The Bombing Terror
Gyeonggi-do, Paju-si, Jinseo-myeon, the JSA, the Joint Security Area. This is the JSA, the Joint Security Area. Known as the most dangerous border in the world, it is also the most sensitive boundary on the planet, where a single misstep could trigger an immediate war. Soldiers wearing green uniforms on one side and brown on the other stand facing each other, their expressions blank. Their gazes are sharp. And infinitely rigid. They stand guard with their rifles ready to fire at any moment. Amidst the heavy, unyielding tension between both sides, the sound of a North Korean high-ranking officer’s footsteps echoed.
As his figure appeared, tension surfaced on the faces of the North Korean soldiers. The military police were no different. Every eye was fixed on him. The officer, with a resolute expression, walked toward the demarcation line. Even as he neared the border, his pace did not falter. In this unexpected situation, tension clouded the faces of the military police. Is he defecting? Or seeking asylum? That couldn't be. He wouldn't be able to come so boldly while the North Korean soldiers were watching him so openly.
The officer stopped right in front of the demarcation line. His hand moved toward his pocket, and the fingers of the military police twitched. A hair-trigger situation. Is it a pistol? But what he pulled out was a small USB. He threw the USB toward the military police.
"Deliver that."
A firm voice. A flash of bewilderment crossed the military policeman's face before he quickly wiped it away. He then picked up the USB. The USB was quickly passed down to the battalion, then up through the chain of command, and finally, the Minister of National Defense, who confirmed the contents of the USB, boarded a helicopter and entered the Blue House. It was an incredibly short time, not even half a day.
Meanwhile, the air in the Blue House situation room was suffocatingly heavy. The Director of the National Intelligence Service, the Minister of the Interior and Safety, the Minister of Unification, and the President were already seated. And unusually, the Minister of the Hunter Management Department, Choi Jeong-won, who didn't quite fit the context of this matter, was also sitting there. As the Minister of National Defense entered, gasping for air, all eyes focused on him. More precisely, on the USB in his hand.
"You've finally arrived."
As President Cha Insoo nodded, the Minister of National Defense handed the USB to a waiting staff member. A video began to play on the large screen on the conference room wall. Seeing the person on the screen, tension passed over the faces of the attendees. The person in the video was Kim Seongryong, the Lieutenant General—no, the Chairman—who had recently emerged as North Korea's supreme leader.
[I am Chairman Kim Seongryong. I tried studying the Seoul dialect a bit, but I'm not sure if it suits me.]
It was an awkward accent mimicking the Seoul dialect. However, no one laughed. They just stared at the screen with expressionless faces.
[Well, anyway. The reason I contacted you this time is to propose an inter-Korean summit. Ah! And I would like Hunter Cheon Yooshin to definitely come as an attendee. I have so much to talk about with him.]
There was much more that Chairman Kim Seongryong said, but the main points were just two. An inter-Korean summit, and the attendance of Cheon Yooshin. When the video ended, a heavy silence descended. President Cha Insoo turned his gaze to the Minister of National Defense.
"I understand the proposal for an inter-Korean summit, but why call Hunter Cheon Yooshin?"
The Minister of National Defense opened his mouth cautiously.
"Mr. President, this could be a trap. Assassinating Chairman Kim Jeongyun..."
After clearing his throat for a moment, the Minister of National Defense continued.
"In any case, I judge that he might be doing this to avenge the former Chairman. If we send Hunter Cheon Yooshin to North Korea, a major problem could occur."
President Cha Insoo nodded slightly.
"That could be the case."
In any case, Cheon Yooshin killed Chairman Kim Jeongyun. Although it was unofficial, of course. That was when:
"That won't be the case, Mr. President."
It was the Minister of the Hunter Management Department, Choi Jeong-won.
"What do you mean by that?"
"At the time, Chairman Kim Seongryong did not detain Cheon Yooshin, who had obtained the Green Magic Stone, and let him go. As a result, he was being tortured by Chairman Kim Jeongyun. Furthermore, it was Hunter Cheon Yooshin who saved him when he was about to die, buried under the soil pouring down as the bunker collapsed. To Chairman Kim Seongryong, Hunter Cheon Yooshin is practically his life-saver. It is absurd to think he would seek revenge for the former Chairman against such a person."
The Minister of National Defense cleared his throat, perhaps feeling embarrassed.
"I had considered that as well. I was just saying it because there is always a 'what if'."
President Cha Insoo nodded and turned his gaze to the Minister of Unification.
"Is there any separate information coming down from the North? Like the reason for proposing an inter-Korean summit?"
Then, embarrassment appeared on the face of the Minister of Unification.
"Actually, there was no content delivered to us in an official document. Proposing a summit in this manner is the first time in history."
"I understand. Please continue to maintain contact with the North."
President Cha Insoo asked the Director of the National Intelligence Service.
"Have you received any reports on the recent internal situation in North Korea?"
"Yes, Mr. President. According to recent intelligence, there is a power struggle going on inside North Korea. The conflict between Chairman Kim Seongryong's side and the hardliners within the military seems to have reached its limit."
President Cha Insoo's face hardened.
"Conflict?"
"Yes. I suppose they cannot recognize Chairman Kim Seongryong as the Chairman."
"Then isn't it a dangerous situation?"
"There is intelligence that the hardliners have formed a secret organization called the People's Defense Committee and are challenging the Chairman's authority."
The Minister of National Defense interjected.
"Then, the reason for proposing this summit is also...?"
The Director of the National Intelligence Service nodded.
"That's right. According to our agency's analysis, it appears to be a strategic move by Chairman Kim Seongryong to strengthen his position through the summit."
"But it is also an opportunity, Mr. President."
The Minister of Unification interjected.
"An opportunity?"
"Yes. It could be a breakthrough for improving inter-Korean relations. While Chairman Kim Jeongyun was there, we made countless efforts to talk with North Korea. But every time, it was thwarted by Chairman Kim Jeongyun's lack of response. But this time is different. Considering that they proposed the summit first, I believe they will take a different stance than before."
The Minister of National Defense said, unable to hide his discomfort.
"It is surprising that the Minister of Unification would say such a thing. You, who have experienced North Korea at the forefront until now. How can we trust North Korea's intentions? It could be a ruse to play some kind of trick we don't know about."
The Minister of Unification shook his head.
"Are we not going to make soybean paste because we are afraid of maggots? Since they reached out first this time, we just need to grab it. Mr. President."
President Cha Insoo thought for a moment before opening his mouth.
"Whatever the reason, it was something we had to do someday. So many things are happening at the end of my term."
A moment of silence flowed.
"Let's push for the summit. Ah! And let's decide that Hunter Cheon Yooshin will also attend the summit if possible. Is that possible?"
Minister Choi Jeong-won opened his mouth.
"I apologize. I cannot give you a definite answer, Mr. President. However, I will ask for his intention."
President Cha Insoo nodded and concluded the meeting.
"I understand. I ask the ministers to take the lead so that there is smooth cooperation between the relevant departments so that the summit can proceed without a hitch."
The inter-Korean summit was slowly beginning to take shape.
The interior of the private jet was quiet. Yooshin stared at the two bottles of Elixir in his hand. A mysterious liquid that glowed faintly. If he consumed this, he could raise his stats. Besides that, he could level up. It was a system that was no different from a game.
'Then who on earth created this system?'
Even in the Abyss, there are beings capable of creating such potions. The immortal beings who have lived for thousands of years, the Lich. Of course, they aren't truly immortal. If the crystal ball that forms the source of the Lich is shattered, the Lich dies too. Even potions created by such beings only have temporary effects. In other words, it means they cannot create permanent physical ability enhancements like the Elixir in front of him.
'Nothing comes into existence without a reason.'
If there is a result, there must be a cause. However, that cause is shrouded in mystery. If there is a being capable of making all this possible, that is...
'Could it be that a god really exists?'
Yooshin smirked at his own thought. There is no god. If there were a god, they wouldn't leave a mess like himself alone. The more he tried to find an answer, the more questions arose. At that moment, the plane shook with a clatter. Thanks to that, the cardigan he had thrown aside fell to the floor. Yooshin glanced at it and was about to fall back into thought when someone picked up the cardigan that had fallen to the floor.
"Excuse me, Mr. Cheon?"
Huh? Are they trying to give me a drink?
"Yes, please give me a cup of coffee."
However, the flight attendant did not hand over coffee.
"Mr. Cheon, I have something to tell you."
"Yes?"
Now that he looked, it wasn't a flight attendant's tone. It was a somewhat stiff way of speaking.
"Who are you?"
The flight attendant—no, the woman—pulled something out of her pocket. A gold shield emblem, and in the center, a badge that said NIS.
"My name is Sophia. I'm with the US NIS."
Huh? What is the NIS? A while ago it was China, and now it's the US?
As questions filled Yooshin's head, Sophia spoke quickly.
"We would like to formally propose something to you. Wouldn't you like to work with us in the US to further develop your abilities and for world peace?"
What is she talking about? Why would I work for world peace? Nonsense. I am an ordinary citizen. I have no intention of working for others or for world peace. As long as there is no problem for me and my family to live, that's enough. World peace will be well-guarded by fools who are only strong.
Just as he was about to open his mouth to express his refusal, beep. beep. beep. A sharp, sudden electronic sound struck Yooshin's ears. A keen intuition sensed danger. An extremely low electronic sound. It wasn't just one or two. Overlapping electronic sounds. Yooshin's pupils moved as fast as lightning. To the tail section, the restroom section, and even where the pilot was.
'What is this?'
At that moment, an ear-splitting explosion was heard from the tail section of the plane.
KWA-KANG!
The shockwave traveled through the fuselage, causing the entire private jet to sway. The explosion that started from the tail section spread forward like dominoes. The cabin, the restroom, and finally the cockpit. KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KANG!
Flames soared before Yooshin's eyes due to the aftermath of the explosion. Black smoke filled the cabin. Now the fuselage of the plane was splitting, and the clear, blue sky was visible. Now, a crash was unavoidable.
'Which bastard is it?'
This is a bombing terror. But who dares? Do you think you can do this to me? He unbuckled his seatbelt. Now, he just needed to escape the crashing plane with Fly. But.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-AAAAAANG!
The final explosion occurred in a chain reaction. A powerful explosion that occurred in the luggage compartment above Yooshin's head. Perhaps the previous explosions were decoys, but an incredibly loud noise and flash, incomparable to anything before, filled Yooshin's eyes and ears. Due to the sudden explosion, which even occurred right above his head, Yooshin's consciousness began to fade.
'Which bas—'