I never trust anyone who does politics.
The only reason I chose and supported candidate Kim Hakgwon was to stop a presidential candidate backed by Cheongpunghoe from winning. It was never because I trusted Kim Hakgwon as a politician.
“They say the case will be handed over to the National Intelligence Service. Agents are on their way to take us there.”
After Kim Hakgwon’s governnt ca into power, the new intelligence chief approached as soon as he was appointed.
Even if the NIS was looked down upon abroad for its political moves, its information-gathering capability within Korea was unmatched.
“Director Lee Chanjong won’t have second thoughts, will he?”
“He might not know your exact assets, Boss, but he’ll have a rough idea. That’s why it was easy to win him over.”
“We’ll have to prepare a nice position for him.”
The information the NIS had compiled on was processed and passed along by NIS Director Lee Chanjong himself.
“Never trust a politician.”
I shook my head with a smile.
“Let’s proceed as planned. We need to use this opportunity to give Kim Hakgwon’s governnt a warning.”
Ma Manager made a call sowhere.
The Oliver Team around us sat relaxed, eyes closed.
“Oliver.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Good work.”
“It’s what I’m paid for.”
“Thanks to you, it ended smoothly. Will you head to Kosovo once you’re back in /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ the U.S.?”
“Most likely, we’ll swap with another team stationed in Kosovo—if we return safely, that is.”
“Eric will handle it.”
As expected, even before NIS agents arrived, soone from the U.S. Embassy showed up.
After exchanging a few words with Oliver, the embassy staff stepped out to make a call.
“Don’t worry about . Just make it back safely to the U.S. We’ll et again.”
Oliver nodded without hesitation.
The Korean governnt wouldn’t risk clashing with the U.S. by punishing them.
Normally, they might, but now? With the IMF crisis ongoing, Korea would collapse without Arican support.
I guessed they’d simply deport the Oliver Team to the U.S., thinking it would be enough just to shackle .
While I was lost in thought, the door opened, and a group of people entered.
NIS, I assu.
I watched them with interest.
The man who seed to be in charge went through so formalities before taking custody from the police.
His voice was emotionless, like a robot’s.
“Please stand. A bus is waiting outside.”
I stood, dusting off my pants.
Just then, the embassy staff mber burst back inside.
“You can’t take them.”
“Who are you?”
A police officer whispered an explanation to the NIS agent.
After listening silently, the NIS agent shook his head.
“I don’t know what this has to do with the U.S. Embassy. We were ordered to bring all of them back to headquarters, and we’ll follow those orders.”
“Taking them will cause trouble for both sides.”
Watching the embassy staff and the NIS agent argue almost made laugh.
Both of their gazes shifted to at once.
“Why are you laughing? Do you find this funny?”
I shrugged. The NIS agent’s face turned fierce.
I decided to poke him a bit.
“When are we leaving? Let’s go. Leave the Aricans.”
“Everyone cos with us.”
What a stiff man.
I sighed and sat back down, frustrated by his rigid, by-the-book attitude.
After glaring at once, the NIS agent turned back to the embassy staff, speaking in the sa emotionless tone.
“This is Korean soil. Possession and use of firearms are illegal here. These are Aricans, not U.S. military personnel, who fired guns in our country.”
“Please wait. You’ll get a call from higher up soon.”
The embassy staff pleaded, and the NIS agent checked his watch.
“Ten minutes. I’ll wait ten minutes.”
Watching quietly, Ma Manager whispered to .
“I like this guy.”
“Let’s watch a little longer.”
Ma Manager seed quite pleased with the stiff NIS agent.
I just chuckled faintly.
Ha Manager is in ergency surgery... and Park Dongsu...
The first thing I checked when I got here was Ha Manager and Park Dongsu’s condition.
Ha Manager was taken to Hanguk University Hospital for ergency surgery.
Fortunately, they said the bullet wound wasn’t in a critical spot, but we wouldn’t know for sure until surgery ended.
Park Dongsu was rushed to the hospital after the police arrived but died in the ambulance.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips.
Now that I think about it, we had quite a long history together.
If I hadn’t planned to use him the first ti we t on that hospital rooftop, Park Dongsu might have ended up in prison but lived longer.
I rembered his voice shouting, “Hey, buddy!” as he chased after at graduation, even when I ignored him.
The pained expression he made when he had to kill Lee Saseong with his own hands.
The tears he shed when Yang Soohyeong, who had been with him since childhood, died.
He was the first man I made mine after coming back.
A gangster, yes, but a man full of warmth.
I had intended to use him at first, but because of his friendly attitude, I often found myself smiling in front of him.
“Ma Manager, hold Park Dongsu’s funeral at the sa temple where Yang Soohyeong’s was held. Contact Executive Lee and make sure everyone connected to the organization attends.”
“I’ve already arranged it.”
I nodded slightly.
I could almost hear his weak last words again, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Let’s go.”
The NIS agent’s call brought back to reality.
“Only Kim Muhyuk and Ma Seokdae will be taken to the NIS. The others will be questioned here.”
Apparently, orders had changed from higher up; Ma Manager’s subordinates would now be interrogated by the police.
Surrounded by NIS agents, Ma Manager and I were escorted outside, where we got into a black car waiting in the parking lot.
By the ti we arrived at the NIS, the morning sun had risen.
“Let’s go.”
“What’s your na?” I asked.
The NIS agent didn’t even look at .
I followed him, laughing inwardly.
* * *
That day, every newspaper’s front page covered the Pyeongchang-dong incident.
[Gunfire in the Night. Cheongpunghoe’s Last Struggle?]
[Gunshots Echo Through Korea’s Capital, Seoul]
But not a single article ntioned the incident at Lee Yonghyeon’s mansion or Watanabe’s hideout.
― Dear citizens, I’m sure you lost sleep over the unfortunate incident that happened overnight. As your president, I deeply apologize for failing to prevent it.
President Kim Hakgwon, wearing a stern expression, was giving a televised statent.
― This gun incident is believed to be a terrorist act by Cheongpunghoe. In response to the people’s outcry, these thugs answered with violence. We will track down everyone involved through a thorough investigation.
Most of the five-minute address was essentially a declaration of war against Cheongpunghoe.
“How was it? Did I look convincing?”
“Yes, Mr. President. Very reassuring.”
Returning to his office after the statent, President Kim Hakgwon sighed as he sat.
Chief of Staff Park Wonseop sat as well.
“What’s wrong with those Aricans?”
“They claim Lee Yonghyeon’s side fired first. They’re insisting it was self-defense.”
“Ha! Firearm possession itself is illegal. What, do they think this is Arica?”
Kim Hakgwon snapped irritably, and Park lowered his head, unable to answer.
“If we reject the U.S. request?”
“There will be serious diplomatic repercussions. They’ll almost certainly threaten to raise the issue of withdrawing U.S. troops from Korea. That’s Arica’s usual tactic.”
At Park’s cautious words, Kim Hakgwon let out a long sigh.
“Ha... How long do we have to be dragged around by Arica?”
“As long as North Korea exists, we have no choice. That’s why you’re secretly discussing a summit with the North, isn’t it? If peace cos to the peninsula, we won’t have to care about Arica’s opinion.”
They were preparing for it, at least.
But Kim Hakgwon still frowned as if unsatisfied.
“Will I be able to get out from under Arica’s shadow before I die?”
“Maybe not entirely, but you’ll have more influence. International diplomacy shifts all the ti. Right now, with the IMF crisis, we have no choice but to watch them closely.”
“That’s true.”
In the end, President Kim Hakgwon decided to deport all U.S. citizens involved.
“Conduct a brief investigation with embassy staff present, and have them all leave Korea within the week.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“Enough of this headache... So, Kim Muhyuk and his secretary are at the NIS, right? Being questioned by now?”
“Yes. I was told this morning that NIS Director Lee Chanjong is personally handling it. The fewer people who know, the better.”
“Yes, the fewer who know, the better.”
Apparently pleased with Lee Chanjong’s discretion, Kim Hakgwon’s stern face softened into a smile.
“Tell him to dig up even the smallest weakness.”
“Of course. It’s not like the old KCIA or ANSP, but the NIS is still the NIS.”
At Park’s words, Kim Hakgwon’s face briefly twisted, as if recalling being dragged to Namsan during the KCIA days.
“It was a harsh place.”
“That’s why you reford it, wasn’t it? Director Lee Chanjong is following your vision for NIS reform. Those days will never co back.”
“A sha. Sitting in this chair, I’ve realized how convenient it was to have an organization like the old KCIA. But reform was inevitable.”
“I think you made the right choice.”
Kim Hakgwon nodded heavily.
“I hope Kim Muhyuk cooperates with us. Han Kyungyeong, too—he acts too high and mighty.”
Rembering Han Kyungyeong’s stiff expression, President Kim Hakgwon clicked his tongue.
But once Kim Muhyuk was shackled, he wouldn’t have to look at that face again.
“Have them contact as soon as the interrogation ends.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“I need to rest. Monitor public opinion and report back.”
“Please rest. Oh, you have a scheduled call with Bill Gates today.”
At that, Kim Hakgwon brightened.
“With Chairman Bill Gates?”
“Yes, it’s a great opportunity for a productive conversation.”
“When?”
“In an hour.”
“Hahaha. I hope he gives so valuable advice. Bill Gates, huh...”
It was absurd—how he welcod a call with Bill Gates yet dismissed Han Kyungyeong and Kim Muhyuk.
But that was the reality of Korea.
* * *
After entering the NIS, I was separated from Ma Manager.
The next day, around lunchti, an agent ca to wake .
I followed him sowhere.
The room I entered had no windows, sealed on all sides. A familiar face was waiting.
“Nice to et you. I’m Lee Chanjong, Director of the NIS. You’re Kim Muhyuk, correct?”
“Yes.”
“You may leave now. Keep everyone else away.”
“Yes, Director.”
The agent bowed, turned, and closed the door.
“Please sit. This might be a long conversation.”
I sat across from Lee Chanjong.
“The more I learn about you, the more intriguing you are, Mr. Kim Muhyuk. Even with Chairman Cheon Taesan’s money, achieving that kind of success in the U.S.? No one in Korea knows this but .”
“You flatter .”
Do all NIS people stay this expressionless? I wondered, just as Lee Chanjong smiled faintly.
“I thought a lot after Ma Manager contacted . But I’ve decided to follow your lead, Mr. Kim. Right now, our country doesn’t need politicians—it needs dollars.”
Clearly, he understood the situation better than Kim Hakgwon.
“Politicians and businessn are still clueless. They’re stuck in their stubborn ways. They need to understand that what’s happened once can happen again.”
I smiled at him.
“May I make a phone call?”
All my belongings had been confiscated upon entering.
Lee Chanjong promptly took my phone from his pocket and handed it to .
“This room isn’t bugged. Use it freely.”
I hadn’t expected to get my phone back.
I called Han Kyungyeong first.
“Hyung, start.”
— “Right now?”
“Yes.”
— “Got it.”
Next, I called Eva.
“Eva, start.”
“Okay, Boss.”
Ending the call, I smiled at NIS Director Lee Chanjong.
“Let’s see what choice President Kim Hakgwon makes.”
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