Codename Anastasia

Author: reannaq

Published: 2023

'Kwon Taek-ju', an ace agent of the NIS, is dispatched to Moscow to find out
the identity of 'Anastasia', a deadly weapon that Russia and North Korea
are secretly working on. The NIS assigns a local intelligence source named
'Zhenya' as a partner to him, who is the first to dispatch to Russia. 'Zhenya',
 who seems to be in close contact with Russian political and business
figures as well as the underworld mafia, always pretends to be relaxed and
cheerful, but suddenly reveals his tyrannical nature, making it impossible to
relax even for a moment. Meanwhile, 'Zhenya' begins to take a special
interest in 'Kwon Taek-ju', who doesn't know how to break through any
storm.

Introduction

Name: CodeName Anastasia

Status for Novel: Finished, 4 volumes +1 extra
Background/Field: Contemporary Novel/Spy Story/Battle Romance/Third
Person POV.
Novel available at: Ridibooks (In volume form only. )
-Pair V. Information:
Jenya: A self-proclaimed Russian arms dealer. He is a human being driven
only by his own self-interest who possesses an overwhelming physique, is
domineering, and has a destructive streak.
*Kwon Taekju: An on-site agent of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Physically and mentally strong, with a strong personality and addicted to
individualism.
When you want to see an elite agent glowing with a 100% mission
accomplishment rate get stabbed by his subordinate, a maniac younger
than him.
Each Volume will be in this story.
Cover
Author: reannaq
Published: 2023
1.1 Foreword
1.2 Foreword
1.3 Foreword
2.1 New Mission
2.2 New Mission
2.3 New Mission
2.4 New Mission
2.5 New Mission
2.6 New Mission
2.7 New Mission
2.8 New Mission
3.1 The Nuclear Man
3.2 The Nuclear Man
3.3 The Nuclear Man
3.4 The Nuclear Man
3.5 The Nuclear Man
4.1 Trans-Siberian Railway
4.2 Trans-Siberian Railway
4.3 Trans- Siberian Railway
4.4 Trans-Siberian Railway
4.5 Trans-Siberian Railway
5.1 Twilight
5.2 Twilight
5.3 Twilight
5.4 Twilight
5.5 Twilight
5.6 Twilight
6.1 Counterattack
6.2 Counterattack
1.1 Foreword

Premiere ^^
7:49 p.m. Busan International Port.
Sailing preparations were in full swing on the pier where darkness was
falling. A 5,000-ton auxiliary ferry revealed its majesty in the flickering light
of the streets. That liner, which departed once a day, will arrive in
Shimonoseki, Japan, tomorrow morning.
The gateway closed after the early shipping deadline. After finishing last-
minute shipments, the crane also quietly withdrew. As if waiting for the
signal, all lights in the terminal were turned off, and all activity was buried in
the silence of the night. Only the large ferry floated on the rippling black sea.
Inside, there was a totally different atmosphere. Those who had stayed in
their rooms, not coming out all night deserved a prize. Most passengers
were busy looking around the ship with excited faces, gathering in the
corridors or at large tables to drink alcohol or capture every moment with a
camera. Wherever people gathered, sounds of laughter and happy faces
overflowed.
The cold and windy deck seemed to have its own beauty. Expectations and
enthusiasm for the journey that was about to begin were causing riots
constantly, everywhere.
In that place stood Kwon Taekju. His appearance with a casual suit and
messy hair seemed far away from the wealthy atmosphere of those around
him. However, his extremely bored expression was no different from theirs.
It was certainly not the face of the person who occupied the most expensive
suite in the place.
From time to time, he would roll up his sleeves to check the time.
Something strange was felt in his eyes that followed the second hand of the
clock. It was eight o'clock. A long pause to announce the ship's departure
broke the sea.
Kwon stepped out onto the balcony accordingly.
Standing on a separate balcony, the lower deck could be seen from above.
Tourists were still busy taking pictures. It would be difficult to get a single
picture properly when it was so dark, but he steadily pressed the shutter
anyway while watching the constant movement with indifference. Suddenly,
there was a small mechanical sound in his left ear. Someone's voice began
to be heard clearly.
[- What do you think, how do you feel enjoying the romantic night sea?]
"It's not bad. It's noisy, chaotic, and boring."
A soft smile broke out from the person behind the intercom in his ear.
Meanwhile, Kwon's eyes were on the deck of the ship, carefully observing
each person passing by. No one was particularly noticeable.
"Report."
[-Communicate with Kim Younghee, and Security Department official Lee
Cheoljin, both have been confirmed as passengers on board. Lee Cheoljin
is undercover as a Chinese national. Our informants state that he will most
likely depart for China as soon as he arrives in Japan. Kim Younghee has
booked a ferry to depart tomorrow night from Shimonoseki).
"Then I'll get in touch before I arrive." He muttered to himself and stepped
off the balcony.
[- Are you going to move from the other side now?]
Kwon left the room and replied as he walked down an empty hallway.
"Those who are good at playing hide and seek are never brave enough."
If the targets were to contact each other, it would be the right time. It would
be more noticeable to use it when there were few people.
Jumping up a couple of spiral stairs, he saw a group of people gathered in
front of the restaurant on the second floor. He checked each side as he
passed them, but, once again, no one stood out. Kwon gave a brief
instruction as he descended the stairs leading down to the lobby of the
second floor.
"Call me."
The phone rang at once, but he left it unattended for a few moments so that
the vibrating sound continued a couple of times. It wasn't until halfway down
the stairs that he picked up the phone.
"Hello." He continued the deep conversation with his silent companion. No
one looked at him with suspicion or curiosity. A man talking aimlessly didn't
seem to be suspicious to anyone.
For some time, a woman passed behind him. The collar of her stiff coat was
uncomfortable to look at. Catching her prey, Kwon's deep-set eyes followed
her noiselessly.
The woman passed by the information desk and approached the vending
machine next to the elevator and stood in front of it for a long time while
apparently choosing something to drink. When someone else passed by on
the way, she gave up her work, standing completely still.
The woman took out a thousand-yen bill only after there was silence again.
Despite her long agony, all she chose was a green tea. The change fell out
and the drink spilled with a dull sound, the woman just took it quite naturally.
Then, she packed up her small change and returned to the second floor.
Kwon Taekju pretended not to see the woman, and the woman was also not
particularly aware of his presence.
1-Objective, approaching)
After the woman disappeared without a trace, the voice from the intercom
caught his attention.
"Well, see you later."
After the usual greeting, she ended the brief call. At that moment, a man
emerged from the shared room behind the lobby, and donning a navy blue
cap, headed for the vending machine.
As he checked his pockets for some coins, he looked around cautiously
again and again, as if his target was not a drink, but something else,
something that, for a person with no ulterior motives was an overly cautious
attitude.
It wasn't long before the man brought a hundred-yen coin to the slot.
At that moment, an arm suddenly reached over the man's shoulder and a
click sounded. It was a familiar noise, the same noise a coin makes when it
passes through a narrow slot. However, the hand of the man in the navy
blue cap still held a hundred-yen coin. Suddenly, the hand, reaching ahead
of the man, selected and pressed a drink.
"..What."
It was after the navy blue cap man recognized the situation, that a heavy
canned drink rattled and fell. The man hurriedly grabbed Kwon Taekju's
hand, when he was supposed to head for the product outlet. At the
unexpected situation, a great embarrassment arose on his face,
accompanied with a shout.
"What are you doing, you punk bastard?"
"The indecisive man does not seem to be able to make a decision. If I had
to wait any longer, I'd go crazy."
He replied cheekily as he held up his hand. There was a deep sense of
incongruity in his suspicious tone. There was no sign of regret anywhere on
the smiling face. So much so that he seemed to be picking a fight.
Something... not right. He had a very reluctant feeling. Instincts usually
sense danger one step ahead of us, and in this situation, they seemed to be
alerting him.
The man's eyebrows twitched. The angry expression left his rigid face, a
sign of youthful impatience. His breathing became even more violent, a cold
sweat forming on his forehead.
"Hey!"
In the next instant, the man in the navy blue cap approached the vending
machine, first, trying to secure things. In a second, he grabbed the lid of the
can that had come out, but it fell to the ground. Kwon stepped on the lid
without hesitation.
"Argh!"
A scream erupted from the man with his hand on the ground. Kwon still
wore a calm expression, as if there was no problem at all.
"'Fucking bastard!"
After that series of provocations, the man grabbed Kwon Taekju by the
neck. His glaring eyes were shining with anger, however, Kwon didn't even
raise an eye. He just took turns to look at the man's clothes and face
alternately from time to time.
The strangely relaxed attitude made the man frown. He gripped the man's
wrist holding his leg tightly, the relaxed movement seemed to imprint his
opponent's every action. The body under the man's eyes twisted, both eyes
that were directed at Kwon Taekju were now looking at his wrist. Even if at
first he tried to ignore it, he felt such a merciless force that he couldn't help
but squirm. At the same time, he was convinced that he was helpless.
Kwon Taekju looked at the newly gathered crowd of spectators and
muttered sarcastically.
"Oh my gosh, I hate to draw attention to myself, do you understand, Mr. Lee
Cheoljin? All of us in this business are like that."
As soon as he was called by his real name, the man's face, blotched with
irritation, turned noticeably pale. At that moment, he was able to identify
Kwon Taekju.
Passengers continued to flock and suddenly surrounded the two before
they knew it. The best thing about the shows was the fights, so I had a
strange anticipation for the faces that followed the commotion. There was
nothing better than taking more time because the rat in the corner had
already fallen for the trap and taken the bait. If he exerted more pressure,
he didn't know what kind of unexpected reaction Lee Cheoljin would have.
If civilian damage occurred, it was unlikely they would be caught, it would be
covered by a page or two of written apology.
Kwon pulled him tightly. At that moment, a laugh burst out from Lee
Cheoljin.
"...long time no see, agent."
Apparently, he could no longer continue to impersonate his identity.
When it is revealed, operatives have only two options. Suicide by ingesting
poisonous drugs prepared in advance, or escaping even using force. He
could not throw away the things he had secured that way, so this time, he
had to choose the second option.
Lee Cheoljin reached into his coat, and in the blink of an eye, he reached
up and grabbed Kwon by the hollow of his neck, leaving the back of his
neck against the vending machine, but he also stumbled, unable to
overcome the impact. At that moment, he struck his arm and grabbed the
gun.
Due to the sudden appearance of the firearm, the crowd of onlookers
retreated with a shout. Kwon kicked his hip with all his might, Lee Cheoljin's
body fell face down on the ground by himself, resting one hand on his head,
not being able to hold it upright due to the shock.
Meanwhile, Kwon opened the lid of the vending machine and took out the
USB that the previous woman had left behind. According to intelligence, this
one would have contained advanced information equivalent to state secrets.
"Wait a minute, please!"
At that moment, a crew member approached them as they struggled. He
seemed to have received a situation report. Kwon inadvertently looked at
him, and suddenly, he heard a somber voice.
"From my knowledge, there is no law preventing you from passing."
At that, he turned his head away from an ominous omen. Immediately, his
gaze met Lee Cheoljin, his eyes gleaming strangely.
This startled him, and immediately, he found a crew member asking what
was going on.
"-Agh!"
It happened in an instant. Lee Cheoliin wrapped his arm around the crew
member's neck and pulled him in. Holding a gun in the opposite hand.
"Ahhhh!"
"-Ahhhh!"
The passengers scattered like sparkling blades. Kwon Taekju was the only
one who stood still.
Kwon Taekju bit his lower lip, an old habit. When things were going well, he
used to feel uncomfortable. It was because he was said to be like a dog,
there were many cases where the aftertaste was not good enough. At that
point, there was no more way out.
Lee Cheoliin moved the gun with his hand wrapped around the hostage's
neck.
From the crewman, a loud scream erupted. Kwon scratched his head as if
he was in trouble.
"'Bring him in."
He reached out and demanded, the gun sticking closer and closer to the
hostage's neck.
Kwon just watched and didn't react at all, causing Lee Cheoljin to wave his
outstretched hand with an impatient look. He even wanted to scream:
"'Hurry up!" He was fed up with the hostage's movements and face. His
gasping breaths in between sobs made him agitated.
Kwon looked at the USB in his hand and threw it without regret, dropping it
to the ground after hitting the hostage's body. Lee Cheoljin, who reflexively
tried to bow, quickly changed his mind. Instead, he had the hostage pick up
the fallen object.
The hostage grabbed the USB with his trembling hand and wet pants, this
from the crisis of desperation he was suffering. Unable to stand up properly,
Lee Cheoljin forcibly lifted him, grabbed the object, and began to slowly
back away.
Then, Kwon slowly moved his body. Every time his target took a step, the
hostage's safety seemed inconclusive.
Let's take a step and get closer. At the sight of him, his voice cracked with
embarrassment.
"Don't follow me!"
But the threat didn't work at all. Every time he took a step, she followed him
without fail. Although there was some distance between the two, the
nervousness of the pursued side was indescribable.
"Stop now!"
"Come out-save me!"
The hostage rubbed his hands together and pleaded. The urine that was
wetting his pants now dripped to the floor. As if time had stopped for a
moment, the movement and noise stopped.
Lee Cheoljin took a step back as if to confirm, but Kwon Taekju was still
following him. His actions were driving him crazy. The hostage's blood
seemed invisible in his ears.
"You little bastard, can't you hear me, I told you to stop!"
It was useless, even if he had a bad temper. It was hard to find room for
compromise in Kwon's face. Even if the hostage's life was in danger, he
would not retreat. What was clear was that the moment the hostage ran out
of breath, Lee Cheoljin himself would not be safe. It was all implied in his
look of calm and pressure.
"Hey..."
He quickly abandoned the confrontation and pushed the hostage away,
climbing the stairs at the back. Kwon set the fallen hostage aside and
chased after him.
When he went up to the second floor, a crowd of people swarmed from the
terrace entrance, so he turned around and headed straight for him. Lee
Cheoljin, who was running away quickly, appeared in his sight. Kwon
Taekju did not run, his strides were a little wider and somewhat accelerated.
But there was no reason to be impatient anyway, the ship was in a vast
ocean, and his target was like a rat trapped in a jar.
As he followed the fleeing man in a hurry, his hair fluttering in the strong sea
breeze, coupled with his appearance, created a strange sense of
intimidation.
[-Hey, I just received a report from the Ferry Lieutenant for the coast guard,
stating that there is an armed man on board. What's going on there?)
Suddenly, the voice came from the intercom in his ear.
"I'll talk about that later. I'm going to be a little busy."
Kwon Taekju faced him, who had finally reached the railing. Soon, a sound
was heard on the communicator, but it was turned off without hesitation. As
a result, only the two men remained on the hectic deck.
Lee Cheoljin looked out into the dark sea vaguely, his hand holding the
railing was clenched. Meanwhile, Kwon Taekju steadily reduced the
distance. Being pushed to the limit, he brandished his weapon in the air. It
was a desperate gesture, of someone trying with all his might to flee.
However, this meant nothing. The moment you show your fear to your
opponent, any threat loses its power.
"Don't do it!"
1.2 Foreword

He approached Lee Cheoljin, who was struggling. Both people, who were
alternately looking at the black, winding sea, broke the silence of the
air with a gun.
"I said no!" He shouted.
Kwon pulled out his Colt pistol with a serious expression. At that moment,
the man in front of him lay on his back on a piece of scrap metal.
Lee Cheoljin, who was fidgeting, suddenly stopped looking at him. His eyes
groped somewhere behind Kwon Laekju.
The next moment, with an explosive sound, flames burst from the muzzle of
Kwon's gun. The fired bullet pierced the target with precision.
However, it was not Lee Cheoljin who was knocked down screaming. It was
Kim
Younghee, who approached him silently.
His ivory coat dyed blood red, Younghee sat up, holding his injured right
hand. His Colt fell and struck a bullet in the air. However, it was unknown
whether it was Kwon Taekju or Lee Cheoljin, who was discovered, the real
target the gun was aimed at.
Kwon straightened his head again. At that moment, Lee Cheoljin threw a
knife and stood on his back, taking a deep breath as he held on to the
railing. Naturally, his shoulders lifted and his back swelled up.
As soon as a bad feeling crossed his mind, Lee Cheoljin's body, which was
barely attached to the railing, fell out of the ship.
Kwon ran toward the railing in strides. But even before he got there, the
sound of his fall rang in his ears. Looking down, one side of the
black sea water opened up.
He searched for Lee Cheoljin while moving his eyes all over the place, but
he was nowhere to be seen, so he waited a little longer. Then, a head rose
from the waves.
Jumping from that height was like an act of suicide.
However, as if mocking that thought, a ship, which rather, on closer
inspection, was an old wooden fishing boat, suddenly appeared,
approaching with all the lights off.
More than just a boat, this has all the appearance of having evaded the
research agency's surveillance network.
The wooden boat buried in the darkness gradually approached Lee
Cheoljin, who seemed to have hit the back of his head.
Perhaps that was the real escape route. To focus his attention on his ticket
back to another location and evaporate into the ocean as soon as they
delivered what he needed.
Kwon fired immediately, however, it was not easy to shoot at a ship that
could hardly be seen. Although strictly a target, the problem is
problems becomes more complicated if it is sent to a target. If it had been
approved to kill in the first place, it would not have gotten this far.
The purpose of this operation was to be the source of South Korean
operatives who were established in South Korea for a long time,
They seized important social assets and stole state secrets. There would be
more than one or two people who agreed with them and took care of them.
It was obvious, the stem could not be cut before the roots could be dug up.
Meanwhile, the ferry continued to move, widening the distance from the
fishing boat. A man at the wheelhouse of the fishing boat appeared to pull
Lee Cheoljin onto the boat, who was first taking off his wet coat.
Of course. Several buoyancy devices were all over his body.
On the moving boat, Lee Cheoljin raised his arm as if he was booing. His
face guaranteed certain victory.
He laughed out loud, then wiped the smile off his face. Kwon, who quickly
turned around, approached Kim Younghee, who was lying on the
floor.
Kim Younghee trembled from the throbbing pain in his hand. But still, he
pulled out something with all his might. It was a deadly poison. Kwon Taekju
hit his neck with his hand as the guy tried to commit suicide. From the blow.
Younghee lost consciousness, but he would wake up later. Then, he took
his left hand and twisted it, placing it behind his back.
When he looked down unintentionally, he could see a ring on her ring
finger. It had a few scratches on it, which appeared to be recent.
"Are you wearing a nice ring? What a coincidence, it will even match this
bracelet."
Sarcastically, I pull out the handcuffs. which clenched with a metallic noise.
The other side was attached to the railing.
When all was done, he turned the intercom back on.
"You.... blow it up in 8 seconds."
As if the other person had misheard him. he only hesitated to feel a faint
"Yes?" from the device, but Kwon ignored it. Awareness had already
transferred to his watch. When he pressed the reset button on the side, the
license plate indicating the time disappeared and some coordinates
appeared. When he tangled with Lee Cheoljin for a while, he placed a
tracker on his waist. A red dot indicating the location of the target was
gradually marking the course.
He couldn't wait any longer. After taking a deep breath, he ran to the back
of the ferry.
After reaching the end of the deck, he climbed over the railing without
hesitation and jumped. The moment he jumped, his field of vision turned
black in a short time. The wind from all sides seemed to penetrate his whole
body.
The fall was longer than expected.
The surface of the water rose sharply with a huge bang.
A violent shock was also inflicted on the whole body as it hit the black
seawater. Muscles all over the body seemed to tear.
Air bubbles burst as the sea water entered every orifice of his body at once.
He relieved his shock by floating in the sea for a while and slowly moved his
arms and legs to support his body being swept by the current. Opening his
eyes, he looked around, but in the water where not a single light could
penetrate, there was only a sky.
He climbed to the surface with all his strength. It was difficult to hold the
place because of the high waves, which crashed one after another.
As soon as he lifted his wrist, he managed to press the reset button of the
relay once again.
button one more time. Then. the direction of the courtesy disappeared.
The entire faceplate glowed dazzlingly. The light shot into the air.
Could it have been 2 or 3 seconds like this? A familiar mechanical sound
was heard from not far away. It was the sound of a motorboat engine. The
noise, which grew louder and louder, soon diminished. Soon after, a loud
shattering wave hit the propeller. A series of complaints came from the top
of his head, one after the other.
top of his head, one after another.
"Really...this way, I'll become a ghost."
Yoon Jongwoo, who should have escaped, held out his hand. Holding that
hand, Kwon jumped into the boat. His whole body was soaked and
unpleasant. Despite the intense cold, he loosened the watch and threw it to
Jongwoo, who began to drive the boat after chasing the red dot on the
watch's direction board without asking.
Meanwhile, Kwon took off his wet coat and was out of breath.
The boat was racing through the black sea, the whole vehicle bouncing
violently through the winding waves. The red dot, which was almost off the
bearing mark, was gradually approaching.
Pip, pip, pip, pip, pip, pip, pipipipipipipi.
As the wooden boat came into the line of sight, the peculiar mechanical
sound became even more intense. They must have noticed the presence of
the chase even on the side of the quietly running boat.
Soon, a man stepped out of the wheelhouse and pulled out his rifle.
Jongwoo gritted his teeth hard and turned the steering wheel. Every time
the boat turned sharply, there was a strong current. Most of the bullets that
flew missed, but one of them got caught in a corner. Not fitting in either the
engine or the fuel tank, firearms were avoided in the dead of night.
There were still no lights around the cleavage. In that state, it was
impossible to restrain the opponent moderately without killing him. Even if I
was a little closer, the bullets increased without any doubt. It is a ridiculous
order to have to capture opponents alive with a gun.
After being assaulted for a while, a series of situations were repeated in
which they moved to dodge, came closer again and fired, stopped to defend
themselves from fire. Yoon Jongwoo tapped the steering wheel in irritation.
Even with the target in front of his nose, he couldn't touch them even with
his fingertips.
"Get out."
Kwon pulled Jongwoo back, took the driver's seat, and ran toward the
fishing boat. Jongwoo was shaken by the caricatures of the boat.
"Come on, Sunbae, face him! Come on!"
He barely straightened his body and screamed in fear. However, Kwon only
increased his speed.
The shot from the wooden boat was even stronger. Kwon overturned the
boat on the deck of the wooden boat, only then did the opponent's attack
slow down. He went far ahead of the fishing boat, then turned the steering
wheel unexpectedly and made a big swerve. The excruciating engine
screeched. It turned so fast that almost the whole boat flipped. Jongwoo,
who was very tired, was in a situation where the boat was spinning and just
wanted to throw himself backward.
The boat accelerated to its top speed as it went the way it came. When the
boat, which had disappeared into the darkness, reappeared, there was a
slight embarrassment in the launch. The nervousness was revealed by the
relentless hail of bullets.
I could not even dream of firing on deck because their pace was so
unstoppable. Jongwoo was in a hurry to protect his head with both arms.
"I'm going to die! Ugh, I'm going to die! Are you listening, you crazy
bastard!"
Terrified, Jongwoo cursed his boss, Kwon. But the latter remained
unconcerned about it. In that condition, he would have crashed head-on into
the wooden boat if he still had the steering wheel.
Jongwoo's eyes closed tightly for a moment, and then suddenly he
remembered his parents in the field. His eyes moistened without warning.
Two months ago, he couldn't even afford the price of the kimchi his mother
was giving him, and the message his mother sent him, which he checked
just before setting the operation in motion, moved him.
Oh, Mother.
In the end, the omen was the same for the wooden boat. They wandered
around,
watching the boat hurry to, it seemed, die together, then jumped into the
water at almost the same time. Now, the collision with the wooden boat was
less than 5 meters away. The gears were colliding and moving forward.
They are going to collide.
Resignation and despair at that moment made him feel like a coward.
It was at that moment that Kwon turned the steering wheel hard again.
When he suddenly applied the brakes, the boat that couldn't keep up with
the speed suddenly jerked. The hull, which slid across the surface of the
water, traced a long arc. Even so, the collapse would eventually be
inevitable.
In theory, it was.
Kwon Taekju continued to hold on to the steering wheel, though he
deserved to give up and rest. Soon, there was a thud, and the right side of
the boat and the tail touched with a bang. The impact shook both hulls.
There was a distinct spark of friction in the area.
And in an instant, the boat seemed to float in the air.
"Oh..?"
Soon, the engine was shut down. The heavy swell carried the idling
motorboat to the wooden boat. The two hulls, which were close to each
other, were intermittently banging with a thud. Kwon got up from his seat
and crossed the wooden boat. Only then Jongwoo, who came to his
senses, got up from the floor and picked up the Colt.
It's not all over yet.
On board the fishing boat, Kwon illuminated the area with a flashlight. There
he saw two people swimming hard in the depths of the sea, where there
was no place to escape.
As he watched the movement desperate. he grabbed a fishing net that had
been laid to one side.
The net stretched out and flew through the air. Two men, fleeing in a hurry,
became entangled in the object that suddenly flew in.
The more they struggled to escape, the more difficult it became to gain
control.
Kwon watched the desperate struggle for a while and then spun the pulley
connected to the fishing net. A sound of rusty iron came from the
manual winding machine that was adjusted to the level of the wooden boat.
It was no harder than it looked.
Suddenly I looked back. Jongwoo, who had been watching from afar for the
sake of cover, slipped in. He was ashamed of his own situation, so he spun
the pulley with more passion than Kwon. Soon, along with the fishing net,
Lee Cheoljin and his accomplice were hoisted onto the structure.
"Ha, what should we do now?"
Jongwoo asked as he wiped his sweat. There was no response from his
partner. Curiously, he had already moved to the boat. He was busy looking
for something.
"What are you doing?"
"What did I ask you to prepare?"
"Oh yeah, it's under the driver's seat."
He looked directly under the driver's seat, and as Jongwoo said, a suitcase
was seen. Kwon, who unzipped it and checked the contents, instructed
Jonewoo.
"Contact headquarters and tell them that we have Lee Cheoljin, his
accomplices and the USB secured. The contact person, Kim Younghee, is
handcuffed to the attached ferry, so the maritime police must have found
her by now. Call them and tell them to take charge."
"Yes? Sunbae, somehow it seems like you're asking me to do it all by
myself."
"Why not?"
"You?"
"This crazy guy is busy. I have an event. So, work hard."
Jongwoo thought that his boss seemed to have lost his mind at the
crossroads of life and death, reflecting on what he had said. Yoon
Jongwoo could only reply with a, "Yes?" while denying reality.
As if to turn his premonition into certainty, the boat started.
Even still, Jongwoo stayed in the wooden boat with the men trapped in the
net.
The boat had a sturdy engine and was running at full power.
It happened so fast that he couldn't even dare to go ahead and follow it.
Jongwoo's shoes, which he had been watching vaguely, got wet. It was
because of the seawater that seeped into the surface. Even if it hadn't sunk
at that moment, it was a wooden boat with a hole in it.
How is he able to abandon his subordinate in such a place, without feeling a
shred of guilt or hesitation?
Behind his back, Jongwoo shouted that he was going to die. However,
Kwon dismissed it, believing he heard the sound of the wind or waves
incorrectly.
Today, the sound of the wind is ridiculous. It felt like a real scream.
By nature, the more precious the child is, the stricter it must be raised.
Then, it would have been an illusion.
The boat stopped at the corner of the dock. He was not restricted even by
an unauthorized grounding, because he had registered in advance for
public purposes. No separate report was necessary.
He took the suitcase and entered a nearby warehouse. When he left the
place after a while, he had changed into a smart, neat suit.
Passing the dark terminal as he walked toward the main road, he saw the
cab he had hailed in advance. He got into it and headed for Busan.

Busan Station
When he arrived, an announcement was being broadcast, informing him of
KTX*'s departure to Seoul. He went down to the platform after chasing a
small crowd. The train arrived early and was waiting. He entered through
the nearest door, checked the seat number, and sat down. It was late at
night, so the inside of the room was silent.
(n/t: KTX: (Korean Train Express) is a high-speed train in South Korea.
Brrr... Brrrr..
As soon as he sat down, his cell phone started ringing from inside his
jacket.
This was used for private purposes other than work, and as expected, the
sender was his mother. He answered the phone and spoke as usual.
"Yes, Mother, I just came up. The event was later than expected, and
because of that, I had to take the last train. Even if there is no delay, I don't
think I'll be there until early in the morning, so sleep and rest."
As he recited the obvious repertoire of the situation, the mother's onslaught
of questions began. "What time will he leave, when exactly will he arrive,
how will you get home from the station?" etc. Kwon is a son she sees once
or twice a year, so the days she spends at home are increasingly unusual.
After promising to go straight home without going anywhere, he was finally
able to finish the call.
Finally, she was able to finish the phone call.
When he hung up the phone, he felt overwhelmed by the fatigue he thought
he had forgotten, letting out a sigh. Around that time, the train closed and
left for Seoul. As he tossed his wet hair back, he could feel the vibration of
the train.
In the quiet room, an announcement came out to inform the stopover.....
After "Seoul", there was no movement in the space where even the
conductor's voice was quiet.
The lighting also seemed to dim.
Quickly, the heater made him tired. The water-soaked eyelids were also
dull. The eyelashes seemed unusually heavy due to the remaining salinity.
He had almost three hours to reach his destination.
Would it be possible to get some sleep? He was about to close his eyes as
he engaged with himself.
Brrrr... Brrrr...
Suddenly, he detected another vibration in his pocket. The cell phone he
used to talk to his mother was still in his hand. Therefore, the person calling
at that moment would have been for business. He tried to ignore it and
sleep, however, the person behind the screen did not seem to tire. The
phone was still vibrating.
It was obvious it was going to ring until he answered it. The subtle and
distressing noise was ringing in the ears of other passengers.
Kwon sighed and finally, he sat up and pressed the button to answer the
call.
call.
[- Where are you?]
It was Director Lim calling. How come there is no way to run away from him
at all? If Yoon Jongwoo didn't end up buried at sea, he would have directly
reported the results of the operation, so why was he calling back? Lim's
calls had never been unwelcome.
"What do I have to do?"
[-I'd like to see your face for a second).
"As I expected, this call is about something, isn't it, what's going on?"
All I had to guess was the agent's operation that had just ended. It should
have been handled quietly, but there were too many witnesses. Innocent
citizens were also taken hostage so it was no wonder someone in high
command was upset when they received the information. In addition, a
report was filed with the maritime police. It would be difficult to repair it later.
Reporters may have already sniffed it out, he wondered if the organization
was secret, and how extensive would be the scolding Director Lim would
give him.
Although he knew it would be futile, he tried to make excuses.
"We did the best we could do for this operation. You know that."
[-Yes, so come and let's talk).
Of course. If it doesn't come out perfect, you're not right for the job. That's
how Director Lim is.
"Before he was mobilized for the mission, I had told him over and over
again."
Tomorrow was his mother's birthday, and who couldn't sleep because of
how worried she always got about her only son. So she said he should
come home no matter what. What did Director Lim say then?
Didn't he promise to return him to his mother's arms even if the Second
Korean War broke out?
What will Director Lim say at this time?
Kwon Taekju asked him if he had forgotten and reminded him of the
conversation at that time.
"Please forgive me, sir. Tomorrow is my mother's birthday, remember?"
[-I won't keep you for long.)
There was no way it could work. Director Lim was brash and persistent.
Kwon Taekju, along with his wet hair, was irritated.
Then, as he watched the scenery outside the window of the KTX speeding
by, he made a final plea.
"I'm already gone how do you expect me to get there?"
1.3 Foreword

It was about that time. when the KTX, which was running well, came to a
sudden stop. Passengers listening to music or concentrating on cell phone
games looked around in amazement.
For a while, the KTX was stopped in the tunnel.
There were no announcements, much less crew members passing by. It
was unusual for KTX to cause minor malfunctions. No passengers were
very concerned about it. Even those curious ones turning their heads down
the aisle quickly became disinterested and went to sleep.
Yeah, it wouldn't be a big deal. I wanted to believe that. However, the
sinister premonition always fits perfectly.
Director Lim ordered smiling. At the moment I was trying to figure out why
he was doing that. An announcement came from the loudspeaker, saying
that the train stopped for a moment due to track problems. He then asked
for passengers' understanding, stating that they would get going as soon as
the problem was resolved.
That "as soon as the problem was solved".
It meant that if Kwon Taekju did not answer the call and do as he was told,
the train would not move.
[Won't you get off?]
There was a soft complaint. The agitated voice seemed to be enjoying the
current situation. When he got out, I didn't want to follow him anymore. He
was unaware of the circumstances of the other passengers.
However, as long as the train did not move, Kwon himself had no way to
return home either. He turned his head nervously. After hanging up, the
phone did not ring again. And of course, the KTX had no sign of leaving
either.
He sat there for a while, then got up with a long sigh. As he walked down
the hallway and out, he shook his head as the door opened as if waiting for
him, then walked down the stairs. The gravel of the tracks stepped on the
sole of his shoe.
As he walked to the back of the train, he made a phone call to somewhere.
When he reached the outskirts of the tunnel, the KTX, which was stopped,
started moving again. About that time, he heard an answer from the other
end of the cell phone.
It was his mother.
The voice was calmer than before. Worries seemed to be ahead as her son,
whom she was desperate to see, broke his promise as an excuse for an
urgent job.
"Mother, it's me. I think I'll be a little late because there's a problem with the
train. No, I'll go this time. It's a little late," he told her as he resumed.
"So don't light the candles on the cake and wait for me."
It was the National Intelligence Service that arrived in a prepared helicopter.
An employee waiting at the helipad guided Kwon to the first attached office.
He bowed his head as he followed him silently. The one he saw for a
moment was Director Lim, but he did not understand why the place he went
to was the first chairman's office, rather than the director's office.
Each of the three deputy heads of NIS is in charge of independent functions
and matters. No director is involved in matters outside his or her authority. It
was an unwritten rule that even subordinate departments, which were
divided into dozens, moved along with their direct deputy.
Therefore, Kwon and Lim, who are involved in espionage and intelligence
activities under the third chief, had no reason to meet in the office of the first
deputy chief.
What mistake has happened? Meanwhile, a polite employee knocked on
the door of the director's office.
He was soon given permission from inside, however, that was not Lim's
voice. The employee opened the door with his hand and let him in.
Kwon forgot to say hello and looked at the man on the other side. Is there
any other setting as natural as the one occupied by the first director, than
the first boss?
Still, the current situation he was facing was ironic. Director Lim, who
brought Kwon, was sitting next to him. He looked at him as if asking for an
explanation. Director Lim just smiled strangely.
The atmosphere was unusual. He rolled his eyes and looked at the two of
them silently. As if trying to ease his state of alertness, the first director took
the opportunity to speak with a kind face.
"It looks like you just finished your mission in Busan."
"Yes. I did my best."
As soon as the director's words ended, he protested. Although it was true
that there were some disturbances at the mission, it was a definite abuse of
authority on the part of the first director general to reprimand him. Looking
at Kwon Taekju, who was very defensive, both men smiled strangely.
It was not a very pleasant feeling.
"That wasn't why I called you from so far away. So you don't need to be so
defensive. Although there were more disturbances than necessary during
the execution of the operation, it's a weak point compared to leaking state
secrets. Isn't that right, Director Lim?"
The executive's sarcastic tone was becoming palpable.
Kwon did not clear his doubts and kept an eye on Lim, who simply shook
his head with a smiling face. Everything that was happening was mysterious
to Kwon. If it wasn't for that job in Busan, why did he call him at this late
hour? He had been thinking about it the whole time, but he couldn't come to
any conclusion.
Lim didn't bother him anymore. Instead, he placed the tablet he was holding
on the table.
"What is it?"
"Let's see it."
He shrugged and gently picked up the tablet, turning the first page with a
bored face. The rhythm of his fingers gradually gained speed from the bored
looks that ran along the lines. Kwon scrolled down. He read the text silently,
but breathlessly, and quickly checked the next page. Director Lim, who was
watching the scene, was silent.
"It's recently obtained high-level intelligence, which there have been rumors
about for a long time, but this is the first time we have evidence to
determine the truth. As you can see now, the main content is that North
Korea and Russia teamed up to develop a new weapon three years ago.
The weapon boasts firepower that has never been introduced to any other
country in the world. It is said that, if completed, the game of hegemony
around the world will change. This weapon is known as 'Anastasia'.
At this time, we do not know exactly the meaning of the weapon's name, the
secret agreement between North Korea and Russia to manufacture
weapons, the blueprint of the weapons, or the designer. Nor can we be sure
whether the weapon is complete or not."
Only at last did he learn what the combination of the first director and
Director Lim meant. If North Korea and Russia worked together to create
unprecedented weapons of death, who would be the first to be in trouble? It
was obvious that it would be the Republic of South Korea and the United
States.
"We need to know what the weapon is. Lack of information leads to an
imbalance of power.
We need to know if 'Anastasia' has not yet been completed, and if possible,
prevent it from appearing."
"What can we do for the peace of the world and humanity? If it is a lesser
evil to prevent
the great evil, stealing wouldn't be so bad."
So, they wanted the identity of the weapon that North Korea and Russia are
collaborating on together to be discovered. This means getting blueprints,
related secrets, and destroying them so they can never see the light of day.
Who would do it, himself, Kwon Taekju?
Since he started working as an agent at NIS, overseas jobs and trips have
been common.
Rather, he has spent more days outside Korea than in Korea in recent
years. Therefore, the request for business travel was not new. However, he
assumed that the mission area was Russia. During the operation, of course,
it was a land where he had no background, not only operational but also
personal.
Of course, the conditions did not matter much.
Kwon Taekju had been trained in Chinese, Persian, and Russian
immediately after joining the organization.
Even if he fell in Moscow at that time, he would have no difficulty speaking
the language.
But that was it. The most important thing for Kwon is that he had no local
experience. What else is important to the agent as much as actual practice?
The assignment was never called by Kwon in advance, so this situation was
like jumping into the middle of the battlefield without a weapon. So it was
incomprehensible why he was assigned in the first place.
With a dissatisfied expression, she looked at Lim. He nodded his head as if
he understood everything.
"Strictly speaking, you are not the right person for this operation."
"Then you have to find the right person."
"Of course I found him. I sent him."
"Is that so?"
He just scratched his eyebrows without saying anything. The first director
also smiled. He couldn't tell what the answer was that they swallowed and
didn't say.
"I guess it came out wrong."
Director Lim nodded again and placed three pictures on the table. In the first
picture, someone's hand was grasped with the tips of his ten fingers, cut off
bluntly. The bloodless skin had been swollen thanks to the water.
Another image showed the forehead of the body covered with a white cloth.
An unidentified pattern was engraved in the center. Soon, it was revealed
that it was a tattoo. Considering the condition of the body's skin, it did not
appear to have been long since it was done.
The last one was a nice photo ID. It was a series of circumstances,
presumably, the original shape of the mutilated body. I knew the person in
the
photo.
"Dominic Morgan. He was an elite agent sent to Russia by the U.S.
intelligence agency.
He was found as a corpse on the bank of the Nara River four days ago. At
that time, he was in charge of finding out the identity of "Anastasia". He was
a good friend of important people in Russian intelligence gathering, but it
was unfortunate. Russia treated him as unidentified. It would be a natural
step to have a false identity from the moment he entered Russia. However,
it was doubtful that they would see him as just an unidentified body."
"Russian surveillance has become strict after that, so are you saying they
are going to get rid of it?"
"You understand the nuances of words very well. Still, let's not say it's
bullshit. Since North Korea is involved, you can say that Korea is also a
party. You can't just look back. Yes, you met the late Agent Morgan
because of the last joint training between South Korea and the United
States, didn't you?"
"To be precise, I only knew him... It was a month at the most. We were
assigned to the same room."
He drew a line. Director Lim laughed. He successfully attacked Kwon, who
didn't want to show any emptiness.
"That's why I chose you. Because feelings that cloud reasoning are
harmful."
No other hoe. As soon as he tried to protest in a fit of anger, a sudden
vibration rang. It was the first chief's cell phone. He asked for a moment to
answer, walked past Kwon and stepped out. The door that had opened
closed closed again. Director Lim ordered as if waiting.
"You will search for "Anastasia" on behalf of Agent Morgan."
The levity so far was, without warning, very serious.
She looked at him without answering. Is this really for the best?
There might be a better person for that operation than Kwon himself. He
was sure there was some agent who could. Just one person... No, though
he clenched his head as tightly as he could, he could think of no one.
Lim seemed pretty calm as if he had nothing to worry about.
Yeah, it's no big deal. It's something dangerous enough for an elite agent to
be found dead overnight, but it's no big deal.
He wanted to be sarcastic but preferred to keep his mouth shut.
Immediately after joining the organization, he began working with Lim. He
was now casual enough to exchange pleasantries, but one way or another,
he was still his boss. If he does the job, Kwon must follow. It was not a
matter of protest.
As a sign of resignation, Director Lim smiled satisfactorily.
"I promise my full support. The team members will do whatever you want."
"It's convenient to be alone in many ways."
"It won't be easy this time it will be quite difficult."
"Knowing that, you don't have to kill anymore
people."
He replied deeply. Director Lim said, "I knew you would say that" as he
smiled. One after another, thick paper envelopes and gifts were handed out.
He took it as a snatch. Inside the unsealed envelope were several forged
documents and passports. When he opened his passport, he saw a strange
face.
"Hiro Sakamoto?"
"It is said that a contract for the construction of an LNG facility was signed
between a Japanese energy company and Gazprom, a Russian state-
owned gas company. The expected revenue gains alone are estimated to
amount to tens of trillions of won. As a result, it appears that Russia has
invited officials from major international banks and business conglomerates
to celebrate the conclusion of the contract between the two countries,
explore the project site and take over cooperative loans with the energy
company. The event will be attended by important officials such as the
prime ministers of both countries and major business leaders. I heard that
an international trading company called Tochu, played an important role in
the conclusion of that contract."
"Hiro Sakamoto" is the staff in charge of the European region. He is also
proudly on the list of scheduled visits to Russia."
Disguise yourself as Hiro Sakamoto and infiltrate Russia. It was not a bad
plan. If it was true that North Korea and Russia developed weapons, very
few would be involved in the work or knew the related secrets. Even for
those in the best positions in Russia, it is not that easy to get close to them.
For Hiro Sakamoto, however, the story was different. Even if you don't fight,
you will meet them.
Of course, it was a case where the identity could not be revealed in any
way. In addition to Hiro Sakamoto, many other officials were invited. If any
of them noticed that Hiro Sakamoto was different from usual, all plans would
be a disaster. Agent Morgan's end crossed his mind, even though he had
only imagined it for a few moments.
Director Lim reassured Kwon Taekju, who was quite nervous.
"Relax. Unless another Hiro Sakamoto shows up, there will be no way for
them to find out who you are. That man is scheduled to leave the country a
day before the visiting team. Of course, an agent from the Tokyo side will
help prevent him from leaving the country."
Our camouflage skills are good enough to fool his mother. There was no
need to worry about the fact that the Japanese were relatively short. Hiro
Sakamoto was 180cm tall. Although Kwon was about 2 or 3 cm taller than
that, the general public would not be able to tell the difference at a glance.
If in doubt, it was enough to cover it up with stencils.
If he were a regular, he wouldn't have thought about it for long. He had no
right to refuse orders from his superiors unless it was something very
serious. However, there was no word he wanted to know. He continued to
feel reluctant for some reason.
Why did Agent Morgan, who was in charge of the first mission, die? He
would be lying if he said he didn't feel affected at all, but it wasn't just
because of that.
His gut felt a vague anxiety about something that hadn't happened yet.
"This is about remaking the game of world supremacy. If this goes well,
your position will change a lot."
Director Lim secretly encouraged the decision, and Kwon Taekju faced him
without saying a word. The look in his eyes was hard. Director Lim faced
him with a strange smile. For a while, nothing came and went between the
two of them.
It wasn't long before he crumpled the prepared envelope in his jacket. He
even said something as if to make it clear.
"Position, power, and all those things, they don't matter to me. They don't
do me any good, so I don't need them."
" But why do you accept, if you're not interested in this operation?"
"It's a direct order from the director, do I, the subordinate, have the right to
refuse?"
"Is there any other reason besides that?"
"If I refuse this mission, it will collapse my career record, with a mission
completion rate of
100%."
"Sure, sure..."
"Can I go now?"
"Oh wait, before that, there's something else to consider."
Kwon Taekju, annoyed, asked what that thing was.
Director Lim's face was rigid. His gaze, fixed on him, seemed rather wary.
The words that soon came out of his mouth were spoken more calmly.
"Psych Bogdanov."
"Psych Bogdanov? The person's name is... Is that really it?"
He frowned and tilted his eyebrows. "Bogdanov" would be a normal Russian
surname, but "Psych?", there was no way that was the name of a human
being.
What parent would call their child 'psychopath' or 'bull'?
Director Lim added that he wasn't wrong.
"Usually, instead of using his real name, that's what they call him."
In reality, the name was more often used by others than by the person in
question. Therefore, alternative names or nicknames served as a basis for
reputation. The fact that the Russian mentioned by Lim was called
Bogdanov "the psychopath" instead of his real name meant that he was a
great man, this for better or worse. I did not know what kind of person he
was, as that even in this distant foreign country he could be mentioned as
such.
"In Russia, he is a nuclear man."
"Core nuclear? Or how about a core?"
He asked without conviction. It was because of the ambiguity of the
language. Besides the definition of core and center, "nuclear" could have a
completely different meaning. He did not believe that people could be
compared to such weapons of destruction. When he saw Director Lim, the
latter laughed again.
"Yes, it also means that."
The meaning seemed more like a "nuclear" referring to nuclear weapons.
Kwon's face distorted unknowingly. What kind of man is called a
"Psychopath" and on top of that, he is even symbolized as a "nuclear
bomb".
His thoughts about "Psych Bogdanov" raised another question. What is the
reason he is mentioned in this operation, the purpose of which is to find
"Anastasia"?
"Does it have anything to do with Morgan's death?"
"I'm not sure. There is no physical evidence, only assumptions. If you want
to get close to the Russian giants, you will have to meet them face to face.
The name 'Nuclear' was not given for no reason. With such possible
danger, don't try to fight it, even if you encounter it."
A laugh erupted. The more he received the warning, the more curious he
became to know what it was like.
About that time, a knock was heard outside the door. Director Lim said a
"Yes," and the polite employee who guided Kwon to the place entered.
Each of his hands held a large bouquet of flowers and a trunk.
As he set them down for Kwon, he bowed silently and left.
"Here's everything you need. It saves time so you won't have to deal with
luggage, isn't that nice?
In particular, I know you bought underwear two months ago and haven't
shopped since then, So I bought some new ones for you with your tastes in
mind. You don't have to thank me."
"So you know my underwear better than I do?"
"Not so fast. Take these flowers home too.
You said it was your mother's birthday, didn't you?"
Really, this is a devil of a man.
He answered bluntly, swallowing the words that couldn't come out of his
mouth.
"Don't tell him anything about the gift from the principal. He'll only feel bad
on a good day if he finds out it's from the man who takes his son even on
his birthday."
"Thank you for thinking about it."
Director Lim laughed cheekily.
"Don't die."
Just as he was turning around to leave, he suddenly made such a request.
Kwon Taekju stopped in his tracks and nodded his head.
When he came out, the hallway was empty. He walked painfully toward the
door. The light from the sensors coming in everywhere touched Kwon and
then faded sequentially from the bottom. When the lights went out, darkness
fell, almost devouring him.
Suddenly he stopped and looked back. While not moving, Kwon Taekju's
appearance was buried in darkness and disappeared when the last ceiling
went out.
[End of Chapter 1: Prologue]
2.1 New Mission

Asking a child what they want to be when they grow up or their future hopes
is the most futile exercise. That's because they change their minds
countless times, crossing careers and occupations, such as being president
overnight, becoming a lawyer, a doctor, an astronaut, or a celebrity.
Kwon Taekju in his childhood was like that. Even when he entered the
classroom where he was going to take the college entrance exam, he never
thought he would become a NIS agent.
However, his brother was different. From the moment he started speaking
properly, his dream was the same; 'to be a soldier like my father'. His
mother, who had been relieved to see him take a book, lamented: who
knew it was a book on military theory?
The mother did not want her two sons to be soldiers or anything like that.
Her maternal grandfather, who gave priority to the fatherland over family
duties, and her husband, who was a military man she was introduced to at
an early age. Because of that, her mother said she could not remember
sleeping well for almost sixty years of her life. On days when the father went
out for surgery, the mother would hug the brother who at that time was like
a lump of blood, and stay up all night. She did not want to pass on those
hardships to her children.
But, as the saying goes, no child is born the way his parents want him to be.
The older brother eventually ended up defying his mother's expectations
and enlisted in the navy of his own free will, where he was killed during an
operation. That was already 10 years ago. It was then that his mother
became almost obsessed with Kwon Taekju, who had become her only son.
As soon as she was paid compensation for her deceased brother, she clung
to Kwon Taekju and told him...
"You can't do it," over and over again. However, even Kwon Taekju could
not fulfill his wish.
National Intelligence Service (NIS), the identity of staff members is kept
secret, and the same was true for immediate family members, including
parents. Even if that reason did not exist, she honestly could not tell the
truth to her mother, a person who had lost her father, husband, and firstborn
son in this camp, and if that were not enough, making her aware that the
only member of her family left alive was more likely to wield a gun than a
pair of chopsticks on a daily basis made it even more difficult for her.
She thinks of Kwon Taekju as a low-level civil servant in a small provincial
town. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that at this
moment he was heading to Moscow disguised as a Japanese.
He closed his eyes and remembered the past, then suddenly pulled out his
cell phone. As expected, there was a message from his mother.
[Son, enjoy your lunch. Good luck today!]
It was a greeting that came around noon every day. If he didn't answer, she
would try to contact him again shortly after work, sometimes with a
call, so it seemed like he should answer as soon as he landed. It was
Monday, so she could say it was a busy day with plenty of complaints to
deal with and that would be enough. Now he had a story that reinforced his
mother's faith.
He put the phone away again and looked at the time. It had been nine hours
since he boarded the plane. Looking at the remaining distance on the
monitor, it looked like it would take about another hour or so to arrive. At this
point, he thought it would be a good idea to check his mask, so he got up
immediately.
At this point, the bathroom was empty. As he was about to open the door
and enter, he heard an unexpected loud bang. It came from the economy
cabin. He peeked through the open curtain to see what was going on and
could see a passenger and a stewardess arguing. It looked like someone
had had too many drinks and too much alcohol. He quickly lost interest and
went to the restroom, when I closed the door, the overhead lights came on.
I looked in the mirror and saw an unfamiliar face. The current Kwon Taekju
was identical to Hiro Sakamoto, no matter who looked at him. Even his ears
were an identical imitation of his, and the only thing that belonged to Kwon
Taekju were his black eyes.
He turned his head from side to side, rubbing his skin. The texture of the
synthetic skin on his hand felt just like his own skin. He washed his hands
and ruffled his hair, and after wiping off the water with a paper towel and
about to leave, suddenly, something hit the back of the door.
I don't know how hard it was hit, but the overhead lights flickered. Soon,
there was more commotion outside. He managed to hear the stewardess
ask if he was okay, along with the sound of frantic footsteps and the shouts
of a man who couldn't understand what she was talking about soon mixed
in with the noise.
He unlocked the door and yanked the door open, causing the man leaning
on the outside to fall
inside.
"What the... What the fuck!"
The confused man was half drunk. He was a typical Russian. He had a
bottle of vodka in his hand and appeared to have bought duty-free alcohol
and opened the bottle on board the plane. He wondered who the shameless
guy was who drank so much alcohol until he got drunk, but it was even
more than that.
He watched the man who staggered around for a while without saying a
word. The stewardesses looked back at him.
"Sir, stand up. Let me help you hold yourself up."
"What, how dare you, how dare you touch me? Let go of me, let go of me!"
"Kyaaa!"
The man pushed the stewardess who was trying to lift him up. The
stewardess, as well as the other crew members, looked embarrassed. It
seemed that no one could subdue this big Russian right away, and there
didn't even seem to be any righteous passengers to help the crew either. It
is annoying to go out alone.
While they were deliberating, a stewardess made an urgent intercom call to
the cockpit.
Normally, when such a disturbance occurs on board, the aircraft makes a
temporary landing at the nearest airport. In that case, all passengers,
including the drunk in question, must get off the aircraft. And not only that,
everything from baggage inspection to boarding procedures is carried out
again from scratch. It is not uncommon to have to wait for hours until the
plane is reconditioned or an alternative flight is arranged.
Interfering in other people's affairs was not something I wanted to do. He
didn't want to do anything that would make him the center of attention.
However, it was annoying to have the original plan interrupted by a person
who knew no shame and who would also put him through all that hassle.
So he grabbed the back of the drunkard who was still leaning on his leg.
"Why don't you stand up for a moment?"
".......Uh-ugh!"
The man was forced to stand up and dragged into the restroom, where
upon being pushed, he slammed his butt against the toilet seat and fell
forward. Passengers could be heard gasping as the man's arm poked out of
the door, and those seated in the front seats quickly stood up. Flight
attendants repeatedly asked them to sit down, but no one obeyed.
Suddenly, calls started coming in from all directions.
As the man stumbled to his feet, a venomous look crossed his face. The
man grinned from ear to ear with his face still flushed, wiping saliva from the
corner of his lips with the back of his hand.
"Oh my... we're going to do this, aren't we?"
He snapped his fingers at the wheezing man. The man who had been
causing a ruckus in the room suddenly hardened his expression and
pounced on him. He was like an excited bison.
Kwon Taekju quickly wrapped his arms around the neck of the man who
had tried to ram him and pinned him to the side. With a snap, the man's
arms grabbed and tightened around Kwon Taekju's legs and Kwon Taekju
lifted him up in one swift movement. He intended to smash him against the
ceiling.
The crew members who were watching closed their eyes tightly and
suddenly, the surroundings were silent. For some time, however, the
expected thump was never heard. The distant passengers squinted their
eyes. The expected sound came after a while.
It was not Kwon Taekju who fell, but the big man. The burly body that had
been blindsided at a vital point now hung limp, being held by the neck.
Only when he was completely subdued did Kwon Taekju loosen his grip,
kicked the unconscious man's shoulder, and threw him out of the bathroom.
Once again, screams erupted from the passengers as he shook off his
crumpled jacket and calmly walked out.
"What happened?"
At that moment, the co-pilot appeared and was informed of the situation. He
looked back and forth between the figure sprawled on the ground and Kwon
Taekju, then moved his gaze to the crew. Kwon Taekju returned to his seat
as if nothing had happened. Click. The sound of a seat belt buckling
announced the end of the commotion.
The flight crew, who had been busy dealing with the drunken passenger,
were now busy appeasing other passengers who were filing complaints and
protests. The situation of the arriving co-pilot was no different.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"You must be pretty upset, aren't you, I'll get you a glass of water."
"He's safe now. Don't worry, sir."
"Sorry, sorry."
Behind the closed curtains, those words were heard over and over again.
There was also a series of transmissions of apologies for the disturbance.
He ignored it and tried to close his eyes, but the co-pilot and an employee
approached. They seemed to be trying to express their gratitude for helping
and patted him on the back.
"Are you sure we're going to disembark on time?"
"Ah, unfortunately no, I have already been informed by the control center
and we must wait in the air until the airport grants permission to land. The
estimated time of arrival will also be delayed by about an hour."
And so it was. He frowned and nodded curtly and then put on headphones.
Despite the euphemistic refusal to continue talking, the two returned to their
respective seats after expressing their heartfelt thanks.
By then the passengers who had been complaining up to that point were
quiet as requested when the plane shook due to turbulence. Even if the
flight attendant didn't ask, everyone collectively buckled up, straightened
their backs, and held their breath. Some even mumbled prayers.
Thanks to that, he was able to spend about an hour in silence. His ears
were numb from the ringing, so he couldn't close his eyes. To kill time, a
soothing announcement was played during the flight.
[In a few moments, our plane will arrive at Domodedovo Airport in
Moscow. The current local time is after 16:11. The weather is cloudy
with lots of clouds and the temperature is -13 degrees Celsius. We
sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to our passengers
due to unexpected disruptions during flight operations. Thank you for
traveling with Japan Airlines today, and we look forward to serving
you again soon. We wish you an enjoyable journey to your final
destination. Thank you]
However, after the transmission, the plane continued to circle the sky for a
while longer. It was past 5 p.m. when they landed on terra firma.
He followed the crowd heading for the immigration checkpoint. He wasn't
too nervous, crossing the border disguised as someone else was so familiar
that he found it boring.
The process was quick and over in an instant. The clerk only identified
Kwon Taekju and didn't ask any questions, and everything went smoothly,
from getting to the arrivals hall to finding the luggage.
Outside the exit, people were camped out who had picked up guests,
relatives, and friends. Although he was here at Russia's invitation, he had
arrived a day before the main group, so he had planned to move to the hotel
by himself. He hadn't expected someone to be sent to pick him up.
But out of nowhere, a piece of paper with "Hiro Sakamoto" written on it
caught his attention. When he took off his sunglasses and looked at it
again, the name written once in kanji and again in English is in fact, correct.
Below that, the company name "Itochu Corporation" was also written.
When he stopped walking, the man holding the paper was very pleased.
"Mr. Sakamoto?"
"Yes, of course. Indeed," Kwon replied in a hesitant voice. A cheerful smile
spread across the man's face.
"Good morning! My name is Vasily Alexandrovich, and I work for the
Gazprom Public Relations Office. I heard that you were arriving in the
country today, earlier than the rest, so I came to greet you."
He offered him a hand to shake, however, Kwon Taekju bowed his head as
he looked at the outstretched hand in front of him.
"I haven't received any such communication about....."
"You have not heard from me? How could that be possible? I am very sure
we forwarded this information to your company this morning. We were also
told from your company that you would pass the news on to Mr. Sakamoto."
Vasily assured him with an expression full of certainty, Taekju replied
begging for understanding and excused himself for a few moments. He had
to hurry and check his work cell phone. Messages kept coming in, and he
guessed they must be from roaming, the embassy, or from the consulate,
however, among these mixed messages he could see those from Mr. Lim.
Confirming Vasily's statement that Gazprom would be coming to meet him
and pick him up.
"Ah... that's right."
"I guess there was some problem? After all, you worked hard and traveled a
long way to get here, so far away. By the way, didn't you arrive much later
than expected?"
"There was a bit of a commotion on board."
"There was a riot over some drunk?"
"How do you know that?"
"Well, that's a common thing with Russian men, always getting as hot as
vodka. I'm sure it must have come as quite a shock to you, by the way, is
that all your luggage, let me take you."
"That's all right, I'll take care of this."
"Oh, yeah, okay. This way, then."
Even when he was refused a favor, he didn't flinch. On the contrary, he
cheerfully took the lead as if something good was happening. Kwon slowly
followed him. He doesn't know where or how it went wrong, but on second
thought, it made sense. Whether he came with the main team or apart, the
fact that Hiro Sakamoto was a guest of honor didn't change, and thanks to
this, the only one who would end up full of trouble was Kwon Taekju. He
would have to pose as Hiro Sakamoto until they arrived at the hotel.
A black sedan was waiting from where Vasily was guiding him.
A man got out of the driver's seat and nodded, then took Kwon Taekju's
luggage and put it in the trunk. Vasily personally opened the back seat door
for him to get in, and he got in awkwardly due to the overwhelming and
extreme hospitality. When Vasily climbed into the passenger seat and
closed the door, the sedan drove out of the airport, as if it was waiting for
him.
His body ached from the long flight, so Kwon leaned back in the seat and
closed his eyes for a moment.
It was an unspoken signal, an invitation not to talk unnecessarily, but Vasily
turned away and sat up.
"Are you very tired?"
"From jet lag, a little."
When she reluctantly answered him, he started asking questions, how was
the food on the flight, were the seats comfortable, and were the flight
attendants good enough to take care of him? He even told the anecdotes
he himself experienced on airplanes.
Kwon Taekiu listened to them all with his head looking out the window.
It was already dark on the road. However, he could not see the crowds of
people soaking in the Moscow atmosphere. Everywhere he looked, he saw
only Lada* cars. In fact, it deserves to be called Russia's new national car.
He was struck by the combination of the Starbucks emblem and the Cyrillic
alphabet that he could see in the middle of the city center. Some passersby
wore ushankas**, some long, some short. They walked with their necks
hunched, and their large, prominent noses were reddened. Perhaps
because of the cold weather, their faces were hardened and gave an
austere impression.
(n/t: *Lada is a trademark belonging to the Russian automobile
manufacturer AvtoVAZ.
**A ushanka is a Russian earmuff cap made of fur with covering flaps that
can be tied to the crown of the cap, or fastened to the chin to protect the
ears, jaw, and lower chin from the cold. Some have ears, some do not. )
"Is the cold really that bad here?"
The offhand question interrupted Vasily's ramblings about cruising in Japan.
He smiled, not disappointed that his story had been interrupted.
"Well, it's pretty good nowadays. Even in winter, it's around -15 degrees, it's
really good to live here."
Kwon Taekju's shoulders slumped, he really hates being cold. Despite
everything, Vasily was enthusiastic about the change of subject.
"Sometimes there are many people who say that it's so cold in Moscow that
they can't stand it, but that's because they've never been to a place where
it's actually really cold. Irkutsk or Verkhoyansk range from -20 degrees to -
45 degrees, so in comparison, isn't Moscow a paradise on earth?". Of
course, it's not like Tokyo, where I've heard that it stays above freezing all
year round, is it. I've heard that if it drops below zero degrees, people freeze
to death. If that happened in Russia, my neighbor's dog would laugh."
It's such a severe cold that it goes down to -40 degrees.
Just hearing the story made him shiver. Even after that, Vasily continued to
prattle on and on, but nothing seemed to fit.
Kwon Taekju, who had only been looking out the window, suddenly looked
around. He thought that the speed had been gradually slowing down, but it
was because the car came to a complete stop.
After going like this for a while, he repeated himself.
He raised his head and looked ahead, and saw the cars lined up in a row. It
was such a long procession that he couldn't even tell where it ended. It
looked like they were stuck in rush hour.
This would not have happened if the plane had arrived on time. It was all
that damn drunk's fault.
I should have beaten him a little more. While clenching his fists and
bemoaning the late minutes, Vasily exchanged a few words with the man in
the driver's seat. Then he turned to Kwon Taekju and asked for permission.
"At this rate, I'm afraid we won't be able to get around for a while, so why
don't we take a shortcut? This friend knows all the roads and highways in
Moscow. It will soon be dinner time, so Sakamoto-san must be hungry too.
Anyway, after a long flight, anyone would just want to rest."
It was a nice thing to hear. All he wanted was to eat and go to bed, so Kwon
Taekju nodded several times to Vasily, who asked if it would be okay.
As soon as the go-ahead was granted, they parted from the rows of cars
and entered a nearby side street. The street was narrow, with no distinction
between roadway and sidewalk, and there was not a single streetlight in the
place.
Just trusting and resorting to their lights to get through the darkness. A stray
cat rummaging in the garbage can was startled by the light and ran away.
The driver who says he knows the road well, turns without stopping in alleys
where barely a single car can pass. The distance in a straight line would
have been much shorter than on the previous road, it seemed that it would
be much
faster this way unless they got lost.
It was that moment when he was so optimistic that he slumped deep into
the back seat.
2.2 New Mission

He turned his head to look out the window and felt he saw a strange object
out of the corner of his eye.
He quickly looked back at the road, but nothing stood out. He thought he
saw something that resembled a human figure, but the surroundings were
too dark to be completely sure.
Still, he felt an uncomfortable sensation that he couldn't shake. He shook
his head and slowly turned around and sat up in his seat. When Vasily
asked what was going on, he said it was nothing.
He was looking suspiciously out of the corner of his eye and suddenly it
dawned on him; the car was driving back down the same road he had
already passed. The buildings were all the same, and the alleys were dark
enough that it was impossible to make out what was in front of them, but it
was safe.
Kwon Taekju muttered as he glanced at the
Dumpsters they had just passed by.
"I think we're lost."
"No way, we're going the right way."
"No. I'm pretty sure we're circling the same place. That dumpster on the left,
it's exactly the same as the one we passed a while ago, with the dirt, the
overflowing garbage, and the lid about to close. And what about the building
behind it?
The cracks in the exterior walls, the color of the bricks and the shape of the
window frames, even the clothes and flower pots strewn about. It's no
different from what I've seen before."
He insisted on contrasting the scenery outside the window with memories of
the past. Vasily, who had been listening quietly, smiled.
"You have a good eye."
The tone was suspicious, as if sarcastic. His overtly affectionate demeanor
was completely gone. Such a radical transformation is not usually a good
thing.
Sensing something was wrong, Kwon Taekju drew the Colt without
hesitation. With a click, the gun loaded and he pulled the trigger halfway.
Through the rearview mirror, he made eye contact with the man in the
driver's seat.
"Pull over."
My voice was low and imperious, and the man behind the wheel obediently
followed instructions and the moving sedan came to a stop in the middle of
a narrow alley.
Vasily raised both hands without protest.
"You have quite a dangerous toy, Mr.
Sakamoto."
"What are you really like?"
"I think I've already told you, I'm Vasily Alexandrovich, and I've come to pick
you up."
"And this Alexandrovich has nothing to do with
Gazprom, does he?"
"Well, very little."
That was when...
"¿.....?"
The door to the back seat burst open and a man shoved Kwon Taekju. In
his hand was a
Tokarev, a Russian double-barreled pistol.
Immediately, the black muzzle of the gun met Kwon Taekju's temple. Not
only that, but a red dot, which had come from somewhere, hovered around
the left area of his chest. He was completely surrounded. Kwon Taekju's
jaw clenched tightly.
"Why don't you keep quiet, Mr. Sakamoto?".
Vasily hummed the name as if it were a song, letter after letter. He had no
clue as to his identity or what he was looking for. What was clear was that
he had to get out of this shitty situation as soon as possible.
But how? In case he did something, he would immediately have holes in his
head and chest. He rolled his eyes and I looked around. The only thing that
illuminated the dark alley was the car lights. No, including the interior lights
that illuminated the careless face of Vasily, two.
"Don't try to act smart. You'll get your head blown off..."
Vasily's warning wasn't even over when in an instant, he flexed his upper
body. A series of gunshots rang out, and the interior lights illuminating the
inside of the car went out due to the bullets flying in without warning.
Immediately after, another sniper's shots flew from a nearby rooftop. A burst
of gunfire was heard, followed by a loud bang as the rear seat window was
shattered.
Immediately after the temporary disturbance, a deep silence fell. No
movement was detected near the vehicle, but the sniper remained alert,
slowly moving the gun.
The next moment, the parked car started abruptly and accelerated at full
speed, driving down a narrow alley without even turning on its headlights. It
drove dangerously, occasionally crashing into garbage cans and building
walls.
The sniper belatedly opened fire, but all his shots manage to hit is a
shattered bumper and a shattered rearview mirror.
"If you don't want to end up like this, you'd better obey."
Kwon Taekju wiped off the blood that had splattered on his face and
threatened the driver. It belonged to the man who had pushed him a
moment ago in the back seat. The guy who had become Kwon Taekju's
shield and was shot by a sniper was lying down, his head thrown back and
drooping. Vasily's situation was no different. He was slumped over the car
panel with a bullet piercing the center of his face.
The driver, who was drenched in other people's blood, showed no
resistance and continued to drive the car.
Kwon Taekju was behind him, wrapping his arms around his neck and
indicating where to go.
Then again, something was gliding rapidly from one building to another. It
was the same existence he had glimpsed earlier. A cat? No, it looked much
bigger and heavier than that.
At the same time, its movements were even faster. Kwon Taekju's eyes
moved quickly from side to side, searching for the creature that had
disappeared into the darkness, but he couldn't see it nor did it reappear
anywhere.
It might have been an illusion once, but not the second time. Already in a
state of nervousness, he looked around again, and suddenly, a sedan
pulled out of a side alley.
With a jolt, the body of the car jerked forward. At the same time, the back
seat, where Kwon Taekju was sitting, floated into the air. The momentary
emptiness felt like an eternity.
As if time stopped flowing again, his vision suddenly turned upside down.
One blow after another, his entire body crashed violently against the body of
the car. Shards of broken glass flew everywhere, and in the blink of an eye,
all four wheels of the overturned car were spinning.
The area was silent again. There was no movement on either side of the
impacted vehicle. The only sound in the place was the growl of the engine.
How long had it been? The long silence is broken by an unexpected noise.
Someone was trying to escape by kicking the completely dented door again
and again. It was Kwon Taekju, who crawled out through the gap in the
door.
"..Ouch."
He tried to get up but fell to the ground again. Suddenly he felt a ringing in
his head. He felt as if he had hit the safety bar in the middle of the accident
and that had given him a mild concussion.
He shook his head and managed to regain his composure.
Then, leaning against the body of the overturned car, he shook his head
and managed to barely stand up.
He checked the driver's seat. Quiet. Judging by the blood covering the
shattered window, no one was safe. The same was true on the other
vehicle's side, with no sign of any significant movement.
I didn't know what the hell was going on here. I didn't know what was going
on. I don't know what's going on here. He has no idea of the identities of
these people who were trying to kidnap Kwon Taekju himself, or technically,
Hiro Sakamoto. For what purpose were they doing this? Probably not an
ordinary criminal group in the sense that they knew both the background
and the timeline of Sakamoto's entry into the country. It seemed more
reasonable to think that the Russian authorities or Gazprom had some
grudge against the Japanese company so they would have something to do
with taking him hostage.
That said, Kwon Taekju himself was not the real Hiro Sakamoto, so it would
look rather ridiculous if they were going to use him as a proxy instead. Kwon
Taekju wondered, what the hell were these problems he ran into as soon as
he stepped onto
Russian soil?
He shook his head and walked to the back of the car. He was determined to
get his luggage. As he struggled to open the trunk, he suddenly heard an
unwelcome voice behind him.
"Hands up."
He reflexively flinched. Suddenly, the sound of a gun being loaded reached
his ears. One more movement and he would pull the trigger.
He raised his arms with a grim face and silently obeyed the order to turn
around. Finally, he saw the face of the person pointing the gun in front of
him. It was an unfamiliar face, but it appeared to have been in the
opponent's car, whose head exploded and was bleeding profusely. The
man's firearm was familiar, it was clear that he and Vasily were on the same
team.
He didn't know how. As he contemplated a way to escape this situation, he
saw the familiar Colt rolling at the man's feet.
"Walk slowly over here. If you try anything, you're dead."
The man's tone was ridiculous as he threatened him, but even so, he
obediently followed his instructions.
Anyway, the man would not be able to kill Kwon Taekju by himself. If he
could, he would have done it immediately.
As expected, there was no hint of murderous intent in the man as he
approached him. On the contrary, he seemed to be afraid of being in a
situation where he would inevitably have to pull the trigger. It is he who
possesses the firearm and gains an advantage by being armed, but the
closer the distance gets, the more uneasy he becomes.
Maybe this will turn out to be easier than he thought. It was just as he was
being so optimistic that he was grabbed by the back of the neck.
"Let's get your coat off. I don't know what you might have hidden inside."
There was another one. He glanced back, but it was a face he didn't know.
He only guessed from the rifle in his hand that he was the sniper from
earlier. Kwon Taekju shrugged and silently took off his coat.
Only his right sleeve remained.
Pretending to pull his right arm out of the sleeve, he suddenly applied force
and pulled the whole coat. The sniper, who was only holding the coat with
one hand because of his rifle, lost his balance for a moment.
Kwon Taekju threw the coat he had snatched from the man who was aiming
at him. When his vision was blocked by the flying clothes, the nervous man
flinched and pulled the trigger. Meanwhile, he grabs the sniper's rifle as the
sniper staggers. The sniper, struggling to keep his weapon from being
snatched away, falls shudderingly.
Crack!
The sniper groaned with a sharp crack. By the time the man shook off the
coat covering his face, Kwon Taekju had already escaped, far away. Red
blood flowed profusely from the body of the sniper who had been felled by a
blind bullet. The man, who had been wailing, quickly became enraged and
began firing wildly.
But none of them hit. Soon the magazines were empty, so he grabbed the
dead sniper's rifle.
Kwon Taekju ran looking straight ahead. The advantage of being on the run
right now was that it was dark, but it was also a disadvantage. He could not
find any place to hide, and if he reached a dead end, it would be dangerous.
Even as he fled, the pursuing fire continued. Most of the bullets flew past
Kwon Taekju narrowly missing, leaving bullet marks on the poor building.
Whenever he saw an alley, he would turn and enter without hesitation.
Bang!
Something went over the top of his head, it seemed to be another gunshot.
A stray bullet had shattered a flower pot by the window frame, and debris
rained down. He shook his head and brushed the dirt and debris off, then
turned onto a side street that had just appeared. Suddenly, a van pulled out
of it.
"¡.....!"
He leaned over the hood to minimize the impact. The four doors of the
stopped vehicle opened in unison and out of them came armed men, soon,
even the man who was relentlessly pursuing Kwon Taekju joined them.
After exchanging a few words, the group of men opened fire.
"..Shit."
If he got rid of one, another would appear, and if he got rid of that one,
another would come. How long would he have to keep doing this? Kwon
Taekju, who had been slowly retreating, started running again.
Throughout the run, he let out countless profanities.
After running for a while, his vision suddenly widened and he saw a large
empty lot. There was a construction going on that appeared to be an
abandoned building. The building was open with no walls at the front and
back, and only the skeleton remained. Materials such as concrete and steel
frames were scattered haphazardly everywhere.
There was no time to gauge their movements. There was nowhere to
immediately take shelter other than here. As soon as one foot inside, I
entered the building through the dust-filled staircase.
"Haa...Haa.."
After he climbed up to the fourth floor in one breath, all the breath he had
been holding came out. His heart was pounding enough to ache and make
him feel nauseous, and even if he was only wearing a thin T-shirt, he
couldn't feel the cold.
The group chasing Kwon Taekju gradually reached the bottom of the
building. When he counted the number of people, there were four in total.
Where are the rest of them?
He muffled the sound of his footsteps and approached the wall next to the
stairs. He leaned his back against it and listened, detecting the presence of
someone sneaking up. Kwon Taekju slowly unbuckled his belt and held it
with both hands.
Before long, after taking a step or two down the stairs, the gun barrel
protruded against the wall and Taekju seized the moment to throw the
buckle horizontally. The extended belt bounced, circled around the gun
barrel and returned to Kwon Taekju's hand. He caught it in a flash and fired.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
A steady stream of gunfire echoed from the rifle on him. Kwon Taekju
suddenly released one side of the belt he was still holding and at the same
time brandished it with all his might. Thus, the belt hit the back of the man's
hand like a whip. The man groaned and let go of the weapon. Kwon Taekju
kicked the rifle that had fallen to the ground forward and wrapped a belt
around the neck of the man who was trying to pick it up. The man writhed
on his legs, clawing at his compressed throat.
"Aggh!"
Undeterred, he twisted the belt tighter and squeezed. The man's body,
which had been writhing for a while, slowly stretched, and when he
loosened the tight grip on his hands, the man collapsed and fell to his
knees. After kicking him, he sighed.
Now, one less.
Meanwhile, there was a great commotion on the floor below. Hearing the
gunshot a while ago, it seemed that a group of men went ahead and ran
upstairs. The rifle was in front of the stairs, if he couldn't pick it up in time,
he would end up trapped in a beehive before he could return fire. Besides,
he wouldn't be able to subdue a horde of armed men with his bare hands
either.
Taking another deep breath, he quickly turned around. The group of men
had almost climbed the stairs when he picked up the rifle that had fallen to
the ground. When they met Kwon Taekju from the front, they aimed their
guns and opened fire without hesitation.
But Kwon Taekju pulled the trigger first. Shots rang out in succession, and
two men fell screaming in pain, the bullets from their guns hitting the rickety
roof.
Without hesitation, he threw down his rifle with an empty magazine and
stepped forward, two guys in front of him. As he counted the number of
remaining heads, he scanned the
panorama.
"¿......?"
Raising his head suddenly, something else had caught his attention, but
after a quick glance at that place, there was no one there. Why does he
keep seeing things? Due to nervousness, his breathing sounded louder
than usual.
Suffice it to think that he was simply mistaken and had seen wrong. There
was no time to get carried away by such a vague intuition. That much was
obvious, but he couldn't shake that nagging sixth sense.
Again. Kwon Taekju jumped to his feet and looked toward the building
across the street, but the distance between them was too great to make out
the image clearly. He squinted and watched, but the figure hovering on the
roof quickly disappeared.
He doesn't believe in ghosts or spirit apparitions. However, it was hard to
tell that the form he had just witnessed was not that kind of existence. No
human being could move like that.
As he found himself with unwelcome questions, an attack came from below.
A steady stream of bullets reduced to dust the ground upon which Kwon
Taekju stood. He barely managed to duck and scan for signs of the enemy.
The two remaining men hatched a plan. One jumped inside the building,
while the other kept his rifle pointed upwards and Kwon Taekju quickly
looked around. He had to find a way to counter the man who was about to
attack, however, there was no place to hide and no suitable weapon in
sight.
Suddenly, a gunshot echoed from below. Kwon Taekju stopped dead in his
tracks and spun in the direction in which the shot was heard. In an instant, a
piercing scream was heard.
"Guaaaaaaaagh!"
No, it was more like a roar. And it was not heard far away, it had passed
somewhere just below. Kwon Taekju waited for a while, but he no longer felt
any sign of it.
He looked outside the building to assess the situation. One of the men
waiting outside also looked at his companion with a puzzled face, perhaps
surprised by the continuous shooting and shouting. Then, when he saw
Kwon Taekju, he pulled the trigger.
He quickly turned around and dodged the bullets coming towards him. He
doesn't know what the hell is going on, but for the first time, he's been
screwed. Soon, even the man who stood outside entered the building.
Thud. Thud. Tap, tap, tap.
There was the steady sound of footsteps on the stairs. Closer and closer,
louder and louder. In a few moments, they would reach the fourth floor.
It is only at this point that we have no choice but to do so to see the end.
Kwon Taekju grabbed the button on his right sleeve and ripped it off. The
button popped off with a small metallic sound and along with it came out a
long, thin wire. It's a mini-bomb. He would launch it if necessary, he was
determined to escape this crisis alive.
He cut the wires, rolled up the bomb, and waited for the man to appear.
"¿... ?"
But after that, the man did not appear even though a long time passed. The
surroundings were quiet as if only Kwon Taekju was in the building. He
couldn't even hear the sound of his breathing, let alone the sound of the
footsteps of the guy coming behind him.
2.3 New Mission

What happened, is he hiding somewhere, waiting for him to make the first
move? Kwon Taekju raised his head again and inspected the empty lot.
Not a single shadow of a person was in sight. What and how...? It was then
that the questions reached their peak.
"....!"
Suddenly, something stretched from the side of his face.
Kwon Taekju, who inadvertently looked at it, froze and could not move.
What was stretched out was a man's arm, and hanging from the end of it
was the same man who had last entered the building. He could barely
recognize the man's identity thanks to his attire, as a large hand covered his
entire face. To be precise, the man's two eyeballs were stabbed by his long,
straight fingers. The man, who had been thrown completely out of the
building, hovered over the fingers that had pierced his eyes and hooked into
the socket. His legs swung in the air.
"Heh... eghh....oughhh...."
A grotesque groan escaped the man's mouth. Kwon's brow furrowed, and
his back seemed to freeze. He couldn't bear to turn his head to look at the
owner of the monstrous hand. It wasn't a matter of courage; it was an
instinctive block. He couldn't even breathe freely.
The owner of the arm stretched out like a crane, did not prolong the
situation for long. The man dangling from his fingers came off like a lock of
hair from a body, without any hesitation. The man finished falling and a
creaking sound was heard in the lower part of the building.
Now all that was left was Kwon Taekju, well, him and the mystery assassin.
He didn't have to look back to know that he was within arm's reach if he
stretched out his arm. His cold gaze ran down his spine like a hungry beast
in search of prey. He had a vague, unfounded conviction that this was the
strange being he had been spotting at intervals since his abduction.
Kwon Taekju closed his eyes and opened them slowly, working hard to
clear his mind, and so, the temporarily frozen senses awakened one by one
and at the same time, he began to recognize the existence he had not
realized before. A shadow that surpassed his height, and a smell so strong
and pungent that it numbed his nostrils. There was even a unique cold
energy that crushed all air currents.
Kwon Taekju gripped the button in his hand tightly.
Even an assassin wouldn't be safe from a bomb blast, but because of how
close he was to it, he knew his limbs could be blown off if he wasn't lucky.
However, it wasn't something to worry about when his head was already on
the line and he needed to get away. Just attack him out of the blue and stick
the bomb in his eye, nose, or mouth. With that promise, he turned away.
But before he could do anything, he grabbed the hand holding the bomb.
Once again, his vision spun, and just before his brain could register what
had happened, the bomb slipped from his hand and flew away. Kwon
Taekju closed his eyes, anticipating the terrible pain, but the explosion
occurred further down the building. A searing heat raced through the air.
The last bastion had been destroyed.
Kwon Taekju's head hit the rough concrete floor, and all that entered his
inverted vision were two straight legs, and crocodile-skin shoes with an
unusually pointed toe. He had seen them once in a magazine, the sleek
body was similar to that of a crocodile, making them all the more
memorable. If I remembered correctly, the price was around $4000. It was
an unusual luxury for an assassin.
"You've got some dirt on you. Would you mind taking it off?"
Those were his first words. His voice was not as thick as I expected, and he
seemed to be quite young.
But all of a sudden, what do you want me to take off? He must be talking
about the hand that pierced the man's eye, which was dirty.
Even though Kwon Taekju already had a vague idea of what he wanted, he
wished to ignore it. If he lost his only shirt, he'd freeze to death before he
could reach him.
However, he didn't seem to be a very relaxed guy.
As he pretended not to know, an object with a familiar texture touched his
head. It was a Colt.
"....Shit."
He cursed under his breath and unbuttoned his shirt. He was holding his
right arm, so he could only use his left hand. Because it was a new shirt, the
groove was stiff, so it wasn't a bit of a pain to remove it. Just as he had
barely unbuttoned the second button, he grabbed the back of his shirt.
Instantly, he tore his shirt apart. The buttons bounced so hard that they hit
him on the underside of his chin and cheeks. In succession, something cold
wrapped itself around his broken wrist, replacing his hand. When I pulled on
his arm, he heard a metallic clink. It was handcuffs. The other wife was
secured to a nearby steel structure, now, only her head remained on the
ground.
His shadow slid slowly, taking its time. When the movement ceased, the T-
shirt, stained with blood and bodily fluids, fell to the floor.
Then he took a deep breath and let out a longer exhale, it looked like he
was smoking a cigarette. The smell of tobacco he gave off intensified in
time with his slow breathing.
It was not the usual nicotine smell; it was thicker, deeper, and bittersweet.
He could feel the dampness of the unique fragrance. What was it? Before
long, something forceful fell into his inverted vision. It was the leftovers from
the homemade cigar he had smoked.
When he finished, he spun around on himself, his straight legs slowly
moving away from Taekju. As if he had no intention of retrieving the
handcuffs, he continued down the stairs.
He was a pretty tall guy, so it took a long time for the back of his head to
appear in her field of vision.
And that was the last I saw of him.
I didn't begin to breathe again until the place became completely still and
quiet. At that moment, my body ran out of strength and collapsed. When the
killer finally disappeared, the illusory shivers dissipated and for the first time,
he recognized the coldness of reality. He couldn't even feel the
goosebumps on his body due to the strong cold wind cutting into his skin,
feeling as if all his skin was frozen and cracked.
Fuck. He swallowed a curse and hit the ground in annoyance.
Before long, he heard a rather familiar noise.
First in the distance and then closer and closer.
It was the siren of a police car.
***
He was detained at the police station for quite some time. A passing officer
handed him a thick blanket, it smelled musty as if it hadn't been washed,
however, he had to put it on for the time being because even with the
heating on, the cold was like a ghost.
Kwon Taekju looked at his throbbing wrist as he wrapped himself in the
blanket. It was bandaged, but the killer's handprints were still visible inside.
He hadn't felt any pain during the first aid treatment, was it because he was
in shock? The paramedics had not even realized that his wrist had been
broken.
Kwon Taekju wiggled his fingers out of the bandage and smiled.
This is ridiculous. Not only had he been kidnapped out of nowhere, but that
murderous bastard had saved his life and then mysteriously disappeared,
no, could he really say that guy had "saved" him? He had stripped him of
his clothes, handcuffed him, and besides, one of his wrists, which was fine,
was dislocated. If the police had shown up even a little late, he would have
been a living corpse.
Was he even a person? He managed to dislocate the wrist of a grown man
just by holding it tightly. If he had a frail body or a body that could break
easily, he would understand, but Kwon Taekju was renowned for having
skills and strength of the highest level. Even thinking about it again, his
physical strength was beyond common sense.
At that moment, the officer in charge reappeared. As soon as he sat down,
the worn chair squeaked.
"I'm afraid this was the work of a disgruntled faction with the contract. It's
such a big business that it's no wonder some people are jealous. I hear
there are billions of dollars at stake, right?"
He's a civil servant by profession, but he treats cross-border contracts like a
battle. His eyes glazed over when he mentioned the expected profits.
Kwon Taekju on the other hand doesn't answer anything and just stares at
the clock on the wall with a grim face. He wanted to return to the hotel as
soon as possible.
However, the police officer in charge continued to chat excitedly about how
he hoped that this incident would not create prejudice against Russia and
that he himself would find out who was behind this no matter what. Only
then, when his boss, who had gone to lunch in the middle, returned and
saw that he had not yet been sent back, did he give him permission to
return.
"My luggage is in..."
"Oh, you mean the suitcase that was in your car? If so, we have left it there.
We've also checked that you're not carrying any bombs or pagers. It's a
thoughtful little gesture on our part, you don't have to thank us."
It looks like he wants to be thanked. Kwon Taekju shook his head and stood
up. As the officer said, there was a suitcase in front of the door. He quickly
grabbed it and walked out of the office. As he walked down the stairs, trying
to figure out how to get to the hotel, he saw the officer from before following
him. He tried to ignore him, thinking he had other things to do, but the man
continued to follow him, keeping a constant distance. Finally, Kwon Taekju
stopped and turned around.
"What's going on?
"If they aim once, isn't it possible for them to aim twice? Now that the allies
are dead, they may want to retaliate even more, so let me accompany you
safely to your hotel."
Then, out of habit, he adds a word.
"Oh, you don't have to thank me."
Again, he wants a thank you. The policeman took the initiative and said,
"This way," without even confirming Kwon Taekju's intentions. The
unnecessary kindness was nothing short of a nuisance, however, Kwon
Taekju was now Hiro Sakamoto. There was no reason for a mediocre
civilian who was suddenly kidnapped and threatened with death to resist the
protection of public authorities. Reluctantly, he accepted the officer's favor.
On one side of the parking lot was a Volga that looked at least 15 years old
with peeling paint and dented in places. The policeman put Kwon Taekju's
suitcase in the trunk which could not be opened easily because it was
crushed.
Kwon Taekju took out suitable clothes from inside and put them on.
Meanwhile, the officer climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine
as the old body shook.
For a moment, he thought about sitting in the back seat. It wouldn't kill him
to be rude, obviously, but the Japanese have a pathological aversion to
rudeness and causing discomfort. Finally, with a breath closer to a sigh, he
opened the passenger seat door.
Kwon Taekju sat down and ran his hands under his butt. He felt like he had
sat on something, and immediately saw a pair of stockings. The officer
grabbed them without hesitation and threw them into the back. Also, pieces
of bread, paper cups, and adult magazines rolled across the dashboard.
"I thought you were just a paper guy, but I can see you're also a sports fan,
right?"
As if ashamed of himself, he spoke hurriedly. It seemed that he had been
paying attention to Kwon Taekju's body a while ago. His muscles were
naturally toned because of work, and they were different from those that
were artificially created, so they did not look like those of someone who sat
at a desk all day.
Shrugging, he said, "It takes stamina to sit for long," and paused. His ears
tingled even as he spoke.
The car did not leave the police station so quickly, because the rear wheel
had a problem and had to be replaced with a new one before starting.
Meanwhile, Kwon Taekju tried to take a cab, but the officer insisted on
taking him under the pretext of protecting the victim and the witness.
the victim and the witness. After he changed the tire, he finally made it out
of the police station.
"When you go to your bedroom, don't think about anything and have a good
rest. If you can't sleep, have a shot of vodka. As for the group that got you
in trouble, we'll be sure to catch them and see that they get what they
deserve, but what did you say before?"
The officer who had been talking to himself bowed his head. As it was a
general question,
Taekju looked at him without answering.
"Why, didn't you say there was one more person besides those who died at
the scene? That guy who wore fancy cowhide shoes, didn't you? What else
did you say about him, that he smelled rotten? Oh, and that he gouged out
the other guy's eyeballs with his hand and threw him off the building, right?"
Throughout his stay at the police station, he repeatedly recounted what he
witnessed at the scene, still, the officer in charge couldn't remember any of
them well. It means he is not interested and it seems that all he said were
empty words. He didn't even expect it in the first place.
He let out an exasperated sigh and corrected him.
"They were crocodile skin shoes, not cowhide."
"Well, maybe it's just the look. A cowhide shoe in the style of a crocodile
one."
"They were definitely crocodile, yes. I don't remember exactly the brand, but
the price is around at least 250,000 rubles. The color is dark brown, the size
is between US 13 and 14, and they are in good condition, right out of the
box.
That would mean the shoes never had time to wear out, or they hadn't been
purchased in a long time. Whichever option it is, they must have been pretty
rich."
He was so annoyed that he refuted it that way, and immediately regretted it.
Suddenly, the policeman opened his eyes wide with astonishment. Kwon
Taekju looked away and said that it was a product he had been watching for
a while. It was not a lie at all, but still, the officer did not take his eyes off
him. He stared at him as if he suspected something, then smiled in
satisfaction.
"Okay, let's call them crocodile skin shoes."
It was a gesture of good faith. He had pledged to be nice, so it wasn't very
pleasant to see his opinion of him split. Kwon Taekju feels that he has
become fussy about trivial matters, and although he tries not to show it, he
still feels dissatisfied when for having lost his temper. If he continues to
have such an explosive temper, his stomach will explode.
The moving car stopped at a stop sign.
Until then, Kwon Taekju, who had kept his composure, couldn't stand it and
opened his mouth.
"And it wasn't a rotten smell, it was a burnt smell, and not from a normal
cigarette, but from something like a handmade cigar."
"Yes, I'll make a note of that." He replied dryly. For some reason, the police
officer did not seem to be interested in the killer who had appeared in the
middle of the city center. On the contrary, he showed a keen interest in
Japanese women.
Along the way, he continued to ask questions about whether they really
served their husbands like a master, and whether the waistband of their
kimono was really like a mat to lie on. In the end, he felt he could be sure of
something:
These damned Russian cops would never catch the killer.
After a hellish period of patience, the car stopped in front of a five-star hotel.
"Well, here we are. I suggest you change accommodations if possible, as
we don't know for sure when they will strike again. If you need a personal
bodyguard, please feel free to contact me privately, I will be happy to help
you. Oh, and there is no need for a case or problems at all. You can buy me
a drink later, just think about it."
He couldn't even maintain a bitter smile anymore.
He forcibly lifted his stiff mouth.
"I'll think about it later. I've been indebted to you in more ways than one
today."
"You are not in debt. It's just the duty of a Russian. You don't have to thank
me."
And he had wondered why he hadn't said that word again. Kwon Taekju
nodded and quickly turned away. The officer gave him a terrible send-off,
being completely oblivious and telling him to call him if he needed a drinking
buddy.
As he entered the lobby, the doorman took his luggage. The hotel was less
than an hour from the airport, however, due to delays, hijackings, and even
investigations, it took him half a day to get there.
Completely exhausted, the steps he took to the desk were staggering.
"Welcome, sir."
Despite the polite greeting, he held out his passport and credit card without
a word. With a particularly tired look on his face, so much so that even the
receptionist hurried to check him in silently. It didn't take long for them to
hand him his room key.
He hesitated as he walked up to his assigned room Kwon Taekju, who was
thinking about something, turned around and asked.
"Are there any handmade cigar stores around here?"
"If it's handmade cigars, they are available at our hotel store. With a wide
range of products, you are sure to find one that suits your tastes. Just go to
the back of the lobby. Here, I'll give you a map of our facilities."
The receptionist handed him a brochure and immediately walked in the
direction he had indicated. As much as he desperately wanted to take a
break, it was also true that he was uncomfortable and felt he needed to take
a look around, so he thought it would be good to check it out. Once the
mission began in earnest, it would be hard to take time apart.
The handmade cigar boutique was easy to find. The splendid exterior and
the high-end products displayed in the window immediately caught his
attention and Kwon Taekju walked in without thinking. A cheerful sales clerk
ordering from the store greeted him with an enthusiastic welcome.
"Are you looking for something in particular?" she asked.
"I don't know the brand. I just happened to smell it."
He replied as he looked frantically at his
around. The clerk raised his bushy eyebrows slightly and turned back to the
display cases.
"Handmade Cuban cigars are some of the best in the world, and most of the
cigars here are Cuban, the only difference is what brand they come out
with. Just because they are handmade doesn't mean they are 100%
produced on a small scale. The cigar you are seeing now is the 'Macanudo',
which is the number one-selling cigar in the United States. That it sells a lot
means it's popular. It's perfect for beginners, and the very mild flavor is
excellent."
He seemed to see Kwon Taekju as a beginner in handmade cigars. He
looked at the "Macanudo" handed to him by the employee.
"What is the price range for this?"
"Their value is $7 each. A solid price."
"Then no, I guess not." He handed the cigar back to her. The clerk returned
it to the shelf and asked for confirmation.
"Are you looking for that cigar you happened to see?"
"Yes, I really want to know what it is."
"Mmm. Then give me a hint."
2.4 New Mission

"Mmm. Then give me a hint."

He smiled oddly. The clerk seemed intrigued by the futility of trying to find a
specific product based solely on the aroma of dozens or hundreds of cigars.
It was like a riddle to test his pride as an expert.
"It was smoked by someone who wore $4,000 worth of shoes."
"Well, since shoes are a consumer item, he must be quite wealthy, and
people like that look for all their items to be of the best quality. All the
products here are of good quality, but some are particularly special. This
one here is a cigar called Romeo y Julieta. It has a spicy matte flavor that is
rich at the same time. You can smell the scent of wet earth, mushrooms,
and sweet honey."
"It smelled musty, but not earthy or mushroomy. It also smelled a little
sweet, but it was far from honey."
"If it didn't smell like earth, it wouldn't be The King of the World - did it smell
like burnt wood or leather?"
"Yes, I think it smelled more like burnt wood. It didn't smell like leather."
"Did it smell very Spicy?"
"Mmm... No, it wasn't spicy."
"Then it wouldn't be Montecristo either. What was the body of the cigar like?
Was it a long cylindrical shape in general? Or did it have a pointed head
and foot?"
"All I saw was what was left of it after it was smoked, but I know it wasn't
pointed. I could pretty much smell its aroma but I don't know how.."
"Ah, so this would be it?"
The clerk smiled brightly and pulled out a cigar, even explaining in detail
about it even though he had been rambling and didn't particularly ask.
"It's called the Cohiba Behike. It is characterized by a deep and delicate
fragrance. It has a heavy but sweet aroma, which is subtle and makes it a
great overall flavor. Would you like to smoke it?"
He nodded silently. The clerk used a special lighter to light the Cohiba
Behike.
Unlike regular cigars, the tip of the cigar burned slowly, like a burning fallen
leaf. The ashes also did not fall to the ground but remained stuck to the
ground, keeping their shape.
He savored the aroma of the cigar filling his mouth. Kwon Taekju watched it
burn and even smelled the smoke. But in the end, he shook his head.
"Similar, but slightly different."
"How is it different?"
"The overall feel is quite similar. However, the smell of the cigar I smelled at
the time was a bit deeper and the aroma seemed to be richer than this.
Also, this cigar does not smell dank."
"If you smell damp, it's probably because the tip of the cigar was lightly
sprayed with cognac before burning. That way, the unique flavor of the
cognac mixes with the aroma of the cigars."
The employee instructed him to wait a moment and went inside. After a
while, he returned with a glass of liquor in his hand. It looked like cognac.
He cut the lit cigar with a box cutter and smeared the end with cognac. He
relit it and handed it to Kwon Taekju.
"How about this time?"
"It has become more like it, but still not the same."
The employee is deeply troubled by the disappointing response. He rubbed
his wrinkled forehead like a habit and muttered to himself.
"Similar aroma means the same type of cigar, but it was much deeper and
richer than this one. Then I can only think of one thing."
"What would that be?" he quickly asked. The clerk stroked his chin,
pondered for a moment, then spoke.
"Usually, Cohiba products are made by aging the tobacco leaves, the main
ingredient, twice. However, a few years ago, to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of the birth of Cohiba cigars, a limited number of different
'Cohiba Behike' were made and marketed. They were said to be made from
the finest tobacco leaves, triple-aged, kept at the right humidity and
temperature for the best flavors, and stored in a cigar box for six years after
they were finished to enhance the aromas. Unfortunately, the cigars were
only sold in Spain in a limited edition of only 4,000 units. Many cigar
aficionados have tried to acquire the product, myself being one of them.
The feature of this limited edition product is said to be that it has a stronger
flavor than the classic Cohiba, with a richer and more distinctive aroma, and
is limited, the price is $400. Of course, that's the price of a single cigar."
(n/t: What did we get out of this thousand-hour lesson on cigars? That I'm
too poor to be reading this, honestly (a box of these cigars is worth my car.).
$400 each. A strong, deep, and richly aromatic aroma. The musty smell is
due to the cigar being soaked in cognac at the end. Shoes $4000, $400
spent from a limited product every time you get rid of one. It was clear that
inhumanly wealthy environments made humans into monsters.
"Do you have any of those limited edition items?"
"I'd like to take a look at the real thing too."
The clerk smiled mischievously. Anyway, thanks to that, he managed to
satisfy his curiosity. Kwon Taekju took out some bills and handed them to
her as a reward. Even by estimation, four $100 bills should be enough.
"Nothing like that, I couldn't even find the product you were looking for."
"I'll take this then. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I'm very grateful for
everything."
He grabbed a $20 handmade cigar that was nearby and then, walked out of
the boutique just like that.
There are only 4,000 of these Cohiba Behikes in the world. The killer
appears to be someone with very good taste in cigars.
As he entered the room, he saw his suitcase, which had arrived first.
Without even bothering to unpack, he took off his clothes and headed for
the bathroom. As soon as he entered the shower stall, he pulled the faucet,
and hot water gushed from above and fell directly on his head. Kwon Taekju
stood in the water for a while, leaning his upper body against the wall. He
needed time to organize his thoughts.
He agreed with the police's explanation that his abduction just as he arrived
in Russia was the work of forces that were against the energy facility
contract. There was no doubt to the contrary.
What was incomprehensible, however, was the identity of the man with the
crocodile skin shoes who suddenly appeared on the scene.
Who the hell is he and why did he appear there? In the end, he got help
from him, but it was hard to guarantee that he was an ally; would he have
intended to hurt Kwon Taekju from the beginning, and was it something he
failed to do because of the police who were immediately dispatched?
The mere knowledge that he had been behind him had left him breathless,
he could barely move. There was a deadly crocodile beside him, and if he
felt its fear, he was capable of tearing it to pieces. He felt as if he had been
thrown into a world of complete savagery with nothing on him, it was also
the first time he didn't even have the strength to defend himself. He was
trying to defend himself with all his will to live, but that guy overpowered him
so easily it was absurd.
What if he had made a different choice and hurt him?
Pointy shoes, the smell of burning cigars, soft voice, and violence without
limits. His violence was not limited to simply subduing his opponents, it was
more a process of imprinting fear bit by bit and destroying completely.
He gritted his teeth and shook his head. Kwon Taekju forcibly shook the
remaining images still resisting. It wasn't going to do him any good to hold
on to all those bad memories, the right thing to do was to get rid of them as
soon as possible.
He was about to finish the shower in a hurry, but the bandage wrapped
around his arm was very uncomfortable. It didn't take him long to unwrap
the wet bandage. His wrist ached, but not to the point where he couldn't
stand it.
The artificial skin covering his face was also immediately removed, and
where the awkward features faded, the Kwon Taekju-exclusive cold mask
took its place. He quickly washed his face and shampooed, then put on a
robe.
As soon as he stepped out, he opened his suitcase. The suitcase, which
had been banged here and there just like Kwon Taekju, was a mess with
mixed belongings. As he moved through the clothes at the top, he could see
a razor, a game console, a watch, a tablet, and a camera.
He placed them in a row and pulled a small screwdriver out of his portable
toolbox. Then, he began to take apart the items that were obvious that they
were new.
He took only the necessary parts from each and then reassembled them.
He connected the small device to his work cell phone. It was a high-tech
device that would periodically change the IP
while using the hotel network and blocked any attempts at spying or
hacking. Finally, he plugged it into his laptop and turned it on.
Kwon Taekju entered his password and waited a moment and soon a
simple desktop appeared. Among countless icons, he clicked on a
commonly used SNS message icon and opened it. When he logged in, the
NIS emblem appeared and he was immediately connected to headquarters.
Right after that, Director Lim appeared on the screen out of the blue, saying:
"You are late." Well, if he had complaints, Kwon Taekju was full of them too.
"If we're going to have to disguise my identity, why didn't they choose a
slightly more confident subject?"
(You have to be worthy enough to be kidnapped to meet important and
high-ranking people).
"You sound like you knew things were going to happen like this?"
(Of course, I did. I assumed such a scenario could happen. Since you are
an excellent agent, I thought that no matter what crisis you were in, you
would come back alive, just as you are now).
Anyway, words are flowing water. Kwon
Taekju asked with a face of disgust.
"What the hell was that all about? You said they would come to pick me up
staff from
Gazprom."
( I did. They contacted me saying they would send someone to the airport).
"Are you sure that the call was from
Gazprom?"
( That's true. My identity was almost exposed and they almost got me. They
said no matter how long they waited, you wouldn't get out, so they called
Chief Itochu out of the blue. I barely managed to reroute the line and block
it.
The plane you were traveling on didn't arrive on time due to internal
problems, didn't it? Well, it seems there was a conflict with Gazprom
personnel who came to the airport about that. They said that an Asian who
had arrived before you had pretended to be Hiro Sakamoto, and only later
they found out that this person was actually not Hiro Sakamoto. Meanwhile,
you had already been kidnapped by a shitty employee.
Yes, it was from the plane that all things started to go wrong. Because of a
drunk Russian who wouldn't sit still he went out the boarding gate late and
met Vasily, who pretended to be a Gazprom employee.
[Flashback]
"By the way, it looks like you arrived much later than expected?"
"There was a bit of a commotion on board."
"Was there a riot over some drunk?"
".... How do you know that?"
[Present]
How did he not realize it before, they were in cahoots.
After all, Vasily caught him too easily. He clenched his fists in frustration,
then frowned. His wrist was still throbbing.
Kwon Taekju turned to his right arm. Congestion and bruises remained in
the shape of fingers in the area where he had been grabbed by the
assassin. The bewilderment at the moment he met him, all those doubts he
had been suppressing, came back to life. He felt he had to find out who the
killer was or he would relive that shitty submissive feeling he felt in those
moments for the rest of his life.
Kwon Taekju confided in Lim about the killer. He intended to borrow even
the power to find out information from the headquarters. However, Director
Lim showed a reaction that left him in disbelief.
(Well, if you haven't seen his face, there is no way we can find out who he
is. Also, 4000 packs of those cigars you were researching were sold, and
they say there are up to 4,000 buyers, if I try to track them all down, they will
definitely notice and liquidate me. Also, the shoes you said I was wearing
aren't exclusive either...).
Kwon Taekju opened his mouth but then closed it again.
He was not wrong.
( You've had a lot of problems since the first day,
huh?)
Despite Director Lim's consolation, he only nodded his head reluctantly.
Director Lim, who watched him for a while, leaned his upper body
forward.
( As much as you prefer to work alone, you've ended up many times in
situations this hectic from the beginning, so I should be able to reassure you
from a distance. There are no other children left at the water's edge).
Kwon Taekju felt a kind of tickle out of nowhere.
He didn't like where he was going.
(I have someone who can help you.)
"You didn't just say that, did you?" he frowned.
This was a solo mission for him. He hadn't been told anything about there
being a partner, even before his departure.
And now, after all this time, he was only now mentioning this fact that had
apparently been a
secret.
What a cunning bastard. Kwon Taekju glared at the screen, but Lim
continued speaking regardless.
(He is a friend who understands not only the geography of the place but
also the movement routes of power and money. He will be of great help.
After analyzing the situation, the day after tomorrow, his side will try to
contact him first. I will send you a picture of that friend when the time is
right, so be sure to take a good look at it.
He just says what he means to the point of being cheeky. Then, he seems
to have remembered something, because he continues, "Oh, yeah."
(Starting tomorrow, you'll be meeting directly with the people involved in the
contract, so make sure you know everything about the construction of the
LNG facility thoroughly.)
Communication was cut off before Kwon Taekju could respond, and file
after file arrived. They were sent by Lim. He opened the attachment with a
disapproving expression, and soon, the details of the Russia-Japan contract
and materials related to the construction of the LNG facility appeared in a
527-page PDF file.
Kwon Taekju, who was looking at the document full of small print, suddenly
turned his head away. A comfortable bed without a single wrinkle was
tempting him, but he had no choice.
He let out a long sigh, stretched his shoulders, and stood up. He opened
the mini-bar and pulled out a beer. After draining about half of the steaming
surface beer in one gulp, he returned to the table, took a deep breath, and
took a seat.
After a long time, his academic luck would finally have use.
2.5 New Mission

Kwon Taekju was sitting in the main restaurant with an expression of

extreme boredom on his face, where key figures from both the Russian and
Japanese sides were going to enjoy lunch.
Fortunately, the Japanese officials did not raise any suspicions about him,
and in essence, they seemed to feel no need to draw attention to an
employee. All he had to do now was to safely finish today's lunch and
attend the celebration to be held a few days later. By the time he entered
the room where the Russian political and business tycoons would be
gathered, his performance as Hiro Sakamoto would be over.
Suddenly, he looked at his watch. The agreed time for lunch was noon, but
the minute hand was already past '12' and heading towards '6', and those
who arrived on time lingered uncomfortably for almost half an hour. It was
because the Gazprom representative had not arrived. Gazprom executives
called the company several times to confirm. It was unfortunate to see them
struggling and agitated without being able to sit down.
"... Mr. Sakamoto?"
He was so distracted by the scene that he missed the Russian official's
question.
"What? Oh, I'm sorry, what did you say?..."
"I heard that something terrible happened the day you entered the country,
are you all right?"
"Oh, yes. The Russian police arrived just in time, so I'm fine. They were kind
enough to escort me to my accommodation."
"I don't know how to excuse us for this. I'm sorry you had to go through
that."
"No, why would you have to apologize for that, I should have been more
careful too."
Although he had assured her that it was fine, the other person did not stop
apologizing, and then even the Japanese delegation began to bow their
heads in unison. 'We apologize for causing concern.'
'there's nothing to worry about because it's our negligence', 'Sorry, sorry.' In
general, there was a lot of fuss.
Suddenly he began to feel sick to his stomach.
When he got up from his seat, the eyes of delegates from both sides were
focused on him.
Kwon Taekju, who was trying to sneak away, smiled awkwardly and
excused himself.
"Excuse me for a moment."
He motioned to wash his hands and left the room, and as soon as he closed
the door, he let out a sigh and hesitated as he untied the tight tie.
Standing in the hallway was a Gazprom executive still on the phone. He
pecked at the person on the other end of the phone in a slightly
exasperated tone but with his tone of voice still expressionless.
"Where's the representative, is he gone already, who's he trying to stop!"
He ducked behind him. It wasn't long before the practitioner unleashed his
pent-up anger.
"A representative? What do you mean by that? What do you mean, a
representative is coming!"
This was the moment when all his patience would pay off. Kwon Taekju
clicked his tongue under his breath and slowly made his way to the
bathroom.
The bathroom could be found after passing through a separate hallway. He
pushed the five-meter-high door as high as the ceiling and entered. Out of
habit, he inspected the interior first. No one was there. He caught his breath
and stood in front of the sink.
Yesterday, Kwon Taekju finished looking at the remaining PDF files in the
morning and then went to the airport to pick up the rest of the Japanese
delegation corps in the afternoon. Even after checking their interactions and
the situation one by one from then until a while ago, he didn't seem to have
made any major mistakes. After all, he was a nerd, and thanks to having
mastered the information from the contractual materials he had read in two
days, he was able to understand the conversation without difficulty.
At that moment, a voice was heard outside the door. The voice belonged to
a man. Unless he was with himself, he seemed to be talking on the phone.
Could it be that Gazprom executive?
When the door opened, the voice was heard more clearly. In an instant, his
body stiffened.
"..No. I'm here, but I thought it would be boring."
He recognized the voice from somewhere. Where had it been?
It was not from a very old memory, but neither was it someone he had
heard often enough to be familiar, but rather, from a moment so intense that
it was clearly imprinted on his mind.
As he struggled to bring the memory back to his mind, the voice from earlier
was heard again. Right behind his back, to be exact.
"Let's be clear. If you're going to backtrack, enough was enough about last
time."
It was him. He could be sure without looking back.
It was the same killer he had faced in that abandoned building two days
ago. As soon as he realized that fact, the senses throughout his body
sharpened. The first was the sense of smell.
He could smell the deep odor of wet, subtly burning leaves. There was a
hint of cognac and an unmistakable rich aroma. Cohiba Behike. An
irresistible stimulus seemed to weigh on his shoulders even though the
other person hadn't even taken a puff of the cigar.
His voice was still behind him. It was because he stopped at the door and
continued talking on the phone.
Then, suddenly, he felt his gaze on him.
He still didn't look back or look in the mirror, but he was sure. It was him,
looking back at him. A shiver ran down his spine.
"Well... first."
Maybe it was an illusion, but he seemed to be stretching out the words as
he spoke. Soon after, the call disconnected, and the piercing eyes behind
him grew even sharper. When the sound of the phone call had stopped,
there remained only him and Kwon Taekju in the bathroom.
Kwon Taekju continued to wash his hands, the other kept his eyes on him.
His gaze remained fixed on his hands, and he didn't seem to recognize him.
The air suddenly became heavy and time passed slowly.
How long had it been? The man's footsteps, which had stopped, echoed
again. He had placed himself at the sink right next to me. Soon the water
came out with a gurgling sound and he began to rub his hands lightly
together. Even with that small movement, the scent of Cohiba infused in him
intensified, and at the same time, the memory of the first time he felt the
smell returned.
Kwon Taekju acted as calmly as possible. As if unaware of him, he turned
off the faucet and dried the wetness on his hands with a towel.
He doesn't know why the killer showed up at this place at this time. If it was
a coincidence, it was a shitty coincidence. Considering the man's financial
situation, it wasn't like he couldn't be there. The only problem was that I was
trapped in an enclosed space with him.
Avoid him. It was the thought that dominated his entire body at the moment,
saying that he shouldn't stay in the same space with him. I felt my blood
pressure rising due to the tension.
He threw the wet towel in the waste basket and immediately turned around
to try to leave. At that moment, a casual comment made him stop in his
tracks...
"Don't you even say hello? I think we've met before."
'I didn't know Japanese people were so rude' he seemed to add. Kwon
Taekju didn't look back, he couldn't even open the doorknob he was still
holding. He didn't know what would happen if he moved carelessly. Even if
something unfortunate happened inside this place right now, even if he
broke Kwon Taekju himself and then killed him, no one would know. It
would only be discovered later after he had killed him.
While hesitating, he said, "So much for the manners of a samurai," he said
sarcastically. His tone was relaxed, but he did not sound comfortable.
After that, he said nothing more, and Kwon Taekju, who had been
concentrating all his senses on his back, finally walked out without saying a
word. As soon as the door closed and parted from him, he let out a huge
sigh of relief. Her heart was beating wildly. Maybe he just didn't recognize it,
maybe it's been like this for quite some time, but he really couldn't
remember the last time he'd been this nervous.
I should stay away from him, he thought and so, he was about to obey his
instincts when suddenly, a vibration echoed from inside his jacket. Given
that Hiro Sakamoto's cell phone was in his outside pocket, the actual
vibration must have come from the cell phone used to communicate with
headquarters.
He remembered that Lim had promised to send him a picture of his future
partner. He reached into his jacket and pulled out his cell phone. Indeed,
Mr. Lim had sent a photo.
He checked the photos without hesitation. It took two to three seconds for
the device to fully display the image on the screen. 1 second, 2 seconds,
and 3 seconds. He pressed the message that said, "Download complete."
The long-awaited image filled the screen.
"...Mmm? That's me."
Kwon Taekju almost dropped the phone. It was because of the sudden
interruption of someone's voice.
He rolled his eyes silently and looked at the ground. There was the shadow
that had engulfed him. It was coming from behind him, and he could tell who
it belonged to without turning around. That smell of wood, so thick it seemed
to paralyze his olfactory glands.
The Gazprom representative never showed up. In the end, the waiting
group ate, chatted for a while, and parted. Tired from the long flight, the
Japanese delegation also dispersed to their respective rooms, and thanks
to that, they were able to finish their work earlier than expected. Now, the
real trouble has begun.
Kwon Taekju could not even enter his room and simply stood in front of the
door the whole time. After a while, he took a deep breath and opened the
door.
His eyes went straight to the table by the window. The assassin had left the
chair untouched and instead sat in it and looked out the window. Perhaps
because of his long legs, he seemed more comfortable sitting like this, and
his broad shoulders along with his taut back gave him an air of authority.
Perhaps recognizing the stare, he turned his head silently.
His backlit hair gleamed white and gold and everything in between.
Eyebrows that arched without hesitation, though slight, betrayed his
sensitive temperament.
The long eyelashes showed a hidden wildness, and the eyes of translucent
and iridescent tones enclosed a cold rationality, forming a strange whole.
The bridge of the nose, straight and smooth, naturally drew onlookers'
attention to his lips. Despite having a bright smile on his face, the tension
did not diminish. Human eyes cannot lie, so the feigning side had to be
those lips drawing the lines from start to finish.
Although he had a pretty face in general, he couldn't help but feel
uncomfortable with it. When their eyes met, Kwon Taekju felt as if the air
particles around him froze. His eyes, as if searching for prey while
remaining silent, were nothing like the eyes of a human.
He motioned to Kwon Taekju, who stood frozen in the doorway.
"Come in."
The chief guest was completely bewildered. Kwon Taekju shook his head
and took off his jacket. Suddenly, he shook his head as the thick aroma of
cigars wafted over him, and although it didn't smell that bad, he felt deeply
annoyed. He didn't know if it was because of the residual image in his mind
from their first encounter.
Perhaps oblivious to the expression of dislike on Kwon Taekju's face, he
stretched out his arm and asked for a handshake.
"I'm Jenya."
(n/t: aka my new husband, thank you next..)
Kwon Taekju stared at Jenya's hand, which was stretched out in front of
him. Was this the one that pierced a person's eyeballs? He was thinking
about that, but suddenly, that hand stretched out in front of him, and without
realizing it, he shuddered and grabbed his upper body.
The white fingertips stopped just in front of Kwon Taekju's left breast. For a
moment, he was unable to breathe properly due to the unusual tightness in
his lungs. The fingers, which had been immobile, soon shook as if they
were taunting Kwon Taekju. The tension that had been building up was
released, but a look of disgust still spread across Kwon Taekju's face and
when Jenya let go of his hand, he flinched as if he had bitten it.
"You don't seem to be in a good mood."
"Why wouldn't I be? But I might feel better after beating the crap out of you."
He gritted his teeth and his lower jaw contracted.
He must have taken it as a joke, so he just smiled and let it go.
"So, what's your name?"
"You know."
"I have a hard time pronouncing it. Isn't there something easier?"
"If it's hard, why don't you give me a name?"
At his blunt reply, Jenya gave him a stern look. His lips were still a long
curve, and her eyes glittered extraordinarily. Thus, silence filled the place
for a moment, and being watched by him without any countermeasures
quickly made him
uncomfortable.
After a while, he broke the silence by saying, "You went to the police
station, didn't you?" He smiled cheekily as if he had forgotten everything
that had happened before. Kwon Taekju remained looking at him but
without responding. No, rather warily.
He didn't want to show him the slightest sign of weakness.
Jenya didn't mind and got up from the table and headed to the minibar. He
rummaged through the small bottles of alcohol displayed there and pulled
out a whiskey, drank it, and shrugged.
"No need to be so alert, I was just helping out a fellow in distress."
Talking about unusual things as if they were normal.
He kept a close eye on Jenya and confirmed it.
"Since when have you been watching?"
"Since forever, since the beginning."
Did you mean that you were at the airport from the beginning, watching for
the right time to establish contact, and then following and rescuing Kwon
Taekju when he was kidnapped? If so, why didn't you reveal your identity at
that time?
Jenya suddenly smiled. He seemed to sense the question from Kwon
Taekju's facial expression.
"The head office told me to wait patiently until today. Even if they weren't
treating you badly that day, there was no reason for me to show up earlier."
Whiskey-soaked lips stretched to the max and the embarrassment he had
been trying to suppress came to the surface. He thought that this power that
was far from human was a different kind of alien power, but it was actually
about his partner. Kwon Taekju was wounded.
"Making a very bad first impression. Showing how to poke people's eyes
out."
He clicked his tongue and replied. Now he knew Jenya was his partner,
there was no reason to doubt. He and Kwon Taekju are a team. That fact
alone made the fear he had felt for the first time in his life disappear. The
sudden criticism made Jenya twist his lips and boo.
"Why be an unjustified pacifist?"
"I like things clean."
"You say you like things clean but you use a gun. If things go wrong, is that
bomb? So cold, no affection."
He shakes his head with a disgusted expression, then taps his temple with
his finger.
"Think about it. Everyone wants to be special, right? Even the moment he
stops breathing, he wants it to be sacred. But, if his death ended up simply
listed as "death by gunshot" in a corner of a newspaper article, how empty
and trivial would that be? At least, if you pierce both eyeballs, it will take up
a little more space and make it special. Aren't good things good?"
It was sophistry. The sophistry of a psychopath trying to justify his unjust
misdeeds. Kwon Taekju responded with a sarcastic comment as if he didn't
believe it.
"If the day comes when I'm at your mercy, do me a favor and kill me in a
boring way."
"Mmm. It'll be hard, but I'll think about it."
He pauses as if it's something to think about.
"Don't worry," he says and adds.
"Because if you don't hurt me, that won't happen. Even if you look at it that
way, it'll just be about self-defense."
"You sound like some kind of unjustified pacifist."
He returned the same words with which he had earlier taunted him. He
laughed and threw down the whiskey he was drinking. The small bottle was
already more than half empty. Without hesitation, Kwon Taekju brought his
mouth close to the bottle and drank the remaining alcohol in it, feeling
tingling on his tongue and a burning in his throat.
At that moment, the phone rang inside the jacket he had taken off. He put
down the empty bottle and pulled out his phone. Once again, there was a
picture sent from headquarters. As he waited a moment, a stingy-looking
Russian filled the screen.
Is this the 'Psych Bogdanov' he had been warned about earlier? He
guessed vaguely, but suddenly Jenya reached over and snatched the
phone from him.
"I heard I should be careful, do you know this guy?"
Jenya, who was reviewing the photos with narrowed eyes, nodded.
"Of course. I know him well. Very well."
"How do you know him?"
"You'd better not mess with him. I haven't seen anyone come out looking
good after messing with him."
"Morgan's death is related to this guy?"
"By Morgan, you mean that American from earlier? Well, he might have
done something crazy, but maybe not. Never mind, you didn't come here for
revenge did you? Leave him alone, let's just focus on our work."
"All that continues to come out of your mouth are the words of a madman.
He was a great man you can't even imagine."
He shook his head reluctantly, and Jenya just smiled.
For a moment, he even wondered if he was that idiot, Bogdanov, it seemed
like something I could believe right away.
Anyway, if there was nothing good to be gained by tangling with him, it was
better not to run into him. There was no point in worrying about someone he
hadn't even met yet. Right now, he had to focus on the task he had been
assigned.
"I hear you're very familiar with the political structure and money flows
here."
"Of course. I can fill you in on anything you want."
He seemed the type to brag about the knowledge in which he had great
confidence. Since he was now stuck with an unwilling partner, he thought it
would be a good idea to pick up and eat as much as he could. Kwon
Taekju, who had been entangled in trouble since the first day, hoped that
things would be resolved without much trouble now.
Kwon Taekju gave instructions with a relaxed face.
"First of all, I would like you to select those who are related to the arms
trade. Whether it's those who finance them, the actual developers, or the
businessmen who buy and sell them, everything. Because if we want to
meet 'Anastasia,' we have to get into the palace first."
At the mention of 'Anastasia', Jenya's eyebrows twisted slightly. It wasn't an
obvious enough change to notice right away.
But for a moment, he nodded his head obediently in understanding, then
gathered his coat and stood up.
"Then tomorrow, when you're ready, we'll talk again."
Kwon Taekju stood behind Jenya. He doesn't know why he sounded so
happy to leave. Kwon Taekju followed closely behind him with the urge to
expel not only Jenya but also his unmistakable smell. So, he reached out
his arm and opened the door for him.
Jenya obediently stepped out, and instead of telling him to scram, he
dismisses him with, "See you tomorrow."
Then, he pulls on the door, expecting it to slam shut in front of him but it
doesn't. Looking down curiously, he can see the tip of a pointed shoe in the
crack of the door. Kwon Taekju looks at Jenya with a questioning face, he
then squints his eyes and lowers his upper body slightly. Only then did their
eyes meet.
"I'd like to see what you look like under all that
leather."
His voice mixed with laughter sounded ominous. Kwon Taekju frowned and
looked at Jenya, who only smiled again, straightened his torso, and crossed
the hallway. Kwon Taekju watched him all the way and then closed the
door.
2.6 New Mission

When he reached the elevator, the door opened immediately. He made eye
contact with the man already inside and Jenya stood in front of him with his
back turned.
Inside the elevator that was rapidly descending to the second floor, the man
behind him suddenly opened his mouth.
"What do I have to do?"
Jenya confirmed, the number of floors slowly decreasing. The corners of his
lips contracted slightly as he pondered. Then he murmured in a languid
tone.
"Blow it all up. Don't leave any tunnels or pathways through which I can
escape."
******
"....?"
The doorbell rang in the morning, and Kwon Taekju took a few moments to
check the time before putting on the artificial skin. The table clock read
8:00 AM. It was still a long time before the scheduled cleaning, and today
there is no official schedule for the visiting delegation. Will it be Jenya? If
that's the case, he's more diligent than he looks.
After grooming his skin, there was a knock on the door
.
I was about to ask who it was, but he identified himself first from outside.
"Room service."
She opened the door with a puzzled expression.
Sure enough, she hadn't misheard, there was a special cleaning cart in the
hallway in front of her room. An employee dressed in the hotel uniform
greeted politely.
Kwon Taekju shook his head and looked down the hallway.
It was early, so the surroundings were quiet. Meanwhile, he blocked the
employee by asking if he could come in.
"I think you came to the wrong room."
"That's correct, this is room 911, sir."
"I've never ordered room service."
"Ah, someone else sent me."
Someone else? Maybe Jenya, would it have been that guy?
"The CEO of Gazprom."
"Ah," he said, laughing as if it were absurd. Even as a partner, he was no
different from an assassin. What kind of recognition did he expect from a
guy like that?
And if this was sent by the CEO of Gazprom, would it be an apology for
yesterday?
would it be an apology for what happened yesterday? Not only did he not
attend the lunch he had arranged, but even his representative did not show
up. If he refused, I would contact him again. No need to draw unnecessary
attention to himself by being rude.
He nodded and motioned with his head for him to enter.
After a brief bow, the clerk familiarly pushed the cart and the food brought in
was left on the table by the window. The clerk, who had even set out the
dishes neatly, stepped back and asked if I needed anything else. I had not
expected this kind of luxury in the middle of the operation.
All the dishes were covered with silver lids.
Still, the subtle smell made it possible to tell that Russian-style soup,
borscht, toast, egg dishes, fruit and coffee had been prepared.
As I slowly examined the table, a card placed in the note holder caught my
attention. There must have been an obvious greeting written on it. With a
grimace, he picked it up and read the contents: there was only one word
written there. The four letters of the alphabet were etched with fire in his
eyes.
[Boom.]
Shit.
He immediately threw the card away and ran for the door.
There was no time to judge the situation. That was the moment when Kwon
Taekju, gritting his teeth, jumped with all his might until his fingertips
touched the doorknob.
The air instantly expanded with the tremendous explosion. Regardless of
his will, Kwon Taekju's body flew and crashed into the side wall, and
immediately after that, the ground he was standing on collapsed under his
feet. The force of the explosion shattered the windows at the front of the
room and smashed the furniture.
The ceiling vibrated and a shrill alarm began to sound throughout the hotel.
The people staying in the hotel stopped all their actions for a moment,
squinted and looked around to see what had happened.
"Kyaaah!"
"Aaaaaaaaagh!"
Almost simultaneously, everyone thought "terrorism".
Immediately after that, no matter who did it first, everyone ran out in a panic.
The voices of the staff trying to calm the guests were completely drowned
out by the screams coming from all directions. As everyone ran toward the
narrow exit, collisions large and small occurred, after all, they didn't hesitate
to push and knock others down to get out first. One person running down
the stairs fell, and those following him jumped or ran over him.
If there is a living hell, this is it: Fear so extreme that it paralyzes reason.
The situation calmed down after the arrival of firefighters.
Once the fire was under control, a fully armed bomb squad was deployed.
After hearing the news, reporters who rushed in broadcast the atmosphere
of the scene in a loud voice. The number of injured was high compared to
the size of the explosion, and most of the injuries occurred during
evacuation rather than direct trauma. Ambulances rushed in line and
transported patients without interruption.
In the midst of the chaos, a man was confronting the paramedics. At a
glance, the man who was most seriously injured was none other than Kwon
Taekju.
"Right now, he is so shocked that he doesn't feel any pain, he will regret it
later when he comes to his senses. Since he injured his head, we'd better
take him to the hospital right away for a CT scan right away. Lie down,
please."
The paramedic repeatedly looked at the stretcher and raised his voice. No
matter how many times he said no, he was fine, it was useless. Kwon
Taekju sighed wearily.
"Well, I'll mind my own business," he said, "and you can take care of your
other patients at a time like this."
"I'd like to leave a stubborn bastard like you alone, but I can't because of my
principles. If I get a pay cut because of your misguided words,
will you take responsibility?"
"I'm bleeding, yes, but what if it's not a serious wound?"
"That's for the doctors to decide."
Acting like a crazy person, jumping up and down. He's not lying when he
says he's really fine, it's just that his forehead is slightly torn and that's why
blood is flowing. It's enough to sterilize a bit and put a bandage on it, he
might need stitches for hemostasis, but at most a few stitches. There was
no way there would be any downside to delaying treatment. Still, the
paramedic in front of him was being stubborn-who the hell was being
stubborn now?
He tousled his hair with a grumpy expression.
He had the left side of his chin in an unnatural position, as if covering it, that
because the force of the blast had peeled away the artificial skin
surrounding it. The paramedic didn't let that go unnoticed.
"Are you hurt there too? Let's take a look."
He pushed away the approaching paramedic's hand with a punch. The
paramedic's eyes widen at the furious reaction, however, he was not
angered by the blow to the back of his hand, instead, his expression only
became more serious. Now, he seemed convinced that the impact of the
accident had caused an abnormality in Kwon Taekju's mental state. The
paramedic nodded in understanding and patted Kwon Taekju on the back
and then called his partner. A partner, who had been watching the long fight
between the two for a long time, rushed over. They grabbed his arms on
both sides and urged him to lie down on the stretcher.
Profanities escaped his lips. He was so upset about getting a gift bomb this
morning, but this is getting out of hand.
If they take him away like this, he'll find out he's not Hiro Sakamoto.
The hospital must already be swarming with cops at this point, and he can
only imagine the consequences if they find out about his camouflage in that
place. He shuddered just imagining it. It was implausible. Absolutely not.
"I'm fine, really. See, I'm fine."
Kwon Taekju made a show of walking briskly in place, but the paramedics
did not even pretend to pay attention. They laughed and said:
"Okay, let's try walking like that in front of the doctor." That's all they did.
Then, Kwon Taekju turned around. There are too many eyes watching, at
this moment he can't knock them all down.
Kwon Taekju, who had been dragged away without countermeasures,
suddenly looked at the spectators. It was as if he had seen a familiar face
amidst the clouds of people who gathered in the
surrounding area. Suddenly, Kwon Taekju's eyes fixed on him and the
person watching him turned around hurriedly. It was a very suspicious
gesture.
Kwon Taekju changed his mind and obediently complied with the
paramedics' request.
As he made his way to the ambulance on his own, he again felt an
indiscreet gaze upon him. He looked back and, this time, the unknown man
disappeared behind the crowd. His heart skipped a beat when he caught a
glimpse of his face.
It was him. Psych Bogdanov. He is a figure well known as the most
dangerous person in the nation, and you have been repeatedly warned not
to run into him if possible.
After a moment of surprise, a dark question settled in his mind. Why is he
here? Why?
Did he just happen to be passing through this area at this hour? No, that
was too far-fetched.
Rather, traditional orthodoxy was more compelling: The criminal must
present himself at the scene of the crime he caused. It would not be
unusual for him to do something like that. He just wondered why. Had they
figured it out yet?
After much speculation about this and that, Kwon Taekju came to the
conclusion that he had to leave. The explosion had blown up his Colt and all
his belongings, and even if he ran into Psych, when he did, it wouldn't be
now, that he only had bare fists. Only a madman would do something like
that in broad daylight, so he thought it would be best to head quietly for the
hospital and escape at the right time. Having done his calculations, he left,
climbing into the ambulance.
Psych Bogdanov suddenly approached Kwon Taekju. The guy who glided
flexibly through the crowd and unexpectedly wore a white coat. It was
identical to that of the paramedics. He put on a white face mask that
covered him up to his nose and nonchalantly made his way to the driver's
seat of the ambulance. It was obvious that she would end up in the same
car as him. Dangerous. His instincts screamed loudly and incessantly in his
head.
Suddenly, he shoved the paramedic and jumped out of the car.
"Hey!"
The paramedics, who had fallen out, screamed. The commotion made
Psych Bogdanov jump out from behind the wheel. Kwon Taekju kept his
eyes fixed on him and backed away slowly. He, too, walked toward him,
with a grim face. Both eyes on his face cover intensely.
Kwon Taekju gritted his teeth and ran in the direction where the crowd was
gathering. As he pushed his way through the crowd, cries of protest arose
here and there. This is what he wanted. In the current situation, it was much
safer to be the center of attention.
Possibly because he was aware of the attention of the people around him,
Psych Bogdanov could not catch up quickly. He stopped for a moment and
then disappeared in the other direction.
Kwon Taekju quickly left the hotel and walked into the boulevard. His
opponent knew the geography of the area. He had to get as far away as
possible.
He was running for a long time, but suddenly, he heard the shrill noise of an
engine.
When he turned his head, he saw a jeep approaching fast. Because the
front glass was heavily tinted, it was difficult to see inside. Still, one thing
was was clear:
In the passenger seat was a man in a white coat, presumably Psych
Bogdanov.
After muttering a string of profanities, he immediately turned and entered a
narrow alley where vehicles could not pass. The jeep, which had been
pursuing him with momentum, stopped at the entrance to an alley. There,
the back seat door burst open and a man dressed head to toe in black
stepped out. At Bogdanov's nod, the man began to chase after Kwon
Taekju, waving the long hem of his clothes. Meanwhile, the jeep again
disappeared down the main road. He was destined to be chased from
behind and blocked in front.
As he ran frantically, he kept thinking about it. Why the hell is Psych
Bogdanov targeting Kwon Taekju? And unless he had discovered his
identity, his target would then be Hiro Sakamoto, is he also dissatisfied with
the contract between Russia and Japan?
Even if he struggled to guess, it was all the same.
If he wants a contractor as a hostage to exert his influence, he would be
better off kidnapping another member of the delegation, one with a higher
rank and more worth rescuing than Hiro Sakamoto. On his first day, Hiro
Sakamoto had been the only person involved in the contract in the country,
so he was worth kidnapping, but now things were different.
So, in the end, the one he is trying to catch is not Hiro Sakamoto, but Kwon
Taekju himself. why? The question stuck in his throat, but he couldn't come
to a conclusion.
He raised his head and looked around. He could see a spiral staircase
leading from the building across the street.
It seemed possible to escape the fate of being caught and ending up as a
poisoned rat if he climbed up the stairs to the roof or climbed over the railing
to the building next door. After drawing a route in his head, he made up his
mind.
However, the pursuer did not make it easy for him. With a roar, a bullet flew
out from behind him, flew past Kwon Taekju and scratched the outer wall of
the building. As if they had read Kwon Taekju's plan, he opened heavy fire
around the stairs.
He tried to climb up the ventilation duct of the adjoining building, but he was
also shot.
"Shit!"
Gritting his teeth in frustration, he began to run once more, and the man
doggedly pursued him as well. Even if he ran until his lungs burned, there
was no way out in sight. How could this place be so quiet when gunshots
could be heard on the side of a major highway during the day the country
was born? He took a second turn, cursing the Russian police for their
laziness. The road, narrow enough for one person to pass, was connected
to the boulevard beside the river. He hadn't anticipated the current chase,
but it was good to know the road conditions.
In his vision now blurred from running, he could see the boulevard
stretching out in front of him, with a fair amount of traffic on it. Just a little
more, just a little more. Kwon Taekju shot out taking long strides with both
legs. He seemed to have been running without any rest since he arrived in
Russia.
It was when he had just exited the narrow alley and was entering the main
street that a car suddenly stopped and ran into him. It was Psych
Bogdanov's jeep that he had just seen and behind him, his henchmen were
still closing the distance.
Kwon Taekju opened the driver's door forcefully and then closed it. The
driver who was trying to get out crashed into the road and was run over,
taking advantage of that moment, he flexibly jumped onto the hood as if he
was sliding, but in
but in an instant, the passenger door opened. Hitting it, he lost his balance
and stumbled. The moment he fell, he managed to roll out into the next
lane, but the situation was about to get worse.
A motorcycle was speeding down the lane, and when the driver suddenly
saw Kwon Taekju appear in the middle of the road, he quickly braked.
However, the distance between the two was too short to stop. Kwon Taekju
even had the strength to lift me up, but he reflexively crouched down. There
was a prolonged flash as the front wheel of the motorcycle, which was trying
to stop suddenly, brushed against the road. The Psych group, who were so
far driving to Kwon Taekju, also closed their eyes tightly as if sensing the
worst.
A tearing sounded. There was a thudding sound, followed by a rubbing
sound. For an instant, the surrounding noise evaporated. However, the
expected impact did not occur.
".....?"
Kwon Taekju slowly opened his eyes. The rear wheel of the motorcycle that
had barely managed to stop was spinning right in front of his nose. The
motorcycle, which rammed its front end into the jeep, was in a state where
the rear end had lifted up and flashed due to the impact of the collision. The
moment of emptiness felt disturbingly long.
He quickly dodged and moved to the side. It was a move strictly based on
pure survival instinct. The rear of the motorcycle, which had been
momentarily lifted in succession, fell with a thud. Had he moved a little
slower, the rear wheel would have crushed his head.
After almost dying and coming back to life, he felt numb. His eyelids
fluttered incessantly and even his sweat-soaked body tingled and ached.
How many times had he been on the brink of death since this morning?
Someone grabbed his limp body, which was lying on the floor, and lifted him
up. It was one of Psych Bogdanov's subordinates. Psych Bogdanov
grabbed Kwon Taekju's other arm and muttered under his breath as he
consciously examined his surroundings.
"Stop making so much noise and go in quietly."
A fist landed in his abdomen without warning. His stomach twisted and
regurgitated and then lost all his strength as he was being dragged away.
The group put Kwon Taekju, who was inert, in the back seat and Psych
Bogdanov sat next to him. One after another, all the doors of the jeep
slammed shut. Then they continued down the road as if nothing had
happened.
Still, after all that had happened, there was still not a siren to be heard, let
alone the police.
Kidnapper's paradise. Even in the midst of his daze, he laughed at the
absurdity of it all.
What was going to happen now, would he end up like Morgan, with all ten
fingers cut off and drowned? It was an ending he had never thought of.
It was at this moment of despair that he suddenly remembered an existence
he had forgotten all this time: Jenya, and where was the son of a bitch? The
sound of spinning propellers could be heard from far away.
"That's him!"
Shouted the man in the seat next to him. Kwon Taekju squinted his eyes
and looked out the window. A helicopter was flying in the sky in front of the
jeep. He could see a long-legged figure hanging from the helicopter.
It was a blurry shape, but it was definitely Jenya.
The man in the passenger seat immediately opened the window and
opened fire. Meanwhile, Psych Bogdanov reached under the back seat. The
object he was about to pull out hit Kwon Taekju in the heel.
It was a bazooka.
"Open the door."
At his command, the window of the back seat rolled down. He completely
pulled his upper body out of the window and aimed the helicopter. If he hit
the shot, it would disintegrate 100% in midair.
Kwon Taekju threw himself at Bogdanov, but was unable to stop the shot
itself. It was because the man in the passenger seat pressed the barrel of
his gun against his temple. Reluctantly, he raised his arms and pulled back.
Immediately after that, the bazooka went off with a loud bang. The impact
sent the moving car rocking from side to side.
The helicopter raised its altitude sharply to avoid the flying projectiles. A
projectile from the bazooka that narrowly missed only grazing the tail of the
helicopter, went through the air and crashed into a poor building. One side
of the building shattered as if struck by a sledgehammer. As if waiting, the
helicopter also opened fire and Jenya was firing mercilessly and without
pause with the machine gun he was carrying.
Kwon Taekju deeply bent his upper body, and Psych Bogdanov did the
same. The driver who was gripping the steering wheel was a helpless victim
of the shooting. The body of the car also became like a beehive.
The steering wheel twisted as the driver's body fell leaning over it, and as a
result, the body of the car also tilted sharply to one side. The man in the
passenger seat, groaning from the gunshot wound, rushed to grab the
steering wheel, however, the vehicle crashed into the guardrail and fell into
the river.
".....!"
2.7 New Mission

"......!"
Kwon Taekju didn't have time to shout, his vision was already spinning. The
sound of escaping air could be heard from all directions, cold water rushing
into his nostrils and ears at the same time. The river was rushing in through
a window that had been shattered by the shooting. Kwon Taekju was
suffocating, but he tried to regain his composure and waited for the
environment to calm down. Soon, his breathing stabilized.
Psych Bogdanov was also conscious. He watched him for a moment and
then calmly swam out the open window. As that was the only way out, Kwon
Taekju followed suit.
It was at that moment that another shot was fired from out of the water.
Kwon Taekju backed away and hid inside the body of the car. He could not
be sure because his eardrums were blocked, but it appeared that the
helicopter had descended to just above the surface of the water. The wind
from the propellers churned the water violently, and at the same time, his
breathing began to become unsteady again.
Not only that, bullets were still raining down. The bodies of the driver and
the man in the passenger seat, already dead, were being pierced and torn
to pieces there helplessly. His vision was blurred by the blood that was
spreading like ink on water. That man wasn't helping in any way, did Jenya
not know that Kwon Tae-ju himself was in the car? It seemed he didn't,
firing his machine gun with the intention of sparing the life of no living thing.
He's crazy, he's out of control.
He growled in frustration as he narrowly dodged the flying bullets. As he
waited for the gunfire to cease, he slowly ran out of breath. His lungs
throbbed as if they were being torn apart by the lack of fresh oxygen, and if
he didn't get to the surface fast enough, he would suffocate before they
managed to shoot him. The fierce shooting stopped just in time. The
shadow of a figure hovered over the water's edge, assessing the situation,
but it did not appear to have finished its attack.
Kwon Taekju swung his legs over and climbed out the window. He's only
about 3 or 4 meters from the surface. He had to climb up before Jenya
decided to start shooting again. He gritted his teeth hard and pushed
through the water with great force, but in an instant, the body that had been
rising was suddenly being dragged down.
He looked down and saw Psych Bogdanov grabbing his ankle. The guy was
scowling as he stared at Kwon Taekju, and as if he had failed to dodge a
bullet, red blood was gushing out of his left arm.
He kicked the guy in the face mercilessly, and the hand that had been
holding him down fell as he continued to throw kicks. But that wasn't the
end of it, because he soon grabbed Kwon Taekju by the neck again and
went down. It was a gesture of desperation, of immense persistence,
probably because he did not want to die alone.
He grunted in frustration as he narrowly dodged the flying bullets. As he
waited for the gunfire to cease, he gradually ran out of breath. His lungs
throbbed as if they were being torn apart by the lack of fresh oxygen, and if
he didn't get to the surface fast enough, he would suffocate before they
managed to shoot him. The fierce shooting stopped just in time. The
shadow of a figure hovered over the water's edge, assessing the situation,
but it did not appear to have finished its attack.
Kwon Taekju swung his fist at Psych Bogdanov, and as the latter ducked to
dodge it, he wrapped it around his neck in one swift motion. His whole body
twisted as he was strangled. He had lost a lot of blood from the bullet
wound, so he didn't have much strength to do much. His situation wasn't
much better, as it was also a problem that he was running out of breath.
Kwon Taekju squeezed the arm holding Psych tighter. Clawing at his arms
and twisting his whole body, Psych, who was struggling with him, convulsed
for one last time and dropped his limbs. A few more seconds passed before
Kwon Taekju let go.
The huge body, which had stopped moving, fell.
He watched as its white face slowly sank, then broke through the water.
As soon as he surfaced, his entire body swelled. The breath he had been
holding came out in frantic bursts, and as his lungs sucked in the fresh air
as hard as they could, his chest and airways tightened. Both eyes were
wide open.
It wasn't until some time later that he became aware of the terrible cold. His
mouth that had opened to exhale air began to grind as his teeth clashed
and chattered. He knew he had to get out of the water first, but the last fight
had sapped whatever strength his limbs had left. All he could do now was
try to keep his whole body afloat. At that moment, out of nowhere, someone
unexpectedly grabbed Kwon Taekju by the back of the neck and pulled him
out.
"...coughh...cough!.."
He coughed the water out of his lungs. He coughed for a long time, his
throat burning and his head spinning. The stomach that had been hit by
Bogdanov also throbbed. Clutching his stomach, Kwon Taekju managed to
sit up with his upper body leaning forward. Although his eyelids trembled
violently, his vision cleared to finally reveal two straight legs in his field of
vision. As he groped from the bottom up, he saw from the pointed toe of the
shoe, to Jenya's smiling face.
"Did you manage to stay alive?"
"Thanks to you, I almost died."
He coughed again and muttered furiously. "What about him?"
"He stuck to me like a water ghost, so I pushed him off and threw him
away."
"That's good," Jenya retorted. Kwon Taekju glared at him and then stood
up. Condensed water dripped from all over his body, and the wet skin was
rapidly freezing him from the outside in.
His lungs were failing, and even if he inhaled as much air as he could, his
breathing continued to be choppy. He needed to get warm as soon as
possible.
He was about to go somewhere when Jenya suddenly blocked his path.
"That's pretty grotesque."
"What?"
He turned around and watched as he pointed at his cheek. He followed his
finger and inadvertently touched his face. It looked like the artificial skin was
torn and tattered from the explosion and subsequent traffic accident. Kwon
Taekju moaned softly and touched his peeling skin. Jenya's gaze follows
Kwon Taekju's moving fingertips. He had said it was grotesque, but in
reality, he was curious about how it would feel to rip off someone else's
skin.
Ignoring him and reaching the main road, the wind from across the river hit
his whole body.
His teeth started chattering again and he looked at Jenya, who before he
knew it, had pulled up beside him. He coveted the thick coat he was
wearing. Kwon Taekju flinched and glanced at him, but he merely glared at
him with an expressionless face. There was no sign of kindness on his part
to offer his coat to his companion, which would not be strange if he froze
immediately.
Kwon Taekju took a languid step, pretending to be oblivious to Jenya's
interest. And the latter followed him quietly and said, "Why don't you take it
off, or do you want me to?" He couldn't even laugh at the superficial
manipulation.
He quickly gave up and signaled to the rapidly approaching cab. The cab,
which had begun to slow down slowly at Kwon Taekju's call, sped past him.
Was he worried about getting his seats dirty? Kwon Taekju wondered if he
had been surprised because of the passenger's miserable appearance.
Three or four more went by and the same thing happened. Every time he
failed to get a cab, Jenya would burst out laughing. He did nothing to help
him but made fun of everything he did. By now he was gradually losing
feeling in his fingertips and toes.
"No matter how you look at it, this is why."
Jenya, who had been watching the whole time, teasingly interjected. When
he shot him an irritated look, Jenya tapped his cheek again with the tip of
her finger and asked, "Do I have to insist?" Actually, no. No, he was too cold
to think about it.
Seeing that guy paying too much attention, Kwon Taekju also started to
worry. He carelessly fumbled with the leather hanging in the wind, and then,
something flew near his face. He reflexively dodged it and swatted it away.
It was Jenya's outstretched hand, which stopped in the air near Kwon
Taekju, and at that moment, their eyes met. Jenya's expression no longer
looked as innocent as before. His eyes narrowed slightly, and there was a
flicker of interest in them.
"Why don't you take that off?"
"And you why do you keep meddling and insisting on it?"
He replied in disgust, but Jenya didn't seem to mind and reached out again.
"Don't," he said, grabbing his wrist to stop him and pulling his head back.
But the next moment, Jenya's other hand swooped down and grabbed him
by the chin.
"......!"
Before he could react, the tattered skin was ripped away. All the skin that
had been irritated from the adhesive on the surface shuddered and Kwon
Taekju frowned at the excruciating pain.
He opened his eyes, which had been closed for a moment, as he cursed.
Jenya, who was standing in front of him, had an expression as if he had
encountered something unfamiliar. His pale light blue eyes moved slowly as
he examined Kwon Taekju's face piece by piece. The guy who had been
staring only at his face fixedly for a long while immediately scanning his
entire body before turning his gaze back to his face.
An unintelligible smile spread across his lips. For Kwon Taekju, such a
reaction was even more puzzling. It was just his real face, he would have
already seen it in a photo. Of course, anyone may feel that the picture is
different from reality, and they may not be familiar with Kwon Taekju's real
face because they have become accustomed to Hiro Sakamoto's
impression. But even so, is it still something you have to look at so clearly?
Being watched so closely is strange, but somehow it felt like he was
standing in front of Jenya without a single thread of clothing on him. The
feeling that not only his naked body, but also the thoughts and feelings
contained within it were being revealed to these intense eyes lingered. It
was unnecessarily intimidating and unpleasant.
Suddenly, Jenya's lips moved. His voice didn't sound quite right. At first
glance, he thought he was saying, "This is more... better." or something like
that.
The wind blew again and Kwon Taekju squeezed Jenya's hand, which was
holding his shoulder. Then, suddenly realizing what he was doing, he pulled
his hand away.
Returning to the road, Kwon Taekju tried to hitchhike. However, there was
not a single person willing to help the soaked and suspicious foreigner at
first glance, so countless cars sped past him without stopping.
Just when he no longer felt the cold, something touched Kwon Taekju's
shoulder. He turned his head slightly and saw a smooth, shiny card. Holding
the card between his thumb and forefinger, Jenya was tapping Kwon Taekju
with the corner of it.
"What is it?"
"In case there is more surveillance or monitoring in the future, I want you to
dig a burrow and stay hidden and silent."
"A burrow?"
Kwon Taekju thinks he just heard a strange saying. Could the Russian word
for 'burrow' have another meaning that Kwon Taekju himself does not
know? For example, 'tiger's den' or 'wolf's den'?
(n/t: Jenya is referring to a hiding place for people. That's why Taekju thinks
Jenya must have used the word ' burrow ' wrong. Because to him it doesn't
make much sense. )
At that moment, an unfamiliar ringing sounded.
It was Jenya's cell phone. He checked the caller ID to verify who it was and
when he answers, he says, "What's up?" His voice was different than usual.
It wasn't the sweet or friendly tone he always used, but a colder, drier one.
The tone, quite low in itself, seemed that of a completely different person.
" Well, I'm on my way."
After listening to what the other person was saying one-sidedly, the call
quickly ends. Kwon Taekju was staring at Jenya. Since he was his partner,
he thought he would tell him who he was talking to on the phone and what
was going on, however, Jenya did not say a word and stretched his arms
across the road.
Soon a cab pulled up in front of him. Before Kwon Taekju could even ask
where he was going, he climbed into the back seat, closed the door, and
then simply drove off.
"......."
Kwon Taekju stood there, feeling lost and in disbelief. His clothes were
soaked and stiff from the cold, making him feel as if he couldn't put them on.
His hand was shaking as he held the card Jenya had given him. He didn't
know where to go to get to safety. He had no idea where he was. The cabs
kept speeding away, all reluctant to pick up Kwon Taekju.
Once again, the Moscow winter wind was blowing on him. He had no
strength left in his body to protect himself from it. As he watched the cars
speeding by, feeling desolate, his stomach growled. Now that he thought
about it, he hadn't even had breakfast today. This seemed like a movie. His
destitute situation in this distant and unfamiliar land made him feel sad all of
a sudden.
*****
In the end, he found lodging near the riverbank.
The ramshackle inn was a world away from the five-star hotel he had stayed
in at the invitation of the Russian government. They had several room
types, but Kwon Taekju was desperate for a hot bath, so he opted for the
most expensive one. When he walked in, however, he couldn't understand
why it was more expensive. Does the price just depend on the presence or
absence of windows? The tiny room contained an old bed barely big
enough for one person and a side table with a broken leg. Exaggerating a
bit, there was a television the size of the palm of his hand, he wondered if
that thing turned on. He couldn't even dream of something like Wi-Fi.
Of course, none of that would matter to him as long as there was running
water. As soon as he got in and managed to remove the clothes clinging to
his body, he stepped under the shower. To thaw his frozen body, he turned
the water temperature valve all the way to the hot water side. However, the
expected hot water only came out when he had already finished showering
due to the friction of the cold water.
There wasn't even a regular bathrobe, so he stepped out with a large towel
wrapped around his waist.
Something scurried in the sudden silence. Cockroaches. At least three or
four. They seemed to be mating and laying eggs even in Siberia, where
temperatures ranged from minus 4 to 50 degrees Celsius.
He shook his head and threw himself on the bed without hesitation, and
dust was rising from the mattress as if it hadn't been cleaned in years. The
mucous membranes of Kwon Taekju's nose and throat were tingly and
irritated. Because of this, he did not get up even though he started
coughing. He didn't even have the strength to move a finger.
The bed creaked every time he moved or rolled over, and it wouldn't be
strange if it collapsed immediately. Still, Kwon Taekju decided to take a
deep breath and try to rest. His body felt heavy and his head felt too dizzy.
He thought that if he closed his eyes for a moment, his mind would clear.
But before he knew it, both eyes were blurry.
With a grunt, he closed his eyelids and counted the days. It was time to
contact his mother, however, his cell phone and everything he had was
gone, so what was he supposed to do now?
As he slept, Kwon Taekju imagined what it would be like to completely lose
contact with his mother. It would be fine for a day, but after a few days, his
mother would leave the house to see him in person, and the day she
realized that Kwon Taekju was not just any civil servant, she would be
devastated and sick. She might cry, screaming that she would rather have
left first, rather than see him become like her father or older brother.
No way. No. Kwon Taekju raised his upper body, picked up the phone from
the desk, and made a call to the lobby. For some reason, there was no dial
tone, even when he hung up and I tried again, and then he pulled the phone
cord, just in case. Sure enough, the phone showed an electrical cord that
looked like it had been gnawed on by a mouse.
His irritation flared and he threw away the phone he was holding. Nothing is
going his way today.
What do I have to do? He ran a hand through his wet hair, but there was
only one option. seeing as he was half wet, he didn't dare put his clothes
back on. Instead, she wrapped a towel around his waist and walked
painfully to the second floor with only the lower part of his body being
covered.
Contrary to his concerns, he did not encounter any other guests. The owner
was dozing at the counter. A knock on the counter startled him awake.
"Ah, you startled me. What's going on?"
"I'd like to make an international call."
"That's going to cost an arm and a leg, are you sure?"
"Never mind. I pay by card, is that possible?"
The owner nodded curtly and pulled out an international calling phone from
inside the counter. It had not been used for a long time and had gathered
dust.
After familiarizing himself with the basic instructions, Kwon Taekju picked up
the handset. He first entered the payment-related information and then
successively dialed the country code and home phone number.
Soon the beep began to sound. The mother quickly answered the phone. "
Hello?" The voice on the other end didn't sound right. It sounded like she
had become very worried again.
"It's me. Did you call me?"
As she guessed, a barrage of questions came in. Why did you keep quiet,
what happened to you, and were you sick? His mother became overly
concerned as if they had gone several days without communicating. Kwon
Taekju was already used to it, so he reassured her with a few "yes, yes" to
put her mind at ease.
He was able to end the call only after first promising to call her every day.
He was exhausted. Kwon Taekju squeezed his sore eyes and tried to
mitigate his fatigue. As he sat there, he suddenly felt hungry. It seemed that
he needed to calm his aching stomach first before he could go to sleep
comfortably.
He looked back at the innkeeper. Yawning heavily, he gave him an annoyed
look.
"Are there any decent restaurants around here?"
He stood up, clearly annoyed by the question, and with a few slight hand
gestures, pointed to the location of a restaurant.
The owner was about to sit down again when he was interrupted. The towel
tied around Kwon Taekju's waist came loose. The towel fell to the ground
before he had a chance to stop it. He turned to the owner, who was looking
at his torso, and asked one more thing.
"I think I'll need some clothes too."
2.8 New Mission

Kwon Taekju sat in the empty restaurant and looked around for a while,
wondering why such a shabby place had been mentioned to him among
any other restaurant. Maybe it's a hidden gem that only locals know about?
Kwon Taekju tried to convince himself of that, but when he saw the
restaurant owner, he changed his mind. If the owner of the inn was called
Ivanovich, the owner of this place could be Ivanova. Their hairstyles were a
little different, and if it weren't for that it would be hard to tell them apart.
The menu seemed to be non-existent. They didn't even take separate
orders. The owner, who had left him alone with his thoughts, suddenly
brought out dishes without even Kwon Taekju asking for them. There was
cabbage soup, borscht*, and Russian-style dumplings called pelmeni.
Curiously, the guy points to one side of the wall. Scrawled there were the
words 'Coffee, Vodka and Kvas'. He opted for the traditional drink, Kvas**,
and tried the food first.
(n/t: *Borscht: Typically associated with Eastern European cuisine, it is
made with beets as the main ingredient, along with other vegetables such
as carrots, potatoes, onions, and cabbage.
**Kvas: It is a traditional fermented drink and is made with sugar, rye bread,
or malt and has a slightly sour taste with low alcohol content).
As soon as he took a bite, he was overcome by the unmistakable smell of
mutton. Vegetables, however, were the main course. As he frowned, he
forced himself to eat the food. When he was thirsty, he drank kvas.
While chewing his food, Kwon Taekju organized his thoughts. It was clear
that his problems had started since he arrived in Russia. There was no way
this situation would have ended up going so badly otherwise. From the very
beginning, he was assigned a mission for which he was not qualified, and
so, just on his first day in Russia, he was kidnapped; on the second day, he
lost all his belongings in a terrorist attack; and just recently, he almost died
in many different ways.
Moreover, his partner had not helped him at all, and actually, it had been
fortunate not to have been killed by him earlier. He had never had such bad
luck in his life, so why did it all come crashing down at once?
Although his stomach churned, he tried to keep his composure. It was
useless to lament about the past, it would be more constructive to think
about the future. First, he had to report his survival to headquarters, update
them on the progress of the incident, get more support, and then get
moving. Given that he was suddenly in Psych Bogdanov's crosshairs, he
couldn't be sure that he was the only one targeting him. It's not too late to
assess the situation, even if safety is assured.
How do I get in touch with headquarters? The communicator had
disappeared, and it was highly classified that Kwon Taekju himself was here
at this time. Not only the Korean immigration authorities, but even the
embassies do not know. During his stay in Russia, Kwon Taekju's identity
was strictly Hiro Sakamoto. However, it was impossible to visit the
Japanese embassy.
Impossible. No matter how he thought about it, the only way was through
Jenya, but the problem was that he didn't even know his contact information
yet. It was daunting to think about how to meet with him since he only
showed up when he wanted to without promising when or where. He didn't
seem to have any plans either. Why was he content to simply give him the
card?
Kwon Taekju himself didn't even know where to go.
"My stomach."
Putting down his fork, he raised his head. Once full to a certain point, he
didn't feel like swallowing any more bad-tasting food. He picked up the
check and headed for the counter. At that moment, a distinct ringing of a
bell sounded from the entrance behind him. Two policemen entered.
The owner of the restaurant seems to be very close to them, exchanging
friendly greetings. They find a table and sit down. The owner familiarly
pours them drinks and vodka and stood chatting at their table for a while. It
wasn't long before the owner came to the cashier.
"That's 3000 rubles."
(n/t: Between $36-37.)
The amount he was asking for was exaggeratedly ridiculous, considering
how late it was and the service. Even if it was 1,000 rubles, it would be too
much. The look of audacity on his face was so shameless it was almost
brazen. Everything from the food to the prices was unsatisfactory to him, but
he had no energy left to argue. After all, it wasn't even his own money.
Not wanting to make any fuss, he handed over his card. The owner visibly
frowned and reluctantly took the card when he told him he had no cash. As
they waited for the payment to be processed, there seemed to be a problem
with the machine. The owner, who had swiped his card several times,
looked at Kwon Taekju and immediately walked over to the police officers'
table. Then, while looking at Kwon Taekju, he whispered something.
Immediately, his eyes met Kwon Taekju's eyes. But, for some reason, their
looks didn't seem friendly. Were they talking about him?
Soon one of the officers stood up from his seat. Kwon Taekju looked at the
man who approached him with a confused face.
"Is there an issue?"
"Let's talk for a minute, sir."
Meanwhile, the other policeman approached as if surrounding him and
grabbed Kwon Taekju's arm. What was happening now was simply absurd,
these baffling and nonsensical things happening to him seemed to have no
end.
There must be some kind of misunderstanding. Misunderstandings are
usually resolved through calm conversation. The only problem was that he
had removed his artificial skin, so he couldn't say he was Hiro Sakamoto,
and with his current appearance, he couldn't pretend to be Hiro Sakamoto.
Kwon Taekju also cannot make his true identity known. He has to avoid
going to the police station at all costs.
Should he resist and escape? It would not be difficult to fight the two with
bare fists. However, he feared that running away would only serve him to
end up being charged with some unknown charges and even end up
making enemies with the Russian police. It was not a good idea to increase
the number of pursuers while in hiding.
First, he would calmly ask what they wanted.
"Shouldn't you know why?"
"I think I should at least know why you are doing this."
"The card you were about to use has been reported stolen."
What, no way. I'd had no trouble using it at the hostel before. The owner
showed the card reader to an unsuspecting Kwon Taekju. Sure enough, it
displayed a warning message.
"Come on, don't waste our time, let's go."
The policeman absently urged Kwon Taekju, who was dumbfounded. What
do I have to do? If he let them take him to the station, he would be in trouble
in more ways than one. With the loss of contact with headquarters, it was
difficult to request any kind of support. After all, it seemed the only option
was to subdue the two men and escape. As he thought about it, the
policeman who had urged him to go with him tried to handcuff him. At that
moment, he raised his arm.
Bang!
He struck the policeman in the face with the back of his hand and then
elbowed him in the chest.
The officer, who had a good physique, grabbed his nose and chest and
collapsed helplessly. Blood gushed from between his thick fingers. The
fellow cop who was watching the scene rushed at him with wide eyes.
"You bastard!"
He shook off his grip and kicked him in the stomach when he heard the
distinctive doorbell ring. Kwon Tae-ju, who raised his long legs in the air in a
not-so-peaceful gesture, and the officer who was about to react, stopped
moving in unison.
It was Jenya, who arrived just in time. His heart was relieved to see a
familiar face. Everything would be all right now that the owner of the card
was here.
He abandoned his attack stance and straightened his body. Immediately
after, the agent facing him lunged and knocked Kwon Taekju down. In an
instant, his wrists were bent behind his back and handcuffs were placed on
him. Kwon Taekju lay helpless on the ground, where he struggled
helplessly. As he looked for a way out, he looked at Jenya, who only looked
at him and nodded, as if telling him to quickly resolve this damned situation.
Jenya was just quietly looking around the restaurant. He was probably
assessing the situation himself, but shouldn't he choose the right time and
place to devote to leisure? The agent pulled him up with a jerk. The officer
who had cuffed both of Kwon Taekju's wrists took a deep breath and asked
his colleague, who had just stood up if he was all right. The officer, whose
nose was bleeding and swollen, chuckled and approached Kwon Taekju.
His venom was evident in the way he patted his back.
Kwon Taekju stood his ground without moving a step. With both eyes, he
looked intently at Jenya, who was still contemplating.
"Don't move!" the big policeman exclaimed excitedly. However, when Kwon
Taekju did not move, he raised his hand in a gesture to punch him. Just as
the merciless fist was about to strike his face, something swiftly blocked his
path.
...Kuck!
His vision had been blocked, so he couldn't tell what was happening, but
before he was aware of it, Jenya positioned in front of Kwon Taekju like a
wall and was holding the neck of the policeman who had lunged at Kwon
Taekju with one hand. He squeezed so hard that the officer's face turned
blue for a moment, and his bulging eyes looked like they were about to roll
back at any moment. Jenya released him as if he were pushing him away,
and, with that simple gesture, the burly officer trembled faintly. His face and
neck were stained bright red as the blood circulated rapidly.
"Let me take a look for a moment."
Jenya said quietly, looking at the officers. The two officers, who were on
duty, faced each other with unfamiliar faces. After a long pause filled with
stares, one of the officers nodded and motioned with his head for him to
follow. Jenya looked at Kwon Taekju and followed him outside.
Meanwhile, Kwon Taekju was sitting near the window. Through the window,
he saw Jenya talking to the policeman. He continued the conversation
casually, with a business smile from time to time. It was not easy to guess
the content of their conversation just by looking at their facial expressions. It
was because the police officer with him had his back turned, and his
backside invaded her field of vision abruptly.
Soon after, Jenya and the officer returned to the restaurant. Kwon Taekju
looked at Jenya as if seeking an explanation, but the latter merely shrugged
his shoulders and turned away. The officer who had gone out with him did
not give any particular explanation to his curious colleague either. He simply
gestured with his chin toward Kwon Taekju and gave some unexpected
instructions.
"Let him go."
He looked at Jenya, unsure whether the conversation had gone well or not.
Immediately, the handcuffs were removed from his wrists.
The two officers said their goodbyes and left the restaurant. The owner, who
had observed the whole situation, bowed his head. Like Kwon Taekju, he
was confused.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing. I gave him some money to pay for his drinks."
Very doubtful. With an uncomfortable feeling, Kwon Taekju folded his arms
and examined Jenya up and down. The guy smiled lazily and easily met his
gaze. He was always like that, but there was something strangely
intimidating about him, and it was hard to shake off the suspicion that this
carefree demeanor was not his true nature.
He may look relaxed, but he's not a relaxed person. He may be bold and
brash, but he doesn't move without thinking. Kwon Taekju wondered how
he had found him, but in that brief moment, he must have thought of this.
The first thing he would have done is track down the location and where his
card was, and if that didn't work, he would have reported it stolen, as he did
now, without a shred of consideration and embarrassing his partner in the
process. His character is not simply bad, because as much as it was the car
Bogdanov was in, he had been shooting recklessly despite the fact that his
partner was clearly in the same vehicle.
Jenya was unfazed by Kwon Taekju's suspicious looks. Instead, he
behaved brazenly, as if to say, "Look all you want." His very presence
irritated him so much that he couldn't stand it and openly sneered.
"Why are you so busy, does it really have to be so hard to see your face?"
he asked.
"Why, do you want to keep me around?"
No. I want to tear off both of your ears and sew them back on with my
snout.
He smiled arbitrarily as he bit his incisors. His gaze, which had been fixed
on Jenya for a while, suddenly drifted over his shoulder. He held Jenya's
chin as he turned to look back. Then he looked Jenya in the eyes again and
pursed his lips slightly.
"That guy over there has been staring at us like a madman since earlier, do
you think he's following us?".
"...Oh?"
"You're careless."
"What should we do?"
"Let's get rid of him."
"Then stay here. I'll take care of it and come back."
"If you need help, let me know."
"Thanks, but I'll pass."
He responds with a smile on his face and leaves. As Jenya walked out of
the restaurant, the guy, lurking hidden in an alleyway startled. Jenya walked
towards him, waving the hem of his long coat, and the startled pursuer
dropped his knife.
Jenya slowly followed him and soon the two disappeared from Kwon
Taekju's sight.
Only two or three minutes later Jenya reappeared, and when he did, Kwon
Taekju frowned. It was because the long coat he was wearing had
disappeared.
"Where's your coat?"
"I threw it away."
He didn't ask why. He had a vague idea why. However, Jenya insisted on
explaining the circumstances of the coat.
"It's because it got dirty."
Kwon Taekju turned his gaze to his fingertips. Even if he had tried not to, his
eyes were drawn to them. He pierced a person's eye with those fingers.
What could he have done this time? If he had to throw away his coat before
coming back here, was it for murder? He could have smashed that man's
nose and mouth and choked him to death. The thought of what he might
have done, irrational as it was, made him sick. Somehow he looked more
like Psych Bogdanov than the one who died in the river.
Jenya's fingers, the same ones he was glaring furiously at, suddenly
snapped. He flinched without realizing it and soon, a low chuckle erupted
next to his head. When he raised his head shakily, a mischievous grin broke
out on Jenya's face.
I don't like him at all.
Jenya handed something to Kwon Taekju, who was frowning deeply.
"Don't look away and look at this."
What he handed him was an invitation. There would be a banquet at the
Kremlin Palace to celebrate the signing of the Russo-Japanese contract.
The Japanese delegation and Russian dignitaries from all walks of life were
scheduled to attend. Kwon Taekju had also intended to infiltrate there as
Hiro Sakamoto, but all his plans were ruined by the unexpected terrorist
attack.
However, the date of the invitation was different from what he knew. It
seems that the schedule was rescheduled due to an unfortunate incident at
the hotel where the Japanese delegation was staying. Controls, searches,
and security will also be further strengthened.
How do we infiltrate? As he pondered, Jenya snatched the invitation from
his hand.
"This is just a facade. The real party will take place later."
"The real party?"
"Near the Kremlin is the Bogdanov family mansion. The patriarch's second
son maintains close ties with the president, and the family estate serves as
Gazprom's de facto representative in the state. Rumor has it that after state
events, they hold lavish parties at their mansion. These events are attended
even by those who have not been invited to the Kremlin, such as
underworld kingpins and the big fat cats who control the flow of money in
Russia. They are considered real VIP guests. They are authors who will do
anything to make money, so they are also quite useful sources of
information. Meeting with them might give us some clues about Anastasia."
"Could this Bogdanov be the Bogdanov we know?"
"Why not?"
"They're throwing a party like this even though someone in their bloodline is
dead?"
I couldn't understand. Psych Bogdanov's body should have been found by
now. Even if it's a national event, can you have a banquet in the courtyard
where there's a portrait of a deceased family member?
"Do you really think he's dead?"
"So you're saying he isn't?"
"Unfortunately, no. I investigated and found that only two bodies have been
found in that river."
Somehow, it was all too easy despite the repeated warnings he received.
Still, that guy was unconscious and bleeding profusely from the gunshot
wound, so he thought it would be difficult to recover. Besides, the river
water was cold enough to quickly suck a person's body temperature to the
point of freezing, as the banks were also icy. Surviving in such harsh
conditions meant he was no ordinary person, as rumored.
His survival meant he could be a target again at any time. It was an
unpleasant feeling, but Kwon Taekju managed to shake it off.
"How can you be sure we'll get clues about Anastasia there?"
As if he knew he was going to be asked that question, Jenya held
something out to him. It was an envelope folded in half. Kwon Taekju took it
and immediately checked the contents. It was a copy of an old newspaper
article and a list of names that could not be identified. It contained dozens of
Russian and Korean names.
I flipped through the names and then the copy of the article. Each obituary
described the death of a person on a particular day in the past, at whose
hands, and under what circumstances. For some reason, the names of the
deceased looked familiar.
He looked over the list again with a suspicious expression. His eyes
widened. Most of the names on the list matched those of the people in the
article. Jenya explained why.
"They were the people involved in Anastasia's development. They are all
dead now."
"Why did they die?"
"I don't know, why did they?"
He raised an eyebrow and asked. It was a rude expression as if he were
teasing an ignorant child. He had a vague idea of something, but he couldn't
be sure. The doubt in his mind prevented him from moving forward, so he
stomped on Jenya's shoe, urging him to answer. Jenya finally opened his
mouth after savoring the impatient expression on his face for a good while.
"Anastasia is a weapon of mass destruction like no other, and as such,
things concerning her are very much hidden. Everyone talks about
Anastasia, but most people don't even know what kind of weapon she is.
That's why they are so afraid of her because they don't know. Actually,
maybe that's Anastasia's real power; you don't know anything about her.
However, once it was finished, the story would be completely different. All
those who participated in the investigation would be scattered, and some of
them might even spread rumors about Anastasia's true identity; what she is,
and how she works. That can't happen, can it? Because Anastasia must
continue to be a terrifying and unprecedented weapon, both now and in the
future."
Kwon Taekju frowned; he didn't need to hear the whole story to realize the
connection between "Anastasia" and the list. Jenya nodded his head in
confirmation.
"Slaughtered, all of them. So that a weapon like that could never be
developed again."
For a moment, Kwon Taekju was speechless.
They were not killed for stealing secrets or changing their minds. They were
simply eliminated before they could even try.
I looked at the list again, dumbfounded. Then I noticed something odd and
protested.
"But...!"
"Yes, there are those who survived."
The list also included members of the Bogdanov family. But a few are alive
and well. Although most of those who participated in the development of
'Anastasia' died, how should we interpret the survival of these individuals?
As Kwon Taekju continued his reasoning, he looked at Jenya with a puzzled
expression. A smile tugged at Jenya's lips.
The Bogdanovs were clearly involved in the investigation of 'Anastasia'. And
on top of that, they were the only surviving members among almost all the
others involved, who were killed. Could this be proof that they were the
ones who eliminated the investigators? To completely seize the weapon
and prevent anything like it from being created again.
Jenya looked at Kwon Taekju, whose face had turned serious.
"What do you think, do you feel like enjoying a little party now?".
"...It's like jumping into a tiger's den. And do it naked."
Kwon Taekju shook his head and lamented. If Jenya's information was
correct, it was highly likely that the Bogdanovs knew Anastasia's
whereabouts. The problem was his own situation.
There was a party scheduled for tomorrow night, and even if he managed to
contact headquarters through Jenya, it was unlikely that he would be able to
get material support from headquarters in a single day. However, it was
impossible to infiltrate with his own face.
"I don't think headquarters has any preparation for this."
Jenya smiled and then stood up. As they paid for the meal and left the
restaurant, Kwon Taekju saw a convertible parked in front of him that
caught his attention. Its sleek exterior was identical to that of its owner.
Jenya grabbed Kwon Taekju by the arm and pulled him into the passenger
seat before speeding off down the road.
After thirty or forty minutes, the tall buildings gradually disappeared and the
crowd thinned out. What could there be in a place like this? As he looked
around in disbelief, the car stopped.
"Get out."
As he followed obediently, he examined the surroundings. No warehouses
or garages were visible. There was only an abandoned building that was all
collapsed. It appeared to have been a bookstore at first, but it had been
closed for a long time and didn't seem to have any customers.
Full of doubts, he followed Jenya. The guy striding forward manually
opened the shutter and entered. After him, Kwon Taekju entered the
building without a single light.
Jenya opened another inner door and disappeared down the dark stairs.
Without realizing it, chasing after him, Kwon Taek stumbled and almost fell
down. It would have been fine if he had been told that there were stairs, but
that person had no such consideration at all. Repressing his displeasure
with Jenya, he groped his way along the wall and continued down into the
darkness where he could not see an inch ahead.
Finally, his feet touched the flat ground. Although they were still in the dark,
he could feel the thick dust. Every time he moved, I felt a shiver run down
my spine and tickle the tip of my nose when the dust was kicked up.
But something was a little strange. In the basement of a bookstore, there
would normally be piles of old books, but there was no distinctive smell.
A moment later, the lights came on.
"......?"
Although objects could be made out in the light from the ceiling and
elsewhere, the space was still dark.
Frowning, Kwon Taekju slowly looked around the room. Before long, he
realized the source of the uneasiness he had been feeling all along: there
were large bookshelves all over the basement walls, but not a book in sight.
There was only an old telephone on an empty shelf.
Why would he have brought me here? As questions and frustrations welled
up inside him, Jenya walked over to the phone. He picked up the landline
and slowly turned the dial. 3, 9, 1, 6, 5. When the dial clicked back to its
original position after being dragged to "5," there was a mechanical sound
coming from somewhere.
Then the empty shelves began to rotate with a loud noise. As a result, the
dust that had accumulated spread out in a cloud of dust. Kwon
Taekju's eyes began to water so he closed them tightly, and when he
opened them again, the old shelves had disappeared. Instead, what took
their place was an elegant iron cabinet.
In its place was a sleek metal cabinet. The cabinet was filled with all sorts of
firearms, high-tech equipment, small bombs, and much more.
3.1 The Nuclear Man

The Bogdanov mansion was beyond imagination. Its size and opulence had
nothing to envy the Kremlin.
The blue roof resting on the white walls radiated a grandiose yet
understated aesthetic. The harmony of the soft curves unique to the rococo
style and the dazzling gold ornaments enhanced the elegant ambiance. The
precise circular stone staircase and imposing marble columns supported the
high ceiling. Even the imposing rigor emanated from the large, heavy
entrance door. The large, heavy doors exuded uncompromising austerity.
Localized lighting throughout the building gave it a dreamy ambiance.
The shadow of the front door deepened as it stretched across the lawn. The
gates, which had remained closed the entire time, opened silently past
midnight. Cars that had arrived in line, despite the late hour, crossed the
vast lawn.
The mansion was situated next to a large lake, so they had to travel further
distances even after passing the main gate. The dense trees lining along
the paths secretly concealed the interior of the mansion, like the walls of a
prison.
As the guests were of high status, security was tight. Each guest had to
obtain permission to enter twice: once at the main gate and once at the
point where the long driveway leading to the main garden began. Kwon
Taekju's car had to go through the same identification process.
An armed guard approached and knocked on the window. Following
instructions, the window was rolled down and the guard confirmed the four
pieces of information requested. These included whether the physical
invitation card had been brought, the name on the attendance list, the car
number, whether a companion had been invited, and the relationship to the
companion. Everything had to match what was previously reported, and no
exceptions were made.
"May I see your invitation card, please?".
He obediently complied with the request. The security guard moved a
reader equipped with a special lamp closer to the invitation envelope, which
soon revealed a mark that was not visible to the naked eye. The machine
recognized the mark and emitted a clear electronic beep. One after another,
security guards peered inside the car to check for passengers.
The invitation had been programmed with invisible processing to mask its
authenticity, as well as the recipient's data. When the reader recognized the
invitation's serial number, the individual's personal information appeared on
the monitor. The determination to keep unwanted guests away was evident.
"Thank you for your cooperation, sir," said the security guard after a quick
glance at the back seat and then retreating. There was traffic from the front
door to the garden entrance, and from the garden entrance to the front of
the mansion, but it was unclear what the cause was.
"What an amazing party we are spying on together." grumbled Kwon Taekju
with a bored expression on his face.
"And I'm the only one doing all these ridiculous things, is the world really
fair?". He grumbled as he looked in the mirror.
At that moment, his gaze met Jenya, who was sitting in the back seat,
rolling his eyes silently.
"I'm the one who's been invited, so it doesn't matter. There are only two
ways for an uninvited guest to attend the party; you can either pose as the
guest's chauffeur, as we are doing or pretend to be the guest's lover. If you
didn't like the first option, you should have chosen the second. It would have
been a show worth watching."
"Or you could take out one of the guards and change your clothes. With so
many heads, no one would notice if one of them disappeared, would they?"
"It's because you're the type to complicate things and then suffer. Unless
you're desperate, save it for a special moment."
He wasn't wrong. He didn't know how they managed to get an official
invitation, but there was no need to cause unnecessary commotion in the
garden when they already had an official invitation. He just didn't like the
fact that he had to serve Jenya as his boss, not even for a few moments.
Impatient, he wants to close the window. Even though there was a button to
open and close the rear seat window, this guy doesn't bother to lift a finger.
He looked at him through the rearview mirror and reluctantly rolled up the
window.
Finally, they arrived in front of the mansion. He parked the car to the side
and set the parking brake. Jenya hadn't moved the entire time.
"What are you doing, why don't you get out?
"That's what I was going to say - didn't you forget something?"
With an expression of what looked like incomprehension, he phrased the
question and gestured toward the backseat door. With a look of disbelief on
his face, he nodded his head, as if to say, "That's what I'm talking about."
There were many eyes watching outside the car. The employee hired to
valet was also approaching in their direction. There was no other option.
He sighed deeply and got out of the driver's seat. Then he circled the car
and opened the door to the back seat. Jenya got out, leaning his body
slightly. Perhaps because of his unusually leisurely movements, he felt his
gaze seem to stop on his face and sweep over it. One corner of his lips
lifted unreservedly.
"This way, sir."
The waiting valet guided Jenya with a respectful attitude. He quickly
followed behind them.
After climbing ten flights of stairs, they arrived at a large gate at least four
meters high. The guards opened the gates on both sides, revealing the
Bogdanov family mansion.
"......."
Inside, it was a completely different world from the outside. From the
moment one entered the spacious foyer, the visitor was overwhelmed by
the high ceilings and open halls, like an image straight out of a cathedral.
The pristine white walls and columns boasted a delicate elegance, and the
gold ornaments radiated the utmost nobility even in the smallest areas. The
light from the ornate chandeliers was of a warm golden hue that
involuntarily dilates the pupils. A mural on the ceiling perfectly
complemented the place without being overwhelming. On the drab walls
were statues large and small, placed to break the boredom while a small
orchestra played in the stairwell. Lively, subtle melodies filled the large
space without interrupting conversations.
"I feel like throwing up."
Jenya turned to look at Kwon Taekju, who was muttering to himself. He
seemed drunk with ecstasy, a rare thing, but he had a bored expression. Of
course, Jenya didn't expect him to appreciate the beauty of the place or feel
as if he had entered a fairy tale. He didn't seem to have a sense of
aesthetics, nor was he someone who seemed to want to set out to play
Prince in Blue.
Yet, even so, he could not believe that his first impression upon entering a
place he might not visit more than once in his life was none other than "I
feel like I'm going to throw up." After gazing at Kwon Taekju's
expressionless face for a moment, he averted his gaze and smiled.
Many people had already gathered in the main hall. They were chatting in
groups of three or four. Among them, there was one person who caught
Kwon Taekju's attention. It was the President of Russia. Although it was a
face he had seen countless times in the media, seeing it in front of him felt
surreal.
"Welcome."
As he took a moment to look around the room, a middle-aged man who
appeared to be an employee approached and greeted him enthusiastically.
The butler appeared to be the general manager of the banquet. Jenya
walked past him without a word and entered the room, however, a man
directly in front of him stopped him from following.
"This way for the gentleman."
He held out his arm and pointed to a side passage. At first glance, it looked
like a space used by hired employees. Kwon Taekju looked urgently at
Jenya, but he continued on his way without looking back.
He is always like this. He claims to be my partner, but he never helps when
he's in decisive moments.
"Let's go."
The butler urged him quietly. It was hard to bear the situation of being seen
as a mere chauffeur. But without further ado, he let them direct him to the
designated spot. After a last glance, Jenya was already mingling with the
other distinguished guests.
A stranger in the most exclusive club in Russia.
Jenya, I wonder who that guy really is.
Suddenly, Kwon Taekju's eyes sharpened. All emotions evaporated from
his stony face.
The place where they arrived with the butler's guidance was the storage
room next to the kitchen. It was used to accommodate uninvited guests,
including Kwon Taekju. As soon as he entered, the door closed behind his
back.
Those present looked at their cell phones as if they were used to being
treated like this. Some were playing chess and others were sharing jokes.
What was the point of bringing hired help to the mansion? Wouldn't they
have been better off staying in their cars? If he had to guess, he'd say it was
to be prepared for a possible call from their employers. He clicked his
tongue at the sheer ineffectiveness of the scene. It was a relief to have
something to do, unlike them.
Now that the party was in full swing, it was a golden opportunity to pry
secrets out of them and to do that, he needed to get out of there and back
to the main hall, where the important people were.
But I didn't have a good excuse. As a chauffeur, he would have to ask
permission even to go to the bathroom. Any rash move would immediately
raise suspicions about his identity. Was he to trust Jenya and wait? No, no,
that wasn't going to happen.
He paced around the door, trying to figure out how to get out. The
employees looked at him curiously but quickly lost interest. If he got out
quietly, no one would notice.
When he was sure no one was watching him, he quietly opened the door.
He cautiously opened the gap, careful not to let the hinges squeak. Through
the crack, he detected signs of alcohol and food. He waited for the right
moment and slipped out, quickly closing the door again. He didn't stop
feeling tense until his hand was completely away from the doorknob. Only
when the door was firmly closed did he release the breath he had been
holding. Kwon Taekju was the only one in the hallway full of bustling
energy.
He had to figure out how to get back to the main lobby before anyone saw
him. He started walking with his back to the kitchen. Not far away, he could
see a hallway turning to one side. Everything was clear.
"Where are you going?"
He heard an unwelcome voice ask. Kwon Taekju stopped in his tracks and
turned around, there was the butler from before. He had a look full of
suspicion as he watched Kwon Taekju, so he had to get an excuse.
"I need to go to the bathroom."
He tried his best to look as calm as possible. It was a physiological problem
that any human would understand, but the butler's suspicions were not
easily dispelled. He examined Kwon Taekju without saying a word. He
looked at him unflinchingly, even lifting the corner of his lips.
As a man who had grown up dealing with so many people, it was not easy
to deceive him. His suspicious eyes seemed to pierce his skin like glass.
It didn't take him long to flag down a waiter coming out of the kitchen.
"This gentleman, please take him to the bathroom."
"I'll send him right away," but he still looked uneasy. The waiter approached
Kwon Taekju and said, "Follow me, please." Unfortunately, the restroom
was located in the opposite direction of the lobby. He bowed to the butler
and followed the waiter.
The restroom was located near the kitchen and appeared to be used
primarily by employees. On the way, he scanned the ceiling, walls, pillars,
windows, and every nook and cranny of the place, but there didn't seem to
be any video surveillance cameras in sight.
"Here it is. Come in, please."
The waiter cocked his head and turned around. Kwon Taekju, who had
been dutifully making his way along the wall, suddenly grabbed his
shoulder.
"Why....?"
"I think you should take a break." "What?"
The waiter put on a puzzled expression.
However, it didn't last long. It was because Kwon Taekju hit him in a vital
point unexpectedly. The waiter, who flinched from shock, quickly regained
consciousness, but when he did, Kwon Taekju dragged him into the room.
After a while, Kwon Taekju came out looking like a perfect waiter and
pushes the door of the room where the original owner of the clothes was.
There, the sound of something falling inside was heard. It was the sound of
a broom leaning against the opposite wall after crossing the door. It would
be a while before they found the waiter, and he would have to take care of
everything in there.
He headed for the kitchen without delay.
"Whiskey, come on! Where's the canapé man, these bastards aren't moving
fast enough!".
Outside, a fancy party was in full swing, but the kitchen, on the other hand,
was a battlefield. The head chef, a grumbling, military-looking man, handed
Kwon Taekju a tray of malt whiskey as he entered the kitchen. He also
pushed him in the back, telling him not to play dumb. Then, Kwon Taekju
was kicked out again.
It was embarrassing, but it was a good opportunity to get into the party.
Kwon Taekju closely followed another waiter. Thanks to that, he was able to
get back to the main hall without getting lost. At the entrance to the foyer, he
encountered the butler again, but the butler raised his tray over his shoulder
to cover his face.
By then more people had already gathered in the hall. Although they were
all in the same space, their expressions and situations were different.
On one side, some were discussing serious national issues with serious
faces, while on the other, a mixture of men and women were laughing
loudly. The children who had been dragged to the event were snoozing,
eating, or sitting completely still, like dolls. None of them had the innocence
you normally see in a child.
He wandered among the guests, offering them malts and, naturally,
listening to the conversations going on. Perhaps because it was too open
space, interesting things weren't being talked about. Though it was certain
that someone here would know Anastasia's whereabouts.
He decided to narrow his lenses. The special lens he wore on his left eye
would briefly show the identity of a particular person if observed for more
than three seconds. For example, if he stared at Lomonosov for three
seconds, the words "Valery Antonovich Lomonosov, President of Russia"
appeared in a corner of his field of view and then disappeared.
Kwon Taekju slowly scanned the faces of the guests by slowly turning his
left pupil. They were a mix of presidential and government officials, world-
famous tycoons, and infamous mobsters.
" That looks great on you too."

3.2 The Nuclear Man

As he was superficially scanning the scene when suddenly, Kwon heard a
familiar voice. When he turned his head, there he was, it was Jenya
standing next to him. He reached out and took a swig of single malt scotch.
He seemed to be smiling, perhaps because of the attention he was
attracting from those around. From time to time, he offered a drink to those
who passed by them both.
As he swirled the liquor in his glass, he murmured.
"Isn't this a strange place? It's so crowded, but there are no real people
around here."
He was about to say, 'What?' And for a moment, he wondered if he had
misheard me, but then he realized his possible mistake in this situation and
shut his mouth. He looked at Jenya reluctantly, and Jenya calmly put the
glass to his lips and changed the subject, pretending that Kwon Taekju had
not almost made a mistake.
"The man who is now with Lomonosov is Vazim Visarionovich, the second
son of the Bogdanov family. He is known to be one of the president's
closest confidants; they ride horses together at least once a week; he has
the most influence among the Duma deputies; all public projects that are
created in Russia must pass through his hands before they are approved by
the president."
Come to think of it, the head of the Bogdanov family is the de facto head of
Gazprom. No wonder the president's closest confidant and influential Duma
deputy* is his second son, Vazim. It was understandable how the
successful conclusion of the contract with Japan for the construction of
energy facilities had gone ahead, and how the Bogdanovs were the biggest
beneficiaries.
(n/t: Duma: The lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, the
legislative body of the Russian Federation. It has the power to pass laws,
approve the budget, and approve or reject the appointment of the Prime
Minister and other senior government officials).
Jenya quickly emptied his glass and set it down on the tray. As he took
another, he pointed to an elderly man.
"That man in the wheelchair is Vysarion Romanovich, the real boss of the
state-owned Gazprom. The Bogdanovs are where they are today thanks to
that old man's control over the energy industry. The country has survived so
far thanks to the abundance of resources that became a golden goose and
a source of financing and economic support immediately after the collapse
of the Soviet Union. The president may rule Russia, but it is oligarchs like
him who really run the country."
The reality was that the Bogdanovs were much more important than he had
imagined, and he was now curious about the rest of the clan. Kwon Taekju
narrowed his eyes and looked around for Vladimir Visarionovich,
Bogdanov's eldest son. Not finding him, he poured a glass of single-malt
whiskey and offered it to Jenya. Jenya smiled complacently and accepted
the glass meekly and said, "Oh, here it comes."
Turning his head in the direction of Jenya's gaze, he saw a man coming
down the stairs, shaking hands with distinguished guests. Unexpectedly, he
gave the impression of being of a sensitive attitude because of his small
build.
"I heard that Vladimir, the eldest son, will take over the family business.
When Vysarion Romanovich dies, he will become the most powerful energy
tycoon in Russia. Slaves beget slaves and kings beget kings, and he is
already attracting more attention in the industry than his father ever did.
Some say the family business will reach even higher levels in his hands."
"Everyone is picking up the pieces. So what about Psych Bogdanov, is he
some kind of bastard son that Vysarion Romanovich fathered outside the
family, Thugs don't exactly fit the image of the 'Royal Family'?"
"Not really, technically he's a civil servant."
He looked at Jenya again. Again, he thought he'd misheard. Either that, or
he had made a joke that wasn't funny, but instead, he just looked at Kwon
Taekju with a straight face.
This is ridiculous. The man who tried to kidnap an innocent foreigner was a
government official. A man who casually pulls out a bazooka in broad
daylight, in the middle of the city, is a government official? A dog walking by
would laugh.
But Jenya did not correct himself. He merely added something else about
Psych Bogdanov.
"He's in the arms business, he's well versed in that," he says, "and he's
quite witty. There won't be anyone who doesn't know him in the underworld
where the private arms trade thrives."
The underworld was the world of the mafia. It is no secret that the mafia is
an emerging force in the Russian economy. Previously sustained by illegal
activities such as prostitution, human trafficking, drug distribution, and
violence, the mafia moved into the arms industry in the early 1990s. The
results have been more than beneficial, and the arms industry, along with
the energy industry, is now one of Russia's golden eggs.
Most of the weapons developed in Russia are traded through the mafia.
This is because they can make higher profits than if they followed formal
and legal procedures furthermore, it is impossible that the government was
unaware of the existence of the markets through which the state-of-the-art
weapons were sold. They either turned a blind eye or acquiesced willingly.
As long as the mafia was a powerful source of funds, they were brothers,
not enemies. The Bogdanovs were proof of that.
Before Vysarion Romanovich, the Bogdanovs never stood out in the
business world; rather, their rapid and accelerated rise came in the years
immediately following the collapse of the Soviet Union, a period of rapid
growth for new tycoons and conglomerates. At that time, the underworld
mafia, which was a hotbed of crime, was taking advantage of social
upheaval to expand its power into the political and economic spheres. It
may sound far-fetched, but to assume that the Bogdanovs had roots in the
mafia explains everything. Even the circumstances under which they had to
live under the radar until the 1990s.
It also explains why Psych Bogdanov is often referred to as the "core" of
Russia. He has enemies in the royal family but his two feet are very much
dipped in the underworld.
In other words, he has become a bridge himself so that the two divided
economies can communicate smoothly.
Could it be that he was responsible for Anastasia's development and that
Morgan had been killed for approaching him with that speculation? He had
no proof, but it was a disturbing thought.
As I continued to reason furiously in my head, Jenya suddenly said, "The
glass is empty." As he implied, the tray was full of empty glasses. Any other
waiter would have returned to the kitchen before the dishes on his tray ran
out, to maintain the solemnity of the party, but he was so engrossed in
Jenya's story that he lost track of time. Out of the corner of his eye, he can
see the butler from earlier looking at him uncomfortably from the kitchen
hallway.
"I have to get back."
"Why don't you listen to this story first? I saw Psych Bogdanov come up a
while ago. Alexei Perov and Yuri Levin followed him slyly."
Alexei Perov and Yuri Levin are Russia's defense and foreign ministers.
They and Psych Bogdanov have a secret meeting. I had to find out what
was going on.
"I will provide covering fire, so keep your communication device on. "
As he was about to hurry back to the kitchen, Jenya's request continued to
haunt his mind. For some reason, listening to the tone of his voice as he
said his request, it seemed to imply that he was in the mood for some sort
of entertaining event, which made him uncomfortable about having to trust
such an unpredictable person. He shook his head and hurried across the
lobby.
"Wait a minute."
He tried to look away and pretend he hadn't heard him so he could walk
past him, but the butler guarding the hallway called out to him. He lifted the
tray to cover his face.
"Have you forgotten the instructions? For the dignity of your master, move
faster."
"Yes, sir. I'll keep that in mind."
"If it were me, I'd take one more step instead of wasting time answering."
He grabbed him and reprimanded him even though he was the one who
stopped him. Kwon Taekju controlled his anger and walked briskly down the
hallway. The chef's shouts were still echoing loudly in the kitchen, and the
waiters were being rushed out of the place with new food, too frightened to
leave their trays empty or talk back. As soon as Kwon Taekju set foot
inside, someone snatched the empty tray from him.
He quickly scanned the interior. It didn't take him long to notice that there
was a pile of food waste in a corner of the kitchen that would not disappear
or be touched by anyone. That food debris caught his attention. While
another waiter was busy getting the chef's attention, he walked over to the
counter. The chefs in each section were busy chopping ingredients,
preparing the food, plating, and garnishing, so no one paid much attention
to him.
He could see how, while they were in the final finishing stages if a sauce
was misplaced, the food was mercilessly tossed into that corner with the
rest of the garbage. In the end, the waste would overflow and spill out onto
the floor.
According to the plan of the mansion, there was a door leading from the
storage room to the backyard of the mansion. Since garbage was usually
dumped in a place that was not easily visible, there was no place as
suitable for it as the backyard.
He lifted the heavy bucket. The kitchen staff was too busy to pay attention
to anyone else, so he was able to circle widely around the counter and into
the storeroom. Directly opposite was a side door. Since the door closed
from the inside, he had no trouble getting out. The only thing to worry about
was the tight security outside because as soon as he opened the door and
stepped out, a security guard stopped him.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's because of the garbage... If we don't take care of it right away, our
chef will explode."
The guard looked alternately between Kwon Taekju and the bucket he was
carrying. Then his gaze flew past him and into the storeroom, the chef's
hysterical screams echoing through the open door. Through the open door,
the hysterical screams of the chef could be heard in the kitchen. The
security guard nodded complicity, gesturing for him to leave. He bowed his
head and headed for the garbage disposal.
As he threw out the food scraps, he glanced around the building. If the two
ministers and Psych Bogdanov were holding a secret meeting, the second
floor, where the party was in full swing, was not a suitable place. Of course,
even excluding the entire first, there were still plenty of spare rooms.
Taking a general look around the entire mansion, Kwon Taekju fixed his
eyes on a room at the end of the third floor. It was midnight and the curtains
were closed in all the rooms, but for some reason, that room was the
exception. He didn't know why, but he felt uncomfortable walking past it. He
thought it was a good idea to take a look around if only a little.
He traced a rough route. Since there were too many watchful eyes inside, it
would be better to move from the outside. The backyard was relatively
quiet, and the shadows of the building were large, so it was a good place to
hide. Of course, the guards had to be gotten rid of first.
Kwon Taekju picked up the empty bucket and headed back to the
warehouse. The security guard from earlier was still looking around the
area. He turned around unsuspectingly as Kwon Taekju approached.
That's when it happened.
"...Agh!"
The security guard's head was smashed with the trash can. Being suddenly
blinded, the guard reached for his weapon, but Kwon Taekju kicked his
hand away with his knee, and the stray weapon flew into the air and landed
firmly in Kwon Taekju's hand.
As soon as the bodyguard threw the trash can over my head, I punched him
in the face. The bodyguard let out a loud groan and collapsed, holding his
nose. The blow had broken his nose. Grimacing in pain, Kwon punched his
opponent in the gullet, knocking him unconscious for good, then cornered
him against the outer wall and hid him in the shadows of the building. I
looked around, but no one seemed to notice anything suspicious.
Now all that was left for him to do was to climb the building. He had two
options. He could rappel down a rope from the roof or climb up from below.
Luckily, the cumbersome exterior offered plenty of places to climb. The front
was annoyingly well-protected, while the security at the back was weaker.
Shall we go up then? Kwon Taekju rolled up his sleeves and took his watch
off his wrist.
Pointing at the structure in front of me with the front of the watch, I pressed
a button on the side of the watch. A nylon cord shot out, slicing through the
air. Pulled the cord as it snaked over the building, to make sure it was
securely attached. It must have snagged on something because the whole
cord went taut.
He pushed the side button again. The watch's motor started up and
rewound the rope to a set length. Kwon Taekju leaned on his left arm and
began to climb up the outer wall as if climbing a rock. He slipped a couple of
times due to his smooth shoes with slippery soles, but it wasn't a big
problem. Rather it was the severity of the climb that was taking its toll on
him as he climbed. The watch was squeezing his wrist tightly. It wouldn't be
a problem even if it slipped off his left wrist because he could hold it with his
right.
It was a nylon rope capable of lifting a large swordfish. It didn't break easily,
although, of course, there were always exceptions. If it snagged on an
ornament or sharp material, no matter how strong the rope was, its strength
could not be guaranteed. Such was the case now.
Suddenly, the sound of a bowstring snapping echoed in his ears. At the
same time, the painful pull on his left arm slackened.
".......!"
I'm falling.
Kwon Taekju closed his eyes tightly, anticipating the impact that was
coming. His vision was blocked in an instant. His whole body reflexively
shrank and all his senses were put on edge, even the hairs all over his body
stood on end.
However, the pain of the fall that he had been expecting for a long time, did
not come.
3.3 The Nuclear Man

He slowly opened his eyes. Kwon Taekju's body was hanging in the air.
Just as the rope broke, he barely managed to grab onto the window sill of
the third-floor window to avoid falling. The nylon rope holding him fell to the
ground with no way to pick himself up.
He breathed a sigh of relief. It was dangerous. He waited for his temporarily
tense muscles and nerves to stabilize, then used sheer strength to pull
himself up onto the window sill, holding his breath as he surveyed the room.
"...ha."
He could not hide his despair. The room at the end of the third floor was
empty. There was no sign that anyone had been there.
He turned his head to the side and examined the other rooms. Given the
size of the mansion, each was considerable. Even on the same floor, no
one could move easily. Kwon Taekju wondered if he would be able to find
Psych Bogdanov and the two ministers in the time allotted. Just as he was
beginning to get the idea that it might be an early meeting, a crackling noise
echoed in his ears.
【- Hello. Where are you?】
Jeyna's voice rang out. Only then did he remember the existence of the
communication device. He sat on the windowsill for a moment and sighed.
"I'm having fun playing."
【- If you've been having fun, sharpen your hearing from now on.】
I was about to say, "What are you talking about?" when suddenly heard a
door opening which was followed by a loud slamming of the door. I couldn't
make out the words, but I instinctively slowed the sound of his breathing
and concentrated on the sounds. Along with the sound of the door, a small
conversation could be heard intermittently.
The recognizable voices were all different, but there seemed to be at least
three people participating in the conversation. The voices transmitted
through the communication device were altered, so they were different from
the actual voices, making it difficult to confirm whether Psych Bogdanov
was there or not. He decided to listen to their confidential conversation
some more.
【- What is the progress of the SS-29?】

【- I'm still waiting to hear from Sonchev. They say they are looking for an
expert to fix the SS-29 bugs, and judging by the fact that they didn't even
attend the party tonight, they are pretty busy with that. They say they'll be in

touch soon, so we'll have to wait and see what happens.】

【- What does North Korea say about this ruling?】

【- They say it is an unexpected problem. They had no such errors in

experimental research.】
A smile of conversion crossed Kwon Taekju's face. In Russia, the
designation "SS number" was mainly used to refer to intercontinental
ballistic missiles or ICBMs. For example, the formal name of Satan, the
Soviet Union's most powerful ICBM, was officially designated "SS-18."
Therefore, there was a good chance that the "SS-29" now being talked
about was such a weapon.
The "Sonchev" mentioned in the conversation is a Slavic mafia group. The
"SS-29" weapon appeared to be currently in the hands of its dealer. He
must have some close connection with the Bogdanov family; otherwise,
such a plot would not be taking place today, at the Bogdanov mansion.
Moreover, North Korea seemed to be involved in the development of the
weapon - could the "Anastasia" be the "SS-29"?
【- What about the Americans?】

【- It's still all quiet. The murder of the sneaky rat that snuck in must have
made them suspicious, but what can they do? They're still in a position where

they can't even deal with retrieving the corpse.】

If the sneaky rat was the late Morgan, then everything fits: nuclear weapons
secretly developed by Russia, North Korean involvement, U.S. surveillance,
and the elimination of the spy. All the pieces fit. However, it is only a
suspicion, and there is still no concrete proof.
There was a pause in the conversation. Kwon Taekju heard a series of
doors opening and closing. Someone else had entered. Who was it? Kwon
Taekju conjectured vaguely as Jenya recounted the situation in the room.
【- Bogdanov has just left the room. He claims to have to take a call.】
Kwon Taekju shook his head in disbelief. Suddenly a question popped into
his head that he hadn't realized he had while eavesdropping. Where is
Jenya right now? How does he know so much about Bogdanov's actions?
"How did you do it?"
【- A woman named Olga offered to show me around the mansion earlier. I
thought, why should I refuse? I followed her and stuck a microphone in the

lock of the room where these people congregated.】

'Olga' is the youngest daughter of Vysarion Romanovich. Olga
Visarionovich.
At this point, I was more curious about Jenya's identity than Anastasia's.
What the hell was he doing to be invited to a party like that, let alone
allowed to wander the halls of the heavily guarded Bogdanov mansion?
"Where are you now?"
【-In the subway control room.】
"What are you doing there?"
【- I'm watching. They're watching...】
The conversation paused briefly before continuing.
【- You almost fell head-first from the third floor.】
A laugh was heard and Kwon Taekju immediately turned his head in search
of something. He soon saw a CCTV camera installed on a corner of the
outer wall. He brazenly pointed his middle finger at the shiny lens. Then, a
resounding cackle erupted from the other end of the communication device.
Jenya, who had been laughing hysterically, humorously asked him why he
was there.
【- What the hell is he doing there?】
He didn't answer him. He didn't have a good excuse.
He looked at his watch and it was almost three in the morning. Psych said
he had to leave to make a call. Kwon Taekju wondered if it would be an
important call, which should take priority over official business. Naturally, his
mind went back to the part of the conversation he had overheard earlier.
"The call that Psych went to answer, was it from 'Sonchev'?".
【- Well, I don't know, but it doesn't hurt to check. While touring the
mansion, I noticed that there is a landline phone at the end of the second-floor
hallway. There is also one in Bogdanov's office. Of course, they are on
different lines, so any calls going directly to his office will only be answered

there.】
"But you'll make sure he can receive them, won't you?" he asked, looking
down. The place he was referring to was not too far from his current
location. It was right in front of the door to the room below. Access would be
a matter of surveillance, but it didn't seem difficult.
【- Okay. If you can get from where you are now to there in eight seconds.】
The lines were indeed connected. It was all a matter of time. He had eight
seconds to get to the phone and pick up the phone in the hallway at the
same time Psych picked up the phone in his office. It was easy enough, of
course, but the slightest misstep would cause a lot of headaches.
He nodded toward the CCTV. Then he pulled out a stick of gum and
popped it in his mouth. As he stood on the windowsill, the wall behind him
seemed to float away. He didn't have time to prepare a safety harness,
eight seconds isn't much time after all. Gasping for breath, Kwon Taekju
plunged to the ground.
The moment he fell, he grabbed onto something. It was the window frame of
the second floor. Despite the pain shooting through their fingers, joints,
wrists, and elbows from the impact of the fall, they gritted their teeth and
climbed up. It took him three seconds before he perched safely on the
window sill.
【- Not bad, huh?】
Jenya, who had been watching, sighed. He separated the remaining
porridge and meat as he stared at the monitor.
(n/t: damnnn, take a pic while you at it homie.)
Steadily ignoring it, he pulled out a lighter. At first glance, it was a standard
Zippo lighter, but when he opened the lid and pulled out what looked like a
small screw, a long, thin tube appeared. He bent it into the shape of a
stator* and then lit the lighter. There was a flash at the end of the tube. First,
he stuck the chewing gum he was chewing earlier on the glass window.
Next, he drew a circle around it with the flame of the lighter. Once the job
was done, he gently pulled the gum and the circular piece of glass quietly
came off. He laid it gently on the window frame and reached inside the
circle to open the window. With a click, it opened. Kwon Taekju scrutinized
the surroundings once and then stepped inside.
How in a circular fashion.
Without making a sound, he nimbly approached the door. He leaned his ear
against the door, listening for activity outside. All was quiet. Quietly, he
opened the door and stepped out. He turned his head to the right and saw a
table at the end of the hallway. On it was the phone Jenya had mentioned.
As he approached the table, Jenya's voice echoed in his ear again.
【- I'll give you a signal. so get ready.】
He picked up the handset and nodded his head. Right after that, from the

other side of the communication device, a countdown started saying 【- Tri.

(3)】 He exhaled small breaths and regulated his breathing.

【- Dva. (2)】
He turned around again to confirm that no one was coming. The sound of

【- Odin. (1)】 made his grip on the phone tighten.

【- Go ahead.】
He immediately took the phone off the hook. Silence. Not only was the other
end of the line completely silent, but Jenya, in turn, wasn't saying anything
either. He could detect no indication that anyone other than Kwon Taekju
himself was holding the handset. His mouth went dry.
"......."
Something's wrong. He squeezed the handset tightly and waited for some
sound.
Without warning, Psych's voice rang on the other end of the handset.
【- You're just in time. We were just talking about that.】

【- I just came to an agreement with them.】

【- So what happened?】

【- North Korea says it will send a technician.】

【- I'm glad to hear it.】- When will they send it?】

【- They will put him on a plane tomorrow. The day after tomorrow it will be

in Moscow.】

【- We'll have to be careful not to get caught by rats like last time.】
【- This time, he will disguise himself as a Chinese tourist, so it will be hard for

Americans to notice him.】

【- We'll see and don't forget to keep us informed.】

【- Yes, of course.】
The call was quickly cut off. They spoke in vague terms, just enough to be
understood, and avoided making direct statements, which Taekju
interpreted as them being cautious. This reinforced his conviction.
He did not let go of the receiver. He planned to wait for Psych to hang up
the handset first, but just then, an unmistakable roar emanated from the
communicator in his ear.
"......!"
The pain was like an ice pick piercing his ears and brain. Kwon Taekju fell
to his knees, clutching his head which was about to explode. He quickly
pulled out his communicator and threw it away, but the reverberations of the
explosion were still echoing in his head.
His forehead was damp with sweat and a shiver ran down his spine. Panic
was making his eyes dizzy and his heart was pounding out of his chest. He
didn't know why his communicator had suddenly malfunctioned. The noise
level should have been audible even to Psych.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
Damn, his ominous prediction had not been wrong. Shots rang out outside
the mansion, apparently from the commotion earlier, and Jenya had been
spotted by the guards. For now, he had to take cover.
"...Shit."
He barely managed to lift his weak body. His legs were faltering. Taekju ran
down the hallway, still clutching his throbbing head, his mental circuits not
quite back to normal. He couldn't decide how to get out of this crisis or
where to evacuate immediately. He was running without a clue about where
he was going.
As he reached the main landing, he heard the sound of bustling footsteps
downstairs. It was at least three o'clock. Guards were swarming downstairs
in search of intruders. The longer they lingered, the more they would be
outnumbered. When you're outnumbered, it's best to avoid friction. Kwon
Taekju changed his plan and went up the stairs.
The third floor was still silent. He leaned against the wall and scanned the
surroundings. Before he knew it, the presence of the guards approached
him. Kwon Taekju walked down the hallway with long strides, but careful not
to make noise with the scuffing of his shoes.
"......!"
It was then that he detected an alarm next door. Someone in the room
seemed to be approaching the door. The doorknob jiggled, and Taekju
quickly ducked in the opposite direction of the door opening.
Soon after, the door opened. One after another, the guards arrived on the
third floor. They bowed in unison to the figure that emerged from the room.
"Are you sure?"
The voice and tone sounded familiar. It was the same voice he had heard
on the intercepted call. Psych Bogdanov.
"We're still searching, but it looks like we have an intruder, and we have
signs of entry from the outside. It's not safe for him to be here, so please
come down with us."
The two ministers and Psych hesitantly obeyed. Half of the men who had
gone up to the third floor to cover them were gone. That left at most two or
three guards on the other side of the door.
Of course, they were all armed, so it would not be easy to engage them.
One of the guards tried to close the door that was open. Kwon Taekju held
his breath and looked toward the doorknob. When the guard grabbed it from
the other side, the other guard, who was on the side where Kwon Taekju
was standing also moved. Taking advantage of that moment, he kicked the
door with all his might. The guard's head tilted back at the door that opened
without warning. Soon he collapsed with a thud.
"......?"
A guard examining the other room poked his head out suspiciously. He
soon spotted his fallen colleague and approached in disbelief. As he
crouched down to check on his colleague, he saw a shadow creeping
through the crack in the door. The guard rushed for his firearm, but a stray
bullet from the other side of the door pierced his shoulder blade.
"Boom!"
Hearing gunfire, another guard rushes down the hallway. As soon as he
sees that his colleagues are down, he opens fire. Taekju dodges the bullets
and runs to the end of the hallway, but the stairs are already crowded with
assembled guards.
Finally, he hid in a nearby room. His situation was like that of a poisoned
rat, but he had no choice. He picked up the lock and knocked over a nearby
cabinet for protection. The guards soon followed Taekju's trail and began
ramming the door with their bodies. The door didn't budge, but it wouldn't
last much longer.
Turning around, he looked for a way to escape. Then he had the strange
feeling that he had been in that room once before. Thinking back, he soon
realized that it was the room at the end of the third floor that he had noticed.
Meanwhile, the commotion outside the door was getting louder and louder.
It seemed that the guards who had been informed had already gathered at
the door. Taekju looked out the window, wondering what would happen
now. There were already many guards there. They were all looking up to
the third floor as if discussing how to get in.
He stepped on the desk, climbed up, and touched the ceiling. If the material
was thin plywood, he would have drilled through it and climbed up,
however, the finishing material was so hard that even a drill could not
penetrate it Taekju went back down and checked the surrounding walls. The
situation was the same.
The guards in the corridor opened fire on the door, which was still closed.
The wooden door quickly became a beehive under the hail of bullets. What
a dilemma.
He stood with his back to the bookcase, then pulled two colts from his back
waist and held them in each hand. It was reckless, but a direct attack was
the only option left to him. Taekju took a deep breath, his eyes riveted on
the shattered door. Every muscle in his body contracted, ready for battle.
His expression disappeared from his face and his eyes became more cold
than frightened.
"......!"
The only thing that caught his attention was the sudden smell of cigars. It
was a familiar smell. As he turned to look at what it was, a hand shot out
from the shelf and grabbed him. In an instant, his mouth was covered and a
strong arm squeezed his throat. By the time he realized he had to escape
somehow, he was already overpowered. He was dragged away without his
being able to protest. His vision went black at the first sign of light.
Soon he heard the creaking of the damned door. He could hear the guards
approaching. All from above. With his vision blocked, he couldn't make out
what was going on, but it seemed as if he was trapped somewhere with his
head touching the ceiling.
"No intruders!"
"He's gone!"
"Where did he go, outside?"
The bewilderment in the guards' voices was palpable as they swept all the
books from the shelves to the floor, lifted the furniture and curtains, and
searched for the intruder. Meanwhile, Kwon Taekju was being gently led
away, his tension and alertness now relaxed, for he knew who he was
dealing with, if only by the pungent body odor. I don't know how this person
had gotten there.
They traveled a long, unlit path. It was a place full of secret passages,
similar to an anthill, built from room to room, floor to floor. Narrow
passageways, barely big enough for one person, led from all sides and
connected into one.
Jenya paused in his pacing, his eyes scanning the ceiling for some special
location. Below them, a part of the thick floor trembled. Kwon Taekju, who
had been watching in a daze, came to and gripped his Colt tightly.
Slowly, through the cracks in the floor, the legs of someone pacing the room
came into view. For a moment, Kwon Taekju and Jenya's gazes met. He
gestures for him to move. He obeyed. His hands were still in contact with
the ceiling. The guard scanned the room, moving closer.
Kwon Taekju motioned again and Jenya lifted the floorboards again. The
guard on top of him momentarily lost his balance and fell to the floor, and he
climbed on top of him. The guard rose to his feet and pulled the trigger on
the intruders in front of him.
Vertiginous gunshots cut through the air. Jenya turned his head slightly,
dodging the bullets flying toward him. One of the bullets grazed his earlobe.
Red blood spurted and ran down his neck. Jenya ran the back of his hand
across his earlobe wound and suddenly smiled.
Immediately after, a bullet from Kwon Taekju shattered the guard's right
hand. The guard screamed and clutched his shattered hand.
But his tragedy did not end there. Before he knew it, Jenya was
approaching him. Kwon Taekju sensed the misfortune that was about to
befall the poor man. Of course, it was not necessary, but not impossible.
He could not muster the courage to hesitate. It was because the tragedy
had unfolded with no chance of escape.
...Snap!
Jenya forcefully opened the guard's mouth and thrust both his hands in. The
guard's jaw stretched further than the human body was capable of. There
was not a hint of hesitation in Jenya's hands as he pulled his mouth apart
forcefully, both up and down.
"Grr...Ugh...Ack."
The captured guard struggled, trying to shake Jenya's hands off by any
means possible.
However, Jenya ignored his desperate will to survive and ripped his jaw
mercilessly and in one swift motion.
With a quick turn of his head, he tried to ignore the unmistakable sound, but
he couldn't let it go. What he was doing was not simply dislocating a jaw.
The sound was the sound of his jaw joint breaking, separating completely
with a snap. The guard trembled violently and collapsed, unconscious. With
furrowed brows and a step back, Jenya contemplated the scene. To Taekju
it seemed to be witnessing the slaughter of a gluttonous, lazy beast rather
than that of a human. It was something that in his eyes a human could
never do. Let alone smiling like that.
Jenya raised his bloody hand and surveyed the surroundings. Soon, his
gaze was fixed on Kwon Taekju. More precisely, he was looking at Kwon
Taekju's shirt. He took another step back and shook his head stubbornly.
"I don't like it."
Regardless of what was said or not said, Jenya approached without
hesitation. He kept stepping back, trying to avoid him. Unfortunately, the
distance between them quickly shortened. Frowning, he tried to refuse once
more, but the man quickly reached out his long arm, grabbing him by the
shirt. Before he could escape any further, he held him firmly.
"......."
Kwon Taekju stared at his shirt, which was now emblazoned with the shape
of Jenya's hand. His jaw tensed and his mind filled with anger. His two eyes
glared at Jenya with a fierce, piercing light. Jenya sneered without a hint of
remorse. He did not show the slightest sign of remorse.
Annoyed, Kwon Taekju unbuttoned his shirt in annoyance. Then, he threw
the blood-soaked shirt at the man's face. Obscenities escaped involuntarily
from his lips. Jenya paid no attention as he proceeded to wipe his hands,
stained with blood and bodily fluids with the shirt.
"Why aren't you wearing a handkerchief?"
"Why should I bother with that inconvenience?".
'I'll take your clothes off if I have to.' He sounded like he was saying that.
"This way!"
Meanwhile, the scattered guards run after the gunfire. As they alternated
between the open hallway and the door, Jenya grabbed Kwon Taekju by
the collar and dragged him to the window. Looking out the window, it
appeared that this room was at the front of the building, not the back.
Jenya slid the window open easily, outside, he saw cars leaving the
mansion in a hurry, pushed by an unexpected commotion. Without losing
sight of the scene, Jenya pulled Kwon Taekju tightly to the window frame.
With his immense strength, he pulled him up to the window frame.
"Freeze!"
Suddenly, the security guards who had entered the room demanded
surrender. Kwon Taekju felt a tight feeling on the back of his neck. They
must have been aiming at his head, back, arms, and legs without missing a
single point.
Despite being cornered, Jenya's determination did not waver at all. He
continued to stare straight ahead and whispered words with unclear
meanings.
"Get ready."
"For what?"
"Now."

3.4 The Nuclear Man

Before he could even recognize the voice commanding him to run or move
right now, his body was already floating in the air. He was dragged by Jenya
recklessly or unintentionally.
The two of them landed on a sedan speeding away from the mansion. The
impact caused the car to sway in several directions. As a result, Kwon
Taekju's body bounced hard and rolled across the roof. If he hadn't
desperately jammed his fingers into the trunk crack, he would have fallen all
the way down.
Meanwhile, Jenya turned his body to keep his balance and slammed his fist
against the driver's window. After a couple of blows, the previously
unyielding glass shattered. He reached in and yanked the driver out,
completely ignoring the seatbelt protection.
As they pulled the driver out, the person who had been in the passenger
seat clutched desperately at the steering wheel. Jenya forcibly pushed him
away with both feet and reluctantly climbed inside the car. The person who
quickly occupied the driver's seat immediately stepped on the accelerator
pedal without hesitation.
As a result, Kwon Taekju's body was thrown out of control. It was a while
before Jenya remembered Kwon Taekju's presence and opened the back
seat door for him. Kwon Taekju could barely crawl to get into the car, which
was traveling at more than 100km/h. He narrowly avoided getting stuck in
the swinging door.
Without a moment to catch his breath, Jenya aimed at the owner of the car
who was sitting in the back seat. He had no intention of killing that person.
From the moment Jenya and Kwon Taekju approached this vehicle, the hail
of bullets from the security team had stopped. That meant that even
Bogdanov could not risk casually harming the owner of this car. There
seemed to be no better shield than that.
However, such optimism did not last long. Bullets that had momentarily
stopped were flying again. This time, they were machine gunshots.
Kwon Taekju looked quickly toward the retreating mansion. He saw Vladimir
Bogdanov leaning out the open window, firing his hunting submachine gun
without hesitation. Fortunately, they were far away, so his fierce attack
missed the back of the car. The sedan carrying the two men and the
hostage sped away from the mansion.
There was still one challenge left. The main entrance was completely
blocked. Despite seeing the iron gate tightly closed, Jenya did not slow
down. On the contrary, he pressed harder on the accelerator pedal, pushing
the speed to the maximum.
It was a matter of life or death, and it was clear. It was so clear that it
seemed unbelievable. How could anyone be so calm in such a situation?
"Aaaah!"
The owner of the car shouted in despair as he saw the iron gate getting
closer and closer. His screams were so loud that even his Adam's apple
was visible. In that state, a collision was inevitable. It was already too late to
step on the brakes. Even the security team, who had positioned themselves
in front of the main gate, scattered haphazardly to prevent the sedan from
ramming them recklessly. They inevitably collided.
Crash!
By reflex, Kwon Taekju raised his arm and covered his head.
The next moment, the closed door opened. The sedan crashed into the half-
open iron door and continued its race forward. The security team, who had
foolishly watched the scene, belatedly opened fire, but could not stop the
fleeing sedan.
"Aaaah!"
Despite having passed the life-and-death moment, the owner of the vehicle
continued to scream. It was so loud that for a moment there was a thought
of knocking him unconscious.
A gunshot rang out. Immediately afterward, the scream that seemed to tear
at the eardrums also ceased. In an instant, the owner of the car, with a hole
in the center of his forehead, slumped backwards, resting his head against
the headrest.
His eyes and mouth were wide open.
Kwon Taekju, who had soaked in the owner's blood, looked irritably at the
driver's seat. It wouldn't have made much difference if he had blown Jenya's
head off right then and there. As if completely ignoring the bullet aimed at
him, Jenya muttered nonchalantly as if he had just swatted a mosquito.
"...Noisy."
*****
A strong stream of water gushed out of the shower. The water that could not
be drained in time began to accumulate, overflowing. A faint humming
melody escaped from the man who deftly grabbed and removed the tight
tie. The tattered pieces of clothing fell to the floor, layer by layer, revealing
the solid physique hidden within. The man lightly tousled his damp hair and
stepped under the spray of the shower head.
As the ivory-colored hair soaked in, it emitted a richer hue. Water running
along the jawline pooled on the straight collarbone before flowing downward
in a steady cascade. As his chest grew wetter, a distinct tattoo with the
design of wings became clearer and clearer. Tightly contracted muscles
absorbed the warmth of the hot water, rippling lazily. Fingers brushing away
the water-soaked locks of hair were neat and long.
(n/t: Jenya with a tattoo>>>)
However, the gaze that was staring into the fogged mirror was piercing and
merciless. The eyes resembled those of a crocodile that had just tasted
blood. Serene but merciless. The lips, which had been rigidly sealed,
silently drew a long arc.
*****
He poured a bucket full of ice into the ice bucket. Even the cheap vodka
was poured into it, making a gurgling sound. The contents of the ice bucket
looked like it was going to overflow at any moment. Kwon Taekju
nonchalantly inserted his right hand into it. A few ice cubes slid across the
table as the vodka overflowed.
Only then did the burning sensation in his wrist disappear. His previously
dislocated wrist was bringing him trouble. It was the result of ignoring the
doctor's advice to maintain immobilization and repeatedly engaging in
dangerous activities.
He sighed and threw his head back. The cushions of the worn couch fluffed
up, raising a cloud of dust. He closed his eyes, unconcerned. He wrinkled
his forehead as he felt his whole body creak. The sound of running water
was constant in the bathroom, which had no bathtub. Jenya was in the
shower. He hadn't asked permission to use the bathroom but had done so
anyway.
It turned out that returning to the old hotel where Kwon Taekju was staying
was the only option after escaping from Bogdanov Mansion.
The owner of the hostel was absent, which made it easier for him to get in.
However, he could not stay here for long either. He had paid for the room
with Jenya's card and it was only a matter of time before his location was
discovered.
Besides, on the other side of the window, there was a noisy commotion.
Random inspections were being conducted on several roads and
barricades had been set up at all the entrances.
Dozens of patrol cars were continuously sounding their sirens, dominating
the city. It was not surprising, given that there had been a gun accident
during a meeting of important Russian figures. The tight security measures
were expected to last for some time. In such situations, it was better to wait
for a loosening of surveillance rather than move rashly. However, the
circumstances were not favorable.
After a short time, the sound of water ceased. It seemed that the shower
was finally over. When Kwon Taekju turned his head at the sound of the
door opening, Jenya appeared. The reason for Kwon Taekju's peculiar
expression was that the guy was fully clothed.
Wouldn't it be uncomfortable to have his clothes stuck to his body because
of the remaining humidity? The facilities were poor, so there wasn't even a
robe, but since they were both men, it didn't matter if only the lower part
was covered. It was funny how the guy would never be out of place even if
he walked around naked, he still pretended to be so prissy and proper.
"What are you looking at so blatantly?" asked Jenya. He stared at the guy
without any qualms.
"Who are you, really?".
He almost choked on his vodka at the sudden question. He had a look on
his face that seemed to say he didn't understand why he was being asked
something like that all of a sudden.
"You don't look like an ordinary agent. Just look at what happened at the
Bogdanov mansion. You had the official invitation to that party. You blended
in smoothly at the party. It wasn't just an act or a hoax, was it? You knew all
about the internal structure of the mansion, including the emergency exits.
And if we're partners, we should know what each other is doing and where,
but I didn't know once. You would appear out of nowhere wherever and
whenever you wanted, but other than that, I had no idea where you were or
what your intentions were. You never gave me that information. From what I
can see, you seem to have a hidden agenda apart from me, don't you?"
"That I haven't told you everything is what's bothering you, isn't it?"
"I know little to nothing. Tell me everything, without leaving anything out."
"As if it were an interrogation."
"Let's call it self-introduction. You haven't got it right yet."
As if signaling him to stop thinking about escaping, Kwon Taekju tapped the
table. Jenya remained unperturbed even in the face of the sudden
questions. He simply smiled, implying that he could guess Kwon Taekju's
thoughts.
"With your appearance, which clearly indicates that you are Russian, with
the accent and pronunciation that should come from being born and raised
here, with no restrictions on using helicopters in private, and even if you get
into a gunfight in the center of the city, you're not wanted. Who are you
really? Is that why you're constantly suspicious?"
"Right. You can't understand why I, a 100% Russian, and someone from the
privileged class of this country, am helping in this operation."
It had been a nagging question all along. Jenya is Russian, and not just any
Russian, but someone capable of partially neutralizing the authorities.
He does not operate under the orders of the higher-ups like Kwon Taekju.
Kwon Taekju could not understand why he was cooperating in this mission
unless there were very special and exceptional circumstances.
Jenya shrugged indifferently. "I'm in the business before I became a
Russian citizen."
Kwon Taekju looked even more puzzled. It wasn't that hard, but he couldn't
accept it easily.
Are you telling me that you're in this life-and-death business for the sake of
profit and that you're doing the equivalent of patriotic duty for it?
"You would sell your country?"
"There is no business like it."
Taeku was stunned. He wasn't expecting a great cause. Kwon Taekju's
patriotism is extraordinary.
He was only doing this for work, he never thought of giving his life for his
country, but pushing the country for his own benefit is something else.
"You. Do you know what the purpose of this operation is?"
"Of course. You want to find out if a weapon capable of shaking two
countries, South Korea and the United States, has been developed. If you
find it, you destroy it, and if you don't, you keep the plans, don't you?"
He knew exactly what he was doing. He knew the ripple effect it would have
on the international community and the disadvantage to his own country.
"What's in it for you?"
"For me, it doesn't matter whether the weapon succeeds or not. What
matters is that Anastasia's blueprints exist somewhere in this country. If
your goal is simply to find it, then I'm different. I am more interested in the
blueprints than in Anastasia. If you complete this mission safely, the
blueprints are mine."
"What?"
"Not a bad deal for a mere mortal, is it? Who else would get involved in
something like this? Think about it. Anastasia is more of a terror than her
actual firepower, and those who possess her are granted power
accordingly. Once I have the blueprints, I'll build my own Anastasia, and if
it's a dud, so be it. It's a great blueprint for a weapon of epic proportions,
and I will build on it to develop new weapons and sell them to special
customers."
"Special customers?"
Jenya smiled without responding. If a second Anastasia was built, her
customers would be those who understood the power of the weapon.
South Korea or the United States. At last, the plan for this operation seemed
to be clearer.
Many of the lingering doubts were resolved. However, the psychological
distance separating him from Jenya grew even greater.
He could understand Jenya's strange behavior. His superior intelligence
and access to information also explained why Kwon Taekju's own partner
had been him. The head office had not taken a risk in vain.
Although he understood logically, he still felt uneasy. Kwon Taekju did not
withdraw his suspicious gaze. Jenya fiddled with him, seemingly enjoying
himself.
"Are you going to keep your guard up because I made a bad first
impression?".
"I'm considering it."
"Don't hate me too much, okay?"
He burst out laughing, finding it ridiculous even after he said it. Kwon Taekju
made a tired expression and threw something from his pocket. Jenya
caught it effortlessly. It was a voice recorder. The content of the
conversation between Bogdanov and someone named "Sonchev" was
clearly recorded.
"You heard it too, there is a weapon being developed by the Bogdanovs,
most likely an intercontinental ballistic missile by the way they refer to it, but
the details will have to be confirmed. It is not certain whether it is 'Anastasia'
or not. However, it involves the foreign minister and the national defense
minister, and North Korea is involved, which makes me think of 'Anastasia'."
Jenya nodded without replying. Then he kept looking at Kwon Taekju as if
instructing him to continue.
"I'm going to program Bogdanov's voice from that recorder into a voice-to-
text device, and I'm going to use it to bring up the 'Sonchev' who talked to
Bogdanov, and when I see him, I'll know who the North Korean technician is
who is supposed to be coming soon, and where he's going."
Jenya listened attentively, raising an eyebrow. For once, he hesitated,
showing a moment's hesitation.
"I noticed that members of the mob have tattoos on their bodies, do you
know what that means?"
"Is it important at this point?"
"I urge ignorance to be brief."
"What do you mean?"
"Their tattoos symbolize their 'affiliation.' If you strip a former mafia member
and examine him, you can learn his whole life story. You can find out what
group he belonged to, who he swore allegiance to. So, if you hurt this
'Sonchev,' you'll be turning him against you to all the men with the same
tattoos against you. Does that matter to you?"
"I don't care."
"I'm curious why you're so confident and don't mind."
"I don't have anywhere to trust. I just..."
"Just?"
He pulled his right hand out of the ice bucket. Then he casually turned his
numb wrist and added.
"I've acquired a partner who's a pretty good monster."
Jenya instantly realized that the monster he was referring to was himself. It
wasn't a high compliment or praise. It didn't flutter flirtatiously or sound like
flattery, but there was something about it that turned his stomach.
"Well, if that's the case."
Though his tone was nonchalant, his shoulders broadened and his chin
lifted slightly. He couldn't hide it. It is said that compliments can even make
a whale dance, but seeing a crocodile so proud for words that weren't even
compliments made Kwon Taekju feel embarrassed.
However, he did not insist on it. Instead, he decided to take advantage of
Jenya's growing enthusiasm. With a rare smile, he handed him his phone.
The accompanying comment was exceptionally friendly.
"Doesn't sound so bad, does it? Then go ahead and make the call."
3.5 The Nuclear Man

Several black sedans were parked in the driveway, with a man who
appeared to be a low-level mobster sitting inside. His passengers were
already inside. The dilapidated warehouse behind the vehicles was the
meeting point for the day.
Kwon Taekju and Jenya waited nearby from the beginning. They watched
the dynamics around them, trying to calculate when they would go into
action. They waited a little longer, just in case, but there was no sign of late
arrivals or sneak attacks.
He checked Colt's magazine and tossed away the cigar Jenya had been
nibbling on. The cigar rolled on the ground and, as soon as it stopped
moving, he stepped forward.
He stepped forward and pulled the trigger. Two shots rang out from the
silenced Colt. But the bulletproof glass of the sedan did not let the window
shatter immediately. The windshield was left with a huge radial crack. The
low-level mobster, who had been quietly smoking a cigarette, fumbled for
his rifle.
The muzzle of the gun was pointed at Kwon Taekju. With a thud, the body
of the car shook. It felt as if a rock had landed on the hood. Before he could
process what was happening, something came through the cracked
windshield. The low-level mobster was grabbed by the neck and dragged
out. Kwon Taekju only saw him being held by Jenya and looked away; if he
had seen what happened all the way through, it would have been
disturbing.
After a short while, Jenya returned with Kwon Taekju, who took out a
handkerchief and threw it at him. He casually wiped his hands with it. The
white handkerchief quickly turned red.
Meanwhile, Kwon Taekju searched the old warehouse. There is a Sonchev
there. He didn't know if the weapon they were meddling with was the real
Anastasia, but if he caught him, he might get some clues.
He looked at Jenya and their gazes met. Kwon Taekju nodded his head as
a sign of entrance. Jenya responded with a smile.
Taekju opened the door and stepped inside. Dust was rising and blurring
his vision. He sifted through the dust with his hands and surveyed his
surroundings: office equipment and construction materials were scattered
haphazardly everywhere. The brick walls were partially collapsed and there
was a gaping hole in the ceiling.
In the middle of the messy space sat a middle-aged Russian man. At a
glance, Kwon Taekju recognized him as Boris, the tycoon Sonchev. Half a
dozen burly men sat behind him like screens. There was an air of
intimidating power in the room, despite the brief confrontation.
What was unexpected was the reaction of Boris, who is not surprised that it
was not a Bogdanov who had summoned him. He looks a little surprised but
then flashed an excited smile.
"You're a little late, aren't you?"
Boris initiated the conversation.
"I heard there was a disturbance at the Bogdanov mansion the other night,
and I had heard rumors that the troublemaker had been you, but now I see
it was real..."
Boris' gaze was fixed on Jenya, already aware of what had happened at the
Bogdanov mansion. Jenya didn't deny or confirm anything in particular; he
just smiled and shrugged his shoulders. They seemed to understand each
other. It was no wonder, they were both big shots in the underworld after all.
Boris looked at Kwon Taekju. He scanned him from head to toe and looked
at him with a puzzled expression. He looked at Jenya again, as if looking for
an explanation.
"Why are you causing such a fuss?".
"I thought it would be fun."
Jenya chuckled in satisfaction. His tone was surprisingly relaxed,
considering he had just turned the Bogdanovs, and by extension Russia,
against him. Of course, if the operation was successfully completed, he
would reap immense benefits that were difficult to quantify. However, he
would have to overcome numerous obstacles to achieve it. Boris summed
up that slim possibility in a single word.
"Reckless."
"Don't they usually call it daring?".
Jenya was still smiling with no sign of backing down. Shaking his head,
Boris turned his attention back to Kwon Taeku. The question "Why?" was
evident in the way his eyes roamed over him. From that question came an
uneasy feeling. It was not unpleasant. If anything, he was more offended at
being put on the same level as Jenya.
Without further ado, he interjected into the conversation.
"Enough chitchat, let's get down to business, where's Anastasia?"
Was it unexpected? Or was it because he had touched a nerve? Boris
raised an eyebrow, expressing a hint of doubt.
"Anastasia? I don't know why you're asking me."
Are you trying to catch him? After all, there's still no proof that 'SS-29' is
Anastasia. On the other hand, he never expected her to let her tongue out
so easily.
"Do I have to say 'SS-29' then? I need to check some things about that
weapon."
"A rat walked into a trap of his own free will, and that's what it was for? I
don't know whether to call it brave or naive, but you didn't think I'd give you
a favorable answer, did you?"
"Well, I have no choice. If words don't work, I can only communicate with
actions."
Before he could finish his response, bullets flew through the air. He quickly
rolled his body into the building materials. The hail of bullets kicked up a
cloud of dust. His vision blurred and his ears were deafened. However, the
sound of gunfire continued unabated.
Anticipating a counterattack, he threw a smoke bomb at the building. Black
smoke quickly enveloped the area. Seizing the moment, he fired one by one
at the fluorescent lights in the warehouse. With an unmistakable sound of
shattering glass, shards of fluorescent lights rained down. The interior was
thrown into chaos in an instant. Intermittent gunshots and the screams of
people echoed from different directions. The sensation of body parts tearing
apart was vivid.
Jenya was not there, but Kwon Taekju did not worry about him. He would
survive no matter what. He only had to worry about his own safety.
He took out a pair of special goggles, When the sensors that detected
human presence were activated, he caught the movements of the mob
members. Moving among the misty figures that could not distinguish friend
from foe, he pulled the trigger in succession.
"Kwak!"
"Ugh!"
Amidst the screams, the silhouettes hovering in front of him fell one by one.
Kwon Taekju advanced to the chair where Boris had been sitting.
But Boris was nowhere to be seen. He searched the surroundings, looking
for him, but there was no trace of his shadow. Neither was Jenya's figure.
His eyes slowly scanned the surroundings. How far had he come?
Suddenly, he felt a sharp impact on the back of his neck. Startled, he turned
around and someone quickly attacked him. Instinctively he dodged the
blow, but a sharp pain brushed his arm. His sleeve was wet; it felt as if a
gun blade had grazed him. He rushed backward, aiming for his opponent's
head. He didn't pull the trigger hastily because, if it was Boris, it wouldn't
make sense to have gone that far.
In the midst of the hesitation, the opponent brandished his weapon toward
his neck, and the attack was aimed directly at his throat. Kwon Taekju
ducked his upper body and managed to dodge the blade. As he did so, a
shadow near the door caught his attention.
A figure about two meters tall, arrogant-looking, and with his arms folded.
He watched impassively as the blade of a cleaver came within inches of his
companion's neck. Whichever way you looked at it, it was undoubtedly
Jenya. At his feet was a pile of silhouettes, presumably of mob members. It
seemed he had seen enough entertainment but had no intention of coming
to help.
In the blink of an eye, the blade was headed for his abdomen. Kwon Taekju
lowered the muzzle of his Colt and pulled the trigger against his opponent's
knee.
"...Ugh!"
With an accurate shot, the other man went down. His whining voice
sounded similar to Boris'.
Kwon Taekju sighed and took off his glasses. Meanwhile, the blood on his
arm pooled on his fingertips and dripped to the ground. As time passed, the
flow increased. Now he needed a hemostat.
As he rummaged through his pockets, something popped into his head. He
remembered throwing the handkerchief he had brought to Jenya.
Reluctantly, he took off his jacket, which was now all dirty with dust, and
unbuttoned his shirt.
Finally, Jenya unhurriedly approached.
the chair where Boris had been sitting.
But Boris was nowhere to be found. She searched the surroundings,
looking for him, but there was no sign of his shadow. Neither was Jenya's
figure.
"That was dangerous. If they put a hole in your stomach, you wouldn't be
able to fuck for at least a month."
Ah, yes, of course.
He shook his head and concentrated on undoing the buttons. Taekju
wondered, Had it been irritating to watch him fumbling clumsily with one
hand? Jenya, who had been watching with folded arms, slapped his hand
away and began to undo the buttons himself. When he truly needed help,
he pretended not to notice, but then, he shows unnecessary goodwill.
He raised his left arm, dripping with blood, and said in a mocking tone.
"Do you feel dizzy?"
"Not really."
He laughed matter-of-factly at his obvious sarcasm. It no longer surprised
him.
"Still a long way to go," he insisted, his face pale. Jenya didn't respond with
any retort. He had been so quiet it was strange. As he concentrated intently
on unbuttoning, he was so focused that he didn't see how her eyes didn't
leave his fingertips as he twisted and pulled the button off.
"Okay, it's done."
Shaking off his annoyed hand, he pulled off the loose shirt. In the recoil, the
last button that hadn't been fully undone flew off. Ignoring it, he half-folded
the partially unbuttoned shirt over his bleeding left arm. He bit the end and
tied a knot tight. When flying solo missions, incidents like this were
inevitable.
After briefly stopping the bleeding, he approached Boris. Boris was limping
on his abnormally crooked legs, reaching for his firearm. Kwon Taekju
grabbed him by the back of the neck and sat him in the same chair as
before.
He slipped his arms behind the backrest and cuffed them tightly, then rested
his foot on the chair's leg and tipped it backwards.
The chair collapsed with a thud. Boris let out a loud groan and fell with it. He
picked up the chair again. He repeated the same action several times.
Despite being thrown to the floor repeatedly, Boris did not falter. On the
contrary, he started laughing, provoking Kwon Taekju. Suddenly, he
grabbed Boris by the hair. Even in a position where his head was
completely tilted back, Boris let out an unpleasant laugh.
"Do you think this will make me talk?".
"We'll see."
Kwon Taekju smiled back and immediately walked over to the computers
against the wall. He rummaged through the discarded equipment and pulled
out an old keyboard. Then, he slammed it against the wall, separating the
individual keys. He grabbed a handful of the spilled keys and returned to
Boris. Forcefully, he opened Boris' mouth and forced them in.
Soon Boris' cheeks swelled up. Kwon Taekju taped his lips so that the
contents would not spill out. Jenya watched the spectacle with interest from
an inch away.
Finished with the preparations, Kwon Taekju slowly circled Boris.
"I heard that North Korean technicians are coming to solve the SS-29
problem. They will arrive today or tomorrow. They should arrive today or
tomorrow, where can I meet that bastard?"
"......."
Boris remained silent and impassive. Kwon Taekju bowed, lining up at
Boris' eye level. There was no trace of emotion in his cold eyes. Boris also
returned Kwon Taekju's gaze defiantly.
Suddenly, Kwon Taekju slapped his swollen cheek. Boris' relaxed
expression twisted in pain.
It was the result of the intense agony caused by the jumble of plastic pieces
filling his mouth. Just the thought of what would happen if he were punched
like that was enough to make him wince at the excruciating pain.
Boris, however, stubbornly kept his mouth shut. He was not a "Sonchev"
figure just because. He straightened his body, which had been leaning
slightly. Boris breathed calmly. At that moment, Kwon Taekju hit his face
with a fist. Boris' whole body shook from the intense pain that made him see
blurry. Despite having his mouth tightly shut, his moans escaped like
shrieks.
Kwon Taekju gripped Boris' aching cheeks tightly. Boris' complexion turned
even paler.
Kwon Taekju asked him if he finally felt like talking to him and the other
shook his head vigorously. His eyes were full of venom. At that moment,
Kwon Taekju's expression had also become colder. Jenya, who had been
watching, smiled.
His fist, like a rock, struck Boris mercilessly.
Boris, who had resisted to the last, dropped his head heavily. Saliva and
blood oozed unpleasantly from his tightly closed mouth.
When the tape was removed, his lips parted wide. Pieces of plastic and
blood-soaked teeth spilled from the orifice of his mouth.
"I ask again, who is the technician coming to work on SS-29 and what is his
assignment?"
Boris laughed defiantly at her insistent questions. Then he retched and
spat. The bloody saliva stuck to the corners of Kwon Taekju's eyes. Kwon
Taekju didn't bother to wipe it away; he simply picked up Boris' knife from
the floor.
"Why don't you go outside?"
I insensitively suggested to Jenya. It was a kind of consideration and
advice.
"You can pretend I'm not here."
After thinking for a moment, a wicked grin formed on his face. Jenya's
anticipation for the interesting show ahead overflowed.
"So be it," he said and walked over to Boris.
Boris drew in a shaky breath and looked at the Kwon Taekju approaching
him. His gaze alone was enough to shatter Kwon Taekju ten times.
Despite weakening him, he remained the same. It seemed that some final
measures were necessary.
"Indian warriors hunt as many enemies as possible to prove their worth, and
their methods are famously cruel, inflicting terrible to the very moment of
their deaths. Compared to them, amputating the head and splitting the body
is relatively humane. It is only an instant of pain. They say they even skin
enemies while they are still alive."
He muttered inwardly and brushed Boris' forehead. Strands of hair fell and
his smooth forehead was exposed. With the knife he held, he pierced it.
"...Ugh!"
Boris writhed in pain as the knife pierced him. It wasn't excruciating pain,
though a trickle of blood dripped from the cut.
"Making a small incision in the forehead about the size of two fingers and
then they start to slowly tear it apart. They usually go into shock before they
even finish ripping the scalp completely off, you know? They say it's a pain
that can't be compared to getting shot, stabbed, or breaking bones."
A strange smile tugged at the corner of Kwon Taekju's lips. Jenya's
excitement reached its peak. Boris felt fear for the first time in his life,
knowing what awaited him.
"AAAAAAAAARGH!"
Soon, a piercing scream echoed throughout the building.
The closed door of the warehouse burst open. Unlike Kwon Taekju, who
was in a bad mood, Jenya looked completely delighted. He kept glued to
him, following him annoyingly along the way.
"Were you really going to take it off?"
"...I'll die of exhaustion."
Ignoring Jenya's question, Kwon Taekju wiped his right hand on his pants.
Although he had wiped off the blood, he still felt it sticky. Jenya kept
chattering despite the situation.
"You were really hot earlier, didn't you know? I mean, pretty dangerous. I
really got hard down there."
"If we have to do it again next time, tell me right away. I'll be happy to scalp
you anytime you want."
He snarled as he clenched his incisors. In his anger, he even grabbed and
pulled at Jenya's neck. His handsome face came close to his, almost
brushing their noses. His blue eyes slowly turned, fixing on Kwon Taekju's
gaze and then his hand. The movement was disconcerting like being seen
by the eyeballs of a reptile.
As Kwon Taekju frowned and maintained eye contact, Jenya suddenly
grabbed the hand on his neck. It was only a moment, but the touch of his
skin was as cold as ice. Kwon Taekju shivered involuntarily and withdrew
his hand. He should have been embarrassed by his crude avoidance, but
Jenya ignored it as if nothing had happened.
"So, next on the agenda is still that?".
Instead of answering, Kwon Taekju nodded.
Jenya then said, "Okay, let's go," and quickly walked forward. His back
swayed gently as if he was humming a tune. Kwon Taekju stood still,
watching him intently.
He is cunning and laughs at his opponents when they are aware of it. He
pretends to be a gentleman but unexpectedly revealed his true personality
without leaking anything at times. He is a destructive man. A dangerous
monster with an unhealthy fascination for the unusual.
To a hair's breadth. For Jenya, the line between normal and abnormal is
just a hair's breadth away. For that reason alone he would unconsciously
tear down walls, only to put them up again.
His instinct, smarter than his mind, kept shaking his head.
4.1 Trans-Siberian Railway

The train from Beijing was on its way to Moscow. It was a silent night,
outside the window was buried in thick darkness, and the untidy air flow
immediately after boarding also disappeared.
The trip from Peking to Moscow was a long one, just over six days.
Although everyone's destination was the same, the atmosphere in each of
the cabins was very different. The third-class passengers were in a silent
war for every little comfort. Not to mention the beds, even the partitions
between the seats creaking in an attempt to get some sleep in the
insignificantly narrow seats. If the first and second classrooms were filled
with anticipation of an adventure into a new world, the third classroom was
filled with the smell of life.
Stale air lingered in the poorly ventilated carriage. There was also an
unidentifiable musty smell. Babies, squirming in discomfort, began to
scream while the exhausted parents could only ineffectually try to calm the
babies. The other passengers only squirmed, frowning at the unstoppable
whining. A group of soldiers who had forgotten the night shared cheap
vodka and laughed. The shopkeepers pushing their suitcases into each
other's seats blocked out all the noise with earplugs. They seemed to have
learned to endure a long journey through long experience.
The second compartment was crowded with travelers of all nationalities,
sexes, and ages. They chatted throughout the night, sharing stories, tips
and tricks, upcoming events, and small snacks: it was all part of the journey,
and they never seemed to tire of it.
The only private bathroom in the carriage was quiet at all times. Not many
people came in or out of the corridor, day or night. At night, he slept
peacefully in his comfortable bed, and whenever he was hungry, he visited
the onboard restaurant. The outrageously high cost of food was not a
bother.
The only aspect of the headquarters support that could be considered
completely satisfactory was that it generously supplied transportation and
lodging expenses. At least that's what I thought as I lay in bed in the special
room after looking around at all the other rooms. But it wasn't long before
dissatisfaction erupted.
"Ahhhhh... Ha-ha... Eh... Ugh."
Kwon Taekju's brow furrowed slightly. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep
but to no avail. The sweet moans grew in intensity and drilled his ears.
"Aaahhh... yes, ah, Ah! ahhhhhhh! Aaahhhhhhhhhhhh!"
He buried his face deep in the pillow and pulled the comforter over his head
as well. Still, it was impossible to ignore the pleas. The fiercer the intensity
of the pounding and colliding flesh became, the higher the woman's moans
became. The sound of the pounding was so loud that his eardrums were
throbbing.
Ignore them. Ignore it.
He steeled himself as if reciting a mantra. He shouldn't be surprised that a
madman would do such a crazy thing, and if he had to blame anyone, he
would blame HQ for making them partners, not Jenya.
He lived without knowing what insomnia was. After completing a mission, he
would sleep like the dead for several days, and even during missions, he
always slept well even if it was a short nap. Kwon Taekju has basic self-
care, such as eating and sleeping properly, so it is unacceptable for him to
have trouble sleeping. It may sound old-fashioned, but he decided to count
sheep.
One sheep. Two sheep. Three sheep. Four sheep...
"...Huh, haaaah!"
One sheep, haaa.... Damn.
He sat up abruptly, raising his upper body. The room was in semi-darkness,
but the tangled figures, illuminated by the dim light from the hallway, were
visible without any seepage. Even in the darkness, Jenya's glowing pupils
were distinguishable. For a moment, their gazes met, but he was not at all
embarrassed.
The skirt of the woman straddling him hitched around her thighs and hiked
up to her waist. Since his uniform shirt remained intact, it was easy to
identify the woman. It was the blonde stewardess who had guided them to
their seats.
Kwon glared at them, but Jenya lifted her waist nonchalantly. Each time she
did so, the woman moaned as if she was going to tear herself apart and
twisted her upper body.
With each movement of the woman, Jenya's penis stood erect in all its
splendor. The glistening flesh, soaked in her fluids, writhed relentlessly
against her body. It was an overwhelming amount. Watching the woman
writhing in pleasure and descending to swallow him, she furrowed her brow.
Her tender perineum seemed to throb. How could she endure such a
monstrous and inordinately large object? Once again, he marveled at the
mysteries of the human body.
Kwon Taekju folded his arms and sat up. He intended to see how
shameless he could become. Whether it was an illusion or not, he thought
he saw a sudden smile on Jenya's lips.
"Haah... You, you're... hhnngh! Ahh... Yes, haaaang!"
The woman's shuddering upper body began to throw herself backwards.
Her white thighs writhed with each thrust as her body was torn by his grip.
Viscous saliva and moans flowed unceasingly from her torn lips.
Jenya paid no attention to the woman. She pinned her soft body in place,
only seeking more pleasurable stimulation, and thrust relentlessly, her hips
rising and falling. Puck, puck, puck, puck, puck, puck. There was a series of
violent rubbing sounds like a fist hitting leather. The woman's face contorted
in pain and pleasure, and even her originally white skin reddened.
Her head was thrown back completely and she jerked violently. Her fully
spread legs could not withstand the intense stimulation coursing through her
entire body and trembled. The sound of gasps coming from her throat
seemed like it was going to stop at any moment.
"Haaeng, haaaang.... Ahh!"
The woman soon shook her limbs and let out a new high-pitched scream. At
the same time, Zegna raised his huge body and wrinkled his forehead.
Kwon Taekju's gaze was fixed on Jenya's face. It was not intentional.
However, it was fascinating to see how the guy, who was normally so calm
under any circumstances, was unquestionably affected by his primal
instincts.
To see his heart pounding as if he was having a heart attack was almost
startling.
His thick penis, after ejaculating, slid outward without difficulty. Thick semen
oozed out in gushes. Watching the viscous fluid drip onto the bed and fall to
the floor, his expression hardened involuntarily. There was no other man in
the world who would gladly accept a congener marking territory so blatantly
in the space he resided.
*****
To ventilate the room, he opened the window and the strong wind came in
at the speed of a moving train. As he felt the frigid wind pierce his skin,
Jenya finished showering and stepped outside. Miraculously, he had put his
clothes back on in the bathroom, however, these seemed too small to fit her
body. At this point, it had gone beyond obsession and reached the level of a
joke.
Looking at Kwon Taekju, who was huddled in the cold, he put on a puzzled
expression.
"You look like you're freezing to death, what nonsense is this?".
He pretended not to know although he clearly knew whose fault it was.
Kwon Taekju shot him a look of disgust and slammed the window shut.
Finally, the foul smell seemed to have disappeared.
As a result of a sleepless night, his condition was not very good this
morning. His appetite...
"You were openly enjoying the show, I didn't expect it, don't people usually
give others space in these situations?"
It was so absurd that Kwon Taekju even laughed. Isn't sex something that
'normally' two people usually enjoy discreetly? He had no problem with it,
but the way he talked about it and how he didn't seem embarrassed at all
made his stomach churn. His intention to tease was obvious, so he
responded cheekily.
"Why would I do that? High-quality porn was being shown for free."
"Hmm... It had to be of good quality."
Jenya nodded as if he understood. It wasn't a compliment. It was clearly an
accusation, whoever heard it. Still, he straightened his shoulders
unnecessarily and lifted his chin. Did he really have to be so cavalier about
it?
"So, you know how to make nice sounds, too?"
Whichever way you looked at it, there were serious problems with his
thought process and social skills. They were malfunctioning. He took
sarcasm favorably, and was so proud of himself for those things. Kwon
Taekju gave up trying to retort as if to say, "Think what you want." There
was no need to antagonize a positive-minded person in such a strange
situation. Besides, continuing to make sarcastic remarks would only hurt
him if his opponent felt no impact.
Yesterday morning, the two traveled to Beijing, where Boris had received
information from Sonchev that a North Korean technician disguised himself
as a Chinese tourist and boarded the Trans-Siberian. Before arriving in
Moscow, Boris was informed that Bogdanov would contact this technician,
but he did not yet know the exact timing and method.
As for SS-29, he knew that it was being moved to a secure location, but he
did not know where it would ultimately be stored. It was a lot of vague
information, but it didn't matter. If they pursued the North Korean technician,
they would naturally end up where SS-29 was.
Last night, it was confirmed that the North Korean technician had boarded.
As Boris had mentioned, he disguised himself as a Chinese tourist and
entered the second-class car. It appeared that he was alone, but they would
have to wait to see if this was true. It was not known if people from
Bogdanov's side were already watching from inside the train and that was
why they did not appear immediately.
If they discovered that they were being pursued, they might give up contact
with Bogdanov altogether. Then, all plans would be ruined. That would ruin
the whole plan. One had to be extremely cautious.
"By the way, Boris, what happened to him? You said you would take care of
him."
"Yes, I did."
"And taking care of him meant eliminating him, right?"
"I briefly considered it..."
Jenya laughed, as his words were cut off. He urged Jenya to continue as he
gave him a sharp and to some extent hostile look. Perhaps that was why
Jenya gave the matter some more thought before responding.
"I'm just keeping him locked up, in case he might come in handy later."
"And if he manages to escape?"
"You wanted me to kill him too, didn't you? How cruel of you."
"That's not what I meant, but if he escapes, we're all screwed."
"Rest assured that won't happen, so don't worry."
"Can I trust you?"
"Of course. Until I give the order, he can't get out of there."
Strangely, though I was filled with skepticism, and yet I now had a subtle
confidence in him. Paradoxical, but it was the truth. So it seemed he only
had to worry about the North Korean technician.
He looked out the window and drove across the wide plains without much
thought. The winter landscapes were bleak no matter what country or place
one went to. Occasionally, he saw grazing quadrupeds. The endless
expanse of land and its solitary figures evoked an inexplicable loneliness.
The landscape remained similar as they moved on. The long mountain
range seemed to stretch endlessly without interruption. Trying to observe it
sleepily quickly became boring. The drowsiness that had just dissipated
seemed to invade him again.
As he yawned, he suddenly glanced at his watch.
Then, in a hurry, he pulled a suitcase off the shelf. At first glance, it looked
like a briefcase, but its actual contents were a piece of equipment that
temporarily tapped into the satellite network's communications. If
necessary, it could be passed off as a phone call made from South Korea.
Kwon Taekju turned it on and pressed the keypad to enter a specific
command. As a result, the communication device's wireless antenna was
activated and picked up signals from the satellite. He plugged his phone's
headset into the side jack and dialed a number.
Jenya stood with his arms crossed and watched for a moment. He intended
to go to breakfast soon.
It would also be a good opportunity to observe the North Korean
technician's behavior while he did so. I hadn't planned on going with Kwon
Taekju in particular, but seeing him so nervous in an unusual manner
piqued his curiosity. He was quite curious to know who the person on the
other end of the line was.
"Yes, mother. It's me."
Kwon Taekju's mother answered the phone as if she had been waiting for
him. Since he had been running a little late, she blurted out all kinds of
worries to him, and at the same time, he tried his best to calm them all
down. He didn't even have the energy to care that Jenya was listening.
"Free high quality."
"Hmm... It had to be good quality."
Jenya nodded as if he understood. It wasn't a compliment. It was clearly an
accusation, whoever heard it. Still, he straightened his shoulders
unnecessarily and lifted his chin. Did he really have to be so cavalier about
it?
"So, you know how to make pleasant sounds, too?"
An unfamiliar language flowed incessantly from Kwon Taekju's mouth. He
had met North Koreans a few times for work purposes and their way of
speaking the language resembled this one.
However, since he was not fluent in Korean, he could not tell who the caller
was or what kind of conversation was taking place. Jenya could only guess
the recipient based on Kwon Taekju's unusually affectionate tone toward
him and the soft voice that seemed to be putting the other person at ease.
The intermittent voice faintly filtering through the headphones was definitely
a woman's voice. Not just someone he had spent a night with, but someone
he had had a deep relationship with for a long time.
Suddenly, Jenya pulled out his phone and opened a translation app. As
expected, the language Kwon Taekju was using was Korean, and one word
that was said repeatedly that caught his attention was "Mother." As he
carefully examined the meanings, Jenya openly scoffed. It was now so
obvious why he was being unusually kind, not to mention that the recipient
was not a young woman but someone he called "mother."
The call between Kwon Taekju and his mother ended quickly. As soon as
he pressed the end call button, he let out a long sigh. He was tidying up the
communication equipment looking exhausted when he suddenly looked up
and met Jenya's gaze. Their gazes met immediately. Jenya smirked as he
looked up at him. It was so obvious what he meant, so he pretended not to
understand, hurriedly put the suitcase back in its place, and sat back down.
Jenya feigned impatience, as if he had been waiting for him.
"I was wondering what a Mama Boy looked like, but here he is, right in front
of me."
"Are you a fucking idiot like everyone else, who knows nothing but pretends
to know everything?"
"Are you getting mad because you got poked in your vital spot?"
"I'd rather be just a Mama's Boy, I'd be less tired, too."
Kwon Taekju complained, shaking his head. Honestly, Jenya did not need
to know the personal affairs of others. Nor did he have any interest in them.
However, seeing in time the seemingly unchanging guy suddenly become
restless and then abruptly indifferent once again made him curious about
the underlying situation.
He wanted to know why he identified himself as a "tired" Mama Boy.
"Go on."
"Do you even know how hard it is to survive alone? How could someone
like you possibly understand? The worries, concerns, anxieties, anxiety,
nervousness, and expectations of the family left behind? You have to bear
all that and even the burden of those who are no longer alive. It's much
better not to have to worry her, she's always anxious, so I'd rather lie to you
and treat her with pretense, pretending to be happy. If she knew where I am
now and what I plan to do in the future, my mother would be lying on her
back in the street. If my mother knew where I was and what I was going to
do, she would be lying on her back in the street. She thinks I'm still at the
regional government office collecting documents...".
Kwon Taekju abruptly stopped babbling. Whether Jenya was listening
attentively or not, his expression was unclear.
"Why did you stop talking?"
"Because it's unnecessary."
Kwon Taekju closed his mouth as he sat with his back deeply buried in his
chair. Picking up a thick book, he seemed to have no intention of talking
further. He stretched out his arm and closed the cover. Once again, the
gazes of the two individuals cross.
"There's all the time in the world to talk."
"Well, I'm not so bored as to reveal inconsequential family matters. Besides,
I brought a lot of books."
Kwon Taekju gestures to the inside of his suitcase. There was certainly
enough for about six days.
Jenya smirked and openly scrutinized Kwon Taekju. It was a look of
curiosity as if he had received a refreshing stimulus. He pretended not to
notice his scrutiny. He made one last attempt, pulling out a random book
and asking if he could borrow it.
"No, thanks. I'm not interested in one-sided talks. If you get bored, just bring
a woman."
As if he was used to it.
He shook his head and fixed his eyes on the book. Even after some time,
Jenya did not relent and continued to stay there. Then he simply left without
saying a word. Even though they were partners, there was no way of
knowing where he was going and why.
The door that was open closed again. Kwon Taekju's gaze, which was fixed
on the book, shifted to the door. His stiff shoulders relaxed.
Even now, every time Jenya looked at him intently, he unconsciously tensed
up.
He couldn't help it. With sporadic glances, he could see the fiendish
destroyer floating in the water, with its predatory instincts and fierce, savage
nature hidden deep inside him. He was like a skilled predator, who knew
how to free his prey to enjoy his last supper. His instincts rejected him
because even though he reminded himself many times that they were a
team, he could not let his guard down.
4.2 Trans-Siberian Railway

After twelve hours, the train reached the border region between China and
Mongolia. Even before the stop, there was an air of uneasiness in the cabin.
They were about to pass through immigration.
They were told that the process takes an average of three hours, although it
is a shorter time than at the Russian border. In an emergency, it could be
even longer, during which time the passengers would be trapped on the
train.
When the train came to a complete stop, the waiting inspectors filled in.
They consisted of immigration office personnel, customs officials, and a
couple of policemen, each group inspecting assigned areas. They
meticulously examined various declaration forms, compared passport
photos with passenger's faces, and conducted baggage checks and body
searches. Most of the inspections went smoothly, but every now and then
there was the occasional demanding inspector. They thoroughly searched
every piece of luggage, even under the beds, shelves, and garbage cans.
During that time, no one was allowed to enter or leave the cabins at any
time.
There was no way to relax before the inspection.
It was no different for Kwon Taekju and Jenya. They were sitting across
from each other in a cramped booth, holding no particular conversation.
They had just woken up, both still half asleep, so neither bothered to take
out even something to read while they waited their turn.
Technically, on inspection, they were the ones who should have been the
most nervous. They were carrying small bombs, including a Colt pistol, and
several high-tech devices. They had hidden them in advance, a preparation
before the inspection, but they were up against thorough inspectors.
If they happened to discover the Colt, they would be in trouble. This was no
time to relax.
In the midst of all this, there was something that bothered them far more
than the inspection. It was Jenya's knee that had come to rest between their
legs. Sitting in their respective seats facing each other, their long legs
naturally intertwined. However, while Kwon Taekju's knee only reached
Jenya's thigh, Jenya's leg, which was about an inch longer, reached deep
enough to be embarrassingly close. If they were a little careless, his knees
and penis would touch.
Kwon Taekju looked at the knee that threatened his private parts. If he had
any sense, he would move his body to dodge it. It was a look that clearly
conveyed that he would return the attack if necessary. However, Jenya
merely returned Kwon Taekju's gaze, not flinching in the slightest.
"Could you move a little?"
I finally asked after a long wait. "It's not my fault I have long legs."
Jenya shrugged indifferently, not even making a gesture to move his body.
It would have been better if he, embarrassed, turned around first, but Kwon
Taekju didn't do that either. He did not want to participate in their joke.
Ignoring someone who likes to tease others was the best way to get even.
He looked out the window without showing any reaction. He even yawned a
couple of times, as drowsiness overtook him. At his indifferent reaction, an
audible voice came from where Jenya was standing, saying, "You're not
cute," but Kwon Taekju pretended as if he didn't hear it.
Meanwhile, there was a bustle outside the booth. There was a lot of
agitation and the inspectors soon came in.
First, they presented their passports. Kwon Taekju was still disguised as
Japanese. His name was different from that of Hiro Sakamoto, who was
declared missing because of the hotel explosion incident. The inspector
who checked the declaration form returned his passport without much
suspicion.
Next, the thorough inspection of the luggage began. Jenya looked
completely unconcerned. Kwon Taekju also tried to keep his composure as
much as possible.
"......?"
Suddenly, feeling someone's gaze riveted on him, Kwon Taekju turned his
head. A policeman was staring at him. Had he noticed something strange?
A shiver ran down his spine.
He averted his gaze as naturally as possible. However, even after that, the
intense gaze continued to stare at him. He didn't turn away for a second.
For some reason, he felt uncomfortable.
The inspectors' baggage inspection continued in the bathroom. They
lowered the shower head attached to the wall and even disassembled its
head. They thoroughly searched the floor, bedding, and pillows before
leaving the room without a word. A long sigh involuntarily escaped my lips.
The next moment, the door opened again and a policeman returned. It was
the same man who had been staring at Kwon Taekju earlier. Jenya and
Kwon Taekju looked at each other puzzled.
The officer ordered them to stand against the wall. It was sudden, but there
was no need to cause unnecessary trouble by resisting, so they obediently
followed his orders. The agent searched Jenya first. He lightly ran his hands
over his shoulders, chest, waist, and ankles. Then, he finished by briefly
inspecting Jenya's hands one by one.
It was Kwon Taekju's turn. He leaned his hands against the wall. Once
again, he could feel the intense gaze from behind, but he pretended not to
notice. The policeman, who had squatted down and was sitting with one
knee bent, began to feel his ankles. He moved his hands, pressing firmly
against the bones, then moved up to his calves and knees. He continued
the thorough inspection, moving to his thighs and groin.
Although it appeared to be casual with Jenya, the officer's contact with him
was persistent.
As he moved upward, the touching became more and more explicit. As the
contact moved upward, it became more overt. The policeman, as if
kneading, pressed Kwon Taekju's buttocks and then leaned lightly on his
lower body. He reached forward, provocatively brushing his well-toned
abdomen. Finally, he gripped his muscular chest tightly with his hand.
Kwon Taekju stifled his breath and looked into the void. Perhaps thinking he
was excited, the officer's hand became bolder and squeezed harder. He
could hear Jenya's laughter from behind.
"Hands..."
He muttered with his head lowered. It was a low voice, and since it was in
Korean, neither the officer nor Jenya understood the meaning. Kwon
Taekju's hand, which had been touching the wall, closed into a fist.
"Let go of me, you son of a bitch!".
In a fit of seething rage, he grabbed the cop by the collar. He had his elbow
drawn back, ready to deliver a punch at any moment. The officer closed his
eyes tightly and hunched his shoulders. But after a while, the dreaded act of
violence did not occur.
The officer opened his eyes silently and swallowed dry saliva. Kwon
Taekju's pale-colored clenched fist trembled before his nose. The
unwarranted sexual harassment had become increasingly egregious. The
very way he looked seemed capable of tearing a person apart. Kwon
Taekju, suppressing his anger as he wrinkled his nose, eventually let go of
him, pushing him aside.
The disheveled police officer stumbled away.
"He must have really liked you, huh?"
Jenya teased Kwon Taekju, grinning mischievously, wanting to get a
reaction out of him. He countered by throwing the first book he found at him.
Jenya teased Kwon Taekju, smiling mischievously, wanting to get a reaction
out of him. He counterattacked by throwing any book he could find at him.
He caught it easily and put it back on the shelf. Not forgetting to tease him
once more when their gazes met.
"That guy, though he's talkative, seems pretty good. Why didn't you pretend
you couldn't win? After all, you've got a lot of stuff piled up."
"It's not like you, of all people, have anything to say. You're not a less
handsome guy."
"Oh? Am I your taste?"
"Don't say scary things."
He openly scoffed. Jenya was being obnoxiously annoying to the point of
being obnoxious. He glared menacingly at the guy before tidying up the
mess around him.
A moment later, the train was moving again, and they settled back into their
seats after getting everything organized. He picked up a book and began to
read. How long had it been?
Just then, a familiar vibration rang out. It was Jenya's phone. He checked
the caller ID and pulled the phone out.
In fact, it wasn't the first time it had happened. Whenever he received a call,
he left his seat without fail. Unless it was a contact related to the operation,
it was his strictly private matter, however, he was overly cautious, and the
only information he shares with Kwon Taekju is what he needs to do his
mission work. He had never mentioned anything about himself.
If he were a more normal big man, I would have stopped paying attention to
him long ago, but it was simply impossible.
"......."
He put down the book he was reading and got up. He opened the closed
door slightly and peeked through the crack to the outside. In one corner of
his field of vision, he saw Jenya. The distance was too great to perceive the
content of the conversation. However, the expression on his face as he
looked outside seemed unusually serious.
During his time in solitary, he dared to reveal his true self. He doesn't know
who was on the other end of the line, but he no longer pretended to be a
'fiery companion' as he did with Kwon Taekju.
His voice was grave and his face stern. There was no trace of his
characteristic smile.
He didn't want to get close. He was not the type to get too entangled in
other people's affairs. Now he only hoped that the operation would be over
soon so that he could separate from him.
"......!"
He was about to turn around. As he was about to close the door, he
inadvertently caught a glimpse of Jenya, who was now staring at him.
Startled, he missed just the right moment to disappear.
Jenya, who had been staring at Kwon Taekju, suddenly drew a long bow
with his lips. It was a fake smile. He looked at him intently and turned away
quickly.
After a while, Jenya returned to the compartment. He did not ask why he
was watching him, but acted as if nothing had happened, behaving in a
nonchalant manner.
Kwon Taekju felt uncomfortable, why did he have the feeling that he was
constantly playing a game where the other person was watching him?
*****
A whole day had passed since he boarded the train. During that time, the
North Korean technician barely moved. Just rose from his seat a few times,
and even then it was for about 5 to 10 minutes.
While the norcoreano technician was in the bathroom, Jenya installed a
surveillance camera and returned. The North Korean technician had no idea
where or how he was hiding. Thanks to that, they were saved from the
trouble of following him around day and night.
But as soon as one problem was solved, another would arise.
"Ah... Yes... Yes."
Jenya's sexual desire was overflowing no matter what time or place. The
person he was with wasn't even the stewardess from yesterday, yet the
face of the woman trembling as she was impaled by him looked quite
familiar. She was the stewardess he often came across when he checked
on the North Korean technician in the first-class and business-class
carriages. Last night she was in charge of the first-class car, and today she
was in charge of the business-class car. Now he wondered if it was the
intention to take turns with all the stewardesses before the end of the
journey.
It was barely past three o'clock in the afternoon. Kwon Taekju concentrated
on his book. It was a futile attempt. His surroundings were too clear, making
any movement in the vicinity clearly noticeable even if he didn't want to see
it. Jenya, who normally didn't mind the stares of others, seemed to have
forgotten any embarrassment as well.
The more they went on, the harder he gritted his teeth to hold on. Engaging
in such acts in this cramped booth was no different from provoking Kwon
Taekju himself. He didn't know if the other man's offended looks were
fueling his arousal, and regardless of the intent, he didn't plan to let himself
get carried away.
He regained his scattered mind. Fortunately, the contents of the book were
interesting, so it was not difficult for him to desensitize himself from his
surroundings.
"Ha... Mmm... Ahh..."
However, the two beasts indulging in pleasure were unwilling to leave the
unfortunate witness alone. Throwing a fluffy pillow, the woman slapped her
hands in the air and hit the table, causing a bottle of alcohol to roll and
shatter. The vodka that filled it spilled onto the floor, and some of it splashed
Kwon Taekju. Kwon Taekju looked down at his wet pants and suddenly
raised his head. Immediately, his eyes met Jenya's.
"......."
"......."
He didn't expect him to apologize. However, instead of stopping, he twisted
his lips even more provocatively. When Kwon Taekju furrowed his
eyebrows, he playfully stuck out his bright red tongue and lazily licked his
upper lip. Kwon Taeku's pupils moved recklessly, following the contours of
his flushed flesh, and when Jenya noticed, a smirk crept across his face.
The next moment, her body slumped on the table. As she grunted and tried
to lift her upper body, Jenya pressed her neck, and then, aligning herself
with her body, lifted her abdomen to support her. With that, the woman's
lower body, barely holding herself up on tiptoe, was lifted all the way up. Her
blonde hair, which extended beyond the table, looked like it could touch
Kwon Taekju at any moment. In a situation where there was no escape,
Jenya resumed his vigorous hip movements.
The sound of rough friction echoed throughout the cabin. It was hard to
believe that such sounds could occur between two people. The table the
woman was leaning on shook as if it was about to break, while Jenya's
constant deep thrusts, each followed by a loud clatter, leaving the woman in
an agonizing mess.
Kwon Taekju's patience ran out. He finally opened her mouth to say
something.
"Hey..."
"Huhhhhhhh...!"
His protest was never completed. The words he intended to say were
completely drowned out by the woman's moans as Jenya, for his part,
continued to relentlessly penetrate the woman's drenched ass, consumed
by intense pleasure as she barely breathed and slumped against the table,
the only thing separating Kwon Taekju from the two of them. The situation
was unbearable to the point that he tried to leave his seat rather than have
to endure it any longer.
At that moment, Jenya abruptly lifted the woman's upper body. As a result,
the loose front of her top gaped wide open. Snow-white breasts spread out
in front of Kwon Taekju. He was slow to turn his head away, but the image
kept flickering endlessly in his mind. He closed his eyes tightly and
suppressed his instinctive desires.
"Ah, ah, uhh.... Huhh..."
Before long, with a loud noise, the woman's body stiffened. She had
ejaculated, as a pungent odor permeated the air. He had been avoiding it
the whole time, but suddenly he looked straight ahead. He saw Jenya's
face, who had just savored the climax and was now relaxed.
At that moment, Jenya suddenly pulled the woman, who had been sprawled
out, closer to him. As a result, her lower body pressed against his sharply.
The recoil bounced both of her voluminous breasts.
Oh, my God.

n/t: I was just like 'side eye...' reading the last bits... me personally, I
would've been threw a pillow at them mf's and left, cause why ya'll stanking
up the only space I can breathe??? But hii guys I hope you are enjoying so
far. Getting close to the end of Volume 1.
4.3 Trans- Siberian Railway

"...Shit."
He leaned against the shower stall and struggled to catch his breath. The
heat was building up in one place, taking hold of him and making him feel
like he was going to die. Though he tried to ignore it, Kwon Taekju was still
a man in his prime. It was impossible for him to look at a woman's bare
breasts and not feel aroused.
His head was spinning. There was no relaxation in the probing touch
digging into his penis.
Tension naturally crept up his jaw and he clenched it. Fully engaged teeth
made a grinding sound and the flesh of his penis pushed out of its sheath,
was already soaked with presemen. As he lightly stroked his dick, the
accumulated substance spread, soaking the entire glans. The hardened
organ writhed with each scratch of his fingertips, making his whole body
shudder. It cleared his mind, which had been a tangled mess so far, and left
him free of thoughts. All that remained was the lingering heat and
overflowing carnal desire.
He opened the shower head in annoyance and felt cold water pouring over
her head, but even after a while of cooling down, the heat did not fade. His
black hair absorbed the water and became soaked. His shirt clung to his
body, revealing all the contours of his muscles. His soft muscles tensed in
response to stimulation. The nipples under his shirt bristled at the erotic
energy coursing through his body.
"Ugh... Ugh...."
She gritted her teeth again, but uncontainable moans escaped one after
another. The cold water pounding his body mercilessly sent shivers down
his spine. His lifeless lips trembled as he exhaled puffs of cold air.
However, the heat building up in his crotch remained, and the mere touch of
his hand caused a searing sensation as if he were scratching it with his
fingernails, to spread throughout his body. His knees trembled involuntarily.
His jaw, which had been exerting force, had become rigid and his eyes,
always sharp, had long been glazed over.
Kwon Taekju shook his head nervously, struggling to shake off the lust that
clung to him. His hands clenched into tight fists against the wall, his teeth
chattering as he secretly moaned, he felt suffocated. The time for
unrestricted pleasuring himself was over, for although his sexual appetite
would flare up from time to time, it never did so as much as it did now.
A burning sensation went up his spine. The tingling sensation spread
intensely from inside his crotch, causing his knees to shake uncontrollably.
It was difficult to stand properly without having to lean against the wall.
Leaning his whole body, I could feel the blood flowing through my veins
boiling and the intense heat rising fiercely from my feverish head to every
nook and cranny of the blood vessels.
Perhaps due to a temporary increase in blood pressure, his vision flickered.
The warm, cool sensation quickly coursed down his spine.
"Haah... Haah...!"
Kwon Taekju's abdominal muscles expanded enormously. His penis,
swollen to the limit, ejaculated hot semen. His shoulders and waist shook
violently. Fearing that some sound would leak from his mouth, he clenched
his teeth tighter, but it was no use. The moan of a man who had just
savored climax filled the shower stall uncontrollably as his vision blurred.
Muscles throughout his body contracted and, for a fleeting moment, even
his breathing stopped momentarily.
"Haah... Haah..."
He let out the breath he had been holding. His shoulders and chest
shuddered as he breathed rapidly, and a cool sensation settled in where the
heat had subsided. His mind felt effervescent as if he had just consumed
carbonated water. It was dizzying and disorienting.
After the orgasm, both the cold and the soggy clothes clinging to his body
began to feel uncomfortable, so he began to shower, ripping off the clothes
clinging to his body. He thoroughly washed away the traces of desire that
remained wet all over his body. Gradually, his pupils regained their original
clarity and the painful heat had completely disappeared. When he finished
showering, Kwon Taekju was himself again.
After drying off and just as he turned around, something stopped him. For
some reason, Jenya was standing in front of the bathroom door. Had he
heard everything? He felt uncomfortable, but that was all. Compared to the
things that bastard had done, masturbation was a completely natural and
healthy act. There was nothing to be ashamed or uncomfortable about.
Kwon Taekju continued on his way with determination, despite the mocking
looks he was receiving from Jenya. But then, Jenya abruptly blocked his
path. Ignoring him and trying to pass, he subtly backed up but was blocked
again. It was clearly intentional. Kwon Taekju looked at him with eyes full of
resentment. Jenya smiled as if he had been expecting it.
"I'm sorry, did I upset you?"
That was not an apologetic expression at all. Kwon Taekju shrugged
indifferently.
"I should be the one apologizing. Always being on the receiving end, right?"
He responded condescendingly, but it didn't seem to affect him. Ignoring
Jenya, he headed towards the bed, then pulled out underwear and clothes
from his suitcase. Until then, Kwon Taekju had been completely naked,
without a single thread on him. But they were both men, so what did it
matter? It was strange that Jenya, who even hid his own intimacy after
showering or having sex, would show his body without reservation.
As he reached down and slipped his underwear over his ankles, he
suddenly turned around. He felt an intense stare. And sure enough there it
was, it was Jenya, staring unabashedly at him. It looked like he had been
watching him standing there the whole time, it was obvious he had been
caught. Without letting the shameless man out of his sight, he tugged at his
collar through his shirt.
"What do you think about doing it with a man?".
Jenya asked suddenly. At that moment, his gaze was fixed on his chest
area. Kwon Taekju felt repulsion as he adjusted his shirt.
"I don't want to imagine that."
"Hmm, as expected, you'll just let the mood pass. Even if it's a pitiful-looking
man who whines and cries, don't you think it's cute?".
Whether or not it was possible to establish that kind of relationship, wasn't
that the key question? Unconsciously, Kwon Taekju found himself imagining
it for a moment, but quickly shook off such fantasies. He shook his head to
rid himself of the distractions. If he kept thinking about it, his stomach would
turn.
"Stop being nasty. It's not funny."
He sat down with a serious expression. Then, as he lightly stroked his hair,
he looked at the man on the other side of the monitor. He was still sitting,
reading the same book from two days ago. To be sure, he checked the
contents of the book for any relevant information but found nothing worth
mentioning.
There was still no contact with Bogdanov. There were a few people who
spoke sporadically with the North Korean technician, but they were such
simple conversations that there was no reason to suspect anything. The
North Korean technician never left his site for long periods of time, nor did
he communicate with anyone on the outside or use communication devices.
When and how did he plan to establish contact?
As he concentrated on staring at the monitor screen, the table suddenly
emitted a dull sound. He looked up and saw that Jenya had placed two
bottles of vodka, tequila, and cognac on the table.
It looked like he planned to drink them all in one go, as he placed an empty
glass in front of Kwon Taekju and another one in front of him, without ice.
He also took out one of his signature handmade cigars, which were a
special edition for the brand's 40th anniversary.
First, he followed the procedure with cognac. Next, he pulled out a Cohiba
cigar and lightly moistened the tip and the sequence of actions of puffing
the thick body continued smoothly like flowing water. With a soft puff, the tip
of the cigar burned gently. The unique fragrance of Cohiba filled the air.
"If you smoke it like this, the taste will be much better."
Jenya turned the cigar he was smoking and passed it to him. He made no
objection. He didn't refuse. He took the cigar without hesitation and put it to
his lips and the rich aroma spread through his mouth. The smoke swirled
around in his mouth and slowly slid down his throat as it enveloped him
completely, including his eyes and head.
Jenya watched Kwon Taekju, engrossed in the unfamiliar experience, and
took out another cigar. He also poured brandy into Kwon Taekju's empty
glass.
"I was wondering if you were that kind."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought maybe you weren't interested in women because you weren't
even turned on by the sight of a naked woman."
He smirked. As he stared at him, he picked up the brandy in front of him. He
took a sip and then twisted his lips as if in disbelief.
"How could you get such wrong ideas? I like women. Even if the world
collapses and only men survive, I'd rather avoid those holes."
He drew a clear line. Even with the thought of it, his body shivered. Jenya
refilled his glass and, as if talking to himself, though Kwon Taekju
demanded an answer to his earlier question, he said nothing. When he
asked him what he meant by that, he changed the subject as if it was
nothing important.
"So, what kind of woman do you like?"
"Why, do you want to introduce me to someone? That's sudden."
"Well, it's just to arrange things. It would be a problem if I ended up
approaching a woman you like, wouldn't it?"
"A problem? You're a beastly bastard."
He laughed cheekily and tilted his head and sipped the brandy. He felt his
body temperature gradually rise and wanted to drink more. He reached out
intending to pour himself another glass, but Jenya grabbed the bottle and
stopped him. Their gazes met and Jenya demanded an answer to his
question.
Reluctantly, he answered his earlier question.
"I like women with large breasts and hips. I prefer those who are plumper
rather than slender."
"Your tastes are pretty predictable."
"Isn't that better than having no tastes at all?"
"Saying you have no tastes is disrespectful. Even if you look like that, you're
picky."
"Being filtered by a guy like you is the real disrespect. Or are yours better?"
He replied sarcastically and grabbed the bottle. As he refilled his glass,
Jenya started talking about something he hadn't even been asked.
"I don't like clingy people. It's fun to do it together once, but if you do it more
than once with the same person, it gets boring."
It was appropriate. I didn't seem to have anything in common with this man
who changed partners every day. There were many people who preferred
casual relationships like one-night stands or no-strings-attached sexual
partners.
They didn't want to impose heavy responsibilities and boring standards on a
sexual encounter that was supposed to be mutually pleasurable. Still, no
one used to reveal their uninhibited lustful thoughts as he did.
He knew it was a pointless question, but he still asked.
"Have you ever continuously encountered a specific person..."
"I have not."
The answer was immediate, which meant that he had never truly been in a
proper romantic relationship. Of course, it was hard to imagine someone
like him harboring pure feelings and longing for love for anyone. Even when
he tried to recall his actions, he couldn't imagine him showering his attention
and love on a single woman. A woman who was the sole recipient of his
interest and love. Just the thought of it made him feel pity and compassion
for him.
"You never know. But if she's strong and defiant, if she can handle me and
doesn't break even when I push her, it will be even better. There's
something exciting about overpowering things by force."
The more he listened, the more he realized how high his standards were. It
wasn't surprising. From the beginning, it seemed impossible for someone
like him to devote himself to a single person or even build a family. A
normal, conventional life simply didn't fit him. Besides, if he were that kind of
man, he wouldn't be here in the first place.
"Well, if you admit you're Mama Boy, there's no reason to be curious."
"I just have a difficult mother."
He sighed with resignation. He had never revealed her personal family
matters to anyone. Even Director Lim could only speculate about Kwon
Taekju's domestic situation based on observations.
So why did he feel the need to vent now, and most of all, why would he do it
precisely with Jenya...he wouldn't be seeing him again after this mission
anyway, so he shouldn't care. Maybe it was a small moment of
irresponsibility on his part.
"From my maternal grandfather, my father, and even my older brother, all
the men who were involved in my mother's life were military men. As if on a
promise, all three of them also died in combat, so I'm the only blood relative
she has left, and needless to say, she always worries too much about me.
She told me not to even think about getting behind the wheel because
Korea has a high rate of traffic accidents. It has been that way since my
father died, and it has been getting worse every year. After my brother's
death, I couldn't even go out freely."
Jenya's expression became more serious at the hint of taking it as a joke.
"Anyway, everyone dies once."
Are you trying to comfort me? He couldn't find a single ordinary corner in
this strange human. If he were to say to his mother, who loses sleep
worrying about her son, "Well, all humans die at least once," she would
probably reply, "Well, that's nice." Watching someone so different in
thoughts, actions, and emotions, he couldn't help but be curious about his
family. What kind of parents would give birth to and raise a person with so
many faults?
Meanwhile, the glass was empty. He waited for a moment, but Jenya just
sat there idly. Instead of pouring it himself as well as he could, Kwon Taekju
did not. He tapped the empty glass lightly on the table. Finally, Jenya said,
"Ah," poured a full glass of tequila, gulped it down, and licked his palm. The
unpleasant aftertaste made him lose his appetite.
"It's a pity there's no lemon."
"Ah, so you're that type? If I'd known, I'd have fixed you a woman and a
lemon in advance."
Jenya laughed with a strange smile as if he was thinking about something,
Kwon Taekju elbowed him in the collarbone.
"Forget it. Tell me about yourself."
"What do you mean?"
"The obvious things. Family ties, interests, things like that."
"Hmm. If you must know. I have a lot of siblings. Because of that, I don't
have to pander to my dysfunctional parents' preferences. When I get bored,
I look for women. I'm not into that leering and jerking off."
He teased Kwon Taekju time after time with a satisfied expression. Kwon
Taekju, in return, showed a condescending smile towards him.
"Do your parents know that you are doing this?".
"What does that have to do with it?"
"You're killing their people left and right."
"There seems to be a misunderstanding. I don't go around attacking
innocent people, didn't I tell you that? I only deal with those who pose a
threat or get rid of others in self-defense."
"Why don't you say what's really going on? What you are doing is self-
defense over-defense."
"If they were really hurting me or intended to hurt me, that defines it as self-
defense. If I was weaker than I am now, I would have died, not them."
A monstrosity, presenting himself in the role of the innocent victim. As if he
had no choice but to defend himself. There was no choice; he defended
himself because he had no choice.
Killing people just because they made a little noise or followed him, to him
that was crazy. If he accidentally stepped on his shadow, Kwon Taekju
didn't know if he would try to kill him.
He bit his tongue angrily, however, he didn't plan to waste his time with a
lecture that would serve no purpose. As long as Jenya didn't hurt him, he
didn't care what he did or where he went. Even lectures were a way of
showing affection for someone.
When the atmosphere calmed down, he tried a more serious conversation.
"About you. Judging by appearances, you're not poor financially, so why are
you getting into this?"
"I've told you that before."
"Yes, you did. You said you're doing this solely for the blueprints. If you get
them, you can develop an unprecedented weapon and sit comfortably in a
seat of wealth. But the more I think about it, the less I understand it. It
seems like you're already sitting in a seat of wealth even without the
blueprints."
"Well, there's nothing wrong with having a lot of money."
"Well, if you're going to die anyway, why not just leave it there? Do you
dream of being reborn in the afterlife? Or are you so obsessed with money
that you're willing to sell your country and put yourself in harm's way?"
"I hadn't realized you were so interested in me."
"I've never met anyone like you before. Normally, I can make some guesses
as to why someone is like this or like that, why they would do this or that,
but with you, I can't figure out anything at all. You're a crazy bastard with a
lot of money and lacking nothing.... Why on earth... Oh, sorry, I said what I
was thinking without meaning to."
Instead of being offended by being called a "crazy bastard with a lot of
money", he analyzes it without changing his expression and answers Kwon
Taekju's question tidily.
"Because it looks interesting. If it does look interesting to me, I will do it. It's
just not something that happens very often."
It's not an extreme sport, but the risk of losing your life in the blink of an eye
in that game seems to be something that piques his interest. It seemed
more humane to say he joined it for money, being completely obsessed with
money, after all, you couldn't trust someone who ruthlessly ripped people to
death.
At that moment, Jenya settled slightly in his seat. His hair, illuminated by the
light, shone even more brightly. It was too bright to be blonde, but too yellow
to be white. Even a slight movement made it glow, continually drawing her
attention.
"Surprisingly, there aren't many blondes among Russians, is your hair color
genetic or dyed?".
He asked without realizing it, as he stared at him. Jenya tilted his body
suddenly. His natural platinum blonde hair filled his field of vision.
"No one in my bloodline has this hair color. It's a mutation. Do you want to
touch it?"
"I'll pass."
He turned down the proposal immediately. Jenya laughed gleefully as he
turned away.
It didn't seem like they had been talking for long, but suddenly the view
outside the window began to darken. Although a day spent in an enclosed
space usually seems several times longer than usual, today was an
exception. There had been a lot going on since morning, and another
reason could be due to the effect of the alcohol. As the drink came in, the
consciousness that had been constantly in a state of tension calmed down.
It also became less sensitive.
At that moment, Jenya filled Kwon's empty glass. The glass had not been
dry at any time.
"Don't you want another drink?"
"Well, I don't know what my limit is exactly because I've never gotten drunk,
but I think this is more than enough."
"Hmm?"
Jenya asked Kwon Taekju provocatively. However, he was not swayed by
that superficial act. He kept his mouth steady following his own pace, even
against the teasing stares. He didn't want to be in a vulnerable state by
becoming intoxicated, and even if it didn't seem important to others, he felt
that he shouldn't be the first to fall before Jenya. It was just a vague feeling.
Maybe nothing would happen to warrant his caution. Maybe it was just
nerves, but even if that were true, he didn't want to expose his neck in front
of an uncertain opponent.
There was no meaningful conversation. They simply emptied and refilled
their glasses over and over again. It was like a boring game that would only
end when one of them fell. They could stop drinking now, but while they
were at it, I wanted to get Jenya drunk and relieve his lingering
restlessness.
As his tongue grew numb, he couldn't perceive the characteristic bitter taste
of alcohol. Neither the aroma nor the distinct taste was present. It was like
drinking water. In his desire to relieve the burning sensation in his stomach,
he kept reaching for more liquids and unknowingly consumed a significant
amount. His conscience was not easily shaken, after all, Kwon Taekju had a
high tolerance for alcohol. The problem was that his opponent apparently
did as well.
At some point, his vision became blurred. Jenya was also not in his normal
state, and they both poured alcohol not only in their glasses but also in
other places. The table, the carpet, and the clothes they were wearing
became a mess as they got soaked. Empty bottles rolled aimlessly on the
floor and they were already on their fifth bottle in a row and as the
intoxication took hold of them, their moods fluctuated freely. They threw
absurd jokes as if they were competing and banged the table while laughing
like crazy, even screaming at the top of their lungs after opening the
windows. Actions they would never have done while sober unfolded without
the control of reason.
"Mr. Lim would be furious if he saw this."
He chuckled and muttered as he refilled his glass, then cocked his head to
the side. The surroundings had become quiet. The sound of train wheels
rolling along the tracks was the only constant. Somehow, it seemed that
Kwon Taekju was the only one making noise. It wasn't until his drink
overflowed and soaked his lap that he realized Jenya had gone silent.
He lifted his head and saw Jenya with his arms crossed and his eyes
closed. His prolonged breaths, the steady rise and fall of her chest, and
motionless eyelids confirmed that he had fallen asleep. Kwon Taekju
pretended to extend his arm and move a finger as if to poke him in the eye,
but there was no reaction. He smiled in satisfaction. A satisfied chuckle
spread across Kwon Taekju's lips.
"Only up to here... My Lord, my Lord."
He scoffed as he shook his head. It wasn't about who could drink the most,
but now that he thought he had won, he couldn't help but feel triumphant. It
was probably due to drunkenness.
Kwon Taekju raised his glass full of vodka with joy. Half of the liquid spilled
out with a roar. His right arm, which held the glass, ended up completely
soaked. With difficulty, staggering, he brought the glass to his mouth. It was
a brief moment when the remaining vodka filled his mouth completely.
With a clatter, his staggering body ended up collapsing completely, his torso
falling onto the table. The hand holding the glass also fell limply.
For a moment, there was no movement in the room. Then, the whisper of
Kwon Taekju's breathing could be heard. After a day without proper sleep
and added to the effect of alcohol, he passed out completely. His back
puffed out and then slowly sank.
"......"
After what seemed like an eternity, Jenya, who had fallen asleep sitting up,
opened his eyes. Strangely, his eyelids opened without any resistance, so
much so that it seemed as if he hadn't been asleep for even a moment, as if
he hadn't even been drunk. His expressionless gaze was completely
focused on Kwon Taekju. It was a calm and serene gaze.
Jenya picked up a handmade cigar. The end of the cigar was burnt and
dark. Using a special cutter, he cut that part off completely. Then he lit a
lighter and set fire to the body of the freshly cut cigar, producing a dense
smoke. Meanwhile, Jenya's gaze was fixed on Kwon Taekju. Specifically,
he was staring at his outstretched hand towards him.
As a habit, he pressed the cigar cutter. The two blades met producing a
metallic sound of friction. He ran his long, slender finger gently across Kwon
Taekju's hand. He carefully observed the wrinkled areas and straight
fingers.
Then, he turned his head slightly. Meanwhile, the cigar cutter in Jenya's
hand produced a muffled "click, click" sound on the opposite side. With his
index finger, he gently stroked Kwon Taekju's ring finger. A subtle smile
broke out on his pale face.
4.4 Trans-Siberian Railway

Kwon Taekju lifted his heavy eyelids. Once upright, his slanting vision
captured a familiar landscape. The front door was in front of him, the
deafening sound of the train echoed, and his cheek pressed against the
table conveyed a particular sensation. His senses awakened one by one,
and synesthesia came to life as his awareness sharpened. He noticed that
his cheeks were surprisingly moist, as the scent of cognac wafted into the
air, an aroma he had not perceived before.
With a groan, he sat up altogether. The table against which he had been
lying was completely soaked with alcohol. Needless to say, he, who was
sprawled over it, was a mess. It was self-evident.
As he wiped his wet face, he scanned his surroundings with his eyes but
saw no sign of Jenya. As he tried to move, an abandoned liquor bottle hit
his foot. He should have removed it earlier, he thought with discontent but
quickly dispersed that thought. It seemed ridiculous to him to expect
humanity or at least a modicum of courtesy from someone like Jenya.
Pushing the empty bottles and glasses aside, he headed for the bathroom.
From there, he could hear the sound of running water that he hadn't noticed
before - would it be Jenya? Maybe he had just woken up too.
He wished to take a shower, as his whole body was sticky. Regretfully,
however, he flopped down on the bed. Perhaps it was from drinking too
much alcohol after such a long time of not doing so, because his body felt
tired and sore, as if he had been repeatedly beaten. After a while, he began
to feel as if his body and the bed were merging. The sensation seemed
endless.
The sound of the water did not cease, it continued to echo. The steady
stream of water falling to the floor seemed like a lullaby. His eyelids, which
had not yet closed completely, blinked in confusion. At the same time, his
ears also seemed to gradually deafen. Was he falling asleep again? He
couldn't, he would be failing to do his job, he thought. However, his
consciousness kept drifting away, getting fuzzier and fuzzier, and he
couldn't stand the distressing fog.
Soon after, the bathroom door opened. The strange thing was that the
sound of the water did not cease, as his consciousness sank deeper and
deeper. At the same time, his body seemed to float in the air. It was a
strange sensation.
The wet footsteps approached. In an instant, a gigantic shadow enveloped
the bed where Kwon Taekju was lying. Ah, I should get up, he thought, but
as he tried to gather all the strength built up in his body, he only managed to
shudder slightly.
Against his will, his right arm was lifted. A long, cold finger stroked gently
between the back of his hand and fingers. It was eerie as if a snake was
licking his skin.
"Silly Zayka*."
(*n/t: In Russian, "Zayka" (зайка) means "bunny/rabbit" in English. It is often
used as an affectionate nickname, similar to referring to someone as
"honey/darling/sweetheart" in English. Commonly used between lovers or
parents with their children).
A terrifying voice echoed in his ears. It was Jenya's voice. There was a
trace of laughter in the way he breathed, but the air became chillingly icy
instead of warm. Only a pinky finger remained on the hand that had
previously been stroking all the fingers. The pressure was too strong, too
much to fight back. No, his body wasn't moving an inch, as if he was being
held down by scissors. His instincts were giving off danger signals, like a
flashing light.
Click, click. A familiar sound echoed in his dazed ears. The little finger that
had been forcibly grabbed was now being pulled closer to an object that
was getting closer and closer thanks to how crisp the sound was. He tried to
push it away, but Jenya did not let go easily. The two eyes of the individual
who had been staring at Kwon Taekju suddenly bent, gently. At the same
time, the cigar cutter biting Kwon Taekju's little finger clicked, closing again.
No, it can't be.
*****
"...¡Huh!"
He stood up abruptly. Suddenly, his vision blurred and an almost
unbearable intense light hit him. His eyes hurt, so he closed them once
more. He clutched his throbbing head and took a deep breath. Slowly, his
vision, distorted by the light, began to return to normal.
He raised his trembling hands. Both hands, with all ten fingers, were still
intact. Even his ring finger, the one that had been in Jenya's crosshairs, was
also unharmed.
Was it a dream? It had been so vivid that he felt bewildered, it seemed real.
He looked around him. The dirty table, the liquor bottles strewn on the floor,
the messy bedding, everything was identical to what he had seen in the
dream. There were even traces of liquor sticky on his cheeks.
The only difference was that there was a pile of cigar ashes on one side of
the table. He must have finished the cigar while he was sitting down.
Kwon Taekju wondered where he would have gone. Looking at the time, he
realized that it was almost breakfast time. He didn't know if he had gone to
the restaurant alone, as he always did, or if he would have been watching
the North Korean technician.
He stood up as he conjectured. However, something felt strange in his
lower body, lower than his waist. He bent down to discover the cause but
stopped midway.
"Shit..."
His crotch was swollen and tight. He wasn't old enough to be experiencing
things like this so early in the morning, and last night the only dream he'd
had was an absurd one in which his fingers were cut off. However, he had
heard that apparently, one could get an erection not only from sexual
pleasure but also from extreme fear or tension, although he had never
expected to experience anything like that directly. Only yesterday he had
masturbated, and now he found himself doing the same since morning.
Seeing his immature alter ego, he remembered the dream of the night
before. He did not believe in absurd superstitions such as premonitory
dreams. But still, as a human being, it didn't feel right when his sleep was
unstable and disturbing. It seemed that he would have to take a shower to
refresh himself from head to toe. If Jenya saw him in this situation again, he
would mock him for the rest of his life.
Then it happened. Suddenly, he heard the sound of water in the quiet
bathroom.
"¡...!"
He was startled and looked toward the bathroom - was it Jenya? Although
deep down he knew it couldn't be anyone else, his heart began to beat
unsteadily in his chest. It was because of the intensifying sense of danger.
The whole scenario was similar to the one in his dream.
It was just a dream, Kwon Taekju reassured himself. Just a fantasy that
manifested the human subconscious. As he replayed that in his head, he
silently stood up. What he had just picked up and now held in his hand was
none other than his Colt. A dream was just a dream, and there was nothing
wrong with making sure of its safety.
Holding the Colt in both hands, he slowly made his way toward the
bathroom. However, the sound of the water continued and the feeling of a
presence remained the same.
He looked away from the bathroom doorknob. Should he open it? But when
it came time to act, he felt quite agitated. A colleague in a drowsy state,
entering a very private space, even pointing a gun. He didn't know why, but
he felt that if he was seen in this state he would be mocked for a whole
year. Really, why would he go and provoke that ridiculous image on his
own? He stood pacing in front of the door, racked with agony.
Suddenly, the front door burst open. He was startled and turned to see that
Jenya was entering. Sure enough, their gazes met. It seemed as if time
stood still for a moment.
"What are you doing? And in that sinister way."
Jenya narrowed her eyes and accused him. It was clear that he had
generated a great deal of confusion, but she had no adequate words to
explain himself. To say that he had had a strange dream, so he was trying
to cope because it seemed to have come true? That being his only excuse,
it was better to do nothing.
By the way, if it's him right now, in front of him, then who is in front of him in
the cockpit? Instead of explaining his frustration, Kwon Taekju made a
threatening gesture toward the bathroom. He even muttered to himself,
wondering who would be inside. Just then, the sound of the water ceased.
Kwon Taekju quickly turned away from the bathroom door, stretching his
arms straight. He pointed at the recently closed door with the barrel of the
gun.
Jenya watched his actions with indifference. Then, without argument, he
strode confidently toward the bathroom. He showed no hesitation even as
he quickly opened the previously closed door.
"...!"
Kwon Taekju instinctively pulled the trigger halfway. However, he did not
end up firing.
"Oh, what a surprise, are you here? Thanks to you, I had a relaxing bath.
Thank you."
Inside the bathroom, a barefoot woman revealed herself. Jenya squeezed
her against her waist while Kwon Taekju tightened his Colt. The woman,
without hesitation, also hugged Jenya.
At first glance, she looked like a European tourist. It seemed that Jenya had
lured her in with the bait of inadequate showers.
Jenya gently pushed the woman into the cabin. The door closed with a
thud. Only Kwon Taekju was left alone in the room. Soon, the cramped
bathroom began to shake. Due to the abundant moisture, the woman's
moans sounded muffled.
Kwon Taekju, who had been standing awkwardly, threw the Colt on the bed.
He noticed the sandwich Jenya had brought, presumably to eat with the
woman. He chewed it absently and looked out the window aimlessly.
Spending time with a golden human like him drained him day by day.
"Ah."
Suddenly, he lowered his head and looked down at his groin. He peeked his
head out and saw his flaccid penis. However, the tingling sensation was still
there. Perhaps even light stimulation would raise it again.
As if despising himself, he fiercely pressed his head with a pillow. He
deliberately left the window wide open. The noisy sound of the train's
wheels finally fragmented the obscene din.
4.5 Trans-Siberian Railway

The woman's name was Louise. She was French, about to be married, and
said she was enjoying her last moments of freedom on a solo trip. She had
already visited several countries in Africa and Asia, the countries farthest
from her life in France, and now she planned to explore familiar parts of
Europe via Russia to find herself. She said that after successfully
completing all her travels and returning to France, there would only be one
week left until her wedding. She mentioned that she and her fiancé had
already come to an agreement. Perhaps, like her, he too was enjoying his
last getaway as a solo traveler.
Louise didn't leave even after breakfast. She slept in Jenya's bed all
morning. When she woke up in the afternoon, she pouted at Jenya,
crossing her arms, suggesting they go to the restaurant together. For some
reason, Jenya meekly agreed to the request. He hadn't been with the same
person more than once, but he couldn't be sure if he had taken a liking to
Louise or not. It seemed that Louise had made a strong impression on him.
When he came back from dinner, he drank beer while telling his own story.
It was then that Jenya learned some details about her.
Every time Jenya left the room, Louise showed interest in Kwon Taekju.
Every time she raised her head because she felt his intense gaze, their
eyes would inevitably meet. It was always her who initiated the conversation
with a playful smile.
"You keep reading books, what kind of book is it?"
" A typical detective novel."
"So you like that sort of thing?"
"There's a thrill in discovering how poorly and flippantly the author lies."
In response to his sarcastic remark, Louise burst out laughing. Then, once
again, she gave him a meaningful look.
"If you're bored, would you like to borrow it?"
He handed her the book he was looking at without hesitation. It was as if he
was drawing a line, indicating that he would not participate in Louise's
playful antics. He was hopeful that they could have a relationship where
they could get along without crossing any boundaries. Despite knowing this,
how many men would be able to resist her charms? Probably very few.
"Women find men who are indifferent to romance more attractive. It's rather
strange, isn't it?"
He looked at Louise without answering. For a while, their gazes were deeply
intertwined.
Before long, the door opened and Jenya entered the room. Despite having
had a lot to drink the night before, he was carrying another bottle in his
hand. Louise hugged him, as if she hadn't been staring at Kwon Taekju a
while ago, and kissed him on the neck. Kwon Taekju let out a laugh and
went back to concentrating on the book, ignoring them both.
"How about together?"
Jenya suddenly proposed. Kwon Taekju frowned and looked at him. With a
questioning look, as if guessing what he meant, Kwon Taekju nodded.
Louise raised her head discreetly. Her cheeks were flushed from the effects
of alcohol.
"I wouldn't mind. I've wanted to try it at least once."
She subtly encouraged him, placing her hand on Kwon Taekju's arm. Her
persuasion to Kwon Taekju was not for something as grandiose as a
masterpiece. It was about revealing their desires to him and mingling their
bodies like couples of strangers do. Why would they try to involve even
someone as reluctant as him? He didn't understand.
Jenya's gaze collided with his.
"You're not a monk, who cares if you're holding on? Let go a little."
Kwon Taekju did not like the expression on his face. In the middle of this
confrontation, Louise's hand playfully slipped into Kwon Taekju's sleeve.
She was flirting with him, but her eyes were on Jenya all the time. She was
intentionally teasing him, as if taunting him, knowing that he would refuse in
the end. Once or twice, he tolerated her, but his patience had limits.
He made up his mind. Despite everything, he was tormented by his
unfulfilled desires lately, so it didn't seem like a bad idea to let go at that
moment.
Kwon Taekju immediately unbuttoned his shirt and declared:
"Then I'll go first."
"Oh?"
Louise made an unexpected expression and politely stepped aside. She
looked at Kwon Taekju with a suggestive expression on her face.
It was the first time she experienced sex with two men at the same time.
Moreover, it was a rare opportunity for her to interact with two men who
were not only attractive but far above average in appearance and
completely different in style.
Moreover, despite the fact that he had made a pass at her several times,
Kwon Taekju had always remained as unyielding as a rock. He did not
understand why he had suddenly become receptive. However, the thought
of having finally captivated that inflexible man excited her.
When Kwon Taekju took off his shirt, Louise pulled his collar towards her as
if she had been waiting for him. She hugged him and pulled him closer to
the bed. Louise gently pushed away the messy books that were scattered
on the floor. Jenya sat across from them with his arms crossed, watching
the scene unfold.
Louise kissed Kwon Taekju's ear and tenderly caressed his broad
shoulders. Her fingers gently slid down his smooth collarbone and chest,
exploring every inch. His well-toned body was firm and uncracked.
However, his long limbs made him appear slender.
As she scanned Kwon Taekju with her eyes, Louise took a deep breath. A
soft moan escaped her lips. Kwon Taekju lazily caught a sweet scent that
brushed the tip of his nose. Then, he grabbed her tightly and pressed
Louise's waist against his abdomen. He pushed her loose hair aside,
nibbled, and lightly kissed her soft earlobe.
Louise let out a moan that sounded almost like melted halfway down. He
kissed her ear, which had warmed, and whispered softly.
"You'll regret dragging me into this. My manners aren't that good."
"...Ah!"
Louise's hot body was flipped over in an instant. Her face ended up buried
in the soft pillow while only her lower body remained exposed. Kwon Taekju
eagerly rubbed his stiff member against the infinitely soft region. His penis,
which had always been content with masturbation, now reacted strongly,
smelling the royal aroma of someone else's flesh and becoming noticeably
aroused. Louise's back arched much more, as she gripped Kwon Taekju's
thighs nervously and expectantly.
"Wait, ah..."
However, before she could finish the sentence, the rigid penis forcefully
entered her vagina. With little resistance, Louise let out a sharp gasp. Kwon
Taekju provocatively pressed his thick penis inside her, making Louise's
already trembling white body tremble. The obscene sound of flesh rubbing
against flesh echoed in the room.
Jenya's lips curled upward; even he wasn't that reckless when it came to
lovemaking. He would suck her breasts if necessary, then slide down using
that kind of affection just enough and wait for her to get wet. It was patience
for the pleasure that would follow. That was how human lovemaking differed
from animal copulation.
But Kwon Taekju had skipped all that, concentrating on the act of
penetration itself. Thus, the woman who dreamed of exotic romance in the
midst of casual sex is squeezed beyond measure.
Kwon Taekju vigorously penetrated Louise. Louise emitted high-pitched
moans, a mixture of pain and pleasure. As the thrusts became faster, Kwon
Taekju's breathing became more erratic. His forehead was already
furrowed. Soon, his entire body was drenched in sweat. Every muscle
seemed brighter and more defined.
Jenya watched the scene with a tilted crystal glass, his gaze fixed on Kwon
Taekju's lower body as he rhythmically pressed himself against Louise. The
spectacle was captivating, even better with alcohol.
Glistening beads of sweat formed on Kwon Taekju's bowed chin. He felt
that, if he could lick it, its taste would be salty and strong. Heat rose in his
now completely dark pupils. His gaze, once calm and soft, had become
flushed and passionate.
Jenya leaned forward, watching Kwon Taekju intently as his upper body
continued to lean forward. Kwon Taekju's bulky thighs shook and quivered
with each powerful thrust, creating very stimulating sensations. They looked
solid and elastic, one of them could completely fill his hand. From the broad
shoulders and smooth waist to the long, well-defined limbs, it was hard to
find any flaw in the curves of his body.
Naturally, Jenya's gaze slid to the graceful curve below his slender waist.
His buttocks, rising above her waist in that position, glistened with sweat as
they moved rhythmically. What if he squeezed them firmly? His lingering
gaze lingered on the deep dark hue of Kwon Taekju's buttocks.
"Ugh, haa...."
Kwon Taekju gritted his teeth and lowered his head again. A prominent vein
appeared on his once-even forehead. His eyebrows and eyelashes
appeared darker than usual, perhaps due to sweat. The movements of his
lower body, which had been ramming hard and unflinchingly, slowed
noticeably. Instead, the thrusting movements that lifted her lower body
became deeper and more fluid. Suddenly, Jenya felt an ache under his chin
as his buttocks swayed and trembled with each movement.
Despite knowing that his cup was empty, Jenya could not take his eyes off
Kwon Taekju. He memorized every detail: his scowl, the tension in his
fingertips, the tight lips, and the agonized moans escaping his loins. He
didn't let a single detail escape him. If he had used his tongue to lick him
instead of examining him with her eyes, Kwon Taekju would have been
soaked with his saliva by now.
"Well, ah, uh, uh, ah, haaah, haaah...!"
"...Ugh!"
In the next moment, Kwon Taekju's penis contracted tightly inwardly.
Suppressed moans burst from Louise, loud as the roar of a beast. Her
climax reached its peak, exploding loudly and causing her muscles to tense.
Jenya's eyes widened as he watched. He instinctively reached out his hand
towards Kwon Taekju's buttocks that were right in front of him. It was a
purely instinctive action, something he did without even realizing it. As soon
as his fingers touched the firm flesh, he immediately clung to it. When he
raised his eyes, he saw Kwon Taekju breathing heavily.
It was only when he came face to face with Kwon Taekju, who had distorted
his face into an expression of disgust, that Jenya was finally able to come to
his senses. Stunned, he stared at his hand. He couldn't believe he had just
grabbed his co-worker's ass like that. It had been so absurd that a chuckle
escaped him. It was really something impressive. He had become so
engrossed that he had even forgotten to drink, leaving his throat dry.
"If you ever try anything like that again, I'll kill you."
After one round, Kwon Taekju released Louise without any hesitation.
Louise remained motionless for a while, still overwhelmed. Kwon Taekju
took a bottle of vodka to moisten his throat and drank it. Although it didn't
help him at all at that moment, he swallowed it as if it was refreshing. Some
of it dripped down his chin, leaving his throat and chest soaked.
Catching his breath, Kwon Taekju leaned back against the wall. Louise
walked over to him and looked at his thigh. He handed her the vodka
without saying a word.
The moment Louise took the bottle, unexpectedly, her body was dragged
away. It was Jenya, he had grabbed her ankle.
"Aah... Ten minutes. Ten minutes, let's rest for ten minutes."
Louise's voice pleaded with her, with a tone that was a mixture of pleading
and complaining. But Jenya teasingly pulled her closer. Again, she asked
for ten more minutes, but Jenya, with a mischievous grin, nibbled at her hot
breasts and made her relent. She licked the cum that had accumulated on
her side. Louise squirmed and let out a giggle, feeling tickled, but Kwon
Taekju, who was watching them, frowned. When their gazes met in that
brief instant, a deep smile appeared on Jenya's face.
Kwon Taekju ignored it. He showed no reaction. While the two were fooling
around, he could easily go take a shower or something. He would feel fresh
after bathing. Afterward, they could have sex all night or do acrobatics, or
just go to sleep. It was enough for him to have already participated in their
madness.
With that thought in mind, it was the moment he was about to get up.
"...Ah!"
Louise let out a small scream and fell on top of Kwon Taekju. It was almost
as if she had been thrown on top of him. Kwon Taekju held her as she
collapsed, frozen. It wasn't until much later that he realized what had
happened.
Jenya, who had unexpectedly let go of Louise, lifted one of the woman's
legs. As a result, Louise's weight shifted completely onto the other, making
it impossible for Kwon Taekju to move freely.
Jenya bent Louise's body in half and immediately thrust his monstrous
penis into her. As his thick penis slid in and out of her, he exerted pressure
on the man beneath her. He couldn't understand what that madman was
thinking.
"Oh...! Ah... Ughh... Ah, Ahh!"
Incoherent moans rumbled in his ears. Every time Louise's body convulsed,
the vibrations were transmitted to Kwon Taekju as well. The moment
Jenya's thighs brushed Louise's buttocks as she crawled much closer,
Kwon Taekju's shoulders tensed. Jenya forced his member all the way in
and gasped. Maybe it was because of the angle, but his shoulders seemed
unusually large.
Could it be that he had planned to do something like this? Kwon Taekju's
pupils quivered with a sense of bad foreboding. Almost simultaneously, a
smirk appeared on Jenya's lips. Although Kwon Taekju desperately tried to
push Louise away, Jenya refused to allow him even a single momentary
space. In one swift movement, he pulled her waist back and pushed her
forward, slamming the two's bodies together. With each thrust, Louise's
body was pressed deeper, and with each blow, Kwon Taekju helplessly
slammed the back of his head against the wall.
"Ah, Haang... It's too much... Ah, Ahng...!"
Louise collapsed in a daze, her body throbbing as she let out screams
resembling howls of pleasure that reverberated with intensity. Kwon Taekju
couldn't understand where she got such strength from. Overpowered by
lust, her body intertwined uncontrollably with Kwon Taekju's body. Jenya
didn't look away as he pounded Louise's insides.
It was she who was being rammed, but Kwon Taekju felt as if he was the
one who was starring in the act. The closer he got to Jenya, the more he felt
as if his navel was being pierced. Even his groin was subjected to
excruciating stimulation, causing indescribable discomfort throughout his
body.
Kwon Taekju tried to push Jenya away to escape from this strange
situation. No, that was what he intended to do. However, Jenya grabbed his
wrists first. Jenya tightly grabbed Kwon Taekju's struggling arms. Kwon
Taekju tried to shake it off, but he could not cope with the monstrous force.
Trembling, his struggling wrists were finally pinned against the wall. Jenya,
who completely blocked Kwon Taekju's movements, provocatively moved
his waist.
"You're crazy...!"
"Ahng.... Ah!"
As soon as he started cursing, Louise writhed in pain as if she was dying.
She tightly grabbed Kwon Taekju's thigh to hold her wobbling body. Kwon
Taekju was helpless, oppressed by the two individuals who were rushing
towards supreme pleasure. He looked at Jenya with irritation.
Their eyes were constantly clashing. In fact, even before the penetration
began, Jenya's gaze did not leave Kwon Taekju for a single moment.
Crazy bastard, what the hell do you want?
Even when Kwon Taekju turned his head away, Jenya's eyes did not leave
him. Despite the burning sensation that paralyzed his reason, Louise did not
give up looking at Kwon Taekju.
The more she pushed that bastard underneath, the more she felt as if she
was constricting a hole that didn't even exist. It felt strange. Even though
they were both the same sex, when his imposing body pressed against
hers, Kwon Taekju felt like he could barely breathe. Vaguely, it seemed to
him that he was going to fall apart, completely losing his form.
You are going to be devoured.
The instinct that warned him to avoid the bastard at all costs buzzed
incessantly like a flashing red light. His turbulent field of vision seemed to
reverse and turn yellow; there was no way he could think clearly in this
ridiculous situation.
Louise's thoroughly soaked buttocks and his cock rubbed against each
other constantly, making a loud rubbing sound. He felt dizzy.
It was a series of deep penetrations in which he plunged his penis deep into
the woman's bowels and pulled it out again, leaving only the glans inside.
The penis, which had been moving so wildly, would occasionally lose its
way and slip out. Several times it ended up hitting between Kwon Taekju's
knees and thighs. The force of the impact was so strong that it seemed to
be able to penetrate even a non-existent hole. Sometimes, intentionally or
unintentionally, the bastard would lightly brush his reddened head against
Kwon Taekju's inner thigh. If the latter tried to resist this suspicious act, the
other pretended not to notice and just continued.
He was being completely dominated. The bastard seemed to know how to
rape someone without touching his victim at all. Although Louise was
present as a justification, it was Kwon Taekju's pride that the bastard was
indiscriminately defiling. Being bent to his will was more humiliating than
being penetrated from behind.
"Ah, Ah, Haa, Ughh!"
The pleasure made Louise's breath hitch. Soon after, with a thud, Jenya
collapsed on top of them. Louise, who had been pressed under the falling
bastard, trembled as if she had been electrocuted. Immediately afterward,
Jenya withdrew his throbbing member. The penis, which had been pulled
out before experiencing the climax, writhed discontentedly against his body.
Jenya pressed his penis against Kwon Taekju's thigh tightly. The penis,
which had been trembling feverishly like an independent organism,
suddenly burst out, reaching orgasm. Even from Jenya's hand, which had
been holding his arms, Kwon Taekju felt a powerful squeeze.
"Ugh...."
His thick semen splashed into the air. By reflex, Kwon Taekju threw his
head back. However, in the end, he couldn't help it at all, as the semen
splashed down to his eyelids. The sticky liquid gradually slid down the side
of Kwon Taekju's face. Even then, Jenya still wouldn't let go of his arms.
"Oh, oops... My bad."
The semen that had splashed all over her eye area made them look
brighter, while the corners of her eyes instantly reddened. Tension built up
in his jaw to the point where the veins were bulging. His tightly clenched fist
shook with a great deal of overflowing rage.
Someday I will kill him with my own hands.
*****
Another day dawned. While he was finishing his toilet, the announcement
sounded indicating the imminent arrival in Irkutsk. At last, he understood
why there was a commotion on the train. Irkutsk, the city on Lake Baikal, the
largest freshwater lake in the world, was the highlight of the Trans-Siberian
train journey. Most travelers disembarked there, and Louise was no
exception.
Jenya had been absent since morning. I didn't know what he was so busy
with. Honestly, there is no point in having a companion if he just goes where
he feels like it. Kwon Taekju doesn't see how this is any different from
carrying out missions alone. It feels like a waste of time, dilly-dallying on
unnecessary matters.
Naturally, last night's events came to his mind. He immediately felt a sense
of unease. No matter how many times he washed his face, the
uncomfortable feeling didn't seem to go away.
He could still feel the slimy residue all over his cheeks. Jenya called it a
mistake, but it was clearly a deliberate provocation. That's why it bothered
him even more.
He clenched his finger joints and forced himself to look away. Spinning such
trivial pleasantries would only play into his hands. Exactly what he wanted.
Useless thoughts would only derail the job at hand. Whether it was a
partner or an insufferable madman disturbing his peace, he had to keep his
composure and not let it mess with his mind.
Kwon Taekju untensed his finger joints and glanced at the surveillance
monitor.
"....!"
What surprised him was that the North Korean technician's seat was empty.
Did he go to take care of something? In the last few days, he had left his
seat once or twice in the morning. It was to go to the bathroom. So, if he
waited a bit, he would soon be back.
However, the North Korean technician did not show up even after a while.
There was no reason to delay any longer. Kwon Taekju quickly grabbed his
Colt and left the compartment.
In the hallway of the luxury compartment, all was still silent. He wondered if
Jenya would be outside, talking on the phone, but he was nowhere to be
seen. He always vanished at crucial moments.
As he walked down the hallway, he plugged in both headphones. The
volume control appeared on the synchronized screen of his phone. He
wasn't listening to music quietly. Carefully manipulating the touch wheel, he
moved the phone closer to the closed doors of the deluxe and first-class
compartments. When he turned the volume up to maximum, the sound from
inside the compartments came vividly through his headphones. He could
hear the deep breathing of people in one room and, in another, a voice
recommending coffee to a passenger.
However, there were no significant signals.
He thought it a good idea to move to the first-class compartment and look
for the North Korean technician. He continued down the aisle, still with his
headphones plugged in.
Perhaps because most of the first-class passengers were tourists, the entire
cabin was in an uproar, with everyone looking anxiously out the window at
the endless expanse of snowy wilderness. Even some of the trees were
causing exclamations, and people were snapping pictures. As a result,
there were constant restrictions on movement.
With every step I took, I carefully checked the seats. I didn't know if the
North Korean technician had noticed the surveillance and was hiding
somewhere. The train had been running non-stop since the night before.
Inside it, the North Korean technician could not have suddenly rushed
skyward or evaporated on the ground. Therefore, if he examined it
meticulously, he should be able to find him.
However, despite this, Kwon Taekju could not help but feel anxious when
his target remained hidden. If Jenya had been a slightly more cooperative
partner, the two of them would have taken turns keeping an eye on him,
never taking their eyes off him for twelve hours straight. But no, that's just
the way he is, a person who stands out. Even Kwon Taekju himself should
have kept a close eye on him. Instead, he regretted falling into his
temptations. He hurried in his impatience.
As he passed through the first-class compartment, bumping into luggage
and people, his heart sank. Now the third-class compartment was in front of
him. It was always cramped and chaotic. With the impending stop so close,
this compartment had nothing to envy a bustling marketplace.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.
"; Aaaaaaaagh...!"
The screams of a child were the first thing to reach his ears. It was hard to
find a place to step on the ground. The trapped air gave off a foul smell, and
people were either talking frantically or completely exhausted, sprawled
everywhere. The merchants were concentrating solely on unloading and
organizing their huge luggage, their faces rigid. Just passing through that
place was overwhelming enough, not to mention having to search
meticulously for the North Korean technician.
As he picked his way through the luggage and moved forward, his eyes
scanned the whole place tirelessly.
He checked people's faces and examined every corner and the stacked
luggage. However, the North Korean technician was nowhere to be seen.
Was he in the bathroom or the dining car? While straightening his
disheveled clothes, he made his way to the dining room.
As he opened the door, a fragrant smell of café wafted out. Even though it
was morning, it wasn't crowded. That made the search much easier. Among
the scattered passengers, there was only one Asian woman sitting alone.
There was no doubt that she was not the North Korean technician in
disguise. It was obvious from the difference in physique. He would not have
had enough time left to disguise himself that way, especially as a foreigner.
In the end, he walked out of the train dining room without any gain.
Simultaneously, a new question arose, and he looked around curiously.
Besides the North Korean, he had so far not come across Jenya. He had
thoroughly searched every nook and cranny. With his large build and
presence, he could not go unnoticed. Where could he be?
As he asked himself this question, he looked out the hallway window. No
matter how far he looked, all he could see was the endless expanse of
snowy wilderness. Even the scattered trees seemed to have been covered
with thick layers of snow. Areas touched by sunlight glistened as if sprinkled
with gold dust. He stared blankly, organizing his thoughts.
That's when it happened.
"...?"
He quickly turned his head. He saw a restroom directly opposite.
It was used mostly by second and third-class passengers. A sense of
movement had suddenly been detected from that area.
He approached it slowly. He pressed his ear against the door but could hear
no sound. He took his cell phone out of his pocket and pressed it hard
against the door. Through the earphones, he could faintly feel the
movement of someone's clothing. Was it the North Korean technician? Or
was it Jenya?
Without hesitation, he turned the doorknob. However, the door was firmly
locked from the inside. It was strange. On the Trans-Siberian train, toilet use
was restricted for short periods of time, ranging from 10 to 30 minutes,
especially as stations approached. In addition, important stations, such as
Irkutsk, used to block the toilets for about 30 minutes, limiting their use.
Considering that Kwon Taekju had left his compartment 40 minutes before
the arrival time, there were less than 20 minutes left. Someone had entered
the restroom that should have been locked at that time. It could have been a
staff member.
However, he had to confirm this.
He took a few steps away from the door. He also pulled his Colt from his
side and pointed it at the door.
Just then, he felt a sudden tightness in the back of his neck. It was an
indication of his instincts. He turned around quickly and looked behind him.
A man who had removed his hood and was wearing a mask, hiding his face,
brushed past him. Without hesitation, Kwon Taekju pointed his gun at him.
Almost at the same time, the man pointed his at Kwon Taekju. His
outstretched arms crossed in the air.
Who was it, the North Korean technician?
He pulled the trigger halfway, trying to confirm the identity of his opponent.
However, the next moment, a loud impact hit the back of his head.
"Ugh!"
Instantly, his vision shattered and scattered like shards of glass. It was an
unexpected ambush.
There was no sound of the bathroom door opening and no sign of it.
Kwon Taekju grabbed his head and staggered. He couldn't tell if the hit spot
had popped something or if something hot was actually flowing down his
neck. The pungent smell of blood spread in an instant.
Even in the dizziness of his throbbing head, he maintained vigilance toward
the enemy. He alternated his aim between the man pointing the pistol at him
and the bathroom door.
But even he faltered for a moment as his knees gave way and gave way.
His body, barely staying afloat, suddenly collapsed shudderingly. He tried to
rise somehow, touching the ground, but it was a futile struggle of his
senses. His body remained motionless, slumped, and unresponsive.
As his vision blurred and faded, the silhouettes of the assailants drew
closer, appearing distorted.
His vision was no longer as usual. It was impossible to distinguish which of
them was wearing the black mask. Yet why did he feel a deep sense of
familiarity?
As his consciousness faded further and further, he thought he saw Jenya.
End of First Volume.
5.1 Twilight

"Take good care of your mother. I trust you, my children."

Whenever his father left home, he always said that. To young Kwon Taekju,
the farewell seemed strange. He could not explain why, but it seemed
normal to him even if his father did not return exactly as he had been
before. Actually, that morning farewell to his father became his last words.
In front of his father's grave, his mother cried inconsolably until she fell
asleep.
Unconsciously, Kwon Taekju took a step back from the sudden outburst of
heartbreaking wailing and unintelligible screams. He felt a sudden terror
inside him. At that moment, the sight of his now-unknown mother was more
traumatic to Kwon Taekju than the despair of never being able to see his
father again.
His brother was different; he was not an adult, but he was more steadfast
than anyone else there. As if he had been prepared for it for some time, he
faithfully carried out his duties. It was he who comforted his mother, who
persuaded his mother to eat, and who took care of her. He was unwavering
in the face of the expectations, worries, and responsibilities that fell upon
him after his father's death. He was a person of integrity and honesty. He
became a figure of trust and comfort to his mother and a refuge for his
younger brother, Kwon Taekju. Thanks to him, they did not feel their father's
absence as keenly.
There was not much interaction between the siblings, partly because of the
six-year age difference and their older brother's frequent absences due to
his profession. They were not particularly close, but neither were they
distant. That was just the way the two brothers were.
They rarely spoke to each other unless something special happened. So
when Kwon Taekju received a phone call from his brother out of the blue
one day, he was puzzled. He had a feeling that something was wrong with
him, but his brother simply told him that it was a check-up call. There was
also no topic of conversation of any importance during the call.
"When I set sail this time, I won't be able to get in touch with you for another
two months. Take care of our mother for me."
The last conversation was no different than any other they had had before.
However, he still felt it strangely unsettling. Kwon Taekju himself could not
understand why. For some time afterwards, nothing happened to his brother
or the family, so he quickly got rid of the anxiety that haunted him.
Accidents always happen unexpectedly. It's only after you let your guard
down that a blow catches you from behind. That day was like that. They
received a call late at night. Even after hearing what the other person said,
Kwon Taekju couldn't believe it. He thought it was a nightmare. He didn't
even know how he managed to make his way to the location he was told.
Neither his mother nor Kwon Taekju were in their right mind.
Many people were crowding the place where they finally arrived. There
were military personnel, bereaved families, reporters, and onlookers. The
events that happened to them were confusing. He could only remember
how he simply stood there, stunned, in a dizzying mix of despair, sadness,
and rage.
He fell into a light sleep as he watched the wake. Sleeping or waking were
not conscious lessons.
In between, he had dreams. His father and brother appeared. The two
repeated similar words as if they were making a promise. Kwon Taekju
became angry at the repeated admonitions. When he covered his ears to
block out their voices, they shouted at him, urging him to respond quickly.
They were both in a bad state, presumably in a state similar to the moments
before their deaths.
When he awoke startled, he found his mother sitting beside him. She had
quietly approached him and sat up, checking his brother's body. Contrary to
his concerns, his mother appeared to be her usual self. At least, at first
glance, she seemed so. She held Kwon Taekju's hand tightly, who had
been plagued by nightmares. She gently stroked his sweaty hair.
"Mom will live now, just for you."
A gleam full of determination flashed through his mother's eyes as she
made a decision.
*****
He woke abruptly, taking a deep breath as he opened his eyes. In his wide
field of vision, he saw his eyelashes trembling faintly. A steady vibration
echoed in his head. He felt dizzy. The surface of the object that was in
contact with his skin was cold and hard. It looked like glass. He closed and
opened his eyes, quickly scanning the passing landscape through the car
window. The sporadically distributed buildings, the abandoned cars on the
roadside, and the dense white trees covered with snow. It was like a city
made of snow.
Was he still on the train? No, I didn't feel the characteristic noise and
vibration of the train rolling down the tracks. However, there was no doubt
that it was moving, regardless of his will. He had no recollection of changing
modes of transportation.
"Are you awake?"
As he tried to comprehend the situation, a familiar voice reached his ears.
Glancing in the rearview mirror, he riveted his eyes on the man occupying
the driver's seat. He could tell who it was by the way his eyes narrowed. It
was Jenya.
"What happened... Ugh!"
He groaned as he felt a sudden stabbing pain in the back of his head. When
he instinctively touched the back of his neck, he felt the bandages. Vague
memories came to his mind.
He had gone out in search of the missing North Korean technician, only to
be ambushed by a duo of assailants. Had he been unconscious the whole
time? How long had it been? How did he disembark from the train, and what
kind of car was he in? He had no idea.
He stared at him in the rearview mirror, looking for an explanation.
"A lot has happened while you were gone."
Jenya cocked his eyes once again. He seemed to be about to hum. He
stared at the man, who looked rather amused but made no gesture at all.
He didn't want to aggravate the situation further. Besides, he was curious to
know what had happened while he was unconscious.
However, Jenya did not give a satisfactory answer to Kwon Taekju's
question.
"You don't remember anything at all?".
"Not at all."
"Well, it's better that way. If you remembered everything clearly, it would be
too embarrassing."
"Stop beating around the bush and tell me at once."
"Well, I won't bother to point out your nonsense. I went to the cabin, but you
weren't there. The bathroom was also empty. I waited a few minutes, but
you didn't come back and I couldn't get in touch with you. So I went
personally to look for you. And you know what? I found you lying on the
floor in front of the bathroom."
"...The North Korean technician suddenly disappeared, so I went looking for
him. I think those two guys were involved, did you see their faces?"
"Well, if you can call that having seen their faces."
"Either you saw them or you didn't. Why are you giving me vague
answers?"
"I should have gotten a good look at them, but I couldn't. They were all
squashed."
For some reason, Jenya seemed to have played a major role in what had
happened. It was not surprising that he lost his composure after seeing his
partner knocked down. However, one could not rely on the existence of any
sense of justice when it came to that guy. It was just a chance for him to
have a little fun.
He sent a scornful glance his way.
"It was self-defense, self-defense."
He tried to justify it with his usual nonchalant tone. His shameless way of
rationalizing had long since ceased to be convincing.
"I take it you've identified them and gotten rid of them? Did Bogdanov's
people send them?"
I secretly hoped that was the case. However, Jenya immediately responded
with a definite "no". The next answer was very surprising.
"They looked like skinheads*. You know, those guys who want to create a
whites-only world."
(n/t: *Here Jenya is alluding to a certain "subculture" or group known as
skinheads. Skinheads are a subculture that originated in the UK in the
1960s and subsequently spread to other countries. Although not all
skinheads hold extremist or racist beliefs, there have been factions within
the subculture that promote white supremacist ideologies and advocate
racial segregation, many even considering themselves nazis. These
individuals seek to establish a society in which only white people are
accepted or considered dominant).
"...What?"
"You were attacked by those types of people."
No way.
No doubt he thought one of the attackers was the North Korean technician.
It made sense since he thoroughly searched the train and couldn't find him.
So did the fact that as soon as he found him, he attacked without hesitation,
revealing his intention to apprehend him. The fact that the guy in the black
outfit was armed with the most modern firearms left no room for doubt.
But how come it was only skinheads, and why did it happen to him,
especially at that specific place and time? It wasn't Russia, so it wasn't an
entirely inconceivable story. It was just an excessively twisted coincidence
that raised all his suspicions.
Even if he assumed Jenya's words were 100% true, doubts still lingered. If
the North Korean technician was not one of the two assailants, where then
had he disappeared to? From the previous night until the morning, the train
had not made a single stop. When he started looking for the North Korean
technician on the train, they had not yet reached Irkutsk. The only place
where he could hide briefly without leaving a trace was the restricted-access
toilet.
But the strangeness did not end there. During his search for the North
Korean technician, he also never once encountered Jenya. If the North
Korean technician and Jenya were not related to the assailants who
attacked him, where were they then during that time? Were they hanging
from the floor or the ceiling of the moving train?
His gaze focused more on the rearview mirror.
"Where were you at that time?"
"Are you suspecting me, or are you complaining that I wasn't next to you
when you were attacked?"
"I searched the train looking for the North Korean technician. But neither he
nor you were there."
"You searched the whole train? Are you sure? You never showed up where
I was."
"What do you mean?"
"You didn't come to the conductor's compartment."
"The... conductor's compartment?"
Kwon Taekju was momentarily stunned. It was like being punched in the
stomach. Of course, he had not gone to the driver's compartment. At first,
he didn't suspect it. Unless the driver was a woman, there didn't seem to be
any reason for Jenya to go there. But if this guy had really been there, that
explained why he hadn't been able to find him despite a thorough search of
the train. However, his doubts were not entirely dispelled.
"What were you doing there?"
"Unlike someone who completely lost concentration and forgot about the
mission, I stayed up all night keeping an eye on the North Korean
technician. Suddenly, my partner disappeared halfway, at a time when I
would normally be reading a book and when we hadn't even reached our
destination. Suspicious, I went to the technician's car and met the woman
who was responsible for that area. I asked her if she had seen him. She
readily replied that she wanted to change the final destination from Irkutsk
to Moscow and asked how she could do that. She told him to meet with the
conductor as usual."
When one wanted to change one's route during a Trans-Siberian train
journey, one met with the conductor to arrange it. Normally, it was used
when the passenger wanted to go farther than the originally scheduled stop.
However, the North Korean technician had purchased a ticket to Moscow
from the beginning. Even if there was a mistake, there was no reason for
him to meet with the conductor unless he wanted to extend the trip. And
even if he wanted to do that, he could simply get off at the desired location,
get a refund for the rest of the trip, and be done with it. The strangest thing
was that he was still using a false identity, where he would have to go
unnoticed, but he was still holding on to a train ticket that cost so little.
Maybe...
A certain conjecture crossed his mind. He immediately glanced in the
rearview mirror. It was a look that seemed to confirm whether his
speculation was correct. Jenya merely nodded in response.
"Yes, I was in the conductor's compartment. The contact person for
Bogdanov's group was the conductor."
He felt as if he had been hit in the back of his head. Was that what he
meant by contacting the North Korean technician in the middle? He thought
they would have a different contact person. Of course, he also considered
the possibility that the contact person had been disguised as an ordinary
traveler from the beginning. Kwon Taekju also could not say that he was not
suspicious of the crew members. He just didn't seriously consider the
possibility of them mingling freely with the royal and official personnel,
influential as they were. It all seemed like a lost cause to him.
There's one guy above them who's running everything. From his tense
shoulders, all the strength he had left seemed to drain out of him.
"What happened to them, did we lose them, by any chance?"
"If that's the case, then yes. If not, then no."
He circled around, dodging the seriousness of the matter and a concrete
answer. Kwon Taekju lost his patience, even the non-existent patience he
didn't have to begin with.
"Give it to me straight."
"To give you an idea, the North Korean technician didn't get off at Irkutsk."
"Why?"
"After meeting with the conductor, he boarded a helicopter that was
standing by and flew away. He disappeared from the moving train."
"Is that possible?"
"There's nothing you can't do with half your life."
It certainly wasn't physically impossible. It was just a method he hadn't even
thought of, so it caught him off guard.
The North Korean technician used the excuse of the change of route to go
to the conductor's compartment. The conductor, who was the contact
person, called the waiting helicopter at the right time. Adjusting the speed of
the train so that the North Korean technician could safely board the
helicopter would not be a difficult task. At that time, the train was
approaching Irkutsk, so there were no passengers who might find it
suspicious that the train was moving slower than usual, including Kwon
Taekju himself.
The North Korean technician departed using the helicopter, and the train
arrived in Irkutsk on schedule. Even if possible pursuers tried to find the
North Korean technician later, he would have disappeared by now. As for
the contact person, the conductor, if they made their way to Moscow without
incident, it would be as if nothing had happened.
As Kwon Taekju himself wandered around the useless bathroom, all these
events were unfolding. Everything seemed distant. He thought he might
have lost the North Korean technician. But he didn't. It was worse. It
seemed this would not end so easily. Frustrated, Kwon Taekju poked
Jenya.
"You just stood there watching?"
" So, should I have tried to shoot down the helicopter in flight?"
It was an absurd idea, but somehow he felt that Jenya could do something
like that. The image came to his mind that he would have caught the
helicopter as easily as if it were nap time. Kwon Taekju, on the other hand,
found it harder to even believe that he would have let the North Korean
technician right in front of him get away.
He was not the kind of man who would simply let the prey he once targeted
escape. Unless he intentionally let it go, of course. At least that was what
Kwon Taekju had observed so far. After the words Jenya blurted out next,
Kwon Taekju admitted to himself that he had interpreted it correctly-Jenya
had let the North Korean technician go of his own free will.
"I didn't think it was necessary to capture him immediately. There was no
need for him to report that he had pursuers."
"How confidently do you know that?"
No sooner had he questioned him than he threw something at him. When
he looked at it closely, it turned out to be a tracking device. There was a
blinking red dot on the monitor's coordinates.
"What is this?"
"My trust."
"You put a tracking device on the North Korean technician?"
"Superficial tricks like that can be easily exposed."
"So?"
"I fed it to him."
"You... fed it to him?"
"I watched what he ate in the past few days. He only ate a little bread. It
seems that Russian food didn't appeal to him. When he saw other Asians
enjoying Chinese instant noodles, he seemed quite interested. So I asked
the woman who was handling the snacks for a favor."
So she installed a mini-tracking device in the instant noodles and had it
served to the North Korean technician inside his regular meal. Since he had
been eating only dry bread for a few days, he must have been craving
something with broth.
If that broth was spicy, he would have easily let his guard down. From the
perspective of Kwon Taekju, a Korean, it was a story he could understand
quite well.
Reluctantly, he had to admit that this time Jenya's judgment was correct. If
they forcibly detained the North Korean technician, the Bogdanovs would
become aware of his presence. That could lead to an alteration of the
original plans in the interest of maintaining confidentiality.
Instead, it was more productive to let the North Korean technician escape
as planned and pursue him. The top priority of this operation was to identify
the true nature of the "SS-29," not to hinder contact between the North
Korean technician and the Bogdanovs.
Jenya suddenly said, "We have about a day." It meant that they had only
one day left. By the time the North Korean technician expelled all the food
he had ingested, the tracking device would be useless. With luck, the North
Korean technician would reach "SS-29" before then.
The target continued to move southeastward. Looking at the signals outside
the window, it was heading toward Lake Baikal. Whether that was the actual
destination or whether they intended to reroute there was uncertain. The
only fortunate thing was that the distance between the North Korean
technician and them was gradually narrowing.
The vehicle they were traveling in was speeding across the vast expanse of
the field. There was not a single person or vehicle passing in sight. Perhaps
it was due to the momentary lack of blood in his head, but even in such a
situation, where he shouldn't be for any reason, Kwon Taekju felt strangely
drowsy.
Clusters of pine trees lined both sides of the road. Dry branches covered by
a thin layer of snow made the serene landscape even quieter. No matter
where he looked, all he could see was pure white snow and trees.
As they crossed the pine forest, an endless field of snow stretched out
before them. The accumulated snow made the limits of the road unclear.
The view opened up, but at the same time, it was suffocating. It seemed as
if an unreachable and oppressive emptiness loomed everywhere.
Scanning continuously with his eyes, he searched for signs of life. Soon he
spotted a flock of sheep gathered together. Their fur was unusually long and
fluffy, probably due to the cold of the region. From time to time, they passed
by small wooden houses with steep roofs, apparently unaffected by the
heavy snowfall.
As they moved relentlessly through the vast snowy countryside, the reality
began to sink in. They were now in the middle of Siberia.
"Is your head all right? I stapled it to you."
Jenya suddenly asked, catching him off guard. When he looked in the
rearview mirror, their eyes met directly. Unconsciously, Kwon Taekju
touched the bandage on his head.
He wasn't sure what had hit him in that area, but the impact was of such a
magnitude that it wouldn't surprise him to hear that his skull had been
broken. It was strange, however. Especially the fact that there wasn't a drop
of blood on the bandage. He didn't know for sure, but the sutures seemed to
have been done quite well. What made him uneasy was the ambiguity of
who had stitched him up with medical staples.
A doctor, no doubt. Probably a doctor. It had to be a doctor. It couldn't be
possible that on such a long train ride there wasn't a single doctor, could it?
Maybe they sent him to a hospital as soon as they arrived in Irkutsk. The
more he tried to rationalize it, the more the ominous feeling inside him grew.
"Who did it?"
"Me."
He received the answer he had feared. The thought that he had been
completely unconscious and in Jenya's hands made Kwon Taekju feel
helpless. He could imagine the expressions he would have made as he
stitched his head, putting the staples in one by one. It was no wonder he
would have been worried.
Jenya went on to talk about things he hadn't asked about. The state of his
scalp when he found him, how much blood he had lost, the characteristics
of the weapon that hit the back of his head and what he had felt when he
stapled it on, and so on. Every time he spoke, the pain he had repressed
seemed to resurface. Kwon Taekju was forced to divert the conversation
somewhere else.
"Did you say goodbye to Louise properly?"
"Who?"
"Who else? The French woman who said she was getting married. You
seemed rather fond of her, didn't you?"
"Me?"
He had a puzzled expression on his face. He even pointed his index finger
at himself. Why bring it up now?
"You said you wouldn't sleep with someone after spending one night
together. However, you ended up fooling around with her three times."
He didn't understand why Kwon Taekju himself had to explain such things
to him. An expression of disgust formed on his face. Jenya, who had been
watching the rearview mirror intently, burst out laughing. What was he
saying? He answered his question by mumbling in a light tone.
"If we have to compare, she was your type, wasn't she?"
"What?"
"Didn't you say you liked girls with big tits and plumper bodies? That
seemed to be enough to satisfy you."
So, the reason he had courted Louise was purely because she matched the
ideal he had casually mentioned in the past?
Suddenly, past events flashed before his eyes like a flashlight. The last
night on the Trans-Siberian train, succumbing to the temptation of Jenya
and Louise and getting entangled together. Jenya's face, writhing in
pleasure as he cummed and filled someone else's face with semen,
remained etched vividly in his mind.
He abruptly rolled down the window of the back seat. The merciless wind
rushed in through the open window, making his hair, bandage, and shirt
collar flap wildly. In the midst of it all, he stared into the distant void, trying to
contain the burning anger that threatened to explode. He closed his eyes
once and then slowly opened them, burning with a fighting spirit never
seen before.
"I've never seen it properly because you've hidden it so well, do you have
abs?"
He gritted his teeth hard and asked, feeling each word as if he was
squeezing them out one by one. Jenya glanced in the rearview mirror as if
he was hearing something unexpected.
"All of a sudden?"
"I thought I'd fix that personally as soon as I finish the job."
A declaration of war wrapped in malice followed. Jenya, who had been
silent for a moment, burst into thunderous laughter. The rest of him being
was completely serious, but he did not perceive this at all as a threat. It took
him a while to stifle his guffaws and roll up the back seat window.
"I'll be waiting for him."
The corners of his lips curved into a smile.
p.s
Into the second volume we go! If you didn't know already, this book isn't for
all audiences.
Throughout the story you will be reading scenes of non-con, rape, and other
graphic violences. This is just a fore-warning to anyone that does not feel
comfortable reading any further.
Though I am not in school right now, its coming up real soon so I'm going to
have to start limiting when I upload.... I will upload at least twice a week
starting now, I hope everyone reading will continue to follow up on this
novel!
5.2 Twilight

Lake Baikal, the blue heart of Siberia, has a long history dating back more
than 25 million years. With a surface area of 31,500 square kilometers, a
diameter of 636 kilometers, and a circumference of 2,200 kilometers, this
enormous lake is home to twenty-two islands, the largest of which, and the
only inhabited one, is Olkhon Island.
To get to Olkhon Island, time is of the essence. The only times when the
strait is passable are during the frigid winter, when the huge lake is
completely frozen, or during the height of summer when the ice has
completely melted. During the summer, people would have crossed the river
by ferry, but in winter, like these days, they would cross the frozen ice by
car.
Jenya fearlessly crossed the unmarked expanse of the lake. He could have
avoided the uneven ice, but he chose to go straight ahead. As a result, the
vehicle was constantly shaking. Despite the situation, Kwon Taekju
remained silent without complaint. It might look like an extension of the
road, but strictly speaking, it was very deep water whose depth could not be
measured. Although the ice was thick, there was no way to calm the tension
on his nerves.
Fortunately, there was no accident to prevent them from reaching the
Olkhon Island jetty. It seemed that even the renowned Lake Baikal was not
completely immune to the cold, especially at temperatures below -50
degrees Celsius.
Kwon Taekju stepped out of the car for a moment and looked back at the
road they had taken. The snowy world seemed eerily silent. Everything
seemed to have come to a standstill. At that moment, he was unable to
formulate any thoughts or feelings, perhaps because he was overwhelmed
by the vast, desolate landscape in front of him.
From the pier, no road was visible. Only the tracks left by preceding cars
were etched in various directions. Where they were headed, the trail simply
became the road itself. Both men ventured through the untouched snow,
creating a new route.
For quite some time, the target had been somewhere northwest of Olkhon
Island. As they crossed the ridge following the blinking red dot, they spotted
a hidden mansion. Although smaller in scale compared to the Bogdanov
mansion, it stood out in terms of appearance considering the size of the
island.
They parked the vehicle near the mansion. Then, the blinking red dot on the
tracker lined up perfectly with the origin. It was clear that the North Korean
technician was there.
Kwon Taekju leaned forward between the driver and passenger seat, facing
the mansion.
"Is that it?"
"Looks like it."
They checked the CCTV cameras installed in all directions. There was no
blind spot in sight.
"We're not going to break in recklessly."
"Why not?"
Kwon Taekju looked at Jenya with a dumbfounded expression. "Why not?"
is he asking because he really didn't know?
The mansion was located on a high plateau inside Olkhon Island.
Surrounding it was a deep cliff. The winds swirling around the island pushed
up the cliffs where the mansion sat, which meant it was impossible to
infiltrate from above. To the naked eye, there were no gas pipes or
ventilation ducts to infiltrate either. The main gate and walls were densely
equipped with CCTV cameras, and even underneath some of the cameras
were installed wireless remote-controlled firearms.
"And even after seeing that, you still say such things? You think you have
about nine lives to spare?".
It was a sarcastic comment, but unexpectedly, Jenya's chin lifted. Her
expression became even more arrogant. Kwon Taekju tried to protest with
his expression, but it was useless. Taekju, who had suddenly hunched his
shoulders, averted his gaze away. It was embarrassing to see him give that
kind of expression and smile.
"Since we know the North Korean technician is there, that's enough.
Charging head-on would be insane. What do you say we briefly observe the
situation in the vicinity?"
Jenya dutifully agreed. Then he turned the wheel and started heading
somewhere. He didn't mention the destination. Nor did he use the
navigation system and drove along the dubious road without hesitation. He
seemed quite familiar with the geography of that place.
As he kept watching the red dot driving away, suddenly the vehicle tilted
sharply to one side. It was because of the steep incline. He wondered if an
animal had jumped out. As he braced herself, Jenya abruptly opened the
car door.
"Get out."
The next instruction was inevitably confusing. Did he mean camping in a
place like this? He looked around but could see no sign that it was a
designated camping area. Taekju watched Jenya intently as he pulled him
into the passenger seat.
Jenya, who was about to close the door, paused for a moment as he saw
him stare at him as if looking for an explanation, but instead, he lowered his
upper body, pinning Taekju with a mischievous look.
"I'm not going to eat you, so get out."
He was teasing him. Just hearing those words, Kwon Taekju found it
impossible to stay inside. Reluctantly, he grumbled and went out. As soon
as he stepped outside, the cold, piercing wind whipped at him from all
directions. Since he was wearing only a loose-fitting shirt and jacket, his
shoulders hunched naturally. If he relaxed for a moment, he would feel as if
his teeth were going to start grinding, so he gritted his teeth harder. It was
amazing that his heart didn't freeze.
Meanwhile, Jenya pulled a fur coat out of the trunk. Even if he hunted and
skinned a beast alive, it probably wouldn't compare to that fur coat. As
Kwon Taekju remained glued to the door, he passed by him and walked
away. When he realized that he was not following him, he looked back. With
a hint of urgency, Kwon Taekju reluctantly lifted his feet that refused to
budge, and followed him.

The climb up the snowy hill was not easy. Especially having to deal with the
strong winds blowing over the ridge. Even if they managed to climb, they
were constantly at risk of slipping and being pushed back by the snow.
Kwon Taekju was out of breath and repeatedly gasped for air, but only
managed to fill his lungs with an intense, icy wind, mixed with ice particles.
Remembering the days when he was part of the Special Forces, he climbed
the hill with all his might. Before long, he understood Jenya's intention. Just
down the hill, there was a guesthouse. It didn't seem to have many rooms,
but even that was to be welcomed in the current situation.
As he hesitated, a fierce wind blew again. Kwon Taekju, who was following
Jenya like a cow led to the slaughterhouse, quickly entered the guesthouse
in front of him. Coincidentally, the host was sitting at the reception desk.
Obviously, he was surprised by the unexpected arrival of a foreigner in this
extreme cold, wearing only a thin shirt and a bandage around his head.
"How can I help you?"
"Two, for a room at...."
"Do you have a reservation?"
He looked at Kwon Taekju, who had a frozen mouth and was stuttering, as
if he was seeing a ghost. Kwon Taekju flinched and barely managed to
answer.
"No, I don't. Is there any chance that there are rooms available?".
"It's winter season, so there are still a few rooms left, but we usually have a
100% reservation policy. Do you only need one room?"
"No. Two. We need two rooms."
Kwon Taekju insisted again. In case the host didn't understand his
pronunciation, he even raised his index and middle fingers. He no longer
wanted to stay in the same space Jenya was in. It was unavoidable during
the operation, but he wanted to be comfortable at least when he rested.
However, the host's reaction was not very hopeful. "Ah," he let out a slight
sigh. There was sadness and pity in the host's eyes as he stared at Kwon
Taekju. No, it had to be an illusion created by Kwon Taekju himself. It had to
be. All his attention was focused on the host's lips.
Then the door opened and Jenya walked in, his fur coat flapping as if it
were alive. Immediately after, a hopeless reply came from the host.
"There is only one room left available."
The room they were assigned was extremely small. Just in front of the
entrance was a table for two people, and next to it a bed. That was all.
There was no minibar, no closet, not even a space like shelves to put
luggage. The only consolation was that the only bed was a bunk bed.
The two sat across from each other for a long time without speaking. Only
their gazes wandered diagonally, lingering indefinitely in some corner of the
room.
He thought that once they had gotten off the train, there would be no need
to share a room with Jenya any longer. If they could find separate rooms,
that would be perfect, and since they wouldn't be taking the cross-country
train again, he would just have to hold out a little longer. But now, it looked
like they were going to spend a few more days together. He was mentally
exhausted and wanted to rest, but he couldn't relax because of him.
The room was completely cold. There still wasn't much to say between the
two of them. The initially uncomfortable atmosphere was getting heavier
and heavier.
He knew how to make him comfortable. For that, he just had to trust Jenya.
His actions and thoughts were peculiar, and unpredictable, which made him
someone difficult, but Kwon Taekju believed that he would not be able to
betray him. He reluctantly rationalized and then lowered his head. It wasn't
easy to say, it wasn't something he could easily rationalize either.
His instincts kept putting him on alert. Unconsciously, he watched Jenya's
every move, looking for any mistakes. Because of that, he tired quickly
when he was with him. Even now, even knowing they were on the same
side, he felt that way. Perhaps it was because Jenya was an adversary he
would never be able to defeat. Every time he displayed out-of-the-ordinary
behavior, his heart would flip. Now, even though they were partners, he
didn't know when or how he would shed his mask.
Throughout his career as an agent, he had encountered people from
diverse backgrounds and of all types. All of them were enemies with
complex interests, but few he would categorize as absolutely and
completely evil. They all had their own beliefs and acted accordingly. Only
their sense of justice was an injustice to others.
But Jenya was different. He had clearly stated what he wanted to take
advantage of and gain something from "Anastasia". However, in reality, he
did not seem to act motivated by money or power. Even under a hail of
completely real bullets, even in the midst of a tedious chase without rest or
reward, he seemed to be having fun. In his view, he was like a child
completely engrossed in a spy game. He didn't care how much it cost or
how many people might die in the process. He was a man driven solely by
his own interests, that's what he was.
Once he ran out of all the excitement that filled him at the moment, he
would abandon it mercilessly. He might even be able to point the barrel of a
gun at Kwon Taekju without hesitation, just to get a clean end. For all this,
every day, hour, and minute they spent together had him as nervous as if
he were walking on thin ice.
"I can hear your brain working from here."
Jenya's voice suddenly pierced the silence. He felt embarrassed but didn't
show it.
"I'm just trying to organize my thoughts. This and that...."
Feigning ignorance, he continued to offer excuses and more excuses.
Jenya responded with a false expression of understanding, nodding his
head in an exaggerated manner. The smirk on his face remained the same.
He had a pretty face, and he commanded attention, but when he looked into
his eyes, it suddenly felt strange. It was because of his scrutinizing eyes, he
always felt as if she was watching him. Like a reptile, he would squint his
pupils and scrutinize every expression, look, and action of the other person.
If he kept watching him like this, he felt he would pierce through him and
expose his thoughts in no time.
To avoid getting entangled, he changed the subject.
"Do you know who the owner of the mansion where the North Korean
technician is staying is?"
"Vaguely. I saw a symbol engraved on the front door."
A symbol. He stepped back in his thoughts and recalled the mansion's
landscape. Just as Jenya had said, there was something in the center of the
front door.
"Any Russian would know that it is the symbol of the Bogdanov family."
If that was true, they had come to the right place. They hadn't even been
able to grasp the reality of "Anastasia," let alone the true identity of "SS-29."
Now, it seemed they were finally taking a step in the right direction. Once
they infiltrated the mansion, they could find out if "Anastasia" was "SS-29"
or not.
It was comforting to finally achieve a victory, no matter how small. The
hardships he had gone through earlier seemed like a blessing in disguise.
Kwon Taekju, feeling unusually cheerful, proposed his plan for the future.
"Alright. Then let's keep watching while we look for an infiltration route
during breakfast, lunch, and dinner breaks."
Again, Jenya nodded calmly. Then he asked if they were finished and when
he nodded, as if he had been expecting it, he stood up. Kwon Taekju
watched him silently heading for the door. His lingering gaze was
disconcerting. As he turned to leave, he looked back for a moment.
"I heard there's a Banya here, do you want to go together?"
A Banya was a Russian-style wet sauna. He was about to refuse out of
sheer habit but lost himself in contemplation. After several days locked in a
small room, his whole body ached. It seemed that his blood was not
circulating properly, and the intense cold made him long for the moist
warmth of a Banya. It was an irresistible proposition. The only problem was
that Jenya would be with him.
He didn't want to be trapped in such a small space with him. On the other
hand, if Jenya used the banya first, he wouldn't mind using it later
separately. Still, there was a nagging doubt in the back of his head that kept
him from agreeing right away.
Until now, he had never seen Jenya naked. Even when he had sex, she
would undress her partner and he would only unbuckle his belt and unzip
his pants. I was curious about what he was trying so hard to hide. And
Kwon Taekju had a personality that was incapable of simply ignoring a
lingering questioner in front of him.
"Sure."
5.3 Twilight

He added water to the pechka*, and the heated stones emitted a scorching
steam. The air quickly heated up, making it momentarily difficult to breathe,
but soon the situation improved. His icy body began to heat up, acquiring a
reddish hue.
Sweat ran down his back and he felt as if he was expelling all the
accumulated fatigue. It was a luxury to have a sauna during his mission; he
hadn't had time to relax.
(n/t: Pechka* is a special type of stove that first appeared in the 15th
century. It is used for both cooking and domestic heating).
Slowly, he squinted and peered inside the banya. It was smaller than the
host had presumed. It would be cramped with two or three people sitting
inside. For now, it was spacious enough with only Kwon Taekju, but things
would change once Jenya arrived.
His impatient gaze focused on the entrance. Jenya had said he would go to
the kitchen for vodka, as a banya without vodka was unimaginable. Kwon
Taekju awaited his return.
This time, Jenya would not be able to get away with it and avoid undressing.
Feeling confident for a moment, he soon sighed, wondering why he, a man,
would be so obsessed with another man's body. First of all, he could tell
Jenya was the problem. It wasn't as if he was going to spoil himself by
merely getting naked, so he didn't understand why he was so reluctant.
As he grumbled to himself, the door opened unexpectedly. Jenya, whom he
had been waiting for, entered the banya. Unexpectedly, his gaze was fixed
on the center instead of directed at Kwon Taekju's face. It is because Jenya
was too tall, so, as a result, he encountered his penis first. Without realizing
it, Kwon Taekju frowned.
Jenya's penis should be considered a weapon. It wasn't even erect, but its
size was already astonishing. Finally, he seemed to understand why those
who had slept with him would suffer as if they were dying.
Consciously, he raised his head. Jenya let out a strange smile. He felt as if
he could read his thoughts again. Feigning nonchalance, he took a seat
quietly across from him. Between Jenya's legs, he could still see a mass of
faintly red flesh. With a single glance, you could feel its texture and weight.
He tried to ignore it and turn his head, but at that moment, his scrotum
dropped sharply under the chair. Kwon Taekju's eyes instinctively chased
the moving object. Even with Kwon Taekju's brazen gaze riveted on his
exposed crotch, the latter didn't seem to mind.
However, it would be best to stop staring as soon as he handed hum the
glass; it was the proper thing to do.
"Once stopped, you have to stick it in any hole."
Kwon Taekju's gaze rose quickly. Jenya smirked and poured vodka, filling
his glass one after another, drinking them in one gulp, cooling his throat. As
he tilted the glass, he gazed over every inch of Jenya's body.
It was a very unreal body. Slim yet toned, it was as if someone had carefully
sculpted it so that in the end, everything fit together as a whole. Every
muscle was arranged with artistic precision, conforming to the shape and
size most pleasing to the eye. The straight collarbones lined up perfectly
with the broad shoulders, and the sharp clavicles, pronounced elbows and
protruding wrist bones blended seamlessly into powerful yet graceful lines.
The pectoral muscles, resembling the fins of a shark, and the abdominal
muscles, sharply defined and appearing to have been meticulously
separated, were as perfect as if they had been there since birth. His skin
was white and smooth, and his whole body looked so firm that it gave the
feeling that if you were to prick it with a needle, it would break.
There were no scars on his body. The same was true of possible skin
conditions. It was hard to speculate on the reason for his careful discretion
with his bare skin. He let out a sigh, feeling a little disappointed.
"I was hoping you were hiding something very noticeable by feigning
modesty."
"You wanted to see my naked body that badly? How disturbing."
He opened his mouth wide. Kwon Taekju mechanically lifted the corners of
his lips and poured a bucket of water into the pechka. With a sizzle, a misty
vapor rose. Jenya's facial features were momentarily obscured.
As the excess steam filled the room, sweat began to flow like rain all over
her body. Jenya's body also became slick and damp. With each inhalation,
his shoulders broadened, and the muscles throughout his body twisted and
contorted. Each muscle intertwined with the others as if each were both an
independent entity and organism. Although there was not much difference
from Kwon Taekju's own body, his eyes could not help but be drawn to
Jenya.
He closed his eyes and threw his head back, still with sweat dripping down
his chin. Beads of sweat formed on his prominent collarbones, clinging to
them momentarily before rolling down the slope and falling with a thud. He
wondered what was making him so nervous.
Was he watching him too closely? Jenya suddenly opened his eyes. Their
gazes immediately intertwined. No, accurately speaking, it was not Kwon
Taekju's face that Jenya was leaning in to observe, but his body.
Under his wet eyelashes, his jet black pupils were lazily moving downward.
He felt as if his whole body was itching. The feeling could be described as
having a snake's tongue lightly licking his skin.
Kwon pulled the towel he wore around his neck over his head. He leaned
his upper body forward, blocking any possible prying eyes.
Meanwhile, Jenya poured another glass of vodka. Kwon Taekju's lips were
visible under the folded towel. His lips, redder than usual due to the heat,
were agitatedly exhaling a heavy breath. Was the trembling of his thick
lower lip simply due to the vodka? Staring at the tongue that seemed barely
visible inside, he tilted the glass. With a sigh, he swallowed the vodka and
licked his lower lip. He looked like a hungry predator.
"It's a little understandable....."
He lifted his head at the unexpected peroration. This time, their eyes truly
met. His gaze was intense enough to be overwhelming. It was hard to
avoid. Engaged in a staring contest, Jenya suddenly tilted his upper body,
bringing their two faces within half a meter of each other. With dilated
pupils, he grunted vulgarly as he locked his eyes on Kwon Taekju.
"It's a shame that an ass like yours is attached to a man."
That damn mouth of his was so arrogant. He smacked Jenya's face with a
birch twig resting near the banya. Droplets of water left dangling from the
branch splashed with the impact. Jenya did not react to his harsh retaliation;
he merely stared at him in silence. The water droplets that had been
glistening in his hair dripped to the ground with a soft plop. His lips,
previously slightly ajar, were now firmly sealed. Kwon Taekju realized a little
too late that he shouldn't have.
Jenya's pupils twisted strangely. Kwon Taekju sensed the danger; but it was
too late, he had already been grabbed by the wrists. In an instant, his arm
was twisted backwards and his face was slammed against the wall. A dull
thud accompanied a loud crunching of bones. His vision spun with it, and
Jenya pressed Kwon Taekju against his strong body, exhaling quietly into
his ear. In the midst of the struggle, the towel fell to the ground.
It was a mistake. Jenya's face, which had quickly cooled down, left a strong
impression. He tried to twist and free his imprisoned arm, but it was no
match for his immense strength.
Jenya remained silent for a while. He simply concentrated on regulating hiz
breathing, watching Kwon Taekju insistently. His eyes darted back and forth
from his straight neck to his strong wrists, as if trying to decide where to
crush him.
Then, without warning, he twisted Kwon Taekju's wrists harder. Instinctively,
his strength coursed through Kwon Taekju's entire body in an attempt to
protect his arm. His thighs and buttocks naturally contracted. His eyes
slowly slid along his moist spine, fixating on his hips. Because of his soft
waist, his rounded buttocks stood out much more, looking unusually
prominent. His ample flesh glistened with beads of sweat. Before long, the
madness disappeared from Jenya's eyes, being replaced by desire.
Without hesitation, he reached out to Kwon Taekju's buttocks. He could
have gripped them tightly in an instant, but somehow he hand advanced
slowly. Finally, when his fingertips were about to touch his buttocks, Kwon
Taekju, who had been eerily quiet, suddenly shifted his weight backward,
pushing Jenya away, and gripped his wrist tightly, bending it quickly.
Jenya staggered, stunned by the sudden attack. He momentarily relaxed his
body, which played to Kwon Taekju's advantage. One moment he was face
down, and the next he was back to himself, picking up the towel that had
fallen to the floor and hung it around his neck.
"Are you going to call your mother?"
As Kwon Taekju was about to turn around and leave the banya, he was met
with a sneer. He responded in kind, perfectly matching the level.
"Sure. I'm going to ask my mother to come and scold you."
He also raised his middle finger in his direction. As he stepped out of the
banya and proceeded to close the door behind himself, a resounding laugh
echoed from inside the room. Crazy bastard. What's so funny about that
nonsense?
He shook his head and headed for the locker room.
However, he stopped abruptly after a few steps. He raised his hand and
pressed it against the left side of his chest. His heart was pounding so hard
that it was hard to breathe. Suddenly, Kwon Taekju felt even his skin crawl.
This time something really dangerous had happened. If Jenya had not been
momentarily distracted by something else in the middle of it, he would have
undoubtedly broken some part of his body. He wasn't the kind of man who
would let you get away simply because you were his partner. If his mood
turned sour, he would tear anyone apart without hesitation.
He clenched his trembling hands into tight fists. It was an emotion he had
never experienced before. He held the belief that one does not understand
its meaning until truly confronted with fear. Kwon Taekju felt that way.
He needed to finish the mission as soon as possible. Completing the
operation and separating himself from that guy was the only way to free
himself from that unknown emotion.
*****
Whichever way you looked at it, it was crazy. Kwon Taekju thought about it
again in the early morning, on the shores of the snow-covered lake.
The weather wasn't even good, and with the snow obscuring his vision, he
couldn't tell where he was. Still, he decided to go out cycling before
breakfast. If his bad luck kicked in and he took a wrong step, he would sink
to above his knees in snow. It would have been much easier to ski. At least
then he wouldn't look like a fool in front of the others.
Grumbling to himself, a huge hill appeared before his eyes. From there, he
could glimpse the mansion where the North Korean technician was staying.
Determined, he pedaled briskly. He crawled up the steep slope, feeling like
he was going to die. The wheels kept spinning uselessly, and after slipping
several times, he finally reached the top. He sighed and surveyed the state
of the mansion from afar. There was no sign of anyone entering or leaving.
Perhaps the snow that had fallen during the night had covered any
footprints.
He adjusted the temples of the goggles he was wearing. With a subtle
mechanical sound, his field of vision became three-dimensional. These
goggles were a special device that allowed him to see through buildings
and structures. He adjusted the rods, moving them a little further out,
bringing the zoom to the maximum.
The mansion reminded him of a fortress. The mansion reminded him of a
fortress. Instead of having chimneys on the roof, it had subway connections
that did the same job, only they expelled steam through the ground. The
windows were so small that they were totally inadequate for people to enter
and exit. The plumbing and sewer pipes also ran down the cliffside, and
breaking in would have meant scaling the steep cliffs backwards with
hurricane force winds against you. It was suicidal. In conclusion, the only
way in was through the front door.
Suddenly he pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and bit into it.
Although he didn't light it, the end of the cigarette glowed red. Soon, the
wind direction and wind speed at Kwon Taekju's location, sorted by year,
quarter, month and day, appeared on the goggle monitor. He had resigned
himself to some extent, even dismissing the idea of trying to infiltrate
through the roof with the help of a helicopter or a parachute.
All the methods he had in mind would have proved futile. However, that did
not mean that his speculations were of no benefit to him. Seeing the nature
of the old mansion's fortification in person, he became even more convinced
of his doubts. What could they be hiding, so much so that it required having
such a strong defense?
A smile full of conviction tugged at Kwon Taekju's lips. The more hidden
something was, the more valuable it is. He watched the mansion for a while
longer and then hurried down the hill.
*****
"Bite it, try it."
As soon as he returned to the boarding house, he went to breakfast. He
chewed the pelmeni as if he were chewing gum. He had been shivering with
cold outside in the interperie for a while, and all he got in return was just a
bowl of pelmeni. He should console himself with the fact that at least it was
warm. Even if the menu changed, there would be nothing special. It would
be lamb, trout, cabbage or potatoes. All kinds of new food tastes good when
you eat it once in a while, it all felt fresh and delicious. But it was another
thing when you had to eat it every day. Just smelling it made you feel that
you didn't want any more food. And yet your hunger persisted, making
everything even more difficult.
Having some kind of hot, spicy soup was very tempting. He looked in the
spice cabinet just in case, thinking maybe he would find something like chili
powder, but found nothing. Kwon Taekju lost his strength. His stomach
ached, but he didn't want to eat.
He rested his chin on his hand and sighed heavily. He had just taken a hot
shower and had messy hair, he also hadn't bothered to put on anything but
underpants, nothing but his naked body. Also, he had covered himself with
a blanket while wrestling with the warm pelmeni*.
(n/t: *Pelmeni (пельмени) are a traditional Russian dish and very popular
among its population which is made with dough and stuffed with small balls
of minced meat usually pork, lamb or beef. They are more or less similar to
ravioli).
Jenya entered the kitchen. Kwon Taekju didn't even give him a glance, he
just poked at the warm pelmeni.
"It's still quiet, no one in or out."
He dutifully reported. Jenya didn't reply much. He merely waved something
in front of the fire. Kwon Taekju turned absently to look, and his eyes
widened. It was nothing but Korean spicy ramen. Just looking at the
wrapper made his mouth water.
Jenya gently lifted it up, but Kwon Taekju still couldn't take his eyes off the
ramen, his pupils instinctively following it. When he moved it and tossed it to
his other hand, Jenya felt an anxious gaze follow him. Her lips curved into a
big smile.
"They say Koreans go crazy for this, is that true?"
"Where did you get it?" he asked.
"It was given to me by the owner. Apparently, it was a gift from a Korean
who stayed here before."
Apparently, in the host's eyes, Jenya looked more Korean than Kwon
Taekju himself. Why did he willingly hand over something so precious to
Jenya when he had previously said nothing? As he stared at the ramen
package, he felt as annoyed with the host as he did with the lukewarm
pelmeni.
Almost unconsciously, he reached out his hand. The corner of the package
bumped against his fingers with a crunching sound. Taking that as some
sort of signal, he suddenly reached out further and pointed at the ramen. He
didn't mind the blanket slipping off his shoulders.
"Bite it, taste it."
Pretending not to care, Jenya deftly dodged it, at the same time moving his
hand higher, making it unable to reach the ramen. He jumped without
hesitation, waving his arms as if to catch a ball.
But he was no match for Jenya, who moved his arms nimbly and was not
fooled. However, that didn't mean he would give up easily. He tried to catch
the ramen package while jumping several times. Jenya, who had been
dodging him with a smirk, suddenly stopped.
"Looks like it's true, Koreans go crazy over this."
At that moment, Kwon Taekju also stopped attacking. He calmly brushed
his disheveled hair. He drew in a shaky breath and confidently demanded.
"Give it to me."
"I won't give it to you just like that."
He squirmed stubbornly. This damn demon. Kwon Taekju was frustrated but
subtly asked.
"What do you want?"
"It's no big deal. It depends on how you think."
Jenya let out a chuckle. He was envious and sly. Then, he pulled out his
phone, holding it in one hand while still holding the ramen package in the
other, and read the instructions. It looked like he was using a translation app
to interpret Korean.
Soon he put a small pot full of water on the fire. He stood with his arms
crossed, finely adjusting the heat.
Kwon Taekju had his eyes fixed on the pot. Saliva was pooling at the
corners of his lips. He was pretty sure that at any moment he would start
drooling like a dog without realizing it. However, he knew he could not
blindly take the bait Jenya was offering him. He did not know what sinister
request Jenya would make of him. As he hesitated, the water began to boil.
He poured the powdered soup seasonings into the boiling water. The
intense smell stimulated his sense of smell. Kwon Taekju feigned disinterest
and returned to his seat, poking at the now cold pelmeni. Maybe it could
trigger a temporary illusion in his brain. Maybe just the smell alone could
fool his taste buds. With that optimism, he took a bite of the pelmeni, but all
he tasted was a bland, non-existent flavor.
Meanwhile, Jenya placed the ready ramen on the table. Kwon Taekju's
eyes silently scanned his appearance. He was in a state of ecstasy. There
was no ecstasy. He felt as if his stomach was going to explode with
excitement after just picking up a couple of chopsticks and tasting some. As
soon as the spiciness touched his taste buds, even his heavy tiredness
would seem to fade away.
I carefully put a fork on the edge of the pot, but Jenya quickly pushed the
pot away and moved it towards himself, leaving Kwon Taekju's fork lying on
the table. He tried again, but it was useless. Every time Kwon Taekju came
closer, Jenya continuously pushed the pot away.
Already impatient, he couldn't help but issue a ridiculous warning.
"If you don't eat it right away, everything will be spoiled."
"I don't care."
"......."
"Yeah, it doesn't matter." Son of a bitch. The fist that held the fork trembled.
The nonexistent appetite suddenly became vigorous, his vision began to
spin and his reasoning became foggy. If he didn't eat it now, he didn't know
when he would have the chance to taste it again. It could all end up being
just Kwon Taekju's unnecessary worry; Jenya's request might be simpler
than he thought. For now, it wouldn't hurt to hear what he had to say.
As he thought about it, the broth of ramen was getting smaller and smaller.
He felt as if he had to eat it right away to survive. And just like that, the
thread of reason that was gradually weakening was cut off. Kwon Taekju
immediately got up from his seat and picked up the pot. Then, as if the broth
was the elixir of life, he greedily swallowed it. His parched throat was
vigorously satiated. As soon as the spicy broth touched the tip of his tongue,
his vision cleared, his nose cleared and his ears opened. He felt as if the
heaviness in his stomach, which felt like it was coated in butter, was
suddenly released.
Jenya walked quietly behind Kwon Taekju. Kwon Taekju was too engrossed
in inhaling the ramen to notice the other approaching. He lowered his gaze
and slowly roamed Kwon Taekju's neck, shoulders and back. He licked his
straight back, his smooth waist, his convex hips and even the legs that
extended lower. Then, in a low voice, he ordered.
"Don't move."
Jenya's fingertips touched his rear thighs. It was a light touch that made him
wonder if dust had fallen there. His intense gaze followed the movement of
his own hands from start to finish. His two blue eyes were unblinking, as if
he was trying not to miss anything. He even held his breath.
The next moment, his thighs were squeezed tightly. It was because Jenya
suddenly grabbed his thighs tightly, interrupting the gentle caress he had
been giving his skin. Kwon Taekju, with an irritated expression, watched
that scene before concentrating once again on eating the ramen. He
suspected that Jenya would make a large, rather outrageous demand, but
this was manageable.
However, that had been a very naive thought.
"Squeeze."
What?
At that moment he was about to frown and protest. When suddenly, a high-
pitched siren sound came from the location tracking monitor. He put down
the pot and checked the status of the target. Sure enough, the red dot
disappeared from the coordinates. It meant that the tracking device, which
had been hidden inside the North Korean technician's stomach had
somehow been ejected.
He dropped the device he had been looking at onto Jenya's chest.
"Looks like he already went to the bathroom."
Jenya didn't show much reaction. He didn't even pick up the device quickly,
but continued to stare at his hand. His face showed a disappointed
expression. Would a dog that missed the chicken it was chasing look like
this?
Laughing, he patted Jenya's shoulder. "Thanks to you, I ate well, huh?".
He didn't forget to give a sort of mocking bow, before wrapping the blanket
that had fallen to the floor around his shoulders again and leaving the
kitchen. The pot was already empty.
A laugh full of irony and disappointment erupted from Jenya, who had
remained standing there, stunned.

*****
In the afternoon, Jenya went to explore the mansion. With him absent, he
was finally relieved. He laid down on the bed and enjoyed the rare rest
allowed. Both his body and mind felt at ease. In fact, a solo mission seemed
more suitable to Kwon Taekju himself. In retrospect he had often relied on
the support provided by Jenya. However, having a partner who brought him
more disadvantages than advantages, in his opinion it would have been
better if he had not existed.
Suddenly, vibrations echoed from somewhere. As usual, he pulled out his
phone, but it remained silent. It had not been him. Since the device had
been rescued by Jenya in the first place, there was no one else he could
contact besides him. So, if it hadn't been his phone, it was Jenya's phone.
However, if he had left it behind, it couldn't be that important. There was
even the possibility that he had mistaken the sound of the wind for a
vibration.
Even as he considered the other possibilities, he climbed down from his
bunk to find the source of the vibrations. He checked on the underside,
where Jenya's bed was located. A phone appeared under his pillow. As
expected, a new message had arrived. When he tried to check the contents,
the lock function was activated.
Figuring he had nothing to lose, he might as well try the password Jenya
entered at the armory. With that in mind, he typed in the password and
pressed the button.
Surprisingly, the security was disabled. This seemed like a lie.
He hesitated for a moment. Then, he felt hesitant for no reason. It was a
shameless act to casually look at someone else's phone. The principle of
Kwon Taekju was not to interfere or meddle in the affairs of others and not
to let anyone meddle in your own.
Should I violate that and check the message? It could be a very private
message that had nothing to do with Kwon Taekju himself. No, for that very
reason, perhaps this was his chance to find out Jenya's true intentions. In
his head, these two thoughts collided sharply.
He turned on the laptop and plugged in the phone. It would take some time
for Jenya to return anyway. Although he was not inclined to commit such an
act, he needed to be certain about Jenya. What exactly was he doing? Was
he joining this operation solely to obtain the blueprints, as he claimed, or
were there influential figures with whom he was linked?
It seemed that knowing at least one thing for certain would allow him to
dismiss the suspicions and distrust he had against Jenya.
He inserted his USB into the laptop slot. It was one of the few belongings he
had carried with him since the hotel explosion. It was specially designed to
withstand most impacts and moisture, but he couldn't be sure it was still
functioning properly. With an anxious heart, he scanned the list of files on
the storage device.
Fortunately, the hacking program was intact.
He ran the program and extracted all the files from Jenya's phone. As soon
as he entered a specific command, all the information was displayed in an
instant. Even arbitrarily deleted or altered files were resurrected without a
trace.
Immediately, he disconnected the phone from the laptop and put it back in
its original place. Even the original unread message icon still appeared on
the phone's screen. It would be difficult to find any trace of the hack unless
he investigated thoroughly.
He started going through the messages he had downloaded to the laptop,
starting with the most recent one. It was a long MMS message.
[We have finally resolved the problem with SS-29. We are currently
performing additional inspections to ensure that there are no other
defects. The final results will be announced in two days at a meeting
where all involved will be present. Please come and honor the
occasion].
That was unexpected. SS-29. He already knew for sure that the weapon
had problems, and that the problem had recently been resolved. However, I
didn't quite understand why that message had been sent specifically to
Jenya. Judging by the content, all the recipients were people involved in the
development of the "SS-29." Was Jenya related to that?
"You shouldn't have done that."
Suddenly, Kwon Taekju was startled by an unexpected voice. Jenya was at
the door. His spine froze instantly and he felt a shiver on the back of his
neck. When had he come back? Kwon Taekju did not sense his presence at
all. It wasn't because Kwon Taekju's senses were dulled. That guy really
was like a ghost. Because of that, he caught Kwon Taekju red-handed at
the hacking scene, making it impossible for him to escape the situation.
"If you had asked me to show it to you, I would have shown it to you."
Kwon Taekju was irritated by the nonchalant comment. Normally he was a
cheeky bastard, but right now he was in no position to be one.
"What happened to this?"
"I stole it.
"What do you mean?"
"When I went to the Bogdanov mansion, do you remember that girl, Olga,
who asked me to get in touch with her before we parted ways? While I was
entering my number into her phone, I also installed a nifty application. It is
different from ordinary hacking programs or viruses. Even experts would not
be able to detect that something like this has been installed, and it spreads
naturally to other recipients through messages. Luckily, it seems that Olga
was frequently communicating with her family. For that very reason, all this
time I have been able to see messages going in and out of the phones of
Bogdanov family members..."
(*note: 'Olga' is the youngest daughter of the main branch of the
Bogdanovs. Olga Visarionova).
Jenya explained as he pulled out his phone. He unlocked it with one hand
and held it out to Kwon Taekju. Kwon Taekju gave him an uneasy look and
then averted his gaze to the phone. As stated by Jenya, all the messages
exchanged between the Bogdanov family and others were stored there. Not
only that, but individual folders contained all their information, from past call
logs to contacts, photo albums, notepads and diaries. It seemed that the
hacking of the Bogdanovs' phones was indeed true.
"Nowadays, this can also be used as a weapon.
It sells better than a big, heavy piece of iron."
The era of traditional warfare, a purely armed war, was over. Although
countries were still developing weapons and focusing on improving their
firepower, most of it was merely symbolic.
Espionage replaced the media in intergovernmental conflicts. In today's
world, where it was crucial to get hold of enemies' latest information and
secrets, Jenya's hacking program was more than welcome. It was
commendable to choose the Bogdanov family as the first test subject.
However, the doubts were not entirely resolved.
"Good. It's all good. But why did you keep this good thing hidden? If I hadn't
discovered it first, would you have kept it to yourself, keeping me in the dark
until the end?"
"I had no intention of sharing the prospect of a new business just because
we happen to have been together for a while."
Jenya drew a line as he scoffed derisively.
His next words sounded especially bitter.
"Did you ever consider me your business partner in the first place?"
Even if he was criticized like that, Kwon Taekju had nothing to say. He could
not refute anything because Jenya's speculation was completely correct. It
made no sense to accuse him of treason for not sharing advanced
information when he didn't even consider him his partner in the first place.
He was supposed to be a person with sharp instincts by nature. Kwon
Taekju could not ignore that he distrusted him. However, even if it was
something he already knew, he shouldn't have been so blatant as to
provoke him openly. He gave Jenya the upper hand, and Kwon Taekju
missed the chance to press further.
With a grimace on his face, Kwon Taekju handed the phone back to him. He
was about to close the laptop, but Jenya stopped him. Then, with his upper
body lowered, he stared at the monitor.
His head hovered close to Kwon Taekju. It made Kwon Taekju feel
unnecessarily nervous, as if his neck was exposed in front of a beast. He
turned his head slightly to the side. Jenya smirked after confirming the
copied files. A scorching breath brushed Kwon Taekju's neck nonchalantly.
"I'm your partner, and although it's temporary, I was even hacked. I'm
completely untrustworthy, aren't I?"
Jenya sneered at Kwon Taekju. His piercing gaze focused around his
temple and neck. Kwon Taekju didn't bother to make excuses or apologize.
He resolutely closed the hacking program and shut down the laptop.
Jenya continued to protest.
"If you treat me so coldly, I'll get hurt too, you know?"
What the hell?
There was a certain level of silliness, but he didn't have enough words to
describe how absurd that was.
He refused to react in any way. Now was the time to focus on the task at
hand. Fortunately, they had obtained information that the matter with "SS-
29" had been resolved, so it seemed necessary to move forward decisively.
The problem was that they had not yet found a way to infiltrate the mansion.
"They'll be meeting soon - wouldn't it be easier to infiltrate sooner?".
"Yes, that would be a good idea."
Jenya nodded curtly.
"When do you suggest, tonight, tomorrow morning, or perhaps in the
afternoon, after we've had a chance to rest?"
To anyone else, you'd think he was planning a walk. Feeling frustrated, he
kept asking.
"Why do you make it sound so easy? I haven't found a way in anywhere."
"Because all you can think about is sneaking in like a mouse. You could
come in through the front door."
He didn't even get a fake laugh out of him. Of course, if he went there and
pressed the doorbell, he'd probably be gleefully answered, "Welcome,
please come in."
"Sounds easy, doesn't it, what's the plan then?"
"We can use your plan to our advantage."
"Use my plan, to our benefit?"
"The hacking application we examined earlier is a product that hasn't even
hit the market yet. Not many people believe such a thing exists. Most of the
weapons being marketed in this field are specialized to hit and smash. It's
time to move forward and we need to make those people aware of that.
Think about it. It's like a virus, it stays with a specific carrier, and then it
spreads naturally to all your contacts and without a trace through that
carrier, sucking all the information out of you in real time. Who wouldn't be
tempted by that?"
So, are they suggesting using that hacking app for a fake transaction?
Visiting the mansion as a legitimate arms dealer. He definitely had a good
chance of success. Considering the owner of the mansion was responsible
for the maintenance of the 'SS-29', they would probably be interested in
weapons.
"But what if they don't respond to our offer? They might already be busy
getting ready to receive their guests."
"That could be possible. However, if we mention that this is a program
jointly developed by the U.S. and South Korea, they might be tempted to
take a look."
"How can you be sure? It's not like they're going to take our word for it just
like that. Trust is everything in arms dealing."
"I'm here, what could be the problem?"
Jenya boasted.
"You seem to have forgotten, but I am also a trader who is successful in this
field. Those who doubt the products I present don't exist."
"You are so sure of yourself to the point of arrogance that it's almost
laughable. Are you sure about this? It could turn out to be a major loss. You
are revealing to the public a product you never intended to launch."
"There is no greater loss than not getting Anastasia."
If that's how he felt, he had no reason to keep saying no. In a situation
where all entry points were blocked, it was hard to find a better alternative.
Jenya, a businessman who is into the arms trafficking business, will
introduce Kwon Taekju, a former agent of the Korean intelligence agency.
Kwon Taekju will be tasked with presenting a hacking application developed
under a Korean-American collaboration program. Should they manage to
attract the attention of their opponents, they could easily gain access to the
heavily fortified fortress-like mansion. They might encounter unforeseen
problems inside, but it would not be too late to fix them when the time came.
"Sergei Ilyavich Bogdanov. Owner of the mansion. He's a fairly distant
relative of Vysarion, but they're still family."
Jenya showed a picture of a middle-aged man.
He seemed to be quite a famous figure in Russia, he could be found
through a Google search.
"He has a great interest in weapons, especially if they are American-made.
It's a lucrative business."
An admitted gun enthusiast. The prospects are promising.
5.4 Twilight

Late at night, Kwon Taekju quietly gets out of bed. He cautiously goes down
the stairs, hoping not to wake Jenya on the second floor. He doesn't flinch,
even in his deepest sleep. He glances at his face, just in case, but the
inside of his closed eyelids remains motionless. His breathing is even and
calm. Only after confirming several times that he was asleep did Kwon
Taekju leave the room.
He kept his steps quiet and walked down the dark hallway. Finally he
reached the owner's room. It was late, so he knocked first. A soft groan was
heard from inside the door, which opened. His sleeping host poked his head
out hurriedly. Kwon Taekju bowed his head as a way of greeting and
apology.
" I apologize for the late hour, do you mind if I make an international call?".
He added the excuse that he had flushed the phone down the toilet and
now it was not working. Of course, that wasn't true. He tried to claim that his
single mother's birthday in Korea was today. That was also a lie.
With an annoyed expression on his face, the host reluctantly lets Kwon
Taekju into the room. He offers him his phone and explains how to make
international calls. After carefully explaining how to calculate the rates, he
leaves the room.
As soon as the door closes behind him, he picks up the phone. He rarely
contacted people by calling them on a private phone, as he usually uses the
radio during operations and social media messaging services for everything
else, so it was hard for him to remember his contact.
The phone just kept making long beeps for a while. Maybe he had fallen
asleep, or maybe he didn't pick it up right away. Finally, he got a voice
message saying that the client was not available. Undeterred, he dialed
again. The beep sounded again. Just as he was about to give up, he finally
heard the voice he had been waiting for.
【-Hello?"】
"Yoon Jong-woo."
【-Uh, Se-senior?】
Kwon Taekju recognizes Yoon Jong-woo's surprised voice. He asks what's
wrong, but there is no sign of joy or longing in his hesitant voice. Instead, he
looks like he regrets answering the call and may be pulling his already
tousled hair.
"I have a favor to ask of you."
【-A favor... From me? Just like that? Where are you now? And why does

your number appear like that?】

"That's not important. Just listen carefully."
He couldn't explain the details to Yoon Jong-woo. They were strictly
forbidden to reveal details about operations, even to fellow members of the
same organization. That's why Yoon Jong-woo didn't know where Kwon
Taekju was or what he was doing. So he had to ask what he needed from
him indirectly. Actually, it was more of an order than a favor.
"I emailed you a picture. Find out who that guy is."
【-Who?】
"Why would I call you if I already knew, huh?"
【-Oh, I see. You're asking me to look into it because you don't know.】
Yoon Jong-woo laughed awkwardly and started to hesitate. A while ago,
Kwon Taekju sent him a picture of Jenya. He had mentioned that they
ended up together by chance and suggested an address for investigation.
Yoon Jong-woo could find out not only Jenya's profile in the photo but also
unofficial information.
Kwon Taekju looked around cautiously and emphasized again.
"Find out quickly. Contact me using the number I'm calling you from."
【-Did you change your phone number?】
"There was an incident."
Memories of the day his phone was smashed flashed through his mind.
From the beginning, his entire time here had been a life-or-death situation.
He almost touched the back of his neck just remembering it. Looking back,
it was miraculous that he was still alive. Talking to Yoon Jong-woo on the
phone also seemed unreal.
Yoon Jong-woo said he would find out as soon as possible and hung up the
phone. He was a dumb junior, but an incomparable genius in his hacking
skills. He was a cunning human being but now, even he was depressed and
all the days he used to miss came to him. Only by looking at an even uglier
and dirtier figure do you realize you are better.
After finishing the call, Kwon Taekju went out. As he walked down the
hallway, light spilled from the kitchen. He could also hear the host's voice
intermittently. It seemed that the restless guests who could not sleep were
chatting. He had interrupted their sleep, so he briefly entered the kitchen.
"Thank you. Thank you..."
With barely a thought, he said thank you but then stopped. The reason was
that he recognized the familiar back as soon as he entered the kitchen. And
sure enough, Jenya turned around. In front of him was a bottle of vodka and
a glass. He must have been having a private conversation with the host just
a moment ago. Kwon Taekju felt guilty as if he had done something wrong.
Jenya asked nonchalantly as if he already knew everything, "Who were you
calling?"
"My mother."
"...Uh-huh."
He thought and was waiting for him to tease him, but Jenya's reaction
wasn't very convincing. Had he realized something? It seemed better to
leave before the atmosphere became even more uncomfortable. Kwon
Taekju quickly thanked the host, said goodbye, and glanced at Jenya.
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
"In a little while."
Jenya shook the bottle, indicating that there was more than half left.
Fortunately, he didn't insist on having another drink together. Kwon Taekju
shrugged, as if to say, "Do whatever you want," and left the kitchen. It
seemed to him that Jenya had his eyes fixed on his back, but he just
ignored him. He was trying hard to shake off his nagging discomfort.
He closed the door and climbed into the bunk, then pulled the blanket up to
his neck. Various thoughts were flooding his mind. At this rate, he would
eventually exhaust himself mentally. And starting tomorrow, he would also
end up physically exhausted. There was nothing better to improve his
condition than sleep. He struggled to fall asleep.
When Kwon Taekju's restlessness subsided, the room fell silent. Outside it
was snowing again. Faint sounds came from the nearby kitchen. At first,
they were annoying, but gradually, the white noise felt like a lullaby. His
whole body felt heavy and his eyelids drooped. He stared at the wall and
stretched, slowly sinking into sleep.
The snow fell, piled up, was blown away by the wind, and piled up again. A
considerable time passed in this way. It was almost dawn.
Suddenly, the closed door opened. Jenya entered the room. He walked
straight to the bed. The bottle of vodka he had finished by himself had left
him in the best condition to sleep soundly. Instead of crawling into his bed,
however, he reached out and grabbed the railing of the top bunk.
"......."
Because he was so tall, Jenya could easily see the back of his neck. His
straight back inflated and sank subtly with each breath. For a while, he
stared at that perfectly peaceful image. It was a fleeting moment, but his
blue pupils flickered with a peculiar glow.
Jenya stood there, watching for quite a while. Forgetting to blink, he finally
leaned back and lay down after considering that he had seen enough. The
air, which had been disturbed by Jenya's movements, quickly calmed down.
The room fell silent again as if he had been holding his breath.
Right after...
"....."
Kwon Taekju's tightly closed eyelids fluttered open. He stared at the dark
wall, deep in thought.
*****
"Shall we go?"
Jenya asked, standing in the doorway. Kwon Taekju nodded as he adjusted
his tie. He was putting on a suit. Although he usually wore a semi-casual
suit, today he paid more attention to his appearance. It had been a while
since he had fully buttoned a shirt, and the tie tightening around his neck
was a bit suffocating. He put on his vest and jacket one after the other, and
just as he was fastening the buttons, Jenya came up behind him. Puzzled,
he watched as Jenya instantly slipped his fur coat over his shoulders. For a
guest, he looked rather disheveled today.
The natural fur gently caressed his skin. It was unexpectedly heavy, making
him feel as if he had put on steel armor. As Taekju admired the smoothness
of the skin, he looked at himself in the mirror and was surprised. Although
he had never seen himself or been called short in his life, the reflection in
the mirror made him look like a teenager who had stolen his father's
clothes. The coat fit him fairly well in width, but the length was the problem.
The hem of the coat, which normally reached Jenya's ankles, was now
dragging on the floor.
"I can't...I can't wear this."
He took off the fur coat and handed it back to Jenya. His face was
trembling. Jenya, on the other hand, looked triumphant. Looking at his
mischievously crooked eyes, it was obvious that he had done this on
purpose. It was another ploy to tease and toy with him, and yet, he didn't
know how this ended up leaving him with an annoying tingle.
After shooting a stern look at Jenya, Kwon Taekju stepped forward and
walked out of the guesthouse. The host came out to see them off at the
front door.
At first, he looked at the back seat but then moved to the front passenger
seat. Kwon Taekju didn't mind sitting in the back, as he was Jenya's guest.
But if Sergei Ilyavich saw him, there would be no doubt to suspect
something. He would know that he was not the kind of person who would
travel with someone in the back, and they should not leave room for the
slightest doubt. Jenya also soon took his place in the driver's seat. Taekju
unconsciously sat completely upright.
With Jenya only an arm's length away, he felt tense. Even though they had
spent a few days together, he still hadn't let his guard down completely.
The car backed up and they left the guesthouse. The previous night's
snowstorm had erased all traces of the snowy plains. As the wheels rolled
down the trackless hillside, they left behind them a single long track.
The large mansion, which had seemed so far away during their bike ride,
was quickly reached. Jenya parked the car a step away from the front gate.
He looked at Kwon Taek-Joo as if asking for permission to enter. He took a
deep breath and nodded.
" Go ahead."
"As you command."
With a mischievous smile, Jenya stepped on the accelerator without
warning. The car shot through the driveway like lightning and arrived at the
front door in an instant. Cameras mounted on either side of the thick iron
gate pointed at them. As they scanned the occupants inside the car, the
barrels of the guns mounted under the cameras were pointed at their necks.
A hasty movement would have resulted in a hole in their heads.
Finally, the cameras returned to their positions and the iron gate opened.
Through the slowly opening hole, an SUV appeared. It looked like someone
who had come to personally greet the unwanted guests who had suddenly
arrived.
Soon, the SUV's windows were rolled down and the suit-clad guards
extended their rifles outward. Jenya raised his arms obediently, expecting
such a welcoming gesture.
The guards, after confirming that the two had no intention of resisting,
motioned for them to follow. Simultaneously, the SUV that had been
blocking their path slowly backed up. Jenya moved the car the distance the
SUV had backed up. When the car was completely inside the place, the
heavy iron gate closed behind them, leaving them completely trapped.
Taekju and Jenya's gazes met briefly and then turned away.
Despite its outward appearance, the interior seemed modest, or rather,
somewhat crude. The small garden in front of the building showed no signs
of prosperity. It was strange that there were no traces of gardening, and it
was not only due to the winter season. Either Sergei Ilyavich was not
interested in the upkeep of his property, or he had a special taste for
antiques. Every inch of the building was cracked and worn, like ancient
ruins.
The two were driven to the front steps of the building. The SUV stopped first
and out of it came armed guards. They surrounded the car as if they had
planned ahead. Then they slammed open the doors of the driver's and
passenger's seats and pushed the gun barrels inside.
Jenya and Kwon Taekju's gazes crossed again. One of the guards soon
pulled him out, pushed him against the body of the vehicle, and searched
him. They confiscated everything; from the Colt on his hip to the Glock 26
hidden inside his jacket. Even the small knife that looked like it could be
used to cut fruit had to be handed over.
Jenya could not escape the same fate. The man, who had been thoroughly
searching every nook and cranny of his body, suddenly cocked his head to
one side as he reached the center section of his body. He seemed to
suspect that there was something else where his penis was supposed to be.
The outline even vaguely resembled that of a firearm. Contemplating the
situation and about to take a peek, the man could see his penis twitching,
moving from side to side as Jenya gave him a mischievous grin, causing the
already apprehensive man to clear his throat and quickly back away.
About that time, a Russian man of excellent build descended the stairs with
his entourage. It was Sergei Ilyavich, a distant relative of Vysarion, the head
of the Bogdanov family. He had been a member of the Duma, but his glory
days in politics were behind him. He had faced various investigations and
rumors, which eventually resulted in his expulsion from the political world,
leading him to go into hiding here. It was said that, from that moment on, he
diverted his interest from the world of power to the underworld.
The dilapidated old mansion located in Siberian lands seemed to somehow
symbolize his status. The old mansion on Siberian soil seemed to somehow
symbolize his status. Apparently, he had hidden here the "SS-29", which
was being carefully developed. No one would suspect that the Bogdanov
family, the most important guild in Russia, would entrust such an important
object to a distant relative who also lived in the countryside.
Sergei Ilyavich stood with both hands on his cane. Considering his portly
build, he did not look like someone who might have any difficulty walking.
So the jewel-studded cane could be no more than an accessory. He
stopped halfway up the stairs and stared at Kwon Taekju, who met his gaze
calmly. At that moment, their gazes met in a tense struggle between eyes
trying to unravel information and those trying to hide it.
Sergei was quick to crack a sly smile. "What brings you here?"
"I have something really cool to show you, so I thought I'd let you take a
look."
Jenya answered the question. Sergei's gaze shifted from Taekju to him.
"Something good, you say?"
"Why don't we go inside and talk about it in private? This isn't the kind of
merchandise you can casually display in a place like this."
"Well. The house is a mess right now..."
He offered a clichéd excuse, trying to act diplomatically. Jenya encouraged
him confidently.
"I'm sure you'll love it."
It was such a persuasive voice that it would have sounded appealing to
anyone. That's why they called him a great businessman. He exuded
assurance, confidence, and a sense that this was his only chance. Sergei's
expression became more serious.
This was indeed a big dilemma. The North Korean technician was currently
staying in his mansion, and the "SS-29" was also hidden there. If they
happened to let guests in and related secrets were leaked, or if any
unnecessary trouble arose, he would be put in a compromising position.
However, the fact that Jenya brought the product without even putting some
resistance to it or trying to confirm beforehand made him feel slightly
uneasy.
Sergei looked at Jenya and Kwon Taekju alternately with a puzzled smile.
Then, having made up his mind, he simply nodded. He turned around,
walked up the stairs and his servants released the two men they were
holding.
Shedding the wrinkles from his clothes, Jenya stepped forward, and Sergei
followed. They seemed to have succeeded in piquing Sergei's interest. It
was a good start.
Before long, the two men were ushered into his private study. Sergei, who
was sitting in an armchair, held out his hand to shake.
"It's been a while."
Jenya nodded nonchalantly and shook his hand. Sergei gestured toward
Kwon Taekju, looking for an introduction.
"This one is from the Korean intelligence agency..."
"An agent."
Kwon Taekju extended his hand first. Without hesitation, he posed as
Director Lim. He would not be suspicious, as he was likely to be living well
in Korea, and it would not bring him any unwarranted accusations to
mention his involvement in this matter. And if things got complicated and he
had to struggle a bit, that was the price he would have to pay for bringing
Taekju himself into this operation.
Sergei shook Kwon Taekju's hand firmly and unreservedly.
"I see. Pleased to meet you."
On his thick finger, a ring was firmly fastened. If there was a sad earthling
with only ten fingers, it would have been him. When their hands released
from the grip, whether it was an illusion or not, he felt Sergei's finger subtly
touch the center of his palm before withdrawing, tickling him. Kwon Taekju
shivered involuntarily. Jenya, who had been watching the whole scene,
smiled slyly without making a sound.
"We don't have much time, so let's cut to the chase - did you bring anything
good?"
Sergei asked directly. Jenya began to give his prepared explanations.
"There is a program that was created about three months ago through joint
work between the United States and South Korea, which is not yet known in
this sector. The two countries, recognizing the importance of preemptive
intelligence gathering, came up with a way to spy like a ghost. With this
program alone, there is no need to send elite agents to steal information
directly or to break through strong security networks. Strictly speaking, it's
hacking, but without leaving a trace. There is no need to take risks and
come into direct contact with the enemy. It is enough to borrow a
communication device from one of your acquaintances for a moment. As
soon as that acquaintance sends a call, a message via social networks,
SNS, a text, or an email to the enemy, the malware automatically takes
over. With that, it is possible to intercept all incoming and outgoing
information on the enemy's phone in real-time.
The other party will never know that their information is being leaked - what
do you think, isn't that intriguing?"
"Hmm? Sounds like something out of a spy movie."
"Well, now it's something real."
Jenya pulled out his phone and set it on the table. Sergei looked at it
skeptically but picked it up silently. The first thing he checked was the
messages. As he meticulously sifted through thousands of messages, his
cheeks twitched intermittently. It was a subtle expression, a strange mix
between a smile and seriousness. He wondered, how would he feel if he
found messages on a third party's phone that he had only sent to one
specific person.
Sergei was quick to drop the phone and clasp his hands together. "Well...
this is quite problematic."
"You don't need to answer immediately. If you want, we can wait a day or
so."
It was nearing the end of the day. Sergei gave Jenya a meaningful look and
smiled. However, he still looked hesitant, engrossed in thought as he
repeatedly tapped his forehead. Every now and then he would look up and
move his eyes, glancing at Jenya and Kwon Taekju. The product itself was
very tempting, but he seemed to be wary of why Jenya had brought such a
valuable item specifically to him.
Sergei hesitated for a while longer before finally nodding his head.
"All right, I'll think about it and make a decision. I'm sure it won't be cheap,
but it's too tempting a thing to pass up. Would you be willing to stay here for
a while in the meantime?"
It would be at least a day before the men associated with "SS-29" arrived.
For Sergei, this meant he could only think and make a decision until then. If
it was interesting, he would take the deal, and if he was ultimately hesitant
to make the purchase, he could fire them both. The only thing he had to be
careful about was not to reveal the existence of "SS-29".
In other words, they would have one day to find the "SS-29" before Sergei
would make a decision.
With a smile, Kwon Taekju gladly accepted his offer.
"Of course."
*****
As soon as he entered the room, he went to work. He stood by the door and
scrutinized the overall structure of the room. He walked along the walls and
carefully examined the windows, inspecting the frames and glass material.
Kwon Taekju pulled the windows inward and pushed them outward to check
if any were movable, but the already fixed windows did not move. Also,
outside was a coal-black precipice. Everything was as they expected. They
could not give a good room to an unknown guest. It seemed difficult for him
to move around inside the mansion without having to pass through the
guarded corridors.
From his pocket, Kwon Taekju took out a lighter. It was a small device that used
intense heat to pierce glass or thin steel plates. He had used it before at the
Bogdanov mansion. He grabbed the handle of the lighter, pulled it out and a long

cylinder followed. He bent the cylinder into a "ᄀ" shape and then turned the flint
wheel. After a few flickers from the end of the lighter, high-temperature flames shot
out and made a large hole in the glass window overlooking the cliff.
He carefully stowed the trimmed piece on the window sill and extended his
left wrist through the hole. Pressing firmly on the time setting mechanism on
the side, the clock display opened and something shot out. The object shot
upward in a straight line and quickly disappeared from view. Shortly
thereafter, a click was heard in the air.
Unbuttoning the watch, Kwon Taekju opened the inner cover and took out a
micro memory chip. He connected it to his cell phone and loaded the stored
files. Instantly, a floor plan of the mansion appeared on the screen of his cell
phone. It was as if he was looking through the mansion from the air, and in
that way, he could easily understand the structure of the building.
The hidden spaces in the walls or floors were also exposed without any
filter.
Kwon Taekju transmitted the plan to the other person, Jenya, and deduced
the location of "SS-29". There were about three or four possible locations: a
subway storage room, the attic room of the main tower, behind the second
bookshelf in the study, and a hidden space in Sergei's bedroom.
He pressed the handset to communicate with Jenya.
"We'll probably have to search each place one by one."
[I'll take the study. Security there seems particularly tight, which
makes it more fun.]
"Don't kill innocent people. It'll be a pain in the ass at cleanup time."
[I have never laid a hand on innocent people. It's always for self-
defense. That seems reasonable to me.]
'Reasonable' is not a word you can use on yourself, buddy. Kwon Taekju
clicked his tongue, ending the pointless conversation.
"Then I'll start in the basement. Good luck."
As soon as he finished the communication, he alternated between
inspecting the bedroom and the bathroom. He quickly made up his mind
and headed for the bathroom. Given the nature of the mansion, there were
probably surveillance cameras hidden not only in the hallways and
stairwells, but also in common places, such as fire extinguishers, framed
pictures on the walls, and even in flower pots.
Since an intruder had arrived, security would be even tighter. In a situation
where he wasn't completely sure of the location of "SS-
29", he could not recklessly go straight ahead.
Avoiding confrontation would be the best approach when at a numerical
disadvantage.
According to the floor plan, there appeared to be a vent installed on the roof
of the bathroom. All the vents in each room were connected and led directly
to the tower to exhaust the air. The basement was no exception.
He closed the bathroom door and turned on the shower, from which a
stream of cold water gushed. He pulled back the opaque shower curtain to
conceal his absence.
After completing the orderly sequence of tasks, he climbed onto the toilet
and climbed up to remove the lid covering the vent. When he stuck his head
through the half-open vent, he could see a dark passageway. The space
was not wide, but it seemed manageable to crawl through.
He easily climbed up to the ceiling. The low ceiling of the vent squeezed his
back. Even a slight movement caused a cloud of dust to rise, tickling his
nose and throat.
He wiped his nose with his arm and coughed for a while.
He turned on the flashlight attached to his head and illuminated the front.
He could see at least a meter away. He took a deep breath and began to
crawl, leaning on his elbows one after the other.
He advanced cautiously, making sure not to make any noise that might
make the ceiling creak.
As he passed through the rooms and approached the hallway, he heard
voices conversing from below. They seemed to be the guards guarding his
room. Leaving their casual chatter behind, he advanced cautiously.
Finally, a fork in the road appeared.
He briefly turned on his cell phone to double-check the floor plan. To go to
the basement, he had to turn left. He turned his body and moved to the left,
encountering a slope. It looked like a conduit leading to a lower level. He
continued with one arm supporting half his weight as he extended his upper
body. But at that moment, the ground gave way beneath him.
"....!"
He felt the floor of the ventilation duct disappear as he descended and
hurriedly grabbed the wall for balance. This caused a considerable noise. At
that moment, a guard passing nearby stopped abruptly and appeared to tilt
his head under the finely covered vent. He looked back and tilted his head
again. His partner asked what was going on.
"Did you hear something a moment ago?"
"What sound?"
"I thought I heard something, like a metallic rattling.".
After looking left and right, he suddenly looked up at the ceiling. Then, he
subtly noticed the sunken ventilation hole.
It had been like that for quite some time, and it still hadn't been repaired. It
was because the owner, Sergei, kept putting it off, claiming he would do a
major renovation after finishing important business.
He wondered if maybe it could have just been a rat walking by. But the
sound was loud enough to be just that. The wary guard couldn't get out of
doubt and tapped the ceiling with his rifle. If there was nothing upstairs, it
would have made a hollow sound. However, the sunken ventilation hole
produced a loud noise even with a light tap.
Seizing the moment, he checked other spots as well. However, he could not
perceive any presence coming from anywhere else. He chided himself for
being so tense and nervous.
"There's nothing here."
"Yes, you're right."
"Don't worry. We haven't seen a rat in days."
The guard looked at the vent with a nervous expression and then followed
his partner.
Kwon Taekju struggled in the dusty passageway. With only his toes on the
floor, his head, back, hips, and both arms were pressed against the ceiling
of the ventilation grille. His hands slipped slightly as he sweated. If he fell,
the ceiling would rattle again. Now, he just hoped that the two guards would
soon disappear from the corridor.
Even if he could call it a mistake once, he couldn't let it happen twice. If the
guards decided to thoroughly search this passageway, there would be no
way to escape. The problem was that he couldn't fix his uncomfortable
position immediately. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and his wet hands
kept slipping. He couldn't take it anymore; he had reached his limit.
With a thud, his struggling body fell. The ceiling shook dramatically. He held
his breath and watched the movement below. His heart was beating rapidly,
every minute and every second seemed like an eternity. He waited a while
longer, but there was no sign of any guards chasing the noise. They
seemed to have left the corridor altogether. Finally, he exhaled the breath
he had been holding.
"Haah, haah..."
He took a moment to catch his breath and resumed his march. The endless
passageway seemed endless; it went up, around, and around and around.
How far had he come? Little by little, the smell of musty dust and moss was
increasing. At last, it seemed to have reached the basement. The cellar vent
was a vertically carved structure, like a chimney. It appeared to be between
2 and 4 meters high. He could not even put his head in and had to turn his
body with difficulty before he jumped down.
As he fell, the speed of his fall, combined with his weight, shattered the vent
cover. He quickly rolled his body to cushion the impact of the fall. As he
landed on the ground, a cloud of dust rose up.
His vision blurred and he had to press the back of his hand against his
mouth to stifle the cough that threatened to erupt. He looked around
carefully, scattering the scattered dust. The basement was full of all kinds of
junk. Among them, what caught Kwon Taekju's attention was something
covered with a thick tarp. It looked quite large.
He quickly approached it, cleared the nearby debris, and quickly removed
the tarp covering it. Again, dust was kicked up and, this time, he couldn't
hold back a sneeze.
When he reflexively opened his closed eyes, he felt his shoulders slump.
What was hidden under the tarp was not quite the weapon he had
expected. Instead, it was a grand piano, almost an antique. Opening the lid,
out came a swarm of red-eyed rats.
He couldn't help but sigh. He had come so far, only to be met with a
disappointing result.
He wanted to deny the reality before him. In a futile effort, he searched not
only the piano, but also the nearby boxes, but there was no trace of firearms
or similar objects. He pressed against the walls and tapped, but there was
no trace of compartments or hidden spaces to be found.
What made him even more disappointed was the fact that he had to go all
the way back the way he had come. He looked up at the ceiling in despair.
When he had descended, he had felt a glimmer of hope, but now only
trouble remained. He faced a vertical passage of three or four meters. How
could he climb up?
As Kwon Taekju agonized, he pulled out a special camera-like device he
had brought along just in case. He pointed the lens at the roof vent and
pressed the shutter release. As he did so, a long line shot out into the vent
along with the lens cap. Seeing that it didn't fall back down, it seemed to be
securely fastened somewhere in the ceiling. He pulled hard to check, but it
was firmly fixed, all it did was pull the line tighter.
He climbed on top of the old piano. He connected the line attached to the
ventilation duct to his belt. Then, holding the line with both hands and using
his legs to push, he climbed up the rope. He was familiar with this type of
activity because it was a training he did often when he was learning judo.
Once safely in the ventilation duct, Kwon Taekju crawled for a long time to
his room. When he felt any movement coming from downstairs, he would
stop for a moment before continuing. Gradually, as he approached his
room, he became exhausted. He could not wait to get back to his room so
that he could go to bed.
It was just as he was passing the place that led from the hallway to his
room. Unexpectedly, he heard a knocking sound. It couldn't be Jenya; that
guy didn't know what knocking was. The visitor had to be Sergei or one of
his lackeys. Startled, he rushed out of the ventilation shaft.
The knocking sounded again. When Kwon Taekju reached the bathroom
vent, he sensed that the door was about to open.
He had no time to waste.
Sergei burst into Kwon Taekju's room and glanced around the cluttered
interior. The sound of water was coming from the bathroom. He must not
have noticed he was there? Sergei pondered what to do and decided to visit
him again later. For the moment, he was a guest, so the right thing to do
was to be polite.
As he turned to head for the door, he stopped in his tracks. Then, for some
reason, he headed for the bathroom, really having no idea what he was
doing. Even in his stern expression, there was a sense of urgency.
He grabbed the doorknob, but it was already locked from the inside.
Normally, people locked the room, not the bathroom. He had a bad feeling.
Sergei immediately pulled a bunch of keys out of his pocket and started
searching for the right one among the numerous keys.
At that moment, the bathroom door opened and a blast of steam filled the
opening. From inside stepped out none other than Kwon Taekju. His black
hair was dripping with water as if he had just taken a shower. His toned and
firm-curved body was also soaked with water. He seemed to have a
meticulously worked figure.
Sergei stared at him, stunned. It was Kwon Taekju who broke the prolonged
silence.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, it's already getting late, so... uh, I had thought, how about dinner
together..."
Sergei's gaze hesitantly shifted from Kwon Taekju's face to his chest,
abdomen, and then lower, slowly sliding down. His full lips were slightly ajar.
Kwon Taekju picked up a bath towel, unfolded it, and wrapped it around his
waist. Only then was Sergei able to regain his composure, he felt something
missing when the other man clicked his tongue.
"You invite people to eat in the bathroom?".
"Oh, I apologize if I was rude. I called, but there was no answer, so I was
worried that something might have happened in there."
Sergei offered a predictable excuse. He then suggested they go eat
together in the dining room on the second floor and hurried out of the room.
The door closed with a thud. The sound of footsteps lingered for a moment
and soon distanced themselves.
Showing no particular emotion, Kwon Taekju put on his robe and staggered
before sitting down.
A deep sigh of relief escaped him. He had almost collided with Sergei,
covered in dust. His heart was pounding in his chest. Irritated, he ruffled his
wet hair.
5.5 Twilight

"How's the progress on that device coming along? Repairing something that
is completely broken must be quite a challenge. However, making a
success out of something that everyone else wrote off must be quite an
experience."
"We are still in the design modification phase."
"Well, it took us a long time to design it in the first place, so it's probably
more valuable. Still, the things we put a lot of effort into don't betray us. Just
like a faithful lover doesn't betray you."
Sergei let out a loud laugh at his joke. Then he subtly leaned over to Jenya
and whispered.
"By the way, when do you plan to unveil it to the industry? I'm dying of
curiosity."
"We're being cautious. It may take a few more years...".
Jenya was responding without hesitation, but suddenly, he stopped mid-
sentence. It was just as Kwon Taekju and Sergei exchanged glances the
moment the former entered the dining room. The North Korean technician
also raised his head and looked toward the entrance. Sergei, now looking
impeccable, raised his hand in greeting.
"This way."
The dining room had a long table seating forty people, but only Sergei,
Jenya, and the North Korean technician were there. Officially, it was their
first meeting with the North Korean technician. Their gazes met briefly and
they exchanged nods. After giving a slight nod, he continued to eat in
silence.
It seemed that Kwon Taekju's seat had already been chosen right next to
Sergei. There was only one empty place with tableware, and it had to be
his. The waiter who appeared shortly thereafter placed Kwon Taekju's
appetizer in that spot.
Sergei motioned for him to come over. Kwon Taekju was reluctant, but he
had no reason to refuse. Reluctantly, he went to his seat and stared at
Jenya, who was sitting across from him. Jenya was nonchalantly nibbling on
his food, glancing at Kwon Taekju from time to time, acting relaxed, cutting
meat or taking bites. He didn't look Kwon Taekju in the eye and only shook
his head slightly. He too had not been successful in his first search.
Kwon Taekju averted his gaze from Jenya to the North Korean technician.
He did not participate in the conversation and just filled his plate and ate his
fill. After finishing his ration quickly and quietly, he left the table. As he
turned to leave, his eyes rested briefly on the back of Jenya's neck before
he turned away. It was a fleeting moment, but his gaze had an intense,
grave glow. It was only an instant, but it was fierce. He had figured out who
he was, and he was angry.
Sergei made up an excuse, saying he had a guest who was staying with
him for a while. As if he had been waiting for the North Korean technician to
leave, he quickly changed the subject.
"Is the hacking program you mentioned used commercially in both South
Korea and the U.S.?"
He seemed adept at hiding his ominous thoughts behind a calm demeanor.
To conceal lies, it was preferable to spare words rather than use ambiguous
language.
"I would prefer to refrain from commenting on anything other than weapon-
related information."
"Oh, certainly, you're right. I'm sorry, I was being careless," Sergei
apologized vehemently, more than necessary. Then he seemed to think it
would be better to engage in small talk, as he proceeded to ask very
personal questions about Kwon Taekju's hobbies and interests. There was
no telling why he would be so curious about a complete stranger.
As he searched for something to say in response, Jenya casually met his
gaze. He was watching the two of them with his arms crossed and his chin
raised as if what was in front of his eyes was an interesting sight. He made
no effort to change the subject or help him. When Kwon Taekju made an
unspoken request, he smiled quietly and rose from his seat.
"I'll retire first, it's been a long journey and I'm tired. You two continue your
conversation."
He hurried out, leaving Sergei and Kwon Taekju alone in the room. It was
clear from the way he said goodbye and smiled that it had been all on
purpose. It was frustrating, but there was nothing to be done. Helpless,
Kwon Taekju could only look at Jenya's retreating back. Because of that, he
missed Sergei's question.
"...Well?"
"What, what did you just say...?"
"I asked you if you're married. Or if you have a lover or something similar."
Sergei asks again cheerfully, trying to sound polite.
"Does whether I have a partner or not have anything to do with the decision
about the purchase?" asked Kwon Taekju, curving his lips into a smirk. It
was a rather cheerful expression, and one could even sense a sense of
nonchalance in his tone, expression, and gestures.
Surprised by the unexpected provocation, Sergei's thick lips curved into a
smile. His hand, adorned with rings, gently covered the back of Kwon
Taekju's hand. The slow movement of his thumb, fiddling with his hand, was
disconcerting.
"Well, depending on the circumstances, it could be anything."
He slurred the words, hinting mischief in the tone of his voice. Meanwhile,
his hand slowly slipped inside Kwon Taekju's sleeve, he jumped up from his
seat after receiving such blatant harassment. Sergei immediately withdrew
his hand. The shameless smile he flashed, as if asking if something had
happened to him, was so obnoxious.
"I apologize. I have an urgent matter to attend to."
He smiled falsely, showing his even teeth, and left the dining room in long
strides. Sergei stood alone, staring blankly, watching his departure.
Soon after, a waiter served him dessert. It was a brownie topped with
chocolate mousse. The juicy, fudgy texture was apparent to the naked eye.
Contemplating the brownie with a somewhat dazed expression, Sergei
eventually lost his appetite and put down his fork.
*****
As he entered the room, he stopped. Jenya was sprawled out on his bed, as
if he owned the place, just like he used to do in past hotels.
"Don't just stand there, come in."
Kwon Taekju gave him an annoyed look, then closed the door and went
inside. Lowering his voice, he asked what happened.
"What?"
"About what you went to investigate. You said you were going to take a look
at the studio."
"Oh yes, I went there. I was personally curious as to why they would have it
triple-protected. There was one of those safes. I didn't open it, but I
inspected what was inside, and, at best, it was gold bullion, cash, and
documents."
"Anything else?"
Jenya shook his head. If it wasn't in the study, there were only two places
left to look: the attic of the main tower and the secret compartment inside
Sergei's bedroom. If they found no trace of the "SS-29" in those two places,
the operation would be a failure.
Within a day, associates of the "SS-29" would come to visit him, and once it
was clear that the defects had been corrected, the "SS-29" would be quickly
moved to another location. Moreover, if Psych Bogdanov was involved in
the visit, they would be exposed in a matter of time.
Of course, there was still a chance that Sergei would drop the bait and
throw them both out before that happened, so they would have to get
everything done tonight, preferably before Sergei changed his mind. If they
missed this opportunity, even discovering the true identity of "SS-29" would
be difficult. They had to act quickly, but also discreetly.
However, accessing the other two locations was no easy task. There was
only one path leading to the tower. The ventilation ducts he had used to
reach the basement connected to that location, but they narrowed
drastically as they ascended, making it difficult for anyone but a small child
to pass through. Climbing the outer wall of the building was also an option,
but would be tantamount to suicide, as they would have to scale the
dangerous cliff facing strong winds that relentlessly pushed their backs.
Avoiding the surveillance of CCTV cameras and guards inside and outside
seemed impossible. Ultimately, to get to the tower they would have to use
the stairs, but going through the strict security checks at the entrance to
each room made that plan unreasonable. Even more so if "SS-29" was
being kept there.
Sergei's bedroom was not much better. The sun had already set, it was
likely that Sergei was already getting ready for bed. He also did not doubt
that security there would be even tighter. After all, it was a dormitory and
there would be no security sensors or surveillance cameras. The longer
they waited, the more restrictions they would have to face.
Frustrated, Kwon Taekju blurted out, "Can't we just attack Sergei and beat
him until he tells us where he is?"
"Our bodies will end up full of holes before that can happen. We don't even
know how many bodyguards are still here."
He was absolutely right about that. The only information they had was the
size and structure of the mansion. They had no idea how many people were
inside or the security measures. Thanks to Boris, they were able to make a
bold entrance through the front door, but their current situation inside the
enemy's lair was different.
No matter how many turns he gave it, he could not think of a convenient
method. When he circled around the mansion, the only problem that had
crossed his mind was to enter. But now that he was inside, he didn't expect
another challenge.
"Sometimes gentle force trumps firearms," Jenya said out of nowhere.
Kwon Taekju looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Soft strength"
usually refers to women's power, which is different from physical strength. It
includes wisdom in problem-solving, persuasiveness, great sensitivity, and
deep empathy. And, of course, beauty. History has shown that even a man
of steel can fall to a woman in an instant.
But what good would that do now? Kwon Taekju countered immediately:
"That inspiration, having a woman with charm and finesse, could drive
anyone crazy. But now, how do we get reinforcements? The only woman
we've met on this island is the owner of the guesthouse."
Jenya, who had been listening to him, let out a strange chuckle. Then he
stood up, closing the distance with slow steps. Kwon Taekju remained still,
letting him approach. However, when Jenya suddenly reached out his hand,
Kwon Taekju instinctively threw his head back. He tried to feign indifference,
but he was still on guard.
Jenya did not hesitate for a moment, and his outstretched hand finally
touched Kwon Taekju's ear. It was only a light touch, but it made the hairs
on the back of his ear stand up. His dark skin made it stand out more
clearly. Jenya gently closed his eyes and gently brushed Kwon Taekju's hair
behind his ear.
"Don't worry about it. According to the scandals Sergei Ilyabich is starring
in, he likes sodomy*, and prefers darker skinned ones."
n/t: Commonly known for anal sex between two males.
"What...."
"The way he's been looking at you is far from innocent, isn't it?"
I shoved the teasing Jenya away. He glared at him as if warning him not to
go through with it.
"Are you out of your mind? I don't have those kinds of inclinations."
"Stop being so serious and think about it. You can get into Sergei's
bedroom without having to run, crawl or roll out. Do you know why?
Because the drunken idiot will be busy showing off the SS-29. All you have
to do is walk him to his bed. Afterwards, you can beat him up or actually get
into bed with him; it doesn't matter. That's strictly a private matter, which
only the two people inside will know about, isn't it?"
Jenya's persuasion continued. It sounded so easy. As if to say that if it were
him, he would happily fool around with that old pervert who was squeezing
his hand.
Kwon Taekju walked to the window and firmly refused.
"Don't keep pushing in a strange direction. I won't do it at all."
"Are you sure it's just nonsense?"
Suddenly, something flew out from behind him, and he reflexively turned
and caught it. It was none other than a location tracker. The red dot
representing the target was blinking near the origin of the coordinates. It
was not fully overlapped, which meant that the target was loitering near the
tracker.
Kwon Taekju stared at Jenya as if demanding an explanation. The man
smiled in satisfaction and mischievously asked who could be snooping
outside his room. Somehow, it seemed that he had placed the tracker on
Sergei without Sergei noticing.
Kwon Taekju shook his head again. He tossed the device onto the bed.
"Anyway, I'm not going to..."
"You know, men are more likely to want to woo women who have a lot of
suitors."
He was about to firmly reject the suggestion, but Jenya started to move
closer to him while babbling a lot of nonsense that was beside the point. He
unconsciously took a step back, but Jenya had already closed the distance
completely. His back was against the window frame. There was no escape.
For a brief moment, their gazes met. Jenya looked at him with a strange fire
in his eyes. He was in unfamiliar territory.
"The more coveted a target is by others, the more valuable you feel it is."
"What...?"
At that moment, sudden knocks resounded at the door. Then, he could hear
Sergei's voice, asking him if he was sleeping.
"No."
He hurried to answer, frequent and prolonged absences would raise
suspicions.
As he headed for the door, Jenya suddenly grabbed his wrist, pulling him
forcefully towards the window. He struggled to free himself, but Jenya held
him firmly and refused to budge. He gripped the window sill firmly with his
arms, leaving him trapped as if he had a giant, sturdy wall in front of him.
What is he trying to do?
He gritted his teeth. At the same time, Jenya's lips formed a wide smile. He
was clearly planning something, and it wasn't anything good. A screeching
sound reached his ears. The sound was so familiar that, for a moment,
Kwon Taekju was stunned. Jenya's hand had slipped through his open
zipper.
"......!"
Panicking, he grabbed Jenya's arm. Despite his resistance, Jenya
continued to explore freely, even reaching inside his underwear to grasp his
penis, now erect and pressing against the fabric. The pressure was so
intense that it was making him dizzy.
Gripping firmly and stroking the soft flesh, Jenya looked closely at Kwon
Taekju's face, appreciating how distorted it looked. He groped the wrapped
member in his hand, moving it up and down slowly, then turning it over. He
felt pain when he squeezed it hard, and when he stroked it gently, he
shuddered a little, seeming to enjoy the touch.
"Ah, n-no..."
Kwon Taekju gritted his teeth. Their bodies were too close for him to kick
him or push him away. If he were any closer, he would have bitten Jenya's
nose, but that was impossible. All he could do was cling to his neck as if he
was going to rip it out.
He nervously pulled Jenya's chin away and the man obediently backed
away, but his grip on his increasingly hot penis became much more
persistent. He even went and pulled down the skin of the foreskin. When the
red flesh was exposed, he stared at it. A trickle of semen had been pooling
at the tip of the urethra. His breathing, agitated by the effort of trying to get it
off him, was now agitated for another reason entirely. His eyes, which had
been staring fiercely at Jenya, ready to tear him apart, blinked shakily.
Jenya circled Kwon Taekju's glans gently, at the same time unzipping his
own pants. In one motion, his thick penis emerged from the open fabric. He
began rubbing the flesh, which was too heavy to hold with one hand,
against Kwon Taekju's penis, which let out a gasp.
"......!"
At that moment, there was another knock at the door. "Mr. Lim?"
Sergei's voice sounded questioning. Kwon Taekju quickly regained his
senses and tried to push him away. But the more he tried, the more Jenya
clung to him, refusing to let go. He was once again trapped between this
guy and the window.
Jenya's own penis quickly became aroused, swelling and pressing against
Kwon Taekju's pelvis and erect penis, which was moving provocatively back
and forth. The bristling pubic hair brushed against the pale flesh, causing
subtle tingles and making Kwon Taekju's hips quiver.
"Ugh... Uhh... Ugh..."
His upper body slowly slumped, and his head continued to tilt. But Jenya
didn't allow it. He gripped Kwon Taekju's chin tightly, forcing him to make
eye contact. Jenya licked his lips as he watched Kwon Taekju frown and
continue to struggle. His own penis stood proudly erect, displaying its
incomparable greatness. The curved shaft seemed capable of piercing
through anything.
The swollen flesh pressed against him from the genital orifice, sliding down
to the center of the scrotum. Kwon Taekju grunted under his breath at the
unfamiliar sensation and furrowed his brows. A smirk tugged at Jenya's lips.
With his hot tongue, he gave a long lick all over the side of Kwon Taekju's
face. His blue eyes glittered full of lust.
As time passed, Jenya seemed to forget his initial intention to immobilize
Kwon Taekju. Each time he plowed the irregular texture of the surface of
Kwon Taekju's penis, it throbbed in response. Jenya's attention was
focused on pleasing both of their arousals, using his muscles and strength
to stimulate Kwon Taekju. His hands quickly began to get slimy all over the
overflowing presemen. The wet sound echoed as he moved his hand up
and down.
His whole body stiffened from the sudden intensity of ejaculation. Kwon
Taekju covered his mouth with his hand to prevent any sound from
escaping. The world before his eyes spun, triggering a wave of dizziness.
The heat inside his body quickly rushed to his crotch. Something that had
been tingling throughout his body exploded explosively from the tip of his
penis.
"...Aaahhh."
Kwon Taekju closed his eyes tightly and wrinkled his forehead. Choked
moans and heaving breaths spilled out onto his palm, which covered his
mouth. Jenya, still hovering over him, pinned his eyes to his flushed face
and pressed his penis against the inside of her thigh. The skin he was
rubbing against, relatively soft, began to burn. Kwon Taekju felt as if the
surface of his skin was going to peel off, however, there was nothing he
could do to counteract the terrible sensation after experiencing the
exhaustion that followed the overwhelming climax.
That's when it happened.
"Are you all right? I'm coming in."
Sergei pushed open the door. He walked in and was surprised by the
strange sight before him. Kwon Taekju was half sitting on the window sill,
and Jenya was standing in front of him, fixing his clothes. Due to the nature
of the room, with the windows closed, heat and the pungent smell that had
not yet dissipated filled the air. A strange current flowed between the two
people standing so close.
Jenya looked at Sergei and gave him a businesslike smile.
"Come in, please. I was about to borrow a book from you."
Saying that as an excuse, he picked up a random book from the bed. Then,
without further ado, he left the room. Before the door closed all the way,
their gazes met and Jenya gave him a suggestive smile. Now he really
wanted to punch him in the face.
As he stared at the door for a while, Sergei cleared his throat and brought
Kwon Taekju back to reality. Finally, he stepped down from the windowsill
and approached him.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's actually...".
Sergei opened his mouth and was about to say something, but stopped
midway. His gaze was fixed on the center of Kwon Taekju's body. The latter
followed his gaze and looked down, at that moment, his eyes widened. The
zipper of his pants was open.
Damn it. Jenya personally took care of fixing the clothes, and he had
thought he would have taken care of that himself, so he hadn't paid much
attention to it as he left the room, but he was obliging. Kwon Taekju's face
flushed with embarrassment. He silently cursed himself as he hurriedly
zipped up. However, Sergei suddenly grabbed his hand. With a serious
expression, he whispered something meaningful to Kwon Taekju.
"Actually, I have an object in my charge. These days, everyone in Russia is
especially interested in that thing. They say it would fetch a great price if it
were put on the market. I wonder if that piece of iron really has that much
value. I would like to know Mr. Lim's opinion. What do you think? It's not an
ordinary object that you can see every day."
*****
Sergei's bedroom had a total of three doors. The first was at the end of the
hallway, the second door was reached by following a long hallway adorned
with paintings, and finally, there were double sliding doors separating the
bed area from the living room. Each of these doors required fingerprint and
iris recognition to pass through. There were surveillance cameras installed
at regular intervals, which monitored the movements of anyone entering or
leaving. It was intriguing to wonder what could be so meticulously hidden
inside.
Sergei personally opened the last sliding door. The interior space was quite
spacious. In the center was a circular bed large enough to accommodate
ten people. A leopard stretched gracefully over a deep purple silk sheet,
reaching almost four meters in length. Every fold seemed alive, and the
golden eyes glistened in the light. It was hard to believe that anyone could
sleep comfortably in such a sumptuous bed. The extravagant tastes of the
rich were truly incomprehensible.
The room was also accompanied by a spacious bathroom. The design
made clear the intention to carry out lustful activities.
Kwon Taekju paced around the bed, aware of the secret compartment
behind it. According to the blueprint, there was a sizable hidden camera
there.
"Would you care for a drink? I have some excellent scotch."
Sergei offered a drink. His tone changed as soon as they entered the room.
His gaze on Kwon Taekju became more explicitly suggestive. Kwon
Taekju accepted the offered glass without hesitation and took a sip. He
noticed that there was undissolved white powder around the ice cubes. It
seemed like an obvious trick, but he acted as if he had swallowed it.
Sergei walked past Kwon Taekju and headed for the bed.
He lay down quietly and studied Kwon Taekju intently. It was as if he was
examining merchandise displayed in a shop window. The way his eyes
roamed over him from head to toe was unpleasant.
Kwon Taekju gently set the half-full glass down on a nearby table
.
"Where's that thing you mentioned?"
"Impatient - why don't we take our time? It's not too late and the night is
long, after all."
His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
He squinted ominously. When a drop of whiskey slid across the surface of
the glass, he licked it off with his thick tongue. Feeling uncomfortable at the
sight of it, Kwon Taekju turned his head away. Meanwhile, Sergei finished
the remaining liquor in the glass and stood up. Then, without taking his eyes
off him, he began to undress, piece by piece.
He got rid of his shirt and took one more step as he removed his pants.
Soon he was naked except for a pair of underpants. The distance between
them shortened, and his panting breath almost brushed her neck.
Kwon Taekju gritted his teeth silently and held on.
Sergei walked behind him, stroking his waist, then unexpectedly hugged
him tightly from behind. He grabbed him tightly as if he wanted to burst his
shirt, gripping his prominent chest firmly, then released him and lowered his
hands to start roaming his smooth abdomen.
He took a deep sigh, looking away. They say if you can hold it three times,
you can avoid committing murder. And Kwon Taekju was making an effort
to endure it, but, suddenly, he felt something hard touching his thigh. He
could feel the intense arousal even through his clothes.
In an instant, he felt his mood plummet to the ground. His jaw tensed in
anger. Sergei, completely oblivious to this fact, vigorously rubbed his
erection against Kwon
Taekju and even exhaled a hot sigh against his neck. He felt as if small
insects were crawling through his veins. It was as if a rutting pig was riding
him from behind and panting.
Kwon Taekju, who had been distracted, mindlessly musing, suddenly
opened his mouth.
"I really..."
"Heh, ugh, huh? What, what do you say?"
Sergei, now completely naked, pressed himself even tighter against Kwon
Taekju and gasped. His fat hand dug into his side and went unreservedly to
his groin.
Kwon Taekju quickly grabbed his hand tightly and, when he mistook the
action for consent, licked his neck with his tongue. It was right after that.
Sergei's body rose upward. His vision flipped in an instant. Kwon Taekju
had thrown him over his shoulder in one swift motion.
Sergei, his head hanging upside down, tried to process what had just
happened to him. The unexpected turn of events left him completely
dumbfounded.
"I can't stand all your filth. Even perversion has to have its limits."
He muttered as he smoothed his disheveled shirt.
Irritated, he wiped the saliva from his neck.
Just then, his phone rang unexpectedly. The screen showed an
unregistered number. Somehow, that combination looked familiar. It
seemed to be Yoon Jong-woo's contact number.
Now that he thought about it, he had asked him for a favor. Without
hesitation, he answered the call. Before he could say anything, Yoon Jong-
woo's voice shouted first.
[Senior!]
The unexpected shout made his ears ring. He momentarily pulled the phone
away from his ear. However, Yoon Jong-woo continued to shout and blurt
out words he couldn't understand.
"What are you saying, what happened to finding out?"
[Who the hell are you with now? That person... Him, do you know who
he really is?]
"What are you talking about?"
He pulled the phone away from his ear again. He wasn't in a no-coverage
zone, but the connection was lousy. Maybe some local interference. If it was
the extreme cold of Siberia, it could freeze not only the radio waves but the
sound as well.
More importantly, how did he know who he was with?
Had he been hacking into the CCTV or something? He cast a furtive glance
at the bed and was startled. Sergei, who had been lying there a moment
ago, was nowhere to be seen.
He quickly looked around the room and Sergei appeared pouncing on him.
In an instant, he dropped the phone and grabbed his wrist, successfully
blocking the attack. However, due to the speed he was going and his
weight, he ended up being pushed backwards, falling onto the bed.
Sergei crushed Kwon Taekju with his whole body. In his immobilized hands,
he carried a syringe. The cylinder was empty. It didn't seem to have been
like this from the beginning. Although only some sort of clear liquid could be
seen hanging from the end of the needle, it was obvious.
Kwon Taekju used his knees to strike Sergei's chest as if trying to choke
him. Then he squeezed his vulnerable spot hard. Sergei struggled but
immediately went limp.
"Shit."
Kwon Taekju couldn't breathe as his organs were crushed by a great weight
pressing on his chest. He turned around and struggled to push Sergei's
body away from him with all his might and with a thud, the heavy body fell
onto the bed.
After catching his breath, he quickly got up. He thoroughly searched the
underside of the bed, inside the legs, behind the headboard, and even
under the leopard sheet. He was looking for the key to the secret room.
But there was no key or anything like it.
It has to be here somewhere. Where did he put it, where?
While still thinking, Kwon Taekju turned to the downed Sergei. If it was
something important, he would have had it on him. But now, since he wasn't
wearing a single garment, the best thing to do was to inspect the clothes he
had thrown away.
He picked up each garment on the floor and shook them out one by one.
Among the messy clothes, his hand stopped on Sergei's belt. It had a
square trim and what looked like a button. Taking a chance, he pressed it
firmly, and a flap opened, revealing a remote control.
"Found it."
A relieved smile tugged at his lips. He fastened the belt and rose from his
seat, his heart swelling with anticipation at the thought of the secret room he
had been searching for.
"Ah..."
Not long after, however, he staggered. Suddenly, he felt his head spinning.
He thought it might be a temporary symptom, but soon even his vision
began to blur. He stumbled and ended up collapsing on the bed. His
thoughts became slower and slower. He had no idea why he was here, he
didn't even remember what his purpose was. He shook his head and tried to
clear his mind.
Suddenly, he remembered the syringe Sergei was holding. Although the
cylinder had been empty, he didn't think much of it. He simply assumed that
Sergei had spilled the contents at some point during the struggle. But now
that his neck felt stiff, he had probably gotten the dosage right.
The situation didn't look good, especially since he had no idea what drug he
had been injected with.
Suddenly, his head began to shake uncontrollably. Pressing on his temples
was not helping. The weight on his head kept increasing, so he leaned back
on the bed. The whole world began to spin around him.
He didn't know how much time had passed when he saw someone's legs
entering his distorted field of vision. How long had they been there? Was it a
hallucination? He wanted to raise his head to see the person's face and
confirm who it was, but his body did not respond to his brain's commands.
His eyes, barely open, slowly moved up from the person's legs to his thighs,
waist, chest, and shoulders. It took a long time, but at last, he could see his
face. At the same time, Yoon Jongwoo's voice echoed from the phone. The
call had not yet been cut off.
[.... 'It's him! Are you there, Senior?]
Him? Before he could answer, the phone was snatched from his hand. That
person ended the call nonchalantly and walked at a slow pace toward the
bed. Even though he felt weak, his instincts echoed and screamed like an
alarm.
He had to escape.
"Oh no, oh no."
It was a familiar voice. It was Jenya. His long shadow was cast over Kwon
Taekju's head. He clicked his tongue, but he couldn't feel any sympathy,
compassion or pity. Only mild interest in the current situation.
Jenya easily stepped over the unconscious
Sergei. Seeing his smiling face, Kwon Taekju's breath caught. The man in
front of him was no longer the lively fellow from before. Although nothing
had changed compared to a few
moments ago, he was not the same.
Kwon Taekju stepped back with all his strength, or at least, with the only
strength he had left, his willpower. Actually, he had only managed to wiggle
his fingers a couple of times. Meanwhile, Jenya was almost in front of him.
He leaned his upper body to stare at him. Kwon Taekju's dark eyes tried to
catch it.
Soon, he slipped his hands under his armpits and lifted him up effortlessly.
Then, he threw Kwon Taekju on the bed. The mattress creaked under his
body.
"I came because I was worried, and this is how I find you."
He stared at the sweating Kwon Taekju as he laid him down on the bed. It
wasn't clear whether he was worried about him or Sergei, who was lying on
the floor.
He couldn't understand what was going on and yet he felt as if he knew.
Contradictory feelings and thoughts were constantly clashing and
intersecting. The only thing he knew for certain was that if he didn't get out
of this situation, he would die.
Jenya picked up the belt that had fallen on the bed. As if familiar with this,
he pushed the buttons, and then, a loud mechanical noise could be heard
coming from somewhere in the wall.
One after another, sections of the opposite wall began to slowly rotate.
When the wall of panels disappeared, what emerged was neither a
reinforced camera nor an armory, but a large picture frame hanging on the
wall. It was a picture of a group of about twenty men. There were Vysarion
and his sons, whom they had met at the Bogdanov mansion. Sergei, lying
on the floor, also had a place in the picture.
However, for some unknown reason, Psych Bogdanov was not in the photo.
Instead, a man with an eerily striking resemblance to Jenya was standing
just behind Vysarion. No, it was definitely Jenya.
Incredulous, Kwon Taekju looked at Jenya, who replied with a smile. He
needed to be sure. His trembling hand, weakened by the drug, reached out
and grabbed Jenya's shirt as if trying to wrench the truth from him.
Jenya merely watched with icy eyes, bubbling with deep amusement.
Kwon Taekju tore Jenya's shirt off with a jerk.
The buttons flew off, hitting his face mercilessly. However, Jenya remained
unperturbed, revealing the truth before him. A distinctive tattoo was carved
in the center of his chest. It was a drawing that Kwon Taekju had seen
numerous times before; at the Bogdanov mansion, on Boris' hand, at the
main entrance of this mansion and even on the forehead of the late Agent
Morgan.
"..Oh, this, you haven't been deluding yourself, have you, thinking you're the
only one who can use such clever camouflage?".
Jenya's smiling expression grew darker.
It was him. Jenya was Psych Bogdanov.
n/t: I could beat some ass right now, this mf playing us all, and this definitely
isn't turning out good for Kwon.
I've already translated the last part of Twilight and.... Holy water will be
served.
And how about that sexy art, creds to ryeomiti
on twitter.
5.6 Twilight

"Hah... ugh....".
He was short of breath. In the ceiling mirror, he could see his own reflection,
panting. With each breath, the ceiling seemed to come closer to his nose
and then recede again. His vision wobbled heavily and his insides churned,
plus he felt his body getting hotter and hotter. He felt as if his brain reached
boiling point in a matter of moments and boiling blood was rushing to his
fingertips and toes through his burning veins.
Overwhelming heat enveloped his entire body, relentlessly raising his body
temperature and refusing to stop.
Though his head felt heavy, it felt damp. Even the slightest brush with the
sheet made his limbs writhe and all his senses rudely awakened.
A flood of thoughts flooded his mind at once. Memories of receiving the
mission for the first time, the moment he came face to face with Jenya, his
reunion in the hotel bathroom with the man he had never wanted to see
again, and the devastating news he had received shortly thereafter. Jenya
could effortlessly alternate between being a scandalous and obnoxious
companion to a calm and ruthless killer.
However, he had trusted him simply because the agency had assigned him
as a partner.
Whenever Kwon Taekju's vigilance reached its peak, Jenya managed to
make him believe that he was nothing more than his partner. It was Jenya
who guided him to the depths of Bogdanov's mansion, and it was Jenya
who also revealed to him the existence of "SS-29" through wiretaps.
Whenever necessary, he freely divulged information, even if it was things
that were only shared in hushed tones between dealers. His contribution to
the location of "SS-29" and his arrival here was by no means insignificant.
To even go so far as to think that his only intention was to deceive Kwon
Taekju seemed ridiculous.
He could not pinpoint where it had all gone wrong. Had it been a mistake for
the agency to assign Jenya as his partner? Perhaps Jenya was never truly
the partner he was assigned to begin with. Was it possible that the whole
operation was poorly designed? He couldn't say. It had all gotten so
convoluted and complicated that it had ended up in this, and that was the
only thing he knew for sure.
He stared at Jenya. He seemed to be his usual self, but something about
him was different. It was ironic that at the moment he perceived him as
someone he should avoid, everything fell perfectly into place- His instincts,
his reasons, the current situation, and even Jenya's actions all pointed to a
single truth. However, even with all this clarity, there was still much he still
failed to comprehend.
"...Why have you kept me alive until now?"
"Me, keeping you alive?"
Jenya openly scoffed.
"What a grand illusion you've been deluding yourself."
Kwon Taekju gagged at the blatant taunt. In retrospect, Jenya might have
tried to eliminate Kwon Taekju as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
Shortly after they were introduced as partners, the hotel they were staying
in blew up. His entire room was completely trashed, his belongings ended
up in an unrecoverable state and he even lost all contact with the agency. If
he hadn't had experience dealing with terrorist attacks, he wouldn't have
made it out of that place alive.
How did things go when he was chased by the man he mistakenly thought
was Psych Bogdanov? He showed up in a helicopter and leveled everything
with a machine gun. If he hadn't been lucky enough that the car they were
in ended up submerged in freezing water, Kwon Taekju and all the
passengers would have ended up dead and full of holes. Even when he
was fighting for his life after falling underwater, he did not stop shooting. He
didn't even try to rescue his drowning companion.
But that was not all. At the Bogdanov mansion, the communication device
Jenya handed him ended up suddenly damaged, and while searching for
the same man, who had disappeared on the Trans-Siberian train, he ended
up being attacked by criminals.
Looking back, it was ridiculous. All along, Jenya had been targeting Kwon
Taekju, and he had been fooling himself into believing that he was helping
him.
In the midst of it all, however, a new doubt arose. If Jenya had been
determined to finish him off, Kwon Taekju's life would have ended long ago.
But he was still alive not simply due to luck.
Jenya had not tried to kill him with all his might, and that was something he
now summed up in one sentence.
"You were quite a sight to behold, fighting for your life."
Jenya's eyes softened. He was always like that. Every time he disappeared,
he would end up in a situation full of trouble and, while trying to avoid
danger on his own, he would suddenly see the man watching everything
from a distance. Even in a life-and-death situation for Kwon Taekju, the man
always seemed infinitely calm. As if to him, Kwon Taekju's life was nothing
more than a simple game.
"You son of a whore...."
His teeth gnashed, his fists clenched so tightly that his fingernails dug into
his flesh. If he didn't crush the grinning bastard now, it seemed his anger
would never subside. He had decided that he would make sure this man
could never smile like that again. With determination, he brandished his fist.
However, Jenya blocked the blow with a palm, countering the punch. Kwon
Taekju's fist trembled in his grip. Despite gathering all his strength in that
punch, his hand did not move at all. A smile crept back onto Jenya's face.
He was revealing his true colors, something Kwon Taekju had occasionally
seen before. At the slightest hint of sarcasm, he would drop the mask
without hesitation.
"You should try to assess the situation before you jump in like that, hmm?".
His face was turned with a sharp sound. The impact on his left cheek was
truly enormous. For a moment, the world in front of his eyes turned red, and
stars twinkled in his vision. He was not even able to protest. He felt as if his
left cheek swelled and burned to the point where it felt like it was on fire.
Something inside his nose broke with a thud. Before long, a stream of red
blood began to trickle out and a metallic, foul smell filled his mouth. He
probably had ruptured gums. He wouldn't be surprised if they told him he
had a fractured skull.
At this rate, he would die at Jenya's hands. Beyond his personal rage, his
survival instinct began to take over his body. He writhed and screamed in
agony, unable to bear the pain. However, Jenya pressed Kwon Taekju's
neck with one hand, subduing him.
"...Ughm."
Jenya's fingertips squeezed precisely around his throat, squeezing all the
air out of his lungs. Writhing in pain, Kwon Taekju clawed at the back of his
hand, but it didn't even flinch. He merely accomplished his goal by
squeezing it even harder, with a force that threatened to break Kwon
Taekju's neck. Looking at the constricted pupils, he could see how reason
had completely abandoned the man.
He tried to strike his elbow to push it away from him, but to no avail; his
outstretched arm remained rigid and unyielding. However, the price to pay
for his futile attack was cruel. Jenya's sharp knuckles dug into his windpipe,
causing his insides to shudder violently and he felt as if his abdomen was
going to tear apart. At that moment, his vision blurred for a few moments
and he broke into a cold sweat rapidly. He lost the will to resist the pain
inflicted on his crushed lungs.
Am I going to die like this? In a place like this, just like this?
Throughout his missions, he had faced countless life-threatening situations,
and considering that, he had faced far worse circumstances than the current
one. Yet he had persevered with unwavering determination. Despite
everything that happened to him, he resisted with tenacity. Inside a free-
falling airplane, in an exploding room, even hundreds of feet underwater, he
had never given up. He was sure of it, but now he was contemplating the
end of his life. He could not escape. It was both a strong conviction and an
obvious fact.
His pupils trembled slightly as he focused with difficulty on Jenya. There
were no discernible expressions on his cold face. Was he really Psych
Bogdanov? Or was he once again falling for the man's cunning tricks? He
asked himself useless questions.
His smooth forehead furrowed, as tense veins appeared and his eyelids
quivered. The warning lights in his head, as if foreshadowing the end,
beeped anxiously. He closed her eyes tightly, as if they were about to burst,
and bit his trembling lips. His cracked voice struggled to get out.
"You're... ugh, you're the real..."
"Yes, that's right."
Jenya drove the wedge. Kwon Taekju felt as if he was about to burst out
laughing. It wasn't unbelievable; he could probably blend in smoothly with
the royal family, being able to go wherever he pleased, and like Psych
Bogdanov, he had a deep knowledge of the arms industry.
He should have known it from that moment when he showed him his entire
arsenal of weapons packed with high-tech weaponry, and there were even
countless other moments when he should have been suspicious about
Jenya's identity. Relying too much on the information given to him by the
agency was a terrible mistake.
A smile spread across Kwon Taekju's lips. Even in the midst of his labored
breathing, he burst out laughing. His bloodshot eyes narrowed and his lips,
which had quivered in pain, curved upward. However, what should have
been a loud guffaw turned into a strangled groan.
A sudden crack appeared on Jenya's previously indifferent face. An
inexplicable smile flickered for a moment. The change was so fleeting that
he didn't even notice it. But suddenly, Kwon Taekju felt the hand removed
from his neck.
"Ughh, Uhhh, cof, uh... cof, cof..."
Suddenly, he felt his airways finally clear. He inhaled the air deeply,
savoring the puffs that escaped his quivering chest. Urgently, he sucked in
oxygen, driven by a fierce survival instinct. In the aftermath, he choked and
began to cough loudly. Blood rushed to his face, which was stained bright
red as he coughed and coughed. Jenya for his part, while watching Kwon
Taekju struggle, lifted the hem of his pants. Then, he unsheathed the
dagger he wore clipped to his ankle.
The sharp blade moved slowly across Kwon Taekju's peripheral vision. It
was a threatening gesture as if to say that he could easily poke his eye out
at any moment. Holding the dagger upright, Jenya brought the tip of the
blade directly over Kwon Taekju's eye. Jenya began to move it subtly,
dancing dangerously close to his eyeball.
All the while, Jenya did not blink for an instant.
His incessant coughing gradually calmed down; instincts had completely
taken over Kwon Taekju's body. Looking at the completely paralyzed Kwon
Taekju, Jenya let out a chilling smile.
The man briefly held the knife in his mouth and then pushed his knees
under Kwon Taekju's waist. His lower body was lifted, naturally thanks to
the strong thighs that now held him by the waist. Just then, Jenya used the
dagger he was holding to tear his clothes without hesitation.
His rough touch tore not only his pants and underwear but also slightly at
his skin. However, Kwon Taekju's head, completely engulfed in panic, was
not even able to register the pain.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of a zipper being pulled down. Immediately,
he felt something heavy fall on his thigh. It was Jenya's penis. His penis,
already erect, pressed hard against his thighs, and the force with which it
pushed through the dense flesh felt overwhelming. After Jenya guided him
with his finger, he placed him in the proper position, and immediately his
penis slid between the cleft of his buttocks. The head of his penis, already
red, had grown hot with the determination to penetrate anything, throbbing
with excitement and anticipation. Only when the head of his penis was
about to penetrate his hole did Kwon Taekju understand Jenya's intentions.
As Kwon Taekju struggled desperately, Jenya pinned him down and
forcefully thrust his hard penis inside him. The taut flesh inside his tight, dry
hole, despite the effort, could not fully accommodate his thick member. For
this, he inserted a saliva-covered index finger inside her tight hole, dilating it
little by little. Then he pushed once more. Finally, the tight folds gave way
and, with great effort, swallowed the swollen glans.
After withdrawing his finger, he grabbed Kwon Taekju's shoulders with both
arms and lifted his waist, completely encasing his penis to the base in that
position.
"......!"
An indescribable pain seized his body. His eyes widened at the sharp
sensation he was experiencing for the first time in his life, then quickly
closed. That incomprehensibly brutal pillar of flesh forced his buttocks to
clench, giving him shivers. It felt as if an iron stake had been driven through
the center of her body and was driving it through. From deep inside his
abdomen, something hot and fiery began to seep out. Sliding down the
length of the huge penis, it soaked even his coarse pubic hair.
His tight hole had not been prepared for this and involuntarily tensed around
it due to the shock, with the contracted muscles making the penetration
unbearably tight, giving the sensation that they were glued together. Jenya
furrowed his brow and clicked his tongue, trying to maintain control. Due to
the intense tightness of the hole, the surface of his penis was full of
wrinkles, the hole almost devouring him whole. A thick vein protruded from
his forehead, which otherwise remained smooth. For a normal person, it
would be wise to stop if the act was so agonizing, but he seemed to have no
intention of doing so.
Instead, as he bowed his upper body, he whispered in Kwon Taekju's ear.
"If you already understand what's going on right now, move your ass. I
might be inclined to spare your life."
The skin under the eyes of Kwon Taekju's eyes trembled from humiliation. A
deep, uncontrollable rage surged inside him. Tearing Jenya to pieces right
now was something he wanted to do, and he would not regret it.
Seeing Kwon Taekju seething with suppressed fury, Jenya smiled even
wider. Immediately, and in one swift movement, he quickly lifted Kwon
Taekju's legs and rested them against his chest and shoulders. When Kwon
Taekju's waist was lifted, his tight ass intertwined with his own lower body
came into view. The hole that tightly squeezed his penis, eager to move,
shuddered intermittently. As this happened, Kwon Taekju involuntarily
arched his back. At that moment, Jenya lazily licked his lower lip and pulled
his lower body back, at the same time Kwon Taekju closed his mouth and
turned his head as he felt the thick, vein-covered penis press against his
inner walls. The next moment and with a firm thrust, Jenya slammed his
entire member back inside him, ramming him.
"...Argh!"
Kwon Taekju's whole body jerked. His cheeks and thighs were being
pounded hard, creating strong friction, and at the points of contact between
their bodies, a loud grinding sound could be heard. Moreover, as if that
wasn't enough, Jenya unloaded his whole body on him. Kwon Taekju's
knees ended up pressed against his own chest, leaving their faces mere
inches apart.
Kwon Taekju's face was distorted in agony. His eyes were tightly closed
and his teeth were clenched in order to endure the excruciating pain, yet he
could not stop his teeth from grinding. The expression on his face went from
embarrassment to anger, alternating between turning blue and then
reddening again.
Jenya watched intently, catching each of these changes as he thrust
relentlessly inside him. His engorged penis was swelling to its fullest,
continually penetrating his hole without mercy.
Every time Jenya thrusted all the way in with each strong onslaught, Kwon
Taekju felt as if his body was going to split in two. Kwon Taekju struggled to
escape the pain that poured down on him like a torrential rain, however, the
more he did so, the more persistent Jenya became. Every time Kwon
Taekju tried to turn his hips or escape even slightly, Jenya would squeeze
his lower body tighter and crush him, completely immobilizing him.
All his limbs were bound and he was being subjected to brutal and
gruesome violence. He was trapped, unable to resist or escape.
A wet sound seeped from the intertwining of their bodies, which were
clashing and clenching repeatedly. The rhythmic clash between Jenya's firm
thigh and Kwon Taekju's penis caused the latter's erection to visibly swell
and redden.
Jenya, for his part, seemed genuinely interested in not missing even the
slightest change in Kwon Taekju's expression as he continued to press
inside him without changing his position. From time to time, he would rotate
his hips to stimulate the swollen inner walls by exerting more pressure on
his still-firm hole.
Despite the overwhelming sense of defeat and humiliation, a persistent heat
still burned in his crotch. Every time he momentarily relaxed, he felt like he
was going to lose control of something. Kwon Taekju contracted his body
and his shoulders tensed, but even so, his head kept bowing and his toes
kept twisting. His breathing came and went making him feel as if he might
faint at any moment, making him feel as if he was about to exhale his last
breath.
"Haah, ah, ugh...Huhh-Ahhh...!"
He shook his head in annoyance, but still, the tingling spread throughout his
body without abating at all. His mind was becoming increasingly fuzzy, as a
feeling of dizziness stirred within him. For some reason, the pain caused by
the penetration had disappeared, as if it had never existed. He only felt a
kind of dull burning. It was his body, but it didn't feel like it.
"Haah."
Jenya pulled back and caught his breath. He quietly pushed his tousled hair
away from his face and rhythmically moved his lower body. The taut flesh
seemed about to burst as it fit perfectly inside his hot interior; Kwon Taekju's
marked abs and pecs responded to that writhing sweetness by flexing
wildly, at the same time Jenya's penis was fully inserted inside him. Sweat
gushed from the sheer intensity of pleasure, further illuminating the sculpted
contours of Kwon Taekju's body.
Soon after, Jenya tore Kwon Taekju's shirt apart. As the buttons were
undone, the solid physique underneath was exposed. Slowly, he shifted his
eyes across him, roaming his blemish-free body.
Although he was only looking at the body of an ordinary man, he couldn't
understand why his mouth was still salivating. Nor did he understand why
despite constantly feeling so much desire, his thirst remained unquenched.
His head was spinning to the point of feeling dizzy. Something was missing.
He wanted more. Just a little more.
When Jenya straightened his waist, the situation below was projected
unabashedly through the mirror that was mounted on the ceiling. Blushing
with embarrassment, Kwon Taekju turned his head away.
A futile effort, as Jenya again held his chin tightly, keeping his gaze fixed
forward. He tried to turn his head away, even push Jenya's hand away, but
the latter did not budge. Finally, he opted to close his eyes tightly. Jenya
was insistent, however; he squeezed his penis hard, forcing him to keep his
eyes open.
"Lift your head up. Think what hard work it must have been to put a mirror
on this ceiling."
A smile spread across Jenya's face. Unable to bear the humiliation, Kwon
Taekju gritted his teeth again and closed his eyes. Without any hesitation,
Jenya lifted his hips, thrusting sharply upward. To intensify the depth of
penetration, he pressed his body firmly against Kwon Taekju's and moved
mercilessly. He felt as if his internal organs were being pushed upward,
almost to his throat, leaving him breathless. He kept feeling his insides
churning.
But that wasn't the end of it. Straightening his stance, he lifted Kwon
Taekju's waist as if bending him, and when his back arched completely, his
butt was fully in view. The mirror on the ceiling relayed the scene without
filters; he could see his sweaty, glistening cheeks and the huge penis
thrusting fully into his hole, which seemed to fit perfectly in his folds. Jenya
moved in slow motion, deliberately showing the way his penis slid in and out
of his hole.
You could see how his hole was wide open. The normally puckered opening
was stretched wide open as if it would tear at the touch. He felt less
discomfort as his penis disappeared completely into his stomach. But soon,
the endless sight of his penis sliding in and out of his insides was enough
for the rage he had been holding back to resurface.
"This dog, shit-... Argh!"
Before he could finish cursing, his penis twisted and went all the way in. The
walls that had been empty quickly filled with an obscene sound. The penis
increased its speed, thrusting and withdrawing wildly against the tender
inner walls. Kwon Taekju felt as if his insides were being violently pounded
from the inside.
Alternating between nausea and pleasure hit him one after another, leaving
him unable to regain his composure.
"Argh, oh, huh...!"
"Much... better than you thought, right?"
Jenya's voice sounded strangely excited. His narrowed eyes were shining
brightly. They were tinged with excitement and madness as if he had just
finished hunting.
"I thought it would just be hard and not very pleasurable."
Jenya thrusts his penis against Kwon Taekju as he bends over his upper
body. Overpowering him as he tries to defend himself with his arms, he
grabs his chin and turns it to the side. The throbbing Adam's apple appears
before his eyes.
The tip of his jaw tenses as if he has seen something bitter. Jenya opens
his mouth and nibbles at Adam's apple that comes into view. As he grazes
and nibbles the sensitive skin with his teeth, Kwon Taekju's arm, which he is
holding, trembles. With a smirk, he sucks the area he had been nibbling on.
"Ugh..."
Kwon Taekju's face contorts, and at the same time, he tries to twist his
neck. His breathing became unsteady and his whole body shuddered
uncontrollably at the sensation of the tender flesh being rubbed and sucked
by Jenya's soft tongue.
Jenya continued to lick his exposed neck for a long while and suddenly bit
down on it. Kwon Taekju's limbs trembled once again. There were clear
teeth marks left where he bit him, there was even blood subtly coming out of
them. Kwon Taekju clenched his jaw, there, his fury resurfaced along with
muttered curses.
Jenya quickened the slow pace of his onslaught. Kwon Taekju's hole began
to tighten, throbbing violently once again. The swollen entrance strained as
he swallowed his penis with difficulty and then expelled it again in a messy
disaster.
Arms bound, each onslaught made his chest heave involuntarily. The
protruding nipples caught his attention, so Jenya unhesitatingly grabbed
Kwon Taekju's chest. The flesh in his hand was firm and soft at the same
time. As he kneaded it somewhat mercilessly, the nipples, previously in their
normal state, hardened between his fingers. Mocking that sight, he thought
how vulgar he looked.
"Your breast is really big, it's like it's begging me to suck it."
Kwon Taekju's ears were burning with embarrassment. He tried to shake it
off, tensing his shoulders and shaking them, in an effort to somehow push
Jenya away. However, his body tensed too much against his will. It was the
effect of the drug. Jenya easily subdued the trembling Kwon Taekju and
curled his nipple with the tip of his tongue.
"...You crazy bastard!"
The veins in Kwon Taekju's neck tightened, becoming clearer to the eye.
The anger-filled curses could not come out completely and ended up stuck
in his throat. Because the sensitive skin was being pressed and rubbed
hard by Jenya's tongue, the resulting tension also penetrated the area
around his erect nipple as well as his abdominal muscles. He couldn't stop
squirming.
Enjoying Kwon Taekju's reaction, Jenya nibbled and played with his nipple
until it became erect. The subtle pleasure spreading throughout his being
made Kwon Taekju arch. The more he struggled and resisted, the more
stubbornly Jenya manipulated and sucked on his nipple.
Soon, even the other nipple that had not been touched hardened. The
unfamiliar stimulation in an area that had never been touched before
caused Kwon Taekju's eyes to glaze over.
"mm...yes...ah!"
He grabbed Kwon Taekju's chin, which was gradually relaxing, and moved
one of his shoulders that continued to be tense. Jenya pressed his tongue
against the nipple as if tracing it and then bit it.
As he pressed his knee and shoulder which was trembling from the tingling
sensation, he kneaded the stimulated nipple further. The helpless, saliva-
soaked nipple was traversed by the teasing tongue without opposition. The
once-firm texture softened, and the triggered sensitivity rumbled intensely
throughout his being.
"Umm, yes, ah, agh..."
Jenya, who had been tormenting Kwon Taekju's nipple, suddenly looked
down. It was because something hard had touched him near the waist.
Kwon Taekju's erect penis was now pressing against his lower abdomen,
boldly showing its presence. The corners of Jenya's lips twisted upward.
"Look at how hard you are."
Heat rose to his face as he heard his blatant teasing. As he gasped, Jenya
uttered oaths that Kwon Taekju couldn't even understand and threats to end
his life. In the midst of that, Jenya playfully groped his waist, doing all this
with a satisfied expression on his face. The constant movements generated
friction on Kwon Taekju's firm thighs, which rubbed painfully against each
other. His long, thick penis was explosively thrusting in and out of her
entrance. It would not be strange if the swollen skin around it tore with each
penetration.
Just as it seemed Jenya was beginning to deliver his final thrusts, he
suddenly thrust his hips away.
As he did so, the tender flesh around the hole, as well as the inner walls,
were trapped against his member. Contemplating the delicate pink skin his
penis had exposed, Jenya's lips quirked into a smile. He stroked the skin
covered in bodily fluids and, without warning, rammed him deep.
"....Agh!"
Kwon Taekju let out a shuddering moan. Even in a dazed state of mind and
seeing everything blurry, he writhed and struggled nonstop, drenching his
body with sweat, all with the aim of escaping from Jenya. He tried to stop
Jenya, who was thrusting into him and piercing his insides without a care in
the world, but it was a futile gesture.
He spread Kwon Taekju's knees wide apart, perfectly fitting the lower part of
their
bodies. With both arms, he braced himself and pressed his upper body
against Kwon Taekju.
Jenya's penis pushed hard, reaching places that had never been touched
before. Kwon Taekju's waist, which had been suspended in the air,
trembled and twisted. His frowning face was full of blood. He felt so full that
he could not breathe properly.
"Try harder. I don't think I'm going to let you live at all."
Suddenly, Jenya whispered to him as he pushed deeper. The sensation of
his whole belly shaking made his head spin. At the same time, his penis
showed no signs of calming down. The thought of having to endure this
horrible pain any longer was unbearable.
*****
Several times he lost consciousness. Time seemed to pass, and then it
seemed to stop. He could not tell if what was currently happening was part
of a dream or was reality. Every time he regained consciousness and his
vision cleared, Jenya was always on top of him, keeping him immobilized.
It was all one horrible pain after another, Kwon Taekju screaming loudly,
then passing out. On and on it went.
It wasn't his own will that moved his body. It was all because of Jenya. He
was being completely controlled by him, tightly bound and forced to tremble
at his command. His throat was dry and swallowing saliva was difficult. He
couldn't feel his lower body, especially if he couldn't feel anything in his ass
area.
He dared not move his legs, and the sticky body fluids covering his buttocks
and the surrounding area were the reason. His entire lower body was
slippery, and as he moved hurriedly he could feel the fluids begin to run
down his legs.
Soon enough, the bed shook again. It was because Jenya had climbed
back on top. In his hand was a thick handmade cigar. After taking a puff on
the lit cigar, he sat down next to Kwon Taekju.
"Now, I should answer your questions one by one, shouldn't I? It would be
unfair for you to die without knowing the whole story and all the
circumstances. I'll give you that credit."
How sweet. His eyes contracted with fury, and at the same time, his limp
hand clenched into a fist.
Jenya watched Kwon Taekju's reaction with amusement and suddenly
extended his hand. Kwon Taekju was startled. Without hesitation, Jenya
reached out his hand again and playfully ruffled Kwon Taekju's tousled hair.
"Anastasia, what you were looking for, let's start there."
Kwon Taekju's unfocused eyes suddenly sharpened. Since even in this
situation he was still true to his goal, Jenya couldn't resist teasing him about
it.
"Anastasia doesn't exist. She never existed."
Kwon Taekju's brow furrowed. That was impossible. It was clear that Jenya
was teasing him once again.
"Don't play games with me, how are you going to explain about SS-29?".
"SS-29... I don't know why you confused that with Anastasia, but comparing
it to what are mere ballistic missiles would be a great insult to Anastasia."
Kwon Taekju's expression fell at Jenya's relaxed response. Was the "SS-
29" really a ballistic missile? He knew that Russia used the format.
"SS-Number." with sequential numbers on intercontinental ballistic missiles.
However, the information about the "SS-29" he found at the Bogdanov
mansion, along with the association that it had with "Anastasia," had no
doubt led him to believe that they were the same.
Now it seemed that, although it was praised for its unprecedented
destructive power, it was actually similar to existing nuclear weapons.
But were they really completely different things? Had Anastasia never
existed from the beginning and Kwon Taekju himself had fallen directly into
Jenya's trap? All because he had been led into a mistaken belief?
"The research on Anastasia was declared a failure a long time ago. There
were several problems with the design. We wasted an unimaginable
amount of money, time, and manpower to develop it. But, in retrospect, it
was not a completely wasted investment. The mere rumor of its existence or
imminent completion was enough to send the whole world into an uproar.
One need only look at the fact that South Korea and the U.S. sent you and
your other colleagues to understand its true value. Don't you think so too?"
With a smile, Jenya grabbed Kwon Taekju's body and turned him over. The
limp body without any strength was easily flipped over. Jenya's hand, which
had been gently caressing his calf and was gradually moving upward,
suddenly slipped between his thighs. Kwon Taekju ended up in Jenya's
grip. Jenya playfully jerked his flaccid penis, he seemed to be saying that
there is no need to be too disappointed.
" Do you know anything about it? The last princess of Russia, Anastasia.
There are still a lot of rumors about her fate. After all, the deaths of the royal
family are still shrouded in mystery, and their bodies were not properly
recovered. They were all shot in a cellar and then thrown into a mine? That
is the tragic story of it, or of the Romanov family, as it is widely known. Of
course, just because it is something
widely known does not necessarily mean that it is a clear fact. Uncertainty
always leads to the creation of "fakes". After Anastasia's death, many
women claimed to be her. Anna Anderson was one of them. Initially, she
was dismissed as a fraud trying to claim the royal family fortune. But
gradually evidence and testimonies began to emerge suggesting that she
might be the real princess. Guess, what was the outcome?"
Jenya paused as he spoke. When Kwon Taekju didn't respond, he grabbed
his penis and hummed as he waited for an answer from him.
"Agh! Damn it, what the hell would I know!".
He seemed to be amused by his aggressive reaction and continued to
smile. Then he calmly cupped Kwon Taekju's swollen scrotum, which had
become inflamed from his earlier pressure. The rounded balls were
squeezed and molded in his white hands.
Although his touch was different, softer now, there was no telling when his
attitude would change.
Jenya slid his hand further down Kwon Taekju's inner legs, his fingers
pressing into the space between his thighs, as he continued with his
explanation.
"For decades, the tedious legal battles continued. People were divided, and
so two camps emerged; those who believed in Anastasia's return and those
who didn't. Time passed and Anna Anderson died. Her life might have been
empty, but she left something behind. Over the course of many years, it
made countless people wonder if Anastasia could have really been alive."
What exactly was he trying to convey? It was hard to grasp what he really
meant by this story.
Jenya's gaze was fixed on Kwon's back.
The lines that descended from his broad shoulders to his slender waist were
well-defined. Even the slightest movement of Kwon
Taekju made the muscles of his damp, sweat-covered back ripple. His
buttocks, firmly attached to the base of his spine, exhibited smooth contours
that reminded him of a ripe fruit. His eyes, which had been silently
observing everything, were now filled with intense emotions.
He leaned forward, pressing his lips against the nape of Kwon Taekju's
neck. It was a different touch from the previous ones, soft and gentle. Kwon
Taekju's scent reached his nose, a subtle aroma. Unable to resist his
growing appetite, he nibbled lightly on his neck. Kwon Taekju grimaced and
moved his head to the side. With a chuckle, he whispered in his ear.
"Whichever way you look at it, you're no fair maiden, but I'm going to tell
you Koschéi's weakness."
Could he still be inside a dream? It was possible, especially considering
how seamlessly Jenya's narratives intertwined without any gaps, creating a
sense as if she were continuing a series of interconnected dreams.
However, his senses were too awake for that. Even Jenya's voice came
through clearly, with no sudden echoes or distortions. It was not a dream.
No doubt about it. Yet Jenya continued to utter enigmatic words, repeatedly
offering riddles whose meanings he did not know.
"In a vast land, there is a castle in which no one dwells. No one can reach it
by flying, riding, or walking, and no one can get there without first becoming
a fish, worm, or flying animal. Inside that castle stands a very large and
ancient tree, as old as Koschéi itself. To the south of the tree, there is a
large jewelry box, and inside that jewelry box, other smaller jewelry boxes
are said to be placed inside. Among these, there is one that no one bothers
to open. It is neither disproportionately large nor small compared to the
others. Maybe Koschéi's heart is inside, or maybe not. But if you were to
find it, the fate of Koschei's life would be in your hands. You could even
become Koschei yourself."
Jenya bent even lower. As he did so, his beefy chest made contact with
Kwon Taekju's shoulder blades. Their sweat-soaked bodies clung to each
other, overlapping their body heat. Annoyed, Kwon Taekju threw his
shoulders back.
"I've done enough. Get the fuck out."
It sounded almost like a growl. However, Jenya laughed as if it was a joke.
He slid his hand under Kwon Taekju's belly and grabbed his penis. He
slowly pulled back the foreskin and exposed the glans. He then gently
stroked the urethra with the tip of his finger.
Kwon Taekju's back arched, the forceful response he had been about to say
was abruptly suppressed.
His penis quivered in Jenya's grip, both from secret anticipation and
apprehension. As Jenya explored him, his lips traced down Kwon Taekju's
spine, finally reaching the nape of his neck. Continuing along the straight
spine, his lips brushed the skin with increasing pressure, and when his lips
reached that sensitive region of his ass, his body stiffened. Jenya nibbled
lightly on the firm buttocks before releasing them.
"I'd like to live up to your expectations."
Then Kwon Taekju's buttocks were pulled apart. The hole, covered with
semen, was now exposed, with nothing to hide its presence anymore.
Even the contact with the outside air made him shiver.
The semen that had been filling his stomach and overflowing from him slid
down to his entrance, almost filling the tight folds of the hole. With a slight
movement, some of the sperm slid down his perineum, making it tingle as it
passed over his sensitive skin, and the overwhelming sensation made Kwon
Taekju bury his head deep into the pillow.
Jenya takes the handmade cigar to his mouth again and slips a finger into
the hole. A thick stream of cum made its way around the finger. Keeping his
finger positioned vertically, he rubbed against the inner walls. The
accumulated semen, adhering to these, was expelled. Kwon Taekju's
perineum shuddered rapidly in
response.
Jenya, who had been inserting his fingers into the hole and poking around
inside, suddenly lifted Kwon Taekju's face. With his long fingers, he opened
his mouth and pressed against his tongue. He shared with him the
handmade cigar he had been puffing on.
Kwon Taekju, who could neither suck in nor spit out the handmade cigar,
suddenly let out a deep groan and clenched his fists. Curses filtered through
his tightly clenched teeth.
"Aggrh... ugh, fuck."
Jenya opened his asshole wide and licked his hole eagerly. The slippery
hole was sucked by his tongue. The unfamiliar stimulation made all his
senses sharpen and, as a result, the sensations intensified to the point
where every little thing felt stronger. Jenya continued, now tracing the folds
of his entrance with the tip of his tongue, then, pressing against the hole
and penetrating it shallowly, making Kwon Taekju squirm uncontrollably.
The cigarette he had barely held fell out of his mouth quite a while ago.
He was feeling a terrible pleasure that went beyond the tingling sensation,
which made Kwon
Taekju gritted his teeth and his legs tensed against the sheets beneath him.
Jenya grabbed Kwon Taekju's side as if to break it and held his body tightly,
immobilizing him as this other struggled to escape. As he trembled from the
intense pleasure coming from behind him, his lower abdomen was being
pressed against the bed, rubbing his penis. This caused his penis to
harden, his arousal intensifying rapidly.
Kwon Taekju felt himself going crazy. He felt as if his brain was being ripped
apart, making him experience a sensation of being raped in the deepest
parts of himself that he had never suffered before. The blood coursing
through his veins seemed to boil and become as thick as semen.
He struggled to stifle the moans that threatened to burst forth, and saliva
dripped from the corner of his lips, moistening the pillow.
As time went on, he did not become desensitized to stimulation, but became
even more sensitive.
As Jenya began to suck noisily and caress the delicate flesh around his
hole, the friction against his lower belly intensified.
Squirming from the continued stimulation at both ends, he suddenly felt his
head being pulled back as Jenya seemed to wrap his arms around him. In
the next instant, his back arched sharply, even his thighs tensed and
tightened.
Jenya lifted his head suddenly. He looked down at his hand, which was
stained with something. It was semen. He alternated between looking at his
now wet hand and the panting Kwon Taekju, as if surprised, and then
chuckled. Then, a smirk appeared on his face.
"Was it because I sucked your hole?".
Kwon Taekju mumbled a series of insults. He thought he could
counterattack at least once, but he couldn't even do that.That was it?
Seeing himself react as if on fire to even the slightest touch, whether soft or
hard, it was clear that he was under the influence of some kind of drug. At
first he thought it was a muscle relaxant, but now it was more like an
aphrodisiac. No doubt it had been Sergei's doing. Seeing how he had
wanted to grab and fuck him from the start, it seemed that the first part of
his plan had been just that, to get him hard.
Jenya laughed at Sergei, who was still lying on the floor, and spread Kwon
Taekju's legs even wider.
"Let's go one more time. Just from behind."
As soon as his words fell, Jenya's penis pushed against his inner walls,
stretching them. His dilated, slippery hole swallowed it all in one go.
He would never get used to the feeling of having her stomach filled in one
go as his spine contracted.
"Argh!"
Although he tried to hold back any kind of moans, a sound akin to a scream
escaped him. Once again, Jenya thrust deeply into him, his penis buried to
the base, and stared at the point where their bodies joined. His own penis,
greedily devoured by Kwon Taekju's throbbing hole, looked like a tiny living
organism. Its interior clung tightly to the surface of his erection, evoking a
subtle sucking sensation. He touched the area and could see how, from
color to texture, the point where their two distinct skins merged into one was
vividly depicted. Even this level of contact caused Kwon Taekju's back to
arch and a cry to escape him. He was usually more reserved, so each and
every one of these small reactions seemed interesting to Jenya.
He stretched his arms out to support his upper body. Below him, Kwon
Taekju merely spread his legs wider to receive Jenya. Perhaps he was
tired, for he did not react as strongly as before. Instead, he seemed to be
waiting for the terrible moment to pass quickly. It was then that it stopped
being funny.
Jenya, who had been enjoying the fit for a while, suddenly grabbed Kwon
Taekju by the back of the neck. His lower belly tightened even more. As his
hips pressed upward, the penetration deepened. When he pressed himself
against Kwon Taekju, he let out a grunt. It was then that he began to thrust
in earnest.
Jenya's cock rammed him again and again, hard enough to penetrate his
lower abdomen at any moment. Kwon Taekju shredded the bed sheets with
a furious grip, the pillows also falling to the floor.
Jenya's pupils dilated more and more.
Looking at the creature writhing helplessly beneath him, he was overcome
with an unfamiliar excitement. It was akin to the thrill of catching a slippery
tuna with bare hands, or the satisfying moment of slitting the throat of a
struggling deer trying to escape.
The heat that had spread from his core quickly shot up his spine and
exploded
ferociously in his head.
Soon, even Jenya felt himself relax, only frowning at how focused he was,
fixed on his single goal of mingling their bodies. The sound of friction
echoed in place from the rough contact between their skins, and the
accumulated whitish body fluids spread like spider silk across his buttocks
and pelvis. Precipitating like a storm, he ran his nose along Kwon Taekju's
neck and earlobe, exploring every inch. The intensified scent fanned his
carnal desires.
His squashed intestines made him feel like he was about to burst. Each
thrust of his penis turned his stomach, and the tingling and burning
sensation left him gasping for air. His fingers could only grip the sheets,
tearing them apart.
A crimson excitement consumed his mind. Jenya didn't bother to hide his
overflowing lust.
He nibbled Kwon Taekju's ears at will or buried his face in his sweaty hair
countless times. Struggling to free himself from the scorching heat, sweat
drenched his body and he felt shivers up and down his spine.
"If you want to leave this room on two legs, you better moan and wiggle
your ass or howl like a bitch in heat. When I see you acting like a whole
stubborn guy, I feel myself getting even hornier. I told you, I'm going to
crush this cute thing until I'm satisfied. After all, we can't waste the excuse
that you were drugged by Sergei and weren't in your right mind, can we?"
"Nonsense.... Ahh!"
A second scream erupts from the angry Kwon Taekju. Jenya had pressed
his hips against his lower half, making him involuntarily aroused.
Relentlessly, his penis full of protruding veins mercilessly rammed his hole
and plunged so deeply and intensely that it sometimes lost its trajectory and
ended up crashing against his buttocks. Like a hard, hot, unyielding iron
bar, it seemed it could easily pierce and leave at least one hole in his thigh.
With his urethra throbbing, his penis, previously frustrated at losing
direction, found its position and penetrated him in one swift movement. A
gurgling sound echoed from the junction of their bodies as his penis
plunged deep.
Kwon Taekju's eyes snapped open. For a brief instant, one corner of his
abdomen trembled intensely. Startled, he abruptly straightened his upper
body. However, Jenya suppressed the almost convulsive movement and
pressed his chest against Kwon Taekju's back. Their sweat-damp skin
adhered to each other's skin sticky. As a result, Jenya's penis ended up
sinking into more unknown places.
Holding on to Kwon Taekju's trembling hips, Jenya squeezed his cock.
Taekju, Jenya squeezed their bodies tighter. The penis that had been
stretching the tight hole suddenly found a previously untouched spot inside
her inner walls and pushed against it.
Right after, Kwon Taekju, who had been pinned down by Jenya, shuddered.
"Ah!"
Jenya was also surprised by the unexpected reaction. He gently lifted his
upper body that had been pressed against Kwon Taekju and looked toward
the back of his head.
Kwon Taekju had completely buried his head in the pillow. However, the
reddened neck and his earlobes could not be hidden. His body trembled
from the lingering, indescribable sensation he had just experienced, even
though Jenya's member was still firmly stuck in his ass.
Jenya's lips drew a slightly elongated curve. He soon withdrew his penis
from Kwon Taekju. As it suddenly disengaged from the inner walls that held
it tightly clenched, Kwon Taekju's body shuddered all over. The cells that
had been strained to the maximum suddenly relaxed, making him feel an
inexplicable emptiness. Even his previously tense shoulders seemed to
loosen.
Observing all these changes, Jenya spread Kwon Taekju's buttocks apart
and managed to open the swollen and battered hole. Jenya's penis,
impatient and eager to enter at any moment, rubbed and rubbed against his
hip bone.
With each bump against the warm flesh, Kwon Taekju buried the head
deeper. The hands holding the sheets also turned white.
As Jenva's hips moved deliberately, he held back
deliberately, he restrained himself with more patience. The lingering effects
of the intense stimulation continued to throb incessantly in Kwon Taekju.
"Come to think of it, there is one thing that has puzzled me for a long time?"
As if to hide the end of his sentence, Jenya suddenly inserted his penis.
Kwon Taekju's body, which had been trembling, stiffened.
Jenya's throbbing penis writhed as if savoring the sweet contact with the
delicate inner walls. Then, he thrust relentlessly on the spot that had
previously excited Kwon Taekju. Immediately afterwards, a subtle tension
ran down his spine.
"Agh...!"
Kwon Taekju was once again turned upside down. He writhed around not
knowing what to do and groaned helplessly. The sensation, like an electric
shock, seeped into every cell of his body. Just as the tense cells were about
to relax, Jenya abruptly withdrew his penis. The inside of his previously
swollen hole, suddenly felt empty.
As Kwon Taekju began to feel bewildered, Jenya rubbed his penis against
his hip bone again. His hot flesh was screaming for Jenya to quickly enter
him. His patience was wearing thin and he began to feel like he was on fire.
He tried to hold out a little longer, but the stiffness of his lower abdomen and
erection became unbearable after a while.
Jenya plunged his penis back into the quivering hole, pressing down on it
and thrusting his hips hard. The heat from the friction seemed to melt his
skin.
Choppy breaths came out involuntarily in a ragged stream. His lungs
burned, making his upper body feel like it was partially collapsing.
A grimace came over Jenya's face as he gripped his penis, which looked as
if it was ready to burst at any moment. The entirety of his groin area
area of his groin tightened as he thrust for penetration. His head was
spinning.
Nevertheless, he held out to the end. It was all for maximum pleasure.
The constant feeling of emptiness made the hole impatiently clench against
the tip of the glans that was barely inside. Kwon Taekju's penis was dripping
thick, slippery, saliva-like fluids.
"Can desire alone kill a person?"
Jenya exhaled a halting sigh as he muttered. He stared at the tip of his
penis, as if considering whether or not to pull it out. Even his own tongue
seemed to quiver with anticipation.
Kwon Taekju did not respond, and Jenya pressed his hips forward, trying to
penetrate deeper through his hole. The inner walls contracted around his
penis, enveloping it snugly. He resisted the temptation and pulled back.
Then, he repeated the same action a couple of times, making him shudder
in anticipation.
Unexpectedly, his body leaned toward Jenya. It was a purely instinctive
movement, and Jenya watched this scene with a surprised expression. It
was purely Kwon Taekju's instinct that he opened his body and immediately
devoured his penis, pushing it inside him all the way to the base. His hole
even tightened with what seemed like apparent satisfaction.
A smirk spread across Jenya's face. Kwon Taekju could only stand there
shaking with humiliation and self-loathing.
"Oh, agh..."
He gripped Kwon Taekju's hair tightly. His face, buried deep in the pillow,
was lifted. His contorted face was all flushed, it was a mixture of arrogance
and emotions.
His pupils had long since been clouded and confused from the aphrodisiac.
It was evident that he was feeling it completely when he saw his buttocks
pressed against him as he shuddered.
Jenya no longer resisted, voraciously pleasuring himself with Kwon Taekju's
hole that had been giving him frustration. The torrent of burning heat caused
his cock, red with arousal, to begin ramming him, bursting in and out of his
tight hole.
"Ah... Ah, ugh...!"
"Haah, mm, ugh...".
The moans of the two men mingled messily. Jenya relentlessly exerted
force his hips, and suddenly grabbed Kwon Taekju's shoulders and turned
him around. Kwon Taekju's body bent halfway, entangling with Jenya's. As
the lower parts of their now connected bodies moved rhythmically, Kwon
Taekju raised his head sharply, his legs now resting on Jenya's shoulders.
The penis embedded in his inner walls stirred inside him, giving him a
different stimulation, intensifying the pleasure. Jenya instinctively grabbed
Kwon Taekju's chest as he shuddered with pleasure.
The onslaught gradually increased in speed. His breathing also became
unsteady.
The moans, previously unrestrained, were now choppy in a pitiful tone.
Overwhelmed by the searing sensation that dominated their bodies, Kwon
Taekju's toes curled against his will.
Not knowing who came first, they both ejaculated with a roar of desire. The
thick semen splashed onto Kwon Taekju's chest. Simultaneously,
something pushed deep inside his inner walls.
Kwon Taekju was drenched in a feeling of extreme release, barely able to
hold his breath.
That alone made his whole body tremble. He could not muster the strength
to even move a finger, nor the energy to brush against the erect penis that
throbbed inside him with an intense vibration.
Jenya, thrust his hips hard a few more times, determined to ejaculate what
he had left.
Even after climaxing, his erect penis continued to have such overflowing
energy, burying itself inside him. The semen that no longer had room inside
him slid along his perineum.
After finishing, he nonchalantly pushed aside Kwon Taekju's legs that had
been dangling over his shoulders. The long legs fell limp.
Kwon Taekju was still motionless, only his breathing was proof that he was
alive.
He picked up the cigar lying on the sheet and lifted it to his mouth. The
pungent smoke drifted down his throat and warmed his insides. After
enjoying the cigar for a while, Jenya slowly scanned Kwon Taekju's body.
No matter how much he looked at him, his body was no different from many
men's, so why did he keep feeling extra excitement, wanting to tangle with
this guy? If he kept pondering, maybe the answer would come to him
naturally, resolving his doubts.
"It might be interesting to experiment if this act alone could kill someone.
Anyway, you're going to die here today."
As soon as he uttered those words, he already regretted it.
*****
They did it three more times after that. Or it could have been more, as Kwon
Taekju was on the verge of passing out during all that time, so there could
have been more besides the ones he counted.
Violating his body several times in a single night, he pondered whether,
after being fucked for three days and three nights in a row, a person could
really die from this or not. His blood and body fluids would dry up before he
starved to death. The effects of the injected drug had worn off and the
feeling of uncontrolled excitement was gone. All he had left to feel was deep
agony.
He raised his eyes as the bed moved. In his blurred vision, he saw Jenya
walking somewhere. He headed for the secret room behind the bed. It was
the same wall where the Bogdanov family photographs hung.
He stood in front of the frame and turned it to the side without hesitation. As
he did so, another door appeared behind it. With a familiar touch, he
entered a password. The door emitted a characteristic mechanical sound
and opened with ridiculous ease. Inside, glass vials containing unknown
substances could be seen carefully arranged. Jenya took one of them out
and returned to the bed.
"Do you know what this is?"
Jenya gently shook the small vial in his hand. There was no response. He
didn't even have the strength to move his lips. Jenya was unfazed by the
silence.
"It's polonium-210. A relic left behind by the failed 'Anastasia,' you might
say."
The mention of "polonium-210" made Kwon Taekju's eyes widen. Polonium-
210 was a substance that emitted thousands of times more alpha particles
than radium when fissioned. Only about 100 grams a year were produced in
the world, and its toxicity was so high that even tiny doses were lethal.
Jenya slowly raised Kwon Taekju's hand, lifting his fingers, one by one,
murmuring.
It sounded like he was humming.
"How should I do it, how about I start by cutting off your fingers? Your body
being found in Lake Baikal, not bad. Your frozen corpse will give your
partner something to work on. He's been trying to get in touch with you any
way he can, though I'm sure he's pretty pissed off that you beat him up."
A partner, who was he talking about? He couldn't think of anyone
appropriate for that description. However, the phrase "pretty angry that he
got beat up" made him think of someone. Could that person have been
Kwon Taekju's real partner?
Jenya didn't give Kwon Taekju much time to think. Before his eyes, as if
introducing him, he injected the "polonium-210" into the syringe. Pulling the
plunger, the cylinder filled with a clear liquid.
"By the way, do they hate you pretty much over there too? The so-called
National Intelligence Agency you work for accidentally sent you my picture
in the beginning? That shouldn't have happened."
It was disconcerting. In the tense situation with the threat of his imminent
death hanging over his head, too much information was coming at once.
The quickening of his heart was not only due to the anticipation of his death.
An ominous and unfamiliar intuition was sticking to his mind and he couldn't
shake it off. There was something that was eluding him - what was it?
Jenya tapped the syringe, getting rid of the air bubbles.
"Maybe you stumbled across some corruption from your superiors that they
didn't want anyone to know about."
He squeezed the plunger as he made a wild guess. The substance squirted
out of the sharp needle as Jenya lifted Kwon's arm up
Taekju's arm.
His whole body tensed. Was this how he was going to die? It couldn't be
like this. He couldn't die like this, not knowing what was happening or how.
But he had no strength left even to defend himself. The sharp point of the
needle seemed like it was going to touch him at any moment.
At that moment, Kwon Taekju, who had remained silent the whole time,
pushed Jenya's shoulder.
It was unclear where he had gotten such strength from. Jenya was
surprised by the sudden counterattack, but didn't think much of it.
He quickly subdued the struggling Kwon Taekju with a single movement.
Then, without hesitation, he plunged the needle into his neck.
"Ugh...!"
The sharp pain made Kwon Taekju's eyes pucker tightly. The needle had
pierced his skin so mercilessly that blood gushed from the punctured spot.
Even inside the syringe cylinder, crimson blood was spreading like ink. With
a smile on his face, Jenya pushed the plunger all the way in, injecting the
entire substance. The liquid that had been churning inside the syringe
flowed into Kwon Taekju's body.
In an instant, his head spun. His arms, which had been resisting Jenya, fell
limp.
His vision fragmented and then faded. Was this how it was going to end? A
distant, rhythmic sound, like a 'Click, click' of something opening and
closing, came to his numb ears. It was a sound he had heard somewhere
before. A cigar cutter.
From not far away, he was reached by a pleasant buzzing sound and his
ring finger was clamped at once. The click of the cigar cutter could be heard
closer and closer.
Soon, he felt a sharp pain radiating from his ring finger.
*"Stupid Zayka."
A deep chuckle echoed in his ears. The horrifying sensation of pain was
ascending from where it was presumably cutting into his ring finger.
What would happen now? Leaving behind a futile question, his
consciousness sank into a deep abyss.

*(edit: Zayka means “little bunny” in Russian and is an endearing pet name
used for children)
n/t: ate his ass and all, you really fixing to kill him? Ya'll this was so
goddamn long, took me the next day to translate this. BUT IT WAS SO
 WORTH ITTTT. This man Jhenya is toxic as fuck, my baby Kwon better get
his get back.
Can't wait to read the rest of Volume 2, next up is Counterattack.

6.1 Counterattack
A faint hum was heard. A shadow swaying to the rhythm fluttered over his
eyelids. Fingers were being cut off. One after another, limbs and torso were split
in half. The body, which was cut like a fish, quickly lost its body temperature. All
the blood circulating all over the body was pulled out, and only the bloodless
lump of meat washed in bleach was left. I didn't feel any pain. My mind was still
blank. I'm going to die now. Only vague thoughts stuck in my mind. My limbs
were frozen solid.
The strong smell of alcohol brushed the tip of my nose, and soon a distant dark
battle came.
All the holes in the body are filled with cold water. It smelled fishy. A black
snakehead appeared in the dark.
One, two, three..
They continued to flock, flashing their eyes.
Swirl around and search for thrown prey.
Then, when one of them rushed in, they began to eat the flesh that blew white
at once.
Black phosphorus glistened in the blurry vision. But I couldn't see my face or
hear my voice. As I approached to take a closer look, I backed away, I wanted
to maintain a certain distance.
The black figure circled around. Slowly at first, then so quickly that you can't
chase the movement. My eyes seemed to be spinning.
My breathing became rough. When the rotational force reached its peak, the
black figure was scattered in vain.
Don't forget your appointment with your father.
Asrai disappeared, and a certain sound was conveyed in the blisters. It wasn't a
human voice. I hurriedly turned my head to the side where I heard the sound,
but the scattered black figures did not reappear.
Is he completely out of breath? Is that why the spirit of the dead can be seen
and even the voice can be heard? Why does consciousness not evaporate and
still remain.
I was floating in a daze and a huge blister that suddenly occurred quickly
passed by. I turned around quickly. The blisters that had retreated quickly
formed a shape. It was more massive and barbarously dynamic than I had just
seen. It's him. As soon as I realized the identity of the figure, my body retreated
reflexively. The more he came closer, the bigger he became.
Don't come. Silent cries shake the space. The next moment, a huge figure hit
him in one breath. The whole body is sucked into the dense ink. I was
suffocated by a snap. The forgotten pain came alive. The joints and joints of the
whole body seemed to be cut off well. The skin, which had lost its flesh, was
unbearably hot. The black figure, which had eroded the body in an instant, soon
broke white and gave a cold sneer. a foolish Zakya.

*******

“…….!”

My eyelids opened wide. The dim view gradually became clear. My eyes were
all white. Was there a visual problem?
I closed my eyes and opened them again.
Nothing changed. Still white ceilings, the sound of a humidifier that is not
disturbing, the familiar smell of disinfectants, and the hard-backed texture of
bedding.
Putting together the gathered information, it seemed to be a hospital. There was
an IV needle stuck in the back of my hand. Two injections were also taken.
They even brought an oxygen tank just in case. It was clear that I died and
came back to life. How far is the illusion and where is the reality from? My head
couldn't remember anything clearly as if it had been washed away. It was
difficult to tell whether the afterimage left in my mind was real or not. What could
be certain was just before getting off the transverse train, when I tried to recall
the memories after that, my head ached as if it were going to break. I groaned
quietly, grasping the bandaged head. ©
"Are you up now?" a strange voice suddenly interrupted. I was startled and my
hand groped around my waist like a habit. But the guns that were supposed to
be there were gone.
©
Kwon Taek-ju, who confirmed his opponent, quickly lowered his guard. He was
also in bad condition. The cast, which began on the shoulder, was wound up to
the wrist. The exceptional lift of the head was due to the cast around the neck.
His eyes were black and blue and swollen. Gosh... lips dried up with
congestion. The head was bandaged, and the torn forehead and cheeks were
covered with bandages. Judging from the fact that he had crutches, his legs
seemed to be not good. At least 12 weeks of recovery seemed to be good
enough.
But somehow, the familiar face caught my eye. I thought it was an illusion, but I
couldn't get rid of a strong sense of vision. Before long, the identity of the man
came to mind. I could recognize it, but I didn't recognize it right away because
of the disastrous look. It was Psych Bogdanov. No, it was a man who I thought
was him. On the day of the hotel
attack, Kwon Taek-ju, disguised as a paramedic, chased him.
At that time, he was believed to be Psych Bogdanov. Now I know it's not, but
what the hell are you talking about? At least I wouldn't be close to him, seeing
that he was fierce from the bazooka without hesitation as soon as he faced
Jenya.
"Ah, it wouldn't have been possible. You must have been busy pulling out the
tail without recognizing my partner."
"..Partner?"
Kwon Taek-ju's brows were frowned upon.
The man had only come face to face with him.
I heard from Manager Lim that a partner was assigned at random. Considering
the attention of the people around him, the partner will approach him naturally,
and he will send the picture at the right time. Two images were sent the next
day. One was a picture of Jenya, and the other was a picture of the man in
front. Jenya talked to me at the right time, and I thought he was my colleague.
He was quite well-rounded, and he received help on the first day of his arrival,
so I didn't doubt him much. How can you be so mistaken if things get twisted?
The important picture was a crazy harmony created by the mistake of the
headquarters and the timing of encountering Jenya at that time, which forced
the unwanted partner to be attached. But there was still something confusing.
"Why didn't you identify yourself earlier?"
"Did you have time to reveal it? If you had time, why don't you tell me? How was
I supposed to approach you when you were stuck with Bogdanov? I tried to
explain by moving to a quiet place, but I almost stepped on the wild road that
way."
"Did you already forget that I held you in the water and beat you until you
passed out?" give a blatant sarcasm. Anger at Kwon Taek-ju often came out.
Why not. It was all because of Kwon Taek-ju himself that the man's appearance
was to that extent. I couldn't raise my head because I was embarrassed by
what I had done.
"It may sound like an excuse now, but I have this and that situation... Ha, what
an excuse.
I'm sorry I didn't recognize you. I apologize for that."
"I think you're being teased because you're so obedient."
"This is the only price I've been struggling with for days."
"Because I misunderstood you, comrade, I also passed the point of death
several times. If that doesn't comfort you, you can take a few hits right now."
He suddenly put out his left cheek. It wasn't empty talk. I was going to be
obedient if the man wanted to. The man clenched his fist as if he was choked
up. But he soon loosens his hands. He also said that it was ridiculous.
"I'd love to, but I'll let you off the hook. What do you mean like that?" The man
kicked his tongue disapprovingly.
Is it enough to arouse pity for him, who is nothing short of a return letter? Kwon
Taek-ju then raised his hand and groped his face and body. That alone gave
me a clear idea of my condition. The head was bandaged, just like the man, and
the band-aid was thick around the forehead, cheek, earlobe, neck, and
collarbone.
Just tossing and turning my body slightly
made my lower back very stiff. Come to think of it, what about my fingers?
Kwon Taek-ju, who was looking back on his memory, opened his hands. The
ring finger, which had felt severe pain, was bandaged. As expected, that's how
it happened.
"My finger...
"I heard it was broken."
I nodded and stared at the man stupidly.
"..What?"
"Is your ear also out of course?"
"It's broken. Is it your first time wearing a finger cast?"
"Didn't it get cut?"
"Is there any reason to get cut? You've watched too many mafia movies." He
shakes his head with an expression of absurdity.
Before losing consciousness, I received a strong shock from where my ring
finger was. I could definitely hear the clicking of the cigar cutter. I thought I'd get
my finger cut, but a simple fracture. In addition, all the fingers except for the ring
finger were fine. I couldn't believe it, so I turned my hand upside down.
"But Morgan's body had all ten fingers cut off, wasn't it?"
"Yes, but you're alive. He's dead. So you don't have to be upset that all your
fingers are stuck together."
Just as Jenya killed Morgan, Kwon Taek-ju thought he would do the same to
himself.
How on earth is he still alive?
"How did I get here?"
"You were abandoned on the riverside near Olkhon Island. Just in time, the
Bogdanovs
them found you. According to the doctor, if you were a little late, your heart
would have stopped."
Then yes, Jenya did not save Kwon Taek-ju himself. It was just that Kwon Taek-
ju himself was not interested in dying. The shot I had before I lost
consciousness came to mind.
When I felt my neck, I found a band-aid attached to the area. If it was
"Polonium-210" that really hit me at that time, I shouldn't be able to open my
eyes.
"I got polonium-210"
"Who said that?"
"That's what Jenya said..
"Jenya is that crazy guy? Yevgeny Visarionovich Bogdanov, I mean your best
friend." He sarcastically calls him my best friend.
"Jenya, Jenya....
."'I repeated his name several
times.
"How can you call such a guy by that nickname? Even his skin wouldn't call him
that." He kicks his tongue with a fed-up expression.
What do you mean best friend.. I was about to lose my temper, but I closed my
mouth again.
It was because there was something vaguely coming to mind.
From the beginning, he introduced himself as Jenya. Of course, I didn't think it
was his real name. That's why it's not a popular Russian name. So I thought it
was just an alias that he often uses. As arms trafficking is his main job, he
seems to be hiding his identity as a habit.
In some parts, he resembles Kwon Taek-ju himself, and he felt a sense of
kinship.
I also knew that "Pshih Bogdanov" was a notoriety made of reputation.
Nevertheless, I forgot that Psyche would have a real name.
The nickname of "Yevgeny" is "Jenya." While learning Russian, he was also
educated on ethnic composition, history, society, life, and culture. However, the
nickname was not given much thought.
At that time, Kwon Taek-ju himself did not know that he would come to Russia
or call the Russians by their nickname. What was he thinking when he told me
his nickname? He gave a hint to doubt my identity openly, and how much fun it
must have been to see an idiot who believed to be a colleague. How much he
flirted with me while I was climbing the wall upside down to complete the
mission, cycling in Siberia in the middle of winter, and passing through a dusty
vent.
Jenya's face, which was smiling like a devil, was glistening in my head. My
clenched fist shook.
"Jenyaaaa!" Condensed anger explodes. The man watching flinched his
shoulders. Kwon went wild with rage. The bandage on the head was half-
release, and the cluttering injection
knocked down the cradle to collapse. The pillows and blankets on the bed
slipped down to the floor. I don't often get angry, but I've held it in long enough.
"Calm down. You didn't even get the P of polonium-210 you were worried
about. It was just an anesthetic. Although it is said that the drug's effect was so
strong that it would not have been able to wake up to any kind of shock."
The man dissuaded Kwon Taek-ju with a look of embarrassment. Kwon Taek-ju
lowered his head and picked out a poor breath. The flowing bangs covered my
eyes, so I couldn't tell what my expression was like. After a long time, he
suddenly asked,
"Yevgeny, that bastard... what the hell is he doing?"
He raises his head. His sharp eyes were already sharper. The man shrugged
and said,
"FSB, you've heard of it, right?" Instead of answering, he nodded.
The FSB was Russia's federal security service.
During the former Soviet Union, "KGB," which was famous for its notoriety of
"once you enter, you can't come back alive," was the predecessor. They can
investigate various organizations without a warrant, and they often send spies
abroad or fake companies to collect the necessary information. They even enjoy
the privilege of not being monitored by other agencies. Officially, they carry out
counter-terrorism and counter-terrorism missions like the National Intelligence
Service, but unofficially, rumors abound say that they kidnap and assassinate
their main enemies.
2
In "FSB"? It was hasty, but I had a hunch close to conviction. If Jenya belonged
there, as he said, the government official was strictly a public official. It was
suspected that it was the national prestige of a country that entrusted public
affairs to such a crazy person.
©
Kwon Taek-ju's face suddenly turns sour. The man went on with his explanation
regardless. "There are two special forces under the FSB.
Spetzgurpa Alpha and Bimfel. Among them,
Spetzgurpa Alpha, commonly known as Alpha, is made up of top elite agents.
Most troops are stationed in Moscow. Although it is a unit, it is a group with
independence enough to have its own investigative power.
They are made up of five units, each consisting of a minimum of 150 to 250
troops.
The important thing is next. One of the five units has only one member."
The fact that only elite agents gathered 100 people was proof that the work was
difficult and complicated. But there's someone who handles the work that has to
be shared by that many people alone?
No way. As soon as he had ominous doubts, the man put a wedge in.
"That's who he is," he said with a grin. Is that possible? He would not have been
just talking nonsense to make fun of Kwon Taek-ju himself. In addition, it was
worth being called
"Psych Bogdanov" by everyone. However, it was still too out of common sense.
Did the Russian government or the "FSB" allow such manpower deployment?
The man removed Kwon's question with a simple question.
"Would you want to team up with him?"
No way. I didn't like Jenya from the start. If they hadn't sent the wrong picture
from the damn headquarters, I wouldn't have run into him. Even if I encountered
him unwantedly, I would have avoided him thoroughly by following my instinct.
I don't remember spending a day with him and sleeping comfortably.
On the day I entered the country disguised as Hiro Sakamoto, the reason why
Jenya saved me, the reason why I met him again at a hotel where I had a
luncheon with Russian representatives. He was on the phone with someone at
the time.
"No. I came, but I thought it would be boring.'
It sounded like an excuse. Maybe he was quenching his bitter opponent. A
working-level official from Gazprom, who I saw on his way to the bathroom, was
struggling with his cell phone. Did he say that no representative showed up at
the luncheon.
'Let's be clear about what we're talking about. If you're going to take care of it,
it's enough for the last time."
Jenya also said so.
In the end, he knew Kwon Taek-iu and saved Hiro Sakamoto because he was
the third son of the Bogdanov family. At the request of Gazprom's
representative father or brother, he came to the hotel to "clean up the mess,
and only reunited with Kwon Taek-ju himself on the spot. In other words, he
found something interesting unexpectedly after being pushed on his back.
Hiro Sakamoto takes a meaningful look at his picture. He would have seen that
it was not as unusual as he was a member of the "FSB." It was also because
Gazprom's agent did not show up at the luncheon that day. The puzzle, which
was rarely in sync, went back to its place. All the abnormal behavior that Jenya
often saw was explained.
As the bastard said, Kwon Taek-Joo himself was purely lucky. There have been
countless moments when his life was threatened by him.
Kwon Taek-ju, who was organizing his thoughts, suddenly breathes a long sigh.
The face facing the man with his head up has regained its original calmness.
"So, what's your name?"
"What's the point of making a statement
now?"
WIt's Kwon Taek-ju." I didn't care about the man's scolding and asked for a
handshake.
The man tapped Kwon Taek-joo's hand with a disapproving expression.
"Salman. Salman Basayev." As I tossed and turned a little to shake hands, the
muscles in my whole body screamed. Especially below the waist, it was
unbearably throbbing. As he grunted and furrowed his brow, Salman shook his
head.
What more should I say to a patient who has just woken up from near death? I
got up and then rested. Kwon Taek-joo made a puzzled expression.
"Are you gonna go?"
"Why don't you just go?"
"We need to plan how we will move from now on."
Salman could only feel disbelief. He finally blew up in pieces. How dare he
mention plans in that zombie state? Even if his condition were better, nothing
would change. Would you intend to strike again after barely escaping Psych
Bogdanov alive? Looks like the head injury could have left him in a state he
couldn’t think clearly about.
Salman could only feel disbelief. He finally blew up in pieces. How dare he
mention plans in that zombie state? Even if his condition were better, nothing
would change. Would you intend to strike again after barely escaping Psych
Bogdanov alive? Looks like the head injury could have left him in a state he
couldn't think clearly about.
Salman snapped his tongue.
"You still don't get it? This operation is a failure."
"Don't... it can't..
"You'il want to deny it. You want to make up for your mistakes, but we don't
have a chance.
Headquarters funding will run out after you pay your medical bills, and there will
be nothing left. So after receiving treatment, you're going back to your country."
I was about to protest, but Salman raised his hand like he wasn't going to listen
anymore, and then limped to the door. He opened the door and started going
out, but he stopped for a moment. Recalling something, he turned to Kwon
Taekju and drew a malicious smile.
"He must've liked your ass enough to leave that place hurt like that."
- What?
Before I could ask, the door closed. Kwon Taekju watched the door shut in
bewilderment. No doubt he heard a laugh mixed with jokes and moths. But what
did he mean by "that place"?
He paused, going over Salman's words. A sudden chill ran through his spine,
along with a wave of nausea, and just like that, memories he had tried to forget
quickly flooded him. He hit the bed with his fist. His mood didn't improve at all,
and a furious roar roared throughout the hospital.
"Crazy bastard, I'll kill you...."

n/t: Damn, not ole dude laughing at Kwon.

Thats why he got his ass whooped in the first place.
I don't have a schedule on when I update, I just translate on my own free time
for those who have been asking. I post at least once a week.
 6.2 Counterattack

"Why?"
Vladimir Vissariovich has questionable eyes.
The next owner of Gazprom visited the FSB headquarters early in the morning.
It was to meet blood relatives, whose face-to-face viewing was nothing short of
an annual event.
The main character, who used to live up to his name, was peacefully picking his
ears.
"I think someone is talking about me.
No matter what he said, he overheard it, and he started talking in a dull voice.
Vladimir rubbed his throbbing head. The ever-wrinkled brow furrowed even
further.

"My father is so disappointed."

"Only for a day or two."

He fumbles immaturely as if he knew he was being scolded. Moreover, he was

not wrong.

How many years has it been since Jenya had dealt with the accident? It will be
okay after puberty- it will be better when he becomes an adult. Someday he will
grow up, and I have been patient for decades with optimism. It didn't matter
what kind of scoundrel he was being outside, unless he dragged the matter into
the house. But Jenya had no bounds.

Vladimir clearly remembered the first time

Jenya laughed. It was a long time ago. There was a time when the white bird,
which the youngest loved, disappeared. It was a bird that was raised precious
by growing in an artificial growth environment in the garden.

Soon it was found in the background, the fur was sinned out and left naked.
Next to the bird, who stumbled helplessly and fell down, was Jenya, surrounded
by white feathers.

'Look at him, brother. You pretended to be elegant by yourself, but it's totally
unseemly.

He was less than ten years old. Jenya smiled brightly. As if it was really fun, as
if it was so fun, he can't stand it. If he finds anything of interest, he goes to great
lengths to destroy it.
Then, when it was completely ruined, he immediately turned to another place.

When Jenya's destructive instinct was expressed in humans, his father Visarion
made a decision. He sent him to the FSB and stuck him there. His violent
tendencies didn't matter as much as there. The problem is that sometimes jobs
aren't covered by jobs.
So was the case with this time. As Gazprom became the biggest beneficiary of
the Russia-Japan contract, dissatisfied forces emerged. I was worried that it
would harm even the VIPs on the Japanese side, as the obstruction of business
had never been boring before. That's why Vladimir asked his direct secretary to
meet a Japanese employee who entered the country a day earlier than the
visiting group.

It was not until I arrived at the hotel that I found out that the man I escorted was
bought by the disturbing forces. I immediately sent Jenya to the airport. It was a
mistake. Even if I couldn't help it once, I shouldn't have called Jenya to the
luncheon. That morning, everything happened because Visarion collapsed due
to a chronic disease.

I barely let him go because he was young and comfortable, but he was absent
from the luncheon and playing espionage with Korean intelligence agents. He
even leaked confidential information about "SS-29" because he openly showed
up to invite only major figures. That's all. There was an untimely gunfight and
hostage crisis at the party.
It made me dizzy to think about it again. A deep sigh escaped from Vladimir.
"The disturbance you made also embarrassed Bazim's position. The president
and ministers gathered together, so what did you do? What the hell are you
thinking? I was kidnapped by you that night and almost died..."
"Oh, come to think of it, how did you deal with him?"
" I heard that the Korean agent killed you and him while running away as
hostages."
Jenya burst into laughter. "Who takes who and who as hostages?" asks the
disgruntled Vladimir again.
Anyone who knew Jenya would not immediately believe such an obvious lie.
And yet he was just letting it slide. In Russia today, money is power, and power
is a corporate society. It was the Bogdanov family who proved it.
"Why didn't you remove the Korean agent immediately when you knew he was
a spy?"
Vladimir asked with a grain of salt.

Personally, I was also curious. Why did you keep him alive when you were able
to hunt freely for the first time in a long time. Even if Kwon Taek-ju, a spy, was
found as a dismembered body, no one would object.
Even in Korea, where he was dispatched, the issue would not be an issue. That
was the fate of spies, and the practice of intelligence agencies.
Jenya shrugged his shoulders in a casual way.
"I thought about it, but did he believe me too much? I thought it wouldn't be bad
if we played together."
"With such a light heart, so much noise...
"It's more fun to watch them struggling to survive, those guys. It's a waste to kill
him with a single knife. It's kind of lame."
"Yeah, let's say it is. I found out he was being treated at a small hospital in
Irkutsk. If you've played enough with him, you should clean it up. Why did you
keep him alive?"
"I didn't leave him alive in particular. If he had been discovered late, he would
have died."
"Anyway, he must have been breathing when you cut his hand. Isn't that your
way, to brand them and dismember them, finger or body, and throw them
away? Isn't that what you do?"
He smiles strangely at Vladimir, who is persistent.
"What the hell are you so worried about, a guy who's barely breathing, maybe
he'll fight back? Never mind. He won't be able to do anything cute like that."
He drew a line in the sand. Vladimir opened his mouth to say something more,
but closed it. What was done was done. There was no point in arguing now.
There may have been some leaks to the South Koreans, but their operation had
already been compromised.
They would have to be even more vigilant.
I'm here to tell you that, he said with a bored face. In truth, there were many
reasons she wanted to see him. As the eldest son of the Bogdanovs, he wanted
to admonish his three sons for being a nuisance to the family, but he had a real
purpose.
"Is 'Anastasia' finished yet?"
Jenya grinned at the direct question. His bent eyes showed signs of jeering. It
was this kind of relationship they had. Even if we meet for the first time in a long
time, we are more curious about the progress of our work than about each
other. There is nothing new.
Jenya didn't answer the question and twirled.

"Who's so curious about that? Father?

President? Or other big hands?"

Vladimir did not reply. Everyone in the cabin was paying attention. A 'second
Anastasia' to be created based on the failed Anastasia's
design.

A few months ago, North Korea and Russia agreed to destroy all evidence
related to the Anastasia study. The design drawings created by leading
weapons developers over the years were the first to be discarded. All officials
were slaughtered, weapons and designs under development were blown up. Of
course, only Bogdanov's family remained strong despite the brutal destruction
of evidence. It was the price to complete the disposal work and remain silent
forever.
Like the Bogdanov family, which was not purged, there was a rumor that the
design would remain somewhere. The Bogdanov clan remained silent.
Ironically, their unclear positions heightened external awe.
Vladimir was curious, too. Rather than the existence of a blueprint, whether it
can be reorganized to create the real Anastasia. Only one person, Jenya, knew
the answer. This is why the current Anastasia design exists in a form that can
be interpreted by him.
Whenever I had time, I asked Jenya when he would release the completed
Anastasia. Jenya took a reserved stance, saying he would think about it if he
felt like it. Vladimir reaffirmed Jenya's intention, recalling the conversation at the
time.
"Are you still not sure?"
"I thought maybe I'd play around with it after this is over "
"But?"
"Looking at it today, I think it's better to leave it unattended? It's quite
acceptable that everyone's fretting like a dog in need. Not too long ago, a guy
came running at me saying he was going to avenge his father. He doesn't know
that his limbs are being ripped off one by one, and he barks at the rest of his
neck to kill him... I wish you had seen it."
Vladimir turned away from Jenya, who was genuinely amused. With a sigh,
press down on the throbbing temples.
" Is that why you killed Hong Yeowook?"
Jenya didn't reply. There was nothing but a vague smile. Beyond the cheerful
expression, his gaze was extreme. For some reason, I felt like my clothes were
being peeled off one by one. The appearance surrounding a man named
Vladimir seems to be revealed in detail. It was unpleasant.
Vladimir stroked my collar in a show of affection. Jenya, who was sitting on the
sidelines, suddenly regretted it, and asked
"Are you sure?"
"Sure about what?"
"Do you regret sending me there?"
It was a meaningful question, but it was answered without difficulty.
"I regret trusting you. I regret being so optimistic that you would just do what
you were told. I regret that, and you."
Despite the family's disappointment and frustration, there was still laughter.
"Don't regret it, and don't drool over it. Now its mine. I don't intend to use it for
other people's success. Keep it until you're tired of it and break it with my own
hands. So stop pouting your minnows. Until now, I've been tolerating you out of
brotherly love, but if you keep this up, I'm going to lose it."

Vladimir stared at Jenya wordlessly. An impassive glance passed between the

two brothers. A stony silence followed.
How much time had passed? Vladimir's cell phone rang. It was followed by
another vibration from somewhere else. As Vladimir casually picked up the
phone, he paused and looked at his son-in-law. Soon, Jenya's shaking cell
phone came into his field of vision. An ominous premonition flashed through his
mind. His eyes locked on it and he pressed the call button. Like a lie, both
phones went silent at the same time.
Convinced, Vladimir walked over to Zegna's desk and grabbed his cell phone.
The untouched phone was connected to a call. The caller ID on the screen was
the same as mine. A
"Are you spying on your family now?"
It was ridiculous. Jenya made no excuses. He just got up from his seat and
opened the door calmly.

"Go ahead."

Vladimir left the office with a threat that he would sue if he did not stop hacking.
The door closed as soon as he went out.
As the noise faded, I felt a sense of peace. I go to the window and watch
Vladimir climb into his car with a grunt. The playful laughter quickly fades.
I slowly turn around and look around the empty office. The clock on the wall tells
me it's still morning.
"Boring, boring."
I mutter to myself, time seeming to slow down strangely.

n/t: So short but we get a POV of Jenya with his brother.

Art credits to moolhae on twitter.