Chapter 129.1: The Brown Bear’s Visit (2)
All the coffins that were wrapped in the South Korean national flag were loaded onto the buses.
While the coffins of the Japanese agents were being carried onto the plane, the commander 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 modular walls, he saw Lanok and Vasili drinking tea from paper cups on the trunk of a black 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 accompanying 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 contemplating 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 place.
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 glance was enough to determine that the agents from France, Russia, and Korea were meant to occupy the tables so they could have their own meals while, a separate place 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 placed 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 melancholic due to the agents who had finally returned home anyway.
He eagerly mixed some soju and beer together, then poured a glass for each of them.
Exchanging any words at this point was unnecessary.
After clinking their glasses 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 exclaimed in awe.
Even though the meal lasted for about 40 minutes, there was little conversation aside from the occasional expressions of admiration regarding the food.
The same went for the three French agents, three Russian agents, and three Korean agents eating in the larger 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 explain why you want to meet Kang Chan, Vasili,” Lanok declared.
Lanok and Vasili were evidently fierce rivals who weren’t all that comfortable with each other.
“Lanok, the British intelligence agency discovered one of the two missing energy sources that disappeared from Blackhead 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 surveillance network,” Vasili continued in a wry tone.
What in the hell was this crap about? Energy sources that had gone missing from Blackhead? 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 Sharlan had sold off was called Blackhead.
But what was this about two missing energy sources? Kang Chan had never stolen anything like that if that was what Vasili was accusing him of.
Kang Chan pressed his cigarette against the ashtray, putting it out.
“Vasili, explain how you’re involved in this first,” Lanok said.
“That’s what you and Kang Chan should be explaining 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 occurred in the deep sea recently? Why did the United States finish preparing to launch nuclear missiles? And lastly…” Vasili paused, glaring at Kang Chan as if he were going to kill him. “Why does Kang Chan have one of the missing energy sources from Blackhead? You and Kang Chan should be explaining all of those to me, not the other way around.”
Lanok remained silent.
“If I don’t receive any proper explanation, then both my country and China will start preparing to launch nuclear missiles as well, Lanok. I’m here today to deliver a final warning,” Vasili continued. “If all the intelligence that is currently circulating around the international community 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 escalating 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 Blackhead, but the time has come to cooperate with the international community 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 really come 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 accepted.
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 occasions 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 glanced around. Before he knew it, agents dressed in formal suits had gotten in formation around the restaurant.
The smell of coffee, the flames 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—if one person could do all those jobs, what need would there be for squads, platoons, 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 clashed 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
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