Chapter 161.2: You Dare Try to Avoid It? (2)
“Well, well, well, I wonder what significant event has brought you all the way here?”Vasili asked, dressed in formal attire as he guided Lanok to the center sofa inside his barracks. “Would you like some Vodka?”
“Why not?” Lanok accepted.
They were currently in a Russian air force base in Vladivostok. Lanok crossed his long legs and sat back on the sofa.
“Here, your cigar! And the ever important…” Vasili trailed off as he pushed a box of cigars toward Lanok and poured some vodka into a wine glass. Lanok stretched his hand out for the cigar first.
Click.?
“Haah!”?he exhaled the smoke in the air.
“I’m sure you didn’t come here despite the long trip just because Suo Ke died. And I’m certain it isn’t because you missed me, either,” Vasili said through his thin lips as he awaited Lanok’s response with amusement.
“I hope you can hurry along with all the compensation that has to be made, Vasili. Everyone is too intricately knotted up right now. And there is something suspicious about China,” Lanok said grimly.
The friendly look in Vasili’s eyes changed in an instant.
“Don’t overdo it, Lanok. It’s already tricky enough to handle China as they are right now. You shouldn’t stimulate them any further,” Vasili warned.
“Huh Ha-Soo will try to replace the South Korean prime minister. His next goal will obviously be to assassinate the president,” Lanok said.
Vasili let out a low sigh.
“Everyone knows that China has been wanting to take over South Korea for a long time now. If it wasn’t for the current president getting in the way, China would’ve already legally purchased half of South Korea’s land,” Vasili stated, perfectly expressing his displeasure through the corners of his eyes. “Cut to the chase. What do you want?”
“Nuclear weapons,” Lanok responded.
“Stop joking around and tell me what it is you actually want,” Vasili ordered firmly.
“Russia’s oil field development rights for South Korea,” Lanok answered truthfully this time.
Vasili sank the glass of vodka in front of him in one gulp.
“Hmph. I genuinely wish China would assassinate you,” Vasili grumbled.
Lanok smirked in a way that was similar to Kang Chan’s.
“I see you have been picking up annoying things that tick me off,” Vasili muttered irritatedly again.
“Maybe it’s because we’re on the same side, but it didn’t seem all that bad to me,” Lanok said lightheartedly.
Vasili stared straight into Lanok’s eyes with a scowl.
“Leave,” he demanded.
“I will, indeed,” Lanok said as he pressed his cigar into the ashtray and stood up.
***
- Mr. Kang Chan, is what you said just now all really true?
“Yes, sir,” Kang Chan replied with certainty even though the question was a pointless one.
- We didn’t receive any news from China. Are you sure?
“Manager Kim. I’m telling you exactly as I heard it,” Kang Chan stated firmly.
-All right. I will report this matter to the higher-ups first. I’ll contact you as soon as I receive any updates.”
Kim Hyung-Jung quickly hung up.
Just what in the world was going on? China aside, why the hell were the North Korean special forces crossing the border?
There was only one reason that Kang Chan could think of, and it was probably the same reason the president and the prime minister were both targeted at the event hall. If the prime minister was switched out and Moon Jae-Hyun disappeared too, everything would be at Huh Ha-Soo’s feet.
But even so, could Huh Ha-Soo really try to eliminate the president that way? There was no announcement for Unicorn that he could take advantage of anymore, and it wasn’t like he could just barge into the president’s office.
Kang Chan looked down in deliberation for a moment, then picked his phone up again and dialed a number.
-Hello? Why are you calling me so late at night?
The man’s voice was as gruff and low as ever.
“Mr. Jeon. Can you talk right now?” Kang Chan asked.
-Sure, it’s fine. What’s going on?
“Can the president be assassinated if the North Korean special forces team crosses the border?”
-Come again? What did you just say? The North Korean special forces team?
“Yes, sir. If they come to South Korea with the resolve to attack as they did with the surface-to-air missile, how likely is it that they’ll succeed in the assassination?”
-Why are you asking me that? Did you hear something?
“Well, not yet. I just called you because I was going to all sorts of places with my train of thought. I should make it a habit of calling you, anyway, if you want me to call occasionally to ask how you’re doing.”
-Hmm.
A long sigh came over the phone. Jeon Dae-Geuk then began to speak.
-It depends on the location, but if the assassination is attempted at an unofficial public event, you’re looking at about a thirty percent chance of success.
“Can the National Intelligence Service get their hands on the president’s schedule?”
-That depends on what event it is. It’s possible if it’s an occasion that was planned days before, but only the president’s security detail will know about all other functions. The ones that are determined in advance are much safer because the president’s guards are able to prepare countermeasures for them.
Jeon Dae-Geuk’s answer made Kang Chan wonder if the target was someone else, not Moon Jae-Hyun. Just then, he came to a sudden realization.
“Mr. Jeon, is there any employee with the surname Huh among the president’s guards?” Kang Chan asked with a hint of urgency.
-The last name Huh? There are fifty close-range guards on the president, but no Huh among them.
That wasn’t it either. Kang Chan supposed that was for the better.
-You’re really not asking because something’s going on?
“It’s just my guess. Nothing’s been confirmed yet, though,” Kang Chan replied.
-So you did hear something!
It couldn’t hurt to be overly careful with these matters. Kang Chan decided to tell Jeon Dae-Geuk a part of the truth.
“Yes, sir. Actually, I did hear that the North Korean special forces team might enter South Korea. This information hasn’t been confirmed yet, though, and Manager Kim was also completely unaware of it. I just called you while I was pondering about it.”
-Who was it? Who told you that?
“He’s someone whose identity hasn’t been verified by the National Intelligence Service yet, and I can’t even get in contact with him right now,” Kang Chan answered.
-But you’re certain that’s what this person said?
“Yes, sir.”
Another sigh and a gulp came over the phone.
-I see. I’ll strengthen the security perimeter and call you again.
“Got it,” Kang Chan replied.
After hanging up, Kang Chan felt a little more at peace. In cases like this, the best solution would be to order an emergency decree on their own special forces team and plan an assassination of North Korea’s most significant figures, but…
Calm down.?
Kang Chan shook his head. He would be pushing the soldiers to their deaths if he carried out that mission.
Buzz, buzz.?
[Are you up?]
Just then, as if she could feel his struggles, a message from Kim Mi-Young arrived. It occurred to him that she might be upset because he didn’t reply to the text she sent in the afternoon.
Kang Chan pressed the call button.
-Hey, Channy.
“Are you done with your hagwon?lessons?”
-Yeah. I’m heading home now.
Haah! What should I do? Something serious could happen soon. Is it okay for me to go meet Kim Mi-Young right now?
-Did you see the text I sent you this morning?
“Yeah. I wasn’t able to reply because I was a little busy. Can I see you right now?”
-You sure you’re not busy right now?
“No, I’m at home. I’ll be waiting for you outside, so let’s meet up for a bit.”
-Okay. I’ll hurry home.
Kang Chan swung on a cardigan and walked out of his room. It seemed like Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook were already asleep, so he tried to leave the apartment as quietly as possible.
Once outside, he sat on a bench and felt the cold breeze on his face. While looking at the entrance of the complex, Kang Chan tilted his head. Kim Mi-Young. She was finally here.
However, although it had only been a few days since he last saw her, she already seemed so different. Was it because it was dark and she was far away?
Noticing Kang Chan, Kim Mi-Young quickly came running over.
“You must be exhausted,” Kang Chan said.
“It’s okay. It’s really almost over now,” Kim Mi-Young responded. Even while she caught her breath, her doe eyes were still sparkling up at Kang Chan. Her nose seemed a little sharper, and the frame of her chin and cheeks had become more definite as well.
“You’re not hungry?” Kang Chan asked.
“I’ll have a sandwich when I go home,” Kim Mi-Young replied.
“Do you want to sit with me for a bit?”
“I was sitting this whole time. Can we walk instead?” Kim Mi-Young suggested.
“Sure. Let me hold your bag,” Kang Chan offered. He slung Kim Mi-Young’s bag over his shoulder, and they walked out the entrance.
“Thanks for helping with the festival.”
Kang Chan smiled faintly at her.
“Can you come to school sometimes just to have lunch?” Kim Mi-Young asked.
“Lunch?”
“Yup! I want to have a meal with you, and I miss you too. If you’re alone during the day, it would be nice if you can come to school and eat with me.”
Would that work out?
He would be put in a difficult position if he put on a school uniform to go to school but something happened afterward. And it was a bit ridiculous to go to school just to eat and leave right after.
“Do you go to the French cultural center every day?” Kim Mi-Young asked.
Did I not tell her what I do?
“No, not every day,” Kang Chan responded.
“Ooh, what do you wear when you go there?”
“Well, just whatever’s comfortable, I guess.”
“Then have lunch with me at our school while you’re in a suit like you did when you came out on TV, okay?” Kim Mi-Young asked, looking at Kang Chan with eyes full of hope.
Should we just study abroad in France together? Will that allow us to live happily and away from all the complicated matters here?
She looked at him with wide eyes, as if asking him what was the matter. Seeing the light reflected in her eyes, the emotions Kang Chan felt during the operation in France began to bloom again.
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