Chapter 1: 1.1 – Prologue – Mission in Busan – 1

7:49 p.m. Busan International Port.

The night gradually fell on the pier. Export preparation also took place excitingly. The auxiliary ferry weighing 5 thousand tons clearly shows its majesty under the flashing light of streetlights. This is a regular train that operates once a day and will dock at Shimonoseki Harbour, Japan tomorrow morning.

The doors close after the boarding time is over. The crane completed the loading work, finally quietly retreating. As expected, the lights in the station went out. The surrounding is quietly buried in the tranquillity of the night, only the rope ferry is still floating on the black rippled sea surface.

But the atmosphere inside is completely different. A man enters the arranged room early and puts down the package of luggage. Passengers around him were busy looking at everywhere on the train with excited faces. Everyone gathered in small groups at a drinking table in the village, some people also recorded every moment with the camera in their hands. The boisterous laughter echoed everywhere, even on the deck of the windy cold was filled with the atmosphere of excitement and eagerness waiting for the journey to begin.

Kwon Taek Joo is in that crowded place. He wore a normal suit with a jacket, which looked no different from the people who were here outside with an extremely depressed expression. It's obviously not the face of the person who is in the most expensive room.

He occasionally lifted his sleeves to see the time. Kwon Taek Joo followed each movement of the second hand on the watch. Exactly 8 o'clock. The siren signalled the ferry to separate the night sea surface. Kwon Taek Joo also walked out on the balcony accordingly.

The deck below appeared clearly in his sight. Visitors are still diligent in taking pictures. It will be difficult to get a decent picture in this dark but they still keep pressing the shutter button. He was indifferently watching those incessant movements when a small mechanical sound suddenly came from his left ear. Next is someone's voice.

"- How is it? Are you enjoying the romantic atmosphere of the night sea?"

"Not bad. 'The noise is noisy but also quite boring."

Light laughter comes from the contact device in the ear. Meanwhile, Kwon Taek Joo's eyes are still on the deck. He carefully looked at each person passing by but no one was particularly prominent.

"Report it."

"- Contact person Kim Young Hee and National Security Agency official Lee Cheol Jin were both confirmed to have boarded the plane. Lee Cheol Jin is disguised as a Chinese citizen. He will probably leave China as soon as he arrives in Japan, and Kim Young Hee has booked a ferry departing from Shimonoseki tomorrow night."

"Then I'll have to approach them before the ship docks."

Kwon Taek Joo muttered to himself and then quickly left the balcony. 'Will you start acting now?', he asked. Kwon Taek Joo just walked out of the room and replied as he passed through the empty corridor.

"Playing hide-and-seek, good players are adventurers."

If the targets communicate with each other, the messy context like this is the best time, because meeting with few people will only attract more attention.

Kwon Taek Joo jumped down two spiral staircases. He passed by a group of people gathered in front of the 2nd floor restaurant and examined each face one by one. This time there are no outstanding characters. Kwon Taek Joo went straight down the stairs leading to the 1st floor lobby and gave a brief instruction.

"Call me."

The phone rang instantly. Kwon Taek Joo left the sound to vibrate continuously twice and received a call when he arrived in the middle of the stairs. 'Alo,' he continued his serious conversation with the silent subject on the other end. No one showed any doubts when Kwon Taek Joo was talking on the phone while walking around.

Not long after, a woman passed by. Her upland-up collar looked very wry. Kwon Taek Joo's black eyes quietly followed the woman.

She passed the instruction table and approached the vending machine next to the elevator. She stood there for a long time as if to choose a drink. Others walked over and left one after another.

The woman took out the 1,000 yen bill again after the surroundings were quiet again. After a long period of hesitation, what she chose was green tea. Excess money poured out of the machine, the drink also fell down with a slight noise. She picked up the can of water quite naturally, then collected the extra money and returned to the 2nd floor. Kwon Taek Joo pretends not to pay attention to the woman, and she doesn't pay special attention to him either.

"– The target is approaching.?

The voice on the communication device caught Kwon Taek Joo's attention after the woman disappeared upstairs.

"Okay. Let's talk later."

He pressed the end of the call button after the greeting. At that moment, a man came out of the living room in the back of the lobby. He was wearing a navy blue beanie and was taking long strides towards the vending machine.

The man rummaged through his pocket and took out a few coins but only glanced around, not the drink. An overly cautious attitude. After a long time, the man put a 100 yen coin in the slot.

At that moment there was an arm that suddenly stretched over his shoulder. Then a happy click rang out. That familiar sound was like a coin rolling through a narrow groove. But the blue beanie is still holding a hundred yen coin in his hand. That arm suddenly interrupted the vending machine and selected a drink and pressed the button.

"What is it?"

Only here did the navy blue beanie realise the current situation. The heavy can of water fell down and squealed. The beanie hurriedly took Kwon Taek Joo's hand as he headed for the place to receive the can of water. He screamed in confusion at the unexpected situation.

"Ah asshole, what are you doing?"

"It seems that you are hesitant to make a decision. 'If I keep waiting, I'll have to stay up all night."

Kwon Taek Joo held his hand tightly and brazenly responded. The tone whispered but provocative. There was no sign of remorse in the faint smile on his face, as if the conflict that was happening was what he wanted.

Unfortunately, the same feeling of creepy. The instinct that was one step ahead of the mind realised the danger, the eyebrows of the blue beanie furrowed. Under the light, anger was repelled and instead of a sign of anxiety, his breathing also became rougher, I don't know when cold sweat was on his forehead.

"Damn it."

Immediately, the navy blue beanie suddenly waved its hand to the vending machine. He quickly flipped the lid of the vending machine and picked up something inside. Kwon Taek Joo did not hesitate to kick the lid.

"Ah!"

A loud scream came from the man who was entangled in the visor. Kwon Taek Joo was calm as if there was no problem.

"Ah this crazy guy!"

The man suddenly grabbed Kwon Taek Joo's collar in response to the provocative act just now. His eyes stared at him. But Kwon Taek Joo did not flinch, but he only looked from his shirt and then the other man's face. His eyebrows furrowed even more because of his strange leisurely demeanour.

Kwon Taek Joo grabbed the man holding his collar by the wrist. Leisurely movements seemed to be etching his every move into the mind of the other person. The skin under the man's eyes twitches. The eyes that had been glancing at Kwon Taek Joo were now down at his wrist. Even when the man tries to ignore, a force so cruel that it is unbearable begins to spread, what is going on certainly does not bring good things.

Kwon Taek Joo looked at the people who were focussing around and mumbled.

"Really. Being over-attentled is annoying. Lee Cheol Jin-sshi also understands, right? Everyone in the industry is like that."

As soon as his name was called, he was able to guess Kwon Taek Joo's identity. The man's originally angry face suddenly turned pale.

Passengers continued to flock out and quickly surrounded the two. The most curious thing is always to watch the fight, and the strange expectations of those who are running to watch a noisy action movie rise live. There is no point in lasting this long. A mouse cornered at the foot of the wall will bite the cat back. Kwon Taek Joo doesn't know what unexpected action Lee Cheol Jin will take if he puts more pressure on him. If civilian casualties occur, it is difficult for one or two letters of apology to calm the situation.

Kwon Taek Joo holds Lee Cheol Jin's arm tightly. Suddenly he laughed.

"Okay. Very good!"

He no longer tries to hide his identity. If the identity is revealed, the spies have only two options. Suicide by drinking pre-prepared poison or using force to escape. He will not throw away the thing that has been difficult to achieve, so the choice this time will be the second.

Lee Cheol Jin quickly put his hand inside his jacket, but that arm was immediately lifted by Kwon Taek Joo in an instant, followed by his head hitting the vending machine.

The vending machine vibrated with a sound. Lee Cheol Jin also couldn't overcome the shock and stagger.

At that moment, Kwon Taek Joo grabbed his arm and easily grabbed the gun. When a gun from nowhere appeared, the viewers gathered to scream and retreat.

Kwon Taek Joo did not hesitate to use his best to kick Lee Cheol Jin's ass. His body hit the floor. His face and head were shaken, making him unable to stay awake.

Meanwhile, Kwon Taek Joo lifted the lid of the vending machine and took out the USB. The woman left it behind. According to intelligence, it can contain high-level information equivalent to a state secret.

"Sorry, please give way a bit! Just a moment, please."

At that moment a flight attendant approached, it seemed that he had received a report of the riot. Kwon Taek Joo looked in that direction, at the same time he heard an angry muttering in his ear.

"There is no law for you to rummage through other people's things."

Kwon Taek Joo turned his head with an unfortunate precise. His gaze immediately touched Lee Cheol Jin. His eyes flashed unusually bright. Maybe. He did not miss the rope that had just been dropped in front of him. 'What's going on?', the hostess rushed in and asked.

"Hic..."

It happened in a split second. Lee Cheol Jin put his arms around the hostess's neck and pulled him back, with a sharp knife in his other hand.

"Aaaaaaaaa"

"Ah!"

Seeing the sharp blade, the surrounding passengers fled, only Kwon Taek Joo remained in his place.

He bit his lower lip as a habit. Whenever everything goes well, he feels uncomfortable, there is no such thing as easy to eat. This time is no exception.

Lee Cheol Jin put his arms around the hostage's neck and clutched the weapon. The hostess shouted. Kwon Taek Joo scratched his head uncomfortably.

"Give that."

Lee Cheol Jin reached out his hand to ask. The sharp blade sticks more tightly to the hostage's neck. Kwon Taek Joo just stood watching without any reaction. Lee Cheol Jin waved his hand impatiently. He even shouted 'Throw it here!' Kwon Taek Joo looked bored at the hostage's pale face before his every move. His breathing rushed almost as 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. Lee Cheol Jin was about to bend down reflexively but quickly changed his mind and asked the hostage to pick up the item that had just fallen.

The hostess picked up the USB with trembling hands. In a desperate crisis, his pants were also helpless and drenched from time to time. Lee Cheol Jin forced him to stand up and step by step back on his weak feet with no strength in fear.

At this time, Kwon Taek Joo also slowly moved. The gap was tightened as soon as Lee Cheol Jin withdrew. The sequence of actions did not hesitate as if he did not care about the safety of the hostages. When Lee Cheol Jin took a step back, Kwon Taek Joo took another approach. Lee Cheol Jin's voice broke with anger.

"Don't follow me!"

But that threat didn't work at all. If he takes a step back, Kwon Taek Joo will definitely take another step. Although a certain distance is maintained between the two sides, the anxiety of the pursued person is still indescribable.

"Please save me."

The hostages rubbed their hands together and begged. The urine soaked in his pants was now dripping to the floor. For a moment, all the movement and noise stopped as if time had stopped.

Lee Cheol Jin took a step back as if to check the situation. Kwon Taek Joo followed again. He went crazy and jumped up, his eyes seeming to have no mercy on the hostages.

"You bastard, don't you listen to me tell me to stop?"

Even if you're angry, it's useless because it's hard to find a place for compromise on Kwon Taek Joo's face. Even if the hostage's life is in danger, he will not back down. But one thing is clear that the time when the hostages stop breathing is also the time when Lee Cheol Jin himself will no longer be safe. All of that is contained in Kwon Taek Joo's quiet but pressured gaze.

'This bastard...!'

Lee Cheol Jin quickly gave up the confrontation and pushed the hostage away. He then walked up the stairs in the back. Kwon Taek Joo helps the fallen flight attendant to the side and chases.

As soon as he reached the second floor, people began to rush to the entrance to the deck. Kwon Taek Joo turned around and went straight in that direction. The sight of Lee Cheol Jin quickly running away caught his sight. But Kwon Taek Joo did not run even though the steps were wider and he accelerated somewhat, because there was absolutely no reason to lose patience. Anyway, this ship is heading to the open sea. Lee Cheol Jin is no different from the mouse that has crawled in.

Kwon Taek Joo leisurely follows Lee Cheol Jin who is running away for his life. His dark hair fluttered in the sea breeze of the Buddha. That sight brings a strange sense of intimidation.

"– Seniors, ferry assistants have just reported to the Coast Guard that there was an armed person on board. What's wrong?"

Suddenly the voice just now sounded from the communication device in Kwon Taek Joo's ear.

"Later and then say. I'll probably be a little busy."

Kwon Taek Joo finally looked directly at Lee Cheol Jin, who had approached the railing. The dissuade from the radio sounded but he turned it off without hesitation. As a result, only Lee Cheol Jin and Kwon Taek Joo remained on the windy deck.

Lee Cheol Jin looked down at the dark sea. His hands clinging to his railing tightened. Meanwhile, Kwon Taek Joo gradually narrowed the gap. Lee Cheol Jin was cornered and suddenly swung his weapon frantically into the air. That gesture is like trying to escape at all costs, but it is also meaningless. The moment you are afraid means that the threat from you has lost its strength.

"Don't come here!"

He quickly approached the aggressive Lee Cheol Jin. He alternately looked down at the black sea while heading towards Kwon Taek Joo and repeatedly waved the knife into the air.

"I told you not to come here!"

He panicked and screamed violently. Kwon Taek Joo took out the Colt. It was the moment Lee Cheol Jin's knife turned into a piece of scrap metal.

***