Chapter 208.1: What's The Purpose? (2)
Kang Chan’s gaze grew sharper as Frederic leaned back in his chair, accentuating his muscular Caucasian physique.
“France occasionally holds this training with only one goal in mind: to introduce their new talent to the world. The other countries joined in simply so they can evaluate you,” Frederic explained.
“Is that why France is the training’s host?”
“You really are unaware of its significance, huh? No wonder… but I did expect you not to know.” Frederic gave Kang Chan a strange smile, seemingly finding the situation interesting. “You should do whatever it takes to meet the standards of the other countries’ intelligence bureaus participating in this training. After all, they know everything about you. They even know that you were part of the operations in Mongolia and France and that you shot Jang Kwang-Taek dead in North Korea.”
“Why are they still conducting this training when everyone already knows about me? On that note, you’re all quite odd as well for joining even though you already know everything.”
“The training is Lanok’s way of announcing that you’re his successor, and we should treat you as such from now on. You should consider it as the other countries’ way of announcing that I and the other agents were all nominated as our respective homelands’ successors as well,” Frederic said.
Kang Chan still couldn’t really understand what the significance was of being the successor in intelligence bureaus.
“Monsieur Kang, as our governments proceed with negotiations, there will be times when they have to express their displeasure or demand unofficial conditions. They leave those matters for us to handle. You being here means that if France ever faces a problem in the future, we’re supposed to first contact France through you.”
Unless it was related to the battles he fought in Africa, Kang Chan’s knowledge about France was probably only around the same level as an ordinary citizen. Why would the DGSE want other countries to contact him about France-related matters first?
“The position you’re in gives you the authority to make decisions to some degree, so you being here also means that France is letting everyone know that it’s prepared to spare no effort in retaliating should another country try to mess with you.”
Kang Chan couldn’t help but smirk.
This lousy training was quite strange.
On one hand, Kang Chan finally understood why the French agents who guided him here told him that they were supposed to treat him with the same respect as they gave the DGSE’s assistant director. On the other, however, he still had no idea what this fucker was trying to say because he kept beating around the bush.
“We’ve been planning to attack North Korea. There’s a low chance of us actually pushing through with it. However, if someone were to poke the hornet’s nest, then the United States and China will be forced to fight each other for nonsensical reasons,” Frederic added.
“All of this will end if the United States doesn’t stir things up.”
“Maybe, but maybe not.”
Kang Chan gave Frederic a sharp glare, thinking that he was stalling for far too much. Honestly, he was beginning to wonder if he would ever get to learn about Lanok’s actual position. From the looks of it, though, that didn’t seem likely to happen.
From what Kang Chan had gathered, Frederic seemed to be trying to warn him about the United States’ stance on the recent global matters by cleverly adding him and Lanok into the mix.
“I’m sure you know how I handle things by now, Frederic, so let me give you one final warning. Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want to say already,” Kang Chan said.
“Lanok dreams of dominating the world, and he will be sending you to the frontlines for his plan, monsieur Kang.”
Dumbfounded, Kang Chan burst out with laughter.
Lanok wanted to dominate the world?
In this day and age, people no longer just yelled ‘Yes, sir!’ and knelt if someone told them to kneel. Countries with strong economies and military power exerting their powers on weak countries wasn’t anything special either. That already happened numerous times in the modern world.
Actually, no! In some sense, Kang Chan thought that it was only natural for strong countries to flex their power.
Either way, the United States was making a big deal out of this the most.
“I suggest you don’t take this lightly, monsieur Kang. After all, a world war is just right around the corner. We’ll have it on our hands soon enough,” Frederic warned.
“Let's make one thing clear, Frederic. I know that the countries that once had an advantage in the world could be alienated once the Eurasian Rail is completed. Even so, threatening people with war isn’t that wise. Threats like that can no longer overwhelm and make a country submit to your will. I don’t know what the United States’ true intention is behind their plan to attack North Korea, but I hope you’re well aware that I won’t just sit back and watch it all unfold if you ever involve those I hold dear in this.”
“We have no hidden intentions. I just hope that you’ll look at the reality a bit more level-headedly. After all, you’ve gotten the most attention from the intelligence bureaus across the globe recently, and you’re the only person to ever successfully make everyone remember their codename.”
“You’re making me uncomfortable.”
Frederic smiled as if he was dumbfounded. “It seems people are right about you always going off the mark from everyone’s expectations. To be fair, who could have expected that someone would kill Jang Kwang-Taek and charge straight into Chinese territory to wreak havoc in one of their airports?”
If these fuckers knew that much, then they would also know about everyone in his life, including Kang Dae-Kyung, Yoo Hye-Sook, and even Kim Mi-Young.
“Frederic, there’s something that’s caught my curiosity,” Kang Chan began.
Frederic looked at Kang Chan with an expression that seemed to say, ‘Oh?’
“Do you know where Wui Min-Gook is?”
“Wui Min-Gook?” Frederic asked in response.
Considering he had so much intel, It was very disappointing that he didn’t know anything about Wui Min-Gook.
“You should get going. See you tomorrow,” Kang Chan said. Fortunately, he didn’t like anyone here, which was quite convenient for him. After all, that meant he wouldn’t ever have to worry about them—not even after they parted ways.
Sometimes, ignorance truly was bliss.
The next day, Kang Chan was unusually bored. He felt as if he was wasting his time while he was attending his lessons. It made him focus a bit more on his morning workouts, which actually gave him some level of comfort.
He definitely learned English and the international situation and economy. However, much to his disappointment, that didn’t really change the purpose of the training.
Talking to people in South Korea was his only solace.
He had never done this while he was in Africa, but it had now become the most important part of his daily routine.
After two weeks, he was sent to Russia.
Kang Chan wondered if he would get to meet Vasili, but aside from their instructors and the employees who took care of their meals and accommodation, he didn’t really meet anyone else.
While in Russia, they were taught about all kinds of weapons and their utilities, which only further bored Kang Chan. He was basically forced to sit through PowerPoint slides about things that he had seen and held so many times back in Africa that he had grown bored of them.
After the two-week training, they headed straight to China, which was unexpected.
They probably didn’t plan it this way so they could decrease how much they were spending on flights. Either way, this only gave Kang Chan enough time to send everyone a message informing them that he would be having a hard time contacting them for two more weeks.
In China, they were taught about the systems of countries across the globe, which was quite preposterous. However, Kang Chan surprisingly liked the lessons. He learned about capitalism, socialism, democracy, communism, and countries’ ideologies and responses to religion.
Remembering how his enemies moved and acted back in Africa made him focus on his classes.
By the time they had finally returned to France, Andrei had removed his mask and could eat soft food. He was likely still in pain and felt as if he was chewing on his own flesh when eating meat, though. Fortunately, he had amazing tenacity and durability.
After dinner, Kang Chan thought of calling back home, which he hadn’t done in a long time. However, before he could, someone knocked on his door three times. The door soon opened, and Pierre came in.
“Do you have a moment to talk?” Pierre asked.
“Yes. Please have a seat.”
Kang Chan gestured to the table. Pierre sat across from him.
“Christmas is in three days,” Pierre began. He probably wasn’t here to ask Kang Chan to help him prepare a Christmas party, so Kang Chan just silently waited for him to continue.
“The training ended early.”
“I’m not going to the United States, then?” Kang Chan asked.
“Yes.”
Something was clearly going on that Pierre couldn’t talk about. Kang Chan thought that Pierre would tell him about it if he just asked, but he didn’t really want to know.
“We’re thinking of gathering everyone for a meal before dismissing them,” Pierre said.
“Pierre, I don’t think that’s something that I should decide.”
“I have already reported that the training has officially ended, which means you have officially become the DGSE’s assistant director. You’re two ranks higher than me. According to DGSE’s rules, while the assistant director is in Niafles, all employees of the Niafles branch will be under their command.”
“Didn’t you say that the training isn’t done yet?” Kang Chan asked.
“The training is over, and I have already reported it to the Intelligence Bureau and the DGSE[1]. From this moment forward, we are to inform you of all our commands and wait for your permission and approval before we can issue them. We obviously don’t have to do that for general tasks, but since the DGSE is responsible for the training, only you can decide how it ends.”
Pierre lived a tough life.
Pierre was basically telling Kang Chan that they had to put someone—who didn’t know any better—in a high-ranking DGSE position and that he had to decide whether to have a meal with the others first before parting ways. At this rate, Kang Chan felt as if Pierre would soon ask him to pick the menu. Hence, he decided to quickly wrap up this matter.
“Pierre, as I’m sure you’re well aware of, I don’t really know much about this line of work, which is why I think it would be best to leave this matter in your capable hands. Is there perhaps anything else I can help you with?” Kang Chan asked.
Pierre seemed to be hesitating.
What could the person in charge of the Intelligence Bureau’s Niafles be so hesitant about?
Pierre probably wasn’t worrying about how much they should cook the steak, or what kind of wine they should serve.
1. There was a distinction between the Intelligence Bureau and the DGSE in this chapter, so we have reflected that in the translation ☜
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