God of Blackfield

Yoo Hye-Sook, who woke up late, came out with Cha Min-Jeong looking embarrassed.

Kang Dae-Kyung was under a truck, wearing work clothes he had gotten from somewhere.

“Honey.”

“Hm? You’re up? Just a second.”

Kang Dae-Kyung crawled out on the floor, his face smeared with oil residue.

“What are you doing?”

“Donating my skills. Why should I waste my time resting around?”

Yoo Hye-Sook looked at him pitifully, but Kang Dae-Kyung smiled.

“I noticed that all the cars here have carbureted engines. You know I’m good with cars. I thought it would perform much better with a little tinkering, so….”

Kang Dae-Kyung looked at Yoo Hye-Sook. “That’s a misunderstanding.”

“Hm?”

“I was talking to Director Kang, and he said this is important. That’s why I’m doing this.”

Yoo Hye-Sook wiped her red eyes and looked at Kang Dae-Kyung.

“Don’t be like that. We’re still young. We can’t play around and depend on our son yet.” Kang Dae-Kyung wiped his nose with his glove. He then said, “Weirdly, I feel at ease here. I feel like whatever was weighing on my heart has disappeared.”

“You feel that way too? Honey, I haven’t slept this well in a long time.”

“That’s strange. I also slept quite well. Doesn’t this place feel strangely relaxing?”

Yoo Hye-Sook nodded sincerely. “It does. Should I help out in the kitchen, then?”

Kang Dae-Kyung looked at her with concern. “Will you be okay?”

Just then, Kang Chul-Gyu and Kim Tae-Jin came out of the barracks.

“How was your night?”

“I’m sorry. I slept in.”

Everyone laughed at her abashed expression.

“You must be hungry.”

“I’m okay. Miss Min-Jeong prepared some soup for me.”

“I see. Well, I was just about to take a look around. Would you like to join me?” Kang Chul-Gyu offered.

Since Yoo Hye-Sook looked awkward, Kang Dae-Kyung took off his gloves and joined them.

First, they stopped by the cafeteria and the warehouse. Afterward, they went up to the sentry post above the barracks near the main gate and looked around the whole place. From where they were, they could see Yang Dong-Sik standing on top of the scaffolding, pulling up a long pipe from below with no safety harness.

“Hey! You son of a…” Yang Dong-Sik, who had been shouting, shut his mouth when Kang Chul-Gyu shook his head.

The wind ruffled Kang Chul-Gyu’s hair as he looked at Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook before running to the site.

Kang Dae-Kyung tilted his head. The way Kang Chul-Gyu scanned his surroundings from above the barracks seemed familiar.

‘Where have I seen that before? I’m sure I haven’t met him.’

Something about his eyes and expression tickled Kang Dae-Kyung’s heart.

“Hey! You son of a… dog! Do your work properly! You little mother clucking hen…!” Yang Dong-Sik yelled.

His strange words made everyone burst out laughing and distracted Kang Dae-Kyung.

***

As they left the Blue House, Go Gun-Woo suddenly asked, “Assistant Director Kang, do you have time for a bowl of naengmyeon?”

“Sure,” Kang Chan replied. He could eat a bowl of naengmyeon even if he wasn’t too hungry.

Go Gun-Woo informed the agent who was driving where the restaurant was.

The agents spoke to the rest of the convoy through a radio. Soon, the van in front of them turned, and the cars and vans behind it followed suit.

“I visited the counter-terrorism team’s barracks.” Go Gun-Woo looked at Kang Chan as he added, “I listened to them chant their motto.”

Kang Chan wondered what Go Gun-Woo, who had probably only ever fought with the pen his entire life, felt when he heard their motto.

“Our agents couldn’t have shown me their will and determination any clearer.”

The restaurant was not too far from the Blue House. Soon, the agents got out of the car and checked the entrance and the inside. It was still early spring for this summer meal, and it was in the middle of the afternoon, so the establishment was quiet.

“Manager Kim, have the agents take turns standing guard so they can eat.”

“Copy.”

Inside, they found a table and chairs in the center and a room to the right.

Kang Chan and Go Gun-Woo entered the room first. Kim Hyung-Jung issued orders to the agents before following suit.

“This place makes delicious hoe naengmyeon,” Go Gun-Woo commented.

“I’ll go with that, then.”

“I’ll have the same.”

As Go Gun-Woo suggested, the three ordered hoe naengmyeon. Afterward, they poured the soup from the kettle, which a waiter had left, and took a sip each.

Go Gun-Woo seemed like he had something to say, but he stayed silent.

The atmosphere was still awkward.

Go Gun-Woo took off his glasses and set them to the side, rubbing his temples. He was understandably tired.

“It has been exactly sixteen years since I first came to this restaurant,” Go Gun-Woo said as he lowered his hand. “I used to pass by this place on the way to and from work….”

There was no way a former prime minister couldn’t eat at this establishment because he couldn’t afford a bowl. He couldn’t possibly be afraid of paying the bill for all the times he had eaten here on credit either.

Go Gun-Woo added seasoning, sugar, vinegar, and mustard to the three bowls in front of him. He then poured a bit of the cold broth into them.

“It’s quite flavorful when eaten like this. Anyway, let’s eat.”

Their group began eating their hoe naengmyeon.

They were served enough portions that they had to hold the bowl with both hands.

Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung finished almost at the same time, while Go Gun-Woo still hadn’t even eaten half of his yet.

“Pour some of the hot broth into the seasoning, and you’ll create another delicacy.”

With a recommendation like that, how could they refuse?

Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung poured the soup over the remaining seasoning and drank it.

Dang! This is good!

The spicy broth was so good that Kang Chan laughed in disbelief. Soon, he set down the bowl, satisfied.

“I still find it hard to shake off my principles.” Go Gun-Woo put down his chopsticks in front of his half-eaten bowl of naengmyeon.

“It was at this restaurant. I was eating lunch with a civil petitioner when someone came in and splashed soup on my face. He asked how I could be bribed with such a small meal.”

The story made the naengmyeon in Kang Chan’s stomach turn.

Surely Go Gun-Woo wasn’t just saying this because he wanted him to suffer from indigestion.

Kang Chan looked Go Gun-Woo directly in the eyes.

“That person was mad at me because of something I was spearheading at the time. I think that’s when I began to stick closer to the rules.”

People really were different. Kang Chan thought Go Gun-Woo could have just stood up and smacked that rude person with a bowl or a kettle. How could he spend sixteen years after that incident afraid to stray from principles?

“Assistant Director Kang.”

“Sir.”

“From now on, I will lead the NIS with the determination to be splashed with soup every day. That is what this naengmyeon means to me.”

Go Gun-Woo looked at Kang Chan and Kim Hyung-Jung.

“I will do my best to make the NIS second to none in the world, so please continue to help me.”

“Yes, sir,” Kang Chan replied.

If it were up to him, though, he would much rather break the wrist of the person throwing soup at him than get splashed every day.

***

After lunch, Yoo Hye-Sook began to work in the kitchen.

Just as Assistant Manager Kim helped Kang Dae-Kyung, Cha Min-Jeong readily helped Yoo Hye-Sook.

“Mrs. Yoo, if you do this, we won’t be able to face the assistant director,” Nam Il-Gyu pleaded.

“It’s fine. He’d be glad to know I can help in this way,” Yoo Hye-Sook firmly replied.

“Please at least let yourself rest until you’ve recovered from your travels before helping us,” Kim Tae-Jin insisted.

“I slept well this morning, so I already feel refreshed. I’ll rest when I’m tired. Thank you for your concern, though.” she answered politely.

When it came time for dinner, Kang Chul-Gyu, Kang Dae-Kyung, Kim Tae-Jin, and Nam Il-Gyu walked into the kitchen.

“Come on in!” Yoo Hye-Sook greeted them all with a bright face.

Whatever she was cooking smelled delicious.

Starting with Kang Chul-Gyu, they put rice in their bowls and sat down.

The food was so good that, after taking his first bite, Nam Il-Gyu looked toward the kitchen. “This is delicious!”

“Shouldn’t we try to stop her?” Kim Tae-Jin asked, still concerned.

“She told me earlier today that she’s felt more at ease since we got here. This is how she expresses her desire to stay here longer,” Kang Dae-Kyung replied.

That night, everyone had a delicious and happy dinner.

Jokes were passed around, and laughter erupted around the table.

***

After his meal with Go Gun-Woo and Kim Hyung-Jung, Kang Chan visited the Jeungpyeong special forces team with Seok Kang-Ho, Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee. The soldiers were happy to see them.

They told him that Park Chul-Su had come to visit, but they unfortunately missed each other.

“Would you like some coffee?” Kwak Cheol-Ho asked.

“Doesn’t that go without saying?” Seok Kang-Ho joked.

As the others lit a fire in a barrel, which had been cut in half, Kwak Cheol-Ho brought out a tray with paper cups on it.

“Here’s the coffee!”

When drank outside, instant coffee strangely had a different taste.

Kang Chan took out a cigarette. Everyone else also began to smoke.

The sun had long since set over the mountains, but the sky was still quite bright.

Kang Chan was pleased to see the men. They reminded him of the battles they had endured together. He couldn’t be happier to be with them.

“Are you heading back now?” Cha Dong-Gyun asked.

“Yeah,” Kang Chan replied. He then added, “There’s going to be an operation soon.”

“Will you be going as well?”

Kang Chan nodded.

Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho couldn’t hide their smiles.

“The operation will be dangerous.”

“Understood.”

Kang Chan chuckled.

An international special forces team.

What better way to prove that they were one than to have a glint in their eyes and a smile on their faces when leaving for an operation? Especially one that was dangerous.

One would only expect to see such an expression from a team that had been through horrific, grueling combat over and over again.

“We’ll be deployed for it soon. I don’t know how many are going, though. It might only require four people, but it could need everyone here.”

Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho focused on his words as if listening to a strategy plan.

“Don’t let the men know yet. I’ll update you once we’ve gotten more information. Take care of yourselves.”

“Don’t worry, sir,” Cha Dong-Gyun replied.

“Let’s have another cigarette before leaving.”

“Sure.”

Seok Kang-Ho pulled out another cigarette and offered it to Kang Chan. He then flicked the lighter on.

Click.

***

Go Gun-Woo’s Office, National Intelligence Service headquarters.

“Where is the assistant director?” Go Gun-Woo asked.

“I heard he went to Jeungpyeong,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.

The two were sitting in an adjoining conference room, where they wouldn’t have to worry about being eavesdropped on.

“Manager Kim, are you sure about this report? This could be even more cruel than death.”

“I’ve checked it myself three times.”

“Hmm.”

Go Gun-Woo’s gaze was glued to the papers.

For a moment, silence filled the room, punctuated only by the sound of him flipping through the documents.

“Director Jeon Sang-Woo has many followers and connections. The fallout won’t be pretty, and since we’re launching a preemptive strike against the UIS, the arrow could easily be deflected toward Assistant Director Kang Chan.”

“I’ve taken that into consideration, Director,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied heavily. “Even so, Director Jeon has crossed the line by giving over intel about our operations in Libya to the opposing lawmakers so they could start an internal federal investigation.”

Go Gun-Woo looked at the documents again.

“If these five people go out of office, how much damage will we have to deal with?”

“The Foreign Affairs Division would be shaken from the roots.”

Go Gun-Woo tilted his head.

“The International Energy Conference is just around the corner. What if we delay this a bit longer?”

“Director, that risks allowing the UIS attack to be leaked beforehand. Director Jeon Sang-Woo had no access to classified information related to Abibu, yet he still managed to give that intel to a reporter.”

Go Gun-Woo rubbed his forehead as his expression turned grim. “Are you implying that besides these five, they also had someone handing them classified information?”

“I think Director Jeon simply actively checked for secrets that were not related to his work.”

Go Gun-Woo narrowed his eyes at Kim Hyung-Jung. “Is our information management that lax?”

“Directors can access it.”

“Don’t we have a record of the people who opened the documents?”

“When I checked it, I found out that he had summoned an employee from the investigation room to his office. The computerized data showed that Abibu was injured during his arrest, which is probably how he found out about it.”

Go Gun-Woo sighed again.

Factions were the problem.

Jeon Sang-Woo had created a party, managed those under him, and gathered the necessary materials while forming connections with the opposing party’s politicians and reporters by providing them with information.

“This is a shame for the agents who died serving our country.”

Go Gun-Woo nodded.

“Arrest them, and proceed as planned,” he then ordered.

“Understood,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.

“Manager Kim,” Go Gun-Woo called. “Is there anything you expect from me as the director of the NIS? Or are there any qualities I should have?”

The question came out of the blue. However, Kim Hyung-Jung thought this was simply Go Gun-Woo trying his best.

“Director, if it’s alright, please speak more informally toward me and the other employees.”

“Informally?”

“Just give us a chance to get to know you a little better. Outside formal settings, please be more relaxed with the counter-terrorism team agents…”

“You’d like me to be more comfortable with you as well?”

“Yes, sir.”

“That’s difficult.”

Kim Hyung-Jung didn’t know what to say.

***

After leaving the NIS, Kim Hyung-Jung immediately went to the office in Samseong-Dong.

On the road, he called a number. The recipient immediately picked up.

“Gather all the special agents and have them stand by until I arrive,” he ordered.

All he had to do now was meet up with the agents in Samseong-Dong and arrest Foreign Affairs Division Director Jeon Sang-Woo and the five NIS employees who had collaborated with him on the leak.

There was no end to their tasks.

They had just dealt with multiple terrorist attacks, yet now they had to bring down someone who had leaked classified information.

Kim Hyung-Jung looked at the driver’s seat.

Without a moment’s rest, he had searched for plots of lands to connect the Eurasian Rail to, met up with Kang Chan, and had now come all the way here.

With darkness settling in, lights began to fill the streets, each vying for attention.

Kim Hyung-Jung looked out the car window.

He could see the dark sky above the rows and rows of buildings.

‘Director Hwang, Director Song, are you watching?’

He was human. He got tired just like everyone else.

However, whenever he did, he recalled his horrific experiences in Mongolia. These days, he also thought of Hwang Ki-Hyun and Song Chang-Wook.

Then, out of habit, he would think of Kang Chan.

Kim Hyung-Jung secretly smirked like Kang Chan. He had been practicing, but he couldn’t get it down.

It was rush hour.

The roads were blocked, so the car couldn’t move fast enough.

He felt rushed, but there was nothing he could do about this.