Chapter 357: Go Far Away from Here (2)

Kim Hyung-Jung knocked on the door and entered Go Gun-Woo’s office to report the information they had been receiving, all the changes in the situation, and his conversation with Kang Chan.

“Welcome,” Go Gun-Woo greeted from his desk. He looked exhausted.

“We have received a report that five of our fighter jets have returned to the Hotan Air Base,” Kim Hyung-Jung said.

With his expression remaining unchanging, Go Gun-Woo called, “Manager Kim.”

“Sir.”

“Some military officials are claiming that we broke the rules of engagement. They argue that we engaged in combat without first providing them with a report and getting their permission to retaliate. They also insist that we investigate Major Park and hold him responsible for losing some of our pilots and fighter jets, regardless of the reason.”

“During our last satellite phone call, I clearly told them to make the call depending on the situation on-site.”

“They seem to be trying to take issue with that.”

Go Gun-Woo was already aware of what was said during that phone call since it had been reported to him.

“People are claiming that the National Intelligence Service violated the military’s chain of command,” Go Gun-Woo said, then looked at Kim Hyung-Jung, perplexed. “The military will have trouble interfering with the 606 and Jeungpyeong special forces team since on paper, they were sent by the National Intelligence Service. However, the same thing does not apply to Major Park Seung-Yong and his squadron.”

Go Gun-Woo exhaled softly, then added, “Manager Kim, as the NIS Director, what should I do in times like this? Should I let the military investigate and decide how they should punish Major Park and his fellow pilots or stop the military from taking action even if it means breaking the law?”

Kim Hyung-Jung didn’t know what to say.

“I’m sure you have trouble answering this since the military isn’t wrong either. The president did say that he’ll take care of this issue by saying that he gave the order himself, so I’ll simply act accordingly. Still, it frustrates me when things like this happen.”

Afterward, Go Gun-Woo asked, “What else do you have for me?”

“Russia has given us information about Alex’s course. They have also sent over intel about Ivan the arms dealer. However, they requested that only the two of us ever get word of this.”

Kim Hyung-Jung placed a USB on the desk.

“

Hmm

. Alright. One last thing, Manager Kim.”

“Yes?”

Go Gun-Woo turned the monitor on his desk. “Do you know what this is?”

Leaning forward, Kim Hyung-Jung looked at the folder that Go Gun-Woo was pointing at.

“It’s the folder that I’ve told you about last time. It contains all the top-secret information that the agents directly report to you,” Kim Hyung-Jung explained. He then asked, “Did you create a new password for it?”

Puzzled, Go Gun-Woo turned to Kim Hyung-Jung. He then moved the cursor over to the folder. “What does this mean, then?”

[You have entered the wrong password thrice. All data in the folder has been deleted. Please create a new password.]

Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Go Gun-Woo in confusion.

“That folder can only be opened from this PC. If someone tries to connect to this system through an external network, it’ll set off an alarm and immediately track the hacker,” he explained as he stood up straight. “Even if someone manages to access this computer, all information inside the folder will be automatically destroyed if they enter the wrong password three times.”

“Does that mean someone has tried getting into the folder but got all the information in it deleted instead?”

“Although this is also my first time seeing that message, I do believe that’s what happened.”

“I’ve never tried opening this folder, though. You?” Go Gun-Woo asked.

“No. I don’t have the authority to, sir.”

Go Gun-Woo and Kim Hyung-Jung’s gazes met.

“Someone might have tried to check what’s inside this folder.”

“They could have just purposely entered the wrong password to delete the files, too,” Kim Hyung-Jung said.

Their eyes glinted at the same time.

“I’ll look into it.”

“Let me know as soon as you learn anything.”

“Yes, sir.”

Kim Hyung-Jung hurriedly left the room.

***

Vasili sat on the outdoor terrace of the Presidential palace with Alexei, the President of Russia. Despite Alexei’s troubled expression, Vasili’s cold attitude did not change.

“Even though you’re the Director of our intelligence bureau, you can’t just act however you please,” Alexei said.

“I’ve never done anything like that, sir.”

“If so, then why were Shevchenko, his family, siblings, and even his elderly parents all arrested? Why was his wife shot to death on the scene without me knowing?”

“Isn’t that why I’m here? To report that to you?”

Alexei’s troubled look persisted.

After a moment of silence, Vasili began his report.

“Ivan has sold off the ballistic missile, and Dmitri is going around the North Pacific with the nuclear warhead. If it reaches the hands of the UIS and blows up in the Korean Peninsula, we’ll find ourselves in a predicament that’s difficult to get out of.”

“If South Korea gets hit by a nuclear bomb, they won’t be able to afford to look elsewhere for the next few decades.”

“That’s true. Still, even though we have enormous amounts of crude oil and gas, that will result in the United States and the oil-producing countries in the Middle East repressing us and drowning us in debt.”

“You’re going too far, Vasili,” Alexei warned.

Vasili glared at President Alexei as if challenging his authority. “ Please face the reality. If I have to, then I’ll resign from my position.”

“Vasili!”

“If you don’t want that to happen, then don’t let Schevhenko or some other person sway you into ruining what I’ve planned.”

Alexei huffed in disbelief.

“Do you have any idea how many times I had to face near-death experiences in combat operations and information warfare just to rise through the Spetsnaz ranks and get to this position?” Vasili leaned closer to Alexei. “Don’t forget the life-or-death situations I had to overcome to make you the President of Russia. If you do, then you best not ignore my accomplishments. As I’ve said earlier, I’ll resign if you want me to.”

Alexei exhaled deeply.

“But even if I do, I will not allow an imbecile like Shevchenko to become my successor,” Vasili warned. “One more thing. Unless you want to end up in Siberia after your term, then I suggest you stop provoking me.”

He then leaned away, sat up properly, and tugged on his jacket to straighten it.

“I’ll hand in my letter of resignation as soon as I leave, sir,” Vasili said.

“Do you think I can’t control a mere intelligence bureau? The moment you submit your letter of resignation, I will take care of you in a much crueler way than how you arrested Shevchenko.”

The edges of Vasili's lips curved into the most unpleasant smile possible.

“If you believe that the Federal Security Service can suppress the KGB, then you’re about to have a huge problem in your hands, Mr. President,” Vasili countered, his eyes glinting colder than a snake’s. “If you want to resign earlier than planned because the work is too difficult for you, then by all means. Please do what you want.”

Neither Vasili nor Alexei broke eye contact.

After a couple of deep breaths, Alexei finally sighed. “What do you, Vasili?”

“Please respect the work of our intelligence bureau.”

Alexei cracked his neck as if in anger, then straightened his head again.

“That does not excuse your recent actions. You’ve crossed the line.”

“If we can’t get our hands on the next-generation energy facility, Russia will never be able to maintain its current position.”

“You really trust the youngster running around Afghanistan this much?”

“I trust him more than I trust you, Mr. President.”

“Vasili!”

“If you’ve got nothing else to say, then I’ll get going. I’ll hand in my letter of resignation as soon as I leave.”

The moment Vasili stood up, Alexei gritted his teeth.

“From now on,” he said, “I’ll respect the work of our intelligence bureau.”

Standing in front of the table, Vasili looked down at Alexei with a relaxed expression.

“I was initially planning on sending Shevchenko to Siberia, but I’ve changed my mind. I’ll have a firing squad execute him,” Vasili said.

Alexei, who had been looking at Vasili with resentment, sighed and nodded.

“Thank you for making a wise decision,” Vasili said.

He then turned around and left the terrace.

Once he had gone down the stairs, two agents approached him.

“Keep a close eye on him. Make sure he doesn’t attract more bugs,” he ordered.

The two agents respectfully saluted Vasili.

***

Kang Chul-Gyu moved forward silently.

The soldiers had already scattered. Since snipers could be hiding anywhere in the trees, they carefully swept the entire mountain as they advanced.

Hearing a gunshot right now would mean that they had lost one of their men. On the other hand, hearing the radio crackle would mean that they had killed an enemy sniper.

Some of the soldiers went down the mountain while others, like Nam Il-Gyu and Yang Dong-Sik, continued to climb until they had almost reached the peak of the mountain. Kang Chul-Gyu naturally led their group.

The shape of Afghanistan’s mountains, trees, and even the sunlight and the wind were completely different from the ones they were used to at the DMZ. Moreover, this was by no means just a skirmish. As part of this long operation, they had to spend the next fourteen hours completely focused just to survive long enough to reach their destination.

Haah. Haah.

It had been quite some time since Kang Chul-Gyu had climbed a mountain with his senses completely alert.

The wind that touched his skin felt different when he encountered an enemy. Although others weren’t aware of it, his heart hammered to send him a terrifying warning whenever an enemy pointed their gun at him.

Swiftly, he repeatedly advanced and examined the forest from left to right, gathering as much information as he could.

With his surroundings seemingly moving in slow motion, he could clearly see everything—even the ends of the grass shaking and the sharp leaves swaying with the wind.

There was nothing fun about a battle to the death, but Kang Chul-Gyu couldn’t help but feel strangely happy right now. After all, Kang Chan wanted him in this fight.

When Kang Chan called him in Libya, Kang Chul-Gyu felt so happy that it made him feel uneasy. It made him wonder if he was allowed to be so happy even though his life was stained with blood and tears.

As ordered, Kang Chul-Gyu was determined to kill all the snipers and key figures of the UIS. This was the best way for him to help Kang Chan.

The tree leaves rustled as the wind blew and brushed past Kang Chul-Gyu.

He briefly glared at one area of the forest, then looked in another direction.

Haah. Haah.

If he wasn’t careful, a muzzle could peek out from between the windswept grass before he knew it.

Swoosh.

As Kang Chul-Gyu seemingly swayed along with the grass, he suddenly disappeared.

The wind kept blowing from the mountain ridge and below the valley.

Carefully but quickly, he advanced like a leopard that had crouched low to hunt a deer. However, he kept getting a different scent and feeling from his surroundings.

He needed to kill all of the enemies before they could aim and shoot at them.

Kang Chul-Gyu wanted to protect at least one more soldier who had dedicated their life to their country and comrades. He wanted to defeat all their enemies and return to South Korea together... just like what Kang Chan wanted.

Kang Chul-Gyu thought of his suit that was hanging inside his closet. He wanted to allow the other soldiers to experience the kind of happiness that he had felt—the kind of happiness that made him open the closet several times just to look at his suit.

***

Cha Dong-Gyun assigned three snipers to the entrance of the mountain and then assigned soldiers to guard them, one of which was the army interpreter.

Kwak Cheol-Ho, Yoon Sang-Ki, and the soldiers who had fought in Africa and Libya now looked like seasoned veterans. Their eyes were now sharper and their movements calculated.

Cha Dong-Gyun couldn’t really tell if they’d win if they fought two hundred Quds right now. If Kang Chan was with them, then he’d be confident that they would emerge victorious. Unfortunately, they were on their own right now.

Regardless, Cha Dong-Gyun calmly assigned soldiers to their respective positions.

Afterward, he pressed the button on his radio.

Chk.

Before issuing orders, he slowly looked around the mountain, seemingly checking on his men.

“Looks like we got lucky,” Cha Dong-Gyun began.

The soldiers turned to him as if to ask, “What are you saying?”

“After all, we are now about to fight our enemies’ weakest link.” Cha Dong-Gyun took a breath, then continued, “Moreover, we’ll be fighting them fully rested and with the skills that the captain had been trying to teach us during the operations in Afghanistan, China, North Korea, Africa, and Libya.”

Under the Afghan sunlight, Cha Dong-Gyun conveyed his determination to his men.

“Soon, we’ll be facing two hundred Quds! I believe there’s no better way for us to show how much the combat experiences we’ve accumulated have helped us grow!”

The soldiers’ eyes met his as they nodded in agreement.

“In the sky above us, eight of our fighter jets defeated thirty enemy planes! Now, it’s our turn! Let us show our enemies and the world the true might of the Jeungpyeong special forces team, our captain, and the entire South Korean military!”

“If I can!” Yoon Sang-Ki then yelled, his voice low and husky, somewhere in the middle of the mountain.

“Protect the country with my blood!”

Before Cha Dong-Gyun, the soldiers expressed their relentless resolve to protect their country at all costs.

“I am happy!”

For some reason, Cha Dong-Gyun really wanted to see Kang Chan now.

He slowly turned around and got into position, then looked in the same direction as the soldiers.

In the distance, he could see the remains of one of the fighter jets that had been shot down. It had hideously crashed onto the mountain.

With the grueling battle now on the horizon, Cha Dong-Gyun adjusted his rifle with his right hand.

‘Come at us. We’re no longer the same team you bastards fought back then.’

***

Jeong Won-Min and his men moved through broad daylight with only a map to guide them.

Soon, as he had ordered, two soldiers quickly ran ahead.

Rustle. Rustle.

A soldier examined the area in front of him. He then pointed his middle and index fingers toward the sky and then ahead of him.

Clank. Clunk.

Two more soldiers ran to their target location.

The others then moved in groups of four, taking turns using the area that they had secured.

There was a river below them on their right and a road above them on their left.

They had to follow a dirt road that was almost big enough for just two trucks to drive on, so it wasn’t particularly difficult.

There was no one on the road since there were no houses nearby. Moreover, since the road was about seven meters above the river, it provided them with a lot of cover.

Jeong Won-Min would’ve loved to run as if their lives depended on it, but he relentlessly and meticulously stayed wary of their surroundings instead. The others even thought it was excessive.

The goal was for the 606 to reach the target location without any support.

They were doing this for Kang Chan.

Kang Chan trusted and ordered the 606 to complete this task in front of the DMZ King—a living legend among South Korea’s special forces—the Jeungpyeong special forces team, and the National Intelligence Service’s counter-terrorism team.

The 606 had to run for twelve hours on the road without being able to stand up straight. They also had to be wary of the mountain in the distance.

Rustle. Rustle.

Jeong Won-Min took point and slowly examined his surroundings. He then nodded.

It was a relief that the sun had gone past the road and was now on the opposite side. A cloud of dust rose from the road and swept above them whenever the winds blew, but it didn’t really faze them.

This was Jeong Won-Min’s first time hearing about an objective like this.

I still can’t believe Kang Chan said that our objectives are to kill all of the UIS leadership and return to South Korea without losing a single man. That’s so cool.

When a smile threatened to break out, Jeong Won-Min glared ahead of him to stop his lips from curving.

Right after, he turned to Choi Chul-Han.

Sergeant Choi Chul-Han had clung to him, begging him to allow him to join the operation. He even said that Jeong Won-Min could hit him and order him to run laps around the training field until he died if it meant getting to join.

Jeong Won-Min was aware of Choi Chul-Han’s tenacity. He also knew that ever since the International Building incident, Choi Chul-Han had been training with bloodshot eyes.

‘Let’s do this, Choi Chul-Han!’

Jeong Won-Min gritted his teeth.

Even if it meant this military uniform would be the last clothes he’d get to wear, they would take down every UIS executive and return home together.