A few days later, the main building of the National Intelligence Service in Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
“Oh, come in.”
The first deputy chief gestured toward the door.
Standing in front of the open door, Jo Bum-yong, a former head of the International Safety Office and now a second-class agent on standby as an education center, moved cautiously.
Then he sat down, keeping an eye on the gestures that followed.
A look of nervousness escaped from his closed mouth.
It was because he came to the main building in a month after being placed on standby.
Of course, it wasn’t like punishment.
The government changed, and the head of the National Intelligence Service, the head of the Planning and Coordination Office, the 1st to 3rd deputy heads, and about 30 first-class agents were replaced in turn, and the second-class agent Cho Beom-yong was also subject to a water change.
As it is a common thing that happens every time there is a change of government, he was also quietly waiting for the disposition.
I was in the middle of guessing overseas assignments from provinces or developing countries.
However, the newly changed 1st Vice-Chief called.
At that time, without saying anything, I was waiting for the First Vice-Chancellor to say something.
Sitting at his office desk, banging on the keyboard and clicking the mouse, he picked up a file folder and stood up.
“No, sit down.”
Jo Beom-yong also reflexively moved his butt, so the first deputy chief who dissuaded him sat on the sofa for reception.
Then, he opened the file and said.
“Did you know what was going on?”
“I do not know.”
“Not a clue?”
“… Sorry, I don’t know.”
Jo Beom-yong quickly replied.
At the same time, I took a peek at the first deputy director’s expression, but I didn’t see anything negative about it.
He was just looking at me as if he was examining himself.
“Looks like you did a good job while I was out? Didn’t it get bad reviews?”
“… no.”
Cho Beom-yong, who was contemplating whether to say thank you, gave an answer of humility.
As he said, it was because he had not been able to set foot on Korean soil for several years because he traveled around the Middle East and Europe during the previous administration.
In a word, hardship means that all the hard work has been done.
Soon, the words of the first deputy general continued.
“You did well, except for one twist last year.”
“… … !”
Cho Bum-yong flinched at the word “sloppy”.
And around the time I looked back on what might have offended the 1st Vice-Chancellor overseas.
“Is this your work?”
Took.
Along with the words, some papers fell onto the reception table.
At the same time, Jo Beom-yong’s gaze also hurriedly turned to the document.
The moment your pupils dilate and your eyeballs begin to move busily from side to side to read the text.
I stopped at one person’s name.
Kang Tae Lee.
‘State Department connections… … !’
He was the person who unknowingly tried to catch him at Incheon International Airport in late fall last year and went to a hospital in Germany to confirm his renunciation of nationality.
At the same time, I also understood the meaning of the word ‘pitch’ that the 1st deputy chief said.
U.S. Department of State phone.
I had numbness at the time, but luckily it passed without any major problems.
After releasing it, it was because it passed quietly as if it was covered and passed by the US State Department.
So there was hardly any reprimand.
From nob le mt l dot com
Literally just sprained, I didn’t fall or get hurt.
And at the same time, Jo Beom-yong was puzzled.
‘Why is this name… … ?’
When you finish reading the contents of the document, recalling all the possibilities.
The 1st deputy chief, who saw Jo Beom-yong, asked as if looking at him.
“You seem to remember?”
“Yes, conductor.”
“how much?”
Cho Beom-yong, who had answered right away, hesitated at those words.
‘how much… … ?’
It was because I heard that there was something missing in the report or that it needed to be filled in more.
Carefully looking up, the first deputy chief’s words followed in more detail.
“Are you okay? how much do you remember Diluted or faded memories? Did I miss something or add something?”
“We will check and supplement immediately.”
I don’t know why, but Jo Beom-yong answered as quickly as possible.
Not only did he say that, but he took out a fountain pen from the inside pocket of his summer suit.
The voice of the 1st deputy director, who was watching the situation, added.
“Any contact?”
“I did it once last year when I checked the naturalization process… … .”
“No more after that?”
“That’s right.”
“Then you’re the only person you’ve come in contact with?”
“As far as I know, yes.”
“hmm… … .”
Cho Bum-yong answered quickly, and the first deputy general manager snorted and said.
“how was it?”
Cho Beom-yong flinched at the sudden question.
It was because the question was too broad.
However, I shouldn’t hesitate, so I brought out the words that seemed necessary.
“… T, there was something that seemed special. There was quite a bit of leeway.”
“Was that small?”
“Oh, no. I excluded it because it was personal subjective, but I will write it down now.”
Jo Bum-yong swallowed a sigh of relief while answering.
It was because the first deputy director’s reaction seemed like the answer he was looking for.
Of course, I didn’t know what kind of person he was yet, but at least he would be angry when he was angry.
There was no instance of an NIS executive taking notice of his subordinates or holding back his anger.
Soon more words followed.
“Then when you see it.”
It was the same tone as the first time, but Jo Beom-yong was more nervous than ever.
His tone was light, but it was because he was seeking opinions.
I had to fully understand the next question and give the answer the first deputy director wanted.
While staring at it with twinkling eyes.
Words soon followed.
“An officer who went to the Pentagon (The Pentagon: the US Department of Defense) after serving in the US Forces Korea recognized Lee Kang-tae… Why do you think that is?”
“… … ?!”
Jo Beom-yong’s eyes trembled at the completely unexpected words.
‘Pentagon?!’
The word State Department is also surprising, but this time it was the Pentagon.
Of course, there was nothing to guess.
There was evidence that he had served as a mercenary, but that was also documented in this document.
It is said that even the 1st deputy director knows.
Jo Beom-yong replied in time, as if he had no choice.
“… sorry.”
“I don’t know, is this?”
“That’s right.”
“Then, what I said earlier, the impressions I felt after contacting it… Let’s break it down in a bit more detail.”
“Yes, conductor.”
“Until you make up for that, go to work. Once the position… Wait a minute, I need to see the situation.”
“… … !”
Jo Beom-yong’s eyes grew stronger.
That was good news.
I thought about local or overseas assignments, but it was because I was suddenly asked to come to the main building.
Judging from the mention of his position, there was a high possibility that he would remain in Seoul.
Jo Beom-yong’s head was spinning.
‘I’ll go to work until I make up for it… Should I look at the situation?’
Around the time I flinch at words I still don’t understand.
The first deputy chief gave the final instructions.
“And as soon as you leave, find out more about Lee Kang-tae. Whether it’s digging around, calling, or meeting, don’t choose any means. Take your card as you leave.”
“Yes, conductor!”
It was said that the information he knew last year was not enough.
But there was something else important.
Instructions to take the card, regardless of the means and methods.
‘The first deputy director in charge of overseas and North Korea is like this… … .’
A light shone in Jo Beom-yong’s eyes as he rolled his head.
‘Lee Kang-tae is involved in foreign terrorism or North Korea issues. It’s not just heartbreak, it’s proof enough… … !’
Since the Pentagon was also mentioned, this job would not have been normal in size.
Cho Beom-yong chewed his lips once.
To not be too excited from the start and to focus on the work at hand.
* * *
USA, North Carolina, Fort Bragg.
Korean-American Lieutenant Philip Edman, also known as the Green Beret, dispatched as a liaison officer to the US Army Special Forces 7th Special Forces Division, headed for the heliport after receiving a call from the command control room.
It was because Kang-tae, whom he had to greet and who was to be guided and observed, had come again.
It was already the sixth.
3 days a week, today was the end of the 2nd week of my visit.
Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-
While the 500C, a civilian version of the MD 500, landed creating wind pressure.
I saw Philip, who came closer, completely landed, and opened the helicopter door himself.
Even with a happy expression.
“Mr. Lee, welcome! You came a little early today.”
“Every time I come, I look forward to it.”
“hahahahaha, I’m looking forward to it too. Would you like coffee first?”
Philip smiled as he wrinkled his face in the wind from the remaining propellers.
It wasn’t because Kang-tae was of Korean blood, or because he was a guest from above.
It was a sincere welcome.
Of course, the first time I saw Kang-tae, I couldn’t be happy.
It was because the work given was lousy.
I thought that I was hired because I was Korean, and I was doing something really different.
Being dispatched as a liaison officer to Fort Bragg at the Pentagon, where I was serving as an elite, was just a guide.
However, this was a complete misjudgment.
Kang-tae was such a good soldier that he wanted to be a comrade.
He had already been discharged from Korea and now became a mercenary, but apart from that, all his words and actions belonged to the Heavenly Soldier.
This was especially true of the attitude towards training.
I used to do my best to participate to the point where I thought I could stop, and I also respected the other soldiers while I was doing it.
Often, the angular ones were rounded by squeezing them with their skills.
And I realized it when I saw my skills.
The fact that the job assigned to him was one of the most important in the entire U.S. Army, and that Kang-tae was not an insignificant outsider.
It wasn’t to the extent of being excellent, but to the point of being ridiculously great.
I couldn’t believe it when I saw it.
As soon as I saw an enemy from 200 yards who needed a good aimed shot, I shot it and got it right in the head.
It was, of course, impossible.
Those were the words that came to mind.
‘Super Soldier… Psychic, One Man Army… … .’
It is a word that can only be seen in the media, and in fact it was a word close to a conspiracy theory.
Because nothing has been confirmed.
Also, Philip, being an active duty soldier, shouldn’t have tried to check those things.
His job was to obey orders for national defense.
Still, Philip was almost certain that the few words he came up with meant Kang Tae.
Of course, it’s hard to understand that such a person would openly wander around here, but anyway, the nonsense of the information entered in the report was still the same.
In fact, only the number of alphabets differed, but the imaginary words and sentences written for the report had the same meaning.
And this was what Kangtae also guessed.
‘… People are fine for a guard.’
Even looking at Philip, I thought so and passed it on.
I couldn’t help it.
You can’t just do the training, and you couldn’t kick the given opportunity and experience it.
It was just accepting.
Of course, it was enough to know what the Ministry of Defense wanted.
re-enlist.
Even if that wasn’t the case, it seemed clear that he would recommend a contract with the Ministry of Defense.
They’ll probably give you a mission pretending to be a subcontractor.
That was the case with everything at Fort Bragg.
How good the US military is, how well they treat soldiers, and so on.
Ultimately, it was for propaganda.
A faint smile appeared on Kangtae’s lips when he saw this.
‘If I was 20 years old, I would have passed away… … .’
In fact, in the eyes of Kang-tae, who was about to face the immortality, these were things that could be expected.
Even if it wasn’t that, I had no intention of becoming a soldier right away.
First of all, it was necessary to prevent nuclear war, and also because Jake and his colleagues were so good.
Of course, you never know later.
After everything was over, I could have enlisted in the US Army and carried out my mission.
As Philip saw, the military spirit was still there.
And even today, Kang Tae fulfilled the training schedule intact, more like a soldier than a soldier.
It was a routine, like a real battle, in a perfect place decorated almost like a real battle.
The time passed was approximately 6 hours.
After wiping off his sweat in the new shower room, Kang-tae quickly left the unit, and Philip headed to the office to write a report after seeing the helicopter floating.
Every time I come, there are many things to write about.
However, I was summoned by a sudden call.
I couldn’t even write a report, so I was reminded of a few things in case my memory was blurred.
I flinched at the division commander’s office where I was called.
There was a face floating on the screen, because it looked so familiar.
‘Minister of Defense… … ?’
While Philip pauses.
The Minister of Defense on the screen opened his mouth.
– Today, I heard it myself and called because I had something to ask.