“Lima 4! What happened?!”
Director of External Relations Robert asked as if shouting into the walkie-talkie.
Even though they had not yet arrived at the scene, it was because of an enormous explosion that could shake the vehicle.
Even if this was a safe distance, there was a chance that someone would be killed or injured.
Moreover, Robert, the general manager, is still on the move.
It was time to ask again while looking at the black smoke visible through the front window.
– Hey, this is Lima 4. The stopped vehicle exploded… Current casualties will be confirmed and reported.
“Are there any casualties?”
– The explosion is too big… I think I have a concussion too.
“… … !”
Robert’s teeth clenched together.
If the person in charge who was behind him was injured without approaching the vehicle, the police officers in front of him would have been hurt too.
“… Report later and, if necessary, take first aid. I will go to the site and check it myself.”
Robert, who gave the new order, looked at the driver and said.
“Ignore all the rules and follow the rules, don’t worry about the ranks of cars, the streets, or the security guards.”
Then he turned to the people in the back seat and said,
“Call the ambulance immediately, and prepare the first aid backpack deployed in the vehicle.”
“All right.”
Robert just nodded at the answer he heard at once, took out his Glock 19, checked the chamber again, tore off the tourniquet attached to the plate carrier and held it in his hand.
Originally, I would have grabbed the gun first, but now I couldn’t.
As soon as we got off, we had to run to the wounded.
If the vehicle in the distance was shaken, the police officers nearby would have been seriously injured.
‘I hope there are no deaths… … .’
Around the time I was worried about the EOD members who moved first.
The scene where only black smoke was visible began to come into view more and more concretely.
Fragments that appear to be traces of trucks, oil on fire, and roads that are broken and pitted as if they had been hit by shells.
“You son of a b*tch… … .”
Abusive words flowed from Robert’s mouth at a scene that was more horrific than the satellite imagery.
Fortunately, the explosion site was quite far from the police personnel who came to assist.
When seen with the naked eye, at least 70M or more.
Even though there was a big difference from the way the police usually block roads or check and search, it was a good fulfillment of Robert’s request.
At this rate, even if a 155mm high-explosive shell fell, he would not have been injured.
Because I was waiting behind the killing radius.
However, what exploded now seemed more powerful than that.
“stop!”
shouted Robert, and as soon as the car stopped, he immediately ran.
Unlike the others, they found an EOD member lying about 50 meters away.
Fully armed with an explosion in mind.
However, the impact could not be completely offset, and it collapsed helplessly like a bush that stopped after rolling across the wasteland.
Tadadadak!
Robert hurriedly took off his face shield, checked his breathing, and shouted.
“Can you hear it?! hey!”
And between checking for bleeding or external wounds.
“There are no fatalities on this side, Lima 1.”
A voice came from behind.
The person from the State Department, who had been on the radio with Robert a moment before, had approached.
With high-ranking Texas officers and police officers.
“Anyone seriously injured?”
“There are only a few minor injuries, the rest is fine. Everyone was wearing a helmet, so I was the only one who got a concussion, and all I got was a small shrapnel wound.”
“… Then, please send this person to the hospital as soon as possible.”
Fortunately, the EOD crew did not suffer any trauma, but they had to go to the hospital as they lost consciousness.
In response, Robert let out a long sigh.
“Whoa… … .”
Fearing that there would be casualties from this explosion, I was quite nervous.
It was unimaginable.
In the United States, a high-ranking State Department official commits suicide bombing, and getting caught up in it, resulting in the deaths of several police officers, was like the end for Robert.
Even the person he has been monitoring steadily over the past six months.
Responsibility was not the problem, but he would have been mentally shocked and staggered.
Aren’t they not even colleagues from the operation, but police officers from Texas who came to support?
They didn’t even know who the opponent was.
That Walter Grayson was on the run, and that he was being pursued, was something only a few State Department people here knew.
At this, Robert, who knelt down and looked at the EOD crew, sat down.
At the same time, a SWAT member with a scar on his cheek asked.
“Are you okay?”
“… Sounds like something you should ask rather than me. Shouldn’t you have stitches on your cheeks?”
“It’s okay because there are no holes.”
It was the same words and actions as the special forces soldiers that Robert had seen and worked with.
Robert smiled bitterly.
“Were you a soldier?”
“Yes, I am from Ranger. I have also been to Afghanistan.”
“okay. Thank you for your service.”
Robert answered and immediately lowered his head.
It was because the contract agents who died without a name, like the SWAT member in front of me, came to mind.
It’s like a heavy shackle wrapped around your ankle.
‘… I’ll have to quit once I’m done with what I’ve been working on.’
I thought so, but retirement seemed distant.
Although the pursuit of Giandro was showing results, the Pikal associated with him was still behind the blackout and could not be pursued.
At this time, I was controlling my mind with anger.
A phone call came in.
Ron Myers, G&G Corp TF manager and current dispatch manager to Bolivia.
Robert checked the number and answered the call right away.
It was because he couldn’t have called for something trivial, and he was sure to bring information about Bolivia related to Kang-tae.
It might be urgent news with bad content, so I’m quite nervous.
I heard Ron’s happy voice.
– Oral I have something to report, so I’ll tell you first.
“Speak.”
– We have secured significant evidence from the target that has been taken over.
“Significant evidence?”
– This is the specific contact method and related password with Giandro Basikanal. Reliability is high because it is repeatedly and specifically stated even though it has received drug effects.
“… … !”
At that, Robert’s eyes lit up.
It was thanks to being one step closer to retirement, which I thought was far away.
Then, he paused at the words that followed.
– It is assumed that the problem is that Vashkanal is moving in a hurry.
“Where is the location?”
Robert, whose expression naturally hardened, asked for a moment.
A bad answer came through.
– Probably going to China.
China is one of the imaginary enemies set up by the United States, but there was something else important.
The fact that it is difficult to work.
Even a hypothetical enemy can adjust the situation by diplomatically smoothing it out or putting pressure on it, but that was not easy for China.
Because they were also great powers.
It was also a country that was completely anti-American, not only in the country, but also in public opinion.
Since Giandro was going in there, it was bound to be a problem.
Tracking by land would be quite difficult.
As Robert made that decision, Ron added a more specific explanation.
– This is also a statement obtained from the drug effect, but it is not accurate. From the time the target made a statement, I explained it with the clue ‘probably’. It’s a lot less reliable than the password or currency method described.
At that, Robert nodded.
I didn’t just accept what he said, but I realized why I had to inform this fact by phone.
“… We need to analyze the evidence first. If you’re late, he’ll go to China.”
It means that it is not a matter of uploading it as a report and receiving approval.
Ron also answered succinctly.
– That’s right.
After that, additional reports followed that informed the injured from the bombing and the movement of Santa Cruz.
Robert, who was about to end the call, hastily added a word.
“Lee?”
– Nothing special.
“… Then work hard.”
Suddenly, Robert hung up the phone and sighed lightly.
It was fortunate in misfortune.
Because Kangtae, a key resource, was fine.
When reports of bombings in Bolivia came in, my heart almost stopped.
Although he was great, he wasn’t immortal.
Moreover, a bomb that could not be stopped by body armor would easily be crippled once caught up in it.
As proof, one mercenary from G&G Corp died, two were seriously injured and underwent long-term surgery, and Philip, who wrapped Kang-tae, also received treatment to remove shrapnel.
What if the bomb had been as large as it is today?
Robert’s expression darkened.
The entire two-story tourist hotel would have been smashed and collapsed.
There must have been dozens of casualties.
‘This time when Lee comes back, I’ll have to make sure it’s more safe…’ … .’
Robert, who was calculating like that, called the State Department agent who was in charge of the field and said.
“Please clear up the situation. Please proceed with the supervisor.”
As Ron reported earlier by phone, there was an urgent matter to be done.
After a short exchange of greetings, Robert got into the car to check his e-mail, and at the same time made a verbal report over the phone to his immediate superior, the Undersecretary of State, and then gave the Secretary of Defense a general overview of the current situation.
He hung up the phone and narrowed his eyes as he concentrated on his laptop report.
‘I’ll see you soon… … .’
* * *
Nepal, Kathmandu, Tribhuvan International Airport.
Giandro, dressed as a wealthy businessman, not a tough-looking tracker, sat in the international departure waiting area and pulled out a cell phone.
It was an item purchased for the purpose of using and throwing away at this airport.
Recipient is the phone number given to Walter.
It was Norman Jones’ contact.
Tiff.
After entering the number and pressing the call button.
At the end of the ringing tone, a very young voice came over from the other side of the cell phone.
A powerful voice that seems to prove that you are in your 20s.
– You called just in time. Can I tell you my password?
“Norman Jones?”
– That’s right. The passwords are Yankee, Delta, Hotel, Papa, Echo, Delta.
“Exactly.”
– Where are you now?
“I have no right to question you. There is only one person in the world who can say that.”
– ah… He knows it too, he’s the boss… … .
“You know?”
– I heard rather than know. Prophet and savior… … .
“Are you a theologian? Or a Christian?”
– I was baptized, but now I’m a cold believer.
“So you take a religious approach. Not bad. Revolutionizing the world is no different than a prophet or a savior. Then do you even know his name?”
– Phycal.
“If you said that… What happened to Grayson? Are you dead?”
Giandrro asked with one eyebrow curled.
It wasn’t a proper name or surname, but it was because mentioning Pikal was not a light thing.
I shouldn’t have said it carelessly.
If he was prepared to die and succeeded to his duty, what if he didn’t know?
A calm voice came over with a guess.
– It seems so. Maybe it will come out in the news. I don’t know if I’ll reveal the identity of the deceased… … .
“What are you talking about?”
– I spied on the inside until I came out, but there was a pretty big explosion in Texas.
“Looks like they really wanted to go to South America.”
While thinking of Texas, a city bordering Mexico, a short answer came back.
– Yes, part of the plan was to evade the chase and join them. The odds were the lowest… … .
“Then the self-destruction was the highest?”
– That’s right.
“Right… … .”
Giandro, who understood the situation, brought up the main issue.
“Now we need to talk about work… Where are you now?”
– This is the airport.
“Not bad, where is your destination?”
– This is Vietnam. From there, we’re going to cross over to Southern China.
At Norman’s words, Giandro laughed.
It was because they had prepared the same route.
“Good. I can meet you on the way.”
– Then you… … ?
“Okay, I’ll call you back. See you in Vietnam.”