Chapter 20

Chapter 20

The atmosphere gradually got worse.

Whatever organization if the upper line is shaking it becomes this shape, and 707 was no different. At times even the joint training schedule with the US military in Okinawa that was set was suddenly canceled two days before to the point such things happened.

Then one day in early spring.

The kind Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun quietly approached Yi-hyeon and said.

“Youngest, put on clothes properly. It’s a call from the commander.”

“Yes.”

The two moved riding a jeep. But the direction is not Namtaeryeong side.

“Oh? We’re going to Icheon?”

“Yes. From some time ago he is there. These days the commander’s mood is uncomfortable so be careful with words.”

“···Yes.”

Inside the Icheon Special Warfare Command there is a building that is like 707’s headquarters. There is also a white tiger statue symbolizing the unit··· really, countryside. Military units are like that what.

Anyway leaving a fine building at the headquarters more than half the unit members spend days training in a secluded place in Wonyong.

“Loyalty!”

The commander seeing Yi-hyeon expressionlessly pointed with his chin to the front seat.

“Don’t shout and sit. Today the talk seems it will be a little long.”

Though spring inside the unit was chilly. Probably because the commander’s room window is wide open, strangely just passing the unit guard post and entering the temperature seems to drop several degrees and becomes chilly.

“···Hmm. That way I came to move positions.”

“······.”

Yi-hyeon had nothing to say.

Commander Im Gi-yong is finally said to be promoted to general. Becoming a general by promotion for an ordinary soldier would be the glory of the family but seeing the commander’s expression it is not the expression of a person ahead of promotion.

The commander is to be promoted next month and move positions, and is said to go to a rear division in the south. Even while becoming a general that soldiers wish even in dreams the expression is dark.

Right. This gentleman is said to have wished to become the brigade commander of a brigade under the special warfare command.

“I wonder if you need to know this, but just know it. In the meantime I blocked several times the requests to mobilize Alpha Team for joint training with the US military side or external operations. Well, I did so making this and that excuses. With that matter it seems the army headquarters thought of me uncomfortably.”

Yi-hyeon has nothing to say. Because it became like this there is also responsibility on himself who violated the commander’s instruction to restrain and stood out too much.

“For me, if I go to the post it’s done, but when my successor comes the situation will not be easy.”

Aigoo! There is my fault too, but the high person (?) who tries to resolve such things politically is also a problem.

Hearing the not good talk Yi-hyeon’s mood returning to the training camp sank. Because there were more than two years left in military life but somehow it seemed it would not be smooth.

Returning to the camp Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho quietly calls. These days strangely there are many people calling Yi-hyeon.

“This, it became a bit funny, I, am transferring out.”

“Yes? No wasn’t the team leader’s period still a bit left?”

“Well, the period is still a little left but··· what can be done? If told to do one has to do. Shit.”

Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho unlike an officer cursed and spat.

Yi-hyeon was also dumbfounded.

Originally the team leader’s official name is company commander, captain rank and position is company commander. Since officer status of course if serving more than 36 months in the special forces one can transfer out to another place. And while doing so also get promoted and such.

The problem is that Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho is in a state where that service years are not yet filled.

This is surely···

Even the commander was blown away (?) and now even the team leader!

“It’s because of me.”

Yi-hyeon became a little sorry feeling and said. Then Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho flared up.

“What is that talk? This is the upper heads’ political play is it your fault? No need to worry about me. When the successor comes all kinds of work will enter on you, that is the worry.”

Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho was sincerely worrying about Yi-hyeon. Why wouldn’t he. If during the last Afghanistan rescue operation Yi-hyeon had not rescued Guitar and Peanut he would have had to live harboring a lifelong regret. Of course himself taking off the military uniform too.

“Don’t worry about me, still they will promote the team leader right? Though it’s US military’s, since received a medal too. Hehe.”

Yi-hyeon joked and rather soothed him.

“Bastard! Yes, thanks to someone it seems I will get promoted.”

Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho who unfolded his face and smiled touched Yi-hyeon’s short hair and said.

“Youngest, always be careful. Show only half your skill. Got it?”

Hearing the sound of Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho speaking like an older brother Yi-hyeon welled up.

Shit! This damn army, when 4 years I will exactly discharge.

* * *

In the midst of that Sion whether doing his own work said one word to Yi-hyeon.

- Yi-hyeon. As I said the investment is gradually increasing. The margin is good, the margin.

‘Such things are not called margin but return rate.’

Wait! The stock investment made money? How much?

‘How much did you earn?’

- Uh··· if saying by return rate as Yi-hyeon said it will be about average 312 percent. Investing in a total of 28 items.

‘······?’

Does this make sense? Not long ago when going out on leave he invested 1 billion as Sion pointed (?) and that return rate is a full 312 percent. Then how much money is it? Profit money 3.1 billion something plus principal 1 billion.

‘Sion! Let’s burn more money. Wait a moment··· how much is in my account?’

When the excited Yi-hyeon made a fuss Sion scolded gently.

- Ahem! Yi-hyeon, calm down. Making a fuss so without dignity with only that much pocket money.

Dignity or whatever is that the problem? In just a few months 312 percent. This is a jackpot.

- From now on let’s earn money within common sense like this. Then others will understand.

Only after hearing Sion’s words Yi-hyeon came to his senses.

Ah, right! I am an active-duty soldier. In a situation busy even shooting guns if earning a huge amount of money with stock investment it might become a problem.

Let’s earn slowly slowly···

Yi-hyeon calmed his pounding heart. Since he is now early twenties earning money after discharge is enough. Until then···

- Growth is important, Yi-hyeon. Do not forget that we are existences that must grow together.

Yi-hyeon nodded forcefully.

Yes. I have to grow more. The main culprit who harmed the parents is still glaring with eyes open.

‘···Sion. Still wouldn’t it be okay to earn a little more money?’

Still he has to carefully say the words.

* * *

The commander’s farewell ceremony cum inauguration ceremony held at the Icheon command.

The weather had become full spring, but that day rain was drizzling. Though spring rain if receiving this with bare body of course it is cold.

But as befits 707 the attendees are all standing with sharp posture. From the camp in Wonyong excluding essential personnel all attended this event.

The newly appointed commander’s words were long.

Yi-hyeon did not concentrate and listen, but even hearing roughly he was repeating the words he said and raising his voice.

“Shit, rain is also coming and cold, finish quickly.”

Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon standing beside grumbled low. Since that would be the feeling of not only Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon but everyone standing in this place Yi-hyeon quietly giggled. Then the other seniors standing beside also gradually smiled.

Of course on the platform there is no way to notice. But Team Leader Gi Dong-ho who was standing at the very front of Alpha Team with a tsk expression slightly turns and glares.

Alpha Team’s former team leader Captain Kim Cheol-ho had already transferred out a few days ago. And the newly come new team leader is this Captain Gi Dong-ho. This person is also said to have been a well-going team leader in 1st Airborne but this time suddenly came as Alpha Team team leader of 707 so he himself is still blank.

According to rumors Yi-hyeon heard he when in 1st Airborne jumped diligently and already jumped over 40 times and boasts going around with the laurel insignia attached. If saying such things after coming to 707 everyone will laugh.

In the special forces if an officer not a non-commissioned officer even if jumping diligently one can receive the laurel insignia around major, but since received while wearing captain it would be proud too. But in cases like Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun or Sergeant Kim Ji-won who are long-term serving they have two or three yellow stars each that are attached one every 100 times on the gold star insignia that can be attached only after jumping over 100 times. Meaning jumped over 200 times, 300 times.

Of course they do not go around attaching such things all over the combat uniform. Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon also already jumped over 100 times, but finding it strange that he does not even attach on the formal uniform one day when Yi-hyeon asked he said.

“Hey! Does 707 attach such things embarrassingly.”

Just says coolly.

* * *

Somehow the farewell and inauguration ceremony ended and returning to the Wonyong camp from a few days later the training and operations selecting Alpha Team increased sharply. In fact load began to be applied a lot to the entire special mission unit, among them uniquely the mobilization of Alpha Team that Yi-hyeon belongs to is frequent. That too joint training or operations with the US military are many so all team members are guessing.

It has become a situation almost the same as the US military pinpointing and calling out Yi-hyeon.

Yi-hyeon who knows this fact plainly cannot have a comfortable inside. Isn’t this the shape of an innocent person being beside a poisonous guy and getting beaten together. Of course there is no way the team members have a heart of resenting Yi-hyeon but Yi-hyeon himself receives stress.

These guys just!

After several months passed like that Yi-hyeon even had a heart of causing a suitable accident and just doing a dishonorable discharge. When he casually told that inside to Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon whom he gets along with the closest he glared and said.

“What is this bastard saying? You rascal, if you do that I will too. Fine I’ll take off the clothes what.”

His expression speaking did not seem like a joke so Yi-hyeon after that cannot even bring out those words.

Is there no method···

The pondering Yi-hyeon one day received a call from the team leader.

“Loyalty, Sergeant Song Yi-hyeon.”

The team leader who glanced at Yi-hyeon’s salute did not even receive the salute and first took out a cigarette and bit it.

“Huu. You, is there some dissatisfaction with military life?”

At the team leader’s words spraying cigarette smoke long at himself Yi-hyeon was dumbfounded.

What is this nonsense? Who made it like this.

Inwardly he was boiling but he answered largely.

“There is none.”

He who was frowning and glaring at Yi-hyeon spat out.

“Then, you rascal why don’t you cooperate with the US military side?”

“Yes?”

Because it is such a stupid question the answer also comes stupidly. But Team Leader Gi Dong-ho whether there is no leeway to mind even that the main point came out right away.

“You cut the US military side’s request like a knife and refused? Because of that do you know how much stress the commander and I are receiving now? This bastard.”

While speaking whether he got heated, the voice gradually got bigger and eventually even curses stick to the mouth. Indeed in the army the word bastard is not even a curse. But Yi-hyeon who is listening gradually got angry. More than the curse bastard the content makes one angry.

Because the thought came whether it is right that 707 the elite unit of the Republic of Korea Army is being dragged like this by a US military general, that too only a one-star.

Because I don’t teach the martial arts they want? So they retaliate so childishly? Those bastards···.

Yi-hyeon who was biting his lip suddenly said.

“The US military side’s demand is excessive. And retaliating in this way because I did not accept that I really think is not right.”

“What, what?”

At Yi-hyeon’s blunt words Team Leader Gi Dong-ho briefly stuttered.

For him it would be the first experience. The lowest sergeant talking back to himself the team leader. If Yi-hyeon was about a sergeant who accumulated career the team leader also cannot speak carelessly in this way.

In the special forces that values work ability, in other words operation ability, if sergeant level who served more than 10 years the actual operation ability cannot help but be excellent more than the team leader who serves a few years as officer status and transfers out. So in their own way they treat them, but Yi-hyeon is a newcomer not even 2 years yet.

“This bastard···.”

Team Leader Gi Dong-ho’s voice lowered. He becomes like this when excited, on the black face the eyes long torn sideways glistened.

In fact the person really receiving stress was him. As soon as he transferred and was appointed here he was called to the commander’s room and received instructions to make him cooperate with the US military’s demands together with a simple story about Yi-hyeon.

So for about two months while the entire team struggled with the unreasonable schedule instructed from above he watched Yi-hyeon’s expression and specially set time today and called, he called to soothe well but the young guy in front holds his head high and talks back.

“You, then from now on you will continue like this? Uncooperatively?”

Yi-hyeon who glanced at Team Leader Gi Dong-ho since he was at it said comfortably. If enduring more than this it seems he will get sick raw.

“If the US military side’s demand is that I cannot accept it. What cannot be done cannot be done. But even if I am like that bothering even the colleagues is really not right isn’t it? Rather just call only me alone and bother.”

“Whaat? This bastard more and more···.”

Now Team Leader Gi Dong-ho who forgot what to say stopped speaking and gestured with his chin to Yi-hyeon.

“Got it! Get out.”

Yi-hyeon simply saluted without even a slogan and came out of the room.

Let it be as it will, what.

“Huu···.”

After sending Yi-hyeon out Team Leader Gi Dong-ho sighed. During military life this is the first such case. No matter how much he ponders there is no sharp method so he decided to report as is to the commander for now.

* * *

The commander’s room of the Icheon command.

The newly come Commander Kim Yu-yong mainly stayed at this command.

“Yes, that bastard said even that much?”

“Yes.”

In front of the commander who is a rank similar to Jesus if not God the greatly intimidated Gi Dong-ho only answered in short answer form. After summarizing and reporting the conversation with Yi-hyeon.

The inside burning is the same for the commander. Rather in the point of receiving direct pressure from the upper line the stress will be more than Team Leader Gi Dong-ho.

“That bastard··· if he wants let’s return it that way. That lowborn’s child.”

The commander whose mouth is light and usually lives with curses muttered to himself and then said a few words low to Team Leader Gi Dong-ho.

“Understood.”

That way Team Leader Gi Dong-ho returned, and afterward Yi-hyeon came to have a strange experience.

The occasions of being called alone and deployed to operations with the US military increased. Due to the characteristic of 707 that moves as a team it was something that could not be, but to Yi-hyeon it happened often. It is a matter that makes one heated, but due to the status of being a soldier one cannot just charge in without countermeasures.

There are also Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho’s words, for now one must not reveal the skill.

It was words Yi-hyeon recalled every time he was mobilized for operations after resolving to kill his temper and live, but something that could never be so ended up happening.

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