CODENAME ANASTASIA NOVEL (VOL 6-10)

CNABOOK6(OR1OFNOVELII) T/N: There are some sections in the first

two chapters that don't have the best translation. The rest should be
good. 1. REBOOT The outskirts of Havana, the capital of Cuba. The
town, far from the city centre, was deserted even in broad daylight. The
faded asphalt roads were covered with dust all day long. Old trucks and
bicycles occasionally passed by. The buildings lined up along the narrow
streets had no corners that were intact. Each had cracks on its exterior
walls and even its paint was peeling off in an ugly manner. Power lines,
tangled like vines, stretched along the walls and connected to each
window. The occasional sound of a TV or radio from the always-open
windows proved that this was not a ruin. The only apartment in the
town was in a similar situation. Due to the hot weather all year round,
The walls and doors were so thin that it was difficult to expect even the
slightest soundproofing. When the neighbour’s door opened and
closed, the vibration was transmitted as it was. The wooden windows,
which had lost their security function, also served as blinds to block the
hot sunlight, and even that had rotted away from the intermittent
heavy rain. Not only the Internet, but even communication was not
working properly. It seemed that time passed slowly only there. The air
that had been warm even at night began to boil with the sunrise. If you
went out in the blazing sun, the soles of your rubber slippers would
quickly become sticky. Going out was only conceivable in the late
afternoon when the heat had died down. It was around that time that
the front door of the house on the third floor, which had been quiet day
and night, opened. The one who came out was an Asian holding an
action cam. A man sitting in the hallway cooling off, a woman hanging
laundry in the courtyard, and an old man looking out the window all
glanced at the stranger. "So far, I've introduced the inside of the house
where I'll be living for a week. Now, I'll go on a light town tour to
familiarise myself with the surrounding geography. The structure here is
a bit unusual. It's a corridor-type apartment with a courtyard in the
shape of a Korean consonant. I heard there used to be a lot of
apartments like this in Korea. If you look, there's a central staircase
leading to the courtyard. There are also stairs at both ends of the
corridor that lead outside. I don't think there's an elevator. Well, it's a
three-story apartment. Okay, If you come out like this, it’s the scenery I
showed you through the window earlier, right? There are small shops
and ordinary houses, but since there are no signs, it’s not easy to tell
where they are. It’s still daylight, but there are hardly any people
passing by. Since the weather in Cuba is so hot, I think everyone is
resting inside. Actually, I just got out, but I want to go back in. I feel like
I’m in a steam room because I can’t breathe. I heard that it rains a lot
here too.” The Asian man kept talking to the camera. Judging from his
clothes and actions, he seemed like a typical tourist. More precisely, he
was a content creator who recorded and shared his daily life through
video. "Actually, there's not much to see here. There are no special or
historical places, and it's more like a normal residential area. It would
be nice if there were more stores, but there are only three restaurants.
There are no decent cafes, and no convenience stores. There's a
supermarket over there. Should we go there for now?" After taking
pictures of every corner of the town for a while, the Asian man
approached a nearby store. It was a place selling food and sundries with
a single, scratched glass display case and a couple of shelves. They had
less than twenty items. The store owner was nervous at the appearance
of a stranger. He secretly turned his back on his young daughter who
was playing next to him. Hide behind. The Asian tourist shoved his
camera toward them without hesitation. "This is the only soup shop in
town. It's like a hole-in-the-wall shop, so there aren't many kinds of
products. Just drinks, snacks, and toilet paper? Should I buy something
while I'm here?” The Asian man who had been talking to himself the
whole time belatedly greeted the mother and daughter. "Hola!" The girl
who had been hiding behind her mother smiled shyly and said, "Hola!"
She looked particularly pale, as she had a nose tube in her small nose.
The shop owner's face still had a wary look on it. [Please give me just
this drink. Oh, not that one, the orange one next to it.] Even after the
follow-up, the shop owner kept picking up and putting down the flower
items. The Asian tourist relayed the situation in detail. "I felt it from the
moment I entered the country, but I couldn't communicate well with
the local Cubans. At the airport or in the city centre, I could
communicate in simple English, but even if I left a little bit, it was
difficult to buy a bottle of water. I think the English proficiency rate is
lower than other places because Cuba is a typical communist country. A
friend I met before told me that if you roam with an American carrier,
your phone won't work the whole time you're in Cuba. So I bought a
local SIM card, but the internet doesn't work even with it. Haha. My
goal was to live in a quiet and secluded place for a week, but since
there's no internet at all, there's not much I can do. Anyway, if you're
planning on travelling to Cuba, I recommend learning a little Spanish,
and I'll give up on internet access for the rest of your trip. That's the tip
I'll give you." The Asian tourist who had been chattering away handed
over some dollars. The shop owner looked embarrassed, although he
was secretly happy. It seemed like he didn't have enough change. He
said he would just wave it off, and turned around. "Gracias. Here, this is
the drink I just bought. It feels very lukewarm when I touch the surface
of the bottle. I don’t know if you can feel the sunlight here, but it’s
about 4 p.m. right now. It should be getting a little cooler, but it’s still
incredibly hot. Well, there’s nothing to see even if I wander around any
further, so I’ll go back inside.” The Asian traveller returned to the
apartment while taking pictures of the town’s scenery with his camera.
He first greeted the residents he met along the way and prayed. Most of
them responded with a bright smile, but some just stared at him. He
went inside the house with a proud smile. Then, as soon as he closed
the front door, he locked it. He walked from there. He threw the camera
that he had been holding in his hand carelessly. Then, as he walked to
the window, he felt behind his ear and ripped off the stuffy skin on his
face. Soon, Kwon Taekjoo's face was revealed inside. The expression
that had been sullen the whole time was a bored and indifferent one.
Kwon Taekjoo picked up the apple that had been rolling around on the
table and looked out the window. He could see the store he had visited
a little while ago at a glance. He didn't catch any unusual circumstances.
That was still the case. He took a bite of the crisp apple and closely
observed the activities around the store. It had already been three days.
He had received a call from Director Kwak about a week ago. He was on
vacation for a few days after successfully completing the previous
mission. He was supposed to be on vacation, but he couldn't get a
proper rest because he was being harassed by Zhenya day and night.
After enduring all the complaints from the guy, he was just about to get
some sleep when he was called to headquarters, so he couldn't be
happy. "You called me." "Oh, you look so unwell. Your voice is like that
too. What happened?" "It seems like it's not me but here." "I'm sorry
for suddenly calling you on your rare day off.” Director Kwak offered an
apology. "This is an urgent matter, so what is a vacation for a single
employee? What is it?" He checked the matter with a trembling
expression. Director Kwak also stopped talking nonsense. "Yes. I'm sorry
for the delay, so let me get to the point. Last night, domestic companies
and public institutions were attacked by cyber terrorism. They say it was
a Trojan horse-type malicious code." "... Cyber terrorism? A reinforced
security program was recently distributed to all public institutions.
Didn't they? An official document was sent down to employees to use
the program at all times. Could it be that it was already breached?
"They cleverly used that very program. They planted malicious code in
the automatic update file. Even if the security program's monitoring
device was activated, it wouldn't recognize the malicious code as
malware. It seems that the companies and organisations that were
hacked this time had their servers shut down and all data encrypted."
Even after hearing that much, he was puzzled. It was clear that the
national security was on high alert due to large-scale cyber terrorism,
but counter-terrorism work wasn't Kwon Taekjoo's responsibility in the
first place. Physical force If it was a cyber-terrorism incident rather than
an event, it would have been even more so. However, if there was any
basis for intervention in this hacking incident, there was only one.
"Could it be that North Korea did it?" North Korea is considered a
hacking powerhouse along with China and Russia. This is because the
North Korean leadership has been training relevant personnel at the
national level in order to gain an advantage in information warfare
while maintaining the systemic isolation. North Korea claimed that this
was a strategy to respond quickly to the rapidly changing international
situation, but it was only an excuse. Advanced hackers trained in this
way have been continuously hacking government agencies, military
agencies, major infrastructure facilities, companies, and media of third
countries. Among them, the one that received the most attacks was
definitely South Korea. Just a few years ago, major telecommunications
companies and financial institutions were infected with malware from
North Korea, causing a large-scale shutdown. Director Kwak shook his
head at Kwon Taekjoo's guess. "Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be that.
The in-house cyber response team analysed the malware and found
several Cuban extension codes." "Cuba? Why did they..." "They
demanded $5 million from each institution in exchange for decryption."
It was an obvious story. Recently, large corporations and public
institutions hackers who spread ransomware and demand huge
ransoms are rampant. They openly hack financial institutions to steal
huge amounts of money and even steal cryptocurrencies such as coins.
Among them, hackers who organise to take a bigger slice are often
called 'cyber gangs.' Interpol has tried to arrest cyber gangs from the
beginning, but there have been no significant results. It is difficult to
identify individual members of the organisation, and related authorities
in countries such as China and Russia are uncooperative, as in the case
of North Korea. This is why those countries are suspected of protecting
cyber gangs. Kwon Taekjoo shrugged his shoulders as if it was new to
him. "Isn't it the government's directive to respond firmly to such
demands anyway?" "That's right. But it's a bit of a headache." "Why?"
"The data stolen this time of all days included some state secrets,
right?" A sigh escaped his lips. No matter how much it was the person
who was stealing that was at fault, it was disheartening to see them
being robbed every time. "If we did what they wanted, If we don't give
them, they'll find another way to make money. For example, they'll sell
our information to North Korea."' Director Kwak suggested the worst
possibility. From the outside, the South and the North were still at odds.
It wasn't unreasonable, since whenever the regime changed, they
would briefly become friendly, but then quickly turn into
confrontations. The Cuban crackers couldn't have been unaware of that
fact. "If that's the reason, it's the same even if we pay them. There's no
guarantee that they won't make contact with North Korea after they
take the money." "They're so obsessed with money that it's hard to
believe that. The map is big. Judging from recent trends in North Korea,
it seems that they have already provided some information to that
side." Suddenly, a recent news story came to mind. It was a report that
large trucks used for transporting fuel were spotted one after another
at a North Korean nuclear test site. When this was brought up as an
issue, North Korea said that they were simply inspecting facilities that
had been washed away by heavy rain not long ago. However, since this
happened right before the ROK-US security consultation meeting, he
couldn't believe that explanation outright. "Is the leaked confidential
information military information?" "Yes. Most of it is military training
schedules or information on ROK-US The US-Japan cooperation plan for
responding to North Korea's nuclear program, and related diplomatic
and security hotline code words, etc. Among them, the most
problematic is the secret contract regarding the arms contract between
South Korea and the US. You know that arms trade between countries is
carried out secretly through a secret network. If that network is
exposed to the outside world, wouldn't it be difficult in many ways?"
"Yes. It would be very difficult, for the higher-ups."' Director Kwak burst
out laughing at the odd response. Whether it's a secret network or
whatever, it's ultimately about the government leaders, intelligence
agencies, arms companies, brokers, and others who are involved in
arms trade and benefiting from it. It was just like a list of ship officials. It
was a practice that had been in place for so long that it was difficult to
criticise anyone. No, it was a bad habit. The problem was that the
moment the network surfaced, it would be difficult to avoid being hit in
any way. If there was a problem with the supply of weapons, the
national defence would inevitably be weakened. Kwon Taekjoo
nervously ran his hands through his hair. "So. Do we have to do that
again?" "What can we do? Whether it's shameful or proud, if it's a
national secret, it's our job to protect it." "The problem is that there's
no way to catch those Cuban hackers. If even Interpol can't do it, how
can we..." "Why should we get caught twice? Since the last large-scale
hacking incident, we've been mandatorily installing spyware developed
domestically in national confidential data." "Spyware?" "Yes. It's
software that tracks the location of the data stolen by hackers as soon
as they open it. If you inject malware into a hacker's PC, they'll get
caught right away, but spyware is disguised as normal data, so it's hard
to notice." Director Kwak held out a tablet while explaining. A satellite
map with a specific location marked on it was activated. It was the
outskirts of Havana, the capital of Cuba. "Here?" "Yes. From our guess,
this incident is probably the work of 'Electric Hammer.'" "'Electric
Hammer?” "It's Cuba's representative cyber gang. When we analysed
the malware that was infected this time, it seems that 'Electric
Hammer's' unique source code was used. Of course, you have to go and
check it yourself to be more certain." That's confirmation, right? The
hacker involved in this incident, It meant to wipe out the gang and
destroy all the data they had acquired. And before they could sell our
secrets to North Korea. To chase down those who were hiding behind
computers and operating without physical limitations. How is that any
different from telling them to catch a ghost? Director Kwak added one
more request, saying, "Ah, the US is also vaguely aware of this situation.
If they find out that the contract was leaked, they will try to hold us
responsible in some way. They may have already figured out the
situation and taken action. So we have to recover the data before they
do. There are no eternal allies. "Duh, there's nothing good about being
caught for no reason." "You've been busy looking around here and
there for over half a century." "If you don't want to lose that kind of
status, people like us have to work hard. Here, take it." Director Kwak
immediately handed over a new passport. The photo showed a man
with a hazy face, probably in his 30s. "Go to Havana right now." That's
how he entered Cuba, disguised as a travel YouTuber. He heard that the
YouTuber was currently detained in another country due to a private
dispute. That means there are no special restrictions on borrowing his
identity until the operation is over. It meant Euri. He thought it would
be better to disguise myself as a local, but since it was such a small
town, he thought they would be more suspicious. Furthermore, the
locals were very shy around strangers, but they weren’t particularly
wary of Kwon Taekjoo. It seemed that other travellers and YouTubers
had visited here often. Hd sat down on the old chair and put the
wireless earphones in my ears. When hd tapped the earphones, a short
mechanical sound was heard. Then, hd heard Yoon Jong-woo’s voice
saying, “Yes.” “How is it? I didn’t see anything special. The store owner
didn’t seem to know anything either.”- It looked like an ordinary house
to me. "Did you track it properly?"- Yes. Unless the detector
malfunctioned, the only suspicious place would be that store. The data
transmission and reception volume is also noticeably high in that area.
As soon as he got there, he pretended to look around the town and
turned on the optical cable detector. As a result, a strong signal was
detected around the store hd had visited earlier. It was evidence that
optical cables were laid in that area. He wondered if it was a special
business like a PCroom or a lodging facility, but in a small hole-in-the-
wall store. There was no way the store owner would have undertaken
such a large-scale construction project as laying optical cables for
personal purposes. Even aside from the cost issue, it would not have
been possible for the administrative authorities to have given
permission. On the other hand, it meant that the small store received
unusual support from the state. Why? There was only one answer.
Because that shabby store was the headquarters of Electric Hammer,
which was protected by the Cuban government. "Yes. If you want to
disguise yourself, it's better to be ordinary. Who would think that
millions of dollars are traded in a hole-in-the-wall store like that
overnight? They were completely unarmed and at first glance, A typical
home, nothing more, nothing less."- That's right. "Well, for a hole-in-
the-wall store, there are a lot of hidden CCTVs here and there, but how
can you possibly model the internal structure?"- Yes. In general terms.
"Not in general terms, but properly, Inma. Do you think I went through
all that trouble in this scorching sun just to get a map that I roughly
drew up?"- Is it hard? Rather, it seems like you enjoy it. Even though
you say no, you keep acting like water is rising day by day. "Oh. You're so
free to open your mouth like that? Two hours. Finish it in that time."-
Huh? That's ridiculous. It takes half a day to complete the 3D
simulation! "When have we ever taken our time? Don't be so cocky,
kid."- Still.... "This operation is all about time. We have to finish it by
tonight. So stop whining and get started quickly."- Ah, senior. He turned
off the communicator, leaving Yoon Jong-woo's screaming voice behind.
Then he installed it in the hole-in-the-wall store. He turned up the
volume of the listening device he had set up. Through the earphones in
his ears, he could occasionally hear the store owner and his daughter, as
well as the residents, talking. Their conversations were imperfectly
translated in real time and displayed on his laptop. At best, they were
just ordinary conversations, like asking each other how they were doing
and thinking about what to eat for dinner. Soon, the sun began to set.
The sunlight, which had grown thicker as it tilted lower, filtered through
the wooden bars. Soon, the entire village was bathed in sunset. In the
distance, he could hear dogs barking and children laughing, and the
houses in the neighbourhood that had been quiet all along began to
light up one by one. Everything was extremely peaceful. Meanwhile,
Kwon Taekjoo only looked at his wife's laptop. On the screen, CCTV
footage from the hole-in-the-wall store that Yoon Jong-woo had
previously hacked was playing in eight sections. His sharp eyes rolled
quietly, watching the situation closely. In the midst of his wife's silence,
the only sounds were the clanking of the fan and the occasional sound
of someone chewing an apple. (Refers to the mans wife… Taekjoo has
Zhenya, LMAO) As night fell, the entire village fell silent. The lights in
the houses all went out. Kwon Taekjoo quietly left the apartment and
quickly approached the hole-in-the-wall store. What if He was armed
with a combat suit that blocked thermal radiation. In the dark night
without even a proper streetlight, only his two eyes inside the goggles
shone clearly. As he reached the store, a faint mechanical sound rang
out. Soon after, the laser of the security sensor was clearly displayed on
the special goggles. It was an infrared laser that could not be identified
by the human eye. If he had passed by it without knowing, the alarm
would have sounded and he would have been caught without a fight.
The security was definitely too tight for an ordinary house. He moved
carefully and nimbly to avoid the security laser. Yoon Jong-woo had
already hacked the CCTV around the store and replaced it with footage
from last night, but he tried to avoid the blind spot. He moved to. The
opponents were natural hackers. He didn’t know when the system
would return to normal. There was no significant movement detected.
After looking around again, he pushed a tiny microphone between the
front doors. It was a tool that sensitively detected even the slightest
noise and amplified it greatly. Inside the house, only the sound of the
fan propeller, the sound of the clock’s second hand, and deep breathing
could be heard. Was the whole family asleep? Kwon Taekjoo, who was
on guard again, took something out of his bosom. It was a high-
performance laser cutter in the shape of a pen. He put his hand
between the bars of the security window and quietly cut the thick
wooden blind. He threw a circular device that looked like a yo-yo into
the gap that was created. The cord connected to the device was
released smoothly and then caught. At the same time, colourless and
odourless gas was sprayed. It was a sleeping gas diluted to a light
concentration. He waited for the gas to sufficiently spread inside the
house and moved toward the front door. He pushed a small piece of
iron into the keyhole and turned it around, and the lock was released in
no time. "Let's go in."- Copy. Gl, entering the scene. After being on
guard against hia son-in-law once more, he opened the front door and
went inside. When he closed the door, he was careful not to make a
sound on the hinges. He stood there for a moment and looked around
the quiet house. There was no light, so it was difficult to tell where he
was for a moment. He quickly searched the house after turning on the
flashlight mounted on my rifle. The special goggles displayed a 3D
internal structure diagram and his current location to help him search.
He passed through the living room like water flowing and arrived at the
main bedroom. There, the store owners were asleep as if they were
unconscious. He checked the inside of the closet to see if there were
any other beings, but he couldn't find anything unusual. He left the
main bedroom and went into the next room. He paused for a moment
because of the girl sleeping there. The wheezing sound was particularly
loud, and the girl still had a nose tube in her nose, just like he had seen
during the day. That must have been why the sleeping gas he had
sprayed before entering didn't work on the girl. Should he remove the
nose tube now? But she was too young and weak to be easily subdued.-
Senior, has the scene been sorted out? "...Okay, roughly." Kwon Taekjoo
quietly walked out of the child's room. He also closed the door tightly in
case of any disturbance. He investigated the family in advance to find
out if they had any connection to the 'Electric Hammer'. There was
nothing particularly suspicious about the couple who had lived in this
house for generations. They had two sons, including the youngest
daughter who had congenital lung disease. One of them died in a car
accident, and the other was missing. He wandered around the store for
a while to check for himself, but he couldn't see anyone else besides the
couple and their daughter. It seemed like the three of them were the
only family left, just like the tragic family history. However, when he
actually entered the house, he felt a strange sense of unease. That was
because there were no family photos anywhere. The two sons who
were said to have died or gone missing. The same was true of things.
Kwon Taekjoo’s own mother couldn't bear to sort out his father's or his
brother's belongings. In the main house, there were still a lot of family
photos taken a long time ago. Of course, everyone has a different way
of coping with the pain of loss, and not everyone who has lost a family
member has to act like a mother. Even if it was just a deceased son, she
was left with the impression that the trace of his missing son had been
erased too cleanly. In addition, there was a doubt. Perhaps the two
sons' belongings have not yet lost their owners. It's still being used by
its owners. The sudden fibre-optic cable burial point, the excessive
surveillance system of the store, the specific location where the NIS
intelligence team is the home of the hackers, and the disappearance of
the original members of the family. If the Cuban government is
supporting the Electric Hammer, it would not be a matter of treating its
members as accidental or missing and getting them out of the
investigation. "Where did he hide?" Slowly, he looked down at the
whole house. According to the inference, the hackers' hiding place was
somewhere in the house, a place where they could live as if they didn't
exist without being noticed by outsiders. If it was anything, it was only
the basement. Once you have to find the entrance to it, he has to find
the entrance to it. He floated the 3D structure on his goggles and
searched for a suitable place. Who's hiding in it? It's so secret that it
hasn't been noticed by the neighbours for years. A place where he
won't be exposed by accident. He double-checked the 3D schematic.
Soon, he saw a storage room in the kitchen. It was so narrow and
surrounded on all sides that there was no way to see it from the
outside. He went straight to the storage room attached to the kitchen.
The warehouse door is finished with the same material as the wall, so if
it weren't for the 3D schematic, he would have passed it by. It was
obvious. He checked the items in the storage room and lit the lighter. A
slight breeze caused the flames to lie on their sides. Even though it's a
wall where there's no way for the wind to come and go. With a
confident hand, Kwon Taekjoo picked up the detergent and flour from
the pantry. Then he groped deep into the shelf. Eventually, something
caught in his fingertips. He pulled it with force, and with a rattling
sound, the entire pantry opened up to the front. Behind him appeared
a steep stone staircase. "I found it, rat hole."- GL, securing a secret
passage. "Go right in. Wait until I call."- Gl, enter the secret passage.
Standby for support. Senior, be careful. After Yoon Jong-woo's request,
he turned off the communicator for a moment. Then, he held his rifle
tightly so that he could shoot at any time and slowly walked into the
darkness. After going down the steep stairs, a door appeared. Behind
that door, the enemies would be hiding. He switched his goggles to the
thermal imaging version in preparation for a combat situation. He
attached a small bomb to the closed door that would immediately
destroy the lock. After taking a short deep breath, he detonated the
bomb without hesitation. Tried. Then he threw another grenade
through the tattered gap in the door. It was a shell that had the
functions of both a smoke grenade and a tear gas grenade. Suddenly,
the vision became cloudy and the spicy gas spread, and those staying in
the room coughed painfully and panicked. Judging from their
silhouettes, there were at least five of them. [Cough, cough... Intruder!]
One of them ran through the barrage and toward the door. He was
holding a knife in his hand. When they were close enough to recognize
each other, he gently pulled away from the upper body and grabbed the
arm of the opponent who was reaching out to him. He twisted his wrist
and dropped the blade, and the man who lost his balance momentarily
slashed at the nape of his neck. The crab struck. The man whose vital
point had been hit fell down in an instant. The next moment, fierce
gunfire came from inside the room. Blind bullets flew in again and again
from beyond the pale smoke. Kwon Taekjoo immediately stood with his
back against the wall and waited for the commotion to die down. Soon,
the enemy side also stopped attacking for a moment as if trying to
figure out their movements. At that moment, he pulled the trigger in
succession in the directions from which the bullets had come. The
enemies fell down screaming without even having time to respond.
After the gunfire stopped, he entered the room. The smoke had thinned
considerably by then. His vision became clearer, and he could see
everywhere. The broken men came in. Behind them, there was a boy
who was curled up with his whole body covered with both tears. He
must have been fifteen or sixteen at most. His face was covered in tears
and snot, perhaps because of the tear gas. The boy looked up at Kwon
Taek Joo with a frightened expression. His face resembled the daughter
of the hole-in-the-wall store owner. Could he be the second son who
had gone missing? Several computers were placed behind the boy.
There was also a storage device where a huge amount of data must
have been stored. “Oh my...” He heard that as the age of first
encountering a computer has gotten earlier around the world, the age
of hackers has also gotten younger. However, one the identity of the
international cyber gang that threatened the security of the country
was a child. He gasped. He looked around the men who had collapsed
around the boy. They were all wearing military uniforms and carrying
rifles for distribution. He thought they were probably staying there to
protect or watch over the boy. [Put down your weapon and put your
hands up.] He instructed the boy who was left alone. The boy was
trembling with fear, but he could not put down the pistol he was
holding clumsily. Instead, he just waved his arms and aimed the gun at
Kwon Taek Joo. A sigh escaped. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been silently
confronting the boy, suddenly strode toward the boy. The boy,
panicked, hurriedly pulled the trigger. However, the bullet he finally
fired hit the ceiling. That was because Kwon Taekjoo, who had come
right up to his nose, kicked the boy's hand holding the pistol. The boy,
who had been hit in the face with his own gun, suddenly burst into a
nosebleed. He reflexively grabbed his nose, and he crushed the boy's
neck with his knee, instantly subduing him. He then pulled the boy's
arms back and tied them up, and reported the progress. "The scene is
clear."- Gl, the scene is cleared. Data is being retrieved. He took a deep
breath and looked inside again. Then he took out the USB he had
prepared and inserted it into the main PC and storage respectively. As
soon as the USB was recognized, all the backup data and temporary
files were quickly copied. Of course, it didn't end there. Soon after, the
format program installed in the USB was automatically activated and
began permanently deleting all the files used and saved on the PC.
That's when. A sudden vibration was detected from upstairs. It felt like
the entire ground was being crushed and making a slight rumble. It
seemed like he could hear a faint engine noise. It felt like something
heavy was approaching the store. In the meantime, had the Cuban
military received a rescue request? Even the boy who was caught by
Kwon Taekjoo looked clueless. The residents who were startled by the
unexpected gunshots might have reported it. However, the dispatch
time was too early for that case, so he was suspicious. He checked the
situation outside using the communicator. "What's going on?"- Senior, a
suspicious vehicle has appeared. "How many?" - Two. They look like
armoured vehicles from the outside. "Police SWAT? Or the Cuban
Army?"- There were no warning lights on the car, and no emblems of
their affiliation. "Find out what they're doing."- Yes. All the work was
completed just in time. Kwon Taekjoo retrieved all the USBs and put
them in his inner pocket. At that moment, he suddenly felt a human
presence behind him. Someone was coming down the stairs. The boy
who had been quietly held captive also flinched when he noticed the
presence. Kwon Taekjoo felt footsteps getting closer little by little. He
turned around suddenly, his senses sharpening at the sound. At the
same time, his extended gun pointed at a familiar face. It was the young
daughter of the store owner. As he had worried, it seemed like she
hadn’t inhaled the sleeping gas due to the nasal tube. The child had
difficulty recognizing the situation unfolding before her. Why did her
parents seem to have fainted and fallen asleep? Who was the dark man
in front of her? Why was her brother being held by him? And the
people lying on the floor and the blood pooling here and there. Every
scene must have been a continuation of unreality. The child’s whole
body trembled as if convulsing. It seemed like hyperventilation. [Don’t
be scared. I won’t hurt you.] He raised both hands and calmed the child
down. To no avail, the child was sobbing as if she was about to burst
into tears. Soon, a thin stream of water flowed between the child’s legs.
While he was struggling, the engine noise coming from outside became
louder and clearer. At that moment, Yoon Jong-woo shouted urgently
over the radio.- Senior! It seems to be an American PMCl. This is not a
good sign. Get out of there quickly! Right after that, something rolled
down the stairs leading to the basement with a thud. Soon, it slid down
to the child who was standing far away. A small basement was empty. It
was a high-explosive grenade that could blow up anything. "Damn it,
get down!” He shouted in shock. Immediately after that, a huge
explosion rang out. In an instant, his vision was covered in darkness.
"Ugh...." He opened his eyes with a start. His head was dizzy, as if he
had lost consciousness for a moment. The first thing he recognized was
the smell of gunpowder and dust. He moved his limbs little by little. It
was painful here and there. Although it was painful, there was no
problem moving. The earpiece kept spitting out a sharp mechanical
sound, as if it was completely broken. He nervously pulled out the
earpiece and threw it away. To no avail, the tinnitus in his ear did not go
away. His forehead felt ticklish, and then he licked his eye socket, and
red blood dripped down. It seemed like his scalp was torn. His vision
quickly turned red and cloudy. His son-in-law was engulfed in thick
darkness. It seemed like the entire house had collapsed in the explosion
a little while ago. He barely managed to escape to the empty space
between the collapsed structures right before he was buried. “Aww,
shit...” It was the moment when he was trying to raise his heavy body
while groaning softly. Something stirred in his arms. A child with a nose
tube was groaning under Kwon Taekjoo. He must have covered the
child’s body with his own without realising it. The child was faintly
conscious, and his breathing and pulse were clear, though rough. There
were no visible injuries at the moment. [Um... hic...!] The child, who
had opened his eyes with difficulty, turned pale when he saw Kwon
Taekjoo. He instinctively covered the child’s mouth, who was about to
scream, and placed his index finger on his lips. He stared intently into
the child’s eyes and slowly shook his head. The child nodded silently,
sobbing. Da. He still hasn't figured out the identity of the guys who did
this. And their purpose. Yoon Jong-woo said they seemed to be a
private military company in the US, but further confirmation was
needed. He held his breath and looked outside for any hints. For a
while, he thought he heard the sound of military boots, and soon he
heard the sound of car doors opening and closing several times. He
roughly figured out that there were at least four of them. As usual, if he
were single, he wouldn't know, but he couldn't just confront them when
he had a small bump. He had no choice but to wait silently for them to
leave. Soon, the noisy engine noise of the armoured vehicle gradually
grew distant. The guys who had completed their mission seemed to be
leaving the scene quickly. As was his habit, he slowly went outside while
keeping a close eye on his surroundings. He then motioned to the child
who was crouching in the darkness to come quickly. The child kept
looking back and sobbing. "Pablo..." Where the child's eyes lingered, he
saw an unconscious boy. It was the boy that Kwon Taekjoo had subdued
before the house collapsed. The true identity of 'Electric Hammer'. He
was probably the child's sibling. The boy's lower body was buried under
the rubble of the building. It was not certain whether he was still alive.
Kwon Taekjoo had to rescue the two siblings. There was no obligation.
On the contrary, he had to leave the place as soon as possible before his
identity was revealed. If it were any other time, he would have done so.
However, seeing the child struggling to save his brother while panting
and struggling, he couldn’t just turn around. [Haa.. First, come out.]
“No! Pablo!” Kwon Taekjoo forcefully dragged the child who was trying
to resist while hitting and scratching him. After that, he squeezed back
into the gap in the rubble. When he was close enough to touch the boy,
he checked his pulse. It was faint, but it was definitely beating. With
difficulty, he moved his arm and rummaged through his tattered combat
uniform pocket. Soon, he pulled out a pen from inside. He wondered if
it had not broken due to the impact of the explosion. He placed the pen
vertically under the boy’s shattered remains and lifted the cap. Then,
the pen’s joints made a peculiar mechanical sound and began to lift up
the heavy rock. As soon as there was a little bit of space, he grabbed the
boy’s scruff and pulled him back. As he tried to squeeze through the
narrow gap with the unconscious, limp boy, his whole body was
drenched in sweat. His head was also dizzy, perhaps because of the lack
of air. “Haa, haa… damn it. What a mess this is.” He dropped the boy to
a suitable place and caught his breath. The girl, covered in tears, hugged
her older brother and kept calling his name. He didn’t know for sure,
but looking at the collapsed building, he couldn’t be sure whether their
parents would live or die. It was heartbreaking, but there was no time
to delay any longer. The lights in the neighbouring houses turned on
one by one due to the commotion late at night. Someone might have
already reported it to the police or a government office. It was now
their job to look after the siblings. He got up with his creaking body and
ran to the apartment. He climbed the stairs three or four at a time and
soon reached the rooftop. It was to find the armoured vehicle that had
run away. Soon, he would be heading to the outskirts of town. The
taillights of the car running away caught his eye. Judging by the size and
brightness of the lights, and the way they were running so fast at this
late hour, they were definitely the guys. Yoon Jong-woo said they were
like American PMCs. How did an American private military company
enter Cuba? Did they disguise themselves like Kwon Taekjoo? Why
bother? "The US is also vaguely aware of this situation. If they find out
that the secret contract was leaked, they will try to hold us responsible
somehow. They may have already figured out the situation and taken
action." Director Kwak's words suddenly flashed through his mind. As
feared, did the US side also notice that the secret contract was leaked?
So they blew up the hacker’s base without waiting for us to resolve the
issue and to avoid any trouble? It wasn’t such an unreasonable guess,
considering they are the kind of guys who push forward like a tank
when it comes to their own interests and safety. The problem was that
they intervened in this operation without prior consent or notice. The
fact that military secrets were leaked was a sensitive matter that
couldn’t be carelessly revealed even to allies. They must have
thoroughly cracked down on it internally, so where on earth did the
information leak from? Furthermore, the timing of their rush to the
scene, as if they were waiting for Kwon Taekjoo to make a move, was
unusual. No. It was as if he knew the purpose and detailed plan of this
operation. Was he spying on them? If he had not survived the scene,
Kwon Taekjoo himself would have been accused of being the real culprit
of this terrorism. Cuba would have claimed that innocent citizens were
sacrificed, so Korea would have been solely responsible for the resulting
loss of life and property. And yet, he called them allies. He burst out
laughing. "You punks. Are you going to come out like this?" His teeth
clicked. It wasn't enough to just get involved in someone else's
operation like a rat, but to make a mess of it like this. He couldn't just sit
by and watch them leisurely leave. Around that time, he heard the siren
of a police car in the distance. It seemed that a report had been filed.
They had to hurry out of the area before the encirclement could close.
As I was quickly descending the rooftop, he ran into a resident who had
come out to see the untimely commotion. He screamed at the strange
look of Kwon Taekjoo. Hearing the noise, other residents came out one
after another, and someone outside grabbed the police officers who
had just arrived at the scene and pointed at Kwon Taek Joo. "... Damn.,'
Without a second thought, he went back up to the roof. He jumped
over the building next to him at the same speed. The police who were
chasing Kwon Taekjoo chased him to the next building, and then to the
next building. Some of them even chased along the outer stairs. "No te
muevas!" (Don’t Move!) Before he knew it, the police had reached the
roof and pointed their guns at me. Kwon Taek-joo, who had been strode
along and contemplated the situation, rushed toward the railing.
Threatening shots were fired from the police without hesitation. Even
so, Kwon Taekjoo did not flinch, and climbed over the railing in an
instant. The next moment, Kwon Taekjoo’s body fell under the building.
The police, who had been firing threatening shots, rushed to the railing
and looked down. Kwon Taekjoo was already gone. The only thing was
whitish dust emanating from the windows of abandoned buildings that
had been abandoned for a long time. "Es por ahí!" (It's over there!) The
police urgently called their colleagues. The personnel waiting outside
rushed to the abandoned water. At that moment, he heard the sudden
noise of an engine from inside the dark building. The police officers,
who had been looking inside with a distraught expression, noticed
something and dispersed in confusion. Immediately afterwards, a black
motorcycle roared out like a wild animal. Riding on top of it was none
other than Kwon Taekjoo, a motorcycle that had been modified to
produce a maximum of 300 horsepower and a maximum speed of 400
km/h in case of a getaway. that Its movements were as light and agile as
a cheetah's, and to the naked eye it seemed to fly with little ground.
Stunned, the police hurriedly called for help. A police car that had
received a radio call suddenly slammed into the road from all directions,
blocking the road in front of them. However, Kwon Taekjoo passed in
front of him like an acrobat and fled leisurely down a narrow road
where vehicles could not enter or exit. The police kept exchanging
radios and following the strings relentlessly. The fierce sirens blaring
here and there seemed to rip my mind apart. Kwon Taekjoo continued
to speed up the ever-expanding police car with his head on his head.
But the midnight chase didn't last long. Suddenly, a police car appeared
from the opposite direction and blocked the escape route. Rows of
clearance blocked both sides. In the front and rear, police cars closed
the distance one after another. There was no odour in the poison.
However, instead of panicking, Kwon Taekjoo sped up to the maximum
speed and rushed towards the oncoming police car. The other vehicle
didn't even try to dodge it. They charged at each other with relentless
ferocity. The moment everyone had a premonition of the stone, they
momentarily lifted the front of the motorcycle. The motorcycle was
powered by the acceleration of the motorcycle and drove over the
police car. At the sight of a flagship after a moment's hesitation, the
police cars chased again. Soon after, a stone pavement appeared that
connected the lowlands and the highlands. Without hesitation, Kwon
Taekjoo turned the motorcycle and climbed the stone stairs of the sun.
As he lifted his bangs as he had just avoided a collision with a police car,
the rear wheel of the motorcycle bounced and he sprinted down the
stone pavement in no time. The policemen, who belatedly saw the
attack, were busy swaying back and forth at the bottom of the stairs and
repeatedly calling the radio. The motorcycle soared to the top of the
stairs and used its momentum to climb the outer wall of the building
and climb to the roof. Without slowing down for a moment, he went to
the roof of the building next door, and next to it he repeatedly jumped
onto the roof of the building and chased the armoured vehicle into the
distance. Cuban police officers watched with open mouths as the black
motorcycle flew over their heads. It wasn't a heavy piece of iron, and
even a winged lion could believe it. Finally, an armoured vehicle from an
American PMC came into the range of Kwon Taekjoo. He would have
been aware of his pursuer's presence on the other side. It wasn't
unreasonable to see a police car following along loudly with its flashing
lights. He aimed his wristwatch at the back of the armoured vehicle and
pressed a button on the side. Then the clock face snapped open and
something bounced out. It stuck to the bumper of an armoured car. The
watch face then began to display a brief satellite map and the target's
position. It wasn't long before a fork in the road appeared. The two
armoured vehicles in front of them split in different directions. He
followed the one that didn't have a tracker attached. Standing on the
ceiling and passenger side of the armoured car in front of them, two
men stuck their upper bodies out. They slashed their machine guns and
rifles at him. There was a radial crack in the windscreen that had been
hit by a bullet. If it wasn't for the special bulletproof glass, his head
would have been blown off. "You bastards. Let's do it, right?" Kwon
Taekjoo immediately turned and slid into a narrow alley. The gunners of
the armoured vehicle kept looking around at the engine noise of the
motorcycle that kept getting closer and then moving away. Kwon
Taekjoo’s motorcycle appeared through the gap in the building and then
disappeared repeatedly. How long has it been? The noise of the
motorcycle was heard from very close by. However, Kwon Taekjoo was
nowhere to be seen. The gunner of the hatch, who was looking around,
suddenly shouted to the sky. "It's up there!" Before he could even
respond, Kwon Taekjoo’s motorcycle fell onto the upper hatch of the
armoured vehicle. He fell down. Kwon Taekjoo fired bullets from the
moment he fell from the roof of the building until the moment he
collided with the armoured vehicle, breaking the opponent's will to
fight. The moment he slid down from the collapsed ceiling, he threw a
grenade inside the hatch. After a while, the armoured vehicle shook
with a small explosion and stopped suddenly. No movement was
detected inside. The Cuban police would soon be rushing this way. Their
sirens were already within reach. Kwon Taekjoo shot all the front
wheels of the armoured vehicle to prevent it from escaping and left the
scene. Now, Kwon Taekjoo’s gaze was on the wrist of his left arm. He
headed for the city. Once the Cuban police began investigating the
armoured vehicle, it was only a matter of time before the mastermind
of the terrorism was revealed. So there was no need to chase after
other armoured vehicles to clear his name. However, he felt that he
would not feel better if he backed down like that. Kwon Taekjoo could
not just ignore the atrocities of those who had recklessly interfered with
his mission, tried to kill him, and even tried to frame him as a terrorist.
If he taught them the lesson that if they tried to do something
unreasonable, they would be pursued and punished to the end, so that
they would never do such a thing again. He raised the speed to
maximum. He chased the target that was moving at every moment, and
destroyed buildings and buildings. It traversed narrow gaps, stairs, and
obstacles big and small. Before he knew it, the police cars that were
rushing in from the alley next door also smoothly passed by. The police
cars that were rushing in with their motorcycles crashed into the walls
one after another. It turned a sharp corner and blocked the armoured
car. The armoured car was speeding as if it was going to sweep away
everything that was blocking its path. The distance between the two
rapidly narrowed. There was no time to even raise the gun. Kwon
Taekjoo gritted his teeth and rushed toward the armoured car. It was
the moment they were close enough to identify each other. Kwon
Taekjoo's motorcycle suddenly fell over on the side. That's how he got
away from the motorcycle. It exploded again with a loud bang. "Haa,
haa...." Kwon Taekjoo crouched low to catch his breath and avoided the
debris flying in from time to time. In the meantime, the noise of a
propeller could be heard above his head. When he raised his head, the
lights of a helicopter that had been thoroughly scanning the area below
illuminated Kwon Taekjoo. It was a Cuban police search helicopter.
Then, police cars rushed in from all directions, surrounding the
armoured vehicle that had become a lump of scrap metal and Kwon
Taekjoo. Dozens of targeting lasers dyed Kwon Taekjoo’s head and chest
red. "No te muevas!" (Don’t move!) "Levantando las manos!" (Raise
your hands!) "Ha... Today's a tough day." He put down his pistol
obediently. He even threw away the rifle he was carrying askew. As he
was raising both his arms, he suddenly took something off and held it in
his hands. Armed special forces approached cautiously. Now, he only
had one chance to run away, right before they completely overwhelmed
him. Kwon Taekjoo waited for the encirclement to tighten and slowly
twisted the small bomb in his hand. Kwon Taekjoo himself could get
hurt, and someone in a panic could fire a gun, but for now, he had to
take a gamble. "¡No te muevas! ¡No te muevas!" (Don’t move! Don’t
move!) "Date la vuelta!" (Turn around!) It was the moment when the
special forces approached us. Another propeller noise was heard from
the sky. Everyone at the scene, including Kwon Taekjoo, looked up at
the same time. The searchlight of the search helicopter that was shining
down on Kwon Taekjoo suddenly shook unsteadily and completely
detached. Soon, a helicopter was seen approaching from afar. At first
glance, it wasn't a military helicopter. The fuselage was completely
black, so its presence could only be confirmed by the light. There was
no marking that could identify its affiliation. Everyone looked anxiously
as the helicopter gradually closed in on them, moving in a way that
seemed to be because it was a collaborator. The strange commotion
soon turned into screams of shock. It was because an unidentified
helicopter had suddenly shot down the search helicopter that had
warned them not to approach. Several parachute lines burst out from
the crashing aircraft, emitting black smoke. Both the special forces and
the police were confused by the unexpected situation. They tried to
respond to the unexpected attack belatedly, but an unidentified
grenade exploded above their heads first. Everyone groaned and shut
their eyes tightly at the dazzling flash. In an instant, their vision went
white and they couldn’t tell what was in front of them or behind them.
No matter how many times they closed and opened their eyes, no
matter how hard they rubbed their eyes, there was nothing to see. In
the meantime, the noise of the propellers grew closer. The strong wind
blew his hair and the hem of his clothes without mercy. It was difficult
to even stand up straight. "Ugh... What the...!" Kwon Taekjoo also
struggled against the strong wind and flash. At that moment, a long
loop fell from the helicopter and a huge being came rushing toward
him. He instinctively tried to fight back, but a familiar scent wafted out.
He raised his head, thinking, "No way," and a strong arm wrapped
around his waist. That feeling was very familiar to him. "....Zhenya?" As
he was mumbling absentmindedly, a shallow laugh erupted from the
other person. Even that was so familiar. [Taekjoo. Did you have fun?]
Even in the midst of the commotion, his unique voice came through
strangely clearly. [It’s time to go home now.] How on earth did he know
and come all this way? A so-called diplomat openly attacked the police
of another country. This crazy bastard, he sighed and hugged Zhenya’s
neck. Zhenya’s hands also supported Kwon Taekjoo’s back more firmly.
That alone relieved the nerves that had been tense as if they were
about to snap. It was a feeling. Soon, the loop automatically closed and
the two people were lifted into the helicopter in one breath. The police
opened fire a little late, but the helicopter quickly moved away from
their bullets. "Whew...." He finally caught his breath after boarding the
helicopter. He carelessly took off the goggles, mask, and helmet that
had long since lost their function. He was ruffling his hair that had been
pressed down when Zhenya suddenly grabbed his chin. Then, he stuck
out his tongue and kissed his lips. From the philtrum to the nasal cavity,
he licked it earnestly. As both cheeks were pressed, a pain he had never
felt before came up. It seemed that the inside of his mouth was torn.
His lips and the corners of his mouth, wet with saliva, also felt prickly. It
couldn’t be just because of Zhenya that his nose was wet. [Bye.] Zhenya
muttered, slowly rolling his tongue inside his mouth. He always
complains like that while licking others without permission. [Really, who
told you to lick them?] He frowned and turned his head. He pushed
Zhenya’s hand away as well. [Let go, you brat.] [You always go out with a
lot of enthusiasm and come back tattered.] [Is it possible for you to roll
around on the scene without a single scratch? If you’re going to be so
picky, you should just give up on this.] [A single scratch?] Zhenya
scanned Kwon Taekjoo’s body with a dumbfounded expression. It was
hard to find a place that wasn’t scratched. It was the same even though
he hadn’t looked inside the combat uniform. His ears, which had been
damaged by the explosion, were still ringing. [Today, I could have
finished it off quietly and neatly, but some guys got in the way… Ah you.
Why are you here? I told you not to follow me.] After making excuses in
a daze, he suddenly came to his senses and asked. This wasn’t the only
time Zhenya showed up at Kwon Taekjoo’s dispatch location. The guy
would follow Kwon Taekjoo wherever he went on an operation. It was a
headache just having him show up during a mission, but he would
always interfere so blatantly like this. In any case, his current status was
as a diplomat representing Russia, so he should be more careful with his
actions, but he didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so. [I
followed you?] [No, then?] [No way. I just ran out of cigars, so I came
here to get some that suit my taste. Cuban cigars are the best. I was
walking back after finishing my business, and by chance, I found my
lover wandering around. The reason I came here and the reason I
picked you up are all my private life.] He clicked his tongue at the
ridiculous explanation. Does he think that kind of excuse will work in his
home country or Cuba? If you look closely, he wasn’t just shameless,
but also very naive. Is life that trivial and easy for him? He felt
suffocated every time his ridiculous calculations worked. For some
reason, he felt like this time would be no different. He swept his
annoying bangs back. Now was not the time to be having a blast with
that guy. He stuck his head out the window and looked down. Police
cars were chasing him, lights flashing. He couldn’t see any other
support helicopters, so he thought he would at least avoid an air battle.
Of course, he wasn’t optimistic that he would be able to safely leave
Cuban airspace. [Let’s say that’s true, but where are you going now?
The airspace is about to be closed.] [Some thief blew up a big source of
funding, so they’ll probably be desperate to catch him. It would be best
to stay hidden for the time being.] [Haa… Who doesn’t know that?
Where the hell is Seo, how are you going to hide?] [If you don’t have a
prepared burrow right away, you should at least borrow a raccoon
burrow.] [...Raccoon?] Surely that raccoon can’t mean him. Did he have
an acquaintance here in Cuba who could be a hiding place? The
relationship between Russia and Cuba is quite strong, so it seemed like
a reasonable inference. Even in a situation like this where he calls
himself an enemy of the country, he can’t guarantee that the other
party will be kind to him. Not long after, the helicopter began to slowly
descend. Below it, a yacht could be seen floating gracefully in the dark
blue sea. It was long enough. It must have been 300 feet. Could he
really be landing there? While being chased as a terrorist suspect, he
escaped on a super-luxurious super yacht. It was unbelievable. The
police cars chasing the helicopter gathered at the dock and watched the
scene in vain. Zhenya landed the helicopter on the yacht and turned off
the engine. The propeller that had been spinning furiously slowly
stopped. Just in time, the crew waiting at the apron approached and
secured the aircraft. None of them were armed. One of them even
opened the door himself in a polite manner. Zhenya pulled Kwon
Taekjoo, who had been sitting there blankly until then. [Get off.] Kwon
Taekjoo kept looking around as he was being dragged away. He had
been in a life-threatening chase until just before, but now he was on a
super yacht in a few minutes. It was so luxurious and dazed that it
didn’t feel real. [What is this?] [I told you. It’s a raccoon den.] [Who is
that raccoon?] [Is that important?] [It’s important, then! Have you
forgotten what the current situation is?] [What is the situation? I came
to the origin to airlift a cigar of extremely personal taste, So... on
vacation?] His clothes were about to burst from the constant calm
response. He doesn't know why he’s the only one who’s so relaxed in a
world where every day, every moment is noisy and mindless. He was
truly a great man who could gracefully drive away even if he were in the
middle of a war zone, even if bombs were exploding and bullets were
flying right next to him. This time, too, Zhenya just leisurely walked
ahead as if nothing had happened. He grabbed the guy’s arm and
turned him around. [Don’t joke around, Zhenya.] [Who was joking
around?] [Did you buy this yacht?] [Why? Do you want it?] [No. Is this
yours?] [If you want, it can be mine right now.] [Oh, don’t overinterpret
and just answer the question. Whose yacht is this?] [You’ll find out
soon. That’s not what’s urgent right now, is it?] Zhenya held off on
answering until the very end and went downstairs. He didn’t show any
hesitation, as if it were his own house. In the meantime, the yacht the
two people were on was moving slowly but surely somewhere. Kwon
Taekjoo was looking at the police cars’ flashing lights that brightly lit up
the dock. He watched indifferently and reluctantly followed Zhenya. The
servants he encountered on the way repeatedly greeted him. Most of
them were Hispanic. They treated him, a foreigner whose identity had
been chased by the Cuban police, as if he were a VIP. He couldn’t
understand English. Because the yacht was so large, he had to use the
elevator to move between floors. He took the glass elevator next to
Zhenya and went down to the second floor. He could clearly see the
interior through the transparent glass walls. The open lobby, the crystal
lights hanging in the centre, the soft music, and even the heavy scent
that completely masked the unique smell of the ship were all special. It
was like Tel's. He was quite curious about who owned such a splendid
yacht and what their relationship was with Zhenya. After a while, the
elevator stopped. The door opened and the hallway he faced was
incredibly quiet, unlike the lobby. For some reason, he didn't even feel a
single person, let alone the usual people. He instinctively hesitated and
watched, but Zhenya walked out briskly and nodded. [This way.] He
wondered if they had decided to hide here until they reached their
destination. They had to resort to smuggling. However, even that place
was splendid and luxurious for a place to hide. It was just quiet, unlike
the places they had passed by. And it was cosy. [He told me to use the
facilities here as much as I wanted while I was staying.] [Huh... who on
earth?] [Taekjoo, you don't need to worry about that.] He kept quiet
about who had done such a favour to the end. Even when you're the
closest of friends, there are still many secrets. Of course, it wasn't just
Zhenya, but also Kwon Taekjoo himself, so he couldn't complain openly.
All he could do was glare at the back of Zhenya’s head with a
disgruntled look. Zhenya soon stopped in front of a door. The large
double-leafed doors gave an idea of the size of the inner room. When
he opened the door wide, a spacious space appeared as expected.
Judging from the large and comfortable sofa, table, grand piano, and
minibar, it seemed to be a reception room. There was a fan spinning on
the ceiling, and there were large windows lined up on the walls, giving it
a considerable sense of openness. It was nighttime now, so he couldn't
see anything, but when the sun rose, he would be able to see the blue
sea without any worries. As he went a little further in, he saw a table
that could easily seat ten people. The chandelier hanging from the
ceiling swayed wildly even with the slightest vibration of the yacht. He
felt like his eyes were going to dazzle from the endlessly sparkling metal
and crystal feast. He shook his head and went back to the bedroom. He
thought it was time to go to the bedroom, but the circular vestibule
appeared first. One side of it led to stairs, and the other side led to an
outdoor terrace. He looked back at Zhenya with a dumbfounded
expression. Zhenya shrugged and raised his eyebrows. He was able to
reach the bedroom through the stairs of the vestibule. As soon as he
climbed the last staircase, a cool, open window and a large bed next to
it filled his vision, large enough for Zhenya to lie down comfortably. He
was exhausted. On the other hand, the bedding, which looked
incredibly soft, was like pure white cotton candy. His body, exhausted to
the point of exhaustion, tingled as if responding to a sweet temptation.
If it weren’t for someone else’s bed, he would have been feeling like
diving into it. He barely managed to find the bathroom and turned his
head. The living room had a large bathroom attached to it, but the
bathroom in the bedroom was incomparably large. The ceiling, floor,
walls, sink, and even the bathtub were all made of natural marble. The
large, circular bathtub was filled with fragrant hot water. Next to it,
there was a minibar where you could get water or drinks whenever he
wanted, and a door leading to the deck. He was really embarrassed
about the price of such luxury. [Hey....] He was looking back at Zhenya
with a nervous expression when he saw him. He suddenly grabbed
Kwon Taekjoo's chin with one hand. Then, Kwon Taekjoo's face from
there, he slowly scanned down the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands.
He checked each of the ten fingers, including the inside of the palm. If it
was familiar, it was a familiar situation, so he just left it alone. He
silently entrusted his body to Zhenya and continued to dig into the
things he was curious about. [Is this yacht owner really a trustworthy
guy?] [Hmm. 'Trustworthy'.... What kind of guy would be trustworthy?]
[You have no loyalty or trust with anyone... This yacht owner must be
helping us because he has something to gain.] Zhenya chuckled at the
assertion that there was no way he could have a 'trustworthy' friend or
colleague. He nodded his head obediently and agreed. [We made a
deal. The other side was quite satisfied with my stuff, and I'll have to
wait a little longer to see how it goes.] He bent down and carefully
swept both of Kwon Taekjoo’s legs while trailing off. So Zhenya and the
owner of the yacht made a deal, and in return, Zhenya received Kwon
Taekjoo’s own safety as security? He didn't like the way he smiled
wickedly, saying that we'd have to wait and see if Kwon Taekjoo had any
value for him. He rudely pushed back the leg that Zhenya was holding
onto. [Then it's a bit much to trust him blindly. Even if he pretends to
help us now, we never know when he'll get stabbed in the back.
Wouldn't someone who's blinded by self-interest and sells out the
national interest betray others when it comes to other interests?]
[Businessmen don't trust each other in the first place. They just covet
each other's possessions. Often, that greed is stronger than any sense
of duty.] [So you're saying that they're also traitors like you?] [It means
that not everyone is a foolish patriot like you.] [What, you little punk?]
[You're getting angry again. That's not exactly wrong. Even if you fought
so bravely and died today, your country would have pretended not to
know. Your people? They wouldn't even know that you existed.] Zhenya
stared at Kwon Taek Joo and said with certainty. Then, he grabbed the
leg he had pulled back and carefully caressed his swollen ankle. He also
carefully examined his shin bone, knee, and pelvic area. [Don't worry,
Taekjoo. I don't do business that will hurt you.] The bruises from the
guy's earnest hands and a dull pain rose from above. When the small
wound was pressed, he flinched without realising it. Then, Zhenya
immediately raised his head and examined Kwon Taekjoo’s face. The
hand that had been persistently groping the wounded area stopped
moving as if it were a lie. It made him feel uneasy to see a guy who
could easily destroy a person being so careful. [Stop it. I’m not hurt.]
[Certainly, there’s nothing broken. There are still many places that need
to be patched up.] Zhenya nodded and got up from his seat. The
movement seemed endlessly slow, and then suddenly his face came
closer. The bastard’s bloodshot eyes rolled slowly, and his expression
was frozen. The image of the man was reflected. His lukewarm breath
tickled his philtrum. Should he kiss him like this? He held back his
breath while vaguely guessing. The guy noticed his expression and
smiled faintly. [First, wash up. It’s dirty.] Whenever he would flirt with
him while showing him his shiny face. He felt like he was being
ridiculed. He pinched Zhenya’s cheek out of frustration. Zhenya raised
his eyebrows as if he was surprised. He glared at him with a displeased
look before grabbing his collar and kissing him all the way inside. He
licked his dry lips and pulled out his tongue that was quivering inside. It
was so rough and urgent, as if trying to quench his thirst. It was a
gesture that didn’t exist. He didn’t even give the other person a chance
to match his pace and unilaterally mixed his tongues. When he tried to
rub his tongue, he twisted his head and ran away, sucking his upper lip,
and when he tried to suck his plump lower lip again, he stubbornly
stuck his tongue in and rummaged around his mouth. As Kwon Taekjoo
rushed at him with his whole body, Zhenya, who had been hesitating to
step back, sat down on the bed stool. Kwon Taekjoo climbed on top of
him and continued the passionate kiss. In an instant, his tongue and
lips, as well as his philtrum and chin, became numb from the merciless
kiss that swallowed even his exhaled breath. The saliva that was
exchanged between the two ceaselessly was warm and had a faint taste
of blood. After a long time, the two lips parted with a smack. The two
people’s heavy breathing rang in their ears. [Haa… Taekjoo.] Zhenya’s
eyes and mouth were flushed with tears as his heart raced. His long
eyelashes were also wet with moisture and fluttering. Kwon Taekjoo,
who was looking down at the sight while supporting himself with one
arm, smiled with satisfaction. It was the smile of a winner. [What should
I do? We’re getting dirty just the same.] [Huh?] Zhenya raised the
corners of his mouth with a dumbfounded expression. And yet, he
looked straight at Kwon Taekjoo as if licking him. The look in his eyes
seemed to be expecting something more. He caressed the corner of his
ear and slowly lowered his head to kiss him again. It was a sweet kiss,
clearly different from a moment ago. He gently covered his lips with his
own, then gently held his upper lip before letting go. He could feel the
texture and temperature of their lips touching each other. The
lukewarm breaths that were exchanged and the feeling of their tongues
gently rubbing against each other were simply warm and soft. The fluff
on his cheek stood up. Soon, Kwon Taekjoo slowly withdrew. At the
same time, a thin exhalation burst out from Zhenya. his moist eyelashes
fluttered. [Wait. I’ll wash up and come back.] He patted the pretty ripe
guy’s cheek and got up to go to the bathroom. But after taking a few
steps, he felt the back of his head being squeezed. The next moment,
before he could even look back, Zhenya came from behind and hugged
him. He was pushed by the guy who suddenly rushed at him and fell
hard. [Aww, shit. It hurts!] [Taekjoo. You keep provoking me recklessly.
Can’t you stand it for even a moment? Huh?] [Are you introducing
yourself? Oh, let go. I can’t breathe.] He patted Zhenya’s arm, which
was squeezing him with all its might. All. To no avail, the bastard hugged
Kwon Taekjoo tighter. His sudden display of strength crushed his lungs,
making it difficult to even breathe. He tried to crawl on the floor to get
away from him, but it was useless as he crushed him with his entire
body. [Taekjoo, Taekjoo...] Zhenya buried his face in Kwon Taekjoo’s hair
and kept calling his name. His excited, heated breath kept hitting his
scalp and the nape of his neck. His penis, which was rubbing against his
waist, was already erect. To think that he would end up like that with
just one kiss, even though he was already a bastard. A sigh escaped his
lips. [Hey, wait. Ah, wait a minute. Is this the time to do this? Listen to
me, kid!] [At this time? Even in the midst of war, it’s human nature to
fuck and fuck. It’s instinct.] Despite repeated warnings, he clutches his
chest tightly. He also bites the nape of his neck that is clearly visible in
front of him. His molars clenched involuntarily from the sharp pain. He
sucks the skin on his nape as he pulls and twists both nipples over his
thick combat uniform. When he turns his head to avoid him, he ignores
him and licks his earlobe. He groans under the pressure the whole time
and finally manages to get the guy off by raising his elbow. [Are you an
animal, really?] [If you set up someone without permission, you should
take responsibility for it.] [Even if you do it later. Not here. I don't like it
now because it feels uncomfortable.] [Oh, would it have been better to
do it in a helicopter? Would it be possible on a lifeboat?] [Don't be
stubborn.] [You should stop me and rest assured. While we're here,
neither Cuba nor Mexico will be able to invade recklessly.] He
immediately sees through Kwon Taekjoo's anxiety. However, the more
he listened to Zhenya’s story, the more suspicious he became. What
kind of great man is he that has such a super yacht, and Cuba of course,
even neighbouring Mexico couldn't touch him. What on earth did
Zhenya give to such an author? And whether or not that deal would
endanger his situation. Zhenya suddenly grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's
shoulder and turned him around. Kwon Taekjoo stared at him with an
uneasy look. [Are you still anxious?] […..] [You still don't believe me?]
Kwon Taekjoo didn't answer. He just looked at Zhenya with a thoughtful
face. [Then trust me.] Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes widened slightly at the
added words. A haughty smile appeared on Zhenya’s face, who was
looking down at him as if he was going to pierce him. The blue pupils
that filled Kwon Taekjoo were filled with confidence. [Leave it all to me,
Taekjoo. I’ll blow away all your worries without a trace.] He was the
symbol of those worries, and yet he was good at talking. He smiled at
the reckless and absurd promise, but Zhenya’s face suddenly got closer.
Their lips met one another and a thick breath seeped in. This was a big
deal. Trust him without a plan. Why did that irresponsible word make
his heart soften? It was without any plausible reason, without any
proper basis. If he was on his side, he just felt secure. He shouldn’t rely
on him too much, but he kept getting weaker and weaker, making it
difficult to keep his balance. Kwon Taekjoo swallowed an annoyed
exhale and grabbed Zhenya’s hair. Then he twisted his head and
swallowed the tongue that was desperately rubbing over his lips. “Haa,
haa…?” Where were the remains of the torn combat uniform on the
bathroom floor? It was messy. Kwon Taekjoo sat diagonally under the
shower and kept gasping for breath. His chest, pressed against the chest
rig, heaved. The undershirt that was tight to his body was rolled up to
his neck. His nipples, which had been bitten and sucked, were glistening
with sticky saliva. A piece of drawer that had been torn off was pitifully
hanging on one thigh, pressed against the leg holster. Zhenya’s two eyes
widened in satisfaction at Kwon Taekjoo’s dishevelled appearance. The
guy stared intently at Kwon Taekjoo’s flushed face and steadily spread
his bottom. Since he had poured all the body oil provided in the
bathroom, there was no place that was not slippery, not even the hole
or the floor. Kwon Taekjoo raised both elbows. He barely supported his
upper body. "Ugh, ugh, ugh..." Another long finger dug in. He shut his
eyes tightly at the feeling of his hole and flesh being ripped apart deeply
and widely. He couldn't count the number of times he’d done that to
him, but for some reason, he couldn't get used to that feeling. Even
though his whole body was covered in wounds big and small, he didn't
feel any pain. It was because his cells in his entire body were on edge at
the stimulation that was spreading out from one place. As his bottom
came loose, he felt a sense of impatience that he had never felt before.
It felt like every minute and second passed slowly. As Zhenya retreated
while wiping the inner wall thickly, Kwon Taekjoo’s knees, which had
been spread wide apart, trembled. He shivered. He clenched his molars
and held his breath when he thrust in again and stirred and crushed the
weak spot. His thigh muscles were faithful to the stimulation given and
throbbed. His already erect penis also flipped over and drooled. Zhenya,
who had been watching the scene, raised the corners of his mouth.
[Taekjoo. Now, just poking here makes me dizzy.] [Fuck... Stop squirming
and put it in quickly.] [I want to live up to your expectations, but. No
matter how much you like pain, it's too early now.] [Haa, when did your
little brat get that kind of, ugh, thing.] [There's no need to do something
that will make you hate him.] He quickly reached out and grabbed the
back of Zhenya’s head. As a result, his forehead and Kwon Taekjoo’s
forehead met hard. Kwon Taekjoo glared at the bastard’s eyes that had
widened at the unexpected development and growled. [So put it in,
right now.] [...Huh?] Zhenya made a face as if he had been hit, and then
grinned. For a moment, it seemed as if his blue eyes were sparkling,
whether it was an illusion or not. Soon, the bastard’s fingers that had
been filling the hole completely withdrew. Then, a heavy, hot lump of
flesh suddenly touched it. [Is this how you get to be pretty?] Zhenya
squeezed his penis in while pushing it in. The hole that had been soft
expanded to its full size in an instant and swallowed the bastard’s flesh.
The mucous membrane that had been ticklish enough to be nervous
twitches under the immense pressure. As the penis was pushed in
further and further, the corners of Zhenya mouth went up. The
bastard’s flesh also shuddered strongly and enjoyed the soft flesh
inside. Kwon Taekjoo’s hands, which were holding the back of the
bastard’s head and arms, tightened their grip. Soon after, Zhenya’s
pelvis and Kwon Taekjoo’s cheeks collided with a thud. At the same
time, a thick vein appeared on Zhenya’s smooth forehead. His pupils
also contracted and fluffy hairs stood out on his cheeks. [Haa...
Taekjoo.] “Ah, uh...” Zhenya buried his face in Kwon Taekjoo’s head out
of habit. He rubbed his jet-black hair against his nose and kissed him
carelessly. The bastard’s penis, which was full inside his stomach, also
twitched as it was, enjoying the firm tightness. It felt like his stomach
and abdominal muscles were being pulled and entangled. The line
between discomfort and pleasure was unclear. The pain and pleasure
were the same. His organs were all crushed and his stomach was
bloated, but he was also very anxious. Ironically, he wanted to escape
from the suffocating feeling that was suffocating him, but he wanted to
be fucked so hard that he wouldn’t even think about it. [Ugh... Zhenya.
Hurry up....] [Yes, Lord. As much as you want.] Zhenya whispered in a
very intoxicated tone. The next moment, the bastard’s penis pulled out
in an instant and was slammed in without mercy, making a thud, thud,
thud sound. “Ah, thud...! Eung, ung... Geuj... Ah!” [Haa, hah, Taekjoo...
Taekjoo....] The big insertion of the heavy guy smashed the perineum.
The tingling sensation that had been triggered there spread to his
extremities. His hips trembled with the crushing burn. Zhenya dug in
before the afterglow faded. It was as if he was trying to imprint himself
on the inner wall of Kwon Taekjoo and tame him quickly. A fistfight
broke out in the bathroom, but soon the sound of this believably violent
friction reverberated non-stop. It was so irritating that it made his ears
and head tingle. The nape of his neck and back felt a sudden chill and
then a burning sensation in his pelvis. The pain and pressure of
insertion gradually become sweeter. It turned into a pain of luck. Kwon
Taekjoo was pressed and entangled in his massive body, constantly
piercing it, trying to get a bigger and sweeter heat, and he couldn't hold
back his moan. "Ugh, ugh, yes, yes, uhh!" [Yes, Taekjoo... Do you like it?
Huh... Okay, Taekjoo?] [Oh, there, there, there, oh there! Ugh! Ugh!]
[Ugh... Here? Like this? Yes?, like this?] [Ugh! Laugh! Ugh! Ugh! Fuck,
fuck, chew •••] A nervous moan erupted. Zhenya seemed to agree,
squeezing the hole faster and faster. The inside flesh that had been
randomly smashed on the outside of his lumpy penis became hot, and
the scent of the heated body oil became even more intense. He didn't
know if it was the intoxication of the scent or the heat that was boiling
his whole body. The back of his violently beaten thighs burned bright
red, burning and sore. As he reached out to restrain him, Zhenya
grabbed him by the arm and pressed it against the wall. Then, he
pressed the lower half of his body together and squeezed his body even
more. [Whoo, yes, wait, yes, ugh, ugh!] [Taekjoo... Hah, Taekjoo....] If
you flinch even a little from the stimulus that comes with it, it will thrust
him down even more violently, breaking the very little boundary. As if to
tell him to surrender, he collapsed into a mess under the fierce
onslaught. "Ugh, yes, ah” In the middle of a frenzy, he slipped on body
oil. For a moment, he reflexively hugged Zhenya’s neck tightly. Then, like
a lie, Zhenya’s movement stops. The hole where he had helplessly
caught his penis was also squirming, bitten by the heated flesh. "Hah
Ugh...." [Huh...] For a moment, their eyes met. They were both so
excited that they were ready to bite each other's necks at any moment.
His breath was rough and hot. Kwon Taekjoo scowled at Zhenya as if it
was going to pierce him, slowly twisting his lower body. Little by little,
his penis, which had been half-bitten by the hole, was sucked inside.
Immediately after swallowing his reddened genitals, Kwon Taekjoo's
abdominal muscles suddenly became clear. At the same time, the inner
wall tightened, squeezing Zhenya’s penis without mercy. [Huh, huh...
Ugh... Taekjoo, how to do it....] Zhenya’s eyebrows furrowed at the
unexpected agonising pleasure. The corners of his eyes, of course, his
ears, his neck turned bright red. The corners of his mouth kept going up
and goosebumps appeared on his cheeks. His large body trembled
slightly at the intense sensuality. Kwon Taekjoo watched the change
with pleasure and chuckled. [I love it, kid.] [What?] Zhenya twisted his
lips and looked at Kwon Taekjoo. His blue eyes that contained him were
soaked in deep joy. He kept giggling as if he was shocked by the
unexpected counterattack. [Where on earth did you learn such a
sound? Do they teach men this kind of thing in your country?] [They do.
Only kids learn and practise it.] [Oh, so you were born with it?] [I’ve
always been good at applying it.] Kwon Taekjoo grinned and shook his
lower body. The penis that was tightly bitten into his hole was slowly
swallowed and then spit out, turning red. When he sucked it in, the soft
mucous membrane tightly surrounded the surface of the penis and
pressed it, and when he spit it out, the hard hole squeezed the penis as
if it was going to eat it. With the intense pleasure, thick blood vessels
appeared not only in the penis but also in the lower abdomen. [Haa,
laugh, uh... Taekjoo, um... a little more....] Zhenya faithfully swallowed
the sweet honey that Kwon Taekjoo gave him. As he watched the
bastard suffering happily, the corners of his mouth slightly raised. Kwon
Taekjoo pulled the bastard's pretty ripe face closer and buried his lips in
his ear. He continued to lick the cold earlobe and whispered in a low
voice. [Zhenya, do you like it?] Zhenya’s clear breathing suddenly
became quiet. For a moment, the bastard's back seemed to swell up.
The bastard clenched his molars and his cheeks, which had been
touching each other, stiffened. It felt like a lot. He grinned heartily and
pressed his stomach tightly, pressing hard against his penis and at the
same time squeezing against his abdomen. [Huh, huh... Your fuck, I
don't know what to do in this? I'm shaking so much that I'm all
throbbing here.] [... Huh?] Zhenya smirked in disbelief, rubbing his head
against Kwon Taekjoo’s shoulder. Next, he is the slanted waist of Kwon
Taekjoo and licked it from his neck to his ear. He was a dog, but his
nature was not very good. This time was no different. "I'm going to be
so fussy inside and out, but I have to live up to their expectations." A
distinctively fishy voice foreshadowed the hardships to come.
Afterwards, Zhenya’s penis, which had been gently bitten, was pulled
out. In hindsight, he tried to tighten it as hard as he could, but it was no
use. Leaving only the glans, the penis that had escaped to the end
swirled gently around the entrance, and then it was slammed into the
hook in one fell swoop. It was struck so hard that it made a popping
sound, and it stabbed from his pelvis to his spine. "Ugh, chew...." The
violently scratched mucous membrane lingered, belatedly wrapping
itself around his genitals, trying to bite him. But Zhenya immediately
withdrew, and then went back to roots. He threw it in. "Whoa! Ugh...
Fuck.” Kwon Taekjoo let out a groan that sounded like a scream. His
fingertips, stiff in pain, slammed into Zhenya’s shoulders and back.
Zhenya didn't care, and continued with a deep, swift gesture as if to
punish the previous provocation. His gaze is fixed on Kwon Taekjoo, who
is constantly scowling at him, and he hits the roots one after the other
at once. [Ugh! Oh, ugh! Ugh! Ugh! You bastard... Ugh! I'm a little older...
Ugh, ahh] "Oh, you're building it again, you wanted it, Taekjoo."
Suddenly, he changed the angle of insertion and crushed one side of the
inner wall. For a moment, Kwon Taekjoo’s mouth fell shut. The tip of his
jaw tightened. He could feel his stiff spine twitching. Zhenya’s lips made
a long, silent arc. Shortly thereafter, his penis, which had been pushed
out, had just poked at the spot. Kwon Taekjoo clenched and crumbled.
He didn't miss the opportunity and rushed relentlessly, relentlessly
searching for only one place. Crushed and clumped in the depths of the
belly, until finally in the back of the mind The surging current let out a
federal irritated groan. "Ugh! Ugh! That's it, oh, clothes, ugh!” [Bite and
bite like this, huh?] A waterfall of pleasure comparable to pain poured
out. His whole body was on edge, and he could clearly feel every strand
of his hair. The hot bastard's penis was ready to make a hole in his belly.
A piece of the flesh that had been crushed inside was pulled out
violently, and then it came out of the flesh and then fell into shapeless
again. It was like a flash of lightning in front of him. He clenched his
molars and held it in, but slimy saliva dripped down his chin. Zhenya
punishes him by licking his lipsIt was a long time ago. He bit his tongue
in fear of digging inside, but he ignored it as if he was used to it. His
irritable tongue mixed with each other, and there was a faint taste of
blood, which was quickly neutralised by the sweet saliva that had been
infested with it. Every time Zhenya’s penis pierced and stirred his
intimate flesh, Kwon Taekjoo’s tongue flushed and steadily responded.
The corners of Zhenya’s mouth twitched. "Wooh, whoo, ooh, uhh Oo!"
Even as they pressed their lips together, the speed at which Zhenya’s
penis moved in and out didn't slow down at all. There was still a drop
that drove from the tip to the end of the root at once. Now, every time
he get pierced by just brushing it, he let out a deep exhalation. Zhenya
swallowed every breath he had. He grunted and struggled to breathe,
until he finally patted Zhenya to let him go. Even so, he even grabbed
Kwon Taekjoo's chin and continued to kiss him stubbornly. When he
stubbornly turned his head away from him, he immediately chased
after him and kissed him again. The root of his tongue tingled and his
entire jaw was stiff. [It's... Ten thousand! Hah] Using his survival
instincts, he pushed Zhenya's chin upwards. Only then was he able to
let out the breath he had been holding back. He was so suppressed that
his lungs were throbbing. All the while, Zhenya kept digging
underneath. His pupils dozed off. He seemed to lose his mind.
Apparently, he had to take it out first. He buried his head in Zhenya’s
neck and squeezed the hole with difficulty. Then he bit and sucked on
his skin. Perhaps it was a mistake, but his throat was visibly heaving.
Immediately after that, his arms clasped around his body, as if they
were going to crush him. Then his penis exploded. He felt like he was
about to fall out, but he couldn't hold on to it. He could only take in the
earnest desires it poured out. "Ugh, ugh, ha, yaw, yes, ugh, yes, yuck,
yes, yes, ugh! Hey, yes!" [Hah, Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh,] Zhenya
furrowed his brow and slammed his face into Kwon Taekjoo’s thick hair.
He inhales the thickened body odour of Kwon Taekjoo and spurs his
hips. A tingling sensation made his whole body rumble. Now it is
difficult to distinguish what is pleasure and what is pain. It didn't make
any sense. His mind was in a daze as his brain was bubbling up, and he
closed his eyes and waited desperately for the final blow. "Ugh, yes,
clothes, stop, that's, uhh” [Hah, uhh] It crashed with a thud. At the
same time, his penis flinched as it was struck in the deepest part of his
belly. In addition, there was a sensation of heat that was quite different
from what had been done before. Zhenya pushed the floor he was
stepping on into a corner even more, bringing his already tightly
touching body closer together. There was a growl in the back of his
throat as he held his breath. Zhenya, who had been standing still for a
moment, let out a long exhale and slowly stepped back, then thrust
downwards again. At that moment, the bastard's penis exploded
whiteley, shaking its huge body. The inner walls, which had been swept
away and had become hot, were covered in sticky semen and squelched
in the thick aftertaste. [Hah Taekjoo.] "Ugh... Ugh...." Zhenya called out
to Yeonshin Kwon Taekjoo and rubbed his face against his hair. Even
though his whole body is drenched in sweat, he kisses without
hesitation. He didn't have the energy to dry it out, so he hugged it and
squirmed. [... How can it be harder to roll around with you than it is to
roll around outside.] "You did a good job of that, but you must have
accumulated a lot of it, right?" Zhenya scooped up that splattered on
his clothes. Then he spread his fingers and dripped white mucus and
played. Bastard's Hand he slapped it off. [Clean it up, bastard.] People
are disgusted, but they keep fuzzling about what's so funny. He clicked
his tongue in approval and looked around. His throat was still dry. He
couldn't swallow. He thinks he saw bottled water somewhere. Soon I
found bottled water on the sink. He hurriedly reached out, but he
couldn't reach it. Kwon Taekjoo patted Zhenya on the shoulder, who
was still hugging him like he was crushing him. [Hey, let it go, I'm thirsty,
stop washing I'm going to have to do it.] [Yes.] Zhenya nodded
sheepishly. But that's not all, he didn't move. Instead, he held each of
his hands up one by one and pressed them against the wall. What the
hell, he was about to protest, but his lips touched. Before he knew how
to react, his thick tongue slid into his mouth. He’s going to quench his
thirst with a kiss. He doesn't think he's jealous of the bottled water, and
he doesn't want to run away for even a second. He couldn't understand
what he was thinking at first, but there was no reason why he couldn't
accept him if he felt sorry for him when they went on vacation together
and then went to work again. A guy the size of a house is grumpy like a
child. He thought it was a little cute, so he sucked his tongue on it. But
instead of getting sick, he was thirstier. He winced out of breath. The
word "stop" didn't sound like a complete word, as Zhenya pressed his
tongue against Kwon Taekjoo's tongue. Zhenya swept slowly up both
wrists of Kwon Taekjoo and stubbornly clasped his clenched fist into his
hand, and then his right arm dragged a little further up, and something
touched his fingertips. It looked like a long bar-shaped faucet. The
sudden stream of water that poured over the head was proof of this.
[Uh, haa, haa, what are you doing...!] He barely opened his mouth and
shouted, then stopped. Zhenya in front of his was already drenched.
Drops of water on the tip of his nose and chin dripped, dripped, and
dripped onto Kwon Taekjoo’s face. Each strand of the pale bastard's
eyelashes dangled and fell off, patting him on the cheek. Each moment
slowly caught his eye. Looking down at Kwon Taekjoo, his uncolored
eyes seemed to sparkle more transparently than ever. He burst out
laughing. [You nasty bastard... you’re so untrustworthy.] [I don't know
what you're talking about?] Zhenya grinned, and slowly opened his
mouth against the impulse of the bastard.He stuck out his red tongue.
Drops of water moistened his tongue. He licked his thick bottom lip with
his wet tongue and stared directly at Zhenya, who was at home with
him. Zhenya’s mouth fluttered in plain sight. His eyelashes twitched.
He’s still thirsty. He slid his head out and drank the drops of water on
Zhenya’s chin. He stuck out his tongue and licked it from the bridge of
his throat to his face, and held it sweetly in his earlobe. That amount of
moisture wasn't enough to wet the back of his throat. He knew it was
going to be tantalising, but he couldn't stop. Ivory hair and slick face,
flowing streams of water converged into one, Dodd It cracked in the
thick throat. For some reason, it was a sad sight to watch. Kwon Taekjoo
sucked on the bone. A muffled moan erupted from the back of Zhenya’s
throat. his brow furrowed again. [… Yevgeny. Now let it go.] He parted
his lips aloud and commanded in a locked throat. Then, Zhenya’s grip
loosened from his wrist like a lie. He grabbed him around his neck with
his free arms, and Zhenya picked him up as if he had been waiting for
him. Kwon Taekjoo’s legs wrapped around his waist. The two of them
look at each other's foreheads, cheeks, lips, and ears They kissed each
other frantically. His genitals were pushed into his groyne and his body
was pressed against Kwon Taekjoo’s penis. The incessant stream of
water was the perfect lubricant. The heat that hadn't subsided yet
quickly warmed his body. It wasn't long before Zhenya pressed his
stiffened penis against Kwon Taekjoo’s buttocks. But he didn't insert it
carelessly. He just licked Kwon Taekjoo’s wet cheek and kissed him
casually, waiting for him to melt. Kwon Taekjoo’s body, which had been
stiff due to his posture, began to soften a little. Thickening in the mouth
His tongue gradually became mushy, and his hole gently wrapped
around the glans of Zhenya, which was only touching. Soon, his penis
slid beneath the rust. Kwon Taekjoo, who was about to hang lazily, let
out a groan and instinctively hugged him tightly. [Ugh... Ugh... Slowly....]
[Yes, as much as you want.] Zhenya skillfully hugged Kwon Taekjoo, who
was clinging to him with his whole body, and began to gluttonize
gracefully on the sweet flesh that contrasted with his firm body. The
sound of the water in the shower never stopped. As soon as he finished
taking a shower, he stretched out on the bed. His body was limp and he
couldn't lift a finger. He didn't have time to pay attention to what time it
was or what was going on the Cuban side. His consciousness was so
dazed that he was about to sink into the abyss. Zhenya moved closer to
the bed. Matris tilted to one side by his weight, and the guy who was
looking down at Kwon Taek Joo suddenly grabbed one of his arms. He
grabbed his head and turned it so that his head was facing the head of
the bed. In the hands of others Can he leave himself to that? The
reason, which was as small as the finger of his hand, protested slightly,
but he wondered what it was like to be a lover. There had been a time
in the past when life and death had been in this hand, but now it was
refreshing to feel at ease instead of being wary. “... Uh-huh." The back
of his head sank into a soft pillow. He sensed a white hand approaching
his face. He guessed that Zhenya was trying to touch him, so he gently
slapped his cheeks. Then, he flinched at the unexpected touch and
lifted his eyelids. Soon, he could see the skiing clattering in the
transparent glass. He opened his mouth and shut it up. Throat locked It
was because the voice didn't come out right away. He cleared his throat
and opened his mouth again. "Hey, you're going to end up with
someone who's thirsty..." "Taekjoo, no matter how much you enjoy
being sick, you can't afford to endure unnecessary pain." [What are you
talking about?] He furrowed his brows, tossed and turned, and then
flinched. His body was as heavy as wet cotton, and there was a muffled
pain everywhere. It didn't seem to be just the aftermath of sex. He just
lifted his head and looked down at himself. Thanks to the shower, his
skin is pretty clean He was losing. There were large and small dressing
bands everywhere. The slender scratches were all smoothed together. It
looked like ointment had been applied. He thought there were quite a
few lacerations that needed to be sewn up, but he guessed they were
all sewn up by hand. He slid the band-aid off his arm. The nail-width
wound was tightly stitched. Even if the size and interval of each stitch
were fixed and sewn, it would be believable. It was ridiculous, so he
burst out laughing. "Well, I've sewn something like this, I'm excited to
touch other people's flesh, again." [No way. Such small scratches are
surprisingly scarred. Now I'm the only one who can leave a mark on
your body, right?!] Zhenya smirked at his smugness and uttered
unfailing sophistry. He must be crazy. That ridiculous nonsense sounds
romantic. It was clear what had happened to his head from the impact
of the explosion. The taste of this deep part has gone. Is it madness?
Thinking about it, he squirmed and straightened up. Before he knew it,
a groaning sound leaked out. Zhenya shook the glass in front of him.
"Drink, I've given up the painkillers, but they'll be effective soon." He
obediently snatched the glass and moistened it from the neck up. His
dry stomach was moist. At the same time, a burning sensation spread
from his oesophagus to his stomach, but the aroma was so good that he
took another sip. He didn't drink alcohol worth the price of a house, so
the public didn't go. He quickly handed the empty glass to Zhenya.
[Would you like another drink?] [....no, that's it.] Certainly, thanks to
Zhenya’s treatment, he didn't have any major pains. He said he had
taken painkillers, his feelings were dulled by accumulated fatigue, and
he had even been drinking, so he didn't know if it was natural. In the
meantime, the problem is the stiffness of the lower back and the
buttocks The only subtle sensation inside was that it hadn't been dulled.
He wonders if he'd be crushed again. He had lost consciousness halfway
through and didn't know how much he had done, and of course, there
would be no more obvious evidence than the state of his body. In any
case, once it is triggered, it will pounce as if it will kill a person. "Hah...
You can't do that if you cover it up and make it pretty." [What are you
talking about, in Russian.] He thinks he should learn Korean, but he’s
trying to control himself so that he doesn't talk to himself. He didn't
hesitate. [Are you in heat 365 days a year? That all night on someone
who barely survived. Do it?] [What do you mean, if it's last night's sex,
you brought it upon yourself.] Zhenya said he told him to wash up, and
came out brazenly. It's like Kwon Taekjoo wouldn't have had sex if he
had taken a shower. He shook his head. Then he examined his body
again. The skin was covered in wounds and kiss marks. The bruises that
had formed before he met Zhenya had been replaced by a new
congestion. Was that the fact that he was enough to leave a mark on
Kwon Taekjoo's body? There was a long sigh. [They've been bitten so
much, anyone would think they're zombies.] "Well, you don't have a
taste for cannibalism, do you?" [How dare you?] [Oh, by the way, I left
this place out.] Zhenya suddenly let out a quiet gasp and added
something he didn't understand. Then he picked up the ointment from
the bedside table. He opened the lid and grabbed some of the ointment
in his hand and rubbed it on Kwon Taekjoo’s nipple. The flesh that had
been bitten and sucked by it all night was gently crushed. The subtle
sensation was frowned upon. [Ugh, don't do it, bastard.] [Are you
ashamed of yourself?] "When are you going to get out of your infantile
regression?" [Am I an infantile regression?] "Why are you so obsessed
with your boobs?" "Even if you do, you don't have to force yourself to
get over it, you like it quite a bit." He grabbed his left breast. Then he
tilted his head and whispered in a deep voice. [Yesterday I wrapped it
up with just my boobs once.] Zhenya’s sharp nose is the earlobe of
Kwon Taekjoo and the scruff of the neck. Naturally, he tried to bite his
neck, but he covered his chin with his hand. [That's it.] [What?] [I'm not
going to fall for your work anymore.] [What trick did I do?] Zhenya had
a look on his face that he didn't know at all, and it was disgusting to see
that Kwon Taekjoo himself had washed himself thoroughly and changed
into clean clothes while he was asleep. [Pretending to be so pretty
doesn't work. I'm immune.] [Am I pretty in your eyes?] He replied a
beat late, laughed out loud, and teasingly said, "After all, I was your
preference from the beginning, right?" His fists clenched involuntarily.
He just wanted to slap this cute and ugly guy just once. He struggled to
reach out with his fist. [Stop talking, give me your phone.] Zhenya tilted
his head at the sudden request. The playful laughter was gone. [Why
the pawn?] [The communicator is broken, so I can't contact the
headquarters. I don't have one. My phone and gun were all blown
away.] [By the way?] ['By the way', I have to report on the progress of
one way or another.] [I'm just thinking about working in this situation.]
[I'm not doing this to finish it.] Quickly, he waved his hands up and
down. Zhenya reluctantly handed him his handphone. It would be nice
if they could even loosen the lock, but they don't have that kind of
flexibility right now. With a small sigh, he shoved his phone close to
Zhenya’s face. In a way, the reality beyond felt more surreal than the
Earl Oyster on the screen. Facial recognition is over The reason why he
stared at Zhenya for a while was He wondered if he read those tired
eyes. Zhenya glided toward his picture-like face. The tip of his nose
brushed against each other, and his lips gently touched. Kwon Taekjoo
lowered his eyes to admire Zhenya’s face, and then opened his mouth
slightly, and his thick tongue rushed in, licking his dry lips. The
lukewarm exhalation and saliva soaked together, staining the bitter
mouth with a sweet tinge. The upper part of the mucous membrane
that he had forgotten was rubbing, but Zhenya’s gesture of sucking his
tongue was quite careful and sad, and he couldn't help but push it
away. As was his habit, he gently grabbed Zhenya’s hand as he pressed
it down on both shoulders. He couldn't be satisfied with a single kiss, so
he lightly kissed him. [Wait, just a minute.] Zhenya stubbornly clung to
him, but he didn't disturb him. It's like he’s learned that if he has a little
patience, he’ll get a sweeter reward. The monster, which had never
been tamed by anyone, now seemed to be a dog that only carved its
owner's affection. Kwon Taekjoo tapped the keypad as he stroked
Zhenya’s hair, rubbing his face against his neck. In case of possible
eavesdropping, call Yoon Jong-woo's SNS messenger account he walked.
He was worried about the communication because it was on the sea,
but the beep started to drop immediately. However, no matter how
long he waited, it was not resolved by phone. After all, there was an
emergency at the headquarters. He was about to write a message. The
cell phone in his hand rang, and it vibrated to signal the incoming
message. Hello. Mr. Bogdanov. I'm sorry that I couldn't answer your call.
I'm in a meeting. He chuckled at the slap in the face. As for the phone If
it was an emergency that couldn't be answered, there wouldn't even be
time to send such a message to an outsider. Therefore, the current
meeting was an excuse. He replied right away. If you don't want to die,
pick up the phone. As soon as he sent the message, he touched the call
button. The familiar ringtone dropped again and soon stopped. Then,
he heard the voice of Yoon Jong-woo that he had been waiting for.- Oh,
hello? Yes, Mr. Yevgeny. “Um... It's been a while. How are you?”- I'm
fine. Thank you, Zhenya. Why are you stammering and making a fuss
like that? “...Huh?” "Huh, what are you doing?"- Are you senior? Senior
Taekjoo? Senior! What happened! Are you okay? "My ears hurt, brat. I
called because I’m okay."- Are you hurt anywhere? I was worried
because there was a big explosion at the operation site! All
communications were cut off, and you haven't contacted me for a
whole day! I was so worried because I thought you were really going to
get hurt! "I didn't mean to make a joke like that! Where are you now?
Are you safe? Have you eaten?” "I'm going to have a hard time. Ask me
one question at a time." [That junior guy again.] Zhenya, who had been
quietly eavesdropping, interjected with a displeased expression. Did
Yoon Jong-woo hear that voice? He heard a gasp from the other end of
the phone.- Are you with Yevgeny? Oh, this account is his too. “Why did
he say 'That's him? You two are friends?"- Don't make friends on your
own, senior. I have no intention of doing that! “Use your brain. If you
were at least friends, wouldn't he think twice before he tries to kill
you?"- That... is that so? Oh, that's not the important thing. But why is
Mr. Yevgeny there? "He just happened to be passing by. He came to buy
some cigars." - Huh? He snickered at Yoon Jong-woo's reaction and
glanced at Zhenya. [See? I told you not to believe you?] Zhenya raised
his eyebrows, not knowing what was being said. Yoon Jong-woo was
also unaware of the situation.- Senior? "Just talking to myself. My
communicator is broken right now and all my belongings are gone, so I
had no choice but to contact you like this. It's over the ocean, of all
places."- .. Huh? The ocean? Soon, a keyboard was tapped on the other
end of the phone. Yoon Jong-woo checked the location of the phone. It
was as if they were on a pursuit. He was curious to see where the yacht
was floating, so he waited for a while, fiddling with Zhenya’s face in
front of him.-Senior. You're in Mexico, right? "Oh, is this Mexico?"-
Didn't you know? "Do you have a jaw? I was brought in blindly."- You're
not kidnapped, are you? Should I call for help? "If that were the case, I
wouldn't be able to talk to you like I do now. No need to worry. now It's
in the safest place to be." He replied and looked at Zhenya again. It
stared at the phone call, which he didn't even understand. It seemed as
if he was trying to guess what was going on. "I don't know when I'll be
back, so Jong Woo, you should report to the director for me. They even
threw bombs at me, and I was pretty sure I got it done. Before that, I
stole data from their PCs..." He whispered to Zhenya, who was still
staring at him. Chased by the Cuban police and confronted by American
PMCs, Zhenya again It was a water gun that he had managed to hold on
to even though he had been attacked by the Zhenya nodded obediently
and left. He stared at the back of his head and continued the call. "We'll
put that on our groupware later, so check it out."-Well yes. Thank you
for your hard work, Jean Cha. "It's something I do all the time, but it's
hard. Oh, and what happened to the private mercenaries who showed
up on the scene? “Did you know where it belongs?"- They were
multinational mercenaries. Until recently, in an American PMC called
"Golden Bullet" He worked. He doesn't have a place to belong now,
doesn't he smell it? No matter how he looks at it, it seems that the U.S.
is trying to dump on them. They're trying to sort out this hack to their
liking. Thanks to the seniors who wiped them out, it ended up being
him, It looks like it's all over. This time, even the higher-ups won't be
able to take issue with the senior's solo actions, right? He should write
it as an inspector. "Huh... Is it an inspector again? I'm tired of it."- Didn't
you know it would be like this? Well, he just didn't run away. It's a
shame that things are going well, but if something goes wrong, it could
have turned into a serious foreign school problem. "How can you put up
with the fact that the so-called allies are going to cut the back of your
head? Do you have anything to do with international hukou?"- What are
you doing again? Seniors should also kill their temper for one more day,
right? "Thanks for the advice, but I'm going to live anyway thanks to
you."- Me? What did I do? "Honestly, you still did it, didn't you?"- Child,
senior. It's a real mess. Aren't you dwelling on the old things too much?
"I don't have a good memory."- Huh... Seeing you play around like this I
wonder if you're really okay. I couldn't sleep all night because I was
worried senior. He grunted. Somehow, the fun of making fun of Yoon
Jongwoo didn't go away as the years went by. After chatting for a while,
he suddenly felt his gaze and picked up the dog. Zhenya had just
returned, pecking at Kwon Taekjoo's face with a puzzled look. He
doesn't like flirting with someone other than him. Do you really want to
play with him? He always felt like a big kid. As he looked at his face,
there was something that suddenly came to mind. He asked how they
were doing. "There were children at the scene."- Kids? Oh, and I've
heard that there are survivors. It looks like the Cuban police are getting
a statement from them. Why? Nervous? "Well, in a way, I'm caught up
in the greed of adults." They had unknowingly lost their family and
home, and every day would be a living hell, and they were not sure if
the Cuban government would treat and care for them properly. Since
when did Kwon Taekjoo himself fathom the circumstances of the
target? Not so long ago, it was thought that the sacrifices that occurred
during the operation were unavoidable. It was also rationalised as a
small loss to prevent bigger damage. After going through all kinds of
prenatal battles, he began to doubt the innocence of the children, who
seemed to be absolute weaklings. This time, however, he was unable to
judge and act as calmly as before. He still says he shouldn't hesitate, but
his mind keeps putting the brakes on clumsily. Strangely, the faces of
precious beings brushed over the faces of the targets. The more
personal relationships he has, the more reluctant he is to pull the
trigger, he was reminded of the words of a retired senior. He thought it
had nothing to do with Kwon Taekjoo himself. He wondered if it wasn't.
“... Anyway, tell the director that I'll be back on my own."- Are you sure
you don't want any support? The border will be closed for a while, and
the city will be tightened. "Somehow. He's not seriously injured right
now, and he's still there." By the time he mentioned the "Last Plate
King", he grinned at Zhenya. What did Zhenya mean, he wondered. [The
strongest and most reliable monster in the world.] As he adds in
Russian, Zhenya’s face melts as he struggles to get out. He hung up on
Yoon Jong-woo who asked if it was a sound, and then turned his phone
to Zhenya. At the same time, Zhenya’s lips touch the screen of his hand-
phone, as he approaches to kiss him, and the call ends. The unbridled
development fills his blue eyes with questions. He reached out to him.
[I'm going to get my USB back first.] [Oh?] Zhenya calmly handed over
the USB. However, when he reaches out and tries to grab it, he clenches
his fist and hides it. [What are you doing?] [Come to think of it, this was
yours. It's on me now, right? I don't give it away easily once it's in my
hands.] [Oh, is that so?] He grinned and tilted his head at an angle.
Zhenya also faced Kwon Taekjoo with a sly smile on his face. He looked
forward to seeing how he would turn out. Kwon Taekjoo raised the glass
he had put down and swung the dark yellow-coloured whiskey softly.
Zhenya’s gaze drifted to the glass for a moment, and then it landed on
Kwon Taekjoo’s face. Immediately, their gazes intertwined. Kwon
Taekjoo looked at Zhenya clearly and slowly sipped down the rest of the
whiskey. As the aroma of whiskey spread subtly, Zhenya’s smile faded.
Temporarily. His dark blue pupils tightened in the flickering, colourless
crystals. The only thing that could be seen was Kwon Taekjoo. He
cracked and swallowed the liquor in his mouth. His neck was heaving
heavily. As he slowly pulled his mouth out of the empty glass, a drop of
whiskey that had formed between his lips and the glass flowed down
the surface. He stuck out his tongue and licked it gently. "It smells pretty
good, do you want to taste it?" [Ha, most sex spies are going to cry.]
Zhenya muttered in a smug tone, caressing Kwon Taekjoo’s moistened
lips. He kneaded his thick lower lip to his heart's content, and as he
pulled it down, Kwon Taekjoo covered his thumb with his upper lip.
Then, a moist and squishy tongue gently licks the thumb bitten by the
bird of the lip. Zhenya’s body twitched slightly at the rare temptation.
The next moment, he turned away from the biting one. Its lips brushed
against his cheeks. He took a moment to catch his breath and waved his
empty glass in front of him. He shook its head and put the USB drive in
it. Along with the clicking sound, Kwon Taekjoo's lips draw a long arc. As
soon as he got his hands on what he wanted, he gently wrapped his
arms around the back of Zhenya’s head. Zhenya took a sharp breath
from the whiskey-scented Kwon Taekjoo and rushed through his body,
and as he moved his fingers to smooth his ivory-coloured hair, he let out
a sweet breath and felt low. In no time, his cheeks turned red. It was
cute to see him respond so steadily to his gestures and breathing. He
felt a sense of accomplishment in his purity as if he was seeking his
affection. It was even more so because it was unimaginable for a
normal guy. The two lips clicked and fell apart with a clack, a tap, a
thud. The two tongues wrestled violently, pushing and shoving each
other, and all the while, Zhenya was completely on top of Kwon
Taekjoo’s body. He holds Kwon Taekjoo's face with his big hands and
kisses him endlessly. It was a sweet gesture as if he had tasted
sweetness for the first time, as if he were thirsty, but somehow sweet.
At the same pace, he kneaded his ears and caressed his cheeks. The
static electricity that was rising at his fingertips made him laugh without
knowing who was going to be the first. He brushed under Zhenya’s
feverish eyes and kissed him again and again. Maybe it's because of the
scratchy feel of the calluses. His long lashes fluttered and tickled the
corners of his cheeks and eyes. He gently bit his hand, thinking it would
sting. Then Zhenya gently took hold of his hand and pressed each of his
fingers to the side, to the lip. Then he brought his hand back to his
cheek and gently pressed his lips over his throat. He pasted it. He
twisted his head and pressed his lower lip and tongue at the same time.
It breathed drowsily, heavily. He stroked his cheek infinitely carefully. He
doesn't know if he’s ever been so cautious about touching someone.
For a long time, they touched each other, kissed each other, and rubbed
their bodies together. Compared to sex, it was infinitely the same. Even
so, he liked the tickling stimuli and wanted to stick to it. Soon, however,
Kwon Taekjoo’s momentum diminished. The one who was moving
furiously His tongue also drooped. At that, Zhenya stopped everything
and looked down at Kwon Taek Joo. The fatigue seemed to be creeping
in all at once. Maybe it was the effects of harsh painkillers. Sure, he
asked, nodding slowly, and slowly stretched out his arms toward
Zhenya. [Come on, Yevgeny.] Zhenya leaned a little closer to Kwon
Taekjoo with a puzzled expression. Then Kwon Taekjoo grinned and
hugged his face tightly. Zhenya, who was almost buried in Kwon
Taekjoo's chest, asked, "Taekjoo?" He wriggles awkwardly as if he has
been subjected to something unfamiliar. Kwon Taekjoo, who had
already closed his eyes, patted Zhenya on the back as if he were
crumpling up to him. [You know. You’ll just sleep and play with me.]
[What?] [yes, yes, you're nice, aren't you?] [Hey, Taekjoo...Glue your
eyes shut, you haven't slept all night because you've been torn apart.]
Zhenya in a clear voice. If he wanted to use the same When he was
drunk or unconscious, he would use such colourful language, which
meant that he was on the verge of fainting. Soon, the inside of Kwon
Taekjoo’s eyelids fell silent. Zhenya’s restraint slipped away. Only then
did Zhenya look up and look intently at Kwon Taekjoo, who was asleep.
They stared at each other for a long time, until they reached a height
where their breath would strike their faces. Then he sucked in the
sweet breath that Kwon Taekjoo spit out. Normally, he would have
cracked three golds and stopped him from doing anything weird. Kwon
Taekjoo is still unaware of the world. It was a state. He turned his head
and pressed his ear to Kwon Taekjoo’s chest. The presence that once
made his heart sink slowly but surely became felt. The constant
vibration was a lullaby, and he slid his eyelids shut. The deep, low
breath gradually merged into one, and soon the sweet water horse
rushed in. 2. Blue Shangri-La [Wake up, Taekjoo.] He lifted his eyelids at
the sound of wake-up, and the blinding sunlight struck his eyeballs. He
furrowed his brow and tried to block it with his hand, but Zhenya came
over and sat down, relieving him of the effort. [We’ve arrived.] [Where
have we arrived?] Zhenya nodded out the window, as if to ask him to
get up. He grunted and pulled his upper body up, screaming all over his
body, even though he was well rested. His whole body was swollen, and
his skin felt strange. When he finally sat up, Zhenya offered him a bottle
of water. Somehow, he does all kinds of weird things. He patted him on
the cheek and slid it down from the neck up. He had been suffering
from intense thirst all his sleep, so he emptied an entire bottle of water
in one sitting. He squashed the empty plastic bottle as was his habit and
walked to the window. Zhenya’s horse and yacht were moored in a
harbour. For some reason, he didn't see any other yachts. Only a few
motorboats and jet skis came into view. The serene emerald sea caught
his eye. The large building was not noticeable. So did Accreditation. He
wonders if it's a remote island somewhere. How is the neatly groomed
coast? Even if you look at it, it looks like a human being, but there are
no people at all, so he felt uncomfortable. At that moment, Zhenya
came up behind him and leaned over as if to squirm lightly, and
wrapped his arms around Kwon Taekjoo's shoulder. As was his habit, he
rubbed his head against his hair. He nudged him on the back and leaned
over him as he spoke. [Where is this place?] [Well.] [Jongwoo says it's
Mexico, right?] [I suppose so.] [If you're right, you're right or you're not,
what are you talking about?] [It doesn't matter where you are, as long
as it's quiet and undisturbed, isn't it?] He wasn't wrong. Still, in
hindsight, he should have known where he was. For Kwon Taekjoo,
Zhenya was all that was needed. [A place where no one can disturb you.
What the hell is that?] Just as he was stunned, his stomach growled.
Come to think of it, he couldn't remember what his last meal was. He
doesn't know how much longer it's been since he’s lost consciousness.
Zhenya slumped and swept down the belly of the federal, which was
roaring loudly. [Let's go eat first.] It sounded a bit sneering, but it was a
welcome sound. But the one who asked him to eat procrastinated and
kissed him on the nape of his neck. The hand that had been stroking his
belly slid down a little and burrowed shamelessly into his groyne. He
licks his ears while kneading the soft flesh uncontrollably. He slapped
Kimira's hand away from him for another bout there. [Why do you
touch other people while you want to eat?] [Hmm... Regards? I couldn't
sleep because I cried all night.] [Did you do it again when I was
sleeping?] [You like it a lot, don't you?] He didn't think he slept soundly,
he passed out. Even before he met Zhenya, he would spend days right
after completing his mission. It was to replenish the exhausted strength
and repair the broken body. Ever since he got involved with Zhenya,
they’ve always been together like gold. It was the reason why he
suddenly appeared at the site of the operation and kidnapped Kwon
Taekjoo. He kept staring at the sleeping person, touching them and
having sex with them as he pleased. He woke up a little along the way,
but the voice repeating his name, the line of sight that never left him,
more than usual the body temperature that has risen and the act of
mixing flesh itself is quite sad and sweet, so he pretends not to know.
He put it on. He just wanted to do it rather than have a particular
preference. In any case, having sex while sleeping was good for Kwon
Taekjoo because it would make up for the lack of sleep, and it would be
good for Zhenya to get rid of his overflowing lust. ‘Don't you like it too?'
Does that agree with what he said? If he sticks to him for a long time,
he will resemble him, and it seems that his weird tastes have shifted.
Tsk, he clicked his tongue and pushed the smirking one away. He didn't
know where it was, but now that he’s reached land, he thinks he’ll have
to go outside. That's right he had to wear something to sleep, but the
problem was that the previous suit he wore was already
unrecognisable. He set out to find something to wear. First, he opened
the closet. In addition to bath robes made of various materials such as
silk and cotton, Zhenya’s clothes were hung one after another. He
brought a variety of clothes as if he had come on some kind of vacation,
and he looked around just in case, but there were no clothes from the
owner of the house. If he’s going to chase him like this, he’s going to
bring him some of his clothes. In any case, it lacks delicacy. He ripped
off a new pair of drawers and put on a robe. Anyway, it looks like a
vacation spot outside, it's hot, and it's just a meal right now. It seemed
that there would be no problem in wearing it like that. Just as he was
about to close the closet door, he noticed a pile of bags underneath it.
Just in case, he checked and found that it contained all kinds of
firearms, as expected. He pulled out a pistol and held it in his hand. He
didn't have his own rum in his hand, but it was usable. He was
wondering where to put it, but Zhenya, who was watching, smiled
faintly and said, [You won't need that.] [Are you sure?] Zhenya
wondered if he had been deceived, and left the bedroom. [This way.]
He didn't know what was steaming, but he picked it for the time being.
When he stepped out of the yacht, he saw a line of people in white
uniforms, as well as the people he had met earlier. They greeted each
other as if they had been waiting for the two of them. [Welcome.] He
was stiffened by the undeserved hospitality. There were goosebumps in
his ears. Wouldn't they all mistake him for a VIP, rather than being
hunted down? [I was told that you didn't eat anything on the yacht, so I
prepared a meal. I'll do it.] Soon a man stepped in and ushered the two
of them around. He followed him, who was presumed to be the
manager, and walked along the wooden deck that led from the first
arrival. On both sides of the road, shallow, clear water lapped in the
water. It was so clear that he could clearly see the white sand on the
bottom, coral corals, sea urchins, starfish, and small fish. As they
ventured deeper into the ocean, a sea turtle swam beneath the deck. It
was an unreal sight, as if it had been made out of CG. As intoxicated as
the scenery was, Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes were busy searching the
surroundings. At first glance, he could see a white building among the
trees. In terms of size, the number of users Judging by his costumes, it
looked like a tourist accommodation. "What's the resort?” [I heard it's a
villa.] He replied casually. He gasped. A villa with 100 rooms on such a
large plot of land. Is it a hobby to interact with Zhenya or him, or to
build a palace-like villa on a deserted island where no one is looking?
The culprit couldn't understand it at all. The rich guys just shook their
heads. After walking for a while, we came to the end of the deck. There,
a large pergola was erected to shade it. He made it. The four sides were
open, and the sea breeze blew through, and the long stretches of cloth
fluttered incessantly. Beneath it was a large table with a variety of food.
The breakfast was large and the variety was more than necessary. [Sit
down.] "Toast and coffee for breakfast, what is this all about?” It was a
shame that all the food that the two of them had not been able to
accomplish would be thrown away, and he pulled out a random chair
and sat down with a puzzled expression. It was a place with a direct
view of the sea. Every time the white cloth of the pergola opened, a
flood of all kinds of blue disturbed the eyes. The distant sea was a dark
indigo, but the sea was a pale shade of rain. He stared blankly at the
ecstasy and clicked my tongue. [I don't know who the owner is... I'm the
only one in this world. It smells like something.] "Why do you want it?"
"What do you want to have, yes, it's here or your Ajinoki or a deserted
island. I can't live because I'm suffocated, I'll be mentally ill even if I'm
locked up for a year." Zhenya, who was fixed on Kwon Taekjoo The gaze
turns to the front. There was no change in his expression. Still, he
quietly gulped down the water, and he looked unknowingly fat. For me,
it's like a paradise, but his island that he’s decorated with a lot of DIY
care, to put it in a bad way. [Mangoes, you should eat some too.] He
pushed the mango plate in front of me toward Zhenya. Zhenya glanced
sideways. He only did not move a hand. The bastard was big but narrow
inside. If he wanted to go back to Korea in the future, he would have to
coax him well, but it was difficult to make him feel good at the time. [It's
really sweet.] He took a bite of the mango and gently shoved it to
Zhenya. Zhenya, who was looking at Kwon Taekjoo like a jeer, took a bite
as if he couldn't win. "How's that? delicious, isn't it?" [Hmm.] Zhenya
nodded roughly, unimpressed. Then, with a graceful gesture, he poured
a cup of red tea into it. After savouring the scent for a moment, he
furrowed his brows, put down his glass, and wiped his mouth. It seems
that the prepared car did not satisfy his luxurious tastes. Somehow, you
are an aristocratic bastard. If you give it to him, he’ll eat whatever you
give him. He glanced at him with a grim look in his mouth. Suddenly, he
felt a presence behind him. He turned around and saw a man walking
along the deck. His retinue surrounded him and guarded him loudly. Is
he the owner of this luxurious island? [.....Timing.] Zhenya looked
unwelcome. Kwon Taekjoo asked, his gaze fixed on the approaching
man. [Who?] [I told you, Taekjoo, you don't need to know.] [I think I'll
see you soon, but I don't need to know what.] Soon, the man
responded to the gaze of the two and smiled cheerfully. His lips made a
long arc at once, and his eyes folded one after another. Nine out of ten
of those smiling men were impostors. The gesture of expressing his
welcome without hesitation by spreading his arms to the sides also
looked cheerful when he said it well, and light when he said it frankly.
He carefully examined the man. His hair, his skin, his eyes, and his
eyebrows were all dark-coloured Hispanic. He thought he was in his
mid-to-late thirties. The hair rack that almost covered the nape of the
neck is swept naturally and sleeveless He was dressed in a printed shirt,
white pants, and flip-flops. [Friends. You came first, didn't you?] The
man approached without hesitation and touched the table. At the same
time, the smell of thick perfume wafted through the air, and Zhenya
looked at him and continued to eat. The man didn't care about his
disrespect and turned his head to Kwon Taekjoo. He is embarrassed by
the squirming of his mouth, and when their eyes meet, he winks.
Kwon's frown widened. "What, this bird?" The hand that held the knife
was also strained. The man burst out laughing at the unexpectedly
strong reaction. "Let's put down that kind of nasty thing in the
beginning, Qin Gu, don't fight in the morning, that's the order of my
house." If the day gets unnecessarily long, ask for a handshake. Kwon
Taekjoo looked nervously at the man's hand stretched out in front of
him. The other man waved his outstretched hand up and down lightly,
as if trying to break his guard. [Nice to meet you, I'm Matthias. Matthias
Perez.] [Matthias Perez?] As soon as he hears the man's name, he tilts
his head. Rattled. For some reason, the name was so familiar. It was the
first time he had ever seen Matthias himself. "Apparently my father's
fame has reached that small country, right?" [Who's your father?] Kwon
Taekjoo didn't answer the question and gave him a hearty look.
Matthias grinned, his eyes sharpened. [Antonio Perez.] [Antonio Perez...
Don't...!] He muttered softly, fumbling his memory Kwon Taekjoo
grabbed Zhenya’s cheek. Zhenya looked at him in surprise. Matthias was
taken aback, too. "You bastard! Are you also dealing with drugs now?”
"No way, I'm not interested in drugs, it's just a hobby for weak idiots."
"Why are you meeting that bird?" Zhenya raised his eyebrows and
stared at Matthias. Matthias shrugged his shoulders and looked at him
in disbelief. Zhenya pondered the context of the conversation and
smirked. [Because they want my weapon. We need state-of-the-art,
powerful firepower to protect Tell.] [....really?] "This is my lover, but I
don't trust him." Zhenya looked disappointed. Half-heartedly following
its explanation, he slowly let go of the grip he had gripped. The raspy
breath did not subside easily. There was still a way to glare at Zhenya
disappointedly. After all, Antonio Perez was a drug lord in Mexico. His
organisation has been producing and distributing drugs for decades,
and the bar He have accumulated a fortune. In the process, they did not
hesitate to commit illegal robes, solicitations, kidnappings, and
murders. In response, the Mexican government sought to suppress
them. However, all attempts have been futile. With the money they
earn, they are more powerful than the government army. It was
because of the armed forces. He could see why the Cuban police and
the Mexican government had not been able to touch Matthias' yacht.
As soon as he pointed his gun at him, it was clear that there would be a
war. The Mexico government has already made numerous sacrifices in
its friction with the Perez cartel. In such a gown, there was no jaw to
disturb them hastily because of a foreign country, not even their own
country. Zhenya is a reward for Kwon Taekjoo's own well-being. They
were going to provide weapons to Perez's group, and it was obvious
how they would be used. He couldn't have felt at ease if he knew that.
[Hey, you crazy bastard, what the hell did you do?] [Why are you angry,
Taekjoo? I was just trading as usual.] He was speechless at the carefree
reply. It's not like he didn't know that Zhenya was an arms dealer. He
didn't expect him to change his mind just because he had a close
relationship with himself. Injustices that were nothing more than
everyday to him were done because of Kwon Taekjoo himself He
couldn't allow that. [Who's going to make that deal with you? I told you
I don't need your help, don't interfere in my business.] [There's no
reason why I should listen to that.] [What?] [Don't you know this? this is
my way. I've been trading to get what I need, but this time it was you,
the owner.] Suddenly, his head throbbed. It felt like a heavy rock was
tightly pressed against his chest. Another response to cyber terrorismIt
seemed to have led to international crime. He didn't know what kind of
deal was going on behind the scenes, and he was happy to see Zhenya
on the scene. He gulped down the water in his confused mind, and the
crampedness didn't go away in the slightest. Zhenya called out to Kwon
Taekjoo, who seemed to be disintegrating. [You will do whatever it takes
to protect your country's safety. He has committed countless crimes.] In
fact, the justice of one country may become the injustice of another.
This was the reason why Kwon's own duties could not always be said to
be fair and desirable. Zhenya pinched it. So did he. [Taekjoo, I did
everything in my power for your safety, and I will continue to do so.]
[Hah...] He was thrilled. He should be grateful for your patience. It
wasn't a renewed sense of justice. He just couldn't help but feel sorry
for Zhenya that he had chosen a majority of injustices for Kwon Taekjoo
herself. Of course, he wasn't the kind of guy who would have
considered the use of weapons in the first place. Even so, if Kwon
Taekjoo Ja Shin had not been involved, he couldn't help but wonder if
this deal would have been completed. [The things I hand over are just
pieces of metal, whether I use them to protect myself or attack others...
It's up to you.] [I'll use it righteously.] [Even if that's the case, it's not for
us to get involved. Are you going to say that all the military companies
in the world are evil? So what about your army? Are they right?] He
wasn't wrong, either. In order to strengthen the country's national
defence capability, it is steadily training its military units and introducing
new weapons. Now, for the people, it will be for the sake of peace, but
the state is bound to be a threat to the country. Can it be defined?
Moreover, just as dynamite was not developed as a lethal weapon from
the beginning, there is no reason to blame the production and
distribution of the weapon itself. In the first place, there may be no such
thing as absolute righteousness. At least today, the definition is left
according to each person's situation and beliefs. It was bound to be
erased. Still, he hoped that Zhenya’s life would gradually turn more
toward the sunny than the dark. He wants him to come to a place that
is a little closer to Kwon Taekjoo himself. "Come on, stop, I don't know
why you're fighting, but let's focus on the meal at mealtime." Matthias
clapped his hands to freeze dawn and broke the mood. Then he pulled
out a spare chair and sat down and began to look at Kwon Taekjoo.
Kwon Taekjoo glares only at Zhenya at his naked gaze, but he taps his
bowl with a fork to distract him. [Hey, sir, I still haven't heard what your
name is.] [You better not know, right?] [Why?] [As a matter of principle,
I must kill anyone who knows who I am.] [Oh?] Matthias looks like he's
been punched. It was. Zhenya chuckled at that. It was a sign of fun. The
gesture of the man who was spreading the butter on the bread was so
gentle. Matthias nodded in understanding. Far from being disturbed by
Kwon Taek-joo's chilly attitude, he continues to overlook his useless
affinity. "So what should I call you?" [I don't need to call you, I'm leaving
soon anyway.] [Ahaha! I can see what kind of personality you have, but
what can I do? I don't think I'll be able to get out here right now.] [If I
want to stop it, I'll have to do it my way,] Kwon Taekjoo clenched his
knife again, not joking or bravado. He can overpower his opponent with
just a fork or chopsticks. And now, depending on the situation, he’s
ready to do whatever it takes. His dark eyes were sharpened. Matthias
raised his hands in surrender as if he had misunderstood. [That's not
what I meant, my friend. I think the Cuban government asked the
Mexican government for cooperation. They wanted you to extradite the
suspect who was taken away by Perez's group. The government was just
looking for an opportunity to hit us, but now they have a good reason.
You don't have to come forward and expose yourself at this time, do
you? I'd rather wait patiently until the right time comes.] [I thought I
had caught a rotten rope, but it was a fuse.] Kwon Taekjoo, who was
muttering to himself, tapped Zhenya’s foot under the table. "Hey, can I
really trust this guy?" [He's not worth believing.] [What?] "Taekjoo, I'm
the only one you can trust, and just because the buyer is like that, you
don't have to doubt the value of my weapon." [You doubt his sincerity.
They always put knives on their backs.] He glanced down at Matthias
with a disgruntled look. Matthias only smiled, as if he didn't know
Russian at all. "Look, even now, he's just like a back-alley gangster."
"Well, I don't think it's much different." He chuckled and agreed. There
was a sigh of relief in the fruitless conversation. After sweeping away
the cyber gangs, he escaped to the drug lord's den. He couldn't help but
laugh. [Anyway, I don't know why you're being chased by the Cubans,
but turn around safely. I'll be well prepared for this. In the meantime, I
want you to rest in peace at my villa, and you don't need to be anxious.
It's the safest place in the world.] Matthias assured with a confident
face. The one with the strongest weapon in the world and the one who
claims to be the safest shield. Has this island become an impregnable
fortress? He was stunned. "It's safe, it's naval, and let me go back as
soon as possible." "Shouldn't I still recover my body first?" Matthias
nodded at Kwon Taek Joo. He followed his gaze, and through the loose
robe, he could see his bandaged shoulders and chest. He may not have
any particular intentions, but he has no qualms about looking inside
other people's clothes. After all, he was the kind of person who didn't
like it. Kwon Taekjoo pulled his gown back and drew a clear line. [It's not
your business.] "Oh, don't be so wary, I like women." Matthias grinned,
responding to Kwon's stares. Then, suddenly, he snapped his fingers and
made a snapping sound. [Would you like to call the girls instead, then it
would be less boring.] [I don't need it.] Kwon Taekjoo glanced at Zhenya
once. He asked if he were like that. The corners of his mouth curled up
silently. [Are you serious? No, why? Wouldn't it be boring if we were
alone? I can't stay here all the time.] [That's a good thing to hear.]
[Don't lose face, mate, it's only natural for a man to seek out a woman.
Isn't it, Bogdanov?] Matthias asked for her consent. However, Zhenya’s
gaze is fixed on Kwon Taekjoo early on, and he doesn't stray anywhere.
Matthias' eyes widened because Zhenya was smiling softly. [No, I don't
need it.] Matthias' villa boasted more than seventy guest rooms, a
banquet hall, a conference room, two pools, four dining rooms, a bar
with all kinds of alcoholic beverages, a gym with a collection of new
motor equipment, a meditation room with a view of the sea, a tennis
court, a shooting range, and a theatre. In terms of facilities and
standards, it is comparable to other resorts. There was no such thing.
But what he liked more than anything else was that there was no one
staying there except Kwon Taekjoo, Zhenya, and Matthias. Matthias
assigned a room to Kwon and Zhenya respectively, but it didn't mean
much. This was because the two of them almost always stayed in the
room of the lord. The room itself was very spacious and equipped with
everything he needed, so he didn't feel uncomfortable. If anything, it
was more unsettling and awkward to be separated from Zhenya now.
From the inside of the room, he could always look out the panoramic
window at the emerald sea. When he opened the glass door of Teras,
the salty lukewarm sea breeze blew calmly. The sun was hot, but thanks
to the powerful air conditioning, they were not exposed to the heat.
The air was neither too humid nor too dry. Judging from the abundance
of water and food, it seemed that there was no problem in procuring
supplies even though it was an island. If only Kwon Taekjoo's own
situation were separated, there would be a paradise on earth. Of
course, it was not without its drawbacks. Perhaps as part of the
fortifications, it was completely cut off from the outside world, and it
was impossible to make any internet or phone calls on the island. The
only way to communicate with Japan was through Zhenya. It uses a
private satellite, so even if it can't communicate, it's not very restricted.
Didn't. Just obediently hand it out on my laptop or The problem was
that they didn't lend me their phone. When he protested that it was a
shame, he often complained that he was the world's chief
extravagance. As a result, whenever he reported to the headquarters,
he had to give in to his wishes and appease him. As a security measure,
Zhenya’s line was only open to a very limited number. So all contact was
through Yoon Jong-woo.- I think Cuba and Cuba have a bad attitude
toward Mexico now. Two days ago, they closed the police station and
intensified checkpoints. The commissioner told me not to expose
himself until the surveillance is eased. This was to be expected. One
way or another He’s glad he got a refuge. Before he left the country, he
told his mother that he was going to Russia on official business. In
addition to that, when he talked to Zhenya’s voice on the phone every
day, she seemed relieved. Perhaps a few more days would delay his
return and not worry as much as he had before. In this way, he didn't
know if it was a vacation or a confinement. He stayed in his room for a
few days. Matthias was confident that his island was the safest in the
world, but he needed personal assurance. He made sure that no one
came in and out of the island from time to time. Helicopters came and
went every few days, but there were no noticeable visitors. People who
go out from the inside of the island too. sometime when he met
Matthias again at the dinner table, he asked him about it. [Speaking of
the employees here, no one is going out, they don't go home, are they
going to work? or are they giving you a long vacation like a cruise?] [Oh,
the passengers, they would have chosen to live on this island for the
rest of their lives.] [What?] "I'm their family, and this is their home.”
Matthias looked infinitely generous. It's a family the size of mafias, I
thought they were shaking, but so are these guys. Surrendering human
rights and freedoms on their own. Where does that kind of loyalty
come from, even if you get a lot of money, you can't spend it in one
place. The more valuable price is medicine. He decided to work his
whole life and get a supply of drugs. Either way, it would be best not to
get too close. No matter how much the other party pretended to be
friendly, he couldn't trust a notorious criminal. That's why they began to
eavesdrop on the communications and conversations of everyone in the
villa, including Matthias. Throughout the day, he wandered around the
villa keeping an eye on Matthias and his servants. Infiltrate Matthias'
room while he was away he did. The interior was not much different
from the room where Kwon Taekjoo himself was staying. Except for the
safe behind the desk. He thought he’d better check out the safe. How
can he open the gold vault without a trace? He was just as he was
about to get out of the room. Suddenly, he sensed the presence of
another person behind his back, and quickly pointed his gun in that
direction. Standing lazily in front of the muzzle of a gun with his arms
folded was none other than Zhenya. "Oh,] [Taekjoo, are you playing like
this because you're bored? or is it an occupational disease?] [Maybe
you're too laid-back, the first time I've ever seen you.] [What do you
trust me with?] [I told you, you just have to trust me.] [Who doesn't
believe you?] Zhenya raised an eyebrow in response. It was a
reproachful look in his eyes that told him to look at him now, and he
protested with a squirming in disgust. [As the old saying goes, you
should knock on the stone bridge and cross it, because it doesn't hurt to
be careful.] [You still doubt me.] [No, I'm not suspecting you…] "I think I
might put you in danger." [It's not like that.] He was wary of Matthias,
not Zhenya. He's the first person he’s ever met, and he's the head of a
global criminal syndicate. At the time, there was no reason to trust him.
For now, being with Zhenya, there was no way he couldn't get away if
something unexpected happened. He was so sure, but he wasn't
completely relieved. Does that mean he doesn't trust him? "I don't put
you in danger." Zhenya laughed and affirmed. Kwon Taekjoo’s habitual
habit of constantly checking on his own well-being is a habit of treating
himself. It seemed to be a disbelief. Ever since he arrived at Matthias'
villa, he had been setting up the day, so he must have felt
uncomfortable. [... I believe it.] With a long exhalation, he withdrew his
pistol. Beyond the window, the clear sea water sparkled dazzlingly. The
deep green palm leaves swayed in the air. Sunlight penetrated through
them, shining brightly on Zhenya’s platinum blond hair. "The weather is
amazing, don't you want to go outside?" He offered it with a rather cool
expression. [It's starting again.] It felt like a ploy to divert the subject,
Zhenya squinted and gave him a jeering look. [What am I, bastard?]
[Yes, I'll pretend I don't know this time as well.] [What are you talking
about, follow me, quick.] He patted Zhenya on the chest and walked
ahead. At the same time, they carefully checked the location of the
CCTV cameras at every turn. Zhenya, who had been following silently,
shook his head. The two went out to sea through the back door. If the
sea at the front door with the yacht dock is reminiscent of a huge
resort's private beach, it is a secluded beach connected to a private
villa. Seemed. Two sunbeds were placed under a white canopy in the
form of sails. On the tall palm trees, there was a hammock wide enough
for two people to lie down. A small bar connected to the villa building
also attracted attention. He felt like he could always quench his thirst
and fill his stomach while playing. [Would you like a drink first?] [It's the
kind of weather that will end with a drink, let's get that one before we
get drunk.] Kwon Taekjoo swept along the shore. When he arrived,
there were three or four jet skis floating in the air. He often invited his
acquaintances to throw parties, and when he did, he seemed to ride
and play. He took the ignition keys from the bar, took one of each, and
sat down. When he and Zhenya were alone, they mostly enjoyed
extreme sports. From flying light aircraft to skydiving, paragliding, rock
climbing, skiing, snowboarding, freediving, and more, it was no
exaggeration to say that he had mastered almost everything. It felt
more like a mental and physical training than a date, but both of them
enjoyed thrills, so there were no complaints. Let's start the jet ski and
feel good Dong swayed. He had only rested for a few days, and the
wound healed quickly, but it was still a little sore. [When did you ride
this, was it in Italy?] [It was Hong Kong.] [Oh, they're so persistent, I
thought they were going to tread the Netherworld that day.] During the
mission, he reminisced about the moment when he was chased by the
Triad and his life was in danger, and slowly moved the jet ski as if it were
a memory. It proceeds at a slow pace for some time, as if in a
demonstration game, and then makes a big turn and returns. The fast-
speeding jet ski came to an abrupt stop in front of Zhenya. The wind
caused a great splash of water that drenched Zhenya’s garments.
Zhenya stared at Kwon Taekjoo in protest. Kwon Taekjoo stretched his
lips and twitched them. [This bro goes first, boy.] He taunted Zhenya to
the fullest and started off like a bounce. The gentle lapping of the
surface of the water shattered to white. The hot air that had been
sticking to his skin gradually became a gentle breeze that blew his hair.
Ten Paths he drew a long, fluid trajectory on the transparent water that
I could see the bottom of the sea clearly. He felt like he was being
pierced by every crunch in his stomach. It wasn't long before he heard a
fierce engine roar behind him. He looks back and finds it before they
know it Zhenya was following closely. It was so ferocious that it would
be difficult to avoid a collision if it faltered even a little. The laid-back
shyness was as strangely excited as when he was hunting reindeer.
Seeing this, Kwon Taekjoo smirked loudly. "Oh, I'm scared, I'm chasing
you like I'm going to kill you." [A fearless rabbit squirming in front of a
bear.] [Who's going to do it, grab it and shout at it.] The corners of his
mouth twisted, bringing his speed up to maximum. To reduce the
resistance of the wind, he leaned forward as well. Kwonism The jet ski
roared and popped out like a rocket. The steering wheel, which had
become stiff with the advancing force, was bent and moved in a zigzag
motion. Zhenya followed without difficulty. The two jet skis crossed
each other in a large figure-eight formation. As he went, the endless sea
unfolded. There were no uninhabited islands on the periphery, not even
the common reefs. Kwon Taekjoo began to circle in a big circle to the
outside, and Zhenya soon followed. No matter where or how they run,
they will pursue them relentlessly. It was a one-in-one move, as if it had
been agreed upon in advance. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been checking
Zhenya’s location in the interval, grinned. He’s also interested in
Zhenya’s face. A smile spreads across his face. He roamed the seas
tirelessly and restlessly. Even if he ran away to my heart's content, he
was really excited to see his opponent keep up with him. For a moment,
he felt like he was back in his childhood. Regardless of time, situation,
or situation, it continued to glide freely. The speed of the run was as
strong as it went, and the hair on his head stood on end. His heart was
pounding uncontrollably, and he kept laughing. [When are you going to
catch him like that? I'm going to leak this.] [Fearless, how are you going
to deal with the aftermath?] [Well, I don't know if there's anything to
deal with.] He wondered if he was provoked by being teased too much.
When Zhenya saw Kwon Taekjoo turning, he just went straight ahead
and ran far ahead of him, then suddenly swerved and pounced on him.
His jet ski quickly closed the distance from exactly opposite. He poked
his head out of the windshield, as if it was a test of my courage.
Contrary to what he had guessed, Zhenya was charging recklessly, his
posture as low as possible. He didn't seem to be avoiding it in the
slightest. He felt like he was going to have an accident. [… Oh, you crazy
bastard!] He hurriedly turned on the control stick. Just in the moment
Zhenya’s jet ski, which was on the verge of crashing, narrowly missed
the crash, and the raging currents it had created rolled in like a
waterfall. He was so drenched that he couldn't even open his eyes
properly. Slowly, he slowed down and stood. He brushed his face down
as if he were washing his face, but his eyes were so stinging that he
couldn't open them properly. The water went up to his ears and he was
just dazed. Meanwhile, Zhenya approached Kwon Taekjoo’s side, and
the hull of the jet ski lightly touched each other in the rushing waves.
Kwon Taekjoo rubbed the corners of his stinging eyes and slapped
Zhenya. "What the hell, bastard, I could have hurt you!" "Well, think
about the repercussions." [Don't you know the joke, are you kidding
me?] [You've grown strong, I'm going to hurt you.] [Did you think so?]
"You don't have too much faith in your lover, do you?" "You're born with
a conscience, aren't you?" "Come on, I'll lick you." Zhenya tugged at his
wrist. He obediently got up and jumped over to his jet ski. The hull
swayed, but it wasn't a big deal. He slumped down on Zhenya’s thighs,
then nonchalantly brushed the cracks of his hair against his wet skin.
Zhenya grabbed his face and licked it from the corners of his eyes to the
base of his ears. The flesh under his eyes drooped slightly, and his
bloodshot eyeballs twitched carefully. It was quite an elaborate gesture,
but it was ticklish, and he couldn't help but laugh. He patted the viewer
on the cheek with a puzzled look. He kissed his lips with the salty taste.
[Okay, now. I've been playing and I'm thirsty. Let's go and have a drink.]
He grabbed Zhenya’s shoulder and sat up behind him. He patted him on
the back, telling him to leave. Zhenya obediently drove the jet ski
ashore. He hugged him tightly around the waist to keep him from falling
off the bouncing hull. Then, without fail, Zhenya looked down at Kwon
Taekjoo's arm around his waist. He doesn't know if it's such a strange
thing between lovers. He felt both cute and sad when he acted like a
boy with a fever of his first love. He leaned his head against his broad
shoulders and looked back at his jet ski as it drove away. "But what
about that?" [The waves will carry you.] [Don't you treat it like it's not
yours?] [Was it different from mine?] He shrugged his shoulders as if he
didn't care. He couldn't refute it. After all, rich people don't know how
to save anything. [Was the exploration more satisfying than that?]
[What do you mean by exploration?] [You pretended to be playing
unruly, but you actually came to look around the island.] Hwwascaught
off guard and missed the right time to respond. He couldn't think of a
good excuse. After a moment of silence, Zhenya turned around and
snorted. "How's that? I don't think I'll be able to swim out, will I? [.....]
[When I tried paragliding, there were no high mountains on the island
to jump to, and the wind was calm, wasn't it?] The escape repertoire
seemed familiar, but it was the way Kwon Taekjoo himself had tried to
break free from it in the past. It became clear why it was constantly
squirming. [Who are you kidding?] He slashed Zhenya’s back in a fit of
rage. It smirked without a dog's face. [Taekjoo, you have too many
thoughts.] "You're so bad." [It's like a habit of the weak, because every
moment is a threat and a crisis.] [Yes, I don't know.] He gave up trying to
persuade him early on and sneered. Even if he wakes up from the dead,
he won't be able to learn humility. Soon, his jet ski reached the beach,
and the first guy to get off was the one who slammed Kwon Taekjoo. He
hugged him and let him go. Then he soothed his lover for a long time.
"Don't worry, I don't need to roll my head around for nothing, because
when the time comes, I'll take care of it and get you to your seat." Can
he believe it? In the back of his mind, he felt a habitual suspicion
stirring in his mind, and he felt irresponsible that he wanted to just
leave it all to him. He stared up at Zhenya and chuckled. [you, that's
right? And that.] [My lover wants a lot.] [Oh, so you've decided to do it
for me, so I'm going to pretend you're tired and get me something to
drink.] [Ha? Taekjoo, who is acting like a jerk to me...] [yes, I'm sure I'm
the first guy to treat you like this, so I went and wow, hurry up.] He
waved his hand and went to the sunbed and lay down. Stretched out
under the shade, wet, even the gentle breeze felt cool. Meanwhile, the
sand was heating up his back and waist. If he wash off the saltiness with
cold beer in the current state, he will be rewarded with gold It seemed
like a slap in the face. After waiting for a while, Zhenya came back to the
empty line and he took up the bed and sat down. In his hand was a
bottle of beer. [What's mine?] "You were supposed to bring me
something to drink, not yours?" [Huh... You are an unsociable human. I
have to put it into words...] Zhenya didn't care about Kwon Taekjoo’s
bruises. A gulp was sweet in his ears. It grunted as much as it didn't
even bone. He stared blankly and swallowed dryly. After one bout, he
let out a satisfied exhale. Carbonate from the bastard's breath the gold
smelled like alcohol. He couldn't stand it. It reached for a half-emptied
beer, which it effortlessly dodged and took another sip of it. Kwon
Taekjoo's throat shuffled faintly. Now there is less than one-third of the
bottle left. Kwon Taekjoo twitched his parched lower lip. He even raised
his hand to give him what was left. Zhenya didn't know what he meant,
and he shoved the rest of the beer into his mouth. He couldn't stand it
anymore and shoved it on the shoulder, knocking it down. Then he
hurriedly kissed him. The fresh carbonic acid hit the tip of his tongue,
followed by the rich aroma of malt. Zhenya’s thirsty tongue stirred
vigorously. But even more tantalising, he squeezed his face and sucked
his tongue side by side. Zhenya twitched the corners of his mouth as he
slipped his hand through Kwon Taekjoo’s shorts. He rubbed his firm
thighs and buttocks to his heart's content. How long has it been? He
paused at the untimely arrival and looked up. Then, he saw a servant
standing tall in front of him. He greeted him without a look on his face
and set down the beer and chips he had brought with him on the table
next to the sunbed. * There. While he was frozen and watching, he
quickly finished setting up and quietly stepped away. There was no sign
of bewilderment on the servant’s face as he turned around. Of course,
that didn’t mean he hadn’t seen the two of them sticking together. His
ears felt hot for no reason. He grabbed hold of the collar of Zhenya,
who was laughing in vain next to him. [You little punk, did you do that
on purpose?] [I don’t know what you’re saying? You’re the one who did
it without permission, Taekjoo.] He felt angry, but it wasn’t the wrong
thing to say, and he was just seething inside. Get out, he said to the guy.
He got out. He shook off the hand of the guy who had been stroking his
buttocks as if swatting away a fly. He drank all the beer prepared on one
side without any worries. He drank it all in one gulp without even taking
a breath, and his head was dizzy. He held the second bottle in his hand
and laid down on the sunbed again. He stared at the waves that had
washed up to my feet and then backed out. How long had it been since
he had enjoyed such leisure? As he spent several days in a place he
didn’t even know where he was, with nothing happening, his sense of
reality gradually dulled. It seemed as if he could believe everything that
had happened up until now was a dream. After lying unconscious for a
while, Zhenya suddenly turned to Kwon Taekjoo. Then, He grabbed one
of Kwon Taekjoo’s exposed legs. He looked at his hand for a moment
and then looked out to the distant sea. He didn’t care even when he
grabbed his ankle and rubbed his calf. [My muscles are still sore.]
[Whose fault is it?] [Is it my fault again?] [That’s right. I’m not giving you
any medicine, so what’s the point of rubbing me like this all day long?
I’ll get sore again because of your horny little shit at night.] [Oh? Are
you looking forward to it? Tonight too.] If always twisting words was a
skill, it was a skill. He kicked his foot in the air with a “Ugh!”. At that
moment, the bastard’s hand briefly fell away and then came up,
reaching higher. The bastard’s hand, which had been sweeping his shin,
knee, and thigh in turn, dug into his shorts again. Soon after, the
bastard naturally climbed up on Kwon Taekjoo’s body while holding
onto the sunbed with his other hand. The sun had been dazzling him for
a while, and it seemed as if it was slowly setting. As the sun gradually
set, a halo blazed on the bastard’s back. Even the sea, which was dyed a
light orange, felt like a light for him. Because of that, his ivory-coloured
hair and snow-white skin shone especially smoothly. The other pupil
also became translucent. He raised his hand and stroked his thin hair.
Zhenya slightly rubbed his head against his hand. “·.You little brat,
you’re really pretty.” He muttered to himself. In fact, it was more like the
thoughts in his head were blurting out. Fortunately, it was in Korean, so
Zhenya had no way of understanding. It must have been obvious, but
the guy who had been staring down at Kwon Taekjoo suddenly
chuckled. [Taekjoo. Am I that pretty?] [What are you talking about?]
[Are you being sarcastic? Unfortunately, that Korean just now is
something that little girls always say to me. At first, I thought she was
mispronouncing my name. No, it wasn’t?] Zhenya grumbled angrily. It
seemed like he had figured out the meaning of the word pretty a long
time ago. Come to think of it, he had memorised the term ‘새끼’ before
and looked it up on his own. Although, due to the limitations of the
translator, there was an unfortunate incident where it recognized the
word as baby. Maybe that’s why he couldn’t help but feel happy
whenever Kwon Taekjoo said this kid, that kid. It was only recently that
he realised his misunderstanding. After work, he and Yoon Jong-woo
went out for a drink. He went there, but somehow Zhenya showed up.
He had no choice but to tell him that Kwon Taekjoo himself had called
and let him join him. At that moment, his mother called him. She was
there to tell Kwon Taekjoo not to come home too late and not to drink
too much. He continued the call on speakerphone because Yoon Jong-
woo insisted on saying hello. "Mother! It's Jong-woo. How are you?"-
Oh, Jong-woo. I haven't seen Jong-woo lately? Are you busy? "No. I'm
not that busy...."- Really? Then come visit me sometime. You can come
with Taekjoo, or you can come alone when you have time. You can have
a meal or something before you go. I’ll make some side dishes that
Jong-woo likes. Okay? “I’ll be happy to go whenever you invite me,
Mother.”- Oh, our Jong-woo is so cheerful and pretty. It’s not an empty
promise, so you have to come? “Yes, Mother. I’ll definitely stop by
sometime soon. Don’t worry, it’s late, so just go to sleep. I’ll make sure
to send you off on time.” After talking to his mother in a friendly
manner as usual, Yoon Jong-woo brought the wrap he had been holding
to his mouth. However, he stopped and opened his eyes because of the
sharp glare that he couldn’t ignore. He rolled the knife. Soon, his eyes
met with Zhenya’s and he gasped. That was because Zhenya was glaring
at him with his arms crossed. He could easily kill someone with just a
glance, so he elbowed the guy. [What's wrong, you little brat.] [Why
does that little brat keep calling the little girl 'mother'?] [Oh, you even
know the word 'mother' now? When did you learn it?] [I can't help but
know. Taekjoo, you pronounce it the most gently.] [Ah... But you don't
have to worry about it. That's just a common term. In Korea, my friend's
mother is my mother, and my friend's father is my father, and things like
that.] [What's that?] [In the old days, neighbours called each other
cousins, but.] [That's weird.] [If you're upset, you can call me that too.
Anyway, why are you picking a fight over something so trivial? Fighting.]
He also said to the frozen Yoon Jong-woo, "Ignore him and eat
comfortably." Yoon Jong-woo kept checking his mood and stuffed his
food in, mumbling. [You should stop staring at the poor kid and eat
quickly. The meat is burning.] [Hmm.] Zhenya scooped up the rice with
a displeased expression. But that was all. He didn’t pick up the meat or
put the spoon in his mouth. He just stared blankly at Kwon Taek Joo.
When he furrowed his brow and said, “What?”, he lightly nodded to his
spoon. It seemed like he was waiting for Kwon Taekjoo to put the side
dish on his spoon. Yoon Jong-woo was clearly watching, so he felt
embarrassed. [Oh, you punk. Are you being a spoiled brat? Don’t you
have hands or feet? I even gave you a fork. Use that to eat it yourself,
punk.] [Taekjoo. Your junior is obviously listening, but you’re not
embarrassed.] [What the hell are you talking about.] He frowned and
unconsciously looked across. But Yoon Jongwoo had already buried his
head in his bowl of cold noodles. He was just scooping up the broth
with his spoon, and it seemed like something was bothering him. He
crossed his arms and watched him. He slowly raised his head, but as
soon as he saw Kwon Taekjoo, he lowered his eyes again. He felt so
strange about that, so he pressed him. “Hey. What do you know? Why
on earth is this kid doing this?” "Huh? What, what is it?” "Can't you see
that kid's shoulders are high? He's raising his chin and strutting around
like a savage right now." "I, I, I don't know a thing." "Do you know
anything?" "I told you I don't know." "You know?" "Ah... I'm really being
treated unfairly, senior. If you think about it, it's not my fault!" "That's
my problem to decide. What is it?" "No, that's... Last time, senior and I
had a You went to the reunion leaving Mr.Yevgeny alone, right? That
day, Mr. Yevgeni told me that my senior often used the Korean word '새
끼' when calling him, and when I looked it up on the translator, it meant
'baby', so I asked if that was true. So....” "So, what? You really said
that?" "How can I honestly say that it's an insult when people ask with
high expectations? It was a white lie. Well, the translator taught me
that, and 새끼 also means baby, so if you think about it, it can't be called
a lie." Yoon Jong-woo made an excuse with a sad face. He tilted his head
back because he didn't have a wife, and he was upset. Swallowed. Yoon
Jong-woo stubbornly protested while watching Kwon Taekjoo's
expression. "Anyway, Mr. Yevgeny is also happy, and unless you teach
him, he probably won't know the real meaning, and since you're not
calling me that out of spite, isn't it okay?" "Yeah, you did well. You did
well. What's so great about that title? I just have to put up with that sly
little punk acting like I'm glaring at you." [Taekjoo. What have you two
been whispering about since a while ago?] At that time, Zhenya often
revealed his uncomfortable feelings. If they left him alone, only
innocent Yoon Jong-woo would roughly talk to him. [I nagged him to
stop complaining about the side dishes and just eat whatever I had. You
eat up, you brat.] While he was at it, he also picked up a piece of well-
cooked meat on top of Zhenya’s rice. Only then did he take the rice and
meat on his spoon to his mouth. Then he looked down at Yoon Jong-
woo with all his might. Thinking about it again, his face burned. He
often nagged Zhenya to learn Korean if he was going to stay in Korea.
But the more Korean he knew, the more difficult it became. It was even
worse because he accepted any word as he pleased. This time, he tried
to bite his hand back, but Zhenya grabbed his hand and brought it to his
face again. He turned his head slightly and pressed his lips to Kwon
Taekjoo’s palm. [If you like this skin that much, look at it and touch it as
much as you want. Taekjoo, I’ll let you.] Certainly, he thought that no
one had ever stroked his face like that before. And it wasn’t just his
face. The only people he exposed his neck, genitals, and other vital
points to were Kwon Taekjoo himself. He had many enemies, so he
would punish anyone who harmed him thoroughly, but he only showed
such a weak reaction to Kwon Taekjoo, so he felt like his insides were
itching without any solution. He lost. Even the centre of his palm was
unbearably tingly. "Fuck, this uselessly pretty little punk." He muttered
annoyedly and pulled Zhenya’s face close. He pressed his lips to the
bastard's face, which had been pushed in without resistance. Zhenya let
out a pleasant exhale and moaned softly. After caressing each other's
hair and ears for a while and giving each other ticklish kisses, he slightly
pulled his face away. As the sun began to set, the bastard's pale cheeks
and Kwon Taekjoo's pitch-black eyes turned orange. The two people
who had been staring at each other blankly soon kissed each other
passionately without saying who would go first. The clear sky gradually
turned red and blue, and the last rays of sunlight were blazing. Zhenya's
broad shoulders and back also turned red in the sunset. The two of
them leisurely rolled over each other, thoroughly touching each other.
The breath spreading through their noses was infinitely sweet. Even the
salty air was soft. It was as if they were having a sweet dream. *** For a
while, an extremely peaceful routine continued. They slept until their
eyes opened on their own, then woke up to eat, and when it was all
digested, they would go out to the rocky sea to play, and when they got
tired after showering, they would take a nap somewhere, then wake up
and read a book or watch a movie. At night, he would have a drink with
his lover and chat about this and that, and when he got into the mood,
he would get naked without hesitation. It was late in the morning when
he came to his senses. Is it okay to live so peacefully? On a foreign
island, not even Ajinoki. He would occasionally feel anxious and
worried, but even that gradually dulled. That was because his lover
never left his side. He felt a strange sense of relief that he could
overcome any obstacle, even if it was a bit noisy, if he was with him. No,
it was more like certainty. And every time he realised that kind of mind
of his, he was surprised again. He always rejected partners because he
felt more comfortable moving alone, and that thought still hasn’t
changed. But why did he come to trust and rely on Zhenya so much?
Now, it felt even stranger that he wasn’t by his side. He was lost in
thought, looking at the back of Zhenya’s head, when he suddenly
looked back. Their eyes met unexpectedly, and he flinched without
realising it. Zhenya tilted his head at the unusual reaction. [Taekjoo?
What are you thinking so intently about?] [Hmm. It’s nothing. I’ll go
back in slowly. Kay?] He quickly got up and got out of bed. The waves
were just right, so he had been enjoying surfing since morning. He
grabbed his board that he had carelessly thrown on the beach and went
into the water. Zhenya, who had been staring blankly, followed him
silently. He laid down on his board, then paddled his arms forward. The
lukewarm water gently wrapped around him. He wondered how far he
had gone. Suddenly, something dark passed under his board. As he
followed its movement, a unique silhouette caught his eye. It was a
stingray that must have been at least 2m in size. Since he had often
seen sea turtles and stingrays while he was there, its appearance was
unfamiliar. It didn’t work. They didn’t particularly attack humans or
approach them carelessly. The stingray that had been swimming
gracefully under the water gradually rose to the surface and flapped its
large fins. The strong current caused the wind to rise and soak Kwon
Taekjoo’s face. He turned his head belatedly, but it was no use. [Ugh.]
He barely managed to keep his balance on the board that was shaking
violently as if it would capsize at any moment. He didn’t have time to fix
his hair that had hung limply and stuck to his face. When he came to his
senses, the stingray had already gone far away. His vision was unsteadily
shaking. Silsildae's face was caught in the face. [Taekjoo. Is he being
targeted by Gaori? It looks like a seaweed soup made by a woman with
a small head.] He makes a joyful expression. He calls that guy his lover.
He keeps relying on him, he feels safe when he's with him…He's so
romantic. He's still like a big brat. [Cut it up and get ready.] [Another
bet?] [You don't get interested if there's no price. You're just playing,
Inma.] The waves are coming, he said, and quickly got up. Zhenya also
got up. Immediately after that, a wave that had been blowing from afar
lifted the two people’s boards high. The huge buoyancy supported the
bottom firmly. Both of them easily maintained their balance and
reached the ridge made by the water. The wind pushed their backs
pleasantly. Soon, they were flexibly riding the waves, sometimes ahead
and sometimes behind. Every moment that they passed each other,
they exchanged glances and smiled. They say that in order to maintain a
long-term relationship, it is important to have similar hobbies and
tastes, and that was perfectly satisfying. In fact, he wondered if there
was anyone else who could match Kwon Taekjoo’s pace other than him.
As he approached the coast, the current gradually subsided and he
slowly sank into it. Naturally, he got off my board and headed back to
the sea. He repeated this several times until the sun set. While surfing,
his body felt as light as a feather, but once he got out of the water, it felt
as heavy as a thousand pounds. He practically threw his board away and
walked to the net hammock. He covered himself with a beach towel
and spread out. Zhenya soon came over and sat down casually under
the hammock. Kwon Taekjoo pulled the end of the towel that was
covering him and wiped the moisture from his face. About that time,
the guy’s cell phone on the sunbed rang. But he pretended not to hear
and handed him a beer. He obediently accepted the beer bottle. He
listened and told the guy. [I think there's a phone call?] [You don't have
to answer.] [How would you know without even looking at the person?
It could be important.] [Taekjoo, you're here.] [...What?] He furrowed
his brows. Did 'important matters' to him mean only those related to
Kwon Taekjoo himself? Or maybe all of his worries came from Kwon
Taekjoo himself. Since he was an arrogant guy, the implication was
probably closer to the latter. But maybe it was because he had been
stuck on the island for a few days and had only been dating. The way
Kwon Taekjoo looked at him and the words he uttered all felt romantic.
It was clear that his brain had drunk too much water and become
mushy. [Hmm. But you never know. There might have been some
problem in your family.] [Problem? What problem? If our old man
finally passed away, would that be a problem?] Zhenya immediately
said, “No,” and firmly stated. [That’s not a problem, it’s a ‘solution,
Taekjoo.] For a moment, he was at a loss for words. The death of his old
father wasn’t a problem. Really. Didn't he have any affection for his
biological father? It wasn't unreasonable. After all, it was a family that
was willing to sacrifice a six-year-old child to protect the family's pride.
Some even said that they were still obsessed with increasing the
family's power to the point of forcing their children into political
marriages. If they were treated as a means to an end all their lives, it
would be understandable that they would have no affection for each
other, no matter how close they were to each other. All he could think
about was that Zhenya's roots had sprouted in such a cruel land, and
that's why he grew up without even the slightest protection or
affection. He always criticised him for being so lacking in humanity, but
when he thought about it, he thought that it was an environment
where it was impossible for him to grow up as a normal person. It was
already a being that was as good as abandoned long ago. And now,
whenever he needs to, he calls him. How could blood relatives. He was
so annoying. For no reason, Zhenya looked salty again. He ruffled his
hair without saying a word. Then, the guy looked puzzled and said,
[Taekjoo?]. He gently brushed his dishevelled hair back. Zhenya’s neck
seemed to swell slightly as he obediently received his touch. The eyes
that looked directly at Kwon Taek Joo also had a darker light. [You. You
said that you'd be alone in Aji Nokki on your biological mother's
anniversary?] [Who said that?] [Does that matter?] [Well. I’ve never
really been conscious of it. If it seemed that way, even if it was due to
someone’s biassed conviction, was that it?] [I’m embarrassed. Even if it
wasn’t a conscious action, I guess I was instinctively drawn to it. No
matter what kind of person your mother was when she was alive, it’s
only natural for you, as her child, to think about her and miss her. Do
you call it a natural thing for nothing?] [Are you embarrassed? Missing
her? Me?] He asks as if he’s encountered an unfamiliar expression. Has
he really never experienced such feelings before? When you look at
Zhenya, he can see how far humans can go. He wondered if he could be
missed. Maybe he just couldn’t define or describe his feelings as simply
as others. Otherwise, there was no way to explain the innocent and
pure love he felt for Kwon Taekjoo, which didn’t suit him. It was bitter to
think that he didn’t know the form and name of emotions that others
naturally acquire as they live, even at the age of thirty. He stroked
Zhenya’s salty eyebrows as if drawing them, and urged him. [Anyway,
let’s go together next time.] [You volunteered to go to my island
together, that’s a strange thing. But Taekjoo, what happened to you?
Could you guarantee the future so carelessly?] [I’ll adjust that
somehow.] [Hmm…Well then. If possible, wouldn’t it be better if the
anniversary of my blood relatives could be found?] [Are you saying that,
you brat.] He pinched Zhenya’s cheek as he was talking nonsense. Who
on earth was he worried about and feeling sorry for? The only person in
the world who worried about him was Kwon Taekjoo himself. He didn’t
back down easily to him alone. When he took his hand off, Zhenya’s
white skin turned bright red. Did he hold it too hard? He immediately
regretted it and rubbed his cheek. Then Meanwhile, Zhenya stared at
Kwon Taek Joo and obediently accepted his touch. If he just kept his
mouth shut and acted gentle, as his mother said, there was no other
angel. He got up and naturally kissed the guy on the forehead. As he
was about to get out of the hammock, Zhenya suddenly grabbed his
arm. Meanwhile, his face was filled with doubt. [Taekjoo. What is it?]
[What?] [You're acting brave again. Did you get a new mission? How?]
[What does the kid think of people? He said he'd like to act like a lover
for the first time in a while.] He scolded the suspicious Zhenya and
pulled up the arm that was being grabbed. It was a kind of behavioural
language that told Zhenya to get up. [I'm stuffy after playing all day. I
should soak my body in hot water.] Zhenya smiled and followed him
coolly. Even as he was returning to his room, the bastard's cell phone
kept ringing. The bastard pretended not to notice until the end, but
Kwon Taekjoo couldn't help but be concerned. Because persistent
attempts to call always represented the urgency of the matter. He woke
up suddenly at a slight noise. He didn't open his eyes. It was because he
felt that Zhenya was staring at his expression. His eyes didn't move
carelessly and were still. Zhenya kissed Kwon Taekjoo’s forehead and
quietly got out of bed. After the bedroom door opened and closed, he
waited for a while before lifting his eyelids. Then he scratched his
forehead where the bastard's lips had touched and got up. He put on
the robe he had carelessly thrown away and went to the door. He didn't
particularly suspect Zhenya, but he was curious about what he was
doing alone at this late hour. His son-in-law was so quiet that he could
hear voices outside just by standing in front of the door. He held his
breath and listened to Zhenya’s voice. He was on the phone with
someone. His tone was usually calm, if not cold, but now it felt
particularly sharp. [Why are you curious about where I am? Since when
did you become so interested in me?] Who is it? Who is it that is asking
Zhenya where he is? Judging from the fact that they are on the phone in
Russian, are they the embassy staff? No, it was too early to say that. It
was probably around 5 in the morning in Korea at most. Furthermore,
his response of since when did he become so interested in me sounded
like a complaint at first. When Zhenya mocked Kwon Taekjoo himself it
was because it was a word he used often. In any case, considering the
circumstances, Zhenya’s phone contacts were limited to extremely
personal people who might be interested in his current situation. Olga?
[No need, Basim.] However, an unexpected name came out of Zhenya’s
mouth. Basim was the bastard’s second older brother. Basim
Vissarionovich Bogdanov. A close associate of Russian President
Lomonosov and a long-time friend. Was he the one who kept calling
him while he was on the island? There’s no way he would have been so
curious about his younger brother’s well-being. Basim is a politician.
Therefore, he should have been the first. The value was likely to be
national interest. More precisely, it was to flatter the president and
solidify his position and power. To do so, he would have to completely
eliminate any issues that could threaten the current administration. For
example, anything that could affect diplomatic relations. In that sense,
it was possible to guess the background of the frequent phone calls. It
seems that Basim had learned of the situation in Cuba. Cuba is a
traditional ally of Russia. The terrorist attack there cut off the Cuban
government's funding, and a Russian intervened in the incident and
helped the main suspect escape. That it would be a headache just to
have that damn Russian as his blood. He could easily imagine how
awkward Basim’s position had become. Furthermore, this wasn’t the
first time this had happened. Kwon Taekjoo was a civil servant of the
Republic of Korea. And Russia was not even an ally of the Republic of
Korea. The things Zhenya did for Kwon Taekjoo were quite harmful to
his home country, Russia. That was why he told him not to interfere in
public affairs. Even though he was a man abandoned by his country and
given up by his family, his record could not have been free of problems.
In reality, he was not if he did something bad, he would get repeated
phone calls like this. He would have been constantly questioned and
harassed since coming to Korea. Up until now, he might have thought it
was safe to send Zhenya out of the country and left him alone, but if his
troubles continued, he didn’t know when he would be ordered to
return. Even if Zhenya didn’t respond, he could always be accused of
one crime or another and forced to return to the country. It’s not that
he didn’t know. He just tried to ignore it by cracking down on Zhenya.
Zhenya still didn’t seem to care about his situation, but he couldn’t
ignore my discomfort anymore. He couldn’t just watch him become
more and more isolated. [Here he comes.] Zhenya muttered as he
looked into the sky. He was having a late breakfast. When he raised his
head to follow him, he saw a helicopter flying in from afar. It looked
different from the ones that often carried supplies. It had a strange
appearance that reminded him of an alien's face, and it was bright
yellow, so it was impossible to ignore it. It was definitely Matthias'
personal helicopter. The last time he took it out, it was purple, like a
scarab beetle, but he must be so rich that he doesn't know what to do.
[My appetite is ruined.] When he made a trembling expression, Zhenya
suddenly laughed. [Isn't that guy your type?] [Ask what you want, kid.
You weren't interested in guys with dicks in the first place, were you?]
[Not anymore?] [It's the same now. You've been to boys' middle school,
boys' high school, engineering school, the military, and even a boys'
high school job. It's amazing how all the guys' faces look like dicks.] He
trembled and let out a groan. Zhenya rested his chin on his hand and
made a happy expression. His two eyes were also closed with a satisfied
look, which was quite pretty. At that moment, the helicopter came close
to their heads. The tablecloth fluttered and the dishes clattered in the
wind from the propeller. He looked annoyed. Matthias, who suddenly
popped his head out the open door, waved his hand without thinking.
[Hey, guys! It’s been a while! Have you been resting well?] A unique
laughter rang out through the propeller noise. Matthias’ loud back and
forth made the table a mess. The strong wind made the coffee overflow,
and Kwon Taekjoo’s hands also got wet. Kwon Taekjoo and Zhenya
simultaneously glared at Matthias, who was heading to the helicopter
pad, saying they would see each other soon. [… That bastard. Can I drop
him?] [Just say it.] Zhenya followed the helicopter’s tail with his eyes
that had become colder. He seemed ready to shoot down Matthias
without hesitation if he got the okay sign from Kwon Taekjoo. He didn’t
like it that much, but he was curious about what kind of relationship
they had. [What’s really the relationship between the two of you?]
[Why. Do you care?] Zhenya’s stiff face melted away and he looked at
Kwon Taek Joo. He twisted the question as he pleased and even
trembled. [Anyway. I told you he’s quite obsessed.] [That’s not what I
meant!] [He’s more embarrassed than he looks. Taekjoo, you can be
jealous openly. I’ll look at him cutely.] He straightens his shoulders and
lifts his chin. When he sees him acting all sullen, his fists clench
involuntarily. [Haa… What are you talking about?] Giving up on the
conversation, he gulped down the cold Americano. He wiped his wet
hands carelessly on the napkin on his lap. Around that time, Matthias,
who had gotten off the helicopter, was on deck. He followed along. He
kept exchanging greetings, seemingly untired by the two people's lack
of response. [Friends! You must have been running all night? Your
expressions don't look good! Are you doing well with your hangover?]
Zhenya stared at Matthias indifferently and opened his mouth. [He's
just one of my loyal customers. He's been admiring my weapons for a
long time. I'm not bragging, but my weapons have extraordinary
destructive power and precision. If you want, you can customise them,
and you can minimise physical limitations. That's why they're difficult to
get used to, but some people find that attractive. Even that guy he’s
been to Russia several times to meet you.] [A pure pervert.] [The more
dangerous something is, the sexier it is. If it's difficult to handle, a desire
to conquer that didn't exist before will naturally spring up.] Zhenya’s
gaze had already turned to Kwon Taekjoo. As soon as their eyes met, he
smiled. He pointed at the guy's shiny face with a fork and scolded him.
[That's why I'm a pervert. You and those guys.] He was crazy about the
killing power of the weapon and said it was sexy, and that it made him
want to conquer. For the time being, the criminal's thinking couldn't be
understood. Money If there are too many, they chase strong stimuli and
eventually go crazy. It was really uncomfortable to see them pretending
to be kind on such a topic. Of course, that wasn’t the only reason
Matias was displeased. Matias raised his eyebrows artificially at the
sharp gaze directed at him. [Oh really. You don’t even greet me. What
did I do to upset you, friends?] [You keep saying you’re my friend, you’re
my guest, and you lock me up and come crawling back?] [You locked me
up. I was protecting you.] [Is this how they protect people in Mexico?
Sneaking around and peeking into other people’s private lives me and.]
He folded his arms and protested. Matthias pretended to think hard
with a face that didn't know what he meant, then smiled. [CCTV, you
mean? Since they're being watched from all over the place, how can we
be at ease? There have been more than a few instances of people who
came to visit us and did suspicious things. Since the two of you were
being chased, I wanted to watch you more closely and protect you.]
While they were there, they found dozens of lenses on the beach, in the
pool, in the restaurant, in the luggage, and even in the private bedroom
and bathroom. They were all cleverly hidden in objects or facilities.
They were small cameras. Matthias claimed it was for protection, but it
was as if he was watching his every move. Unless he had voyeurism. [So
you even looked into other people’s beds?] [You seemed to enjoy it
without caring. No, you didn’t?] They didn’t feel embarrassed after
peeping on other people. Rather, they had an interesting look in their
eyes, discovering a side they had never imagined. His appetite suddenly
dropped as he watched their strangely intoxicated and glistening eyes.
They were the type he didn’t like. It seemed like there was nothing
good to get involved with. [I should go back now.] [Already? Why, let's
rest a bit more.] [I don't want to be played around by the sinister
landlord anymore, and I don't have the fortune to just keep babbling.] [I
told you, it's a misunderstanding, Taekjoo.] In an instant, Kwon Taekjoo
and Zhenya's eyes turned to Matthias at the same time. Matthias
realised the reason and pointed to Kwon Taekjoo. [Right? Your name.
Bogdanov called me that a few times.] [Should I kill you after all?]
Zhenya showed a displeased expression. [If that happens, I’ll be stuck
here for the rest of my life?] [If we escape, we can just use that
helicopter.] [What are we going to do next? The most important thing
right now is to safely return to Korea. It doesn’t have to be now to deal
with that guy.] The two of them had a cold conversation without even
opening their mouths. Their eyes were fixed on Matthias the whole
time. Matthias, who didn’t know what was going on, was slyly ignoring
him again. Kwon Taekjoo motioned to Zhenya to hurry up and solve it.
Then Zhenya obediently followed Matthias. He urged him to do it. […..
So keep your promise, Perez. You don’t want this deal to get messy, do
you?] It was an extremely ordinary expression, but it sounded quite
harsh when he said it. It must have been the same for Matthias.
[Hmm…Ican’t help it. It’s been a while since I’ve had a guest, but I can’t
even have a drink with him. It’s too bad.] Matthias lifted the glass of
water in front of him. He then clinked it with Zhenya and Kwon
Taekjoo’s glasses one by one and promised to meet again. [Someday, I’ll
visit Russia. Then, let me see that problematic Anastasia, my friend. Is
she as beautiful as the rumours say? I’m dying of curiosity.] Zhenya
stared at Kwon Taekjoo with a meaningful smile. [It’s already in front of
you.] He even muttered something like that. Even though the other
person doesn’t know Russian, he’s good at saying embarrassing things.
He shook his head and got up from his seat. Zhenya also got up soon
after. Matthias repeatedly told the two people who were leaving him
alone that he had promised them. 3. Signs: Good or Bad "Taekjoo! Hey!
Get up quickly. It's already 8 o'clock." A familiar voice woke him up from
his light sleep. He opened his eyes with a jerk. Slowly, his vision opened
up, and a familiar ceiling filled his view. Then, his mother's face dug into
the corner. He exhaled deeply and barely managed to sit up. A groan
escaped him. He roughly ran his hand through his hair that had grown
out of place. "Why did you sleep without setting the alarm? Are you late
for work?” His mother was worried as she handed him a glass of water.
He accepted it without saying a word and shook his head. "No. I can
take my time today.” "Really?" "Yeah. I came back from a business trip."
"Oh my. I guess the welfare and treatment are a bit different there
because it's a foreign embassy? Is it because it's a low-level position
compared to where I was before?" "...That's right, I guess." He said he’s
going to wash, and ran to the bathroom. His conscience pricked at him
for lying to his mother so openly. He couldn't even be confident looking
at her with his own eyes. His mother saw Kwon Taekjoo's appearance as
he had just escaped from Cuba. If she had seen it, all his lies would have
been exposed, but most of his injuries had healed on the way back to
Korea. He was very fortunate that he had better stamina and recovery
than others. It had already been four days since he arrived home.
Zhenya said he was going to Russia for a while to finalise a deal with
Matthias. Thanks to that, he was able to sleep soundly without any
disturbance. Even so, his face in the bathroom mirror was still very pale.
It was because he had not been able to rest properly because he had
been hanging out with Zhenya until just before returning home. In the
past, he had enough stamina to go straight to the next operation as
soon as he finished a mission. He was confident. He wondered if the
aftereffects of day and night with his lover would last this long. Was he
going through an ageing curve like an athlete? He yawned and took out
his toothbrush. As he brushed his teeth absentmindedly, the journey he
had been on flashed before his eyes. One late night, Kwon Taekjoo and
Zhenya got on a helicopter that had been prepared and left Matias
Island. The helicopter landed on a large ship. It was a cargo ship that
had departed from Panama and was heading to Busan via Mexico. At
the time of landing, the ship had left Manzanillo, a port city in western
Mexico, and was passing through the Pacific Ocean. From there, the
long 17-day voyage to Busan began. The captain and crew of the cargo
ship knew Kwon Taekjoo and Zhenya as plainclothes bodyguards
dispatched by an international logistics company. Thanks to this, they
were never called upon to do any annoying work. No one seemed
suspicious even when they walked around the ship armed. The two
men’s seemingly easygoing appearance also helped block interference
and attention from those around them. The crew avoided them
regardless of nationality or age. Even during mealtimes, they would
quickly leave the room if the two of them showed up. The wife, who
had been sleeping with the two of them, must have felt burdened by
being watched by bodyguards, aside from the unique sense of
intimidation. The usual quarrels that occurred during long voyages were
also someone else's problem. Even though the crew members were
about to bicker and become noisy, it didn't last long. When Kwon
Taekjoo or Zhenya showed up, everyone just dispersed with an
embarrassed look on their faces as if nothing had happened. Zhenya
would slap the wall in frustration whenever there was a loud noise
outside. The entire ship would immediately become quiet. Most of the
time, it was fortunate that Zhenya was having sex, but if he had simply
been interrupted from his nap, he might have acted in self-defence and
done something else. Thinking back, it seemed like a miracle that we
arrived from Korea without any major trouble. Thanks to the National
Intelligence Service, he didn’t have to go through any separate entry
procedures at Busan Port. It was a bit noisy, but he was given a few days
off in return for completing the given mission. Everything worked out as
if it were a lie. This would have been impossible without Zhenya’s
intervention. The days he spent with him on some unknown island in
Mexico felt like a dream. He went outside after taking a shower and
organising his thoughts. His mother had already prepared breakfast. He
couldn’t refuse, so he sat down in silence. More than ten side dishes
filled the table. The stewed gochujang stew whetted his appetite.
"What are you doing this morning?" "If you can't eat Korean food even
for a day, how much must you have suffered living away from home for
almost a month? Did you eat properly? You just sleep as soon as you get
home, and your face is so pale that it's useless." "You too, mother. What
use is a man's face?" "Your useless face is even more damaged, you
punk. Should I make you some medicine instead?" "Hey, what are you
doing? Is medicine a big deal? This food that your mother made for you
is a tonic." As usual, he dismissed his mother's worries with a sly smile.
His mother glared at him as if she was annoyed, but she placed the
well-seasoned fish on top of Kwon Taekjoo’s rice. He silently scooped up
a spoonful of rice and put it in his mouth. The combination of freshly
cooked, savoury rice and salty grilled fish was great. After taking a sip of
the rich, deep-flavoured gochujang stew, his stomach that had been
feeling nauseous quickly felt refreshed. "It's delicious. Mom, have some
too." "Mom, I ate roughly just now."' "I told you not to eat roughly."
"You'll see when you get older. If you eat three proper meals, you'll be
able to digest everything." His mother answered while putting the
braised short ribs on top. The chilli peppers that she always put in this
braised short rib were gone. It was a change that came after she tasted
the one she had been suspicious of despite Kwon Taekjoo’s
recommendation that it wasn’t spicy at all. It had been about a year
already. At some point, it had become a natural part of Kwon Taekjoo’s
daily life. “This braised short rib. The ambassador really liked it.” He was
lost in his own thoughts when his mother’s words stung. He quickly
covered his mouth with the back of my hand to suppress the cough that
was about to burst out. His mother, who didn’t know what was going
on, told him to eat slowly and poured him a glass of water. He held out
his hand. While he was at it, he asked about Zhenya’s well-being. “I
wonder if your health is okay after a long campaign. So, when will you
be coming back?” “Well? When will I finish my work?” “What about this
guy? He’s called an attendant and doesn’t know his superior’s
schedule?” “What can I do if it’s personal business? You want me to dig
into his private life?” “Originally, subordinates should know things
without being told.” He pouted his lips at his mother’s nagging. His
mother was no different from his late grandfather and father, who
hated their military-style thinking more than anyone else. He couldn’t
tell if it was because of inertia or because she liked Zhenya too much
and was taking his side. “By the way, Ambassador. Are you going to
spend your birthday in Russia?” He stopped using his chopsticks at his
mother’s monologue. Then he rolled his eyes and looked at the desk
calendar on one side of the table. Before he knew it, the calendar had
already turned to August. There was exactly one week left until
Zhenya’s birthday. “…Won’t you come in before then? You said you’d
come soon.” "Really? Then should I prepare a birthday meal for the
ambassador?" "Mother? I can just buy him a cake or something. Why a
birthday meal?" "Oh. But that's not how people do things. The
ambassador came all this way alone, so how lonely would he be if he
spent his birthday alone? We've shared so much, so it's only right to
treat him to a warm meal." Everything is right. He used to call me over
for no reason and treat me to food or tea. It was strange that he found
an excuse to call it a birthday. "Well, I'll ask." "Yeah, I'll tell him not to
feel too burdened." "I told you, he's not the type to go somewhere and
feel burdened. You don't know that even after seeing him all this time."
"That kid? You keep acting rude to the ambassador, calling him that guy,
that guy... Are you going to keep acting rude?” "No, there's no one
involved..." "If you say no, it becomes a habit, right?" The mother heard
Zhenya’s retort as expected. She said she did it because she thought of
her only son, but did Kwon Taekjoo himself really care about that guy?
Even if he knew how much he suffered, he wondered. Not knowing was
bliss. He made a hasty mistake, and continued eating. Come to think of
it, he hadn’t heard from Zhenya in the past four days. He thinks he
appealed to him enough last time, but he must have forgotten. They say
no news is good news, but it had nothing to do with him. He thought he
should contact him first. After finishing his meal, he went into his room
and picked up his phone. He hoped, but as expected, he couldn’t see his
name in the missed calls. What happened in Russia again? He must
have been caught by his father, who was determined to get him
engaged this time, or something. He said that he was banned from
leaving the country because he helped Kwon Taekjoo at the bar. He
keeps worrying him. That damn bastard, he said and pressed the call
button. Then, before the beep sound, he changed his mind and sent a
message first. Hey. Are you still in Russia? Why? Do you miss me
already? Surprisingly, the reply came right away. It meant that he could
move his ten fingers just fine. You said you’d be here soon. Yeah. Soon.
When soon? Taxi driver. What's going on? You keep nagging me. You're
acting so cute. The face of the bastard who was about to snicker caught
his eye. He was about to answer with a 'who'. A window popped up
above the message, indicating an incoming call. It was a call from
headquarters. He took a deep breath in front of the door to the
director's office. Reporting to the superiors was the final checkpoint to
conclude the operation. The problem was that it was almost always
broken. Was he going to have to write a report this time too? He
knocked on the closed door, anticipating the obvious future. "Oh, come
in." Director Kwak's voice was no different than usual. But still, he let
out a long exhale. He came. After clearing his throat, he opened the
door and went in. Director Kwak moved his gaze to the side, putting
aside the documents he was looking at. It was difficult to guess his
thoughts just from his expression. If his predecessor, Director Lim, was a
snake, Director Kwak was more like a mole. He thought quietly and
responded sensitively. He was a more difficult type as a superior. He
bowed and stood tall in front of his desk. “Did you call?” “Yes. Did you
rest well?” “Yes. Thanks for looking after me.” "Are you hurt
anywhere?" "As you can see, you're fine." "You don't know how to joke
around." "That won't make a difference.” “I learned it myself while
working at the NIS." "So you don't think you take on more work than
others?" "What can a public official do? If they criticise you from above,
you have to criticise them." Director Kwak chuckled and praised Kwon
Taekjoo's achievements. "Anyway, you've worked hard. The US side I
was considering intervening, but I didn't think they'd act so recklessly.
We almost lost a talented person. They must have some shame,
because they didn't protest about this incident separately." "Do you
have any grounds for protesting? I just responded to the preemptive
strike to protect my right to survive." "Yes. If you insist on making
excuses, there's no end to it. The US is denying that the commotion that
night was something that had not been reported in advance. They say
that the PMC, which is outside the government's control, acted strictly
for their own self-interest. It seems that Cuba is also categorising their
terrorism as the actions of international mercenaries. They also felt
sorry for the attack that day. It would be bad if it was revealed that the
perpetrator was not a simple civilian. If 'Electric Hammer' were to
surface, would he receive anything but criticism? He probably wouldn't
want an all-out war with the United States either." A mere individual
sacrifice was easily forgotten in front of national interests. This time was
no different. As a result, both Cuban hackers and American mercenaries
were just discarded long-term partners. Perhaps Kwon Taekjoo's own
fate would not be any different. "Anyway, thanks to your secret
activities, we were able to safely recover the data. The damage from the
leak wasn't that great. All of the hacked organisations and companies
demanded money from the crackers. The sphere was cut off. Of course,
the young hackers must have survived. If this incident dies down, the
Cuban attacks might start again. The security system has been
strengthened at the national level, so it won't be as easy to hack as
before." “...Young hackers?" "Oh, you didn't have time to hear the
details. The hackers of 'Electric Hammer' were all children of that family.
From the eldest who was said to have died, to the second who was
reported missing, and the youngest who suffered from a congenital lung
disease." "All three?" "Yes. Isn't that strange? Such geniuses were born
one after another to ordinary parents. I don't know how the Cuban
government found out about their use, but it seems like they've been
keeping the two brothers locked up in the basement and intercepting
the money they've made from hacking. They've been coaxing them into
curing the youngest's illness, and they've been putting pressure on
them by sending soldiers to guard them.” He thought about the boy
hacker he’d encountered in the basement and the girl with the nose
tube. He had assumed that the girl would have nothing to do with
crime. So he didn't touch the girl's nose tube while spraying sleeping
gas, worried that the child, who didn't know anything, would be in
danger. Was it a waste of time? Now that he thinks about it, there's no
way an innocent child would know about the existence of the basement
room. The enemies he encounters on the field often exceed your
expectations. The targets he has to subdue are often women, the
elderly, or, as in this case, minors. Every time, he put his mission and
duty first. For the sake of the country, to prevent greater damage. If he
didn’t rationalise it like that, he couldn’t stay calm. Was this time
different? No, it wasn’t different. Even so, he showed unnecessary
recognition. Of course, the goal of this operation was to safely recover
the leaked data. It was inevitable that there would be armed conflict
with the hackers in the process, but it wasn’t necessary to eliminate
them. In fact, the siblings that Kwon Taekjoo saved from the brink of
explosion were not dangerous people like terrorists. Nigo didn't resist
very much. It wasn't like there would be any major problems for
national security if those two were kept alive. But why did he keep
feeling uneasy? He kept asking himself endless questions to figure out
the source of his discomfort. "There were some interesting things in the
data you collected this time." Director Kwak changed the subject. "It
seems that the 'Electric Hammer' was more active than I expected. It
seems that not only our country, but also Thailand, Russia, China, North
Korea, and Japan were their prey. When I decrypted the data secured at
the scene, high-level information at the national level overflowed. What
the heck? A. Even the National Intelligence Service failed to detect
unusual trends in North Korea." Kwon Taekjoo looked at the tablet that
Director Kwak was holding out. A picture of a middle-aged man filled
the screen. Was he Korean? Or a North Korean? He turned his gaze back
to Director Kwak as if asking for an explanation. "Park Jeong-ho. He's a
North Korean biologist. He's been studying the ecology and
microorganisms of Baekdu Mountain his entire life. I heard he's going to
Vladivostok as a visiting researcher at the end of this month." "That's
the excuse, but what's the real purpose?" "Well, I don't know that much
yet. I can only guess. Park Jeong-ho is going to Vladivostok. As soon as
they arrive in the Kremlin, they will likely have a secret meeting with
Russia's largest defence contractor, Rostak, and the state-run
pharmaceutical company, Parmzar Sita. Rostak is a place that
researches and develops military technology. Parmzar Sita is under the
Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Does something smell good? It's
said that North Korea's State Security Agency agents will be
accompanying Park Jeong-ho, especially Iza." Director Kwak swept the
tablet screen to the side. Soon, a picture of a man in a North Korean
military uniform appeared. Judging by the rank insignia on his military
cap and the medals covering his chest, he looked like a general-level
officer. "Who is it?" "Sim Yeong-il. The director of the Operations
Bureau of the North Korean General Staff Department. Yes. How is it?
Are you starting to see the picture now?” A North Korean microbiologist
suddenly meets secretly with a Russian state-run pharmaceutical
company. The pharmaceutical company, Parmzashta, recently attracted
international attention by purchasing a large quantity of potassium
iodide, which reduces the accumulation of radioactivity in the human
body. This was because it hinted at Russia's nuclear tests. As is the case
with most state-run companies, Parmzashta would follow the
government's instructions, so the meeting between them and a North
Korean microbiologist could be seen as the will of the Kremlin. Even
Rostak, which develops Russian military technology, and an officer
leading North Korea's military operations were present. The two
countries have long had a military relationship. It was not a good thing
to see it as a private alley. That must have been the reason Director
Kwak had called Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo confirmed his intentions
after cutting it short. "So you want me to go to Vladivostok and see
what's being said?" Director Kwak smiled without answering. It was a
meaningful smile. "Before that, there's one thing I want to make clear.
That Russian ambassador to Korea, Yevgeny Vissarionovich Bogdanov?"
Something completely unexpected came out of Director Kwak's mouth
when the name came up. Kwon Taekjoo felt his body stiffen, but tried to
act calm. "Yes. Go ahead.?" "As you know, the Bogdanov family is one of
the most powerful people in Russia. It is no exaggeration to say that
they are involved in everything that Russia does. The Russian
ambassador's brother and the president's closest confidant, Vasim
Vissarionovich Bogdanov, is said to be an advisor to 'Lo Stack'. The hotel
where the North Korean officials who will visit Russia this time are
staying is also run by their family." He kept his mouth shut. It was such a
reasonable situation that he could not properly protest. He was just
worried whether Zhenya knew about the secret meeting and whether
he was even a little involved in it. "Didn't the Russian ambassador show
up at the scene during the last Cuban operation?" Director Kwak
suddenly asked to confirm. His tone was gentle, but it was no different
from a reprimand. It was something that could be brought up at any
time, since a foreign diplomat was involved in a secret operation of a
national intelligence agency. Rather, it was not the first or second time
that Zhenya had intervened, and he had been watching for quite some
time. "I can't figure out why he keeps helping you. It's only because of a
personal relationship, and out of favour, as you said. I can't even accept
the explanation. Even though his intervention has been beneficial to us,
to be honest, I'm not happy about it at all. Once things get messed up,
they can't be stopped. It's even more so when it comes to diplomatic
issues. Besides, this incident isn't something that can be covered up
with an excuse like he used to say, 'I happened to get involved in
passing.' I'm the party concerned. Do you understand?" He’s never
carelessly leaked job-related information to Zhenya. Every time, he just
found out and interfered on his own. Even so, it wasn't something to
feel wronged about. In any case, he didn't receive help from him. It's
true, and just a little while ago, Kwon Taekjoo felt relieved when he saw
the guy who came to save him. Before he knew it, he suddenly showed
up at my operation site, and he had become used to it. He wasn't his
colleague, but he had become reliant on him and had become lax. Just
like Chief Lim in the past, if he was accused of colluding with a Russian
diplomat and stealing state secrets, he wouldn't have been able to
escape. That would be a danger not only to Kwon Taekjoo himself, but
to Zhenya as well. He let out a deep breath and clenched his fists. "I
know what you mean. I won't let him interfere with official business
again. Don't worry." "Can I trust you?" "Yes." "I'll do whatever I can, but
please only move within the limits of what can be handled at any time.
The last Cuba incident was quite dangerous." "Yes. I'm sorry." "Okay.
You can go back today. I'll call you back when the operation is more
specific." "Yes, then.?" He bowed and left. He kept a friendly face the
whole time, but as soon as he closed the door to the director's office, a
deep sigh escaped him. His chest was uncontrollably suffocating. It was
not that he didn't know about Zhenya's family. He also knew well how
they acquired the wealth and power they have today. Zhenya, as a
member of that family, had also contributed to the expansion of the
family's influence. Nevertheless, he accepted him. He doesn't think he
has reformed. He just ignored him because he was distancing himself
from my clan, and the Bogdanov family's evil deeds did not immediately
go against Kwon Taekjoo’s own interests. To be more specific, he didn't
have time to even think about that. He was helplessly swept away by
the emotions that came rushing in like a storm in an extreme situation.
For the first time in his life, he made a decision based on his heart
rather than his head. Was he being complacent? Contrary to recent
concerns, the top secret meeting between North Korea and Russia
could have ended in vain. It could have simply ended with the two
countries sharing new information. If their agreement did not threaten
the safety of South Korea, there was no reason for Kwon Taekjoo to feel
uneasy. However, a corner of his heart still felt uneasy. As long as he
kept Zhenya by his side, there was a high possibility that similar
problems would recur. As long as Kwon Taekjoo continued to work for
South Korea and Zhenya’s roots were in Russia, it was a shackle he
could not escape. It wasn’t that he hadn’t anticipated it either. He
accepted the guy even though he knew everything, so why did he keep
feeling complicated? “That’s the Russian ambassador to South Korea.
Yevgeny Vissarionovich Bogdanov?" He should never have let the
headquarters know about him in the first place. He should have known
that he was helping Kwon Taekjoo himself. He always interfered without
permission, but it was definitely a scheme. It was something that should
not be exposed to anyone. But he foolishly hung out with him under the
pretext that he could not stop Zhenya. With the reasonable belief that
he would not betray Kwon Taekjoo himself. Certainly, he deserved a
warning from Director Kwak. For Zhenya's sake, he could not let him act
for him any longer. The more he got involved in my work, the more he
The situation would become. He had to be alert now. "Haa... Come to
your senses, Kwon Taekjoo. You're crazy about love affairs." He tilted his
head back nervously and chewed on his rising anger. At that moment,
he heard a voice calling from behind him. "Senior!" When he turned his
head, he saw Yoon Jong-woo waving his arms at the end of the hallway.
He turned his body towards him and stood. Yoon Jong-woo also quickly
ran to Kwon Taekjoo. "What are you thinking about so intently? I kept
calling you, but you didn't hear?” "Did you? Sorry." "The director called
you. Are you on your way to see him?" "Yeah." "Are you a bit shaky?"
"Do you think I get scolded all the time?" "But why do you look so pale?
I heard you were sleeping all the time while you were resting. Have you
not recovered yet? They say that no one can do anything about time,
but even you, senior, can't help it." "What can't be helped, right, In
Ma."' He made amotion to kick Yoon Jong-woo's butt. Yoon Jong-woo
also exaggeratedly moved his body and followed the beat. Yoon Jong-
woo, who kept squirming and dodging here and there, finally
surrendered after being put in a headlock. After playing around for a
while, he even forgot what he was thinking about. "Ah, senior. I told you
to go easy on me. I think my neck is broken." "What a joke, you punk."
"How can someone who can break the necks of even the most
voluminous men say such things? Now you're acting like a punk to me."
"You're talking too much? You've had your fill. It's not like your tongue is
getting lighter." "Whenever you're pricked, you always harass me like
this. And since it's been a while since you came, why don't you just look
at me and leave? Were you just going to leave?" "What are you doing
seeing that face every time?" "Wow, you're going too far. When you
said you only trusted me, that was just words, right? You always come
to me when you're feeling sorry." "Why are you whining like this today?
Are you hot?' Yoon Jong-woo retorted with a rather disappointed
expression at the nagging that followed.” "I was worried. As soon as I
heard you drinking heavily, I thought something really bad happened
when the communication suddenly went down." "Would I go that
easily?" "After that, there was no contact for two days. They say that
none of the mercenaries captured alive at the scene were Asians. How
could you not be worried?" "That makes sense..." He tried to make an
excuse but then closed his mouth again. The communication device was
broken in the explosion, so there was no way to communicate with
headquarters. The problem was that instead of finding another way, he
just rolled around with Zhenya for two days. Of course, if he hadn't
shown up, he would have been taken away by the Cuban police or he
would have been killed and never been able to contact him again.
"...No, that's okay. It's all my karma, karma." "Don't do something
reckless like that again. You don't have ten lives as a senior, so I told you
to live with a calm personality." He nodded roughly and patted Yoon
Jong-woo on the shoulder. Yoon Jong-woo, who had been nagging,
quickly calmed down. It was really funny and cute how he would get
angry and then quickly calm down. "You little brat, you're acting like
your wife." He smirked and ruffled Yoon Jong-woo's hair. Yoon Jong-
woo, who had been sighing openly, suddenly stopped and looked at his
son-in-law. He kept looking around. Kwon Taekjoo also looked around.
"Why? Is there something?” "No. Just in case." "Just in case?" "What?"
"No matter how crazy the Russian guy is, he can't spy on the National
Intelligence Service, right?" "Why are you talking about that guy all of a
sudden?" "Because he glares at me like he's going to kill me if I touch
him. Does he cut people up with his icy eyes?" "It didn't get cut, Sal-
eun.” "He's so obedient to his seniors that he doesn't even know how
scary it is. Instead, tell him not to contact me, can't you?" "You two
contact each other? Do you want to be friends with me?" "Oh, I don't
want to!" "Then tell that kid himself." "Do you have to go to the
funeral?" "If you can't, just be friends. Surprisingly, you two seem to get
along well." Yoon Jong-woo gritted his teeth and swallowed. His weak
fists caught his eye. He was shaking so much. He said calmly, "Do you
think that kid would listen to me?" and then snickered. "If it weren't for
you, senior, then what?" "I didn't say anything?" "I said I learned the art
of mind reading?" "Don't lie." Yoon Jong-woo looked at Kwon Taek Joo,
who was sulking, with a cold look. "There's nothing really wrong, is
there?" "There must be something wrong. Oh, let's have a drink for the
first time in a while instead of this." "Right now? I haven't even gotten
off work yet." "Tell them I'm going out on business. If something
happens, I'll cover for you." "What about the cover? It's like we're going
to write a police report together." "Don't you trust your senior? I can
protect you enough, so let's go." He wrapped his arms around Yoon
Jong-woo's neck and walked briskly down the hallway. Yoon Jong-woo,
who had been struggling to let him go, quickly gave up and said, "What
are you going to buy me?" Either way, they were partners who fit well
together. "Do you know that your senior is a really evil boss?” Yoon
Jong-woo grumbled as he spread the table. Since it had been a while,
there were a lot of regrets to let out and work-related stories would
come up, so he came to his studio instead of the restaurant. Yoon Jong-
woo's house, which he visited after a long time, was no different than
before. It was a two-room villa facing the east, so the sunlight didn't
come in enough, and even then, the blinds were drawn on all the
windows, so it was dark even during the day. The laundry was hung
carelessly on chairs, hangers, and exercise equipment. The area around
the computer was also filled with all sorts of clutter, except for a space
where he could sit. He thought, "How can I eat and sleep in a place like
this?" Suddenly? he asked, throwing the laundry that was being
stepped on into the laundry basket one after another. Only then was
the space for the two to sit face to face secured. Yoon Jong-woo kept
grumbling while preparing the grill. "Ha. 'Suddenly'? I've told you this
many times before. You always take away my personal space and time
without permission. And my property." "Hey, I don't know about
anything else, but when did I ever covet your property?" "Have you
forgotten that last time you used my game character without
permission? You even use my horse as a taxi. You're still doing it now. I
told you I'd buy you something delicious, so why are you coming here?
You don't think of Ma's subordinates as real subordinates, do you?”
"Why are you being so overbearing? Instead, I bought you something
delicious." Kwon Taekjoo nodded at the bags he had placed on the
table. He had stopped by a nearby market on his way here and bought
raw fish and beef. Both were foods that Yoon Jong-woo liked, and they
were perfect as drinking snacks. Yoon Jong-woo even personally
selected the raw fish and the meat parts. Therefore, his current sudden
complaints could be seen as a result of another calculation. Yoon Jong-
woo's eyes, suddenly lost, were proof of this. "You're afraid I'll scold you
right now, so Are you hitting me? So, kid, clean up and live. This is a
pigsty, not a place for people to live? I ventilate it in the morning and
evening. When on earth are you going to do your laundry? You eat and
sleep in a place like this and you’ve never gotten sick. That’s why you
always act like a slob, Inma.” He easily figured out Yoon Jong-woo’s
shallow intentions. Yoon Jong-woo whined at the unfailing nagging
bomb. “Why did you barge in without inviting me?” “Don’t you know
that meddling also requires affection? You should be grateful when a
senior like you looks after you so thoroughly.” "Unwanted attention is
violence. Talking to my seniors makes me feel like I'm back in the
military." Yoon Jong-woo grumbled in a broken voice. His grumbling
continued throughout the meal. "They say that people who are
favoured by their superiors shouldn't be kept as subordinates. I think I
got off to a bad start." "Do I look favoured to you? There's probably no
one in the palace who's written more letters of recommendation than
me." "Are you bragging? That makes it worse. If you're going to be loyal
to your superiors, just be loyal. A. You always act according to your own
temperament and judgement. It’s not like you just achieve your goal.
How many times have you been called out and scolded after helping
someone?” “I told you I didn’t get scolded this time?” “Is that the face
of someone who hasn’t been scolded like that?” “What’s my face like?”
“You’re always brooding, not like a senior.” He absentmindedly wiped
his face. Did Yoon Jong-woo’s dull eyes show his worries? Certainly,
since he had been warned by Director Kwak about Zhenya’s
intervention, it was hard to say he hadn’t been scolded. His heart was
heavy. Not only because of that. In the meantime, Yoon Jong-woo put
meat on a two-chambered grill and boiled water for ramen. He
prepared alcohol, raw fish, and a couple of side dishes to drink together
in a hurry. Even so, he kept slurping. It seemed like he was really on
edge. "Honestly, senior, you're starting to get overwhelmed, right?
When you try to do everything that many people do by yourself, you
don't have time to relax and it becomes more dangerous. Why do you
always run around out of breath and refuse to reinforce your team?"
"Of course, nothing will change even if you have teammates." "Why
won't it change? The amount of work for seniors will definitely
decrease. At the very least, they'll be there to protect you." "On the
other hand, it might get harder to take care of your teammates and go
around looking for them. And I wonder if there are any people who will
completely adjust to my pace." "Ugh... That pace is the problem. If
you're the only one who's a workaholic and a perfectionist, who can say
anything? You're trying to treat your coworkers like that, so you're
making a fuss. You even ignore the rules and act irregularly every time.
It's because the other employees don't show it, but they all say they
don't want to back you up." "It's okay. I only have you.” "I'm not okay,
I'm not okay!" "It's disappointing, Inma. I've bought you so many meals
so far. Who prepared the side dishes that are now filling up your
refrigerator?" Yoon Jong-woo clenched his fists, unable to find a proper
response. He bit his lower lip and trembled with resentment. In the
meantime, he picked up the grilled meat and placed it in his bowl. Yoon
Jong-woo looked at Kwon Taek Joo with a displeased look and steadily
put the meat in his mouth. "What I'm saying is that you should take it
easy now, senior. It's not like your goal is to die in the line of duty.”
Kwon Taekjoo nodded dryly and poured himself some soju. When he
tilted the bottle towards Yoon Jong-woo, Yoon Jong-woo quickly picked
up his glass. He poured him a drink first and filled his glass as well. Yoon
Jong-woo, who had been waiting for a moment, lightly clinked his
glasses, saying, "Tan." He chuckled and downed the soju in one gulp. It
wasn't very stimulating. Maybe because he often drank strong alcohol
with Zhenya. He poured himself another glass right away. Yoon Jong-
woo gave him a curious look as he fiddled with his empty glass. It
seemed that he knew from his long experience that this was a common
behaviour whenever Kwon Taekjoo had a lot on his mind. "Jongwoo,
you know? I've been running around without any hesitation." "Of
course. I was a heartless moth." "I've never had any other thoughts
while working. I didn't care if the enemy I encountered during a mission
was a man, a woman, an old man, or a child. When I overcame an
unexpected extreme situation and finally got what I wanted, the thrill
was incredible. I may have become addicted right away because it was a
feeling I'd never felt before. Sometimes, just doing nothing and resting
was boring, like hell. That's why I thought this was my calling, this job."
"Huh... I guess that's my calling. No?" "Is it because I'm older now, as
you said? I keep getting distracted while I work. Sometimes I hesitate to
pull the trigger. My attitude seems to have changed a bit." Yoon Jong-
woo, who was wrapping up a large bowl of kimchi, paused for a
moment. He rolled his eyes and looked back at the context, then asked
cautiously. "Senior. Did something happen in Cuba?" Kwon Taekjoo
shook his head slightly and poured himself another drink. He then
fidgeted with his empty glass for a long time. "It wasn't just that time
that was the problem. It’s been a while since I saw him. He’s lost his
original intention and has become lax.” Yoon Jong-woo tilted his head
and stuffed himself with the soup. It was hard for him to understand
where and how Kwon Taekjoo had become lax. As far as Yoon Jong-woo
knew, Kwon Taekjoo had never failed to complete his assigned duties.
His recent activities were no different than before. Rather, he thought it
would be okay if he relaxed a little more. Even while he was watching
him out of the corner of his eye, Kwon Taekjoo was lost in his own
thoughts and emptied his glass one after another. It seemed like
something was going on, but since he wasn’t telling me everything, it
was hard to ask him carelessly. Yoon Jong-woo simply scooped up some
perfectly boiled ramen noodles and placed them in front of him. "Since
you're throwing away your feelings, have some snacks. Do you think
your body will be made of cast iron for the rest of your life?” For some
reason, Kwon Taekjoo's eyes were fixed on the ramen. He stared at it
intently for a while, but he didn't actually try to eat it, which was
strange. After a while, he said, "There's Kwon Taekjoo," and started
talking. "What if the two things you consider important can't coexist?"
"...Are you talking about your mother?" "Huh? My mother?" "Your
mother wants you to be stable, and you still think this job is your calling.
So, aren’t you worried?” It seemed like he was suddenly caught off
guard. It wasn’t that he didn’t know about his mother’s long-standing
concerns. He knew it clearly, but he didn’t think about her while he was
working. In fact, his affection or sense of duty toward his mother never
once stopped Kwon Taekjoo. He rationalised that it was for the country
and that it would benefit more people, so he had to do it above all else.
He didn’t even feel guilty when he lied to make his mother feel better.
But why now? Because his mother and Zhenya are so different. It
seemed that he would have to give up either Zhenya or Il someday
soon, if not right away. Director Kwak's warning had ignited that vague
sense of anxiety. When the moment came when he had to choose one
side, what decision would Kwon Taekjoo make? His mind kept getting
confused by things that hadn't even happened yet. The drinking party
continued late into the night. Yoon Jong-woo, who had been rambling
on about his work-related difficulties, at some point began repeating
the same thing over and over again, and soon fell asleep, hugging an
empty bottle of alcohol. He picked up his pillow from the bed and
placed it on the floor. He laid down. Then he sat down on the bed,
leaning back, trying to calm his dizzy stomach. Suddenly, he thought of
a cigarette, but he didn't have one right away. Yoon Jong-woo is a non-
smoker. It seemed that it had become a habit to always get a cigar from
Zhenya and smoke it. He guessed he should go home soon. He’ll stop by
a convenience store on the way and buy a cigarette. He just made up his
mind to do that and didn't move. He just scrolled through his phone
without anything to do. You're doing some pretty cute things, aren't
you? Don't be impatient. When I say 'soon', I mean really soon. He
looked at the last message exchanged with Zhenya. The conversation
ended without him being able to respond properly because of the
contact from headquarters. If it's 'soon', will he come tomorrow? Will
he come before he’s deployed to a new operation? There was
something he needed to talk to him frankly and tie up before that. That
might be why he’s getting impatient for no reason. 11 p.m. If he was
staying in Moscow, it would be around 5 p.m. there. He touched the call
button without much thought. It was a long call. The phone call
continued on and on, almost as if it would cut off. He could have just
given up, but he stubbornly waited. His son-in-law was so quiet that the
distinctive signal sound echoed even outside the phone. How long has it
been? The signal sound suddenly stopped and the voice he was waiting
for was heard.- Taxi driver? [You're late.] Zhenya returned the nagging
that was always on his lips. A small laugh erupted from the guy who
understood the nuance.- Have you had a drink? [Why. Do I smell like
alcohol?]- I told you. I know everything about you. [That’s not credible.
The kid who thinks he knows everything hasn’t crawled out yet?]- Did
you sober up? You’re acting all whiny without saying anything. He
laughs with a groan, as if he’s in a good mood. He doesn't know why
he’s been so happy to hear Kwon Taekjoo’s every word, glance, and
gesture, but you haven’t been in touch for a while. He thinks he
understands how ex-lovers who met briefly and then broke up feel. The
breakups were always unilaterally announced by the other person. And
every time he used to get criticised for being indifferent. They say that
what he sow comes back to him, and it really does come back to him.
[What are you complaining about? I told you that you always listen to
what I want?] He grumbled in a displeased tone. Even as he did that,
Zhenya’s laughter never stopped. It was like watching a cute animal or a
child's talents. How could he be so peaceful on his own without
knowing what others were thinking? He felt annoyed for no reason.
[Did you break your finger? Do you have to contact me first before you
reluctantly respond?] - Hmm... I really don't understand. It's common
for us to lose contact whenever we're working, and when we're
together, Do you miss me a little when I tell you to leave, but when I
actually try to be alone, you’re making me miss you? Miss me? Can’t
you stand being alone for even a moment? He could clearly see the
bridge of his nose that must have been so high up in the sky. He knew
he would be arrogant with his shoulders wide open. He sighed
involuntarily. He laughed coolly and added in a voice that was clearly
filled with laughter.- Yeah, Taekjoo. Keep whining like that. [… You
annoying brat. Stop whining and come here quickly. I have something to
say.]- I guess so. You’re doing something you’ve never done before.
Then he heard a faint, drawn-out exhalation. Here he comes. It seemed
like Zhenya was sitting somewhere with his back to him.- When I go,
you’ll have to explain what you’ve been doing at that idiot’s house until
now. [What? Where the hell are you…!] He straightened his upper body
and looked around. He wondered why he was so relaxed, but it seemed
like he could see where Kwon Taekjoo was and what he was doing in
real time. Since he was watching his lover’s every move, he wouldn’t be
particularly curious or anxious. Even when Kwon Taekjoo was on official
duty, he would watch him like that and suddenly show up. He had no
idea where to start and how to fix it. [Ha, that's enough. It's a waste of
time arguing with you. Hang up.]- See you soon. Zhenya hung up the
call with a grin on his face. As the surroundings became quiet again,
Yoon Jong Woo's wheezing breathing became more noticeable. He held
onto the stilled cell phone tightly and tilted his head back. He let out a
deep sigh. His head was dizzy and complicated, like a tangled ball of
thread. [… That’s why I guess I should go back now. My Zainka must be
really upset that I left him alone.] Zhenya smiled at Basim, who was
sitting across from him. Basim had an expression on his face as if he had
witnessed a strange scene. He had suddenly picked up the phone on
speakerphone, wondering what was going on, but the content of the
call was quite something. It was surprising that Psych was pretending to
be in love, but the other person was a man with a deep voice. He had
already guessed this with certainty, but hearing it with his own ears was
a shock in itself. Basim, who was pale, muttered in a bewildered tone.
[That Korean spy...] [Not anymore, spy.] Bajim groaned, touching his
forehead at Zhenya's easy going response. He had just come to see
Zhenya after hearing the news that he had returned home. About two
weeks ago, an unidentified terrorist attacked Cuban civilians, and
Zhenya had appeared at the scene. For some reason, he had actively
helped the terrorist escape. That incident drew an unofficial protest
from Cuba, a longtime ally, and the Kremlin was not happy either.
Zhenya had to be cracked down on before the sparks flew to his family.
[Yevgeny. What are you really going to do?] [What about me?] [Why
does a so-called ambassador keep getting involved in matters that have
nothing to do with the national interest, much less your own?] [You're
wrong, Basim. I don't know about the national interest, but these are
matters that are closely related to my own. If my lover is in danger, it's
right to do whatever it takes to save her. Ask the Kremlin you support. If
Natasha is going to be eaten by Baba Yaga, will you just sit back and
watch?] Basim couldn't bring himself to respond and fell silent. The
Natasha that Zhenya mentioned was an open It was the president's
government. They did not hesitate to commit all sorts of eccentricities
and illegal acts, riding on the president's favour. The Kremlin always
covered up her mistakes and earned the people's ridicule, but the
president used his authority to dismiss all the complaints. How can
someone like that take issue with Zhenya's misconduct? Does he mean
that he can do it but others can't? It was just funny how he was
lowering his own prestige. [I guess you heard the bitter criticism of
chasing me like a hawk with its tail on fire. Go tell the Kremlin. Don't be
anxious about such a small commotion and have some room for a great
country. You don't care about what other people think anyway, right?
Cuba's protest? The dog next door would bark. If you were going to
harass me for that, you made a huge mistake in your calculations.] [So.
Are you going to continue to act like this? Are you going to turn the
Kremlin into your enemy?] [When were we ever on the same side?]
Zhenya, who had been mocking, suddenly stood up from his seat. Then,
Basim stiffened and tensed up. Even though they were brothers of the
same age, he felt the same pressure as everyone else. It was because
Zhenya was not bound by hierarchy or human feelings and only
responded to his own feelings. The fact that his threshold for
excitement was extremely low was no different from that of a wild
beast. Zhenya looked down at Basim and urged him. [Basim. You do
your own work. If your dream is to become a loyal servant of the
Kremlin, then you should just lick Lomonosov’s asshole faithfully as you
are doing now. I told you so many times. If you don’t touch mine, we
won’t have to blush, right? Is that so difficult?] He tilted his head as if
he couldn’t understand. It was almost an artificial gesture. Zhenya, who
had been locking eyes with Basim for a while, suddenly got out of his
seat. Then he started packing his bags without warning. He had been
talking to his lover on the phone and said he would be there soon, but
he really seemed ready to leave at any moment. In that infinitely light-
hearted attitude, Basim raised his voice. [How long are you going to act
so arrogantly, Yevgeny! Where do you think all the conveniences you’ve
enjoyed so far came from…!] [Could it be the Kremlin’s grace? Or are
you trying to say that it’s the halo of the family?] Zhenya slowly turned
to Basim. The strangely drowsy look disappeared, and the atmosphere
became quite cold. His blue eyes were sharp as usual. [I’ve paid off my
debts enough, right? You’re still being generous.] [What?] [Do you really
think that the reason Lomonosov can't get rid of me even though he
sees me as a thorn in his side is because of our family? No. He's lived his
life purging everything that threatens him. Whether it's his family, his
closest associates, or powerful sources of funding. 'Bogdanov*? It's not
a problem or a concern for him. It might be a little regrettable, but he'll
just kill them all and take what's left. There are plenty of people who
can replace 'Bogdanov'. But he can't do that....] Zhenya patted his chest,
trailing off. Then he pointed at Bagim too. [Because this is engraved in
my heart and in yours. I'm afraid that I'll stir up a hornet's nest without
even being able to solve the secret of 'Anastasia'.] [You're
underestimating him too much. He's the kind of person who thinks that
if you lose your pride, you'll lose everything. If you keep going against
him, you'll be punished as an example. How can you handle hundreds
of thousands of troops?] [You can't defeat him with troops. But what
about firepower?] [Yevgeny!] [You still can't properly perfect a single
hypersonic missile, right? In name only. They are talking big with
missiles.] He suddenly mentions missiles and chuckles. The
development of hypersonic missiles was one of Russia's major national
projects. The missile travels 480 km in 5 minutes, which is so fast that it
is difficult to intercept even with existing missile defence systems. The
Kremlin has been bragging that Russia has succeeded in developing
hypersonic missiles based on its own pure technology and that it is
already in the practical stage. However, in reality, related research has
been at a standstill for several years. [You can't just show one side as an
example, right? If you do something foolish, you will be able to see the
missile you want to perfect right before your eyes. Let's lighten it up.
Fireworks exploding in the Kremlin... How spectacular, right?] That
meant that Zhenya had a hypersonic missile in his hands. A gasp
escaped from Basim. As far as he knew, Zhenya was not a person who
would brag. The words that came out of Zhenya's mouth, even if they
were absurd, could become reality at any time. [Haa... I don't expect
great loyalty from you. I just want you to pretend to be for the sake of
the family. I gave you everything you wanted. Is that not enough? It's
hard to just keep quiet and not let news of you reach the Kremlin.] [For
the sake of the family, Ra. I will warn you one last time, considering the
great family and brotherly love you desire.] He approached Bajim step
by step. The huge shadow that was getting closer and closer swallowed
Bajim up in one breath. [From now on, do not enter this island without
my permission. Do not continue to sneak in like a thief and poke around
here and there. It will all be in vain. If you ignore me even after that, the
gatekeeper will greet you from now on.] For some reason, the
gatekeeper did not seem human. Perhaps it was an anti-aircraft missile
that could blow away any uninvited guest without a trace. A vast
snowfield spread out in all directions. Wherever he looked, everything
was pure white. Not a single footprint was left on the snowfield where
even the depth of the accumulated snow could not be guessed. White
snow was piled on the bare branches of the rare trees. 'This place
again.' He muttered to himself and looked around a little more. He was
checking to see if it was Ajinoki Island just in case. Suddenly, he laughed
in vain. He had been thinking about Zhenya all day, and his
subconscious had taken him there. He wanted to go. He walked
somewhere. The overall terrain and atmosphere felt quite familiar. If
only there was a mansion near the cliff called Zhenya, it would be like
Ajinoki. However, no matter how much he looked around, he couldn't
see a mansion, not even a hut. He couldn't find any traces of animals
like reindeer or rabbits. Was it because it was a dream? He wandered
aimlessly through the vast plains. Then he finally found small footprints.
They were the footprints of a child, not an adult. For some reason, he
felt happy. He smiled and hurried his steps after the small figure. Soon
he found a boy crouching over there. He was heavily armed with a
sapka, fur boots, and a fur coat. But he recognized him at a glance.
‘Zhenya.' He called him cheerfully, but he didn't respond. He didn't even
look back or flinch. Maybe it was a dream that didn't get through to me
properly. ‘Hey. Why are you out in the cold? Where's your house?' He
asked, walking briskly toward him. The boy still didn't move. He just
lowered his head. He just stared blankly at something while lying down.
When he observed closely, the little guy’s small body was shaking
slightly. It didn’t look good. ‘Hey, kid. What’s wrong with you?’ He
reached out and grabbed the guy’s shoulder and turned him around.
Only then did he turn around to see little Zhenya’s face covered in tears.
He was taken aback by the unexpected sight, but stopped when he saw
the being held tightly by the guy. It was a corpse covered in blood. The
face that had been blown away by the bullet was so tattered that he
couldn’t see the neck. He could only guess who it was from the fingers,
nails, and body shape that were visible on the outside. He assumed that
the identity of the corpse held by Zhenya was Kwon Taekjoo himself.
"Huh... Zainka. My Zainka." Zhenya, who had been shedding tears,
began to sob. He was so shocked that he couldn't even think of
comforting him. In the meantime, the body became even redder. Blood
gushed out from somewhere and formed a flood. Not only the body,
but even young Zhenya was gradually soaked in red blood.
'Huhhhhhhhhhh.' Young Zhenya burst into blue tears. For a moment,
the calm air flashed. Then, unidentified objects poured down like rain.
There were countless shells. Instinctively, he reached out his hand
towards young Zhenya. 'Zhenya!' He shouted the boy's name at the top
of my lungs. In vain, the shells that fell here and there exploded, causing
the ground to shake and split. He desperately moved my limbs, but the
distance between him and Zhenya only grew wider. 'Hwaaaaang,
Hwaaaaang!' The cries of young Zhenya grew louder and louder,
eventually rumbling as if they would tear his eardrums apart.
Immediately after, the snow on the ground all blew white, and
thousands of shells buried in the ground flew into the air. It was gushing
out. The shells collided with each other everywhere, causing flames.
The tyranny that expanded enormously due to the chain of explosions
instantly scorched the earth. In the end, even the child who had been
crying sadly was oxidised without a trace. "Huk...!"' He opened his eyes
wide. A familiar landscape suddenly appeared in my rapidly widening
field of vision, triggering a faint dizziness. Even if he closed his eyes
tightly, the dizzy feeling did not easily go away. He felt a severe lack of
oxygen. He groaned and wiped his face with his palm. He was drenched
in sweat right away. His limbs were aching from how much he had
struggled during the nightmare. He covered his eyes with his arms for a
moment to catch his breath, then slammed down on the bed in
frustration. "Ha, shit... I'm having such a weird dream." He sat up
straight. Cold sweat ran down his spine and sternum without fail. He
clenched his molars at the horrible sensation. My neck, the insides of
his elbows, and even my shins were all sticky and uncomfortable. He
felt like he needed to take a cold shower. He opened the door and went
outside. He could hear the sound of dishes coming from the kitchen. His
mother was eating. It seemed like he was preparing. When he looked at
the clock, it was already 11 AM. He had been preoccupied with various
distracting thoughts until late in the morning, so he slept in late for
once. “Are you awake?” His mother, who recognized Kwon Taekjoo’s
presence, asked loudly from the kitchen. Since all she had on her body
was a drawer, he hurried to the bathroom across from her. “Okay. I’ll
wash up first.” “Okay.” After closing the bathroom door, he looked at
himself in the mirror. Even though he had rested like that, he still felt
the oysters were really soft. He sighed and walked slowly under the
shower. For a while, he just stood there, getting hit by the pouring
water. His hot body gradually cooled down and his cluttered mind felt
calm. He doesn't give meaning to dreamlike visions. It’s just that my
emotions and subconsciousness deep inside him are expressed on their
own while his reason is asleep. He could tell just by looking at how they
unfolded absurdly and without context. However, the dream of a child
who resembled Zhenya was strangely tangled in his heart. Whenever he
encountered him, he felt complicated emotions often remained as a
lump and made him feel uneasy. Strictly speaking, the guy resembled
Zhenya from his childhood, but there was no reason to be certain that
he was the real one. Kwon Taekjoo just thought so himself. Even if he
was the guy, it was just an illusion that would disappear when he woke
up. Even though he tried to dismiss it as nothing, he couldn't shake off
the image of the guy crying loudly. "No way, something like that could
happen." He shook his head. Then he started to wash his wet hair. It
was an extremely rough gesture, as if he was trying to wash away all the
distracting thoughts in his head. He quickly finished showering and
returned to his room. Before putting on his underwear on his bare body,
he checked his phone. There was no separate contact from Zhenya. He
explained it to him so he understood, but nothing changed. This is how
he ended up talking against the wall until his throat hurt. "pup...." He
stared at his poor cell phone and touched the call button. But before
the beep sound, a voice message came out saying that the customer
could not answer the phone. Did they turn it off? No, did they even
know that it was turned off? He threw the cell phone on the bed in
annoyance. "Ah! Your size is just making me worry. No, I'm crazy too.
Who the hell am I going to worry about?" He headed to the kitchen,
tossing the back of his hair in annoyance. As expected, lunch was
prepared on the table. He naturally snatched the ladle from his mother,
who was about to serve soup. "I'll do it." He grabbed his mother's
shoulder and personally led her to the chair. He then scooped up some
hot soup and carried it to the table. He also used his big hands to move
the rice and side dishes that his mother had already spread on one side.
"There are two of us eating, but you've prepared a lot. Anyway, I told
you that our mother has big hands." "She eats well when you make it
for her." "That's right. I'll eat well." "Okay. Eat slowly and eat a lot." The
mother and son sat across from each other and picked up their spoons.
While eating, they said in a bright voice that it was delicious, and that
our mother's cooking skills were the best, and they didn't spare their
compliments. It was because they were worried that their mother
would worry, saying that their faces were not good. Fortunately or
fortunately, their mother didn't look at Kwon Taekjoo very closely. She
was lost in thought. He was locked up and eating or not. He watched
him quietly, wondering if he was worried about something. Then
suddenly their eyes met. His mother smiled awkwardly. "I'll eat and go
to the temple." "A temple? Suddenly?" Whenever his mother had a
complicated thought or when she thought of his father and older
brother, she would visit a nearby temple. It was to calm her mind while
praying. "Is something wrong?" "...No, I just wanted to offer some
prayers for the first time in a while." "What is it?" When he gently urged
her, his mother hesitated a bit more and then cried. "Well, there's my
Canadian aunt." Her Canadian aunt was his mother's older sister, ten
years older than her. She settled in Canada right after she got married,
so even Kwon Taekjoo only saw her a few times. However, she was close
to my mother, and the two of them talked on the phone almost every
day. When his father and older brother died, she came running from a
thousand miles away to stay by his mother's side for several months.
"Yeah. How is your aunt? It's been so long since I've seen her." "Auntie,
do you know that she had brain tumour surgery before? They said it
was removed cleanly, but recently, her vision has been blurry and it's
been difficult to move. So when I went to the hospital, they said it had
recurred... They said she’s have to have surgery again, but they were
worried because the location was not good. Even if the surgery goes
well this time, the prognosis might not be good." "Ah..." "But there's
nothing I can do for her here. I should pray that she has a safe surgery
and that she recovers safely." The blood relative whom you trusted and
relied on more than anyone else was facing a life-or-death mission in a
foreign land. Dani, it was natural to be upset. Looking back, his mother
had been worried about the well-being of those around her all her life.
Kwon Taekjoo himself had played a big part in that. He always lived with
one foot on the verge of death, and he deceived her with the excuse
that he was doing it for her, so he couldn’t have been this unfilial. “I’ll
take you there.” “Hey, what are you doing? Mom, you can just go and
come back quickly.” “You’ll be tired from driving back and forth. Since
we don’t have anything to do today, let’s go together.” “You don’t like
going to the temple, do you?” “I also want to get some fresh air for
once.” His mother looked at Kwon Taek Joo with a look of surprise. She
met his gaze and said, “Yes, come with me today.” He urged him
uncharacteristically. His mother smiled and said, “Okay.” “But is it okay
for you to keep missing work like this?” His mother made a worried
expression. It seemed that her son, who she rarely saw in person, was
very anxious as he had been staying at home for several days. "Why?
You used to say I work too much. Now, you're starting to get tired of
seeing your son's face?" "No. Maybe you got fired from the embassy."
"You got fired. The ambassador hasn't come in yet, so that's why."
"Really? If he's not here, you have nothing to do?" "Well, I guess? Your
main job is to support the ambassador." "Then what happens when the
ambassador returns to his home country? Do you have to look for
another job? "Well, that could be true." His mother's worry deepened
at her weightless response. It's not that she didn't often ask him how
long he thought Zhenya would stay in Korea. She was already regretting
that his term would end someday. She was also worried that her son
would end up like a dog chasing a chicken. "Don't worry. I'm afraid
there won't be a place to work." "I'm afraid you'll go somewhere
dangerous like before. I think you're very stable and good right now,
Taekjoo. That's why I wish the ambassador would stay in Korea." The
work that his mother believed he had stopped doing never got a break.
And yet, in his mother’s eyes, Kwon Taekjoo looked comfortable. The
only thing that had changed since then was that Zhenya was always by
his side. He would fill in for Kwon Taekjoo’s empty spot, and he would
interfere in the operation without permission, making things a lot
easier. In the past, even if he had completed the mission safely, he
wasn’t completely at ease. That’s because he couldn’t relax and rest
even after returning home. There was no way he could act like he was
doing well in front of his mother. If he got hurt somewhere, he would
constantly groan alone, trying to hide it somehow. The guilt and heavy
sense of duty subsided. Now, when work was over, the first thing that
came to mind was that he had to hurry and go home. When he was
buried in Zhenya’s arms, he felt a sense of relief that he had never felt
before. His tired body and mind felt completely relaxed. He had become
so used to having him by his side. “...Me too.” He muttered while deep
in thought. In reality, Kwon Taekjoo himself didn’t even realise what he
had said. Zhenya wouldn’t be able to live in Korea for the rest of his life,
but he kept hoping and expecting. He couldn’t do anything right for his
lover, and instead, he kept putting him in danger. Selfishly, he did. "Son.
What are you worried about?" He came to his senses at his mother's
question. He glanced at the room mirror absentmindedly, and my
seriously stiff face was reflected. He quickly changed his expression.
"Me? No. Why?" "You look worried. Your expression is also very
gloomy." "I think it's just because I couldn't sleep. Did I play too many
games?" He tried to lightly brush off his mother's worries. His mother
scolded him without fail. "What? How old are you now? Are you still
playing games all night? What's so great about that?" "Hey, it's been a
while since I've had a break. I'm just having fun to relieve stress, so
please be lenient." "What about this kid? How can games relieve stress?
They say it builds up more. If you're constantly exposed to violent
situations, your brain waves become unstable." "I wouldn't go that far.
Oh, I'm here." He arrived at his destination with good timing. It was a
weekday and it wasn't a famous temple, so the parking lot was
deserted. He had to climb up a slope to get to the temple entrance, so
he parked his car as close to the entrance as possible. Da. The lush
bushes provided shade, so it wasn’t that hot even though it was
midsummer. Occasionally, a breeze with the scent of pine trees blew,
refreshing my mood. It was such a nice place, but he had made excuses
that he was busy and hadn’t been here many times. No, he didn’t
bother to come here because he felt uncomfortable seeing his mother
who was always gloomy whenever he came here. If Kwon Taekjoo
himself followed in his father’s or brother’s footsteps, he could see how
his mother would live. “Are you going to the mainland too?” “Yeah.
Since you’re here, let’s go.” Kwon Taekjoo’s mother looked at him with a
look of surprise. “Let's go after seeing the state," he said, and walked
ahead. He followed her slowly from three or four steps behind. He was
enjoying the leisurely time while taking a deep breath of the rare fresh
air, when suddenly a loud engine noise was heard from far away. He
quickly turned around, wondering if some crazy person was disturbing
the peace of the quiet mountain temple. Soon, the fiercely distorted
eyebrows softened. It was because a Bugatti of a familiar colour had
come into view. His mother also said, "Oh, my," wondering if he had
seen it wrong. "Isn't that the ambassador's car?" "I think so." "How did
you find out about this place? Did you call me, Taxi Driver?" "No."
"Really? Anyway, go quickly." "Uh. Then, Mom, go up first." "Yeah." He
strode back halfway up the road. Bugatti, which went straight to the
parking lot, stopped somewhere without fail, ignoring all the guidelines.
Finally, the driver's door opened and Zhenya got out. From head to toe,
there was no change, but somehow it didn't feel real. Zhenya wasn’t
surprised to see Kwon Taekjoo coming out to greet him. He was calm as
if he knew exactly where Kwon Taekjoo was and what he was doing. He
stared at the guy approaching with a displeased expression. The guy
smirked at Kwon Taekjoo’s disgruntled face. [I told you, Joo? ‘Soon’
means ‘soon.’] [When did you get here?] [Just now.] Did he come
straight from the airport? The phone was silent the whole time they
were driving. So he didn’t know Zhenya had already arrived in Korea.
No, if he were going to come, at least give him a heads up. He always
surprises people. When on earth is he going to act like a human? [How
did you find out about this place?] [Does that matter?] [It doesn’t
matter, kid. Did you put a tracker on my phone? What, did you install a
spy app?] [Taekjoo, it’s your fault. You never know when or where you’ll
run off to, and you always put yourself in danger.] He still blamed others
for his rudeness and excessive behaviour. Does the word “reflection”
not exist in his dictionary? How dare he date a guy like this. Kwon
Taekjoo’s eyes were shining with displeasure. He scanned the face and
body of Jilhan Zhenya. It didn’t seem like he was hurt anywhere.
[What’s your business? Did it end well?] [What a surprise. Taekjoo,
you’re so busy with my business.] [Well, it’s because of me that you’ve
been dealing with Mathias or something.] [Well, it was quite expensive.
The maintenance costs are so high.] Zhenya nodded and muttered
teasingly. He couldn’t stop smiling because he was so happy. He looked
at the eyes of that guy one by one and asked carefully. […. Did you just
go and take care of that?] [Or?] [What, you were called back to your
parents’ house again.] Zhenya, who had been making an unexpectedly
surprised expression for a moment, smiled again. His heart also puffed
out secretly. It was clear that he had misinterpreted someone else’s
words again. [Taekjoo. Are you still worried about whether I will get
engaged to you? Do you want to monopolise me that much?] The tone
of his babbling sounded like he was singing a song. [That’s not it...!] He
clenched his fists and got angry, then finally lost his strength. He let it
go. Even if he tries to talk, it’ll only hurt his mouth. He scratched the
back of his head in annoyance. [Ah! My head really hurts because of
you.] [I guess you were only thinking about yourself to the point that
your head hurts? I told you that you did something quite special.] The
way he was so arrogant and cocky was so ugly. Judging from his
appearance, it seemed like there wasn’t anything that could have
caused him psychological damage. We can check the situation inside his
clothes later. Anyway, he didn't know who was worried about whom. He
clicked his tongue and shook his head. At that time, the guy seemed to
be looking for someone. He looked around. [By the way, what about the
little woman?] [I told her to go up first. But how did you know that I
came with my mother, even though I am here?] [Of course, I have been
here several times before.] [Here? Why?] [The little woman often visits.]
Zhenya answered nonchalantly. And his mother. Even though he and
that guy are close friends, why did you bring him to the temple every
now and then? If Zhenya goes back to his home country, his mother will
feel very empty, too. It was a moment of distraction. As the guy took
another step closer, we were almost face to face. [What? Why do you
keep nuzzling me?] [Are you the one who’s so desperate and not even
giving me a kiss?] Zhenya shamelessly pretended to look upset. He even
tilted his half-asleep face toward me. The guy’s scent had become even
stronger. Was it because it had been so long? Or was he really missing
him because he hadn’t seen me for a few days? His fingertips twitched
and his neck trembled slightly. [You crazy bastard. In front of a sacred
temple. Regular.] He grabbed Zhenya’s face, which was about to come
down on him at any moment. Zhenya did not back down, but resisted
by putting his lips on Kwon Taekjoo's palm. [Taekjoo, I didn't know you
believed in God?] [That's why. I'll get angry if you look at me even a
little bit. My mother might see you somewhere. She knows you're
here.] He nodded toward the upper entrance, telling her to go. Then, as
he was about to take his hand off Zhenya’s face, the bastard grabbed his
wrist. Without giving him a chance to stop him, he licked his palm.
When his palm got soaking wet, he couldn't help but the sesame seeds
were hard. [Oh, what are you doing?] [I need to taste something before
I get hungry and get hurt, but why? Since my lips aren’t allowed, I have
no choice but to bite here..] Zhenya stubbornly bit the bottom of his
palm and let go of his arm. Looking at the clear bite marks left behind,
he felt sick. [Does this really think he’s a dog?] [I should be proud of him
for enduring that much.] [There are many things to be proud of. Don’t
make a mistake in front of your mother.] [You worry a lot. It’s not like
I’ve seen the little girl once or twice. And the little girl likes me.] [Well. I
wonder if you’d like it if you knew that I’m sticking with your son day
and night.] They headed toward the temple, bickering. Their mother
had already gone into the temple and was nowhere to be seen. They
didn’t even think about praying together, so they looked around the
quiet man. [Why does the little girl keep coming here?] Zhenya, who
had been following them silently, asked with a bored expression. They
occasionally accompanied their mother. Then, he didn't know the
purpose of his visit. He shrugged and gave an answer that the guy could
understand. [It's just like a church or cathedral. Sometimes you pay
tribute to the souls of those who have passed away, and sometimes you
pray to God to find peace of mind.] [I don't understand.] [Why not? If
you believed in God in the first place, you wouldn't have acted so
cruelly. How are you going to settle that karma?] ["Karma"?] [When you
die and meet God or whatever, Ask him to send you a 'grim reaper'.
You're already human. Reincarnation? Well, that's wrong, and it suits
your aptitude perfectly.] [Taekjoo, are you going to keep saying things
that I don't understand?] [That's why I told you to learn some Korean,
you brat.] Zhenya narrowed his eyes in doubt. It certainly seemed like it
would take a considerable amount of time for a dark-eyed foreigner to
learn words like 'karma' and 'reincarnation.' [What about you?] [Me.]
[Do you believe in God?] [No. I don't believe it either... There are people
who can only endure if they believe.] The smile on Kwon Taekjoo's lips
that had been snickering slowly subsided. In the meantime, his gaze was
fixed on the temple where his mother was praying. [It is believed that if
you remember the person who has passed away and pay homage to
him deeply and do your best, the soul of the deceased will be at ease
wherever it is. Does that kind of belief provide comfort to the living?
When I die, I think I would like those who knew me to forget my
existence as soon as possible.] Is it because he is in a position where he
is closer to death than life? While he is breathing, he is projecting his
feelings onto dead people, not people. He used to say to Zhenya, “What
would you do without me?” as a habit. Kwon Taekjoo always kept his
absence in mind like that. [...] Zhenya’s gaze was fixed on Kwon Taekjoo.
The dense tree branches swayed in unison in the wind that blew just in
time. Following that, Kwon Taekjoo’s hair also swayed. The next
moment, Zhenya suddenly reached out and grabbed Kwon Taekjoo,
who was looking somewhere else. Kwon Taekjoo made a questioning
expression, asking why. It wasn’t a particularly intentional action. He
shook his head. Kwon Taekjoo grinned and scolded him. [You rascal.] He
took his hand off his arm and slowly took it down. Then he slowly
turned his gaze away to get rid of the smirk. Zhenya tightly grabbed his
hand that was entangled with his. Hard, as if he would disappear if he
didn't. 4. One Or The Other "Oh. If I had known that the ambassador
was coming, I would have treated you at home." His mother expressed
deep regret. She even scolded Kwon Taekjoo, saying, "Why didn't you
tell mesomething?" He doesn't know how long she will treat him like a
VIP. "Hey, it's nice to eat out sometimes. The food here all looks
delicious, right?” "But is it the same as what you make at home with
care? Even so, Ambassador, you are picky about many things." "Now, I
eat a variety of things." He kept comforting his mother and he tapped
Zhenya. He tried to raise the corners of his mouth and said, “Right,
Ambassador?” Despite his constant gestures asking for support, the
bastard only made a puzzled expression. [Smile, kid.] [Hmm? All of a
sudden?] [If you’re going to do it, nod your head too.] He demanded in
his head. Zhenya raised his eyebrows as if he didn’t know what was
going on. Then, when his eyes met his mother’s, he smiled silently. He
nodded as Kwon Taekjoo had told him to. With just one smile from the
bastard, all of his mother’s worries disappeared. “Well, that’s fortunate.
Slow down and eat a lot. Yes, Ambassador." The guy nodded in
response to the continued request. He still couldn't speak Korean, but
he seemed to understand the nuance of the words now. He was
naturally quick-witted and had spent a long time with his mother, so it
wasn't too much trouble. Out of habit, he brought out the side dishes
that Zhenya would eat in front of him. He said, "Eat quickly." Zhenya
picked up a spoon and ate the samgyetang soup. He used a fork to
scrape the outer layer of the chicken, putting only a small amount in his
mouth. Kwon Taekjoo watched him and eventually put his chopsticks in
the guy's bowl. [Oh, kid. You're nitpicking so badly.] With his familiar
hands, he separated the two legs and put them in a bowl, and tore the
thick meat into large pieces. Only then did he pick off the white flesh
with a fork and put it in his mouth. He elegantly closed his eyes and
savoured the food in his mouth. He seemed to have no qualms about
being served. That little brat grumbled, “You noble brat, you punk.” The
brat took it as a compliment without fail and raised his chin. He was
about to start eating late, clicking his tongue furiously inwardly. He
turned his head absentmindedly and made eye contact with his mother.
For some reason, a satisfied smile appeared on his mother’s face. "Why
aren't you eating, Mom?” "It would have been better if you had done
that earlier." "Huh? What?" "Even though you're younger than me, it's
important to serve me well like you are now. Is there anyone else the
Ambassador can trust and rely on in this foreign land besides you?
Mom was worried that you might act rashly, but it's good to see that
you two are so close." "How close is that? The boss is so clumsy that he
reluctantly takes care of you." "What about him? Why is he
embarrassed again?" "I didn't. Eat quickly. It's going to get cold." "Okay.
Let's eat." Mother neatly tore off a chicken leg from her earthenware
pot. Then she put it on a plate and handed it to Zhenya. "Ambassador.
It's almost the last day of summer. In Korea, people eat this kind of
nutritious food to replenish their energy on Boknal. Ambassador, you
must be suffering from the heat. Eat some more of this and cheer up."
Zhenya took the plate obediently and smiled. Mother smiled as well. It
was a sight that he couldn't get used to no matter how many times he
saw it. "Taekjoo, you too...." "Oh, that's enough. Is this enough for me?”
His mother tried to give him the remaining chicken legs, but he refused.
She said she couldn’t eat much because she was old, so he put the legs
in his pot and gave them back to his mother. His mother, who had been
watching the two mothers bickering, smiled and said, “Koreans are
funny.” Then, when his mother asked if the food was to his taste, he
closed his eyes and laughed again. The boy was becoming more and
more mischievous. “Your birthday is really coming up soon,
Ambassador?” “Yes.” “Did you tell the Ambassador? Mom wants to
prepare a birthday meal.” Mother's eyes lit up. She glared at the pitiful
Zhenya, who was in love with her. By that time, the guy had finished
eating and was wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Hey, just treat me to a
meal like you usually do. Why are you having a birthday party?" "But it's
only one day a year, so it's better to have many people celebrate it.
While you're at it, invite Jongwoo, and if Olga can come, let her come.
Mom can invite all of your embassy staff. She can also say hello and ask
them to take good care of our son." "No, that looks a little weird. To put
it bluntly, this brat isn't even your blood. If you drag your mother in and
flatter your superior, there will be a lot of gossip.” "Oh, really?" "Yeah,
so don't make it too loud. It's hard for your mother too. Honestly, even
if you just get some seaweed soup, it's still great." Zhenya’s gaze
repeatedly went back and forth between Kwon Taekjoo and his mother.
He seemed curious about what they were talking about so earnestly,
looking at each other. "Right?" she asked for agreement from the man.
[I don't know what you mean.] [When it's just the three of you and your
mother, just do it.] [Taekjoo, your interpretation is seriously crappy.]
[What is your basis for saying it is crappy?] [Unfortunately, my intuition
is not as dull as you expected.] [You don’t even know a white lie.] [A
white lie? You’re getting more and more shameless.] [What do you have
to say?] [You have nothing to say.] He won't say a word. Anyway, he said
and turned his head toward his mother. [My mother. You went to
Russia, If you come out, you'll be really upset.] [Taekjoo, that won't
happen as long as you're here.] [Why? I'll leave you here for the rest of
your life in your home country?] [Because it'll be much less threatening
to them. It's what I want.] [When did you say you weren't here because
you liked Korea?] [I don't think I included you in that category.] [Oh,
really?] [Your willingness to do so offsets your reluctance If you have a
high altitude, how can you hate that?] Zhenya muttered as if talking to
herself and stared at his mother across from him. At that moment, he
barraged his mother with questions, asking him if everything was okay
in Russia, if Olga was doing well, if his parents were well, if he would be
going out again for a while, and if he would be returning to the embassy
right away. Since they couldn’t communicate, it was just an annoying
noise to him, but he listened to his mother’s voice while sleeping. He
would occasionally smile and respond appropriately. Zhenya felt quite
special. He was somehow trying to fit Kwon Taekjoo, and maybe even
his surroundings, into his narrow world. It seemed like he was trying to
squeeze it in. He grabbed Zhenya’s thigh under the table and then
released it. The guy’s eyes, which had been rolling their pupils and
looking down, were immediately fixed on Kwon Taekjoo’s side profile.
He pretended to listen to his mother’s words and whispered so that
only he could hear. [Let’s have a drink after a long time. I have
something to tell you.] The guy’s lips slowly loosened and drew a
smooth curve. [That’s what I wanted.] After finishing the meal, he
headed home. He wanted to take his mother home and leave the car at
home. Zhenya obediently said okay, and followed Kwon Taekjoo’s car
closely from the restaurant until they entered the underground parking
lot of the apartment. He didn't know how stressed he was while driving,
worried that he might get into a collision. He quickly finished parking
the car and followed his mother out, glaring at Zhenya’s Bugatti.
Whether he did or not, he got out of the car with infinite elegance. He
then nodded to his mother, who was heading to the elevator. His
mother also stopped and bowed. “Then, please go in carefully,
Ambassador. Come and visit whenever you want." Instead of answering,
the guy closed his eyes and smiled. At that, his mother's exhalation
slowly rose. It was like seeing a worn-out celebrity who was good at fan
service and an innocent girl fan. He knew that if he left her alone, she
would do the same thing, so he grabbed his mother's shoulder and led
her to the elevator. He even pressed the boarding button himself.
"Please go up. I'll have a drink with him." "Okay." "That... The drinking
party might last a long time and I might have to stay out overnight."
"Okay, so don't worry about Mom and have fun. But don't drink so
much that you'll get upset.” His mother was strangely generous with
Kwon Taekjoo spending time with Zhenya. She would gladly accept it
even when he used the excuse of drinking with him to stay out
overnight or leave for a few days on a long business trip. She rarely
worried like before even when she couldn't contact him. In fact, if she
made a call during her official duties, she would tell him to hang up
quickly, saying that the ambassador would be waiting. Does she trust
Zhenya that much? He's a good guy who can be trusted without
question. He’s not. “Go ahead, the ambassador is waiting.” Today was
no exception. His mother got on the elevator that had just arrived and
waved her hand telling him to go quickly. She nodded and watched until
the door closed completely before turning around. In the meantime,
Zhenya was leaning against the passenger seat of the Bugatti. As Kwon
Taekjoo approached, he nodded to the driver’s seat. [You drive.] The
one who had unilaterally informed him sat down in the passenger seat.
He had been driving well until now, and if he tipped over, his nose
would touch it. Even if he dies soon, he will still be a master. He clicked
his tongue and reluctantly got into the driver’s seat. It was right after he
put on his belt and released the brake. Suddenly, a white hand came up
to his face. He flinched without realising it and froze. Zhenya smirked at
Kwon Taekjoo’s reaction and reached out to caress his ear. The cool
earlobe became warm little by little as it played with his fingers.
Goosebumps appeared on the back of my neck. Even the fluff stood out
on my cheek. He shrugged his shoulders at the tingling sensation. Then
Zhenya leaned over the centre console box and licked his cheek to his
earlobe. He was so savage that he could barely hold Kwon Taekjoo’s
earlobe with his dry lips. It was ridiculous. [You made me drive for this.]
[Why? Wouldn't it be better for me to drive now?] He asked while
pressing his lips on his cheek and neck. He thought that if he took the
wheel, they would have an accident before they even left the parking
lot. He sighed involuntarily at the behaviour of the guy who was rubbing
his nose against his neck and taking in his body odour. [It'll be over in 10
minutes, so just hold on, you savage.] [You should be proud that you've
held on until now.] [Ah, be moderate. It’s big and blocks the view.] [You
drive well even though you’re blind, so are you joking now?] Zhenya
recalled the past with a voice mixed with laughter. Naturally, he
remembered the time when he went to Syria for espionage activities.
North Korea is one of Syria’s long-time nuclear partners, and the
National Intelligence Service has always been sensitive to diplomatic
trends between the two countries. Meanwhile, a North Korean trading
company called ‘Cheon-gang’ was found to have distributed a large
quantity of aluminium pipes to Syria. Aluminium pipes are a key
component of centrifuges used for uranium enrichment, so it was
necessary to confirm whether North Korea was supporting Syria’s
nuclear weapons development. It was necessary. The mission was given
to Kwon Taekjoo without fail. Zhenya showed up there as well. He came
to tour the nuclear facility as a guest of Syria or something. At that time,
he safely completed his mission despite the interference of the bastard,
whether it was interference or assistance. However, just as he was
about to withdraw, his infiltration was discovered. He was helpless and
engaged in an all-out battle with the facility’s guards, and managed to
steal the last remaining jeep. The problem was that he was temporarily
blinded by a flash grenade during the standoff. Even in the midst of
that, the enemy’s gunfire continued. Inevitably, Zhenya, who had clear
vision, took charge of protection while Kwon Taekjoo took the wheel.
He couldn’t see even an inch ahead, so he relied on Zhenya’s voice to
tell him the presence of obstacles and the direction to go, and he
steered the steering wheel. Immediately after escaping, all four tires of
the car had burst, and the front and rear bumpers were barely attached
to the body. The side mirrors on both sides had completely
disappeared, having flown away at some point. He couldn’t help but
snicker as he recalled that ridiculous farce. [I ran risking my life because
it was work. There’s no need to do that now.] [Why. Back then and now,
you enjoy thrills. Don’t you get excited and jump around when your
liver gets cold?] Zhenya giggled vulgarly. Isn't that a denial? It was
absurd, but it wasn't completely wrong, so it was hard to refute. On the
other hand, most of the memories he had with him were of such
dangerous events, so he felt a little nervous. He raised his hand and
touched Zhenya's light-coloured hair. The stubbornness of the guy
stopped at the rare affectionate touch. [Now that I think about it...]
When he said that, he turned his head away and stared at Kwon Taek
Joo. [It's your birthday soon. Is there anything you want?] [What do I
want? Could it be that I have something like that?] Zhenya shrugged
without thinking too deeply. There was no way he would feel any
material regrets since he had been born with so much. He would have
easily gotten it before he could even covet anything. Furthermore,
Kwon Taekjoo himself did not have enough wealth to buy him gifts that
suited his financial status. Still, he wanted to give him a gift that would
satisfy him. If he were to be a little more greedy, he wanted it to be a
memorable birthday for him, who had never received a proper
congratulations in his life. Last year, he couldn’t even celebrate it
properly because of work, so even more. [Don’t complain later that I
just let it pass, Think about it carefully, Zhenya.] [Hmm. Are you going to
give me anything?] [I’ll see.] [You don't have many options, so why are
you being picky?] [What kind of nonsense do you think your kid can
appease?] He glanced at the guy who was whining in a deadly tone. He
made a displeased expression and shrugged his shoulders again. [Think
about it slowly. It's not your birthday that comes often, so if possible,
give me a taxi, something only you can give me.] [What would be
good?] The guy who had been whispering was now licking Kwon
Taekjoo’s cheek. He wasn’t the kind of guy who would just listen to him
even if he was told to get off, so he just gave up. The road wasn’t that
far anyway. He barely made it to Zhenya’s house amidst the sincere
affectionate onslaught. He sighed in relief as soon as he parked his car
in the parking lot. It was truly a miracle that he didn’t even get into a
minor collision. It was also a stroke of luck that he never ran a stop sign.
If not, he would have been witnessed by pedestrians clinging to the two
dark men. Just imagining it made his eyes go dark. [We’ve arrived.] He
glared at the peaceful Zhenya with discontent, then suddenly grabbed
the guy by the back of his neck. With his other hand, he grabbed the
guy by the collar and roughly kissed him. He furrowed his brows as if he
was punishing him for all the teasing he had done so far, and he bit and
rubbed his lips. Maybe it was his anger at the guy who had been
indifferent to him while he was away from Korea. When his delicate skin
burst and blood flowed out, he stuck his tongue out and licked his
entire lip. Then he slowly twisted his head and squeezed between the
guy’s lips. Zhenya, who had been taken aback by the sudden
development, lifted the corners of his mouth. At that moment, the guy’s
eyelids and eyelashes fluttered open. The guy who opened them
obediently. The breath of anticipation spread out from his mouth. As
their tongues met, the atmosphere also became intense. Like animals
that had tasted blood, they grabbed each other's hair and collars tightly
and rubbed their tongues together impatiently. Their incoherent
movements caused their elbows and knees to repeatedly hit the
handles, but they didn't care. They repeatedly pushed and shoved each
other fiercely, exploring each other. Their breathing gradually became
faster and their hearts also pounded violently. Their turbid breath burst
into pieces, tickling their philtrum and throat. Even that became a sharp
stimulus, making them more and more nervous. They took a deep
breath and sucked in the oxygen they lacked. However, no matter how
hard they tried, they felt suffocated. This was not resolved. All he could
do was quench his thirst by sucking and rubbing his slippery mucous
membrane, his sticky tongue, and his dry lips. He swallowed all the
boiling saliva and slowly pulled away from his lips that he had greedily
held. Their eyes exchanged glances repeatedly at a close distance. Their
gazes looked as if they would rush in again at any moment and bite the
nape of his opponent's neck. His entire body trembled slightly as his
breathing showed no sign of calming down, and his lips were barely
touching. Zhenya’s pupils tightened as the tension gradually increased.
The next moment, he roughly pulled Kwon Taekjoo away, breaking the
tense air current. The back of his head was pressed against the ceiling
without a trace. Regardless, the bastard grabbed Kwon Taekjoo. The
two bodies were tightly packed in the narrow space between the centre
fascia and the seat. Kwon Taekjoo buried his head in his hair and barely
pushed the bastard’s face away. [Tch... Not here, you brat.] [Ha,
standing up straight like this?] Zhenya’s hand dug into his groyne and
grabbed his bulging front. Kwon Taekjoo visibly arched his back but
eventually pulled his hand away. [No matter how urgent it is, I don’t
want to get crushed like last time. What?] [Ah? I guess I should change
cars.] [Are you changing cars just to have sex?] He told him to get out
and patted his chest before getting out of the car. In a moment, his
clothes became wrinkled. His hair, which had been dishevelled because
he hadn’t applied anything, was sticking out and crushed in places. He
lightly ran my hand over the back of my head to straighten it out, and
shook off the wrinkled clothes before heading to the main gate. He
opened the door with a familiar hand, but Zhenya quickly followed me
and pressed his body against his back. He hugged Kwon Taekjoo tightly
with both arms and buried his face in the back of his head without
hesitation. [Haa... You're not even a real beast. Can't you wait for that
moment?] [You're not a beast, so you can endure it.] Zhenya protested,
inhaling the scent. Then, the bastard let out an inexplicable sigh and bit
Kwon Taekjoo's nape. At that exact moment, the lock that recognized
Kwon Taekjoo's biometric information opened with a clear sound.
[Ouch! Shut up...!] Without even a moment to try to hold out, he was
forcefully pushed into the open door. He fell over with a loud crash,
tangled with the bastard. A sharp pain rose from his knee that had hit
the floor. [Ah. It hurts, kid! My joints won’t last because of you.] [Are
you so desperate and pretending not to know, Taekjoo? You expected
this. No?] Zhenya, who was pushed with his whole body, rubbed his
head against the back of Taekjoo’s head. He let out a ragged breath as
he swung his thick hair at the bridge of his nose. As he struggled to get
away from him, his whole body felt warm. [Wait a minute. Ah, wait!]
[Ugh. Taekjoo…] [Ha, who’s chasing me? Why are you in such a hurry!]
He pushed Zhenya, who was stuck to his back, away with his elbow. The
guy grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s chin and kissed him absentmindedly. He
rubbed his erect penis, which was stiff inside his pants, against Kwon
Taekjoo’s buttocks and moaned softly. His chest and lungs were
crushed, making it hard to breathe. His neck, which was twisted
excessively, also stiffened and caused pain. He turned his head
stubbornly and got away from the guy. It didn’t mean much. The guy
didn’t care and pressed his lips against Kwon Taekjoo’s ear. He suddenly
stuffed his tongue all over his ear hole. The inside of his ear became
soaking wet and a long, squelching sound resonated. He lowered his
head in disgust. This time, the bastard bit the nape of his neck without a
care. At the same time, he put his hand under Kwon Taekjoo’s abdomen
and skillfully unbuckled his pants and zipper. He quickly grabbed his
hand to stop him, but it was no use. The bastard easily wrapped his
hand around Kwon Taekjoo’s genitals and began to stroke them
earnestly. [Didn’t you ask when you were coming? Come quickly,
Taekjoo. When you teased him so cutely, when did you act so ignorant
again?] [Ugh... Who said you didn’t? Let’s take it slow, Inma. Ugh, ugh...
Today, ugh, I have a lot of time.] [Well, I don’t know. I’ll just take it easy
and enjoy it. I wonder if it will be long or not. If I get called out after
having fun again, it will be my loss.] Zhenya chewed on the nape of his
neck that was already worn out and bruised. It seemed like he had a lot
of pent-up feelings because he was often called by headquarters when
he was on vacation with him. Just like someone who has been starving
for a long time, his daily life with Kwon Taekjoo was like candy that
could be taken away at any moment. Thinking that way, his heart began
to crumble again. The guy noticed his lover’s expression as if he was a
ghost and took his mouth off his nape. Then, out of the blue, he
grabbed the hem of Kwon Taekjoo’s T-shirt and flipped it over his head.
All. As his back was exposed, his collarbone swelled. At first glance, it
seemed like his entire neck had swelled. Every time Kwon Taekjoo
grumbled, he dug his teeth into his shoulder blades that were shaking.
Without a doubt, Kwon Taekjoo’s waist trembled. [Out, ugh....] [Taekjoo,
Taekjoo....] While moaning Kwon Taekjoo’s name, he slowly traced his
spine with his sharp nose and went down. He pressed his lips every now
and then and kissed him ticklishly. As he enjoyed the warm body
temperature and the thicker scent of his flesh, he reached the scar
above his buttocks. The newly grown skin stood out where the tattoo
had disappeared. Zhenya licked the new skin with the tip of his tongue
as if trying to remember the faded trace. Kwon Taekjoo twisted his body
as a ticklish yet strange sensation ran down his spine. His penis also
spurted out precum. [Ugh, ugh....] Zhenya stroked Kwon Taekjoo's penis
from the base to the tip with his big hand. With his other hand, he
gently stroked Kwon Taekjoo’s lower abdomen and then pulled down
his pants and underwear in one go. The drawer band pressed hard
against his thighs, causing his buttocks to bulge out even more. [Haa....]
Zhenya, who was exhaling deeply, pulled Kwon Taekjoo's two arms
behind his back and held them with one hand. The hand that had been
skimming Kwon Taekjoo's genitals the whole time supported his lower
abdomen. Naturally, his knees rose and his butt lifted, so that he was
supporting his upper body with only his shoulders and left cheek. [...
Ugh, what are you doing? You crazy bastard.] [Are you really asking
because you don't know?] Zhenya looked down at Kwon Taek Joo with a
mocking look. In the meantime, Kwon Taekjoo's two cheeks and even
both ears had turned red. It wasn't because the blood was rushing to
his silky face. When he slowly spread his dense buttocks, his butt a
small hole inside the bone was revealed. Zhenya stared at the tightly
closed hole and moved his still hand to stroke Kwon Taekjoo's penis
again. Then, the small hole flinched at the stimulation given. [While I
was expecting this much.] Zhenya, who had been muttering as if
intoxicated, suddenly buried his head in Kwon Taekjoo's buttocks. His
thick tongue slid over the finely wrinkled soft skin. Kwon Taekjoo's
entire body trembled at the sensation of his most intimate part getting
wet. The two hands Zhenya was holding also clenched into fists. His
erect penis also nodded its head vigorously and cheered
enthusiastically. Zhenya wiggled the corners of his mouth and counted
each and every wrinkle with the tip of his tongue. He also poked at the
hole that kept shrinking due to the ticklish stimulation. "Ah, ah, wait,
sleep... huh. Euh... Heh...." Every time, Kwon Taekjoo shook his head
and trembled all over. There was even a sound of teeth grinding inside
his jaw where he had tensely applied force. He engraved each and every
vivid reaction in his eyes and sucked shallowly on the soft and tender
skin. Then, he suddenly pushed his tongue into the hole that had
become soft. "Haeuuh, ah, huh...." Kwon Taekjoo trembled slightly, his
limbs stiffening. Unable to swallow the groans bursting out from within,
he continued to rub his forehead against the bare floor. His fists, which
had turned white, shook and released, and he pushed Zhenya’s head
away with difficulty. Ignoring the slight resistance, he buried his face
deeper. He also opened his jaw wide and took in the skin and bulged
around the hole without covering it. At the same time, he stroked Kwon
Taekjoo’s genitals vigorously as if milking a cow. “Ah, ah, euhk… uh,
eung...” Kwon Taekjoo’s body shook helplessly at the stimulation
pouring out. Zhenya stroked his genitals until it hurt, then stroked his
glans once. While gently wrapping and rubbing it, he strongly pushed
the inside of the hole with his tongue. Every time he did that, the hole
that had become as soft as it could be became hot and tightened his
tongue deliciously. The hand that had been pushing Zhenya gradually
grabbed his ivory hair desperately. "Ah, ah, that, yea, eung, eung, no,
hae-eun, this eung...!" He pulled his lips away with a squeak. He also
pulled away the hand that had been caressing Kwon Taekjoo's genitals
without any regrets. Then Kwon Taekjoo's body visibly flinched. The
hole that had been loosened up considerably was soaked in sticky saliva
and squirmed. [Ha... How is it, Taekjoo? Do you think you still have a lot
of time? I wish you would take it slow and leisurely. Will you?] [Ha, ha,
fuck... this son of a bitch.] Kwon Taekjoo grumbled and tossed his body
roughly as he was. However, Zhenya’s hand only pulled his arm tighter.
He rubbed his glans lightly on the floor to relieve the pain of his penis
that seemed like it would burst at any moment. However, it was useless
because Zhenya was supporting his lower abdomen. [Don't do it alone
and ask me to hold you. I'll gladly do it.] [Sigh, ugh... Let go. Ah, let go of
my arm.] [How long are you going to keep saying things you don't
mean? Are you going to let go?] Zhenya said [Huh?] and unzipped his
pants. Immediately after, his heavy penis fell down on his buttocks. That
alone made Kwon Taekjoo's body flinch. Zhenya inserted his penis
between Kwon Taekjoo's buttocks. The thick penis was pleasantly
pressed against his elastic buttocks. The blood vessels and tendons on
the outside of his penis stood out noticeably as he felt the anticipation
soaring. He moved his penis up and down vigorously in that state. Just
the sensation of his hole rubbing against his bumpy penis spread.
[Laugh, Woo, Euu, Euu…] [Haa, don't be shy, Taekjoo, you want me.
Right?] [Ugh, woo, haeuu, sss, yuh, uh...] [Tell me to hug you quickly.
Tell me to bury this inside you and shove it inside you.] Zhenya
demanded, pressing his lower abdomen against Kwon Taekjoo’s
buttocks. As the weight of the guy deepened the contact, the hole
quickly became loose. He didn’t stop there, but bent his upper body
and kneaded Kwon Taekjoo’s shoulder. He rubbed his ear against Kwon
Taekjoo’s ear, crushing it roughly. His excited breath repeatedly burst
into his ear, adding to my excitement. [Ha, ugh, Zhenya, hurry....] [Okay,
Zainka.] [Ew, ugh, stop being so annoying, put it in quickly.] [Ha....] A
hollow laugh escaped Zhenya. Immediately after, the guy who had been
stubbornly sticking his buttocks into the hole, his penis entered. His
whole body went cold from the relentless insertion. The moans that
were about to burst out were sucked back into my throat. [Ah, ah...
fuck...] [Why. You don't like it? I fucked you the way you wanted. But.]
[Heuheu, clothes, eueu….] [Ah, is it because I didn't poke it enough that
it's making you squirm? Are you ticklish? Huh?] Zhenya asked with a
voice mixed with laughter, then wrapped one arm around Kwon
Taekjoo's neck and hugged him. As his throat was pressed, his already
unstable breathing became even more laboured. Kwon Taekjoo grabbed
the bastard's arms with both hands that were finally free. However, the
strength with which he was choking his neck didn't loosen at all. It was
useless for him to just pull him towards him. [Haa... Okay, Taekjoo. I'll
poke you as much as I want.] Zhenya, who had been mindlessly pulling
on Kwon Taekjoo's earlobe, explosively thrust his genitals into him. The
genitals, which had been thrusting in strongly while expanding the inner
wall to the maximum, were pulled out all at once, scratching the
sensitive mucous membranes. It was difficult to support his body at all
due to the heavy yet sharp sensation. However, Zhenya did not seem to
have any intention of letting go of Kwon Taekjoo's lower abdomen,
which he had supported tightly. He had no choice but to accept the
genitals of the guy who had been completely impaled on his and was
ruthlessly tearing at his insides. The guy's thighs, which had become as
hard as rocks, violently slammed into the back of Kwon Taekjoo's thighs.
The skin, which was sticky with sweat, They repeatedly rubbed against
each other, making a squeaking sound, and then pulled away. The skin
that had been rubbing against each other was red and swollen. [Ah,
ugh! ,hoo, Haa! Eww, Ah..吾..］ [Laugh, Haa, a little? Is it still not
enough?] Zhenya whispered while licking Kwon Taekjoo’s cheek that
had become hot. Kwon Taekjoo clenched his molars and turned his
head. Because of that, Zhenya’s tongue slid into his ear hole that was
now exposed. Kwon Taekjoo’s shoulders stiffened. When the hand that
had been supporting his lower abdomen wrapped around his neglected
genitals, his moans were pleasantly muffled. He watched the changes
one by one and swung his penis, which he had been thrusting into,
once. He used a wrist snap to stroke Kwon Taekjoo’s penis as if he was
making a circle. Kwon Taekjoo’s reason suddenly collapsed due to the
pleasure rushing in from the front and back. [Ha, ha, eung, laugh, ha,
eung, ah, ah, hmph....] [Ha, hmph, now you’re finally making that cute
sound.] Zhenya was also completely consumed by the heat and kept
kissing Kwon Taekjoo’s back of the head, ears, nape of the neck, and
shoulders. Even though he had tamed his firm flesh by stirring it, it still
felt painful. Every time his penis was thrust in, it trembled and
struggled. The sensation of the swollen mucous membrane sticking to
the boiling flesh as if it had never been there before was thrillingly
good. It felt as if the smooth inner wall was secretly squeezing the
tightly bitten penis and sucking it into a faraway place. He was about to
fall down from the dizzying temptation, but he managed to shake it off
with difficulty. Then, he slid his penis into the hole that had been
pressing as if he was going to eat it. A large-scale insertion followed, in
which he went all the way to the root and then pulled out, leaving only
the glans behind. Along with that, one side of Kwon Taekjoo's abdomen
rose thickly and then sank. The perineum that had been hit by the huge
scrotum and the inside of the buttocks that had been rubbed by the
thick penis also became noticeably red. [Ha, hue, Zhenya... eueue, ah,
there, laugh, stop, haeuk, yeah, out....] [Haa, hue, right, Zainka. It's good
to be honest. Eww, not just anywhere, but where you want, haa, I want
to stab you.] Before Zhenya could even finish speaking. The guy's penis,
which had been focusing on pounding his stomach, suddenly changed
direction. [Haeuk...!] At that moment, a scream-like groan burst out
from Kwon Taekjoo. His back, which had been lying down silently,
swelled up and pressed against Zhenya’s chest. As Zhenya rubbed his
bottom more deeply, his stiff limbs felt as if they were electrified. He
trembled. His mouth, which had been open for a moment, closed
tightly and let out sticky saliva. His stomach also slowly rumbled and
swallowed Zhenya’s penis. [Ah, hoo, slurp...] [Taekjoo, Taekjoo...] He felt
an urge to combine them more thoroughly. He wanted to become one
without any gaps. Zhenya, who had been rubbing his forehead against
Kwon Teakhjoo's shoulder, suddenly supported Kwon Taekjoo's stomach
and thighs. Then, he hugged Kwon Taekjoo like a doll and got up from
his seat. Kwon Taekjoo instinctively raised his arms. He wrapped his
arms around Zhenya’s neck. With that, he was hugging Zhenya’s chest
with his back against his and his legs spread wide. He regained his sense
of reason as if he would fall at any moment. [Hey! What is this
position... I’m slipping. I said I would slip!] [You won’t slip.] Zhenya hung
his head on Kwon Taekjoo’s shoulder and felt confident. He leisurely
kissed his cheek, which gave off goosebumps, making a squeaking
sound. [Put me down. It’s uncomfortable, so put me down for now...!]
Kwon Taekjoo, who was struggling, swallowed a breath. It was because
Zhenya’s genitals, which had been halfway out while changing positions,
were suddenly thrust in. The most sensitive point was hit with such
force and precision that Kwon Taekjoo's head fell back completely. His
two eyes, distorted in shock, groped and stared at Zhenya. Zhenya
smiled faintly at him. Then, he kissed the corner of his mouth, which
had gotten much closer, and without hesitation, he slapped him
downward. The point that would send a tingling sensation all the way to
the tip of his head with just a light touch was hit repeatedly and
completely destroyed. With the strong force of the slap from below, his
entire body floated into the air and each time he sank, gravity worked
to strengthen his bond. His genitals, which had escaped Zhenya’s grasp,
dangled violently and hit his lower abdomen. In order not to slip, Kwon
Taekjoo tried to relieve the shock of the fall a little by holding onto
Zhenya’s neck. He hugged him tighter. However, that act only made
Zhenya more agitated. He frantically called Kwon Taekjoo's name and
thrust deeper and harder than before. [Eup, eup, sss, ha-ss! Ah! Ah-
eung, euk! Ah-pa, ah, hsss, eung...!] [Ha-ah, um, Taekjoo, hsss, euk,
Taekjoo….] It didn't seem strange even if a hole was drilled in his
stomach. The tingling pleasure that instantly exploded into his brain
squeezed every cell in his body. [Ha-eu, ung, ugh, Zhenya...ugh! Slowly,
ah! Ah-uh, just there, like that... Ah-uh! Chew!] [Hoo, Taekjoo... Do you
like it? Huh? Ha, yugh, Taekjoo...] Zhenya continued to move his waist
without stopping, burying his nose deep into Kwon Taekjoo's neck and
taking in his scent. The dull moans echoing from inside his skin sounded
somewhat painful, yet also like he was being pressured. His brain was
boiling with overflowing intoxication. Whether it was because his vision
was shaking or because of the fever, he even felt faint and dizzy. His
whole body was soaked in sweat and clammy, and from the tireless
waist movements, not only his genitals but also his abdomen and thighs
were freezing. No matter how much he breathed, it was not enough.
Zhenya, who was gnashing his teeth from the overflowing intoxication,
suddenly pushed Kwon Taekjoo against the wall. He was on the wall. A
soft scream erupted as he hit the wall hard. There was no room to feel
pain. It was because he was completely pressed and fixed between the
wall and Zhenya, and his bottom was stirred. In the pleasure from which
there was no escape, all Kwon Taekjoo could do was wait for his climax
and groan endlessly. He was pushed by Zhenya, and his head was
pressed against the wall. As he did so, the sound of his moans echoing
off the wall disturbed his ears. He tried to irritably push Zhenya with my
head and back, but it only stimulated his desire to conquer. If he moved
even a little, the man's movements as he devoured my flesh became
more fierce and merciless. [ugh, ah! Ah, eung, huff, eung, haah, Ah...!]
[Um, um... haa, Taekjoo.] [Stop, that, ah, close, ugh, hoot, fuck, yeah!
Shit, uh... haaaaaah!] [Haa, ugh, ss, ugh, Zainka, Zain, Ka... ugh!] Zhenya,
who had been thrusting more and more passionately, suddenly froze his
whole body and licked Kwon Taekjoo without a single gap. Before long,
his penis twitched and exploded white inside Kwon Taekjoo's stomach.
The inner walls that tightly surrounded the thick flesh vibrated together,
presenting a squelching pleasure. He tightly closed his eyes to endure
the terribly deep aftertaste. He screamed so loud that his throat was
raw. He could taste blood. When he let out the breath he had been
holding, his throat felt indescribably bitter. [Ha, ha, ugh, yuh... This
bastard…] [Taekjoo.] Zhenya carelessly kissed Kwon Taekjoo's neck and
shoulders, which were hanging over his arms. He also called Kwon
Taekjoo’s name affectionately. He was so exhausted that he felt like he
was dreaming. He tried to lift his heavy eyelids, but he couldn't see
anything. Terrible confusion and chills came over him. [Haa... I want to
wash.] [okay.] For some reason, Zhenya obediently agreed. But that's
all, he didn't let go of Kwon Taekjoo. He didn't even pull his penis out of
his body. Kwon Taekjoo just stepped back in that position and checked
the traces of his ejaculation against the wall, then chuckled softly. [Did
he ejaculate against the wall? This is a masterpiece.] [For whose sake,
yikes...!] As he tried to resist, the penis that had become soft fell out,
squeezing the crushed hole. Immediately, the semen that had been
collected inside fell out, drip, drip, and bloomed white flowers on the
floor. Breaking through that. After looking around, he grabbed Zhenya’s
ear and kissed him. Only then did his breathing, which had been rough
with excitement, calm down a little. He slowly pulled his lips away and
looked into his bloodshot eyes. His tightly shut pupils still wouldn’t
open. [Let’s go to the bathroom first.] He demanded with a tired look.
Zhenya smiled and said, “Okay.” The steps of the guy carrying Kwon
Taekjoo to the bathroom were incredibly light. Hr collapsed on the bed,
drenched in sweat, despite having just showered. Even with the air
conditioner on, his body didn’t cool down for a while. By the time he
got out of the bathroom, his legs were already so weak that he couldn’t
even stand properly. He doesn't know how many times he did that.
Even animals in heat wouldn’t be so swayed. It wasn’t like we had only
been together for a week, let alone years. His relationship with Zhenya
was entering its second year. After that long, he should be able to enjoy
each other’s absence. For some reason, his patience felt like it was
getting shorter and shorter. Did he catch it from Zhenya? He continued
to have random thoughts, then groaned and turned around. He lay
down. His waist, pressed and folded endlessly, ached unspeakably.
What was more terrible was the feeling of the blanket sticking to his
wet body. He didn’t have the energy to move right away, so he just
furrowed his brow. It was really hard to move a finger except for
breathing. His head was hazy, and his vision was spinning dizzy. He felt
around meaninglessly, but the seat next to me was empty. However, he
could hear the steady sound of water coming from the nearby
bathroom. It seemed that he was washing up alone after making the
remaining chojuk. He couldn’t hold it in any longer, so he slowly closed
my eyelids. His consciousness was fading away as if he was being
drowsy. He was numb to the passage of time. When he was about to
lose, the sound of water inside the bathroom stopped. Soon, he
recognized the sound of Zhenya opening the door and coming out. After
looking at Kwon Taek Joo on the bed, the guy went out without saying
anything. Soon, he heard the sound of dishes and other things clunking
from that direction. It was strictly a noise that disturbed his deep sleep,
but strangely, he didn’t hate hearing it. Zhenya soon returned to the
bedroom. A dark shadow loomed over his face, and soon one side of
the bed tilted to the same extent as his weight. Then, a cold glass lightly
touched his cheek. He thought it had become a habit, so he smirked
even in my sleep. [ ...Now you can’t even sleep.] He grumbled, lifting his
eyelids. His voice cracked miserably. He cleared his throat, “Ahem,” but
it was no use. [You said you wanted to have a drink.] [You said you
wanted to take it easy, take it easy.] He sighed softly and snatched the
whiskey that was sloshing in front of him. He groaned and sat up with
difficulty. [Can you be any more relaxed than this?] Zhenya grabbed
Kwon Taekjoo’s chin and turned it around, then suddenly kissed his lips.
Because of that, all the cigar smoke that had filled his mouth permeated
into Kwon Taekjoo’s mouth. His throat, which was already stinging from
the toxic smoke, was bitter. He shook off Zhenya’s arm as if he was
punishing him. The guy giggled playfully and took another drag on his
cigar. In the past, just smelling that scent would make his nerves tense
and give him a headache, but now he feels more relaxed. Was it
because his relationship with Zhenya had changed? He drank his
whiskey while staring at Zhenya over the glass. His skin was more
transparent and shiny than usual, perhaps because he had just
showered. There was no sign of fatigue on him. It was just that the
atmosphere he gave off was cooler than usual. Kwon Taekjoo’s activity
level was probably overwhelmingly higher. But the physical gap
between him and him. It seemed to be getting wider and wider. It’s not
just because he’s young, but because they’re ten years apart. Is it
innate? [What are you thinking, Taekjoo?] [What am I?] [You’re looking
at me as if you’re going to pierce me. Am I that pretty?] Zhenya tilted
his head slightly and smirked. His wet platinum hair flowed over his
smooth forehead. He stared at the sight, but clicked his tongue as if he
was displeased. [How can you say such things? Aren’t you
embarrassed?] [There are many things to be embarrassed about. Since I
know your intimate details.] The back of his hand touched his flushed
cheek. He flinched because his skin was cooler than he thought. Maybe
he had showered with cold water. When his hand slowly slid down to
my neck, he groaned softly. The hair on my back and the nape of my
neck stood on end. [I know what you like the most and what you want
me to do for you without you having to tell me.] Zhenya continued to
lower his hand and spoke. The hand passed Kwon Taekjoo’s collarbone
and touched his chest. The next moment, the He gently pressed his lips
to his forehead while clutching one side of his chest as if it would burst.
Everything he did seemed to be an independent life form from the top
to the bottom of his neck. It was like that in appearance. Let's leave him
alone for a moment and he gently squeezed his swollen nipple. His
shoulders stiffened at the dull sensation that was either pain or
pleasure. His gaze never left the mound where my teeth marks were
clearly engraved. He unconsciously licked his lower lip and his pubic
bone shook. He quickly pulled his hand away, not knowing when it
would trigger again. [Stop fiddling. It hurts, kid.] [Did you get a sagging
nipple because you touched it?] [Wet, what?] That damn snout seemed
to be in sync with his lower body, not his pretty face. He lightly pinched
his cheek as if to punish him. “If you just spoke nicely, you’d be a
hundred times prettier.” [What did you say?] [You still can’t understand
this, right? If you’re really curious, learn Korean.] He teased Zhenya and
giggled. He usually puts his hand in front of the guy’s nose. Zhenya
quickly handed him the cigar he was smoking. He put the cigar in his
mouth without hesitation and took a deep breath. The thick, spicy
smoke was It spread thickly through the inhalation to the lungs. Before,
even if he smoked a cigar, he would only take one or two puffs. But now,
he drinks whiskey with the cigar between his fingers. Zhenya smiled
faintly as he lit a new cigar. [You've gotten into that now, too, right?]
[I've been thinking about it a lot since I stopped smoking.] Kwon
Taekjoo turned the cigar around. Then he put it back in his mouth and
added. [Well, it’s not just a cigar.] As he was saying those words, his
pitch-black eyes were staring straight at Zhenya beyond the smoke.
Zhenya, who was slowly savouring the meaning, raised the corners of
his mouth. The guy with the lit cigar in his mouth climbed onto the bed
and spread Kwon Taekjoo’s legs apart. Then he naturally crawled
between them and sat down face to face with Kwon Taekjoo. [Why are
you acting so soft? Did you get praised for doing a good job last time?]
[Well, it’s similar.] [That’s fortunate.] [It’s fortunate for me, but how
about you? I don’t know.] Zhenya tilted his head at the unknown voice.
He stared at the guy’s face and drank all the remaining whiskey. After
that, he fiddled with his empty glass for a while and finally got a drink.
[You know.] Unlike his usual self, Kwon Taekjoo took his time. His blue
eyes slowly rolled and examined his face carefully. Soon, his face, which
had been stiff from concentration, relaxed and he smiled interestingly.
[What’s going on?] [Again?] [You're watching me closely, so that means
you're going to say something regrettable. And you keep saying you
have something to say. Did you already get a new mission?] [No, that's
it.] [No? Then?] A faint doubt formed in Zhenya’s eyes. At the same
time, the mischievous smile disappeared. What would Kwon Taekjoo
say while hesitating so much? His expectant eyes landed on his lips. A
sigh escaped from his lips that kept opening and closing slightly. [I wish
you'd come this far.] Was that something he hadn't expected? At that
moment the ice fell from Zhenya’s face. [What do you mean, Taekjoo?]
[I wish you would stop interfering with my business.] At the follow-up,
Zhenya’s facial muscles, which had been stiff for a moment, completely
relaxed. The soft exhalation was no different from a sigh of relief. [When
did I ever interfere with your business?] [Don’t pretend not to know,
you brat.] Zhenya slowly turned his back. His face still had an expression
of difficulty in understanding. [Why are you hesitating whether I am
intervening or supporting? It is good for you. There is nothing to lose.]
[If I only think about myself, that is. But that is not all.] [Not all?] Is he
really asking because he doesn't know? Since coming to Korea, Zhenya
has often directly interfered with Kwon Taekjoo's official affairs.
Sometimes, he went ahead of the operation site and obtained top-
secret documents or information that Kwon Taekjoo was aiming for. It
was only to increase the time he could spend with Kwon Taek Joo.
Thanks to him, his work became easier, and his hectic life became more
relaxed than ever. But all of that was an act that violated the NIS's job
regulations. Moreover, since Zhenya was a diplomat from another
country, the controversy was even greater. Regardless of the result, that
was why he didn't like him coming out at all. He fought with him many
times for similar reasons. He doesn't know how many times he got
really angry at him for treating my work like a game. As a result, the
solution he came up with was to indirectly help Kwon Taekjoo like he
did in Cuba. He must be really dissatisfied because he told me not to do
even that. [Hmm... Are you telling me to just sit back and watch when
my lover is in danger?] [It's a risky thing to do in the first place. Hey. And
I’ve been doing fine without you until now.] Zhenya laughed in disbelief.
He looked like he had been unilaterally told to leave the game he was
having so much fun with. [So you’re saying I’m the one who’s bothering
you?] [Don’t listen to me. I’m saying you shouldn’t put yourself in
danger for my sake.] [Dangerous? Me?] Zhenya’s reaction this time was
as if he had heard something ridiculous. Maybe it was his confidence
that he would never end up like that. He took a deep breath and looked
straight at Zhenya, who seemed to have twisted his mind. His
complexion didn’t change at all. His cold eyes and stubbornly pursed
lips looked like a child with a hardened face. How long should he
continue to comfort and appease a guy who is over thirty? He sighed
deeply and continued to explain. [Don’t you know what kind of
relationship you have with your family? I won’t tell you to reconcile with
those people or get along with them. That’s entirely up to you to
decide, and it’s not up to meto tell you what to do. But I can’t stand to
see you fight with them because of me anymore.] [I think you’re
mistaken. Taekjoo, even if I leave you aside, we’re in an irreversible
relationship anyway. You dare interfere in my business, you’re not the
kind of person who can do that.] [Even so, your roots are there.] He
calmly retorted. For a moment, Zhenya was at a loss for words. His
mouth was wide open as if he was smiling, but in reality, all he could do
was twitch the corners of his mouth. No matter what, you’re still
Russian and your roots are in the Bogdanov family. That undeniable fact
was frustrating, if not unfair. He added, hoping that he wouldn’t
misunderstand. [I knew that, but I decided to accept you.] [What on
earth are you trying to say? Making a problem out of something that
can’t be undone.] [I’m not trying to make a problem out of it, Inma. It’s
a problem that will continue to recur unless I quit my job, so I want to
solve it even a little. That doesn’t mean the fundamental problem will
disappear, but I can’t just let it go. [I also want you to stay by my side a
little longer, in a more comfortable state, like my mother.] He thought it
was a rather ticklish confession, but there was no change in Zhenya’s
expression. He just narrowed his eyes and said he focused on figuring
out the truth. [What are you hiding, Taekjoo.] [There's nothing like
that.] [No. Something definitely happened to you. Right?] [I said
nothing happened. That's because I didn't tell you. Actually, I've been
thinking about it for quite some time. I've been a bit lax, but I've finally
come to my senses again.] [Ha, Taekjoo. Do you think I wouldn't know if
you're hiding it....] [Don't try to find a reason. Where did I go and what
did I do while you were gone? Don’t even bother to find out if he heard
the story. That’s what it was all about.] Zhenya’s brow furrowed. It was
understandable that he would suddenly draw a line when they were
passionately in love. He loosened the mood by messing up the guy’s
bangs. [From now on, just be my lover, you brat.] Zhenya suddenly
grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s arms. His blue eyes didn’t blink for even a
moment. Maybe he was impatient with Kwon Taekjoo’s serious and
resolute attitude. It didn’t seem easy for him to accept his demands
without even knowing what was going on. [Do you really care about the
authors who are my older brothers? You’re being too self-conscious,
Taekjoo. We’re not that different now, even if you weren’t here. But
what else did you want?] [I won’t die.] He declared it to Zhenya, who
couldn’t accept it easily. He repeated his promise several times, even
though his face was hot. [Trust me, please. From now on, I won’t risk
my life and act recklessly. I told you to wait quietly and it’ll come back
on its own, right?] Yes, he urged him to answer. Zhenya glared at Kwon
Taek Joo with a displeased look. He had a troubled expression. It was a
rare moment when his lover was saying something regrettable, so he
couldn’t just get angry, so he looked like he was thinking about how to
respond. [I’m not saying you’ll keep doing this, so cheer up, Inma. I’ll
keep thinking about it and find a way in the future. Well, if it comes
down to it, I can reduce my workload.] [Reduce your workload? You’re
good at that.] [Oh, kid. Don’t be so suspicious. I’ll keep my promises no
matter what.] Zhenya trembled and gave a sly grin at the repeated
persuasion. He tried to appease him, smiling mischievously. [Why. My
credit rating is still at rock bottom?] Zhenya also smiled, his stiff face
breaking down in the slightly relaxed atmosphere. [You have to be
pretty good.] He reached out and grabbed Zhenya’s chin. Then he
leaned his upper body toward him and kissed him like flowing water. It
was a careful kiss, so much so that the feeling of their lips gently
touching and merging was clearly conveyed. Zhenya blankly stared at
Kwon Taek Joo at the unexpected development. [Collateral.] Kwon
Taekjoo smiled and spoke plainly. The next moment, Zhenya threw his
whole body at him. As they rushed toward each other, the two
collapsed into one. The glasses and cigars they were holding, the bottles
on the table, the ashtray, the cigar cutter, etc. were tossed around
noisily. The whiskey splashed on their faces, bodies, and even the
blankets, but neither of them cared. They just blindly restrained and
coveted each other. At that moment, there was no room for concern
about each other’s origins, positions, or situations. Consciousness went
in and out several times. In the meantime, his body became damp, then
fluffy, and then sticky again, repeating the cycle. Every time he opened
his eyes, he felt the presence of Zhenya devouring him. Zhenya, his
thirsty alcohol and gestures were clearly recognized. The cells in his
entire body were in shambles from the intense stimulation that was
hitting him every moment. From his gaping mouth, a groan flowed out
along with a deep breath. No matter how hard he tried to hold on, he
eventually collapsed in front of the shocking pleasure that exceeded his
threshold. If he didn’t pass out like that, his boiling brain would
eventually melt away. He couldn’t tell how much time had passed since
then. It was hard to tell if it was day or night. At first glance, it seemed
like several nights had passed, but it seemed like only an hour or two
had passed. In his hazy state, he could occasionally hear Zhenya’s voice.
It seemed like he was talking to someone. [Don’t worry about Taekjoo.
He’s sleeping soundly like a newborn baby. Okay. I’ll call you again.] Was
it a mistake? He thought he heard his mother’s voice on the other end
of the phone. Zhenya quickly finished the call and threw the phone
away. The silhouette of a man moving around faintly loomed in his hazy
vision. He struggled to open his heavy eyes. Soon, an unbelievable sight
entered his clear vision. Zhenya was sitting firmly between Kwon
Taekjoo’s legs. With surgical latex gloves on both hands, he was staring
at the other man’s legs in an embarrassing way. He sees everything.
[What are you doing?] [Oh, you’re awake?] Zhenya greeted him calmly,
making eye contact. He tried to get up but stopped. It was because both
his arms were tied behind him. There was also a leather belt around his
waist. He tossed and turned, trying to figure out what was going on.
Even that wasn’t easy because his limbs were restrained. The leather
handcuffs that bound both his arms were connected to his belt,
restricting his movements. He looked at Zhenya with a bewildered
expression. [Hey. What is this?] [You said you’d give me a birthday
present. What would be so meaningful that I’ll never forget it for the
rest of my life? I thought about it carefully while you were sleeping.]
Zhenya responded nonchalantly and spread Kwon Taekjoo’s legs apart a
little more. Then he gently stroked the inside of his thigh with his
thumb. [You told me not to interfere in your affairs in any way from now
on. Not to wiretap or GPS track you, so what can I do?] The guy kept
caressing the skin he had been touching, subtly pulling it. Then he
suddenly raised his eyes and met Kwon Taekjoo’s gaze, adding a word.
[You can at least carve a mark to represent me. Outside.] [What the
hell....] He looked down at his waist in disbelief. His chest was lifted up
because his arms were tied behind his back, so he couldn't see it well,
but there was something in the guy's hand. The peculiar operating
noise felt somehow familiar. Was it a tattoo machine? He stared at
Zhenya again with eyes that didn't seem to be true. The guy smirked
and drove in the wedge. [Taekjoo, this is something only you can give
me, and it's also what I wanted. Isn't it the perfect gift?] [Hey. Don't. I
shouldn't have gotten a tattoo like that. It could cause problems later.]
[Are you worried about work in the meantime?] [Even if it’s not because
of work, Zhenya. You’re drawing semi-permanent graffiti on someone
else’s body without their consent? I erased that before!] [Yeah. Now
there’s no trace left.] Zhenya lowered his eyes and muttered rudely. His
lips, which had been moving all the time, were shut straight. It was the
expression he always made whenever he was dissatisfied with
something. Since it was a tattoo he had done on his own, he shouldn’t
have been angry or upset if the other person erased it without notice.
But he still acts so upset. [Don't joke around. Get this out of here
quickly.] [A joke?] Zhenya twisted one corner of his mouth. Soon, he
said, and firmly held Kwon Taekjoo's leg with his knee as he struggled.
[There won't be any problems. It might even be a talisman for you.]
[What about a talisman? Just keep your shit down, you brat.] [you said
you won't die.] He stubbornly insisted. He pecked Kwon Taekjoo with
his blue eyes. [… What? Why are you saying that now?] [If you’re going
to accept that absurd oath, shouldn’t I also receive a token?] He
couldn’t understand what the hell he was talking about. A mere graffiti
tattooed on his body, a token, a talisman. But that was his wish, and it
was the only gift he wanted from Kwon Taekjoo, so he couldn’t just
ignore it. If he let him get that tattoo, wouldn’t he stop interfering with
his official duties? Tattoos that stand out are one of the unspoken
taboos for agents, but wouldn’t something the size of a finger be okay?
Conflicting thoughts kept clashing in his head. He turned. After a
moment of hesitation, he opened his mouth. [… Don’t say anything else
later.] [Taekjoo, I’m only doing it for you.] [You can’t carve it in plain
sight.] When he made a condition, Zhenya scoffed as if he was not the
same. Then, he quickly lifted the man’s leg and caressed the area of the
pubic hair that split from the inside of his thigh. It was a secret spot
connected to his groyne. [What do I have to do to make this place so
obvious? I don’t think anyone else would see it. Taekjoo, if you’re
careful.] [Caution? Is that what you're saying coming out of your
mouth?] [Isn't that the modifier that suits me the best right now? At an
age when you should be sowing seeds, you're living with a lover who
can't even sow seeds. You can't be this innocent. I've never lived my
whole life feeling like I'm cultivating myself like I do these days.] It was
incredible. When did he ever cultivate himself when he'd feel
threatened by a fortune teller once he got going? Of course, he hadn't
looked away since Kwon Taekjoo allowed him to be by his side. As far as
Kwon Taekjoo knew, that was the case. For someone who changed sex
partners every other day, he had to admit that he was quite innocent.
He was rolling his body without me knowing. He might have walked
around like that, but for some reason, he thought he didn't. It was a
groundless belief. He repeatedly placed restrictions on Kwon Taekjoo,
who was being unreasonably rebellious, only for him. [There's no
pattern that can reveal your identity.] [I know.] [It's also difficult if it's
too big.] [Of course.] Zhenya answered dryly and quickly started the
preparatory work. He lifted Kwon Taekjoo's genitals, which kept raising
their heads, and pressed them, then rubbed a disinfectant cotton ball
on the inside of his thigh. If it's cool, The cold sensation will make his
body stiffen. The leather handcuffs pulled and made a loud creaking
sound even with the slightest movement. [Hey. Even if you do it, can
you loosen this up a bit?] [Wouldn’t it be better if it were tied up? If you
move too much, your hand will slip out, and you might have to engrave
something bigger to make up for it.] Zhenya glanced at Kwon Taek Joo
with a look that asked if he wanted that. It was a threat that didn’t
seem like a threat, but there was no reason to deny it. Kwon Taekjoo
stiffly raised his neck and repeatedly glanced down. Even so, all that was
there was Zhenya’s face, which was focused for once, his hand, and the
tattoo machine there. [What are you going to tattoo?] [Well. Just lie
down comfortably.] Zhenya grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's leg and pulled him
back onto the bed. Then, he spread Kwon Taekjoo's skin wide with his
long fingers. Kwon Taekjoo looked up at the ceiling in a daze and braced
himself for the pain that was about to come. Soon, a tingling pain began
to rise from below. His genitals trembled at the sharp, cold pain. He
clenched his molars to endure it. Somehow, even though he was so
angry, moans escaped intermittently. [Ugh, sss... ahh... damn, it stings.]
[It’s already a crying sound.] [Ugh, hurry up and finish it while you’re
still yapping! Ah, sss...] [No matter how much you whine, it won’t do
you any good, Zainka. You have to be patient.] Zhenya said leisurely
with a voice full of laughter. It was no small pervert to enjoy causing
pain to others. He closed his eyes tightly. While carrying out the
operation he had been captured and tortured by the enemy, and had
been injured many times, big or small. Compared to that, the pain of
getting a tattoo was just a tickle. However, his body trembled on its
own, whether it was because of the situation or because it was a part
that was not normally trained. Zhenya, who was busy getting a tattoo
while occasionally observing Kwon Taekjoo's reaction, smiled faintly. He
opened his closed eyes at that sound. The guy's shoulders shook
slightly, as if it wasn't a mistake. [What? Why do you keep laughing? You
punk, did you get this weird thing tattooed?] He jumped up with an
ominous feeling. However, because his arms were tied behind him, he
could only raise his upper body halfway. He held on with his stomach
and he looked into the groyne. In his precariously shaking vision, he
caught a glimpse of a part of Zhenya’s tattoo. This time, it wasn’t a
pattern, but some kind of writing. It was just cursive Russian, and with
his limited field of vision, it was hard to tell what the words were at a
glance. Moreover, he couldn’t focus because something he couldn’t
ignore stole his gaze. Before he knew it, Kwon Taekjoo’s erect penis was
trembling from the stimulation. Zhenya winked at the flesh that had
become swollen. [Taekjoo. Aren’t you enjoying the pain too much?
[Who enjoys it? Thanks to whom it has become worn down, and has
become responsive to clothes and even the slightest stimulation.] [Oh?
You're messing around.] [You've been saying that since a while ago.] [Do
you need to get upset? It's a good thing. You can feel it even if you just
touch me a little.] He suddenly tapped his genitals. The tingling
sensation triggered by the part where he had touched them spread
throughout his pelvis, making his genitals vibrate. The precum that had
been hanging precariously at the end of his urethra fell down onto his
stomach without a trace. [Ah ... this bastard…] [You're spitting again. I'm
really looking forward to it. While I was there.] [Ha, yikes, stop talking
and finish quickly..] [Just hold on a little longer. It's almost done.] The
guy calmed Kwon Taekjoo down and continued to move his hands. He
can't even count how much effort he put into drawing each letter.
Seeing him concentrate with his expressionless face gave me a strange
feeling. He’s sure he wouldn't be that enthusiastic when it came to
official duties. He was the kind of guy who thought everything in the
world was trivial. That guy, when it came to Kwon Taekjoo, was
interested in even the smallest things and was absorbed in them.
Should he be happy about that? [Isn't it strange?] [ugh, what is it?] [The
act of getting a tattoo is the same now as it was then. But you, who
used to be yelling at meto kill me, are now quietly spreading your legs.]
[Ha. Where is 'by yourself' and where is 'behaving'?] [Is it different? I
don't think it's different.] What kind of nonsense are you trying to talk
about again? He looked at him with a displeased look. At the right
moment, he gently stroked his burning skin and met his eyes. His blue
eyes were soaked in ecstasy. [If I release your restraints, will you really
stop me?] The voice of the guy asking was filled with laughter, but it
didn’t seem like he was trying to tease me. Rather, he wondered if he
was moved. He was dumbfounded when he saw him face to face. He
couldn’t even respond to the arrogant guy. The guy smiled as if telling
him to look at it, and said, “That’s all.” At the same time, the machine
noise that had been irritating his nerves stopped. The pain hadn’t
subsided. The area where the tattoo was engraved was stung and
burned. [Haa… Your taste is so dirty. Now let go of my arm.] [I see.]
[What are you going to do next?] He stiffened his body and became
wary. If he tolerates one, he keeps demanding. He thought he had been
asking for too much. [No.] He started by rejecting him out of the blue.
[No?] Zhenya snickered and asked again. Then, he slowly moved his
hands up the bed and climbed over Kwon Taekjoo’s body. His gaze was
fixed straight on Kwon Taekjoo’s face. Kwon Taekjoo’s genitals, which
were trembling immaturely, were he rubbed his ripe head against his
abs. Only then did Zhenya’s eyes turn to him. His lips curved into a
smile. He slowly rolled his blue eyes and licked every part of Kwon
Taekjoo's body. Was it because of the passion that was slowly spreading
throughout his body? His chest, which was already puffed out, was
heaving ceaselessly as if he was desperate to show off. [Who said that?
Good memories from places, times, and experiences spent with a
certain person can also create positive feelings in that person.] He
smirked, suddenly mentioning what Kwon Taekjoo had said some time
ago. With the face of an angel it was like a devil. As he watched with
anxious eyes, the guy lowered his head and slowly stuck his tongue out.
The red, sharp tip of his tongue seemed to touch Kwon Taekjoo’s
swollen nipple. He clenched his fists for no reason, feeling nervous. His
lower lip was also slowly bitten by his upper teeth. The guy who acted
as if he would swallow his nipple at any moment kissed his poor
mound. Even though his lips only slightly lowered, my nipple trembled.
The guy let out a mocking laugh and kept pressing his lips around it. He
stuck his tongue out again and licked the mound on the other side. That
alone was enough. The nipple on the other side tingled with hasty
anticipation. But this time, his lips didn’t reach where he wanted them
to go. He just kept poking around that area. His increasingly anxious
heart was expressed as irritation. [Crap, let me get this out.] [There’s a
Korean expression that says, “Give me a bottle and give me medicine.”]
Zhenya, whom he hadn’t seen in a while, muttered something he didn’t
understand. He also made eye contact with Kwon Taekjoo, who was
grumbling. [I’ve made you suffer, so I’ll let you enjoy some sweet
entertainment.] The guy who had been mumbling as if singing opened
his mouth openly. Today, the inside of his mouth looked particularly red
and moist. He even twitched his neck for no reason. Just before his
nipples, filled with anticipation, touched the sweet mucous membrane,
a thick pressure rose from his groyne. It was because Zhenya had
grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s genitals without warning. Kwon Taekjoo’s
abdomen visibly fluttered. Zhenya lowered his eyes, chuckled, and
swallowed Kwon Taekjoo’s nipples without hesitation. At the same time,
he slowly but gently kneaded the genitals in his hand. Kwon Taekjoo’s
head fell completely backward. His tied body also shook painfully from
the pleasure that poured down from above and below at the same
time. "Ugh, ugh... out, ugh, hah..." [Ugh, Takju....] Zhenya also tasted
Kwon Taekjoo while groaning sweetly. He placed his penis on Kwon
Taekjoo’s thigh and rubbed it gently. His thick and hard penis kept
swiping his body on his already sore skin from the tattoo. He couldn't
come to his senses from the pleasure and tingling pain that rushed in
sharply and softly. [Haa, ugh, ugh... Takju...] "Ugh... ugh, ugh... ah,
clothes...." Zhenya’s waist movement became more intense as time
went on. His sucking and chewing on Kwon Taekjoo’s chest also became
more vicious. Eventually, he became firm. The mattress that supported
him began to shake violently. Even the bed frame creaked. The vibration
made his head spin. The two bodies, consumed by excitement, pushed
each other violently and then entangled themselves again. They pulled
each other hard so as not to miss the rising body temperature, the
growing body odour, and even their heavy breathing. “Ugh, Yevgeny,
clothes, Yevgeny, ugh, huh, Yev, Geny, huh, Zhenya...!” Zhenya’s
unreserved movements stopped as Kwon Taekjoo, who was groaning,
called his name. The guy let go of Kwon Taekjoo’s chest that he had
been biting and stared blankly at him. Someone else's, the man who
had been rubbing his body against the inside of his thigh nodded his
head in confusion. He stared at Zhenya with his eyes clouded over.
Kwon Taekjoo, who was breathing heavily, demanded with a somewhat
tired look. [Untie me, my arm.] A husky, locked voice. His eyes calmed
down as his anger subsided. He even said, “Yes,” in a coaxing tone.
Zhenya locked eyes with Kwon Taekjoo as if he was possessed, and then
obediently released the handcuffs. Immediately after, Kwon Taekjoo’s
freed hand quickly approached Zhenya’s face. He moved reflexively.
Even though it was so painful, Zhenya didn’t even blink. As Kwon
Taekjoo pulled him in, their lips met as if they were colliding. The saliva
was warm and sweet, as if their lips had burst, and there was a subtle
taste of blood. It seemed that this was actually a catalyst for
excitement. The two people, who were extremely excited, drank in each
other’s breath as if they were going to take it away, and rubbed their
tongues and lips dryly. They continued the rough kiss, which made their
entire mouths go numb, and guided Zhenya’s penis to his hole. As soon
as the erect penis touched the soft hole, it was sucked deep inside. The
next moment, Kwon Taekjoo’s whole body trembled. "Huh, hah, eung,
eung....” A deep moan was muffled in their tightly interlocked mouths.
It was because Kwon Taekjoo ejaculated as soon as Zhenya’s penis was
inserted. Zhenya raised the corners of his mouth at the semen that
soaked his hand. The fluff on his cheeks also stood up clearly. Kwon
Taekjoo's inner walls swallowed the penis that was stuck there as if it
was tasting everything. Zhenya’s abs became even more distinct at that
sensation. Even his head was spinning. [Haaah, Taekjoo....] Zhenya
sighed deeply and buried his head in Kwon Taekjoos neck. He felt an
indescribable joy from his ticklish breath. His sharp nose bridged Kwon
Taekjoo's neck and the guy who had been rubbing his earlobe recklessly
pulled out his penis that was enjoying the deep aftertaste. Then, he
began to savour Kwon Taekjoo's insides while deeply and leisurely
stirring them. Kwon Taekjoo could only accept the guy's endless desire
for him while occasionally touching Zhenya’s forehead and hair, who
was breathing hard. After taking a shower, he took out his clothes from
Zhenya’s closet and put them on. Every time he came to his house,
there were no clothes left, so he brought a few in advance. In fact, it
wasn't just clothes. In the kitchen, there were side dishes that his
mother had made for him, and in the bathroom, there was his own
razor and toothbrush. Everyday necessities like cutlery and slippers
were usually paired in pairs. It was no different from a half-dozen. He
was thinking about leaving, but then he looked back at the bed. Zhenya
was sleeping soundly for once. Even if he was a monster, it was bound
to be hard since he had been up for a full day and a half. He thought he
wouldn’t live long if he kept up with his pace. If he hadn’t fainted every
now and then, he would have opened his eyes in the hospital. After
continuing with these ridiculous thoughts, he went over to the bed and
sat down on one side. The guy gently rolled over to his side and
wrapped his arms around his waist. [What? You weren’t sleeping?] [I
woke up because of your presence. And your smell.] Zhenya smiled with
his eyes still closed. He rubbed his forehead against Kwon Taekjoo’s side
as if he was being playful. He thought it was cute and pretty, so he
stroked his warm ear. The guy groaned softly and quietly accepted Kwon
Taekjoo’s touch, then asked in a subtly quiet voice. [Taekjoo. Are you
calling me again?] [Not yet. My eyes just opened. Was it because the
dream was fierce?] He looked down at the calm face of Zhenya and
traced the guy’s eyebrows with his fingertips. As if responding, the guy’s
facial muscles relaxed. He felt his huge body slowly inflate and then
settle, and even his breathing became sweet. The guy didn’t open his
eyelids hastily, fearing that opening his eyes would break the pleasant
atmosphere. He just put a little more strength into the arm that was
restraining Kwon Taekjoo. [That kid appeared in my dream last night.
With light blond hair and blue eyes.] [Wasn’t the dream fierce?] Zhenya
laughed, making a sound of air being sucked out. Even just from the
monotonous description, it seemed that he had figured out who the
little kid who had invaded Kwon Taekjoo’s dream was. [Since ancient
times, it has been said that if a child appears in a dream, it is a sign of
worry or misfortune.] [I didn’t know you believed in such superstitions?]
[Thanks to my mother, my ears are covered with calluses. Anyway, tell
that little kid to stop coming. Just seeing his face makes my mind
complicated.] [Dreams are a reflection of the subconscious. If you hold
that little kid and won’t let go, what can I do?] Zhenya, who had been
giggling, said [Taekjoo...] He lifted his eyelids. The blue eyes he saw in
his dream were filled with Kwon Taekjoo and gently curved. [That’s why
I’m so affectionate.] He spoke boldly. Kwon Taekjoo covered Zhenya’s
eyes with his hands, telling him not to talk. [Grow up more.] He tried to
push him away and get up, but the arm around his waist didn’t come off
easily. Instead, he pulled Kwon Taekjoo with more force. In an instant,
Kwon Taekjoo’s body was dragged inside the bed. [You weren’t even
called, so where are you going?] [I should probably go home soon. If I
stay too late, my mother will be worried.] [We can go together later.] [If
my son, who has been out for two nights, shows up next to me with a
look of being stale and smelling exactly like his boss, wouldn't it be
weird? Even my mother would be suspicious of that.] [The little girl
doesn't seem to have much sense of humour.] [She really doesn't have
much sense of humour. I can't even imagine it.] [Hmm.] Kwon Taekjoo
warned Zhenya, who didn't agree. [Be careful. If you and I get caught,
you'll be cut off from my mother that day.] [Well. The little woman will
probably like me a lot more than you think.] [I don't know if she'd do
the same if she found out you were hanging out with her son.] [No
matter how you calculate it, it's not a loss, right? The little woman
wants you, Taekjoo, to be stable. And I can make you the safest place in
the world.] Zhenya made a bold promise. He wasn’t boasting in a
dream. He dared to say that there was no ally more reliable than him.
He snickered and ruffled his thin hair. [So you carved something like
that? Why did you put so much effort into it?] [Did you see it?] [If it
were you, wouldn’t you see it?] Zhenya raised his head and rubbed his
face against Kwon Taekjoo’s hand that was stroking his hair. He also
lightly pressed his lips to the back of his hand. [That's right. My breath,
my weakness. And my secret that makes me the strongest.] Whenever
he forgets, he adds the nonsense he used to say. 'Anastasia's owner.'
Just because of that fact, no one could dare touch him, but to Kwon
Taekjoo, it was amazing that he was like an obedient dog, but it was
also strangely disturbing. He turned his body and touched the top of the
pillow that Zhenya had placed. When the pillow was pressed, the guy
naturally turned his head to the front. He grabbed the guy's chin and
kissed him softly. Sweet breath penetrated his lips that were locked
together. When he slowly pulled his lips away, the guy smiled
contentedly with a clean face. [Taxi driver. You’re tickling me.] [Who
would say that?] [Do you want anything from me?] [Nothing. Other
than you not doing anything.] [I’m curious because you keep cracking
down on me? What on earth are you trying to do?] He stared into
Zhenya’s eyes that had become transparent. Does he really not know
what Russia and his family are up to? Even if that were true, he
wouldn’t be surprised. Judging from his actions and from what he heard
from Olga, he was someone his family had given up on. He couldn’t just
push him into a more isolated and helpless situation just because of his
work. He didn’t want to do that. That was all. [Anyway, this guy is going
first.] He got up from his seat after messing up Zhenya’s hair. Before
leaving the bedroom, he gave him a nagging request like he always did.
[Don’t starve, eat some food.] Zhenya propped his head up on his arm
and said, “No.” Kwon Taekjoo, who was about to turn around, hesitated
for a moment and looked down at him with a sour look. [It won’t work.]
[Hmm? What is it?] [Your beauty tricks aren’t working anymore, so stop
trying to trick me. I’ve already eaten my fill.] Kwon Taekjoo shook his
head firmly and left the room. Zhenya just chuckled in bewilderment.
Soon, the front door opened and closed. After a while, the sound of
Kwon Taekjoo’s presence outside the door completely died down. In an
instant, the house became as quiet as a mouse. The pleasantly swaying
air also sank. Zhenya’s face lost its expression. The guy who was
belatedly brushing back his messy hair suddenly tilted his head.
"Hyung?" Kwon Taekjoo picked up his phone, repeating the Korean he
rarely used. Soon, Zhenya turned on the translator and checked the
meaning, and his lips drew a long line. An interesting light spread across
his blue eyes. When he opened the front door and went in, he heard a
voice from the living room. It seemed like his mother was on the phone.
Thinking of quenching his thirst, he headed straight to the kitchen. As
he was drinking water from the water purifier, his mother came and
looked into the kitchen. Instead of saying hello, he just nodded. His
mother responded with a nod and went back to the living room. While
he was drinking water, he could hear the conversation on the phone. It
seemed like the other person was his aunt who lived in Canada. He sat
at the table for a while and waited for his mother. His mother must have
noticed this as well, as she made plans to meet again later and ended
the call. Then she returned to the kitchen and sat down in the chair
opposite Kwon Taekjoo. “Are you late?” “Oh, I stopped by somewhere
along the way.” "You worked all night, but your face is half-turned.
Didn't you say that all the busy work was finished?" "Yeah. That's what
happened, but Russia keeps giving us work. We have to criticise them if
they want to." He told his mother in advance that he would be staying
out for a long time, using the excuse of working overtime. He was used
to lying to his mother like that. Maybe because he rationalised it as a lie
for her, his conscience didn't prickle anymore. "The ambassador must
have been tired as soon as he got back." "What was that?" "Oh my?
He's talking badly to the ambassador again...!" He suddenly held
something out to his mother, who was about to scold him. Her eyes
widened. "What's this?" "A plane ticket. I've already booked the return
flight." "No, what I'm saying is, why are you suddenly giving me this?"
"Don't just sit there all day on your phone and go visit this person."
"What?" "Auntie, you're about to have a major surgery. Of course the
surgery will go well, but at your age, recovery is more important than
the surgery. We've received a lot from you, right? So, I want you to go
and take care of it yourself. That way, your mind will be at ease." It was
a gift prepared after reading his mother's deepening worries. Since his
mother is not tied down to work or home, she wants you to do
whatever your heart leads you to. However, the reason she insisted on
pushing his mother's back was because she knew that the reason she
was hesitating was purely because of Kwon Taekjoo himself. More
precisely, because of the compulsion, not the obsession, that his
mother must protect the house where her family will return at any
time. As expected, his mother could not easily accept Kwon Taekjoo's
proposal. It must have been something she had been thinking about for
a long time, but that was the case. "No, but..." "You don't have to worry
about the Ambassador's birthday. I don't think much of it, and I'll take
good care of it even if I'm alone." "The Ambassador's birthday is his
birthday, but what about you, Joo?” "Am I a seven-year-old kid?" "Is it
because I see you as a kid? Doing all the housework by yourself, going
to work, working overtime... How can I eat well? I'm worried that I'll get
sick from eating ramen all day and playing games until late at night.
Ruji." "Hey. You should worry about what you need to worry about.
Except for my physical and mental health, I'm fine." "Even if she talks....
Are you really okay without your mom?" "Of course. How old am I? If
you keep treating me like a child who's been put on the market for a
grown son, others will look down on me." He tried to persuade his
mother with a playful smile. But his mother kept looking at Kwon
Taekjoo with anxious eyes. He put the airline ticket in her hesitant hand.
"The things you're worried about, Mom, won't happen. So now we'll be
able to live like others. Let's live like that. Let's each work as hard as we
can where we need to, and let's not worry about each other too much.
Okay?” All this time, his mother has been trying hard in various ways to
relieve her excessive protection and severe anxiety towards Kwon
Taekjoo. She has been receiving psychological counselling and even
hospital treatment when necessary. Of course, Zhenya played a big role
in his mother's current level. Thanks to him, she was able to escape
many threats and return home safely. It was also a big help that he
stayed by his mother's side and filled in for Kwon Taekjoo's absence. He
shook her mother's hand lightly and tried to persuade her. "Mom, now
you should find your own name instead of being someone's daughter,
someone's wife, someone's mother... Do whatever you want to do, and
meet some people you haven't seen before." He always wanted his
mother to live for her, not for Kwon Taekjoo himself. When making
choices, he hopes she puts what she wants and how she wants to do it
first. Did her sincerity get through? His mother smiled, her stiff
shoulders softening. She also held the airline ticket that was awkwardly
in her hand tightly. "Can you really trust me and come back, son?"
"Then, if not me, who are you going to trust?" She smiled confidently.
His mother also smiled contentedly and began to look at the airline
tickets that Kwon Taekjoo had prepared for her. Then, she chattered like
an excited girl, wondering where she had put her passport, whether the
expiration date had passed, whether she would be able to handle it
since it was her first time leaving the country alone. Kwon Taekjoo
watched his mother happily. However, the peaceful atmosphere did not
last long. Suddenly, his cell phone rang in his pocket. He secretly
checked the caller ID. His instinct that it was not wrong was right. It was
a call from headquarters. As soon as he arrived at headquarters, he
went to the director’s office. Director Kwak let Kwon Taekjoo in and
stared at his monitor. His expression looked quite serious. “Director.”
“Oh, okay.” He raised his head at the sound of his name. His stiff face
softened consciously. “Did you rest well?” “Yes.” Director Kwak nodded
and got straight to the point. It was a part where he could guess the
urgency of the matter. "The operation has been approved." "When
should we depart?" "Before that, there's something I need to know."
"What?" "This Vladivostok operation will be in cooperation with the US
and Japan." He immediately objected to the unexpected
announcement. "Cooperation? You mean this isn't an independent
operation?" "Since this is information that we've obtained with
difficulty, it would be better for us to judge its truth and process it on
our own. It's much cleaner that way. Even if it fails, we won't make a
fuss about contaminated information. I didn't even get cursed at for
that." Director Kwak continued, as if he fully understood Kwon Taekjoo's
feelings. "But you know. The goal of this operation isn't simply to figure
out North Korea's movements. The secret talks between North Korea
and Russia could pose a great threat to world peace. If that's the case,
we should share the information with neighboring countries later.
Wouldn't it be better to open up and receive support rather than being
accused of trying to monopolize the information at that time? The
operation location is Vladivostok." He didn't know what he meant.
Vladivostok was a global diplomatic arena. It is because it is a place
where democracy and socialism clash ideologically and a bridge
between Europe and Asia geographically. It was also the area where
diplomats and intelligence agents from each country were most active.
That also meant that if a certain country carried out operations there,
there was a high probability that it would be exposed to either side. It
was not an entirely unreasonable choice to decide to cooperate with
countries with similar interests rather than being subject to unexpected
interference during operations. The problem, however, was that Kwon
Taekjoo himself preferred solo missions. Although he sometimes
received help from Zhenya, it was still easier to observe the situation on
the spot and respond irregularly. During operations, he did not plan
ahead. He tends to follow his intuition, so it was even more so. He was
frustrated even when he had to collaborate with other NIS employees
or special forces, but now he had to work with foreign agents. He didn’t
feel like it at all. “Director. This is called cooperation, but it’s very likely
that we’ll end up getting into trouble if we only consider our own
national interests.” “I know. There will be more irrational and
troublesome things. But what can we do? We can’t just follow our
inclinations or convenience when the fate of our country is at stake.”
“Haa.....” “I promise. You won’t have any direct contact with foreign
agents. No matter what the two countries do. We agreed to keep two
elite agents on standby, but only come to the forefront if you fail. Since
we’ve come this far, let’s use their information to our advantage. We
haven’t yet confirmed which route North Korea will take or what they’ll
use to get into Vladivostok. You don’t have three bodies, so let’s think of
it as using a double. Wouldn’t it be fun to use agents from other
countries like your own hands?” “How can we trust them? They’ll try to
get their own share at a crucial moment. If you interfere without
permission, you’ll ruin things. Do you get hurt once or twice?” “How
can they trust you with everything?” Director Kwak smiled
mischievously. Just as Kwon Taekjoo didn’t trust his opponent, it was
natural for his opponent to be suspicious of Kwon Taekjoo himself. Even
so, it was a luxurious complaint for those who were trying to take a
position with information obtained by others. He clenched his fists and
held back his anger. “We will be in charge of the operation entirely, so
you don’t have to worry too much. The Won will also guarantee your
autonomy as much as possible. However, there are many people who
are holding back, so we must make this a success. Do you understand?”
“Ha. Yes, well.” He replied lukewarmly. He didn’t say anything out loud.
Although he showed signs of being irritable, Kwon Taekjoo would
eventually follow his superiors' orders. Although he was rough,
stubborn, and unconventional, he never went beyond the established
line. His extraordinary will to survive, which stemmed from his
unfortunate family history, also enhanced his operational capabilities.
This was the reason Kwon Taekjoo had established himself as the best
agent for the past 10 years. Director Kwak held out his tablet in front of
the irritated Kwon Taekjoo. "I'm going to explain the details of the
operation now. A few days ago, Kim Gil-ha from the Operations Bureau
of the North Korean General Staff visited the North Korean consulate in
Vladivostok. Kim Gil-ha is like a secretary to Shim Yeong-il, the
Operations Bureau Director. The fact that he went to Vladivostok before
Shim Yeong-il was a top secret between North Korea and Russia. The
intention was to inspect the site before the meeting. In addition,
ominous circumstances are being captured one after another. First of
all, the Vladivostok Hotel owned by the Bogdanov family seems to not
be accepting reservations for two weeks. It was originally used mainly
for government events and banquets rather than attracting general
guests, but it seems that outsiders have been completely banned from
entering as of yesterday. Communication with the outside world has
also been completely blocked. In addition, there is news that some
sections of Russky Island in Vladivostok have been controlled. They say
it was under the pretext of regular inspections of underground water
supply and sewage systems and road maintenance work. Isn't the
timing perfect?" "Russky Island...?" "Yes. It is where the Far Eastern
Federal University is located. Ji. A few years ago, the North Korea-Russia
summit was held there." "Would they try to meet again at a place that
already received attention once?" "Maybe they are aiming for that. If
the two countries' key figures meet too secretly, there will be all sorts of
rumours about its purpose. They just met for the purpose of technical
cooperation between the two countries. If we want to make it look
good, there is no place better than a university. We have to keep all
possibilities open. That is why we need cooperation with other
countries. The final meeting place between North Korea and Russia is
estimated to be three places. The Far Eastern Federal University on
Russky Island. And the place where the North Korean delegation will
stay. Vladivostok Hotel. Finally, Khasan Station.” "'Hasan?' "There's not
necessarily only a sea route to get from North Korea to Russia, right?"
Khasan is a small city in Primorsky Krai, where the borders of Russia,
North Korea, and China meet. With a population of less than 3,000, it
became famous because in the past, when a North Korean leader
visited Russia by rail, he changed trains there. Russian trains use a
broad gauge with a rail pitch of 1,520 mm, while North Korea uses a
standard gauge with a rail pitch of 1,435 mm, so in order to travel by
rail, he had to change trains in Khasan. This was not only for people, but
also for The same was true when transporting supplies. The fact that
Russia and North Korea were still close allies was proven by the fact that
many North Korean logistics trains were coming and going from Hasan.
"According to local intelligence sources, the atmosphere there is also
unusual. It was originally a military zone, but it seems that more
personnel were deployed than usual. Security has also become tighter."
After hearing this, he was suspicious of all three places. No matter how
much Kwon Taekjoo was involved, he couldn't monitor Primorsky Krai,
Vladivostok, and Russky Island at the same time. Even the National
Intelligence Service's support would have its limits. In the end, he had
no choice but to admit that it was an inevitable collaboration. Kwon
Taek-ju asked in a relieved tone. "Then, are you going to Hassan first?"
"No. There is already an American intelligence agent working as an
engineer there. If any strange movements are detected, we will inform
you immediately. We have decided to wait at the airport in case the
North Korean delegation enters the country by air route. It is also our
job to monitor the Vladivostok hotel where the delegation will stay 24
hours a day." "What about Far Eastern University?" ‘'We will be in
charge of that in Japan. Wewill follow the delegation's every move and
find out if they will go to Far Eastern University or the second meeting
place. If you move, I'll follow you and join you then." "Hmm... If I do it
wrong, I'll end up like a dog that's been killed." "I believe you'll handle it
well so that it doesn't happen. You'll be heading straight into the middle
of the enemy lines, so prepare firmly." "Understood." "If you fail by any
chance, we'll have no choice but to immediately activate Plan B.
Wouldn't it be heartbreaking to put all the fish you've caught into
someone else's net?" Director Kwak added with a bitter smile. It's not
enough to share the high-level information obtained by the National
Intelligence Service with other countries, but It was a warning not to
pass it on to the other side. However, to Kwon Taekjoo, it sounded like a
warning not to mess up the work because of his relationship with
Zhenya. Perhaps being in charge of the Bogdanov family's hotel among
the three places was also a kind of loyalty test. Since the matter was the
matter, he didn't feel bad about being suspected in that way. Kwon
Taekjoo himself had decided that this time, he would clearly distinguish
between public and private affairs. He quietly took a bite. "I'm looking
forward to this time too." "Yes. I'll be back." He took his passport and
quietly left. As soon as he closed the door, he let out a long sigh. At the
same time, various thoughts flooded into his head. He couldn't ruin a
great undertaking with personal feelings. If Kwon Taekjoo hesitated
even for a moment, many people would be hurt. Was Zhenya really not
related to this incident? If he ran into his blood relative during the
operation, they would point guns at each other. Even if Kwon Taekjoo
pulled the trigger, and his blood relative got hurt, wouldn't Zhenya be
okay? What if he ran into Zhenya at the scene? What if the guy who
said he didn't know anything was actually a lie? What would happen
then? What would happen then... The more he thought about it, the
more complicated his mind became. It was a feeling. He shook his head
to shake off the endlessly growing thoughts. He took a deep breath to
calm his dizzy mind. Soon, Kwon Taekjoo raised his head and a
determined expression appeared on his face. He walked briskly down
the hallway with his lips tightly shut. His shadow, shining in the light,
gilded steadily without wavering. For now, he had no choice but to
believe. Zhenya, and Kwon Taekjoo's own beliefs

CNABOOK7(OR2OFNOVELII) 5. Hunting Two Tigers [Hey.] He opened his

eyes dimly at the sound of someone calling him. A figure loomed in his
hazy vision. His body, which had been alert and alert for the presence of
others, was still completely relaxed. He didn’t even avoid the hand that
was coming towards him. He just obediently handed his face over to
him. The hand on his head tickled his hair. The slightly higher body
temperature than usual felt good. [Hey, Zhenya.] When there was no
response, he called his name sweetly. His tone had also become much
softer. It was the same. He secretly rubbed his forehead with the hand
that was sweeping his hair. It was an instinctive gesture. [I think I should
go soon. Are you going?] He said goodbye for a moment in an
ambiguous tone, whether he was informing or asking for
understanding. He smiled faintly and moved his lips weakly. He couldn’t
tell if the words that were swirling around in his mouth were coming
out clearly. Only the feeling of the shadow that had been hovering over
his face becoming a little darker and his soft lips gently squeezing down
on his forehead was clear. [Don’t cause trouble and wait quietly.] The
other person got up after giving a request that only a child would be
given. At the same time, the body temperature, body odour, and breath
that had been familiar to him as if they were a part of him suddenly
disappeared. He flinched and absentmindedly reached out his hand,
and the other person’s arm was grabbed. A strong frame that didn’t
seem like it would break easily came into his hand. Then the other
person ruffled his hair again. The grip that had been restraining him
slowly loosened as he repeatedly tried to soothe him. The other
person’s name leaked out from his lips as if he was moaning. The staring
gaze fell for a moment, then quickly disappeared. Soon, the presence
that had been detected nearby also faded. The sound of a door opening
and closing was heard from afar. His eyelids rolled up, but it was still too
late. [....] A familiar ceiling filled his vision. In the large house, he
couldn't even hear the usual ticking of the clock. He sat up straight.
[...Taekjoo?] He looked around his room, but he didn't detect any
human presence other than Zhenya. He stared blankly down at his
body. There was no noticeable change. His limbs were sagging like
water-soaked cotton. On the other hand, his head felt strangely
refreshed. Now that he thinks about it, when and how did he fall
asleep? It didn't come to mind clearly. He just sat there and searched
through his hazy mind. In the evening, Kwon Taekjoo came to his house.
He had a lot of stuff in both hands. Most of it was used to fill the empty
refrigerator and cupboards. After that, it was no different than any
other time. After eating together and roughly clearing away the dishes,
they sat in the living room and drank. The excuse was to watch a movie,
but neither of them were interested in the movie. For some reason,
Kwon Taekjoo was very ticklish, saying that since it was hot these days,
let's go to Ajinoki or that there was a nice Russian restaurant nearby,
let's go there too. He asked if there was anything he wanted to do. It
was a sign that he would soon say something regretful. It was about
time that Kwon Taekjoo was given a new mission. He had been called to
headquarters several times recently. So he decided to enjoy his flattery
or advance consolation. He leaned his whole body against Kwon
Taekjoo, who was rarely shy. He had been arguing that it was heavy, but
when he made a pitiful expression, saying, “You’re going to leave me
alone again,” he quietly calmed down. He pushed the mood and laid
him down on the sofa and kissed him until he was satisfied. Kwon
Taekjoo obediently accepted the persistent kiss that seemed to take
away his breath. Occasionally, as if trying to control his pace, Zhenya
would pat his ear or chin and tap his cheek, but that was all. Even if he
completely squeezed his tongue with his own and tightly blocked his
throat, it was the same. Even though he was suffering from shortness of
breath, and because of that, his smooth forehead was bloodshot, he
would faintly wiggle his tongue and flicker his tongue. While they were
licking their tongues for a while, his collar was suddenly pulled. As a
result, they were tangled together and rolled down the sofa. Naturally,
the positions were reversed and Kwon Taekjoo rose on top. Kwon
Taekjoo, who was quietly looking down at Zhenya while holding his
hand on the floor, slowly drank the whiskey in his glass. He watched him
silently, but for no reason, his throat was rumbling. His groyne was also
tingling. Soon, Kwon Taekjoo twisted his head and kissed him again.
Their lips completely covered each other, and some of the whiskey he
was holding seeped into his mouth. As the lukewarm, fragrant alcohol
passed through his mouth, a small drop of water remained on his
tongue. It was like a pill. He stared at Kwon Taek Joo with a questioning
look. Kwon Taekjoo calmly blew air on his face and made him swallow
the pill. He didn’t resist, but tightened his neck. With that, the pill that
was melting on his tongue slowly went down his oesophagus. Kwon
Taekjoo’s eyes were like that. He slid along the movement. He drew his
gaze back to him with a smirk. [Taekjoo. What was that just now?]
[Sleeping pills. They’re mild.] That’s comforting. He burst out laughing.
It was ridiculous to openly give medicine to his lover, and now he can’t
believe he confessed that the medicine was a sleeping pill. The shocking
situation didn’t end there. Kwon Taekjoo stuck out his tongue as if he
was proud and placed a white pill on it. The contrast of the red tongue
soaked in whiskey and the white pill made his mouth water. Kwon
Taekjoo slowly lowered his head and licked his own lips with the tip of
his tongue. Unable to watch, he swallowed his tongue. The small pill
melted without a trace between the two tongues that were densely
mixed. And then he fixed Kwon Taekjoo’s tongue with his lips and
sucked it until it was gone. As the root of his tongue started to tingle,
Kwon Taekjoo’s eyebrows furrowed. He wrapped his arms around his
body that was struggling to get away and rubbed his tongues against
each other as if he was venting his anger. He let him go only when the
taste of blood mixed with the saliva that was boiling hot. Kwon Taekjoo
wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, panting. Then
he roughly wiped Zhenya’s lips, which were covered in saliva, with the
hem of his clothes. [You little brat, you’ve already been kicked. If that’s
poison, why are you taking it so easily?] [If that was poison, it would
have been obvious a long time ago. It would have been enough to twist
your neck in a few seconds.] [You said you’d let me go first and die too,
but were you serious? How romantic.] Kwon Taekjoo grumbled in
disbelief and then got up. His arm went up halfway to grab him but fell.
Maybe the medicine was taking effect, but his body lost its strength.
[Get up. You should sleep in bed.] Kwon Taekjoo sat up Zhenya with
difficulty. He put his arm, which felt heavier because it was sagging,
around his shoulder and supported him. They headed to the bedroom,
seemingly about to collapse. While walking, he nuzzled the tip of his
nose into Kwon Taekjoo’s ear, who was groaning. He pressed his lips
against the veins in his neck, which had become taut from exertion. In
the midst of all this, he was scolded, asking if he wanted to do that. He
didn’t care. Kwon Taekjoo threw Zhenya on the bed and collapsed next
to him, exhausted. He slowly turned his body to him, who was panting
heavily, and hugged him tightly. He also placed one leg on his two legs,
making it impossible for him to move. Kwon Taekjoo, who was in his
arms, struggled to escape, but all attempts were in vain. His entire body
was soaked in sweat, and only his body odour remained. [Fuck... Is the
weak point? Why does he still have so much strength left?] Kwon
Taekjoo stretched out again and groaned. Following the body odour
that had become much stronger, he lightly brushed his cheek against his
jet-black hair. He also rubbed his stiff centre against his thigh while tying
him up. [Taekjoo. Taekjoo....] [He really feels good. Let go, kid. I'll make
you feel good.] Kwon Taekjoo patted his arm, saying, “Yes.” He silently
released the restraints. Kwon Taekjoo, who raised his upper body, kissed
him. Then, his lips landed all over his face. At the same time, the clothes
he was wearing were taken off one by one. Maybe it was because he
had never completely left himself in the hands of another person. The
whole situation was strange and interesting. Looking back, the only time
he had unconsciously fallen into someone else’s hands like that was a
long time ago, when he was staying with Kwon Taekjoo at a shabby
motel. Kwon Taekjoo, who had climbed on top of his naked body, lifted
his knees and untied himself. He pulled out Zhenya’s stiffly erect penis
and rubbed it against his own. The pleasure from the centre spread
throughout his entire body. His breath caught in his throat from the
languid yet sweet sensation. His body also relaxed pleasantly. [Um...
Taekjoo....] He moaned sweetly while calling Kwon Taekjoo over and
over again. By then, all the energy in his body had disappeared, and his
eyes slowly closed and opened repeatedly. Kwon Taekjoo occasionally
leaned over and kissed him affectionately. When his lower body was
eager for more pleasure and jerked off on its own, Kwon Taekjoo
straightened his genitals and slowly sat down on top of them. [...uegh,
ah.] [Haa, ha... ugh, Taekjoo.] Even in the midst of his hazy
consciousness, the sensation of insertion was clear. For a moment, the
pain that felt like his genitals were being cut off passed, and then a
sweet sensation came rushing in like compensation. As he moaned
earnestly, Kwon Taekjoo, who had been trembling, began to move his
body little by little. [Haa, ha... ugh, ugh, ah....] [Eum, Taekjoo... Taekjoo,
ugh, good.] He exhaled repeatedly and enjoyed the sweet pleasure. His
consciousness kept fading away, as if he was about to pass over. To
Zhenya, sex was no different from hunting. He had to completely
subdue his partner and the act of binge eating without any steam. The
excitement during sex was not much different from when you chase
down your prey and cut off its breath. However, he was not
uncomfortable even when he was helplessly crushed and eaten by the
other person. Rather, he felt like the hair on his head and the fluff on his
whole body stood on end due to the new stimulation. It was not as
intense as sparks flying, but the warmth that spread like a bonfire and
spread gently was somehow affectionate and kind, and his stomach felt
warm and ticklish. He groaned softly with the corners of his mouth
twitching, and then slowly closed his eyelids. His consciousness
remained hazy, but his limbs were stretched out and he couldn't do
anything. His last memory was Kwon Taekjoo, who had been shaking his
body above, suddenly tilted his head back and was doing a new waist
thrust in the air. Then, sticky semen splashed onto his face. [....] He
suddenly scanned his face. There was nothing particularly noticeable. If
last night’s events had not been a dream, Kwon Taekjoo must have
cleaned it up. He chuckled and got out of bed. His mind was clear
because he had had a good night’s sleep. He felt extremely refreshed
from the aftermath of sex. When he went to the kitchen, he noticed
something on the table. He approached it and saw a microwave. Instant
pelmeni was placed on a special plate. Should he consider this as a
meal? It looked extremely bleak at first glance, but it must have been a
very thoughtful action on Kwon Taekjoo’s part, so he chuckled. He
opened the refrigerator to get some food. Inside were the side dishes
that Kwon Taekjoo’s mother had prepared. It seemed to be a selection
of the Korean foods that were edible among those that caused terrible
pain. Of course, Zhenya had no way of knowing that most of them were
considered children’s side dishes. [My mother made this with you in
mind, so don’t throw anything away and eat everything. I’m going to
barge in and inspect it. Got it?] Whenever he brought side dishes, Kwon
Taekjoo would always yell at him like that. He thought it was a strange
threat, but for some reason he ended up following him obediently.
Whenever Kwon Taekjoo saw the empty lunch box, he felt secretly
happy, and he liked the fact that he would come to his house again
under the pretext of delivering side dishes. In fact, to Zhenya, food was
nothing more than food. A source of energy for survival. That’s why he
didn’t eat every meal, but only ate when he needed to. His body,
trained to that eating habit, didn’t feel hungry unless it was really bad.
He didn’t gain or lose much weight. However, during the two years he
lived in Korea, his body gained nearly 10kg. It turns into muscle as soon
as he eats it, so there is no significant change in body shape, but the
problem is that now he feels hungry if he skips a meal. [… First, wash
up.] He was about to close the refrigerator door. A frying pan caught his
eye. He was going to take it out and check the contents, but he saw a
note on the lid that said, 'Eat or not.' It was written by Kwon Taekjoo. He
opened the lid with a suspicious look. There were scrambled eggs inside
that were so well-cooked that they were brown. Kwon Taekjoo, who
had prepared a meal for his lover who would wake up late but had
failed miserably, had taken out instant pelmeni, which was clearly
visible. Laughter erupted again. This way, there’s no time to get bored.
[Taekjoo. You do some pretty cute things.] He sat down at the table,
humming to himself as if singing. Then, he pushed the instant pelmeni
aside and ate it on the cold scrambled eggs. As expected, it was dry and
hard instead of soft. He even chewed the eggshells a few times. The
carrots and onions were chopped so much that they only gave off a
scent and there was nothing to chew on. While continuing the poor
breakfast, he thought about what to do today. Normally, he would have
tracked Kwon Teakjoo’s location first, but this time, he decided not to do
that, so he chose a different destination to try. Only one place came to
mind. He rang the doorbell again. The other person didn’t come out
right away. If it were any other time, the intercom would have notified
him that the vehicle had arrived, and they would have come out to the
elevator to greet him. But he hesitated as he rang the doorbell again.
[Ah....] Suddenly, Kwon Taekjoo’s words came to mind. Kwon Taekjoo
whispered as he put the side dishes his mother had made into the
refrigerator. [My mother will be staying at my aunt’s house for the time
being.] At first glance, he heard that that aunt lived in Canada, that she
had surgery because she was sick, that Kwon Taekjoo’s mother was
going to Canada to take care of her, and that she could stay for a long
time depending on the situation. He heard it clearly, but he forgot
about it. It became a habit to visit Kwon Taekjoo’s house whenever he
was not around. Kwon Taekjoo’s mother didn’t have much in common
with Kwon Taekjoo. However, whenever she saw Zhenya, she smiled
brightly, so he would play along appropriately. He doesn't know if the
cooking skills that Kwon Taekjoo boasts about are that great. But thanks
to her, he was able to adapt to Korean food quite well. She was quick-
witted and took care of everything he needed, so it was convenient in
many ways. In addition, he was quite happy that Kwon Taekjoo told him
all the little details about his past that he would never reveal to him. It
wasn't just because she was Kwon Taekjoo's mother, but she was a fun
woman. She liked to laugh and chatter so much that he never got bored
when he was with her. He guessed he could change his mood just by
watching her. The more he watched, the more he wondered how a son
like Kwon Taekjoo could come from such a small woman. He visited
today, expecting just that kind of small fun. But right in front of his nose
it was so frustrating to have to wait in vain. Kwon Taekjoo had left for
work, and the little woman who had been giving him free time had also
left the house. [Hmm.] Zhenya wandered around the front door
meaninglessly. The heart that had been feeling good since morning had
suddenly become dull. He took his phone out of his pocket. He
hesitated as if it were his habit to run the location tracking app. [Don't
follow me.] Kwon Taekjoo has told him that many times. The warning
not to come was ringing in his ears, but this time, the weight was
completely different. Whether it was the way Kwon Taekjoo was
unknowingly watching him or the way he acted so affectionately before
leaving, it was like that. What on earth was he trying to do without him
knowing? All his curiosity would be resolved if he just logged into the
app. Nevertheless, Zhenya just stared at the icon for a long time. In the
end, he put his phone back in his pocket. [Let’s keep our promise for
now.] He had never been tied down by a personal promise. No, no one
had ever dared to ask such a thing of him. So he made a promise. He
didn’t know what would happen if he kept it safely, or what benefits he
would gain from it. He didn’t care. However, if it was a promise with
Kwon Taekjoo, it had a different meaning. He thought, “Should I try
being a good dog for once?” He wondered what kind of reward Kwon
Taekjoo would give him. As he continued to think about it, his mood
seemed to improve. He got on the elevator and went back down to the
underground parking lot. Zhenya’s steps toward his Bugatti were
incredibly refreshing. The Russian Embassy in Korea. The roar of an
engine from afar was getting closer. The employees working raised their
heads one after another with puzzled expressions. They exchanged
curious glances and all turned their heads toward the window. Some of
those who had their desks by the window stood up and looked out the
window. Soon, a Bugatti was seen boldly entering the main entrance.
[What’s all this noise?] Pavel, who was just finishing a video conference,
scolded the chaotic atmosphere. The employee who was glancing out
the window explained the situation. [The ambassador is here.] [What?
The ambassador?] Pavel's eyes widened. He didn't even ask Zhenya to
come out, so how could he go to work on his own? Pavel hurried out
without even having time to figure out what had happened. The staff
members followed him. He just stomped his feet in front of the elevator
and turned toward the stairs. The employees who had been following
Pavel also hurriedly went down the stairs. They looked so confused that
anyone who saw them would think they were being chased by a
murderer. When the group arrived at the lobby, Zhenya was just about
to board the elevator that had just arrived. The group, including Pavel,
quickly approached him. [Ambassador. What happened....] Pavel
hurriedly picked up the words that had slipped out of his mind. Then he
greeted him again formally. [You came. If you had told me in advance, I
would have sent you an official car.] [What are you doing?] A look of
annoyance appeared on Zhenya’s face. That was why he was curious.
Zhenya, despite being an ambassador, did not even try to go to work
when there were big events. Even when Pavel begged, he ignored him,
and it was often reported to the Kremlin, and only then did he
reluctantly show up. Even then, he would often show his murderous
intent, turning the entire embassy into a rink of ice or killing time like a
barley sack. It was strange that such a person, Zhenya, came to the
embassy without any earnest request to come out at this time when
there was no event. He began to watch nervously, wondering if there
was some problem or if he was planning to cause some trouble. Of
course, there were times when Zhenya showed up without notice like
this. The problem was that he gave off a cold air that was comparable to
the bitter cold of Siberia in the middle of winter. He didn’t respond
when he spoke to him, and he didn’t respond when he shoved the
approval documents in his hands. All day long, he just sat in one place
and stared at a blank wall. It was as if he was trying to calm his dizzy
mind after a serious fight with someone. It was like that. But today, the
wind wasn't so cold. On the contrary, he seemed to be in a good mood.
He couldn't understand English. Zhenya tilted his head at Pavel's long
gaze. [Are you going to get on?] No matter what he heard, it seemed
like he was telling him not to get on. Pavel and his group awkwardly
laughed and took a step back. [Oh, no. You should go up first.] Zhenya
closed the elevator door without hesitation and disappeared from the
group. Pavel and the staff members just kept looking at each other with
bewildered expressions. Zhenya, who entered the office, sat down
completely leaning back on the office chair. There were piles of
documents waiting for him on the desk. [Hmm....] Pavel had not urged
Zhenya to come to work during that time. Therefore, the documents
lying there meant that they were not urgent matters. Still, he picked
one up and looked through the contents. As expected, he was hosting a
useless event. It was a plan and budget. It was the same even when he
opened the next file. The Russian embassy was known for being slow in
processing work. That notoriety became even more famous when
Zhenya took office as ambassador. However, Zhenya did not care at all
as if it had nothing to do with him. No, he had never paid attention to
public opinion in his life. That was why it was difficult to understand
Kwon Taekjoo. What if he neglected his official duties, his national
affairs? [...] Zhenya, who had been continuing the approval process with
a calm face, suddenly took out his cell phone. He immediately
recognized the door and launched the secret app. A map soon
appeared on the screen. He told him not to follow him, he didn’t tell
him not to spy on where he was or what he was doing, so it didn’t
matter. He touched the location icon without hesitation. A message
saying that he was looking for a target appeared for a moment. Kwon
Taekjoo would always ask him how he knew where he was. It seemed
that he suspected that Zhenya was monitoring his every move. It wasn’t
a completely off-base guess. However, it was difficult to track him in
time with just wiretapping, as he was running around. To chase him, he
needed more detailed and immediate information. So, one day in the
past, Kwon Taekjoo got hurt and while he was unconscious, a chip was
implanted inside his dermis while disinfecting and suturing his wounds.
Since it was so tiny and recognized as skin tissue by most machines, it
was not detected by any inspection or examination. The chip was a
system that identified Kwon Taekjoo’s location in real time and sent
related information to the tracking app. The search was soon completed
and Kwon Taekjoo’s current location was displayed. Zhenya, who was
absentmindedly checking the location, raised his eyebrows. […
Vladivostok?] He never thought he would go to Russia. Kwon Taekjoo’s
operational site It was always difficult to catch the public, but this time
it was really unexpected. Other than the two of them, this was the first
time Kwon Taekjoo had visited Russia for business since they developed
into lovers. He leaned back and thought for a moment. What could
possibly get Russia and Korea dirty? There was a high possibility that
North Korea was involved in some way. In the past, Kwon Taekjoo had
come to Russia to find out the truth of the intelligence report that
North Korea had participated in the development of 'Anastasia'. Was
there any new cooperation between Russia and North Korea? Zhenya
didn't know anything about it. There was no particular corner that he
could guess. [Hmm....] He silently thought back. Before leaving for this
mission, Kwon Taekjoo had been more gentle than ever. He accepted
whatever he did. At the time, he just assumed that he was being
cautious because he had to go to work again before his lover’s birthday.
Or maybe not. [Do you want anything from me?] [Nothing. Other than
you not doing anything.] [You keep cracking down on me, so I’m starting
to get curious?] Even then. [Don’t listen to me. I said it was for my own
good. I told you not to put yourself in danger.] [Danger? Me?] And even
then. It wasn't like he was annoyed that he interfered with his work like
usual. If he had worried about his own safety, then maybe. Why did he
care about his own family relationships? Did he plan to stir up Russia
from now on? He must have been worried that his lover might be
involved in it, but he couldn't ask openly, so he must have been
nervous. Strangely, even though he had asked him to do it several times
and accepted it, he broke his promise and even took medicine to keep
himself from chasing him. In that case, it was a plan to completely shun
Zhenya himself. He didn’t want to become his enemy again even if he
died soon. [Ha, Taekjoo. You’re so precious to me.] After sighing, he
laughed. He can’t believe how cute he is. Thinking of Kwon Taekjoo,
who had been anxious all this time, wondering if he would ever have to
face Zhenya himself, made him feel strangely excited. He, who used to
prioritise work over his mother, was now struggling between work and
Zhenya himself. The corners of his mouth kept twitching in joy. At that
moment, a knock suddenly rang out. Zhenya’s face, which had been
soaked in sweet satisfaction, suddenly froze. His eyes, staring at the
closed door, had also become cold. When there was no response, he
called out from outside, “Ambassador.” It seemed like Pavel had come
to see him. [If you’re busy, would you like for me to come back later?]
The tone of his question was extremely cautious. It was obvious that he
was hesitating, fearing that he might offend Zhenya. [Come in.] [Yes!
Then excuse me for a moment.] Pavel opened the door after a moment.
As he came inside, he was holding another bundle of payment
documents in his hand. [Nothing else, since you took the difficult step,
could you please also look at these documents....] It seemed that he
had swept up all the documents to be approved, not knowing when his
boss would commit the next outrageous act of coming to work.
However, Pavel's positive circuit froze as soon as he met Zhenya. It was
because his two new blue eyes were glaring at him as if they would
pierce him. His whole body trembled as if a gun was pointed at his
forehead. He couldn't take another step. [Maybe I'm interfering....] He
barely opened his mouth, but Zhenya wiggled his pale and straight
fingers. Pavel, who flinched, swallowed dry saliva and barely took a step
or two as if he was stuck to the floor. Zhenya in front of the door as he
walked to his desk, a thousand distracting thoughts filled his mind. For
example, what kind of fate had befallen those who had offended him
when he was in his home country. The gaze that quietly pierced his eyes
felt like a sharp nail flying in and stabbing him. [It was slow.] [I'm sorry!]
He quickly stood in front of Zhenya's desk. Zhenya glanced at Pavel with
a discontented look and slowly opened his mouth. In reality, it only took
a moment for him to open his mouth, but in Pavel's eyes, it seemed as if
the moment had been in slow motion. [What is the situation in my
home country these days?] [...Huh?] Pavel made an expression as if he
had heard something strange. An ambassador is a diplomat
representing a country, so he should have a detailed understanding of
the situation in his home country as well as the host country. However,
the obvious question felt unusual because the person he was talking to
was Zhenya. He was a great man who wouldn't blink an eye even if
Russia disappeared from the face of the earth. Zhenya added as if he
hadn't misheard. [When I returned home a while ago, I was taking care
of personal business. I didn’t get to look properly because I was busy.
But when I thought about it carefully, the Kremlin seemed quite busy?
Are they planning something else?] [Well, I don’t know…] [You don’t
know?] Zhenya tilted his head, cutting off the end of his words. His blue
eyes, which looked like ice crystals, were sharply squinted. Pavel quietly
bit his lips and swallowed his breath. He tried to hide the trembling
coming from inside his body by tightening his limbs. If Zhenya had
stretched out his hand, his neck would have been easily broken. Even if
such an unfortunate event had occurred, the Kremlin would not have
known, as it had always been. They’ll pretend. The Kremlin’s disregard.
Complete indifference. That too was a factor in strengthening the
power of ‘Psikh Bogdanov’. [I’ll ask you again. Do you really not know
anything?] It sounded like he was being asked to choose between
confessing completely or dying. Pavel hesitated, staring dangerously
into the blue eyes that never left him. He wasn’t sure if what he knew
was the information Zhenya wanted. [I haven’t been to the home
country myself, so I’m not sure, but Vladivostok has been undergoing
maintenance for the past month.] [Vladivostok?] Zhenya showed
interest. Pavel nodded quickly. [Yes. At first glance, I heard that North
Korea is sending research personnel to 'Parumza Sita'? For a field trip.
Since we have had a technical cooperation relationship with North
Korea for a long time, I thought it might be part of that.] [Hmm...
They're just going to reorganise the entire city with a few researchers?]
[Oh, there's talk that a high-ranking North Korean official is
accompanying them.] [What, are they having a summit or something?]
[If it was a visit from a leader, we would have already received a
response manual, so that can't be the case. The diplomatic missions
and intelligence agencies of other countries wouldn't be as quiet as
they are now.] [That's why it's even stranger. The fact that someone is
suddenly coming to 'Parum Jashita' for a tour, and that such a thing is
being prepared at the national level.] [I guess North Korea is a closed
country, so it feels burdened by the world's attention. It seems that the
home country is also preparing protocol accordingly.] [Even so, there's
no way Busan would be shaken up just because they're welcoming a
single diplomatic envoy, the Kremlin. I don't know, but I guess that
North Korean researcher brought a great gift?] [Well. I don't know the
details...] [Vladivostok.] He muttered to himself and fell into thought. A
curious smile appeared on his face that had no expression. [Okay, so go
out.] [Oh, yes.] Pavel put the documents he had brought aside and
hurriedly went out. On the way, his legs gave out and he staggered
once. The quiet closed door suddenly became noisy. It seemed like
other employees were rushing to check on Pavel’s safety. Regardless,
Zhenya continued his deductions quietly in his head. His long fingers
tapped the desk steadily. It became clear why Kwon Taekjoo had gone
to Vladivostok. And why Zhenya had tried so hard to keep himself away.
It seemed like Russia and North Korea were plotting something, and it
seemed like the Kremlin and the Bogdanov family were deeply involved
in it. [What are you hiding, Taekjoo.] [There’s nothing like that.] [No.
Something definitely happened to you. Right?] [I said nothing
happened. That's because I didn't tell you. Actually, I've been thinking
about it for quite some time. I've been a bit lax, but I've finally come to
my senses again.] [Ha, Taekjoo. Do you think I wouldn't know if you hid
it....] [Don't try to find a reason. Don't even try to find out where I was
or what I did while you were gone. That's what it was all about.] Kwon
Taekjoo always cared about the relationship between Zhenya and his
family. No matter how much he was inferior to others, it was no use
explaining that they were just a couple. Kwon Taekjoo's work had to
prioritise the interests of the Republic of Korea, and if that were to
happen, there would be frequent situations where he would be at odds
with his own country. Even if that happened, it didn't seem like much of
a deal to him. [From now on, just be my lover, you brat.] Maybe those
blunt words were Kwon Taekjoo's true intentions. Don't be an enemy
because you're afraid, and don't try to be a comrade rashly, just stay by
his side as a lover. [Taekjoo....] Zhenya smiled and leaned back in his
chair. A sweet laugh mixed with his exhalation. The chair, which had
been pushed back to the max, swayed gently for a long time. ***
Vladivostok Airport transfer area. A line of empty trucks were moving to
the logistics warehouse. The driver, who was obviously Russian, turned
the steering wheel with one hand and waved to a passing colleague. A
fast-beat dance song was playing from the earphones in his ears, but his
face was a little dull. There was no change. The man who finished
parking in the warehouse got off the tug and looked at the deserted
airport. Only a few aeroplanes were standing here and there on the
apron where the darkness had fallen as the night deepened. Even those
had all their lights turned off. The plane that had just arrived carrying
cargo was the last flight of the day. That was according to the official
records. He turned his gaze to the pitch-black sky. His blue eyes buried
in his droopy eyelids shone sharply. However, his awkward standing on
one leg and his infinitely slow movements were just like his usual self.
Soon, he turned his head at the sound of someone approaching. The
colleague he had worked with until the end. He raised his hand and
greeted them. [I’ll go in first. Good work, Igor.] [Oh, see you tomorrow.]
He responded in his characteristically slow tone. As his colleague left
and even his presence died down, the warehouse became as quiet as a
mouse. The music playing on his earphones was leaking outside. Even
though the melody was exciting enough to make his body sway
involuntarily, Igor’s eyes were filled with boredom. How much time had
passed? The music that had been flowing smoothly until now suddenly
buffered. Igor absentmindedly tapped his earphones. Then the noise
disappeared and a person’s voice flowed out.- Hunting. "Two Tigers.
Radio Check." He answered without hesitation. The voice was no longer
that of 'Igor', the cargo transporter. A solid voice without a hint of
nasality. It was Kwon Taekjoo. The other party, who confirmed the radio
code, said, "Roger." and reported the situation on the scene.- This is
Foxtrot. Pyongyang Special Train 0677, just arrived at Hasan Station. He
heard that the train had passed Najin earlier. Now that it has arrived at
Hassan, it is moving along the existing route and at the usual speed. It
seemed to be going. The train was scheduled to stay at Hasan Station
for about half a day. The gauge of the train changed from Hasan, which
is Russian territory, so separate work was needed for passage. In such
cases, the cargo was transferred to another train or the entire upper
part of the car was lifted and replaced, with only the wheels removed.
This was a perfect opportunity to spy on the inside and outside of the
train and identify the cargo being transported. [Target?]- I can't see it.
The only confirmed passengers so far are armed soldiers. I don't know
what they're carrying, but the security is pretty tight. Currently, the
bogie exchange is in progress without a separate inspection. When
exchanging trains, the rule was that all passengers had to get off for
safety reasons. In the past, when a North Korean leader visited
Vladivostok by land, he got off at Khasan Station while the train was
being exchanged and rested for a day in a nearby town. This time, no
such movement was seen, so it seemed that the main targets, including
Park Jeong-ho, did not board the train. If he was not the leader of North
Korea, there was no need to endure such trouble. The questionable
part was that if Flight 0677 was simply a regular freight train, there was
no reason to bring armed soldiers along. Moreover, since it was goods
being transported across the border, at least a simple inspection should
have been conducted. The fact that even that was omitted is a matter
that had already been discussed between the two countries, North
Korea and Russia. It meant that they were transporting goods. Seriously
It smelled bad. [Nothing else unusual?]- It's dark so it's hard to tell, but
all the soldiers who got off the train are wearing masks. [Masks? Are
you sure?]- Um... No, I'll correct you. I can see a hose connected to the
mask. It looks like a gas mask. [Gas mask? What about the outfit?]-
They're all black from head to toe... I can't tell if they're just wearing
armour or gas masks. [Okay, I got it. Keep observing and report any
unusual points. And from now on, set the designated radio time well.]-
There was nothing special to report. [If there is nothing, report it as it is.
That way, we can figure out how things are going on here.]-You're acting
like a boss. [Do you think I'm doing this for fun? If you want to play
around with ranks, just go back to the military. I'm warning you, even if
you don't like it, follow the rules. Don't act alone. If you're exposed to
the enemy, it's not just you who's in danger.] The radio was cut off in
the middle of talking. Earphones in the same place, the song that had
been playing as if nothing had happened continued. He was seething
inside because of the guy who ignored even the basic principles of
radio. "Ha, this fucking idiot...." He stared into the air and chewed out a
curse. The American agent, 'Foxtrot', had been uncooperative from the
beginning. He seemed to be dissatisfied with the situation where he
was leading the operation in Korea and they were assisting him. He
would often complain whenever they contacted him, and this time was
no exception. He let out a big exhale to suppress his boiling anger. He
guessed he should say it was fortunate that we didn't directly collide. If
not, he would keep thinking about his face and mess things up. By the
way, were the soldiers on the freight train from Pyongyang armed with
gas masks and gas suits? It was not certain, but it was something to
think about. What on earth were they transporting on the train? If it
was a chemical substance with a high risk of explosion, there was no
way they would have gone ahead with the car swap. There would have
been an unavoidable shock when lifting the train car. It might have been
safer to move the items to another train. The fact that they did not do
that suggested two possibilities. First, the items being transported were
not the type that were sensitive to shock. Second, the method of
moving the entire train was not possible by human hands. It is safer
than borrowing. In other words, it means that even if the substance is
not sensitive to shock, it can harm people. That must be why the
transport of goods and the movement of major personnel were divided
into trains and aeroplanes. The gas masks and gas masks of soldiers
protecting the goods at close range also strongly supported this
inference. It is too cautious to say that it is simply a movement for
technology sharing and research cooperation in the pharmaceutical
field. Park Jeong-ho, a biologist who has been studying the ecosystem
of Mt. Baekdu. Russia's state-run pharmaceutical company Parmzashta
and the largest defence company Rostak, who invited him out of the
blue. Pyongyang, moving at the right time. A special train. North Korean
soldiers wearing gas masks. And even secret hospitality from Russia.
Each unusual fact intertwined one by one to lead to a conclusion. The
emergence of a new biochemical weapon. Of course, it could be a vain
delusion. It was highly likely that it was a hasty prediction. But perhaps,
what North Korea and Russia were planning was much more dangerous
than he had vaguely guessed. While he was seriously contemplating, a
strong light suddenly shone from behind him. He frowned and turned
around to see two airport police officers looking inside the warehouse.
They approached him with suspicious eyes after spotting Kwon Taekjoo.
The gun's muzzle also slowly pointed at Kwon Taek Joo. [Hey, there.]
[Yes.] [Slowly look this way and turn around.] He obediently turned his
body toward the police. He raised both hands and showed an obedient
attitude. However, the police's vigilance did not easily disappear. They
exchanged glances with each other while still aiming their rifles at Kwon
Taek Joo. Soon, one of them approached and checked the ID card
hanging around his neck. He thoroughly compared the photo of Igor
printed there with Kwon Taekjoo's face. As if that wasn't enough, he
held the ID card up to the terminal to check if it was real. That's how
strict they were. There was no need to hide. Unless he was trying to do
something secretly at an airport where all official takeoffs and landings
had ended. [Igor Mussorgsky. What are you doing here? Didn't you hear
me telling you to leave work before midnight?] They were telling them
to leave work before midnight at an international airport where
hundreds of planes came and went every day. It was impossible. But
this was Russia, where such 'impossible things' happened a lot. Kwon
Taekjoo apologised profusely and responded with a sly smile. [Oh, I'm
sorry. It's already too late. I didn’t know it would turn out like this. I
have a lot to think about with family matters.] [Don’t you know that you
shouldn’t let household matters leak out of the house? Stop yapping
and get out.] [Oh, yes. That’s right.] He bowed and left the warehouse.
The police continued to follow Kwon Taekjoo as he finished locking the
door and went to the parking lot. They glared at him sharply until he
got in the car and started the engine. At first glance, it seemed like they
were checking the licence plate number. They must have been
thoroughly preparing for possible spying or intrusion, but this only
made him feel certain that something would happen there. Kwon
Taekjoo drove straight out and greeted the police officers. [Then, take
care.] At that moment, a thud sound came from the trunk. It seemed
that the real Igor, who had been put to sleep with sleeping pills, had
woken up. He nervously watched the police officers, wondering if they
had heard him. When their eyes met, they scowled fiercely and shouted
at him, asking what he was doing instead of turning off quickly. He
nodded again and drove out of the airport. As he drove around the
building, he saw police cars and luxury sedans gathering one after
another. Barricades began to be set up here and there to control access.
No matter how you looked at it, it was not an ordinary scene. After a
while, Kwon Taekjoo’s car stopped in an empty lot on a hill far from the
airport. The bushes were thick and there were few people even on
normal days, but it was especially quiet late at night. He got out of the
driver’s seat and walked to the back of the car. Even then, there was a
loud noise coming from the trunk. When he opened the trunk, Igor
flinched and froze, his arms and legs tied tightly. His face was covered in
tears and sweat. The tape on his mouth was half-off and dangling, as if
he had been persistently pushing it with his tongue. [Eh!] Igor shouted
in surprise when he saw Kwon Taekjoo, who looked exactly like him.
Clicking his tongue he covered his mouth with his hand. [Shh. You woke
up too early. Sleep a little longer.] [Hic! Sa, save me..!] [Yes. I will save
you. It stings.] He injected sleeping pills into Igor’s neck without
hesitation. Igor screamed and struggled against his tied body before
slowly falling asleep. He slept soundly, sniffling, perhaps because the
tension had been relieved. When he opened his eyes again, everything
would have returned to its original place as if it had been a nightmare.
He threw a bottle of water into the trunk and closed the door. Kwon
Taekjoo returned to the driver’s seat. Swept the dark night sky. There
were still no noticeable lights. He took out his work cell phone. When
he unlocked the screen, he saw a message from the backup team. He
entered the designated password to unlock the access rights and
checked the contents of the message. Korean Air Special Flight JS 265.
Antonov An 148 aircraft. Departed Pyongyang Airport at 11:50 PM. He
looked at the sky around the airport with his telescope. There was
nothing particularly unusual. The airport was just dimmed and deep in
silence as if all work had been completed. If he goes straight from
Pyongyang to Vladivostok without going through China, it takes a little
more than an hour. It was about time to show up. He waited a little
longer with his chin on the steering wheel. Soon, another message
arrived. Korea Air JS 265. Entering Russian airspace. Control frequency
111.98 It was not a previously known control frequency. It seemed that
they were trying to communicate secretly on a separate frequency to
prepare for spying and terrorism. He turned on the special radio and
tuned it to that frequency. When he put on the earphones, there was a
peculiar crackling noise along with the Koryo Air and Vladivostok
control towers. The following transmission was heard.- Koryo Air 265.
Approaching Vladivostok. Hello?- Koryo Air 265, turn left to 340 degrees
and grab the runway 7L localizer. Hello.- Turn left to 340 degrees, align
the 7L localizer. Koryo Air 265. He looked up through his telescope at
the direction mentioned in the transmission. The aircraft lights were
blinking faintly in the clouds.- Koryo Air 265, slow down to 210 knots,
descend and maintain 4,000 feet. Runway 7, ILS approach cleared.-
Decelerate to 210 knots, descend to 4,000 feet and hold. Koryo Air 265.-
Koryo Air 265, decelerated to 180 knots.- Koryo Air 265, decelerated to
180 knots. Approaching runway 7 ILS.- Koryo Air 265, clearance to land
on runway 7. Wind 360, 5 knots.- Clearance for landing on runway 7.
Koryo Air 265. Kwon Taekjoo immediately turned his phone sideways
and held it with both hands. Then he took out the micro drone he had
secretly left in the airport storage. It was launched and remotely
controlled. It was a drone that could fly at high speeds of 300 km/h and
had a special lens on the bottom to clearly capture even fast-moving
objects. It was so small that it was hard to see, but it was even harder in
the middle of the night. After landing, the drone approached Koryo Air
Flight 265, which was moving to the apron. When the aircraft stopped,
official vehicles waiting on one side lined up next to it. Soon, a mobile
staircase was connected to the aircraft and the door opened. The drone
landed on the wing of the aircraft and photographs were taken of the
faces of the people getting off the aircraft. As written in the confidential
document, the North Korean General Staff chief of operations, Sim
Yeong-il, his secretary, Saradan Kim Gil-ha, and the key figure in this
meeting, biologist Park Jeong-ho, got into the vehicle one by one. Their
group quietly moved along a controlled route without any separate
immigration inspection. "Okay." As soon as Kwon Taekjoo confirmed the
entry of the key figures, he retrieved the drone first. Then he took Igor
out of the trunk, pushed him into the driver's seat, and untied the rope
that had bound him. He then sprayed vodka inside and outside the car
and roughly threw the empty bottle into the back seat. Anyone could
tell that the driver was seriously drunk and had fallen asleep
somewhere. Even if Igor Even if he woke up and reported it, the Russian
police would surely dismiss it as the nonsense of a drunkard. After
finishing all the treatment, Kwon Taekjoo pushed through the thick
bushes behind the empty lot. Soon, a motorcycle that had been
prepared in advance appeared inside. He quickly climbed onto the
motorcycle. "Then shall we go?" Kwon Taekjoo started the engine and
quickly went down the slope in pursuit of the North Korean delegation.
Zhenya leaned against the chair in his office and he just looked up at the
ceiling. He was bored so he finished all the work that had piled up, and
there was nothing left to do. If it were any other time, he would have
chased after Kwon Taekjoo and left for somewhere, but since he was
trying to restrain himself for once, he felt bored and suffocated as if he
was being held back. Since even Kwon Taekjoo’s mother was away,
there was nowhere to kill time. Even he looked at himself and saw that
he had no talent for waiting quietly. [Hmm....] He wondered if there was
anything he could do to have some fun. Zhenya, who had been thinking
deeply, suddenly picked up his phone. Then he launched the secret
tracking app from before. This time, the target was not Kwon Taekjoo,
but his second older brother. How could it be like this now? When he
had time to spare, he often looked around to see where his blood
relatives were and what they were doing. In particular, Basim’s
movements were almost always directly connected to the Kremlin’s
intentions, so he ended up looking at them more often. After waiting
for a while, Basim’s current location was marked on one side of the
Russian map. Zhenya’s eyes widened slightly as he checked the
coordinates. [This is also Vladivostok. Interesting.] Basim, the
president’s confidant, left Moscow and went to Vladivostok. What on
earth could he be doing? Basim rarely leaves his position for any reason.
Given the nature of power, a vacancy can be filled by someone else at
any time. It was because it contained the risk of being caught. The fact
that a cautious and suspicious central official had travelled to
Vladivostok, a remote area, meant that something important was
planned. For example, he was supposed to receive a diplomatic envoy
from North Korea on behalf of the president. If that were true, it would
be safe to assume that the Kremlin was quite interested in the gift of
cutting off North Korea. [What else are you coveting?] After a moment
of doubt, he started hacking all of Basim’s accounts. Not only his
personal emails, but also multiple accounts used strictly for official
purposes, transmission and reception records from five mobile phones,
and personal data stored in a secret folder on his personal computer. He
opened up all the files and displayed them on the monitor. All of them
were highly encrypted information, but they were easy to decrypt. At
least for Zhenya. Among the data that was displayed on the monitor
one after another, there were also confidential documents from the
Russian government. Zhenya easily deciphered the double encryption
set for each document. He already had a good grasp of Russia's security
system, and with the access rights of Basim, who had absolute support
from the Kremlin, it wouldn't be difficult. He searched for 'Vladivostok'
in the hundreds of confidential documents. He then sorted the related
documents in order of their most recent and looked through them one
by one. In 2016, a deer carcass was exposed in the permafrost of
northern Siberia. One child died from anthrax and seven adults were
infected. This was the first time anthrax had been reported in the region
since 1941. In 2019, a wolf carcass that had died 27,000 years ago was
discovered in the Siberian permafrost. A highly infectious virus was
identified in the carcass' intestines. In 2022, a 48,000-year-old carcass of
a dwarf deer was discovered buried under a lake in the permafrost of
the Yakutsk region of Siberia. 13 new viruses were detected.
Permafrost. Permafrost refers to frozen ground that is always below
freezing in polar regions or alpine areas. It can be as deep as tens of
centimetres at the shallow end or as deep as hundreds of metres at the
deep end, and is commonly distributed in polar regions known as cold
regions, Siberia, Greenland, Alaska, and northern Canada. The reason
why this permafrost has recently begun to receive attention is because
of global warming. As the permafrost layer has become shallow due to
atmospheric changes, the corpses of plants and animals buried
underneath have been revealed, and some of them have become a
problem because they carry pathogens or viruses that are fatal to the
human body. This is because if humans cannot overcome such viruses, a
pandemic could occur. However, ecologists and meteorologists have
already warned of this danger many times. Why was such open
information included in a secret document? The basis for this can be
inferred from the following sentence. A newmicroorganism was
collected from the crater of Baekdu Mountain in North Korea. It is
presumed to be an obligate aerobic microorganism that causes acute
sepsis when inhaled. The human immune system has a high response
rate, and existing antibiotics or vaccines have little therapeutic effect. If
infected, symptoms such as headache, fever, vomiting, confusion,
hallucinations, and respiratory distress appear within 24 hours, and the
mortality rate to date is 98%. A microorganism that is fatal to the
human body was found on Baekdu Mountain. It was discovered in the
West. And that fact was mentioned along with the viruses discovered in
the permafrost. Each piece of information was reduced to a single word
in hid head. Biochemical weapons. In this day and age, would they
develop something like that? He burst out laughing, but it quickly died
down. It was not impossible for the Kremlin to be so ambitious. Not
long ago, an RNAvirus swept the world. The virus, which had an
unprecedented transmission power and fatality rate, caused a panic in
all aspects of politics, economy, society, and culture. In return, some
forces accumulated enormous wealth and power. The chaos and chaos
caused by the tiny virus considering the Kremlin's dominance, it was not
surprising that the Kremlin was interested in a new microorganism. A
pathogenic microorganism newly discovered on Mt. Baekdu in North
Korea. Since it becomes active in the presence of more oxygen, it will be
difficult to prevent its spread, and existing antibiotics cannot treat it
when infected. This information is being secretly shared only between
Russia and North Korea. The way things are going is not simple. It will
probably be a long time before humanity learns of the existence of this
microorganism. When weaponized microorganisms threaten our
peaceful daily lives, belatedly. [You're getting more and more childish.
I'll be the tsar. [If you say so, I'll give you the dignity of the empire, this
is it.] Zhenya, who had been sticking his tongue out, finished looking
through Basim's personal communication records. They were full of
messages reporting to someone, such as arriving in Vladivostok, going
to greet the delegation, the goods are being transported safely, and air
traffic control communications have begun. The recipient was obviously
the Kremlin. [How long are you going to lick that idiotic pig's rear end?]
He shook his head and put the earphones in his ears. It was to
eavesdrop on Basim's calls. Judging from the interval between reports,
it was likely that Basim and the President were communicating. He
thought it was time. As expected, soon after, the message 'call'
appeared in the hacking window. He held his breath and waited for the
call to connect. Soon, he heard Bajim's voice on the other end of the
earphones.- Yes, Your Majesty. The North Korean delegation just arrived
at the airport.- Yes, what about the goods?- The goods will probably
arrive tomorrow morning.- You're managing it thoroughly, right?- Is
there any possibility?- Before a full-scale conversation, make sure it’s
the right item.- Yes, I understand. The call ended quickly. There was no
detailed mention of whether it was for possible wiretapping or why the
items were brought in. However, by combining various circumstances
and information confirmed from confidential documents, it was
possible to easily guess what the Kremlin was planning. The Kremlin
heard news that a new microorganism had been discovered in North
Korea. They also knew very well how lethal the microorganism was to
the human body. The Kremlin must have proposed cooperation in
microorganism research and the development of a treatment, citing
North Korea’s lack of pharmaceutical facilities. The problem was that it
was unclear whether the Kremlin would really use the microbe only for
developing a cure, or whether it would simply disclose and distribute
the results of the related research to the world. No, he was certain that
it would never do that. In the phone call with Ba Jim, the order to 'check
if it is a proper product before a full-scale conversation' seemed far
from humane. That would mean conducting human experiments to see
if the microbe is really that lethal, as North Korea claims. By the way, is
Kwon Taekjoo aware of all this? What are the two countries trying to
trade, and how dangerous is it? Running the hacking program again to
find the target changed. He was going to check where Kwon Taekjoo
was, what he was doing, and what instructions he had received.
However, both his personal line and the lines he normally used for work
were down. This time, it seemed he had decided to thoroughly evade
himself. For now, he could only barely grasp the location information of
the biochip that Kwon Taekjoo had secretly implanted in his body. He
knocked on the table. The sudden, strong desire inside him and the
reason he was trying to hold on to were noisily competing. He quietly
stared at the red dot blinking on the location tracker. The red dot that
had been wandering around the Vladivostok Airport began to move
little by little toward the city. In the direction of the hotel run by his
family. Unless there was a major change, the accommodation of the
North Korean delegation that Bajim was carrying out would have been
assigned there. […Taekjoo.] Zhenya, who had been mumbling softly,
finally got up from his seat. *** Kwon Taekjoo was spying on the
Bogdanov family’s hotel with his eyes wide open. The North Korean
delegation, including Park Jeong-ho, had entered the hotel around 2
a.m. and had not made any significant movements since then. Russian
police patrolled the hotel in shifts all night. However, they did not go
inside. In fact, not a single person had come or gone from the hotel
since the North Korean delegation arrived. The surveillance inside
seemed to be tighter than outside. The goal of this operation was to
find out what North Korea and Russia were secretly discussing. It would
have been icing on the cake if they could secure the items transported
from North Korea in time for the meeting, but that was something to
think about later. Greed ruins things. Kwon Taekjoo was not the only
one moving. Therefore, they decided not to force their way in. As they
began the joint operation, the American agent 'Foxtrot' chased the
special train from Pyongyang from Hasan, and the Japanese agent
'Sierra' decided to investigate the situation on Russky Island. Kwon
Taekjoo was monitoring the North Korean delegation from a hideout
where he could see the Bogdanov Hotel through the gaps in the
buildings in front. As of now, there was no way to infiltrate the hotel. He
could not install cameras or wiretapping devices in advance. So he
infiltrated the hotel with bug-sized cameras through narrow ventilation
holes and sewer pipes. The cameras looked very similar to cockroaches,
so they were not very noticeable. After linking two laptops with each
camera, one was connected to the North Korean General Staff
Department Operations Bureau Director Shim, one was moved to
Young-il's room, and the other was moved to the room of North Korean
biologist Park Jeong-ho. Since the radio waves controlling the camera
had to pass through several walls, it was difficult to make fine
adjustments. They had no choice but to hide the camera in the most
remote place possible and collect limited information. After observing
for a full day, they discovered one peculiarity. In Sim Yeong-il's room,
people came and went frequently and freely used communication
devices. On the other hand, Park Jeong-ho stayed in his room the whole
time and just sat there blankly. He almost always stayed in the same
place except when he was eating or going to the bathroom. No one
came to see him specifically. The guards guarding the hallway would
often come in and ask him if he was he just checked to see if they were
safe, looked around the room, and left. Even then, Park Jeong-ho
stepped aside and watched the guards stirring his luggage and bed. For
the time being, he couldn’t tell if he was being protected or being
watched. It was a sight that would make him believe it even if Park
Jeong-ho was locked up in a prison without bars. “...What the hell.”
Wasn’t Park Jeong-ho the key figure in this meeting? Why did he seem
to have been dragged there by force? It was full of strange things. At
that moment, the alarm that had been set in advance rang. He looked
at his wristwatch. It was time for the agents from other countries to
report on the status of their respective areas. However, the
communicator was strange. It was quiet. If they think about it, no agent
had reported on time until now. The information they had received was
also vague. It seemed like they were planning to escape safely in case
they had to fight over responsibility in the future. They might have been
late because they had to report to their superiors first before contacting
Kwon Taekjoo. That was why they didn’t want to get involved with guys
of different nationalities. He sighed and put the communicator to his
ear. It was to contact them first. At that moment, the communicator
rang.- Hunting. "Two Tigers."- Foxtrot. Special train from Pyongyang
0677, arriving in Vladivostok. Only some of the passengers
disembarked, and the train entered the maintenance yard without any
separate logistics transport. [Hmm. Then the goods must have been
loaded onto the train and stored in the maintenance yard. How is the
surrounding surveillance level?]- Tango 4. Guard the car right next to
the locomotive. All four are armed. [Okay. Watch a little longer until
further instructions.] - What? Just watch stupidly? This is the perfect
opportunity to check the goods. The car stopped and the surveillance
personnel were reduced. Let's take advantage of the gap in security....
[Are you sure there's something there? Do you know what it is?]- So we
should check it out more. [Hey, Foxtrot. The top priority of this
operation is to find out what kind of collusion North Korea and Russia
have had, and what they're dealing with, not to steal the stuff. Don't
move rashly and ruin things.]- Ha... You're being hostile just like I heard.
I don't know if Asians are cautious or timid. Foxtrot's expression turned
to Via with a displeased expression. He snickered. It was clearly a racist
remark, but he didn't say anything. He had been tracking the goods
being secretly transported from North Korea to Russia, so he wanted to
know what it was right away. Even if he were Kwon Taekjoo himself, he
would have been on edge like 'Foxtrot'. However, since this was a case
involving many interests, he had to be very careful. If he acted rashly in
a situation where nothing was certain, he would ruin everything. He
might have made a big fuss. Kwon Taekjoo suppressed his anger and
warned 'Foxtrot'. [Look before you leap. That's East Asia isn’t this a
proverb that only applies in ? Being suffocatingly cautious is less
dangerous than doing something without thinking. You can't bet
everything on a stroke of luck that may or may not come? I'm warning
you, never act alone.]- E&. Roger. Foxtrot' ended the communication
unilaterally, still not pleased with it until the very end. "Ah." He pulled
the communicator out of his ear and threw his head back. It felt like the
bubbling in the bow was suddenly rising to his mind. That's why he
hates all the partners in the joint condition. It's hard to control each
agent, and if the line is off, all the operations will fall like dominoes. If
'Foxtrot' had ever worked with 'Sierra' in the past, it would have been
different, but since they were all complete strangers and had different
nationalities, there was bound to be discord. It was nice to call it a joint
team, but it felt like a two-person triangle match between players of
different physiques. He glared at his poor laptop with a dissatisfied
expression. Soon after, there was a knock on the door of Sim Yeong-il's
room. He immediately put on my earphones. - Come in. Sim Yeong-il's
voice was heard. Then his secretary, Kim Gil-ha, appeared.- Kirae, what
happened?- I left it at the train maintenance yard as instructed. I'll find
out tomorrow and transport it from Russia.- Did you get away?- I gave
you a strict warning, so you're going to hang up?- You're on your way.
Okay, then you should go out.- Yes. Shim Yeong-il waited for Kim Gil-ha
to leave and then made a phone call. As soon as the call was connected,
he nodded, so he could clearly guess who the other person was. Shim
Yeong-il, who had been looking around at his son-in-law, got up from his
seat and walked closer to the window. He went. Then, a noise that
interfered with the radio waves came through the earphones. It seemed
that they had installed special equipment near the window or door to
prepare for the salt. It was difficult to read what was being said because
Sim Yeong-il covered his mouth the whole time on the phone. He sighed
softly and took out the earphones. He thought things would be resolved
easily, but he must have underestimated the other person too much.
Sim Yeong-il's call ended without any significant results. Immediately
after, Sim Yeong-il left the room with a relieved expression. It seemed
that things were going smoothly as they had hoped. He felt
unnecessarily anxious. They say that enemies come after a long period
of patience, but Lee wasn't the only one who could do it. In order not to
miss an opportunity, he had to constantly watch and watch again. But
sitting like this, just observing the enemy's movements made him
anxious that he might be missing something. That's when the
communicator rang again. He flinched and quickly put the
communicator to his ear.- Hunting. "Two Tigers."- This is Sierra. Alpha,
can you hear me? It was a radio message from the Japanese agent,
'Sierra.' Had they detected any movement at the Far East Federal
University where he was waiting? [Listen carefully. Report.]- The
atmosphere here is ominous around midnight. Black trucks are arriving
one after another, and the Natural Sciences Building has been
completely cordoned off since the evening under the pretext of a fire
inspection. The area around it is also barricaded, making it impossible
to approach. [According to Foxtrot, the train that departed from
Pyongyang must have brought something. It seems like they’re moving
the cargo there overnight. Do you see anyone wearing a gas mask or gas
suit there?]- No. Not at all. [What’s on the truck?]- They're all top cars,
so it's hard to tell them apart. [Can't you check a little closer?]- Isn't it
too dangerous? [...Yeah. If you're not sure, leave it alone. If you see
someone wearing a gas mask or gas suit, or if you catch sight of any
quarantine equipment, report it immediately.]- Do you have any
guesses? [It's not certain yet. I'll share it with you when I get more
information, so don't be impatient. If everything goes as planned, the
items will be moved tonight. If that's the final destination, then from
now on, it’s going to be busy, so don't let your guard down, and prepare
your gas mask in advance just in case.]- Roger, that. As soon as he
finished communicating with 'Sierra', he sighed. He couldn't gather
good information because he was hiding in a safe place and just spying.
One side was acting on their own and the other side was being too
passive, so he was worried. He thought it would be better if Kwon
Taekjoo himself was in charge of all three places. Even long-time
partners often get along, so how much great results could be expected
from a hastily put together team? He suppressed his growing discontent
and checked Park Jeong-ho on the monitor. He was sitting quietly the
whole time. Park Jung-ho suddenly got up. Then he strode towards the
camera. "Huh...?" Before he could even respond, the monitor was filled
with Park Jung-ho's face.- What a cockroach... Park Jung-ho reached out
to the insect-shaped camera without hesitation. The lens was quickly
covered by his hand and the screen went black. "Damn, did I get
caught?" Park Jung-ho, holding the camera in his hand, observed the
rest of the coffin for a while. At first glance, it looked like a cockroach,
but upon closer inspection, something felt off. There was no choice.
Especially since the opponent was a biologist, it was only a matter of
time before the identity of the camera was discovered. Kwon Taekjoo
sighed while holding his hair. In the meantime, Park Jeong-ho, who had
grabbed the camera, went into the bathroom. He then threw the
camera into the toilet and flushed it without hesitation. The camera was
swept away helplessly by the strong current. The video cut off abruptly
after capturing Park Jeong-ho watching the scene indifferently. "Ah!"'
Kwon Taekjoo quickly grabbed his telescope and headed to the window.
It was to check the hotel's activities. He could also use the
communication device to inform 'Foxtrot' and 'Sierra' that the operation
had been exposed. He turned it on. However, no matter how long he
waited, the hotel area was quiet. If Park Jeong-ho had informed his
superiors of the existence of the surveillance camera, there should have
been some kind of noticeable change. However, even after watching for
a long time, nothing happened. The area around the hotel was quiet,
almost peaceful. He couldn’t even see the security personnel
exchanging radio messages. “...What?” Could it be that Park Jeong-ho
didn’t report anything? Why? If that was the case, he would have
definitely realised that what he caught wasn’t a real bug. It must have
been. Thinking about it, Park Jeong-ho's act of throwing the surveillance
camera in the toilet was also somewhat unsatisfactory. If someone were
to claim that he was spying on them, they would need evidence, so
wouldn't it have been better to hand it over to the guard rather than
just disposing of the camera arbitrarily like before? No way. A gut
feeling flashed through his mind. He immediately went back to his sofa
and watched the real-time recorded video. Park Jeong-ho, who had
been sitting blankly in one spot all day, suddenly stared at the camera.
He zoomed in on the video to take a closer look. Park Jeong-ho just
rolled his eyes without moving at all and stared at the camera. It was as
if he was aware of someone else’s gaze. Then, he suddenly got up and
approached the camera. “What the cockroach...” Park Jeong-ho, holding
the camera as if he was catching a bug, observed its appearance for a
while. Then, like he had seen before, he went to the bathroom and
threw the camera into the toilet. With a strange sense of discomfort, he
rewinded the video and played it at 0.5x speed. Park Jeong-ho suddenly
noticed the camera and slowly approached it. He grabbed the camera
without hesitation. He stared intently at the unfamiliar object that
might have been sent by someone. "Hmm? What is it?" Kwon Taek-joo,
who had discovered something, pressed the pause button. He then
rewinded the video 10 seconds back. "What's that cockroach...." Park
Jeong-ho's appearance in the slowly playing video was no different than
before. However, right after mentioning the cockroach, his lips moved a
little more. He didn't say anything else. He turned up the video volume
to the maximum and checked the voice analysis chart, but still, no
sound was picked up. At best, he was breathing. Is it Lee? Nevertheless,
he watched the same part over and over again. Still, there was no sound
in his ears, but the shape of Park Jeong-ho’s lips became more and
more clearly engraved in his eyes. “What is it that he’s saying?” He
played the video again. Park Jeong-ho slightly moved his lips toward the
camera. He seemed to be careful not to be caught on the surveillance
cameras installed all over the room by the North. Kwon Taekjoo focused
all his attention on Park Jeong-ho’s lips. He tried to follow what he was
trying to say. “Do... Do-ah.....” He repeatedly read Park Jeong-ho's
mouth shape as if he was reading a book. As a result, "Help me?” An
unexpected message was completed. *** Basim stayed in Saga near the
hotel and kept in close contact with the Kremlin. The president strongly
urged that the contents of this meeting should never be leaked to the
outside. He was not worried about his reputation. It was just that North
Korea had discovered a new microorganism on Mt. Baekdu. Before
analysing it closely and deciding on its use, they were just wary of
letting it be known to the world. The microorganisms transported from
North Korea were to be transferred to the laboratory of the Far Eastern
Federal University for detailed analysis and animal testing. Of course,
there were many things to coordinate with the North before that. The
Kremlin wanted to exert greater influence by leveraging Russia’s
technological superiority in this collaboration. If the microorganisms
from Baekdu Mountain met his expectations, it was obvious that he
would want to monopolise them completely. The North would demand
a large sum in return. It was necessary to closely check whether they
were worth it. Bajim read and reread the report that the North had sent
him in advance. In short, the unprecedented microorganism discovered
in Baekdu Mountain seemed to be close to a pathogenic bacteria or
virus. It is not a problem when it exists naturally, but it is a different
story when an animal inhales it. When North Korea conducted its own
experiments on rats and pigs, it is said that the test subjects died from
acute sepsis within 6 to 24 hours after being exposed to the
microorganism. Out of numerous experiments, only one survived. And
even that one was in a state where he could not breathe on his own.
Will it work on humans? That was the first question that came to mind
after reading the report. North Korea did not specifically mention
human experimentation. However, they were operating a political
prison camp where human rights abuses were rampant. It was a place
where dozens of corpses were produced every day. The corpses were
buried in mass graves or cremated under the supervision of the
Ministry of State Security, so the cause of death could have been kept
secret. Moreover, North Korea could not have proposed cooperation
without any certainty about the usefulness of the Baekdu Mountain
microorganisms. Therefore, wouldn’t it be right to assume that their
lethality has been proven to humans as well? Unless North Korea is
deliberately trying to deceive Russia. Of course, no matter how much of
an ally they are, North Korea. He couldn’t blindly trust Han’s report.
Since it was a huge deal, he had to verify the quality of the product
several times. That was why he brought the recently collected sample
here to Vladivostok, even at the risk of leaking it. He was going over
North Korea’s report again to minimise experimental errors. Suddenly,
his cell phone, which had been quiet, rang. It was a message from an
intelligence agent dispatched to Korea. He had sent him to the Russian
embassy in Korea in advance, disguising his identity as a diplomat. It
was to monitor Zhenya, who might run off somewhere. [What? At this
hour.] He felt uneasy. That was understandable, since reports related to
Zhenya were usually received once a day, at a set time. The fact that he
was contacted at this late hour meant that Zhenya had acted
impulsively. For example, like a while ago, he had suddenly visited
Ajinoki and played with a weapon he had made. He checked the
message that had just arrived. Boarding the target plane. Destination:
Vladivostok. Bajim’s brow furrowed. He read the message again, but it
was exactly as he had perceived it. [Yevgeny is coming here?] Zhenya
had no particular contact with Vladivostok. Even if he said that he was
visiting purely for weapons business, the suspicions were not dispelled
at all. He rarely came forward except in special cases. Even when he did,
he almost always used a professional broker to conduct the transaction.
Why would such a guy visit Vladivostok at this time? A hypothesis
formed in his mind as his doubts grew. [Could it be because of that
Korean spy again?] That one assumption cleared up his doubtful mind in
an instant. Zhenya insisted there were only two situations in which he
would leave Korea. When he went to Ajinoki for personal business or
when Kwon Taekjoo went on an overseas mission. Most of what Kwon
Taekjoo, or to be precise, the Korean government, wanted to do was to
cause trouble to Russia or its allies. There were more than one or two
instances where the family was in an awkward position due to Zhenya’s
involvement. As a brother and on behalf of the Kremlin, he tried to
explain to Zhenya several times so that he would understand, but
Zhenya would not listen. He warned him that if he kept doing this, he
would not be able to avoid trouble, but he would only provoke him by
telling him to do so if he was not afraid of the consequences. So Zhenya
was coming to Vladivostok, where he had no connection. He couldn't
help but think it was because of Kwon Taekjoo. He doesn't know where
or how the secrets were leaked, or what smelled like in Korea, but all
the puzzle pieces fit together exquisitely. [Ha. Yevgeny, you insisted.] It
was incredible. To be crazy about a man and abandon your family and
your country. He couldn't understand Zhenya then or now. In any case,
he couldn't overturn something that was almost done. Besides, the
Korean government's espionage was just Basim's own conjecture, and
he hadn't secured any evidence about it yet. He thought he should try a
bait now. If he did well, two worries might be resolved at once. After
thinking about it for a while, Bajim quickly made a phone call. Despite
the late hour, the person on the other end answered the phone right
away. [I'm closing. I think I'll be able to prepare the test subjects you
ordered soon. You don't have to worry about the aftermath. They're
unknown. Even if they disappear without anyone knowing, there won't
be any problems. Yes, I can guarantee it. Oh, the time of the
experiment? That's the only problem... Don't worry. The test subjects
will come into the test tubes at the right time. We just have to prepare
well-cultured test tubes.] A deep smile spread across Bajim's lips. A
gentle light appeared in his calm eyes. Kwon Taekjoo looked at Director
Kwak over the monitor with a complicated expression. As soon as he
recognized Park Jeong-ho's message, he had requested an urgent
interview through an unofficial line. Even though Kwon Taekjoo himself
had the command of this operation, rescuing Park Jeong-ho was beyond
his authority. He needed a decision and approval from his superiors. An
unexpected variable arose during the operation. In such cases, he
would respond in one of three ways. Proceed with the operation as
originally planned, change it to fit the variable, or withdraw considering
the risk of exposure. That was also not something Kwon Taekjoo himself
could decide. Director Kwak seemed half-confident, even though he had
a rough idea of the situation from the message he had sent earlier.- Park
Jeong-ho requested rescue. What does that mean? "Did you check the
video I sent you?" - Of course I did. It does look like he asked for help, as
you said, but we could have made a mistake. Since the matter is serious,
I think we need to cross-check. I'll hand it over to the relevant team and
have them conduct a detailed evaluation. "Sigh... We don't have much
time."- Don't be impatient. It won't make any difference. Because,
What's wrong with being cautious? Our goal isn't to protect Park Jung-
ho. Do you know? Park Jung-ho might have set a trap to lure us. "If that
were the case, instead of destroying the surveillance camera as soon as
we found it, we would have notified the North Korean guards. That
someone seemed to be spying on us. And if the wiretapping had been
discovered in any way, the hotel, the train maintenance centre, or the
Far East University wouldn't have been as quiet as they are
now."- ...That's true, but don't get too excited. When did Park Jung-ho
start noticing? "I already had a feeling. I was going to ask. The
surveillance camera used in this operation is shaped like a cockroach.
Was it made to fit the local climate?"- Well. They don't usually consider
that. "That's probably why they looked into it. Park Jeong-ho is a
biologist. At first glance, you wouldn't think that a Russian cockroach is
exactly the same as a Korean cockroach, right? The difference would
have been more noticeable to an expert's eyes. Since it was a species
not commonly seen in Vladivostok, he must have noticed that it wasn't
a bug. Since North Korea and Russia are already openly monitoring him,
he must have guessed that a third country was secretly spying on him."
Park Jeong-ho was currently in custody. Just looking at the fact that
North Korean security guards were always on guard around him from
the airport and that he was sitting still as if he was aware of the
surveillance, it was obvious. Perhaps Park Jeong-ho threw away the
camera after making a silent request for rescue because he was worried
that his message would not be properly delivered or that he would be
caught by the North. If we infer that, most of the questions that had
been nagging at us while watching Park Jeong-ho were resolved. And in
their place, new questions arose. What kind of threat is Park Jeong-ho
receiving? It is one thing to keep a renowned biologist locked up. The
only explanation was Euro. Could it be that his beliefs as a scholar were
against the ruling party and, furthermore, the national interest?
Director Kwak sank into a deep sleep. - Yes. Let's say that Park Jeong-ho
rebelled against the party leadership as you said, and that's why he's
being treated like this now. If we secure his new recruits, we'll be able
to quickly figure out what the gist of the North Korea-Russia talks is.
We'll also be able to easily figure out the identity of the item they
brought from Pyongyang as a new treasure. "There's no need for our
agents to be exposed to any possible danger."- Right. Even so, since it
was an unexpected change, let's approach it a little more calmly. We
need to be clear about what we can and cannot do right away. After all,
it's Russian territory. You went there to dig up secrets between the two
countries, not to rescue someone. The other party shouldn't even know
that you were there. "I know what you mean. But if we can somehow
secure Park Jeong-ho's new recruits, we can wrap up this operation
right away. We'll also be able to save ourselves the trouble of getting
our hands on the items on the special train and analysing them. If those
items are the hazardous materials we suspect, we can take action
before it's too late." He actively persuaded Director Kwak. A deep sigh
came from the other end of the phone.- Do you think that saving Park
Jung-ho is enough? Park Jung-ho must have a family. They would have
been held hostage by North Korea right now. If not, Park Jung-ho would
have been more proactive in asking for help. Right now, we are not in a
position to save Park Jung-ho and safely evacuate his family. Even if we
somehow contact Park Jung-ho and persuade him, there is no
guarantee that he will abandon his family and come over to our side. It
would be a pointless war of attrition. Do you agree with that? "Ha...
Yes." He had no choice but to admit it. They couldn’t wage an all-out
war in the middle of enemy territory when we were so short on
manpower and firepower. With North Korea and Russia closely
monitoring Park Jeong-ho, it was nearly impossible to approach him
secretly or sneak him away without a trace. “So, you’re telling me to
just watch?”- I guess there’s nothing we can do. “Director. If Park Jeong-
ho refused the party’s demands as we suspected, and if that’s why he’s
being treated like that, he’ll be executed as soon as he’s done being
useful in this meeting. His family, who were taken as bait, will be in no
different situation. But don't you regret this decision?"- Hey, Gl. We're
in a joint operation right now. To make any decision, we need the
consent of the US and Japan. It's hard for the three countries to agree
on something. It'll take time to persuade them. They'll just become
more suspicious and hostile towards each other, which will only cause
confusion. To put it bluntly, would those two countries even care if a
North Korean biologist died? Director Kwak added, "Besides, what's the
basis for a dog that showed its teeth to the enemy to wag its tail at us?
Defection doesn't mean defection.” He couldn’t respond to Director
Kwak’s question. It was because he couldn’t say for sure that Park
Jeong-ho was the absolute best. “Then, should we maintain the
operation?”- For now, I guess so. Since no special circumstances have
been detected yet. Instead, I should consider the possibility that the
operation was exposed, and maintain a stronger alert posture than
before. Headquarters will also consider whether or not we can get Park
Jeong-ho out, so for now, focus on finding out what was transported
from Pyongyang. “Understood.” He reluctantly responded, but the
communication was silent. The bell rang. Just in case, he looked at the
hotel with my telescope. Perhaps because it was late at night, there was
no noticeable movement. Perhaps the other agents' areas were
different. "Director, I have a radio call coming in, so I'll hang up now. If
there's any change, I'll report back separately." He finished his
conversation with Director Kwak by informing him unilaterally. Then he
put the communicator in his ear.- Hunting. The voice asking for the
password was Foxtrot, an American agent. For some reason, his tone
sounded more urgent than before. "Two tigers."- It's Foxtrot. The
Russians are now unloading the cargo from the 0677 train. The goods
are being transported in iceboxes and in special refrigerated cars. [A
special refrigerated car in an icebox... It might be a problem if it melts,
right?]- There's a high chance of that. Now, what are you going to do?
You're not going to sit back and watch again, are you? [Hold on a
second. There's still no movement here. I have to check on the Sierra
situation too...] A blatant sigh erupts from the other end of the
communicator. 'Foxtrot' complained without hesitation.- Hey, Alpha.
What are you hesitating for? The goal is right in front of you. If they
don't move, that means they're completely off guard. This is when you
have to attack them! [You don't know how dangerous that thing is.]-
Shit! Don't talk nonsense, you idiot! When have you been measuring
everything? And while you're doing that, they're just waiting around?
Once we get our hands on it, it's just a matter of time before we find
out what it is and how dangerous it is! [It's noisy, so bark moderately?
They'll know your voice. And I've told you this many times. Our goal is
to find out what North Korea and Russia are plotting, not stealing the
goods they're trying to trade.]- Stop talking nonsense! This game is over
once we secure the goods anyway. [Let's say we get what you want.
What then? How are we going to get it out of this country?]- Let's hide
it in the embassy and think about it. The peaceful words made people
laugh. [Embassy? Is that all you could think of? You don't know the
Russians at all. If they were you, they would push aside the embassy of
a country without hesitation.]- How dare you act like a moth to a flame
unless you mean to go to all-out war against the United States. Even the
Russians wouldn't have their brains blown up like that. If they had
brains like that, I'd shoot them myself and blow them up. Is it
overflowing patriotism, pride, or just wanting to show off based on
national power? The fool who was obsessed with showing off didn't
have the energy to fight back. [Are you stupid? I'm warning you, but
you're acting rashly. Don't throw away all the hard work you've put in.]-
Throw it away? Who would say that, anyway! If you keep acting like
this, you'll end up chasing after them all the time. I don't know how
slow you've been and I don't care, but since you're supposed to be the
leader, don't tarnish other people's careers! 'Foxtrot' shouted angrily.
He already knew that he was hot-tempered. He had some idea that he
would act emotionally at a critical moment and ruin things. However, he
couldn't just sit by and watch them openly sarcastically and defy orders.
The leader's orders were absolute during the operation. This was
especially true if the failure of the operation directly resulted in the
sacrifice of the team members. If there were team members who
wanted to act on their own initiative due to their rebellion against the
leader, there was only one way to deal with it. ['Foxtrot', you should just
get out of this operation.] He gave the order in a calm tone. There was
no emotion in his final instructions to 'Foxtrot'.- What? Soon, 'Foxtrot's'
breathy laughter could be heard from the other end of the
communicator. The protests that followed became even more intense.-
I'm going to use people as I please and see what I can do. You saw it, so
get out? [Because team members outside of control are nothing more
than unexploded bombs that endanger even our own troops. Even the
smallest dust is a risk factor that needs to be removed.] Kwon Taekjoo
wasn't angry at all. He just maintained a firm attitude that no amount of
persuasion, compromise, coaxing, or threats would work. 'Foxtrot' kept
clicking his tongue.- Okay, I'll leave now. You two timid Asians, have fun
playing together! He didn't forget to be sarcastic until the end. Then, a
sharp mechanical sound rang out in his ears. It seemed like Foxtrot had
broken the communicator in a fit of anger. Kwon Taekjoo frowned in
annoyance and threw the communicator away from his ear. His bones
felt cold from the unexpected noise. "Ah, you fucking racist bastard! You
have a pierced mouth, damn it!" He let out a snarl of anger. If Foxtrot
had been next to him, he would have hit him. As expected,
collaboration doesn't suit his constitution. It's even worse when there's
no absolute command relationship and they're of different nationalities.
He took a deep breath for a moment, tousling the back of his hair in
annoyance. Then, a nervous touch he ran the group messenger. He was
angry, but now he had to do something. He had to notify Director Kwak
and the backup team that 'Foxtrot' was out of this operation. And since
the goods were being transported, he had to check the situation on the
'Sierra' side. Foxtrot, as of now Hunting Two Tigers excluded from the
operation. Immediately stop all material support and information
sharing. As soon as he sent the message, his work cell phone rang. It
was a call from headquarters. He sighed softly and answered, 'Yes.'-
What's the big deal, excluding Foxtrot all of a sudden? "That's what
happened. He keeps disobeying orders and trying to do whatever he
wants. He's going to do it anyway, that bastard. It'll put me and Sierra in
danger. So please convince the Americans at headquarters. Tell them to
either step back and provide rear support or replace him with someone
who listens well."- You have to talk sense. How can I find a replacement
right now? "I don't know. Or just tell him to watch a show and eat rice
cakes."- Don't make things too complicated when it's important. Let's
not talk. It would be better to ask the US side to persuade that agent....
"If it's possible to persuade. He's stubborn. It'd be nice if he didn't cause
an accident..." Before Kwon Taekjoo could finish his words. A sudden
explosion was heard from afar. Kwon Taekjoo jumped up and ran to the
window on the other side. He looked in the direction of the explosion
with his telescope. Soon, a small but clear flame was captured in his
field of vision.- Why? What's going on? What was that sound just now?
"The overpass 18 km ahead in the southeast direction...Is that the
Russky Bridge? That's where they just entered. Something exploded on
the road."- Are you sure? "Yes. They said that the Russky Bridge was
completely closed to traffic since midnight, so it can't be a normal traffic
accident. I'll have to check. I'll report back." He quickly hung up the
phone with Director Kwak. Then he watched the flames growing bigger
with anxious eyes. His heart pounded and pounded dizzily. A cold and
uneasy feeling licked the back of my neck. As if trying to shake off that
unpleasant feeling, he left his hiding place and headed to the rooftop.
He kicked open the worn-out door and went out, facing the direction
where the explosion occurred. He checked. No matter how many times
he checked, the direction of the Russky Bridge was correct. "What the
hell is going on... Foxtrot?" Did he immediately go on his own after
being told to withdraw from the operation? He was contemplating what
to do with an uneasy feeling. The communicator rang. It was a message
from 'Sierra'.- Alpha. What was that explosion just now? He asked
without even checking the communication code, as if he was panicking.
Before Kwon Taekjoo could respond, he urgently relayed the situation at
the Far Eastern Federal University.- The movement here is also unusual!
Wait, the soldiers and guards came out and searched the area! [It
seems like Foxtrot acted alone.]- What? [That bastard did it after all!]
He gritted his teeth. Immediately after that, sirens blared one after
another from a place not too far away. Police cars, fire trucks, and even
SWAT teams seemed to be rushing to the scene of the accident with
their lights flashing. The enemies also seemed to be on high alert due to
the unexpected situation. In an instant, black vans rushed in and
surrounded the quiet hotel. Armed guards poured down. If the
explosion at the Russky Bridge was caused by Foxtrot as expected, it
was only a matter of time before the operation was exposed. No, it may
have already been. We had to withdraw. [Sierra, hide yourself right
now. I'll contact you again.] He immediately cut off the communication
and turned around. He had to destroy the hideout without a trace
before the enemies came and then ran away. He opened the rooftop
door while chewing on a curse in his haste. Suddenly, my vision became
blurry. It was as if a huge wall had appeared before his eyes. “.....!" For a
moment, his body stiffened, but he instinctively pulled out his gun. In
the meantime, a white hand reached out and covered Kwon Taekjoo's
mouth and the gun's muzzle. He pulled the trigger halfway and then
hesitated. It was because the hand that flashed into his field of vision
was too familiar. Even the sight of the adult in his narrowed field of
vision seemed somehow familiar. Even the feel of the hand touching his
face and the grip strength gave him certainty. The smell that seeped
into his nose also added certainty to all his feelings. "...Zhenya?" While
he was mumbling absentmindedly, something was stuck in his neck. The
unique smell of medicine spread from the tip of his nose to his brain in
an instant. Then, he suddenly became dizzy. [Ugh, what are you
doing...!] [You should take a nap, Taekjoo.] He whispered, pressing
harder on his body that was trying to escape somehow. The body odour,
the body temperature, the feel of his skin, and even his voice were all
like Zhenya. He was right. But why? How? The questions that had been
vividly floating in his head quickly disappeared beyond his fading
consciousness. Dozens, hundreds of sirens rang sharply in his dizzy ears.
6. Cease Fire A series of violent explosions and explosions struck his
ears. His head was hazy, making it hard to tell if it was an illusion or
reality. Then, a mechanical beeping sound pierced his eardrums and hit
his brain. He opened his eyes after all the noise had died down. The
smell of the chemicals lingering in his body poked his brainstem like an
awl. Even breathing in and out felt awkward. He let out a long exhale
and continued to search his dizzy mind. He tried to recall his last
memory. He thinks he was raided in the hideout. Did he lose
consciousness? Then where is he? He opened his eyes wide and raised
his upper body, then stopped. His head felt like it was going to split
open at the sudden change in posture. "Ugh...." He groaned
involuntarily. He looked around, gritting his molars in annoyance. The
space that filled his vision was strangely familiar. Not only the stagnant
air and smell in the room, but even the feel of the bedding against his
skin. Is this a dream? This shouldn't be happening. He instinctively felt
his body. The holster was empty. He looked around and saw his gun
neatly placed on the table next to the bed. There was no sign of a
communicator or cell phone. He quickly picked up the pistol and
checked the magazine. The bullets were full. Was that the time he was
attacked, when he couldn’t pull the trigger? What on earth happened?
The last memory suddenly came to mind in his hazy mind. “...Zhenya?”
He encountered Zhenya on the roof of the building he had been hiding
in. He hadn’t seen his face directly. However, his silhouette, his scent,
and even his touch, there was no way it could have been a mistake. It
was definitely Zhenya, that guy. Why and how did he appear there? Did
he throw it? Also, when did Kwon Taekjoo himself move to Ajinoki? The
questions continued one after another. He was confused. Could it be
that he had a strange dream? Or that this moment was a dream. In a
situation where nothing was clear, the one possibility he hated the most
slowly raised its head. He wanted to shake it off as if it couldn’t be true,
but an unpleasant and cold premonition stimulated his thinking centre.
Soon, a steady sound of footsteps was heard from outside the door. It
was a noise so soft that the culprit wouldn’t have noticed it, but Kwon
Taekjoo recognized it clearly. Just by the weight of the footsteps and the
sound of people, he could tell who the other person was. He glared at
the door with sharp eyes. The sound of people getting closer stopped
outside the door. Then the doorknob slowly turned. Zhenya appeared
through the gap in the door that opened with a click. The bastard raised
his eyebrows as soon as he found Kwon Taekjoo who had regained
consciousness. He soon smiled and entered the room. For some reason,
instead of his unique body odour, he smelled of a strong flame. [He
always points the gun first. I’ll shoot him at any moment.] Zhenya
chuckled as he looked at Kwon Taekjoo’s gun aimed at him. There was
no problem. It was a calm expression. Kwon Taekjoo’s face hardened
even more coldly. It wasn’t a mistake that he saw Zhenya right before
he lost consciousness. He had hoped it was all a dream, an illusion.
When he saw the guy who appeared in front of Kwon Taekjoo, his
already complicated feelings became even more agitated. [What
happened?] He asked in a low voice. It wasn’t just because his voice had
been hushed while he was unconscious. Despite the heavy atmosphere,
Zhenya just shrugged his shoulders childishly. [First, eat something. If
your stomach is empty, your head won’t work well, you hungry beast.
Silver is usually more prickly. Would you like ramen?] Zhenya turned his
body as if he was going to the kitchen at any moment. The sound of
ramen came out in this situation. The back of his neck was pulling
painfully. [I asked what happened.] He growled at the back of his head
that seemed peaceful. Zhenya stopped walking. Then, the guy who
turned his head looked at Kwon Taekjoo's hard face one by one. The
answer that came out as the result of a long search was very
unexpected. [You’ve been like that for about half a day.] [..What?] [I
want to use something mild, but that’s all I have as medicine.] Zhenya
leisurely tapped his neck. When he absentmindedly touched his neck, a
stinging and dull pain came up. The needle had been inserted so many
times, and the wound seemed to have deepened because he had
tossed and turned in protest. [It must be hard to just sit down now, but
you’re so brave. Should I at least acknowledge your pride?] Zhenya
leisurely smiled. Kwon Taekjoo came to me all of a sudden and ruined
all his official duties, and acted like it was nothing. What on earth is so
easy and simple about everything? It felt like the scorching heat had
suddenly crashed down to the soles of his feet. [What are you doing?]
[What am I doing?] Zhenya, who had been pretending not to know and
following Kwon Taekjoo’s words, made an artificial exclamation of [Ah.].
Then he raised one corner of her mouth and jeered at Kwon Taek Joo.
[Are you mad because I injected you with anaesthesia? That’s what you
did to me, Taekjoo.] He grinned as if it was a joke. Kwon Taekjoo’s brow
furrowed deeply. Even the bridge of his nose was distorted as he
suppressed his rising anger. [Stop talking nonsense and explain properly.
Why are you here?] [Here? What, I came to a place I shouldn't have? It's
my island, my home.] [That's what I’m talking about!] Finally, he
couldn't hold it in any longer and shouted. Zhenya’s eyes widened
slightly at the sudden shout. However, the bastard soon regained his
composure. He looked like he didn't know what the problem was. [You,
your little brat shouldn't be here right now.] A desperate and angry
monologue came out. His tightly clenched fists turned white and
trembled. Zhenya's pupils constricted slightly, and he sensitively
detected each change. But that was all. There was no change in the
bastard's expression. He still had no idea what he had done wrong or
why Kwon Taekjoo was angry. [Taekjoo.] His voice was incredibly calm.
[Why are you so angry again?] His tangled head felt like it was being
torn apart. His voice, as nervous as it could be, burst out without a
moment to swallow. [I told you not to follow me! This time, absolutely
do not follow me! Don’t you understand?] [I didn’t follow you. I went to
save you.] [What happened?] [My lover is about to jump into a pit of
fire without knowing what’s next, so there’s nothing I can do. I have to
hold on to him somehow and watch.] He let out a gasp. How could such
an innocent sound come out of a guy who kills people like ants? He felt
so depressed that he fell all the way to his feet. He wondered if it was
because of the remaining medicine or because his blood circulation was
slow due to the overflowing spirit, but his vision was getting blurry. His
legs were shaking and it felt like it would break. His whole body quickly
became hot and his breath became stale. He rubbed his wet forehead in
irritation. Zhenya appeared right after an unknown explosion was heard
from the Russky Bridge. Based on the timing and the circumstances, he
guessed that Foxtrot, who had been excluded from the joint operation,
had acted alone. He didn’t know if that was true, and if so, whether the
items had been secured safely. It was possible that they had been
suppressed by the enemies. What was clear was that the explosion
must have made the enemies aware of the spy’s presence. It was as if
the operation had been revealed to the surface. Sirens blared
everywhere, and armed police were rushing to Russky Bridge, the hotel,
and Far Eastern Federal University. It was foolish to fight back when
they were outnumbered. They had to withdraw for now and wait for
the next opportunity while watching the situation unfold. 'He told Sierra
to take refuge and was about to turn around in a hurry when Zhenya
showed up. He seemed to know exactly where Kwon Taekjoo was.
Despite the fact that he had cut off all lines to avoid his pursuit. He had
known for a long time that Zhenya had been spying on Kwon Taekjoo's
every move. He had repeatedly advised him to stop, but he also knew
that he wouldn't listen to him. So he was even more careful this time.
He only used new communication devices, and he even requested a
dedicated line and account from the headquarters. He even scanned his
entire body to check repeatedly for any possible wiretapping or tracking
devices anywhere on his body. To no avail, Zhenya suddenly appeared
before his eyes. Even that wasn’t an entirely unexpected development.
That was why he had tried to coax and comfort him before coming to
Vladivostok, which was unusual for him. He didn’t want to fight him, so
he tried his best to avoid becoming his enemy. But now that the
situation has come to this, he’s the only one who finds himself
ridiculous. The thing he was most worried about has come true. He had
been warned by headquarters about Zhenya’s reckless intervention and
promised to be careful and not let him interfere again, but it was just an
empty promise. In the worst case scenario, he might have been involved
in the inhuman collusion between North Korea and Russia. In fact, there
was no reason for him not to have done so. Kwon Taekjoo exhaled as if
he was groaning. Soon, his eyes would glare at Zhenya again. Even his
voice, saying “No way.”, became sharp. […. Are you in league with them
too?] [Them? You mean my blood relatives?] Zhenya, who had been
pretending not to know, snorted. A mockery spread across the face that
was staring at Kwon Taek Joo. [That’s all you could think of. Even though
he’s your only lover, you still don’t trust him.] [Or what, you punk.] [I
kept the promise you unilaterally made. This time, for some reason, I
wanted to do it.] Zhenya nodded repeatedly and replied. He blatantly
interfered with the operation, so what kind of promise did he keep? The
attitude of the guy who seemed to be playing with words made him feel
angry. [What the hell are you talking about! You’re right in front of me
right now. Is it just a coincidence?] [No, it's inevitable.] The guy
continued talking in a relaxed tone. The rest of them were completely
out of their minds, but he was taking it easy on himself. [If you were
asking if I didn't know that my brother, my family, was in cahoots with
North Korea, then I knew. To be exact, I found out after you left,
Taekjoo. Telling me not to interfere with your business doesn't mean
telling me not to spy on my brother, right? That's why I didn't deceive
you.] So it wasn't Taekjoo himself who found out about this incident
while eavesdropping on Ba-jim? That could be true. But the current
situation wasn't that important. The biggest problem was that Zhenya
eventually showed up at the operation site. This was why the NIS's
suspicions could only deepen. He doesn't know how he managed to
break through the siege and get to Ajinoki, but if Zhenya had been
exposed to the outside world during that process, his family and Russia
would have considered him a traitor. He was aguy who had always been
against his family, saying he would help Kwon Taekjoo, but now he had
nowhere to go. Everything that Kwon Taekjoo had tried to protect went
up in smoke in an instant. His insides were boiling and overflowing.
[Damn... I told you not to interfere! It's my business after all!] [Taekjoo,
if you hadn't jumped into the obvious fire pit, that would have
happened. I told you I wanted to, this time.] Zhenya kept repeating the
same thing. No matter how much he said, it didn't get through. It wasn't
just this time. Often, the words he said to Zhenya felt like empty
monologues. It wouldn't be any more frustrating if he shouted at the
wall. He tried to swallow the emotions welling up deep inside him. He
clenched his molars, and a clear vein appeared on his chin and
forehead. The voice that came out after holding his sigh was much more
subdued. [You always ignore people like that.] Zhenya tilted his head at
his low monologue. The tone was so twisted and bitter that it was
impossible to ignore. [Fire pit? I don’t know what’s ahead of me?] He
pressed Zhenya as if to question him. Even so, seeing the bastard’s
indifferent face made him unable to bear it any longer. [How can you
guarantee that, you son of a bitch! Why are you saying I’ll fail? Am I a
fool who can’t do anything without your help?] [You’re getting strangely
angry again. I know it’s obvious, but there’s no need to go there.] [Don’t
show off. It was the same when you didn’t have a kid. Do you think I’ve
ever only had it easy? If I wanted to be safe, I wouldn’t have even
started!] An angry shout echoed throughout the large house. Zhenya
still looked at Kwon Taek Joo with a calm expression. The confusion that
had briefly lingered in his face quickly disappeared. Instead, what took
its place was a clear laughter. [So confident? Did you figure out what
they were trying to trade?] Zhenya immediately replied [No.] and
continued. [There probably wasn't enough time. The surveillance was
so tight that they wouldn't have even been able to approach the
target.] Zhenya tilted his head to one side. It was a gesture as if asking if
he was wrong. He got angry and started talking. [The guys who
transported the trade goods from North Korea were wearing protective
suits. That must be because the items were toxic substances that should
not be touched carelessly. Russia must have planned to use them to
make biochemical weapons or develop vaccines to take advantage of
this.] [Yes. Lysine, Novichok, VX, PoloNium-210... It seems that
something comparable to it has been discovered, on Baekdu Mountain.]
Rysine, Novichok, VX, and Polonium-210 boasted lethal toxicity. If these
substances are absorbed into the human body, the chances of survival
converge to 0. That is why they have recently become a more
commonly used means of assassination than guns and swords. A
substance with a similar level of lethality to those deadly poisons was
discovered on Baekdu Mountain. It made sense why Baekdu Mountain
biologist Park Jeong-ho was taken to Russia, and why he had blindly
requested rescue from a spy he did not even know. Zhenya leisurely
watched Kwon Taekjoo, who was lost in thought, he pressed on. [Don't
you know? The Kremlin can already use lysine, Novichok, and VX as
much as it wants. But they showed interest in the natural substance
that North Korea discovered. What does that mean? They calculated
that the new substance would be more useful than the poisons already
known to the world. If you get infected, there's no cure, and it's not
even clear how you die. Did you want to be caught by them and be
subjected to a vivisection? Really?] [Including that kind of threat, that's
my job.] [Huh? You don't care if you die because of that great thing? So
I just sit back and watch? When you fell into my hands, you said you
would live like that, but you have no regrets for the rest of your life? It’s
funny to hear that. Taekjoo, don’t be stubborn. Is that really true?]
Zhenya’s face, which had been smiling the whole time, hardened. He
quickly smiled again and hid his agitation, but it seemed that he was
starting to feel offended. The twisted tone of his voice was proof of
that. [Foolishly throwing away one’s life is a thing… Who would
understand that?] Kwon Taekjoo glared at Zhenya with his lips tightly
shut. Zhenya also continued to whine while standing firm against his
gaze. [Huh? Takju. Is that your noble patriotism?] [Don't laugh at me
just because I said I'm worthless to you.] [Laughing? Who?] Zhenya
shook his head. At first glance, it seemed like he was teasing someone,
but he didn't look all that happy. [I'm mad at you right now, Taekjoo.
Your life and death aren't yours alone, are they?] [....] [I said I wouldn't
die. Trust me.] Zhenya, who had been quietly staring at Kwon Taekjoo,
suddenly approached him. Although his movements were not very fast,
his body froze. His instincts were thoroughly recognizing him as a
threat. [I won’t risk my life and act recklessly in the future.] He argued,
reciting exactly what Kwon Taekjoo had once said to reassure him. He
slowly closed the distance between them. [How many times have I not
told you? Run around as much as you want. I will chase you wherever
you go. If you give me that much freedom, you should leave your small
life line here. Don’t blindly rely on your pride like you are doing now.]
[Look at this. You little punk, you look down on me and ignore me. I
don't know what you think, but I've always done my best. When
information is lacking, I find what I can do. But, what? A moth? Do you
know what's driving me crazy these days? If you knew, you wouldn't be
talking like that. I used to rush in without thinking, but now I think,
think, and think again. This operation is just...!] [You're stubborn to the
end. Taekjoo, it's not my fault that your home country's information
power is that low. It's not my fault that your temporary colleague blew
himself up after acting selfishly. So why don't you stop taking it out on
me?] He suddenly grabbed the gun and raised it. Zhenya tilted his head
as if he saw something strange. One of the bastard's eyebrows also
rose. But it wasn't a simple threat. It wasn't a show of taking it out on
him. He didn't want to just blurt it out like he usually does. He didn't
want to just give up on himself because he thought he wouldn't
understand anyway. He took a proper stance and aimed at Zhenya. Even
though he saw the gun barrel aimed at him, the bastard approached
without hesitation. [Don't come.] A voice that was completely crushed
leaked out through his clenched teeth. Zhenya didn’t care. He simply
reached out to Kwon Taekjoo without hesitation. [Don’t lose your
energy. There’s nothing you can do right now anyway. Everyone is
bloodshot and trying to hunt rabbits. It would be better to rest a little
more until the commotion dies down, Taekjoo.] A large white hand
reached out to his face without hesitation. Kwon Taekjoo, who had half-
pulled the trigger, couldn’t bring himself to shoot Zhenya this time
either and grabbed his wrist. He also pushed the jaw of the bastard who
had gotten much closer. [I told you not to...!] Zhenya tried to subdue
Kwon Taekjoo, who was resisting with his whole body, with brute force.
He pushed him hard with his knees and elbows. He also punched the
arm of the man who was trying to cover his mouth with his fist. The
man did not move. The two were tightly entangled for a while, pulling
and pushing each other fiercely. They failed their limbs without
stopping, causing large and small scratches on their skin. Their joints
were stretched to their limits. Even so, no one backed down and they
continued to struggle for a long time. Soon, their whole bodies were
soaked with sweat. The reason this tenacious battle ended was because
Kwon Taekjoo suddenly staggered. Maybe it was because of the weak
spirit, but their heads suddenly became dizzy. Zhenya didn’t miss that
moment and threw Kwon Taekjoo down on the bed. Then, he
somewhat violently crushed his arms. Even in the midst of that, he
kicked his stomach and sides and tried to escape, and he also crushed
his lower body with his knee. With that, the chaos finally stopped. The
two people staring at each other continued to breathe heavily. Only
then did Zhenya’s face come into view. In addition to the scratch he had
received during the fight a little while ago, he saw a wound he had
never seen before. A small but clear scab formed on his earlobe. It
seemed like the blood that had stopped bleeding had hardened. Upon
closer inspection, everything about him was different than usual. Even
his hair was dishevelled, and unlike the guy who liked to be so neat and
tidy, the sleeves were dirty with dust. In the first place, it was strange
that he smelled the smell of flames instead of his own body odour from
Zhenya. He was so angry that he had knocked Kwon Taekjoo
unconscious without permission and had ruined his official duties that
he couldn't think of how he had gotten out of there. He also didn't
know how he had gotten through all that commotion and arrived at
Ajinoki safely. The outside of the island must have already been turned
upside down. If the enemies had noticed Zhenya’s intervention, they
would have chased him and attacked him all the way here. No, he didn't
even know that he was already doing that. He had once again turned
his brothers, his family, and his country into enemies. Just to save Kwon
Taekjoo himself. […...Fuck.] He lowered his head and cursed. His jaw
clenched because his molars were clenched. He always gave me a
feeling of helplessness. Using his innocence that was not like him as a
weapon, blindly. [Taekjoo. Your breathing is too heavy.] His own
breathing was already quite irritating to hear, and now his chest was
heaving rapidly. Even his shoulders were shaking against his will. It
seemed like he was hyperventilating due to extreme stress. No matter
how deeply he inhaled and exhaled, it didn’t get better. Zhenya, who
had been watching blankly, suddenly sat up. He was finally free from
him. He couldn’t even move a finger. The guy who went out of the room
for a moment and came back out put an envelope on Kwon Taekjoo’s
nose and mouth. Kwon Taekjoo frowned in pain and grabbed the poor
guy by the collar. The guy whispered to Kwon Taekjoo, “Breathe slowly.”
As he took several deep breaths, his consciousness gradually became
hazy. He couldn’t tell if it was from the lack of oxygen or the still weak
feeling. He frowned and tried to force his eyes open. His hazy eyelids
finally closed in vain. At the same time, the hand that had been holding
onto Zhenya fell limply. [Yeah. Just take a deep breath.] Zhenya's voice
grew distant. *** "......." When he opened his eyes again, a large
window filled his field of vision. The scenery outside the window was
strangely calm and peaceful. The season of greenery. The dazzling
sunlight pierced through the thick tree branches. A gentle breeze
passed by, gently caressing the bushes in the field. His eyes were blurry,
and his senses in his whole body were awakened one by one. Then, just
a stone's throw away, he stopped at the feeling of his breath. The body
temperature against his back and the strength of his grip squeezing my
wrists were familiar. When he came to his senses, Zhenya’s body was
completely pressed against his back. His two arms were crossed in an X
shape on my chest, and he was holding him, completely blocking his
movements. He buried his head in Kwon Taekjoo’s neck and his long
legs were thoroughly engulfing his lower body. He was held tightly by
him, unable to move. He didn't know how long he had been asleep like
that. How much time had passed since he left the operation site
without permission? His head was still heavy, but his headache was
gone. It seemed like the medicine that had been in his body had been
completely drained. However, due to the physical fight with Zhenya, he
had a new congestion. Zhenya’s hand that was grabbing Kwon Taekjoo’s
arm was also weak. He let out a long exhale. Even though it wasn’t
much of a sound, the breathing of the guy who had been struggling
stopped. Even without looking back, he could tell that the guy was
awake. [...Let go.] The force that was squeezing his body grew stronger
at the quiet command. Zhenya’s forehead was also rubbed against his
shoulder. [Let go.] The suppressed voice was overflowing with anger.
Despite that, Zhenya stubbornly held on. Without saying anything in
return, he only held onto Kwon Taek Joo tightly. Because of that, the
blood flow was cut off, so his skin turned pale, and even the blood
vessels on the back of his hand became clear. Annoyed sigh escaped
him again. Whether it was an illusion or not, the grip that had been
pressing him as if it would break his arm slightly eased. In that gap, he
pushed Zhenya, who was stuck to his back with his shoulder and hip. At
the moment when the restraints loosened, he raised his elbow and
struck the guy. It didn’t have much effect. His limbs were just a little
looser than before. Kwon Taekjoo tried to escape again, and a silent
melee broke out between Zhenya and Taekjoo, who were trying to hold
on tightly. They struggled by grabbing each other’s hands, pulling them
back, twisting their arms, and pushing them away. Suddenly, a thud
sound was heard. It was unclear whether the sound came from
Zhenya’s fingers or Kwon Taekjoo’s wrist. However, the two people who
had been roughly entangled immediately fell cleanly apart. Kwon
Taekjoo rolled over and got out of bed. Zhenya also half-raised himself
and faced each other. “Haa, haa...” [……Taekjoo. Come here.] Zhenya
demanded in a calm tone. Then he was in a state of holding his breath
right before an attack, nothing more or less. Kwon Taekjoo's eyes, which
had been glaring at him, turned to his feet. Something hit his foot, and
he saw his gun, which he had dropped at some point. He looked up
again and stared at Zhenya. Zhenya shook his head silently. His eyes
clearly knew what Kwon Taekjoo was thinking. He picked up the gun
while looking straight into his blue eyes. He immediately aimed the gun
at Zhenya, who was about to rush at him. Zhenya instinctively stopped
and his gaze clashed violently. "......" I.....] The sharp gazes pierced each
other mercilessly. Kwon Taekjoo's pitch-black eyes held not a shred of
affection or regret for his lover. It seemed as if they had been burned to
the brim by the flames that spread to the tip of his head and had been
charred without a trace of light. He slowly pulled the trigger. Zhenya did
not try to move away from the muzzle of the gun. He just stared into
Kwon Taekjoo's eyes and held his breath quietly. His index finger
tightened. Not only the hand holding the gun, but the muscles in his
entire body tightened. His bloodshot eyes shook slightly. If he put in a
little more strength, everything would be over. In the midst of the
silence, a light rang inside his body. The pressure made his head feel like
it was going to burst. Kwon Taek-ju, who had been frowning, finally took
his hand away. At the same time, the air that had been tightly
condensed was released in an instant. He strode briskly toward the
door. A sharp gaze followed the side of his face. The moment he ignored
it and grabbed the doorknob, Zhenya’s voice rang out. [Is this how it's
going to go?] He didn't respond. He only moved his hand, which had
hesitated for a moment, and opened the door. As he was about to walk
out without hesitation, the voice of that damn guy rang out from
behind him. [It can’t go on like this, Lord.] It was a tone that felt more
resentful than angry. Sometimes it even sounded like resentment. At
those words, the moment he escaped Ajinoki, leaving behind Zhenya
who had desperately cried out to him, the moment he left the guy who
had gotten hurt while trying to save him and tried to escape alone as a
model, the moment he had always put this matter first and left the guy
behind to go to work, the moment he had turned away after arguing
loudly and making a rude remark as if he would never see him again,
and even in the midst of all that, the moment he had found the mala-
tang that he had prepared only for Kwon Taek-ju himself came to mind
one after another. The guilt of having repeatedly tried to comfort and
appease the guy and have him beggarly taken care of had piled up as
much as it had. It sank heavily. As a lover, what could be worse? He kept
his mouth shut. He barely controlled his emotions that were about to
explode. Now was not the time to be swept away by such petty
emotions. As he was about to walk again, Zhenya grabbed Kwon
Taekjoo again. [I never gave you permission to go.] [It’s not like I need
your permission.] [Ha. You always act like you want to. Have I been too
loose all this time?] The stubborn tone of his speech became bitter.
Only then did Kwon Taekjoo's cheeks harden noticeably as he turned to
look at Zhenya. The voice that followed was extremely low and cold.
[It's always like that. You act like you're better than everyone else, and
you look down on everyone else...] [Is it my fault again?] In this
situation, all you can say is that it's his fault, his fault, and all that. What
on earth is that guy's thought process? His heart was pounding. [What's
so simple about you, brat?] [You're not unnecessarily complicated, are
you?] [Haa... What am I talking about with you? When could we
communicate?] The sigh-mixed monologue was filled with resignation
and self-mockery. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, he just wanted to let
it all go. He just wanted to give up on everything that made him not
himself. Did he read his feelings? The air in his lover’s voice stirred so
clearly that he couldn’t ignore it. [Take it.] There was a chill in his voice
that he hadn’t felt before. [Go that far.] The warning that followed
sounded even more chilling. [I have limits to how much I can endure, so
stop acting wild.] If they tried to argue any further, it would surely lead
to a fight. So it was better to ignore them. Right now, both of them
need time to cool their heads and emotions. Even though they knew
that, they still lost their temper. [Running? Me? Is that what's coming
out of your little shit's mouth right now? What about you? You
interpret, judge, and act on everything as you see fit! You fucking ignore
other people's positions and opinions, you motherfucker!] The nervous
voice rang out from time to time. The echoes travelled around the
mansion and bounced back several times. But Zhenya didn't care. He
stiffened his face and pushed Kwon Taekjoo away. It was like this.
[Who's being a slut? Don't you think the whining is too much, Taekjoo?]
[Does it look like I'm just whining to you?] [No? It sounds like I had to
put up with it one way or another. How much are you asking me to
compromise? Do you really think of me as a dog just because I gave you
a little bit of a kick? Really? I'm supposed to stay home and wag my tail
when you come back.] [Fuck, I told you to quit if you don't like it! That's
how it was born! You can't change it!] [No, I won’t change. I have no
intention or will to do so.] He was speechless at the sharp accusation.
His tightly clenched teeth cracked. An irritated sigh escaped along with
the exhalation he had been holding back. Zhenya’s face also grew angry.
The bastard slowly shook his head and continued to point out Kwon
Taekjoo’s behaviour. [You always try to control me like that. You flatter
me, you act brave, but when you’re cornered, you threaten me like you
did now.] [Ha... While you were chewing on it like that, didn’t you ever
think about this once? How old are you? Do I have to coax and comfort
you every single day? How long do I have to do this! Even a reckless
child doesn’t throw tantrums like you.] He’s tired, really. He swallowed
his last words. Did that one sigh, no different from a sigh, cause a
ripple? Zhenya slowly sat up, his body that had been motionless the
whole time. The bastard seemed ready to pounce at any moment. He
struck first at that bastard. [Alone.] The bastard hesitated as if the
brakes had been applied at the declaration not to approach or follow
him. He stopped all actions and focused on Kwon Taekjoo’s every move.
Even that was too much for him. It was a rare patience. He was in a
tangled state again, messing up his hair. [Give me some time. We need
to cool down, get over our feelings, and get things done. I don’t think I’ll
ever see your face again before then.] He tried hard to suppress his
anger and confessed calmly. If we kept provoking each other, it would
only build up resentment. However, Zhenya couldn’t easily accept that.
He stood up as if he was going to stop Kwon Taekjoo at any moment.
That alone made the air tremble greatly. Whether it was an illusion or
not, his body odour also became stronger. [Are you going to go like this?
Inevitably?] [I told you. I need time. Please, just stay here. There’s no
benefit to either of us staying together right now.] [If you go alone? Can
you handle this properly?] [What?] [Look at yourself, Taekjoo. Get a grip
on reality.] He expresses his disappointment aggressively. As if that’s the
only way he knows how to express his emotions. He was big, but he was
so young and ignorant. The problem was that the lover of that
dangerous and imperfect being wasn’t a very considerate and
affectionate person. Now, at least, he wakes them up one by one and
Tyler Jul is even more so. [You little brat, get a grip on reality! Are you
and I the only ones who are happy? Are we in a position to play house
like that now?] [That's why I ask. What can you do?] He tramples and
belittles others' efforts and will. He was originally a guy who thought he
was the best in the world and that only his thoughts were right. He used
to look down on others and look down on them, even if they were his
lovers. This time too, he declared to Kwon Taekjoo that he would do
something meaningless. [Nothing will change even if you struggle
alone. It has been like that before and it will be like that in the future.] A
sudden thud was heard. It was because Kwon Taekjoo had slammed his
fist on the door frame. The atmosphere suddenly froze. The sharp air
stabbed his stiff skin. Kwon Taekjoo held his breath while looking
straight ahead. His eyes were covered by his bangs, but he could tell he
had reached his critical point just by looking at his tightly shut lips. [Are
you done talking?] The words that finally came out after a long time
were not questions, but rather questions. Kwon Taekjoo could not
endure any longer and left the bedroom. There was no hesitation in
each step he took. Kwon Taekjoo was just about to climb the stairs
leading to the rooftop. A bullet suddenly flew in and blew away the
finishing material on the upper step. When he turned around, he saw
Zhenya standing there with a pistol. The shadow of the guy on the floor
trembled menacingly. [Taekjoo. Are you going to blow up the National
Intelligence Service with your own hands?] [Try it.] He replied without
hesitation. [Then I won’t see you again.] He looked at Zhenya clearly
and wrinkled his nose. There was no warmth in his gaze. Zhenya also
faced Kwon Taekjoo with sharp eyes. He kept his face tense for a while
and then turned his head. He stopped for a moment and started
walking again. However, he was caught again soon after. Zhenya had
quickly closed the distance between them and hugged Kwon Taekjoo
tightly as if he was going to crush him. He was restraining him so tightly
that he couldn’t take another step. The two arms wrapped around his
waist were as hard as iron. He buried his face in Kwon Taekjoo’s
shoulders without saying a word. He looked like a child who was
throwing a tantrum because he didn’t want to let go of a doll. [You can’t
go.] He stubbornly muttered and squeezed Kwon Taekjoo’s lungs harder.
The despair and hopelessness of not being able to persuade him no
matter what weighed on his whole body. [Yevgeny, please!] A plea close
to a sigh flowed out. There was some irritation and even resentment
mixed in. Was it unexpected? He felt Zhenya flinch. The strength
drained from the bastard’s arms that had been restraining his entire
body. He sighed deeply and finally stabbed the bastard with a knife. [It’s
time you knew. I don’t want to hate you again!] Zhenya’s breath was
quietly drawn in. The fingertips of the guy who had been holding Kwon
Taekjoo were also slightly trembling and unsteady. Even his clumsy
movements were frustrating and infuriating. How long would he have to
tell him, teach him, and enlighten him one by one? He was overcome
with extreme fatigue. [Haa... Even if we stay together now, we'll just
fight, so just let me go.] He asked, looking as if he was exhausted as
ever. Soon after, a cracking sound was heard in his ears. Following that,
Zhenya’s arms that had been restraining Kwon Taekjoo loosened little by
little. His white hands, which were slowly opening, trembled as if they
were enduring an extremely difficult task. He felt uncomfortable
watching him, so he just stared at the empty space. Then, when his
body finally became free, he shook off his arm and climbed up the
stairs. Zhenya didn't follow him any further. All he could hear was the
sound of something repeatedly smashing behind him. It seemed like the
guy was losing control of his anger and destroying all the furniture in
the house. However, he didn't hesitate even for a moment. In fact, he
walked faster. If he hesitated even for a moment, he would collapse.
When he opened the rooftop door, he saw Zhenya's helicopter. One of
the steps had been blown away, and there were clear bullet marks here
and there. The guy was Kwon Taekjoo it was a flaw that could be
expected as he fled from Vladivostok to here with himself. “....." He
started the helicopter with his mouth tightly shut. For now, the most
urgent task was to return to Korea. He had to go there and somehow
clean up the mission he had not been able to complete, the work that
Zhenya had messed up. Maybe the headquarters had noticed Zhenya's
intervention and issued a warrant for his arrest. Russia would not let it
go this time either. In any case, it was better for him to stay here for the
time being. He didn't think about any other problems. He didn't have
time for that. The propeller that had been moving slowly soon began to
spin rapidly with a loud noise. A strong wind suddenly rose, scattering
dust and shaking the trees around the mansion. However, Zhenya did
not chase him to the rooftop. His silhouette was not reflected in the
windows of the mansion. Was he really letting him go like this? Or was
he really angry this time? He kept looking down, feeling a sense of relief
that was both unfamiliar and uneasy. The helicopter that had taken off
slowly left the mansion. As the altitude increased, fragments of shells
scattered all over Ajinoki came into view. The wreckage of the
helicopter that had crashed in the deep valley was also visible.
Suddenly, the smell of flames coming from Zhenya’s body came to
mind. As expected, there seemed to have been a fierce battle during
the process of escaping with Kwon Taekjoo himself. It seemed that the
Russian government had even mobilised military helicopters to pursue
him. Has the order to kill Zhenya already been given? In this situation, it
was hard to leave Zhenya alone. On the other hand, he thought that it
would be safer for him if Kwon Taekjoo himself was not by his side. At
least he would be free from the suspicion of protecting a spy. Looking at
the current situation, Kwon Taekjoo himself was stealing the guy’s
helicopter and running away, so he might be able to get rid of the
suspicion of collusion. Being on the same side should be a
misunderstanding. That was the relationship from the beginning. He
gripped the joystick tightly and clenched his molars. All the problems he
had been worried about exploded simultaneously. He had no idea
where to start and how to untangle the tangled threads that had
become too tangled to handle. Nevertheless, in Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes,
staring beyond the horizon, there was only the blind determination to
fix everything with his own hands, to make sure to do so. *** Taking
advantage of the night, he arrived at the border triangle between
Russia, China, and Kazakhstan. Due to the characteristics of the region,
in addition to Europeans, there were also Chinese Asians. It was a place
with a lot of traffic. Thanks to that, there were no restrictions on
movement even without special makeup. Like most intelligence
agencies, the National Intelligence Service also established a local
exchange base to support overseas operations. This is because if an
embassy or consulate were to take on that role, diplomatic problems
could arise later. The secretly operated exchange base provides
weapons, operating funds, a place to hide, transportation, etc. to agents
who have temporarily lost support. Wesafely made contact with the
Kazakhstan exchange base and received temporary passports and other
items necessary for escape. After that, we stayed in China and looked
for an appropriate time to enter the country. Taking off the Ajinoki took
him ten full days to get to Korea. When he arrived at Incheon Port by
ship, a vehicle sent from headquarters was waiting. What caught his eye
was the number of people accompanying him. There seemed to be at
least fifteen of them. Moreover, they were all armed. This made it seem
more like a deportation than a welcome. “Thank you for your hard
work. I will escort you to the circle.” One of the attendants opened the
back door for Kwon Taekjoo. The other one had already opened the
door on the other side and was wary of Kwon Taekjoo. It seemed like he
would end up between the two and go all the way to headquarters. He
got into the car in silence. He was so tired physically and mentally that
he didn’t have the energy to fight back. “We’ve secured the GL new
recruits. We’ll be returning to the circle at 23:40.” The attendants left
after reporting the situation via radio. The car was as quiet as a mouse
on the way to the National Intelligence Service. Kwon Taekjoo just
closed his eyes and took a short break. Even late at night, the lights
were on everywhere in the headquarters. Now, he wondered if he
would be called to the director’s office and have a blast. Since the
matter was serious, he might be called to the director’s office. Still
surrounded by attendants, He got on the elevator. The elevator, which
was supposed to go up to the second floor, closed its doors and started
going down. In the basement, there was only a windowless
interrogation room and a prison where the subjects of the investigation
were locked up. "Where are you going?" As he was asking, the elevator
stopped. The door opened, revealing a dark hallway. "This way." The
attendants guided Kwon Taekjoo to a nearby interrogation room. He
laughed in vain. Were the agents who failed their missions always
treated like this? The musty basement as soon as he returned. He was
dragged in and questioned about how the operation failed, whether the
agent was at fault, or whether he was in collusion with the outside.
Since this had never happened before, he couldn’t tell if the current
situation was normal or special. Of course, there was enough room for
misunderstanding in the parts of the Vladivostok operation that went
wrong. Kwon Taekjoo had to prove his innocence, and furthermore, he
had to prove why Zhenya had interfered. That’s why he had left Zhenya
behind and returned alone. Kwon Taekjoo didn’t fight back rashly and
went inside. The hallway was dark and humid, and the cramped
interrogation room gave off an even more oppressive feeling. He
glanced around the room with a displeased look. Then, he tried to sit
down on the iron chair in front of him, but the same attendant from
before stopped him. “Excuse me, but I’ll have to search your body for a
moment.” “...Or something like that.” He obediently stood against the
wall behind him. The attendant carefully examined Kwon Taekjoo from
head to toe. He took out the pistol he had on his waist and handed it to
his colleague, and thoroughly checked the inside of his socks as well. He
lifted up his trouser leg and took a knife from the holster of his socks.
But the search was not over. The attendant did not grope his body
anymore, but he felt a strange hesitation from him. He suddenly looked
back. "Why? Should I take off my underwear?" "...No. I think it'll be fine
there. Please wait here for a moment." The attendant was about to
leave in a hurry, but then something came to mind and he said, "Ah."
"Are you a market person?" "Well, can you order some seolleongtang
for me? If necessary." "How long are you going to keep me locked up
like this?" "...Or should I get you something to drink?" "Then, an
Americano like espresso." "Yes. I will prepare it for you." The attendant
quietly closed the door and left. Then, the sound of the door locking
was heard from outside. He had expressed with his whole body that he
had no intention of resisting at all, but he couldn't help but wonder how
wary he was. He leaned back deeply in his chair and tilted his head
back. A long exhalation escaped. He felt the air meaninglessly and fell
into thought. What will Zhenya do now? Is he still staying at Ajinoki? He
was worried that the Russian government might have mobilised forces
again to catch him. Should he have left him alone? He shook his head as
he continued his thoughts. If he had moved with him, it wouldn’t have
been easy to even enter Korea. But he couldn’t keep running away with
him when nothing was resolved. It didn’t seem like there was a safer
place for him than Ajinoki. Here, he’d be treated as a criminal until the
cause of the Vladivostok operation’s failure was clearly revealed. In any
case, there was no benefit to either of them sticking with Zhenya. It
would only make things worse. For now, we had to hold our breath until
the situation calmed down. That was right. Of course it was, but he kept
thinking of Zhenya’s face, the last time he saw him. He looked like he
had been betrayed. It was unfair. He looked upset. He couldn’t control
his rising anger and just let it out, but wouldn’t it have been better to
explain it step by step? He rubbed the back of his head in annoyance. It
was around that time. A faint rustle of activity could be heard outside
the door, and a faint coffee scent wafted in. The lock was released and
Director Kwak came in. “Director.” “Oh, just sit down.” He was about to
get up and greet him as usual, but Director Kwak waved his hand. He
nodded his head. “It’s been a while.” "Yeah. You came back safely."
Director Kwak put the coffee he brought down in front of Kwon Taekjoo
and took out a chair across from him and sat down. Kwon Taekjoo
stared blankly at the coffee in front of him. There was a thin film on the
surface. "Why? I wonder if there was something in it." Director Kwak
saw through Kwon Taekjoo's mind and smiled faintly. Given the
circumstances, it was possible that he had confessed. "No way." "Yeah,
no way."' He spoke in a soft tone, but there was a hint of substance in
his words. It was definitely for Kwon Taekjoo. It seemed as if he was
asking, 'Did I do something that deserved such treatment?' He smiled
without answering. Then, while drinking coffee, he looked at Director
Kwak's face. His eyes were red and he looked quite tired. The joint
operation of Korea, the US, and Japan failed, and now it was exposed,
so there was going to be a fierce battle of responsibility. A successful
operation is not known. There is no award or commendation. Only a
failed operation is revealed to the outside world. The exposure of an
operation meant diplomatic friction. It also meant that someone had to
take responsibility. In such cases, the country usually pretends not to
know, so the agents who were deployed for the operation were accused
of being a spy and punished. That was why the Black Agents were
treated like hunting dogs by the government. He had already explained
the general situation when he had contacted the headquarters through
the Kazakhstan exchange base. However, that alone was not enough to
prove his innocence. As expected, Director Kwak began to ask about the
gap in Kwon Taekjoo's operation. "So. Where have you been?" "On a
remote island in Russia." "A remote island... Did you escape all the way
there on your own? Leaving your hideout like that? In any situation, an
agent must not leave any trace of himself. He must destroy the
evidence of his operation even if it means self-destructing. There was
no exception to that rule, even in urgent situations. For the first time,
he failed to follow that rule. "We were attacked. When I came to, I was
already on that isolated island." “...Armed?" Was it unexpected?
Director Kwak raised his eyebrows, and his forehead furrowed deeply.
He looked suspicious, wondering if there was anyone who could subdue
the most elite agent in one breath. Director Kwak muttered, "Armed
again," and then suddenly asked a guess. "Is this 'Psich' again?" He
couldn't answer. He had planned to explain Zhenya’s involvement, but
he didn't know Director Kwak would make the first move. Director Kwak
smiled as if it was surprising. "I heard that the Russian ambassador to
Korea is called that in his home country? Answer me. Yevgeny
Vissarionovich Bogdanov. Did he show up in Vladivostok too?" "Yes."
"Then that means he was also involved in the conspiracy between
Russia and North Korea?" "That's not true." "No? The Bogdanov family
played a key role in this North Korea-Russia collusion. You wouldn't
deny that fact either, would you? But the youngest son of that family
had nothing to do with it. How can you be sure of that? He was the one
who left his post without permission and directly intervened in our
operation. If he didn't know anything like you said, how could he have
shown up at that time and place? And why did he attack you while you
were on official duty?" "I think he was trying to save me." Director Kwak
tilted his head. A diplomat representing Russia, saving a Korean friend it
was impossible to understand with a normal thought process how he
obstructed official duties knowing full well that it would cause friction
between the countries. Zhenya's actions were against the interests of
his family and his home country, so it was not unreasonable. Even so, he
had to explain several times to prove Zhenya's innocence. "I don't know
how the Russian ambassador to Korea found out about the conspiracy
between Russia and North Korea. As you know, Director, he is a
recognized troublemaker in Russia. It wouldn't be surprising if he
hacked our country's secrets without permission." "Even so, it is
undeniable that Ambassador Bogdanov intervened in our operation. It's
true." "I think the ambassador himself judged that it was a tense
situation. He didn't have the time to consider and weigh the interests
and aftermath involved in the matter." "It was the only way to protect
both you and his family?” "No. Not only has he never harboured
patriotism, he has no interest in the honour of his family. He has not
hesitated to betray his country for his own interests or gain, and he has
done countless things that have harmed his family. That's the reason
I'm still alive." Director Kwak rubbed his forehead and looked at me
again. The director snickered. "Russia appointed such a person as an
ambassador?" "Keeping him by my side would only be a threat, so I got
rid of him. In fact, it's no different from abandoning him in Korea."
"Even so, it's hard to believe. What personal benefit does this have for
him?" Kwon Taekjoo's uncharacteristic innocence toward himself was
bound to make him less convincing. If you take that out, all plausibility
disappears. "What's clear is that he's independently going to Russia and
he said that he found out what North Korea was trying to do and tried
to save me right away. He said it himself." "I want to believe you, but do
you know how far-fetched your argument sounds? Didn't I warn you in
advance? Don't bring private matters into public affairs." "...That was my
fault." He was ashamed. He knew that if Zhenya continued to interfere,
he would be misunderstood like he is now. He also knew that the
headquarters had been keeping an eye on him for a long time. But he
couldn't stop him. "Everything will become clear as we investigate. If
necessary, call Ambassador Bogdanov. It's something that can be
investigated." "It'll be another diplomatic issue. That bastard, after all,
he's a diplomat." "If that diplomat had been espionage-related within
the country, it would be different." "From Russia's perspective, what we
did isn't much different. No, considering the intention, it's like the guy
who farted is getting angry." Director Kwak burst into laughter. "Do you
know how dangerous your remarks are?" "Why do you have to bring up
something that's not worth covering up quietly? There’s no need to
stand up and make a big fuss. Even if we come here now and ask who’s
responsible, what’s already happened won’t go away.” “I agree, but
when something goes wrong, it’s not like it’s going to take a day or two
to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong.” Director Kwak shrugged
his shoulders, furrowing his eyebrows. This way, we can’t get away with
the suspicion of collusion. It was hard to correct the misunderstanding
that Zhenya had turned around. He would have liked to request a lie
detector test, but since he was an agent who had undergone
psychological training for a long time, the reliability of the results would
be low. There was only one solution. "I'll give you the Russian secrets
that Ambassador Bogdanov revealed." "Hmm?" "The operation failed,
so we couldn't find out what Russia and North Korea were trying to deal
with. The goal of the joint operation was to find out that in the first
place." Director Kwak rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. He
couldn't help but be tempted to blow his nose without touching it.
"Let's just go in." "I think Park Jeong-ho discovered a new natural
poison, or virus, on Baekdu Mountain. The poison is ricin, novichok, VX,
and polo. It is said to be no less than Nium-210. It seems that it was
wrapped tightly and transported because it is fatal to the human body
even if you just touch it. Judging from the fact that the Russian state-
run pharmaceutical company 'Parmzashita' was at the forefront, it
seems that they were planning to develop the substance as a chemical
weapon." "If that's true, things will get bigger than I thought." Director
Kwak, who had been listening silently, rubbed his temples. Then he
leaned back and stared at Kwon Taek Joo. That alone made the tense
atmosphere in the investigation room much lighter. "I believe that what
you said is close to the truth. If not, you wouldn't have volunteered to
come back knowing what kind of misunderstanding you would have.
No. I know how special you were to Ambassador Bogdanov. More than
anything, your eyes look really angry right now. It seems like you were
robbed of your food right in front of your eyes." Director Kwak drew the
line. "This is just my opinion. If you want to prove your innocence now,
you need a more definite explanation. Do you understand?" "Yes." "You
are not completely at fault for this incident, so you will not be able to
avoid punishment." "I am prepared." "And just in case you were
wondering, I'm telling you this. The American agent you arbitrarily
excluded unilaterally approached the transport vehicle and died in a
fierce battle with the enemy. The Japanese agent who was waiting at
the Far Eastern Federal University was arrested at the scene and has
gone missing." Director Kwak, who had been delivering news about
'Foxtrot' and 'Sierra', suddenly handed him a tablet. When he turned it
on, a low-quality photo appeared. It showed Asian police officers
recovering a body from the water's edge. "This is...?" "They say an Asian
body was found in Lake Ops on the Russian-Mongolian border early this
morning. It was already so badly decomposed that it was impossible to
identify. It was difficult to determine the cause of death." "Could it be
'Sierra'?” "That's what I have tentatively concluded. The height, blood
type, and other physical characteristics are quite similar to that of the
Japanese agent." "Did you confirm the cause of death?" "Not yet. I
heard that the body was not damaged and there were no signs of
murder, so wouldn't it be treated as natural death due to illness, or
drowning? The Japanese government would rather be buried quietly."
The situation of agents who died during operations was no different in
any country. Agents work for the country, but the country fails to
protect them all. Even though it was bitter, that was the fate of
intelligence agency agents. "What happened to Park Jeong-ho?" "He
went back to North Korea. Since North Korea and Russia were secretly
trying to do something, they'll probably try to keep quiet for a while. In
some ways, it's an opportunity. While you're waiting, we can find out
what the substance you were talking about is. Since Park Jeong-ho
requested rescue from us, we can try to contact him. In any case,
there's nothing we can do until we completely figure out what the
substance is." Director Kwak said that and stood up. Kwon Taekjoo's
eyes followed him for a long time. "It might be uncomfortable, but at
least rest here. You look like you haven't slept in days." "The director is
no different." Director Kwak chuckled at the bold remark. Then, Kwon
Taekjoo, his voice was plain yet unusually gentle. "Anyway, I'm glad you
came back safely." "......." "Don't feel any guilt about the operation
failing or you being the only one to survive. There are things in this
world that can't be helped no matter what you do. If you can survive,
you have to survive somehow. That way, whether it's a cleanup or
something else, I won’t. It’s not my place to say this, but an honourable
death? There’s no such thing. You’re someone’s son, a friend, a
colleague, and a citizen of this country. Who would willingly become a
bullet shield for the few for the safety of the many? I don’t want to lose
my agents so meaninglessly.” Kwon Taekjoo’s chin tightened. Director
Kwak’s eyes fell on his tightly clenched hands. “By the way, is it okay if I
don’t treat that wrist?” Only then did Kwon Taekjoo look at his arm.
There was a dark bruise on his right wrist. It was the area that had been
twisted when he had fought with Zhenya. He received temporary
treatment in Kazakhstan, but the throbbing pain did not subside for
several days. Microfractures were suspected. "It's okay." "It's okay. If
you ignore a minor injury, you can end up with a bone disease. Send a
medical team. From now on, even if it's an investigation, it'll be a
formality, so just endure it for a little while." Director Kwak squeezed
Kwon Taekjoo's shoulder once, then let go and left the investigation
room. Immediately after, the door was locked from the outside. Kwon
Taekjoo relaxed and stared at the blank wall. The past few days felt like
a very long time ago. Still brain Riga was complicated and noisy, to say
the least. He wiped his face with both hands and let out a long sigh.
Failure. Escape. And Zhenya. It was too much to bear the gruesome
facts and variables that he had thought would never exist in his life, but
now had to accept. It seemed like it was going to be a long night. Black
smoke hung everywhere. Both hands No matter how hard he pushed
through, the darkness only grew deeper, and it was difficult to see even
an inch ahead. The pungent air suffocated me and surged forward. He
shook off the darkness that kept trying to swallow him up and took
each step forward. It was not easy to take even one step, as if he was
stuck in a swamp. Soon, his vision gradually opened up, and he saw a
boy sitting there. Ivory hair. A round back of the head. White,
transparent skin that showed the veins. Just from that, he could tell
who he was. And that he was having another damn dream. Zhenya. He
tried to scream, but his throat was blocked and he couldn't make a
sound. Through the gap in his mouth, only the spicy and hot gas was
fiercely sucked into his throat. The darkness he had swallowed in a daze
blackened his insides and spread to his limbs. While he was writhing in
pain, the empty space suddenly lit up brightly. Countless clusters of
lights were falling to the ground. Was it a meteor? No, it felt a bit
unsettling and bizarre. While he was trying to figure out what the
above-mentioned flame was, the space shook violently as soon as the
light that fell in a long arc made contact with the ground. Then, the
ground he was standing on split open. He looked at the boy in a hurry.
The boy sat there and looked at Kwon Taek Joo indifferently. He just
looked back. For some reason, the child’s face wasn’t clearly
concretized. He couldn’t even tell what kind of expression the child was
making. ‘Taekjoo. Are you leaving me behind again?’ Only a cold voice
sounded strangely clear in his ears. In the meantime, shells rained down
on the child, shattering the surroundings. He called the child’s name at
the top of my lungs, but his screams didn’t make a sound. His legs were
stuck to the ground and he couldn’t move. He struggled to run to the
child, his limbs flailing. The more he did that, the more the distance
between him and the child grew. Regardless of his will, he kept getting
further and further away. The moment the child's resentment hit his
heart, a white halo of light crashed down in one place. The resulting
tyranny blew Kwon Taekjoo away in an instant. When he opened his
tightly shut eyes, he saw the silhouette of a child struggling in a huge
flame. And soon, even that disappeared without a trace. My eyelids
opened wide. Before my whole body's senses could even come back, he
hurriedly looked around. All he could see was a dark grey wall. Thump
thump. His heart was dizzy; he jumped up and down, triggering a weak
urge to swear. He covered his mouth with the back of his hand and tried
to calm his rough breathing. His mind gradually cleared up and he came
back to reality. Did he doze off? He slowly leaned back against the back
of the chair. As he wiped his face, his palms became damp with cold
sweat. He knew it was a dream, even in his dream. But he couldn't stay
calm for a while. Even after waking up, he couldn't calm down. He
clenched his trembling hands into fists. "Haa, damn it..." If it was a
nightmare where young Zhenya appeared, no it was nothing new. A
dream is just a dream, and nothing similar to it has happened until now.
But he couldn't figure out why his heart was pounding so hard. Is there
something wrong with Zhenya? He couldn't check right away, so he felt
suffocated and anxious. He couldn't openly ask about the guy's well-
being, since he was suspected of colluding with Zhenya. How long
should he be trapped here? How much time had passed? He felt like all
his senses were becoming duller. On the other hand, the anxiety that
had grown inside him grew bigger and bigger. 'Taekjoo, are you leaving
me? Me again.' The resentment that had been in his nightmare echoed
in his mind again and again. [You can't go on like this, Taekjoo.] The last
time he saw Zhenya, he kept thinking about it. If it were before, he
would have tied up Kwon Taekjoo himself by force, but for some reason,
he didn't. What was he afraid of? [He always tries to control me like
that. He flatters me, acts brave, and when he's cornered, he threatens
me like he did now.] How long had he harboured such a grievance? He
didn’t know at all. He knew everything, but he just rationalised it as
something he couldn’t do. He made a fuss to his lover who only
followed him, asking him to look after him at least. He was relieved by
his answer that he would chase him no matter how far. But he himself
had ignored his habitual loneliness. The more he thought about it, the
more guilty he felt. He needed to be more cool-headed to solve public
issues, but he kept thinking about Zhenya, who he left alone. He
worried if he was taking care of him properly, even though he was a
grown man. He took a deep breath again and scratched his head. Then
suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Random thoughts: He was so
absorbed in it that he didn't even notice anyone approaching. Soon
after, the lock was released and the door opened slowly. The one who
peeked his head through the gap was none other than Yoon Jong-woo.
"Senior!" "Why are you knocking on the door that you're going to come
in through?” “Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" Yoon Jong-woo
busily examined Kwon Taekjoo, not caring about the sudden insult. He
kept his eyebrows furrowed and examined the person for a long time.
Before long, a sigh of relief escaped him. "Oh, I'm glad you're okay. I
was so worried that you might have been in a terrible situation since
you've been locked up for two days." "What a terrible thing." "Why is
that? You demand confession right away, but you keep pressuring,
beating, and torturing people..." "You've watched too many movies, you
know." While scolding, Kwon Taekjoo warily glanced at the CCTV
cameras in all directions. "More importantly, can you come here now?"
"Oh, the director told me to let you go, senior. Until we have another
call, Go home and rest." "Were there any other requests?" "Yes. As long
as you don't go abroad, you can live freely, right? Fortunately, right?” It
was put nicely, but it ultimately meant that an order to ban you from
leaving the country had been issued. The freedom to live freely was
only within the normal range of life. You were tied to the country until
some kind of disposition was made. "What do you think? You should go
home quickly. Your mother must be worried again." "My mother went
to Canada." He briefly told his mother about her recent situation and
got up. After sitting in an uncomfortable chair for two days, every cell in
his body felt like screaming. If only he could, he wanted to go into a
deep sleep and sleep soundly. He left the investigation room and walked
slowly, but Yoon Jong-woo kept following him. He was nagging at Kwon
Taekjoo. It seemed like he had something to say. "Why?" "Yes?" "What
are you trying to say?" "... No, I'm telling you to cheer up." "Suddenly?"
"I thought you were worried. You're a perfectionist, senior." Is this
consolation for the failed operation? Certainly, once he started
something, he always finished it. He completed his intentions and plans
no matter what. He hated having a bad aftertaste in any situation. He
thought that an uneasy ending always leads to regret, and that there
was nothing more foolish than being caught up in that and looking
back. Because of that tendency, he preferred things that had a definite
outcome, and he tried to handle everything flawlessly. If he couldn't do
that, he didn't even touch it from the beginning. Whatever he was
assigned, he gave it 100% It would only hurt his self-satisfaction with
achieving something. It was the same in his interpersonal relationships.
Maybe that’s why. Even when he reluctantly took on the Russian
mission due to the scheme of his superiors, and even when he met
Zhenya like that, he still felt uneasy. At the time, he thought it was just a
one-time exception, and he thought nothing would change because of
it. However, after he was defenselessly confronted by the storm called
Zhenya that came without any time to avoid it, my firmly held beliefs
began to creak. He often got lost in other thoughts while working, and
he couldn’t completely cut off his lover who interfered in his public
sphere for personal reasons. On the contrary, he was secretly happy
when Zhenya showed up. He was always worried about his own safety
before the country. It was not like Kwon Taekjoo himself. Work and love
were both a mess, not doing anything right. That was why his mood was
sinking so low. "Honestly, this was inevitable. The plan was ruined
because I was acting alone in the US. It's definitely not my fault, senior."
"I can't say it's not my fault at all." Ne accepted it knowing full well
where Zhenya came from, where he was from, and his temperament. It
wasn't like someone forced him to turn his back. It was also obvious
that a crisis like this would come someday, or maybe many times. It was
small. The only variable, exception, and gamble that he put into his life.
He stopped for a moment and stood there, lost in deep thought. Yoon
Jong-woo, who was watching, let out an awkward laugh. He tried to
change the mood with a bright voice. "Instead of this, how about having
a drink after a long time? I'll buy it!" The stingiest of stingies offered to
buy the drink. Why did he look so depressed? He smiled and rejected
the rare offer. “I'm tired. I'll just go home and rest.” "Hey, don't be like
that. You shouldn't be so down at times like this. Your mother isn't here
either. If you do, there will be no one to nag you at home. You will skip
meals and sleep in the morning." "That is the most urgent thing right
now." "Hey, I can't say that because I am worried!" "What are you
worried about? Why are you suddenly acting so strange?" "Well, it is
because of the situation. Mr. Yevgeny won't be able to come in for a
while either..." "...How would you know that?" He suddenly dug in.
Yoon Jong-woo hesitated as if he was caught off guard, but soon
confessed obediently. "The director told me that Mr. Yevgeny, you told
me to keep an eye on him without fail?” "Why him?" "If Mr. Yevgeny
was involved this time too. I don't think it's been reported to the higher-
ups yet, but since the operation failed, it could be a big problem. Two
agents who were deployed for the operation have already died, and my
senior is missing... If it's later known that my senior has returned alive,
the US and Japan will demand an explanation from us. They'll ask how
my senior escaped the scene alone. If we do anything, it's very likely
that my senior will be misunderstood as colluding with Mr. Yevgeny. We
also have to prove that we had nothing to do with it, and until the
matter is settled, my senior will have to go to Yevgeny. It’s better not to
contact Mr. Ni. I think that’s the only way to prove my senior’s
innocence. Judging from the fact that he entrusted me with monitoring
Mr. Yevgeny, it seems that the director still wants to trust me, my
senior.” Yoon Jong-woo continued to watch Kwon Taekjoo’s expression
and tried to persuade him indirectly. It was a subtle suggestion that he
should not contact Zhenya in any way for the time being. It was like an
unofficial warrant was issued for Zhenya. It wasn’t Romeo and Juliet,
and it wasn’t funny. Zhenya couldn’t enter Korea for a while. Kwon
Taekjoo couldn’t even go see him. For now, he refrained from even
contacting Zhenya. It was a situation where he had to do it. The Russian
government and the Bogdanov family would not look kindly on him
either. He had abandoned a guy who had nowhere to put his heart on a
remote island. Kwon Taekjoo boasted as if he would quickly take care of
everything, but in reality, he could do nothing. [Do you really have to
strangle me again?] [.....] [It’s time you knew. I don’t want to hate you
again.] The moment he finally let go of Kwon Taekjoo, the guy’s
fingertips that had been hesitating, worrying, and confused were vivid.
He was doing something he really didn’t want to do, something
absolutely impossible. It felt like he could handle it. Otherwise, he
would be hated by his lover again. He would be afraid that the
relationship he had barely managed to maintain would be ruined and
would never be able to recover. Kwon Taekjoo himself thoroughly
exploited the bastard’s anxiety. Under the pretext of protecting the
bastard, he was busy ignoring and criticising the bastard’s actions that
were actually intended to protect him. “Damn it...” Suddenly, his chest
tightened. He felt a sense of helplessness like never before, wondering
how to solve the problem that had become so tangled. A sense of
helplessness weighed down his entire body. *** He spent several days
locked up in the house. There was no contact from the headquarters,
and he couldn’t even dare to contact Zhenya, knowing full well that he
was being watched. He didn’t wash or eat properly, and just lay on the
sofa. He just slept until the boundaries between each day became
unclear. When he woke up, he would think about things that had no
answer, and he would think about them again, until his mind started to
feel dizzy. His thoughts, which had not reached any conclusions, would
return to the starting point. Every day passed by in an infinite loop, his
thinking circuits paralyzed and he fell asleep, extremely unproductive.
When he couldn't sleep anymore, he got up with a jerk. He had rested
so much that he felt like he weighed a ton. It felt like he had become a
rusty machine in a few days. “....." He sat there blankly and looked
around. His phone had already fallen on the floor. It had already gone
dead. He slowly found the charger, plugged it in, and turned it on. The
battery level was 0%, so his phone would light up and then turn off
again. But he stubbornly repeated the same thing. After about 3
minutes, the screen turned on. He immediately started counting the
missed calls. The only callers that stood out were his mother and Yoon
Jong-woo. It was. He searched up and down for a while more, but he
couldn't find Zhenya’s name. The same was true for the unfamiliar
number that was supposed to be his. He wasn't the kind of guy who
would contact me regularly. Moreover, right now, it was best not to
contact each other in any way. He knew it in his head, but there was
nothing he could do about the frustration inside. If he had known this
would happen, Kwon Taekjoo himself should have wiretapped Zhenya.
Then at least he wouldn't have been worried about what he was doing
and whether he was okay. While mulling over such thoughts, he called
his mother. The call was disconnected before the connection tone even
lasted a single time. Then came an urgent call, his mother’s voice was
heard.- Taekjoo? Why can't I get in touch with you! "Oh... My phone
was off. I forgot to charge it."- What? Your phone's been off for a day,
and you just found out? "Actually, I lost it. I just found it today."- Oh my,
you too. The kid seems to be very stubborn. Does he always act like
this? He wondered if his heart was in his throat. His mother kept
nagging him.- I can't even get in touch with the ambassador, so I am
worried that something might have happened. Was there an accident?
Was something else going on at the embassy? If I didn't get a call today,
I was going to go home tomorrow. "Hey, Mom too. Now that you're all
grown up, you're getting old, why are you doing that? Auntie, you're
probably going to be so mean. No news is good news, right?"- That kid?
You're making Mom so mad, and you're saying that? "It's okay since
we've gotten a call now. How's Auntie? Has she had her surgery yet?
What's the weather like there? Does the food suit your taste? Is there
anything inconvenient about your stay?" He changed the subject wittily.
His mother, who had been listening quietly, suddenly said in a calm
voice, “Taekjoo.” At the same time, his forced laughter subsided.- Are
you sick? “No. I told you not.”- Are you not sick? “Yes. Nothing is
wrong.”- But why is my son’s voice so low? “Ahem. I guess it’s because
I’ve been sleeping all this time. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a
good night’s sleep.” He cleared his throat and lied to his mother. A soft
sigh came out of his mother.- Yes. Our son can do anything and solves
any problem smoothly. Mom, I will trust you. "Hey, you're acting like
this again. Mom, your son eats well and lives well on his own, so don't
worry. Take care of your health. Don't neglect your sleep and meals just
because you're taking care of me."- Got it. Call me regularly, Seok-ah.
I'm worried about you. Okay? "It's been 10 seconds since you said you
trust me, son. Please hang up."- Okay. Let's talk again. He ended the call
with his mother’s request. A sigh escaped his lips. How long will he have
to lie to his mother? Since joining the National Intelligence Service, he
has only lied. He makes promises to people he cares about that he can’t
keep. “...” He checked his absence records again. He couldn’t see
Zhenya’s name anywhere. It was only natural that he hadn’t heard from
him since he had been so busy. No matter how much he tried to be
gentle with Kwon Taekjoo, he still had pride. He must have been angry.
He must have been upset. The one who had suggested that they stay
apart for a while was Kwon Taekjoo himself. In a normal romantic
relationship, it was an expression used when saying goodbye. No matter
how angry he was, he thought he was too angry. At the time, he hated
the sight of him, but it didn’t mean that he should never see him again.
Even if Kwon Taekjoo himself is like that, does he now not want to hear
from his mother? Up until now, even when he was in a cold war with
Kwon Taekjoo, he used to get along well with his mother as usual. He
had a fight with him over something trivial some time in the past. He
was drinking alone to vent my anger, and then he went back to his
house to make up. He wasn’t there. He called him right away, but he
must have been really upset and didn’t pick up. He kept trying to call
him and even sent him messages while waiting for him. But he kept
calling him late at night. Rock didn't show up. When he got home
exhausted from the product, he was drinking wine with his mother.
How graceful was the hand that rejected Kwon Taekjoo's phone call
right in front of his nose. When his mother suddenly asked him why he
upset the ambassador, he was so dumbfounded. Was he so depressed
that he ignored his mother's calls? Or was he in a situation where he
couldn't communicate with anyone? No, he has to worry about the guy
you're worried about. He's not the kind of guy who'd be caught easily if
someone came to catch him. Even though he denied it, he couldn't calm
his nerves. Even if he left his child alone at the water's edge, he
wouldn't be that anxious. It didn't seem like it. "...ah." Suddenly, a way
to check on Zhenya’s current situation came to mind. He immediately
put that thought into action. He looked through the contacts on my
phone and called someone. The call connected three or four times
before it was disconnected.- Taekjoo? A half-hearted voice came from
the other end of the phone. It was Olga. [Yeah. It's me.]- Taekjoo called
me. What's going on? The voice asking was filled with surprise and joy.
He felt awkward for no reason and touched the back of his neck. [I
wonder if you’ve seen Zhenya recently. I haven’t heard about him.] -
Hmm?Well? Meeting that guy was like an annual event to me. […
Really?]- Did you fight again? She hit the nail on the head without
warning. He didn’t respond. Was that enough of an answer? Olga said
[Hmm…] and easily guessed Kwon Taekjoo’s intentions.- If you're asking
if that guy came to my parents' house, he didn't. For some reason, the
atmosphere at home is very gloomy. Maybe it's because of that author?
What on earth did he do this time? [You don't know that,]- I don't know
why you called me when it's something I don't need to know. He
sarcastically mocks me. He doesn't think anyone would say we're not
siblings, so he can't help you for free. It seemed like he should at least
explain the situation. [I can't go into detail because it's related to official
business. It's against the National Security Act. Even if you find out, it
won't benefit you. You'll be hurt too. If it doesn't get worse, that's
good?]- After already dragging them in? [Who would find it suspicious
that my younger brother is looking into what my older brother is
doing?]- Others might, but not us. It certainly seemed like a far-fetched
story for the Bogdanov family. It wasn't a metaphor for Zhenya and Olga
meeting like an annual event.- If that guy had upset my father or my
other older brothers, wouldn't that be a good thing for Taekjoo? [What
are you talking about all of a sudden?]- It seems like you've been
arguing a lot about things related to Taekjoo? Don't interfere in other
countries' affairs, diplomatic disputes may arise, I'll strip you of your
diplomatic status, the family won't protect you anymore.... That guy is
the one who's doing all that because he's involved in Taekjoo’s affairs,
right? [......]- Do you know what that guy says every time? [...Well.]- He
asked me if I was still curious about how 'Anastasia' came to be? Do
whatever you want. Then let me see 'Anastasia' with my own eyes. He
threatened my father and brothers instead. He covered his eyes with his
hand. The back of his neck hurt. He knew that Zhenya had not been on
good terms with his own blood relatives for a long time. He had often
turned his back on his family and his country since he started interfering
with Kwon Taekjoo’s official affairs. But he didn’t think he would
respond to the threats directed at Zhenya with even bigger threats.
[Anyway, the situation has become a bit complicated, so I can’t look into
that bastard myself for the time being. I can’t contact either of them
carelessly. It’s hard to get news from them until something big happens
here, so I wonder if that bastard if you feel like this is going to get
dangerous, call me right away.]- Barefoot? [I'll pay you back later,
somehow. Please.]- Hmm. I have nothing else to say. [Did you just live a
lie?]- Well, it's not a difficult request. But if that human is in trouble
after fighting with Taekjoo, I can't approach that island carelessly either.
He might even shoot down my helicopter. [No way.]- No way? You didn't
know, Taekjoo. [What?]- When Taekjoo was captured on that island
before. The government forces came in and both Taekjoo and I were in
danger. After that, it seems like that guy installed something on the
island? I don’t know exactly what it is, but it seems like a system that
responds to all aircraft and missiles that approach without permission.
How many have you already been hit by? Is it that they installed an
airborne interception missile on the island? He suddenly remembered
when he was escaping from Ajinoki a while ago. He saw several pieces
of aircraft torn like pieces of paper all over the island. All of them were
simply confrontations with Zhenya. He thought they were crashed
helicopters, but maybe not. Since he was always with him when he
went in and out of the island, he didn't know if they had a separate
defence system. In the current situation, it was rather fortunate. If
Ajinoki had become such an impregnable fortress, no one would be
able to rashly threaten or attack Zhenya.- Anyway, I'll listen to the
author's news from time to time and tell you if I hear anything. [Yeah.
Even if it's something trivial, it doesn't matter.]- You're really making a
fuss about love. Let's hang up now. Olga grumbled in annoyance until
the end, but she seemed excited because something fun had happened
after a long time. After finishing the call with Olga, the house felt
quieter than before. He checked just in case, but there was still no call
from Zhenya. What could he be doing now? Maybe he’s playing the
contrabass alone again. Maybe he’s exterminating all living things on
the island because he couldn’t handle it. Maybe. Since he’s been
listening to his every move, he might be watching him from somewhere
right now. With such a baseless thought, he shouted into the air. [Hey,
Zhenya. Are you listening?] He waited for a moment, but there was no
answer. No, there was no way he would come back in the first place. He
scratched the back of his head and collapsed on the sofa. He felt
endlessly helpless at the problem that he had no idea where to start.
The monotonous days continued. When he was working, 24 hours were
not enough, but when he didn’t do anything, he wondered if the day
had been that long. In the meantime, he confirmed a few facts. First, his
access to the National Intelligence Service server was gone. All of that
made it impossible to obtain any information about the failed
operation, let alone the situation in which it was happening. It was as if
they were excluded from all work. Second, the Vladivostok operation
was thoroughly covered up. Around the same time, he looked through
all the articles from the world's media that mentioned the area.
However, there was absolutely no mention of it other than the report
that Russia and North Korea had met in Vladivostok for technical
cooperation. As for 'Foxtrot,' there was only a one-line article that an
American man had died in a collision between a cargo truck and a
passenger car. Given the circumstances, it seemed that Russia, the US,
South Korea, and Japan were all busy keeping quiet. There was no way
to know what happened to Park Jeong-ho, who had returned to North
Korea, whether the microorganism he had discovered had ended up in
Russian hands, or whether research was really underway to weaponize
the substance. When attempts to dig up a secret are discovered, the
secret tends to be hidden even deeper. "Haa, haa..." He put down the
dumbbell and took a deep breath. When his mind was complicated, he
would work his body to relieve distracting thoughts. That was why
when his body was in pain, he would not think of anything and would
focus on the pain itself. He felt pain and heat as if the fibres in his
muscles had been torn apart. His whole body was covered in sweat. It
had been a long time since that happened. Usually, he would feel
refreshed just by doing that, but for some reason, this time, the chaos
in his mind and heart did not go away at all. He was about to sit down
on the bench press, thinking that it would get better if he did more. The
doorbell rang out of nowhere. But there was no one to come at this
hour. His mother couldn’t have suddenly come back from Canada. Could
it be Zhenya? As that thought crossed his mind, he quickly got up. He
was about to go to the front door and open it, but a familiar face
flashed on the intercom screen behind him.- Senior. It was Yoon Jong-
woo. It was unexpected that he came at this hour. Still, he lost his
strength. His urgent gestures also became feeble. "Why did you come?"
"Wow... I didn't expect you to welcome me barefoot, but I didn't know
you'd treat me this badly. You're new." "You're in the middle of working.
Did you get kicked out?" "You weren't secretly hoping for that, were
you? I used up my half-day leave." Yoon Jong-woo grabbed the front
door, saying, "I'm hungry." But Kwon Taekjoo didn't give him a chance.
“Why are you here when you’re hungry? Is my house a restaurant?”
“Your mother said she made a lot of side dishes at home and told me to
go eat.” “My mother?” “Yes. She called me because she was worried
about me. She said she would appreciate it if I stopped by once in a
while while she was in Canada.” “I saw it, so go back.” “You’re being
rude again. I brought you some news that you might be curious about.”
Kwon Taekjoo’s defences loosened as if it were a lie. Yoon Jong-woo
opened the door wide during that moment. He went inside the house.
He usually headed to the kitchen, but he stuck out his tongue when he
saw the dumbbells that Kwon Taekjoo had lined up. "Oh my. You've
been stuck at home doing nothing but lifting weights? What kind of
exercise do you do so desperately? They say your joints won't be there
anymore." "You should do something." "You haven't eaten either, have
you? You should eat a lot of protein so you don't lose muscle." Yoon
Jong-woo pretended not to hear Kwon Taek Joo’s nagging and took out
the side dishes. He heated up the soup that was in the fridge and made
scrambled eggs. After setting the table, he sat down. He said, “Come
on,” and took a seat first. He couldn’t tell who was the host and who
was the guest. He sat down across from Yoon Jong-woo in silence. Then,
he pushed down Yoon Jong-woo’s spoon, which was about to scoop up
soup, with his spoon. Yoon Jong-woo seemed to have expected that
much, so he immediately gave up on the soup and scooped up rice.
Kwon Taekjoo also blocked his forehead with his spoon. “Ah, senior! You
say you don’t even touch a dog when you’re eating, so why are you
doing this?” “Tell me. Is this news that I should be curious about?”
“Can’t we eat first?” Kwon Taekjoo shook his head leisurely yet coolly.
Yoon Jong-woo, who had been looking at the delicious food without any
regrets, let out a long sigh. Then he suddenly looked around. He
seemed worried that someone might be watching or eavesdropping.
"No. I checked." "If that's what you're saying, then that must be it."
"How long are you going to knock on the stone bridge? Stop and tell me
quickly?" "I got a call from Olga." "Olga?" "Yes. My senior told Olga to
ask Yevgeny. If you asked me to find out how I was doing,” "Why didn't
you tell me directly?" "Olga, you must be careful. You asked me why
Yevgeny and your senior can't contact each other. It's hard to tell you in
detail, but I said that it's because you could be accused of collusion
given the current situation." "I should report you for violating the
National Security Act." "Hey, why are you doing this between us? And
you didn't tell me what happened. I just told you what I said." "Is this
kid positive or just a jerk? If Yevgeny and I are the problem, then you
and him are no different? You're clearly an NIS agent and she's the
daughter of a big shot in Russia, right? Yevgeny, your sister." "We're...
not directly related. If it comes down to it, you can just say we're getting
to know each other carefully, Olga." He didn't like the way she blushed
and smirked. He clicked his tongue in disapproval and asked in passing.
"'So. What's going on?" "Olga?” "No. Yevgeny, that jerk." He got angry
without realising it. Yoon Jong-woo grumbled, “Why are you angry?”
and obediently relayed Olga’s words. “Thankfully, he said he wasn’t
detained anywhere. Olga said he was locked up on some island, and no
one had been going there for a while.” “Hey, that’s news...” “Even if I
wanted to know more, I couldn’t. Mr. Yevgeny doesn’t allow anyone to
approach him, and he’s blocked all communications, so wiretapping or
anything like that is impossible.” Why not? Even when Kwon Taekjoo
was detained in Ajinoki, he had no way to escape on his own. Oh, he
was at a loss. When he asked Olga to find out about Zhenya, he didn’t
mean to infiltrate there in any way. He just wanted her to find out the
atmosphere and trends of the house. “Ah! I told you that if I told you
this, you’d feel a little more at ease.” “What’s going on?” “It seems that
Olga’s family doesn’t prioritize Yevgeny’s problem. They seem to be
busy with other outside work.” “... Other outside work?” Could it be
because of the research on Baekdu Mountain microorganisms? Using
that substance to sell a cure. Are you trying to do that? Or are you really
trying to start a war? Either way, it was an outdated and inhumane act.
"You. Haven't you heard anything?" "Yes? What, what?" "Did you see
that headquarters completely folded because the operation failed?
They must have planned the next operation." "Well. I'm not good at...
Wow, this stir-fried dried shrimp and chilli peppers is really delicious.
You should eat quickly, too. The soup is almost done." Yoon Jong-woo
awkwardly changed the subject and resumed eating. However, under
Kwon Taekjoo's piercing gaze, the tips of his chopsticks trembled and he
couldn't even eat a single shrimp. He couldn't even pick up the tea
properly. Kwon Taekjoo silently picked up dried shrimp and chili peppers
and placed them on top of Yoon Jong-woo's rice. Even so, he didn't take
his prying eyes off him. Yoon Jong-woo, who had been eating his rice
with difficulty, looked wary of his son-in-law again. Kwon Taekjoo sighed
deeply and scolded him for being cowardly. "Well, I told you there's no
such thing as a wiretapping device." Despite repeated persuasion, Yoon
Jong-woo couldn't be reassured and leaned his upper body toward
Kwon Taekjoo. Then he whispered faintly. "Actually. The director
urgently needs you to sort out the agents operating in Turkey and Iran.
More. Vice-ministerial meetings have been held several times in the
past few days.” “Suddenly?” Yoon Jong-woo nodded several times. “It
will be reported soon, but I heard there is a three-party summit.”
“Trilateral summit? Who is the ‘three-party’?” “The leaders of Iran,
Turkey, and Russia are meeting in Tehran.” His mind was blank at the
unexpected combination. For some reason, he couldn’t shake the
feeling that he had set fire to a huge bomb. 7. Restart The Game The
office of the director of the National Intelligence Service's Overseas
Intelligence Bureau. On the spacious desk was a nameplate with the
words 'Director of Overseas Intelligence Bureau, Kwak Young-han'
engraved on it. Beyond him, Director Kwak repeatedly scanned the
monitor with a serious expression. Ahead of the deputy director-level
meeting, he was looking over the profiles of black agents whose main
area of activity was the Middle East. It was to find the right person for
the new operation. Since the issue was so serious, he had to be a
veteran with a lot of experience and a high level of loyalty. He also
needed the judgement and drive to complete his mission in any
situation. As the regime changed over the years, the organisation of the
National Intelligence Service was also greatly reorganised. The existing
North Korea Counterintelligence Agency and the Overseas Intelligence
Agency were merged into one, and the first deputy director scope and
scale of the work in charge also increased. The problem was that there
was no significant change in the number of employees. There were
almost no new recruits willing to take on difficult tasks at a time like
this. As the number of agents retiring increased and the number of new
recruits decreased, the company suffered from an unexpected
manpower shortage. Agents specialising in faraway regions like the
Middle East were even harder to find. There were some employees who
stayed in the area for a long time and occasionally performed assigned
duties. However, in those cases, there were many cases of double
agents acting as agents and making personal gains. Furthermore, Iran
was a typical pro-North Korea country. That was why they had to be
careful in finding the right person for a new operation. He looked over
and over again the resumes of the agents who had been selected as
candidates. But no matter how many times he repeated it, there was no
answer. He was trying to take a break while holding my head, when
there was a knock on the door. Director Kwak shut all the windows he
had opened and came in. Soon, his secretary came in and bowed. "Yes.
What's the matter?" "G1 urgently wants to see you, Director." Kwon
Taekjoo? What business could he suddenly have? I thought he had
humbly accepted the headquarters' order since he said he would stay at
home as if he was a good-natured person, but that was not the case.
Will he? Are you going to assert your innocence again? "Let him in."
After much thought, Director Kwak agreed to meet with Kwon Taekjoo.
After his secretary left, Kwon Taekjoo entered the office. He bowed and
gave him a deadline. "I have an important meeting next. Ten minutes.
More than that is difficult." "It will be over before then." "What's going
on? I thought you said you'd call me when the time came, but you're
not resting at home." "I want to know what happened to Park Jeong-
ho.” He tilted his head at the request of the idiot. "Isn't he someone you
should remember anymore?" "I've been reviewing the situation at the
time while I was on duty. If our espionage activities were exposed,
doesn't that mean the other party is aware of our attention? Even if
they are guys who don't pay attention to the surrounding countries, I
don't think they'll push ahead with the original plan. But it would be too
much effort to just give up. Park Jeong-ho, did you really go back to
North Korea?" Director Kwak didn't answer and looked at Kwon
Taekjoo's eyes. He looked at him. Kwon Taekjoo also responded to his
gaze without wavering. For a while, no conversation took place between
the two. Soon, Director Kwak leaned back in his chair. He slowly shook
his head and drew a line. “In any case, this is out of your hands.” “If the
operation on the relevant matter has not been concluded yet, I would
like to sort it out.” “I understand that you want to properly wrap up the
pending work, but you need to get out of this. Emotions can ruin things.
It's the law." "Shouldn't you give me a chance to explain myself?"
Director Kwak raised his eyebrows at the continued argument.
"Explanation?" "It's unfair to be misunderstood for something I didn't
do, and to be excluded from work simply because of suspicion. I feel like
everything I've built up so far is being denied. How long do I have to
wait? Will my reputation be cleared if I wait?" "It's a matter of national
fortune. It's not a situation where you can take care of your own
reputation...." "What is left in our work without honour?" "......." A
sacred sacrifice for the country. If even that justification disappears,
nothing remains. The justification for giving up one's personal life and
deceiving loved ones will also fade away. "Please let the operation be
completed. Ambassador Bogdanov of Russia will not be involved in this
matter. I will prove my innocence with results." Director Kwak's worries
deepened. There were also mixed opinions in the National Assembly
regarding the disposal of Kwon Taekjoo. The Counter-Communist
Investigation Bureau said that it was necessary to closely investigate the
collusion between Kwon Taekjoo and Ambassador Bogdanov. He
insisted, and Director Kwak countered that Ambassador Bogdanov
should rather be seen as Kwon Taekjoo's source of information. This
was because Zhenya's intervention had always been useful for what the
National Assembly had been trying to achieve. In the end, no conclusion
was reached, so they decided to discuss the issue again after Zhenya
returned to Korea. They also agreed to exclude Kwon Taekjoo from all
work until then. In this situation, there would have been fierce
opposition to deploying him in a new operation. "I heard that Russia is
holding a tripartite summit with Iran and Turkey in Tehran. That was not
originally scheduled. It is highly likely that he will mention the Baekdu
Mountain microorganisms at this time." "That is highly probable."
"There is no agent that can be dispatched to the Middle East, right?”
"That is the biggest problem." Director Kwak smiled brightly, his face
hardened. In fact, there were almost no agents in the organisation who
had carried out operations in the Middle East. A diehard individual who
was not interested in personal gain and was solely focused on carrying
out operations. A veteran with a long history. A specialist who was
fluent in Persian and had been monitoring trends in the Middle East for
a long time. The only person who met all of these conditions was Kwon
Taekjoo. Director Kwak opened his mouth heavily after a long thought.
“Park Jeong-ho contacted us urgently a while ago." "Park Jeong-ho?"
"Yes. He said he wanted asylum in a third country in exchange for
providing the information we wanted." "But Park Jeong-ho..." "He has a
family. A wife and children." Director Kwak handed him the tablet.
When he turned it on, a picture of Park Jeong-ho's family appeared. It
was a very ordinary and happy-looking family. When he turned to the
side, a map of the border area between North Korea and China filled
the screen. A virtual travel route was displayed on it. "As you know,
Russia, Turkey, and Iran are holding a tripartite summit. The unique
thing is that Park Jeong-ho will also attend. Is he a member of the
special delegation? Park Jeong-ho is already registered as a special
researcher at 'Parumjasita'. Given the circumstances, it is highly likely
that Russia will mention the existence of Baekdu Mountain
microorganisms at this summit. Iran and Russia have long been in an
anti-American hegemony alliance... Turkey is currently under the
control of an anti-American, pro-Russian government, so it is not that
surprising." "What should we do?" "We're helping Park Jung-ho defect.
While he's in Iran, anti-regime forces in North Korea and Chinese agents
will evacuate his family to a safe place. We'll secure Park Jung-ho's
identity before it gets discovered. I've already talked to the Iranian
embassy." Help Park Jung-ho defect and obtain all the information
about the Baekdu Mountain microbes. The operation itself was simple.
There was only one chance, and if the timing was off, everything would
go down the drain. Since it was a summit, security would be tough. It
might even be impossible to approach Park Jung-ho. Even so, he had to
do it. It wasn't like him. Calling the actions that were done as oneself.
That was the only answer that Kwon Taekjoo came up with. As he
walked out of the director's office, he arrived at the central entrance.
He raised his head unconsciously and a black marble signboard caught
my eye. There were about twenty stars engraved on it. The phrase
written underneath, 'I will follow the path of those who remained as
stars without a sound and devote myself to protecting the fatherland,'
caught his eye. The so-called 'nameless star', the operation was a
sculpture commemorating the agents who died in the line of duty. It
was also the footsteps of the pioneers who walked the path that Kwon
Taekjoo took. The Republic of Korea exists today because of their sacred
and silent sacrifice. Everyone who lives a peaceful life owes them a
debt. However, no one knows their names. It was the fate of
intelligence agency agents. Kwon Taekjoo thought that someday he
would also be remembered as a star like that. If he could devote himself
to the country at the final moment that everyone faces, it would be a
little less futile. He gave up all personal achievements and comforts,
such as ordinary life, success, love, friendship, wealth, and honour, and
chose this fierce and difficult life, so that it would be a small comfort. Is
that feeling still the same? Will he be able to feel relieved without any
regrets at the end of his life? He was lost in deep thought, wondering
about himself. Suddenly, he heard a voice calling out from behind him.
"Senior!" He turned around and saw Yoon Jong-woo running out of
breath. For some reason, his face was grave. "Hey, I'm falling." "Ugh,
ugh..." "Ah, kid. You're groaning because you ran a little bit. I told you to
exercise before it gets too late.” "Ugh, is this the time to talk about
exercising peacefully?” "Is it not the time to do it, then?" "You said you
were going to meet the director! Are you sure that the new operation is
going to be handled by a senior?" "Why 'no way'? Who else would be
better suited for the job than me?" At the calm response, Yoon Jong-
woo clenched his fists and shouted. "I knew this would happen! I knew
this would happen! Take care of yourself, how long has it been since you
came back? Who said this to your senior? Do you even know? You were
falsely accused. And yet, you still feel this loyal?” "My eardrums are
about to burst, Jong-woo." "I'm so frustrated, so frustrated! Are you
some kind of superhuman, Senior? If you weren't Senior, would the
peace of this world collapse? Why are you always anxious because you
can't do difficult things? That's a disease. A hero disease. You know
that?" "You bastard. You caught me today, you caught me. I've been
falsely accused, so I have to get rid of it. If I just sit still, who will take
care of it?" Kwon Taekjoo muttered to himself, saying, "And besides,
Even if that's true for me, I can't suddenly make that kid a criminal."
Yoon Jong-woo, who was about to ask what he meant, stopped. Kwon
Taekjoo's gaze had long since left him and was fixed on the wall. He
followed Kwon Taekjoo's gaze. Soon, the 'nameless star' entered Yoon
Jong-woo's field of vision. "Have you ever imagined being engraved
there?" "Huh? Why are you saying such creepy things! I absolutely hate
it!" "Really?" "Of course! I'm dying without even leaving my name
properly. No matter how much I try to protect the country, What good
is it if you dedicate yourself to the cause? My family won't even know
where I died or what happened, and the people I sacrificed my life to
protect won't even know that I existed. What about the country? They'll
honor you for a moment as a noble sacrifice, but they'll quickly forget
about you and start looking for a replacement?" "You're working here
with that kind of spirit." "There are no seniors in the world these days.
No matter what anyone says, my safety is the most important thing. If I
put that first and still have the means, I'll dedicate myself to the
country. Do I have to sacrifice my life to be patriotic? If I work for the
country and pay taxes regularly, that's patriotism.” Yoon Jong-woo, who
was getting heated up in his self-defence, suddenly pointed at Kwon
Taekjoo. Senior, keep this in mind. Don’t be fooled by things like
dedication, noble sacrifice, and sacred glory. You should think of your
mother too. It’s really something you can’t do. It’s the worst kind of
unfilial conduct!” “I know, Inma.” He pinched Yoon Jong-woo’s cheek
and then let go. Yoon Jong-woo held his cheek with both hands and
made a fuss that it hurt. Even after arguing with him for a while, Kwon
Taekjoo couldn’t take his eyes off the stars carved into the sculpture. He
entered Zhenya’s house as usual. The sound of the door closing behind
him was particularly loud. Although it was a place he used to visit as if it
were his own home, today the space felt unfamiliar and foreign. Was it
because there was no landlord to welcome him? He walked in slowly
and checked carefully to see if there were any eavesdropping devices
that he hadn’t seen before. He knew that Zhenya would never let
anyone invade his space so easily, but he did it out of habit. Fortunately,
there was no sign of anyone breaking in. He tried to open the window
to ventilate as usual, but he stopped. It was the scent of Zhenya that
had already permeated the house that was fading away. He was worried
that the remaining scent would completely disappear. He stood blankly
in the middle of the large house and headed to the refrigerator. When
he opened the door, Kwon Taekjoo himself had put the food in the
lunch box. The scrambled eggs that he had made for Zhenya before
leaving for Vladivostok but had failed miserably were nowhere to be
seen. Did Zhenya eat them? Or did he throw them away? He could
clearly see him sitting alone at the cold table, eating the messy
scrambled eggs. He must have laughed as he ate them. He laughed
without realising it as he imagined it. Then he realised it again and
scratched the back of his neck. He was so angry. When he ran away as if
he would never see him again, all he could think about was him.
Anyway, he was seriously ill. He slowly sat down on the sofa. Kwon
Taekjoo's son-in-law was so quiet that his own breathing was
noticeable. When would he be able to go see Zhenya? When all the
misunderstandings are cleared up and the charges are dropped, would
he come back as if nothing happened? If he doesn't come back like this,
then... [Don't be impatient. I won't disappear. The only time I won't be
by your side is when you're dead.] He didn't have the end in mind when
he left Zhenya at Ajinoki. He was just doing his job. He didn't want to
see him because he was angry that he was interrupted, because he put
himself in danger again. Should he have endured it? [Taekjoo. You do
whatever you want. I will do the same. I came here to catch you, and I
am still chasing you every moment of every day. I will continue to do so.
Sometimes I get annoyed, but one thing is for sure. There has never
been a greater pleasure in my life.] Did you really not know that Zhenya
would chase you? Did you not expect it at all? Knowing full well why he
was staying in Korea, where he had no connection. [You don't care if I
die because of that great thing? So you can just sit back and watch?
When you fell into my hands, you were going to live like that, but you
have no regrets for the rest of your life? It's funny to hear that. Taekjoo,
don't be stubborn. Is that really true?] He’s never worried about my
safety while going on a mission. He was just thinking that he should
complete the mission safely and return like he always does. Was it
arrogance? If the situation were reversed, what if Zhenya volunteered
for something dangerous? Even if he were willing to throw away his life
for his country, would Kwon Taekjoo himself be able to just let it be? No,
that wouldn't be the case. He would have told him not to talk nonsense
and just grabbed him. Scratching the back of my head and mocking
myself, his eyes fell on the laptop on the table. One memory after
another came to mind. He slowly pulled out the laptop and turned it
on. As the system booted, it asked for fingerprint and iris recognition.
He obediently placed his eyes on the camera and his index finger on the
touchpad and waited for a moment. Soon, the security was released
and the desktop appeared. There was only one app installed there.
[Home cam monitor? Why is this all of a sudden? Even if it’s a dog,
you’re raising it?] [Taekjoo. You should be affectionate towards me.]
[What are you talking about out of the blue?] Zhenya ran the app
without saying anything. Soon, the entire screen switched to a real-time
monitoring video. The scenery reflected there was quite familiar. It was
definitely that guy’s mansion on Ajinoki Island. [Why did you install the
home cam there? What are you growing there? You don’t even go there
often these days, so what are you hoping for? Neglect is clearly abuse,
Zhenya.] [I didn’t know, but you do, right, Taekjoo?] [What?] [Neglect is
clearly abuse.] Zhenya opened his eyes wide and jeered. He cleared his
throat and changed the subject. [So. What do you want me to do with
this?] [Taekjoo, you miss me and are curious about me all the time, so I
have no choice. I have no choice but to show you what I'm doing like
this. Now, when I'm not around, you won't have to hug my pillow and
cry. You can vent all you want here.] [When did I hug your pillow and do
that shit!] [Hmm. You're still so embarrassed.] [Why are you doing such
useless things? Why are there video calls? Do you hate contacting me
so much?] [Rather than that... I'll block all radio waves reaching my
island from now on.] [You're going to be more isolated from the world
than this?] [That can't be bad.] [What a weird kid. Anyway, I don't need
that, so get rid of it.] [Don't be embarrassed. Feel free to peek.] Since
he insisted so stubbornly, I just left it alone. He thought that if Kwon
Taekjoo himself didn't use a home cam, it didn't matter whether he
installed it or not. Of course, that thought didn't last long. After that,
Zhenya often left the place, and at that time. Every now and then,
contact with the guy would be cut off. (This upcoming part is showing a
starting flashback!! Just like the other things Taekjoo is imagining.) He
said he would block all radio waves heading to Ajinoki, but it seemed
like he had done as he said. He had no choice but to turn on the camera
to check if he was alive or not. The guy who hadn't sent me a single
message for days appeared in front of the three cameras at the sound
of "Hey, what's up?". When he saw the guy's shiny face, he was secretly
happy but also felt a little angry. [What, really? You said it would be a
week, so why is it taking so long again?]- That's what happened. [That's
what happened? That's what happened? This new kid didn't even show
any sign of apology, and he just went out once. You don’t think you’ll
come in when you’re hurt?]- You’re getting all worked up over it. You
must miss me a lot, right? Can’t you stand it? Despite the constant
nagging, Zhenya was still laughing and enjoying himself. At those times,
Kwon Taekjoo would quickly roll his eyes and carefully examine the
guy’s face. It was to check if there was anything hurt that he hadn’t
seen before. The guy often felt proud that Kwon Taekjoo had found him
first. The evidence was his chin that was raised without fail and his
shoulders that were spread wide.- You miss me so much, don’t you?
Well, it’s time for me to get better. My patience is only getting weaker
as the days go by. [Dalgin, who.]- No? Zhenya laughed, closing his eyes
strangely. Then he leaned his upper body back and unzipped his pants
without warning and pulled out his genitals. That was the first time he
saw a guy masturbating. He almost always asked Kwon Taekjoo to do
the same thing and mostly just watched. Then, when he got the urge,
he would rush in and try to take the pleasure, and he never did it
quietly alone. Maybe that’s why he didn’t feel disgusted watching his
genitals swell up more and more. Instead, he held his breath and
focused on it. Every time he stroked his genitals and stimulated them, it
felt strangely synchronised. He had been touched by him so many times
that just watching him brought back memories from the past. Every
time his long, white fingers slid, his spine rang thinly. The sensation of
his genitals being gently crushed and rubbed was transferred to his
genitals as if squeezing his groyne. His body quickly heated up. His
breathing became rough and unbearable. Sensing the feeling, Zhenya
suddenly pulled away his hand that had been moving quickly. At the
same time, Kwon Taekjoo let out a soft exclamation. He flinched
belatedly, but Zhenya on the screen was already smiling like a winner.
[Taekjoo. Are you going to keep peeking like that? It’s going to be
painful.] […Fuck.] He couldn’t hold it in any longer and unbuckled his
pants. He then pulled out my erect penis with a slight jerk. Just holding
onto his penis that was about to burst sent a tingling sensation and
even greater pleasure running down his spine. His spread knees also
trembled. He squeezed his swollen penis as if he was going to crush it.
The thrill that made his eyes flash quickly spread through my entire
body. [Ah, ugh… slurp, haa, ugh, huff…] He couldn’t hold back his rapid
breathing and moans. He couldn't. He wanted to reach the peak quickly,
so he stroked his excited penis without stopping. But for some reason,
the sensation he had expected wasn't delivered. [Taekjoo. You need to
stroke it more gently. Think back to how I touched it. Huh?] Zhenya
flexibly stroked his penis from the base to the tip as if showing an
example. He covered his ear with his palm and stroked it slowly, and
then continued to massage his entire penis like flowing water. His penis,
covered in transparent precum, trembled and shook his body. He kept
his eyes fixed on the screen and followed him with his hand. He tried
moving it. The genitals that had been throbbing from repeated friction
melted away easily at the familiar sensation. Only then did the thick
pleasure begin to envelop his entire body. [Slowly, gently stroke from
root to tip.] [Ugh, ugh... ugh... hau, ugh...] [Haa, I like it when the tip is
rounded like this. Ha, yeah. You're doing well. Taekjoo....] [Ugh, ugh, a
little, quiet, ugh... haa....] [Now tighten it a little more. Haa, squeeze it
tightly, then release it, and press it upward again.] [Ha, ugh, ugh, haeuu,
ss…] [Taekjoo. Isn't it nice to hear you cry so pitifully?] He gradually
reached his climax while listening to Zhenya’s voice and his excited
breathing that were incredibly sweet. Even though he was only touching
his genitals, his chest and the inside of his buttocks were ticklish and
subtly tingly. Was that a conditioned reflex? [Ha, huh... ugh, ugh. Ugh,
ugh... Ah huh...!] [Taekjoo, Taekjoo... uhm, Taekjoo, huh, uhh ugh...!]
Soon, both of them came hotly. Zhenya’s semen, which had splashed on
the camera, slowly flowed down, licking the screen. [Ha... How are you,
Taekjoo? Are you feeling better now?] […You bastard, hurry up because
I'm dying here.] A hearty laugh erupted from the guy as he grumbled in
dissatisfaction. [Sure, I'm not that impressed.] Zhenya muttered in a
vain tone, slowly swallowing his lower lip and licking it as if pushing it
out with his tongue. It seemed like he was really sorry that he couldn't
kiss him. So he was about to grumble and tell him to come right away,
but he was startled. The reason was that Kwon Taekjoos' own
appearance reflected on the side of the dark screen was no different
from that guy. Kwon Taekjoo himself was biting his pitiful lips like
Zhenya. “....." Zhenya may still have turned on the camera. It wasn't
even certain if the guy was staying in Ajinoki right now. But for now,
there was no choice but to hang on there and watch. He launched the
monitoring app. After a bit of buffering, a familiar interior was soon
shown on the screen that switched. It was the living room of the
mansion. Zhenya was nowhere to be seen. He tried to silence all sounds
for a moment and detect the guy's presence, but he couldn't feel
anything. He opened his mouth, which was reluctant to fall. A sigh came
out before any words. [Zhenya.] After hesitating for a while, he called
the guy's name. Zhenya was locked in the basement of the mansion,
looking at some blueprints. He was researching how the interceptor
missiles installed all over the island could operate in more detail. Even
with the existing firepower, it was enough to track down and shoot
down most helicopters. However, he wanted more. A complete missile
that could easily defend against fighter jets and ballistic missiles and
immediately strike the origin. A flawless system was needed. It was a
task to make Ajinoki a perfect fortress. It was also something he
enjoyed as a hobby whenever he had free time, even before meeting
Kwon Taekjoo. Ever since he was young, he was intoxicated by things
that would make him stronger. Sometimes, desperate desires tend to
surpass innate abilities or professional knowledge, and weapons were
like that for Zhenya. Even without anyone teaching him or a special
guide, he freely drew new weapons and soon made his imaginations
real. Even when faced with unexpected problems, he quickly found the
answer. It was easier to look into the inside of a machine than a person.
If a machine is hard work, it is hard work. He also liked the fact that it
was rewarded with great firepower and never betrayed its owner. Even
if it made a mistake, it was easy to fix. In that sense, humans were just
annoying. They didn't do what he wanted, and once they broke down,
they couldn't be fixed. There were many times when it would have been
better to just destroy them. The problem was that one human who
couldn't do that had intervened in his life. […..] At least when he looked
at the blueprint, he didn't get distracted by distracting thoughts. I'd
even stayed in his seat for days without feeling tired or hungry. But this
time, it was hard. It wasn’t easy. No matter how hard he tried to block
the progress of his thoughts, all his circuits kept leading to Kwon
Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo would have returned to Korea safely. It was
obvious what kind of treatment he would have received in Korea, where
he had stubbornly insisted on returning. He tracked the microchip
implanted in Kwon Taek Joo from time to time, wondering if he might
have been detained. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been staying at the
National Intelligence Service for a while, seemed to have returned
home after three days. And he spent several days there. It was strange
that a great man who could not sit still for even a moment except when
he was sleeping would be confined to his home. Either his body had
become abnormal due to severe torture, or he was in a situation where
he could not even take a single step outside the house. He guessed that
it might be. As he continued to imagine unpleasant things, he soon
became angry again. Kwon Taekjoo felt foolish for taking all the risks
and returning to his home country. He couldn’t understand why he was
so obsessed with his home country that could abandon him at any time,
a country that had already taken away his own blood relatives. After all,
a spy is destined to spend his entire life in the shadow of glory and then
disappear in vain. For the time being, he had no idea where or how to
start solving the biggest problem in his life, Kwon Taekjoo. It was even
worse because he had no human relationships to apply for.- Zhenya.
Suddenly, all movement stopped. It was instinct, not a brain instruction.
Was it because he was so absorbed in Kwon Taek Joo? He thought he
heard his voice.- Yevgeny. Just when he thought it was an auditory
hallucination, a clearer voice reached him. He immediately got up from
his seat and went up to the ground. Even though he took brisk steps, he
felt suffocated for some reason. His heart pounded heavily, making him
feel uncomfortable. Kwon Taekjoo could not have come back. The radar
that detected an approach from outside did not go off, and he could not
hear the noise of the propeller. So it must have been an illusion, but he
kept looking around without rest. He scanned the wide room again and
again. No matter how much he looked, there was no sign of someone
breaking in. He couldn’t smell Kwon Taekjoo either. Was it really an
illusion?- Are you listening? He was about to turn around, mocking
himself, when a more definite voice rang out. He immediately followed
the sound and crossed the living room. Soon, the home cam light
blinking on the table came into view. Was the sound coming from
there? He stood tall in the middle and watched for a moment. As if it
wasn’t an illusion, Kwon Taekjoo’s voice flowed out from beyond the
cam.- I got a new mission. It’s been so long. It won't work. He laughed in
vain. After pretending not to see him again and leaving a few days later,
he finally contacted him and said that he was being assigned to a new
operation. Is this right? He felt that something was seriously wrong.
Kwon Taekjoo's behaviour of putting off his own problems and
prioritising work while saying that he would take his time right away
made his mind twisted. If he gave in to one, he would demand two. If
he gave in to two with difficulty, he would then demand three. Humans
were such greedy and miraculous beings. Should he catch Kwon Taekjoo
and tie him up next to him? Then he would feel this unfair and resentful
feeling. The anger will go away a little. The dark heart stirred. Kwon
Taekjoo, who had no way of knowing Zhenya's condition, continued to
talk to himself. His speech was calmer and more composed than usual,
and it even felt affectionate.- I gave you the answer. I'll go and tell you.
Even the things I couldn't say until now. So this time, don't follow me
rashly, don't interfere without permission, and just wait quietly. He
always acts like that when he feels sorry.- This isn't an order, it's a
request. Kwon Taekjoo waited for a while and then made a request. His
tone was unusually gentle and sorrowful.- I'll pick you up right after
work, okay? Zhenya. [......] He spoke very gently. Zhenya seemed to see
himself as some six-year-old kid. He glared at the pitiful home cam with
a displeased look. It was as if the small machine were Kwon Taekjoo.
Unfortunately, Kwon Taekjoo's voice was no longer heard. It was the
same even after waiting for a long time. Only then did he approach the
home cam. And then he listened to the automatically recorded voice of
Kwon Taekjoo over and over again. *** Tehran, the capital of Iran. From
early in the morning, there was a steady stream of tourists visiting the
Milad Tower. Standing on the 435m high observation deck, he could see
the entire city. Kwon Taekjoo pretended to be a tourist and used a
telescope to check the situation around the government building, the
mosque, and the airport. The telescope he was using boasted a high
magnification that allowed him to clearly see every single tile of the
Golestan Palace, 15km away. The palace, which retained the Persian
architectural style, was decorated with mosaics of small mirror pieces,
sparkling dazzlingly in the sunlight. Mount Tochal, which surrounds
downtown Tehran, where snow never melts all year round. The Grand
Bazaar, where people constantly come and go. The Imamzadeh Saleh
Mosque in Tajri City Square and the gray-white houses. It made me
realise that the unique Iranian atmosphere had entered the centre of
the city. A surveillance system was activated in the city to welcome the
leaders of Russia and Turkey. The roads included in the route of the
delegation were completely controlled, and the surrounding areas were
also inspected at 10-minute intervals. Patrol cars and military trucks
passed by. Two-by-two military police officers were patrolling the alleys,
looking at the security. Plainclothes agents loitering around and snipers
stationed here and there were also noticeable. The entire city was
practically locked down. This was a measure that had been fully
expected. In fact, this operation was relatively simple compared to
breaking into the middle of enemy territory, breaking through double or
triple layers of security, and kidnapping key figures or stealing important
items. All they had to do was infiltrate the residence where the Russian
delegation was staying and make contact with Park Jeong-ho. They had
already prepared a way to enter the hotel where they were staying and
an escape route. All that was left was to wait until they arrived safely.
Since it was a trilateral summit, protocol and security were likely to be
focused on the presidents. Park Jung-ho, who stood out as an Asian
member of the Russian delegation, would not be protected more than
necessary. He would just attract attention.- A Russian presidential plane
enters Iranian airspace. He was looking at his watch, thinking it was
almost time to arrive. The long-awaited news came through my
earphone. He scanned the sky with his telescope. Soon, a flying object
was captured in the eastern sky. It was the Russian presidential plane,
the Ilyushin IL-96. The Iranian fighter jets that were escorting it flew in
their own directions. They dispersed and quickly disappeared from
sight. A welcoming crowd was lined up at the airport where the plane
was to land. Usually, when heads of state visit each country, it is
customary for a prime minister-level official to come out and greet
them. However, this time, it seemed that the Iranian president himself
had stepped forward, which was unusual.- The Russian presidential
plane has landed at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran. He watched the door
of the stopped plane carefully. Soon, the door opened and the Russian
President Lomonosov and his wife appeared. They took a
commemorative photo standing at the entrance and came down the
stairs to greet the Iranian President and his wife. The faces of the staff
assisting the Russian President oysters were familiar. It was Ba Jim, the
second oldest brother of Zhenya. "You've come this far. Anyway, I told
you there's no way out." He looked around the other attendants,
complaining as much as he could. But for some reason, not even Park
Jeong-ho, not even a single Asian was in sight. Did he disguise himself?
"Why did you put so much effort into it? You really are a swindler." He
shook his head and took out disposable contact lenses from his jacket
pocket. He opened the sealed package on the spot and put the special
lenses into his eyes. He blinked to seal the lenses. Then he looked
through the telescope again. As he scanned the faces of the performers,
their heights were displayed in numbers in the corner of his vision. Park
Jeong-ho was about 172cm tall, so he could quickly pick out the
candidates. He squinted his eyes and counted the candidates one by
one. As pressure was applied to his eyes wearing special lenses, the
entire bodies of the people in his field of vision were scanned. Of them,
there was only one person who did not carry a firearm. "Target
confirmed." After a short report, he looked around the city again.
Armed police officers lined up on the controlled roads. The plainclothes
agents also slowly headed to their designated locations. The police
controlled pedestrians. They moved them out of the line and checked
the identities of the suspicious people. Snipers' rifles were placed on tall
buildings such as mosque minarets, bridge piers, and apartment
rooftops. At the same time, Milad Tower, where Kwon Taekjoo was
staying, was also closed. Security guards came up and sent all the
tourists down. The excuse was that the facility needed urgent repairs.
"Let's go." Kwon Taekjoo came down the tower with the crowd of
tourists. Then he got into his parked car as usual. He hung his phone on
the stand and started the navigation. "Gl, moving. Please send the
target location." As soon as he requested, the target's current location
appeared on the screen. Following that, the target's expected
movement path and approach route were displayed simultaneously.
They were routes excluding the controlled area. After selecting one of
them, he slowly drove his car out onto the main road.- Target, moving
on the normal route. The Iranian and Russian presidents and their
entourage quickly sped away, escorted by dozens of police cars and
security vehicles. As usual, all the signal systems changed to suit their
convenience. Kwon Taekjoo followed them at an appropriate distance.
This was to determine whether the target was moving within the
expected range. In addition, to check whether the target was not in
contact with a third party, or he wanted to make sure that no one was
targeting the city target. If the target was in danger, it was Kwon
Taekjoo's job to protect him. The route the navigation system gave him
led to narrow, back alleys. He had no choice but to avoid the controlled
roads. There were many parked cars here and there, and pedestrians
popped out all of a sudden, making driving difficult, but he didn't slow
down for a moment. When you get used to chasing and being chased,
you can drive like this with your eyes closed. "...Hmm?" He was driving
leisurely, but he suddenly felt uneasy. He stopped for a moment and
looked up at the rooftop of a building. Kwon Taekjoo It must have been
a large hotel, so they would have deployed snipers, but for some reason
there was no sign of it. He looked at the rooftop of the building across
from him with his binoculars. The situation there was the same. Have
they already withdrawn? No way. The target was still moving towards
the Sadabad Palace, where the official schedule would be held. All
security personnel would disperse only after the delegations of the two
countries arrived at their destination safely. Was there a special
situation that would cause the snipers to leave their posts? "...Hmm?"
That was when. A black figure loomed on the rooftop of the hotel that
he was watching closely. The traces that had disappeared from the
sniper seemed to have reappeared. Similar movements were detected
in the building across the street. "What are you guys doing?" A sniper
must not take his eyes off the target until he has completed his assigned
mission. That was an absolute rule that had to be followed not only for
the purpose of eliminating someone, but also for the purpose of
protecting them. If it was just one person's deviation, it would be
understandable, but for two or more snipers to deviate from their
duties at the same time. Something didn't feel right. It seemed
necessary to check what the situation was. "This is Gl. We have
detected unusual circumstances. We should check and move."-
Approval. "Support Team. Requesting access to the Espinas Hotel." After
requesting backup from the support team, he headed to the suspicious
hotel. He showed his Iranian police ID to the approaching parking
attendant. [I'll be back soon, so leave the car alone.] [Yes.] He got out of
the driver's seat and strode into the hotel. There were many people in
the lobby, perhaps because check-in time was approaching. The staff
also seemed busy pushing carts or serving guests. He went straight to
the reception desk and showed his police ID. [Police. We have come to
check if the designated personnel for VIP security are properly guarding
the hotel.] [Oh, we received instructions from above to properly verify
the identity of outsiders. If it’s okay, can I make a copy of your ID?] [Yes.]
The receptionist left for a moment. It seemed like he was going to
contact the police station he was affiliated with, as he went inside and
didn’t come out for a while. Was it just a suspicion, even though he was
checking so thoroughly? While he was worried that he was wasting his
time, he couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling of unknown identity.
[You’ve been waiting for a long time.] Soon, the employee from before
came back and returned my ID. It seemed that the support team had
succeeded in intercepting the call line. [You may search the inside.
However, due to hotel policy, it is difficult to give out the master key, so
please accompany our security team.] [Oh, that’s okay. I’m just going to
take a quick look around.] [We need to know everything that happens
in our hotel.] He couldn’t insist on sticking to his principles any longer. If
he aroused suspicion for no reason, things would only get more
complicated. In no time, He was in the security team’s office. Two large
guards appeared. They guided Kwon Taekjoo to the employee-only
elevator. He followed them silently. Although the inside of the elevator
was quite large, it felt crowded with three men. One of the guards
swiped his access card and motioned for him to press the desired floor.
After Kwon Taekjoo pressed the button, the door quietly closed. When
the elevator reached the top floor, Kwon Taekjoo was the only one who
had walked out. Kwon Taekjoo dragged the two unconscious guards and
pushed them into the nearby machine room. He then snatched the
radio and access card from them and entered the emergency staircase
where access was controlled. He went up to the rooftop while keeping
his footsteps quiet. Soon, the rooftop entrance door appeared without
a separate landing. He quietly set his wristwatch against the thick door.
Then, a thermal image of the outside of the door was realised through
the special lens he was wearing. One person was lying on the ground,
and another was preparing to snipe next to him. There was no need for
two snipers in one place. Therefore, it seemed appropriate to assume
that the sniper deployed by the Iranian government had been
ambushed. That also meant that the current sniper had a purpose other
than VIP protection. He couldn't tell who the intruder beyond the door
was targeting. The only problem was that it could disrupt the schedule
of the Russian delegation and ruin all plans. He had to block it. He took
out a small bomb and stuck it on the door. Then, he lay flat on the stairs
and pressed the side button of my wristwatch. Immediately after, the
small bomb exploded and blew away the entire door. Taking advantage
of the momentary commotion, he rolled to the rooftop and pulled the
trigger at the thermal image silhouette. The assailant fell over before he
could even react. But the next moment, a bullet flew from behind me
out of nowhere. It seemed that the sniper in the building across from
me had figured out the situation and was responding. Kwon Taekjoo
quickly ran towards the wall where the sniper rifle was installed while
keeping his upper body as low as possible. Even then, the shooting
stopped. He didn't know. He narrowly avoided the bullets and slid down
the wall to return fire. Soon after, the barrage of bullets aimed at Kwon
Taekjoo stopped. He didn't even have time to aim properly, but I was
lucky to hit the target. Kwon Taekjoo grabbed the sniper rifle and
scanned the rooftops of other buildings one by one with the telescope
attached to it. In an instant, he felt the back of his head tighten. He
immediately turned the muzzle to the back, but the sniper caught in the
telescope was already aiming precisely at Kwon Taekjoo. It was too late,
he thought, and the sniper fell down after being attacked by a
suspicious person. He hurriedly moved the muzzle from side to side,
trying to figure out who was doing it. However, it was a little silhouette
of the person who helped Kwon Taekjoo who caught his eye for a
moment and then disappeared like smoke. Zhenya? No, the atmosphere
was completely different from that guy. It was only for a moment and
the distance was far, but he was sure of that. If not that guy, then who?
The doubt didn’t last long. The bullet that came from far away had
shattered part of the railing where he was taking cover. Kwon Taekjoo
hurriedly turned the gun in the right direction. He aimed at the
direction where the bullet had come from to return fire, but he saw a
sniper standing tall and proud. There was no such thing as suicide. He
frowned and pulled the trigger halfway. Strangely, it seemed like he had
made eye contact with the sniper through the telescope. His behaviour
of slowly shaking his head was unusual. “...What is it?”- Gl, a report of
an explosion has been received at the scene. Nearby police officers are
moving toward you. Report the situation. "Later." He held off on
reporting and snatched the communicator from the sniper who had
fallen next to him and put it in his ear. Every time the sniper in the
building across from him moved his lips, Persian flowed out from the
communicator.- Panz, Chahar, Se, Do, Yek. It was a countdown.
Frowning, he stared at the sniper on the building across from him again.
He had climbed up onto the railing and shouted something before he
could even think of it, and jumped down without hesitation.- Inshallah.
As soon as his last voice rang out from the communicator, there was a
thud. Then, as if they had made a promise, dozens of drones rose into
the air. “...What the heck?" The drones flew in one direction. It was
toward the road where the Russian and Iranian leaders were moving.
No way. As soon as an ominous feeling crossed his mind, a series of
huge explosions were heard. The air that expanded due to that tyranny
shook the ground that was standing on. Suddenly, the entire city
became quiet. His head was just dazed. Black smoke rising one by one
from the direction of the main street proved that time was still passing
and that the unrealistic sight before my eyes was reality. Police officers
patrolling the alley drove their cars quickly. People walking down the
street leaned against the road walls and looked around anxiously. Kwon
Taekjoo, who had instinctively lowered his body due to the explosion,
quickly checked the status of the target. For some reason, nothing was
displayed on the map. "Fuck, what the hell is going on?”- Gl, an
explosion of unknown cause occurred around the target. Suspected
terrorist attack. " ...Terrorism?" It didn't matter who did it or for what
purpose. In his complicated mind, there was only one thought: he had
to save the target. I quickly left the rooftop and reconfirmed the target's
location. "What's the target's current location?"- Unknown. Please
check it yourself and report back. "Damn...." He stood in front of the
elevator and pressed the boarding button. Since he was in a hurry, the
elevator seemed to be moving particularly slowly. He tried to find
another elevator, but something felt strange. All the elevators were
going up to the top floor at the same time. It seemed like the police had
been dispatched because of the explosion and shooting on the rooftop
a little while ago. It was a situation that could have made him a terror
suspect.- Backup team. Back me up. After a while, all the elevators
stopped. He used that time to go out to the emergency exit and jump
down a few flights of stairs. Since he was gaining speed, he even slipped
on the railing. It was when he was almost on the ground floor. Suddenly,
the emergency exit door below opened wide and two guards appeared.
[Don't move!] He jumped without paying attention to the warning from
my opponent. He stepped on the opposite wall and used the recoil to
kick the guard's face who was running towards him. He wrapped his leg
around the guard's leg and knocked him down, then raised my upper
body and swung his fist. He instantly subdued the two guards and
reported to their radios that were on the ground. [Emergency stairs, no
abnormalities.] He opened the emergency exit as if nothing had
happened and went outside. He went out. The lobby was empty. It
seemed like everyone had already evacuated to a safe place. He quickly
passed the lobby and got into the car parked in front of the main gate.
As soon as he started the engine, he raced down the street where
explosions and gunshots were heard one after another. The unexpected
terrorist attack turned the road into a lawless zone. Cars were tangled
up, ignoring their lanes, while the traffic lights were not functioning
properly. There were countless cases of people crossing the centerline.
Many people panicked and abandoned their cars, running away with
their bare bodies. He honked his horn nervously at the people who
were fearlessly driving in front of his car. [Get out of the way. Hey, it's
dangerous. Go ahead. Come on, please!] The military and police officers
in charge of maintaining order were also completely shocked. They
were confused, unable to tell who was friend or foe. It seemed as if the
control system had collapsed and they didn’t know what to prioritise. It
was not that there were too many injured people. When the black
smoke cleared, people collapsed on the street. There were not only
public personnel mobilised for security duties, but also ordinary
citizens. Groans and screams rained down from all over. The pungent air
was filled with the smell of gunpowder, burning, and blood, making it
difficult to even breathe. There was no such thing as a vicious cycle.
"Damn, where is Park Jeong-ho?" The terrorist scene was even more
chaotic. In the aftermath of the explosion, large barricades were pushed
far away, and abandoned cars were strewn everywhere. Most of them
were riddled with bullets or were burning like skeletons. The once
smooth roads were now dented or blackened. The remains of corpses
and scrap metal were strewn about. In the midst of all this, gunfire
continued nearby. It seemed like a battle between Iranian special forces
and terrorists was in full swing. Drones continued to fly overhead. There
were too many of them to have been launched for reconnaissance
purposes. No, It was different from him, a drone crashed into the
battlefield and exploded violently. So the leaders of the two countries
are safe? Where is Park Jung-ho?- G1, target location confirmed. In the
midst of the confusion, a happy message was delivered from the
communicator. Soon after, the target appeared again on the cell phone
screen. Since an unexpected terrorist attack had occurred, the official
schedule was likely to be cancelled. The summit itself could have been
invalidated. It meant that Park Jung-ho was likely to return to North
Korea. If that happened, this operation would also fail. It couldn’t be.
How could he leave everything to the uncertain future of the next
opportunity? “Support team. Change the operation. I will secure the
target’s new recruits right away.”- Gl, standby. Repeat. Gl, standby in a
safe place. “I told you there is no time for that.” He muttered annoyedly
and stepped on the accelerator. He backed up into a nearby alley,
avoiding the blinding bullets flying towards him. In the meantime, all
the pedestrians had fled, so the road itself was deserted, but the cars,
motorcycles, strollers, and carts they had abandoned were scattered
here and there. But he didn’t slow down and passed through the
obstacles. He kept checking the target’s direction of movement, then
turned the steering wheel and entered a narrow side road. The gap
between the buildings was so narrow that both side mirrors kept being
pushed back. The more he did that, the more he clenched his teeth and
increased his speed. Soon, his vision cleared up and a wide road
appeared. He felt relieved for a moment, but then he ran into a patrol
car waiting on one side. The police officers also looked flustered at the
sight of Kwon Taekjoo’s car suddenly popping out. Both of them took
out their guns in a panic and aimed at Kwon Taek Joo. [There! Turn off
the engine!] [Put your hands up and slowly lower it. Don’t even think
about doing something stupid!] He turned off the engine as he was
told. Then he opened the driver’s door and slowly got out. No, he
pretended to do that and then suddenly picked up a grenade and threw
it. The startled police officers shouted with all their might. [It’s a
grenade!] [Get down!] The police officers themselves also got down on
the ground. But no matter how long they waited, the grenade didn’t
explode. When the police realised something was wrong, Kwon Taekjoo
had already accelerated and was leaving the area. The bullet that flew
in late only scratched the rear bumper of his car. How long had he been
running? The long-awaited order came from the communicator.- Gl,
approve the change in operation. "Yes! You should have come out like
that a long time ago." As soon as the approval was given, the
recommended route was marked on the map. He chased the target
along that route. Most of the roads were blocked, so he had to go
around the alleys for a long time. In the meantime, the police officers
who had received a request for support from the previous patrol car
followed him one by one. All of them blared their sirens and threatened
to shoot if he didn't stop. He paid no attention and focused only on
chasing the target. The police officers who had warned him repeatedly
began to fire bullets. The shots were concentrated on the rear of the
car, and eventually the rear window was shattered. Kwon Taekjoo
lowered his head and repeatedly stepped on the accelerator. As his field
of vision narrowed, his control also decreased, and his car kept crashing
into the wall of the building. In the process, the right side mirror
completely bent and rattled, and one side of the rear bumper also fell
off and dragged. “Ha. Let’s do this. This is it.” Even as bullets flew
around without warning, He zoomed in on the map to grasp the
surrounding terrain. A dead end was about to appear. Before that, he
had to make a sharp detour in a narrow gap. He should have slowed
down, but instead of slowing down, Kwon Taekjoo accelerated even
more, then suddenly stepped on the brakes and barely managed to turn
left. As a result, the passenger side was scratched against the outer wall
and even dented. Of course, it was nothing compared to the situation of
the police cars following him. The police cars that had been following
him closely behind Kwon Taekjoo were unable to overcome the speed
and crashed into the dead-end wall. The cars that had been chasing him
in a row also crashed into each other and blocked the alley. His fists
clenched. But he could not relax. The noise of a propeller was heard
from somewhere, and it was because a police helicopter had appeared.
[Dragon's vehicle, stop. Dragon's vehicle, if you don't stop immediately,
I will shoot.] "Would you stop if it were you?" Ignoring him and running,
he fired his minigun without hesitation. In an instant, a long bullet hole
appeared on the ceiling of the car. The windows and seats on all sides
were completely blown out, and the cotton inside was torn out. "Fuck.
They're trying to kill me." He had no choice but to deviate from the
route. The alley he took to avoid the helicopter led straight to the
bazaar. Even though a terrorist attack had occurred not far away, quite a
few merchants had evacuated. He was cleaning up the store without
doing anything. He kept honking his horn and rushed into the bazaar.
People screamed and ran into the store at the sudden reckless driving.
The helicopter also stopped shooting and flew towards the exit where
Kwon Taekjoo's car was coming out. The bazaar was covered by a roof,
so the accuracy was low, and civilian casualties were also a concern.
Running through the bazaar like that was like putting your head in a
crocodile's mouth. Kwon Taekjoo checked the gold map again and
pressed the horn and rushed into a store. At the same time, he fired a
grenade through the windshield that only had traces left. The grenade
exploded as soon as it hit the wall, creating a small hole. Cracks radiated
around the hole. Kwon Taekjoo opened his mouth. He clenched his jaw
and stepped on the accelerator. "Whoaap!" The wall that had collided
with the car body collapsed with a bang. The debris was completely
placed on the hood and the ceiling. The front of the car body and the
ceiling were all crushed and looked terrible. It was amazing that he
could keep driving in that condition. Thanks to destroying the wall, he
was able to shake off the helicopter's pursuit and the distance to the
target was shortened significantly. Kwon Taekjoo kept driving, keeping
his eyes glued to the location pin displayed on the navigation. Soon, his
car was on the same line as the target, on the overpass. Now, he was
almost there. It was as good as silver. As soon as he was so optimistic,
an unexpected situation occurred. The target went into a nearby
entrance and exit and started going back the way it came through the
underpass. Was it to confuse the possible pursuit? Whatever the
reason, if he left it like that, he would get further away from the target
again. He didn't know how much longer it would take to catch up again.
What should he do? While he was thinking about it, the target passed
Kwon Taekjoo’s feet and ran in the opposite direction. "Since when did I
buy it?" Kwon Taekjoo, who was muttering self-mockery, suddenly
turned his car's head toward the soundproof wall. Then he put on his
courage and then stepped on the accelerator pedal. The car, which had
just hit the guardrail, fell helplessly down five stories. The airbag
inflated violently with a thud. A strong impact struck his entire body,
but he had no time to feel pain. He tore the airbag with the knife he had
on his ankle. His chest, which had been severely compressed, finally
relaxed and he could finally breathe. “Aww, shit. I’m going to die if this
keeps up.” Kwon Taekjoo barely managed to pull himself together and
checked the target’s location. His location on the map and the target’s
location almost overlapped. That’s understandable, because Kwon
Taekjoo’s car was on top of the armoured vehicle of the police special
forces escorting the target from behind. It was because he had fallen. At
the sudden commotion, the riflemen of the armoured vehicle in front
aimed at Kwon Taek Joo. He instantly lowered his head to avoid the
pouring bullets and then crumpled into the backseat. In that state, he
took out the portable rocket launcher hidden on the floor and fired a
rocket. As the shells exploded, the two armoured vehicles running
ahead were lifted into the air. The car carrying the target narrowly
avoided a collision with the armoured vehicles that had flipped over in
an instant and fled to the alley on the left. The armoured vehicle that
Kwon Taekjoo's car was on also followed suit. The body of the car tilted
at the sharp turn and became stuck between the armoured vehicle and
the wall. Kwon Taekjoo’s body also rolled over without a plan. As I was
dragged for a while, the body of the car was torn apart and sparks were
constantly flying. It seemed like it would catch fire at any moment. It
could have been crushed flat along with the car first. He had to escape
as soon as possible. Kwon Taekjoo crawled out the back seat window
and blew away the side mirror of the armoured vehicle. He briefly
balanced himself on the fast-moving car and then jumped onto the
armoured vehicle. "Pull over!" Immediately after Kwon Taekjoo got into
the armoured vehicle, his car was crushed without a trace. If he had
been even a second late, he would have been crushed to death.
Without even a moment to catch his breath, he crawled over the roof of
the armored vehicle and approached the driver’s seat. He repeatedly
fired his gun at the driver’s seat window, but the bulletproof glass did
not break easily. It just burst white from repeated gunfire. He smashed
the weakened window with the barrel of his gun and hit the driver in
the head. The driver fainted and the car shook violently from side to
side. “Let’s ride together.” He muttered sarcastically and crawled into
the driver’s seat. After grabbing the steering wheel himself, he
increased his speed and closely followed the fleeing cars. There were
only two cars in the Russian delegation. It was impossible to know
whether they had scattered for safety immediately after the terror
attack or whether they were the only ones who survived after everyone
else was hit. The remaining two cars were so damaged that it was a
miracle that they were still running. It was difficult to guarantee Park
Jeong-ho’s life or death right away. If he had already passed away, they
had to at least confirm his body. They stepped on the accelerator and
increased the speed to the maximum. The cars that were running away
from the armoured vehicles that were barreling down the alley like
rhinoceroses were soon trapped in a dead end. Kwon Taekjoo drove all
the way and rammed the car in front. He pushed it to death and
crashed into the car in front of it. The two cars, with their front and
backs crushed, were stuck between the wall and the armored vehicles,
unable to move. The four wheels of the cars came off the ground. He
wandered around helplessly. After all movement stopped, he got out of
the armoured vehicle and approached the Russian delegation’s vehicle.
Before he knew it, the blood flowing from his forehead was soaking a
corner of his vision. His vision was completely red as even the special
lenses got wet. He wiped the blood away casually and looked at the car
behind him. All the passengers were lying down. Even the driver
seemed to have lost consciousness due to a deep gunshot wound. As he
looked at each person, the person who had collapsed in the back seat
caught his eye. It was Basim. Tsk, he clicked his tongue and went around
the car body to open the back door. Then he reached out and felt
Basim’s pulse. He was alive. On the contrary, The throbbing was
strangely intense. The moment he stopped in discomfort, the hard
muzzle of the gun pressed hard against his chest. Basim's eyelids rolled
up. Kwon Taekjoo obediently raised his arms and stepped back. Basim
also got out of the car, fully alert. He faced Kwon Taekjoo and ripped off
Kwon Taekjoo’s tattered artificial skin. Soon, a breathtaking laugh
erupted from him. [Ha, it's you again? You, Korean spy.] [Who would say
that? You keep seeing me like this and I'm getting attached to you?]
[Well.... Terrorism is something you did?] [No way. What good would it
do us to do that?] [If not, why are you here?] [Well. Isn't that too
personal a question?] When he responded slyly, Basim frowned. He
suddenly put the gun to his neck and pressed it. [You always interfere
with my work.] [Who would want to do that? So stop doing bad things.
Is shamelessness a family history?] [Even when you're about to die,
your tongue is long.] Basim slowly pulled his finger on the trigger. His
lips also twisted upward. [It was annoying every time, but it’s good.]
Basim’s breathing was unusually heavy as he laughed softly. Looking
closely, his left side was soaked with blood. It seemed like he had been
shot. His pupils were also cloudy, which was not in good condition. And
how could he act so hypocritically? Kwon Taekjoo’s gaze, which had
been fixed on Bajim, briefly shifted to behind him. Then Bajim also
hesitated. At that moment, he raised his hand. The bullet fired as the
trigger was pulled and pierced the air. He instantly grabbed Bajim’s arm
and twisted it back. At that moment, He snatched the falling gun and
fired it somewhere. The drone flying behind Bajim exploded violently in
the air. Kwon Taekjoo held Bajim as if wrapping himself up and dodged
the falling debris. Both his ears were ringing from the intense explosion.
He shook his head to wake up his dizzy mind. It seemed that the drone
bombs that had been used in the terrorist attack were still there. He felt
he had to hurry. Kwon Taekjoo grabbed the back of Bajim's jacket and
took it off without warning. [Let go of me! What are you doing...!] [I
don't think that bastard would be sad if one of you died.] He pressed
the half-torn jacket against the wound on Bajim's side. He untied
Bajim's belt and wrapped it tightly over it. [... Ugh.] [Still, I should
experience the good fortune of having a good brother at least once in
my life.] As soon as he finished administering first aid, he let Bajim go as
if pushing him away. [If you go back out this way and go about 200m,
there will be Iranian police officers wandering around. Go and tell them
who you are and ask for help.] [.....] [If you don’t like it, I don’t mind
becoming a victim of terrorism here. I don’t think I can stand it for
long.] He nodded at Bajim’s blood-covered pants and threw his gun at
him. The magazine was already empty, but it was better than nothing.
Bajim glared at Kwon Taekjoo with an expression that said he couldn’t
understand, then backed away hesitantly. He was so wary of people
that he hesitated for a long time. When Kwon Taekjoo, who had been
watching, said [Oh. I heard a siren.], he limped and ran in the direction
he had been told. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been shaking his head,
remembered his duty and approached the vehicle where Park Jeong-ho
must have been riding. The door was dented and wouldn’t open. When
he pulled hard, the door itself was ripped off. He lowered his head and
looked inside. Park Jeong-ho was trembling with his head held up. It
seemed that the driver and the guards who had been escorting him had
already died. "I came to pick you up, Doctor.” Park Jeong-ho flinched
and froze when he heard the unexpected Korean. Kwon Taekjoo calmly
met his eyes as he slowly raised his head. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Ho, are you from South Korea...?" "That's right. Vladivostok's
cockroach. There's no time to say hello right now, so let's go for now.
The car...." He looked around and nodded at the armored vehicle
behind him. "That would be better. Can you move?" Park Jeong-ho
nodded coolly and grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's hand. Despite the noisy
chase, he didn't seem to be seriously injured. "What the hell is going
on?" "We're also assessing the situation. It seems like a terrorist attack
unrelated to our operation has occurred. Let's talk on the way out."
"Eek...!" Park Jeong-ho, who was about to get into the passenger seat of
the armoured vehicle, was terrified at the sight of the bleeding and
collapsed agents. Kwon Taekjoo grabbed them by the collar and
dragged them out of the car without a second thought, then said, “Get
in.” Park Jeong-ho seemed quite surprised by his indifferent attitude
toward human life. He hesitantly climbed into the passenger seat and
continued to pat Kwon Taekjoo, as if he was doubtful whether he could
trust him. Regardless, he quickly backed up and got out of the alley.
“The operation has changed due to an unexpected terrorist attack. We
haven’t identified the perpetrator of the attack, but we decided that it
would be safer to take advantage of the current chaos to bring you
back. The North will also try to find out about the doctor’s
disappearance for the time being. They will perceive it as a terrorist
attack." "Oh, what happened to my family?" "The North must be busy
trying to figure out the truth about this terrorist attack, so they must
have relaxed their surveillance of the doctor's family. Just think about
one thing for now. You have to get back safely so that you can meet
your family. I will take you to the South Korean embassy as planned."
Hold on tight, he said, wearing a headset connected to the
communication device. Information about the combat situation and
restricted areas by area was being transmitted through the headset. He
ran without stopping to avoid the area. But soon all routes were
blocked. In a situation where there was an absolute lack of firepower,
he couldn’t go to war with Park Jeong-ho. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been
worrying, quickly made a decision. “I guess underground is faster.”
“What? Eeeeeeeeeee!” The armoured car, which had been running
without stopping, rushed into the subway entrance. The heavy body of
the car shook side to side as it went down each step. It wouldn’t have
been strange if it had just overturned. Park Jeong-ho tightly closed his
eyes while holding onto the safety bar with both hands. Screams like
moans flowed out of his mouth without stopping. The subway station
was empty as the terrorist attack halted the subway service. He quickly
ran over it and headed to the farthest exit. The workers who were
trying to close the subway station in preparation for additional terrorist
attacks ran away from the armoured vehicle that suddenly appeared.
Next to them, a police car controlling pedestrians hurriedly flashes its
lights and chases after them. When they ignored the request to stop,
they fired bullets without hesitation. Bullets continuously splattered the
surface of the armoured vehicle. "Oh my, I'll get caught!" "Hold on
tight." Every time he passed an alley, police cars that had received a
request for support followed him one after another. In the end, he was
in Hell. The mobilization was complete. They were closing in on him
from all sides and from the sky. It was a dilemma. With flashy handling,
he changed direction sharply. In his dizzying vision, he saw a sign
prohibiting vehicle traffic. It was definitely a narrow side street that was
too narrow for a car to pass through. Even so, he had no choice but to
take a chance. Kwon Taekjoo stretched out his arm to protect Park
Jeong-ho in the passenger seat and stepped hard on the accelerator
pedal. "It's shaking a little." "Eww!" The armoured vehicle collided with
the buildings on both sides of the side street. The side mirror flew off.
The road was so narrow that it was almost as wide as the car, so the
police cars followed one by one. No matter how much they shot from
behind, they couldn't make a single hole in the armoured car. Since the
armoured car and the police car were adjacent, the helicopter couldn't
shoot the minigun anymore. The only problem was that if the road on
the other side was blocked, they would be like rats in a cage. Sure
enough, the police cars that had been requested for backup showed up
in the alley on the other side. Now the only solution was to sink into the
ground. They found a manhole that seemed suitable for escape.
Meanwhile, the encirclement continued to close in. Kwon Taekjoo
stopped the car and thought about a solution for a moment. Was there
really no way out? Would it be better to just get caught and run away
when the time was right? Then what about Park Jeong-ho? While he
was pondering this, the distinctive engine noise of a motorcycle rang
out from somewhere. He turned his head to follow the sound. From the
passenger seat, a motorcycle was speeding fiercely down a narrow side
road that was barely wide enough for a bicycle to pass. The driver was
wearing a helmet, so his face was completely unrecognisable. Out of
instinctive caution, he aimed his gun at the motorcycle. For some
reason, the motorcycle driver did not try to respond. He simply sent
some kind of hand signal to Kwon Taekjoo. He watched. Kwon Taekjoo's
eyes widened. He recognized the signal at a glance. It was a unique
gesture of the special forces that Kwon Taekjoo had been in before
being appointed to the National Garden. Earlier, when he had received
support fire on the hotel rooftop, he had noticed that someone was
protecting him. For a moment, he thought it was Zhenya. Now that he
looked at it, it seemed that the headquarters had conditionally assigned
a Plan B agent. If they had openly assigned him to the team, Kwon
Taekjoo himself would have refused. His job would have been to
remove obstacles so that the operation would not fail. Those obstacles
probably included Kwon Taekjoo himself, who might have defected.
"You have no faith at all." Kwon Taekjoo, who was muttering self-
deprecatingly, suddenly pressed down on Park Jeong-ho's head. Then,
he fired repeatedly at the passenger window. The cover agent who
approached the armoured vehicle at that moment broke the glass
window that had been blown out white by the gunfire. Park Jeong-ho,
who had no idea what was going on, covered his head and screamed
repeatedly. Kwon Taekjoo grabbed him by the collar and ordered him
firmly. "Doctor. Listen carefully. From now on, you and I must escape
from here." "What? Who is he...." "I'm an agent on our side. I'll escort
you to the embassy." "What about Mr. Ki-reum?" "I'll just clean up here
and follow you." Kwon Taekjoo said, "We don't have time," and
unilaterally unbuckled Park Jeong-ho's seatbelt. He also pushed his back
against the wall. Park Jeong-ho climbed over the narrow window frame
with a bewildered expression. Plan B agents helped him escape. In the
meantime, the police pushed down the armoured vehicle and
repeatedly struck from the front and back. The helicopter in the sky also
fired warning shots, demanding that they surrender. Kwon Taekjoo
secured an escape route for the motorcycle by moving the armoured
vehicle a little further toward the side road. "Go quickly!" The
motorcycle with reverse gear quickly escaped the side road with Park
Jung-ho on board. Immediately after, bullets rained down on the
armoured vehicle. The helicopter also fired miniguns, causing holes to
appear in the ceiling one by one. In a way, it was Kwon Taekjoo's last
chance to escape. However, if he ran away now, he would not be able to
guarantee Park Jung-ho's safety. He had to buy more time. That way, he
could make up for his past mistakes and complete his mission. That was
also the only way to clear Zhenya of the espionage charges.
"Whaaaaaa!"' He clenched his teeth. As the attack grew stronger, he
pushed the armored vehicle forward and blocked the side road. How
long could he hold out? Suddenly, the attack from the helicopter
stopped. When he raised his head, he saw a drone hovering around the
helicopter. The helicopter was struggling to avoid the drone. The police
officers watching him also didn’t know what to do, worried that the
drone might explode. Kwon Taekjoo picked up his rifle and shot the
drone repeatedly. His bullets hit the drone that was moving without
stopping. Soon, the drone’s control device malfunctioned and it collided
with the helicopter, causing a huge explosion. In an instant, the
helicopter’s propeller and body separated and it plummeted to the
ground. The police cars surrounding the armoured vehicle were swept
away one by one, exploding in a chain reaction. The huge flames that
filled the alley reached right in front of his nose in the blink of an eye. In
an instant, past events flashed through his mind. His happy family, his
father who went to work as usual and never came back, his older
brother who asked him to take good care of his mother before leaving
for his last port, and even my mother who was always worried about
Kwon Taekjoo. The moment he graduated from high school and entered
college normally, the moment he joined the special forces during my
military service and was scouted by the National Intelligence Service,
the moment he left the operation site in a shaky manner, Until the
moment he encountered it. Soon, the ground shook with the great
tyranny. In an instant, his vision was covered in darkness. 8. The Patriot
Zhenya. The flesh under his eyes fluttered. The hairs in his ears stood
up. ‘Zhenya.' The sharp senses calmed down at the soft call. Even his
hardened face relaxed. A rough hand came over and caressed his entire
ear as if massaging it. A languid moan flowed out. He hugged the other
person with both arms, chasing the soft yet sweet pleasure. He locked
him up tightly so he couldn't go anywhere, and rubbed his cheek
against his thick thighs. A shallow laugh erupted from the other person.
He liked the feeling of the air fluttering. That soft feeling of a ripple
being transmitted to the eardrums. ‘Kid. Stop acting like a fool and get
up. The sun is high in the sky.' Even the annoying nagging sounded
sweet. He had never let anyone talk nonsense in front of him, but for
some reason, he was just happy about that. He wished they had done
more. He wished they had invaded him more. 'Oh, kid. You're
pretending not to hear. Have you eaten?' Instead of answering, he
shook his head. He felt like the warm moment would be shattered if he
had spoken carelessly. He did it without any basis. 'I knew this would
happen. Ah, come to your senses quickly. I'll make you some
jajangmyeon, your favourite. You're so big you can't even eat rice
properly, and your appetite is like that of a child.' The other person
shook his legs and finally shook his head. He smiled and slowly opened
his eyelids. […..] He saw afamiliar ceiling. He felt around furtively and
the seat next to him was empty. It was as if no one had been there from
the beginning, and he didn't even feel the warmth. He let out a long
exhale and straightened his upper body. He looked at the blueprint as
usual, It was as if he had fallen asleep. He hadn’t slept properly for over
four days, so it was as if the fuse had blown. Whenever my mind
wandered, he would stay on the island like he was now, absorbed only
in weapons. It was a task that required advanced calculations and
techniques to materialise his imagination, so no other thoughts would
enter his mind until he reached a satisfactory conclusion. But at some
point, that wasn’t easy either. It was mostly after he argued with Kwon
Taekjoo. No matter how much he blocked out his consciousness,
questions that he couldn’t solve on his own would pop up. Why on
earth was Kwon Taekjoo angry again? What did he do wrong that he
had done so wrong? It was full of things he couldn't understand. Why?
Why? Whyonearth? Questions that kept coming to my mind were
twisting and turning. There was no problem he couldn't answer on his
own in life. He somehow came up with a result, and if that didn't work,
he got rid of the problem itself. He wondered if he could just cut off the
threads in his head that were becoming more and more tangled.
However, that didn't work out for Kwon Taekjoo. The questions he had
about him never reached any value, and he couldn't erase the problem.
Was that why he always felt suffocated and resentful? He clicked his
tongue low and turned on the location tracking system out of habit.
[… ..Hmm?] The only target was Kwon Taekjoo, but for some reason his
current location was not displayed. He rebooted the system. This time,
the situation was the same. An incomprehensible message appeared on
the screen saying, 'Target does not exist.' That couldn't be true. The
microchip that Kwon Taekjoo had secretly implanted in his body was a
device that recognized the target's biosignals and transmitted location
information in real time. If Kwon Taekjoo was in an area with radio
interference or if the device itself wasn’t broken, there was no way that
message would pop up. Just as he was about to reboot the system
again, a familiar noise was detected. It was definitely the sound of the
helicopter’s propeller.- I’ll come pick you up as soon as I finish work, so
just wait a moment. Could it be that Kwon Taekjoo has returned? Has
he already finished work? Was that why his location wasn’t being
tracked? After turning off the defence system, he strode up to the living
room. He opened the curtains and looked out the window, and a
helicopter approaching from afar caught his eye. Its pink exterior made
him wonder if it was really there. However, since it would not be easy
for Kwon Taekjoo to enter Russia, he thought he would have received
Olga’s help. He headed straight to the rooftop. Soon, the helicopter
began to descend slowly. Zhenya’s gown fluttered wildly in the wind
from the propeller. He raised his arm to block the wind blowing into his
eyes and stared intently inside the helicopter. For some reason, the face
he had been expecting did not come into view. Soon, the propeller
stopped completely and the door opened. Olga, who appeared there,
looked down at my brother who had come out to greet me on the
rooftop with a suspicious look. [What’s going on? You’re here to greet
me like this. Understand? I'm so embarrassed, I don't know where to
put myself.] [Are you sleeping alone?] [Or who? Did you want to see
your father's face again?] Zhenya’s nose wrinkled as he pretended not
to know. [Get out.] [I just got here, but this is too much. I'm tired after a
long flight. I should go inside and rest.] [If you don't mind turning it into
powder, then do it.] Zhenya glanced at Olga's helicopter with sharp eyes
and went inside first. Olga followed him without a care and taunted him
as if telling him to listen. [Yeah, this is how you should act like 'Psych'. I
thought you were going to die again. You're so unfamiliar.] No matter
what he scratched at, he didn't respond. He ignored the annoying bug
as if catching it was a waste of energy. Olga didn't care either. Zhenya
went straight to the kitchen and made tea. His gaze never left the cell
phone in his hand. It seemed like Korakseonni was spying on someone
again. There is a high probability the target is Kwon Taek-joo. Those who
openly stalk their lovers and those who accept such people because
they are pretty, they often meet each other. Olga shook her head and
approached the table. She even said to Zhenya, who was pouring tea,
"I'll have milk tea." Zhenya, as if he hadn't heard, prepared only his
share of black tea and sat down on the chair. He didn't take his eyes off
his phone even as he sipped the hot tea. [The world is turned upside
down, but you're being carefree because you're dating. How
comfortable would it be to live like that?] She didn't react much even
when he provoked her. Since she was young, she'd treated everyone
but herself as invisible. For Olga, it was rather surprising that such a
person, Zhenya, completely changed her expression in front of Kwon
Taekjoo’s hat. Olga muttered to herself as she took out milk from the
refrigerator. [Or is he being punished after getting scolded by her
lover?] [What are you talking about?] She reacted immediately when
Kwon Taekjoo was mentioned. Olga’s lips broke into a smirk. She sat
down on the chair opposite Zhenya as if dancing. [You two fought?] [I
asked what you were talking about.] Zhenya's eyes turned cold. It was
like a warning that he would not ask nicely anymore. Olga shrugged her
shoulders and answered casually. [Taekjoo contacted me. He asked me
to check on you.] [Taekjoo?] [Otherwise, why would I have come here? I
thought you had fought again because you asked so earnestly, so I came
here to try to make up with you, but I feel like I made a mistake. I am
being treated like this.] [ ...What else?] Olga said, [Well?] and took it
easy. Zhenya’s black tea was dragged towards him. She boldly poured
milk into it to make milk tea. Her taste was so sophisticated that
everything she brought in boasted a heavenly fragrance. Olga drank her
milk tea despite the harsh glares. Then, she fiddled with the cup in her
hand and examined her brother one by one. [Why do you like Taekjoo?
Two years is a long time since the husks were peeled off.] Her gaze was
inquisitive, but it didn't feel like enthusiasm. It was just full of questions
bordering on curiosity. [There is no one in the world to worry about, so
someone like you.] Olga tilted her head as if it was really
incomprehensible. Although the act of touching my tea without
permission and the words that followed were unpleasant enough,
Zhenya was not shaken at all. Even the murderous aura that had been
emanating from her had disappeared. It seemed that her frozen mood
had eased a little since Kwon Taekjoo had worried about her. He
wondered if he had the will to listen to Olga's story more. Zhenya got up
from his seat and prepared another cup of tea. Olga, who had been
glaring at her unusually relaxed gesture, said softly, "Ah." [Bajim's
brother is safe. The men in our family seem to have been born with a
lifeline.] [Bajim?] Zhenya looked back with a frown. He looked
embarrassed as he suddenly brought up Bajim after having been telling
a pleasant story. [Didn't you know? He went to Iran to accompany the
president.] Iran. The last confirmed location of Kwon Taekjoo was also in
Iran. Could it be that his new mission was related to Bajim's work? Was
that why he begged Zhenya not to follow him this time? Why did he
suddenly say that Bajim was safe? It wasn't good. He had a feeling. [I
think there was a massive bombing in Tehran.] Olga continued speaking
without much weight. Immediately after that, Zhenya suddenly grabbed
her by the collar. Olga, who was up from her seat in an instant, let out a
single scream. Her upper body was dragged halfway across the table,
and she was barely able to hold on to her toes. [You crazy bastard!
What are you doing!] [A massive bombing? What are you talking
about?] [Ugh, let go of me!] Olga shook off Zhenya's hand and
repeatedly struck his arm. It was no use. Without hesitation, she took
out her pistol and aimed it at Zhenya's forehead. Zhenya did not budge
at all. His eyes, wide open, were bloodshot. His eyes, so blue that they
were almost like daggers, seemed ready to be stabbed at any moment.
[What are you talking about!] Zhenya roared. The overwhelming force
made it hard for her to breathe. Olga, panting heavily, was about to pull
the trigger when her hand was violently slammed shut. A bullet was
fired from the dislodged gun, shattering the poor chandelier. Zhenya
shot Olga without blinking an eye. He looked straight ahead. His pupils
were constricted. Even if he were to face a dead beast right in front of
him, it wouldn’t be as chilling. Olga groaned with difficulty, holding her
voice together. [Haha, I heard there were simultaneous terrorist attacks
in Tehran. Haa, it’s still not clear which of the two presidents they were
targeting, what their purpose was, uh, who was behind it. It’s a national
emergency here right now, so it’s hard to contact them. I only just heard
the news about Brother Basim on my way here. That’s all!] Zhenya let
Olga go as if shoving her away. Olga, who had fallen backwards, grabbed
her reddened neck and groaned for a long time. It was painful. Even
while coughing, unable to control his anger, he grumbled, “You son of a
bitch.” After barely calming down, Olga glared at Zhenya, but then froze.
That was why Zhenya was standing there blankly with a blank
expression. [Taekjoo...] The way he muttered as if he had lost his mind
was unusual. Olga, who was feeling uneasy, belatedly urged Zhenya,
“No way!” [Why? What! Did Taekjoo go there too? You can’t contact
me?] There was no response from Zhenya. The fire inside her grew
stronger. [Is Taekjoo okay? I’ll keep watching you. Where are you now?
Did you check? Huh?] He shook Zhenya's leg violently, urging her to
answer. However, Olga's voice seemed to be completely unreachable to
him. Zhenya, who had been frozen for a while like a broken machine,
suddenly picked up her cell phone. He initialised the federal tracking
system and searched for Kwon Taekjoo’s traces. It only kept showing
messages that the target could not be found. In a fit of anger, he threw
his cell phone away. Olga quickly picked it up. Soon, she too was faced
with the empty coordinates where the target had disappeared. The last
record displayed under the coordinates was Tehran, Iran. That too, the
center of the terrorist attack. [No... No. Something is wrong here, right?
Right?] Olga shook her head, denying reality. She looked up at Zhenya
as if she was grabbing at straws, but he covered his eyes with his hands
and remained silent. [This is ridiculous.] She repeated the tracking
system reset. No matter how many times she repeated it, no new
signals were caught. Her hands were shaking for no reason. Her gasping
breaths were mixed with sobs. Zhenya snatched the phone from Olga's
hand. Then, without saying a word, she kicked away. A strange light
flashed in her blue eyes that she had seen in passing. [Hey! Where are
you going!] He shouted, but this time it didn't reach Zhenya. In fact, it
seemed like nothing could stop him. *** After the Tehran terrorist
attack, the National Intelligence Service was also on high alert. The
atmosphere at headquarters was more subdued than usual. The
international community was on high alert because this happened
before the tripartite summit between Iran, Russia, and Turkey. Iran
declared a state of emergency. Accordingly, communication and
movement were restricted and inspections were strengthened. Local
embassies in each country responded quickly to new information, but
also went into a state of silence for fear of causing unnecessary trouble.
Various opinions were expressed about the perpetrators of the terror
attack. The BBC in the UK claimed that it was the work of an anti-
government armed group in Iran, and the French news agency AFP,
citing an intelligence official, assumed that it was the work of Kurdish
armed forces. CNN mentioned the recent suspicious activities of IS
members in Iran and speculated that this attack was also their work. An
Iranian state-run media outlet even suggested that the United States,
which was anxious about the strong relationship between Iran and
Russia, may have provided the funds for the terror attack. The
international situation, which had been growing increasingly tense by
the day, suddenly froze. The exact extent of the damage has not yet
been revealed. It is only known that the two presidents escaped safely,
and that there were many casualties among their entourage and
security personnel. There were also countless missing people. As it was
a drone bombing attack, it was expected to be difficult to recover the
intact bodies from the scene and to identify each person. The National
Intelligence Service also had no choice but to be cautious in
communicating with the local area. Since they were conducting an
operation at the same time and place, it could arouse suspicion. So far,
two things have been confirmed. Park Jungho's family escaped safely
during the riots in Tehran and are now in Thailand. And Agent P2, who
was in charge of Kwon Taekjoo's backup, safely received Park Jeongho's
body from Kwon Taekjoo and delivered it to the embassy. Kwon
Taekjoo's life or death was unclear. He heard that a series of explosions
by drone bombs occurred at the place where he was last seen, turning
the area into a wasteland. There were hardly any survivors, and those
who survived were unconscious. That was the case for a week. During
that time, the biochips implanted into the black agents did not send any
signals. Normally, in such cases, it was assumed that the person in
question had died in the line of duty. But it wasn't anyone else, but
Kwon Taekjoo? He couldn't believe it. Director Kwak pressed his
temples, which were throbbing, and checked the local news that hadn't
been updated for hours. He didn't know if Kwon Taekjoo was among the
unidentified injured who had lost consciousness. He couldn't give up
the slim hope that the information was just delayed due to the chaotic
situation. How much time had passed? Suddenly, a knock rang out.
Director Kwak quickly raised his head and said, "Come in." Soon, his
secretary appeared. "Director. We have a new message from the local
embassy." "What did it say?" "Most of the news was about Park Jeong-
ho. He is currently receiving treatment and resting locally. The gunshot
wound is deeper than expected, so even if he rehabilitates, he may still
be disabled. Wewill protect him until he can move, and once he has a
new identity, we will grant him asylum through the Turkish example."
"So, have you decided on a country to seek asylum in?" "Yes. It seems
he wants to go to Switzerland." "I see. We should prepare a letter of
cooperation first. Military. Ah, what was the item you were trying to
secure?” "I received it. We are currently looking for a way to safely bring
it into the country. According to Park Jeong-ho's explanation, it is a
microorganism discovered in the Baekdu Mountain volcanic zone. If
inhaled by the human body, it causes a rapid inflammatory reaction and
can lead to death within hours. It does not respond to existing
treatments and is easily transmitted, so it seems that Russia was also
interested in it." Did he plan to develop it into a weapon that boasts
powerful killing power while being invisible? To create enormous
wealth or upset the balance of global hegemony through it? All of this
was what Kwon Taekjoo told him. It was Roy. The source of the
information was Russian Ambassador Bogdanov, he thinks. This proved
that Ambassador Bogdanov did not share the same views as his home
country or family. "That's good." Even as he said that, his heart was not
at ease. The news he was really curious about was still not heard. "Have
you identified G1's whereabouts yet? Or have you found an unidentified
injured or dead Asian?" "Yes. I looked around the last known location of
G1, the surrounding areas, and even the hospitals. But it seems there
hasn't been any significant results yet. Not only is there no one similar,
but I haven't seen any Asians." The secretary who was reporting said,
"I," and tried hard to gauge Director Kwak's intentions. "G1's only
immediate family member is his mother. It has been confirmed that he
is currently staying in Canada. Are you going to inform them of G1's
disappearance?" "First, find the body. If G1 really died in the line of
duty, we should return the remains. I will request separate cooperation
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so tell them to mobilise all
personnel locally and search for G1's whereabouts first.” "Yes, I
understand." The secretary quietly bowed and closed the door before
leaving. Director Kwak leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.
According to P2's report, Kwon Taekjoo held on until the very end. He
was a veteran, so he could have compromised to some extent, but he
insisted on completing his mission, putting his own safety on the back
burner. Was it because he was confident that he could survive
somehow? Or was it because of his overflowing patriotism and sense of
justice? Or.…. "Shouldn't you give me a chance to explain myself at least
once?" "Explanation?" "It's unfair to be misunderstood for something I
didn't do, and to be excluded from work simply because I'm suspected. I
feel like everything I've built up so far is being denied. How long do I
have to wait? Will my reputation be cleared if I wait?" "This is a matter
of national destiny. It's not a situation where you can take your own
honour for personal gain..." "What's left in our work if you take honour
away?"' “....." "Please let us complete the operation. Russian
Ambassador Bogdanov will not be involved in this matter. I will prove
my innocence with results." Kwon Taekjoo said he wanted to explain
himself. After the previous operation in Vladivostok failed, he was
accused of colluding with the Russian ambassador. He probably wanted
to prove his innocence somehow and put everything back on track. But
was that all? "Director, I have a favour to ask of you." Before leaving for
Iran, Kwon Taekjoo made one condition. In general, you can't expect
anything in return for performing official duties. It was strange that
someone who knew that better than anyone else would suddenly ask
for a favour. "Please?" "Yes. If this is safely concluded…” . Was it
because of disappointment in the organization that he brought up that
story back then? Because the fate of an agent who must devote his
entire life to the country felt empty all over again? As Kwon Taekjoo was
chewing over the request he had made, there was suddenly a
commotion outside the door. The voice calling out, "Director Yeon-
shin," sounded familiar. The voice of the secretary dissuading him from
doing so was also heard. The noise of something being pushed and
poured out continued unceasingly as the person trying to come in and
the person trying to stop him confronted each other. Director Kwak got
up from his seat and went outside. The person who suddenly barged
into the director's office was Yoon Jong-woo, not Nam. His eyes were
swollen and his face was wet from crying so much. He knew that Kwon
Taekjoo was his master and that the two had been close as more than
just colleagues for a long time. No matter how much you had to
separate work and private life, it wouldn’t be easy. Director Kwak
motioned to the secretary who was blocking Yoon Jong-woo with his
whole body to go out for a moment. The secretary looked embarrassed
but silently followed the order. “Director! You’ll look for your senior,
right? Your senior… He’s definitely alive. He’s probably unconscious
right now because he’s slightly injured, or his communicator is broken
so he can’t contact you. Even before there have been many times like
that. They would show up right away asking what happened, but that
would happen...." Yoon Jong-woo, who had been rambling incoherently,
finally burst into tears. Do you not know how desperate their situation
is? Right after the police helicopter crashed in Tehran and exploded,
Kwon Taekjoo's vital signs also stopped. If it was a simple device
malfunction, that would have been fortunate, but his whereabouts
were not found for several days. It was enough time for an elite agent
like Kwon Taekjoo to return. At the very least, he had to report that he
was alive. The fact that no trace of him was found meant that he was in
no condition to return on his own. Director Kwak approached Yoon
Jong-woo and patted his shoulder. "We're using every means at our
disposal to find him. We'll definitely find him. So you should go and rest
for a bit. You haven't even left work for days." "Director, I'll do anything.
Just tell me to do it. If I hack into all the local CCTV and satellites and
search through them, I'll be able to find out where my senior is. Or,
send me to Iran instead. I'll go and look for him myself. Yes?" Yoon Jong-
woo cried and clapped his hands together. He was being pushed around
like a child. He already knew that it wouldn't work. Iran was on high
alert to find the mastermind behind the terror attack. The entire world's
attention was focused on Tehran. At a time like this, they couldn't rashly
move to find an agent who had gone missing during an operation.
Furthermore, intelligence agents were supposed to exist only in the
shadows. Even if Kwon Taekjoo had died on duty, it would have been
impossible to officially receive his body. Sometimes, they might have to
deny that very fact. They were devoted to their country, but they could
be abandoned at any time for the sake of the national interest. That was
also the fate of an agent. "Ugh... Senior, your father died on duty, and
your brother died on duty... Now, there's only Senior. There are some
left. Senior's mother is always worried about her and can't sleep
comfortably. Hehe, she asked me to take good care of her and to come
by sometimes even when she's not home. If the Senior is wrong, how
can I see your mother? What can I say to your mother? Hehe...." Yoon
Jong-woo, who had been croaking, finally got down on his knees and
sat down. He hugged Director Kwak's leg and cried sadly again. "What
have you done all this time, Senior! This is not something we can do to
our seniors in this country. We are also citizens of this country...
Wecan't just throw away used batteries like this. Hehe...." 'We work in
the shade and aim for the sun.' ‘Anonymous dedication to freedom and
truth.' 'Endless loyalty and devotion to the country and people.' The
motto that has consistently emphasised the silent dedication of
employees for decades seemed bitter today. Yoon Jong-woo entered
the dark house. He crouched down, hugging his bag without taking off
his shoes or turning on the light. When he was alone, the sadness he
had suppressed welled up inside him. He buried his head in his bag and
sobbed quietly. He couldn't stop thinking about Kwon Taekjoo all day.
Naturally, he remembered the time I first met him. After winning the
international hacking competition hosted by an American IT company,
he received numerous job offers. Among them was the National
Intelligence Service. Since he had been romanticising white hackers
since he was young, he didn't think long about it. He was put into
practice as soon as he finished his internship. Support team members
like Yoon Jong-woo were matched one-on-one with black agents, who
were on the field, to back up their partners' public duties. His peers
gradually became partners, and even though he kept complaining, he
gradually adapted to the work. However, Yoon Jong-woo's guard was
out of sight for several days. He was not assigned any work other than
his backup, so he just sat there for a while. Then one day, he was
suddenly assigned to remote support on site. Since it was his first time
in the field, he was frozen solid, but the person on the other end of the
communication line greeted him first.- Is that you? A new recruit who
just came in. He doesn't know if he should call that a greeting. He spoke
informally to him out of the blue, and his tone was even rude. Kwon
Taekjoo's first impression was not very good. Even when he went into
operation, he rejected all of Yoon Jong-woo's suggestions and only
demanded one-sided information. He acted as he pleased. He was the
worst kind of general, the most toxic partner. It seemed like dark clouds
were gathering over his bright future. It was not long after the
operation ended that he met Kwon Taekjoo in person. While he was
writing a report, someone suddenly approached him. He rolled around
so much that his face was bruised and cracked here and there, and he
looked terrible. Kwon Taekjoo silently examined Yoon Jong-woo for a
while and then made an incomprehensible comment. "Hmm. I don't
know about anything else, but I guess I can use him for this or that."
“...Huh?" "Do you want to go eat? What do you like?” Kwon Taekjoo
bought meat for Yoon Jong-woo, who insisted that it was okay. Sitting
across from him was awkward and uncomfortable, so he hoped the
place would be cleared quickly. Kwon Taekjoo would have been no
different, but he immediately wrapped up some ssam and handed it to
Yoon Jong-woo. When he took it in bewilderment, he started nagging
him as if he had been waiting for it. "Stop fussing and eat up. Exercise a
little. In this world, physical strength is ability." Then he stuffed his
cheeks with ssam until his cheeks were swollen. A solid body, a
refreshingly resentful personality that seemed rude, an adventurous
spirit of challenge, an unstoppable sense of execution, and even
leadership. Yoon Jong-woo was a different person from himself from
birth. Being with him for so long made me depressed because the
hardships were so obvious. While drinking the alcohol he received, he
decided that he had to resign unconditionally. Kwon Taekjoo quickly got
Yoon Jong-woo drunk and got in a taxi first. Fortunately, he said he
would have a few more drinks and left, so he didn't go with him. He
nodded absentmindedly, and Kwon Taek-joo, who had been watching
him blankly, suddenly lowered his head and stared intently at Yoon
Jong-woo. He thought he was going to find fault with him again, but he
just lightly ruffled Yoon Jong-woo's hair. He didn't even like that. "You've
worked hard. You must have been out of your mind because it was your
first time, but you took great care to cover for me. Thanks. It was easy
for me to get through this. Let’s do better in the future.” He was clearly
full of complaints, but what was all that greeting? His heart melted at
the simple encouragement. Maybe it was because he didn’t feel any
pretence. That’s how he came to share joys and sorrows with Kwon
Taekjoo. That’s when he started to receive sympathy from his peers.
That’s understandable, because Yoon Jong-woo was strictly an office
worker who supported from the rear, but Kwon Taekjoo would call him
out to the field whenever he could. He almost died several times. Every
time, he would grit his teeth and promise to go after the National
Intelligence Service. He should have quit at some point. If he had, he
wouldn’t have had to endure this sadness now. As he completed each
operation, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment. He couldn’t brag
about it and no one would know, but his heart was filled with pride at
the thought that he had done something great for the country. He felt a
sense of relief that he had safely survived what would have been a
boringly ordinary day for some, and a sense of mission that he would
continue to do so. He felt like he had become a truly amazing person.
Would he be able to continue to feel that kind of pride in the future?
Could he do it alone, without Kwon Taekjoo? I wasn’t sure. Yoon Jong-
woo sniffled and curled up smaller. He cried. His head was dizzy from
crying so much and he couldn’t open his eyes properly. He was so
exhausted both physically and mentally that he closed his eyes listlessly.
He had exhausted all his energy and couldn’t even think of crawling to
bed. At the moment when the distant waters were closing in, his cell
phone rang. He was just going to ignore it, but suddenly the thought
occurred to him that it might be Kwon Taekjoo calling. He quickly
checked his cell phone. It wasn’t the caller he had expected, but Yoon
Jong-woo didn’t have time to be disappointed and got up. It was almost
a reflex. Ahem, he had to clear his throat to answer the call. “Hello?”-
Oh, Jong-woo. Sorry for being so late. Maybe he woke me up while I
was sleeping? The other person was Kwon Taekjoo's mother. Tears
welled up in his eyes when he heard her voice. His nose also started to
sting. "No, mother. Are you doing well?"- Yes. But why is Jong-woo's
voice like that? Are you sick? Even though he tried to sound calm and
bright, he was immediately seen through. Yoon Jong-woo laughed
awkwardly and grabbed his poor neck. "Oh, my voice? Actually, it's
because I have a cold."- Oh, dear. Did you go to the hospital? Did you
take your medicine? You have to be more careful with your body when
you live alone. There’s no one to take care of you. “It’s okay. I’m eating
well, taking my medicine, and eating well. There’s still a lot of the side
dishes that my mother made for me last time.”- Is there any left? You
don’t eat much at Jongwoo’s house. “No. I eat a lot… You make me so
much.”- I see. Just in case, smell everything you eat, and if it’s even a
little strange, don’t feel bad and throw it away. You’ll get sick if you eat
it for nothing. "Yes. I'll keep that in mind."- Oh, look at me. Jong-woo
must be tired, but I talked too long. It's not that… Have you met our
Taekjoo by any chance? He hasn't heard from him in a few days. He
thought he'd be busy for a while. He knew she'd ask about Kwon
Taekjoo’s health before we even talked. She'd asked about him like this
before. As usual, he just had to make a suitable excuse. But his lips kept
trembling and wouldn't come off properly. Yoon Jong-woo bit his lip
hard, afraid that he might burst into tears. "Oh, senior? That... I don't
know the details, but I think he went on a sudden business trip."-
Really? I can't even get in touch with the ambassador . "I think the
senior must have taken the ambassador with him. I think there must
have been some problem in Russia."- Could it be because of the
terrorist attack? I heard something bad happened in Iran or
somewhere. "Ah... Yes, I know. That's right, mother. But the senior
didn't go to Iran. It could have been a terrorist attack targeting the
Russian president, so they told the diplomatic envoys from each country
to return home urgently. The order must have been given. I think that
the matter must be sorted out to some extent before Senior and the
Ambassador can return. Since this is such a sensitive issue, it would be
difficult to contact the outside world without caution."- I see. Kwon
Taekjoo's mother obediently agreed, but she didn't feel relieved. As
usual, she added a word to reassure her. "I will come back as soon as
Senior returns..." But before she could finish speaking, her throat
became dry. She quickly took the phone away from her ear and caught
her breath. It took a moment for her to continue speaking. "Oh, sorry. I
suddenly got a cough. When you get here, I'll tell you that your mother
contacted you and to call right away. Don't worry too much, mother."-
Will you? He's always grateful. "Oh, thank you. Mother, I just put the
water on.”- Oh, okay. Let's hang up. "Take care." - Okay. Jongwoo, get
some rest and I'll see you later. The call ended quickly. His junior
became as quiet as if he was drunk again. The foolish forced smile
disappeared from Yoon Jongwoo's face. He lowered his head and
looked down at the silent cell phone. He called Kwon Taekjoo, knowing
it would be meaningless. Before the call connection sound even
sounded, a voice message came out saying that the customer could not
answer the phone. Tears filled his eyes in an instant. But even that was
for a moment, and he flinched when the front door suddenly shook
with a loud bang. He was so surprised that he couldn’t even wipe away
the tears that fell down. It was too late for someone to visit. Could it be
that a drunk came to the wrong house? Just as he was guessing, the
mysterious intruder knocked on the front door again. He was so rude
that he seemed like he was going to break the door down at any
moment. "Who, who…” He was about to ask, straining my vocal cords
that were about to shrink. With a thud, the front door was pulled
outward, and soon the entire lock was ripped off with a loud cracking
sound. "Eek!” Then the door opened and the intruder was revealed. An
eerie aura emanated from his overwhelmingly tall figure. His sharp eyes
were filled with murderous intent. "Yeob...."' It was the moment when
the surprised Yoon Jong-woo opened his mouth. Zhenya, who had
barged in with his heels, grabbed his chin. He was pushed against the
wall without even being able to hold on. He instinctively grabbed
Zhenya's arms with both hands. "Heuk, Hak... Mr. Yevgeny?” [Taekjoo?]
Zhenya asked only that question after cutting it short. It seemed that he
had already found out that Kwon Taekjoo was missing. Yoon Jongwoo's
eyes, looking down at him precariously, began to well up with tears
again. [Heuk, heuk, uh... Senior...] Zhenya, whose patience had quickly
run out, pushed Yoon Jongwoo against the wall again. The back of his
head hit the wall and his entire head rang out. Before the pain could
even subside, a bullet struck the side of his face. Yoon Jong-woo
swallowed his sobs and quickly opened his mouth. [Senior, senior.….]
But this time too, he couldn't finish his words and burst into tears. A
thick vein twitched on Zhenya’s smooth forehead. His pupils were so
dilated that they didn't seem human at all. The hand that was squeezing
Yoon Jong-woo's neck also gained strength. It was so strong that
wrinkles formed on his skin. [Eek, hic... breath, breath...] Yoon Jong-woo
was in pain, drooling profusely. His eyes also rolled back a little. Zhenya
pushed him to his limit and then suddenly let him go. Yoon Jong-woo,
who had slipped to the floor, held his sleepy neck and coughed
repeatedly. [Cough cough, ha, ah, Senior’s vital signs, huff, I can’t get
them at all. I’m going to finish the work… Senior alone… He was left
alone… The surroundings were all scorched by the chain explosion. Heh,
huff, I think the car Senior was riding in was also swept away. We still
haven’t found the injured person presumed to be Senior… The bodies
found at the scene aren’t in good condition either, so it’ll take time until
we confirm their identities… Heh, what do I do? Mr. Yevgeny. What do I
do, Senior? Heh heh…] Yoon Jong-woo stammered an explanation.
However, his words were so incoherent and his tears were mixed in, so
it was hard to understand what he meant. All he could make out was
that Kwon Taek Joo had been involved in an unexpected accident while
on a mission. Zhenya slowly shook his head as if to deny that it couldn't
be true. Then, he grabbed Yoon Jong Woo by the back of his neck and
pulled him up. [Before I sweep everything away, take the lead.] [Sob,
sob, uh, where.….] Before he could even hear the answer, he was
suddenly pushed out the front door. The cold, hard barrel of a gun hit
the back of Yoon Jong Woo's head. [National Intelligence Service.] One
late night. Yoon Jong-woo’s car pulled into the back gate of the National
Intelligence Service. Armed security guards stood by to block the way.
The car followed their lead and stopped to one side. Then the engine
turned off and Yoon Jong-woo, in the driver’s seat, raised both arms and
got out. Immediately after that, all the guns were aimed at the
passenger seat as promised. When Zhenya got out from there, they
surrounded him. Just the confrontation was enough to heighten the
tension. [Let’s go, Mr. Yevgeny.] Yoon Jong-woo led the way. As he
started walking, the security guards also slowly stepped back and made
way for him. It was probably because he had informed Director Kwak in
advance, but it was a sensitive time for one reason or another. The
National Intelligence Service would have wanted to avoid causing a
diplomatic dispute by unnecessary armed conflict. Director Kwak’s
secretary was standing in front of the door. He nodded briefly and
extended his hand toward Zhenya, asking for his understanding. [I’m
sorry, but please cooperate for the safety of both parties.] [… Mr.
Yevgeny.] Yoon Jong-woo looked at Zhenya with a troubled expression.
Zhenya pointed the gun in his hand at Yoon Jong-woo. He pushed it
against his chest. He also silently extended both arms. Director Kwak’s
secretary handcuffed his arms. [This way.] The two walked side by side
through the dark hallway to the director’s office. Judging from the fact
that all the CCTVs were turned off, it seemed that Zhenya’s visit had not
been reported to the higher-ups. It was a secret meeting that was also
very dangerous for Director Kwak. Of course, if today’s incident became
a problem later, he could have just quietly called him in to investigate
the suspicion of collusion with Kwon Taek-joo. When the secretary
knocked on the office door, permission was given to come in from
inside. The security guards remained outside, and only the secretary,
Yoon Jong-woo, and Zhenya were left. He went inside. Director Kwak
got up from his seat and greeted Zhenya. [Welcome, Ambassador. If
not, I was going to ask you to come in once depending on the situation.]
[What happened to Taekjoo?] Zhenya asked in a curt manner. Even
though he was handcuffed, the unique sense of oppression did not
subside at all. The air around him seemed to slowly freeze. Director
Kwak faced Zhenya in silence and then opened his mouth. [Information
about the staff is confidential, so I cannot tell you.] [Ask again. Is
Taekjoo alive?] [I thought you said you couldn’t tell me.] [If I ask you
one more time, this building here will disappear today.] Zhenya growled
in a low voice. Director Kwak knew very well that he was not a
diplomat. He already knew that he was from the infamous FSB, what
kind of atrocities he had committed, and why the Kremlin was keeping
an eye on him. He wasn’t someone who would particularly worry about
the aftermath, so if anything, he might shoot that rumoured ‘Anastasia’
to the NIS. But Director Kwak didn’t back down easily. He had to find
out why Zhenya had intervened in the NIS affairs so many times. He
could not tolerate anyone intruding into the sanctuary of public affairs.
[Before that, could you explain what kind of relationship you have with
our staff? I think that’s the order and the principle.] Zhenya’s chin
tightened. Yoon Jong-woo looked at him and Director Kwak with
anxious eyes. The next moment, Zhenya pulled both his arms and broke
the handcuffs in an instant. Director Kwak’s secretary, who was
flustered, tried to subdue him. Zhenya knocked him out in one quick
movement. The security guards opened the door at the sound of the
secretary collapsing. Yoon Jong-woo absentmindedly aimed at them
with Zhenya's gun. His two arms trembled on their own. "Stay out."
Director Kwak instructed the security guards. However, they did not
move in the tense standoff. "Let's not make a fuss out of it." With a look
of displeasure at the added request, he closed the door and stepped
back. Yoon Jong-woo also let out a sigh of relief and lowered his
trembling arms. However, Zhenya seemed to have no intention of
stopping. With a fierce momentum, he strode briskly toward Kwak. He
approaches the director. Yoon Jong-woo hurriedly stops him. [Mr.
Yevgeny! No! Violence is absolutely not allowed!] Just as Zhenya was
about to get rid of the annoying Yoon Jong-woo, the intercom in the
office suddenly rang. The three of them stopped at the same time and
stared at the intercom. What kind of call could it be at this late hour?
Zhenya gestured to the intercom, telling Director Kwak to answer
quickly. This time, Director Kwak didn’t insist. He immediately pressed
the answer button and answered the call. “Yes. This is Kwak Young-
han.”- This is Tehran. Everyone's eyes collided at the familiar place
name. Director Kwak tried to respond calmly. "Yes. Go ahead."- An
unidentified body with similar physical conditions to the person you
were looking for was found. He was an Asian male, 183cm tall, 76 kg in
weight, and RH type B, right? "... Where was he found?"- It matches the
area where the person you are looking for went missing. It's the
northern part of Tehran, where the last serial explosion occurred.
"Okay. If you send me the data, I'll check it and get back to you."
Director Kwak barely managed to reply and put his hand on his
forehead in despair. Yoon Jong-woo turned pale and shook his head.
[What are you talking about? What are you talking about!] In the
ominous atmosphere, Zhenya shook Yoon Jong-woo's collar violently.
Yoon Jong-woo, who was out of his mind, sobbed and delivered the
desperate news. [Ugh, in Tehran. They found a body that is presumed to
be that of my senior.]
CNABOOK8(OR3OFNOVELII) 9. Nameless Star: First There, Last Out A
heavy silence descended on the private plane heading to Iran. No one
moved rashly, not even a whisper was heard. Everything was strangely
still. Zhenya's white face was reflected in the dark window. Although it
was a fascinating figure that had been carefully sculpted, it was like a
wax doll without any expression or warmth. Zhenya did not close his
eyes for a moment, but was absorbed in one thought. [Ugh, in Tehran...
a body presumed to be his senior was found.] Kwon Taekjoo
disappeared. He no longer exists in this world. He could never meet him
again, he couldn’t even touch him. That one fact was barely registering
in his head. He couldn’t possibly accept the first loss in his life. He
furrowed his brow bitterly. An unidentifiable area kept rising inside him.
This was truly the first time he had felt such a disgusting sensation.
Yoon Jong-woo was dispatched to Tehran, which was unusual. It was to
identify the body presumed to be Kwon Taekjoo. Of course, it was an
unofficial measure. Director Kwak drew the line, saying that he could
not provide Yoon Jong-woo with any support or protection other than
identifying the body. Accordingly, Yoon Jong-woo left the country as a
private traveller, not as an NIS agent. If it hadn’t been for Zhenya’s
private plane, this would have been the case. He couldn't have left for
Iran. After leaving Director Kwak's office, Yoon Jong-woo couldn't take
more than a few steps before he wailed loudly. "Ugh... Senior...
Seniors... I'm just going to tell you not to go. If you come back anyway,
I’m going to cry and tell you to stop.” Yoon Jong-woo cried bitterly and
complained. Zhenya couldn't understand it because it was Korean and
his deep crying was mixed. However, the title of 'Seon Bae' is presumed
to be Kwon Taekjoo's Yi Yagi. Zhenya snatched Yoon Jongwoo by the
back of the head and forced him to his feet, silently looking into his
eyes. He didn't know what he meant, but Yoon Jong-woo burst into
tears. He swallowed and explained with difficulty. [I feel like I'm doing
something I can't even do to my mother because of my own greed, and
if not right away, then it will eventually become a problem... My
personal life is already crazy and hectic, so I don't think it's okay if I
don't have to worry about this anymore... He said he wanted to live his
life now. This was his last mission.] Yoon Jong-woo said Kwon Taekjoo
had planned to quit his job at the NIS once the operation was
concluded. He couldn't believe it. This is because Kwon Taekjoo has
repeatedly opposed Zhenya himself and insisted on doing so. With such
a great sense of duty, both his mother and his child were always on the
back burner He’s had a change of heart in a few days. He wonders if it's.
"Is there anything you want from me?" [No, except that you don't do
anything.] Suddenly, he remembered a past conversation. Kwon Taekjoo
always told him not to get involved in his work, he couldn't understand
it. If Zhenya himself helps out, things will be faster and Kwon Taekjoo
will be more comfortable, but why? "It's for my sake, and don't put you
in danger." [Is it in jeopardy? am I?] [I don't know how you are related
to your family. Don't you know? I won't tell you to make peace with
those people or get along or anything like that. That's entirely your
decision, not mine to interfere with. But I can't stand to see your kid
getting on my nerves because of me anymore.] [I think you're mistaken.
Taekjoo, even if I leave you aside, it's an irreversible relationship
anyway. You can't dare interfere in my business, you're the ones who
can do that.] [Even so, your roots are there.] He thinks it was around
the time he came back from Cuba. Kwon Taekjoo seemed to be thinking
a lot. Sometimes he would stare blankly at Zhenya and show a worried
expression. He also made a bond. When he unnecessarily worried that
Zhenya and his family would become more antagonistic, he felt a
strange tickle in his stomach. Perhaps that was the same reason why
Kwon Taekjoo volunteered for the Tehran operation. To make up for the
mistake in Vladivostok. Because of his personality, he would have
wanted to finish the knot of the things he hadn't done earlier, even if it
was too late. After clearing all my regrets, Zhenya was going to pick
himself up. Indeed, when Kwon Taekjoo quit the NIS and Zhenya himself
resigned from his work, there was no longer anything to oppose each
other. Was Kwon Taekjoo so willing to spend his life with Zhenya and
others?- I gave an answer. I'll talk to you when I get there. So don't
follow me this time, don't intervene arbitrarily, just wait patiently. Was
the answer to this by leaving the NIS that he had given his all? Just
because he doesn't want to have Zhenya as his enemy? - I'll pick you up
right after work, huh? Zhenya. He promised him that, and he can't help
him Zhenya had bound his hands and feet and had completely
evaporated. It's never going to be able to catch it anymore. No, he
couldn't admit it until he saw it with his own eyes. He clenched his fists.
Blood dripped from the claws in the shimmer. He didn't feel any pain,
but after hearing the news of Kwon Taekjoo, all his senses were dulled.
On the other hand, his nerves have become extremely sensitive, and he
is alert to the slightest noise or the slightest change in airflow. He took
painkillers that he didn't usually handle, as soon as he could get his
hands on them. He doesn't know how many pills it's already been. The
headache that seemed to explode and the squeezing pain in his chest
didn't go away at all. Everything was unfamiliar and unfamiliar, and he
didn't know how to deal with it. Soon, the plane arrived at the Tehran
military airfield. As soon as the aircraft landed, He grabbed the collar of
his coat and pulled him forcibly. Yoon Jong-woo was dragged along,
unable to walk on his own two feet. In the aftermath of the terrorist
attack, control over all civilian aircraft and passengers was
strengthened, but it had nothing to do with Zhenya. First of all, his
status was a Russian diplomat, and he was related to Basim, a key figure
in the Russian delegation. Thanks to this, Yoon Jong-woo’s entry into
the country was also easy. The two got into a car prepared in advance
and headed to a morgue on the outskirts of Tehran. They said it was a
place where unidentified dead people from the terrorist attack were
kept. In their heads, they wanted to find Kwon Taekjoo as soon as
possible. He had only one thought: to see. His mind kept pressing the
accelerator pedal. Since the engine started, the car sped down the road
without stopping for a moment. While his nerves were on edge, he
could hear sobbing from the side. Yoon Jong-woo had been crying since
he heard the news about Kwon Taekjoo. He was acting like the world
was ending, even though nothing had been confirmed yet, and he was
quite annoyed by him. [You’d better be quiet before I throw you out.]
Zhenya, who couldn’t stand it anymore, warned him in a cold voice.
Then Yoon Jong-woo hugged his bag tighter and buried his head in it.
He groaned as he swallowed his sobs. Even that was not pleasant, but
they didn’t say anything else. The car the two were in soon arrived at
the location they had been told about. It was already well past
midnight. Maybe it was because of that effect? The surroundings were
particularly quiet and eerie. Maybe it was because of their
preconceptions about the place being a morgue. The staff who had
been there beforehand greeted the two. ‘Unofficial measures’ meant
that they were proceeding through a broker without a request from the
South Korean government or approval from the Iranian government.
That was why they had to be careful not to be caught or found out.
[Welcome. I’ve been waiting. But this person...] The facility staff looked
at Zhenya with a suspicious look. It seemed that he had only heard from
the broker that someone from Korea would come to visit. He had
thought that an Asian would visit, but he looked flustered when a large
Westerner showed up. Yoon Jong-woo hurriedly explained to the other
party that he would back out of the deal. [Oh, this person is a
representative of the bereaved family. The bereaved family cannot
come and see him in person. I got permission from my superior, so you
don't have to worry.] [I see. Come this way.] The facility staff quickly put
aside their suspicions and took the lead. The group entered the storage
facility through a side door connected to the crematorium in the
backyard. They had to pass through five or six access control doors
while moving to the mortuary. It was not a gold or silver treasure, so it
was hard to see how they would take care of the corpse like that, but in
a way, it was natural. A large-scale terrorist attack occurred that could
paralyse a country. The 'unidentified person' found at the scene also
meant that he was not allowed to stay there. That meant that they
could be a terror suspect. If he entered the country under a false
identity like Kwon Taekjoo, it would have been even harder to avoid
suspicion. If they had not made private contact like they did now, it
would have been impossible to even identify his body. The morgue was
a two-story basement and four-story building. Two of them were
ushered to the second basement floor. He went all the way down the
stairs and walked a long way inside. Perhaps it was an illusion, the
temperature seemed to drop with each step. [There are a lot of
unwhole bodies here.] The staff explained the situation. Even the
corpses that were finally recovered are not intact. Yoon Jongwoo began
to whimper again. Then I tripped over my foot and fell over. Zhenya
snatched him by the back of the head. Yoon Jongwoo cried
uncontrollably as if he were cluttered in his hands. Zhenya looked
exhausted and looked at him with a tired face. He pushed them away.
[Here.] The two of them soon stood in front of the most remote
mortuary. The employee who opened the door first turned on the light.
The dusty fluorescent light kept blinking. The walls were covered in
mould and unidentifiable stains, and grey spider webs were scattered
around every corner. The smell of rotting meat and the smell of
charcoal were also vibrating. [This is the body you want me to check.]
The employee pulled out a drawer. With a clunking sound, the body
wrapped in a cloth was dragged out. The distinct smell of charcoal and
rottenness was hooked. Yoon Jongwoo turned his head unconsciously,
covering his nose and mouth. His eyes flickered as he finally got under
control and looked back at the corpse. The size of Kwon Taekjoo’s body
was strangely small. [Why, why is this the only thing I can do...] [As I
said, the damage is bad, can you check it out?] It was a nuance that he
didn't want to recommend too much, Yoon Jongwoo stared at him with
tear-filled eyes. Zhenya, who had been unable to take his eyes off the
corpse gun the whole time, opened the zipper without hesitation. He
doesn't even have time to prepare his mind. The body was revealed. His
face was melted by the powerful fire, making it difficult to distinguish
his eyes, nose, and mouth. The area below the knee didn't even exist,
whether it had been burned down or burned during transport. "Ugh...!"
Yoon Jongwoo finally let out the snow water with a violent nausea. He
tried to calm down somehow, but my stomach kept gurgling and he
vomited sour gastric juice. Zhenya sat motionless. His gaze never left
the corpse. One second is as long as eternity. How long has it been?
Suddenly, Zhenya grabbed the corpse's head. The employee watching
from the side was startled and tried to stop him. [What are you doing!
Don't touch him!] Zhenya shook off the rushing employee with one
hand. The employee's body flew helplessly into the wall. He fell
unconscious after being hit hard in the back of the head. Zhenya put his
nose to the corpse's head without hesitation. Even though there was no
way to sense any body odour due to the smell of coal, he sniffed
persistently. [Yevgeny... ugh. Ugh...] Yoon Jong-woo, who was trying to
stop him, spat out yellowish vomit. He collapsed with his legs broken
and vomited on all fours. He wanted to stop, but he couldn't. Hot tears
flowed from his eyes and nose. Zhenya's white hands were stained with
ash, pus, and blood. But he didn't care and continued to touch the body
more thoroughly. He counted each and every fingernail that was left on
the body, as well as the traces of the nails. This is Taekjoo? This is it? Is
it because he wants to deny it? He could tell it was Kwon Taekjoo just by
looking at the body. He thought it was there. But no matter where he
looked, he couldn’t be sure it was him. He kept looking at the charred
body and then suddenly looked inside his thigh. The skin on his entire
body had melted from the high temperature, but his groyne area was
less damaged because it was protected by the contact. The skin may
have shrunk somewhat, but it was still relatively well-shaped. He
rubbed it with his finger to erase the stain on his skin. But there was no
trace of it that should have remained there. The tattoo that Kwon
Taekjoo had personally engraved on his inner thigh was nowhere to be
found. [… Taekjoo, no.] He muttered as if he was breathing heavily. It
was Russian, so Yoon Jong-woo didn’t understand what he was saying.
He just looked at Zhenya with a bewildered expression. Zhenya, who
was saying [It’s not Taekjoo] again, kicked the seat and left. Yoon Jong-
woo, who had no idea what was going on, got up hesitantly and
followed him. [Mr. Yevgeny! Haa, Mr. Yevgeny! Where are you going!]
Zhenya got into the car without any explanation. Yoon Jong-woo, who
hurriedly chased after him, barely managed to get into the car that
seemed like it would abandon him at any moment. Immediately after,
the car bounced and headed down the road. He kept stepping on the
accelerator pedal. Zhenya’s eyes glazed blindly. *** "......" When he
woke up, he was in a deep, damp darkness. Beyond the cold walls,
there were unidentified groans and sobs. There were occasional
screams and cries that seemed to break through. The noises that had
been thrusting into the valley had died down and had been resounded
and recurred. Consciousness also flickers; he came in and out several
times like a sphere. He couldn’t come to his senses. He closed his
eyelids tightly and opened them again. A damp air rose from the floor
that was touching his cheek. He couldn’t breathe well, so he took a
deep breath. Then, an unpleasant smell was sucked in. The smell of rot,
or blood. It was a stench that had been building up for a very long time.
The smell of death left behind by firm beliefs and justice. He tried to
move his body that felt like a thousand pounds, shivering. His wrists and
ankles were tied together behind his back, so he couldn't move.
Nevertheless, he wiggled his head and shoulders a little and leaned
against the wall. For a moment, his head spun. He felt so dizzy that he
even felt nauseous. "Ugh... Hah” His vision was shattered, and he
squeezed his eyes shut. Even with that much movement, every muscle
in his body throbbed. He waited for his stomach to calm down and
opened his eyes again. Slowly roll his eyes and look around. In the
narrow and dim space of about 2 pyeong, there was only Kwon Taekjoo.
There was no window in sight. The only way out was through a tightly
closed iron gate. The grate at the top of the door gave a hint of its
identity. Prison. He doesn't know how he got stuck there. He couldn't
think of anything. He tried to relive his last memory, but to no avail. His
empty mind refused to think about anything. He tried to squeeze it in,
and a terrible headache came over him. "Ugh...." He clenched his
molars and suppressed the pain. With each breath, a faint taste of
blood came up. Even the pulsation of his heart was painful. How long
has it been? Footsteps were heard outside the door. Perhaps it was an
illusion, the sign of someone approaching became clearer, and then a
shadow loomed over the bar. Instinctively, he tightened his grip and
glared at the iron door. Soon, a man from outside the cage stuck his
face out. The man, who was presumed to be a guard, opened his eyes
wide and said, [Huh?]. [This kid, are you awake?] It was strange. The
language he was hearing was so unfamiliar, but he completely
understood the meaning. Soon, the man’s superior poked his head in.
His gaze was so fierce that his disposition could be determined at a
glance. [Open it.] [Yes.] Soon, two guards opened the door and came
inside. The names ‘Ahmad’ and ‘Omar’ were engraved on their guard
uniforms. Among them, the superior, ‘Ahmad’, approached with long
strides. Then, he stepped on Kwon Taekjoo's shoulder without
hesitation. "...ugh." [Name.] He tightly closed his lips in protest and
glared at Ahmad. Ahmad stomped on Kwon Taekjoo's shoulder as if
trying to break his spirit. His jaw clenched. [Name!] "I don't know."
When Kwon Taekjoo's spirit didn't break easily, Ahmad suddenly kicked
him in the face. The body that had been sitting up fell down roughly.
Ahmad stomped on the neck of Kwon Taekjoo who had fallen with his
shoe. As his windpipe was pressed, a dry cough burst out. Drool kept
gathering on the tip of his chin. [I’ll ask again. Where are you from?] He
glared at Ahmad and shook his head. He even answered clearly in
Persian. [I told you I don’t know.] [This punk!] Ahmad kicked him
repeatedly at his uncooperative attitude. His foot repeatedly sank into
his side. Kwon Taekjoo instinctively curled up into a ball and took a
defensive stance, tightening his stomach. After silently enduring the
onslaught of attacks for a while, he suddenly struck Ahmad with his
knee. Ahmad, who lost his balance momentarily while kicking, fell
helplessly. Ahmad, who hit the back of his head on the floor, clutched
his head and cried out in pain. [Is this crazy!] Omar, who was watching
from behind, rushed at him, swinging his baton. Kwon Taekjoo quickly
twisted his upper body to avoid the baton that was coming down on
him, and then threw himself into Omar's body. Omar fell limply. He then
crushed his neck with the tip of his shoulder and he was subdued by his
breath. [Cheok, keok... Support! Support!] Omar shouted, struggling
with his limbs. The other guards came running in at the sudden
commotion. They were momentarily taken aback by the unexpected
sight, but they all started hitting Kwon Taekjoo with their clubs. Kwon
Taekjoo, who had been stubbornly holding on with his teeth, was hit in
the back of the head and fell down. Ahmad, who had gathered his
strength, hit Kwon Taekjoo and kicked him as if venting his anger. The
blurred vision shook loudly as his body swayed limply. Ahmad's rough
breathing and swearing rang out in his deaf ears. [Where did that brat
roll around, without any fear, dare to hit the guard?] The guards didn’t
seem to know Kwon Taekjoo’s name or where he came from. Kwon
Taekjoo didn’t know his name, nationality, or why he was brought
there. It felt like his brain was being burned and not functioning
properly. ‘Who am I?’ He lost consciousness while asking himself vague
questions. The door to the hospital room swung open with a loud thud.
Bajim, who was eating, hurriedly took out his pistol and aimed it at the
door. The doorknob suddenly turned, and the guard who had been
leaning against the door collapsed inside. The one who crossed over
was none other than Zhenya. He walked toward Bajim without paying
attention to the gun pointed at him. Bajim's eyes widened. [Yevgeny?
What happened to you here?] Bajim barely survived the terrorist attack,
but he looked terrible. His head and waist were wrapped in bandages,
and his arms and legs were in casts. There were bandages and gauze all
over his face. However, instead of asking about Bajim's well-being,
Zhenya revealed the business that had come to him without hesitation.
[I need to find someone.] [..... people?] Bazim tilted his head in
puzzlement. Then I thought of someone and said, [No way....] [You
mean that Korean spy.] [You know what?] Zhenya grabbed Bazim's
horse's tail. If you don't answer properly, you'll be on the spot. He was
about to twist his neck. He was a man who wouldn't hesitate even if his
opponent was his own blood. [How do you know, Basim?] Zhenya
approached him one step closer and urged him on. His pitch-black
shadow engulfed Basim. His blue eyes were as cold as ice crystals. His
reason seemed to have flown away a long time ago. Where did he taste
blood? He had that look in his eyes when he returned after slaughtering
all the 'Anastasia' developers by the Kremlin's order. Calm before going
berserk. He was just holding back his determination for a moment, but
he could explode without hesitation at any time. His instincts told him
not to mess with him, and the alarm rang. [Have you met him?] The
question that followed was more like an interrogation. The bastard’s
white hand suddenly covered the muzzle of the pistol. Then, slowly, he
broke Bajim’s hand with the barrel. It was no use trying to resist. In the
end, the muzzle was pressed firmly against Bajim’s chin. [What did you
do with him?] With an eerie voice, the trigger was pulled halfway. The
bullet would be fired even with the slightest impact. Bajim, who had
been holding his breath in a desperate situation, raised his casted arm
as if he knew. He obediently told Zhenya what he was curious about.
[..There was nothing I could do. The terrorist attack happened while we
were moving from the airport to the presidential palace, and everyone
was running around like crazy. He wasn't seen until then. He showed up
when we were separated from the president and headed to a safe area.
At first, I thought he was the one who led the attack, but that didn't
seem to be the case. If he was a terrorist, he wouldn't have let me live.
His goal was probably to take the North Korean biologist away.] [You
were just watching that happen?] Zhenya asked, tilting his head. If
nothing else, why didn't he just point a gun at him like he did now? It
was a nuance of, "Did you do it?" Bajim let out a long sigh and muttered
in a displeased tone. [I couldn't subdue him. His movements were like a
cheetah's.] He made aresentful expression, embarrassed once again.
Certainly, Kwon Taekjoo wasn't weak enough to be defeated by Bajim.
Even if he had been surrounded by Bajim's bodyguards, he would have
been able to overcome them on his own. He said that the person who
had been Kwon Taekjoo's target had been safely handed over on the
day of the terrorist attack. This time, Kwon Taekjoo had completed the
mission given to him. So now, he should have returned with an
awkward smile like usual, but why has there been no news until now?
[Why. Did he die?] Bachim suddenly hit the nail on the head. Zhenya’s
eyes, which had been lost in thought for a moment, flashed with
murderous intent. He hardened his cheeks and slowly shook his head. [I
told you. I have to find him.] [Haa... There’s no way I can help you. As
you can see, it’s like this. We don’t have enough manpower to even find
the missing members of the entourage. Right now, there’s chaos in Iran
about finding the mastermind behind the terrorism, so I can’t move
around carelessly…] [If it doesn’t work out, I’ll have to make it work.] He
quickly shook off the hand that was holding him. The gun that Bajim
was holding flew away with that force. Zhenya turned around without
any hesitation, as if his business was over. Naturally, he imagined the
bastard going to Iran’s supreme leader and threatening him. If he had
been so rude to someone who was revered as a representative of God,
there would have been war, not peace. Basim grabbed his throbbing
head. [Ha, wait a minute.] Zhenya stopped walking abruptly as he
showed his will to compromise. Basim tried to appease him and
suggested a way. [I’ll put him on the Russian delegation’s rescue list.
Then, no matter which hospital he is taken to or where his body is
found, I will be contacted immediately. Iranian terrorism that took place
during the summit in Edo will make up for the diplomatic breach that
will make up for the diplomatic breach by finding our people first, even
if it is a bone meal.] [....] [But keep in mind that he's already been
caught and interrogated, or that he's even remotely connected to this
one, then we're going to have to deny him, you know what I'm talking
about, right?] [Just pray, Bazem.] [What?] [May he be alive wherever he
is. That way, your worries won't happen. I will.] [Yevgeny!] Basim
grabbed Zhenya again. He was so anxious that he half-slipped out of
bed. [This is a sensitive time. Don't act rashly at a time like this and put
yourself and your family in danger. It will be an unforgivable sin for the
country.] Zhenya snorted. His face, looking back at Basim, was strangely
distorted. It was a smile that seemed to be condensed anger. [Family?
Country? Do you still expect such loyalty from me? How many times
have I told you? I don't care what happens to that. As long as I get him
back safely, that’s all. So, just ask, Basim. I hope there’s not a single
scratch on my stuff.] Even the strange smile disappeared. What took its
place was an indifferent gaze. It seemed like even rotting garbage
wouldn’t be looked at like that. [If you want to live, at least you
shouldn’t have touched what’s mine.] *** Yoon Jong-woo was in a
dormitory in Tehran. It was almost forbidden. Every time I looked out
the window, he realised that he was in Iran, but he didn't feel real. The
past few days have been so hectic that his head has been numb the
whole time. As soon as he arrived in Iran on Zhenya’s private plane, he
went to the morgue. Zhenya, who was tampering with the corpse that
was enshrined there, asserted that it was not Kwon Taekjoo. He didn't
know on what basis he was so sure. "Mr. Yevgeny, are you sure that the
corpse is not my senior? Really?" He chased after Zhenya and asked, but
received no answer. Zhenya had just silently driven to a hospital. He
didn't explain to Yoon Junh Woo why he was there or who he was going
to meet. Even after arriving at the hospital, Zhenya left Yoon Jong-woo
behind and went inside alone. He tried to hurry and follow him, but the
soldiers controlling the entrance blocked Yoon Jong-woo. He had no
choice but to go back to the car and wait for Zhenya. He then gathered
the tissues Zhenya had used to wipe his hands and sealed them in a
ziplock bag. He also put the hair he had gotten from the body bag in
there. He couldn't rely solely on Zhenya's intuition to be sure that the
body wasn't Kwon Taekjoo. He wanted to cross-check just in case. Of
course, Yoon Jong-woo was more likely than anyone else to believe
Zhenya’s intuition was right, and he was sure that the evidence he had
collected was Kwon Taekjoo. He desperately hoped that his DNA would
not be found. It wasn't long before Zhenya returned to the car, and he
still didn't feel as if he hadn't achieved what he had hoped for. Even
then, he didn't explain to Yoon who he had met or what he had
checked. He just brought Yoon Jong-woo back to his current
accommodation. [Here....] Zhenya put one of his laptops down in front
of Yoon Jongwoo. Then he turned it on and went into the bathroom
without explanation. Soon he could hear the sound of water from the
shower inside. Yoon Jongwoo, who was sitting like a sack of straw,
stared at the laptop screen. Password it was hung. It was the first time
he had seen it, so he was interested. After thinking about it for a while,
Yoon Jong Woo started to turn off the security programs of the
multitude. Zhenya came out of the bathroom just as he had finished
booting up. As he looked at the decryption records, he suddenly said,
"It's worth using." Then he tossed him a tablet that contained Iran's
recently acquired satellite internet network, existing communications
satellites, and satellite information from a well-known private company
that sells military information about each country. [..... this?] [Dig
through the spot where Taekjoo was last seen. Find at least the shadow
of him.] Before leaving, the headquarters strongly urged Yoon Jong-woo
not to do anything foolish. It was reckless for an agent of a country’s
intelligence agency to gather information in another country without
permission from his superiors. If he were caught by the local
authorities, he might have to take off his clothes. No, it would have
been better if it had ended at that level. It would have been difficult for
Yoon Jong-woo personally to avoid punishment, and there was a high
possibility that it would escalate into a diplomatic dispute. But even so.
Right now, he wanted to believe that Kwon Taekjoo was alive
somewhere rather than dying in the line of duty. Rather than waiting
helplessly for new news, he wanted to contribute even a little. It was.
Maybe the only shooter was desperately waiting for Yoon Jong-woo's
help. For several days, he locked himself in his room and hacked the
satellites that Zhenya had designated. After that, he identified the place
and time where Kwon Taekjoo was last seen and secured all the CCTV
footage from that area. Iran did not have CCTV or vehicle black boxes as
commercialised as Korea, but for now, he had to grab onto anything. In
the meantime, Zhenya went out from time to time. Some days, he came
back in the same outfit he had worn, and other days, he came back with
his clothes dishevelled and dirty. When that happened, it gave off a
bloody smell that he couldn't tell if it was the smell of the wind, the
smell of iron, or the smell of blood. And every time, Yoon Jong-woo was
handed a USB or cell phone of unknown origin. Yoon Jong-woo backed
up the information inside it. Through it, he gained access to all
government agencies in Iran. He was able to check not only the police
investigation data, but also the body cam footage taken at the scene. He
was so absorbed in finding Kwon Taekjoo that he couldn't even close his
eyes. First, he thoroughly examined the black box footage, body cam
footage, and CCTV footage taken at the time of the last serial explosion
to calculate the exact time period. Then, he collected all the footage
recorded near the explosion site and he diversified it. He gave Kwon
Taekjoo's physical characteristics as settings and made a 3D model of it,
and then searched for a matching person. Several videos were
identified. He closely checked them one by one and followed Kwon
Taekjoo's movements. "...Huh?" Yoon Jong-woo, who was watching the
videos he had seen again, let out a small exclamation. At that, Zhenya's
eyelids rolled up right away. He had barely managed to close his eyes
while sitting up after not sleeping for several days. [What is this?] [Look
here, Mr. Yevgeny.] Yoon Jong-woo quickly turned the laptop towards
Zhenya. Then he pressed the spacebar to play the edited video. Kwon
Taekjoo, who was staying in the armoured vehicle at the time of the
chain explosion, was blown away into the alley right next door along
with the passenger door due to the enormous force. However, he could
not see anything after that because of the black smoke. Yoon Jong-woo
immediately switched the screen to the CCTV footage that was shining
inside the alley on the opposite side. The camera quality itself was not
good, and the entire area was covered in black smoke, making
everything blurry. Yoon Jong-woo said, "This way." and marked the
outline of a specific subject. Only then did he see the person lying on
the ground. A person who was slowly getting up caught his eye. The
person who was walking slowly and staggering soon disappeared into a
nearby building. Yoon Jong-woo confirmed it by showing the video from
earlier several times. [They took refuge inside the building. That’s why
they weren’t caught on CCTV and by the police.] [What happens after
this?] [What happens after this is a few hours.] Yoon Jong-woo
immediately played another video. It seemed to dawn before the sun
had even risen. Police cars and ambulances arrived one after another in
front of the building that was presumed to be an apartment. The
paramedics went into the apartment and quickly carried a person out.
The distance was considerable, but he could tell right away. It was Kwon
Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo didn’t move at all until he was loaded into the
ambulance. His two arms were limp and limp. Did he lose
consciousness? He stubbornly followed the ambulance. Annoyingly, the
ambulance quickly disappeared from the video following the police car.
[Where is this place?] [I looked it up, and it’s about 3.8km away from
the scene of the incident. It seems that he was conscious of the CCTV
and surprise inspections, so he didn’t come out as much as possible and
moved from building to building. I also heard what the apartment
residents reported to the police. Oh, I saw that a stranger broke into the
house. He didn't do any harm, but he was unconscious and bleeding a
lot from his head. I also tracked the ambulance that transported the
senior.] Then, the CCTV footage from the road started playing, and the
police car and ambulance passed by. Yoon Jong-woo kept playing the
next footage and tracked them. The two vehicles finally arrived at a
military hospital. Since it was an emergency, it wasn't strange for a
military hospital to receive civilians. The only thing that was unsettling
was that Kwon Taekjoo was clearly a foreigner, and even so, there was
still no one on the list of injured. [Is he still there?] [I don’t know about
that. I don’t think he went through any separate admission procedures.
I still haven’t found any traces of him leaving that hospital. Surely there
wasn’t something wrong there?] Yoon Jong-woo muttered gloomily,
furrowing his eyebrows. He wanted to deny it, but he couldn’t be
optimistic about the situation. If Kwon Taekjoo had woken up safely, he
would have already escaped on his own. If he hadn’t, that meant he
was still unconscious or unable to run away. When he thought about
that, he couldn’t bear it anymore. He immediately got up from his seat.
Hospital he only had one thought in mind: he had to get Kwon Taekjoo
back, even if it meant searching for him. When he opened his eyes
again, his body was shaking against his will. He tried to stand up
straight, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t find a place to
support himself. He barely managed to touch the ground with my toes,
but he couldn’t hold on for long and ended up staggering. As a result,
his whole body started spinning around and his two arms, which were
tied up, were tightly squeezed. “...ugh.” His two arms were handcuffed
and he was pinned to the ceiling bar. He was tied up. Every time he
moved his limbs, the handcuffs and the iron bars scraped against each
other, making a squeaking noise. The air still smelled like iron or blood.
The tiled floor was dirty with dark red stains. In his hazy state, his
instincts repeatedly signalled that he had to get out of there. He kept
raising his head, which was constantly lowering, and looked around. The
dark ceiling seemed as if it would gape open and collapse at any
moment. He didn’t know how much time had passed, where he was, or
why he was like this again. He shook his head. He closed his eyes tightly
and opened them again. His blurred vision became a little clearer.
Slowly, the scenery inside the room came into view. Whereas the cell he
had first opened his eyes to had been roughly finished with cement, this
place was covered in bricks on all sides. There were no windows facing
the outside. The entrance door was also a thick iron door that
prevented him from looking inside. Judging from the strong smell of the
sewer, it seemed to be an underground facility. It was a sealed room
where most noise would not escape. On the other hand, any sound
made inside would resonate greatly and amplify the fear. On one side
was a bathtub and plumbing facilities, and on the other side, there was
an iron desk and chair. Unidentified iron objects were visible on the
desk. They were tools such as pliers, hammers, and hooks. In summary,
this place seemed to be a torture room set up under the pretext of an
interrogation room. [Are you awake?] After a long time, he finally
looked straight ahead. Ahmad and Omar were sitting side by side,
sharing a cigarette. Ahmad soon got up, grinning. His shadow, which
had grown twice its original size, slid along the wall and overlapped
with Kwon Taekjoo’s reflection. Ahmad suddenly grabbed Kwon
Taekjoo’s chin. [How is it? Do you like it? I brought you to a more secret
place because you like secret games.] Ahmad’s face got closer. As he did
so, his cigarette burned the fluff on his cheek. A faint smell of charcoal
spread. [I’m going to have fun with you all night long. You have to tell
your secrets to someone close to you, right? Do you know? If you
become close to me, you’ll tell me your secrets easily.] Ahmad, who had
been babbling as he was, let go of Kwon Taekjoo’s face as if he was
shaking it off. That alone made his tied body shake. The metallic sound
created by the iron bar and handcuffs intersecting the sound tore the
air inside the interrogation room. Kwon Taekjoo swallowed a painful
breath and glared at Ahmad in front of him. If only the restraints on his
wrists were released, he would tear him apart without a trace. Ahmad
happily enjoyed the sight and fiddled with the tools he had seen earlier.
[Don't be too scared. It'll be more fun than you think. Depending on
your attitude, it could be a lot more trivial.] He threatened Kwon
Taekjoo while maintaining a tense atmosphere. If it were a normal
prisoner, it would be the right time to apologise, apologise, and
apologise. At least he would have said that he was really wronged. It
was going to be a bit too much. No matter how brave he was, he would
always cower in the face of absolute isolation. However, Kwon Taekjoo’s
spirit would not waver. On the contrary, the more he was pushed into a
corner, the more intense his rebellion and hostility became. Ahmad was
definitely different from the prisoners he had dealt with so far. Perhaps
he had become accustomed to such hardships through repeated
encounters, or perhaps he was so highly trained that he was not shaken
by extreme fear. Ahmad’s listless face stirred with a new desire to
explore. [You must have such a good sense of humour. I think I need to
be honest and open to have a nutritious conversation.] Ahmad picked
up a sharp tool. He then sharpened the blade against the thick leather.
[You don’t even know my name, my age, or my nationality. Does that
mean my memory has completely disappeared? Those who are sly
about something claim to not know anything that is disadvantageous to
them.] He looked back at Kwon Taek Joo, trailing off. Kwon Taekjoo
didn’t even flinch at the sight of the tool’s gleaming blade. He just held
his breath quietly. [No matter how much I searched, there was no
record of your entry into the country. When, where, and how did you,
this rat-like bastard, crawl in? He pondered. Did you weigh it? There was
only one conclusion. Maybe it's in the same vein that you insist that you
don't know your name or where you're from.] Ahmad was already
obsessed with some kind of confirmation. It was hard for Kwon Taekjoo
to guess what it was. He couldn't remember anything. What is his
name, what he has done, and where he has lived. He tried to force
himself to think about it, but his mind kept fogging. He felt like he was
lost in a never-ending fog. [You were part of this attack, right?] [Attack?]
[Oh, you don't even know that?] Ahmad smirked openly. Of course,
even when he didn't know who he was, where he came from, or why he
was on the run, he knew it was an emergency. Everywhere there were
reports of terrorism. However, he didn't expect that the incident and
Kwon Taekjoo himself would be involved. Or is it? He stammered back
in his mind. The first time he came to his senses was in an alley.
Somehow, his injuries were severe and he couldn't move at all. With a
thorough survival instinct, he hid in a nearby area. That was the last
thing he remembered. When he woke up, he was in the hospital. He’s
stunned. When he woke up, the medical staff came and administered a
tranquilliser. He couldn't hold out for long and fell asleep as if he had
fainted. When he opened his eyes again, he was in this place. A facility
that seemed to mainly house felons. A place where law and human
rights do not apply. Based on various circumstances, it seemed that
Kwon Taekjoo himself was suspected of being a terrorist. [If you have a
mouth, tell me. If you were innocent, why were you present at the
scene of the terrorist attack? You were carrying a gun with an unknown
identity, and you even attacked the police!] Ahmad suddenly screamed.
His scream became a huge echo and spread throughout the camp. This
person in the distance felt like the roar of a beast. [Answer: Whose
order did you come here?] Ahmad thrust the blade under his chin. He
felt like he was going to cut his skin if he made a wrong move. The more
he did so, the calmer he continued his reasoning. Seeing him wipe
himself like this, Ahmad didn't seem to have any idea of his true
identity. Fingerprints do not confirm his identity or entry record; it
meant that he had been smuggled here for whatever reason. Not far
from the current site of the attack, seriously wounded, it was not
unreasonable to think that he was being chased by the police and was
being accused of being a terrorist. The problem was that he couldn't
remember anything about him. It was as if someone had thrown a
bomb into his head and blown it all up. All he knew about Kwon Taekjoo
was that he was extremely sensitive to all senses, his body moved
nimbly whenever he was attacked, he was strong, and he could speak
quite a variety of languages. What on earth did he do? And what was
his purpose here? [This punk, this. I shouldn't say it in words?] Ahmad's
bitter voice rang in his ears. When it touched, something flowed down
his neck. It seemed that the blade had cut his skin. The flowing blood
slid down his collarbone and soaked his uniform. Ahmad grinned with
satisfaction. Then, he slowly lowered the tool in his hand to his chest,
threatening to burn Kwon Taekjoo’s skin. Soon, the blade caught on the
front of his shirt. Ahmad glared at Kwon Taekjoo’s pitch-black eyes,
engaged in a war of nerves, and then lowered the tool without warning.
With a few angry gestures, his shirt completely fell open and his pants
and underwear were torn to pieces. As the torn rags fell to the floor,
Kwon Taekjoo was left naked in an instant. With his freedom completely
restricted, he was naked. It was like being thrown into a savage space.
Anyone would have been left cowering. In that sense, Ahmad was an
excellent torture expert. He knew how to subdue his opponent before
interrogation. Ahmad slowly glanced at Kwon Taekjoo’s naked body
hanging out like meat at a butcher shop. Then, out of nowhere, he
didn’t hesitate to tease him. [This punk, this. If you just look at his
breasts, you’d believe me if I said he was a woman. Doesn’t milk come
out if you squeeze it?] He suddenly grabbed one of Kwon Taekjoo’s
breasts and let go. The elastic mound bounced. He even slapped him so
hard that it made a slap. A red, clear handprint was left on his smooth
skin. Omar, who was watching from behind, snickered vulgarly. He must
have trampled on prisoners like this every time. With shame and
humiliation, he would destroy their mental power until he got the
answer he wanted. Ahmad smiled brightly at Kwon Taek Joo, who was
unwavering despite the shameful humiliation. He nodded as if telling
him to be stubborn as much as he could, and grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's
face with both hands. Then he opened his mouth forcefully and looked
thoroughly from the roof of his mouth to the inside of both cheeks and
the back of his throat. He also pulled back his tongue with his thumb to
feel if there was something hidden underneath. Nothing in particular
stood out to me. Nor was the drug often used by terrorists or
intelligence agents found. Ahmad, who had carefully checked both of
his ear canals, gave Omar a glance, and Omar quickly came over and
tied a leather strap around his waist and connected the loop with an
iron rod. Naturally, Kwon Taekjoo's lower body was lifted and his
buttocks were lifted into the air. Omar, who walked slowly behind him,
grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's cheeks and spread them wide on both sides.
[Do you know how dangerous blind humans are? They use it all as
storage. Those who put medicine in the back hole and carry it and it
explodes and dies are fine, even if they are corpses. And those who put
bombs or gold in it by mistake and have their insides torn are atrocious.
There is no reason to gently coax those thieves out of their holes one by
one.] Ahmad, who had been babbling for a while, spat on the inside of
Kwon Taekjoo's butt. He then poked the hole with his index finger and
touched the inside. Kwon Taek-ju's chin tightened. A grinding sound
came out from inside his tightly clenched lips. "Fuck...." [Huh? Are you
going to talk now?] Ahmad sweared softly and poked the hole openly
while laughing. The strange sensation made his lower abdomen tense
up. The hole also tightened up. Ah Ahmad burst out laughing. [See this?
You’re asking for something just because I poked you a little? Where the
hell did you come from?] Ahmad was about to poke inside a little
harder when Omar, who was next to him, noticed something and asked,
[What’s this?] He pointed to something engraved on the inside of Kwon
Taekjoo’s thigh. [This… What does it say?] [I don’t know. It’s Cyrillic, isn’t
it?] [Cyrillic? that in Russian?] [Yes.] [What, then, is this bastard
Russian?] [Well, I'm not sure, but it doesn't seem like there's any harm
in being careful.] The two guards who were whispering among
themselves looked at Kwon Taek Joo with a sad expression. If Kwon
Taekjoo was a member of the Russian summit entourage, it would not
have been a problem for him to have been at the scene of the attack, to
have been found seriously injured, or to have a firearm. Ahal was all. Of
course, even that could be explained if Russia had secretly brought him
along for their own reasons. And if that was true, they shouldn’t have
treated Kwon Taekjoo carelessly like they did now. Even if they thought
the investigation was legitimate, it could have been a great breach of
diplomatic relations. [First, check if Russia is looking for such an Asian.]
[Yes, I understand.] Omar, who had received the order, hurriedly left the
interrogation room. With that, only Ahmad and Kwon Taekjoo were left
in the dark room. Ahmad looked at Kwon Taek Joo with an expression of
incomprehension. Observed the face. [You're Russian?] He tilts his head
in disbelief as he speaks. He couldn't help but kick his tongue. [This is it,
won, until you're sure, I'll keep it quiet, don't worry too much, there are
plenty of ways to play with it.] Ahmad, who had been whispering
meaningfully, went back to where the tools had been placed. He put
down his sharpened knife and continued to fidget, searching for a
replacement. [Can you believe that it's the Russians? There's no
guarantee that you didn't join the Rebellion, because the enemy is
often close by, and you're more likely to get hit in the back of the head
by someone you trusted.] After speaking, Ahmad picked up his all-in-
one baton. Suddenly, he spread petroleum jelly on it. Kwon Taekjoo
watched anxiously as Ahmad approached him. [What are you trying to
do, son of a!] [I told you, I'm going to play with you.] Ahmad, who had
been whispering behind his back, suddenly licked him from the back of
his head to the back of his ear. He was filled with horrible sensations.
Goosebumps came up. [The method of extracting the truth is
surprisingly simple. If you keep poking and poking, it will eventually leak
out.] One side of the buttocks was pulled out recklessly, and something
hard pressed against the exposed hole. He could tell by the unique
feeling that it was the baton he had seen earlier. [It’s no use taming
guys like you to me. When your pride is broken, you act like you’ve lost
everything. When was the last time you cried?] [...What?] [It’ll be
updated today.] Ahmad suddenly pushed the baton in. The club that
had been hanging on the entrance for a moment and was only swiping
around suddenly opened the hole and came in. "Ahh...!"' [If guys like
you fall into my hands, one of two things will happen. The truth you've
been hiding will burst inside your stomach and you'll die, or you'll
excrete it before that. Which one will you be?] "Ugh, ugh!" Ahmad
raised the corners of his mouth as he repeatedly poked Kwon Taekjoo's
bottom with the baton. His knees buckled at the pain of the hole
expanding violently and being stabbed roughly. His two fists also turned
white. He’s tired of it. Ahmad slapped Kwon Taekjoo’s ass hard in
repulsion, and as the tension suddenly dissipated, he pressed his
stomach as if he had been waiting. "Ugh, ugh, ugh...! Fuck, ugh!" He
tried to hold back, but he kept moaning. His body struggled to endure
the merciless outpouring of pain, and the stimulation was
overwhelming, and my whole body quickly became feverish. On the one
hand, all the stimuli and changes in his body were strangely familiar and
confusing. He wonder if Kwon Taekjoo himself has been exposed to this
kind of torture a lot. The stick that seemed to pierce the stomach and
the lice were pulled out in one fell swoop. As a result, Kwon Taekjoo's
body, which had been squirming in agony, shook greatly. "Hah Ugh...
Chew..." [Do you feel like talking to me now?] [I don't know! tell me a
few times that I don't know!] Ahmad laughed sheepishly at the annoyed
shout. He tapped Kwon Taekjoo’s cheek with a baton glistening with
melted petroleum jelly. [If you don't know, let me know, it's going to be
a very long night, right?] The next few words were even more
desperate. [Hey! Who are you to do this!] The hospital director's
secretary blocked Zhenya’s path as he barged in. Ignoring her, he strode
into the secretary's office. As soon as the secretary grabbed Zhenya,
saying [Over there!], her arm snapped and she was hit in the back of
her hand on the nose. Then, without even having time to come to her
senses, she was thrown into the hallway outside the door. Zhenya
quietly closed the door and turned around. Another secretary who had
been watching the whole situation hurriedly called the security guards.
But no matter how many times he pressed the call button, there was no
response. It was because he had subdued everyone when Zhenya
entered the hospital. The secretary hurriedly picked up the receiver as
he watched Zhenya approaching. His face, which was about to call the
police, was quickly covered by a dark shadow. Before the call could even
connect, he was suddenly grabbed by the neck. He tried to somehow
get Zhenya’s hands off, but he didn’t budge. He just slowly lifted the
secretary up. The secretary’s two feet soon lifted off the floor. [Ugh...!
Sa, save me....] Zhenya’s eyes were just cold and indifferent. If he held
on like that, his neck would break and he would die. Sensing a
desperate crisis, the secretary raised her hand and pointed to the office
of the hospital director. Zhenya immediately let him go and made her
way toward the closed door. He lowered the doorknob, but it didn't tilt
to see if it was already locked. Inside, he could hear the sound of a
snarky talk. It seemed that the director of the hospital, who was aware
of the situation outside the door, called the police and begged them to
come quickly. Zhenya let go of the doorknob and kicked the closed door
without hesitation. Then the clasp was torn off, and the door slammed
open like a sheet of paper. The hospital director, who was holding the
receiver, hipped, gasped, and hurriedly picked up his gun. He was so
frightened that his muzzle trembled. [Who are you! Why are you doing
this!] [There's someone looking for you.] He quickly approached the
hospital director. The flustered hospital director hurriedly pulled the
trigger. The bullet that flew in in the blink of an eye shattered the
craftsmanship behind Zhenya. Zhenya continued to walk toward the
hospital director without paying attention. The hospital director was
terrified and kept shooting his gun. No matter how hard he aimed the
gun, the bullets missed Zhenya every time. It was a movement so agile
that you would believe it was a monster, not a human. Zhenya, who had
gotten close in an instant, twisted the hospital director's hand. At the
same time, the bullet that was fired flew to the ceiling and shattered
the light. [Huh, huh, I called the police!] [I have to stay alive until they
arrive.] He simply returned the threat that was thrown at him as a last
resort. He gripped the director's wrist even tighter with one hand. [Ah!
P-please let go of my hand...!] [A week ago at night. There was an Asian
patient who was brought here.] [Huh, a week ago? How am I supposed
to know that...! Aaaah! Wait, wait! There were so many patients
brought in because of the terror attack a week ago!] [So, you don't
know?] [No, no! Ah! I'll tell you. I'll tell you! Ah, you're talking about
that Asian person the police handed over, right? The only Asian person
who came to our hospital was that one patient.] Under the continued
explanation, Zhenya's under-eye flesh twitched. The deep blue pupils
constricted to the point of appearing pitch black. A dark, bluish aura
distinctly emanated. The wrist, bent beyond its range of motion, was no
longer a concern. It seemed that it wouldn't be surprising if his throat
were torn out right then. [Huh, well, I don't know exactly. Just don't
leave a record for the police, only provide first aid. I had requested...
and after the treatment was finished, they would take them back right
away.] [What happened to that patient?] [They had a lot of lacerations
and burns, and I remember there were some fractures and signs of a
concussion.] [Where would the police have taken him?] [Huh, ugh, I
can't know that much either. I just treat patients as I'm told, doctor.]
Zhenya twisted the arm he had grabbed a little more. There was a
cracking sound from the hospital director's right arm. The director was
hopping on his two legs, pleading. [Ah! I'll tell you, I'll tell you
everything! I don't know exactly, but they probably took him to Evin
Prison. I heard that the patient’s identity hasn’t been confirmed either.
Usually, those kinds of people are taken there for interrogation...
Aaaah...!] Zhenya tightly gripped and then released his arm. The
hospital director clutched his burning right arm and repeatedly begged
for his life. Evin Prison is a notorious facility in Iran, primarily used to
detain anti-government protesters. Under the pretext of interrogation,
all kinds of violence and torture have been openly carried out there,
making it a human rights black hole. If the hospital director's guess was
correct and Kwon Taekjoo was being held there, it was obvious what
kind of treatment he would be receiving. [How well...] He hurriedly left
the hospital director's office. There was no time to waste. He had to
retrieve him before Kwon Taekjoo got hurt any further. The staff, who
were tidying up the chaotic examination and treatment rooms, stepped
back hesitant at Zhenya's reappearance. His figure, running straight
ahead without looking back, resembled a fighter jet ready for bombing.
Just brushing past him felt like it could cost a life. By the time Zhenya
stepped outside the hospital, in the distance the sound of a police car
siren could be heard. It seemed to be coming in response to the
continuous reports from the hospital director and staff. Without caring,
he got into the back seat of the car. Yoon Jong-woo, who was waiting in
the driver's seat, glanced at me in the rearview mirror with a terrified
expression. [Yes, yes, Yevgeny. What do we do? It's the police.] [Let's
go.] [What? Um, where to?] [Anywhere.] Zhenya calmly replied and
pulled something out from under his feet. It was a bazooka. As police
cars arrived one after another in front of the hospital, they lined up in
formation, blocking the escape route of the two individuals. A warning
voice followed, urging them to surrender. [Put your hands up and come
out!] [If you make any sudden moves, we will shoot!] It was not just an
empty threat; a few warning shots were fired. Yoon Jong-woo flinched
and lowered his head. He looked at Zhenya with anxious eyes, as if
asking if they were really going to start. [Or do you want to get out?]
[No! We're going!] If he got caught by the police alone, who knows
what kind of ordeal he would face. He never expected to go through
this. Yoon Jong-woo clenched his eyes shut and slammed the
accelerator. As the car suddenly took off, fierce gunfire erupted from
the police. [Ahh!] Yoon Jong-woo continued to drive precariously, with
his head deeply bowed under the steering wheel. With his view not
fully secured, he crossed the centre line several times before correcting
himself. A bullet that shattered the rear window grazed his earlobe and
lodged in the dashboard. It was so terrifying that even his screams were
sucked back into his throat. Despite the car shaking violently, he fired
the bazooka without any tremor. It seemed like they weren't even
thinking about the aftermath. The police cars that were hit repeatedly
veered off the road or collided with each other. They lost their balance,
spun around, and eventually overturned. Anything that blocked his path
was ruthlessly cleared away. Indeed, everywhere that Zhenya passed
turned into a wasteland. As he faded into the deep night, Yoon Jong-
woo painfully realised why Kwon Taekjoo and Zhenya had gotten so
close so quickly. *** Amidst the incessant flickering of the light bulb,
mould the shadow of the one bound to this pin wall flickered and
vanished repeatedly. In the damp chamber, the sound of different
metals scraping against each other echoed continuously. "Ugh, ah...
ugh...!" Ahmad hung Kwon Taekjoo from the pull-up bar and
indiscriminately jabbed beneath him. The severity of the jabs left the
handle of the baton slick with bodily fluids and grease. The baton
slipped from his intense grip, clattering loudly as it rolled across the
floor. "Haah, haah...." The limp Kwon Taekjoo gasped for breath
repeatedly, feeling an overwhelming lack of oxygen. The inside of my
butt, mercilessly violated, was swollen and felt hot and painful even
with the slightest touch of skin against skin. His ears, cheeks, shoulders,
chest, genitals, and buttocks were reddened by a sadistic heat. His
sweat-soaked skin glistened smoothly, and his tensed muscles writhed
as if in a spasm. The energy of life pulsed even stronger in the space of
death. Ahmad shook his stiff wrist and walked toward Kwon Taekjoo. He
then grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's drooping face and lifted it up. The
sharpness in his eyes still burned with a bright yellow rage. The veins on
his forehead and the muscles in his jaw were visibly taut. Even after all
that, he showed no sign of losing his venomous spirit. [Anastasia? Is
that your lover's name?] Ahmad asked teasingly, narrowing his eyes.
Ever since he learned that the tattoo on the inside of his thigh meant
'my Anastasia,' he had been acting that way. [If that's the case, why not
arrange a reunion with that lover here?] Ahmad whispered slyly. He
didn't respond. He just shook his head sharply, pulling his chin away
from his hand. Ahmad, unfazed, twisted Kwon Taekjoo's ear painfully to
make him look at him again. His eyes were oddly narrowed. [Or could it
be your nickname?] “……” [No matter how much you bend and twist, it
really takes a lot to break that stubbornness. When I poked you to see
how you'd react, you seemed to enjoy it, didn't you? Your sensitivity is
quite impressive. Did someone take the time to appreciate your
backdoor before? Huh? If you're a prostitute, I can understand the lack
of clarity about your identity.] Ahmad, who had been teasing
relentlessly, subtly massaged Kwon Taekjoo's earlobe. At that, Kwon
Taekjoo, who had been glaring at him as if he wanted to tear him apart,
let out a chuckle. [You're laughing?] [You're really curious, staring at me
so intently.] The sharp tone pierces through. The mocking gaze aimed at
Ahmad's bulging groyne rose back to his face. [Your cock is about to
burst.] [This bastard...!] With a thud, his head turned. Finally, his nose
bled, staining his upper lip and mouth. He lowered his head and quietly
held his breath. Then, he stuck out his red tongue and licked his own
blood. Ahmad, watching that scene, frowned. His slightly parted lips
quivered as he exhaled in short gasps. His member also twitched and
responded clearly. [Why don’t you stop poking it with that useless stick
and just punish me with yours instead?] [...What?] [Your body looks
really hot. Anyway, no one can see us.] [Don’t mess with me.] [I won’t
remember anything anyway, just like now. They must have brought me
here secretly because they have something to hide in Russia, so who
would say anything if I touched that guy? You’re just doing your job,
right? Am I wrong?] [This damn bastard... are you crazy about fucking?]
[So you just figured that out now?] Kwon Taekjoo smirked, lifting one
corner of his mouth. Sweat-soaked skin, heavy breathing, a pungent
smell, and the stifling heat of the air. It was enough to stoke a sensual
atmosphere. Ahmad, who had been staring blankly, approached with a
smirk. [I like guys like you who are tough. The harder they are, the more
satisfying it is to break them.] Ahmad, gripping Kwon Taekjoo's neck
tightly, licked up the blood that had dripped down to his chin. Ahmad's
breath, heavy with the scent of blood, lingered. It was hot. He tilted his
head slightly to avoid it. Then Ahmad warned, bringing the stun gun
close to Kwon Taekjoo’s balls. [Go ahead and mess around, I dare you.]
Right after that, Ahmad longingly licked the entirety of Kwon Taekjoo's
lips and then recklessly tangled his tongue around them. As Kwon
Taekjoo tilted his head back, he pulled on the back of his head hard
enough to hurt, while rubbing his lips together wildly. With a look that
seemed to say 'don't resist,' he crushed his testicles with a stun gun and
prayed. Ahmad's bulging thigh pressed roughly against him. His chest
was gripped tightly enough to leave handprints. The front of Ahmad's
pants quickly became wet as it had become sticky all the way up to the
thigh of the overlapping authority. He didn't think even a lustful dog
would stick like that. Kwon Taekjoo pulled Ahmad's tongue, which was
greedily licking around his mouth. Ahmad flinched at the unexpected
enthusiasm. Undeterred, he entwined his tongue with his, teasingly
caressing and then gently sucking as he tilted his head. Ahmad's tongue,
which had been stiff and unyielding, suddenly became limp. The breath
that had feigned calmness also turned distinctly rough. Ahmad,
breathless in no time, parted his lips. Kwon Taekjoo exhaled his
muddied breath, narrowing his eyes as he looked at him. [How long
have you been rolling around for your tongue to be so skilled? Are you
really a whore or something?] [You could check for yourself. If I were
really a whore, would I only be good at sucking?] At the unexpected
suggestion, Ahmad showed a slight sign of agitation. But soon, he saw
through Kwon Taekjoo's true intentions and smiled slyly. [...Foolishly, I
wouldn't do something so dangerous.] Kwon Taekjoo didn't show any
signs of disappointment. He just quietly watched Ahmad's fingers as
they repeatedly played with his plump lips and tongue, swallowing his
saliva. As he was gesturing, he suddenly bit his finger, and Ahmad was
taken aback and flared up. [I told you not to mess around!] […You're so
scared. Stop fidgeting and do it your way, okay? What are you going to
do when your junior comes back?] Ahmad could no longer hold back
from the ongoing provocation and pulled down his pants. The erection
he hastily revealed was, as expected, nothing to write home about.
Generally, that's how those types fall into sexual perversion. [Hurry up.]
[Damn, this annoying little brat is really persistent.] Ahmad, who had
been giggling, spread Kwon Taekjoo's legs and slipped in between. Then
he brought his genitals to the gaping hole. Desperately waiting at the
entrance, Ahmad couldn't contain his excitement and threw down the
electric shocker in his hand. Then, with his now free hands, he grabbed
Kwon Taekjoo's buttocks and spread them apart. Only then does he
gently press the tip against the slowly opening hole, breathing heavily
with anticipation. His eyes have long since melted into a soft, gooey
state from the heat. It was the moment when Ahmad, worn down to
the bone, was about to charge into the room. Kwon Taekjoo suddenly
narrowed his knees and tightened his grip around his waist. It was a
gesture that seemed to be pressing down. Ahmad chuckled and said,
"Calm down." However, he began to feel increasingly flustered by the
force that was tightening around his abdomen. He struggled to break
free from Kwon Taekjoo, but he was already wedged tightly between his
legs and couldn't move at all. [Hey, let go of that. Are you not going to
let go?] Detecting the danger, Ahmad struck Kwon Taekjoo's thighs and
buttocks fiercely. It was useless. The more he did so, the more Kwon
Taekjoo's grip around his torso tightened. [This son of a bitch, untie this,
untie this... Ugh!] Kwon Taekjoo used his natural agility to slam his head
into Ahmad's. Caught off guard by the unexpected blow, Ahmad
staggered, clutching his forehead. In that instant, Kwon Taekjoo grabbed
the overhead bar with both hands and leaped up. Naturally, his legs
climbed up to Ahmad's waist, mercilessly tightening around his throat.
[Huff, hick... huff, whew...!] Ahmad writhed in agony, unable to even
scream. From deep within his gaping mouth, a bubbling sound
emerged. His fingertips, raised in desperation, scraped against Kwon
Taekjoo's skin, but that feeble attack lasted only a moment. Kwon
Taekjoo, in that instant he twisted both legs to break his neck. In an
instant, Ahmad's eyes rolled back, and his body slumped helplessly. He
relaxed the grip of the legs that had been constricting Ahmad. The
fallen Ahmad knelt on the ground, sitting down. He stretched out his
toes to secure the bundle of keys he had at his waist. He kicked his feet
into the air, lifting the keys high before catching them in one go. He
twisted his bound wrists to free himself from the handcuffs. His arms,
scratched from days in the cuffs, were covered in wounds. "Hah…” As
he rubbed his numb wrist and caught his breath, he spat on the floor.
Yet his mouth still felt filthy. It seemed that no matter what foul
substance he swallowed, it wouldn't be as repulsive. A wave of nausea
crept up from within, and he couldn't help but gag. His stomach
churned as if it would expel everything inside. The bile surged back, and
saliva dripped down his chin. After a while of calming his insides, he
finally gathered his thoughts. Who exactly was Kwon Taekjoo, and why
had he been subjected to such a fate? But there was no time to ponder
such things. He had to escape this hellish place immediately. First, he
took off Ahmad's uniform and put it on. The fit was loose and the length
was short, but compared to his distinctly prominent skin colour and
features, it wasn't a significant issue. If he happened to run into another
guard, the fact that he had escaped would be immediately exposed.
Would it be possible to slip out of here without encountering anyone?
To do that, he needed to understand the overall structure of the prison
first. If he went to the security management building, he might find a
way to escape. He was just about to pull down his hat while planning in
his head. Suddenly, he sensed an unexpected presence outside. [Senior,
the director is calling. Please go in.] It was Omar's voice. Before he could
respond, the door burst open. Omar, confronted with an unexpected
sight, froze for a moment before shouting, "You!" Just then, Kwon
Taekjoo quickly grabbed a baton from the floor and threw it at him. The
baton spun rapidly and struck Omar's head with precision. Omar
collapsed without even letting out a scream. Kwon Taekjoo dragged the
fallen Omar into the room. Then he confiscated his radio, firearm, keys,
and handcuffs, stuffing them into his pockets before locking the door
from the outside. As soon as he stepped into the hallway, he noticed
the CCTV on the ceiling. It appeared. With his head deeply bowed, he
passed beneath it. Not knowing when he might be discovered, he had
to keep moving without pausing for even a moment. Kwon Taekjoo's
shadow quickly slid along the dim wall. The warden of the Evin prison
squinted as he looked over the official documents brought by Zhenya.
There were two types of documents. One was the official list of Russian
prisoners, and the other was a government order to immediately
transfer any detained Asians. Zhenya was a Russian diplomat. It has
already been confirmed that the currently incarcerated Asian individual
bears a striking resemblance to someone on Russia's rescue list.
However, it was difficult to ascertain the current condition of the
inmate. If the government is actively searching for such a prominent
figure, it must be quite significant, and he was concerned that he might
have been harmed in any way. Considering the potential repercussions,
he decided to buy some time first. [We do have one Asian individual in
our custody, but we need to verify if he is the same person you are
looking for. Additionally, our investigation is not yet complete. Since the
lights out time has passed and all the inmates are likely asleep, please
come back tomorrow, and we will hand him over then….] Zhenya
interrupted and cut in. [Could it be that she laid a hand on him?]
[Excuse me? No way. Touch it? What kind of times are we living in to do
something like that…] [If that's not the case, it would be better to hand
it over right now. Talking is only possible at this moment.] [No, we also
have procedures in place, so if you just show up out of the blue and
demand things from us…] The warden hadn't finished speaking yet. In
an instant, a white hand reached out in front of him. There wasn't even
a moment to blink. The warden was frozen in place, unable to make a
sound. It was because Zhenya's index and middle fingers were pressed
against his bulging eyes. [My tongue is tied. I said that speaking would
be the last resort.] It felt as if they could pierce his eyeball at any
moment. The qualitative texture of the fingers against the surface of his
eye sent shivers down his spine. They were so close that even his
fingerprints could be felt. The warden swallowed hard and finally
managed to speak. [Please, just give me a moment...!] Despite the
warden's plea, Zhenya did not remove his hand. He simply said, [Call
immediately.] The warden even forgot to breathe. He fumbled on the
table, seemingly searching for the receiver. Zhenya personally picked up
the receiver and handed it to him. In the meantime, his body moved
slightly, and his fingers brushed against his eyes. Tears streamed down
from both eyes. The warden barely managed to call the duty room. The
ringing tone faded and soon stopped, and the duty officer answered.
[Yes, this is the warden. There's a Dongyang person who came in a few
days ago, right? Bring him here right now. Oh, come on. If I say to bring
him, just bring him, no need for so many words! Hurry up!] Once the
call ended, Zhenya obediently was bitten. He could only feel a strange
pressure in his eye, even though it was just touching. [Please wait a
moment. The detention centre isn't far from here, and it will arrive
within 10 minutes.] The prison warden wiped away his tears and
bowed. Zhenya stared at the entrance without responding. Soon, Kwon
Taekjoo would appear from there. He had boasted that he would solve
everything on his own, yet here he was, trapped in a place like this. He
was curious about what expression he would have when he saw
Zhenya. Every second felt unbearably slow. And the warden's feelings
were no different from Zhenya's. He kept anxiously checking the time.
He was in a tight spot. If the duty officer didn't bring that Asian inmate
within the promised 10 minutes, his head was on the line. He had to
buy some time. [Ah, right! The inmates' belongings are stored
separately here. Would you like to see them?] [...Belongings?] Zhenya's
gaze, which had been fixed on the door, immediately turned towards
the warden. With that moment of distraction, the warden quickly stood
up, saying to wait just a moment. Only when he was physically away
from Zhenya did he finally feel a sense of relief. The warden opened a
cabinet placed to one side. He pulled out a plastic bag. The belongings
of the inmates were always stored there before being disposed of.
Occasionally, valuable items would be found, and if an inmate was to
disappear forever, there was also the intention to eliminate evidence
from that place. [This is it.] The warden placed the bag in front of
Zhenya. Then he sat as far away from him as possible. He immediately
opened the bag. Inside, there were clothes crumpled up haphazardly.
Some were burned and nearly torn to shreds, but they were of the
same size as the clothes that Kwon Taekjoo usually wore. An empty
magazine and a pistol, once belonging to Zhenya, the knife he had
gifted was also inside. Zhenya buried his face in the bag of belongings
and took a deep breath. The acrid smell of gunpowder and burnt
material hit him. Following that, there was a faint but familiar scent of
Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo was inside this. So close. He just had to
wait a little longer. When he met him, he planned to hug him tightly and
never let go. He would make him pay for the confusion and chaos he
had caused him all this time. Just imagining that moment made his
fingertips tingle and his heart swell with emotion. It was then. Suddenly,
a loud bang echoed, and the entire building shook. In the unexpected
situation, the warden and Zhenya’s eyes met in the air. Just when he
thought it might be an illusion, there was another bang, bang, bang, as
a series of explosions rang out, and dust fell from the ceiling. Following
that, the entire building was lit up with flashing lights, and a loud alarm
began to sound. The phone in the warden's office, which had been
quiet, started ringing fiercely. A bad feeling crept in. [.....Taekjoo.]
Muttering in a groan, Zhenya abruptly got up and left. “Ugh, this is
driving me crazy.” Kwon Taekjoo stood quietly against the wall, peering
out into the empty corridor. It was late, and there were no signs of life.
The problem was the CCTV installed in the ceiling. The prison facilities
were outdated in every respect, but that particular system was state-of-
the-art, capable of detecting all movements and minimising blind spots.
Have there been escape attempts in the past? In a typical building, one
would expect to find a drainage system or ventilation ducts, but none
were visible. There was nowhere to hide. At this rate, escaping from the
prison would seem impossible. The only way was to charge straight
ahead. He could only hope that the other guards wouldn’t find his
presence suspicious. He moved quietly and slowly down the corridor.
The CCTV in the ceiling faithfully tracked his movements. On the
security control room screen, he would appear to be one of the
uniformed guards, so it was important not to raise any suspicion. It
wasn’t too difficult to determine which way the exit was. The security
doors and the thickness of the walls were getting thinner, and the size
of the windows was increasing. The lights illuminating the corridor were
also getting brighter. It was a sign that he was getting closer to the light.
Kwon Taekjoo moved according to his instincts, wondering why he was
so accustomed to this situation. He was puzzled. From the moment his
consciousness returned, he kept questioning himself. Who is he, and
what was he doing? Why does it feel so natural to overpower others
and seek an escape? What brought him to this place, and how did he
end up being chased? His body bore many scars, both large and small,
in addition to recent wounds. It was evidence that his life had been
exposed to harsh environments, like a recent act of terrorism. Was he a
soldier? No, there’s a possibility he might have been involved with
Russia, so perhaps he was an international mercenary or
troubleshooter. Does he have no family? Is there no home to return to?
Questions kept piling up. However, he couldn't recall any clues related
to him. Perhaps it was because he was pushing himself too hard to
remember anything. In the end, a headache came on. It wasn't the pain
from the wound at the back of my head. It felt more like the pressure of
my brain being squeezed tightly. “Ugh…” His vision blurred for a
moment, and he leaned against the wall. He tilted his head back and
took a deep breath. Soon, cold sweat covered his entire body.
Instinctively, he wanted to run, but if he left this place, where would he
go? Was there anywhere to return to? He felt a sense of despair. He had
no certainty that the world beyond the prison walls would be any safer.
There, his enemies, he couldn't guarantee that it wouldn't be there. He
shook his head. Even if there were greater dangers lurking out in the
world, it seemed better than just waiting to die in here. He wasn't the
type to wait for a transcendent being to save him. Life was meant to
flow continuously. When he stumbled and lost that flow, he just had to
run faster to catch up. So, rather than staying still, he had to move at
least one more step. If he didn't escape this time, the next opportunity
might never come. Kwon Taekjoo pulled his hat down deeper and
walked briskly. The security doors that appeared one after another
required Ahmad's ID card and key. The passage was easily passed
through. Of course, not everything went smoothly. As he turned the
corner without hesitation, he suddenly stopped and stepped back.
Then, peeking his head out, he observed the situation on the other
side. The first thing that caught his eye was the double iron gate. Two
guards were stationed inside and outside. Beyond the gate, a long
corridor leading to another building was visible. It was difficult to
identify in the dark, but the fresh air from outside clearly indicated it
was a passage to the outside. The guard inside the double gate was
holding a phone and chuckling to himself. The guard on the corridor
side was sitting in a chair, dozing off. Initially, it was unlikely for a
prisoner to escape. Not only was it a difficult environment, but even if
he somehow succeeded in escaping from the cell, he wouldn't think of
escaping from this place, so it seemed that the surveillance had become
lax. While pondering, Kwon Taekjoo suddenly rummaged through his
pockets. Before long, he pulled out a gold tooth. It seemed to have
been extorted from another inmate. He casually tossed the gold tooth
onto the floor. As it fell, it made a very faint sound. The guard, who had
been staring at his phone, tilted his head. He discovered the gold tooth
on the floor and slowly walked closer to the wall where Kwon Taekjoo
was standing. [Who spilled this?] The guard, muttering to himself,
glanced around and reached out with his golden tooth. In an instant, he
yanked that arm and slammed his face into the wall. He then drove his
knee into the guard's side. The guard, caught off guard, couldn't even
gasp and stiffened up. He finished him off by striking the back of his
neck with the edge of his hand, making it hard for him to breathe. He
dragged the unconscious guard behind the wall to secure the access
card for the double door. All that remained was the guard dozing off on
the other side of the double door. After catching his breath, he walked
briskly toward the double door. From now on, it was a race against time.
His pace quickly picked up. [Huh? Where did you go without saying
anything?] Kwon Taekjoo had just reached the double doors. The guard,
who had been dozing off, suddenly woke up and lifted his head. "...Ah."
[I'm asking you. Where have you been?] He couldn't respond hastily. If
he spoke, he would immediately realise he wasn't a colleague. As a
strange silence lingered, the guard slowly rose to his feet. The tension in
the air became palpable. [Huh? You're not Muhammad, are you?] The
guard stepped closer to the door and peered at the name on the
uniform. [Ahmad? What are you doing here? Where's Muhammad?]
“.....” [You bastard, something's off here. Take off your hat.] When Kwon
Taekjoo didn't move, he shoved his baton through the bars. The tip
knocked Kwon Taekjoo's hat up. [Huh? You...?] Just as the guard's face
went blank, he yanked his baton back. Helplessly pulled the guard
leaned against the bars, his nose pressed against them, swaying
unsteadily. Without hesitation, he jabbed his baton into the guard's
face. The guard covered his left eye with both hands. [Ah! My eyes!]
After groaning for a while, the guard, filled with rage, pulled out his gun.
[I’ll kill you!] He was so agitated that he was ready to pull the trigger
without thinking. At that moment, a loud bang echoed, and everything
went white in front of him. Kwon Taekjoo instinctively ducked and
covered his head with his arms. Even while lying on the ground, several
more bangs followed, shaking the entire building. Then, the alarm
began to sound in the prison that had just arrived. “Cough cough...
What the hell?” He lifted his head, clearing the thick dust. The lights on
the ceiling had all gone out, and the surroundings were dim. He could
barely make out anything within arm's reach. Perhaps due to the recent
explosion, the double doors were severely bent. It seemed like he could
easily slip through the gap. The spot where the guard had been
standing moments ago had collapsed into a pile of rubble. Kwon
Taekjoo picked up the gun from the guard's hand that was sticking out
from the debris. [Fire!] At that moment, someone screamed from a
distance. He doesn't know what's going on, but for Kwon Taekjoo, it was
a welcome chaos. Without hesitation, he dashed down the corridor. The
guards were too busy trying to assess the situation to notice his
presence. Whether a fire had actually broken out or the temperature
had suddenly risen, the air had become thick. The sleeping inmates
were waking up one after another, screaming for their lives. Amidst it
all, the explosions continued unabated. The entire prison had turned
into a living hell. As he ran, leaving all that chaos behind, part of the
ceiling suddenly collapsed. He barely managed to roll out of the way.
Taekjoo, he was trying to get up and run again when he heard a sound
like a beast howling from somewhere. He flinched and turned around
without realising it. There was nothing visible except for the pitch-black
darkness and dust. The sound that had grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's ankle
was no longer heard. After standing there blankly for a while, he
suddenly came to his senses. There was no more time to waste. Kwon
Taekjoo turned his head again and jumped into the pitch-black
darkness. When he came out of the prison warden's office the place
was already in chaos. All the fires were out, and the building continued
to shake with the repeated explosions. The ceiling and walls cracked
loudly, and debris fell in showers. An alarm echoed throughout the
building. The sporadic flashing lights of the warning beacons and the
searchlights from the watchtowers constantly disrupted visibility. Where
did the explosions start? Could it be that Kwon Taekjoo was attempting
to escape on his own? Trying to slip away amidst the confusion? Even
while advancing the incident, he strode boldly into the interior of the
prison. The security doors that appeared intermittently were either
smashed with brute force or neutralised with gunfire. The guards he
encountered along the way were too busy fleeing. He was struggling
with an old fire extinguisher to put out the fire. The prisoners trapped in
the cell were pressing their faces against the narrow bars, crying out for
help. [Fire!] Someone's piercing scream urged him on. Indeed, the
concentration of toxic gas in the air was thickening. He hurriedly passed
through the chaotic hallway, glancing into each cell. There was no sign
of Kwon Taekjoo anywhere. The sheer number of rooms and the
darkness made him worry whether he could find him in time. A sense of
anxiety he had never felt before made his teeth grind. It felt like walking
into an endless abyss. If Kwon Taekjoo is at the end of it, then it
wouldn't be such a bad path. Before long, a series of deafening
explosions rang out, and the ceiling came crashing down. The cries and
screams of those trapped echoed from all around. If Kwon Taekjoo is
trapped somewhere and tied up, no matter how capable he is, it seems
difficult for him to escape alive. He thought they had almost caught
him, that they had truly followed him to the end, but could it be that
they are losing him again like this? His suffocating feelings burst out like
a raging storm. [Taekjoo!] Continuing to call for Kwon Taekjoo, he went
inside, deeper and deeper. The stale air filled his throat. It tightened its
grip while clinging on, slowly suffocating him. Even keeping his eyes
open was a struggle. Yet, he couldn't stop his steps toward the deeper
place. Zhenya, who had been advancing like a bulldozer, suddenly
paused. It was because he caught a fleeting whiff of a familiar scent
amidst the acrid toxic gas. Was it an illusion? Had my senses become
distorted because my mind was racing ahead? He anxiously glanced
around, but he couldn't detect any presence of others. [Taekjoo....]
Muttering softly, Zhenya abruptly turned his body. Then he began to
blindly follow the faintly mixed scent in the air. It was no different from
a nightmare. Soon, he saw guards who had lost consciousness lying in
the path he passed. All of them were still alive, but barely. He aimed
precisely at the vital points of his opponents while avoiding killing them
as much as possible. It was a typical display of Kwon Taekjoo's skills. The
certainty that he was here grew stronger. He hurriedly followed the
scent of Kwon Taekjoo. He quickly escaped the chaotic prison interior,
which was filled with fire and subsequent explosions. Along the way, he
smashed and threw aside anything or anyone that blocked his path. He
forcefully pushed open the last door that appeared. Just then, a police
car that had been dispatched in response to a report suddenly slammed
to a stop upon seeing Zhenya. He did it. Uselessly, he ended up
bumping into Zhenya. Zhenya, who had been running straight ahead,
staggered and suddenly turned around. A strange light flickered in his
wide-open eyes. It didn't seem human at all. [H-Hey, are you okay?] The
police officer in the driver's seat leaned out and asked. Zhenya, who
had been quietly watching him, ran off again without a word. The police
called out to him repeatedly from behind, but he couldn't hear them.
The area in front of the prison was truly a scene of chaos. Police and
firefighters who had rushed to the scene, guards who had escaped, and
some inmates were all mixed up and confused. As people ran around in
disorder, even the fire trucks couldn't move properly. He couldn't get in.
[Step back. There, step back!] He shook off the police trying to control
the situation and chased after Kwon Taekjoo. But soon, he hesitated
and stopped. It was because Kwon Taekjoo's scent suddenly became
apparent. At that moment, an EMT was looking around with a dejected
expression. It seemed like he was searching for something. Perhaps an
ambulance or something like that. Suddenly, he recalled the incident
when Kwon Taekjoo had thrown away the blueprint of 'Anastasia' and
escaped by stealing a fire truck. Was he using the same method this
time? [Mr. Yevgeny! Are you okay?] Yoon Jong-woo, who had been
waiting outside, drove the car up to Zhenya. Without saying a word,
Zhenya suddenly grabbed him by the collar. [Hey! What are you
doing?!] [Where's Taekjoo?] [Huh? Senior? You met the senior?] [I'm
asking you. Did you see Taekjoo?] [...No, I suddenly heard a loud noise,
and then people started pouring out....] [Come out.] Zhenya forcefully
pulled Yoon Jong-woo out and grabbed his phone that was stuck in the
driver's seat. He checked from the beginning. However, there was still
no response from the location tracking device. Frustrated, he threw his
phone and got into the driver's seat. Yoon Jong-woo quietly took the
passenger seat. The car took off before the door was even closed,
heading straight for the prison's main gate. It wasn't long before we
encountered a police car that was controlling the area. [Stop.] The
police waved their flashlights. They also ordered them to turn off the
engine and get out of the car. In the meantime, Kwon Taekjoo must
have been getting further away. Zhenya signalled again for them to
stop. Slammed on the gas pedal. The car accelerated wildly, crashing
through the line of police cars like a barricade. Yoon Jong-woo
screamed, covering his head. In response to the highly suspicious
behaviour, police cars began to turn on their sirens one by one and gave
chase. After several warnings, they even fired warning shots.
Regardless, Zhenya continued to increase speed, performing reckless
manoeuvres. His mind was solely focused on where Kwon Taekjoo
might be hiding. He scanned the area for any abandoned ambulances or
fire trucks, looking for familiar figures. After driving for a while, he
spotted a massive statue. It was on fire. A roundabout had formed
around it. The intersection was split into a total of five branching roads.
[Hah, hah....] The breath he had been holding burst out. With anxious
eyes, Zhenya busily scanned the five branching roads, unable to endure
the rising anger, and slammed down on the steering wheel. The wheel
tilted at an angle under his furious grip. Yoon Jong-woo, who had been
covering his head the whole time, slowly lifted his gaze. His eyes
widened in surprise. It was because of Zhenya’s unfamiliar appearance.
In a boiling anxiety, Zhenya looked back and forth between the five
branching roads, his gaze filled with a sense of helplessness, as if he
were in a vast foreign land. He felt like a child lost on the street. 10.
Run, Go, Run! Kwon Taekjoo used a small wire to unlock the front door.
He stepped inside and paused for a moment at the door, sensing any
presence within. Fortunately, it seemed that no one was home. In case
someone returned, he wrapped the wire around the lock to ensure the
door couldn't be opened immediately. After that, he went into the
bathroom and took a shower. The water streaming down from his head
mixed with black ash, dust, and blood. After thoroughly washing even
inside his ears, he threw on some random clothes. Then, while drying
his wet hair with a towel, he sat down on the sofa. A deep sigh escaped
him. As much as he wanted to just take a nap right there, the wound on
the new side was oozing fresh blood, and it couldn't be helped. He took
out the medical kit brought from the ambulance. It contained more
specialised medications and tools than a regular first aid kit. He pulled
out disinfectant and suturing thread from inside. With a thick bundle of
gauze in his mouth, he sprayed disinfectant on the gaping, bleeding
wound. Just that alone made him clench his jaw tightly, and veins stood
out on his forehead. After taking a deep breath, he pressed down on
the wound with the dressing gauze to apply pressure. Then, he injected
painkillers around the wound with a syringe. Every moment was a chain
of agony, but compared to stitching up unanesthetized flesh, it was a
relief. “Ugh, ugh…” He stitched up the wound tightly while biting down
on the bandage. His fingertips trembled from the excruciating pain. It
might be better to get proper treatment in a safer place, but it was clear
that if he kept bleeding like this, he wouldn't last long and would soon
collapse. After forcing myself to stitch the wound, I finished by applying
a gauze. A breath he had been holding escaped in a shudder. Because
he had bitten down on the bandage so tightly, not only his molars but
even his gums throbbed. In a hurry to tidy up the first aid kit, he caught
a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He looked like a mess. Running
around in this state was just embarrassing. He wondered if it was really
effective. All he could do was hope that his body would hold out until
safety was secured. Perhaps due to the inflammation throughout his
body, he had a persistent low-grade fever. He sought out antibiotics and
got an injection. He also swallowed a few fever reducers. After putting
out the urgent fire, he felt hungry. He fiddled with his flat stomach and
headed to the kitchen. When he opened the refrigerator, he found cold
labash and a type of vegetable curry called gourmet seobji. He took
them out and stuffed them into his mouth without heating them up. It
was a priority to fill his empty stomach and replenish his strength. As he
chewed the food in his mouth, he glanced at the morning newspaper
lying on the table. Last night, an article about the explosion and fire
incident at Evin Prison was featured on the front page. It seemed that
the investigative authorities had tentatively concluded that it was a
terrorist act by the IS-affiliated armed group, Islamic State Khorasan (IS-
K). Since the prison primarily held anti-government figures, it appeared
to be a terrorist act aimed at facilitating their escape. Additionally, it
was suspected that the recent large-scale armed attack in Tehran
targeting Iranian and Russian leaders was also their doing. The reason
for this was that many inmates who had been captured as suspects in
the Tehran terror incident escaped during the chaos of last night. IS-K
was the most extreme and violent group among jihadist extremists.
Even before the Tehran attack, they have carried out acts of terrorism,
including simultaneous shootings at the Khomeini shrine and the
parliament, as well as suicide bombings. While reading an article, he
suddenly recalled the information that ISIS recruits new members from
around the world through social media. Primarily, it targets highly
competitive teenagers. In fact, ISIS does not limit its recruitment to
specific countries, bringing in young foreigners to train them as
revolutionary fighters or to use them as human shields. Did Kwon
Taekjoo also resemble him? If that were the case, it would explain his
proficiency in Persian, his exceptional combat skills, and his presence at
the terrorist scene in Tehran. He simply couldn't accept it. Did Kwon
Taekjoo himself take the lead in harming innocent people under the
pretence of nonsensical justifications? Just thinking about such things
made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable. What kind of mindset, what
circumstances would allow someone to commit such acts? "Ugh...!" As
he tried to approach his essence, another headache surged.
Intermittently, a strong pressure built up in his brainstem, feeling like
memories trapped behind a thick wall were being squeezed out drop by
drop. Scenes that he couldn't tell were real or not occasionally surfaced.
The image of Kwon Taekjoo in military uniform, armed, crossing the
pitch-black sea on a boat. Riding a rope from a helicopter and
descending into a dense forest, racing down a vast snowy field on skis
as if being chased by something. Each of these scenes came to mind like
frames being projected one by one on a film reel, not organically
connected to each other. And voices unrelated to those scenes echoed
repeatedly, hauntingly resonating in his mind. He felt as if he was losing
his sanity, unable to stop it by sheer will alone. (These are upcoming
flashbacks that are displayed on here throughout Taekjoos life!!)
“Congratulations on passing. I knew you could do it, my son.” “Take
good care of your mother.” Do you want to date?" "Congratulations on
completing your first mission." [...Why do you keep trying to run away?
I'm not trying to kill you or anything.] [Nice to meet you. I'm Olga.]
"Senior, where are you? Are you okay? I heard you were here last night?
The atmosphere at the headquarters is not good right now. You're
almost a terrorist!" A multitude of memories surged in his mind,
causing intense headaches. His head was filled with thoughts so dense
that it felt like his brain pressure was rising. Everything in front of him
was spinning. It felt like his head was about to explode. It didn't seem
strange anymore. "Ugh, damn....” He clutched his head as if it would
shatter and writhed in agony. His mind tangled quickly, as if it were
overloaded, and his breath became shallow. Everything in front of him
flickered incessantly. Every time he tried to force his memory back, the
same intense pain struck him. "Ugh." In the end, he ran to the
bathroom, gagging. He clung to the toilet and vomited everything he
had eaten. His stomach convulsed violently, threatening to surge back
up through his narrow throat. His insides felt completely twisted and
stirred up. He was wracked with pain, unable to speak. "Hah, hah...."
After clinging to the toilet for a while, he gasped for breath. Cold sweat
trickled down his back and neck. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to
steady his breathing. The white haze that had clouded his vision
gradually returned to normal. He barely managed to lift his trembling
legs. He stood gripping the sink, catching his breath, then washed his
face and brushed his teeth again. He rinsed his mouth with water,
scrubbing his tongue and the inside of his cheeks, but the foul taste just
wouldn't go away. He wiped the moisture from his mouth with the back
of his hand and left the bathroom. The place he headed to was the
room with the computer. He sat down in front of it and turned it on.
The booting system started, and a password input window appeared.
He rummaged through the desk and bookshelf. He quickly figured out
the owner's date of birth. When he tried entering those numbers, a
message popped up saying the password was incorrect. He observed
the belongings a bit more. Inside a drawer, there was a photo of a man
and a woman that looked familiar. Whether it was taken on an
anniversary, the two were smiling while holding a cake together. What
caught Kwon Taekjoo's attention was the wall clock captured in the
background of the photo. The date, day of the week, and time was an
electronic clock that displayed everything. Squinting his eyes, he read
the date shown on the clock in the photo. When he entered the
corresponding numbers as the password, the lock was finally released.
It was fortunate that the owner of the room was a romantic. (Upcoming
flashback of his memories) "Your birthday is coming up soon. Is there
anything you want?" He tried to laugh it off, but suddenly a memory
flashed through his mind. Along with that, his inner thigh tingled as if in
a delusion. Specifically, it was towards the tattoo inscribed in Cyrillic
letters. My Anastasia. It was definitely written like that on the tattoo.
Judging by the unorthodox handwriting, it seemed someone had
written it by hand. It seemed like a mark of fate. What could it mean? Is
the subject 'my' referring to Kwon Taekjoo himself, or someone else?
Lost in thought, he shook his head. There was no time to be buried in
distractions. When you're in the state of a deceased person, you
shouldn't linger in one place for too long. He immediately connected to
the internet. His current location was Tehran, Iran. The first thing he
needed to do was secure his safety. Ultimately, he planned to return to
his homeland, where his roots began, to discover who he truly was. The
problem was the considerable distance to Korea, and in his current
state of unclear identity. It was difficult to enter the country. Of course,
there was a South Korean embassy in Tehran, so it would have been
possible to go there and seek help. However, if Kwon Taekjoo himself
was a criminal, that place was definitely not a safe zone. It was also
questionable whether they would protect someone being chased as a
terror suspect until the end. He had to find another place. A safer area
than Iran. And a place he could go to Korea from at any time. At the
same time, a nearby area that he could move to with his current
physical condition. Where would be suitable? He pulled up a map of the
world on the monitor and looked for a refuge that met his conditions. It
was a challenge to cross several borders without an ID or travel
expenses. In the Middle East, there were so few Northeast Asians that
no matter how much one tried to hide, the chances of being noticed
were high. There was only one place left. Turkey. A country that is
neither a complete ally nor an enemy in a world ideologically polarised.
A place where Europeans and Asians can live together and move freely
anywhere. It seemed there was no better option. Having made up his
mind, Kwon Taekjoo immediately deleted his PC usage history. After
that, he turned off the computer and quietly left the apartment. A pure
white snowfield had a single black dot on it. Zhenya wondered if it was
a stone, and as he watched for a moment, the black dot moved slightly.
He wasn't sure if he was seeing it correctly. As he tried to get closer to
check, suddenly it started to dash away quickly. With its long, strong
legs, it hopped swiftly through the snow. It was a rabbit. ‘Is that a
rabbit?’ As he muttered this like a sigh, the rabbit, which had been
running fiercely, paused for a moment. It perked up its long ears and
stared in his direction for a while. Without realising it, he took a step
closer to it. Startled, it bolted away again. Instinctively, he chased after
it. Dazed, he followed. The stumbling steps quickly turned into a sprint.
The pupils of the eyes narrowed tightly, like when chasing prey. Soon,
they reached a dense forest of birch trees. The black rabbit darted
between the closely spaced trees. The dark knots in the tree trunks
created an optical illusion, making it difficult to pursue it. When it was
hard to chase, the best strategy was to go ahead and wait. Zhenya
swiftly crossed the birch forest and blocked the rabbit's path. With arms
wide open, they blocked the retreat of the oncoming creature. Then, it
leaped into the air. In an instant, its limbs elongated, and suddenly it
transformed into a black leopard. It jumped. The creature easily leaped
over Zhenya's head. Staring blankly, he regained his composure and
chased after it again, blindly, without knowing why. Soon, a sheer cliff
appeared before it. It was a successful hunt. The creature, having lost its
way, wandered around the edge of the precipice, hesitating. Zhenya did
not rush. He gradually stopped running and slowly approached it.
Finally, he came to a halt in front of it. Suddenly, a strong wind blew.
Reflexively, he closed his eyes and then opened them. At that moment,
there was a sound like a puff, and a black leopard vanished, replaced by
a hawk soaring away. The black hawk soared swiftly through the air,
without a moment to catch it. ‘Stop right there!” In a hurry, he ran to a
higher ground, fearing he might lose it. He climbed the steep ridge with
his bare hands, which became increasingly steep and jagged. In his
anxiousness, as he reached for an uncertain ledge, his unsupported
body slipped down. Barely regaining his balance, he unconsciously
looked down. A breathtaking cityscape unfolded beneath him. The ridge
he had been climbing in pursuit of the hawk had transformed into
skyscrapers. Below the towering buildings, hundreds of police cars
flashed their bright red lights. Helicopters hovered above. He flew
erratically, illuminated by the searchlights. The black hawk reached the
top of the skyscraper in an instant. As it folded its large wings, its
appearance transformed into that of a human. It was Kwon Taekjoo.
Kwon Taekjoo stood precariously on the tower, wearing a ridiculous
character mask. The searchlight beams from the helicopters shone on
him simultaneously. The snipers' targeting lasers instantly turned his
body bright red. ‘Drop your weapons and surrender. Drop your weapons
and surrender.’ A mechanical warning blared with a loud siren from
below. Kwon Taekjoo obediently threw down the pistol he was holding.
That gun swiftly brushed past Zhenya and fell to the ground. In the next
moment, bullets rained down from all directions, piercing Kwon
Taekjoo. There was no time to block. In the blink of an eye, Kwon
Taekjoo, now drenched in blood, plummeted to the distant floor. Just as
he was passing by Zhenya, time seemed to slow down. For that brief
moment, it felt like they were in a vacuum together. The character Kwon
Taekjoo wore was soaked in blood. Behind the distorted mask, his pale
lips quivered. 'Zhenya.' Zhenya hurriedly reached out with both arms to
grab him. Cruelly, he couldn't even brush against his fingertips. Kwon
Taekjoo's body continued to tumble down, it was shattered. [..…!]
Zhenyas eyes widened in shock. Suddenly, his vision cleared, and a faint
dizziness washed over him. His heart was pounding irregularly, and the
roughness of his breath echoed in his ears. It was unpleasant. As he
irritably tried to straighten his upper body, a wave of nausea surged up.
He bit down hard on his jaw and swallowed the bitterness. Tilting his
head back again, he covered his eyes with his hand. Perhaps it was due
to the tension. His fingers felt numb. The long exhale he released
trembled awkwardly. As he slowly opened his eyes, he noticed his
eyelashes were rarely damp. The nape of his neck and his back were
also damp. Did he really drink while sweating? He rarely had dreams
like that. If it was a nightmare, it was even less so. He always fell asleep
in a way that his consciousness would cut off, and when his energy was
restored, he would wake up, which meant the quality of his sleep was
high. Moreover, nightmares were remnants of the unconscious
experienced only by those who knew fear. Those who were anxious
about losing something precious or were swayed by such illusions. He
has never felt that kind of fear in his life. Not until he met Kwon
Taekjoo. He wonders where Kwon Taekjoo is now. Is he also in a state of
anxiety like him? Is he thinking about him at all? If so, then why has
there been no news until now? Heartless love. His concern for the
person gradually turned into a feeling of resentment. At that moment,
his phone suddenly rang. He hurriedly checked the caller ID.
Disappointingly, it was a call from Bazim. Normally, he would have
rejected the call without hesitation, but perhaps he had some good
news for him. With a glimmer of hope, he answered the call. [What’s
going on?]- Yevgeny. Is this your doing? Bazim abruptly interrogated me.
His voice was anxious. Before heading to Evin Prison, he had received a
cooperation letter from him. The reason he didn't resort to force was
solely to quickly and easily take over Kwon Taekjoo. But of all times, the
incident happened just when Zhenya visited the prison. After the recent
fire, Kwon Taekjoo had vanished again, and Zhenya found himself in a
situation like a dog chasing a chicken. No one felt more disheartened by
the current situation than Zhenya himself, yet he was baffled when he
was suddenly asked, 'Was it you?' [No way.]- Is that not true? Are you
sure? [Why ask if you don't even believe it?] - Ha... Just act in a way that
I can believe you. If you cooperate willingly, I won't make a big fuss.
Why on earth did that hospital create such a mess? Engaging in
pointless communication with the police. Why is there so much
commotion over finding just one person? [That one person should be
easier to handle.] It's not like he’s exaggerating; it's been two days since
they lost track of Kwon Taekjoo. His whereabouts have been elusive so
far. He’s even gone through all the civilian CCTV footage like when they
first started tracking him, but aside from the fact that he secretly
abandoned the stolen ambulance near a fire station and escaped,
nothing else has been revealed. There had been no separate contact
from the National Intelligence Service, the South Korean embassy, or
Yoon Jong-woo personally. The same was true for Zhenya. It was
strange. If Kwon Taekjoo had escaped on his own and was hiding
somewhere, he would have thought he would somehow send news
first. At this point, with the operation concluded, all he should be
thinking about was a safe return. But it had been two full days without
any news. Had he been caught while fleeing and was now being held
somewhere? No, if that were the case, there should have been some
trace of his capture. They had been eavesdropping on police
communications for 24 hours, yet there were no reports concerning a
person presumed to be Kwon Taekjoo. [If you want to get rid of me as
soon as possible, stop wasting time with this kind of nagging and
cooperate properly. I told you, as long as I get my things back, I'll leave
right away.] After abruptly hanging up, he ignored the phone call that
came in immediately after. He got up from his seat and went outside.
Yoon Jong-woo was slumped on the sofa in the reception room, his
neck twisted in a bizarre way, fast asleep. It was almost like he had
fainted. Since coming to Iran, he hadn't had a good night's sleep, so it
wasn't surprising. He seemed clumsy, but he was still useful. He could
somewhat understand why Kwon Taekjoo had kept him around so
much. It was like that. [Hey.] Even at the sound of being called, Yoon
Jong-woo couldn't wake up quickly. Is it acceptable for someone who is
supposed to be an intelligence agency employee to be this dull? He
tapped the table with a displeased expression. Yoon Jong-woo, who
bumped his knee there, was startled and opened his eyes wide. "Ah!
Uh, Yevgeny! What time is it right now...." [What were you supposed to
find out?] [Oh, I'm still looking into it... but this time the area is too vast.
There’s nothing particularly noticeable yet.] Yoon Jong-woo lowered his
head as if feeling ashamed. Perhaps it was because the fact that Kwon
Taekjoo was alive had been proven, he didn't cry like before. [Why does
Taekjoo keep running away?] [..Huh? Well, because he's being chased?]
[Chased? By whom?] Yoon Jong-woo, who was about to answer
immediately, paused and wore a blank expression. When you think
about it, Kwon Taekjoo wasn't actually in a position to be chased.
Although he had been taken to Evin Prison as a suspect in a terrorist
case, thanks to the cooperation letter that Zhenya had received, all
charges against him had been completely cleared. Even though he had
escaped from prison during the chaos caused by the fire, the Iranian
government would no longer pursue him. It was opened. Moreover,
several media outlets have already reported that the prison system has
collapsed due to a series of incidents. The prison authorities have not
yet been able to ascertain who has died, who has been injured, and
who has gone missing. Kwon Taekjoo must have checked the news
about it, so why does he keep running away? [Since you are completely
free, you could ask for help anytime. The Korean embassy isn't that far
from here. If you're hesitant about something, you should at least have
contacted me.] Zhenya repeatedly raised questions. According to him, if
it were Kwon Taekjoo, his safety would be secured. He must have
reported his survival as soon as he was able. If he was in a situation
where he couldn't return alone, he would need to receive support from
headquarters. There was also an exchange base operating to support
the agents dispatched to Iran. However, it was said that there had been
no attempts to make contact from Kwon Taekjoo. [I checked all my
personal emails and game accounts just in case, you know? But there
were no traces of you anywhere. I even called your mom earlier to
check in, and she asked me if I had heard from you instead.] A sense of
foreboding arose. Kwon Taekjoo was fit enough to drive a distance of
over 20 km by himself. Yet, he had been missing for two days, and he
hadn't even contacted his mother. No matter how terrible the
circumstances, he always took care of his mother. What does this
situation signify? He felt he needed to find out more clearly about Kwon
Taekjoo's condition. To do that, he had to meet the last person who saw
him. He grabbed his coat. [Huh? Where are you going?] [You keep
searching. Let me know as soon as you find anything.] After giving a
firm instruction to Yoon Jong-woo, who was trying to follow him
awkwardly, he left the hotel. Omar couldn't sleep easily and kept
tossing and turning. He was under intense investigation day after day
about the death of his fellow guard Ahmad while in the prison cell.
Omar honestly stated that he had gone to pick him up at the direction
of the prison warden, and that he was already unconscious at that time.
He also confessed that he didn't know what happened after that
because he had been attacked by an inmate and passed out. During the
investigation, he heard a story about an Asian inmate that Ahmad had
been harassing. He said that he was on the Russian rescue list, and that
a high-ranking Russian diplomat had come to personally take him over
on the day of the fire. The prison authorities were troubled by the
disappearance of the Asian inmate, but they also seemed secretly
relieved. Everyone knew how mercilessly Ahmad had tortured prisoners
during his lifetime. There were at least four Asian inmates who had
been interrogated by him. If this fact had been known to the Russians,
they would have raised the issue of human rights violations. If he had
been missing like he was now, they could have argued that the torture
wounds were inflicted during his escape. They tentatively concluded
that Ahmad's cause of death was asphyxiation due to fire. After
swearing that they would not reveal anything about it, he could get out.
[Hoo....] He sighed and was about to turn back to lie down. He turned
his head away from the strange sense of discomfort and flinched. In the
darkness without any light, two bright blue eyes were shining brightly
and staring at Omar. His whole body froze as if he had encountered a
ghost. Was it a beast? No, it was definitely human. How did it get in? If
it was a door, it must have been locked? As his doubts piled up, his fear
grew bigger. The opponent approached the bed, looking straight at
Omar as if he was going to pierce him. Even as he pulled a nearby chair
and sat down, his gaze never left Omar's two eyes. His movements were
relaxed and easygoing, but somehow he felt oppressive. His limbs
stiffened. It was the overwhelming power felt by someone who had
been crushing people’s spirits and grinding their souls for a long time. If
he responded clumsily, he would die. Even if he tried to go against or
deceive his opponent, he wouldn’t be able to survive. [I’ll ask you only
once, so just answer.] Was it because of extreme fear? The voice asking
sounded even more eerie. He couldn’t bring himself to open his mouth,
so he nodded his head. [The missing Asian inmate, do you remember?]
[… Yes? Oh, yes! Yes!] Shin-hee's voice was caught in his throat as his
tongue kept rolling back. [Was there anything unusual?] [If you say
something unusual...] [Just answer.] The other person's eyes widened.
He felt tense as if a knife was dangling in front of him. He was even
careful about breathing. Omar thought hard to survive. The man was
looking for the missing Asian prisoner. He had promised to keep quiet
about everything about him, but he wondered what use it was to do
that when his life was at stake. [I, I know he is a terror suspect. He was
armed when he was found and his identity was unknown, so he was
transferred to our prison after emergency treatment. The hospital said
that he had a serious head injury and that he might not be able to give
a proper statement... He definitely couldn't properly explain who he
was or where he came from.] The man who had been listening silently
tilted his head. Somehow he felt that he was getting close to the
information he wanted. Omar added his own opinion as he sensed it.
[He also looked frustrated and confused. Honestly, he could have just
tried to explain the situation, but he held on until the end. I thought
maybe he really lost his memory.] [He lost his memory...?] [… I’m not
sure.] He slowly took a step back. Then the man’s sharp gaze pierced
him. Omar quickly knelt down and clasped his hands together. [Teacher!
I really did nothing wrong! I just did what I was told! I really didn’t touch
a single hair on that person.] [You?] The man sharply tugged at the end
of his sentence. He flinched as if he had been hit in the right spot. [Does
that mean he touched someone else?] [That, that person is already
dead! He got what he deserved! If you want to know who he is, I'll tell
you everything. So please, just let him live!] [What did he do?] [Huh?
Just investigate….] [This country is not that gentlemanly. Especially that
prison, you either get out dead or you get out as a cripple. It's one of
the two, right?] [No. You're misunderstanding, sir! I swear to Allah that I
didn't do anything!] [If that’s true, your god will have mercy on you.]
The man who was babbling nonsense suddenly grabbed Omar’s jaw and
opened it. It was no use trying to hold his mouth shut. Soon, an
unknown pill was pushed into his mouth, crushing his stiff tongue.
Then, his mouth was tightly shut by the man’s strength. The man
simultaneously covered Omar’s nose and mouth, preventing him from
swallowing or spitting out the pill in his mouth. As his breathing became
increasingly difficult, his lungs began to suck in air strongly. The pill that
had been floating around in his mouth also slipped down his throat,
regardless of his will. Omar rolled his eyes and fainted from the
powerful blow. The man threw away Omar's head, which he had been
holding in one hand. Immediately after, the silent cell phone rang.
When he touched the call button, Yoon Jong-woo's urgent voice rang
out loud. [Mr. Yevgeny! Where are you now? I have his whereabouts!
He is on his way to Tabriz. I think he is going to Turkey!] Zhenya, who
heard the news, left Omar's house without a trace, just as he had when
he had appeared. *** Tabriz, the border between Iran and Turkey, was a
city that was a hub on the ancient Silk Road and has remained a centre
of transportation and trade connecting the two countries to this day.
Kwon Taekjoo watched the immigration office while wearing a black
niqab that only revealed his eyes. Perhaps it was because it was far
from the capital, Tehran. Despite the recent large-scale terrorist attacks
that shook the foundations of the country, the border checkpoints were
not that strict. Perhaps the level of alert was lowered after the
mastermind behind the terrorism was revealed. Iran and Turkey are
countries with active political and economic exchanges, so the border
area was not particularly tight. The soldiers of the light garrison were
always relaxed, greeting tourists and merchants who were trying to
cross into Turkey. He heard that it was actually easy to travel from Iran
to Turkey. This was true for foreigners with clear identities or for goods
that had been declared in advance. In any case, Kwon Taekjoo, who was
not included, had to try to enter the country illegally, but a 220 km long
and high barrier erected to block Kurdish armed forces and refugees
blocked his way. It was said that a state-of-the-art surveillance system
was in operation around it, so it was impossible to meet secretly. It
seemed that the safest way would be to hide in a logistics vehicle. Tabriz
has the largest bazaar in Iran, so logistics to neighbouring countries
were active. As such, trucks were everywhere in the city. Kwon Taekjoo
looked for a suitable truck and settled down in a shabby restaurant.
Even if he safely crossed over to Turkiye, he didn’t know how long it
would take to get to the city. He had to fill his stomach in advance so as
not to get exhausted during the trip. [No, you’re going to eat all of this
by yourself? Isn’t that too much?] The restaurant owner, who came to
take the order, widened his eyes. Instead of answering, he just nodded.
The restaurant owner said, [Is this really all you want to order? What?]
He confirmed his intention again. He nodded his head. The restaurant
owner kept glancing at Kwon Taekjoo as he headed to the kitchen that
night. It wasn’t just because he ordered too much food. In Iran, the
niqab, which only exposes the eyes, or the chador, which covers the
entire body, were rarely worn. However, in the neighbouring country of
Afghanistan, such clothing was mandatory, so his attire itself was not
unusual. It might have been different if an Afghan woman was walking
around alone without a male guardian or if people kept looking at her
large body for a woman. It wasn’t just the restaurant owner. Across the
street, the man sitting on the table continued to look at Kwon Taekjoo
with a suspicious look. His gaze dropped when the restaurant owner put
the food down in front of him. [Are you going to Kayseri again today? I
won’t be able to see you for another week.] [Why? Are you already
feeling sorry?] The man replied sarcastically and patted the restaurant
owner’s butt. The restaurant owner slapped the man’s hand away and
went into the kitchen. The man followed his back until the end and then
looked away regretfully. When his eyes met Kwon Taek Joo’s, he smiled.
He raised his middle finger, even if it was inside his niqab. [Here, young
lady, you must be tired from going a long way, so eat a lot.] Soon, the
food that Kwon Taekjoo ordered was laid out on the table. Kwon
Taekjoo slightly bowed to the restaurant owner and scooped up the
food. The problem was that in order to put it in his mouth, he had to
take off his niqab and push it in carefully so that the seasoning didn’t
get on the inside. He couldn’t help but curse at how he could eat, sleep,
and poop like this. After roughly filling his stomach, he put the money
for the food on the table and left. He didn’t have much money left. It
seemed like he could only buy enough water to quench his thirst until
he reached his destination. He headed to the bazaar to find a suitable
store. He was on his way out after buying some bottled water. A few
minutes ago, some men barged into the restaurant where Kwon Taekjoo
had been staying. They were busy looking for some trace of Kwon
Taekjoo where he had been sitting. When they couldn’t find anything
they were looking for, they approached the restaurant owner and asked
him something. They even took out their cell phones and showed him
some photos. The restaurant owner, who was worried, gestured toward
the bazaar. Immediately, he turned around and ran into the bazaar. The
men followed him, as if it wasn’t a mistake. He saw them from afar, but
one of them was a white man who was nearly 2m tall and the other was
an Asian of Northeast Asian descent wearing glasses. He didn’t know
who they were, but they had an unusual aura. He had to run away. The
bazaar, which was over 5 km long, was like a maze in itself. He changed
directions frequently and ran while recalling the internal map he had
figured out in advance. The pursuers split into two directions and
continued to chase Kwon Taekjoo. What are they? Are they the police?
Why on earth are they trying to catch Kwon Taekjoo? The more he
thought about it, the more confused he became. He ran until his breath
was out of his throat and hid in a nearby bathroom. Before he knew it,
the white man who had followed him closely and passed him suddenly
stopped. Then he turned around and looked inside the bathroom. It was
as if Kwon Taekjoo had a location tracker attached to him, like a ghost.
He backed away quietly at the sound of it getting closer. Then he
opened the back door that connected to the alley across the street and
ran away again. On that street, there were shops handling spices from
all over the world lined up. The strong smell of the colourful spices
seemed to numb his sense of smell. Was it the aftereffect? The pursuer
from before, who had been chasing me as if he was running away
somewhere, hesitated at the fork in the road. He didn’t seem to be in a
panic, as if he had missed an important clue. Kwon Taekjoo, who had
been watching him from afar, quickly ran away, avoiding his eyes. The
distance between him and the pursuer grew. The outside was right in
front of him. There was also an exit leading to it. He was about to leave
right away, but suddenly a loud voice came from behind him. [Taekjoo!]
Was it the voice of the pursuer? He couldn't be sure. He didn't know
whose name it was. But his heart sank at the sudden loud voice. He
couldn't understand what was going on. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been
hesitating to back away, ran towards the exit at full speed again. Even as
he did so, his heart pounded loudly. Why? Why on earth? He kept
asking himself this question, but he kept running with an anxious heart.
Finally, the exit was right in front of me. It was right in front of him. A
large logistics truck was parked there. He jumped into the passenger
seat without looking back. The driver’s eyes widened at the sudden
intrusion. Kwon Taekjoo was also quite surprised. Coincidentally, the
driver of the truck was the lecher he had seen at the restaurant earlier.
Kwon Taekjoo covered his mouth and placed his index finger on his lips.
The driver slowly nodded with his eyes wide open. Then he raised both
hands and gently shook them as if to reassure him. Nevertheless, Kwon
Taekjoo continued to be wary of him and glanced at the passenger
window outside. He was anxious because he didn’t know when his
pursuer would follow him. [Are you being chased?] The driver suddenly
asked. When he didn’t respond, he immediately reached out and
started caressing the man’s thigh. It seemed that Kwon Taekjoo believed
that the man thinks he was a woman because he was wearing a niqab.
He even thought of his as a refugee from Afghanistan, so his attitude
became even more arrogant. [Should I help you?] The driver made a
sinister expression and grabbed his chest. Anyway, this guy or that guy.
The man’s hand that had been caressing his thigh slid down to his
groyne. He tilted his head when he touched something that shouldn’t
have been there. He also looked at Kwon Taek Joo with a puzzled look.
Kwon Taekjoo felt something in the driver’s crotch. He brought it. The
man who had been looking down at his heart with a questioning
expression, gasped and quickly pulled his hands away. The hard pistol
was pressing down on his groyne threateningly. [Let’s go.] He ordered in
a deep voice. He pressed the barrel of the gun against the driver’s
genitals, who had stiffened up stupidly, and urged him, [Quickly.]. The
man turned pale and started the car. The truck headed straight for the
immigration office. Huge dump trucks were waiting in line to cross the
border. Naturally, he joined the line. The driver reluctantly followed
Kwon Taekjoo’s instructions, but he looked anxious. He couldn’t hide it.
[If I get caught like this, I’ll be in trouble too.] [So you should take care
of it yourself. You might get into trouble before that, right?] He
threatened the man by moving the gun from his groyne to his side. The
time for the checkpoint gradually approached. Kwon Taekjoo made a
silent threat with his eyes and then crouched down under the seat. By
then, the gun was touching the driver’s knees. Because he was wearing
a dark niqab, it was hard to notice his presence at first glance. [Oh my,
you worked hard today.] The driver stopped at the soldier’s signal and
greeted him politely. As usual, he readily handed over his passport and
travel permit. The soldier in charge also said, “You’re going to Kayseri?”
without any weight. He also inspected the cargo space. [Then drive
safely.] [Yes, thank you.] [Pass!] The soldier shouted loudly and knocked
on the truck’s cargo space. The driver swallowed and slowly crossed the
border. Kwon Taekjoo immediately stood up and aimed at his temple.
He quickly took off his niqab. [Hic! Hey, now put down that dangerous
thing, sir. I’ll cooperate. Okay?] [We’ll have to wait and see. Don’t stop
and keep going.] [Where are you going?] [You said you were going to
Kayseri. Just go there.] The driver stepped on the accelerator with a sad
face. The truck quickly moved away from Iran, carrying his wish to reach
his destination as soon as possible. Zhenya searched the entire bazaar.
He searched every space where Kwon Taekjoo could hide, from trash
cans to meat storage. However, Kwon Taekjoo was nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, he recognized his scent and blindly chased after him, but
when he reached the spice market, he lost even the vague clue. Did
Kwon Taekjoo calculate and move that far? Since his opponent was an
agent who was good at evasion, he wouldn’t be caught easily. The
bazaar was so large and complex, and there were so many people
coming and going, that finding Kwon Taekjoo in disguise was like looking
for a needle in a haystack. [Haa, haa....] He finally reached the exit
without finding Kwon Taekjoo. His heart was pounding as if it was going
to burst through his skin because he had been running without
stopping. He had never run this fast, not even when he was hunting
reindeer or tigers. He looked around at the people passing by with
confused eyes. Maybe his mind was ahead of him, but he couldn’t
properly recognize their faces. In the meantime, countless travellers,
merchants, and trucks loaded with luggage passed the border. Has
Kwon Taekjoo already crossed into Turkey? Or had he been startled and
fled back to Iran? He couldn’t be sure of either. Now, he was even more
at a loss as to where and how to find him. All the while chasing Kwon
Taekjoo, he called his name. He called, called, and cried out. He hoped
he would respond to his call and stop. But Kwon Taekjoo wouldn’t let
him catch him easily. Did he really lose all his memories? Not only
himself, but who he was? If Kwon Taekjoo runs away like this, forgetting
everything, if he just keeps running away, then. When he thought he
almost caught him, he suddenly disappeared, and when he tried to grab
him, he escaped like air. Even a mirage wouldn’t be that futile.
[Taekjoo!] He screamed in frustration. All that came back was his voice
echoing in the distance. *** The driver arrived in Kayseri via a land
route of a whopping 1,200 km. It took him a full fifteen hours to drive
without stopping. His body ached as he passed through the rugged
plateau with an average altitude of 3,200 m against the backdrop of
vast snow-capped mountains. They call this place the Siberia of Turkey.
Indeed, despite it being an area that accounts for 21% of the entire
country, the terrain was rough and barren, so he could hardly see
anyone. That meant there was nowhere to rest. Of course, Kwon
Taekjoo was watching the driver, and the driver, out of his survival
instinct, couldn’t even think about resting for a moment. The truck
entered a field near the travellers’ lodging. Judging from the dump
trucks and buses lined up on both sides, it seemed to be some kind of
large parking lot. Nearby, there was a building used as a rest area and
lodging, and a gas station. Behind it, a market bustling with people
unfolded. The driver turned off the engine, applied the brakes, and
announced that he had arrived at his destination. Unlike before, his
attitude was very humble. [We’ve arrived, sir.] [Yeah. You worked hard.]
He rubbed his sore neck and praised the driver for his hard work. The
driver's face brightened. [Then I should go now...] [Before that, I should
settle what needs to be settled.] [Huh? What, what...] Before he could
finish his words, Kwon Taekjoo's first flew at him. The driver held his
chin, making a face of embarrassment. He gave him some advice in a
disapproving tone. [You shouldn't be playing with your hands like that.
It makes you feel bad.] [Sorry, sorry.] [Oh, by the way, did you touch my
chest too?] The driver covered his face with both arms, exclaiming,
“Eww.” Then, Kwon Taekjoo’s fist slammed into his arm. The impact was
enough to make his entire arm tremble. If it had hit his face, his jaw
would have collapsed. [Ugh, please save me. It was all my fault, sir.] The
driver squeezed his eyes shut and begged. Kwon Taekjoo said, “Who
would kill me?” and handed me a pill. The driver opened his eyes
slightly and looked at the medicine handed to me suspiciously. [What is
this, sir?] [Eat it.] [Yes?] [Eat it because it won’t kill you.] [No. There…]
[Or, what, can you knock me out in some other way?] The driver quickly
shook his head at the following question and swallowed the medicine.
He opened his mouth wide and flipped his tongue over to confirm that
he had definitely taken it. Soon after, the driver’s eyelids slowly closed
and opened repeatedly, and even his pupils began to blur. He was
dazed. He had been dozing off and soon fell onto the steering wheel. He
had brought a sleeping pill from the medicine box just in case, and it
was quite useful. Since he had accumulated a lot of fatigue, he thought
he would be able to sleep for 10 hours with just one pill. Kwon Taekjoo
got out of the truck and walked toward the rest stop building as if he
was running. Kayseri was a trading city located in central Turkey, only
about 200 km away from the capital, Ankara. It had been a key
transportation hub since the Eastern Roman Empire, and it was also a
place where agricultural products from the Anatolian region, which
Kwon Taekjoo had passed through, were mainly traded. Since the
movement of goods was so active, it was a good time to hide for a
while. It was also a perfect place to move to the city. The only worry
was that there was someone chasing Kwon Taekjoo himself. The
pursuers he had encountered in the Grand Bazaar in Tabriz did not look
like Iranians at all. Were they members of a group that Kwon Taekjoo
had belonged to in the past? Or was Kwon Taekjoo himself wanted
internationally? Either way, Turkey did not seem like a very safe place to
hide. First, he entered the market and mixed in with the crowd. Then,
he walked around aimlessly for a moment to collect his thoughts. Kwon
Taekjoo himself had infiltrated Tehran for some reason, and suddenly
he was swept away. When he opened his eyes, he had no memory left.
It seemed that his memory was lost due to the head injury. It was not
common, but it happened often. Other than that, there was no
abnormality in his maths, language, or motor skills. In terms of the fact
that he was quick to sense danger, instinctively looked for an escape
route, and easily subdued most opponents, he seemed far removed
from an ordinary office worker or tourist. Judging from the fact that he
could speak multiple languages, he thought he might be a diplomat. He
thought he might be a mercenary working for them, because of the
Cyrillic letters engraved on his thigh and the news that the Russian
government was looking for missing Asians. He wasn't sure about either
side. It was unclear whether someone was looking for him purely to
save him or to arrest and punish him. It seemed like he had to keep
running away until his memories of him came back. Maybe Kwon
Taekjoo himself was an intelligence agent or a special forces member
working for the country. He had carried out all sorts of impossible-
looking missions in the memories that came to him without warning.
Sometimes he threw himself into the deep sea with only one oxygen
tank, and sometimes he parachuted from the vast void toward a narrow
target point. Sometimes he climbed high cliffs or buildings with his bare
body. He had countless memories of being chased by the military and
police of various countries, being surrounded, and being imprisoned
somewhere, only to finally escape. He also vividly remembered running
away from bullets raining down on him in an endless snowy field, his
lungs throbbing. It was hard to tell what was real and what was an
illusion. He wasn’t even sure if returning to Korea was the right
decision. After walking for a while lost in thought, he bumped into
someone walking in the opposite direction. [Ouch. You should look
straight ahead.] The bodyguards tried to step out from behind the man
joking. Kwon Taekjoo also immediately stiffened his body and prepared
to attack. The man who was watching him said, his eyes wide open.
[You?] Somehow the man seemed to recognize Kwon Taekjoo himself.
Who are you? His empty mind had no information about him at all.
[Long time no see? How have you been? What brought you here?] The
man shook Kwon Taekjoo’s hands without permission and greeted him.
He could sense a subtle Spanish accent in the English he spoke. The
man was a handsome Hispanic man with thick hair and eyebrows, dark
brown eyes with a mysterious sunset glow, and smooth skin. Perhaps
because of the smile on his lips the whole time, he was quiet. It was a
refreshing impression. Has he met this guy before? Even though the
other person remained silent, the man didn’t care at all. Instead, he
furrowed his eyebrows and looked very sorry for Kwon Taekjoo. [Oh my,
but you did that last time too, and your face is badly injured again. It
seems like you didn’t get proper treatment. Did you have a hard time
this time?] [Do you... know me?] When he asked cautiously, the man
raised his eyebrows. He made a puzzled expression, then smiled and
said, “What?” [Have you forgotten? It’s me, Matias. Matias Perez.]
Showing his friendliness, he punched Kwon Taekjoo’s shoulder with his
fist. Kwon Taekjoo frowned and asked again to confirm. [I asked you. Do
you know me?] Mathias raised both his hands as he wrinkled his nose.
Then, with a puzzled look, he looked at Kwon Taek Joo from head to
toe. [Do you have twins?] He muttered something to himself that he
didn’t understand. [We met two months ago. Have you forgotten?] [We
met? Where?] [Um, in Cuba? No, I should say Mexico.] He had no idea.
It was unusual for Russia to officially look for Kwon Taekjoo himself, and
for a Korean to stay in Iran, and now they’re bringing up Cuba and
Mexico. What on earth did Kwon Taekjoo himself do? Matthias, who
had been silently watching Kwon Taekjoo, who was confused, closed his
eyes and smiled. [You must have had a lot going on, so let’s go
somewhere and talk slowly for now? And heal those wounds. Who
knows? I might remember.] [.....] Kwon Taekjoo glared at Matthias with
anxious eyes. Why would this foreigner be so kind to him? They only
met two months ago, so they weren’t even friends or acquaintances.
Would it be okay to just follow him, who seemed so rough? Contrary to
his heart that kept building up walls, his stomach growled loudly. It
wasn’t too much, since all he had eaten in the past 15 hours was water.
Matthias smiled faintly. [Ah, I guess I should start by eating.] The two
entered Matthias' hotel room. The bodyguards accompanying Matthias
did not follow him and instead stood outside the door. Matthias
hummed and stood in front of the mini bar. He picked up two bottles of
alcohol from the various types on display and looked back at Kwon Taek
Joo. [Would you like wine? Or whiskey?] Kwon Taekjoo approached the
window without answering. He kept his back pressed against the
window and watched the outside. Even after confirming that there was
no one following him, he began to look around the room to see if there
were any surveillance cameras or wiretapping devices. Even while he
was moving to the hotel, he kept looking out the window, never letting
his guard down for a moment. Was that some kind of occupational
disease? [Drink both, okay.] Matthias shrugged and took the wine and
whiskey in both hands to the table. Kwon Taekjoo searched both
bathrooms thoroughly before returning to the living room. Even then,
he didn’t sit down on the sofa. Matthias took out a pistol from both
pockets to relieve his guard. The grip was pointed toward the centre so
that either of them could grab it. Only then did Kwon Taekjoo put his
Glock aside and sit across from him. At a glance, the accuracy was
noticeably lacking. It was an old pistol that looked like it was a gun.
[You’re still alive and well, holding that piece of scrap metal.] [It might
be scrap metal to some, but it might not be to others.] Even though he
teased him mischievously, Kwon Taekjoo didn’t calm down at all.
Instead, he just sat with his legs spread wide and crossed his arms. He
looked up at Matthias. Matthias chuckled as he poured himself some
whiskey. [I felt it last time, but you’re so confident?] [Is it worth it to
show off your confidence just to beat you up?] [That just sounded a bit
dirty?] He opened his eyes wide and joked. But Kwon Taekjoo didn’t
even blink an eyebrow. He wondered how he could break down that
impenetrable face. Mathias smiled broadly and handed Kwon Taekjoo a
glass. [Here, you must be thirsty, so drink first.] [....] [Oh. You’re
suspicious. Then I’ll go first.] He readily drank the whiskey he had
offered Kwon Taekjoo. He then drank his share and shook the two
empty glasses. Kwon Taekjoo poured himself some whiskey and took a
sip. He drank it. Even in the meantime, he looked at Matthias through
the cup. The elaborate arrangement from head to toe, the high-class
suit that didn’t show a single flaw, the accessories that seemed
cumbersome, and the attitude that seemed infinitely light. Did he hang
out with this type of people before? Your tastes and thoughts wouldn’t
change just because your memories disappeared. [Are you being
chased again?] When he finished his initial exploration, Matthias asked
meaningfully. He tilted his head. [Again?] [Yeah. When we first met, you
were being chased. I was there.] [To whom?] [Um... to the Cuban
government, if we look at it broadly?] A hollow laugh erupted. From
Russia to Iran to Cuba? Was Kwon Taekjoo himself an international
terrorist in the past? Was he really not related to an armed group like
ISIS? Was it really okay to return to Korea like this? No, is there even a
place to return to? His mind was complicated. Matthias stared at Kwon
Taekjoo’s face. He had a strange impression that he was different from
before when they met at the market, but now he was sure. But he
didn’t show it. He didn't. He just calmly asked how Zhenya was doing.
[By the way, what brings you here? I don't see Psikh? Didn't he come
with you this time?] [Psikh?] 'Psikh' means 'Torai' in Russian. Judging by
the nuance, it seemed like a nickname for someone that both Matthias
and Kwon Taekjoo knew, but there was no one who matched it at all.
[Who is that?] [Hey, why are you like this? Did you eat something bad?]
[I said who.] [You really don't know? You and I met through Psych’s
introduction. No, to be clear, you followed meto my deal with Psych.] [I
was close with that guy?] [I don't know. What was the purpose of you
hanging out with Psych?] Matthias lightly drew the line. Kwon Taekjoo
tried to recall Psych somehow, his mind going crazy from the sudden
flood of information. "Psych, Psych...." For some reason, his heart
pounded. It felt like he had missed something huge. It felt like the blood
in his body was drying up in an instant. “There’s one thing to keep in
mind. Psych Bogdanov.” “Psych Bogdanov?” “In Russia, he’s like a
‘nuclear’ man. So, if possible, avoid damage. If you happen to meet
him, don’t try to fight him.” Then, a memory broke through the thick
wall. Kwon Taekjoo couldn’t remember who the man was who had
warned him to be careful of ‘Psych’, or under what circumstances he
had heard such words. However, the emotions of the moment when
that conversation took place came back vividly. His heart began to
pound violently. His fingertips also began to tingle for no reason. "He's a
civil servant, strictly speaking. He's well-versed in the military industry.
He's also quite skilled. In the underworld where private arms trade
thrives, there's no one who doesn't know him." He had clearly been
warned to be careful, to stay away. But why did Kwon Taekjoo himself
hang out with that 'psyche’? "Ugh...." The pressure in his brain surged
again. The wound on his head radiated a throbbing pain and a feeling of
heat. [Hey, are you okay?] Matthias reached out. The surging he shook
his hand away while staggering in disgust. Matthias shook his reddened
hands and said, “Ouch!” Then he raised both hands as if he were
harmless to Kwon Taekjoo, who was grumbling like a wild animal caught
in a trap. He slowly sat down in his seat while receiving Kwon Taekjoo’s
stinging glare. Then he took out a handkerchief, wrapped the ice in the
ice bucket, and handed it to Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo snatched it
away in irritation and held it to the wounded area. He leaned back on
the sofa for a moment and took a deep breath, and the unpleasant air
that had risen to his throat gradually subsided. Matthias looked at Kwon
Taek Joo with a surprised look. After looking around, he asked carefully
to confirm. [What happened?] “…..." He didn't answer. Matthias didn't
give up and asked again. His tone was so gentle that it melted away any
sense of caution. [Where did you come from earlier?] [When I came to
my senses, I was in Tehran.] Kwon Taekjoo answered in a relieved tone.
Matthias had also heard the news of the recent large-scale terrorist
attack in Tehran. As a result, the tension in Turkey was also high, so he
couldn't help but know. Why, of all people? The international situation
was frozen because the terrorist attack occurred just before the
tripartite summit between Iran, Russia, and Turkey. But Kwon Taekjoo
was there. What on earth happened to him? Matthias's mind kept
asking questions. [I don't know why he went there?] Kwon Taekjoo
nodded instead of answering. With the visible trauma here and there,
was he unlucky enough to get caught up in the terrorist attack? Or was
he connected to the terrorist attack? While he was imagining various
things, Kwon Taekjoo said [perhaps...] sharply. The eyes that had been
fixed were shaking slightly. They seemed to be hesitating whether to say
something or not. Matthias nodded his head, telling him to tell him as
much as he wanted. ['Do you know about Anastasia?] [Anastasia?]
Kwon Taekjoo nodded his head quickly. He seemed to be asking
because he was really curious about the gaze that was piercing him.
Matthias scratched his thick eyebrows as he pulled back. [Well. I don't
know if he's asking about a person or something else.] [Something else?
Are there cases where it's not a person's name?] [You really don’t
remember anything?] The rest of the story was almost like a soliloquy.
Kwon Tae-joo made an awkward expression as if he had exposed a
weakness. Matthias, who had been thinking for a moment, leaned
forward again and lightly clapped his hands. [Okay. I don’t know what’s
going on, but I think it’s time to take care of your injuries first. And
while I’m at it, I’ll also find out what’s wrong with your memory. Okay?
Let’s go to the hospital and get treatment first. Then I can decide how to
help you.] [Why are you helping?] [But we still have the affection we
declared I can't pretend not to know. Only trash would abandon a
brother in trouble.] He made adispleased expression. Regardless,
Matthias instructed his secretary to contact him and make a hospital
reservation. After hanging up, he tapped his wristwatch and clicked his
tongue softly. [The room service is late. Why don't you wash up first?]
[Okay.] [Hey, don't refuse. You look like you need some rest. It'll
definitely be warm and refreshing.] Matthias whispered sweetly. What
Temptation didn't seem sweeter than that. Kwon Taekjoo, who was
pondering, reached out to the table and took Matthias's pistol. He held
it up clearly in front of Matthias' eyes, put it in his waistband, and
headed to the bathroom. As soon as he closed the bathroom door, he
even locked it tightly. Matthias shook his head and laughed. By the time
he heard the sound of water from the shower, he poured himself a glass
of wine and slowly swirled it around. The dark red liquor sloshed down
the smooth surface of the glass. Now that he thinks about it, what was
his name? He only treated him as one of Psych's party members, and he
doesn't remember being properly introduced to Kwon Taekjoo. All he
knew about Kwon Taekjoo was that he was Korean and that he was
quite special to Psych. Psych, who had always ignored him when he had
asked to meet him, contacted him first for some reason. He said that he
would trade the desired product in exchange for guaranteeing the
safety of someone from Cuba. It wasn’t that difficult for Mathias, so he
readily accepted. Even then, he had secretly wondered what kind of
person he was trying to save. At the time, Mathias had imagined a
beautiful spy on par with Mata Hari. But what Psi had actually brought
was a dark-skinned Asian man. At that moment, ‘Psych’s man’ suddenly
appeared before Matthias again. And he looked the same as when he
ran away from Cuba. For some reason, Psych wasn't there, and the man
didn't even know who he was, let alone Psych. What did Psih call him?
(Upcoming flashback) [Haeueu, ha, ah, eung, clothes, Zhe, Zhenya,
Eugh! Haeueu, eung!] [Haa, eung, eung, Taekjoo, eung, Taekjoo....]
[Aeue, eung, clothes, stop, that, eung, eung, je...!] [Ha, eung, eung,
Taekjoo, taek...!] Suddenly, Psih and his sex came to mind. Even though
they knew that CCTVs were installed all over the yacht and villa, the two
of them continued to have sex without stopping. They were so loud and
messy that even the world-famous Matthias was astonished.
[…..Taekjoo.] That was definitely the name. Kwon Taekjoo also called
Psich by the nickname Zhenya. He didn't know much about it, but they
seemed to be quite close. It didn’t feel like they were just partners. He
wasn’t surprised that Psych's partner was a man. People with strange
tastes are very common in this world. Even back then, Kwon Taekjoo
couldn’t let his guard down like he does now. He was always nervous.
He glared at the CCTV with his eyes. (More upcoming flashbacks) [Hey,
over there. Isn’t that a camera?] […..Just a taste.] Zhenya glanced at the
CCTV that Kwon Taekjoo was concerned about and lightly clicked his
tongue. Then, he grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s chin and made him look at
him again. When Kwon Taekjoo couldn’t focus on his actions and rolled
his eyes toward the camera, he immediately changed his position so
that his body was on top of his. He spread Kwon Taekjoo’s legs wide by
crossing his knees, exposing Kwon Taekjoo’s groyne to the ceiling
camera. Then, he rubbed his body against Kwon Taekjoo’s stiffly erect
genitals and his perineum. Zhenya’s genitals were also clearly visible.
[Wait, wait! It's being filmed over there!] [He wants to peek, so let him
see as much as he wants.] Zhenya smiled mischievously and stuffed his
genitals, which were vigorously moving, into Kwon Taekjoo's hole. Then,
Kwon Taekjoo's waist rose slightly and his head fell back, brushing one
of Zhenya’s shoulders. Zhenya repeatedly brushed his ear against Kwon
Taekjoo's ear, enjoying the firm tightness. Then, he started to leisurely
move his waist while kissing Kwon Taekjoo's ear and cheek. Kwon
Taekjoo's body, which was impaled on Zhenya's, swayed slenderly with
the deep and slow insertion. Occasionally, Zhenya looked directly at the
camera on the ceiling and thrust downwards as if he were trying to
show off. His penis, which was perfectly embedded, twitched clearly
under Kwon Taekjoo's belly skin. Kwon Taekjoo's abdominal muscles
swelled greatly and tightened again, repeatedly digging deep, as the
penis moved heavily against the inner wall. Because of that, he could
clearly recognize where and how strongly Zhenya’s penis was poking.
Kwon Taekjoo, who didn't seem like even a needle could go in, moaned
faithfully on top of Zhenya and collapsed in a mess. Every time his
bottom was poking, he would violently grab Zhenya’s thighs, and when
he couldn't bear it anymore, he suddenly pulled Zhenya’s neck and
hugged him, kissing him absentmindedly. Their tongues tangled stickily
and then fell apart, they were all over the place. They kissed each other
so aggressively that it seemed like they were going to take each other's
breath away. It was a passionate gesture as if they were going to fight.
Even in the midst of all this, the waist movements poking their holes did
not stop. Rather, they became more and more intense. [Haa, ha...
Taekjoo.] [Haeueu... Eeueu....] The two of them repeatedly let out
languid groans and rubbed their chins and foreheads together. It was an
extremely desperate gesture, as if they were trying to overcome the
intense pleasure by leaning on each other. He was surprised that
'Psyche' could retreat so much. And that Matthias himself had secretly
watched their sex from start to finish. It seemed a little understandable.
The fiercely sharp face, which had become as soft as a ripe fruit, was
quite irritating. Who would have imagined that Kwon Taekjoo would
have such an appearance? Did Psych know where Kwon Taekjoo was
and what he was doing right now? Did he forget all his memories of
Psych himself? An unexpected joker card suddenly fell into his hand.
What would Psich give him this time? A satisfied smile spread across
Matthias’ lips. 11. Close yet far ‘I'll be back. Don't fight.’ The voice of the
man urging him was low and heavy. When he raised his head, a hazy
image of a manwas looking down at him as a child, Kwon Taekjoo. He
couldn't see the man's face properly. He blinked without saying
anything, and the man reached out and patted his cheek. It felt firm and
warm. The weight of the hand on his head, and the amplitude of the air
rippling whenever the man spoke, were all familiar. And he missed him.
The person who always carried him up close to the sky on his back. The
person who taught him that he had to fall down several times to ride a
bike well. The person who reminded him of how hard it was to run a
ball all by himself and get to the other goal. Soon, the blurry silhouette
took on a complete form. It was his father. 'Can't we play together
instead of going to work today? It's a red day!' 'I'll let you play as much
as you want after I finish my busy work. Good boy, aren't you?' ‘... Lies.
My father is always busy, and he doesn't even come home often.' His
father always made promises he couldn't keep, and when he was
younger, he couldn't hide his disappointment and would often sulk.
Whenever that happened, my father would sit down with his young son
at eye level and console his upset heart. ‘Taekjoo. What does your
father do?’ 'Protecting the country.' 'Yes. If father protects the country,
our family will be safe, and you can play freely without worry.' 'Why is
only father protecting the country? Why does only father have to do
that?' 'Well... All adults protect the country. It's just a different way. It's
a duty that we as citizens of a country must shoulder.' It was a difficult
and complicated story for him to understand as a child. His father said
that he would understand when he grew up, so he didn't try to explain
it in detail. No. At that time, the person who had been watching from
behind approached and gently grabbed his shoulder. ‘Don't worry,
father. I'll explain it well.' A calm and soft voice that fell from a slightly
lower height. When he turned around, the dim shadow slowly took on a
clear image. The gentle-looking boy smiled at Kwon Taekjoo. Taek-ju
also said, "Let's play with my brother." I'll take good care of your mother
too. I trust you, my sons.' A family photo hung on one side of the pitch-
black space along with his father's request. He was wearing a uniform.
Father and mother smiling brightly, brothers who resembled each other.
One after another, the familiar scenery of the house spread out before
my eyes in colourful colours. The last moments with his father were no
different from any other morning. Father left the house after giving
several requests as usual, and never returned. Before he knew it,
father’s figure disappeared from the family photo. Mother’s face, which
had been bright, also lost its expression. That was when he felt that his
brother had changed from before. Did he think that he should protect
the family in place of father? His brother’s words had decreased
significantly, and he spent more time alone contemplating. In addition,
the things he kept from his mother also increased. When his brother
entered the military academy and disobeyed his mother for the first
time, his mother was sick for several days. When his brother finally got
commissioned and started his first day of duty, he spent the night
anxious. His brother always comforted his mother affectionately. He
never showed any sign of fatigue or disgust. Maybe he thought it was
something he had to take responsibility for, having let down his
mother’s only wish. ‘If I set sail this time, I won’t be able to go for two
months. Please take care of my mother instead.’ When weset sail, his
brother would always say to Kwon Taekjoo like that. He contacted me. It
was the same on the day he died. A military service medal was awarded
posthumously in front of his brother's memorial tablet. The media
covered the family history of receiving military service medals for three
generations since his maternal grandfather, and talked about it as a
righteous, noble, and honorable sacrifice. However, for those left
behind, special promotions, medals, and praise from the world were no
consolation at all. Now, only the mother, whose face had darkened, and
Kwon Taekjoo himself, who had no expression, remained in the family
photo on the wall. The house became eerily quiet. He opened his eyes.
An unfamiliar ceiling filled his vision. Was it a dream? No, it was a part
of Kwon Taekjoo’s past. He lay there for a while. In the meantime, the
events of his childhood came back to him a little more. His father who
was often away from home, his death in the line of duty, his brother
who followed him into the military, and the same misfortunes of his
family that kept happening. Even his mother who held him at his
brother’s funeral and clung to him, saying that he was the only one left.
That was all he could remember. Even that wasn’t perfect. What kind of
life had Kwon Taekjoo lived since then? "Ugh... Fuck. I'm sick of it." Was
it because he recalled too many memories at once? His head was
overloaded and he got a severe headache. At the same time, his
stomach started to rumble and he suddenly felt nauseous. He wrapped
his head with both arms and waited for the intense pain to subside. His
legs kept kicking the sheets and slipping out of the agony. He threw his
poor pillow at the sharp pain that was gnawing at his nerves. It felt like
his brain was going to burst. Once the headache started, it lasted for
tens of minutes. As soon as it finally calmed down, he staggered out of
bed. He desperately needed some fresh air. He opened the closed
window wide. Outside the window, a village landscape made up of
sharp, oddly shaped rocks unfolded. Colorful hot air balloons added to
the unique atmosphere. [What is this?] [Goreme. It is a terrain created
when sedimentary layers accumulated by volcanic eruptions were
eroded by rainwater and groundwater, and people lived there to form a
village, completing this landscape. It is a collaboration between nature
and humans. Isn't it pretty?] [What do you mean by close? You said you
were busy, but you were busy playing?] [You are busy. This place is also
not a place to be. Because I came here for business. Since ancient
times, tourists are less likely to be suspected wherever they go.] [Even if
you're suspected, you're doing something cheap.] [Look at this face and
wealth, buddy. This is already beyond the legal level, right?] Matthias,
who was explaining why he went there, winked one eye while talking
nonsense. His fist clenched on its own. [… . Are you serious about
helping me?] [Or I'll hit you with that fist?] [As you can see, I'm barely
holding on. But it's my only lifeline, so I thought I should let him live.]
[Be thoughtful. Don’t worry, Taekjoo. Once I’m done here, I’ll find a way
to send you back to Korea. You just rest and wait. Tell me whatever you
need.] In fact, Matthias treated Kwon Taekjoo very well. He provided
him with high-quality accommodations, clothes, drinks, and food, and
even gave him a decent gun. The more he thought about it, the more
suspicious he became. What kind of guy does Matthias do to have so
much money, and how did Kwon Taekjoo himself get involved with him?
Even he himself said that it wasn’t a legal business, so he couldn’t even
guess where the bottom was. He always just looked at the number of
guards protecting him, he could tell how many enemies there were.
There was nothing to gain by hanging out with such a guy, but right
now, he had to grab even a rotten rope. He scratched the back of his
head and drank some water to moisten his throat. Even tilting his head
back slightly made the wound on his head sting. The day after meeting
Matthias, he went to the local hospital for a checkup. The doctor
conducted several tests and asked Kwon Taekjoo various questions
before saying that he seemed to have lost his memory due to the
trauma to his head. He also personally confirmed through an MRI that
his hippocampus, known as the center of memory, had shrunk. He
thought that as time passed, he would gradually regain his memory.
However, he heard that in rare cases, some memories can be
completely lost. Most memories were the product of experiences and
memories accumulated while living. Some memories played an
important role in maintaining life. For someone like Kwon Taekjoo, who
was always being chased by someone, information based on memories
was even more valuable. Maybe that's why. Even though he was told
that he could just wait, he felt uneasy for no reason. Matthias wasn't
doing any particular harm, and he could just rest under his protection
for the time being, but his anxious feeling didn't go away. It felt like he
was missing something very important. What could it be? As he
continued to ponder the answer, a knock came. He turned his head and
stared at the closed door. He didn’t respond by asking to come in. Then
the lock was unlocked from the outside. Then, Matthias opened the
door and came in. Immediately, a water bottle flew and hit him on the
forehead. Matthias jokes, “Ouch.” [What? You were awake? Then
answer me.] [I thought it was lucky that all I had was that water jug.
Why did you come in and make a fuss?] Matthias shamelessly protested
without showing any sign of embarrassment. [I came here because I
was worried because you didn’t wake up until the sun was high in the
sky. How would I know if your condition suddenly worsened overnight?
Did you forget what the doctor said about you barely holding on
without collapsing?] [Are you secretly hoping that’s the case?] [No way.
Even for me, cleaning up the corpse is a pain in the ass. By the way, are
you really up now? You’re sleeping more than I thought?] [I lost sleep
because of someone.] He glared at Matthias with disgust. Matthias
understood what he meant. He was snickering. [Oh, did you hear that?]
[I wasn't protesting so that you could hear me?] Since it was a hotel
built on unique terrain, he didn't expect the same level of service or
comfort as other hotels of the same class. But at least at least some
soundproofing should be guaranteed. He couldn't sleep well because he
could hear the sound of Matthias having sex with his partners all night
long. Even though he openly criticised him, Matthias just smiled without
showing any remorse. [If I had known, I would have enjoyed it together,
right?] [Sorry, I don’t really like sharing.] [Really? I didn’t necessarily
mean to share.] Kwon Taekjoo frowned and said [What the heck are you
talking about?]. Did he forget that he had been with a man? Or maybe
his tastes were surprisingly similar. Either way, it was fun for Matthias to
watch. [I’m about to have lunch. Do you want to join me?] [I wish to call
someone first.] [Call? To whom?] [My Mother.] Matthias's eyes widened
at the unexpected answer. Kwon Taekjoo also scratched the back of his
neck with a trembling expression. [Your mother? The woman who gave
birth to you?] [Then maybe there's another mother.] [No, that's not it...
Did you think of something else?] [A little. She must be really worried
right now. Do you have at least one hard-to-trace line?] Matthias
nodded obediently and took out his cell phone from inside his jacket
and handed it to him. He waved at Kwon Taek Joo, who was staring
blankly, telling him to quickly accept it. [What, are you giving it to me?]
[Then should I just give it to you and take it away?] [What about you?]
[Is that the only phone you have?] As expected, there was a suspicious
smell. Kwon Taekjoo snatched the phone with a displeased expression.
However, to unlock it, he had to have his fingerprint and iris recognized.
He sighed as if it was annoying and pushed the phone back towards
Matthias. Matthias slid over and grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s hand, then
naturally finished recognizing his fingerprint. He also pushed his head in
and had his iris recognized. It was disgusting that he was just letting it
slide without any reason. Kwon Taekjoo swatted away Matthias’s hand
as if he was chasing a bug. Then he nodded toward the door, telling him
to go out. Matthias said, [I’ll wait at the restaurant,] and quietly left the
room. After the door closed, he waited until his expression had
completely subsided before tapping the keypad. He entered his
mother’s phone number one by one from his memory and carefully
touched the call button. Soon, a familiar ringtone began to drop. Not
long after, his mother’s voice was heard. Her voice was startled by the
unfamiliar caller ID.- ...Hello? “Mother. It’s me.”- Oh, Taekjoo? Oh my,
thank you, father. Thank you.… No, what on earth happened? We
haven’t heard from you for over two weeks. Do you know how worried
Mom was here? If I didn’t hear from you by today or tomorrow, I was
just going to go to Korea. Momgrumbled in relief. It’s been two weeks
since they lost contact, so it was understandable that she would be
worried. But what does it mean that she was just going to come to
Korea? Does that mean she’s somewhere other than Korea right now?
“I’ve been busy.”- Yes. I heard the gist from Jongwoo. There was a
terrorist attack here, so I’m going to go with the ambassador. He was
summoned to Russia. Is that issue settled now? Jong-woo? There was
no one with that name in his head. The time period that he
remembered so far was roughly around the time he entered college, so
maybe he was someone he met after that? If he was in private contact
with his mother, he must have been quite close to Kwon Taekjoo
himself. But why did his mother accept that Kwon Taekjoo himself was
summoned to Russia with the 'ambassador' as a given? Who on earth
was the 'ambassador' that his mother mentioned? Besides, if Kwon
Taekjoo himself had gone to Russia with that ambassador two weeks
ago, why was he found alone in Iran? That ambassador was also a
member of the Russian delegation? Did Kwon Taekjoo himself openly
work for him? Was that why he was included in the official Russian
rescue list? All sorts of questions and speculations swirled in my head.
After a long silence, his mother called his attention, saying, "Taekjoo?"
"Oh, yes. There are still some small things to sort out, but it's not
something to worry about. How are you, mother? Are you in any pain?-
Then. Who is worried about whom? Your aunt also had surgery and is
recovering faster than expected. If there are no major problems, she
will probably be able to go home within a month or two. The only aunt
living abroad was his Canadian aunt. Did she get surgery? Is his mother
staying in Canada to take care of her? If that’s the case, he thought it
was fortunate.- Is the ambassador doing well? I was worried because I
couldn’t contact the ambassador at all. “Oh… is that so?”- Yes. In the
past, I could talk to him right away even after he returned to his home
country, but this time, he didn’t even have time to do that. So I thought
the situation was really serious. For some reason, his mother seemed to
have developed a personal relationship with the guy, the ambassador.
Russia's 'Home country', so the ambassador must be a Russian. Did
Kwon Taekjoo himself work under him all along? No, but what would his
son's boss and his mother have to contact separately? Was the Russian
ambassador a woman? He suppressed his embarrassment and tried to
appear calm. "Hey, not that much. But even so, the wiretapping will be
intensified to prevent confidential information from leaking, so it might
be hard to contact you again. I thought you might be worried, so I
wanted to let you know in advance."- Right. It's not really dangerous, is
it? "Of course. What's dangerous? This is not like that.”- Momwill
believe you. “Please do. I think I should hang up now.” Hwwasabout to
end the call in a hurry, in case he slipped up. His mom said, “Taekjoo,” in
a calmer tone than before. “Huh?”- If it’s too much to handle, throw
away all your responsibilities and beliefs and come to Mom. That’s not
cowardly at all. “What are you talking about all of a sudden?”- Just
because Mom is worried. You have to remember. What? There is
nothing more important than your life in this world. Son, it’s okay if
you’re nothing, you don’t have to do anything great, so don’t overdo it.
The added request made him think of his father and brother who had
gone first. And Kwon Taekjoo himself wondered how he had turned a
blind eye to his mother’s one and only wish and ended up in such a
dangerous situation. “I understand. Mom, take care of your health.”-
Yes. Please tell the ambassador my regards. “Yes. Go in.” After hanging
up the phone, he said the new information he had acquired. He went
back to one. No matter how much he thought about the person named
'Jong-woo', it didn't come to mind. It didn't seem like they knew each
other before or after entering college. Was it someone he met in
society? If his mother was that close to him, he doesn't think they’d
known each other for a year or two. And another unknown person.
"Russian Ambassador..." Did Kwon Taekjoo himself work at a diplomatic
mission? Is that why he can speak multiple languages? Was the tattoo
on his inner thigh related to that? He tried accessing the internet on his
phone. He figured that if he was a high-ranking official, he could at least
confirm his face with an internet search. He wondered if looking at the
photo would bring back memories related to him. But he couldn’t
connect to the internet. He thought it was a communication problem,
so he moved several times, but it was no use. It seemed that Matthias
had blocked the data. He said he was here on business, so to prepare
for possible wiretapping, he had no choice but to delete his phone
usage history. He threw his phone on the bed and sat down on the
windowsill. His head was filled with questions that he couldn’t solve. If
Kwon Taekjoo himself was an assistant to the Russian ambassador, why
did he sneak into Iran? Did he enter the country? What does the tattoo
on his body mean? And who is 'Jong-woo'? Until he entered college, he
had been living an ordinary life. When did his life deviate from its
smooth path? Was there a trigger? He couldn't find an answer to any of
his questions. Feeling suffocated, he banged his poor head against the
window. He felt like he was missing something very important,
something crucial. *** Yoon Jong-woo was at a hotel in Tabriz. He was
analysing CCTV footage from various angles and resolutions. He
thoroughly checked the faces of people who had been in the area for
several days, but he couldn’t find anyone who was presumed to be
Kwon Taekjoo. He was half asleep and stared at the monitor, but his
eyes were so stiff. Even if he closed his eyes slightly, the inside of his
eyelids would sting. He looked for eye drops out of habit. He must have
used up an entire bottle by then, but nothing came out no matter how
hard he pressed. While he was at it, he lightly relaxed his neck and
shoulders and looked around the empty guest room. The space where
only Yoon Jong-woo was present was extremely quiet. After losing Kwon
Taekjoo at the Grand Bazaar, Zhenya became sharper. He hardly stayed
at the hotel. He would stop by late at night to check if there was any
new information and then go out again. He didn’t say anything in
particular about where he was going or when he would be back. He was
already quieter than usual. “Whew...” He was discouraged by the
investigation that was not progressing. According to what Zhenya found
out, Kwon Taekjoo seemed to have amnesia due to head trauma. After
looking into it separately, he said that memories lost due to trauma
gradually return over time, but there are also cases where they are
permanently lost. He hopes that Kwon Taekjoo falls into the former
category and believes it without a doubt, but he is not at ease. It didn't.
Of course, the most confused person right now would be Kwon Taekjoo
himself. He doesn't know how much he remembers, but judging from
the fact that he didn't respond to Yoon Jong-woo's call, it seemed that
at least 10 years of his memory had evaporated. How embarrassing
would it have been if he had completely forgotten that he had joined
the National Intelligence Service? He would have lost consciousness and
woke up to find himself in Iran, accused of being a terrorism suspect,
and imprisoned without warning. Even if he had escaped after going
through many twists and turns, he would have no idea where to go. The
current Kwon Taekjoo was not the person Yoon Jong-woo knew, so it
was hard to guess where he was and what he was doing. "Senior...
Where are you, really?" Covering his face with both hands, he mumbled
as if sighing. The fact that Kwon Taekjoo had come all the way to Tabriz
meant that he was planning to go to Turkey. The fact that Zhenya didn't
say anything else meant that he hadn't been caught by the border
guards. If it were Kwon Taekjoo in his usual state, he would have used
camouflage or sneaked in, but if necessary, he would have used force to
break through head-on. But right now, he probably didn't have any
decent weapons, and his disguise wasn't good enough to fool everyone.
No, really? Yoon Jong-woo buried his head in the monitor again. He
looked at the CCTV footage. There were quite a few Muslim women
mixed in with the bustling crowd. In Iran, most people wear hijabs or
chadors, but since it was a border area, there were also women wearing
even stricter clothing. There were quite a few people covered from
head to toe in burqas. By any chance. Yoon Jong-woo erased all the
information he had targeted to find Kwon Taekjoo. Then he simply set
Kwon Taekjoo’s height and gait as the settings and searched the footage
again. That’s when his phone suddenly rang. He was so focused that he
flinched without realising it. It was a vibration sound indicating an
incoming message. He quickly picked up his phone, thinking, “No way.”
But it wasn't the call from Kwon Taek Joo that he had been waiting for.
It was a text message from his mother. Jong-woo, how are you? I keep
worrying because I remember your voice sounding bad the last time we
talked. Are you better from your cold? Eat well. Have a good day. Kwon
Taekjoo complains that his mother acts like she'll take out all his liver
and gallbladder from his boss, but in fact, she always took good care of
Yoon Jong-woo, his subordinate. She welcomes him warmly whenever
he visits, and Jong would ask how she was doing first, and she would
always make side dishes for Yoon Jong-woo. That’s why his heart felt
heavy whenever he saw her. Because Kwon Taekjoo had always been an
accomplice in deceiving his mother. In a situation like now where his
whereabouts were unknown, he had to take the lead and tell lies. Yoon
Jong-woo hesitated for a moment and then pressed the call button. The
phone rang twice and stopped, and Kwon Taekjoo’s mother answered
the phone.- Oh, Jong-woo? “Yes, mother. It’s Jong-woo. How are you?”-
Sure. I’m doing fine. Jong Are you okay? Are you better from the last
time you were sick? "Yes. I think it was because I was a little tired, but
I'm fine now."- Really? Your voice still sounds weak. I should be in Korea
so I can call you and make you food, but that's too bad. "Please do it
later. I'm eating and sleeping really well."- That's good. Is Jongwoo busy
with something similar to Taekjoo? Taekjoo contacted me anyway. He
said he called me when he had some time, and he said he won't be able
to contact mefor a while. "Huh? My senior?" He jumped up at the
unexpected news. He ended up hitting his knee on the table top in the
process. He barely managed to suppress the pain and grabbed his
phone with both hands. "Mom! So you're saying that my senior called
you? Did you talk, talk?- Yeah. Didn't Jong-woo call him? "Yes. Not yet...
Um, when... When exactly did my senior call you?" He poured out his
words in a hurry without any order. Maybe he was flustered. Kwon
Taekjoo's mother replied in a somewhat bewildered tone.- He called me
early in the morning. Here, It was around 1 AM. He said he was doing
well, so don't worry. He still had a lot of work to do in Russia, and it was
a sensitive time, so it would be hard to contact him often, right? We
didn't even talk for long. But why? Judging from the fact that Kwon
Taekjoo contacted his mother, it seemed that he had definitely
remembered his family history. His father and brother had died one
after another, and he was left alone with his mother. He also said that
his mother was very concerned about Kwon Taekjoo's safety. "Oh, I just
can't get in touch with his old number. So, mother. Do you remember
which number he called from?”- Well... Blocked caller ID? That's what it
says. Why? Is it urgent? "Oh, I have something to ask you."- Really?
What should I do? If you wait, won't Taek Joo contact Jongwoo? "...
Right? If my senior calls again, could you tell him to call me? He might
not remember my number, so tell him my number too."- Okay. Okay.
"Thank you, Mom. I'll see you later."- Okay. Jongwoo is doing well too.
See you in Korea. Yes, he was just wrapping up the call. The guest room
door opened wide without warning. He was so surprised that he
screamed. Zhenya, who was coming inside, frowned. He looked like he
could bury someone right away. It seemed like he didn't get much out
of this outing. Yoon Jongwoo, who would normally have bitten his lips
and acted as if he was there or not, quickly approached him. [Yevgeny!
This is good news. I just spoke to his mother, and she said He contacted
his mother to say that he was safe!] [… ..Taekjoo?] [Yes! She said that
the call came in with a blocked caller ID, but if he contacted his mother
separately to say that he was safe, wouldn’t some of his memories have
come back?] [So, where is Taekjoo now?] [Oh, it seemed like even his
mother didn’t know. I told her before that my senior went to Russia on
a business trip with Yevgeny to ease her worries. Since his mother
didn’t feel anything strange while talking to my senior, my senior just
said that he was as she knew, he was lying about being in Russia.] That
meant that Kwon Taekjoo had regained his memories of his family. If he
had lost his memories partially, he might not have lost them in the first
place. If Kwon Taekjoo had remembered that he was a member of the
National Garden, he would have contacted Yoon Jong-woo. However, he
has not contacted him at all yet. If he waited a little longer, would he be
able to reach him? Would Kwon Taekjoo come to him on his own? He
shook his head. He felt that he couldn’t help but see with his own eyes
what Kwon Taekjoo was doing. He felt that he would only be able to feel
at ease if he immediately chased after him and had him in his hands.
[Can you trace that line?] [I’ll try.] Yoon Jong-woo immediately got to
work. He hacked into Kwon Taekjoo’s mother’s cell phone and traced
the recent calls. It was a piece of cake since he had always done this at
the National Intelligence Service. Yoon Jong-woo looked disappointed
as he checked the results. [Ugh, it looks like it’s a cannon phone.]
[Where did it come from?] [The caller ID is also in several places. The
phone’s own anti-tracing system must have been activated. Same.
Whose cell phone did you call from?] Yoon Jong-woo, who was
scratching the back of his head, said [Wait a minute.] and took out a
USB. He plugged it into his laptop and ran a specific program. Recently,
as international criminal organisations have been building strong
security systems, investigative agencies have also started developing
programs to respond to them. Yoon Jong-woo used one of them to
eliminate signals that confuse line tracking, thereby minimising the
margin of error. [Hmm... It's most likely Turkey. It's a region slightly
south of Ankara.] So they went to Turkey. The problem is it had been
more than half a day since Kwon Taekjoo had spoken to his mother.
Even if he had gone right away, he couldn’t guarantee that he would still
be in Ankara. He couldn’t search the entire vast city of Ankara. He had
to find a more certain clue. At the moment when his worries were
deepening, Yoon Jong-woo let out a soft exclamation. Zhenya’s gaze
turned straight to him. [One more thing. I found out how my senior
escaped Tabriz without being caught on CCTV. Take a look at this.] Yoon
Jong-woo handed his laptop to Zhenya. He then entered the newly
modified settings before speaking to Kwon Taekjoo’s mother. did. When
he pressed enter, the silhouette of a certain person in the CCTV footage
turned green. Then, all the footage containing that silhouette was split
and appeared one by one. At first glance, it was a figure wearing
something upside down. It seemed to be a niqab. [Is this... Taekjoo?] [I
can't be sure, but so far, that person is the most similar to my senior. If
my senior had been wearing a niqab the whole time, it would explain
why we couldn't find him in the footage and why we couldn't recognize
him.] [Where did that guy go?] Instead of answering, Yoon Jong-woo
was the last to ask, he zoomed in on the video that came up. A logistics
truck was parked at the exit of the bazaar. Soon, a person wearing a
niqab ran out of the bazaar and jumped into the passenger seat of the
truck. It was only for a moment, but the way he ran and the way he
quickly climbed onto the truck were so familiar. It was Kwon Taekjoo. It
was definitely him. [This truck here. This is the last time he got on this
truck.] Yoon Jong-woo stopped the screen and pointed to the truck’s
licence plate. Since it was a video screen, each number was not clearly
visible. However, if you collate it with other videos, you should be able
to determine the vehicle type and some of the licence plate. Zhenya
immediately took a picture of the truck in the video. He sent it
somewhere. Then he called the person who received the message. As
soon as the person responded, he gave a one-sided order. [It's me.
Check who the driver is and where the truck I just sent is. Get the
special plane ready. Okay, right now.] Yoon Jong-woo cleaned up the
table as he saw fit. He also stuffed his laptop and all his equipment into
his bag. He just hoped that this time he would be able to reunite with
Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo was resting in his room when suddenly it
became chaotic outside. He lost. He went to the window and looked
down. He had rented the entire hotel for business, and cars he had
never seen before were lined up. They were all luxury sedans. Soon, a
large group of men in suits got out of the stopped cars. Some of them
waited near the cars, while others stood at the entrance to the building
to watch them. They were all wearing dark sunglasses and armed with
rifles. There was a strong smell of danger. Only three or four people
actually entered the hotel. A middle-aged man took the lead, followed
by men who looked like his secretary or bodyguard. Kwon Taekjoo
walked away from the window and toward the door. He put his ear to
the closed door and focused on the noise coming from beyond. Soon,
he could sense the group he had seen earlier passing through the
hallway. As is typical of the Anatolian region, the hotels are small and
there are no elevators, so they seemed to be going up the stairs to the
rooftop. They looked like people from the underworld at first glance.
Could they be the guests Matthias had mentioned? While he was eating
a late breakfast, Matthias, dressed up in his best clothes, came down to
the restaurant. He took someone else’s juice without permission and
asked useless questions like whether the food was to his taste or
whether he could avoid going to the hospital. [How long are you going
to stay here?] [I'm planning on leaving this afternoon. I have a guest
coming over later. As soon as that deal is finalised.] He put down his
fork and crossed his arms. Since the topic was brought up, he decided
to ask directly. [What the hell do you do?] [Hmm? I told you, I'm
running a business. I have a lot of regulars here.] [So what exactly is that
business?] [Curious? I didn't know you'd be this interested in me.]
Matthias rolled his eyes and grinned. He always avoided the point like
that. He always had armed bodyguards with him, so I wondered if he
was a mafia. He always acted lighthearted and easygoing, as if he was
drunk, but Matthias didn’t actually drink that much. But there was only
one reason why his eyes were strangely relaxed the whole time. [It’s
obvious that this is a drug dealer’s business.] [Do I smell something?]
Matthias pretended to smell him and grinned. He didn’t try to explain
or refute him. Rather, didn’t you guess it? was just a shameless face. Of
course, it wouldn’t change even if Matthias was dealing drugs. Anyway,
Kwon Taekjoo had no legal way to return to Korea. He didn’t really want
to get involved with criminals, but there was no guarantee that he
would have been a very different person before losing his memories. In
any case, the only person he could rely on now was Matthias. If he was
safe, Kwon Taekjoo’s own safety could be guaranteed. Kwon Taekjoo
was nervous about the situation outside the door. The author who was
Matthias’ guest reminded him of a typical mafia. His characteristically
arrogant manner and attire, his tattoos clearly visible on the back of his
hands and neck, and his characteristically decadent atmosphere. Until
then. The smell of alcohol, drugs, and stale cigars that permeated their
bodies confirmed their identity. As Turkey is a country where many
ethnic groups live together, the mafia factions are diverse and their
numbers are also considerable. He heard that they do anything that
makes money, from money laundering to drug sales, smuggling,
violence, kidnapping, and human trafficking. Some even collude with
politicians and act as political gangsters, so it seemed impossible to
completely eradicate them. Matthias was confident that the deal would
be concluded quickly. So he was optimistic that the customer would
return as soon as he received the goods, regardless of his identity. He
was prepared to leave immediately. He was about to step back from the
doorway, afraid of the rain. A smell mixed in the air suddenly grabbed
his ankles. It felt familiar. A heavy, deep smell of burning leaves and a
hint of aroma at the end. His heart suddenly started beating faster.
Why? Is there someone he knows in that mafia group? He opened the
door and looked toward the stairs. The group of customers had already
gone up to the rooftop. And as if it wasn't a mistake, the smell of cigars
he had smelled a little while ago wafted in stronger. His heart also
pounded louder. What on earth is this? He was standing there,
dumbfounded, when he saw in the hallway of the silver room, Matthias
walked in with his bodyguards. Matthias winked one eye when his eyes
met Kwon Taekjoo’s, who was openly looking out into the hallway. He
silently moved his mouth to say, “Take a break. It’ll be over soon.” Soon,
he and his bodyguards went up the stairs to the rooftop just like the
mafia group had done earlier. He was curious about the identity of the
familiar cigar smell, but decided to watch for now. He closed the door
and went into the room. Then he went back to the window to watch the
mafia’s movements. It didn’t mean anything. It was just a habitual
behaviour. In his head, he wondered how he could confirm the identity
of the cigar smell from earlier. The sky outside the window was blue
without a single cloud. Below it, the jagged rocks and colourful hot air
balloons created a unique landscape. Everything was strangely peaceful.
How much time had passed? Suddenly, gunshots and screams were
heard. It was from the rooftop. The mafia waiting outside hurriedly
jumped into the building. "...What is it?" Kwon Taekjoo also opened the
window and looked up at the rooftop with his upper body extended
outward. Someone was holding both hands up and leaning against the
fence. It was Matthias. His voice, trying to calm the other person down,
sounded like someone's voice in a state of agitation. It was completely
covered in saliva. It was in Turkish, so I couldn’t understand what he
was saying. It seemed like there was a problem with the deal. Matthias
was in danger. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been looking around, picked up
all the large cushions used as pillows and sofa backrests and threw
them onto the car. In the meantime, Matthias, who had been pushed as
far as he could go, glanced down with anxious eyes. As soon as their
eyes met, he gestured for them to jump down. Matthias made a face
like, “What kind of crazy are you talking about?” At that moment, the
excited opponent started firing bullets blindly in all directions and ran
wild. Matthias, who had been hesitating, eventually closed his eyes
tightly and threw himself. [Eww!] "Haat!" Kwon Taekjoo stepped on the
window sill and grabbed his arm as he fell. He held on for a moment,
reducing the shock, and then fell onto the roof of the car with Matthias.
The cushions he had thrown down beforehand supported his body,
which relieved the shock again, but his whole body was throbbing as if
it was going to break. Without even having time to let go of the pain, he
took out his gun and shot the mafia who had rushed to the fence. When
the magazine ran out, he pulled out the gun of Matthias who was
groaning next to him and subdued the mafia who were running outside
one after another. Soon, he ran out of bullets again. He had to get out
of there right away. Kwon Taekjoo grabbed the back of Matthias’s neck
and threw him into the backseat. He carefully picked up the rifle that
had fallen on the floor as he got into the driver’s seat. The surviving
mafias fired their guns wildly. He responded by turning the car’s head
with one hand while operating the steering wheel. He threw the rifle to
Matthias, who had barely come to his senses, and shouted, “Do
something!” The mafias waiting at the entrance to the village noticed
something strange and blocked his way. He stepped on the accelerator
pedal and drove through them. As expected, the mafias’ cars followed
him. How should he shake them off? When things were getting tough,
reinforcements appeared from the rear. Those who were presumed to
be Matthias' bodyguards attacked the mafia from behind and pulled
them away from Kwon Taekjoo's car. They left Goreme during that time.
Only then did Matthias come to his senses and sit up. Blood was
seeping out of his shoulder and side, as if he had been shot. Matthias
searched his pockets without even trying to stop the bleeding. He soon
took out a syringe and an unknown drug. It seemed to be heroin, which
has a strong pain-relieving effect. Matthias injected it directly into his
arm and smiled at the rearview mirror. [Do you want to do it too?]
[What the hell happened? You said you were a customer, or an
undercover cop?] [No way. The public officials of this country aren't that
honest.] [Then? Those guys are like the mafia, did they touch the boss's
woman?] [You've watched too many movies. You don't have to be
interested in that kind of thing, there are plenty of women, buddy.] [But
you still seem to 'touch' that kind of thing.] He snickers openly, but he
just snickers. It seems like the medicine is working properly. His eyes are
blurry and he's drooling, which is a sight to behold. [I heard there was a
lot of internal strife, but I guess there was a small misunderstanding. I
heard that the person in charge of the transaction was sorted out
within them, so I handed over everything that needed to be handed
over, but now you’re saying that I’m in league with that bad guy? It’s
like a shrimp’s back got broken.] Matthias chattered lightly as if he had
been involved in an injection. Many people died and he himself almost
went to hell, but he was foolishly laughing. It didn’t seem to be simply
because of the drug. Maybe he just got excited because he smelled
blood. He shook his head, saying, “You crazy guy.” At that moment,
Matthias grabbed the driver’s seat and suddenly thrust his face in.
[Anyway, thanks for saving me, buddy. You’re more nimble than I
thought. Don’t you want to be a bodyguard? I’ll give you as much
money as you want.] [No idea. I’m just the type that can’t live in debt.]
He refused outright. It’s not that he didn’t like Matthias’s one-sided
favours. No matter how you look at it, he wasn’t the kind of person who
would do good deeds without any benefit. He was even more worried
about what kind of bill he would present later. It wasn’t something he
planned on doing, but since he ended up saving Matthias’ life, my debt
burden was a little lighter. Of course, the debt wasn’t real. If it weren't
for the debt, it would be different. [The other debt is the same.] He
warned him indirectly that he wouldn't let him off easy if he tried to talk
nonsense. Matthias grinned and patted the headrest of the driver's seat
while biting his upper body. [Yeah. Keep that in mind.] [Where should
we go now?] [The Turkish government won't make an issue of a few
dead mafias. This incident is nothing more than internal conflict and
self-destruction. There are quite a few big shots who secretly hope that
those guys disappear without a sound.] It was an obvious story. From
the beginning, they were beings who were ambiguous in distinguishing
which side was injustice. Since they always lived with death, no one
would have particularly questioned their deaths. Now he thinks he
understands why Mathias tried to conduct the transaction on the
outskirts rather than the center. There was no need to create
unnecessary witnesses. Mathias suddenly said [Still...] and handed over
his cell phone. On the map on the screen, an airport was set as the
destination. [It's impossible to go all the way to Mexico like this, so I'll
have to recuperate somewhere for a while. I have a villa in Istanbul. As
soon as I get there, I'll secure your escape route. Don't worry.] It's
Istanbul. It's a city that borders Greece, which embraces the
Mediterranean Sea, so there was an escape route by sea. It was the
perfect place to hide, as there were many tourists, including Koreans.
Kwon Taekjoo said to Matthias, [Take a rest.] and quickly ran toward his
destination. *** Yoon Jong-woo kept looking around. The exterior was
splendid, typical of the Baroque style. The mansion boasted of a
complex interior, as well as a detailed and majestic style. It was located
behind a fortress built in the 6th century, and the security inside and
outside the mansion was so tight that it felt like the sultan’s summer
villa. He was overwhelmed by the scale and atmosphere, and his mouth
kept dropping open and his shoulders hunched. Who on earth could
possibly own this house? He was curious, but also scared. While he was
watching, rolling his eyes absentmindedly, the distance between him
and Zhenya widened. The bodyguards standing everywhere all focused
their gazes on Yoon Jong-woo. They were called bodyguards, but the
tattoos that were clearly visible, the fierce expressions, the rifles on
their shoulders, and the unique aura reminded me of the mafia. It was a
book for nothing. They quickly followed Zhenya, fearing they would be
caught. Soon, the two reached a large door. The man guarding it
knocked on the closed door. Soon, permission was given to come in
from inside. The man opened both doors with his own hands. Beyond it,
a spacious reception room unfolded. As if a part of an art gallery had
been separated, paintings hung on the walls and antique sculptures
were placed at each corner. The chandelier on the ceiling stretched long
enough to reach right above the sofa table in the center. It was the
pinnacle of luxury. The man who took the top seat on the spacious sofa
seemed to be the owner of the mansion. He was handsome and his
impression was sad, but his eyes were not ordinary. The man waved his
finger as if to tell him to come in. As soon as he stepped inside, the
pungent air suffocated him. It smelled of drugs, cigars, and other
unidentifiable things. He swallowed. Zhenya strode inside without
hesitation. He tried to quickly follow, but the man guarding the door
blocked Yoon Jong-woo. It seemed like he was telling him to wait there.
He nodded in fear. In the meantime, Zhenya went over to the gray-
haired man and sat down. The man was the first to shake his hand. [It’s
been a while, Psikh.] [The skin of a bird I haven’t seen before has
become shiny. I guess he’s more suited to being a wild dog than a
Kremlin dog?] [Of course. Even if you’re loyal to a greedy master, you’ll
only end up dying a dog’s death?] Zhenya twisted the corners of his
mouth and grabbed the man’s hand. The man smiled back and shook
his hand lightly, then nodded to his subordinates. Then his subordinates
placed a cigar and whiskey in front of Zhenya. The man was Erkan, the
boss of a Turkish mafia organisation from Northern Cyprus. Their power
extended not only to Turkey, but also to Britain and Russia. He was also
active in the area, and that's when he got in touch with Zhenya. [Yes,
I'm looking for someone.] Erkhan asked bluntly. He had already sent
him a message before he came to Turkey. He thought that there was no
group as fast and persistent as the mafia in finding people. [He's a
deceiver beyond what you imagine, so I hope you find him as soon as
possible.] [He's an extraordinary guy, so the world's Psich must be
asking for help. What kind of guy is he?] [You don't need to know that
much. How long have you been waiting? Is it okay if I leave?] Erkan
slowly leaned back on the sofa, his upper body slumped. He then took a
deep drag on his cigar and spit out a pimple. [Finding it isn't even a job,
but our kids don't know how to bring someone back safely. They're not
even women, so why can't they hurt even one finger?] [Just find them.
I'll take care of them.] [Well, if that's the case. Just wait a few days. I'm a
little nervous about moving right now. Those Kurds are causing trouble
again.] [Trouble?] [It seems like a few of them died fighting among
themselves, but why did they do it at a tourist site? Whenever
something like this happens, they crack down on the poor organizations
under the pretext of maintaining discipline. If they want to continue
doing business, they have no choice but to avoid causing trouble.] The
source of that information was probably a powerful politician or judicial
official. It’s a place where the collusion between public power and the
underworld is so strong that they openly say that the mafia has become
president. Since they don’t have the luxury of waiting until the
crackdown is lifted, they have no choice but to find out for themselves.
Just when he was about to feel disappointed, Erkan mentioned an
unexpected person. [I heard that Matias Perez is involved with Kurdish
guys.] [Matias Perez? He’s here?] Erkan nodded. It wasn’t surprising
that Matias was traveling to Turkey for drug dealing. His involvement
with the Kurdish mafia was also an extension of that. What was
suspicious was why Erkan had mentioned him so suddenly. It didn’t
seem like he was simply trying to tell us about a mutual acquaintance’s
recent situation. [We have no choice but to keep an eye out for
someone like that. Everyone knows that you’re here now, Psych.] That
was quite predictable. For the mafia, expanding and protecting their
power was the most important thing. As such, they reacted sensitively
and were on guard when a new power appeared. If they wanted to
avoid unnecessary conflict, they had to follow their rules in their
territory. Above all, they had to keep in mind that they had to avoid
causing any trouble on their territory. Matthias seemed to be having
trouble in that area and everyone was paying attention. Since he was a
type of person who enjoyed the attention of others, he might be
enjoying this situation. [So. What are you trying to say?] [I heard Perez
is carrying around an Asian these days.] [… Asian? What does he look
like?] [I don’t know about that. I just heard that the Asian guy is what
saved Perez from that mess.] There’s no way that the Asian guy that
Matias is carrying around is Kwon Taekjoo. No, there was little evidence
to suggest that. But what if Kwon Taekjoo happened to meet Matias?
Matias would have been very kind to Kwon Taekjoo. He must have
known his value well from their past dealings. Even as Kwon Taekjoo, he
couldn’t have helped Matias. There was no reason to bow down. He
had no one to rely on, and Matthias was the only person he knew of
before he lost his memories. [If you’re curious, wouldn’t it be better to
go and see for yourself?] Erkan gave a meaningful smile. [It’s already
difficult because the business partner is gone, so tell Perez I said hello
for me.] [Huh?] [Perez said, “Psych, if you say so, you’d even pretend to
die? You’re so crazy about the toys you make. I’ll say hello to that
business. It wouldn’t be a big deal to add a word.”] Erkan’s real goal
seemed to be to intercept the profits that the Kurdish mafia son had
missed. If he took action himself, he would be suspected of being
involved in their internal strife, so he was going to sit back and take the
cake. A faint smile spread across Zhenya’s lips. [If that’s really valuable
information.] [Yeah. No matter how much of a psychic I am, I can’t
gamble on rumours alone. I heard there was another survivor from that
mess. Do you know? He might have seen the Asian you’re looking for.]
Zhenya held the whiskey glass with his long fingers. Touched. Normally,
it would have been a time to take it easy and calculate whether it was a
reasonable deal or if there was more to be received from the other
party. However, his patience, which had become shallower and
shallower, was about to run out. [Where is he? That guy.] Late at night,
at a general hospital in Tabriz. The door to the intensive care unit that
had been quiet opened. Until a moment ago, access had been strictly
controlled. The police guarding the hallway had disappeared. The alarm
to indicate an intrusion by an outsider did not sound. Inside the ward, a
patient with multiple gunshot wounds was groaning in pain. Every time
he breathed, a gurgling sound of blood boiling came from his throat.
From the patient’s head to his chest, abdomen, and legs, every single
part of his body was bandaged. In fact, he was barely surviving on a
respirator and medication. A human figure entered the intensive care
unit without a sound and slid down the wall. Soon, the patient’s face
was covered in a dark shadow. The groaning patient lifted his eyelids
vaguely. Soon, facing the gigantic being, he swallowed his breath and
tensed up. At the same time, the heart rate on the monitor showing his
vital signs rose sharply. [The shootout that happened a while ago. They
say there was an Asian there.] A cold voice came from the pitch-black
being. The patient, sensing danger, flailed his whole body. However,
because he was a witness and a party to the previous shooting, his
limbs were tied up. Every time he moved, the handcuffs on his arms and
legs rattled loudly. What was hopeless was that no medical staff or
police came running despite the commotion. His biological rhythm
became rapidly irregular and an alarm sounded, but his son-in-law(?)
remained calm to the point of being helpless. [Is that right?] An
unknown assailant thrust a cell phone in front of the patient. When the
patient blinked and did not specifically confirm or deny it, the assailant
gripped his jaw tightly as if he was going to crush it. In an instant, his
brain pressure surged. [Ugh, ugh...!] [Look carefully. Is this guy really
gone with Matthias?] The patient, feeling threatened for his life,
desperately gathered his mental power. No matter how much he
screamed for help, he could not make a sound because of his
respiratory system. In the meantime, his breathing became short and
his vision gradually blurred. If he lost consciousness like that, he would
surely die. The patient squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.
Then he glared at the cell phone in front of him. The screen was filled
with a picture of an Asian man. It wasn’t an impression that could be
easily forgotten just because he had seen it in passing. He clearly
remembered seeing the man in the picture. He nodded vigorously.
When the stranger asked, “Are you sure?”, he quickly closed his eyes
and opened them again. Only then did the stranger’s hand, which had
been choking him, fall away. The stranger left the intensive care unit as
silently as he had when he had appeared. The patient, who had been
stiff, relaxed and regained consciousness. His heart, which had been
beating wildly, As Park Dong-soo gradually found his place, the intensive
care unit became peaceful as if nothing had happened. In the space
filled with the smell of disinfectant, only the faint scent of a cigar left
behind by the strange man lingered. *** (New upcoming scene) The
dazzling sunlight penetrated through the fluttering curtains. The thin
cloth fluttered in the slight breeze, creating a warm atmosphere. The
warmth that settled over his entire body tickled and comforted him. He
held a fragrant apple in his hand. When he bit into it, sweet and sour
juice spread throughout his mouth. The tips of his jaws were pleasantly
stimulated. As soon as he swallowed the crunchy fruit, he drank it
again. The juice eventually dripped down and soaked Heungbu. He
instinctively raised his upper body. Then, a small drop of water slowly
licked my chest and slid down. He belatedly glanced at it with the back
of his hand, but both his chest and his hand were sticky. He made an
annoyed expression, but a strange figure covered his body. Then, a
lukewarm and soft tongue touched his wet hand. When he raised his
eyes, he saw a pure white face. As their bodies overlapped, our cool
body temperatures became close and their eyes, which resembled ice
crystals, met each other’s gaze. ‘.....’ Still staring at the blue eyes, he bit
into the remaining fruit. The juice flowed out without fail, wetting his
fingers. 'Taekjoo.' The soft lips made a slurp, slurp sound as they gently
settled on his wet hand. The sweet scent of apples came from his
swaying breath. Then, his bright red tongue licked between his fingers
and teeth. Meanwhile, his blue eyes did not know how to leave Kwon
Taekjoo. He threw away the remaining apple and grabbed his
opponent's hair. The two eyes that had been longing for Taekjoo closed
slowly, and the thick eyelashes fluttered and tickled his cheek. His huge
body was gently pushed away without any sense of pressure. The
completely relaxed embrace was extremely comfortable. He buried his
head in the other person's neck and smelled his body. His heart, which
had been stretched out endlessly, began to beat rapidly. A pure white
hand wrapped around his cheek, and soon their lips met. After licking
his entire mouth for a long time, his tongue pushed through the gap,
tasting sweet apples. However, when the two tongues began to mix
fiercely, only the peculiar bitter and sweet taste of breath remained. His
body gradually relaxed, but it was also tight. He was so touched. He
exhaled deeply and controlled his mind from getting excited. He
pressed his body tightly against his neck as he approached him in a
hurry. The other person, who was panting and making a throaty sound,
exhaled sharply and rubbed his forehead against Kwon Taekjoo’s cheek.
His high nose kept brushing against his chin and neck. He seemed ready
to bite his neck at any moment as he took a deep breath and enjoyed
his scent. He comforted him with a needless feeling. ‘Take it slow.
There’s no need to rush.’ He touched his ear as he whispered to him as
if he was soothing an excited animal. The other person frowned and let
out a sigh-like exhalation. When his earlobe was crushed, goosebumps
appeared from the corner of his ear to the nape of his neck. 'Haa,
Taekjoo.' The opponent looked directly at Kwon Taekjoo, his huge body
shaking. His blue eyes were burning with the red flame that burned his
insides. He blocked his lips that were about to come close with his
hand. Then, he grabbed one finger and stubbornly licked it. The sharp
cross-section of his teeth pressed against his skin, and his thick tongue
repeatedly tickled the wrinkles on the back of his finger. Even with that
slight stimulation, a tingling heat quickly spread to his center. His body,
the cells of his entire body, clearly recognized what it was a sign of. The
opponent who was quietly catching his breath behind the hand that
was restraining him suddenly rushed at him. His arms were lifted up and
pressed down, and his two legs were also lifted up without hesitation.
The opponent pulled Kwon Taekjoo's wet hand and placed it on his hole
hidden deep inside. It was a natural process to loosen the hole before
sex. However, it felt strange and awkward to directly poke the back with
his finger soaked in juice and saliva, completely against his will. The
unfamiliar sensation made his whole body tense. ‘Ah, sss... Wait. This is
a bit strange, wait a minute, sss...' 'No. It's not strange, Taekjoo.' A
white hand covered Kwon Taekjoo's hand. Zhenya’s long fingers stroked
the tight wrinkles of the entrance and pressed Kwon Taekjoo's hand
harder. Just pressing the entrance like that made his stomach tingle.
Soon, the other person overlapped his fingers with Kwon Taekjoo's
fingers and pushed them inside the hole. The entrance opened without
any trouble and he bit both fingers hard. The soft mucous membrane in
his stomach gently wrapped around his skin and he flinched at the
anticipation. A snicker erupted from the bedside. 'Can you feel it? Even
if you just poke it like this, it feels good.' 'Ugh... Shut up.' 'You want me
with your whole body, but you're always embarrassed.' 'Who....' "No?'
The other person pulled out the finger that was stuck inside the hole
and scratched the mucous membrane with the tip of his finger.
Reflexively, his abs tense up. His toes curled up. The inner wall
tightened up and tightly surrounded the other person's finger, which
seemed like it would slip out at any moment. ‘Huh? Tightening it like
this?' 'Stop teasing me, do it properly.' 'Yeah. It's much cuter when
you're honest like this.' ‘Crazy kid. What's cute about... ahhh...!' Their
entangled fingers pushed inward. The sensation of the hole wrapping
around his finger was so vivid that he was embarrassed. Why was it so
unfamiliar to poke myself, but not completely willingly? The other
person raised the tip of Kwon Taekjoo's finger. Then, he scratched the
spot where Kwon Taekjoo reacted most sensitively, then lifted it up
again, repeatedly nibbling it. Even though he tried to hold back, his
waist twitched and trembled on its own. His front swelled noticeably
from the tingling pleasure. He bit his molars and held back. But,
unexpected groans kept leaking out. ‘Ugh, yuck... uck, fuck. How long
are you going to keep squeezing me?' 'Don't be impatient. You're
already happy enough in front and behind. Just enjoy it a little more
leisurely, please.' The other person's knees supported his back, and his
body was almost folded in half. One hand was still held by the guy, so he
was barely able to support his entire body with his other shoulder.
Blood rushed to his face, paralysing his thought circuits. While his mind
was becoming hazy, the sensation of his insides being stabbed became
clearer and clearer. He could see the white face of his opponent slowly
approaching his dangerous vision. It seemed like he would lick his back
without hesitation if he left him alone. The moment his opponent’s
tongue was about to touch his sensitive skin, his hole flinched and
closed. Then his opponent opened his eyes and laughed. He clenched
his fist out of frustration, and his hot tongue touched his hole. His
whole body trembled. His fist trembled, turning whiter than it could be.
‘Ugh, ugh.. There’s no need to lick it.’ His opponent played with his
tongue without paying attention. The soft flesh that was stuck in my
hole was rubbed and crushed without fail. I felt the skin around my hole
slowly melting away. It was ticklish and tingly. Zhenya twisted his waist
again. As the saliva of the other person mixed in, the inside of the hole
became much softer. The other person naturally increased his fingers to
three and surrounded Kwon Taekjoo's fingers, swirling them inside. He
lowered his head deeper and licked Kwon Taekjoo's perineum, and then
sucked both of his balls one by one. Kwon Taekjoo's heated ears were
repeatedly rubbed against the cabana cushion. 'Stop, that... Yeah,
ugh...' The other person pulled his lips away with a slurp. The balls that
had been teased in his mouth bounced back elastically. ‘...Ha, stop?’
'Sigh, yours quickly...' 'What do you want me to do, Lord?' 'Don't ask,
don't ask... Ha, hurry...' He grabbed the other person's genitals with an
anxious heart. The moment his hole and the other person's genitals
met, the other person's body seemed to swell up. He gulped at the
sweet disaster that was about to come. His whole body stiffened and he
took a slight alert posture. The other person suppressed his imminent
momentum and slowly pushed in. His walls, which had expanded to
their maximum, wrapped around the other person's inner walls as if
they had been waiting, biting them and squeezing them secretly. An
absurd laugh erupted from the other person. 'Taekjoo. Taekjoo...' If
possible, he wished he could have just thrust without thinking, but the
other person called Kwon Taekjoo's name and moved his waist deeply
and leisurely. He slowly but surely inserted from the tip to the root,
then pressed inside and slowly pulled out again, repeating the process.
Thanks to that, the angle at which the other person's penis was inserted
and where it was rubbing was imprinted one by one. 'Yeah, uh... Don't
do that...' ‘Haah, why? Isn't this the kind of sex that's appropriate for a
couple?' ‘Haah, it's weird... sss, do it like you usually do.' ‘Taekjoo, how.
Should I fuck you so hard you can’t even breathe?’ ‘Yeah, uh... quickly...’
The corners of the opponent’s mouth twisted upward. The next
moment, the opponent tightly grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s two arms and
began to explosively thrust downward. The opponent’s thighs and Kwon
Taekjoo’s buttocks rubbed against each other violently, making a
slapping sound. It wouldn’t be strange if there was a deep bruise. ‘Out,
ugh, hah, ugh, clothes, there, there... hah, ugh, ugh...!’ ‘Haah, Taekjoo.
Are you satisfied now? Yeah?’ ‘Ah, flesh, flesh.. ugh! Eung, ugh, hah, ugh
Ugh!’ ‘I told him to hurry up, then I told him to slow down, then I told
him to go slow, then I told him to go slow, what rhythm do you want me
to follow?' 'Fuck, ugh! Ugh, stop there, that... uh, yeah!' 'Ugh, Taekjoo...
Taekjoo...' A voice called out to Kwon Taekjoo incessantly in his ears.
The other person nuzzled his head against Kwon Taekjoo's neck as if it
was too much to bear. He desperately hugged the other person with an
inexplicable sense of emptiness. But that alone felt insufficient. He
wanted to be entangled more tightly. He wanted to invade even his
more intimate places without leaving anything behind. "Huk!" As
Taekjoos eyelids opened, the bright ceiling filled his vision in an instant.
His eyelids fluttered as if convulsing, and the shadows of his eyelashes
flickered. He let out the breath he had been holding and squeezed his
eyes shut. The cold sweat that had been gathering all over his body
licked his heated skin and rolled down. His heart was pounding so
loudly that his lungs were freezing. Was it a dream? Of course it was.
Otherwise, there was no way he would have gotten so attached to that
man. Besides, Kwon Taekjoo himself asked to be put in the back first.
Even whining. But everything he experienced in the dream was so vivid.
The temperature, humidity, smell, and even the virtual sensations
recreated in it seemed to be engraved all over his body. Even the hand
that strokes Kwon Taekjoo. He couldn’t remember the other person’s
face at all. He couldn’t even clearly visualise the voice that desperately
called his name. Who on earth could it have been? Does such a person
actually exist? Or was it just a delusion he created in his dream? He
hadnever imagined anything like that in his life, so he got goosebumps.
It really was a nightmare. He had countless dreams in the meantime.
Maybe it might not have been all a dream, but memories of the past
that Kwon Taekjoo had let go of. When he opened his eyes, some of
them would come back vividly in his mind, but some would disperse,
leaving only a hazy afterimage like now. "Haa..." He stopped while
wiping his wet face with both hands. It was because a subtle sensation
rose up from his lower body. Strangely, his groyne area was sore, and
the blanket covering it was slowly rising. Could it be that he got an
erection after dreaming like that? While being penetrated by a man?
"Crazy!" Kwon Taekjoo pressed his pillow irritably against his centre. But
the stiff guy couldn’t possibly calm down. Was he standing up to an
absurd stimulus because he hadn’t been able to properly relieve his
desires for a while? Why was this guy’s body so unnecessarily healthy?
He scratched the back of his head nervously and strode briskly to the
bathroom. He quickly turned on the shower and soaked his entire body.
Even though he was doused with cold water, the heat that spread from
his crotch didn’t seem to cool down at all. Kwon Taekjoo sighed softly
and leaned his forehead against the wall. Then he wrapped his genitals
with his hands and began to stroke them gently. Even though he wasn’t
in the prime of puberty, the inside of his genitals groaned. "Ugh, ugh..."
He clenched his molars and suppressed his moans. In an effort to
relieve the discomfort quickly, his hands that were stroking his genitals
became rougher and faster. He was so hasty that his fingernails
scratched his skin. As expected, goosebumps ran down his spine. The
hairs on the back of his ears stood on end. "Ugh, ugh, ugh..." He calmed
himself down and gently swept his thumb from the glans again. His
genitals, which had expanded as much as they could, twitched in
discontent at the insufficient stimulation. Tingling, A feeling that could
not be relieved and was lumped up in the lower abdomen. Kwon
Taekjoo, who had been swearing, suddenly started to stroke his chest.
There was no sign of relief at all, so he pulled and twisted his nipples
and finally rubbed his waist against the cave of his hand. Only then did
the heat that had been building up in one place start to drain away. As
time went on, his pelvis and scrotum were rubbing against the blade of
his hand more and more violently. A little more. A little more. He bit his
plump lower lip, feeling unnecessarily anxious. The pleasure that had
been spreading from his groin to his abdomen spread to his spine, the
nape of his neck, and finally his brain, in accordance with the speed of
his thrusts. It stretched out. His breathing became increasingly rapid.
His vision became blurry and his head spun. "Ah, ugh." The next
moment, his clenched buttocks spasmed. He slammed his pelvis against
his hand with all his might. His glans crushed his swollen head against
the smooth tiles and gave in. The sticky semen spurted out endlessly.
The colour was incredibly cloudy because of how much it had been
soaked inside. "Haa, haa..." Kwon Taekjoo leaned his head against the
wall and took a deep breath. It was strange. Even though he finally
pulled out, he didn't feel very refreshed. Was his desire so dissatisfied
that masturbation alone wasn't enough? It seemed like his body wanted
deeper and more intense stimulation. He messed up his hair. He shook
off the fever and poured cold water on his face. He washed away all the
remaining sensations in his body and washed himself for a long time.
No matter how much he scrubbed, the marks on his chest that had
been pinched hard and reddened didn't go away. Tsk, he clicked his
tongue and went outside wearing the gown he had prepared. He also
opened the window that had been closed to ventilate. His deeply
clenched abdominal muscles trembled and shook ceaselessly. His
shoulders and chest swelled and he let out a gasp of breath. The heat
that had warmed his entire body suddenly disappeared and he broke
out in a cold sweat. Beyond the large window, the scenery of Istanbul
was clearly visible. The blue sea of the Bosphorus Strait, which divides
the Asian and European regions, opened up the view refreshingly. To
the left was the Mediterranean Sea, and to the right was the Black Sea.
In the middle of the sky, which was a clear blue without a single cloud,
white yachts and cruise ships were floating on the sparkling sea. As
soon as we escaped from Cappadocia, we took a light aircraft and
arrived in Istanbul. Matthias said he often spent summers at this villa.
He said that he had a private yacht prepared, so if you want, you can
enjoy it to your heart's content. In fact, during the escape, Matthias
broke his shoulder. He was lying in bed, recovering from a gunshot
wound. Kwon Taekjoo also went to see his doctor. It was because he
sprained his wrist when he saved Matthias. It was only a sprain, so he
could move without much trouble. He wonders if he has good stamina.
He wanted to go straight to Korea without delay. But he couldn’t keep
nagging the person who was making a fuss, so he had no choice but to
wait a little longer. Soon, there was a knock on the door. He didn’t
respond, but watched for a moment. The lock was released without fail
and the door opened. He threw the incense stick on the window frame.
Matthias, who had been brazenly opening the door and coming in,
narrowly avoided it with a [Oh my.] [What. You’re awake?] [Why do you
keep crawling in on your own?] [Why don’t you respond? Do you
secretly want me to barge in like this?] [I wish you had thrown a knife.]
Matthias chuckled and picked up the incense stick that had fallen on the
floor. He groaned, “Ah, my wound on my side is stinging.” He placed the
incense stick he picked up on a nearby table and lit it with the lighter he
had prepared. The thick scent of blackberries spread throughout the
room. [I told you. I’m not trying to be rude, I’m just worried. If the guest
you brought in doesn’t make a sound inside, it’s natural to worry about
whether he’s alive or dead.] [What kind of weakling are you talking
about?] Even if you sneer, it’s funny. Matias drank the whiskey placed
on one side of the room and pointed at Kwon Taek Joo with the glass.
[The mat is nice. The cushion is nice, too.] It was a playful tone, but it
sounded sexual. Not sure if it was a mistake, Matias’s eyes slid from
Kwon Taekjoo’s neck to his chest. The red handprint left behind by the
open robe was visible. It was. Kwon Taekjoo asked the reason for his
visit while quietly covering his mouth. [Why did you come? Just lie
down in bed.] [Thank you for worrying, but I can’t starve because I’m
sick. Let’s eat together.] [Can’t we eat separately?] [You can’t stay in the
same house and be a couple. We’ve always been taught that guests
should be treated well.] [Did you treat me well and end up like that?]
[Why is this happening? At least in that case, I’m a good victim.]
Matthias put his glass down on the table and left the room first. He
didn’t forget to add something that Kwon Taekjoo couldn’t bear to
refuse. [Come down. We’ll discuss how to return home.] Kwon Taekjoo
and Matthias sat across from each other at a large table. The entire
space was a sunroom with glass walls, so the view and lighting were
good. A gentle sea breeze blew in through the slightly open window.
Matthias boldly poured himself a bottle of wine. His doctor had clearly
warned him to abstain from alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs for a while,
but he didn’t listen. He poured his glass first and offered it to Kwon
Taekjoo. [Want a drink?] [You only do that to women, right?] [Why are
you talking about a glass of wine? I was trying to lighten the stiff
atmosphere.] [Isn’t this just right? How much more flabby are you going
to get?] [What should I say now? Beyond plainness, it’s becoming
blunt.] Matthias swirled his glass around and furrowed his eyebrows
disgustingly. Kwon Taekjoo looked down at him with a displeased
expression. The guy who used to joke about being sick, but now he’s
staying at the villa to recuperate, and he’s got his hair done and all sorts
of accessories. Every time their eyes met, he would make a strange
smile, which really annoyed him. [So. Even if he got wet, it’s just
unpleasant. What more? You guys with dicks.] Matthias burst into
hearty laughter when he saw him. [That's strange.] He muttered
something to himself that he didn't understand. He kept avoiding
important topics and kept twirling around, which didn't appeal to him.
[Let's stop joking and get to the point. How much longer do I have to
wait?] [You're impatient, too. It's not bad to pretend not to win at a
time like this. Your memories probably haven't come back anyway.]
Kwon Taekjoo tightly linked arms. He had promised himself that he
would get a proper answer this time. How long can he keep putting off
his return? No. He didn’t have the temperament to wait silently until his
memory returned. He was about to ask Matthias if he was really willing
to help. A vibration rang out from somewhere. Kwon Taekjoo and
Matthias’ eyes simultaneously turned to Matthias’ cell phone. Matthias
licked his lips after checking the caller. Was it the call he had been
waiting for? However, he didn’t answer the phone and turned the
phone over. [You can answer it.] [Oh, it’s not an urgent call.] [If it’s a
sensitive topic, then leave the seat.] [You know. Sometimes it’s good to
tease others. Should I say that my value increases?] A Casanova who
doesn’t stop women who come and doesn’t catch women who leave,
but still acts expensive. Kwon Taekjoo looked at Mathias pitifully as he
munched on simit bread with kaymak and honey. He also roughly
scooped up the egg dish that came out in a pan with a spoon. Even
though it was cooked sunny side up, his throat felt tight. Kwon Taekjoo
didn’t know how long he had been away from Korea, but he really
missed the spicy soup. He tried the tomato soup chorba instead. It
wasn’t comforting at all. Matthias chuckled, “What a funny face.” He
raised his hand and poured coffee into his stomach, which seemed to
be coated with oil. The strong coffee cooled his heavy stomach. It would
have been better if it was iced coffee. Should he ask for some ice to
chill? He looked back toward the kitchen, licking his lips. Matthias
knocked on the table to get his attention. [Come on, tell me about
yourself.] [You took some medicine and your brain went crazy? What do
you have to remember?] [You said you thought about your family.] [So
you’re telling me about my family?] [Hmm... Is there anything else you
can think of? I need to know what you did in Korea and who is chasing
you so that I can prepare a new passport for you. I don't want to hear
that you tried to help me but got caught somewhere and went away in
vain.] Matthias really didn't know much about Kwon Taekjoo himself. If
he had decided to find out my identity, he could have done so easily. It
wouldn't have been easy to get fingerprints or DNA while we were
together. If he still didn't find out anything, doesn't that mean that
Kwon Taekjoo's identity is hidden behind a veil? He was trying to get a
little closer to the truth. He felt like he had to piece together the clues
from each piece. [So, tell me about when you first met me.] [Hmm? I
think we’ve already talked about that.] [Tell me more. You didn’t know
me at all before?] [Yeah. That was the first time I saw you.] [You’re
saying I had nothing to do with your business?] Matthias nodded coolly.
If Kwon Taekjoo himself had definitely been close to drugs, he wouldn’t
have been able to easily resist the temptation like he did now. It must
have been difficult. [You said I was being chased by the Cuban
government back then. You really don’t know what it was for? You can’t
even guess?] [That’s right.] [You helped a guy who you don’t even know
the reason he’s running away or his identity? If you do something
wrong, you could be accused of being an accomplice, right?] He raised
one eyebrow. It was as if he was asking Matthias if he wasn’t that kind
of a good person. Matthias shrugged without saying yes or no. A sly
smile appeared on his face, as if telling him to think as he pleased.
Matthias had been quite generous. He had provided Kwon Taekjoo with
a comfortable bed, good food, and various other conveniences. If his
claims were true, Kwon Taekjoo and he had only met once, and that
was because of a person named 'Psih'. Was he so generous and
generous because he had so much? Would Kwon Taekjoo have been so
generous even if he had not benefited Matthias in any way? No. He
could definitely determine that. There were few people in the world
who would do favours without receiving anything in return. Let alone a
priest or the next drug lord? It was a joke that a passing dog would
laugh at. [I came with a guy called Psih or something. What kind of guy
is he?] [Ah, Psih? Well, let’s call him a weapons dealer. He only deals
with weapons he made himself.] “A weapons dealer...” He muttered to
himself. He thought the nickname ‘Psih’ was unusual, but he was a
weapons developer. Did Kwon Taekjoo himself work in the military
industry? Or was he an illegal broker? The military industry is made up
of both the sunny and the dark sides. They don’t care whether the
products sold are used legitimately or for crimes. If Kwon Taekjoo
himself had been involved in such a thing in the past, he would have
been wanted by a certain government. It wasn't that strange either.
Then how did he get involved with 'Psikh'? How did he know the
Russian ambassador that his mother mentioned? Since even an
ambassador-level diplomat was involved, is it safe to assume that
'Psikh's' arms deal was at the level of a Russian national project? At this
point, the last thing he remembered was that Kwon Taekjoo himself had
entered the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Korea University.
He might have become interested in weapons while studying the
mechanics and design of machines. He might have decided on a more
certain path while handling them directly in the military. He somehow
combined each piece of information in his head and pieced together a
rough outline. Matthias, who had been silently watching, suddenly
added a new clue. [They are also closely related to the mafia.] [Mafia?]
The unexpected connection caused his thought circuit to stop. Then,
the tattoo on the inside of his leg began to tickle subtly. That was the
only tattoo he had on his body, but there was a trace of a large pattern
on his upper buttocks that had been erased. Should those tattoos also
be linked to the mafia? When you think of Matthias or the name
'Psych', it's not surprising that they are closely related to the mafia. It's
just that Kwon Taekjoo himself suddenly couldn't believe that he had
gone down such a dark path. Did he develop a rebellious spirit against
the world too late? Was it because he couldn't bear the shock of losing
both his father and his brother? Even if he had lost his memories, how
could his past self feel so unfamiliar? He was confused. At this point, he
was even doubting whether Matthias' words were all true. [If you were
fooling me.….] [Fooling me? Why me.] [....] [It might be hard to believe,
but 'Psych' is also a civil servant.] His face crumpled at the added words.
Matthias, who had been watching the scene, snickered and soon burst
out laughing loudly. [Who is this kid teasing right now?] He jumped up
from his seat. The dishes on the table rattled loudly. If he had just
touched it, he would have grabbed it by the collar and shaken it. [Isn't
that ridiculous? Doesn't it seem absurd? But it's all true. The 'Psych'
you're curious about is that kind of guy.] [...What?] He glared at
Matthias with suspicious eyes. Matthias was still grumbling. But it didn't
seem like he was trying to make fun of him. What kind of civil servant is
close to the mafia and even develops and sells weapons? Of course,
given the nature of Russia, it was easy for someone from the mafia to
advance to a high-ranking position. It was a country ruled by the mafia
until the 1990s. However, the more he learned about 'Psych', the more
difficult it became to concretize himself. He had no idea how to connect
the self in my last memory with the self who had been hanging out with
'Psich' without any problems. At that moment, Matthias's cell phone
rang. Matthias didn't bother checking the caller ID. It seemed like he
had already guessed who it was. Despite the continued ignorance, the
other person didn’t know how to give up. The vibration sound seemed
to stop for a moment, but soon started ringing again. [Just pick it up.]
[… . Hmm. Maybe.] Matthias leisurely touched the call button. Then, he
naturally lowered the volume as he brought the phone to his ear. [Oh,
what’s wrong? You called me first.] It was a pleasant voice that made
the pretense of being expensive seem meaningless. A playful smile
appeared on his face.- I heard you're in Turkey right now. [How did you
know that? You said you wouldn't see me again, but I guess you secretly
wanted to see me?] - There's no one I don't know. [I didn't know
everyone was so interested in me.]- I'd like to see you for a bit. [Can I
ask you what's going on?]- Let's talk when we meet. [Well. My health is
really bad right now.] He’s joking around while doing everything he can.
The dislocated shoulder wasn’t serious enough to make daily life
difficult. Do you not want to meet the person you’re talking to?-
Wouldn’t it be better if I went as a guest? What did the person say? The
corners of Matthias’s mouth twitched slightly. It was such a minor
change that he wouldn’t have noticed it if he hadn’t kept watching. [It’s
scary.] Matthias kept slyly playing around. However, the way he was
fiddling with the knife on the table seemed to be thinking quite
carefully. Kwon Taekjoo pretended not to care and listened to Matthias’s
call. He could barely hear anything. Just the tone of voice on the other
end of the line, the echo of the air, and such, reached his ears vaguely.
For some reason, he felt anxious and kept concentrating. His heart
pounded as if he were stealing something, trying not to show it to
Matthias. [Okay, then. I’ll tell you when it’s time.]- I’ll tell you in
advance, but my patience isn’t that great. [Remember. But I have my
pride, so please let me at least prepare to welcome the guest.] It
seemed like they were going to end the call. Kwon Taekjoo also chewed
on the hard bread. Then, when Matthias said, “Ah,” his jaw stopped
moving. [Of course, you can come empty-handed, but if you insist on
bringing a gift, I’ll gratefully accept it.] Matthias ended the call playfully.
[When I hung on, you didn’t even laugh, but now you’re demanding to
see me right away because I teased you.] He vaguely gave Kwon Taekjoo
a hint about the person he was talking to. Was it his ex-lover? It
sounded more like a man’s voice than a woman’s. Since he didn’t hear it
properly, it was hard to be sure. It was also possible that Matthias was
bisexual. [He said he would come to see me for a bit, but if it’s okay,
would you mind going out?] [Why? If I stay in my room anyway, I won’t
know what I’m doing here.] [I mean, maybe we’ll have a heated physical
conversation.] Matthias winked. Naturally, he remembered what
happened in Cappadocia. Matthias had called women to the room next
to Kwon Taekjoo’s and enjoyed sex all night while drunk and drugged.
He tried to ignore it, but the wall his bedhead was touching kept
thumping and screaming. The wind kept blowing, and he spent the
night crying. If the person he was talking to earlier was in a romantic
relationship with Matthias, there was no guarantee that something like
that wouldn’t happen again. Moreover, as Kwon Taekjoo, there were
many things he wanted to know about without Matthias knowing. No
matter how much he was indebted to Matthias, if he relied on him too
much, he would end up handing his lifeline over to him. There was no
way Matthias wouldn’t stab him in the back. He readily accepted
Matthias’s offer. [Yeah, well. It was a little painful, but it was good.] [Go
out and take some passport photos, and buy something to your taste.
Since you’re already in Istanbul, enjoy the romance of the port of call.
I’ll even give you security.] It was like security, surveillance. Since my
memory has flown away, can’t I protect myself? [Security is done...]
Kwon Taekjoo stabbed the poor bread with a fork. His lips were
trembling as if they were about to fall off, but the corners of his mouth
were secretly drooping, indicating that he was about to say something
he didn’t want to say. Matthias, who was watching him awkwardly,
realised something and said, “Ah.” Then he snapped his fingers to call
his subordinate and instructed him to do something. His subordinate
put down cash, cards, and a cell phone in front of Kwon Taekjoo. [I
installed an anti-tracking app on my phone, so use it as much as you
want. Pick any car from the garage and drive it.] […I’ll pay you back
later, so leave it alone.] Kwon Taekjoo muttered rudely instead of saying
thank you. He said he couldn’t live with debts to others, and it seemed
he was also awkward at expressing his emotions. [Or else. I have to go
greet a guest now. Take a nice picture.] Matthias slowly got up and
winked. When he said he was going crazy, ahaha, He leaves the
restaurant with a smile. Kwon Taekjoo also got up from his seat right
away. He went out to the hallway and asked the security guard guarding
in front of him which way the garage was. Without a word, he led the
way to the garage and then returned to his seat. Did he guide him
properly? It seemed like a large warehouse rather than a garage. He
hesitated and pressed the button on the wall to open the door. The
shutter slowly went up and the lights automatically turned on. The
inside was reminiscent of a supercar showroom. The cars parked in a
row showed off a presence that could not be ignored. Each and every
one of them had an unusual colour. He was showing off with his whole
body, asking people to look at him. It was a sight. He covered his eyes
and sighed. [...Crazy bastard.] He chose the safest car and left the villa.
Soon, surveillance followed him. They weren't blatantly chasing him,
but a certain car kept getting caught in the side mirror. Kwon Taekjoo
didn't like the excuse that they were protecting him. As soon as he
entered the old town, he parked the car appropriately. The cars that
had been following him didn't stop and just passed him by. He
pretended not to know and entered the crowded shopping district.
Soon, the watchers also started to follow a little further away. It seemed
like they would report to Matthias in detail where Kwon Taekjoo was
and what he was doing all day long. Suddenly, he became curious. How
would they react if Kwon Taekjoo suddenly tried to run away? Would
they try to catch him somehow? Could that be called protection? It
seemed that he could guess Matthias’s intentions based on the other
person’s attitude. He looked around the stores lined up and observed
the movements of the stalkers. They naturally passed by Kwon Taekjoo.
They didn’t seem to be beginners in that they didn’t stop even when
the target stopped. They took out their cell phones and took pictures of
the surrounding scenery like any other tourist. Maybe they were
worried that they would be captured in the pictures. The guards
stepped out of the angle and looked around as if they were looking at
things. In that moment, they ran into the narrow street between the
outdoor cafe and the incense shop. They quickly ran through the alley
crowded with tourists. Soon, they heard people talking behind them.
When they turned around, they saw that the stalkers had noticed Kwon
Taekjoo’s escape and were chasing him through the crowd. As expected,
they weren’t just trying to protect him out of kindness. They smiled and
kept running. They were definitely being chased, but their blood was
running fast. He felt a thrill as he turned. He couldn't understand
English. He was running while avoiding pedestrians and obstacles, but
an unexpected variable appeared. A guide holding a travel agency flag
was walking with a group of tourists from the opposite direction. The
road was narrow, so there was no place to avoid it. [Eww!] [Gyah!] The
tourists who sensed a collision screamed, covering their heads with
both arms. Kwon Taekjoo barely avoided friction by climbing up the wall
on the side at the same speed he was running. He fell back to the
ground. When he landed, he almost bumped into the last person
standing. He instantly grabbed his shoulder and turned him sideways,
and he landed on the ground. He apologised to the surprised person,
and ran away again. Soon, the guards who encountered the group of
tourists followed them, pushing them along. In the meantime, he went
to the open shopping street. As soon as he turned the corner, he
recognized the characteristics of the building. He saw a gutter that
collected rainwater from the roof and drained it on the wall of the
building that was lined up in a certain shape. And he also noticed the
shaped elbow that connected it to the water channel. He used his
natural elasticity to grab the elbow and quickly climbed up onto the
roof. He followed late. The stalkers suddenly disappeared, so they
looked around for Kwon Taekjoo. However, there were too many stores
and people passing by on the street. In the end, they decided to split up
and search, so some headed to the alley and some went into nearby
stores. In the meantime, Kwon Taekjoo escaped from the rooftop by
jumping from one building to another. When a taller building appeared,
he jumped without hesitation and grabbed the railing on the upper
floor and climbed up. When he entered the building naturally, he
avoided people's eyes and escaped through the back door. Even though
he hadn't fully recovered from his injuries, that was easy. No, it felt like
he was exercising properly for the first time in a long time, so he felt
energised. Finally, Kwon Taekjoo arrived at an internet cafe. He could
access the internet with the mobile phone he received from Matthias,
but there was a high possibility that he would be tracked. Now that
Kwon Taekjoo could not trust himself, it was even harder to trust others.
Internet cafes in Turkey looked very different from PC rooms in Korea.
However, judging from the game posters on the wall, there seemed to
be no major issues with the performance. After handing cash to the
male owner, he pointed to a corner seat. The owner nodded happily
and watched Kwon Taekjoo’s every move. Other users also kept nagging
at the foreigner who was bound to be noticed. It seemed like he
shouldn’t stay there too long. As soon as he sat down, he logged onto
the internet and searched for ‘Russian Ambassador’. The results showed
several people. One of them stood out. He was of a different age from
the others and had such a gorgeous appearance that he could easily
believe he was an actor or a model. Yevgeny Vissarionovich Bogdanov.
Russian Ambassador to Korea. Was this the Ambassador his mother had
mentioned? He wasn’t sure. He immediately logged onto a Russian
portal site. Then he entered Ambassador Bogdanov’s name into the
search bar. For some reason, his activities in Russia were unremarkable.
The last related news article was about his appointment as Russian
Ambassador to Korea three years ago. Usually, a public official of that
level would have attended a small commemorative event. From his
attendance at the event to his diplomatic remarks, every single one of
them would be covered in the news, which was strange. Was it
intentional? Of course, that wasn't the only question. "You gave the
position of ambassador to such a young kid?" No matter how he looked
at it, the Russian ambassador to Korea was extremely young. No, it
would be more appropriate to say he was very young. When he first
saw the photo, he thought he looked young, but he couldn't see any
images showing him looking older than that. He checked his date of
birth. He was four years younger than Kwon Taekjoo himself. As an
ambassador, he was a diplomat representing the country, so he was
usually appointed as someone with authority. Even if Russia's state
administration was old-fashioned and they didn't place much
importance on diplomacy with South Korea, it was the same. He
wondered why such a punk was appointed as the Russian ambassador
to South Korea. Kwon Taekjoo, who thought about it for a moment,
soon searched for another name. "Vissarion Bogdanov....” It was
because he remembered that in Russia, middle names are used as
patronymics. From the name Yevgeny Vissarionovich Bogdanov, he
could guess that his father was 'Vissarion' of the Bogdanov family.
When he pressed Enter, new search results appeared. It was. Vissarion's
side had much more media exposure than his son. The most notable
thing was that he served as the head of Gazprom, Russia's state-run gas
company. Also, many articles described the Bogdanov family as the
power behind the Russian government. Looking at the history of
Vissarion and his sons, it seems that it is indeed true. The eldest son,
Vladimir, succeeded Vissarion and took charge of the energy industry,
including Gazprom. The second son, Basim, was the president's closest
aide and truly reigned as the most important person in Russia. The third
son, Yevgeny, was also a high-ranking diplomat, so it would not be an
exaggeration to say that one family controls all of Russia. How did Kwon
Taekjoo himself get involved with the third son of such a family? Where
did the author 'Psich' come from? The more he learned, the more
complicated his head became. He decided to go back to the beginning.
It was said that the Tehran terrorist attack occurred before the Iran-
Russia summit. Was Russian Ambassador Bogdanov also included in the
delegation? Or did Kwon Taekjoo himself follow the delegation as his
representative since he had to stay in Korea? If he approached it that
way, he could understand why Russia put Kwon Taekjoo on the list of
rescued people. However, it still wasn't explained why the entry record
of the ambassador's aide wasn't checked. "Yevgeny Vissarionovich
Bogdanov..." He turned around and stared intently at the photo of the
Russian ambassador. He tried to recite his name a few times. It was still
unfamiliar, as if he was hearing it for the first time. Then, he suddenly
rubbed his pubic bone with his fist. That was why he suddenly felt a
lump there. "What? Did I catch a cold?" He repeatedly pressed his pubic
bone and then tapped the area a little higher. Suddenly, his chest felt
tight as if his blood flow had been blocked. At the same time, his heart
was pounding loudly and unpleasantly. He didn't know English. There
were no numbers. Was it because my stamina was low? He tried hard to
block out his awareness of his physical condition. Then he stared at the
monitor and wondered what else he should look for. He looked down at
the desktop absentmindedly and saw various games installed. He was
skimming through them without any particular reason when one game
caught his eye. It wasn’t that he had any new memories related to it.
Still, he felt a strong sense of foreboding. Did Kwon Taekjoo himself
enjoy such games? I tried running the game without any certainty. A
window appeared asking for an ID and password. Kwon Taekjoo entered
the alphabet that came to his mind as if he was possessed by
something. Cherry boy The LaFerrari Arpeta slammed into the old-
fashioned iron gate at the speed it was running at. Even after the
collision, the accelerator pedal was continuously pressed, causing the
gate to swing open violently. One side completely fell off, and the
remaining side barely clung to the door frame and dangled. Even the
body of the car, which was worth billions of won, had a clear scratch.
Nevertheless, the owner of the car did not slow down and ran straight
to the villa. He finally stopped after crashing into the stone staircase
railing. The security guards waiting on one side hurriedly surrounded
him. Dozens of gun barrels fired recklessly. He took aim at the intruder
who had barged in. Soon, the driver's door opened and a man got out.
It was Zhenya. He didn't even blink at the gun barrel pointed at him. He
just walked up the stairs with a calm expression. At the sound of the car
door opening again, the guns that had been aimed at the back of his
head all turned to the passenger seat. Yoon Jong-woo, who was trying
to sneak out, froze. Soon, Matthias came out of the villa and greeted
the two. He was wearing a white suit and welcomed Zhenya with open
arms. [Welcome, friend. It's been a while?] Alone in the midst of
heightened tension It was leisurely. Zhenya passed Matthias and
entered the villa. Matthias’s men blocked him as he rushed in without
warning. Zhenya grabbed their arms with a simple gesture. Matthias
smiled at the sight. [That’s too harsh of a greeting.] Zhenya disappeared
from Matthias’ sight before he could finish his words. Soon, the sound
of something breaking and people screaming filled the villa. He swept
away everything that blocked his path, whether it was objects or
people, and searched for something. [Yes, Mr. Yevgeny! Let’s go
together!] Yoon Jong-woo held his voice with a pale face. Matthias
looked at him with a strange look as he walked toward him, as if he
would collapse at any moment. [The guy you wear has changed. Your
taste has gotten really weird?] Yoon Jong-woo awkwardly said hello to
Matthias, who was openly looking him up and down. His two arms,
which were tightly holding his bag, were trembling. He couldn’t even
think of pushing up his glasses that had fallen down to the tip of his
nose. Matthias stared at him and smiled. [Come on, buddy. Do you want
a drink? Or would you rather have tea? Turkey has a lot of coffee. It's
okay.] [Ah, I, I... with Mr. Yevgeny.…] [You want to join that crazy guy in
destroying my house?] [No, no! I'm just, so...] [Wouldn't it be better to
wait while enjoying some refreshments with me?] It was a gentle tone,
but it had a strange sense of intimidation. Yoon Jong-woo kept his
mouth shut and nodded repeatedly. Matthias guided Yoon Jong-woo
into the villa. Even during that time, the noise of doors and furniture
being torn off and thrown around continued unabated. Gunshots It
followed. Yoon Jong-woo's shoulders flinched every time. In contrast,
Matthias remained calm as if he hadn't heard anything. Matthias said,
"This way." and supported Yoon Jong-woo's back, leading him to the
reception room. While doing so, he naturally snatched the pistol he had
on his waist. There was no time to prepare for it. Matthias handed the
gun over to his subordinate and personally sat Yoon Jong-woo down on
the chair with a generous expression. He even poured tea into Yoon
Jong-woo's glass. [I'll go have a quick chat with 'Psych', so you can enjoy
yourself here.] Yoon Jong-woo turned pale and nodded. Matthias
smiled at him and left the living room. Immediately after, his
subordinates stood in front of Yoon Jong-woo. Matthias went outside
and looked for the source of the noise. In the meantime, Zhenya had
checked the entire first floor and seemed to have gone up to the second
floor. The ceiling kept thumping and the glass windows kept breaking.
He went up the stairs to the second floor. The landing and the hallway
were a mess with broken furniture and props. He ran into Zhenya in the
hallway on the second floor, but he passed Matthias and went into the
next room. He had to check every room one by one. It seemed like his
temper was going to let up. Even in a short conversation, he seemed to
be completely restless, and who would have thought he would barge in
with such a ghostly face? Was finding Kwon Taekjoo really that urgent?
Judging from his appearance, it seemed like Kwon Taekjoo had carried
his lifeline. [Hey, buddy. What kind of manners are these all of a
sudden?] He tried to look around Zhenya. However, Zhenya ignored
Matthias’ voice as if he hadn’t heard it. Soon, he barged into the room
that Kwon Taekjoo was using. The guards tried to stop him again.
Matthias shook his head to dissuade them and followed Zhenya. Zhenya
stood blankly in the middle of the room with a frown. It was because
the room was filled with incense. After not moving for a while, he
suddenly approached the bed and pulled the pillow and blanket on it
with one hand. Then he buried his face in it and sniffed it. As if that
wasn’t enough of a clue, he carefully looked around the sheets and the
bed. Zhenya’s unstoppable hands threw the desk, table, and chair
carelessly. The carpet underneath was also half-torn and turned inside
out. As if he hadn’t found what he wanted there either, he went into
the bathroom attached to the room and wrote again after a while.
Marty watched with his arms crossed. Asga knocked on the open door.
His sharp gaze flew in like a knife and stabbed him. [What if you destroy
everything that belongs to others without any reason? Huh?] He
pretended to look wronged. Only then did Zhenya sigh and brush his
messy hair back. Slowly turning towards Matthias, his body tightened
the air as if he were pulling back the bowstring. His gaze, which never
left Matthias’s, seemed to ask if he really didn’t know anything. [What,
really? What on earth are you looking for?] [You’ve been bringing an
Asian with you lately.] [Hey. This town, rumours spread really fast. No,
really. I didn't even know you were here until I got your call, so maybe
that's why I'm so popular?] [Don't change the subject. I won't ask you
twice.] [Yeah. But you're Asian... Were there any Asian women among
the girls you've had sex with? I don't remember them at all because we
had sex on drugs.] Matthias scratched his neck dryly. Zhenya’s face
turned even colder. If he showed him an opening, he would rush in
without hesitation and break his neck. But Matthias just kept smiling.
[Why. Does that Oriental have to be someone?] [Where is that
Oriental?] [Hey, I don't know who you're talking about. I need to know
what's going on, who you're looking for, and why, so I can help you.] [I
don't know?] [8](?) [You'll have to take responsibility for those words.]
Why did those words sound like a declaration of war? Matthias let out a
chuckle. [Why are you asking me to take responsibility for all of this
when you barged in all of a sudden?] He sang and danced. He tilted his
head to the side and shrugged his shoulders. Seeing that, a thick vein
appeared on Zhenya’s forehead. His pupils also constricted. He seemed
ready to bite Matthias at any moment. That was when. [Mr. Yevgeny!]
Yoon Jong-woo’s urgent voice was heard from downstairs. Zhenya and
Matthias’ gazes turned to the door at the same time. Soon, Yoon Jong-
woo hurriedly ran up there. [Look at this!] Yoon Jong-woo, whose heart
was ahead of his own, entered his hand. He held out his phone. When
Matthias looked at him with interest, he turned the screen towards
Zhenya, keeping a close eye on him. A notification window popped up
on the screen. However, it was all in Korean, so it was difficult to
understand what it meant. Yoon Jong-woo whispered in a voice so small
that only Zhenya could hear. [This is a notification from my game
account. I haven’t played this game in a long time, have I?] [But?] [But I
think someone logged into that account just now. I got a message
asking for verification that someone had accessed it from a device and
IP that wasn’t specified. My senior contacted methrough this account
before. I tried to do it.] [Can you check the connection location?] [Yes.
First of all, it shows up as a Russian IP? But since the IP can be bypassed
at any time, I need to check the actual connection location a bit more.]
[Process it within 10 minutes.] Zhenya, who had given the one-sided
order, walked away somewhere with brisk steps. Yoon Jongwoo also
followed him hurriedly, saying, [Let's go together!] [What, you're not
even having a cup of tea?] Matthias asked loudly. Zhenya Without
saying a word or saying goodbye, he went out. He got into his car, which
hadn’t even turned off yet. Yoon Jong-woo hurriedly got into the
passenger seat, thinking he would leave me behind. Immediately, his
car drew a large circle and reversed, then accelerated rapidly and left
the villa. It came in on its own and left on its own. He couldn’t believe it
and laughed in vain. Matthias’s bodyguards tried to shoot the back of
the car belatedly. Matthias waved his hand and waved them off.
Anyway, if the person Zhenya was looking for was Kwon Taekjoo, he
would come back even if he went like this. He was just turning around
with such optimism. Matthias’s secretary hurriedly approached him.
The luggage was not good. [What's going on?] As I asked cautiously, he
relayed unexpected news. [The target has disappeared.] The LaFerrari
stopped in the middle of the old town. Zhenya and Yoon Jong-woo left
the car there and ran into the alley. As they entered the internet cafe
marked on the map, the male owner approached them, saying
something. They passed him and looked around at the users who had
taken up each seat. They pulled their collars roughly. He pulled and
checked his face, and if he was suspicious, he pinched his skin. Cheers
rained down from here and there. Kwon Taekjoo was nowhere to be
seen. Was this another empty shell? [Is this the right place?] [Yes. It’s
definitely there....] Yoon Jong-woo kept looking at his phone with a
troubled expression. The only person who could access my old game
account was Kwon Taekjoo. As for Yoon Jong-woo, he had quit a long
time ago, and the number of players had decreased significantly, so the
game was about to shut down. If Kwon Taekjoo’s memories were from a
few years ago, he would not know that fact. He thought that maybe he
had tried to contact that account. He had done the same thing when he
was wanted by headquarters in Russia in the past. Was it a vain hope?
[I'm sorry.] Yoon Jong-woo apologised in a resigned manner. Zhenya,
who had been looking at him with displeasure, suddenly noticed
something. Soon, he carefully removed it from Yoon Jong-woo. It was
hair. It was dark and thick, with a silvery wavy texture. [Why is that
bastard's hair so silky? It's so unnecessarily flashy.] [Taekjoo, while liking
it.] [Who likes it.] Kwon Taekjoo would grumble, but whenever he had
the chance, he would play with Zhenya’s hair. Even when Zhenya fell
asleep first or woke up late, he would always stroke his hair, but when
he woke up, he would pretend not to notice and just pull his hand away.
He hugged Kwon Taekjoo and rubbed his face against his hair. The thick,
slightly wavy hair felt good, like a cotton blanket. The hair he took from
Yoon Jongwoo was quite similar to Kwon Taek Joo’s. Yoon Jongwoo If he
hadn’t been wearing it all along, and if Zhenya hadn’t noticed it until
now, there was a high probability that it had been moved from
Matthias’ villa. [Taekjoo... It must be.] [...Huh? What?] Zhenya
repeatedly stroked the hair in his hand without giving any explanation
to Yoon Jongwoo. He didn’t hesitate to put his nose up to it and sniffed
it. However, it wasn’t enough to smell Kwon Teak’s scent. [Hey, you!
What are you doing in someone else’s business?] At that time, the
owner of the internet cafe was two people. He came up to him and
swore at him. It wasn’t unreasonable since he came out of nowhere and
ran around the store without paying. [If you don’t leave now, I’ll call the
police!] Zhenya grabbed the man by the collar as he ran wild. In an
instant, his two legs dangled in the air. He instinctively shoved Kwon
Taekjoo’s photo at the frozen man. The man looked at the photo on his
phone and nodded several times. He also gestured to a corner of the
room. Yoon Jong-woo quickly went to the spot and asked for the user’s
understanding for a moment. Then he started looking through the PC
usage history. [I deleted my usage history an hour ago. It’s a senior
habit!] Yoon Jong-woo shouted confidently. It seemed clear that Kwon
Taekjoo had been here about an hour ago. What happened after that?
Did he return to Matthias’ villa? If Kwon Taekjoo was simply receiving
support from Matthias, there would have been no reason for him to
stop by here and use the internet. The fact that he moved on his own
despite this meant that Kwon Taekjoo did not completely trust
Matthias. It also meant that he might not return to Matthias. In an hour,
Kwon Taekjoo would have disappeared without a trace. There was still
time left. He had to catch him before he disappeared from sight again.
[Taekjoo!] As he was getting out of the car, Matthias strode out. It
seemed as if he had been waiting for him to come out to greet me. Even
though his face was hiding his feelings with a smile, there was a hint of
relief rather than joy. Kwon Taekjoo looked down at him suspiciously for
coming out to greet him barefoot. [What? Why are you making such a
fuss?] [Isn't that so? What on earth happened? You suddenly
disappeared, so I was surprised.] Kwon Taekjoo himself wasn't a child,
and Mathias himself wasn't my guardian, so he was unusual. Now that
the topic was out of the way, he crossed his arms and argued. [That's
right, who would want to follow me on my own?] [Tailoring me? I was
just trying to protect you because I was worried you'd be in danger.] As
expected, Mathias was shameless. It didn't seem like it would lead to a
normal conversation even if he tried to talk him out of it. He shrugged
and made a vague excuse. [I wanted to spend some time alone.]
[Where have you been?] [You don't need to know that much.] [That's
disappointing. I was so worried that you might have been taken away by
those suspicious guys.] [Oh, that's right.] He went into the villa, listening
to the story in a hushed tone. Matthias followed right behind,
nitpicking. [You're not really going to tell me where I went?] [I just
looked around. There were a lot of interesting things in the market.] He
dangled the plastic bag in his hand. He saw it. It was full of things
wrapped in red plastic. It was Korean food including ramen. [What on
earth did you buy? Meal?] [This is it. From now on, I will take care of my
own meals, so don’t worry about it. Right now, I want to wash up and
rest.] Kwon Taekjoo, who was about to go up to the second floor,
stopped and said, “Ah.” Then he took a small envelope out of his pocket
and handed it to Matthias. [What is this?] [Passport photo. He said to
take a picture.] Matthias took out the photo he had been given on the
spot. Even though it was for a passport, Kwon Taekjoo had a very dry
expression in the photo. It was as if he had been in a staring contest
with the camera. It was the first time he had seen such a hostile
passport photo. Matthias let out a shallow laugh. [It came out well.] [I
see.] Kwon Taekjoo responded indifferently and turned around to leave,
but hesitated again. When he looked back at Matthias, he offered, [Do
you want a drink?] He shook his head and glanced at the door. [Who
came when I wasn't there?] [Suddenly?] [The front door was rattling. It
looked like something had hit it.] [Oh, a passing car got into an accident.
You're a rookie driver, huh?] Matthias replied as if it was nothing. Kwon
Taekjoo nodded in agreement and continued up the stairs. He felt a
strange sense of unease as he walked down the second floor hallway.
For some reason, the windows seemed to have been replaced with new
ones, and the groceries that had been placed here and there had
disappeared. After all, something had happened. Kwon Taekjoo entered
his room, stood at the doorway, and scanned the inside. The smell of
the incense that he had turned off because of his headache almost
paralyzed his sense of smell. The table, lighting fixtures, and bedding
were also arranged differently than when he last left the room. Since
the villa was so large, it was not strange for a servant to come in and
clean. However, Kwon Taekjoo himself wondered if it was necessary to
clean the room he had cleaned so neatly. Furthermore, he even tore off
the carpet on the floor that had been fine. Just in case, he felt around
and turned the carpet over. He wondered if there had been a separate
listening device installed. There was nothing particularly noticeable.
“....." Kwon Taekjoo, who had been thinking about something for a
moment, looked out into the hallway. As usual, Matthias's bodyguards
were standing guard. Motion-detecting CCTVs were operating
everywhere. He closed the door and went in to check the situation
outside the window. There were four bodyguards guarding the
entrance, and CCTVs were installed on the exterior walls of the building.
Every room in the villa had a private bathroom. Since the drain pipe ran
through the bathroom ceiling, it seemed the safest way to use it to
avoid the bodyguards and cameras. As soon as he made his decision, he
went into the bathroom, stepped on the bathtub, and climbed up. He
looked through the inspection hole in the ceiling. He saw a straight
drain pipe. He held an emergency lantern in his mouth and quickly
climbed up to the ceiling. As expected, the drain pipe was connected
from bathroom to bathroom, but it was so narrow that he had to lie flat
to get under it. He crawled and passed several rooms while keeping his
voice low. He counted the number of rooms he had passed in his head
and stopped moving when he reached five. He lightly lifted the
inspection hatch of the room in question. There was no movement from
below. He smoothly slid down to the inspection hatch and looked
around again. As expected, there was no one. He went out to the room
with the lantern pointed at the floor. Because of the double curtains, it
would be difficult to sense the presence of an intruder from outside.
The room that Kwon Taekjoo had secretly hidden in was Matthias'
study. He had confirmed in advance that there were no CCTVs inside.
No matter how wary of outside intruders, people do not install
surveillance cameras or wiretapping devices in places where they stay
for a long time. The more dirty the place is, the more they are reluctant
to have their every move recorded. Kwon Taekjoo approached the office
desk without hesitation. He then reached into the bottom of the drawer
and took something out. It was the cell phone he had received from
Matthias. He retrieved the cell phone with the tape and put it in his
pocket. Then he went back to his room as usual. When he crawled
through the dusty ceiling, there was nothing but beggars. First, he
charged his phone and took a shower. His mind was racing, wondering
what was recorded on his phone. He didn’t even think about drying his
hair and just put on a robe and went outside. His phone battery was
only about 20% charged. But he couldn’t wait any longer and hurriedly
turned it on. Fortunately, the recorder was working properly and he saw
several files recorded while he was away. He plugged in his wired
earphones and played the recorded files right away. He heard a series of
very small noises. He turned the volume up to the max. Then, the hustle
and bustle of noise continued to erupt. It was the sound of something
being thrown and broken. The sound of human bones being twisted
and screams pierced his eardrums. The sound of the window breaking
made the hairs in his ears stand on end. Suddenly, the strangely new
and cleaned-up windows, hallways, and the scenery of my room came
to mind. What could have happened? He focused on the recorded file a
little more. The sound of the explosion that had been heard from afar
grew louder and soon reached my nose. It seemed as if an unidentified
intruder had finally barged into Matthias’ study where he had installed
the recorder. There was a sound of the closed door being roughly
opened. Was it because he was too immersed? Kwon Taekjoo himself
was hiding there, his heart pounding. Without realising it, he held his
breath and listened to every sound coming from beyond the earphones.
The intruder searched everywhere in the study, panting. He checked
everything from the bookshelf to the display case, the bathroom, and
even behind the chair, frantically searching for something. He had no
qualms about committing such an indiscretion against the armed
successor of a drug lord. Was he a police officer? The intruder’s voice
was not heard at all. All that could be heard was the rough and urgent
breathing. It seemed like the breathing of a hunting dog that had blindly
run tens of kilometres in pursuit of its prey. He got goosebumps for no
reason. In addition, he felt endlessly anxious. It was. He couldn't figure
out why. Did Kwon Taekjoo know him? The intruder went out again, as
if he hadn't gotten what he wanted in the study. It was a few more
minutes later that Matthias' voice was heard. [Hey, buddy. What kind of
manners are you talking about?] The intruder opened the door to
another room without saying anything. Matthias followed him and
continued to protest. [What if you break other people's things without
any reason? Huh?] After that, the intruder went back to the villa
without saying anything. He was breaking things. At that point, as Kwon
Taekjoo, he began to wonder who he was, what he did, and what his
purpose was. [What, really? What are you looking for?] [I heard you’ve
been bringing an Asian with you lately.] The voice of an uninvited guest
suddenly leaked out. At that moment, something fell down. He was so
flustered that he forgot to breathe. What is it? Why? His doubts grew.
The voice falling from a high place seemed thin, but it wasn’t light, and
it had a dreary air. The slow, slightly twisted tone was characteristic. No
matter where you are, if you hear that voice even once, you won’t
easily forget it. He thought he would. He concentrated his nerves to
listen more properly. However, he couldn’t concentrate because his
heart was beating like crazy. He was about to turn the playback bar
forward to listen to the part that had already passed. There was a knock
on the door. He was startled and took out his earphones, and he heard
Matthias’ voice calling out, “Taekjoo.” He took off his gown, put it over
his phone, and headed to the door. He was so absorbed in listening to
the file that he didn’t even realise who was there or that Kwon Taekjoo
was calling him. When he opened the door, Matthias was standing
there with a puzzled expression. [What’s going on?] [What’s wrong with
you? I called you that, but you didn’t hear me.] [Oh, I was showering.]
He calmly said. Matthias’s eyes slid down from Kwon Taekjoo’s wet hair.
When his gaze reached his legs, he knocked on the door to get his
attention. [What’s wrong?] [Oh… It’s not that I’m just trying to recover,
but my body is aching. I called a masseuse, do you want to join me for
the hammam?] ‘Hammam’ refers to a traditional Turkish public
bathhouse. From bathing to sauna he can enjoy scrub, foam massage,
and full body massage as one course. [If you try it once, all your fatigue
will go away?] Matthias suggested it, so it seemed like a very decadent
pleasure. He didn’t really like it, but there was no reason to refuse. Even
if he was a bodyguard, he wouldn’t accompany him to the bathhouse,
and Matthias would be disarmed there. He had a clear answer to make.
[Go first. I’ll get ready and come down.] [I think everything is ready?]
[It’ll take 10 minutes.] [Okay, then. See you downstairs.] Matthias
turned around obediently. He watched him go down to the first floor
and closed the door. He returned to the sofa and took out his cell phone
from under his robe. He put the earphones in his ears and touched the
play button again. [Hey. Words travel fast in this neighbourhood. No. I
didn't even know you were here until I got a call from you. Did I become
popular?] [Don't change the subject. I won't ask twice.] [Okay. But since
you're Asian... Were there any Asian women among the ones you had
sex with? I don't remember anything because I had sex with you on
drugs.] The Oriental the intruder was looking for seemed to be Kwon
Taekjoo himself. However, Matthias acted as if he had no idea. He
couldn't tell if he was trying to protect Kwon Taekjoo himself or hide it
from the other person. [Why. Does that Oriental have to be someone?]
[Where is that Oriental?] [Hey, I don't know who you're talking about. I
need to know the whole story, what's going on, who you're looking for,
and why, so I can help you.] [I don't know?] [(?)] [You have to take
responsibility for that.] [What responsibility are you asking me to take
when you barge in all of a sudden?] The more he listened to the voice
of the intruder, the more he felt a sense of foreboding. Where had he
heard that voice? The intruder spoke English fluently, but his accent was
distinctly Russian. Was he Russian? Why was he looking for Kwon
Taekjoo? The doubts kept nagging at him. A brief moment of silence
flowed in the meantime, and then a new voice cut in. [Mr. Yevgeny!]
"...Huh?" An unexpected name was mentioned. It felt more vivid
because it was a name he had been chewing on all day. Yevgeny.
Yevgeny Vissarionovich Bogdanov. Then, the pretty face of the Russian
ambassador to Korea that he had seen in the search bar came to mind.
The voice that he had only recognized as strange matched his
appearance amazingly. It was impossible to believe that the two were
completely different people. The Russian ambassador to Korea
personally went out to find an Asian. No, he was certain that the person
he was looking for was Kwon Taekjoo himself. Why would he come to
get him in person even if the being he had treated like an arm and a leg
had gone missing for a while and then been found? Could it be that
Kwon Taekjoo himself knew the Russian ambassador’s secret? Is there
something there? Or is he carrying something important to him? [Is this
just your cave? You should have dug deeper. So deep that your hands
can’t reach it.] Suddenly, a certain thought flashed through his mind.
Recently, whenever he had flashes of light in his head, fragments of
memories would come to mind like that. But this time, it was a little
different. A voice was added to the vaguely revived memory. [Why? Are
you dying already? You didn’t do this without any resolve, did you?] In
his memory, Kwon Taekjoo himself was rolling around helplessly on the
floor. The other person was out of breath. He trampled on his entire
body as if it didn't matter. [Not only did he do spy work, he also did
various things like trespassing, assault, terrorism, theft, impersonating a
public official, and even vandalising public property... He went around
doing all sorts of things.] The air that was trembling with laughter was
vividly recreated. Even the fear and despair that dominated Kwon
Taekjoo at the time. [That's fine. But you should have listened to my
warning. I explained it so you'd understand. Just don't touch my stuff. Is
that so hard?] An attitude that looks down on others, an arrogant tone
of speech, a twisted tone that's bitter, and a unique accent. He thought
he knew who the owner of the voice was. [I should figure out how to
live diligently from now on.] "Ugh...?" A warning light rang in my head.
It felt like a sharp awl was mercilessly poking my brainstem. He grabbed
his throbbing head and shook his whole body. Even though he clenched
his molars, it wasn't enough to hold back his moans. His whole body
was soon soaked in sweat. "Ugh... Fuck...!" He writhed in excruciating
pain and threw his phone away. Even then, the headache wouldn't go
away. He groaned for a long time. The lingering sound of laughter
continued to echo in his ears. “Haa, haa...” Just before losing
consciousness, he barely escaped the pain. The memories of the past
and the pain that accompanied them suddenly started and went away
suddenly. He was annoyed because it was something he couldn’t
control at will. He nervously tousled his hair. After calming down a little,
he calmly organised his thoughts. While everything was unclear, one
thing seemed certain. Kwon Taekjoo himself must not have had a good
relationship with the Russian ambassador. In the eyes of Matthias or his
mother, he might have seemed like his loyal subordinate. Even if he
didn't know, there was a high possibility that he was actually a spy. So,
the talk about spies and such would have come up in his newly recalled
memories. The fact that his heart raced when he heard the Russian
ambassador's voice or saw his face might have been due to fear
ingrained in his instincts. Kwon Taekjoo himself approached the Russian
ambassador as a spy. Then his identity was discovered, and he
disappeared with something that could be a fatal blow to the Russian
ambassador or his family. If we assume that, it explains why the Russian
government and Ambassador Yevgeny were trying to capture Kwon
Taekjoo with their eyes wide open. Of course, this is only an inference
based on intuition. It was just that. To confirm the facts, more clear
clues were needed. Some of them seemed like they could be answered
by asking Matthias. He put on his coat and left the room. As he went
down to the basement of the villa, he saw a dazzling glass door. The
guard guarding it personally opened the door for him. As expected,
there were no other guards besides Log. As soon as he entered the
hammam, the hot heat and a lot of moisture clung to my body. Except
for the sauna room made of cypress, the entire place was made of
marble. He clicked his tongue and walked toward the sound of water.
Matthias, who had already taken a bath, raised his hand leisurely. [Oh,
you're here? Want a drink?] [No thanks. I don't want to get drunk and
fall over.] [Okay, then.] Matthias put down his glass and came out of the
bath. Then he gestured towards the marble bed next to him, standing
blankly. He lay down on it first as if demonstrating. It didn't really
appeal to him, but he took off his robe and sat down next to him. [You'll
like it.] Matthias smiled and placed a small bell. Soon, two masseuses
came in. It wasn’t as decadent as he had feared. The masseuses greeted
each other quietly and poured hot water from the bath onto the two of
them. It felt like they were soaking in hot water. The marble bed was
also heated to a comfortable temperature, so they quickly relaxed. He
had been missing the Korean ondol, and it felt like that longing was
being slightly alleviated. After a while, a huge bubble was placed on my
body. The masseuses inflated a thin cloth like a balloon and gently
rubbed the bubbles. The tickling stimulation was not satisfying, but he
endured it silently because it was just one course. On the other hand,
Matthias was enjoying a sense of peace while groaning softly. When he
should ask, he was wondering the right time, but Matias spoke first.
[How about we get out of here tomorrow?] [Suddenly?] He turned to
Matias. Matias nodded coolly. [Yeah. I have a problem, so I think I need
to return home quickly. You can go to Mexico with me first and then go
to Korea from there. You can do whatever you want in Mexico. It will be
much easier to disguise your identity.] [Hmm....] Why is Matthias, who
has always been easygoing, suddenly rushing back to his country? Is it
because of the Russian ambassador who came today? To protect Kwon
Taekjoo himself from him? What does Matthias get in return? The
Russian ambassador's weakness that Kwon Taekjoo himself is believed
to have stolen? As he continued to think without stopping, Matthias
asked, "Why?" and urged him to answer. [You don't feel like it?] [...No. It
doesn't really matter.] [That's good. Then let's leave early tomorrow
morning.] Matthias smiled contentedly and raised his hand. Then the
masseuses poured warm water over their bodies. The soft bubbles
licked their skin and washed away coolly. [Now let's go get a massage.]
The masseuses covered their naked bodies with towels. Matthias dried
his body with them and wrapped them around his waist to cover his
important parts. He followed them and moved to the massage room.
The lighting in the massage room was much darker than other places. It
was to maximise the comfortable atmosphere. As they lay down on the
prepared leather bed, the masseuses from before came in and gave
them a lit candle. As he inhaled its scent, his head became dizzy and his
whole body became languid. Now that he thinks about it, what was he
going to ask Matthias? He blinked his eyes and searched through his
dazed mind. His thought circuits became duller and soon his eyelids
closed. Whenever he finished work, he went to the sauna first. It was a
sweet reward for his torn body. When he was in the warm heat, he felt
a sense of relief and accomplishment that everything was over, and the
tension that had been tightening his body was released and his nerves
relaxed. He lost. After sweating it out and taking a refreshing shower, he
lay down on the bed and fell asleep for days. At those times, he slept
soundly without even dreaming. As he was taking a deep nap like usual,
a shadow loomed over his back. Then, as if it wasn’t an illusion, a huge
body covered him. His whole body was pressed down, heavy yet soft.
The weight that was suddenly placed on me and the fragrant smell were
familiar. Even the feeling of hair tickling his shoulders and the nape of
his neck. He could guess who the other person was without opening his
eyes. He tried to get up, but his eyes wouldn’t open. He could only
groan softly under the person who was holding him back. The other
person would rub his face and kiss the back of Kwon Taekjoo’s head, the
nape of his neck, and his shoulders. When Kwon Taekjoo was drunk on
energy and about to fall asleep, he would suck or bite his smooth skin
tightly to wake him up. ‘...Taekjoo.’ A long exhalation came out at the
whispered voice. He reached out and stroked his hair. Whenever he
acted as he pleased, the other person would quietly put his cheek
against his hand. He acted as if he were a big dog waiting for his
master’s affection. ‘...Genie.’ "Uhm." He groaned sweetly and opened
his eyes in surprise at the sound. His vision became somewhat cloudy.
In a situation where he couldn't tell if it was a dream or a hallucination,
someone had been crushing Kwon Taekjoo's body, and even now,
someone was on top of him. He turned his head, which felt heavy, to
the side, and his chin was grabbed to make him look straight ahead.
Then, his lips touched the other person's lips. Because he clenched his
teeth, most of the liquid he was trying to pour into his mouth flowed
down his chin. The other person sighed with regret and licked Kwon
Taekjoo's moist lips deeply. For some reason, his head felt dizzy. As he
gathered his clouded consciousness, he kept pushing the person who
was fidgeting away. He shook his head hard to come to his senses. His
bones rang out. [… Chew, what is it.] [Oh, you’re awake?] Matthias
smiled and spoke. His eyes were slightly open, indicating that he had
been hit with another dose of medicine. He rolled his eyes and looked
around. He was still in the massage room. The only difference was that
the smell of incense had become disgustingly strong and the masseuses
were nowhere to be seen. The lights were also strangely bright, making
him feel uncomfortable. Kwon Taekjoo couldn’t remember when or how
he had fallen asleep. Matthias kissed Kwon Taekjoo’s ear and neck,
which were confused. He also rubbed his groyne repeatedly against
Kwon Taekjoo’s centre. His erect penis was scratching and poking Kwon
Taekjoo’s penis. [What are you doing? Get out of the way.] [Taekjoo. Do
you want to work as my personal bodyguard? I’ll treat you well. You
won’t be disappointed with the treatment.] Matthias whispered while
sucking Kwon Taekjoo’s earlobe. He pushed the tip of his tongue into his
ear hole and grabbed his plump breasts and buttocks with both hands
and groped them. Hearing his breathing getting hotter and hotter, it was
disgusting. It was unparalleled. [i..] He stretched out his arm that was as
thick as a thousand pounds and wrapped it around Matthias' neck.
Then Matthias grinned and said, "Do you like it here?". He thrust his
penis between Kwon Taekjoo's tight thighs and groaned as if it felt
good. His balls and perineum were all pressed against his penis, and
even the hole inside his buttocks was secretly rubbed. His molars are a
bit hard. He tightened his grip on the arm that was holding Matthias.
Then, he instantly rolled his body under the bed. The two of their
bodies were entangled and fell to the floor. Matthias jokingly said,
"Ouch," at the sudden fall. But right after that, Kwon Taekjoo came up
and pressed his neck with his knee, and he suddenly came to his senses.
When Matthias’s windpipe was suddenly crushed, he reached for the
gun that had fallen with him. Just as his hand was about to reach the
gun, Kwon Taekjoo’s fist struck his pubic bone. Matthias let out a groan
and shook his body. It wouldn’t have been strange if his ribs had been
broken. [Don’t act like a fool. You won’t miss next time.] Kwon Taekjoo
warned him as he pressed his fist near Matthias’ heart. The heat in his
groyne cooled down in an instant. He felt even more frustrated when he
saw Kwon Taekjoo’s genitals that didn’t respond even though he had
rubbed them. Matthias smiled awkwardly. He raised both hands. [Okay.
I apologise for my rudeness. I was just momentarily tempted. What man
would just pass up such a tempting fruit?] [Shut up and answer what I
ask.] He pressed his knees down further on Matthias' neck. Even though
his breathing was suffocated, his face turned bright red, and his
forehead was red, Matthias smiled and nodded. [Ha, what are you so
curious about?] [I think the Russian ambassador to Korea was here
today.] [Huh? How did you know? Well, maybe it was spying. Did you do
it?] [There's no law that says I can't do what you do.] Matthias chuckled
and said obediently [Yes.] [He came. To catch you.] To catch Kwon
Taekjoo himself. Did Kwon Taekjoo himself betray the Russian
ambassador and run away? How do Matthias and him know each
other? Kwon Taekjoo asked Matthias a question he couldn't solve on his
own. [What's the relationship between that guy and 'Psih'?] [What, you
didn't know what you were asking?] [Stop talking nonsense and
answer.] [Ugh... Okay, okay. I'll cooperate, so stop. I'll be angry.]
Matthias patted Kwon Taekjoos leg, which seemed like it would break
his neck. He played a trick on Kwon Taekjoo even though he looked like
he was going to die. He slightly relaxed his leg. Matthias let out a deep
breath and readily answered Kwon Taekjoo's curiosity. [Yevgeny
Vissarionovich Bogdanov. That's 'Psikh.'] [...What?] Yevgeny, the third
son of the Bogdanov family, the real power in Russia, and a high-ranking
diplomat. You're that 'Psih'? Suddenly, he remembered Matthias' words
that 'Psih', who was closely related to the mafia, was a Russian civil
servant. If all of that was true, the links of memories that had been
disconnected for a while were loosely connected. On the other hand, a
new question arose. Matthias must have been closer to 'Psih' than
Kwon Taekjoo himself, so why didn't he hand me over to him when he
was looking for me so much? To get his hands on 'Psih's' weakness that
Kwon Taekjoo himself might have? [Are you trying to hide me, or cover
me up?] [Well.] Matthias's words trailed off at the subsequent question.
He squeezed his neck harder again. [Answer.] [At first, I thought I'd hide
it.] Matthias answered with a cough. The smile on his face didn't fade at
all. [I think I'll hide it now.] Matthias raised his hand and stroked Kwon
Taekjoo's thigh as if tickling him as he made an expression that he
couldn't understand. Even in a situation where his life was at stake, he
did something like that. Kwon Taekjoo stretched out his arm and picked
up Matthias’s pistol. Then he aimed the gun at Matthias and said, “Get
up.” Matthias got up with both hands up. He threw a robe at him who
was naked. Matthias, who was wearing a robe, immediately came over
with a bath towel. Kwon Taekjoo’s gun barrel was pressed against his
forehead. [What are you doing?] [It’s not gentlemanly manners to walk
around anywhere.] Matthias personally wrapped the towel around
Kwon Taekjoo’s waist. He didn’t care that the gun barrel was pressing
down on his head and even smiled faintly. How thoughtful. He doesn't
know. [Go outside.] He pushed Matthias’s back toward the door. He
aimed the gun at the back of his head. As he slowly opened the door
and went out, the bodyguard waiting outside urgently aimed his rifle.
He came closer to Matthias and ordered him. [Put down your gun and
step back.] Matthias nodded as if to say so. His bodyguard had no
choice but to slowly put down his gun and step back. Kwon Taekjoo
walked slowly with Matthias in front, pushing the rifle on the floor far
away. He took Matthias up the stairs. He was there. The bodyguards
waiting inside immediately surrounded the two. Dozens of guns were
aimed at Kwon Taekjoo. [Hey, back off. Everyone, back off. Hey, you’re
going to get hurt. Over there, get out of the way.] Matthias stepped
forward and pushed the bodyguards away. His bodyguards hesitated
and made their way forward with bewildered expressions. Kwon
Taekjoo took Matthias to the second-floor study. He pushed Matthias
through the closed door, and he opened the door himself and went in.
Kwon Taekjoo followed him in and locked the door from the inside.
Maybe it was because he was drunk. Matthias grumbled as if he was
excited. [What are we going to do now, Joo?] [Call.] [Huh? To whom?]
[To Psih.] Matthias's eyes widened at the unexpected request. Then he
tilted his head slightly and scratched his eyebrows. [I don't think that's a
good idea.] [I'll decide. Call.] He put the gun between Matthias's
eyebrows. Matthias pouted and took out his cell phone and followed
Kwon Taekjoo's instructions. He put the cell phone on speakerphone
and placed it on the desk. The screen showed Psih in Spanish. The
recipient name 'Huh' was displayed. Soon, a long, slow beeping sound
began to drop. Kwon Taekjoo held his breath as he waited for the other
person to respond. For some reason, his heart started pounding loudly
again. [No answer.] But the call never connected. Why didn't he answer
when it wasn't that late? He was about to reach for his phone to try
calling again. A familiar loud noise was heard from somewhere. It was
the sound of a helicopter's propeller. Kwon Taekjoo and Matthias' eyes
turned out the window at the same time. As expected, a bright light
appeared in the dark sky. Light appeared. A helicopter was flying quickly
toward the villa. The guards standing guard outside fired bullets into the
air. The helicopter responded with miniguns and gradually closed the
distance. Then, the figure of the person on board the helicopter came
into view. It was Yevgeny Vissarionovich Bogdanov. P.S.H. [… What the.]
[It’s dangerous!] At the same time as Matthias shouted, the minigun
from the helicopter fired. Kwon Taekjoo and Matthias hurriedly rolled
behind the desk. Bulletproof Even the glass-framed window couldn’t
withstand the continuous barrage of fire. The shattered glass poured
down in thousands of shards. The strong wind from the propeller
tossed the glass shards, curtains, and furniture in the room around. He
couldn’t open his eyes at all. [Taekjoo!] Amidst the strong wind that
made his ears ring, he heard a familiar voice. He instinctively flinched
and froze. He couldn’t understand the words. He gathered his wits for a
moment and turned toward the window to fire back. He came face to
face with Psih. Psih, who suddenly encountered Kwon Taekjoo, stopped
shooting. It was frozen. Even in the midst of the chaos of the strong
wind and noise, they stared at each other for a long time. For that
moment, it felt like the two of them were trapped in a vacuum. They
were so surprised that they forgot to breathe. The bottle of liquor that
had been rolling around hit Kwon Taekjoo. Immediately, as if the
hypnosis had been lifted, he raised his gun and aimed it at Psih without
hesitation. Psih’s eyes widened slightly, but that was only for a moment
before the bastard suddenly reached out his hand. As expected, Kwon
Taekjoo’s shoulders trembled. [Come here.] The tone of his command,
frowning, sounded firm yet somehow pitiful. He hesitated and took a
step back. Then Psych's face became more vivid. In the meantime,
Matthias's bodyguards, who had reorganised their formation, focused
their fire on the helicopter. Bullets ricocheted off the outside of the
helicopter, creating a flash of light. The shaking helicopter's propeller
seemed about to touch the building's outer wall at any moment.
[Taekjoo, come here!] Despite the hail of bullets, Psych repeatedly
reached out. He was confused. If the bastard was going to hurt Kwon
Taekjoo himself, the easiest way would have been to shoot the minigun
right now. However, the bastard desperately reached out with his body
halfway out of the fuselage. His gesture looked very desperate. Kwon
Taekjoo Did God hide something so important from him? Was he taking
such a risk to keep me alive until he could get it back? More than
anything, what caught Kwon Taekjoo’s attention was a certain emotion
in his blue eyes. As far as Kwon Taekjoo knew, the name of that emotion
was longing. It was a desperate longing. The moment he tried to
approach Zhenya as if he was being led by something, his leg was
suddenly grabbed. When he turned around blankly, Matthias was
pulling Kwon Taekjoo. [Hey, Taekjoo. It’s dangerous!] Kwon Taekjoo felt
his leg caught by Matthias. He looked at Zhenya's hand that was
extended to him alternately. Zhenya shouted even more excitedly.
[Taekjoo!] His mind was constantly fluttering. His heart was also
pounding wildly. What should he do? What should he do? His thought
circuits were tangled in the confusing situation, and he couldn't make
any further progress in his thoughts. Following Psich was like calling
himself a rat in a cage. However, Matthias also had a hard time
believing him completely. "Senior, dear!" Just when his worries were
reaching their peak, a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks. It was a
voice that came from inside the helicopter. The owner of the voice was
He was sitting in the cockpit wearing a suit. From Kwon Taekjoo’s
position, he couldn’t see his face at all. [Eek! Mr. Yevgeny, I can’t hold
out any longer!] A moment ago, that voice screamed in shock. At that
exact moment, a memory flashed through my mind. - If this keeps up,
I’m really going to die! I’m going to die! Eek, I’m going to die, I’m going
to die! Are you listening, you crazy bastard! “...Yoon Jong-woo?” That
was the owner of the game account that had logged in at the internet
cafe. The one his mother had mentioned. The names were the same.
Could the two be the same person? If they even shared accounts, they
must have been very close. If they even exchanged personal greetings
with Kwon Taekjoo’s mother, it was even more so. While he hesitated,
the bodyguards’ shooting became even fiercer. Bullets flew at Kwon
Taekjoo’s window and holes were made in the fuselage. Kwon Taekjoo,
who had been hesitating, soon made up his mind and strode toward the
helicopter. Matthias quickly grabbed his collar. [Taekjoo! Are you really
going to go? You don’t know how dangerous that guy is!] [You’re
different?] Matthias was momentarily speechless. Kwon Taekjoo
immediately shook his hand off and ran to the helicopter. Psych opened
his arms wide and hugged him as he jumped toward him. Immediately,
he aimed his gun at Matthias. Die. The moment Matthias’ body froze
with intense conviction, the bazooka struck the helicopter. The
helicopter quickly took off. And immediately after, something rolled
down from the helicopter. Matthias, who recognized the object,
hurriedly jumped out of the way. Soon, the entire building shook with a
loud explosion. All the windows and doors in the villa blew out at once.
When he finally came to his senses, the entire room had been blown
away except for Matthias’s seat. Matthias stood there blankly, staring at
the helicopter flying away. He felt empty. He felt like something he
never had was taken away. As if to make him realise reality, a stone that
had fallen from the ceiling hit his head. He suddenly burst out laughing.
[The world’s Psyche has fallen in love. He has fallen in love.] He shook
his head. He kept laughing in vain because he was so dumbfounded.
CNABOOK9(ORPART4OFNOVELII) 12. Rewind Time He dropped a bomb
into the villa and soared high into the sky. Soon, a bomb exploded
beneath his feet, and black smoke rose. Only then did Zhenya take his
hand off the trigger of the minigun. Until then, Kwon Taekjoo was still in
Zhenya’s arms. Zhenya looked at Kwon Taekjoo’s face with a puzzled
expression. For some reason, he was groaning with his eyes closed. His
body also sagged limply. [Taekjoo...?] He grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s
shoulder and pulled him away from him. When he looked closely, Kwon
Taekjoo’s face was covered in sweat. He quickly scanned his body. His
pants, which were touching his thighs, were soaking wet. There was a
fishy smell in the air. He knew what it was by the smell of the crabs
mixing together. It was blood. The moment he jumped into the
helicopter, he seemed to have been hit by the bullets raining down from
below. Zhenya laid Kwon Taekjoo down straight and applied pressure to
the wound with a towel. He also put his ear near his nose and mouth to
check his breathing and pulse. Yoon Jong-woo turned around at the
ominous atmosphere and turned pale. "Senior! Senior, are you okay?"
Zhenya winked at Yoon Jong-woo. Yoon Jong-woo approached him
crawling. He grabbed his belt with one hand and pulled it off as if
tearing it off, wrapping it around Kwon Taekjoo's thigh. Then, he pulled
his trembling hands and applied pressure to the wound. In a hurry, he
put the gun under his injured leg. He pushed the box and picked up the
first aid kit. The medicines in the box poured out in his hasty hands. He
found gauze and bandages among them and used them to stop the
bleeding on his thigh more firmly. "... Senior, come to your senses."
Yoon Jong-woo, who had a sad look on his face, reached out to Kwon
Taekjoo's shoulder. Zhenya fiercely pushed his hand away and hugged
Kwon Taekjoo tightly. It was no different from holding him so tightly that
a groan of pain escaped from Kwon Taekjoo. The helicopter flew
endlessly over the dark clouds over Turkey. He never wanted to live like
his father or his brother. Their lives may have been a glorious honour
that was worthy of being admired by the outside world, but it was a
lifelong wound for the family they left behind. That’s why Kwon Taekjoo
thought his mother’s concerns about him were unfounded. He entered
a suitable university based on his grades. The classes weren’t that
interesting, but they didn’t really match his aptitude. His school life
itself and his relationships with his friends were okay. It didn’t seem like
a bad idea to graduate and get a job using his major. Unlike his peers, he
didn’t seem to have any anxiety about the future or any special
ambitions. He took a leave of absence after two years to enlist. He
wanted to join the Marine Corps, but he enlisted in the regular army at
the urging of his mother. However, he had doubts before 6 months had
passed. He felt like he was just wasting time with the series of
meaningless training. Then, by chance, he came across a notice for
recruiting special forces non-commissioned officers. He applied without
much hesitation because it said that he could apply even as an active-
duty soldier. He passed without much difficulty, taking first place in both
the written and practical tests. All of the successful candidates were
physically fit, but they had taken many hundreds of classes during the
intensive training that lasted about 4 months. Many of them dropped
out during the 3-month basic training after being commissioned. The
forced march continued, pushing his body to its limits every day, but his
mind was clearer than ever. There was no room for other worries or
distracting thoughts in the pain that squeezed his whole body. That may
be why he fell deeper. The only problem was the mandatory service
period of four years after being commissioned. He had kept the fact
that he had become a special forces soldier a secret from his mother.
That was why his mother thought that Kwon Taekjoo would be
discharged soon and return to school. As he was increasingly worried
about how to convince his mother, he received a call from his superiors.
He finally put on his uniform and headed to the brigade commander’s
office. He had never met a general of the rank of brigadier general or
higher unless he received an award for excellence. That was why he was
curious about the sudden call. Before entering the brigade
commander’s office, he straightened his clothes. He also pulled down
his slightly crooked black beret. After taking a deep breath and knocking
on the door, he was given permission to come in. He opened the door
and closed it, and as soon as he entered, he saluted politely. “Unity!
Sergeant Kwon Taekjoo. You called.” “Yes. Come in.” The brigade
commander greeted him with a smile. The chief of staff sat next to him,
and an unfamiliar civilian sat across from him. The civilian in the black
suit carefully examined Kwon Taekjoo, who was standing at the door,
from head to toe. “Are you a member of this unit?” "Yes. He's only been
in the military for two years, but he's top-notch in all areas, including
infiltration, assassination, guerrilla warfare, special reconnaissance,
information warfare, and rescue. He's the fastest promoted among his
peers, and he's already received several awards." "Moreover, he's
received many military medals from his family. He's a smart guy, so he's
the perfect fit for the type of person you're looking for." The brigade
commander and chief of staff couldn't stop praising Kwon Taekjoo's
military life. The man who had been looking at Kwon Taek Joo
repeatedly as if he was evaluating him while listening to their stories
finally opened his mouth. "You. Do you have any plans to work for the
country?" "I'm still working for the country." "Ahaha, that's right. What
I'm proposing is a bit more secretive and serious work." The man smiled
and handed him his business card. There was an unfamiliar company
name, 'Eulji Networks', and the name 'Sales Manager Kim Dong-
myeong' written on it. He had a vague feeling that the name was a
pseudonym. Later, he searched for the company name on the Internet.
There wasn't much information that stood out. His guess was right.
After a while, the unit gave Kwon Taekjoo two days of special leave. He
immediately wrote on his business card, he went to the place written
down. There was a dilapidated commercial building there. It was almost
like a ruin, and all the offices were empty, with only 'Eulji Networks' on
the 4th floor. At first glance, it looked like a human resources office.
When he knocked on the door, there was no response. He tried the
doorknob just in case. The door opened without a hitch. A middle-aged
woman was standing inside, playing Go-Stop. After taking a quick look
at Kwon Taekjoo, she turned her gaze back to the monitor and asked.
"How did you come here?" "I was introduced to you." He handed the
woman his business card. After glancing at it, she said, “I called
somewhere and arrived,” and quickly hung up. Then she motioned to
Kwon Taekjoo to sit on the old sofa. “Wait a minute over there.” That
‘minute’ stretched into several hours. When lunchtime came, the
woman left the seat and bought two rolls of kimbap for him on the way
back. When it was the usual time to leave work, he turned off the
computer without any regrets, grabbed his bag, and got up. Then he
put a key down in front of Kwon Taekjoo. “You can lock the door with
this key and put it in the flower pot outside.” "Yes? Then how long do I
have to wait?" "You'll find out." The woman left the office with only a
strange answer. As her popularity faded, her son-in-law(?) became
quiet. Kwon Taekjoo sat blankly in the empty office, not knowing what
was going on. As the time approached midnight, the sound of a car that
had been heard from afar began to come to mind. In the deep silence,
his ears became much more sensitive. Thanks to that, he could clearly
sense the sound of a car approaching and stopping in front of the
building. He got up from his seat and looked outside through the sheet
on the window. A black car was parked in front of the building. He was
standing at the entrance. No one was getting out. No one was passing
by. The car just stayed there for a while. It was a time when adventure
was needed. For some reason, the blood in his body began to circulate
quickly. Kwon Taekjoo hurried down the stairs. The driver of the black
sedan got out of the car accordingly. He was wearing a black suit and
black sunglasses, just like the man who had come to meet Kwon
Taekjoo. He opened the back seat door without saying anything. He got
into the car silently and put on the blindfold he handed him. The car left
the dark alley and drove for a long time. It passed through narrow
streets one after another so that it was impossible to recognize where it
was, and at one block he circled around and around. When he finally
reached his destination, the driver got out first and opened the door for
him. He walked down the long hallway, still wearing the blindfold, under
his lead. Finally, he arrived at the door. When he knocked on the door,
he was told to come in. It was a different voice from the man who had
come to visit him in the military. He opened the door and went inside.
The inside felt much brighter than the hallway. "Why did you put the
blindfold on again?" The owner of the office who saw Kwon Taekjoo let
out a low laugh. He told the driver who had been following Kwon
Taekjoo the whole time to get out. The driver quietly bowed and left,
and the door closed. He did. "You can take that off now.” With the
man's permission, he took off the blindfold. A bright light suddenly
came in. Intelligence Department Chief Lim Dae-hyung The nameplate
on the desk caught his eye first. The National Intelligence Service
emblem was clearly engraved on it. He raised his head and stared at the
owner of the nameplate. A middle-aged man with a sad expression
greeted me first. "It's nice to meet you. If you came all the way here, I
guess that means you're willing to devote yourself to your country?" He
opened his eyes dimly. In his blurry vision, he saw a white ceiling and a
large amount of money hanging in a row. He rolled his eyes and
followed the hose down. Soon, he saw a familiar head. He wiggled his
fingers. The person who sensed that feeling raised his head
bewilderedly. His eyes were swollen and puffy, and his nose was bright
red, making it a sight to behold. "Senior!" "....Yoon Jong-woo?" "Do you
remember me?" "When did you become so ugly?” "Oh my, senior."
Yoon Jong-woo hugged Kwon Taekjoo tightly with a face filled with
emotion. The leg that was crushed by him started to hurt, so he quickly
pulled away. He looked down at the painful spot and saw that it was
bandaged. It seemed that a bullet had grazed it when he escaped from
Matthias' villa. At the same time, he remembered the tense escape
situation. The time he had been struggling between Matthias and Psych,
the voice of Psych desperately calling Kwon Taekjoo, and the moment
when he had thrown himself at Psih without any certainty. It seems that
he had not hesitated any longer thanks to the familiar voice of Yoon
Jong-woo. The moment he settled down in Psych’s arms, the moment
his scent filled his nostrils, he felt relieved for some reason. Was it
because his arms were wide enough to comfortably hold Kwon Taekjoo?
How much time has passed since then? Where was this place, and how
did Yoon Jong-woo get here? And where is Psih? As soon as he regained
consciousness, new questions arose one after another. It seemed that
his mind would not be refreshed until he regained all his memories. This
time, too, his head started to throb and he let out a long exhale. He had
a dream a long time ago. No, it was part of a past memory that he had
lost. In the process of recovery, Kwon Taekjoo himself became a special
forces member. He remembered how he ended up joining the National
Intelligence Service. He accepted the special recruitment offer from the
National Intelligence Service on the spot. It was a time when he felt joy
in pushing himself to his limits and achieving goals that seemed
impossible. Since it was practically in the national interest, there was no
reason to refuse. He told his mother that he had prepared for the civil
service exam during his military service and that he had passed the 7th
grade administrative position. His mother was not disappointed when
he said he would not go back to school. She seemed satisfied with the
fact that her only son had a safe job. After that, he received another six
months of training and he was deployed. He was given missions that
were more colourful and unorthodox than when he was a special force
member, missions that were literally 'needed to be done even if it didn't
work out'. Even though his body was tired, every time he completed a
mission, it was thrilling beyond comparison. He had never experienced
such a blood-boiling experience in his life. After spending a few years
alone like that, he got a second-in-command. It was Yoon Jong-woo, a
genius who won the world hacking competition. When he first met
Yoon Jong-woo, he was very cautious, clumsy, and timid. And when he
gradually recalled him in his head, he was still very cautious, clumsy,
and timid, and he was just as much. Yoon Jong-woo, who was looking
down at Kwon Taekjoo, had tears welling up in his eyes and eventually
running down his cheeks. His glasses, which he had finally put on,
fogged up whiteley. "Huh? Hey, Inma. Why is that bastard crying so
hard?" "Well, it's your senior, your senior..." "Oh, I really can't stand it."
He suddenly raised his upper body. Yoon Jong-woo, who was shedding
tears, tried to stop him, saying, "Huh," but he didn't care. He threw a
towel that was on the table next to him to Yoon Jong-woo. Yoon Jong-
woo buried his face in it and sobbed for a long time. He looked like he
had been through a lot. It was. Why was a guy who should have just
quietly supported him in Turkey? And with Psych. There were more
than one or two things he was curious about. He looked around again.
One room was too spacious and luxurious, so it didn’t seem like a hotel
or a hospital. It was different from Matthias’ villa. Was it a place that
Psich had prepared? Why was he providing such convenience? Since the
only person he could trust right now was Yoon Jong-woo, he decided to
find out all the information he could from that perspective. “More than
that, why are you here? “Me? I came to find my senior.” "Did the
headquarters order you?" "...Yes. It's similar." Yoon Jong-woo answered
somewhat unclearly. Kwon Taekjoo's eyes narrowed. "Why did they
send you over all the others?" "Why of all people? Why me!" "Are you
asking because you don't know?" "I'm upset. I went through all the
trouble to find you, senior." "I guess that's what it looks like." "Oh,
you're going too far. Seriously." Yoon Jong-woo rolled his eyes and
grinned. The tears that had been welling up in his eyes had
disappeared. He smirked and asked again to confirm. "I'm not sure right
now, but I'm still a member of the National Intelligence Service, right?"
"Yes. Of course!" "And you went to Iran for official business?" "Yes. It
was a job to transfer a North Korean official who wanted asylum to the
embassy, but you got caught up in a terrorist attack by a third party."
"Then that operation failed too?” "No. Who are you, senior? Mission
accomplished He’s the ace of the National Intelligence Service with a
100% success rate! I can’t stand seeing anything end in a bad way. In
fact, the operation in Iran was an extension of the only operation that
my senior had almost failed before. My senior stepped forward to finish
that job himself, so it was a mission he was assigned. The North Korean
agent arrived at the embassy safely thanks to my senior’s good
handover to another agent despite the chaos. He’s now reunited with
his family and preparing to defect.” After hearing Yoon Jong-woo’s
explanation, his questions that he couldn’t solve were partially
resolved. Since he must have entered the country under false pretences
as a black agent, there would have been no related records, and his
identity could not be confirmed. He spoke various languages. It was
because of that that he could speak, that he had a keen sense of
alertness, and that he had excellent ability and agility to deal with crisis
situations. However, after Kwon Taekjoo clearly knew his identity,
another question arose. "Then what about that Russian ambassador?"
"Huh? Do you remember Mr. Yevgeny? "...No. I just know that guy is the
Russian ambassador. My mother said that I served as that
ambassador?" "Oh, that's because my senior lied to your mother about
working at the Russian embassy in Korea. Your mother doesn't want
you to work at the National Intelligence Service. Mr. Yevgeny matched
the beat with that." "That guy, is he really the Russian ambassador to
Korea?" "Surprisingly." "Then I don't understand. Why is a Russian
ambassador matching my lies? How do you know me?" "Uh... First of
all, you said you were friends.” "Who?" "My senior." "I said with my
own mouth that I was friends with that guy?" Yoon Jong-woo nodded
instead of answering. Judging from his fierce face, it didn’t seem like he
was trying to fool or play a prank on Kwon Taekjoo. When and how did
Kwon Taekjoo become friends with the third son of a powerful Russian
family? If Yoon Jong-woo had said so, it meant that ‘Psikh’, a high-
ranking Russian diplomat and underworld arms dealer, had joined Kwon
Taekjoo’s private lies and had come all this way to save him. Why on
earth? His already limited imagination was reaching its limit. His head
was spinning for no reason. “How did I meet that guy?” In response to
the following question, Yoon Jong-woo had said that Kwon Taekjoo had
gone on a solo mission to Russia a few years ago. He told him a story. At
that time, he mistook Psih, who was a member of the FSB, for his
partner and started hanging out with him, and he almost died at his
hands. He barely made it back alive and joined up with Yoon Jong-woo,
and Psih, who followed him, changed his mind and helped him, so all
the problems were solved. In the process, his mother found out that he
was a member of the National Intelligence Service, and when Psych
came to Korea as the Russian ambassador, he put Kwon Taekjoo on the
list of embassy staff. He said that his mother began to interact with him
privately because she thought of him as her son's superior and took
good care of him. The more he listened, the more confused he became.
He felt like he had to go over everything again. "Wait, wait! That guy
was the FSB?" "Yes. He was a one-man unit of the infamous Spetsgur
faction Alpha." Yoon Jong-woo lowered his voice and whispered so that
no one would hear. Kwon Taekjoo frowned. "I almost died at his hands
because I mistook him for a comrade?" "It was really dangerous back
then." "But he came all the way to Korea to help me?" "That's right. I
don't know how it happened, but Mr. Yevgeny was my senior. He helped
me get out of the country and played a part in my senior catching the
real culprit. After that, he came to Korea as the Russian ambassador,
and he became close friends with my mother while visiting my senior’s
house.” Yoon Jong-woo’s story was hard to understand. It felt like he
had missed an important screw and the whole thing wasn’t fitting
together properly. Kwon Taekjoo tried to suppress his uneasy feeling
and asked again. “So… I almost died at the hands of that Yevgeny or
something, and then one day I suddenly became friends with that guy,
and now I’m pretending to work for that guy to fool my mother?” “Yes,
that’s right.” "That kid came all the way to Korea to match the rhythm?"
"Yes." "Why?" "I don't know." Yoon Jong-woo answered brightly. A sigh
escaped his lips. He reached out and touched Yoon Jong-woo's
shoulder, saying, "Jong-woo." "Huh?" "Do you know what you're talking
about? You should say something reasonable." "Hey! You might not
believe it, but it's all true. That's what I'm saying." Yoon Jong-woo
clenched his fists with a resentful expression. It was definitely not the
time to be talking nonsense. Yoon Jong-woo wasn't very good at lying.
So then, everything he’s heard so far is true. How could that be? He’s
never had a personal relationship with someone he was involved with
during a mission. It was the same even if he spent a night with them to
charm a key figure. It was natural. You can't involve personal feelings in
official business, and Kwon Taekjoo himself shouldn't be there. But why
on earth did he drag someone he met as an enemy into Korea? It would
be better to just If he followed Kwon Taekjoo to get revenge on him, it
would be understandable. However, in that case, it was not explained
why he became friends with his mother and participated in Kwon
Taekjoo’s lies, or why he came to find Kwon Taekjoo at the risk of his
life. As he groaned in curiosity that could not be resolved for the time
being, something suddenly came to mind. “Oh, what is that tattoo on
my leg?” “A tattoo? Did you get a tattoo on your senior too? Where is
it?” Yoon Jong-woo scanned Kwon Taekjoo’s body with an expression
that seemed to be the first time he had heard of it. He had clearly taken
him to the sauna a few times, and they drank until they were crabs and
fell asleep at each other's house. They even went swimming almost
naked. So if it was an old tattoo, there was no way Yoon Jong-woo
wouldn't know. Kwon Taekjoo immediately pulled the skin on his thigh
to show the tattoo inside. Yoon Jong-woo also looked at the tattoo,
almost nodding his head. "Huh? Really? Isn't this Cyrillic? When did you
get it done? Tattoos are prohibited under the National Intelligence
Service's job regulations? I've bathed and swam with my seniors all this
time, but I didn't know at all." "Really? Did I get it done not long ago?"
"The lines are clear, so that's what it looks like. But what does this
read?" Yoon Jong-woo kept looking at the tattoo with curious eyes. He
even touched the area where the tattoo was engraved. Did Yoon Jong-
woo not know at all? If Kwon Taekjoo himself had gotten the tattoo,
violating the job regulations, it must have had a pretty important
meaning. "Do you know what Anastasia: is..." It was around the time he
said that. A distinct presence was detected outside the door. Then, the
door opened without a knock. Kwon Taekjoo and Yoon Jong-woo's eyes
turned to the door at the same time. The one who entered was none
other than Zhenya. He was near Kwon Taek-joo's groyne. As soon as he
saw Yoon Jong-woo, who was pushing in, his face hardened. The
bastard's thorny gaze was immediately fixed on Kwon Taekjoo. He
frowned at the look in his eyes that seemed to ask him what he was
doing. Did he see something wrong? "Oh, Mr. Yevgeny! I told you that
my senior woke up already..." Yoon Jong-woo stood up from his seat,
groaning in vain. Zhenya, who walked over with brisk strides, pushed
him hard. It seemed like he had pushed him lightly, but Yoon Jong-woo
fell down helplessly. Kwon Taekjoo, who saw that, clenched his fist and
ran towards him. "You bastard...!" As he was about to strike Zhenya, the
bastard’s two hands suddenly grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s face. He
immediately struck the bastard’s side and arms, but the bastard didn’t
move at all. He just stared at Kwon Taek Joo as if he was going to pierce
his face, then brought his lips to his. Before he could even move his
hand, their lips met. His whole body froze at the development he had
never expected. “Ouch… Ugh!” Yoon Jong-woo, who was getting up
while rubbing his butt, screamed at the strange sight unfolding before
him. Only then did he come to his senses and push Zhenya away.
However, the bastard stood firm like a rock and didn’t back down at all.
He kept hitting the bastard with his fists and somehow managed to
shake him off. He tried to tease him, but it was useless. He tried to
break the fingers that were holding his face, but it was no use. Zhenya
stubbornly licked Kwon Taekjoo’s lips that were tightly shut with his
thick tongue. When his lips didn’t open no matter how long he waited,
he bit his thick lower lip. As soon as he reflexively said, “Ah,” the
bastard’s tongue slammed in. It went all the way down his throat in one
breath, as if it was going to choke his airway. He bit down on the flesh
that was wriggling on its own. The bastard flinched and fell away. The
taste of blood filled his mouth. “Haa, haa… What are you doing?” He
grumbled in a low voice. His eyes became even more murderous. The
body was tense and ready to rush at the opponent at any moment.
Zhenya also quietly held his breath and glared at Kwon Taek Joo. His
eyes were somehow resentful. It seemed as if he was blaming Kwon
Taekjoo himself. Why on earth? [Yevgeny, you shouldn’t do this. Koreans
don’t kiss when they’re happy to meet you!] Yoon Jong-woo grabbed
Zhenya’s arm and stopped him. Zhenya kept his eyes fixed on Kwon
Taekjoo and suddenly grabbed Yoon Jong-woo’s neck. Yoon Jong-woo
groaned and struggled. [What are you doing? Let go of that hand!] [……]
[Let go of that hand.] He glared at Zhenya and wrinkled his nose.
Despite Kwon Taekjoo’s warning, the bastard strangled Yoon Jong-woo’s
neck. He struck the inside of his elbow hard with his hand. In an instant,
the strength in his grip loosened. Then, Yoon Jong-woo, who was being
held by the bastard, fell to the floor. He didn’t miss that moment and
pulled Zhenya’s arm forward. Zhenya’s body naturally was pulled
strongly toward Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo nodded to Yoon Jong-
woo, who was dumbfounded, while twisting the bastard’s arm further
outward so that Zhenya couldn’t move. “Yoon Jong-woo, stay out.” “Ha,
but....” "It's okay, so get out!" [Yes, Mr. Yevgeny. Senior is a patient right
now. He doesn't remember well either. You know that right? You
shouldn't forget. Please don't fight between you two.] Yoon Jong-woo
repeatedly reminded Zhenya of Kwon Taekjoo's condition and got up
from his seat. He kept looking back at the two people as he went out.
He sighed and nodded as if telling them not to worry. Yoon Jong-woo
went out with a face that looked like he was going to cry at any
moment, and the door quietly closed. There was no sound of him
moving away. He told him to go out, but it was obvious that he would
be fidgeting in front of the door. So, Zhenya didn't fight back at all. Even
though his arm was twisted beyond its range of motion and must have
hurt, he didn't even groan. He just held on to Kwon Taekjoo as he
pulled. He looked at him strangely. In the meantime, the guy had buried
his head in Kwon Taekjoo's neck. The guy's sharp nose seemed to touch
his skin. Soon, the guy took a deep breath. [..Taekjoo.] A sigh-like
exhalation escaped from the guy. It was a languid yet pitiful breath. Was
that why? An unidentifiable energy suddenly spread from inside his
chest. At the same time, goosebumps appeared on his skin. Without
realising it, he pushed him away. Then the guy who had been immersed
in the afterglow suddenly came to his senses. [It’s disgusting, so get
away.] He frowned and became serious. It was not that he was not, but
it was really embarrassing and embarrassing to be stuck with those dark
men. He wondered if Zhenya, being a foreigner, was not embarrassed
by that kind of contact, but Kwon Taekjoo was not. On the contrary, he
wondered if Kwon Taekjoo himself had been so humble that he would
allow hugs and kisses even between friends. Zhenya made a face of
bewilderment. He chuckled as if he had heard something shocking, but
he looked a little hurt. [Have you forgotten everything?] Zhenya asked in
disbelief. [You really don't remember anything? You forget so easily?]
He furrowed his brows and looked upset. A strange sense of despair
flashed across his eyes. [This won't do..] Zhenya shook his head slowly
and pushed Kwon Taek Joo. [Trust me. He said he'd solve everything
and come back on all fours.] […..] [You said you’d come get me, but you
were going to leave me like that for the rest of my life?] He didn’t know
how to react to the resentment that kept pouring out. He didn’t even
know what kind of relationship Kwon Taekjoo had with him, or what
kind of promise he made to him before leaving for Iran. Should he start
by apologising? [I’m sorry, but honestly, I don’t remember anything
about you. I really don’t know why you’re acting like this all of a
sudden.] Zhenya frowned at the apology that didn’t seem like an
apology. The guy slowly looked at Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes alternately with
a look of displeasure before rushing over and hugging him tightly. In an
instant, his lungs were compressed and he couldn’t breathe. [Ah, really.
Get off me...!] He struggled to get rid of the guy who was clinging to
him recklessly. However, since Zhenya was bigger and pushed with all
his might, he couldn’t move. The more Zhenya struggled, the tighter he
squeezed him. After all, since they were close friends, he must have
been so touched that they were reunited. Moreover, how could he be
so strong? Despite his handsome appearance, he was quickly exhausted
by his immense strength. He had never been pushed by anyone in his
life, so he was very embarrassed. Zhenya buried his head in Taekjoos
neck and nuzzled his nose as he struggled to get away from him. He
licked his lips. Then, he put his lips on his hot ear and licked his tongue
down his cheek, licking his entire lips. [Wait, wait... uh...!] The moment
his mouth opened in embarrassment, his lips met again and his hot
tongue pushed in. He pressed down on Kwon Taekjoo's tongue, which
was getting angry in protest, and dug inside. Because of that, his Adam's
apple was touched and he felt a surge of revulsion. He kept retching
with his chest heaving. Saliva gathered fiercely at the tip of both his
jaws. Zhenya sucked and swallowed even that thoroughly. It was a
gesture of impatience, unable to take away Kwon Taekjoo's body heat
and breath. Kwon Taekjoo, who was struggling, slapped the elbow of
the guy who was sucking his tongue. He also kicked his side several
times with his knee up. The guy didn’t even flinch at that much blow. He
was so desperate that he was definitely trying to suffocate Kwon
Taekjoo to death. He was so short of oxygen because all his breath was
sucked out. His head became dizzy and his consciousness became
clouded. Kwon Taekjoo’s arm, which he had been fighting with his
whole body, gradually lost strength. Zhenya, who had been kissing him
absentmindedly until then, suddenly stopped. When he suddenly
looked down at his damp bottom, he saw that the bandage wrapped
around Kwon Taekjoo’s thigh was bright red. It seemed that the wound
had opened up from the fierce fight. [Taekjoo?] [Fuck... Seriously, what
are you doing, you.] Kwon Taekjoo, who had been grumbling, muttered
listlessly and then suddenly lost consciousness. His hand that had been
pushing Zhenya also fell to the bed. [Taekjoo!] Zhenya patted Kwon
Taekjoo’s sweaty cheek and called his name again. There was no
response from Kwon Taekjoo. He hurriedly checked his condition. In the
meantime, his whole body was getting hot. Every time he breathed, his
shoulders and chest were heaving at the same time, and his mouth was
constantly open, gasping for breath. It was a bad sign. He immediately
got up and ran out of the room. He went out. Yoon Jong-woo, who had
been hesitating in front of the door, shrugged his shoulders. Zhenya
walked briskly somewhere, passing him who had asked about Kwon
Taekjoo’s well-being with his eyes. There seemed to be no sign of panic.
Yoon Jong-woo, who was left alone, looked around the room and
hurriedly ran over. “Senior!” As his consciousness faded away, Yoon
Jong-woo’s shout to come to his senses echoed far away. He called a
doctor and had Kwon Taekjoo examine him. The doctor disinfected the
wound and changed the bandage. He added an antipyretic and anti-
inflammatory to the Ringer's solution and told Kwon Taekjoo to rest
until he woke up on his own. He told him to be careful not to cause an
inflammatory reaction, as sepsis caused by a gunshot wound is more
dangerous than the gunshot wound itself. In reality, Kwon Taekjoo's
injury wasn't that serious. However, he had lost a lot of blood and was
in poor physical condition, so he would recover slowly. His complexion
certainly didn't look good. It seemed like he hadn't eaten properly or
rested comfortably for a while. Why wouldn't he? One day, he suddenly
lost all his memories and he must have wandered around without
knowing who he was. "Senior... Get well soon." Yoon Jong-woo sat on
Kwon Taekjoo's bed and waited for him to wake up again. Even if Kwon
Taekjoo was just deeply asleep, it was hard to hide his anxiety when he
was unconscious for an entire day. He looked at Kwon Taekjoo's face
once every second and kept getting gloomy. With his two hands that
had nothing to do, he kept rubbing Kwon Taekjoo's arms. How long had
passed? Suddenly, a vibration sound rang. He looked at his phone in
surprise. It was a call from headquarters. He entered the designated
password and checked the message he received. It asked him to report
when he would return and if there was any new news. He sighed. Yoon
Jong-woo's vacation was only for a week. And the only mission given to
him by headquarters was to go to Iran unofficially and confirm Kwon
Taekjoo's body. Zhenya followed his trail with fire in his eyes, convinced
that Kwon Taekjoo was alive. It had already been three weeks since he
had blindly followed him. He had barely managed to hold out during
that time, using up his summer vacation and annual leave, but now
there was nothing he could do. Now that he has found Kwon Taekjoo,
he should contact Director Kwak. After all, he was Kwon Taek Joo’s
direct superior, and he had allowed him to accompany him to Iran
despite his chaos, so he would probably be considerate of the situation.
In order to return safely in the future, he had to find a way to contact
the headquarters. He’ll have to get support too. After making his
decision, Yoon Jong-woo searched for Director Kwak’s contact
information. Just as he was about to press the call button, the door
opened without warning. He flinched as if he had been caught stealing.
[Gasp! Yes, Mr. Yevgeny. Aren’t you asleep yet?] Zhenya looked down at
Yoon Jong-woo without answering. His trembling thumb was resting
awkwardly on the phone screen. Zhenya slowly approached him and
looked at his phone. Yoon Jong-woo’s shoulders buckled as the shadow
of the bastard moved over his head. [What are you doing?] [Huh? Oh,
that... I'm going to report to headquarters that I found my senior. Since
Black Agents are known for their long-term whereabouts, they can
easily cause unnecessary misunderstandings. When they return, they'll
probably harass people by investigating where they were and what they
were doing...] Zhenya, who had been listening silently, held out his
hand. Yoon Jong-woo raised his eyebrows, not understanding what he
meant. Zhenya continued to stare at him without saying anything. The
hand he held out to him didn't move at all. Yoon Jong-woo, who had
been watching him closely while rolling his eyes, quietly handed his cell
phone to the bastard. Zhenya pressed down on his cell phone while
keeping his eyes fixed on Yoon Jong-woo. Then, a crack radiated from
where his thumb had touched. [What!] [Who said it was okay to do
something like that?] Zhenya stared at Yoon Jong-woo and pressed him
in a cold tone. Yoon Jong-woo’s cell phone broke into pieces with a
crackling sound. Zhenya threw the broken pieces of the cell phone to
Yoon Jong-woo. Yoon Jong-woo, who suddenly grabbed it, couldn’t help
but be shocked. [Huh? Who told you to do that?] [I’m sorry. But if I
don’t report it in advance, you might be marked as a martyr. Then your
mother will be contacted, and once your identity is erased, it’s difficult
to restore it.] [Tell him to do so. He said he was going to quit anyway.]
[That may be true, but... that was a decision he made a long time ago,
and shouldn't he reconsider it when my senior comes to his senses?]
Was he annoyed by Yoon Jong-woo's response? Zhenya’s jaw tightened.
A clear vein appeared on his smooth forehead. His pupils, which had
been tightly shut, looked dark blue, if not black. [I'm warning you one
last time. Don't even think about doing something stupid.] He growled
without even opening his lips. Yoon Jong-woo shrank his neck in fear. If
he finds Kwon Taekjoo, he'll naturally return to Korea with him. He
knew he’d go. Kwon Taekjoo would want that too. Did Zhenya have a
different idea? Zhenya made an unexpected request to Yoon Jong-woo,
who was confused. [How about you go back soon.] [Yes? Me alone?]
[Yes. You alone.] It was as if he was telling Yoon Jong-woo to get out of
here since his work was done. He had heard that he was always like
that. But still. Yoon Jong-woo mustered up all his courage and
protested. [My memories of my senior were still intact, and my body
was You’re sick…] [What would change if you were by my side?] [Yes, it
could change. Right now, the only person that my senior remembers is
me. If I’m not there, my senior won’t be able to get close to me! Yes, he
might push Mr. Yevgeny away even more!] Yoon Jong-woo clenched his
fists and shouted. He had his eyes tightly shut, feeling that something
bad was coming. Surprisingly, there was no shock. He opened his eyes
slightly. Then he saw the face of a young Zhenya. Hic, he swallowed his
breath and quickly lowered his eyes. Zhenya seemed to be telling Yoon
Jong-woo to get out of here. Jong-woo nodded. When Yoon Jong-woo
slowly got up, he kicked away the chair he was sitting on. Yoon Jong-
woo couldn't stand the pressure and went outside. Left alone, Zhenya
quietly looked down at Kwon Taekjoo who was sleeping. He saw
wounds here and there on Kwon Taek-joo's body that he had never
seen before. Even that made him angry. Zhenya couldn't accept that
something he didn't know about had happened to Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon
Taekjoo would come back whenever he waited, in whatever form. He
didn't worry because he could watch his every move or chase him if he
wanted to. He never once imagined that he would disappear from the
world. With such arrogance, he let Kwon Taekjoo go. While secretly
waiting for him to come pick him up. How many days did he just stand
around the window like a squeal? Was it because he had wandered
around so much? When he finally saw Kwon Taekjoo in front of him, his
patience disappeared. He had long been aware of Kwon Taekjoo’s
condition. There was no way his lost memories would suddenly come
back. He knew, he knew everything, but seeing him push him away
while being wary made him feel so sorry and hard to bear. He didn’t
know how to control his boiling insides. His shallow patience hit rock
bottom at every opportunity. He tightly grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s hand
and placed it on top of it. He leaned against the horse. He couldn’t give
it to anyone anymore. He wasn’t going to let it run wild anymore. He
made a firm promise to himself that he would always keep it where his
eyes could see it. (Upcoming flashback!!) The heavy rumbling of the
ship woke him up. He looked around and saw pitch-black darkness. He
looked down at his feet. The waves crashing whiteley against the bow of
the ship and the vibrations that shook his body steadily confirmed
where he was. He took a deep breath. As expected, he could smell the
pungent smell of the sea. Where did this ship come from? Where is it
going? He looked at the gently rolling waves. A faint mechanical sound
broke the still silence. It was the sound from the earphone.- How are
you? Are you enjoying the romance of the night sea? A familiar voice
asked. It was Yoon Jong-woo. Were you on a mission? His
expressionless, frozen face softened. His lips drew a long arc, making a
clicking sound. 'Not bad. It's noisy, hectic, and yet boring.' As soon as he
finished speaking, the surroundings became bright. A few people
gathered in groups of three or four, chatting, laughing, and passing by. It
was a scenery that was nothing special, and therefore looked more
peaceful. He blended in without a care and walked inside the ship. At
that moment, someone running downstairs hit Kwon Taekjoo on the
shoulder. The man, whose face was flushed red, roughly pushed Kwon
Taekjoo and headed toward the deck. For a moment, his bloodshot eyes
came into view. He remembers seeing him somewhere. He stood there
blankly and then ran away in a panic. He was blind for no reason. The
man who ran away without thinking reached the railing and was at a
loss, not knowing what to do. He soon found Kwon Taekjoo following
him. He suddenly swung his knife. 'Don't come!' For some reason, he
seemed to know the man. All the situations that had unfolded so far felt
disparate and had a strong sense of foreboding. 'I said don't come!' The
man barked fiercely and repeatedly stabbed the empty space with his
knife. He looked at him straight in the eye and pulled out his pistol from
his waistband. As he aimed the gun at the man, his cornered eyes shook
ceaselessly. His anxious gaze, which had been thinking of a way to
survive, briefly left Kwon Taekjoo and fell behind him. It was a slight
movement, but it was unmistakable. Kwon Taekjoo headed straight in
that direction. He turned around and pulled the trigger. ‘Ah!' The
woman who had been shot sat down, holding her injured hand. Her gun
fell to the floor and rolled around. Her ivory coat was quickly stained
with bright red blood. Immediately after that, there was a loud sound of
water behind her. She quickly turned around to look at the railing where
the man had been standing. The man was nowhere to be found. She ran
to the railing and looked down at the dark sea water. The man who had
disappeared in the white foam rose up. He started swimming in the
opposite direction of the boat. She saw an old wooden boat
approaching with all its lights off. He took a deep breath and
approached his female accomplice. The woman was shoving an
unknown pill into her mouth with trembling hands. He knocked her
unconscious in one breath. Then he stuffed a handkerchief into her
mouth to prevent her from making another extreme attempt. He also
handcuffed her good arms to the railing. After taking simple measures,
he got up from his seat. Then he gave a slight shout and ran towards the
railing. 'Haat!' When there was no more room to step, he stepped on
the railing and jumped up. He fell into the sea with his black mouth
wide open. The high current split hard and sucked Kwon Taekjoo deep
inside. He sank into pitch-black darkness without knowing the end.
When he reached the peak and became a vacuum, he tried to climb up
to the surface. But his left foot got caught on something. He shook off
the obstacle and tried to climb up again by kicking his feet harder. Then
his entire body was dragged down. He tried to swing his arms hard, but
it was no use. His body was just being sucked into a more distant place.
He struggled desperately. Gradually, seaweed and other things wrapped
tightly around his legs, making it impossible for him to move. He looked
down annoyed and flinched. He grabbed his legs. It was because it was
not seaweed but Chief Lim. (A flashback in a flashback) '....!' Bubbles
burst from his mouth that were open in embarrassment. He was
running out of oxygen. He twisted his feet violently to try to shake off
Chief Lim. Chief Lim dragged Kwon Taekjoo down into the darkness with
all his might. He was confused, but he couldn't just sit back and do it.
He used the last of his strength to kick Chief Lim and hurriedly climbed
up to the surface. The moment he thought he was almost there, a
heavy mechanical sound came over him. He turned around
absentmindedly and saw the bottom of the cruise ship submerged in
seawater and the huge propellers turning on both sides right in front of
him. “...gasp!" Both eyes widened. In the aftermath, beads of sweat
formed on his forehead licked his temples and flowed down slowly.
With his breathing trembling from the terrible sensation, his limbs
became stiff and he couldn't move a single finger. A thin exhalation
escaped from his gaping mouth. He consciously closed his eyes tightly
and opened them again before his stiff body relaxed. His head was a
jumbled mess from the strange nightmare. Memories didn't come to
him organically. And as they kept sprouting up one after another, it was
hard to tell how much was real and how much was an illusion. He had a
dream that was so vivid every time, so he didn’t feel like he had slept at
all. He was wiping his wet face with both hands when he felt a presence
nearby. He quickly turned his head and saw Zhenya sitting on a chair. He
sat quietly next to the bed and stared blankly at Kwon Taekjoo. There
was no expression on his face. How long had he been like that? [....] [….]
They just stared at each other for a while like that. It was as if time had
stopped. Soon, Zhenya put down the cigar in his hand. The air was
particularly murky, perhaps because of the cigar. After realising it, the
cigar’s unique scent came to him more clearly. A heavy, spicy, and
fragrant scent. Suddenly, goosebumps ran down the back of his neck.
He had this strange reaction when he smelled a cigar while walking with
Matthias, and it was the same this time. No, it was even more awkward
than that time. Zhenya suddenly got up, and the scent of the cigar also
became stronger. Every time he moved, the scent surrounding him also
seemed to overflow. He unconsciously raised his upper body halfway
and became alert. Naturally, his breathing became shallow. Zhenya,
who had been hesitating at the obvious rejection, suddenly reached out
to the table. He picked up a wet towel and immediately placed it on
Kwon Taekjoo’s face. He frowned at the cold sensation. His neck shrank.
Then, Zhenya stopped for a moment and observed Kwon Taekjoo’s face.
When Kwon Taekjoo didn’t push him away, he gently wiped his face
again. He looked intently as if he was going to pierce through people,
and did something that didn’t suit him. And he did it with a hardened
face, as if he was going to die. When Kwon Taekjoo’s face became clean,
he moved the towel down to his neck without hesitation. When the
cold, damp towel was placed on his skin, he felt goosebumps. Even
though he showed his displeasure by saying, “Ugh,” Zhenya stubbornly
grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s neck. At first, he didn’t know what he looked
like. He definitely had a pretty face, but he didn’t easily feel good about
himself. His hands that took care of patients were awkward, clumsy, and
extremely rough. His blue eyes still held resentment rather than pity for
the other person. How did he really get involved with this guy? He had
lost many memories and was curious about many things, but the most
important of them were definitely things about Zhenya. The smell of
cigars was getting stronger and stronger, making his head spin. It hurt.
His heart was pounding so hard that it made his insides tremble. His
breathing and pulse also became unstable. [Okay.] He quickly pulled his
head away and pushed away Zhenya's hand. The hand that had no place
to go grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's arm and firmly rubbed his sweaty, sticky
skin. He refused even though he said it was okay. Was it because he had
lived a life of luxury and been supported? He seemed like a foolish brat,
ignoring other people's opinions and only doing what he wanted.
Hwsnatched the towel that had soaked into his armpit. [I did it.] He
didn't know how close they were before he lost his memory, but right
now, he just felt awkward and unfamiliar with him, so he kept getting
close to him. Even if he was upset, he couldn't help it. As expected, the
guy who had his towel taken away was flailing his empty hands. He
ignored him and looked around. [Jong-woo?] [Why. Do you think I ate
your junior?] [... What did you say? Call me. I have something to tell
you.] [Only to him?] [What?] He frowned at the sudden remark. For a
moment, he thought he misunderstood the Russian. [He barely made it
back alive, so he’s the only one who’s curious?] He burst out laughing at
the unreasonableness that followed. He’s not really a five or six year old
kid, and he complains like that whenever he gets a chance. Yoon Jong-
woo seemed to be offended that he remembered but he didn’t, but
Kwon Taekjoo couldn’t help it. Just like Yoon Jong-woo, he didn’t even
explain clearly what kind of relationship the two of them had or what
happened. He kept saying things like that. If he comes out, all you can
do is whine? [Hey. What are you so dissatisfied with?] When he stands
in opposition, he makes a face of bewilderment. Kwon Taekjoo couldn't
stand it anymore. [I'm sorry I don't remember, but right now, it's not
you, it's me who's the most upset and frustrated. I didn't want this to
happen, so why do you keep whining?] [Ha. You made a promise you
couldn't keep, and you almost disappeared on your own, but you're just
raising your voice. Isn't that what you wanted? No. You brought it all on
yourself, Taekjoo. I was helpless because of your unilateral notice. But
can't you even tolerate this level of anger? You don't? That's not the
attitude of someone who feels sorry at all.] [So what did I promise you?
At least explain how great our relationship was. Are you just going to
act like a little kid and do whatever?] He yelled so loudly that his whole
body was shaking. He was furious at Zhenya’s attitude of only blaming
Kwon Taekjoo. He wasn't as excited as Kwon Taekjoo. He just looked
down at Kwon Taekjoo with a blank expression and stubbornly shook
his head. [No. Since you're the one who lost it, you have to find it
yourself.] It was incredible. Could it be true that such a worthless guy
and Kwon Taekjoo were friends? He couldn’t believe it at all. [Your guy
was my friend? Are you sure?] [You don’t remember anything, but you
believe what other people say. If I told you I was your lover, would you
believe that too?] [What the hell are you talking about.] Kwon Taekjoo’s
expression crumpled. Zhenya gave him a mocking look, saying, “Look at
that.” Excluding the moment when he first met Yoon Jong-woo after
joining the National Intelligence Service, most of his memories were
unclear. The gaps here and there were merely filled in with Yoon Jong-
woo’s explanations. He trusted Yoon Jong-woo without any doubts, but
he was worried inside, and he felt like his feelings had been completely
seen through. He clenched his fists while chewing his lower lip. [I should
go back to Korea.] [Go?] [I should return.] [You will return?] Zhenya
laughed openly. He kept asking him to talk more about his ridiculous
escape plan. [How are you going to get to Korea?] [If you figure out a
way, that'll be it. If you contact headquarters, they'll easily get you a
new passport, and there's an embassy nearby.] [Do you think I'll just let
that happen?] [If I don't? You're going to lock him up?] [I'm telling you,
there's nothing I can't do.] Zhenya stiffened his face and spoke coldly.
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like he was too obsessed with
his friend. It didn't seem like the process of establishing a personal
relationship with someone who was basically an enemy would have
been smooth or normal. Suddenly, Zhenya’s hand reached out. He was
surprised and slapped the hand away. The next moment, Zhenya’s fist
hit the wall above my head. A cracking sound came out of Zhenya’s
tightly clenched mouth, along with a breath that barely contained the
explosion. [...Taekjoo. Don't keep testing my patience.] The guy who had
been muttering softly suddenly went outside. The door that had
opened roughly as if it was going to be ripped open slammed shut. The
vibration seemed to shake the air. [Huh? What the hell, that guy?]
Hwstuck out his tongue in shock. He was far away. He looks like he got
slapped in the face after threatening me. He gets angry and asks why he
doesn't remember him. He doesn't know how bis past self got involved
with such an arrogant person. He absentmindedly looked at the ashtray
and saw a lot of ash. Cigars burn out much slower than cigarettes. But if
the ash piled up that much, how long had he been dying there? He
waited anxiously for Kwon Taekjoo to wake up and when he saw him
urging him to remember him, he thought he must have known the
password to the bastard’s secret safe. He licked his lips and wiped his
body with a towel. He wiped it. He wanted to shower from head to toe,
but it seemed like it would be too much because of my thigh injury. He
tried to move his leg slightly, and the pain came up without fail. He
tilted his head back and clicked his tongue in annoyance. At that
moment, someone knocked on the door. Then, the crack in the door
opened slightly and Yoon Jong-woo poked his head in. When his eyes
met Kwon Taekjoo’s, he said, “You’re up,” and smiled happily. “Please
eat.” Yoon Jong-woo carefully approached the bed holding a tray. He
silently checked his condition. Fortunately, it seemed that the bird he
hadn’t seen, Zhenya, hadn’t bitten him. "How many days have I been
lying down?" "It's been three days. My stamina has dropped a lot, and I
can't stand the weakness. Even so, I have to be careful of inflammation
during the recovery period, so it's better to rest well and not move too
much." Yoon Jong-woo sat down on the chair and put down the tray. He
felt empty inside because he had been sleeping all the time. He quickly
opened the lid. He didn't expect much, but it contained a soup that
looked rich at first glance. He didn't feel like eating it, so he tightly
closed his lips, but he quickly scooped up a spoonful and put it in his
mouth, determined to get up and leave quickly. It was full of seafood, so
it had a refreshing, savoury taste, but it soon subsided. He was covered
in a creamy taste. He had to force himself to eat to recover his stamina,
but his spoonful slowed down drastically. The more he ate, the more
nauseated he felt. Naturally, the corners of his mouth drooped. "My
digestive function is not normal right now, so I should only eat things
like this for the time being." He nodded his head at Yoon Jong-woo's
comfort. But he didn't feel like eating any more. His stomach was
empty, but his head refused to eat. "'I want yukgaejang.' "Me too."
"Haejangguk is good too." "It's delicious." "I want to eat a spoonful of
ramen." "Now that you mention it, I think I can smell ramen
somewhere." Yoon Jong-woo playfully sniffed his nose in agreement. He
chuckled and asked, "Have you eaten anything?" He patted his stomach.
It didn't seem like Zhenya had locked him up somewhere and starved or
abused him. If you think about it, it was that bastard who brought Yoon
Jong-woo here and gave him this place to rest. He's a bit of a jerk and
unlucky, but does he have a sense of duty? "...You don't know even if
you know." “Yes?" "No, nothing. Where am I? Is this still Turkey?" "No.
This is Greece." "Greece?" "Yes. There was an armed conflict when we
brought you here, and if we stayed there, we could have a headache.
The Turks might ask for something as a condition for covering up the
incident." "Oh, by the way, Matias. I heard he's the son of a Mexican
drug lord?" "That's right. Matias Perez. But that guy. How do you know
Ram?” "That kid said that he helped me escape after finishing my work
in Cuba. He and Psih knew each other from the beginning, so he did it
at Psih's request." "Ah... So that's why you were in Mexico at that time."
Yoon Jong-woo nodded as if he finally understood. He decided to check
the part he was curious about. "That Psi is the guy from before, right?"
"Yes. Mr. Yevgeny, I heard that's what they usually call him." "The Psikh I
know is the third son of a family that is said to be a big shot in Russia.
He is exceptionally talented in weapons development, and he mainly
distributes them in the underground world, so he is close to the mafia.
Officially, he is a Russian civil servant, right? If you mix in what you told
me, he is currently a Russian agent in Korea, and before that, he was a
one-man unit of the FSB?" Yoon Jong-woo nodded vigorously. No
matter how much he thought about it, there was no way he could have
become close to Zhenya. If Kwon Taekjoo himself had gone to Russia on
official business, Zhenya, who was an FSB agent and a descendant of a
powerful family, would have been an enemy, not an ally. In fact, he had
even been in danger of death because he mistook him for a partner.
Judging from the fact that he was the current Russian ambassador to
Korea, he didn’t seem to be particularly close to my home country or
family. When working, he was especially clear about his work and
personal life. He never developed personal relationships with people he
met while on official duty. What about someone who was practically his
enemy? There was only one case where that could be possible. “Did I
know him before I went to Russia?” “No. I don’t think so.” “How can
you be sure?” “Because at that time, my senior instructed me to find
out about Mr. Yevgeny’s personal history. Hey. If we knew each other
before, there was no need to do something like that." "That's true." To
sum it up, Kwon Taekjoo himself didn't know Zhenya until he left for his
first mission to Russia. There, he mistook him for a partner and started
hanging out with him. He almost got killed by him for a while, but
somehow he survived and now he's helping to deceive his mother and
even visits her home. No, does that make sense? It was clear that he
was missing some important link. "Why did I go to Russia then?" "It was
to find the weapon called 'Anastasia' that was jointly created by North
Korea and Russia." "Huh? Anastasia?" "Yes. Last time, you asked me
what 'Anastasia' was. The only Anastasia I know is the last princess of
Russia and that's 'Anastasia.' I've never heard of any other Anastasia
from you." He’s never been particularly impressed by the story of the ill-
fated princess. So the 'Anastasia' in his tattoo was more likely to mean
the latter. He briefly thought he had a lover named 'Anastasia', but he
wouldn't have done something stupid like tattooing that on his body. It
was a blast. That was Kwon Taekjoo's confidence in himself. Of course,
even if the tattoo's "Anastasia" meant a weapon, the question still
remained. Why did he bother to get it tattooed on his body? Usually,
tattoos have very meaningful or important patterns or phrases to the
person. As he continued to think, he felt more frustrated rather than
clearer. It seemed like he wouldn't be able to find an answer after
thinking about it for a day or two. At times like this, it was natural to put
difficult issues aside for a while and deal with what needed to be done
right away. "First... Did you report to headquarters?" "No. I haven't
done it yet." "Why?" "My phone broke..." "I'm sure you have a laptop."
"But here, the internet doesn't work." "Damn." What era is this where
the internet doesn't work? Maybe it's because Matthias and Zhenya
have a lot to hide. If it was going to be like this, he'd rather just dig a
hole and live in hiding. "Then I'll go out for a bit. There must be an
internet cafe in Greece. If I contact the manager, he'll do something
about it.” “Ah...” When Director Lim was mentioned, Yoon Jong-woo
became noticeably shaken. He slowly rolled his eyes to the side and
avoided eye contact. “What?” “Huh? What?” “What happened to the
director?” “Why? Did you think of anything?” “No. Your attitude is
strange. Even though the director appeared in my dream, I was really
confused.” "Oh, that's what happened." "Don't say anything, what's
wrong?" "No? What's wrong?" Yoon Jong-woo exaggeratedly waved his
hands. He also postponed reporting to headquarters. "First, we'll report
to headquarters slowly after you get better. Headquarters won't be
checking our situation every day, and right now, your leg is not working,
so you can't move right away." As Yoon Jong-woo said, it was difficult to
return right away. Zhenya wasn't going to let him go easily, and the
National Intelligence Service, which likes to be careful, was trying to
save only two employees. He wouldn’t have used unnecessary force. He
ruffled the back of his head in discontent and asked casually. “Jong-woo,
what do you think?” “What is it?” “Do you think I can trust that guy
Yevgeny or Ibujarin? He’d always throw his hand at me. It seems like
that guy would get upset easily. No matter how much I think about it,
there’s no way I would be friends with someone like that. He just looks
so….” “Yevgeny is a bit scary and he doesn’t go to the public… but if it
were someone else, I wouldn’t know, but he’s I don't think you have to
worry about the ship.” "What do you mean, I don't have to worry?" "At
least he's not someone who would do bad things to you." "How do you
know that?" "Of course, if it weren't for Mr. Yevgeny, I would never have
found the line. I also thought that my senior had died without a fight,
and the headquarters basically gave up on him. Mr. Yevgeny, he didn't
care about the means and methods to find my senior." When an agent
conducting a secret operation is in danger, the country or the
organisation he belongs to He denies the connection itself. It wasn't
particularly disappointing because it was a measure for the sake of
national security. As Yoon Jong-woo said, it would have been impossible
for him to find Kwon Taekjoo on his own without support from
headquarters. Even Kwon Taekjoo himself had experienced his limits
while running away. He had overcome countless hardships while
moving without rest, so he wondered if the people chasing him were
any different. That's why he was even more nervous. What great thing
did Kwon Taekjoo have that made that bastard do that? No, even if he
had his lifeline in his hands, is it normal for him to suddenly stick his
nose in? Was Russia a country so full of love that it would abuse
skinship between men and women? He just grabbed his hair and pulled
out his hair, feeling uneasy for the moment. Late at night. He couldn’t
fall asleep easily and sat up. He couldn’t stand the stinging pain from
lying still and just resting. His head hurt and his mind was complicated
as my thoughts kept growing longer. He hesitated as he was about to
throw away the blanket and go out. It was because Yoon Jong-woo was
asleep, face down, near his feet. Even though he insisted on going to his
room and sleeping comfortably, he wouldn’t listen. Was he doing this
because he was scared of Zhenya or because he was worried about
Kwon Taekjoo? He couldn't figure it out. He woke him up by patting him
as he drooled on someone else's blanket. "Hey. If you're going to keep
doing that, come up and sleep." "Umm... I can't because you're
uncomfortable, senior." Yoon Jong-woo groaned in his sleep and
crawled onto the bed. He quietly pulled the pillow over his head and
covered himself with the blanket. Then he fell asleep, snoring as if he
had never woken up. He really couldn't find any sense of alertness.
Maybe he's so dull that he's actually strong against stress. He shook his
head and groaned as he leaned against the edge of the bed. He moved.
It was to grab the crutches leaning against the wall. The doctor told him
not to move as much as possible, but his back was hurting so much that
he couldn't lie down any longer. His lower body wasn't paralyzed, and
he didn't want to deal with his menstrual cycle in bed. He finally got up
on the crutches. It wasn't the first or second time he had been on
crutches, so it wasn't hard to keep his balance. The pain had subsided
considerably, so he didn't have much trouble moving. His only
complaint was that he couldn't move as quickly and easily as he
wanted. He struggled to get to the window. When he opened the
curtains, the outside of the window was pitch black. There weren't any
buildings or structures that stood out, and the weather was bright, he
could see the blue Mediterranean Sea without a care. That also meant
that this place was on top of a steep cliff. He sighed softly and walked to
the bathroom attached to the room. The ceiling was high and the floor
was made entirely of marble, so each step he took made a loud noise.
He barely made it to the bathroom and took a breath. His back was
soaked with sweat after walking just a little bit. He felt around the wall
and turned on the light, but he couldn’t help but sigh. It was a long way
from the door to the toilet. After passing the sink, the bathtub, and the
shower, he reached the toilet, and his whole body felt sticky. “Oh, it’s so
dirty and wide.” He groaned and pulled down his pants. But since he
was awkwardly using only one hand, his clothes didn’t come off
properly. He was barely able to get his underwear halfway down,
wiggling his buttocks. Suddenly, he could smell the unique scent of
cigars. When he turned his head, Zhenya was standing in front of the
bathroom door, not knowing when he’d come. He wasn’t a ghost, so it
was amazing how he could walk around so quietly. He looked so ugly
that he frowned and said, “What are you doing there?” [Don’t you
know? I came to drain the water. Get out.] [Why are you embarrassed
now? You use the public bathroom so well.] [It’s not embarrassing, it’s
telling me to get out of here and not show you such a disgusting sight.]
[I didn’t know you thought that way.] He felt it before, but the more he
talked to Zhenya, the more he felt suffocated. He’s sure they were
having a conversation, but the conversation wasn’t progressing and was
going in a strange direction. It was all because he was taking other
people’s words for granted. Even now, he tilted his head slightly, saying
that he heard such good things, and his face looked strangely pleased.
[… Then enjoy the view to your heart’s content.] Kwon Taekjoo gave up
on talking any further and He focused on his business. No, he tried to
do so. But out of nowhere, his unique body odour grew stronger, and a
dark shadow loomed over his head. When he turned around, Zhenya
was standing right behind him. Did he really take the sarcastic remark to
himself, telling him to look around to his heart’s content? Or did he do it
on purpose to see Kwon Taekjoo’s embarrassment? That damn Russian.
He stubbornly focused on his business so as not to get caught up.
However, perhaps because he was so absorbed in his gaze, the urine
didn’t come out as well as he had hoped. [… ..What the.] He lightly held
his genitals and rubbed them. A tingling urge to urinate rose up inside
him. But urine was still leaking out in trickles. Was his kidney or bladder
damaged? Or was the anaesthesia used to treat the gunshot wound
wrong? Will he have to put in a catheter? As he was about to get
serious after recalling his past experience of being hospitalised, a white
hand suddenly appeared between his sides. Soon after, without even
having time to turn around, a thick body was behind him. On his
shoulder was Zhenya’s shiny face. When he turned his head, his eyes
met his blue ones as expected. What are you trying to do? No way. He
tossed and turned belatedly. However, Zhenya’s hand grabbed Kwon
Taekjoo’s genitals first. [Hey, don’t do that!] [Help me.] [Ah, that's
enough!] [Don't stretch out when you can't even stand properly.] Is it
because of the unfamiliar body temperature? Or is it just because it's
someone else's hand? The sensation of his genitals became much more
sensitive. Even though Zhenya was just gently squeezing his genitals,
the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and goosebumps
appeared on his cheeks. [ugh, let go.] [Soo. You don't want your junior
to wake up, do you?] Yoon Jong-woo, who was asleep in bed, came to
mind. If he made a loud noise, even the most insensitive Yoon Jong-woo
would wake up. He couldn’t show his junior the strange sight of him
clinging to a man. Kwon Taekjoo bit his lower lip and pulled away from
Zhenya’s hand, grabbing the man’s arm. However, it didn’t seem to be a
big constraint for Zhenya. The man pulled Kwon Taekjoo’s shoulder
tightly to his chin and held it in place, then stroked the genitals in his
hand to encourage him. The inside of his genitals became indescribably
sore and soon urine flowed out with a gurgling sound. He couldn’t hold
back a groan from the refreshing sensation of urination and the slight
pain. [… . Heh.] Zhenya gently rubbed Kwon Taekjoo's genitals and
patted him on the back. Why would he caress someone else's genitals
like that? He wanted to shake off his hand, but he was afraid that urine
might splash around. He also didn't want to escape the refreshing
pleasure that made his entire pelvis ache. His ears turned red with
humiliation. If that was going to happen, wouldn't it have been better
to ask Yoon Jong-woo? No, it might have been better to just put in a
catheter. He regretted it later and cursed inwardly. Soon, the flow of
urine stopped. He felt regretful for some reason. And then he was
startled by his inner feelings. He could feel that he wondered if it's
ruined. He could hear the sound of blood deflating in his ears. Zhenya
licked his ears and whispered softly. [Can I do more?] What? At the
same time, the inside of his penis squealed uncontrollably. [I don't need
it, so turn it off.] He hurriedly shook off Zhenya. He squirmed in regret
at the unfulfilled wishes of his genitals. He almost got swept up in the
atmosphere. He roughly pulled up his pants and headed for the sink.
Leaning vaguely on crutches, he washes his hands, but Zhenya thinks
about washing his hands he didn’t do it. He looked in the mirror out of
curiosity and saw him staring blankly at his hand. His face suddenly
became hot. [Oh, dirty. What are you looking at? Wash your hands
quickly.] Zhenya slowly walked to the washbasin at Kwon Taekjoo’s
request. He was so relaxed that he felt like his clothes would burst just
by watching him. Oh, please, he said and pulled his hand towards him.
Then he rubbed his hand with soap and cleaned each and every finger
thoroughly. While doing that, he felt a stare from the side. He rolled his
eyes and met his blue eyes without fail. Every time he sees someone
like that, It looks like it’s going to pierce through. But maybe it’s because
he didn’t sharpen his blade like before? It felt really awkward for Kwon
Taekjoo to follow his lead so obediently. His sappy eyes, which only
contained Kwon Taekjoo himself, contained an upright blindness.
Maybe he had sharpened his blade too much, but his heart had become
weak for no reason. Kwon Taekjoo turned off the water and looked
down at Zhenya’s hand for a while. [I’m sorry, but I don’t know you at
all. I don’t remember at all.] Was it an unexpected apology? Zhenya’s
eyes widened. He even wiped the bastard’s hands with a towel. He
continued to talk behind his back. [I don’t know what promises I made
or what you meant to me. Even if you keep blaming and resenting me
like you do now, you won’t be able to reflect on yourself properly. You
won’t even remember what I did wrong. So later. When I come to my
senses, I’ll do it all at once. If you still think I did something wrong then,
I’ll hit you as many times as you want until you calm down.] Yeah, he
looked at Zhenya. The guy raised one corner of his mouth and shook his
head, wondering what was so absurd. [Oh, why. I’ll try to remember as
quickly as possible. Is it really something to laugh at when you tell me to
stop nagging until then?] [Taekjoo. You must have forgotten this too,
but you’ve never been trustworthy.] Zhenya jeered in a bitter tone. Who
said you had no trust? Kwon Taekjoo himself? It was unbelievable
because it was something he’d never heard or seen in his life. Did you
become someone who issues empty promises like that in the few years
since you joined the National Intelligence Service? [I can’t trust what
you say.] Zhenya, who was clearly showing his distrust, suddenly
grabbed his face. He tried to shake it off, telling him not to do it, but the
bastard’s hand didn’t move this time either. Instead, the bastard
gripped Kwon Taekjoo tighter and quietly looked into his face. His pretty
face came right up to his nose, and he couldn’t help but gasp. For a
moment, he could tell what the situation was. He stared at him
absentmindedly, forgetting the map. The next moment, his face came
much closer and his lips were pressed against his. His unique body
odour also became stronger. Was it because he was so surprised? His
heart pounded and he jumped violently. When he closed his lips tightly
and held on, Zhenya stuck out his tongue and licked his lips and cheeks.
Ugh, he moaned. [What are you doing? You crazy kid.] [Don't you
understand? Are you frustrated and confused? Me too. So you should
put up with this too.] Zhenya acted like a child and bit Kwon Taekjoo's
lower lip with his thumb. He rubbed it and took his hand off. Then he
turned around and left the bathroom. He was so angry that he shouted
at the back of his head. [Oh, so what! Are you going to keep acting like
this? Hey, Zhenya!] He quickly threw a towel at the guy who left without
saying anything. The towel fell down before it could go far. The
mysterious guy kept doing things that were puzzling. He felt frustrated
at the problem that wasn’t easily solved. That was probably why his
heart was pounding so hard. His face, strangely reminded of him, was
clearly reflected in the mirror. He quickly swept the mirror away with his
wet hands. Small white pieces fell to the surface of the water with a
splash. He looked closely to see what they were. There was a smooth
fingernail attached to the pieces that were sinking endlessly. Fingers?
He opened his eyes wide and a picture came into view. It felt like a
spotlight had fallen and was shining brightly on the top. The picture
showed a corpse covered in a white cloth. The corpse's swollen fingers
had the first joints completely cut off. Dominic Morgan. Rush, US
intelligence agency Ae, the elite agent who was dispatched. He was
found dead on the riverside of the country four days ago. At the time,
he was on a solo mission to identify Anastasia.' A familiar voice was
heard from somewhere. At the same time, Dominic Morgan's
appearance when he was alive appeared for a moment and then
disappeared. 'Find Anastasia on behalf of Agent Morgan.' The
surroundings gradually became brighter as if the lights were being
turned on sequentially. At first, the entire desk with the photo was
visible, then Director Lim sitting there, and soon the familiar office
scenery unfolded before his eyes. Chief Lim threw him a passport. It
was a Japanese passport. He picked it up and checked the personal
information inside. 'Hiro Sakamoto?' ‘A contract for LNG facility
construction was signed between a Japanese energy company and
Gazprom, a Russian state-run gas company. He heard that an
international trade company called Itochu played a big role in making
that contract happen. Hiro Sakamoto is the person in charge of the
European region there.' Anastasia, a weapon boasting unprecedented
firepower, a joint venture between Russia and North Korea. He was
ordered to find out what it was. Russia was not a familiar region, but he
didn't want to. But he couldn't refuse in the end. Someone had to do it
anyway. Until then, Kwon Taekjoo had completed any mission given to
him 100%. Being unfamiliar was no excuse to be cautious. Maybe it
would be a new and interesting adventure. 'There's one thing to keep in
mind. Psikh Bogdanov.' Deputy Lim warned me to be especially careful
of him. 'If you want to approach the Russian big shots, you won't be
able to avoid meeting him, but you should avoid him as much as
possible. Even if you do encounter him, try to fight him. Don't listen.' He
didn't take his request lightly. He was just a little curious about the guy
who was called 'Psih' rather than his name. But he had no intention of
ruining things out of curiosity. 'Don't die.' He left his office as Director
Lim saw him off. In an instant, the space changed again. He could tell
where he was from the unique scenery passing by outside the window
and the letters engraved on the sign. It was Moscow. The car left the
congested road and entered a nearby alley. Where are you going? Just
as he was questioning, the car that had been driving through the
narrow alley suddenly stopped. Then, bullets rained down from all
directions. He quickly opened the door and ran away to avoid the
sudden attack. He didn’t have time to figure out who was chasing him
or what their purpose was. No matter how many times he tried to shake
them off, they persistently followed him. After running for a while, he
ended up in an abandoned building. The thugs followed him, and he
soon became a rat in a cage. He pressed his back against a pillar and
tried to figure out how to get out. The gunfire that had been continuous
all this time suddenly stopped. He couldn’t figure out what was going
on. Slowly he looked around the area under the building. He saw the
fallen thugs here and there. The area was strangely quiet. What
happened? Did someone else show up? If so, was he an ally or an
enemy? He was confused, but a warning light suddenly rang in his head.
Before he knew it, his shadow was completely swallowed by a bigger
shadow. It was dangerous. The moment he instinctively tried to attack
first, his arm snapped and he ended up smashing his chin into the floor.
It was the first time he had been subdued by someone like that, so he
was flustered. His body froze at the unexpected turn of events, and he
couldn’t move. His front nose was particularly Pointed crocodile leather
shoes filled the air. Then came a strong, gritty smell that was enough to
numb the tip of his nose. It was the smell of cigars. He knew that scent,
clearly. Even the unique coolness that suppressed the surrounding air
current. 'There's something dirty on it. Can you take it off?' “...Psych?"
He muttered in surprise and opened his eyelids. Yoon Jong-woo, who
was next to him, said, "Huh?" Even Kwon Taekjoo, who was mumbling
in his sleep, couldn't properly recognize the situation. When he said,
"Huh?", Yoon Jong-woo said, "Yes?" again. Dumb and Dumber was
gone. Before he knew it, the surroundings were bright. It seemed like
daylight again. Kwon Taekjoo tilted his head and sat up. "I had a strange
dream." It was vivid as if it were real, but he couldn't be sure if it had
actually happened in the past. Did he really do such cruel things? He
was a 'psycho' and close to the mafia, so he probably wouldn't hesitate
to hurt people, but he couldn't easily believe it. Was it because he was
showing Kwon Taekjoo some favour in his own way? If you just look at
the way he treated Yoon Jong-woo, he was indeed the 'Psych' of the
rumours. But why did he act so bravely without even touching Kwon
Taekjoo? "Hey. That bastard Yevgeny..." He was about to open his
mouth to ask Yoon Jong-woo for an answer. Suddenly, the atmosphere
seemed to have changed, so he looked at the door without thinking.
Zhenya was standing there, leaning against him, not knowing when he
had arrived. "Ah!" "Eek!" When Kwon Taek-joo screamed, Yoon Jong-
woo also shouted back and shrugged his shoulders. Zhenya looked at
him with a pitiful look. [What, what. You surprised me! If you were
here, you should have made a sound.] [Did you two have some big
secret?] Zhenya’s displeased eyes passed over Kwon Taekjoo and fixed
on Yoon Jong-woo. Yoon Jong-woo shrank his neck and slyly avoided his
gaze at the rather harsh glare. You said they were the same age, so did
you think Yoon Jong-woo was easier? No, his attitude was like a child
who was upset about losing his best friend. [What's going on?] He drew
the guy's eyes to Kwon Taekjoo himself. [If you wake up, should we
eat?] [Okay. Later, separately....] Just as he was about to decline the
meal together, feeling embarrassed, a growling sound came from inside
Yoon Jong-woo's stomach. Yoon Jong-woo quickly covered his stomach.
To no avail, his stomach rumbled more rebelliously. He didn't check if
his junior was eating the snacks he was supposed to eat under the
pretence of being sick, or if he was sleeping properly. He was supposed
to be a private. [Yoon Jong-woo. You go eat and come back.] [Huh? Me
alone? What about you?] [I just woke up. What are you eating?] It's not
that he didn't have an appetite because he just woke up. His sleep was
also disturbed last night, so he’s going to sleep alone. He was going to
organise his thoughts. He was sure he was, but suddenly Kwon
Taekjoo's stomach started growling. Did Zhenya hear it? When he
glanced at him, he let out a sigh. [Shouldn't you do it moderately?
There's a limit to how much I can overlook foolish behaviour.] The guy
who had been snapping at him in a disapproving tone turned around
first. Kwon Taekjoo glared at the back of his head with displeasure.
"Hey. Does that kid always talk so unluckily?" "It's more scary than
unlucky." "It's scary. That kid's kid is always looking down on people.
You believe in one half-and-half face and you're all yellow." "It's strange
that you can see your face in the middle of all that. I've never seen Mr.
Yevgeny's face properly." "Don't sleep, Those guys are getting cocky
because you're getting petty over something trivial." "...I think people
are brave when they don't know anything." "What are you talking
about?" "It's nothing. Stop doing this here and go eat something. You'll
recover your strength if you eat. Oh, I'll put you in a wheelchair. Okay?"
"Okay. It's a little sore because I've been lying down all this time. I have
to do rehabilitation exercises anyway, and I can overcome this level of
pain with my spirit." Yoon Jong-woo shook his head as if he couldn't
stop him. Then he handed the crutches that were lying on the side to
Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo easily picked up the crutches. Even though
he had lost his memory, his natural motor skills and physical
adaptability were still unparalleled. It was just as the two of them were
leaving the bedroom. A smell wafted from somewhere and they both
stopped without saying anything. "... Huh? This smell!" Yoon Jong-woo
sniffed openly and looked for the source of the smell. He pointed to the
kitchen with his finger, saying, “It’s coming from over there soon.” At
that time, Kwon Taekjoo was already moving toward the kitchen faster
than ever. When the two arrived at the kitchen one after another,
Zhenya was standing at the counter. The smell that had tempted the
two was clearly coming from the pot in front of him. Kwon Taekjoo
approached him without realising it. Zhenya glanced at Kwon Taek Joo,
who had already reached him, and then turned his gaze back to the pot.
Inside, spicy ramen that touched the hearts of Koreans was bubbling.
His mouth started to drool violently. Even after swallowing, his mouth
continued to get wet. [Where did you get this? Do you eat this?] He
asked with his eyes fixed on the pot. Zhenya snorted instead of
answering. He would have been annoyed by that attitude towards
ramen normally, but now that he was intoxicated by the fragrant smell,
it didn’t matter. Zhenya turned off the heat when the noodles of the
ramen had become tangled. Then, he nodded to Kwon Taekjoo, who
was sticking close to him, at the table. Kwon Taekjoo sat down
obediently in the seat he had pointed to. He couldn’t take his eyes off of
it for even a moment until Zhenya moved the pot in front of him. Yoon
Jong-woo also sat down next to him as if he was possessed. The two
were completely entranced by the fantastic appearance of the ramen
and whispered. "Is this for me to eat?" "Yes. I think so, senior. It smells
really delicious." "You, Didn't I tell you, as an agent of the National
Intelligence Service, to be suspicious of food served by strangers or
not?" "But it smells this fragrant? And Yevgeny, senior, lost his memory
and is a stranger, but you two were originally close." "...Are you sure?"
“That’s right. Senior, now is the time. If you don’t eat now, you’ll all
blow up.” Yoon Jong-woo’s desperate appeal sounded sweeter than any
kind of push or compliment. He swallowed hard and looked at Zhenya’s
face. He gestured to the pot, telling him to eat quickly. There was no
reason to hesitate any longer. He rolled up the noodles with the fork
that was placed next to him. Before the noodles could slip, he lowered
his head and took a big bite. His eyes became clearer as if he had drunk
the elixir of life. It felt like his clouded head was suddenly supplied with
clear blood. “How is it? How is it, Senior?” Yoon Jong-woo was fidgeting
next to him. Kwon Taekjoo took a sip of the soup and quickly pushed
the crab pot. Yoon Jong-woo rushed at him like a starving dog for
several days. However, he stopped as he was picking up the noodles
vigorously. His face also became pale. "Why? Eat. Are you really crazy?"
"No. Senior, eat a lot. You should get better soon." "No, why are you
saying that while sobbing..." No way, he raised his head. Zhenya was
glaring at Yoon Jong-woo with his arms crossed as if he was going to kill
him. He put the noodles on the fork in his mouth, but his throat burst
before he could swallow them. It was a mood that was about to break.
Yoon Jong-woo regretfully tasted his food and obediently bit his fork.
[Hey, don’t be so mean about food. How much does one of these cost?]
Zhenya clicked his tongue as if it was ridiculous. Regardless, he picked
up the ramen piled up on one side and handed it to Yoon Jong-woo. He
gestured to the kitchen counter, telling him to boil it himself. “I’ll just
eat it like this.” Did he really not dare stand next to Zhenya? Yoon Jong-
woo started chewing the ramen raw and eating it. He made an ecstatic
expression just from tasting the powdered soup. On the other hand,
Zhenya witnessed a strange scene. He frowned. Is this your first time
eating raw ramen? They consider uncooked food not food. Anyway, you
noble bastards. He shook his head and hesitated as he tried to finish
eating the ramen. He thought that he should do his duty as a human
being, no matter who the other person was. [But aren’t you eating
anything? Can you give me a bite of this?] [That’s not food, it’s closer to
biochemical terrorism.] Zhenya narrowed his eyes and declared.
Biochemical terrorism? You can’t eat spicy food well? If so, it was
questionable. [You cooked it so well while being disgusting. And it was
so delicious.] [Because you like it.] [Ramen? I don't particularly like it.]
Ramen was just a food that he ate when he needed to fill his stomach
quickly and easily. And that was only when he was staying abroad. In
Korea, he usually ate meals prepared by his mother or ate out, but he
rarely looked for ramen as a menu item when he was out. But Zhenya
didn't believe that. [You're always dishonest. When you see ramen, your
eyes go crazy.] Every time? Has he ever acted this way before? He tilted
his head for a moment, then focused on eating the ramen again. He
emptied the entire pot in no time. Not a single drop of broth was left.
His stomach was full and his spirits were clear, so he naturally felt
better. [I ate well, Yevgeny.] [It's Zhenya.] Zhenya corrected him in a
displeased tone. His real name is Yevgeny, and Yoon Jong-woo clearly
called him that too, so what could be the problem? Isn't being called by
his real name better than calling him 'Psich'? He leaned slightly toward
Yoon Jong-woo and asked in a whisper. "Hey. Why do you call him
Yevgeny and he doesn't like it when I call him that? Isn't his name
Yevgeny?" "That's right, but you've been calling him Zhenya." "Zhenya?"
"Yes. It's a nickname." "What?" It seemed like he had heard something
ridiculous. Could it be that Yoon Jong-woo was talking nonsense while
being distracted by ramen? Of course, in the West, nicknames are given
more often than real names. It tended to be used as a nickname,
especially when they were close. However, Kwon Taekjoo himself could
not have been called the dark man by a nickname. Even if they were
close friends, wasn't that too ticklish? [How long are you going to stick
together like that?] Zhenya suddenly showed a look of displeasure.
When he came to his senses, he was flirting with Yoon Jong-woo while
their heads were touching. Even so, wasn't he too jealous? At that
moment, a car horn rang from somewhere. For a moment, all three of
them flinched and looked out the window. Who's here? Judging from
Zhenya’s expression, it seemed like there weren't any guests scheduled
to visit. While he was hesitating, the horn rang repeatedly. All his senses
became sensitive to the nervous noise. Zhenya's expression also
changed in an instant. The guy quickly headed to the window. He
grabbed the guy who had no care at all. [Hey, it's dangerous. Who do
you think is here? Are you looking out without permission?] [.....]
Zhenya looked down at his arm that was being held by Kwon Taekjoo
without saying anything. He reacted as if he had seen something
strange. He wasn't a child, was he overly worried? Soon tried to bite his
hand, feeling embarrassed for no reason. It was liver. Suddenly, a loud
bang rang out. It was the kind of noise that would occur when
something heavy crashes into a solid object. At that point, Zhenya
approached the window again. He opened the curtains slightly to check
the outside. Soon, the creature’s eyes narrowed. In the meantime, the
same crashing sound continued. Zhenya, who had let go of the curtains,
walked somewhere without any explanation. Kwon Taekjoo and Yoon
Jong-woo also hurriedly chased after the creature with an ominous
feeling. Zhenya took out the rifle hanging in the hallway and loaded it
on the spot. He then opened the door wide and aimed the gun at the
front door. With that, Kwon Taekjoo and Yoon Jong-woo were also free
from the noise. He could see the truth. A white Rolls-Royce was
ramming the front door, trying to force its way in. Just as Zhenya was
about to pull the trigger without hesitation at the intruder who had
suddenly barged in, [Mr. Yevgeny, no! It’s Ms. Olga!] Yoon Jong-woo
suddenly tore Zhenya apart with his whole body. Zhenya pushed Yoon
Jong-woo away and took aim at the Rolls-Royce that was breaking
through the door. Olga? Olga. Where has he heard that name? The
Rolls-Royce was speeding down the driveway. He came running. He
seemed ready to blow away anything that stood in his way. Zhenya also
stood firm without wavering. Only Yoon Jong-woo kept stamping his
feet, saying, “No!” Soon, the car stopped right in front of the entrance.
Then, the driver’s door opened and the parasol opened with a bang.
Kwon Taekjoo looked closely at Olga, who got out holding the parasol.
[It’s been a while, everyone.] Olga leisurely climbed the stairs, not
caring about the gun barrel aimed at her. She smiled at Yoon Jong-woo,
who was trying to stop Zhenya with his whole body, and said, “How
have you been?” Yoon Jong-woo’s sad face turned into an idiot’s. Rum
was released. [Yes! Hello, Olga!] It seemed like an invisible tail was
wagging wildly. Zhenya shook the rifle and lightly shook off Yoon Jong-
woo. Then, he pointed the gun at Olga's face again. [What's going on?
Up to here.] [I heard that Taekjoo is here.] Zhenya glared at Yoon Jong-
woo straight away. Yoon Jong-woo slowly closed his eyes and avoided
the guy's gaze. [Take that guy and get out of here. Before I shoot him.]
Zhenya warned, twisting his nose. The trigger was pulled to the limit
again. Yoon Jong-woo was sweating profusely and didn’t know what to
do. On the other hand, Olga didn’t even blink an eyebrow. [What are
you, Maraya, to get out of here? I came to see Taekjoo, not you?] He
couldn’t just watch as his name was mentioned over and over again. He
walked next to Zhenya while leaning on his cane. Zhenya let his guard
down for a moment at that sound and stared at Kwon Taek Joo. Olga
also casually greeted him, saying, “Taekjoo, you’re alive?” [Do you know
me?] [Yes. It's me, Olga. Olga Visarionova Bogdanov.] Olga pushed her
face close to mine. Her eyes seemed to ask if he had forgotten a beauty
like her. Kwon Taekjoo's brow furrowed even more. [Bogdanov? Then
that bastard's blood relative?] "Yes. That's right, senior. Ms. Olga is Mr.
Yevgeny's only younger sister." Yoon Jong-woo answered instead. Kwon
Taekjoo looked Olga up and down with a suspicious look. [You don’t
look like that kid?] [Thank you for the compliment.] Olga smiled with a
satisfied expression. Where on earth was the compliment? He wanted
to refute, but Olga didn’t even give him a chance and immediately
linked arms with Kwon Taekjoo. [Should we go in and have some tea
first?] With one step, the muzzle of the rifle met Olga’s head. [Who
cares?] Yoon Jong-woo blushed. Even though his life could have been
lost if he had done anything, Olga only let out a sigh. It seemed like he
had to stop it before the fight broke out. He raised his hand and covered
the muzzle of Zhenya’s gun. [Hey. You said he was your older brother.] [I
never thought of it like that.] [What are you talking about? Bloodlines
don’t disappear just because you deny them. Who taught you this?] You
idiot, he scolded. Zhenya’s face, which had been cold the whole time,
was strangely relaxed. The muzzle of the gun that had been threatening
Olga also tilted diagonally. [What? What’s going on, all of a sudden?]
[Have your memories... Come back, Taekjoo?] [What?] He frowned at
the sudden comment. His sister tilted her head as well, looking puzzled.
Yoon Jong-woo, who had been watching the situation, smiled
awkwardly and guided everyone inside. [Let's go inside first. How about
we have a cup of tea and talk slowly, like Olga said?] [...Uh, uh.] [Let's
go, Taekjoo.] [Hey, let go of my arm.] [There's no need to refuse. I'll help
you.] [It’s not a request, it’s a refusal. It’s bothering me, so let go. It’s
faster if I go alone.] He forcibly pulled his arm away from Olga and
nodded for her to go first. Olga shrugged her shoulders as if she had no
choice. Yoon Jong-woo guided her inside, saying, “This way.” He tried to
follow them silently, but for some reason, Zhenya didn’t follow him
quickly. [What are you doing? Come quickly.] He stared blankly at me
and urged me to go quickly. Zhenya put down the rifle he had been
holding and quietly accompanied Kwon Taekjoo. He always acted as he
pleased, but at times like this, he followed him obediently. Whenever
he glanced back, his eyes met with mine without fail. What kind of
relationship were we? Should he go? When he arrived at the kitchen,
Yoon Jong-woo was pouring tea. Olga was already sitting at the table,
fiddling with the fruit in front of her. [Miss Olga, that was refreshing and
delicious. You must have had a hard time coming here, but try one.]
[Hmm... It's tough if you eat it with the skin on.] [Oh, then should I peel
it for you?] Yoon Jong-woo peeled the apple without even letting his
hands dry. His actions were no different from those of a servant serving
a high-ranking lady. Yoon Jong-woo, who was so open about showing
off his love, and Olga, who was so comfortable with him, were both. It
was a mess. [So. Why did you call him?] Yoon Jong-woo's hands slowed
down noticeably at Zhenya's urging. His movements seemed to be
buffering. [There must be a reason.] [Yeah. Why did you call him? It
looks like the landlord isn't very happy about it.] [T-That... I thought it
might help you find your memories, even a little. Olga-ssi has been
worried about you too. She knows better than I do how you got
involved with Zhenya in Russia.] Yoon Jong-woo poured out his words as
if making excuses. Olga nodded and supported his opinion. [In any case,
recovering lost memories is the most urgent task, right? To do that,
we’ll need help from all sides. From what I’ve heard, Taekjoo doesn’t
seem to remember that author at all. Didn’t you two fight when I
wasn’t around?] Olga pointed at Zhenya and Kwon Taekjoo alternately
with her empty fork. How do you know? She was at a loss for words
because she was completely figured out. Zhenya’s eyes became even
more fierce. Yoon Jong-woo just quietly placed the peeled apples into
the bowl with his lips curled. Olga ate it and said, “I don’t know.” [Aren’t
you curious? What kind of relationship did you have with that guy?] [I
heard that we were enemies for a while and then became friends.]
[Friends?] Olga’s eyes widened and she suddenly burst into laughter. He
was flustered because it was an unexpected reaction. So he wasn’t even
friends with Zhenya? He wasn’t a friend, but he brought him into the
house and even introduced him to his mother? Was his mother just a
puppet? Was Kwon Taekjoo using her like a puppet? The imagination
that was triggered continued endlessly. Before the strange delusions
continued, Olga was urged. [No? Or what.] [Well. I can't decide whether
it would be better to tell the truth or not. I think it would be quite a
shock to the current Taekjoo.] Is it a Russian trait to speak as if it were a
riddle? Olga never explained it to me clearly. [Have you seen a doctor by
any chance?] [I heard that you visited while you were unconscious.]
Kwon Taekjoo looked at Yoon Jong-woo as if asking for confirmation.
Olga shook her head as if she didn’t mean it. [No. Not you, a
psychiatrist.] [Psychiatry? Where would I have time for that? It’s
amazing that I’m still breathing.] [It seems that way from the looks of
it.] The slightly sarcastic tone of voice was clearly a family trait. He really
wasn’t the type of person he wanted to get involved with. What on
earth had Kwon Taekjoo done to be close to these guys? He was curious
and frustrated, and his stomach was boiling. [Then let's meet a
specialist and get treatment first, and think about ways to improve
together.] Olga made a unilateral decision without the consent of Kwon
Taekjoo, the person involved. 13. Until It's Done A psychiatrist came to
visit late in the afternoon. He wanted to talk to Kwon Taekjoo alone so
that he could be more conscious. This was to understand the patient's
condition more thoroughly and to exclude any interference from those
around him. However, Zhenya did not accept the request. Instead, he
simply stood by the window with his arms tightly crossed. Fearing that
he might interfere with the consultation, Olga and Yoon Jong-woo also
decided to step back and watch. With everyone's attention focused on
him, he briefly explained to the doctor what had happened. He had
been caught up in a terrorist attack in Iran while on business, had
suffered a head injury as a result, and had not even remembered his
own name when he regained consciousness. Even the things I couldn't
do. The doctor, who had been listening silently, nodded and explained
with confidence. [You've probably heard of dissociative amnesia at least
once. It often occurs suddenly when you suffer a head injury or are
under severe stress. In the case of the patient, he said that he suffered a
head injury in a terrorist attack and couldn't remember anything after
that, so I think it might have been a manifestation of trauma. Also, since
he couldn't remember his name, his job, or why he went there after
regaining consciousness, it can be classified as a general memory loss of
the patient's identity and life. In cases like this, it's hard to remember
who you are, where you've been, or who you've talked to. He doesn't
remember everything he did, what he did, what he thought, and what
he felt.] He had guessed to some extent. However, he was taken aback
because it was a symptom he had never experienced before despite
countless injuries. Occasionally, he heard news that an agent had
suffered a severe head injury and lost his or her memory and cognitive
abilities. However, it was hard to believe that something similar had
happened to me, and he just found it strange. [In fact, this kind of
general memory loss is very rare. It occurs when someone is under
extreme stress, such as witnessing a horrific accident, experiencing war,
or being a victim of a sexual crime. It mainly appears in people who
have experienced conflict. Because of this characteristic, there are some
things that patients and guardians should be careful about....] As the
doctor asked, he looked at Zhenya, Olga, and Yoon Jong-woo one by
one. 'Guardians', it sounded quite extreme. [Some patients with
dissociative amnesia are more likely to develop PTSD when they
suddenly realise the incident that caused their amnesia or are placed in
a similar situation. Also, even if they completely forget the incident
itself, it will have a lasting effect on their subsequent behaviour. For
example, a person who was robbed in an underground parking lot may
not remember the incident in detail. Even if you do, you will be
reluctant to enter the underground parking lot itself. It is a kind of
defense mechanism that works to protect yourself from extreme stress.
It is important to find lost memories, but you must be careful not to
develop PTSD in the process. In order to do that, you should not try to
restore the patient's memories too hastily.] As if they had made a
promise, Olga and Yoon Jong-woo's eyes simultaneously turned to
Zhenya. Zhenya paid no attention to the eyes that were criticising him.
[If the patient's memory loss was solely due to the stress of witnessing
trauma or terrorism, then simply leaving that environment would be
enough. Memory can also come back quickly. The patient said that he
dreams about past events or suddenly recalls them during daily life,
which can be seen as a phenomenon that occurs during the brain's
recovery process. Most memory loss is restored by resolving the conflict
that caused it.] [That's fortunate, but I'm a bit confused as to whether
the memories that come back like that are real or an illusion. Also, even
if it's a revived memory, it's not connected in a plausible way and often
comes back sporadically like puzzle pieces.] [I see. You must be anxious
and confused. At times like that, you can rely on other people's
testimonies or other You will feel a little better after going through the
verification process through material evidence. Talk a lot with the
guardians, and if necessary, the guardians can confirm the patient's
memory through objective facts or physical evidence.] The doctor
looked at the three people in turn again and gave them a request. In
any case, he had escaped the terrorist situation and the head wound
was almost healed, so it seemed that all that was left was to recover his
memory. In fact, fragments of his memory were coming to him every
day, so the signs were good. However, the doctor was wary of
unconditional optimism. [Of course, there are very rare patients who
completely lose important memories. Love There are often cases
reported where parents who have lost a child do not remember the
fact. In some cases, amnesia disorder is accompanied by dissociative
fugue.] [Dissociative fugue?] [The patient realised who he was, so I
think it is a different case, but there are also people who do not try to
find their identity after losing their memories and live as if they have
become a completely different person.] [Isn't that something that only
happens in movies?] [It's something that actually happens, so it must
have been the subject of a movie. It's a shocking incident that causes
people to lose their identity. In the process of trying to escape, a new
identity is acquired, and this is called dissociative fugue. In this case, a
great confusion of identity occurs and professional functions are
impaired.] The doctor looked at Kwon Taekjoo through his glasses. His
eyes were asking if there had been anything similar. After regaining
consciousness, he handled a gun without hesitation even when he
didn't know who he was. When escaping or running away from prison,
he naturally calculated how to use the terrain around him. So, isn't this
a symptom unrelated to Kwon Taekjoo himself? Olga, who had been
listening quietly until then, asked a question. [Is there any other medical
treatment?] [As I said earlier, the most important thing is an
environment that supports the patient, and then you can try hypnosis
or drug therapy. I think the prognosis will be better if you combine it
with long-term psychological treatment to prevent the onset of PTSD.
However, since the patient does not live here, I think it would be better
to return to the home country and proceed with the full treatment step
by step. There will be more witnesses and evidence to prove the
patient’s memories in the original area.] He glanced at Zhenya at the
doctor’s recommendation. It was because he could see the guy’s
expression. He returned to Korea a few days ago and returned to the
National Intelligence Service. He was more nervous because he had a
fight with him that wasn't really a fight. Zhenya met his eyes without
saying anything. For some reason, his face looked like he was thinking a
lot. The doctor emphasised how important the treatment and recovery
process was. [Anyway, the person who is most confused and afraid right
now is the patient. He must feel a great sense of duty and anxiety about
filling in the gaps in his memory. Perhaps the patient has developed a
psychological defence mechanism to protect himself from painful
experiences or memories of conflict. Only after he overcomes that can
he begin fundamental treatment. What kind of memories can the
caregivers give the patient? You shouldn't suggest turning it around. It
could easily create a false memory. You should always be careful not to
cause severe anxiety in the patient.] [Yes. I will keep that in mind.] Olga
nodded vigorously. Yoon Jong-woo lowered his head with a sullen
expression. Kwon Taekjoo had been the one who asked first, but it
seemed that he had been too hasty in talking about the past. He
seemed worried that things might get out of hand because of the facts
he had crammed in too quickly. He was trying to tell him not to worry,
but suddenly Zhenya crossed the reception room and went somewhere.
The people who were left behind looked at each other with dazed eyes.
They looked at each other with light. The doctor who was watching
Zhenya pushed up his glasses and added. [And one more thing. Most
patients naturally recover their memories, but some of them never get
their lost past back. They can’t get over the barrier in their mind.] [The
barrier in their mind?] The doctor explained a little more and brought
up a completely unexpected possibility. [Our bodies have a stronger
self-preservation instinct than we think. It means that in extreme
situations, memories that were so horrible that they could threaten our
lives can be lost forever.] After the doctor left, they discussed what to
do next. Olga actively expressed her opinion. [How about resting here
until your leg gets better? Taekjoo’s mother isn’t in Korea either, so
there’s no reason to rush. Jong-woo can talk to the company about how
to return home, and if things don’t work out, I’ll help you. Jong-woo, did
you get the company’s prior consent?] [That’s… because I’m in a
hurry…] [You didn’t? It looks like there’s nothing to do. What?] Yoon
Jong-woo scratched the back of his head with an awkward face. When
he said [Do it now.], he looked troubled. Olga, who had been observing
him, opened her eyes wide. [Could it be that the author didn't stop him
from doing it?] Yoon Jong-woo didn't answer. He just swallowed his lips.
Olga jumped up in surprise. [No, that author didn't stop him from
holding Taekjoo, so he held Jong-woo back too?] [No. Mr. Yevgeny told
me a long time ago. He told me to leave, but I said I would stay. Right
now, it would be difficult for him to move around on his own, and even
before Olga came, he didn't remember Yevgeny at all. In that situation, I
couldn't just leave the two of them behind.] As he listened, he
wondered what Zhenya was thinking. Isn't his goal to quickly and
completely restore Kwon Taekjoo's memories? If he had Yoon Jong-woo
by his side, he wouldn't have to help Kwon Taekjoo, and he would be a
great help in regaining his lost memories. Why did he insist on chasing
him away? What would he do if he was left alone with Kwon Taekjoo?
Could it be that he was trying to recall the past by leaving Yoon Jong-
woo behind? Was he afraid that he would tell Jongwoo all his secrets?
He didn't seem that timid. He looked at the door unconsciously to
figure out what Zhenya was thinking. Zhenya was standing there, not
knowing when he'd come. He was startled as if he had seen a ghost.
"Eek!" "Eek! Eek! Senior, what is it! What's going on?" Yoon Jongwoo
screamed along and clung to Kwon Taekjoo. Olga just stared blankly at
her brother. Every time, he wandered around without making a sound.
Yoon Jong woo checked Zhenya’s expression while calming his surprised
heart. Did he overhear the conversation between the three? He didn't
specifically criticise or curse Zhenya, but his conscience pricked for no
reason. The atmosphere also became strangely awkward. Zhenya
opened his mouth, staring straight at Kwon Taek Joo as if he didn't even
see the other two. [It's time to disinfect.] [Uh, uh. I'll go.] He got up on
his crutches awkwardly. Yoon Jong-woo and Olga also got up. Then
Zhenya approached him briskly. Yoon Jong-woo was startled by his
unhesitating steps and went back to the sofa. He sat down. Zhenya
passed Yoon Jongwoo and picked up Kwon Taekjoo, who was about to
take a step, with his crutches. [Hey, wait! What are you doing?] [I'm
going to wake up.] [Hey, how big is this place! I'll walk on my own!]
[When will I be like a snail?] [Well, put it down. I can walk by myself?
Listen to me, you crazy bastard!] He flailed his limbs in embarrassment
and resisted, but Zhenya didn't budge. He just carried Kwon Taekjoo and
leisurely walked around the room. He stepped forward. Kwon Taekjoo
shouted, his neck bloodshot. [Hey, you punk! You’re walking! Why are
you so stubborn?] [Why? Would you like me to throw you out the
window?] Zhenya frowned and stopped walking. The window right next
to him happened to be wide open. The wind blowing in from outside
made his hair flutter ceaselessly. It must have been a distant ocean. If
Zhenya was the ‘Psych’ in question, he would have put his words into
action right away. Kwon Taekjoo felt certain the momentum subsided.
The body that had been stretching and swaying continuously became
noticeably calm. [This is really absurd, you punk.] He grumbled to
himself and stared at the poor wall. Only then did Zhenya stop walking.
The bedroom felt unusually far away. He checked Zhenya’s face as he
was moved like an object. His expressionless face looked stubborn
somehow. It would be much more tolerable if he smiled. While he was
feeling regretful, his eyes suddenly met with his. He flinched as if he had
been caught stealing. The guy who had been blankly looking down at
Kwon Taek Joo slowly lowered his eyes. He couldn't take his eyes off his
face that looked somehow pitiful. Kwon Taekjoo realised that he had
arrived at the bedroom only after he was gently lowered onto the bed.
As he got closer to Zhenya’s nape, his unique scent grew stronger. The
rough and spicy smell of cigars mixed with the fragrant scent of pine
and wet wood. His heart pounded strangely. When the guy moved
away, he even felt a strange sense of regret. Zhenya knelt down on one
knee in front of Kwon Taekjoo. The dazzling sunlight poured down from
the window behind him. Maybe that’s why his platinum blonde hair
seemed to shine even more. His long eyelashes also caught the sunlight
one by one and shone smoothly. His ivory eyes became half
transparent, and it seemed as if he would believe it even if he had put
aquamarine crystals in them. This is how it looks: Where does such
brute strength come from when he’s so pretty? He was staring blankly
at Zhenya’s face when the guy suddenly approached him. Because of
that, the distance between us became close enough that our breaths
were almost touching. Kwon Taekjoo bit his upper body a beat later in
surprise. [What, what is it?] [I thought you wanted to see it in more
detail. No?] [What are you talking about? Disinfect it.] [Hmm... Okay.]
Zhenya looked disappointed and took out the medicine box. He
prepared. Did he react too sharply? He didn't know how else he should
have responded, or what the hell he was expecting. The wound on his
thigh had improved noticeably in a few days. It was because the bullet
hadn’t lodged and he had received good first aid early on. His body had
a good recovery rate. He had suffered from injuries big and small since
he was young, but he would always recover before he could finish the
treatment period designated by the hospital. That’s why when he was
younger, he used to rely on his strength and go to the next operation
right away. As soon as he was discharged from the hospital, he
volunteered and went straight to the next operation. There was no
reason for headquarters to turn down an employee who was willing to
work hard and risk his life. So, on the contrary, the aristocratic
treatment and extreme nursing that they have now were unfamiliar.
Zhenya personally examined Kwon Taekjoo’s wounds every single day.
He removed the bandages to check the condition of the injured area,
and if necessary, he performed additional treatments including
dressings. He also closely observed any possible inflammatory
reactions. He asked, perhaps hoping that his skilled hands would know
other people’s bodies better than his own. [I’ve been wondering since
last time, but do you have a medical licence…?] [Why do you need
that?] Zhenya just looked up and stared at Kwon Taek Joo. At best, he
could do things like suturing, dressing, and injecting. It was just a little,
so why do you need a licence? Kwon Taekjoo secretly pulled his leg with
a suspicious expression. Zhenya held Kwon Taekjoo’s calf tightly and
disinfected the wound. [Don’t worry. I’ll kick ‘that out’ soon.] He
assured him as if to reassure him. Who was worried about what?
‘That’? Could it be Olga? It seemed like he thought of him as an
uninvited guest, but Kwon Taekjoo felt more relieved thanks to her
appearance. It also meant he had more people to talk to, and it seemed
like she would be a great help in finding his lost memories along with
Yoon Jong-woo. Above all, he liked her because she didn't care about
Zhenya's feelings at all and was a person with common sense. He
thought that if he spent time with Olga without any basis, he would be
able to recover his memories and body a little faster and healthier.
Maybe through Olga, he could recall the memories that Yoon Jong-woo
couldn't fill in. For some reason, she seemed to know well about
Zhenyas relationship with the guy he stubbornly kept quiet about. [Why
do you have to do that? The person who came all the way here] [Why.
Do you really like 'that'? Or did you remember that again?] When Olga
was defended, Zhenya grumbled in a displeased tone. Why did humans
get so twisted? He sighed softly and tried to persuade him. [If we’re
going to stay here until we get better, like you said, it’s better to have
more people than just the two of us.] [Is it better to have more other
people?] [Of course. I won’t be bored, and if we chatter about this and
that, my memories will recover quickly.] It was a meaningless,
weightless remark. Regardless of whether they’re men or women, the
more people there are, the more topics of conversation and things to
do. Isn't it good that Nani is good? [You must have been really bored.]
But Zhenya suddenly snapped in a cold tone. There was a look of
disappointment or resentment in his eyes. And why. [You've been lying
in bed for days, so how could you not be bored? Why are you suddenly
grumpy?] [You don't know?] [Yeah, I don't know. I really don't know, so
explain it clearly, please.] [Ha... Look at your attitude, Taekjoo, how
different you are when you treat me than other guys. How long are you
going to be on guard? How long do I have to put up with this?] He
opened his mouth and then closed it again. His protest sounded like he
was complaining about why he was playing with other kids while not
playing with him, which was unbelievable. On the other hand, he
treated Yoon Jong-woo and Olga without formality, but he still kept his
distance from him, so he had no excuses. Come to think of it, why did
Kwon Taekjoo treat Olga as comfortably as Yoon Jong-woo? Is it because
he can communicate well with Olga? Or is it because Olga is a woman?
No, he didn’t even treat Matthias like he did Zhenya. He kept being
conscious of Zhenya, incomprehensible. It was a crab. The very
existence of the bastard approached as a vague threat, and he was
suddenly on edge. It was a warning from my instincts. [I would not have
forgotten you in any situation. Even at the last moment, I would have
remembered you, Taekjoo.] Zhenya, who had expressed his
disappointment, got up and left the room. The roughly opened door
seemed like it would eventually separate from its hinges. After a while,
Yoon Jong-woo poked his head in from beyond. He quickly approached
and asked, observing Kwon Taekjoo’s expression. “Senior, are you
okay?” "Yeah." "Did you fight with Mr. Yevgeny again? The cold wind
was blowing." "When did that kid not do that?" He fell back in irritation.
He sighed. "Haa... What did I really do to him? What made you so
upset?" He tried to muster his meagre imagination, but he couldn't find
an answer. Is it even possible to have a sense of loyalty that you
remember the other person even at the last moment? Between people
who don't even share a drop of blood? Every time he faced Zhenya, he
felt like he was facing a riddle for which there was no proper formula,
no calculation, and no correct method. Since he kept feeling upset, he
had to find an answer somehow, but he had no idea where to start. The
frustration that was building up day by day only made his poor hair
tangle. Olga was waiting for Zhenya outside Kwon Taekjoo's bedroom.
She called out to her brother, who was trying to pass by despite seeing
her clearly. [Tell me something.] [Nothing to say.] [I have, so listen.]
Zhenya turned to Olga as she unilaterally announced. Her eyes were
sharp and blood was running down her chin. [Why do you keep
crawling? Do you want to die?] [I’m not scared of dying at all. How long
will I live anyway? But even if you hurt me, will Taekjoo still be like you
were before?] Zhenya frowned as if he had heard something strange.
Olga and Taekjoo had no relationship. But it was absurd to think that
Taekjoo would hate Zhenya if he hurt Olga. It can't help but feel like
snow. But Olga added with confidence. [You've already interacted with
Taekjoo enough, you've met Teak's mother many times, and you're not
even his blood. If you hurt him with your own hands on that day,
Taekjoo will never forgive you. He'll be even more distant and afraid of
you than he is now.] Zhenya burst out laughing. Olga looked
dumbfounded at what she believed and was so confident about. Of
course, Kwon Taekjoo didn't want Zhenya to be at odds with his family
or brothers. If it went beyond the level of bad relations with his
brothers and he killed one of them, he wouldn't be happy about it. Even
so, he didn't want Zhenya to ever see him again because of something
like that. He couldn't hear. Kwon Taekjoo already knew what kind of
person Zhenya was. Olga persistently dug into Zhenya’s mind as if she
had seen through it. [Are you sure he wouldn't? Even if you were a
murderer who would kill your own blood relatives, Taekjoo would
embrace you like before? Right now, Taek-ju doesn't know who you are
or what your relationship was like? No. It wouldn't be easy to accept.]
[What do you know....] He ground his teeth. He was annoyed at Olga
who would often look down on him and try to teach him lessons. At the
same time, he told her that she was wrong and that she would never do
that. He couldn't deny that there was no Lee, so he was even more
annoyed. It felt like he had invisible shackles on his limbs. Olga sighed as
she watched her brother disintegrate. The tone of her words she added
was even more lenient. [Look at reality. Right now, you're like a person
who doesn't exist in Taekjoo. Because all of his memories of you have
disappeared. What's the point of nagging someone like that to
remember you? If you're supposed to be his lover, you should at least
cooperate so that Taekjoo can find his memories.] [Yes, lover. So even if
you lost all your memories, you should have remembered.] He couldn’t
accept that it had become such an easily forgotten memory. All this
time, he had been engraving himself in Kwon Taekjoo’s mind, but it was
hard to admit that all of that had become useless. [Don’t be stubborn.
He didn’t forget because I wanted to. Why are you pushing the person
who was in the most trouble right now like that?] [If you try not to
forget, you won’t. It’s etched into your soul and engraved into your
bones.] Olga put her head on her head. For the time being, they
couldn’t communicate. It was always like that. She always showed
hostility toward others and didn’t trust anyone but herself. Since her
thoughts always flowed around her, she had no ability to understand or
sympathise with others’ feelings. The power is bound to decline. It was
exactly right to say that he was just big and old. Olga grumbled, “How
great was your relationship?” As expected, her icy gaze flew in and
stuck to him. [Anyway, your relationship was like a declaration of
surrender that I forcibly kidnapped you to a remote island and forced
you to endure violence. Isn’t that right?] [Even if you belittle him like
that, it won’t change the fact that Taekjoo is my lover.] [I forgot all
about that, Taekjoo.] Olga corrected the argument that kept getting
sidetracked. It wasn’t just about criticising Zhenya. Rather, he felt a will
to persuade. Zhenya tilted his head as if to ask what she wanted to say.
Olga explained it in a more detailed way so that he could understand.
[The doctor said that most memories would come back, but there might
be some that don’t. Do you think it would be good for Taekjoo to
remember everything he experienced while he was with you? I don’t
think so. The time before Taekjoo accepted you must have been painful
and miserable. Not being able to remember the bad relationship
between the two of you is actually an opportunity. This time, they can
gently and thoughtfully reestablish their relationship like normal people
do.] [Reestablish our relationship?] [Okay. Don't press him to remember
who you are, and make Taekjoo fall in love with you again. This time,
like a real lover. If you approach him slowly, Taekjoo won't be surprised
or wary, and he'll probably accept the fact that you were his lover a
little more easily.] Zhenya didn't understand it easily. There was no way
a person who didn't even know common emotions could properly
understand romantic feelings. All he could do was just push forward
with whatever he was attracted to and push the other person to the
point where it was too much to handle. A doctor shouldn't hastily
awaken specific memories or contaminate a patient's memories. He
warned him. But if the memory is so painful that he doesn’t matter if I
forget it, wouldn’t it be okay to just let it go? There seemed to be no
need to live with the bad memories. [It’s not that precious or beautiful,
but wouldn’t it be better to cut out the painful memories if you can?
For you and for Taekjoo.] It must have been a pretty tempting offer.
Zhenya, who had been listening without saying anything, narrowed her
eyes and suspected Olga. [What are you planning?] [What am I
planning?] [Why are you pretending to help me?] [I'm not helping you,
I'm helping Taekjoo. I owe Taekjoo a lot of things. If you break up with
Taekjoo, I'll lose three friends, and that's too much for me. If that's the
price I pay for having a stupid brother, then I should settle it now.] Olga
continued to add incomprehensible things. [Besides, I liked the ending
of the 'Koshichei' story that Taekjoo made up. So this time, I thought I'd
try being a pretty woman who shows off her wit.] [Pretty woman?]
Zhenya frowned as if he had heard something strange. Olga paid no
attention and smiled meaningfully. [Maybe it was Baba Yaga disguised
as a beauty?] He was personally curious. Would the brave knight fall in
love with a monster even if he wasn't in a dilemma like before? ***
"That's why I told you that I would beat up the National Intelligence
Service once the Iran operation was finished. Oh?” Kwon Taekjoo asked
back with a look of complete disbelief. This was the third time he had
asked the same question. Yoon Jong-woo nodded his head with a tired
look. “Yes. I said so.” “Why?” “Yes? I don’t know why. It was so out of
the blue.” ““I wouldn’t….” “No way?” “Where did you give birth to the
child?” "Huh? Is it true, senior?" Yoon Jong-woo's butt bounced off the
chair. He didn't question why the story suddenly came out like that.
Rather, he thought that Kwon Taekjoo would do something like that.
Kwon Taekjoo muttered with an uncertain face. "No, if that's not the
case, then it doesn't make sense that I have someone who takes priority
over me. I lied even though my mother tried to stop me." "That's true,
but... Then why don't I know?” "If I tell you, I'll tell my mother
everything about Mi-ju, and my mother will ask me all sorts of
questions about what kind of girl she is." "Oh, somehow. It's different
from what my senior told me." Yoon Jong-woo nodded his head in
agreement. He rubbed his lower jaw and recalled how much Kwon
Taekjoo had changed recently. "But why do you assume there's a child?
Did you think of anything else?" "No. I keep having strange dreams."
"Strange dreams?" "It could be a memory rather than a dream... but a
really cute little kid came out. He would cry whenever he saw me, but
when I hugged him and patted him, he would be quiet again, and he
would hold on to people tightly and act like he wouldn't let go, so I
thought he was someone I knew. When I silently thought back on the
dreams I had before, I felt like I had a lover." "Huh? So my nephew is
already born somewhere in this world? Was it a boy? Or a girl? Does he
look like you, senior?" "Why not?" "No, if I'm going to do it... Babies are
cute because they're so innocent..." "They don't look like me at all. I
couldn't tell if they were a man or a woman just by looking at them.
Their hair was light blond." "Blonde? Are you mixed-race? Then your
sister-in-law is a foreigner?" "Mixed-race... I guess. She didn't seem
oriental at all." In the midst of continuing his speculation about Yoon
Jong-woo's nonexistent nephew, there was a sudden knock. However, it
was only a courtesy, and the door opened before she could even allow
them in. [What are you both doing, locked in your room? Aren't you
stuffy?] Olga nodded outside, saying, "Come out." She looked like she
was going to play in the water, wearing a thin beach dress over her
swimsuit. Yoon Jong-woo looked at Kwon Taekjoo with longing eyes.
Her eyes were unusually bright. It was definitely a day or two of rest,
and she was a little tired. She had never been outside the villa properly,
so she thought she should get some fresh air. "Okay. Let's go, let's go."
"Ah! Playing in the water!" Yoon Jong-woo jumped up and down in joy.
When did that guy, who was no different from a beer bottle, like water
so much? Tsk tsk As he went outside, the glass door leading to the back
room opened. There was. He hadn’t even known about the existence of
the swimming pool even though it had been a week since he had stayed
at the villa. As soon as he stepped foot into the backyard, a unique
smell of water wafted out. The outdoor swimming pool that came into
view was quite large. It had about ten sunbeds and parasols, and even a
pool bar, reminiscent of a resort swimming pool. The blue
Mediterranean Sea stretched endlessly beneath the backyard pool. The
warm sunlight poured down without blocking anything, and the wind
blowing from all directions cooled his skin pleasantly. The sky was also
blue without a single cloud. The sky was completely contained in the
clean and calm water. Occasionally, the sound of the water lapping
gently knocked on his eardrums. [Both of you, come here and lie down.
The sun is really nice today.] Olga's voice brought him back to his
senses. She was already lying on the sunbed in her swimsuit. Yoon Jong-
woo, who was busy admiring the pool facilities, hurriedly looked away
into the air. In an instant, his cheeks and ears turned bright red. Kwon
Taekjoo tapped Yoon Jong-woo's buttocks with his crutch and took the
seat next to Olga. Lying under the parasol fluttering in the soft breeze,
his stuffy heart felt refreshed. How did he end up in such a luxurious
space and playing with the nobles as a civil servant? In the past, Kwon
Taekjoo himself was a person far from being honest. While he was
thinking about this and that, Olga suddenly handed him a tanning
cream. [Would you like me to put this on?] It seemed like she was good
at manipulating people, making demands unilaterally without even
asking for their opinions. [Is that something you would ask of a patient?
Just use this guy.] He took the tanning cream and threw it at Yoon Jong-
woo. Yoon Jong-woo floundered for a long time as if he had been hit by
a hot rock. "Yes? Me, me, me? No, I'm like this I’ve never applied it
before...” [Hurry up. I need to tan evenly.] Olga urged him on, shaking
her legs. It seemed like it didn’t really matter whether it was Kwon
Taekjoo or Yoon Jong-woo who applied the tanning cream. Yoon Jong-
woo swallowed hard and squatted down next to Olga. Then he took out
the silicone gloves he used when applying medicine to Kwon Taek-joo
from his pocket, put them on, and began to gently apply the cream to
Olga’s body. His eyes were still fixed on the sky. That’s why he’s never
been in a relationship before. Kwon Taekjoo clicked his tongue and
looked toward the pool bar. Shouldn’t there be something to drink? He
was wondering if he should go to the kitchen, but then the servants
came out of the building and prepared simple finger foods, alcohol, and
drinks. They even set colourful foods and cocktails in wide, flat baskets
and floated them in the pool. It looked like something he’d saw in a
honeymoon resort pamphlet. [What are they?] [They’re the servants
that the author kicked out, but I called them back. I’m not going to stay
here for a while, and I don’t have anyone to help me, so how can I be
uncomfortable?] The one who was feeling uncomfortable was probably
not the patient, Kwon Taekjoo, but Olga herself. If you look closely, she
had no intention of doing anything on her own. It seemed. Anyway, the
noble-like bastards. Kwon Taekjoo looked around and looked for
another noble who didn't stand out. For some reason, he hadn't seen
Zhenya since morning. Did he sleep in late? Or does he not like
swimming that much? [Why? Who are you looking for?] He wondered if
he had been looking away for too long. Olga suddenly hit the nail on the
head. He tried his best to remain calm without getting caught up. [What
are you looking for?] [I guess he's upset because he didn't see anyone.]
[Upset? It's just uneasy.] Kwon Taekjoo reached out for the beer bottle
with the lemon in it, astonished. Olga snatched the beer away without
difficulty. [Where is the patient? It’s inflamed.] [What are you talking
about inflammation for just this little wound? You want me to watch
you eat?] [There’s this too.] Olga handed him a lemon-flavoured
carbonated drink. He didn’t really like it, but he accepted it and drank it.
In the meantime, Olga and Yoon Jong-woo were drinking beer and
toasting. There was no pair of cockroaches. [Are you curious?] As he
was gulping down the rest of his drink, Olga suddenly asked. It was so
sudden that he stopped and looked at Olga. [What?] [What was the
relationship between that writer and Taekjoo?] Olga closed her eyes
slightly and smiled. He knows it well, so should he teach you? It seemed
like he was just teasing me by making a fool of him. Kwon Taekjoo
turned his head straight ahead and shrugged his shoulders. [Well, if you
say you’re not curious, that’s a lie. I still can’t remember anything about
him. He’s giving me hints to remember quickly. He’s telling me the facts
I’ve remembered so far and the stories around me. If you look at it, it
seems like he was quite special to me, but he’s not the type that I would
have kept close to. It’s not like he’d become incredibly corrupted in the
past 2 or 3 years that I can’t remember.] Olga, who had been listening
silently, smiled broadly. Yoon Jong-woo, who saw that, melted like
butter on a pan, but his smile was somewhat uneasy. [Should I tell you?
What kind of relationship did you two have?] [Why do you and him
keep arguing? If you’re going to talk, then talk frankly, and if you’re not
going to, then don’t.] [Hmm... If you're ready to talk, I'm willing to talk
to you anytime.] [Okay.] [But can I just say this?] Olga pretended to be
considerate of Kwon Taekjoo and trembled. She glanced at Yoon Jong-
woo as if asking if it was okay to say it in front of a third party. Kwon
Taekjoo snorted in disbelief. [That bastard and I have already shared our
balls, so what.] Olga nodded her head slightly as if to say, "Is that so?"
Then, without much thought, she immediately Zhenya and Kwon Taek-
joo confessed their relationship. [They were lovers, the two of them.]
[What? Who?] [That author and Taekjoo. They were in love with each
other.] Kwon Taekjoo and Yoon Jong-woo were suddenly caught in the
middle of the conversation. When both of them coughed, Olga flinched
and openly showed her displeasure. Kwon Taekjoo and Yoon Jong-woo
barely stopped coughing and stared blankly at each other. Both of them
had wet chins from drinks and beer, making them look ridiculous. Yoon
Jong-woo, who had been completely dumbfounded, quietly closed his
knees. He held her with both hands. The center was also overlapped.
"Senior! I didn't know you were that kind of person!" "I didn't know
either!" They shouted at each other fiercely with Olga between them.
Olga frowned, got up from her seat, and went into the pool. After
making such a bombshell statement, she herself was just floating
leisurely on the water. Kwon Taekjoo and Zhenya were lovers? He was a
man who wouldn't have been strange even if he had become a mortal
enemy, and he was in love beyond being best friends? How? Since
when? Why? How did it happen? Countless questions echoed in his
mind. How could that be possible unless Olga was playing a terrible
prank? It was more unrealistic than any information I had ever heard.
He looked back on his past. His first love had gone smoothly like
everyone else's, and his romantic partners had always been limited to
the opposite sex. He had graduated from an all-boys middle school and
high school and attended an engineering college where most of the
men were male, but he had never been involved with a man during his
military service for several years. Even the targets he had seduced
during his missions, the people around him, and the people he had
spent one night with were all women. But what happened to Zhenya?
Kwon Taekjoo accepted the story of his past that he had heard from
Yoon Jong-woo without any resistance. It was just Zhenya. He had only
questions about his relationship with Zhenya , but he never imagined
that this would be the only answer that he could not find. [That can’t
be. That’s absolutely not true.] Kwon Taekjoo looked at Olga with blank
eyes as if he had been greatly shocked. He shook his head repeatedly.
Olga answered casually, picking up a shrimp from a basket floating in
the pool and eating it. [Isn’t love the being that makes that ‘absolutely
not true’ possible?] His chest was pounding so hard that it felt
uncomfortable. His lungs were also tight with air, and he felt like he
couldn’t breathe. His head was thinking. He was dazed, as if he had
given up, and his pulse was beating faster than ever. [Joo, I need to
rest.] He got up unsteadily. Yoon Jong-woo said, “Should I take you?”
and half-raised himself. He waved his hand that it was okay and trudged
into the villa on his own, using his crutches. He was confused because
he had been faced with such an enormous truth. He thought he needed
to calm down and organise his thoughts on his own. He needed to
verify if Olga’s story was true and if she had made some mistake. He
was walking down the hallway, thinking that something might have
gone wrong. Why were the employees gathered at the entrance? He
thought it would be soon. He went inside. He screamed without
realising it because they met so suddenly. "Eek!" [...Hmm? You're so
surprised.] Zhenya frowned and looked Kwon Taekjoo up and down.
Embarrassed, he asked politely, nodding awkwardly. [Where have you
been?] [What.] He spoke vaguely. He wasn't particularly curious about
where he'd been, but it was frustrating that he was so vague about
everything. He looked at him with a disapproving look. Soon, his gaze
shifted to the bag he was holding. Judging from the bottle’s mouth
sticking out of the bag, it seemed like he had gone out to buy some
alcohol. [Why. Would you like a drink?] Did Kwon Taekjoo think he was
covering his drink? He made an unexpected suggestion. When he said
[No.] without much hesitation, his eyes looked quite disappointed. In
reality, his expression hardly changed, but for some reason, it looked
that way. Was it because he had just heard the ridiculous story that he
was his lover? He glanced at him out of curiosity. His skin was whiter
and smoother than usual due to the abundant sunlight. His long
eyelashes and the shadow dangled across his cheek, shaking slightly in
the occasional breeze. Below it, Kwon Taekjoo himself was clearly
reflected in his blue eyes, set like jewels. His gaze was caught for a long
time by the graceful line connecting his high nose and lips. The longer
they locked eyes, the dark blue pupils of his eyes seemed to become
darker. In fact, his handsome face itself was no different than usual. But
it also seemed strangely different. Was it because his clothes had
changed? Maybe because of the shirt made of a light material, his body,
which had always felt large and massive, didn’t feel threatening. So he
and he were lovers? That was also because he couldn’t resist a
momentary impulse and briefly Not just a fool, but a proper
relationship that even his blood relatives would acknowledge? And on
top of that, he even introduced him to his mother? Did he fall in love
with the enemy like in the movies? And with a man at that? One fact
that was hard to accept and impossible to understand finally cleared up
all the questions. The reason why Zhenya saved Kwon Taekjoo, who was
a spy from another country, the reason why he chased him all the way
to Korea to help clear his name and helped deceive his mother, and the
reason why he went to great lengths to find Kwon Taekjoo, who
suddenly disappeared. Why couldn't Zhenya remember him? He could
understand why he was upset, why he tried to drag Kwon Taekjoo inside
and kiss him. Because they were lovers, because they were lovers. It’s
not uncommon for them to fight each other to the death, gradually
become aware of each other, and eventually even make eye contact. It’s
so common that it’s almost boring… But is it Kwon Taekjoo himself? No
matter how much he tried to understand, he kept wondering again. [Do
you want a drink?] While he was agonising alone, Zhenya brought out
the alcohol he had bought and drew his attention. His white, straight
hands lightly held the large bottle and shook it gently. His throat
trembled without him realising it. [Yes, Taekjoo.] The tone that urged
him to answer was sweet and gentle, as if he was insisting that they
have a drink together. He shook his head vigorously. [Oh, no! I left
something in the room!] He made alame excuse and hurriedly headed
to the bedroom. Like a broken robot, his arm and leg on the same side
kept going out. If it weren’t for his crutches, he would have fallen over.
Zhenya tilted his head as he watched Kwon Taekjoo’s strange back. It
was the first time Kwon Taekjoo had been so foolish. Even when he had
rejected him, he had finally allowed the relationship. Even then, Kwon
Taekjoo wasn't flustered like he was now. But the inside of his earlobes
were clearly red. His eyes were blurry and his throat was clearly ringing.
That was the behaviour Kwon Taekjoo often showed when he was
attracted to him. [Take Taekjoo and make him fall in love with you again.
This time, really be a lover. If you take it slow, Taekjoo won't be
surprised or wary, and he'll probably accept the fact that you were his
lover a little more easily.] Suddenly, Olga's ridiculous claim came to
mind. He wondered if that was even possible, but judging from Kwon
Taekjoo's reaction, it seemed somewhat valid. He had a thought that he
might do it. (More flashbacks) He ran and ran across the pure white
snowfield. It felt like he was being chased by something, or as if he was
chasing something. His breath that had risen to my chin burst out white.
The whole area was dark, so he couldn’t guess where the end of the
road was. The mountain ridges and birch trees that spread out around
me seemed to get closer at any moment, but then moved away again,
spreading out infinitely. It was a perfect black and white space. When
his lungs were about to throb, something covered his whole body from
behind. It was a darkness that had no clear shape. Sticky. He struggled
to escape from the being that clung to him so tightly, but his two arms
and legs were completely tied up. It felt like a heavy boulder was resting
on his back and head. 'Fuck...!' He tried desperately to escape. The
more he tried, the tighter and more persistent the restraints became.
The weight pressing down on his entire body also grew heavier,
crushing all his organs. He couldn't breathe. On the other hand, the
feeling of being touching my skin was infinitely soft. At first glance, it
felt like the fur of an animal, or like smooth skin. It pressed down on
Kwon Taekjoo and whispered sweetly. 'Taekjoo' Goosebumps rose on
his cheeks and the hairs in his ears stood on end. He seemed to know
that sad tone, that sweet voice. Who is it? Who is it? 'Is this how it's
going to go?' The presence continued to oppress Kwon Teak's entire
body. He writhed his arms and legs, gasping for breath at the sudden
sensation of his breathing becoming tight. Nothing was getting better.
‘We can't go on like this, Taekjoo.' A resentful voice dug into his ears
and made his head throbbing. While he paused, Kwon Taekjoo's own
voice rang out sharply in the air. ‘It's annoying, so stop showing up!' It
wasn't Kwon Taekjoo's own words. He couldn't control them. But it was
clear that it was Kwon Taekjoo's own voice. The strength that had been
restraining his entire body suddenly disappeared at the irritated shout.
The weight on his back disappeared in an instant. When he turned his
head in a daze, he saw a child with blue eyes filled with tears. He
couldn't confirm the exact facial features. He could only barely perceive
the boy's small shoulders shaking. The sobbing child soon burst into
tears and disappeared into the darkness. He didn’t even have time to
look. “.....!" He opened his eyes. He could see the ceiling that he was
now quite familiar with. Was he dreaming again? This dream was
different from the previous ones, and it wasn’t clear. Everything was
blurry and abstract, so he couldn’t tell exactly what it was about, who
was there, or what it meant. He gulped down some water in a queasy
mood. Still, the loud thumping in his chest went away. He didn’t sit
down. It wasn’t just a simple beat. Every time it pounded, his heart felt
like it was sinking. He felt anxious, as if he had missed something
important. He scratched the back of his head and got out of bed. He
thought that if he washed up, the discomfort would go away. Now, he
could go to the bathroom without crutches and hobble around. If a
doctor had seen him, he would have been shocked, but Kwon Taekjoo’s
own comfort was the priority. For some reason, being touched by
someone else’s hands just felt itchy and uncomfortable. He put a
waterproof cover on the wound on his thigh and took a shower. The
cool water dripped down from his head to his entire body. Slowly, his
face swept it away. His head felt a little clearer. He slapped his cheeks
with both hands to wake up his hazy mind. He was just about to turn
around after finishing his shower. Suddenly, an unfamiliar silhouette
appeared in the corner of his vision. He flinched and froze. As he stared
at the door with great caution, his mister was standing there as usual.
He doesn't know when it started, and why it always comes and goes
without a trace. He got angry and shouted for no reason. [Oh, you!
You’re not a ghost, you’re just making noises!] [You lost your memory,
and now even your courage has disappeared.] Zhenya sneered without
any sign of apology or embarrassment. Even if he didn’t mean to, it
sounded that way. No matter what he said, it felt like he was being
sarcastic, and the very words were disgusting. As he clicked his tongue,
Kwon Taekjoo suddenly realised that he was naked. He was more
concerned because Zhenya was blatantly staring at other people’s
bodies. He quickly changed the subject and secretly covered his lower
body with the towel he had wrapped around his neck. [Did you, uh,
sleep well?] [So-so. It was a good night.] He nodded weightlessly. He
wanted to divert Zhenya’s attention elsewhere, but there was no
suitable topic. The topic didn't come to mind. If he hadn't known that
he was his lover, he would have just told him to get out, but he couldn't
treat him carelessly for the time being. In the meantime, water was
dripping from his head. If he tried to wipe it, he would have to expose
his bottom, so he was in a dilemma. He couldn't do anything, so he
hesitated and his friend came over to him. [Give it to me.] [Okay. I'll
take care of this...] He struggled to refuse his help, but he dropped the
towel. All his efforts were useless, and he was completely naked. [Then
should I help you with the bottom?] Zhenya sent him a mocking look.
He shook his head and stood there silently. Then Zhenya picked up the
towel that had fallen and placed it on his wet hair. The hand covering
his head was bigger than he thought. Was that normal because he’s
tall? The hand that gently rubbed the towel and removed the moisture
from his hair felt strangely familiar. Even the act of gently wrapping the
ends of the towel around his ears. Their eyes met in surprise. His gaze
fell calmly for the first time ever. It was only for a moment, but it felt
like time had stopped. So this guy and... “Senior! Where are you!” At
that moment, Yoon Jong-woo's powerful voice was heard from outside.
He flinched and snapped out of his fantasy. A faint wrinkle formed
between Zhenya’s eyebrows. "Are you taking care of business? Can I
help you?" In the meantime, Yoon Jong-woo, who had come to the
bathroom, shouted loudly. It seemed like it would be bad to show him
this. [Let's go out, I'm hungry.] He tapped Zhenya on the shoulder and
headed out first. Yoon Jong-woo opened his eyes wide when he saw
Zhenya and Kwon Taekjoo. "Were you washing alone? Call me. It must
have been uncomfortable...." Yoon Jong-woo's words became
increasingly blurred. His gaze gradually shifted to Kwon Taekjoo's
shoulder. His face instantly became thoughtful. When Kwon Taekjoo
glanced back, there was no particular expression on Zhenya’s face. He
simply approached him quietly and draped his coat over Kwon Taekjoo's
shoulders. He even put his hand between his sides and tied the belt
himself. When he whispered, [I'll prepare your favourite menu for you.],
he closed his eyes slightly and fluttered. Kwon Taekjoo watched Zhenya
leave and then turned his gaze to Yoon Jong-woo. Yoon Jong-woo was
dripping with cold sweat. His eyes, which had lost where to go,
wandered around the floor. "Hey, Why are you so nervous? That kid
seems like a pretty kind person.” "... Kind person? You're seeing it that
way because my senior is not in his right mind right now.” "He's not in
his right mind. When I experienced it myself, I thought it wasn't as bad
as what I heard from you, right? He's not that violent, and he's
surprisingly gentle sometimes." "I think you love him. That's why you're
so angry...." "What, you little punk?" He got angry and tried to grab
Yoon Jong-woo by the collar. As the robe opened, the lower part of his
body became empty. Yoon Jong-woo greeted Kwon Taekjoo’s legs in a
natural, casual tone. “Yes, that’s right. You too. Did you sleep well?
You’ve been cheerful since the morning.” Yoon Jong-woo tidied the hem
of Kwon Taekjoo’s robe and took out his underwear and placed them on
the bed. He said, “Put them on quickly,” and the way he turned around
uselessly seemed infinitely artificial. It had been like that ever since he
had heard that Kwon Taekjoo and Zhenya were like that. Even if he tried
not to show it, he seemed to be conscious of it all the time. Kwon
Taekjoo himself had a lot of thoughts whenever he saw Zhenya, so it
would have been difficult for Yoon Jong-woo to remain calm. He left the
room wearing only his underwear and a gown. For some reason, the
servants Olga had called were hesitating in front of the restaurant. It
seemed like they had been chased out by Zhenya. He looked away from
them and went inside. Olga was still asleep. Zhenya was cooking
something at the wide kitchen counter. The sunlight streaming in
through the glass window caressed the broad back of the guy,
maximising the contrast of light and dark according to its curves. His
eyes lingered on the shadows on his shoulder blades and spine that
became lighter and darker as he moved slightly. The loosely tied black
apron also caught his eye for no reason. "Senior?" Yoon Jong-woo
suddenly waved his hand in front of his eyes. "...Ah, uh. Let's sit down,
sit down. Ahem." Only then did he come to his senses and sit down. At
that moment, Zhenya also looked back at Kwon Taek Joo. His calm gaze
settled for a moment. Was it his habit to stare at people like that?
When he tilted his head, the guy put a cup of coffee down in front of
Kwon Taekjoo. He took a sip without thinking and raised his eyebrows.
He knew his tastes incredibly well. When he looked at Zhenya with a
surprised expression, the guy slowly lifted his chin. It was like he was
snorting or showing off. Either way, his eyes were quite fierce. "But
what is this smell?" "I shouldn't dare to have such expectations, but
isn't this the smell of Yukgaejang? Or beef soup?" While whispering
with Yoon Jong-woo and raising his anticipation, Zhenya lifted
something and handed it to Kwon Taekjoo. Whether looking left or
right, it was Yukgaejang. Where did you get this precious thing? He
stared at Zhenya with eyes filled with wonder. The guy snorted again.
Now that he looks at him, he's really full of himself. He glanced at the
kitchen counter and saw the packaging for instant Yukgaejang. He went
out alone a few days ago and bought a bunch of things. Did he go to
buy Korean food? Still, his lover It was so amazing how he knew his
taste and prepared it for him. He smiled and thanked him. [Thank you.
I’ll enjoy it.] He was about to take a big bite when he felt an enthusiastic
gaze from the side. He turned his head and saw Yoon Jong-woo, who
couldn’t take his eyes off his bowl. Ugh, he asked Zhenya while licking
his lips. [Hey, can’t you give him some of this too?] [Why should I do
that?] [He wants to eat it.] [It’s none of my business.] [Oh, don’t do
that. There must be quite a bit left in the pot. You and your brother
won’t eat that. It’s not like you’re being too picky about what you eat.]
Zhenya glared at Yoon Jong-woo with a displeased expression. Yoon
Jong-woo isn’t discouraged, “senior. I really like this,” he said, tearing
into the blini that the dragons had made. It didn’t seem like he would
make that kind of expression even if he was chewing on the leftovers.
Zhenya nodded toward Yoon Jong-woo as if urging him on. Zhenya
sighed deeply, then poured the remaining broth from the pot into a
bowl and threw it at Yoon Jong-woo. Kwon Taekjoo’s portion was full of
meat, taro stems, and other ingredients. While the crab was in it, Yoon
Jong-woo's portion was only a few bracken stalks. Nevertheless, Yoon
Jong-woo gulped it down as if it were the elixir of life. It was really
unpleasant to see his junior suffering while getting a free meal because
of him. He picked up a bunch of the side dishes from his yukgaejang and
gave them to Yoon Jong-woo. "Eat a lot so that you don't lose your
head." "Oh, senior. I'm really okay..." A cold glare fell on them as they
were having a warm time. As expected, Zhenya was looking down at the
two of them with his arms crossed. What was making his stomach turn?
Because he shared the food he prepared with Yoon Jong-woo? That’s all
he can guess, but did Kwon Taekjoo date such a punk? Yoon Jong-woo
whispered quietly enough for Kwon Taekjoo to hear, as if he was firing a
machine gun. “Senior. Don’t call me a brat in front of Yevgeny.” “What?
Why is that?” “There’s something like that.” [What are they whispering
about?] Zhenya showed his displeasure openly. The gaze glaring at Yoon
Jong-woo was unusual. Yoon Jong-woo said, “The yukgaejang is really
delicious.” He even gave him a thumbs up. Despite his tearful efforts,
Zhenya's prickly gaze did not go away. [Did you all sleep well?] Olga
appeared at that moment. The eyes of the three people all followed the
voice. Olga was dressed from head to toe for going out. It looked like
she was going to go sightseeing. [Did you sleep well, Olga?] [Yes. But
what are you eating? Ugh, the smell.] Olga stuck her head close to Kwon
Taekjoo’s Yukgaejang and frowned. She even openly grabbed her nose
and sniffled. Kwon Taekjoo scolded her for that behaviour without fail.
[What kind of country is it to grab your nose in front of foreign food?]
[Taekjoo makes a disgusted expression whenever he sees Russian food.]
[I think it wouldn’t be bad to leave a little early rather than eating that
for the rest of my life.] Kwon Taekjoo responded shamelessly and ate
the Yukgaejang as if he was going to show off. His dry cheeks soon
puffed up. He emptied the bowl without leaving a single drop of soup.
After that, he washed down his mouth with strong coffee. Zhenya, who
had been watching blankly, smiled with his lips pursed. For the time
being, he couldn't figure out what was so satisfying. [If you're done
eating, let's clean up quickly. I can't stand the cough.] Olga beckoned
the servants. At her command, the empty plates were cleaned up, and
tea, fruit, butter, honey, and blinis were quickly served. Zhenya and
Olga, who sat down, moved them to their respective plates and began
eating them, cutting them elegantly with a knife. They even picked a
small blueberry with a fork and put it neatly in their mouths. Even
though there was nothing on their mouths, they kept wiping their
mouths with the napkin they had spread out on their knees. He did.
Yoon Jong-woo watched the scene as if he was possessed. On the
contrary, Kwon Taekjoo grumbled with a rather unpleasant look in his
eyes. "Anyway, you guys are like nobles." Zhenya suddenly made eye
contact. He felt a stinging sensation because he thought he must have
known. But after that, his attitude was a bit strange. He moved his fork
and knife with even more leisurely and elegant gestures. It was a
pretentious gesture, as if he was telling me to look around as much as
he wanted. On the contrary, it was Olga who got angry. [Taekjoo, did
you just swear?] [Who said I swore? Are you killing a living person?] [I
swore, but what was the nuance?] Olga looked at Yoon Jong-woo as if
asking for confirmation. Yoon Jong-woo awkwardly smiled and made an
excuse. [Strictly speaking, it wasn't swearing. Haha.] [Hmm....] Olga
looked at me suspiciously, but since Yoon Jong-woo said so, she didn't
ask any further. She just took a sip of tea and asked her brother curtly.
[The yacht we used before. Is it still there?] [Why is that?] [The sun is
shining and the wind is nice today. Since we’re in Greece for the first
time in a while, let’s go on a yacht tour.] [You’re talking nonsense. Have
you forgotten why you’re here?] [No way. It’s Taekjoo’s convalescent
vehicle. But convalescence doesn’t mean lying around like a corpse at
home, right? If you keep making Taekjoo the type to keep you company,
he’ll either go crazy or run away. Don’t you think so, Joo?] Olga gave
Taekjoo a serious look. It felt like an earnest request for him to quickly
nod. Zhenya also quietly put down his fork and knife and stared at
Taekjoo. For some reason, he readily agreed when he told him to do so.
It seemed like it would be. There was no basis for it. [Oh, a yacht tour?
That would be okay. It’s not swimming yet, but it’s easy to move
around, and the weather is nice, so it would be nice to get some fresh
air.] Zhenya made a reluctant expression, saying, “Hmm.” Olga drew the
line at the guy, telling him not to go. [If you don’t want to go with me,
just give up. We can go and come back together.] Zhenya stared at Kwon
Taek Joo without saying anything, then got up and left the kitchen. So it
was ambiguous whether he was okay to go or not. While exchanging
glances with Yoon Jong-woo and tilting his head, Olga clapped her
hands. Then, laughing brightly, she urged them on in an excited voice.
[Okay, since we’ve decided that, both of you get ready.] [Huh? That kid
hasn’t answered yet, right?] [What are you talking about? I
understand.] Were they really staying in the same space? Olga told her
to hand over the yacht key if she didn’t want to go together, but Zhenya
didn’t respond at all. He just quietly looked at Kwon Taek Joo, sighed
softly, and got up. Where could they infer the nuance of consent? Do
you mean? [When did that kid say he understood?] [No, no? Because I
didn't say anything negative. He sighed as if he was giving up on his
intentions. It was an expression of affirmation, but that.] Olga shrugged
her shoulders, asking if she really needed to explain. Like, no, he didn't
express it clearly, and his expression barely changed, so he had to figure
out what he was thinking. How did Kwon Taekjoo himself get hooked on
such a blunt and insensitive guy? Were they really lovers? They weren't
just physical? No, no. Just imagine something ridiculous. What the
heck? Was it even possible to have sex with a man? It seemed as if the
world was deliberately deceiving Kwon Taekjoo. The group went back to
their rooms and quickly finished up. Olga spent 30 minutes just putting
on a hat and sunglasses. Zhenya didn’t show up until she joined them.
Did she mean that she would leave and that they should do whatever
they wanted? Zhenya showed up just as he was guessing. He was
wearing a blue shirt and white shorts that went just above his knees.
His forehead was completely covered. Maybe it was because of his long
bangs that he looked particularly young. His skin was also shiny, so he
wondered if he had put on something. He looked annoyed, but his
makeup was just as sincere as Olga’s. He wondered if he had been
absentmindedly watching her without realising it. [Go.] The moment
Zhenya put on his sunglasses and opened his mouth, he suddenly came
to his senses. [Uh, uh..] He was embarrassed for no reason and hurried
his steps. Even though he was using crutches, he was walking as fast as
he could on his own legs. There were a few times when his crutches
didn’t even touch the ground, but he didn’t even realise it. They got in
the prepared car and headed to the nearby port. A huge yacht was
anchored that was visible from afar. Something this big would cost
hundreds of billions at the most, but since Zhenya and Olga were
treated like cars, it felt like a completely different world. [Come quickly.]
[Yes, Olga! I’m going!] Olga ran excitedly. Yoon Jong-woo quickly
followed her and claimed to be the photographer. He took ten or
twenty pictures in the same spot in similar poses. He clicked his tongue
at the sight and was about to stand up on crutches. Suddenly, his body
was lifted into the air. At the same time, his unique body odour became
stronger. He froze with an “eek!” Even though his whole body must
have gotten heavier because he had all the strength in his body, Zhenya
easily picked up Kwon Taekjoo. [Hey, what are you doing? Everyone can
see.] [Even though you’ve lost your memory, you’re still embarrassed,
Taekjoo.] [What are you talking about? It’s because you’re a man.] [Isn’t
it the same thing?] Zhenya tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand,
and then firmly held Kwon Taekjoo and went to the yacht. He got on. He
ignored the request to get off now that he was on and went towards
the bow. Then he put Kwon Taekjoo down on the comfortable sofa
where the wind was blowing. Their eyes met at close range. His ivory
hair sparkled and fluttered in the gentle breeze. His blue eyes also
looked unusually clear. He slowly lowered his eyes. As a result, his thick
eyelashes fluttered like wings in the wind. Anyway, he was pretty....
[Jong-woo! It's here, here!] The moment he was unconsciously
intoxicated by the strange atmosphere, he heard Olga's voice. He
flinched. He pushed Zhenya’s shoulder hard and turned his head. Soon
after, Olga and Yoon Jong-woo came running towards the two of them,
chattering loudly. Olga sat down in a spot with a good view of the sea,
holding onto her large-brimmed hat that looked like it might fly away at
any moment. Then, she changed her posture little by little and became
absorbed in taking pictures while everyone watched. Now that he
thinks about it, she had suggested a yacht tour while pretending to
think of other people, but in reality, she was just trying to satisfy her
own selfish desires. She just needed a travel companion. He shook his
head and looked at Zhenya absentmindedly. A cool breeze came from
somewhere. As expected, Zhenya was glaring at his younger sister with
a cold face. Kwon Taekjoo stopped him by patting his tightly clenched
fist. [Hey, hey. It's your younger sister, your younger sister.] Zhenya’s
eyes fell to Kwon Taekjoo's hand. The gaze that seemed like it would
throw away his younger sister softened in an instant. Only for himself,
Kwon Taekjoo was somehow obedient, should he say? His reactions
were quite pure. It felt like taming a puppy. He knocked on the seat next
to him just in case. Zhenya sat down there without hesitation. Then, as
if waiting for the next instruction, he stared at Kwon Taek Joo. [That... is
good, since it's coming out.] [Really?] [Yeah. I've been feeling suffocated
from not being able to move for a few days, but I think it's refreshing.]
[Hmm.] Zhenya didn't vomit in particular. He just stared blankly at Kwon
Taekjoo's side profile, which seemed to be in a good mood. Since he
didn't take his eyes off his for even a moment, his cheek area was itchy.
Soon, the yacht set sail. The hull was so large that the vibration from
the waves was barely noticeable. The refreshing breeze gently patted
his skin. The strong wind blew through his hair. It dug into his throat and
coolly caressed my scalp. He looked to the side at the sound of the
rustling. Before he knew it, Zhenya was pouring whiskey. His eyes were
focused on the lips of the guy holding the transparent glass for no
reason. Then, the guy’s throat slowly swayed and the unique fragrant
smell of whiskey spread. He swallowed dry saliva without realising it.
[Why. Do you want a drink?] Zhenya handed him the whiskey he had
been drinking. The wound on his thigh hadn’t completely healed yet.
The doctor had repeatedly emphasised abstinence from alcohol and
smoking. But wouldn’t just one sip be okay? He nodded as if he was
possessed and accepted the glass without hesitation. Then he took a sip
of whiskey. He swallowed it slowly. The rich flavour filled his mouth and
his mouth watered. [Your taste is pretty good.] [Of course.] Zhenya
smiled and poured another glass, then lightly clinked it with Kwon
Taekjoo’s glass. Kwon Taekjoo also smirked and swirled the whiskey in
his glass. [Rich people all live similar lives. They live in places with good
sunlight and water, build luxurious villas, use yachts as private cars, and
even run private planes?] [They build bunkers in various places because
they don’t know where or how they might be targeted. Yachts and
private planes are the most private business spaces.] Why did those
words sound like he had been committing all sorts of illegal acts in
private spaces like villas, yachts, and private planes? Thinking back to
Matthias, it probably wouldn’t have been much different. How did he
end up with such a villainous lover? It seemed like he had only met
people who didn’t have any problems before. No matter how much he
had fallen for her looks, the other person was clearly a man. And he was
much bigger than Kwon Taekjoo himself. Even if he was drunk, wouldn’t
that be enough to instinctively apply the brakes? Zhenya stared at him
for a while in silence, wondering. He made a face full of
embarrassment. [Why are you looking at me like that, Taekjoo? Do you
like my face?] He frowned at the sight of him smirking without any sign
of embarrassment. [What are you talking about? Every time I see you, I
think of how adventurous I was in the past.] [Do you remember
anything?] [I'm still trying.] He drank the rest of his whiskey. As
expected, he couldn't drink even a sip, since he wouldn't know if he
didn't put his mouth on it. Soon, the yacht was anchored in one place.
Kawa Yun Jong-woo wandered around the cabin, while Kwon Taekjoo
and Zhenya drank leisurely. They didn’t really talk much, but just sitting
side by side like that wasn’t bad. The clear sea that reflected the deep
bottom, the white yachts floating on it, the pure white buildings stacked
up behind the harbour, and the blue roofs and blue sky. It was
unrealistic and beautiful, like a postcard or a picture that had been cut
off and pasted on. As he was leisurely enjoying himself like that, the
days before when he had been a fugitive seemed distant. How much
time had passed? He had always been trying to penetrate Kwon
Taekjoo. Zhenya, who had been watching him, suddenly stood up. It
seemed like an important call had come in. He answered the phone
away from Kwon Taekjoo. His expressionless face suddenly relaxed. Was
he the kind of guy who could smile like that? It was such a shocking
change that he blinked his eyes. He continued to giggle the whole time
while talking on the phone. He couldn’t hear exactly what he was
talking about, but his tone had also become quite soft. Who was he
talking to? If it was an official call, he wouldn’t have been that soft.
Before he knew it, his ears perked up, and Zhenya looked back. Then,
our eyes met without a moment to avoid it. It seemed like he had been
caught peeking, so he looked away, making a useless “hum hum”
Immediately after that, Zhenya approached Kwon Taekjoo. It seemed
like the call wasn't over yet. Was he going to ask him to leave so he
could talk comfortably? He watched him, guessing, and he suddenly
held out his cell phone. [Take it.] [What? Who is it?] Zhenya nodded to
his cell phone without any explanation. He picked up the phone with a
suspicious expression and checked the caller ID. It was saved in Russian
as 'Little Woman'. Who is it? [Yes, I changed the number.]- Oh, Taekjoo?
Unexpectedly, he heard his mother's voice. He looked at Zhenya with
surprised eyes. He was just looking down at Kwon Taek Joo with his
arms crossed. His nose was slightly raised and he looked arrogant. He
was surprised because it was unexpected, but he continued the call
calmly. "Oh, yes. Mother. What's wrong?"- What are you talking about?
It's been a few days since I've heard my son's voice. You said it was hard
to contact me for a while, but I'm worried because I haven't heard from
you like this. At least I was able to contact the ambassador. I was
worried that something might have happened to you again. Mother was
rambling. She couldn't even try to contact him because of Zhenya's
surveillance. She said he broke Yoon Jong-woo's cell phone. When she
looked at him with a disgruntled look, he shrugged his shoulders as if he
didn't know what was going on. "Oh, you must have been busy. How is
my mother? Is everything okay?"- Well. Your mother is doing well. Your
aunt is also doing very well. Your aunt is already telling you to come and
see her face for the first time in a while when you're done with your
busy schedule. Has the ambassador ever been to Canada? Taekjoo, it
would be nice if you came with me. Since you're a diplomat, you must
have been to many places, right? Mother's tone was always lively. If it
had been before, she would have continued to feel anxious even when
she made excuses that she was busy and had difficulty contacting him,
but perhaps Zhenya's lie had worked well. It seemed that he could not
ignore the boy's contribution to his mother's positive changes.
According to Yoon Jong-woo, he had become close friends with his
mother and visited their house often, so he was a little grateful and
proud of him. "I'll ask him. The urgent matters here are almost finished.
When everything calms down completely, I will go to Korea or go pick
up my mother, so don't worry too much."- Yes. The ambassador said the
same thing. I also feel safe if you, Taekjoo, stick close to the
ambassador. That's good, but he wondered how the two of them
communicated. Has his mother become fluent in Russian? Or was
Zhenya's Korean skills far superior? When he was with Yoo Jong-woo or
Olga, she mostly spoke English, and when he occasionally whispered to
Yoon Jong-woo, he would ask with an unpleasant expression what he
was talking about, so he thought he didn't know Korean at all. "Okay. I'll
call you back later. Stop worrying about your son and take care of my
mother first."- Okay. I'll call you back. "Okay. Go inside."- I'll give my
regards to the ambassador. "Yes," he said and ended the call. When he
handed back the phone, Zhenya raised his eyebrows. His eyes looked as
if he was curious about what his mother had said. [She said to give her
regards. She said to come visit Canada with me when we're done here.]
He simply relayed his mother's message. Then, the guy smirked and
looked at his phone. Even though the call had already ended. If
someone saw him, they would mistake him for his lover. Looking at his
soft eyes, he felt a tickle inside for no reason. [By the way, how good is
your Korean? It seems like I've been speaking Russian all along.] [I don't
know.] [Hey, what do you mean you don't know? Just by looking at your
phone calls with my mother, I can tell you're good at it. You've been the
Russian ambassador to Korea for two years now. Shouldn't you be able
to speak the language to some extent? My mother wouldn't have
mastered Russian in that short period of time.] [You don't have to be
able to communicate to be able to communicate.] [What the hell are
you talking about? Do you really not know any Korean?] "Taekjoo"
[That's my name.] "Mother?" The guy muttered some uncertainty. It
seems that he had carefully listened to Kwon Taekjoo himself calling
himself "mother, mother." Judging from his pronunciation, it seemed
that the guy's words about not knowing Korean were true. Then how on
earth do you talk to your mother and even talk on the phone often? Do
you use English? Your mother probably isn't that good at English either.
As he kept wondering, Zhenya blurted out a word out of the blue. "Kid."
[...What?] He was taken aback when he saw Zhenya. Is this how it feels
when a foreigner curses right in front of you? He sweetly murmured the
word bastard as if it were something special. Could it be that he called
me this bastard and that bastard while we were lovers? Did Kwon
Taekjoo really turn out to be this messed up? "Hyung." In the midst of
his confusion, Zhenya pointed at Kwon Taek Joo with his finger. He knew
that he was older than him. It wasn't surprising that he used such terms
since they were lovers. But when he called him hyung with that
expression, his ears suddenly perked up. [Hmm. Is that all?] [Do I really
need to learn Korean?] Does he think he learned Russian because it was
so great? [Yeah, you did well. You worked really hard. It’s so amazing
that I’m crying, crying.] Zhenya lifted his chin slightly when he
sarcastically teased him. His shoulders opened wide and his chest
puffed out. Even the corners of his mouth seemed to twitch. Did he see
it wrong? Or did he take my sarcasm as a compliment? While he was
feeling uneasy at the unexpected reaction, Olga approached him. It
seemed like he was slowly getting used to taking pictures. [Taekjoo!
Let's play together.] [Play among yourselves.] [You've gone all the way
to the yacht and are just going to sit here?] [Then what are we going to
do, patient? I can't go swimming, and the spa is a hassle.] [Hmm. Then
do you want to go fishing?] [Fishing?] [Yeah. That has nothing to do
with my sore legs.] Olga looked at Zhenya as if asking for consent.
Zhenya seemed already displeased with the interruption of their time
alone. His brow furrowed. He didn’t know it would spread. Olga didn’t
care and pushed forward with the fishing bet. [It’s a bet! The person
who catches the most in an hour of fishing will do whatever I say!] [Oh,
it’s like a king's game!] Yoon Jong-woo, who had chased after me,
matched the rhythm. A bet? And if you win first place, you can order
the other guys around as much as you want? It was a very tempting
offer. [What do you think?] He checked Zhenya’s intentions. Did he like
the best conditions? His fierce eyes softened considerably. He quickly
made a decision. [Okay. Instead, let's not say anything to those who
lose.] It was obvious what would happen if Zhenya won. Olga and Yoon
Jong-woo would be thrown into the sea right there. Yoon Jong-woo had
no chance of winning from the start, and he didn't know what strange
things Olga would ask for if she won. So, for the sake of everyone's
human rights and peace, Kwon Taekjoo himself burned with a desire to
win. [Then I'll ask you to prepare. Everyone, come to the back.] Olga
unilaterally announced and he went right into the room. It looked like
he was going to reorganise himself into a style that suited fishing. Kwon
Taekjoo pushed Zhenya’s chest, who was trying to hug him again. When
their eyes met, he shook his head. Then, he said, “Just hold it like this.”
and grabbed the guy’s arm. Zhenya looked down at Kwon Taekjoo’s
hand that was holding his arm, as if he was witnessing an unfamiliar
scene this time. [Let’s go.] Kwon Taekjoo slightly pulled the arm he was
holding. Zhenya put strength into his arm and helped him up. He
headed to the back of the yacht, holding the crutches with one hand
and Zhenya’s arm with the other. It was quite a long distance, from end
to end. Even though it was, it wasn't that hard thanks to the support.
There were already four fishing rods hanging at the promised location.
A high chair was also prepared to accommodate Kwon Taekjoo, who
had trouble with his legs. While he was silently putting on bait, Olga
appeared. As expected, she was fully dressed from head to toe in a style
that suited fishing. [Did you come for a fashion show?] [Don't you know
TPO?] Olga easily brushed aside Kwon Taekjoo's criticism. Putting bait
on her fishing rod was the job of another servant. Olga was ready. He
declared war, grabbing his fishing rod. [I won’t let you see me, Lord.]
[Don’t cry later.] He responded in a tone of incredulity. Olga blew the
whistle around her neck and quickly lowered her fishing rod. It wasn’t
surprising. Soon after, the three men also cast their fishing rods into the
clear sea. The fish were clearly visible moving busily under the water,
and the float shook up and down in an instant. Kwon Taekjoo quickly
reeled in the fish with a momentary elasticity and quickly reeled in the
fish. Before long, a highly coloured fish came up to the surface. He
pulled out the fish that was quivering on the hook and threw it into the
bucket. He also smiled artificially, pursed his lips at his competitors.
Zhenya and Olga turned their heads with excitement, and Yoon Jong-
woo looked at him with admiration. When it came to fishing, he often
went with his father and older brother when he was young. Some days,
he caught so many that he let the ones he caught go. When he caught a
big fish, he would tell his mother about his heroic deeds for days. His
head may lose its memories, but his body doesn’t Kwon Taekjoo's one-
man show continued after that. It was truly a success. He threw his
fishing rod. As soon as he put it in, a fish the size of his forearm was
caught, and three or four fish came up at the same time. It was like he
was performing a trick. Olga, who had been anxiously watching Kwon
Taekjoo, raised an objection. [Wait a minute, Taekjoo! What did you do
to the bait?] [Clumsy guys always blame the extension. That's right. You
have to look at your opponent and attack.] [No matter how you look at
it, it's suspicious. Why are only Taekjoo catching fish?] [This is what you
call abok, abok. Anyway, they're all fine.] Kwon Taekjoo clicked his
tongue as he looked at the three people who had not caught a single
fish yet. His bucket was already full. When he threw the fish he had just
taken off the hook, the fish in his bucket spilled out onto the floor due
to the fish fluttering around. [There must be a big coral over there.
Switch seats with me!] [Hey, that’s fatal to a patient who has difficulty
moving.] [Isn’t it fatal to pretend to be a patient only at times like this?]
Kwon Taekjoo readily switched seats, telling them to do whatever they
want. At that moment, Yoon Jong-woo managed to catch a fish that was
just like that. However, Olga's fishing rod, which had finally moved, was
still silent. There was no news from Zhenya either. He didn't pay any
attention to Kwon Taekjoo, who was noisy, or Olga, who was noisy, and
just stared out at the sea. But the fish passing by wouldn't catch it on
their own. Anyway, the siblings had grown up like greenhouse plants
and seemed to have no ability to survive. The match was almost
decided anyway. [Hey, isn't it time to end soon?] [… Shh.] He
unconsciously closed his mouth at Zhenya’s soft whisper. The next
moment, the sound of the water breaking violently was heard. Zhenya
pulled the fishing rod with all his might at the right time. The rod of the
guy who was bent so strongly seemed like it would break at any
moment. Kwon Taekjoo, Yoon Jong-woo, and Olga froze and watched
Zhenya. The guy reeled in without changing his expression and
struggled for a while. When he thought he should help him, he pulled
the fishing rod up using his waist. Then, something huge jumped up into
the air with a violent thud. All three raised their hands and closed their
eyes as the water droplets splashed everywhere. Covered. Kwon
Taekjoo suddenly embraced the giant flying towards him. [Ah!] The fish
in his arms fluttered wildly, boasting its strong vitality. Its tail fin
mercilessly struck Kwon Take-upu's chin and chest. Unable to hold on,
he dropped it to the ground, and the thing shook its thick body. Yoon
Jong-woo and Olga screamed and stomped their feet. The commotion
on the deck died down when Kwon Taekjoo pressed down the fish he
had caught with his crutches and Zhenya stabbed the thing's gills with a
sharp knife. It took its life in one stroke. Kwon Taekjoo saw the fish
hanging limply, bleeding profusely. He took his crutches away from me.
A disgusted expression appeared on his face. [Wow! Isn’t this a bluefin
tuna? Can they catch this here too? It must be at least 1m long?]
Whenever he was scared, Yoon Jong-woo swallowed his saliva and
chattered. As he guessed, the fish that Zhenya caught was a northern
bluefin tuna. Usually, you have to go out to the open sea to catch such
fish, but how did he catch it in such a coastal area? [Who said it was
overflowing with fish?] Zhenya asked with a proud look. It was definitely
pretty, whether it was before or now. He just wanted to hit him for no
reason. [But Taekjoo won this bet. In terms of number of heads and
weight. No one objects, right?] Olga clapped her hands and decided the
winner. Zhenya looked displeased, but didn’t object. He just crossed his
arms and looked at Taekjoo with an interested look. [So. What do you
want, Joo?] [Well. I’ll have to think about that.] [I’ll tell you in advance,
but I can’t ask you to send me back to Korea.] They can’t make such a
big demand. He didn’t think it was a bet. But he was upset because he
cut it off completely. He didn’t like the way Kwon Taekjoo acted as if he
knew everything about him. [What are you talking about? I’m hungry.
Let’s eat something first.] [Then I’ll tell him to prepare a meal. I’ll take a
shower first.] Olga waved and went into the cabin. Zhenya also took off
the gloves on his hands and looked back at Kwon Taekjoo who was
standing there blankly. [Why.] [Aren’t you going to wash?] It’s normal
for water to splash while fishing. It was work. Clothes can get wetter
while staying on a yacht. But it was annoying to see him pretending to
be so clean. He waved his hand, telling him not to worry. [Go ahead. I'll
rest a little more.] [Okay, then.] Zhenya obediently left first. Yoon
Jongwoo couldn't take his eyes off the tuna that Zhenya had caught.
"Even Russians would eat tuna raw, right? Surely they wouldn't cook
this good stuff. Where's the gochujang?" "Stop talking about gochujang
and come here. Come and see." "Yes. But can I leave this dead like
this?" The already slow guy was moving even slower when he was
caught up in the mackerel. Kwon Taekjoo grabbed Yoon Jong-woo's ear.
"Ouch, ouch, senior! It hurts!" "Wake up, kid." "What did I do to you!"
Yoon Jong-woo rubbed his burning ear and looked at me with resentful
eyes. I sighed. "You, came here to play?" "'Then do you ride the yacht to
play or to work?" "Ha, simple-minded kid." Kwon Taekjoo, who had
been sighing, looked around. There were no eyes specifically watching
the two. Nevertheless, he leaned close to Yoon Jong-woo and
whispered softly. "Did you try contacting the manager?" "No. I told you
that Mr. Yevgeny broke his cell phone and the internet didn't work at
the villa, so I couldn't. He doesn't even let me go outside as I please."
"So you're just going to let it go? Let's ask Olga." “What if Olga gets in
danger too? I don’t think Yevgeny Shin would see her as his younger
sister.” Certainly, judging from Zhenya’s attitude toward Olga, Yoon
Jong-woo’s worries were not unfounded. Furthermore, even though
Olga was normal and friendly compared to Zhenya, it was hard to be
certain that she would help the two escape. Since his memories of
Zhenya were vague, he had no memories of Olga either, so he couldn’t
trust her outright. “Instead, why don’t you ask Yevgeny directly? Even if
he’s Yevgeny, would he hurt his lover?” “Hey... Haa. That punk would
grant such a wish. If you were going to do it, you wouldn’t have said no
after the bet ended. You’d just bring it up and it’ll just end up being a
nuisance.” “‘Then what should I do?” “Would I have joined this kind of
play for no reason?” Yoon Jong-woo made a puzzled expression. Kwon
Taekjoo motioned for him to come closer. Then he leaned his head and
wrapped his arm around Yoon Jong-woo’s neck and whispered. “When
the timing is right, you’ll get off here.” “Huh? Get off here? Are you
going to abandon me in the vast ocean again?” “....Again? When did I?"
Kwon Taekjoo made a face that didn't know anything. It was natural
since he had lost his memory, but it was a reaction that made Yoon
Jong-woo feel upset. Yoon Jong-woo glared at Kwon Taek Joo with a
disgruntled look. His snout also slightly protruded. Kwon Taekjoo said,
"Let's loosen up our expressions," and then revealed his plan. "There's
an emergency boat here. Take that and go to the embassy, or use
another means, and contact headquarters first. We should discuss
when and how we'll return in advance so that we don't have any
trouble later. No matter how I look at it, that bastard, Zhenya, doesn't
seem like he'll let us go easily, and if we leave without permission for
too long, there could be problems later. Overweight, right now we’re
hanging out with a guy who’s doing well in Russia. I don’t think this will
work out well.” Yoon Jong-woo quietly bit his lips. It’s not like that,
Kwon Taekjoo was being questioned at headquarters on suspicion of
colluding with Zhenya. There was no need to tell Kwon Taekjoo, who
had lost his memory, about that, but as Kwon Taekjoo had guessed,
being deeply connected to Russia was not good. “I’ll be marking that
guy Zhenya here, so you should just be careful and get out. “Even if you
get out when you have to, what excuse do you have?” “Well, there must
be a lot of excuses. Say you have a stomachache.” “Will you believe
me?” “You have to make me believe you.” “I can’t act like that.” “I can
touch your Adam’s apple and make you vomit.” “Ah, senior!” He patted
Yoon Jong-woo’s back as he was crying and said, “Let’s go in.” No matter
what, he had to get Yoon Jong-woo back to the land first. It would be
safe for now if he stayed by Zhenya’s side, but he couldn’t guarantee
what would happen after that. Just because he was his lover, he
couldn’t give him whatever he wanted for as long as he wanted. He
couldn't give it to him. Kwon Taekjoo and Yoon Jong-woo have places
they should return to. The mission given to him would be completed
after that. After washing up, the meal was ready. The large table was
filled with the ingredients caught from fishing. He was full before he
even ate. Olga showed up again this time with a new style. No matter
how important TPO is, she was always energetic. Yoon Jong-woo ate the
raw mackerel he had been longing for and was trembling with emotion.
He had to make an excuse that he had a stomach ache, so he let him eat
as much as he wanted. Before that, it seemed like it would be good to
tease Zhenya a little. He offered Zhenya the wine that was on the side.
[Want to drink?] [That's right.] He coolly held out his glass. He was
about to pour him some wine first. He naturally snatched the bottle of
wine and filled Kwon Taekjoo's glass. His eyes lingered on his neat and
elegant hand movements. They slowly sipped wine while exploring each
other's glasses. He had tasted wine a few times before, but it was so
fragrant. [Oh, no!] Westared at each other for a while, and Olga
suddenly got startled. He flinched and stared at her. [What, all of a
sudden.] [I left some medicine at the villa.] [What medicine?] [It’s
medicine for angina. I have to take it on time.] Now that he thinks about
it, he heard that Olga had a chronic illness. Was it heart disease?
Patients with heart disease should never be lazy about taking their
medicine. You never know when or how a life-threatening crisis will
strike. So it was true that it was an emergency situation right now.
However, Olga’s fuss felt unnatural somehow. Yoon Jong-woo, who had
been diligently rolling his eyes next to him, began to respond
enthusiastically. [Oh my! What should I do? This is a big deal! Should I
go and get it?] [No. Jong-woo doesn’t even know where the medicine
is. No matter how urgent it is, he can’t let another man search the lady’s
room.] It was as if the two were doing a skit. Zhenya looked at the two
with a look full of disgust at the acting that was too embarrassing to
open his eyes and watch. It was as if he had eaten something wrong. It
seemed like Kwon Taekjoo himself should step forward. [You’re so
messy. You should have taken care of that first when you were taking
care of your clothes.] [Yes.] Olga made a pitiful expression, her
eyebrows drooping. Even if that were true, Yoon Jong-woo couldn't
figure out what on earth he was up to. [Should I go and come back
alone? I'm scared.] [Oh! Then I'll go with you, Olga!] [Oh, will you? But
once you get off, it'll be hard to get back, and I'll ruin the yacht tour.]
[It's okay. I have a stomach ache right now. I think it's a stomachache.]
[Really? I should go see a doctor. What if there are people who die from
food poisoning?] They kept having awkward conversations. The comedy
act of kindergarteners didn't seem that bad. Zhenya watched the two
people with great pity and confirmed Kwon Taek's intentions. [What
should I do? Should I go back?] In a panic, he grabbed Zhenya's collar.
The guy's eyes widened as if he was surprised. He smiled awkwardly
and tried to explain. [T-It doesn't seem like we need to go that far,
right?] […...] [It's been a while since I've been out... The sunset here
must be pretty.] She added, rolling her eyes sideways. Why is that so
embarrassing? Goosebumps appeared on her cheeks. Olga was staring
at her with sparkling eyes from the other side, making her feel even
more embarrassed. [Hmm. Do you really want to be alone with me that
much?] Zhenya's blank expression disappeared and the corners of his
mouth twisted. He secretly lifted his chin and spread his chest wide.
Seeing the bastard's proud appearance made his heart twist. He clicked
his tongue and motioned for Yoon Jong-woo to hurry up and go. Yoon
Jong-woo nodded, stuffed his mouth with a large piece of mackerel
belly, and got up from his seat. Olga said, “I’ll get ready and come out,”
and leisurely disappeared into the cabin. Soon, only Kwon Taekjoo and
Zhenya were left at the table. Zhenya rested his chin on one hand and
leaned his upper body completely toward Kwon Taekjoo. He stared
intently at Kwon Taekjoo’s face. It felt like a hole would be drilled
wherever his gaze landed. He awkwardly mumbled, afraid that his dark
feelings would be revealed. [It’s been a while since we’ve been cosy
together, isn’t it?] [Yeah, cosy together.] Zhenya followed along as if
savouring Kwon Taekjoo’s words. His conscience pricked a little at the
sight of the man who was so full of anticipation. Zhenya stared at Kwon
Taek Joo as if he was completely absorbed in something. Then he
suddenly got up and disappeared without saying where he was going.
Did she go to the bathroom? Kwon Taekjoo thought about what to do
next while eating the remaining wine and food. First, he had to give
Yoon Jong-woo at least half a day to get to land and move around
comfortably. Anyway, he was planning to have a frank and serious
conversation with Zhenya at least once. If that guy was really Kwon
Taekjoo’s lover, then his memories of him would have disappeared.
Because they need to decide how to maintain the relationship. Olga and
Yoon Jong-woo came out onto the deck soon. He got up to see them off.
[Don't worry about us and have a 'cosy' time, Taekjoo.] [Why should I
worry about you? Go quickly.] [Oh my? That's not on your mind.] [It's
on your mind, so just get out of here.] [You want to hang out with your
lover right away, right?] [What are you saying?] Olga giggled as if she
was happy when he said that. She opened her eyes slightly and tried to
guess Kwon Taekjoo's mind. [You wonder if that person was really my
lover? How could I have loved someone like that? Don't you wonder?]
[Did you learn mind reading?] [Do you even need mind reading, I guess.
Even though he's a human who only has a face to look at, Taekjoo can
be tamed well. For the time being, you can't even tell what he's
thinking, you can't predict his next actions, and he's often grumpy... Just
think of him as a big kid. He reveals his feelings. I think that's the same
as showing weakness, so when I'm upset, I throw a tantrum.] [Is that
even a tantrum? If I throw a tantrum twice, my house will be blown
away.] [That's right. Anyway, warrior. Please take care of the happy
ending this time too.] [What are you talking about, sir.] [There is
something like that.] Olga chuckled with a meaningful expression.
Anyway, she didn't like it when her brother or sister acted rudely. As she
was trying to push him to go quickly, Six motorboats were lowered.
Following that, the servants boarded them one by one. He asked
Zhenya, who had just appeared, what was going on. [What is that?]
[You said you wanted to be alone, Taekjoo.] [What?] That wasn't what
he meant when the two of them were alone without the servants.
Somehow, he was acting too clingy, and it seemed like he had
misinterpreted Kwon Taekjoo’s own words. However, it seemed too late
to stop him. [Then, senior! See you tomorrow!] Yoon Jong-woo, who
had a stomach ache, waved his arms vigorously and got off the yacht.
Olga followed him, winking repeatedly. [Then we’ll go first. You two,
take your time talking and enjoy yourself.] [Stop whining and
disappear.] Zhenya narrowed his eyes as if he was fed up. Olga said,
“Huh,” and got off the yacht in silence. The six boats slowly moved away
from the yacht. Kwon Taekjoo gave Yoon Jong-woo a look of advice from
afar. Yoon Jong-woo nodded with a somewhat solemn expression. As
the engine noise of the boats disappeared, the sound of the waves hit
my ears even more strongly. Kwon Taekjoo said to Zhenya, who was
already looking at the back of his head, "Let's go up." Then Zhenya
again quickly hugged Kwon Taekjoo, who was limping and trying to lead
the way. He was flustered, but he figured it was okay since he didn't
have any eyes to look at anymore and it was comfortable. He must have
been an unexpectedly affectionate and devoted lover. The fact that he
settled in Korea, where he had no ties, in order to be by Kwon Taekjoo's
side, the fact that he was active in relieving his mother's worries, the
fact that he searched everywhere to find him, whose life or death was
unknown, the fact that he brought him food that suited his taste and
offered it to him, and the fact that he looked at him with his eyes and
gestures. The fact that he was focused on him was also the same. He
could understand a little why he was upset that he didn't remember
him. He must have been upset that his lover, who had done so much for
him, had forgotten him completely and was trying to distance himself.
He felt sorry for him for no reason. He felt a little sorry for him. Zhenya
carefully placed Kwon Taekjoo on the fluffy cabana. He looked at the
face of the guy who had gotten close to him and lightly brushed back
his bangs that seemed to be poking his eyes. What was that? The guy
slowly rolled his eyes and looked into Kwon Taekjoo's thoughts. The
deep blue longing for him was so vivid that he was embarrassed. [I
heard from Olga. You and I were like that.] He rubbed the back of his
neck and awkwardly let out a sigh. Zhenya wasn't surprised. He just
looked at Kwon Taek Joo with a calm face and said, [Right.] When he
glanced at him again, he smirked and stretched out his lips. [I wondered
why he was so observant, but now he knows the truth?] His
mischievous eyes and tone were close to mocking, but somehow he
seemed quite pleased. [How long has it been since that happened?] [3
years.] [Eek?] [Is this surprising.] [How?] [What kind of question is
that?] Zhenya furrowed his brow slightly. He looked incomprehensible,
wondering at what part of his story the question 'How' came to his.
[Well, you’ve never been sexually attracted to a dark man. I still can't
imagine it, what on earth did you do to me?] Zhenya snorted in
disbelief. [You really forgot. You caught me first.] [Me?] [Yes. You.]
Zhenya confidently stated. Kwon Taekjoo himself was the one who
approached him first? He was pretty to anyone, but he definitely didn’t
look like a woman. His pretty face wasn’t even noticeable because of his
overpowering size. And yet Kwon Taekjoo himself was the one who
grabbed him first. What on earth happened? It seemed like there were
too many stories left out. He had been dating him for three years. He
had no idea where to start or how to start. It didn't come out. Zhenya
expressed his disgusting resentment to Kwon Taekjoo, who was at a
loss. [You've always been like that. You treat me roughly and try to make
me subordinate, but you want to be free rather than stay by my side.
You tell me to deal with you like that.] [Me? Really?] [Why? Are you
trying to pretend like you don't know and forget everything now?] Kwon
Taekjoo himself treated Zhenya so roughly? Suddenly, the image of
himself tying him up and using violence against him came to mind. He
lost. After making him surrender so arrogantly, he left him as if he was
abandoning him, and then he lost contact with him. When did he
suddenly come back and repeat the same thing? How much of a piece
of trash did he act? Even though he doesn't have much experience in
relationships, he’s always met and broken up normally. Most of the
people he’s dated so far have been upset because they didn’t think of
him first, and that’s always been the reason for our breakups.
Whenever that happened, he respected their wishes and didn’t hold on
to them. He swears he’s never been arrogant to anyone. Was it because
they were men that he acted so recklessly? He was pulling out his hair
and thinking about his poor imagination. He tried to maximise it. Either
he was drunk and impulsively dazzled by his looks, or he was so drunk
that he couldn’t tell men and women apart, or he was crazy about sex
in an extreme situation where he was the only one with him… No
matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t help but guess that
he was unconscious. Anyway, if they dated for three years, they must
have had sex, right? He looked at Zhenya from head to toe again.
Zhenya looked at Kwon Taek Joo as if he had more questions. His eyes
were drawn to his long eyelashes without fail. His skin was flawlessly
white, his ears and fingertips were also red, and he had a pretty
impression overall, but he was a man no matter how he looked at him.
He could only see the presence of his centre that stood out on the front
of his loose pants. Did you get excited after seeing that? Did Kwon
Taekjoo himself have the same taste for men? Did he just realise it too
late because he hadn't met anyone like him in a while? [Taekjoo. I can
hear the sound of his head spinning.] [… I just tried to recall my
memories. It's just a little bit, but there are things that come to mind
here and there.] [You remember?] [I'm not sure it was you, but I had a
few dreams where I dated someone or had skinship with someone. The
other person seemed to be a man.] [There was another guy besides
me?] [No. Since that can't be the case, I'm saying it must be you. By the
way, does my mother know about our relationship?] [Well. Wouldn't
the little girl be happy if she found out? Because she likes me.] [Little
girl?] [Yeah. Taekjoo, if you were my son, I’d want to take me as your
son-in-law.] Zhenya closed his eyes and smiled. [You little punk, you
wouldn't have told my mother about it. What do you call a woman?
What kind of habit is that to an adult!] When he shouted, Zhenya’s eyes
widened. Then, he soon burst into a refreshing laugh. After a long time,
the guy who finally stopped laughing muttered as if he was drunk.
[Yeah. This is how you are.] His heart was pounding on its own. His
heartbeat has been irregular lately. Did he finally get an arrhythmia?
The sky was gradually turning yellow. The sun slowly set, scattering
countless glitters on the water. Kwon Taekjoo watched the scene for a
while in silence. Zhenya also watched the sunset. He just silently stared
at his flushed cheeks and eyes. [I have to work really hard.] Looking at
the sea bathed in the sun, he muttered softly. When he turned his head,
his eyes met with Zhenya’s. [I think I was late in greeting you, but thank
you for coming to save me.] [Again?] Zhenya looked surprised. Kwon
Taekjoo smiled brightly and spoke frankly. [Yes, again. I thought I was
abandoned. Of course, it was a hardship that I had to overcome alone.
But honestly, it was too much. I couldn't even remember who I was, the
situation around mewas going crazy, I was being chased for no reason,
and my body kept hurting... I wish someone would come get me. I can't
be sure because my memory isn't perfect, but I think it was the first
time someone came to save me.] The moment he encountered Zhenya
at Matthias' villa, his heart pounded like crazy, but he felt strangely
relieved. He didn't know who he was or what his relationship was with
him, but his heart was at ease. If not, he wouldn't have been willing to
throw himself at him. [That's why I said thank you. He was so persistent.
Thank you for finding it. In the end, you came to pick me up.] [....]
Zhenya, who had been quietly looking at Kwon Taekjoo, suddenly
approached him. He had no time to stop him, and his face was grabbed
by the guy. [Sleep...!] He belatedly raised his head, but his noses met,
and then his lips were pressed together. The guy's lukewarm breath
seeped into his slightly parted lips. Since neither of them closed their
eyes, their gazes were intertwined at close range. Zhenya opened Kwon
Taekjoo's eyes one by one. He tried. His eyes looked like they were
asking for permission. Kwon Taekjoo closed his eyes and pulled the
guy’s collar. Immediately after that, Zhenya covered Kwon Taekjoo
without hesitation and locked his lips. He licked his lips that had been
completely covered, then twisted his head and thoroughly overlapped
them again. Zhenya’s scent poured in and all his senses seemed to be
dizzy and numb. Strangely, he didn’t feel any sense of rejection. On the
contrary, the flames burned faster and more intensely because of the
desire that had built up over time. Kwon Taekjoo grabbed the back of
Zhenya’s head and rubbed his tongue thickly against his. At that,
Zhenya’s breathing became extremely rough. The body temperature
touching his skin also became noticeably hot. The guy obediently
followed Kwon Taekjoo’s lead. While adjusting to the moment, he
sucked his tongue and plump lower lip alternately. As the saliva that
had become sweet and the turbid breath were exchanged repeatedly,
her body gradually collapsed. [Haa, Taekjoo....] "Um....” Zhenya started
to sweep up from Kwon Taekjoo's side and grabbed his chest. He dug in
between Kwon Taekjoo's legs and secretly rubbed his thick centre
against his crotch. He opened his eyes to the feeling of the heavy flesh
constantly being crushed against his groyne. Zhenya’s hair shone
brightly in the red sunset. It was coming. A warm light filled his back
and shoulders. He closed his eyelids, using the glare as an excuse. Since
he was already swept away, wouldn’t it be okay to taste him a little
more? Zhenya seemed to want it desperately and he didn’t feel bad
either. He didn’t have much of a problem with contacting others.
Moreover, since they were lovers, he thought that if they hung out like
they used to, forgotten memories would come back vividly. While
rationalising endlessly like that, he suddenly grabbed Zhenya’s butt.
Zhenya let out a shallow laugh. The two of them rubbed their centres
together and mixed their tongues. That wasn’t enough. At the moment
of freezing, Zhenya’s hand dug into his pants and wrapped around Kwon
Taekjoo's genitals. With a slap, the man's lips fell down on Kwon
Taekjoo's chin and neck in turn. "Ugh, slap..." The big hand wrapped
around his entire genitals and gently caressed them. The length of his
hand seemed to know exactly where and how Kwon Taekjoo liked to be
touched. Kwon Taekjoo unconsciously moved his lower body and
squirmed against Zhenya’s hand. Each joint of his fingers became a
stimulation point, giving him sweet pleasure. He let out a breath of
excitement as his temperature rose rapidly. Both cheeks quickly turned
red. Kwon Taekjoo gently stroked Zhenya’s ears. He urged the guy on.
Then, the guy who had buried his head in Kwon Taekjoo’s neck raised
his eyes. He stared down at the guy and gently pulled his ear. The guy
obediently followed him and soon stuck his head out to kiss him again.
He wrapped his arms around the guy’s neck and naturally climbed on
top of him. As soon as their lips parted, Zhenya lifted his head and tried
to kiss him again. He pressed the guy’s shoulder and chuckled. [Come to
think of it, I think I won the fishing bet.] [… Oh, that’s right.] [You
decided to do whatever the winner said, right?] A playful smile spread
across Kwon Taekjoo’s face. Zhenya followed suit and chuckled. [Is that
how it’s going to be?] Zhenya released the two hands that had been
holding Kwon Taekjoo and lifted them to both sides. Kwon Taekjoo’s lips
drew a long arc. It was interesting that he would come out so easily.
How should I cook it? [Open your mouth first.] Zhenya opened his
mouth as he told him. Sharp canines stood out among the even teeth.
Behind them, a moist tongue slowly moved. It seemed as if he was
tempting him to come in and taste him. [Stick out your tongue too.] He
tapped Zhenya’s cheek with his fingertips. Zhenya chuckled and silently
stuck out his tongue. [Okay. Don't move and behave yourself.] Kwon
Taekjoo smiled with satisfaction and lowered his head to suck Zhenya’s
tongue. He sucked his soft tongue once, then released it, and skillfully
led the kiss by rubbing his tongue again. Zhenya’s lips twitched
repeatedly as if he felt good. Every time Kwon Taekjoo sucked or
squeezed his tongue, the eyelashes on his wide-closed eyelids fluttered.
Honest The reaction was cute, so he gently stroked his cheek with his
thumb. Zhenya moaned and sucked Kwon Taekjoo's tongue. He
responded appropriately and then pulled out, tickling the inside of his
upper lip with the tip of his tongue. Then, when he licked his tongue
near his philtrum, his long eyelashes vibrated again and tickled his
cheek. It really stimulated his desire to conquer. "Um. Clothes, um,
hmph..." Kwon Taekjoo continued the passionate kiss and lifted his
waist that had stopped. Zhenya also narrowed the cave of his hand and
squeezed Kwon Taekjoo's penis tightly. The soft yet firm curve of his
fingers aroused his excitement. Kwon Taekjoo's waist play became
increasingly fierce. His pelvis roughly hit Zhenya’s hand cave as if it was
going to break it. Zhenya moved his hand slightly and squeezed Kwon
Taekjoo's genitals sweetly, leading to ejaculation. He whispered
“Taekjoo." in Kwon Taekjoo's ear and kissed his ear and neck, which had
become hot. Soon, Zhenya’s lips touched the skin bitten by the
mosquito and sucked it. A subtle sensation was triggered as the already
ticklish area was strongly sucked. His shoulders tensed up for no reason.
Unfortunately, Zhenya’s lips quickly fell away. The guy who moved his
lips from Kwon Taekjoo's shoulder to his chest licked his nipple. Before
he knew it, there was a mosquito bite there too. The same strange
pleasure as before ran down his spine. When the guy opened his mouth
and sucked the mosquito bite and his nipple at the same time, my
upper body bent forward. The heat that had been slowly gathering
inside his genitals became heavier and more intense. "Haa, ha, uh, uh,
uh, uh, out...." He moaned without thinking. Zhenya pulled Kwon
Taekjoo's body close to his. He placed Kwon Taekjoo's genitals on his
abs and stroked the newly smooth flesh with his thumb. Kwon Taekjoo's
genitals quickly slid between Zhenya’s clear abs. In the quick
movements that finally hit my chin, the red urethra filled with Cooper's
fluid was visually Maximising the stimulation. Zhenya licked his lower lip
and tilted his head toward Kwon Taekjoo's penis. "Keuuu, eueuuuu...!"
In an instant, Kwon Taekjoo's body froze and ejaculated hotly. Kwon
Taekjoo shut his eyes tightly and shuddered in the intense thrill. Slowly
opening his eyes, he saw Zhenya blinking his eyes continuously. The
semen spurted across his face. Some of it seemed to have entered his
eyes. [Hey, sorry! Are you okay?] [... Taekjoo. You must have been quite
hot all this time?] [I suddenly got excited.... Look where] [It must have
only happened for a day or two.] Zhenya smiled, his wet lips softening.
The guy who wiped the semen that had splashed on his face with his
hand licked it without hesitation. Kwon Taekjoo shouted in horror. [Hey!
Why are you eating that.] He grabbed the guy’s cheeks with one hand,
telling him to spit it out quickly. Then Zhenya grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s
arm and said, [Come here.]. As he pretended not to be able to resist
and was dragged away, he whispered softly in his ear. [Fortunately, your
body remembers me.] He wondered if he could stand up to a man, but
no matter how much he got caught up in the atmosphere, he got an
erection and even ejaculated. Insertion may be a separate area, but
with his current state of mind, it seemed possible to go that far. His
heated body didn’t cool down at all. However, he had no idea how to
start. Should he just treat it the same way as a woman’s body? [… .
What do I do next?] [If you forgot, I’ll teach you one by one.] The hairs
in his ears stood up at the whispering sound. His throat also trembled
on its own. Kwon Taekjoo said, “Yes,” and put his hand inside the guy’s
pants while kissing Zhenya’s cheek repeatedly. Just the fact that Kwon
Taekjoo ejaculated on his stomach made the guy’s penis swell up as if it
was going to burst. There was. As he caressed him as if he was urinating
him, his palms quickly became wet with Cooper's fluid. Since he was
big, all his body parts would be big, but he was slightly in awe at the
sight of his penis that was far larger than he expected. However, he
couldn't show it in front of the person who licked his semen. He pressed
his lips against Zhenya’s neck and continued to knead his penis. He let
out a short moan while feeling good. The sound didn't sound too bad.
[...Hmm. Taekjoo.] The guy who was feeling good lowered his pants
buckle. As he wrapped his hands around his penis that was pouring out,
he secretly jerked his lower body and slammed his penis into Kwon
Taekjoo's palm. He was hit. At the same time, he grabbed Kwon
Taekjoo’s buttocks tightly. Something thudded down in that moment.
What is it? His body froze at the sudden, unfamiliar sensation. When
Kwon Taekjoo’s hands suddenly stopped, Zhenya raised his upper body
slightly. Then, he wrapped his tongue around Kwon Taekjoo’s earlobe
and licked it, saying [Continue.]. He moved his hand again, feeling a
sharp and yearning sensation that was even slightly metallic. Then
Zhenya continued to encourage him by kissing Kwon Taekjoo’s ear,
kissing, kissing. Zhenya’s hand, which had been fondling Kwon Taekjoo’s
buttocks to his heart’s content, began to dig into his groyne little by
little. He slowly pulled his buttocks to one side. He also stroked the hole
hidden inside. At that moment, Kwon Taekjoo flinched and stiffened
again. [Just like the first time.] Zhenya, who was already intoxicated,
giggled and pushed the tip of his tongue into Kwon Taekjoo’s ear hole.
He also swept the inside of Kwon Taekjoo’s buttocks more clearly. Kwon
Taekjoo suddenly grabbed his hand. [Wait.] [Shh. It’s okay, so relax.]
Zhenya smiled with the corners of his lips twitching. He continued to
comfort Kwon Taekjoo, telling him it was okay. However, Kwon Taekjoo’s
stiff body was not. He didn't know it would come off. Instead, he was
trembling. Something inside him kept bubbling. [When was the last
time you cried? It will be updated today.] The gloomy and humid prison
flashed through his mind, the loud noise of the handcuffs whenever he
moved his body, the strange gazes watching him, and the horrible
feeling of torture inflicted on my body quickly came back to him. [If
guys like you fall into my hands, one of two things will happen. The
truth you've hidden will either burst inside you and kill you, or you'll
excrete it before that. Which one will you be?] A rage rose deep inside
him. His jaw clenched. [Don't do that.] He squeezed Zhenya’s hand,
which was touching the hole without permission, even harder. Zhenya
didn't realise the seriousness of the situation and just kept kissing him.
The moment the bastard's finger was stubbornly trying to push into the
hole, something that had been wriggling inside him suddenly surged up.
It felt like the club that had been swiping his body randomly was
passing through his throat and hitting his brain. [... Stop it!] He shouted
and pushed Zhenya away. Zhenya, who was dazed, groped around to
check Kwon Taekjoo's expression. Kwon Taekjoo's face was pale. [...
Taekjoo?] Feeling strange, he reached out to check Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon
Taekjoo roughly pushed his hand away and said, "Don't come." His body
was trembling like an aspen tree. [Taekjoo, what's wrong?] "Don't
come. Don't come...." Kwon Taekjoo, who had been repeating the same
words, suddenly covered his mouth. Then, he hurriedly got out of the
cabana with his body still weak. Before long, his knees gave out and he
collapsed. [Taekjoo!] When Zhenya tried to approach him quickly, Kwon
Taekjoo raised his hand to refuse. Then he got up again and limped
towards the railing. When he fell over again because his foot was
twisted, he crawled on all fours. When he finally reached the railing, his
whole body shook and he felt sick. He quickly followed and grabbed
Kwon Teak’s shoulder and turned him around. His eyes were lifeless and
dim. [Taekjoo, why are you doing this?] A voice overlapped behind
Zhenya’s worried voice. One after another, pieces of Afterimages kept
coming into his mind. [The breasts are so big, it looks like they’re
begging me to suck them.] [I guess I should try to see if this alone will
kill someone. You’re going to die here today anyway.] [If you want to
walk out of this room on two legs, you’d better whine and shake your
butt or howl like a dog in heat. I get even angrier when I see someone
who fearlessly rebels. I feel better when I trample on that cute thing.] It
felt like fragments of unidentifiable memories were slicing into his
brain. The pressure in his brain was rapidly rising. The area was
repeatedly triggered. "Leave it! Leave this fuck! I'll kill you. I'll kill you
all!" [Zainka. Come to your senses....] [Cry out, Zainka.] "Fuck, get out!"
Zhenya was hit on the cheek and chin by Kwon Taekjoo's fierce gesture.
He tried to calm him down with force, but he only resisted more
strongly. He was roughly scratched and his clothes were torn. "Fuck,
fuck...!" [Taekjoo!] After struggling for a while, Kwon Taekjoo suddenly
fainted. He patted his cheek in surprise, but he didn’t regain
consciousness. [Taekjoo. Taekjoo....] Zhenya quickly hugged Kwon
Taekjoo and went into the control room. It felt like he was being
splashed with flames all over his body and then suddenly got splashed
with cold water. His whole body was soaked with sweat and the
warning lights kept ringing in his head. He couldn’t figure out why Kwon
Taekjoo was acting like this, but for now, all he could think about was
saving him. He held onto Kwon Taek Joo tightly in his arms, afraid that
he might lose him again. [What?] Olga greeted the two when they
arrived at the villa. She looked worried and wondered why the two had
already returned. Zhenya circled the car without any explanation and
picked up Kwon Taekjoo, who had been lying down in the back seat.
Kwon Taekjoo's limbs were limp. He seemed unconscious. His
complexion was also not good. [Taekjoo? What happened? What
happened on the yacht?] Olga kept asking Zhenya, pressing him, but he
did not respond. Zhenya just passed her by and took Kwon Taekjoo to
the bedroom. She hurriedly followed him. Kwon Taekjoo was neatly laid
down on the bed. There was no trace of blood on his face. His forehead
seemed to be boiling and his entire body was soaked with cold sweat.
He was wearing only a robe. There were red marks on his exposed skin
here and there. Olga frowned and pushed her brother, who was silent,
away. [Why are you doing this, Taekjoo! Did you do something strange
to Taekjoo? Did you force him to do something terrible?] Zhenya kept
his eyes fixed on Kwon Taekjoo and said nothing. He looked as if he had
been greatly shocked. It was Jeong-yeol. He couldn't figure out what
happened between the two of them. He just assumed that he must
have provided an excuse since he was the one who stayed with Kwon
Taekjoo until the end. [The doctor warned me! Don't let memories that
could cause PTSD come to mind! Is it really that hard to pretend to be a
considerate lover and endure it? You're really a person!] Zhenya
grabbed Olga's arm as she continued to criticise him. Then, despite her
request to let go, he stubbornly dragged her to the door. When he
pushed her out of the room, Olga lost her balance and fell over. [You...!]
[Olga...!] Yoon Jong-woo, who was just coming back from his business,
came running in a hurry. Not knowing what was going on, he supported
Olga and looked at Zhenya's eyes. Then he found Kwon Taekjoo lying on
the bed and shouted in surprise. "Senior!" There was no response from
Kwon Taekjoo. His face was so bad that you could tell from afar. Did
something happen on the yacht? Did he get into a fight with Zhenya?
Looking at Zhenya's face, which was as cold as a ghost, only bad
thoughts kept coming to mind. [What's going on, Yevgeny? Senior, Why
are you like that?] Yoon Jong-woo asked as he approached Zhenya.
Zhenya pushed his chest as he was about to enter the bedroom. With
incredible force, Yoon Jong-woo fell down and fell on his butt. [… . Be
quiet. If you keep nagging, I’ll kill you.] Zhenya looked down at the two
with cold eyes and closed the door. The door was firmly locked from the
inside. Yoon Jong-woo and Olga looked at each other with blank
expressions. Until they got off the yacht, the atmosphere between
Kwon Taekjoo and Zhenya was not bad. No. It was confusing as to what
had happened in that short time. The two sat facing each other with
serious expressions. Three hours had passed since Kwon Taekjoo and
Zhenya had returned, but the door locked from the inside did not open
at all. It did not seem like there had been a close combat between Kwon
Taekjoo and Zhenya. At first glance, only traces of sexual intercourse
were found on Kwon Taekjoo’s body, and no bruises or congestion could
be found. The possibility that Kwon Taekjoo had attempted to escape in
the middle of the ocean was also low. Olga silently observed the pale-
faced Yoon Jong-woo. As soon as he returned to the villa, he went out,
saying he was going to the hospital. He thought he was just trying to
avoid me because he suddenly had a stomach ache, but it seemed he
had another purpose. When he suddenly said [Jong-woo], Yoon Jong-
woo flinched and was startled. [… Yes, yes?] [Where did you go?] [Yes?
As I told you, to the hospital....] [I know that was a lie. Where did you
come from?] [Oh, that....] Yoon Jong-woo rolled his eyes with a troubled
expression. He even grabbed the back of his own hand. Olga, who had
been silently watching him, tried to calm him down. [I won’t say
anything to that guy.] Yoon Jong-woo slowly made eye contact. Olga’s
gaze seemed to be trying to confirm his true intentions. [You don’t trust
me?] [I trust you! I trust you, but… My senior told me to move quietly.]
[If it’s for Taekjoo, I’ll help you too. Even if it means running away from
here.] Olga made a bold promise. Continued Yoon Jong-woo, who had
been taking a deep breath, let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping. Then,
with a tired expression, he spoke honestly. [I went to report to
headquarters. My senior was worried that if he kept disappearing
without contact, it would cause problems later. I need to ask for support
if I want to return to Korea at any time.] [So. What did the company
say?] [...I haven't received a reply yet. It's difficult to access the
headquarters system with the internet speed here, and if I go directly to
the embassy, it'll take at least 10 hours to get to Athens. I sent an email
to the director in a hurry, but... I think the headquarters It’ll be difficult
to respond to. Right now, it’s ambiguous to say that he’s been
kidnapped or imprisoned. Even in that situation, the rule is to escape on
your own. It would be different if the senior was moving with the
person in charge or had important items, but that’s not the case.] Olga
nodded and muttered in deep thought. [Taekju is planning to leave
again.] [The senior’s last memory is from 4 years ago, when he was
staying in Korea. I think he’s planning to go to a familiar place and
gradually regain his memories. It seems like he wants to finish up the
work he was in charge of before. Quiet.] [It won’t be easy. To escape
from here while avoiding that author’s eyes.] [Yes. I know.] Yoon Jong-
woo lowered his head with a resigned expression. In fact, it seemed
impossible to escape Zhenya’s grasp without a fight or getting hurt. And
in a situation where he couldn’t expect any support from headquarters.
Zhenya would definitely get angry if he found out about Kwon Taekjoo’s
plan. He wouldn’t understand that he would leave him again after
barely making it back alive. Yoon Jong-woo was worried about what to
do. Olga opened her mouth with difficulty. [… . Actually, I’m more
worried about something else than escaping.] [Something else?] [Senior
keeps looking for his former direct superior, the manager.] [His former
superior? Why?] [I don’t know how much Olga knows, but Senior’s
mission to Russia was actually a trap. They sent Senior to the brink of
death because they were afraid that corruption would be discovered by
the higher-ups. Senior’s direct superior, the manager, was also deeply
involved in that. Senior… He never showed it, but it was a huge shock.
He must have. He relied on and followed the manager like his late
father or older brother.] It was hard to imagine how great the sense of
betrayal must have been, when his trusted boss was corrupt and drove
him to his death. Kwon Taekjoo was known to not show his wounds
easily, but the internal wounds of a person who kept his pain inside
were usually deeper than the wounds that were visible on the outside.
If things went according to plan, Kwon Taekjoo would recall his
memories of him someday and get hurt again. Furthermore, the mental
and physical pain he suffered while being entangled with Zhenya during
the process of being abandoned by his boss would come back to life. It
was not easy or pleasant to regain his memories again. He thought it
wasn't just luck. [Anyway, for a senior to recall that time is like
experiencing betrayal and the pain again.] It was traumatic enough to
be thrown into an unfamiliar world, have his life threatened several
times, and barely managed to return to his home country only to be
branded a criminal. Furthermore, if the person behind that incident was
a superior he trusted and followed, he couldn't help but feel deep
doubt. Even so, Kwon Taekjoo didn't quit his job and returned to his
position. Yoon Jong-woo guessed the reason, linking it to his beliefs.
[Senior was convinced that he wasn't wrong. I think he wanted to gain
it. He wanted to believe that the work he had done while sacrificing his
body, and sometimes hurting others, was not for the private benefit of a
few, but for the benefit of the country. That way, he wouldn’t get tired.
And that way, the work he had done so far would not have been in vain
or wrong.] For Kwon Taekjoo, it was something he had devoted himself
to, leaving his mother’s worries behind and giving up his personal
happiness. As such, the pride in his devotion to the larger group of his
country and people must have been a great driving force in his life. How
empty it would be to know that the work he had poured his all into was
being used to satisfy someone’s selfish desires. Now that Kwon
Taekjoo's axis is shaken, the aftershock when the past memories come
back might be even more intense than when it actually happened. Yoon
Jong-woo's anxiety and concern were understandable. The reason Olga
was worried about Kwon Taekjoo and Zhenya's relationship was no
different. [It would be nice if I could just pick out the bad memories and
erase them forever, but for now, I guess I'll have to accept it. It would be
good to have someone who can't emotionally support Taekjoo. Isn't
there anyone? Taekjoo's mother.] [Mom is not someone that the senior
relies on, but someone he wants to protect.] When stress or mental
pain is extreme It was better to open up about it than to keep it to
himself. To do that, you need someone to rely on emotionally, and
usually a family member, friend, or lover would take on that role.
However, Kwon Taekjoo only had his mother, who he was always
worried about. It seemed like his friendships had almost all been cut off
since he joined the National Intelligence Service, and his lover, Zhenya,
was not a great person who could fully sympathise with the suffering
Kwon Taekjoo was going through. On the contrary, it was fortunate that
Kwon Taekjoo didn’t get upset by constantly provoking and pushing him
like he was doing now. Olga let out a long sigh. [Let’s call the doctor
again tomorrow and consult him. I’ll talk to that author.] [Yes. Thank
you.] [Thank you. And I don’t know about Jong-woo trying to contact
the company. Please refrain from trying to communicate too actively
because it won’t be good for that author to see you. I’ll find a way to
send Taekjoo and Jong-woo back to Korea.] Yoon Jong-woo nodded
repeatedly at Olga’s request. He felt relieved, as if he had gained a
thousand troops. [You must be tired from moving around secretly. Wash
up and rest.] [Yes. Good night, Olga.] Yoon Jong-woo bowed and stood
up, He hesitated before leaving the room. His gaze was fixed on the
shadow on the floor. [….Jong-woo?] Olga looked back at Yoon Jong-woo,
who had stopped suddenly, with a suspicious look. At that moment,
Zhenya, who had been leaning against the wall, slowly blocked Yoon
Jong-woo. The shadow swallowed Yoon Jong-woo in one breath. He
couldn’t tell how long he had been there or how much he had heard.
[Were we conspiring like this?] [Yes, Mr. Yevgeny. That’s not it…] Yoon
Jong-woo made an excuse with his chin trembling. Zhenya grabbed his
neck in one breath. The pupils in his blue eyes were clearly constricted.
[If you recall past memories, Taekjoo will be in pain?] He tilts his head
and asks gloomily. Yoon Jong-woo barely holds on to Zhenya’s arms with
both hands. He stands on tiptoe, barely supporting his trembling limbs.
[… Ugh. Senior, Senior keeps mentioning Manager Lim. He still thinks
he’s your superior. Remembering that time is like being betrayed twice.
You’ll definitely get hurt.] [So?] [Ugh, Mr. Yevgeny. Let’s talk about this
first. Here. This....] As his breathing gradually became suffocated, Yoon
Jong-woo tapped Zhenya's hand. But the guy didn't move. Olga pushed
her brother away with all her might. [Let go of his hand!] Zhenya easily
grabbed Olga's wrist and twisted it. Olga cried out in pain, "Ah." She
kicked the guy's leg in anger and scolded him. [You only think about
yourself? Why are we trying to make trouble for you? You worry and
ponder how you can help Taekjoo!] [Who are you?] [Then you? Are you
a proper lover? It was because of you that Taekjoo suddenly had a fit
like that. Isn't it?] Zhenya couldn't respond properly to Olga's teasing.
The tip of his jaw clenched. A thick blood clot appeared on his smooth
forehead. It was a situation where his life could be lost if he was
provoked even a little. Even so, Olga didn't back down. [I explained it so
you'd understand! Some memories are better forgotten! If you didn't
want them to become such terrible memories, you should have done
better.] [Oh, Olga...] [Are you that upset that Taekjoo doesn’t remember
you? Taekjoo is trying to make it up to you that you were his lover, but
you can’t stand it even for a moment? And you’re still his lover? How
long are you going to act like a child! Is it wrong to worry about the
person you like getting hurt? This is something you should be worrying
about first, not us!] [If you don’t want to die, stop messing around, I
think I warned you.] Zhenya let go of Yoon Jongwoo as if shaking him
off. Then he suddenly grabbed Olga’s neck and lifted her into the air.
Olga struggled in pain, but opened her eyes with difficulty and glared at
her brother. She collapsed on the floor and Yoon Jong-woo, who had
been coughing, belatedly saw the sight and hugged Zhenya’s leg. [Oh,
no, Mr. Yevgeny! No! Please let go!] “Zhenya.” Yoon Jong-woo’s sobbing
suddenly mixed with Kwon Taekjoo’s voice. It was so blurry that he
thought it was an illusion. Zhenya’s hand that was choking Olga’s neck
lost its strength. As a result, Olga fell helplessly to the floor. Yoon Jong-
woo approached her on his knees and asked, “Ms. Olga, are you okay?”
In the meantime, Zhenya looked back with a bewildered face. Kwon
Taekjoo was nowhere to be seen. Did he mishear? "Zhenya." At that
moment, he heard him calling him again. Zhenya strode out of the
kitchen. Soon, his steps turned into running. He opened the bedroom
door wide. Kwon Taekjoo, who had fallen under the bed, came in as his
vision shook. It seemed that he had fallen over while trying to get out in
a hurry because it was noisy outside. He ran over and hugged Kwon
Taekjoo tightly. Kwon Taekjoo fell limply into Zhenya's arms. Zhenya’s
rapid breathing disturbed Kwon Taekjoo's ears. He hugged Kwon
Taekjoo tightly as if he was going to crush him, and kept calling him
"Zhenya". He rubbed his nape. Kwon Taekjoo patted the back of his
head with a feeble hand. [You keep fighting like kids, you can’t even
sleep. Let’s stop and go somewhere quiet.] [Taekjoo....] [Huh? Where
quiet.] Kwon Taekjoo whispered in a languid voice. He had administered
a tranquilliser to relieve the seizure symptoms, but it seemed that his
mind was not in order because of the ingredients. Soon, Kwon Taekjoo’s
hand that had been stroking Zhenya’s head slipped away. Zhenya
clenched his hand tightly and nodded repeatedly. Since Kwon Taekjoo
was returned with difficulty, he wanted to completely possess him. He
wanted him to be the one and only object that he would look at, think
about, and remember. He didn’t want to give up even a single moment
of him to anyone else. His deep blue eyes were filled with blind
determination. 14. Blackout ‘What is this?' He looked around blankly.
Kwon Taekjoo was standing blankly in a square space. It was unclear
where it was or when he had moved there. The moment he was about
to take a step, the air condensed all at once and the space distorted. He
was breathless. Immediately after, a huge explosion rang out and the
ground came crashing down. Every single window shattered and the
shards flew like flower petals. 'Eek!' He fell to the pitch-black floor
before he had time to dodge. The floating glass shards sharply
scratched his skin. One after another, Debris pouring down from the
ground mercilessly hit his entire body. His body, which was falling
helplessly, collided violently with the ground. It didn’t seem strange at
all if he lost his breath. Soon, sirens blared from all directions, and
rescue teams, firefighters, and ambulances appeared in a row.
Onlookers gathered, and people on stretchers were carried away in a
row. He got up in the midst of all that. He heard a beeping sound in his
ears. He shook his head to regain consciousness. His limbs were shaking
as if all his bones were broken. At that moment, he heard the noise of a
car accelerating from behind him. He turned around and saw a car
rushing fiercely in the darkness with its high beams flashing. He saw it.
The being blocking his path was mercilessly rushing forward. He
couldn’t see the driver because his eyes were blinded by the high
beams. He barely managed to get up and ran away. He didn’t know who
was chasing him, why he was being chased, or where he was going, so
he just ran. He ran and ran without stopping on the narrow road where
his shoulders brushed the walls on both sides. The mysterious car
continued to chase him, passing in front of or behind Kwon Taekjoo.
Soon, an open square appeared at the end of the narrow road. Beyond
it, a river was surging. He gritted his teeth and ran there. Just as he was
about to turn off the alley, a car that had come from the side hit Kwon
Taekjoo. His body rose high into the air with a loud thud. The car that
had rushed toward Kwon Taekjoo also broke through the fence and
crashed into the river. In an instant, he was sucked into the pitch-black
river, and cold water gushed out through the holes in his body. The
heavy mass of the car body created a violent waterway and pulled
everything around him to the riverbed. No matter how much he
struggled, he was helplessly dragged deeper and deeper. He struggled
desperately before sinking to the bottom. Soon, his lungs began to hurt
and he had difficulty breathing. He gritted his teeth and shook his limbs.
He was almost exhausted and was able to get to the surface. He came
out kicking. 'Huk, huk. Shit....' Every time he let out a gasp, it felt like his
organs were pouring out. He lay down on all fours and let out a turbid
breath. It felt like his lungs were crushed. He slowly got up and watched
his surroundings. For some reason, darkness fell for a moment. The
noisy siren had completely disappeared. All he could hear was the noise
of a train passing by somewhere. When he turned his head to follow
the sound, the riverside road was nowhere to be found, and a random
rail stretched out. The train that ran along the rail was stopped in front
of the taxi. The train, whose destination he couldn’t tell, emanated a
fuzzy feeling. The bright lights and the warm seats that he could see
through the windows seemed to beckon me to get on. He got on the
train without hesitation. The train closed its doors and started to rush
off somewhere. Beyond the foggy windows, a dense forest of birch
trees and an empty field passed by one after another. He staggered
down the narrow passage. He passed through the first-class, first-class,
second-class, and third-class cars one after another, starting from the
dining car where the dishes clanked. Soon, the conductor’s office
appeared before his eyes. He knocked on the closed door. Regardless,
his body moved on its own. There was no sound inside. Did he go to the
car to do some work? He didn’t see the person who was presumed to
be the conductor on the way back. It was at that moment when he was
wondering. Suddenly, a black shadow loomed above the door. He
guessed that the conductor had returned, and turned his head without
any doubt. At that moment, someone caught his eye and he felt a
strong impact on his head. His eyes spun around and he fell limply to
the floor. His vision, which had completely turned upside down and
opened wide, was slowly stained with red blood. ‘...gasp!’ He opened
his eyes wide. His breath caught in his throat and he barely managed to
clear his throat by coughing. He was so nervous that his limbs were
shaking. Was this a nightmare? Somehow, the scenes didn’t seem to
connect. In his dream, he didn’t realise how sloppy or strange it was. He
touched the back of his head that had been hit in his daze. Of course,
there was no pain at all. He took a deep breath and looked out the
window. The birch forest he had seen in his dream was quickly passing
by. Then, the wide open snowfield continued endlessly. Where am I?
What am I riding? ‘Are you awake?’ Just as he was wondering, a being
he didn’t recognize spoke to him. He looked to the side in surprise.
Zhenya, who was driving, met his eyes with a strange expression. What
the heck, it was Zhenya. His sleepy heart suddenly relaxed. But how did
he end up in that guy’s car? He was definitely in Greece. Outside the
window, a barren plain without any houses continued to unfold. No
matter how he looked at it, it wasn’t Greece. ‘...I had a strange dream.’
Yeah. He was sleeping peacefully. 'If someone groans, wake them up.’
‘Why, I left it alone because that seemed to be having fun.' Zhenya
twisted the corners of his mouth and smiled mischievously. Do you
think that people only groan while sleeping when they have dirty
dreams? It's like he's never known a nightmare his whole life. ‘What the
hell is in your head?' Tsk tsk He clicked his tongue and looked out the
window again. In the meantime, the car entered a deep forest. ‘Where
the hell is this place?' Zhenya didn’t respond. He just drove roughly and
stopped on a steep slope. He pressed his forehead against the window
and looked around. There wasn’t even a hut around him, let alone a
house. What on earth are you doing here? He stared at Zhenya with a
puzzled look. ‘Get out.’ The guy got out of the car first without any
explanation. An icy wind blew in through the door he had left open. It
was so cold that my teeth chattered. Only then did he look at himself
and he was wearing only a thin shirt. He followed Zhenya down, his
whole body curled up. In the meantime, Zhenya took something out of
the trunk. He watched him quietly as he put on a long fur coat that
seemed to cover his ankles. Then he immediately closed the trunk. Was
that the only thing he had prepared? Of course not, he’s the only one
who’s wearing it so tactfully. That’s what a lover is. ‘What is this, you
deadly bastard? Are you satisfied with just being warm?’ He questioned
him, feeling a little resentful inside. Regardless, Zhenya strode away, the
hem of his fur coat fluttering. He felt like he’d get lost forever if he lost
him in a place he didn’t even know. He said, “Let’s go together,”
annoyedly. He hurried his steps. The snow was piled up to his knees,
making it difficult to take a single step. No matter how hard he hurried,
he couldn’t catch up with Zhenya. The distance between them kept
growing longer. ‘Ah, wait a minute! Oh my!’ He didn’t go very far before
he fell over. He couldn’t move, as if he was buried in the mudflats. He
groaned and barely managed to escape, but Zhenya was nowhere to be
seen. “What the hell. Stop messing around. It’s not fun.” He raised his
voice with a serious expression. Only his shouts echoed back, and there
was no response from the thing. He held his breath quietly and
followed its movements, but he didn’t sense anything. He got up in a
hurry and ran in the direction the guy disappeared. When he reached
the end of the slope, it felt like a huge wind was pushing his back. He
looked down. The cliff with no end in sight was gaping black.
'...Zhenya?' Did he really go down here? Or maybe he stumbled. If that's
the case, how can he save him? Questions and confusion filled my head
in an instant. At that moment, he felt the back of his head tighten. He
instinctively looked back. A black silhouette flashed past his vision, and
then a heavy club hit his head. He fell to his knees without even
screaming. The thug threw Kwon Taekjoo’s shoulder down the cliff. He
didn’t take his eyes off the black silhouette as he plummeted down the
steep cliff. The thug’s face brightened in the sunlight streaming through
the trees. It was Zhenya. “......!” His vision suddenly opened up. His
heart pounded violently and his rapid breathing disturbed his ears. His
body hardened like a stone. He was shaking, but he couldn't move even
a single fingertip as he wanted. Every cell in my body was tingling. He
desperately sucked in air to breathe comfortably. He couldn't breathe in
as much as he wanted. It felt like a bell was ringing in his head. He felt
dizzy even if he rolled his eyes just a little. His pulse was racing as if it
was going to burst through his skin. "Ugh, ugh...?” He was writhing in
pain when a large hand came up to him. When that hand covered his
eyes, his mind strangely calmed down. His eyelids, which had been wide
open and twitching, closed smoothly. [Taekjoo. Breathe.] A soft
soothing voice came to his ear. It was Zhenya. Following the man’s lead,
he slowly exhaled the breath that had been trapped in his lungs.
“Haa...” [Good job. One more time.] “Heuheu...” His throbbing heart
calmed down as if it were a lie. The pressure in his stuffy ears eased and
cleared up, and his body’s tremors subsided. Zhenya slowly took his
hand away. An unfamiliar ceiling filled his vision as he regained his
composure. This definitely didn’t seem like a Greek villa. He turned his
head towards Zhenya and groaned at the damp sensation. The sheets
were soaked with sweat. He finally turned to his side and looked at
Zhenya. He was sitting on the chair next to the bed. He didn't know how
long he slept, but he thought he must have been watching him from
there the whole time. He stared at him blankly and then moved his lips.
His voice cracked miserably. […...Zhenya.] [Yeah.] When he reached out,
Zhenya grabbed his hand and rubbed the back of his hand against his
cheek. His skin was colder and rougher. He closed his eyes once and
opened them. Zhenya’s gaze was fixed straight on Kwon Taekjoo. For
some reason, he felt relieved and poured out his words as if
complaining. [I had a strange dream. When I woke up, it was a dream
again... I kept getting chased.] Zhenya didn’t say anything in response.
He just pressed his lips to Kwon Taekjoo’s hand and stroked his palm as
if tickling it. [Where am I?] Zhenya stared blankly at Kwon Taekjoo at the
following question. There was no change in expression, but his eyes
looked strangely disappointed. The answer came a beat late. [Ajinoki.]
[Ajinoki?] He asked just in case, but as expected, it was an unfamiliar
place name. It didn’t seem like a famous city like Seoul or Moscow, even
though it was usually mentioned as something he should know.
[Taekjoo, the place you and I stayed.] He said, “Ah,” at the added
explanation. It wasn’t an answer that completely satisfied his curiosity,
but it sounded quite romantic. [Then it’s not Greece? Is it Russia?]
[Administratively, yes. No one can invade without my permission.] This
entire area is his private property? He wasn't surprised. In fact, he was
curious about something else. [How did you get here? I didn't have a
passport or anything, and I must have been unconscious the whole
time.] [That's not even a problem.] Zhenya shrugged his shoulders with
an indifferent expression. Considering the guy's power and wealth, it
didn't seem impossible. On the other hand, it was so easy to cross over
to Russia, like when he crossed the Iranian border a while ago. He felt
strangely empty as he remembered all the hardships he had endured. [I
guess I had a really great lover, my past self.] [Of course.] Even at the
sarcastic remarks, he lifted his chin and grinned. Is his social skills
lacking? [My back hurts. Help me up.] He shook the hand that was
being held by Zhenya. Zhenya silently pulled his hand and supported his
back, lifting him up. He also thoughtfully placed a pillow behind his
back. He groaned and leaned back against the pillow. He briefly recalled
the past events. The most vivid memory was when he was left alone
with Zhenya on the yacht. After sending Olga and Yoon Jong-woo away
first, we talked about this and that, and a strange atmosphere formed.
It wasn’t intentional. It was more like he was just helplessly swept away
by the atmosphere at the time. He hadn’t had sex for a long time, and
he was feeling quite woozy, and he wondered if he could actually go
that far with him. No, maybe all of that was just a lame excuse for my
instincts that wanted to roll around with him. He was about to have sex
with him without much thought, but then he suddenly remembered the
past. He was in an Iranian prison, wondering who he was, where he
came from, and why. The time when he was interrogated came back
vividly. As a Black agent, it was not uncommon to be interrogated or
tortured in such an intense manner, and he had become somewhat
immune to it. However, it was the first time he was sexually abused like
that. At the time, he was so determined to escape that he didn’t have
time to look into his heart and think about it, but it seems that the
internal wounds were greater than he thought. As soon as Zhenya
touched the inside of his buttocks, the feeling of being tortured was
added more clearly. He couldn’t even see the opponent in front of me
properly, and a disgusting aura dominated my whole body. He thought
he hyperventilated because he couldn’t even breathe properly. He was
struggling, grabbing his poor neck, and Zhenya hugged him as if tying up
his whole body. He fought for a long time while rejecting him. He
remembered that. He regained his composure right after the guy
suddenly kissed him. The guy bit his lips and tongue and pushed a
tranquilliser into Kwon Taekjoo’s mouth as he tried to escape. Then, he
stroked his head and reassured him while tying up his limbs until his
resistance completely subsided. [Taekjoo, calm down. No one can hurt
you anymore. I won’t let them touch your fingertips.] When all his
strength had drained and his eyelids were dim, he heard Zhenya’s voice
ringing in his ear. Not long after, he lost consciousness. The guy must
have been very surprised by the sudden situation. He scratched the
back of his ear and said, It was too much. [That... I'm sorry about what
happened on the yacht. I suddenly remembered something bad.] [...
Something bad?] Zhenya tilted his head and wondered. Even so, they
were lovers, so was it really necessary to tell him something like that? It
would only make him worry more. But if he beat around the bush, it
would mean that he rejected him for that reason, and he would be hurt.
After much thought, he roundly told him. [It's obvious. How do agents
who are arrested while doing espionage get treated? I don't remember
anything, but who am I, where am I, They kept asking me if I was here
and what my purpose was for several days.] He explained it as lightly as
possible, as if it was nothing. Since Zhenya was also an FSB member, he
didn’t have to go into detail, so he would have guessed the general
situation. Agents take risks and work. Anyway, he was about to say let’s
just shake it off, but Zhenya gave off a cold aura. The once warm eyes of
the guy had become sharp. [Who messed with you, Taekjoo?] [Relax,
you brat. If it was him, I would have sent him to the goal a long time
ago.] [What the hell happened to you?] [I don’t think it’ll be good to
hear. I don’t really want to go over it.] [Anyway, I might have another
seizure, and my condition doesn’t seem to be that good, so let’s take
things step by step from now on. Do you understand?] He consoled
Zhenya as if he was talking to a child. After all, he was much younger
than him, and from what he’s seen, he tends to become more docile
when he gently comforts him like he does now. As expected, Zhenya,
who had been silent for a long time, let out a long breath and
obediently said [Okay.] Maybe because of the situation, his feelings
seemed quite complicated. He listened for a moment to the sound
outside the bedroom. Zhenya noticed the feeling and he turned his
head too. [What happened to Jongwoo and Olga? It seemed like the
three of them were fighting..] When he opened his eyes again after
losing consciousness on the yacht, he was already in the bedroom.
Zhenya, Yoon Jongwoo, and Olga were nowhere to be seen. However,
he could hear the voices of three people one after another outside the
bedroom. He couldn't tell the exact content of the conversation. He just
realised that the three of them were arguing fiercely from the unstable
vibration of the air. Before anything happened, he said he thought he
should go. [Did you leave them there? You said you were going to come
here?] [What do you know?] [You didn't hurt them, did you?] Zhenya
rolled his eyes to the side with a huff. Even in the midst of all this, Kwon
Taekjoo, who was taking care of others, looked displeased, but he didn't
seem to do what he was worried about. [Or, that's okay.] He picked up
the blanket and got up. He limped to the window on his still-wet legs.
Just like in his dream, the vast expanse of space outside the window
The land was spread out. The blue sea was visible in the distance, and
on the side were hills that could be called mountains. The birch trees
planted densely around it caught his eye. It was an extremely quiet and
peaceful sight. However, he was curious because he couldn't see any
other buildings anywhere. Not even the common telephone poles were
visible. [You and I... stayed here?] [Yeah. Taekjoo, when you finished
work, you always came here and spent time. Because you weren't
bothered by anyone and weren't tied up with anything.] He nodded and
agreed. He was exhausted from the hard work. After Lin, he stayed
home for days to recharge his energy. Was it different because he had a
lover? He felt like he could let loose here. He could fill his stomach with
food that he could reach for while he was sleeping, and when he got
bored, he could go fishing or hunting and spend his days without
worries. He could easily picture the days he would have spent with
Zhenya. [But not being disturbed by anyone....] [It's my island. My own
space.] Does that mean it's an uninhabited island? He burst out
laughing because he was so shocked. Zhenya had that kind of power. He
came up behind Taekjoo and covered him with a thick blanket. Just like
the fur coat he had seen in his dream, the soft fur clung to his body.
Zhenya hugged Kwon Taekjoo over him and pressed his lips to the back
of his head without hesitation. He shrank his neck because it was so
awkward and masculine. Then, Zhenya leaned his head out a little more
and rubbed his face against Kwon Taekjoo’s hair. Goosebumps appeared
on his cheeks at the ticklish expression of affection. The hair inside his
ear holes also stood up stiffly. [You said you would come pick me up as
soon as the last thing was over. I will return safely, so don’t do anything
and just wait here quietly.] [And then you heard the news that I died?]
Zhenya nodded instead of answering. The tip of his sharp nose gently
rubbed against his scalp. [It tickles, you brat.] He turned his body
halfway toward him. The brat quickly hugged Kwon Taekjoo and sat him
down on the windowsill. They stared at each other for a while. It felt
like time had stopped for a moment. Kwon Taekjoo was the one who
ended the strange standoff. He chuckled and tapped Zhenya on the
cheek. [You were talking so loudly and then suddenly died, and when
you finally found out that he was still alive and chased after him, he
asked who you were and was on guard. You must have been flustered.]
[It seemed like he was teasing me.] Zhenya snickered a little tiredly.
When he stroked his chin, he opened his eyes. His gaze was quite
provocative. He pinched his cheek, afraid that it might turn into a
strange atmosphere. His eyes widened at the unexpected development.
He found the sudden change in his expression quite cute and giggled.
[Have you been sleeping all this time? Your eyes are really swollen.]
[Who are you worried about, Taekjoo.] [I’ve never seen you sleeping or
eating. Are you human?] [Are you underestimating me?]
[Underestimating me. I'm worried, Zhenya.] He shook the bastard's
cheek and let him go. His hands were too weak to hold on any longer.
Whether it was because of the tranquilliser or because he was moved
around while he was sleeping, he was feeling really tired. [I said I was in
a place where I wouldn't be disturbed, right?] [yeah.] [Then let's sleep
more. I want to rest. I'm so tired.] [As much as you want.] Zhenya
carried Kwon Taekjoo with the blanket and went back to bed. Kwon
Taekjoo buried his head in the pillow and secretly pulled his arm. The
guy obediently followed suit and hugged Kwon Taekjoo tightly from
behind. He even intertwined his legs as if supporting Kwon Taekjoo’s
injured leg. Perhaps because his mind and body were completely
relaxed, the guy’s body that wrapped around his body was as
comfortable as a bedding. Kwon Taekjoo’s eyelids, which had been
blurry, closed limply. Zhenya also buried his head in the nape of his neck
and slowly closed his eyes. It was a perfect rest like a mother. For a
while, the two people’s soft breathing could be heard inside the
mansion. It spread. Slowly he opened his eyes. The sensation of waking
up one by one was just calm. It felt like he had slept soundly without
dreaming for the first time in a long time. He slowly rolled his eyes and
figured out where it was. He vaguely remembered waking up in the
middle of the night and talking to Zhenya. He thought he said it was an
island he owned. He turned his head at the feeling of someone else's
breath. Zhenya, who was sleeping soundly, came into his sight. He was
wrapped up in his arms, his large body curled up. The arms around his
waist were so heavy and hard that he couldn’t even think of releasing
them, but his completely limp face was simply pretty and beautiful.
Maybe it was because of his bangs that reached his eyes, but he looked
younger than his actual age. Every time he breathed, his long, dense
eyelashes fluttered slightly. His skin, which had looked somewhat rough,
also glowed smoothly as if it had never been like that. Can he touch it?
Before he could even decide, his fingers touched his cheek. At that
moment, as if it were a lie, his eyelids rolled up cleanly. Kwon Taekjoo’s
own face, completely absentminded, was projected into his clear, blue
eyes. [… .Taekjoo?] [Oh, did you sleep well?] When he awkwardly
greeted him, Zhenya’s lips drew a long arc. Even his eyes are slightly
curved. Damn, he was so beautiful. [Am I that pretty?] [Are you crazy?
There’s nothing you can’t do since morning.] [I guess being shy is your
nature. You can do whatever you want.] [What, what…] Zhenya blinked
disgustingly. The sunlight streaming in from outside the window made
his hair and eyelashes sparkle exquisitely. His pupils also became more
transparent. How can such a mysterious light come from a part of the
human body? Can he fly? Let's just look blankly. Yes, he urges Kwon
Taekjoo. [Don't just peek at me like that. If you want to touch me, touch
me as much as you want, Zainka.] [Who said that? Let go. I'm going to
the bathroom.] He patted Zhenya's arm that was wrapped around his
waist. He didn't let go of his arm obediently. He just buried his head in
Kwon Taekjoo's head without thinking. [Ah, I'm in a hurry.] He laughs
and falls away when he urges him angrily. He also immediately gets up
and does his usual Kwon Taekjoo. He tried to pick up Taekjoo. He
pushed the guy's shoulder. [Okay. Now I'll try to move on my own while
doing rehabilitation.] When he refused his help, he made a stubborn
expression again. He seemed to have finally found fun playing with
dolls, but the doll wanted to move on its own, so he must have felt like
his toy was taken away. Regardless, he got out of bed and went outside.
Zhenya followed Taekjoo Kwon like a parent chasing a child who had
just learned to walk. As soon as he left the bedroom, he saw a large
door right next to him. He had a feeling that it was the bathroom.
[Here?] [Yeah.] [You wait there.] [Are we going to do this again?] [Please
do this.] He closed the door in front of Zhenya, who was trying to follow
me inside. He didn’t forcefully open the door and come in. He didn’t
even make a sound like he was leaving the door. He slowly turned
around and stood. As expected, the bathroom there was too spacious.
He sighed. [It took half a day just to drain the water.] He shook his head
and walked towards the toilet. As he did so, he looked around as usual.
The first thing that caught my eye was the window on the opposite wall.
The blue sky was clearly visible through the window. What was strange
was that the narrow window was blocked by bars. It might have been a
densely populated area, but there was no way thieves would come into
an uninhabited island. There was no way wild animals could sneak
through such a high window. Was the building originally a prison that
had been transformed into a mansion? Or was this just Zhenya’s taste?
He knocked on the wall where the window was. There was a heavy
sound, as if it was touching the siding wall. He had no idea what kind of
structure the building was. First, he finished his business and washed
his hands. The face he saw in the mirror was a sight to behold. His head
was completely crushed and sprawled out here and there. He couldn’t
stand it any longer. He decided to take a shower and took off his
clothes. He went under the shower and turned on the water. He was
worried that only cold water would come out, but the warm water felt
good on his skin. He scrubbed his face and washed his face, and even
his head felt refreshed. He tried to wash his body with the shower gel
provided, and a familiar scent wafted out. Upon closer inspection, it
was a product that Kwon Taekjoo himself often used. It seemed that it
wasn’t a lie that he often spent time with Zhenya here before he lost his
memory. Falling in love with someone who was once like an enemy. He
used to prefer the boring side of love, but did his tastes change without
him knowing? Even as past events occasionally came to mind, the only
question he had was still about Zhenya. So he became curious about
him and kept looking at him. After taking a shower, he opened a nearby
closet. He took out a towel and roughly wiped the moisture off his head
and body. Just in case, he looked through it and found a disposable
razor. People usually prefer electric razors, but in Kwon Taekjoo’s case,
maybe because he was always wandering around, he found a
disposable razor more convenient. He took out the razor that was
comfortably in my hand and shaved and even brushed his teeth. He
absentmindedly tried to put the toothbrush in, but when he saw
another toothbrush, he felt strange. It looked like he had set up shop
here. He scratched his head and then absentmindedly looked at himself
in the mirror. For some reason, his face reflected there felt particularly
unfamiliar. He had clearly washed up, but it looked like Pain, who hadn’t
showered in days. Deep despair and anger filled his eyes. Was he seeing
things? The moment he tried to brush his eyes, his head suddenly went
dizzy. His vision also suddenly turned yellow. [Ugh....] It felt like his brain
was being squeezed. He couldn’t stand properly because of the
dizziness that shook his whole body. A headache that was now familiar
but never quite familiar kept coming back to him. He shut his eyes
tightly. Then a scene began to flash in his mind. He saw someone pulling
out towels from the three-story room. He tore the towels with a razor
blade and connected long rags to make a rough rope. He tied a pair of
tongs to the end of the rope and threw it toward the tall window. The
tongs fell limply after hitting the bars. The man kept looking around the
doorway as if he was being chased by something and threw the tongs
again and again. After much trial and error, the tongs went over the
bars. When he pulled the rope hard, the tongs tied to the end turned
sideways and were firmly fixed to the bars. The man began to climb the
high wall relying on the flimsy rope. Despite slipping several times, he
gritted his teeth and crawled until he reached the bars. The man
reached out as if jumping and succeeded in grabbing the bars. The man
hanging on the bars kept bouncing back and trying to tear off the
window frame. However, the thick bars did not budge. The man whose
feet slipped momentarily fell to the floor and landed hard on his butt. It
was just that. Did he think it was a big deal? The man with his eyes wide
open ripped out the drain pipe of the sink. He slammed it against the
wall and started to struggle, tearing off the broken tiles with his bare
hands. Beyond the wall that had been ripped off without any effort, a
cross-section that looked like it had been carved out of rock was
revealed. The drain pipe fell out of the hand of the man who was tired
of the product. I......] Kwon Taekjoo stared blankly at his hand. The
vibration from when he had slammed the solid wall with the drain pipe
seemed to come back to life and make his entire body tremble. The
identity of the man who had been desperate to get out of this
suspicious bathroom was clearly Kwon Taekjoo himself. Here, What
happened? Zhenya described this place as if it were a paradise for the
two of them. They confirmed each other’s feelings while staying here,
and after that, they lived in Korea and often came here to spend their
vacations after finishing their busy work. But why did the self in the
memory that suddenly came to mind try to run away from here so
recklessly? [… Taekjoo?] Zhenya’s voice suddenly rang out from outside.
He flinched his shoulders without realising it. It seemed like he had
sensed something unusual. When there was no answer, he banged on
the door. [Taekju!] Finally, Zhenya kicked the door open and came in. As
soon as he saw Kwon Taekjoo sitting on the floor with a bloodless face,
he stopped and froze. Then, he ran over and grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s
shoulder. [What’s going on?] [Oh, I suddenly feel dizzy.] Zhenya
frantically scans Kwon Taekjoo’s body. His eyes were trying to check if
he was hurt anywhere. He then looked around the bathroom. It was an
action to figure out what had happened inside. [Did something come to
mind?] The guy looked back at him and asked. It was just a feeling, but
his mother was slightly attracted. She seemed anxious, wondering if she
had remembered something from the past. He could even detect an
intention to find out the truth from the way he carefully looked at Kwon
Taekjoo’s eyes alternately. If he was honest, he might be able to hear
why his past self had tried to escape from there. But Kwon Taekjoo
shook his head. [No. I said it was just dizziness. I think I showered too
long.] The gap between the story Zhenya had told him and the memory
that suddenly came to mind was too big. He couldn’t tell which one was
closer to the truth, but It would be right to trust his lover, Zhenya, but
he wanted to wait a little longer for his memories to come back. He still
didn’t have enough faith that Zhenya wouldn’t contaminate his
memories. [Get up.] [Yeah.] He silently accepted Zhenya’s support. He
sat Kwon Taekjoo down on one side of the bathroom and personally put
on his underwear. When the two hands of the guy who was caught in
the drawers came up precariously, almost brushing the sides of his legs,
his breath caught in his throat. His body also secretly stiffened. He easily
pulled up the drawers, so he hit Kwon Taekjoo’s head with a slap. He
put on his shirt. The tension from before suddenly collapsed because of
the sudden pressure. The face on his neck felt indescribably hot. [It
hurts, kid! You said you’d take care of me, but you’re not delicate.]
[You’re getting angry again, strangely.] [What’s going on?] [Let’s go eat
now.] Zhenya stood up Kwon Taekjoo without permission. He looked
back as he was being dragged away by the guy. He was as extreme as
any other lover, and his mansion was full of traces of Kwon Taekjoo’s
stay. The underwear he was wearing now fit him perfectly, and he had
just changed into a new one. The T-shirt was Kwon Taekjoo's favourite
casual wear during his military service. But why? His heart pounded
strangely with an unexplainable sense of foreboding. [No one else lives
here? No one comes and goes.] He muttered while staring blankly out
the window. He watched for quite some time, but there was no one at
all. At most, there were a few birds fluttering and flying around. [I told
you. No one can come in without my permission.] Zhenya put the mug
down in front of Kwon Taekjoo. It smelled like really good coffee. He
blew lightly on the hot coffee to cool it down and took a sip. The perfect
heat seeped into his mouth and spread throughout his body. The
concentration and the scent were both to his liking. Did he naturally
learn these things as a lover? [It’s delicious.] Zhenya smiled as if it was
obvious and turned toward the kitchen counter. Then he opened all the
cupboards and showed them to Kwon Taekjoo. [What do you want for
dinner?] The cupboards were filled with Korean instant foods. From
various ramen to military combat rations, and retorts that just needed
to be heated. He wondered where they had all been airlifted. [What
was all that?] [Who must have whined that they couldn’t stand Russian
food? They said they couldn’t stay here even for a day because their
stomachs were upset, and that they would go back to Korea right away.]
He didn't remember, but there was no room for excuses. Since he had
grown up eating only the food his mother made, he would quickly
become bloated if he didn’t eat Korean food. When he was abroad, he
reluctantly ate local food, but whenever he did, he felt like his stamina
was decreasing faster than usual. It was a feeling. When spending
private time with a lover, there was no way he would have tolerated
food that didn’t suit his taste. Even so, was it really a grown man to
complain about side dishes to a young lover? It was so immature.
Everyone becomes childish when they’re in a relationship, but this was
so pathetic. [Yeah, what would you like? Give me.] [Let me see. That
thing that says Gamjatang over there, I’m going to pull that.] Zhenya
frowned and scanned the instant food. It seemed like he didn’t know
which one was ‘Gamjatang.’ [There’s a red one in the middle, right? The
red one.] [It's all red.] Looking at the brightly coloured packaging, he
grumbled, [Why is all Korean food like this?]. Suddenly, he remembered
that guy boiling ramen with his nose and mouth covered in Greece.
Then and now, Kwon Taekjoo only prepared Korean food for himself,
and he can't eat spicy food at all. Then what did he eat and live in
Korea? He couldn't stop wondering. [... Then let's go with the white
one, the second from the left.] [You like the red one?] [I like the white
one too. You can eat that much.] He got up and walked over to Zhenya.
Then he took out the galbitang himself and placed it on the counter. He
smiled at Zhenya who was looking at him with a puzzled face. [If we’re
going to do it, let’s eat together.] It was really annoying, but he was
going to treat Zhenya like my exes if possible. Then all of a sudden, that
bastard hugged Kwon Taekjoo tightly. It didn’t seem strange if his ribs
broke. [I can’t breathe.] But he didn’t let go of Kwon Taekjoo and kept
clinging to him more. Was he touched by his affectionate appearance?
Or was he thinking back on all the hardships he had endured and
wanted to act childish? [Yeah, yeah.] he said and patted Zhenya on the
back of his head. He patted him. Instead of the guy who couldn't calm
down, he took out a suitable pot and poured the galbitang into it. He
didn't expect much, but it was bigger than he thought. The unique,
fragrant smell of galbitang also stimulated his sense of smell. His mouth
started watering quickly and his stomach tightened. He took four
instant rices out of the cupboard and put them in the microwave. He
didn't know how to get off his back until he moved the heated rice to
the table and poured water. How did he end up dating such a big,
annoying person? He definitely didn't like the cute type. [Okay, let's
stop now and eat. I'm going to starve.] He patted Zhenya’s arm, who
was burying his head in his shoulder. Zhenya rubbed his face against the
back of Kwon Taekjoo’s head to his heart’s content before leaving.
Instead of sitting down, he went to the refrigerator and took something
out. [Oh, even kimchi?] Is this how someone who discovered a diamond
mine feels? He was embarrassed to even have cabbage kimchi, but
there was even cubed radish kimchi. He opened the lid and tasted one.
It was a little dry, but it suited his taste. No, it was more than just good;
it was a familiar taste. It tasted like his mother’s cooking. [… ..uh, this?]
[A little woman packed it for me as a gift. She changed the ingredients
every season.] [You don’t give kimchi to just anyone, but I guess my
mother really liked you.] He tilted the kimchi container and poured
some of the broth and kimchi into the galbitang. Zhenya frowned as he
watched the broth rapidly becoming cloudy. [Why do you keep making
food waste?] [Waste? That’s rude. People who know how to eat
properly all eat like this.] [Even a dog wouldn’t eat it.] Despite the
continuous criticism, he ate rice and ate it all. The spicy and sour taste
of kimchi added to the rich galbitang soup made his mouth water. It
seemed like he could eat several bowls. He gestured to Zhenya to hurry
up and eat. The guy sighed softly and picked up his spoon. He quietly
ate the soup with his eyes down. He even wiped his lips, which were
not even dirty, with a napkin. It was frustrating to watch him act so
docile. [Put this on and eat it up.] He took out a piece of radish and
placed it on Zhenya’s spoon. Then the guy stopped and stiffened. He
was a master, so he would eat it in someone else’s mouth. Do you hate
scooping something up with the spoon you used? Kwon Taekjoo said to
Zhenya, who was looking at him with a displeased look, “It’s delicious if
we eat together.” Then Zhenya sighed softly and put the radish on his
spoon into his mouth. His dry cheeks puffed up slightly. The guy didn’t
chew the small piece of radish, but just held it in his mouth and moved
his jaw belatedly. But the movement was ridiculously slow. When he
finally swallowed it, he covered his mouth with his fist and quietly
swallowed. Unable to hide it, his neck and ears turned red. [What, you
were a spicy person?] In an instant, he burst out laughing at the sight of
his lips swelling up. Zhenya glared at Kwon Taekjoo with watery eyes. [Is
this funny, every time?] [No, I didn’t know you weren’t a spicy person.]
He barely suppressed his laughter and handed him a glass of water. The
guy quickly extinguished his mouth. [If you can’t eat it, just refuse to eat
it. What are you eating again? Like a brat who doesn’t want to be hated.
Did we feed you some kind of cold food at home?] He clicked his tongue
and went to the refrigerator to find some ice. He saw some ice for
chilling. He took out one of them and sat down on the table. He
grabbed Zhenya’s chin and lifted it up. He dutifully turned his face to
Kwon Taekjoo and looked up at him. He gently rubbed the ice on his
swollen lips. The ice quickly melted at his body temperature, and his
entire lips became shiny. Maybe it was because of his mood, but his lips
seemed to be quietly holding the ice and Kwon Taekjoo's fingers. When
he lifted his gaze that had been fixed on his lips, he immediately met his
blue eyes. They exchanged glances for a moment. The next moment,
Zhenya broke the tense tension and bit the ice again. At the same time,
he pulled Kwon Taekjoo's waist and made him sit down on his lap from
the table. [… . It was a little spicy because it was the first time I ate it in
a long time.] Kwon Taekjoo, who had been touching Zhenya’s cheek
with his wet fingers, grabbed the bastard’s earlobe. Then, he slowly
tilted his head and licked the ice that Zhenya had bitten. The cold air
tickled his mouth. He repeatedly flicked the surface of the ice and
pushed the small crystals into Zhenya’s mouth with his tongue. Zhenya
groaned sweetly and swallowed the cold and hot intruders. The cold
grains disappeared between their thickly mixed tongues. They parted
their lips for a moment and looked at each other. Their blue eyes were
stained with bright red passion. As he stepped back slightly, Zhenya
suddenly rushed in and laid Kwon Taekjoo on the table. Kwon Taekjoo
held the guy who was rushing at him as if he was going to bite him with
his whole body and kissed him passionately. After the meal, he sat on
the sofa in the living room and looked through the dusty books. How
could he not see a single book in that large house? He found a pile in
the storage room under the stairs. What really caught his eye was that
the covers were all pink and were full of hearts, lace, and roses. The
titles were also unusual; they were all romance novels. Could they be
Olga's? Ah If you are Zhenya, is his taste surprisingly this way? He
flipped through a few pages of the book and closed it with a sigh. He
threw the book away and the face that had been hidden behind it was
revealed. His already plump lips were noticeably swollen. It was
because the kiss that started during the meal continued as if it would
stop. He had been bitten and sucked so much that he had no sensation
as if he had been anaesthetised. Zhenya pressed against Kwon Taekjoo
and rubbed his bottom, but he didn't make any more progress.
Regrettably, he only sucked Kwon Taekjoo's lips and tongue desperately.
At the end, he was out of breath and pushed him away first. The
stubborn guy bit Kwon Taek Joo’s cheek hard before he could get away.
He scratched his cheek where the scar remained. He tried to calm him
down by saying that he would get to know him slowly, but every time
the atmosphere got too good, he would get swept away without a plan.
Is it okay to keep bumping into him like this? Zhenya kept creating a
strange atmosphere, and Kwon Taekjoo himself fell for it every time. He
tried to rationalise that he was his lover and that he was trying to
somehow regain his memories, but he felt like he was being too
restrained. Of course, Kwon Taekjoo himself wasn't that sexually naive.
Depending on the situation, or if he was attracted to someone, he
wouldn't hesitate to have a one-night stand. But he was not the type of
person to just pass it by. If it weren't for Yeon, they should be careful
not to hurt each other.... [Oh, I don't know.] He scratched the back of
his poor head. He didn't know what was right. If by any chance his
memories didn't come back completely, should he still maintain his
relationship with him as a lover? It would be hard to feel the same
feelings for someone he didn't even remember. But it seemed too cruel
to Zhenya to pretend it never happened. He looked around and then
got up. He tried to consciously block out his thoughts that were
becoming too complicated and looked for something to kill time. Soon,
he saw a piano on one side. The huge string instrument standing next to
him was like that, and he must have a hobby of playing musical
instruments. Zhenya seemed quite good looking as he elegantly pressed
the keys with his long, white fingers. He sat down on the chair and
opened the piano cover. He had never learned how to play the piano.
There was just a piano at home when he was young, and his mother
often played it for him. As a result, he was extremely cautious with the
gestures he made when he touched the keys. He was pressing the keys
one by one without any meaning, when he suddenly sensed a presence
behind him. When he turned around, Zhenya had approached him and
was leaning his upper body forward. His head dug into his shoulder, and
his ears naturally were swept. At the same time, the bastard’s hand
slipped under Kwon Taekjoo’s hand and they were holding each other.
[You must have forgotten how to play, right? I taught you so many
times.] The laughing voice rang out particularly loudly. He stared at the
bastard’s face, which had gotten much closer. The bastard naturally
faced Kwon Taekjoo and began pressing the keys while placing his hand
on the back of his hand. Even though it was just placed on his hand, it
felt like he was playing it by himself because every time my fingers
moved, a pleasant sound came out. Zhenya pushed his left hand
between Kwon Taekjoo’s sides and added an accompaniment. With
that, a plausible melody began to ring out. He started to lose. After
playing for a while, Zhenya slowly pulled his hand away and gently
grabbed Kwon Taekju’s wrist. Kwon Taekju simply moved his fingers as
his body moved without thinking about when or which key to press.
Then, as if it were a lie, a song that blended with Zhenya’s
accompaniment was played. It was an experience and memory that was
engraved in his body. Did he learn piano from Zhenya here? Sitting close
enough to recognize each other’s body temperature, breath, and body
odour? It seemed like a pretty romantic date. After finishing playing, he
was lost in thought and immersed in the afterglow. When he came to
his senses, Zhenya Just after a burst of laughter. [Looking at it this way, I
guess the body is smarter than the head? The head forgets everything,
but the body remembers. Playing the piano, and the other side.]
Zhenya’s expression as he brought up the other side was strange. They
say nobles like metaphors, but they pretend not to and try to trick us all
the time. The clothes he had changed into were also silk blouses with
large frills. Do men wear things like that? Maybe it was because of the
soft shoulder line and the flowing sleeves that almost covered the back
of the hands, but it created an optical illusion that made the guy’s huge
body look airy. The hair, which was naturally messy and not styled, also
made the guy’s impression even softer. But this time, he had no
intention of letting it go so easily. Kwon Taekjoo clenched his teeth and
tried to look away from Zhenya. He gestured at the string instrument
next to the piano and asked something he wasn’t even curious about.
[What’s that? A cello?] [Contrabass.] [Can you play that too?] [It’s
normal to play one or two instruments.] He spoke as if it were the same
as saying that humans eat three meals a day. What good would it do to
learn an instrument, let alone Taekwondo? [Why, do you want to hear
it?] [If it’s a contrabass, can’t you play solo anyway? I don’t know
anything about concertos. I’m surprised you even played the piano a
little while ago.] Zhenya chuckled and moved behind the contrabass.
The instrument that looked so huge fit into his arms. He strummed the
contrabass on his shoulder and started playing. The heavy melody
slowly resonated, creating strong waves from inside his body. The
movements of his white fingers touching the strings were incredibly
graceful and elegant. Kwon Taekjoo got up from his seat and moved to
the sofa close to Zhenya. He hugged a large cushion and laid his head
on it. As if responding to Kwon Taekjoo’s expectations, Zhenya played
the contrabass in earnest. The majestic yet somehow lonely song
spread throughout the living room. For some reason, his heart ached.
Moonlight seeped through the glass windows on the ceiling and walls.
Because of that, Zhenya’s ivory-coloured hair and skin glowed faintly,
creating a dreamy scene. Zhenya, who had finished playing, lifted his
eyes and stared at Kwon Taek Joo. His face looked curious about his
impressions. [Thanks to you, my ears were pampered. You’re really
good, right?] [Of course.] [… It may sound out of the blue, but how were
we?] Was it an unexpected question? Zhenya, who had been raising his
chin and smirking, made an incomprehensible expression. [How were
we? What?] [Just as usual. I think we fought a lot.] [Should I call that a
fight?] Zhenya chuckled and confessed to Kwon Taekjoo’s evil deeds in
the past. [Taekjoo, you often get angry for no reason. Every time you do
that, you say that you can’t communicate, where He pressed me saying
that I had to explain it to him. I guess I gained patience that I didn't have
thanks to you.] How could he get angry at his lover who was four years
younger than him and say that he couldn't communicate? It's natural
that we have different lifestyles and thought systems since we've lived
in different cultures all our lives. Listening to Zhenya's story, he felt like
his past self was trash. On the other hand, he was also a bit hesitant. He
usually gets angry easily, but he doesn't think he’s ever lost my temper
without a reason. Moreover, looking back at Zhenya's usual behaviour,
he couldn't help but think that he couldn't have been just a kind victim.
[...You didn't do anything wrong?] [Was I wrong? Me?] The guy was
astonished as if he had heard some nonsense. Then he repeatedly
pointed out Kwon Taekjoo's wicked behaviour. [You always got angry
and left, and only came back to me after you had calmed down. I've
gotten used to waiting.] Was Kwon Taekjoo such an evasive person? He
felt ashamed. He thought of all the ex-lovers who had always resented
him for having to wait. That's why he hadn't met anyone for half a year.
He had been with Zhenya for three years. How could he be so patient?
Or is his heart much deeper than he thought? [And yet you managed to
stick around.] [I told you. Taekjoo, I’ll chase you wherever you are.]
Kwon Taekjoo stared at Zhenya silently. Zhenya also responded to his
gaze calmly. After a long time, he nodded. [Okay.] Zhenya frowned and
tilted his head. He looked puzzled as if he suddenly knew something.
Kwon Taekjoo’s unexpected remarks continued after that. [I'll try.]
[What are you talking about?] [I still don't remember a single thing, but
my mother said it, Jongwoo said it, and the traces of methat remain
here... all the circumstances prove that you were my lover, so I'll try to
accept you somehow.] [Now that you've come this far? If someone saw
me, they'd think I was giving up something really big.] [I don't know
about you, but for me, a 'male lover' is someone I have to make a huge
decision to handle in my life. It just doesn't make sense to begin with.]
[Ha....] Zhenya snorted in disbelief. He still doesn't know how they
ended up like that. However, seeing that he was so drawn to him even
without any memories of him, he thought it wasn't impossible. If that
was the case, he had no choice but to make a choice that he wouldn't
regret even after his memories returned. [I can't let that great decision
go unnoticed just because I don't remember.] Zhenya crossed his arms
as if he was wondering what he was trying to say. Kwon Taekjoo
declared with even more confidence. [I’ll focus on you while I’m here.]
Since he’s come this far, he’s going to give it a proper go. Did he like that
promise? For a moment, Zhenya’s sullen face softened. He looked like
he could believe an angel had descended. [Let’s go.] As he opened the
door and went out, he nodded to Zhenya to follow him. It was boring to
stay indoors all the time, so he decided to take a look around the island.
He took a walk to familiarise himself with the surrounding terrain. It
was because he thought that if he looked, his past memories would
come back. Zhenya watched Kwon Taekjoo limping with a trembling
look. [I know you’re the type of person who can’t stay still for even a
moment, but it would be better not to overdo it.] [How much do you
look down on people? I used to be able to get around just fine even in
worse situations.] [Come quickly.] He walked with a brisk pace, envying
him. Zhenya sighed and reluctantly followed him. It’s not that Kwon
Taekjoo’s gait was quite stable considering the extent of his injury and
the treatment period. It seemed like he could even run if he wanted to.
In fact, if he didn’t have that much toughness and resilience, he
wouldn’t have lasted even a year on the field. He couldn't do it. [This
island is much bigger than it looks?] He expressed his thoughts while
walking through the seemingly endless grassland. When he looked out
from the mansion, he thought it was at most the size of Dokdo, but it
seemed to be comparable to Ulleungdo. No, it might have been even
bigger since they skied, fished, and even hunted here. He thought
Zhenya was in his right mind when he suggested we take a walk around
the island. Anyway, he wondered if he had planned to spend time alone
on such a wide island. No matter how much he enjoyed being alone, it
was difficult to understand the criminal's thinking at all. [How long have
you been living here?] [Well. I didn't count them all.] [Why did you buy
this island?] [I needed a quiet place to stay. A place where no one would
bother me.] He nodded. It was more like he had expected the answer
than sympathised with Zhenya. [You dated here before you started
dating me? I think there were some who felt uncomfortable. No. Most
of them didn't complain?] [No. The person who brought me here.]
Zhenya answered decisively. He slyly Let's look back and add. [Anyone
else you've dated?] [… Oh, really?] It didn't seem like he was talking
nonsense. He couldn't imagine Zhenya dating someone. Of course,
Kwon Taekjoo wasn't the only one who was swayed by the guy's
appearance. However, his destructive nature and abnormal way of
thinking seemed difficult to connect with love. However, sexually, he
would say he was overly open. He seemed accustomed to dealing with
others. His hand movements and setting the mood were top-notch. He
may not have been in a relationship, but other than that, he was: Did
you do everything? With that pretty face, you were really being self-
indulgent. [What is it?] [What?] [That expression.] [No. I don't know if I
should be happy or feel guilty that I'm your one and only date.] [Is it an
honour? Are you touched?] [... How can you say that? You weird kid.]
He clicked his tongue and started walking again. The two of them
passed through the yellowed fields before Manchu and arrived at a
dense birch forest. The dazzling sunlight split through the straight trees.
A cool breeze enveloped their entire bodies, perhaps because of the
shade. They took a deep breath, their chests swelling. The fragrant air
from the bushes felt refreshing even to their lungs. [Good.] [Do you like
this place?] [Hmm? Well, the air is fresh and quiet...it’s the perfect
place to rest.] [So do you like it, Joo?] [It’s your island, so what do I like
about it? Summary.] He walked ahead, smiling faintly. Zhenya did not
follow quickly. He just stood there, as if lost in thought. He could not
understand what was going on. The two of them climbed up the slope
past the forest they had passed through countless times while hunting.
They kept walking, thinking that they would be able to look down on
the entire island from the high ground, and they came to a cliff. It was
where Kwon Taekjoo had fallen while being chased by the invaders a
long time ago. When Zhenya belatedly went to find Kwon Taekjoo, he
grabbed Zhenya’s collar with all his remaining strength, unconscious. He
was the only person who had asked Zhenya, who was no different from
a grim reaper, to live. That day, he had taken Kwon Taekjoo to the
mansion. How many thoughts and worries he had suffered as he
returned to the. Kwon Taekjoo stood on the edge of the cliff and looked
down at the vast ravine. Zhenya, standing next to him, asked carefully to
confirm. [Something comes to mind?] [Huh? No. Did something happen
here?] Kwon Taekjoo made an expression as if he didn't know anything.
Zhenya, who had been staring at him, shook his head. The whole time,
his mood was complicated and strange. He felt relieved that Kwon
Taekjoo had completely forgotten the humiliation at Ajinoki, but
strangely empty. No, the name of that feeling was fire. It was close.
After that, the two spent their days like vacations. They ate when they
were hungry and enjoyed a nap when they were full, regardless of the
time. They would just lie down on the sofa and watch classic movies or
old sports games. When it was his time, they would play a silly
ensemble and drink all night long under a bonfire under the night sky.
There was even a time when they rolled around in front of the stove for
half a day without doing anything. Kwon Taekjoo asked endless
questions at every moment. The truth he had learned about Zhenya on
the surface there were many things he was curious about besides Bo.
[What do you like?] He asked that once without thinking, and Zhenya
raised his eyebrows as if she was curious. Was it too vague a question?
He tried to make the question more specific, but the guy suddenly
winked at Kwon Taek Joo. The back of his neck tingles at the unexpected
answer. [Oh, really. Not people, kid. Like food.] [None.] The guy who
had been deciding without even thinking about it suddenly let out a
mischievous laugh. Then he laid his body on top of Kwon Taekjoo who
was lying face down. Here he came. He continued to rub Kwon
Taekjoo's swollen ears and rubbed his firm buttocks. [It's different here.]
[He keeps talking whenever he gets a chance.] Kwon Taekjoo shook off
Zhenya's hand as if he was chasing a fly. Then he rubbed his reddened
ears with the back of his hand and stubbornly asked. [Don't you even
eat food that you eat often?] [...You're persistent.] [I'll make it for you.]
[You?] Zhenya's eyes were filled with distrust. He was confident in the
guy who looked shaky. [Just do it, that thing. Just say anything.] Zhenya
confessed with a reluctant expression that he enjoyed eating 'uha', a
Russian fish soup. As soon as he heard that, he went fishing. He caught
a lot of fish and started to clean it himself and boil 'uha'. He felt
embarrassed to always eat what he got, and he wanted to treat his
lover to a delicious meal at least once. The problem was that he had no
talent for cooking. He couldn't even remember if he had ever eaten
'uha'. He had no choice but to refer to the pictures and descriptions of
'uha' and make it as similar as possible. It looked like this. Anything that
was boiled down would be delicious. As the fish boiled down, a milky
broth rose. He carefully scooped up a spoonful and tasted the
seasoning. His face immediately furrowed. [Ugh, it’s so disgusting.] He
stuck his tongue out and groaned. Before he knew it, Zhenya had come
over and was staring blankly into the pot. He let him taste the seasoning
too. He silently put the spoon that Kwon Taekjoo held out to him in his
mouth. It must have been fishy and sour, but he didn’t show it at all.
Instead, he just snickered and let out an incomprehensible laugh. [Why
is he reacting like that?] [Even if you lose your memory, your cooking
skills are still the same, Taekjoo.] [That’s because I’ve never made it
before.] [Do you think it would be different if you made it before?
You’re optimistic, right?] [Oh, you brat. Just eat it, thinking of the
sincerity I put into making it..] He grumbled and sprinkled salt to season
it. Then he poured the soup into a large bowl and carried it to the table.
Kwon Taekjoo took a deep breath, looking at the Uha in front of him. It
took a lot of courage to scoop up a spoonful and put it in his mouth. But
maybe it was because he put too much salt in at the end. It was bland.
The soup that had been bland was now too salty to eat. He gulped
down the water in a hurry. He tried to tell Zhenya not to eat it, but he
kept slurping and putting soup in his mouth. But was he going to eat all
the food that his lover worked hard to make? He thought he would
criticise him, saying, “Can people eat this?” He looked at him with
surprise at the unexpected sight. It seemed like something was firmly
stuck in his eyes. He got up with a slurp. Then, he leaned his upper body
toward Zhenya, placing one hand on the table. Zhenya stopped eating
and raised his head. Immediately after, he kissed the guy on the lips.
Zhenya’s eyes widened. Kwon Taekjoo smiled and sat back down to eat
the tasteless soup. [It's a little better now.] He was giggling with a
playful expression. Zhenya, who had been quietly watching him, rushed
onto the table like a shotgun. He was pushed by the guy and fell
backwards along with his chair. Zhenya, who had covered Kwon Taekjoo
in an instant, kissed him as if he was going to take all the breath out of
him. The long hunger and the pain inflicted on his body when he fell
were completely forgotten. He wondered how newlywed life would be
any different. [Take it slow, kid. I'm not going anywhere.] Kwon Taekjoo
smiled weakly and patted Zhenya. He skillfully climbed onto his body
and led the kiss gently and deeply. [.....] Zhenya tightly held onto Kwon
Taekjoo’s affectionate kiss. Every time he felt uneasy because of Kwon
Taekjoo, his anxiety grew in size. He couldn’t guarantee that Kwon
Taekjoo would stay here even after recalling everything that happened
at Ajinoki. He had already overcome the bad relationship back then and
become a lover, but that memory would come back later than the past,
which was no different from a nightmare to him. In that case, the bad
memories would last forever. Wouldn't it be better to just lose it? Even
if the price was to forget the memories the two of them had spent
together as if they had never existed. When would Kwon Taekjoo regain
all his memories? Whether he would be able to endure the confusion
and trials that would come together? Everything was vague and
uncertain. Maybe that's why, even though he spent each day like a
dream, his heart wasn't at ease. It was like walking on thin ice under the
spring sun. 15. Turn On [What are you doing? Where are you going?]
Kwon Taekjoo’s gaze was fixed on Zhenya, and he didn’t know how to
move. That was because Zhenya suddenly appeared in uniform. Was it
the FSB uniform? Usually, an ambassador from a country wouldn’t do
the work of a special force, but it wasn’t surprising because it was
Russia. [I have to go to Moscow for a bit.] Zhenya answered while
pulling down his hat. The shadow created by the brim made his already
sharp nose and jawline look even sharper. By the way, Moscow? Did he
receive a call from his superiors? What’s going on? There’s no way the
Russian government would move the FSB. It didn't seem like a
favourable situation for Korea. [How long will it take?] Zhenya stared at
Kwon Taek Joo at the following question. For some reason, the corners
of his mouth seemed to slightly curl up. [Why. What.] [Are you that sad
about leaving me?] [What are you saying?] [There's nothing to be
embarrassed about. Nothing to be sad about. It won't even take a day.]
No matter what he said, he understood and accepted it as he pleased.
He couldn't tell if he had high self-esteem or was overflowing with
pride. [It doesn’t matter if you come very late or slowly?] [Don’t cry
because you miss me.] The guy who was giggling teasingly came closer.
He touched the head of the bed where Kwon Taekjoo was sitting. Then,
he was trapped in the guy’s arms. He didn’t feel any pressure at all. He
was just lost in the unrealistic sight that was right in front of his nose.
[Why are you looking like that?] [Are you asking because you don’t
know?] Zhenya’s two eyes slightly closed at the blunt reply. The corners
of his mouth also curled up pleasantly. It wasn’t that he had never seen
anyone who looked so good in a uniform. He used to think his father
and brother looked cool whenever they wore formal attire, but he never
really got lost in them like he did now. It seemed like Zhenya was born
to show off his formal attire. He sneakily lifted the bastard’s hat. [The
bastard looks so flashy.] As he grumbled as if talking to himself, Zhenya
grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s chin and kissed him like water flowing. With a
slap, his tongue slid into his lips. He thought it was just a sweet kiss, but
an unknown pill was pushed in. He stopped and looked at him. The guy
stepped back for a moment, drank some water, and then locked his lips
again. He silently swallowed the water and pills that had seeped into his
mouth. His throat also rippled with relief. Zhenya, however, swiped his
tongue all over Kwon Taekjoo’s mouth as if he was checking carefully.
Kwon Taekjoo’s eyelids, who had been watching him, slowly closed and
opened. He looked lethargic, as if his pulse had gone out. [Get some
rest.] Zhenya whispered into his dazed ear. When Kwon Taekjoo’s
eyelids closed completely, he covered him with the light and stepped
back. After the guy left the room, the door closed quietly. After a while,
the sound of a helicopter's propeller was heard and the window shook.
"......." When the peculiar noise faded away, Kwon Taekjoo's eyelids
rolled up. He got up immediately and went to the bathroom to force
himself to vomit. The pill that was still in his oesophagus came back up.
He retched several times after that due to the nausea. "Haa...." He
wiped the corners of his mouth that were glistening with saliva with the
back of his hand and caught his breath. It seems he had not been
trusted for a long time, trying to go out after putting his lover to sleep
with sleeping pills. On the other hand, he wondered why Zhenya was
doing this, what he was worried about. There was a lot to check while
he was away. He quickly got up from his seat in a hurry. Zhenya's
helicopter descended to the FSB headquarters. When he landed on the
landing pad, a familiar figure was waiting for him. It was Vazim's aide.
[Welcome.] Zhenya entered the building, half-heartedly greeting him.
Vazim's aide The officer guided him to the director's office. When the
aide knocked on the door, permission was given to enter. It was Bajim's
voice. The director was sitting next to Bajim, giving him the seat of
honour. Zhenya did not salute Bajim or even the director, who was his
superior. He just sat down across from the director, crossing his long
legs. However, no one pointed out his attitude. They just looked at him
with puzzled eyes, who had suddenly appeared in uniform. Zhenya
crossed his arms and asked the matter right away. [What's going on?]
Even though it was the first time they had met since they had met in
Iran, he didn’t ask how he was doing. It seemed like he hadn’t even
expected it. [I heard you brought a Korean spy.] Bajim suddenly
mentioned Kwon Taekjoo. It seemed like all the information had already
been exchanged with the director. When he came from Greece to
Russia, he had revealed Kwon Taekjoo’s identity as his personal
secretary and received permission to enter the country, so it wasn’t
surprising. Furthermore, he had long known that the Russian
government and his family were watching his every move. Zhenya tilted
his face as if it was nothing. [But?] [The Kremlin knows that too.]
[What.] [Yevgeny, the fact that you are supporting that Korean spy. That
Korean spy is hiding in Vladivostok like a rat to get our secrets, and that
he was the one who abducted the North Korean biologist from Iran last
time.] Despite the strict atmosphere, Zhenya's attitude did not change.
On the contrary, his face looked annoyed, as if he was telling such a
boring and obvious story. Basim let out a big sigh. [The Kremlin is very
sensitive these days. Maybe war will start soon.] [… ..war?] Zhenya
frowned at the unexpected news. Immediately, his voice twisted into a
bitter [Why.]. [The thorn in their eye, maybe they were even a little
involved in the Tehran terror attack? They think now is the chance,
right?] Did they guess correctly? Basim and the director looked at each
other in silence. In reality, even if there was no proper evidence, they
would have found a pretext for war somehow. The Kremlin was always
looking for opportunities to cover Finland and Poland. Because he
wished to recover the territory of the Russian Empire. He was still
dreaming such absurd dreams. Zhenya slowly stepped back and
snorted. [He must be a senile beggar.] [The timing was perfect.] Basim
nodded wearily. He also didn’t seem to like war. Naturally, he was
already the most powerful person. Furthermore, the Bogdanov family
boasted the greatest power and wealth in Russia. He couldn’t be happy
with a gamble where he had more to lose than to gain. War had no
guarantee of outcome. History was the proof. Bajim leaned forward and
looked directly into Zhenya's eyes. [I want to confirm your loyalty in the
Kremlin.] Zhenya's lips drew a slanted curve. [You want me to join in on
that crazy war game?] [If it's going to happen anyway, it's better to end
it overwhelmingly and quickly.] [If you don't start, there's no harm in it.]
Basim kept his mouth shut. The FSB chief was nothing but a confidant of
the Kremlin, and the reason he was in this position was to be the
Kremlin's eyes and ears. Zhenya knew this better than anyone, but he
didn't refrain from speaking. [Basim. You don't seem to like it either.]
[The Kremlin's will is my will. That's the will of our family, and it should
be your will.] [That's why you're nothing more than a dog of the
Kremlin.] Zhenya laughed coldly. And he made his will clear again and
again. [I won't give you anything of mine. That's why I Just told him to
shut up..] A heavy silence flowed. The one who broke the tense silence
was unexpectedly the director. The director suddenly got up from his
seat, took out his gun, and aimed it at Zhenya's head. Neither Zhenya
nor Bajim were shaken by the suddenly tense atmosphere. The two just
stared at each other calmly. Soon, a red laser beam swept in from
beyond the window. Dozens of lights gathered on Zhenya's chest and
forehead as if they had made a promise. [You have to give it to me, little
brother. This is my final warning to you as a blood relative.] Even in a
life-threatening situation, Zhenya’s posture did not waver at all. He
simply muttered while looking at the director’s gun pointed at him
obliquely. [Then I will warn you as a blood relative.] He then moved his
gaze to Bajim and smirked. [I turned on the light before I left.] Bajim and
the director’s eyes met again at that meaningful statement. Zhenya
added certainty to the ‘no way’ that must have been in their minds.
[That's right. If we don't go and take action in time, that thing will
definitely be launched. Even if my breath is cut off.] [What the hell have
you been doing?] The director who had been listening the whole time
got angry and shouted. Bajim also stiffened his face seriously and
waited for Zhenya's answer. He smiled and answered as much as he
could. [Anastasia, whom you were so curious about.] Bajim and the
director's faces turned pale. Since they knew the expected performance
of 'Anastasia' better than anyone else, they couldn't help but be even
more shocked. If Zhenya had really developed 'Anastasia' and had
already activated it, there was no way to stop it. Anastasia was fast
enough that no air defence system could stop it, precise enough to hit
the target without error, and boasted the destructive power of a
nuclear bomb. The moment it hit, the Kremlin or the FSB headquarters
would have evaporated without a trace. Zhenya stood up without
hesitation. The lasers that had been stored in the bastard's head and
chest moved in unison following the bastard. Zhenya looked down at
the frozen baggage and made his intentions clear again. [I can't give you
anything. Don't dare look down on me. If you try to take it by force, you
will pay the price. You will pay dearly.] [Evgeny. Are you really going to
come out like this?] [I think you are mistaken. I haven't done anything
yet, Basim. So I will continue to do nothing, try to be patient.] He
unilaterally informed them and turned around. Basim, the director, and
the agents who were preparing for a possible clash were unable to
move as Zhenya walked away on his own two feet. When they returned
to Ajinoki, the sun was slowly setting. As we passed by, the Viscount A
piece of cloth fluttering in the wind was seen from the direction of the
forest. Zhenya, who recognized its identity at a glance, shook his head.
In any case, there was no way to wait quietly. As soon as the helicopter
landed on the rooftop, he headed toward the birch forest that he had
seen earlier. A figure dangling between the densely towering trees was
seen. It was Kwon Taekjoo, entangled in a paraglider. It seemed that he
had crash-landed on a tree again this time and had been left
unattended. His attempt to cut the rope and escape had also failed, as
one of his combat knives was stuck vertically in the ground. It was no
different from when he had struggled to escape from Ajinoki in the
past. He looked up at Kwon Taek Joo with his arms crossed. [What are
you doing there?] [...Oh, you're here? You came quickly.] Kwon Taekjoo
greeted him with a somewhat embarrassed expression. He explained
the circumstances that led to his situation. [No, I was bored playing
alone... I looked through the warehouse and found a paraglider. I was
thinking of going around the island... I was curious about what was
around the island.] Zhenya shook his head and picked up the knife stuck
in the ground. Then, like before, he threw it at Kwon Taek Joo. The knife
flew quickly and accurately cut the parachute line. Kwon Taekjoo, who
had flinched, fell to the floor. He stretched out both arms and easily
caught him. Kwon Taekjoo’s body, which had been curled up tightly in
anticipation of being hit with a butt, suddenly relaxed. His tightly shut
eyes slowly opened. He realised that his limbs were fine and grumbled
as expected. [Oh, I thought I was going to get stabbed. Hey, if you’re
going to save me, do it safely…] [My body is cold. Did you swim in the
ocean?] At the following question, he laughed awkwardly and avoided
eye contact. [Rice, the sun was nice.] [You’re just thinking about running
away, now and then.] [Hey, I told you I wasn’t trying to run away.] [You
may have forgotten, but there’s no way to escape from this island on
your own, Taekjoo. The wind and the current here won’t let you run
away. No matter what you do, you’ll end up coming back here.] Kwon
Taekjoo let out a soft exclamation. It seemed like he finally realised why
his surfing and paragliding had ended so ridiculously. Zhenya carried
Kwon Taekjoo in his arms and headed to his mansion. Kwon Taekjoo
squirmed in embarrassment as he held him. [Hey, I’ll walk. Let me
down.] [You know it’s ugly.] He let Kwon Taekjoo go as if he was
throwing him while making a sarcastic remark. Then, he strode back to
the mansion as if he was upset. Kwon Taekjoo followed him diligently,
saying [Let’s go together.] as if trying to cheer him up. He had been
swimming in the ocean and had been tied to a tree for hours, so his
body wasn’t following him very well. The more they walked, the more
the distance between them grew. [Ugh, it’s so cold. Did you have a good
time outside?] [Why are you asking when you’re not even curious?]
[What are you talking about, kid? I’m curious, so I’ll ask you.] [Huh.]
[Hey, you’re going to stay here? No? This is just a villa, and you have a
separate main house, right?] [We’ll stay here. Me and you.] Zhenya
looked back at Kwon Taek Joo and declared. If you’re thinking of
running away, it would be better to give up early. It was both advice and
a threat. The cold wind that blew at the end of every word made him
look like he was really angry. It seemed like he was hurt that his lover,
who he had drugged and put to sleep, was trying to trick him and
escape. [Hey, I was wrong. Makeup.] [Who got mad?] [You're really
mad, what is that?] [You're making fun of people.] [I'm not making fun
of you... Since there's no internet or phone here, I was just going to
contact Jong-woo for a bit and come back. How worried must Jong-woo
and Olga be? The two of us disappeared in that tense atmosphere. I'm
also worried that Jong-woo returned safely to Korea, and I'm going to
call my mother at the same time...] Zhenya turned around without even
listening to the whole explanation. Trying to appease him, he followed
him half-running and kept talking nonstop. [This island, it was amazing
to look around. It was so wide, there were mountains, forests, and the
ocean, and even a small lake? It was still fall, so there were lots of grass
and flowers. What was it like in the summer? I wonder if it was similar
to Switzerland? I think it would feel like Iceland in the winter. I saw
some kind of animal earlier. It was like a reindeer, and it was walking
around with its baby?] It must have been Kwon Taekjoo's own
technique for calming down his lover. He thought he didn't resemble a
small woman at all, but now Kwon Taekjoo caught a glimpse of him. He
was talking a lot and acting cute. It was a look that he would never see
in Zhenya unless he was drunk. Wearrived at the mansion amidst Kwon
Taekjoo’s one-sided chatter. Zhenya silently lit the stove. Kwon Taekjoo
covered himself with the fur blanket around him. His lips were blue and
trembling as if he had been talking a lot on the way here. He went
straight to the bathroom and filled the bathtub with hot water. Kwon
Taekjoo followed Zhenya quietly and motioned for him to go in, so he
silently took off his wet clothes. It must have been quite cold for him to
shamelessly sit down in the bathtub. The water that had filled the
bathtub overflowed onto the floor and splashed Zhenya’s shoes.
[Wash.] As he was turning around, intending to make some tea, It was
him. [Yevgeny.] He hesitated at the sudden call. When he turned
around, Kwon Taekjoo was looking up at Zhenya with his face on the
edge of the bathtub. [Why?] [Want to come in?] He frowned at the
subsequent suggestion. Now, it was clearly a temptation. It was not like
Kwon Taekjoo at all. They had had sex in the bathroom countless times,
but most of the time, it was only when Zhenya barged in without
warning. Whenever that happened, Kwon Taekjoo reluctantly accepted,
but he had never been the first to provoke him like this. No. Was he
trying to comfort himself like that? Or was he trying to borrow his body
heat because he was so cold? He couldn’t approach or back away from
the unfamiliar Kwon Taekjoo. [You’re going to have to wash anyway.]
Kwon Taekjoo scratched his earlobe and urged him again. Soon, his
pitch-black eyes stared at him with a sharp gaze. The water droplets
that had been barely hanging on his red earlobes fell to the surface with
a clear sound. The corners of Zhenya’s mouth twisted strangely. He let
out a breath of relief. [You don't like it? If you don't like it, tell me....]
There was a sound of something snapping in my brainstem. He
immediately ran to Kwon Taekjoo and kissed him so fiercely that it was
painful. "..." With a splash, the two bodies fell over. Without even
thinking about covering the tip of his nose, his philtrum, his upper lip,
his lower lip, his chin, etc., he rubbed his lips hastily. He even sucked
and pulled his tongue that was vaguely moving while tightly locking his
lips. Kwon Taekjoo padded Zhenya’s hand that was holding his face as if
telling him to slow down, but he didn't care and stubbornly continued
the kiss. The moment when Zhenya turned his head and overlapped his
lips again was the only time he could breathe. Every time their lips
touched, the water flowed violently. The water streams fell noisily again
from their bodies trying to thoroughly explore each other. His hearing
was confused by the scattering water droplets, his sense of smell was
confused by the thick body odour, and even his vision was confused by
the sight of each other filling his field of vision. Zhenya licked Kwon
Taekjoo’s swollen lips for a long time and then pushed his tongue into
his mouth. He rubbed his tongue against Kwon Taekjoo’s tongue, which
was getting angry out of habit, and pushed it all the way to his throat,
and only when Kwon Taekjoo’s face turned bright red did he slightly
withdraw. The tongue that had come up as if it was bouncing was
clearly wrapped softly. Here it is. The two tongues pushed and pushed
each other, wrestling endlessly. The hands that grabbed each other's
faces and hair were also rough and desperate. As soon as they finally
pulled away from each other's lips, their shoulders shook as if they had
promised, and they gasped for breath. They were so close that their
noses were touching, and they were wheezing with difficulty, but they
could not take their eyes off each other. Kwon Taekjoo gently stroked
Zhenya’s cheek, which he had grabbed so hard that it hurt, with his
thumb, and slowly sucked in his exhalation. He also encouraged him by
gently touching his lips as if he was kissing them. When Zhenya rushed
in again and kissed him, he covered his face with both hands and
willingly responded to a deep kiss. Zhenya continued the kiss hastily and
threw off his wet clothes as if tearing them off. Kwon Taekjoo also
helped him undress every time their lips parted. He opened his uniform
top wide on both sides and buried his head in the exposed white neck.
A sigh-like laugh erupted from Zhenya. [Do you like these clothes that
much?] [… If you don’t, your eyesight is weird.] They joked around and
slowly kissed again. The impatience from before disappeared and a
leisurely kiss followed. Noisily the rushing water also rippled and tickled
his ears. He repeatedly licked Kwon Taekjoo’s lips and then sucked his
tongue on his philtrum. At the same time, he secretly pulled him closer.
Kwon Taekjoo naturally sat on top of Zhenya. Kwon Taekjoo followed
Zhenya’s lead without hesitation and pressed his lips to various parts of
his face. Zhenya smirked as he ran his fingers down his straight back.
[Taekjoo. You’re acting so bravely. Are you lonely?] [Didn’t you know?
I’ve been thinking about eating you since morning.] [Oh, really?] Zhenya
lifted his head and lightly kissed Kwon Taekjoo's lips. He kept bumping
his lips together as if knocking. Kwon Taekjoo licked his lips with the tip
of his tongue and sucked his tongue that had become soft. Zhenya
moaned as if he was feeling good. Goosebumps appeared on his cheeks
too. They continued to kiss each other's ears and backs, tickling each
other. Not long after, Zhenya rubbed his heavy centre against Kwon
Taekjoo's centre. They were already erect, so even just brushing against
each other sent a tingling sensation of pleasure. Kwon Taekjoo, who had
been trembling, started to move his waist on his own at some point.
Both of them explored each other while rubbing their bottoms without
mercy. Their heads became dizzy due to the kiss that came back as soon
as their lips left each other. He even felt a slight dizziness. [… . Haa,
wait.] [Wait?] Zhenya asked back sarcastically and ran his fingers down
Kwon Taekjoo’s body. His large white hands slowly swept down from his
neck to his chest and abdomen. When they passed the mound of his
chest, his fingertips lightly brushed his nipples. Was it because he didn’t
get enough stimulation where he wanted? Kwon Taekjoo twisted his
waist, revealing deep regret. A satisfied smile spread across Zhenya’s
lips. [I wonder if you remember what you liked?] [What did you say?
Just tickling me.] [Are you pretending not to know? You want me to do
something right away.] Zhenya supported Kwon Taekjoo’s waist and
made him sit up on his knees. Then he pulled Kwon Taekjoo’s arm over
his shoulder. He then hugged his body thoroughly and held his chest
tightly. As his hot tongue licked his flat nipple, Kwon Taekjoo’s breath
was sucked in. In response to his anticipation, He stimulated his soft
nipples by gently rolling them up. [Ugh, ugh... ugh, that's not really...]
Contrary to what he said, Kwon Taekjoo's upper body came close to his
face. He wrapped one arm around Zhenya's head. Zhenya wiggled the
corners of his mouth and sucked in his thick flesh. Kwon Taekjoo's waist
trembled at the tingling sensation spreading from inside his chest.
"Hueueueue, ugh, ugh, haeueueueu..." He took his mouth off the
mound with a squeak. Because he licked it every once in a while, a clear
bite mark was left around the areola. [Haa, you can't keep your waist
still because you like it, Taekjoo] "Ugh, ugh...." Every time Kwon Taekjoo
breathed, his chest heaved along with it. His reddened nipples were
covered in saliva like syrup and glistened. He licked the spot with his
sharp nose. [Should I suck more? Huh? Taekjoo.] [Ha, don’t ask that…]
[Instead, please love this guy too.] Zhenya pushed his penis firmly
between Kwon Taekjoo’s legs. His thick penis was squeezing through the
gap between their firm thighs that were completely pressed together.
He dug in. Then, a thick vein appeared on Zhenya’s smooth forehead.
[Haa....] Zhenya groaned in satisfaction as he felt the tightness, then bit
Kwon Taekjoo’s chest again. He supported Kwon Taekjoo’s back tightly
so that he couldn’t escape, and stimulated his genitals by sucking them.
He also bounced his waist strongly and rubbed his genitals against the
inside of Kwon Taekjoo’s thighs. The quiet bathroom became noisy
again with the crashing water. [Haa, haa, laugh, ugh...] “Haa, ugh, ugh,
ugh, haa... fuck...” Kwon Taek-ju groaned sweetly under the stimulation
pouring from above and below, and pressed his thighs that were about
to spread apart. As the pressure grew stronger, Zhenya frowned. The
guy’s moans repeatedly rang in his ears, adding to his excitement. His
eyes flashed every moment. His brain was boiling and it felt like every
cell in his body was melting away in the heat. Soon, their bodies were
tightly intertwined. “Hah, clothes, eueueueu!” [Auuu, eueu, keueueu!]
The two lumps of flesh exploded white at the same time. Kwon Taekjoo
and Zhenya held each other tightly, shivering from the thick afterglow.
Their hot bodies suddenly cooled down and trembled. "Ugh... haa,
haa... haa..." Kwon Taekjoo rested his head on Zhenya’s shoulder and
groaned. Warm exhalations continuously hit the nape of his neck. Every
time Zhenya’s body swayed, Kwon Taekjoo's body on top of it swayed as
well. It felt strangely comfortable and solid. Zhenya pressed his lips to
the still Kwon Taekjoo's neck and said, "Taekjoo." Kwon Taekjoo barely
managed to respond, soaked in his languid atmosphere. [...yeah.]
[Taekjoo.] [.] [Taekjoo.] Continuing to call his name, he tickled him with
his lips. A snicker burst out. [Why.] [One more time.] He grabbed Kwon
Taekjoo's genitals, which had lost their strength, and teased him.
"Yeah," he urged him to answer. Kwon Taekjoo nodded, taking a deep
breath. Then, Zhenya changed his position in an instant and pushed
Kwon Taekjoo against the wall facing the bathtub. He held him there so
that he couldn't move. He also grabbed his arms and twisted them
behind his back. [Hey, what are you doing all of a sudden?] [Taekjoo.
Taekjoo....] He pressed the person between him and the wall without
any hesitation and called out to him desperately. He also licked Kwon
Teak's earlobe without hesitation. His body trembled involuntarily at
the sensation of his sensitive ear being sucked shallowly and his tongue
being licked. At that moment, Zhenya’s erect penis was thrust between
his legs. The penis, which had dug into his scrotum, moved back and
forth deeply and repeatedly pressed against Kwon Taekjoo’s penis.
Zhenya pressed his body against him to combine more tightly, and he
was pressed even closer to the wall. His chest was crushed. His sensitive
nipples were rubbed and crushed by the rough tiles and grout, giving
his a subtle pleasure. [Ah, wait. Wait... This is, it's weird because it's
rubbed, ah, crazy...!] [Haa, ugh, Taekjoo... Taekjoo...] He tried to stop
him urgently, but it was no use. Like a completely drunk person, Zhenya
frantically kissed the back of Kwon Taekjoo's head and stuck his bottom.
Kwon Taekjoo's voice didn't seem to reach him at all. The sound of the
splashing water didn't seem to stop for a moment. Kwon Taekjoo lightly
touched his chest. It stung even when his fingers lightly brushed against
it. Was the skin peeling off? He doesn't know why he keeps sucking his
chest like that, even though he’s not a newborn. He groaned and moved
my body that had been lying face down on the table. It felt like every
joint in his body was screaming. He couldn’t tell if it was because he had
drifted in the sea for too long, or because he was hit by a birch tree and
the cold wind was blowing, or because it was all just his hand job with
Zhenya. He was worried that his body would be sick for days if he had
sex with him properly, even though they hadn’t had a full-fledged affair.
He thought he had been having sex pretty smoothly, but was it different
because his partner was a man? He realised how shallow his thoughts
were when he tried to take a step back while warming up his body.
"Ugh...." His thighs, which had been rubbed against Zhenya’s genitals
the whole time, were also cold. When he glanced down between his
legs, the spot where the tattoo was engraved was red, not to mention
stained. It seemed like a blue bruise would form tomorrow. Don't he get
a tattoo that's taboo for agents? He was planning to quit the National
Intelligence Service after finishing his last mission. Did his past self love
Zhenya so much? He looked up and saw Zhenya standing at the counter.
His white, wide back was covered in nail marks. He was acting up so
much that he tore at him and that’s what happened. But he was boiling
something without showing any sign of discomfort. For some reason,
his back looked really excited. [You know.] he said. [The tattoo on my
body, you did it, right?] [That was my birthday present.] [How can
something on my body be your birthday present? It’s not even your
name.] He frowned with a puzzled expression. Then Zhenya smiled and
sang, he asked. [Huh? Should I have engraved my name on it? Would
that have been better?] He was about to carve his name on the
remaining side. He glared at the face of the guy who was happy to see
him and denied it fiercely. [That’s not what I said, you brat!] Whether it
was or not, Zhenya turned around with an extremely satisfied
expression. Even a faint humming came out of the guy. Anyway, no
matter what he said, he always understood it as he pleased. The scars
on his body could be considered a medal, but other than that, they
were just unnecessary graffiti. His thoughts had not changed, then or
now. But did he break his firm convictions just because his lover asked
him to? Was his consent based on the fact that he was planning to
retire soon? Just how important was Zhenya to Kwon Taekjoo? Of
course, putting a ‘male lover’ in his life was the biggest decision of his
life. As his doubts continued, a familiar smell stimulated his sense of
smell. [Hmm? That smell… Is that kimchi stew?] [There’s no dog nose.]
Zhenya brought him a pot of kimchi stew. Although it was instant food,
it had meat, kimchi, and The garnish was thick. The soup was thick, and
just looking at it made his mouth water. Zhenya soon brought another
bowl and placed it in its place. It contained a light amber-coloured soup.
Just smelling it made his stomach churn. [This will be delicious. Why
don’t you eat it with me?] [The foods you enjoy are no different from
biochemical weapons, Taekjoo.] Zhenya narrowed his eyes and made a
fuss. You call a mere kimchi stew a biochemical weapon? [You have a
really bad tongue, you punk? He was so dumbfounded that he laughed.
Then, Zhenya suddenly leaned over and kissed him. Kwon Taekjoo's
laughter died down at the sudden kiss. [What, what? Out of the blue.]
[Just like now, whenever you open your mouth, you're talking about a
baby.] [Me?] [Yes, you.] [Don't lie, kid.] [It's embarrassing, but it's true.
You said baby, baby, at the end of every word, and I felt really sorry for
you.] [... That can't be true?] [Huh.] [Really? Are you crazy?] He blames
himself without hesitation, as if he were someone else. Zhenya shook
his head with a smirk. He must have been feeling gloomy the whole
time, thinking that something bad had happened outside, or that Kwon
Taekjoo had tried to run away. He seemed to have gotten better. Seeing
him happy made him feel relieved. Since it had come to this, he thought
he should just take a break. Even if he went back to Korea right away,
there was no guarantee that his memories would come back
completely, and there wouldn’t be anything special he could do. [I
won’t go anywhere alone, now.] [… .Suddenly?] [I can’t leave here
without your permission anyway. My lover insists on staying with me, so
I don’t know why I have to go back. Even if I return to Korea like this, I
won’t be able to work, so what? It would be nice if you could at least let
me contact headquarters or Yoon Jong-woo…] He glanced at Zhenya’s
expression. He gave him a look that said, “Then, that’s okay.” He shook
his head, feeling embarrassed. [Okay, that too. You can do it then, if you
want.] [Why are you acting so brave? Don’t make me feel safe. Turn it
on and try to hit me on the back of the head again?] [Is there anything
you can't say to your lover?] Zhenya gave him a sarcastic look. Was
Kwon Taekjoo himself a master of hitting his lover on the back of the
head? Did he lie every time he opened his mouth? He scratched his
cheek, feeling awkward. [I'll just try to accept it.] [Accept it, what?] [For
some reason, it seems like I haven't been able to build up any trust with
my lover, and what can I do when you say you'll never let me go? You're
the one who's doing this, I said I'd come back quickly and then died, I
lost all my memories. I'm the result of worrying you. I brought this on
myself, so I'll accept it.] [I'll take care of it?] [Yeah. I'll just hang out here
with you until all my memories come back. Jongwoo will take care of
reporting to headquarters. I told you that the last mission I was in
charge of went well. I told you that I spent my vacation here with you
after finishing my busy work. If we spend time like that, won't the
memories I lost come back to me?] Zhenya just listened quietly. He
didn't seem happy that he decided to hang out with him like he wanted.
Instead, his face looked like he was thinking a lot for some reason. After
quietly observing the guy’s expression, he asked lightly. [So, what did
you and I do when we came here?] [We made endless bets. Fishing,
skiing, hunting, rock-paper-scissors…] [Rock-paper-scissors? What kind
of bet is so trivial? What did you bet on?] [Granting the winner’s wish.]
Ever since he was little, he had a strong desire to win. If he didn’t do it
at all, he wouldn’t know, but he had to win first place in anything he
decided to do. The stronger the opponent, the more motivated he
became. Therefore, Zhenya was a worthy bettor. It was a joke. No,
rather, it must have stimulated my competitive spirit. [What did I wish
for?] [You’ve never made a proper wish. You’ve always lost to me.]
[Don’t make me laugh. Even though my memory isn’t perfect, you keep
talking nonsense.] [It’s true, Taekjoo. The only time you’ve ever won
against me was rock-paper-scissors. Even that was too much for me to
fulfil.] Really? Even if the other person was his lover, there’s no way he’d
break it. The word “forgiveness” didn’t exist in Kwon Taekjoo’s
dictionary. But the bet he won against Zhenya was just rock-paper-
scissors, he couldn’t admit it. [That’s ridiculous.] [Even if you deny it,
the truth won’t change.] [Then what was the wish I couldn’t fulfill back
then?] [Leaving me here and leaving.] Zhenya answered calmly. That’s
why he didn’t immediately recognize that statement. Leaving his lover
was his wish? Was the Kwon Taekjoo of the past really a scum of a
human being? Can a person’s character degenerate so much in just a
few years? Could it be that he was confused because the other person
was a man? Even so, if he didn’t want to take responsibility, he
shouldn’t have touched it in the first place. He’s leaving after seeing
everything. Just looking back on today, Zhenya came to the birch forest
to pick Kwon Taekjoo up as if he was familiar with it. He explained the
characteristics of the island and warned him that it would be useless if
he tried to go alone. Isn't that proof of Kwon Taekjoo's countless escape
attempts and failures in the past? [Sorry.] He scratched the back of his
neck and apologised obediently. Zhenya raised his eyebrows as he
pushed his back. His expression was one of surprise. [You've been
apologising more often since you lost your memory. You used to ask me
what I did wrong, and it was all my fault. I was busy pushing him away.]
[I'm sorry, including that. I'll do better in the future.] Kwon Taekjoo
repeatedly apologised in a low voice. For a moment, Zhenya was
bewildered by his unfamiliar appearance, but the corners of his mouth
curled up. [Or, well.] After washing up, Kwon Taekjoo was nowhere to
be seen. Guessing that he had fallen asleep, he went to the bedroom.
The bedding was neatly arranged. It was Royda. He went past the
fireplace where only a mug was left and went to the living room. Even
there, Kwon Taekjoo was not to be seen on the sofa by the window
where he often took a nap. Just in case, he looked out the window.
Soon, Kwon Taekjoo, whom he had been searching for, came into view.
He had lit a bonfire and was staring blankly at the sky. [....] After
watching for a while, he grabbed his whiskey and went outside. Even
though he must have felt Zhenya approaching, Kwon Taekjoo did not
bother to look back. It was only when he sat down next to him that he
caught a glimpse of Zhenya. His gaze turned back to the pitch-black
night sky. [There seems to be no pollution here. There are so many
stars.] He stared blankly at the sky. The endless space without a single
cloud was densely decorated with stars big and small. The crystals
sparkling competitively seemed like they would pour down at any
moment. Zhenya took a sip of the whiskey he had brought and handed
the bottle to Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo accepted it without
hesitation and quenched his thirst. Then he handed the bottle back to
Zhenya. When Zhenya tried to take the whiskey, he resisted without
letting go. Their eyes met at that moment. Kwon Taekjoo stared at
Zhenya's two eyes as if trying to see through his mind. He looked inside.
[Are you hiding something from me?] He raised his eyebrows slightly at
the sudden question. What could it mean? He couldn’t figure out why
he was asking me that out of the blue. Did he see through something?
Or did he recall a new memory? Zhenya silently explored Kwon
Taekjoo’s intentions. [Why do I keep feeling like you’re hiding
something?] [I don’t understand what you’re saying out of the blue.]
[No? Then answer me. Why did you go out this time? What’s going on
outside?] It seemed like he was secretly curious about where he had
been wearing his uniform. But that There was nothing else Kwon
Taekjoo needed to know or care about. Kwon Taekjoo did not tolerate
Zhenya’s silence and continued to question him. [I see that there are
anti-aircraft missiles installed here and there on the island. You, aren’t
you in a dangerous situation?] [Why do you want to know that?] [What
are you saying? It’s normal for a lover to be curious about everything.]
He crossed his arms without saying a word. Kwon Taekjoo, who had
been feeling frustrated, soon realised something and said, “Ah.” He
drove a wedge in so that he wouldn’t hang on any longer. [I didn’t ask.
Where you are and what you do, not even once.] [… You leave me
speechless.] Kwon Taekjoo touched the back of his neck with an
awkward face. Then he turned his gaze to the air again and changed the
subject. [Can I see the aurora here?] He nodded absentmindedly. Kwon
Taekjoo smiled and smiled happily. His pitch-black eyes seemed to
sparkle, perhaps it was an illusion. [I wish we could see it together.] He
approached Kwon Taekjoo as if he was possessed by the words he
muttered softly with a smile. Kwon Taekjoo A dark shadow fell over his
face. Kwon Taekjoo let out a faint exclamation, but then let Zhenya kiss
him. He lightly kissed him, pulled away, and stared at Kwon Taek Joo.
Kwon Taekjoo also stared at his blue eyes for a moment, then suddenly
ruffled Zhenya’s hair. [You, are you really cute?] [...Aegyo?] He tilted his
head at the word he had never heard before. He wondered if something
like that was possible for Zhenya. [You’re cute.] Kwon Taekjoo lightly
patted Zhenya’s cheek. First, he kissed his lips and licked his ear. He was
taken aback. Kwon Taekjoo, who had lost his memory, was completely
different from before. Just because Zhenya was his lover, he was being
gentle and kind. Maybe his previous lovers had treated him that way. If
that was the case, it wouldn’t be bad if Kwon Taekjoo lost his memory
forever. Kwon Taekjoo would feel sorry for Zhenya and act like he was
now. It would be nice if Kwon Taekjoo forgot about what happened,
forgot all about the bad relationship, and just stayed by his side as a
thoughtful lover. Two bulls pushed and shoved each other as if they
were fighting over territory, and they entered the mansion. They
constantly touched and pulled each other as if trying to get rid of the
cold air that had settled in their bodies. They swept the back of their
necks and grabbed their hair, and they stroked each other’s cheeks to
explore each other’s warmth. They couldn’t bear the moment when
each of them took off their clothes, so they hastily kissed. The
moderate amount of alcohol and the warmth of the stove quickly
heated up their bodies. Zhenya hugged Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo
naturally wrapped his legs around the guy’s waist and hugged his face,
They continued to kiss each other gently. Zhenya also raised his head
and happily swallowed Kwon Taek-ju’s tongue that was pushing into his
mouth. He couldn’t even take a few steps before he hit his back against
the wall. Despite the violent collision, they couldn’t let go of their lips
that were locked and swallowed each other desperately again. Kwon
Taekjoo, who was pressed against the wall, tried to comfort Zhenya who
was rushing at him like a boy who had just opened his eyes. He patted
his cheek as if telling him to take it slow and then slowly rubbed his
tongue with his own tongue to soothe him. [Haa, Taekjoo…] Of course,
it only made Zhenya more excited. The guy let out a rough breath and
kept pushing Kwon Taekjoo against the wall. After taking a few steps, he
repeatedly slammed into the door frame as he took a few more steps.
Ah, he complained of pain, and the guy opened his mouth for a
moment to examine Kwon Taekjoo’s complexion. His blue eyes were
dyed bright red. He burst out laughing, thinking, “How can you look so
good like that?” [Are you a teenager? I’m not going anywhere. Let’s
enjoy ourselves leisurely.] Yes, he said, and stroked Zhenya’s cheek with
his thumb. Zhenya looked at Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes alternately without
answering. For a moment, the guy’s shoulder trembled loudly, and then
he lunged at him again. Their lips clashed violently, and his gums
became numb. He was so dumbfounded that he snickered and sucked
his tongue and lips thickly. He adjusted the speed of the kiss. Every time
his lips, which had been tightly interlocked, parted with a lick, lick,
sound, a breath burst out. Zhenya hastily brought his lips together as if
he was sorry and regretful. As he took every breath from him, his head
became dizzy. As his body became less and less oxygenated, his body
became hotter and hotter. [Slowly, okay? Slowly, Zhenya.] He repeatedly
tried to calm Zhenya down, letting his explosive momentum subside. He
grabbed his face with both hands and stubbornly kissed him, lick, lick.
Every time he did that, the corners of Zhenya’s mouth went up. Even his
eyes folded softly, and he couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. He
couldn’t hold it in any longer. And he rushed in and kissed him first. As
Zhenya let out a shallow laugh, his ticklish breath tickled Adam's apple.
The urge to taste him more deeply made my heart uncontrollably
anxious. Soon, Zhenya sat down on the bed. Kwon Taekjoo also raised
his knees and sat facing him, slowly sweeping his body from his neck to
his chest. Soon, his shirt hem was caught in his hand. He pressed his lips
to Zhenya’s cheek and ear, then ripped the shirt open on both sides.
The buttons flew off violently, exposing his thick chest. The eagle tattoo
engraved there glared at Kwon Taekjoo fiercely. He poked his eyeball
and smirked. [He’s staring at me so hard?] [I’ll scold him, then.] Zhenya
snorted and secretly grabbed the back of Kwon Taekjoo’s thigh. Kwon
Taekjoo fixed his eyes on the bastard’s half-moon face and unbuckled
his pants and zipper. The bastard tilted his head to the side and
watched the scene. It was so cute how he waited quietly, holding his
breath while his throat was noticeably shaking. [How should I scold
him?] He muttered as he took off his shirt and then suddenly grabbed
Zhenya’s shoulder and pushed it down. In an instant, he climbed over
the bastard’s body and squeezed his chest tightly. Then he placed the
two mounds together so that they were touching each other and gently
rubbed his bulging front on top of them. [Ah?] Zhenya, who noticed the
meaning of that action, supported his head with one hand and
supported Kwon Taekjoo's back with the other. Kwon Taekjoo licked his
plump lower lip while desperately rubbing his centre against his chest.
Finally, unable to overcome his urges, he pulled down his underwear
and pulled out his erect penis. The hard, erect penis popped out as if it
was bouncing. He carefully pushed the throbbing flesh into Zhenya’s
sternum and began to slowly move his waist. The two thick mounds
gave him a rather sweet pressure. "Haa, sss... uh..." He repeatedly
stroked his penis over the aggressive new tattoo. Between the thick
mounds of his chest, the red glans suddenly lifted its head. The red
glans fluttered its urethra, which was like a nostril, and dripped clear
precum. Zhenya, who had been watching the scene with a lecherous
expression, locked eyes with Kwon Taekjoo and slowly opened his
mouth. When he saw the red, moist inside of his mouth, Kwon
Taekjoo's throat rippled clearly. Kwon Taekjoo's penis was thrust a little
deeper. Zhenya pulled his chin in response and stuck his tongue out to
gently lick Kwon Taekjoo's glans, which was steadily thrusting in. Aching
stimulation Kwon Taekjoo's eyebrows furrowed. The strength with
which he squeezed Zhenya's chest and the waist movements also
became noticeably stronger. Zhenya sucked the red, heated glans once.
Every time he did, Kwon Taekjoo's body on top of him swayed greatly.
His jet-black eyes had long since been filled with red passion. Kwon
Taekjoo fiercely moved his waist as if he had forgotten about his leg
injury. "Ugh, uh, haa, ugh, haa...?" He clenched his molars and rushed
to climax. The timing was off for a moment, and the penis that had
slipped over his chest was thrust into Zhenya's mouth. Zhenya pushed
his uvula back in one motion and thrust deep into his penis. He let out a
cough. The bulging neck of the guy tightened and released together,
providing a subtle stimulation. He shuddered without being able to pull
out his penis. His head fell back on its own. "Euuuuuu...." He shivered
from the terrifyingly vivid pleasure. His spine stiffened and hot and cool
stimulation struck him from head to toe at once. Then, deep inside
Zhenya's neck, Kwon Taekjoo's penis exploded white. Thick semen
poured into his throat. Some of it seemed to have passed into his
airway. Zhenya, who was caught in the spit, groaned for a long time. His
face turned bright red and his eyes When he saw his wet face, he
suddenly came to his senses. [Sorry. Are you surprised?] He touched
Zhenya's wet eyes in embarrassment. Zhenya shook his head and
rubbed his cheek against his hand. His wet eyelashes tickled his palm.
He felt something strangely touching, so he grabbed his face and kissed
him repeatedly. Zhenya, who was quietly receiving the kiss, pulled down
Kwon Taekjoo's drawer that was hanging awkwardly to his knees. Kwon
Taekjoo quickly grabbed his hand. He rolled his eyes to the side, looking
embarrassed. [I don't remember how we had sex at all. Did I lead?] It
was a tone that said, "No way." It was a look that made him sure that he
would never have been laid on by someone else. At this point, when
they were both so turned on, there was no need to ruin the mood by
revealing the truth. It wouldn't be bad to let someone who couldn't
remember anything believe what they wanted to believe. [You and I
were always going back and forth.] Kwon Taekjoo nodded coolly at the
answer that was neither a complete lie nor the truth. He understood
that he had taken turns fairly and looked relieved. [You forgot
everything, so I’ll teach you one by one, Taekjoo.] He supported Kwon
Taekjoo’s back and laid him down on the bed in one breath. Then, he
continued kissing him leisurely and stroked his penis that had lost its
energy after ejaculation. Kwon Taekjoo let out a breath through his lips
that were interlocked. The suppressed moans also burst out clearly.
Soon after, Kwon Taekjoo’s stiff body loosened and he secretly came
close to him. Zhenya, who had been caressing Kwon Taekjoo’s penis,
suddenly turned his body over. At the same time, he put strength into
the hand holding his penis and lifted his lower body. Kwon Taekjoo
supported his upper body with both hands without knowing what was
going on. Then Everyone flinched and narrowed their shoulders. That
was because Zhenya suddenly spread his buttocks apart and buried his
face in them without hesitation. His spine stiffened as the deepest part
of his body became wet and lukewarm. He didn’t know what to do with
the feeling that was so unfamiliar. [Tsk, wait...!] He stretched his arm
back and pushed Zhenya’s face away, but he didn’t care and licked his
buttocks thickly with his entire tongue. Every time his tongue swept
over, the hidden hole twitched and shrank without a single gap. [Tsk,
yeah... This isn’t that great...] [You liked it, Taekjoo, leave it to me.]
Zhenya slightly pulled away Kwon Taekjoo’s hand that was pushing him
away, then opened his mouth and sucked the skin around the hole. He
pressed the tip of his tongue hard against the hole. The feeling of the
skin around the tight hole gently relaxing made his fingertips and toes
sharpen. Even though he clenched his teeth and tried to hold it in, a
muffled moan kept leaking out. [Ha, yuck, y, y-you… That, stop…] He
groaned, shaking his head. The more he did, Zhenya clung to him more
persistently, poking the rusted hole with the tip of his hard tongue. The
bastard’s warm breath penetrated the inside of the hole, causing his
waist to tremble on its own. His two ears, red from the fierce slapping,
were repeatedly crushed against the pillow. Zhenya repeatedly widened
the entrance with his tongue, memorising each of Kwon Taekjoo’s
reactions. He also stimulated Kwon Taekjoo by steadily sweeping and
rubbing his penis so that he could not apply the brakes. Kwon Taekjoo
collapsed helplessly at the pleasure that was constantly spreading from
the front and back. “Haah, howt, yung, hujjat, eung, yung...” It felt like
the inside of his ears were melting at the soft moans that spread.
Zhenya’s throat, which had been licking Kwon Taekjoo’s back, rang
lowly. In the meantime, the bastard’s penis had become hard enough to
not bend. As if trying to quench his burning thirst, he grabbed Kwon
Taekjoo’s buttocks and The thin skin around the hole was sucked in. The
sound of skin being sucked in the bedroom continued without stopping.
The penis held by Zhenya swelled as if it would burst. He wanted to
stimulate it more strongly and cum quickly. He was going crazy because
of the heat that was not being completely relieved but was only
building up inside. "Ugh, Zhenya, Zhenya..." He reached behind and
grabbed Zhenya's wrist. Zhenya raised his head as he secretly pulled the
arm he was holding. His lips were wet with saliva and glistened. He
licked his lips with his bright red tongue and looked up at Kwon Taek
Joo. In the meantime, the hole that had been empty began to twitch on
its own. He expressed regret. [… …Heuheu, hurry.] [Are you already
urging me, Taekjoo.] He chuckled and raised his knees. Then, the
bastard’s huge penis slowly rubbed against Kwon Taekjoo’s buttocks.
Just the feeling of the thick flesh pressing against his buttocks made him
tingle. He was worried whether he could hold that thick thing, but he
swallowed his saliva. He wanted to put all his worries aside and
somehow relieve the fever boiling over my body. He even thought that
he didn’t care if he got hurt. [Zhenya. Hurry.] Zhenya continued to rub
his penis earnestly. While doing so, he examined Kwon Taekjoo’s
condition. There seemed to be no signs of stiffening or hyperventilation
like in Greece. [Haa, relax.] Zhenya pressed the back of Kwon Taekjoo’s
neck and puffed out his abdomen. Kwon Taekjoo tightly closed his eyes
and clenched his fists. Soon, Zhenya’s penis, which had been only
swiping his buttocks, brought its head up to the hole. With just a light
press, the skin around the hole gently rolled inward. Zhenya’s breathing
became much tighter. In contrast, Kwon Taekjoo clenched his molars
and braced himself for the pain that was about to come. He must have
exerted so much force that his limbs trembled. At first glance, it seemed
more like sex than He looked like he was about to be tortured. Zhenya
let out a sigh and took out the gel from the table next to the bed. He
squeezed it all over Kwon Taekjoo's buttocks. As the cold, slippery
mucus flowed down the buttocks, Kwon Taekjoo stiffened his waist and
tensed up. The gel that fell while licking his buttocks slid down the
cracked thigh muscles and gathered in his crotch. Zhenya, who had
been watching the erotic scene, licked his dry lips and rubbed his
genitals again. There was a wet friction sound from the skin touching
each other. Kwon Taekjoo was still stiff and didn't make a sound.
Suddenly, he collapsed his upper body and covered Kwon Taekjoo's
back. Then, he gently placed his lips on his warm nape. He repeatedly
pressed and pulled his lips together, continuing the ticklish kisses, and
then suddenly raised his teeth and bit his nape, which was full of body
odour. Kwon Taekjoo let out a short groan at the sudden pain. Taking
advantage of the gap, he thrust his penis, which had barely been bitten
by the glans, deep inside his. "...Ahhh!" A scream-like groan erupted
from Kwon Taekjoo. He couldn't even breathe properly due to the
sudden feeling of heaviness in his lower abdomen. If he moved
carelessly, his wide open entrance seemed like it would tear apart.
"Ahhh, fuck...." [You still spit out curses first.] Zhenya frowned at the
tightness and laughed in disbelief. Kwon Taekjoo couldn’t help but be
shocked. He was quite exposed to violence and his body was second to
none, but the pain of insertion was shocking. It didn’t seem like it would
be any better than regular sex, but it was amazing how his penis didn’t
wither in the midst of it all. Zhenya rubbed the interlocked parts of his
lower body a little closer. He held his breath as the inside of his belly
button tingled. As a result, the back of his neck and even the back of his
ears turned bright red. [Taekjoo, you need to breathe.] Zhenya
muttered with a faint smile, then buried his head in Kwon Taekjoo’s hair
without hesitation. Then, the guy's penis that had filled his stomach was
pulled out. The feeling of liberation was so clear that his stomach felt
empty, and his inner walls trembled violently. The next moment, the
guy's penis was slammed in and the stomach lining was brutally torn
apart. "Ahhh!" The moment he let out a scream, something leaked out
of his penis. Did he pee or something? While he was panicking, Zhenya
kept sticking his bottom in without stopping. "Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh,
hahh...!" [Taekjoo, Taekjoo...] Zhenya clung tenaciously to Kwon Taekjoo
as if his mind had been cut off, repeating his name. There was a slap
slap sound from his butt bumping into his thigh. His skin quickly turned
red and numb. His wall, where his penis was hitting, and the hole
rubbing against the rough surface felt hot as if it had been burned. He
wanted to escape from that subtle pain, but he also wanted him to poke
him more roughly. Zhenya repeatedly poked Kwon Taekjoo’s ear and the
nape of his neck and thrust without mercy. Zhenya's penis, which had
been thrusting all the way to the root, suddenly stabbed a sensitive
spot. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been groaning helplessly, tensed up and
reacted violently. He responded. [Haa! There, ah, there, gi, what... huh!]
[Haa, here? Huh? Haa, clothes, Taekjoo.] Zhenya pressed down on Kwon
Taekjoo, who was trembling and panting, with his whole body. Then, he
stubbornly poked at the corners that he was particularly sensitive to. He
knew very well where and how to poke and how much to press to make
him like it. Of course, to Kwon Taekjoo, whose memory had all but
disappeared, the pleasure that Zhenya gave him would be terribly
unfamiliar. He held Kwon Taekjoo down with his body weight and kept
twirling his genitals. When a certain amount of pressure was applied to
a specific area inside the hole, Kwon Taekjoo was at a loss as he
twitched his limbs. [Haeueu, crazy, mi, ah! Eung, ugh, ugh, haeueueu!]
[Taekjoo, do you like it? Huh? If you do it like this, ha ah, you’ll like it.]
[Aeueueu, ugh, ugh! Haeueueueu! Zhe, ugh, Zhenya...!] He desperately
called out to Zhenya and floundered. Zhenya kissed Kwon Taekjoo’s
shoulder affectionately, but did not compromise on the speed or depth
of his thrusts. The genitals that were firmly stuck inside him, filling his
inner walls, fiercely scratched at the mucous membrane that was
sticking to him. It came out. It felt like his brain was being ripped out by
the tingling pleasure. Kwon Taekjoo pulled Zhenya’s head, who was
kissing his ear, closer. Their ears brushed against each other and their
hot cheeks pressed against each other. Kwon Taekjoo grabbed the
bastard’s light hair tightly and buried his face in his cheek. The
exhalations and moans he let out vibrated his skin and aroused Zhenya
even more. He pushed so fast and roughly that the giant mattress
swayed. He didn’t slow down for even a moment and attacked only one
spot. There was a thud sound from the skin that was being removed
without stopping. Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes were filled with the current that
spread from the centre of his body to the extremities without
hesitation. It became blurry. The gesture of pushing Zhenya away and
the gesture of pulling him in formed a stark contradiction in the
pleasure that seemed to make him lose his mind. Soon, Zhenya threw
his whole body and came back. His genitals, which were deeply
embedded in Kwon Taekjoo’s stomach, vibrated violently. For a
moment, his eyes went white. “Ha, haeung, haeungeung!” [Ugh, keu
eung eung...!] Kwon Taekjoo, who had been groaning messily with his
throat boiling, convulsed. Following that, Zhenya also gritted his teeth
and roared. His back, which had become smooth with sweat, swelled
greatly and each muscle inside it became independent. It squirmed.
"Heuh, hauh...." Zhenya spurted thick semen into Kwon Taekjoo's
stomach and stroked their interlocked bottoms a couple more times. It
was a stubborn action as if he was aiming for complete conception. The
intense pleasure that was enough to make his spine tingle was
repeatedly poured on him. Kwon Taekjoo, who was trembling, stretched
out his limbs and let out intermittent breaths. That alone made his
lungs ache unspeakably. His whole body was covered in goosebumps
and cold sweat, and he couldn't even think of moving a finger. Zhenya,
who had been pressed against Kwon Taekjoo, slowly stepped back. As
he did so, his stomach was filled with The penis of the guy who had
been squeezing slowly pulled out. It was the moment when the guy was
about to completely pull out his penis. Kwon Taekjoo’s hole suddenly
shrank and bit the guy’s glans, refusing to let go. Zhenya raised his
eyebrows in surprise and looked down at the back of Kwon Taekjoo’s
head, who was still silent. Kwon Taekjoo paused for a moment and then
looked back. His cheeks and ears were all red. His hazy eyes were filled
with lust that had just awakened. [… . Hey. Do this one more time.]
Zhenya let out a hollow laugh. That was understandable, because Kwon
Taekjoo had never seduced him or rushed to do it again before. He had
long experience, so he didn’t bother to provoke Zhenya. It was because
he knew that he would be killed until he passed out anyway. How brave
could someone who lost his memory be? Zhenya closed his eyes that
had been wide open for a moment and smiled brightly. [As much as you
want.] He ejaculated countless times. The semen that had been cloudy
at first gradually became thinner and flowed out like clear water. The
skin that had been sucked and sucked by Zhenya was also red and
swollen without a single spot. His wrists, ankles, and thighs, where he
had been held tightly by the guy, were even bloodshot. His whole body
It seemed as if even the circuits of thought were soaked in the boiling
passion. Without time to think about the situation or circumstances of
the two people, he was consumed by intense lust. But it still felt like it
wasn't enough. He wanted an even stronger stimulation so that he
couldn't even think. "Haa, haa, Zhenya..." Kwon Taekjoo, who had
completely collapsed and was just gasping for breath, suddenly grabbed
Zhenya’s hand and pulled him. Zhenya, who had been obediently
following his wishes, suddenly stopped and froze. It was because Kwon
Taekjoo had led his hand to his neck. [Haa, huh? Quickly..] Kwon
Taekjoo pressed both of Zhenya’s hands against his neck, urging him on
rarely. He repeatedly said [quickly.] and squeezed Zhenya’s genitals that
were bitten into the hole. Thick veins rose on Zhenya’s smooth forehead
and chin. However, when Zhenya was forced to burst, Kwon Taekjoo
covered his hands with his own and pressed them down, strangling
himself. As if that wasn’t enough stimulation, he furrowed his brows
and growled in discontent. As Zhenya watched that, something inside
him suddenly snapped. The next moment, the bastard’s hands
tightened. When his neck was suddenly strangled, Kwon Taekjoo let out
a groan and gasped. He started. His legs, struggling in agony, kept
slipping on the bed. Every cell in his body tightened. His chin, which was
tightly clenched, dripped slimy saliva. Every time he clenched his neck,
his lower hole tightened and squeezed the penis he was biting. He
couldn't come to his senses from the terrible pleasure that was covering
his whole body. [Ugh, Taekjoo, Taekjoo….] Zhenya frowned and groaned
as if sighing. Kwon Taekjoo also grunted and groaned from the pleasure
that was rushing in. Even so, he kept holding onto his arm, worrying
that Zhenya might bite his hand. "Khajiit, clothes, hueu, hueu,
swoosh...." [Haa, clothes, ugh, hueu, swoosh..•.] His eyes started
spinning as my oxygen level dropped drastically. A deep dizziness ran
quickly from my head to my toes. The dizzy feeling that he might lose
his breath at any moment gave meastrange excitement. Suddenly, his
spine became cold and goosebumps appeared all over his body. Kwon
Taekjoo, who was feeling dizzy, suddenly poured out a stream of water.
In no time, not only Zhenya’s abdomen but also the bedding was
soaked. "Heu, hue ujit. Heu...." Kwon Taekjoo shivered as he kept
pulling him. Zhenya also pressed his neck harder while pressing his
forehead against Kwon Taekjoo’s forehead and moaned sweetly. [Haa,
squeak, ugh, Taekjoo…] Kwon Taekjoo, who had been continuously
spewing clear fluid, gradually became quiet. Then, his hand that had
been holding onto Zhenya loosened its strength. Zhenya came to her
senses as soon as his hand suddenly fell away. In the meantime, Kwon
Taekjoo’s eyelids were tightly shut. There were tear stains along the
corners of his long eyes. [… Taekjoo?] Surprised, he checked Kwon
Taekjoo’s breathing first. Although somewhat unstable, he exhaled
clearly. It was leaking out. He put his ear to his chest and checked his
heartbeat. His heart showed off its strong presence inside his skin and
vibrated even to Zhenya’s ears. Only then did he finally feel relieved and
lean my head on Kwon Taekjoo’s shoulder. His boiling body quickly
cooled down and he broke out in a cold sweat. The hand that had
strangled Kwon Taekjoo’s neck felt tingly. Even though he clenched his
fist tightly, the slight tremors did not go away. [….] He looked at Kwon
Taekjoo’s face, which was sleeping as if it had fainted. Since that time
when he almost took Kwon Taekjoo’s breath with his own hands, he
could no longer harm him recklessly. Kwon Taekjoo, please strangle him
like he is doing now. There was no way to force him. Rather, he seemed
reluctant to even wrap a tie or muffler around his neck after that. It was
clear that it had been traumatic for both of them. Kwon Taekjoo in his
arms was not much different from the person he knew. His body odour,
voice, body temperature, taste, and even his tone that became
especially softer whenever he was in a good mood were all the same as
before. However, they were not completely the same. Kwon Taekjoo still
could not remember the bad relationship or memories between the
two of them. He just tried his best to accept the fact that he was his
lover. Isn't that really all that matters? He was Zhenya. As long as he
didn't leave me behind and go somewhere. It didn't matter if he forgot
all the stale past and never thought about it again. As long as he spent
as much time and effort as he could to make him fall in love with his
again, that was it. But, why? Even though he was spending time alone
with Kwon Taekjoo, who had become more gentle than ever, why did he
feel so lonely? He felt like he was losing something. It felt like the hole
deep inside him that he couldn't reach was getting bigger by the day,
and he didn't even know what was leaking out there. Anxiety from an
unfamiliar name grew and grew, feeding off that emptiness. An
unknown sense of loss seemed to have opened a large hole in the
centre of his chest. Zhenya somehow managed to escape from that
unpleasant feeling and hugged Kwon Taekjoo tightly. He buried his head
in Kwon Taekjoo’s chest and restrained him thoroughly so that he could
not move. Other than that, he had no idea how to shake off the strange
and overwhelming anxiety he felt these days. He woke up for a moment
feeling someone pulling him. The feeling and strength of the hand
gripping him tightly were familiar. He smiled and opened his eyelids. As
expected, Kwon Taekjoo was holding Zhenya’s hand and leading him
somewhere. He silently followed where he wanted to go. Kwon Taekjoo
walked and walked without saying a word. During that time, he never
looked back at Zhenya. He tried to draw his gaze by secretly pulling the
hand he was holding, but it was in vain. Hey, Taekjoo. Where are you
going?' He kept walking and stopped and asked. Kwon Taekjoo didn't
respond. He still didn't look back. As he kept walking, the distance
between us grew longer and he eventually lost sight of his hand. He
quickly tried to grab it again, but it didn't reach him as he had hoped.
'Taekjoo?' He stretched out his arm again with all his might. Kwon
Taekjoo Only the tips of my fingers barely touched each other. In the
meantime, the distance between me and Kwon Taekjoo steadily
increased. He tried to catch up with him with large strides. But his body
wouldn’t move as he wanted. No, it was as if something was holding his
limbs tightly and wouldn’t let go. When he looked down, he saw that
his ankles were buried in thick snow. When he forced himself to move,
his knees were buried in the snow on the next step, and his thighs were
buried in the snow on the next step. He quickly raised his head. Kwon
Taekjoo was moving away without any regard for Zhenya’s
circumstances. Unlike Zhenya, he quickly moved forward as if he was
sliding on the flat ice. 'Taekju!' He shouted anxiously. Kwon Taekjoo did
not stop until the sound echoed back. As he tried to catch up with him
by pushing through the snow piled up like a wall, the snow soon rose up
to his chest and neck. It was dangerous. He didn't know if he should
stop like this. Nevertheless, Zhenya took one last step without
hesitation toward Kwon Taekjoo, who was continuing to move away. In
an instant, his entire body was sucked into the distant ground, and a
pure white silence came over him. [....?] When he opened his eyes, he
saw a familiar ceiling. It was a bedroom in the mansion. Was he
dreaming? He rarely has nightmares or good dreams, so it was very
awkward. What was it? He quietly thought back to himself, but his arms
felt empty. Kwon Taekjoo was nowhere to be seen. He instinctively tried
to get up, but hesitated. It was because his limbs wouldn’t move as he
wanted. When he pulled his arm, the other arm was dragged with a
snapping sound. He raised his head and examined his situation. His
limbs were tied with iron chains and he was firmly fixed to the bed.
What was going on? He looked down at his feet. Kwon Taekjoo was
sitting on the chair placed there. He was looking at Zhenya. He wasn’t
tied up. However, instead of trying to free Zhenya himself, he just
watched him try to escape from the restraints. [… Taekjoo?] He asked
for an explanation with a questioning look. The reason my eyebrows
furrowed was because Kwon Taekjoo’s gaze was somehow cold. He
seemed to be a completely different person than last night. He
wondered if this was a dream, but the feeling of the chain wrapped
around his wrist was too vivid. He had a bad feeling. [What is this? It’s
not fun to do this all of a sudden.] [I remembered everything.] [What?]
His heart pounded so hard it was jarring. Kwon Taekjoo's pitch-black
eyes were so deep that he couldn't even guess their depth. With no
time to respond, a single word that sounded like a death sentence was
pronounced. [I remembered everything you did to me.]
CNABOOK10(ORPART5OFNOVELII) 16. Return To Zero [I remembered
everything you did to me.] Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes were sharply
sharpened. His pitch-black eyes, which were hard to gauge, were clearly
filled with antipathy. It felt like an invisible, huge wall was blocking his
path. He swallowed his breath in frustration at the sense of distance.
Something was terribly wrong, but he had no idea where to start or
how to fix it. The extreme changes that had come overnight were just
mind-boggling. In his dazed mind, there was only one thought: he had
to catch Kwon Taekjoo right away. He had to catch him first so he
wouldn’t suddenly disappear again. He tried to get up quickly, but his
limbs were tied tightly. He couldn’t move. Normally, he could break
those bonds in an instant, but for some reason his head felt heavy and
his body felt sluggish. He looked around to figure out the cause. Soon, a
syringe rolled around the table in his field of vision. Did they put a
sedative in him while he was sleeping? There was no way he wouldn’t
notice something like that, but he let his guard down because it was
Kwon Taekjoo. [Taekjoo. Take this off.] He tried to make the request
calmly. Kwon Taekjoo unilaterally poured it out as if he didn’t hear him.
[What were you planning on doing? Even though my memory was gone,
why did you try to fool melike that? Did you think I wouldn’t know until
the end? How much of a retard do you think people are?] [… Taekjoo.]
[Whenever I think of the past, I feel disgusted and horrible. The fact
that I was played around by you, the fact that I almost died by your
hands, the humiliation I experienced when I was caught by you again... I
thought it would have been better to die. But you and I became lovers?
Did I really accept you? Didn't I just give up because of your threats?] [I
told you to let this go.] [Why? Are you trying to force me to submit
again?] [Ha....] [Are you being unfair? What?] Kwon Taekjoo repeatedly
urged in a bitter voice. [You laughed at me for pretending to be my
colleague, hit me on the back of the head, raped me, and threw me into
the cold river while I was dying. At that time, didn’t it matter whether I
died or not? I remember everything as if it happened yesterday, but you
are feeling wronged because it’s all in the past now?] Zhenya’s mouth
was shut tightly. Everything Kwon Taekjoo pointed out was true. At that
time, the two were no different from enemies. To Zhenya, Kwon Taekjoo
was nothing more than a thief who came to steal his ‘Anastasia’ like
everyone else. His feelings toward Kwon Taekjoo were also nothing
more than a small interest. It didn’t matter whether he died or not. He
would be happy if he could just have a little fun in his free life. So he
pretended to be his colleague and followed him around. It was just
trivial and funny that he ran wild without even knowing that his life was
in danger. Even if Zhenya had torn Kwon Taekjoo to pieces at that time,
no one would have protested. Not even the Kremlin, not even Korea,
which had dispatched Kwon Taekjoo. Just like other invaders in the past,
it would have been 'Psych's' way to completely destroy Kwon Taekjoo
and throw him away, but he made an exception and let him live. There
would have been no regrets if he died, but it would have been the same
even if he had survived. He was destined to just pass by. If only Kwon
Taekjoo hadn’t shown up again, contrary to expectations. His temper,
which made him come back and hit him with a punch, once again
caught his attention. It was an act of God. He was drawn to him without
any intention or purpose. [Without even thinking about my fault, he
raped me again, confined me, and strangled me while trying to run
away. Isn’t that why you hesitated last night? You were afraid that I
would recall the past. You were afraid that your ridiculous play would
be exposed.] Kwon Taekjoo pressed Zhenya, twisting his nose. His
overflowing anger seemed to be melting his brain. He had to explain.
He had to clear up Kwon Taekjoo’s misunderstanding. But the memories
he recalled all night. All of these were things that had happened in the
past. They were actions taken before he realised the basis of his interest
in Kwon Taek Joo, before he became his lover. Furthermore, they were
all things that had been tolerated when Kwon Taekjoo declared that he
would no longer run away. Has Kwon Taekjoo’s memory not reached
that far yet? [… Is that all you’ve remembered?] [What more do I have
to remember! How much more disgusting things do I have to relive!]
[.....] [Haa… How did I end up hanging out with someone like you after
losing my memory? I’ve always wondered. When I look back on the
disgusting moments, the answer came out.] He tried to protest
somehow. Kwon Taekjoo felt that he shouldn't just let everything go like
this. However, Kwon Taekjoo shook his head as if he wouldn't listen. It
seemed like he had found the answer to the question that had been
endlessly repeated since the accident. [I just gave up.] [What?] [I just
gave up because I was tired of running away. No matter where I hid, you
would definitely chase me, and I had people to protect.] Zhenya
reluctantly accepted himself. There is no other reason. [You’ll chase me
no matter where I go anyway. I’m sick of running away now. If I’m going
to give up that shit, I’ll have to compromise with reality to some extent.
So, I’ll let this body be with you. It won’t be fun to die right away, but I’ll
make you a human being..] Kwon Taekjoo definitely said that. But he
didn’t think it mattered. Even if that was the only choice Kwon Taekjoo
had back then, the deal where he had no choice but to accept him
wouldn’t have changed. [Anyway, you chose me, Taekjoo.] [Choice? Can
that even be called a choice? There’s nothing left to choose but the
wrong answer.] [....] [If not, then answer. Have I ever wanted you first?]
[Countless times.] He could definitely answer that question. Even if
Kwon Taekjoo had no choice but to accept Zhenya, their relationship
was definitely that of a lover. Kwon Taekjoo felt sorry every time he
went on a business trip abroad, and he would always come back to him
when he finished his work. When his body was hot, he would want him
first. Zhenya himself would stay for days without contacting him. He was
angry because of the unfortunate incident, and even jealous when he
heard that the family was pushing for an engagement. But Kwon
Taekjoo tried to deny everything. [You weren't mistaken, were you?] [A
mistake?] Zhenya frowned. Even though he couldn't remember how the
two of them became lovers, Kwon Taekjoo's attitude was too
aggressive. It felt like he was concluding that the two people who were
entangled in a bad relationship could never have truly loved each other.
[Have I ever said that I love you?] No, Kwon Taekjoo never said those
words. It was the same for Zhenya. He didn’t put much meaning into
the concept that all of humanity held up as the ultimate value. He just
wanted Kwon Taekjoo and wanted to keep him by his side. From the
moment Kwon Taekjoo shared his intentions, they became ‘lovers.’ They
already knew each other, so what more proof was needed? When
Zhenya didn’t respond, Kwon Taekjoo rashly asserted. [There’s nothing.]
He was starting to get angry. Kwon Taekjoo was trying to deny
everything and pretend it never happened. [If it doesn’t seem like it,
shoot me with that gun. Then everything will be clear.] Kwon Taekjoo
immediately got up. He strode toward the bed and pressed the barrel of
the gun against Zhenya’s forehead without hesitation. Zhenya looked up
at Kwon Taek Joo without any resistance. His eyes, bluer than usual,
pecked at Kwon Taekjoo’s face. Kwon Taekjoo, who glared at Zhenya like
that and half-pulled the trigger, bit his hand at the last moment. [Even if
I wanted you, I must have gone crazy for a moment. I must have lost my
mind because I was in such an abnormal and extreme situation.
Everyone was desperate at that time. It would have been the same
whether it was you or anyone else.] A world cut off from the outside
world. There, the only people they could communicate with were each
other. Would they have been drawn to each other even if that hadn’t
been the case? It was hard to deny it. However, Kwon Taekjoo was Kwon
Taekjoo, and Zhenya himself was himself, so wasn’t that the reason they
were in that situation? It was all a thing of the past, something that
clearly existed, but the Kwon Taekjoo in front of him treated it all as if it
had never happened. Just because he didn’t remember, all that, the
time in between, couldn’t be invalidated. A cracking sound came from
Zhenya’s jaw. His eyes, which had been shaking in embarrassment, also
grew cold. He pulled his arms so hard that his skin turned white where
it touched the chains. [Taekjoo, let me go.] [Yeah, now you're finally
showing your true colours. This is how you should be, Psih. Have you
been acting like this all this time? Bringing up my mother's safety. Oh, is
that why you came to my house? To show me that you can hurt my
mother at any time?] [You're writing a novel on your own. And it's a
really bad piece of work.] [If there's anything wrong, you should explain
it.] [Do you intend to listen?] Zhenya showed his displeasure. Kwon
Taekjoo glared at him without saying anything and quickly brushed his
hair back. He kept his gaze fixed on Zhenya. He threw his gaze into the
air. After thinking about something for a moment, he put the gun in his
hand and announced. [I’m going to get out of here.] [Do you think I’ll
allow that?] Zhenya insisted. Kwon Taekjoo’s mouth twisted in surprise.
[I don’t need your permission. I’ll do whatever I want from now on.] He
clenched his fist. The chain around his wrist was roughly pulled and
made a clunking sound. Kwon Taekjoo opened a nearby drawer without
paying attention. He took out the helicopter ignition key that he always
kept there. [Are you going to abandon me like this again?] [It’s going
back to the way it was.] Kwon Taekjoo responded coldly and left the
bedroom without hesitation. There was no hint of hesitation in his long,
slow steps. [Taekjoo!] He shouted with all his heart, calling out to him.
He struggled violently, struggling with his heavy limbs that didn’t feel
like his own body. The more he struggled, the more the chains
tightened, making him feel like he was harming himself. Eventually, he
heard a cracking sound from his joints. He wanted to break the bed to
escape the bonds, but he was too weak to do anything. In the
meantime, the helicopter's propeller noise could be heard, indicating
that its engine had started. The strong wind from the rooftop vibrated
slightly even to the window. The helicopter slowly rose and began to fly
quickly across the vast sky. Zhenya, who was watching it through the
window, roared as he had done before. [Taekjooooo!] However, the
desperate cry did not reach Kwon Taekjoo. It only returned as an empty
echo. *** The quiet front door opened and the sensor lights came on.
As he entered the familiar space, his already sluggish body felt even
more sluggish. He barely took off his shoes and went inside. His mother
had been out for a long time and Kwon Taekjoo had only just returned
after a few months, so the house was as quiet as a mouse. The floor
was also cold. He moved his sloppy steps and collapsed on the living
room sofa. The dust that had accumulated over time scattered in a
greyish manner. The tickling stimulation made him cough dryly. He
raised his arms and covered his eyes. A long exhalation escaped him
naturally. As soon as he left Ajinoki, he received protection and help
from the local support centre. While crossing from China, no special
beings or forces were confirmed to be chasing him. The entire escape
process was smooth, considering what he had prepared for. When he
arrived at Incheon Port, Yoon Jong-woo was there to greet him. As soon
as he saw Kwon Taekjoo, Yoon Jong-woo burst into tears and ran over to
him in one stride, hugging him tightly. "Senior, dear." "What is it, dude?
You're disgusting." "Are you okay? Where have you been? Did
something bad happen to you?" "What happened? Were you worried?"
"I'm worried, then!" "I'm not the kind of person who would die easily. A
young punk who worries like an old man." He tangled Yoon Jong-woo's
hair haphazardly. Yoon Jong-woo screamed at the hand that seemed to
pull out his hair. He kicked his butt, telling him not to act like he was
always being treated. "Let's go home. I'm tired." "Oh, when I lose my
hair, it's all because of you, senior. Do you know that?" "Even if I lose my
hair, it's because of my genes. Why is it because of me?" "Oh, are you
insulting my father right now?" "The kid is going far away again. My
father is in a good mood, so it's okay." They got into Yoon Jong-woo's
car, bickering as usual. Yoon Jong-woo relayed the message that
headquarters had told them that it was okay for them to return home.
When asked when they returned to Korea, they said that they returned
right after Zhenya and Kwon Taekjoo disappeared, and that they had
reported Kwon Taekjoo's survival and any unusual events to their
superiors. He looked out the window while listening quietly. The
everyday scenery he had seen for over 30 years struck him as
unfamiliar. He rolled down the window and felt the wind. Yoon Jong-
woo slowed down his speed as soon as he could. The temperature and
humidity of the outside air, and even the faint smell of Korea. He felt a
deep sense of relief, and strangely, his heart felt heavy. He felt like he
had just come back from a very long trip. Soon, Yoon Jong-woo's car
arrived in front of the house. Yoon Jong-woo gave me the seolleongtang
he had bought in advance and urged me earnestly. "Don't think about
anything today and get a good night's sleep. If you need to go to the
hospital, call me. I'll take you there." "Do you think I'm still a patient? As
you can see, I'm fine now." He stopped for a moment as he was about
to get out, saying, "Go." Yoon Jong-woo looked at him with a puzzled
expression. He stared blankly at him and then suddenly confessed.
"Jong-woo. I remember everything?" "Huh? You remember everything,
what...?" "I remember why I went to Russia, what happened there,
what Manager I'm tried to do to me." "Ah...." Yoon Jong-woo
floundered, unable to find a proper response. He seemed worried that
the past events that he had already overcome had become a new
wound. He rubbed the back of his neck, which had turned pale. Yoon
Jong-woo's face suddenly turned red. "Just like that, dude. Why are you
reacting like that?" "...Senior, are you okay?" "What's wrong with you?
It's all in the past anyway. Or, did you do something big to me too?
That's why you're freaking out in advance?" "How could that be! I've
always been the victim." "Then that's okay. Go ahead." He waved his
hand at Yoon Jong-woo, who was about to follow him down. Yoon Jong-
woo looked up at Kwon Taek Joo with worried eyes. He said he'd see
him next time only when he knocked on the car body to tell him to go.
He reluctantly turned the car around. He stood there for a moment,
watching the back of his car, and then came back in. “......" He slowly
wiped his face. He wondered if this house was this spacious and quiet.
Since his mother wasn’t there, the house felt strangely empty and
hollow. As he lay there doing nothing, all sorts of distracting thoughts
began to creep into his mind. It was no use consciously trying to block
out his thoughts. He remembered his last day in Ajinoki. He was
exhausted from the arduous love affair that lasted until dawn. Some of
the memories that had been forgotten while he was unconscious came
back to him. Without any warning, as if they were just part of a dream,
the memories that came to mind spread like wildfire. From the
operation to arrest a South Korean spy in Busan to the process of
leaving for Russia to reveal the identity of 'Anastasia', a joint operation
between Russia and North Korea filled his mind at every moment. As
soon as he arrived in Moscow, things went wrong and he was
kidnapped by the guys who were crazy, and he also remembered the
first time he met 'Psich'. The headquarters intentionally sent him the
wrong photo, so he believed him to be his comrade and got a nice
beating on the back of the head. After that, he was brutally trampled on
both his body and mind until the guy's twisted interest cooled down.
The past Kwon Taekjoo himself was the guy he blew up the blueprints of
'Anastasia' in order to get revenge on him, and was captured by him
again. He was dragged to 'Ajinoki' and had to face death several times.
That dawn, his head felt like it was going to burst with the memories
that were rushing in. He rolled on the floor with a severe headache and
kept vomiting. It was so disgusting that he had kissed and slept with the
guy who deserved to be torn apart and killed just a few hours ago. His
stomach churned when he saw the face of the guy sleeping soundly
next to him. He couldn't believe that he had been in love with that guy.
It felt like the world was deceiving Kwon Taekjoo. Just thinking about
that time made him vomit. It felt like bugs were crawling on every nook
and cranny of his body that he had touched, even on his blood vessels.
"Ugh... fuck." He barely held back his nausea and threw the poor
cushion away. He took a deep breath for a while, but his rough
breathing and his upset stomach showed no signs of calming down. He
suddenly raised his upper body. At that moment, he felt an intense urge
to vomit. He quickly covered his mouth and ran to the bathroom. As
soon as he opened the door, he grabbed the toilet and threw up his
stomach. Only sour gastric juice poured out. That was the moment
when he grabbed his head in annoyance. The house suddenly smelled
of Zhenya. He looked around startled, but the house was still quiet. He
couldn't detect any other signs. He pressed his nose against his skin,
wondering if it was true. It seemed like he was imagining it, but he felt
like he had smelled the guy on his body. “...Fuck, fuck." Kwon Taekjoo
ripped off his clothes and ran straight to the shower. He washed and
washed again as if he was trying to erase any traces of Zhenya that
remained on him. He opened his eyes dimly after sleeping as if he had
fainted. His back hurt and his head started to hurt because he had been
lying down for too long. He didn’t realise how much time had passed.
He didn’t even feel hungry because of the continuous vomiting. He
stared blankly at the ceiling and then raised his upper body. He went
into his room and took out his personal cell phone from the drawer. He
connected the charger to the cell phone that must have been dead long
ago. He turned it on as soon as the battery was down to 1%. After
waiting for a while, the missed calls were displayed. Most of them were
from his mother. He thought it was time for her to start worrying. He
immediately pressed the call button. The familiar ringtone dropped and
stopped, and the voice he had been waiting for heard.- Taekjoo? "Yes,
mother."- Where are you? "Home. I'm resting after work." Mother knew
that Kwon Taekjoo himself was on a long-term business trip to Russia,
so she gave him a vague explanation. He could sense that she was
secretly relieved to hear that her son had returned home.- Yes, you did
your best. Are you in any pain? "Yes."- Did you eat? "I'm not a kid. Of
course I ate."- Momshould be home so she makes hot soup for me.
"Hey, I told you I ate. How is your mother doing?”- Yeah. I was thinking
that your aunt should be in a stable state now and that it's time to go
home. His mother's voice was always calm. Even though they hadn't
been able to contact each other properly, she didn't worry or feel
anxious like before. It was thanks to Yoon Jong-woo and Zhenya who
reassured her instead of him. He should be grateful to that guy for this.
Just thinking about him made his mother checked on him.- By the way,
didn't the ambassador come in with you? I haven't been able to contact
him at all. "...Uh, there's still some work to do there."- Oh, really? Can
you come in first? "Yeah. It has nothing to do with my work. It's your
family's business."- Really? Is there something going on at home? "Hey,
why are you worrying so much? He's a stranger."- Hey? How can the
ambassador be a stranger? "We're not related by blood and we're not
related by family register, but he's clearly a stranger."- Anyway, who
does the kid resemble to be so affectionate? How often have we seen
the Ambassador all this time? We've spent every season, every holiday,
every birthday together for years. Son, he’s like half a family to me now,
I think. "What's family..."- The attendant says this, so who would the
Ambassador rely on? Surely he's not not coming back like this? The
term of office for an Ambassador is usually about two years. There was
a big incident in Russia too... When that happens, there's always a big
personnel reshuffle. His mother was genuinely worried. To her, Zhenya
was her only son's boss. Trying to be nice to him was part of her
habitual support. Of course, it seemed like they had developed a close
personal relationship while he was in Korea. However, even that was
possible because she didn't know that he was her son's lover or what
he had done. "..I don't know yet."- If something like that happens, tell
him to come by sometime. Even if we part ways, I should at least thank
him properly. He reluctantly said yes to the request that followed. He
was immediately scolded.- Oh my, no matter what I say, there's no
reaction. "Okay. Okay, so take a rest. I'll contact you again."- Okay. Eat
your meals regularly. "Okay." He hurriedly ended the call. After
confirming his mother's absolute affection for Zhenya, he felt awkward
for no reason. He clearly did something wrong to Kwon Taekjoo himself,
and he only made him pay the appropriate price, but he felt like he did
something bad. Had he taken off the chains by now? He must have lost
all his strength and been tied up for days on end. It can't be, right? That
monster, really. He felt weak and uncomfortable for no reason, and
when he found himself like that, he nervously tossed his hair. "I don't
know, damn it! What the hell do I know!" As the grumbling died down,
the house suddenly became quiet. He wiped his face annoyed and
looked at his phone again. He wondered if there was any data left there
that could help him with his imperfect memories. For some reason, the
gallery was taking up a considerable amount of memory. He checked
the images stored there with a suspicious look. “What is this?” He
immediately frowned. That was because there were thousands of
photos and dozens of videos saved in the folder. They weren’t
downloaded from somewhere, they were pure footage. He took a deep
breath and checked the images in the folder. He couldn’t figure out
what the first file was. It felt like the camera was shaking. He tilted his
head and quickly looked back. Without warning, Zhenya’s face filled the
screen. He consoled his startled heart and immediately turned to the
next file. Then, the bastard’s face gradually became distant, and
eventually he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. It continued.
Was the camera set to continuous shooting? He wondered how many
pictures of someone sleeping were taken because it was such a special
sight. He flipped to the next image. This time, just like the first picture,
an unidentifiable scene was captured. At first glance, it looked like the
ceiling of a bathroom, or maybe a drain in the floor. He slid the screen
slowly. Once again, Zhenya’s face filled the screen. “Oh, shit! I was so
surprised.” He almost dropped his phone. He grabbed his pounding
heart and looked at the screen. There was something like white cream
on the corner of the guy’s mouth. He looked back a few more pictures,
feeling suspicious. He went. Just like before, as Zhenya gradually moved
away, Kwon Taekjoo's own figure, which had been hidden by the guy,
appeared. He was smiling as he shoved his phone at the guy in the
mirror. It seemed like he burst out laughing after seeing the back of the
guy's head, which was a real magpie nest. The photos taken at the same
place and time ended with the guy's back, completely naked, brushing
his teeth. No matter when they were taken, the beginning was always
the same. Since images are saved in reverse order, it seemed right to
assume that each shot had similar results. It was obvious what Zhenya
had done to Kwon Taekjoo, who had been secretly taking photos of him.
"You've made a movie, you've made a movie." He got goosebumps.
Kwon Taekjoo couldn't believe that he had such an embarrassing
relationship. In his memories, he seemed to have enjoyed a moderately
plain and mature relationship, but why only with that guy. He was
worried whether it would be okay to continue exploring the records of
the past, or whether he would suffer an irreparable internal injury. He
was thinking about stopping here, but decided to look a little more
closely. He had to check how he ended up with that guy who was no
different from his mortal enemy. He took a deep breath and traced back
the traces of his love affair. As he looked through the photos, he found
one thing in common. There was a dot. The photos were mostly taken
when Zhenya was asleep or doing something else. For example, there
were fingernail marks all over his white, wide back, boiling ramen, or
while showering, or while swimming. That meant that all of them were
secret photos of Kwon Taekjoo himself. He’s never preferred taking
photos or being taken. But what was so pretty about him that he took
so many photos that the gallery was overflowing? “Oh my, even a
video.” He played the video embedded in the image file. Zhenya was
swimming across a large pool. Kwon Taekjoo himself watched the scene
from his sunbed. The evidence was the two feet hanging on the corner
of the screen and the occasional beer bottle. Zhenya, who had been
swimming from the edge of the pool, suddenly jumped up. As he did,
water droplets splashed and the guy’s chest tattoo filled the screen. For
a moment, the phone shook and nothing was displayed, then there was
a thud, a friction sound. He could also hear his own low groaning voice.
“Ahhh!” He screamed and quickly stopped the video. His mind was
ahead of him and he just kept repeating his empty hands. [Stop] [Ha..
How long are you going to just watch?] [I'm tired. I can't even move a
finger] [You're weak.] [Whose fault is it, huh? Whose fault is it?] In the
video, Kwon Taekjoo himself was playing around by pushing Zhenya’s
shoulder with his foot. Zhenya also smirked and grabbed his ankle,
biting his calf hard before letting go. Then, like a crocodile dragging its
prey in, he pulled Kwon Taekjoo into the water. His body, which had
nowhere to lean on, slipped helplessly. [Hey, don't do that. I told you
not to! Ah, cell phone!] The video ended with a sharp change of
perspective from the water surface that seemed like it would touch at
any moment to the air. The dull noise heard at the end seemed to have
occurred when Kwon Taekjoo threw his phone away to try to save it. It
was a part that gave them an idea of why the corner of the phone was
scratched. "It's all sorts of things, really." He flipped through the video
with an irritated hand. Soon after, a photo of Zhenya drinking water
appeared. What on earth was the intention behind taking that photo?
He carefully examined the photo to try to understand his past self. The
place in the image seemed to be a restaurant. The table and the side
dishes on it were vaguely visible on the screen. It looked familiar. It
seemed to be a regular seafood soup restaurant. He focused on Zhenya
again. He was quietly drinking water with his cup in his mouth. The tip
of his nose, under his eyes, and under his ears were secretly red. Did he
eat something spicy? There was no way the two of them would have
gone there, and if his mother had gone with him, she wouldn’t have
forced him to eat seafood soup. He tried to remember quietly. Thanks
to the visible medium, a faint memory slowly rose to my head. It was
the day he went out to eat for my mother’s birthday. Since his mother
liked seafood, he headed to his regular restaurant without much
thought. He had no intention of inviting Zhenya there. He just went
home after work and he greeted him with his mother. "Since the
ambassador is here, should we just eat at home today? I just need to
quickly prepare rice and soup." "Hey, who prepares their own birthday
meal? And I'm hungry. I can't wait. The ambassador is the same, right?"
"Yeah," he said, tapping Zhenya's foot under the table. He nodded
quickly at the puzzled guy and nodded toward his mother. The guy
nodded silently, not knowing what was going on. Only then did his
mother give up on her insistence on preparing the birthday meal
herself. That's how he was. They ended up going out to eat together.
"There's nothing here that the ambassador would like to eat. Let's go
somewhere else." "It's your mother's birthday. On a day like this, you
should eat the food that the host likes the most. What do you want?
Steamed dish? Soup?" His mother stared at the menu on the wall with
worried eyes. Even though there was no way that a menu that didn't
exist would appear. While she was debating between seafood soup and
seafood stew, a staff member came over and set up some simple side
dishes and water. Then she took out the order form and asked casually.
"What would you like?" "If the seafood stew is mild, will children eat it
well?" The mother asked the employee to confirm. It was a question
that had never been asked in his family since Kwon Taekjoo was born.
Since he and his brother were seven years old, Kwon Taekjoo was a
typical Korean child who would quickly finish a bowl of rice with kimchi
stew. The employee looked at the three people sitting across from him
at the table with a strange expression. He looked at them with a puzzled
look, wondering where the 'child' was among them. The answer came
back a little late. "I guess it's seafood stew, so it might be spicy for
children. It's usually spicy ramen. It's bland. Whether it's steamed or
soup, if it's milder than that, it's not tasty." If the regular flavour is the
same as spicy ramen, then the mild flavour would be like real ramen.
Either way, it was torture for Zhenya. "Child, I told you it's not going to
work out. Just give me one seafood stew, medium, regular flavour. Kids'
pork cutlet? Give me one of those too. "One seafood stew medium,
regular flavour, and one kids' pork cutlet, right?" The employee
confirmed the order. He nodded coolly. His mother fidgeted as she
watched the employee leave. "But the ambassador came here to
celebrate my birthday, but I feel bad because I'm only going to treat him
to a pork cutlet." "Don't worry about it. This kid, he eats well." "What,
this kid again? Even though the ambassador is not good at Korean and
is younger than you, he is still your superior, right? I told you not to
treat your superiors rudely." "Okay, I got it. I got it." He was scolded
again for not listening indifferently. Just when his ears were starting to
hurt, the food he ordered arrived. Kwon Taekjoo held up the pork cutlet
with both hands as if to show his gratitude to his mother. He put it
down in front of Zhenya with utmost care. "Ambassador, here is the
special pork cutlet. Chew it well and enjoy it." He bowed his head as if
he was presenting it to his superior. His mother, who had been glancing
at Kwon Taek Joo, said to Zhenya, "Eat a lot," and smiled. He also closed
his eyes and smiled faintly, then silently picked up his fork and knife. He
cut the pork cutlet with infinite elegance and put a small piece in his
mouth. It seemed like Korakseonni was quietly savouring what was in
his mouth, like he was eating steak in the Pineda Inning. "Ambassador,
is it good?" [It's pretty good.] Zhenya narrowed his eyes and replied. It
was a question his mother would ask every time he ate something, so
he seemed to understand that much without an interpreter. Only then
did his mother let go and watched him happily as he ate. He shook his
head and handed her some seafood stew to his mother. He then took
some for himself and ate it all up. As he was eating diligently, he felt a
stare from the side. When he turned his head, Zhenya was staring
intently at Kwon Taek Joo, who was spreading the seafood on both
hands and eating it in earnest. Then he glanced at his mother, who was
eating neatly using only chopsticks. He looked suspicious, wondering if
seafood stew was a food that had to be eaten so barbarically. Ugh,
Kwon Taekjoo, who had been licking his lips, wiped his hands clean with
a wet tissue. Then he used his chopsticks to pick out the white meat
inside. [It’s less spicy because it’s not seasoned. Want to try it?] He
placed the white meat on Zhenya’s fork. The guy gave him a look of
disapproval, but reluctantly put the meat in his mouth. [How is it? Is it
okay?] [Hmm. Considering how it looks.] Zhenya slowly chewed the
meat in his mouth. The mother who was watching him was pleased,
saying, “I guess he’s okay.” As Kwon Taekjoo, he felt strangely excited
that the guy had tried a new Korean dish. [Should I put more on him?]
[No.] The guy lowered his eyes and declined, then swallowed the meat
he had in his mouth. He then began to leisurely slice the remaining pork
cutlet. “Oh my, why did I get a call all of a sudden… I’ll be back in a
moment. Ambassador, please take it slow.” At that moment, the mother
apologised and got up from her seat. She hurried out of the store. He
looked at her and then turned his gaze to Zhenya. However, the hands
of the guy who was writing the tonkatsu looked urgent for some reason.
He was even busier than before, putting the cut pieces in his mouth and
munching on them. As if that wasn’t enough to satisfy his desires, he
roughly mixed up the salad he hadn’t even touched and put a handful in
his mouth. In the meantime, both of his ears were red without a
moment to hide. [Oh, you spicy bastard. Is that spicy? You’re worse
than an elementary school kid.] He clicked his tongue fiercely and filled
his glass with water. He was about to hand it over right away, but
stopped when he had a thought. He pulled his glass back as Zhenya
reached out. Before he knew it, Kwon Taekjoo A mischievous smile
spread across his face. [Hey, say 'please.' Then I'll give it to you.] [What
does that mean?] The next scene remained as a video. Zhenya
swallowed his breath and glared at Kwon Taekjoo's cell phone. His red
lips were secretly swollen. [Don't be quiet, just say 'please.' Isn't it
spicy?] He demanded, shaking the water cup. The video was filled with
Kwon Taekjoo's own laughter. He was giggling so much that the angle
shook along with it. Zhenya took out his cell phone with a suspicious
expression. Kwon Taekjoo continued It seemed like he was translating
the word 'please' he was asking for. Even so, in English, where there is
no formal language, it would be interpreted as an expression of asking
for nothing more than that. [Hmm... please?] [Okay.] He giggled and
handed over the glass. Zhenya quickly snatched it away and quenched
his burning mouth. In the video, Kwon Taekjoo said, "Eugh," and tore off
a new towel and wiped the corners of his mouth. The expression on his
face, which had been upset by the lingering spiciness, suddenly
disappeared as if it were a lie. He accepted Kwon Taekjoo’s hand as if he
were a child. [What should I do with you, you bastard who is worse than
an elementary school student?] The video ended with Kwon Taekjoo's
own monologue. "What the heck!" He grabbed his poor hair. People
often say that you become immature when you date, but he thought
that Kwon Taekjoo himself would not be like that. That's because he
mostly dated older women, and even if the other person was his age,
he was the type who was very independent. He rarely took care of his
lover unilaterally like he did with Zhenya. Looking back, he often got
tired of those independent people and dumped them, so it made him
realise how indifferent and selfish he had been in relationships. He
realised it. After that, Kwon Taekjoo checked the photos and videos
saved on his phone one by one. He couldn't stop even though he was
gritting his teeth every time. After looking at it for a while, he found a
photo taken last year. It was a picture of his mother and Zhenya
standing side by side from behind. Judging from the food ingredients
prepared on the kitchen counter, it seemed to be from a holiday. There
were pictures of his mother offering freshly made side dishes to Zhenya
and him willingly bowing his head to receive the side dishes. It was a
scene that looked so close that it would be a shame to call them a
family. “...." He scratched his head and looked through the other
photos. The moments he must have taken while on vacation with him
were endless. He finally left the gallery and checked the call log. The
caller list only had my mother, Yoon Jong-woo, and Zhenya’s name.
Zhenya’s role was overwhelmingly large. Furthermore, Kwon Taekjoo
himself had called him every minute as if he was nagging him. It was
undeniable that Zhenya had already been deeply involved in Kwon
Taekjoo’s life. It seemed impossible to explain the past two years
without him. The countless data on his phone that Kwon Taekjoo must
have left behind in the past was proof of that. He was still drinking in his
memory. He was such a cold presence. How on earth did his past self
accept him? What aspect of him could have broken down the wall he
had so tightly defended? [… Is that all you can think of?] Suddenly, the
face of the guy tied to the bed and feeling empty came to mind. Seeing
him, who had become cold overnight, the guy made an expression as if
the world had collapsed. [Are you going to abandon me like this again?]
What did those words mean back then? When did he abandon him
again? [Taekjuuuuu!] The voice of the guy who had been desperately
calling his name came back clearly. He tried to shake it off and shook his
head, but the more he did, the more he remembered the guy’s
confused appearance. “Ah, shit, I don’t know!” He threw away the cell
phone he had been holding the whole time and headed to the kitchen.
After sleeping for a few days, his stomach felt like it was stuck to his
back. He felt like he had to eat something to survive. He opened the
refrigerator. It was full of side dishes that his mother had made. He took
out a lunch box and ate the anchovies inside. If his mother had seen
this, she would have hit him in the back, but there was nothing to be
afraid of since he was alone. Fortunately, the side dishes didn’t seem to
spoil. He took out just a couple more side dishes and started looking for
rice. When he opened the cupboard, he saw the dishes he usually used.
Since his father and older brother left, he’s been living alone with his
mother, so the dishes have become simpler to fit the number of family
members. However, in addition to the set of two-person dishes, he
noticed a soup bowl and rice bowl that he’s never seen before. There
were also water cups that were only different colours from the ones
used by the two family members, and large forks that the two of them
wouldn’t use. Could it be Zhenya’s? Naturally, he thought of the guy
who used to poke all his food with a fork. The fork in the spoon holder
was big enough to fit his large hands. The rose engraved on the handle
must have been his mother’s taste. He wondered how his mother felt as
she prepared new dishes for the blue-eyed guest who would
occasionally barge in. He thought she must have been happy. For the
time being, he didn’t know how deep that monster had taken root in his
life, or if he could ever completely cut it out. “...Haa.” He threw the fork
back in and closed the drawer. Right now, the things that had happened
to Zhenya were vivid as if they had happened yesterday, so he had no
room to think deeply about his relationship with him. When would his
remaining memories come back, and would his current resentment go
away when he regained all his memories? It was hard to be sure. Once
he got back home, it was urgent for Kwon Taekjoo to get his centre
right. Everything else was mostly secondary. He showered and shaved
early in the morning. Then he took out a cleanly washed shirt and suit
from the closet and put them on. He put on his shoes that were
polished to a spotless shine and left the house. Kwon Taekjoo, reflected
in the elevator mirror, looked cleaner than ever. He got into the car that
had been left in the underground parking lot. He was worried that it
would start, but fortunately, the battery didn't seem to be dead. The
dust inside and outside the car had been restored, but it seemed like he
would have to wash the car on the way back. He drove out of the
parking lot. Kwon Taekjoo's eyes, reflected in the rearview mirror, were
filled with firm determination. As he drove along the familiar road, he
began to see a white building. It was the National Intelligence Service.
When he arrived at the entrance, the security camera scanned the pre-
registered vehicle and driver. The barrier opened soon after. It seemed
that the computer system had not yet completed the death in the line
of duty processing. He slid into the underground parking lot and parked
the car in a suitable spot. He got out of the car and as he headed to the
elevator, he looked at a specific parking area. It was the space where
Manager Lim usually parked his car. Now, an unfamiliar car was
occupying that space. That small change seemed to prove that all the
memories that he had recalled from Ajinoki and wanted to deny were
true. He kept his mouth shut and turned my gaze straight ahead. When
he touched the card key that doubled as his ID card on the door, the
lock was immediately released. He opened the door and walked into
the building. The structure or facilities of the headquarters had not
changed much. The only things that had changed were the signatures of
the vice president and the location of the office, which were different
from what Kwon Taekjoo remembered. That was why Kwon Taekjoo’s
new department, which Yoon Jong-woo had told him about, he had to
wander around for a while to find it. The office of the director of the
overseas intelligence agency. After staring at the unfamiliar department
name for a while, he knocked on the closed door. He was soon given
permission to come in from inside. When he opened the door and went
in, the director's secretary got up from her seat with a surprised
expression. It was because he had come without a prior appointment.
"What brings you here?" "I would like to see the director. Are you
inside?" "Oh, please wait a moment." The secretary, who asked for
understanding, knocked on the back door and quietly went inside.
Soon, he notified the director of Kwon Taekjoo's visit. Lee was heard.
The voice of Kwak Young-han, who was his direct supervisor, was also
heard. It was a voice he had heard many times, but it felt unfamiliar
because it was someone he didn’t remember. Soon, the secretary came
out again. He opened the office door slightly and gestured inside.
“Please come in.” “Yes.” After a brief greeting, he went into the
director’s office. The door closed from the outside. He bowed and
raised his head, and a large nameplate on the desk caught his eye.
Director of the Overseas Intelligence Service, Kwak Young-han. The man
sitting behind him was none other than Kwak Guk. It was Jang Il-geu. He
had seen his face in pictures beforehand, but it felt different when he
met him in person. He felt awkward for no reason, so he opened his
mouth stiffly. "Hello, Director." "I told you to rest as much as you want,
so why are you here so early?" "I'm already resting." Director Kwak
shook his head as if he couldn't stop him, and nodded to the sofa across
from him. "Would you like to sit down?" "It's okay." "Yoon Jong-woo
said he was badly injured." "That's okay too." Director Kwak just nodded
his head at the continued answer. Yoon Jong-woo must have already
heard that Kwon Taekjoo was suffering from memory loss due to
trauma. His stern expression and tone of voice clearly showed that he
still had not fully recovered his memories. Director Kwak led the
conversation so that Kwon Taekjoo could let down his guard a little. "I'm
not telling you to rest just for your own safety. If your memories haven't
returned, it'll be difficult to perform your duties properly even if you
return right away." "I'm not saying that I'll return to work right away."
"Really?" Director Kwak made a surprised expression. He then pulled his
upper body forward and asked a guess. "Then are you here to discuss
the retirement issue from before?" "No. I'm sorry for saying this and
that, but I'd like to think about that issue again slowly." He said he had
expressed his intention to retire when his memory was intact, but he
still couldn't find the justification for it. Why did Kwon Taekjoo have
such a firm mind? It was not easy to guess whether he had eaten. So he
decided to postpone his decision on it until he was sure he had to quit
his job again. Director Kwak nodded as if he respected him as well. Now,
his face was filled with curiosity about the real reason Kwon Taekjoo
had come to see him. Kwon Taekjoo did not make him wait long. "I
came today because I have something to ask you separately." "Please. I
hope it is something I can grant." Director Kwak showed a subtle
defensive attitude. Kwon Taekjoo brought up the main topic as if there
was nothing to worry about. "There is someone I want to meet." In the
lawyer's meeting room, there was a single iron desk. There were thick
bars on the windows, and extra chairs were lined up along the walls.
The space that was closest to the outside world in the prison, yet
completely cut off from it, had a strange atmosphere. Kwon Taekjoo sat
on the chair and waited for someone. As the wait grew longer, he
looked around meaninglessly, but he felt a presence outside the iron
door. He lost. Soon, a prisoner entered the visitation room with a guard.
The man in the uniform was none other than Lim Dae-hyung. He looked
older and thinner than Kwon Taekjoo remembered. Lim Dae-hyung
smiled his characteristic smile as he faced Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo
just watched him expressionlessly until he came and sat down in front
of him. He asked Director Kwak to let him meet Lim Dae-hyung. Since
Lim Dae-hyung had been convicted of espionage, meetings with him
were strictly controlled. In particular, since Kwon Taekjoo was an agent
of an intelligence agency, he could have aroused unnecessary suspicion.
The fact that he had met Lim Dae-hyung alone must be recorded. It
would happen, and maybe even their conversations would be
thoroughly wiretapped. Even so, he had to see Im Dae-hyung at least
once. "It's been a while. How have you been?" Im Dae-hyung greeted
him first. He didn't respond. Im Dae-hyung treated Kwon Taekjoo like a
troubled child and laughed. "You came all this way and didn't even say
hello. Do you still have feelings for me?" "Isn't it something to treat
others with?" "You look pretty angry about that? Your complexion isn't
very good either." "'That's not something to worry about." As he
continued to build walls, Lim Dae-hyung let out a snicker. "Why did you
want to see me? You're the type of person who doesn't look back once
you feel bad, right?" Lim Dae-hyung talked as if he knew Kwon Taekjoo
well. In fact, he had always been with him since he joined the National
Intelligence Service. He was the only roof and fence for Kwon Taekjoo,
who had no one he could trust and rely on. He had been constantly
pushing him to work, but at one point, he felt proud because he was
recognized for that. That might be why the fact that Lim Dae-hyung had
driven Kwon Taekjoo to his death was even more shocking. Im Dae-
hyung asked about his mother's well-being as if nothing had happened.
"So, is your mother well?" "I've been thinking about this for a while, but
you really talk about a lot of useless stuff. You don't really care about
that kind of stuff, do you?" Im Dae-hyung just snickered at Kwon
Taekjoo's harsh response. He raised both hands in a sarcastic manner
and silently looked into Kwon Taekjoo's eyes. He didn't show any
hesitation even when he was confronted with his blatant antipathy
toward him. That's how shameless he was. "I guess something
happened." Im Dae-hyung could tell Kwon Taekjoo's state just by
looking at his face. He saw him clearly. He asked him without being
swept away by his pace. "'Why did you do that?" "Hmm?" "Why did you
do that to me?" Im Dae-hyung made a puzzled expression at the sudden
protest. He slowly leaned back on the chair and observed Kwon Taekjoo
again. It was a while later that his mouth fell open. "That's strange. If it's
the reason, wasn't it already revealed? You wouldn't have come all the
way here just to hear that story again... Do you suddenly need someone
to blame?" “I know what you were up to, and what you were trying to
gain from it." "Then?" "Why did you suddenly feel like that, why did you
have to do that... I don't think I heard that." Im Dae-hyung laughed with
a deflated sound. He shrugged and answered as if it was no big deal.
"It's a common story. To hide a small truth, you need a bigger lie. And to
hide a lie that's that big, you need an even bigger and uglier lie. I was
the first to turn a blind eye to it. That was just a very small truth." "That
was so great that it broke my faith. What?" "Faith? Faith... When I was
young, like you, I was very excited. I believed that I would make this
country strong with my own hands, that my sacrifice would make my
family and the world safer. But what do you think? Do you really think
that's possible?" For some reason, he couldn't answer. Civil servants
work for the country. And the people are the owners of the country.
Therefore, Kwon Taekjoo considered the work he was taking on to be
ultimately for the people. That's the only way he could endure. There
were many livers. And that was the only way to keep from being
shaken. Did Im Dae-hyung think differently? He muttered “patriotism”
repeatedly as if pronouncing an unfamiliar word. “Good, patriotism. It’s
the best excuse to destroy and harm someone. But did you really
believe that what you were doing was for the country? Were you that
naive?” “What are you trying to say?” “Why? Sometimes when you
work, you feel doubtful. You work day and night in the name of
patriotism, but is this really directly connected to the national interest?
It works for the safety of all citizens. Isn't it a plausible trick for the
benefit of a few? If you have doubts, it means it's time to leave. Or
you're ready to join that minority." When performing public duties,
there are times when you have to turn a blind eye to or ignore the
corruption of the powerful group. Furthermore, due to the nature of
the National Intelligence Service as an intelligence agency, it did not
have the authority to refuse orders from the ruling class. Can Kwon
Taekjoo really say that the work he had done so far was only for the
peace of the country? Was the information he had personally obtained
used only for the good of the people? It was a dilemma that intelligence
agents have experienced at least once. If you are loyal to an
organisation, you will be. It was because there were many cases where
people ended up being the puppets of the powerful. "I had doubts.
When I tried to return to my original self, it was already too late. My
parents had passed away, my family had scattered, and I had lost
contact with my friends. There was not a single person left who really
knew me. I had no place to show off my achievements and career that I
had worked so hard to build up. Another job? Another life? That would
never have been possible. Who would accept a completely blank
resume? Huh? My footsteps were not recorded anywhere." That was a
criticism that any intelligence agent could fully sympathise with. When
he joined the National Intelligence Service He lost contact with his
friends. He also saw his relatives and military comrades less and less. He
couldn't be honest about his work life, and the number of times he met
them decreased, so he became distant. At that time, all his friends had
graduated from college and were getting jobs, so it was difficult to build
rapport. It felt like he was living in a completely different world. Even so,
he thought of it as his fate. Black agents like him truly lived a life like
wanderers. They had to live their entire lives without telling their
closest family or lovers the truth. The only way to return to a normal life
was to retire. But his past as a black agent was there was a condition
that he had to be saved. No one would approach someone with many
secrets openly. It was never easy to live without isolation when all
human relationships were cut off. Could he endure a lonely life where
no one recognized him even though he had sacrificed everything? Lim
Dae-hyung shook his head. "A noble and holy sacrifice for the country.
How many people do you think would stay there in the first place,
hoping for such glory? At first, you joined with such a childish thought,
but gradually you started looking up. Otherwise, you would live a life
that could not be proven anywhere. That kind of futile life, you. Let's say
I'm somehow holding on while reminiscing about my glory. What about
your family, the people around you?" “....." "I won't ask you to
understand my choice. I won't ask you to forgive me. But I want you to
think about it at least once. Will you be able to live quietly as an
ordinary citizen someday? Will you not regret that life? Or should you
aim for that higher level now?" He was furious at the vile excuse. But he
couldn't bring himself to refute Im Dae-hyung's argument, so he felt
frustrated. His clenched fists were white and trembling. "Hey, senior!
Why are you standing here alone again!"' Before Yoon Jong-woo could
even sit down, he snatched the soju bottle away. He personally filled
Kwon Taekjoo's empty glass and grinned, "Can't you wait a moment?
Are you here?" Yoon Jong-woo looked at Kwon Taek Joo as if he found
him annoying and asked a passing employee for a glass. The employee
quickly brought him another glass. "Have you been waiting long?" "No.
Not really." It was a lie. He had already emptied two bottles of soju by
himself. Yoon Jong-woo counted the empty bottles with a look of
exasperation. "Eek, is it okay to drink like this already? Isn't it going to
make the wound worse?" "A wound? When did it get better?" He
moved his injured leg as if to say, "Look." The injury had quickly
improved during his stay on Zhenya's island, and he was now able to
run lightly. He had originally been good at squatting, but it seemed that
he had gotten a lot of rest this time. Yoon Jong-woo couldn't help but
admire Kwon Taekjoo's amazing resilience. "Wow, that's ridiculous. How
could you do that? You’ll get better soon? No matter what, you were
shot?” “You can do it if you train. I told you to exercise.” “You talk so
easily. Whether it’s physical strength or muscle, you can’t ignore the
fact that you’re born with it. But even if you train, you won’t be like
your seniors, right?” “Just make an excuse while walking a little.” Yoon
Jong-woo pursed his lips and muttered something unintelligible to
himself. He poured another drink into the glass he had emptied. “‘I met
with Manager Lim.” “...Yes?” Yoon Jong-woo was dumbfounded by the
sudden news. Something that was either soju or saliva flowed out of his
gaping mouth. He pulled out a tissue and handed it to him, who was
frozen in place. “Why are you so surprised? I was just trying to check if
my memories were correct.” “Just ask me. Why? Did you have to meet
that person to confirm that?” “I also wanted to ask you something
else.” Yoon Jong-woo quietly rolled his eyes and observed Kwon
Taekjoo’s condition. As expected, deep worry was visible on his face. He
was betrayed by Chief Lim because he had lost his memories. He must
have just realised that fact, so he must have been really upset. Kwon
Taekjoo hesitated, not knowing what kind of comfort to give, but
continued. "Somehow, this time, it feels a little strange?" "...Huh? What
is it?" "Honestly, while working here, I've been in a near-death situation
countless times. Every time, I'd have to come back alive, report the
results as if nothing had happened, rest a little, and go back to work...
It's always like a hamster wheel." "But?" "It's not like I didn't know, and
it's nothing new, but I feel empty." "Senior?" "Why? Can't I feel a little
empty?" "Well, seniors are just corpses without passion." "Passion. Is it
because I'm old? Now, I feel like I'm just wasting my energy uselessly
because I can't control my temper." Yoon Jong-woo, who had been
listening silently, tilted his head and said, "That's strange." "What?"
"When your memory flies away, even your thoughts change. I lost and
my personality became gentle, but that's why. If that's the case, then
maybe losing my memory isn't all that bad...." He tapped Yoon Jong-
woo's forehead with a spoon. Yoon Jong-woo covered the area he was
hit with both hands and whined. "Ouch! It hurts! I'm cancelling the fact
that my personality became gentle. Where did that personality go?"
"Anyway, I can't explain it exactly, right? Even when I got hurt and lost
all my memories, I held on with the determination to somehow return
home. Because I thought that all my problems would be solved once I
got here. I was like, living or dying. After many twists and turns, I finally
returned, but there was a stranger sitting at headquarters, saying he
was my boss. Director Lim left a long time ago and is paying the price.
My mother in Canada is more worried about a guy who would be killed
even if he were torn apart than her son. I didn’t know what was going
on, and I wondered why I had to suffer so much.” “Ah...” He thought he
could understand Kwon Taekjoo’s confusion a little. Even if his lost
memories came back, it wouldn’t be easy to just accept them all. There
must be some pasts that he just wanted to deny. For Kwon Taekjoo,
Director Lim’s betrayal and absence, and Zhenya’s existence seemed to
correspond to those things. Even as Yoon Jong-woo, it was hard to
believe that Zhenya had become friends with Kwon Taekjoo, but it was
still shocking to hear that they were actually lovers. He wondered how
much worse it must have been for Kwon Taekjoo, the person in charge.
If you forget the existence of your lover because your memories have
disappeared, would you be able to love that person like before just
because someone tells you that you were dating that person? And in a
state like Kwon Taekjoo now, where you only have the worst memories
of that person? "So, what happened to Mr. Yevgeny?" When he asked
about Zhenya's situation, which came to mind naturally, Kwon Taekjoo
visibly stopped. Then, he soon made an expression that seemed
insignificant. "What the hell?" "You didn't come together. There's no
way Mr. Yevgeny would have sent only the senior." "I just left you there.
I couldn't bear to look at that bastard's face because it brought back
bad memories." Yoon Jong-woo nodded his head, saying, "Ah." It was
hard to find words to say in response. That was because Yoon Jong-woo
had no idea what kind of humiliation Kwon Taekjoo had suffered from
Zhenya in the past or how the two of them became lovers. However,
considering Zhenya's violence and the two of them's situation at the
time, he could only guess that human rights violations were rampant. If
the memories of that time were dominating the current Kwon Taekjoo,
even staying in the same space as Zhenya would have been humiliating.
The problem was Zhenya's condition. There was no way he would have
just let Kwon Taekjoo go. But it didn't seem like Kwon Taekjoo would
have been able to persuade him well. Wouldn't he have fired a missile
in a fit of anger? That's how the prelude to the Korea-Russia war
suddenly began. He looked around aimlessly, imagining ridiculous
things. His body trembled in fear of the aftermath. Kwon Taekjoo
frowned at the sight. "What, do you need to pee?” "No. I'm worried."
"Who? That kid? There's a lot to worry about, Inma. That kid's not a kid,
so he'll probably live well on his own." Kwon Taekjoo suddenly shouted.
It was a reaction that hit the nail on the head. He was glaring with blood
running down his neck, but he couldn't say no, so he just kept up the
rhythm. "..Well, that's true. Russia's been a bit noisy lately. They're
going to war or something." "War?" Kwon Taekjoo seemed completely
unaware. He'd been so absorbed in trying to remember the past that he
hadn't heard anything about worldly affairs. It wasn’t unreasonable
since he probably didn’t have time to worry. Yoon Jong-woo glanced
around and leaned his upper body toward Kwon Taekjoo as he
whispered. “Why, Russia has been reacting strongly to the dissolution of
the federation all along. They’ve been eyeing neighbouring countries
while saying they’ll go back to the pre-Cold War era. The dominant
interpretation is that they continued to interact with Iran, China, and
North Korea because they needed their solidarity and support to justify
their invasion. The headquarters analysed that the Baekdu Mountain
microbes might have been a stepping stone to visualise that ambition.
Even if they weren’t developed as biochemical weapons, they could
cause a pandemic until a suitable treatment was developed.” Kwon
Taekjoo's face became deep in thought. Russia's actions were directly
linked to the actions of the Bogdanov family. "Then Yevgeny, is he also
participating in the war?" "Mr. Yevgeny is also clearly a member of that
intelligence agency, so if he doesn't participate directly, wouldn't he at
least use a weapon?” When he stayed in Ajinoki, Zhenya went out
wearing the FSB uniform. It seemed that he hadn't completely
withdrawn from the FSB even while serving as the Russian ambassador
to Korea. Since he was a member of the Alpha Unit there, he was likely
to be at the forefront in the event of war. Even if he was excluded from
the fierce battle due to his family's support, There was a lot of room for
weapons, including 'Stasha'. He was born and raised like that in the first
place. Kwon Taekjoo himself should not have gotten involved even by
mistake. Is it right to continue a relationship with such a person? Yoon
Jong-woo glared at Kwon Taekjoo's face, which was becoming serious,
and quietly confessed. "But Olga said that Yevgeny wouldn't be
interested in such things." "'What's that?" "Things like the honour of
the family, or the prosperity of Russia. So I guess he's being pressured
to prove his loyalty." Even in Kwon Taekjoo’s memories, Zhenya could
not be determined to be on either side. Even though he came to rescue
'Sakamoto Hiro' at the family's direction, he left him behind and left,
and even though he knew that Kwon Taekjoo was a Korean, he did not
get rid of him. On the contrary, he pretended to be Kwon Taekjoo's
partner and spared no support. Even in the Bogdanov family, he
seemed like a simpleton. The only thing he believed in and followed
was his own intuition. He suddenly blurted out “son of a bitch” as he
recalled the memories and Yoon Jong-woo widened his eyes in surprise.
He remembered the memories, and Yun Jong-woo said, "Yes?" But he
was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't even realise it. The
conversation he had with Zhenya at Ajinoki made him think about it. It
seemed like he wasn’t on good terms with the family. No, it seemed like
he didn’t care about the family at all. Suddenly, his head started to hurt
again. Then, he remembered the time when Olga came to the mansion,
the time when they had a big fight, and the time when he got injured in
a fight with the guys who attacked the island while he was out. The gun
he took from the guys back then was clearly a rifle mainly used by
Russian special forces. That meant that the Russian government and the
Bogdanov family were willing to use force to subdue him. The flying
objects and shell fragments scattered all over the island were proof of
how many attacks he had been subjected to. [No one can enter here
without my permission.] He always had that confidence. Considering
the high-performance defence system built on his island, it wasn’t an
empty boast. He had made Ajinoki into a fortress. That meant complete
isolation. Did he really think that was okay? How much had he helped
Kwon Taekjoo all this time? The things he did while following me
around might have been just a game to him, but to Russia, it was no
different from treason. He hadn’t properly considered what sacrifices
he had made to stay by Kwon Taekjoo’s side. It made him feel really
uncomfortable. Could it be that Kwon Taekjoo himself had some
influence on his decision to quit the National Intelligence Service? Was
it because he didn’t want to feel any more indebtedness or guilt toward
him? “Do you really not know why I said I would give up this job?” “Yes.
Because you didn’t tell me why.” “Nothing happened to me at that
time? An accident that could have caused a major change of heart or
something...” Yoon Jong-woo thought about it carefully and then said,
“Ah.” It seemed like he had an idea. “Before the Iran operation, I went
to Vladivostok. I told you I was deployed, right? It was a joint operation
between Korea, the US, and Japan, but things went wrong, the
operation was revealed, and among the agents who infiltrated, only my
senior barely managed to escape alive.” “Yeah.” “Actually, the reason it
was possible was because of Yevgeny’s intervention. We didn’t properly
understand the situation, but I heard that Yevgeny helped my senior
escape. Because of that, my senior was accused of colluding with
Yevgeny.” Zhenya was a Russian diplomat and a descendant of a
powerful family. Furthermore, his original affiliation was the FSB. The
National Intelligence Service couldn’t help but suspect the guy who
suddenly barged into the operation site. It would have been difficult to
avoid suspicion of collusion since only Kwon Taekjoo, who had a
personal relationship with the guy, returned alive. What would Kwon
Taekjoo have thought at that time? The incident in Vladivostok was
enough to arouse the headquarters' suspicions. Even so, wouldn't he
have felt empty because the trust he had built up by torturing himself
collapsed in an instant? Maybe he was furious at Zhenya, who risked
everything to come save him. He would have felt helpless at the fact
that he had put his lover in more danger rather than protecting him.
Just as Zhenya had given up everything else to keep Kwon Taekjoo by
his side, shouldn't Kwon Taekjoo have done the same? Nothing was
mine. The desire to not let go was just excessive greed and selfishness.
[Taekjuuuuu!] The voice of the desperate man lingered in his mind. The
blue eyes consumed by resentment and despair were fixed in his heart
and he could not forget them. He stood blankly in front of Zhenya’s
house for a long time. The lock on the front door was a structure that
required both a pre-registered fingerprint and an iris to open. He
grabbed the handle just in case. A clear mechanical sound was heard as
his fingerprint was recognized. His eyes were drawn to the upper lens
that blinked repeatedly. It was right. The red laser slowly scanned his
iris, and the door opened right away. He pulled the doorknob in a daze.
The light that had been faintly reflecting from the outside disappeared.
It seemed that the security system had been disabled due to the visit of
an authorised visitor. Just like in Ajinoki’s mansion, he realised once
again that there were many enemies here. If he had registered his
fingerprints and irises, it meant that he had been coming and going
there frequently. But it was still awkward, as if it was his first time
visiting. The inside of the house was dark and quiet, as if no one had
been there for a long time. The air that had been stagnant was
extremely stale. First of all, he removed the blackout curtains and
opened all the windows to ventilate. Only then did he slowly look
around the brightened interior. In the living room, there was a sofa
large enough for two adults to lie down on. Behind it, a long, open
kitchen counter stretched out. It barely felt like it had been used, let
alone been wet. He opened the refrigerator. It was full of familiar side
dish containers. The side dishes in it were all made without red pepper
powder or red pepper paste. The cupboard was filled with all kinds of
instant foods and ramen that he had seen at Ajinoki’s mansion. He
sighed and walked to the bedroom. There was only one bed in the
spacious room. It was a size that was hard to get without ordering it
separately. He doesn't think Zhenya would have bought something like
that for his own use. He’s the type that doesn’t move at all when he’s
sleeping. “.....” Why does that bastard’s sleeping habits come to mind so
naturally? He nervously ruffled the back of his hair and headed to the
dressing room connected to the bedroom. He saw familiar clothes on
the open hangers. There were three or four suits mixed in. They were all
Kwon Taekjoo’s own clothes. Did he stay here and get ready right away
when he got a call from headquarters? He opened the bottom drawer,
thinking he opened it. He saw underwear and socks neatly arranged. It
was just as he had learned in the military. "...You've set up a household,
you've set up a household." He went into the bathroom, praising
himself from the past. There were two toothbrushes, razors, and skin
lotions. Perhaps because of the landlord's unusual height, the shower
was quite high up, and the bathtub was wide enough for a child to swim
in. The more he looked around the house, the more he saw traces of
the two of them living together. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say
that they were practically living in two houses. He felt bad for no
reason. He went back to the bedroom and picked up the book on the
nightstand. It was a practical book on space science. He sat down on the
bed and opened the roughly folded pages. He skimmed through the
contents for a moment and then adjusted his posture. He even pulled a
cushion over and leaned against it. But it felt a little too comfortable. It
felt like it needed to be a little softer and warmer. [Taekjoo.] After
tossing and turning for a while, a memory came to mind. Whenever he
was reading a book on the bed or sofa, Zhenya would always come over.
He would sit next to him, sneakily put his arm around his shoulder, and
carelessly stroke Kwon Taekjoo’s hair or the back of his ear. He would
bury his nose in it. Then, pretending to be defeated, he would lean
against the guy as a huge cushion and finish reading the book.
Whenever that happened, the guy would relax his body and hold Kwon
Taekjoo in his arms, then occasionally press his lips to his ear, the back
of his neck, or his shoulder. He would also tease him by rubbing his face
against his voluminous hair. [Wait. Just read up to here.] Whenever the
guy’s hand slipped inside his shirt, he would tease him like that. The guy
didn’t fight back. He just waited silently and fondled Kwon Taekjoo’s
stomach and chest. His shallow patience ran out, and he would pull on
his nipples or poke his earlobes. The time to go was always the limit.
When Kwon Taekjoo shrugged his shoulders or neck, the guy put his
hand inside his pants as if he had been waiting. Then, he started to
knead his penis, which had started to react with a bang. When his long
fingers moved smoothly and stimulated his penis, he had no choice but
to give up. It was because the guy knew exactly where Kwon Taekjoo
felt particularly good and where and how he liked to be touched. [Even
a puppy would be more patient than you.] [Taekjoo.] The guy called
Kwon Taekjoo’s name several times in a tone that seemed to be urging
him to surrender. He was helpless every time. "Haa...." The overly
provocative scene came back to life vividly, as if it were unfolding before
his eyes. No matter how hard he tried to block out his consciousness, it
didn't work out as he wanted. Moreover, even though he was simply
reflecting on the past, his skin where his hands had touched and my
stomach where his genitals had entered felt like they were all swollen
shut. "Ah, really!" He scratched the back of his poor head. He felt like he
was trapped in a huge, realistic studio, being secretly filmed. His anger
toward Zhenya was still there, but Kwon Taekjoo was confused because
everything surrounding him proved that he had not had a light
relationship with him. What should he do in this situation? It was his
choice in the past to accept him, so should he take responsibility for it?
Even if he doesn't feel like it right now, should he just accept him? He
shook his head and went back to the living room. Then, a new memory
suddenly came to mind. When he recalled the past, memories from
similar times came flooding back. From the time when he talked to his
mother without choosing words and got into a fight, to the time when
he interrupted Kwon Taekjoo’s work and they had a big fight. It was
when he was disappointed because he failed to complete his first
mission. He promised him that we would go on vacation together once
the operation was over. He thought he belonged. The guy who had
been patient for a long time knew that Kwon Taekjoo would spend time
with him, and the headquarters planned a new operation to recover
from the previous mission and called Kwon Taekjoo. This king wanted to
make up for the failure. But Zhenya didn't back down easily. [It's over.]
[... We missed the target. That's why the operation was temporarily
terminated.] [So? You're going?] [It's work.] [Is it that important? That
works.] [What are you talking about?] He always thought that public
and private affairs should be strictly separated. If the two were in sharp
conflict, he thought that public duties should be given priority. It was no
different back then. [Can’t you tell right from wrong? You’re not even a
brat, so don’t be so squeamish.] He suddenly got annoyed at Zhenya,
who was blocking his path. He couldn’t help but feel disappointed. As if
he knew it, habitual resignation and barely suppressed anger were
stirring inside him. [I’m barely holding back the desire to lock you up
again.] For ‘Psih’, it’s better to use force than patience. It was better to
subdue him. Just because he became Kwon Taekjoo’s lover, his innate
nature wouldn’t have disappeared. Nevertheless, he held onto Kwon
Taek Joo, suppressing his nature. [Don’t go.] [I have to go.] [Taekjoo.
Stop testing my patience.] [Damn it. If it’s that hard to endure, grab
anyone and roll around! That’s your specialty.] He shouted out in
frustration. The strength in his face, which had been filled with anger,
suddenly disappeared. His expression was empty. [Do I look that funny
to you?] It was an obvious mistake. However, he couldn’t apologise
honestly at the time. He didn’t want to ruin things because of personal
feelings. All he had in his head was the thought that he had to correct
his mistake. [How far should I go to accommodate you? All you can do is
tell me not to do anything. Am I supposed to sit quietly like a dog and
wait for you to feed me? Just grateful that you showed mercy?] Zhenya
kept pushing Kwon Taekjoo, who was acting like a jerk. He thought that
if they kept talking, they would only get hurt, so he turned away. [Go
and talk to me.] [No. That won't do.] [Please...!] [I have the right to
refuse, don't I? I said no, Taekjoo.] The bastard used his brute force to
hold Kwon Taekjoo back. He couldn't completely restrain him, fearing
that he would be hated again. [Don't show up in front of me for a while.
I'll kill you.] On the way out after finally shaking off Zhenya, the bastard
prepared something just for Kwon Taekjoo. Food caught his eye. His
heart was twisted to the point of being upset by his unusual
consideration. It wasn’t easy to live a normal life, a normal relationship,
and maintain balance with a guy who didn’t even have those concepts.
How did he end up forgiving that guy and keeping him by his side? He
still doesn't know. He also doesn't know when he started to look
different. However, what was clear was that Kwon Taekjoo himself had
brought him into his territory, had a deep affection for him, and had
even decided to quit the national garden he had been working so hard
for for his safety. Even now, when my memory isn’t perfect, he still
couldn’t help but feel anxious and uneasy about the guy he left behind.
[I just gave up.] [What?] [I just let it all go because I was sick of running
away from you and being chased by you. No matter where or how I hid,
you would definitely chase after me, and I have people to protect.] For
that argument to be valid, he shouldn’t have gotten drunk and whined
to Zhenya. He vividly remembered the day when he couldn’t contact
the guy who said he would go to Russia and was worried. He found out
later that the reason was because of the family’s insistence on an
engagement. He consoled himself by saying that he had no choice but
to accept him, but when he got engaged to someone else, he felt
strange. He wished he had given up on Kwon Taekjoo and Didn't you
wish to go back to your own country? I couldn't figure out his own mind
either, so he drank until he was drunk. [Eugh, hah... Shit, foot, whatever
you want... sss, ugh.] [… ..Taekjoo?] [Eugh... If you're going to go away,
then go away quickly. You're confusing people and making a fuss.] [I
don't know what you're talking about. I'm the one who should be angry,
not you. Are you going to hit me first?] The expression on the guy's
face, who was flustered by the injection that he had never seen before,
was clear. He pinched the guy's cheek and made a ridiculous complaint.
[Engagement? No way, you son of a bitch.] [… Huh? That’s why you’re
acting like this?] [No matter what you say, I can’t give up. I can’t help it
if you’re lonely.] He completely revealed his childish feelings under the
influence of alcohol. He didn’t want to let go of the work he had
greedily held in both hands, and the guy. He just couldn’t bring himself
to do it. [Can’t you at least look after me? You at least...］ He begged the
guy to look after him, to not give up on him because he couldn’t let go
of anything right now. What a shameful thing for a grown man who was
four years older than the guy. He covered his face with both hands,
groaning. Why did all those useless memories come to mind without
fail? He trembled in shame. [Where I am, who I meet, what I’m doing. If
you want to obsess and confine me, then do so.] [… ..what?] [Whether
it’s an engagement or marriage that you don’t like. If you don’t like it,
then go ahead and cause a scene. I’ll look at it cutely.] [What are you
talking about out of the blue?] [You said you were going to kill me if I
disappeared or disappeared on my own?] [Me, me?] [You threatened
me in various ways. You cried and begged me all night long, asking me
to look after you.] [Don't make me laugh! I couldn't have done that.]
[No, you did. Taekjoo.] He thought he was a little tired. He felt bored
with the daily routine for some reason. No matter what the crisis was or
how difficult the mission was, he wasn't as excited as before. Then he
met Zhenya. He was the type of person he had never met in his life.
Every time he confronted him and felt his limits, his heart would beat
abnormally. His hot, boiling blood would pump strongly and circulate
through his body without rest. He felt alive every moment to the point
of despair. It seemed that there would be no greater stimulation than
him in the rest of my life. He confessed his innocence that did not suit
him. [Don't be impatient. I won't disappear. The only time I am not by
your side is when you are dead.] He felt relieved by that strange
request. He must have been quite anxious without realising it. Looking
back, he thinks he was caught by him and sent to Ajinoki. During that
time he was trapped, he felt an inexplicable peace even as he kept
telling himself that he had to run away. He forgot the passage of time
and his situation and enjoyed the vague leisure that he didn’t know
how long it would last. Has he ever spent his entire life living such a
monotonous routine? It was the first hardship he had ever faced in his
life, the first defeat, the stimulus and greed that would never come
again, and the contradictory comfort. He felt uneasy about ending my
relationship with him like this, as if he owed him a great debt. No
matter how he tried to make excuses, he was the one he had chosen in
the past. So whether he liked it or not, he should bring him next to him
and think about what would happen next. This time, he really had to
pick him up before it was too late. Kwon Taekjoo, who had made up his
mind, took out his cell phone and made a call somewhere. The call rang
a few times and then stopped. Then the voice he had been waiting for
was heard.- Taek-ju? The one who was surprised by the sudden call was
none other than Olga. [Huh. How have you been?]- Where are you?
Where are you calling from? Are you okay? [Where? Home.]- I thought
you were taken away by that guy? [That's what happened, but I left that
bastard behind. Ah. I remembered everything.] A soft exclamation came
from Olga. Even without a detailed explanation, it seemed that Kwon
Taekjoo had guessed the general reason why he had left Zhenya behind
and returned.- So that’s what happened in the end. Olga muttered to
herself and let out a long exhale. Then she defended Zhenya, telling him
not to misunderstand.- The guy must have felt bad because he had
deliberately deceived Taekjoo, but that wasn’t his fault. I said, “How
about I do that?” Both Jong-woo and I recalled the bad memories of
Taekjoo and got hurt again. I was worried that it would be like that. If
only it were possible, I hoped that the bad memories would be buried
and only the good ones would come back. [Optimistic brats. Did you
think that would happen as you wished?]- That's right. I guess it was
greed. You were really surprised, weren't you? [When I saw that brat
sleeping soundly next to me, I wanted to kill him.] Even though he said
it sincerely, he let out a shallow laugh. He didn't stop there and
continued his mischievous confession.- I was actually curious. [What?]-
Even without past memories, Taekjoo will fall in love with that guy
again. [What? A young man testing people?]- Testing, that's too harsh a
word. I just wanted Taekjoo to have a pretty love. What's wrong with
that? Olga asserted shamelessly. It's not that it wasn't true, but it was
almost better not to know about the things that happened before he
became a lover with Zhenya. Just looking back on the past that had
been erased was as painful as it was back then. However, no matter
how bad it was, it was not right for those memories to disappear
forever. Even though they had overcome even the bad relationship and
become friends, they couldn't feel the same way because the past had
been forgotten. Life was the sum total of memories accumulated since
birth. If some of that was completely cut out, Kwon Taekjoo himself
wouldn't be the same as before.- Anyway, it must have been a big
shock. I'm sorry. The doctor warned me, so don't act like that. [I
understand. But I didn't call to get an apology.]- Then what's going on?
[Zhenya, I was wondering what that guy was doing.]- That guy? Olga
asked back in surprise. She felt embarrassed and bit her lip.- I don't
know, either. Maybe he’s been abandoned by his first love twice and has
stopped eating and drinking? She teased him in an infinitely light tone.
She seemed thrilled to be a witness to a loud fight. [Don't joke around.
Have you heard anything new?]- I'm not kidding. If you look closely,
Taekjoo must think I'm that writer's inseparable sibling. I've said it
before, but we're not as close as others. Why do you keep asking me
about that writer? [But you’re the only one in your family who cares
about that kid.]- That’s why the men in my house are trying to ostracise
me these days. Well, the atmosphere is a bit odd. People I don’t know
keep coming and going, and there are constant phone calls asking for
my father or older brother… It’s a sign that something is imminent. [I
heard. There might be a war.]- It’s still just a rumour. Now that the
rumours are spreading, I think they want to show off their power.
Judging from the fact that the author is mentioned often in
conversations between my father and older brothers. They’re putting
the weapons that humans created at the forefront. If we go to war or
not, the tension will be different. The frightened opponent might back
down early. [He doesn't seem to have any intention of cooperating?]-
Well, he's not leaving the island at all. It seems like he's trying to
persuade them at home, but would that work? It seems like he's
sending fighter jets to the island often because he thinks it won't work.
I've heard that several have already been shot down. Zhenya is depicted
as a man who is guarding a remote island that is completely cut off from
the outside world. He's struggling against the merciless attacks that are
trying to subdue him. Did he get hurt? Did he resent Kwon Taekjoo for
leaving him behind? Could he still be waiting for me to come pick him
up? Various thoughts clouded his mind. - Even if I wanted to find out
more, I couldn’t contact that author, and there was no way to go there
myself. They say no news is good news. Olga continued to grumble.
Kwon Taekjoo, who had been listening silently, made up his mind and
asked earnestly. [There’s something I need you to help me with.] *** He
visited the National Cemetery after a long time. It was the first time he
visited there without his mother when it wasn’t his father’s or brother’s
memorial day or a holiday. In his hand, he held the lily that Zhenya had
once intended to offer. He passed the National Cemetery Tower
honouring the patriotic ancestors and the spirits of those who
protected the country. He saw the tombstones lined up in the cemetery.
Every single one of them had words like honour, dedication, and glory
engraved on it. He thought his future would be like that. He consoled
myself that it wouldn’t be so bad, that at least it wouldn’t be a
meaningless life. But today, the weight of it felt different than before.
“I’m here, father.” He greeted his father when he arrived at his grave.
The tombstone there was engraved with the deceased’s achievements
and tributes throughout his life. In their final moments, did his father
and brother think that their deaths were worthwhile? Did they not
regret it for a moment? At one point, he thought that living like them
would be meaningful. Since they only have one life, he thought it would
be better to spend it on something meaningful rather than wasting it
meaninglessly. The reason he gave up on that decision for a moment
and went to a regular university was purely because of his mother. Of
course, his concern for his mother did not stop Kwon Taekjoo from
going astray. “I had a lot going on. Even now, My head is a mess,
wondering what's right... I hate complicated things, so I'll just look at
one and go. That's what I decided to do." He poured out his heart in
front of his father for the first time. He wasn't specifically asking for his
understanding or making excuses. He was just trying to strengthen his
resolve once more. He freed himself from all the complicated thoughts
and kept only one question in mind. If Kwon Taekjoo’s final moments
came to him, would he be able to close his eyes without regret, saying
that his life was okay? He thought one person would be on his mind.
Director Kwak looked over the North Korean trend report with a serious
expression. News had been delivered through reliable sources that
Russia was about to declare war, and it seemed that China and North
Korea would openly assist them. Although they were originally
countries united by socialist ideology, further strengthening their
solidarity would not be beneficial to the security of Northeast Asia or
even South Korea. It would only pose a great threat. In response,
meetings were held one after another to solidify cooperation between
South Korea, the United States, and Japan and to deal with any possible
crises. Tensions between the countries were rising day by day. The
director of the National Intelligence Service called the president every
day. He had an interview. Today, Director Kwak also attended the
meeting chaired by the president to discuss various response measures.
Before that, while reviewing related materials, there was a sudden
knock on the door. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost
time to leave. "Oh, come in." As expected, Director Kwak's secretary
came in and bowed. "Director. The car is ready." "Okay. Let's go." He
grabbed his tablet and jacket and left the office. As he went down to the
underground parking lot, an official car came by. He was waiting. He got
into the car right away. "Let's leave early." Director Kwak's secretary
looked at his watch again and demanded. The driver nodded and
quietly drove out of the parking lot. The secretary half-turned around
and looked at the back seat to tell him the estimated time of arrival. "I
think we'll be there in 20 minutes." "Okay." Director Kwak nodded and
looked at his tablet again. He was quite nervous about reporting the
situation in front of the president and other leaders. Since the issue was
so important, he seemed to have to be careful with every word he said.
"Hmm? Whydid you come this way?" How long has it been? While he
was rechecking the prepared materials, the secretary in the passenger
seat asked the driver. It wasn't just that he had taken the wrong road. At
that moment, the driver suddenly reached out his hand toward the
passenger seat. There was no time to block it. The secretary couldn't
even scream and fell down. Was it an attack? Director Kwak was
panicking and was about to take out his gun at that very moment. "I'm
closing, Director." A familiar voice was heard. He stared at the rearview
mirror with a bewildered expression. The driver's eyes reflected there
were very familiar. It was Kwon Taekjoo. "You?" He seemed to have
approached me with a disability as a chauffeur to avoid the attention of
those around him. However, he didn't understand why he had to do
this. "What the hell is this?" "I have something to tell you. Secretary,
you will wake up soon, so don't worry." "No, if you have something to
say, don't come to headquarters directly. This could become a big
problem later. You wouldn't say you didn't know, would you?" "If the
director wants to make a fuss about it, then I guess." Kwon Taekjoo
responded that he didn't care what my situation was. He was originally
the type of person who would use any means necessary to achieve his
goals. As a Black agent, it was an incomparable advantage. However,
this sudden action was nothing more or less than a reckless kidnapping
attempt. Director Kwak sighed and looked at his wristwatch. "Five
minutes. Not more than that." "It'll be over before then." "Okay. What
are you curious about?" "The Baekdusan microorganisms that were
handed over from Iran, where and how are they being used now?"
Director Kwak raised his eyebrows, perhaps because it was unexpected.
However, he did not answer the question clearly. "Your mission ended
with the transfer of Park Jeong-ho's new soldier. I have no involvement
in the subsequent actions." "I believed that what I was doing would
benefit the majority. At least, it would not be suffering for the benefit of
a specific group. Is that right?" His sharp eyes pierced the rearview
mirror. He had been living his personal life He wanted to confirm
whether the things he had accomplished while risking his life were truly
beneficial to the country and, furthermore, to humanity. Did the beliefs
that had supported him shake during the process of losing and
regaining his memories? Director Kwak was silent and reserved. "It's
difficult for me to give you a definitive answer. Just securing the
microorganism means we've done our job. What happens after that is
none of our business. It's a complicated issue. It's not right to just
announce the existence of the microorganism to the world right away."
When wegoonajoint operation in Vladivostok, they have to find a new
pathogenic microorganism with an evil purpose. He claimed that he
wanted to prevent it from being used as a weapon. However, even after
safely obtaining the Baekdu Mountain microorganism, the fact has not
been made public. It also seemed that there was no set date or form for
the announcement. For Kwon Taekjoo, it was a vain thing to wonder
why he had risked his life so much. "Sometimes I have doubts. Is what I
do really for the people? Isn't it for the safety and benefit of a small
group of powerful people?" "That could be true. But it's up to you to
think about it. Either way, it's ultimately for the country." "It would have
been nice if I could have continued to endure that blindness." Director
Kwak firmly kept his mouth shut at the self-mockery that followed. He
knew that those agents were not unaware of the meetings they were
appealing to. Sometimes, things that were intended to happen do not
go in that direction at all. Furthermore, the intelligence agencies of the
Republic of Korea have never had a history of independence. "Have
your memories come back?" "Yes." "So. Are you going to quit now?" "I
guess that's because it was planned." Director Kwak nodded slowly.
Losing a capable agent like Kwon Taekjoo was a huge loss. It would
probably be nearly impossible to find someone who was so fearless. If
he could be caught, it would be right to catch him. However, there was
no way to catch someone who had returned on his own, someone the
country had already abandoned. "That's too bad. It's hard to replace
someone as talented as you." "That's true." Director Kwak let out a
chuckle at his confident response. He smiled faintly and reconfirmed
Kwon Taekjoo’s true purpose for coming. “Is that what you were going
to say? You wouldn’t have planned this just to throw your resignation
letter in my face, would you?” “I heard you were accused of collusion
before I left for Iran. How will that be handled now?” “You are officially
dead, so you can’t be accused of anything at the moment.” “What
about Ambassador Bogdanov?” “I don’t think they’ll make an issue of it
right now. The Vladivostok operation failed, but you successfully
completed the Iran operation afterwards and proved your innocence by
dying in the line of duty. And now it’s more urgent than that. There
were a lot of problems." "You can always bring it up if you want."
Director Kwak raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. It was a
gesture that suggested that everything from above was like that. He
then asked back as if it was something to worry about. "I understand
that Ambassador Bogdanov is not in Korea right now." If Zhenya doesn't
return to Korea, there's no way to hold him accountable even if you
want to. After all, he's a Russian diplomat, so there's no way they'll just
hand him over. The problem is that he can't enter the country on his
own. It was time. There was only one mistake that Zhenya made. He
tried to save his lover by interfering in public affairs. Someone's
affection was a sin. There was only one way out of that dilemma.
Director Kwak asked Kwon Taekjoo, who had made up his mind,
worried. It was a question that clearly predicted the life of the agent
who had returned to being a regular citizen. "Are you okay? Even if you
leave here, it will be difficult to live an ordinary life. There will be more
temptations and threats than you think." "I'm prepared. If it comes
down to it, Director, you can help me out." "Me?" "Yes. Last time I
checked, it seemed like your resignation hadn't been processed yet."
"Well, the body that's presumed to be yours is still in Iran, and Yoon
Jong-woo, who was dispatched to identify the body, hasn't submitted a
related report." "Then, get the report from Jong-woo and give me a star
or something." "Star? A medal?" "No. I don't need a medal. I don't
really want one." "Then?" "A nameless star." Director Kwak tilted his
head. The 'Nameless Star' was nothing more than a conceptual medal
to honour the agents who devoted themselves to the country. It was
simply a symbolic engraving of an honourable yet lonely sacrifice that
no one recognized or admired. Kwon Taekjoo explained a bit more to
Director Kwak, who was puzzled. "I want to live differently from Jeon. To
that end, I thought it would be better for my existence to be completely
erased from this world. There would be no need to call back someone
who has already died in the country. So please just treat me as having
died in Iran, and leave my achievements or name nowhere. I hope you
don't leave me behind. I'm a truly dead person, so it would be better if
you thought of me." What Kwon Taekjoo wanted was not a simple
retirement. The complete freedom that comes with death. Kwon
Taekjoo as a human would live and breathe somewhere, but Kwon
Taekjoo as an agent would be buried in the past forever. Kwon Taekjoo
seemed ready to willingly put down all the glory he had achieved. "If
I'm unlucky, that might really happen." "What are you talking about?"
"From this point on, all my actions will be unrelated to the South
Korean government or the National Intelligence Service, I'm telling you,
it's arbitrary." Kwon Taekjoo kept muttering incomprehensible words. It
seemed like he had some kind of plan, but if you don't want to get
entangled in it, don't tell him. Director Kwak let out a long breath and
said, "Okay, I hope your future unfolds in the sun." "If it's possible, then
it should. You've been running around in the shade, making you smell
like mould." "Okay. So where are you going now?" "There's someone
who's waiting anxiously for me." "Hmm. I guess it's better not to say
hello again?" "I guess so." They exchanged light jokes. Director Kwak
said his final greetings to Kwon Taekjoo, who was about to open the
door and get off. "Thank you for your hard work." Kwon Taekjoo nodded
without answering. Then he quietly got off and quickly disappeared into
the crowd of people leaving work. 17. In The End Bajim was sitting in his
office, massaging his temples. After staying up all night for several days,
his head felt heavy. He tried to drink whiskey out of habit, but stopped
when he saw the empty glass. The bottles he stared at were also empty.
He sighed again, rubbing his throbbing head. The reason he had been
feeling anxious lately was because of the issue of territorial recovery, a
long-cherished wish of the President. For a while, he had been waiting
for an opportunity, but when he heard news that a new microorganism
had been discovered in North Korea, he revealed his ambition to go to
war to regain his past glory. The terrorism he had experienced in Iran
had added justification and lit the fuse. The President teased officials
including Luka, saying that it was too far away. However, in reality,
Russia was not in a position to fight a war. Thanks to oil and natural gas,
the current account was still in surplus, but if the West imposed
economic sanctions after the outbreak of war, profits would inevitably
decrease. With the massive military spending and the collapse of the
ruble, the national finances would quickly collapse. The president was
intoxicated with the dream of quickly subduing the opponent. However,
no country wanted Russia's national power to expand. If the
surrounding countries were ideologically united and united according to
their own interests, there would be war. It was bound to be prolonged.
A long war would blur the cause and make the country sick. There was
no guarantee that the current power structure would not collapse. The
Bogdanov family would be pressured to shoulder enormous war
expenses and would have to bear the full brunt of the war's ills. Of
course, it was important to suggest that Russia was still alive and well.
However, it was not easy to agree that war was the only way. The
Bogdanov family had been a merchant family since ancient times. That
was why they were not happy about this war, which would obviously
bring more harm than good. Even if they were to recover the former
Russian Empire's territory as the president wished, it would take at least
tens of thousands of years for any real gains to be made. Years might be
needed. No matter how you calculate it, it was a minus. Nevertheless,
the only reason he was going to engage in this absurd war was because
of the president's will. His power, no different from a dictator, was
absolute. The fact that the Bogdanov family, including Basim, were able
to rise to power like they are now was thanks to his complete trust. So,
in order to maintain the family lineage, he had to fulfil the president's
absurd dream. The only way to minimise damage was to act quickly. To
do that, he needed Zhenya's 'Anastasia'. It was unclear whether Zhenya
had really completed 'Anastasia'. It was just that he was Azinoki. It was
only assumed that he had prepared a decisive blow, as he had built an
unprecedented defense system that would make any attempt to
approach or destroy Ajinoki futile. Perhaps it would not be a good
situation to witness Anastasia's true nature. It might be better for
Anastasia to simply exist, using vague anxiety and fear about her power
as a weapon. The president was desperate to somehow take 'Anastasia'
away. War was just an excuse, and in reality, he was more wary of the
fact that he could not become the sole absolute ruler as long as
Anastasia existed. The problem was that Zhenya was not so easy. That
was the point. Those who had no desire for power or wealth were
difficult to persuade. In the case of Zhenya, it was impossible to even
subdue him by force. He had cut off all means of communication that
could reach him. No matter what he did, attempts to spy on him or
approach Ajinoki were all futile. It was impossible to even speak to him
until Zhenya himself left the island. He considered completely isolating
Zhenya and waiting for him to surrender. However, Ajinoki was no
different from a natural island. Food could be sufficiently procured
through fishing and hunting, and the short-term electricity would not
cause Zhenya much inconvenience. There was only one way to block
the gas pipeline leading to the island. However, Basim knew from long
experience. If he was cornered, Zhenya would rather die than give up,
and at the last moment, he would not quietly disappear alone. He had
no time to relax in a situation where the pressure was increasing day by
day. He had no idea how to solve this problem. To Basim, it was a
serious matter that could lead to the loss of the power he had worked
so hard to build up. [Haa....] As he sighed in frustration, his cell phone
suddenly rang. It was a line that only the president could communicate
with. No one was watching. Geonman Bajim straightened his posture
and cleared his throat before answering the phone. [Yes, Your Majesty.]-
I want you to report first before I send a message, right? Is Pshih still
there? [I apologise. Pshih's resistance is formidable, so we are having a
hard time approaching Ajinoki. Weare considering other solutions.]-
What great undertaking can we accomplish by just wasting time? I told
you not to be picky about the means and methods. Considering the
territory to be recovered, what's the big deal about losing a small
island? [Yes. I know what you mean.] - You wouldn't hesitate because of
your bloodline, would you? [How could you?]- You seem quite relaxed
about that. I've never doubted your loyalty, Basim. [I apologise for the
inconvenience, Your Majesty.]- This is an example to the world. This is
an opportunity to solidify our Russia as the world's strongest. We can't
afford to waste even a moment. [How could you possibly.]- If the
existence of 'Anastasia' is confirmed, then The watchman doesn't care
what happens. That 'Anastasia' was our Russian property in the first
place. It's something that should be returned. In any case, they are
blood relatives, so he orders them to get rid of her without hesitation.
Basim's expression became determined. [Yes. I will keep that in mind.]-
Don't disappoint me, Basim. The call with the president ended soon.
However, it didn't seem like the call had completely ended. That was
because the signal tone that should have been heard after the call
ended was not heard. Only a faint noise could be detected, as if
someone was eavesdropping. Bachim's eyes narrowed. His voice also
became low. [Who are you?] The other person snickered at the
question.- You're more intuition than I thought. Basim Visarionovitch
Bogdanov. Do you remember me? The voice coming through the line
sounded strangely familiar. It was a voice I'd heard somewhere. The
unique accent didn't sound like Russian. Basim, who had been silently
racking his brain, opened his eyes. [Could it be... that Korean spy?]- You
have a good memory. Then you'll remember what I said to you. [What
are you talking about?]- The only reason I saved your life in Iran is
because of one thing. If you weren't Yevgeny's blood relative, you would
have already died. You wouldn't deny that, would you? [What are you
trying to say?]- I heard you're preparing for war? The president is
making a fuss about getting rid of Yevgeny and taking 'Anastasia' back.
[Do you think you'll get away with eavesdropping on me?] While
continuing his conversation with Kwon Taekjoo, Bajim reached under
the desk top. It was to press the emergency bell. In fact, his life was
threatened countless times while he was reigning as the second-in-
command. Therefore, he had thoroughly prepared for it. Just as he was
about to press the bell, he heard a crack from the window behind him.
It seemed as if a bullet had been fired from somewhere. Fortunately,
the window was made of bulletproof glass, so it did not go through.
However, he was not relieved. Another bullet flew in at the same
location as the first one. The bullet went through the window, which
had lost its function after the first hit, and blew up the emergency bell.
Perhaps because he was equipped with a high-powered silencer, the
gunshot did not ring. The sound of the window breaking was also. It
wasn't big enough for the guards outside to notice.- Don't do anything
stupid. Next time I won't miss it. At the continued warning, Bagim
slowly turned around. Then, a red laser touched the centre of his
forehead. He scanned each window from the rooftop of the building
across from him, but the sniper was nowhere to be seen. [What do you
want?]- What do you mean, you're not doing anything. We know what
you found in North Korea and how you plan to use it. It's already in our
hands. We may be slower than you, but we'll find a way soon. You'll find
it. The power you think you monopolized will soon be rendered
powerless. [Killing me alone won't change anything.]- I don't think you
know yet. Yevgeny said the Bogdanovs are a family of merchants. Then
you'll be good at calculating. So you'll abandon a child who won't bring
much benefit to the family, and you'll shamelessly reach out as if
nothing happened, and now you'll act like you're going to take what's
yours again. [...I asked you what you wanted.]- I told you. You're not
doing anything. Don't you know that? What you're trying to do right
now is so stupid and pointless. Are you going to jump in when you know
it's a pit of fire? Kwon Taekjoo repeatedly criticised Bajim's actions. He
was already feeling sceptical, so he was furious when he was sneered
like that. [Even if it's a pit of fire, I can't stop it. I don't have the strength
to do it!] - Strength depends on how much you put in. Kwon Taekjoo
responded as if it was nothing. Then he added in a clear tone.- I'll tell
you clearly, never again will you or your family use Yevgeny, I won’t just
let you go. Think carefully. Next time, there won’t be any warnings like
this. I’ll be everywhere, and I can kill you at any time. As soon as Kwon
Taekjoo finished speaking, another bullet flew through the hole in the
glass window, shattering the cell phone. Then, the red laser beam on his
forehead cleared. Kwon Taekjoo seemed to have left. [Titov! Titov!]
Bajim called his secretary in a nervous voice. His secretary came
running in. [What’s going on?] The secretary, who had been called in
without knowing English, gasped at the sight of the messy office. [Are
you okay, sir?] [There is a Korean spy nearby. Find him!] Bajim roughly
pushed the secretary who was coming to check on him. The secretary
who had been hesitating said [Yes!] and hurriedly went outside. Soon,
the guards who had been waiting in the hallway ran out of the building
and began searching for the spy who had already disappeared. Bajim,
who had been fussing for a while, slammed his fist on the poor desk.
Kwon Taekjoo arrived in front of Zhenya’s armoury. He had stopped by
here before going to find Bajim to get a sniper rifle and bombs. He went
into the shabby bookstore building while being wary of his
surroundings. He looked around carefully just in case, but there was no
sign of anyone having been there. Every time he took a step, dust rose
up and tickled his nose. He covered his mouth with the back of his hand
to suppress a cough that was about to burst. A familiar phone was
placed in front of the empty bookshelf. He turned the rotary dial and
entered the password. Zhenya had previously said that he changed the
password periodically and carelessly. He was preparing for the situation
where the location of the armoury was revealed. That was for that.
That's why he didn't tell him the password he had randomly chosen. He
had dialled the number before, thinking it was no way, but as he was
entering his date of birth, his ears started to feel hot for no reason.
"Ha... crazy bastard." He doesn't know since when he started using his
resident registration number as his password. How can someone who
doesn't trust others be this lax? Well, if he's declared dead in the line of
duty, it doesn't matter since the number will disappear anyway. He
walked over to the smoothly opened storage. He grabbed the guns and
firearms he needed from the shelves where various weapons were
displayed. He just hoped he wouldn't have to use them. While he was
looking around to see if there was anything else to pack, he heard the
sudden noise of a propeller outside. It seemed like the person he was
waiting for had arrived on time. He quickly closed the armoury and
went outside. Even in the pitch-black darkness, the pink helicopter
caught his eye. He frowned. Soon, the helicopter’s propeller slowly
stopped and Olga got out. Even in the midst of this, she was wearing a
tight-fitting uniform like the main character of an action movie.
[Taekjoo. I’m here.] [… Are you here?] He glanced at Olga with a
nervous expression. Seeing her grave face, he felt like laughing for no
reason. In reality, it was a serious situation where he couldn’t guarantee
his survival, but he did. After confirming that Olga was no different than
usual, he looked at the empty space and the dark road in succession. It
was an action to check if anyone was following him. [Who’s following
me?] [I shook them all off on the way here, so don’t worry.] Olga
pushed her long hair behind her shoulder and felt confident. Was it a
family trait? I’m running around risking my life, so why are these guys
like that? It seems like he's enjoying a spy game. Olga worried as she
handed the helicopter key to Kwon Taekjoo, who shook his head. [Are
you okay?] [What.] [I haven't been able to contact that author, and he
doesn't even know that Taekjoo has returned. What if I go to the island
like this and get bombed?] [I'll just take a chance on my luck. It wasn't
always the worst.] She shrugged her shoulders, muttering nonchalantly.
It wasn't that Zhenya was the one who was in Olga's helicopter. There
was no guarantee that he wouldn’t attack. By now, he’d become
sensitive to the continued invasion and would be mercilessly retaliating
against anyone who tried to approach him rashly. There was a good
chance that he’d mistakenly thought that the family had deployed
Olga’s helicopter as a trick. However, there was nothing he could do.
Kwon Taekjoo himself was the one who left him there, so he had to pick
him up himself. He couldn’t leave him alone forever, completely
isolated. He couldn’t let him think that he had been abandoned by the
world, his family, and his lover. [By the way. Brother Bajim has issued a
wanted notice for Taekjoo throughout Russia. In Ajinoki, If I don't get to
Sahi, I might end up a fugitive forever. It'll be hard for me to help Takju
anymore.] [When I went to threaten that guy, I thought this would
happen. But it didn't matter. People usually have to be cornered to
display superhuman strength.] [Even if you're not wanted, you're
already in a corner. There's nowhere else to retreat.] [There's no choice.
Anyway, if I meet that guy, won't things work out somehow?] [You really
won't regret it, right?] [If you regret it, I've already regretted it.] Olga
tilted her head at the unknown words. However, she had no intention
of explaining further. She simply lightly patted Olga’s head and said,
“Thank you.” It seemed like a final greeting. [Good luck.] Olga greeted
and asked Kwon Taekjoo, who was about to board the helicopter. She
didn’t specifically mention that she would see him again. Even if Kwon
Taekjoo arrived at Ajinoki safely, there was no way of knowing when she
would see him again since there was a wanted notice. Instead of
answering, Kwon Taekjoo simply nodded and sat in the cockpit. Soon,
the propeller slowly turned, creating a strong wind. Olga clasped her
hands together as she watched the helicopter rising into the air. She
only hoped that the newly started story would end happily like before.
Kwon Taekjoo headed straight for Ajinoki. He tried to coax Olga by
saying that he would leave the rest to his own fate, but in reality, there
was no other way. He could only hope that Zhenya would recognize him
in the helicopter. As he passed over the endless sea, he only thought
about Zhenya. He had no time for any other thoughts. Once again, to
himself, Kwon Taekjoo. He was worried about how the abandoned guy
was doing. He felt a lump in his throat because he was sitting there all
morning and night. Was it because he was so hurt that he didn’t chase
after him to Korea? Did the stubborn guy just give up on Kwon Taekjoo
and the relationship between the two of them? Or was he in such a
difficult situation that he couldn’t leave the island on his own? The
more he thought about it, the more lonely his fate became. A being
abandoned by his family since childhood and decided to become a
monster himself. A being whose value was barely recognized by
destroying others. And now, a persecuted loner who was told to give up
everything he had for the prosperity of his family and country. Zhenya
lacked humanity. The norms that a social person would normally follow
were not natural to him. He also had difficulty understanding or
accepting others. However, he was the kind of guy who tried to
understand Kwon Taekjoo, even though he was his lover. He got angry
at him every time because he was trying to avoid being hated by his
lover. He was so greedy that he had no time to spare that he almost
neglected his young lover who didn’t know anything. Kwon Taekjoo
would yell at him, saying, “What should I do with the way I ended up
like this?” He thought that he would somehow endure it. Unlike the
opponents he had met before, he was strong and had a lot of things,
and he was someone who played well by himself anyway, so it would be
okay. About him The guilt didn't seem that great. As he thought back on
his past misdeeds one by one, he sighed. "Haa... Is something else
trash?" He scratched the back of his ear. He thought we were in a pretty
concessional relationship, but he guessed he was mistaken. When he
imagined what it would have been like if their positions had been
reversed, he realised that Zhenya, who had not fallen out until now, was
simply brave. While he was reflecting on himself, he caught sight of
some flying objects ahead. The flying objects had all their lights turned
off and were hiding in the darkness. He could barely detect their
presence with the faint blinking of light. He put on the special goggles
and checked the aircraft again. Judging from the outlines, they seemed
to be military helicopters. Only two could be identified right away.
Judging from the direction of flight and their stealthy movements, it
was clear that they were trying to infiltrate Ajinoki. He picked up the
speed and followed closely behind the helicopter. Soon, they noticed
Kwon Taekjoo’s approach and split into two. It seemed that they could
not attack Kwon Taekjoo’s pink helicopter right away because it
belonged to Olga. Soon, a radio message came in from them.- Weare in
a military operation. The rear helicopter, please state your affiliation
and destination. He ignored it. Even if they made a rough outline, the
owner, Olga, would have tried to check if Gaga was on board. Since he
had witnessed a secret military operation, he might have attacked
immediately if there had been no Bogdanoff family on board. - I will tell
you again. We are in the middle of a military operation. The rear
helicopters, please state your affiliation and destination. If you do not
respond, we will consider you an enemy and open fire. When he
remained silent, he warned in a more stern tone. Then, one of the
helicopters made a sharp turn in the air and faced Kwon Taekjoo's
helicopter. The remaining one followed behind. It seemed as if they
were planning to open fire if they sensed anything unusual. [Hey. What
do you mean pink on a helicopter?] [Isn’t it better when you decorate it
like this? All helicopters are ugly.] [So you’re saying that if you draw
lines on an ugly pumpkin, it becomes a watermelon?] [You’re saying
that it’s ugly even though you’re borrowing it. What’s wrong with that?
Is this guy pretty fierce? If you make a woman cry, you’ll make her cry
blood, or something like that? Try coaxing her.] He thought of Olga, who
had winked while handing me the helicopter’s ignition key. As Olga had
promised, her helicopter wasn’t just a simple means of transportation.
It was equipped with missiles that you only see on special helicopters.
Kwon Taekjoo quickly lowered his altitude, changing to emergency flight
mode while firing missiles at the front without hesitation. The
helicopter in front staggered greatly from the unexpected attack. The
helicopter that had been pressuring the rear quickly chased after him
and began to fight back. The minigun bullets splattered against the glass
window, creating a flash. Kwon Taekjoo pulled the joystick hard and
attempted to ascend rapidly. At the same time, he rushed toward the
helicopter in front that had not yet come to his senses. The distance
between the two helicopters rapidly decreased, and the bullets that
had been fired from the rear hit the helicopter on the other side. The
faces of the pilots, panicked by the shaking vision, were clearly visible.
"Fuck, let's see who dies!" They rushed recklessly as if they were going
to collide at any moment, and then rose sharply just before the
collision. The helicopter behind them, which had been firing
concentrated fire at the rear, also rose up. However, due to its late rise,
it ended up touching the propeller of the helicopter in front with its
foothold. The helicopter with its broken propeller crashed into the dark
blue sea. The soldiers on board could be seen opening their parachutes
one by one and escaping. When the helicopter behind barely regained
stability, Kwon Taekjoo's pink helicopter was flying right in front of him.
Kwon Taekjoo smiled at the other's cockpit and pursed his lips. Dalssak-
yeo said, “Goodbye.” Immediately after, the remaining missiles bounced
off and hit the enemy helicopter. The helicopter disintegrated in the air
with a huge explosion. The wreckage fell into the darkness, and the
half-inflated yacht and parachute floated messily on the surface of the
water. “‘Whew...” Kwon Taekjoo took a deep breath and patted the
aircraft as if he was proud. “It’s pretty good.” Even though he said that,
the helicopter was covered in bullet marks. There were radial cracks in
the windows, and the outside wind was seeping in as if there was a hole
somewhere in the aircraft. No matter how hard he tried to control the
joystick, Even though he held on tight, the helicopter couldn't fly
straight and shook. The propeller didn't rotate smoothly either, but
rather rattled around. When he looked up, he saw that some of the
propellers that had been hit by the minigun had been eaten away.
Fortunately, it didn't hit the fuel tank. He fought like a fighter jet with
the attack helicopter. That worked, but it was really dangerous. Will he
be able to arrive at Ajinoki safely in this condition? As he continued my
precarious flight, an island came into view in the distance. Judging from
its location and shape, it was definitely Ajinoki. But for some reason, he
couldn't see any lights at all. Didn't he. Didn't he even turn on the lights
in the mansion? He couldn't tell if the Russian government had cut off
the electricity, if Zhenya was watching him with his eyes closed, or if he
was in too much of a critical condition to turn on the lights. [Why are
you trying to leave me? I'm not trying to kill you.] Suddenly, he
remembered Zhenya holding onto Kwon Taek Joo from the past. He
looked confused as to why he wanted to hold onto Kwon Taek Joo so
badly, and why Kwon Taekjoo kept running away. The sight of him not
even being able to properly say that he wanted to stay by his side, that
he wanted to be with him, was vivid. [In fact, I kept waiting. I tested my
patience every day, every hour, every minute.] He was aguy who had
endured countless dangers and isolation alone since childhood. He said
that he had been waiting for Kwon Taekjoo to come save him. He had
expectations of Kwon Taekjoo that he had never had from his parents or
blood relatives. He had dropped him in such a dangerous place. He had
finally shaken off the guy who was screaming his name and suffering.
“Zhenya...” He had raised the output to maximum. The sudden
acceleration caused the helicopter to veer forward. It was continuing an
unstable flight that seemed like it would crash at any moment, and was
just entering the island. It was a split second. Surface-to-air missiles
installed on the cliffs were targeting the intruders one after another. It
was a defence system that even fighter jets couldn’t penetrate. Trying
to break through it with a single helicopter was like diving into a crater
with your bare body. Still, you had to try. As soon as you barely avoided
the missile that suddenly flew in, the next missile came flying in. You
breathlessly repeated rising and falling to avoid the successive attacks.
The problem was that the missiles that missed weren’t neutralised as
they were, but changed their course in real time to track the target. It
would do so until the target’s power was lost or the missile itself
exploded. He had no choice but to retreat outside the island’s defence
range. Then he quickly dived with the missile that had already been
launched and was chasing the helicopter attached to his tail. The
moment the platform touched the water, he pulled the joystick sharply
and threw the missile deep into the sea. The helicopter, whose output
had dropped to the limit, kept bouncing back above the water surface
no matter how much he tried to rise. When he finally managed to fly
again, its speed began to drop significantly. “Damn it, look here!” He
shouted in frustration. However, as soon as he got close to the island,
dozens of missiles were launched without fail. Kwon Taekjoo watched
the missiles flying toward him like a swarm of bees. He blinked his lights
in a hurry. He was sending a Morse code, hoping that somewhere,
somewhere, his own lover would recognize him. In the meantime, a
missile slammed right into his nose. He quickly pulled the joystick.
"Damn...!" But the helicopter didn't move as he wanted. The warning
light on the fuel display was blinking. It seemed that he had run out of
fuel after flying nonstop from the outskirts of Moscow to Ajinoki in
northern Siberia. There was no way to avoid it. His whole body froze in
early despair. "Zhenyaaaaa...!" He cried desperately toward the
mansion shrouded in darkness. Reached. Immediately after, the missile
hit the helicopter and exploded loudly. Zhenya. He opened his eyes at
the sound of someone calling him. He raised his head and looked
around, but there was only a thick darkness. Was it a hallucination? He
took a deep breath, doubting himself. He couldn't recognize any scent
other than the smell of ammunition that filled the air. Did he dream
again? He had been suffering from endless dreams for some time. Kwon
Taekjoo always appeared in them. Sometimes, Zhenya, who had
returned to being six years old, came to save him, and other times he
shook him off with a face full of hatred. Whenever he tried to reach out
to grab him, he would always wake up alone in a terrible silence. He
clenched his fists. Maybe he shouldn’t have just let Kwon Taekjoo go like
that. Should he chase him and catch him again right now? His mind
wavered countless times. Then suddenly an alarm sounded. It seemed
like the Kremlin had sent its rats again. He got up and went to the
window. He pulled back the curtains and looked into the dark sky, and
he saw the lights of a helicopter approaching the island. What was
strange was that the helicopter in question looked different from the
military helicopters and was also smaller. He looked at the helicopter
again with my binoculars. It was an attack helicopter carrying missiles,
but it was definitely different from the military type. It seemed to be
painted pink. Was it Olga? Even if it was, he had no intention of
disabling the defence system. If it was Olga, he would already know
what happened to the guys who tried to invade Ajinoki. But if she
approached without fear, he could only make an example of her and
remind her that no one is an exception. Besides, just because it was
Olga’s helicopter, it didn’t mean she was on board, so he had to stay on
guard. Zhenya, who had been watching silently, suddenly frowned. The
helicopter’s lights were abnormal. It was because it was blinking. Was it
a malfunction? Or was it sending some kind of signal? The blinking light
looked just like Morse code. [Zhenya....] He tried to decipher the light
that came into his eyes by converting it into Morse code. It was strange.
Olga wouldn't know something like Morse code, and she wouldn't call
Zhenya by a nickname. Zhenya read the rapidly blinking light with eyes
full of suspicion. [I came to pick you up.] Zhenya's face turned pale at
the message that followed. [Taekjoo...?] There was only one person in
the world who could say such a thing to Zhenya. For a moment, he was
dazed, but his heart sank at the thought that he had to stop the defense
system immediately. He threw the telescope away and ran to the
underground control room. In the meantime, he quickly turned off the
system that had started operating. However, there was no way to do
anything about the missile that had already been launched. As soon as
he turned off the power, he heard a loud explosion. When he opened
the window and looked out, he could no longer see the helicopter
lights. However, the scene of something exploding brightly in the pitch-
black night sky was clearly visible to his eyes. In an instant, a lump of
scrap metal engulfed in flames he fell helplessly into the valley beyond
the mountain. [No....] A groan-like soliloquy flowed out of his gaping
mouth. His wide-open eyes did not blink for even a moment. He was
stuck to the ground, unable to move. The next moment, he jumped out
of his seat and ran across the desolate field. It was a difficult distance to
walk to the valley where the helicopter had crashed. Nevertheless, he
ran blindly, ran, and ran again. His blue pupils were covered in thick
darkness and tightened. He could not see anything. His mind blocked
out all thoughts and focused on only one thought. He came back. Kwon
Taekjoo came back. The growing confidence gave birth to despair. Not
knowing that it was him, not knowing that he had finally come to pick
him up, he had mercilessly bombarded him. Is Kwon Taekjoo alive? Will
he be fine and call his name again like before? He passed the fields that
had become quiet as if nothing had happened and the birch forest. The
animals that had started to move late at night were startled by the
sudden sound of a person and ran away. The reindeer that had been
grazing under the moon could only stare blankly at the person’s spirit
that seemed to have flown away. The bright moon that seemed to be
fading away as he approached, and the extremely peaceful and quiet
forest all felt cruel. [Haa, haa....] Finally, he reached the end of the
island. As he looked down the deep valley, he saw a lump of metal that
was presumed to be the remains of a helicopter. It was so blackened
and distorted that he couldn't even recognize its original shape. There
was no way to confirm the survival of the passengers. No, it was hard to
guarantee that even the bodies would be intact. [Taekjoo....] He
muttered as if he was breathing heavily and then started searching
without thinking. He tried to pick up the still hot debris with my bare
hands and slid down the steep slope of the cliff to search thoroughly.
However, he couldn't find even the shadow of a person, let alone Kwon
Taekjoo. [Taekjoo!] He shouted Kwon Taekjoo’s name at the top of his
lungs in anxiety. The echo that had risen from the distant valley spread
empty. [Answer, Taekjoo!] He wandered through the wide valley,
desperately shouting Kwon Taekjoo’s name. The darkness and silence
were as natural and familiar as breathing, but now everything was just
annoying. He wandered around like a lost child. He had no idea where
to go or where to find Kwon Taekjoo. Surely, he had to hurt Kwon
Taekjoo with his own hands. He had to erase him from this world
forever. Did you throw it away? [Taekjoo!] As if trying to deny reality, he
repeatedly called out to Kwon Taekjoo. He couldn’t lose him so vainly
and absurdly. He couldn’t allow him to leave his side without
permission. [....!] How long had he been wandering? Something caught
Zhenya’s eye. A black object was hanging from a long tree branch
extending down the cliff, swinging. It was the backpack that Kwon
Taekjoo often carried. It was black and had no special features, but the
badge that was attached to it seemed to prove its owner. He stood
there dumbfounded, then knelt down and collapsed. In the end, he
ended up destroying Kwon Taekjoo with my own hands. [Don't be
impatient. The only time I'm not by your side is when you're dead.]
There was no reason to live anymore. He didn't want to spend the rest
of his life groaning in emptiness and loss. He took the gun out of his
bosom and held it to his temple without hesitation. He was about to
pull the trigger without hesitation. Zhenya. He heard a voice calling him
from somewhere again. He turned his head quickly. He still couldn't see
anything. He frantically moved his gaze here and there. He tried to find
even the smallest traces as he went. Soon, he noticed a pink piece of
cloth fluttering across the ridge on the other side. It was a parachute.
He hurried to it. I didn’t even blink once, wondering if it was an illusion
that would disappear if he took his eyes off it for a moment. He
stumbled and staggered several times because he couldn’t look around
properly. But that didn’t matter at all. [Haa, haa….] He crossed the
valley bare-handed and arrived in front of the parachute. The breath he
had been holding burst out and his lungs felt like they were crushed.
The parachute was floating in the lake right next to me, partially caught
on a tree branch. It didn’t look good. He quickly jumped into the lake
and frantically kicked the wide-opened parachute away. As he
desperately waded through the pitch-black water, something caught my
fingertips. It seemed to be a person. He tore off the tangled parachute
fabric and rope. Kwon Taekjoo, whom he had been desperately
searching for, appeared inside. It seemed that he hadn’t been able to
properly open the parachute because he was in a hurry to escape. He
hugged the unconscious Kwon Taekjoo tightly. There was no response.
His body was also frozen. He put his ear right up to Kwon Taekjoo’s nose
and checked for breathing. There was no breath. He frantically put my
ear to Kwon Taekjoo’s chest. He could not even feel a faint pulse. He
didn’t. He took off his wet clothes as if tearing them off and thoroughly
touched his cold skin. His body temperature still remained. It seemed
like his heart had not stopped for long. [Taekjoo, wake up.] He patted
his cheek to wake him up. There was no response. He had to somehow
revive Kwon Taekjoo before he stopped breathing. He laid Kwon Taekjoo
straight on the floor next to the lake and attempted CPR. As he pressed
hard on his chest, his body shook limply. He checked his complexion and
repeatedly massaged his heart. It was an unfamiliar experience that he
had never tried before in his life. So he wasn’t sure if he was doing it
right or if he was just pretending. It didn't work. He tried to block Kwon
Taekjoo's nose and give him artificial respiration. Kwon Taekjoo's chest
swelled up greatly with the breath he breathed in. He repeated the
same action several times as if he would give him all his breath. Soon,
sweat formed all over my body. He massaged Kwon Taekjoo's heart
without stopping, gave him breath, and rubbed his whole body to cool
his body down, waiting for him to wake up. He felt very sorry to see him
not regain consciousness at all. Every minute and every second that
passed by in vain was so sad. It wasn't that difficult to take someone's
life. However, saving a life was too hard. [Taekjoo, please wake up.] He
struck Kwon Taekjoo’s chest, shaking with despair. At that moment,
something under his left chest convulsed and throbbed. Kwon Taekjoo’s
body shook violently. "Cough." Kwon Taekjoo coughed repeatedly and
spat out water, then turned his body to the side and vomited. Zhenya
hurriedly opened his mouth to secure his airway and patted his back.
Kwon Taekjoo, who had sufficiently vomited out the water he had
swallowed, collapsed limply. In the meantime, he regained
consciousness, letting out a sharp breath and coughing repeatedly. "Ha,
damn it... I almost died." [Taekjoo.] Zhenya, who was dumbfounded by
the unbelievable sight, suddenly hugged Kwon Taekjoo. His lungs, which
were barely regaining their function, were crushed and he couldn't
breathe. [Ugh, let go. Ah, shit. If this keeps up, I'm really going to die by
your hands, you brat.] [Taekjoo, Taekjoo....] Zhenya, who kept repeating
Kwon Taekjoo’s name no matter what he said, grabbed his face with
both hands. He was extremely careful with his hands, afraid that if he
grabbed them carelessly, they might fall off. His big, white hands
trembled unnaturally. He was panicking. At the sight of Zhenya's
expression that seemed to be devoid of any meaning, Kwon Taekjoo
swallowed his curse and then suddenly grabbed the bastard by the
collar. Zhenya's eyes widened at the unexpected development. [What
kind of love is this? Having your neck choked, running, rolling around all
day long.... Other guys say that when they start dating, even the air
becomes sweet, but for you and me, why is it all you get is the smell of
gunpowder?] Kwon Taekjoo, who had been grumbling irritably, glared at
Zhenya with angry eyes. He also grabbed him by the collar and pulled
harder. [I told you not to give up, you son of a bitch.] [… Taekjoo?] [I
don’t want to be given up on by you.] Zhenya’s blue eyes were filled
with doubt. That’s because he had never given up on Kwon Taekjoo. He
just decided to endure because he needed time, even though he
couldn’t understand him at all. Until he came to get him like he did now.
His shallow patience reached its peak, and he felt an extreme urge to
just end everything, but he endured and endured. He never wanted to
be hated by him again. However, instead of praising him, Kwon Taekjoo
got angry and asked if he had told him not to give up on him. If you
chase after him, he will chase after you. He used to jump up and down
saying that he would arrest him if he told him to, but now he's
exploding with anger, saying that he's just waiting quietly. Did Kwon
Taekjoo realise the nonsense of his words only after he said them? He
looked at his bewildered face, blushed, and muttered in a displeased
tone. [If this is love, then I love it.] Zhenya tilted his head. It was so out
of the blue that he couldn’t quite recognize what Kwon Taekjoo had
said. Did he usually say things like that so casually? [If this damn thing is
love then I love you, you bastard] At the confession that followed,
Zhenya’s eyes widened. He froze as if he had heard something he had
never imagined. Kwon Taekjoo pulled Zhenya's ear toward him and
kissed him. With a kiss, their lips parted slightly, and he breathed again,
saying, "I love you." Then, Zhenya completely collapsed on top of Kwon
Taekjoo, hugged him tightly, and kissed him. He kissed him
indiscriminately, as if he would fill his lungs with his breath, as if he
would swallow every single breath of his. Even the moment their lips
parted was regrettable and precious, so they desperately pulled each
other closer. In their paradise, filled with pitch-black darkness, endless
silence, and the pungent smell of gunpowder, their hearts were clearer
than any vow. The silhouettes of the two people tangled together and
rushed into the mansion. Kwon Taekjoo jumped up and wrapped his
legs around zhenya’s waist. Zhenya pushed Kwon Taekjoo against the
wall, raising the corners of his lips. Crushed between the wall and him,
he grabbed his thin hair and locked his lips with him absentmindedly.
He had already kissed him to the point of dizziness, but it still felt like it
wasn’t enough. His throat kept burning and he was impatient, so he
repeated the process of entangling his lips again as soon as they parted.
Their minds were ahead of their time, and they tried to shove their
tongues into each other’s mouths, but an unexpected aerial battle
broke out. The two tongues repeatedly pushed and pushed, wrestling,
and when they came together at the philtrum, laughter erupted.
Zhenya, who had been rushing at him like a boy who had just gotten his
teeth kicked out, stared intently at Kwon Taek Joo, who was giggling.
[… . It’s cold.] Zhenya pulled his ear as if telling him not to stop.
Immediately after, Zhenya fiercely pressed his lips against his, causing
pain. Zhenya flinched, and he chuckled in disbelief before twisting his
head and pressing his lips together tightly. The thick tongue scraped the
roof of his mouth and pushed in, reaching his uvula. Zhenya instinctively
pressed Kwon Taekjoo’s bouncing chest with his body and swallowed his
tongue that was getting hotter. As if trying to quench his thirst, he
sucked Kwon Taekjoo’s plump lower lip and tongue together. When he
groaned as if his tongue root was going to be pulled out, Zhenya let go
of his tongue that he had been holding onto the whole time and pushed
Kwon Taekjoo’s tongue with his tongue again, digging into his warm
mouth. He felt the even teeth and sharp fangs with the tip of his tongue
and inhaled Kwon Taekjoo’s occasional exhalations and the saliva that
was gathering in his mouth. He sucked Kwon Taekjoo’s tongue that was
wriggling strongly. It was a stubborn kiss, as if complaining about the
hardships he had endured. Kwon Taekjoo pulled Zhenya in, as if he was
shivering from the water. Zhenya willingly gave him up and walked
towards the stove. When he slowly put Kwon Taekjoo down on the fur
on the floor, he shivered and moaned softly. He knelt down on top of
him and ripped off his soaking wet clothes. The most urgent task was to
raise his body temperature. With half his consciousness gone, he
obediently kissed Kwon Taekjoo, who kept clinging to him, and took off
his top and covered it with his body. Then he rubbed his cooled skin
with both hands to generate frictional heat. But that alone wouldn’t be
enough to convey warmth. He wanted to light a fire on the stove first.
As he was about to get up, Kwon Taekjoo pulled on Zhenya’s collar and
kept asking for a kiss. His eyes, which were usually sharp, became
cloudy and dim, making it seem like he wasn’t in his right mind. He let
out a low groan when he put his hand on his cheek where goosebumps
were forming. “Ugh.....” [Taekjoo, hold on.] He patted Kwon Taekjoo’s
cheek to comfort him and lit the stove. When he poured oil on it, the
small flames shot up fiercely. As the surrounding air became warm,
Kwon Taekjoo’s impatience, which he had never felt before, also
subsided. However, his floating feeling was still the same. Zhenya got up
straight away and walked to the living room. There, he returned with
the vodka he had been drinking alone and a thick blanket. He took a sip
of vodka and leaned his head toward Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo, who
smelled the alcohol, hastily kissed him. He poured the alcohol in his
mouth little by little through his lips that had been locked. Kwon
Taekjoo gulped down the lukewarm vodka, his throat trembling. It was
like someone who had found an oasis in the desert. Finally, he let out a
small cough. "...gulp." As soon as their lips parted, Zhenya stroked Kwon
Taekjoo's wet lips and the corner of his cheek. Licked it up. As soon as
the cough subsided, Kwon Taekjoo grabbed the guy’s face and kissed
him again. He licked the red mucous membranes here and there so that
all the vodka scent left in Zhenya’s mouth would disappear. Zhenya also
caught Kwon Taekjoo’s tongue between his teeth and sucked hard once
to stimulate him. They bite their lips and tongues roughly and fiercely as
if they were hunting each other. The moment they parted their lips,
they kissed each other’s face, chin, and ears without saying a word. It
was a breathless gesture as if they were trying to relieve the longing
they had felt, as if they were trying to enjoy each other’s body odour
and body temperature. No matter how much they touched, it was still
regrettable. As soon as his body touched the floor, Kwon Taekjoo's
shoulder flinched. It was because the floor had not yet been heated
enough. Clear goosebumps appeared on his wet skin. Just exhaling
made his blue lips tremble. [Taekjoo, are you cold?] Zhenya asked while
pressing his lips to Kwon Taekjoo's ear. He took a deep breath and
smelled Kwon Taekjoo's body odour. Kwon Taekjoo hugged the guy's
head and urged him on. [If this continues, I'll go to hypothermia first.
Warm me up quickly.] As soon as he finished speaking, he personally
unzipped Zhenya's pants. Zhenya playfully patted his waist. He
squeezed Kwon Taekjoo’s hand and held his neck tightly. Kwon Taekjoo
moaned softly at the sudden joke and wiggled his pressed body. He
tightly squeezed his scrotum with his lips, licked it with his tongue, and
sucked it hard again. Kwon Taekjoo reacted with his lower body
twitching at the familiar yet unfamiliar sensation. He kissed his flushed
skin, then pulled the hem of Kwon Taekjoo’s shirt and pushed it behind
his neck. His hair was tangled against his collar. Zhenya buried his head
in Kwon Taekjoo’s messy hair and kept rubbing his nose. [It tickles, you
little shit.] Kwon Taekjoo laughed bitterly and pulled away from
Zhenya’s face. The guy grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s wrist and licked his palm
without hesitation. The ticklish yet strange sensation made him frown.
Zhenya bit his trembling finger and sucked it, tightly gripping Kwon
Taekjoo’s chest that was clearly visible. His dark skin turned white in the
shape of his finger and then returned to its original colour. When he
drank it again, this time, a red mark was left in the shape of his finger.
[...Ugh, it hurts.] [I guess it’s swollen because I haven’t touched it for a
while?] [Crazy, what’s swollen?!] He sighed and closed his mouth again.
It was because Zhenya had bitten his right nipple. He pressed his lips
hard against the trembling flesh, and then a warm, smooth mucous
membrane covered it tightly. His waist jumped involuntarily at the
ticklish stimulation. He couldn’t hold back a moan as he crushed his left
nipple until it was completely buried inside. [Ugh....] Zhenya twitched
the corners of his mouth at his honest reaction and began sucking his
nipple hard. Along with the tingling sound of sucking, the tingling
sensation triggered inside his chest spread to his stomach. His lower
stomach was tickled. He put both knees together and tightened his grip
on Zhenya’s waist. To Zhenya, it felt like he was begging him to do more.
[It’s flat so it’s hard to suck.] [Whew, what the heck… That, stop… Wait,
ahh!] Contrary to his words, his chest swelled up and stuck to Zhenya’s
mouth. In response to his expectations, he licked the split part of his
nipple with the tip of his tongue. Kwon Taekjoo let out a muffled moan
as his lower body twitched at the pleasure that he couldn’t ignore.
“Eww, yeah, ahhh…” While nibbling his nipple that had quickly
hardened he looked at Kwon Taekjoo’s face. He was secretly hot, and his
eyes, cheeks, and ears were flushed. He opened his mouth with a slurp
and ran his tongue across his sternum to the opposite mound. He
cupped his trembling left nipple and put his hand inside Kwon Taekjoo’s
pants. The tight belt and buckle came loose as if they were bursting.
Unlike the brutal invasion, the act of wrapping and caressing Kwon
Taekjoo’s genitals was extremely gentle. “Haut, ugh. Ugh...” The heat
spread like a ghost wherever he touched. There was no need to ask him
where or how to touch him. Sometimes sweetly, sometimes roughly,
Zhenya touched every nook and cranny of Kwon Taekjoo’s body. He
played him while caressing him. Sweet moans continued from the
excited Kwon Taekjoo. He held Kwon Taekjoo’s erect penis between my
thumb and index finger and gently stroked it to stimulate him. He also
rubbed his urethra, which was filled with precum, with his thumb every
now and then. Every time he did that, Kwon Taekjoo’s lower body jerked
and responded strongly. When he squished his nipple with his tongue at
the right moment, he twisted his whole body and let out a deep moan.
This time, it was no exception. “Ha, uh, uh...” [Ha, Taekjoo. Does it feel
good?] [Tsk, stop squirming and hurry. Suck... kid ugh.] Suddenly, he
pulled his hand out and took his mouth off his nipple. As the pleasant
stimulation disappeared at the same time, Kwon Taekjoo's genitals
could not overcome the emptiness and trembled. His lower body also
trembled awkwardly in the air. The corners of Zhenya's mouth rose in a
long arc. Kwon Taekjoo grabbed the guy's shoulder and protested. [Ha,
ha... What are you doing.] [Don't push me, Zhenya. The night is long
anyway.] Zhenya licked his lips with his red tongue and muttered. Then,
suddenly, Kwon Taekjoo lifted his hips and pressed them against his
chest. Naturally, his hips rose high and his thighs completely touched his
chest. This caused his lungs to groan as they were compressed. His face
turned bright red as blood rushed to his head. With one arm, Zhenya
held Kwon Taekjoo’s groans in place and groped his buttocks. The hand
that had been tickling the wrinkles around the tight hole one by one
kneaded his scrotum and then swept it up to his penis. The legs that
were tightly attached twitched at the ticklish stimulation. At the same
time, his nipples brushed against his knees, triggering a tingling
sensation. “Ugh....” If Zhenya pulled Kwon Taekjoo’s legs back a little
more, The mound of Taekjoo’s chest was completely crushed by his
knees. Zhenya, who had been gently tickling the hole that was clearly
visible through the tip of his nose, stuck out his tongue and flicked it
over it. He traced the fine wrinkles with the tip of his tongue and sucked
the delicate skin with a tsk, tsk, sound. The thin skin was secretly sucked
up and then down. He continued to circle the area around Taekjoo’s
hole and pushed the tip of his tongue in once to relieve the tension.
Kwon Taek-ju clenched his molars at the sensation of his sensitive spot
becoming wet and slippery. "Ah, clothes, yea, eueueu, haeung...." Even
though he tried to hold it in somehow, a groan that was completely
broken escaped. Zhenya stopped. He wanted him to let me go, but he
also wanted him to mess him up even more. He reached out with his
trembling hands and grabbed Zhenya’s hand. [Out, Zhenya, hurry,
hurry…] [Ha, Taekjoo. You’re really whining.] [Sigh, stop being so
relaxed…] [Yeah. That’s how you are.] When he groans and whines, he
always loses his temper. Zhenya closed his eyes, finding even that
temper of Kwon Taekjoo endearing. Zhenya then poured himself down
on Kwon Taekjoo, who was lusting after him with his whole body. Kwon
Taekjoo held him tightly as if he would never let him go again. He
hugged him. He patted Kwon Taekjoo’s earlobe, which had become
cool, and pushed his finger into the hole that had become rusty. Kwon
Taekjoo’s body flinched noticeably at the distinct foreign body
sensation. He tried to relieve his tension by sticking his tongue into his
ear hole. Kwon Taekjoo shrank his neck and swallowed. He moved his
hand, which had stopped during the gap in his consciousness, and
poked the hole again. The mucous membrane that was wrapped tightly
around his finger was hotter than usual. It seemed as if it was
generating heat inside to recover its dropped body temperature. “Ugh,
Zhenya, Zhenya...” Kwon Taekjoo grabbed Zhenya’s hair and became
impatient. Even for Zhenya, it was reaching its limit. He grabbed Kwon
Taekjoo’s two arms, pressed them to the floor, and pulled his lower
body back. When he unzipped his pants, his stiffly erect penis popped
out. He rubbed it gently against Kwon Taekjoo’s penis. Kwon Taekjoo’s
entire body swayed in anticipation. The hole that had been rubbing
together also sucked the outer surface of the penis like a suction cup,
producing a dry sensation. [Haa... Calm down, Zainka.] Zhenya tried to
calm Kwon Taekjoo down while catching his breath. Thick veins rose on
his smooth forehead and chin. He grabbed his penis, which was angry,
and aimed it at Kwon Taekjoo’s hole, demanding that he go in quickly.
The hole that had been moving just a moment ago shrank in an instant.
"Ugh...." [Relax. Huh? Ah, do it.] Zhenya lightly slapped Kwon Taekjoo's
butt, which was stiff from the impending disaster. Kwon Taekjoo's body
flinched and then relaxed for a moment. At that moment, he used him
to shove his penis deep into me. In one breath, the hole expanded to its
limit, and the inner wall tightened. Without paying attention, he
rounded his waist and expanded his insides. The dense flesh filled his
empty stomach and pushed in. Kwon Taekjoo gritted his teeth and
swallowed a groan. His distorted face became more and more vivid, as
if he was holding his breath. [Ha, Taekjoo. I'm going to get ripped off.
Are you not even going to breathe?] Zhenya pretended to comfort Kwon
Taekjoo and hooked his bottom again. The inner wall that hadn't
loosened up enough was struggling to open and bit his penis. Sweat
was gushing from every pore on his body. [Ahhh... Shit, is it still there?]
[Laugh, are you kidding me already? I only got halfway in.] He slapped
Kwon Taekjoo’s butt again, telling him to relax. The round buttocks
bounced and gave a subtle stimulation to the bitten penis. There was a
handprint on the smooth skin without a doubt. It remained. Kwon
Taekjoo shook his head in annoyance. As Zhenya stubbornly pressed his
lips against him and lowered her pelvis, the tightly interlocked man’s
penis inevitably scratched the mucous membrane and dug deeper and
deeper. With the slow yet heavy waist movement, not only his stomach
but even his throat felt like it was being tightly blocked. The force and
weight of the blindly pushing pressed against Kwon Taekjoo’s waist,
which had been folded in half. [Hey, wait. Hey, waist... ugh!] Kwon
Taekjoo, who was trying to stop him, suddenly threw his head back. It
was because Zhenya had thrust his entire penis in without warning. The
man was lying completely face down on top of Kwon Taekjoo’s wrist. His
unique body The genitals were jammed tightly into the hole that was
completely exposed because of the above. It felt like my waist would
break at any moment. "Ugh, ugh." [Huh, Taekjoo? What did you say?]
Zhenya responded belatedly and rubbed the interlocked parts. The
genitals inside his stomach swung at the same time, scratching the
smooth mucous membrane. Even if he delayed, the blood would only
rush to his head. His neck was pressed, so it wasn't easy to even
breathe. [Ugh, I'd rather hurry, hurry....] [Yeah. Okay.] A faint smile
spread across Zhenya's lips. The next moment, the guy started to pound
his lower body that had been resisting. His penis, which had slipped out,
leaving only the glans behind, soon came back in and spread his inner
walls wildly. Every time his pelvis hit her hard enough to flatten his
buttocks, his knees were pressed together and his nipples were
crushed. While his waist was painfully sore, a subtle pleasure spread
through his chest and stomach. “Haa, ugh, sss... ahh! Shit, ugh!”
Memories of sharing body heat and kissing Zhenya countless times
came back to his mind. The two of them were often excited and would
stick together regardless of time and place. The beast that had been
stuck to him was There was none. Of course, just because the past
events came back vividly, it didn’t mean he was used to the feeling of
his penis stirring inside his stomach. Everything felt awkward and
unfamiliar, as if he had just had sex with him. “Ugh, my stomach is going
to burst, ugh! Ugh! Fuck, hah ugh!” [Haa, ugh, haa.] Zhenya took in
Kwon Taekjoo’s faithful response to his movements while letting out a
gasp. As if trying to engrave every single expression on his face, even
the slightest hint of joy on his distorted face He stared at him
persistently as if trying to dig him out. The curved penis changed
direction and poked inside. The area around the hole that had been
swollen without hesitation gradually swelled and became hot. Every
time he thrust his penis all the way into the root, the inner wall that had
been twitching and sharpening came back out, and he felt regretful and
licked the tip of his penis. His brain was boiling with that sweet
tightness. As he poked the hole as much as it was, he felt the inner wall
tremble and squeeze his penis. He pretended not to care and slowly
narrowed the range toward that area. Soon, as he thrust into a specific
area, Kwon Taekjoo felt as if electricity had run through his whole body.
"Eek...!" Kwon Taekjoo's anxious eyes groped towards Zhenya. Zhenya
made clear eye contact with Kwon Taekjoo and pulled his knees, which
had been folded in half until then, and hugged his two legs tightly.
Naturally, Kwon Taekjoo's waist rose into the air. Kwon Taekjoo
struggled, barely supporting his upper body with his two arms. [Don't
do it, don't do it yet... Ha-u ugh...!] He tried to stop Zhenya in a hurry,
but it was no use. He placed Kwon Taekjoo's ankles on his shoulders and
hugged his two legs tightly. He quickly stirred the bottom. He dug in
mercilessly, as if he was going to completely crush the spot that Kwon
Taek-ju was particularly sensitive to. The pleasure that gushed out from
deep inside his stomach hit his head. The tingling sensation that
matched the pain surged like a tidal wave, but he couldn't come to his
senses. Kwon Taekjoo's hand that had been supporting his upper body
sharpened into a sharp blade. His face, which had been flushed and
relaxed, suddenly became distorted by the sweet pain that woke up
each and every cell. Saliva flowed down his chin. "Fuck, fuck, haa, eugh,
eung, clothes, haa, eugh, eung, ah...!" [Haa, eugh, Taekjoo. Eugh, you
like it here, Yeah?] [Ah! Slowly, slowly... Haah, Ahh, Chew, No... Haah!]
He completely lost his senses and started to groan indiscriminately. His
eyes were spinning and his vision was yellow and white, making him
dizzy. A tingling current that was triggered deep in his stomach
suddenly gathered inside his genitals and shot up his spine to his brain.
In an instant, his whole body was boiling and his pale skin turned red.
Zhenya took in Kwon Taekjoo's helpless, collapsing figure one by one.
His head felt dizzy. It was a sign that his body was severely lacking in
oxygen. Gradually, this castle was blurred and only bright red lust
dominated his entire body. The more his smooth flesh was touched, the
more it seemed to become sticky. In the meantime, his resistance also
decreased, and whenever his genitals were thrust, he gently wrapped
his outer surface and bit it, luring him to a distant place. When he tried
to shake off that sweetness and escape, he clung to it like a suction cup,
revealing deep regret. He wanted to dig into places he had never
touched before. He wanted to carve his name inside Kwon Taekjoo. He
increased his speed and mercilessly thrust into the hole. Kwon Taekjoo's
buttocks and Zhenya's pelvis rubbed violently, making a sound of thud,
thud, thud. He came out. The red flesh stuck to his genitals and came
out under the pressure of the two skins quickly detaching, then
repeatedly got stuck deep inside. Zhenya, who had been recklessly
pushing Kwon Taekjoo, suddenly thrust hard into his inner wall. His
entire spine rang. A strong shock was applied to his brain, and his whole
body froze. His waist, floating in the air, trembled in the afterglow.
"Haeueuung... Heuu, Heuu...." [Taekjoo.] He barely looked at Zhenya at
the soft call. As soon as he met his gaze, he thrust his genitals into the
same area again. "Haeung, eueueu, eueu..." [Taekju.] As if trying to
remind Kwon Taekjoo, who was drowning in extreme pleasure, who was
giving him such pleasure, he repeatedly thrust his lower body. Kwon
Taekjoo's penis trembled. "Heeueueu, eueueu. Ha..." [Taekjoo, my
Zainka.] The name he repeated over and over again sounded more
pitiful than any other. It seemed to be engraving it again and again,
telling him not to forget himself again, to remember the present clearly.
The sound of Kwon Taekjoo's teeth grinding happened. His body
convulsed repeatedly. His erect penis, which had been stiff, spurted out
thick semen. The cloudy semen spurted long streams onto Kwon
Taekjoo's heated cheeks, abdomen, and chest. "Haa, haa, haa..." Zhenya
grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's shoulders, who was squirming in the thick
afterglow, and turned him over to lie face down. As his body, which had
been floating unsteadily, touched the floor, Kwon Taekjoo groaned lazily
and rubbed his tired body against the fur under his stomach. Zhenya
laid his body on top of him. Then, he simultaneously hugged Kwon
Taekjoo's arms and shoulders from behind and placed his penis on his
buttocks. "Ugh, ugh..." [Taekjoo.] As he called out to Kwon Taekjoo in a
groan, he repeatedly pressed his lips to his hair, the back of his ears,
and his shoulders. At the same time, he slowly pushed down on his
waist, opened the hole, and went in. The completely loose hole
wrapped around his penis without any awkwardness. "Ahhh..." [Haa...
Good. Good, Taekjoo.] With his head buried in Kwon Taekjoo's
voluminous hair, he slowly moved his penis. The hot flesh slowly
penetrated the heated inner wall and then pierced the sensitive
mucous membrane. Zhenya rubbed and slid out. Every time, he pressed
and squeezed the sensitive spot and ran away, stimulating the
sensation. Then, Kwon Taekjoo's cheeks secretly put strength into both
of his cheeks and he grabbed Zhenya's genitals, who was taking his
time. They mostly enjoyed fast and intense sex, but it wasn't bad to
leisurely explore each other like this once in a while. "Hoo-ut, uh-uh,
uh-uh...." [Um, um... Taekjoo.] Their clammy skin rubbed against each
other, and their body odours mixed thickly. Their excited breaths were
in their ears, and their eyelashes were rubbing against each other's
cheeks. Kwon Taekjoo, who was suffering languidly, grabbed Zhenya's
face and kissed him. Zhenya obediently gave him his face and naturally
changed his position while lowering herself. While facing each other
and lying on his side, he swept Kwon Taekjoo's thigh up and wrapped it
around his waist. Then, he thrust her genitals, which had been moving
leisurely until then, all the way to the root. "Ahh...!" Kwon Taekjoo's
lower abdomen bulged at the unexpected deep insertion. The hole that
had been pleasantly stretched and contracted opened up to its
maximum size and trembled. [Taekjoo, hug me.] Zhenya nagged at
Kwon Taekjoo’s sharp chin and nagged him. [Cheers, this is the only
time you act like a fool....] [Yeah, Taekjoo.] When he nagged him again,
Kwon Taekjoo clicked his tongue in annoyance and pulled Zhenya close.
Zhenya also hugged him as if he had been waiting for him. He wrapped
his arms tightly around his waist. Immediately after, the penis that had
been stuck in his stomach pulled out. Since the glans was still bitten, he
didn’t feel completely free. The moment his empty inner wall twitched,
the penis slid in all at once. It poked the hole from various angles in a
short period of time. He was slashing at his stomach. He hugged Zhenya
tighter and tried to hold on, but eventually a scream-like groan burst
out. "Ahh! Ohh, ohh, hah, squeak!" [Haa, haa, Taekjoo, haa...] While he
was suffering unconsciously, their positions changed again. Zhenya
swung Kwon Taekjoo around as he pleased without stopping his hips for
even a moment. When he came to, he was lying on top of him, looking
at the ceiling. Zhenya wrapped his arms around Kwon Taekjoo’s
shoulders and fixed his body, and then raised his hips again. The force of
the blow lifted his lower body into the air and then fell back down with
the same weight as his body weight. As he did so, his penis was being
slammed deeper and deeper. It was a feeling. Kwon Taekjoo's penis,
which had ejaculated first, had regained its vigorous energy. The flesh
that had been swollen and sagging nodded at the force of the thrust
from below. The heat had built up so much that it made his entire pelvis
throbbed. "Ah, slowly, ugh! Eung, slowly, ahh!" He patted Zhenya's
thigh, which was like a rock, but Zhenya buried his head in Kwon
Taekjoo's shoulder and mercilessly pushed his waist back. The bastard's
rough breathing and grumbling resonated ceaselessly. His two skins,
soaked in sweat, made a cracking sound and detached stickily. In an
instant, his eyes went white. Within a moment, Zhenya made a loud
noise and mercilessly pounded Kwon Taekjoo’s buttocks with his pelvis.
As if that wasn’t enough, he rubbed his bottom hard and emitted a
large amount of thick semen into Kwon Taekjoo’s stomach.
“Haeueueueueu, huueueueu...!” Kwon Taekjoo grabbed Zhenya’s hair
and groaned while violently shaking his waist in the air. His spine tingled
and his entire body’s senses became sharp and sharp, even down to his
fingertips and toes. However, nothing came out of Kwon Taekjoo’s
genitals. [… . Taekjoo? You’re gone?] “Haeueu, haeueu....” Kwon Taekjoo
completely fell on top of Zhenya and sobbed for a long time. Zhenya
hugged his body that was trembling slightly as if convulsing and kept
kissing his goosebump-covered nape and shoulders. It was a long time
later that the trembling subsided. Kwon Taekjoo, soaked in exhaustion,
groped Zhenya’s face. Zhenya lightly brushed his face with his hand and
kissed each finger. When Kwon Taekjoo slightly turned his head and
their foreheads met, he pulled his head out and kissed him. Because of
the position, their lips only touched slightly and then parted. Zhenya
looked at Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes alternately as if he was feeling regretful.
His blue eyes were filled with a longing that did not match his. The
corners of his lips twitched strangely. Kwon Taekjoo stretched his lips
and touched the tip of Zhenya’s nose. [Were you lonely?] [… Are you
lonely?] [Did you miss this hyung a lot?] [I can see you anytime.] [Look
at this. I told you there are still so many things I have to teach you.]
Kwon Taekjoo shook his head and slowly turned over on top of Zhenya’s
body. While their chests were touching, Zhenya’s penis, which was still
in his stomach, slipped out and the semen flowed out slowly. Kwon
Taekjoo, who was feeling horrified, opened his eyes again and looked at
Zhenya. Ah, let's do it. Zhenya didn't understand what he meant and
made a puzzled expression. He swept his thumb over his lips and said,
"Ah," again. Only then did the guy slowly open his mouth. Kwon Taekjoo
grabbed the back of his head and slowly overlapped his lips with his. He
dug into his bright red mouth and roughly tangled his tongue with his
wet tongue. Zhenya groaned and his throat rang. The corners of his
mouth also twitched and rose. The feeling of complete conquest and
joy made Kwon Taekjoo's ears heat up. He pulled his lips away, making a
slurping sound, then twisted his head and reattached them, continuing
the kiss. His body, pressed against his, swayed pleasantly in the sweet
intoxication. After a long time, he finally pulled away. Then, Zhenya
chased his lips that were falling and tried to kiss him again. He nagged
at his lips while pinching them. [You can’t even light a fire properly, and
there’s no smell of food in the house. You must have gone crazy trying
to die, right?] [You’re dying? In this cold? Humans can survive for a few
days without eating.] [You crazy bastard. You’re a monster, you’re a
monster. Don't you think I'm a ghost? I need to maintain my body
temperature.] [Why are you suddenly getting angry again?] [I'm not
angry, I'm worried.] Kwon Taekjoo glared at Zhenya with a displeased
look. He recognized that he was angry even though he was worried, so
he felt sorry for him, who was bad at reading emotions, rather than
frustrated. Zhenya, who had been watching Kwon Taekjoo's expression,
smiled. He closed his eyes slightly and let his long eyelashes fall. It
seemed that he had discovered the concern and affection for him in
Kwon Taekjoo's eyes. [Taekjoo, I didn't know you would dote on me this
much?] Zhenya, who had been giggling, suddenly grabbed Kwon
Taekjoo's butt. [What is it?] When he said that, he kissed his cheek and
whispered. [That's right, I was lonely.] [You don't know what loneliness
is.] Kwon Taekjoo grabbed Zhenya's arm and looked dumbfounded. The
guy didn't care and stroked Kwon Taekjoo's butt. With just a slight touch
of his finger, the hole opened without any trouble. [It was cold. And I
was hungry.] [Hey, sneakily…] He tried to pull his hand away from
Zhenya, but the guy first grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's arm. Then, their
bodies completely overlapped. Zhenya spread Kwon Taekjoo's legs
slightly with his knees and gently rubbed his erect penis against his
sloppy buttocks. Then, he wrapped his arms around Kwon Taekjoo's
thighs and held them in place, and buried his lips in the nape of his
neck. [So, feed me and warm me up, Taekjoo.] After a few ejaculations,
he completely collapsed. Consciousness would go out, then come back
faintly, then fade away again. In the meantime, Zhenya pressed his lips
to Kwon Taekjoo’s body and showered him with kisses. Sometimes, he
would bury his head in his jet-black hair and take in his scent. He did
this several times as if he was trying to confirm whether Kwon Taekjoo,
who was lying quietly asleep next to him, was real. The guy belatedly
brought a blanket to cover Kwon Taekjoo. He himself did not close his
eyes for a second. As usual, he simply checked and treated the wounds
left all over Kwon Taekjoo’s body while smoking a cigar. When he
realised that the tattoo on his inner thigh was still intact, he didn’t
hesitate to put his head there. He buried it. The guy's teeth marks
remained around the tattoo because of how much he sucked. It would
become congested after a while. He woke up with a groan from the
continuous slurping. Kwon Taekjoo, who opened his eyes dimly,
squeezed his voice that was cracking from sleep. [I'm thirsty.] Zhenya
grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's shoulder and turned him around as usual and
kissed him. The whiskey he was drinking moistened his parched mouth.
He always gives alcohol or cigarettes to his lover who complains of
thirst. It was ridiculous, but he needed that kind of relief for now, so he
drank it gulp by gulp. Zhenya, who finished a glass in the same way, lit a
cigar. He handed it over. He smoked it silently and then let out a dry
cough. Maybe because it was the first time in a while, the smoke felt
particularly thick. [What flavour do you smoke this for?] [Because you
like it.] [Me?] Zhenya tilted his head as well, looking at his expression of
not knowing English. [You’ve been reacting passionately to this smell
since we first met, right?] [That’s the smell I smelled when I almost
died, and since you move so quietly, I recognize you by that smell.] The
corners of Zhenya’s mouth twitched at the continued explanation. No
way. As expected, the guy lifted his chin slightly and muttered
something strange. [That's a pretty brave thing to say.] [What are you
talking about, again.] [You said that every time you smelled this, you felt
excited at the thought of me coming.] There's a big difference between
having your heart pounding in fear and having your heart pounding in
anticipation. He didn't know where to start explaining. No matter how
hard he tried, he wondered if the guy would believe him. No matter
what he said, the guy would usually understand it as he pleased. [If it’s
not something you particularly like, you don’t have to keep smoking it,
right? What’s good?] [It got better. After that.] Zhenya replied casually.
What did that sound romantic? It seemed like Kwon Taekjoo wanted to
keep it until the end because it was something that made him react. It
was like he had seen the inside of the guy who wanted to attract my
attention like that. He sighed every time he found such innocence in
that monster-like guy. [Oh my. I left this guy alone and went around.]
[Suddenly?] [I've been thinking about it all along. The anxiety I've had,
the reason I keep fighting with you, when I think about it, it's all
because of one thing. Because I can't give up my job.] [I told you I'd take
care of it.] Zhenya said, "Are you talking about that again?" He didn't
want to waste time on another argument that would just go around and
around. [No. I can't do it anymore.] [What do you mean, can't it?]
Zhenya frowned. His eyes were wary that he might say something about
ending their relationship again. He sighed again and ruffled the guy's
hair. [I'm going to throw it away, my job.] [..What?] [Now there's no
reason to hang myself there, and my mother is worried... What kind of
country can a guy who can't even protect his lover properly protect?]
He stealthily looked at Zhenya's expression. He thought he'd laugh so
hard that his mouth would split, but he looked as if he was in shock. He
was suspicious of Kwon Taekjoo's sudden declaration, as if he had never
imagined it. [Why are you doing this all of a sudden?] [What? I said I
wouldn't go anywhere anymore and just play with you. Isn't that what
you want? Did you? Or are you sick of it and tired of doing it again?]
[Your work, your mother. They’re all things that you said you could
never give up. You said you had to do them to live. But now you’re
suddenly quitting. What are you planning on doing? Do you really want
something from me?] [I don’t trust you this much.] He sighed and
suddenly pinched Zhenya’s cheek. Even when he grabbed his cheek,
Zhenya didn’t take his suspicious gaze away. He pulled the guy’s face
toward him and hit his forehead against his. [How can someone as weak
as you dare guess the generosity of this older lover, who is like Hahae?
Will you?] [Taekjoo. What are you talking about?] [You've been taking
care of everything so far, now it's my turn to take care of it. Since I'm
unemployed for a while, I'll play with you until you get sick of it!]
Zhenya looked at Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes alternately without any particular
reaction. He was trying to see if he was trying to deceive him or console
him for a moment. His eyes were so intent and serious that he almost
burst out laughing. [Why. Don't you believe me? Do you need collateral
again?] He laughed and pulled Zhenya's hand and placed his chin on his
chest. Then, the bastard suddenly grabbed his chest tightly and hugged
him with his whole body. His chest felt like it was going to be ripped off.
His mouth was blocked by the guy’s lips, making it hard to breathe.
[Hey, sleep, oops, I can’t breathe, breathe...!] Zhenya grabbed Kwon
Taekjoo’s face, who was turning his head urgently, and turned it back to
the front. His cheeks were pressed, and his lips popped out. Zhenya put
his tongue on his bulging lips and covered his entire mouth. His
breathing, which was already running, became even more unstable
because of the guy’s deep breath. His chest felt tight, so he patted his
arm and tried to push him with his knees. It was no use. Like a machine
that had malfunctioned, the guy just kept taking Kwon Taekjoo’s breath
away. He was drenched. The guy's eyelashes kept fluttering as he was
intoxicated. He struggled and touched the ice bucket on his cheek. The
ice inside the bucket poured out. Zhenya's eyes turned to it. He shook
his head with an ominous feeling. A wicked smile spread across
Zhenya's lips. [Hey, don't do that. I really hate that kind of thing.]
[What?] [Don't do anything.] [So what, Taekjoo.] [What are you thinking
right now? Don't do that.] [Why. I'll play with you, to my heart's
content.] The guy picked up the ice that had slipped near him. Then he
pushed it up to Kwon Taekjoo's nose and slowly turned it around,
laughing playfully. [Huh?] There was a hint of laughter in the guy's
voice. [Hyung.] For a moment, he doubted his ears. Among the Korean
words that Zhenya had mentioned earlier, 'hyung' was included. He had
doubted it even then, but could he have interpreted that word as a
nickname like 'kid'? The guy seemed to have gained some certainty
after seeing Kwon Taekjoo's shocked expression. [Does it sound good,
hyung?] [You're crazy... Don't do that!] [What do you keep telling me
not to do?] [Don't do this and that!] [When you tell me not to do
something, I want to do it even more? It's because you're so dishonest.]
The bastard slowly rubbed the ice he'd been fiddling with with his
hands on Kwon Taekjoo's nipples that had become blistered. Kwon
Taekjoo flinched at the cold touch and clenched his molars.
Goosebumps ran down his body that was throbbing with heat. "Ugh...!"
[Look at this. You're expecting this much.] The swollen nipples on the
edge of the ice were crushed until they flattened. Kwon Taekjoo turned
his head and tried to endure the unfamiliar sensation somehow. The
more he did, the more his body shook and faithfully responded to the
stimulation given. Zhenya rubbed the ice hard enough to make his
nipples dent, taking note of each and every subtle change. [Ha, clothes,
that's too much, ugh, don't do that. Ah, ugh!] [Is that weird? You don't
like it?] When the ice was removed from Kwon Taekjoo's chest, his
whole body trembled again. When he traced his clear abs, every place
the ice passed by was hot. Kwon Taekjoo Zhenya, who had been shoving
ice into his navel and slowly turning it left and right, suddenly took his
hand off. He raised his head and looked down nervously. The next
moment, something cold pressed against his perineum. [Whoa! What
are you doing, you crazy bastard!] [Huh? I’m living up to your
expectations as a lover because you love me so much, but why.] He
whispered like a devil with an angelic face. He then caressed both
testicles as if kneading them with the ice he had been swiping down his
perineum. As the cold and wet thing repeatedly brushed against his
sensitive area, his whole body’s senses sharpened. Even though he tried
to hold it in, moans kept leaking out through his teeth. [Ha, ah, stop.]
[Stop?] Zhenya put the ice that had melted and shrunk at body
temperature into Kwon Taekjoo’s navel. The ice piece fit perfectly into
the shallow groove like a puzzle. As the wrinkles that rolled inward
gradually became wet, a cool air spread from his danjeon to the tip of
his head. Zhenya slowly lowered his head. The bastard’s hair tickled his
goosebump-inducing skin, and then his sharp nose pressed down on his
abdominal muscles. Soon after, the bastard began licking the ice piece
with his tongue. The sharp tip of the ice scratched and pressed the
inside of his navel, causing a subtle stimulation. In his life his knees kept
rising at the sensation he felt for the first time. [Out, yeah, stop..] The
ice crystals quickly melted between my body temperature that had
gotten hotter and Zhenya’s tongue. The moisture completely filled his
belly button. Every time Zhenya’s tongue flicked inside, a wet friction
sound rang out. He licked and licked my belly button persistently as if he
was going to untie it. An unidentifiable tingling sensation spread
throughout his entire stomach and clung tightly to the inside of his
genitals. He groaned and wiggled his legs. [Ugh, yeah, that, ah...!] [Haa,
Taekjoo. You don’t like it? If I really stopped Would you like it? Huh?]
Zhenya lightly flicked Kwon Taekjoo's penis, which was already erect
and resting on his chin. The Cooper fluid that had been stuck at the tip
of his penis splashed out. The guy who chuckled stuck out his tongue
and lightly touched his urethra, which was drooling. As the tongue,
which had become cold due to the ice, touched the peak of sensation,
Kwon Taekjoo moaned earnestly. "Ugh, uh..." Kwon Taekjoo's penis
continued to flutter, desiring the thrilling stimulation. Zhenya pushed his
finger into his buttocks and played with his moderately sloppy hole. The
guy who suddenly opened his eyes looked at Kwon Taekjoo's face and
slowly spread his legs. Kwon Taekjoo lifted his waist and pushed his
throbbing penis into the bastard’s bright red mouth. As if that wasn’t
enough, he grabbed Zhenya’s face with both hands and pressed it
against his groyne. The smooth and cool mucous membrane wrapped
around his penis without any gaps. Once again, the fluffy hairs on his
entire body stood on end, and a tingling sensation ran down his spine
and into his brain. The hole also twitched and tightened around
Zhenya’s finger. It was the moment when Zhenya was slowly poking the
hole with his bitten finger. Kwon Taekjoo moved the bastard’s head,
which he had been holding tightly, up and down and thrust his penis
hard. In one breath, the penis skimmed the rough roof of his mouth and
entered. The energy hit his Adam's apple and lodged deep inside his
throat. Then, a certain part of Zhenya's neck bulged as much as Kwon
Taekjoo's glans. As he reflexively felt nausea rise, his upper body
swelled even more. Gulp, as he coughed dryly, the penis stuck in his
throat withdrew, rubbing his body as if he was sorry. The precum that
had leaked out from the penis went into his airway and ended up in his
throat. The coughs he had been holding back burst out one after
another. [Gulp, gulp. Haa... You're really impatient, Taekjoo.] [Haha, you
didn't do that to see this, did you?] [Let's take it slow. It's already late at
night.] [Slowly? Are you talking about someone else’s business? You’ve
enjoyed yourself to your heart’s content up until now.] Kwon Taekjoo
rubbed his throbbing penis, covered in saliva, against Zhenya’s cheek.
His sharp eyes had become clouded with lust. Kwon Taekjoo
shamelessly demanded, licking his plump lower lip with his red tongue.
[Open your mouth, pretty boy.] Zhenya’s eyes widened. Kwon Taekjoo
said, “Yes,” and slowly caressed the bastard’s earlobe. Zhenya chuckled
and quietly opened his mouth and put his tongue down. Then, Kwon
Taekjoo’s penis slid onto the red carpet. A thick vein appeared on
Zhenya's smooth forehead. Even so, the guy held on and swallowed the
penis that had dug into his mouth. Occasionally, he would tighten his
lips and throat to provide the ultimate stimulation. Kwon Taekjoo
grabbed the guy's hair tightly and quickly and impatiently moved his
waist. Zhenya also sucked his penis that repeatedly dug deep and then
pulled out, leading to ejaculation. He also poked his hole with his long
fingers. He poked his sensitive spot haphazardly. Kwon Taekjoo
collapsed in a mess from the pleasure that was mindlessly thrusting in
from the front and the back. "Hah, ha, uh, ah, fuck, fuck Yeah... Ahh...!”
Kwon Taekjoo, who was quickly lifting his lower body, completely placed
his pelvis on Zhenya’s face. Zhenya’s nose was mercilessly buried in his
lower abdomen. At the same time, the bastard’s fingers squeezed
Zhenya’s prostate as if they were going to crush it. Kwon Taekjoo’s body,
which had been stiff, suddenly convulsed. “Haeuu, haeuu...” Even his
lips were moving pitifully. There was a sound of something pouring out
of Zhenya's neck where Kwon Taekjoo’s genitals were embedded, and a
sound of him gulping it down sweetly. Kwon Taekjoo, who came to his
senses late, pushed Zhenya’s shoulder and hurriedly tried to pull out his
genitals. [Ha, uh... Are you stupid, don't eat it, eat it, sss....] But Zhenya
stubbornly pulled Kwon Taekjoo's butt and thighs. He buried his face in
his crotch as he tried to get away from him in a hurry. Kwon Taekjoo
trembled with indescribable shame, his waist shaking thinly. Even after
the water stream pouring from Kwon Taekjoo's genitals stopped,
Zhenya continued to tighten his neck. Every time he did that, Kwon
Taekjoo's buttocks would flare up and squeeze Zhenya’s fingers.
Naturally, his prostate was pressed together, providing another
stimulation. Kwon Taek Joo’s thick sigh burst out. He looked at Zhenya
with a blank look in his eyes. Zhenya slowly spit out Kwon Taekjoo's
penis, which was stuck in his throat. The penis, which had reached its
climax and was drooping, was soaked in saliva and an unknown liquid
and glistened. When he pulled his finger out of Kwon Taekjoo's hole,
the semen that had already filled his stomach was already long and
stretched out. Zhenya rubbed it on Kwon Taekjoo's thigh and laughed in
satisfaction. Kwon Taekjoo scolded him in disgust. [Ugh... What the hell.
Why are you eating that!] [Didn't you treat me like a baby so I could
feed you milk?] [Who treated you like a baby?] [You always pretend not
to know.] Zhenya grinned and raised his upper body. As he did, Kwon
Taekjoo's body, which had been on his chest, fell limply. The guy used
his index and middle fingers to widen the hole that hadn't closed
completely because he had been thrusting in so much. He licked his lips
as he looked at the moist, shining mucous membrane. [Sigh, stop. If this
keeps up, I'll really get sick.] [How much longer do you think I've
endured this? I still have a long way to go before I can repay you all,
Taekjoo.] [That's why I'm not going anywhere anymore. I told you I have
a lot of time for this.] He tried to soothe him with a tired voice, but it
was useless. Zhenya’s erected penis shook his body in anticipation,
perhaps because he got excited while sucking someone else’s penis. His
penis was also red from being rubbed against the hole so much. It
would hurt even if he touched it lightly, but he didn’t hesitate and
brought his large glans to Kwon Taekjoo’s hole. [Sleep... ahh!] Before he
could even stop him, his thick penis was forced between Zhenya’s long
fingers. His mouth automatically closed. He didn’t even take his fingers
out after slowly inserting his penis all the way to the root. He just
rubbed Kwon Taekjoo’s plump perineum with his thumb. All he could do
was stroke and bend his stuck fingers to nibble the sensitive area. Soon
after, his penis struck steadily, causing a variety of pleasures. With his
stomach fully expanded, different pleasures surged in without a break.
His hair stood on end. Moans burst out repeatedly from his mouth that
was moving against his will. [Ha! Ah, ugh, clothes, ugh, crazy, like that,
ugh, like that, ugh, ugh!] [Ha, ugh, your body, squeak, really, ha, it's so
hard, taekjoo. ugh.] He quickly thrust while twitching the corners of his
mouth. His brain felt like it was going to melt away with the stimuli that
were too much to handle. As if his body had become an erogenous
zone, even a light friction or light touch made his genitals feel like they
were going to burst. The tingling sensation that had been ground in his
stomach surged endlessly to his extremities. All Kwon Taekjoo could do
was groan and suffer in despair as if he were being punished forever. He
woke up dimly from his deep sleep. He blinked his eyes and searched
his dazed mind. At first, he couldn't feel how many days had passed
since he came to Ajinoki. He didn't even remember eating properly. He
thought he hadn't moved from the stove for a day, but in the middle of
it soaked in the bathtub, and when he suddenly came to his senses, he
was on the bed. He fell asleep as if he had fainted several times and
woke up. Every time, Zhenya was always exploring Kwon Taek-joo’s
body. It wasn’t the first or second time that he had given his body to
him without consciousness, but when he was too tired, he would roll
around with him, and when he was too tired, he would let him do
whatever he wanted and fall asleep again. As a result, he couldn’t move
a finger until he regained consciousness. His mind had already jumped
up, cleared my throat, and washed myself refreshed, but my heavy
limbs were tangled with the bed and wouldn’t leave. Every part of him
ached as if he had just finished a difficult mission. It wouldn’t have been
strange if he had incontinence all over his body. In fact, from the cheeks
and lower thighs that were constantly being pounded by Zhenya, and
from the waist that was being pressed and twisted without mercy, a dull
pain rose up even when he breathed. It must have been bruised like
some time in the past. He groaned and barely managed to turn his head
to the side. His arms were unusually heavy, and Zhenya had already
fallen asleep with his large body curled up and held by Kwon Taekjoo.
Naturally, he was cutting off Kwon Taekjoo’s arms and hugging his waist
tightly. Maybe the reason he was having trouble moving was because of
him. [Hey, Zhenya.] He opened his mouth with difficulty. His throat was
so hoarse that a hoarse sound came out. He tried to clear his throat. He
tried, but it was no use. Zhenya didn’t move. He just closed his eyes
tightly, showed off his smooth face, and let out a steady breath. He
glared at the face of the annoying guy for no reason, then shrugged his
shoulders. [Hey, wake up. Aren’t you hungry?] He squeezed out his
hoarse voice. Zhenya kept flapping his arms and shoulders. Only then
did the guy take a deep breath and slowly open his eyes. He must have
slept so well that his eyelids rolled back cleanly. His thick eyelashes
fluttered like the tail feathers of a peacock. His blue eyes also shone
brightly. The chick was so pretty. Seeing his pretty face since morning,
his frozen heart seemed to melt away like snow. [Taekjoo. What a sight.]
The guy who had been staring blankly at Kwon Taekjoo broke the
romantic atmosphere with one word. [Fuck? Whose fault is it?] [Is it my
fault again? You cry that it’s good, but you keep talking nonsense.]
[Good things happen once or twice. When someone tells you to stop,
you really should stop.] [You’re so dishonest.] Zhenya chuckled and
shook his head. A huge lump of flour was on his chest. He felt it. With
this guy, with only him in his eyes, could he live a safe life? The
countless hardships that would come in the near future were vividly
drawn and distant. He woke up quickly, but he felt tired again. [… Okay.
It’s done, so just get out of bed and get me up.] Zhenya flicked my
shoulder that was being held again. Zhenya looked at Kwon Taekjoo
with a dissatisfied look and reluctantly got up. Then he gathered the
blankets around him and wrapped them around Kwon Taekjoo’s body,
and then hugged him. Kwon Taekjoo panicked and floundered. [Ouch,
who told me to hug you? Just get me up.] [What are you going to
complain about again?] Zhenya snorted and took Kwon Taekjoo out in
that state. After having sex with him that was no different from working
hard, his legs would give out and he would collapse. Every time, he
would complain to him, but now he was going to do whatever he
wanted. The guy soon put Kwon Taekjoo down on the kitchen chair
along with the blanket. As soon as he put his weight on his butt, a dull
pain spread along his spine. When he groaned softly, Zhenya looked at
him with a look telling him to look at it. [What, Who is it because of?
Huh? Who was it because of? Is it a door?] [Could it be my fault? You're
the one who abandoned me and the one who kept teasing me.] [I
suppose so.] [If you run out of words, you sneer.] "Introduce yourself,
let's drink water first." He lifted his hand desperately. Zhenya readily
grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. He stretched out his hand
anxiously, his throat twitching. However, he slipped back the bottled
water that Kwon was trying to snatch. [What? Why.] [Did I miss
something?] Missing something? No way. He openly sighed and scolded
the guy. [Hey. Seriously, can you stop rubbing my snout? It’s so swollen
that even a slight touch hurts. Your snout looks terrible.] [I didn’t ask
you to kiss me?] Zhenya smirked with a face that looked quite innocent.
Then he narrowed his eyes and jeered, “How sinister.” He thought he
was asking for the kind of ticklish skinship that lovers who had spent a
sweet night with usually did, but no. [Then what!] He shouted in anger
for no reason. Zhenya leisurely swirled the water that looked like a
honey pot. With both eyes, he looked down at Kwon Taekjoo, who was
like a cat in front of a fish store. [Taekjoo, there was a Korean word you
asked me to speak.] [So give it to me.] [That wasn't what I said.] [Give it
to me.] [It was longer than that.] Smart kid. A kid with a good memory.
"......." He shut his mouth tightly and glared at Zhenya. The guy
responded to that gaze calmly and stubbornly resisted. The next
moment, he suddenly reached out and tried to snatch the water.
Zhenya just raised his arms and dodged. He waved both his hands in
succession and raised his body halfway. This time, too, the guy easily
hid the water behind him. He immediately stepped on the chair and
tried to intercept it. Zhenya moved the water to his other arm as if he
was trying to show off. He gasped for breath and grumbled, then raised
both his hands. [Okay, I got it.] Zhenya crossed his arms at the
submissive surrender declaration. His eyes, full of anticipation, turned
to Kwon Taekjoo’s lips. [Come here, Zhenya!] While the guy was off
guard, he snatched the bottle of water in an instant. Before it was
snatched away, he turned halfway and emptied the bottle on the spot.
It felt like moisture was quickly filling up every part of his parched body.
His dazed mind also came back to life. He let out a breath, excited by
the refreshing sensation. Zhenya felt delighted at seeing Kwon Taekjoo
like that. [You were teasing me, after all.] [No, I wasn't teasing you.] [But
why do you hate saying that so much?] [That's what a kid says to his
superior.] [A superior?] [Yeah. You're a kid. I'm a superior.] Kwon
Taekjoo pointed to himself and Zhenya exactly. [Now that we're on the
subject, when you were a fertilised egg, you were four years old, and I
would have already conquered the playground. Huh? This hyung How
much more rice than you....] As he was talking about the number of rice
bowls to a blond, blue-eyed foreigner, he felt strangely sceptical. Ugh,
he lowered his hand that was pointing at Zhenya with a sound. Zhenya,
who was watching Kwon Taekjoo with an incomprehensible expression,
came to a strange conclusion. [Do you want to hear the word 'hyung'
that much?] [No. Not really.] [I'm not saying that. I was happy whenever
he called me that.] [I wasn't happy, I was just embarrassed. It was
ticklish.] [Embarrassing. Taekjoo, be honest. You really want to marry
me, don’t you?] [What?] [That’s why you were nervous, jealous, and
whining that I might get engaged… you were worried that I might
become estranged from my clan. Isn’t that right?] The face of the guy
who was talking nonsense looked incredibly happy. He seemed relieved,
as if he had found the answer to a long-standing curiosity. The act of
Kwon Taekjoo jokingly calling himself ‘hyung’ had gone so far, to the
point of being very far away. If left alone, his imagination would reach
the other side of the Milky Way. It was so overwhelming that he
couldn’t even think about confronting him, the guy’s wrongdoings. The
will to correct his delusions was also broken. "Ah, this kid. You're pretty,
pretty, because I tell you, your ego is growing endlessly?" He grumbled
in a tone of disbelief. Zhenya, who had been squirming, said, "Am I that
pretty?" He tilted his head slightly to the side and smiled faintly. He was
a guy who understood whatever he said, so he gave up on correcting
him. He couldn't even spit in his smiling face. [Think for yourself. Give
me something. I'm really on the verge of starvation.] He touched his
thinned stomach. There wasn't even a growling sound in his stomach. It
really felt like his stomach skin was stuck to his back. Even in the
country, he didn't eat properly, and he threw up quickly no matter what
he ate, so it wasn't too much. Zhenya turned around with a satisfied
look and started choosing food to feed Kwon Taekjoo. Soon, he put two
instant porridges that only needed to be heated in the microwave. Then
he stood firmly in front of it and watched the food being cooked. Kwon
Taekjoo's own cell phone took several pictures of his back, and they
spread out before his eyes. He wondered why there were only such
pictures, but now he thinks he knows. He guessed he was happy. The
clumsy actions of the guy who had meddled in his life like Shinabro did
only for Kwon Taekjoo. And even the comfortable moments of his daily
life while waiting for him. He watched him like a drunk. He would have
liked to have captured this king in a photo, but he couldn’t because all
my belongings were blown away when the helicopter crashed. He came
to his senses right after the microwave's alarm went off. Zhenya brought
a bowl of warm porridge to the table. It was porridge mixed with eggs
and vegetables. It looked like baby food. [You didn’t think I liked this
either, did you?] [What does that mean?] [Or why did you put all this
stuff in such a mess?] [This is the most delicious Korean food sold here.]
[Are you serious?] He looked at Zhenya half in doubt. He didn’t respond
and elegantly scooped up some porridge and put it in his mouth. A look
of satisfaction spread across his face. He wiped his mouth with a tissue
and quietly finished the bowl. As he did so, the bowl looked like high-
quality soup rather than instant porridge. The guy who put down his
spoon suddenly looked up and our eyes met. Kwon Taekjoo ate the cold
porridge as if he hadn’t been peeking at him. The bowl was empty in
just a few spoonfuls. He still felt empty inside. [No meat?] [Your
appetite is good since the morning.] [What's wrong with the morning? I
haven't eaten properly for days. And am I the one with the good
appetite? You're the only one who doesn't eat. It's not like we're in an
emergency battle, so why are you nitpicking a little bit?] He says his
energy efficiency is excessively good. He's big, has a small mouth, and
always eats less than Kwon Taekjoo himself, but his stamina is much
better. He wondered if he didn't lose muscle mass because he only ate
that much, but somehow his body seemed to be well maintained. He
must be a monster for a reason, but he couldn't help but feel disgusted.
[Wait.] Zhenya took the empty bowl and went back to the kitchen. He
watched him silently, resting his chin on his hand. Even with the
slightest movement, his finely woven muscles twitched clearly. It was a
body that seemed difficult to shape even if he tried to do so on
purpose. It was surprising that he didn’t look dull even with that much
muscle mass, whether it was because of his tall height or his long neck
and limbs. As he scanned Zhenya’s body line as a whole, he noticed red
marks left on his pure white skin. From the nape of his neck to his waist,
there were clear bite marks and scratches from his fingernails. Even
though he always kept his fingernails trimmed, he would gnaw them
unconsciously, so after sex, It was always like that. [Doesn't it hurt?]
[.....?] [Your back.] Zhenya glanced over my back and said, "Ah." Then,
he took the tomahawk steak out of the freezer and put it in the oven,
responding as if it was nothing. [I can't help it if my lover wants to leave
a mark on my body like this.] He smiled happily. None of the marks
were romantic, and to anyone who saw them, they were more like
scars, but he was the one with the kiss mark. It seemed to be around
that level. It wasn’t surprising since Kwon Taekjoo would get even more
excited and run wild if he bit his neck in anger. [Yevgeny.] The guy who
was choosing the drink to go with the meal looked back with a strange
look. Since he always said “Zhenya, Zhenya,” it seemed awkward to be
called that. Without answering, Kwon Taekjoo looked into his own
mood. The monster-like guy would often bring up his innocence that
didn’t suit him. He sighed softly and asked lightly. [Do you like me that
much?] [… Hmm?That’s out of the blue, Taekjoo.] [The people I’ve met
so far, the guys called friends... I got tired of waiting, and I thought I
didn't deserve you, so I left. But I wondered why you were still hanging
on to me like a god even though you were treated like that.] [There's no
reason not to.] Zhenya answered without much thought. Kwon Taekjoo
looked puzzled at his definitive tone. [I told you. I want my opponent to
be strong and rebellious. So much so that he wouldn't break even if I
treated him roughly.] [What? How many people are like that? I heard
that the person who was almost your fiancé was no different.] As he
grumbled in disappointment, Zhenya’s two eyes folded slightly. The
corners of his mouth also rose in long arcs. [Yeah, being obsessed like
this.] [What’s obsession?] [If not, there’s no reason to keep bringing up
things that are already over.] He missed the timing to respond. It was
because he was caught off guard. He didn’t mean to, but he kept
bringing up things from the past without realising it. Was he still
concerned about Zhenya’s fiancée? Was Kwon Taekjoo that persistent?
[Nothing. He held on like that. That guy. It was fun to watch him,
wondering if he was dead or broken. That was the beginning.] [It's fun
to see someone dying or living right next to you. He really is not a
simpleton.] He didn't hesitate to make crude accusations toward
Zhenya, who was sulking. The guy didn't care and continued talking.
[Besides, if the 'that kind of treatment' you're talking about is a special
treatment you give me, then there's no reason to refuse it.] [Special
treatment?] [I was your first partner. You tolerated that. It all started
with that.] [That was the scheme of the corrupt superiors....]
[Considering that, he seemed to have trusted and relied on me quite a
bit? That must be why he was shaking with betrayal.] Zhenya's claim
might have been right. He had been suspicious and wary of him the
whole time he was with him, but it was also true that he had secretly
relied on him for the information and convenience he provided.
Sometimes, he even thought about having a partner. It was not his will,
but he had been stuck with him against his will, and he had suffered a
lot, and he realised that even that was a trap and a deception, and he
had deep doubts. He fell into it. He felt wronged. He was angry. And he
suffered from disappointment and endless self-loathing toward Kwon
Taekjoo. He felt a great sense of betrayal even from Zhenya, whom he
had believed to be his comrade for a moment. [Is that all? You begged
me to save you even though I almost killed you several times.] [That's a
survival instinct that everyone has. I don't think you've ever begged
anyone to save you.] [Because that's something that only weak and
helpless people do.] [Is that stupid?] [That's the first thing you showed
me, Taekjoo. It was weakness.] [...What?] [Did you tell me to kill you? It
would be better to die than to stay with me. You gave up on life so
shamelessly, and at that time, you threw away your shell and clung to
me.] He never begged anyone to save him while he was alive. Since it
was a matter of risking death in the first place, surviving in any way was
not his goal. Instead, he thought that death was his destiny. He thought
he had to survive on his own, complete his mission on his own, and
return on his own. The only person he could trust was Kwon Taekjoo
himself. But while he was with Zhenya, he secretly hoped for his help
and support. No matter how unconscious he was, it was true that he
held on to him to live. He wondered when Kwon Taekjoo had become
such a dependent person. [You even begged me not to give up on you.
You still do that now.] [What did I do?] [Actually, weren't you afraid?
That I might have given up on you. That I might eventually fall apart like
the others.] [....] [I think I said it. In my life, there has never been a
greater thrill or pleasure than this.] Zhenya leaned forward with one
hand on the table. He set the mood by fluttering his light eyelashes. His
eyes also became moist and soft for some reason. How did a guy who
said he had never been in a relationship learn such skills? Are you going
to kiss me? That was the moment when he opened his lips, guessing. A
mechanical sound came out indicating that the oven was done cooking.
Zhenya smiled at Kwon Taekjoo, who had a tired expression, then
turned around and went to the oven. When he took out the steak that
was cooked just right, it smelled delicious. The birds spread throughout
the kitchen. Zhenya put the steak in a suitable bowl and placed it in
front of Kwon Taekjoo. He also poured a glass of wine and handed it to
him. [So. What are we going to do now?] [What are we going to do?] He
quickly cut the steak with a knife and fork. His only thought was the
obsession with the steak. [National Intelligence Service, are you really
going to quit?] [I told you I already quit? Baek-su, I am now.] He
responded casually and took a large piece of meat. He put the lump in
his mouth. It might not be fresh because it was frozen, but it was freshly
cooked and edible. The seasoning was just right. Zhenya looked down at
Kwon Taekjoo, who was pushing the meat in with his arms crossed,
making his cheeks bulge. [You said you got excited when you did that.]
[You said it wasn’t exciting, but it felt like real life.] Zhenya shrugged his
shoulders. His expression was like, what’s the difference? He said, “Ah”
it’s different and “uh” it’s different, but he didn’t have the skills to make
him understand. [Well, anyway, that was when you weren’t around. It
wasn’t fun because you weren’t around. I said I would.] [I told you I
would chase you wherever you are.] [You don't have to sacrifice to do
that.] [Sacrifice?] Zhenya asked back as if he had encountered an
unfamiliar word. He corrected him so that it would be easier for him to
accept. [Oh, right. Not sacrifice, but loss. You betrayed your country and
your family just because you followed me. You're already adding more
enemies. You can't keep living like that forever.] [This is new. My
country and family have been on bad terms since long ago. We’ve
always had many enemies. Just because you quit the National
Intelligence Service doesn’t mean those problems will be solved.]
[That’s right, that’s right… Even if you’re okay and used to it, I don’t like
it. Because your kid is in danger.] Zhenya tilted his head with an
incomprehensible expression. It seemed like he’s never even thought of
putting himself in danger. Does he really think he’s an immortal who
won’t die no matter how many times he’s killed? In fact, that guy might
be strong, but in Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes, he was like a child left on the
water’s edge. He smiled and immediately pinched Zhenya’s cheek.
Zhenya opened his eyes wide. [After thinking about it carefully, there is
no bomb like you. You never know when it will explode, and you never
know how dangerous it will be. Even something that can pass lightly can
turn into a disaster if it gets involved with you. I don’t think you’ll get
bored just by being by your side.] [Hmm... Well, if that’s the case.]
Zhenya snickered and raised his head. As expected, he even spread his
shoulders wide. His lover calls him a bomb without hesitation, and
defines being involved with him as a disaster, but he takes it as a
compliment. He lightly pinched the nose of the guy who was being all
cocky and let him go. [… .Taekjoo?] [It’s really hard to make people, this.
Anyway, if your country keeps making you an ambassador to Korea, I
can go around as your personal bodyguard. If you say you’re going to
fire me, I can look for another job. For now, I think I’ll rest until things
calm down.] [If you don’t work.] [I won’t do it, but can I just sit around
and do nothing? People should at least do some exercise or volunteer
work to live. If you just sit around, your body will just wear out and rust
and become useless.] Zhenya frowned as if he heard some sophistry. If
you’re going to rest, you won’t just sit around and do nothing. He
wondered what kind of strange thing that was. If Yoon Jong-woo was
with him, he would have absolutely agreed to him this time. [Let's do it
together. Anything together.] Kwon Taekjoo said, "Yes," in a coaxing
tone, and handed a piece of meat to Zhenya. The man looked at Kwon
Taekjoo with a suspicious look, then bowed his head and took the steak.
That was it. [Wait.] Zhenya suddenly grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's hand and
became wary of his surroundings. Kwon Taekjoo also held his breath
and focused on the surrounding noise at the strange feeling. Soon,
Zhenya walked briskly to the window. He didn’t look outside rashly. He
just lifted the curtains and checked the outside activities. Kwon Taekjoo
also got up silently at the ominous air current. After looking outside for
a while, Zhenya told him some unpleasant news. [I think a bug crawled
in.] It seemed like someone had barged in while Zhenya had turned off
the defence system. He threw the pistol that was lying carelessly on the
table to Zhenya. He then went straight down to the storage room,
swept all the guns, firearms, and bombs into his backpack, and held
some of them in his arms before going back up to the kitchen. In the
meantime, Zhenya also took out his clothes. He easily grabbed the rifle
that Kwon Taekjoo threw at him. They quickly prepared for battle. First,
Zhenya, who had finished preparing, put the only tactical vest on Kwon
Taekjoo. When Kwon Taekjoo shook his head and tried to take it off
again, he fastened the belt tightly. Then, he pressed the light switch to
turn off all the lights in the house. As promised, the two of them put
their backs against the wall next to the window and checked the
situation outside. When all the lights suddenly went out, the intruders
seemed to have stopped moving. The figures that had been moving
quietly in the darkness disappeared. They seemed to be watching the
reaction from here while hiding in the surrounding terrain. [I’ll go out
and shake him off.] [Then wear this and go.] Kwon Taekjoo tried to take
off his vest again. Zhenya grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s hand tightly and put
it down. [I won’t die, Taekjoo.] His confident words made him feel
hopeless. He had an endless belief that the guy would return to his
safely. Regrettably, he put a helmet with bulletproof goggles on Zhenya.
He hit the helmet with his fist and fixed it on his head. [No matter what,
your blond hair stands out too much. I'll protect you.] Zhenya nodded
and tried to turn around. He grabbed the guy by the collar and pulled
him. He kissed the guy who was dragged in helplessly. Zhenya's eyes
widened. [... Taekjoo?] He firmly tightened the dangling helmet strap
and said firmly. [Don't get hurt.] [Get hurt? Me?] [You little brat, all I
have to look after is your pretty face and body, so don’t go anywhere
and cause me any trouble.] Zhenya chuckled at the continued request.
[Who would say that? Taekjoo, you should be careful. If your stomach
rips, you won’t be able to have sex for at least a month.] He playfully
repeated the lines they had exchanged in the past and kissed him lightly
again. Zhenya, who had fallen while shedding regret, slowly stepped
back and quickly headed toward the back door. Kwon Taekjoo watched
the scene for a moment before loading the sniper rifle with a night
vision goggle and loading the bullets. In a moment, his pitch-black eyes
sharpened. He went down to the basement, pressing his body against
the wall as much as possible. There was a shallow window facing
outside on the wall, making it the perfect place to snipe intruders. He
stacked up the boxes scattered around to make a support, then quickly
stuck my gun through the narrow bars. He closed his left eye and looked
through the scope, seeing figures slowly approaching me. They were all
armed, and there seemed to be about twenty of them. The enemy must
have been well aware of Zhenya's air defence system. He hadn't even
heard the sound of a helicopter until just before. Did they come in a
rubber boat? There was only one house that could carry out such an
operation. The Russian military. It seemed that the Kremlin had
mobilised special forces to force Zhenya to surrender. Either capture
him alive and intimidate him. In order to take Anastasia, who must have
been hidden somewhere on this island, even if it meant getting rid of
him. He couldn't let it go so easily. He was determined not to let anyone
who messed with Zhenya live. At that moment, a loud engine noise rang
out from behind the mansion. It seemed that Zhenya was driving an
ATV and luring the enemies into the field. The intruders who had been
hiding in the darkness began to shoot at them all at once. Kwon Taekjoo
watched the flames rising from the gun barrel through his night vision
goggles for a moment, then pulled the trigger without hesitation.
[Ouch!] [Kwak!] Some of the intruders fell, clutching their arms and
legs. Immediately after, Zhenya’s ATV passed over them mercilessly. The
people who had been squirming fell down. Some of them had their
limbs torn apart like broken toys. Kwon Taekjoo groaned and aimed his
gun again. He narrowed his eyes and caught his breath, and when the
enemy came into range, he pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Amidst the hail of gunfire, Zhenya drove precariously as if he was
performing acrobatics and threw bombs. Those who had been hiding in
low ground tried to avoid the bombs but were hit by the ATV or fell to
Kwon Taekjoo’s gunfire. On the spot, It also exploded. The problem was
their numbers. He thought a platoon had infiltrated, but after taking out
one team, another group of the same size came rushing in. They poured
all their firepower on Zhenya at once. Zhenya ran towards the mountain
while avoiding the pouring attacks. The moment he passed the
mansion, he glanced at the basement where Kwon Taekjoo was hiding.
It was an action to check if Kwon Taekjoo was safe. In response, he shot
the heads of the intruders who were chasing him one after another. As
he did so, the intruders gradually became aware of the presence of
others besides Zhenya. The people chasing Zhenya Some of them
separated from the main force and scattered in all directions in an
instant. He chased them until the end and shot diligently, but he
couldn't hit them all. "Damn it." He immediately got up and went up
the stairs. At that moment, he heard the sound of glass breaking and
something flew into the house. It was a grenade. As he ran to avoid the
chain-detonating grenades, another grenade landed right in front of his
nose. He slid down while running and grabbed the grenade in an instant
and threw it toward the door. When the grenade exploded, it blew the
door and the glass window apart. A single scream came from the
enemies hiding nearby. It exploded. But that alone wasn't enough to
subdue them. They were closing in on their numbers. Other agents
rushed through the doors and window frames that had been cleanly
blasted by the previous explosion. They quickly climbed the stairs to
gain a positional advantage. At the sound of it, fire was concentrated on
the stairs. They avoided the hail of bullets and headed for the rooftop
where the helipad was. They closed the thick iron door, slid under the
helicopter, and aimed at the doorway. For a moment, the sound of
them chasing them died down. But that was only for a moment, as the
entire iron door was ripped off with a bang. It seemed like the enemies
had blown up the door itself with a small bomb. He fired his minigun
through the blackened door frame. The enemies who were about to
rush in were instantly knocked down like a beehive. The guys who were
protecting him from behind responded, but he rolled over to avoid
them and threw a grenade. A loud explosion rang out and the stairs
suddenly became quiet. "Haa, haa..." He lay down for a moment to
catch his breath, then jumped up at the sound of gunfire from the
forest in the distance. Even in the thick darkness, he could clearly see
the flames and flashes coming from the gun barrel. There was no end to
the relentless running of Zhenya and the people chasing him.
"Zhenya..." He continued to watch anxiously, when something suddenly
flew in from behind him. He quickly turned his head and saw a hook
flying in from outside the mansion and getting caught on the rooftop
railing. Then, the rope connected to the hook was pulled taut, and a
mechanical sound like a reel or something was quickly winding could be
heard. It seemed like the enemies were trying to infiltrate the rooftop
right away. He chewed back a curse and ran to the other railing. When
he reached the end, he jumped down the railing without hesitation.
Immediately after, the enemies who had quickly shot up to the rooftop
fired their rifles. The blind bullets only reduced the comrades of the
already fallen men to rags. He jumped down the other railing and Kwon
Taekjoo, who had been walking on the rope, kicked the wall hard to
avoid the enemy's eyes, and gradually gave the rope a rebound. He
gained great strength on his third leap. He used that strength to break
through the second-floor window. Suddenly, the enemies who had been
searching the rooftop came running belatedly at the sound of the glass
breaking and looked down. [Second floor!] The sound of three or four
footsteps echoed down the stairs. The next moment, the floor they
were standing on collapsed. The enemies fell to the first floor with the
floor sinking before they could even try to avoid it. A black figure
loomed above the heads of the men who were shaking from the shock
of the fall. It was Kwon Taekjoo. It was just spreading. Whether the
fierce noises came from Zhenya or the enemies, it was proof that
Zhenya was still safe. Kwon Taekjoo took out the empty magazine of his
rifle and put in a new one. He also tightened the laces of his loose
shoes. [Then, shall we go and rescue the princess?] Zhenya continued to
lure the enemies to the mountainside. The intruders who had been
persistently chasing him while pouring bullets became quiet when they
reached the middle of the mountain. It seemed that he had decided
that it would be better to hide somewhere and attack from behind
rather than waste energy chasing the ATV. It was an appropriate
calculation. Even for Zhenya, he was in no position to just wait for them
to chase him. He had to confirm why there were no more gunshots
coming from the direction of the mansion. He needed to organize
things quickly. He stopped in front of a nearby cabin. Inside, various ski
equipment was neatly organized. He took out skis that could move on
grass, put them on, and slung his sniper rifle over his shoulder. After
making a quick preparation, Zhenya abandoned the ATV and went down
the slope. He had a perfect grasp of the surrounding terrain, so he could
see the mansion with his eyes closed. He could go down to the bottom.
He could clearly see which direction to run to reduce friction and which
side the enemies were hiding on. It was a reckless act. It was so dark
that he couldn’t see even an inch ahead of him, and he didn’t even turn
on his headlamp to avoid the enemies’ eyes. The enemies would always
be watching for a target to appear, so it might be that they recognized
him with their night vision goggles before Zhenya found them. It would
be difficult to stay safe no matter how much bullets flew in from all
directions. Nevertheless, Zhenya started his adventurous glide without
hesitation. His skis glided over the smooth grass and he gradually
increased his speed. When he manipulated the goggles that Kwon
Taekjoo had given him, the thermal imaging system came into
operation. He pulled the trigger at the objects that quickly passed by his
field of vision. Although the gunshots did not ring out because of the
silencer attached, the startled beasts ran away, provoking the tense
intruders. This caused gunshots to ring out again here and there. He
traced the direction and distance from the amplitude of the gunshots
and fired my gun. The intruder wearing the infrared blocking suit
screamed and fell down. He hit the other guy who was hiding in the
opposite direction in the same way. The enemies who immediately
noticed Zhenya's attack method stopped shooting. The surrounding
area became quiet again. Soon, red lasers appeared one by one and
chased after Zhenya. Zhenya pulled the trigger toward the lasers that
repeatedly brushed against his chest and head while descending
quickly. The enemies who were hit without fail fell helplessly. The
number of lasers aimed at Zhenya decreased significantly. However, the
situation was not so optimistic. The lasers that kept avoiding Zhenya
gradually reduced their errors and accurately touched his head and
chest. No matter how irregularly he changed the direction of the glide
and adjusted the speed, the red light streamed persistently and licked
his entire body. The bullets that were fired hastily even brushed the
front of his skis. Finally, the red lasers were aimed. A huge propeller
noise was heard from somewhere. The wind caused by the helicopter
made the trees sway violently. Enemies hiding in various places looked
up into the air all at once. Zhenya also raised his head and looked in the
direction where the noise came from. Soon, a familiar helicopter
appeared in his field of vision. Was the one holding the control stick
Kwon Taekjoo or the intruder? He briefly observed the situation, and
the helicopter’s searchlight turned on. Then, the area became bright as
day. The faces of the intruders who had been hiding in various places
were clearly revealed. On the contrary, the silhouette of the helicopter
pilot became noticeably darker. Zhenya smiled, knowing that Kwon
Taekjoo had come to help just by looking at that. Zhenya immediately
threw off his skis and ran up the mountain wearing only boots. The
speed of running between the trees was too fast for a human. The slope
did not break his momentum. The intruders, who had lost their hiding
place all at once, fired the helicopter's searchlight indiscriminately. A
clear flash of light flew across the bottom of the helicopter.
Nevertheless, the helicopter stubbornly focused on exposing their
location. It could have annihilated the enemy by blowing up the entire
area if it wanted to, but it did not even return fire. A flurry of gunfire
followed. One of the agents threw away an empty magazine and put in
another one. A black figure appeared behind him. It came over,
tumbling over. He turned his head in shock at the huge presence that
made him think a beast as big as a house had appeared. Immediately
after, a hole was made in his head with a loud bang. [Ajin (1).] Zhenya
muttered softly and jumped over the rock and ran to the next member.
Then, he grabbed the member's neck from behind and turned him
around as he was desperately trying to avoid the helicopter's lights. In
an instant, the member's neck snapped and he fell down. [Dva (2).]
Immediately after that, bullets rained down from behind the trees on
the opposite side. Ah, it was. He used the previously subdued agent as a
shield to dodge, and then he responded by thrusting his gun between
the arms of the tattered corpse. Soon, the attacks from the other side
stopped. [Tree (3).] As he counted without any hesitation, a grenade
flew from somewhere. Just the sound of it made him quickly get out of
his spot. Then, he disappeared into the shadows where the surrounding
terrain and the helicopter lights were maximised. The person who had
thrown the grenade a moment ago grabbed the grenade again. The
moment he was about to pull out the pin while being wary of his son-in-
law, a bullet flew from somewhere and blew off his elbow. [Eww!] The
agent who fell down screaming was shocked to find something above
his head. Zhenya, who was standing tall on the tree, smiled faintly as if
he was looking at a rat in poison. The backlight illuminated his sharp
face, creating a strange atmosphere. [Chittyre (4).] [Hwaaaaak!] The
grenade he couldn't throw exploded after the scream that seemed to
tear him apart. Zhenya, who took care of four people in an instant,
stood up straight and looked around. There was still one more left.
Kwon Taekjoo's helicopter was still circling the sky, looking for enemies.
Soon, the helicopter's searchlight illuminated a valley. At that, Inyoung,
who had been hiding, ran down in panic. He seemed to have decided
that he had run out of bullets and bombs and that he had no chance of
winning since he was left alone. Zhenya jumped down from the tree
and picked up the rifle that was rolling on the ground and threw it with
all his might at the fleeing man. The rifle flew around and landed right
at the enemy's feet. The agent whose leg was entangled in the rifle fell
helplessly and rolled around. Zhenya jumped up and approached him.
The only surviving agent crawled, struggling to live even with a broken
leg. There was. Soon, a pitch-black shadow engulfed his entire body. It
was a silhouette that would be easily believed to be a god of death. The
man with a body full of wounds begged for his life. [Please save me,
please save me...] Zhenya stepped on the back of his head without
hesitation and slammed him down on the ground. The body of the
enemy who had been trembling suddenly fell down. [Bhengchi (5),]
With that, peace like death came to Ajinoki once again. Zhenya, who
had been catching his breath quietly, looked up at the helicopter in the
sky. The strong wind blew the hem of his clothes and his platinum hair
dazzlingly. Zhenya gestured for the helicopter to come closer. Kwon
Taekjoo, who was looking down at him through the window, sent a busy
signal. It seemed that the ladder was not ready. Without paying
attention, he ran towards the slope. The helicopter, which was circling
overhead, followed Zhenya and gradually lowered its altitude. Zhenya
used the speed he was running to quickly touch the ground and jump
up. Both of his hands were caught on the helicopter's foothold. He held
on with only his strength and climbed up onto the helicopter. He was
constantly nagged. [Hey, you crazy kid! Do you really have to put
yourself in danger like that? Does this kid think he's truly immortal?]
Both of them were fine without any serious injuries, but he got angry
again. He grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s face and pulled it back, then hastily
kissed him. [Ugh! Ugh! Hey, you crazy bastard. I’m controlling you!]
Kwon Taekjoo tried to turn his face away in frustration, but he
persistently grabbed his lips and pulled them back. Their cold, bitter
breath and hot saliva exchanged repeatedly. Maybe it was because he
was so excited by the killing, but he heard a growling sound in his throat
every time he exhaled. After taking Kwon Taekjoo’s breath for a long
time, Zhenya finally backed away. [Ugh, the smell of blood.] Kwon
Taekjoo wiped the blood on his cheek with his shoulder and frowned.
Zhenya simply hugged him from behind the cockpit, resting her head on
his shoulder and holding the control stick. As the guy piloted, the
helicopter soon arrived at the mansion landing pad. Kwon Taekjoo
slowly lowered the helicopter and immediately turned off the engine,
carefully examining Zhenya from head to toe. [Are you hurt anywhere?]
[You always ask strange questions.] [Don't act tough, kid. They kept
telling me to die, but are you really okay?] While the others were
seriously worried, he closed his eyes and laughed. In a tone that said he
couldn't stop him, [Run.] He shook his head repeatedly. [I’m so
affectionate.] He clicked his tongue with a face that seemed like it
would melt away. The sudden change in expression of the guy who had
just trampled on human life was unbearable. [Yeah. It’s so affectionate,
Zhenya.] He clicked his tongue as if he was displeased and grabbed both
of Zhenya’s cheeks. He looked at the guy’s face that had become
ridiculous and kissed him. Zhenya, who had been quietly accepting it,
ran towards him and swallowed Kwon Taekjoo’s lips. He pressed Kwon
Taekjoo’s cheeks with both thumbs and opened his lips, then he stuck
his tongue in. The tongue that had been forced pressed against his
Adam’s apple, suffocating him. He coughed repeatedly inside his mouth,
but he swallowed it happily. He rubbed his tongue against Kwon
Taekjoo’s tongue that was wriggling and resisting, and then he sucked
the tip of his tongue hard. The persistent kiss ended only when Kwon
Taekjoo hurriedly slapped the guy’s arm, telling him to get off. [Haa,
haa… I’m really going to catch someone while kissing you. You crazy
bastard.] [You always provoke me first and it’s my fault.] He waved his
hand because he was too lazy to fight any longer. Zhenya, who had been
freely putting his lips on Kwon Taekjoo’s hands, cheeks, and mouth,
naturally moved over to the cockpit and sat down. Then, he openly
pressed his lips to his ear and continued to slurp for a while. The pitch-
black sky was filled with stars that seemed as if they would pour down
at any moment. Through the gap, a curtain of light that contained the
colour of Zhenya’s eyes swayed. It was Aurora. “...it’s so damn pretty.”
[Yeah?] Zhenya raised his head at Kwon Taekjoo’s monologue. It was
clearly a compliment to Aurora, but Kwon Taekjoo didn’t want to face
anyone who might be said again, "It's pretty." Zhenya, who understood
the meaning, smiled and immediately pushed his snout in. He covered
the face of the bastard who was rapidly getting closer with his hand.
[What are you going to do now? It looks like this won't be the end. As
long as your little brat is here, he'll keep attacking like this.] [Hmm... It
wouldn't be bad to realise the Kremlin's long-standing ambition.] [How
do you mean to realise it?] He looked at Zhenya with a puzzled look.
Zhenya slowly turned his back and smiled. [I've always wondered if
'Anastasia' still exists or if she's fallen asleep forever. The last princess of
the empire appears and takes away everything that I have enjoyed so
far. I heard that she is so good that I can't wait to meet her. What can I
do? I have no choice but to let her meet Anastasia herself.] The light in
his clear blue eyes became clear. 18. The Answer Is The Kremlin was hit
just 10 minutes ago. The missile attack, which was not detected by any
security system, including air defence radar, turned all of Russia upside
down. A surprise attack alarm sounded throughout Moscow, and the
military and police were on emergency combat alert and built a
defensive barrier within a 10km radius of the Kremlin. All major roads
leading to Moscow were blocked, and citizens were evacuated to safe
shelters. The area around the Kremlin was jam-packed with vehicles as
firefighters and ambulances were dispatched to put out the fire and
rescue people. The president and officials who were attending a cabinet
meeting at the time of the shelling were instructed to follow the crisis
response guidelines. They scattered. The president moved to the shelter
through the emergency passage of the conference room. The shelter
was a fortress among fortresses that could not be shaken even by a
nuclear attack. Even if it was completely cut off from the outside world,
it could easily survive for a year. There was enough emergency food,
including drinking water, and even air purification facilities and heating
devices were provided. This was the place that the president designed
first when he drew up a blueprint for recapturing the territory. The
president drank his favourite vodka like it was mineral water. He clearly
looked flustered by the unexpected blow. If he had stayed in his office
instead of the conference room, he might have died on the spot. The
missile that hit the Kremlin was sophisticated enough to destroy only a
specific target. The president kept walking back and forth in the
reception room inside the shelter with an anxious expression. Then,
when a soft knock sounded, he flinched and froze. Soon, a voice was
heard outside, saying, “Your Excellency. It’s Bajim.” Only then did the
president, who had finally calmed down, shout at Bajim as he entered.
[Why are you showing up now!] [I’m sorry. I was late because I was
trying to figure out the truth about this terrorist attack.] [So, who did it?
What kind of extremely evil guy could do something like this?] [It’s not
certain because there’s not enough information, but it’s presumed to be
the remains of a missile or the launch angle. It doesn't seem to have
been fired overseas.] [What? So you're saying it was a coup?] The
President's voice shook unsteadily. His hand holding the glass also
tightened. Rebellion was something he was most wary of and feared.
Especially now, when war was imminent, if internal division occurred, it
would ruin all operations. A rebellion at this time, when the clouds of
war were gathering, was something that could not and should not
happen. The President looked around his son-in-law with unfocused
eyes. [What kind of guy is he? What kind of idiot dares to do that? Ga...
Could it be Lebedev? He didn't seem to like the first strike. He kept
trying to fall back. He's been giving me too much belly fat. Or maybe
Ivanov? Ivanov was at the meeting earlier. Now that I think about it, he
didn't let go of his cell phone. His eyes were also unusual. Yeah, that
guy... Did he do something? He kept telling me that now wasn't the
time for war. The Commander-in-Chief, he might be. He scolded me for
only spending money on military supplies, so I guess he's holding a
grudge.] The President kept muttering to himself like a machine gun. He
seemed to be out of his mind due to the shock, but it wasn't just for a
day or two that he had a nervous breakdown. If you're familiar with
him, you're familiar with him. The chief of staff and the chief of security
exchanged awkward glances at the mature scene. On the other hand,
Bajim only looked at his leader who had become shabby and weak. The
dream of recovering the territory that the president had harboured was
actually no different from his fear. The hypocrisy of a dictator who had
been tyrannical and trembling while hiding his anxiety and fear. Soon,
the president said, “Ah,” and then confidently declared. [… Yes. Pshih, I
forgot about that guy. He’s the only one who would do something like
this. Isn’t he?] Bajim did not respond. He also had a vague idea that the
attacker would be Zhenya. This bombardment was an ultimatum
following the previous warning, and it was retaliation for the incursions
into his island. Therefore, if he was not going to engage in a civil war, he
had to make a good judgement and respond accordingly. In a situation
where Zhenya was believed to be holding onto 'Anastasia', firing back
was the worst option. He had no interest in the prosperity of his family
or country, and he was not afraid of death. When that moment came,
he would not hesitate at all to press the launch button on 'Anastasia'.
Nevertheless, the president, whose judgement was clouded, insisted on
making the worst choice. [This time, I really have to show him a lesson. I
have to make sure that Psih can’t act rashly anymore. Launch fighter
jets now!] [Your Majesty. You have to be careful. This could easily lead
to a civil war.] [Civil war? That’s ridiculous. Even Psih is just an
individual. How could the best Russian military in the world not be able
to deal with a traitor! Everyone is watching me because of this terrorist
attack, so I have to set an example!] The president insisted, spitting.
However, even in the order to launch fighter jets immediately, his aides
remained motionless and looked at each other. [What are you doing!
Go and wipe them out!] [Fighters won't do. How many have you already
sent? If you launch a meaningless attack, you'll only lose the power you
worked so hard to gather. Besides, it was just missiles at first, but if we
fight back, he'll counterattack even harder. Don't you think he's hiding
'Anastasia'?] Bajim tried to calmly persuade the president. But the
president continued to be stubborn. [Just pour out all the ammunition
until the guy's ammunition runs out! Don't give him a chance to use
'Anastasia' or anything, and just keep going! How can a mere individual
withstand a material offensive? Will you?] [If we're not careful, we'll all
die. This Moscow, maybe all of Russia, could disappear.] Basim raised
his voice and advised. The next moment, his head turned with a thud. It
was because the president couldn't control his anger and slapped him
in the face. The chief of staff and the chief of security who witnessed
this quickly looked away. The president glared at Basim, grumbling as he
could. [Are you protecting him because he's your blood relative? Can't
you kill him because your blood is pounding?] [… I just prioritise the
safety of this country.] [Then you should listen to me more. I am the
Kremlin, I am Russia. Don't swear at my name again. Don't even think
about the fact that my close friend's blood relative is Psikh.] The
President lifted Basim's chin, which was sunken. Then he looked into his
eyes with his sparkling eyes and gave him a clear instruction. [If you
don't handle this properly, you and the Bogdanov family will both
become traitors. All the achievements you have made so far will go
down the drain. Do you understand?] The president released the chin of
the bag that he had been holding so tightly that it left nail marks. Then,
he wiped his hands with a wet tissue and muttered in a discontented
tone. [You dirty dog bastards. You’re pretty, so you don’t know your
place and you keep on harassing me.] The air in the shelter suddenly
froze. At that moment, the Chief Secretary’s cell phone rang, breaking
the uncomfortable silence. Startled, the Chief Secretary quickly
answered the call. After answering for a while, he soon beamed and
told the President the news he had been waiting for. [Your Majesty, I’ve
contacted your family!] [Give it to me.] The president waved his hand as
if telling him to hurry up and change it. The chief secretary approached
to hand over the cell phone. That was the moment. A click was heard
and everyone stopped moving. The president looked back at Bajim with
a look of surprise. The chief secretary, who was approaching him, and
the chief security officer, who was far away, also looked at Bajim with
eyes full of shock. Bajim suddenly pulled out a gun and aimed it at the
back of the president’s head. [You? What are you doing?] [Think again,
Your Excellency. This is not something you can handle based on your
mood. The name of the country is at stake.] [How dare this bastard
even think about it…!] Before the president could even finish his words,
Bagim pulled the trigger without hesitation. It happened so quickly that
even his staff had no time to react. No, maybe they had no intention of
reacting. Everyone stood there in a daze, staring down at the president
lying on the floor. The supreme power that had been commanding the
world just a few seconds ago had lost its vitality and collapsed in an
instant. Basim wiped his cheek, where blood had spurted out, with the
back of his hand. The blood spread messily. He looked down at the
president’s body with eyes that were devoid of warmth. [Clear it.] No
one vomited at the order that followed. The chief secretary covered the
body with a blanket and the chief security officer called the other
security guards in. The security guards simply moved the president’s
body without knowing what was going on. Until then, Bajim had been
staring down at the blood-stained floor with an indifferent expression.
The chief secretary standing next to him barely opened his mouth.
[Um... What should we do with the order to send fighter jets?] [I have
never given such an order.] [Yes, I understand, Your Excellency.] The
chief secretary bowed and quietly retreated. Left alone, Bajim looked up
at the ceiling and held his breath. Then he walked across the marble
floor covered in blood and entered the presidential office. Wherever he
walked, red footprints were engraved in the shape of the soles of his
shoes. It was the path that everyone who had occupied that place had
walked. He looked around the office that had been ruined by the
artillery fire and stood in front of the window. Beyond it, the military
police who had been called in were setting up several layers of
barricades. He sat on a corner of the desk and watched the scene in
silence. The only sounds he could hear were the occasional shouts of
the commanders, the sound of their boots, and the clanking of guns,
but everything around him was quiet. It was like the calm before a
storm. He let out a long sigh as he wiped his rough face with both
hands. It felt like all the fatigue from the past was rushing in at once. He
thought he should rest for a while. A new morning would dawn
tomorrow. *** It was a weekend with a clear spring vibe. A long line of
cars formed in an upscale residential area in LA from early in the
morning. It was because a long-awaited ceremony was scheduled to
take place in the family of a famous IT company founder. It had been
delayed for about two years due to the pandemic, pregnancy, and
childbirth. It was a postponed ceremony. The groom and bride, the
main characters of the ceremony, had already started a family and had
a healthy daughter. Today, the day of the wedding, was also the
daughter’s first birthday. The ceremony was held at a community
centre. The centre was made entirely of glass, making it perfect for an
outdoor party. All the doors were opened wide early. The large garden
was decorated with white ribbons and fresh flowers. Tables and chairs
were also set up for the after-party. An orchestra pit was set up on the
stage, and a three-tiered cake was placed in the centre. Instead of fancy
candles or toppers, the cake was decorated with printed photos of the
three main characters. It was a warm and harmonious family. The event
of the 100 largest corporate owners in the United States was not
particularly formal. The music and the food were familiar to all the
attendees. The private security guards hired for security were
thoroughly waiting in their cars or nearby buildings. The hosts even
offered refreshments to the police patrolling the area without
hesitation. The guests gathered in small groups to greet each other and
exchange greetings. They also looked at family photos placed here and
there and wished them good luck for their future. The couple's
coworkers flew a drone early to film the wedding scene. They didn't
hesitate to barge into the bride's waiting room with an action camera.
[Mom. Who is here?] The bride raised her head at the strange sound
coming from the door. The bride in the pure white dress was none
other than Yuna Hyun. She smiled brightly when she found her
daughter being carried by her colleagues. The daughter, who was
wearing a white dress like hers, even had angel wings. The colleagues all
congratulated her on her wedding and held the baby to Yuna Hyun.
[Thank you, everyone.] Yuna Hyun also expressed her gratitude and
quickly held her daughter. The baby in her mother’s arms burst into
laughter. "Our princess. You look even more like an angel today."
Yunahyun gently rubbed her nose against the baby's nose. The baby
also touched her cheek, making sounds like "Wow, Wow." Her dark
green eyes sparkled especially, as if she liked the way her mom looked
after herself. Yunahyun silently accepted the baby's touch, as if she
didn't care if her makeup was ruined. She was spending time taking
pictures and chatting with her colleagues. The groom, Noah, who was
busy welcoming guests, suddenly poked his head in. [Nahyun. Your
mother is here.] At the following warning, Yuna Hyun suddenly got up
from her seat. Soon, two Korean women guided by Noah entered the
waiting room. "Na Hyun-ah." "Mom? I heard you might not be able to
come because the flight was cancelled." Yuna Hyun grabbed her
adoptive mother's hand with a bewildered expression. She greeted her
younger sibling who came with her. The younger sibling made eye
contact with the young nephew Yuna Hyun was holding and said,
"Hello." The baby smiled innocently at the aunt whom she had only met
through a video call. "It's your wedding, how can you not come? Eun
Hyun found out about the connecting flight and came. Woo Lee Noah
sent a car to the airport." "You must have had a hard time coming from
a long way. Thank you. You're welcome. Should I say hello to Riley too?
It's Grandma." "Hi, baby." Yuna-hyun's adoptive mother held out her
hand to Riley. When Riley grabbed her index finger and shook it as if
shaking hands, everyone watching smiled broadly. [Then I'll go out to
finish preparing. See you later, Mom.] Noah took his colleagues out with
him. Thanks to him, the bridal waiting room, which had been bustling,
was filled with Yuna-hyun, her adoptive mother, her younger sibling,
And only Riley remained. The adoptive mother, who had been
completely absorbed in her granddaughter's antics, turned her gaze to
Yuna Hyun. Yuna Hyun smiled as if she had forgotten all her hardships
and worries. The adoptive mother's face turned bitter as she faced her.
"If your father were alive, he would have been so proud." "He must be
watching you from heaven, what is that?" "I'm always sorry to you. I
couldn't take care of you well, and I made you feel so lonely." "No. I said
I'm okay now. We decided to stop saying sorry to each other." Yuna
Hyun comforted her adoptive mother. Everything that had happened in
the past was just in the past. In order to move forward, she had to let
go of the wounds of the past. For Riley’s sake, she decided to only think
about the bright future ahead. “Hey, Mom. Why are you being so
gloomy on a nice day? Sorry, Sister.” “No. I guess Mom thinks of Dad
more because it’s a nice day. You had a hard time coming, didn’t you?
Thank you for coming.” She smiled kindly, saying that her younger
sibling, who resembles her father, was not like that. Then, as if
something suddenly came to mind, she brought up an unexpected
story. “Oh, now that I think about it, there was another relative in
Korea. I think you've come to Gudo. Did you say hello?" She had no
idea. That was because she didn't have anyone she could call a friend in
Korea. Their relationship before entering college had been cut off for a
long time, and she didn't send separate invitations to her college
classmates she met at a class reunion a few years ago. They were too
far away to come anyway, and she didn't expect any of them to come.
Except for one person, Kwon Taekjoo. She sent an invitation to Kwon
Taekjoo's old home address, recalling her memory. She tried contacting
him to see if he received it and if he would come. The calls never went
through, and his messages went unread for months. The last one was
When she called, all she got was a voice message saying the number did
not exist. Then she heard news about Kwon Taekjoo. The chairman of
the alumni association said that he seemed to have died. She also did
not know the exact cause of death. It was a time when incidents were
constantly occurring. Before the aftermath of the pandemic had even
subsided, the Russian president visited Iran and was swept up in a large-
scale terrorist attack. Then that year, a coup occurred and the regime
changed. She thought of a blond foreigner who was Kwon Taekjoo’s
boss and the Russian ambassador. Did Kwon Taekjoo also get caught up
in that chaos and die? She cried for several days at the unexpected sad
news. She was about to give birth, so she had to go to Korea. He
couldn't even go to see her. Noah, who was worried about Yuna Hyun,
sent someone to confirm Kwon Taek Joo's life or death. His resident
registration was cancelled due to death. The old house where he lived
with his mother was empty. Yuna Hyun, who heard the news, was
worried about Kwon Taek Joo's mother who would be left alone. The
days she would have to endure after losing both her husband and two
sons. "...Sister?" Was she lost in her thoughts for too long? Her younger
sister called her attention. Her adoptive mother also looked at Yuna
Hyun with concern and asked, "Why are you doing that?" "No. I thought
there wouldn't be any guests from Korea." "Really?" "Yeah. Eun-hyun,
aren't you mistaken? There are quite a few Asian-Americans among the
people I work with." "Is that so?" His younger brother scratched his
head with an uncertain expression. He calmed down and his heart that
was suddenly surprised. When he heard the words 'friend from Korea',
he immediately thought of Kwon Taekjoo. He smiled and shook his
head. That was it. Riley let out a gasp and stretched out her chubby
hands somewhere. [Riley? Are you suddenly feeling good?] Yuna Hyun
followed Riley and smiled, their foreheads touching. But Riley didn't see
her eyes and kept looking somewhere behind Yuna Hyun. She kept
stretching out her short arms and shaking them. Yuna Hyun turned her
head with a puzzled expression. But there wasn't a single person, not
even a single butterfly, in the place she looked. "What's wrong?" "...No.
I wondered what she saw and why she was like this." "Should we take
Riley? She seems to be starting to eat soon." "Can I ask you something,
Mom?" "This kid. It's obvious." It was the moment when she was about
to leave Riley with her adoptive mother, who readily opened her arms.
Riley struggled to keep herself from falling. Her gaze was still focused on
Yuna Hyun's back. Yuna Hyun turned her body completely and stood.
Her eyes soon widened. It was because she saw two men walking far
away. Riley kept waving her arms toward them and saying, "Whoa,
Whoa." One of the two men walking side by side was tall and had blond
hair, and the other was black. Even though he was wearing a suit, his
back figure, which was walking slowly, was very familiar. "...Kwon
Taekjoo?" A name that was almost a groan leaked out. In an instant, her
heart began to pound. Kwon Taekjoo was already dead, but she had an
unfounded conviction that the man who was getting further away was
him. "Na-hyun?" "Sister?" "Oh, uh, wait a minute...?" Yu Na-hyun, who
had been mumbling incoherently, left the waiting room while holding
Riley. She headed outside, the hem of her dress dragging on the floor,
as if she was about to fall. Yu Na-hyun's younger sister quickly grabbed
the hem of her skirt. "Why are you doing that, Unnie?" [Na-hyun?]
Noah, who had come to escort Yuna-hyun, opened his eyes wide. He
supported Yuna-hyun and Riley, who seemed like they would collapse at
any moment, and asked them what was going on. [Na-hyun. What's
going on?] [Wait, can I look at the guestbook for a moment?] [Of
course.] Noah didn't ask any more questions and led Yuna-hyun to the
guestbook. By then, the guests waiting outside had also started to pay
attention to her one by one. Yuna Hyun left Riley with Noah and turned
the guestbook upside down. Her fingers were trembling. She clenched
her fists and opened them, and tried to squeeze her fingertips, but it
was no use. She turned the pages one by one and stopped at a certain
page. Noah, who was looking at the guestbook with her, let out a soft
exclamation. [It's Korean, right?] A deep exhalation escaped Yuna Hyun.
She closed her eyes tightly and opened them again, and tears welled up
in her eyes. Congratulations on your wedding. The baby looks healthy. I
hope you’re happy. The handwriting that seemed to be scribbled
haphazardly was clearly Kwon Taekjoo’s. Even in college, when people
teased him for his bad handwriting, he would always make excuses that
he would spend more time on other things instead of spending time on
his writing. It was definitely true. [Na-hyun? What’s going on?] Noah
fidgeted as Yuna-hyun began to shed tears. Her adoptive mother,
younger sister, and Noah’s family also came to her side and kept asking
her why she was acting that way. The guests also expressed their
concerns, asking if she was okay. [No. No, nothing.] Yuna Hyun shook
her head and tried to smile. But she couldn’t hold back her tears. She
buried her head in the bouquet and cried quietly. Noah hugged Yuna
Hyun tightly and consoled her. Riley also reached out her chubby hand
and wiped her mother’s wet cheek. Yuna Hyun rubbed her cheek
against that small hand and kissed it, and confessed honestly. [I’m so
happy. I guess the friend I really wanted to see has visited. I thought I’d
never see her again.] [Really? That’s a relief.] Noah patted Yuna Hyun
with a deep sense of relief. The people who were worried about her
exchanged gentle laughter. When Yuna Hyun wiped away her tears,
Noah wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered softly. [Then,
let’s start the wedding so that his blessings wouldn’t be in vain?] [Yeah.]
Yuna Hyun smiled brightly with her wet eyes. It was a smile that looked
truly happy. She looked back as she held hands with Noah and Riley and
headed toward the cake. The people she had expected were nowhere
to be seen. Everything she had seen disappeared as if it were a mirage.
She looked straight ahead again and took a step forward, wishing Kwon
Taek Joo well. May you be free wherever you are. And may you be
happy just like you are now. *** "They're just eating each other." A
sudden complaint burst out from behind the newspaper. The server
who was putting down coffee and milk tea looked at the man behind
the newspaper with a puzzled look. Soon, the eyes of the man who was
folding the newspaper and the server met. The sharp-eyed Asian man
was none other than Kwon Taekjoo. [Oh, I didn't say that to you.] [The
milk tea and coffee you ordered. Is there anything else you need?] The
server looked down at Kwon Taek Joo with a displeased expression.
While he was wondering how much to give him for blatantly asking for
a tip, Zhenya threw a bill at him. The server who absentmindedly picked
up the bill widened his eyes. Zhenya waved his hand while moving my
portion of milk tea. [Please feel free to call me anytime.] The server,
whose expression changed, quickly left. Regardless, he put two sugar
cubes in the milk tea and stirred it gently. He then hung his fingers on
the thin handle and quietly savoured the milk tea. It was so elegant that
it was almost annoying. And it was an aristocratic attitude. [What, give
me a tip bigger than the cost of the food, you brat. Are you so rich?]
Zhenya drank milk tea without paying attention to Kwon Taekjoo’s
criticism. Well, he has so much money, he won't be able to use it all
before he dies, so why don't he waste it? Since it was dirty money, he
wondered if it would be better to spend it all and get rid of it. Thanks to
that, he was enjoying a luxurious hideout, so he didn't think it was a
good idea to nag him. Zhenya left Ajinoki right after attacking the
Kremlin. Not long after, he heard the news that the Russian president
had died for unknown reasons. It could have been the assassination of
the president. He was worried that he might be accused of being
behind the assassination, but Zhenya said that it couldn't be true. He
wouldn't necessarily take credit for such 'credit'. He was suspicious, but
the situation after that actually went as he had expected. The Russian
media didn't even mention clearly whether the president's death was
due to an explosion, a chronic illness, or an unexpected sudden death.
The provisional government didn't even try to find out who was behind
the assassination. Only outsiders were making a lot of noise about the
sudden death of Russia's highest authority. All sorts of speculations and
rumours were rampant. People oppressed by tyranny all over Russia
began to protest and raise their voices. Thanks to the chaotic situation,
relatively few of them were able to escape Russia easily. He was worried
that he might be falsely accused of assassinating the president, even if
it was late. If that happened, he would never be able to go to Russia
again. In any case, it was Zhenya's home country, and Ajinoki, where the
two of them spent a lot of time. It was regrettable to think that he
would never be able to go there again, but Zhenya was no different. [Is
it okay to run away like this? You liked that island quite a bit, right?
What if someone takes it while you're gone? You said you hid
'Anastasia' there too?] [It doesn't matter because the system there will
function perfectly even if I'm not there. Even if someone prevents
crime, Even if you break the system and invade, it's the same.
'Anastasia' is nothing more than a piece of scrap metal if you don't
know how to operate it.] Just like 'Anna Anderson', who used to call
herself 'Anastasia', was an ordinary woman before she presented
various evidence and testimonies. [...Are you really okay? It's only a
matter of time before it's known that you did it.] [The timing isn't right
for the Kremlin to go to my bombardment. That's a shame.] [Is it a
shame that I couldn't become a murderer because I have nothing to
regret?] [Rather, it's a shame that I couldn't let him meet 'Anastasia'.
Anyway, that bastard If someone was involved in the death of the
president, he will be safe for the time being. So, rest assured, Lord.]
Zhenya was endlessly optimistic. He seemed certain that someone he
suspected had assassinated the president. Kwon Taekjoo also vaguely
sensed such circumstances. Immediately after the death of the Russian
president, all the national projects he had been working on were
halted. The war that had been under the pretext of territorial recovery
and retaliation for terrorism during the imperial era was the same. He
thought that someone who had different intentions from the dead
president had taken advantage of the chaos to eliminate him. Since
there had been no clear overthrow of power since then, the assassin
must have been one of the existing power holders. Of course, it was a
bit unexpected that the assassin was Basim. He was the president's
close friend and confidant in name and reality. The president's power
was his power. Therefore, there was no need to rashly start a rebellion
and invite danger. Would his position as the perennial second-in-
command have been different? Maybe it was because of the power
Basim had built up over time, or because of the support of the
Bogdanov family, but no one raised an issue about the president's
death. It was to the point where one wondered whether it would have
been this quiet even if the president had died of a heart attack. While
the chaos in Russia was being resolved, the two men frequently
switched passports and travelled around the world. They wandered.
They traveled from Central Asia near Russia to Africa, Europe, and even
large and small island countries, and arrived in the United States after a
full year. They were hiding and hiding, but in reality, it was a luxurious
trip. They mixed in with numerous tourists and toured historic sites and
famous places, went on a cruise for a whole month, and spent several
days alone in a cabin in a remote mountainous area. They also started a
new online game that they had opened together and basically
conquered a server. They were nervous every day, wondering if there
was a force chasing them, just seeing the military and police on patrol.
It was continuous, but that anxiety gradually subsided. There was no
restriction on where the two stayed or what they tried to do. There was
no place to specifically look for them. He got used to a life where
nothing happened. The only reason he visited the US was to attend
Yuna Hyun’s wedding. If it was a busy time, he could understand, but
since he was unemployed for the first time in a while, there was no
reason why he couldn’t go and celebrate her wedding. Zhenya was very
displeased, but he was more sincere than anyone when choosing his
outfit. He didn't know how many times he had to change his clothes
because of that weird stubbornness. [Hey, stop it. Are we getting
married?] [Why would you like that?] [What kind of disgusting talk are
you talking about? You're just saying, let's just go in casual clothes.]
[How long are you going to hide your true feelings, Taekjoo?] Zhenya
suddenly came running up to him, saying that there was no need for a
grand proposal. He was swept away by him and ended up in the
cramped changing room. He shouldn't have been going into a place that
was almost like a secret room with him in the first place. The white suit
designed for formal wear suited him so well that it felt like his skin, so
he drank his coffee that had cooled down a little while repenting for the
shameful past. He stopped by the cafeteria for breakfast. He found a
newspaper that someone had left behind. It had an article on the front
page about the Russian presidential election. It was an election, so
there was no disagreement that Basim would be elected as the next
president. It was a country that was born that way and that was how it
was supposed to be run. [How do you feel?] [Hmm?] Zhenya tilted his
head at the unexpected question. He rested his chin on his arm and
grinned mischievously. [How does it feel to be the next president's
blood relative?] [What does that have to do with me?] [In any country,
when a new president is born, even his cousins, his friends' friends, and
even his friends' friends are treated with favour. So everyone tries their
best to elect someone related to them. What is this? They teased him
as a nobleman or a prince, but he ended up becoming a real royal
family.] [This has nothing to do with me. It was just Barzim's choice.]
[Are you being foolish?] Zhenya shrugged his shoulders when he gave
him a cold look. [Still, I can't say that there's nothing to be happy
about.] [See. Your kid is also good on the inside, right?] [Bajim has
always been quite generous as long as you don't touch what's mine. No,
he wasn't interested in anyone other than his competitors. Since I don't
need power and Bajim likes to make a living, he'll use me, his blood
relative, as a shield rather than a threat, so there won't be any more
annoying bugs.] [That's only possible if you don't fight that kid.] [No,
Bajim won't let that happen. He's more timid than you think. He always
thinks about what he'll lose first.] [He's generous as long as you don't
covet what's yours. Ra... It's the same if your reputation is in trouble,
right?] [Reputation?] [Why, when you look at public officials, there are
many cases where they fall from power because of problems caused by
those around them. Parents, siblings, children. Your brat is a world-
renowned troublemaker. He cuts people's heads off like bean sprouts,
and when he's upset, he turns everything around him into a mess. He
even has a lover of the same sex, which is extremely detested in your
country.] He laughed half-jokingly and half-seriously. Zhenya opened his
mouth as if it was nothing. [If someone causes trouble....] [If someone
causes trouble?] [Just pull out Bajim.] Is that something that can be said
so easily? I looked around for no reason. That was when. Out of
nowhere, Zhenya's cell phone rang. He flinched in surprise. "Oh, shit.
I'm surprised." Unlike Kwon Taekjoo, who was startled, Zhenya just
rolled his eyes and looked at his cell phone. He didn't seem to have any
intention of answering the call. "Who is it?" He looked at the guy's cell
phone. The caller was none other than Bajim. [Hey. You punk, this.
Didn’t you put a wiretapping device on your phone?] [Impossible.]
[Then what’s this freaking timing? You called me right away as soon as I
mentioned it.] [Well, I said it’s impossible.] Zhenya answered again
decisively. He constantly wiretapped and spied on others, but he was so
shameless that he believed that no one else could do that. Looking
back, the guys who had been chasing Zhenya had always had bad
endings. Even with the advanced technology of the National
Intelligence Service, it was impossible to wiretap him. It was close to
possible. It's definitely uncomfortable when you meet him as an enemy,
but when you become an ally, you're more reliable than anyone else.
[You're not answering?] [You can ignore it.] [Isn't this the first time in
almost a year that you've called?] [Why?] [Something might have
happened to your old father.] [It doesn't matter.] Still, he's my father, so
there's no reason for me to hear news about him. It's not just that I'm
being treated as an abandoned child, but that we're both. Was he going
to count? The more he got to know him, the more he wondered what
kind of corner of the house was that. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been
staring blankly at Zhenya with his chin on his arm, suddenly reached out
his hand. Then, he touched the call button on his phone without
permission.- It's me. When the call was connected, Bajim's voice flowed
out. Zhenya didn't respond and just crossed his arms and held on. Kwon
Taekjoo also stared at him and switched his phone to speakerphone
mode. Then he winked at his phone, telling him to answer quickly. [...
What's going on.] Zhenya reluctantly answered the phone.- Where are
you? [There's no reason to tell you.]- Why don't you come back soon?
[You had fun while I was away, so what are you missing now?]- My
father's health has gotten worse. [So? Oh, tell Boloja that I congratulate
him. It seems like the day will come soon when I won't have to worry
about that old man's feelings.] Do you really not care if my father dies
or not? If you think about what the Bogdanov family did to Zhenya, you
can understand his resentment. He was worried that he would regret it
later. What was wrong with Vissarion? Was it simply old age? The 'Bol
Roja' that Zhenya mentioned was a nickname for his older brother,
Vladimir. But maybe he was a little closer to Vladimir. Eavesdropping on
the conversation between the brothers, a small curiosity arose. Basim
let out a deep sigh and persistently persuaded Zhenya. - Come back
whenever you change your mind. I've taken care of everything here. I
promise not to approach your island anymore. If you want, I'll even give
you a place to stay, so... [Why? Are you starting to get scared because I
can't see you?]- …… [When and how will I come to ruin yours, I can't
stand it?]- Yevgeny. Are you really trying to call Zhenya in for such an
obvious purpose? They say that when you reach the pinnacle of power,
you become wary of your surroundings, but you're trying to keep the
biggest threat in your sight? In fact, an invisible enemy creates even
greater fear. How can humans be this shameless? It's not enough that
they sent a child to death to establish the authority of their family, but
Did he apologise properly when he was using me to clean up after me,
and then trying to take my weapon by force? No, he couldn't have. [I
still haven't come to my senses. When you say something easy to
someone, you apologise first.] Kwon Taekjoo, who had been listening,
suddenly interrupted. He felt Bajim hesitate at the unexpected, yet
familiar voice.- ...What about you? [Stop making excuses and show me
sincerity if you want something from me. I clearly warned you. I'll be
watching you no matter where you are.] Kwon Taekjoo, who had been
unilaterally shooting, ended the call without warning. Zhenya looked at
him with a dumbfounded expression. [When did you become so close
with Bajim, Taekjoo?] [Is that the point? We’ve just met a few times
before.] [Face to face?] [Ah, that’s the way it’s expressed. What on
earth are you imagining? This kid, you watch dramas with your mom,
but your thoughts are acting strangely?] [When did you meet him?]
Zhenya's interrogation continued. The bastard's eyes narrowed as if
trying to find out the truth. It was a common misunderstanding that
often occurred when directly translating common expressions in Korea
into Russian. Kwon Taekjoo sighed deeply and answered obediently.
[We just happened to meet at the terrorist scene. I visited briefly before
I picked you up.] [You went to find Bagim? What for?] [What happened?
I went to warn you that I wouldn't let you off easily if you touch me
again. Why?] His blue eyes widened at the blunt response. He raised his
hand, saying [Wait!] with an ominous feeling. To no avail, Zhenya was
shot. He ran up to the table and hugged Kwon Taekjoo. The cup and
bowl that he had hit slid to the floor and rolled around. Everyone in the
cafeteria looked at the two at the loud noise. [Hey... everyone saw it,
you idiot.] [Haa, Taekjoo....] Zhenya rubbed his face on Kwon Taekjoo's
neck without caring about the eyes around him. He kept calling Kwon
Taekjoo's name, not hiding his emotion. He’s not even a child, so why
should he be this happy just because someone listened to him? [You're
getting more and more whiny, you punk.] While nagging, he patted
Zhenya on the back. Maybe it was Kwon Taekjoo himself who made him
like that. So he had no choice but to stay by his side and take
responsibility until he got better. Kwon Taekjoo made eye contact with
each person in the store who was nagging at them. Everyone slowly
avoided eye contact with the cold gaze. The server who was coming to
clean up the place also backed away. [Hey. Don’t do this here, you
rascal...] Kwon Taekjoo secretly tried to stop Zhenya, who was pressing
his lips to his cheek and ear. If he was left alone, he would do whatever
he wanted to do, no matter who was watching. Of course, he would
have fallen silently if he told him not to. He wasn’t the kind of guy who
would give up. He turned his head slightly away from Zhenya, who kept
kissing his cheek and coming closer to his lips. He desperately pushed
his face away from the guy who was always trying to follow him. [Huh?
Are you listening?] He kept holding on and called his name. [Zhenya.]
The trailing words seemed to be urging him, but also coaxing him.
Zhenya hesitated and raised his head. Our eyes met as expected. [Shall
we go to Korea?] Just as much as saying let’s go back to the dorms. He
throws it lightly. Zhenya’s face is filled with puzzlement at the sudden
suggestion. He looks like he must have misheard something.
[Suddenly?] [After travelling abroad for a year, I’m starting to miss
kimchi stew. I want to go to a sauna and warm up my body.] [If that’s
the case, I think I can solve it even if I’m not in Korea?] [My mother, she
must miss you so much even if she doesn’t say anything.] He brought up
his mother as a last resort. Zhenya, who had been making an
incomprehensible expression, thinks for a moment, “Hmm.” Even
though he was a runner, his mother was the only person who was kind
to him. As a guy, he seemed to be nervous because he was the only
person besides Kwon Taekjoo with whom he had an emotional
exchange. [As expected, he can't get rid of his mama's boy nature.]
[Well, it's not like that.] [You don't have to be embarrassed. If you
missed the arms of a small woman, you should have told me a long time
ago.] Zhenya smiled and pulled away. He still understood whatever he
said. The guy's voice sounded fresher than usual as he got up from his
seat and said, "Go." A residential area in Ontario, Canada. The season
was just beginning to fall, but snow was piled up everywhere. Since half
of the year was winter in this area, the snow that fell early in the fall
was no longer unfamiliar. This was because she had been living there for
two years. Kwon Taekjoo’s mother stood by the steaming window and
looked out into the countryside. It was usually the time when the long-
awaited letter would arrive. However, today, there were noticeably
fewer cars passing by the house, and the postman did not show up. She
looked out toward the distant road, but she could not see even a car
that looked like a post office van. The news said that many roads were
closed due to early heavy snowfall. After hearing the news, he went out
in the morning to clear the snow in front of his house, but it seemed
pointless. They said that snow removal work would start on major roads
in the afternoon, so it was hard to estimate how long she would have to
wait. "Hey, even if you stand guard like that, it won't come quickly.
Come here and have some tea." Kwon Taekjoo's aunt, who couldn't
stand it any longer, called her younger sister from the window. Kwon
Taekjoo's mother said yes, but stood in the same spot without moving.
It was about a year ago that she received a sudden call from Kwon
Taekjoo. He was a katabutaha. He asked her to stay in Canada a little
longer until he could pick her up. He said there was nothing to worry
about and that all the problems had been resolved, but that he needed
time. He also added that Kwon Taekjoo was safer than anyone else, so
he asked me not to worry. He also promised that he would tell me
everything honestly when they met later. After hanging up the phone,
she tried calling Kwon Taekjoo right away. All she got was a voice
message saying that the number did not exist. She also tried calling
Zhenya right away, but that didn't work either. Feeling anxious, she
asked Yoon Jong-woo about the situation. Yoon Jong-woo gave a vague
answer, saying, "If you're my senior, I'll definitely keep my promise, so
please trust me and wait for me this time." Kwon Taekjoo's mother
hesitated for a moment and asked only one thing to confirm. 'Is the
ambassador with our Taek-joo?'- Yes, probably. It was the time when
news came that the Kremlin in Russia had been suddenly attacked and
the president had died. She was worried that Zhenya might have been
involved or that something had gone wrong with him as a result, but
she heard no more news. After much thought, she decided to trust her
son for the first time. She felt strangely relieved that Kwon Taekjoo was
not alone but with Zhenya. After that, life in Canada went quite
smoothly. Her older sister also recovered completely, and since she had
no one to take special care of, she had more time to herself. She spent
her time leisurely, without any stress, in an environment that was
almost completely isolated from the outside world. Since the two sisters
had gotten along well since they were young, just talking about this and
that would make the day go by quickly. In the meantime, postcards
arrived here and there. There was no sender. They were just brief
updates written in illegible handwriting. Sometimes even Kwon Taekjoo
couldn’t read his own handwriting, but his mother could decipher it.
The photos on the postcards had different backgrounds each time. This
was because they were sent just before Kwon Taekjoo and Zhenya left
the city. The last piece of mail he received was not a postcard, but a
letter. It said that they had arrived in the United States and that they
would likely stay there for about a week. Then, an unexpected instant
photo was enclosed. It was a photo of an Asian bride, surrounded by
many people and smiling happily. Because it was taken from a distance,
he had to look at it for a long time before he realised that she was Yuna-
hyun, a college classmate of Kwon Taekjoo. He remembered hearing
news that she was living in the United States and getting married soon.
They said that the wedding had been postponed for various reasons,
but before he knew it, it seemed like she had a lovely baby. Just looking
at the photo, it seemed like the full joy was completely transmitted. Did
Kwon Taekjoo feel the same way? He felt relieved because his life
seemed to be unstable enough to attend a friend's wedding. There was
one more photo in the envelope. She absentmindedly flipped through
the photos and let out a soft exclamation. 'Oh my.' It was a selfie that
seemed to have been taken by Zhenya. Kwon Taekjoo was looking into
the mirror behind him and tying his tie. It seemed like he was getting
ready to attend Yuna Hyun's wedding. Kwon Taekjoo was wearing a
plain white shirt with a black jacket, and Zhenya was wearing a silk shirt
with a white jacket with gold decorations. Even if they were the main
characters of the wedding, they looked like they would believe it. She
was slowly waiting for the next letter. She wondered if the two were still
in the US or if they had moved to another country. "Hey. The tea is
getting cold." "Yeah. Okay." Kwon Taekjoo's mother, who was about to
turn away at her sister's anger, looked out the window again, unable to
shake off her regret. Soon, she discovered something. Her eyes opened
wide. "...Sister. I should go home now." Kwon Taekjoo's mother fixed
her gaze outside the window and moved her lips. Her tone was
unrealistic, like something spoken in a dream. Her sister expressed her
doubts with a puzzled expression. "Suddenly?" "Yeah. I think it's time."
"Wouldn't you be lonely if you went? I heard Taek-joo went on a long
trip too?" Kwon Taekjoo's mother smiled instead of answering. Her eyes
were still fixed somewhere on the window. It was fixed. Her sister, who
had been wondering, came over to her and looked outside. Then she
saw her nephew walking through the snow that had piled up to his
waist. A handsome foreigner who must have been at least 2m tall was
following him. The two of them bickered the whole time as they headed
home. Kwon Taekjoo’s mother, who had been watching them, smiled
warmer than ever. *** Chuseok was approaching as expected. Her
mother went out to buy groceries, saying that since it was a holiday, she
should send some jeon. She had been away for several days. It was the
time when the house cleaning was finished. He was so tired that he
tried to persuade his mother to just eat lightly this year, but he couldn’t
break her strong will. Kwon Taekjoo followed his mother who was
walking ahead with an extremely bored expression. Neither his mother
expected him to be a porter or anything more. The market was bustling
with people because the national holiday was approaching. The crowds
moving in and out created a huge flow, so he had to walk as if he was
being pushed. It was impossible to avoid brushing up against others. In
the meantime, his mother, who had said she would buy some jeon,
stopped by every store. She had no fingers left to eat the ingredients
she had bought. There was none. Was she trying to set up a banquet
table? It was all because of the uninvited guests who came without
permission. [Oh? What is this? Are these side dishes? There are a lot of
red things in Korean food?] The guest who walked arm in arm with her
mother and chattered incessantly was none other than Olga. She hadn’t
contacted him for a while, but she showed up this morning out of the
blue wearing a hanbok. She was even wearing a jade ring and a
traditional hair ornament. He has no idea where she got all that stuff.
“Everything here is kimchi.” [You’re saying all this is kimchi? Lie.] “There
are so many kinds, right? Actually, there are more than this. I read in a
book that there are over 100 kinds? Do we have food like this in
Russia?” His mother explained about kimchi with an excited expression.
She also told him the names and main ingredients of the kimchi that
Olga was pointing out. Even though Zhenya and he only spoke Korean
and Russian, we could communicate strangely, and Olga did the same.
At this point, he began to suspect that my mother had learned Russian
without Kwon Taekjoo knowing. [Don’t worry, Joo. I’ll send that back
tonight.] Zhenya, standing next to him, glared at his younger brother
quietly. He looked at him and assured him. Even though he was the
same porter, he didn’t have a single bag in his hand. [… ..It seems
difficult.] [Are you doubting me?] [No. Look at my mother’s mood and
these bags. I don’t know for sure, but you guys, you’ll have to eat for 2
nights and 3 days? You’ll have to gain at least 3 kg before you can send
me.] He started walking again, resigned and confident. Zhenya still
glared at his younger sister and reluctantly followed him. Olga, who was
walking affectionately with his mother, suddenly pointed to a store.
[Huh? I know this! It’s ‘Hotteok’, right? A traditional Korean pancake!]
“Yes, Hotteok. Want to try one?” Before Olga could even answer, her
mother ordered Hotteok. Freshly baked Hotteok was handed out in a
paper cup. Olga was busy taking a commemorative photo with it.”
“Ambassador, have one too.” Mother offered Hotteok to Zhenya. He
smiled as if it was a lie and readily accepted the Hotteok. After smelling
it, he opened his mouth without hesitation, judging that it was edible.
She quickly stopped him. [Hey, wait. You shouldn’t eat that right away.]
Zhenya looked at Kwon Taek Joo with a puzzled look as he suddenly
applied the brakes. It seemed as if the goblin was trying to figure out
what he meant by looking people up and down out of the corner of his
eye. He was about to warn him to be careful because it was hot, but the
guy suddenly put his share of hotteok right in front of Kwon Taekjoo’s
nose. [Why.] [Isn’t that what you want me to do?] [What are you talking
about, right away.] [In your country, it’s polite to offer food to the
elderly first.] He exclaimed, “Oh,” at the unexpected remark. It was
strange and admirable that it was not someone else but Zhenya who
was being polite. Zhenya put his hotteok on Kwon Taekjoo’s lips and
added a word. [In the dramas that the little girl likes to watch, lovers
often do this.] The guy closed his eyes and smiled faintly. [Is it an
expression of affection? That’s why you always offered me ramen,
Taekjoo.] The fact that he had been feeding him ramen before was just
a joke. It was quite funny and cute how he pretended not to be spicy
when he was very spicy. However, if you want to misunderstand, you
don’t have to correct him. There seemed to be no point. Kwon Taekjoo
repeatedly blew his breath on the hotteok that was squishing against
his lips. Zhenya, who had been watching blankly, tilted his head. [You’re
doing something ticklish, Taekjoo.] [What tickles? This is different from
how it looks. It’s really hot inside. If you bite without thinking, it’ll burn
your palate and tongue. Okay, eat it now.] [It’s different from how it
looks. It’s hot inside… Is that your own fault?] [What are you talking
about!] When he shouted, Olga and her mother opened their eyes. He
looked around in a circle. People walking around the market were
openly ogling the two of them. They nodded awkwardly, smiling at the
sudden attention. Regardless, Zhenya turned the hotteok that Kwon
Taekjoo had cooled down left and right and smiled contentedly. Looking
at the face of the guy who looked particularly happy and his chin
slightly raised, it seemed like he had misunderstood something again.
[… …What is it?] [You can’t get over it without an indirect kiss like this? I
didn’t realise that your body was so hot. If you wanted to kiss, you
could have just said so honestly.] [You really talk nonsense every time
you open your mouth, right?] Whether Kwon Taekjoo was disgusted or
not, Zhenya readily bit into the hotteok. The guy who was savouring the
cooled hotteok looked down at Kwon Taekjoo with a sarcastic look. He
stuck out his red tongue and licked the sticky filling on his lips. He
cooled it down so that he wouldn’t get burned by the hot hotteok, but
he seemed to have completely mistaken that he was trying to talk to
him. If he tried any harder, his blood pressure would only rise. He shook
his head and walked ahead. The guy followed leisurely and grumbled at
Kwon Taek Joo that he was embarrassed again. In the meantime, his
mother went into her regular rice cake shop nearby. She was there to
buy rice flour to make songpyeon. The owner of the shop recognized his
mother and greeted her warmly. "Oh, welcome." "How are you?" "Oh,
of course. Your wife must have been busy. I was worried that she might
be sick since I haven't seen her in a while." "Oh, I just went to see my
sister for a bit." "That's right. You said your sister lives abroad, right?
Huh? But the person next to you is..." The rice cake shop owner, who
had been exchanging greetings with her mother, looked at Olga, who
kept taking pictures, with suspicion. She ran her eyes over Olga from
head to toe and made a hasty judgement before her mother could even
answer. "Oh my, oh my! You must be my daughter-in-law. Son, are you
finally getting married?" "Oh... I see?" The misunderstanding deepened
as the mother vaguely matched the rhythm. Olga, who didn't know
what was going on, just smiled brightly. The mother and the rice cake
shop owner, seeing her, praised her, saying that she was so pretty.
"Mother, let's just buy rice cakes." Kwon Taekjoo, who had just arrived
at the rice cake shop, made his last statement. The rice cake shop
owner looked back and forth between him and Olga, then smiled with
great satisfaction. "Oh my, you two are so good together. There is no
such thing as a handsome man or a beautiful woman." At that moment,
his spine tingled. He slowly turned around like a rusty machine. Zhenya
was chewing on a hotteok with an uninterested expression. When their
eyes met, he raised his eyebrows as if to say something. He quietly
sighed in relief and brushed his chest. If Zhenya had understood what
he said earlier, he thought that not only this rice cake shop but the
entire market would have been blown away. He was worried because
he pretended not to know and was jealous. Olga, who had been smiling
brightly, asked Kwon Taekjoo what they were talking about. [Taekjoo.
What are you two talking about?] [You don't have to know.] [Hmm? Do I
use a translator? If I use a translator, Taekjoo's mother will know about
the translator. Is that okay?] Olga shook hee phone lightly. He had to
prevent his mother from finding out about the translator. It was all
because of that guy, Zhenya, who didn't know what to say in front of
her. [...I think he mistook you for my bride-to-be.] [Are you crazy?] [It
wasn't me, it was him...] Olga raised her hand as if she had nothing
more to say. She put her hand on her forehead and pretended to be
dizzy. [Oh, I think I heard too much harsh language. I feel embarrassed.]
[Hey, I don’t like it either?] [Of course. Taekjoo likes men.] [No, it’s not
that he likes men…] His back hurts. It felt like the blood flow to my head
had temporarily increased. He was about to lash out, but he gave up
because it was just a pointless argument. His mother left the store right
then. ‘'Then please sell a lot. Have a nice holiday." "Yes. Be careful going
in." Olga lightly covered her clothes with her hand, bowed, and
followed her mother. Kwon Taekjoo, who had gained 5kg more, clicked
his tongue and followed the two. The owner of the rice cake shop came
out to see them off to the door and winked at Kwon Taekjoo. "You're
finally being filial? Your mother's lifelong wish was to have a daughter-
in-law. You have to live a pretty life." It seemed like her mother didn't
correct the truth until the end. She felt a pang, but she didn't show it.
He tried to do it. He smiled awkwardly and said to Zhenya, “Let’s go.”
He pulled the guy’s collar. The guy followed him obediently, but didn’t
take his eyes off the rice cake shop. [Why, you little brat.] [Why does
that woman keep smiling at you?] [I gave you a compliment. Live well.]
He held out his hand full of luggage to Zhenya. The guy didn’t
understand what he meant right away and just stared blankly. He gently
tickled the back of his hand with his thumb and held Kwon Taekjoo’s
hand as if supporting it with a puzzled expression. Thanks to that, one
arm felt lighter. He still wanted If there is something, you have to say it
out loud or give hints, but I guess that teaching has its own reward.
[Share the load like this. Let's live a pretty life together.] He smiled and
gently pulled the hand of the guy who was holding his hand. Then, the
guy who had been staring at me the whole time suddenly stuck his
mouth out. He barely avoided the collision by turning his head. The guy
didn't give up and stubbornly followed him. He kept moving his head
here and there to avoid the guy. Since the guy grabbed his hand, his
range of motion was limited. He stood there for a long time, struggling,
his breathing quickened, and his shoulders shook. The two of them
were a little. He didn't back down and confronted me, grumbling. [Haa,
haa.... Everyone saw it, you crazy kid!] [You proposed in front of
everyone and now you're talking nonsense?] [Who proposed...!] Before
he could even finish speaking, Zhenya rushed at him. He hurriedly
stepped back, but his feet got twisted and he fell down towards the
emergency exit of the commercial building. Zhenya immediately fell on
top of him and their lips met. All the luggage that was in both hands
was thrown to the floor. Zhenya grabbed his neck in an instant, so he
lost his mind. He avoided a concussion. No, should he be thankful for
something like this? He looked at Zhenya with an annoyed look and
then hugged his head. He felt like it had already happened and he
should let it happen. He let out a sharp exhale, his throat ringing.
Pedestrians continued to pass by without seeing the two people hidden
by the stairs. The market was still noisy and bustling as if nothing had
happened. "How old are you to fall, fall. Look carefully before you
walk." His mother was tidying up the bruised fruit while nagging him.
There was no place on his body or luggage that was intact due to
Zhenya’s fierce affection. Kwon Taekjoo grumbled while taking out the
broken green onions and shattered onions with an embarrassed
expression. “I told you, there were too many people. I tried not to fall,
but I got hurt worse. Anyway, our mother is really indifferent. Aren’t
you worried about your injured son?” “Worried? I’m worried that a
grown man is walking around eating his knees, you punk! How long are
you going to be so reckless? Put that down and go disinfect it!” He
grumbled for nothing and got scolded twice. Zhenya and Olga were just
drinking tea next to that hat. "You don't look old at all when you see
him getting angry. I told you his voice just got better." "Why do you keep
mumbling? I told you to apply some medicine!" "Oh, let's go. Let's go."
Unable to bear his mother's nagging, he got up from his seat. Just as he
was leaving the kitchen, the doorbell rang. He went to the intercom and
looked at the screen. Yoon Jong-woo's face was filled with a smile.-
Mother! It's here! Jong-woo is here! Yoon Jong-woo shouted loudly
enough to echo throughout the apartment. He glared at him on the
screen with a displeased look. "What? Mom, did you call him too?"
"Jong-woo's parents went on a trip to Europe. He said he'd spend this
holiday alone, so I called him so we could eat together instead." His
mother answered loudly from the kitchen. How could that be possible?
Kwon Taekjoo narrowed his eyes as if he didn't like it. "That's a lie, that's
a lie." He grumbled and went out to the front door. For some reason, he
came to ask me when it was a holiday. He went to Yoon Jong-woo's
house and went in and out of other people's houses like it was his own.
It seemed like it was an annual event now. When he opened the front
door, Yoon Jong-woo was standing there with a big smile. He was
holding a fruit basket and a large bouquet of flowers in each hand.
"Senior, it's been a while! How have you been?" Yoon Jong-woo gave a
typical greeting and rolled his eyes. He seemed to be looking for
something. When he didn't see the person he was looking for, he
stretched his head out and looked inside the house. Kwon Taekjoo
snatched the gifts from his hand. "I received them. You went to see your
mother. I'll tell you. Have a nice holiday and be careful on your way
back." "Huh? You're just going to go?" "You should spend the holiday at
home with your family." She pushed Yoon Jong-woo's back while
laughing. Yoon Jong-woo, who was struggling, held onto the door frame
and held on. "No, wait! Wait! Your mother invited you to eat with her!
How can you kick me out like this when I haven't even met your mother
yet, senior?" "That's why I said I'd tell you." When Kwon Taekjoo's prank
reached its peak, The military song came. It was Olga. [Jongwoo!] Yoon
Jongwoo's mouth fell open in an instant. That must have been his real
purpose. Yoon Jongwoo used his superhuman strength to escape from
Kwon Taekjoo. His eyes, nose, and mouth looked like they would fall off
at any moment as he faced Olga. [It's been a while. How have you
been?] [Yes! How have you been, Olga? Has your health improved?]
[My health is always the same. What can I do about my sad fate?]
[Olga....] [I don't think the life of a sickly beauty is bad, either.] [That's
true.] [What's 'That's true.'] He completely lost his mind and rebuked
Yoon Jong-woo, who responded like an idiot. However, Kwon Taekjoo's
voice seemed unheard by Olga, who held her hands together as if
praying and pretended to be the main character of a tragedy, and Yoon
Jong-woo, who seemed ready to take out his liver and gallbladder. [How
am I doing today?] Olga spread her arms as if she had never been sad
before and turned around in her seat. Yoon Jong-woo clapped his hands
without hesitation and praised her. [Wow, Olga. You look like a pretty
girl when you dress up like that.] He couldn't bear to watch any longer.
He kicked Yoon Jong-woo's butt and sent him inside. "Just stop,
seriously. It's disgusting to look at." "What am I, senior?" "You
shameless brat. Stop blocking my path and just go in quickly." Yoon
Jong-woo pouted his lips and suddenly handed me an envelope. He
couldn't take it quickly because he didn't have enough hands, so he
asked, "What is it?" "Senior, here's the new ID and related documents."
"Oh... They're already out?" "Already? They're only out now. You've
been inconvenienced for a while. I guess the process was complicated
because it had to be done secretly." While he was travelling abroad and
after returning to Korea, he always lived under a temporary identity.
Since he’s been working as an agent for a long time, it wasn't awkward
to live under someone else's identity. However, whenever he came
back, it felt like his life, which had been on hold for a while, would start
again, but now that life had stopped forever a year ago. It was Kwon
Taekjoo's own decision, and he doesn't regret it, but he felt a strange
emotion. "Can you really call this a new life? You know it, the director
knows it, and everyone involved knows it." "Right now, it might be, but
won't time solve it? In any case, the official end of my past life has been
put on hold. Now, no matter what happens in the country, I won't have
to worry about being called out. Isn't that more frustrating? My
education and career are all gone." "Well, they're not really necessary
anymore." "The director said to live well. I don't want my past actions to
be revealed." Yoon Jong-woo folded the envelope into small pieces and
put it in Kwon Taek-joo’s pants pocket. Then he said, “Oh, I’m hungry,”
and quickly took off his shoes and went inside. Kwon Taekjoo stood in
the hallway and looked down at the envelope in his pocket. When
Director Kwak agreed to his request, his existing resident registration
number was cancelled. The National Intelligence Service record that he
died on duty while performing an operation in Iran was not revised
either. According to Yoon Jong-woo, another “nameless star” was
engraved on the main office’s entrance, and that day, the employees
even had a moment to honour their departed colleague. In fact, Kwon
Taekjoo’s life itself had changed significantly. There was no corner. He
briefly told his mother what had happened and informed her that her
existing resident registration would be cancelled due to retirement. His
mother said that she would endure all the changes just because her
only son would no longer do dangerous work. In any case, Kwon
Taekjoo’s occupation had never been publicly known, and since he had
joined the National Intelligence Service, he had not interacted actively
with his relatives or those around him, so it was easy to build a new life.
The only thing that remained was the fundamental question of how he
would live from now on. [Taekjoo. What are you doing standing there?]
The kitchen became noisy with Yoon Jong-woo’s appearance, and
Zhenya did not return for a long time. He came out to find Kwon
Taekjoo who didn’t know. He almost got excited after receiving his new
ID, but when he saw him, all his distracting thoughts were gone. [No,
nothing. Let’s go in.] He was about to head back to the kitchen with a
smile when Zhenya suddenly grabbed my wrist. Then, he stared blankly
at the wound on his palm that had been cut while he was falling. [You
haven’t even treated it yet.] [What kind of treatment is this? It’ll get
better if you leave it alone.] He always had that kind of scar so he didn’t
feel anything new. But that guy, he guesses. The guy who was
meticulously examining Kwon Taekjoo’s wounds licked it without
hesitation. His clean tongue endlessly groped the raw skin. Sometimes,
he took better care of his body than Kwon Taekjoo himself. He messed
up Zhenya’s hair. The guy stared at Kwon Taekjoo as if he was curious.
All of Zhenya's questions, curiosity, and interest, then and now, were
always directed to one place. At the base of it all, there was a deep blue
innocence that didn't suit him at all. As you live, there will be times
when you feel empty and have a lot of thoughts, but it seems like you
wouldn't regret your decision. No, you wouldn't. The food filled the
table and was left over. It was like a typical Korean restaurant where you
had to stack small bowls on top of each other. It was the first time Kwon
Taekjoo’s mother had prepared this much food since her father invited
his colleagues over when he was still alive. For the time being, she had
no idea where to start or if she would be able to try a bite. “I don’t have
much to offer, but everyone is eating a lot.” “Oh my, mother. I don’t
have much to offer. My table legs are about to break. I feel like I’m the
king today!” “Jong-woo, you worked hard helping out. I’ll pack some
food for you later, so take it and Eat." "Thank you, Mother. I will eat
well." He looked at Yoon Jong-woo, who was always smiling happily.
Yoon Jong-woo, who had been smiling and holding his spoon, suddenly
flinched. It wasn't because of Kwon Taek-joo's glare. It was because
Zhenya was glaring at him with a prickly gaze from the side. [Ah, that...
Mr. Yevgeny, eat a lot too.] "Hey, how long are you going to use
honorifics? I told you two that you're friends?" "What do you mean,
friends...!" "Oh, so? Jong-woo and the ambassador are the same age?"
Just as Yoon Jong-woo was about to jump up and deny it, his mother
clapped her hands and smiled happily. His mother kept looking back
and forth between Yoon Jong-woo and Zhenya with a look of extreme
satisfaction. Yoon Jong-woo let out an awkward laugh. "It's just that we
were born in the same year. Hahaha." "So there's no reason to be more
difficult. If you keep coming and going to our house like this, you'll keep
running into him. How long are you going to do that? Hey, you're not an
ambassador anymore." "It's scarier because you're not an ambassador
anymore. What? It won’t matter, you never know what he’ll do!”
“..Hmm? The ambassador is scary?” The mother, who had been
listening, tilted her head and looked at Zhenya. Zhenya smiled as if
responding to her gaze. For a moment, the mother’s face, which had
been filled with doubt, completely relaxed. “Are you scared because the
ambassador is so tall? He’s so kind.” “Ahaha, haha, I have a fear of
foreigners.” Yoon Jong-woo, who had been talking nonsense, picked up
all the food he could and put it in his mouth. His cheeks were red.
When it got to the point, he raised both thumbs up and clapped his
hands without stopping, saying it was delicious. His mother couldn’t
hide her joy at the barrage of compliments he poured out with his
whole body. She told him to eat slowly, offered him different foods, and
even filled his empty water glass. [Stop staring and eat.] She lightly
kicked Zhenya’s foot under the table. Only then did Zhenya’s gaze,
which seemed to be piercing through Yoon Jong-woo, return to Kwon
Taek-joo. She gestured to the food that had been laid out for him to eat
quickly. Zhenya picked up his fork with an unimpressed expression and
scooped up the japchae in front of him. The thin noodles slipped
without a trace. His mother sighed at the sight. Zhenya silently all he
could do was look at the main dish. "Ugh." He picked up a generous
amount of japchae with his chopsticks and placed it on Zhenya's bowl.
Then he rolled the noodles with his fork and put them neatly in his
mouth. If he wants to, he can do it, but he acts spoiled. His mother said,
"Give me some of this too," and pushed the ribs and pancakes in front
of Zhenya. As soon as Zhenya finished emptying his bowl, he quietly
stared at Kwon Taekjoo. He sighed and picked up the side dishes one by
one and piled them on Zhenya's rice bowl. Olga looked down at her
brother with a very displeased look. Zhenya didn't care at all and just
put the well-cut rib pieces in his mouth. Olga sneered, as if she didn't
know how to pray. [You weren't dating, you were raising a child, right,
Taekju?] [Who made this little brat into a big brat?] That didn't seem
like something a Bogdanov family member should say. Zhenya, who had
been listening silently, lifted her chin slightly. Olga's brow furrowed at
the sight. [A big brat? No matter how much of a metaphor it is, how can
you see that person as a child? You have a great sense of humor.] [You
just left it at that and are talking nonsense. Is it long?] [We never
dumped it. The taxi driver just picked it up without permission.] [Oh,
really? If you threw it away once, you should just pretend not to know.
Why does it keep getting sticky?] [I've never done that before?] [You
said 'we' a little while ago. Your attitude changes quickly.] [Are you
going to keep doing this? Are you trying to do it?] [You started the fight?
That's right. Why did you come here and see something you didn't have
to see?] He muttered to himself and picked up the mountain and put it
in his rice bowl. Yoon Jong-woo was busy rolling my eyes at the tense
standoff between Taekjoo and Olga. No matter how hard he chewed the
food in his mouth, it wouldn’t go down his throat. Zhenya continued
eating her own meal as if it were someone else’s business. “Look at this.
Isn’t the songpyeon that the ambassador made so pretty?” The tense
atmosphere suddenly collapsed as my mother picked up one of the
songpyeon. Her chopsticks held a songpyeon that looked as if it had
been made by machine, with a balanced shape. It certainly seemed like
she was good at anything she did by hand. Kwon Taekjoo, Yoon Jong-
woo, and Olga’s songpyeon were all made in the same way, and they
looked like dumplings, making Zhenya’s songpyeon stand out even
more. "There is a saying in Korea that if you make songpyeon well, you
will have a pretty baby. Since the ambassador is so handsome, the baby
will naturally be pretty." The mother explained with a smile. Zhenya
looked at Kwon Taekjoo as usual. Olga also looked curious. Both of them
seemed curious about what she was talking about while holding the
songpyeon for a long time. [Oh, in Korea, there is a saying that if you
make songpyeon or dumplings well, your second child will be born
pretty. The senior's mother said that Yevgeny was good with his hands
and that the baby would be born pretty.] He didn't interpret on
purpose, but Yoon Jong Woo spoke without noticing. Zhenya, who had
been listening quietly, smiled and tilted her head toward her mother.
[Well? I guess we’ll have to give birth to find out. Your son is really bad
with his hands.] Olga was taken aback by the unexpected remark and
groaned. There’s nothing a crazy kid can’t say at the dinner table. “Oh,
are you okay?” [Olga, are you okay? Here’s a tissue.] The mother and
Yoon Jongwoo, who didn’t understand Zhenya’s words, took care of
Olga. Kwon Taekjoo glared at the calm Zhenya and silently ordered him
to shut his mouth. Zhenya asked what he had done wrong and raised
his eyebrows. When Olga regained her composure, she looked at
Zhenya again, wondering what her mother was talking about. She
suddenly got up from her seat, as if the strange conversation was about
to continue. Naturally, everyone's eyes turned to Kwon Taekjoo. "It
looks like you've finished eating. Should I clean up?" "What about you?
Why are you in such a hurry after having invited guests?" "Oh, the food
smells. You should clean up quickly and get some rest. If you
procrastinate, you'll be cleaning up until dawn." "Then, should we play
Yut Nori to see who can do the dishes? Yevgeny or Olga. I think it would
be good to introduce traditional games as well. Yoon Jong-woo
suggested cheerfully. It seemed like he had no intention of returning
home today. "There's a dishwasher, so why are you betting on it?" "But
you still have to wash the larvae. And there are a lot of dishes today, so
you can't wash them all at once. It's a nuisance to keep the dishwasher
running until dawn." He was about to retort, asking why he was doing
something useless, whether he was doing it once or twice. His mother
readily agreed. "Should we do that to create a proper holiday
atmosphere?" Suddenly, a Yutnori game board was set up. Since there
were five of us, Mother and Olga formed a team, and the remaining
three decided to participate as individuals. Wedecided the order with
rock-paper-scissors and threw the Yut in turn. For some reason,
whenever Mother and Olga threw, either Yut or Mo came out. The two
of them quickly ran away, carrying two pieces each from the beginning.
On the other hand, Yoon Jong-woo always has a dog. It was a game
where luck and split-second judgement were everything, so he
wondered why he was so unlucky. Kwon Taekjoo, who was next in line,
also mostly got a dog. But it wasn't a big problem because he used Yoon
Jong-woo's words as a stepping stone. Yoon Jong-woo expressed his
discontent as he watched Kwon Taek-joo, who kept grabbing his words
and climbing up. "Oh, senior. Why are you like this? So fatal." "What's
fatal? I have to eat too." While he was bickering with Yoon Jong-woo,
Zhenya threw a yut stick. A yut stick came out. The horse that had been
advancing while trampling on Yoon Jong-woo was caught in an instant.
It didn't end there. When Kwon Taekjoo threw a dog, Zhenya also got a
dog, and when Kwon Taekjoo threw a walk, Zhenya also got a walk. On
very rare occasions, a walk came out after a mo, and then the guy
would grab Kwon Taekjoo's horse, which was staying on the third
square, and He chose a roundabout way. Because of that, neither Yoon
Jong-woo, Kwon Taekjoo, nor even Zhenya himself could move forward.
What was that Yut Nori game? His stomach turned inside out. [Hey, you
punk! Go your own way! Why do you keep arguing with other people
and talking nonsense!] [How can you not grab me when you’re right in
front of me?] [What, you punk? Are you saying we should die
together?] [Taek-joo. There are many ears listening, but you have no
shame.] Zhenya grumbled even after being grabbed by the collar. He
grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s wrist, who was holding his collar. He rubbed
the inside with his thumb. He couldn't understand what kind of cool
thing Kwon Taekjoo himself said or why he was acting so cocky. Olga,
who was very excited, ignored the two men and focused on the game.
As if it were a lie, the cards matched perfectly. [Okay, now let's carry on!
Carry again! Let's go.] In an instant, the four horses gathered at one
point. Yoon Jong-woo, who still hadn't left the starting point, tried to
stop Olga. [Oh! Ms. Olga, that's too greedy.] [It's a one-shot deal.] In an
instant, the situation tilted. He pushed Yoon Jong-woo's back in his
impatience. "Hey, catch him! Hurry up and catch him!" "Ouch! How can
I catch him when my senior keeps catching me!" He grabbed Yoon Jong-
woo's horse, who was sulking, and went up to the fifth space. Mother
and Olga's four horses were only four spaces ahead. Only Kwon Taekjoo
himself had the chance to send them all back to the starting point and
take the lead. He looked at Zhenya with desperate eyes. He threw the
Yut piece absentmindedly. A Yut piece came out. He watched,
wondering if it was possible. In the additional opportunity, the Tao
came out without fail. [...No.] [Strangely, when you say no, Taekjoo, I
want to do it more.] He shook his head desperately, but Zhenya came
up without hesitation and swallowed Kwon Taekjoo’s words. Then,
when he was given another chance, he threw the Yut again. When the
hook came out, the guy's horse went down to the centre. Kwon Taekjoo
swallowed his anger and quickly thought. Since his mother and Olga's
horses had passed the centre, they had to arrive at the starting point
exactly, and then Zhenya had to throw the hook and catch all four
horses to have a chance of winning. The problem was that the guy
Kwon Taekjoo might have done that because he was obsessed with
catching himself. Even if they combined their strength, it would not be
enough, and it seemed like there were only enemies in the sky and on
all sides. Olga threw the Yut with all her might. The Yut sticks fell with a
snap snap snap sound. Olga tilted her head as she saw a tile she had
never seen before. [Huh? What is this?] "Oh my, it's a white dot." [Ms.
Olga, you have to go back one space.] [Hmm? If you go back.] Olga's
eyes rolled slowly. Soon She found Zhenya's horse standing right behind
them. She smiled with a smile of satisfaction and moved her horse
backwards, knocking Zhenya's horse far away from the Yut board.
Zhenya exclaimed, "Ha!" Then, her mother threw another Yut piece.
Incredibly, a Mo came out. The two of them didn't even have time to
catch it and immediately won. [Wow! We won!] Olga hugged her
mother tightly, intoxicated by the thrill of victory, and rubbed her cheek
against hers. Her mother smiled brightly and patted Olga on the back. "I
should have had a daughter." [Huh? What did Taek-ju's mother just
say?] [She said she wanted Olga to be her daughter because she was so
pretty.] Yoon Jong-woo quickly translated with a selfish interest. Olga,
who had been blinking, laughed out loud. [Think of her as a daughter.
Maybe we can become a real family.] [If you keep doing this, go home,
quickly.] [Oh my? In Korea, they just chase away guests like this, don't
they?] [How many times do I have to say this? You're not a guest, you're
an uninvited guest.] While Olga and he were bickering for a while,
Mother and Yoon Jong-woo blinked and stared at Kwon Taekjoo. They
were curious about what Olga was talking about in Russian. He couldn’t
translate it directly, so he gave a rough answer. “... Thank you for being
so kind.” “Hmm? Isn’t the Russian way to say thank you ‘sva shiva’? That
didn’t sound like it at all.” “Just understand, you brat.” He lost his
temper at Yoon Jong-woo for picking on him. Then Zhenya, who had
been quiet the whole time, slowly looked back and forth between the
two. Yoon Jong-woo, who was pale, hurriedly said, “That was strictly a
curse word.” He explained. Zhenya looked incredulous. Yoon Jong-woo
grabbed Kwon Taek-joo’s trouser leg, asking him to explain quickly. He
sighed and got up from his seat. Zhenya’s gaze followed him as usual.
He nodded toward the kitchen. [Get up. Since we lost, we have to go
wash the dishes.] He looked straight at Yoon Jong-woo. All three of
them had returned to the starting point, but it seemed like he didn’t
understand why he was the only one who was exempted from the
dishwashing duty. [What are you talking about with Olga and your
mother alone? You have to include him to communicate.] [Hmm....] [If
you're going to be alone with me, you should be.] At the words that
followed, Olga openly disapproved and made a strange sound. Her
mother and Yoon Jong-woo looked at her strangely. Regardless, he
motioned to Zhenya to go again and went into the kitchen first. As soon
as he stood in front of the sink, Zhenya followed him and hugged Kwon
Taekjoo from behind. The bastard, who had his head on Kwon Taekjoo's
shoulder, rubbed his forehead against the back of his neck. His
breathing seemed slightly ragged. ['Yut Nori, it's quite fun.] [What's fun
about it? It's just annoying.] [I can hold you as much as I want.] [Ha... I
told you my tastes are really weird.] [That's not something the person
with the most tastes should say.] He roughly ruffled the ticklish guy's
hair and raised his head to kiss his cheek. Then he immediately turned
his head and bumped his lips. [No.] he said and stepped back, but he
stubbornly pushed my face up and covered my lips again. He could hear
my mother, Olga, and Yoon Jong-woo laughing from a distance, and he
sweetly surrendered to him. The next afternoon, he visited the National
Cemetery. The three people who had been drinking until dawn and
made excuses not to return home were also there. Olga wore a black
mini dress with a cape and carried a lace parasol. It was a different
design from the clothes he had seen before. Did she buy it on purpose?
Yoon Jong-woo pretended to be a photographer, casually strutting
around. Olga moved slightly in front of him and struck a pose. She took
hundreds of pictures in just one place. Sometimes she even dragged his
mother in to take pictures with her. Was it because of that? Whenever
she came to see her father and brother, her mother’s face, which had
always been deep in thought, became brighter. He didn't know the cow
would be moved. He watched the scene for a moment and then turned
his head straight ahead. In front of his father's grave, there was a
monument with the inscription 'Army Colonel Kwon Ho-hyeon's Grave'.
He was only 45 years old when he died. It might have been the most
noble and honourable end for a soldier. Kwon Taekjoo himself was able
to enjoy today's peaceful life thanks to his devotion, so as a citizen, he
felt indebted to him. However, his absence was too great and a long
sorrow for the family he left behind. Whenever he thought of his father,
he always felt a mixture of pride and resentment. As he stood there,
Zhenya was standing under the monument. He put down the white lily.
He watched the scene silently and then opened his mouth. [I was
curious. What kind of mindset did my father have? What made my
brother become a soldier after experiencing the lives of his family
members left behind after my father passed away? Was it so
meaningful to protect the country even if it meant giving up his own
safety and happiness?] Zhenya raised his eyebrows slightly, perhaps
because it was unexpected. It was a feeling she had never shown
before. Kwon Taekjoo shrugged and added. [I just didn't understand... I
thought maybe if I were in the same situation, I would understand a
little.] That was the reason why Kwon Taekjoo couldn't take his eyes off
the special forces recruitment notice he happened to see. It was also
the reason why he didn't hesitate when the National Intelligence
Service unexpectedly offered him a job. At the same time, it was the
basis for Kwon Taekjoo's previous statement that he had no special
patriotism. After a brief pause, Zhenya asked. [So. You could
understand?] Kwon Taekjoo shook his head without hesitation. [No. I'm
not one of those two people to begin with. Just because our situations
are somewhat similar doesn't mean I can completely empathize with
their feelings.] [And you held on bravely?] [It wasn’t bad. It was about
checking my limits, and finally completing a mission that seemed
impossible. It gave me a sense of accomplishment, increased my self-
efficacy, and was more thrilling than anything else.] A smile spread
across Zhenya’s lips. [That’s a masochistic remark.] [Who’s a masochist!
There’s nothing you can’t say in front of someone else’s father, you
punk?] [That’s a new feeling, Taekjoo. If you had ears to hear, you would
have already seen what we were doing?] He was speechless at the
shameless response. This time, it couldn’t even be called a logical leap.
He patted Zhenya on the shoulder, telling him to stop. He was getting
beaten up for no reason, but he kept laughing and asking in a serious
tone. Then he gradually stopped laughing and asked in a serious tone.
[And you’re going to give that up?] [Yeah.] [Why?] [Working for the
country can be an indirect means of protecting me and my family, but
I’m not there. The things I’ve achieved through hardship are just self-
satisfaction, and they’re not recorded anywhere, and they shouldn’t be.
Suddenly, I felt empty, wondering what the meaning of such a life was. I
came to my senses after dying and coming back to life once. I was so
miserable that I could die right away. But, honour? Patriotism? What
use is all that? I doubt that the things I believed were right all this time
we're really just. It’s time to leave.] He spoke frankly about the worries
and conclusions he had been repeating to myself. Zhenya, who had
been listening silently, suddenly made a comment. [It took a long time
to solve it. It wasn’t that difficult of a problem.] [That’s right. If I hadn’t
met you, Zhenya, I would still be lost.] [Am I your answer?] He made
aslightly embarrassed expression. For a moment, it felt like his
bloodshot eyes had become transparent. It was. I’ve never thought
about it that much, so I didn’t think it was necessary to disappoint him.
He scratched his chin and paused for a moment before responding as if
he was okay with it. [Hmm…It’s not a typical answer, but whatever. We
have a saying that if you go all the way to Seoul, you’ll be fine.] [What
does that mean?] Zhenya’s eyebrows furrowed without a doubt. He
seemed dissatisfied with the vague answer, even if he was just quick-
witted. Kwon Taekjoo grinned and ruffled the guy’s hair. His face looked
incredibly carefree. [I mean I’m satisfied with your answer.] The blue
eyes that had been round for a moment suddenly opened warmly. The
eyelids also half-drooped and the eyes became much softer. It was a
look that foreshadowed a kiss. "Mother! What is this? There's a flower
blooming here that I've never seen before!" Yoon Jong-woo, who was
walking to the graveyard, made a sharp turn and led his mother and
Olga to the opposite side. His desperate voice echoed loudly in the
quiet graveyard. He smiled and grabbed Zhenya's chin as he slowly
approached him, kissing him lightly. The deep, scorching sunset melted
between their lips, creating a halo that surrounded the two lovers. In a
space honouring the noble soul, he buried his past self behind the stars
and vowed to move forward. His heart beat pleasantly with anticipation
for a new life. It seemed that no matter what life was, it would no
longer be lonely or boring if he was with Zhenya.
THE END!