Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Recruiting Smith
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The key figures of Mad Castle gathered once again.
“We'll destroy the Chinese government's gate.”
Kang Il-seop made the decision after hearing Bae Wang-sik's report.
“I was going to leave it be if it helped with scouting Azelan, but ultimately, the information we're gathering is superior.”
No one objected, as they already knew how dangerous the Chinese reconnaissance agents' work had been.
But this wasn't the only gate they had to deal with.
“And we need to destroy the gate on the uninhabited island in Korea as well.”
It was a task they had been postponing until now.
They had left it alone because it was an asset of the Republic of Korea, but that was no longer the case.
With the Inhuman Races now established on the Azelan Continent, they couldn't afford to let others intrude.
In fact, from Mad Castle's perspective, the most troublesome gate was the one on the uninhabited Korean island.
“We're still negotiating with the government about that, but there's a problem.”
This was an issue Kang Il-seop had been consistently monitoring.
“Is it because of the Korea-US-Japan Gate Agreement?”
“That's right. The agreement has effectively fallen through, but Japan is blatantly bringing it up. From the Korean government's standpoint, handing it over to us, who have declared ourselves a transnational entity, has become a burden.”
The gate on the uninhabited island was included in the terms of the three-nation agreement.
Handing such a place over to Mad Castle carried a significant political burden.
The view that Mad Castle was essentially the Korean government was already widespread, and this would be seen as a symbolic acknowledgment of that.
“Even if the agreement falls through, it's likely the Korean government will hold onto the gate.”
“Exactly.”
“Why is Japan suddenly doing this? We haven't had any contact with them so far.”
“It's not certain yet. But it's clear they're openly trying to keep us in check. They're even withholding information about those Barak bastards.”
Bae Wang-sik frowned.
“Hiding information about Barak, of all things…”
The situation was beyond annoying; it was infuriating.
“Could it be a move to stir up issues for their domestic politics?”
Until now, Japan had often resolved its internal turmoil by targeting Korea.
But Kang Il-seop's assessment was different.
“It's hard to dismiss it as a bluff. They know how sensitive we are to information about the Barak. If they're doing this knowing that, we have to assume they have something to rely on.”
“The only one Japan could be relying on is the US, right?”
“That's right.”
“What's the situation with the US?”
“On the surface, they're quiet. They seem to be walking on eggshells around us since the summoning gate incident.”
The long meeting continued after that. But as long as they didn't know Japan's intentions, no one could reach a clear conclusion.
“For now, let's wait and see what Japan is preparing. We're getting information through the US anyway.”
Kang Il-seop wasn't just sitting on his hands.
Japan's intelligence was supposed to be shared with the US, and Kang Il-seop was receiving it.
“That being said, I think we need to bring Smith over to our side.”
Kang Il-seop brought up something he had been contemplating for a long time.
“Smith?”
It was a request no one had anticipated.
Smith, the former Director of the US Hunter Management Bureau, was currently imprisoned in a special facility.
The charge was leaking classified information.
In the US, it was a felony, so he couldn't avoid incarceration despite his years of dedicated service to the government.
Fortunately, his sentence was reduced due to extenuating circumstances, and he was being held in a government facility rather than a regular prison.
“The first reason we need him is his ability. And the second is that he'll help Mad Castle's image as a transnational organization.”
Currently, Mad Castle consisted of fifty people in total: thirty residing at the headquarters and twenty who commuted.
There was also the Guseong Group's hundred-person support team, but their manpower was still insufficient to operate on a global scale.
Above all, they were severely lacking in central control and external personnel, which was a rather serious problem.
Back when he was the director of Korea's Hunter Management Bureau, he could gather information from every agency in the Republic of Korea, including overseas special agents.
Now, unable to utilize any of those resources, what they could do was limited.
“But will Smith accept?”
“We have to make him accept. He's probably very disappointed right now.”
The US government entering into an active cooperative relationship with the Royal Club was not what Smith had wanted.
“Even so, it won't be easy.”
Even Bae Wang-sik thought that Smith's joining them would be a great help.
“I'll try to persuade him.”
No one opposed Kang Il-seop's opinion.
Everyone knew what kind of relationship Kang Il-seop and Smith had.
Wanting him despite their past animosity meant he was deemed that necessary.
“I plan to use what happened in New York as a bargaining chip.”
Min Ha-na played a decisive role in the New York disaster, but there had been no negotiations or compensation yet.
They hadn't done it for a reward, but it had plenty of political leverage.
If necessary, there was no reason not to use it.
“Then let's end the meeting here. I'll find out what's happening in Japan as quickly as possible.”
“Yes. In the meantime, I'll go take a look around the Azelan Continent.”
Once the long meeting ended, everyone moved busily to fulfill their roles.
* * *
Kang Il-seop met Smith three days later.
A quiet rural town on the outskirts of Washington.
As he reached the entrance of a vast ranch, someone approached Kang Il-seop.
He looked like an ordinary ranch hand, but Kang Il-seop knew the truth.
“Follow me.”
This place, disguised as a ranch, was a US government protection facility.
It primarily housed criminals with top-secret information, and visits were rarely permitted.
The occasional visits that were allowed took place not inside the ranch, but in a small, simple facility outside.
—Surveillance cameras cannot be turned off.
Even though the visit had been granted through political pressure, they still had to meet in a place with cameras.
“You can wait here.”
It was a small warehouse built where the ranch's boundary fence had been torn down.
Inside, only a metal desk and two chairs sat forlornly, giving the room a lifeless feel.
As he took a seat under the dim light and looked around, he saw cameras brazenly mounted in the four corners.
“A prison would be better.”
Someone would probably hear that sentiment.
He waited like that for ten minutes.
Someone entered through the opposite door.
A middle-aged man appeared, dressed in a white t-shirt and cotton pants.
Though his status had changed to that of a prisoner, his physique was still imposing. But the intensity in his eyes, which had always been so striking, was gone.
“I was expecting family.”
“That might still happen. You never know the future.”
Smith sat down opposite him with a smile.
Then, a stiff voice came through a speaker mounted on the wall.
—The visiting time is ten minutes.
Hearing this, Kang Il-seop frowned.
“I'll decide the visiting time. We'll talk until I deem it sufficient, so you'd best understand that.”
—Ten minutes.
The voice from the speaker sounded like a declaration. Kang Il-seop didn't hold back either.
“I came here legitimately through negotiation. If you want to ruin that arrangement, go ahead. The moment I leave, I'll do what I've been holding back.”
Kang Il-seop continued, his voice firm.
“Something very interesting will happen. Because of your judgment, the US government will face global condemnation and suffer losses in countless future negotiations. It all depends on your answer right now.”
Kang Il-seop finished, staring at the camera.
“Make your choice. I'm confident I can turn the US upside down. How about you?”
After a moment of silence, the voice returned.
—The time limit is rescinded.
Kang Il-seop shrugged, and Smith smiled.
“Showing off your power as soon as you arrive?”
“I held back twice during the negotiations, so I'm entitled to this much.”
“Twice? Was there something else besides the surveillance?”
Kang Il-seop tapped the empty desk and said.
“I asked if we could at least have some water while we talked, and they said absolutely not. It's not alcohol, just water.”
“Heh heh. That is a bit disappointing.”
Smith laughed pleasantly.
It was strange.
Why did Kang Il-seop feel so familiar?
They seemed to be having a sharp exchange, but their tone had shifted to that of old friends.
“What's the reason you went to such lengths to meet me?”
“You must have a rough idea.”
“If it's a scouting offer, I refuse. I still love America.”
“I love America too.”
“You do?”
“To be precise, I love the Earth. Since America is a country on Earth, I naturally love it.”
“Haha. Then let me ask you. Is your affection for Korea and America the same?”
A question that hit the mark.
“Of course not. I prioritize Korea over America. That will never change.”
“Then there's no reason for me to go to a place like that, is there?”
“No. That's all the more reason you should come. Isn't it possible that, because of you, Mad Castle could save America? Something like that happened not too long ago.”
This time, Kang Il-seop launched a counterattack.
Smith was at a loss for words.
A brief silence fell after they had each landed a blow. Then, Smith was the first to speak.
“If we had built a friendship from the start instead of competing, we would have become good friends.”
“I don't think so. If I hadn't seen your true self, I wouldn't find you as fascinating as I do now.”
“My fascination? I'd like to hear what that is.”
“What else? Everything else about you is terrible, but you certainly get the job done.”
“It seems you didn't come here to persuade me.”
“This is for persuasion.”
Kang Il-seop took a document from his coat.
“This is a transcript of our conversation at the time of the incident. When we first attacked Devister Nolan, the US government promised to hand over all related materials. But they omitted some of it.”
“Is that important?”
For the first time, Smith's expression hardened. But Kang Il-seop wasn't finished.
“Your lawyer seemed to think it was very important. With this, it's not leaking secrets, but fulfilling a promise. It means you'd be innocent.”
“Stop.”
Kang Il-seop looked at Smith for a moment before asking.
“Why did you do it? There's no way you didn't know about this. And doesn't the US have a record of this conversation as well?”
Smith didn't answer.
He had the same expression as when he had turned himself in and simply admitted to everything during the trial.
Kang Il-seop understood his heart.
“You didn't want to expose America's shame.”
If Smith were acquitted, the fact that the US government hid documents about the mana gun would be revealed.
Not only did they break a promise, but they also tried to monopolize information on a next-generation weapon.
This would give the entire world a pretext to attack the US.
Smith had taken the fall for everything.
“Let me ask you something.”
As Kang Il-seop had anticipated everything, this time Smith asked a question.
“Why didn't you reveal it?”
“Because the research was bound to fail anyway.”
Kang Il-seop didn't hide it.
This was something he had already confirmed through Oh Min-jae.
—The key researcher died at our hands, didn't he? It wasn't left behind as data. It was in the heads of the Alchemist Guild's Leader and Vice-Leader. With that gone, it'll take at least ten years. Even if they manage to make it, it's useless on Earth. Its performance isn't better than currently developed guns.
Its only advantage was that it didn't need bullets.
That sole advantage was being able to pass through gates, but it was a project they couldn't be sure of even after investing ten years.
—In fact, I'd probably have a better chance.
The mana gun had to be solved through alchemy from the start. It only borrowed its design from modern science; its operating principle was based on alchemy.
“In any case, I was a bit surprised. The US government must have known the facts we're discussing. Why did they lock you up in a facility like this?”
“I have only one thing to say. I still love America.”
Kang Il-seop could feel his sincerity, but Smith had no intention of working for another government in the first place.
It would be a denial of his own past.
He believed that even his current status as an imprisoned criminal was an unavoidable decision made for the sake of America.
And he believed that the US government imprisoning him was also unavoidable.
The romantic notion that he had leaked secrets for the US government, and the US government had no choice but to imprison him for the sake of fairness.
Kang Il-seop didn't want to acknowledge Smith's romanticism.
“I was just like you. I still love Korea and am proud to be Korean. But in all matters, I prioritize Mad Castle. Why do you think that is?”
Smith didn't want to answer. He had a feeling Kang Il-seop was about to say something he couldn't escape. And his prediction was not wrong.
“Where is the America you love?”
“I don't understand the point of your question.”
“Is it the US government? Or the American people? Or is it America itself?”
Smith fell silent. Seizing the opportunity, Kang Il-seop changed his question.
“What is America?”
“It seems you've found the answer.”
“One thing is certain. Working only for the Korean government ultimately means failing to protect Korea. I'm still working for Korea. It's just that the scope has expanded to include the entire world, including Korea.”
Kang Il-seop pushed the document toward Smith.
“You and I are similar. So take your time and find the answer.”
Kang Il-seop stood up from his seat.
“Go outside and see what's happening with your own eyes. It's a world you absolutely must see.”
Kang Il-seop was confident.
‘Because you and I are very much alike.’
Their positions were different, but Kang Il-seop and Smith were cut from the same cloth. That was why he was so sure of this persuasion.
“The visit is over.”
After saying this, Kang Il-seop looked at his watch.
Nine minutes.
The time he had spent with Smith.