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 glanced at Kim Hyung-Jung, then continued, “We have never properly launched 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—they 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’ll come 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 to come here so I can head back to Seoul with him later.”
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 to come 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 have completely 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 upcoming 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 was last here a couple of hours ago.
Choi Seong-Geon headed outside to greet them once again. Seeing Kim Tae-Jin, he greeted him with a lax 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 plan 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 place?” Kang Chan asked in turn.
Choi Seong-Geon looked up and pointed at a mountain on the other side.
“High-ground training battles take place 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 place. 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 available?” 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 declared.
“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. You come 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 to come out with the equipment,” Choi Seong-Geon commanded 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 glare at it.
But the glint in their eyes was something Kang Chan could work with.
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