Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Wait. I'll Be There (2)
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*Tap, tap.*
A soft tapping sound echoed each time Leila's nail touched the screen.
After bringing up the desired information, Leila handed the phone to Kanghyeok and began her briefing.
“We've finished identifying the kidnappers. The leader is Dive. He's thirty-eight, a former mercenary.”
The information Leila was providing was the same as what was in the email from William.
“Now he's the head of a local faction.”
“An insignificant figure.”
“There’s a considerable distance between his area of operation and where Jeff was taken, isn’t there?”
“It can’t be a coincidence.”
Kanghyeok was of the same opinion.
He looked up from the phone, met Leila's gaze, and twisted the corner of his lip.
“They must have tailed him.”
“The motive is unclear. What’s questionable is that the mercenaries accompanying Jeff failed to notice they were being followed.”
“They're private mercenaries.”
Kanghyeok had been a mercenary himself before joining the Company.
So he knew their ecosystem well.
They operate without considering variables or diverse situations, focusing solely on the job at hand.
“Information gathering on the terrorists will be conducted locally.”
“Apparently, they've hired local mercenaries. They'll be our guides.”
Leila reached out and zoomed in on the bottom of the email.
“And there was also advice to resolve the situation with money, if possible.”
“Money?”
“William says he'll prepare it.”
In a way, it was the easiest method.
The kidnappers were demanding a ransom, after all.
All they had to do was pay the money and get Jeff back.
But was that enough?
Would playing by the kidnappers' rules be a satisfactory outcome?
In response to the question in Leila's eyes, Kanghyeok tapped his ash into the ashtray.
Then, with a look that said *why ask the obvious*, he spoke.
“They kidnapped a key figure of the Company.”
Moreover, they had kidnapped someone with whom Kanghyeok and Leila were at least somewhat acquainted.
“Then there's only one way.”
Leila said, her expression showing she anticipated Kanghyeok's next words, as he brought the shortened cigarette to his lips.
“Jeff's rescue comes first.”
“Then, annihilation.”
Leila nodded with a deadpan expression, but she radiated an air of satisfaction.
This was the most Company-like way of handling things.
It was the opposite of the Company's current, incomprehensible actions—the old way, which had always valued tradition, dignity, and overwhelming force.
“I’m just asking, but are you coming with me?”
At Kanghyeok's question, Leila narrowed the space between her brows before lifting one corner of her mouth.
Then, with an expression and gaze unbecoming of a secretary, she opened her mouth.
“You still treat me like a supporter.”
“It could be dangerous.”
“I'm still coming. I'm your secretary, after all.”
Kanghyeok gave a faint smile.
“I’m just asking, but what will you do about Yohan?”
“He's staying behind. This isn't a place for him.”
“True, that makes sense.”
It wasn't just qualifications and status that Yohan lacked.
He lacked the most important thing: skill.
No matter how much Kanghyeok had trained him, the period was too short for him to reach a level where he could be deployed in a real operation.
If they were mercenaries, the story might have been different.
But they were agents of the Company, employees of an organization where only the best of the best could work.
“Then we're all set.”
“Transportation?”
*Vzzzzt!*
As soon as Kanghyeok asked, Leila's phone buzzed.
She took it back, glanced briefly at the screen, and slipped it into her pocket.
“It's a message from Olga. She says William is sending his private jet.”
“And the suits?”
“She said they've been prepared as well.”
Then everyone's preparations were complete.
All that remained was to rescue Jeff and annihilate Dive's organization.
Kanghyeok took out a bag and began to pack the personal firearms he had received from the Master.
*Click.*
As he fastened the buckle on the bag, Leila opened the door for him.
In the room, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, Kanghyeok moved toward the door.
***
*Clang! Screech!*
The iron door opened, and light crept into the dark, sealed room.
“Ugh...”
Jeff let out a pained breath and lifted his flickering eyes, his gaze meeting Dive's as he approached with the light.
“Everyone out. And close the door.”
Seeing the men move at his command, Jeff realized Dive was their leader.
*Clang.*
Once the door was closed, Dive took a towel from his pocket and wiped the sweat from Jeff's face.
But it wasn't a gentle or humanitarian gesture.
It was more like the emotionless motion of wiping a stain or dust from an unimportant souvenir.
“Guh!”
Jeff flinched as the towel touched his broken nose, and the chains connected to his wrists clanked.
“Get that away from me.”
“Do you understand what I'm saying?”
Dive spoke in a Middle Eastern language, and Jeff glared at him and nodded.
Dive blinked in surprise, then brought a chair and sat in front of Jeff.
*Click.*
*Fwoosh!*
He took out a cigarette, lit it, and blew smoke in Jeff's face.
“Cough, cough.”
The acrid smell of smoke made Jeff burst into a cough before he parted his lips.
“What's the reason for all this?”
Jeff waited for an answer, but Dive's mouth remained closed for a long time.
Then Dive gave a cynical smile, a hint of bitterness in his eyes.
“You don't need to know.”
Jeff focused on Dive's eyes, then lowered his head and gave a small nod.
He couldn't be sure, but it seemed as if Dive had been hired by someone to kidnap him.
His eyes said as much.
‘This is dangerous.’
It would be fortunate if they thought he was just an employee of Milli-Weapon.
But what if that wasn't the case?
What if they knew he was an employee of the Company when they kidnapped him?
What if their goal was the knowledge inside his head?
He had the confidence to withstand torture.
But if they used drugs like hallucinogens or truth serums, he wasn't confident he could keep his mouth shut.
Jeff ran his tongue over his desert-dry lips and spoke in a hoarse voice.
“It's probably for some pathetic reason. I have no intention of playing along with this nonsense, so just kill me already.”
It was an intentional provocation.
It was also a provocation meant to get Dive to kill him before his knowledge and skills fell into the hands of a dangerous group.
*Smack!*
But Dive only went as far as striking Jeff hard across the face.
“You old man, soaked in peace. Do you still not know what kind of place this is?”
Jeff barely managed to turn his bloodshot eyes toward Dive.
“Here, you need strength even to decide to die. This is a place where strength rules everything, where you can do anything as long as you have power.”
Dive grabbed a handful of Jeff's hair and pressed their foreheads together. Then, with eyes shimmering with rage, he stared straight at Jeff.
“Do you know how my mother died?”
*Haaa, haaa.*
As Jeff exhaled shallow breaths, Dive continued in a low voice.
“My father cut her throat. Just because she didn't have the strength to protect herself.”
A lie.
That's what Jeff felt.
Because he thought it was absurd to kill one's wife for such a pathetic reason.
“My father framed my mother for a crime she didn't commit. He claimed it was an honor killing, and it worked. Overnight, people's opinion of him changed. From a useless cripple who couldn't function to a man who knew honor.”
This felt genuine.
His voice and his gaze.
He could feel the sincerity in them.
“Foolish. Are you flaunting your power to appease your mother's spirit?”
“I've already done that.”
Dive drew a thumb across his own throat.
Guessing what he had done to his own father, Jeff shut his eyes, but Dive forced them open.
“Listen up, old man. Your part isn't over yet.”
“Just kill me.”
Dive rolled his eyes and replied.
“Since I went to the trouble of kidnapping you, I might as well make some money.”
It was a carefully chosen answer.
It was to avoid leaking the information that he was acting under orders.
They had demanded absolute secrecy and had said that if the orders were ever leaked, they would not only retrieve the equipment but might also eliminate Dive.
It was an arrogant thing to say, but there was no point in making unnecessary enemies.
And if he just did as they said, he'd be able to buy even better equipment.
The reason for the kidnapping was partly their orders, but also to raise funds.
“Money?”
“I sent a video of you. The suits will be coming soon to pay your ransom.”
Jeff rolled his eyes, his mind racing.
“Who did you send it to? Did you get confirmation that they're coming to rescue me?”
“Don't worry. It's not the US.”
A sneering tone.
But Dive couldn't have imagined that this would actually give Jeff hope.
“You sent it to the company on my business card.”
“Making an enemy of the US is a good way to die young.”
“The US isn't the only one.”
“You seem to be imagining things. For your age, you have a poor grasp of reality.”
“Keh, heh.”
“Some other guys will come to pay your ransom. Just in case, I'll keep you alive until I get the money.”
Jeff lowered his head.
He seemed to be despairing, which made Dive sneer, but Jeff was actually smiling.
“Did they say who was coming?”
“An Asian guy and his secretary. You know them?”
With his head still bowed, Jeff's lips curled even further upward as he replied.
“Perhaps.”
Two figures came to Jeff's mind.
Kanghyeok and Leila.
The Kanghyeok Jeff remembered was a man with a short career but who was currently drawing the most attention in the Company. He also knew that Kanghyeok had recently been given Team Leader-level treatment.
You shouldn't underestimate a Team Leader-level agent.
They were all monsters.
And that Kanghyeok was coming.
Along with Leila, a former supporter agent.
Just imagining it made Jeff feel as relieved as if he had already been rescued.
“Hmph!”
Dive, displeased with Jeff's expression, scowled and spat out words from twisted lips.
“Good that you know them. I'll send you all to the afterlife together.”
“So you plan to attack them.”
Jeff looked at Dive, the corners of his eyes drooping.
He knew it was unwise to provoke him needlessly, but he couldn't help it when he could so clearly picture Dive's end.
“I wish you luck.”
Dive, who had been about to get up from his chair, froze and stared at Jeff.
Then he snorted.
*Thwack!*
He kicked Jeff in the face, knocking him unconscious.
“Old man, how dare you...”
Dive wiped the blood from the sole of his boot on Jeff's clothes and walked out the door.
***
*Vrooom.*
Kabul, Afghanistan.
Sitting side-by-side in the back of a taxi, Kanghyeok was looking at his watch while Leila exchanged messages with William on her phone.
*Beep.*
[En route to destination.]
*Beep.*
[Report any unusual activity immediately.]
*Beep.*
[Understood.]
Leila placed the phone on her lap and spoke to Kanghyeok in English.
“We'll be there soon.”
The taxi driver sent a curious glance through the rearview mirror at the unusual combination of a quiet voice, formal suits, an Asian man, and a Caucasian woman.
Leila, catching his eye in the mirror, gestured with her chin for him to focus on the road, but the driver kept sneaking glances.
“Time remaining?”
“Another three to five minutes.”
Kanghyeok ran his tongue over his teeth and looked out the car window.
They were leaving the outskirts of the city.
Buildings and people began to appear sporadically, and a long road stretching through the desolate landscape came into Kanghyeok's view.
Soon, they would meet the mercenaries who were to be their guides.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“As long as they don't cause trouble, I don't care.”
Despite his words, Kanghyeok wasn't pleased about meeting with mercenaries.
He hated getting third parties involved.
However, they needed guidance from someone who knew the area, and it was a clear fact that their help was necessary to rescue Jeff as quickly as possible.
Kanghyeok closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, while Leila craned her neck to get a better look at an SUV parked on the side of the road.
“I see them over there.”
The taxi slowed to a stop, and two people got out of the SUV.
Tough jeans and bulletproof vests.
Deep-set eyes in a face with ruddy, pale skin.
They were typical mercenaries, former US soldiers.