New Year's Overseas Assignment
In January 2027, in the Vietnamese port city of Vung Tau. A man was sprinting through the streets in the pitch-black predawn hours, fleeing for his life. He kept glancing over his shoulder as he ran without stopping, three or four men hot on his heels.
I can't get caught here!! I have to escape somewhere their reach can't touch me!!
With that thought burning in his mind, he ducked into a narrow alley. The pursuers followed right behind. Once inside, they spoke to one another in rapid Chinese.
The pursuers split up and moved deeper into the alley. One of them drew a second-generation Glock 17 from his pocket and swept the area with it as he advanced slowly.
Where the hell is that rat hiding…? If he shows himself, I’m taking one of his eyes.
The man in hiding, barely breathing, watched the searcher from the shadows and began to creep forward with agonizing care.
Stay quiet. If they spot me here… things will get extremely complicated.
The pursuer swung his muzzle left and right before walking straight toward the man’s hiding spot. Hearing the footsteps draw closer, the fugitive silently pulled a Walther PPK from his own pocket.
If they find me, I’ll have to shoot and run…?
The pursuer advanced with his pistol trained forward. The hidden man raised his own weapon without a sound.
Is he here? Doesn’t look like he’s anywhere else…
One more step and the pursuer would see him. No question.
What do I do? Shoot and bolt? No!! If they realize I killed one of their own… I’ll be forced to manufacture drugs in a living hell worse than death. But if these bastards catch me, I’ll have turned Gangryonghoe into an enemy. Then what happens to my family back in Korea…?
Cold sweat slicked the man’s grip on the pistol. The pursuer, finger tightening on the trigger, was equally tense, unsure what kind of resistance awaited if the target was truly there.
Just as both men’s fingers began to squeeze, a rustle came from the side. The pursuer whipped his gun toward the noise. A stray cat digging through a trash bin looked up, bared its fangs, and hissed.
“What the fuck?”
While the pursuer was distracted by the sudden cat, the fugitive slipped away silently. Once he was certain he had put enough distance between them, he pocketed the pistol and sprinted back into the dark maze of alleys.
Meanwhile, at Crown Hotel headquarters in Korea. Ha Seongjun, representative of Crown Hotel, sat with a grave expression, chin resting on his right hand as if deep in serious thought. A knock sounded at the office door. His secretary, Yoo Siyeon, entered.
“Representative. Manager Im Kanghun from the Incheon branch requests a meeting.”
Yoo Siyeon
Ha Seongjun’s In-House Secretary
She was a slim beauty who appeared to be in her mid-twenties, dressed in a black suit jacket over a white shirt, a black pencil skirt, black stockings, and high heels. Her wavy black hair fell to medium length.
“Send him in.”
“Yes, Representative.”
Siyeon stepped out. A short while later Kanghun entered. Seongjun greeted him with a grin.
“Been a while. Sit down first.”
Kanghun took one of the sofas across from him. Seongjun rose, moved to the opposite sofa, and crossed his legs.
“How are things at the Incheon branch? Quieter these days?”
“Aside from the occasional trouble from small-time Triad punks, yes. Much quieter.”
“The Joseonjok guys slipping down from northern China, I assume?”
Seongjun leaned forward.
“So what brings you all the way here after so long?”
“It concerns Director Shin, who was supposed to be in Vietnam.”
Shin Jaeguk was the chemist who processed opium in Southeast Asia, supplying Gangryonghoe with heroin and fentanyl derived from it. The drugs produced by the man known as Director Shin were considered top-tier and commanded premium prices. To Gangryonghoe, he was the goose that laid golden eggs.
The fact that he had gone silent for far longer than usual was no small problem.
Seongjun’s face hardened. He uncrossed his legs and sat up straight.
“Have you located him?”
“No. It’s been nearly a month with zero contact.”
“Did you reach out to his family?”
“We did. He used to keep in touch with them sporadically, so we told them to try. They received no answer. Even urgent messages went unread.”
Seongjun let out a heavy sigh. Kanghun offered a suggestion.
“I’d like to go to Vietnam myself to find him.”
“You personally?”
“Yes. I can pick up some mercenaries in the Philippines on the way—”
“No. It’s not that I doubt your ability, but this feels off. Everyone in that underworld knows Shin Jaeguk produces our product. He’s not the type to betray us and disappear, which means someone else likely ambushed him. And as you know, the network he built across Southeast Asia isn’t insignificant.”
Kanghun listened quietly as Seongjun continued.
“Whoever attacked him must be a fairly large outfit. Could be a Golden Triangle cartel, a Chinese Triad operating out of Southeast Asia, or even remnants of Honglyeonbang. We can’t rule them out.”
“This might be treading carefully… but shouldn’t we also consider Jawolbang?”
“True. It could be them. They smile and trade with us on the surface, but who knows how many knives they’re sharpening behind our backs?”
“Exactly. In this business there are no permanent friends or enemies…”
“I’ll report this to the Chairman and recommend pulling personnel from every division for a Vietnam deployment. Without Director Shin, our leverage with other organizations shrinks dramatically. Our relationship with Katsuyama-gumi is already in the gutter as it is…”
Seongjun sighed again, pulled out a cigarette pack, and placed one between his lips. Kanghun lit it for him with a practiced flick of his lighter. After a long drag, Seongjun slid the pack across the table.
“Want one?”
“Yes.”
Kanghun took a cigarette and lit up as well.
“Head back to Incheon for now and wait for my word.”
“Understood, Representative.”
The following day, Jaehyuk answered Seongjun’s summons and knocked lightly on the office door.
“Representative, it’s Park Jaehyuk.”
“Come in.”
Jaehyuk opened the door. Seongjun and his secretary Yoo Siyeon were waiting inside. A stack of documents rested in Siyeon’s hands.
“Busy lately?”
“Not particularly.”
“Have a seat on the sofa, Jaehyuk. Secretary Yoo, hand him the documents.”
“Yes, Representative.”
The click of Siyeon’s heels echoed as she crossed the room and placed the papers in front of him. Jaehyuk scanned the contents.
A business trip to Vietnam… and a bonus when I return?
He flipped through a few pages, then looked up.
“So you’re ordering me to Vietnam?”
“This isn’t an order. The choice is yours.”
“If I refuse, I don’t have to go?”
“Of course. No bonus, though.”
“What exactly would I be doing there?”
Seongjun’s expression grew serious.
“You know Crown Hotel’s primary business involves pharmaceuticals, correct?”
“I do.”
“The source of those pharmaceuticals is one of our factories in Vietnam. The technician who handled the opium there has gone completely dark.”
“Opium… you’re talking heroin and fentanyl?”
“Exactly. If he were an ordinary technician we might shrug it off… but the product he creates is anything but ordinary. The Golden Triangle cartels, northern Chinese Triads, and even the Vladivostok mafia all grovel before us because of how exceptional those drugs are. We hold exclusive production rights, and that’s our real power.”
A technician specializing in opium… Could it be Shin Jaeguk? There was never any incident like this in my previous life.
Information on Shin Jaeguk had been the first major intelligence Jaehyuk uncovered after infiltrating Gangryonghoe. Thanks to it, the police had partnered with Vietnamese authorities two years later, secured concrete evidence, and successfully severed the syndicate’s Vietnamese drug pipeline.
“Without that technician, our entire operation will suffer. We need to secure his safety. Bring him safely to a protected location and you’ll receive a substantial bonus. Depending on individual contributions, it could reach as high as ten million won.”
Jaehyuk stayed silent, weighing his options as an undercover officer.
If I stay, I continue domestic infiltration. If I go, the investigation shifts to Vietnam. Given that Gangryonghoe’s main drug supply line is overseas rather than inside the country… this could be my chance to access high-level intelligence. I might be able to strike a far heavier blow against their drug production than I managed in my previous life.
In his past timeline, he had only confirmed that the supplier known as Director Shin operated somewhere in Vietnam. It had taken far too long to gather solid proof. But going there in person would grant him direct access to far more information. It might even accelerate the syndicate’s collapse.
He met Seongjun’s gaze.
“I’ll go. Will only the hotel division be deploying?”
“No. Every business unit is sending people. We’ll finalize the roster by the day after tomorrow and fly the full team out the day after that. Pack your bags in advance.”
“Understood.”
As Jaehyuk stood, Seongjun suddenly asked, “By the way, are you still commuting from home?”
“No, I’ve been staying at a motel nearby.”
“A motel? For heaven’s sake… When you return from Vietnam, clear everything out. I’ll arrange a villa for you. Move in there.”
“Ah… yes…”
“What, you don’t like villas?”
“No, I’d appreciate it.”
Jaehyuk was caught off guard by the unexpected kindness. Seongjun remained seated and waved a hand.
“That’s all I needed to say. You’re dismissed.”
“Understood.”
Once Jaehyuk left, Seongjun turned to his secretary.
“Secretary Yoo, find a decent villa near the company and put a contract down. Put it under Jaehyuk’s name.”
“Understood, Representative.”
At that same moment, in the basement training facility beneath Crown Entertainment headquarters, Lee Jeonghan—the Special Forces operator and Jaehyuk’s closest friend—was engaged in knife-fighting drills with Kim Hyun, executive director and right-hand man to Representative Seo Taeyang. Shin Chaeyoon, one of the syndicate’s killers, watched while snacking on crackers.
Both men held training knives. Hyun’s was a standard fixed-blade, while Jeonghan wielded a karambit. They circled each other, blades flashing. The sharp clack of plastic edges colliding echoed off the concrete walls.
Chaeyoon sat with her left leg crossed, foot tapping idly as she observed. Hyun lunged, thrusting toward Jeonghan’s throat. Jeonghan evaded and countered with a diagonal slash. Hyun raised his arm at the eleven-o’clock position to deflect, then spun his knife into a reverse grip and stabbed toward Jeonghan’s ribs.
Jeonghan rotated his arm clockwise, parrying the blade and stepping back to create distance. Hyun mirrored the movement, resetting the gap. They glared at each other, breathing steady. Then Hyun charged again.
Jeonghan gave ground before closing in once more, blocking and countering with the karambit. Whenever the exchange grew too dangerous he retreated, always keeping perfect distance.
Not bad. Moves like a damn rat. In that case…
Hyun advanced slowly. Jeonghan maintained the gap. Hyun suddenly accelerated. Jeonghan’s hands blurred, knocking the incoming arm aside before slashing at his opponent’s stomach. Hyun pulled back, deflected the karambit hand, and whipped his blade toward Jeonghan’s neck.
Jeonghan blocked with his left forearm. From that clinch he tried to hook the karambit’s lower edge into Hyun’s thigh. Sensing the danger, Hyun yanked his left hand away at the last instant.
Damn… he’s quick on the uptake.
Jeonghan twisted the karambit and slashed upward. The two traded a furious series of blows.
His style is close to mine. Hit hard, then disengage fast. Makes sense if assassination is his specialty.
Suddenly Hyun flipped the knife from right hand to left and slashed at Jeonghan’s right arm.
Shit—left hand?!
Jeonghan tried to retract his arm, but the blade had already grazed him. Hyun closed the distance in a flash and drove his right elbow toward Jeonghan’s chin. Jeonghan raised his left arm to block, but he couldn’t stop the knee that slammed into his stomach.
“Keuk!”
Jeonghan grunted in pain, fighting through it to swing the karambit. Before the strike could land, Chaeyoon jumped to her feet.
“Stop! Three minutes are up!”
“Already? Time really flies.”
“Hoo… that was too close.”
Chaeyoon turned to Hyun with a pout.
“Executive Director, aren’t you being a little too hard on the rookie?”
“Try sparring with him yourself. Does it look like I can afford to go easy? He’s the best recruit we’ve had in the last year.”
He pocketed the training knife and added, “Can’t slack off with this one like the others.”
“You flatter me.”
“Oh, right. Holdings sent a notice. They’re recruiting for a Vietnam assignment. Eighteen spots total.”
“Other divisions are going too?”
“Yeah. Hotel, Holdings, and Trade have finished recruiting. We’re still pulling from Entertainment, Construction, and Capital.”
Hyun took a long drink from the water cooler, then looked at Jeonghan.
“So, want to come to Vietnam with me? The bonus is supposed to be generous.”
“What’s the mission?”
“Simple. Locate one person and escort him safely to a secure site. Whether that site ends up being the Philippines or back home, we’ll see.”
He glanced at Chaeyoon, who was scrolling on her phone.
“And you’re definitely coming with me, Chaeyoon.”
“Me too?”
“Yes. Among the people with open schedules, your skill level is highest. Just don’t be reckless with your body.”
“No worries at all~”
Chaeyoon flashed a bright, almost vacation-like smile. Hyun stared at her with the weary expression of someone watching a child with zero common sense, then sighed and shook his head.
After a brief silence, Jeonghan gave his answer.
“Executive Director. I’ll go as well.”