Chapter 342: We Won’t Take It Sitting (1)

Kang Chan arrived at the meeting point ten minutes early.

He took a seat on the terrace. A group of men and women with fierce gazes were sitting inside.

Without being told to, Gérard got up. “I’ll go order.”

“Do you think Smithen has gone over to the enemy?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.

“I’m not sure,” Kang Chan answered.

“But it

is

strange, isn’t it?”

When Kang Chan nodded, Seok Kang-Ho grinned, and his eyes glinted.

Just then, Gérard returned and sat down at the table. “Here’s your coffee.”

Kang Chan and Gérard were dressed in suits without a tie, while Seok Kang-Ho was in suit pants and a comfortable tee. He also had a combi jacket over his lap like a blanket.

Kang Chan picked up his coffee and took a sip. He then laughed softly.

Before he knew it, they were hanging out together, and the one who had been separated from them was coming to meet them.

If only Smithen had more guts, they would’ve been able to meet on better terms than they were now.

Kang Chan set down his cup of coffee.

“Captain,” Gérard bluntly called.

Kang Chan glanced at him, then followed his gaze.

Smithen was a tall American, so it was easy to spot him coming from afar.

Kang Chan’s eyes glinted as he looked at Smithen.

Motherfucker!

He was acting strange, evidenced by his head swaying as he walked.

“Caaaptaaain.”

Smithen raised his hand and waved. He looked like he’d had a good drink.

“Gérard, did you get confirmation?”

“A silver van dropped him off at the subway entrance and left right after.”

While they spoke, Smithen entered the shop and walked to the terrace.

“

Heeheehee

, Captain.”

“Sit,” Kang Chan ordered.

Shuffle.

Smithen sat down in a large chair and put his hands on the armrests. He hadn’t even said hello to Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard yet.

Kang Chan noticed that one of Smithen’s eyes was red.

“How are you?”

“Good...?”

“Good? Why are you sweating so much when it’s not even hot outside?”

“Me?”

“Yes, Smithen.”

Smithen looked at Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard and then back at Kang Chan.

Gérard rubbed the scar on his cheek in amusement. At the same time, Seok Kang-Ho’s eyes glinted.

“Captain.”

Kang Chan had already been glaring at him even before Smithen called him.

“Smithen. Put your hands on the table.”

“What?”

“Put your hands on the table.”

Kang Chan didn’t miss one of Smithen’s eyes twitching.

***

The silver van that had dropped Smithen off turned right twice, driving into an alley that led to the back of the building that housed the coffee shop.

The road that they had taken was barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass. Moreover, the cars parked on one side of it made it even harder for them to speed up. Nevertheless, they still pushed onward.

Just as they were about to turn right where the alley split, a dump truck came straight out of the alley on the left.

Vroooom!

Seemingly intending to crash into the van, the dump truck continued to accelerate. It then collided with the van, pushing the latter nearly ten meters away.

Boom! Crash! Shatter!

Dash! Dash!

Fully armed counter-terrorism team agents in black suits rushed to the van.

Vrooom! Creak!

Right after, two black vans with “S.W.A.T.” written in white letters on their sides raced by.

“Tear it off!”

With guns pointed at the vehicle, the armed agents in suits peeled away the remaining glass and viciously ripped open the passenger door.

Bam! Bang! Bang! Creak!

Kim Hyung-Jung and two other agents jumped into the van, finding a man in the driver’s seat sprawled out and covered in blood. They also saw two more men on the floor at the back, both of whom had a pistol in their waistbands. Near them were a machine gun and a bayonet.

“Tie them up! Cuff their wrists and thumbs so they can’t use their arms or fingers! Bind their torsos and gag them too!” Kim Hyung-Jung instructed.

Once he had stepped out of the car, agents rushed in and tied up the unconscious men.

In addition to the wrist cuffs, they put small thumb cuffs on each hand and then secured their torsos with leather straps.

***

A huge commotion erupted outside.

From the terrace, they heard iron clattering, cars crashing, and a vehicle being violently shoved back.

Smithen looked at Kang Chan and then dropped his gaze again. He dragged his hand awkwardly across the table.

Click.

Seok Kang-Ho moved the pistol from his thigh under the jacket.

“Smithen, if you put your hands down, we’ll shoot a hole through your forehead,” Kang Chan warned with a smirk. “I was hoping we wouldn’t come to this, but the look on your face has convinced me otherwise.”

Smithen couldn’t handle the look in Kang Chan’s eyes.

“I doubt you’d target me or my parents on your own. This is your last chance. If you’ve been threatened to do this, tell me now.”

Smithen’s wavering eyes flicked to the front of the building. Kang Chan turned his head and followed his gaze.

***

The noise carried across the street.

People from the coffee shop peeked out of the alleyway in surprise, but Sharlan’s eyes remained glued on the terrace.

It didn’t matter. It didn’t matter if there had been a car accident or if there had been any other disturbance.

No matter how Kang Chan tried to avoid it, he wouldn’t be faster than Sharlan’s thumb pressing the button.

‘I’ll make sure you go to hell today!’

Sharlan had endured his horrific time in Loriam longing for nothing but this moment.

As a bonus, Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard were also sitting on the terrace of the coffee shop across the street. Sharlan found it a shame that he couldn’t kill Kang Chan himself, but he was already plenty happy with the way things were going.

That dumb Oriental! Dirty chink tried to win the favor of the team by treating Smithen well!

Asians were a structurally inferior race.

Even the best of them had their limits, just like Kang Chan now.

It was really over now.

“Goodbye.”

Sharlan’s van was parked in the small gap between the buildings opposite the coffee shop. Hence, with a mere push of a button, he’d have a clear view of Kang Chan disappearing from the world without a trace.

He couldn’t wait any longer.

Once everything was over, he could simply drive away in the van, which had the windows open to take the impact of the explosion.

Sharlan laughed savagely as he rubbed the switch in the backseat of the van. He touched the button multiple times, eyeing it like candy that he had been saving to eat.

Every time he softly nudged its tip with his thumb, an almost unbearable rush of pleasure swept through him.

At that moment, Kang Chan gazed at Sharlan’s van.

‘Smithen! You idiot!’

It was clear that Kang Chan had simply followed where Smithen was looking.

Feeling as if their eyes met, Sharlax shivered with a thrill of pleasure. It was even more stimulating to press the button while facing Kang Chan.

Smithen simply sat across from Kang Chan, yet he had done his job perfectly.

***

Kim Hyung-Jung dashed over.

“We found three men in the van, but they only had pistols and bayonets!”

Haah. Haah.

Kang Chan could hear his own breathing now.

His surroundings, including the cars passing by, seemed to slow down. Nevertheless, he didn’t take his eyes off the van.

“Captain!” Gérard called.

Kang Chan quickly turned, finding Smithen crying.

With his hands still on the table, Smithen finally seemed to have recollected his bearings.

“Choi Jong-Il! Tie him up!”

As soon as Kang Chan gave the order, Choi Jong-Il and the agents, who were in the back of the terrace, rushed at Smithen.

The agents pinned his arms behind his back and pulled his clothes up. The bomb around his waist was the first thing they saw, followed by the gaping wounds in his chest.

Smithen pitifully stared at Kang Chan, like a chicken caught by the wings.

“Drag him inside!”

Kang Chan grabbed the terrace’s railing and jumped over it.

***

Since everything happened on the terrace, Sharlan could see it all.

He didn’t know how Kang Chan was reacting like that or when he had prepared it, but it was an excellent counter.

Sharlan smiled savagely, his thumb still on the switch.

He got goosebumps.

Once he had detonated the bomb, Kang Chan would be blasted into the air.

“Farewell, God of Blackfield!” Sharlan screamed. He pressed the button.

Click!

***

Click!

Kang Chan gripped the terrace’s railing with his left arm. In the short moment that he was airborne, he had drawn the pistol strapped to his right ankle.

“Daye! The van on the opposite side!”

Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard jumped up from their seats, toppling the tables and chairs.

***

Click. Click. Click.

Sharlan pressed the button rapidly in succession, but nothing happened to Smithen, who was being dragged helplessly into the coffee shop.

“Get going! Get us out of here!”

Swish!

Sharlan tossed the switch aside and quickly picked up a gun from the ground.

Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Gérard were heading straight toward him on the street, and three black special forces vehicles had appeared around the curve, their tires screeching.

Creaaak! Creaak! Creaaaak!

Boom!

Just as the van turned out of the alley, Kang Chan suddenly threw his hands in front of him.

Bang! Thud! Bang! Thud!

Blood splashed out of the driver and passenger’s heads, causing the van to keep driving straight toward Kang Chan.

Vroom!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard shot at its wheels, but it didn’t slow down.

Bang! Boom! Bang, bang! Boom!

Kang Chan hit the tires.

Clunk! Crash! Clunk!

With its front tires blown out, the van bounced loudly but continued to steer toward Kang Chan.

In the blink of an eye, Kang Chan pushed Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard out of the way.

Yeah! That’s it!

Hahahahaha!

If you don't want to go to hell alone, we can go together!

“God of Blackfield!”

Kang Chan was right in front of the shattered front windshield now.

Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard’s shouts and gestures from the ground made everything even more dramatic.

Vrooom!

Amid the chaos, a black special forces vehicle suddenly rushed up.

Boom! Crash! Crack!

The van was already right in front of Kang Chan when it was pushed five meters to the side before finally stopping.

Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Gérard immediately rushed forward. Kim Hyung-Jung, his subordinates, and the armed counter-terrorism members followed suit. In an instant, the van was surrounded.

The streets were cordoned off from vehicles and pedestrians alike.

Click, click, click!

Armed with pistols, Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard covered Kang Chan as he rushed into the van.

Crash! Crack!

Two armed agents chiseled away at the glass and warped doors with black axes.

Shatter!

Right after, Kang Chan was greeted by the van’s devastated interior. He found Sharlan sprawled on the floor, covered in blood.

“Pull him out!”

Cleaning up this mess had to be prioritized. Kang Chan tossed Sharlan aside and ran to the special forces truck. The agents were pulling out the agent who had driven it.

“Ambulance! Hurry!”

They would have still come even if Kang Chan hadn’t shouted, but he couldn’t help but yell anyway. He knew how terrible it must have been to sit in the driver’s seat and put the pedal to the metal.

Kang Chan could have avoided it, especially since he was in the zone and could hear himself breathing. However, the agent didn’t remove his foot from the accelerator until the last second.

There was no way a member of the counter-terrorism team would wear a seatbelt. Hence, the impact the agent had felt couldn’t possibly be weak.

Kang Chan went down on his left knee in front of the agent lying on the ground.

“Assistant Director Kang,” the masked agent called with difficulty.

Weeoo! Weeoo! Weeoo! Weeoo!

“The ambulance is coming! You’re fine!”

Kang Chan hadn’t given the order. The radios, phones, and any frequencies within a one-kilometer radius had all been jammed, preventing the agents from using their radios. Hence, they made this call purely based on their judgment.

“You can’t let terrorism win, sir.”

Kang Chan looked down at the agent with a blank stare.

“No matter what anyone says, the agents all follow you, so don’t ever back down. Please continue protecting South Korea.”

The agent was still waiting for his answer when the paramedics rushed over.

Kang Chan thought of the recruit he had lost in Africa.

How could they have the same eyes?

Pat, pat.

Kang Chan tapped the agent’s helmet. “Hurry back to your feet, got it? We took quite a hit, so we have to beat them back double.”

The agent’s consciousness faded.

As the paramedics ran forward, Kang Chan carefully stepped back.

The road was empty except for the bomb squad in front of the coffee shop.

They had neutralized the situation.

Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Gérard put their pistols back on their ankles.

Vroom.

A van for Kang Chan rushed down the middle of the road.

His face would be exposed if he stayed here too long. The moment Kang Chan got in the car, Kim Hyung-Jung walked over and stood at the door.

“All the explosive devices have been cleared, so we’ll release the frequency hold in the area and order the snipers to head back. Radio and phone communication should soon be possible again.”

“Sounds good. I’ll go to the office.”

“Understood,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied with relief.

The van took off, quickly turning the corner and blending into the traffic.

“Ha! Sharlan, that fucking son of a bitch! Who did he think he was after? We should’ve twisted his neck earlier!” Seok Kang-Ho exclaimed, spewing out his unresolved frustration from earlier. “

Whew

! Our agents have an awesome sense of duty! I can’t believe he thought of crashing into that bastard’s van like that. He pulled it off so spectacularly, too.”

Kang Chan nodded in response.

The agents had done everything today as part of the counter-terrorism team.

Nothing could beat experience, after all.

The Itaewon crisis involving Wui Min-Gook, the suicide bombing incident, and the International Building terrorist attack made the team’s movements more sure and decisive.

“Look at the time. Although Samseong-Dong and Naegok-Dong were close by, it’s still amazing that we only needed fifteen minutes to prepare for this operation.”

“Right.”

“Hm? ‘Right’ isn’t enough! They did an amazing job!”

Kang Chan grinned and looked away from the window.

“Why don’t we have lunch at the office when we get back?”

“What? Lunch? Is it already that late?

Whoa

! It’s already one?! Well, how about we get some stir-fried octopus? The red goodness would taste fantastic with rice.”

“Do whatever you want.”

Seok Kang-Ho readily took Kang Chan’s bait. The van was now driving into the parking lot entrance of the office.