Two days later, Washington DC, USA, Oval Office at the White House.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been together like this.”
After the president’s words, those sitting on the sofa exchanged eye-to-eye smiles.
From the Secretary of State and the Director of the CIA, to Thomas, the Secretary of Defense, and to Robert, the head of an unknown organization.
After looking around at them, the president brought up an agenda as if he had finished his greetings.
“Since time is running out, let’s get straight to the point.”
“Then, please check this first.”
At the president’s words, the CIA director held out the file as if he had been waiting.
“This is information related to the first data obtained and the target additionally identified today.”
Upon receiving this, the president’s impression was quickly crumpled.
It was because what was printed was war crime charges related to China’s Standing Committee member Wang Qing.
In addition to the charges of massacring 86 people, it also detailed plans to commit additional crimes and what had been committed in the past.
The president’s lips opened as he read a few lines.
“… 86 was no big deal.”
Nearly 1,000 people died unjustly under his direction, and more were to die in the future.
In order to single out anti-Chinese figures or Taiwanese informants and operatives, almost all people on the line of the dragon were tortured, and precedents of killing them in the process of torture were all described.
In the end, the president, who had not read all the way through, put the file folder down.
“This is so contemptible that I can’t even see it all. How could someone like this be a member of the Standing Committee… … .”
“So it should be removed.”
The director added immediately.
It was because he knew full well that although the president had finally approved the assassination operation, he was contemplating whether to cancel it.
Because the opponent was none other than a member of the standing committee who assisted the president.
He was even the person in charge of the duke, so there was a lot of potential for trouble.
I had to remove it anyway.
It wasn’t just because he did evil.
It was because he was an enemy of the United States, shaking the security of the United States.
It was also the object of revenge.
He gave orders to raid and eliminate CIA agents and informants collaborating with the US government, and he was a man who would repeat the same in the future.
But there was another reason to get rid of him.
Because you can.
Precisely because there was Kang Tae who could kill him, so he was going to deal with Wang Qing.
Without Kang Tae, this discussion would not have existed in the first place.
It didn’t even start.
Just gather information and just grind your teeth.
The president, who was struggling with this, shook his head.
“… So, are you ready to present your plan to Congress?”
“Yes, here it is.”
“hmm… It looks like you need to change a few words. It would be better to delete the word destruction, and express it as penetration… … .”
As the president looked at the plan, he changed a few sensitive words.
Although there was no major hindrance because it had been discussed with the Congress in advance, it was to reduce the political burden even a little until the end.
I couldn’t help it.
It was because it was to remove one of the only 7 members of the Standing Committee under the tin, the apex of the pyramid.
Unlike other operations, I had to pay more attention.
Even if it was successful, it was the same.
Soon after, the president returned the plan and said,
“First of all, this is enough.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“Then who do you want to talk to next? Secretary of State?”
At that, the Secretary of State immediately handed out the file.
“This is a document that complements the alternatives after the operation.”
It was the contents of the controversy that would arise after the death of a member of the Standing Committee and how to respond to it.
There were dozens of plans, from moderate, passive responses to aggressive and active countermeasures.
After reading about the war following the severance of diplomatic relations, the president sighed lightly.
“This part… You’d better delete it when you keep it.”
“I am of the same opinion.”
After the Minister of State also gave a heavy answer.
Afterward, Secretary of Defense Thomas briefed on the US military’s support and response before and after the operation.
How to help infiltrate and evict, and so on.
At the end, Robert, who was in the last seat, naturally explained the operation as if he were taking over.
In fact, quite a lot of information about how to proceed and finish, what variables are, and how to handle them came out at quite a length.
By the time the coffee you brought is empty or cold.
smart smart
The presidential office staff knocked, pushed the door gently, and said.
“President, it’s time for our next meeting.”
“Well, that already happened. Could you please wait 3 minutes? Let’s finish it soon.”
“I understand, Mr. President.”
After the staff closes the door and disappears.
The president looked at the gaze gathered toward him as if looking around.
Those who faced them waited for the president’s words.
It was okay to leave right away, but it was because I had to wait three minutes.
Robert’s head tilted slightly.
‘If it’s just encouragement, I could say it briefly… … ? Is there anything more to say?’
His eyes followed the president’s expression.
It was because, unlike ordinary people, the three minutes given to a politician, especially the president of the United States, was long enough to discuss any important agenda.
In the first place, the time given today was all 25 minutes.
In the meantime, the two heads of the two horses leading the United States and the head of the CIA, the world’s best intelligence agency, gathered to submit a kind of final report to eliminate Wang Ching.
As the moment passed, the president’s mouth opened.
“Perhaps if the operation goes on like this… It will end successfully without a hitch.”
“Ah yes. you’re right.”
The moment Robert responded to the obvious.
“Then China will turn its back on Pikal. Oh, did I mention his code name is TP (Top Priority)?”
“you’re right.”
The CIA director responded quickly, and the president nodded and continued.
“Then there are signs that TP will fall out with Russia… There will be no country left to support him in the future. right? Even if it were, it would be only a small country, and it would be under the influence of the United States.”
Robert’s eyes lit up at the sudden name Pikal.
Of course, on the condition that Kang-tae was put in, China and Pikal were going to take measures to antagonize each other, but what was important now was not Pikal.
It was Wang Qing, a member of the Standing Committee, a giant in China.
Above all, I couldn’t meet Pikal or his subordinates at all this time.
So, it was not mentioned throughout the 25-minute meeting.
However, the President continued to mention Pikal for the extra three minutes he was given.
“Perhaps it is only a matter of time before TP is arrested or shot?”
“If everything goes well… That’s right.”
“That’s why I ask, TP… Unlike the code name, how about disposing of him a little later?”
“… … ?!”
Robert flinched.
It was because it was an unimaginable word for him, who had been running to get rid of Pikal, who was in the dark after Sergei at first, and then Giandro.
The moment I tried to open my mouth to respond to this.
The president waved his hand and said.
“Ah, I don’t mean to dissipate Anderson’s purpose. Just my personal thoughts… Lee, no, I said this because I was worried that Alpha would leave.”
“Alpha is leaving?!”
said the Secretary of Defense, Thomas, startled.
The reaction of others was not different.
Startled, he widened his eyes as if he was about to run into the president.
In response, the president put an afterword as if he were reading it.
“You know that too, don’t you? The fact that Alpha’s goal is also TP. After that, nothing has been decided.”
“So after that… … .”
Thomas, who was about to say that he was going to scout, hesitated.
“no way… You mean going to another country or retiring?”
“It is difficult to say that there is absolutely no chance of going to another country. The State Department and the Department of Defense… You know from a lot of informal inquiries about him. The president of Korea or the prime minister of Japan asked me privately. About Alpha.”
“… … !”
“And retirement too… I don’t know. I heard you didn’t give a definite answer during the consultation? Is that correct?”
The President looked at Robert with a question.
At the same time, Thomas’ head turned, and Robert, who saw the gaze of the Secretary of State and the CIA Director, followed them, and nodded calmly.
“you’re right. I went through mental evaluation and other counseling several times, but Alpha never gave a definite answer about the TP removal. I said that I would take a short break, but that is also hypothetically inaccurate.”
The president shook his head.
“That’s why I’m worried, if TP is removed… I wonder if Alpha won’t leave. So, I tried to get opinions on what it would be like if TP was set as the next best thing, not the first priority.”
“That’s not okay.”
As if Robert had been waiting, he was the first to open his mouth.
“Alpha might feel betrayed by the fact that the plan is delayed, but more than anything… … .”
Robert, who had been silent for a while, spoke more heavily than ever before.
“TP is a dangerous figure. He is a person who induces the development of nuclear missiles or a world war, and he is the kind of person who does not choose any means or methods to achieve this.”
“If he gets his hands on a nuclear missile, do you think he’ll actually launch it?”
“It is not the same. He must shoot.”
Robert said confidently, and the president’s gaze scanned the ministers and directors on his left and right.
“What do other people think?”
“He has a history of killing our agents and causing terrorism. The probability of launching a nuclear missile is very high.”
“I am of the same opinion. He is the one who killed a large number of American soldiers and American intelligence agents and caused terrorism… There’s no reason not to shoot. If the nuclear missile had not been launched, it would be time for the equivalent to be negotiated… It’s hard to even think of what that could be.”
The CIA Director and Thomas spoke one after another, and the Secretary of State nodded.
“I also received Anderson’s report, and I agree with him. Just looking at the papers, TP is worse than Hitler.”
“then… … .”
Wait a moment for the president to spill his words as if muttering.
He shook his head, then opened his mouth again.
“We need some other means to capture Alpha, and I think that will only be rewarded… … .”
The president’s gaze returned to Robert.
“Anderson knows best, right? what does he want? Whether it’s thoughts about current property or what you want… … .”
“Alpha is satisfied with the current situation, both in property and tactical supplies.”
At Robert’s words, the president shook his head.
“It is not enough to be satisfied.”
“Are you saying we should compensate him more than he is satisfied?”
The CIA director was the first to ask, and Thomas answered.
“And I’ll have to give it to the extent that other countries can’t even approach it, so that even the Middle Eastern crown prince can’t hit it with money, whatever.”
“Anyway, that’s the only way I can think of. and… … .”
the president asked cautiously.
“How is your marriage? As a way to settle down in America.”
“Well, not bad, but… After starting a family and having children, they are more likely to retire from risky work. I cannot recommend it.”
Thomas, who dispatched numerous US troops and was also managing them, answered.
At the same time, the president showed a sad face.
“Are there any statistics?”
“There will be data compiled based on last year. I will send it to the President’s Office as soon as I return.”
“Okay, then… … .”
The moment the president nodded and continued talking.
smart smart
The knock rang again, and the president stopped talking.
The staff showed up again.
“Three minutes have passed since you spoke, Mr. President.”
“hmm… … .”
The president, who was looking at his watch, looked around at the four people watching him.
“I would like to say more, but I will have to stop here. I delayed the time twice.”
Even the 25-minute meeting initially arranged was not an existing schedule, but a time created by pushing out other schedules.
It was a situation where I added up to 3 minutes there.
Therefore, the target of the next meeting had been waiting for the president for close to 30 minutes, and to be precise, it was not 30 minutes, but 3 hours.
Other meetings were delayed not by minutes, but by tens of minutes.
“For now, let’s think about this in detail after the operation is over. What, how much, and how to compensate.”
Then, as the president got up, Robert got up too.
After shaking hands, his mind was complicated.
‘It seems that things related to Pikal are fortunately finished… I have no idea how much compensation you’re trying to get. If it’s to the extent that other countries can’t approach it… Shouldn’t it be the property of a global company?’
Around the time he remembered the Apple Watch on Kang-tae’s wrist.
On the way out, the Secretary of State asked.
“Oh, that’s what the president was trying to say… … .”
“Yes, are you talking about compensation?”
“Nothing goes wrong with a lot, but try to make sure you know exactly what you want. Especially after the removal of TP… … .”
“Okay, Minister.”
Robert replied resolutely.
It was because he too felt that the end of Pikal was approaching.
At the same time, he worried about Kang Tae’s future.
‘What will this end be like… … .’