Early afternoon at a luxury hotel in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
After going to the scheduled destination, I finished a short personal maintenance and prepared to leave.
It wasn’t going to the gym or the police station.
Since everything I was originally meant to do was over, I was packing my things to return home.
Ostensibly, it was to train and practice with the Bolivian police for one month, but it was possible to cancel it in the middle due to the pipe bombing incident.
This was to prevent additional risks in case of casualties or mental illness such as post-traumatic stress.
At least I was fine, but it was better to leave anyway.
I have to work as a real mercenary, but my main purpose was contracts with foreign cooperation countries.
Even if that wasn’t the case, I had to track it down quickly and deal with everything, whether it’s the physical or whatever.
It was when Harry and I were packing our clothes on the floor of a two-person hotel room.
woo woo woo-
My phone vibrated, and I paused while looking at the caller.
Chief Jake.
There was no way I could call you for something trivial during personal maintenance time.
It must have been mission related.
As soon as I answered the phone, I heard what I guessed.
– Gather to my room.
“Is this an operation?”
– Not yet.
“Not yet… … ?”
I asked what he was talking about, but Jake’s words added succinctly.
– Is Harry with you?
“Yes, I am by your side. Are you coming with me?”
– Yeah, all Charlie.
“All right.”
After hanging up the phone, I moved with Harry.
I wondered what not yet meant, so I meant to ask as soon as I went, but I didn’t have to.
It was something I realized right away the moment I entered.
why didn’t you say not yet?
“Lee, are you okay?”
Philip, who had been treated at the hospital and who embraced me, was there.
Not only that, but Kenneth, the clerk at the consular office, stood to one side and gave me a look.
In other words, everyone in the industry has gathered.
It might be an operation, something was good enough to happen.
Pushing that thought aside for a moment, I took Philip’s hand.
“I’m fine, how is Philip?”
“Yes, that’s fine. The wound isn’t very deep, and all I got was an injection, minus a few pieces.”
“What about the head? I was stunned… … .”
“It’s the first time he’s experienced an explosion like this, so he might have lost consciousness from the tension. Fortunately, everything was fine.”
“Thank God, thanks to you, I’m fine. Thank you.”
When I thanked Philip, Jose, who was next to me, added his words.
“It was great, really. If you’re an ordinary army officer, it wouldn’t be easy to move that far. It seems that there is a reason why he was sent here alone from the mainland. It was great. I also want to say thank you. Because you saved Lee, our focal point.”
“Ah, then I would like to thank you as well. You saved my hero, senior, so I’ll treat you to a good drink later.”
After Harry added his words.
Marcus, who had been staring at us, opened his mouth as if to clear up the situation.
“… So, is this a new operation?”
He must have guessed from the assembled team, Philip, and Kenneth.
The same goes for Rachel, who was next to her.
By the time he was looking at Jake with a serious expression, Kenneth spoke out.
“Additional contacts have emerged.”
“… … !”
Me too, by the time everyone was looking at Kenneth.
A voice added.
“This is someone who worked with Giandro Basicanal in the past. As a gang boss located in the west of Brazil, it was confirmed that he possessed a lot of information about the bacicanal in the past, and like Miguel Alvarez, who was arrested, he said that he could still be contacted.”
At those words, José, who had complimented Philip in a half-joking manner, wrinkled deeply.
“… This time it’s a f*cking gang. Should I go to Brazil and wipe it out?”
It seemed that he foresaw a dangerous operation.
I did too.
I’ve been let down by the effects of the terror attack here, but unless that happens, I’ll have to engage in full-scale engagement with the gang.
The larger the scale, the greater the damage.
Either us or the enemy.
However, I hesitated at the answer that came back.
“It is not a sweep. It is literally contact.”
“What is that… Are you asking me to do some kind of infiltration like intelligence agents? Or really make an appointment and meet at the bar… … .”
When Jose paused, Jake nodded.
“Okay, they said they made an appointment and decided to meet. I decided to sell Giandr’s information.”
“and… … .”
Admiration came out of nowhere.
Because I hadn’t even thought of it.
I just thought I had to go after Giandro or whatever as quickly as possible and get rid of things that got in my way.
But, do you really make an appointment and meet?
In her surprise, Rachel’s voice turned to Kenneth.
“Is there any possibility of a trap or a lie?”
“For now, I think the information is clear.”
“Still, gathering us seems to mean that we must prepare for a strategy or prepare for an emergency, doesn’t it?”
I guess I would at Rachel’s question, but Kenneth shook his head.
“no. He only wanted a few dollars.”
“Then what… Should I even make a cut? Why did you have to come together? I could just notify you.”
When Jose asked behind Rachel, Kenneth smiled bitterly.
“I said I wanted to meet you.”
“… … ?!”
As he paused again, Marcus’ brow furrowed.
“… Isn’t this a trap?”
“That’s right. For now, we are judging the facts.”
“The reason is?”
“I’m not on good terms with Giandr Basicanal, and I know everything about Bolivia… He said he was curious. In terms of precise expression, they said they wanted to say hello and open up… They’re the kind of people who enjoy meeting celebrities, so it’s not unusual for them to look at their usual tendencies and behavior.”
“No, this… … .”
“Instead, we decided to follow our opinions on how, where, and when to contact us. Besides that, we agreed to cooperate on all possible conditions.”
“You crazy bastard… … .”
Jose was reciting profane words, only then did he nod.
Even though it wasn’t an operation, we had to call them all together, and that explained why Jake said it wasn’t yet.
And it was amazing that the scenario changed and flowed like this.
The Brazilian gang boss involved couldn’t divulge any information and offered to meet us in person?
‘God damn it… There’s something really special about it.’
Around the time when I couldn’t say anything and only swallowed admiration.
I heard Jake’s voice.
“Do you agree?”
As if waking up, he answered right away.
“Ah yes. I have to.”
I had to.
The reason I came to Bolivia and the purpose of returning quickly to the United States were all related to Pikal.
There was nothing to cover when it came to catching his subordinate, Giandro.
If it wasn’t a place to die, I had to go in.
Even if it was a place where I could die, I wasn’t too scared or concerned.
Because the ending I had to face and prevent was a nuclear war.
* * *
The next day, around noon in Hai Phong, Vietnam.
Giandro, who had changed from a businessman to a tourist’s attire, was eating street food with a small handbag slung around his waist.
From nob le mt l dot com
Looking at the cars on the road as if watching.
He soon fixed his gaze on a green local taxi.
Rurrureung— rattling.
After the door opens and closes behind the vehicle engine sound.
A notable person came down.
A Caucasian male in his late 20s wearing a large bag.
Soon Giandr’s and his eyes met.
‘You really came.’
It was Norman Jones, whom Walter Grayson had spoken of, and whom he had finished talking with before and after leaving the country.
He got out of the taxi and was coming over.
Giandro’s expression when he saw this was not very bright.
It was a relationship that was no different from an ally, but it was because he was not in a situation to welcome it with open arms.
Originally, I hadn’t planned to come by plane like this.
Just as they moved from Pakistan to Nepal, they planned to pass through Southeast Asia by car and on foot and enter China via the sea route.
to erase the traces.
Of course, I didn’t board the plane as Giandr Vasikanal.
I passed with an expensive counterfeit passport.
So his name won’t be revealed right away, but the problem was the fact that traces would be left if the fake passport was investigated.
Nonetheless, I had no choice but to board the plane.
There is only one reason.
It was because Walter was working and Norman was coming over.
I had no choice but to move to meet the time.
“Nice to meet you, Vashkanal.”
“… I’ll have to change my clothes first.”
As Vashkanal looked him up and down, Norman Jones nodded.
“Ah, that’s because it stands out. Time was running out, so I had no choice. Should I dress like a traveler like you?”
“Yes, do you have any clothes?”
“doesn’t exist. I tried to buy it locally.”
“I’ve got it ready, go over there and change right away.”
Giandro pointed directly to a building in the alley and said.
When Norman tried to move, he grabbed him.
“Previously… Have you followed all the security rules?”
“sure. Shall I explain?”
“try.”
“The used cell phone and the forged passport used for passing through the airport were discarded, and when moving, use only cash and leave the scene by changing taxis or walking in the middle to avoid being exposed to cameras or being followed.”
“You are good at memorizing… Then you must have taken care of the errands, but where are the things?”
Giandro asked, looking at Norman’s bag.
Because that was the most important thing.
internal data.
It was about documents that included everything from simple confidentiality to major secrets.
Norman immediately unzipped his thin zip-up jacket.
Then, he took out a large plastic pack attached to his skin with a bandage inside his clothes.
About the thickness of a finger.
“Is this starch?”
“Are you going to search me?”
“… Change and come.”
After saying that, he chinned the alley.
Instead of looking behind Norman, Giandro looked left and right of the alley and the road.
With a keen eye different from worrying about his safety.
And soon approached the entrance of the alley.
As if to keep them out and cover what is going on inside.
At the same time, a scream was heard.
“Ugh!”
It wasn’t loud, it was loud enough to be heard.
Hearing this, Giandro looked at the alley.
A very familiar and familiar face appeared there.
It was Pikal’s butler, Jurgen.
Known only as a Jew of German descent, he was the closest person to Boss.
“Long time no see. How is the boss?”
As Giandro asked how he was doing, he looked at Norman as he passed out into the van.
It was no big deal.
It was not only notified to Norman, but was reported to the boss and the pre-agreed verification work proceeded.
Of course, it is standard to proceed leisurely with time, but when it is urgent like now, it was rather radical and fast.
In the meantime, Jurgen carried Norman and nodded briefly.
“… That’s right.”
A positive answer, but it didn’t sound good.
It wasn’t because of the flat accent.
The fact that the butler of Pikal had come this far meant that there were fewer people to work for.
Feeling sorry for this, Giandro hesitated for a moment.
It was because of the words that followed.
“How did the task go?”
It was Pikal’s order to kill Kangtae.
Giandro hesitated and replied.
“yet… We are preparing.”