Chapter 348
Chapter 348
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Coup
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The atmosphere in Room 5, where the VIPs were gathered, was bright and lively.
“Today, the booze tastes especially good, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
The president savored the drinks and snacks poured by the young women, reclining comfortably as he listened to the songs.
I slipped quietly into the room and took my original seat.
Then I emptied the full glass in front of me.
Thump, thump.
My heartbeat sounded louder than ever.
The powerful throbbing felt like a signal that the moment of decision had arrived.
I set down my glass and addressed the president.
“Your Excellency.”
“Yes, Director Bae?”
“I have something important to report.”
“Go ahead.”
Jang Dong-yoon withdrew his arm from the women’s shoulders and straightened up.
The disheveled demeanor from moments ago had vanished completely.
This cold expression was Jang Dong-yoon’s true face.
“This isn’t something for casual ears, so I’d appreciate it if the ladies left the room.”
If the girls stayed, we’d have to clean them up too.
Fortunately, the president accepted my request.
“Do as Director Bae says.”
At the president’s approval, the security director ushered the women out of the room.
Once I confirmed they were gone, I spoke in a low voice.
“A conspirator plotting to overthrow the state has recently been uncovered. He leaked critical national secrets, scattered grenades, and shook the foundations of Daehan.”
The president’s face turned grave instantly.
“Who the hell is this guy?”
I took a deep breath and drew my pistol.
Those around us froze, unable to process the situation.
“Step down, Mr. President.”
Before anyone could intervene, I blew the security director’s head off.
Bang!
Chae In-seop’s face twisted in shock as the bullet hit him.
He died on the spot without even a scream.
Red blood and brains splattered across the table.
Jang Dong-yoon bellowed, his face flushed with rage.
“Director Bae! What the hell is this?!”
Ignoring him, I aimed at the trembling chief of staff and fired.
Bang!
Lee Dong-chae, the second-most powerful man in the Daehan executive branch, died without a whimper.
Before the majesty of a gun’s violence, man-made titles meant nothing.
In the gruesome scene of blood sprays and scattered brain matter, only Jang Dong-yoon and I remained alive.
Pfft, pfft! Bang, bang! Bang! Bang, bang!
Soon, muffled gunshots echoed from various parts of the safe house.
Our security team had clashed with the presidential guards.
Hearing the shots, Jang Dong-yoon finally grasped the situation.
“Bae Seong-jun! You think staging a coup means you can easily take over this country? The military and intelligence agencies are still standing strong. Do you really think you can take them all on?”
So that was why Jang Dong-yoon believed I couldn’t launch a coup?
It wasn’t a wrong assumption.
A mere acting director of the NIS pulling off a coup was absurd by any standard.
Jang Dong-yoon’s “common-sense judgment” wasn’t mistaken—but I was the man who could transcend common sense.
After all, I was the one who had designed this country from the ground up.
“You might not be able to, but I can.”
You.
That single word drained the color from Jang Dong-yoon’s face.
Yes, it’s me.
Lee Seong-jun.
Before he could utter a word, I pumped bullets into his chest.
Bang! Bang!
I don’t indulge in monologues or let villains ramble—that’s not my style.
There’s a rule: talkative villains always fail.
As Jang Dong-yoon choked on blood foam, dying, I gave him my final farewell.
“You’re dying for two reasons. First, because you shat on my Daehan.”
Bang!
“Second, because you touched my daughter.”
Bang!
Jang Dong-yoon’s gurgling stopped clean with the final shot.
I went to the bathroom to clean the blood off my body, then changed into fresh clothes in the office.
Identical outfits prepared for today.
Outside the office stood Eom Ji-won and Park Heung-sik, drawn by the gunshots.
“You two, clean up the bodies in Room 5 and move them to the hospital that Team Leader Oh arranged. Maintain strict confidentiality. Oh, and before you go, tell Colonel Gi Myeong-su to tighten security around the safe house.”
“Understood.”
I sent them off and headed straight to Room 9.
Marshal Lee Seung-hwan and Deputy Director Shin Seung-hee, inside, looked at me with bewildered expressions.
“Director, what’s going on?”
I took a sip of water first, then explained the situation.
“Keep this absolutely secret.”
“Of course.”
After a brief hesitation, I delivered the bombshell.
“Code One has passed away.”
“What?”
“Director, is that true?”
I set down my glass and told them to grab their clothes.
While they packed, I made a call.
“Security detail!”
“Yes, Director.”
“We’re heading to Geumsusan. Wait at the main gate.”
“Yes, sir.”
As soon as I hung up, the Joint Chiefs Chairman spoke.
“If Code One is gone, isn’t this a national emergency?”
“Correct. We need to convene a cabinet meeting immediately and declare martial law.”
“Then let’s head to Army HQ. It’ll be easier to control the troops from there.”
Fair point.
But that would hand control to the military brass.
I voiced my opposition.
“The one who shot Code One was Security Director Chae In-seop. Chairman, you know better than anyone how deep his connections run in the military.”
I gave Deputy Director Shin a nod.
Only then did she back me up.
“Chairman, I think Geumsusan is the better choice.”
“Why is that?”
“We need to be where the intelligence is to make accurate decisions. In a situation like this, with friend and foe unclear, nowhere is as advantageous for command as Geumsusan.”
Good, that’s settled.
Before Lee Seung-hwan could counter, I grabbed his arm.
As we exited the main building, the waiting car’s door opened.
It was Team Leader Oh.
“Get in.”
We crammed into the narrow vehicle.
On the way out of the safe house entrance, I spotted Security Chief Han Nam-dong.
I gave him a slight nod.
We sped straight to Geumsusan.
Even en route, I kept the radio busy.
“Director, Geumsusan here.”
“No issues at Geumsusan?”
“No, sir. All clear.”
“Then stand by and don’t clock out.”
“Got it.”
I avoided sensitive topics, mindful of Intelligence Command.
The car reached Geumsusan in just 15 minutes.
Upon arrival, the acting First Deputy Director and senior executives lined up to greet me.
“Director, you’ve arrived.”
I brushed off their salutes and headed to my office.
No sooner had we arrived than the Joint Chiefs Chairman wanted the phone.
“Don’t discuss anything critical. If word leaks, we’re all done for.”
“Understood.”
The chairman made calls to check the military’s status.
“So far, Capital Defense Command units report no anomalies.”
“Good. Keep at it.”
The chairman noted no signs of a counter-coup.
“Then maybe today’s incident was just Chae In-seop acting on his own.”
“Chae himself?”
I briefed him on Chae In-seop’s recent precarious position.
“That fits.”
“Still, just in case—monitor for any sympathizers in the military, Chairman.”
“Leave it to me.”
I called the prime minister next.
With the situation piecing together coherently, a minor leak wouldn’t hurt.
“Prime Minister, emergency. Yes, come to Geumsusan.”
I phoned the cabinet ministers, then pulled aside the deputy director of intelligence.
“As you know, Deputy Director Shin, this is a critical matter.”
“I understand, Director.”
“Even if Intelligence Command or Defense Security requests cooperation, not a word.”
“Yes, sir. Lips sealed.”
I made a few more calls, then asked the Joint Chiefs Chairman,
“Chairman, have you checked the Presidential Security Service?”
“Capital Defense says they’re quiet. I’ll confirm.”
He immediately called the Presidential Security Service at Yongseong.
“Deputy Director Lee? This is the Joint Chiefs Chairman.”
While he talked, I mentally reviewed the scenario for wrapping this up.
Chae In-seop had to take the full blame and die for it.
‘Might as well purge his officer cronies while we’re at it—clean things up nicely.’
Conveniently, Chae was tight with the Defense Security commander.
Hitting them hard would solidify the NIS’s intelligence dominance.
One hour later.
Key cabinet members arrived at Geumsusan.
As soon as the cabinet meeting convened, I pushed for martial law.
“Why declare martial law?”
“Code One is dead.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
“Is that confirmed?”
“Absolutely. You can verify the body later if needed. But time is critical. If news of the president’s death leaks, protesters will swarm like bees.”
Panic spread.
“There’s only one way to hold the regime: declare martial law and mobilize the military again.”
“Th-then who leads the regime?”
“Prime Minister Choi, of course.”
By rank or optics, it made sense.
“Then let’s confirm the body and vote.”
These people.
I didn’t push back.
Arguing here would make me look power-hungry.
“Fine, a couple of ministers as representatives can go to the hospital.”
“Agreed.”
The president’s neck was on the line, but the coup wasn’t successful yet.
If we botched this,
‘Daehan dies with me.’
I wiped the sweat from my brow with a handkerchief, waiting for the martial law vote.