Chapter 327: Keep Mum? (2)

Kang Chan had Woo Hee-Seung, who was in the office, hand the phone to the agent Russia had sent to South Korea.

“This is Kang Chan. I need you to check a satellite coordinate and see if Russian and Chinese submarines are passing through the area.”

Because he was speaking in French, naturally, only Gérard understood. However, Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il could tell what was going on by the atmosphere.

“If you need me to, I can call Vasili and let him know.”

- That won’t be necessary, sir. We recently received an order to comply with your instructions to the best of our abilities.

Kang Chan expected more resistance from the agent, but the agent was surprisingly cooperative.

- Please state the coordinates.

Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to waste time getting other people’s approvals.

“Forty-two point sixty-two, one thirty-six point ninety-three,” Kang Chan said, repeating the numbers that Seok Kang-Ho had written down.

Since the call was still connected, Kang Chan could hear the Russian agent asking the Chinese agent in French if a Chinese submarine was nearby. He then heard tapping noises from the computer keyboard.

- No ships or submarines have passed by in the past twenty-four hours.

Kang Chan glanced at Seok Kang-Ho and ??Gérard.

“Can you check for aircraft too?”

- I’ll have to get back to you.

“What about before twenty-four hours?”

- I’ll set the time to forty-eight hours prior and call you back.

“Thanks.”

Kang Chan felt disappointed. He expected this to be the answer.

“What did they say?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.

“It was a bust,” Kang Chan responded, disheartened.

“What?”

“No ships or submarines have gone through the area in the last twenty-four hours.”

“Those bastards wouldn’t lie to us, would they?” Seok Kang-Ho muttered to himself while Kang Chan told Gérard about the conversation.

“Gérard, is it possible these guys were lying?” Kang Chan asked.

“It’s possible,” Gérard replied. “They’d certainly try to hide the location of their submarines as much as they could.”

This was frustrating. If Kang Chan had been next to the agent, he would have immediately known if he was lying or not.

While Kang Chan was deep in thought, looking at the numbers on the notepad, his phone began to ring.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—. Buzz, buzz, buzz—. Buzz, buzz, buzz—.

“Allo?”

- According to our data, no ships or submarines have sailed nearby in the past seventy-two hours. Two civilian aircraft did pass by, but they were following regular routes, so I believe there is no need to investigate them.

Damn it!

It didn’t seem like the agent was lying. Even the National Intelligence Service could check which vessels had passed by that location during that time anyway.

“Just to be safe, I want you to run a satellite scan over it on an hourly basis. Let me know if you find a ship, a submarine, or any vehicle passing nearby.”

- Understood, sir.

Kang Chan put the phone down and turned back to Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard to tell them what he’d been talking about.

“Ji-Hwan put his life on the line to give me those coordinates. I highly doubt it doesn’t mean anything,” Seok Kang-Ho mumbled, looking at the phone in his hand.

What was it? What did all this mystery mean?

They could easily find the answers if they called any one of the agents in Egypt, be it Um Ji-Hwan or someone else. However, right now, one mistake could cost all the agents their lives.

Kang Chan felt sorry for failing to make sense of the information that the agents had risked their lives for.

Ding, ding, ding, ding.

Just then, the airplane’s seatbelt sign flashed four times.

This wasn’t Kang Chan’s group’s first rodeo. They all immediately sat down but didn’t buckle in.

Kang Chan closed his laptop and stared out the window.

All of this had to mean something.

***

Dmitri reoriented the coordinates of Alexandra the nuclear submarine—or Alex for short—and glared at the instrument panel.

Aside from Dmitri, only the second-in-command and the helmsman knew that Alex was carrying nuclear warheads.

It was an amazing plan.

Russia had scattered all of the submarines it could gather around the Korean peninsula to keep an eye out for unidentified submarines. As if that weren’t enough, the country was also conducting joint operations with Chinese submarines.

The commander in charge of it all was Dmitri, who was aboard Alex.

The submarine’s ballistic missiles could only be fired by entering a code sent by the command center on the mainland.

Dmitri would get that number on this trip, which would allow him to launch Bulava, the ballistic missile aboard Alex, without permission from the mainland command center.

His gray eyes flicked to the nap.

If a nuclear missile was launched on the Korean Peninsula, the world would enter a new era.

He took a deep breath, his chest heaving in anticipation.

‘I can’t believe I’m in charge of such a historic mission!’

***

Choi Jong-Il opened the door to the airplane.

The first thing they saw was a few sparsely scattered barracks, then Vasili, who was standing by the side of a jeep with a sharp expression.

“Welcome to Russia,” Vasili said as he stuck out his hand for a shake before looking behind Kang Chan.

“Let me introduce you all. This is Seok Kang-Ho, Gérard de Mermier, the former commander of the French Foreign Legion, and Choi Jong-Il.”

As he shook hands with the three, Vasili nodded once, as if stamping their entries into the country.

“This is a large group for a car. Shall we walk for a bit?” Vasili suggested.

That’s fine.

Kang Chan had been feeling weary from sitting on the plane for so long anyway. He walked down the tarmac with Vasili.

“Vasili, did you know Ambassador Lanok would return to his home country?” Kang Chan asked.

Vasili smiled widely. “Romain has cleverly exploited his weakness.”

“The ambassador had a weakness?”

“

Hmph

.”

Kang Chan thought the bastard needed to learn to speak more politely somehow. Whoever would teach him would probably explode from frustration, though.

Kang Chan and Vasili walked ahead. Seok Kang-Ho, Gérard, and Choi Jong-Il followed closely behind.

“Have them rest in the barracks, then come with me, Monsieur Kang.”

Kang Chan turned toward the three men and then nodded at the barracks.

Seok Kang-Ho worriedly glanced at him. However, he knew that if they doubted every single thing, Kang Chan would never be able to have a meeting with Vasili.

Inside the barracks was a bar set up against one wall and a couch in the center.

“This place is more comfortable,” Vasili said, pointing at the front of the bar and heading inside. It felt like Kang Chan was at a run-down bar in some Russian back alley.

“Vodka? Black tea?”

“Coffee.”

“Coffee!” Vasili shouted as if to confirm Kang Chan’s order, then pressed a button on the electric pot.

Click.

Afterward, he set down a small glass on the bar and poured vodka into it.

Glug.

“You don’t have any ashtray?”

“You’re a demanding guest.”

Vasili grabbed an ashtray from the bottom of the bar.

Son of a bitch! Acting like it’s a chore even though it was right there.

While Kang Chan pulled out a cigarette and lit it, Vasili poured water that hadn’t even boiled yet and made coffee.

“Here! Coffee!”

Kang Chan lifted the coffee cup, and Vasili lifted his glass as if to toast, then downed it in one gulp.

Click. Sip.

“So, what business does the main character have with me?”

Kang Chan repeated the conversation he’d had with Lanok.

“Why didn’t you just kill Romain?” Vasili asked.

“If the ambassador hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve put a hole in his forehead already.”

“

Hmph

! Romain got lucky.”

Vasili made the same sharp expression he had when Kang Chan first saw him earlier.

“We can’t afford to build a next-generation energy facility elsewhere right now. Yang Bum, Ludwig, Vant, and I don’t have the time to spare. We’re already working our heads off as it is.”

Vasili looked at Kang Chan’s cigarette, then continued, “If a war breaks out in Korea, we’ll lose everything we’ve bet on in one fell swoop. We have to prioritize figuring out what the Star of David is up to.”

“Is there something I don’t know?”

Vasili took a long swig of his vodka.

Is he some vodka-drinking machine or something?

Kang Chan smirked as he brought his cigarette to his mouth. If that was true, then a cigarette-smoking machine was sitting across from Vasili.

Click. Glug.

“I’m not surprised Romain is a member of the Star of David. However, Josh is different, which is why Lanok and I have been keeping an eye on him and pretending we didn’t see Ethan’s shenanigans.”

“You think he’s going to build a new subterranean shock device?”

“

Hmm

.”

Vasili let out a long sigh.

“I think Josh wants a third world war.”

When Kang Chan tilted his head, he continued, “He’s planning an epic war that involves nuking the Korean peninsula and then connecting all the neighboring countries to the United States and Europe.”

Kang Chan smirked. Meeting his gaze, he replied, “If that’s the case, a hole through his forehead should put an end to everything.”

Vasili laughed. “

Hmph

. Monsieur Kang, look farther into the future. We barely managed to catch Romain and Josh’s tails after revealing our extraordinary plan for the next-generation power plant. If we kill Josh now, where else will we find a tail?”

“Why does everything have to be so complicated?”

“It’s just the way it is. You’re upsetting the order that has been in place since World War II.”

With a serious expression, Vasili reached for one of Kang Chan’s cigarettes.

Click.

Kang Chan lit the lighter up for him.

Vasili looked at him for a moment before holding the tip of his cigarette to the lighter.

“

Hoo

. Let me get this straight. You’re about to take away the source of income of some very wealthy people. To them, it’s no different than a well-behaved minion trying to sit on top of their heads.”

“Is that what Josh thinks?”

“That’s what the Star of David thinks, and that’s why they’ve put him in the forefront. Don’t confuse the two. Sergei stole the warheads long before you made a name for yourself.”

Kang Chan blew out his frustration in a puff of cigarette smoke. He then tapped the ashes off into the ashtray.

“Let’s look at it two ways. The Star of David has always wanted war. They have made several attempts, most recently using Islamic forces, but the United States hasn’t been willing to get involved. Moreover, they found it difficult to influence Africa because the French had such a strong grip on it.”

Is he talking about Abibu?

“However, South Korea has given them a great excuse,” Vasili added pointedly.

Kang Chan looked at him sharply. “Is that why you’re building the next-gen energy facility in South Korea first? Because you know it will provoke the Star of David?”

Vasili glared at Kang Chan.

“I advise you not to look at me like that. Don’t treat me like Romain or Ethan, Monsieur Kang.”

They both stared each other down for a moment.

“

Hmph

.”

Vasili lifted his glass and sipped some vodka, shifting his gaze away.

Click. Glug, glug.

“If the next-generation power plant was built in Russia, France, or China, the United States would have joined hands with the Star of David to start a war, and all of us would’ve had to be involved. We wouldn’t have been able to help you from the sidelines as we are doing right now. Do you understand now, main character?” Vasili asked mockingly.

After a brief pause, he continued, “We created the Eurasian Intelligence Council to counter the Star of David. Its first commissioner was Lanok, but he’s now going to the basements of Loriam. The very person who created the French DGSE, the High Commissioner of the Eurasian Intelligence Council! Why do you think so?”

Kang Chan looked at Vasili blankly.

“One word from him, and Romain or Josh would have a hole in their foreheads. He called me before you arrived and told me to protect you no matter what. Do you understand, main character? Our commissioner has named the God of Blackfield as the only hero who can stand against the Star of David.”

Damn it!

Kang Chan felt a strange tug on one side of his chest even though this wasn’t the moment for that.

“At your word, I, Yang Bum, Ludwig, and Vant will move unconditionally, because that’s what the Commissioner told us to do. It’s offensive, of course, but we all have no choice but to nod in agreement, especially now that the special forces teams we command have bowed to you.”

Keeping his eyes on Kang Chan, Vasili downed his vodka.

“Do you want Josh dead? If so, just give the order in the name of the God of Blackfield. The same goes for Romain. However, God of Blackfield,” Vasili growled his name as his eyes filled with venom, “you have to stop the war. You need to complete the next-gen energy facility and bring down the Star of David.”

Glug.

Vasili sank the vodka like he was drinking cold water, yet he didn’t seem drunk at all.

Click.

When he was done, he grabbed another glass and put it on the bar.

Glug

.

Two shots of vodka were filled to the brim.

“Monsieur Kang, why do you think we gave you satellites and dispatched agents to help you?”

Seeing Kang Chan grin, Vasili shook his head.

“Commissioner Lanok was gambling with his life. The man the Star of David was most wary of has entered Loriam on the condition that what happened with you was forgotten. Now, what will you do? If you say no, Yang Bum, Ludwig, and I will rush in to get Lanok out. And a world war will begin.”

“Why does the Star of David want a war?”

“They don’t want their dominance weakened.”

“I thought you said you don’t know exactly who they are.”

“We have a general idea. That’s why we’re trying to pull their tail as hard as we can to drag the body out. Understand, main character?”

Watching Kang Chan smirk, Vasili pushed a vodka glass forward.

“It’s an order from the chairman, so how can we not obey? Russian intelligence will unequivocally carry out the orders of the God of Blackfield.”

Vasili raised his glass to Kang Chan.

Damn it!

Kang Chan didn’t expect that what he started with the Eurasian Rail would become so big.

Where did it all go wrong?

Kang Chan wordlessly stared at Vasili.

That sly raccoon!

This was how Lanok was expressing his intent toward Kang Chan.

It couldn’t be avoided. There was no way out.

Kang Chan had planned on putting a hole through Abibu, Romain, and Josh’s foreheads anyway. When he lifted his glass in return, Vasili smiled darkly.

The two then downed their vodka at the same time.

Motherfucker!

It felt like a war had broken out in his throat.

After talking for another half hour, Vasili accompanied Kang Chan back to the plane.

Seok Kang-Ho’s eyes flashed as he walked out of the barracks not because he was displeased by the way they were treated in Russia but because he was worried about Um Ji-Hwan.

Vasili shook hands with Seok Kang-Ho, Gérard, and Choi Jong-Il.

The three stepped onto the plane.

“Take it easy, main character.”

Even Vasili’s smile seemed sharp.

“Wreck whatever havoc you want. If you can’t, tell me anytime,” Vasili said with a ferocious expression. He looked as if he would push Kang Chan at any moment.

Kang Chan just listened. Even though Vasili was talking nonsense, Kang Chan could see the concern for Lanok in his eyes.

Kang Chan thought Vasili should stop making things unnecessarily hard for himself. He could just come clean and say that he was worried about Lanok.

“Don’t worry about the ambassador, Vasili.”

Vasili laughed sharply again.

“Спасибо[1], Monsieur Kang.”

This motherfucker.

Even the way Vasili thanked him sounded like he was cursing at him.

Kang Chan shook Vasili’s hand and looked him straight in the eye.

There were too many people prepared for death around him.

1. Thank you in Russian ☜