A few more days after the videoconference ended, several suits from the State Department came to see me.
With newly added and changed contracts.
“You can sign here.”
Following the words of the person wearing sunglasses, I grabbed a pen and signed an autograph.
Then he looked at the sunglasses facing him and asked.
“Are you done?”
“Yes, congratulations, Agent Lee.”
It was very awkward to be called an agent, but I accepted it because I asked for a handshake.
It wasn’t bad anyway.
It was because not only did the existing mission continue, but also colleagues were maintained, Robert, who was the director, continued to assume the role of final manager, and even Ron, who was an executive at G&G Corp, was transferred as an agent.
It is said to have borrowed the form of a Global Response Staff (GRS) from the CIA, but in reality it didn’t seem to have much to do with me.
Because things haven’t changed the way they used to.
To put it simply, it was just a meaningless team name called TF 242.
If there was one thing that had changed, it was that the organization became directly under the Secretary of State, the team was disbanded and reorganized after each operation, and it was easy to receive support from various intelligence agencies or special forces if necessary.
I could see that I had improved a little, but I soon corrected that thought.
“… … ?”
It wasn’t just the suit wearing sunglasses and carrying the contract, it was because he brought something as a gift.
It’s also a large hard case that could contain something like a firearm.
Even though he had all the equipment he could afford, it was time to start with his gaze naturally.
The man in the suit held out the hard case to me.
“This is equipment for Agent Lee.”
Then, with a click, the box opened.
“uh?”
I was taken aback by the unexpected.
It was because it contained bulletproof vests, which not only covered part of the upper body that was previously worn, but also contained all kinds of shapes.
It looks like you can wear all of your limbs.
Of course, it was the first thing I saw.
“Is this a full-body body armor?”
When I asked while picking it up, the answer came back as expected.
“That’s right.”
“But please… Are they my size?”
I was asking because I had done all sorts of physical examinations while I was here, and meticulously measured my body size in the meantime.
And this time I got the same answer.
“That’s right.”
“oh… … .”
Around the time I remembered the cheap 200,000 won customized suit I bought a long time ago.
An explanation followed.
“All pistol rounds are perfectly protected, but 7.62mm rifle rounds can cause bruises and fractures depending on the distance.”
At that level, it had to be considered the highest level of performance among bulletproof vests.
This was because if the rank was low, there were frequent cases of being pierced by rifle bullets, and there was a high possibility that ribs would be broken even if hit by pistol bullets.
While shaking my head at this, I quickly tried on a few.
“Not bad… It would be difficult to wear all of them, but there are some things that get in the way… … .”
There was interference at each joint, and the suit man raised his voice as if he knew it.
“So it was made so that you can wear it for each part you want. If you wear it on the frequently injured area, you will feel much better.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s what it should be. If you wear everything you want to wear, you won’t be able to do it… By the way, does this come out again if requested? Or should I buy it?”
Take off what you were wearing and ask. A concise answer came back.
“Paid upon request.”
“Then what… … .”
A conclusion came quickly.
“Not all, but thank you for writing it well.”
I was going to send the suit back, but instead of going back, I called all of our team members.
“We will proceed with the scheduled training.”
“What is the plan… Oh, are you talking about blanks?”
It reminded me of the fact that there was no detail in the schedule, only ‘education’.
It was said that he was doing it now.
And it was obvious even if I didn’t receive any kind of education.
It must be something related to the operation.
As expected, what I had guessed came out of the suit man’s mouth.
To be precise, specific methods for recruiting informants, intimidation, and camouflage.
“This is so… … .”
It wasn’t my style because there was so much to do, but I didn’t listen or ignore it.
Anyway, it was thought that it would increase the chances of survival on the battlefield.
Even if it wasn’t, it would be useful.
It was because the man in the suit wasn’t just talking about theories.
had experience
Not only in the content of the lecture, but also in his hand as he shook hands.
The traces of healed scars and calluses on his hands were not caused by exercising while touching metal.
These were things that could only be obtained by rolling like a dog in the field.
It wasn’t just me, my teammates were similar, so I knew it well.
Even Rachel had hands full of calluses, comparable to those of an athlete.
I listened intently to this lecture.
Not just that day, but until the next few days.
And then, the information I had been ignoring came in.
A new operation as TF 242.
Instead of Jake, Ron, whose face was revealed in a video, led the meeting.
– Operation Bug Slap (Catch Bugs).
The screen disappeared behind the horse and the operation information was displayed, and Ron’s voice was heavy.
– The target is Norman Jones, you f*cking bug.
* * *
“Ahh! that son of a b*tch! Come to think of it, the news related to Vashikanal doesn’t come out very often. Did you hide it on purpose? To catch him?”
Jose asked, looking at the low-resolution picture displayed on the screen.
I could see why you were asking.
Even when I entered the United States, there were quite a few articles related to the captured Giandro Basikanal, but it disappeared before I knew it.
In particular, far-right politicians, among them hardliners classified as hawks, made noise to the point of hoarseness, and China, hearing this, went beyond ignorance and said that it was false agitation and fabrication by the United States, making it incredibly noisy.
If China stayed still, there would be no reaction, but rather, it attacked, and all sorts of anti-China articles came out, and related racial discrimination crimes were even more highlighted.
To put it simply, it was more difficult to be quiet because a strong-to-strong situation was created.
However, at some point, the news started to decrease drastically, and that was covered with other issues and was buried.
And now that the one-month vacation period was over, it was completely quiet.
So even when I watched the news, I couldn’t see any news related to Giandro Basikanal, nor any other reaction related to it.
Not only that, but there was no news from the inside either.
it was just quiet
I also just exercised, shot, and lived as usual.
But the situation where Norman Jones’ name came out.
Jose deserved a question, and everyone stared at their screens, waiting for an answer.
I don’t know, because we were the same.
– I don’t know about that either, but in the meantime, there have been many operations that I don’t know about. These photos are what I got there.
While looking at Norman’s photos obtained from the low-quality CCTV or black box again, Ron’s words continued.
– So don’t ask me anything, because I don’t know. My only job is to manage and support TF 242’s field missions. Got it?
“Um, I see. But what’s the name? I heard that our team leader is the team leader of TF 242?”
– I’m a contract employee with the State Department. Just call me Ron Myers.
“Then is the director also the same?”
– Yeah, didn’t you tell me? Robert Anderson, just call it that. Our titles are only newly created before we go into operation. I mean in a dirty language.
“It’s awkward, executives without titles. We’d better just worry about the strategy.”
– Yes, Jose. Thinking of memorizing the history of the State Department?
“It can’t be.”
After Jose answered, the screen changed.
It was showing the people who were pictured with Norman.
Several white and yellow people.
It was time to listen to the explanation while watching because the picture quality was not very good.
“uh… … ?”
I saw a familiar face.
It wasn’t exactly in-game, but it was someone I’d seen a few times in a cinematic video.
It is also one of the characters standing quietly like a folding screen behind Pikal.
It was a character that appeared like an extra, whose name was not even displayed, but I recognized it after playing so many games.
At the same time, his name came out.
– The one called Jurgen, currently assumed to be German-European.
At the same time, Rachel across from me gave me a glance.
“What’s wrong?”
“no. just young… … .”
I got a little confused.
Even if I said that I had seen it, it was because it was cumbersome to explain.
It’s been a while since I’ve come out of LaReple, so all I did was react to the character that recognized my face.
I didn’t mean to tell you, and I had nothing to tell you.
Rather, I didn’t even know his name.
I just heard about Jurgen for the first time.
In that respect, it was better to keep my mouth shut because it could cause confusion in the operation.
‘It wasn’t an extra, it was an aide… … ?’
By the time I looked back at the story before the change, the operation area was displayed on the screen.
Hong Kong located in southern China.
At once, the atmosphere became heavy.
Not so long ago, it was because China and the United States had a river-to-river fight.
It was unlikely that it would have any effect.
It is a country that is still difficult to stir, but it must have become even more difficult to infiltrate and to be active.
“Well, this is my first time in Hong Kong… … .”
By the time Harry opened his curious eyes.
Ron’s explanation continued along with the infiltration method.
– You will be divided into two groups to enter the country. A business team that does business, a team belonging to a group tourist.
At the same time, the team formation and infiltration method were displayed on the screen, and a shallow admiration came out while watching it.
“Hey, you’re meticulous… … .”
It was all because it was tailored to the actual business and group tour itinerary.
To be precise, during public hours, I had to act as if I were a real businessman or tourist, and I had to conduct operations in the free time given from the evening.
From dinner to the next morning, right before breakfast.
And when I came back, I was supposed to get out quickly through a different passport and according to a different schedule.
If there is one thing that is regrettable, it is about not being able to receive US military aid locally.
The liaison officer, Philip, was not there.
‘I’m sorry… … .’
The last operation came to mind.
From local support from Brazil to helicopters from Vietnam.
all of that was impossible.
Of course, there were agents or support personnel who had infiltrated in advance, but they were few.
Ten or so at most.
It consisted of a temporary team like us called TF 235 and a few CIA special operations agents, and their firepower was nothing to use.
At most, it was an assault rifle or sniper rifle, not much different from what I would use.
While watching the explanation on the screen, Marcus muttered a similar thought.
“… It won’t be easy.”
I nodded too.
It was because it was clear that it was difficult apart from meticulous operational plans and schedules.
I don’t know if it’s another country, but it was China.
Ron’s voice cracked as if he was comforting us.
– That’s why you’re here. It’s the most difficult, and also the most important, mission… … .
I laughed bitterly at those words.
It was because the custom-made full-body body armor actual test was approaching.
‘Somehow, for a gift, it was f*cking expensive… You were going to send me to Hong Kong.’