Threat (3)
"Ah... After hearing what you said, Chief, I understand it's an unavoidable situation, but this doesn't feel right. In my opinion, running the operation with this number of people will only result in heavy casualties and a nightmare of cleanup afterward."
"Let's bring in support from Korea. If Chief Kim and the two newly expanded teams come over, it'll be much smoother."
I hadn't planned on getting involved, but since there seemed to be room to help, I spoke up from the side. I was ready to give up if the on-site commander rejected the idea, but after thinking it over, the chief seemed to agree that my suggestion made sense. He dropped his stubbornness and made a request to me.
"Chairman, could you please arrange support from Korea? I think that would be better."
"Thank you for your help."
The moment he finished speaking, I contacted Hisa. She answered in a drowsy voice, still half-asleep, but when I explained it was an emergency, she immediately understood. I asked her to split two security teams and send them to Manila in the Philippines. Equipment would be provided on-site, so they only needed to bring themselves. Just in case, I requested they disguise themselves as tourists to avoid looking like soldiers.
Only then did Hisa realize the situation was real and started asking additional questions. I was grateful—she asked first if anyone was injured.
"I've made contact. All eleven are in Busan with a flight available, so I'll send them right away."
An image followed with departure and arrival times. I immediately shared the update with Chief and called out.
"Chief, we need equipment for eleven people. Their flight arrives at dawn tomorrow."
I read the next message aloud. "Chief Kim is requesting standard CQB loadouts. What do you think?"
Chief suddenly chuckled, as if the tension had finally eased. He decided it wasn't necessary to keep everyone on standby in the warehouse, so he ordered the team to stand down except for those needed for situational awareness. He reminded everyone to minimize going out and to stay reachable, then he and I began exchanging information.
"Can we get intel from the local police?"
"Yes, that's possible. But joint operations will be difficult."
"As long as they don't interfere, there shouldn't be any major issues."
"Please share the opposing organization's location and details."
The opposing group had come up from Batangas in southern Luzon. As their influence in the Angeles area was being suppressed, they'd pushed toward Manila. Since their line of work was different, there had been no direct contact until I started supplying product from Korea, which sparked friction.
Well, if they'd just bought from us, I wouldn't have had to come here in the first place.
I looked up Balangkas on Google Maps—it was quite far. The city was developing thanks to its natural harbor, resources, and government policies. Korean companies had also entered the area for infrastructure projects. Where development happened, money flowed, and this place was no exception—various factions were fiercely competing for control.
While I was memorizing the organizational chart and base locations, the chief returned from taking a call and provided additional information.
"The authorities have identified the group. They must be pretty pissed off upstairs."
When I looked at him questioningly, he added, "There's a bounty on them. The Philippines still has bounty hunters."
"Most of the people on the chart I showed you are included. Dead or Alive."
"Damn. The Philippines."
Cheol-min and I took turns monitoring the situation and standing by on-site, catching a bit of sleep when we could.
"Chief, you should get some rest."
"I can go three days without sleep. Back in the day, I even lasted seven."
"Hyung-nim, wake up. It's time for the operation."
I shot up and began preparing. According to the intel, the opposing organization had around thirty members, so we judged that local Filipino personnel weren't needed. We only mobilized four local employees to drive and planned the operation accordingly.
The plan was for the chief and me to meet the incoming team from the Philippines while the remaining five waited, picked them up, and headed straight to the operation area. I stood at the arrivals gate holding an A4 sheet with our welfare center's name written on it as passengers began emerging from the Busan flight.
"They really used that as a disguise? At least Chief Kim looks somewhat believable."
"They need more training."
If four men wearing sunglasses walked in together, even I would stare. Still, it seemed they'd at least tried to split into groups. The only woman, Chief Kim, appeared to be acting as part of a newlywed couple.
I told the chief to lead the two teams and went to meet Chief Kim's "newlywed" pair along with two others disguised as friends. We escorted the four of them out to the airport parking lot.
We split into two cars and departed. While distributing equipment, Chief Kim checked in over the shared comms.
"Comms check, comms check. Report signal strength."
She hadn't even given us time to put the gear on.
"This is Car 4, equipping gear now."
"This is Car 3, equipping gear now."
Only Cheol-min and I responded. Sensing the awkwardness, she gave us a bit more time. Twenty minutes later, the radio came on again.
"Comms check, comms check. All vehicles report."
"Car 2, all clear."
"Car 3, all clear."
"Car 4, all clear."
Reports came in confirming comms were established across all four vehicles and personnel.
"Movement time is one hour from now. In the meantime, I'll brief the operation outline and assign roles. Memorize your tasks."
Her voice came through clearly—the noise cancellation was working well.
"Assigning codenames. I'll be Command Center. Chairman and his secretary will be Ghost 1 and 2. Drivers will be Dropship 1 through 4 based on vehicle numbers. Assault team: Marine 1 through 4, Firebat 1 through 4. Recon team: Vessel 1 through 3. Marine and recon teams, Chief Kim will assign and report."
"Roger."
"In five minutes, at the stop point, each team will move to their vehicles."
"Roger."
Watching our employees move and organize, I was glad we hadn't relied solely on the local staff yesterday. Professionals were professionals.
Once we left Manila, the road infrastructure in the Philippines was terrible—more like rural backroads than even national highways back home.
"This is Command. Final check ten minutes before operation."
"Roger."
Cheol-min and I had been assigned sniper support. The chief said the front line was too dangerous and gave us the task instead. When I insisted on joining the assault, both chiefs looked horrified, so I agreed to handle threat elimination from the rear.
"Dropship 4, enter the operation area."
Cheol-min and I were inserted first. The initial target was a farm. They dropped us off to secure a vantage point, which felt cramped—we had to push through jungle to reach it. We took position on a rock one kilometer from the target and reported in.
"Ghost 1, position secured."
Three minutes later, Cheol-min reported.
"Ghost 2, position secured."
"Ghosts, confirm each other's positions."
Two promised flashes of light blinked. I knew the direction, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't pinpoint the exact location. True to his hunter background, his camouflage was flawless.
"Confirmation complete."
"Vessel team, report."
"This is Vessel 1. No personnel detected. Presumed asleep. Ready for entry."
"Roger. Vessel, provide backup. Marine team, enter from nine o'clock relative to the central building. Firebat team, enter from six o'clock. Watch for friendly fire."
"This is Marine 1. Entering now."
From a distance, I could see the Marines climbing over the fence. One broke off and approached the building. Judging by the height, it looked like Chief Kim. She reached a window, opened it with her hand, and fired her pistol inside.
"This is Marine 1. Entering Building A."
"Roger."
The remaining three Marines entered through the front door.
"First floor clear. Moving to second floor."
"Second floor clear. Three eliminated."
The four Marines exited the building, and one climbed over the fence to enter another structure.
"Vessel 1, secure Building A. Marine, proceed to the next building."
Watching from afar, it felt like I was watching a war movie.
"Firebat, enter Building D."
"Roger."
"Ghost 2, provide backup."
"Roger."
"Sudden situation—cover, cover. Human presence detected on the second floor of Building C."
Cheol-min had spotted something. It was a blind spot from our position, but apparently visible from his.
"Marine and Firebat, hold position. Vessel and Ghost, can you snipe?"
"This is Ghost 2. Possible."
"Shoot."
Thud. The sound of a body falling from the second floor echoed, followed by commotion inside the building.
"Suppress quickly."
Some Filipino guy was still living in the age of exploration—he came out holding a jungle machete, wearing only half his pants. All I did was watch the movie and pull the trigger a few times.
There were four buildings total, and it took ten minutes to clear them.
"Confirm kills and search. Report if Target A is found."
"This is Marine. Nothing."
"This is Firebat. Nothing."
"This is Vessel. Nothing."
Unfortunately, the opposing boss we were after wasn't here. According to our intel, he rotated between three locations, so we must have hit the wrong one.
"Report casualties and results per building."
"This is Marine—Building A: three, Building B: two."
"This is Firebat—Building D: three."
"This is Ghost—two."
"This is Vessel—Building C: four."
"Dropship, enter the farm. Mission complete."
We collected the spoils, cleaned up the scene as much as possible, and without rest, moved on to Operation Area B. Time was of the essence.