Chapter 164.1: We don’t have much time (1)

“Manager Kim, why would Huh Ha-Soo want to see me?” Kang Chan asked.

Kim Hyung-Jung shook his head, his gaze unmoving from the table.

“I have no idea. I’m sure it’s not just because he wants to put up an immature show of strength, but I also doubt he would ask you to go to the embassy to make you apologize,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.

“Let’s do it, then,” Kang Chan stated.

“I beg your pardon?” Kim Hyung-Jung asked in surprise.

“I don’t see why I shouldn’t meet him. He has no reason to request my presence, so the fact that he’s asking for me has to mean that they want something. In return for accepting his demand, tell him to postpone processing the prime minister’s resignation letter to Monday,” Kang Chan suggested.

Kim Hyung-Jung looked like he had a hard time believing that was going to happen.

“Why don’t you make the call? The worst they can do is say no,” Kang Chan reassured him.

“Understood.” Kim Hyung-Jung immediately picked up the phone to explain the situation. “Mr. Kang Chan has requested to postpone the processing of the Prime Minister's resignation letter until Monday. Yes, sir. Yes, I will wait on standby.”

After hanging up the phone, Kim Hyung-Jung turned back to Kang Chan.

“They said they would call back when they’ve reached an answer. Ah, also, Mr. Kang Chan…” Kim Hyung-Jung trailed off. He looked as if he had a difficult favor to ask.

“Please trust the director,” he insisted even though Kang Chan already said no to this request.

“To be completely frank, the president will not agree to any plan that isn’t legal and fair. However, if we want to outmatch people in power like Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo, we’re going to need a separate organization, like the one France’s DGSE has,” Kim Hyung-Jung said firmly, his eyes filled with a sense of duty. “We will buy time using North Korea’s provocation and Russia’s announcement. If that isn’t enough, I will assassinate Huh Ha-Soo myself.”

“You can’t be serious!” Kim Tae-Jin exclaimed in shock, but Kim Hyung-Jung remained steadfast.

“However, at the very least, I must have the director’s commands. All we have to do is make the composition of the Eurasian Special Forces more independent. I will handle the creation of subsequent reports.”

Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep.

Kim Hyung-Jung immediately answered the phone.

“Yes, sir. Yes. That is more than enough time. We will get to the Hannam-Dong safe house by five,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.

The call ended soon after. Kang Chan now knew where Huh Ha-Soo wanted to meet.

“Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo was willing to delay the prime minister’s resignation to Monday in exchange for meeting you, Mr. Kang Chan. I didn’t think it would work,” Kim Hyung-Jung mused.

They had managed to buy at least three days. However, this also meant that Huh Ha-Soo could easily afford a holdup of that much time in his schemes.

“Mr. Kang Chan, this is all the more reason I suggest you work with the director. I went so far as to write a resignation letter to connect the Eurasian Rail to South Korea, and I joined the Mongolian operation too. If becoming a murderer means our nation can stand tall, that’s what I’ll do,” Kim Hyung-Jung asserted.

Anyone witnessing the solemn resolve in Kim Hyung-Jung’s eyes would not have been able to tell him no. Even Kim Tae-Jin and Seok Kang-Ho looked at him with stiff expressions.

“I understand. Then please handle the negotiation with the National Intelligence Service to establish a new organization, Manager Kim. And Director Kim, please persuade Section Chief Jeon to give us command over General Choi Seong-Geon,” Kang Chan said.

Kim Tae-Jin only became more worried.

“I have no doubts about trusting you, but once organizations like this begin to act out of personal greed, they will be swept up in an unescapable raging whirlpool. Are you sure about this?” Kim Tae-Jin asked.

Kang Chan only confidently smiled in response, making Kim Tae-Jin appear apologetic.

“Now, let’s have lunch!” Seok Kang-Ho chimed.

“Good call, Mr. Seok. I have been feeling hungry from a small breakfast, but who could suggest eating in this atmosphere? We can order to the room, right?” Kim Tae-Jin asked with a grin.

Seok Kang-Ho found a menu that was under the room phone and ordered some bibimbap. After they ate and had coffee, they reviewed the situation again one by one from the beginning.

“We can use this room until tomorrow, right?” Kim Tae-Jin confirmed.

“Yes, sir. Should we regroup here after meeting Huh Ha-Soo?” Kang Chan asked.

“Let’s decide on that when we get more information later. I was just asking because this seems like a good place to meet up late without attracting any unwanted attention,” Kim Tae-Jin said.

As the time to meet Huh Ha-Soo approached, Kim Tae-Jin left to see Jeon Dae-Geuk, and Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung rode in Seok Kang-Ho’s car. It took about ten minutes to reach the safe house. Agents greeted Kang Chan’s party when they arrived.

“Mr. Seok, please come with me,” Kim Hyung-Jung guided Seok Kang-Ho to the left side of the building. Kang Chan thought there was probably a waiting room or something of the sort there.

“Please wait here,” an agent said after politely escorting Kang Chan to the living room. He then left him alone.

This was where Kang Chan had eaten breakfast after leading the operation in France. He supposed the same location could feel vastly different depending on who one was meeting.

The middle-aged woman in the kitchen prepared him some tea.

‘Is she also an agent?’

She certainly didn’t move like an ordinary citizen. He couldn’t tell if she was a good cook who received training to become an agent or if she was an agent selected for this task due to her cooking skills.

As he let his train of thought run free, bustling noises suddenly came from outside. The front doors opened soon after, and a man with a bald scalp entered following an agent.

It had to be Huh Ha-Soo.

Kang Chan stood up to observe the man.

For one, he was tall. He had brushed the hair on the left part of his head over the top, empty section to cover it up, and his face was shining with oil. He had small, beady eyes and a flat nose save for the tip, which was turned up.

“Mr. Kang Chan, the high schooler?” Huh Ha-Soo greeted as he offered a hand. “I’ve heard many things about you. Why don’t we sit?”

He acted so at ease that it was as if he just walked into his own home. When he sat down, he was ordered tea to be brought out from the kitchen.

“Give us some space, will you?” Huh Ha-Soo pressed. At his request, the agent waiting at the back exited through the front door. The middle-aged woman went back to the kitchen as well.

“I heard you’re quite the scary student, but you’re quite handsome. Have some tea,” Huh Ha-Soo said as he gestured to a cup with a hand covered in age spots.

‘What does he have to say that he’s making so much small talk?’

Kang Chan was willing to listen, though, so he silently drank his tea.

“We don’t have much time, so let me get straight to the point,” Huh Ha-Soo stated, raising his left arm to look at his watch. “I know you connected South Korea to the Eurasian Rail and are close friends with the French ambassador. Although our perspectives differ, I suggested that we meet because the desire for the country to progress is something I believe we have in common.”

Huh Ha-Soo lifted his gaze as if to seek agreement, and then continued with a mock-pouting expression.

“You shouldn't fall for clumsy ploys and ruin things for the greater good, boy. The people around you will compliment you so they can take advantage of you and trick you into doing tasks under the guise that it’s for the country. However, when you look closer, they’re just shallow schemes that would allow those people to take power for themselves,” Huh Ha-Soo said as if to counsel Kang Chan.

“What is it that you want to say?” Kang Chan formally asked.

Huh Ha-Soo looked at Kang Chan with a dissatisfied expression. “Don’t act like you’re on top of the world just because of the Eurasian Rail. Experience isn’t something that can be easily gained. The reason I requested to meet you today is because I want to give you, someone of talent, my generosity by presenting to you an opportunity.”

Kang Chan only tilted his head in response.

“I intend to connect the Eurasian Rail to Japan’s underwater tunnel. I hope you can set up a meeting for me with the founder.”

Is this old man out of his mind?

Kang Chan could never have imagined he would be getting this type of offer inside the safe house of the National Intelligence Service.

“We are a nation that cannot survive without the assistance of China and Japan. Connecting the railway to Japan and accepting their advanced technologies will be of greater help to our country in the long run, a hundred years or two from now. What you require right now is the foresight to see far into the future,” Huh Ha-Soo admonished.

Kang Chan forced his smirk down.

“The victim always has a reason for getting beat up. Whether it’s because he did something worth getting hit or because he was weak in the first place, there will always be a valid reason for it. If Japan didn’t colonize us, we would still be wearing traditional black skirts and white jeogori garments, stupidly living in poverty, wouldn’t we?” Huh Ha-Soo attempted to reason.

Kang Chan looked directly into Huh Ha-Soo’s eyes. Much to his surprise, Huh Ha-Soo seemed as if he sincerely believed what he said.

Was this bastard mentally wrong in the head?

“For our country, the Eurasian Rail is like casting pearls before swine. Owning it just means China and Japan will eventually take it from uss. In that case, it is a hundred times wiser to build it with them instead.”

Kang Chan let out a quiet sigh, which Huh Ha-Soo seemed to have misinterpreted.

“Once the current government’s significant positions are replaced, I plan to privatize the railway, among other developments. If you do what I say, I'll make sure you get a substantial stake in the operation of Incheon Airport and the underwater tunnel. Those alone should be more than enough for you, your parents, and even your future children to live on for generations to come,” Huh Ha-Soo said proudly.

Kang Chan couldn’t help but burst out laughing. His reaction appeared to have displeased Huh Ha-Soo.

“Mr. Huh, why don’t we stand against China and Japan using the Eurasian Rail instead?” Kang Chan asked, flabbergasted. He found Huh Ha-Soo’s stance so ridiculous that he could not help but want to know what went on in Huh Ha-Soo’s brain.

“We shouldn’t let there be a power struggle between the people. If that happens, the country will split into two, then three, and so on,” Huh Ha-Soo explained impatiently.

A power struggle?

Kang Chan didn’t understand.