The Explosion of the Private Jet
Seiko sat on the sofa with the lights off. The only illumination came from the flickering glow of the television. Suddenly, the phone lying haphazardly on the table began to vibrate violently, casting a harsh light. With a dazed expression, Seiko picked it up. [Caller ID: Private Number]. Seiko’s eyes sharpened as he answered. A simple, brief sentence came from the other side of the line.
At the same moment, the screen of the meaningless late-night talk show switched to a news broadcast, accompanied by a banner reading [URGENT BREAKING NEWS]. An anchor with a slightly crooked tie was speaking with a grave expression.
Only then did a smile spread across Seiko’s lips. "Thank you for your hard work."
But all he heard in response was... Beep, beep, beep, beep...
How rude. How dare they! Was he not an A-class hunter? Still, they were efficient. He didn't know what they might demand later, but what did it matter? He had killed Cheon Yooshin, the man who had humiliated him. Nothing else mattered. The phone, disconnected, began to vibrate again. Checking the screen, he saw the name Manager Damagochi. He was like an older brother to him. The call wasn't long. It was just to say that all footage of the Taiwan C-grade gate raid had been disposed of, and that he should pull himself together and return to his life as a hunter. Seiko’s stagnant daily life was beginning again. The world was starting to revolve around him once more. Seiko chuckled.
The lights in the house he occupied began to turn on.
There is a city that comes to mind when one thinks of Taiwan. A city known for its affordable, delicious food and mysterious, charming natural environment. That city is Taipei. Following a local guide's recommendation, Park Hae-soo was sitting in a nature-friendly pub. It was a shabby building with no flashy lights or decorations, but the beer tasted incredible.
"Team Leader, have another one." An agent with a flushed face handed him a beer. Park Hae-soo laughed and accepted it. It had been such a long time since he’d had a vacation. He didn't even know how many years it had been. Park Hae-soo had tasted both heaven and hell after joining the Hunter Management Department. But luckily, he had met Hunter Cheon Yooshin, and luckily, he had been able to recruit him into the department. Since then, the Hunter Management Department had been enjoying a golden age greater than ever before.
'I wish it could always be like this.'
He was even getting constant calls from colleagues he’d lost touch with, begging him to let them meet his superior and Cheon Yooshin just once. But Park Hae-soo cut them off sharply. Cheon Yooshin was a person who shone as a hunter. As for everything else... well. Park Hae-soo scratched his cheek. You shouldn't touch him. Never!
"To the Hunter Management Department!"
"To it!"
Anyway, he was clearing his mind and clinking glasses, enjoying the company dinner with the agents, when one of the agents with sharp eyes pointed at the TV.
"It says breaking news. What could it be for the broadcast to switch so suddenly?"
At his words, everyone’s gaze turned to the old TV. It was a relatively small screen, but there was no trouble understanding the content.
"Breaking news?"
Just as he said, the words [URGENT BREAKING NEWS] were written in large letters at the bottom of the screen. Soon, a male announcer’s voice flowed through the TV.
Crash! The beer glass fell to the floor and shattered into pieces. For a moment, the pub became as silent as the grave.
"Th-that’s impossible."
"Did we drink too much? I’m seeing and hearing things."
"I think I should stop drinking. Team Leader, I think I’m drunk."
The agents thought they had misheard. They thought they had misseen. But then—
Ring-ring! Park Hae-soo’s phone rang. It was an international call. The caller was Section Chief Lee Eun-soo of the Hunter Management Department. As soon as he pressed the call button, he heard the voice.
-What is that noise! That’s a false report, right? It’s a false report, isn't it?
"Ch-Chief."
-Speak up, you idiot! What are you doing acting like a fool?
Lee Eun-soo spat out the words rapidly, as if urging him. But Park Hae-soo was dazed by a reality that didn't feel real. Did I drink too much? Is it a hallucination? No. This situation is real. Park Hae-soo slapped his own cheek hard and came to his senses. 'I’m sorry, Chief.' Now, grasping the facts was the priority. Park Hae-soo hung up the phone and immediately called President Wu Chenghan directly. After a short signal.
"President, what on earth is going on? Is that report true?"
A sigh from President Wu Chenghan leaked through the phone.
-It is true. We are currently investigating the wreckage of the private jet. As for the details...
Park Hae-soo cut him off in the middle of his sentence.
"No. The wreckage isn't important. Hunter Cheon Yooshin, have you found his body?"
-Not yet. We are searching for him with all our might, but for some reason, we cannot find him.
"Understood. Then please continue the investigation. And please contact me if you find anything."
A sigh of relief escaped Park Hae-soo’s lips after hanging up. But it was only for a moment; he immediately called Section Chief Lee Eun-soo back.
-You, what the! You suddenly hung up...
"Chief, Hunter Cheon Yooshin will be alive."
There was conviction in Park Hae-soo’s voice.
-What? Is that true? What do you mean, 'he will be alive'? Are you saying he is alive?
"He is a person who even blocked a nuclear weapon. He is not someone who will die from a plane explosion."
-Whew... For now, come back to Korea.
"No. Before that, I will join the Taiwanese investigation team and grasp the reality of the situation."
Park Hae-soo stood up from his seat and said to the agents.
"Hunter Cheon Yooshin is definitely alive. If you all remember him in North Korea, you will understand what I mean."
He turned his gaze to the TV for a moment and continued.
"We are returning to Korea. But before that, we will receive cooperation from the Taiwanese government here and investigate the circumstances of the plane explosion. That way, we won't get criticized."
"Of course. He is not someone who would lose his life to something like an explosion."
"Just give us the orders, Team Leader."
"Something smells fishy. We will investigate thoroughly."
"It seems it’s time to show them our skills."
Their eyes, which had been loose until just a moment ago, had turned into those of veterans.
The news that started in Taiwan reached Korea in an instant.
[Hunter Cheon Yooshin missing due to plane explosion, search facing difficulties.]
[Breaking! Plane carrying Hunter Cheon Yooshin burned down due to mysterious explosion!]
[Hunter Cheon Yooshin disappeared in plane explosion, possibility of survival?]
[According to accident experts, virtually zero chance of survival.]
Hunters are hotter existences than celebrities these days. Among them, Cheon Yooshin is the only hunter in South Korea capable of clearing C-grade gates. Comments on the articles exploded at the news of his tragedy.
However, some people dismissed that possibility.
While the country’s confusion over the possibility of Cheon Yooshin’s death was intensifying, an emergency meeting was convened at the Blue House. President Cha Insoo’s face had turned pale.
"What is going on? Has Hunter Cheon Yooshin died?"
A deep sigh escaped Minister Choi Jeong-won’s lips.
"Nothing is certain yet. Since the Taiwanese government has dispatched an investigation team, a little..."
Bang! President Cha Insoo slammed his fist on the table.
"Does that make sense! Are you saying we should just sit and wait, trusting that? Are there no additional measures?"
"Don't worry, Mr. President. There are agents from our department who followed Hunter Cheon Yooshin when he was dispatched to clear the Taiwan gate. They are the elite of the elite in our department. They have also joined the investigation team through cooperation with the Taiwanese government. So you must trust them and wait."
At his words, a long sigh escaped President Cha Insoo’s lips.
"Haa... Our country is finally getting some breathing room. We cannot let Hunter Cheon Yooshin go like this."
"He is definitely alive, Mr. President."
At dawn. Several jeeps were climbing along a foggy mountain road, emitting rough roars. They were the joint investigation team of Korea and Taiwan. People quickly got out of the cars, and the Taiwanese investigation team immediately ran to the site where the plane wreckage was. Park Hae-soo glanced at them and said to the agents waiting for his instructions.
"You are more experts than I am, so I won't say much. You must find him."
'Whether it’s the cause of the explosion, or Hunter Cheon Yooshin’s...'
He didn't finish the sentence. Because he believed. 'He is definitely alive.' And he’ll appear suddenly, saying it was a surprise with some ridiculous nonsense. The agents immediately scattered. They climbed up and down the sloping mountainside like flying squirrels. They examined the plane wreckage scattered on the ground here and there. Before long, they were operating more extensively than the Taiwanese investigation team. By now, the sun had risen to the middle of the sky, and their entire bodies were drenched in sweat. However, there was no fatigue on anyone’s face. It was because everyone was focused on one thing. And then.
"Team Leader, I’ve found something strange!"
At the agent’s urgent voice, Park Hae-soo ran toward him. As he went down the steep slope, the agents were already standing in front of a rock. And he could see it. A piece of metal in the crevice of the rock. Then, the agent at the very front, Park Du-haeng, said.
"Team Leader, this is a part of a high-precision high-explosive bomb."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. It’s a type that allows for timer functions and remote control. I used it a lot when I was in the military, so I know for sure."
Park Hae-soo’s expression hardened.
"Then this is not an accident..."
"Yes! It’s an intentional explosion. It is by no means a coincidental accident."
It was then. Not far away, a beeping sound filled the mountain. This time, it was a Taiwanese investigator. The investigators gathered urgently. Park Hae-soo and the agents also headed that way. Park Hae-soo, who had pushed through them and approached the place in question, felt his eyes tremble. What was on the floor. It was clothes stained with bright red blood. Park Hae-soo’s expression turned pale as he saw it. At the same time, he quickly took out his phone. And the moment he went into his photo album and zoomed in on the photo.
Park Hae-soo sat down on the floor with a thud. Because the cardigan Yooshin was wearing in the photo he had taken with him and the blood-stained cardigan lying scattered on the floor matched perfectly.