Chapter 168.1: What It Means to Live (1)
It was an incredible achievement, but none of the soldiers looked happy. Choi Jong-Il had been shot twice in the chest, and Cha Dong-Gyun had been shot thrice in his stomach and chest.
Following the conclusion of the standoff, they immediately rushed straight to the hospital still wearing their camouflage face paint and military uniforms.
Kang Chan remained steadfast next to their beds. He forced the Chinese doctors, who didn’t understand what he was doing, to give the two men a whole bag of his blood.
Having taken full control of China’s intelligence bureau, Yang Bum’s influence became so great that the team was given the entire eleventh floor to themselves even though they were in a large hospital in the center of downtown Beijing. The air force even closed off the entrance of the hospital and the eleventh floor with a sign that read, “People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps.”
Yang Bum entered the room with a creak of the sliding doors, breaking the heavy silence. It had been about ten minutes since they had reached the hospital room.
“Huh Sang-Soo has been arrested without a warrant. It has also been confirmed that Wui Min-Gook has infiltrated South Korea,” Yang Bum informed Kang Chan.
Kang Chan just listened.
“Wui Min-Gook is probably aware of the situation on our end now, considering he has gone off the grid,” Yang Bum added.
“Please deliver this information to Manager Kim Hyung-Jung of the National Intelligence Service,” Kang Chan stated.
“I have already relayed the news,” Yang Bum replied.
“What about the plane for our transportation?” Kang Chan asked.
“I’ve prepared an aircraft for you. It’s standing by at the Beijing Military Airfield,” Yang Bum said.
All they had to do now was go back home.
“You should hurry back, Mr. Kang Chan. The opposing party has not completely died down yet, and I can only keep the traffic under control before five,” Yang Bum warned him.
“We’ll get going now, then,” Kang Chan told him.
Kang Chan turned around to look at Choi Jong-Il and Cha Dong-Gyun.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.?
“Heard that? We have to leave now. Make sure you wake up soon and to call when you do,” Kang Chan declared, then left the hospital room with Yang Bum. The other soldiers saluted Choi Jong-Il and Cha Dong-Gyun before following Kang Chan out. They took the elevator to head straight to the underground lot, and Yang Bum guided them along.
Kang Chan was walking with a limp now. Maybe it was because the adrenaline was gone, but the pain felt as if his skin was being ripped apart.
A minibus curtained on the inside was waiting for them. They were all still in their combat gear, so they made clunking noises throughout the trip, including when they walked, climbed into the bus, and the bus started its engine.
After speeding down the roads for about thirty minutes, the bus arrived at the airport and stopped in front of the airfield. Yang Bum got out first.
Kang Chan stepped off and shook hands with Yang Bum as Seok Kang-Ho and the other soldiers got into the aircraft.
“I won’t forget your help today,” Yang Bum said in gratitude.
“Do I have to come here if I want to see you now?” Kang Chan asked him.
“For the time being, yes,” Yang Bum replied with a manly smile, ending their conversation.
Swoosh.?
After Kang Chan entered the plane, the doors of the aircraft slid shut with a thud.
Rumble, rumble, rumble.?
The aircraft soon began to take off. After a series of vibrations reverberating throughout the plane, it started to soar into the sky at a speed so rapid that it made the men inside lurch forward.
“Does anyone have any cigarettes?” Kang Chan asked.
One of the soldiers quickly pulled one out and held it out to Kang Chan.
“Those bastards. Would it have killed them to provide us with some coffee on the plane?” Kang Chan grumbled.
“I believe there is some in the back,” another soldier replied, then hurriedly headed to the back of the aircraft.
This was the first cigarette that Kang Chan had since the end of the operation. The smoke he exhaled swiftly flew to the back of the plane. This was the perfect environment to catch some raccoons—since they used to smoke up raccoon dens in the past to catch the animals.
It would’ve been better if the coffee was instant coffee, but the roasted scent from Americanos wasn’t too bad either. The soldier who brought Kang Chan a cup of it also found some bread to go with it.
Kang Chan leaned on the wall and sat on the ground, then shook his head.
This is what fucking happens when I start to care about others.?
It was impossible for everyone to come back alive in battles and operations. A couple of people considered this side of him a pathetic weakness. If someone picked a fight with him when he was in this mood, there would be big trouble. That was also why Seok Kang-Ho was keeping his lips shut and walking around Kang Chan on eggshells.
Click.?
“Whew,” Kang Chan exhaled.
He felt a little better when he started smoking his second cigarette.
.
“Let me tie up your leg, Cap,” Seok Kang-Ho offered.
“Leave it alone. We’ll get to Seoul soon, so I might as well get it treated there. You’re not having any bread?” Kang Chan said.
“I don’t feel like eating. Not hungry right now,” Seok Kang-Ho said, much to Kang Chan’s surprise. Seok Kang-Ho’s lack of appetite was so ridiculous that Kang Chan chuckled.
“Just eat one. Get me one too,” Kang Chan ordered.
There was no need to make the other soldiers uncomfortable. Kang Chan tore the bread that Seok Kang-Ho tossed him in half and took a big bite.
“What are you all doing? Eat up,” Seok Kang-Ho announced.
At his words, everyone stuffed their mouths with the bread.
It was a comical sight, soldiers choking down bread with the whites of their eyes highlighted by the dark camouflage paint.
***
Ding. Ding. Ding.?
When Kang Chan woke up from his shuteye, the plane was already descending to the ground. It made quite a noisy landing, which all bulky aircraft did. The men disembarked and stepped onto the bus that was waiting for them.
The sun shone brightly down on them at this time of day. Even with the dark, tanned windows of the bus, there were curtains covering the glass.
Once they left the airport, Kang Chan saw a few sedans and vans on the side of the road, and Kim Hyung-Jung was standing next to them. Kang Chan stood up from his seat and turned to the men.
“Good work, all of you. I’ll see you again later,” Kang Chan said.
“Attention!”
Thud.?
“Salute the commander!”
Thud.?
Kang Chan knew there was no way he could ignore this kind of farewell. Kang Chan saluted the men back on behalf of his party, then stepped off the bus with Seok Kang-Ho, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee.
“Mr. Kang Chan,” Kim Hyung-Jun greeted as he quickly slid open the doors of the van for them.
Their attire was one thing, but they had to be especially careful because the dark paint on their faces would easily attract the attention of passersby.
The men swiftly climbed into the van, and the van left immediately after.
“Is your injury serious, Mr. Kang Chan?” Kim Hyung-Jung asked, concerned.
“It’s tolerable. Has Yang Bum contacted you yet?” Kang Chan confirmed.
“Yes. We have arrested five executives who were secretly in league with Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo. We have also secured all the evidence, including the confidential data leak and the distortion of internal information. This was why the director was unreachable for a time,” Kim Hyung-Jung informed him.
“What about Wui Min-Hook?” Kang Chan asked.
“We haven’t been able to locate him yet,” Kim Hyung-Jung said, fatigue evident in his voice. His haggard face also made it apparent that he did not get any sleep last night. “I will escort you to the safe house for now.”
“Got it. Will we be able to receive some medical attention there as well, Manager Kim?” Kang Chan asked.
“Yes. I’ve made all the necessary preparations,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.
That marked the end of the urgent topics that they had to cover.
“An announcement has been made that all the economic sanctions will be lifted this afternoon,” Kim Hyung-Jung added.
“What happened to the prime minister?” Kang Chan asked curiously.
“We are planning to cancel his resignation using the reason that he is necessary to move forward with the Russian oil field development rights,” Kim Hyung-Jung answered.
It sounded as if they had put out most of the immediate fires now.
***
The first thing that Kang Chan did when they arrived at the Hannam-Dong safe house was receive medical attention for his injury.
“How did it manage to dig so deep into your outer flesh?” the doctor who had been waiting on standby asked. He tilted his head in wonder a few times as he treated the wound and wrapped some gauze around it.
Kang Chan covered his injury with a large rubber band and took a shower as well. They had been provided with formal clothes—a shirt and dress pants—but Seok Kang-Ho looked like a gangster in the outfit.
“Let’s get you fed for now,” Kim Hyung-Jung suggested.
They all finally looked human again.
After finishing his meal, Kang Chan drank the cup of coffee in front of him and smoked a cigarette in relaxation.
“Section Chief Jeon says he will be staying in the office until he’s done with the business with Wui Min-Gook. He was quite upset that he could not see you today. Would you give him a call when you get the chance? I’ll probably find myself in a difficult position otherwise,” Kim Hyung-Jung asked.
Kang Chan could definitely see Jeon Dae-Geuk pressing Kim Hyung-Jung, so he agreed to call the gentleman.
“Oh, right, Manager Kim, please give these men some paid leave,” Kang Chan requested.
“I have actually prepared for their breaks already. You two have a week off starting today,” Kim Hyung-Jung informed them.
“It’s fine, sir.”
“Don’t be stupid, you idiots. There will be gaps in the security if you two work while still tired. The B team is waiting on standby anyway, so there’s nothing to worry about. Take a break when Mr. Kang Chan offers it,” Kim Hyung-Jung ordered.
Woo Hee-Seung and Lee Doo-Hee looked as if they felt wronged, but they didn’t press the matter any further.
“You should get some rest too, Mr. Kang Chan,” Kim Hyung-Jung added.
“I will. I have to make a call to the embassy first, though,” Kang Chan said.
“What about you, Mr. Seok?” Kim Hyung-Jung asked.
“I’m going home, of course. What if someone stole my pretty wife while I was gone?” Seok Kang-Ho mischievously said.
Everyone laughed at the absurdity of the lousy joke.
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