Chapter 143
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: They're Trying to Eliminate Me During the Mission
Step, step.
William, walking down the company hallway, was clearly not in a good mood.
An expressionless face, a look of displeasure in his eyes.
His wide strides showed he was feeling intense anger.
It was because of a single official document.
The company had tracked the unknown individual who attacked the safe house and the city, and had successfully identified a person believed to be a prime suspect.
On the surface, at least.
But its authenticity was questionable, as it was linked to Gary Chang, the Team Leader of the External Cooperation Department, and Richard Hennessy, a member of the opposing faction.
He suspected they were plotting something, and the document stated that Kanghyeok was to be deployed.
Step, step.
Striding down the hallway as employees moved aside to the left and right, William stopped in front of a door.
It was Gary Chang's office. William knocked lightly on the door with a veined fist.
There was no response.
Still, William stood before the door and spoke in a low voice.
“I know you're in there. Let's have a cup of tea.”
One minute.
That was how long it took for the door to open.
Gary Chang opened the door with his brow furrowed, and William grabbed the door, pulling it toward himself.
“May I have a word with you?”
Gary Chang, frowning, glanced down the hall, spotted the other employees, and then swung the door open.
“Come in.”
As if not wanting any unnecessary attention, Gary Chang invited William into his office and closed the door the moment William stepped inside.
Screech.
Pushing his chair back, Gary Chang sat behind his desk and reached for a Chinese-style teacup and teapot.
Trickle.
As he poured the light green tea into the cup, Gary Chang spoke.
“What did you wish to discuss?”
William also pulled a chair from the side and sat opposite Gary Chang. He crossed his legs, placed his clasped hands on top, and stared at Gary Chang as if to pierce through him.
“I saw the official document.”
“Ah, that.”
“Yes, the one stating you directly assigned Kanghyeok to a mission without any consultation with me.”
William’s voice was calm.
There was no simmering anger, no bewilderment, not even a hint of suspicion.
He simply asked the question calmly, but Gary Chang could only move his lips, unable to offer an immediate answer.
Clink.
Until the moment he placed the teacup in front of William, Gary Chang couldn't meet his eyes.
The faint floral scent of the tea spread, but a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere filled Gary Chang’s office.
“Are you here to protest, perhaps?”
“I’m curious. About your intentions, that is. Why you proceeded with this without seeking any cooperation from me.”
Gary Chang rubbed his forehead, then met William's eyes.
“It was an order from the higher-ups. I didn't do it; the directors gave the order directly.”
“The directors?”
“Yes, and the Chairman gave the final approval.”
William narrowed his eyes and picked up the teacup.
Only after watching Gary Chang drink his tea first did he bring the cup to his own lips.
The smooth, fragrant tea spread in his mouth before going down slickly.
“Hmm.”
Having managed to collect his emotions somewhat, William pressed his lips firmly together before opening them.
“This is a bit disconcerting. Kanghyeok is not an ordinary agent; he holds the position of a safe house manager.”
“Yes, which is why he was assigned to this mission.”
William raised his teacup to his lips, giving a look that said, *go on*.
Clink.
Putting down his teacup, Gary Chang, in a movement that seemed to hide his nervousness, pulled a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket.
Click!
“Hoo, the safe house was attacked. Kanghyeok is the team leader, so it was decided he would be deployed on the mission to eliminate those who attacked it.”
“So, because he's in charge, he has to take responsibility?”
“Precisely.”
On paper, there was nothing wrong with it.
Anyone would have to nod in agreement, and it could even be seen as a lenient gesture, giving Kanghyeok—who, as a manager, couldn't be easily assigned to missions like a regular agent—a chance for revenge.
The problem, however, was that Gary Chang was the one who had orchestrated it.
Since the other directors had approved it and it had even received the Chairman's final approval, there was nothing William could do.
‘Well, they landed a solid blow.’
Feeling as if he’d actually been punched in the face, William covered his mouth with his palm and rubbed his cheek with his fingers.
“Is that all you wished to say?”
William's teacup was empty.
Yet, Gary Chang didn't refill it, and his words were a polite way of saying, *if you’re done talking, get out of my sight*.
Instead of answering, William reached into his pocket and touched his cigar case.
But he didn't take it out.
Once lit, it would have to burn for too long.
That was the downside of cigars.
Usually, he smoked them to find solace amidst his busy daily life, but it wasn't something to be smoked with someone he didn't want to face, like Gary Chang.
“I understand.”
“I hope any misunderstanding has been cleared up.”
“What misunderstanding? I was just puzzled that this proceeded without a single word to me.”
Their conversation didn't reflect their true feelings.
This was because they were in the company, two people holding the titles of executives.
Believing he had landed a heavy blow on William using the company's rules as a weapon, Gary Chang's eyes curved into crescents.
“Take care. I'll see you at the next meeting.”
William stared at Gary Chang with his lips pressed tightly together, then mirrored him by pulling up the corners of his mouth.
“Before that…”
As Gary Chang raised his eyebrows, creating fine wrinkles on his forehead, William continued.
“I'd like to see the proposal.”
“The proposal?”
“If an official document was issued, a proposal including an operation plan must have been prepared. I want to see it.”
A wave of bewilderment washed over Gary Chang’s eyes.
“That’s confidential and cannot be disclosed…”
“That rule only applies to rank-and-file employees, doesn't it?”
Thud.
William placed his clasped hands on Gary Chang’s desk.
“As the direct superior of Kanghyeok, who will be deployed on this mission, I am requesting to review the proposal.”
A muscle in Gary Chang’s cheek twitched.
“Since when were you his direct super…”
“You can go to HR later and look up Kanghyeok’s contract. It should specify who received the contract, and who has the authority to decide matters of life and death during his mission performance.”
*If you’re going to use company rules as a weapon, I’ll do the same.*
William, making his intentions blatant, leaned back in his chair as if he had no intention of leaving until he was shown the proposal.
A thick silence, heavy enough to hear each other's breathing, fell.
William's expression was serene, and while Gary Chang was also expressionless, he seemed to be desperately trying to hide his inner thoughts.
“Ahem.”
After a long moment, Gary Chang swiveled in his chair toward the computer and grabbed the mouse.
Click, click. Whirrr.
The laser printer on one side of the office spat out three sheets of paper. Gary Chang personally walked over, retrieved the papers, and placed them in front of William.
“This is the proposal.”
Gary Chang said, his voice reluctant.
Since other executives could also view it, the proposal itself was clean.
The reason he was hesitant to show it to William was the same reason William didn't trust him.
They were adversaries.
Furthermore, it was a relationship between one who sought to eliminate Kanghyeok and one who sought to protect him.
“Thank you.”
“As you can see, there's nothing remarkable about it. The personnel being deployed are solid as well.”
Feeling his mouth go dry for some reason, Gary Chang finished speaking and moistened his lips with his tongue.
It was right after that.
William took out his phone and, before Gary Chang could stop him, took a photo of the proposal.
Thump!
At the unexpected action, Gary Chang jolted, but William put his phone back in his pocket as if nothing had happened.
“I feel I’m taking up too much of your time.”
Then, rising from his chair, he looked down at Gary Chang with a smile.
“I'll review this slowly back in my office. Thank you for your time.”
William turned and walked toward the door.
He could feel a piercing gaze on his back, but he knew Gary Chang wouldn't be able to stop him.
‘If he had his way, he’d probably want to tear me to shreds.’
He almost wished Gary Chang would try something like that.
He could then use it as a pretext to open a disciplinary hearing and dig into whatever scheme Gary Chang was plotting.
But Gary Chang wasn't foolish enough to do something so rash within the company.
For now, he would be satisfied with this.
Feeling he had done what he could just by getting his hands on the proposal, William opened the door.
Bzzz!
Kanghyeok was having dinner, sitting across from Leila.
They were in the living room of his home, the safe house. There was no smell of luxurious or appetizing food.
They were living together, just the two of them, without any hired help.
They took turns preparing meals, but unfortunately, their cooking skills were about the same.
The limited types of food they could eat for maintenance also played a part.
Broccoli, whole wheat bread, chicken breast, and a large bottle of Sriracha sauce they had bought in bulk.
The boiled pork neck, meant for fat and protein intake, was the most appetizing thing they had.
Bzzz!
As if urging him to answer, the phone vibrated. Kanghyeok pulled it from his pocket and showed the screen to Leila, who was asking with her eyes who it was from.
William.
Click.
(Were you in the middle of a meal?)
Kanghyeok signaled for Leila, who was about to give him some space, to stay seated and placed the phone on the table.
Click.
“I'm with Leila. You can speak freely.”
(Hmm, your next mission has been decided. Not by me, though.)
He had put the call on speakerphone, so William's voice reached both Leila and Kanghyeok.
“Was it decided by the other directors?”
(Yes.)
Leila now knew about the existence of factions within the company.
She crossed her arms, looking down at the phone with a serious expression. Kanghyeok, too, took out a cigarette from his pocket and waited for William to continue.
(I've emailed you the mission proposal. As you'll see, it looks like they're plotting something.)
“What kind of mission is it?”
(On the surface, it's retaliation against the one who attacked the safe house. But given the other directors' involvement, I can't be sure if that guy is really the target.)
Knowing that Iron Mask had already gone into hiding, evading the Errant Priests' surveillance, Kanghyeok frowned and put the cigarette to his lips.
“I think so too.”
Slide.
Leila’s phone, displaying the email from William, was placed in front of Kanghyeok.
Kanghyeok lit his cigarette, picked up the phone, and William's low voice flowed out.
(The personnel you'll be moving with are two Deputy Team Leaders. You know what that means.)
“Yes.”
Kanghyeok had mentioned it before.
That the opposing faction's executives would bring in Deputy Team Leader-level agents.
The timing was damnably perfect.
From sending Kanghyeok after someone other than Iron Mask, to the fact that the personnel moving with him were all Deputy Team Leaders.
(It seems they have another motive.)
“They're trying to eliminate me during the mission, aren't they?”
Leila's face hardened drastically, but Kanghyeok nonchalantly picked up his lighter and flicked the lid open.
Click! Fwoosh!
(…You don't seem surprised.)
“It’s something I was prepared for.”
(Since when?)
“For a while now.”
It was from the time he had rescued Jeff Black.
From the moment he learned of the opposing faction in the company, he had wondered if a situation like this would one day arise.
He became certain when he found out that Iron Mask was connected to the opposing faction.
So, he had long been mentally prepared.
If this mission was a setup by the opposing directors, it was like walking into a death trap.
The Deputy Team Leaders, who were supposed to be his comrades, would have already been given the order to eliminate Kanghyeok.
Being deployed on such a mission meant he was meant to die, no matter what.
Kanghyeok looked at Leila.
Her face was deathly pale, as if she were looking at a man whose death had already been decided.