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 intercom 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 between completely sealed spaces, making it difficult for outsiders to eavesdrop on what was happening inside each room. The doors didn’t even have the typical nameplates 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 welcomed Kang Chan inside.
“Please come 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 accepted the cigarette, Heo Chang-Seon lit it for him.
“We have finished all preparations. As soon as Ambassador Lanok arrives later 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 access card that had been laid on the desk.
The card was completely black 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 motherland, 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 a laughable 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 eagerly come 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 airplanes 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 modular 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 place 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 plans.
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 modular 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 relationship with Ambassador Lanok. However, there is a certain etiquette that must be followed in certain places,” Heo Chang-Seon arrogantly declared.
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, lately, he had only ever met people who put their lives on the line to make South Korea a better place like Kim Tae-Jin, Kim Hyung-Jung, and more recently, Go Gun-Woo, Choi Jong-Il, and Jeon Dae-Geuk.
It had completely 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 every commander who fought and bled out on the battlefield, there were over a hundred dumb punks decorated in fancy uniforms loftily pointing at random places 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 uncomfortable 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.
The commander 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 in complete command 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 place 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 translated directly to death.
And what were the consequences now? The negotiations for the Eurasian Rail could fall apart completely 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—they sacrificed themselves for this day to come 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 welcoming fallen soldiers home.
Vroom.?
The lucky bastard soon disappeared from Kang Chan’s sight.
Kang Chan saw the commander 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 black 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 some large 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 black 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 as competent. 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 glanced 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 placing 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 modular 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 plane from Russia. However, the Chinese intelligence agency must have provided him with a Chinese civilian aircraft as well,” Lanok explained.
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 plane 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 black 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 uncomfortable, but Kang Chan had no choice but to accept 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 place.
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 plane before we get going. I want to show what respect I can toward them first,” Kang Chan asserted.
As the highest commander, 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 motherland. 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 plane respectfully spread the national flag of South Korea over the coffin. The officer standing guard in the front then placed a badge version of the flag 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, clashed, 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 flag 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,” Vasili commented 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 black sedan.
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