Chapter 63.2: Unicorn Project (3)

After leaving the Gangnam Police Station and about five minutes on the road, Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung stopped in front of an office-use building with a subway station behind it.

“Let’s go.”

After Kang Chan got out, the car left. Kim Hyung-Jung and Kang Chan went inside the building and took the elevator.

“This building is registered under the Nam Young Company. However, it's really the National Intelligence Service's Gangnam branch office,” Kim Hyung-Jung explained.

The elevator was narrow. It only had space for about five people.

They went out of the elevator on the fifth floor, and Kim Hyung-Jung took out a card from the pocket of his dress shirt. He then pressed it on the lock, opening the iron door with a

click

.

“We registered this building that way because the solicitors were annoying us too much.”

A translucent glass partition blocked the room’s interior. Kim Hyung-Jung turned to the right and opened the door inside, the lock of which also required a key card.

The room was wide and had a luxurious sofa, bookshelf, and a large desk at the very back of the room.

“Have a seat,” Kim Hyung-Jung told Kang Chan.

Kim Hyung-Jung pressed the intercom device on the desk, then sat on the sofa. “Bring us some coffee.”

A female employee soon entered and served them coffee.

Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung each lit up a cigarette, then took a sip of coffee.

“You’re classified as a special agent of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service. Regardless of what you’re up to here or in other countries, all of South Korea’s institutions are set up to cooperate with you.”

Kim Hyung-Jung glanced at Kang Chan, then continued.

“Your criminal immunity applies even to murder. We normally don’t tell people that, but I decided you should be aware of that in case things get messed up again like what happened today. No matter the problem that arises, please call us before doing anything. That honestly makes it easier for us to take care of it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The cigarette smoke got completely sucked into the vent in the ceiling.

“This isn’t just because of your relationship with Ambassador Lanok. This is the result of all that transpired up until this point, including the whole situation with the Neck Ghost. This is also because our friend Kim Tae-Jin endured everything until now.

Kim Hyung-Jung stretched out his neck to gesture at it. “I’ve even put this on the line.”

When Kang Chan laughed out loud, Kim Hyung-Jung laughed with him.

“If the rail is connected, then it’ll likely be the greatest administrative achievement in South Korea’s history. Don’t even get me started on the enormous benefits it’d bring to the country. I don’t fear being fired if we fail. I just don’t want South Korea to be constantly wary of Japan and North Korea. That’s why I’m putting my life on the line for this.”

“Mr. Manager.” Kang Chan took out another cigarette, then called Kim Hyung-Jung as he lit it.

“You think Lanok’s going to refuse or lay down a troublesome condition, aren’t you?”

“That’s right.”

Kim Hyung-Jung seemed to have decided to disclose his thoughts, considering the immediate answer he just gave.

“We specially employed Mr. Seok Kang-Ho and Yoo Bi-Corp’s five employees because you said that you needed people that you can easily work with,” Kim Hyung-Jung explained.

“Tsk!”

It felt like things had progressed too much, but it couldn’t be reversed now. He didn't want to abandon the mission.

“If this succeeds, then South Korea will be a central figure that connects the continent. There are six months left until the announcement. In that time frame, South Korea has to be included in that plan.”

“Couldn’t South Korea just connect to the rail later on?” Kang Chan asked.

“All countries linked to the rail have to agree, so that’s practically impossible. The interests of each country are all different, after all.”

“What if North Korea suddenly blocks off the rail?”

“Any country that does that will be isolated without question. And even North Korea isn't dumb enough to give up on the massive amount of earnings they can get from the customs duty. The biggest reason why China tried so hard to stop North Korea was that they were trying to blockade the Wonsan Seaport, and move the shipping bay to the Dang Dong Port”

Hearing that made Kang Chan’s head spin.

“Currently, the forces opposing Lanok are hesitating now that Sharlan has been arrested. Moreover, every country’s National Intelligence agents are crowding into Russia. It wouldn’t be wrong to say they’re risking their lives to cling to this matter, considering three gunfights have already broken out in Europe. And meanwhile…”

Kim Hyung-Jung looked straight at Kang Chan.

“The key figure in the ‘Unicorn’ project is coming to South Korea, and he’s meeting you first before anyone else.”

“That’s thrilling,” Kang Chan commented.

They both smirked.

“Let’s have lunch.”

Kim Hyung-Jung got up from his seat, walked to the desk, and brought over a menu that had a variety of food choices written on it.

“The specialty jjamppong here is amazing,” Kim Hyung-Jung said.

When Kang Chan said he wanted that with a smile, Kim Hyung-Jung ordered two bowls of the specialty jjamppong through the intercom device.

The more Kang Chan talked to him, the better he seemed as a person.

In the middle of their meal, Seok Kang-Ho and Kim Tae-Jin both called him because they were worried. Kang Chan apologized to them and told them that he was currently with Kim Hyung-Jung.

***

After having lunch, Kang Chan refused Kim Hyung-Jung’s offer to give him a ride. Instead, he took a taxi to the school. The jjamppong really was delicious, enough for him to think he should come back later with the others.

When he went into the school, he found the bullies practicing martial arts in the sports field. Seok Kang-Ho, who was in the stands, turned his gaze to Kang Chan and acknowledged him.

“What happened?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.

In response, Kang Chan told him what had happened in detail as he looked around their surroundings.

“Ah, jeez. Things like that still happen?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.

“It felt like it was orchestrated. If I was powerless, I wouldn't have been able to live through such unfair treatment..”

“I doubt normal citizens could even do what you did, considering they’d already be scared just for having to go to a police station. Anyway, I'm just glad this has been resolved.”

Kang Chan watched Cho Se-Ho while listening to Seok Kang-Ho. He could see quite a bit of talent in him.

“President Kim Tae-Jin had deposited money into my account. I even got two calls from the bank this morning. Can I really accept it?” asked Seok Kang-Ho.

“Manager Kim Hyung-Jung said that I should hold on to the things I’m given. Hang onto it. There’s got to be somewhere you can use it, right?”

“Tsk. That’s true, but my salary now looks shabby since people keep mentioning hundreds of millions whenever they talk to me.”

“Let’s stop the money talk here,” Kang Chan said.

“Alright.”

The two of them turned their attention to the kids that were working out.

Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—.

Kang Chan checked his phone when it rang. It was Oh Gwang-Taek.

“Hello?”

- Hey. Kang Chan, did you beat up the kids from Woo Ak-San as well?

“I’m not sure if it’s them, but there were five guys that came into my office. The Gangnam Police Station took care of them today.”

- Ha! No wonder the old men were spouting bullshit. Alright. I’ll stand by and see what happens now that things had ended up like this. Take care of yourself, and don’t overdo it.

What Oh Gwang-Taek said at the end could’ve been annoying, but it ended up making Kang Chan smile instead since he said it so casually and familiarly.

Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—.?

Thinking he was such a busy person, Kang Chan held up his phone again. It was Lanok this time.

“Yes, Mr. Ambassador.”

- Monsieur Kang, it’s Lanok. Can we meet at the Namsan Hotel at 3 pm?”

“You’re already in South Korea?”

- My schedule ended up like that. Is the time okay?

“Yes. I’ll be there.”

- See you soon.

After hanging up the phone, Kang Chan immediately called Kim Hyung-Jung and told him about his call with Lanok.

“He’s set to enter South Korea from China,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied, his tone slightly higher than normal.

Kang Chan then talked to Kim Tae-Jin. Afterward, he couldn’t help but feel like he now had free time until 3 pm.

“Things are really starting to move, huh?,” Seok Kang-Ho commented.

“Seems like it.”

“Imagine if Lanok just tells you, ‘I accept your proposal,’ this evening.”

“Phuhu, how good would it be if he did that?”

They grinned at each other. Soon after, the bullies crowded the stands.

“I’m going to teach them a bit,” Seok Kang-Ho told Kang Chan.

“I should also get going.”

“Alright.”

While Seok Kang-Ho was warming up after going down the stands, Kang Chan’s eyes met Heo Eun-Sil’s. He had become used to her bare face after seeing it so often.

‘Why do they keep doing that?’

Heo Eun-Sil was looking straight at Kang Chan, which Eun So-Yeon did yesterday. He couldn’t help but feel something was strangely off.

“Gather round, all of you,” Seok Kang-Ho soon called them, which made Heo Eun-Sil look away.

Kang Chan received the same type of gaze for two days in a row now. The look in their eyes showed that they were afraid, but they weren’t avoiding him.

One thing was for certain: Heo Eun-Sil’s guts and ability to take punches were amazing.

***

Kang Chan watched the kids work out for a bit more, then took a taxi to the Namsan Hotel. With thirty minutes left to spare, he went into the lobby and ordered a glass of a cold drink.

He sat close to a window on purpose. Not wanting to see Joo Chul-Bum or have anyone show up and greet him, he faced the window.

Kang Chan placed his phone down on top of the table and held up the drink that the employee brought over for him.

Soon, however, he saw two men with extraordinary postures come into the hotel. He didn’t intend to look at them. However, the pillars in the middle of every window were sparkling, causing the window to reflect the entrance.

‘Who are they? Are they guarding Lanok?’

If not, then they could be employees that Kim Hyung-Jung had sent.

The two men looked around the lobby, then hastily headed elsewhere after looking in Kang Chan’s direction.

Kang Chan held up his phone.

- Please go ahead, Mr. Kang Chan.

“Mr. Manager, did you send agents to the hotel?”

- I only have them positioned on the outskirts of the hotel since I didn’t want to cause any fights with Lanok’s people. Is something wrong?

“I asked just to be sure. I’ll call you after I look into it a bit more.”

- Alright. We’ll remain on standby. Call us immediately if you need help with anything.

While Kang Chan was talking on the phone, the two men went inside, towards the right of the hotel and hid.

1. Wonsan Seaport is a seaport in North Korea

2. the Dang Dong Port is an artificial deep-water seaport on the coast of Dang Dong City, China