The President's Decision
Thanks to the President's decision—or perhaps, a decision that wasn't quite a decision—Cheon Yooshin was currently riding in a car driven by an agent from the National Intelligence Service.
"It's that place over there."
The agent pointed toward a detached house with high, towering walls. It was Seiko's home. Yooshin rested his chin on his hand, peering through the window at the house.
'Damn, that's huge.'
It was incredibly flashy. 'It's about time for him to come out.'
He had already received the intel through the agent. The guy was cornered. He was a manager who had leaked a strategy video containing the weaknesses of the hunter he managed. And he was a total pushover who had been blackmailed by his own manager and bled dry of money. Soon, the video filmed inside the gate would be released. Everything would be exposed as a lie. Then, that bastard would be socially buried for good. So, if I were him?
'I'd leave this country right now.'
Sure enough, the garage door opened. A sleek sports car shot out. The car accelerated in an instant, racing toward some unknown destination. Yooshin glanced at the interior of the car he was currently in. Even though it was linked to the NIS, the car was quite old. Can we catch up? Should I just fly after him?
Just as he was contemplating this, the agent in the driver's seat chewed his gum and smirked.
What?
"Are we supposed to follow that guy?"
"Yeah. Can you handle it?"
Doubt laced Yooshin's voice. "If you can't, tell me now."
No matter how he looked at it, this car wouldn't be enough. Even Yooshin, who didn't know much about cars, could tell that the one the guy just drove off in was worth hundreds of millions of won.
However.
"Fasten your seatbelt. This car is about to fly."
"What?"
The moment Cheon Yooshin wore a puzzled expression, the agent clicked a switch located above his head. A powerful roar erupted from the engine, filling the car's interior.
What is this?
Vrooooom!
Mechanical sounds echoed from within the car, and the chassis lowered noticeably. At the same time, the console box between the driver and passenger seats expanded, revealing various buttons and switches. The tacky dashboard vanished, replaced by a large monitor. When the agent entered the license plate number of the car Seiko had driven off in, Seiko's car, speeding toward somewhere, appeared on the screen as if filmed by a drone.
It had transformed from an ordinary sedan into a high-performance sports car in an instant. Even Yooshin, who rarely felt surprised, had his eyes widened.
'What is this?'
The agent smiled at the bewildered Cheon Yooshin through the rearview mirror. He operated a few switches on the console box and spoke.
"Hunter, you don't get motion sickness, do you? Hold on tight. We'll catch him soon!"
Before his words could even finish, the car Yooshin was in shot forward with explosive acceleration. The cars on the road looked as if they were standing still. That was how fast the car was moving, and if a vehicle blocked their path, it quickly swerved to weave through the traffic.
'Wow, this guy's driving is insane.'
As Cheon Yooshin marveled to himself, the agent shouted.
"I see him!"
He was right. The red sports car Seiko was driving was racing at an incredible speed. After following for a long while, the sports car arrived at the international airport.
'I knew it.'
He had arrived at the airport to flee the country. As soon as he parked in the parking lot, Seiko was seen jumping out of the car in a hurry. He was in such a rush that he dragged his suitcase, leaving the car door wide open, and ran frantically toward the airport entrance.
Yooshin opened the car door and smirked.
"Good work. I won't forget this favor."
Once the job was done, he would immediately take a prepared private jet back to Korea. That was the plan between the NIS and the Hunter Management Department.
"I hope you achieve what you desire, Hunter."
Yooshin closed the car door and began to follow him, keeping a distance so he wouldn't be discovered. Seiko entered the VIP lounge and approached the information desk, whispering to the staff. Whether they had talked beforehand or not, the staff nodded and immediately began to guide Seiko.
The place they were guided to was not a regular passenger plane, but a private jet. Yooshin's eyes followed the fuselage of the private jet. Clear characters were engraved on the side of the wing. It was Chinese.
'This bastard, he's trying to rabbit to China?'
A cold smile brushed Yooshin's lips. Meanwhile, the engine noise of the private jet carrying Seiko grew louder. The heavy wheels began to roll slowly. Yooshin watched the scene. The plane increased its speed. Soon, the plane would take off. Then it would cross over to China. Since it was obviously an asylum, he would be under the protection of the Chinese government and their hunters. If he let him go like this, it would be a hassle to catch him again.
In that case.
"Do you think you can run away from me?"
Yooshin's hand reached out toward the plane. Magi began to condense in the air, taking on a black hue as ripples began to form. In the meantime, the plane took off. At the same time, a brilliant light of Magi exploded from his hand.
"Goodbye."
BOOM!
In an instant, a roar that seemed to tear the sky apart echoed from the plane, and the fuselage was engulfed in flames. Yooshin watched the scene silently. The debris of the burning plane fell from the sky like rain. Yooshin didn't take his eyes off it, just in case the bastard survived the explosion. However, no more energy could be felt. There were no survivors.
While the area around the runway became a scene of chaos due to the plane explosion, Yooshin slowly turned around. His footsteps were light. An eye for an eye. With this, everything Yooshin had to do in Japan was finished.
The series of explosions that occurred in Japan received explosive attention from the Japanese public. People were saying it was a sign that the country would soon collapse, wondering if they should immigrate to another country, and some were even booking flights. The media was reporting incessantly on the mysterious explosion incidents involving the private jet and the building.
Meanwhile, an emergency meeting was being held at the Prime Minister's official residence.
"It's certain. This is definitely Cheon Yooshin's doing."
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nakamura said with a stiff expression. Prime Minister Kenji twisted his face in anger.
"How dare a Korean commit terrorism in the Great Empire of Japan! And to kill an A-class hunter, no less?"
It was a painful mistake and a loss. There were only five A-class hunters in the country. Such a hunter had died pointlessly in a plane explosion. The interior of the residence fell into silence in an instant.
"So! What's the countermeasure?"
Prime Minister Kenji turned his gaze toward Nakamura.
"Well, Prime Minister. We have no justification. We have no clear evidence. There is also no record of Cheon Yooshin entering the country. He must have entered with a forged passport. Furthermore…,"
Prime Minister Kenji cut him off.
"Do you think I sat you in that seat to hear such nonsense?! Control airport access immediately. Stop the operation of all aircraft heading to Korea!"
However.
"It's too late. Circumstances have been captured indicating he has already escaped via a Korean national carrier."
SLAM!
Prime Minister Kenji slammed his desk hard.
"He escaped?! You mean to tell me he committed terrorism in Japan and escaped safely?!"
"According to our analysis, it appears Korean agencies were involved…."
"Korean agencies? Do we not have agencies! What on earth have you all been doing! Does everything go well as long as you sit there and collect your paychecks?"
A light of fury burned in Prime Minister Kenji's eyes.
"Damn it, damn it!"
Prime Minister Kenji, who had risen from his seat, paced around the residence with angry footsteps. Then he stopped and looked at Nakamura.
"Shooting down the plane…?"
"That is impossible. Prime Minister! It will immediately escalate into an international issue. Also, it's doubtful whether Cheon Yooshin would die even if we shot it down."
"This is insane!"
Prime Minister Kenji's face turned red.
"Is our country a joke?! Everyone will know soon. That the person who committed terrorism in Japan was Cheon Yooshin. And that he returned to his country safely! This is nothing short of a total disgrace!"
Nakamura bowed his head. Watching him, Prime Minister Kenji caught his breath for a moment before giving a cold order.
"Implement special quarantine on all imports from Korea right now. Tell them to inspect them thoroughly, regardless of whether it takes a day or a year, regardless of import delays. And immediately suspend visa issuance for Korean tourists. The reason… is that Koreans are involved in this explosion incident."
"Understood. Prime Minister. Oh! And what about the Taiwan strategy video that you ordered to be completely destroyed earlier?"
"Wasn't that already all destroyed?"
"I thought so, but it seems an official leaked one. They used that to blackmail Seiko…, I will destroy that as well."
Prime Minister Kenji clicked his tongue.
"Do that…, no. Don't do that, just keep it in storage. Just in case."
"Yes? Ah, understood."
Prime Minister Kenji's eyes shone sharply.
Yooshin could see him as soon as he arrived at Incheon Airport. It was Team Leader Park Hae-soo.
"Did you resolve what you went to do well?"
"You know if you watch the news."
Yooshin shrugged his shoulders. The building where Ninja Assassin was disguised had been blown up, and the private jet Seiko was riding in had been blown up. It was to the point where there wasn't a person who didn't know.
"But there's somewhere we need to go. Yooshin."
"A problem? What problem?"
"The Blue House has called for you, Yooshin."
Yooshin pointed at himself with a sullen expression.
"Me? No, why? What did I do wrong?"
"Ah, they aren't calling you to interrogate you, Yooshin. It's likely to hear the full story of what happened in Japan. Since the Japanese side won't just sit still, we need to align our stories."
Hmm….
Yooshin nodded slightly. If it's that, well….
He rode in Park Hae-soo's car and entered the Blue House immediately. Yooshin, who entered the conference room guided by a staff member, could see them. People sitting with solemn expressions around a long oval table. Shiny nameplates were placed in front of them, and the titles engraved on them created another weight in themselves.
Minister of National Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of the Interior and Safety….
An ordinary person wouldn't even be able to breathe properly in front of the government's highest-ranking officials. But Yooshin was different. He walked forward as if he couldn't feel their weight at all. Then he stood tall in front of President Cha Insoo.
"It's fascinating. I'm seeing the President, whom I only saw on TV, right in front of my eyes. But you called for me?"
Yooshin's voice rang out, breaking the silence. All eyes had been focused on him from the moment he opened the conference room door and appeared.
President Cha Insoo nodded.
"That's right. I called you because I was curious. And you don't have to call me 'Mr. President' anymore. But call me whatever makes you comfortable."
"Ah, is that so? I understand. Then I'll call you President. And if you're curious about something, you could've just called me, why go through the trouble of calling me in?"
Yooshin muttered, but it was by no means a monologue. At his words, the faces of several ministers stiffened. Someone frowned at Yooshin's rude attitude, and another cleared his throat, revealing their discomfort. And the Minister of National Defense stood up from his seat as if he could no longer endure it.
"Look here, Hunter Cheon!"
His voice echoed through the conference room. Other ministers looked at him in surprise.
"Who do you think you are? Where do you think you are to show such a rude attitude?"
When Yooshin didn't say anything, he continued in an even more agitated voice.
"To show such an attitude in front of the President and the State Council members, in this place, which is the highest decision-making body in the Republic of Korea! No matter how outstanding your abilities are, shouldn't you observe basic etiquette?"
The air in the conference room froze. 'No, why is that person having a sudden outburst again?'
President Cha Insoo and the other ministers' gazes shifted between Yooshin and the Minister of National Defense.
"To act so lightly in front of people who work day and night for our country's security and national interest, are you really a citizen of the Republic of Korea? This is why people who haven't served in the military should have to serve."
At the minister's last words, several people in the conference room shook their heads. Why on earth did he bring up the military all of a sudden? What if Cheon Yooshin gets offended and naturalizes somewhere else like Kang Minho did?
At that moment, Yooshin slowly stood up from his seat. Still with a smile on his lips. And he opened his mouth.
"So?"
Yooshin's words were short and simple. However, the Minister of National Defense seemed to be struck dumb and froze. Cheon Yooshin began to walk slowly toward the minister. The closer he got, the paler the Minister of National Defense's face became. At the same time, the tension in the conference room began to reach its peak.