Chapter 268.1: It's an Opportunity (1)
For breakfast, Kang Chan decided to have whatever the UN had prepared. Seok Kang-Ho glared at the ramyeon and the instant rice as they left the barracks.
Akrion and his grandfather, who were already in the mess hall, nervously looked around, seemingly anxious despite having Gérard and Roberre taking care of them. Only when Kang Chan came into the establishment did they finally look relieved and at ease.
Akrion kept stealing glances at Kang Chan instead of looking at him directly, making Akrion look like a shy little girl. Kang Chan found it a little odd.
“Subax wanaagsan!”[1] Kang Chan greeted in Somali. He had picked up the language during his ten years of mercenary work in Africa.
In response, Akrion timidly smiled and fluently greeted back in the same language.
“Is that all you’re going to eat? Why not take more food?” Kang Chan asked.
Roberre quickly passed on his question to the two tribespeople.
Their expressions were enough to answer him.
Kang Chan stood next to Akrion and picked up a pair of tongs. He then put a ridiculous amount of food on the child’s plate.
“You’re malnourished, aren’t you? You have to eat a lot so you can recover. Don’t worry about anything and just eat as much as you want.”
Akrion glanced at the elder, then looked back at Kang Chan.
“Your grandfather can eat as much as he wants too,” Kang Chan said, answering Akrion’s silent concern.
Using the tongs, he picked up meat similar in size to the one he had given Akrion and put it on the elder’s plate.
The elder only had two teeth at the top and one tooth at the bottom. He looked like he would have trouble eating noodles, let alone any meat.
The elder and the albino boy put a lot of other delicacies on their plate, including mashed potatoes, salad, bread, stew, and some more meat. Sitting across from Kang Chan afterward, they set their giant plate of food on the table.
“Get this kid some milk,” Kang Chan said.
Smiling, Kwak Cheol-Ho put a glass of milk in front of Akrion.
“Mahadsanid,”[2] the elder said, thanking Kwak Cheol-Ho, before they started eating.
“Are these seats taken?”
Kang Chan turned toward the voice. Much to his surprise, Andrei, Tyler, and even Robert were right beside their table, hoping to join them for breakfast.
Why are these bastards here?
Kang Chan smirked at the trio.
“Got some time to spare after breakfast?” Robert quietly asked Kang Chan.
“Why? What’s up?”
“From the looks of it, we’ll probably withdraw and return home today. We were hoping to share a drink with you before we go our separate ways.”
“Everyone’s leaving today?”
“I’m not sure about the other teams, but we are.”
Tyler immediately added, “We’re also planning to withdraw today.”
Since Gérard would follow Kang Chan’s orders, the only one left who hadn’t decided yet was Andrei.
“Andrei,” Kang Chan called.
He was doing everything he could to stop himself from hitting Andrei’s very punchable face.
“Yeah?”
Andrei’s response was strangely filled with defiance.
This son of a bitch is really getting on my nerves!
Kang Chan smiled as he turned to Akrion. He had to hold back his anger at all costs.
“Well? What is it?” Andrei urged.
Seeing the red light had clearly driven this fucker crazy. It would be quite a feat to find someone as consistently detestable as him.
“I’ll be having a meeting with Robert and Tyler after breakfast. You can either come with us or ask the two tribespeople questions. You may talk to them only when Gérard and Daye are with them, though,” Kang Chan replied.
“All right,” Andrei forced himself to answer, then put down his fork.
Gérard’s cheek twitched in annoyance, but when Kang Chan glanced at him, he swiftly returned his attention to his food.
If they argued or fought now, they could unintentionally scare Akrion and the elder.
Pretending that nothing was wrong, Kang Chan cut up big pieces of the lamb meat with his fork and ate it.
It was strange, but a lot of African kids would turn their heads like deer and smile whenever they saw something funny.
Akrion did just that.
Perhaps it was because Kang Chan was with him, but he ate quite a lot. He didn’t even seem to mind the fact that he was sitting at a table that was a little too high for him.
How could Kang Chan put his fork down when a kid was eating so heartily right in front of him?
He remained seated at the table and kept eating, stopping only when the Akrion had finished his food.
Won’t he eating that much make him sick?
Akrion’s condition had given him white hair, eyebrows, and skin.
His people had a superstition that cutting and putting the limbs of kids like him in their homes would make them rich. They also believed that beheading albino children and keeping their heads would make their household prosper. Hence, Akrion had lived the majority of his life in fear.
That same boy had just finished all of the food on his plate and was now sitting back with a satisfied look on his face.
Deciding to digest their breakfast first, Kang Chan led the elder and the child to the benches, ignoring Andrei’s gaze. He then spent a bit of time playing and having childish conversations with the boy.
“I have to go to the barracks over there for a bit. See that person? Yes, him. While I’m gone, I want you to sit here and watch him and your grandfather talk,” Kang Chan told Akrion.
After listening to Roberre’s interpretation, the elder gave a short answer. Akrion nodded then, disappointment written all over his face.
“I’ll see you later.”
Kang Chan waved at them as he headed to the Green Berets’ barrack.
“Come on in,” Robert said.
He and the other Green Berets were in the middle of packing.
“I’ve already said everything that needed to be said yesterday. I just called you today to give you these.” Robert held out five Green Beret helmets. “These belonged to the soldiers we left behind at this base to go on the recent operation. I believe you, of all people, would know the value of these helmets.”
“My men and I thank you for commanding us, God of Blackfield,” he said as he looked straight at Kang Chan. Deep eyes like his were quite common among Caucasian men. “ We also thank the South Korean special forces team for their dedication. We’re giving these helmets in hopes that you wouldn’t leave us out if you ever find an opportunity to take revenge on those bastards.”
Kang Chan silently stared at Robert. Accepting these helmets made him feel like he was accepting an award despite having recently gotten a lot of his allies killed in combat.
The Green Berets giving these helmets to him meant that they had completely lost to Kang Chan and the South Korean team. It also symbolized their alliance and their promise to work together in taking revenge on their enemies.
Smirking, Kang Chan reached out and accepted the helmets.
Whoosh.
Tightly gritting his teeth, Robert saluted Kang Chan. He probably felt as if he was giving away his fallen brothers.
After Kang Chan returned the salute, the two put their hands down.
“Good luck out there.”
“I won’t ever forget this operation,” Kang Chan said in English.
“You can speak in English?” Robert asked, surprise evident in his expression.
“Nah. That’s all I know how to say.”
Kang Chan didn’t just play around during his training in France.
After shaking hands with Robert, Kang Chan brought the five helmets to the South Korean team’s barracks.
“Bring these inside the barracks. Consider them as the Green Berets’ respect for our team’s determination,” Kang Chan told his men.
Kwak Cheol-Ho walked over to Kang Chan, respectfully took the helmets, and headed inside.
Kang Chan had to meet with the SBS next.
On his way to the SBS’ barracks, he found Tyler sitting on a bench.
“Want some coffee?” Tyler asked.
“Sure.”
Now that he had thought about it, he hadn’t had a cup of coffee today yet.
Once Kang Chan had sat down on the bench, Tyler offered him a cigarette.
Chk chk!
“Huu!” Tyler exhaled the cigarette smoke. “Considering you already have some of our helmets, I doubt you need more.”
The gorilla’s serious expression made it hard for Kang Chan to tell if he was joking or picking a fight. Hence, he simply smirked. This was the best response he could give in moments like this.
Kang Chan glanced at Tyler, who threw his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it.
What’s he doing? Is this his way of saying that he wants to step on us like that?
“As much as I hate to admit this, I’m thankful that you took command of us during the operation,” Tyler said. He then stood up and straightened his firm shoulders. “I hope that we never have to meet as enemies.”
“Likewise.”
After they shook hands, Tyler headed to their barracks. He still had a bitter expression even though their joint operation was about to come to an end.
Extinguishing his cigarette, Kang Chan looked around him. He couldn’t see Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard.
Did they go back to the mess hall? Should I spend some time here while I’m waiting for my coffee? No, I should let that one go. If Tyler forgets about his offer because he’s busy packing, that cup of coffee is going to make me look ridiculous.
Kang Chan stood up and headed to the mess hall.
1. Good morning in Somali ?
2. Thank you in Somali ?
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