First Mission: Divide and Conquer (1)
In the CIA headquarters in Virginia, USA, Peter Lindberg—a blond, blue-eyed, bearded man with a portly build—sat at his office desk wearing glasses and working when he received an incoming call.
“Long time no see, Alina.”
Peter Lindberg
CIA Analysis Division Chief
Peter Lindberg was one of Raymond Kim’s closest college friends.
“Hello, Uncle.”
“I heard you’re in Korea for a corporate site visit. How are you finding life there?”
“It’s good. It wouldn’t be bad to live here permanently, actually. Anyway, I reached out because I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor? Go ahead and tell me.”
“I’ll send you a simple email with basic information on one person shortly. Please look into him and gather detailed intel.”
“Information on a person, huh… Your side should be able to handle most of that internally. The fact that you’re coming to me suggests this isn’t some ordinary friend, am I right?”
Peter’s fingers flew across the keyboard with one hand. His monitor displayed vast stores of data on high-ranking figures from around the world, including Korea.
“But you’re really going to use a high-value asset like me for free?”
“I’ll recommend you a solid investment. I’m currently invested in Bernstein Energy myself, and my analysis suggests their stock will rise around thirty percent within the next month. If it drops instead, I’ll give you half of my Athena shares.”
“Hmm… All right. Since you’re already invested and that confident, I have no reason to doubt it. Understood. Send the information and I’ll return everything I find within an hour.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
After ending the call, Alina—wearing a white bathrobe with her pale legs crossed—sat on the sofa and stared at her darkened phone screen for a moment before setting it down. She recalled the memories she had made with Jaehyuk in New York two years earlier and made a silent vow.
He’s the first person I’ve ever felt this way about. So I absolutely will not let him go.
Meanwhile, in a motel in Seoul, Jaehyuk had moved his belongings from Suwon and was now reviewing files on the Gangryonghoe on his laptop. His phone vibrated. He answered.
“Yes, Uncle.”
The caller was Ma Seungcheol, the police-side director of the Big Brother Project.
“What did you have for dinner?”
“Extra-large jajangmyeon.”
It was a simple code to check on the undercover’s status. Extra-large meant he was safe.
“I heard you successfully infiltrated the Crown Hotel. Any major incidents?”
“Nothing significant.”
“That’s a relief. But never let your guard down. The place you’ve embedded yourself in is the largest and most dangerous criminal syndicate in the country. Never forget that.”
“Understood.”
“Anyway, I’ve sent your first mission to your email. Decrypt it and memorize the contents.”
“Will do.”
“Then I wish you luck.”
Seungcheol ended the call. Jaehyuk opened his email, launched the file, and decrypted it. The summarized contents read as follows.
External forces will soon launch an attack on the Gangryonghoe. All undercover agents are to operate internally to drive a wedge between the Katsuyama-gumi and the Gangryonghoe, weakening both organizations' power.
Katsuyama-gumi…
Jaehyuk pulled up the data on foreign organizations his superiors had provided and located the file on the Katsuyama-gumi.
An emerging Japanese yakuza group founded in 2020. Their boss is Katsuyama Junichi, known as Japan’s top assassin. The structure combines the corporate-crime model of traditional yakuza with the fluid, point-based system of hangure groups…
He then examined the relationship between the Gangryonghoe and the Katsuyama-gumi.
They entered Korea the year before last. They pay a percentage of their profits to the Gangryonghoe under the guise of protection fees. They also export their new synthetic drug, “Shirohebi” (White Snake), to Korea at low prices. Occasionally, high-ranking members of both organizations meet to maintain smooth cooperation.
Jaehyuk closed his laptop and mentally organized the operation he had received.
While external forces strike the Gangryonghoe, we are to interfere with both organizations’ businesses and worsen their relationship. We inflict hidden losses on each side and disguise the damage so it appears the other is responsible, forcing them into direct conflict. In short, it’s an “using barbarians to control barbarians” operation.
In the basement of a certain building, Jeong Seunggyu—vice-leader of the former NIS black-ops team Bukdutchilseong and currently operating in the underworld as the information broker “Bidulgi”—was examining something on his computer.
The agency has launched a new operation tied to the Gangryonghoe…? Given that some high-ranking officials are compromised by the syndicate, the goal is to weaken the Gangryonghoe through this operation and then exert effective control. And… Park Jaehyuk has been assigned to it.
Seunggyu held a special regard for Park Jaehyuk, the son of Park Minhyeok—the man to whom he had sworn loyalty. That was why, seven years earlier when Jaehyuk’s younger sister Dahyun had been kidnapped, he and his comrades had stepped in to help despite the risk of their movements being traced by Congressman Cha Jinyong and his associates.
This is going to be a headache. How can I pull Park Jaehyuk out of this operation safely?
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“Boss. A guest from the Gangryonghoe is here.”
“Understood.”
Seunggyu rose from his seat, left the room, and climbed the stairs leading aboveground. He asked his subordinate, Ma Dongbeom, who was waiting nearby.
“Who is it?”
“Ha Seongjun. He’s here to collect the information on the Jawolbang you promised last time. Payment for this request is three billion won.”
“Three billion… Every time they send a request, the payment comes in the billions. Maybe I should forget about reinstatement and just become an international information broker. If the Gangryonghoe pays this much, imagine what others would offer.”
“Boss? You’re joking, right?”
“Of course I’m joking. You think I’d actually turn into a criminal?”
When Seunggyu reached the ground floor and entered the designated room, Ha Seongjun and his subordinates were waiting.
“It’s been a while, President Jang.”
People in the underworld knew Seunggyu by the alias Jang Seongyun, so they addressed him as President Jang.
“Yes. It really has been some time since we last met face to face.”
With those words, Seunggyu sat down across from Seongjun.
“What about the information I requested on the Jawolbang?”
“It’s all on this USB. Take a look at your leisure.”
Seunggyu pulled a USB drive from his pocket and handed it over.
“It contains records of the Jawolbang’s current connections, their domestic business routes, and the situation at their main base.”
“As expected, I’m looking forward to it. With your level of efficiency and intelligence-gathering ability, President Jang, the NIS should have recruited you. Why didn’t you become an agent?”
“Hahaha… You flatter me. By the way, I understand you have another request?”
“Recently our business locations have been running into trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“Our southern sites are being attacked one after another. We don’t know who’s responsible.”
Seongjun showed Seunggyu several photographs and documents.
“Hmm… Neurotoxin detected in most of the bodies… Instant kills by striking vital points such as the carotid or aorta… Could this be the Katsuyama-gumi? Their boss is a killer, after all. They use every dirty trick in the book when it comes to murder.”
“That’s certainly suspicious, but they aren’t the only ones who use poison. Besides, unless they’ve lost their minds, why would they attack a business partner they currently maintain good relations with at a time like this? I’m starting to wonder if someone is deliberately trying to drive a wedge between us and the Katsuyama-gumi.”
“That’s possible too. So the request is for me to identify the perpetrators?”
“Correct. And while you’re at it, I’d appreciate it if you could monitor the Katsuyama-gumi’s movements. The probability that they’re behind this is extremely low, but even a low probability shouldn’t be ignored.”
“Understood. No wonder the payment is three billion won—there’s quite a lot of work involved.”
Seongjun gave a faint smile, stood up, and spoke with proper courtesy.
“Then I’ll leave it in your capable hands.”
“Of course. Safe travels, Representative.”
After Seongjun’s group left the room, Seunggyu turned to Dongbeom.
“That earlier scene—those looked like traces of surgical precision, didn’t they?”
“It appeared so. No matter how well they’ve trained under Japan’s greatest assassin, if they aren’t formally disciplined soldiers there will always be some wasted motion. Yet the photos showed almost none.”
“Exactly. Looks like the operation has already begun.”
“Should we start moving as well?”
Seunggyu stood and said, “Inform the boss, and tell President Seo as well. The operation looks quite dangerous, so make sure the boss’s family—including the Prince—is protected with the utmost care.”
“Yes, sir.”
In the large mansion where Alina resided, she was on a call while reviewing a document on her laptop.
“I received the files, Uncle.”
“Good. So what is your relationship with this person? Is he your boyfriend?”
“Not a boyfriend. Not yet…”
“Not yet? So you’re interested, then?”
At Peter’s teasing tone, Alina could only blush without answering.
“But the friend you asked me to investigate isn’t someone you should casually develop feelings for. His personal information is encrypted and strictly managed by the NIS. Do you understand what that means?”
“Yes. It means he’s doing dangerous work.”
“Not ordinary dangerous work. If things go wrong, it could cost not only his life but the lives of everyone around him. Think of it as him doing the same job your bodyguards do. That’s called black ops.”
......
“It’s not good to get involved. People who do that kind of work never know when or where they might die. I don’t know how strongly you feel about him, but stop paying attention. For his sake and for yours.”
At Peter’s worried words, Alina remained silent.
“Alina? Are you listening?”
“…Yes. Thank you for the investigation.”
She ended the call. Peter let out a heavy sigh.
Ha… This is more serious than I thought…
Muttering to himself, he looked at the information on Jaehyuk displayed on his monitor.
It’s already problematic that the kid is on a dangerous mission… His father is an NIS agent—Park Minhyeok, no less—who handled numerous globally sensitive black-ops assignments. The risk level is extremely high. There are many matters connected to the United States as well, so I didn’t send those details to Alina.
Peter scrolled down, continuing to examine Jaehyuk’s file.
Recently he went missing during an operation tied to the manipulation of the Korean presidential election. The people connected to that are searching for Park Minhyeok. If Alina gets caught up in this, it’ll be a disaster. She said she understood, but that child who always accomplishes whatever she sets her mind on—will she really listen to me?
After staring at the monitor with a grave expression for a long time, Peter fell into thoughtful silence, then picked up the receiver.
I’m sorry to Alina… but this isn’t something she can handle alone.
A moment later, when the other party answered, Peter spoke carefully.
“It’s me, Raymond. I called because I have something to tell you about your daughter.”
At that same moment, Robert, who had been standing beside Alina, spoke with concern.
“Miss. After reviewing the information from Lindberg, it would be best if you didn’t take any further interest in that man. Someone involved in sensitive state affairs…”
“Mr. Han.”
“Yes, miss.”
“Can you do me one favor?”
Robert paused as if he already guessed what she would ask, then spoke.
“…Please tell me.”
“Please watch over Park Jaehyuk from the shadows and help him as much as possible so he doesn’t fall into danger.”
“Miss. If you do that, you could end up entangled in unpleasant matters yourself. Your own safety could be compromised.”
“You and the Aegis team will protect me. If you handle this well, I’ll give you a separate bonus and speak to my father so you can become the next team leader of Aegis. So won’t you help me just this once?”
Alina gazed at him with earnest, pleading eyes. Robert let out a deep sigh.
When she gets like this, she really is an innocent young lady who doesn’t understand the world… There are so many things she needs to be careful about… But it’s difficult to refuse. When I think about the grace I’ve received from her…
After wrestling with himself, Robert asked, “But is it acceptable to exercise force in a foreign country without permission? If the Korean police discover it…”
“I will take full responsibility, so don’t worry and simply carry out my request. And if you need additional support, contact me. I’ll inform the other personnel as well.”
“Understood.”
With that, Robert left Alina’s room and headed for the warehouse in the mansion’s basement. He opened a large black case stored inside.
It’s been a long time since I’ve handled work like this abroad.
Inside the case, neatly arranged, were an H&K HK416A5 assault rifle equipped with various optical devices, a SIG P320 X-Full pistol, and a Gerber MK2 knife.
Bringing an assault rifle into Korea would be excessive, so I’ll only take the pistol and knife. I must avoid confrontation with local authorities as much as possible.
Robert Han
Alina Kim’s Chief Bodyguard
Former U.S. Army Delta Force
Having made up his mind, Robert took only the pistol and knife, left the warehouse, walked to the parking lot, got into a Mercedes-Benz, and drove away from the mansion.