A few days later, late afternoon. The Harry S. Truman Building in Washington DC, USA.
A confidential report in an envelope was delivered to the Secretary of State after he returned from a discussion with a diplomat who had visited the United States.
After examining the confidentiality mark printed on the outside, he let out a sigh with a tired face.
“I wanted to get off work, but it’s work again… … .”
If it was an insignificant report, it could be delayed, but it was because it had to be reported and processed as soon as possible as it was marked confidential.
If it’s important, it must be an issue worth fighting over in seconds.
Sitting at the desk in the office, he measured the contents while holding a paper knife.
‘… Is it the result of the Ministry of Defense’s new weapon investigation?’
Just a few days ago, when I went out to meet Kang-tae, I asked Robert to find out about the Ministry of Defense’s new weapons project.
It was something that deserved to be marked confidential.
Even so, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which plans and allocates various projects under the Ministry of National Defense, was carrying out several projects that could be classified.
Swoop.
Opening the envelope with a paper knife, he finally took out the document and read it.
And I realized
This was not the work of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
“… … ?!”
It was a spy related to Pikal, who was ordered to come up directly.
To be precise, Pikal’s name was mentioned in a country other than Russia or China, and Pikal also had signs of moving, and it was an important and urgent content attached to the analysis result that all of this was highly likely to be true.
The Secretary of State called the secretary over the intercom and gave quick instructions.
“Call Anderson, now.”
– All right, Minister.
right after the answer rang.
The Secretary of State, who had his eyes fixed on the report, chewed his lips.
It was because the country mentioned was quite annoying.
just Pakistan.
It was a country with nuclear weapons.
Even a country of interest with a history of transferring technology obtained during nuclear development to North Korea, Iran, and Libya.
It was very unpleasant for Pikal to go there.
It is not a powerful country like Russia or China, so it would be easy to infiltrate or interfere, but because there are many danger zones, conflicts occur more than most Arab countries.
The border countries to the west and north were also Iran and Afghanistan, respectively.
Places where the word terror fits.
Before I knew it, wrinkles formed around the eyes of the Secretary of State.
It was because it was clear what kind of operation would unfold just by recalling the danger zone he was aware of.
Shootouts, explosions, collapses, and so on.
‘A quiet operation must be difficult… … .’
Thinking that Russia and China might be better, he operated the computer.
And I immediately reconfirmed the electronic report on Pakistan.
It was to figure out the incomplete facts and review what I knew again.
Pakistan was a country that was out of sight in the face of China, Russia, and Pikal.
Around the time I looked at the data a little, the door opened with a knock.
“Did you find it, Minister?”
“Sit over here, check the new intelligence first.”
“All right.”
Robert answered briefly and immediately listened to the report.
Then, the pupils read the contents quickly, turning over several chapters and reading for a while.
Eventually, Robert reached the last page and his eyes lit up as he read the part where the probability of all the analysis results being true is very high.
“… He’ll finally show up.”
“You think of that part first. I’ve been tracking it for quite some time, so I understand.”
In contrast, the Secretary of State with a cloudy expression nodded and continued.
“But you have to be aware that it is just as dangerous. TP (Top Priority) is a meticulous terrorist who has never been seen, since you tracked him down. But at this point… By showing up, it means that there is something tantamount to a trap. Maybe we can get nuclear development technology transferred. It may already be in progress… … .”
The Secretary of State blurted out his words.
It was because the concerns I had expressed just now were what I thought of as soon as I received the report and as I read it.
He was the first to worry.
The fact that Pikal became like this was proof that it could be more dangerous.
Above all, Pikal was a mouse on the defensive.
If there was nowhere to go, he could bite the cat and carry the disease.
Russia and China are negotiating behind the scenes, but Pikal, an individual and a terrorist, did not even have such a thing.
Moreover, the situation announced by the media that they would catch and prosecute or kill.
It was clear what to use.
I expressed my concern while thinking that, but Robert replied with a knowing face.
“I think I will too. No, maybe we can go beyond technology transfer and launch nuclear missiles from Pakistan.”
“That sounds terrible even as a subjunctive.”
As the Secretary of State hesitated, Robert spoke up.
“But Lee will be able to stop Pikal, I believe in him.”
“I believe too, but… … .”
The Secretary of State also nodded before continuing.
“I feel that the process or the result may not be very good. Above all, Pikal is the worst terrorist, capable of actually launching nuclear missiles. Such a human could use hundreds of civilians as a shield in case of being killed or captured. Might as well make it a sacrifice. In order to get revenge on our members, maybe we can blow up the entire area and die together. It’s a simple possibility, but since Pikal is a different class, isn’t it more likely?”
“… That possibility was still pending. Even if Pikal intentionally exposed it, I think it would be enough to alleviate his worries if he made a plan based on the information that will come later, as he did in other operations. Above all, no matter how difficult the plan is, we have the team to make it happen. Lee can do it.”
After reading his concerns, Robert replied.
The Secretary of State, who was looking down at the empty Oval Office desk instead of a monitor, opened his mouth.
“I also believe he can do it. I think it’s a person who will change the world. However, still… There are many things to worry about. I thought it was enough, but it seems I still don’t trust him as much as you do. Is it because he’s a politician or because he’s a diplomat… It’s complicated in many ways.”
“But haven’t the other operations gone well?”
“There were some that were carried out willingly, but not all operations were carried out with the same mind. Most of them were always worried. If there is a difference, how much is that? … .”
The Secretary of State, who had returned the report before he knew it, sighed and continued.
“after… This is poisonous.”
Robert added cautiously to those words.
“Maybe I’m from the field and I’m close to him so I trust him more. Isn’t the minister responsible for more than me?”
“Then the president, who will now be briefed, will bear more burdens.”
The Secretary of State smiled bitterly, and Robert let out a sigh.
“ah… … .”
“Still, basic actions such as standby for operations and planning will be carried out, so please send them on standby.”
“… All right, Minister.”
By the time Robert was about to leave.
question was added.
“however… … .”
“yes?”
“New weapon, have you checked that?”
I was asking because I was worried about it.
Even when Kang-tae received the mansion as a reward, what he said was, “Do you have a new weapon yet?”
After a while, Robert opened his mouth.
“I was going to get additional information and write it as a report… May I report verbally?”
“Do it, it will be difficult to proceed with anything else because of this anyway.”
The Secretary of State shook the report in his hand, and Robert also opened his mouth in agreement.
“The development of new weapons is very slow. It’s just the level of giving Jake a word. The development period is expected to be at least two years, and they said that the budget should be allocated additionally.”
“We must be fast. If only the environment Lee would live in… … .”
Robert tied a knot in the tail of the horse that was blurring.
“It will be, Minister.”
* * *
For the first time in a while, MMA training was intense.
Not only fighting standing, but also wrestling and jiu-jitsu, and I was having a bit of trouble with David, a US Army NCO who was a former MMA player who was dispatched.
To me, the agent was also someone who said it was different.
He gave me a thumbs up.
“I must have been doing a strategy a while ago… Was it very easy? I guess something happened that made my body go faster.”
“hehehe, do you see that?”
He smiled and replied lightly.
As he said, this operation was physically easy.
I wasn’t hurt or overworked.
Not only the skin and muscles, but also the joints such as the ankles, knees, and pelvis were fine.
Thanks to the constant rest and recovery, it seemed to be rather strong.
Meanwhile, David continued.
“… Besides, MMA skills are quite good now. Even being a semi-professional would not be enough. With this, you will be able to subdue any enemy you want.”
I laughed out loud at those words.
The enemy I want to catch is Pikal, but it was difficult to imagine defeating him with MMA.
Whether standing or on the ground.
I really had no idea how he would react.
As the corner of his mouth went up, David’s voice was heard.
“Oh… If you’re laughing, does that mean you have a hard time believing what I’m saying?”
“Oh, that’s not it, there’s someone I want to catch… It’s because it’s funny because I think I’ll catch him. I am quite old.”
I don’t know exactly, but it must have been twice as many as Lee Kang-tae now.
To put it simply, it’s like beating an old man.
In the midst of laughing at what kind of picture would be drawn, David responded as if he was sympathetic.
“ah… Then it would be neat to point the gun.”
“hehehehe, that’s right.”
while laughing so much
The cell phone that Ron had given me rang.
“The class ends here. It looks like something happened.”
“Okay, see you next time. and… I always support you.”
“… yes?”
“I saw the news, what happened in China… Oh, I’m not saying you know anything. It only happens on days when there are no MMA business trips, so I just guessed after thinking about it myself. If an agent was treated like this in a place like this… I thought I might have done something like that.”
Perhaps conscious of my hesitation, David nodded roughly as he explained while chattering.
“Ah, thank you anyway.”
In a way, it was even more strange that he didn’t know.
It is said that acquaintances of intelligence agents also guess the workplace, at least roughly, so there was no way David, my MMA coach, didn’t know this.
I had also entered through a secret process.
The moment I answered the phone with my thoughts roughly organized, I heard what I had said.
set.
“Is this a new operation?”
– It’s an important matter, everyone should come together.
“All right.”
Jake’s voice sounded a bit heavier than usual, so he answered and moved quickly.
I was sweaty and couldn’t even take a shower.
Around the time we gathered in the conference room wearing only training clothes, we heard about a really important issue.
“We got intelligence that our final target is moving to Pakistan.”