Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Rakgwi
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The yacht cruised leisurely across the West Sea.
At the front of the yacht was the pilothouse where the ship was steered. The deck for enjoying the party was at the rear.
Going up to the second level from the deck led to a narrower auxiliary deck. The stairs to the second level were only inside the ship, with none on the outside.
The pilothouse was on the second level.
At the stern was a staircase leading down to a lower level.
The space below those stairs was extremely cramped. There was no way to enter the ship's interior from there.
It was a spot meant for couples to cuddle up and gaze at the ocean.
A motor-powered inflatable speedboat latched onto the side of the slowly drifting ship. Masked figures rode aboard the boat.
The stern had propellers, making it too low and dangerous for the speedboat to approach. Everywhere else was too high to climb directly up to the deck.
The speedboat moved to the front of the ship. That area was even higher than the deck level.
All the men on this boat were pirates. They usually operated in Southeast Asia.
The pirate boss's nickname was Rakgwi. He was called that because he killed people by dropping them from ships into the sea.
Rakgwi was Chinese but spoke Korean fluently.
The West Sea wasn't his usual stomping grounds. But for enough money, he didn't care whose territorial waters he was in.
Rakgwi flashed his flashlight.
A rope ladder unrolled down from the ship above. His men tied the speedboat to the ladder.
Rakgwi barked orders at his subordinates.
"It's cramped. Hurry up and climb."
The pirates scaled the rope ladder onto the ship.
The first ones up drew pistols and scanned the surroundings warily.
Rakgwi boarded leisurely.
A pirate disguised as a catering company kitchen staffer waited there. He had lowered the emergency ladder just moments ago, avoiding people's eyes.
Rakgwi asked,
"Situation?"
"Most of the guests are at the rear deck party area."
"Armed security?"
"The target's hired bodyguards are on board, but this is Korea—no guns."
Rakgwi thought the same.
"Bodyguards at best have batons. What about the crew?"
"Most are working the party area. The rest are in the pilothouse and engine room."
"As expected. Anything else?"
"A few catering company cooks in the galley."
Rakgwi smirked.
"Cooks? Whatever. We'll secure the galley later."
They didn't have manpower to spare. Priorities mattered. First up: the pilothouse, where they could steer the ship and access the radio.
The boss gestured toward the front.
"Pilothouse first."
The yacht's engines suddenly cut out while cruising the sea.
The guests paid it no mind. As long as it eventually returned to Incheon Port, direction didn't matter.
Party host Scarlett was different. She asked,
"Did our ship plan to stop in the ocean? What's the event?"
Jessica replied with a stiff expression.
"No. No such event."
Jessica pulled out her smartphone. The call failed. She checked the antenna bars.
"No signal."
"We're far from Incheon."
Jessica stayed cautious. She took an emergency radio from her handbag. It couldn't do long-range, but it could reach the ship's staff.
"Everyone, stay alert. The ship wasn't supposed to stop in the middle of the ocean. Someone check the pilothouse...
Suddenly, gunfire rang out from the pilothouse.
Jessica grabbed Scarlett and bolted to the rear of the deck the moment she heard it.
At the very back of that deck was a staircase leading below.
Those who realized it was gunfire retreated to the deck's rear, away from the pilothouse.
Suddenly, masked men appeared on the narrow second-level deck. All held pistols.
Pirate boss Rakgwi raised his pistol and shouted at the crowd,
"Everyone, get on your...
A bodyguard on the deck fired quickly up to the second level.
The pirate next to Rakgwi crumpled, shot.
"Argh!"
Rakgwi dropped low in shock.
"Fuck! You said the bodyguards wouldn't have guns!"
The first infiltrator pirate stammered in panic,
"I-I don't know how...
Rakgwi judged fast.
"This is Korean waters. At most a couple have guns."
Rakgwi recalled where the shots came from. He pointed in two directions, then yelled,
"Two guys with guns! Take them out first!"
Rakgwi signaled again. The Southeast Asian pirates rose almost in sync.
But no armed bodyguards were where Rakgwi pointed. The pirates faltered.
"Huh? Not there?"
Rakgwi pointed to the deck's rear and shouted,
"Back there! Those two! Fire!"
The pirates pulled triggers instantly. Bullets poured like rain toward the rear.
The armed bodyguards had retreated sternward after shooting the pirates. Their charge, Scarlett, was already below.
But enemy bullets flew before they could descend the stairs.
One bodyguard jumped straight down.
The other was unlucky. Rakgwi's shot hit his shoulder.
"Argh!"
The wounded bodyguard tumbled down the stairs.
Screams erupted. Those left on deck, unable to flee below, froze in terror.
"Aaaah!"
"H-Help!"
Firing stopped. The two bodyguards were gone from the deck.
Pirate boss Rakgwi fired a few shots into the deck, then bellowed,
"Shut up! I'll shoot anyone who screams!"
The terrified crowd forced their mouths shut.
Few partygoers had fled to the stern space. Most stayed on the upper deck.
Na Gang-in was packing special desserts for Lee Min-ji into a box in the galley.
"This should be plenty for Min-ji and her friends...
Gunfire suddenly erupted.
He checked the galley first.
The cooks hadn't distinguished the gunshots from the engine's odd noise. One said,
"Engine trouble?"
"Seems like it. No engine sound at all."
Na Gang-in asked quietly,
"No enemy soldiers among you guys?"
Na Gang-in set down the dessert box and pulled out his smartphone. Out-of-service area.
"Checking the time on my watch. Curious what hour it is."
"Don't argue."
Gunfire rang out again. This time, from the armed bodyguards.
Na Gang-in turned to the cooks.
They finally realized it was gunfire.
"Huh? What? Coast Guard shooting?"
"Ship not heading north, right?"
"Hey, where's the part-timer? Go check!"
"He went to the bathroom earlier."
"That bastard ditched us! Who bails at a time like this!"
Na Gang-in gleaned more info.
"Enemy disguised as part-timer infiltrated, then something."
Rakgwi's subordinate had played that role.
Rapid gunfire followed. Pirates unleashing on the bodyguards.
Na Gang-in said,
"Multiple enemies. Part-timer dropped the emergency ladder to haul them up."
Na Gang-in scanned around.
No guns in the galley, but plenty of knives.
Scarlett Kelly, Omega Tech's president and research director, said with a shocked face from the cramped stern space below the deck.
"Our bodyguards have guns! This is Korea—why guns?"
Both the jumped-down bodyguard and the tumbled one each clutched a pistol.
Jessica explained,
"Korean government authorized their armament. After the Jackal near-kidnapping, U.S. government requested it."
"Why didn't I know?"
"Just precaution. Didn't want to ruin your party mood over it."
Scarlett looked up. Deck invisible, but Rakgwi's shouts clear.
Scarlett said,
"Even with prep, useless. We're just two; they're tons...
The shoulder-shot bodyguard gasped, bleeding.
"Urgh..."
Panicked Scarlett yelled at the huddled escapees,
"He'll die! Any doctors, nurses? Even medics!"
Pirate boss Rakgwi asked the first infiltrator.
"Korea, and bodyguards have guns?"
"Yeah, I don...
Rakgwi aimed at him.
"You bastard. This your prep? Want to be sea food?"
"S-Spare me!"
"Damn. U.S. government meddled?"
Another pirate reported,
"Radio jamming secured from pilothouse. No way for them to contact outside now."
"What if bodyguards have radios?"
"Middle of ocean. Handheld short-range won't reach land."
Rakgwi exploded.
"They have guns! Common sense out the window! How sure no radios?!"
The pirate flinched.
"S-Sorry. My thinking was short."
"Get to pilothouse, sail now."
"Huh? Plan was finish here, escape by speedboat..."
"Target secure delayed. Plans change. Now we take this ship. Handle business en route."
* * *
The armed bodyguard said,
"Reporting situation via radio."
Scarlett asked,
"Middle of ocean—will it connect?"
The bodyguard pulled a radio from his wounded partner's belt back. Bloodied.
"Considering sea voyage, brought long-range radio."
"Contact now! Send fighters, warships—everything!"
The bodyguard reported the yacht's status. But the radio cut after brief transmission.
He said, flustered,
"Seems impact from deck fall broke it."
* * *
Transmission was short, but confirmed pirate takeover. News hit U.S. Embassy and Korean police fast.
Police ops room went on high alert.
"Coast Guard ships where?"
"30 minutes out."
"Send them now! Full speed!"
"Roger. But issue..."
"What?"
"Yacht huge, enemies armed with guns, many hostages. Small ships can't block. Bigger than yacht..."
"Where?!"
"One hour out."
Ops chief slammed the table.
"Damn! Navy?"
"Farther than us."
"Insane."
Another cop suggested,
"Chief. Air Force could..."
"Fighters do what? Sink it?"
"No."
New report.
"Radar check: Yacht accelerating. Heading..."
"Where?"
"China!"
"Stop it! Whatever it takes!"