ¡°Samseong-dong.¡± - I¡¯m at my hagwon at Daechi-dong. Can we meet up? ¡°But you have to go to ss.¡± - For French lessons. You can just teach me instead, right? Right? Much to Kang Chan¡¯s fascination, just talking to her made his frustration subside a little. ¡°I¡¯lle to you. Where should I go?¡± - Come to the intersection at Daechi-dong. I¡¯ll wait at the ice cream shop there. The ice cream shop wasn¡¯t that far from where Kang Chan was. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan immediately left the specialty coffee shop and got in a taxi. As soon as he got out at the intersection at Daechi-dong, the brightly lit ice cream shop caught his attention. He opened the door and headed inside. As he did, Kim Mi-Young stood up from her seat. She seemed to have grown up some more since thest time he saw her. No, she had actually be mature now. Her body had been mature for quite some time now. However, her face now looked paler and slender. Even her eyes seemed bigger. She looked like a youngdy¡ªor she would have if not for her bangs that were cut right to her eyebrows. ¡°Have you had dinner?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I did. Before ss.¡± ¡°Do you want ice cream?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Smiling brightly, Kim Mi-Young followed Kang Chan to the disy stand. They ordered four different ice cream vors in a cup, then returned to their table. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t going to take French sses yet?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯m just doing it because it¡¯s fun. Let¡¯s talk in French if we go somewhere crowdedter. Other people won¡¯t be able to understand what we¡¯re saying, right? Huhuhuhu.¡± Kim Mi-Young smiled as she ate a spoonful of ice cream. Kang Chan felt his frustration being swept away as he listened to?Kim Mi-Young. However, as she talked and ate ice cream, Kang Chan could see in her eyes that she longed for him. She missed him, and she wanted to keep spending time with him like this, but she seemed to have been suppressing her emotions. ¡°I have a favor to ask you,¡± Kim Mi-Young said. ¡°What is it?¡± Kim Mi-Young pouted. ¡°The Athletics Club members said that our school¡¯s festival will be the best if you help out. I¡¯ve seen them myself, so I know they regret what they have done. Moreover, when word got out, more students began to wish you¡¯d help out. Even So-Yeon and Ki-Jean want to ask for your help, but they said they can¡¯t bring themselves to call you since they find it hard to ask you for a favor. They also said that you¡¯ll definitely help out if I ask you to¡­¡± Kim Mi-Young trailed off toward the end. ¡°So you¡¯re asking me to help with the festival?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why are you so nervous about it?¡± ¡°I was worried that you would find it difficult.¡± Seeing Kang Chan Smile, Kim Mi-Young sheepishly waited for his reply. ¡°Alright,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You¡¯re going to help?¡± ¡°How can I not help out when you¡¯re the one who asked me to?¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯re not joking, are you?¡± ¡°I am!¡± Kim Mi-Young scooped up the ice cream whileughing. ¡°Huhuhuhu.¡± ¡°Anything else you want me to do?¡± ¡°Nope. That¡¯s all.¡± Is Kim Mi-Young my younger sister or the woman I love? One thing was clear¡ªKang Chan felt better. ¡°Were you nning not to ask me for help if I didn¡¯t contact you?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Mi-Young pouted. She looked as if she was in a predicament. ¡°Jeez! Don¡¯t ever do that again,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright. I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°And don¡¯t study excessively once you¡¯re home just because you didn¡¯t go to French ss today.¡± ¡°The teacher said that I¡¯m really good. I was told that the teacher was new to our hagwon, but the kids in our hagwon and even the unnies at the front desk fell in love with him. He looks like an actor.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I think of you whenever I see that teacher,¡± Kim Mi-Young responded while looking straight into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. Kang Chan¡¯s heart thumped. ¡®Untainted¡¯ was the perfect word to describe Kim Mi-Young¡¯s clear eyes. *** ¡°Mr. President, this is a golden opportunity to solidify Lanok¡¯s position. Considering the influence that he has as the Founder and first operationmittee member of the Eurasian Rail, then we should be the ones asking him for a favor with this operation,¡± someone argued. ¡°After analyzing the profits and losses from the trade with the United Kingdom, we expect a maximum of twenty billion dors in losses. We also have to consider the safety of the Koreans and the international students residing in the United Kingdom,¡± another person said. Moon Jae-Hyun sat in the middle of the meeting room. To his left was National Intelligence Service Director Hwang Ki-Hyun. Jeon Dae-Geuk, who was tightly wrapped in bandages, and the third and fourth deputy directors of the National Intelligence Service were present as well. ¡°What¡¯s the operation¡¯s sess rate?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. ¡°In Mr. Kang Chan¡¯s words, they¡¯ll lose more than half of the members due tock of experience.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun exhaled softly while pursing his lips. ¡°Mr. President! When he tookmand of the operation in Mongolia, he achieved the best result we¡¯ve ever gotten since the establishment of the Foreign Legion¡¯s special forces team. Kang Chan made it clear that our special forces teams need this operation to gain experience,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk quickly added. ¡°This isn¡¯t as simple as it sounds, Section Chief Jeon. Each and every one of those soldiers is the head of a household, a son, and a father. That¡¯s an important matter to consider when discussing whether South Korea needs this operation or not,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun responded. ¡°Mr. President.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk showed no signs of backing off. ¡°Sacrifice is the fate of soldiers, especially those who belong to the special forces. Have you thought about the special forces teams that can¡¯t do anything but train because they can¡¯t participate in operations? Their pride isn¡¯t shown when they¡¯re training. It shows only when they execute operations.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun exhaled softly. ¡°But the consequences we¡¯d have to bear would be too much if the operation fails. Worst-case scenario, we might even identally leave behind evidence that proves our men executed the operation. ¡± ¡°Fourth deputy director, that¡¯ll still be a problem even if we go as a backup.¡± ¡°But in that situation, we¡¯ll at least have France to depend on. It can¡¯t even bepared to our team failing a solo operation.¡± ¡°Now! Let¡¯s make a decision,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun interjected. ¡°Section Chief Jeon desires to dispatch our special forces soldiers.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk briefly nodded in response. ¡°The third deputy director wants to dispatch our special forces soldiers to a solo operation as well, while the fourth deputy director is against dispatching them entirely. What about you, Director Hwang?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. ¡°Mr. President, this might seem bothersome, but I think it¡¯s best we take the thoughts of the people on the scene into consideration.¡± Everyone quickly looked at Hwang Ki-Hyun. ¡°Brigadier General Choi Seong-Geon is waiting,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun exined. ¡°You want us to talk to him?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun stared at Hwang Ki-Hyun for a moment, then nodded. Chapter 143.2: Just Who Is This Man? (2)

Chapter 143.2: Just Who Is This Man? (2)

Hwang Ki-Hyun pressed a button, and a call soon connected in the meeting room. - Hello. Brigadier General Choi Seong-Geon speaking. ¡°Brigadier General Choi, I¡¯m Hwang Ki-Hyun, the Director of the National Intelligence Service. We are currently in the middle of a meeting with the President. We apologize for bothering you, but we would like to ask you a few questions.¡± - Please go ahead. Choi Seong-Geon sounded so husky that a lot of people likely wondered if they were listening to a young Jeon Dae-Geuk talk. ¡°Brigadier General Choi, we have currently reached an impasse. Our debate on whether or not we should send our troops to execute the operation, which Mr. Kang Chan has been advocating for, as a solo operation instead has us torn. The pros and cons thate with it are as clear as day. However, the President is naturally concerned not only about the members who will beying down their lives in this impractical operation but also their friends and rtives. Is there anything you want to say about this?¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun asked. - Mr. President! I have privately spoken with the soldiers who were not selected to be a part of the backup team. It is hard to put into words the despair they are currently feeling, sir. ¡°Brigadier General Choi, I was just an army sergeant when I was discharged from the military, so I¡¯m not sure how true this is, but I heard that more than half of our men will likely meet their end in this operation. Is there any chance that they are acting like that because they got carried away by the atmosphere?¡± After speaking into the mic, Moon Jae-Hyun looked around him. - Mr. President, the true worth of the special forces isn''t shown when during training, no matter how intense. Their true worth shows only when they go out on operations. In the past few decades, we have only ever executed a total of three operations, only one of which was a solo operation conducted by our soldiers. If it means getting to participate in this operation, and if it means bing physically capable to join my men again, I would be more than happy to be demoted to the rank of sergeant. Moon Jae-Hyun exhaled heavily, which sounded more like a groan. ¡°Both sides have good points and neither side seems willing to concede. Is there anything you want to say before we decide?¡± - Mr. President! Allow me to tell you our motto just one more time. This is the best I can think of to express our determination. Moon Jae-Hyun stared at the mic as if he could see Choi Seong-Geon. - If I can protect the country with my blood, I am happy! Choi Seong-Geon yelled out their motto with all of his might, his resolute voice reverberating throughout the meeting room. It was as if he had gone to bing a recruit who had just enlisted. Just as Jeon Dae-Geuk tightly gritted his teeth, Moon Jae-Hyun smiled. He seemed to be crying. He then slowly looked at those in attendance in this meeting. After a moment of silence¡­ ¡°General Choi.¡± - Please go ahead, Mr. President! ¡°We will do as Mr. Kang Chan wants. Please choose the soldiers who will be joining the team on the solo operation.¡± - Thank you, Mr. President! ¡° I should be the one thanking you, general. I give Mr. Kang Chan full authority and fullmand of this mission. Can you tell the members that I wish them good luck?¡± - I¡¯ll be sure to tell them! When Moon Jae-Hyun looked up, Hwang Ki-Hyun pressed the button to end the call. ¡°Now that this has been settled, it¡¯s time for us to work together to create and prepare contingency measures for any possible dangers and situations. Have the National Intelligence make follow-up measures and prepare for the worst-case scenario,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said. ¡°Yes, sir. We¡¯ll do that,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun responded. ¡°I hope the decision I have made did not upset you, fourth deputy director,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said. ¡°How could I be upset after hearing the determination of General Choi and the soldiers? I also have experience receivingmissioned education from the 606, Mr. President.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun looked around, then replied, ¡°I cannot help but think of this as an opportunity for South Korea to be reborn. If we fail, then I will take full responsibility. However, if we seed, it will serve as a strong warning to our neighboring countries that have rashly exercised their military strength against us. As a member of the Eurasian Rail, we have to make sure that the voice of South Korea is heard through this operation. For that reason, I hope everyone spares no effort.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Looking grim yet determined, everyone stood up to leave. ¡°Ah! Mr. Director,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun called Hwang Ki-Hyun, who had stood from his seat, to stop him from leaving. *** ¡°You¡¯re worried about something, aren¡¯t you?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked Kang Chan. ¡°Huh?¡± Kim Mi-Young was staring at Kang Chan. I was enjoying spending time with her¡­ but was I still too obvious? ¡°If we do get to study abroad, I¡¯m going to study hard enough to get a schrship for my tuition. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll still tell peopleter on that I became a diplomat thanks to my husband,¡± Kim Mi-Young added. Kang Chanughed joyfully. Kim Mi-Young took the napkin and the stic spoon on the tray. ¡°I have to go to ss.¡± She looked as if she was trying hard not to be a burden to Kang Chan. ¡°Did anyone pressure you to go to hagwon?¡± Kim Mi-Young, who had been looking at her bag, turned toward Kang Chan. Her eyes seemedpletely filled with disappointment. Which would be better for Kim Mi-Young¡ªparting ways like this or staying together for about an hour more? It was disappointing, but parting ways here was the right thing to do. Kang Chan left the ice cream shop with Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Mi-Young?¡± Kang Chan called. Kim Mi-Young looked into Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Can you make time for me¡ªjust about a day¡ªif I ask you for it next week?¡± ¡°I most certainly can,¡± Kim Mi-Young delightedly answered with a bright smile. ¡°I¡¯ll call you.¡± Kang Chan wanted to wrap his arms around Kim Mi-Young, but he just smiled. ¡°Bye~ I¡¯m heading to ss now!¡± Kim Mi-Young waved at him and disappeared among the crowd. Kang Chan thought it was about time to head back home. He was strangely disappointed, but no matter how he felt, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to cling to Kim Mi-Young. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, the solo operation has been authorized. Just give us the location and departure time, and we¡¯ll send the men over. We will need at least two hours to get to Seoul. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll contact you as soon as I get more information.¡± Although they parted ways after only seeing each other for a brief moment, Kang Chan still felt d that he met up with Kim Mi-Young. *** ¡°You asked to see me, sir?¡± ¡°Cha Dong-Gyun! The operation has been changed to a solo operation. We¡¯re going to select twelve more people. One of them has to be a sniper.¡± Choi Seong-Geon looked up from his desk and at Cha Dong-Gyun, who was standing in front of him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m so d to hear that.¡± Choi Seong-Geon stood up from the desk and walked toward Cha Dong-Gyun. ¡°Bring over the list of the twelve other soldiers who will be joining the operation. We¡¯re leaving right away.¡± ¡°Thank you, General.¡± Choi Seong-Geon gave him a broad grin. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Yes, sir?¡± Neither Choi Seong-Geon, who had called Cha Dong-Gyun, nor Cha Dong-Gyun, who had answered, could say anything else. Hence, they just looked at each other in silence. ¡°Get me that list quickly,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Cha Dong-Gyun swiftly turned to leave. *** Kang Chan had to focus on the operation now. Before doing anything else, he called Lanok and exined the situation. - Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan! It would be best for you to leave the Osan Airfield by four in the morning. By three o¡¯clock, I¡¯ll have a van standing by on where you were picked upst time for the operation in Mongolia. As soon as the call dropped, Kang Chan exined the situation to Kim Hyung-Jung, then dialed Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s number. - Where are you? ¡°I¡¯m at Daechi-dong.¡± - I¡¯ll see you at the specialty coffee shop at two-thirty in the morning. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan called Choi Jong-Il after. Choi Jong-Il answered as soon as Kang Chan called him. Not long after the call dropped, a car stopped at the intersection. ¡°Take me home. At two-thirty, I¡¯ll be meeting Seok Kang-Ho in the specialty coffee shop on the third exit of the Nonhyeon Station,¡± Kang Chan said. Choi Jong-Il only listened. ¡°We got approval to execute the operation with just our team, so make sure to drop by your house.¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked, looking shocked. He made eye contact with Woo Hee-Seung. ¡°First Lieutenant Cha Dong-Gyun would have likely made a new team by now. It¡¯s unfortunate that we don¡¯t have much time to prepare, but since it¡¯s still currently around nine-fifty, you should go see the people that you want to see,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Alright.¡± Choi Jong-Il¡¯s response was reassuring. *** Kang Chan inputted the password into the lock system of their apartment. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Yoo Hye-Sook leaning her head back to see the front door. ¡°Mother!¡± ¡°Channy!¡± Kang Chan hugged Yoo Hye-Sook in front of Kang Dae-Kyung, who was smiling. ¡°Have you had dinner yet?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I have, Unfortunately, I can¡¯t stay long. I¡¯ll have to leave in a few minutes.¡± ¡°Again?¡± ¡°Yes. I think this trip will take a few days.¡± ¡°Will you be back by the weekend?¡± Shoot! Kang Chan couldn¡¯t think of an eptable answer even though he had talked to Kang Dae-Kyung about this. ¡°Channy said that it¡¯s a secret. It¡¯s going to get boring if you keep asking him about it,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°You know what we¡¯re going to do on the weekend, don¡¯t you?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°How should I know? He said that it¡¯s a secret. I¡¯m just taking his word.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Dae-Kyung as if she would grill him as soon as Kang Chan headed out again. Like magic, however, Yoo Hye-Sook already had a calm expression by the time she looked at Kang Chan. ¡°What time will you be leaving?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I¡¯ll have to be on the road by midnight.¡± Midnight was a bit early, but he thought it was still for the best. He didn¡¯t want Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook to lose decent sleep because of him. Kang Chan washed up, then headed to the living room. ¡°Channy, I¡¯m a little hungry. Should we order chicken?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Yes, I would like some.¡± Their order soon arrived. While eating, they talked about car sales and the Foundation. Spending time with his parents, Kang Chan listened to what Yoo Hye-Sook was telling him. When the clock struck twelve, Kang Chan brushed his teeth and stood at the entrance. Yoo Hye-Sook looked extremely upset. ¡°I¡¯ll be back,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Okay. Be careful.¡± Kang Chan hugged Yoo Hye-Sook. Afterward, Kang Dae-Kyung patted his back, but Kang Chan reached out and hugged Kang Dae-Kyung as well. ¡°Be careful,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said as if he was whispering. When Kang Dae-Kyung loosened his hug, he put his hands on Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder. He seemed to be saying that he hadn¡¯t told Yoo Hye-Sook anything. Kang Chan¡¯s parents were so kind-hearted that he wished he could go on a trip with them. 1. Nonhyeon Station is an underground metro station on Seoul Subway Line 7 and the Shinbundang Line, located in Seoul. Chapter 144.1: What Happened? (1)

Chapter 144.1: What Happened? (1)

Kang Chan arrived at the specialty coffee shop thirty minutes past midnight. Since he had arranged to meet with Seok Kang-Ho at 2:30 am, he had to wait for two hours. ¡®Two hours is nothing.¡¯ From Kang Chan¡¯s perspective, waiting for two hours was better than killing time at home until the arranged time. If he was at home, Yoo Hye-Sook wouldn''t have gone to sleep until he left. While eyeing an empty seat on the terrace because he wanted to smoke a cigarette, he couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee stood up when they saw him arrive. ¡°Do you want coffee?¡± one of them asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yes. I¡¯d like a light roast.¡± Lee Doo-Hee quickly went to the counter to order. Considering there were already a lot of cigarette butts in the ashtray on the table, they seemed to have arrived much earlier than him. ¡°You guys didn¡¯t go home?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We did. My child wakes up if I rustle around the housete at night, so after seeing their faces and telling them that I¡¯m going on a business trip, I immediately made my way here.¡± Lee Doo-Hee brought over a cup of coffee and uncovered the lid. Kang Chan took a sip from it, washing down the oiliness of the deep-fried chicken he had eaten earlier. Chk chk. He then lit up a cigarette. Deeply exhaling the smoke, he looked at the trio. Among the three, he didn¡¯t even have the slightest clue about who would die and who would survive. When the thought crossed his mind, he finally felt how heavy this operation was. Even whenpared to any special forces team in the world, the SBS¡¯ capabilities and umted experience didn¡¯t fall behind anyone. Kang Chan leaned against the back of the chair, momentarily calcting and thinking about who he could depend on to do their part and fight with all their might. Dayeru immediately came to mind. The fucker definitely had the capabilities to fight the SBS. Dayeru¡¯s aim and reaction speed were good enough for even Kang Chan to acknowledge. Moreover, Dayeru had abundant experience and tenacity that overwhelmed his nervousness. No matter where he was deployed, Dayeru would survive and deliver. Next were Choi Jong-Il, Cha Dong-Gyun, and Kwak Cheol-Ho. Kang Chan knew they had great skills, but he wasn¡¯t sure how well they would perform in actualbat situations due to theirck of experience. I can¡¯t tell whether this is operation a good or a bad idea. However, he was certain of one thing¡ªgoing on operations like this was a hundred times more helpful in improving their skills than being dragged to operations that wouldn¡¯t really help them grow. Of course, gaining experience and whatnot only mattered if they returned alive. That was also why the 13th regiment¡¯s special forces team was still famous even after all the members of the 6th regiment¡¯s special forces team from the Foreign Legion¡ªwhich had been called the world¡¯s best¡ªbravely died in Algeria. ¡°Whoo,¡± Kang Chan sighed, then put the cigarette that he had been smoking into the used coffee grounds. ¡°Are you worried?¡± Choi Jong-Il asked. Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Your capabilities aren¡¯t the only thing I¡¯m worried about. I have to think about the enemy¡¯s skills and experiences as well. Honestly, this operation is too much for us. I¡¯m so worried that I even talked about it with my father while we were having dinner.¡± Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee focused on Kang Chan¡¯s expression and what he was saying. ¡°It was easy to calcte the risks that came with practicing with live ammo. Being shot in the limbs on the training grounds is far better than going out on an operation to die.¡± Kang Chan looked at Choi Jong-Il, then moved his gaze to the other two. ¡°I can still hear the sounds of the Korean g badges being put on the coffins of those who died in the operation in Mongolia¡­ You say that you¡¯re not afraid of death? That that¡¯s just the way it is with the special forces? That you can just die?¡± Kang Chan turned his head toward the road and looked at the cars passing by for a moment. ¡°I still think of the men who died. They still weigh on my heart. I keep wondering if I had just run a bit more, if I had just been a bit wiser, and if I had just trained them a bit more relentlessly¡­¡± Kang Chan sighed softly, then took a sip of the coffee. ¡°The look in your eyes changed.¡± Kang Chan smirked in response to Choi Jong-Il¡¯sment. He felt his senses bing sharper as he thought about the battles that he had experienced in Africa and as it finally hit him that he was going out on an operation again. His uneasiness, which wouldn¡¯t go away, most likely also yed a role in his senses bing sharper. Just as Kang Chan picked up his cigarette again, Choi Jong-Il tilted his head to the side and stood up from his seat. When Kang Chan turned his head, he saw Seok Kang-Ho closing the taxi door. ¡°You¡¯re here already?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°Why¡¯d youe so early?¡± Lee Doo-Hee walked to the counter to get Seok Kang-Ho coffee. Meanwhile, Seok Kang-Ho brought over a chair from the next table and sat near Kang Chan. ¡°I couldn¡¯t get some sleep due to the awkward timing, so I decided to have a cup of coffee instead. Well, no wonder I wanted to leave quickly. Seems like I was meant to meet you here,¡± Seok Kang-Ho exined. When Lee Doo-Hee put the coffee on the table, Seok Kang-Ho thanked him and opened the lid on his cup. The look in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes and his expression had changed a little. It seemed even Choi Jong-Il noticed it, seeing as how his gaze alternated between Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Did something happen?¡± Kang Chan asked. Seok Kang-Ho looked at him and finished lighting up his cigarette before replying, ¡°Phew, for some reason, my wife clung to me and told me not to go this time. Even when I hugged her, she kept burrowing into my arms. Haaa¡­?Seems like I¡¯ve be too strong of a temptation now that I make a lot of money and I¡¯m physically fit.¡± Even though Seok Kang-Ho was acting cheeky, he didn¡¯t lookfortable. Should I tell him to sit this one out? No¡ªIf Kang Chan did that, Dayeru would definitely talk shit and kick up a fuss to prevent Kang Chan from going on the operation as well. Stubbornly leaving without Dayeru anyway would make him feel ufortable, making the operation even more difficult for him. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about leaving me out of this,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Kang Chan quickly grabbed his cigarette. Seok Kang-Ho had not only be smarter. Rather, it seemed he was getting better at guessing what Kang Chan was thinking as well. ¡°How do you feel about this operation?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°I don¡¯t have a good feeling about it. The uneasiness won¡¯t going away.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get rid of that feeling, then,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said as if it wasn¡¯t a big deal, then drank coffee. ¡°Are the men going straight to the airport?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The conversation didn¡¯t flow well. They were just saying things bluntly. As time passed by, Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s eyes grew fiercer and fiercer. It was as if his eyes were feeding off the tension. The difference between knowing and not knowing how scary the SBS¡¯ capabilities could be seen in Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s expressions. ¡°Phew! Is there something to eat here?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°They have different kinds of pastries.¡± ¡°Stay here,¡± he told Lee Doo-Hee, ¡°I like choosing what to eat. What do you guys want?¡± Even though everyone looked as if they didn¡¯t really want to eat anything, Seok Kang-Ho still bought three pastries with a lot of cream on top of it. ¡°Let¡¯s eat. You have to eat and sleep whenever you can.¡± Just as Seok Kang-Ho picked up the pastry with his fork, Kang Chan suddenly remembered something. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m going to the convenience store.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go. I know what you¡¯re going to buy,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said as he stood up with cream all over his lips. ¡°Keep eating your pastries¡ªI¡¯m bored anyway.¡± ¡°I can go,¡± Lee Doo-Hee offered. ¡°Come with me, then,¡± Kang Chan said. Lee Doo-Hee followed him to the convenience store. Perhaps it was because it was small, but the convenience store didn¡¯t have a lot of items inside. Kang Chan put in the basket nearly all of the instant coffee, cup ramen, and packed ramen that were in the convenience store. ¡°Do you have any more coffee and ramen?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°There¡¯s more inside. Should I bring it out for you?¡± A female student who was clearly a part-timer looked at Kang Chan and Lee Doo-Hee suspiciously. What¡¯s she suspicious about? ¡°Please bring out five boxes of coffee and five boxes of cup ramen,¡± Kang Chan said. If they could buy that many instant coffee and ramen in boxes, they wouldn¡¯t have to buy the coffee and rame in the basket. Kang Chan waited just in case. Not long after, the female student brought over three boxes of coffee and two boxes of cup ramen. ¡°This is all we have right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy those and the ones in this basket.¡± Kang Chan paid with his card and took the stic bag. Lee Doo-Hee carried the boxes under his arms. ¡°Will we even find a ce where we can eat these?¡± Lee Doo-Hee asked. ¡°You¡¯re going to cryter because you¡¯re thankful that I bought all of these.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d be buying these.¡± Upon returning to the specialty coffee shop, Choi Jong-Il and Woo Hee-Seung examined the boxes with an expression that said, ¡®Why did they buy ramen?¡¯ By the time Seok Kang-Ho had persistently finished all the pastries and enjoyed coffee and cigarettes, it was already time for them to go. Chapter 144.2: What Happened? (1)

Chapter 144.2: What Happened? (1)

Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Kang Chan held up his phone, checked the caller ID, then answered the call. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, it¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, I think it would be best for you and the team to head to France instead of Switzend. ording to the DGSE¡¯s calctions, it would be best to track down the SBS in France if they ever make a move instead of chasing them down. A guide with a map of the area of operation will be on the ne with you and your team. ¡°Can I decide after seeing the map?¡± - You¡¯re themander of this operation. The Intelligence Bureau and the DGSE will only pass on information; judgments and decisions arepletely up to you. ¡°I¡¯ll make a decision on the ne, then.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan. Lanok didn¡¯t seem to be speaking as a diplomat now, considering his voice deepened with emotion. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, you¡¯ll get sick if you don¡¯t get enough sleep. Let¡¯s go golfing with Anne when I get back.¡± Kang Chan heard Lanokughing from the other end of the line. However, hisughter ended with a sigh. ¡°Thank you for trusting the Korean team.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s you that I¡¯m trusting. The call ended with Lanokughing again. Except for Seok Kang-Ho, who had been looking at the street, those around Kang Chan had been watching him in fascination since he began speaking fluent French. ¡°The car¡¯s here,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said as a ck van stopped in front of the store. At that moment, Kang Chan unconsciously inhaled and approached the van. As they got closer, someone opened the door and quickly looked around their surroundings. *** They arrived at Osan at exactly 3 am. As Lanok had already told Kang Chan on the phone, they saw a parked tour bus and van when they passed the intersection in front of the airfield. The van that Kang Chan was in stopped in front of the bus, and the bus door opened. Choi Seong-Geon and Cha Dong-Gyun got out. When Kang Chan approached them, Choi Seong-Geon suddenly held out his hand. Kang Chan shook it in a moment of confusion. ¡®Please do a good job.¡¯ Kang Chan understood what Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s eyes were telling him. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best, general.¡± Choi Seong-Geon pursed his lips as he nodded. Not long after, a French agent approached them and told Kang Chan that they could go inside. ¡°I and the others will be taking the bus, so wait for me at the entrance,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Understood, Monsieur Kang,¡± the agent politely answered and got in the van. ¡°Can you spare me some time?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked. ¡°We have about an hour to spare before our departure time.¡± Choi Seong-Geon got on the bus and shook hands with the soldiers. Kang Chan also asionally saw him patting their shoulders through the front window. ¡°That gentleman seems to really value them,¡± Seok Kang-Homented, stating how he felt regarding the sight. Kang Chan lit up a cigarette and started smoking. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo.¡± The pity in Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s eyes seemed to tell them about the difficulty of this operation. How many of them would be able to return alive? Would they be able to endure the sadness that came with putting the dead soldiers in their hearts? As Kang Chan heavily exhaled the cigarette smoke, three deep-blue vans drove toward the bus. ¡®It¡¯s way too early. What¡¯s going on at this hour?¡¯ Kang Chan red sharply at the approaching vehicles. One of the vans stopped in front of Kang Chan, parking just beside the driver¡¯s seat of the bus. It basically blocked the firstne. Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il also began to look more and more cautious. Meanwhile, after saying his goodbyes to the soldiers, Choi Seong-Geon quickly came down from the bus. Rattle. Damn it! Kang Chan quickly threw the cigarette on the floor and stepped on it. It was Moon Jae-Hyun. Behind him were Hwang Ki-Hyun and the security guards. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun shook hands with Kang Chan, then held out his hand to Choi Seong-Geon. ¡°Mr. President, we can¡¯t address people by their official rank and name here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware of that. Are our members inside the bus?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Choi Seong-Geon understood what Moon Jae-Hyun meant, so he quickly headed toward the bus. Kang Chan could only see the outline of those inside the bus. As the members stood up from their seats one by one, Moon Jae-Hyun embraced them. It took around ten minutes before Moon Jae-Hyun and Choi Seong-Geon got off the bus again. Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s eyes had turned red and were brimming with tears. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, please do your best. Everyone¡¯s safety is now in your hands.¡± ¡°I will, Mr. President.¡± Kang Chan thought that they were just going to shake hands, but Moon Jae-Hyun took a step toward him and hugged him instead. This kind of man existed as well. Moon Jae-Hyun then hugged Seok Kang-Ho, Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee as well. Afterward, he turned his head and looked back at the bus as if he was engraving it on his mind, then got on the van. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, please take care of them,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. Choi Seong-Geon isn¡¯t going to hug me as well, is he? Exactly as Kang Chan had wondered, Choi Seong-Geon hugged him. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but stare at him with nk eyes. He then stood in attention and saluted Kang Chan. Kang Chan quickly raised his hand and saluted back. ¡®Please take care of my men.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll do my best.¡¯ Whoosh! Choi Seong-Geon lowered his hand and immediately headed to the car. ¡°Whoo.¡± The time hade for Kang Chan and his team to leave. Not only did Moon Jae-Hyun run over to see them, but Choi Seong-Geon even acted like that for the first time since Kang Chan had met him. They probably behaved in such a way due to the enemies that they would have to face soon enough. Their opponents were extremely powerful. Wasting not a single second more, Kang Chan¡¯s party boarded the bus. As soon as Kang Chan sat down in the front seat¡ªwhich was left empty specifically for him¡ªthe bus left. The bus was brimming with everyone¡¯s sense of duty and determination. It even made Kang Chan think that they could win even against the SBS if they fought them right now. Kang Chan was still smirking when the bus reached at the entrance. With a gesture from the French agent, the gate immediately opened. The van put on its emergency lights, drove right past the tour bus, and guided them to the front of a C295 cargo aircraft. The sound of the cargo aircraft¡¯s engine sounded as if it was urging them to hurry. The soldiers stood up. Since they still had to take out the cloth jump bags from the overheadpartment, Kang Chan got out of the bus first. Woo Hee-Seung and Lee Doo-Hee took the stic bag and boxes of coffee and ramen, which they had left inside the van they had ridden earlier, from a French agent. The operation had now begun. As Kang Chan watched the soldiers, the soldiers all got on the cargo aircraft that was in front of him. ¡°Good luck,¡± the French agent finished saying his goodbyes. As soon as the agent got back in the van, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho boarded the cargo aircraft as well. Brrr. The door closed. As Kang Chan expected, there were beds attached to the wall. The soldiers perched on the lowest bed beside each other. Ding. Ding. Ding. Du-du-du-du-du! The aircraft, which had been waiting for them, began to drive up the runaway. That made it difficult for Kang Chan to say something right now. The cargo aircraft perfectly followed the curves of the runway before rising to the skies. ¡°We¡¯ll be flying for at least twelve hours!¡± Kang Chan yelled, making all of his subordinates e simultaneously look at him. ¡°Get some sleep if you can. You¡¯ll find boxes of instant coffee and cup ramen up front. Those who want to eat, feel free to take them. Any questions?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Can we smoke here?¡± someone asked. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter for as long as you don¡¯t cause a fire!¡± Kang Chan answered with a smirk. No other questions followed. ¡°Phuhuhu, I¡¯m excited!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. When Kang Chan perched on the bed, Seok Kang-Ho offered him a cigarette. Not long after, Kang Chan¡¯s eyes glinted. He remembered Lanok saying that someone who would be guiding them would be aboard this aircraft with them. While smoking the cigarette Seok Kang-Ho had handed to him, Kang Chan gazed at the cockpit. After pushing aside the curtains, someone stepped into view. ¡°Huh?¡± Seok Kang-Ho gasped, surprise all over his face. The man approached Kang Chan without paying attention to the soldiers who were looking at him. It was G¨¦rard. ¡°Surprised, aren¡¯t you?¡± G¨¦rard asked Kang Chan. ¡°What happened?¡± Appearing to be satisfied with how Kang Chan reacted, G¨¦rard exined, ¡°I volunteered. I can¡¯t join the operation due to the hole in my shoulder, but I do have experience in the area of this operation. France has always been my home ground as well, so I¡¯m perfectly capable of guiding people around it.¡± ¡°What about your shoulder?¡± ¡°I was told that they¡¯ll tell me whether or not I¡¯ll be deployed into another operation after we observe how it heals for two more months.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that fucker saying?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chan quickly tranted what G¨¦rard said. ¡°He¡¯s much better than having someone we don¡¯t know for a guide, at least,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°What¡¯s Dayeru saying?¡± G¨¦rard asked this time. These two fuckers had just met again, yet they were already tiring Kang Chan out. ¡°He¡¯s saying that you¡¯re better than aplete stranger,¡± Kang Chan said. As soon as he told G¨¦rard what Seok Kang-Ho said, the two grinned at each other. ¡°I bought a bunch of instant coffee. They¡¯re up front.¡± ¡°Would you like some?¡± ¡°Yeah, I could use some coffee and some cigarettes.¡± G¨¦rard went to the front and made coffee. When he returned, they all bit on cigarettes. The members also gathered in groups and had instant coffees and smoked cigarettes. They didn¡¯t have to worry about the smoke because it was being sucked out through the crevice in between the aircraft¡¯s door and the cargopartment. ¡°You remember the maknae, right?¡± G¨¦rard asked Kang Chan. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Did he die? G¨¦rard smirked when Kang Chan looked at him. ¡°I heard that fucker is going around imitating you. People are saying that he can already carry his own weight, but I feel nervous for him. He still looks like a baby chick imitating a half-grown chick, so I¡¯m afraid he¡¯d get into trouble.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Captain, it feels weird saying this to you, but strangely enough, I don¡¯t have a good feeling about this operation. How do you feel about this?¡± G¨¦rard asked. When G¨¦rard was looking up while throwing the cigarette into the paper cup¡­ Chapter 145.1: What Happened (2)

Chapter 145.1: What Happened (2)

Chapter 145 - Book 9 Chapter 6: What happened? (2) Du-du-du-du-du! Bannng! As they felt the cargo ne slowly descend, they heard the engine making noises. ¡°Ugh!¡± Seok Kang-Ho shook the coffee that he spilled off his hand, then quickly wiped his hand on his clothes. Thanks to his little ident, Kang Chan no longer had to reply to G¨¦rard¡¯s question about how he felt about this operation. ¡°Stop talking nonsense and get the map,¡± Kang Chan told G¨¦rard. ¡°Copy that. I¡¯ll bring it over.¡± G¨¦rard went through the curtains. After a short moment, he came back with four map pages. Since the map was as wide as a desk, it was big enough for all of the soldiers in the ne to see when he ced it down on the floor. ¡°This is our target location, the Col des Corbeaux in Switzend. We have been informed that the SBS will be in this area,¡± G¨¦rard exined. ¡°I was told that we would be crossing from the French side.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯ll be much more advantageous for us to fight them head-on, so this ne willnd at the military base in Col du Gen¨¦vrier. That¡¯s where we will take a helicopter to our destination.¡± ¡°There¡¯s really only one path that people can take on this rough mountain. The SBS aren¡¯t stupid, though, so I doubt they¡¯ll actually use that path.¡± G¨¦rard nodded in response to Kang Chan¡¯s exnation. He then said, ¡°Take a look at this.¡± He spread out the newspaper-sized map, which had been folded in half, in front of Kang Chan. ¡°There¡¯s only one road that connects the two ces. However, this five-kilometer section starting from here to here might be a problem¡ªthis spot is t enough for the enemy toy in wait and ambush us. Moreover, in case of emergencies, they can just easily retreat into the mountain.¡± ¡°How long has it been since the SBS arrived?¡± ¡°Today¡¯s their third day in the area.¡± Kang Chan looked at the map with a frown. ¡°It¡¯ll probably be difficult to just drop down.¡± ¡°Their snipers will be more than d to shoot us down.¡± If they parachuted to where the SBS were lying in ambush, then they would sooner orter find out that G¨¦rard was right. ¡°G¨¦rard,¡± Kang Chan called. G¨¦rard looked up. ¡°About the Hadron Collider¡ªif the SBS is going there to destroy it, wouldn¡¯t it be better to strengthen its security?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I heard that they have already done that. They dispatched the GIGN to guard it.¡± ¡°I see. What¡¯s with the other map?¡± ¡°This map has a more detailed outline of the surrounding area. It¡¯s all mountains, though, so there isn¡¯t really anything in particr that we have to take a closer look at. To go over this side of the mountain, people have to be an expert in mountain climbing. Even then, they won¡¯t be able to move quickly. At that height, oxygen is quite thin.¡± ¡°What weapons are they equipped with?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°The MP5SD.¡± Kang Chan nodded. The special forces preferred that weapon the most. Not only were its noises extremely suppressed, but it also had great uracy and high magazine capacity. ¡°Captain, is it really okay for the Korean team to take part in this operation alone?¡± Why is this fucker being so serious? When Kang Chan smirked at G¨¦rard, thetter pointed to a spot on the map. ¡°I think this is the best ce to stand guard and ambush our enemies from. This is the very reason we nned for you to head over to Switzend from France. The helicopter will go right in front of this area to get¡­ to this ce here.¡± G¨¦rard was pointing to a one-way ess road that people had to stop over to go into France. It was an excellent enough location for everyone to choose no matter who they asked. ¡°How far will you apany us?¡± Kang Chan asked. G¨¦rard looked at Kang Chan with a dissatisfied look in his eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t afford to look after someone with a hole in his shoulder. I know how you feel, but we have to make rational judgments.¡± ¡°I¡¯m supposed to return with the helicopter,¡± G¨¦rard admitted with a deep sigh. He knew how burdensome it was to have a wounded person butt into an operation. He wanted toe with them, but he couldn¡¯t argue further. ¡°G¨¦rard, listen carefully. From now on, we will call this area right here Alpha. This is Beta.¡± Kang Chan leaned his head closer to G¨¦rard as he spoke, and G¨¦rard quickly checked where Kang Chan had pointed to. ¡°If we run into a problem, n a rescue operation with one of these two areas as the starting point once you get back. How do I contact you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We will be using a satellite phone likest time.¡± Kang Chan shook his head. ¡°Our locations will be exposed too easily if we do that. Every day, I¡¯m going to turn on the phone at eight in the morning and eight in the evening. I¡¯ll turn it off after ten minutes. If you have to contact me, then do it within those time frames. However, unlike us, you have to be on standby at all times in case we have to contact you.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± G¨¦rard anxiously looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t have a good feeling about this. I have been feeling uneasy for the past few days already. It¡¯s such a relief that you¡¯re the guide,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°How bad is it?¡± Kang Chan quickly looked around their surroundings. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re already aware of this, but I only feel things right before the situation arises. If by any chance the operation goes south, then you have to do what it takes tounch another operation. If you have no choice but to pass on incorrect information to us, then make sure to include Dayeru in a sentence. I will take that as a code that you¡¯re being threatened. The moment you use it, I¡¯lle get you alone.¡± ¡°Is it that bad?¡± ¡°The only reason we can do this is because we already know each other. If we had someone else as our guide, I couldn¡¯t have told them something like this. Anyway, think of what I just said as a backup n.¡± G¨¦rard nodded after pursing his lips. ¡°Still, it¡¯s such a relief that you¡¯re here¡ªat least I won¡¯t have to be suspicious about your intentions.¡± G¨¦rard simply smirked in response. ¡°We can¡¯t be flying nonstop straight to Switzend, so where¡¯s theyover?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We will be refueling at the United States¡¯ military base in Qatar.¡± They still had plenty of time. ¡°What weapons do we have?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Let me get them. Can someone help me out?¡± G¨¦rard asked. Seok Kang-Ho stood up when Kang Chan nced at him. They had experienced this before. Drrrrr. nk. nk. Drrrrr. They moved a big box and opened its lid, revealing military uniforms and weapons. ¡°We brought our own military uniforms,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun said. ¡°Your own military uniforms? Let me see them.¡± Cha Dong-Gyun quickly opened his jump bag and showed Kang Chan the light gray military uniform that they had brought. When turned inside out, it could offer adequate camouge on green fields. It waste fall in France, but since they were going to be in the mountains, it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to assume that it would be as cold as the beginning of winter. The uniform was light gray, so it offered decent camouge in such areas. ¡°Put that on,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°We brought a few more uniforms. We¡¯re hoping everyone would find one that fits them.¡± At Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯smand, a soldier brought over clothes, bandanas, and helmets. Everyone changed into their uniforms and military boots, put on a bandana and a helmet, and attached a walkie-talkie to themselves. Next up were weapons. ¡°We don¡¯t know how long this will take, so bring as much ammo as you can. Make sure to have a sleeping bag and other necessary tools and equipment in your bags as well,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Like what he did in his previous operations, Kang Chan attached six rifle magazines, two pistols, four pistol magazines, and a bowie knife to him. He also stashed away another magazine in his bag along with a sleeping bag, a field ax, a shovel, a rope, and other equipment he thought coulde in handy. After finishing up his preparations, Kang Chan felt more reassured. ¡°The teams will be the same asst time. I will bemanding one, and Seok Kang-Ho will bemanding team two. Team one!¡± Kang Chan yelled. Twelve soldiers raised their hands. One of them was Choi Jong-Il. ¡°Team two!¡± Seok Kang-Ho called. He then looked at the soldiers who raised their hands. With basic preparations out of the way, Kang Chan sat down in his seat. Not long after, Cha Dong-Gyun handed him and Seok Kang-Ho a watch that had ck leather straps. There was no harm in wearing a watch, so Kang Chan just put it on and smoked a cigarette. ¡°It¡¯s about time we get some sleep, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Chan asked G¨¦rard. ¡°There¡¯s a bed inside. It¡¯s morefortable than the ones here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll sleep here. Why would I sleep on a bed that¡¯s meant for patients? I¡¯ll see you when it¡¯s time to eat.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± As Kang Chan looked at the beds, G¨¦rard stood up. More than half of the members were alreadyying down. ¡°Are you going to sleep?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yeah. You should sleep as well.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will.¡± After Seok Kang-Ho climbed up to the top bunk, Kang Chany down. The sound of the engine and the strange vibration that they felt from the bottom of the aircraft sounded like a luby. 1. Col des Corbeaux is a mountain pass in Vallorcine, Switzend 2. Col du Gen¨¦vrier is a mountain pass in Vallorcine, France 3. It was written as ??? in the raws, but the GIGN (Groupe d''intervention de Gendarmerie nationale) is the elite police tactical unit of the National Gendarmerie (one of two nationalw enforcement forces) of France 4. the MP5SD is a variant of the MP5, a submachine gun manufactured by Heckler and Koch Chapter 145.2: What Happened (2)

Chapter 145.2: What Happened (2)

Kang Chan woke up due to his body clock. Fortunately, he had slept deeply enough to feel as if he had only been asleep for a second. He sat up on the bed. There was still some time before breakfast. Kang Chan went to the back of the aircraft, took out a bottle of water, and drank it. He then sat back down on the bed. After some time, the other soldiers began to wake up and sit up as well. Thirty minutester, Seok Kang-Ho woke up. ¡°Hnnghh!¡± Seok Kang-Ho noisily stretched, then came down from the bed and perched next to Kang Chan. ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Your gaze looks a little sharp. Is that how bad you feel about this operation?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t fully believe his intuition yet. However, his nerves had been on edge since he had woken up. While Seok Kang-Ho was drinking bottled water, G¨¦rard came up to them. ¡°It¡¯s time to eat.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything else when he saw the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. Drrrrr. nk.? G¨¦rard dragged over a rectangr box to the middle of the aircraft. He then locked its wheels and opened both of its sides, revealing a bunch of c-rations inside. G¨¦rard took three of them and handed two over to Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. He then sat across from them. The soldiers also began to take c-rations for themselves. This wasn¡¯t something that they should refuse. They ate everything inside the box, drank coffee, then smoked cigarettes. After eating breakfast and sleeping for about another hour, they reached the United States¡¯ military base in Qatar. As Gerard had discussed with them before, they really only stopped to refuel. They left as soon as they were done. After some time, they had cup ramen and c-rations one more time. Kang Chan felt better after eating spicy food. Kang Chan noticed the look in the members¡¯ eyes and their expressions were changing as time went on. However, it wasn¡¯t something that he shouldment on. Woo Hee-Seung received a satellite phone and put it in his bag. Nothing else happened afterward except for two of the soldiers checking the medical supplies. The cargo nended at the military base in Col du Gen¨¦vrier military base at 9:16 am Central European Time. They set their watches ording to the timezone, then immediately got on the chinook. Since they hadn¡¯t been given any additional information before they took off, they assumed they already had all the intel they needed. Du-du-du-du-du-du. The chinook¡¯s noises, which continuously buffeted them from all four directions, were loud enough to make their ears ring. Upon boarding the chinook, G¨¦rard began to look nervous. The area of operation was just an hour away from where they were. Kang Chan began to hear the men¡¯s breathing bing heavier. They weren¡¯t in a tense situation. Rather, they were just about to start the operation. They were still an hour away from the target location. Considering they were in a mountainous area, their enemies would have to travel for over half a day to get to where they were heading. Gritting his teeth, Kang Chan stared outside. In the distance, he could see a bleak mountain. ¡®What is wrong with me?!¡¯ Kang Chan was so full of hostility that he was starting to annoy himself. Unable to even talk to Kang Chan, all Seok Kang-Ho and G¨¦rard could do was keep an eye on his mood. ¡°Whoo.¡± This isn¡¯t right. Kang Chan looked at G¨¦rard. ¡°Give me the map!¡± G¨¦rard quickly handed over the map that he had prepared. "We are currently around this area, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s correct!¡± ¡°This location is Alpha, and this one is Beta!¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware of that!¡± ¡°G¨¦rard! We will rappel down from here, so tell the pilot to stop the helicopter for a moment.¡± ¡°Captain! If you do that, it will take you all too much time to reach the best spot to set up an ambush! It can even take you an entire day on foot.¡± ¡°I know, but I can¡¯t let us keep going like this!¡± Meeting Kang Chan¡¯s gaze, G¨¦rard briefly nodded. ¡°You are to return to base immediately as soon as we all reach the ground! If things go wrong, then you¡¯re the only one we can trust!¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Alright!¡± G¨¦rard wore a headset and exined the situation to the pilot. Chk. ¡°Be prepared to rappel down!¡± Kang Chan yelled on the walkie-talkie. The soldiers did as instructed. ¡°Daye! I don¡¯t have a good feeling about this! Go down with Cha Dong-Gyun first and secure the perimeter!¡± Kang Chan yelled again. ¡°Alright!¡± Du-du-du-du-du-du! The chinook turned around as it descended. The trees bent away from the helicopter as if a violent wind was pushing them. nk! nk! They connected a rope and threw it down to the ground. Two of the soldiers stood near the door and kept an eye out for hostiles. When Kang Chan pointed to the doorway with his index and middle finger, Seok Kang-Ho and Cha Dong-Gyun immediately descended with the rappel wrapped around their waists. Upon receiving a signal from Seok Kang-Ho, one of the soldiers nodded at Kang Chan. ¡°Go go go!¡± They descended two at a time. Du-du-du-du-du-du! With everyone now on the ground, including the lookouts beside the door, Kang Chan wrapped the rope around his waist. ¡°G¨¦rard! I¡¯m going!¡± ¡°Please be careful!¡± Kang Chan dropped down as G¨¦rard gave him a brief salute. Du-du-du-du-du-du! The helicopter immediately headed back. Kang Chan walked toward the area that he had seen earlier. Seok Kang-Ho took up the front, and Cha Dong-Gyun, Gwak Cheol-Ho, and Kang Chan took the middle. Choi Jong-Il covered their rear. In this situation, spending half of the day to the entire day traveling could be considered crazy, especially when taking their food and stamina into consideration. After walking for about thirty minutes, they saw a small nd. ¡°Stop. Gather round,¡± Kang Chan ordered. He stood in the middle of the soldiers, who had formed a circle, then unfolded the map in his hands. ¡°This is where we are right now, and this is the location we were supposed to fly to through the Chinook.¡± Kang Chan thought they were probably curious about why they got off the helicopter before they could even reach their destination, but nobody asked him any questions. ¡°Pay close attention. From now on, We will be calling this location Alpha, and we¡¯ll calll this one Beta. In case we find ourselves in an emergency, I¡¯ll yell things like ¡®Alpha Rima¡¯ or ¡®Alpha Echo.¡¯ If I do that, immediately make your way to Alpha. The same goes for when I yell out Beta,¡± Kang Chan exined. The soldiers only nodded in response. ¡°Forget everything that you have heard about the operation. Considering our current situation, it would be more appropriate to think that we have just fallen into enemy territory. If we¡¯re quick enough, it¡¯ll only take us half a day to reach our target location. However, if we take too long, we won¡¯t be able to predict how our situation will change. After all, this is a four-day expedition, and we just got out of the helicopter early.¡± Kang Chan looked at his subordinates one by one. ¡°From now on, always be prepared forbat. If you think we¡¯re in a perilous situation, you are free to open fire. However, no one should cover fire. Cha Dong-Gyun.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Deploy two people to the front and two to the back.¡± One soldier sniffled, perhaps because of the cooler temperature. ¡°Alright.¡± Cha Dong-Gyun gestured at four of their members, assigning them to their positions. ¡°Our current priority is to reach the original target location.¡± Kang Chan folded the map and put it back in his bag. Afterward, they began their journey. With their rifles in hand, Kang Chan and his subordinates walked with their fingers on the trigger. Kang Chan had felt it before, but they were trained extremely well. The members of his team showed firm postures as they walked up the mountain path. Since there were sentries at the front, the main group could afford to rx. To a certain extent, walking calmed down the suffocating nervousness that Kang Chan had felt inside the helicopter. Yesterday, Kang Chan was just talking about the school festival with Kim Mi-Young over ice cream. Today, he was walking at the border area of France and Switzend. The sunlight was blinding, and the air was indescribably fresh. The cold winds reminded him of the onset of winter. Before them was a mountain so beautiful it looked as if it came out of a painting. Kang Chan wanted to see this scenery with someone he liked. The cold feeling of the rifle in his hand and the hostility filling up his eyes seemed to be telling him to focus on the operation. We can just keep going at this pace. If they could preupy the ess road, their chance of winning would increase. They continued to march in silence. The military gear on their backs was approximately twenty kilograms. Considering they ate two to three c-ration meals a day, their baggage was at least bound to gradually be lighter. However, they had to keep walking until they had to stop. Flying to their target location could¡¯ve made things easier, but Kang Chan couldn¡¯t keep going while oveing the uneasiness that he had been feeling since a little while ago. What would¡¯ve happened if I didn¡¯t have this intuition? Kang Chan would¡¯ve received a big promotion, or he would¡¯ve died already. Honestly, Kang Chan thought he was more likely to receive a promotion because he had been confident that he would survive all the battles that he had fought before Shan¡¯s trap. Examining their surroundings, Kang Chan smiled bitterly¡ªissuing a seemingly nonsensicalmand instead of watching his subordinates die had seemingly be a part of his nature. Now that he had thought about it, he probably knew the reasonmanders couldn¡¯t abandon their team but also weren¡¯t willing to cacel the operation. When Kang Chan inhaled, his mind cleared up. It was as if the cold air he had breathed in immediately went up to his brain. ¡°Stop!¡± Kang Chan quietly ordered. His subordinates immediately stopped walking. While sharply observing their surroundings, Kang Chan gestured to each soldier, then pointed them to their position. Chk. ¡°Sentries,¡± Kang Chan called. Chk. ¡°Please go ahead.¡± Chk. ¡°Join us quietly and quickly. Don¡¯t lower your guard.¡± Chk. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan slowly looked around their surroundings. They were on their way up to the middle of the mountain and were leaning forward. Since they were surrounded by rocks and trees, they doubted those outside the mountain could detect them. The two sentries stationed at the back soon regrouped with them. Where are the sentries up front? Kang Chan looked at Dayeru, then quickly looked up ahead. Chapter 146: The Objective of This Operation (1)

Chapter 146: The Objective of This Operation (1)

Kang Chan quickly dashed forward, and, on his signal, Seok Kang-Ho followed after him. They shouldn¡¯te into contact with the enemy here, but inbat and operations, death always came to people when they least expected it. Kang Chan went around the left of the rock obscuring their view, and Seok Kang-Ho rushed along the right. Behind it, they found the two sentries sticking close with their rifles aimed and ready to be fired. Soldiers tense enough could identallymit friendly fire when approached without warning. Hence, Kang Chan intentionally let his steps be heard, which made one of the sentries turn around. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho swiftly darted next to the soldier, who then gestured to his eyes with his index and middle finger, then pointed beyond the grass. Kang Chan didn¡¯t spot anything out of the ordinary, but in cases like these, it was best to trust the judgment of his subordinates. They were surrounded by rocks and cold winds in this mountainous terrain. Trees like evergreens, which could only grow tall in certain ces, were also all around them. The soldier had pointed to a location twenty meters ahead. They couldn¡¯t talk since it could be heard from this distance. Kang Chan gave Dayeru a knowing look. With his rifle aimed and ready, Kang Chan crouched down and began advancing toward the location. Seok Kang-Ho assumed the same stance and followed after him. Every time the wind brushed past their cheeks and the sunlight shone through the trees, they felt a tingling sensation that made their hair stand on end. Haah. Haah.? There was no doubt about it. It was someone¡¯s breathing. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho were currently standing on a downhill slope. If they came any closer, the enemies could spot Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s heads. They descended carefully as a team. Half a step ahead, Kang Chan took charge of guarding their front, and Seok Kang-Ho covered their nks from behind. Kang Chan was slowly turning the barrel of his gun from side to side when a cold shiver suddenly ran down his spine. Thump. Thump.? Kang Chan rammed into Seok Kang-Ho. Crash! Pew! Pew! A bullet bounced on the dirt behind where Seok Kang-Ho had just been standing and rebounded somewhere in their surroundings. A sniper had just shot at them. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho crawled on the ground before getting up and running under the cover of rocks and trees. Pew! Bang! Pow! The dirt flew into the air, and chunks of trees shattered around them. With a whoosh, they leaped to where the other soldiers, who were lying on the ground. Huff. Huff. Just now, they hade extremely close to death. They weren¡¯t simply being shot at, either. The sniper had let loose a barrage of bullets on purpose. Kang Chan examined the mountain opposite them. There was a sniper somewhere on it, ready to shoot them from approximately two kilometers away. If the wind hadn¡¯t blown or if Kang Chan was a secondte in pushing Seok Kang-Ho to safety, one of them would definitely be dead by now. The sentries could have been killed as well if he didn¡¯t call for a regroup. Crackle.? ¡°Choi Jong-Il, keep an eye on all the areas where snipers could be lying in wait. Cha Dong-Gyun, we have an enemy about twenty meters ahead. We are likely already surrounded, so reposition the soldiers ordingly,¡± Kang Chanmanded. Crackle.? ¡°Understood, sir.¡± Huff. Huff. The sniper aside, one of their enemies was currently just twenty meters away from them. They were likely assigning a sniper to the narrow path to gain control of it when they spotted Kang-Chan¡¯s sentries. Should we head back the way we came? Kang Chan shook his head. Crackle.? ¡°Lee Doo-Hee, can your bullets reach the mountain in front of us from where I was?¡± Kang Chan asked. Crackle. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Lee Doo-Hee replied. Kang Chan quickly scanned his nks. Crackle.? ¡°Choi Jong-Il, there may be a sniper above the area or enemies around us. Check your surroundings,¡± Kang Chan instructed. Crackle.? ¡°Understood, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il replied. Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan. ¡®Do you think we¡¯re surrounded, Cap?¡¯ Kang Chan gave a brief nod. The radio crackled again. ¡°I can shoot that far, but I can only reach about one and a half kilometers if the target is uphill. I¡¯ll only be half as urate as well,¡± Lee Doo-Hee reported back. Kang Chan gritted his teeth. If they lingered and wasted time here for too long, they could bepletely surrounded and have all their escape routes cut off. Crackle.? ¡°Cha Dong-Gyun, once you hear gunshots, take five men with you to secure higher grounds. Make sure no bulletse flying over our heads no matter what happens,¡± Kang Chan directed. Crackle.? ¡°Leave it to me, sir,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun responded. Damn it! Crackle.? ¡°Kwak Cheol-Ho, once Cha Dong-Gyun secures a better position, take five men with you to cover the rear. Move only when Cha Dong-Gyun is ready,¡± Kang Chanmanded. Crackle.? ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho replied. Crackle.? ¡°Choi Jong-Il, Seok Kang-Ho, and I will be advancing. If something happens, head to point Alpha and inform everyone about it.¡± Crackle.? ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il replied. Kang Chan then turned back to the two soldiers standing guard. ¡°If the sniper starts shooting at us again, provide cover fire.¡± The soldiers quickly nodded. Kang Chan tapped the soldiers¡¯ helmets twice. Crackle.? ¡°Lee Doo-Hee, there will be bulletsing from a sniper upfront. Try to pinpoint or at least get an idea of their location, then begin firing back. Don¡¯t let the sniper just shoot at us infort, got it?¡± Kang Chan thought that if Cha Dong-Gyun haphazardly went to secure a more uphill position without any backup, he would be an easy target for the sniper. Kang Chan nced at Seok Kang-Ho. They would proceed forward and divert the sniper¡¯s attention so Cha Dong-Gyun wouldn¡¯t bepromised. One, two¡­! Whoosh! They were already aware of the enemies¡¯ presence now, so it wouldn¡¯t be a surprise anymore. Kang Chan kept himself as concealed as possible from the opposite mountain as he bolted behind the trees. Pew! Pew! Pow! Bang! Bang! Bullets furiously raced at them from the other mountain. At the same time, retaliatory fire erupted from their side. The sentries he had assigned to their front earlier had mentioned enemies up ahead. Sticking to the trees as closely as he could, Kang Chan aimed down the slope. Pew! Pew! Bang! Bullets came flying at him from below. The trees above his head exploded, scattering so much dust in the air that he was almost blinded. Huff. Huff. Huff. Huff.? Pow! Pow! Pow! Seok Kang-Ho had hunched over to keep as close to the ground as he could. They were exposed to the sniper above and the enemies below. Pew! Bam! The moment the trees behind them cracked, Kang Chan noticed two sparks from where the gunshots wereing from. Those soldiers had most likely been assigned to protect their sniper. If this situation kept up, Seok Kang-Ho would die. ¡°Daye!¡± Kang Chan shouted as he threw himself toward the downhill slope. With his legs spread like a frog, he braced himself as much as he could and straightened his back. However, leaves began to give the moment he aimed where he saw the sparks, causing his body to slide downward. ¡°Fuck!¡± Seok Kang-Ho stiffly eximed. Pew! Pew! Pew! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunshots consecutively echoed throughout the mountain. Kang Chan had hoped it was a in downhill slope. However, after his quick ten-meter descent, he came across a small cliff with a two-meter drop. At this rate, he would be nothing more than easy target practice. Kang Chan decided to release the strength from his legs, which he had been using to brace himself. As a result, his speed increased as he rustled down the slope. He was soonunched into the air and over the cliff. Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Crash! He fired four bullets before crashing heavily onto the ground with a st. The wind was knocked out of him at the moment of impact, but he couldn¡¯t waste any time. He crawled on the ground like a madman and made his way to the opposite hill. Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Seok Kang-Ho had stood upright to return fire, providing Kang Chan some cover. Pew! Pew! Pew! The sniper¡¯s shot bounced off of the ground. Pow! The tree that Seok Kang-Ho had been relying on exploded. ¡°Haaa!¡± Kang Chan could finally breathe again. Gritting his teeth, he climbed up to where the sparks wereing from earlier. Seeing Kang Chan move, Seok Kang-Ho quickly got back down to hide. It was a smokescreen. The two enemies who had covered themselves in mesh and hid under dirt and leaves were now lying dead with holes in their foreheads. Crackle.? ¡°We¡¯re in position,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun said over the radio. Kang Chan picked up the pace. Unlike where Seok Kang-Ho was, it was difficult to shoot from Kang Chan¡¯s position. Crackle.? ¡°Lee Doo-Hee, give me the sniper¡¯s approximate location,¡± Kang Chan requested. Crackle.? ¡°The sniper is thirty degrees up and sixty meters away from me,¡± Lee Doo-Hee replied. Crackle. ¡°Seok Kang-Ho, take charge of the slope,¡± Kang Chanmanded. Crackle. ¡°Got it, Cap,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. No other enemies showed themselves despite this level of engagement, which could only mean that this location wasn¡¯t their main target. They were simply unlucky enough toe across Kang Chan¡¯s team while they were preparing for an ambush. However, since they were most likely carrying radios, Kang Chan had to take down the sniper before their main forces arrived. Kang Chan looked down at his knee. He was undoubtedly bleeding, but his military uniform wasn¡¯t torn. When he began checking the path up, the radio crackled again. ¡°This is Kwak Cheol-Ho, sir. We have spotted enemies approaching from behind,¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho said grimly. Crackle.? ¡°Cha Dong-Gyun, do you have eyes on the enemy?¡± Kang Chan asked. Crackle. ¡°I will be exposed to the sniper if I check the rear, sir,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun said. Damn it! Kang Chan once again nced at where the sniper would likely be. Crackle.? ¡°Choi Jong-Il, send more men to the rear. Kwak Cheol-Ho, hold the enemy back for ten minutes,¡± Kang Chanmanded. Crackle.? ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il and Kwak Cheol-Ho responded at the same time. Kang Chan slung his rifle over his right shoulder and climbed up the mountain. It wasn¡¯t hard to go back up because the rocks and trees hid him from view. However, considering most sniper teams consisted of two people, there was no predicting when more bullets woulde flying at him again. Crackle.? ¡°The enemy is approaching from the left as well,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun spoke over the radio just as Kang Chan held onto a rock and pulled himself up. It was difficult to use the radio in his current position. Daye! Come through for me! Crackle. ¡°This is Seok Kang-Ho. Assess the situation and return fire ordingly,¡± Seok Kang-Ho ordered when Kang Chan didn¡¯t reply. Kang Chan continued to climb as he surveyed the area above. They were surrounded. How did this happen? Where did things go wrong? Despite his growing curiosity, he had to focus on eliminating the enemy sniper and nt their own snipers in their position. ¡°Hegh,?hegh,?hegh,?hegh.¡± Because he was trying not to make any noise, his breathing unintentionally sounded like an excited pervert¡¯s. Rustle. At the sound of falling gravel, Kang Chan pressed his body tightly against the rock. There was something up above. Pew! Pew! P-Pew! Pew! Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunshots came from where the soldiers were. Kang Chan leaned his head forward a little to look up. Crackle.? ¡°Cap, there¡¯s an enemy soldier above you. Turn to the right,¡± Seok Kang-Ho radioed. Kang Chan twisted to the right and continued climbing up. The gunshots made it easier to hide his footsteps and breathing. Crackle.? ¡°About ten meters higher from where you are,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. It would be nice if Kang Chan could provide assistance now, but he still had some ways to go. Moreover, he was in a far different situation now. The sound of gunfire made him feel hurried, but he kept calm, steadily aimed his rifle, and slowly climbed the mountain. Huff. Huff.? Not long after, he saw a small path between the rocks and the mountain. The sniper was probably targeting the soldiers because he could hear consecutive rounds being shot. One, two¡­! Kang Chan leaped toward the narrow path, finding a team of two snipers, as he had expected. The enemy sentry whipped around in surprise, but Kang Chan had already opened fire. Pew! Thud! Pew! Thud! The enemy fell to his back with a bullet in his forehead. Meanwhile, the sniper fell forward with a bullet in his neck. It was as if he just fell asleep. Crackle.? ¡°The snipers have been eliminated. Choi Jong-Il, send a sniper and two soldiers here,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Crackle.? ¡°Cancel the two soldiers. I¡¯ll send a couple of my men over,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Crackle.? ¡°Got it,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kang Chan scanned his surroundings from above. The rear was safe now. Seeing the face of the dead enemy, Kang Chan tilted his head. Even though it was only natural for special forces to recruit talented individuals from around the world, it was still strange to find a Russian in the SBS. Sparks continued to fly around him, which made it easy for Kang Chan to locate where the friendly fire wasing from. With no other gunfireing from where Kang Chan was, a sniper and two soldiers from their side could safely run up the slope with their rifles slung behind them. When they arrived, Kang Chan realized the two soldiers guarding the sniper were also the ones who served as sentries earlier and discovered the enemies first. ¡°You stand guard on this side, and you keep your eye below. Don¡¯t miss anything thates up from down there. If we lose this position, we¡¯re all going to die,¡± Kang Chan warned. The soldiers nodded in response. Wasting not a single second longer in the area, Kang Chan left them behind and quickly descended the mountain. Gunshots came from all around him. Kang Chan seamlessly slid down the mountain and looked again at the face of the enemy whose camouge had been exposed. He was starting to get another strange feeling. It was difficult to climb back up from the direction he fell, so he went around five meters to the right to head up the cliff. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go,¡± Kang Chan replied. Together, they regrouped with the soldiers warily guarding their surroundings. Choi Jong-Il was at the center of their formation. Kang Chan moved back. There was currently no immediate threat. ¡°The enemy isn¡¯t moving from behind that sharp rock over there,¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho said, pointing to the rock he mentioned. Why isn¡¯t he moving? Kang Chan nodded and stepped away, pulling out a map. This is where Lee Doo-Hee is.? Kang Chan looked back up to nce at the location where Lee Doo-Hee should be. Cha Dong-Gyun was higher up, and Choi Jong-Il was below him. Meanwhile, the direction that Kang Chan and Kwak Cheol-Ho were covering was¡­ Damn it! Kang Chan gritted his teeth and looked behind him. Was the enemy targeting the hill he fell from earlier? Kang Chan stuffed the map back and palmed his forehead. Should they hold out or try to break through? Seok Kang-Ho, who was next to Kang Chan, grinned widely as his eyes glinted like a deranged person. He was feeling nervous, having guessed the situation with Kang Chan¡¯s expression. If they endured and held it out here, how long would it take for the Foreign Legion¡¯s special forces team to arrive? They could attempt to break through, but Kang Chan didn¡¯t know how many they were up against. Crackle.? ¡°This is Lee Doo-Hee. Enemy spotted seven kilometers from our location.¡± Crackle.? ¡°This is Cha Dong-Gyun. Enemy spotted approximately seven kilometers away from our left as well.¡± Kang Chan nced and smirked at Seok Kang-Ho. Seok Kang-Ho grinned back. The water had already been spilled, so there was no turning back now. Kang Chan pressed the button on his helmet. Crackle.? ¡°This is Kang Chan,¡± he began. The heavy silence was pierced as wind whooshed past them. ¡°The enemy we are facing appears to be the Russian Spetsnaz. As the world¡¯s most formidable special forces team, they require no other introduction.¡± Kang Chan noticed the soldiers stiffened like statues. Crackle. ¡°Seok Kang-Ho and Cha Dong-Gyun. From now on, your teams will be acting as one. Choi Jong-Il and Kwak Cheol-Ho, your teams will be merging as well. I will be moving alone,¡± Kang Chan said. A soldier peeked at Kang Chan, then turned his head toward his assigned position. He still couldn¡¯t seem to understand what Kang Chan meant. ¡°The South Korean special forces will now start hunting down the Spetsnaz. This is no different from live ammo training. The soldiers going down the mountain are the assassination squad, and the soldiers who¡¯ll be staying behind will be the upying forces. If the upying forces fail to keep this area safe, we will all die,¡± Kang Chan dered. Kwak Cheol-Ho awkwardly smiled at Kang Chan. He tried to rx, but he couldn¡¯tpletely get rid of his nerves. ¡°You must kill and protect. From now on, our operation¡¯s objective¡­¡± The soldiers turned to focus on Kang Chan. ¡°... is the elimination of all enemy forces.¡± The soldier who had peeked at Kang Chan earlier now looked at him with a dazed expression. Chapter 147: The Objective of This Operation (2)

Chapter 147: The Objective of This Operation (2)

Seok Kang-Ho and Cha Dong-Gyun were put in charge of hunting the enemy approaching from the left of their current position, while Choi Jong-Il and Kwak Cheol-Ho were put in charge of hunting the enemy approaching from the right. Kang Chan went two meters down the hill. In operations like this, putting unconditional trust in theirmander was absolutely important. During the live ammo training, Kang Chan shot them in the chest and the head. Fortunately, they were wearing bulletproof vests and helmets back then. Was that the reason they could work with each other so well it was almost natural? The forest grew silent as they advanced by five meters. Ten meters ahead of them was another rocky area of the mountain. Even their enemies would find it difficult to recklessly climb it. Taking that into consideration, their enemies were probably waiting for nightfall. If Kang Chan and his team let the Spetsnaz have their way instead of bringing the fight to them now, his team would be surrounded and forced to wait for the Foreign Legion. If the SBS joined the battle in that situation, then Kang Chan and his team were as good as dead. Not wanting to let that happen, Kang Chan insisted on hunting the Spetsnaz now. He looked at Seok Kang-Ho, who was behind him. Seemingly understanding what his gaze meant, Seok Kang-Ho quickly advanced. The moment Seok Kang-Ho got into position, Choi Jong-Il headed toward where Kang Chan was looking. Cha Dong-Gyun followed Seok Kang-Ho, and Kwak Cheol-Ho followed Choi Jong-Il. ¡°Haah. Haah.¡± Not only did they have the three people that had the best abilities in the special forces team, but they also had Seok Kang-Ho, who understood Kang Chan¡¯s intentions better than anyone else. Kwak Cheol-Ho sharply red behind him¡ªwhich was where Choi Jong-Il was positioned¡ª then checked their nks as well. Sunlight coursed past leaves whenever the wind blew, making the shadows of the forest dance. In the middle of their sway, Kwak Cheol-Ho felt as if he saw a ck helmet. Did I see that correctly or is my brain ying tricks on me? He wasn¡¯t sure either. Click! Just as Kwak Cheol-Ho was about to react¡­ Whoosh! Thud! He saw blood stter and spread like red fog. While they were still pondering if they saw a helmet, the enemy was shot in the head. Kwak Cheol-Ho looked at Kang Chan in shock quick enough to witness Kang Chan aiming his gun back to their front. Kwak Cheol-Ho felt like a wolf hunting with a lion. He held down augh. Who can defeat a lion? They had already seen enough of Kang Chan¡¯s capabilities during the live ammunition training. Right now, they were up against the Spetsnaz, a special forces team renowned even among the world¡¯s special forces. Nevertheless, one of their members had just been killed with a headshot simply because he leaned his head forward a little. A thrill went down Kwak Cheol-Ho¡¯s spine and spread throughout his body like goosebumps. He decided to shoot anyone he saw, having gained confidence that he didn¡¯t have anything to worry about. After all, even if Kwak Cheol-Ho couldn¡¯t hit his target, Kang Chan would simply send a bullet right between their eyes. The Spetsnaz? You little dickheads! We have the God of ckfield on our side! Meanwhile, Cha Dong-Gyun gritted his teeth. By the time Kwak Cheol-Ho had pointed his gun, Kang Chan had already pulled the trigger. He was surprised not only by Kang Chan but by Seok Kang-Ho as well. Seok Kang-Ho aimed opposite where Kang Chan was aiming. Cha Dong-Gyun felt as if he was learning new things about what he should do in a team. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s actions let Kang Chan focus on one side. This was it. It didn¡¯t matter if they were up against the Spetsnaz or any other bullshit. As soon as their enemies revealed themselves, even if it was just their head or a leg, Kang Chan would kill them. The others just had to protect Kang Chan during that brief moment. Even though the gunshot and the body falling to the ground rang loud and clear, none of the enemies showed up. They probably didn¡¯t expect this to happen. How could they have known that one of the soldiers they had sent over to secure a foothold would be shot in the head? Sons of bitches! The Korean team just had to act as they had been trained. Kang Chan would take care of the rest. The bitterness and extreme sorrow that had umted in the soldiers¡¯ hearts seemed to be dissipating. They just had to cover their left and defend Kang Chan even if it meant throwing themselves in the line of fire. Cha Dong-Gyun examined their surroundings even more fiercely. It was subtle, but Kang Chan¡¯s movements changed. He no longer made any sounds¡ªlike a lion prowling after finding prey. ¡®An enemy is near!¡¯ Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho only instinctively felt that an enemy was close by, so they couldn¡¯t understand how Kang Chan knew where the enemies were. Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho gulped. Where are they? Are they near Cha Dong-Gyun?In front of Seok Kang-Ho? Or near Kwak Cheol-Ho again? Their senses heightened so much they were starting to be dizzy. Swoosh. During the brief period that the wind swept past, something moved in front of them. Cha Dong-Gyun felt as if all of his blood ran cold. Click! Whoosh! Thud! Cha Dong-Gyun couldn¡¯t pull the trigger. ¡®This was what Cheol-Ho had experienced!¡¯ Cha Dong-Gyun couldn¡¯t shoot because he wasn¡¯t certain if he had spotted an enemy, then he began to worry if things would be dangerous if they failed to kill the Spetsnaz in one shot. Cha Dong-Gyun locked eyes with Kang Chan, who then looked up ahead. He was the God of ckfield! To their enemies, he was the god of death. Cha Dong-Gyun vowed to let nothing stop him from shooting them next time. It didn¡¯t matter if he hit or missed the target. He would pull the trigger no matter what. No matter the oue, the God of ckfield was there to take care of it anyway. He would disy yet another thin spray of the enemies¡¯ blood¡ªlike what he was doing now. Twenty minutes had passed, but none of them could still stand straight. However, Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho weren¡¯t tired. Kang Chan controlled his pacing. Right now, he was moving faster. How does he know? How can he figure out where the enemy is? We¡¯re up against the Spetsnaz here!? Cha Dong-Gyun had discovered that enemy first, yet Kang Chan had shot them in the forehead way faster than he could pull the trigger. It was almost instantaneous. Kang Chan lowered himself a little more. When he did, Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il looked from side to side to figure out why. Eventually, they realized an enemy was nearby. See? Kang Chan slowed down. His walking speed slowed down enough for them to sense it. Deciding he would stop at nothing to fire at the enemy this time, Cha Dong-Gyun sharply aimed at and observed the area that he was in charge of. He would shoot anything that moved. I have to trust myself! Even if I miss, the God of Death is right in front of me. Not longer after, he saw something moving. Whoosh! Cha Dong-Gyun pulled the trigger. He felt as if the world had stopped. His hairs were standing on end. Thud! With the sound of something falling to the ground, the speed of the world around him quickly returned to normal. Cha Dong-Gyun unknowingly looked at Seok Kang-Ho. Seok Kang-Ho grinned in response. Although his eyes were glinting so hard it seemed as if he would beat up Cha Dong-Gyun at any moment, Cha Dong-Gyun realized Seok Kang-Ho was actually praising him. I killed a Spetsnaz! Sons of bitches! During the joint training, those fuckers acted all cocky and didn¡¯t even let the Korean team near them. Motherfuckers! Come at us! When Cha Dong-Gyun looked at his team again¡­ ¡®Get your act together!¡¯ Kang Chan red at him, then looked away. Cha Dong-Gyun returned to his senses. If Kang Chan wasn¡¯t here, he would¡¯ve exposed himself due to his excitement, and he would have be the next one to be shot in the head. *** Lanok sat up from the desk, then looked at the aide with an unusually fearsome gaze. ¡°The Intelligence Bureau has just detected a Russian submarine in the Celtic Sea. How am I supposed toprehend this?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°We believe that Vasili sent a special forces team on the submarine¡ª¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be.¡± Having been interrupted, the aide waited for Lanok to continue. ¡°You¡¯re saying that the Intelligence Bureau, which has five satellites and enough budget to abundantly feed the starving kids in Africa for ten years, didn¡¯t know that Russia¡¯s nuclear-powered submarine was right around the corner? Does that make any sense to you?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°We have received a report that said the DGSE will investigate this matter.¡± With a deep sigh, Lanok shook his head. ¡°Raphael.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador.¡± ¡°If you took out a gun in front of me, then¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Ambassador!¡± Raphael looked flustered, but Lanok simply continued as if that didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Louis can just easily shoot you in response. However, what would it mean if Louis didn¡¯t even bother to take out a gun after you shot me?¡± Raphael couldn¡¯t answer. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t say that he was looking somewhere else, would you?¡± Lanok asked again. ¡°That¡¯s correct, Mr. Ambassador.¡± ¡°Even if people don¡¯t like how I treat Monsieur Kang, we shouldn¡¯t put France in danger just for our personal reasons. If we just leave this at that and move on, then there¡¯s bound to be someone who¡¯ll see this behavior and learn from it in the future.¡± Raphael quickly nodded. ¡°Contact the DGSE and tell them that by today, I should hear news about the deaths of two of the Intelligence Bureaus¡¯ deputy directors. I also want to create a team to assassinate Vasili. Increase the embassy¡¯s security to ss one, and order an emergency decree to the entire Foreign Legion,¡± Lanok added. Raphael loudly inhaled. ¡°The Foreign Legion¡¯s special forces team is to head immediately to where Monsieur Kang is. Inform me when they¡¯re ready. Can we contact Monsieur Kang?¡± ¡°We heard we can contact him at eight o¡¯clock this evening.¡± Lanok nodded while pursuing his lips. He gave Raphael a look that made thetter urgently leave the room. ¡°Vasili,¡± Lanok muttered to himself, then fiercely red at the phone on his desk as if it was Vasili. ¡°So you want to double-cross me and the United Kingdom?¡± Lanok muttered to himself with a sigh, then nced at the clock. ¡°You¡¯re making me bet everything I have on Monsieur Kang.¡± *** Whoosh! Thud! ¡®Twenty-three!¡¯ Choi Jong-Il had been counting the number of Spetsnaz members that they had killed. Each Spetsnaz special forces team had nine members. Taking that into consideration, almost three of their teams had been wiped out before they could even pull the trigger. Would the Spetsnaz dispatch more than three of their units in a single operation? . Choi Jong-Il shook his head. Can it be this easy? Although Kang Chan took down neen of those twenty-three soldiers, this situation was still too absurd. The sun above them was slowly going down past the horizon. Whrrr! Peep! Cheep! Unlike Choi Jong-Il, who flinched whenever they heard the strange sounds from the birds, Kang Chan didn¡¯t react at all. The enemies who had been so determined to pounce on them had now hidden themselves. How will they act? How long will we keep seeding? Kang Chan paused, making Choi Jong-Il examine him while pulling his rifle close to him. Kang Chan stopped for the first time since they started this operation. What¡¯s going on? Choi Jong-Il, Kwak Cheol-Ho, Seok Kang-Ho, and Cha Dong-Gyun examined their surroundings thoroughly enough for their eyes to feel dry. Badum badum. Badum badum. Their hearts raced the same way they did right before they got out of the helicopter. Kang Chan examined their surroundings. While the enemy was still likely fully aware of Kang Chan and his team¡¯s movements, they could no longer see the enemy. Kang Chan moved his head back toward Seok Kang-Ho. They were going to retreat. Seok Kang-Ho quickly went past Cha Dong-Gyun, reversing their position. Seok Kang-Ho was now at the very front, and to their right were Cha Dong-Gyun and Kang Chan. This was their best option right now. Their hearts calmed down upon retreating for about twenty meters. Tsk! Kang Chan clicked his tongue, seemingly displeased. When everyone looked at him, he assigned them to their positions. Once they had assumed a pentagon-shaped formation, he softly exhaled. Their enemies hadn''t attacked their troops yet. If nightfall wasn¡¯t what they were waiting for, then they had to be trying to think of other means to win. The sun had gone down to some degree. Based on his experience, he thought that the members had to eat and rest now. Otherwise, they could fail to keep their nervousness under control. Making up his mind, he made his way to the forefront. There was no forest in the middle of where the snipers and other team members were located. They could be exposed if they stayed there, but the area made it just as difficult for their opponents to hide as well, especially considering the tension in the air. Before leaving the forest, Kang Chan pressed a button. Crackle. ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan. We¡¯re heading back. Snipers, check the perimeter.¡± Crackle. ¡°Nothing out of the ordinary.¡± Kang Chan slowly led them out of the forest upon hearing that answer. *** Lanok let his phone ring about five times before answering the call. ¡°Ello?¡± - Lanok, are you nning on starting a war? ¡°Vasili, you can¡¯t just talk to me about what you want right after pushing a gun to my head. I hope you know that Russia isn¡¯t the only country that has nuclear weapons.¡± - This is all a misunderstanding, Lanok. Lanok quickly looked at the clock. The viper that had backstabbed him suddenly wanted to reconcile. Why would he do that? Why would Vasili, the man who had sent the Spetsnaz to Kang Chan, bow down to him now? Monsieur Kang! Unable to contain his happiness, Lanok tightly clenched his right hand, which was on the desk. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate Monsieur Kang¡¯s capabilities. I have said this before, but I¡¯m not in a position to force anything on him, Vasili.¡± - Lanok, I fell for the United Kingdom¡¯s tricks. Only the United Kingdom will benefit from war starting between us. ¡°Discuss that with Monsieur Kang.¡± - Wouldn¡¯t this be easier if you arbitrate? I would appreciate it if you do me that favor. It¡¯s the only way I would get to apologize to Monsieur Kang. Of course, I¡¯ll be sending properpensation for our rash decision to head into France as well. ¡°Vasili, you probably know this already, but our Intelligence Bureau lost two deputy directors because of this matter. Moreover, considering Monsieur Kang¡¯s personality,ying down such a hasty condition could result in me losing credibility as well, just like what happened to you for losing your beloved Spetsnaz,¡± Lanok said, then red at the clock. This was a gamble. Lanok couldn¡¯t contact Kang Chan, but if he didn¡¯t gamble this much right now, the situation could be even harder at any moment. - Can you tell Monsieur Kang that I¡¯m willing to even tell you the exact location of the SBS? How do you even contact him? ¡°It would be in your best interest to not look down on France, Vasili.¡± - I will contact the DGSE, so check with them. Lanok hung up, then sighed loudly. Monsieur Kang Chan had done it. He had defeated the Spetsnaz. Lanok shook his head. *** The sun was around forty-five degrees above their heads by the time Kang Chan¡¯s team had regrouped with the rest. Thud. ¡°Phew.¡± As if on cue, all five straightened their legs and leaned against a rock. Looking extremely curious, the others checked how the five were doing. ¡®Twenty-three,¡¯?Choi Jong-Il mouthed to Woo Hee-Seung when their eyes met. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°We killed twenty-three Spetsnaz soldiers,¡± Choi Jong-Il repeated. Looking like they couldn¡¯t believe what they just heard, they turned toward Kang Chan. Kang Chan smirked. He¡¯s telling the truth! The soldiers looked strangely proud of themselves. In the middle of that standoff, they emerged victorious. Through this experience, they became battle-hardened enough to no longer feel dispirited, and even if they did, it ensured that they would still be able to properly use the abilities that they had learned during training. ¡°Cha Dong-Gyun, have the members eat on shifts. Order the sniper team to eat one at a time. Make sure they never let their guard down.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun answered. ¡°What do you think those fuckers did?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°They either nted ymores in the area or have withdrawn.¡± ¡°Phew! I¡¯m fucking dying for a smoke.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± ¡°Why do you ask? As a matter of fact, I¡¯m starving,¡± Seok Kang-Ho grumbled. Not long after, one of their team members brought him a C-ration. ¡°Eat, then get some sleep,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Will we keep moving tonight as well?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. He ced his finger on the lid of the c-ration, then nced at Kang Chan. ¡°If they have nted ymores around us, then even just two people would find it difficult to get anywhere. We should prepare in case things go awry instead.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Seok Kang-Ho tore off the stic of the c-ration with his teeth, then ate the bread. Kang Chan ate a biscuit. What would Kim Mi-Young be doing right now? He wanted to see her again. They were in a sunken part of the mountain, so they were enclosed on all sides. So that fucker Vasili stabbed us in the back, huh? Kang Chan assumed they wouldn¡¯t get betrayed since Lanok was on their side. He picked up a pastry. Son of a bitch. He decided to let the matter go for now since he had essentially killed most of the Spetsnaz soldiers anyway. However, he already nned to think about how to retaliate after this operation. He had no intention of just leaving this at that and moving on. Chapter 148.1: May Luck Be On Your Side (1)

Chapter 148.1: May Luck Be On Your Side (1)

Stars showed up in the night sky as the sun went past the horizon. They were so close that they seemed like they would get caught on the tips of the mountains. The sight would remain in one¡¯s memory for a lifetime, but the South Korean special forces team was in a situation far too tense and nervewracking to bask in their beauty. After eating dinner, they took turns sleeping for two hours each. It was now seven-forty in the evening. The Spetsnaz could use the cover of the dark to attack them. In the worst-case scenario, they could evene rushing in with the SBS by their side. nk! nk! Sounds of weapons being checked asionally rang out in the silence. The agents had been imitating the behavior that Kang Chan had been showing. Matching his tempo, they would tense up and rx as he did. Currently, however, they were extremely nervous. No one had ordered them to, but they sharply observed their surroundings. nk! ¡°Are we heading down?¡± Seok Kang-Ho quietly asked Kang Chan after checking his magazine. ¡°Let¡¯s contact the base with the satellite phone at twenty hundred hours before deciding. The bad feeling I was getting this morning concerns me. There¡¯s something out there. We just don¡¯t know what it is. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s ymores or men lying in ambush¡ªit¡¯s still dangerous out there,¡± Kang Chan firmly replied. Seok Kang-Ho nced around and then turned back to Kang Chan. ¡°Captain, is everything alright?¡± Seok Kang-Ho hesitantly asked. Kang Chan looked back at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°I know how strong you are, but today, you¡¯re different from any other time I¡¯ve seen you¡ªespecially the look in your eyes. I don¡¯t know how to describe it, but you seem more on edge and more keen than in the past. It¡¯s like your senses are overloading and you¡¯re running on overdrive.¡± Kang Chan tilted his head. ¡°Like you¡¯ve advanced a step, maybe,¡± Seok Kang-Ho exined further. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Well, you¡¯re more refined than you were in the Mongolian operation. You have already surprised everyone during that operation, yet you have still be apletely different person now. Honestly, be it during the Mongolian operation, the live ammo training, and now, you seem to be turning more and more into a monstrous beast every time you lift your gun,¡± Seok Kang¨CHo said. Kang Chan hadn¡¯t realized. Had he not always been like this in the past? ¡°The soldiers we fought in Africa are nothingpared to the Spetsnaz. The Spetsnatz are a lot stronger, yet you took them down more easily than back in Africa. Your eyes are alsopletely different from how they usually are. They¡¯re hard, vicious, and show no sign of loosening up,¡± Seok Kang-Ho exined. ¡°Haven¡¯t I always struggled to cool down after a fight?¡± Kang Chan refuted. Seok Kang-Ho tilted his head, then shook it twice. ¡°It¡¯s different now. You¡¯re acting as if you have already lost three or four rookies. Well, as long as you¡¯re okay, it doesn¡¯t matter. I just thought you should know that you are more sensitive than usual,¡± Seok Kang-Ho informed him. Kang Chan nodded in understanding. An unnecessarily sensitivemander could quickly tire their soldiers out. ¡°Whew,¡± Kang Chan sighed as knelt down one knee and leaned against a rock. The cold, hard feeling of the rifle hanging by his shoulder once again reminded him of where he was. Every time he exhaled, he could see his breath vanish in the air in front of him. Kang Chan chuckled faintly. He suddenly missed Kim Mi-Young. She was still just a little chick who had a long way to go before growing up to be an adult. She had to know that there were a lot better guys than him in college. She nned to attend the Seoul National University, after all. It was filled and led by men who stood out in their fields like Kim Mi-Young, not men who had the most kills on the battlefield. What kind of person would Kang Chan be in such a ce? But none of that mattered. He just wanted to see her right now. Her signatureugh, her adoring eyes at him¡­ he felt as if the vicious look in his eyes would rx once he saw her. Kang Chan looked up at the stars in the sky. As he did, someone spoke to him. ¡°It¡¯s twenty hundred hours,¡± Woo Hee-Seung said as he approached, bringing over the satellite phone. They could certainly call the base first, but they had to do it far from the location where they had unexpectedly ran into the Spetsnaz. It would otherwise be dangerous to let the base know of the situation. The same went for the call at twenty hundred hours. Kang Chan would wait, but if G¨¦rard didn¡¯t call, it would be far wiser for them to head straight to Switzend before contacting Korea. Although they still had more than enough ammo left, they only had two days'' worth of c-rations left. Beep.? The satellite phone turned on as soon as Kang Chan pressed a button. A shooting star fell slowly into the horizon, seemingly displeased by the artificial light that the phone was emitting. Two minutes passed by. The soldiers were pretending to be unaffected, but in truth, they were all sharply tuned in to the phone. ¡®Are they telling us to break through to Switzend first?¡¯ As Kang Chan recalled the directions on the map for that n, the phone rang awake. Beep. Beep. Beep.? Kang Chan answered the call, causing the phone to let out a mechanical sound as he lifted it to his ear. -This is the base.? ¡°This is the God of ckfield,¡± Kang Chan answered. -The visitors from this morning have all left. The gentlemen are on standby at the Lima, Alpha, and Delta points. You have the discretion on how to proceed. ¡°What about the zoo?¡± -Deers and bears.? Deers meant two, and bears meant seven. There were twenty-seven enemies lying in wait. ¡°What are our chances?¡± Kang Chan asked. -Half and half. However, it has been confirmed that the visitors from this morning have all left. Napoleon has also been mobilized today.? ¡°Repeat what you just said,¡± Kang Chan said in surprise. -Napoleon has been mobilized today. Kang Chan looked up at the sky in thought. That phrase was code that an emergency decree had been ordered on the entire Foreign Legion. Kang Chan was now finally starting to see the outline of the puzzle. Lanok had taken a firm stance, and Vasili had stepped back. ¡°Base,¡± Kang Chan began. -Yes.? ¡°I will take care of the gentlemen,¡± Kang Chan said determinedly. -May luck be on your side. Seok Kang-Ho, Choi Jong-Il, Cha Dong-Gyun, and the others looked stiffly at Kang Chan, who let out a low sigh. Kang Chan had no other choice but to put his faith in that punk G¨¦rard more so since he had now heard that Lanok had ordered an emergency decree to all of the Foreign Legion. Kang Chan raised his hand to his helmet. Crackle. ¡°This is the God of ckfield,¡± Kang Chan said. His surroundings seemed to turn a little quieter when he spoke into the radio. ¡°We have received information that the Spetsnatz has left,¡± Kang Chan dered. The emotions on Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho¡¯s faces changed to relief and curiosity. ¡°We¡¯ve received other information as well,¡± Kang Chan continued. The soldiers'' gazes were all focused on the smoke-like tendrils of air that left Kang Chan¡¯s mouth. ¡°There are twenty-seven SBS members at point Alpha. We can take care of them or head back,¡± Kang Chan informed them. Seok Kang-Ho grinned widely at Kang Chan, knowing what he already nned to do. ¡°It will take about four hours to reach point Alpha from here. We will move under nightfall. Upon arrival, we will wait right before daybreak before proceeding with the operation,¡± Kang Chan announced. The soldiers all nced at each other upon hearing Kang Chan¡¯s n. ¡°They far outnumber us, and they are on an entirely different level. However, you have all shown great performance, and I believe in all of you. The mission of this operation is to eliminate all the SBS members and return home safely together. To that end, we will divide into four teams and rush in at once,¡± Kang Chan stated firmly. Cha Dong-Gyun twisted his expression in an attempt to hold back his tears. Crackle. ¡°Get some food in you and rest at your positions until twenty-three hundred hours. Remember to always stay sharp. You will find a hole in your head the moment you let your guard down, and yourrade will drop dead the second you look away, so keep our live ammo training in mind, and don¡¯t lose sight of the South Korean special forces that I remember. Seeding in this operation will make the world acknowledge the South Korean special forces as a team equal to the Spetsnaz and the SBS,¡± Kang Chan dered. Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan in surprise. In Africa, or in any other operation after that, Kang Chan had never spoken in this way to the soldiers. ¡°I want all of us to shout it at the same time, but I don¡¯t want to reveal our location to the enemies,¡± Kang Chan said with a smile. The sound of Kang Chan chuckling a little could clearly be heard at the end of his words. Crackle.? ¡°Instead, please state our motto for us, Cha Dong-Gyun. Cha Dong-Gyun! Begin,¡± Kang Chanmanded. A momentter, all the soldiers connected to their frequency heard Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s teary voice. Crackle.? ¡°If I can protect my country with my blood¡­!¡± The South Korean special forces no longer felt sorrow. Just a few days ago, they could not even dream of going up against the Spetsnaz and the SBS because South Koreacked immense national power. However, at that moment, they were about to begin an operation that could lead to the total elimination of their opponents¡¯ soldiers. As proven by Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s tearful voice, the sorrow and regret that their superiors had been passing down from generation to generation were finally being cut off and healed. Crackle.? ¡°... I am happy!¡± ¡°Phuhuhu,¡± Seok Kang-Houghed in disbelief, his voice traveling into the night sky before fading away. Chapter 148.2: May Luck Be On Your Side (1)

Chapter 148.2: May Luck Be On Your Side (1)

¡°Aaaaahhh! Aah! Aaahh!¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk shouted like a madman, shaking his two clenched fists in the air. ¡°Haah! Haah!¡± He hung his head low to catch his breath for a little while, but he shot it back up soon after. ¡°So, how many of our men¡­?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked, trailing off. ¡°We haven¡¯t been able to confirm that information yet,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung reassuringly replied. ¡°The intelligence you gave them was certain, correct?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk prodded on. ¡°An emergency decree was ordered on all of France¡¯s Foreign Legion, but it was canceled just moments ago. The president of Russia has also expressed his desire to pay a covert visit to South Korea,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung answered with confidence. ¡°Those bastards! They did it! They managed to do it!¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk shouted gleefully. ¡°We received intelligence that although the Spetsnaz tried to ambush the team, they managed to push them back and defeat them without any casualties. ording to a detailed report that the DGSE surprisingly gave to us of their own volition, only four members of the Spetsnatz managed to survive,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. Jeon Dae-Geuk vehemently shook his head. He looked as if he couldn¡¯t believe the news. ¡°What about their return?¡± he asked earnestly. ¡°We haven¡¯t received any information regarding that. However, we did hear that they are going on another operation first,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung stated. A tear soon dripped down Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s cheek. ¡°I no longer have any regrets in my life. I have never felt so proud and rewarded to have been a member of the South Korean special forces,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk dered through tears. Kim Hyung-Jung nodded with his lips pressed together. *** ¡°Is that true?!¡± Choi Seong-Geon eximed. -General Choi, don¡¯t speak of this to your men yet. ¡°Mmmmh. Mmmh! Mmmmh!¡± -It¡¯s okay! You can cry. The section chief and I cried as well. ¡°An active member of the special forces cannot cry, sir!¡± Choi Seong-Geon replied. -I see. I understand. I will contact you again when I receive more information.? Choi Seong-Geon put down the phone and left his barracks with a face so red it seemed as if he would soon explode. It was currently four in the morning. Vroom!? Choi Seong-Geon got in a jeep and drove it all the way to the entrance of the makeshift city. ¡°Hey! You bastards! Stay alive! You better return home alive, punks!¡± Choi Seong-Geon shouted to the void. Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s voice echoed loudly in the city. ¡°You did a good job! So none of you better die! You are all toe back alive!¡± he burst out. A thick tear dripped down Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s tanned cheek. ¡°Thank you!¡± he muttered to himself as he stared at the dark morning sky. ¡°From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Mr. Kang Chan!¡± *** The teams were divided into four. Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, Cha Dong-Gyun, and Choi Jong-Il each led a group. Before leaving, they carefully reviewed the area the operation would take ce and the path each team would take to infiltrate the area. Kang Chan would take the front, and Seok Kang-Ho would handle the rear. They began the trip at 2330. About twenty minutes in, Kang Chan paused and raised his hand. During the morning of the previous operation, he had turned away from this area with Seok Kang-Ho. The soldiers all sharply scanned their assigned territories. Kang Chan gestured with his hand for two soldiers to take about three steps back. Kang Chan turned his head again and gave Kwak Cheol-Ho a knowing look, making thetter carefully advance. Kang Chan pointed his index finger at the long line that was lying on the ground. Kwak Cheol-Ho nodded. ¡®Can you do it?¡¯? ¡®I know I can, sir.¡¯ Kang Chan nodded back at him. Based on what Kang Chan¡¯s instinct was telling him, it didn¡¯t seem like any of their enemies were nearby. Nevertheless, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to stay alert, especially considering letting their guard down could get them killed. Kang Chan pointed his left index finger backward at one soldier and put his right index and middle fingers next to it, signaling the soldier to cover Kwak Cheol-Ho. Immediately after, he had the rest of the soldiers retreat about twenty meters back. A heavy, palpable tension hung over the forest, making it hard to breathe. Around fifteen minutester, Kwak Cheol-Ho returned with the soldier who had covered him. In Kwak Cheol-Ho¡¯s hand was a ymore and its triggering mechanism. If the team had taken a single misstep with those in ce¡­ Kang Chan didn¡¯t even want to imagine what could have happened. ¡®Good work.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s nothing, sir.¡¯ When Kang Chan nodded at Kwak Cheol-Ho, thetter an admiring gaze at him for having discovered a ymore in pitch-ck darkness. What made it even more amazing was that he even found the thin line that was tied to the trigger mechanism. They could do this. This operation was possible. As Kwak Cheol-Ho brimmed with confidence, Kang Chan began to push forward again. Rustle.? After about thirty minutes, they found a path easier to walk on. Although it allowed them to pick up the pace, they still couldn¡¯t put their guard down. Birds were starting to chirp. ¡®How can he keep doing that?¡¯?Kwak Cheol-Ho wondered in amazement as he followed after Kang Chan. Leading squads from the very front were so exhausting that it made one feel as if they would be worn out to death. However, Kang Chan never lost focus¡ªnot even for a moment. Rather, he just kept advancing while keeping track of their pacing. Wolves standing behind a lion¡­ Kwak Cheol-Ho couldn¡¯t agree more with the metaphor that the soldiers had made at dinner. They walked for about an hour longer when Kang Chan suddenly stopped, scanned their surroundings, and turned back to the men. Kang Chan spread his left hand apart and pointed his right index finger toward his open palm. That was the signal for the soldiers to rest but keep their guards up. Kwak Cheol-Ho headed over to the position he had been assigned to guard without having to receive anymand. He was determined to do his task to stand watch perfectly so the other soldiers could catch a break, no matter how short, and so Kang Chan could rx even just a little. *** The South Korean special forces reached their target location at around 0410. Kang Chan had the soldiers guard their vicinity, then summoned the squad leaders to issue themmands. ¡°If a problem arises here, you are to take your men and gather at point Beta,¡± Kang Chan ordered them. The three men nodded curtly in response. ¡°The enemy will be taking extreme precautions. The moment you think the SBS is easy to deal with is the moment our men start dropping like flies. They will be more than aware of the fact that the Spetsnatz retreated, so I¡¯m sure they are on very high alert. Keep calm and collected, and we¡¯ll steadily surround them from the outside,¡± Kang Chan stated. The resolve in his eyes was clearly visible to the three men. ¡°Once your snipers have reached their positions, give me a signal with Morse code. I will give send a signal to begin the attack, but if necessary, you are free to open fire. Remember, if I can only do one thing right in this operation, it would undoubtedly be the safe return of all the men. If you¡¯re in danger, make sure to request help through the radio. Any questions?¡± Kang Chan finished. All of the men stayed silent. Kang Chan patted Cha Dong-Gyun and Choi Jong-Il on their helmets, one time each. ¡°Daye,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Dayeru replied. ¡°Don¡¯t run wild and move with caution. Stay calm,¡± Kang Chan reminded him, half-joking. ¡°Got it, Cap,¡± Seok Kang-Ho answered. After Kang Chan tapped Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s helmet, Seok Kang-Ho began to head toward his position. The operation was officiallying to a start. Point Alpha was in a basin-like area that was stuck between two mountains, one lower than the other. They could only ever be aware of the presence of any nearby enemy, and even then, it would be difficult to know exactly where the enemy was located. Considering the sun would rise at about 0530, the team only had a little over an hour left to go. From his position, Kang Chan searched for areas that would be advantageous to assign the team¡¯s snipers to. After all, areas that were favorable to them were also favorable to the enemy. Hence, if the SBS was nearby, their snipers could be in those ces. That was why each of the special forces team had to have at least one sniper with them. Leading the soldiers, Kang Chan slowly began to proceed forward. The branches that were hidden under dry, fallen leaves were some of the scariest things they could step on. After all, stepping on them the wrong way could break them with a loud snap. Hence, the soldiers had to tread forward with care. There could also be more ymores in their vicinity, so they could never let their guard down. In special operations, putting up ymores in a foreign territory was practically suicide. Considering soldiers were bound to die if they weren¡¯t careful, the team had to always stay alert. The next path was uphill. They would have to walk for five minutes and scan their surroundings for thirty seconds. In that short span of time, they had to locate any hostile movements and let the soldiers catch their breaths if necessary. Even after putting their snipers in position, they would still have to keep examining the thirty-meter vicinity around them. Their current pacing was so exhausting that it was quickly draining them. They were using up far more of their stamina since they were going slow, which meant they were basking far longer in this tense and nervous atmosphere. At this rate, their guard could suddenly ease up without them meaning to. While on the way up, Kang Chan suddenly paused and pointed behind a rock to Kwak Cheol-Ho. It meant that from this moment on, Kwak Cheol-Ho would be responsible for the most basic method of covering the team. The ce that Kang Chan pointed to for the next soldier was about six steps ahead of where Kwak Cheol-Ho was going to be positioned. Rustle. Rustle.? No matter how slowly the soldiers tried to walk, the dry leaves still made noise. The soldier exhaled visibly in the cold air, still not having reached his position. Huff. Huff.? The sharper Kang Chan¡¯s senses, the slower time seemed to flow. From the leaves that the soldier was stepping on, a star that suddenly twinkled, to a bird¡¯s cries that randomly came from the thick darkness¡ªKang Chan noticed it all. With his rifle aimed, Kang Chan sharply looked from side to side. Just as the soldier arrived at his position¡­ Whoosh.? A gunshot echoed from quite a distance away. When Kang Chan turned his head to look, he found sparks endlessly lighting up the dark from across the other side of the basin. Chapter 149: May luck be on your side (2)

Chapter 149: May luck be on your side (2)

Kang Chan quickly looked at Kwak Cheol-Ho. ¡®Please go!¡¯ The look in Kwak Cheol-Ho¡¯s eyes answered for him. However if they failed to properly position a sniper here, they would all be in danger. That was why Kang Chan took it upon himself to take charge of this area in the first ce. Whoosh! Swooosh! Pew! Pew! Swooosh! Sparks ignited like fireworks as tracer bullets darted back and forth between them and the enemies. They had discovered where the enemies were¡ªand there were a lot of them. Considering the gunfight started without Kang Chan¡¯s signal, it was likely caused by a unit from the South Korean special forces passing in front of the enemy¡¯s camp. Kang Chan nodded, then immediately moved. He was sixty meters away from the battle. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t run because it was still dark and he didn¡¯t know where the enemies were, but that didn¡¯t mean he could keep dawdling. Hence, he immediately made his way toward the fight as fast as he could without making any noise. The closer he was, the louder the gunshots became. With his rifle at the ready, he closed in further. ¡®I just have to find one!¡¯ Taking down one of the enemies would be enough to distract them. Whoosh! Whoosh! Seeing a red line flying toward the enemy from the top of the mountain, Kang Chan assumed that the sniper in Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s designated area had reached their position and began to open fire. Kang Chan gradually picked up his pace. Whoosh! Whoosh! Pew! Pew! Pew! Battles like this would never stop halfway through. In a situation like this, it was most likely that the enemies would decide to take the detour route so it was clear which way Kang Chan should be moving. Kang Chan was prepared to pull the trigger as soon as he found a target, no matter who it was. It was hard to avoid casualties now that they were the onespromised first. ¡°Huff. Huff.¡± Kang Chan felt the world slowing down again. His intuition had kicked in, which meant an enemy was nearby! Pew! Enemy soldiers rained down bullets on Kang Chan¡¯s troops, each one leaving a red trail in the air. Whooosh! Whoosh! Naturally, Kang Chan¡¯s troops fired back. He was now only around twenty meters away from the enemy¡¯s military headquarters. Neen, eighteen, seventeen, sixteen, fifteen meters¡­ Kang Chan saw a round shape between a tree and a rock. Two tiny parts of it were luminous, like an animal¡¯s eyes. nk! Soon, he heard the sound of the enemy¡¯s gun turning to the side. Whoosh! Bam! As the enemy looked behind him, the world quickly returned to its original speed. Pew! Pew! By the time two bullets flew toward Kang Chan, he was already on his stomach. Targeting where the sparks came from, he quickly pushed himself back to his feet with his left hand, then quickly turned to the right. Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! He was now in the enemy¡¯s camp. Bullets flew toward Kang Chan, determined to kill him at all costs. Pow! Pow! Pow! Trees and rocks exploded all around him. As they shattered, the noises they made sounded as if they were screaming for being unjustly shot at. It seemed the South Korean special forces were advancing as well, considering the sparksing from both sides kept getting closer and closer. Someone had to cover Kang Chan. Now matter how talented he was or how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t stand up without knowing the exact location of their enemies. Pew! Pow! Pew! Pew! Pow! Three soldiers approached his location and kept him under fire. Damn it! His best option in this situation was to escape, but the SBS wouldn¡¯t miss it if he recklessly exposed his back. Kang Chan gritted his teeth. Considering their numbers, one of them had to be covering fire. If that soldier was anywhere near Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s level, then Kang Chan would be shot in the forehead or neck if he tried to fire back twice. One¡­! Pew! Pew! However, before Kang Chan could count to two, a bullet flew toward where Kwak Cheol-Ho used to be. Pew! Bam! Kang Chan immediately stood up straight as soon as he heard someone getting shot. Pew! Pew! Thud! Kang Chan killed one of the three soldiers zoning in on him. Just a bitter and he would have had to face his opponents head-on like in Western movies. Crackle. ¡°The snipers have been deployed,¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho radioed in. As he did, bullets flew from above the mountain. With the South Korean special forces¡¯ snipers and soldiers delivering concentrated fire, the enemy¡¯s aggression evidently subsided. However, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t advance any further either. Even if his men kept their opponents under fire, their opponents could still shoot back. After some time, a faint light started to spread from the horizon. Swooosh! Swooosh! Every now and then, Kang Chan heard gunshots from the snipers. Now that the sun was rising, Kang Chan and his team basically won half of this battle. SWOOSH! Considering Kang Chan also heard sniper shots from the area Choi Jong-Il was in charge of, Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s team also had to be in the middle of a fight. ¡®Everything¡¯s going to be okay, right?¡¯ Kang Chan now had difficulty even imagining a life without Seok Kang-Ho. Kang Chan suddenly felt tired of fighting. Why am I doing all this bullshit? For what? What if I lose Seok Kang-Ho in the middle of all this? As the sky brightened¡­ Crackle. ¡°Two of my men are seriously injured. Cha Dong-Gyun, cover them.¡± Kang Chan heard Seok Kang-Ho grumbling on the radio. Crackle. ¡°Fuck! Get down here! Snipers, keep covering them!¡± Hearing the fucker swear on the walkie-talkie again made Kang Chan happy. Swooosh! Swooosh! The snipers faithfully carried out Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s orders. Five minutes passed. Crackle. ¡°The enemies are waving the white g. What should we do?¡± Choi Jong-Il radioed in. Kang Chan was in a predicament. He wasn¡¯t confident in his English, but he couldn¡¯t just pretend as if he didn¡¯t notice them. Crackle. ¡°Everyone on standby but keep your guard up. Snipers, prepare to cover me,¡± Kang Chan ordered, then slowly walked forward. The SBS waving the white g was a little suspicious, but Kang Chan doubted they would attack him after surrendering. A special forces team¡¯s honor could sometimes be more important than death. nk! The enemy that Kang Chan met had his rifle¡¯s muzzle aimed toward the sky. ¡°We want to speak with the God of ckfield.¡± They were speaking French. Although their pronunciation was bad, Kang Chan clearly understood what they meant. ¡°I¡¯m the God of ckfield,¡± Kang Chan said. Their enemy looked at Kang Chan suspiciously, then slowly raised his left hand and radioed someone. It was difficult for Kang Chan to understand what they were saying because they were speaking fast English. However, considering he heard ¡®God of ckfield¡¯ twice in the middle of the sentence, it sounded as if they were saying that the God of ckfield had appeared. Rustle. nk! nk! Seok Kang-Ho and two other soldiers squeezed their way through the forest and approached Kang Chan. ¡°What are those sons of bitches saying?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°They said they¡¯re looking for me.¡± As Seok Kang-Ho red at their enemy, seemingly about to shoot them at any moment, two men from the enemy¡¯s side revealed themselves. ¡°Are you the God of ckfield?¡± one of them asked Kang Chan in French. His pronunciation was poorer than Kim Mi-Young''s. ¡°Tell me what you want,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Can you speak a bit slower?¡± ¡°I said, ¡®tell me what you want.¡¯¡± The man looked to be around his mid-thirties and had a physique so firm it was like a gori¡¯s. ¡°Russia deceived us. We have already received an evacuation order from our country before this battle started. If it¡¯s okay with you, we would like to withdraw now.¡± What kind of bullshit is he talking about? Kang Chan cocked his head while fiercely ring at them. ¡°We have already asked for France¡¯s understanding through the DGSE. You have killed thirteen of our members and injured four of them. Our government has told us to tell you that they will visit you if the God of ckfield chooses to be considerate of our situation.¡± Kang Chan exhaled softly. Since they were fighting special forces who had trespassed into France¡¯s territory, the DGSE allowing them to retreat meant that Lanok had agreed to it. They didn¡¯t have to insist on fighting each other anymore. The gori frowned, seemingly perplexed. ¡°Is it true that you went to Switzend to destroy the Hadron Collider?¡± Kang Chan asked. The gori¡¯s cheek moved, seemingly gritting his teeth. ¡°God of ckfield, as soldiers, we only act asmanded. Even if we be captives, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re already aware that we still won¡¯t disclose our identities or any information about our orders. Hence, capturing us will only give France, the United Kingdom, and South Korea¡¯s Intelligence Bureau a problem to deal with.¡± The gori didn¡¯t avoid Kang Chan¡¯s eyes even a little. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s end the fight here, then. However, you must leave your helmets,¡± Kang Chan said. Showcasing the helmets of those who had surrendered was an old custom of the special forces team. This humiliated the surrenderees, but wasn¡¯t it only natural for the victor to take home a trophy for winning a battle that put their lives at risk? risking their lives? The helmets would be a gift for Jeon Dae-Geuk, Kim Hyung-Jung, Choi Seong-Geon, and all the soldiers who fought here. The gori red at Kang Chan as if he was going to kill him. He red for so long that his eyes turned bloodshot, but unfortunately for him, Kang Chan wasn¡¯t the type to back down from such a look. After about a minute, the gori nodded once, took off his helmet, and threw it in front of Kang Chan. Bam! That sound marked the end of their long battle. Bam! Bam! The enemies nearby also threw their helmets. *** After the SBS¡¯ surrender, Kang Chan told G¨¦rard their location through the satellite phone. They were about three hundred meters away from the basin. One of their members was shot in the thigh, and another was shot in the groin. The one that was shot just left of his groin was in especially bad shape. Hence, Kang Chan also told G¨¦rard to bring a medical team. Afterward, they injected morphine into the injured and waited for at least an hour before the medical team could reach them. Kang Chan positioned sentries and snipers all around them just in case. ¡°Can we smoke here?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked, and the members looked at Kang Chan with twinkling eyes. ¡°If you have any extra, give me one.¡± Most of the soldiers took out cigarettes. Chk chk! Chk chk! Chk chk! When a lighter lit up, around four men rushed toward it to light their cigarettes. Seok Kang-Ho lit up two and gave both to Kang Chan. ¡°Whoo!¡± Smoking made Kang Chan less nervous. The sunlight was blinding. In this beautiful scenery, they were forced to fight a battle to the death. Kang Chan felt tired of fights like this. After smoking, the five soldiers and two snipers sat against rocks and trees along with everyone except for those who had gone off to switch shifts. Kang Chan missed instant coffee, ramen, kimchi soup, and the hot rice that he ate at home. He also missed Kang Dae-Kyung, Yoo Hye-Sook, and Kim Mi-Young. He wanted to see the people who made all his battles worth it, the people he didn''t have a business or political dealings with, and the people who valued Kang Chan as much as he valued them. ¡°Let¡¯s go on a trip when we get back to South Korea,¡± Kang Chan said. Seok Kang-Ho, who was biting on his second cigarette to light it, looked at Kang Chan with an expression that said, ¡®What¡¯s he saying?¡¯ ¡°Whoo! Let¡¯s go. With you, I¡¯m willing to even go to hell,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said soon after. Smirking, Kang Chan bit on another cigarette. ¡°How many people have we killed so far?¡± What¡¯s wrong with this gentleman? Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan suspiciously. ¡°I¡¯m probably having absurd thoughts because of how scenic this mountain is,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°I think that¡¯s because you had to lead everyone throughout the entire operation. As I said, you seemed unusually sharper than ever. You¡¯re bound to feel the fatigue as soon as that sensation goes away. Let¡¯s rest when we get back to Seoul, then visit great ces and eat good food.¡± Kang Chan nodded. *** Kang Chan got on the helicopter and approached G¨¦rard, but they couldn¡¯t leave immediately because their injured had to get treated first. ¡°You guys are going to get surgery here. I¡¯ll take care of everything, including how you guys return home, so don¡¯t worry too much,¡± Kang Chan told them. ¡°Thank you.¡± The two looked as if they were trying hard to maintain a firm expression. After saying goodbye to the injured, who had to stay behind, the South Korean special forces team got on the cargo aircraft. They had cup ramen, c-rations, and instant coffee for breakfast. ¡°G¨¦rard, I¡¯m going to get some sleep,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Go ahead.¡± When Kang Chany down on the hospital bed, Seok Kang-Ho and the othersy down on their respective beds as well. Kang Chan quickly fell asleep, waking up only when the aircraft began itsnding at the United States¡¯ military base in Qatar. ¡°Phew!¡± Kang Chan felt as if he had just woken up from an extremely long dream. Seeing the soldiers sitting in front of him made his senses return to reality. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk. They all look proud. Cha Dong-Gyun went to the back and brought over bottled water. He opened the lid and poured it into Kang Chan¡¯s hand so that he could wash his face twice. Kang Chan then took the bottle and had a few sips. ¡°Would you like some coffee?¡± Cha Dong-Gyun asked Kang Chan. ¡°Why would the senior ask something like that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I like doing it and I¡¯m about to get a cup myself anyway.¡± Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s sharp eyes showed how happy he was. As Kang Chan nodded to Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s offer, Seok Kang-Ho woke up noisily. ¡°Ugh! Ugh! Why is my throat so dry?¡± Kang Chan poured water into Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s hands, and Seok Kang-Ho used it to wash his face. He then took the bottle and downed the water. ¡°Did I snore a lot?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I also slept soundly.¡± The others turned away and smiled, a clear indication that Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s snores were loud. As Cha Dong-Gyun brought over coffee, G¨¦rard also approached Kang Chan from the front of the ne. When Cha Dong-Gyun saw Seok Kang-Ho and G¨¦rard, he quickly headed to the back again. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho began drinking their cups of coffee. ¡°I heard the surgery went well. Their lives are not in danger anymore. The soldier who was shot in the groin won¡¯t have trouble making children either,¡± G¨¦rard told Kang Chan. Cha Dong-Gyun brought over two cups of coffee and handed one to G¨¦rard. ¡°G¨¦rard said that the surgeries of our injured went well and that they won¡¯t have trouble making children,¡± Kang Chan informed his team. The members were so happy that they pped. ¡°I have a favor to ask you,¡± G¨¦rard asked Kang Chan. ¡°What is it?¡± G¨¦rard handed over a cigarette to Kang Chan, then nced at Cha Dong-Gyun while taking out a lighter. ¡°Can I have one of the SBS¡¯ helmets?¡± Kang Chan lit up his cigarette, then stared at G¨¦rard. ¡°I¡±m going to consider it as a souvenir from you. Aren¡¯t people supposed to give a helmet to each member of the team that participated in the operation?¡± Kang Chan looked at G¨¦rard while cocking his head. He was right. If a team was joined by another in an operation, they were supposed to share the spoils of war with the team that acted as their backup. Word about this operation would definitely spread, which made Kang Chan concerned. Was it okay to spread rumors so publicly? Would G¨¦rard talk about Kang Chan to his team after getting a helmet? Kang Chan discretely turned his head to Cha Dong-Gyun, who was off to the side. ¡°G¨¦rard says that the Foreign Legion¡¯s special forces team wants a helmet. What should we do?¡± ¡°Well, what are we supposed to do in this situation?¡± ¡°We normally share the helmets with all the teams that went on the operation.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Cha Dong-Gyun sent a soldier a nce, who then opened a military crate and handed over a helmet. Cha Dong-Gyun brought it over, and G¨¦rard epted it. The two half-grown chicks shook hands while looking at each other. At that moment, the South Korean special forces team grew. They had just earned fame that couldn¡¯t be ignored. However, that came with the cost of more people looking forward to fighting them. Still, at the very least, they would no longer get pushed aside during joint training sessions just because of their name value. G¨¦rard gave Cha Dong-Gyun a thumbs up, then did the same to all of the soldiers. Getting injured seemed to have only made him better in showmanship. On the other hand, it could be some form of bond that those who liked Kang Chan shared. Ding. Ding. Ding. Lights flickered as the aircraft began to take off. ¡°Would you like to have some ramen?¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho asked. Don¡¯t these fuckers ever get sick and tired of ramen and coffee? ¡°We will have to buy instant coffee and ramen if we get to go on our next operation,¡± Choi Jong-Il joked. ¡°I¡¯m good, so you guys eat if you want,¡± Kang Chan said. The happiness that came from suffering no casualties was the best thing about returning home alive. However, if they kept lingering near muddy grounds, they were bound to be sttered with mud sooner orter. They could even fall in. For the special forces team, that could mean their death. Should I make them the best team in the world? ¡®Don¡¯t think about that.¡¯ Kang Chan shook his head. He wanted to spend some time away from fights like this. 1. This was written as ???? ?? (Nous voulons parler) which is a transliteration of ¡®we want to speak¡¯ in French 2. This was written as ¡®Je suis¡¯, which means ¡®I am¡¯ in French Chapter 150.1: I Missed You (1)

Chapter 150.1: I Missed You (1)

It was three-thirty on Sunday morning in Korean time. They were still thirty minutes away fromnding at the airfield in Osan, but not a single soldier was asleep. ¡°Should I take a short break in South Korea for a few days?¡± G¨¦rard asked jokingly. ¡°Is that even allowed?¡± Kang Chan said doubtfully. ¡°No. I would be staying in the country illegally,¡± G¨¦rard replied shamelessly, to which Kang Chan just smirked. ¡°Captain, can I stay in Korea after I get discharged?¡± What was up with this punk? Was he being serious? ¡°I still have about a year left. I¡¯m debating whether to request extending my service or get discharged. But to be honest, a battlefield without you, Cap, is just in boring.¡± ¡°Who in the world fights battles and puts their lives on the line just for fun?¡± Kang Chan asked in disbelief. ¡°I do.¡± G¨¦rard sounded serious. ¡°I¡¯ve been lonely my whole life. However, after meeting, fighting beside, and lounging around in the barracks with you, I noticed I wasn¡¯t lonely anymore. I was having fun.¡± G¨¦rard sighed loudly. ¡°Unlike you, Cap, I couldn¡¯t even properly save the little newborn chicks. Every time I lost one, I wondered what my reason was for living. However, seeing the looks on the faces of the South Korean special forces made me realize that I want toplete an operation as proudly as they did,¡± he said as he nced at the soldiers. The soldiers looked between G¨¦rard and Kang Chan curiously, unable to understand them since they were speaking in French. ¡°At least half of the famous Foreign Legion¡¯s special forces team would have died if the Spetsnazunched a surprise attack on us. The SBS was there too¡­ Even so, not a single one of you died. When I return to our barracks, I¡¯ll find myself among little chicks with bandanas and berets on their heads again. They¡¯ll be attempting to mimic you by practicing their smirks and suddenly aiming their rifles as they walk. It¡¯s a sight for sore eyes! Argh!¡± G¨¦rard grumbled in disgust as he shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not confident that I can rescue those punks.¡± Kang Chan understood a bit of what G¨¦rard was feeling. The little punk was overburdened by the responsibility on his shoulders. If he could sessfully get through this alive, he would be a force to be reckoned with. If not, then he would be a corpse. ¡°Come over to Korea if you ever feel lonely.¡± Kang Chan grinned. G¨¦rard, who was looking down at the ground, raised his head up. ¡°I and Dayeru¡­ We all joined the Foreign Legion because we were lonely. So if the day everes when you feel like you¡¯re alone, hop on a ne to Korea. Heck, you can even join the South Korean special forces,¡± Kang Chan said in an easygoing tone. ¡°Will you be there too, Cap?¡± ¡°Maybe I will, maybe I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m stilling!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying.¡± Kang Chan smirked. G¨¦rard smiled happily. ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± Seok Kang-Ho suddenly jumped in, curiosity getting the best of him. Kang Chan exined their conversation to him. Kang Chan thought Seok Kang-Ho wouldin about the proposition, but much to his surprise, Seok Kang-Ho nodded and patted G¨¦rard on the shoulders. ¡°Come on over anytime. This big brother of yours will teach you the proper ways of life,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. His tone was warm, but the meaning behind his words seemed strange. ¡°What¡¯s this guy saying?¡± G¨¦rard asked with a hint of displeasure. Sigh. It¡¯s never easy when these two are put together. And with Smithen added to the mix¡­ Kang Chan suddenly felt as if he had just made a big, big mistake. A series of three short sounds echoed throughout the ne, signaling the men that they had arrived at Osan. The moment they were signaled that they would bending soon, the soldiers began to feel excited. Whoosh! The ne¡¯s engines preparing fornding sounded as if home was calling out to them. R-R-Rumble. However, thending was horribly rough! It was currently ten past four in the morning. The doors of the ne opened, revealing anding strip shrouded in darkness. The soldiers all got up and began to collect their things. Just then, G¨¦rard saluted Kang Chan from the entrance, and Kang Chan turned around and reciprocated it. However, G¨¦rard wasn¡¯t finished. With the helmet of the SBS held to his side, he saluted the soldiers who were stepping off the ne, sending respect from one special force soldier to another. Cha Dong-Gyun, Choi Jong-Il, and Kwak Cheol-Ho got off the ne and saluted back in return. ¡°Those punks could be trouble in the future,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said as he saw the prideful look in the three men¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let them be. They should know what it¡¯s like to relish in their victories too,¡± Kang Chan replied. Seok Kang-Ho nodded in agreement. A tourist bus with all of its lights turned off approached the ne on thending strip. Kang Chan realized that they were all still wearing military uniforms when he saw thest soldier descend from the ne holding his and Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s clothes. Kang Chan was thest to step on thending strip. With the soldiers climbing onto the bus, he nced back at the ne. It would most likely refuel and fly straight to France from here. He felt sorry for G¨¦rard. The chick would feel bored the entire trip back, but the time hade for everyone to return to their respective positions. There was nothing Kang Chan could do for him. ¡®Have a safe flight.¡¯ Kang Chan nodded in G¨¦rard¡¯s direction to bid him farewell, then climbed on the bus himself. He sat in the front seat. The bus only turned its lights back on once it had gone past the barricades at the exit. They passed by a small intersection, took a left turn, and drove past arge intersection with traffic signals. They now just had to turn left at the next intersection, and the path they were on would eventually merge with roads that civilians drove on as well. However, the bus unexpectedly took a right and stopped instead. On the road were two sedans and two vans. They seemed to have been waiting for the bus. The doors to the van opened under the illumination of the streetlight, and three people stepped out. Swoosh.? Kang Chan immediately got off the bus. ¡°Kang Chan!¡± It was Jeon Dae-Geuk. The old man seemed to have taken up a bad habit of getting around to ces with bandages still wrapped around him. Kim Hyung-Jung, who was right behind him, wasn¡¯t any better. Kim Tae-Jin, the healthiest and most intact of the three, stood furthest at the back. A French agent also stepped out of the van. He held his hands together in front of him as he waited for Kang Chan. ¡°Thank you.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk put a hand on Kang Chan¡¯s shoulders with mixed emotions in his eyes. ¡°Mr. Seok!¡± he addressed next, holding out his hand. Turning his head, Kang Chan saw Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee had also gotten off the bus. ¡°Why don¡¯t we all have breakfast together, just us?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked. ¡°Sounds fine. We should send the van off first, though,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Understood. You should go say goodbye to the soldiers too,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk suggested. Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s do it together,¡± Kang Chan said to the others. They had just stepped off the bus, but it was only right to bid the soldiers farewell. Leading Seok Kang-Ho, Choi Jong-Il, and the others, Kang Chan returned to the bus. ¡°We¡¯ll be parting ways here,¡± Kang Chan dered. The soldiers all pressed their lips together as they looked back at him. The looks in their eyes were definitely different from before this operation. ¡°Good work, all of you. I¡¯m d you all came back alive. Whatever mission you go on next, always keep this operation in your heads.¡± ¡°Attention!¡± Cha Dong-Gyun shouted firmly, and the soldiers all shuffled in position. ¡°Salute!¡± Thud.? Kang Chan looked at all the soldiers inside the bus, then saluted back. It was a great relief that they had alle back alive. When Kang Chan dropped his hand, Cha Dong-Gyun shouted, ¡°At ease!¡± The floor of the bus rumbled once more. Lee Doo-Hee received their clothes, and the bus left immediately after. Kang Chan turned to the French agent who was waiting in front of the van. ¡°I¡¯ll travel with these men, so you can leave first,¡± Kang Chan informed him. ¡°The ambassador is awaiting your call,¡± the agent stated. ¡°Right now?¡± Kang Chan asked in surprise. It was already four-thirty in the morning. Kang Chan took the phone that the agent handed him. ¡°Mr. Ambassador!¡± he greeted. -Mr. Kang Chan, that was a brilliant operation.? The snake kept slyly using his emotions to move Kang Chan¡¯s heart. ¡°Some people waited for me today, so I need to have breakfast with them. I¡¯ll give you another call when I¡¯m back in Seoul,¡± Kang Chan told him. -Ah! What a shame. I only have time for breakfast today. Lanok¡¯s regretful tone was delivered over the phone. -Top officials from two African countries are visiting South Korea, so I cannot miss it. I will call you once I¡¯m finished with my business. ¡°Got it. If it¡¯s okay with you, I¡¯ll meet with you even if it¡¯ste at night,¡± Kang Chan said. -Mr. Kang Chan.? Kang Chan sensed that Lanok was about to thank him, so he quickly spoke first. ¡°Mr. Ambassador. This aplishment was only possible because you were standing guard behind my back. Let¡¯s continue this conversation when we meet in person, sir,¡± Kang Chan respectfully stated. The call ended with Lanok¡¯sughter. After sending the French agent off with the van, Kang Chan returned to the group and left immediately. Kim Tae-Jin and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s party took one car, and Jeon Dae-Geuk, Kang Chan, and Seok Kang-Ho got in the car that Kim Hyung-Jung drove. Kang Chan sat behind the passenger seat. Jeon Dae-Geuk, who was next to him, used his left hand to softly shake Kang Chan¡¯s right hand. It made Kang Chan feel shy, but it also clearly conveyed to him Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s emotions. Since it warmed a part of his heart, he didn¡¯t say anything about it. Chapter 150.2: I Missed You (1)

Chapter 150.2: I Missed You (1)

Kim Hyung-Jung took them to a two-story western-style house somewhere in Hannam-Dong. The car entered through the side door that was built on the wall next to the main entrance. ¡°This is one of the safe houses of the NIS. The director specially gave orders to prepare your breakfast here, Mr. Kang Chan. I¡¯ve never been here myself either,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung informed them. He then stepped off the car. The front yard had parking space for about four sedans, but the house itself wasn¡¯t that fancy orrge in scale. Aside from the two men who appeared to be agents standing outside, the entrance and living room were no different from any other family house. Once they had settled in the sofas, an agent brought out ashtrays and coffees for them. ¡°You can get some sleep in the room if you¡¯re tired as well,¡± the agent offered. ¡°Thank you, but we slept soundly on the ne,¡± Kang Chan responded politely. Jeon Dae-Geuk offered Kang Chan a cigarette. ¡°Go ahead and take it! I hate the smell of smoke, but I hate it even more when people leave to just to smoke when I¡¯m around,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk grumbled. Kang Chan let out a light chuckle because Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s eyes were zing with the desire to listen to what happened during the operation. ¡°Please wait for just a moment. I¡¯lle back after a short smoke with Manager Kim,¡± Kang Chan said, not intending to smoke in front of Jeon Dae-Geuk. When Kim Tae-Jin agreed and Kim Hyung-Jung got up as well, Jeon Dae-Geuk openly showed a dissatisfied but resigned expression. *** ¡°Hey! Are all the preparations done?¡± Choi Seong-Geon shouted a little anxiously. His aide couldn¡¯t suppress his grin. ¡°General, you have already checked if breakfast is ready ten times,¡± the aide said with a smile. Choi Seong-Geon scowled at his aide, then picked up a cigarette. He had been standing in front of the barracks since five, but he felt as if time was taking forever to flow. ¡°Then what about¡ª!¡± ¡°Three kinds of soups, ten kinds of side dishes. We have also prepared fried pork, beef bulgogi, and rice in servings of more than half of usual,¡± his aide swiftly replied, cutting him off because he already knew what Choi Seong-Geon was going to ask. ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Choi Seong-Geon grouched as he nced at the entrance out of habit. ¡°Whew!¡± He let out a long sigh as he looked up at the dark night sky. The punks had all managed to survive. Two of them had had to undergo surgeries, but he had been assured that they were far from death¡¯s doors. They did not juste back from any mission. They were up against the Spetsnaz and the SBS, yet they managed to not only survive but return home with victory in tow. Just the mere thought of it sent shivers down his spine. He had muttered to himself at least a hundred times that he had done well to stay in the field. Choi Seong-Geon had already given up the opportunity to be promoted twice. Every time he did, his colleagues murmured that he had probably already gone mad, and his wife argued with him asking if he was intentionally staying in the field because he didn¡¯t want to see her. However, they were all wrong. The reason behind his decision was solely because he could not bring himself to leave his cherished subordinates. They were so special to him that he treated them as if they were of his own blood. From winter training, summer training, and joint exercises with foreign teams¡­ they had put all those time into harsh training in hopes that the day woulde when the men would be able to spread their wings. Choi Seong-Geon had been determined to make that happen. Throughout those times of hardships, Cha Dong-Gyun became first lieutenant, and Kwak Cheol-Ho became second lieutenant. Other soldiers were also promoted, but they were all at a standstill because they could not go on operations. ¡®The bus didn¡¯t crash on the way here, did it?¡¯ Choi Seong-Geon shook his head. Why was he bing so timid and nervous? Swoosh! Choi Seong-Geon suddenly whipped his head around to look at the entrance, finding a light traveling through the mountains. ¡®Are they here? Have they finally arrived?¡¯?he wondered to himself as the bus began to drive into view. Choi Seong-Geon felt the tension in his body immediately ease up. The bus stopped in front of the barracks with a light jerk. Whoosh.? The doors slid open. Cha Dong-Gyun was the first to step off the vehicle. The look in his eyes was truly a sight to see. Choi Seong-Geon had always dreamed of seeing the special forces team have such a prideful look in their eyes. Cha Dong-Gyun and the rest of the soldiers now had the same gaze as the ones that famous special forces teams from other countries had. ¡°Attention!¡± Cha Dong-Gyun shouted. Swoosh! ¡°Salute!¡± Cha Dong-Gyunmanded again. Fwoosh! Choi Seong-Geon gritted his teeth as he looked at the soldiers. He then lifted his hand to his brows, returning the salute. When he put his hand down, Cha Dong-Gyun gave the order to stand at ease. These wonderful little punks! As Choi Seong-Geon took in a deep breath to calm himself down, one of the soldiers quickly handed Cha Dong-Gyun a helmet, which Cha Dong-Gyun then gave to the confused-looking Choi Seong-Geon. ¡°It¡¯s a helmet from the SBS, sir!¡± Cha Dong-Gyun confidently announced. Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s jaw dropped open as his eyes widened. ¡°We obtained a total of five helmets. We gave one to the Foreign Legion¡¯s special forces, who came to back us up, but we have returned with the remaining four helmets!¡± Cha Dong-Gyun exined proudly. Choi Seong-Geon lifted his gaze from the helmet to look at Cha Dong-Gyun. ¡°The SBS truly did surrender, sir. Of their twenty-seven members, we killed thirteen and critically injured four others. Additionally, we also heard that the Spetsnaz returned with only four of their members alive!¡± Choi Seong-Geon intentionally looked away from him and turned to the faraway sky. The symbol of the unbelievable achievement and the work he had dedicated his entire life to was in his hands. However, he was a general who was in charge of the special forces. It was part of his duty not to reveal his emotions in front of his soldiers. Choi Seong-Geon gritted his teeth and controlled his facial expressions. Once he was confident he could pretend that he was fine, he turned back to Cha Dong-Gyun. ¡°Soldiers, at ease,¡± Choi Seong-Geonmanded. Cha Dong-Gyun spun around and repeated the same order, then leisurely turned back. ¡°Have a smoke. Afterward, let¡¯s have breakfast,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Cha Dong-Gyun responded in a more rxed tone than he did earlier. Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s aide was about to carry the helmet for Choi Seong-Geon but paused in his steps when he saw Choi Seong-Geon tightly holding the helmet to his side. Choi Seong-Geon looked like he was crying. *** Although they had already finished breakfast, it was still six-thirty in the morning. Kang Chan wasn¡¯t the type to chat about and revisit what happened in operations, but since Choi Jong-Il had no other choice but to report to his superior officers even if they were retired, Kang Chan was left with no other option as well. Did they call us here so we could have breakfast together or did they just want to hear stories? Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s eyes and ears were focused solely on Choi Jong-Il. It made him seem like an old countryman listening to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms for the first time. He became so excited when the story reached the part where they took the helmets from the SBS that he ended up spilling his the water in his cup. Nevertheless, the atmosphere remained buzzed. After breakfast and drinking tea, they had fruit for dessert after. ¡°What is your schedule like today?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°My parents are in Jeju Ind, so I was thinking of heading there and heading back to Seoul with them in the evening,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°You still have it in you to get on another ne?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked in shock. Seok Kang-Ho also looked surprised, but Kang Chan wasn¡¯t that tired. Moreover, he strangely missed Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Do you know where they are?¡± ¡°Of course. The agents are always within their vicinity, so we can even contact them now. Given the time, they are most likely at their hotel right now.¡± Noticing Kang Chan¡¯s expression, Kim Hyung-Jung quickly picked up his phone. *** Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook began to pack their belongings as soon as they woke up. ¡°This has been a really nice trip. I¡¯m really thankful to our son,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung remarked. ¡°Really? I feel like I don¡¯t have any strength because he¡¯s not here, honey. I feel a little bad for him too,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°This was a present from Channy. If we¡¯re happy, I¡¯m sure Channy will be happy too. Since we all promised to travel together next time anyway, let¡¯s just think of this as a nice experience instead.¡± ¡°Okay, I will. But the room is too big for just the two of us, don¡¯t you think? This was probably expensive.¡± ¡°There you go again,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung jokingly said. Yoo Hye-Sook sat down and stopped putting her things in her luggage, and Kang Dae-Kyung patted her on the shoulders from behind. ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast. We can eat, have some tea, and head straight to the airport afterward to catch our flight on time.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook sighed and closed her suitcase. Just then, the sound of a helicopter chopping loudly began to make the windows of their room shake. ¡°Honey! Do helicopterse to hotels too?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked in surprise. ¡°I suppose top hotels usually havending strips for helicopters, but this is my first time seeing a helicopter actually fly over,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung answered in amazement. As Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook watched from the window, they could see hotel staff members standing outside as they waited for the helicopter tond. It was so far away that they could only see faint shapes. ¡°It must be an important person!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. ¡°It could also just be someone busy.¡± People who were out on walks were all watching the fascinating sight. When a man stepped off the helicopter, the hotel staff members greeted him. ¡°Honey, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because I miss our son, but he resembles Channy,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said yearningly. ¡°Goodness, dear. You¡¯ll be able to see him when we fly back in the evening, madam,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung replied with amusement. He embraced Yoo Hye-Sook around the shoulders as sheughed, knowing it was a stretch. ¡°It¡¯s nine. We should have breakfast now,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. Yoo Hye-Sook nodded. When the man who had gotten off of the helicopter entered the building, the helicopter lifted off again and flew over the sea. Chapter 151.1: I missed you (2)

Chapter 151.1: I missed you (2)

Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook left their hotel room, got on the elevator, and got off on the first floor lobby. The swimming pool and the gym were to the right of the lobby, and the buffet restaurant was to the left. They had a free pass that the hotel offered to guests, so they had actually already eaten breakfast at the buffet yesterday. Their nended at the hotel on Friday night. Yoo Hye-Sook grumbled that they would not be able to get their money¡¯s worth if they stayed in their room for too long, so they headed out early on Saturday morning. However, theplicatedyout of the hotel caught them by surprise. Hence, today, they decided to take their time leaving the room. Now that they were already familiar with some of the areas, they leisurely walked past the hallway, then turned left toward the buffet restaurant. They just had to confirm the guest list at the information desk, and they would be able to head inside without trouble. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook had been in the midst of turning around when they stopped dead in their tracks. Unable to move, all they could do was stare nkly at the person before them. ¡°I tried calling your hotel room, but since no one answered, I came over instead.¡± ¡°Channy?¡± Kang Chan was right in front of them, wearing a ck suit and a shirt. Smiling brightly, he approached his parents. ¡°You should have breakfast first,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°When did you get here?¡± ¡°A little while ago.¡± Four of the hotel staff quickly came over and prepared a table for them. ¡°What happened?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook did nothing but stare at Kang Chan. It was as if she hadpletely forgotten that they came down to eat. ¡°Honey, Channy has to be hungry. Why don¡¯t we talk over breakfast?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung interjected. ¡°Ah, right! What¡¯s wrong with me? Quickly now, let¡¯s eat.¡± Kang Chan was left with no other choice but to have breakfast again. Nevertheless, he was happy to see Kang Dae-Kyung, who gave him a knowing look, and Yoo Hye-Sook, who looked both happy and surprised. ¡°We got herest Friday. It would have been really nice if you could join us on this getaway,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. She quickly changed her expression when Kang Dae-Kyung gave her a nce and cleared his throat. ¡°Still, thanks to you, we got to see a lot of amazing sceneries,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook added. As he smiled, Kang Chan subtly gestured at Kang Dae-Kyung, thanking him. ¡°Can the two of you head homete today?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Today? Our flight is at one o¡¯clock this afternoon.¡± ¡°I can change that. If the two of you are okay with it, we can head home togetherter in the evening.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung met Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s eyes for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do that. We can leave our luggage with the hotel until our flight.¡± ¡°Channy, try this. Eat this as well,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. The point of a buffet was that customers could eat as much of their favorite food on the menu as they wanted. However, Yoo Hye-Sook just kept filling Kang Chan¡¯s te with different dishes. Kang Chan had no choice but to force himself to eat. After about an hour, they ended their meal with cups of tea. ¡°Let¡¯s go to our hotel room and grab our luggage,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°Those can be left in the room¡ªI asked the hotel to keep them there.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to pay more fees?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Kang Chan with a puzzled expression; his expression soon turned strange. ¡°Let¡¯s go. There¡¯s a ce that I want to go with the two of you,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Where are we going, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I have a surprise prepared for you both.¡± Kang Chan left the restaurant and walked past the lobby with his parents. Standing in front of the entrance of the hotel, they noticed a taxi, a rental car, a private car, and a white limousine parked before them. As Kang Chan walked onward, the employee standing in front of the limousine opened the door. ¡°After you, Mother.¡± ¡°Oh my!¡± In front of the people who were tantly looking at them, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook got on the limousine. They both looked dazed. Bam. As soon as Kang Chan sat across from his parents, the employee closed the door and drove off. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. Naturally, they weren¡¯t asking that question because they didn¡¯t know that they were in a limousine. ¡°This is the beginning of the surprise I have for you.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung gave Kang Chan a look that seemed to say, ¡®Aren¡¯t you overdoing it?¡¯ However, Kang Chan still seemed amused by Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s reaction. ¡°Where is this limousine taking us?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smile brightly. She looked exactly like Kim Mi-Young. ¡°I¡¯m happier that I get to be with my son than I am about the limousine ride.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Kang Chan really missed this moment. Jeju ind and the limousine aside, he had sincerely hoped for a moment when he could be with his parents like this. Yoo Hye-Sook was looking outside with a curious expression when the limousine stopped. ¡°Are we getting out of the limousine here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Unlike Yoo Hye-Sook, who was flustered and excited, Kang Dae-Kyung had a mischievous expression on his face. He appeared to be thinking, ¡®What is that kid trying to do this time?¡¯ However, he soon began to look flustered as well. ¡°Getting to serve all of you is an honor.¡± It seemed even Kang Dae-Kyung didn¡¯t expect the yacht with five employees in uniforms lined up in front of it. Dumbfounded by the n, he eventually burst out withughter. Kang Chan¡¯s parents kept checking and asking him multiple times if they were in the right ce. After a while, they finally boarded it. Only then did the yacht set sail toward the sea. The yacht was fairlyrge. It hadfortable chairs at the back and sophisticated decorations inside. The interior was so elegant that it reminded them of a fancy restaurant. The three sat outside the yacht. The female employee brought over champagne and filled their sses. ¡°Alright! Since Channy has gone through all the trouble to surprise us, let¡¯s enjoy this gift to our heart¡¯s content! Thank you, Channy.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung held his ss out for a toast, and Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Chan clinked theirs with it. Clink! The long and narrow sses rang clearly when they clinked together. ¡°This is good!¡± Yoo Hye-Sookplimented. If she knew the cost of the champagne, she never would have said that. Kang Dae-Kyung seemed aware that it was expensive, but he didn¡¯tin. Strangely, Yoo Hye-Sook kept checking Kang Dae-Kyung and Kang Chan¡¯s moods. ¡°Mother, do you want another ss of champagne?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Can I have another one?¡± When Kang Chan looked at an employee, a female employee quickly approached them and filled up Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s ss. The sky was clear, the sunlight was warm, and the blue sea was brilliantly glinting. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m so happy!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said as if she was talking to herself. As Kang Dae-Kyung started massaging her shoulders, the yacht stopped. Not long after, the captain brought them three fishing rods. Kang Chan put his fishing rod down and stayed near Yoo Hye-Sook, who had already caught a fish. The employee helped her collect the fish and put another bait on her hook. ¡°Oh my! I think I just caught another fish!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. She was catching so many fish that it was fascinating. ¡°You seem to have amazing luck when ites to fishing, madam!¡± Even the employee looked surprised. It looked like Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t hear them because she was too distracted by the fish. They spent two hours fishing. ¡°Phew! This is so much fun.¡± Smiling brightly, Yoo Hye-Sook wiped her hands on a wet towel and sat on a chair. An employee cleanly sliced the raw fish that they had caught a little while ago and brought it to them along with side dishes such as abalone and sea cucumber. ¡°Mmm!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t have to exaggerate her exmation since it really tasted amazing even for Kang Chan, who was full. They rested for a bit, then returned to where they first got on the yacht. The three got on the limousine that had been waiting for them and dropped by the ss park, which Kang Chan¡¯s parents couldn¡¯t go to yesterday. They then had abalone bibimbap in a hot stone pot and sea urchin soup for lunch. Afterward, for the first time, they took a photo together. His parents had likely done this before, but this was Kang Chan¡¯s first time taking photos with them since he reincarnated. With the sea as their background, they took a photo with all three of them. Afterward, Kang Chan took a photo with Yoo Hye-Sook, then with Kang Dae-Kyung. It was a luxurious day, but Kang Chan just thought of it as a present to himself. It was actually Kim Hyung-Jung that had prepared all of this. Kang Chan didn¡¯t exactly know who was paying or how much everything cost. He just wanted to leisurely enjoy this moment. At around four in the afternoon, they ate what was said to be the most famous melon bingsu on Jeju Ind. By then, Yoo Hye-Sook already looked tired. Taking a yacht out to sea and fishing seemed to have exhausted her. ¡°When¡¯s our flight, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked after finishing her bowl of bingsu. She seemed to be saying that she now wanted to go home and rest. ¡°Want to head back to Seoul now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Can we go?¡± Kang Chan realized that Yoo Hye-Sook was pretty and that he felt thankful toward her. He felt grateful to have a mother who was so considerate of him that she was afraid telling him she wanted to go home would hurt him because he made time for them for the first time in so long. He was also grateful to have a father who pushed down his curiosity and surprise so he could pretend to be calm at all times. ¡°We should be just in time for our flight if we head back now,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Yeah?¡± The three returned to the hotel and dropped by their hotel room to brush their teeth. Afterward, they headed out again. The limousine took them to the airport. As soon as they arrived, an employee who had been waiting for them greeted Kang Chan. ¡°Do you have our ne tickets?¡± Kang Chan asked the employee. ¡°It should be ready.¡± They headed deeper into the airport until they reached the runway where the private ne Kang Chan had ready for them was waiting. Yoo Hye-Sook looked like she was at a loss for words. Meanwhile, Kang Dae-Kyung burst out withughter. ¡°Let¡¯s go! This is a part of Channy¡¯s surprise for us,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. They calmed the startled Yoo Hye-Sook before they all boarded the ne. As soon as they were in, the ne took off. ¡°Was it you who flew to the hotel on a helicopter this morning, by any chance?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung whispered to Kang Chan. ¡°You saw that?¡± ¡°Phuhuhu,¡± Kang Dae-Kyungughed again, finding Kang Chan¡¯s answer funny. ¡°There isn¡¯t more to this, is there? We¡¯re not moving to a mansion or anything like that, right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked again. Kang Chan alsoughed loudly¡ªwhich he hadn¡¯t done in a long time¡ªat Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s joke. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°We¡¯re talking about secrets that are strictly for men only,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung responded. ¡°You always tease me!¡± Even without the yacht, the private ne, and other luxuries, Yoo Hye-Sook would have still been happy to see Kang Chan. Chapter 151.2: I missed you (2)

Chapter 151.2: I missed you (2)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kang Chan and his parents got off the ne at the Gimpo airport and arrived home at around eight in the evening. ¡°What would you like to have for dinner?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Kang Chan asked his parents. They were all still full. ¡°Should we just have fruitster?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Sure, Mother.¡± While his parents were unpacking their luggage, Kang Chan took a shower. He wouldn¡¯t trade thisfort for anything. After showering, Kang Chan went into his room andy down on his bed. He didn¡¯t feel that tired, but he still ended up falling sound asleep. Creak. Checking in on Kang Chan, Yoo Hye-Sook looked at him with an expression that clearly showed how bad she felt for him. ¡°Is he asleep?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung stood behind Yoo Hye-Sook. His expression wasn¡¯t any different from hers. Yoo Hye-Sook quietly approached Kang Chan and gently put a nket over him. ¡°He must have been very tired,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookmented. ¡°He did look exhausted. He was probably forcing himself to keep going even though he was struggling.¡± Tears threatened to fall from Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s eyes. As she bit on her lower lip to stop herself from crying, Kang Dae-Kyung hugged her around her shoulders. ¡°He was very upset that he couldn¡¯t go on the trip with us. He was also worried that you wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy the trip.¡± ¡°How hard must all of this be for a kid, honey?¡± ¡°Now, our job is to silently support him. Let¡¯s make sure he knows we¡¯re in his corner before he leaves, so that he knows he cane to us whenever he¡¯s having a hard time resting.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook nodded. ¡°Did the trip make you happy?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Of course! It was the best trip I have ever been on, and it¡¯s all thanks to Channy.¡± The two smiled, seemingly satisfied. *** Kang Chan woke up around the same time he normally did. His mind waspletely nk¡ªalmost as if he had just woken up after drinking the night away¡ªand he could no longer feel any of the fatigue that had been umting in him. Kang Chan stood up while tousling his hair, put on his workout clothes, and went outside. ¡°Whoo!¡± The morning air here was nothingpared to the fresh air in Switzend, but he still enjoyed the peculiar freshness that came with it. ¡°Good morning.¡± Kang Chan, who had been warming up, burst out withughter. Choi Jong-Il was approaching him with a small water bottle. ¡°You should rest!¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I got enough rest already.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t your family say anything? Don¡¯t you have a child?¡± ¡°I met my wife at the 606.¡± Kang Chan smiled dumbfoundedly. After taking a sip of water, he ran with Choi Jong-Il. It was great to be alive. Kang Chan felt as if he was being recharged whenever he extended his leg. He didn¡¯t speed up not because of Choi Jong-Il but because he didn¡¯t want to overexert himself. They ran in a circle for ten kilometers, then stopped at the entrance of the apartment. ¡°Haah. Haah.¡± Kang Chan caught his breath with Choi Jong-Il, drank water, then did simple exercises that did not require any equipment. ¡°Where are you going to wash up?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°There¡¯s a sauna at a nearby shopping center.¡± ¡°What about breakfast?¡± Choi Jong-Il smiled as if he found him funny. ¡°I¡¯m going home,¡± Kang Chan said. Smiling, he walked toward the entrance of the apartment. ¡°Channy! You should¡¯ve rested today. Phew, look at all that sweat!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten enough sleep anyway. And running actually made me feel more rxed.¡± ¡°Go take a shower quickly.¡± He smelled kimchi soup¡ªa spicy soup made with aged kimchi, bean sprouts, and tofu. It hadn¡¯t even been a few days yet, but he already felt at home again. Kang Chan sat at the table after showering. Kang Dae-Kyung, who seemed to have also taken a shower before he did, sat at the table as well. ¡°Did you get enough exercise today?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes. I havepletely gotten rid of my fatigue.¡± After Yoo Hye-Sook put the soup on the table and sat down, the three began to eat. Kang Chan liked the soup as much as anything that he ate at Jeju Ind. After having breakfast, Kang Chan stayed in the living room while his parents changed. Kang Dae-Kyung always tuned in to the news channel on TV until it was time to go to work. Currently, the news revolved mainly around the expected visit of the Russian president to South Korea. It continued with the hopeful news about the probability of an adjustment to the limit of the number of fish that South Korea could catch, which the country had been requesting for some time now. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked, havinge out to the living room before Yoo Hye-Sook. He nced at the master bedroom, seemingly hoping that Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t hear what he was saying. Kang Chan didn¡¯t understand what he meant. ¡°The look in your eyes makes me think you¡¯recking strength.¡± ¡°I¡¯m probably just tired. I can¡¯t feel anything wrong with me right now, so I don¡¯t know why my eyes look like that.¡± ¡°Well, it does. I feel bad for you.¡± As Kang Dae-Kyung patted Kang Chan¡¯s shoulder, Yoo Hye-Sook came out to the living room. After they exchanged a few words, Kang Chan turned off the TV, sent off his parents, and went into his room. Some people were waiting for Kang Chan to contact them. Kang Chan called Lanok first and set up an appointment with him. He then called Kim Hyung-Jung. While talking to her, he decided to visit the office at Samseong-dong after his meeting with Lanok. His appointment with Lanok was at two in the afternoon in the Namsan Hotel, so he still had some time to spare. ¡®Now that I¡¯m done making appointments, it¡¯s about time I ask someone about the school festival so I can help.¡¯? Toply with Kim Mi-Young¡¯s request, Kang Chan had to first figure out what on earth the people at the festival wanted. Kang Chan eventually decided that it would be best to meet Heo Eun-Sil and Lee Ho-Jun. I still have time before my meeting with Lanok. Since it¡¯s Monday, should I go to school? While I¡¯m there, I might as well have lunch at the school cafeteria with Kim Mi-Young. I¡¯m going to need my school uniform for that, though¡­ Damn it! Since the students had lunch at around noon, he would have to make his way to the hotel as soon as he was done eating. That would mean he would still be in his school uniform by the time Joo Chul-Bum greeted him and Lanok met with him. As Kang Chan smacked his lips, his phone rang. ¡°Hello?¡± - Are you busy? ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you to call me. Let¡¯s go get some coffee.¡± - Phuhuhu. Come out here, then. ¡°Where are you?¡± - I¡¯m parked right in front of your house. Kang Chan quickly put on his suit and went outside. He and Seok Kang-Ho had really great chemistry. As soon as Kang Chan got in the car, Seok Kang-Ho drove to Misari. Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan. ¡°My father talked about my eyes. Are my eyes still glinting?¡± Kang Chan asked. Seok Kang-Ho looked as if he was about to say, ¡®Obviously.¡¯ ¡°I asked how it looks.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan again, then frowned. ¡°Honestly, you look like you¡¯re forcing yourself to endure everything despite being full of spite.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. It would perfectly match the look in your eyes if you pick up a knife.¡± ¡°My eyes can¡¯t look that bad. They¡¯re probably just fiercer.¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not thinking that way because you¡¯ve grown even sharper? Maybe you look the same to those around you even after your eyes calmed down because the amount of spite that you were filled with was excessively higher than normal.¡± Kang Chan looked outside the window. Nobody died during hisst operation. Rather, they actually yielded great results from it. So why was he like this? He remained the same as he boarded the ne and the helicopter that Kim Hyung-Jung had prepared for him. And even though he enjoyed the yacht trip to his heart¡¯s content, he was still somehow full of spite by the time he returned home. They ordered coffee and started smoking as soon as they arrived at their destination. ¡°I¡¯m meeting Ambassador Lanok at two o¡¯clock this afternoon. After that, I¡¯ll visit manager Kim at his office.¡± ¡°I saw the news about people going crazy because the President of Russia will be visiting South Korea.¡± ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ll probably hear about that from Manager Kim himself.¡± After talking about a couple more topics, Kang Chan also told Seok Kang-Ho about the favor that Kim Mi-Young had asked him to do. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going to school tomorrow,¡± Kang Chanmented afterward. Seok Kang-Ho grinned at Kang Chan. ¡°Your face rxes a bit when you¡¯re talking about Mi-Young.¡± ¡°It does?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Kang Chan confessed how he felt when she held his hand in the school cafeteria. ¡°Let¡¯s be honest. From what I can see, you definitely like Mi-Young,¡± Seok Kang-Homented afterward. He did like Kim Mi-Young, but did he really like her enough for the mere thought of her to change his expression? Before he reincarnated, had there ever been a time when he wanted to see someone during an operation? Kang Chan looked at the river. Chapter 152.1: Post-Operation Wrap-Up Procedure (1)

Chapter 152.1: Post-Operation Wrap-Up Procedure (1)

Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho left the hotel after having a Korean home-cooked-style meal. Kang Chan thought they would be early, but due to some unexpected construction on the way, they barely arrived on time. ¡°What will you be up to while I¡¯m in a meeting with the ambassador?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯ll rest up at home. Call me when you¡¯re done and need a ride,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°Will do.¡± Kang Chan headed to the front entrance, then went up the floors with the French agent waiting for him. The moment Kang Chan stepped into the elevator, he grinned mischievously. For the first time, he was heading up without running into Joo Chul-Bum. Ding.? Kang Chan stepped off the elevator, passed the now familiar hallway, and entered Lanok¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan!¡± Lanok approached Kang Chan with his arms spread wide open, which thetter didn¡¯t find ufortable in the slightest. The ambassador wasn¡¯t a stranger to him anymore. Just recently, they even coordinated strategy without contacting each other even once throughout the entire operation. Kang Chan dly hugged him back. ¡°Have a seat,¡± Lanok said. Tea, cigarettes, and cigars were on the table. They leisurely poured themselves some tea and picked up their choice of tobo product. ¡°The operation yielded excellent results,¡± Lanok said, his eyes as full of emotions asmonly seen in French people. ¡°Thanks to you, I now have the upper hand against Vasili.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You would have gotten that sooner orter anyway, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan remarked. ¡°Vasili probably feels he has just been caught having an affair,¡± Lanok joked. The twoughed at the same time. Lanok exhaled the smoke of his cigar, then continued, ¡°He had reached some form of agreement with Britain, but unfortunately for him, you were there to ruin it all. Considering Britain ended up taking responsibility for everything, they will likely request help from my country soon. Vasili is probably at his wits¡¯ end wondering what they will tell us.¡± Tapping his cigar in the ashtray to get rid of the ash, Lanok smiled a little differently than he usually did. ¡°It makes me wonder how hard he¡¯s panicking right now for the president of Russia himself toe to South Korea. That being said, I was asked to be an intermediary, so let me know if there¡¯s anything you want to request from Russia. In cases like these, it¡¯s best not to think about whates after and just ask for something big,¡± Lanok advised him. ¡°I¡¯m not too familiar with this, so I¡¯ll have to discuss this with a government official. What would you suggest, Mr. Ambassador?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°The only things Russia has to offer are weapons and resources. The sly Vasili probably intends to appear generous by making Russia¡¯s president increase the limit of fish South Korea is allowed to catch. You should ept it. I also suggest requesting nuclear weapons or the development rights to oil reserves.¡± ¡°Nuclear weapons or development rights to oil reserves?¡± Kang Chan repeated. Lanok nodded. ¡°It is unlike the prideful Vasili to act so anxiously. He would not act this way unless he will be put at a disadvantage if Britain starts to work with my country or if Britain cooperates with you because Russia betrayed them,¡± he said, his expression as cunning as a snake. ¡°For that reason, I believe it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to see how he would react to you asking for their nuclear weapons. How will the cold and logical Vasili respond when South Korea asks for something so great?¡± It would certainly be amusing. ¡°That isn¡¯t all, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok added. Kang Chan didn¡¯t show it on his face, but he was hoping that would be the end of it. ¡°The British Intelligence Bureau has finally expressed their desire to meet you. They also ask that you request of them what you want.¡± Lanok looked as if he was speaking to a disciple who had just passed a difficult exam. ¡°You have taken hold of the knife with just a single operation, Mr. Kang Chan, which is a truly incredible feat.¡± Another knife? Kang Chan inwardly shook his head. He had already held enough knives. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, I didn¡¯t fight with that in mind,¡± Kang Chan objected. ¡°I know. That¡¯s what makes me feel even more grateful to you.¡± ¡°I heard you ordered an emergency decree on all of the Foreign Legion, sir. I¡¯m already happy enough that I got to work with you and take care of what you were worried about. That¡¯s why I¡¯m not really interested in what I can gain from the results of the operation,¡± Kang Chan asserted. ¡°I see. I will take liberties with the necessary arbitration for now, then.¡± Kang Chan thought that closed the main topic of their meeting. However, Lanok still seemed to have something to say, considering he hadn¡¯t stood up yet. ¡°The French government will soon express their gratitude to the South Korean special forces team for their hard work. My country will have Russia and Britain cough up the costs, so don¡¯t worry about the finances behind all this.¡± Lanok grinned. After taking a sip of his tea, Lanok turned to Kang Chan with a sly smile. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to care about money, and it¡¯s not like you¡¯re interested in women either,¡± Lanok mused. Kang Chan wondered if this snake knew he was missing a high schooler. ¡°Still, I want to thank you for this operation. Is there anything you want?¡± Lanok added. Anything I want? ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Can I think about it first?¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Lanok casuallyughed. ¡°You¡¯ve improved, Mr. Kang Chan! Back then, you always said no to offers like this! Good! Very good!¡± I should show him how much I¡¯ve really improved and ask for a nuclear weapon.? If Kang Chan made such a request, Lanok would do anything in his power to wrangle two nuclear weapons away from Russia and only give him one. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know if Vasili had the power to hand out nuclear weapons, though. ¡°What about the two soldiers?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about them. The intelligence bureau has given them level-one protection, and they have the best doctors tending to them,¡± Lanok replied, then examined Kang Chan¡¯s expression. ¡°You should rest a bit. Your eyes still seem quite tense,¡± he said with concern. ¡°I will. Actually, I¡¯ve been thinking about going on a trip soon,¡± Kang Chan assured him. After discussing other personal matters over tea, Kang Chan and Lanok left the hotel. Kang Chan saw Lanok off from the hotel entrance, then turned around to make his own way. Just then, Joo Chul-Bum greeted and bowed to him. Was this bastard a ghost or something? He was always waiting for him around the corner. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Joo Chul-Bum said with his hands sped together in front of him. Although all he did was call out Kang Chan¡¯s name, Kang Chan could read all the emotions he was feeling through his eyes. Once Lanok¡¯s car left, Kang Chan headed back inside the lobby. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you wereing. I apologize, hyung-nim!¡± This punk felt sorry for noting to greet him earlier! ¡°Do you want to grab some coffee with me?¡± Kang Chan asked in resignation. ¡°Do you have the time, sir?¡± Joo Chul-Bum asked respectfully. ¡°Would I have asked if I didn¡¯t? Let¡¯s go!¡± How could Kang Chan ignore the excitement on Joo Chul-Bum¡¯s face? The two walked into the lounge of the lobby and ordered some coffee. ¡°How¡¯s Do-Seok doing?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°He¡¯s been eating properly since a few days ago, hyung-nim,¡± Joo Chul-Bum replied. The manager bowed to Kang Chan, then put their cups of coffee on the table. ¡°Have they found anything about the culprit yet?¡± Joo Chul-Bum told Kang Chan that there hadn¡¯t been any progress because the culprit was a foreigner. However, as soon as he was done, he suddenly slid over closer to Kang Chan¡¯s ear. ¡°Hyung-nim, Do-Seok hyung-nim apparently has camera footage of that day,¡± he whispered. Kang Chan looked at Joo Chul-Bum while deep in thought. Joo Chul-Bum was talking about the day that Kang Chan stabbed Shan in the side and the Chinese wrapped Shan up in stic and took him underground using a rollingundry bin. The people involved already knew how all of that went down. They had even finished discussions with the Serpent Venimeux and wrapped everything up. What else was there to discover? ¡°I don¡¯t think that will be needed anymore since the situation¡¯s all done and over with,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°He said he would give it to you if you need it, hyung-nim.¡± ¡°Did the footage catch something we don¡¯t already know about?¡± ¡°Do-Seok hyung-nim said he hasn¡¯t been able to take a good look at it, but he seems to think that it¡¯s the only reason why foreigners would attack him and why someone would search through and make a mess of his car and house.¡± ¡°I see. Well, I¡¯ll visit him soon and ask him about this in person. Oh, right! I¡¯ll send you some money. Use it to help with Do-Seok¡¯s hospital bill,¡± Kang Chan offered. ¡°Don¡¯t, hyung-him. There¡¯s no need. If Gwang-Taek hyung-nim finds out you did, I¡¯ll be a dead man.¡± Joo Chul-Bum shivered. He acted as if Kang Chan was offering him drugs or something. He was being so adamant that Kang Chan couldn¡¯t insist. After speaking for a while longer, Kang Chan left the hotel and took a taxi to Kim Hyung-Jung. He called him to let him know he was already on the way, but funnily enough, Kim Hyung-Jung told him that he was already with Seok Kang-Ho. The guy probably had nothing else to do because he wasn¡¯t teaching at school these days. ¡®We really need to get that building soon.¡¯ Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan both needed afortable ce that they could use every day. Chapter 152.2: Post-Operation Wrap-Up Procedure (1)

Chapter 152.2: Post-Operation Wrap-Up Procedure (1)

The streets already smelled of autumn. Kang Chan had been living a busy life filled with incidents and operations that wererger in scale than the ones he had been involved in back in Africa. He was staring out the window in a daze when the cab stopped at his destination. After paying the taxi driver, he entered the building and went up to the fifth floor. Kim Hyung-Jung hobbled over and opened the door himself. ¡°Why are you opening doors in that condition?¡± Kang Chan sighed. ¡°You get used to moving with your injuries after a while,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied reassuringly. Kang Chan followed him inside and was greeted by Seok Kang-Ho, who had stood up. ¡°Someone¡¯s here early,¡± Kang Chan scoffed. ¡°We had jjamppong,¡± Seok Kang-Ho responded. The table was covered in ashtrays,rge ramen cups, and small paper cups that were clearly once filled with coffee. It seemed Seok Kang-Ho headed straight to this ce after they parted ways at the hotel. Click.? As Kang Chan sat down, an employee brought over three more cups of coffee and left with the empty ones. ¡°You should be in bed, Mr. Kim,¡± Kang Chan urged. ¡°It¡¯s fine¡ªI can handle it. I n on getting rid of the bed next week.¡± ¡°Did something good happen?¡± Kang Chan asked out of curiosity as he took a cigarette. He noticed Kim Hyung-Jung was all smiles. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s the offer from Russia. They have always been so stubborn, but they finally got off their high horse. Moreover, aside from Russia¡¯s president paying us a visit soon, we have also received an amazing proposal from Britain. With the French intelligence agency, we¡¯ve begun to take steps toward coboration from both sides,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said enthusiastically. None of what he just said were personally happy events for him. Was this that important for him to be endlessly smiling from ear to ear? ¡°It probably does not sound like much, Mr. Kang Chan, but the three things I just mentioned will make our nation¡¯s reputation soar. Moreover, once the name of our special forces team spreads¡­ Whew! As an agent of the NIS, I¡¯ve always dreamed of this moment. Back then, other countries didn¡¯t have to worry about the consequences as they fired at our agents in Europe and all around the globe. Now, they will have to take the South Korean special forces into consideration.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho with a proud expression. ¡°Our special forces defeated the Russian Spetsnaz and Britain¡¯s SBS in France without losing a single man. That has made France, Russia, and Britain take the initiative to extend peace offerings toward us. This means that in the future, other countries will have to worry about our country¡¯s retaliation if they assassinate our agents. Honestly, I¡¯m moved beyond words. I don¡¯t know how to handle all the emotions I¡¯m feeling right now,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said in a gracious tone. Kang Chan smiled at Kim Hyung-Jung, finding it interesting that a single operation could affect each country and its people so differently. ¡°Oh, right, Mr. Kim. Russia has apparently requested France to mediate its meeting with South Korea. I heard we can ask for certain things from there. Ambassador Lanok suggested requesting nuclear weapons, development rights to oil reserves, or something along those lines. What do you think?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung stiffened so much that Kang Chan was taken aback. ¡°N-n-nuclear weapons?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung stuttered. Did this man always have a stutter? ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Or d-development rights to oil?¡± ¡°Yes. The ambassador firmly told me to ask for at least that much.¡± ¡°From Russia?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked in disbelief. Kang Chan nodded again. ¡°He told me to ept their offer to adjust the fishing limit and to ask for one of the two options I just told you,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung gulped. ¡°Ambassador Lanok said that?¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho smiled. It felt as if they were reenacting a skit from a weekendedy show. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, you have no idea what your suggestion means to us. Getting our hands on nuclear weapons¡­ Phew,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung eximed as he shook his head. ¡°Well, the worst thing they can say is no. You don¡¯t have to be so frenzied over something that they probably won¡¯t give anyway,¡± Kang Chan said lightheartedly. ¡°I see. Maybe that¡¯s why the ambassador also suggested asking for development rights as well,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung mused. ¡°That makes sense. Ambassador Lanok definitely would have thought two steps ahead,¡± Kang Chan agreed. ¡°Haah! Russia has never given its rights to oil reserves to another country. Aside from when Japan used their international resources to protect their 49% of shares of a reserve, no country has sessfully taken development rights from Russia.¡± ¡°So this is pretty important, I suppose,¡± Kang Chan said. Kim Hyung-Jung chuckled. The understatement calmed him down. ¡°Our country will have unlimited ess to crude oil without having to worry about staying on the good side of Middle Eastern countries. And the intion in our country¡­¡± Kim Hyung-Jung trailed off in thought, staring into space as he tilted his head. ¡°It will probably drop by at least thirty percent.¡± ¡°Whoa!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. Even Kang Chan looked surprised. ¡®I didn¡¯t expect the ambassador¡¯s suggestion to have such significant impacts.¡¯ This was why knowledge was power. Kim Hyung-Jung looked directly at Kang Chan. ¡°Are you sure Ambassador Lanok really told you those things?¡± ¡°Yes, but I just told him to take care of things himself in response,¡± Kang Chan replied somewhat abashedly. ¡°What?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung eximed. His eyes widened. ¡°Do you think it would be possible for you to ask if we can request things ourselves?¡± ¡°Probably. I don¡¯t see why not.¡± ¡°Great. Please give me a moment. I have to report this immediately.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± . Kang Chan picked up a cigarette, and Seok Kang-Ho lit it up for him with a lighter. As they rxed and smoked, Kim Hyung-Jung called someone to report their most recent conversation. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m with Mr. Kang Chan right now. It¡¯s difficult to verify the truth of the statements without confirmation from the French intelligence agency.¡± Lanok wasn¡¯t one to lie, but these people were horrible at believing others. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m certain he said nuclear weapons and development rights to oil reserves,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. When Kim Hyung-Jung nced at him, Kang Chan nodded back in confirmation. ¡°Yes, sir! I will be waiting on standby, then. Understood,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. Putting the phone back down, Kim Hyung-Jung let out a long sigh. ¡°I¡¯m suddenly filled with the sense of duty to improve the NIS¡¯ abilities. Our agents abroad will most likely shout in joy today or tomorrow,¡± he added. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho exchanged looks and stayed silent.in silence. Kang Chan didn¡¯t tell Kim Hyung-Jung about the news regarding Britain yet since he had not confirmed yet if it was true. ¡°Ah, right! Thank you for the Jeju trip. I got to have an amazing day with my parents because of you. It made me feel like I have finally done something for my mother, so I really appreciate it.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung let out augh that sounded close to a sigh. ¡°With what we gained through this operation, lending you the entire hotel for a year still wouldn¡¯t be enough to pay you back. We have to spend at least thirty billion won every year for three years to put our agents abroad in a better political position, yet all that we could do for you in return was a small trip. As an agent of the NIS, I cannot help but feel ashamed. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t lead the operation hoping to get rewarded for my efforts. The main reason I got involved in this affair is to help Ambassador Lanok in the first ce. I have already gotten everything I wanted when we left for the operation, so please don¡¯t feel bad,¡± Kang Chan assured him. Kim Hyung-Jung still looked to be regretting things. They talked for a little while longer when Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s phone suddenly began to ring furiously. When it stopped, the bell to his office rang, and thendline on his desk started crying out too. Kang Chan left the office with Seok Kang-Ho so Kim Hyung-Jung could take care of business. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner,¡± Kang Chan said once they were out, not wanting to head home yet. If he left Seok Kang-Ho alone, Seok Kang-Ho would just roam around because he had nothing else to do. ¡°Sounds good. Should we call that bastard Smithen too?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Why?¡± Kang Chan asked in suspicion. Nothing good had evere out of the two of them meeting. ¡°G¨¦rard looked pretty lonely thest time we saw him. Considering I used to be like him, Smithen probably feels the same too. If it wasn¡¯t for you, we¡¯d be wandering around alone, unable to find a ce to settle.¡± Why does this bastard still seem to have something up his sleeve despite what he¡¯s saying?? However, even in front of Kang Chan¡¯s suspecting eyes, Seok Kang-Ho remained steadfast. ¡°That bastard has probably been feeling lonely, so let¡¯s call him and have dinner together. The fact that he got captured before he could even fight back has been bugging me,¡± Seok Kang-Ho added. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan finally conceded. They didn¡¯t know where they were going to eat yet, so Kang Chan dialed Smithen in the middle of the street. -Hello? May I ask who this is? Ha! The punk¡¯s Korean had improved again. More importantly, his pronunciation had be so natural that it sounded as if someone else had picked up the phone. ¡°Smithen, it¡¯s me.¡± -Oh my goodness, Captain! It¡¯s me, Smithen! ¡°Where are you?¡± -Why, I just left thenguage school, of course! This motherfucker! Maybe it was because he learned from women, but people would think he was a girl in her twenties trying to act cute if they heard him talk in Korean. If Kang Chan didn¡¯t know Smithen any better, Smithen¡¯s soft and giggly tone would have made him wonder if Smithen was gay. ¡°Do you want to have dinner with us?¡± -Oh my! Unfortunately, I have a date today. Hmm! I have ns with mynguage schools until tomorrow, so how about the day after tomorrow, dear? Kang Chan slowly exhaled the sigh that was building up in his chest. ¡°Got it. I don¡¯t know what wille up then, so let¡¯s just keep each other updated.¡± As Kang Chan spoke, he heard someone ask ¡°Who is it?¡± over the phone. -That sounds absolutely perfect. Toodle-oo, Captain. ¡°Is he busy?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked when Kang Chan hung up. ¡°He says he¡¯s got ns with hisnguage friends until tomorrow. It sounded like he was with a girl, too, so let¡¯s just have dinner ourselves.¡± ¡°Ugh! That son of a bitch!¡± Seok Kang-Ho spat. The two chuckled. So much for wanting to include a lonely guy in their ns. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Let¡¯s have beef ribs!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. That was a bit of a heavy meal, but if that was what Seok Kang-Ho wanted, Kang Chan saw no reason to refuse. The two soon headed to a famous rib restaurant nearby. Upon entering and taking a seat, Seok Kang-Ho ordered, ¡°Five portions of beef ribs, please.¡± ¡°Will there be more in your party, sir?¡± the waiter asked. ¡°No, it¡¯s just us,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. The middle-aged woman nced at Seok Kang-Ho, then quickly went inside the kitchen. ¡°Want a ss of beer too?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°And a bottle of soju while you¡¯re at it,¡± Kang Chan replied with a grin. ¡°Phuhuhu!¡± Seok Kang-Houghed in satisfaction. Chapter 153.1: Post-Operation Wrap-Up Procedure (2)

Chapter 153.1: Post-Operation Wrap-Up Procedure (2)

¡°Wow!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed in delight as he ate more meat. He had just downed his beer in one go. Despite how much he ate, he neither suffered from indigestion nor gained weight. That was a talent in itself. Meanwhile, Kang Chan felt relieved for finally getting to drink alcohol after so long. ¡°I know it¡¯s a little boring, but I need you to hang in there for just a bit longer,¡± Kang Chan said after Seok Kang-Ho ordered another bottle of beer. As Kang Chan tried his best to move the cooked meat on the grill away from the heat, Seok Kang-Ho put raw ones in the middle of the grill. ¡°I¡¯m still looking into buying a building, but once I¡¯ve bought one, we can use it as an office in the mornings. We can also work out and eat lunch there. Sounds nice, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Phuhuhu.¡± Seok Kang-Ho held up his ss, initiating a toast. Clink! The beer swayed a little as they clinked their sses. ¡°Wow! This is nice!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. Seok Kang-Ho seemed too busy eating, so Kang Chan poured them alcohol this time. ¡°I don¡¯t want anything else right now. We got to meet again, so I don¡¯t feel lonely, and we can also participate in operations every now and then,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. As they downed another round of bomb shots, the meat in the middle of the grill began to smoke. ¡°Gasp! The meat is burning.¡± A middle-aged woman approached them, skillfully turned the meat over, and cut off the burnt parts. Before walking away, she first put the meat away from the heat to make it easier to eat. ¡°This is going to sound funny, but¡­¡± Seok Kang-Ho observed Kang Chan¡¯s expression. ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling anxioustely.¡± ¡°Why would you go on operations while feeling that way?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Kang Chan silently waited for Seok Kang-Ho to continue. ¡°I¡¯ve just been constantly thinking about what I should do if you suddenly disappeared or if something bad happens to you. What should I do if I suddenly find myself all alone? If you¡¯re killed right in front of me again? Do you ever get worried about someone when you¡¯re not with them and feel relieved when they¡¯re around?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°Want me to hit you? Stop spouting nonsense and just keep drinking. The meat got all burnt because of your nonsense.¡± Seok Kang-Ho took the meat and ate it as quickly as Kang Chan turned the meat over. ¡°Now that you mention it, I was worried you would get killed during ourst operation,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Jeez! You were overreacting with that one! Did you really think those worthless bastards could kill me?¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help butugh so hard it sounded as if he was sobbing. If the Spestnaz and the SBS heard what Seok Kang-Ho had just said, only death could have stopped them from attacking him or jumping off a cliff. ¡°I¡¯ll buy a building as soon as I can. Anyway, I think it would be best for us to stick together,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Sure.¡± After having doengjang-jjigae and rice, they went to a nearby specialty coffee shop. They ordered two cups of hot coffee and sat on the terrace since they were allowed to smoke there. ¡°This is quite nice!¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Why¡¯s that? Are you not anxious now?¡± ¡°As I said earlier, I feel fine when I¡¯m with you! And get rid of that look in your eyes. You¡¯ll scare the other customers.¡± ¡°Will you keep pretending like you¡¯repletely normal?¡± They bothughed at Kang Chan¡¯s remark even though it was not really anything special. ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I told everyone that I¡¯ll be resting for the time being.¡± ¡°Should we run away and stay somewhere else for about three days?¡± ¡°Run away?¡± Seok Kang-Ho grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s disappear for around three days. Phuhuhu, wouldn¡¯t that turn lots of things upside down?¡± Kang Chan burst outughing. That would make Jeon Dae-Geuk jump up so high he would touch the ceiling of his patient room and Kim Hyung-Jung search for them all over the country despite his injuries. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t. That would get Jong-Il scolded even though he didn¡¯t do anything wrong,¡± Kang Chan said. The two snickered while smoking. Right now, they were behaving the way they normally did the day after they hadpleted an operation in Africa. Back then, if they didn¡¯t suffer any casualties, they would drink to their heart¡¯s content. Gerard would also sometimes butt into their conversation only to back off after getting sworn at by Dayeru. ¡°It¡¯s good to be alive,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Seok Kang-Ho grinned. An hour quickly passed by as they drank coffee and smoked. Kang Chan felt the same way he did before he reincarnated. Kang Chan held up his phone and checked the time. It was almost 9 pm. ¡°We should go home.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go home yet. Why not go to Mi-Young¡¯s hagwon first?¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Mi-Young¡¯s hagwon. She would definitely love to see you waiting for her in front of her hagwon to walk her home. Seeing her would get your eyes to rx too.¡± Kang Chan drank coffee while smirking. He could certainly go, especially since it wouldn¡¯t really inconvenience him that much even if she had already left by the time he arrived. However, he didn¡¯t want to meet her just to get his eyes to rx. If he did wait for him, it had to be because he really wanted to see her. ¡°You really have no idea how to surprise people!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. ¡°Mind your own business.¡± ¡°Huh? Why are you saying that to me? Despite how I act around you, I¡¯m amazing when I go home.¡± ¡°I got it, so let¡¯s go already!¡± They no longer smelled like alcohol, so they could definitely go home now. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Just as they were about to clean up after themselves, Michelle¡¯s name popped up on Kang Chan¡¯s phone. ¡°Hello?¡± - Channy, did you see the drama today? ¡°Ah, shoot! Sorry, I couldn¡¯t watch it. I¡¯ve been out all day.¡± - That¡¯s too bad. We got extremely positive reactions to today¡¯s episode. ¡°Really? That¡¯s good.¡± - Where are you? Are you busy? Kang Chan knew that she wanted to see him, but he thought it wouldn''t be right to see her while he had so much spite in him. ¡°I can¡¯t meet with you today. Is something going on?¡± - I found a building that meets your requirements. I would love to check it out with you if you have time tomorrow. ¡°I¡¯ll call you tomorrow morning.¡± - Alright. I¡¯ll see you then. Kang Chan put his phone down. Seok Kang-Ho nced at him. ¡°Was that thedy named Michelle?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Today¡¯s an amazing day to go on a date with her. Why are you acting like you often did back in Africa?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. She just informed me that she found a good building for us on the market. I¡¯ll check it out tomorrow.¡± Seok Kang-Ho just nodded in response. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Sure. Let me just smoke one more cigarette.¡± As Seok Kang-Ho picked up a cigarette¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan received a text. When he checked it, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. [I miss you.] As Seok Kang-Ho bit on a cigarette, his eyes alternated between Kang Chan and his phone. He seemed to be growing suspicious. Kang Chan immediately called Kim Mi-Young. - Hello! ¡°Where are you?¡± - I¡¯m at hagwon. ¡°Have you had dinner?¡± - I have. Are you busy today? ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked somewhere else while grinning. - My sses will finish in an hour. We have French ss today. I was reminded of you when I saw our cool teacher, so I thought I should text you. ¡°Want me toe over?¡± - Really? ¡°Whoo!¡± Seok Kang-Ho loudly exhaled cigarette smoke. It was as if he wanted Kim Mi-Young to hear him. That bastard! Seok Kang-Ho then pointed at the end of his eye with his index finger, then moved it up and down. He seemed to be saying that the spite in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes was disappearing. - I¡¯m at Daechi-dong. If you want, we can meet at the ice cream shop after my hagwon. ¡°Alright.¡± - Phuhuhu. When Kang Chan put his phone down, Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan with narrowed eyes. ¡°What?¡± Kang Chan took out a cigarette since he still had some time left. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had such a side. ¡®Want me toe over?¡¯ Whew!¡± Seok Kang-Houghed loudly after imitating Kang Chan. ¡°That¡¯s good for you, though. You should always use some of your time for yourself like this. Doesn¡¯t it make you feel better?¡± Kang Chan lit up a cigarette, then had a sip of coffee, which was now cold. ¡°I can totally tell that you like her now that I¡¯ve listened to you talking to her. Why can¡¯t you make the first move and ask her to meet up with you?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Why can¡¯t I do what?¡± Kang Chan responded bluntly. He knew Seok Kang-Ho was right, though. Smirking, he told him what was on his mind. ¡°Jeez! What the hell?¡± Seok Kang-Ho said afterward. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look like it, but you¡¯re really square with girl problems. Even though Mi-Young genuinely likes you, you¡¯re still nning on taking a step back and saying ¡®I¡¯ll ept you¡¯re still the same next year¡¯?¡± ¡°Not exactly.¡± Kang Chan dropped his cigarette into the used coffee grounds, then drank the rest of his coffee. ¡°How is it different? People are allowed to break up, you know. Who in this world can be sure that the one they¡¯re dating right now would never change for the rest of their lives?¡± Kang Chan nkly looked at Seok Kang-Ho. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the fucker had always been that good at talking. Either way, Seok Kang-Ho had such a great point that he couldn¡¯t help but be swayed a little. Kang Chan had no idea what to say. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Kang Chan stood up. Chapter 153.2: Post-Operation Wrap-Up Procedure (2)

Chapter 153.2: Post-Operation Wrap-Up Procedure (2)

¡°Captain,¡± Seok Kang-Ho called out to Kang Chan just as he was about to leave the terrace. ¡°Let¡¯s find happiness in this life. Don¡¯t we have the right to that much, at least? You should do what you want to do with your parents so you won¡¯t have regretster on. You should also date Mi-Young. I want to see you living a genuinely happy life for once.¡± Kang Chan nked out even more due to how serious Seok Kang-Ho sounded. Kang Chan smirked. Seok Kang-Ho grinned in return. ¡°Go home,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make other ns tomorrow.¡± Still grinning, Seok Kang-Ho made his way to the road. Not long after, they both hailed and got into two different taxis. Seok Kang-Ho was right. They did have the right to be happy. Has Seok Kang-Ho been living in difort like me because he took over someone else¡¯s life? Kang Chan couldn¡¯t deny that every now and then, he would feel happy just because he got to meet Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. Still, that didn¡¯t answer why Seok Kang-Ho would say something like that. Kang Chan took a deep breath and softly exhaled when the taxi arrived at Daechi-dong. He got out at the intersection and slowly made his way to the ice cream shop. Now that he had thought about it, Choi Jong-Il still had to be following him. He should have called him and treated him to dinner. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel ufortable at the thought that he was still following him around while he was meeting Kim Mi-Young. ¡°Ugh!¡± Kang Chan tousled his hair after sitting down at a table. He had so many thoughts going on in his mind that he was having a headache. Unfortunately, what Seok Kang-Ho said just made it even worse. Seok Kang-Ho told him that they should be happy. Kang Chan was adapting to his life right now. In his past life, he grew up with a drunkard of a father who would beat him up whenever he was drunk. They were also so poor that he could not even afford to buy a single serving of pork cutlets. After that, he spent the rest of his life on battlefields in Africa. He fought battle after battle until death finally imed him. Reincarnating? It had been about six months now since he returned to life. Could his past life, whichsted almost thirty years, disappear from his memories overnight? While living with Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, he was certainly learning how to be happy. As Kang Chan rubbed his face, he smelled nicotine from his fingertips. He went into the bathroom to wash his hands, then looked at the mirror above the sink. Kang Chan smirked. His eyes really were glinting. But wasn¡¯t this only natural? It had only been two days since he killed over twenty people. It would be weirder if he already looked calm today. Kang Chan dried his hands, returned to his seat, and nkly looked outside the window. Listening to Seok Kang-Ho talk only gave him a headache. Kang Chan breathed in loudly to get rid of his thoughts. As he did, Kim Mi-Young entered the ice cream shop. She waved at him. Does she have to do that when it¡¯s obvious she¡¯s here to meet me? ¡°Do you want ice cream?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes!¡± She put her bag down on the chair and went to the disy stand. After choosing an ice cream vor, she returned to her seat. Kim Mi-Young smiled, which made her look even prettier. She scooped up ice cream with a stic spoon while looking at Kang Chan. ¡°Say ¡®ah!¡¯¡± Kim Mi-Young said. ¡°What?¡± As Kang Chan looked at her with an expression that said, ¡®What are you doing?¡¯ Kim Mi-Young held out the spoonful of ice cream toward him. This was the first time he would be doing this. Despite feeling awkward, he ate the ice cream she was trying to feed to him. Strangely enough, that made Kim Mi-Young smile. She just kept eating afterward. ¡®How old am I really?¡¯ He normally behaved in a way befitting his previous age. However, he regressed into the perfect high schooler whenever he met Kim Mi-Young. That could be the biggest reason why he rxed around Kim Mi-Young. Everything would be simple if he could just decide how old he should behave. If he went with his previous age, then that would make him a great match with Michelle. If he went with his current age, then it would be best to be with Kim Mi-Young. Was who he liked more important? Even Seok Kang-Ho hadn¡¯t gotten used to that problem even though he was already married. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°I¡¯m just thinking of how I can be happy.¡± Kim Mi-Young¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at Kang Chan. This was the expression that he had badly wanted to see during the operation. ¡°With me?¡± Kang Chan also missed these strange questions. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Huhuhuhu, say ¡®ah.¡¯¡± Kang Chan just silently ate the ice cream that Kim Mi-Young fed him. After staying with Kim Mi-Young for about twenty minutes, they took a taxi home. He tried his best to ignore the disappointment in Kim Mi-Young¡¯s gaze as they parted ways and entered their respective apartmentplex. Kang Chan wanted to hug her but now was not the time. ¡°Bye!¡± Kim Mi-Young said. ¡°See you. You should sleep early.¡± After sending Kim Mi-Young home, Kang Chan headed to his apartment. Should I really disappear for about three days? No, I shouldn¡¯t. That could quickly get out of hand. When Kang Chan entered their home, he was greeted by nothing but silence from the entire apartment. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook had probably gone to bed. The trip to Jeju Ind had probably tired them out. Kang Chan headed into his room. After lightly washing up and changing, he walked out of his room again. Much to his surprise, he found Yoo Hye-Sook standing in the living room. She still looked quite sleepy. ¡°I thought you were already asleep. Did I wake you up?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°No, I came out of the room because I wanted to see you. I¡¯m sorry I slept and couldn¡¯t wait for you.¡± Kang Chan stared at Yoo Hye-Sook. Wouldn¡¯t things like this be happiness? They should have just made me the son of a household like this from the start! ¡°It¡¯s okay. I came homete anyway. Please go back to sleep. I¡¯ll be heading to bed soon as well,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Okay.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook hugged Kang Chan and stroked his back. Kang Chan just smiled. ¡°Goodnight, Channy.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± As if she was walking and talking in her sleep, Yoo Hye-Sook smiled as she headed back to bed. *** Kang Chan freshened up when he woke up. Afterward, he went outside and ran and worked out with Choi Jong-Il. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever rest?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been following me nonstop. You should go home.¡± ¡°If I rest now, I won¡¯t be able toe back ever again.¡± ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Choi Jong-Il discretely looked at the entrance of the apartment. ¡°A bunch of people want to serve you. It seems even Cha Dong-Gyun thought about applying to be an agent but was badly scolded by General Choi.¡± Kang Chan smirked. ¡°As you¡¯re probably well aware, the special forces are all connected. The men youmanded in the recent operation and the one in Mongolia talk about you like you¡¯re an actual god. So if I rest for even just a moment, more than a dozen men would immediately show up to do my job instead,¡± Choi Jong-Il added. They were annoying Kang Chan in so many ways. ¡°I¡¯ll go home now. Make sure to have breakfast!¡± Kang Chan said, then went into his apartment. After working out, Kang Chan always used the stairs because he didn¡¯t want the smell of sweat to be trapped in the elevator. As soon as Kang Chan returned home, Yoo Hye-Sook happily greeted him. ¡°Are you done working out?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Yes. How are you feeling?¡± ¡°I looked ugly yesterday, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°No way! You looked prettier when you¡¯re slightly sleepy.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook side-eyed him in a pretty way, then headed to the kitchen. After washing up, Kang Chan went out of his room. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were waiting for him so they could all eat breakfast together. His morning was peaceful for once. ¡°How have you beentely, mother?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Huh?¡± Now that he thought about it, his question did sound kind of abrupt and strange. ¡°Is there anything you would like toe true or want to do?¡± ¡°Mm! I want to see you more often.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask me?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°I was just about to. How have you beentely, father? And is there anything you wish would happen?¡± Kang Chan scooped up rice with his chopsticks as he looked at Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°I wish your mom would pay more attention to me.¡± ¡°You always tease me!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. They finished breakfast with a smile. Kang Chan sat in the living room and watched TV as he waited for his parents, who were rushing to get ready for work, to leave. The news headlines were still all about the President of Russia¡¯s visit to South Korea. While he was watching, Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s phone rang three times from the master bedroom. She seemed extremely busy with the Foundation. Today, Kang Chan nned to meet up with Michelle and check the building. Afterward, he would start thinking about how to help with the school festival. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan¡¯s phone, which was on his desk, rang as he organized what he had to do. Kang Chan¡¯s eyes glinted. His heart didn¡¯t throb or sink. Strangely, however, he felt anger filling not only his eyes but the top of his head as well. ¡®Which son of a bitch is it this time?!¡¯ Kang Chan didn¡¯t know who was calling him or what the call was about, but he was starting to be unbearably enraged. He walked toward his room as if he was closing in on his enemy. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Kang Chan looked at his phone. ¡®Anne.¡¯ Kang Chan answered the call and immediately pressed it against his ear. ¡°Ello!¡± - Channy! I think my dad just got kidnapped! Kang Chan inhaled softly. - I don¡¯t know what to do, Channy! Help me! Please! I really need you right now! ¡°Anne.¡± Anne burst into tears as she waited for Kang Chan to continue. ¡°I will do whatever it takes to save the Ambassador. I promise you that. So don¡¯t worry too much and keep calm, okay? I¡¯ll be heading over to you as soon as the call drops. Where are you right now? - I¡¯m at the embassy right now. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m on my way.¡± - Thank you¡­ Thank you so much, Channy. Kang Chan put down his phone and changed as quickly as he could. Chapter 154.1: Watch and Learn (1)

Chapter 154.1: Watch and Learn (1)

Although Kang Chan had already changed clothes, he couldn¡¯t walk out of his room yet because he didn¡¯t want Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook to see his eyes zing with so much spite. ¡°Channy, dear!¡± shouted Yoo Hye-Sook in such unfortunate timing. ¡°I¡¯m getting changed, Mother!¡± Kang Chan shouted back in response, trying to avoid meeting them. ¡°Okay then! We¡¯ll be heading out now. Have a good day today, and don¡¯t forget to be careful!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook shouted again so Kang Chan could hear her. ¡°See youter!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung bid him farewell. They didn¡¯t ask him where he was going or what he would be doing today. When other parents told their high school sons to be careful, it was to be careful of the roads or when crossing streets. But Kang Chan¡¯s parents telling him to be careful had a whole different meaning. I¡¯m going to make sure I be happy in this life. After rescuing Lanok, he nned to be a powerful, fearsome man if that was what it would take for his enemies to never touch even a strand of his people¡¯s hair ever again. The moment he heard the sound of the front door closing shut, Kang Chan immediately picked up his phone so he could try to locate where Lanok was. However, the application strangely did not disy the ambassador¡¯s location. What¡¯s wrong with this? What¡¯s the problem? . Tsk! Brushing his irritation aside, Kang Chan called Seok Kang-Ho, then dialed Choi Jong-Il. After the phone calls, about five minutes went by. -Your parents have just left the apartmentplex, sir. Choi Jong-Il reported to him through the application. Kang Chan hurried out of his home and headed down. By the time he exited the building, Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il were already waiting for him with their cars by the entrance. ¡°Choi Jong-Il, we¡¯re heading straight to the French embassy,¡± Kang Chan dered. ¡°Understood, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il replied. They all drove off as soon as Kang Chan got into Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked, clearly concerned. ¡°Ambassador Lanok has apparently been kidnapped,¡± Kang Chan bluntly replied. ¡°What? Jeez!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed in surprise, turning to Kang Chan with wide eyes before quickly looking back to the road again. ¡°How the fuck did that man get kidnapped? The security detail he has around him is no joke. What in the world were his guards doing? Twiddling their thumbs?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the details yet. I¡¯ll have to learn more about what happened when we get there first. All I know is that Anne called me crying and told me her dad was kidnapped,¡± Kang Chan informed Seok Kang-Ho. Seok Kang-Ho looked like he was having a hard time understanding how Lanok could be kidnapped. They were driving during rush hour, so traffic was slow. Nevertheless, they did their best to get to their destination as quickly as possible. The agent standing outside opened the doors for Kang Chan upon confirming his identity. He then red at Choi Jong-Il¡¯s car. ¡°Let him through,¡± Kang Chan told the agent. ¡°I brought him along.¡± ¡°Understood, Monsieur Kang,¡± the agent respectfully replied. Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s group all rushed up to Lanok¡¯s office. ¡°Channy!¡± Anne cried in distress. She hobbled over to Kang Chan with her hand over her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Anne. Everything will turn out just fine. You know how strong your father is, don¡¯t you?¡± Kang Chan reassured her. He hugged her and patted her on the back, then took a scan around the office. He saw agents and aides standing on edge, but he could not see Louis anywhere. Kang Chan carefully helped Anne sit down and took a seat across the table from her. ¡°What happened?¡± Kang Chan asked her. Anne looked at one of Lanok¡¯s aides, who then began to speak in her stead. ¡°My name is Raphael, Monsieur Kang. We lost all contact with the ambassador after he said he would have a private conversation with the Chinese ambassador and the speaker of the national assembly following their lunch appointment at the Seoul Hotel,¡± Raphael said stiffly. ¡°The speaker of the national assembly? You mean Huh Ha-Soo?¡± ¡°Yes, that is correct, Monsieur Kang,¡± Raphael answered. ¡°When did that son of a¡ªthat guy get back to South Korea?¡± Kang Chan was having a hard time bottling in his irritation. ¡°The speaker returned while you were away on your operation, sir,¡± Raphael responded. That rat! Son of a bitch! Kang Chan gritted his teeth. ¡°You said they were meeting at a hotel. How have you not found the ambassador yet?¡± Kang Chan asked through clenched teeth. ¡°We haven¡¯t been able to officially request any assistance because we can¡¯t report him as missing. Moreover, Ambassador Lanok gave us specific instructions a while back for situations like this,¡± Raphael exined. ¡°What were they?¡± Kang Chan asked. As Kang Chan picked up a cigarette from the table, Raphael nced at Anne, carefully choosing his words. ¡°He told us that if something like this was ever to happen, all the staff at the French embassy should follow and listen to your orders. We were to report to you first, and whatever you decided to do, we shouldply with your orders under all circumstances.¡± Kang Chan exhaled, breathing out a long wisp of smoke. Damn it! Kang Chan didn¡¯t know the snake had so much faith in him. ¡°For now, give me and the agents with me a ce where we can remain on standby. If we can stay in this room, then that would be even better,¡± Kang Chan ordered Raphael. Afterward, he turned to Choi Jong-Il. ¡°Did you bring any weapons?¡± ¡°They¡¯re in the car, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il replied. Kang Chan looked back at Raphael. ¡°Prepare five pistols, each with four magazines, for me and all the agents here,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Raphael delivered Kang Chan¡¯s instructions to the agents around them, obeying Kang Chan¡¯s words as if he was really his superior. ¡°And get me Ludwig, Vant, and Vasili¡¯s numbers. Stat.¡± Kang Chan ordered again. ¡°Monsieur Kang, if it¡¯s all right with you, please use Ambassador Lanok¡¯s desk. It has a direct line to the men you just mentioned. I will connect you to them,¡± Raphael advised him. Using Lanok¡¯s desk was such an unexpected suggestion that Kang Chan couldn¡¯t immediately reply. Fortunately, Anne quickly nodded in agreement in his stead. Kang Chan decided to push worrying about invading Lanok¡¯s personal space to ater time. Right now, he had to focus on rescuing him. Kang Chan rushed to the desk. As soon as he sat down in the chair, he immediately felt as if Lanok was watching him from behind. In the meantime, a few agents carried desks, tables, and chairs into the room so Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il could sit down. On the table, they set tea, ashtrays, and the five guns Kang Chan had requested for each of them. Time was of the essence. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t waste it contemting the situation. Was Huh Ha-Soo so influential that he could kidnap Lanok? Absolutely not. That was bullshit. There had to be more to this. Kang Chan first pulled out his phone to call Kim Hyung-Jung. -Hello, Mr. Kang Chan. This is Kim Hyung-Jung.? ¡°Mr. Kim. I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t have time to exin. I may need the South Korean special forces team¡ªthe same men who went on the operation in Switzend. Please have them all fully armed and waiting on standby as soon as you can,¡± Kang Chan requested, urgency in his voice. Kim Hyung-Jung paused for a moment before finally replying. -Are you in a difficult position to exin the reason why? ¡°That¡¯s correct, sir,¡± Kang Chan replied. -I will call the director. I¡¯ll get back to you right after. ¡°Please tell him that this is something I absolutely have to do,¡± Kang Chan implored. -I will, Mr. Kang Chan.? Much to Kang Chan¡¯s gratitude, Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t ask any other questions. After hanging up, Kang Chan raised his head to look at Raphael. ¡°I want to order another emergency decree to the entire Foreign Legion and have the special forces team who participated in the Mongolian operation head straight to South Korea immediately. Who do I speak to for this?¡± Kang Chan asked sharply. ¡°Unfortunately, that would be difficult to do unless it¡¯s Ambassador Lanok¡¯s direct orders,¡± Raphael replied, his tone conveying how troubled he was. ¡°I see. Then connect me to Ludwig for now,¡± Kang Chan requested. Raphael picked up the phone on the desk and dialed a number for him. Ring. Ring. Ring.? Kang Chan raised the receiver to his ear and patiently listened to the dial tone. -Lanok? To what do I owe the pleasure at this hour? ¡°Ludwig, this is Kang Chan from South Korea,¡± Kang Chan greeted brusquely. Based on Ludwig¡¯sck of response, it seemed he was taken aback. ¡°I apologize for calling you so abruptly, but I have a request, sir,¡± Kang Chan continued. -Did something happen to Lanok? ¡°That seems to be the case. I require assistance on the matter. -Hmm, can I ask exactly what you need before I agree? ¡°An emergency decree issued to the KSK and themand of three of their units.¡± -Whew! Ludwig let out a resonant sigh. It was as if all the sleep in him had suddenly left him. -Who is the target? ¡°China,¡± Kang Chan responded sharply. -Ha. This is¡­ Ludwig seemed flustered and astounded by the scale of Kang Chan¡¯s request and target. -Mr. Kang Chan, do you understand the weight of what you just said? ¡°Ludwig,¡± Kang Chan firmly began, his tone lowering enough to silence Ludwig once more. ¡°Regardless of whether you help me or not, I will proceed with this mission. If anyone dares hurt Ambassador Lanok, I will without question make an example of every single person who gave themand to do so. The ambassador¡¯s safety and well-being are more important to me than whatever political meaning my actions will have among the intelligence agencies,¡± Kang Chan stated resolutely. There was still no reply over the line. ¡°Ludwing, I understand your decision. However, from this moment on, you are no longer my friend,¡± Kang Chan hung up right after. These cold-hearted bastards! He was making slower progress than he anticipated. Kang Chan looked back at Raphael. ¡°I trust you know Xavier?¡± he asked him. ¡°I do, sir,¡± Raphael said. ¡°Let me borrow an agent of yours,¡± Kang Chan asked Raphael, then nced at Choi Jong-Il. ¡°Go and bring back this guy named Xavier. A French agent will guide you to him. He¡¯s armed and has received special training too, so be careful. I don¡¯t care if you shoot him or cut off an arm. Just make sure you bring him to me alive,¡± he ordered. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il responded and immediately stood up to leave. As soon as Kang Chan nodded at Raphael, thetter ryed his orders to another agent. Chapter 154.2: Watch and Learn (1)

Chapter 154.2: Watch and Learn (1)

The direct line on Lanok¡¯s desk rang. Exchanging a look with Raphael, Kang Chan picked up the phone. ¡°Ello?¡± -Mr. Kang Chan. It¡¯s me again, Ludwig.? This time, Kang Chan was the one to keep his silence. Meanwhile, a French agent and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s group left the office with their weapons in hand. -When you reach my age, you start to make calctions before you make decisions. It¡¯s two in the morning here right now. Anyone would need some time to think if they suddenly received such a request in the middle of their sleep.? Kang Chan remained silent. Raphael had poured some tea into a cup and was putting it in front of Kang Chan as if he didn¡¯t care about what the German was saying any longer. -I ordered an emergency decree on the KSK. The European intelligence agencies are probably already watching with sharp eyes. What should I tell the three units that you asked for? Great. That¡¯s one checked off on the list.? Kang Chan turned his head away from the receiver so Ludwig wouldn¡¯t hear his sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you, Ludwig. I¡¯ll give my orders to the three units myself, so please just inform them that the God of ckfield will havemand of this entire operation,¡± Kang Chan stated. -Understood, Mr. Kang Chan. I never imagined there woulde a time in my life when I would be jealous of Lanok. I wish you the best of luck.? The moment the call ended, Kang Chan suddenly had the urge to smoke. As if reading his mind, Raphael brought him an ashtray and a cigarette. ¡°The ambassador always enjoyed cigars at moments like these,¡± Raphael exined. Kang Chan chuckled wryly. He put the cigarette in his mouth and lit it up. Afterward, he asked Raphael to connect him to Vasili. Raphael dialed a number, then handed him the receiver. Ring.? -Lanok. It¡¯s Vasili.? The bastard picked up almost immediately. What was this guy? ¡°Vasili. It¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan was once again greeted by another deafening silence as he had with Ludwig. ¡°I heard from the ambassador. Haah¡­ you wanted him to act as an intermediary between South Korea and Russia, is that right?¡± Kang Chan asked wearily. -Hmm, is that such an urgent matter that you had to call at four in the morning? Motherfucker. He picked up on the first ring because he was desperate. Is he trying to pretend like he has the upper hand? ¡°I need three Spetsnaz units. I¡¯m out to kill a man whom I would go to any lengths to kill. However, this is a personal request, not a matter rted to the reparation discussions.¡± -Hahaha.? Vasili¡¯s disbelievingughter carried over the line into Kang Chan¡¯s ear. -I¡¯ll be generous and listen to your reason, at least. Why? ¡°China,¡± Kang Chan responded briefly. -Ha! Are you trying to start a world war? ¡°Tempting, but I¡¯m not going that far. I just suddenly developed a sense of hatred overnight. I don¡¯t understand why people are trying to go off with my perfectly intact head.¡± Kang Chan felt anger boiling inside him as he spoke. Anne had stopped crying some time ago and was now focusing on Kang Chan¡¯s words. ¡°It¡¯s hard to deal with them all at once, so I¡¯m trying to beat up one person at a time. What are you going to do, Vasili?¡± -Kang Chan, just because I made a mistake in front of you once does not mean that Russia and South Korea are on the same level. That is foolish thinking ¡°You¡¯ll change your mind on that soon,¡± Kang Chan announced menacingly. -Interesting. No one has dared threaten me before.? ¡°I take it you refuse. If so, then I see no need for mediation from France anymore,¡± Kang Chan curtly dered. -Where¡¯s Lanok? The question came in like a surprise attack. However, Kang Chan didn¡¯t intend to hide the truth anyway. ¡°Why do you think I would consider attacking China, Vasili? Hm?¡± Kang Chan asked sarcastically. -Hahaha.? There was something about Vasili¡¯sughter that Kang Chan couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on. -That¡¯s a fine idea. So this is why Ludwig moved earlier. Fine. However, to be clear, you will be indebted to me after this, understood? ¡°Fine, Vasili.¡± -Let¡¯s go with the same conditions as you did with Ludwig. An emergency decree ordered on all of the Spetsnatz, and themand of three units. Is that enough for you? That sinister punk.? The sly Vasili already knew about Kang Chan¡¯s arrangement with Germany. ¡°Thank you, Vasili,¡± Kang Chan said genuinely. -This is the second time in my life I have met someone to be afraid of. Keep this in mind. Once Russia orders an emergency decree following Germany, All of Europe and the United States will be issuing emergency decrees as well. This could really end in a war before you know it. No one knows how this will go down.? ¡°Understood.¡± Kang Chan hung up the phone and leaned back against the chair. ¡°Monsieur Kang, did Russia just order an emergency decree?¡± Raphael seemed anxious. ¡°Emergency decrees from Germany and Russia will leave the DGSE no choice but to give an order to the Foreign Legion as well. Would you like to speak with the official in charge?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t know about the ambassador¡¯s kidnapping yet, do they?¡± ¡°With the emergency decrees already ordered, I¡¯m sure the DGSE will catch up soon anyway and take their own measures,¡± Raphael answered with confidence. Kang Chan nodded. Not understanding what was being said, Seok Kang-Ho drank his tea with aedically grave expression. Raphael dialed another number and handed Kang Chan the receiver again. ¡°It would be best to tell them that you¡¯re the God of ckfield,¡± Raphael suggested. The moment that Kang Chan held the phone to his ear, someone responded with an ¡°Ello?¡± ¡°This is the God of ckfield.¡± Kang Chan followed Raphael¡¯s advice. -Why are you using this number? The voice that came across the line was a deep baritone. ¡°Something happened to the ambassador. It¡¯s the reason Germany and Russia ordered emergency decrees on their special forces. I would like for France to take action as well,¡± Kang Chan said. -Ah, then that exins why those countries suddenly sprang into action after you checked the ambassador¡¯s location with your phone. What do you need, Monsieur Kang? ¡°An emergency decree on the Foreign Legion andmand of three of their units,¡± Kang Chan repeated. -Understood. How would you like to carry out yourmands of the special forces? ¡°Just have them on standby for now,¡± Kang Chan stated. -May we know the target location? ¡°China.¡± The person he was talking to grew quiet for a moment, probably just as astounded as the two ambassadors he called earlier. -I will have that arranged. It will take a minute at most.? ¡°Thank you.¡± Kang Chan ended the call, took a sip of his tea, then bit on his cigarette again. When he turned around, he coincidentally met eyes with Anne. ¡°You¡¯re exactly like my dad when he was younger, Channy,¡± she said, making Kang Chan smirk. ¡°Once he made up his mind, he never went back. And he enjoyed some tea and cigars when he was done with his calls, just like you are doing now.¡± What can I say to that? I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s right or wrong.? Kang Chan lit up his cigarette, choosing silence. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? It was a call from Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Hello?¡± Kang Chan said. -Mr. Kang Chan, the First, Third, and Fifth Airborne Forces, the Thirty-fifth Brigade, and the Special Forces Team 606 are all on emergency standby. In about five minutes, the North Korean special forces will also go into emergency standby. Please be informed.? ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kim,¡± Kang Chan said gratefully. -I can only hope this affair is beneficial to South Korea.? I see now.? Kang Chan realized something new as he hung up. Whatever the matter was, he should deliberate the interests of those who were involved. Of course, it wasn¡¯t as if he could start doing that immediately. He had rushed into this n without thinking, but he thought it wasn¡¯t that bad of an approach. Anne and Raphael also had hope on their faces. Seok Kang-Ho looked like he was fighting against boredom, but that wasn¡¯t important. This was the same method that Lanok used when Kang Chan was facing the Spetsnaz. Being willing to go to war if someone dares to touch you.? Kang Chan thought that this was a big gamble¡ªone where he was putting everything he had on the line. If he couldn¡¯t get Lanok back after all this, he would definitely be put in an ufortable position. Who in China was he supposed to attack? It wasn¡¯t as if he could actually start a war with the entire country. Ring. Ring. Ring.? The bell tone tore down the heavy bubble of nervousness and silence that was building up in the room. Kang Chan gave a look at Raphael, then answered the phone. ¡°Ello?¡± -This is the DGSE. The White Wolves located in six territories of China have gone into emergency standby.? France¡¯s feedback was immediate. There was a chance that China wasn¡¯t behind Lanok¡¯s kidnapping. However, even if they weren¡¯t, they still had to find the bastards who were. Was it unfair from China¡¯s point of view? Maybe. But why did they coborate with Huh Ha-Soo and create this whole mess in the first ce? The incident took ce while Lanok was returning from meeting the Chinese ambassador and Huh Ha-Soo. Did that mean South Korea was also partly to me? Neither China nor Huh Ha-Soo would think that. Therefore, all that was left was for a powerful country like China to cooperate in getting Lanok back. They had two options to choose from. They could find the culprit who kidnapped Lanok or they could kill Kang Chan. There was no going back now. ¡°Please give me the exact location and the number of people in those six areas,¡± Kang Chan said firmly. -Monsieur Kang, please know that we will update you with intel as it enters our hands. However, giving orders to go into maind Chinese territory isn¡¯t something that can be done on yourmand. ¡°Understood. Please give me the information for now,¡± Kang Chan stated. When he put the phone back down, Raphael poured him another cup of tea. Kang Chan rested his forehead on his arm that wasid on Lanok¡¯s desk. He suddenly recalled when he had first met the ambassador at the conference hall for Gong Te Automobiles¡¯ event. It truly was impossible to expect where life would lead a person or how one¡¯s rtionships with people would turn out. Chapter 155.1: Watch and Learn (2)

Chapter 155.1: Watch and Learn (2)

An entire hour had passed even though all Kang Chan did was take a few phone calls. Within that period, he received a call from Michelle to confirm if he was free to visit a few buildings he could buy, but Kang Chan put that aside for now. When he checked the clock, it was already twenty past eleven. The time for the situation to receive new developments was already long gone. Meanwhile, Anne and Raphael were currently so calm that it was almost funny. They regained their peace of mind upon seeing Kang Chan handle the situation so critically. Should I have searched the Seoul Hotel? He could easily get this done even if he asked Kim Hyung-Jung for a favor. However, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to pick up the phone since his rash judgment could be the determining factor for Lanok¡¯s survival. Kang Chan rested his forehead on his palms while calcting every situation and action he could think of. Not long after, someone knocked on the door three times. He looked up to see Xavier walking through the entrance. Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee followed right behind him. Pft.? He didn¡¯t know about Choi Jong-Il, but Woo Hee-Seung¡¯s left cheek was definitely swollen, and Xavier¡¯s face and t-shirt werepletely covered in blood. ¡°A chair, please,¡± Kang Chan requested. In response, Raphael quickly took a chair and put it in front of Lanok¡¯s desk. Xavier sat down opposite Kang Chan. He looked irritated beyond his wits. ¡°What you have just donepletely disrespects my organization! I don¡¯t know how strong you are, but it doesn¡¯t matter. The moment my organization decides to eliminate you, you and the people around you will never be safe again!¡± Xavierined in annoyance. ¡°Enough with the talk about your oh-so-mighty organization, Xavier,¡± Kang Chan sarcastically replied. He stared directly at Xavier, who was wiping his face with a handkerchief. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± ¡°I already know you¡¯re an agent of the United States and that you¡¯re trying to obtain military secrets through Huh Ha-Soo.¡± ¡°Ha! You¡¯ve seen too many movies,¡± Xavier snorted. Kang Chan slightly shook his head. ¡°Xavier, I brought you here to ask you for just one simple thing. It doesn¡¯t matter if you use Huh Ha-Soo¡¯s Chinese connections or the US intelligence agencies¡ªjust bring me back Ambassador Lanok.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where Lanok is!¡± Xavier countered. ¡°Then find him.¡± Xavierughed in disbelief. ¡°That won¡¯t get you anywhere in information warfare. Just because you threatened and strong-armed someone does not mean you¡¯ll be able to have your way.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about how things are supposed to be done. All I want is for Ambassador Lanok to return to this office without so much as a scratch on him. That¡¯s all there is to it,¡± Kang Chan said with a fierce re. ¡°What I can¡¯t stand the most has already happened, so I hope you cooperate with me while I¡¯m still asking you nicely, Xavier. The moment I run out of patience, I won¡¯t hesitate to proceed with the operation. China, the United States, Britain¡­ It doesn¡¯t matter which country is involved in this. I will show the bastards involved in this affair no mercy as I get my revenge.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have the power to do that yet,¡± Xavier rebutted. Kang Chan suddenly felt as if talking to Xavier was a waste of time. This wasn¡¯t what he was expecting. Ring. Ring.? He immediately picked up the receiver on the desk. ¡°Ello?¡± Kang Chan answered. -We have decoded the intel about the six locations in China and sent it to the embassy. ¡°Thank you.¡± Kang Chan was about to hang up the phone when the man started speaking again. -God of ckfield, if you send Russian and German special forces to China, it may lead to a war that no one can stop.? The low, grave warning traveled over the line into Kang Chan¡¯s ear. -The DGSE is doing its utmost best. However, if you still judge it best to send in the special forces to rescue Ambassador Lanok, we will follow your decision.? ¡°I understand. I will call you once it¡¯s decided,¡± Kang Chan replied. After setting the phone down, Kang Chan let out a deep sigh. It was meaningless to drag things out from here. He had already decided to attack anyway, so there was no point wasting any more time. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? This time, Kang Chan¡¯s phone began to vibrate on the table. ¡°Hello?¡± -Mr. Kang, North Korea has gone into full defense, and Japan has issued a level one alert to its forces. The director would like to know what you wish to do. ¡°Mr. Kim.¡± -Go ahead, Mr. Kang.? ¡°If you get punched and don¡¯t do anything about it, you¡¯re definitely going to get punched again. Once that bes a pattern, you and the one who punched you will start thinking it is simply the norm. I don¡¯t want that to happen.¡± -Is that what I should tell the director? ¡°Yes, sir. This is my intent.¡± As Kang Chan ended the call with Kim Hyung-Jung, an agent headed inside with a few documents in hand. It was a Chinese map with six red dots marked in certain locations. Each one wasbeled with the areas¡¯ names. Kang Chan scanned the pages, then raised his eyebrow at Xavier. ¡°The ambassador went missing after having a meal with the Chinese ambassador and Huh Ha-Soo¡­ Huh Ha-Soo is the one who was trying to give you military secrets.¡± Ring. Ring. Ring.? Kang Chan stopped talking to Xavier to answer the phone. ¡°Ello?¡± -I¡¯d like to speak with the God of ckfield, please.? Kang Chan was hearing this voice for the first time. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± -My name is Eton. I¡¯m with the United Kingdom. Britain? Kang Chan thought this was great. He had been nning to do something about them anyway since they kept getting on his nerves. -Is this the God of ckfield? ¡°Yeah.¡± Kang Chan replied. The man let out a low sigh. -We requested mediation from Lanok because we want to meet you. Your existence is critical to us as well. For that reason, we would like to help. Kang Chan did not expect this. However, the UK had just recently attempted tounch a preemptive attack on France, and they hadn¡¯t formally met yet, so Kang Chan didn¡¯t feel right about readily epting their support. -To begin with, we will order an emergency decree on the SAS and SBS and give youmand over them.? ¡°That¡¯s too much. We can discuss the specificster.¡± -We will make the preparations just in case, then. We will contact you as soon as we obtain new information.? The call ended on that note. Eton seemed pleased about finally getting to speak to Kang Chan. Meanwhile, Xavier carefully observed Kang Chan¡¯s expression from where he had been arrogantly wiping his blood. He was probably acting this way because he didn¡¯t have any reason to hesitate anymore. Kang Chan put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it up with a lighter. He then turned toward Raphael, Choi Jong-Il, Seok Kang-Ho, then Anne. He didn¡¯t know what would happen if he proceeded with his decision, but they couldn¡¯t just keep letting the enemy beat them up. It had only been a few months since the golf course and conference hall terrorist incidents, yet they still did not hesitate to kidnap Lanok. Kang Chan faced Raphael with a determined look. ¡°Connect me to Vasili,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Raphael quickly pressed the speed dial button. Ring.? -Kang Chan, this is Vasili.? Now that Kang Chan had thought about it, the Russian had probably gotten no sleep today. ¡°Vasili, I received information from the DGSE regarding the location of China¡¯s White Wolves. Eliminate them all for me.¡± -Haah.? A long, loud sigh could be heard over the phone. -You¡¯re asking for a lot.? ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll just discuss this with the UK, then. Eton said they are ready to deploy at mymand.¡± -Eton? You spoke with that dirty English bastard? You can¡¯t take his help so easily! Who knows what he¡¯ll ask in return? ¡°I make the decisions, Vasili. So tell me what it¡¯s gonna be.¡± -Ha! Fine. We will send the special forces in immediately.? ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for results.¡± Kang Chan hung up and asked Raphael to connect him to Ludwig. Ring.? -It¡¯s Ludwig, Mr. Kang Chan.? ¡°White Wolves will be waiting on standby in the Chinese territories I¡¯m sending you. Please eliminate them all.¡± -Hmm.? His reaction was simr to Vasili¡¯s. The only difference was that Kang Chan heard Ludwig swallow at the end. -Mr. Kang Chan, I said I would help, but you should really reconsider this choice.? It didn¡¯t seem like Ludwig was saying that because he changed his mind. He appeared to be genuinely concerned. ¡°Russia has already agreed, and Britain has expressed their intent to take part as well. Ludwig, if I stop now, it won¡¯t just end with me getting humiliated. We could lose the ambassador forever.¡± -The United Kingdom contacted you? ¡°He said his name was Eton, I believe.¡± -That cunning bastard is trying to pull some tricks again, I see. Whew! All right. I will do as you say. May God bless this operation.? Kang Chan ended the call, then used his phone to call someone. By this point, Xavier already seemed beyond bbergasted. -This is Kim Hyung-Jung.? ¡°Mr. Kim, I will send a few Chinese addresses to the NIS. We will be participating in a joint operation with France, Russia, and Germany. Please have the South Korean special forces sent to China. The objective is theplete elimination of the White Wolves, China¡¯s special forces.¡± Unlike the others Kang Chan had called, Kim Hyung-Jung gulped. ¡°I¡¯ll inform you when the French special forces will arrive. The South Korean special forces can leave with them.¡± -I will report this first. Are we really going to be conducting this operation with France, Russia, and Germany? ¡°Yes. Some of their forces have already started making their way to the target locations. The UK has also expressed their intent to participate if we requested their help. Kim Hyung-Jung sounded as if he was choking back a sigh. The call ended not long after. Kang Chan looked at Raphael. ¡°The DGSE,¡± hemanded. Raphael connected the line as Anne nervously watched on from the background. -Yes, go ahead.? ¡°Please give Russia and Germany information on all locations of the White Wolves. We will choose one territory for the Foreign Legion to attack. Once the French special forces arrive at the Osan airport, you will be joined by the South Korean special forces.¡± -I will request approval and inform you immediately.? After hanging up, Kang Chan leaned back in his chair. He would make it clear to everyone that anyone who touched his people would suffer fatal consequences. He would make sure his enemies would fear messing with him or anyone around him ever again. Chapter 155.2: Watch and Learn (2)

Chapter 155.2: Watch and Learn (2)

Kang Chan stretched his arm out to pick up a cigarette. As he was lighting it up, Anne came hobbling over to the desk. Huh? What is she doing? Once she approached the table, she began to pour him more tea like a respectable societydy. In her eyes, Kang Chan could see the faith she had in him. ¡®It¡¯ll all be fine in the end, so you don¡¯t have to worry too much.¡¯ ¡®Thank you.¡¯ Anne turned back and returned to where she had been sitting. She probably just wanted to do something to express her gratitude toward him. ¡°May I make a call?¡± Xavier carefully asked when Kang Chan was exhaling the smoke of his cigarette. ¡°It¡¯s toote, Xavier. Now that the operation has already started, it¡¯s just going to be the men on our side getting sacrificed if you secretly deliver our strategy to the people you report back to. Let me get this straight. Like I said before, if something happens to Ambassador Lanok even after this operation, I will work with the UK if I have to if that means I can take revenge on the States. So you better hope to God that the ambassador will return safe and sound,¡± Kang Chan stated. ¡°Why are you still keeping me here, then?¡± Xavier asked, seemingly finding his situation unjust. Kang Chan looked at Xavier in amusement. ¡°You were arrested by the NIS for spying and trying to sneak out South Korean military secrets,¡± Kang Chan informed him. Xavier looked as if he couldn¡¯t believe his ears. ¡°What? Did you think South Korea wouldn¡¯t be able to touch an American spy? Ha, bullshit.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand that having the ability tomand special forces is nothing in the world of international politics.¡± Xavier was starting to sound frustrated. ¡°That might be true,¡± Kang Chan agreed, nodding as he spoke. ¡°But you¡¯re a spy who was trying to steal South Korean military intelligence. That fact won¡¯t change regardless of what¡¯s going on in the political scene.¡± With his arms stillid on the table, Xavier looked to Raphael for backup. ¡°Did you think South Korea would continue to just take everyone¡¯s terrorist attacks lying down? Did you think we won¡¯t be able to arrest guys like you even if you steal the country¡¯s military secrets? Don¡¯t be an idiot, Xavier,¡± Kang Chan continued. He extinguished his cigarette on the ashtray and took a sip of his tea. Soon after, the phone began to ring again. Still ring at Xavier, Kang Chan picked up the receiver. -The Foreign Legion has departed. They will arrive in Osan in approximately twelve hours. Germany and Russia¡¯s special forces have also left their countries. God of ckfield, China has ordered emergency standby on their entire military. Will you still proceed? Kang Chan smirked, his eyes still on Xavier. ¡°An important official from France was kidnapped. I don¡¯t care if France decides they don¡¯t want in on the action. But you should think about why Germany, Russia, and South Korea¡¯s special forces are moving at mymand. I¡¯m a little disappointed with the DGSE today.¡± -We were only rying the possible dangers to you. Our special forces team has already left. I hope there aren¡¯t any misunderstandings about our stance. ¡°Got it. Thanks,¡± Kang Chan replied in a lighter tone, then set down the receiver. ¡°Please let me make a call!¡± Xavier pleaded desperately. ¡°Shut up,¡± Kang Chan said firmly. ¡°War will break out at this rate! South Korea is going to go up in mes!¡± Xavier eximed. Kang Chan tilted his head as he began to glower at Xavier. Xavier flinched. ¡°What? Go up in mes? Repeat what you just said, you son of a bitch,¡± Kang Chan growled. He suppressed the urge to shoot Xavier in the forehead with his gun when he got interrupted by his phone. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? It was probably for the better that he received a call at such timing. ¡°Hello?¡± -Mr. Kang, the DGSE has contacted us and sent us all the necessary information, and the director has also given his approval. Our special forces will be joining the French team in Osan.? ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll do my best to make sure this is a sess,¡± Kang Chan reassured him. When he put his phone down, he felt as if everything was over now. There was no turning back, but this was not something he should retreat from in the first ce. He decided to attack, so he simply proceeded with that decision. If he just kept making calctions and worrying about what could happen, he would have been left taking punches from the enemies. After all, no one would dare attack him if they thought he wasn¡¯t worth the consequences to mess with. Xavier looked flustered and shocked. This was probably how China and the United States were feeling right now. Nevertheless, the phone on Lanok¡¯s desk still wasn¡¯t ringing with any calls from the two countries. They were essentially threatening Kang Chan to let go of the agent who was trying to steal ssified information and not meddle with China. Those motherfuckers.? They were holding out until the end in hopes that Kang Chan¡ªno¡ªthat South Korea would surrender to them. The bullies in them probably wanted to argue and ask why he wasn¡¯t taking their beating lying down. *** ¡°Mr. President! You have to ept the calls,¡± a man said. They were in a conference room illuminated by lights that were wrapped around the dome-shaped ceiling. With his mic still off, the assistant director continued, ¡°South Korea¡¯s future is on the line here. He¡¯s just a student, sir, and yet the child has almost all the country¡¯s authority in his hands. This will only result into bigger issues if you keep approving of this. Mr. President! Geographically speaking, it¡¯s difficult for us to stay safe without the protection of China and the United States.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun stared at his mic, remaining silent. The fourth deputy chief of the NIS looked at the callers and carefully nced at Moon Jae-Hyun. ¡°China and the United States are still requesting to speak to you, sir. This is already the United States¡¯ third request.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun turned to look at the fourth deputy chief. ¡°They¡¯re only going to tell us not to send our special forces if we answer, are they not?¡± ¡°Mr. President. He¡¯s just a high-school kid. He¡¯s bombarding China with all these special forces teams like how a child ys a game. If this results in a full-scale war, this isn¡¯t something that can be solved by just turning off yourputer,¡± the assistant director replied with a tinge of frustration. Nevertheless, Moon Jae-Hyun continued to speak to the assistant director in an unaffected tone. ¡°What are the chances this will result in war?¡± "The Ministry of National Defense''s simtion result is forty-seven to fifty-three, and the National Intelligence Service''s simtion result is fifty-two to forty-eight." As if on cue, everyone sighed quietly at the same time. ¡°You have to speak with them now, sir, even if it¡¯s already toote. If the United States and China decides to ruin us, our country will copse from its economic foundation.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t do that recklessly. South Korea is set to be a part of the Eurasian Rail, after all.¡± ¡°If Ambassador Lanok is already dead, we can¡¯t guarantee the Eurasian Rail either.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that all the more reason why we should work together to rescue Ambassador Lanok? Let¡¯s keep an eye on the situation a little longer.¡± The assistant director tantly showed his displeasure at Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s response. *** -Ludwig? ¡°Well, well, well. A call from Vasili? This situation is certainly interesting.¡± Ludwig rubbed his tired eyes with his thumb and index finger. Despite the fatigue, he kept his guard up during the phone call that he had just received. -Our new hero seems to be aggravated, hm? If I turn him down, he will begin to work with the UK, and if I do as he wants, the results will be quite something. What do you think? ¡°You¡¯re making aplicated issue out of a simple matter. All China had to do was set Lanok free, but they are worsening the problem by staying silent instead. We¡¯re not the aggravated ones here. That¡¯s China, Vasili.¡± Ludwig lifted his mug and sipped some of his coffee. -China seemed to be trying to pressure the South Korean government into backing down. Ludwig quickly put his mug back down and frowned. ¡°Vasili, don¡¯t you already know what kind of person Kang Chan is and what Lanok means to him? If I were in China¡¯s shoes, I would have quickly returned Lanok, apologized to Kang Chan and the South Korean government, and made reparations.¡± -That would likely be the best way out, yes.? ¡°China has alreadyunched three terrorist attacks in South Korea. If it were you, you would have already sought retribution, would you have not? The South Korea we used to know and the South Korea now is different. The synergy between Moon Jae-hyun and Kang Chan is fantastic. Anyone who treats them like they treated South Korea in the past wille to regret it just like how China and the United States are regretting it right now.¡± With a deep sigh from Vasili, the call ended. *** Ring. Ring. Ring.? Kang Chan lifted the receiver. -Mr. Kang Chan, the United States and China contacted me. They are asking me to mediate the situation. What would you like me to say? It was Ludwig. ¡°My conditions are simple, Ludwig. For Ambassador Lanok¡¯s safe return and for them to take responsibility for this incident through definite reparations.¡± -Understood.? As he set the phone down, he saw Anne and Raphael¡¯s lips tremble nervously. Ring. Ring. Ring.? ¡°Ello?¡± -It¡¯s Vasili. I understand China, but why is the United States acting like they¡¯re freaking out? ¡°Vasili, I¡¯m sure you know what it is that I want.¡± -Sometime in the future, when you look back to this way, you will painstakingly regret it and get shivers down your back. ¡°I¡¯ll worry about thatter, Vasili. Perhaps after I get everything I want,¡± Kang Chan said, unbothered. -You made a scene with your first appearance too. Seems like you¡¯ve got a talent for making people focus and pay attention to you. I¡¯ll contact you again.? Kang Chan set the receiver down and looked at Seok Kang-Ho. All that was left to do now was wait. Ring. Ring. Ring.? The direct line began to ring again. Damn it!? Could these windbags not get enough chattering? The operation had barely started. Why did they have to call about so much? Kang Chan lifted the receiver to his ear. ¡°Ello?¡± -Is this the God of ckfield? Kang Chan didn¡¯t recognize the voice. Chapter 156.1: That Would Be Wise (1)

Chapter 156.1: That Would Be Wise (1)

¡°Go ahead. Speak,¡± Kang Chan stated. A chuckle came over the phone. It sounded more like a scoff, though. -You waste no time with formalities. You¡¯re just as curt as I heard. This had to be the person currently holding Lanok hostage or someone who had the power to get Lanok back safely. Hisx, unhurried tone made it clear he was definitely either one of the two. -You should be careful when you speak to me.? Pft! Kang Chan snorted, then mmed the receiver down with a loud bang. Motherfucker! He¡¯s the one who called because he¡¯s in a rush. Does he really think he can y it nice and cool? Kang Chan had not given up on Lanok. However, in the spur of the moment, he concluded that he couldn¡¯t let the man confidently take the upper hand just because the man had Lanok in his grasp. Seok Kang-Ho, who was looking bored because he couldn¡¯t understand what was being said, was now carefully observing Kang Chan¡¯s expression. Ring. Ring. Ring.? When the phone rang again, everyone¡¯s gazes shifted to Kang Chan and the line on Lanok¡¯s desk. Kang Chan made his trademark smirk as he picked up the receiver. ¡°Ello?¡± -If you hang up on my calls like that again¡ª This son of a bitch still hasn¡¯t learned his lesson, has he? Kang Chan swiftly ended the call again. As he bit on another cigarette, Raphael quickly held up a lighter for him. Across from Kang Chan, he noticed Anne¡¯s hands trembling vehemently, understandably so. After all, everyone in the room knew that the calls that they were receiving right now were directly rted to Lanok¡¯s safety. Even Xavier was looking at Kang Chan with a pale face. However, Kang Chan¡¯s expression clearly showed what he was thinking. ¡®What the hell are you going to do about it?¡¯ His eyes had one clear message as well: find Lanok first and think about other thingster. *** The man gritted his teeth as he put down the phone. There were four desks in the vast room that he was in, and Lanok was sitting on the opposite sofa from him. He stared daggers at Lanok as the corners of his lips began to twitch out of a mix of anger and frustration. Not long after, the phone started to ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.? Letting out a deep sigh, the man picked it up. ¡°Wei!¡± he answered. -Sou Ke, it¡¯s Vasili.? With his head hanging low, Huh Geuk¡¯s expression crumpled. He seem as if he was having a hard time trying to keep his temper under control. -You have already lost. If you keep ignoring my warnings and still attempt to open the entrance to the nuclear silo, just know that I¡¯m not above cooperating with the United States and Britain to administer revenge. You only have an hour left before our special forces arrive now. You better finish your negotiations with the God of ckfield before you run out of time. This is myst warning, Sou Ke. If you don¡¯t listen, you¡¯ll know just how heavy my words are.? Huh Geuk¡¯s face reddened as he let go of the lower lip he had kept bitten. ¡°The God of ckfield won¡¯t answer my calls,¡± he said. A moment of silence crossed the line before Vasili began to snicker at him. -Ah, you must have unnecessarily put up an arrogant front. Huhuhu. Hahahaha.? Huh Geuk red at Lanok, not having anyone else to direct his anger to. Lanok just looked calm and collected. He was leaning back on the chair with his legs crossed as if he was aware of everything that was going on. -I¡¯ll mediate for you just this once. And if I may give you a piece of advice, don¡¯t mess with that man.? ¡°Hmm!¡± -And if you haven¡¯t already, you better make sure Lanok isn¡¯t ufortable. I hope in your best interests that there isn¡¯t even a single stray scratch on Lanok. If he does, China will have to pay an astronomical price as a consequence of this incident.? ¡°Hey! Is there something about that guy that I¡¯m missing? What¡¯s his deal?¡± -Ha. You dared touch Lanok when you don¡¯t even know who he is? Now that the God of ckfield has expressed his intent to protect Lanok, we¡¯re left with no other choice but to guarantee nothing happens to him. Because of that, the other countries¡¯ intelligence agencies can rx a little.? Huh Geuk furrowed his brows, not understanding what Vasili was saying. -From here on out, The God of ckfield¡¯s first suspect will always be China if ever Lanok¡¯s life is in danger again. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s just because of a traffic ident or some other reason.? Huh Geuk sighed and sat against one of the desks. -I¡¯m only helping you this one time. I¡¯ll call God of ckfield and speak to him, so call him again in ten minutes. Apologize, and don¡¯t state any conditions for returning Lanok. You better not waste my arbitration. Huh Geuk hung up and let out another sigh. ¡°Can I have some tea, if it¡¯s fine with you?¡± Lanok asked, looking directly into Huh Geuk¡¯s eyes. Huh Geuk had lost. This was pretty much already a lost bottle. It was a futile and humiliating one too, becauseing out of it, China had just essentially donated their vested rights in the world of intelligence to Lanok. ¡°Of course,¡± Huh Geuk replied. He gestured and gave a look to an agent, who quickly brought over a porcin tea set and filled Lanok a cup. ¡°Lanok, it seems there has been a misunderstanding.¡± Lanok nodded as he lifted his teacup. ¡°Apologies and reparations to the South Korean and French government, as well as to any other country who mobilized soldiers,¡± Lanok stated his requests unfazed. Huh Geuk agreed in a tone that sounded like he was sighing. ¡°And isn¡¯t it about time for you to call?¡± Lanok asked calmly. Lanok set down his cup with a click, and Huh Geuk red at the phone at Lanok¡¯s question. Huh Geuk was now cornered and would only be able to make onest move. Would he retreat from here or attack again? *** Ring. Ring. Ring.? ¡°Ello?¡± -It¡¯s Vasili.? Everyone in the office swallowed nervously when Kang Chan smirked. -What are you so angry about? Sou Ke will call you again. It won¡¯t be the end of the world to answer the phone nicely for once, you know, especially with Lanok waiting for you. Kang Chan stopped himself from asking the question that was threatening to spill out from the tip of his tongue. -I see you still refuse to ask about Lanok¡¯s well-being. I understand you¡¯re brewing with anger, but it seems that some people have been injured, so why don¡¯t you stop here? At this rate, it¡¯s only going to be our nation¡¯s innocent men who are sacrificed all because they¡¯re geographically close to China.? ¡°All right,¡± Kang Chan answered in acknowledgment. The call ended with Vasili¡¯s strangeughter. Just as the silence in the room palpably sank to the floor, the direct line began to bellow again. Ring. Ring. Ring.? Kang Chan extended his arm to pick it up. Xavier anxiously watched on. ¡°Ello?¡± -It¡¯s Sou Ke, God of ckfield.? ¡°Where are you?¡± Kang Chan cut to the chase. The man seemed to have been taken aback by how abrupt it was, considering he didn¡¯t say anything in reply. ¡°Tell me where the ambassador is,¡± Kang Chanmanded. Anne covered her mouth with a hand, and Raphael¡¯s fists trembled slightly. A quiet sigh came from across the phone. -Come to the Chinese embassy. But you have toe alone.? ¡°That¡¯s up to me to decide,¡± Kang Chan stated standoffishly. Click. After hanging up, Kang Chan immediately got out of his seat and turned to look at a French agent. ¡°Move Xavier where you see fit, but make sure to keep a close eye on him,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Understood, sir,¡± the agent replied. ¡°This is absurd,¡± Xavier grumbled loudly as two agents grabbed hold of both of his arms and took him out of the office. ¡°I will be heading to the Chinese embassy now. Seok Kang-Ho and I will head inside. Choi Jong-Il, you¡¯ll stand by right outside,¡± Kang Chanmanded. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il responded. Anne looked between Kang Chan, Raphael, and Choi Jong-Il, not understanding their Korean. As Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s group left the office, Kang Chan turned to Anne. ¡°It seems the ambassador is being held in the Chinese embassy,¡± Kang Chan exined. Tears immediately began to fall from Anne¡¯s eyes. ¡°Thank you. Thank you, Channy!¡± she eximed. ¡°It¡¯s all going to be okay,¡± Kang Chan assured her as she ran into his arms and hugged him. He patted her back in response, then turned back around. ¡°Raphael,¡± he said. ¡°Yes, Monsieur Kang,¡± Raphael replied. ¡°If there are any more calls asking for me, give them my number,¡± Kang Chan informed him. ¡°As youmand, Monsieur Kang,¡± Raphael replied. Kang Chan hung the gun that was on the table at his waist. Before walking out the door, he nced back, finding Anne wiping her tears and Raphael respectfully bowing at him. *** Choi Jong-Il knew the location of the Chinese embassy, so Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho simply followed him. As they hit the road, Kang Chan called someone on his phone. -Mr. Kang Chan! It¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung.? The tone and urgency with which Kim Hyung-Jung answered the phone showed just how nervous he was. ¡°Mr. Kim, please send two units of the special forces to the Chinese embassy,¡± Kang Chan requested. -What? Pardon? ¡°I¡¯ll be arriving there in around twenty minutes. It¡¯s where Ambassador Lanok is, Mr. Kim. We will win this battle whether we deploy special forces units or not. However, I also n to use this opportunity to disy our country¡¯s strength.¡± -I understand, Mr. Kang Chan! I¡¯ll call you as soon as I¡¯m done arranging this. When the call dropped, Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan. ¡°Those motherfuckers! Seems like they didn¡¯t learn their lesson even after getting wrecked in Paju, huh?¡± Seok Kang-Ho said jokingly. Nope! They definitely didn¡¯t.? Kang Chan simply nodded in agreement. Chapter 156.2: That Would Be Wise (1)

Chapter 156.2: That Would Be Wise (1)

¡°Mr. President, please!¡± the assistant director of the NIS pleaded with a pale expression. They were currently connected on a call, so Kim Hyung-Jung also heard the assistant director¡¯s plea. ¡°Mr. Kim, are you absolutely certain that he said this battle will end in our victory?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. - I am, Mr. President! I heard him say those words loud and clear. ¡°To confirm, he also told you that he wants to disy just how powerful South Korea truly is?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked again. -Yes, that is correct, Mr. President! Moon Jae-Hyun turned his head and looked at Hwang Ki-Hyun, who had been silent all this time. ¡°Mr. President, we¡¯re already on a running tiger. There¡¯s no stopping now,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun spoke up for the first time. Moon Jae-Hyun smiled back wryly. ¡°Mr. Kim, do we have men to mobilize right now?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. -The 606 is on standby in Songpa, sir. ¡°I see. Give them the order, then,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun directed with a slightly resigned tone. -Thank you, Mr. President! As soon as the call ended, Moon Jae-Hyun turned away from the conference mic and leaned back to rest in his chair. Moon Jae-Hyun sighed deeply, then asked the assistant director, ¡°Do you think this is reckless?¡± ¡°Mr. President, our country cannot survive antagonizing both the United States and China. They have such a powerful influence that if the U.S. raises their interest rates by just two percent, over ten countries in Latin America and Africa will inevitably suffer. If they raise the interest rates by three percent, then even we will find it impossible to keep our heads above the water,¡± the assistant director said in an attempt to change Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s mind. Moon Jae-Hyun nodded at him and sighed deeply. ¡°We have to cooperate with at least either China or the United States, but we have turned our backs on both countries at the same time instead. Mr. President! We are in hostile rtions with all the countries that surround us. If Russia, France, and Germany turn away from us as well¡­¡± the assistant director trailed off after seeing Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s expression. He calmed his turbulent emotions down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. President,¡± he said, then quieted down. Everyone here was already aware of the dire possibilities that he was talking about. There was no need to say them out loud. ¡°He¡¯s just a high school student, huh?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said as he looked at every face in the room. ¡°Well, you¡¯re right. As hard as it may be to believe, Mr. Kang Chan is certainly still in his senior year of high school.¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun quietly sighed in response, then looked down. ¡°However, that high school student gave South Korea the opportunity to be connected to the Eurasian Rail. He also disyed diplomatic excellence by providing assistance in getting the announcement for the railway system held in our country,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun continued. ¡°It doesn¡¯t stop there. He also rescued me and the founder of the Eurasian Rail when a terrorist attack hit the conference hall where its announcement event was being held, safely brought back our agents from Mongolia, and, during the operation in France, helped our special forces make their greatest aplishment in the entire history of the unit¡¯s existence.¡± He paused halfway through to pick up the cigarette that was in front of him. ¡°We have always lost talents like him to the United States or China or nipped them in the bud with our own hands because other countries would not just sit still and allow such talent to grow in our nation. As the assistant director said, our people will have to suffer if we want to protect such a man with potential. I cannot imagine the costs that they will have to pay.¡± Click.? The smoke of his cigarette spun up to the ceiling fan, then was blown out of the room. ¡°If we lose Mr. Kang Chan, this man youbel simply a high schooler, we will also lose the Unicorn project. We have no influence or connections in that matter. We have put an extremely heavy burden on that young student¡¯s shoulders, men. I, the prime minister, the director of the NIS, and even General Choi Seong-Geon have forced that child to carry that back-breaking load.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun inhaled once, then extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray in front of him. ¡°If we lose Mr. Kang Chan, I have no idea if we¡¯ll ever be able to find a genius like him ever again. That young man is putting himself through all kinds of hardships just toplete the task we have left in his hands. As the president, for as long as he is still moving forward, I refuse to surrender and yield just because of an immediate threat. We can no longer turn a blind eye to China¡¯s acts of terror and the United States¡¯ thefts that they so tantly execute within our country. I will put my life on the line for him. I believe this is the best thing I can do during my regime.¡± The expressions of all the people at the conference stiffened. However, the tension they felt now was different from the one they felt before. *** As soon as they reached the Chinese embassy, Kang Chan stepped out of the car and turned toward Choi Jong-Il. ¡°As soon as the 606 arrive, order them to wait on standby at the front,¡± Kang Chan instructed. ¡°There are too many watchful eyes here, sir. I will have them wait inside the cars,¡± Choi Jong-Il politely suggested. ¡°Choi Jong-Il. This is a battle against China. Don¡¯t be timid or worry about what others will think. The special forces will fight as they rightfully should,¡± Kang Chan stated firmly. ¡°Understood, sir,¡± Choi Jong-Il replied. As soon as Kang Chan was done giving orders, an employee of the embassy¡ªsomeone who seemed to be an agent¡ªapproached him. ¡°Pleasee with me, sir.¡± The agent unexpectedly spoke in Korean. The agent gave Seok Kang-Ho, who was following after Kang Chan, a second look, but he didn¡¯t stop him from heading inside. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho followed the employee past the entrance of the first floor and down a hallway to the left. Beep. The agent pressed a button, and a pair of heavy iron doors opened as a blue light turned on. Inside it was another set of doors. Suddenly, Kang Chan¡¯s heart loudly thumped. Before Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho were just doors. Normal entrances. And they were standing in a space that was about three meters in size. Nevertheless, Kang Chan¡¯s heart was warning him to get out of this ce. Thick cement walls, and a three-meter space that seemed pointless? Kang Chan quickly turned to Seok Kang-Ho and signaled at the doors that they had just entered. Seok Kang-Ho dashed forward to grab the door and put his foot in the doorway so they wouldn¡¯t close. ¡°Call Choi Jong-Il over,¡± Kang Chan firmly ordered. The embassy employee looked sharply at Kang Chan. Unfortunately for him, Kang Chan had never been the type to avoid such a re. ¡°Don¡¯t make things unnecessarilyplicated and just open the doors,¡± Kang Chan spokemandingly toward the employee. Beep. In the end, the employee opened the doors with a stiff expression. As he did, Seok Kang-Ho walked over to Kang Chan. Choi Jong-Il was now standing guard at the first set of doors. The employee had evident hesitation on his face. Kang Chan glowered at the agent. Choose. Make your decision. Whatever it is, I¡¯m ready for it.? The corner of the employee¡¯s mouth twitched as he guided them further in. Kang Chan swiftly nced at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡®Have the 606 positioned in this location.¡¯ ¡®Got it, Cap.¡¯ Others would have wondered how theymunicated. However, Kang Chan¡¯s sharp eyes and a wide grin from Seok Kang-Ho, who had deliciously gulped down his nervousness, were enough for them to read each other. As they walked past the open doors, they were met with another. Just how careful could these bastards be? Beep.? The third set of doors opened. Kang Chan grinned as soon as he walked inside, having found Lanok leisurely sitting on a sofa with a cup of tea in front of him. ¡®Are you all right, sir?¡¯ ¡®We should get out of here as soon as we can.¡¯ As they exchanged a series of looks with each other, someone suddenly spoke up. ¡°Are you the God of ckfield?¡± ¡°I believe I am free to escort Ambassador Lanok out of this ce now,¡± Kang Chan replied. Behind the sofa, over ten Chinese agents were on standby, perfectly prepared to attack at any given moment. ¡°Is it because you¡¯re a teenager that you¡¯re immature?¡± the man asked, making Kang Chan face him. ¡°It would be in your best interest to choose your next words carefully,¡± Kang Chan warned. The look in the man¡¯s eyes was as menacing as Kang Chan¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking the ambassador out of here first. If you have anything to say, then do it some other time and somewhere else,¡± Kang Chan announced. They could hear people shuffling outside. ¡°Did you bring soldiers inside the embassy?¡± the man asked. ¡°The 606,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Are you aware of how unbelievable your actions are? You just tossed your soldiers into Chinese territory, young man,¡± the man said with a scoff. ¡°And you think it¡¯s any better to kidnap a French ambassador inside South Koreannd?¡± Kang Chan snarked back. The man sighed, seemingly trying to relieve some stress. He then turned to Lanok. ¡°Lanok, I hope everything moving forward proceeds smoothly,¡± the Chinese man said. Lanok nodded briefly and stood up from his seat. Afterward, he said, ¡°Suo Ke, what about my agents?¡± ¡°Just let me know which hospital to send them to, and I¡¯ll have them rushed over,¡± Suo Ke replied. Lanok walked over to Kang Chan and stood next to him. When Kang Chan turned around to leave, the employee who guided him into the room opened the doors. Click! Click! Soldiers of the 606 waited for them right outside, their rifles aimed in the air and their faces perfectly covered with bandanas and helmets. ¡°I didn¡¯t know South Korea was this powerful,¡± the man said in a sarcastic tone. Kang Chan nced back at his disrespectful manner of speaking, but Lanok called out to him before he could do or say anything. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok said. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what the world of intelligence was like yet. Letting Lanok take care of the rest, he walked out of the room. Click! Click! Witnessing the 606 soldiers covering them gave Kang Chan a sense of pride and protection. Seok Kang-Ho quickly started the engine of his car, and Choi Jong-Il gavemands to the soldiers. Stepping outside of the embassy¡¯s lobby, Lanok took in a deep breath and faced Kang Chan. ¡°Monsieur Kang,¡± Lanok started. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the embassy first, sir. Anne is very worried about you,¡± Kang Chan said, sounding quite concerned. ¡°Ah, that would be wise. From this moment forward, I will show you exactly how I wrap up incidents like these,¡± Lanok said. He smiled from ear to ear, making it seem as if he was wearing a mask that hid his true expression. Chapter 157.1: That Would Be Wise (2)

Chapter 157.1: That Would Be Wise (2)

It was already one in the afternoon when they left the Chinese embassy. Kang Chan briefly told Lanok everything that had happened that day. Once he was done, Lanok took out his phone and called Vasili. ¡°Vasili, it¡¯s Lanok.¡± Lanok faintly smiled at Kang Chan as he spoke into his phone a few times. ¡°Yes, please withdraw the troops. I¡¯ll contact youter,¡± Lanok said, then finally hung up. Not long after, he called another number. ¡°It¡¯s Lanok. Order every unit that has been deployed to return to base. Please pass on my gratitude to Ludwig as well, and tell him that I¡¯ll contact him by tomorrow. Onest thing¡­¡± Lanok paused and quickly looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Contact South Korea¡¯s National Intelligence Service and send an official application for the STB. Report to me once it has been approved.¡± Lanok hung up. He then turned his head and briefly looked at Choi Jong-Il¡¯s car and the van that the members of the 606 were in. ¡°The STB refers to the system that allows my country¡¯s DGSE to share all information and guarantees the mutual security of the Intelligence Service¡¯s agents.¡± Kang Chan simply nodded. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Lanok burst out withughter, his expression seemingly saying he found Kang Chan¡¯s reaction funny. The sly snake had beenughing too often these days. ¡°That means South Korea will get joint rights to use the satellites that my country¡¯s DGSE manages,¡± Lanok exined. ¡°China has been applying nonstop for the STB to the DGSE for the past five years, and Japan has been doing the same thing for the past ten years.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.¡± Kang Chan thought getting ess to the STB was great and all, but it couldn¡¯t seem to sink in right now. ¡°Did you reallye to every decision you made this morning by yourself?¡± Lanok asked. ¡°Yes. I didn¡¯t exactly have anyone I could have asked for help.¡± Lanok smiled as he pursed his lips. ¡°Was it also you who deployed South Korea¡¯s special forces at the Chinese embassy?¡± ¡°I only managed to do that because I got the National Intelligence Service¡¯s approval.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Lanok nodded. Not long after, Seok Kang-Ho parked at the French embassy¡¯s parking lot. Swoosh! Agents swiftly exited the building and surrounded the car. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, do you have time to have tea with me?¡± Lanok asked. That was a given. As Kang Chan got out of the car, he noticed that Choi Jong-Il and the two vans that the members of the 606 used were parked in the parking lot as well. ¡°Wait here, Choi Jong-Il. You should deploy the members of the 606 somewhere inconspicuous,¡± Kang Chan ordered. ¡°Understood.¡± Lanok silently waited for Kang Chan as he was giving orders. Afterward, they went up to the embassy. The embassy was full of agents. Some stood in front of them, and two others walked behind them. They walked down the hallway on the second floor and opened the door to the office. ¡°Papa!¡± Even though she was limping, Anne quickly ran over and went into Lanok¡¯s arms. Lanok stroked her head, then kissed it. ¡°Anne, you¡¯ll be able to rest easy under any circumstances now, won¡¯t you?¡± Lanok asked. Anne nodded toward Lanok, then looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Channy!¡± Kang Chan stroked Anne¡¯s back when she went into his arms. ¡°Raphael, I would like to enjoy some tea and cigars with Monsieur Kang,¡± Lanok requested. ¡°As you wish, Mr. Ambassador.¡± ¡°Right! Raphael.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador?¡± Raphael quickly looked at Lanok just before he couldpletely turn around. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot today. You did well.¡± ¡°All of this was possible thanks to Monsieur Kang.¡± Lanok nodded, and Raphael quickly left the room. Lanok sat down at the table and took out a cigar from a case. At the same time, Kang Chan bit on a cigarette. Chk chk. It only felt real now for Kang Chan that he had rescued Lanok. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I would like to request that South Korea lighten the weight of the requests that they were going to ask Russia to fulfill as a courtesy for Vasili¡¯s contribution to solving this incident. In return, I will make sure Francepensates South Korea for anything that they¡¯ll becking as a result,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Your safe return is already more than enough for me. I still haven¡¯t done anything for you for connecting South Korea to the Eurasian Rail anyway,¡± Kang Chan said. As he was talking, Raphael brought over a teapot and poured them a cup of tea each. Anne and Seok Kang-Ho sat in different seats at the back, drinking tea in what seemed like an awkward atmosphere. ¡°Nevertheless, you should still ept your well-earnedpensation, Mr. Kang Chan. To that end, I hope that you can join me in a meeting with Suo Ke as soon as an appointment is made,¡± Lanok said. *** Kang Chan¡¯s conversation with Lanoksted for about an hour. Once it was over, he returned the weapons and entrusted Xavier to Lanok before leaving the embassy. It was around 2:30 pm. Only half of the day had passed, but Kang Chan had such a long morning that he felt as if a week had gone by. As per the embassy¡¯s request, the members of the 606 stood guard all over the building. Hence, only Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s party left the embassy. ¡°Let¡¯s eat,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. ¡°Sure. Everyone is probably already hungry. We should call Mr. Kim as well, shouldn¡¯t we?¡± Kang Chan held up his phone and dialed Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s number. - Mr. Kang Chan! It¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung. His greeting got increasingly faster, making it seem as if he was stating his official rank and name. ¡°We have just left the French embassy.¡± - What do you n to do now? ¡°We all skipped lunch, so I was thinking of going somewhere to eat.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s exhaustedugh carried over the call. ¡°You haven¡¯t had lunch yet either, have you?¡± - Everyone ranked deputy manager and above in the National Intelligence Service couldn¡¯t eat with everything that was happening. Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯sughter this time sounded as if he found the situation funny. - Where are you going for lunch? I¡¯ll head over. Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Where do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Well, if he¡¯s joining, then why don¡¯t we eat at the barbeque restaurant right in front of the office in Samseong-dong?¡± Kang Chan told Kim Hyung-Jung about Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s suggestion. - Ah! I know that ce. I¡¯ll head on over right now. ¡°We¡¯re still thirty minutes away from the restaurant, Mr. Manager.¡± - Ah, Is that so? I¡¯ll just wait until you¡¯re a little closer, then. Kang Chan hung up, then lowered the window about halfway. ¡°I was bored to death all morning. You seemed to be having one intense phone call after another, but I couldn¡¯t understand anything you were saying so I couldn¡¯t even y along. Should I just learn French?¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°We didn¡¯t talk about anything special.¡± Kang Chan draped his arm on the window as cold winds brushed past his face and his arm. Autumn was just right around the corner, and there wasn¡¯t that much traffic. They reached their destination at around three in the afternoon. By the time they got there, Kim Hyung-Jung was already inside¡ªand he was the only customer. ¡°I told you to wait for us to get here before you leave the office,¡± Kang Chanmented. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho sat at Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s table, and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s party sat at the table next to them. Kang Chan wanted to eat a simple lunch, but Seok Kang-Ho suddenly ordered ten servings of galbi, leaving him with no other choice but to eat meat again. They also ordered a few bottles of beer. Everyone filled up their sses with it except for Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°You went through a lot today, Mr. Manager. You all did as well,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Wow!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed,plimenting the side dishes he was eating. ¡°France¡¯s DGSE has applied for the STB,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung told them. ¡°Ah, I already know about that. I was in the car with Lanok when he ordered someone to do that.¡± ¡°Phew.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t know why Kim Hyung-Jung suddenly sighed. ¡°We¡¯re actually acting with extreme caution right now,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°Will it be difficult to clean up today¡¯s incidents?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°The President has been making all the necessary calls to handle that. That being said, it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say that you have just done something impossible. Going toe-to-toe against China and the United States is bound to have heavy consequences.¡± Seok Kang-Ho, who had been pouring him more beer, suddenly nced at Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°That¡¯s all you¡¯re drinking today. Keep in mind that you¡¯re driving,¡± Kang Chan reminded Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Alright.¡± To Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho drinking and driving seemed like a bigger problem than China and the United States. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, did Ambassador Lanok say anything else?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°Well, he said that we should bepensated for our help and that he hopes we will make a fewpromises with what we¡¯re going to be requesting from Russia. They helped out in this incident as well, after all. In return, he said France will be making it up to us for whatever we¡¯ll becking as a result.¡± ¡°Haa!¡± Kim Hyung-Jung sighed once more. As he did, the meat they ordered was served. Eating whenever they could was for the best. Seok Kang-Ho ate in silence. While Choi Jong-Il¡¯s party ate a lot, Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung only ate moderately. ¡°Argh! I feel good,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. If Kang Chan ate as voraciously as Seok Kang-Ho did, he would¡¯ve died. After their meal, Kim Hyung-Jung asked, ¡°Would you like to have some coffee as well?¡± Kang Chan had actually been hoping someone would suggest that. Hence, after resting for a bit, they went to the specialty coffee shop in front of Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s office. They split into two groups and sat at two tables. Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Kim Hyung-Jung sat together. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, the President basically gambled with this incident,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined as coffee was served. ¡°He may not have gambled when we deployed our special forces team in France. However, if even just one error was made, our troops being inside the Chinese embassy would have been seen as no different as being caughtmitting major wrongdoings in Chinese territory.¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°It depends on the situation and the factors at y, but in general, the most important thing to do in situations like this is to establish quick and seamlessmunications. To that end, if by any chance you are faced with a decision to make again, please contact me. It doesn¡¯t matter what time it is.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Phew. It wouldn¡¯t be wrong to assume that we¡¯ll have difficulties asking for Russia¡¯s oil development rights, then?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but Ambassador Lanok did say that we will have topromise to some degree, so wouldn¡¯t that naturally be the case?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung drank his cup of coffee with a disappointed look on his face, then proceeded to tell Kang Chan about a few other matters until his phone rang. Not long after, he left the specialty coffee shop. Chapter 157.2: That Would Be Wise (2)

Chapter 157.2: That Would Be Wise (2)

Kang Chan really felt as if he could befortable. ¡°Phew! I¡¯m tired!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. Kang Chan had felt this way over and over again, but it was a hundred times better to have a gunfight than to fight exhausting battles like the one this morning. ¡°Should we visit a sauna?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Sure.¡± Going to the sauna that they had gone tost time should provide them with plenty of rest. ¡°Huh? I only noticed it now, but your eyes have calmed down,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Ha! That¡¯s fascinating. If your heart is pounding, then something happened to your parents or me, and if your eyes are glinting, then something happened to Ambassador Lanok!¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense and let¡¯s just go to the sauna already,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Okay.¡± Kang Chan stood up from his seat and headed to the sauna with Choi Jong-Il¡¯s party. ¡°One person has to stay in the car,¡± Choi Jong-Il said. No matter how hard Kang Chan insisted that they should all go, Choi Jong-Il didn¡¯t budge an inch. In the end, Lee Doo-Hee¡ªthe most junior of them all¡ªstayed behind as the others headed to the sauna. They soaked in hot water, enjoyed the wet sauna and the massage from a machine, then went into a hot cave andy down. Kang Chan suddenly felt as if he wanted toe here with Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. Not long after, he began to feel himself sweating away the fatigue. However, just as he was about to fall asleep, Seok Kang-Ho asked, ¡°You¡¯re not going to eat dinner?¡± Kang Chan ended up feeling fully awake because of Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s question. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to eat now, then I¡¯ll just go get some eggs with the guys,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. Choi Jong-Il definitely would not want to do that either. However, contrary to Kang Chan¡¯s expectations, Choi Jong-Il and Woo Hee-Seung followed Seok Kang-Ho with a grin on their faces. Scary fuckers. *** ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You¡¯re home early. Have you had dinner?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten a lot today. What about you, mother?¡± ¡°Your dad and I ate together when we got home.¡± Kang Chan greeted Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung, changed intofortable clothes, then went back out to the living room. ¡°Come quickly¡ªthe drama is starting,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung told Kang Chan. ¡°Ah! The drama is airing today, huh?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s getting more and more interesting. Even all my staff over at Kang Yoo Motors find it interesting.¡± ¡°My friends like it as well,¡± Yoo Hye-Sookmented. The three sat down and watched TV together. Kang Chan felt as if he was learning about happiness. *** The next day, Kang Chan called Michelle in the morning and met her two hours before noon to check out the building she had been talking about. It had a nice exterior, but since it was newly built, its interior was basically empty aside. Kang Chan thought it wasn¡¯t bad overall, especially when considering it was on the side of arge street. ¡°How many floors does this building have?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Seventeen in total.¡± It was way bigger than he was expecting. However, considering Michelle was the one who selected it, they would likely have a hard time finding a building even better than this. ¡°If you decide to buy this building and pay for it within the week, they said that they will change the structure of the elevator and the basement for you. It won¡¯t even go against the regtions since they gave the basement parking lot some extra space, which is quite fortunate for us,¡± Michelle exined. ¡°That¡¯s good. How much are they asking for this?¡± ¡°About that, since real estate prices have increased a lottely, it will most likely be at least ny-two billion won.¡± ¡°Will that be enough to guarantee I¡¯ll get ownership of the building once all construction is finished?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Yes, Channy.¡± Kang Chan took his time examining the building. ¡°Michelle, I don¡¯t know much about things like this, so I¡¯ll let you decide on what to do. However, I want you to determine if this building can meet all the conditions I have,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Whoo, there are a few buildings that could meet all your conditions if we expand our scope beyond Gangnam. Otherwise, this is the best building that¡¯s avable right now.¡± She seemed to be in a predicament, but Michelle clearly already had a clear answer in her mind. ¡°I see. Let¡¯s finalize this decision, then. I¡¯m going to call Cecile, so withdraw the payment for this building and pay for it. When can I start using this building?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I heard it¡¯s going to take a little more than a month. Channy, have you really decided to buy this building? That¡¯s really quick.¡± ¡°I doubt I¡¯m going to find a better building even if I look into it.¡± Michelle seemed dumbfounded, perhaps because Kang Chan reached a decision so easily. Nevertheless, she called someone about the building, then headed to Bangbae-dong with Kang Chan. They went to the small French restaurant that they dropped byst time and ordered some food and wine. When the wine was served, they poured themselves a ss. ¡°Right, Michelle¡ªthe school that I went to will be holding a festival soon. Even events like that havepetitions now. Anyway, Is there something that we can do for the festival?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°A festival? In high school?¡± Kang Chan nodded. ¡°I would have likely already given you an answer if we were talking about university festivals, but I''m not as familiar with high school festivals, so I¡¯m going to need more details about this, Channy.¡± ¡°I heard that there¡¯s apetition among schools about who can hold the best festival. The school next to ours is going crazy since they have a celebritying over. The father of one of their students is a President of an entertainment agency.¡± Michelle cocked her head. ¡°Channy, can I meet with the student that¡¯s in charge of the festival?¡± ¡°Do you have time for that?¡± Michelle smiled softly. ¡°This is for the school that the President is attending, right? You¡¯re the President of the drama productionpany we work for, so we should do a great job on anything you¡¯ve tasked us to do.¡± ¡°Kids are participating in the festival, so don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Michelle burst outughing as she raised her wine ss. ¡°At times like this, you really seem older than me. How is that even possible?¡± nk. After having a toast, Michelle had a sip of the wine. She then looked at Kang Chan with a sly look in her eyes. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Is the student that¡¯s preparing the festival the pretty student that I saw at the hospital, by any chance?¡± Kang Chan cocked his head. ¡°Heo Eun-Sil? Yeah, that¡¯s right. She¡¯s the girl that the employee from D.I. picked clothes forst time. But you¡¯ve got the wrong idea¡ªthe girl that I like is Kim Mi-Young. You¡¯ll get to meet her soon.¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Michelle sighed deeply. French women often expressed their intentions with such sighs. ¡°You hesitated to tell me who you liked in the past, but now you look confident,¡± Michelle added. The appetizer was served not long after. ¡°Channy,¡± Michelle called out to him calmly as she picked up a shrimp with her fork. ¡°You two haven¡¯t slept together yet, have you?¡± French people were quite profound. How could they eat shrimp while asking that kind of question? ¡°You know how it works in France, right? It¡¯s fine with people over there if their significant other has a lover even if they¡¯re married. Some married couples even give their better half allowances that they can use to go out with their lovers,¡± Michelle continued. ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± Michelle smiled as if she found Kang Chan funny. Not long after, the main dish was served. Kang Chan changed to a new fork and knife. As they ate, they talked about multiple topics, including drama production, reactions to the drama, requests for Eun So-Yeon and the other actors to make an appearance, photo shoots, and requests for the actors to appear inmercials. ¡°About the school festival¡­ Introduce me to that female student,¡± Michelle said, changing the topic again. ¡°I don¡¯t know her number, so I¡¯ll give her your number.¡± ¡°Okay, Channy. Should we go somewhere else?¡± Michelle nodded toward the small bar at the back. It had picturesque umbres in the yard. Kang Chan went to the bar with Michelle. He ordered coffee, then smoked a cigarette. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the whole matter about the building to you. If possible, it would be best to allocate a space for D.I. over there as well, after we decide the space that it needs in the building¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I see no reason to keep paying rent if we can move to a building that you own. We still have a month anyway. I¡¯ll make sure D.I. is ready to move out and transfer to your building by then. There¡¯s a lot of demand for the building that D.I. is in right now, so it should be easy to terminate the lease.¡± Kang Chan just stayed silent, not knowing what else to say to that. He sat back against the chair and looked up at the sky, which seemedpletely different from the one he saw in Switzend even though they were part of the same sky. ¡°What on earth have gotten you so deep in thought?¡± Michelle asked. Kang Chan smirked while looking at the sky. ¡°I just thought that I want to get stronger.¡± ¡°How much stronger?¡± Michelle¡¯s question made Kang Chan sigh, but it did need to be answered. ¡°I want to be strong enough to protect those that I find precious and achieve everything that I want,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°What do you want?¡± Do I have to reach an answer to that as well? Kang Chan stared at Michelle. It felt as if the sky was the one asking him that question. Chapter 158.1: I’m Going to Get Stronger (1)

Chapter 158.1: I¡¯m Going to Get Stronger (1)

After his morning workout with Choi Jong-Il, Kang Chan had breakfast as usual, then walked out to see Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook off. ¡°Feeling better?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan. ¡°I think so.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung took a good look at Kang Chan¡¯s eyes, thenughed softly. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°See youter, Channy!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. ¡°Drive safe!¡± After seeing his parents off, Kang Chan sat on the sofa and watched the news for a moment. He couldn¡¯t help butugh because he suddenly felt as if he was doing something useless¡ªhalf of the things that he had gone throughtely did not even get reported on the news and even those that did had been heavily altered. Kang Chan turned off the TV, then stared past the living room window. This was his break. He should spend days like this at home, especially since he hadn¡¯t done this in a while¡­ Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Damn it! Go figure!? His phone rang as if the sky was teaching him to live diligently. Kang Chan stood up and went into his room. When he looked at his phone, Lanok¡¯s name was on the screen. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, it¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, did I disturb your break? Is this gentleman watching me or something? Kang Chan knew that Lanok couldn¡¯t see him, but he instinctively looked around his room anyway. - I¡¯m nning to meet Suo Ke tomorrow at two in the afternoon at the Namsan Hotel. Does that work for you? ¡°It does. Should I head straight to the hotel?¡± - Yes. Kang Chan hung up. He was bound to meet Suo Ke anyway. After all, he was the main perpetrator behind the terror attack in Paju, the raid at the golf course and the presentation hall, and the military intelligence exchange with Huh Ha-Soo. After talking to Lanok, Kang Chan called Cecile and told her that he would be acquiring a building soon. - The branch manager will be the one handling this since that requires arge amount of money. You can use the funds whenever you want, though, so I¡¯ll talk to Michelle and visit you with the withdrawal slip on the day you need it. You¡¯re incredible, Channy. You¡¯re now the owner of a building worth more than a hundred billion won. ¡°It just happened somehow. Anyway, please do your best to avoid messing up my schedule.¡± - Don¡¯t worry. There is no way your schedule would get messed up. You¡¯re the best VIP in our branch, after all. After the call, Kang Chan looked for Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s number. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. However, his phone rang right before Kang Chan could press the call button. Seok Kang-Ho seemed fucking bored as well. ¡°Hello?¡± - What are you doing? ¡°Stop talking nonsense and let¡¯s get some coffee.¡± - Phuhuhu,e out quickly. As usual, Kang Chan put on a suit with a shirt, then left his house. He met Seok Kang-Ho in front of the apartment and headed to Misari together. They arrived a little after ten in the morning. The employee had just finished setting up the tables when he greeted the two, seemingly happy to see them. A momentter, he brought over the coffee that they ordered. ¡°Autumn is here,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. He sounded as if he wasmenting it because he found it disappointing that he couldn¡¯t eat it. ¡°I decided which building to buy yesterday. We can move in a month after we pay the initial and intermediate payments,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Oh! That¡¯s great!¡± ¡°I also decided that a floor of the basement parking lot will be just for us, like manager Kim¡¯s building. I also told the constructionpany to make sure we can use the elevator right away. I¡¯ll see how it goes first, but if everything goes ording to n, let¡¯s build a gym and a few rooms. We can renovate it as much as we want anyway.¡± Seok Kang-Ho looked satisfied. ¡°What¡¯s the square footage of thend?¡± ¡°What?¡± Seok Kang-Ho sighed loudly. ¡°You¡¯re nning on buying the building without even knowing the square footage of thend and the building? How much is it?¡± ¡°Michelle said it¡¯s ny-two billion won.¡± ¡°How many floors is it?¡± ¡°Seventeen floors.¡± ¡°Phew! That¡¯s an extremelyrge building.¡± Feeling as if Seok Kang-Ho would keep asking questions, Kang Chan quickly changed the topic. ¡°Remember Suo Ke, the guy that you saw at the Chinese embassy? I¡¯m going to meet that fucker tomorrow with Ambassador Lanok.¡± ¡°Just the two of you? Is that alright?¡± ¡°The agents from the embassy will be apanying us as well, and we¡¯re meeting at the Namsan Hotel anyway. What could go wrong?¡± Seok Kang-Ho pouted like a catfish and cocked his head. ¡°When I saw Suo Ke, he looked like he would have done things differently if you weren¡¯t holding the door. I¡¯ll be on standby with Jong-Il on the first floor of the hotel.¡± Seok Kang-Ho would be bored anyway, so Kang Chan just nodded and told him when the meeting would be held. After talking about various matters and killing some time, they had lunch. They decided to have another cup of coffee after lunch. However, around the same time, Kang Chan received a call. ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung. Can I see you for a moment? ¡°I¡¯m at Misari with Seok Kang-Ho. Should we head to your office?¡± - I would appreciate that. ¡°We¡¯re on our way.¡± Kang Chan headed to Samseong-dong with Seok Kang-Ho, who was happy because he now had something to do. They parked the car close to the entrance of the parking lot and went up the building. When they arrived, Kim Hyung-Jung opened the door for them himself. Even though he couldn¡¯t get even a day¡¯s worth of a proper rest, he at least looked to be in much better condition than before. ¡°Have you had lunch?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°I had jjamppong.¡± Disappointed, Seok Kang-Ho sat at the table. Kim Hyung-Jung brought over tea for them. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, have you decided to meet Ambassador Lanok, by any chance?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°Yes. He said that I should go with him tomorrow at two o¡¯clock in the afternoon to meet a person named Suo Ke?¡± ¡°We call him Huh Geuk in Korean. He¡¯s third in line in China¡¯s Intelligence Bureau.¡± Kang Chan lifted the tea cup. While he was ruminating about the name ¡®Huh Geuk,¡¯ Kim Hyung-Jung continued, ¡°To our shame, the National Intelligence Service did not notice that Huh Geuk had entered South Korea.¡± Kang Chan took a sip of the tea while looking at Kim Hyung-Jung. He knew Kim Hyung-Jung was just about to get to his main point. ¡°The National intelligence Service thinks China is going to take a dualistic stance with Ambassador Lanok and the South Korean government.¡± ¡°A dualistic stance?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That¡¯s right. He will surrender to Ambassador Lanok and agree to his demands. However, he will likely also take deadly measures against South Korea''s economy.¡± What Kim Hyung-Jung was saying was somewhat suffocating and difficult for Kang Chan to understand, so he picked up a cigarette and bit on it. If there was one thing fascinating about cigarettes, it was that those next to someone smoking always ended up smoking as well. Hence, when Kang Chan started smoking, the other two lit up their own cigarettes as well. ¡°Is Huh Geuk in a position to make that decision?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°He¡¯s in a position that directly reports to the President of China. He is more than capable of exerting his influence.¡± Kang Chan felt bitter. No wonder Huh Geuk made a fuss when he the 606. ¡°So things got out of hand because I asked you to send over the 606?¡± Kang Chan wondered. ¡°Not exactly. Even if you didn¡¯t, China has been disgraced anyway when Huh Geuk was found secretly staying in South Korea. However, because we¡¯re weak¡­¡± Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s face twitched. ¡°Anyway, we also ignored the United States¡¯ attempts to intervene in this matter. If China and the United States work together and ce economic sanctions, then South Korea might find it difficult to endure until the Eurasian Rail has been established.¡± Basically, we¡¯re in this situation because I hit the kid from the rich family that South Korea is supposed to work for due to financial problems. Now that things havee to this, should I just kill Huh Geuk?? Kang Chan firmly pressed the cigarette against an ashtray to extinguish it. ¡°Mr. Manager, is there anything I can do to help?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan, unable to bring himself to say anything. ¡°Do I have to apologize to Huh Geuk or something?¡± Kang Chan prodded on. Kim Hyung-Jung sighed deeply. After a while, he confessed, ¡°The higher-ups has told me to ask you to improve your rtionship with Huh Geuk during your meeting with him and Ambassador Lanok.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t quite understand what was happening. When the special forces team headed to France, the higher-ups even came to Osan and kicked up a fuss. They also approved Kang Chan¡¯s request to dispatch the 606 to the Chinese embassy. Taking those into consideration, why were they asking Kang Chan to improve his rtionship with Huh Geuk now? Kang Chan was not trying to form a rtionship with a woman here. Otherwise, this could have been easier. Why would he need to improve his rtionship with a man? Kang Chan didn¡¯t have anything to say to Huh Geuk except for, ¡®I¡¯m sorry about what happened the other day. Lighten up.¡¯ ¡°Will this end if I apologize?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°They will be negotiating along the lines of the Prime Minister¡¯s resignation. Only the Director and the Prime Minister know about what I¡¯m telling you right now. If we tell the President, then he will do everything in his power to stop this from happening.¡± What did he just say? ¡°The President believes that you¡¯re talented enough to make South Korea shine. For that reason, he wants us to protect you, keep you within South Korea¡¯s arms, and prevent you from ever crumbling down. He also said that we should help you develop your talents even if we are put under heavy foreign pressure,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but cock his head to what Kim Hyung-Jung just said. This would ultimately end if he apologized, so what was this all about? Who was out to break him, and who was trying to take him away from South Korea? He wasn¡¯t a flower to be passed onto someone else. Kim Hyung-Jung looked straight at Kang Chan, who appeared to be perplexed. ¡°Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo has told us that if you don¡¯t apologize, he will either rece the Director of the National Intelligence Service or submit a motion of impeachment against the President to the National Assembly.¡± ¡°Can he really do that?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°If China ces economic sanctions, and if the United States delivers a sudden rise in interest rates and withdraws the US armed forces in South Korea¡­ then the motion to impeach the President will push through.¡± Extremely dumbfounded, Kang Chanughed hard enough for his head move back and forth. Chapter 158.2: I’m Going to Get Stronger (1)

Chapter 158.2: I¡¯m Going to Get Stronger (1)

The Chinese hade into someone else¡¯s country and shot people as they wished,unched missiles, and kidnapped the ambassador of France. Now, Huh Ha-Soo was even threatening to file a motion to impeach the President because Kang Chan had put a stop to their attempt to kidnap Lanok. ¡°What would happen if the Director is reced?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°If the Director of the National Intelligence Service gets reced, then we will no longer be able to protect you like we''ve been doing until now. You can get naturalized in France, at the very least. If that doesn¡¯t work either, then¡­¡± Kang Chan shook his head. Everything he was hearing right now was absurd. However, he could not help but believe everyst one of them since they came from the manager of the national Intelligence Service himself. ¡°Mr. Manager, I¡¯m asking this because i genuinely have no idea what¡¯s happening, but is my apology really as important as the impeachment of the President or the recement of the Director of the National intelligence Service?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°They are probably trying to use the value that you hold in the world of intelligence to their advantage. They want to show everyone that even though you suppressed Russia and are working with France, South Korea still cannot fight back against China. Your apology will also allow Huh Ha-Soo to recover and save face. Above all else, it will help China treat South Korea¡¯s Chairman of the National Assembly as their subordinate.¡± ¡°What if I kill Huh Geuk and Huh Ha-Soo?¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan! You shouldn¡¯t do that.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked as if he was sincerely trying to stop him. If Kang Chan was to kill Huh Geuk and Huh Ha-Soo, South Korea would inevitably suffer as they witnessed China actually kicking up a fuss. ¡°The world of the Intelligence Bureau and the world of politics is certainly different. Those two are like night and day. Moreover, even if Huh Ha-Soo dies, the second and third Huh Ha-Soo is going to appear again. A lot of people still want to take that route, after all.¡± Kang Chan pursed his lips, not knowing what to say next. Goodness! If a high schooler apologized, then this entire situation would end with the Prime Minister resigning. On the other hand, if the high schooler held his ground and refused to apologize, then it would result to either the Director of the National Intelligence Service getting reced or the President getting impeached. ¡°Can I discuss this with Ambassador Lanok?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°China will pretend to obey Lanok since they can take action any time they want. Moreover, the United States will no doubt join hands with China to deal with this matter.¡± ¡°Is there anything else you would like to tell me?¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°I am terribly sorry, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan only nodded in response. ¡°The Director wanted toe here in person,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°But I told him to not do that.¡± Well, it¡¯s not like changing the person telling me about this would also change the situation we¡¯re in right now.? ¡°I¡¯ll be going now,¡± Kang Chan said. Unable to say anything else, Kim Hyung-Jung headed to the door and sent off Kang Chan. He felt bitter. ¡°Are you going straight home?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t stay here. Let¡¯s go to the specialty coffee shop at the intersection.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-ho got in the car and drove to the coffee shop. ¡°God! Your apology alone can change the oue of this situation. Seems like you have already be an extremely important person,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Kang Chan didn¡¯t expect that Seok Kang-Ho would reach that conclusion just from hearing about the situation. He was so surprised that he could not evene up with a response. ¡°Those fuckers are funny! They kicked up a fuss in someone else¡¯s country and now they¡¯re trying to make you apologize by making even more threats and taking economic measures!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. He now looked like a proper human being. ¡°That son of a bitch Huh Ha-Soo is acting like a fucking traitor!¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. ¡°Let¡¯s be real. That fucker isn¡¯t just acting like a traitor. He is a traitor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± No matter how important or huge the problem Kang Chan was facing, he couldn¡¯t help but feel as if it was no big deal whenever he was with Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°That being said, what do you n to do?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I¡¯m honestly not sure yet.¡± ¡°Why is the United States even kicking up a fuss?¡± Smirking, Kang Chan answered, ¡°They¡¯re probably angry because of that fucker Xavier. I did beat him up, after all. Moreover, he¡¯s now being held hostage in the French embassy.¡± ¡°Dickheads! Jeez, those sons of bitches!¡± Seok Kang-Ho swore as his gaze turned into a re. ¡°Captain! You should just head to France and kill all the fuckers who nned this!¡± Kang Chan nced at Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Calm down. We have never fought in this type of battle before, but there has got to be a way to get out of this. Have you forgotten that we have only ever fought in battles that we¡¯re certain we were going to win?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Jeez, you simple-minded fucker! They talked a little more about the situation at hand. Kang Chan was looking out the window when they arrived at their destination. As Seok Kang-Ho went to the counter to order, Kang Chan sat at the terrace. Damn it! Kang Chan thought that if he discussed this with Lanok, they were bound to find a way to get out of this mess. However, the problem was that China would be surrendering to Lanok and ept all their demands during the meeting but then immediately turn around and put economic sanctions against South Korea in motion. Lanok had clearly said that Kang Chan would be receiving an apology andpensation. However, from what Kim Hyung-Jung had told him, that would only happen if South Korea was powerful enough to receive such rewards. If so, then why did Lanok tell him about the STB and pretend to be doing him a favor? Moreover, what did Lanok want South Korea to yield to Russia? Kang Chan was frowning when Seok Kang-Ho approached him while carrying two cups of lemon tea. ¡°Why did you order those?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We already had coffee anyway. It¡¯s always best to have something sweet when you¡¯re feeling like shit.¡± Kang Chan smirked, then had a sip of the lemon tea. It was fucking sour and sweet. ¡°Whoo!¡± Afterward, Kang Chan took out a cigarette and bit on it. Should Kang Chan kill Huh Geuk and Huh Ha-Soo? Thinking about actually doing it made him feel relieved. However, if he did proceed with it, the things that Kim Hyung-Jung was worried about would all turn into reality. China would deliver economic sanctions, and Huh Sang-Soo, Huh Ha-Soo¡¯s younger brother, would take action. Moreover, Kang Chan would also bebeled as a murderer. Kang Chan hated Huh Ha-Soo¡ªwho sucked up to others¡ªmore than he hated Huh Geuk. Now that he thought about it, thought, those two fuckers had the samest name. Kang Chan cocked his head. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Huh Geuk and Huh Ha-Soo have the samest name. There was definitely one more bastard who irritated me and also shared theirst name.¡± ¡°I only know about Heo Eun-Sil.¡± Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho with a frown. He was about to remember who the fucker was, but the name escaped him again when Seok Kang-Ho suddenly brought up Heo Eun-Sil of all people. ¡°There was definitely another fucker with thatst name. Tsk! Who was that bastard again?¡± Kang Chan asked himself. ¡°Is it really that important to know who it was?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked, making Kang Chan realize that remembering the name now really wasn¡¯t that necessary. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan felt frustrated. Kim Hyung-Jung couldn¡¯t have feltfortable asking Kang Chan to do something so despicable. Go Gun-Woo, who had decided to resign to protect Moon Jae-Hyun and Kang Chan, and Hwang Ki-Hyun, who had to order something like this to be done, likely felt the same way as well. This was funny. The people who were actually trying their best to bring development to the country were forced to swallow their anger because China was oppressing them. Meanwhile, the guy who helped execute a terrorist attack and sold off South Korea¡¯s military secrets remained free and shameless! A fucker that represented the national assembly, huh¡­? ¡°Ah!¡± Kang Chan suddenly raised his head. ¡°I remember now! It was Huh Chang-Sun! He was the airport division chief of the National Intelligence Service!¡± Seok Kang-Ho stared at Kang Chan. His expression was clearly asking him, ¡°What about him, though?¡± Does that name really have no value in this conversation? ¡°That fucker was a cocky bastard, but I got him in deep trouble. For some reason, I feel like Huh Chang-Sun is on the same side as Huh Ha-Soo or Huh Sang-Soo,¡± Kang Chan exined. ¡°Even if that¡¯s the case, what power would the airport division chief even have in this situation?¡± ¡°Right?¡± Kang Chan briefly nodded in response to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s logical reasoning. What should I do? While Kang Chan was feeling quite helpless, Michelle called him and asked for Heo Eun-Sil¡¯s number. Kang Chan called Cha So-Yeon because it was just about time for the eleventh-graders¡¯ sses to end. - Sunbae-nim? ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me, So-Yeon. How have you been?¡± - I¡¯m doing good. What about you, sunbae-nim? How can I help you? Women had a tendency to ask multiple questions all at once. Kang Chan could be perceived as weird if he were to answer them in order, but at the same time, answering just one would make him look stupid. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to ask this, but I would like to give you someone¡¯s number. I want you to pass it on to Heo Eun-Sil and tell him to call the number so she can discuss things about the school festival.¡± - You¡¯re going to be helping with the festival, Sunbae-nim? ¡°Yes¡ªMi-Young asked me to help.¡± - Wow! That exmation came out of nowhere. After talking for a just a brief period longer with Cha So-Yeon, Kang Chan hung up. He then texted Michelle¡¯s number to Cha So-Yeon. He had just taken care of something that was not relevant to the pressing matter at hand. Chapter 159.1: I’m Going to Get Stronger (2)

Chapter 159.1: I¡¯m Going to Get Stronger (2)

After putting his phone back down, Kang Chan watched cars and people pass by. It would be cowardly to back down just because one didn¡¯t have any immediate influence or strength. Doing that would be no different from giving in to the bullies at school. Did they think including Lanok in the discussions would be like bringing school teachers to the meeting? It was as if they were scared that Huh Geuk would apologize in front of the adults but start putting up his fists once the teachers weren¡¯t around anymore. Kang Chan was well aware of Hwang Ki-Hyun¡¯s responsibilities and Go Gun-Woo¡¯s sacrifice. However, Kang Chan also had his own judgment on the matter. They wanted South Korea to fucking apologize? And they were threatening to impose economic sanctions and change South Korea¡¯s president if they didn¡¯t get what they wanted? Suo Ke frantically called Kang Chan when Germany, France, and Russia deployed their respective special forces teams to China. Now, however, he was acting up after cutting deals like the wimp that he was. How could Kang Chan apologize to that kind of bastard? ¡®I¡¯m doing this my way.¡¯ He felt the same way when he first went to school and met Lee Ho-Jun. The guy did not even say sorry to the teacher who tried to stop him, so what could apologizing even do in that scenario? Steeling his resolve, Kang Chan took in a deep breath. Just then¡ª Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? His phone began to ring. ¡°It¡¯s Smithen,¡± he informed Seok Kang-Ho when thetter nced at him. He then answered the call. ¡°Hello?¡± - Captain, why don¡¯t we have dinner today, sweetie? Kang Chan had no particr dinner appointment today, but things were already hectic enough. He didn¡¯t have time to have dinner with¡­ - I specially made time for you today, dear. ¡°Where are you?¡± -Why, I¡¯m in front of Hongdae, of course. Fuck that. Kang Chan was going to teach Smithen how to talk today. After asking Seok Kang-Ho if he was joining them, Kang Chan discussed with Smithen where they were going to meet. Meanwhile, Seok Kang-Ho didn¡¯t utter a word about what was happening tomorrow. He acted as if he would support Kang Chan no matter what his decision was. It was one of the things Kang Chan liked about him. *** ¡°I think the pressure has gotten to them, sir,¡± a man said. Huh Ha-Soo nodded in agreement as he carefully swept back the few strands of what remained of his hair. ¡°Everyone has their rightful ranks, as history shows. I have no idea what exactly they were trying to do by going against China and the United States, though.¡± Huh Ha-Soo clicked his tongue. ¡°Although they seemed to have given up on it now, we can never let our guard down. Quite a few punks were captivated by and swore their loyalty to Moon Jae-Hyun,¡± Huh Ha-Soo warned disgustedly. ¡°I¡¯ve taken all the necessary precautions, sir,¡± the man reassured him. ¡°I spent my whole life serving this country. I can¡¯t believe I would see South Korea fall in danger all because some young bastard pushed the nation around. Letting that kid run rampant is starting to ruin our country. They even murdered an individual as precious as Yang Jin-Woo in cold blood just because of a tiny w! This is absolutely ridiculous,¡± Huh Ha-Soo eximed with derision. ¡°It must be because they believe the Eurasian Rail is the solution to all these problems,¡± the man mused. ¡°Hmph, that has to be it. Those inexperienced idiots will fail to build the Eurasian Rail in Korea. They left out all the wise, seasoned veterans, so what else were they expecting? You¡¯ve seen that child before, haven¡¯t you? What did you think of him?¡± Huh Ha-Soo asked. Heo Chang-Seon, the man in the room with Huh Ha-Soo, scowled before he even said anything. ¡°He definitely had an extraordinary look in his eyes, but he was just a kid. He was apprehensive that I would meet Lanok or the man who came from Russia.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the type that tries to take credit for everything, then?¡± Huh Ha-Soo asked. ¡°Well, we really cannot expect any better from an immature child, can we?¡± Heo Chang-Seon replied with confidence. Huh Ha-Soo nodded in agreement, thenmandingly said, ¡°This will be ourst chance, then. We have toy low and take over the National Intelligence Service before they know what hit them.¡± ¡°Understood, sir, but¡­¡± Heo Chang-Seon hesitantly trailed off. ¡°Who were you thinking of putting in the seat of the director?¡± ¡°Haha, would you not feel better knowing that it¡¯s family in that position?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, sir.¡± While still in his seat, Heo Chang-Seon bowed down with his entire upper body with his hands resting on his knees. ¡°I cannot help but wonder how that young kid will react when he apologizes but the director of the NIS still gets reced. Anyway, there may be something we missed or don¡¯t know, so never put your guard down. We also have to hurry and find out how a high school student was able to be so close with someone as significant as Lanok so quickly. For all his impudence, it would do us good to learn some of his tricks.¡± Heo Chang-Seon just briefly nodded in response. ¡°If we can rece the director with one of our people, we¡¯ll be able to check the young man¡¯s records. Lanok will also have no choice but to cooperate with us for the Eurasian Rail. We should prepare something to give him as a gift when that timees,¡± Huh Ha-Soo said as he stroked his nonexistent hair back out of habit. ¡°Where did that kid evene from? Moon Jae-Hyun didn¡¯t seem to have raised him either. Just who is he really?!¡± Huh Ha-Soo shook his head from side to side, annoyance clearly evident in his expression. ¡°I will be taking my leave for now, sir,¡± Heo Chang-Seon politely stated. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s the day the announcement will be made. Stay on your toes and don¡¯t miss the moment the contingency actions are released. Make sure to thoroughly prepare your men as well,¡± Huh Ha-Soomanded. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about a thing, sir,¡± Heo Chang-Seon said, having gotten up from his seat. He bowed and left the room. *** Kang Chan took time out of his chaotic schedule to have dinner with Smithen because it had been a while since theyst ate together. He remembered Seok Kang-Ho saying that Smithen probably felt lonely too, so Kang Chan went all the way to Hongdae when he learned Smithen was finally free. However, not long after they arrived, Kang Chan found himself taking deep breaths in an attempt to suppress his anger. He understood that the people who came to this ce to learn Korean had different cultures and traditions. However, he couldn¡¯t understand why Smithen brought four people with him¡ªall of them women¡ªto their dinner ns. ¡°Argh! That idiot!¡± Seok Kang-Ho grumbled. ¡°Let¡¯s just hurry up and eat, then leave,¡± Kang Chan said in an effort to calm himself down. They walked into the restaurant that Smithen rmended¡ªa fusion ce that served Korean food Italian-style. ¡°Let me introduce you, sweetie! This is¡­¡± Smithen proceeded to introduce all four of them to Kang Chan, Kang Chan wasn¡¯t really interested. He had no reason to remember them either, so he justzily nodded. He would save Smithen some face, but that was it. It urred to Kang Chan that Smithen probably wouldn¡¯t have much joy in his life if he couldn¡¯t enjoy these asions. The poor guy had lost his eye and strength, so he deserved to be cut some ck. Since Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho were already here and Smithen had brought these girls along, Kang Chan thought they might as well let Smithen have some fun being the big man. It was partly Kang Chan¡¯s fault for expecting too much from someone who didn¡¯t think too deeply anyway, so he decided to just eat and leave right after. ¡°What should we order?¡± Smithen asked. ¡°Order whatever you want. Dinner¡¯s on me,¡± Kang Chan replied in resignation. Smithen and the four women pped with delight. ¡®Whatever. You just keep enjoying the rest of your life.¡¯ They ordered some wine and a couple of dishes on the menu. As everyone was poured a ss, their food were served. With Smithen at the center of the conversation, the four women chattered in somewhat awkward Korean. The atmosphere was ufortable, but the food itself wasn¡¯t that bad. The dinner ended with Kang Chan still perplexed about why Smithen had asked him toe here. ¡°Daye and I have something to do, Smithen, so we¡¯ll get going first. You all take your time finishing your food. I¡¯ll pay on the way out,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You were busy? Then you should have said so, goodness!¡± Smithen eximed. Kang Chan pushed down his anger and forced a smile out instead. Remember, this punk has never been the bright type. It didn¡¯t matter. Kang Chan wanted to see Smithen anyway. After all, nobody knew what could happen once he attacked Suo Ke. ¡°Captain, there¡¯s actually someone I wanted to introduce to you today. That person will being by soon. Do you really not have time?¡± Smithen asked. ¡°Smithen, this is it for today,¡± Kang Chan warned. ¡°I see. I understand, sweetie,¡± Smithen replied. The women carefully observed Kang Chan and Smithen¡¯s expressions. After saying their goodbyes, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho left the restaurant. ¡°That bastard is the same as ever. Jeez,¡± Seok Kang-Hoined. ¡°Well, he¡¯s always been that way,¡± Kang Chan reasoned. They normally would have had coffee together before parting ways, but they were worn out even though all they did was have dinner. ¡°I¡¯ll be parked in front of theplex tomorrow before one. Let¡¯s go together. I¡¯ll be sitting in the apartment lobby with Jong-Il,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Got it,¡± Kang Chan responded, his fatigue evident in his voice. Traffic was heavy because everyone was leaving work, so it took about an hour to reach Kang Chan¡¯s home. ¡°You should rest. Don¡¯t think too hard about it,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said out of worry. Kang Chan stepped out of the car and thumped the car roof in response. There was nothing to think hard about. He had already made up his mind, after all. The question was how he would sort out the consequences, but that was something that he should worry about once he had executed his n. Why worry beforehand? Upon entering his apartment, Kang Chan washed up and spent some time in the living room. He went to bed early. Fortunately, he did not receive any other calls for the rest of the day. However, Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s phone was ringing nonstop. Chapter 159.2: I’m Going to Get Stronger (2)

Chapter 159.2: I¡¯m Going to Get Stronger (2)

After his morning workout and having breakfast, Kang Chan saw his parents off. Left alone in the living room, he felt as if time was flying by extremely fast. ¡°Today¡¯s going to be good!¡± he eximed. Kang Chan was bursting with so much energy that he wondered why he had been so lethargic yesterday. He could not help but wonder what to do until the clock struck one, though. He didn¡¯t have anything to do on the inte, and there was nothing fun on the TV or the news. When in doubt, call Seok Kang-Ho.? They had just enough time to have tea and lunch and then leave for Namsan Hotel together. Kang Chan headed toward his room to get his phone, when it suddenly began to ring. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? He chuckled at the sound. He must have been bored too.? However, when he looked at the screen, he found Lanok¡¯s name instead. ¡°Hello?¡± Kang Chan answered. -Mr. Kang Chan, do you have time for a chat? ¡°Of course. What is it?¡± -My work ended early today, and there¡¯s someone I want to introduce to you. Would you like to have lunch with me? ¡°Sounds good. Where should I go?¡± -The embassy is fine. I want to eat my food safely. Did this guy really just crack a joke? -Do you think you can head over right now? ¡°Sure. I¡¯m on my way.¡± Kang Chan hung up and got changed. As he left his apartment, he called Seok Kang-Ho and told him to head straight to the hotel. Not long after, a taxi rolled to a stop in front of him. He still didn¡¯t get any call from Kim Hyung-Jung. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know what Kim Hyung-Jung was thinking, but he was probably feeling pretty conflicted right now. If so, then the moment Kim Hyung-Jung heard of the oue, he would likely pass out from shock. The roads were usually empty around the time he left, so it didn¡¯t take long for him to get to the embassy. Raphael bowed to him gracefully, and Lanok approached Kang Chan in greeting. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok began. An Asian man that Kang Chan had never seen before stood up to look at him. ¡°Let me introduce you both. Mr. Kang Chan, this is Mr. Yang Fan. Mr. Yang Fan, this is the Kang Chan that I¡¯ve been dying for you to meet,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Yang Fan. Nice to meet you,¡± Yang Fan greeted. ¡°Kang Chan. Likewise,¡± Kang Chan said back. The man¡¯s French was conversational¡ªnot the best, but not too bad. He looked to be in his mid tote thirties, and his unreadable eyes and sharp cheeks stood out to Kang Chan. On Lanok¡¯s offer, Kang Chan took a seat at the table. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, Yang Fan is associated with the Chinese intelligence agency,¡± Lanok exined as he poured some tea. ¡°Now, shall we take care of business before we get started with lunch?¡± Lanok pulled out a cigar from a case and offered the two men cigarettes. Yang Fan motioned for Kang Chan to take one first and began to speak as he extended his hand to take his own. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware that Suo Ke threatened the South Korean government.¡± Kang Chan abruptly stopped halfway into lighting up his cigarette and looked sharply at Yang Fan. ¡°Thanks to Ambassador Lanok¡¯s understanding, fortunately, we were able to stop Suo Ke from making another mistake. This is a personal curiosity of mine, but what did you intend to do the moment you meet Suo Ke today, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± Yang Fan asked. It seemed Lanok and Yang Fan were both aware of what Huh Geuk requested. If so, Kang Chan didn¡¯t have to hide anything. ¡°I was going to kill him.¡± Lanok showed a mask-like smile the moment he heard Kang Chan¡¯s response. Meanwhile, Yang Fan subtly shook his head. ¡°Well, then. We will take care of Suo Ke as you wish, Ambassador Lanok.¡± Were they trying to make a fool of him? What were they talking about? Lanok quickly started to exin the situation after seeing the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, Yang Fan and I discussed how Suo Ke proceeded with the operation and pressured the South Korean government with no prior approval, ignoring the purpose of why intelligence agencies exist. From now on, Yang Fan will be the one dealing with reparations andpensations, and Suo Ke will be subjected to what you originally wished to do to him.¡± Kang Chan felt as if he had been hit in the face with a truck. Although he did not spend much time worrying yesterday, he had still struggled toe to a conclusion. Now, however, it seemed it was all for naught. He had just been sowing in the sand. There was certainly a reason why snakes were scary. A part of him also thought that even the South Korean intelligence agency probably still had notpletely grasped this snake¡¯s full capabilities. ¡°The Chinese intelligence agency has decided to ept Ambassador Lanok¡¯s mediation in this matter, Mr. Kang Chan. If something displeases you, please contact the ambassador, or you can simply contact me directly. You can speak to me in Korean when it¡¯s just us,¡± Yang Fan said. ¡°You know how to speak Korean?¡± Kang Chan asked in surprise. ¡°I also know my name is Yang Bum when pronounced in Korean.¡± Lanok tried his hand at pronouncing the name but soon shook his head, giving up. ¡°Well, why don¡¯t we have lunch now?¡± he suggested next. Kang Chan and Yang Bum had no reason to refuse, so they stood up and headed to the cafeteria. As they ate, they just spoke about mundane topics. Just like when Kang Chan met with Ludwig and Vant in Loriam, they talked about normal things like recent movies and family. Yang Fan treated them both casually, but he seemed to be a bit ufortable around Lanok. He didn¡¯t try to hide it, though. There was a mysterious element to this world of politics. People solved issues by having tea from across each other, eating meals together, or through calls. Just like the dark underground world inhabited by the mafia and gangsters, these people controlled everything from behind the curtains. It was extremely rare for them to be known or appear in news articles. The lunchsted for about two hours. Afterward, they each had a ss of wine. Yang Bum seemed greatly satisfied with his lunch with Lanok. The employees hurried to put the dishes aside and prepare coffee and ashtrays for the three. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, there¡¯s no need for you to go to the hotel yourself. However, if you would like to see Suo Ke¡¯s end yourself, I can take you there,¡± Yang Bum nonchntly suggested. He made it sound like he was simply asking if Kang Chan wanted sugar in his coffee. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be respectful for me to go out of my way to confirm what the ambassador mediated for me. However, since Suo Ke cowardly tried to threaten South Korea, I¡¯d like another employee to go and be a witness in my stead,¡± Kang Chan replied. Yang Bum seemed to have expected a different answer. ¡°In our country, we have a saying that you should also swallow the bowl if you¡¯re going to eat poison. We also say ¡®shan gao, huang di yuan,¡¯ which means if you start something, you should see it to the end! There¡¯s also one that goes along the lines of, ¡®Thew is far, but your fists are closed.¡¯ Anyway, the Chinese intelligence agency wants to establish a good rtionship with you through Ambassador Lanok¡¯s mediation. Please send an employee to the Chinese embassy. You can ask for Yang Fan.¡± However, Yang Fan quickly concealed his expression and epted Kang Chan¡¯s wishes. It was clear that there was something that Kang Chan didn¡¯t know about, but he couldn¡¯t ask about it now. He could probably just discuss it with Lanok in private. ¡°Should I send an employee right now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Of course. The matter has already been decided,¡± Yang Fan replied good-naturedly. Kang Chan thanked him and immediately pulled out his phone to make a call. -?Mr. Kang Chan. This is Kim Hyung-Jung. His voice was quite down in the dumps. ¡°Manager Kim, please go to the Chinese embassy right now and ask for a Yang Fan. I¡¯ll exin the rest to you at ater time,¡± Kang Chan politely requested. After a brief moment of silence, Kim Hyung-Jung replied, ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll head over there now.¡± ¡°Was that an employee of the NIS?¡± Yang Fan asked. ¡°Yes. He¡¯s someone I haveplete trust in,¡± Kang Chan replied confidently. Yang Fan nodded, then offered a cigarette to Kang Chan. Why is this guy going so far? It was a nonsensicalparison, but this was like the son of a rich familying to promise that he would kill his own brother. He was even trying to appease Kang Chan. Kang Chan epted. They lit their cigarettes at the same time. ¡°Now then, Mr. Ambassador, Mr. Kang Chan. I have to get going to greet the visitor. We will make sure everything goes ording to n, so I hope France, China, and South Korea¡¯s rtions can flow smoothly,¡± Yang Fan said as he stood up, putting his barely smoked cigarette into the ashtray. They all walked out of the cafeteria together. When Yang Fan left, Kang Chan and Lanok headed up to his office. Once they were seated, Lanok smiled in response to Kang Chan¡¯s gaze. ¡°You were thinking of killing Suo Ke alone? You¡¯re really quite something, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok said, seemingly amused, as he leaned back in his seat with his legs crossed. ¡°I did expect this from you, however. And I was hoping you would finally be a French citizen with this issue.¡± ¡°How did you know Suo Ke secretly pressured the South Korean government?¡± Kang Chan asked, getting straight to the question he had been most curious about. ¡°There are a few rules to intelligence agencies. For example, Vasili and I may n to assassinate each other, but we won¡¯t do kidnappings. And once you¡¯ve agreed to an apology andpensation, you shouldn¡¯t pull any other tricks until after the payments have been made.¡± Lanok paused to make a displeased frown. ¡°That is partly the reason Vasili and Ludwig were so proactive in stopping Suo Ke. Those kinds of men do not change easily. That was why I only asked one condition from the Chinese government,¡± Lanok added. ¡°Suo Ke.¡± Lanok nodded. ¡°But even so, aren¡¯t you going too easy on China?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s not every day that you get the opportunity to eliminate a political enemy. And China is now aware of your abilities.¡± Kang Chan cocked his head, his gaze remaining on Lanok. He didn¡¯t barge into China with the special forces, and it wasn¡¯t like China would get scared even if he did. So what did that matter? ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, for the time being, I will act as your official guardian. I can¡¯t speak further because I haven¡¯t obtained confirmed intelligence, but everything will be revealed soon. May I proceed as your guardian?¡± Lanok asked with a look that Kang Chan had never seen before. The ambassador¡¯s eyes were filled with trust. ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± Kang Chan epted. The corners of Lanok¡¯s lips curved to a broad grin. Chapter 160.1: You Dare Try to Avoid It? (1)

Chapter 160.1: You Dare Try to Avoid It? (1)

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 rmended 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. . ¡°What brings you here?¡± the employee spoke fluent Korean, but he had a Chinese ent. ¡°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. ¡°Pleasee 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 ns 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 orcking. 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¡ªI¡¯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 whocked 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.¡± ¡°Pleasee 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 thete 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 sses. Moreover, Kim Hyung-Jung initially only gave him a quick nce. ¡°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 ountable, 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¡ªhis 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 rtionship 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 lookedpletely 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¡ªnot even when he was being rescued in Mongolia. This moment made Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯sment 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 Imend the judgment of the South Korean government and the National Intelligence Service. After all, they recognized and developed Mr. Kang Chan¡¯s capabilities. Anyway, pleasee 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 ordance 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. Thetter 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 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 ced 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 nned, but they want us to change the schedule a little bit first. ¡°The schedule?¡± - China said that they willpletely 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 ns 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 actingtely. *** ¡°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 maniption. They pushed us into a trap that they themselves have set, and they are now ming us for it. Director, how would you deal with the citizens¡¯ pride if the Chairman of the National Assembly¡ªsomeone who represents South Korea¡ªfalls 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 Chapter 160.2: You Dare Try to Avoid It? (1)

Chapter 160.2: You Dare Try to Avoid It? (1)

When Kang Chan realized that Seok Kang-Ho was waiting for him, he immediately left the embassy and headed to the hotel. He could¡¯ve told Seok Kang-Ho toe to the embassy instead, but Kang Chan wanted to tell him what transpired today over a cup of tea. On his way to the hotel, Kang Chan briefly told Kim Hyung-Jung where he was going, but it seemed Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t have much time to talk. Kang Chan went into the lobby and ordered coffee. A few minutester, Joo Chul-Bum approached and greeted him¡ªappearing faster than the hotel could serve Kang Chan his order. After exchanging short greetings with him, Kang Chan sent him back. Seok Kang-Ho arrived soon after, and Kang Chan told him about what happened in the embassy as he drank coffee. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Does that mean they¡¯ve killed Huh Geuk?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked afterward. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be the case? It¡¯s not like they can just say, ¡®We should let him live,¡¯ after I¡¯ve sent Manager Kim over.¡± ¡°Ha! Those fuckers are weird.¡± ¡°I don''t feel right about this, though. There¡¯s something going on, but I feel like I¡¯m being kept from learning about it. I¡¯m getting the same feeling from Ambassador Lanok appointing himself as my guardian.¡± ¡°Well, at least everything worked out, right?¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°As of right now, yes.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t feel relieved, but it was true that the cause of his worries had at least disappeared. ¡°Then let¡¯s not think about this anymore. This oue is a hundred times better than you killing Huh Geuk.¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, then began to look upset. ¡°Did you think that I won¡¯t be able to guess how you¡¯re feeling? The look in your eyes says it all. Why are you acting like this?¡± ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± ¡°The look in your eyes says, ¡®Congrattions, Huh Geuk died.¡¯¡± Both of them burst outughing when Seok Kang-Ho yed innocent. It felt as if they had just quickly brushed past an emergency. ¡°Let¡¯s go on a trip,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. Do we even have the time to do that? Kang Chan thoroughly considered Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s suggestion. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? While deep in thought, Kang Chan¡¯s phone rang as if to say, ¡®How dare you have useless thoughts?¡¯ ¡°Hello?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, it¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung. Do you have time right now? ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t have anything special going on.¡± - Can you meet me at my office in Samseong-dong, then? ¡°Sure.¡± Kang Chan hung up and stood up from his seat. He then told Seok Kang-Ho, ¡°We¡¯ve been summoned.¡± ¡°This actually feels like we¡¯re going to work.¡± ¡°We should get this over with as fast as we can. This is getting old.¡± They headed to the parking lot and got in the car. As soon as the engine started, they drove off. ¡°Maybe Ambassador Lanok offered to be your guardian because he wants you to make a proper debut in information warfare,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Maybe, but I¡¯m honestly not sure. It only made me vaguely think that I¡¯ll be able to grow stronger. However, since this involves government affairs now, I should probably set more specific and urate goals. I seriously can¡¯t help but feel as if something is happening that we¡¯re not aware of.¡± Seok Kang-Ho nodded, then pouted. ¡°Tsk! Instead of thinking about this too much, we should just deal with this in our own way. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s Huh Geuk or other bullshit. We can just twist the necks of anyone who bothers us. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re going to surrender even if we tell them to, right?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Phuhuhu.¡± They drove to their destination in a good mood. Not long after, they arrived at Samseong-dong and immediately went up to Kim hyung-Jung¡¯s office. Kim Hyung-Jung had a grave expression as he opened the door for them. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho went inside. To their surprise, they found Jeon Dae-Geuk and Hwang Ki-Hyun also sitting in the office. ¡°Wee,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun said. The atmosphere was ufortable. Kang Chan greeted them and sat down with them. Afterward, Kim Hyung-Jung brought over big cups filled with drinks. ¡°You did really great,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk told Kang Chan. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything¡ªAmbassador Lanok and Yang Bum were the ones who decided what to do.¡± ¡°No, that was only possible because you were there.¡± It was quite tricky to respond to things like this, so Kang Chan remained silent and had a sip of the drink that Kim Hyung-Jung offered him instead. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I actually got another offer from Mr. Yang Bum after I confirmed the death of Huh Geuk at the Chinese embassy,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said, his expression still unusually dark. ¡°He told me that China is nning to purge the people who are abusing their powers in their country, which is also why they took care of Huh Geuk. For that reason, they ryed fake information to Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo. They told him that you refused to apologize.¡± Even though Jeon Dae-Geuk and Hwang Ki-Hyun were likely already aware of what was being said, they still concentrated on what Kim Hyung-Jung was saying. ¡°China¡¯s n is simple. They judged that Huh Ha-Soo is passing over not only South Korea¡¯s military secrets to the United States but China¡¯s secrets as well, so they want to take this opportunity to make a sweeping arrest of Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo and those close to him. At the same time, they will purge the people in their country who had been secretlymunicating with Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. Kang Chan had a hard time understanding what Kim Hyung-Jung was saying. After all, this was far from what entailed nning an operation with a map spread out. Hence, he only listened in silence. ¡°Unfortunately, the President has refused the offer,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. Kang Chan smirked, then quickly changed his expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk seemed curious about why Kang Chan smirked. ¡°I can see why the President would refuse. If I were in his shoes, I probably would have also declined the offer. After all, epting it means we¡¯ll be moving exactly ording to China¡¯s wishes.¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun exhaled softly. ¡°The reason the President refused is a bit different than yours. Regardless, it brings the same result.¡± During times like this, it was best to just wait. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, the National Intelligence Service actually also want to make a sweeping arrest of the people who secretly hoarded South Korea¡¯s military secrets with this opportunity. Even if the NIS didn¡¯t want to, breaking our rtionship with China will have dire consequences, so we were hoping that you could act as a channel for exchanging information with China,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun continued. ¡°That¡¯s a bit vague. What exactly do you all want me to do?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t announce that Huh Ha-Soo secretly hoarded military secrets yet because the evidence we have right now is weak. If the opposition insists that we¡¯ve been doing political maniption, then there¡¯s a high chance that the citizens will listen to them. No matter what we say, the people will find it hard to believe that the Chairman of the National Assembly sold off South Korea¡¯s military secrets.¡± ¡°So you want me to find evidence?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Not exactly. We simply hope that you¡¯ll execute a purge in China, and give us any evidence you find from it that points toward Huh Ha-Soo.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t find Hwang Ki-Hyun¡¯s request that hard to do. ¡°I¡¯ll discuss this with Ambassador Lanok first. I¡¯ll give you all an answer as soon as possible,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°That would be great. We have already told Mr. Yang Bum that the President has refused the offer, though.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun then called out, seemingly having solidified his determination. ¡°If we seed in building the Eurasian Rail, the world¡¯s bnce of power will change based on each country¡¯s economic status. It wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say that China is already carrying out a change for the next generation. However, they have chosen to reorganize authority rather than eliminate uwfulness and corruption, which is what we¡¯re doing. Anyway, when we were facing a difficult time, you appeared and helped us connect to the Rail. We would like you to help us a bit more so we can keep carrying the hope that you have given us.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Kang Chan already had his foot in the door anyway. Moreover, he did not just decide to be stronger. Rather, Lanok also told him that he would be his guardian. Hence, Kang Chan thought he should use opportunities like this to learn about matters that he still had no idea about. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking my leave now.¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun stood up. Kim Hyung-Jung sent him off. ¡°Please sit back down,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°If you¡¯re that curious, then you should give me a call! You forgot about me, didn¡¯t you? You¡¯re just wondering how I¡¯m doing now because we¡¯re right in front of each other.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t dislike this gentleman even when heined. ¡°The way you talk makes me think you have made a full recovery,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°I was born with the ability to heal quickly.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk reached out to his cup and took a sip from it. ¡°Choi Seong-Geon often calls me and asks how you¡¯re doing. You¡¯re strangely difficult to talk to. You should give him a call when you have time.¡± He wants me to call Choi Seong-Geon to ask how he¡¯s doing? Just thinking about it made Kang Chan shake his head. Amid their conversation, Kim Hyung-Jung opened the door and went inside. ¡°Manager Kim, do we only need evidence for Huh Ha-Soo?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I was wondering if, even while I¡¯m in another country, you can still take care of everything as long as I reveal evidence that shows that Huh Ha-Soo was going to hand over military secrets.¡± ¡°We can certainly do that.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan, his expression showing his curiosity about why Kang Chan asked that question. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask because of any particr reason. I was just curious.¡± ¡°We¡¯re more than capable of doing that if the announcement is made in China, the United States, or Japan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. Kang Chan nodded. What would Lanok have done to Xavier? Considering how things developed, the trip that Seok Kang-Ho suggested was nowpletely out of the window. Chapter 161.1: You Dare Try to Avoid It? (2)

Chapter 161.1: You Dare Try to Avoid It? (2)

Kang Chan called Lanok as soon as he got out of the Samseong-Dong office. -Mr. Kang Chan. Lanok¡¯s voice sounded heavy and solemn. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, do you have time to meet today?¡± Kang Chan asked. -Unfortunately, today is a bit difficult for me. I am not in the office, and I do not know when I¡¯ll be done with my schedule. If you¡¯re in a hurry, we can speak over the phone right now. ¡°It¡¯s not that urgent. If you have time tomorrow, then please call me,¡± Kang Chan requested. -I will. Everyone around him was so busy. ¡°Are you meeting the ambassador now, then?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked as he looked at the traffic signal ahead, not knowing what Kang Chan just said over the phone since he was speaking in French. He looked as if he was getting ready to whip the car around the instant Kang Chan said yes. ¡°He said he would call me again tomorrow. He seemed too busy to meet with me at the moment,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°What are you going to do about dinner?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Let¡¯s head home early today,¡± Kang Chan suggested. He didn¡¯t want to eat barbecue again, and he was getting a bit tired of eating out. Kang Chan wanted to head straight home. ¡°Seems like I¡¯ll be having a barbeque party with my wife for the first time in a long while,¡± Seok Kang-Ho mused in excitement. Kang Chan chuckled disbelievingly at the statement. But since meat didn¡¯t make one sick or gave them unhealthy weight gain, he didn¡¯t make anyment about it. They arrived at the apartmentplex at around five in the afternoon. Kang Chan leisurely walked inside his home and changed into something morefortable. The past week passed by in a frenzy. He led an operation in France, rescued Lanok from Chinese captivity, and now joined the ongoing task of bringing Huh Ha-Soo to his downfall. Buzz.? Kang Chan nced at his phone screen when it vibrated. [Thanks for helping us out with the school festival.] It was a text message from Kim Mi-Young. A smile unknowingly stretched on Kang Chan¡¯s lips. Should I give her a call right now? Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? However, his phone began to go off again immediately after. Thinking it was Kim Mi-Young, Kang Chan picked it up and pressed the call button with a confused tilt of his head. ¡°Hello?¡± Kang Chan answered. -Mr. Kang Chan, are you avable to speak over the phone now? ¡°Yes, sure. What is it?¡± Kang Chan responded. What business could Yoo Hun-Woo have that made him call Kang Chan first? Surely it wasn¡¯t to ask Kang Chan for more of his blood, right? -I just got the results of your test. It showed that there are no abnormalities with you. ¡°Really? That¡¯s weird,¡± Kang Chan remarked. It was really strange. This matter was so peculiar that even Lanok had asked if Kang Chan had requested a biopsy. How could there be nothing out of the ordinary with him? -Anyway, I called because I thought you might be worried. You should stop by when you get the chance, Mr. Kang Chan. I suppose it¡¯s a good thing that you¡¯re not getting hurt, but I¡¯m sad that our hospital¡¯s profits have fallen so dramatically in your absence. Damn, this man was also a snake who couldn¡¯t be beaten with words. After hanging up, Kang Chan thought that the United States¡¯ intelligence agency had probably meddled with his biopsy results somehow. The world was a scary ce where every country had certain people that could change biopsy results and even death records if they made up their minds to. Either way, the moment all the issues rted to Huh Ha-Soo were solved, Kang Chan¡¯s immediate problems would go away. Huh Ha-Soo was the Chairperson of the National Assembly, so Kang Chan needed proof that the bastard had worked with China to steal South Korean military secrets. The job didn¡¯t seem too daunting, though, since he had Yang Bum and Xavier on his side too. ¡®Son of a bitch. I bet he¡¯s living the life right now, unaware of everything that¡¯s actually going on.¡¯ Kang Chan leaned back in his seat. *** In a safe house in Hannam-Dong, Hwang Ki-Hyun sat down across from Huh Ha-Soo. ¡°Please switch out the prime minister tomorrow,¡± Huh Ha-Soo briskly requested. ¡°I will make sure to inform the president,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun replied. ¡°If Prime Minister Go Gun-Woo is still in office and hasn¡¯t resigned by tomorrow, let me make it clear right now that China will certainly take action,¡± Huh Ha-Soo added. ¡°I understand.¡± Huh Ha-Soo scrunched his lips together, showing Hwang Ki-Hyun a displeased frown. ¡°I heard he never did apologize. There¡¯s really nothing to be gained from that aside from buying some time. The prime minister will be switched out regardless, after all. It would be in your best interest to bring that student to the Chinese embassy and make him sincerely apologize.¡± ¡°I will make sure to discuss it with him,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun responded. ¡°Good to hear. Now then, I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll have to take my leave first,¡± Huh Ha-Soo said coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll leave with you.¡± Huh Ha-Soo stood first, but he didn¡¯t extend a hand toward Hwang Ki-Hyun even as they parted ways. *** It had been a while since Kang Chan had dinner at home. Knowing Kang Chan would be joining them today, Yoo Hye-Sook bought some pork belly on the way home and had a feast of meat for dinner. ¡°Make sure you eat a lot, Channy. I haven¡¯t been able to feed you meat these days,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said with concern. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I make sure to eat properly outside,¡± Kang Chan replied reassuringly. ¡°Are you sure? Your face has be so gaunt, honey,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook chided. ¡°Listen to your mom, kiddo. Don¡¯t just eat kimbap and other simple foods when you¡¯re outside. Have meat every other day when you can,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung urged him. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll be sure to keep that in mind,¡± Kang Chan replied. It didn¡¯t seem like the right asion to tell them that thanks to Seok Kang-Ho, he was having meat every day and was starting to get sick of it. The table was filled with pork belly straight off the grill, lettuce, peri leaves, kimchi, and seasoned bean sprouts that Yoo Hye-Sook frequently served as a side dish. This kind of homemade food was unquestionably superior to eating out. After everyone had their fill, Kang Chan prepared some tea while Yoo Hye-Sook washed the dishes. ¡°Channy, guess what? I don¡¯t have to go to the office anymore starting next week,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said with a pleased expression as she walked out of the kitchen while drying her hands. ¡°Howe?¡± Kang Chan asked curiously. ¡°The revenue and expenses are now even, so I only have to go to the office and run things once or twice a month,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook replied happily. ¡°Won¡¯t you be bored if you just stay at home?¡± ¡°No, not at all,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook responded lightly with a smile as she nced around the living room. ¡°I haven¡¯t been as attentive to cleaning orundry recently as much as I¡¯d like to be. And there¡¯s no need for me to go all the way to the office when I don¡¯t have anything to do anyway. The other employees will take care of things just fine by themselves.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook was the boss of her foundation anyway, so if that was what she decided, then there was nothing wrong with it. Kang Chan just nodded supportively. ¡°How are things going with school, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook suddenly asked. ¡°School?¡± Kang Chan repeated. Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Chan with expectant eyes. ¡°I was just curious about how the special admission process is going. I¡¯m worried that maybe there was a deadline for your application that you might have missed,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said contemtively. ¡°Oh, that didn¡¯t ur to me. I¡¯ll look into it tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan replied. To be honest, his education hadn¡¯t crossed his mind one bit. Kang Chan decided to spare some time for it. After chatting with his parents about random topics for a while, Kang Chan headed to his room. For the first time in so long, he sat down at his desk and turned hisputer on. He wanted to see how the reviews of the drama were. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? Before his home screen even loaded, his phone began to ring. ¡®Who could it be?¡¯ It was a number he didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Hello?¡± Kang Chan answered. -Mr. Kang Chan. This is Yang Bum. Yang Bum had urgency in his tone. ¡°Yes, hello. Is there something you want to talk about?¡± Kang Chan asked. -The situation has beenpletely overturned in my country, and Huh Ha-Soo is likely aware of what¡¯s happening now as well. I have to get to safety for now. I¡¯m calling you because I couldn¡¯t get in touch with Ambassador Lanok. What in the world was Yang Bum talking about? -The North Korean special forces team could invade us at any moment, Mr. Kang Chan. I will contact you againter. The call abruptly ended. The monitor of his screen was now disying the wallpaper, waiting for Kang Chan, who was now frozen with his hand on the mouse. Kang Chan hadn¡¯t gotten any bad feelings while he had been eating a tasty meal of pork belly and worrying about going to college. Yet for some reason, the North Korean special forces were now about tounch an attack? The hell? The clock at the corner of his screen showed that it was already twenty-six minutes past nine. *** Huh Ha-Soo sat across from Huh Sang-Soo and Heo Chang-Seon in the living room of his house in Samcheong-Dong. ¡°Measures will be taken right away tomorrow if the prime minister hasn¡¯t been reced. Based on the way they were treating me, it seemed they were not aware of the changes that are taking ce in China,¡± Huh Ha-Soo mused. ¡°We¡¯ve been concealing the information to the best of our ability,¡± Heo Chang-Seon replied smartly. ¡°If we can rece the head of the National Intelligence Service as well, this battle will be a victory for us. What about our guests? When will they arrive?¡± Huh Ha-Soo asked. ¡°Their estimated time of arrival is tomorrow morning, sir,¡± Heo Chang-Seon replied. ¡°We¡¯ll already be halfway to sess even if we can only take the prime minister seat. Leave the country tomorrow and make sure they¡¯re well aware of where we stand,¡± Huh Ha-Soomanded his brother. ¡°Understood,¡± Huh Sang-Soo replied with a bow as if he was speaking to a superior and not his own family. ¡°We aren¡¯t acting out of personal greed. This is for the country. The United States is too far, so it¡¯s time for us to turn to China,¡± Huh Ha-Soo dered. ¡°I will keep that in mind, sir,¡± Huh Sang-Soo responded. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you should pay less attention to them and ruffle their feathers. Always be careful,¡± Huh Ha-Soo added. Chapter 161.2: You Dare Try to Avoid It? (2)

Chapter 161.2: You Dare Try to Avoid It? (2)

¡°Well, well, well, I wonder what significant event has brought you all the way here?¡±Vasili asked, dressed in formal attire as he guided Lanok to the center sofa inside his barracks. ¡°Would you like some Vodka?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Lanok epted. They were currently in a Russian air force base in divostok. Lanok crossed his long legs and sat back on the sofa. ¡°Here, your cigar! And the ever important¡­¡± Vasili trailed off as he pushed a box of cigars toward Lanok and poured some vodka into a wine ss. Lanok stretched his hand out for the cigar first. Click.? ¡°Haah!¡±?he exhaled the smoke in the air. ¡°I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯te here despite the long trip just because Suo Ke died. And I¡¯m certain it isn¡¯t because you missed me, either,¡± Vasili said through his thin lips as he awaited Lanok¡¯s response with amusement. ¡°I hope you can hurry along with all thepensation that has to be made, Vasili. Everyone is too intricately knotted up right now. And there is something suspicious about China,¡± Lanok said grimly. The friendly look in Vasili¡¯s eyes changed in an instant. ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it, Lanok. It¡¯s already tricky enough to handle China as they are right now. You shouldn¡¯t stimte them any further,¡± Vasili warned. ¡°Huh Ha-Soo will try to rece the South Korean prime minister. His next goal will obviously be to assassinate the president,¡± Lanok said. Vasili let out a low sigh. ¡°Everyone knows that China has been wanting to take over South Korea for a long time now. If it wasn¡¯t for the current president getting in the way, China would¡¯ve already legally purchased half of South Korea¡¯snd,¡± Vasili stated, perfectly expressing his displeasure through the corners of his eyes. ¡°Cut to the chase. What do you want?¡± ¡°Nuclear weapons,¡± Lanok responded. ¡°Stop joking around and tell me what it is you actually want,¡± Vasili ordered firmly. ¡°Russia¡¯s oil field development rights for South Korea,¡± Lanok answered truthfully this time. Vasili sank the ss of vodka in front of him in one gulp. ¡°Hmph. I genuinely wish China would assassinate you,¡± Vasili grumbled. Lanok smirked in a way that was simr to Kang Chan¡¯s. ¡°I see you have been picking up annoying things that tick me off,¡± Vasili muttered irritatedly again. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because we¡¯re on the same side, but it didn¡¯t seem all that bad to me,¡± Lanok said lightheartedly. Vasili stared straight into Lanok¡¯s eyes with a scowl. ¡°Leave,¡± he demanded. ¡°I will, indeed,¡± Lanok said as he pressed his cigar into the ashtray and stood up. *** - Mr. Kang Chan, is what you said just now all really true? ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Kang Chan replied with certainty even though the question was a pointless one. - We didn¡¯t receive any news from China. Are you sure? ¡°Manager Kim. I¡¯m telling you exactly as I heard it,¡± Kang Chan stated firmly. -All right. I will report this matter to the higher-ups first. I¡¯ll contact you as soon as I receive any updates.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung quickly hung up. Just what in the world was going on? China aside, why the hell were the North Korean special forces crossing the border? There was only one reason that Kang Chan could think of, and it was probably the same reason the president and the prime minister were both targeted at the event hall. If the prime minister was switched out and Moon Jae-Hyun disappeared too, everything would be at Huh Ha-Soo¡¯s feet. But even so, could Huh Ha-Soo really try to eliminate the president that way? There was no announcement for Unicorn that he could take advantage of anymore, and it wasn¡¯t like he could just barge into the president¡¯s office. Kang Chan looked down in deliberation for a moment, then picked his phone up again and dialed a number. -Hello? Why are you calling me sote at night? The man¡¯s voice was as gruff and low as ever. ¡°Mr. Jeon. Can you talk right now?¡± Kang Chan asked. -Sure, it¡¯s fine. What¡¯s going on? ¡°Can the president be assassinated if the North Korean special forces team crosses the border?¡± -Come again? What did you just say? The North Korean special forces team? ¡°Yes, sir. If theye to South Korea with the resolve to attack as they did with the surface-to-air missile, how likely is it that they¡¯ll seed in the assassination?¡± -Why are you asking me that? Did you hear something? ¡°Well, not yet. I just called you because I was going to all sorts of ces with my train of thought. I should make it a habit of calling you, anyway, if you want me to call asionally to ask how you¡¯re doing.¡± -Hmm. A long sigh came over the phone. Jeon Dae-Geuk then began to speak. -It depends on the location, but if the assassination is attempted at an unofficial public event, you¡¯re looking at about a thirty percent chance of sess. ¡°Can the National Intelligence Service get their hands on the president¡¯s schedule?¡± -That depends on what event it is. It¡¯s possible if it¡¯s an asion that was nned days before, but only the president¡¯s security detail will know about all other functions. The ones that are determined in advance are much safer because the president¡¯s guards are able to prepare countermeasures for them. Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s answer made Kang Chan wonder if the target was someone else, not Moon Jae-Hyun. Just then, he came to a sudden realization. ¡°Mr. Jeon, is there any employee with the surname Huh among the president¡¯s guards?¡± Kang Chan asked with a hint of urgency. -Thest name Huh? There are fifty close-range guards on the president, but no Huh among them. That wasn¡¯t it either. Kang Chan supposed that was for the better. -You¡¯re really not asking because something¡¯s going on? ¡°It¡¯s just my guess. Nothing¡¯s been confirmed yet, though,¡± Kang Chan replied. -So you did hear something! It couldn¡¯t hurt to be overly careful with these matters. Kang Chan decided to tell Jeon Dae-Geuk a part of the truth. ¡°Yes, sir. Actually, I did hear that the North Korean special forces team might enter South Korea. This information hasn¡¯t been confirmed yet, though, and Manager Kim was alsopletely unaware of it. I just called you while I was pondering about it.¡± -Who was it? Who told you that? ¡°He¡¯s someone whose identity hasn¡¯t been verified by the National Intelligence Service yet, and I can¡¯t even get in contact with him right now,¡± Kang Chan answered. -But you¡¯re certain that¡¯s what this person said? ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Another sigh and a gulp came over the phone. -I see. I¡¯ll strengthen the security perimeter and call you again. ¡°Got it,¡± Kang Chan replied. After hanging up, Kang Chan felt a little more at peace. In cases like this, the best solution would be to order an emergency decree on their own special forces team and n an assassination of North Korea¡¯s most significant figures, but¡­ Calm down.? Kang Chan shook his head. He would be pushing the soldiers to their deaths if he carried out that mission. Buzz, buzz.? [Are you up?] Just then, as if she could feel his struggles, a message from Kim Mi-Young arrived. It urred to him that she might be upset because he didn¡¯t reply to the text she sent in the afternoon. Kang Chan pressed the call button. -Hey, Channy. ¡°Are you done with your hagwon?lessons?¡± -Yeah. I¡¯m heading home now. Haah! What should I do? Something serious could happen soon. Is it okay for me to go meet Kim Mi-Young right now? -Did you see the text I sent you this morning? ¡°Yeah. I wasn¡¯t able to reply because I was a little busy. Can I see you right now?¡± -You sure you¡¯re not busy right now? ¡°No, I¡¯m at home. I¡¯ll be waiting for you outside, so let¡¯s meet up for a bit.¡± -Okay. I¡¯ll hurry home. Kang Chan swung on a cardigan and walked out of his room. It seemed like Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were already asleep, so he tried to leave the apartment as quietly as possible. Once outside, he sat on a bench and felt the cold breeze on his face. While looking at the entrance of theplex, Kang Chan tilted his head. Kim Mi-Young. She was finally here. However, although it had only been a few days since hest saw her, she already seemed so different. Was it because it was dark and she was far away? Noticing Kang Chan, Kim Mi-Young quickly came running over. ¡°You must be exhausted,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s really almost over now,¡± Kim Mi-Young responded. Even while she caught her breath, her doe eyes were still sparkling up at Kang Chan. Her nose seemed a little sharper, and the frame of her chin and cheeks had be more definite as well. ¡°You¡¯re not hungry?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯ll have a sandwich when I go home,¡± Kim Mi-Young replied. ¡°Do you want to sit with me for a bit?¡± ¡°I was sitting this whole time. Can we walk instead?¡± Kim Mi-Young suggested. ¡°Sure. Let me hold your bag,¡± Kang Chan offered. He slung Kim Mi-Young¡¯s bag over his shoulder, and they walked out the entrance. ¡°Thanks for helping with the festival.¡± Kang Chan smiled faintly at her. ¡°Can youe to school sometimes just to have lunch?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. ¡°Lunch?¡± ¡°Yup! I want to have a meal with you, and I miss you too. If you¡¯re alone during the day, it would be nice if you cane to school and eat with me.¡± Would that work out? He would be put in a difficult position if he put on a school uniform to go to school but something happened afterward. And it was a bit ridiculous to go to school just to eat and leave right after. ¡°Do you go to the French cultural center every day?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked. Did I not tell her what I do? ¡°No, not every day,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°Ooh, what do you wear when you go there?¡± ¡°Well, just whatever¡¯sfortable, I guess.¡± ¡°Then have lunch with me at our school while you¡¯re in a suit like you did when you came out on TV, okay?¡± Kim Mi-Young asked, looking at Kang Chan with eyes full of hope. Should we just study abroad in France together? Will that allow us to live happily and away from all theplicated matters here? She looked at him with wide eyes, as if asking him what was the matter. Seeing the light reflected in her eyes, the emotions Kang Chan felt during the operation in France began to bloom again. Chapter 162.1: The first steps (1)

Chapter 162.1: The first steps (1)

Time flew by too fast. Kang Chan felt a slight pang of regret when he returned to the apartmentplex¡¯s entrance with Kim Mi-Young. People and their emotions were quite peculiar. Without actually having to speak, one could express their thoughts or understand another just by looking into their eyes. ¡°Mi-Young, isn¡¯t it tough to study so hard?¡± Kang Chan asked, breaking the silence. ¡°Well, studying has always just been a part of my life, and it¡¯s actually fun now that I have a goal in mind. This is the first time ever that I¡¯ve had so much fun studying,¡± Kim Mi-Young replied lightly. Were things more fun when there were set goals to achieve? Was he happy when he managed to sessfully protect his team members in the past? He couldn¡¯t be sure. Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young had already stepped inside the apartmentplex. They couldn¡¯t go any further, so that marked the end of their walk. ¡°All right. Get home safe,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Will do! Don¡¯t feel too pressured abouting to school for lunch, okay? I¡¯ll catch youter!¡± Kim Mi-Young said with a grin. After Kang Chan nodded in response, Kim Mi-Young turned around to go home. It urred to him that he still hadn¡¯t received any phone call yet even though it was already a little past eleven. It made him feel a little worried and anxious. I¡¯m sure Kim Hyung-Jung will take care of it just fine.? When he entered his room, he waited for a little while in case a call came through, but eventually fell asleep. *** After his morning workout, Kang Chan came back home to take a shower and have breakfast. Through it all, he didn¡¯t receive a call or get any particr feeling in his gut. However, while he was waiting for Yoo Hye-Sook to finish changing into a new outfit, a news broadcast on the television that read ¡°breaking news¡± captured his gaze. The announcer began to deliver the news with a stiff expression. [We have breaking news. China has designated all South Korean export items within its territory as prohibited items. This will take effect at eight o¡¯clock this morning in Korean Standard Time. The country has also initiated an investigation into the status of South Koreanpanies in China. We will now connect with our correspondent Han Gyu-Seok in Beijing for more details.] The shot on the screen changed, and the correspondent began to exin the situation in a somewhat frantic tone. ¡°How did something so ridiculous like this end up happening?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung muttered to himself as he focused on the TV. The correspondent reported that investigations into South Koreanpanies within China were being conductedprehensively and intensively, focusing onbor conditions, tax evasion, and other aspects. As a result, their factories currently could not operate. ¡°It sounds like they¡¯re practically dering war on us,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung worriedly remarked. ¡°Is it that bad?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Well, the stock market will be in chaos as soon as the clock strikes eight. Our country heavily depends on exports to China, so the severity of this situation can¡¯t even be put into words,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung replied. He looked as if he had a hard time believing the report despite watching the news himself. [We will now also examine the responses of other countries to China¡¯s extreme measures.] . Kang Chan recalled what Yang Bum had told him. The original n was for Kang Chan to cooperate with China to eliminate a traitor and his political enemies in one go. However, the way the opposing side counterattacked left South Korea with no other choice but to rece their current prime minister and National Intelligence Service director. If so, Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s assassination would likely follow that, resulting in all the protection Kang Chan had vanishing into thin air. Frankly, Kang Chan could care less about not being guarded. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Honey?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. However, without the protection, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, who had just walked out of the master bedroom with absolutely no idea about what was happening, could get into truly dangerous situations. ¡°I guess China is pretty mad about something,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung responded. ¡°Well, let¡¯s not worry about that right now. We¡¯re going to bete at this rate, dear,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook urged him. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s head to work,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. After seeing his parents off, Kang Chan sat on the sofa and continued to watch the news. He was aware that he shouldn¡¯t believe everything that was being reported, but watching this broadcast was the fastest way to get caught up on what was currently going on. This was no doubt a major defeat since he didn¡¯t see iting at all, allowing it to take himpletely by surprise. To make matters worse, the North Korean special forces team could be lying in wait anywhere, ready for action. [We have just received more breaking news.] The angle of the camera changed again as the announcer looked between the script and the camera. [Prime Minister Go Gun-Woo has apologized to the people for not preventing this Chinese incident from taking ce, and he has submitted a letter of resignation to the president.] The announcer gave way for the reporter to speak again, requesting an update on the situation. After that, it was just talk that was to be expected. There were analyses about how the prime minister¡¯s resignation was an inevitable decision and informed spection that the government could have known about this incident beforehand. [What¡¯s surprising is the response from National Assembly Chairman Huh Ha-Soo. In light of this incident, Chairman Huh Ha-Soo quickly rushed to China, departing from the country an hour before the announcement was made. His reaction stands in stark contrast to the current state of confusion within the government.] Beep.? Kang Chan turned the TV off. The report had been going well before suddenly going off on an absurd tangent. In stark contrast to the government, they say? Well, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t argue with that. After all, one side was trying to protect the country while the other was trying to sell it off. Kang Chan wondered if he should call Kim Hyung-Jung but figured that the man was probably too busy right now. If Kim Hyung-Jung was curious about something or wanted to ask for Kang Chan¡¯s help, he definitely would have already called by now. At the moment, Kim Hyung-Jung was likely stressfully upied trying to prevent the impeachment of the president and the recement of the NIS director, given that China and Huh Ha-Soo had apparently banded together. I¡¯ll give it some time before calling him.? What was Lanok doing right now, though? There was no way that snake didn¡¯t foresee this from happening. However, Kang Chan remembered how grim Lanok sounded earlier when he answered the phone. Unfortunately, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t do anything in this situation, especially with regard to its political aspects. He looked outside the veranda with all kinds of frustrating thoughts running through his mind. For now, he deliberated between two choices¡ªwhether he should wait or take matters into his own hands. He didn¡¯t know about Go Gun-Woo, but Hwang Ki-Hyun was a different matter. If Hwang Ki-Hyun were to step down as the director of the NIS, a dagger would immediately be held against Kang Chan¡¯s neck next. What could he possibly do in this situation? Things were bing tricky now. If Kang Chan killed Huh Ha-Soo, China would proceed to screw them over worse than what they were doing right now. Moreover, he didn¡¯t even know where the North Korean special forces team was currently at. A sh of intense irritation simmered inside him when the phone suddenly began to ring. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? Kang Chan hurried back to his room and picked up his phone. ¡°Hello, Mr. Ambassador. This is Kang Chan,¡± he answered. - I apologize, Mr. Kang Chan. I was held up by a few affairs. Do you have time to meet today? ¡°Yes, I can head to where you are as soon as we finish this call. Where do you want me to go?¡± - Brilliant. The embassy would be best. ¡°Got it. I¡¯m on my way,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kang Chan soon left his apartment, strangely feeling more reassured. While heading toward the embassy in a taxi, Seok Kang-Ho gave him a call. Seok Kang-Ho had a mix of both surprise and curiosity in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m on my way to see the ambassador right now. I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m done,¡± Kang Chan informed him. ¡°Got it,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. He was probably feeling uneasy too. As soon as Kang Chan arrived at the embassy, an agent escorted him up to Lanok¡¯s office. ¡°Wee, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok greeted him with an attitude that was no different from usual. Cigars, tea, and ashtrays were already prepared for Kang Chan. ¡°Why did you want to speak to me?¡± ¡°Yang Bum called me yesterday, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan replied. There was no way this snake wasn¡¯t aware of the political situation in China. Nevertheless, Kang Chan began to calmly exin what took ce yesterday, starting from Yang Bum¡¯s call to the morning news broadcast. ¡°... so if it¡¯s all right with you, I would like to take down Huh Ha-Soo using Xavier.¡± ¡°Xavier is no longer able to tell tales,¡± Lanok replied. He killed Xavier? Lanok delivered the news to him so nonchntly as he pieced and ate a biscuit next to the ck tea. ¡°He appeared to be aware of the situation, having listened in to everything. If we sent him back, the United States¡¯ intelligence agency would learn about the discussions that you, Ludwig, Vasili, and I had, along with your contact with the Chinese embassy.¡± Lanok exined to Kang Chan why Xavier had to die in the sameposed tone that he normally used. So this is what information warfare is like.? ¡°Moreover, even if we kept Xavier alive, he would never have been any help to us. He would have pretended to cooperate with us, then changed his mind the moment he found the best opportunity to make things problematic. Once the United States sessfully managed to pressure us into giving him back, you would have been the one in a difficult position,¡± Lanok added. What kind of twisted tutoring session is this?? Kang Chan felt as if he was being taught right now. Chapter 162.2: The first steps (1)

Chapter 162.2: The first steps (1)

Lanok lifted the teapot and poured Kang Chan and himself some tea, the beverage audibly dribbling into the cups. ¡°It would be in your best interest to decide exactly what it is that you want first, Mr. Kang Chan.¡± What I want? ¡°I want to eliminate Huh Ha-Soo, Huh Sang-Soo, and all the bastards who are working for them. I also want to protect the current president,¡± Kang Chan stated with firm determination. Lanok set the teapot back down with a light click. ¡°That won¡¯t be an easy battle,¡± Lanok replied. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, already-established structures of vested interests can¡¯t be easily toppled down. The fight against Yang Jin-Woo was only possible because nobody tried to protect him, and you took him on when he was alone and abandoned. However, fights against men with vested interests will not be so easy. They will never yield. Rather, they will present a united front and attack you all at once.¡± Just how many men were under Huh Ha-Soo for Lanok to give him this warning? ¡°If you look at it another way, you will essentially be fighting against all the influences in South Korea. These people have the foundation to rece the president, and just as how you seek me, they have connections to the United States, Britain, Japan, China, and various other countries. Initiating the fight may be simple, but it will have a devastating process and results,¡± Lanok continued. Kang Chan drank a sip of his tea to organize his thoughts. Lanok was basically telling Kang Chan that he shouldn¡¯t underestimate the difficulty of his decision and that he should just turn a blind eye instead if he wasn¡¯t willing to go all the way through with it. As he picked up a cigarette and lit it, he wondered about which path he really wanted to take. ¡°Mr. Ambassador. Is this a fight I can win?¡± Kang Chan asked solemnly. ¡°All this time, you have never fought a winning battle, Mr. Kang Chan. That is precisely why the oues were all the more astonishing. You turned those impossible operations into your perfect victories,¡± Lanokplimented him. Kang Chan thought to himself that getting praised by a sly snake didn¡¯t feel all too bad. A fight against men in power¡­ ¡°Can you help me?¡± Kang Chan carefully asked. Lanok gazed back at him with a look that seemed to ask why Kang Chan even bothered asking the question. ¡®Are you really going to try?¡¯ ¡®Yes. I can¡¯t just sit still and watch things fall apart.¡¯ There definitely were times when one could understand another without having to speak. ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to find a way to stop Huh Ha-Soo first,¡± Lanok said so casually that Kang Chan chuckled faintly. ¡°The correct way to take care of these types of fights is to win first, and then look back on the battle. The process and methods taken will all be forgotten and buried beneath the results anyway. Now, shall we begin?¡± Lanok looked to the side and checked the clock on the table. Kang Chan thought it was just for decoration, but apparently, it told the correct time too. ¡°This is a technique that Huh Ha-Soo enjoyed using in the past. I¡¯m sure it will be quite effective, and it happens to be the appropriate time for it as well,¡± Lanok dered. It was currently twenty past ten in the morning. Lanok walked over to his desk and picked up the phone. ¡°Raphael, please bring in the guest,¡± he ordered. A guest? While Kang Chan looked on in confusion, Lanok sat back down at the table. The door soon opened. What the hell? The ¡°guest¡± who followed Raphael into the office was none other than Yang Bum. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Yang Bum greeted as he shook hands with Kang Chan. He then sat down. ¡°I would like North Korea tounch a missile, and I require the soldiers at the Yellow Sea and the DMZ to be provoked. The bigger in scale, the better, of course.¡± Launch a what to where? And he needs what? ¡°It¡¯s going to be quite costly, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Yang Bum told Lanok. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan will take care of that,¡± Lanok replied. What the hell are they talking about? ¡°Understood. I will make the call now, then,¡± Yang Bum informed them. Yang Bum pulled out his phone and pressed a few buttons, then began to speak over the line in Chinese. Kang Chanughed in disbelief. What would¡¯ve happened if Lanok was his enemy? Kang Chan would probably have had to bide his time waiting for the perfect time to kill him if he wanted to defeat the ambassador. The moment he missed his window of opportunity, he definitely wouldn¡¯t get a second chance. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, Russia is preparing an announcement to dere their coboration with South Korea for the development of their oil field. To make it advantageous to us, the exnation given for it should be that Prime Minister Go Gun-Woo was secretly working on this assignment under the orders of President Moon Jae-Hyun. At the same time, Russia will express their concern and regret regarding Prime Minister Go Gun-Woo¡¯s resignation,¡± Lanok announced. Is there anything this man can¡¯t do? Kang Chan took another sip of his tea while listening to Lanok. ¡°They said they would contact me again once they have decided on a time, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Yang Bum chimed in as he finished his phone call. ¡°How is this cooperation with North Korea possible when their special forces team is infiltrating South Korea right now?¡± Kang Chan asked, unable to keep his curiosity to himself. ¡°North Korea has no choice but to rely on China, and that is why Huh Ha-Soo is so trusting of them. However, at the right price, North Korea will be more than willing tounch a few old missiles and conduct field maneuvers at the DMZ,¡± Yang Bum replied for him. Kang Chan felt as if he just entered a whole new world. ¡°What about their special forces team that¡¯s entering the country to assassinate the president?¡± Kang Chan asked this time. ¡°Weimin Guo is on the move for that. We have already begun to track him, so we should get his location soon,¡± Yang Bum responded. Right after, Lanok put down his teacup. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan. Regardless of the oue of this battle, a storm of bloodshed is bound to rain down on China as well. This is a fight that has to be won.¡± Their words connected smoothly. It was as if they rehearsed this beforehand. ¡°What you need to do is prepare a reliable special forces team, Mr. Kang Chan. The special forces team that Weimin Guo put together is skilled in assassinations and demolition works. Weimin Guo also harbors personal hostility against you, so he most likely wants to be sessful with this mission no matter the cost,¡± Lanok said. Kang Chan had no idea who the man in question was. Was it because of the men who died during the Mongolian operation? ¡°I don¡¯t know who he is, though,¡± Kang Chan said with a tilt of his head. ¡°Weimin Guo¡¯s Korean name is Wui Min-Gook, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok replied. Wui Min-Gook? The Neck Ghost? Yang Bum nodded when Kang Chan turned to him for confirmation. ¡°He is a former North Korean special forces soldier who managed to climb to the highest position in the Chinese intelligence agency. He was famous for personally running operations on the field, but he was defeated for the first time because of you. Since then, he hasn¡¯t been able to perform at his best. He likely holds a grudge against you.¡± ¡°Has he entered the country yet?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We have not obtained that information yet. It is difficult to receive confirmation because Weimin Guo is independently handling this operation.¡± What in the hell is going on? He felt as if he was getting scammed from right under his nose. ¡°All right! This is everything that I¡¯ve prepared for you on my own. Now, it¡¯s your turn to take action with what I¡¯ve drawn together. From the prime minister, the director of the NIS, a special forces team, and the president¡ªit¡¯s up to you to meet and persuade all these people for the n,¡± Lanok stated calmly. Kang Chan had already made up his mind to fight a long time ago. The oil development rights from Russia and North Korea¡¯s provocation¡­ Things he never sawing consecutively unfolded before him in the blink of an eye. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± ¡°Yes, Ambassador Lanok,¡± Kang Chan replied. Lanok called for Kang Chan in a different tone than the one he had been using so far. ¡°This is your fight. I look forward to seeing the daring man who rescued me. Use all the resources at your disposal, and request for others¡¯ cooperation. If necessary, you can contact Ludwig, Vant, and Vasili yourself. You will have to think, judge, and decide on your own,¡± Lanok said solemnly. ¡°I understand, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I¡¯m certain Huh Ha-Soo will be taken by surprise.¡± ¡°Then I definitely shouldn¡¯t miss this chance.¡± ¡°Brilliant judgment,¡± Lanok said with a grin. There was no use in further extending this conversation. The time hade for him to begin. Kang Chan stood up from the table. ¡°I will get going, then,¡± Kang Chan said. After shaking Lanok and Yang Bum¡¯s hands, Kang Chan left the office. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, using North Korea could lead to significant consequences,¡± Yang Bum said worriedly. ¡°That could indeed be the case,¡± Lanok agreed. ¡°There are too many variables. The political situation in China, the changes within North Korea... the list goes on. Mr. Kang Chan still seems unfamiliar with this world. Will he be okay?¡± ¡°I suppose we will get the answer to that question once this battle is over. Whether he''s merely someone who can shine on the battlefield, or¡­¡± Lanok trailed off and pressed his lips together. Yang Bum nced at the door. *** After leaving the embassy, Kang Chan immediately pulled out his phone and called Choi Jong-Il. He didn¡¯t think he would be able to speakfortably inside the taxi. About a minuteter, a car driven by Lee Doo-Hee arrived. ¡°To Samsung-dong first,¡± Kang Chanmanded, then immediately called Kim Hyung-Jung. - Mr. Kang Chan. ¡°Manager Kim, I just left the French embassy. I¡¯d like to head over to where you are right now. Is that okay?¡± - Yes. See you soon. As Kim Hyung-Jung spoke, Kang Chan heard the sound of another iing call. Things were probably extremely hectic for him. Next, Kang Chan called Seok Kang-Ho. - It¡¯s me. ¡°Our meeting just ended. I''m heading to Samsung-dong now,¡± Kang Chan informed him. - Got it. Seok Kang-Ho answered swiftly since he was curious and frustrated about what was happening. A fight against Huh Ha-Soo and the rest of the people in power? He couldn''t gauge how difficult it would be or what kind of fight it would be. Therefore, Kang Chan decided to keep it simple. The task at hand was simply to create an opportunity that would allow him to twist their necks. Chapter 163.1: The first steps (2)

Chapter 163.1: The first steps (2)

As soon as Kang Chan arrived at Samseong-dong with Choi Jong-Il, he immediately headed to Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s office. When he got in, Seok Kang-Ho was already sitting in front of the table. ¡°Hey,¡± Seok Kang-Ho greeted. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, do you want anything to drink?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°I¡¯d like coffee,¡± Kang Chan quickly answered just in case Seok Kang-Ho was nning to give him the beverage that he was drinking. ¡°Mr. Manager, I¡¯d also like a cup of coffee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Alright.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked for a drink and coffee through the inte, then sat down. If this was amercial on energy drinks or vitamins, then Kim Hyung-Jung current look would be perfect for how a person looks before drinking that energy drink or taking the vitamin. ¡°Everything seemed to have turned into a battlefield,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. He looked extremely fatigued. Click! As they were talking, an employee brought over drinks and coffee, then left right after. ¡°Please help yourselves,¡± Kim Hyung-Jun offered, then asked Kang Chan, ¡°Did Ambassador Lanok say anything else?¡± ¡°He did say a few things, but nothing conclusive. I heard that the Prime Minister has announced his resignation. Can you tell me more about that?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at the door behind him. Upon confirming that it had been tightly closed, he responded, ¡°That was the only thing we could do to at least buy us some time. Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo is insisting that ultimately, he¡¯s going to submit the impeachment motion if the Director of the National Intelligence Service isn¡¯t reced, and if you don¡¯t apologize to him or the Chinese embassy.¡± ¡°Dickhead!¡± Seok Kang-Ho expressed Huh Ha-Soo in a single word. ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Hmm.¡± Pursing his lips, Kim Hyung-Jung stared at the ss in his hand. After a while, he gazed up at Kang Chan without moving his head. ¡°The team that I¡¯m in charge of is supposed to support you until we connect the Eurasian Rail anyway, so I¡¯ll be honest. Telling you this probably isn¡¯t against the rules.¡± Seeing the fatigue in Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s eyes, Kang Chan felt the need to make Kim Hyung-Jung take a handful of vitamins. ¡°I¡¯m starting to suspect that the National Intelligence Service¡¯s internal affairs are being reported to Chairman Huh Ha-Soo in real-time. I¡¯ve gotten to the point where I can¡¯t help but wonder if a portion of the information we¡¯re supposed to receive reaches him first before us,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. ¡°You mean we have a traitor among us?¡± ¡°Yes, and taking all factors into consideration, we think the traitor is in a fairly high-ranking position. Even so, we can¡¯t have all the employees report directly to the director. If the director gets reced right now, then we will probably find ourselves in a very difficult situation.¡± ¡°What about the countermeasures?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Due to the National Intelligence Service¡¯s nature, we can¡¯t even properly identify the other teams we have on the field, much less determine what they¡¯re up to. That¡¯s why we¡¯re putting all our focus on figuring out how information is being leaked to Chairman Huh Ha-Soo.¡± ¡°Are we seriously thinking of recing the Prime Minister in this situation?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Honestly, I haven¡¯t been told what the higher-ups are nning to do.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung had a bitter look on his face. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do, then,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung cocked his head, then continued, ¡°The moment we started suspecting that intel is being leaked to Chairman Huh Ha-Soo, we immediately made efforts to restrict the flow of outgoing information as much as possible.¡± The situation was bing worse. If this situation resulted in Russia¡¯s n or North Korea¡¯s provocation being leaked to Huh Ha-Soo, then their own n could have be their weakness. Damn it! I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m starting to feel ufortable about the organization that I trust the most! ¡°Do you own stocks?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked abruptly, making Kang Chan look up at him. ¡°The market is a mess right now. If you have stocks, then you should sell them quickly,¡± Seok Kang-Ho continued. ¡°I sold all of my stocks a while ago. I already told you that Cecile contacted me about the stocks, haven¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Ah, right.¡± Seok Kang-Ho seemed uninterested when Kang Chan told him about it back then, which was probably why hepletely forgot about it. Ah, right. Seok Kang-Ho also had some stocks. Jeez! Now was not the time to worry about things like that. ¡°Manager Kim, is this room safe from wiretapping?¡± Kang Chan asked. The question came out of the blue, but Kim Hyung-Jung looked around the room anyway. ¡°My office has all the basic facilities that would protect it from wiretapping, but I can¡¯t say it¡¯s perfectly safe,¡± he then responded. ¡°Then we should head out for a bit.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung quickly looked at Seok Kang-Ho, then nodded. Kang Chan called Kim Tae-Jin as they were leaving the building. Kim Tae-Jin would know what to do during times like this. - Hello? Kim Tae-Jin sounded quite frustrated about something. ¡°Mr. President, where are you right now?¡± - I¡¯m at my office. Do you need me to go somewhere? I knew it. He is frustrated. ¡°I would like to borrow the employees who inspected us for wiretapping a while ago, and there¡¯s something that I want to discuss with you.¡± - Is that so? Where are you right now? ¡°I¡¯m at manager Kim¡¯s office in Samseong-dong. We just left, though, and we¡¯re about to head over to the specialty coffee shop in front of Yoo Bi-Corp.¡± - Hmm, okay. I¡¯ll leave right away. Kim Tae-Jin immediately deduced that Kang Chan wasn¡¯t nning on going up to his office. Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung got in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car. Choi Jong-Il¡¯s party followed behind them. As soon as they arrived and entered their destination, they immediately noticed two employees waiting for them. They inspected the trio from head to toe, starting from their shoes and phones. ¡°We didn¡¯t find any signals,¡± one of the employees said. ¡°Thank you for your hard work. You can go home for today. I¡¯ll make sure to inform Mr. Kim Tae-Jin about it,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Understood.¡± After sending the two employees away, Kang Chan sat on the terrace and looked around his surroundings. Customers had upied two other tables on the terrace. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kim Tae-Jin followed Kang Chan¡¯s gaze and examined the table next to them. Afterward, he looked at Kang Chan. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else¡ªI have something to tell the two of you,¡± Kang Chan said. Kim Hyung-Jung and Kim Tae-Jin looked as if they perfectly understood what Kang Chan meant. Leaving behind their drinks, which they barely touched, the four left the specialty coffee shop and got into Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car. Kang Chan thought of going to the Namsan Hotel. No one asked Kang Chan what was happening, or why he was acting like this. They simply trusted that there was a good reason behind Kang Chan¡¯s current behavior, and that trust was clearly evident on all of their faces. Kang Chan didn¡¯t even reserve a room. From now on, he was going to act the same way he did when he was rescuing Lanok. However, he would also be extra careful. As soon as they arrived at the hotel, Kang Chan was dropped off by the entrance. The others then took the car to the parking lot as he headed to the front desk. As Kang Chan expected, Joo Chul-Bum quickly approached and greeted him. ¡°Wee, hyung-nim,¡± Joo Chul-Bum greeted. ¡°Hey. Give me arge room¡ªone that isn¡¯t normally used. Don¡¯t ask or say anything. I need it for something confidential.¡± ¡°Please wait for a moment, hyung-nim.¡± About five minutester, Joo Chul-Bum brought over a key card. By then, Seok Kang-Ho and the others were already in the hotel as well. Hence, Kang Chan¡¯s group immediately headed to the elevator and went up to room 1804. The entrance of the bedroom was blocked by a divider, making them feel as if they just entered a luxurious office or a living room. ¡°There are drinks in the fridge, Seok Kang-Ho,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Alright.¡± Seok Kang-Ho went over to open the fridge while Kim Hyung-Jung brought over cups. the group took off their jackets, revealing the shirts they were wearing underneath, except for Seok Kang-Ho, who was only wearing a cotton t-shirt. Seok Kang-Ho pushed over a sofa and the chairs from the table and then sat down. ¡°I apologize for my weird behavior. It¡¯s rted to what I have to tell you all,¡± Kang Chan began. Chk. While opening canned drinks, Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan. ¡°I can only discuss this with people that I know I can trust.¡± Meanwhile, Seok Kang-Ho prepared four cups of drinks. ¡°Please don¡¯t mention what you hear in this room to anyone, no matter the reason. If by any chance you¡¯re ufortable with that, then feel free to leave now,¡± Kang Chan added. Seok Kang-Ho and Kim Tae-Jin looked at Kim Hyung-Jung as if they rehearsed it beforehand. However, it was only natural, considering Kim Hyung-Jung was working for the National Intelligence Service. ¡°Hmm.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung couldn¡¯t immediately answer. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Manager Kim, so don¡¯t feel pressured. However, I will have to ask you to keep the fact that you came to the hotel to meet with us today a secret,¡± Kang Chan said. He didn¡¯t want to force Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Alright. I won¡¯t tell anyone,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung responded with a grim expression. He looked as if he had solidified his decision, but it was difficult to discern which matter he had decided on exactly. Chapter 163.2: The first steps (2)

Chapter 163.2: The first steps (2)

With everyone in agreement with Kang Chan¡¯s condition, Kang Chan began to exin what happened again, starting with his business with Huh Geuk and Yang Bum, so that Kim Tae-Jin could properly understand. Afterward, he told them about his meeting with Yang Bum and Lanok at the embassy, then about Xavier¡¯s death. Kim Tae-Jin just listened intently. ¡°I have two cards up my sleeve¡ªone of them is an announcement that Russia will make about having decided to coborate with South Korea for the development of their oil fields. I was told that they will be announcing it along the lines of, ¡®it¡¯s a shame that the Prime Minister has decided to resign, considering he has been coborating with us in the development of our oil fields,¡¯¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Can we really have that announced whenever just because we asked Russia to?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked, his eyes sparkling. ¡°I can report this directly to the director. If you¡¯re ufortable with that, then I¡¯ll report it to the Prime Minister instead.¡± ¡°Listen to the rest of what I have to say first, Manager Kim,¡± Kang Chan responded. He felt as if he had just made a mistake, but even if he really did, he couldn¡¯t tell Kim Hyung-Jung to leave now. ¡°The second card that I have is to make North Koreaunch missiles at the Yellow Sea to provoke the special forces team over there and the DMZ,¡± Kang Chan continued. Kim Tae-Jin, who was leaning forward as he listened to Kang Chan, slowly sat up straight. He seemed quite shocked. ¡°We have also received intel that Wui Min-Gook ising to South Korea with North Korea¡¯s special forces team. Their goal is the President,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Wui Min-Gook? The Neck Ghost?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°Yes. I also heard that he¡¯s waiting for a chance to kill me.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s certainly something that man would do.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, a potential assassination attempt on the President isn¡¯t something that we should be discussing among ourselves!¡± Kim Hyung-Jung eximed. ¡°Mr. Manager,¡± Kang Chan decided to calm Kim Hyung-Jung down first. ¡°Everything will be ruined if we act carelessly right now. If even a single word of what I just said reaches Huh Ha-Soo, there will be dire consequences. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re already well aware of that, though.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, we also have Section Chief Jeon. Moreover, like I told you a moment ago, I can also directly report to the Director.¡± ¡°Can you tell me with utmost confidence that the director isn¡¯t the one leaking our intel to Huh Ha-Soo?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Kang Chan just blurted out the question. He knew how deep Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s sense of duty was, but he had to say it anyway to emphasize that now was not the time to act like this. . However, when he noticed Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s astonishment, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the director was actually doing that. ¡°Now, now! Let¡¯s not go that far. Let¡¯s discuss this after we listen to everything Kang Chan has to say. So, what are you thinking?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan, finally making him feel as if time was passing again. ¡°With this opportunity, I want to get rid of Huh Ha-Soo, Huh Sang-Soo, and everyone working for them.¡± Kim Tae-Jin sighed deeply, and Kim Hyung-Jung shook his head. ¡°How are you going to do that?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m nning for right now.¡± ¡°And that n includes using Russia¡¯s announcement and North Korea¡¯s provocation?¡± ¡°Yes. However, I wanted to decide after discussing it among ourselves. Once Russia makes the announcement or North Korea starts its provocation, you have to tell anyone who asks that you didn¡¯t receive any information about it. That includes you, Manager Kim. That way, we can catch Huh Ha-Soo off guard,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°What about the Neck Ghost and the North Korean special forces team?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked again. ¡°We have Section Chief Jeon in the Presidential Security Service. If our special forces team is needed, then we can also meet General Choi Seong-Geon to ask for help.¡± Kim Tae-Jin draped his left hand over his head. ¡°Hmm, if that¡¯s the case, then I think we should talk to Section Chief Jeon about this. General Choi Seong-Geon is a soldier¡ªhe takes action only whenmanded, no matter how good the intentions are.¡± Shoot! I can¡¯t believe I actually thought that man would deploy their soldiers without first beingmanded to.? Kang Chan had no choice but to agree with Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, at least tell the director about this,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°No¡ªthat can¡¯t happen yet.¡± ¡°What? Why? Howe Section Chief Jeon is allowed to know about this but not the director?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that man.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kim Tae-Jin as if he was asking for help, but Kim Tae-Jin unexpectedly said something irrelevant instead. ¡°I want to hear your n for now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have anything else nned yet, but I¡¯m going to tell North Korea to provoke the soldiers over at the DMZ as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Today¡¯s Friday, so if you do that, we¡¯ll at least have the weekend. And then?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have Russia make the announcement about the oil field development.¡± ¡°That will probably be enough to temporarily dodge the bullet. What do you think?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of variable the weekend can bring, but since the President hasn¡¯t epted the prime minister¡¯s resignation yet, you might just be right,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied, then immediately turned to Kang Chan. ¡°However, this is nothing more than a stopgap measure. China still won¡¯t lift their economic sanctions on us.¡± ¡°We can think of something better during the weekend.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung expressed his frustrations with a sigh. ¡°Mr. Manager, why are you clinging so hard to China?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Hyung-Jung looked as if he didn¡¯t understand what Kang Chan meant. ¡°Whenever we get attacked, you always wait for our assant to forgive us. You don¡¯t even consider retaliating. I don¡¯t know how much losses South Korea will suffer if we stop trading with China, but can¡¯t we just make up for it with another country?¡± ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, Our exports to China have already earned us over ny billion dors this year. Our trades with Shanghai alone have brought us more profits than the trades we¡¯ve made with any one country. Simple calctions tell us that we have to trade with more than twenty countries to match the earnings we get from trading with China. We can¡¯t sell the products that were tailored for China to other countries either.¡± The only thing that Kang Chan understood about everything that Kim Hyung-Jung said was ny billion dors. Damn it. That¡¯s an insane amount of money. ¡°If we stop trading with China, business after business will swiftly go bankrupt, which will ultimately result in a rise in unemployment,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. Kang Chan smacked his lips. He never thought that he would be fighting this kind of battle. It wasn¡¯t like they could just approach some other country and borrow a hundred billion dors every year from then. Even if they could do that, they wouldn¡¯t have any means to pay them back. Kang Chan only didn¡¯t have money to buy pork cutlets in his previous life. Now, he was having trouble because he didn¡¯t have a hundred billion dors. All of this happened in a year. ¡°Manager Kim, please answer my next question under the assumption that I¡¯m simply curious. What would happen if I killed Huh Ha-Soo?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Hyung-Jung stiffened. ¡°If there¡¯s no evidence, and if I¡¯m not caught, what will happen in the aftermath?¡± ¡°China will just put someone else in his seat,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung responded. ¡°What if I kill that person as well?¡± ¡°China will have lots of volunteers regardless. A lot of people want the country to pick them, after all. As of right now, anyone who sides with China or Japan will at least be well off in South Korea. Considering they believe that it would be an opportunity to enjoy generational wealth and power, China will have an endless number of people to choose from,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. ¡°They¡¯re like fucking cockroaches,¡± Kang Chanmented as he leaned back against his chair and rxed. He had a drink in his hand, but he still felt frustrated. ¡°Open the window, Seok Kang-Ho. Do you mind if we smoke here, Mr. President?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Not at all. Don¡¯t worry about me and smoke.¡± Excluding Kim Tae-Jin, the group bit on the cigarettes that Seok Kang-Ho took out and handed over. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan felt much better. Kim Hyung-Jung looked as if he also felt the same way. ¡°Can¡¯t we borrow money with the development rights to oil reserves?¡± Kang Chan asked lowly, making it seem as if he was just muttering to himself. ¡°Pardon?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied. ¡°You said that the intion will drop by thirty percent the moment we start coborating with Russia on the development of their oil fields. Combined with our contract with Russia, wouldn¡¯t that be enough for us to borrow money from some another country?¡± Kang Chan wondered. ¡°Let¡¯s say we do manage to get ourselves a loan. What do you n to do then?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll use it to support thepanies that will be going through difficulties. We can also use it to make sure we endure, of course. Anyway, after I kill Huh Ha-Soo, we will provide support to our people so that we can seize the powers in China. Wouldn¡¯t that lead to China¡¯s eventual surrender?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan with a confused expression. Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep. As he did, a sharp ringtone rang from his inner chest pocket. ¡°It¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung. Yes, yes. I¡¯m with him right now.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung nced at Kang Chan, then focused on the call again. ¡°Ahem.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung showed his talent for changing a groan into a sigh. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll tell him about this. I¡¯ll contact you afterward.¡± After hanging up, he inhaled loudly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? If that call is rted to Kang Chan, then it¡¯s only proper that you quickly tell him what it was about,¡± Kim Tae-Jin insisted. Only then did Kim Hyung-Jung turn his head to look at Kang Chan. ¡°I was told that Chairman Huh Ha-Soo has expressed his desire to meet you. He specifically requested that we bring you, regardless of whether you¡¯re nning to apologize or not.¡± ¡°Phuhu.¡± Seok Kang-Houghed as if he found it funny. Kim Tae-Jin looked dumbfounded. ¡°It seems that fucker really wants to die. Alright¡ªwhy is he looking for me?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°They didn¡¯t tell me anything about that.¡± ¡°That motherfucking traitor is kicking up a fucking fuss!¡± Seok Kang-Ho yelled. Kang Chanughed out loud. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen if I don¡¯t go?¡± ¡°I only heard that they were asking for cooperation. They didn¡¯t say anything else.¡± ¡°Hmm! He probably threatened people with the motion to impeach the President again or told everyone that he¡¯ll impose new economic sanctions,¡± Kim Tae-Jinmented. Silence enveloped the room. When Kang Chan picked up a cigarette¡­ Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung. No, I haven¡¯t heard an answer yet, but Mr. Kang Chan probably isn¡¯t going.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung listened to what the person on the other end was saying for a little while, then answered, ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± After putting down the phone, Kim Hyung-Jung sighed loudly. ¡°Will South Korea really be able to rise up properly?¡± he muttered to himself. 1. Previously specialized teams, but we¡¯ll be going with special forces from here on out. Chapter 164.1: We don’t have much time (1)

Chapter 164.1: We don¡¯t have much time (1)

¡°Manager Kim, why would Huh Ha-Soo want to see me?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Hyung-Jung shook his head, his gaze unmoving from the table. ¡°I have no idea. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s not just because he wants to put up an immature show of strength, but I also doubt he would ask you to go to the embassy to make you apologize,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied. ¡°Let¡¯s do it, then,¡± Kang Chan stated. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked in surprise. ¡°I don¡¯t see why I shouldn¡¯t meet him. He has no reason to request my presence, so the fact that he¡¯s asking for me has to mean that they want something. In return for epting his demand, tell him to postpone processing the prime minister¡¯s resignation letter to Monday,¡± Kang Chan suggested. Kim Hyung-Jung looked like he had a hard time believing that was going to happen. ¡°Why don¡¯t you make the call? The worst they can do is say no,¡± Kang Chan reassured him. ¡°Understood.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung immediately picked up the phone to exin the situation. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan has requested to postpone the processing of the Prime Minister''s resignation letter until Monday. Yes, sir. Yes, I will wait on standby.¡± After hanging up the phone, Kim Hyung-Jung turned back to Kang Chan. ¡°They said they would call back when they¡¯ve reached an answer. Ah, also, Mr. Kang Chan¡­¡± Kim Hyung-Jung trailed off. He looked as if he had a difficult favor to ask. ¡°Please trust the director,¡± he insisted even though Kang Chan already said no to this request. ¡°To bepletely frank, the president will not agree to any n that isn¡¯t legal and fair. However, if we want to outmatch people in power like Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo, we¡¯re going to need a separate organization, like the one France¡¯s DGSE has,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said firmly, his eyes filled with a sense of duty. ¡°We will buy time using North Korea¡¯s provocation and Russia¡¯s announcement. If that isn¡¯t enough, I will assassinate Huh Ha-Soo myself.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡± Kim Tae-Jin eximed in shock, but Kim Hyung-Jung remained steadfast. ¡°However, at the very least, I must have the director¡¯smands. All we have to do is make theposition of the Eurasian Special Forces more independent. I will handle the creation of subsequent reports.¡± Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep. Kim Hyung-Jung immediately answered the phone. ¡°Yes, sir. Yes. That is more than enough time. We will get to the Hannam-Dong safe house by five,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied. The call ended soon after. Kang Chan now knew where Huh Ha-Soo wanted to meet. ¡°Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo was willing to dy the prime minister¡¯s resignation to Monday in exchange for meeting you, Mr. Kang Chan. I didn¡¯t think it would work,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung mused. They had managed to buy at least three days. However, this also meant that Huh Ha-Soo could easily afford a holdup of that much time in his schemes. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, this is all the more reason I suggest you work with the director. I went so far as to write a resignation letter to connect the Eurasian Rail to South Korea, and I joined the Mongolian operation too. If bing a murderer means our nation can stand tall, that¡¯s what I¡¯ll do,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asserted. Anyone witnessing the solemn resolve in Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s eyes would not have been able to tell him no. Even Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho looked at him with stiff expressions. ¡°I understand. Then please handle the negotiation with the National Intelligence Service to establish a new organization, Manager Kim. And Director Kim, please persuade Section Chief Jeon to give usmand over General Choi Seong-Geon,¡± Kang Chan said. Kim Tae-Jin only became more worried. ¡°I have no doubts about trusting you, but once organizations like this begin to act out of personal greed, they will be swept up in an unescapable raging whirlpool. Are you sure about this?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. Kang Chan only confidently smiled in response, making Kim Tae-Jin appear apologetic. ¡°Now, let¡¯s have lunch!¡± Seok Kang-Ho chimed. ¡°Good call, Mr. Seok. I have been feeling hungry from a small breakfast, but who could suggest eating in this atmosphere? We can order to the room, right?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked with a grin. Seok Kang-Ho found a menu that was under the room phone and ordered some bibimbap. After they ate and had coffee, they reviewed the situation again one by one from the beginning. ¡°We can use this room until tomorrow, right?¡± Kim Tae-Jin confirmed. ¡°Yes, sir. Should we regroup here after meeting Huh Ha-Soo?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Let¡¯s decide on that when we get more informationter. I was just asking because this seems like a good ce to meet upte without attracting any unwanted attention,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. As the time to meet Huh Ha-Soo approached, Kim Tae-Jin left to see Jeon Dae-Geuk, and Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung rode in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car. It took about ten minutes to reach the safe house. Agents greeted Kang Chan¡¯s party when they arrived. ¡°Mr. Seok, pleasee with me,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung guided Seok Kang-Ho to the left side of the building. Kang Chan thought there was probably a waiting room or something of the sort there. ¡°Please wait here,¡± an agent said after politely escorting Kang Chan to the living room. He then left him alone. This was where Kang Chan had eaten breakfast after leading the operation in France. He supposed the same location could feel vastly different depending on who one was meeting. The middle-aged woman in the kitchen prepared him some tea. ¡®Is she also an agent?¡¯ She certainly didn¡¯t move like an ordinary citizen. He couldn¡¯t tell if she was a good cook who received training to be an agent or if she was an agent selected for this task due to her cooking skills. As he let his train of thought run free, bustling noises suddenly came from outside. The front doors opened soon after, and a man with a bald scalp entered following an agent. It had to be Huh Ha-Soo. Kang Chan stood up to observe the man. For one, he was tall. He had brushed the hair on the left part of his head over the top, empty section to cover it up, and his face was shining with oil. He had small, beady eyes and a t nose save for the tip, which was turned up. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, the high schooler?¡± Huh Ha-Soo greeted as he offered a hand. ¡°I¡¯ve heard many things about you. Why don¡¯t we sit?¡± He acted so at ease that it was as if he just walked into his own home. When he sat down, he was ordered tea to be brought out from the kitchen. ¡°Give us some space, will you?¡± Huh Ha-Soo pressed. At his request, the agent waiting at the back exited through the front door. The middle-aged woman went back to the kitchen as well. ¡°I heard you¡¯re quite the scary student, but you¡¯re quite handsome. Have some tea,¡± Huh Ha-Soo said as he gestured to a cup with a hand covered in age spots. ¡®What does he have to say that he¡¯s making so much small talk?¡¯ Kang Chan was willing to listen, though, so he silently drank his tea. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time, so let me get straight to the point,¡± Huh Ha-Soo stated, raising his left arm to look at his watch. ¡°I know you connected South Korea to the Eurasian Rail and are close friends with the French ambassador. Although our perspectives differ, I suggested that we meet because the desire for the country to progress is something I believe we have inmon.¡± Huh Ha-Soo lifted his gaze as if to seek agreement, and then continued with a mock-pouting expression. ¡°You shouldn''t fall for clumsy ploys and ruin things for the greater good, boy. The people around you willpliment you so they can take advantage of you and trick you into doing tasks under the guise that it¡¯s for the country. However, when you look closer, they¡¯re just shallow schemes that would allow those people to take power for themselves,¡± Huh Ha-Soo said as if to counsel Kang Chan. ¡°What is it that you want to say?¡± Kang Chan formally asked. Huh Ha-Soo looked at Kang Chan with a dissatisfied expression. ¡°Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re on top of the world just because of the Eurasian Rail. Experience isn¡¯t something that can be easily gained. The reason I requested to meet you today is because I want to give you, someone of talent, my generosity by presenting to you an opportunity.¡± Kang Chan only tilted his head in response. ¡°I intend to connect the Eurasian Rail to Japan¡¯s underwater tunnel. I hope you can set up a meeting for me with the founder.¡± Is this old man out of his mind? Kang Chan could never have imagined he would be getting this type of offer inside the safe house of the National Intelligence Service. ¡°We are a nation that cannot survive without the assistance of China and Japan. Connecting the railway to Japan and epting their advanced technologies will be of greater help to our country in the long run, a hundred years or two from now. What you require right now is the foresight to see far into the future,¡± Huh Ha-Soo admonished. Kang Chan forced his smirk down. ¡°The victim always has a reason for getting beat up. Whether it¡¯s because he did something worth getting hit or because he was weak in the first ce, there will always be a valid reason for it. If Japan didn¡¯t colonize us, we would still be wearing traditional ck skirts and white jeogori garments, stupidly living in poverty, wouldn¡¯t we?¡± Huh Ha-Soo attempted to reason. Kang Chan looked directly into Huh Ha-Soo¡¯s eyes. Much to his surprise, Huh Ha-Soo seemed as if he sincerely believed what he said. Was this bastard mentally wrong in the head? ¡°For our country, the Eurasian Rail is like casting pearls before swine. Owning it just means China and Japan will eventually take it from uss. In that case, it is a hundred times wiser to build it with them instead.¡± Kang Chan let out a quiet sigh, which Huh Ha-Soo seemed to have misinterpreted. ¡°Once the current government¡¯s significant positions are reced, I n to privatize the railway, among other developments. If you do what I say, I''ll make sure you get a substantial stake in the operation of Incheon Airport and the underwater tunnel. Those alone should be more than enough for you, your parents, and even your future children to live on for generations toe,¡± Huh Ha-Soo said proudly. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing. His reaction appeared to have displeased Huh Ha-Soo. ¡°Mr. Huh, why don¡¯t we stand against China and Japan using the Eurasian Rail instead?¡± Kang Chan asked, bbergasted. He found Huh Ha-Soo¡¯s stance so ridiculous that he could not help but want to know what went on in Huh Ha-Soo¡¯s brain. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t let there be a power struggle between the people. If that happens, the country will split into two, then three, and so on,¡± Huh Ha-Soo exined impatiently. A power struggle? Kang Chan didn¡¯t understand. Chapter 164.2: We don’t have much time (1)

Chapter 164.2: We don¡¯t have much time (1)

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 coborators, 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 thend 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 stimte 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 imed 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 thest 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 momentter, he also walked outside. *** Kang Chan returned to the hotel and ryed 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 toe 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 restedfortably 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 ce in Samcheong-Dong. ¡°You can sit. Would you like to have dinner?¡± Huh Ha-Soo asked. ¡°I ate beforeing 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¡¯sing 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 ministeres 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 exined. 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 recement 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 evenugh in disbelief anymore. If this fight waspared 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 sess were slim, and sess 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 bes the head of the intelligence agency, Asia will plunge into great chaos,¡± Lanok dered. ¡°How will seeding 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 ne. Your best window of opportunity is tonight at eleven,¡± Lanok answered. Only three hours for Kang Chan toe to a decision and depart? This was probably why Lanok came all the way to the hotel¡ªto 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. 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 ryed 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 sess 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 simr emotions¡ªthe grief of the citizens of a powerless nation. But Kang Chan was morefortable doing things this way. He nced 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 juste backter,¡± 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. Chapter 165: We don’t have much time (2)

Chapter 165: We don¡¯t have much time (2)

While walking on a trail, Moon Jae-Hyun turned his head toward Jeon Dae-Geuk. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too risky?¡± ¡°Once Japan imposes economic sanctions as well, we will be left with no other choice. Didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯ll approve preemptive strikes anyway?¡± ¡°I¡¯m simply worried about the risks the soldiers will have to take. This operation is so dangerous that it would be difficult for them to return even if they aplish their objectives. Even if someone will be helping them in China, they will still be in downtown Beijing, and once that man achieves his goal, they can easily disregard our soldiers.¡± ¡°I need you to trust Ambassador Lanok about that matter. He¡¯s connected with Mr. Kang Chan, and he was the one who suggested this operation in the first ce.¡± ¡°Even if so, we should still consider the fact that this operation has a low chance of seeding.¡± ¡°Mr. President.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun nced at Jeon Dae-Geuk. ¡°China has directly sent their troops to our golf course and our Presentation hall. Please allow us tounch the preemptive strike,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid ofunching the preemptive strike. I¡¯m afraid that I could be agreeing to our people sacrificing their precious lives just because I want to hold onto the Presidency longer. Will Kang Chan bemanding this operation as well?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. President.¡± ¡°He met with Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo, gave us information about Japan¡¯s n to impose economic sanctions, and is now nning tomand the Chinese intelligence agency¡¯s operation. We¡¯re depending on Kang Chan for everything.¡± ¡°Mr. President, if Japan ces economic sanctions as well thising Monday, then you¡¯re definitely going to be impeached.¡± That was rude, but Moon Jae-Hyun was still calm. ¡°Even if they seed with the operation, the result would still be the same¡ªyour impeachment. However, if they fail, then we can¡¯t guarantee your safety,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk added. ¡°I know. China and Japan won¡¯t let a South Korean leader who resisted them live. As you said, if our soldiers fail and I get impeached, then I¡¯m definitely going to die.¡± ¡°Mr. President, please risk your life for South Korea.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun nced at Jeon Dae-Geuk. *** Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s soft sigh dispersed inside the barracks. At the same time, Cha Dong-Gyun nced at the clock that was hung on the wall, then dropped his gaze. They experienced this kind of despair at least once a year. They flew to France and fought against Russia and the United Kingdom¡¯s special forces, distinguishing themselves on the battlefield. This time, however, they were fighting in South Korea¡¯s battle against China. South Korea issued emergency decrees whenever China and Japan carried out a terrorist attack in South Korea and whenever South Korea¡¯s agents were unfairly murdered, but the soldiers were never actually mobilized. They said that it would take three hours, and an hour had already flown by. This was the actual battle. What Kang Chan yelled before their training became the members¡¯ creed. ¡°Never forget what it means to have nobat experience! You will go on missions where more than half of you won¡¯t return alive! After that, more recruits will be sent, and you will go on missions again where even more will die! Those who survive will be veterans, and their experience will trickle down to the new men.¡± Which one of them would volunteer to be in the special forces just because they wanted to die? They wanted to live. They wanted to live and be veterans, and they wanted to pass on their experiences to their juniors. But to do that, they needed a sunbae who would go out with them to awful missions first. A sunbae who could protect their juniors using their experience, overwhelm their enemies with their capabilities, and take away their opponents¡¯ helmets in the end. A sunbae like Kang Chan. ¡°Phew.¡± Cha Dong-Gyun sighed, then quickly observed Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s mood. At that moment¡­ Ring. Ring. Ring. The hotline on the table rang loudly. Click. ¡°It¡¯s Cho Seong-Geon,¡± Choi Seong-Geon answered. Not long after, he sat up straight and then stood up from his seat. Right in front of him was Cha Dong-Gyun, who was staring at him with eyes that were bing red. ¡°Thank you!¡± Could it be? Can we really go on an operation that is targeting China? ¡°Understood! Thank you, Mr. President!¡± Click. Choi Seong-Geon blinked after he put down the receiver. ¡°We got permission to proceed with the operation.¡± ¡°Really, General?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get the detailed schedule on your way there. Leave. Now.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Live! Return alive this time as well so you can teach your sessors. That is all I ask,¡± Choi Seong-Geon added. Cha Dong-Gyun saluted him, and Choi Seong-Geon returned it. He wanted to give Cha Dong-Gyun more time, even if it was just a second. *** - Kang Chan, it¡¯s Moon Jae-Hyun. ¡°Yes, Mr. President.¡± This phone call was unexpected. The three people in the room exchanged nces and examined each other¡¯s moods when they heard Kang Chan¡¯s response. - I called to express my gratitude, shame, and apology. Instead of developing talented people, I keep pushing you into dangerous matters because of my shorings. This person was always so sincere no matter what he was saying. - Please deal with this situation and return with everyone again. It¡¯s shameless of me, but I really hope that you can make that happen. ¡°Understood, Mr. President. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± - Please look after South Korea. The whole world has concluded that South Korea will never rise back up again, but our country aplished the Miracle on the Han River[1]. We are that remarkable and powerful. Please remember that South Korea needs you. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± - Thank you. Please wait for a moment. Instead of the call ending, Kang Chan heard Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s voice next. - The soldiers we deployed will be joining you at the road where you saw themst. They already left, so be there on time. I¡¯ll see you when you get back. ¡°Thank you, section chief.¡± - I¡¯m the one who should be thanking you. Let¡¯s have maeun-tang together once this is over. Kang Chan hung up while smiling. ¡°Are we leaving?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Kang Chan nodded, and Seok Kang-Ho smiled with satisfaction. ¡°That son of a bitch! Let¡¯s see what kind of face he¡¯ll make when we return from China,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. His eyes were already glinting. Kim Tae-Jin gave Kang Chan an apologetic look. ¡°We put a heavy burden on your shoulders again. ¡°On the contrary, I actually feel relieved,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I¡¯ll call the ambassador now.¡± Kang Chan immediately called Lanok and exined the situation as simply as he could. - Mr. Kang Chan, I¡¯ll send over a car. By tomorrow, you¡¯ll be telling me about what happened over a cup of tea. Lanok told Kang Chan to return no matter what in aplicated way. Next, Kang Chan called Choi Jong-Il. ¡°The operation has been approved¡ªI¡¯m going to contact you when the car arrives, so be at the lobby.¡± - Thank you. Choi Jong-Il sounded relieved. Kanc Chan could hear the underlying emotion¡ªit was something understood between men. Lastly, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho called their families. Kang Chan went inside the bedroom so he could have some privacy, but it was also because he found it a bit embarrassing. - Hello? Channy? ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, Mother. Have you had dinner?¡± - Of course. What about you? ¡°I had something delicious. Anyway, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to go home today.¡± - Again? Why not? Are you doing something hard? ¡°I¡¯m preparing for something. I can¡¯t go home because I can¡¯t just leave while everyone is nning to stay.¡± - Okay. You must be tired. Is there anything we can do? ¡°I¡¯m really fine. I¡¯ll call you tomorrow.¡± - Alright, Channy. If you¡¯re tired, then you better get enough sleep, okay? ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do that.¡± Kang Chan hung up. He had made all the preparations now. Kang Chan opened the bedroom door and headed back out to the living room, Kim Tae-Jin putting down his phone. ¡°I just got off the phone with General Choi,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°Why do you have that look on your face, though?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been like this whenever I¡¯m about to send my juniors to the DMZ by themselves. I pretend to be firm on the surface, but I can¡¯t help but be worried, you know? I can really feel my age now¡ªI can¡¯t even properly control my expression.¡± They talked about awkward things for about twenty minutes. Kang Chan wanted to talk about the worries they had for each other and discuss what they should do if the operation failed, but the result of doing all of that was very obvious. What could they even say at this point? Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Everyone immediately turned to Kang Chan when his phone rang. ¡°Hello?¡± - Monsieur Kang, we¡¯re waiting in the basement parking lot. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Kang Chan hung up, then stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Alright. Do a good job for us,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho shook hands with Kim Tae-Jin, then Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, let¡¯s have a drink when you get back,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°Sounds good.¡± After saying their goodbyes, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho went down to the basement. *** As soon as Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Choi Jong-Il¡¯s party got in the van, it immediately drove out of the hotel and onto the highway. ¡°Monsieur Kang, the ambassador said that you should look at this data first.¡± The French agent sitting in the passenger seat passed over an envelope to Kang Chan. Inside was a front picture of a man with sharp eyes. It also contained five other pictures of him doing other things, such as shaking hands and waiting for something with his hands sped behind his back. This was the man who urged Huh Ha-Soo to rece the prime minister. He was also the one who ordered the North Korean special forces to assassinate the President and made China put economic sanctions on South Korea. Kang Chan took out the photos one at a time and examined them, then handed them over to Seok Kang-Ho, who then passed them to Choi Jong-Il¡¯s party after checking them out. Kang Chan put the photos back in the envelope, then put it in his inner chest pocket. He was thinking of showing them to the rest of the teamter. The van quickly drove on the highway, eventually stopping in front of a bus parked by the entrance of the Osan airfield. ¡°We¡¯ll be transferring to that bus, so you guys can head back now. Thanks for bringing us all the way here,¡± Kang Chan told the French agents. ¡°Good luck.¡± Kang Chan nodded, then immediately got out of the car. Chkk. The door of the bus opened. When Kang Chan boarded it, he found most of the soldiers sitting in the middle of the bus. Everyone saluted him, starting with Cha Dong-Gyun. ¡°Let¡¯s not do things like that,¡± Kang Chan jokingly said as he sat in the front seat. The bus went past the barricade and stopped in front of a ne. They had experienced this before. Hence, they got on the ne¡ªa French public cargo aircraft known as an aigle¡ªin silence. They didn¡¯t have to say anything in this situation anymore. However, cargo nes didn¡¯t have seats. Going up the portable ramp, they found a man waiting for them in between the air cargo containers. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± the man spoke Korean. He was Asian and had a Chinese ent. Once the entire team boarded, the ramp was retracted, and the door was closed. nk! nk! The Chinese man turned on a rechargeablemp. ¡°We¡¯re leaving for Beijing Capital International Airport,¡± the man said. Ding. Ding. Ding. A warning sound went off as the aircraft rattled and drove down the runway. Du-du-du-du-du. The noisy vibration changed to a familiar sensation as the aircraft took off. Meanwhile, the Chinese man took out a map and put it on the floor. ¡°You guys will be moving inside a container. We¡¯re going to stop the trailer at this point. This is our target building.¡± The man pinpointed two locations with his finger. The buildings were on the left and right sides of an intersection. ¡°How many people will be guarding those buildings?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°About that¡­¡± When Kang Chan sharply looked at him, the man replied, ¡°Usually around twenty people.¡± ¡°What about now?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to check yet.¡± The man¡¯s Chinese ent got a bit stronger, perhaps because he was nervous. ¡°What about Yang Bum?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I meant Yang Pan. Where are we meeting him?¡± ¡°He will be waiting nearby. You can meet him as soon as you seed with the operation.¡± What a cunning fucker. It sounded as if he was saying that Yang Bum would pretend that he didn¡¯t know them if they failed. ¡°What¡¯s our escape n if we don¡¯t get to meet Yang Bum?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We will have a truck waiting for all of you at the same ce you¡¯ll be getting off the aircraft.¡± They wanted Kang Chan and his team to gather right beside the target building if they failed? Kang Chan tightly gritted his teeth, but this was the only way right now. ¡°How long will it take for us to get there?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°Two and a half hours.¡± ¡°What about getting to the target location from the airport?¡± ¡°At least forty minutes, but it will probably take longer since we have to get the container down first.¡± The man¡¯s response was quite poor even though he was supposed to be their guide. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to ask this, but are there things like hot water or coffee in here?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°It¡¯s at the back.¡± Kang Chan stared at the man. Only then did thetter head to the back. They were running out of time, and they were going to an unfamiliar downtown area. Kang Chan pointed to a building diagonal to the target building with his index finger. The soldiers looked at him. ¡®This is Point Alpha!¡¯?Kang Chan mouthed. Cha Dong-Gyun quickly nodded. Before Kang Chan could choose point Beta, the guide had already gone back with a cup of water. ¡°Do you have coffee?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We haven¡¯t been able to prepare that.¡± The DGSE probably prepared this aircraft. If so, then that also meant they could trust their guide. Am I being too sensitive? Either way, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to be careful. Little by little, he could pass his experience on to his subordinates this way. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready,¡± Kang Chan said, and the soldiers immediately opened the bag that they had brought with them. Two of the soldiers took a in ck military uniform from it and handed it over to Kang Chan, who then epted and put it on. Afterward, he put on military boots and applied a cream that was simr to shoe polish on his face. He also put on a headset and a helmet that night vision goggles attached to it. Click. nk. Cha Dong-Gyun handed Kang Chan a pistol and a rifle. Meanwhile, the others attached pistols to their waists and ankles the same way as Kang Chan did as if they were following rules. Afterward, they attached a bay to their right ankle. Why are they copying me? They can just do things like this as they see fit¡­ With magazines attached behind their waist and on their forearms, they hadpleted all preparations. ¡°Do you want coffee?¡± one of the soldiers asked Kang Chan. ¡°You brought some?¡± ¡°Yes¡ªit¡¯s one of the things we learned during thest operation.¡± Kang Chan only smiled in response. Two of the soldiers made instant coffee, filling the ne with its familiar scent. ¡°Thank you,¡± the guide said when a soldier handed him a cup. They took one sip after another. This would¡¯ve been a lot better if the water was a bit hotter, though. Du-du-du. Du-du-du-du. The container shook with the vibrations of the aircraft. They had already started this operation. No matter what happened now, only their team could take care of it. Kang Chan put the paper cup down beside him, then searched his pocket and took out a cigarette. ¡°You can¡¯t smoke here,¡± the guide said, startled. ¡°There¡¯s a high chance that people will think it¡¯s weird if they smell cigarettes in the cargo.¡± Damn it! They had to face this kind of inconvenience just because they weren¡¯t on a military ne. Seok Kang-Ho and the others looked just as upset as Kang Chan. Kang Chan instead took out the photos in his inner chest pocket and handed them over to Cha Dong-Gyun, who was sitting nkly while leaning back against the wall. Whooosh. The aircraft was fucking fast. Kang Chan even felt it take a sharp turn. nk! nk! The guide opened the door of the container up front. Kang Chan nced at the soldiers, making them all get in the container. This was a very stupid way to get into China¡ªif they were stabbed in the back now, the container would serve as their coffin. Kang Chan trusted Lanok, though. If they were to be betrayed, Lanok would brutally punish those responsible for it. However, by that time, they would have already been riddled with holes and died inside it. nk! nk! When the guide opened the second container, Choi Jong-Il went inside, and Seok Kang-Ho got in after him. ¡°Do the rest of the containers really have cargo in them?¡± Kang Chan asked the guide. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then close them.¡± The guide looked at Kang Chan in confusion. ¡°I said close them. I¡¯ll be hanging on the bottom of the trailer.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t part of the n.¡± ¡°You guys are transporting the containers knowing full well that they¡¯re fake cargo anyway. I¡¯ll go to China under the trailer.¡± The guide reluctantly closed the door of the container after he saw the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. Ding. Ding. Ding. Whooosh! Whoosh. Du-du-du-du-du-du! Not long after, the ne descended and began to drive through the runway, its engine making noise again. 1. The Miracle on the Han River refers to the period of rapid economic growth in South Korea following the Korean War, during which South Korea transformed from a least developed country to a developed country of the 20th century ?? Chapter 166.1: Something more precious than life (1)

Chapter 166.1: Something more precious than life (1)

Vroom! The ne¡¯s loud engines boomed as they revved up, and Kang Chan shook up and down at the jerky vibrations of the nending on the airstrip. Du du du du du.? Kang Chan hung his gun on his right shoulder and locked its breechblock with a click. Now, all he had to do was pull the trigger to get the ammunition going. The ne rolled to aplete stop, rumbling on the runway. Even at that moment, Kang Chan still didn¡¯t take his eyes off the guide for even a single second. Just as the ne began to turn its huge fusge around, Kang Chan¡¯s heart began to race increasingly faster. He was already expecting this to happen, though. For quite some time now, his guts had been telling him that some unforeseen danger would be lying in wait for them. Seok Kang-Ho, Choi Jong-Il, and the other agents were just sitting ducks right now, waiting for their bodies to be riddled with bullet holes. He thought about what he would do if his suspicions proved to be a mistake. Either way, however, he couldn¡¯t just let them die inside the container because of the chance that he could be wrong, could he? The guide began to turn around, feeling Kang Chan¡¯s sharp gaze on him. ¡°Open the doors,¡± Kang Chan firmlymanded. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± the guide asked, flustered. ¡°I said open the doors now,¡± Kang Chan repeated with conviction. Whoosh. The ne stopped to a halt. Son of a bitch! Clunk!? Right before Kang Chan was about to pull the trigger, the guide opened the container doors for him. Click. Click.? Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il came dashing out ready forbat, their guns already aimed and at the ready. ¡°This seems like a trap!¡± Kang Chan shouted at them. Seok Kang-Ho pressed himself close to the doors as Choi Jong-Il opened the doors to the other container with a clunk. Kang Chan nced at the guide, who was now lifting his left arm, seemingly about to wipe his sweat off. Whoosh!? Kang Chan grabbed the guide and tightly covered his mouth. He then stabbed him in the neck with a dagger. ¡°Agh!¡± Swish! The moment Kang Chan twisted the knife, the man jerked and slumped over. Kang Chan had to confirm his suspicions. He slid his dagger down the man¡¯s left shoulder with a?shing,?finding a line that was connected to a radio. The agents all knew what it was. Was this bastardmunicating with the enemy? It doesn¡¯t seem like he has yet, at least. Damn it! Unlike military aircraft, normal nes only had enough gas to reach their destination, not make a round trip. That meant Kang Chan and the rest of the team could no longer turn around using the same aircraft now that they hadnded. ¡°Daye!¡± Kang Chan shouted. Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan with glinting eyes. This man normally ate nervousness for breakfast, but right now, his anxiety was evident on his face. ¡°The moment the doors open, you and Cha Dong-Gyun are to kill everyone on sight,¡± Kang Chanmanded, the tension evident in his voice. The doors were beginning to slide open. ¡°Men, put your masks on! Lee Doo-Hee! Can you drive a semi-truck?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes, I can, sir!¡± Lee Doo-Hee replied. The doors were now about halfway open, revealing the dark sky. ¡°You take the driver¡¯s seat then! The rest of you, stay in your positions.¡± Rumble. They could now see the upper part of the semi-truck¡¯s side rails that were intended to carry cargo out of the aircraft. ¡°Eliminate the enemies as fast as possible. Recover their bodies,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Clunk. Clunk.? Kang Chan¡¯s highest priority for now was to safely leave the airport. He had no idea how many enemies would be waiting for them or whether or not they were armed. Swoosh.? However, he would find out as soon as the doors fully opened. Pew! Pew! Thud! Pew! Pew! There were six enemies in total. If there was a silver lining, it was that the doors opened to the opposite side of the airport building. What about the guard posts? Unless Yang Bum had already made arrangements for that as well, Kang Chan could only leave it to luck. The rails were about a meter away from the door. Rattle.? Kang Chan quickly made his way down the side and got off the ne. Rattle. Rattle. Rattle.? Seok Kang-Ho and the others quickly followed after him. As they were about to lift the bodies on the ground, sirens began to ring and lights shed about seven hundred meters away. Weeoo! Weeoo! Weeoo! Weeoo! A military jeep and three more trucks followed them. Seok Kang-Ho, who had hunched over to pick up a body, turned to Kang Chan. ¡°Daye! Make sure to kill them all!¡± Kang Chanmanded. ¡°Got it!¡± Seok Kang-Ho shouted back. ¡°Dong-Gyun! Head to the semi-truck!¡± Kang Chan quickly ordered afterward. Tatatatataa! ¡°Woo Hee-Seung! Aim for the one manning the machine gun on the jeep!¡± The vehicles had already covered over three hundred meters. Click! Kang Chan leaned on the semi-truck and cocked his head. ¡°Woo Hee-Seung!¡± Kang Chan shouted. Pew! The moment sparks flew from Woo Hee-Seung¡¯s gun, Kang Chan made two consecutive shots as well. Pew! Pew! The driver of the jeep was shot in the forehead nearly at the same time as the one stationed on the machine gun fell out of the vehicle. Creak! Crash.? The jeep collided with a truck, then skidded on the ground like a jetski cutting through water. They had effectively taken out the M60 machine gun. Pew! Pew! Pew! Seok Kang-Ho wasn¡¯t an idiot¡ªhe knew what he had to do as well. When Kang Chan opened fire, Seok Kang-Ho made his own consecutive shots, targeting the driver of the truck. Pow! Creak! The tire on one of the trucks blew up, and the vehicle began to tilt to one side. These motherfuckers are in for a treat if they think they can take me down with three trucks! ¡°Cover me!¡± Kang Chanmanded as he rushed forward with his gun aimed in front of him. Pew! Pew! Thud! Thud! The two sedans blindingly shing their lights quickly turned direction and speeded down the runway. Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! The bullets that flew underneath the dark sky looked as if they were emitting streaks of neon or red lights. Although beautiful, anyone could get killed if they came into contact with them. Kang Chan gritted his teeth and tenaciously ran toward the jeep. Pew! Pew! Pew! Based on the enemy¡¯s pathetic shooting skills, they couldn¡¯t be part of the special forces. They were probably just airport security at best. Two minutes had already flown by. They had about five minutes before they absolutely had to leave, and it would take another five minutes for them to get to their destination. In three minutes, the enemy¡¯s task force would be mobilized, and they would only take five minutes to reach thisnding strip. The moment they arrived, it would be the end for Kang Chan and his team. Pew! The strength suddenly left Kang Chan¡¯s right shin. As it did, an image of Yoo Hye-Sook crying shed through his mind. Damn it! This is why I shouldn¡¯t love or get close to anyone! That¡¯s why I keep making so many excuses even though I already have a girl I really like!? Pew! Pew! Pew! Dayeru, the unhinged bastard, suddenly ran toward Kang Chan from where he had been covering him. He probably saw Kang Chan lurch to the side. Clunk! Kang Chan locked the breechblock of the M60. Du du du du du du du du! Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud! Streaks of light shot toward the trucks. Parts of the vehicles flew in the air as the enemies Kang Chan hit got covered in blood and holes. You motherfuckers aren¡¯t the only ones who can attack someone in their own territory! You think we can¡¯t do what you did with our conference hall? You¡¯re going to be embarrassed as hell with this Beijing Airport incident! Boom! The gas tank of a truck exploded, causing fiery sparks to soar high up in the sky. Du du du du du du du du! ¡°Daye!¡± Kang Chan shouted through clenched teeth. Seok Kang-Ho took hold of the machine gun and mercilessly rained down bullets on the remaining truck. Crackle.? ¡°The hangar to the left of the semi-truck!¡± Kang Chanmanded. Vroom, vroom! Clunk! Vrooooom! The semi-truck began to move as it let out heavy noises. They only had about five minutes now. ¡°Daye!¡± Seok Kang-Ho lifted the machine gun as if he was picking up arge dog, then headed for the semi-truck. Kang Chan ran in front of the semi-truck even though his right shin was throbbing in so much pain that he felt as if someone was stabbing him with a skewer with each step he took. Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Right now, he still couldn¡¯t trust any of his subordinates to open fire while running, not even Choi Jong-Il. If people saw him right now, some would probably wonder why he didn¡¯t just ride the semi-truck. That¡¯s because people didn¡¯t know how high a semi-truck was if it didn¡¯t have any containers. Vroooom! Vrooom! Vroom! Son of a bitch! Why did he have tond the ne so far away? Pew! Pew! Creak.? The semi-truck came to a stop. ¡°Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, Cha Dong-Gyun, Kwak Cheol-Ho,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Change into their clothes!¡± Kang Chan pointed at the dead security guards on the ground, then lifted both his arms in the air to direct the semi-truck. Vroom! Vroom! Vroooom! Creak! The semi-truck stopped again, and the machine gun was safely put inside it. There! At least we won¡¯t be killed like fish in a barrel with this.? Kang Chan gathered the soldiers inside. ¡°The tanker is over there, so the aviation fuel tanks are probably kept underground here. We¡¯re blocking this area off, so get yourselves into position,¡± Kang Chan instructed. Kang Chan motioned with his arm, drawing arge circle on the floor of the hangar. If this area exploded, half of the airport would be blown away. That should make the enemies think twice before using heavy weaponry against them now. ¡°We got neatly stabbed in the back this time. It¡¯ll be sad if we just die in vain, so let¡¯s take revenge for what they did at the conference hall before we go down,¡± Kang Chan said with a grin. Seok Kang-Ho chuckled, his head bobbing up and down withughter. At that moment, the four men ordered to change into the security guards¡¯ clothes walked over to Kang Chan, havingpleted hismand. . Kang Chan pulled out a map from his pocket for them. ¡°The moment we engage inbat again, bring your guns and head to this location immediately. Make sure you kill our target. There is a chance that the bastard won¡¯t be in this location, but I have a feeling that he will be. Considering he set this trap, he¡¯ll probably waiting there to get updates on the situation,¡± Kang Chan directed. They could now hear heavy engines rumbling outside. It was likely the task force arriving now. As Kang Chan estimated, they took around ten minutes to get here. Those motherfuckers were in for a big surprise. Chapter 166.2: Something more precious than life (1)

Chapter 166.2: Something more precious than life (1)

¡°Daye, you lead the assassination squad,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan with a glinting re that was as sharp as a knife. ¡°Get it together, fucker! If it wasn¡¯t for the bullet I took to the leg, I would¡¯ve left you behind and gone myself. I¡¯m not going to die here, you hear me? So go and kill that bastard using any means necessary. If Yang Bum takes control of the administration, we might just be able to get out of this alive!¡± Another loud rumble of the engines came outside. It sounded like a monster¡¯s growl. Those assholes have got to be deranged. Kang Chan could never have imagined that they would bring armored vehicles to the airport. ¡°Daye!¡± ¡°Got it, Cap!¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°Change out of those clothes,¡± Kang Chan ordered him. Seok Kang-Ho gritted his teeth as he looked back at Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m going to get out alive,¡± Kang Chan repeated. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to return with him dead,¡± Seok Kang-Ho furiously said, then spat as if he had just consumed poison. His emotions had be too intense. ¡°Hurry and get going! I can only get you one chance,¡± Kang Chan rushed him. ¡°Alright, alright! I got it,¡± Seok Kang-Ho responded. He had no idea how Kang Chan was going to give them an opening to get out of this ce. All he could do was believe in his orders. ¡°Wait here! You better be waiting here! And tie off that injury on your leg,¡± Seok Kang-Ho grumbled as he turned around to steal someone¡¯s clothes. *** [The Beijing Capital International Airport in China is currently under terrorist attack. While a considerable number of casualties have been reported due to the engagement, the terrorist group responsible for the attack has not yet been identified, Once again, a terrorist attack has beenunched on China''s Beijing Capital International Airport, and at the time of this report, the situation is still ongoing. A significant number of casualties have been reported, and the responsible terrorist group has not been determined.] Choi Seong-Geon buried his forehead in his palms from where they had been resting on his desk after listening to what the reporter hurriedly said Active officers never cried. This was South Korea¡¯s proud special forces team. Even if they failed, those soldiers would go down in history as legendary men. ¡°Argh!¡± Choi Seong-Geon grunted. I should¡¯ve hugged them at least once! They were like my sons¡­ I can¡¯t believe I didn¡¯t just because it was awkward since they¡¯re men! He sent them away far too easily. ¡°Hah! Haah!¡± Choi Seong-Geon groaned frustratedly. If he cried now, he would be sinning to those punks. ¡°Heuuuh. Heuuh,¡± he grunted in an attempt not to cry. Those punks! I hope they¡¯re not lonely. I hope they¡¯re not scared.? *** Kim Hyung-Jung and Kim Tae-Jin weren¡¯t any different from Choi Seong-Geon. ¡°Hooo,¡± Kim Tae-Jin exhaled, before raising his gaze. [The most prevailing theory is that it is an action of the military, fueled by grievances from a purge of a certain political force. Currently, all runways at the airport have been closed, and a helicopter attempting to approach for coverage hase under threat of gunfire. To summarize, the situation is reminiscent of a battlefield,] the field reporter said, a shot of the airport from far away in the background. *** Du du du du du du. There were at least twenty helicopters in the air now, all of which were military. Whoosh! Whoosh! The armored vehicles let out smoke as if they were threatening toe closer. Swish. Swish.? Searchlights Focused on the hangar that Kang Chan was in, illuminating the area enough to make the night seem like day. Task forces, the Chinese special forces team, also known as the White Wolves, and other agents wearing uniforms of apparent significance had formed an encirclement around the hangar. The soldiers swallowed nervously. Crackle.? ¡°Two snipers have been designated to each person. Don¡¯t lift your head,¡± Kang Chan calmly ordered, much to their surprise. Crackle.? ¡°We¡¯re going to survive this. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s just one or two of us. We will get out of this alive. Keep your heads intact, and protect the guy lucky enough to stay alive.¡± The soldiers exchanged nces, only moving their eyes. How could Kang Chan say that and remain soposed despite the horrifying siege in front of them? Crackle.? ¡°Assassination squad, wait on standby,¡± Kang Chan directed. Kang Chan was really going to have them leave the airport? How? By giving them wings? By flying through the dam helicopters like Superman? They weren¡¯t even in front of the semi-truck right now. The soldiers were stuck in the innermost section of the hangar right now. Cha Dong-Gyun, who was looking around, frowned at the wretched smell of the aviation fuel¡ªfuel that was more explosive than ordinary fuel![1] . ¡°Phuhuhuhu,¡± Seok Kang-Ho chuckled. Hisughter seemed twisted because of the situation. Kang Chan was holding the valve of the refueling hose, which was nothing like the ones used to fuel cars. This was a thick, rubber hose that was so massive it had to be carried with both arms. At the end of it was a lever simr to the one used to open the hatch of a submarine. What would happen if that section was ignited? Cha Dong-Gyun felt an electrifying buzz that sent shivers down his spine and all over his body. Their Chinese opponents had no idea that they were facing this kind of man. They would never be able to imagine he would pour out aviation fuel even with a fuel tank below them. This is the kind of man who¡¯smanding us! If we can just kill the man from the picture, we might just survive this! I¡¯m going to kill him! I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to kill him and save our brothers! Crackle.? ¡°Defense team, awaitmand to cover fire,¡± Kang Chan said. Although they had masks on, it was still hard to breathe because of the gas. The moment Kang Chan lit up the end of the hose, this hangar would turn into an ocean of fire. Kang Chan could see the enemies¡¯ surprised looks. They had discovered the aviation fuel flowing toward them and smelled the gas. Creak. Creak. Creak.? Kang Chan shut the lever of the oil pipe. Crackle.? ¡°When I light it up, keep your noses on the ground and count to five. The gas will only burn from above. Sorry to ask you of this, but the assassination squad will have to run after just counting to four,¡± Kang Chan instructed. ¡°Phuhuhu,¡± Seok Kang-Houghed. He had beenughing like a madman since a few moments ago. Crackle.? ¡°Kwak Cheol-Ho, what is our motto?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kwak Cheol-Ho paused briefly. Crackle. ¡°If I can protect¡ª¡± Pew! Pew! Pew! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Bang! Without warning, Kang Chan shot the searchlights, causing them to explode. Sparks suddenly began to fly all over as if the whole world was on fire. Whoosh! A scorching heat swept past the hangar¡ªan aftershock of the explosion. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Seok Kang-Ho dered. The heat made him sound like a monster. Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Enemies who caught fire fell to the ground, dead, and the bullets of the ones who survived bounced off the ground and the semi-truck. Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! *** [A massive explosion has just urred at the airport. Given the rtively subdued noise, it likely isn¡¯t dynamite but aviation fuel or otherbustible substances. Sporadic gunshots were heard following the explosion, suggesting the beginning ofbat. As of the moment, the Chinese government has refrained from making an official statement.] The reporter flinched every time sparks shot up into the sky. ¡°Those fuckers!¡± Choi Seong-Geon eximed with clenched teeth, then inhaled deeply. The soldiers were stubbornly holding out. That¡¯s what a special forces team is supposed to be like! They don¡¯t give up! Theye up with the best solution possible in the worst situations! The South Korean special forces were finally showcasing their capacities and rising from the shadows. *** Moon Jae-Hyun had a stiff expression. ¡°Section Chief Jeon,¡± he said. ¡°Yes, Mr. President,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk replied. ¡°There haven¡¯t been any other updates, have there?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked tensely. ¡°I apologize,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk responded with difficulty. He hadn¡¯t heard anything from the National Intelligence Service either. ¡°The operation has gone astray. At this rate, China will use any method to impeach me,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun stated. Jeon Dae-Geuk stayed silent, unable to bring himself to speak. ¡°Please connect me to the chairman of the National Assembly,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun requested. ¡°It¡¯s toote at night, sir,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said with concern. ¡°I¡¯m sure he isn¡¯t sleeping right now. Call him and tell him I will resign without him having to impeach me if he sends those soldiers back safely. Chairperson Huh will certainly ept the proposition,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun concluded. ¡°Mr. President!¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk eximed. ¡°The soldiers who are fighting in there, in those mes, knowing they¡¯re going to die¡­ They are my people, my sons, and the children of the citizens of South Korea that I love. If I can save them by stepping down, then I¡¯m going to rescue them!¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said, raising his voice. ¡°Please don¡¯t step on the pride of the special forces team, Mr. President!¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk pleaded with clenched teeth. ¡°Why do you think the soldiers are going so far? They are protecting South Korea, which is more precious to them than their lives! They refuse to let our nation and our president surrender to China, Japan, or any powerful country! They are fighting so you will not utter defeat to anyone! That¡¯s why, Mr. President, even if your heart is so frustrated to the point of exploding, please continue to watch them until the end, and don¡¯t you ever give up! That is what those children sincerely wish for from the bottom of their hearts.¡± [We have just received another update on the situation. A second explosion has urred, and gunshots continue to echo through the night sky. The severity of the situation is underscored by the fact that a helicopter has made an emergencynding amid the intensebat.] When Moon Jae-Hyun turned to look at the TV, he witnessed one helicopter precariously swinging in the air. 1. Jet fuel is actually less vtile than gas, but we''ve tranted it as it was written in the raws. ?? Chapter 167: Something More Precious Than Life (2)

Chapter 167: Something More Precious Than Life (2)

Kang Chan closed the valve of the gas tank cover, then red at the helicopter that was flying at a lower altitude. It had secured itself in one spot, which he took as evidence that snipers were aboard it. Aiming at the gas tank of the semi-truck, Kang Chan opened fire. Whoosh! Bang! Swish! mes soared for the second time as he covered his nose and dropped down to his stomach. Heat engulfed his back, but what he found truly scary during times like this was the vapors that filled one¡¯s lungs through breathing. That was the cause of death for many of the children that Kang Chan and his team saved from the wars between tribes back in Africa. Those truly merciless even poured gasoline directly on their faces. Gas vapors would go straight through their nose and mouths, filling their lungs and throats. A child going through that would eventually die from burnt lungs and throat if a fire was thrown at them. Sometimes, they even struggled in pain for fifteen days before sumbing to death. As the heat swept past him, Kang Chan raised his gun and held his breath. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Du-du-du-du-du-du! The helicopter swayed and circled in the same spot a couple of times, then flew outside the airport. These sons of bitches dare y an obvious trick? Thud! Kang Chan sat up with his back leaning against the passenger seat of the semi-truck. His right leg was throbbing. They had to endure this battle for as long as they could and keep the attention of their enemies on them at least until Seok Kang-Ho¡ªwho was escaping through an air vent¡ªcould take down their enemy. Should I have gone there myself? Kang Chan shook his head. They had to prolong the fight here to win. ¡°Haa. Haa.¡± Yoon Sang-Ki[/ref]Previously Yoon Sung-Ki[/ref] put his head right against the semi-truck. He was breathing heavily, but he still looked beyond the semi-truck instead of taking a break because he might miss something. There had been two jet fuel explosions so far. ¡°You did good, Yoon Sang-Ki. You¡¯ve done really well.¡± Yoon Sang-Ki muttered to himself like a crazy person. He didn¡¯t know that a helicopter was approaching them to shoot them, much less notice that it was slowly lowering its altitude as it steadily hovered in one area. They had poured out jet fuel and had been getting ready to shoot when Kang Chan targeted the helicopter pilot as soon as an explosion urred. Yoon Sang-Ki was proud to be in the team of such amander. Right now, in Beijing, they were warning China and the entire world not to look down on South Korea. ¡°Phuhuhu.¡± Yoon Sang-Ki now slightly understood why Seok Kang-Houghed like that. Five out of their team¡¯s twelve members had already detached and left for another mission. Now, they only had seven men to hold their ground against twenty helicopters, the White Wolves¡ªChina¡¯s special forces team¡ªa task force, and an armored car. Yoon Sang-Ki thought of his wife. He remembered her crying as she ran into his arms and hugged him when he was promoted to second lieutenant. She told him that she was proud of him, that he did a good job, and that she was thankful that he was working so hard. He also wanted to see Choi Seong-Geon, who clicked his tongue during the first birthday party of Yoon Sang-Ki¡¯s daughter, saying that it was a pity that she looked like her father. When his father bowed to Choi Seong-Geon, voicing his gratitude that a General came to his granddaughter¡¯s birthday party, Choi Seong-Geon bowed even deeper in return. What Yoon Sang-Ki was scared of the most was that he would look like a coward to those kinds of people in hisst moments. Right now, all he wanted was to show how strong and relentless South Korea¡¯s special forces were to their enemies. He wanted to make sure people wouldn¡¯t look down on South Korea ever again before he died. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m going to do a good job.¡± Yoon Sang-Ki strengthened his resolve. He would die a cool death¡ªas a member of South Korea¡¯s special forces team, a son, a husband, and a father. Yoon Sang-Ki strangely got goosebumps when he looked at Kang Chan. How is he going to win this time? It was impossible to survive this, but they weren¡¯t going to lose. Vroom. Vroom. The armored vehicle roared to life and retreated, which was ridiculous. The others followed suit. Kang Chan quickly examined the sky and his surroundings. Damn it! Their behavior could only mean that they nned to blow up this ce. Being prepared to die and being unable to do anything despite their inevitable deaths werepletely different things. Screech. Screech. Screech. Kang Chan opened the valve of the gas tank cover. Chk. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now if the enemies shoot us from the helicopter or the armored car. They¡¯re going to blow up this ce either way,¡± Kang Chan said. The soldiers felt strangely tense. Chk. ¡° Lee Doo-Hee. The moment I open fire, I need you to move the semi-truck up front,¡± Kang Chan continued. After a moment of hesitation¡­ Chk. ¡°Understood.¡± Chk. ¡°Yoon Sang-Ki, shoot the tank with the machine gun,¡± Kang Chan added. Chk. ¡°Understood.¡± Chk. ¡°I am the God of ckfield, the god who brings death to my enemies. Do not give up,¡± Kang Chan finished. Click! Kang Chan checked his magazine as he leaned against the steps of the semi-truck¡¯s passenger seat. There was a helicopter in the sky and an armored car on the ground. nk! Kang Chan pulled the breechblock, then nced at the sky. He remembered the promise that he made some time ago about smiling even if he was torn to death for as long as the issue with Gong Te Automobile was taken care of. Words weren¡¯t enough to express how grateful he was to Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook for teaching him about what motherly and fatherly love felt like and what it truly meant to be part of a family. At the same time, he felt apologetic to Seok Kang-Ho. He also wanted to see someone¡­ Kang Chan smirked. Du-du-du-du-du-du. The sound of the helicopter changed based on how it moved, the direction it was taking, and its altitude. It wasn¡¯t time yet. Those fuckers were clearly also contemting when they shouldunch their final attack. Stupid motherfuckers. Do you really think you can burn us all to death by blowing this ce up? *** Lanok, who was sitting behind his desk, fiercely red at the TV mounted on the wall. [After the second explosion, we seem to have entered a state of momentary lull. The experts are judging that the Chinese government will soon make a decision. Considering China normally makes sacrifices for great causes, we¡¯re expecting them to blow up the hangar that the terrorists are upying right now even though that means having to destroy terminal one.] Ring. Ring. Lanok quickly picked up the receiver. ¡°This is Lanok.¡± Lanok, who had been silent, smiled. ¡°Mobilize all satellites.¡± After another brief silence, Lanok continued, ¡°I¡¯ll finalize the operation.¡± Click. Lanok put down the receiver, then red at the clock and held up his phone. *** [It¡¯s not being shown on the screen right now, but we just received news that China has moved its forces to the end of the runway. This is in line with our prediction that they will carry out an attack that will require giving up terminal one. Considering how significant this issue is and the fact that the world has its eyes on this situation, it seems it¡¯s taking longer for them to reach a decision.] [Will China really do such a thing?] [As you can see, they¡¯re sending even the reporters two kilometers away from the airport. However, if they sacrifice the airport in this situation, the Chinese army will lose a lot of prestige. That seems to be one of the things the Chinese government is contemting about. Either way, all we can say is that this situation will have devastating results.] Kim Hyung-Jung picked up a cigarette. ¡°I¡¯d like one as well,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. Kim Hyung-Jung stopped for a moment before offering his cigarette pack to Kim Tae-Jin, who took a cigarette from it. Chk chk. Chk chk. Kim Tae-Jin took a puff of his cigarette as he watched TV. After a while, he awkwardly exhaled the smoke out. Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep.? Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s phone rang sharply. ¡°It¡¯s Kim Hyung-Jung. That¡¯s right! Pardon? Yes! We have seven agents standing by right now.¡± Kim Tae-Jin looked at Kim Hyung-Jung, finding him looking both surprised and nervous. ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung hung up, quickly went to his desk, and took out a pistol. ¡°I can¡¯t talk about it right now because it¡¯s a closely guarded secret,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it and go.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung attached the pistol to his waist, then grabbed his jacket and left the room. *** A car made its way between the buildings and entered the parking lot at the back. Screech. As soon as it stopped, Yang Bum, Seok Kang-Ho, and Cha Dong-Gyun opened the doors and got out of the car almost at the same time. Rattle. They then opened the trunk, which was full of silenced submachine guns and bvas. ¡°Please use this,¡± Yang Bum said. Putting the bvas on made them look like bank thieves, but that was not important. ¡°Got any other intel for us?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Yang Bum. ¡°They just keep saying that they¡¯re at a standoff. Please hurry¡ªover ten intelligence satellites are monitoring the area around the airport.¡± Click! Click! Seok Kang-Ho looked at Choi Jong-Il while pulling the breechblock. Their target was the square run-down building across from them. They were only wearing an Artemisia green military uniform and bva, not even having a helmet or a bulletproof vest. ¡°Our brothers at the airport are enduring as much as they can. We should hurry,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Everyone ready?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Seok Kang-Ho quickly went out between the buildings and examined the road. He didn¡¯t see any cars, perhaps because of the incident at the airport. They wouldn¡¯t have been able toe here if it wasn¡¯t for Yang Bum. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Seok Kang-Ho yelled, then quickly ran forward. Bang! Who had time to open doors gently? Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Thud! Thud! Crash! The sound of their footsteps rang throughout the building. They took the stairs to the second floor and saw a head beside the handrail at the top. Whoosh! Bam! Seok Kang-Ho ran, Choi Jong-Il and Cha Dong-Gyun covered him, and Woo Hee-Seung and Kwak Cheol-Ho covered their backs. They didn¡¯t even n to do that¡ªthey were just acting the same way they did in France. After a while, they heard people shouting. Bang! Whoosh! Bam! Whoosh! Bam! When the door opened, they immediately shot the two men inside in the head. Kwak Cheol-Ho ran as he brought up the rear. Meanwhile, Woo Hee-Seung kept an eye on the enemy leaning their head out at the top of the stairs. They arrived at the stairs leading to the third floor. Whoosh! Pow-pow! Bam! Whoosh! Bam! Whoosh! Two enemies jumped out from the floor below them, but Woo Hee-Seung quickly eliminated them. They were now on the third floor. Woo Hee-Seung and Kwak Cheol-Ho stood against the wall next to the stairs that went up to the fourth floor. While aiming at the floor below them¡­ Bang! Tang! Whoosh! Whoosh! Ta-da-dang! Ta-da-da-dang! Whoosh! When the door opened, they opened fire. Choi Jong-Il was pushed against the railing as he shot the forehead of the enemies in sight. They mmed into the wall and sank to the floor. Click! Click! Click! Before heading further into the fourth floor, Seok Kang-Ho changed magazines. Choi Jong-Il leaned against the railing, blood seeping out from his mouth. ¡°Please¡­¡± Despite his mouth filling up with blood, he still seemed to be telling them to hurry. ¡®Fuck!¡¯ They ran through the hallway as fast as they could. Rishiquan was on this floor. If Seok Kang-Ho was Kang Chan, he already would have known where their enemy was. Seok Kang-Ho nodded at Cha Dong-Gyun to tell him to take charge. One, two! Swoosh! Whoosh! Ta-da-dang! Whoosh! Ta-da-da-dang! Bam! Pow-pow-pow!? Thud. Whoosh! Whoosh! Thud! As Seok Kang-Ho shot the enemy to their left, Cha Dong-Gyun, who brought up their rear, copsed to the ground. There was only one door left down the hallway. Their mission wasn¡¯t over yet, though. ¡°Kwak Cheol-Ho,¡± Seok Kang-Ho called. Kwak Cheol-Ho walked to the front. The two stood close to both sides of the door. Rishiquan had to be inside this room. Seok Kang-Ho had to hurry. Even if Kang Chan wasmanding the operation, they were still stuck at the airport. Seven people couldn¡¯t possibly hold their ground against their enemies for long. Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kwak Cheol-Ho. ¡°Haah. Haah.¡± Seok Kang-Ho turned the doorknob a little¡­ One, two! ¡­ then kicked the door open. Crash! Whoosh! Whoosh! Ta-da-da-dang! Ta-da-dang! Whoosh! Whoosh! Their enemies¡¯ foreheads looked as big as a full moon to them. Click! With his gun at the ready, Seok Kang-Ho went toward the man sitting with his hands raised in the air. Rishiquan! Seok Kang-Ho clearly remembered the face he saw in the photos. The man spoke Chinese. They didn¡¯t have time. Kang Chan could be dying. Whoosh! Bam! This son of a bitch keeps talking! We can¡¯t even understand him! Kwak Cheol-Ho urgently went to the window when Seok Kang-Ho nodded to him. sh! Kwak Cheol-Ho broke the window and then waved his hand. ¡®Endure it for just a little longer! It really won¡¯t take long!¡¯ Woo Hee-Seung came into the room with Cha Dong-Gyun, whom he was helping walk. Kwak Cheol-Ho then ran out and dragged Choi Jong-Il inside. ¡°Huff. Huff.¡± After a while, Yang Bum also entered while breathing heavily. ¡°Is it this fucker?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. Yang Bum approached them, then quickly nodded. ¡°What are we supposed to do now?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked again. ¡°I have to make a call! I can give orders with the intelligence bureau¡¯s phone!¡± Yang Bum immediately held up his phone when he saw Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s glinting eyes. *** The runway that was soaked in the gushing jet fuel glimmered as if light was hitting it on a rainy day. ¡°Haah. Haah.¡± Kang Chan could hear his own breathing, which meant his senses were on edge. Based on his past experiences, that also meant that the enemy was about tounch an attack. The only heavy weapon they had was the machine gun that they had taken from the jeep. Kang Chan looked at his team. It was time. The moment they pulled the trigger, they would start a fight where all that mattered was how many people they could kill and take with them to their grave. The members did a good job. They did better than Kang Chan expected. But they still had more things to do. Du-du-du-du-du-du. The helicopter noises changed. ¡®Come at me!¡¯ Click! Just as Kang Chan aimed his gun toward the helicopter¡­ Vroom. Vroom. Vroom. An armored car drove into the runway. Fuck! What¡¯s that? Kang Chan turned his gaze, then smirked. Sons of bitches! Sure enough, their battles reflect their mentality¡ªthey call themselves a continent and fight just asrge.? Surprised, Yoon Sang-Ki instinctively looked at Kang Chan, immediately noticing his peculiar smile. He felt as if he was looking at a tiger that was surrounded by wolves on top of a mountain. A terrifying and thrilling shiver ran down his spine. Chk. ¡°Don¡¯t lose our target!¡± Kang Chan yelled. The armored car closed in on Kang Chan, who tightly gritted his teeth. Bzzz! Bzzz! As it did, its 30mm Vulcan automatic cannon aimed at the helicopter in the sky. What¡¯s happening? Whoosh! Whoosh! Not long after, the armored car unleashed a terrifying amount of bullets. That wasn¡¯t all. The enemies Kang Chan¡¯s team had been fighting, including the armored car, were all under fire as well. Seok Kang-Ho, you son of a bitch! You should¡¯ve told me! Kang Chan yelled at the members, ¡°Run!¡± *** Hwang Ki-Hyun came into the room that Moon Jae-Hyun was in. He was clearly tired, but his eyes were still sharp¡ªbefitting the head of the National Intelligence Service. Moon Jae-Hyun and Jeon Dae-Geuk greeted Hwang Ki-Hyun without saying anything. ¡°We arrested all five of the traitors inside the National Intelligence Service, including the vice director,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun said. ¡°Did anyone get hurt?¡± ¡°Two agents were killed, and five agents were seriously injured.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun sighed softly. ¡°Mr. President, we¡¯ll arrest the Chairman of the National Assembly,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun continued. ¡°Do we have enough evidence to prove the allegations?¡± ¡°We have confirmed that assemblyman Huh Sang-Soo went to China with the circuit design of the semiconductor and the floor n of the Incheon International Airport.¡± ¡°Nheless, we can¡¯t prove the chairman¡¯s crimes, can we?¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun couldn¡¯t answer. The room grew silent for a moment. [We have breaking news. The Chinese government has officially announced that they have killed all the terrorists in the Beijing Capital International Airport.] Moon Jae-Hyun and Jeon Dae-Geuk looked like they had just been stabbed with a knife. [They also im to have suppressed the situation. Moreover, it has been confirmed that a part of Terminal One of the Beijing Capital International Airport has been destroyed. Here is the Chinese government¡¯s announcement.] The screen showed a Chinese man reading a script in front of cameras. His eyes alternated between the camera and the script. [We¡¯ll bring you the Chinese spokesperson¡¯s words through simultaneous interpretation.] The news screen transitioned to an upper body shot of the spokesperson. [The Chinese forces that are against the reform conspired with military authorities tounch a terrorist attack at the airport. For that reason, we have killed Rishiquan, the main culprit, and all of the criminals on the scene.] Moon Jae-Hyun suddenly raised his head. Jeon Dae-Geuk sat up as well. [The Chinese government will also do whatever it takes to find the people involved in this terrorist attack. They dared ruin the country¡¯s public order, so we are nning to punish them ordingly. We will also do our best to repair the airport as fast as possible. That will be all for now.] The screen now showed the spokesperson, who had been subjected to a flurry of camera shes, folding the script that they had been reading. Chapter 168.1: What It Means to Live (1)

Chapter 168.1: What It Means to Live (1)

It was an incredible achievement, but none of the soldiers looked happy. Choi Jong-Il had been shot twice in the chest, and Cha Dong-Gyun had been shot thrice in his stomach and chest. Following the conclusion of the standoff, they immediately rushed straight to the hospital still wearing their camouge face paint and military uniforms. Kang Chan remained steadfast next to their beds. He forced the Chinese doctors, who didn¡¯t understand what he was doing, to give the two men a whole bag of his blood. Having taken full control of China¡¯s intelligence bureau, Yang Bum¡¯s influence became so great that the team was given the entire eleventh floor to themselves even though they were in arge hospital in the center of downtown Beijing. The air force even closed off the entrance of the hospital and the eleventh floor with a sign that read, ¡°People''s Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps.¡± Yang Bum entered the room with a creak of the sliding doors, breaking the heavy silence. It had been about ten minutes since they had reached the hospital room. ¡°Huh Sang-Soo has been arrested without a warrant. It has also been confirmed that Wui Min-Gook has infiltrated South Korea,¡± Yang Bum informed Kang Chan. Kang Chan just listened. ¡°Wui Min-Gook is probably aware of the situation on our end now, considering he has gone off the grid,¡± Yang Bum added. ¡°Please deliver this information to Manager Kim Hyung-Jung of the National Intelligence Service,¡± Kang Chan stated. ¡°I have already ryed the news,¡± Yang Bum replied. ¡°What about the ne for our transportation?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared an aircraft for you. It¡¯s standing by at the Beijing Military Airfield,¡± Yang Bum said. All they had to do now was go back home. ¡°You should hurry back, Mr. Kang Chan. The opposing party has notpletely died down yet, and I can only keep the traffic under control before five,¡± Yang Bum warned him. ¡°We¡¯ll get going now, then,¡± Kang Chan told him. Kang Chan turned around to look at Choi Jong-Il and Cha Dong-Gyun. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.? ¡°Heard that? We have to leave now. Make sure you wake up soon and to call when you do,¡± Kang Chan dered, then left the hospital room with Yang Bum. The other soldiers saluted Choi Jong-Il and Cha Dong-Gyun before following Kang Chan out. They took the elevator to head straight to the underground lot, and Yang Bum guided them along. Kang Chan was walking with a limp now. Maybe it was because the adrenaline was gone, but the pain felt as if his skin was being ripped apart. A minibus curtained on the inside was waiting for them. They were all still in theirbat gear, so they made clunking noises throughout the trip, including when they walked, climbed into the bus, and the bus started its engine. After speeding down the roads for about thirty minutes, the bus arrived at the airport and stopped in front of the airfield. Yang Bum got out first. Kang Chan stepped off and shook hands with Yang Bum as Seok Kang-Ho and the other soldiers got into the aircraft. ¡°I won¡¯t forget your help today,¡± Yang Bum said in gratitude. ¡°Do I have toe here if I want to see you now?¡± Kang Chan asked him. ¡°For the time being, yes,¡± Yang Bum replied with a manly smile, ending their conversation. Swoosh.? After Kang Chan entered the ne, the doors of the aircraft slid shut with a thud. Rumble, rumble, rumble.? The aircraft soon began to take off. After a series of vibrations reverberating throughout the ne, it started to soar into the sky at a speed so rapid that it made the men inside lurch forward. ¡°Does anyone have any cigarettes?¡± Kang Chan asked. One of the soldiers quickly pulled one out and held it out to Kang Chan. ¡°Those bastards. Would it have killed them to provide us with some coffee on the ne?¡± Kang Chan grumbled. ¡°I believe there is some in the back,¡± another soldier replied, then hurriedly headed to the back of the aircraft. This was the first cigarette that Kang Chan had since the end of the operation. The smoke he exhaled swiftly flew to the back of the ne. This was the perfect environment to catch some roons¡ªsince they used to smoke up roon dens in the past to catch the animals. It would¡¯ve been better if the coffee was instant coffee, but the roasted scent from Americanos wasn¡¯t too bad either. The soldier who brought Kang Chan a cup of it also found some bread to go with it. Kang Chan leaned on the wall and sat on the ground, then shook his head. This is what fucking happens when I start to care about others.? It was impossible for everyone toe back alive in battles and operations. A couple of people considered this side of him a pathetic weakness. If someone picked a fight with him when he was in this mood, there would be big trouble. That was also why Seok Kang-Ho was keeping his lips shut and walking around Kang Chan on eggshells. Click.? ¡°Whew,¡± Kang Chan exhaled. He felt a little better when he started smoking his second cigarette. . ¡°Let me tie up your leg, Cap,¡± Seok Kang-Ho offered. ¡°Leave it alone. We¡¯ll get to Seoul soon, so I might as well get it treated there. You¡¯re not having any bread?¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating. Not hungry right now,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said, much to Kang Chan¡¯s surprise. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯sck of appetite was so ridiculous that Kang Chan chuckled. ¡°Just eat one. Get me one too,¡± Kang Chan ordered. There was no need to make the other soldiers ufortable. Kang Chan tore the bread that Seok Kang-Ho tossed him in half and took a big bite. ¡°What are you all doing? Eat up,¡± Seok Kang-Ho announced. At his words, everyone stuffed their mouths with the bread. It was aical sight, soldiers choking down bread with the whites of their eyes highlighted by the dark camouge paint. *** Ding. Ding. Ding.? When Kang Chan woke up from his shuteye, the ne was already descending to the ground. It made quite a noisynding, which all bulky aircraft did. The men disembarked and stepped onto the bus that was waiting for them. The sun shone brightly down on them at this time of day. Even with the dark, tanned windows of the bus, there were curtains covering the ss. Once they left the airport, Kang Chan saw a few sedans and vans on the side of the road, and Kim Hyung-Jung was standing next to them. Kang Chan stood up from his seat and turned to the men. ¡°Good work, all of you. I¡¯ll see you againter,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Attention!¡± Thud.? ¡°Salute themander!¡± Thud.? Kang Chan knew there was no way he could ignore this kind of farewell. Kang Chan saluted the men back on behalf of his party, then stepped off the bus with Seok Kang-Ho, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jun greeted as he quickly slid open the doors of the van for them. Their attire was one thing, but they had to be especially careful because the dark paint on their faces would easily attract the attention of passersby. The men swiftly climbed into the van, and the van left immediately after. ¡°Is your injury serious, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked, concerned. ¡°It¡¯s tolerable. Has Yang Bum contacted you yet?¡± Kang Chan confirmed. ¡°Yes. We have arrested five executives who were secretly in league with Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo. We have also secured all the evidence, including the confidential data leak and the distortion of internal information. This was why the director was unreachable for a time,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung informed him. ¡°What about Wui Min-Hook?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We haven¡¯t been able to locate him yet,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said, fatigue evident in his voice. His haggard face also made it apparent that he did not get any sleepst night. ¡°I will escort you to the safe house for now.¡± ¡°Got it. Will we be able to receive some medical attention there as well, Manager Kim?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve made all the necessary preparations,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied. That marked the end of the urgent topics that they had to cover. ¡°An announcement has been made that all the economic sanctions will be lifted this afternoon,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. ¡°What happened to the prime minister?¡± Kang Chan asked curiously. ¡°We are nning to cancel his resignation using the reason that he is necessary to move forward with the Russian oil field development rights,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung answered. It sounded as if they had put out most of the immediate fires now. *** The first thing that Kang Chan did when they arrived at the Hannam-Dong safe house was receive medical attention for his injury. ¡°How did it manage to dig so deep into your outer flesh?¡± the doctor who had been waiting on standby asked. He tilted his head in wonder a few times as he treated the wound and wrapped some gauze around it. Kang Chan covered his injury with arge rubber band and took a shower as well. They had been provided with formal clothes¡ªa shirt and dress pants¡ªbut Seok Kang-Ho looked like a gangster in the outfit. ¡°Let¡¯s get you fed for now,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung suggested. They all finally looked human again. After finishing his meal, Kang Chan drank the cup of coffee in front of him and smoked a cigarette in rxation. ¡°Section Chief Jeon says he will be staying in the office until he¡¯s done with the business with Wui Min-Gook. He was quite upset that he could not see you today. Would you give him a call when you get the chance? I¡¯ll probably find myself in a difficult position otherwise,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. Kang Chan could definitely see Jeon Dae-Geuk pressing Kim Hyung-Jung, so he agreed to call the gentleman. ¡°Oh, right, Manager Kim, please give these men some paid leave,¡± Kang Chan requested. ¡°I have actually prepared for their breaks already. You two have a week off starting today,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung informed them. ¡°It¡¯s fine, sir.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid, you idiots. There will be gaps in the security if you two work while still tired. The B team is waiting on standby anyway, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about. Take a break when Mr. Kang Chan offers it,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung ordered. Woo Hee-Seung and Lee Doo-Hee looked as if they felt wronged, but they didn¡¯t press the matter any further. ¡°You should get some rest too, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. ¡°I will. I have to make a call to the embassy first, though,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°What about you, Mr. Seok?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°I¡¯m going home, of course. What if someone stole my pretty wife while I was gone?¡± Seok Kang-Ho mischievously said. Everyoneughed at the absurdity of the lousy joke. Chapter 168.2: What It Means to Live (1)

Chapter 168.2: What It Means to Live (1)

Kang Chan was about to dial Lanok when he realized that he left his phone in the cargo ne earlier. He did think he was missing something¡ªhe just didn¡¯t expect it to be his phone. For now, he borrowed Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s phone to call the embassy directly. - Mr. Kang Chan, your safe return truly makes me feel relieved. I sincerely apologize for the great mistake that my country¡¯s DGSE has made. ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t intentional on your part. All¡¯s well that ends well, as they say. We were able to get China¡¯s economic sanctions lifted thanks to the operation, so don¡¯t take it to heart, sir,¡± Kang Chan assured him. - With this incident, I have reason tounch an internal agency-wide investigation on my end. My standing has be unshakeable thanks to you, but I don¡¯t know if I could ever apologize enough. Lanok apologized two more times before finally changing the subject. - Do you have time for a short meeting tomorrow? ¡°Yes, I do. I left my clothes and phone in the cargo ne, though, so I will have you call you through someone else¡¯s phone again tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan said. - I see, don¡¯t worry about that. When Kang Chan ended the call with Lanok, he finally felt as if he had finished all his homework. ¡°Are you heading home, Cap?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m going to get some rest. I made arrangements to meet the ambassador tomorrow, so I¡¯ll call you when I learn what time that¡¯ll be,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Seok Kang-Ho responded. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho took the car that Kim Hyung-Jung provided them back to the apartmentplex. ¡°Rest up,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said as they parted ways. ¡°Will do,¡± Kang Chan replied. After saying goodbye, Kang Chan immediately headed up to his home. Yoo Hye-Sook was already standing at the front door when he put in the passcode and opened the door. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Kang Chan greeted her. ¡°Channy! Why is your face so gaunt? Was what you had to do difficult?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked worriedly. ¡°It¡¯s probably because I didn¡¯t get enough sleep. Where¡¯s Father?¡± ¡°He went golfing with some acquaintances he knows through work. Why?¡± ¡°Just curious,¡± Kang Chan replied. It wasn¡¯t like he could say Wui Min-Gook was lying in wait somewhere, waiting to jump at the opportunity to hurt him. ¡°Channy! What happened to your leg?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked in shock. ¡°I just sprained it a bit,¡± Kang Chan responded reassuringly. ¡°Have you eaten, at least?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then hurry inside and get some sleep,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook urged. ¡°I will. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Why are you saying sorry when you couldn¡¯t sleep because you were working? Hurry, go to your room,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook scolded him. Kang Chan went to his room and changed into morefortable clothes before lying in bed. Choi Jong-Il and Cha Dong-Gyun will get through this.? Now that he hade into his room andy down in his bed, he smelled a familiar scent. It was home. He was finally back home. ¡®Did my body get weaker? How can I be so sleepy just because I missed a single night¡¯s worth of sleep?¡¯ Well, he supposed he did receive two injections because of his leg injury. Immediately afterward, Kang Chan fell asleep. He slumbered so deeply that when he woke up, his trip to China seemed like something that happened a long time ago. The first thing he noticed was that his throat was parched, then he smelled something delicious outside. He ruffled up his hair and got up from the bed, leisurely leaving the room. Even though the windows were open, the living room was still filled with the aroma of food. He could hear people talking as well. Kang Chan blinked in surprise as soon as he went into the kitchen. Why is she here? Michelle, who had her hair tied back, was cooking with Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Hm? Look who¡¯s up!¡± Michelle eximed. ¡°Channy! Do you feel better now?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Yup,¡± Kang Chan replied. He picked up a cup from the side of the kitchen where Yoo Hye-Sook and Michelle were, then poured himself some water from the purifier. ¡°Channy, did you lose your phone? I came because you weren¡¯t picking up,¡± Michelle said. She¡¯s just speaking in Korean so openly now? ¡°Channy, Michelle seems to be really clever. Her Korean has improved so quickly, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook remarked. ¡°She¡¯s not clever, she¡¯s sly,¡± Kang Chan said with a scoff. Michelle avoided Kang Chan¡¯s dark look as she told Yoo Hye-Sook, ¡°Yourpliment makes me so happy.¡± ¡°What happened to your phone though, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked, curiosity evident in her eyes. ¡°I probably just left it at my workce. I¡¯ll get it tomorrow or the day after,¡± Kang Chan said vaguely, not technically lying. The clock in the living room showed that it was two in the afternoon at the moment. It meant Kang Chan had slept for about three hours. ¡°Channy, try a bit of this,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said as she picked up some of the japchae with stic gloves and fed them to Kang Chan. Homemade japchae¡­ This was actually the first time in Kang Chan¡¯s life¡ªboth past and present¡ªthat he was eating japchae made at home. How should he describe this taste? ¡°Do you want to eat now?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Can I? What about you?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We haven¡¯t had lunch yet either. I was going to wake you up when this was done,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook replied. Yoo Hye-Sook pulled out the side dishes, poured some soup, and ted some japchae in a bowl. She also gave him a bowl of rice. ¡°Michelle, hurry and sit down with us,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Got it. Thank you for the meal,¡± Michelle responded graciously. ¡°Channy, eat up, okay?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. Kang Chan took some japchae and put it on top of his rice to eat with kimchi. To live life is to appreciate these small things.? Kang Chan ate so much that he felt extremely full. Forcing Kang Chan to help, Michelle helped Yoo Hye-Sook clean up the dishes and brought out some cut fruit to the living room. Michelle was pretty, easygoing, and had great table manners. Yoo Hye-Sook seemed to have taken a liking to Michelle. The three finished a melon together. ¡°Mother, I should get going now,¡± Michelle said. ¡°So soon? You should have some of the cake I brought before you leave,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said regretfully. ¡°I¡¯m too full. And I just had a delicious lunch too, so I wouldn¡¯t miss out by skipping cake. Please, next time, speak casually to me, ma¡¯am,¡± Michelle replied to her. How did Yoo Hye-Sook not think it was strange that Michelle¡¯s Korean was so good? ¡°Channy, do you have time for some coffee?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°Good idea! You should go have some refreshments with Michelle, Channy,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook pushed. Michelle looked as if she still had something to say, so Kang Chan immediately epted and changed out of his clothes. Michelle exchanged a hug with Yoo Hye-Sook before leaving the apartment. ¡°What happened to your leg?¡± Michelle asked. ¡°I just twisted it a bit,¡± Kang Chan replied. Michelle pecked Kang Chan¡¯s cheek the moment the doors of the elevator shut. ¡°I was worried about you,¡± Michelle said. ¡°Why?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Just because. There was that news about a terrorist attack in China on TV, so I thought maybe you were involved in that. Is your leg really okay?¡± Michelle asked. Kang Chan silently gulped. He wanted a cigarette, but he couldn¡¯t smokefortably so close to home. Kang Chan got in Michelle¡¯s car, which was parked in the underground lot, and they drove to the coffee shop at the intersection. Kang Chan ordered coffee and sat down with it in hand, feeling as if life was finally peaceful. ¡°I need your signature on these documents,¡± Michelle suddenly said. ¡°What are they?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kang Chan took a sip of the coffee and scanned the documents that Michelle gave him. ¡°This is a building acquisition contract, and these are the documents for establishing a corporation,¡± Michelle replied. ¡°A corporation?¡± ¡°Apparently, owning a building like this as an individual could result in variousplications. ording to thewyer, setting up a corporation is better, so I prepared the relevant documents for that as well,¡± Michelle exined. ¡°Buying a building is soplicated,¡± Kang Chanined. Michelle smiled in amusement. ¡°You want me to sign all these documents?¡± Kang Chan asked in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s allowed to do it. And even if others can, this isn¡¯t something you should leave to others. Channy, you¡¯re not supposed to let other people take care of documents for you. I can just appoint awyer for you, though, and you can entrust things like this to them,¡± Michelle suggested. ¡°Ugh. Just do whatever you think is best.¡± Michelle had aplicated expression on her face, but she still agreed in the end. Kang Chan signed a few of the important documents, then put the cigarette back in his mouth. ¡°That girl named Eun-Sil¡­¡± Michelle began. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°You know, Heo Eun-Sil. The girl who likes you,¡± Michelle teased. She¡¯s still joking about this? Seeing Kang Chan¡¯s expression, Michelle quickly backed down. ¡°Michelle, that¡¯s enough with that joke,¡± Kang Chan said firmly. ¡°Sorry, Channy.¡± It was Saturday afternoon. A bunch of idiots were sitting around, looking at Michelle with pitying eyes as if she were a helpless princess trapped by a monster. ¡°What did you want to say, though? What about Heo Eun-Sil?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°The festival. She has already nned most of the framework for it. That girl has potential.¡± ¡°Potential?¡± ¡°I noticed it while discussing things with her. She¡¯s quite skilled in the field of stage direction and performance,¡± Michelle replied. Kang Chan wasn''t interested in this topic. Whether he liked her or not, he didn''t want to ept that the kid who trampled on the futures of other children could now blossom with her talents. She did say that she acknowledged her wrongdoings, but she had not received forgiveness from everyone yet. Michelle carefully observed Kang Chan¡¯s mood. Just then, an unfamiliar man approached the terrace. A nce at the way he walked was enough for Kang Chan to tell that he was an agent. When Michelle saw Kang Chan''s sharp gaze, her expression tensed up. By the time she turned around to look, the man was already in front of their table. ¡°Section Chief Jeon would like to speak with you,¡± he said. He seemed to be the agent filling in for Choi Jong-Il. Chapter 169: What It Means to Live (2)

Chapter 169: What It Means to Live (2)

If Jeon Dae-Geuk wanted Kang Chan to answer his call even though thetter was with Michelle, then it had to be for something urgent. Have they found Wui Min-Gook? Kang Chan answered the call without saying anything. He pressed the ¡®answer¡¯ button in front of the imbeciles who were looking at Michelle. Their eyes showed that they felt sorry for her. - Hello? Is this Kang Chan? ¡°Yes it¡¯s me, section chief. I wasn¡¯t able to talk to you earlier because I was told that you¡¯re busy. I left my phone somewhere else as well.¡± - How are your injuries? It seemed Jeon Dae-Geuk didn¡¯t call to tell him about Wui Min-Gook. ¡°It got a lot better. What¡¯s going on?¡± - Chan. He was the first person from work to call Kang Chan by only his name. Kang Chan really liked it, though. - We have not experienced this yet, so I thought I should call you because you might know about this. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on.¡± Why is he acting like this? - General Choi called me and said that the men¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t rxing. He doesn¡¯t know how to get them to rx. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re causing problems, and they¡¯re acting the same as usual, but their eyes are still glinting so much it¡¯s as if they¡¯re about to explode. We have never experienced this before, so we don¡¯t know how to handle this. Do you know what¡¯s going on? Kang Chan couldn¡¯t answer. Is it because we¡¯re all Korean or because we became close through extreme training? The only people whom he had shared these kinds of emotions with for almost the past ten years were only Dayeru and G¨¦rard. - Can you guess what¡¯s going on? ¡°Yes.¡± - What are we supposed to do? ¡°I¡¯ll go there right now.¡± - Right now? Jeon Dae-Geuk sounded both happy and sorry at the same time. ¡°Will President Kim Tae-Jin make it?¡± - Don¡¯t even worry about that. ¡°He¡¯ll know where to go if you tell him that I¡¯m at the coffee shop at the intersection. We¡¯ll leave as soon as everyone gets here.¡± - Thank you so much. I¡¯ll call General Choi as well. After dropping the call, Kang Chan asked the agent for Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s number not only because he didn¡¯t have his phone but because he didn¡¯t have anyone¡¯s number memorized due to his habit of jotting things down. - Hello? ¡°Manager Kim, it¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± - Hello, Mr. Kang Chan! ¡°Can you call Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s house and tell him toe to the coffee shop at the intersection? Tell him we have somewhere to go to. I can¡¯t call him myself because I don¡¯t know his number.¡± - Alright. Kim Hyung-Jung seemed roughly aware of what was going on, so Kang Chan didn¡¯t have to talk much. The agent epted the phone back from Kang Chan, then politely said goodbye and left the terrace. Michelle didn¡¯t ask questions and only observed Kang Chan¡¯s mood. ¡°I have to go somewhere,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright. Will your leg be okay?¡± It was quitefortable to be around Michelle at times like this, especially since she epted Kang Chan¡¯s work. ¡°Your guests will being here, right? I¡¯ll leave first, then.¡± Michelle stood up, then opened her arms while looking mischievous. It¡¯s not like she¡¯s trying to tantalize the guys around us. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan said. He lightly hugged her and patted her back. ¡°Bye!¡± Michelle said. When Michelle left, people looked away. It was as if a scene in a musical just ended. Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun arrived while Kang Chan was smoking a cigarette. As if they werepeting on who would get to the coffee shop first, Seok Kang-Ho arrived not long after. Kang Chan stood up and greeted them, then he bought coffee and sat down at his seat. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan. It seemed he wasn¡¯t fully aware of what was going on yet. ¡°The men haven¡¯t gotten over the battle yet, so I¡¯m nning to visit them.¡± ¡°Does something like that really happen?¡± Unlike Seok Kang-Ho, who immediately understood what Kang Chan meant, Suh Sang-Hyun looked perplexed. ¡°Didn¡¯t they aplish something great? Why can¡¯t they still get over it?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked again. ¡°They¡¯re probably feeling guilty because of what happened to Choi Jong-Il and Cha Dong-Gyun. I couldn¡¯t control my expression either. Right now, they¡¯re also forced to make up for the emptiness that Seok Kang-Ho, Choi Jong-Il, Cha Dong-Gyun and I left behind.¡± Kim Tae-Jin nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s hit the road now unless you¡¯re not ready yet.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± They decided to take only one car, so they left Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s in the parking lot. ¡°I don¡¯t remember something like this happening when we were working at the DMZ,¡± Suh Sang-Hyunmented. ¡°We didn¡¯t experiencerge-scale battles back then, did we?¡± Kim Tae-Jin responded. ¡°Is that why?¡± Suh Sang-Hyun clearly wasn¡¯t aware of such emotions. The bigger and more intense the battle, the greater their sense of loss. Despite making a great achievement, their guilt about what happened to their fellow soldiers were just as prominent as their happiness. They could not help but think,?¡®How can I be happy while someone is dying?¡¯, ¡®Does this make me a bastard?¡¯, ¡®Why couldn¡¯t I keep them safe?¡¯, and ¡®If only I fought a little better!¡¯ Kang Chan could already guess what the soldiers were feeling. Those fuckers. Kang Chan realized that he genuinely cared for them. He couldn¡¯t believe that people like them existed¡ªpeople who would feel as distressed as he was because their brothers-in-arms were wounded instead of being happy about their aplishment. Suh Sang-Hyun drove on the highway with the sirens on. ¡°Did you get some rest?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°Yeah. I slept like a rock. What about you?¡± ¡°My wife and daughter told me that they thought our house would copse because of how loud my snores were.¡± o They talked about various other matters inside the car as they quickly sped through the road. *** Going past the barricades and around the mountain path, a familiar barrack came into view. When the car stopped, Choi Seong-Geon opened the barrack¡¯s door and approached them so fast it almost seemed as if he jumped out. ¡°Wee, sunbae-nim and Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Choi Seong-Geon said. It was already almost six in the evening. ¡°Where are the members?¡± Kang Chan asked Choi Seong-Geon. ¡°They¡¯re eating.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll also eat first, then¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Choi Seong-Geon looked like he wanted to talk first, but he didn¡¯t stop Kang Chan. Led by Kang Chan, they headed to the cafeteria. Screech. When they opened the door and went inside, they immediately felt the gloomy atmospherend on their shoulders. The soldiers¡¯ gazes shot straight toward them. Kang Chan looked at the soldiers, then took a food tray and scooped some food into it. He still found it ufortable to walk. Kang Chan got some soup, a bunch of stir fried pork, kimchi, and seasoned vegetables. Click. Kang Chan put the food tray down in front of Kwak Cheol-Ho, then slowly looked around. The soldiers looked angry and suffocated. The look in their eyes showed that they felt bad about something. At the same time, they also looked happy to see Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, Kim Tae-Jin, and Suh Sang-Hyun. ¡°We fought against the Spetsnaz, the SBS, and China¡¯s White Wolves and task force,¡± Kang Chan started. Choi Seong-Geon came over with a food tray. He carefully put it on the table and quietly sat down. ¡°None of you probably expected that we won¡¯t ever have to make sacrifices during operations like the ones we¡¯ve gone on. Just as how none of you were afraid of death, Choi Jong-Il and Cha Dong-Gyun likely weren¡¯t either,¡± Kang Chan continued. The members sat up straight. It was as if they were being taught. ¡°Experience will be passed on. Everything that you all went through during the operations will all be passed down to your juniors and to those who find it unfair that they couldn¡¯t participate in the operation. Even the emotions that you can¡¯t get over right now will be passed on. Kwak Cheol-Ho,¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Yes, sir?¡± ¡°In every mission we take, there will always be a chance that someone could die. If you die, will you resent those who survive?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°No, I won¡¯t, sir!¡± The members gritted their teeth. ¡°You guys fought well. We seeded in an operation that seemedpletely impossible. The two people fighting for their lives right now would not want any of you to making such expressions!¡± Kang Chan eximed. Choi Seong-Geon examined the members¡¯ expressions. As he nced at Kim Tae-Jin, Kang Chan added, ¡°What would Choi Jong-Il and Cha Dong-Gyun think if they saw South Korea¡¯s best special forces team looking like this? You all are supposed to run out tonight or even right now during a meal if you guys are ordered to!¡± Suh Sang-Hyun never imagined that Kang Chan would act like this. He didn¡¯t think that Kang Chan would calm down South Korea¡¯s best special forces team. He didn¡¯t know Kang Chan had this side to him. He even thought Kang Chan was arrogant when he first met him. ¡°Yoon Sang-Ki!¡± Kang Chan called. ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°If there¡¯s an operation tonight, will you be able to go?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°Even though you might die?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°Will you resent the members who survive the mission?¡± ¡°Never, sir!¡± Yoon Sang-Ki¡¯s answer was low, husky, and heartbreaking. ¡°This is what experience is like! It''s a heartbreak that mock battles and live ammo training can¡¯t give you! The Spetsnaz, the SBS, and the White Wolves are ring at you all! Survive so that none of you will feel ashamed to meet your fallenrades!¡± Kang Chan eximed. The skin around Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s eyes became red. ¡°You are the special forces team that is supposed to be responsible for South Korea, so don¡¯t lose to anything no matter what you¡¯re up against. Never back off.¡± As the soldiers¡¯ faces and eyes grew red¡­ ¡°What¡¯s our motto?!¡± Kang Chan yelled. ¡°If I can!¡± the members fiercely shouted loud enough for the dividers in the cafeteria to shake. ¡°Protect the country with my blood!¡± Before they knew it, Choi Seong-Geon and even Suh Sang-Hyun were shouting the motto at the top of their voices with them. ¡°I am!¡± The cafeteria rumbled. ¡°Happy!¡± Silence took over after their fierce shout. They felt deeply touched, but they felt that much embarrassed as well. ¡°See? You all did great, so why do you feel bad?¡± Kang Chan asked. When he sat down and picked up his utensils, they started to eat again. ¡°Sunbae-nim,¡± Choi Seong-Geon softly called Kim Tae-Jin, who was picking up his chopsticks to control his emotions. ¡°Thank you.¡± Kim Tae-Jin just smiled pleasantly in response. *** ¡°Where are you fuckers going? This is upsetting,¡± Choi Seong-Geon cheekily approached the open area in front of the barracks with a paper cup and cigarettes. ¡°Come here! Why are you guys so stiff during our break?¡± There was no way the soldiers wouldn¡¯t know how Choi Seong-Geon felt. Meanwhile, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho were shamelessly exhaling cigarette smoke. ¡°Is your leg okay?¡± Yoon Sang-Ki asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kang Chan answered. They had notpletely gotten over their emotions yet, but at this point, they would go back to normal in a day or two. After a while, an adjutant An adjutant came looking for Choi Seong-Geon in front of the barracks. ¡°General! Someone is on the phone. They want to talk to you.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± The atmosphere became a bit better when Choi Seong-Geon left. As Seok Kang-Ho grinned and patted a soldier¡¯s shoulder¡­ Whe-oo! Whe-oo! Whe-oo! ¡­ sirens sharply went off. The soldiers threw away the paper cups and cigarettes and ran into the barrack. A momentter, Choi Seong-Geon entered with a grim look on his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I was told that we should be on emergency stand-by.¡± Is it because of Wui Min-Gook? ¡°Have they found him?¡± Kang Chan asked again. ¡°I wasn¡¯t told anything more than that.¡± It at least meant that there was a possibility that they had found where Wui Min-Gook was hiding. ¡°Will it be okay for the men to go out on an operation in this state?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay. They¡¯re second to none no matter where they¡¯re deployed.¡± Choi Seong-Geon nodded, then looked at Kang Chan with a puzzled expression. ¡°Where did you get this kind of experience, Mr. Kang Chan?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a ssified government secret.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Choi Seong-Geon decided to just be thankful that they had soldiers like this. ¡°We¡¯ll get going now,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan. What about the soldiers?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be fine.¡± Choi Seong-Geon smiled instead of answering. As Kang Chan was about to get in the car, the soldiers jumped out already armed to the teeth. They had regrets, but Kang Chan saw greater determination in them. Kang Chan raised his hand and tapped Yoon Sang-Ki¡¯s helmet. Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun patted the helmets of the soldiers who were near them as well. There was no need to say anything at times like this. When the soldiers¡¯ helmets shook with a tap, everyone¡¯s emotions¡ªincluding the people leaving and those staying at the barracks¡ªwerepletely passed on to each other. *** The road toward Seoul was empty, unlike the road heading out of Seoul. During the trip, they called Jeon Dae-Geuk twice with Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s phone, but Jeon Dae-Geuk didn¡¯t answer. Something was definitely going on. On the radio, a reporter said that China¡¯s economic sanctions had beenpletely removed and that China would closely cooperate with South Korea to make sure that a misunderstanding like this would never happen again. ¡°Fortunately, the soldiers settled down before something like this happened,¡± Kim Tae-Jinmented. ¡°We should find Wui Min-Gook quickly,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°He¡¯s a North Korean special forces soldier, but that doesn¡¯t mean he can just recklessly provoke us. After all, we still have the security and the section chief has put in ce effective countermeasures.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Anyway, when I saw the soldiers, I noticed that they havepletely fallen under yourmand.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk. Strangely, his blood heated up when he met the soldiers. He was still in denial, but he already genuinely cared for them. Little by little, the traffic on the highway became heavier the closer they got to Seoul, but that didn¡¯t be a big problem. Kim Tae-Jin and Suh Sang-Hyun left after they dropped off Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho in the parking lot. Naturally, Kang Chan returned home in Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s car. ¡°Us not having a phone is really frustrating,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. ¡°Endure it for just one day. They said that they¡¯ll find them tomorrow. Call my house or manager Kim if you run into any problem.¡± ¡°Alright. By the way, is your leg okay? We should¡¯ve gone to Director Yoo, but we didn¡¯t even have time to go see him today.¡± ¡°Go home. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Chan parted ways with Seok Kang-Ho and went home. He was worried for nothing¨C¨CKang Dae-Kyung was already home. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Did you have dinner with Michelle?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°No¡ªI parted ways with her earlier because I had to work.¡± ¡°You still got called to work even though you didn¡¯t have your phone?¡± ¡°I met my co-workers by chance.¡± Kang Chan didn¡¯t prepare for this conversation, so he just kept giving absurd answers. ¡°Let¡¯s watch a movie together. It¡¯s been a while. The movie that I¡¯ve been wanting to see is also airing today,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung tactfully butted into the conversation, changing the atmosphere. ¡°Why don¡¯t we also order chicken?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked happy as she listened to Kang Chan and Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s conversation.Things that Kang Chan never got to experience in his past life were now around him¡ªand the more he had of them, the more he remembered when he went on operations. What do Choi Jong-Il, Cha Dong-Gyun, and the agents think when they¡¯re with their families? They do know that more than ten of them are sacrificed each year¡­ After ordering chicken, they talked about China¡¯s announcement. Meanwhile, Kang Chan cracked his neck due to an uncanny feeling he was getting. He first looked at the living room window. Badum-badum. Badum-badum.? Damn it! Of all asions, his intuition was telling him that something bad was going to happen when he didn¡¯t even have his phone and while he was sitting with his parents in the living room. They won¡¯t shoot a Mistral or an I from the apartment across from us, will they? Ding-dong. Ding-dong. The doorbell rang. Yoo Hye-Sook flinched, and Kang Chan quickly stood up. ¡°Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook called Kang Chan in surprise, then noticed the look in his eyes. ¡°Mr. President! It¡¯s me, Assistant Manager Kim!¡± They heard the voice of an agent who was guarding Kang Dae-Kyung. Chapter 170.1: We’re Okay (1)

Chapter 170.1: We¡¯re Okay (1)

Kang Chan immediately headed for the front door. Considering it was a National Intelligence Service agent, he probably would not ask for the door to be opened if there was a nearby threat. Beep. When Kang Chan opened the door, he was greeted by Assistant Manager Kim. The hallway behind him was filled with agents in suits. ¡°I have direct orders from the manager, sir. I will have to provide close proximity protection services to both of your parents,¡± Assistant Manager Kim said. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t deny this kind of offer even if he wanted to. ¡°What about the rooftop?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We have not secured it yet. For now, it would be best for you to draw the curtains,¡± the assistant manager advised. ¡°Come on in,¡± Kang Chan permitted, and the agents began to head inside. ¡°Hello, how are you?¡± the agents greeted. ¡°Oh! We¡¯re doing good. You?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook met the agents before, so they weren¡¯t as flustered. Nevertheless, they naturally could not hide their surprise when the agents suddenly visited them an hour before midnight. Swish! Swoosh! An agent scanned a window facing outward, then drew its curtains shut and stood guard in front of it. Meanwhile, the two female agents asked Yoo Hye-Sook if she could take them to examine the master bedroom, likely to determine if they could be shot from the room¡¯s windows. ¡°Manager Kim would like to speak with you,¡± Assistant Manager Kim said as he handed Kang Chan the phone. Amid the awkward and chaotic atmosphere, a suddenmotion urred outside. After a while, the agent standing guard out in the hallway came in with a delivery of chicken. Kang Chan felt bad for the delivery man, who probably had quite the shock when he arrived. Yoo Hye-Sook came out of the master bedroom and sat down next to Kang Dae-Kyung, looking both surprised and ufortable. At that point, Kang Chan pressed the call button on the agent¡¯s phone. -This is Kim Hyung-Jung speaking. ¡°Manager Kim, what¡¯s going on?¡± Kang Chan asked. - Mr. Kang Chan. The director has been attacked, and the fourth deputy director was shot to death. Information was leaked from the National Intelligence Service, so your acquaintances may be in danger as well. Also¡­ Kim Hyung-Jung, who was speaking quite fast, suddenly paused. ¡°Go on,¡± Kang Chan said. - One of the agents guarding the apartmentplex¡¯s perimeter has reported suspicious activity in the area. I know it will be quite ufortable for you all, but I suggest staying with the agents today or moving to a hotel. Damn it, Wui Min-Gook! Can¡¯t I at least rx on a Saturday and eat some chicken in peace?? Kang Chan almost cursed out loud. Fortunately, he managed to grit his teeth together before he could. - I advise you to persuade your parents and relocate to a hotel, Mr. Kang Chan. We don¡¯t know where and how much information was leaked. Only the director and I had clearance to your information, so we were actually able to identify the assistant director as a traitor because he attempted to ess your file. In the worst-case scenario, the enemy may have gotten their hands on all the information that we have. ¡°What about Seok¡ª!¡± Kang Chan asked before stopping mid-question, almost having disrespectfully said Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s full name out loud in front of Kang Dae-Kyung. - Mr. Seok and his family have been moved to a hotel. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Chan worriedly from where they were sitting on the sofa. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to my parents,¡± Kang Chan stated with a low sigh before hanging up and taking a seat on the couch. If someone saw how the agents were standing in front of the curtains, kitchen, and inside the master bedroom, they would probably think that Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were being threatened. ¡°North Korea apparently ns tounch a terrorist attack because of the Eurasian Rail. Their goal is to make us give up on the project by targeting me and the people around me,¡± Kang Chan exined. His heart was thumping nonstop, so he kept ncing at the living room curtains as he spoke. ¡°You are wee to stay here, but the agents will be with us the entire time. Why don¡¯t you go to a hotel for a night?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°And you? You¡¯ll being to the hotel with us, won¡¯t you?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung confirmed. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll be going with you as well,¡± Kang Chan reassured him. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go, then,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said with determination. She was trembling, but she seemed to be trying to endure it better thanst time. ¡°Can I change into something else first?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°I think you should pack a few clothes before we head to the hotel,¡± Assistant Manager Kim replied in Kang Chan¡¯s stead. A female agent followed Yoo Hye-Sook into the master bedroom. ¡°I¡¯ll just get a change of clothes as well. I¡¯ll be out in a minute,¡± Kang Chan said before heading to his room to pull out a dress shirt and pants. Just then, Assistant Manager Kim quietly stepped into his room. He handed Kang Chan a gun, magazine, and a silencer. Kang Chan holstered the gun to the right side of his back. Badum. Badum.? His goddamn heart was still sending him warning signals. ¡°Do you have extra radios?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I do, sir. I will find one and bring it to your room,¡± Assistant Manager Kim replied. He then headed out to the living room and soon returned with a radio set. Kang Chan put the earpiece into his left ear and hung the radio on the left side of his back. He tried to cover the lumps around his waist with a jacket, but it didn¡¯t help much. ¡°What about our transportation?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°We have prepared two vans in the underground parking lot,¡± Assistant Manager Kim responded. . Kang Chan nodded and walked out toward the living room, where he saw Yoo Hye-Sook and Kang Dae-Kyung carrying mid-sized travel suitcases. The atmosphere was beyond tense. Kang Dae-Kyung looked as if he was trying to stay brave, while Yoo Hye-Sook already appeared to bepletely terrified. Kang Chan went to the sofa and turned the TV off. ¡°Do you think you can go?¡± Kang Chan asked worriedly. ¡°Yes, we can do it,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung replied, pretending not to notice the earpiece in Kang Chan¡¯s ear. Kang Chan gestured to an agent with his eyes, and the agent stepped forward to carry their luggage for them. Kang Chan then put his shoes on. Crackle.? ¡°Status on the hallways,¡± he then spoke into the mouthpiece. Crackle.? ¡°All appears to be clear,¡± the assistant manager immediately replied through the radio. Badum. Badum.? Kang Chan¡¯s heart warned him crazily not to let his guard down. Was it the stairs? Or the elevator? Beep.? The moment he opened the front door, they were greeted by agents wearing formal ck attire from top to bottom. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook looked absolutely stunned now. Ding!? Kang Chan met eyes with the agent who pressed the elevator button. ¡°We¡¯re taking the stairs,¡± he dered, having decided against taking the elevator. Whenever his heart beat a mile a minute like this, it was best to avoid anything that made him even the tiniest bit anxious. ¡°We¡¯re using the stairs! Get moving!¡± Assistant Manager Kim ordered, and the agents rushed about to surround Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. They were standing guard all the way up to two floors up and two floors down, protecting them from all angles. A nce was enough for Kang Chan to immediately notice that at least twenty agents were dispatched. ¡°Haah! Haah!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s nervous and surprised breathing came out in rough puffs of air. The loud tapping of footsteps that echoed as they walked through the quiet staircase made them even more nervous. Some of the agents descended first and blocked off each of the floors¡¯ doors before Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook walked passed it. It was a wonder how they managed to climb down intact. Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum.? Kang Chan¡¯s heart thumped even crazier the moment they stepped into the underground lot. Vroom! ¡°Get a move on! What about the security on the perimeter?¡± Kang Chan asked. Two vans came rushing toward them, and the agents began to approach the vehicles with Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook sandwiched between them. What the fuck is it? What¡¯s the problem? What the hell is causing this suffocating warning? ¡°What about the security of the vans?¡± Kang Chan asked, feeling quite tense. ¡°Two vans are waiting on standby near the exit of the parking lot, sir,¡± Assistant Manager Kim stiffly answered, making his nervousness evident. If so, then there should be no problem. Kang Chan was told that Seok Kang-Ho was already at a hotel, and his own family was about to head there now, so what was the issue? Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum.? His heart sent him onest warning that danger was right beneath his nose. What was it? What did he miss? Throughout his entire life, his heart rarely raced so fast. Is it on the way to the hotel? Just as Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook stepped into the vehicle, two agents dropped to the ground following the sound of two gunshots. Pew! Pew! Thud! Thud! ¡°Get going!¡± Kang Chan shouted through gritted teeth. The car doors were still open. Pew! Thud! Pew! Whoosh! An agent protecting the van fell to the ground, and sparks flew from the car. Creak! The van parked behind them rapidly elerated forward to block the direction where the bullets wereing from. ¡°I said get going!¡± Kang Chan shouted. Vroom! Creak!? ¡°Channy!¡± The van began to move. Kang Chan ran beside it, holding the door on the driver¡¯s side. There was no knowing what else could pop out, so he stayed on alert. ¡°Shut the doors!¡± Kang Chanmanded. The agent inside closed the sliding doors. Kang Chan¡¯s right shin was in so much pain that he felt as if it was going to be torn apart. However, he couldn¡¯t stop. Pew! Whoosh! Swish! Swish! Bullets ricocheted throughout the lot. He knew he would break Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s hearts if they saw him limping, but he could never move away from the car. The ss was too thick for him to see inside, but Yoo Hye-Sook was probably watching Kang Chan at that moment. Creak! A screech rang through the apartmentplex¡¯s parking lot as the van took a sharp turn. Vroom.? On the way toward the exit, they saw vans with their hazard lights shing and about four agents standing around them. ¡°Go!¡± Kang Chan ordered. One of the vans immediately began to drive off. A van followed behind it. Chapter 170.2: We’re Okay (1)

Chapter 170.2: We¡¯re Okay (1)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After confirming that the vehicles left theplex, 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 ce 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 ce 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 nced around theplex 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. 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. ¡°Wee, 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. Thetter picked it up. ¡°Yes. Good work. Hang on a moment,¡± hemanded. 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¡¯repletely 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 rified. -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 andforted her for a while before Yoo Hye-Sook hung up the phone. ¡°Can I have Seok Kang-Hoe 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. Theyunched 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 guerri 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 ind 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 apartmentplex?¡± ¡°We are still analyzing the camera footage. At worst, all the information leaked about you will be crucial intel rted to the operations weunched that you were a part of. However, as far as we know, your apartment, your parents¡¯ workces, 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. ¡°Wee, 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 thetter¡¯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¡¯tunch another gueri 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 red at the map on the desk. There was still a small piece of difort 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¡ªno, 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 nced 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! Chapter 171.1: We’re Okay (2)

Chapter 171.1: We¡¯re Okay (2)

Kang Chan just wanted to have chicken with his family, but their Saturday ended up bing a mess instead. It was alreadyte at night. Kim Hyung-Jung couldn¡¯t clock out for the night and go home due to the situation, but he also couldn¡¯t stay in his office. ¡°We¡¯ll go to the hotel,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll contact you immediately if the situation changes,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung responded. ¡°What should we do about the weapons?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung hesitated for a moment. ¡°You two should have weapons and National Intelligence Service IDs with you. If needed, I can give you belt holsters that you can strap around your waist.¡± Kang Chan looked at Seok Kang-Ho, unable to respond right away. If they carried guns around, their families would inevitably find out about it. If something were to go wrong, then even others, including those at the coffee shop, could notice it as well. Carrying guns around in South Korea was not normal, so it could cause a lot of problems. If word got out about them on the inte, then things would be even harder to sort out. ¡°Others will likely notice that we have guns on our waists. It¡¯s much better to have them on our ankles instead,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Good idea.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung went to his desk and found two ankle holsters. Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan took out the pistol on their waists and holstered them, returning the silencers. They also strapped two spare magazines on their other ankle. ¡°It''ll be best for your parents to stay at the hotel for now,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung told Kang Chan afterward. ¡°I¡¯ll have them do that.¡± ¡°It would be dangerous for them to go to work for about a week. If they have to go out, they should use the van that we¡¯ll provide.¡± ¡°What about my daughter? She has school,¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°How about your wife and daughter go abroad for about a week? We¡¯ll say that it¡¯s a field trip. That will give you the time and space you need toe here and help out,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung suggested. What was there for Seok Kang-Ho to help out in this office? Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s suggestion wasn¡¯t bad, though. ¡°Will they have security abroad?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°They¡¯ll be safer overseas, considering we don¡¯t even know what Wui Min-Gook is up to. A week should be enough for us to check the CCTV footage.¡± ¡°My family doesn¡¯t have passports,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Kim Hyung-Jung smiled instead of answering. ¡°Let¡¯s have our families go abroad¡ªI¡¯ll tell my parents as well. I¡¯ll feel better with them out of the country instead of in a hotel. We have agents in the Foundation and my father¡¯spany, so they will still be running seamlessly,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Sure. My family was so surprised, though, so I¡¯m not sure if they¡¯ll be willing to go without me,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. ¡°Let¡¯s just talk to them about it for now.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have another cigarette before we leave,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. Since he already picked a cigarette up, they all smoked first. ¡°You can¡¯t go home, can you?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a cot to be this useful.¡± The cold coffee and cigarettes seemed to beforting them for their long day. ¡°Have you had dinner yet?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°I had a sandwich.¡± ¡°Why would you eat something like that instead of delicious jjampong?¡± Seok Kang-Ho abruptly grumbled. ¡°Things were hectic, so that was all I could eat. I threw it out after eating about half of it. Should I order you a jjampong though, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho?¡± ¡°We can still order right now?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. This was a conversation between Kim Hyung-Jung, who basically skipped dinner, and Seok Kang-Ho, who was always hungry. They both looked at Kang Chan, their eyes showing the answer to Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s question. ¡°Please go ahead. It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve had a midnight snack,¡± Kang Chan answered. Kim Hyung-Jung brought his phone to his ear. Three agents died in the basement of his apartment, yet they were ordering jjampong. The battles in Africa and Seoul were no different. They had to eat and sleep whenever they could. That way, they could maintain their condition for the next battle. There were times when little things like this decided whether one lived or died in an emergency. The jjampong arrived in less than ten minutes. Kang Chan ate as he thought about visiting the damn Chinese restaurant someday. ¡°Wow! This is really amazing!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. He would definitely say something like that again at breakfast tomorrow at the hotel. They ate in moderation, then had coffee and smoked cigarettes again. ¡°We¡¯ll be going now. You should get even just a bit of sleep. Do you want to go to the hotel with us?¡± Kang Chan asked Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°I¡¯mfortable here. I still have to keep an eye on the situation, after all.¡± Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho said goodbye to Kim Hyung-Jung and left his office. They then went to the basement parking lot and got in the van that the agents prepared for them. ¡°Is this window bulletproof?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked as he knocked on the window. The agent in the passenger seat answered with a ¡°yes.¡± ¡°Do you think Huh Ha-Soo is behind the attack in the underground parking lot?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°I do. Hearing Huh Hang-Soo was arrested in China probably angered Huh Ha-Soo so much that he¡¯s no longer in his right mind. There¡¯s no reason for Wui Min-Gook to listen to Huh Ha-Soo, though, so it¡¯s hard to just conclude that he¡¯s behind it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Make sure youfort your family. Your daughter must¡¯ve been shocked.¡± ¡°Ugh. I can¡¯t believe this happened just as she was taking an interest in studying.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk. He was not used to Seok Kang-Ho acting like this. Anyway, as Kang Chan expected, they were heading to the Namsan Hotel. That was fine, though. After all, no ce was as safe as the Namsan Hotel from ambushes since it didn¡¯t have any tall buildings around it. It was already dawn, so it did not take them long to reach the hotel¡¯s basement parking lot. They were given key cards as they got in the elevator. ¡°Why am I the only one getting two rooms?¡± Kang Chan asked the agents. ¡°We assumed that it would be ufortable for you to sleep with your parents.¡± They weren¡¯t wrong. They were at a hotel, after all. ¡°Great thinking. I feel ufortable sleeping in the same room as my daughter as well, so I¡¯ll sleep in that roomter too. What¡¯s your parents¡¯ room number?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°Neen-o-three,¡± an agent quickly answered in Kang Chan¡¯s stead. ¡°I¡¯ll take room neen-o-five, then,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s room was on the seventeenth floor, and Kang Chan¡¯s was on the neenth. ¡°I¡¯ll see you in a bit,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan. The two agents in the elevator with them followed Seok Kang-Ho out. When the elevator reached the neenth floor, Kang Chan saw an agent in a suit waiting in front of it. Kang Chan walked along the hallway and headed to their room. ¡°We¡¯re on standby in the room across from here,¡± the agent said. ¡°Thanks. You did great.¡± Kang Chan pressed the key card on the scanner and opened the door. ¡°Channy!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were sitting in the living room. ¡°Have you guys slept yet?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook responded. She looked at Kang Chan¡¯s feet as he approached them. ¡°The incident earlier must have shocked both of you.¡± ¡°Your mom is handling this a lot better though, isn¡¯t she?¡± Kang Dae-Kyungmented. ¡°You always tease me!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. Kang Chan was sure that Kang Dae-Kyung was also very surprised, but he seemed to be trying hard to be Kang Chan¡¯s support. ¡°Do you guys want some tea?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Sure. We already had a cup of green tea because your mom was shaking so much, but we can¡¯t sleep anyway, so we might as well have another.¡± ¡°Please let me make it for you.¡± Kang Chan tried to stop him, but Kang Dae-Kyung insisted on standing up. Since Yoo Hye-Sook walked right along with him, they all made tea. They then sat on the sofa. ¡°Huh? Mother seems sleepy,¡± Kang Chanmented. ¡°Looking at you puts me at ease,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°Then please sleep¡ªI¡¯ll sleep in the room next door.¡± ¡°You got another room?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I won¡¯t be alone¡ªthey said that I have to be with an agent.¡± How would Kang Chan exin to his parents if they ran into Seok Kang-Ho in this situation? He only actually said that he would be with an agent to prevent Kang Dae-Kyung froming into his room. ¡°If you press the extension number, then I¡¯ll answer the call from the room right next door. I¡¯ll be going to the French embassy tomorrow, but let¡¯s have breakfast before I leave. I also need to pick up my phone,¡± Kang Chan said. Little by little, Kang Chan¡¯s parents began looking calmer while sitting with him. ¡°Father,¡± Kang Chan called. Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Kang Chan with eyes that asked, ¡®What¡¯s wrong?¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m afraid you will have to stay here and be closely guarded for about a week, but you can also go on a trip to France and visit Gong Te automobile instead.¡± ¡°A trip?¡± ¡°Yes. They estimate this whole situation tost about a week. It could end a little bit earlier, but they also said that it could take longer than that,¡± Kang Chan exined. Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Yoo Hye-Sook while exhaling softly. ¡°What about you?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I will have to stay here.¡± ¡°Is that because you¡¯re the one being targeted?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung prodded. ¡°That¡¯s not exactly urate. They also attacked the Director and the executives of the National Intelligence Service, so the main goal behind their aggression is probably to disturb the Eurasian Rail.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked a couple more questions, and Kang Chan patiently answered them all. ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel as real as thest incident, perhaps because I never expected people would openly shoot each other in this country¡­¡± Kang Dae-Kyung discreetly examined Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s mood. He seemed to suddenly remember that she didn¡¯t know about him witnessing the knife fight in Yongin. ¡°Thest incident? Honey¡ªdid something else happen to you aside from this?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I¡¯m talking about what happened in the Foundation office and our office in Kang Yoo Motors. You were much more surprised when that happened.¡± ¡°Ah, you¡¯re right. I was so shocked when I saw Channy pounce on people right in front of me mainly because that was my first time seeing him do that.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook shuddered, seemingly finding the incident far too horrible to think about. ¡°Please go to bed now¡ªwe can talk about the rest tomorrow during breakfast,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°Okay! Go to your room and get some sleep as well. You must be tired. Is this a safe ce, though?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°There are agents in the room across from ours.¡± ¡°We heard the gunshots earlier. Was anyone hurt?¡± Kang Chan decided to lie as he picked up his teacup. ¡°Three suffered minor injuries, but I heard everyone¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°It is. Now, please go to sleep.¡± Kang Chan left the room afterward. He locked eyes with the agent at the end of the hallway, then entered the room next door. Damn it! Kang Chan could hear Seok Kang-Ho snoring. Kang Chan washed up lightly and went into the bedroom. He then took a pillow and a nket from the bed andid down on the sofa. So many incidents were happening that they seemed to be waiting for their turn in a long line. It would¡¯ve been really nice if Kang Chan¡¯s guts kept giving him warning signals that felt as if something was holding the back of his neck. Chapter 171.2: We’re Okay (2)

Chapter 171.2: We¡¯re Okay (2)

When Kang Chan woke up in the morning, the first thing he saw was the droplets of water on the window. As soon as he sat up, the gentle autumn rain came into view. He yawned, stood up, and stretched. ording to the clock on the desk at the corner of the living room, it was only six in the morning. Kang Chan thought he should let Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook sleep a bit more. He took out a bottle of water from the fridge and drank it, then went into the bathroom lightly washed his face. ¡°Huh? Why did you sleep in the living room?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°It was just morefortable to sleep here.¡± ¡°Was I snoring that loud?¡± ¡°Not loud enough for me to kill you.¡± Seok Kang-Ho grinned, then drank water. After a while, he went into the bathroom in the living room even though the bedroom that he slept in had its own bathroom. ¡°Let¡¯s order coffee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said afterward. ¡°Sure.¡± Seok Kang-Ho ordered for them. Afterward, they wore their earpieces and sat on the sofa in just their pants and shirtsleeves. ¡°My wife and daughter want to go to Australia. I told them that South Korea was sending them on a trip topensate for what happened a while back. They looked like they didn¡¯t believe me, but since they couldn¡¯t verify what I said, they just epted it for now. What about your parents?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know what they think yet since I had to keep our conversation yesterday about it short. It¡¯s Sunday today, right? That means we have some extra time.¡± Ding dong. The doorbell rang. Chk. ¡°We checked the coffee.¡± At the same time, they heard an agent on the radio. Seok Kang-Ho opened the door after checking who it was through the peephole. A metal carafe and coffee cups had been delivered to them. When the server left, Seok Kang-Ho poured two cups of coffee. Chk. ¡°Any of you want some coffee?¡± Kang Chan asked. Chk. ¡°We have a lot here, sir,¡± someone answered. Chk. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have ordered this much, then!¡± All of the agents in the hotel heard the conversation with Kang Chan through the radio. There wasughter at the end of his sentence. The coffee and cigarettes fully awakened their senses. At around half past seven, they headed back to their respective rooms. Kang Chan pressed the doorbell. Kang Dae-Kyung opened the door soon after. ¡°Did you get enough sleep?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Phew, I thought I wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep, but I slept like a rock. Your mom is still in the shower. Did you get some sleep?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung turned on the news channel on TV. Kang Chan sat on the sofa with him. ¡°It looks like your mom finds it hard to go abroad because you¡¯re not going. A lot of other things seem to be bothering her as well,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°If so, then just stay at the hotel with me. I only suggested going to France because living here for an entire week might be ufortable for you two. We¡¯re not in enough danger to force yourselves to go on a trip.¡± ¡°Can we really just stay here?¡± While Kang Chan was talking with Kang Dae-Kyung, Yoo Hye-Sook came out to the living room looking quite haggard. ¡°Did you get some sleep?¡± Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°I did, Channy. I feel heavy, though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably because it rained. Let¡¯s have a delicious breakfast, then you should just get some rest for the rest of the day. ¡°Here?¡± ¡°Just consider this as our family staying in an international hotel.¡± Yoo Hye-Sook seemed to like Kang Chan¡¯s cheekiness. ¡°Let¡¯s order something delicious for breakfast. You should try the sauna while I¡¯m meeting the Ambassador of France. I heard the hotel¡¯s fitness club is quite amazing,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°Sure! That sounds great. I was also thinking of working out anyway,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. Kang Dae-Kyung then held up the menu in the room. ¡°Honey! It¡¯s been a while since we had an American-style breakfast. We should try it. Ites with toast, juice, and coffee. What do you think?¡± ¡°There¡¯s also a breakfast buffet downstairs,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°Since it¡¯s raining, let¡¯s just order food and eat in our room. Whenever I ate toast alone in the hotels I stayed in during business trips, I would often think about how nice it would be if you or your mom were there with me.¡± They followed Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s strong wishes to have an American-style breakfast in their room. The meal that they ordered soon arrived. They ate their breakfast while watching the autumn rain pour down on the living room window. When Yoo Hye-Sook drank coffee after breakfast, she finally looked like she could breathe again. Meanwhile, Kang Dae-Kyung appeared to be enjoying himself. He was even pestering his wife to go with him to the fitness center and the sauna. He really seemed to be on vacation. Kang Dae-Kyung was trying hard to console Yoo Hye-Sook, who experienced quite the shock, while also trying to make Kang Chan feelfortable. ¡°You¡¯re going to meet the Ambassador of France today, right?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then you should go while it¡¯s still early. We¡¯ll just watch TV for a bit before going to the fitness center to exercise.¡± ¡°Will the two of you be okay?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± With Kang Dae-Kyung urging him, Kang Chan stood up. He had tofort Yoo Hye-Sook a few times first because of how worried she was before he could finally leave the room. Click. After Kang Chan left, Kang Dae-Kyung made green tea and brought it over to Yoo Hye-Sook, who was sitting on the sofa. ¡°You¡¯re very worried, aren¡¯t you?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Of course I am, honey. We saw him yesterday¡ªI could feel my heart breaking while I was watching him run next to the car with a limp.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you tossed and turned so much all night?¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t sleep either?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°I also felt the same way. How could Ifortably fall asleep after watching our son suffer like that?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook looked at Kang Dae-Kyung. Her eyes showed how bad she felt for him. ¡°We promised each otherst time, didn¡¯t we? We said that we would watch Channy grow up. And we decided to ept that he¡¯s a bit different from the other kids.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung held Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s have a good time in the hotel even if we have to force ourselves to, okay? That will make Channy feel a bit morefortable when hees back in the evening.¡± ¡°Thanks, honey.¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°For being so understanding whenever I feel anxious and for always understanding our extraordinary son. I seem to beining too much even though I know you¡¯re having a hard time as well. Thank you, and I¡¯m sorry, honey.¡± In response, Kang Dae-Kyung wrapped his arm around Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s shoulder while tightly holding her hand. *** Seok Kang-Ho was always early. By the time Kang Chan went into the room next door, Seok Kang-Ho already poured himself some coffee and was smoking a cigarette. ¡°Wee back. I reheated the coffee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Their morning felt so peaceful that Kang Chan wondered if they could return home if things kept going at this rate. After drinking coffee, Kang Chan radioed an agent to bring over a phone. He found it ufortable to call Lanok using the hotel¡¯s corded telephone. When Kang Chan called Lanok, Lanok immediately said that they should meet at the Namsan Hotel. Hence, Kang Chan now had an extra hour to himself. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho sat around and talked about multiple matters. Ring. Ring. After a while, the phone in the room rang. Kang Chan answered it. - The Ambassador has arrived. Please head to room eighteen-ten. ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± When Kang Chan stood up, Seok Kang-Ho said, ¡°Make sure to bring back our phones.¡± ¡°If they didn¡¯t find our phones, then let¡¯s just buy new ones.¡± Not having their phones was very inconvenient. Kang Chan went down to the eighteenth floor and found a French agent waiting for him in front of the elevator. As the French agent guided him to the ambassador¡¯s room, he noticed so many agents that he began to wonder if he was in a hotel or the headquarters of an intelligence bureau. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Lanok gave Kang Chan a French greeting. Now that Kang Chan thought about it, this was his first time meeting the ambassador since the operation in China. Lanok guided Kang Chan to the sofa. An aide whom Kang Chan hadn¡¯t seen before prepared tea, cigarettes, and cigars for them, then retreated into a room. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, our intelligence bureau has now been sorted out, albeit barely. Throughout China¡¯s long history, they had numerous forces fight toe into power. That¡¯s why their intelligence bureau is extremely developed. Considering they¡¯re geographically close to South Korea, they probably have a good number of agents in this country as well,¡± Lanok exined. ¡°Actually, something happened.¡± Lanok nodded as he was pouring out tea for him, which meant that he was already aware of the incident. ¡°Although Yang Bum is now the head of their intelligence bureau, he¡¯s still in a precarious situation, and his foundation still isn¡¯t stable. He still requires quite a bit of time topletelye into power.¡± Kang Chan had a sip of the tea as Lanok stated the obvious. Lanok then held up a cigar, and Kang Chan bit on a cigarette. Kang Chan was spending time with a very powerful ally that he couldpletely trust. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, how about you take a step back from this incident?¡± Lanok asked. Kang Chan lit up his cigarette as he silently waited for Lanok to continue. ¡°South Korea¡¯s National Intelligence Service can take care of this level of threat by themselves. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t help but wonder if it would be best for you to take a step back and use this time to receive training.¡± ¡°What kind of training do you have in mind?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Observe every country¡¯s intelligence bureau, specifically Germany, Switzend, Russia, and France. That will prove quite helpful in the future you will live in. During that period, you will only ever meet important figures.¡± Will I really need that? Kang Chan couldn¡¯t decide. ¡°It will be beneficial for South Korea¡¯s National Intelligence Service as well,¡± Lanok added. Is he telling me to work for the National Intelligence Service? Kang Chan didn¡¯t like Lanok¡¯s second suggestion either. Chapter 172.1: Let’s Go by Temperament (1)

Chapter 172.1: Let¡¯s Go by Temperament (1)

¡°The Eurasian Rail is aplicated project. Starting this October, Saudi Arabia will be producing ten times more oil,¡± Lanok informed Kang Chan. Kang Chan just nkly looked at him. Lanok seemed to be telling him that people were trying to prevent the construction of the railway, but what did oil production have anything to do with it? Kang Chan didn¡¯t see any connection between the two. ¡°It means they are attempting to bring down Russia¡¯s economy,¡± Lanok added. ¡°Will Russia¡¯s economy really fall just because Saudi Arabia started producing a lot more petroleum?¡± Kang Chan wondered, genuinely unable to not understand what Lanok meant. He wasn¡¯t embarrassed or ashamed, though. Lanok seemed to think that his question was valid anyway. ¡°Russia is one of the world¡¯s top three oil production countries. If Saudi Arabia sells their petroleum at reduced, bargain prices, Russia¡¯s economy will be shaken so much that the people in power within their country will change. Once they have defeated Russia, Saudi Arabia will raise their fuel prices again,¡± Lanok exined. ¡°Can¡¯t Russia just sell their oil at cheap prices as well, then?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°They certainly can, but Saudi Arabia willst longer in that battle of attrition. Their supply is the world¡¯s greatest. On the other hand, Russia is simply structured in a way that allows it to support its economy despite its limited supply. They will not be able to weather things out.¡± ¡°Are you trying to tell me that there¡¯s a connection between Saudi Arabia producing a lot of oil and my training at an intelligence agency, Mr. Ambassador?¡± Lanok smiled from ear to ear, causing the ends of his eyes to curve. ¡°That is indeed correct. While Saudi Arabia provides an unlimited supply of fuel, the United States will attempt to render South Korea helpless through the dor. To prevent that, the National Intelligence Service¡¯s incredible potential has to be unlocked,¡± Lanok said. Not only oil but dors too? Kang Chan had no idea what Lanok was saying. This subject was like a thorn in his side. ¡°They will most likely try to take control of Russia and South Korea first. The only way to solve this is through political negotiations.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that something for the president or other politicians to solve?¡± Kang Chan inquired. ¡°The negotiation between intelligence agencieses first,¡± Lanok replied. ¡°So what you¡¯re ultimately saying is that I have to propose something,¡± Kang Chan confirmed. ¡°First and foremost, you have to establish a firm partnership with Russia.¡± ¡°With Vasili?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lanok tapped his cigar in the ashtray to shake the ash off. ¡°To do that, South Korea¡¯s National Intelligence Service requires power. At the very least, they have to be on the same level as Russia¡¯s intelligence agency. Of course, developing an entire organization that much in such a short amount of time is difficult. That¡¯s why a hero is needed during times like this,¡± Lanok added. I can¡¯t be a hero just because I led a few sessful operations.? Thinking there was probably an actual future hero out there, Kang Chan just chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s only right that you stand at the forefront of turning the Eurasian Rail into reality. In that process, South Korea will gain actual power. First will be intelligence, then politics, then,stly, the economy,¡± Lanok stated. Lanok¡¯s eyes seemed to be full of hope that Kang Chan would ept. Kang Chan knew Lanok would never suggest anything that would bring him harm. However, it was also true that Lanok had never pushed anything on him until now. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, a battle will soon begin between the countries that will be connected to the Eurasian Rail and the countries that won¡¯t. Of thetter countries, those that have immense financial power will be more proactive during the fight. Saudi Arabia is afraid of Russia and China¡¯s resources being utilized through the Eurasian Rail. China¡¯s connection to the railway will mean a bond with Mongolia,¡± Lanok informed him. ¡°And what does Mongolia have to do with this?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°They¡¯re a repository of minerals.¡± Kang Chan felt as if he was in ss. He knew all the words that Lanok was saying, but he couldn¡¯t understand a single thing¡ªjust like whenever he listened to a math teacher reading a form. ¡°The abilities you have shown to the world are the center of attention right now. This is a fight that Russia, France, and Germany won¡¯t be able to do alone. However, with you by our side, the enemies will have no choice but to yield,¡± Lanok continued. ¡°You¡¯re the one who nned and actually made the Eurasian Rail happen, Mr. Ambassador,¡± Kang Chan protested. ¡°You have be someone whom multiple countries desire to connect with, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok rebutted. ¡°That¡¯s my first time hearing of this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying that will be the case soon. You asked me what I think you should do before. Consider this my answer to that question,¡± Lanok stated. Kang Chan came here trying to set down a burden, but he ended up picking up a few more instead. He was also looking forward to obtaining some information about Wui Min-Gook, but it seemed he would have to suddenly take a tour around the European intelligence agencies instead. ¡°Now! That¡¯s enough for theplicated talk,¡± Lanok eximed, then turned to the side. ¡°Please bring me the documents and the phones.¡± His aide appeared seemingly out of thin air and handed Lanok Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s phones and arge paper envelope. ¡°Here. First off, here are your phones, Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Lanok said. Kang Chan used to be toozy to carry his phone around when he first got it. Now, having it back in his hand made him feel as if he could breathe again. ¡°Now, I prepared this as an apology for sending you the wrong guide for the operation in China,¡± Lanok continued. Kang Chan took the paper envelope from Lanok and pulled out the contents¡ªhuge pictures of Wui Min-Gook that filled the envelope to the brim. In the photos, Wui Min-Gook was standing in front of a gray van parked on the road. Behind the ten or so pictures was a rough map to a certain location. Kang Chan questioningly gazed at Lanok. ¡°We deployed three satellites. Our intelligence agency and the DGSE practically dropped everything they were doing to find this man as well. The information from the employee who betrayed us was the most decisive,¡± Lanok said. The traitor obviously wouldn¡¯t have truthfully answered their questions, which could only mean that they could not endure the DGSE¡¯s torture. Lanok was clearly the type to use any means to achieve his goals. There could be no better ally, but if he was an enemy, killing him should be prioritized. ¡°While you were carrying out the operation in China, he moved his base to Ansan and even stopped by the Chinese embassy,¡± Lanok stated. ¡°How could Yang Bum not be aware of that?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yang Bum still hasn¡¯t taken full control in China. The Chinese ambassador is ying a double game as well. Yang Bum being defeated in this scenario will be a decisive turning point.¡± With his gaze still firmly on Kang Chan, Lanok continued in a low voice, ¡°La nuit tous les chats sont gris.¡± It was a French idiom that tranted to ¡°At night, all cats are gray,¡± which meant that it was difficult to distinguish things in the darkness. He was essentially advising Kang Chan that the situation was so messy that it was difficult to discern who was on their side. ¡°Thank you for the gift,¡± Kang Chan gratefully said. ¡°I heard that the gunshots at the apartment parking lot yesterday were covered up as plumbing issues. Nothing good woulde out of it for the current political party if word got out that there was a shootout in the middle of the city, especially since it was so close to Seoul. That matter has to be dealt with delicately,¡± Lanok stated. Only Lanok could give him advice like this. Kang Chan thanked him again and sipped some of his tea. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± When Kang Chan set down his cup and raised his eyes, he found Lanok looking as if he suddenly put a mask on. ¡°Everyone has a life that they want to live. However, there is surely a difference between what someone wants to do and what someone is good at. I hope you can live a life where you do what you¡¯re good at while enjoying what you want to do as well.¡± Their conversation ended with that. As Lanok stood up, his aides and agents headed out from one of the rooms and opened the door. At the same time, the agents waiting in the hallway stood in attention. ¡°Let¡¯s meet again once I¡¯ve taken care of Wui Min-Gook,¡± Kang Chan informed him. ¡°I¡¯ll be seeing you again soon, then.¡± Lanok smiled. Kang Chan apanied Lanok to the elevator. After seeing him off, he immediately went to the neenth floor. Chk.? ¡°Seok Kang-Ho, can youe to my room?¡± Kang Chan asked. Chk.? ¡°I¡¯m already here,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. The bastard was always a step ahead. When Kang Chan opened the door, Seok Kang-Ho, who was watching TV, stood up from the sofa. ¡°Here, your phone,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Whew! I¡¯m so d to see this old friend!¡± Seok Kang-Ho gleefully eximed. He immediately looked through his recent calls. ¡°That gentleman even charged it,¡± he said in astonishment. ¡°Yeah. Have a seat,¡± Kang Chan said. Kang Chan brought a bottle of water over to the sofa and told Seok Kang-Ho what Lanok told him. He showed him the pictures as well. ¡°Huh? We shouldn¡¯t be lounging around like this. Let¡¯s go over there right now,¡± Seok Kang-Ho urged him. ¡°Let¡¯s call Manager Kim first,¡± Kang Chan stated. Kim Hyung-Jung became the first person Kang Chan called after getting his phone back. - Mr. Kang Chan! You found your phone? ¡°I have, Manager Kim. There¡¯s something I wish to speak to you about in person. Can youe here?¡± - Is it urgent? ¡°It¡¯s about Wui Min-Gook. I¡¯d prefer it if you don¡¯t tell anyone that you¡¯reing here,¡± Kang Chan politely requested. - I¡¯m on my way. Kang Chan set the phone down on the table and leaned back on the sofa. The noiseing from the TV seemed to have bothered Seok Kang-Ho, considering he took the remote and turned it off. This stressful and annoying fight would finally be over once they left for Ansan and eliminated Wui Min-Gook. Chapter 172.2: Let’s Go by Temperament (1)

Chapter 172.2: Let¡¯s Go by Temperament (1)

Kang Chan had drunk about half the water in his bottle when the bell rang. I know it¡¯s Sunday, but that was fast.? Chk.? ¡°Mr. Kang Chan. It¡¯s me, Kim Hyung-Jung,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung radioed just as Kang Chan stood up and walked toward the door. Even then, Kang Chan still confirmed it was him through the peephole before opening the door. ¡°How did you get here so fast?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I have my ways for situations like this,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied, entering the room with redshot eyes. ¡°Would you like some coffee?¡± Kang Chan offered. ¡°Yes, please,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung gratefully answered. Seok Kang-Ho brought them some coffee, then sat down on the sofa with them. There was no need to drag things out, so Kang Chan immediately showed Kim Hyung-Jung the pictures and told him everything he heard from Lanok. ¡°Hmm,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung mused. He gulped as he red at the pictures. ¡°We have to take action immediately.¡± ¡°My thoughts exactly,¡± Kang Chan agreed. Kim Hyung-Jung frowned as he nced at the map. ¡°There aren¡¯t many civilians around in this area, but I can¡¯t believe we didn¡¯t think he would be staying in a ce like this¡­¡± Kim Hyung-Jung trailed off in regret. ¡°Can we begin the operation now?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I¡¯ll just report this directly to the director, then I¡¯ll have the special forces on the way,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung responded. . ¡°Seok Kang-Ho and I will go as well,¡± Kang Chan said firmly. Kim Hyung-Jung let out a low sigh and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now. I¡¯ll call you as soon as I get an answer from the director,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. He looked extremely tired, but given the situation, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t suggest the man get some rest. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho saw Kim Hyung-Jung off and then sat back down. Kang Chan finally felt as if he could breathe again, but a part of him felt bad for the National Intelligence Service and its inadequacies. How could the French intelligence agencies discover an enemy hiding in South Korea before they could? Kang Chan felt as if the NIS was no different from the special forces team, who had been trained near perfection but hadn¡¯t been able to disy their abilities properly. ¡°How long do you think it¡¯ll take?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°An hour or so, I¡¯m guessing,¡± Kang Chan remarked. ¡°Then let¡¯s stop by the other floors for a moment. Shouldn¡¯t we let our families know ahead of time that we¡¯re leaving?¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. Seok Kang-Ho had a point. Kang Chan nodded and stood up. It was about eleven in the morning. ¡°What are you going to do about lunch?¡± Seok Kang-Ho questioned. ¡°Considering how much time we have left, I¡¯m not really sure,¡± Kang Chan replied. They got in the elevator, and two agents followed closely behind them. ¡°I¡¯m just heading down for a bit. I won¡¯t be long, so you don¡¯t have toe,¡± Kang Chan told them. ¡°We are under orders, sir,¡± an agent responded. Well, I guess everyone has their roles to y.? Kang Chan didn¡¯t insist any longer. He waited for the agents to get into the elevator before pressing a button. The fitness center and the swimming pool were on the third floor. Fortunately, they were divided into separate areas, so their families wouldn¡¯t run into each other. ¡°I¡¯ll see youter,¡± Seok Kang-Ho greeted as he turned left. Kang Chan turned right. ¡°Wee. Will you be using our center today?¡± a female employee asked Kang Chan with a smile as she approached him. ¡°My parents are here. I just stopped by to see them,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°I can escort them here if you point them out to me,¡± the female employee kindly offered. Kang Chan scanned the area past the ss window, finding multiple people exercising dressed in the same t-shirt and shorts that the hotel provided. ¡°There they are,¡± Kang Chan said, immediately finding Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook working out on stationary bicycles. ¡°Just a moment, please.¡± The female employee left to tell Kang Chan¡¯s parents. When the female employee walked over and gestured at Kang Chan, Yoo Hye-Sook quickly got off of the bicycle. She looked as if she didn¡¯t enjoy the exercise that much. ¡°Channy!¡± she eximed. Kang Chan was d that she kept herself busy with working out, which was evidenced by the beads of sweat on her forehead. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to have to leave the hotel for a while. We might be able to go home in the evening if things go smoothly.¡± Kang Chan grinned. ¡°Really?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s smile from seeing him soon disappeared and was reced with worry, however. Just then, Kang Dae-Kyung approached them while wiping the sweat off his face and neck. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯ll be heading out for a bit,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Why are you making that face, then, honey?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Well¡­ Channy said we might be able to go back home in the evening¡­ so I can¡¯t help but wonder if he will be the one taking care of the problem¡­¡± Yoo Hye-Sook trailed off. She seemed worried that Kang Chan was leaving to do something dangerous. Kang Dae-Kyung turned to Kang Chan with surprised eyes. Strangely, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t bring himself to lie. He should probably say that it was fine and that he would not do anything risky, but he didn¡¯t want to make an obvious lie when Yoo Hye-Sook already caught onto the situation. ¡°What about your leg? Will you be okay?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked, sounding clearly concerned. ¡°Yes. Oh right, I got my phone back too,¡± Kang Chan said. Kang Dae-Kyung nodded. ¡°All right. Be safe. I¡¯ll be having lunch with your mother and staying in the room. Call us as soon as you¡¯re done with your business. I¡¯m sure your mom will be worried,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung requested. ¡°I will. Don¡¯t worry too much, Mother. It¡¯s not that dangerous,¡± Kang Chan reassured her. Yoo Hye-Sook wanted to hug Kang Chan but hesitated. She seemed conscious of the sweat on her. Kang Chan smiled and held his arms open, and Yoo Hye-Sook carefully patted his back, cautiously making sure her body didn¡¯t touch his. ¡°Be careful,¡± she said anxiously. ¡°I will,¡± Kang Chan replied. After bidding them farewell, Kang Chan walked out of the fitness center. ¡°What about Mr. Seok?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°He hasn¡¯te out yet,¡± replied the agent standing by the exit. It would be awkward for both of them if Seok Kang-Ho came out with his family. ¡°I¡¯m heading up first. Let me know when he¡¯s out,¡± Kang Chan instructed. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Kang Chan entered the elevator, and one of the two agents apanied him. Kang Chan started feeling as if going on operations was natural to him. The moment he reached his room, his phone began to ring. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? He couldn¡¯t have been more d to get a call. ¡°Hello?¡± Kang Chan answered. - Mr. Kang Chan, the special forces team has left. You can join them at a factory called Samhwa Facility past the Ansan Toll Booth. The special forces team is set to arrive at thirteen hundred. A van has been prepared for you in the underground lot. ¡°Great. I¡¯ll see them soon,¡± Kang Chan replied, then called Seok Kang-Ho to inform him. - I don¡¯t have to go back to the room, then. Let¡¯s leave immediately. I¡¯ll see you in the parking lot, Cap. ¡°Got it.¡± Time was of the essence, so Kang Chan immediately headed to the parking area as well. He hoped this would put an end to this incident. There was still a faint throbbing in his right shin, but although only a day had passed, he could move morefortably now. One of the agents sat in the driver¡¯s seat while the other sat in the passenger¡¯s seat. As soon as everyone got in the van, they immediately drove off. ¡°What are we going to do about lunch?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°We don¡¯t know how heavy the traffic would be over there, so let¡¯s just eat somece nearby,¡± Kang Chan responded. Kang Chan didn¡¯t know if it was allowed because they were in a van or because he didn¡¯t care about getting ticketed, but the agent used the bus-only road upon entering the interstate. ¡°There¡¯s so much traffic,¡± Seok Kang-Ho remarked. He was feigning calmness about the situation, but his eyes were glinting in anticipation. ¡°The men are getting one hell ofbat experience. I feel like we¡¯ve been going out in the field more often than in Africa.¡± Kang Chan chuckled wryly. Seok Kang-Ho was right. Not even the Foreign Legion¡¯s special forces had gone on so many operations. After this one was over, Kang Chan hoped things would be quiet for a while. He wanted to enjoy his peace with Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, who forced nonchnce despite being worried out of their minds for him. ¡°Just how did they get into Ansan, of all ces?¡± Seok Kang-Ho grumbled. ¡°Some motherfucker helped them, of course,¡± Kang Chan responded. ¡°I think I have a faint idea who that is.¡± ¡°Son of a bitch. If he got himself involved in this too, I¡¯m going to twist his neck.¡± Seok Kang-Ho grinned in response. The punk was starting to swallow his nervousness again. They tried to drive as quickly as possible, but there was nothing they could do about the traffic. If they didn¡¯t leave immediately, they likely wouldn¡¯t arrive in time. It was already forty minutes past noon by the time they got through the Ansan Toll Booth. ¡°Let¡¯s have some kimbap somewhere,¡± Kang Chan suggested. They wouldn¡¯t be able to use their strength if they were hungry. The agent parked the car at a rest area with a gas station and bought some boiled eggs, kimbap, and beverages for them. ¡°How much further do we have to go?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°About ten more minutes, sir,¡± the agent replied. They were right on time. They finished their lunch in ten minutes and immediately got back in the car. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? As they did, Kang Chan¡¯s phone began to ring. It was a call from a long number. ¡°Hello?¡± Kang Chan answered. - Choi Jong-Il speaking, sir. Kang Chanughed in disbelief. Choi Jong-Il sounded like a sick man, but he was still putting up a strong front. - I just woke up this morning. ¡°Good. Good work.¡± Even the almighty Kang Chan couldn¡¯t bring himself to ask about what happened to Cha Dong-Gyun. Maybe it was because Choi Jong-Il¡¯s voice left him weak. - I¡¯ll switch you over to Cha Dong-Gyun. Choi Jong-Il¡¯s voice was listless. He sounded as if he would fall asleep at any moment, but his words were clearer to Kang Chan than any shout. The nurse was probably holding the phone to his ear. - It¡¯s me, Cha Dong-Gyun, sir. ¡°You idiot.¡± - I apologize. ¡°Call General Choi too,¡± Kang Chan ordered. - I will, sir. Anyway, we¡¯re alive. There was no way Kang Chan could tell these guys that he was leaving on an operation. Their enemies in China could be listening into their conversation too. Kang Chan hung up and told Seok Kang-Ho about the conversation, making him smile from ear to ear. The agents sitting at the front also looked pleased. Chapter 173.1: Let’s Go by Temperament (2)

Chapter 173.1: Let¡¯s Go by Temperament (2)

The Samhwa Facility¡ªa makeshift building with a blue roof and white walls made out of panels¡ªwas at a higher elevation than the road. The only thing in front of it was arge parking lot. When the van arrived, a bus that had been parked at the entrance to block it off moved, allowing them to enter. Once the van was inside, the entrance was shut tight again. ¡°Pleasee this way,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung, who had been waiting for them, guided Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho inside the building. Screech. When therge door was pushed open, the special forces team inside stood up. They were no longer beginners at this. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho put on a gray military uniform, bulletproof vest, bva, and helmet. They then armed themselves. Click. Click. Kang Chan could never get used to loading magazines onto his gun. After all, one bullet was all it would take to save a person¡¯s life. Kim Hyung-Jung hung arge map on a hanger and pointed to one part of the map. ¡°This is where we are right now.¡± He then slid his index finger to a red mark. ¡°As you all have probably noticed by now, the area is quite remote, and there¡¯s only a low mountain behind the building. Mr. Kang Chan will be takingmand of the operation, which we will be starting at fourteen hundred hours sharp. Until then, National Intelligence Service agents will keep the factory under watch.¡± The soldiers felt a strange sense of relief and excitement. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan stepped forward when Kim Hyung-Jung called him. Before he knew it, he was leading the special forces team. ¡°I received a call on my way here,¡± Kang Chan looked at the soldiers. ¡°Choi Jong-Il and Cha Dong-Gyun have regained consciousness.¡± Unable to contain their happiness, the soldiers smiled at each other. ¡°I studied the topographic map on my way here. Before we begin, we will be splitting into two teams. Those with Seok Kang-Ho will be climbing the mountain and entering the building from behind. My team will be moving along the road and approaching the building from the front. I also have to warn all of you to be careful of one simple factor.¡± Kang Chan nced at the map, then sharply looked at the men. ¡°If you are burning with too much sense of duty, you¡¯ll find yourself moving without thinking. Make sure you don¡¯t break the rhythm of your team. The moment any of you lose control of yourself and recklessly charge into danger, you will put not only yourselves but the others at risk as well.¡± With grim expressions, the soldiers intently listened to Kang Chan. Nobody had ever taught them something like that. All they were ever taught was how to fire a gun and that they should aplish their mission no matter what. They never learned anything about rhythm or, to be more precise, how not to break it. Kang Chan smirked as he looked at the soldiers. He then continued, ¡°Make yourselvesfortable. Lean back against your chairs and stretch your legs out as much as you¡¯d like. Be like Seok Kang-Ho over there.¡± Screech. Screech. The members changed postures and rxed as if they were imitating Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Don¡¯t forget about the look in your eyes and your postures right now. Protect the pride of the special forces team. Keep in mind that you all returned alive after blowing up a Chinese airport, so if anyone has to be nervous, it should be Russia, China, and the United Kingdom,¡± Kang Chan added. Kwak Cheol-Ho smiled. He had a strange look on his face. For some reason, Kang Chan was a lot more talkative whenever he was with these people. It was probably because he wanted to teach them as much as he could, even if it was just one more lesson, and because he couldn¡¯t help but feel greedy about saving even just one more of them from injuries. ¡°What we have to be careful of is the possibility of Wui Min-Gook making himself explode. As soon as you guys find him, kill him immediately. If you think it¡¯s too dangerous to confront him, then prioritize withdrawing away from danger. We will be sending out the snipers as soon as we arrive anyway. Any questions?¡± Kang Chan asked. As soon as Kang Chan finished talking, a few of the soldiers smirked. It seemed there were people who imitated Kang Chan even in this ce. *** After sending the soldiers on the operation, Choi Seong-Geon parked the jeep in front of the makeshift city and stared nkly in the distance. Choi Seong-Geon had never acted like this before. He never even thought that he would develop this kind of habit. After all, he didn¡¯t have experience sending his men to actual operations before. The soldiers¡¯ pride was crushed during the mock battle. They went through live ammo training and, finally, their first operation. Before they knew it, they turned into a special forces team that was constantly sent on missions. Choi Seong-Geon thought that there was nothing more he could wish for, especially since the special forces team evenpletely destroyed the Spetsnaz and put an SBS helmet across from his desk as if to show off. However, humans by nature were difficult to understand. His men aplished something great against world-famous special forces, which they were previously envious of, and alsopletely destroyed a Chinese airport. Nevertheless¡­ he somehow developed a habit of waiting for the soldiers like an old father waiting for his son to return home from the military. Even just yesterday, he dropped by Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s house with 1.2 kilograms of beef, drinks, an envelope full of money, and enough snacks to make it seem as if he swept an entire shelf of snacks into his cart at the market. His wife¡ªwho was now used to things like this¡ªwas probably talking shit and having a mental rampage, but what could he do? He wanted to see Cha Dong-Gyun and was worried about the man¡¯s family. Choi Seong-Geon had no sry left from being a General. He had spent it all on the families of Cha Dong-Gyun and the two soldiers left in France. However, he regretted none of his actions. If he did, then he would have already been given a lot more promotions and would be in apletely different position. ¡®Please wake up, you bastard.¡¯ As amander of a field army, Choi Seong-Geon pretended as if there was nothing wrong and that he didn¡¯t feel anything. However, despite being amander, he still could not help but hope to see his men return safely. He wished to send his men to operations not too long ago, but now that his wish hade true, he could not help but feel as if he would not be able tost if all he could do was wait for them. Ring. Ring. Ring. After some time, Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s phone rang. Did my wife find out already? Well, she would have received my credit card statements and withdrawal notifications through her phone, so it¡¯s notpletely unlikely. Choi Seong-Geon had no choice but to answer the call. Otherwise, his phone would just keep ringing until he answered and the issue that he could have ended with her bullshit would end up growing bigger and leading to her demanding a divorce. With a frown, Choi Seong-Geon took out his phone and checked the caller ID. He didn¡¯t know who was calling him, but the number was long. He picked up the call. . ¡°Hello?¡± - General, it¡¯s Cha Dong-Gyun. Choi Seong-Geon felt as if the world just stopped. - General? ¡°I hear you.¡± Choi Seong-Geon couldn¡¯t be happier to hear weakughter over the phone. - I¡¯m sorry for making you worried. ¡°Considering you¡¯ve recovered enough to talk nonsense, I take it your life isn¡¯t in danger anymore?¡± - You were the one who taught me, so how could I die? Has this guy always been this cheeky? ¡°Have you called your family?¡± - I¡¯ll do thatter. ¡°Give them a call quickly.¡± - Alright. I¡¯ll call you back. ¡°That¡¯s just bothersome. Make it easier for yourself and just get up quickly ande back here instead.¡± - Sir, yes sir! Choi Seong-Geon hung up, then sighed loudly. ¡°Phuhuhu.¡± His strangeughter echoed through the makeshift city. *** Chk. ¡°All the snipers have been deployed,¡± Seok Kang-Ho radioed in. Kang Chan examined their target area once more. The mountain at the back was low, and the front waspletely open. The factory was a two-story building with a warehouse attached to it, so it would not be wrong to assume that they woulde across armed guards. Kang Chan gestured to his eyes with his index and middle fingers, then pointed to the balcony on the second floor. Considering theck of cover, it would be difficult for Kang Chan and his team to ambush their enemies even under the cover of the night. The North Korean soldiers¡¯ power and poprity in the Middle East and Africa were beyond imagination. They were great hand-to-handbatants, had good aim, and even had nerves of steel, eliminating their fear of death. If Kang Chan had to point out their weakness, it would be that they were too old-school. While fighting such soldiers, Kang Chan and his team had to run to an area that was devoid of anything that they could use as cover. Kang Chan could only sigh softly as he red at the second floor of the building. *** Wui Min-Gook, who was sitting on the sofa, red at Huh Ha-Soo as if he was going to kill him. Behind Wui Min-Gook were two men with angr jaws looking at Huh Ha-Soo in the same way. Huh Ha-Soo looked somewhat frightened. ¡°We had a deal. We even cut offmunications with China for it. Pretending as if the deal does not exist now is no different frompletely ignoring North Korea and the soldiers who trust and follow me,¡± Wui Min-Gook said. ¡°About that¡ªyou¡¯re partly to me for failing to keep your end of the bargain.¡± Wui Min-Gook¡¯s eyes narrowed, and Huh Ha-Soo quickly averted his gaze. ¡°We ran over trusting the information you gave us, but when we got here, the Director of the National Intelligence Service and Kang Chan were already aware that we wereing. You don¡¯t even know where Kang Chan and his parents are right now, do you?¡± Wui Min-Gook asked. ¡°Director Wui, let¡¯s just stay hidden for the time being since it¡¯s difficult for me to make a move with my current situation. I¡¯ll be sure to deliver the things that I promised soon, but in return¡­¡± ¡°But in return, what?¡± Wui Min-Gook immediately responded when Huh Ha-Soo trailed off. ¡°Please just seed in the rebellion,¡± Huh Ha-Soo continued. Wui Min-Gook bit his cheek. Chapter 173.2: Let’s Go by Temperament (2)

Chapter 173.2: Let¡¯s Go by Temperament (2)

Buzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª.? His phone rang from his inner chest pocket. Wui Min-Gook took out his phone. Still ring at Huh Ha-Soo, he answered the call. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Wui Min-Gook¡¯s eyes glinted, then narrowed. ¡°How many?¡± he asked, his cheek twitching a few times. ¡°Listen carefully¡ªdo what must be done to have an honorable death. I¡¯ll take good care of the family you¡¯ll leave behind.¡± Wui Min-Gook hung up, then red at Huh Ha-Soo with eyes so bloodshot they looked as if they were going to burst at any moment. ¡°Director Wui¡­?¡± Huh Ha-Soo asked. ¡°How did South Korea¡¯s special forces team find out about the hideout that you created for us?¡± However, Huh Ha-Soo seemed surprised as well. ¡°We don¡¯t care about how you do it. You can work with Japan or suck up to China if that¡¯s what it would take,¡± Wui Min-Gook said. Huh Ha-Soo looked away with a displeased expression as Wui Min-Gook added, ¡°That means I¡¯ll even make myself explode if that means you¡¯ll keep your end of the bargain. You have two weeks.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what we agreed on¡ªthere are things that I can and cannot do. I cannot make promises that I cannot keep.¡± Huh Ha-Soo was unexpectedly obstinate. ¡°And I made this deal with the higher-ups, not you. I n to keep my promises, so we should hide and avoid being found for now. Can they find evidence in Ansan?¡± Wui Min-Gook bit on his cheek. ¡°They will never find any evidence. Let¡¯s get going.¡± Wui Min-Gook stood up and headed to the entrance. ¡°Ha, this is absurd.¡± Huh Ha-Soo sighed as he looked at the river outside the living room window of his vi at Namyangju. *** Ten minutes had passed since they closed in on the enemy, yet Kang Chan still had not given any orders. The most textbook way to handle their current situation was for everyone to cover fire while two of his men ran to the building and broke the door. There were only four windows¡ªone on the porch, another on the balcony, and two on the warehouse. Hence, there was a low chance of their enemies returning fire if they covered fire. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but notice his team members quickly examining him. Moreover, he thought that Kim Hyung-Jung, who was in the factory to keep the perimeter off-limits using his radio, was probably feeling nervous. Nevertheless, Kang Chan did nothing but re at the building. He was getting such a bad feeling from the situation that he felt as if he was jumping into a cesspit. The dampness that the recent rain brought to the ground only helped intensify the unpleasant feeling. ¡®Tsk!¡¯ He was also unexpectedly getting the bad feeling that he couldn¡¯t get rid of at his apartmentst Saturday evening. Kang Chan looked at the soldiers, then red at the building again. ¡®Come at me anytime if you want to die.¡¯ If his enemy told him something like that, he would have pounced on them without a moment¡¯s hesitation. He would fight them with guns if they used guns, and knives if they used knives. Kang Chan would never leave any enemy who provoked him alone, especially if they were targeting Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. However, only the building was provoking him right now. No, to be more precise, he felt as if a ghost had engulfed the building and was now trying to reel him in. Kang Chan smirked as he kept staring daggers at the building. This was a fight between the ghost of Ansan and the god of death. It sounded grand, but in reality, all that was happening was Kang Chan ring at the building so hard it seemed as if he was nning to destroy it. After about five more minutes, Kang Chan shook his head. This wasn¡¯t right. If they were moving right now, then he would¡¯ve definitely made them stop. Chk. ¡°Daye, keep the snipers in position and move back ten meters,¡± Kang Chan ordered. Chk. Seok Kang-Ho hesitated for a moment before answering, ¡°Alright.¡± There were more than twenty meters between Kang Chan¡¯s team and the building, so he found no reason for them to move back. Kim Hyung-Jung could hear everything being transmitted on the radio. He definitely would have asked questions if he was Kang Chan¡¯s superior, but he just stayed silent. Things like this couldn¡¯t be exined. Only Seok Kang-Ho would have thought, ¡®Is there something wrong?¡¯ While Kang Chan was looking at the building, he noticed its windows suddenly turning white. BANG! A powerful st echoed not long after. Crumble. At the same time that they dropped to the ground, a gust of wind and debris of the damaged building swept past Kang Chan and his men. Only one grenade went off, yet it was still strong enough to cause the ground to shake. The explosion itself felt as strong as an actual earthquake. Swoosh! The stronger the explosion, the wind that blew from the very back was sucked into where the explosion urred.[1] At the same time, the debris that the explosion sent flying fell to the ground. Kang Chan tousled his hair as he looked at where the building used to be. Only frames of it were left. Click. Kang Chan stood up. Chk. ¡°Daye, situation report,¡± he said. Chk. ¡°No casualties or injuries.¡± ¡°Kwak Cheol-Ho, examine the scene and then retreat.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Kang Chan immediately walked to the factory building. The shockwave made their ears ring. The air was still mixed with cement powder. Kang Chan went down a waist-high hill and found Kim Hyung-Jung waiting for them in the parking lot. ¡°Wui Min-Gook made the building explode. The explosion was so strong that it only left the frame of the building intact. I doubt we¡¯ll find anything in the ruins.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked as if he found the situation hard to believe. The explosion urred right after Kang Chan made his subordinates retreat a couple of meters back through the radio. If Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t know Kang Chan, he would have suspected him of secretlymunicating with the enemy. Chk chk. ¡°Whoo!¡± Kang Chan entered the factory building and lit up a cigarette. After a while, Seok Kang-Ho and the soldiers came into the building as well, their guns nking. ¡°That was a close call,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. They certainly almost died today. Seok Kang-Ho bit on a cigarette and lit it up. He then looked at his surroundings. ¡°Do you guys have coffee?¡± ¡°It¡¯s over here. Do you want a cup?¡± a soldier asked. ¡°Sure.¡± Three to four soldiers rushed out to make instant coffee. ¡°Do you think Wui Min-Gook was in that building?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± A member brought and handed over coffee in paper cups. Dispirited, they smoked cigarettes and drank instant coffee on that rainy autumn day. The atmosphere and environment seemed to perfectly match each other. A momentter, Kim Hyung-Jung came into the factory building. ¡°As I told you earlier, we couldn¡¯t find anything that we could use as evidence.¡± From far away, Kang Chan heard someone asking, ¡°Would you like some coffee as well?¡± A momentter, Kim Hyung-Jung also received a paper cup. ¡°It would¡¯ve been a close call if you weren¡¯t here.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung drank coffee, then backtracked a bit. ¡°It feels like we¡¯re still one step behind. Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kang Chan threw his cigarette into his paper cup and then looked at Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°How did you know that the building was going to explode? Was that a gut feeling as well?¡± There was really nothing Kang Chan could say in response to this question or how he learned French and how to fight. Fortunately, Kwak Cheol-Ho approached Kang Chan and briefly saluted him. ¡°We¡¯ve been ordered to withdraw.¡± ¡°Great work.¡± ¡°We learned a lot today.¡± The soldiers¡¯ eyes showed that they had be a bit more skilled. With all the soldiers gone, only Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Kim Hyung-Jung were left in the building. ¡°Section Chief Jeon called me. He wants to eat with us if you¡¯re okay with it,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung told Kang Chan. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were probably worrying about Kang Chan in the hotel right now. ¡°I have to get back to my family today,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, Section Chief Jeon¡¯s hair is about to fall out. Can you help us without telling him that I told you about this?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°How can I help?¡± ¡°Thising Wednesday, the president is scheduled for an event where VIPs from the three branches of government, ambassadors of major countries, and people rted to the event will be in attendance. As you know, we¡¯re suspicious of Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo, but it¡¯s hard to guard them with so many attendees,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be safer if Huh Ha-Soo attends?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°The enemy probably won¡¯t result in explosives, but it¡¯ll be difficult to keep everyone safe if he helps smuggle weapons into the event. Honestly, we decided not to ask for your help on this matter, but the explosion earlier reminded me of what I heard during our training.¡± ¡°What would that be?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. This fucker really couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity. ¡°It¡¯s what the king of the DMZ once said. ¡®If you meet an enemy with heightened senses, then there should just be on thing in your mind.¡¯¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably to escape,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smirk. He wanted to meet this DMZ king and see who he was for himself. ¡°Please help us. Just think of it as saving the section chief¡¯s life,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. They were supposed to guard the president, but Kim Hyung-Jung instead focused on saving Jeon Dae-Geek. ¡°I¡¯ll help out, but I really have to go back to the hotel today,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan. I¡¯ll call the section chief.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung stood up after Kang Chan. He then said, ¡°Right! Mr. Seok Kang-Ho, your family is departing tomorrow at lunchtime. Their passports will be delivered tomorrow morning, and a local agent will be greeting them and preparing their hotels and itinerary.¡± They soon headed out of the building, the acrid smell wafting toward them. 1. A st wave is followed by a st wind of negative pressure, which sucks items back in toward the center. ?? Chapter 174.1: An Eye For an Eye (1)

Chapter 174.1: An Eye For an Eye (1)

Kang Chan called Kang Dae-Kyung as soon as the van started moving. The way the operation ended was bbergasting. Kang Chan looked out the window and recalled the situation during the explosion. Putting himself in the enemy¡¯s shoes, he guessed what happened. There were likely only two to three enemies in the building. If there were more than that, they would have waited longer and tried to take more of the special forces down with them instead of sacrificing themselves without gaining anything in return. They clearly prepared a timed bomb because of how wary they were of being ambushed. That meant Wui Min-Gook was still alive. Uneasiness and difort kept on poking at Kang Chan. It was as if he identally stepped in shit and the pungent smell kept wafting up to his nose. *** ¡°Director Wui, is Kang Chan really that strong?¡± a North Korean soldier asked. Wui Min-Gook twisted his upper lip in a snarl. ¡°South Korea is certainly a strange country. For every traitorous bastard like Huh Ha-Soo, there are warriors like the king of the DMZ, Jeon Dae-Geuk, and Kim Tae-Jin,¡± he responded. It was a strange answer to a question about Kang Chan. ¡°Kim Tae-Jin? Didn¡¯t that man surrender after losing to you?¡± the soldier questioned. ¡°Nonsense. Kim Tae-Jin was a real man. After I killed that bastard¡¯s subordinates, he destroyed seven of our guard posts, killing everyone stationed in them with a bullet straight through their heart. It¡¯s just not that well known because everything was kept under the table, but he even assassinated the head of security.¡± Wui Min-Gook sighed before continuing. ¡°I was rendered helpless when I was fighting Kang Chan. On the way back home, I also suddenly felt fear for the first time in my entire life. Never forget. Those two South Korean men have to be eliminated at all costs,¡± Wui Min-Gook dered with sharp, glinting eyes. It was as if Kang Chan was sitting right in front of him. ¡°Until now, every time South Korea gives birth to a warrior, we have always had someone who could stand against them on equal grounds. But this is a whole different story. That¡¯s why you have to make sure you shake them up no matter what happens. Get to the people they care about and shift their focus if you have to. Once you seed, we¡¯ll be able to get rid of them all at once. There are only a few of them, but you better keep your head in the game. We¡¯ll begin the operation tomorrow.¡± The soldier sitting next to Wui Min-Gook didn¡¯t seem to believe what he was saying. *** Having arrived at the hotel, Kang Chan parted ways with Seok Kang-Ho and headed up to his room. Although he had a key card, he still rang the doorbell. Click.? Kang Dae-Kyung opened the door and raised his finger to his lips. ¡°Your mom is sleeping. She went to the sauna after working out at the fitness center, but she insisted on staying up after she was done. She fell asleep right away only after you called,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. His eyes were also redshot. Kang Chan could hear the quiet murmur of the TV in the background. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked out of concern. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Kang Chan replied. Kang Dae-Kyung sat down on the sofa and examined Kang Chan. ¡°Have you made up your mind, then?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. Kang Chan just looked at him silently. ¡°About what you said when you came to my workcest time. You asked me what I think you should do. That matter was simr to this one, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I actually still don¡¯t know what I¡¯m going to do. This morning, the ambassador suggested I go and observe in a few European countries, but I haven¡¯t reached a decision yet,¡± Kang Chan answered. ¡°Is what you do the type of thing thates out in movies?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung looked so serious that Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle in response. ¡°I know you have to go through intense training and more to do something like that, but I doubt someone as young as you would be asked to charge straight into danger just because you¡¯re friends with the ambassador. Based on what happened in Yongin and the incident in the underground parking lot yesterday, though, what you do doesn¡¯t seem like ordinary business even to a civilian¡¯s eyes like mine. You learned all this through the Inte, much like how you learned French, huh?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung wrylymented. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kang Chan apologized. Kang Dae-Kyung chuckled dismally. ¡°Every parent in the world wants their children to be incredible. When someone on TV gets a gold medal, they hope their children do as well, and when a ser yer scores a goal in the World Cup, they hope such arge audience apuds their children too. When you were at the conference, a lot of people told me I was lucky to have a son like you.¡± ¡°What about you, Father? What kind of person do you hope I turn out to be?¡± Kang Chan asked. ". ¡°I want you to be ordinary,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung sorrowfully replied. He looked as if he pitied Kang Chan. ¡°I don¡¯t mind if you don¡¯t go to a good college or grow up smart. I just want you to live the life that you want and enjoy the things that kids your age do.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung seemed to feel apologetic about what he said, seeing as how he leaned forward to ruffle Kang Chan¡¯s hair. ¡°I assume your talent shines in something dangerous, but remember what I told you before? Even if that¡¯s the case, if that¡¯s what you want to do, I¡¯ll be supportive of you.¡± Did Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook figure out that his work involved killing people? ¡°Your mom and I decided to go to France,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung added. ¡°What? France?¡± Kang Chan echoed. ¡°We don¡¯t want you to be stressed about protecting us. Your mom made a big decision, but I¡¯m actually excited about going since I¡¯ll get to visit Gong Te automobile.¡± Kang Chan dropped his gaze to the table, not knowing what to say in reply. Just then, the bedroom door opened, and Yoo Hye-Sook walked out into the living room. ¡°You¡¯re up, Mother?¡± Kang Chan greeted. Yoo Hye-Sook rubbed her eyes tiredly, but she still smiled at Kang Chan. ¡°You should¡¯ve woken me up,¡± she scolded. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re tired. You should get more sleep,¡± Kang Chan suggested. ¡°No. That short nap did the trick. I¡¯m feeling well-rested already,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook refuted. Kang Dae-Kyung smiled in amusement, then turned to Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m starting to feel a little hungry. Can we go down to the first floor?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°Yes, that should be fine,¡± Kang Chan replied. As long as they stay inside the hotel.? ¡°Honey, let¡¯s go buy some bread,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung dered. ¡°Dear! I can¡¯t go anywhere looking like this!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed, frantically stroking back her hair. ¡°We¡¯re just going to buy bread¡ªit¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s go,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said resolutely. He seemed so set on going downstairs that he would just go with Kang Chan if he had to. ¡°Youing, Channy?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Of course. We should all go together,¡± Kang Chan responded. Hearing Kang Chan¡¯s response, Yoo Hye-Sook returned to the room, brushed her hair, and put on her cardigan. She only put on lipstick afterward, but it took a whopping ten minutes. Kang Chan only hoped Joo Chul-Bum wouldn¡¯t appear out of thin air and make a scene. *** Standing around, Jeon Dae-Geuk wearily rubbed his face with his palm as if he was washing his face. ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you hoped for, sir?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. ¡°Yes, but I feel like we¡¯re taking Kang Chan for granted too much. I should be the one to step up and protect him, but he¡¯s the one helping me instead,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk replied, his voice filled with regret. Kim Hyung-Jung nodded in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s obviously hard to predict that a bomb is going to explode through gut feeling alone. The boy is tailor-made for special operations and bodyguard duties. Still, he is too good to be restricted to these kinds of things now. I even heard that the National Intelligence Service has recently received a lot of requests for information exchanges,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk remarked. ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung confirmed. ¡°That¡¯s not all. Special forces teams from other countries keep sending us requests to conduct joint training. Some countries are even willing to payrge sums formissioned training. Kang Chan singlehandedly made all of that possible,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk added. ¡°I agree. We owe everything to Kang Chan.¡± The National Intelligence Service and the special forces existed way before Kang Chan came onto the scene. However, the difference between before and after he did was like night and day. ¡°We still haven¡¯t even properlypensated him. All we did was take care of his tax issues and have him stay at a hotel. In sports, what we¡¯re doing would be no different from providing a few free meals to a yer who has raised Korea''s status worldwide.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°It would be shameless of me to ask him to handle security on top of that. If only it was just an event held by the Blue House. I would have been able to take care of it then¡­¡± ¡°Chairperson Huh was the one who suggested this event, so something about it seems fishy. In addition, the location he chose doesn¡¯t seem to fit the asion, considering the chief justice, the prime minister, and embassy officials will be attending the event,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said, expressing his doubts. ¡°Well, since we already asked him, we might as well ept his help just this one time,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said in resignation. ¡°I think that¡¯s the best course of action as well.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk and Kim Hyung-Jung both looked slightly more relieved. *** ¡°I didn¡¯t know this was so expensive,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed, leaning down to look at a cake. After a while, she stood back up. It was Sunday. People dressed in nice clothes nced at Yoo Hye-Sook as they bought their own slice of cake. ¡°Would you like to try some?¡± Kang Chan asked. Yoo Hye-Sook seemed as if she wanted to eat it but couldn¡¯t because it was far more expensive than she expected. She looked like someone¡¯s daughter wanting to eat some chips but couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask her parents because she was aware of their household¡¯s financial situation. ¡°We came all the way here, so we might as well have a taste. I¡¯ll buy it for you, so don¡¯t worry and pick what you want to eat,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. ¡°I feel so sorry for the children, Honey. I didn¡¯t know it was so expensive¡­¡± Yoo Hye-Sook trailed off. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we went on an outing with Channy, you know. I¡¯ll earn more money so the kids can try these too, so let¡¯s just enjoy this today. What do you say? I¡¯m hungry,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung reassured her. Just as Yoo Hye-Sook seemed to have reached a decision, however, the customer in front of them ordered thest three slices of the cake. Yoo Hye-Sook made an apologetic face. ¡°Mother, there are some in the other disy window too,¡± Kang Chan told her. Half of the items on disy were already gone. Kang Chan went with Yoo Hye-Sook to where the walnut pies were. However, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook didn¡¯t seem too interested in pies. It was understandable. After choosing between the cakes topped with blueberries, Kang Chan also felt as if his throat was bing dry from looking at the walnut pies. ¡°How about some red bean paste bread?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung suggested. He turned around to find an empty basket that wasbeled ¡°Red Bean.¡± ¡°Sorry, Honey,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook apologized. ¡°We just got herete, so it¡¯s not your fault. You don¡¯t have to apologize for anything. The bread here is really popr, huh?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung responded. Kang Chan felt bad that Yoo Hye-Sook was sorry. Is there nothing I can do? Kang Chan nced around. ¡°Chan, do you want to buy a pie and take it back up?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked, turning around. It was already past four in the afternoon. They would have to have dinner soon, so Kang Chan agreed and ordered a walnut pie instead. They had the employee charge the room, so they only had to sign to pay. Chapter 174.2: An Eye For an Eye (1)

Chapter 174.2: An Eye For an Eye (1)

Kang Chan and his parents took the elevator up and returned to their room. Once they were inside, they sat on the sofa and ate the pie. ¡°This is good too!¡± Yoo Hye-Sook eximed. Warm tea, walnut pie, and family¡­ That damn Shan ruined things in the past, and now Wui Min-Gook was the one screwing him over. If it wasn¡¯t for that bastard, their family would be at home right now, happily eating chicken while watching a movie. He couldn¡¯t imagine how Yoo Hye-Sook felt about having to suddenly go abroad. Kang Chan carefully chewed the pie and swallowed. ¡°What should we have for dinner?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked. ¡°You¡¯re already thinking about dinner when we¡¯re still eating pie, dear?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook responded in disbelief. Kang Chan wondered what Yoo Hye-Sook would think about Seok Kang-Ho. ¡°Right, Channy! Is it okay for your dad and I to visit France?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook asked. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯repletely fine with that?¡± Kang Chan asked with concern. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll enjoy the trip,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook replied. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook really couldn¡¯t lie. ¡°I definitely don¡¯t want to go!¡± was clearly written in their eyes. ¡°Mother,¡± Kang Chan began. ¡°Yes? What is it?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook replied. ¡°Don¡¯t go,¡± Kang firmly Chan stated. Unable to say anything, Yoo Hye-Sook just swallowed. ¡°Stay with me. You don¡¯t make me ufortable. Aside from feeling bad that both of you have to stay in a ce like this, I¡¯m really okay. So if you don¡¯t want to go, just stay here with me. On another note, I¡¯ll buy chicken for dinner,¡± Kang Chan persuaded. Yoo Hye-Sook nced at Kang Dae-Kyung. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what Channy wants. I don¡¯t want you to force yourself to go to France either, so let¡¯s just follow our hearts. Working out together today wasn¡¯t bad anyway, was it?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said. Yoo Hye-Sook still couldn¡¯t bring herself to answer. ¡°Don¡¯t go. I¡¯ll be bored if I¡¯m all alone,¡± Kang Chan joked. When Kang Dae-Kyung smiled, Yoo Hye-Sook did as well. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s stay here, Honey! Just like we enjoyed ourselves in Jeju thanks to our talented son, let¡¯s stay at this nice hotel, eat lots of tasty things, and work out for another week,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung chimed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Honey.¡± ¡°Why do you keep saying that? I should be thanking you!¡± Kang Dae-Kyung eximed. So this is what family is.? The three eventually concluded to stay together at the hotel. Whenever Kang Chan was with his parents, he always felt as if he was being rewarded for everything he did. *** This remained peaceful until Monday morning. The most unusual thing that happened was Seok Kang-Ho going to the airport with a few agents to send his wife and daughter off. He still hadn¡¯t received word about what kind of event would be held this Wednesday or where it was going to be held. Jeon Dae-Geuk and Kim Hyung-Jung probably had something in mind, though, so Kang Chan patiently waited for them to contact him first. Around one in the afternoon, Michelle and Cecile visited him to get his signature for the withdrawal of funds application. If he told them Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were here, they would insist on going up to the room and probably loaf around at the hotel after that, so Kang Chan didn¡¯t mention anything. He was currently in the lobby lounge. Joo Chul-Bum still hadn¡¯t made an appearance. ¡®Is that punk injured or something?¡¯ Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but feel worried, considering the man had never missed a chance to silently creep up on him. ¡°You can sign here,¡± Cecile said. Kang Chan signed the three documents that Cecile gave him and the eight documents handed over by thewyer Michelle brought. ¡°Mr. Choi, you can leave first.¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll contact you once I¡¯m done organizing the documents,¡± attorney Choi Young, whom Kang Chan met back when he was still acquiring D.I. ¡°You¡¯re done with the building acquisition now. Congrattions, Channy,¡± Michelle said. ¡°Congrattions. The branch manager told me to deliver his congrattions too,¡± Cecile added. ¡°Thanks,¡± Kang Chan replied. Observing Kang Chan¡¯s expression, Michelle asked, ¡°Is there something bothering you?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine,¡± Kang Chan responded. In truth, he felt bad for how he was treating Michelle and Cecile today. With the building acquisition finalized, he should buy them some wine over dinner. Unfortunately, the ufortable gut feeling he had just worsened so much that he couldn¡¯t even stop his expression from stiffening. He could barely conceal his emotions in front of Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. Right now, his eyes and face wouldn¡¯t listen to him. Could Wui Min-Gook know about Michelle? Noticing Kang Chan¡¯s gaze, Michelle¡¯s doe eyes mischievously widened. Her eyes are really big.? ¡°Do you have a cigarette?¡± Kang Chan asked to change the topic. ¡°Should we step out for a moment?¡± Michelle responded. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that,¡± he replied. Cecile tactfully said that she would stay inside, so Kang Chan and Michelle headed to the front entrance. ¡°Here!¡± Michelle said. Click. Click.? He felt as if he could breathe again now that he was smoking. It would probably be morefortable if they went up to the empty room on the 19th floor, but it would be awkward if they ran into Kang Dae-Kyung or Yoo Hye-Sook. ¡°Michelle, you have an idea about the work I do, don¡¯t you?¡± Kang Chan asked. Michelle''s eyes widened again. She waited for Kang Chan to continue. ¡°Things became a littleplicated, so be careful for a while. Don¡¯t go around by yourself, and don¡¯t stay out toote. Okay?¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°You¡¯re worried about me?¡± Michelle asked with a grin. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll be careful. But once you¡¯re done with your business, make some time for me, Cecile, and Cindy, okay?¡± Michelle requested. ¡°I will. Sorry about today.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You looked a little ufortable, so I was just worried. What about you? Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Anyway, don¡¯t go around alone for a while, okay?¡± ¡°We have the road managers, and I¡¯ll stay where the actors are,¡± Michelle reassured him. Kang Chan nodded. They smoked another cigarette before returning to the lobby. Cecile observed their expressions first before greeting them in relief. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about today, Cecile. I have some things going on, which exins my mood and why I don¡¯t have time. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal once it¡¯s over,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Is it something difficult?¡± Cecile asked worriedly. ¡°Just a bit.¡± After a little while, the two tactfully stood up and left. Now alone, Kang Chan sat in the lobby¡¯s lounge and looked out the window. His heart wasn¡¯t beating fast or thumping¡ªit felt as if something was slowly squeezing it. Kang Chan spent about twenty minutes just staring out the window. He couldn¡¯t ask for all the people around him like Michelle to be assigned a guard. If he asked Kim Tae-Jin¡¯spany, he would essentially be making unarmed guards fight against enemies equipped with guns. What was Wui Min-Gook after? Kang Chan really hoped Kim Hyung-Jung could find him as soon as possible. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? After some time, his phone rang. ¡°Hello?¡± Kang Chan answered. - Where are you? I¡¯m arriving at the hotel right now. ¡°I¡¯m at the lobby, but you should head to the room.¡± - Got it. After hanging up, Kang Chan headed up to his room. He decided to focus on protecting those close to him until Kim Hyung-Jung found Wui Min-Gook. *** The day ended with Choi Seong-Geon being busy for the whole day. It was not easy dealing with phone calls and documents from the higher-ups while also taking care of the onught of joint training requests. Even the military had documents that needed to be handled. Moreover, since Choi Sung-Geon''s opinion was crucial in making decisions, his statement had to be attached to every application. He never imagined a day like this woulde. There was a massive explosion during their recent operation, but not a single soldier was injured. Moreover, Cha Dong-kyun survived. He had been dreaming of this day since he had taken charge of the special forces. ¡°Is that all?¡± Choi Seong-Geon asked his aide. ¡°Yes, General,¡± his aide replied. ¡°What about the soldiers?¡± ¡°They¡¯re having dinner, sir.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be out for a while, then,¡± Choi Seong-Geon informed him. ¡°Understood, sir,¡± his aide replied and then radioedmands. A littleter, Choi Seong-Geon left the barracks and departed the base in a car with a concealed license te. He would reach a highway after driving around three hundred meters past the mountain road. From there, it would take about ten minutes to reach the military apartments in the direction of the terminal. Choi Seong-Geon was definitely in a good mood. Cha Dong-Gyun was alive. Although he ordered the punk to call home, Choi Seong-Geon knew that he would never do it. Hence, he nned to deliver the good news to them in person, then visit his wife for once¡­ Vroooom! Choi Seong-Geon looked to his right, finding a giant trucking right at him. Bam! Crash! Rumble! He felt as if someone hurled him away. His surroundings blurred as if he was submerged in water. However, he could still see the bloodied head of the soldier driving for him. It was bent at an odd angle. ¡°Argh.¡± He barely raised himself with his left arm when a man approached the shattered ss window with a glinting knife. Choi Seong-Geon instinctively turned his body to the side. Swish! ¡°Agh!¡± The de that targeted his neck dug deep right next to his corbone instead. Choi Seong-Geon twisted the ankle of the enemy, but he did not have enough strength. The enemy¡¯s left thumb dug into his eye. ¡°Kegh!¡± Crash! Just then, he heard the window on the opposite side crack. Swish! Swish! ¡°Krrrgh!¡± Nevertheless, Choi Seong-Geon didn¡¯t let go. Swish! Swish! A knife pierced into him, but he didn¡¯t feel pain. The faces of the soldiers quickly shed through his mind. Kang Chan¡¯s was one of them. ¡®Mr. Kang Chan¡­¡¯ Everything turned white. Chapter 175: An Eye For an Eye (2)

Chapter 175: An Eye For an Eye (2)

Having finished his meal, Kang Chan sat in his hotel room. He felt as if he was imprisoned. ¡°We just have to stay inside and not go outside?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung quietly asked while he was watching TV. He seemed to be saying that staying at home would be morefortable if they were just going to stay in their hotel rooms anyway. Yoo Hye-Sook also looked as if she was secretly hoping that they could go home. Kang Dae-Kyung could only ask that question because he had no idea how fights like this worked, though. They weren¡¯t just using melee weapons in this battle. They were using guns. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid it if someone shot at them from the roof of the apartment across from theirs or the window near the stairs. However, the main reason they couldn¡¯t go home was because the bad feeling Kang Chan had wasn¡¯t going away. ¡°I guess going home would be difficult, huh?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked again. ¡°Yes. Just until the end of this week, though.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung nodded as if it didn¡¯t matter to him. It was only natural that Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were having a hard time. After all, Kang Chan also missed their home. ¡°It¡¯s hard staying here at the hotel, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°I just asked because I feel guilty for staying here and not doing anything while this expensive hotel is being paid for. Changing clothes can also be a bit ufortable. Anyway, don¡¯t worry too much about it,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung responded. The three watched TV again. Today was Monday, so they were thinking of watching the drama that D.I. produced together. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª. Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª.? Now that Kang Chan thought about it, Seok Kang-Ho was alone. That fucker is probably bored. However, when Kang Chan looked at his phone, he learned that it was actually Kim Hyung-Jung calling him. ¡°Yes, Manager Kim?¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, General Choi Seong-Geon was assassinated. Kang Chan didn¡¯t want Kang Dae-Kyung or Yoo Hye-Sook to see the look in his eyes so he slowly pressed the inner corner of his eyes with his left thumb and index finger. ¡°Where are you right now?¡± - I¡¯m at Samseong-dong. ¡°I¡¯ll head over.¡± - Understood. You can use the van in the basement. Kang Chan controlled his breathing, then forcibly suppressed his expression as he spoke to his parents. ¡°I have to go to an office in Samseong-dong. If Ie backte, I¡¯ll just sleep in the room next door and see you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung seemed worried about Kang Chan, but he didn¡¯t say anything about it. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Be careful, Channy,¡± Yoo Hye-Sook said. ¡°I will.¡± Kang Chan immediately left the room and went to the room next door. Kang Chan opened the door and went inside. Seok Kang-Ho¡ªwho was leaning back on the sofa¡ªlooked at him. Startled, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°General Choi got attacked. I¡¯m heading to Samseong-dong.¡± ¡°What? General Choi got attacked? How is he?¡± Kang Chan gritted his teeth instead of answering. ¡°Damn it! Those fuckers!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed. By the time Seok Kang-Ho jumped up from the sofa and grabbed his jacket, Kang Chan was already out of the room. The agents in the hallway also had grim expressions. It felt as if security was tightened and even more agents were in the hallway and near the elevator. Kang Chan got in the van. He remained silent until they reached Samseong-dong. Kang Chan was so enraged that he was having difficulties suppressing his anger. This was no different than a war. Executives of the National Intelligence Service died two days ago, and today, themander of the special forces team was killed. Their enemies even opened fire in the underground parking lot of an apartment. Nonsensical things kept happening. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho got out of the van as soon as it parked in the basement and immediately went up to the fifth floor. Kim Hyung-Jung opened the door for them. Jeon Dae-Geuk and Kim Tae-Jin were already in the room. Kang Chan greeted them, then immediately sat at the table and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Choi Seong-Geon was just out for a simple visit to Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s house, but before he could get there, someone hit his car with a truck and killed him with a bay. I heard they stabbed him more than ten times just around his neck,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk responded. ¡°Have they caught the culprit?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk pursed his lips, then sighed softly. ¡°Who sent the North Korean special forces team here?¡± Kang Chan asked again. Jeon Dae-Geuk and Kim Hyung-Jung only looked at Kang Chan. ¡°They say that Wui Min-Gook works at China¡¯s intelligence bureau, but in reality, they would need someone to issue the order for the North Korean special forces team to be dispatched, wouldn¡¯t they? Who would that be?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something you should get worked up about,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said. ¡°Section chief, I¡¯ll pass off the fact that they tried to kill my parents as a terrorist attack. But killing executives of the National Intelligence and tantly attacking amander of the special forces team? I consider that a deration of war. When ites to warfare, we¡¯re done for the moment we¡¯re overpowered.¡± Kim Tae-Jin looked worried upon seeing Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. ¡°If none of you can answer me, then I¡¯ll just have France¡¯s DGSE look into it,¡± Kang Chan continued. ¡°What are you going to do with that information?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked. Kang Chan smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything reckless,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk added. ¡°Our enemies are causing a ruckus in Seoul. Why can¡¯t we do the same?¡± ¡°Kang Chan! Are you really nning to start a war?¡± ¡°We¡¯re already at war.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk inhaled loudly, then exhaled slowly. ¡°Our enemies have nothing to lose. It¡¯s currently difficult for us to stay in power, and we¡¯re in tough economic times. Our enemies will thank us if we start a regional conflict. This fight won¡¯t end with just us fighting between ourselves. The United States and China will interfere, and Russia and Japan will also use the battle as an excuse to meddle with the Korean Penins. If weunch missiles at each other, then we¡¯ll face even more losses!¡± Kang Chan looked straight at Jeon Dae-Geuk. ¡°I only know one thing: if I can¡¯t even protect my people, then I will never be able to protect anything bigger than that. I¡¯ll try to prevent Russia and China from interfering. Please have our government and the National Intelligence Service stop the United States or Japan.¡± ¡°You should calm down first,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk told Kang Chan. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Kang Chan, if I could, I would have immediately run over there as well.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be able to go anyway, will you?¡± Kang Chan brazenly asked Jeon Dae-Geuk. Jeon Dae-Geuk sat there with a numb expression. He seemed at a loss for words. ¡°You came all the way to Anseong to ask me for help in going out into the world and executing preemptive attacks. But now that we actually do need to go out and fight with our lives on the line, you want to mull over your thoughts first to calcte and see what would bring the best results?¡± Kang Chan pushed. ¡°That¡¯s not exactly true.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung, who had been silent all this time, finally butted into the conversation. ¡°Before we even start thinking of retaliating against what they did, we have to first consider the fact that this battle could kill or injure the civilians near the Military Demarcation Line.¡± Kang Chan shook his head. ¡°If you have even the slightest intention to fight, then you should have already evacuated the civilians living in areas considered dangerous. Just this once, we should show our enemies that we¡¯re prepared to retaliate immediately if they keep acting like this. The enemy shot and stabbed National Intelligence Service executives and themander of the special forces team to death, so please don¡¯t use the civilians as an excuse! Just this once, let¡¯s take the fight to them!¡± No one responded to Kang Chan after that. Kang Chan¡¯s lips curved into a snarl. ¡°What happens now that General Choi Seong-Geon has been killed? Section Chief, who do you think will be next? I believe I told you some time ago that constantly getting beaten up will eventually turn into a habit. Now, let me tell you one more thing. We can fend off the enemies one, two, three, or even four times, but we can¡¯t keep doing this forever. The moment they breach our defenses even just once, someone will definitely die.¡± This wasn¡¯t right. Kang Chan stopped talking, having realized that he went overboard. The sudden silence felt very awkward. ¡°I apologize if I came across as too blunt and adamant,¡± Kang Chan finished, then red at the table. He dropped his gaze not because he felt apologetic but because he didn¡¯t want to see their faces anymore. Now that he thought about it, Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t bring them coffee yet. ¡°What has gotten you so worked up?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked. He then began to talk as if he was calming down Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯m going to be honest, so hear me out first before you make up your mind. I¡¯m not a National Intelligence Service executive or even a member of the President¡¯s security service, but I think I roughly know what¡¯s on your mind. However, while it¡¯s possible for you to say that you¡¯ll fend off Russia and Russia, we require at least a little bit of time to prepare for the possibility of a war happening. We also have to calcte our gains and losses.¡± Once Kim Tae-Jin was done, a moment of silence passed. ¡°Mr. President, has the special forces team ever officially gone on an operation before?¡± Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s expression turned grim as he waited for Kang Chan to continue. ¡°They have never gone on an operation with the Korean g. Every time South Korea sent out the special forces team, they were told that if they ever died or were caught, they should use someone or some other country as an excuse. That¡¯s why I¡¯m not sure why you guys have to make calctions for this fight and why you¡¯re all using the United States and Japan as an excuse to not go out.¡± Kang Chan seemed to have rendered the three speechless. ¡°If this is because South Korea is weak, then use me at times like this. Even if I have to cling to Ambassador Lanok, Vasili, and Yang Bum, I¡¯ll fend off the neighboring countries. In return, please have the president, the section chief, and the director step up to the te and deal with the United States and Japan,¡± Kang Chan added. ¡°And then? What are you going to do after that?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked. ¡°I¡¯ll infiltrate North Korea and stab a knife into the neck of whoever dispatched North Korea¡¯s special forces team in South Korea.¡± Unable to even make a sound, Kim Tae-Jin just took a deep breath. ¡°There is one thing that pisses me off, though,¡± Kang Chan said. He then looked at the three of them in order. ¡°The enemy just killed someone who sacrificed everything they had for their country, but our country just chooses to busy itself making excuses instead of doing anything.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s cheek twitched. Kang Chan didn¡¯t say that in hopes of getting a response anyway. ¡°Where¡¯s the funeral home?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°That hasn¡¯t been decided yet since he¡¯s at the field hospital at the moment,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung responded. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now. Please let me know once they¡¯ve decided on a funeral home.¡± Kang Chan stood up. Instead of standing, Jeon Dae-Geuk just stared at the table that Kang Chan was ring at until Kang Chan opened the door and went out of the office. Kim Hyung-Jung pressed the elevator button for Kang Chan. ¡°I¡¯ll have a cup of coffee at the specialty coffee shop across from here before heading back to the hotel. If I return to the hotel like this, I¡¯ll be so frustrated that I doubt I¡¯ll be able to stay there,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung didn¡¯t say anything else perhaps because he thought trying to stop Kang Chan would be useless. Chapter 175.2: An Eye For an Eye (2)

Chapter 175.2: An Eye For an Eye (2)

Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho went down to the first floor and found more than five agents at the specialty coffee shop. Kim Hyung-Jung likely contacted them about Kang Chan¡¯s n. ¡°Go get a table. I¡¯ll order us some coffee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said. Kang Chan sat on the terrace, then bit on a cigarette. What would have it been like if he didn¡¯t know Choi Seong-Geon or if he didn¡¯t know what kind of person he was? Kang Chan¡¯s rage grew further, making it even harder to hold back his anger. If only he didn¡¯t die! Even if he was on death¡¯s door, for as long as he survived, I could¡¯ve tried everything! I wouldn¡¯t even care if I copsed from too much blood loss! South Korea had to be wary of its neighboring countries'' moods? If that¡¯s the case, then do I have to make South Korea powerful enough to eliminate any need for it to keep worrying about how other countries would treat it? Kang Chan gritted his teeth. ¡°Let¡¯s have some coffee for now,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. Seok Kang-Ho put the coffee down on the table when he saw the look in Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. He then took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. He was trying to put Kang Chan at ease, but his eyes were glinting as well. If they did go to North Korea, they most likely would note back alive. Such an operation would be on another level than any of the other operations they participated in so far. Nevertheless, Kang Chan didn¡¯t want to back off. Rather than seeing those precious to him die one by one, he thought that preventing his enemies from doing something like that ever again was the right thing to do. ¡°Do you think that traitorous fucker Huh Ha-Soo is also aware of this incident?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. That¡¯s right¡ªI forgot about that son of a bitch. Kang Chan smiled, his eyes burning. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked. ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck that son of a bitch up.¡± As Seok Kang-Ho cocked his head, Kang Chan took out his phone and started to search through his call history. I talked to him some time ago. After scrolling for a while, Kang Chan found the number and dialed it. He didn¡¯t have high hopes. He could ask Lanok for this if he had to anyway. Ring. Ring. Ring. It was almost nine in the evening. - Hello? Much to his surprise, Yang Bum answered the phone. ¡°It¡¯s Kang Chan.¡± - I¡¯m aware of that. Yang Bum sounded confident. ¡°I have a favor to ask.¡± - Well, I certainly can¡¯t refuse a favor you¡¯re asking from me. What is it? Seok Kang-Ho, who was in front of him, looked at him with a face that asked, ¡®Who is he talking to?¡¯ ¡°You said that you arrested Huh Sang-Soo, right?¡± - I arrested him under the suspicion of being a spy. We have also secured evidence. ¡°Can you kill him for me?¡± Yang Bum remained silent for a moment. - Can you tell me why you want me to kill him? ¡°I¡¯m working on something right now, and I need him to die for it to work. It doesn¡¯t matter whether he dies from an ident or from a gunshot. I just need him dead,¡± Kang Chan answered. Another moment of silence passed. Now that Kang Chan asked, he finally realized how difficult his request was to aplish. No matter how powerful China was, they couldn¡¯t just kill a member of South Korea¡¯s National Assembly. ¡°It seems I asked for something quite hard to execute. He has to die for what I¡¯m doing right now, but it¡¯s fine if you can¡¯t¡ª¡± - I¡¯ll have him taken care of tomorrow. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t believe his ears. - I¡¯ll also announce his death by then. In return, please just make sure that the South Korean government doesn¡¯t misunderstand. ¡°This is a personal favor for me, so the government would probably have different conclusions about it. Kang Chan heard Yang Bumughing. - You just need not interfere. What does that mean? Kang Chan couldn¡¯t understand what he was saying. - The situation in China will be settled within a week. Please consider Huh Sang-Soo¡¯s death as me returning the favor to you for helping mest time. I¡¯ll officially invite you in a week. Is there anything else? ¡°Thank you.¡± - I should be the one thanking you. I¡¯ll announce his death tomorrow, and I¡¯ll contact you in a week. When Kang Chan hung up, Seok Kang-Ho grinned and asked, ¡°Are you thinking of provoking Huh Ha-Soo?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just doing what I do best.¡± ¡°How about meeting up with Ambassador Lanok?¡± Seok Kang-Ho was trying to say that they should call the Foreign Legion¡¯s special forces team. Kang Chan smirked instead of answering his question. After a while, he said, ¡°I never thought about working for South Korea.¡± ¡°Then what have you been doing all this time?¡± ¡°I did all of that for the people that I like¡ªfor you, my parents, and the people who impressed me. But I changed my mind when I heard the news that General Choi Seong-Geon had been killed.¡± Seok Kang-Ho had been understanding well until now, but then he cocked his head. ¡°Would we have acted like this if we were born in France or if we were American? Starting now, I¡¯ll try turning South Korea into a country powerful and tenacious enough to make others start preparing for war before they can even n to mess with a person like General Choi Seong-Geon.¡± ¡°There¡¯s going to be so many things to do,¡± Seok Kang-Homented. Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s take care of the son of a bitch in South Korea first.¡± Seok Kang-Ho grinned. His eyes glinted. *** It waste at night. Jeon Dae-Geuk was sitting in Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s office, still ring at the desk. After they heard Kim Tae-Jin sighing softly¡­ ¡°Manager Kim,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk called, then looked up from the desk. ¡°How would the United States react if we retaliated?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung quickly looked at Kim Tae-Jin. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t they pressure us as much as possible again like in the old days? There was the Korean ax murder incident[1] and the fact that when we were visiting foreign countries, North Korea bombed us and killed all of our talents who were supposed to showcase their abilities[2]. Even then, we didn¡¯t have a choice but to bow down to the United States¡¯ pressure, did we? What do you think would happen if we ignore the United States¡¯ opinion like what we did during thest operation, though?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s cheek twitched after he finished talking. He seemed to have gritted his teeth. ¡°An operation against North Korea is at apletely different level. The United States has wartime operational control, and in the worst-case scenario they also have the CIA, which would probably n an assassination,'''' Kim Hyung-Jung responded. He didn¡¯t say who the CIA was going to assassinate, but it was so obvious that they could all guess who it was. ¡°Kim Tae-Jin, will you be able to go over to North Korea through the DMZ?¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk asked. ¡°If an active soldier helps out, then it¡¯ll be possible. We also have Sang-Hyun, after all.¡± Kim Tae-Jin unexpectedly didn¡¯t stop Jeon Dae-Geuk. ¡°Kang Chan¡¯sment about our country not doing anything is really painful. I know that our country has been acting like that until now, though. Even though we have gone on an operation to France and attacked China, we have never retaliated against our enemies for directly attacking us,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk added. ¡°This matter is too big for the president to authorize,¡± Kim Tae-Jin said. ¡°That¡¯s true. We can¡¯t ask him to handle all of this. We don¡¯t have enough power to do that yet anyway,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said. ¡°I still don¡¯t think it¡¯s right to just do nothing, though. Our enemy has just killed a general who devoted his entire life to our country, so I really don¡¯t feel right just worrying about how others would react.¡± ¡°Section Chief, please take a moment to think about this first,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. ¡°What made you think that I¡¯ll suddenly go to North Korea? I¡¯m already old, you know.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk smirked. He then lifted his head and looked at Kim Hyung-Jung and Kim Tae-Jin, seemingly having just woken up from a spell. ¡°Even so, I can¡¯t just bury Choi Seong-Geon like this. If I do that, I will never be able to tell my juniors that bleeding for our country is something that we should be happy about.¡± Aplicated emotion circted around the office. ¡°I¡¯ll meet the president and tell him about our honest thoughts,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said. ¡°Section chief, it would be best for us to meet the director first,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said. Jeon Dae-Geuk shook his head. ¡°If I do that, then this will turn into a national affair.¡± ¡°How will you handle this, then? Mr. Kang Chan is probably just acting like that because he got angry at the spur of the moment,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said, but he abruptly stopped when he saw the look in Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t get a good look at Kang Chan¡¯s eyes a moment ago, did you? He¡¯s never going to back down. If we old people hesitate and keep saying that we¡¯re calcting what to do as an excuse, then we¡¯re going to lose another extremely talented person. We don¡¯t know when we¡¯lle across someone as talented as him again,¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said. ¡°Section Chief, we can¡¯t expect our men toe back alive from an operation that requires infiltrating North Korea,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung responded. ¡°Why not? The ordinary North Korean soldiers managed to return to North Korea after infiltrating our country using a submarine and crossing it. If they listened to me and did the operation as I instructed back then, that never would¡¯ve happened. I can still clearly remember Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s cry due to the indignation he felt at the end of the operation.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk said. He looked as if he had firmly made up his mind. ¡°I failed to protect my junior who once said that he would dly die for our country. I understand that our country can¡¯t interfere since we failed to make our country that powerful, but even then, I still refuse to let us plummet down again.¡± Jeon Dae-Geuk¡¯s determination filled the office. 1. The Korean ax murder incident refers to an actual murder incident where two US Army officers were killed by North Korean soldiers in the Joint Security Area in the DMZ in 1976. Afterwards, South Korea and the United Statesunched Operation Paul Bunyan to intimidate North Korea into backing down ?? 2. this refers to the Rangoon bombing in 1983, which was an actual assassination attempt against the President of South Korea in Rangoon, Burma. It was orchestrated by North Korea, and as stated by Jeon Dae-Geuk, 21 people died ?? Chapter 176.1: I feel better now (1)

Chapter 176.1: I feel better now (1)

It was already past ten that evening, yet Kang Chan still dialed Lanok¡¯s number. It wasn¡¯t that he wanted to request anything from Lanok¡ªhe figured a warning was the least he could do to show some respect to his intelligence agencies'' teacher. - Mr. Kang Chan, to what do I owe the pleasure at this hour? ¡°Mr. Ambassador. I hope I didn¡¯t catch you toote,¡± Kang Chan greeted. - Of course not. I was actually just talking about you with Anne. Damn it! In other words, he disrupted some quality family time. Nevertheless, he still had to tell Lanok. ¡°Mr. Ambassador. I apologize for disturbing you. However, I had no choice but to call since I have something urgent to tell you. I just called Yang Bum a few moments ago to ask that he kill Huh Sang-Soo, whom they have arrested in China. He chose to ept the favor,¡± Kang Chan informed Lanok. He then tilted his head. Much to his surprise, it sounded as if Lanok was chuckling in amusement. - What do you have to gain by killing Huh Sang-Soo? ¡°We lost General Choi Seong-Geon. What I¡¯m about to do will serve as a warning to our enemies. I want to teach them a lesson and let them know that if they touch my people, no one will get away unscathed. - Are Anne and I also your people? Does this man think I¡¯m joking right now? This snake wasn¡¯t the type to take these things lightly, though. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, I¡¯m obviously going to protect you and Anne as well. On another note, I also want to make South Korea powerful.¡± -I see Unicorn has finally found its rightful owner. You should contact Vasili and Ludwig as well, Mr. Kang Chan. What is your next objective? ¡°I¡¯m going to go to North Korea and stab a knife into the neck of the bastard who dispatched their special forces team here,¡± Kang Chan answered. Lanok was silent for a moment, breaking his leisurely pace. - You never fail to surpass my imagination, Mr. Kang Chan. I do think that the owner of Unicorn should have that much pluck, but I also can¡¯t fathom the idea of so easily angering the beehive that is your surrounding countries and the United States. Kang Chan didn¡¯t understand what the ¡°owner of Unicorn¡± meant, but at the very least, it Lanok didn¡¯t seem against it at all. - Are you confident you can return alive? ¡°I¡¯m not, but I¡¯m sure that if we just do nothing while everyone keeps beating us up, we¡¯re going to lose everyone someday,¡± Kang Chan replied with determination. Kang Chan felt as if air finally flowed into his lungs again. - I will call Vasili and Ludwig then, Mr. Kang Chan. There are also a few things I¡¯d like to get from the DGSE. At the very least, please don¡¯t leave tomorrow. Hell yeah! This is the kind of reaction that we should be getting! Kang Chan once again promised to make South Korea¡¯s intelligence bureau as strong as the French national intelligence bureau. He would make sure that the future directors of the National Intelligence Service could have a rxed disposition like Lanok. - Would you like toe for tea tomorrow? ¡°Yes. That sounds good,¡± Kang Chan responded. - Anne sends her greetings. Oh, let me take this time to inform you that Louis has been discharged from the hospital as well. Kang Chan was envious. He was extremely envious that Lanok could be so calm even though he just told him that he was going to North Korea. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow,¡± Kang Chan said. After hanging up, he told Seok Kang-Ho, who didn¡¯t understand French, everything about their conversation. ¡°Fuck. Our enemies killed one of our country¡¯s generals, yet France seems to be more dedicated to taking care of this. It¡¯s strange how envious that makes me,¡± Seok Kang-Hoined. ¡°There¡¯s no need to feel that way. All we have to do is be just as powerful,¡± Kang Chan dered. Seok Kang-Ho tilted his head upon seeing Kang Chan¡¯s eyes. He had never seen that look from him before. *** ¡°It seems like Unicorn has finally found its owner,¡± Lanok murmured. ¡°Are you talking about Channy?¡± Anne asked, to which Lanok nodded. ¡°Yang Bum is indeed worthy of taking over the Chinese intelligence bureau. He has probablye up with a n to use Huh Sang-Soo¡¯s death in that short phone conversation. If this is how things will y out, I suppose the time hase for me to punish China for kidnapping me too.¡± Lanok was on friendly terms with Yang Bum, but he still spoke harshly about taking revenge. Anne couldn¡¯t even dare attempt to guess how adept he was with politics. ¡°We also have to do everything in our power to make sure the owner of Unicorn returns safely,¡± Lanok continued. ¡°Papa, I know Channy is strong, but can he really be a hero who will have influence over the world¡¯s economy and intelligence? For that, the country he was born in isn¡¯t¡­¡± Anne trailed off when she saw Lanok¡¯s smile. ¡°Anne, Monsieur Kang¡¯s in-the-moment judgment, unwavering resilience in any situation, and superhuman abilities and determination that he demonstrates every time he goes on a mission are more than enough to go past what his environment can offer.¡± Sitting across from him on the other side of the table, Anne listened closely to Lanok as if she was a student in a lecture. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that the ability to recognize such a person¡¯s potential is half the battle in information warfare. Why do you think Vasili yielded to Monsieur Kang? If you think it¡¯s just because the Spetsnatz lost, you¡¯ll never win against Vasili,¡± Lanok said. ¡°But Papa, if Vasili really put his mind to it, South Korea won¡¯t be able to protect Monsieur Kang,¡± Anne argued. He smiled as if he was wearing a court jester¡¯s mask. ¡°If I were to set my mind to it, I could kill Monsieur Kang as well. However, the effort and resources I would have to pour into killing him would leave the French intelligence bureaus spending at least the next ten years trying to regain the power they lost.¡± ¡°Can one man really be so strong?¡± Anne questioned. ¡°That¡¯s simply the kind of person Monsieur Kang is. If Vasili and Monsieur Kang were to engage in a full-scale battle, I am confident that some countries would stand on Monsieur Kang¡¯s side. Even if South Korea can¡¯t protect him, Monsieur Kang has the capacity to draw people to his side. In the end, even if Vasili were to win, his glory would be riddled with wounds.¡± Anne still looked as if she couldn¡¯t believe what he was saying. Lanok raised his cigar. ¡°Call Yang Bum and find out when Huh Sang-Soo will be killed. We should have the Aigle dispatched to the waters near the Korean Penins around the same time,¡± Lanok ordered. ¡°Papa! The DGSE could refuse,¡± Anne protested. ¡°Anne.¡± Lanok¡¯s firm voice startled Anne. She cautiously raised her gaze and saw the cold and sharp look in his eyes. ¡°There is nothing more insulting than implying that the DGSE could refuse to follow my orders,¡± Lanok continued. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Anne replied. A short moment of silence enveloped the room as Lanok put his cigar in his mouth and puffed out the smoke. ¡°The intel that people create can determine whether someone lives or dies. Always keep in mind that those who make the judgment can dictate what happens to a person¡¯s life,¡± Lanok warned. When Anne nodded, Lanok held his ss out. ¡°If Monsieur Kang isn¡¯t the owner of Unicorn, then France will be able to maintain its power if I step down from this position. It¡¯s another stroke of luck for me that you¡¯re the one who will be taking over the role.¡± Clink.? Anne hesitantly clinked her ss with his. *** After finishing his meal with Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, Kang Chan hurried to the other room, which was where Seok Kang-Ho was. Although he felt at ease now that he made up his mind, he still couldn¡¯t do anything about the glint that lingered in his eyes. It was around half past eight in the morning. He poured himself some coffee and lounged around with the news on the TV. How should I take care of Yang Bum? Deeply contemting, Kang Cha stared at his cup of coffee when a sound interrupted his train of thought. ¡°Huh?¡± Seok Kang-Ho seemed surprised by what he saw. What is it?? Kang Chan quickly turned to the TV. ¡°Take a look at that,¡± Seok Kang-Ho told him. ¡°Breaking News¡± was shing inrge text on the screen that Seok Kang-Ho pointed at. [Chinese authorities have sentenced South Korean Congressman Heo Sang-soo to death in a trial held today at Nine AM in our local time. This is being evaluated as an unprecedented event not only diplomatically but also within China itself. I repeat, China has sentenced Congressman Heo Sang-soo to death. The government has not yet issued an official statement.] ¡°I bet that has made the son of a bitch furious,¡± Kang Chan said with a smirk. ¡°I feel a little better now,¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied. They finally felt as if they were fighting back properly. Now that Kang Chan thought about it, he realized that he wanted to meet the bastard if opportunity allowed him. He turned to Seok Kang-Ho with a pleased expression. ¡°Phuhuhu,¡± Seok Kang-Ho cruellyughed with a gleam in his eyes. Nervous tension was beginning to rise inside him. Chapter 176.2: I feel better now (1)

Chapter 176.2: I feel better now (1)

It was bright and sunny in Jeungpyeong that Tuesday morning. It was alreadyte autumn as evidenced by the red nket over the mountains that were waiting for winter to arrive. A sedan got off the highway and came to a stop halfway on the road leading to the mountains. Click.? As soon as Kim Tae-Jin stepped out from the passenger seat, Suh Sang-Hyun got out of the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Is this the ce?¡± Kim Tae-Jin asked out loud. The road that Kim Tae-Jin was looking at was clean of any trace of the ident¡ªthere wasn¡¯t even a single piece of debris. Kim Tae-Jin nced at the mountain. When he turned to the road again, he pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it up, cupping the fire from the wind with his hands. ¡°Whew!¡± The autumn wind carried away the smoke he exhaled toward the mountains. As he set down the cigarette to one side of the road, his face wrinkled so much that it seemed he was trying to bottle up his anger. He was in front of Suh Sang-Hyun right now. He had to behave as his higher-up should. ¡°Whew!¡± Kim Tae-Jin let out a long sigh and pressed his fingers to his temples. ¡°I told Kang Chan that we should let Wui Min-Gook live. I relentlessly chased Wui Min-Gook around because I was furious that he killed my subordinates, but I did technically kill his subordinates as well. I wanted our generation to be thest to get that kind of blood on our hands.¡± Kim Tae-Jin turned to look at the mountains and highway again, his eyes glinting with intense anger. ¡°I realized I have be overly weak-hearted ever since I retired from the military. I can¡¯t believe I said we should stop the killing there when I used to regrly stab necks and hearts¡­ I made an excuse that I didn¡¯t want to dirty Kang Chan¡¯s hands any further, and I foolishly thought that there would be nothing more cruel to Wui Min-Gook than having a disabled body anyway¡­ Those are nothing but pathetic notions. I¡¯m ashamed.¡± Kim Tae-Jin turned to Suh Sang-Hyun. ¡°Starting tomorrow, you will be in charge of Yoo-Bi Corp,¡± Kim Tae-Jin ordered. Suh Sang-Hyun¡¯s expression showed mixed emotions. ¡°Just until we catch Wui Min-Gook, at least. I suddenly remembered the old days after listening to what Kang Chan said. Back when I lost my subordinates and I started to desperately search for the enemy¡¯s outposts, I couldn¡¯t have felt more disappointed in my country. I remembered how I felt when I had to forcibly take off my uniform,¡± Kim Tae-Jin murmured. ¡°So you n to search for Wui Min-Gook yourself? To protect a talented individual like Mr. Kang Chan?¡± Suh Sang-Hyung asked. Kim Tae-Jin gazed back at Suh Sang-Hyun¡¯s hurt expression. ¡°Have you forgotten, sir? Once upon a time, I followed in your footsteps, Director¡ªI mean Sunbae-nim. I liked you so much that I took off my uniform with my own hands. I might not be as good as Mr. Kang Chan, but I¡¯m not so bad either. And there are plenty of expert consultants who can run Yoo-Bi Corp anyway,¡± Suh Sang-Hyun confidently said. Seeing Kim Tae-Jin¡¯s grin, Suh Sang-Hyun reciprocated with a simr kind of smile. *** There were only two people in the conference room, but the atmosphere was heavier than ever. ¡°There hasn¡¯t been any response from the Chinese intelligence bureau. It seems like their power struggle is still ongoing.¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun gulped down some water, parched from anxiety. ¡°There is no excuse for Congressman Huh¡¯s espionage charges. However, there¡¯s a prevailing opinion that there might be something else behind the decision to sentence him to death in this matter. This one-sided announcement from China is evidence of that,¡± Hwang Ki-Gyun stated. ¡°Something else?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. Hwang Ki-Hyun looked quite stumped. ¡°The most realistic analysis is that they are attempting to recover their pride, which they lost due to the recent Beijing airport terrorist incident,¡± he answered. ¡°I heard the faction responsible for internally eliminating Huh Geuk is in power now, though. Taking that into consideration, is all that still really necessary?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun questioned. ¡°The party in control right now probably finds it burdensome topletely suppress the opposition. Hence, they¡¯re choosing to execute Congressman Huh as a form of warning and a gesture of reconciliation to the opposition party,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun replied. Moon Jae-Hyun remained silent, listening thoughtfully. ¡°Even though we have strengthened security, the number and anger of the protestors gathered in front of the Chinese embassy is surpassing our expectations. We can¡¯t reach Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo either. And Mr. President¡­¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun trailed off after hesitantly addressing Moon Jae-Hyun. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan is adamant about getting revenge for General Choi Seong-Geon.¡± ¡°I heard about thatst night as well. His words are still ringing in my ears¡ªthat the country isn¡¯t doing anything for a general who gave everything he had for his mothend,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun grimly said. Seeing the look in Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s eyes, Hwang Ki-Hyun chose his next words carefully. ¡°Then what do you think, Mr. President?¡± he asked. ¡°The United States has never let any incident slide where their citizens were harmed. We have never done anything like that as well, but that doesn¡¯t mean we don¡¯t have the means to. Nevertheless, I¡¯m hesitant for the same reason as always. Will my decision result in the needless sacrifice of our precious young people?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun solemnly responded. ¡°Yang Bum, the man who holds real power in China right now, and French Ambassador Lanok are on close terms with Mr. Kang Chan. Moreover, in the midst of the current situation, China has unusually sentenced Congressman Huh Sang-Soo to death, and the French ambassador has requested to meet us. I¡¯d say Mr. Kang Chan was likely already aware of Congressman Huh Sang-Soo¡¯s death sentence before it was even announced,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun mused. ¡°Everything will depend on what we do now, then. I¡¯m sure that¡¯s why Ambassador Lanok requested a meeting with us,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun stated, then nodded. ¡°There¡¯s almost no chance of sess in this operation, but even if it does seed, there¡¯s no chance that they¡¯ll return alive, is there?¡± Even Hwang Ki-Hyun didn¡¯t have an answer to that question. ¡°And Mr. Kang Chancks the experience for these types of operations. He could potentially end up as a sacrificial pawn in information warfare,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said, making another astonished expression due to the absurdity of the situation. ¡°If he just continues to grow like this, he will certainly be a never-before-seen bundle of fortune for our mothend. We should be trying to keep him safe and protect him, but he now insists onunching an operation against North Korea¡ªto kill the leader of our enemy, no less¡­¡± Moon Jae-Hyun burst outughing in disbelief. He shook his head from side to side. ¡°He¡¯s making us stake everything on this. Will we present Kang Chan as the face of our intelligence and properly support him or will we keep hiding and covering him up? Either way, the person in question wants to take revenge for Choi Seong-Geon. I suppose this must be how fathers with outstanding sons feel,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun added. ¡°Mr. President, we shouldn¡¯t provoke the United States any longer,¡± Hwang Ki-Hyun said out of worry. ¡°General Choi Seong-Geon called me not too long ago. I told him twice that no matter what happens, I will be responsible for him and his soldiers, but look at how things have turned out,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun muttered dejectedly. A sense of sadness flickered across Hwang Ki-Hyun¡¯s eyes as he listened to Moon Jae-Hyun. *** Huh Ha-Soo¡¯s mixed emotions were evident in his expression. ¡°The likelihood of canceling the event tomorrow has increased, hasn¡¯t it? Given the situation, even the ambassadors would understand,¡± Huh Ha-Soo said anxiously. ¡°The security detail is still guarding the event hall,¡± his assistant informed him. ¡°What¡¯s most important is knowing what China is nning and making sure I¡¯m not negatively impacted by it,¡± Huh Ha-Soo said with determination. ¡°I think it would be wise to issue a statement, at the very least.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± Huh Ha-Soo agreed. ¡°The reasons aside, public emotions are running high. There is significant criticism of the president and the government¡¯s ipetence.¡± ¡°Have we gotten a response from the United States?¡± Huh Ha-Soo asked. ¡°They are adopting a wait-and-see approach.¡± ¡°The National Intelligence Service, and now China and the United States. All of mymunication channels have been severed. We need something to turn this situation around. A move that can help us ovee this crisis in one fell swoop,¡± Huh Ha-Soo muttered anxiously. Huh Ha-Soo¡¯s burly assistant, Kwak Do-Young, carefully observed Huh Ha-Soo¡¯s mood from across him. ¡°Is that young punk more capable than we expected or did we just miss something about Moon Jae-Hyun?¡± Huh Ha-Soo murmured to himself. ¡°The poor guy is probably terrified on foreign soil. These punks didn¡¯t have any power, ability, or even a proper diplomatic channel before, yet they have now sentenced to death a man who worked behind the curtains for the country.¡± Huh Ha-Soo stared daggers in an empty space. ¡°Contact the broadcasting stations and newspapers to request their cooperation in criticizing this situation. They should be well aware that if we continue at this rate, we¡¯ll only be gotten rid of one by one,¡± Huh Ha-Soo statedmandingly. ¡°Understood, sir,¡± Kwak Do-Young replied. ¡°The citizens are the only ones we can trust now. There are still many wise citizens in this country who recognize our efforts and support us. The media has to do its job properly to ensure that the people can see the current situation as it is,¡± Huh Ha-Soo announced. ¡°I will make your intentions clear,¡± Kwak Do-Young obediently replied. ¡°What about Director Wui?¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t contacted us yet,¡± Huh Ha-Soo nodded. After a while, he emphasized, ¡°Finding out what they¡¯re trying to do this time should be our priority.¡± ¡°I will do my best, sir,¡± Kwak Do-Young reassured him. ¡°That poor guy,¡± Huh Ha-Soo muttered under his breath once more. *** After listening to the news about Huh Sang-Soo, Kang Chan didn¡¯t move from his room. He needed some time to organize his thoughts. He had no doubt in his mind that Wui Min-Gook was the one who attacked Choi Seong-Geon and that Huh Sang-Soo was behind him as well. But did Yang Bum really get rid of Huh Sang-Soo that way because he was grateful for the other incident in the past? The execution day was still pending. There was something to this that Kang Chan was missing. He had to look beyond the surface of the ocean and check what could be hiding beneath the water. That was just the tip of the iceberg of what he had to ponder about. First and foremost, if permission for the execution wasn¡¯t granted, he would have to figure out a new n to carry out the revenge. Would Lanok send the Foreign Legion¡¯s special forces team all the way to North Korea? Kang Chan doubted it. He thought about it for quite some time. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.? After a while, his phone began to ring. Upon picking it up, he said, ¡°Yes, Mr. Ambassador. This is Kang Chan.¡± - Mr. Kang Chan, what does your schedule look like today? ¡°I don¡¯t have anything scheduled at the moment,¡± Kang Chan replied. - I was just requested for ast-minute appointment. There¡¯s somece I hope to go with you. I think I¡¯ll arrive at the hotel in about an hour, so do you think you cane down when I call you? ¡°Yes, sure. I¡¯ll see you then,¡± Kang Chan said. After hanging up, Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho about the conversation. ¡°Anyhow, we have to take care of this issue with Wui Min-Gook as fast as we can if we want to go back home. What the hell are we doing right now?¡± Seok Kang-Ho griped. ¡°That¡¯s exactly how I feel,¡± Kang Chan agreed bleakly. He wanted to speed things up, but there was nothing he could do right now. Chapter 177.1: I Feel Better Now (2)

Chapter 177.1: I Feel Better Now (2)

It was hard to predict what on earth this sly snake was up to. Informed of their destination upon getting in Lanok¡¯s car, Kang Chan couldn¡¯t help but be dumbfounded. After going through a bunch ofplicated procedures, they headed into the Blue House. Moon Jae-Hyun entered the meeting room and held out his hand to Lanok. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said. ¡°Thank you for agreeing to talk with me in private, Mr. President,¡± Lanok said. With a notepad in hand, the female interpreter ryed what Lanok was saying. ¡°Have a seat.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun gestured at the chairs, and they all sat down almost at the same time. ¡°I heard that you enjoy smoking cigars. It¡¯s been a while since Ist had time to smoke leisurely,¡± Moon Jae-Hyunmented. An employee approached them and put cigarettes, cigars, and an ashtray on the table. Click. They stopped talking for a moment to light up their respective cigarettes and cigars. Afterward, Lanok looked at Kang Chan, seemingly able to understand why Kang Chan couldn¡¯t smoke. ¡°Let¡¯s have tea.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun offered. He was the first to take a sip. ¡°Mr. President, this is an unofficial meeting, so with your permission, I¡¯d like everyone, including the interpreter, to leave this room,¡± Lanok said. Moon Jae-Hyun looked around them. He seemed to have expected Lanok to say that. Click. Click. The employees left the room, closing the two doors behind them. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, will you interpret what I say from here on out?¡± Lanok asked. Kang Chan passed on to Moon Jae-Hyun that Lanok had asked him to interpret. ¡°China will execute Assemblyman Huh Sang-Soo at four in the afternoon today in Korean time,¡± Lanok said. That was unexpected news. Kang Chan and Moon Jae-Hyun both looked dumbfounded. ¡°Even though he¡¯s a criminal now, Huh Sang-Soo is still a member of South Korea¡¯s National Assembly. If China executes him, Korea and China¡¯s rtionship will deteriorate,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said. After Kang Chan passed on what Moon Jae-Hyun said, Lanok gave Kang Chan a meaningful look. He then said, ¡°Yang Bum hopes to get that exact result.¡± Damn it! As Kang Chan passed on what Lanok just said, he promised never to act as an interpreter again. ¡°Yang Bum is fighting from both within and outside China to seize the real power in their country. Within China, he ns to centralize his power using Huh Sang-Soo¡¯s death penalty. Unfortunately, he¡¯s having trouble with his schemes outside China because they¡¯re not proceeding as nned,¡± Lanok continued. Even after Kang Chan told him what Lanok said, Moon Jae-Hyun remained calm and collected. It seemed he was already well aware of what was going on outside China. ¡°North Korea is also suffering due to a simr problem. The forces that supported Huh Geuk, who¡¯s now deceased, are openly preparing for an armed provocation. Wui Min-Gook was one of the prominent figures who supported Huh Geuk,¡± Lanok added. I didn¡¯t know there¡¯s this kind of inside story in executing Huh Sang-Soo. Kang Chan drank all of the tea in his cup, taking his frustration out on it. ¡°North Korea is also nervous right now because they still haven¡¯t taken care of Jang Kwang-Taek, their current Minister of Defense and the figure of authority who sent North Korea¡¯s special forces team down to Wui Min-Gook,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Can¡¯t China help North Korea with that matter?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. Kang Chan passed on Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s question to Lanok. ¡°China is having difficulties meddling with the Korean Penins¡¯s political situation right now. Yang Bum will soon try to absorb the opposing parties by taking care of Huh Sang-Seo and dealing with the inevitable disgrace that will be caused by reversing their economic sanctions on South Korea and the consequential loss of prestige from what happened with the airport. They¡¯re in a rush to unify the forces inside China by arousing hostility with South Korea, so they won¡¯t be able to do anything about the power struggle inside North Korea,¡± Lanok said. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, can you ask the ambassador what he wants?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. Kang Chan passed on Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s question to Lanok. ¡°Please dispatch South Korea¡¯s special forces team. South Korea will get three benefits from taking Jang Kwang-Taek out of the equation: the stabilization of North Korea, revenge for General Choi Seong-Geon, and an important North Korean military stronghold will be South Korea''s.¡± Unlike Kang Chan, Moon Jae-Hyun looked as if hepletely understood what Lanok was saying. ¡°Can¡¯t France provide direct help?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. ¡°If we do, then we¡¯ll be giving the United States a reason to interfere. Russia will also be put in an awkward position. South Korea will likely find all of that to be very ufortable.¡± ¡°Even if we only send our special forces team, there is still a chance that the United States will interfere.¡± It was Kang Chan¡¯s first time seeing this kind of look in Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s eyes¡ªit was soft but sharp at the same time. His gaze right now was simr to Lanok¡¯s, but it clearly harbored a different kind of danger. ¡°France has already sent over an aircraft carrier. With your permission, we can have it on standby in international waters. If we do, China and Russia will follow suit, ordering their respective aircraft carriers and warships to remain on standby in the international waters of the Korean Penins,¡± Lanok said. Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s expression hardened upon hearing what Lanok said from Kang Chan. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We have no intention of starting a war on the Korean Penins. On the contrary, this will suppress the military operations that Jang Kwang-Taek of North Korea may inadvertently cause. Moreover, it will also prevent the United States from interceding into this operation,¡± Lanok added. ¡°How will France, China, and Russia benefit from doing all this?¡± Moon Jae-Hyun asked. Lanok drank some tea before answering. ¡°This operation will allow China to disy its military might, ultimately helping them repair their damaged prestige and regain some of their lost honor. As a result, they will also achieve unity within their country. Russia is nning to move forward with giving South Korea oil field development rights, so they want to take this opportunity to earn the right to speak in the Korean Penins. As for my country¡­¡± Lanok looked at Kang Chan. The sly snake could still make other people curious about what he was going to say next despite requiring an interpreter for his remarks to be understood. Kang Chan met Lanok¡¯s gaze after passing on everything that Lanok said. When he did, Lanok continued, ¡°Economically speaking, my country wants North Korea¡¯s minerals. We also want to build a solid trust with the South Korean government.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun nodded. He then said, ¡°I doubt trading for North Korea¡¯s minerals will be easy, though, considering the economic sanctions.¡± ¡°Exceptions are made for simple trading.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun nodded, then said, ¡°Mr. Ambassador, we have had close ties with the United States for a long time in terms of politics, economics, and security. We can¡¯t just destroy all of that just because we are going through a rough patch right now.¡± The difference between politics and information warfare was that in politics, politicians exchanged information to settle political issues behind closed doors. Kang Chan felt as if he was studying about the real reason why information warfare was needed. At that moment, he realized that Lanok asked toe with him today on purpose as well. ¡°The United States can¡¯t strain their rtionship with South Korea because of this matter. On the contrary, I¡¯m certain that they¡¯ll end up yielding more things. After all, if the United States severs its rtionship with South Korea right now, other countries will be able to exert their influence. My country will be the first to, followed by other countries, including China and Russia,¡± Lanok exined. Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s expression already showed his answer. Afterward, they talked about rted matters for about twenty minutes, but it didn¡¯t make that much of a difference. ¡°Mr. Ambassador, I want to get some fresh air. If it¡¯s okay with you, I¡¯d like to go for a walk with Mr. Kang Chan for a moment,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said. Lanok extended both of his hands as if he had been waiting for Moon Jae-Hyun to say that. He then expressed that he would follow Moon Jae-Hyun¡¯s wishes. ¡°Kang Chan,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun called. When he stood up, Kang Chan followed after him. The two left the meeting room and went out to the back of the Blue House, arriving at a trail that led around the mountain. From far away, Kang Chan could see security guards in suits walking in pairs. ¡°Do you really have to go there yourself? I¡¯m not saying that our soldiers¡¯ lives are not important, but I¡¯m worried that you¡¯re interfering in something too dangerous while the Eurasian Rail, a national undertaking, is still iplete,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun said. Kang Chan understood what Moon Jae-Hyun meant. However, for them to go on an operation like this, they needed at least Cha Dong-Gyun or Choi Jong-Il. Kang Chan did cheer them up in the restaurant, but they didn¡¯t have amander that they could trust and follow yet. If they went on an operation in this state, then not only would they inevitably fail, but it would also be no different from sending them to their deaths. When Kang Chan didn¡¯t respond, Moon Jae-Hyun looked at the mountain at the back. ¡°The United States always dispatches their best agents, especially if they think the operation has a low chance of seeding. I know it¡¯s hard for you to reply to what I said. After all, it¡¯s our fault that we don¡¯t have anyone who can rece you. We¡¯re not that strong yet,¡± Moon Jae-Hyun added. Is he giving me permission to go? Moon Jae-Hyun bitterly smiled when he saw Kang Chan looking at him. ¡°The National Intelligence Service will erase the identities of all the soldiers who will be joining this operation. Even their resident registration will disappear. If the operation fails or if one of the soldiers dies, it will seem like they weren¡¯t born in South Korea.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun looked at the sky while inhaling loudly. ¡°I hope you work hard enough so South Korea¡¯s intelligence bureau can be stronger once you return. If the President takes charge of politics, as you¡¯ve seen a moment ago, then I hope you¡¯ll mediate for South Korea¡¯s opinions and benefits.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun lowered his gaze and looked at Kang Chan. ¡°I want to witness South Korea be a strong country where everyone is well off so you can represent a country that can never be overpowered even by strong countries. I also wish we had someone simr to the figures that Russia, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and Germany send on the frontlines. ¡± This gentleman was strangely adept at making everyone else feel his sincerity. Chapter 177.2: I Feel Better Now (2)

Chapter 177.2: I Feel Better Now (2)

¡°Can you promise me that you¡¯ll be 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 be that person.¡± Moon Jae-Hyun smirked, then shook Kang Chan¡¯s hand. ¡°My stay in the office won¡¯tst forever. When my term ends, I¡¯m going to live afortable and peaceful life. Unlike me, things will just be 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 rmended.¡± 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¡ªhe 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 ites 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 Penins, 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 Thand 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 minutester. 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¡ªdo 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 nced at Hwang Ki-Hyung, thetter looked around the room and softly said, ¡°If Mr. Kang Chan seeds 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 hisughter since it was unclear whether that was apliment or an insult. ¡°The fact China is nning 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 ns 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: rtionships 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 olderdy 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-Homented. 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. ¡°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 momentter, 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 veryplicated. 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''.??? Chapter 178.1: No different from back then (1)

Chapter 178.1: No different from back then (1)

¡°This is pretty much no different from back in Africa,¡± Seok Kang-Ho murmured under his breath as he drove with one hand on the wheel. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho were currently on their way back to Seoul. ¡°The men looked like they softened up a bit after seeing you earlier, Cap. I feel sorry for them, but I can¡¯t help but feel proud of them at the same time,¡± Seok Kang-Ho added. ¡°Why would you be proud of them?¡± Kang Chan asked, unable to understand what Seok Kang-Ho meant. ¡°Well, why else would they be out training for mountain warfare? They were doing what they thought would help them avenge General Choi, weren¡¯t they?¡° Seok Kang-Ho reasoned. That¡¯s a good point. It does make sense.? Kang Chan put his cigarette in his mouth. ¡°There¡¯s a resting area for driversing just up ahead. Let¡¯s stop over and get some coffee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho suggested. ¡°I don¡¯t see why not.¡± At the very least, it would mean that he wouldn¡¯t have to smoke a cigarette inside the car. Just like Seok Kang-Ho said, they soon reached the resting area. Seok Kang-Ho parked the car in the parking lot. ¡°Do you want anything else besides coffee?¡± Seok Kang-Ho confirmed. Kang Chan shook his head in response. He then headed toward a bench that was in a secluded area. The season was transitioning to a new one, so it was already starting to feel cold in the evenings. Seok Kang-Ho came walking over a whileter. He took longer than Kang Chan expected. ¡°I brought some hodu-gwaja too. Here¡¯s the coffee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho said as if to exin why he took so long. ¡°You went to the bathroom, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kang Chan asked out of suspicion. ¡°Why do you think so, Cap?¡± Seok Kang-Ho sounded a little hesitant. ¡°Did you even wash your hands?¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk! How can you say that when you used to live in Africa?¡± Seok Kang-Ho replied defensively. Ugh! This disgusting bastard! Although he had someints, Kang Chan still took a piece of the hodu-gwaja from inside the paper bag that Seok Kang-Ho ripped open wide. It was already dark outside. Insects could be seen asionally flying under the lights illuminating the resting area. After eating some hodu-gwaja and drinking coffee, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho began smoking. ¡°Damn, I¡¯ve experienced so many events that keep me on my toes in this lifetime!¡± Seok Kang-Ho grumbled as he put his cigarette in his mouth. Despite what he said, though, he didn¡¯t seem to hate the life he had right now. From the seats next to them, people chattered about how South Korea should never forgive China for what it did. They probably heard the news about China¡¯s decision to proceed with Huh Sang-Soo¡¯s execution. Unaffected, Kang Chan flicked the ash from his cigarette and put it next to arge ashtray. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Whatever you say, Cap,¡± Seok Kang-Ho agreed. Could one of Wui Min-Gook¡¯s men be following me?? Kang Chan subtly scanned his surroundings on the way back to the car. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there something here?¡± Seok Kang-Ho asked out of curiosity as he adjusted his seatbelt in the driver¡¯s seat. He nced outside the window. ¡°I was just checking to see if anyone¡¯s tailing us,¡± Kang Chan replied. ¡°Who? Wui Min-Gook? There¡¯s no way we would get that lucky,¡± Seok Kang-Ho responded with a grin. ¡°Why would we be getting lucky if someone¡¯s following us?¡± ¡°If we can catch them, then we¡¯ll get the opportunity to capture everyone else!¡± Seok Kang-Ho mused. Seok Kang-Ho peered around their surroundings again as they hit the road. ¡°Hey! Just focus on the road ahead!¡± Kang Chan eximed in disbelief. ¡°I know there¡¯s no need to feel this way, but this seems like a wasted opportunity,¡± Seok Kang-Ho remarked disgruntledly. They didn¡¯t run into any issues even as they exited the highway and reached the hotel. They arrived at around ten in the evening. Kang Chan greeted Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook for a little while before returning to the room that Seok Kang-Ho was in. It didn¡¯t take long for him to fall asleep. *** Wednesday morning. Kang Chan ate breakfast with Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook and spent some time with them for a while. ¡°Are you heading to the fitness center now?¡± Kang Chan asked the two. ¡°Yup. Want toe with us?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung responded. Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook seemed to have somewhat gotten used to the hotel life by now. ¡°Actually, starting today, I¡¯ll probably be staying in Jeungpyeong for a few days,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°In Jeungpyeong?¡± Kang Dae-Kyung asked, feeling quite surprised. ¡°Yes. There¡¯s something that I want to confirm first before we can return home.¡± Kang Dae-Kyung seemed to think that Kang Chan wasn¡¯t giving them the whole truth. ¡°Are you okay? Is something going on?¡± ¡°Of course not. Everything is fine,¡± Kang Chan replied, reassuring them. Just like that, in the span of a few seconds, assassinating North Korea¡¯s defense minister was reduced to an unimportant feat. Still, as Kang Chan replied to Kang Dae-Kyung¡¯s question, he couldn¡¯t help but think that what he was about to do was nothing short of pure madness. ¡°Will you be leaving soon?¡± ¡°Not really. I¡¯ll probably stay for a little while before I leave, so you don¡¯t have to wait up for me. Go ahead and work out, Father. That would help me leave with a lighter heart as well,¡± Kang Chan reassured him again. As he always did in these situations, Kang Dae-Kyung looked like he was struggling toe to terms with what his son did. ¡°Be careful with whatever you¡¯ll be up to,¡± Kang Dae-Kyung said worriedly. ¡°Channy, we can take our time going back home, so don¡¯t overdo it, okay?¡± Yoo Hye-Sook urged. ¡°I won¡¯t, Mother,¡± Kang Chan replied. As Kang Chan¡¯s parents stepped out into the hallway, where the agents were standing, Yoo Hye-Sook kept looking back at her son. Kang Chan wished they could stop going on operations. In France too, he felt sick of having to constantly leave on missions. Unfortunately, he ended up having to go on another one anyway. These kinds of things would repeat endlessly if one never stood their ground against the bastards who punched them. Moreover, if it kept happening long enough, even if one did try to rebel, the bastards would just think it was abnormal for them to fight back. I¡¯ll put an end to all of this now. Through this opportunity, Kang Chan would brutally and surely show his enemies what would happen if anybody dared touch his people. When the doors of the elevator that Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were in finally closed, Kang Chan headed into the room where Seok Kang-Ho was. Click.? ¡°Come on in, Cap,¡± Seok Kang-Ho greeted. As soon as Kang Chan stepped inside, he found Kim Hyung-Jung standing up to greet him. ¡°Hi. When did you arrive, Manager Kim?¡± Kang Chan addressed with a friendly tone. ¡°About an hour ago,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung responded. ¡°You should¡¯ve called when you got here. I would havee sooner,¡± Kang Chan said as he sat down on a chair near the sofa. ¡°Well, I was nning on waiting until it was time for lunch, at least.¡± A wide map had been spread out on the table in front of the sofa. ¡°Here. Have some coffee,¡± Seok Kang-Ho offered. Kang Chan took a sip from the cup that Seok Kang-Ho gave him. The trio also leisurely enjoyed some cigarettes. Kang Chan felt as if he could rx a little since Jeon Dae-Geuk and Hwang Ki-Hyun weren¡¯t with them. ¡°Take a look at this,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said, broaching the subject. He pointed at a location that was on the eastern coast of the Korean penins. ¡°There are a total of three routes that we can take to infiltrate into enemy territory. To start with, there¡¯s this route through the ocean. It goes through Goseong in Gangwon Province and leads to Tongchon County. Next is a route that starts directly from here in Gyodong, the west coast, straight to Nampo. Lastly, we have a route through China. It crosses the Yalu River and enters Chosan County through here.¡± He moved his finger on the map ordingly as he borated on each route. ¡°The most viable n is this route that leads to Tongchon County over the sea from Goseong. Jang Gwang-Taek is known to stay mainly in Sinpyeong County, and Tongchon County is just a hundred kilometers in a straight line from Sinpyeong,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added as he drew a long line. ¡°These are all mountainous regions, aren¡¯t they?¡± Kang Chan questioned. ¡°Well, in reality, you¡¯ll be going around when you¡¯re traveling there, so it¡¯ll be more like a hundred sixty to a hundred seventy kilometers. You won¡¯t be able to walk along the road anyway, so the hundred kilometer doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung mused. One hundred kilometers was typically about a day¡¯s walk for an adult¡ªbut that didn¡¯t take sleep, meals, or rest into calction. One could cover approximately a hundred km in twenty-four hours if they walked at a consistent pace. However, the mountainous area that was shown on the map would take even the best-trained soldiers at least two days to traverse. ¡°As we nned yesterday, we intend to infiltrate tonight at high tide. If the operation fails, we will regroup in Yangsan within two weeks. Those who manage to survive until then will decide whether the soldiers who failed to regroup with them are alive or dead based on their individual abilities,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. Kang Chan kept scanning the map even after Kim Hyung-Jung was done with his exnation. ¡°You will be provided with radios. We will make broadcasts twice a day, specifically at eight twenty-seven in the morning and evening. The codes will be tranted and ryed to you by our agents,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung continued. ¡°What time do we leave?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°You¡¯re scheduled to depart from Goseong at twenty-three hundred thirty hours,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied. ¡°What time should we leave Seoul, then?¡± Kang Chan asked this time. ¡°You should arrive on time if you depart from the hotel at three in the afternoon and join the agents in Chuncheon,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung answered. Seok Kang-Ho nodded in response. Chapter 178.2: No different from back then (1)

Chapter 178.2: No different from back then (1)

A bit into the discussion, Kim Hyung-Jung called, ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Hearing his name, Kang Chan lifted his gaze from the map. ¡°Given the sudden nature of this operation, there¡¯s no guarantee that Jang Gwang-Taek will be at Sinpyeong County. Moreover, if this operation is exposed, our government intends to deny any involvement in the mission,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung stated gravely. Well, obviously. Why is he bringing this up when we all know about that already? ¡°The moment our government denies this operation, China and Russia may dispatch their special forces teams,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung added. Kang Chan already expected that as well. Although he wasn¡¯t exactly sure what Yang Bum had in mind, he knew Vasili was more than capable of switching sides. ¡°The National Intelligence Service is keeping a close watch on Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo. Once you take care of Jang Gwang-Taek, the North Korean leadership has agreed to provide evidence rted to the coboration between Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo and Wui Min-Gook. It¡¯s suspected that Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo directly made some kind of arrangement with the North Korean regime,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung exined. ¡°That bastard! How many people is that traitor involved with? He was ying on all sides of the fence for sure,¡± Seok Kang-Ho griped. ¡°We have leads that he was involved in the terrorist incident at the golf course and the press conference attack,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung responded. ¡°And what if we fail?¡± Kang Chan asked. Kim Hyung-Jung let out a deep sigh. ¡°To bepletely honest, the chances of sess for this operation are less than ten percent, which is why we are focusing on what will happen if we fail. To begin with, we n to arrest Chairperson Huh with the evidence we collected. Of course, we will have to bear with the allegations that it¡¯s political maneuvering,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said grimly. ¡°Well, none of the missions we¡¯ve been on so far had high sess rates anyway. Anyway, what you¡¯re saying is that things will beplicated if we fail, right?¡± Kang Chan confirmed. ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung responded with a nod. Kang Chan¡¯s goal was to prevent anybody from messing with his people ever again, and the National Intelligence Service wanted to arrest Huh Ha-Soo and hold him responsible for his crimes. Although they had different objectives, both parties wanted the same man dead: Jang Gwang-Taek. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung began as he nced at Seok Kang-Ho and turned back to Kang Chan again. ¡°If the operation fails, head to Dokgeom-ri here.¡± What¡¯s this now? Kang Chan tilted his head. ¡°Kim Tae-Jin, Suh Sang-Hyun, and I will be behind the iron fences of Dokgeom-ri. I¡¯m confident that you, Mr. Seok, and the rest of our soldiers are capable enough to break through to this location. If the operation fails, for seventy-two hours, I won¡¯t let anything stop me from waiting for you here. Just get to the unarmed zone of Dokgeom-ri and you will be set,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung ordered him. In other words, they were preparing for the worst: the deaths of the soldiers joining this operation. ¡°At least with these orders, our nation won¡¯t abandon our men until the very end. We devised this n in line with that directive. I hope you two can keep this to yourselves for the time being,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung emphasized. ¡°Understood,¡± Kang Chan replied. No one mentioned whose orders and n this was from. With their conversation done, Kim Hyung-Jung pulled out two small maps and handed them to Kang Chan. ¡°What¡¯s good to eat around here?¡± Kang Chan asked, changing subjects. ¡°Everything, to be honest. Nothing¡¯s spectacrly tasty, though,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung answered. ¡°Oh, right! I got a menu here. Can you pick something out for us, Manager Kim?¡± Seok Kang-Ho requested as he extended his arm to pick up the menu and hand it to Kim Hyung-Jung. ¡°Should we have a warm bowl of galbi tang, then?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung suggested. ¡°Sure, sounds great,¡± Kang Chan replied. Seok Kang-Ho ordered. Afterward, an awkward silence filled the room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for asking you to do something like this,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung suddenly apologized. Kang Chan lifted his gaze to look back at Kim Hyung-Jung. For things like this, a smile was the best response. He was never the type to be stopped by fear. In the first ce, the mission wasn¡¯t scary to him in the slightest. However, he couldn¡¯t help but be worried about Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. He was concerned about how they would feel¡ªthe shock and pain they would struggle with¡ªwhen they learned he was dead or if he went missing in action. Their meal arrived after some time. They talked about various topics as they enjoyed the galbitang. The ribs wererge and meaty, but considering the price, Kang Chan still couldn¡¯t help but feel like it was a rip-off. ¡°Please take care of my parents while I¡¯m away,¡± Kang Chan abruptly said. ¡°I will,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied resolutely. They pushed the bowls to the side and shared the small remainder of their coffee. After brushing his teeth in the bathroom, Kang Chan was ready. ¡°Well then, shall we go?¡± In response to Kang Chan¡¯s suggestion, the two men with him stood up. They left the room and headed to the elevator. Before getting in it, Kang Chan turned around to look at the room where Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were staying. A once-ordinary couple living in peace suddenly found their lives turned upside down when their son survived a fall from a rooftop only to frequentlye home with injuries, participate in knife fights, and kill people in front of their eyes. They even almost got shot in an underground parking lot. Nevertheless, the two made every effort to understand and trust their son. In what felt like a prison of a hotel, they forced themselves to exercise and refrained from questioning what he was doing. Kang Chan sincerely wanted to put an end to this turmoil. He managed to stop the terrorist attacks on the golf course and press conference and even got revenge for those by destroying a section of the Chinese airport. He also stopped the Japanese agents who attacked Yoo Hye-Sook¡¯s office by twisting their necks. Now, however, his enemies tried to shoot down Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook and even killed Choi Seong-Geon. Since they had a straightforward way to apprehend Huh Ha-Soo and Wui Min-Gook, who was the one giving orders, there was no need to take the long way. When the three reached the underground parking lot, they found a van waiting at the exit. They promptly hopped into it, and it immediately departed. It was already one in the afternoon, so the sunlight streaming through the window made the weather seem pleasant. ¡®How long do I have to live like this?¡¯ He felt as if a lightning bolt suddenly struck him after reincarnating and spending a busy life. From school bullies and gangsters to Shan and Lanok, time flew by so fast that everything seemed like a dream. He definitely wasn¡¯t living this kind of life because he wanted to. But at the same time, it wasn¡¯t in his nature to bow down to school bullies or gangsters. ¡®Is my temper the problem?¡¯ Kang Chan chuckled to himself and looked outside the window. He used to see Kim Mi-Young before going on other operations, but this time, things took a strange turn. Damn it! So annoying! In the end, there seemed to be no other solution than to go and visit the foreign intelligence bureaus as Lanok suggested. He would be stronger. In the world of intelligence, he would be as powerful as Vasili or Lanok. He would make people think that it was better to request his help than provoke him into a fight. The van passed by Misari and entered the highway. ¡°I should go to Gapyeong and have some boiled chicken someday,¡± Seok Kang-Ho murmured to himself. His words broke Kang Chan away from his train of thought. When Kim Hyung-Jung asked what Seok Kang-Ho was talking about, Seok Kang-Ho began to tell the story about him eating some chicken a while back. . Bored and nervous, trivial things started to sound funny to Kang Chan. He chuckled as he looked at Seok Kang-Ho. Seok Kang-Ho, with his eyes glinting from nervousness, was talking about splitting the stomach and ripping the legs apart, making it sound a lot more gruesome than the topic should be. Around forty minutester, they found a resting area on the roadside. ¡°Let¡¯s have a cup of coffee before we continue,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung suggested. The car drove into the resting area, and sedans parked on either side of the van. An agent quickly stepped out before the others could. The three opened the doors of the van and smoked a cigarette each. They had to be careful about drawing the public¡¯s attention. ¡°Hoo.¡± An agent brought over some coffee for them. ¡°Nice!¡± Seok Kang-Ho suddenly cheered. Kang Chan understood how he felt. The blue sky and white clouds looked beautiful. After about fifteen minutes of rest, they hit the road again. They drove for about thirty more minutes before getting off the highway, then kept going for a while longer. Eventually, they came to a stop on one side of the quiet road. Sedans parked some distance away ahead and behind them. ¡°We still have about thirty minutes left,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung remarked. ¡°Will the bus being here?¡± Kang Chan asked. ¡°Yes. We n to move together from this point,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung replied. They were infiltrating through the ocean, so they likely already had an area designated as the starting point for this operation. Every time Kang Chan breathed in, he felt as if spite was slowly filling his lungs. He knew his eyes would be glinting soon. Heughed out loud, realizing that he was no different from Seok Kang-Ho, whose eyes started turning sharp whenever he became nervous. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho sat back and smoked. As time passed, Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°Are you nervous?¡± Kang Chan asked him. ¡°Huh? Oh. Yes. Strangely, this time I am,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung admitted. The man had been through many special forces operations, so his nervousness likely wasn¡¯t because he had a weak heart. Rather, it was probably the pressure of this mission that was making him feel that way. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can rx a little. This isn¡¯t that different from when we went to Mongolia, France, or when we crossed into China,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung agreed. Contradicting his response, Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s expression remained hardened. It depended on the person, but nervousness could be contagious. ¡°Do you and Mr. Seok really not get nervous?¡± Kim Hyung-Jung asked. Seok Kang-Ho nced at Kang Chan. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t tell the manager that they had tons of experience like this back in Africa, so he just smiled. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan, I wasn¡¯t going to ask, but¡­¡± Kim Hyung-Jung trailed off, pressing his lips together. Seeing Kang Chan¡¯s smile, he already knew that Kang Chan wouldn¡¯t answer anyway. As he sighed heavily, a bus approached them and slowly parked behind the van. It was a bus with tanned windows, preventing people outside from seeing inside. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung dered, shutting the doors of the van. A sedan, a van, another sedan, and a bus¡ªthe entourage of vehicles drove down twisting roads for about ten minutes before speeding down different paths. Chapter 179.1: No different from back then (2)

Chapter 179.1: No different from back then (2)

The sea eventually came into view to their right as they made their way from Goseong to the Hwajinpo beach[1]. The car went past a three-way intersection, a checkpoint, and drove a bit longer before reaching a second-story building that looked like a raw fish restaurant on an isted beach. Kang Chan¡¯s first impression of it was that it had gone out of business. Not only was it in a secluded area, but it was also fenced in with a lot of wire mesh. Even the god of the sea would find it hard to gain profit from a business started in this location. The bus blocked the parking lot,pletely removing the road at the back from view. Swoosh. They could hear the waves hitting the beach and retreating back into the sea. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung said as he pointed to the entrance. Kang Chan walked over to it. Much to their surprise, there were already two soldiers waiting for them inside. The two guided them to the stairs on the right side of the building. ¡°Damn, this view is amazing!¡± Seok Kang-Ho eximed upon reaching the second floor with Kang Chan and the others. It wasn¡¯t really good enough to be described as amazing. Even so, Kang Chan thought it wasn¡¯t that bad either. The soldiers briefly saluted Kang Chan as they wereing up to the second floor. Including Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho, they numbered twenty-four in total. Kwak Cheol-Ho, Yoon Sang-Ki, and almost all of the other soldiers who joined the operation in China alongside Kang Chan were present. Two of the men brought over military gear¡ªwhich was packed very simply¡ªafter they removed everything that could be heavy. ¡°The Navy¡¯s special forces team will arrive at twenty-three thirty this evening. They will be bringing three boats, so we will be splitting into three teams,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung told Kang Chan. ¡°You guys heard that, right? Split into three teams. I¡¯ll lead Team One, and Seok Kang-Ho will lead Team Two. Kwak Cheol-Ho, you¡¯ll takemand of Team Three,¡± Kang Chan told the members. While they were finalizing the teams, an agent distributed watches. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan,¡± Kim Hyung-Jung called Kang Chan as heid out the map. ¡°This is where the Navy¡¯s special forces team will be dropping you off.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung pointed to the boundary of the beach, then drew a triangle with his finger. ¡°And this is where we think armed guards are stationed. Since North Korea is experiencing heavy power shortages, they normally don¡¯t use searchlights.¡± They didn¡¯t know how the situation would change if the guide didn''t show up, so Kang Chan carefully examined the map as he nodded. After their conversation, they had packed food for dinner. It tasted so good that Kang Chan even wondered if they came from Jeungpyeong. Kang Chan could still see spite in the members¡¯ eyes. Unless they had a deep resentment for the packed food, Choi Seong-Geon¡¯s death had to be the reason behind their spite. ]. Sittingfortably, Kang Chan drank coffee and watched the dark sea. As he did, Kwak Cheol-Ho approached him with another soldier and said, ¡°This is our new member.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Master Sergeant Hong Ki-Yoon,¡± the new member said. They had never specifically introduced anyone before. ¡°He has experience infiltrating North Korea. He also has three operations under his belt,¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho answered when he felt that Kang Chan was looking at him. He¡¯s going to be helpful. Their conversation ended with Kang Chan nodding. They put on a faded ck military uniform, then equipped themselves with an MP5SD silenced submachine gun, a Colt pistol, a bowie knife, a magazine, and a radio. It was a little past nine, and the only source of light they had was a smallmp. It barely let them see each others¡¯ faces. They were all in so much tension that it seemed as if they would snap and explode if anyone messed with them. As the fishy sea breeze rushed toward them through the open window, Kwak Cheol-Ho approached Kang Chan once again. ¡°I have something to say to everyone.¡± I see no harm in letting him speak. Kang Chan nodded. ¡°Attention!¡± The soldiers, Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and even Kim Hyung-Jung now looked at Kwak Cheol-Ho. ¡°I have something that I want to say and a favor to ask all of you.¡± The light only let them see the contours of Kwak Cheol-Ho¡¯s face. Nevertheless, they could still see his eyes glinting like an animal¡¯s. ¡°If the general hadn¡¯t been there for me, then I would have ended up bing a gangster after going from military prison to military prison. I haven¡¯t told any of you about this, but my worthless father was conned and he almost went to jail, but the general got a loan to pay all of it for him. I heard he finished repaying the loan earlyst year.¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho exhaled with a ¡°whoo!¡± and then turned his head toward the window. ¡°The general hit all of you as well, didn¡¯t he? He pped me in the face twice. But it wasn¡¯t because I didn¡¯t train properly or said that I was going to be discharged!¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho gritted his teeth, then immediately continued. ¡°The first time he pped me was at a police station. It was for kicking up a fuss because of my fucked-up life. The second time was because I defied my father. I can¡¯t believe I fucking lost that kind of man while we were eating.¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho stopped talking for a moment, seemingly trying to control his emotions. ¡°Lieutenant Cha Dong-Gyun called me yesterday. He was on the phone as he¡­ as he sobbed nonstop. As you all know, he¡¯s the mostmitted and steadfast man. Not only was that the first time I ever heard him cry, but I never even thought he would weep like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m passing on Lieutenant Cha Dong-Gyun¡¯s request.¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho stopped talking, then loudly inhaled. After swallowing dryly, he looked at all of his colleagues. ¡°We¡¯re with the strongestmander in the world now. If you¡¯re afraid, then I will not resent or condemn you if you back out right now. However, if you choose to join us, then don¡¯t ever think abouting back until we¡¯ve beheaded Jang Kwang-Taek.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung looked at the seashore while gritting his teeth. Despite having a hard time talking, Kwak Cheol-Ho pushed through with what he had to say. ¡°I also have a favor to ask all of you. The general did everything to protect me even if that meant pping me. He protected all of us. Let¡¯s use this operation to show everyone that he taught us properly.¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho seemed as if he was about to shout, but his voice calmed down at the end. However, that only tugged at their heartstrings even more. By the time Kwak Cheol-Ho had returned to his seat, the second floor had been rendered silent. Chk chk. Kang Chan bit on a cigarette. ¡°Whoo!¡± The sea breeze roughly whirled around inside the building, then left with the cigarette smoke. ¡°Let¡¯s have a cup of coffee,¡± Kang Chan said. ¡°Alright.¡± Seok Kang-Ho was the one who answered, but someone else made coffee for them. After having a sip of the sweet instant coffee, Kang Chan looked behind him. The soldiers looked as if they were expecting something. ¡°What General Choi hoped for was for all of you to gain actualbat experience and be a special forces team that¡¯s recognized internationally, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Chan asked. Yoon Sang-Ki nodded without meaning to. ¡°So if any of you has the shitty thought that they¡¯ll be happy even if they die, then leave now. What I want is for all of you to do whatever it takes to return alive with Jang Kwang-Taek¡¯s head. After all, General Choi asked me to turn you all into veterans so that you can pass on your experience to your juniors,¡± Kang Chan added. Kwak Cheol-Ho gritted his teeth. ¡°We have more than an hour left, so get some sleep or smoke as much as you guys want since we won¡¯t be able to smoke for a few days. You may drink coffee as well.¡± Kang Chan put the cigarette that he finished smoking in the paper cup. Afterward, he turned and looked at the sea. Chk chk. Chk chk. From behind him, he could hear the soldiers lighting up cigarettes and drinking coffee. This is fine. Doing just this much is for the best. If they were burning with too much sense of duty, they would inevitably find themselves in an ident. ¡°Urgghhh!¡± Seok Kang-Ho stretched and twisted his upper body. ¡°I¡¯m going to get some sleep,¡± Kang Chan said. The two got up from their chairs and positioned their military gear just right so they could rest on it. The soldiers¡¯ stiff expressions seemed to say, ¡®They can sleep in this situation?¡¯ It seemed as if they didn¡¯t think of sleeping before leaving, even though they had been napping in France. If they were really sleep-deprived, then they would fall asleep even if all of the other members on the second floor were corpses. And if they kept facing that kind of situation, then they would develop the habit of eating when they could eat, and getting even a little bit of sleep when they could sleep. Kang Chan eventually fell asleep. *** ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung carefully called, waking up Kang Chan. The reason he woke him up was so obvious that he didn¡¯t even have to say it. Kang Chan examined his surroundings. Most of the soldiers seemed awake already, which wasmendable. It was already ten past eleven. They applied the camouge paint on their faces, then equipped their military gear and weapons. After about ten minutes, the dim light illuminating the building turned off. Frowning, Kang Chan looked at the sea. He could see a boat and silhouettes in the space between the rocks in front of the ceasefire line. Swoosh. Much to their surprise, when the waves were at their loudest, the lower part of the steel-barred window opened. ¡°Mr. Kang Chan.¡± Kim Hyung-Jung called Kang Chan once more. He then nodded. No word had to be said at that moment. Kang Chan looked straight into Kim Hyung-Jung¡¯s eyes for a moment, then turned his head away. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Kang Chan said. 1. The Hwajinpo beach is a beach surrounded by vis, one of which is the former summer home of a North Korean leader ?? Chapter 179.2: No different from back then (2)

Chapter 179.2: No different from back then (2)

Everyone went down the stairs and into a parking lot that had a fence in front of it. Eventually, they met up with six soldiers in diving suits, guarding three rubber boats. After the three special forces teams got into their respective boats, the WARFLOT. The WARFLOT soldiers skillfully pushed the boats into the sea. Woong. They n to use a motor? Kang Chan was curious, but everyone had their respective area of expertise. Waves pped against the rubber boats as they drove through the waters. Seawater sshed on them while they were lying down t on the boats. In what seemed like an instant, they traveled enough distance for the two-story building to be shrouded by darkness. The boat changed directions and navigated through the sea like crazy. After about an hour at sea, the boats slowed down. Seeing a dim light, Kang Chan guessed that there was a port in the distance. The boats drove toward the strange-looking rocks for about five minutes before finally turning off the engine. The two WARFLOT soldiers aboard each boat picked up the oars next to them and began rowing. They were definitely professionals. Even though there only two of them rowing per boat, they moved at about the same speed as when they were using the motor. Swoosh. They docked the boats between the rocks, then jumped into the water and grabbed the boats. Kang Chan nodded to the WARFLOT soldiers. Swoosh. Two soldiers jumped into the water, which rose from their knees to their waists with each sway, for every wave that hit the boats. Kang Chan was thest to get off the boat. He gave a thumbs up to WARFLOT soldiers who manned the boats. Swoosh. By the time Kang Chan heard the waves hit the shores again, the boat was already some distance away. They were so fast that they seemed like ghosts. Kang Chan and his team would move once the waves retreated back to the sea. Kang Chan crouched close to the rocks and examined the shore. As Kim Hyung-Jung said, North Korea didn¡¯t have searchlights on. Right now, they could only see theplicatedly installed wire mesh. Swoosh. Seok Kang-Ho and Kwak Cheol-Ho went to Kang Chan¡¯s side. Kang Chan hadn¡¯t gotten a bad feeling about this yet. He turned to the left and slowly examined the ce where he guessed the guard post would be. As he expected, he found a guard post, rocks, and a sand dune. I can only see one guard post so far. Kang Chan looked to their right. Due to the dark rocks around them, he could only guess where the guard post would be, not pinpoint it. Swoosh. The waves sshed against them, drenching their thighs and butt. Even so, they couldn¡¯t just recklessly rush into enemy territory. He had to decide whether to dash to the rock that was five meters in front of them or wait until the guards¡¯ shift was over so they could properly locate the guard post to their right. However, if they waited for so long that the sun started rising, they would be losing a golden opportunity. Kang Chan pointed to the guard post to their left with his index and middle fingers, which was a signal that told their snipers to aim for wherever theirmanding officer was pointing. In response, Kwak Cheol-Ho immediately issued an order to the snipers. Kang Chan then gestured at Seok Kang-Ho and pointed to the ground with both his index fingers. He was telling him that they were going to secure the target location that they would soon be heading to. They began to prepare for their next move. With Seok Kang-Ho now on standby, the snipers aimed their rifles at the guard post. It was only five meters away. Even if the enemies in the guard post found Kang Chan and his team running toward them, they were at a distance where as long as they didn¡¯t have their guns pointed at the South Korean special forces teams, they wouldn''t be able to immediately pull the trigger. Swoosh. As soon as the waves crashed on the shore and retreated back to the sea, Kang Chan began making his way toward the rock, which was his goal. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. The rocks on the ground were seemingly crushed with each step they took. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t waste any time now¡ªstopping halfway through was no different from him dancing around in the open and asking their enemies to shoot him. As soon as he reached the rock, he pressed himself against it. Haah. Haah. The rock had tumbled over toward the sea. Their enemies didn¡¯t seem to have noticed them yet, considering they hadn¡¯t shown any response. Moreover, Kang Chan wasn¡¯t getting a bad feeling from this either. To the left of the rock was a path that they could use to go up the slope that was one meter tall. There was the ceasefire line to worry about, but if they could cut the chain at the very bottom, then it would be easy to climb onto the slope. Dayeru was the most reliable person in times like this. It was better not to use the radio, but they didn¡¯t have any other way tomunicate right now. Chk. ¡°Daye, you¡¯re up,¡± Kang Chan said. Swoosh. Another wave violently crashed against the shores and headed back. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. At the same time, Seok Kang-Ho quickly approached Kang Chan. Kang Chan gestured to the ceasefire line with his head, and Seok Kang-Ho answered with glinting eyes. As the sound of the waves rushed toward them¡­ Click. ¡­ Seok Kang-Ho cut the chain at the very bottom of the ceasefire line. Kang Chan then patted Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s shoulder and pointed to the top. Swoosh. With the noises from the sea covering their tracks, Kang Chan stepped on Seok Kang-Ho¡¯s hands and pulled himself up. Despite the rocks and the pine trees in the distance, Kang Chan finally got a clear view of the guard post to their left. He then looked to their right. He could see their surroundings a bit better from where he was propped up, but he still couldn¡¯t find the other guard post. At the very least, he felt relieved because they had rock formations in front of them, which they could use for cover, and the ck sea behind them. Hence, their enemies also found it difficult to detect them. Their snipers still had their guns aimed at the guard post to their left. Since they couldn¡¯t find the one to their right, Kang Chan decided to guess where it would be based on the location he saw on the map earlier. He then pointed to where it could be. Swoosh. Chk. ¡°Move to the rock in pairs,¡± Kang Chan said. Chk. ¡°Understood.¡± As ordered, the soldiers came over in pairs, moving along with each hit of the waves. Haah. Haah. Kang Chan could hear his own breathing. His heart wasn¡¯t pounding yet. Swoosh. Crunch. Crunch. The moment the waves grew unusually quiet, Kang Chan began to hear his subordinates stepping on the rocks. Kang Chan sharply red and aimed his gun to his right. Swoosh. After a while, he heard the waves again. Kang Chan had to trust Seok Kang-Ho and his subordinates¡¯ judgments while they were below the rock. Right now, it would be best to focus on taking out the enemies that they could see. They still hadn¡¯t discovered the damn guard post that was supposed to be to their right. If it was made by boring a hole through the rocks or by digging a trench and building a bunker, then Kang Chan and his team would certainly have trouble finding it from where they were. For all he knew, the enemies there could have already detected him and his team and were already aiming their guns at them. Swoosh. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t even tell the soldiers to hurry since they couldn¡¯t move in crowds. After the waves hit the shores a few times more¡­ Rustle. ¡­ Kwak Cheol-Ho came up from the left side of the rock. Kang Chan pointed to his eyes with his index and middle finger, then pointed to the guard post to their left. In response, Kwak Cheol-Ho began closely monitoring it, allowing Kang Chan to look for the guard post to their right. Rustle. Rustle. The soldiers climbed up the rock one at a time. Considering they cut the chains of the ceasefire line, their enemies would find out that someone infiltrated their territory by tomorrow anyway. Kang Chan and his team had to move as far as they could from this ce before that happened. Rustle. Rustle. Rustle. Rustle. After the soldiers went up to the rock, they got into position. Swoosh. Click. Finally, Seok Kang-Ho grabbed the hand of a soldier on top of the rock and climbed up. Kang Chan estimated the distance between them and the mountains on the horizon. From here, he concluded that it would take them two hours to reach the mountains. They had to get past the national road and rail as well. It was thirty minutes past one right now. ]. Kang Chan crouched as low as he could while leading the way. They were twenty minutes away from their next stop. If nothing happened within that time, then they would be able to get out of the seashore guard posts¡¯ range of vision. When moving at night, making sure they didn¡¯t make any sounds was of the utmost importance. They also had to move slowly enough for anyone ncing over the area to not notice them. After about ten minutes, they came across a small pine grove. Kang Chan didn¡¯t see anything inside it that bothered him. His guts didn¡¯t find anything wrong with it either. Things were going so well that Kang Chan was starting to wonder if things could be this easy. They walked very slowly. The best-case scenario that they could hope for right now was to remain undiscovered until the sun rose. Kang Chan slowly stood up upon entering the forest. The wind from the sea noisily went past him. Kang Chan looked back at Seok Kang-Ho, then nodded. In response, Seok Kang-Ho and the soldiers squatted down and got into position. An hour away from here, they would find a rice pady and a field. Another hour beyond that, they would rhea the national road, a railway, and a mountain. Dayeru and Kwak Cheol-Ho brought up the rear of their formation. Dayeru was on the left, and Kwak Cheol-Ho was on the right. As Kang Chan made his way through the dark forest, he gradually picked up the pace. During times like this, the only things he could trust were his eyes and his intuition. He couldn¡¯t let his guard down because his instincts weren''t warning him about anything, but even if it did, he still couldn¡¯t waste any time. Whoosh. The sounds of the waves no longer reached them, but it was reced by the wind noisily reverberating as it blew past the forest. If their senses became overly sensitive now, then there was a chance that one of them would mistake a branch for a gun or an enemy with a dagger. If they opened fire because of that, then everything would be over. On the other hand, if they stumbled upon an enemy but hesitated to take them down because they weren¡¯t sure if it was a branch, then they would be faced with an irrevocable consequence. Swish. Whish. The trees swayed as the wind blew violently. I trust them. I have to trust them. During times like this, Kang Chan had to trust his subordinates. They already had the skills to differentiate a branch from their enemy anyway. Chapter 180.1: So just keep running (1)

Chapter 180.1: So just keep running (1)

Swoosh, whoosh, whoosh. The men had finally stepped foot into North Korean territory. After about another hour of traveling, the dense forest finally gave way to andscape that was dotted with scattered trees between some rice paddies and fields. Kang Chan quickly scanned his surroundings. It would take another hour or so to reach the mountains in the far distance. There was no knowing when the North Korean enemies would discover the wire that they severed. The best case scenario would be if it was discovered during the morning check, but if they decided to perform an inspection in between the guard rotations, Kang Chan¡¯s breach would be noticed immediately. For now, he decided to set the giant propaganda sign with the words ¡°Great Leader¡± or something and a chubby man extending his hand to point at the air as his initial target. Once they reached it, he nned to make his team hide among the trees in the back for cover. Kang Chan raised his index finger to gesture directions for Team One, then pointed his index and middle fingers down at the ground, mimicking running motions with his hand. Afterward, he pointed at the ground with his left index finger and made a signal with his right index and middle fingers, ordering the second and third teams to provide cover for the first team. The members of Team One all looked Kang Chan in the eyes with understanding. They remained on standby around him, prepared to execute themand. Click. Teams Two and Three aimed their guns at their nks. One, two. The men crouched down and moved as silently as they could. The path¡ªa wet, damp road between rice paddies and fields¡ªwas slippery, and their boots would asionally get stuck to the ground. With their military gear and rifles in hand, they had to cover a distance of about three hundred meters. They also had to move at a fast pace with their backs hunched over, which only made things worse. If it wasn¡¯t for the arduous training they normally did and the tough determination that coursed them through, they would have found this situation difficult to ovee. The sticky ground felt as if it was tying down their feet. ¡°Haah, haah.¡± As a result, rough panting sounds inevitably began to fill the silence. Ssh. Ssh. Slop. Slop. Upon crossing the hundred-meter mark, theirbat gear and weapons began to make nking noises as well. Faced with the decision to either slow down or ignore the sounds, Kang Chan continued to stride forward, ignoring the noise and quickly scanning both sides. They couldn¡¯t miss this opportune window of time when the night was heavy and everyone was in a deep sleep. Kang Chan couldn¡¯t be more grateful that there weren¡¯t any 24-hour convenience stores or any lodges around this area. Only a few old houses that looked like something he had only seen on TV were in the distance. Tat, tat. Hiding behind the political sign, Kang Chan assigned positions for the soldiers to stand in. Click, click, click. The men arranged themselves in a circle around him and pointed their rifles in the direction they were in charge of. Chk. ¡°Team Three, go,¡± Kang Chanmanded over the radio. Chk. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Kwak Cheol-Ho responded. Kang Chan strategically made Kwak Cheol-Ho¡¯s team leave first in case anything were to suddenly happen. The best and safest option was for Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho to cover the third team from behind. Kang Chan thought the soldiers were truly well-trained for operations. However, he couldn¡¯t help but be anxious as he watched them move. Click, click, click, click. ¡°Haah, haah.¡± When Team Three finally reached their positions, Kang Chan ordered Kwak Cheol-Ho to cover them from behind this time. Next up is Dayeru. Kang Chan pressed the button on his radio to give orders. Chk. As he did, he noticed a light shing from far away. It was moving rapidly back and forth, which meant that it wasn¡¯t from a car or a bicycle¡ªit was the movement of a handheld shlight. Chk. ¡°Dayeru, we¡¯ve been discovered. Just run!¡± Kang Chan ordered. Kang Chan straightened up and began to open fire. Ssh. Ssh. Ssh. Ssh. Slop. Slop. At the same time, Seok Kang-Ho and the members of his team quickly came dashing over. ¡°Haah, haah.¡± They could hear people shouting in the distance. The moving lights began to converge around the propaganda sign. Crackle. ¡°Daye! Run to the mountain up ahead! Kwak Cheol-Ho, you take the middle. Team One and I will cover the rear,¡± Kang Chan instructed them. Rumble. Tat, tat. As soon as Kang Chan gave orders, Seok Kang-Ho immediately began to rush forward. Kwak Cheol-Ho and the rest of Team Two slid past Kang Chan and also bolted out. The rays from the shlights were now about two hundred meters in front of them. Kang Chan estimated the enemy squad to have six or so soldiers. ¡°Follow them!¡± Kang Chan shouted. At hismand, his team members all began to run. Leaning on the propaganda sign, Kang Chan aimed at the enemy figures faintly illuminated by the light. Bang! Sparks flew out as gunshots ripped through the quiet silence of the night. Those motherfuckers! Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew! Threenterns fell to the ground, illuminating the area. Bang! Bang! Bang! Ping! Ping! Pew! Pew! Kang Chan pulled the trigger twice in the direction where more sparks flew about. As he did, he realized that he bastards couldn¡¯t shoot in the direction of the propaganda sign. Even if it was extremely dark, they had to have seen the sparksing from Kang Chan¡¯s gun, yet they still chose to aim for the advancing team in the distance. Their pursuit was blocked just enough. If they got any further away, there would be no way to catch them. Kang Chan quickly turned around and began to speed off. Ssh. Ssh. Click. Click. The dampness hidden in the darkness rushed over him, but Kang Chan just kept running with all his might. Seok Kang-Ho and Kwak Cheol-Ho were also running with every ounce of strength they had, so if Kang Changged behind even slightly, he would be left behind. The soldiers up ahead appeared dimly ck in the distance. There was no sign of light from behind or from past the surrounding fields. ¡°Hah, hah.¡± He didn¡¯t have time to control his pace or even show the slightest hesitation. He could only focus on running as fast as he possibly could. After sprinting for about two minutes, he finally caught up to the tail of Team One¡¯s members. ¡°Hah. Hah.¡± He could hear loud and rough breathing as clear as he could hear their rifles and other weapons nking. Click! Click! Click! Click! Around five minutes had passed. In another five minutes, a strike team would mobilize to block the national highway. Kang Chan¡¯s heart and body began to rebel against the pain all this running was causing him, but this was better than dying. It was a hundred times better to run nonstop than to be captured, tortured, and wait to be killed. Two minutester, the dark silhouettes of the team members running ahead of him suddenly rose up and sank back down again. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. It was a lot easier to run now that they were on the drynd. Moreover, from where they were, they could see the other side of the national highway just a little further. The team members and Kang Chan dashed through the highway and continued straight toward the mountain. Click, click, click, click. ¡°Hah! Hah!¡± It had already been ten minutes since they started sprinting at full throttle. He was in so much pain that he felt as if his nose was blocked, his chest was frustratingly being crushed, and his waist was about to snap. Keep running! I have to! Slump! From ahead, someone fell to the ground. Slump! Slump! ]. Two other team members tripped over the fallen soldier¡¯s leg, causing them to fall as well. ¡°Get up! Run!¡± Kang Chan shouted. If they stopped here, they would all be dead. At the very least, someone had to reach the mountains first and get into a good enough position to provide cover. Kang Chan tightly grabbed the military gear of the two soldiers who tripped over the other¡¯s leg and pulled them up. ¡°Go! Hurry!¡± Kang Chan firmly ordered. The panting soldiers ran forward. Kang Chan gripped the strap of the first soldier to fall and brought him back to his feet as well. Fuck! The soldier was gritting his teeth. Kang Chan swallowed the curse at the tip of his tongue when he saw the soldier¡¯s arm. His middle and pinky fingers werepletely bent backward, likely caught in his rifle.