Chapter 246.1: From the Horn of Africa (1)
Two days went by in a flash. They were a peaceful two days, if one could even call it peaceful.
They received news of Kang Chul-Gyu’s hospitalization, the departure of the second team, and the deployment of the special forces team. However, much like the vehicles that the Mistral had destroyed and turned upside down in the distance, nothing affected the life at the Mongolian base.
However, on the morning of the third day, a loud car engine disrupted their silence.
Chk.
“It’s the Mongolian border patrol,” the agent on guard duty radioed in.
Those fucking bastards.
They were coming on the day of the second team’s arrival—and before breakfast, too.
“Let’s go,” Kang Chan ordered.
Click.
With rifles in their hands, Kang Chan and Oh Gwang-Taek left the barracks and headed toward the base’s entrance. The agents keeping watch above the barracks and those who came out with Kim Tae-Jin were all armed with rifles as well.
Clunk! Clunk, clunk! Creak!
Bhat stepped out of a jeep that was covered in a thick overlay and immediately walked over to Kang Chan.
“Ask him what’s going on,” Kang Chan directed.
The agent spoke in Mongolian, and Bhat answered the question with a brazen smile.
“He says he came to see if there are any problems,” the agent translated.
“What about the Mobile Base Station?” Kang Chan asked.
As the agent interpreted the question, Bhat’s expression made Kang Chan feel as if he already knew what he was going to say.
“He says he has no idea what you’re talking about,” the agent said.
Seeing Kang Chan smirk, Bhat made a face that seemed to say he was being accused of something he didn’t do. Kang Chan didn’t know if it was because his acting was horrible or if he just didn’t have the desire to hide it, but he was certainly indicating that they should move on from this subject.
Well, we don’t have any evidence, and we can’t really do anything about it.
Bhat said something again, With a look of disbelief, the agent relayed, “He’s asking if we’re going to have breakfast soon.”
“Son of a bitch!” Oh Gwang-Taek mumbled under his breath.
Pretending as if he didn’t hear anything, Bhat turned his head toward the mess hall.
“Ask him if he wants to join us for breakfast,” Kang Chan ordered.
“Yes, sir,” the agent responded.
Kang Chan then turned around to leave, and Kim Tae-Jin and Oh Gwang-Taek followed after him. They quickly finished their breakfast and had a break until nine, which was when the morning training session started.
The Mongolian border patrol spent their time scouring the site of the fight against the Russian mafia. Meanwhile, Kang Chan climbed up the barracks with an agent and stood on guard.
The training sessions that were underway were no different from military training, putting extra emphasis and focus on firearms, security, formations, and signals. Fortunately, according to the reports Kang Chan received, the learning atmosphere wasn’t too bad because Oh Gwang-Taek dove into the material with determination, which served as a good example for the others.
It was almost noon.
In the distance, Kang Chan could hear helicopters approaching—and there wasn’t just one or two of them. The morning training session seemed to have just finished in time, considering Kim Tae-Jin and Oh Gwang-Taek had come out to the front of the barracks. The Mongolian border patrol clamored over as well.
Kang Chan immediately came down from the barracks.
“Don’t let the Mongolian border patrol touch the cargo!” he ordered, making sure the interpreter knew that he was to translate his every word.
Having received Kang Chan’s command in his language, Bhat’s eyes flashed with anger, and began to spit words at the agent.
“He says this isn’t polite,” the agent told Kang Chan.
This motherfucker!
There was only so much one could take.
The helicopters had already come into view. As far as the people on the ground could tell, there were at least ten of them. Taking the amount of cargo and number of people that Kang Chan was expecting into consideration, this was way more than he thought.
“The Mongolian border patrol are all to leave the base,” Kang Chan ordered.
Surprise engulfed Bhat as soon as he heard the interpretation.
“If you do this, then we’ll collaborate with the Russian mafia. I’m sure you’re well aware why they’ve been so quiet until now,” the agent relayed.
Bhat now looked at the cargo hanging from the helicopters with a wronged and regretful expression.
It had only been two days since Kang Chan had advised Oh Gwang-Taek to remain on good terms with the border patrol. However, being on good terms with them and being a pushover were two completely different things.
Maybe things could have been different if the bastard returned the Mobile Base Station to them and apologized. Otherwise, this wasn’t going to work. He couldn’t just burst over unannounced asking them to serve the border patrol soldiers food or believe that he could take whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
Kang Chan honestly didn’t expect this punk to be so fucking shameless. At this rate, some kind of trouble would eventually break out, and he wouldn’t be around by then.
“This is your final warning. Get out of the base,” he commanded.
Seeing the look in Kang Chan’s eyes, Bhat hesitantly deliberated.
Click!
Kang Chan put his finger on his rifle’s trigger, instantly filling the agents and border patrol soldiers with tension. Regret flickered in Bhat’s eyes, but he hesitated one last time, casting a long glance at Kim Tae-Jin and Oh Gwang-Taek.
Click!
This time, Kang Chan raised his rifle.
Bhat raised both hands in the air and began to walk out of the barracks, his face full of regret.
I’m so sick of these assholes.
Despite being heavily humiliated, they left their vehicles where they were and just stood waiting outside the barracks.
Du, du, du, du, du, du, du.
Only three days had passed since Kang Chan last saw a helicopter, but he still couldn’t help but feel beyond happy and glad to see them again, and when he saw the heavy loads of cargo hanging from the aircraft, he felt as if he was the richest person on Earth. However, the Mobile Base Station excited him the most.
More than thirty men stepped off the helicopters, one of whom was Suh Sang-Hyun. They all looked pretty imposing with their sharp eyes, chiseled chins, and strong appearances.
Those with military backgrounds noticeably stood out from the rest. Their demeanor made it clear whether they were one of Kim Tae-Jin’s seniors or juniors. However, they were all polite, calling Oh Gwang-Taek, “President Oh.”
There was so much liveliness in the air as they unloaded the cargo one by one that no one could hide their smiles. There were mountains of kimchi, the soju that Oh Gwang-Taek was lamenting about, and more than five large boxes of pork belly.
“There’s not much to life! Fuck, who would’ve known that seeing pork belly would bring tears to my eyes? This is like a tank full of treasure driving into a junk shop,” Oh Gwang-Taek exclaimed, the emotions in his expression clearly showing how moved he was.
Bhat watched them with greed in his eyes, but the look on his face darkened a bit when the heavy wooden boxes were opened, revealing weapons, ammo, and the magazines that Kang Chan waited so long for. They were filled to the brim with K2 rifles, modified K3 machine guns, HK PSG sniper rifles, and grenades. One of the long boxes even had an Igla.
Kang Chan felt as if his indigestion just cleared out.
Click! Clunk! Click!
What satisfied him the most was the natural and skillful way the men picked up, carried, and set up the weapons above the barracks. They did everything exactly as Kang Chan ordered, pleasing him with everything they did.
The agents who arrived here with Kang Chan were tasked with moving the rifles, sniper rifles, and Igla.
Kang Chan had a new spring in his steps. He was so at ease that it seemed as if a protective barrier just enveloped their base.
Lastly, crates of oil came in on a series of handcarts.
“What do you think, sir?” Suh Sang-Hyun asked, his voice filled with pride. The mafia couldn’t even come close to something like this.
“It’s leagues beyond what I was expecting,” Kang Chan replied. “I have to ask, though. Why did professionals like those men take off their uniforms?”
“As the number of battlefields decreased, the soldiers were mostly promoted to operational officers. Since there are limits to how high field and combat officers can climb the ranks, they had no choice but to retire early,” Kim Tae-Jin responded.
Kang Chan could only nod.
“We have finished unloading and setting everything up,” one of the new men said.
“Great. Let’s all go introduce ourselves, then. Since this is a special occasion, why don’t we have a big feast for lunch?” Kang Chan suggested.
“Understood, sir,” the man replied.
The attitude and the tone the man used when speaking made Kang Chan feel as if the Mongolian base completely transformed into a military base.
Kang Chan, Kim Tae-Jin, and Oh Gwang-Taek were about to move out when their interpreter quickly rushed over.
“Bhat says he suddenly remembered he has our Mobile Base Station. He says he took it because he thought it was theirs,” the agent said.
“Why don’t you forgive him now?” Kim Tae-Jin suggested.
“This is as far as I go. From here on out, Gwang-Taek will be making all the decisions,” Kang Chan said.
“Hey! What’s up with you?” Oh Gwang-Taek asked with a flustered expression.
It was certainly a last-minute decision. However, at the rate things were progressing, Kang Chan would likely have to fly to Africa tomorrow. Hence, it would be best to have Oh Gwang-Taek take charge now.
“Oh Gwang-Taek, from here on out, all of this is your responsibility. I can leave for Africa with peace of mind knowing Director Kim, Director Suh, and the rest of the men who arrived here today are with you. Director Kim will take care of the security issues for now, but you’ll be making all the decisions otherwise. That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t discuss and decide other matters with him anymore, though,” Kang Chan said.
They were walking to the mess hall right now. The agents who got here first and the new arrivals were all listening to Kang Chan as he spoke.
“You’re going to leave right away?” Oh Gwang-Taek asked.
“They’re in a pretty tight position too,” Kang Chan replied.
They entered the mess hall together. After talking about it with Kim Tae-Jin, Oh Gwang-Taek decided to light a fire outside to cook meat for the border patrol soldiers under the condition that they would return the Mobile Base Station by tomorrow.
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