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 exclaimed.
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 internet, 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 outcome, 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—not the best, but not too bad. He looked to be in his mid to late 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 explained 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 explain 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 and compensations, 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 to come 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 not completely grasped this snake’s full capabilities.
“The Chinese intelligence agency has decided to accept 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 uncomfortable 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 become known or appear in news articles.
The lunch lasted for about two hours. Afterward, they each had a glass 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 nonchalantly 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, ‘The law is far, but your fists are closed.’ Anyway, the Chinese intelligence agency wants to establish a good relationship 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 accepted 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 explain the rest to you at a later 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 have complete 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 nonsensical comparison, but this was like the son of a rich family coming to promise that he would kill his own brother. He was even trying to appease Kang Chan.
Kang Chan accepted. 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 according to plan, so I hope France, China, and South Korea’s relations 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 become 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 plan to assassinate each other, but we won’t do kidnappings. And once you’ve agreed to an apology and compensation, 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 accepted.
The corners of Lanok’s lips curved to a broad grin.
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