Chapter 107
Chapter 107
Four burly men with large backpacks entered the arrival hall of Incheon International Airport.
Two were white, one was Black, and one was of Latin American descent. All were muscular and looked as if they had just returned from the jungle, exuding a rough aura that inevitably drew attention.
They were Mark Freeman, Alexander Figueroa, Ricardo Hart, and Lawrence Bird, mercenaries from FEROX in France.
Mark Freeman, the largest of the men, muttered as soon as he exited the gate with a view of the road.
"Everyone comfortable?"
Alexander Figueroa sighed at the question.
"Mark, I know MH Future Security offered a fortune, but isn't this a bit much?"
"Yeah. Honestly, a million euros per person per year... it's too much, makes me suspicious."
At most, two or three years from now? They were all around their forties, nearing retirement age as mercenaries or bodyguards.
Of course, the salary was tempting, but it also meant there could be demanding or difficult conditions attached, so they had to be cautious.
Mark Freeman shared their concerns.
"Let's just go to the company and have a meeting. We have nothing to lose right now. The company recommended it too. Well, it's all about the money, though."
It was because of the transfer fee and salary budget of a whopping 4 million euros.
It wasn't bad for the company or those nearing retirement.
"Everyone knows the address, right?"
"Are we going straight there?"
"If it's not going to work out, let's finish it quickly and go sightseeing before we go back."
They weren't planning to sign a contract just for the money. As veterans in the mercenary market and at FEROX, they wanted to avoid clients who would abuse their power.
Due to their large size, the four men split into two taxis. Their destination was the MH Group headquarters, where MH Future Security was located.
They arrived after driving for a little over an hour and a half.
Their appearance also drew attention in the lobby of the MH Group headquarters.
"Excuse me. I'm Mark Freeman from FEROX. I have an appointment with Baek Shin-woo, the CEO of MH Future Security, today."
The receptionist hesitated for a moment at the question asked in English, then checked the schedule she had received in advance.
"Ah, Mr. Freeman. I'll contact him right away."
"Thank you."
Soon, Lillian got off the elevator and approached them.
"I'm Lillian Foster, the head of MH Future Security. You must be the people from FEROX?"
"...Nice to meet you. I'm Mark Freeman, and these are my colleagues you requested. Are you American?"
Lillian had just spoken in English. Her accent was so similar to a native speaker that Mark Freeman, who had lived in France for a long time, felt a little happy.
"I'm from Bozeman, Montana."
"A good place. I'm from Casper, Wyoming."
"Right next door."
Lillian shook hands with him and led the way. However, they were heading to the fourth basement floor, not the 32nd floor where MH Future Security was located.
"Is Baek Shin-woo here?"
"He also serves as the head of KITE, so he often comes to check on training."
As they continued walking, they could see KITE's bodyguards sparring through the window.
In the middle of the sparring ring, a man and a woman were engaged in combat. Unusually, the man was unarmed, while the woman held two Tonfa in reverse grip.
The Tonfa and kicks poured out in unexpected directions, but the man easily dodged or blocked them and even thrust in counterattacks.
Thwack— Pow—
The extremely dense exchange looked more like a pre-arranged action scene than actual combat.
However, the narrow gaps through which the man dodged the Tonfa and the force of the attacks swung in retaliation were definitely not practice.
Thwack—
Finally, the man's knee, which had squeezed through the Tonfa slashing through the air, slammed into the woman's abdomen. The woman flew away as if someone had pulled her from behind, sliding across the floor.
The man who had been watching the scene stood up straight and wiped the sweat with a towel that Jang Jin-ho, who had come up beside him, offered.
"Good work, CEO."
The man who had just been sparring was Shinwoo.
Shinwoo took a deep breath and walked over to the woman, who had staggered to her feet, and said in Chinese.
"Your skills have improved."
"What's the point of improving? I still lost to you even with weapons."
"It's not bad for this level. Oh, don't go all out just because you see an opening. That's a bad habit."
"I know that!"
The woman was Meian. She had passed the special security team in charge of Shinwoo's security and was commuting to KITE for basic training. And now, she had sparred with Shinwoo for the first time in a while.
Then, Shinwoo noticed Mark Freeman and his colleagues standing with Lillian on one side.
"Thank you for coming all the way here. I'm Baek Shin-woo, the CEO of MH Future Security."
They had heard what Jang Jin-ho had said to Shinwoo earlier, but it was in Korean. However, Mark Freeman understood Shinwoo's title because his wife was Korean.
"I didn't expect it... you're really the CEO."
"It may not seem like it, but I am."
Shinwoo was only 23 years old. He didn't look old either, so it was difficult for Mark Freeman and the others to immediately think of Shinwoo as the CEO.
"I did some research... but I was a little surprised to see you in person. And the skills you showed earlier."
The skills of the two people were beyond those of active special forces soldiers. But Shinwoo went even further and overwhelmed Meian with his overwhelming skills.
It was strange because it was not the kind of power that the CEO of an ordinary company would have.
"I was in the military too. Rather than standing here, let's move to another place. I'm going to take a shower because I've been sweating."
Shinwoo sent them away with Lillian and finished showering first.
After changing into a suit and entering the KITE conference room, the four men were drinking coffee that Jang Jin-ho had provided.
"You arrived earlier than expected, so I couldn't prepare accordingly."
"No. The problem is that we arrived early."
Shinwoo sat across from them and went straight to the point.
"Have you decided on the job offer?"
"Was it urgent?"
"There are many people above me who complain if I don't fill my security team quickly."
Mark Freeman also knew about other information about Shinwoo.
The illegitimate son of the MH Group owner's family. At the same time, he was a person who joined the company as a parachute at the beginning of this year and has now risen to the position of CEO of MH Future Security.
FEROX had also received special security requests from the owner's family, so he knew how important it was.
"I see. But I've only received the offer, and I haven't heard the details yet."
"There's nothing difficult. The basic mission is, as the name suggests, security. Instead, I need someone who will only move according to my instructions. Someone who won't be swayed by anyone's solicitation."
For a moment, Mark Freeman felt a little unpleasant.
"FEROX is a place where only those with pride and self-esteem are recognized and allowed to enter."
Shinwoo looked around at the four men. Mark Freeman, Alexander Figueroa, Lawrence Bird, Ricardo Hart. They were precious comrades who had fought together on the battlefield before returning to the past.
"...I know. That's why I chose FEROX."
"Why are you offering the salary you mentioned for just general security duties? Isn't there something more?"
"I've been threatened with my life. So, I raised the amount because dangerous situations may arise from time to time."
Mark Freeman and his colleagues had already checked the article.
"I saw the article about the assassination threat... but the suspect is still at large, right?"
"You never know when they'll be caught, so I have to have thorough security. Of course, hazard pay will be paid separately from the salary."
Even now, the salary was about 1.4 billion won per person. If hazard pay was added to that, the four men would be receiving the highest level in the security industry.
"Has nothing come out about the suspect?"
"If there was, I wouldn't be trying to bring in mercenary bodyguards from overseas like this."
At this, Mark Freeman exchanged glances with his colleagues.
"I heard that you specifically singled us out to the agent, Amber Montgomery. What's the reason for that?"
"I need veterans who can calmly assess the situation and act, rather than people who are just full of enthusiasm. If you come to KITE, you will work in shifts of six people, two shifts."
Everyone tilted their heads at those words. There were only four people in the room right now.
"Six?"
"First of all, one person is the female bodyguard who sparred with me earlier."
At the same time, they recalled Meian's skills they had seen earlier. Mark Freeman was puzzled by this.
"With your skills, CEO, don't you need a bodyguard?"
"Honestly, I like to go around alone, but as I said earlier, the people above me aren't quiet. So, I felt the need for deployment for external safety as well."
It was better to be safe than sorry.
"...Then who is the remaining person?"
"I'm reviewing it. Until then, only one person will be assigned to the night shift. Of course, a place to stay during night security and a residential house will be prepared, so you can use them if necessary."
There were eight households in the building of luxury villas that Jang Man-soo had purchased. Even if all the members of Triad Eye came in, two households would remain, so they could be used.
"Can we have a moment to discuss this?"
"Of course."
Shinwoo came out with Lillian, who was sitting next to him, and entered the lounge that was built on one side of the training ground.
"They won't refuse, will they?"
Shinwoo smiled at Lillian's slightly worried question.
"I don't know. Even if they refuse, if the future is even slightly different, those things might not happen."
"...You said they all died, right?"
The biggest reason Shinwoo singled them out. The four men were Shinwoo's precious comrades and, at the same time, comrades he had lost in FEROX's last mission.
"It was during a VIP security mission in Cairo. The enemies had planted spies close to the VIP, so even the last escape route was a trap."
"Ah..."
"I realized it was a trap too late and followed them... but it was already too late."
At that time, Shinwoo was confronting the pursuers to deal with them.
But the comrades who had escaped with the VIP fell into a trap and were all killed in an explosion.
"I can stop it now."
"That's why I brought them in in the first place. I have to make it happen."
While they were talking, Jang Jin-ho, who had been waiting in front of the conference room, approached.
"CEO. They said the discussion is over."
Shinwoo re-entered the conference room with Lillian.
Inside, everyone had a serious expression, as if they had made a decision.
"I hope it's not a decision that will make me sad."
"There is an additional condition."
"Please tell me."
"Alex, Lawrence and I have families. We all want to come to Korea and live together. Would it be possible to have a company house where we can live together for a certain period of time and family visas?"
Shinwoo smiled at the question.
"That's enough. I look forward to working with you."
"Then let's make a contract."
Shinwoo shook hands with them.