Prologue

7:49 p.m. Busan International Port.

Preparations for departure were in full swing at the dock where darkness fell. In the light of the flickering street lights, the 5,000-ton deputy ferry revealed its majesty. The liner which runs once a day and will arrive in Shimonoseki, Japan tomorrow morning.

After the early boarding deadline, the entrance door was closed. The crane, which had completed its last-minute loading work, quietly withdrew. As if waiting, all the lights in the terminal were turned off, and the son-in-law was buried in the silence of the night. Only the tied ferry floated on the black rippling sea. 

A completely different air current flowed inside. I went into the assigned room early and lay down on a bundle. Most of the passengers were busy looking around the ship with excited faces. They gather in groups of two or three at a small table in the hallway and drink or capture every moment with a camera. Loud laughter overflowed wherever people gathered, and a unique taste flowed even on the deck where the cold wind was blowing. The excitement and anticipation of the journey just about to begin continues to stir everywhere. 

There was Kwon Taek-joo in the crowded place. Wearing a Mustang in a casual suit, he looked far from a bundle. However, there was nothing different from them except for the extremely bored expression. The face of the person who occupied the most expensive suite was not. 

Occasionally I pull up my sleeve to check the time. I felt a strange theft in the eyes following the clock's second hand. 8 o'clock sharp. A long beating announcing departure cut through the sea. In time, I went out onto the balcony. 

Standing on the independent balcony, I had a clear view of the lower deck. Tourists were still busy taking pictures. It would be difficult to get even one picture properly in this dark, but I constantly press the shutter. Indifferently watching the ceaseless movement, a small mechanical sound suddenly came from his left ear. One after another, someone's voice is heard. 

"How is it? Do you feel like enjoying the romance of the night sea?"

"Not bad. Loud, hectic, and boring at the same time." 

A low laugh erupted from the communicator in my ear. Even in the meantime, Kwon Taekjoo's eyes were on the deck. Carefully examine each passer-by. There were no characters that stood out in particular. 

"Report."

 Liaison agent Kim Young-hee and MSS officer Ri Cheol-jin, both confirmed the boarding. Ri Cheol-jin disguises himself as a Chinese citizen. He probably will leave for China as soon as he arrives in Japan. Kim Younghee has a reservation for a ferry departing from Shimonoseki tomorrow evening.

"Then I'll contact you before I arrive."

I muttered to myself and quickly left the balcony. "Are you moving now on the other side of the communicator?" Kwon Taek-joo replied as he left the room and walked down the empty aisle. 

"They say those who are good at hide-and-seek are bold." 

If the targets were to make contact, the cluttered present would be the best time. Taking advantage of when there are few people will stand out more. 

They jumped down the spiral staircase one at a time. A group of people gathered in front of the restaurant on the second floor. I passed by them and checked each side. Again, there were no prominent figures. Kwon Taek-joo gave brief instructions as he went down the stairs leading to the lobby on the first floor. 

"Call me." 

The cell phone rang right away. I just let it vibrate a couple of times. Then, it wasn't until halfway down the stairs that I got a call. Saying hello, he continued an imaginary conversation with the silent partner. No one looked suspiciously at him as he wandered on the phone. 

After a while, a woman passed behind him. The collar of the coat that was pulled up was very awkward. Kwon Taek-joo's dark eyes follow the woman silently. 

After crossing the information desk, the woman approached the vending machine next to the elevator. She stays in front of him for a while as if she is choosing something to drink. She even gave up her turn when someone else came along the way. 

The woman took out a thousand-yen bill only after the surroundings were quiet again. Despite her long agony, the only thing she chose was green tea. The change poured out, and the drink also fell with a dull sound. She picks up the drink quite casually. Then she took care of even the change and went upstairs again. Kwon Taek-joo pretended not to notice the woman, and the woman was not particularly conscious of him.

Target, is approaching. 

After the woman disappeared upstairs, a voice from the communicator called attention. 

"Okay. See you later." 

After the usual greeting, I pressed the end call button. Around that time, a man walked out of the shared room at the back of the lobby. Wearing an ultramarine blue beanie, he strode towards the vending machine.

He goes through his pockets and takes out coins, but he repeatedly glances at his son-in-law, not drinks. It was an overly cautious attitude. After a while, the man brought the 100-yen coin to the slot. 

At that moment, an arm suddenly stretched out from over the man's shoulder. Then there was a light-clicking sound. It was a familiar noise. It is likely to fly when a coin rolls into a narrow groove. However, the 100 yen coin was still in the hand of the navy blue beanie. His hand, which suddenly ventured into a line, naturally selected and pressed the drink.

"... What." 

It was next that the ultramarine beanie became aware of the situation. The heavy canned beverage rattled and fell. The navy blue beanie hurriedly grabbed Kwon Taek-joo's hand as he headed toward the product outlet. It was clear that he was taken aback by the unexpected situation. I let out a shout that I couldn't filter out. 

"What is this bastard doing now!"

"I feel like that indecisive person can't decide at all. If you waited endlessly, you would leak me." 

Respond shamelessly, holding hands. There was a deep sense of incongruity in the fishy twisted tone. There was no sign of regret anywhere on the face with a thin smile. I think I was looking forward to a fight like this. something wasn't good A very uncomfortable feeling. Instinct detects danger one step ahead of head. 

The eyebrows of the ultramarine beanie twitched. The anger of the moment is pushed out of the hard face, and the look of nervousness is young. His breathing became even more difficult. Even cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Eight!" 

The next moment, the navy blue beanie suddenly reaches for the vending machine. It was a ploy to secure things first. I pull back the exit cover at once and pick up something lying inside. Kwon Taek-joo stepped on the cover without hesitation. 

"Ah!" 

A shriek erupted from the man whose hand was caught in the cover. Kwon Taek-Joo had a carefree expression as if there was something wrong. 

"You crazy bastard!" 

At the successive provocations, the man grabbed Kwon Taek-joo by the collar. The eyes that stared at him with a wheeze were quite formal. However, Kwon Taek-joo did not bat an eye. I just alternated looking at my clothes and the man's face. The man's brow furrows at his strangely relaxed attitude. 

I grabbed the wrist of the man who was holding me by the collar. It was as if his leisurely movements imprinted each of his actions on the opponent. The flesh under the man's eyes twitched. The eyes that had been glaring at Kwon Taek-joo were looking down at my wrist before I knew it. I felt a ruthless force that I couldn't ignore even if I tried to ignore it. At the same time, I felt certain. never hopeful.

Kwon Taek-joo looked back at the onlookers who had just gathered and muttered something fishy.

"This is true. I hate being noticed. Do you understand, Mr. Ri Cheol-jin? Everyone in this system is like that." 

As soon as his real name was called, he was able to see through the identity of Kwon Taekjoo. The man's face, stained with irritation, suddenly turns pale. 

Passengers kept pouring in and surrounded the two before they knew it. Among the spectacles, the best was the fight spectacle, so I had strange expectations from the faces who followed the fuss. There was nothing better than taking more time. A cornered mouse bites a cat. I didn't know what kind of sudden action Ri Cheol-jin would take if I put more pressure on him. Should civilian casualties occur, one or two sheets of a letter of resignation would not be enough. 

I grabbed Ri Cheol-jin's arm and grabbed it. In an instant, a self-deprecating laugh erupted from him. 

"... Girae, Gilkooman." 

I no longer try to disguise my identity. If their identity is revealed, the operatives have only two options. To commit suicide by taking a poison prepared in advance, or to escape by force. It would be impossible to throw away the hard-earned items, so this time it must be the latter. 

Ri Cheol-jin immediately put his hand inside his coat. He threw his arms up and grabbed his neck in a pause. Then, he stuck the back of his head into the vending machine. 

The vending machine thumped and stumbled. Ri Cheol-jin also staggered, unable to overcome the shock. At that moment, I grabbed his arm and quickly took his gun. When a gun appeared out of nowhere, the gathered onlookers gave a short scream and retreated. 

I didn't care and kicked Ri Cheol-jin's butt with all my might. His body fell to the floor, face to face. As I hit his head one after another, I couldn't come to my senses for a while. 

In the meantime, Kwon Taek-joo flipped the cover of the vending machine and took out the USB. Yes, that woman had left it. According to the intelligence, it must have contained high-level information equivalent to state secrets. 

"Move aside for a moment! wait a minute." 

At that time, a flight attendant came through the hurricane. It seemed that it had been reported. I was staring at it inadvertently when I suddenly heard a dreary muttering to myself.

"There's no law to go after the hunt." I turned my head with an ominous foreboding. Immediately, Ri Cheol-jin's eyes met. His eyes were shining strangely. Oops, I wanted to. He did not miss the rope in front of him. I rushed to the flight attendant who asked what was going on at once. "... Kya!" It happened in an instant. Ri Cheol-jin wrapped around the crew member's neck and pulled. In his other hand was a sharp weapon.

"Quaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

 "Aaaaaagh!"

Passengers scatter in confusion at the flashing blade. Kwon Taek-joo was the only one who kept his seat. 

As usual, Kwon Taek-joo chewed his lower lip. When things went smoothly, I used to feel uncomfortable. It was because there were many cases where the long hair was short, and the aftertaste was not refreshing. There was no room this time either. 

Ri Cheol-jin grabbed the weapon with the hand wrapped around the hostage's neck. A fierce scream erupted from the hostage. Kwon Taek-joo scratched his head as if he had a headache. 

"Give it here."

Ri Cheol-jin held out his hand and demanded. The sharp blue blade is pressed closer to the hostage's neck. Kwon Taek-joo only watched the scene but did not react at all. Ri Cheol-jin shook his outstretched hand with a nervous expression. Come on, he shouts. I was fed up with his every move and the hostage's face turning blue. There was a rapid rattling of breath, like a sob.

Kwon Taek-joo looked at the USB in his hand and threw it away without hesitation. The small USB hit the hostage and fell to the floor. Ri Cheol-jin, who was about to bend down reflexively, quickly changes his mind. He had the hostage pick up the fallen items instead. 

The hostage picked up the USB with trembling hands. In the crisis of desperation, his pants were helplessly wet. Ri Cheol-jin forcibly lifted him and grabbed him, who couldn't even stand properly because his legs were weak, and began to step back little by little. 

Then, Kwon Taek-joo also slowly moved his body. Just as much as Ri Chul-jin withdrew, he was closing the distance. It was an unstoppable move as if he had no regard for the safety of the hostages. He takes a step back and then he strides again. Ri Cheol-jin's voice cracked terribly in embarrassment. 

"Do not follow me!"

However, the threat did not work at all. Every time I took a step back, I followed it one step at a time. A certain distance was maintained between the two, but the nervousness of the chased person was indescribable. 

"I mean, stop!" 

"Ah, save me!" 

The hostage rubbed her hands together and ejaculated. The urine that soaked his pants was now dripping to the floor. For a while, all movement and noise stopped, as if time had stopped. 

As if to confirm, Ri Cheol-jin took a step back. Kwon Taek-joo pursued him again. He was going crazy and jumping. It was as if he couldn't see the hostage's blood in his eyes. 

"You can't hear this species or a baby?" 

There was no use in shouting at him. It was difficult to find room for compromise in Kwon Taek-joo's face. Even if the lives of the hostages were at stake, they would not back down. What was clear was that the moment the hostage stopped breathing, Ri Cheol-jin himself would not be safe either. All of that was contained in the gaze that calmly pressed. 

"Eh... !" 

Cheol-jin quickly gave up the confrontation and pushed the hostage away. Then he strode up the stairs at the back. Kwon Taek-joo put the fallen hostage to one side and pursued him. 

Just as I was on the second floor, people rushed in disorder from the deck access. I turned around and headed straight for it. Ri Cheol-jin, who quickly ran away, came into view. Kwon Taek-joo did not run. His stride lengthened slightly, and he only accelerated slightly. He had no reason to be impatient. Anyway, the ship was on its way to the open sea. Ri Cheol-jin was no better than a rat in his poison. 

I leisurely followed Cheol-jin Ri, who ran away in a hurry. Kwon Taek-ju's hair fluttered black in the strong sea breeze. The sight created a strange sense of intimidation. 

- Senpai, I just reported to the Coast Guard from Adjutant Ferry that there is an armed man on board. What are you doing? Suddenly, the voice from before came from the communicator in my ear. 

"Talk to you later. It looks like it's going to be a bit busy." 

Kwon Taek-joo looked at Ri Cheol-jin, who had finally reached the railing. Soon, a sound of dissuade was heard from the communicator, but the power was turned off without hesitation. As a result, only Ri Cheol-jin and Kwon Taek-joo remained on the deck where the wind was blowing.

Ri Cheol-jin looked down at the distant sea. His hand holding onto the railing is tight. In the meantime, Kwon Taek-joo steadily narrowed the distance. Ri Cheol-jin, who had been cornered, brandished his weapon in the air. It was a gesture to try to escape somehow, but it was meaningless. The moment you fear your opponent, the threat loses its power.

"Don't come!" 

I quickly approached the desperate Ri Cheol-jin. Kwon Taek-joo, who was quickly approaching, and Ri Cheol-jin, who alternately watched the dark sea, repeatedly cut the air with their weapons. 

"I told you not to come!" 

He is embarrassed and shouts ferociously. Kwon Taek-joo took out his colt. It was the moment when Ri Cheol-jin's sword turned into a lump of scrap metal. 

Ri Cheol-jin, who was restless, suddenly left Kwon Taek-joo. His eyes followed Kwon Taekjoo somewhere behind him. 

The next moment, with a bang, flames rose from Kwon Taek-joo's muzzle. The flying bullet pierced the target accurately. However, it was not Ri Cheol-jin who collapsed screaming. It was Kim Young-Hee, who approached Kwon Taek-joo in silence. 

Kim Young-Hee's ivory coat is stained with red blood. She sat down, holding her tattered right hand. Her colt came off and shot her in the air. It was unknown whether the target with the gun was aimed at Kwon Taek-joo or Ri Cheol-jin, who had been discovered. 

Kwon Taek-joo turned his head to the front again. Ri Cheol-jin threw down his sword and stood with his back turned. He takes a deep breath as he holds on to the railing. He naturally raised his shoulders and bulged his back. As soon as a bad feeling flashed through his mind, Ri Cheol-jin's body, which was precariously attached to the railing, fell over to the outside. 

"....!" 

Kwon Taek-joo ran to the railing as if bouncing. But before he even got there, the sound of a splash rang in his ears. Looking down, one side of the black seawater was broken into white. 

I looked for Ri Cheol-jin, moving my eyes from place to place, but he was nowhere to be seen. He waited a while longer. Then, Ri Cheol-jin's head rose in the white waves. He jumped from that height, which was nothing short of suicidal. 

However, as if to mock the idea, a ship suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The ship approaching with all lights blocked was an old wooden fishing boat. Rather, it may have been possible to avoid the surveillance of the investigative agency. 

The wooden ship, buried in the darkness, gradually drew closer to Ri Cheol-jin. It was as if he had been stabbed in the back. Maybe that was the real escape route, I don't know. It might have been a plan to divert the attention of the pursuers with a return ticket and evaporate on the sea as soon as the goods were handed over. 

She opened fire immediately. However, it was not easy for her to snipe the invisible ship. It is a target, but the problem becomes complicated when it is sent to her goal. If she had permission to kill in the first place, she wouldn't have come this far.

The purpose of this operation was to become the source of the South Korean operatives who settled in South Korea for a long time, occupied important positions in society, and stole state secrets. There would not be one or two people who colluded with them and looked after them. You couldn't cut off the stem before digging up the roots.

In the meantime, the ferry continued to move, increasing the distance from the fishing boat. A man from the wheelhouse of the fishing boat pulls Ri Cheol-jin onto the boat. Ri Cheol-jin took off her wet coat. indeed. Various buoyancy devices were wrapped around his body. On the ship that was moving away, Ri Cheol-jin raised his arm as if to boo. It is the face that promises victory.

Quiet laughed. Then, soon, the smile is erased from the face. Kwon Taek-joo turned around and approached Kim Young-Hee, who had fallen.

Kim Young-Hee trembled with the excruciating pain of her hand being blown away. Even so, she struggled and pulled something out of her. She was extreme Kwon Taek-joo hit the nape of her neck with the blade of her hand as she was about to commit suicide. Kim Young-Hee let go of her kamu look. She stuffed a handkerchief into her mouth so that she would not hurt herself even if she came to her senses later. She then took her left hand and twisted it behind her back.

There was a ring on her ring finger, which she casually looked down at. It had almost no scratches, it looked like it had been bought recently. 

"Did you wear a pretty ring? I'll match the assortment, even the bracelets." 

He took out his handcuffs and sneered. The handcuffs are tightened with a thud. The other side was fixed to the railing. When everything was finished, I turned the communicator back on. 

"You, bounce this way in 8 seconds."

As if the other person heard it wrong, "Yes?" did, but ignored it. My consciousness had already moved to my watch. When I pressed the reset button on the side of the watch, the number board that used to tell the time disappeared and a certain direction appeared. When I got tangled up with Ri Cheol-jin for a while, I attached a tracker to his waist. The red dot indicating the location of the target was gradually running away from the bearing. I couldn't delay any longer. After taking a deep breath, I ran towards the rear of the ferry.

After reaching the end of the deck, I stepped on the railing without hesitation and jumped up. In an instant, his vision turned completely black. The wind blowing from all sides of her seemed to pierce her whole body. Her fall was longer than expected.

Poong Dooong. The surface of the water surged sharply with a huge rupture. A violent shock was also applied to the whole body that collided with the black seawater. It felt like every muscle in my body was being torn apart. All at once, seawater enters all the pores of the body, and air bubbles burst. He floated in the sea for a while to alleviate the shock. He slowly stirred her limbs to support her body as it was swept away by the current. I opened my eyes and looked around, but it was just darkness in the water where not a single light could pass through.

I sprinted up to the surface with all my might. It was also difficult to stay still as the high waves crashed in succession.

I managed to lift my wrist and operate the reset button on the watch once more. Then, the bearing table of the courtesy disappeared, and the entire number board glowed dazzlingly. The light shot up into the air. Maybe 2 or 3 seconds passed like that. A familiar mechanical sound came from not far away. It was the sound of a motorboat engine. The noise, which had grown louder, soon died down. Right after that, white waves crashed into the propeller and slapped my skin. One after another, nagging sounds pour from above your head.

"My true. You will become a water ghost like this." 

Yoon Jong-woo, who must have come running, reached out his hand. He took it by the hand and quickly climbed onto the boat. His whole body was drenched and unpleasant. Even in the fierce cold, he took off his watch and threw it to Yoon Jong-woo. Yoon Jong-woo followed the red dot on the bearing chart without asking and drove the boat. In the meantime, Kwon Taek-ju took off his wet coat and took a breath.

The motorboat ran through the black waves. The entire boat is bouncing violently in the undulating waves. The red dot, which was almost out of the bearing, got closer little by little. 

Pip, pip, pip, pip, pip, pipipipipi.

As the wooden ship came into sight, the distinctive mechanical sound became even fiercer. The wooden boat, which was leisurely running away, must have noticed the being chasing it.

Soon a man came out of the wheelhouse and fired a rifle. Yoon Jong-woo bit his teeth and turned his steering wheel. As the hull makes a sharp turn, a strong current occurs. Most of the flying bullets missed, but one of them got stuck in a corner of the boat. Fortunately, it did not fit into the engine or fuel tank, so it was avoided by fireworks in the middle of the night.

There were still no lights around the neckline. In that state, it was impossible to moderately subdue the opponent without killing it. As he got a little closer, bullets rained down without a doubt. It's an absurd order to capture the molecules who are setting up with guns and knives

When attacked for a while, it turned around to avoid it, approached again, and then stopped again as it was fired again, and a series of situations were repeated. Yoon Jong-woo slammed the steering wheel annoyedly. Even with his target in front of his nose, he couldn't touch his fingertips, so his clothes burst. 

"Come out."

He pulled Yoon Jong-woo back. Then he sat in the driver's seat and rushed into the fishing boat. Yoon Jong-woo flinched helplessly at the recoil of the boat. 

"Aaaagh! Senior, collide! They collide!" 

I barely straightened my body and screamed in fright. However, Kwon Taek-joo was only speeding up.

Shooting from wooden boats also became more intense. Kwon Taek-joo tipped the boat and threw a huge splash of water onto the deck of the wooden boat. Only then did the opponent's attack subside. As it was, it went far ahead of the fishing boat. Then, unexpectedly, I turned the steering wheel and took a wide detour. The unbearable engine screamed. It turned so rapidly that it almost capsized the entire boat. By the time Yoon Jong-woo, who was white and tired of the ship, turned and began to run, he was in a situation where he fell again.

Go back the way you came and increase the speed of the boat to its maximum. When the boat that had disappeared into the darkness reappeared, even the wooden boats seemed quite bewildered. Nervousness was evident in the relentless barrage of bullets.

I couldn't even dream of covering fire because I was hitting so non-stop. Yoon Jong-woo was in a hurry to protect his head with his arms. 

"At this point, I want you to die! Die! Whoops, die, die! Are you listening, you crazy bastard!" 

Frightened, Yoon Jong-woo unreservedly cursed at his boss, Kwon Taek-joo. Kwon Taek-joo didn't care and continued to run. In that state, it would collide head-on with his wooden boat. Yoon Jong-woo's eyes close tightly. Suddenly, my parents in the countryside came to mind. My eyes were wet with tears. She said she couldn't even pay for the kimchi her mother sent her two months ago. My mother's message that I checked right before the operation was 'a rotten bastard' stuck in my heart. Ah, mother.

It was the same for the wooden ship that had a foreboding of the end. They jumped into the water at almost the same time as they were confused while watching the motorboat rushing to die together. Now, the collision with the wooden boat is less than 5m away. The gears were about to collide. Resignation and despair made even the moment seem like an eternity. 

It was then. Kwon Taek-joo turned his steering wheel as hard as he could once again. The boat, which could not handle the running speed as the sudden braking was applied, was greatly shaken. The hull slipped through the water and drew a long arc. Even so, a collision was inevitable. In theory, it was. 

It's worth giving up now and saving yourself, but Kwon Taek-joo continued to hold on to the steering wheel. Soon, with a thud, the right side of the wooden boat and the rear of the boat collided. The impact caused the two hulls to shake enormously. A clear spark rose from the rubbed part. For an instant, the entire yacht seemed to float in the air. 

"... Ugh?"

After the turbulence subsided, I quietly opened my eyes. she was silent Yoon Jong-woo was on the boat, not in the cold sea, and Kwon Taek-joo also kept the driver's seat intact. Smoke billowed out of the back of the boat, and a large hole pierced the right side of the wooden boat, but that was all. The tension that had been tightening his body was released. At the same time, his pulse was also laid, and he could not control himself at all.

Soon after, the ignition went off. The lapping waves led the stopped boat toward the wooden boat. The two hulls, which came close in an instant, collided intermittently with a thud, thump. Kwon Taek-joo got up from his seat and quickly crossed the wooden boat. Jong-Woo Yoon, who finally came to his senses, groped the floor and picked up his Colt. It wasn't over yet.

Kwon Taek-joo climbed into the fishing boat and illuminated the surroundings with a flashlight. I saw two people swimming hard in the deep sea with nowhere to run. He watched the desperate movement, then lifted the fishing net that was lying on one side. He grabbed hold of it and threw it at the fleeing people. The fishing net spread wide in the air and flew away. The two men, who had been running away in a hurry, were entangled in a net that had suddenly flown in. The more he struggled to escape, the tighter the restraints became.

Kwon Taek-joo watched the desperate struggle for some time before turning the hoist connected to the fishing net. A rusty metal sound came from the manual hoist that was at the level of the wooden boat. It wasn't as hard as it looked.

"....."

I look back vaguely. Yoon Jong-woo, who had been watching blindly under the pretext of covering, sneaked over to him. He turns the windmill more fervently than Kwon Taek-Joo as if he is embarrassed with himself. Soon, Ri Cheol-jin and his accomplice climbed onto the hull with fishing nets.

"Haha, what should we do now?"

Yoon Jong-woo asked while wiping his sweat. There was no response from Kwon Taek-joo. Curiously, he had already moved to the motorboat. He is frantically looking for something. 

"What are you doing?"

"What did I say to prepare?" 

"Ah, that's under the driver's seat."

I immediately flipped the driver's seat back. As Yoon Jong-woo said, there was a suitcase underneath. After opening the zipper and checking the contents, Kwon Taek-joo immediately gave instructions to Yoon Jong-woo.

"Contact headquarters and tell them that Ri Cheol-jin, his accomplices, and USBs have all been secured. The liaison, Younghee Kim, has her lieutenant tied to the ferry, so she should have been spotted by the Coast Guard by now. She called and told her to take over." "Yes? stand up, senior. Somehow, it sounds like I should do it all by myself..."

"Why not?"

"A senior?"

"This madman is busy. I have a family event. Good job then."

At the crossroads of life and death, he loses his temper and seems to be chewing over the words he uttered. Yoon Jong-woo kept repeating "Yes?" while denying reality. As if to turn an ominous feeling into certainty, the motorboat started. Yoon Jong-woo was still left on the wooden boat with the two men caught in the net. Kwon Taek-joo started the boat without looking back.

The boat boasted a strong engine and moved quickly. It happened so quickly that I couldn't even think of moving it. Yoon Jong-woo's shoes, which he had been looking at in awe, gradually got wet. It was because of the seawater seeping into his hull. Even if it did not sink right away, it was a wooden boat with a hole. Could he abandon his subordinates in such a place without any guilt or hesitation?

Behind his back, he screamed that Yoon Jong-woo was dying. However, Kwon Taek-joo could only dismiss it as having heard the sound of the wind or waves by mistake. Today, the sound of the wind is "Nonsense!" It felt like a scream. He originally said that precious children should be raised strictly. So it must have been an illusion.

The boat was parked at a corner of the pier. Even with unauthorized grounding, he was not restrained. It was because he had registered in advance for a public dance. He didn't even need a separate report.

Grab the suitcase and enter the nearby warehouse. When he left after a while, he had changed into a clean suit.

I passed the dark terminal. As I walked to the main road, I saw a taxi I had called in advance. We got into the car and headed to Busan Station.

When I arrived at the station, there was an announcement announcing the departure of the KTX bound for Seoul. I went down to the platform following the considerable crowd. The train came early and was waiting. Enter the nearest door, check your seat number, and sit down. It was late at night, so the inside of the room was just quiet. 

Drrrr... drrrr... 

As soon as I sat down, my phone rang inside my jacket. It was for personal, non-business use. As expected, the sender was the mother. After clearing his voice once, he answered the phone as usual.

"Yes, mother. I just got on the train. The cleanup after the event was later than expected, so there was only the last train left. Even if we go without delay, it seems like we will arrive at dawn, so please close your eyes."

Reciting an obvious repertoire. Her mother's barrage of questions began. What time are you leaving, exactly when are you arriving, how will you get from the station to your house, and so on? He's a son that I might only see once or twice a year, so the days I visit his house become more unusual. He was able to finish the call only after he vowed to go straight without leaking anywhere else. 

As soon as I hung up the phone, the forgotten fatigue set in. I let out a sigh of my own accord. Around that time, the train closed and departed for Seoul. As I leaned back with my still-wet hair, I could feel the vibration of the train. 

In the quiet room, an announcement announcing the stopover was made. There was no movement in the space where even the deputy manager's voice had died down after 'Seoul'. The lights also seemed to get darker. 

I quickly got tired from the heat of the heater. Even the water-soaked eyelids flickered. The remaining saltiness made my eyelashes feel unusually heavy. We had close to three hours to spare to reach our destination. Would it be better to get some sleep? It was the moment when he was about to close his eyes, compromising with himself. 

Drrrr... drrrr...

Suddenly, I felt a vibration in my pocket. The cell phone she used to talk to her mother was still in her hand. Therefore, the ringing now must have been for work. She ignored it and tried to go to sleep, but her phone continued to tremble without getting tired. It was evident that she intended to ring until received. The subtle nerve-racking noise leaks out from other passengers. 

"Haa....." 

Eventually, I straightened up and pressed the call button.

- Where are you? 

It was Manager Lim who asked the question without hesitation. How come there is no way to deviate from expectations in the slightest? If Yun Jong-woo had not drowned in the sea, he would have been directly informed of the operation results. But why are you calling again? There was never a time when Lim's contact was not pleasant.

"Where are you going?" 

- I want to see your face for a moment. Is it also a call? What's going on? 

All he could guess was the operation to wipe out the operatives he had just finished. It should have been handled quietly, but it produced a large number of witnesses. Innocent citizens were also taken hostage. It was worth jumping up and down when the report was received. Not only that but even a report was filed with the Coast Guard. It wouldn't be easy to get back on track. Reporters may have already smelled it. I could have guessed what Lim would say, saying that a secret organization is a secret organization for no reason.

Even though I knew it would be useless, I tried to make excuses. 

"This operation was the best. You know."

- Okay. So come and let's talk. 

All right If you don't come out like that, you're not the world's manager Lim.

Before being put into operation, nails were hammered into him several times. Tomorrow is the birthday of a mother who can't sleep at night worrying about her one and only son. So, no matter what, you have to go home. What did Lim say at that time? Even if the second Korean War broke out, he said he would send him back to his mother's arms.

Kwon Taek-joo reminded him of the conversation at the time, asking if he had forgotten. 

"Look at me, boss. Tomorrow is my mother's birthday, right?" 

- Don't hold on for long.

There was no way to get through. Director Lim was shameless and even persistent. Annoyedly disheveled his wet hair. Then he made his final argument while watching the scenery outside the window of the car passing by quickly.

"I've already left, how are you going?"

It was around that time. The KTX, which had been running well, suddenly stopped. Passengers listening to music or playing mobile games looked around in amazement.

For a while, the KTX stopped in the tunnel. No announcements were made in the car, and no attendant passed by. It was normal for the KTX to cause a breakdown. There were no passengers who were greatly embarrassed by that. Those who were doing something with their heads stuck out into the aisle soon lost their interest and went to sleep.

Yeah, it wouldn't be a big deal. I wanted to believe that. But ominous premonitions always fit like ghosts.

- Get down, come on. 

Director Lim smirkingly instructed. It was the moment I was trying to ask what this was. An announcement came from the speaker. 

It was said that there was a problem with the track, so it was stopped for a while, we would start as soon as the problem was resolved, so we ask for your understanding. It's 'as soon as the problem is solved'. It meant that if Kwon Taek-joo did not respond to the call, the train would not move. 

- You're not getting off?

A whisper followed. His voice was rustling, as if he was enjoying the current situation. It came out like that, so I didn't want to follow it anymore. I didn't know what the other passengers were doing. 

However, unless the train was moving, Kwon Taek-joo himself had no way to get home. He shook his head nervously. Also cuts the call on time. The call never came back. Of course, there was no sign of KTX leaving either. 

After holding out for a while longer, he let out a long sigh and stood up. As she strode down the aisle outside, the door opened as if she had waited. Shaking her head, she went down the stairs. The pebbles of the tracks were trodden on the soles of my shoes. 

As I walked to the back of the train, I made a phone call somewhere. Just after coming out of the tunnel, the stopped KTX started moving again. Around that time, I heard an answer from the other side of my phone saying, "Hello." Was the mother The voice was quieter than before. It seemed that he was worried that his son, who had said he would go, would cancel his appointment with an excuse of urgent work. 

"Mother. It's me. There's a problem with the train, so I'm going to be a little late. No, I'm going this time. It's just a little late." 

He stopped and asked for help. 

"So don't light the cake and wait." 

The NIS was the place where they arrived in a prepared helicopter. An employee waiting at the heliport guided Kwon Taek-joo to the first deputy chief's office. He tilted her head while silently following her. The one I wanted to see for a moment was Director Lim, but I don't know why the place was the 1st Vice-Chancellor's office and not the Manager's office. 

The three deputy chiefs, who are the top executives of the NIS, are each in charge of independent tasks. Each deputy director does not get involved in matters outside his/her authority. It was an unwritten rule for sub-departments, which were divided into dozens, to follow the direct deputy director. Therefore, there was no need for Kwon Taek-joo and Lim, who were engaged in counterintelligence and intelligence activities under the 3rd deputy director, to meet in the 1st deputy director's office.

What a misunderstanding While questioning, a polite employee knocked on the door of the deputy director's office. Permission to come in was soon given. It wasn't Lim's voice. The employee opened the door and let Kwon Taek-joo inside.

Kwon Taek-joo forgot to say hello and looked at the first deputy director across from him. Is there anything more natural than the fact that the first deputy chief occupies the first deputy chief's office? Still, the current situation facing him was ironic. Director Lim, the man who summoned Kwon Taek-joo, was sitting next to him. He stared at him as if seeking an explanation. Director Lim only smiled strangely.

The atmosphere was unusual. Silently, I rolled my eyes and looked at Deputy Director 1 and Director Lim. As if trying to ease his guard, the first deputy commander gave a lucky face with a gentle face.

"I heard that you just finished your mission in Busan." 

"Yes. I did my best." 

As soon as the first deputy chief finished speaking, he protested. Although there may have been some commotion, it was a clear abuse of authority for the first deputy director to reprimand Kwon Taek-Joo. Looking at the somewhat defensive Kwon Taek-joo, Deputy Director 1 and Manager Lim smiled strangely. It wasn't a very pleasant feeling.

"That's not why I called you here. So there's no need to be zealous in your defense. Although there was more fuss than necessary during the operation, it was small compared to the leakage of state secrets. Isn't that right, Lim?"

It was like a thick-boned executive who was slightly sarcastic. Kwon Taek-joo kept an eye on Director Lim without dissolving his doubts. Director Lim just shook his head with a smile on his face. As Kwon Taek-joo, he had no choice but to become more puzzling. If it wasn't because of what happened in Busan, what was the reason for calling him at this late hour? He thought about it all along, but couldn't come to any conclusion.

Director Lim did not bother Kwon Taek-joo anymore. He puts the tablet he was holding down on the table. 

"What is it?" 

"See you first." 

I shrugged my shoulders and obediently picked up the tablet. She turns her first page with a bored face. Her gaze, which was bored between the lines, gradually picked up speed. scrolled down Silently, but breathlessly reading the text, I quickly checked the next page. Director Lim, who was watching the scene, opened his mouth.

"It's a top-level intelligence that was recently obtained. Rumors have been circulating for a long time, but this is the first time that evidence has been secured to determine the truth. As you may have seen now, the main content is that North Korea and Russia started working hand in hand to develop new weapons three years ago. That weapon boasts firepower that has never been shown by any country in the world before. It is said that once it is completed, the game of world hegemony will change. Also known as Anastasia. I don't know if that's the exact name of the weapon, a secret agreement between North Korea and Russia to make the weapon or the blueprint or designer of the weapon. I don't even know if the weapon is complete or not."

For the first time, he seemed to understand the meaning of the combination of Deputy Director 1 and Manager Lim. Who would be in trouble if North Korea and Russia joined hands to create an unprecedented lethal weapon? It would have been the Republic of Korea and the United States without much thought.

"We need to know what that weapon is. Lack of information leads to an imbalance of power. If 'Anastasia' isn't finished yet, and if possible, we should prevent it from coming to the fore."

"What can we do for the sake of world and human peace? Stealing isn't all bad if it's a small evil to prevent the great evil."

Therefore, it was to find out the identity of the weapon that North Korea and Russia collaborated on. If it is necessary, it means to take out the blueprint or related secrets, and if not, to destroy it so that it will never see the light of day. who? Kwon Taek-ju himself.

Since he started his life as an agent with an enemy at the NIS, overseas dispatch work was common. Rather, there were more days abroad than days spent in Korea. For that reason, the business trip order was not new. However, it was caught that the mission area was Russia. It was a land that had no history, not to mention during the operation, personally.

Of course, the conditions were not a big problem. Kwon Taek-joo has been receiving instruction in Chinese, Persian, and Russian since immediately after joining the company. He wouldn't have any trouble speaking the language of the city of Moscow right away

But that was it. The most important thing for Kwon Taek-ju was the absence of local experience. Is there anything more important to an agent than actual combat? For this mission, it was no wonder that Kwon Taek-joo was told to jump into the middle of the battlefield without a gun. It was also incomprehensible why this mission was assigned to him in the first place.

He stared at Lim with a dissatisfied expression. He nodded his head as if he understood. 

"Strictly speaking, you are not qualified for this operation." 

"Then you need to find the right person." 

"Of course I found it. sent." 

"So what?" 

"....." 

He scratches his eyebrows without speaking. The first deputy also smiled shyly. It was impossible not to know what answer they swallowed without spitting out. 

"Looks like it didn't go well." 

Manager Lim nodded again and spread the three photos on the table. In the first picture, someone's hand was taken with the tips of ten fingers cut off bluntly. The bloodless skin was swollen with water.

In another photo, the body's forehead covered in white cloth was visible. An unknown pattern was engraved in the center. I soon found out that it was a tattoo. Judging from the state of the body's skin, it didn't seem like it had been carved for a long time.

The last one was a neat ID photo. Based on a series of circumstances, it must have been the original appearance of the mutilated corpse. I knew the person in the picture.

"Dominic Morgan. He is an elite agent dispatched to Russia by the US intelligence agency. It was found four days ago at the riverside of Nara as a body. At the time, he was in charge of the sole task of figuring out the identity of 'Anastasia'. He was a good friend for collecting Russian intelligence, which is a pity. In Russia, they treated him as an unknown person. It was only natural that he disguised his identity. It is questionable whether he saw him as a simple unknown person."

"Since Russia's surveillance has become tighter over that, are you telling us to do something?" 

"You listen very well to the nuances of words. Still, let's not say that we're going to follow. Since North Korea is involved, can't we say that South Korea is also a party? You can't just sit back and watch. Yes, you have known the dead Agent Morgan since the last ROK-US joint training, right?" 

"To be exact, this is the person I only knew at that time. About a month at most. I was assigned a room by chance." 

A clear line was drawn. Manager Lim smiled. He skillfully attacked Kwon Taek-ju, who was trying not to show any gaps. 

"That's why I chose you. Emotions that obscure reason ruin things."

There is no such thing as a snail. The moment I was about to protest in a fit of rage, a vibrating sound suddenly rang. It was the first deputy's cell phone. He asked for my understanding for a moment, then walked past Kwon Taek-joo and went outside. The door that had been opened was closed again. Director Lim gave the order as if he had been waiting. 

"Find 'Anastasia' on behalf of Agent Morgan." 

The lightness until now was gone, and the tone was quite serious. Kwon Taek-joo stared at him without replying. Is this the best There may be someone more suitable for this operation than Kwon Taek-joo himself. There is at least one such agent somewhere in the hospital... Even one person... does not exist. He squeezed his hair as he could, but nothing came to mind.

Manager Lim had a calm expression on his face as if he was asking if it was something that would be so embarrassing. yeah, it wouldn't be a big deal It's dangerous enough, only that much, that an elite agent could be found dead overnight. I wanted to be so sarcastic, but I'd rather keep my mouth shut.

Right after joining the company, he learned his job under Manager Lim. He was close enough to exchange jokes now, but he was the boss anyway. If he gives a mission, Kwon Taek-joo must follow. It was not a subject of protest.

Director Lim gave a satisfied smile at the resignation. 

"I promise full support. The team members will organize it however you want." 

"Doing it alone is comfortable in many ways." 

"Wouldn't it be easy this time? It's going to be pretty tough." 

"There is no need to drive more people to limb when you know that," he responded sternly. 

Lim said, "I knew you would say that while eating." One after another, they hand out thick envelopes and give gifts. He took it like a snatch. Inside the unsealed envelope were various documents and a forged passport. When I opened my passport, I saw a strange face. 

"Hiro Sakamoto?" 

"I heard that an LNG facility construction contract was signed between a Japanese energy company and Gazprom, a Russian state-owned gas company. It is said that only the expected profit amount amounts to tens of trillions of won. It seems that Russia invited officials from large banks and international trading companies that were in charge of co-financing with the energy company to celebrate the conclusion of the contract between the two countries and to visit the construction site. All of the prime ministers and key officials of both countries, as well as big names in the business world, will attend the event. I heard that an international trading company called 'Itochu' played a big role in the conclusion of this contract. 'Hiro Sakamoto' is a staff member in charge of the European area there. He is proudly on the list to visit Russia." 

He disguises himself as Hiro Sakamoto and infiltrates Russia. It wasn't a bad plan. If it is true that North Korea and Russia developed weapons, very few people would have been involved in it or know the related secrets. Those who are in a leading position in Russia. Getting to them is not that easy. However, it was a different story when it came to Sakamoto Hiro. Even if you don't have to try, you'll meet by yourself.

Of course, that was if the identity had not been revealed. In addition to Hiro Sakamoto, numerous officials were invited. If any of them noticed that Hiro Sakamoto was different from usual, all plans would be foiled. Even though I only imagined it for a moment, Agent Morgan's end flashed through my mind. 

Manager Lim soothed Kwon Taek-joo, who was very confused. 

"Relax. Unless another Hiro Sakamoto appears, your identity won't be revealed. Hiro Sakamoto is planning to leave the country a day before the visiting group. Of course, in reality, the Tokyo agent will help him so he can't leave the country." 

Our camouflage technology is at a level that even fools your mother, they say. It seemed that there was no need to worry about the fact that Japanese people are relatively short. Hiro Sakamoto's height is 180 cm. Kwon Taek-ju was taller than him by about 2 or 3 cm, but ordinary people would not be able to realize the difference. When someone doubted it, it was enough to say that I was wearing insoles.

If it was normal, I wouldn't have thought about it for long. He had no right to refuse orders from his superiors unless he undressed. Even so, there was no willingness to say anything. For some reason, I kept feeling uneasy.

Because Agent Morgan, who was in charge of the mission first, died? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't affected at all, but it wasn't just because of it. My instincts were feeling vague anxiety about something that hadn't even happened yet.

"It's about reshaping the world map of hegemony. If this is done safely, your position will change a lot." 

Director Lim subtly encouraged the decision. Kwon Taek-joo looked at him without a word. It was a straight, strong gaze. Director Lim faced him with his characteristic smile. For a while, nothing was said between the two.

It wasn't long before Kwon Taek-joo crumpled the prepared paper bag into his jacket. He even said something, as if to make it clear. 

"Ipzini, I am not interested in power. Some corners are unnecessarily fierce, those are." 

"Then why are you accepting this operation when you have no interest in it?" 

"This is an order from the high-ranking manager, does a subordinate have the right to refuse?" 

"Is there any other reason besides that?" 

"If I refuse this case, my career, which was always achieving 100%, will collapse." 

"Nothing, no matter what." 

"Can I go now?" 

"Oh, before that, there's one thing to keep in mind." 

I asked what it was with an annoyance. Lim's face had hardened. The eyes that were still watching Kwon Taek-joo seemed quite cautious. The voice that came out immediately seemed to have subsided a little. 

" PsikhBogdanov." 

" Psikh Bogdanov? The person's name... Wouldn't it?" 

He frowned and smirked. 'Bogdanov' would be a Russian surname, but ' Psikh' was not a human name by any means. What kind of parent would name their child 'crazy' or 'twit'? 

Manager Lim elaborated as if he hadn't heard it wrong. 

"I heard they are usually called that rather than my first name." 

A name is inherently used more often by others than by the person concerned. Therefore, nicknames or nicknames that replaced them became the basis for reputation. The fact that the Russian director Lim mentioned was referred to as 'crazy' Bogdanov instead of my real name meant that he was such a great man. I don't know what kind of person he is, even in this distant foreign country. 

"He's like a nuclear man in Russia." 

"If it is a nucleus, is it the nucleus that means the center?" I asked unsure. 

It was because of the ambiguity of language. In addition to the definition of core and center, 'nucleus' had another completely different meaning. I don't think they would liken people to such weapons. Looking at Director Lim with a hasty determination, he smiled again. 

"Yeah, that's what it means." 

It seemed to be closer to the 'nuclear' that refers to nuclear weapons. Unknowingly, I twisted my face. What kind of author is it that he is called 'Trick' more than his name, and is even symbolized by 'Nuclear Bomb'?

The thought of 'Psych Bogdanov' raised another question. Why is he mentioned in this operation whose purpose is to find 'Anastasia'? 

"Did he have anything to do with Morgan's death?" 

"I'm not sure. There is no material evidence, only heart evidence. If you want to get close to the Russian giants, you won't be able to avoid confronting them. 'Nuclear' is not 'nuclear' for nothing. So possible damage. Even if you do run into them, don't try to fight them." 

Peek laughed. The more warnings he received, the more curious he was about that idiot.

Just then, a knock was heard outside the door. When Lim said yes, the same employee who guided Kwon Taek-joo to this place came inside. A large bouquet and a trunk were held in each of his hands. Almost handing them over to Kwon Taek-joo, he silently refused and went outside. 

"I have everything you need. It saves time, and you don't have to worry about packing. Aren't good things good? In particular, I bought the panties two months ago and haven't had any purchases since then, so I considered your taste and put all of them in new ones. You don't have to thank me." 

"You know more about my underwear than I do, right?" 

"Just that much, what? And take the flowers home. You said it was your mother's birthday, maybe?" 

Seriously, a man is like a snail.

He swallowed the words he couldn't bear to come out of his mouth and replied bluntly. 

"I won't tell you that it's a gift for the manager. If you find out that the man who carried your son until your birthday sent it, it will only hurt your mood on a good day." 

"Thank you for thinking about it." 

Director Lim smiled shamelessly. 

"Don't die." 

I'm about to turn around and leave, but out of the blue, I ask. Kwon Taek-ju stopped walking for a moment and nodded his head casually.

When I came out, the hallway was empty. I trudged toward the entrance door. Wherever Kwon Taek-joo's footsteps reached, the sensor light came on and turned off one by one from farther back. As the lights faded, the darkness that descended slowly drew closer as if to engulf him. 

"...." 

I suddenly stopped walking and looked back. While not moving, even the last ceiling light went out and Kwon Taek-joo disappeared, buried in the thick darkness.