Chapter 196.2: You Want to Give It a Go, Huh? (1)

Click.

On the twelfth day, just as Kang Chan had finished his morning classes and lunch, the door to his room opened. Much to his surprise, Lanok soon came in.

“Mr. Ambassador,” Kang Chan greeted, clearly taken aback. He was glad to finally see him again after almost two weeks, though.

After exchanging French-style greetings, Kang Chan and Lanok sat opposite each other.

“How’s your stay here so far?” Lanok asked.

“I don’t think it was necessary for me to come to France for this,” Kang Chan replied, genuinely feeling that he could have just done all of this in South Korea.

“You’ll understand once your basic education is over,” Lanok said with his signature smile, reassuring Kang Chan. “Anyway, Ethan seems to be running out of time. He has just agreed to let France’s DGSE and scientists come over for a visit.”

Lanok looked quite relaxed. It seemed he had managed to protect the sword he was holding.

“If it’s alright with you, we will be leaving right away,” Lanok told him.

“Sure. I don’t see why not,” Kang Chan responded.

He had five suits and a bunch of shoes he could wear to match them in his wardrobe. Kang Chan got changed and holstered a gun to his ankle before leaving the room with Lanok.

As soon as they got in a car inside the building, they swiftly hit the road. It took about an hour to reach the airport. The private jet they boarded naturally offered an unmatched level of comfort.

The private jet took off as soon as they arrived at the airport. There was no need to go through security or even put on seat belts. Once the plane had finished its ascent, Lanok poured Kang Chan a cup of tea that his aide had prepared for them.

“Pierre was surprised by how quickly you pick up things. Agents who have worked at the French intelligence bureau for some time receive the same education you’re getting before they can be transferred to the DGSE,” Lanok said.

So in essence, it was basic training to become a higher-up? It didn’t matter either way, though. If this was the process he had to go through to become even more powerful, then he would gladly endure it regardless of how boring or exhausting it was.

“These classes will last about a month, after which you will be staying with agents who have come from various countries on the fifth floor. You’ll then spend a month each in Israel, Germany, and, finally, Russia before returning to Niafles,” Lanok added.

“Did you also go through this process?” Kang Chan asked.

“I did. Vasili, Ludwig, and Vant were actually my batchmates. There were thirteen of us in total, but only five of us survived,” Lanok said.

Considering the harsh nature of their line of work, that result was not entirely surprising.

“As I expected, you don’t seem that surprised,” Lanok remarked.

“Should I have acted otherwise?” Kang Chan asked with a grin.

“

Hahahaha

,” Lanok chuckled loudly as he lifted his teacup and looked at Kang Chan. “Mr. Kang Chan, the reason why agents from intelligence bureaus around the world—even Russia’s—train together is so they can create a direct connection to exchange information if there’s ever an emergency. Since you’re Asian yet joined the training in France’s place, the trainees who will join you next month will probably act a bit rough around you.”

Nothing was easy in this world.

“I expect that you’ll lead them well, Mr. Kang Chan,” Lanok said.

Kang Chan grinned faintly, to which Lanok smiled in response. After about three hours of flight, the plane landed on a strip.

The skies by then had grown dark, the air a bit damp. Heavy rain was pouring.

“This weather reminds me of Ethan’s dark mind,” Lanok joked before they got off the plane.

Ethan was waiting for them with an umbrella. He was in a coat that seemed to have been made by cutting up a British military uniform.

“Good to see you, Lanok. Welcome, Mr. Kang Chan,” Ethan greeted.

After exchanging brief handshakes, they got into a sedan and left immediately. Their convoy had five vans and sedans clearly tasked to keep them safe.

Ethan had a noticeably stiff face and was moving with so much urgency.

“What about our researchers and agents?” Lanok asked.

“They have finished preparations and are just waiting for you now,” Ethan replied, turning back from his position in the passenger seat.

“Dedham? Even the name of the city sounds unpleasant,” Lanok remarked.

Ethan didn’t even bother replying.

Even though France and England were both European countries, they had clear differences in multiple aspects, including their buildings’ architecture, the people’s genetic features, and their territories’ atmosphere.

To survive in this country, people seemed to need to eat a lot and be strong. The sedan drove on for about 20 minutes before turning into a smaller road.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Thump, thump.

As soon as it did, Kang Chan’s heart began to race.

Why is it doing this?

He sharply glanced around his surroundings, but the cars that were around, behind, and in front of them were all ones that Ethan prepared. Kang Chan could only trust the gun that was holstered at his ankle.

Thump, thump.

Seeing Kang Chan’s expression, Lanok’s eyes glinted. They didn’t have to talk to each other to know.

‘I think we should be careful, sir.’

‘I see.’

The two only had to exchange glances. Since then, they had not uttered another word.

After about twenty minutes more on the road and driving past a few checkpoints, they finally arrived at their destination.

‘Kingston Laboratories.’

What a cliche name.

They got a perfect view of the facilities stretched before them as soon as they got out of the car. Kang Chan and Lanok immediately but subtly examined their surroundings.

The buildings, all made of cement, rose like rounded structures on a wide plain, resembling something built by indigenous Inuits. Oddly enough, none of the buildings had visible windows.

There was a massive, round cement structure right in front of where they got off too, which was about the size of a department store that Kang Chan had visited in Gangnam.

Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

Kang Chan’s heart was still sending him a warning.

Should I enter or not?

Ignoring Kang Chan’s questioning gaze, Ethan extended his hand toward the metal door of the cement building.

“This way, Mr. Kang Chan,” Ethan said in a hasty tone.

“What about our agents?” Lanok asked briskly.

“They’re waiting inside. I’m sure you’re well aware that it would be dangerous to be seen meeting here, considering the surveillance of the other parties from the satellites,” Ethan replied just as stiffly.

While they were talking, agents stepped out of the sedans and vans to surround the area. Kang Chan supposed it wouldn’t make sense to stall going inside when he had already come all the way to the entrance of the very thing he came for anyway.

“Let’s head in,” Ethan urged once more.

As they began to walk, Lanok momentarily paused when he saw the look in Kang Chan’s eyes but swiftly continued.

Much to Kang Chan’s surprise, the old-looking door opened without making any noise. The fluorescent lights and metal stairs with handrails that came up to one’s waist greeted them straight from the entrance.

Kang Chan had never seen such an incredible facility in all his life. Each of the rounded cement structures had towering facilities, and the expansive indoor space that could probably contain twenty soccer fields was equipped with various machinery. People in hazmat suits were all over the place, working with a sense of urgency.

Upon entering, Kang Chan instantly felt a cold shiver run down his spine. However, he knew the enormity of the facility and the massive machinery weren’t the ones that caused it.

Urrrrng.

The faint vibrations, dusty air, and light coming from the fluorescent bulbs… only added to its intensity.

For the first time, Kang Chan felt chills. An eerie and threatening sensation followed not long after. He felt as if he was confronting an enemy that he couldn’t possibly defeat, something that Kang Chan had never felt before.

“Let’s head downstairs,” Ethan quickly directed.

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.

A metallic clank echoed with every step that the men took down into the depths of the facility. As they went round and round the building, descending about ten meters, a long connecting corridor came into view.

Now Kang Chan also felt an impending sense of doom. Trying to endure the sensation, he gritted his teeth. He had never been seized by such a feeling of dread in his life before.

If this kept up, he would likely stiffen up and become sluggish. He had faced countless enemies throughout both of his lives, but none of them managed to give him this sensation.

Kang Chan took a deep breath, then smirked at himself.

A mere machine dares scare a human?

Kang Chan cracked his neck from side to side to loosen up.

Haah. Haah.

It was ridiculous, but as he walked, he could hear himself breathing. That only evidenced how nervous he was.

They had probably walked about a hundred meters already. Kang Chan’s nerves were standing sharp on edge, which made everything around him seem to slow down. Just then, Ethan stopped.

The machine stretched deep down into the ground and reached high up into the top of a rounded cement building. The French agents already in the facility approached Lanok and greeted him. Men in suits and safety helmets followed suit not long after.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

The mechanical vibrations of the machine changed into something that sounded like a nervous enemy’s breathing.

Even Ethan was clearly taken aback. He began to bellow loudly at the researchers who were dressed in hygienic suits and standing near the French agents.

.

“What the hell happened to the shockwaves?!” Ethan screamed.

“I don’t know, sir! It just popped up!” one researcher frantically replied.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

It was glass.

The large contraptions of the machine, which looked like the head of a spaceship planted on the floor, had a glass front that allowed Kang Chan to peer inside.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Psh. Psh. Psh. Psh.

Nine devices long enough to connect to the bulging cement roof were attached to the core of the machine. As Kang Chan approached it, the vibrations grew increasingly intense.

Kang Chan glared back at the machine through the glass, unflinching.

‘You want to give it a go, huh?’

He didn’t need an explanation to know. The Blackhead, a large mineral of crimson-red color, was beginning to emit powerful, increasingly bright flashes.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Hah. Hah.

Ethan, Lanok, and everyone in the area looked at Kang Chan in surprise.