Chapter 150
Chapter 150
Episode 150. The Stolen Trash Can (3)
A moment of silence passed.
Then, Yoon Tae-in quickly relaxed his expression and asked.
“…Why do you think it's because of that?”
“What other reason would you have to ask to meet me?”
There was no need to force the Ministry of National Defense's attention right away. So, Shinwoo didn't reveal what he knew immediately, only what he suspected.
“Indeed, that would be the case.”
“Precisely what about the UAD Project did you want to see me about?”
Yoon Tae-in paused for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.
“We've discovered signs that the UAD Project records have been leaked externally.”
Shinwoo thought, As expected, but deliberately stiffened his expression.
“…Weren't all those records supposed to be destroyed upon the project's completion? How did that happen?”
“I cannot explain the reason as it is classified. However, it is presumed that most of the content was leaked in a damaged state. Still, I felt I should inform CEO Baek Shin-woo just in case, which is why I asked to meet today.”
At that explanation, Shinwoo stared intently at Yoon Tae-in.
“You haven't found the culprit yet, have you?”
Perhaps because his point hit home, Yoon Tae-in's brow twitched.
“It won't take long.”
“What do you plan to do if it spreads elsewhere before then? Even if the files are damaged, if they fall into the hands of those connected to the project's missions, not only I, but everyone involved will be in danger.”
The main mission of the UAD Project was assassination. While there were also covert protection and retrieval operations, the number of people killed by UAD Unit Members during those operations was considerable.
Furthermore, the assassination targets were hostile forces, organizations, or dangerous individuals that posed a threat to South Korea's security or were connected to it, as well as enemies of allied nations.
“We are fully aware of the severity.”
Just then, Shinwoo heard Meian's voice through the earpiece he had discreetly placed in his left ear.
[Shinwoo. I got him.]
With that reply, a shallow sigh escaped Shinwoo.
“…Drag him out.”
He said that to Meian.
At the same time, Yoon Tae-in looked at Shinwoo with an even more hardened expression than before.
A little while later, from the woods outside the walking path, Meian emerged, dragging a man in military uniform across the dirt ground.
Seeing that, Yoon Tae-in couldn't help but wonder what was happening.
“He's just someone stationed here for my safety.”
Shinwoo's expression remained calm.
“I know. If you had truly intended to kill me, you wouldn't have just deployed snipers.”
“Then why did you bring him here?”
This time, Shinwoo's gaze sharply fixed on Yoon Tae-in.
“Because you need to know. If Lieutenant General Yoon attempts to cross the line, I will show you what I can do.”
“Hoo—! It feels like just yesterday CEO Baek was discharged, and yet a year has already passed. Moreover, it seems much has changed during that time.”
“It's impossible for things not to change. So, how far has the investigation progressed? Can you find the person who leaked it?”
Yoon Tae-in pondered for a moment before answering.
“As I said earlier……”
“How about I find them for you?”
Yoon Tae-in's expression shifted to surprise at Shinwoo's question, which cut him off.
“CEO Baek, you mean?”
“It won't take long. After hearing the situation just now, I have a suspect in mind.”
“Really? Who is it?”
To Yoon Tae-in's excited question, Shinwoo scanned the woods surrounding the walking path.
“If you leave it to me, I'll tell you.”
“This is a Ministry of National Defense matter. You know it's impossible, right?”
“Then, continue to be stuck in your current situation. As you said, I will be careful.”
Shinwoo turned to go back to the car with Meian.
At that moment, Yoon Tae-in had no choice but to stop Shinwoo.
“What you said earlier, is it true? That you have a suspect?”
“That's right. I have only one condition. The leaked path, related data, and a copy of the remaining files. That's all I need to confirm if my suspected culprit is correct.”
Yoon Tae-in pondered for a moment, then let out a long sigh.
“…This is not a matter I can decide alone.”
Shinwoo extended his hand as if to say, Do as you see fit.
Yoon Tae-in stepped back a few paces and made a call, returning with a very troubled expression.
“…They've instructed me to proceed as CEO Baek suggested.”
“Then, please send the data as quickly as possible. You can send it to the address written here.”
As he replied, Shinwoo handed over a business card. It contained an untraceable email address created by Jang Man-soo.
“How long do you estimate it will take?”
“It should come within a few days, at the earliest.”
“Can't you tell me who it is first?”
“They might be an innocent person. It wouldn't be good if the Ministry of National Defense unnecessarily stirred things up by revealing unconfirmed information.”
Yoon Tae-in couldn't deny that possibility.
“…Then, I'll leave it to you.”
Shinwoo exchanged farewells with him and returned to the car with Meian.
Meian, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at Shinwoo with sparkling eyes.
“Did I do well?”
“You did well. Just continue to handle things quietly like this.”
“Heehee—!”
Meian looked proud.
Meanwhile, the car departed and left the Defense Science Research Institute.
* * *
It was a villa near Deoksan Reservoir in Yongsan.
Yoo Dong-shik, who had been staying there for a few days, sat facing a middle-aged man who had suddenly visited.
“How did the recovery work go?”
The person who asked the question was Kwak Chi-young.
In response, Yoo Dong-shik handed Kwak Chi-young a tablet containing the recovered files.
“H-here it is.”
The atmosphere was tense, causing him to stammer.
Kwak Chi-young took the tablet and began to examine each page.
“Underground Attack Department Project… The Ministry of National Defense really did some absurd things.”
Oh Han-sung stood beside him.
“It seems it was conducted in extreme secrecy, as few people were aware of it externally.”
“It's amazing that the Ministry of National Defense of this country has the capability to conduct operations this covertly. Though the conclusion was quite clumsy…”
As he spoke, he continued to flip through the pages.
Then, Kwak Chi-young's hand stopped at a list of operations.
“Karam of Mahabad? UAD killed that man too?”
Karam was a notorious arms dealer from the Middle East, known for dealing in everything up to nuclear missiles.
Moreover, he had a history of several transactions with 666 Unit in the past, so Kwak Chi-young, who had once been a lobbyist, knew him reasonably well.
Other familiar names appeared on different operation lists.
All of them were deceased, and Kwak Chi-young's expression grew increasingly somber.
“This… this is a bigger issue than I anticipated. But is this the limit of what you could recover?”
This was because most of the content was damaged and could not be properly verified.
With that question, Kwak Chi-young's gaze met Yoo Dong-shik's.
“Since the files were damaged from the start, th-that's the limit.”
“Hmm! Can't you infiltrate the Ministry of National Defense server again and find the original?”
“I could try to search, but by myself…”
No matter how lax the Ministry of National Defense might be, they wouldn't underestimate its security system.
It was only possible for Yoo Dong-shik to attempt a server intrusion with Nam Min-joon and Kim Seok-hwan.
Oh Han-sung, who had been listening to their conversation, lowered his head.
“…I apologize. My thinking was shortsighted.”
This was an apology for dealing with Nam Min-joon and Kim Seok-hwan.
However, Kwak Chi-young shook his head.
“Forget it. Even if those guys were there, would they have handed over the data without issue, knowing you intended to kill them? They would have first thought of how to save themselves using it as leverage. Or perhaps betrayed you. Isn't that right?”
Kwak Chi-young's sharp gaze shot towards Yoo Dong-shik.
For a moment, Yoo Dong-shik could only roll his eyes and remained speechless.
Kwak Chi-young continued speaking.
“Besides, if you found it in the recycle bin server, it's highly likely that the originals have already been destroyed within the Ministry of National Defense.”
“Shall we deal with him first?”
“Let's. If that incident becomes a problem, you can connect him to it.”
“I will ensure there are no problems.”
Oh Han-sung glanced at the 666 Unit member standing behind Yoo Dong-shik.
Yoo Dong-shik, who had his head bowed deeply due to the heavy atmosphere, didn't see it. At that moment, a rope passed in front of his face, fell around his neck, and he began to choke.
“Gack—! Choke!”
Yoo Dong-shik's suffocating scream didn't last long. At some point, the hands gripping his neck loosened, and his body slumped downwards.
Simultaneously, the 666 Unit members waiting at the entrance immediately entered the living room, wrapped Yoo Dong-shik's body in plastic, sealed it tightly, and carried it out.
Watching this, Kwak Chi-young quietly murmured to Oh Han-sung.
“Leave some signs of life. That way, if a connection is found to those who died earlier, the direction of suspicion will become more complicated.”
“Understood.”
As he said that, Kwak Chi-young's gaze did not leave the UAD Project data.
The pages continued to turn until they reached the section detailing the unit members' personal information.
Most of it was difficult to decipher, but one name was discoverable.
“…Baek Shin-woo. Coincidentally, the name is the same as Baek Shin-woo, who couldn't be found in actual military service records.”
“If that Baek Shin-woo is the UAD's Baek Shin-woo, his ability to single-handedly take on three of our unit members in an ambulance becomes understandable.”
Those from CELLA within 666 Unit are trained from childhood in how to kill. In any situation, they lack hesitation, so even when fighting someone of equal skill, their mindset alone creates a difference.
However, if the opponent is someone who has also killed before, the situation changes.
“Although only the name is verifiable, given the circumstances so far, it's the most likely possibility.”
“Currently, CEO Baek Shin-woo's MH Group and his standing in the business world are quite high. If this information is leaked, it could deal a blow to that.”
Special missions, including dozens of assassinations. The background for these was none other than South Korea's Ministry of National Defense.
Of course, Kwak Chi-young had considered this possibility.
“The data lacks credibility. Furthermore, who would have ordered these missions recorded in this log?”
“The President, I suppose.”
“It must have been a transaction with another country in exchange for missions.”
“In that case, no matter what comes out, they will never admit it. And the countries involved will likely provide them with protection.”
Kwak Chi-young nodded.
“Since the data isn't even intact, it can't serve as solid evidence.”
“…My thinking was shortsighted.”
“It’s fine. Even if we couldn't hack MH Group's servers, we still had some gains, didn't we?”
Kwak Chi-young, lost in thought, tapped the name Baek Shin-woo displayed on the tablet screen with his finger.
“UAD… Based on the keywords from the remaining data, we will search for information. We need to know exactly what they did, how they did it, and what benefits they gained.”
“Should we operate through other intelligence networks, bypassing headquarters?”
Oh Han-sung understood Kwak Chi-young's intentions well.
“We should. If any issues arise involving headquarters, I might not be able to escape responsibility.”
“I will move in a way that leaves as little trace as possible.”
“Good.”
Kwak Chi-young stood up, handed the tablet to Oh Han-sung, and went outside.
Meanwhile, the 666 Unit members who had carried away the body earlier emerged from the woods carrying shovels and pickaxes.
