Chapter 244.1: Let’s Fight Together (1)
“Ugh!” Kang Chan groaned. A moment later, he pushed himself up, causing Kim Tae-Jin to shoot him a worried gaze.
“Are you sure you can get up?” Kim Tae-Jin asked.
“Whew! I’m not new to this line of work, you know,” Kang Chan jokingly replied. Despite Kim Tae-Jin’s concern, Kang Chan just focused on getting up.
Kang Chul-Gyu grabbed Kang Chan’s arm to help him.
“Old man, search the area for any weapon that we can use,” Kang Chan instructed Kang Chul-Gyu.
Kang Chul-Gyu examined Kang Chan, concern evident on his face.
“What? Are you sad that I’m not dead?” Kang Chan snarked.
“Of course not. Never,” Kang Chul-Gyu replied. He then went to work.
Damn it! I shouldn’t have looked him in the eyes.
Kang Chan couldn’t stop thinking about the emotions that filled Kang Chul-Gyu’s eyes in that moment of crisis. It kept tugging at his heart.
Those eyes were the eyes of a soldier who acted out of instinct, not logic—the eyes of a soldier who couldn’t let himself see his comrades die even if the alternative was losing his life.
It was because of these selfless actions that Kang Chul-Gyu’s wife and son died grim deaths, yet he still didn’t change.
It was only to find his son’s belongings? Bullshit.
It was a ridiculous excuse. Kang Chul-Gyu probably would have covered Kang Chan even without that condition.
Kang Chan staggered toward the jeep.
If I was in the same situation, what would have I done?
In truth, he would also have taken the soldier in his arms to protect him.
Click, clunk, clunk.
Kang Chul-Gyu soon returned to them with a rifle and an almost ludicrous number of other weapons slung over him.
“Let’s get going,” Kang Chan stated.
Kim Tae-Jin stepped into the driver’s seat. Kang Chan and Kang Chul-Gyu stood in the back.
Vroom! Vroom. Clunk! Vroooom!
Their battle had ended.
As the jeep turned back, the agents standing on top of the barracks gradually came into view.
Thud, thud, thud!
Maybe it was out of concern for Kang Chan’s injury, but Kim Tae-Jin kept a moderate speed. Even so, Kang Chan still felt as if his back was killing him, but he didn’t bother telling the others about it. Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to fight anytime soon since no enemy was close enough to attack them right now.
“Old man,” he called.
Kang Chul-Gyu turned to him. The Blood under his nose had frozen.
“I’m thinking of going out again tonight, the three of us.”
“With those injuries? Are you sure you can?” Kang Chul-Gyu asked, worry evident in his voice.
“It’s not like you’re doing any better than me in that condition.”
Vroom! Clunk! Rattle!
When the jeep lurched forward, Kang Chan grimaced in pain. As he recovered, he asked, “Do you think you’ll survive the raid tonight?”
Kang Chul-Gyu looked confused. He couldn’t even answer.
“If you want to atone for the sins you committed against your family, do your best to live and survive. Unless you can promise me that much, I’m not letting you join us in the ambush,” Kang Chan continued.
The engine was so loud that it didn’t seem as if Kim Tae-Jin could hear them.
“I...” Kang Chul-Gyu trailed off.
This was the first time Kang Chan saw Kang Chul-Gyu hesitate to speak. He never hesitated when they first met at the airport. He didn’t either whenever he used honorifics to talk to him now that they were in Mongolia.
“How am I supposed to be shameless enough to try moving forward when I failed to make up for the sins I committed against my wife and son? No, even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to live such a life anyway due to my condition. Please just give me a spot in our operation tonight,” Kang Chul-Gyu pleaded.
This damn old man.
Kang Chan noticed a change in Kang Chul-Gyu’s eyes. If Kang Chul-Gyu looked at him with these eyes in the past, he might not have gone to France.
“Give me your word as a man, and I’ll look for a way to get you the surgery you need. Otherwise, you’re not joining the ambush,” Kang Chan replied with conviction.
The jeep slowed down a bit now that they were close to the base.
“Why are you suddenly acting like this?” Kang Chul-Gyu asked.
As they drove past the gates, Kang Chan looked straight at him. “I believe that’s what your son would have wanted.”
The jeep came to a stop in front of the barracks.
“Are you okay? Shit! What the fuck happened to your back?” Oh Gwang-Taek shouted as he rushed forward. He held Kang Chan’s arm and helped him out of the vehicle.
Kang Chan stepped out of the jeep. Kang Chul-Gyu remained dazed as the agents and Oh Gwang-Taek’s subordinates unloaded the rifles.
Meanwhile, Kim Tae-Jin’s gaze alternated between Kang Chan and Kang Chul-Gyu. He had no clue about what just happened.
“Extend the range of the satellite video receiver as much as you can and reduce the number of agents on guard duty to two so they can get enough rest,” Kang Chan ordered.
“Understood, sir,” an agent responded before heading to the mess hall.
Kang Chan started for the barracks.
Creak.
The moment he opened the door and stepped in, a wave of warmth and pain rushed at him at the same time.
Kim Tae-Jin and Oh Gwang-Taek helped Kang Chan take off his upper garments. One of the agents then wiped his back with disinfectant.
“What if some shrapnel managed to get in there?” Kim Tae-Jin asked worriedly.
“I’m probably fine. I didn’t feel anything when I moved around,” Kang Chan nonchalantly replied.
Kang Chan’s attitude bewildered Kim Tae-Jin. Unfortunately, he had no choice but to trust him right now. After having the area disinfected and getting it wrapped with a bandage, he changed into new clothes and sat down on the sofa.
“You should get some rest too, Director Kim. We’re going to head out again tonight,” Kang Chan said.
“You’re going out in that condition?” Kim Tae-Jin asked in disbelief.
Kang Chan simply responded with a smirk. No one could stop him anyway.
Kim Tae-Jin shook his head and stepped out of the barracks.
“Would you like some coffee?” Oh Gwang-Taek asked.
“Yes, please. Some cigarettes too,” Kang Chan replied. Hearing that, an agent immediately went to the kitchen.
“I’ll handle it, so just focus on resting up. From what I heard, you’ll have to fight again tonight, won’t—hey! Just fucking go already and get some rest!” Oh Gwang-Taek scolded the agent, quickly chasing after him and preventing him from entering the kitchen. He practically kicked the agent out of the barracks. When he got back, he put the kettle on the stove. He then walked over to Kang Chan and offered him some cigarettes.
Click!
Kang Chan and Oh Gwang-Taek lit up their cigarettes together.
“It’s pretty tough, huh?” Kang Chan asked sympathetically.
“Are you going to keep me holed up in the mess hall at night too? I don’t mind dying. Just give me a chance to fight,” Oh Gwang-Taek grumbled. A complex mix of emotions was in his eyes. “Hey! Are you even listening to me?”
“Okay, okay,” Kang Chan replied. His eyes glinted so much that they seemed to be exuding a bright light. “Join us in the battle tonight.”
“You son of a bitch! I’ll make you the tastiest coffee in the whole fucking world.”
“It’s just instant coffee, though,” Kang Chan scoffed.
Oh Gwang-Taek grinned at him.
***
After washing his face, Kang Chul-Gyu returned to his barracks with Kim Tae-Jin. He then changed into more comfortable clothes.
“Sunbae-nim, here’s your coffee.” Kim Tae-Jin handed Kang Chul-Gyu a paper cup. He also set down a cigarette next to it and pulled out a lighter.
“I’m not going to smoke,” Kang Chul-Gyu said as he picked up the cup.
“Understood.” Kim Tae-Jin set down the lighter and cautiously examined Kang Chul-Gyu’s expression. Out of worry, he asked, “Are you okay?”
“Of course. You should start drinking yours, too. It’s going to get cold.”
“Will do.” Kim Tae-Jin took a sip of his coffee.
After some time, Kang Chul-Gyu began, “You know, it might be cowardly of me to say this, but...”
“Yes, sunbae-nim?”
What is he trying to tell me that’s making him so hesitant?
Kim Tae-Jin stayed alert and put all his focus on Kang Chul-Gyu.
“If I manage to survive the battle tonight, can you look into a hospital that can perform the surgery I need?” Kang Chul-Gyu carefully asked.
Kim Tae-Jin never thought he would ever hear those words from him.
“Do you think it’s too difficult?” Kang Chul-Gyu asked glumly.
“No! I’ll do whatever I can to find a hospital!” Kim Tae-Jin replied, feeling something hot blaze and rise inside him.
“Thank you.” Kang Chul-Gyu nodded as he expressed his gratitude. “I feel very sorry and guilty for what happened to my wife and son, but if I’m still allowed to live on, then I would like to try my best at it.”
“Thank you, sunbae-nim,” Kim Tae-Jin said as emotions welled up inside him.
Kang Chul-Gyu simply gave him a pained smile in response.
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