Chapter 162.1: The first steps (1)

Time flew by too fast. Kang Chan felt a slight pang of regret when he returned to the apartment complex’s entrance with Kim Mi-Young.

People and their emotions were quite peculiar. Without actually having to speak, one could express their thoughts or understand another just by looking into their eyes.

“Mi-Young, isn’t it tough to study so hard?” Kang Chan asked, breaking the silence.

“Well, studying has always just been a part of my life, and it’s actually fun now that I have a goal in mind. This is the first time ever that I’ve had so much fun studying,” Kim Mi-Young replied lightly.

Were things more fun when there were set goals to achieve? Was he happy when he managed to successfully protect his team members in the past? He couldn’t be sure.

Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young had already stepped inside the apartment complex. They couldn’t go any further, so that marked the end of their walk.

“All right. Get home safe,” Kang Chan said.

“Will do! Don’t feel too pressured about coming to school for lunch, okay? I’ll catch you later!” Kim Mi-Young said with a grin.

After Kang Chan nodded in response, Kim Mi-Young turned around to go home.

It occurred to him that he still hadn’t received any phone call yet even though it was already a little past eleven. It made him feel a little worried and anxious.

I’m sure Kim Hyung-Jung will take care of it just fine.?

When he entered his room, he waited for a little while in case a call came through, but eventually fell asleep.

***

After his morning workout, Kang Chan came back home to take a shower and have breakfast. Through it all, he didn’t receive a call or get any particular feeling in his gut. However, while he was waiting for Yoo Hye-Sook to finish changing into a new outfit, a news broadcast on the television that read “breaking news” captured his gaze. The announcer began to deliver the news with a stiff expression.

[We have breaking news. China has designated all South Korean export items within its territory as prohibited items. This will take effect at eight o’clock this morning in Korean Standard Time. The country has also initiated an investigation into the status of South Korean companies in China. We will now connect with our correspondent Han Gyu-Seok in Beijing for more details.]

The shot on the screen changed, and the correspondent began to explain the situation in a somewhat frantic tone.

“How did something so ridiculous like this end up happening?” Kang Dae-Kyung muttered to himself as he focused on the TV.

The correspondent reported that investigations into South Korean companies within China were being conducted comprehensively and intensively, focusing on labor conditions, tax evasion, and other aspects. As a result, their factories currently could not operate.

“It sounds like they’re practically declaring war on us,” Kang Dae-Kyung worriedly remarked.

“Is it that bad?” Kang Chan asked.

“Well, the stock market will be in chaos as soon as the clock strikes eight. Our country heavily depends on exports to China, so the severity of this situation can’t even be put into words,” Kang Dae-Kyung replied. He looked as if he had a hard time believing the report despite watching the news himself.

[We will now also examine the responses of other countries to China’s extreme measures.]

.

Kang Chan recalled what Yang Bum had told him. The original plan was for Kang Chan to cooperate with China to eliminate a traitor and his political enemies in one go. However, the way the opposing side counterattacked left South Korea with no other choice but to replace their current prime minister and National Intelligence Service director. If so, Moon Jae-Hyun’s assassination would likely follow that, resulting in all the protection Kang Chan had vanishing into thin air.

Frankly, Kang Chan could care less about not being guarded.

“What’s going on, Honey?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked.

However, without the protection, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, who had just walked out of the master bedroom with absolutely no idea about what was happening, could get into truly dangerous situations.

“I guess China is pretty mad about something,” Kang Dae-Kyung responded.

“Well, let’s not worry about that right now. We’re going to be late at this rate, dear,” Yoo Hye-Sook urged him.

“All right. Let’s head to work,” Kang Dae-Kyung said.

After seeing his parents off, Kang Chan sat on the sofa and continued to watch the news.

He was aware that he shouldn’t believe everything that was being reported, but watching this broadcast was the fastest way to get caught up on what was currently going on.

This was no doubt a major defeat since he didn’t see it coming at all, allowing it to take him completely by surprise. To make matters worse, the North Korean special forces team could be lying in wait anywhere, ready for action.

[We have just received more breaking news.]

The angle of the camera changed again as the announcer looked between the script and the camera.

[Prime Minister Go Gun-Woo has apologized to the people for not preventing this Chinese incident from taking place, and he has submitted a letter of resignation to the president.]

The announcer gave way for the reporter to speak again, requesting an update on the situation.

After that, it was just talk that was to be expected. There were analyses about how the prime minister’s resignation was an inevitable decision and informed speculation that the government could have known about this incident beforehand.

[What’s surprising is the response from National Assembly Chairman Huh Ha-Soo. In light of this incident, Chairman Huh Ha-Soo quickly rushed to China, departing from the country an hour before the announcement was made. His reaction stands in stark contrast to the current state of confusion within the government.]

Beep.?

Kang Chan turned the TV off. The report had been going well before suddenly going off on an absurd tangent.

In stark contrast to the government, they say?

Well, Kang Chan couldn’t argue with that. After all, one side was trying to protect the country while the other was trying to sell it off.

Kang Chan wondered if he should call Kim Hyung-Jung but figured that the man was probably too busy right now. If Kim Hyung-Jung was curious about something or wanted to ask for Kang Chan’s help, he definitely would have already called by now. At the moment, Kim Hyung-Jung was likely stressfully occupied trying to prevent the impeachment of the president and the replacement of the NIS director, given that China and Huh Ha-Soo had apparently banded together.

I’ll give it some time before calling him.?

What was Lanok doing right now, though? There was no way that snake didn’t foresee this from happening. However, Kang Chan remembered how grim Lanok sounded earlier when he answered the phone.

Unfortunately, Kang Chan couldn’t do anything in this situation, especially with regard to its political aspects. He looked outside the veranda with all kinds of frustrating thoughts running through his mind.

For now, he deliberated between two choices—whether he should wait or take matters into his own hands.

He didn’t know about Go Gun-Woo, but Hwang Ki-Hyun was a different matter. If Hwang Ki-Hyun were to step down as the director of the NIS, a dagger would immediately be held against Kang Chan’s neck next. What could he possibly do in this situation? Things were becoming tricky now.

If Kang Chan killed Huh Ha-Soo, China would proceed to screw them over worse than what they were doing right now. Moreover, he didn’t even know where the North Korean special forces team was currently at.

A flash of intense irritation simmered inside him when the phone suddenly began to ring.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.?

Kang Chan hurried back to his room and picked up his phone.

“Hello, Mr. Ambassador. This is Kang Chan,” he answered.

- I apologize, Mr. Kang Chan. I was held up by a few affairs. Do you have time to meet today?

“Yes, I can head to where you are as soon as we finish this call. Where do you want me to go?”

- Brilliant. The embassy would be best.

“Got it. I’m on my way,” Kang Chan replied.

Kang Chan soon left his apartment, strangely feeling more reassured.

While heading toward the embassy in a taxi, Seok Kang-Ho gave him a call. Seok Kang-Ho had a mix of both surprise and curiosity in his voice.

“I’m on my way to see the ambassador right now. I’ll call you when I’m done,” Kang Chan informed him.

“Got it,” Seok Kang-Ho replied. He was probably feeling uneasy too.

As soon as Kang Chan arrived at the embassy, an agent escorted him up to Lanok’s office.

“Welcome, Mr. Kang Chan,” Lanok greeted him with an attitude that was no different from usual. Cigars, tea, and ashtrays were already prepared for Kang Chan. “Why did you want to speak to me?”

“Yang Bum called me yesterday, Mr. Ambassador,” Kang Chan replied. There was no way this snake wasn’t aware of the political situation in China. Nevertheless, Kang Chan began to calmly explain what took place yesterday, starting from Yang Bum’s call to the morning news broadcast. “... so if it’s all right with you, I would like to take down Huh Ha-Soo using Xavier.”

“Xavier is no longer able to tell tales,” Lanok replied.

He killed Xavier?

Lanok delivered the news to him so nonchalantly as he pieced and ate a biscuit next to the black tea.

“He appeared to be aware of the situation, having listened in to everything. If we sent him back, the United States’ intelligence agency would learn about the discussions that you, Ludwig, Vasili, and I had, along with your contact with the Chinese embassy.” Lanok explained to Kang Chan why Xavier had to die in the same composed tone that he normally used.

So this is what information warfare is like.?

“Moreover, even if we kept Xavier alive, he would never have been any help to us. He would have pretended to cooperate with us, then changed his mind the moment he found the best opportunity to make things problematic. Once the United States successfully managed to pressure us into giving him back, you would have been the one in a difficult position,” Lanok added.

What kind of twisted tutoring session is this??

Kang Chan felt as if he was being taught right now.