Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: A Devil's Proposal
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February 5, 2005.
Gani Bennet, Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, watched as a drone was mounted onto a medium-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.
The current time was 7:30 AM.
His face was flushed with excitement and tension for the operation set to begin in two hours.
“According to the intelligence report, the North Korean nuclear developers are confirmed to be leaving the country today.”
“What was the total number of personnel?”
Chief of Staff Gani asked again in response to his aide's report.
As if to prevent any mistakes, the aide glanced at the documents again before continuing.
“There will be a total of four vehicles. A total of fourteen people are scheduled to be on board—four of them are North Korean developers, and four are Iranian developers. The rest are Iranian intelligence agents and drivers.”
The Chief of Staff nodded silently.
Then, as if struck by a thought, he stared at the unmanned aircraft for a long moment before shaking his head.
“I'm worried whether that flimsy-looking drone can actually carry out the mission. On top of that, it’s not even one of ours—a drone powerhouse—but a piece of hardware made in South Korea, of all places. I wonder what the Minister of Defense was thinking.”
“From what I’ve heard, its performance has already been thoroughly verified.”
“I've heard that much. But I still find it hard to believe that such a small unmanned aircraft can surpass the Harpy.”
The aide nodded, thinking there was some truth to his words.
To put it bluntly, the idea that this tiny aircraft not only had loitering capabilities but could also remotely track, search for, and even bomb targets from the air...
Compared to the Harpy, which can only track enemy radar signals, it was like comparing an eagle to a chick. The fact that a country like South Korea developed it was not easy to accept.
“Still, we can’t just ignore the claims of a country that developed the HVP and smart artillery.”
But in the end, that was the point he had to concede.
The HVP system, which has demonstrated a nearly 100 percent defense rate against all types of projectiles except ballistic missiles.
And the fact that it was produced by the same country that manufactures smart shells capable of accurately hitting targets over 100 kilometers away.
And was that all?
Considering that the Polar Bear, which recently began being supplied to the military, was also produced in South Korea, he might have to completely change his perception of the country.
“In any case, tell them I wish them success in the operation.”
With those brief words of encouragement, the Chief of Staff got into his vehicle.
As the vehicle departed, the words of the Minister of Defense who had ordered this operation crossed his mind.
Thinking back, he found himself agreeing with the sentiment.
“A devil's proposal... Indeed, calling it that wouldn't be wrong. In the end, we had no choice but to make this decision, while they get what they want without lifting a finger. I don't know who made such a proposal, but I'd like to see their face.”
******
An industrial area near Isfahan, Iran.
Hong Seung-won, who had been leading the collaboration with Iranian nuclear physicists, was hurrying to return to North Korea.
No matter how comfortable life had been here, it couldn't compare to life back home.
The full year and seven months abroad had been an ordeal for him, so today felt like a dream.
[You've worked hard all this time.]
The Iranian technicians they had worked with approached him for a handshake, their faces filled with regret.
Inwardly, he was cheering, but he managed to hide his expression and shared a reluctant hug with them before immediately getting into the vehicle.
“You must be thrilled, Comrade Hong Seung-won. The position of Deputy Director of the Munitions Industry Department of the Workers' Party is practically yours when you get back, isn't it?”
One of the researchers who had come to Iran with him offered his congratulations on the promotion in advance.
Just thinking about it was enough to make the corners of his mouth turn up.
But once again, he forced himself to maintain a neutral expression as he spoke.
“Why would I be the only one? The Great Leader will surely reward all of you comrades for your hard work.”
“Do you really think so?”
“It goes without saying.”
Hong Seung-won, his spirits high, spoke with assurance.
As he watched the passing scenery, he suddenly remembered that he hadn't prepared any gifts for people back home.
“Hey, if I ask to stop at a shop for a minute, you think these Iranian bastards will throw a fit?”
“What for?”
“I just realized I haven't bought a single gift for the Party officials.”
At his words, the North Korean researchers glanced nervously at the Iranians who were driving.
They were bodyguards in name only; in reality, they were no different from minders.
The atmosphere suggested their request would be denied, so they hesitated for a long time.
[Is there a problem?]
Just then, a sharp Iranian intelligence agent asked them.
They quickly explained the situation, but as expected, the man shook his head firmly, and the vehicle turned onto the desert road leading to the airport.
“That bastard is being a real hard-ass.”
Hong Seung-won grumbled, his face full of dissatisfaction.
But for now, he had no choice but to obey them.
Suppressing his bitter feelings, he turned his gaze back to the window.
BOOM!
Just then, something fell onto the first vehicle ahead, bringing it to a sudden halt.
No, it didn't just stop—it was as if it had been bombed, sending shrapnel flying in all directions.
[Stop!]
A startled Hong Seung-won shouted urgently at the Iranian agent, but the quick-witted man instead urged the driver to speed up.
“What's happening?”
A North Korean researcher in the same vehicle as Hong Seung-won asked him, his face tense.
But how could Hong Seung-won possibly grasp the situation?
He remained silent as a clam, his eyes fixed on the vehicle ahead as it swerved erratically.
“Don't tell me we're being bombed?”
No matter how he looked at it, there seemed to be no other explanation.
Something had suddenly fallen from the sky, and the vehicle in front of them had been blown away.
And then there was the way the Iranian drivers were maneuvering the vehicles like stuntmen.
“Damn it all! Stop the car now!”
As the realization hit him, he panicked and tried to open the door to jump out, but it was locked and wouldn't budge.
[What are you doing! Open the door, now.]
Frustrated, he yelled at the Iranian agent in the front seat.
But the man seemed to ignore him completely, his attention fixed on the road ahead and the sky. At that moment, something slammed into the second vehicle.
BOOM!
“Goddamn it!”
Seeing two vehicles blown up before his very eyes, Hong Seung-won completely lost his composure.
WHACK!
Thought turned into action. He smashed the window with the hard case he was holding and tried to jump from the moving car.
SCREECH!
His sudden action finally brought the vehicle to a halt.
A torrent of words flew from the Iranian man in the front seat, but Hong Seung-won ignored him and scrambled out the window.
VROOOM!
Just as his body hit the ground and rolled, the vehicle he had been in sped off again.
“Comrade Hong Seung-won!”
The researchers' resentful cries toward their superior who had abandoned them were short-lived.
BOOM!
This time, the third vehicle, the one he had just jumped from, exploded and came to a stop.
“W-what in the world is happening?”
SCREECH!
As he stared dumbfounded at the burning vehicle, another car screeched to a halt in front of him.
“Comrade Hong Seung-won, get in, quick!”
The person shouting at him was a North Korean researcher from the fourth vehicle.
But he shook his head firmly and started running toward the desert.
“Comrade Hong Seung-won!”
The North Korean researcher in the fourth vehicle screamed after his superior.
BOOM!
But who could have known that would be the researcher's final cry?
The fourth vehicle was also destroyed by something that fell from the sky.
*Gasp, gasp!*
Hong Seung-won ran without even the strength to look back.
He was the sole survivor of the four vehicles.
His mind was consumed by a single desire: survival.
“Hah...”
He had no idea how long he had been running.
The burning vehicles had long since disappeared from view.
Yet he ran without stopping, and in the shimmering heat haze far ahead, he finally spotted what he guessed was a city.
“I'm saved.”
He moistened his parched lips with his tongue and quickened his pace.
BZZZZ!
But what was that sound, and where was it coming from?
Suddenly, a sound like the buzzing of a mosquito came from the air.
“What is that?”
He immediately looked up and saw something falling toward him.
But it was already too late to dodge.
Sure enough, with a short cry of "Ah!", the object falling toward him exploded in mid-air, spraying shrapnel everywhere.
*Thwack! Thwack!*
******
[This morning, a vehicle carrying Iranian nuclear scientists exploded on the road. Iran has attributed the incident to Israel and...]
[Israel has made no comment on the incident. However, the Iranian military, citing the presence of an Israeli unmanned aircraft loitering in the nearby airspace just before the incident, has...]
The world's media covered the tragic deaths of the nuclear physicists in Iran as major news.
However, contrary to expectations, Iran's condemnation of Israel was not particularly fierce.
This was likely because the deceased were involved in nuclear development, and they feared that escalating the issue could turn the arrows of international criticism back on themselves.
“I'm worried they might raise an issue if it's later revealed that the drone was ours.”
Representative Ahn, who was watching the news with me, expressed his concern.
Of course, that's a possibility.
But the ones who died alongside them were North Korean nuclear scientists.
Iran knows full well what that means to us, so even if they harbor resentment, they won't be able to bring it up.
“For the time being, it will be difficult for them to figure it out. We haven't announced our drone development yet, and it would be hard to claim a connection to us based on just a few centimeters of shrapnel.”
“That's true. And even if they do find out, what can they do? They were the ones collaborating with North Korea on something that puts our very fate on the line. I suppose it could become an issue with crude oil later, but if our government pushes that point, it probably won't be a major problem.”
Representative Ahn sighed as he spoke.
I responded with a faint smile and was about to focus on the news again when the U.S. State Department revealed to the press that North Korean nuclear developers were in the vehicle with the Iranian scientists at the time.
“By revealing that, it looks like they intend to silence Iran completely, don't you think?”
The same thought crossed my mind.
The world already knows about North Korea and Iran's nuclear development programs.
But for the secretive connection between the two countries to be exposed to the world like this is another matter entirely.
In other words, the U.S. might be warning them that they have the most to lose if they escalate the situation.
“By the way, North Korea's reaction is surprising, isn't it?”
North Korea was officially denying the U.S. announcement.
Then again, admitting that their nuclear technicians were killed in an explosion in Iran would only make things more awkward for them.
They're probably struggling to soothe their bitter feelings right now.
“Oh, Michael called.”
Representative Ahn mentioned it casually just as I was imagining the North Korean leadership flying into a rage.
The reason is obvious—he wants to question our involvement.
But I'm not too concerned.
The real powers in the current U.S. administration.
The people behind them are likely welcoming this incident with open arms, and in the end, they are the ones who will have to side with me.
“What did the Blue House say?”
“They did call, actually. Said they got a call from the U.S. government expressing concern. But judging by the Chief of Staff's tone, it didn't seem like something we need to worry too much about.”
It seemed things were unfolding just as I had expected.
Then there's even less reason to feel pressured.
I immediately called Michael.
[Hello, General Michael.]