Chapter 254.2: Surdkad (1)
Kim Hyung-Jung had been so busy since the crack of dawn that his soul probably couldn’t catch up with him. He had a presidential briefing yesterday, and he immediately had to take care of the requests from the Mongolian base today as soon as he woke up. To top it all off, he also had to handle the reports that were coming in from the National Intelligence Service agents all over Europe.
He received important reports every day, so this should’ve been nothing new, but today, all the intelligence from the agents came in as coded messages with red “Top Secret” markings. It was as if they had collectively decided to pull a prank on him. He was already overwhelmed just sorting out and processing the information.
‘Is there some kind of war going on?’
There was so much urgent and important information rushing in all at once that he couldn’t even think straight. To make things worse, the agency picked up strange movements from the Arabs as well.
Ring, ring, ring. Ring, ring, ring. Ring, ring, ring.
The phone on his desk rang a couple of times before he picked up its receiver.
“Kim Hyung-Jung speaking,” he greeted.
- I’m at the hospital, sir. The patient has just woken up.
“Got it. I’m on my way. Make sure you keep security tight,” Kim Hyung-Jung ordered the agent.
- Yes, sir.
Kin Hyung-Jung set down the receiver and sent all the information he had gone through to the analysis room via the agency’s internal communication network.
Within the next three hours, he would be getting reports updating him about the situation.
Heading underground, he pulled out his phone and pressed the call button.
- What is it?
Jeon Dae-Geuk’s gruff voice immediately came through the call.
“Kang Sunbae has regained consciousness,” Kim Hyung-Jung informed him.
- Really?
Jeon Dae-Geuk sounded extremely pleased. He had been waiting to hear this news since the surgery.
- I should be able to visit him tomorrow morning at the earliest. What about you?
“I’m already on my way to the hospital,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.
- I see. While I have you, any updates on the support for Africa?
“We sent a shipment yesterday. It should arrive later today.”
Kim Hyung-Jung stepped into a car as soon as he reached the underground parking lot.
“Section Chief,” he then called.
- Why don’t you call me back later if it isn’t anything urgent?
“It’s something related to the two-zero-zero,” Kim Hyung-Jung stated.
Two-zero-zero was code for the presidential guard.
Jeon Dae-Geuk remained silent, choosing to wait for Kim Hyung-Jung’s next words.
Kim Hyung-Jung continued, “All the rice fields and mountains are moving quite fast. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
- I thought you said it was something related to the two-zero-zero’s tasks?
“Well, we’re caught in the middle of that movement. There are only two reasons why all the rice fields and mountains would be targeting us.”
- I see.
“We’ll know for sure after the analysis reports come out in the afternoon, but until this incident is settled, I think you should focus on Code One,” Kim Hyung-Jung stated.
The call abruptly ended as soon as he was done talking. Considering the nature of Jeon Dae-Geuk’s job, strengthening security was far more urgent and important to him than making small talk just so they could put a smooth end to their conversation.
They had to quickly figure out why the intelligence bureaus from the United States and all the European countries were moving so fast. More importantly, they had to analyze the reason those intelligence bureaus were willing to incur heavy expenses and use every satellite at their disposal just to collect information on South Korea.
They had given the United States the codename of rice fields. The mountains were Europe.
South Korea was struggling just to match the pace of these powerful countries’ agencies. Why would they be so intent on gathering information on a country they always deemed boring?
Kim Hyung-Jung frowned as he got lost in his thoughts.
The car soon pulled up in front of a hospital. An agent waiting for him immediately guided him to the elevator.
After putting on a sterilized suit complete with a cap, shoes, and gloves, Kim Hyung-Jung went through a disinfection process once more before getting to walk over to Kang Chul-Gyu’s bedside.
The skinny Kang Chul-Gyu slowly raised his gaze to him.
“Sunbae, it’s me, Kim Hyung-Jung,” Kim Hyung-Jung greeted.
Kang Chul-Gyu still didn’t seem to have gotten his bearings yet. His lips moved, seemingly to say something, but it was too faint to hear.
“Sorry?” Kim Hyung-Jung asked.
When Kang Chul-Gyu forced his lips to move again, Kim Hyung-Jung bent over and lowered his ear to Kang Chul-Gyu’s mouth.
“What about... Kang Chan?” Kang Chul-Gyu managed to rasp out.
Kim Hyung-Jung masked his expression before raising his head again. With a smile, he answered, “He’s doing fine.”
Kang Chul-Gyu’s lips moved again.
“Thirty men flew to Mongolia when they heard that you were there. Everyone’s waiting for you, so hurry and recover,” Kim Hyung-Jung said with a grin.
Kang Chul-Gyu blinked as if to thank him.
***
The Somalis seemed somewhat rejuvenated and well-rested now that they had eaten breakfast. However, that all changed when Roberre, who made sure they were fully fed before breaking the news, told them that government officials and Red Cross workers would be guiding them back to their homes.
Hushed murmurs erupted inside the cave. The people exchanged glances. Eventually, their chatter started growing louder and louder.
“Aamusay! Aamusay!” Roberre shouted, barely managing to contain the commotion.
Before silence could settle back in, a black woman started to wave her hand in the air. She seemed to be expressing her displeasure with the option presented to them.
Roberre looked at Kang Chan with a troubled expression.
“She says she would rather stay here because she can’t trust them. She hopes you would instead save the other Somali hostages and bring them here,” Roberre interpreted.
“Did you tell them that the people we’re handing them over to are government officials and Red Cross workers?” Kang Chan asked.
“They can’t trust them because they’ve never met them before.”
Kang Chan let out a low sigh. It wasn’t as if they had met him before this operation either.
“Tell them to meet the government officials and the Red Cross workers first. We can make a decision after.”
Roberre turned around to the hostages and spoke in Somali again. The woman from earlier replied immediately after, and several others followed her lead, nodding in agreement and backing her words up.
Kang Chan finally understood Seok Kang-Ho’s frustration for not being able to understand French.
He watched as the woman spoke rapidly and suddenly pointed a finger at him. The other Somalis in the cave nodded or clapped, expressing their agreement.
Roberre quickly turned his head back to Kang Chan.
“They say they will follow them if you go with them, Captain,” Roberre said.
Is it because the trip going back to their home would be dangerous?
Kang Chan looked back at Roberre, wondering what he should do, when the Somali woman began to speak again. Applause rang out in the cave once more.
“They say that you’re the guardian of Mount Surdkad. It’s a legend that is passed down among their tribe. According to the story, the mountain supposedly glows red when the guardian of Mount Surdkad returns to protect the people. It’s something along those lines, at least. The bottom line is they really want to take you with them,” Roberre said.
Damn it!
“I didn’t know you’re so popular with the Somalis,” Gérard joked, amusement clear on his face.
Unable to bring himself to believe what was happening, Kang Chan threateningly scowled at Gérard before returning his attention to the hostages. He didn’t know what he should do next.
“Do we really have to think about this so hard? If we offer to escort them, it’ll be hard for the government officials and the Red Cross workers to say no. We can then use them as an excuse to shoot any insurgents that would block our way,” Gérard said with a grin.
Kang Chan nodded in agreement. “I’ll talk to the officials so we can start planning. While I’m gone, get everyone ready to move out.”
As soon as he got out of the cave, he informed Seok Kang-Ho, Park Chul-Su, and Cha Dong-Gyu that they would likely be escorting the Somalis. He then headed down the mountain. Upon reaching the bottom of it, he found the government official and the Red Cross worker he had talked to earlier waiting in the shade. They stood up with relieved and curious faces.
“We will accompany you to the destination point,” Kang Chan said, getting straight to the point.
A hint of discomfort flashed across the Red Cross worker’s face. However, he quickly composed himself and feigned indifference before turning to the government official.
The two had a short discussion for a bit before Mike turned back around and replied to Kang Chan.
“Understood. If you can, please hurry things up. We should avoid leaving in the afternoon.”
“How much time do we have before then?” Kang Chan asked.
“About an hour.”
“I’ll come down with the hostages as soon we’re ready to go.”
Kang Chan climbed up the mountain again.
“Gérard! Looks like we’re going to be escorting them. Have the women, children, wounded, and ill hop on the trucks!” he ordered as soon as he reached their camp.
“Got it, Captain!” Gérard shouted in response.
Kang Chan repeated the same information to Park Chul-Su and Seok Kang-Ho before telling the soldiers to prepare to head out.
Noisy rumbles echoed from inside the cave. A few moments later, Somalis emerged into the clearing. Their thin legs wobbled as they walked.
As Roberre shouted over the noise, Gérard gestured with his chin to give priority to those who were going to board the trucks.
Footsteps and clunking noises from the soldiers’ equipment filled the area in front of the cave.
It took them about twenty minutes to get the wounded into the trucks. Because there was an ample amount of space left, they picked a few more people to board the vehicles.
The soldiers divided themselves into three. As soon as they boarded the vehicles, they positioned themselves in a way that would let them keep an eye out from within the trucks.
Vroom!
When the engines of the Humvees and trucks roared awake, the palpable tension and anxiety crashed on them. The government officials and Red Cross workers’ vehicles lead the convoy, followed by a Humvee, the people on foot, the three trucks with soldiers, and lastly, another Humvee.
“Let’s go!” Kang Chan shouted.
Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Gérard would be traveling by foot to command the front, left, and right sides of their formation. The soldiers accompanying them surrounded the Somalis who would also be walking.
Not long after they started their journey, a woman began to sing a song that was characteristic of African tribes.
“Uiwa-ya!”
The rest of the Somalis soon joined her.
“Uiwa-ya!”
The dust, the song, and the hot sun once again reminded Kang Chan that he was back in Africa.
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