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Finally, Yoo Hye-Sook noticed the people standing around her husband—Yoo Hun-Woo, Kang Chul-Gyu, Kim Hyung-Jung, and a man in a black military uniform. To her surprise, the uniform was similar to the one that Kang Chan had worn.

“Honey,” Kang Dae-Kyung quietly called. “Try to stay calm and just listen to me, okay? I asked them to be here because I didn’t think you would believe me if I told you about it alone.”

They had lost their son. What could be more surprising in the world?

However, people were strange. Yoo Hye-Sook’s face paled as the shock of losing Kang Chan came rushing back.

“It seemed some people were after our son, so they falsely announced that he was dead,” Kang Dae-Kyung said, taking Yoo Hye-Sook’s cold hand in his own. “If he was announced alive, they would have tried to assassinate him again. Director Yoo here declared him dead, and NIS Manager Kim helped.”

What was he talking about?

Yoo Hye-Sook, unable to understand, looked at Yoo Hun-Woo and Kim Hyung-Jung, then at Kang Chul-Gyu and Cha Dong-Gyun.

“Honey, our son is currently safe in France. I’ve already spoken to him on the phone, and he’s waiting for your call right now.”

Yoo Hye-Sook swallowed hard.

“He said he was really sorry, but he decided it was too dangerous at the time to let us know otherwise, so the men here announced that he was dead.”

Yoo Hye-Sook’s hand began to tremble in Kang Dae-Kyung’s grip.

“You believe Manager Kim, Director Kang, and Director Yoo, right? These people kept our Channy safe, and this man here guarded him. Thanks to them, Channy is in France unscathed. He looked for you as soon as he woke up, and he’s waiting for your call now.”

“Our… son?”

“Yes. Our Channy.”

Yoo Hye-Sook still looked like she didn’t believe him. However, she also clung to the thin strand of hope that blossomed deep within her heart.

“Can you talk to him?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked.

“A-are you sure he’s alive?” Yoo Hye-Sook replied unbelievingly.

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Let’s give him a call. Give me just a minute.” Kang Dae-Kyung pulled out his phone

“Then we’ll be outside,” Kang Chul-Gyu said and looked at the group of people standing with him.

Creak.

The four men opened the door. As they stepped out into the hallway, they heard Yoo Hye-Sook say, “Channy? Is that really you?”

Creak.

Cha Dong-Gyun quickly shut the door.

The four walked to the chairs that were in the center of the hallway.

“President Kang is truly incredible.”

No one denied what Yoo Hun-Woo said when he peered at the room. They didn’t disagree, nor could they find any words to say.

Kang Dae-Kyung had asked the four men here for a favor, and he made up a lie for Kang Chan and Yoo Hye-Sook. Who could blame him?’

“This is a relief,” Kang Chul-Gyu said. He then let out an assured sigh and brought his gaze back to the door of Yoo Hye-Sook’s room.

***

After finishing his call with Yoo Hye-Sook, Kang Chan took a moment to compose himself. Upon feeling better, he called Ludwig and spoke to him for about half an hour. Once done, he put the phone on the table and craned his neck from side to side. He had never called people for so long multiple times in his life.

“Are you about done yet?”

Gérard was still next to Kang Chan.

“I think so. I’d rather go fight a battle somewhere. I’m really not good at these things.”

“They suit you.”

“You wanna try?”

Gérard resolutely shook his head. “Absolutely not. I’m made for the scene.”

Buzzzzz.

At that moment, the bell in the room loudly rang. This hotel stuck to using old things, including its elevators and doorbells.

Gérard jumped to his feet and headed to the door. He returned with Hugo.

Hugo bowed awkwardly and sat down across from Kang Chan. It seemed like he had picked up on Asian greetings somewhere.

“Uzman will be here at the hotel by eight this evening.”

“Eight…”

Calculating the time, Kang Chan caught sight of Hugo’s short legs on the couch. He must have bought a pair of pants and cut off the bottoms. People would usually hem them…

“Sherman also contacted us.”

Kang Chan looked at Hugo’s forehead. The man seemed to have a way of distracting others with his whole body. Maybe it would be more effective to just get the report over the phone. Anyhow, Kang Chan needed to focus on their conversation now.

“He had designated Playa Santa Lucia, Cuba, as the meeting spot. He wishes there to be a security detail of thirty men on each side, plus five attendants.”

“What is the DGSE’s analysis on that? Is it a satisfactory demand?”

“It is disadvantageous for us, considering the location is Cuba.”

Kang Chan looked at Hugo, demanding an explanation.

“Cuba is close to the United States, and it’s directly connected to Bermuda. If something unwanted happens there, we have nowhere to turn for help.”

Gérard focused on Hugo’s words with a sharp gaze.

“Hugo, if I were to refuse this meeting, what is the worst thing that could happen?”

“Your question is too broad to answer, sir.”

Kang Chan didn’t think so, but he changed the question anyway.

“If I continue to try to eliminate Ziegfeld, what’s the biggest thing that he could do? I’m guessing he’s not hiding in Bermuda just to be safe.”

“That would be correct, sir.”

Hugo’s response revealed nothing. However, he soon added, “Ziegfeld can start a world war.”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit excessive to think that one person’s decision can start a world war?”

“With Ziegfeld, it isn’t. You must remember that he’s the Star of David. The vast sums of money that the Star of David has at their disposal can mobilize entire African rebel armies and launch all the missiles that arms traffickers trade at the same time.”

Kang Chan tilted his head doubtfully. “Rebels and missiles alone can cause a world war?”

“The moment he decides to start a war, Mexico, Iran, and a few countries in Africa will change leadership, and those countries will immediately begin a civil war.”

Kang Chan groaned and glanced at Gérard. That did make another world war seem possible.

“That’s the dark side of the economy that the Star of David controls. They’re willing to support rebels for profit because there’s nothing like international unrest and localized warfare to bring in the big bucks.”

Kang Chan listened in silence.

“Add to that the countries surrounding Russia and China’s ethnic minorities demanding independence, and you’ve got the markings of a world war.”

“Sounds like he’s someone we’ll have to kill eventually.”

Hugo didn’t answer Kang Chan’s statement, but the look on his face said it all.

“The judgment is yours,” his expression seemed to say.

“How long do I have to give them an answer?”

“As soon as you decide, the DGSE will notify Sherman.”

“Okay. Let’s agree to the meeting. However, tell him I’ll decide when I’ll be meeting with him.”

“Copy, sir.”

Hugo stood up, bowed in yet another awkward way, and left the room.

***

Click, click.

There wasn’t much to a disassembled rifle, but the same could be said about an assembled one as well. It was just a clunky body, muzzle, and trigger.

However, when it was slung over the shoulder of a strong-looking soldier, it exuded a tremendous sense of power.

After speaking with Kang Chul-Gyu, Kim Hyung-Jung took time to speak separately with Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho.

Right after, the hidden threatening gazes of the Jeungpyeong special forces team members began to surface. An inexplainable sense of excitement and nervousness filled the hospital.

The busy Kim Hyung-Jung headed to Seok Kang-Ho’s room and stepped back out.

“This isn’t right.”

Riip! Rip!

Seok Kang-Ho tore off the tape that was securing the IV drip needle and pulled it out in one swift motion.

“Mr. Seok.”

“You can’t think of sending them without me.”

The swelling hadn’t subsided yet, and Seok Kang-Ho’s nose and ear were taut, not to mention the dark, nasty bruises.

“Look at them!” exclaimed Seok Kang-Ho, turning to Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee.

The three couldn’t defy Kim Hyung-Jung’s orders. However, their glinting eyes clearly showed their desire to go as well.

“We risked our lives to get rid of Jibril.”

“Mr. Seok! I’m not disregarding your abilities—I decided based on your condition.”

“While we were beaten up, unable to see each other’s faces, we only had two things in mind: we must not bring fire to our country, and we must not cause the captain trouble!”

Kim Hyung-Jung knew that. Unable to find a proper response to Seok Kang-Ho, he exhaled loudly.

“I’ll call the captain, so please make arrangements for the four of us to go. It’s our job to protect the boss. If he goes to that kind of place and something happens… Manager Kim!”

Kim Hyung-Jung, who was looking at Seok Kang-Ho, had suddenly burst out laughing like a madman.

***

Fortunately, Uzman looked more like what Kang Chan had expected.

After shaking hands, Kang Chan introduced him to Gérard and sat across from him at the table.

They were at a hotel restaurant.

Behind Uzman stood half a dozen attendants and bodyguards in white dresses, and behind Kang Chan stood Gérard, Hugo, and a dozen or so DGSE agents in sunglasses.

“You’re younger than I expected.”

“I hope you’re not disappointed.”

Uzman smiled at Kang Chan. “The look in your eyes says it all.”

It wasn’t clear what he meant by that, but Kang Chan assumed he meant it in a good way, so he didn’t say anything.

“I didn’t mean anything else when I asked to see you,” Uzman continued, gently steering the conversation. “I wanted to see what you were like, and I was hoping that we could use this opportunity to develop a more friendly relationship.”

Uzman spoke accented French that might have been unintelligible had Kang Chan heard it word for word, but he had no trouble understanding it in sentences.

“Monsieur Kang.”

Pulling Kang Chan’s gaze, Uzman added, “There is a saying that our ancestors passed on. ‘Sow with your back to the wind.’”

Seok Kang-Ho could have recognized the proverb instantly, but Kang Chan had never heard it before.

“I believe it’s teaching us to sow with the belief that someone will harvest it, even if it’s not yourself. I sowed the seeds by forgetting Abibu and Jibril’s sacrifices and returning the four men to South Korea. With you, the wind, at my back.”

Conversations with old people were definitely scary. Stinging comments could come out of nowhere, just like now.

“I hope that when the time comes for someone to harvest, even if it’s one of us, we will find ourselves at your mercy, Monsieur Kang.”

Uzman was trying to say the same thing with his eyes.

“I understand. I will not antagonize anyone in the future just because they are from Saudi Arabia.”

“Thank you, Monsieur Kang. I’ll take my leave then.”

Uzman stood up to leave.

Had he come all the way here just to say those few words? Not that Kang Chan wanted to talk to him longer.

Kang Chan also stood up.

“May I formally invite you next time?” Uzman asked genuinely.

“I will accept your invitation if I can. I thank you for your wise way of ending what could have been an uncomfortable situation,” Kang Chan gently replied. He wanted to at least respond similarly to Uzman’s demeanor and gratitude.

“I thank Allah that Saudi Arabia is no longer standing in the way of the wind. No man can go against the winds that drag the world and survive. May He give you much more to do.”

Uzman then exited the restaurant with his entourage and bodyguards, leaving Kang Chan wondering if his words were good wishes or a curse.

***

Seok Kang-Ho, dressed in a black military uniform with weapons clutched at his sides, stuck his swollen head out to study the map. Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee all looked the same as he did.

At that moment, Kim Hyung-Jung delivered Kang Chan’s instructions to them.

“You’ll be going to Mont-Saint-Martin in France, which is a forty-minute drive from the airport here in Villers-La-Bresse. Once you arrive, or even before, if the assistant director gives you any further instructions, please follow them.”

Kang Chul-Gyu, Seok Kang-Ho, and Cha Dong-Gyun nodded.

“I heard he’s planning to go to Cuba with thirty-four men. You all will move together. I know it’s a hassle, but he ordered you all to go straight to Mont-Saint-Martin with plenty of heavy weapons and ammunition.”

All else aside, Kang Chan’s command to bring heavy weaponry and plenty of spare ammunition was enough to convey his intentions and give them a gist of the situation.

“We’ve chartered a private plane for this operation. The departure is at 22:00 today, Seongnam Airport, so we’ll be leaving the hospital at around nine. Until then, feel free to have dinner and get some rest.”

After a brief pause, Kim Hyung-Jung added, “We didn’t want to overwhelm the hospital, so we’ve arranged for dinner at a restaurant near Seongnam. We’ll leave when the counter-terrorism team members take over the hospital perimeter.”

Seok Kang-Ho winced as he straightened up. However, he immediately pretended he was fine.

“That wasn’t because of the pain.”

Kim Hyung-Jung and Kang Chul-Gyu couldn’t help but laugh as they avoided eye contact. If anyone saw Seok Kang-Ho pretending to be fine with his already big head even more swollen, they would’ve laughed too.

***

No one was a stranger to each other now. Everyone knew what operations others had been on and what results they achieved.

After traveling from the hospital in two buses, the group dined at a restaurant near Seongnam that Kim Hyung-Jung had prepared.

It was a converted house on the outskirts of the city, so it was the best place to eat privately and away from prying eyes.

After the meal, the group gathered around to chat over coffee in paper cups.

Kang Chul-Gyu sat on a red plastic chair off to one side of the garden. Nam Il-Gyu, Yang Dong-Sik, and Kim Hyung-Jung sat around a peeling table, also drinking coffee from paper cups.

Kang Chul-Gyu hadn’t spoken since they left the hospital.

Nam Il-Gyu and Yang Dong-Sik didn’t seem to pay him any mind, but Kim Hyung-Jung couldn’t bring himself to ask him if anything was wrong. Hence, their table had the heaviest atmosphere one could expect of men going out to battle.

“Sunbae-nim,” Nam Il-Gyu called as if in passing. “Are you getting a bad feeling?”

Kim Hyung-Jung glanced at him, and Kang Chul-Gyu nodded with certainty.

Kim Hyung-Jung knew Kang Chan also sometimes got signals like that. Nevertheless, seeing Kang Chul-Gyu nod at Nam Il-Gyu’s question made him look at Kang Chul-Gyu with a puzzled expression.

“I’m getting the usual inexplicable sense of uneasiness. Be extra vigilant from today onward.”

“Yes, sir,” Nam Il-Gyu and Yang Dong-Sik replied firmly.

“Do you feel certain ways about battles?” Kim Hyung-Jung asked.

“Sometimes my gut warns me of danger. When something’s about to happen, my heart starts racing or something like that…”

Kang Chul-Gyu laughed at how awkward it was to explain.

“I’ve heard the assistant director say something similar.”

“So I was informed. We seem to have a similar sixth sense.”

Kim Hyung-Jung nodded. “I think so too.”

He then asked if the feeling was severe. At times like these, he understood why people went to have their fortunes read.

“I heard that the assistant director called us here. He’s got a better sense than I do, so he must be getting warnings about the danger ahead as well. There’s no telling what’s going to happen where.”

Kang Chul-Gyu gave an uncharacteristically kind explanation to Kim Hyung-Jung.

With twilight rising, the setting sun turned red as if it had been struck by a sword.

“Phuhu!”

Seok Kang-Ho’s happy laughter came over from the other side while Kang Chul-Gyu was staring at the distant blood-red sky.