Chapter 292.2: Wouldn’t It Be Cool? (2)

After leaving the seven soldiers to the agents, Kang Chan went to the empty room further down the hallway with Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho.

“Take a seat,” he offered.

Cha Dong-Gyun sat down next to the table with a stiff expression.

Just like his meeting yesterday, Kang Chan pulled out the map and documents that the DGSE had given him to brief them about what he had already told the others.

“I want the special forces team to destroy the oil rig here in Tarabulus. It’s an hour’s drive away from the airport, and then we’ll have to go through mountains and plains. The commander will be—”

“I’ll stay behind,” Cha Dong-Gyun said grimly before Kang Chan could finish. “If it was just urban warfare, I would have insisted on joining, but I doubt I can handle the transportation and having to move around rough terrains like those.”

With a devastated expression, he stared at Kang Chan. “You already knew that I wouldn’t be able to make it all the way there when you were planning this operation, didn’t you? Why did you say I could go with you, sir?”

“Because you’re the commander.”

Cha Dong-Gyun couldn’t seem to understand what Kang Chan meant.

“This will happen over and over again to whoever’s in charge of Jeungpyeong’s special forces team. Every time you lose your men—every time you fail an operation—there will be moments when your will overpowers your reason. When it does, remember this day. Be a commander who’s just as capable of making logical judgments as he is winning wars.”

Cha Dong-Gyun didn’t respond. Kang Chan couldn’t blame him, though.

“The skills of a commander in combat aren’t the only ones that will be passed down to his men. His experience in things like these will be as well. This will make sure that, even if you divide your men into groups of two or three, they would still be able to rationally operate among themselves.”

“Understood,” Cha Dong-Gyun finally replied.

Kwak Cheol-Ho, who was next to him, also seemed to have steeled his resolve.

Afterward, Kang Chan gave Kwak Cheol-Ho a detailed explanation of the plan and answered several questions.

“I know what to do now,” Kwak Cheol-Ho finally said, looking up from the map.

“There will be a full briefing with everyone after lunch. I need you to talk to Yoon Sang-Ki and divide up the teams and the weapons you’ll need before then.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Since it’s already lunchtime anyway, why don’t we just head over to the conference room now and wait for the others?” Kang Chan suggested.

There was no need for the three of them to be alone in the room, twiddling their thumbs. Hence, they soon walked out. When they stepped into the hallway, they found the soldiers already standing in front of the entrance of the conference room.

Yoon Sang-Ki was the first to run up to him. He faltered as he attempted to salute Kang Chan, causing him to lower his head at Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho instead. Choi Jong-Il and Woo Hee-Seung then came over to greet them. The last to approach him was Oh Gwang-Taek, who was watching the men.

“Seriously, what the hell are you?” Oh Gwang-Taek asked.

“What are you talking about?” Kang Chan responded.

Oh Gwang-Taek seemed to be one of those people who sobbed their hearts out first before asking who died. This punk hadn’t said anything in the past, yet he suddenly asked him such a question right before the operation began.

“I mean, the more I learn about you, the more I don’t understand,” Oh Gwang-Taek argued.

“Oh Gwang-Taek.”

“What? Why the fuck are you calling me by name?”

“We’ll be facing a lot of more fights like this, so watch and learn closely. I want you to be the first one I can ask for help in the future.”

Oh Gwang-Taek nodded, his eyes full of confidence. “

Ha

, you punk! Leave it to me!”

Kang Chan was grateful. However, he also made a mental note never to send this guy to negotiate with anyone.

Over lunch, Kang Chan told all of them to gather at the conference room by three. The lunch favorite was the cup noodles that Choi Jong-Il had stacked to the side. They ate greasy Greek-style fried rice with the cup noodles and washed it down with instant coffee.

Once done with his meal, Kang Chan spent about an hour talking to Hugo of the DGSE and Sherman of the CIA. He also gave Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook a call.

Outside the windows was the mythical world of Athens. If Kang Chan wanted to, he could easily go to the airport and head straight back to Seoul. However, a world that wasn’t as visible was holding him back. He told himself that he was only going to be doing this for a little longer—that he was just doing this to protect his people—but when he looked around him, he found himself right in the middle of a vortex.

Something like this happened in combat too. One could be standing in the middle of a hail of enemy fire with all of their exit routes blocked, leaving them no means of escape.

In such a situation, they were left with only one option—killing all the enemies in sight.

***

“The DMZ team will be led by Director Kang Chul-Gyu, the Jeungpyeong special forces by Kwak Cheol-Ho, and the National Intelligence Service agents by me,” Kang Chan directed.

With solemn expressions, the men seated facing him remained focused on his explanation.

“The UIS drew first blood when they killed our agents. In this operation, it does not matter what comes our way. We will respond to any enemy we encounter. Any questions?”

Kang Chan spoke with formality, something he normally didn’t do, out of respect for the people on the DMZ team.

One of the members of the DMZ team raised his hands from the middle of the tables. When Kang Chan looked at him, he began to speak.

“The National Intelligence Service and Jeungpyeong’s special forces team are national organizations, so there’s no question about their presence here. However, under what pretext are we, the DMZ team, participating in this operation?”

It was an unexpected question. As all eyes turned to him, the man, with a determined expression, continued, “I came all the way here to be loyal to my country, but what Kang sunbae said yesterday got me thinking. If we die in this operation, what kind of treatment will we receive?”

To be honest, Kang Chan hadn’t thought about that.

“I’m sure there will be compensation from the company. Even if there isn’t, I’d still be honored to have served with Kang sunbae,” the man quickly added, seemingly sorry to have asked such a question.

Unfortunately, those words didn’t make it any easier to answer.

Kang Chan could easily come up with a response regarding monetary compensation. However, when it came to the recognition they would receive, he couldn’t come up with anything.

There was still a lot he had to learn. If he wanted to build an organization, he would have to pay attention to things like this.

For the first time in so long, Kang Chan was rendered speechless.

At that moment, Kang Chul-Gyu raised his hand, drawing everyone’s attention. His gaze met Kang Chan’s. Soon after, he stood up with a firm expression.

“I’m Kang Chul-Gyu, commander of the DMZ team.”

Everyone participating in this operation already knew who he was, but Kang Chul-Gyu still took the time to introduce himself.

“I know this is a matter that I should be talking to my team about, but I’d like to give everyone an explanation for yesterday’s incident anyway.”

What are you trying to say now, old man?”

Kang Chul-Gyu slowly looked at each of the members of his team.

“All of you, including me, have had unhappy times. I’m sure you all remember what I said at dinner last night. I did not decide to join this operation with the intention of serving my country. Even now, I still stand by those words.”

While Kang Chul-Gyu spoke, the members of the DMZ team, followed by the Jeungpyeong special forces team and the National Intelligence Service agents, all straightened their backs. Their respect for the DMZ legend and their special forces senior seemed to come naturally to them.

“Let’s not forget the commitment we made before heading over from Mongolia. When we decided to go on this mission, we said that we wouldn’t be doing it for the country. We said we’re doing it out of the satisfaction of helping our proud juniors, who are now doing what we couldn’t do.”

Kang Chul-Gyu’s eyes, words, and expressions dominated everyone in the room.

“We’re not stepping up for South Korea. Therefore, I believe it’s shameless of us to hope for the nation to give us something in return. Kwon Yong-Hee!”

“Sir!” Kwon Yong-Hee, who had asked the question earlier, answered loudly, straining his upper body.

Even though he was probably already in his forties, he still replied like an obedient soldier talking to his commander.

“As emphasized earlier, this is a dangerous operation. We don’t know how many of us will return with our lives or as corpses. I heard that more than half of our juniors who went there before us were killed in action.”

With a fierce glare of determination, Kang Chul-Gyu continued, “Even if we die over there, we still likely won’t be buried in the national cemetery. Does that make you want to abandon this mission and head back home?”

“No, sir!” Kwon Yong-Hee replied so loudly that the Jeungpyeong soldiers’ eyes widened.

“My dead son... I will be fighting for my son whom I failed to take care of. He would want me to help and protect our juniors. The unfortunate times are ours to bear. My goal is to make sure our juniors will not be treated the same way they treated us and to help them succeed in operations like this.”

Everyone focused on him with nervous expressions.

After a brief pause, Kang Chul-Gyu smirked and turned toward the members of his team.

“Who protects the DMZ?” he asked.

“We do!”

Their powerful answer thundered across the room.

“What do we fight for?”

“Our country and our fellow men!”

There was no mistaking it. These chants had to be the ones that they used to shout while they were still serving at the DMZ. It was a bit tacky, and the cries of the older men were heartwrenching, but there was something poignant about it.

“What’s our motto?!”

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

“I’m sorry, my dearest family! I gave my life for my country and my comrades!”

At the end of the chant, Kang Chul-Gyu sat back down. An inexplicable somberness filled the room. The special forces team of Jeungpyeong all gritted their teeth with renewed resolve.