Chapter 245.1: Let’s Fight Together (2)
Lanok entered the barracks looking indifferent to everything, a trait peculiar to French people.
“Welcome,” Vasili greeted and gestured to the sofa. He poured him a cup of black tea, the smell wafting out and spreading all over the room. Afterward, he filled a small glass with vodka and walked over to the sofa as well.
Click.
As Vasili put the glass down on the table, Lanok took out a cigar case from his inner chest pocket. It was just big enough to have space for two cigars.
Chk chk.
The ember at the end of the cigar grew stronger with each puff from Lanok. However, it disappeared just as quickly.
“Whoo,” Lanok exhaled, making sure to turn his head to the side beforehand out of courtesy.
Vasili watched the smoke rise as he downed the vodka.
“The vodka tastes strangely sweet today,” he commented before standing up and walking to one side of the room. A moment later, he returned with a bottle of vodka.
“Vasili,” Lanok called.
Refilling his glass, Vasili replied, “I know. I’ve already called it off. The mafia won’t go after our hero’s head anymore.”
“I’ve always despised the ‘Just trust them and let them do whatever they want’ phrase the most. I don’t even believe signatures on documents. Documents are useless,” he added, then downed his second glass of vodka. “I’m not doing this because I’m afraid of dying.”
Lanok smirked, seemingly finding Vasili funny. “The thought never even crossed my mind. I doubt the legend of the Spetsnaz would fear death. All I’m saying is that we should accept the fact that we’re old now.”
“Kang Chan is still too young.”
“You’re still saying that even though you’ve watched him all this time?”
Vasili looked as if he was challenging Lanok.
“Do you really think the Spetsnaz can kill Monsieur Kang if you send them over as members of the mafia?” Lanok asked.
“It’s a possibility.”
“Whoo.” Lanok exhaled more smoke. “Are you aware that Monsieur Kang has the DMZ King on his side?”
“What?”
In an instant, one question from Lanok made the confidence in Vasili’s eyes wane.
“Monsieur Kang is that kind of man. The only person the Spetsnaz failed to destroy—the very same who gave your special forces the worst humiliation they’ve ever suffered—is working under him. What do you think of that? Personally, I believe Russia should just accept by now that Monsieur Kang will never fail.”
“Fucking South Koreans!”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
Unlike Lanok, who still seemed relaxed, Vasili looked as if he found everything unfair.
“People who are about to succeed always display two signs before they do. Good people flock to them, and...” Lanok trailed off.
“Opportunities are given to them on a silver platter,” Vasili finished.
“At this point, you should just admit that Monsieur Kang is going to succeed.”
Vasili swiftly filled up his glass again and drank it.
“Do you wholeheartedly trust Monsieur Kang?” Vasili asked.
“Whoo!” Lanok exhaled the smoke again. “Wouldn’t I have gotten rid of him already if I didn’t?”
“Who would know what a wicked French like you thinks?”
“Our wickedness is more effective than the recklessness of a Russian.”
Vasili sighed as he shook his head. “I’ve dreamed of moments like this. Each time, I was always the protagonist. The one in the spotlight. I didn’t expect to just be one of the supporting characters constantly keeping an eye out for the protagonist’s mood.”
“You’re the second most important supporting character. Be proud of that.”
“I can’t believe I’m still being overshadowed even among the supporting characters, and by some wicked Frenchman no less.”
“Would you like to join the fight now?” Lanok asked.
“I should.”
Lanok held up the cup of black tea, his cigar in between his long fingers. “Once this whole situation is over, the door to hell in the world of intelligence is going to swing wide open, Vasili.”
“I hope you’ll still be alive the next time we meet.”
“I’m going to live longer than a reckless Russian. I’ll make sure to live until it’s time for me to put flowers on your coffin.”
Vasili smirked as he prepared another glass of vodka. “The battle will start in Africa, won’t it?”
“There’s no better place for our hero’s legend to begin. After all, that’s where his codename was made.”
“God of Blackfield? No wonder I hated it as soon as I heard it!”
Vasili downed the vodka once more.
***
Du-du-du-du-du.
Kang Chul-Gyu didn’t expect he would find helicopter noises comforting.
On this battlefield, he was fighting alongside National Intelligence Service agents who used to be part of the special forces. He also had Oh Gwang-Taek and his people, who dominated Gangnam.
None of them would be afraid of being attacked at night.
Nevertheless, the noises coming from the helicopter made them feel relieved and even slightly excited.
They had grown tired of the endless wilderness, the horizon that made them feel as if they were going to get motion sickness, the wind that made their teeth chatter, the bone-chilling cold, the horrible clouds of dust, and the wolves that ate human corpses.
Perhaps that was why Kang Chul-Gyu missed mountains, trees, and plants. He missed kimchi, soju, and crowds of people. Fortunately, he would soon hop aboard the helicopter. Even if they were planning to take the shortest route to Seoul, they would still have to stop by Ulaanbaatar, which would be filled with people.
Men with dirty faces turned their heads to Kang Chul-Gyu, mixed emotions evident in their expressions.
“Sunbae-nim, please come back quickly,” Kim Tae-Jin said.
“Thank you.” Kang Chul-Gyu picked up his bag, which felt light, and looked around him.
The sunset would always dye the rugged land blood-red during hours like this.
Kang Chan was on top of the barracks, standing before the wilderness with his rifle slung over his right shoulder.
I was hoping Kang Chan would look me in the eye.
Du-du-du-du-du.
“Mr. Director! Please bring back a few bottles of soju when you come back!” Oh Gwang-Taek approached Kang Chul-Gyu. He was covered in a lot of dust.
Du-du-du-du-du.
Not long after, the wind from the helicopter blades swept through the base.
They heard Kang Chan speaking French with the pilot through the radio, but no one understood what they were saying.
The helicopter landed right in front of the base.
Kang Chul-Gyu held out his hand, and Kim Tae-Jin shook it with all his might.
‘Please come back.’
‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’
Through the look in their eyes, they conveyed emotions not even a hundred words could.
Kang Chul-Gyu didn’t want to leave a terrible impression, so he tried his best to ignore Kang Chan as he headed to the helicopter. Perhaps it was because he was in a desolated plain, or because he had just fought in combat after so long of being inactive, but he felt confused.
However, it didn’t matter. No matter the reason, he decided to accept what he was feeling.
When Kang Chan told him to come back alive, he felt as if Kang Chan truly was his son.
Du-du-du-du-du.
The helicopter soon took off, giving Kang Chul-Gyu a view of the red sunset. Despite his resolve to ignore Kang Chan, he ended up scanning the area and looking for him. When he looked down, he saw Kang Chan standing on top of a barracks with an agent.
He shouldn’t hope for more. Getting to see Kang Chan already made him thankful beyond words. He shouldn’t hope for Kang Chan to look back at him.
What right do I have to hope for things?
Gritting his teeth, Kang Chul-Gyu was about to look away when Kang Chan turned toward him.
He didn’t know that their eyes could still meet from this distance.
‘Come back alive!’
Kang Chan’s gaze was engraved into Kang Chul-Gyu’s heart. Now, he didn’t have anything else to wish for.
I’m so sorry! And thank you! Thank you so much for looking at me!
Kang Chul-Gyu looked away and took a deep breath.
Du-du-du-du-du.
The helicopter flew toward the sunset.
***
“Honey, why can’t we call him?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked Kang Dae-Kyung.
“They probably have a valid reason for it. They said that Mongolia is vastly different from South Korea, which probably means he won’t get any cell service the moment he goes even just a bit away from the city.” Kang Dae-Kyung calmed Yoo Hye-Sook—who was staring at her phone—in a relaxed manner.
“Didn’t we promise not to worry about him?” he asked.
“I miss him so much that it’s making me worry about him anyway. Don’t you miss Channy?”
“I do.”
Yoo Hye-Sook looked so surprised. Kang Dae-Kyung never answered honestly whenever she asked him that question in the past.
“If I could, I would tightly tie him up and lock him in my office,” Kang Dae-Kyung added, the absurdity of his response making Yoo Hye-Sook burst into laughter. He then asked, “Do you remember when Channy came back home and surprised us last Christmas?”
“Yes. What about it?”
“I burst into tears when Channy smiled at me.”
“Honey!” Tears welled up in Yoo Hye-Sook’s eyes, seemingly remembering how Kang Chan acted back then.
“Even since Christmas, he’s been looking like he’s having a hard time. He still had the same look on his face when he left for Mongolia, didn’t he?”
“That’s right! That’s one of the reasons why I’m even more worried right now.”
“You know, even though he seemed to be going through difficulties, Channy still worried about you more than me.”
Yoo Hye-Sook’s lips trembled.
“He would even visit and call me several times because of that. Channy also told me about moving the offices of my business and your Foundation first. No matter the news, he would always discuss things with me first because he was afraid that you would get surprised or worried,” Kang Dae-Kyung continued.
“Agh!” Yoo Hye-Sook burst into tears like a child.
“That son of ours cares about you so much that he won’t be able to work in peace if he ever learns that we’re worrying ourselves to death because of him, so whenever we can’t contact him, why don’t we just assume that he’s gone off to somewhere that has no cell service?”
“Do you have to say it like that?”
“My god, madam!” Kang Dae-Kyung reached over and wrapped his arms around Yoo Hye-Sook. “Should we tie him up and lock him in a room when he comes back after all?”
Yoo Hye-Sook giggled, her tears finally stopping. “Wherever he is, I’m sure he’s doing well,” Kang Dae-Kyung added.
“All right.” Yoo Hye-Sook nodded. She sniffled.
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