Chapter 28

Chapter 28

“General, by tomorrow afternoon organize the inside of the incident in detail and report by secure mail. My secretary will inform the mail address.”

“···Yes. Congressman.”

There is no leeway to make excuses and drag time and something.

Congressman McGregor continues the words.

“General, I will only look at the truth and only think of the US national interest. Don’t think other things and write the report accurately. I hope you recognize my favor of not contacting Commander Hamilton the general of the Special Operations Command first.”

Lieutenant General Herden who heard Congressman McGregor’s last words suddenly came to his senses as if cold water was poured on his head.

Those words of Congressman McGregor are like a rope given to him right before falling into the boiling pot of hell. In fact he had no direct responsibility whatsoever for this incident. It is just a situation where he will take responsibility because he is almost the highest commander of the command.

“Thank you, Congressman. I will do my best.”

Though not clear what doing his best means, Lieutenant General Herden once said so and hung up the phone. And found the adjutant by interphone.

“Now, immediately, call Kruger to my room!”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

Whether thinking General Herden’s voice was not ordinary, the answering adjutant also answered loudly.

That way the command overturned again.

* * *

In the command where General George Hamilton who frequently goes in and out of Washington to make a position after retirement since not much term left is absent Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Herden’s instructions are soon law. Related persons could not even think of leaving work and all waited inside the compound.

At that time Major General Kruger was on the way to meet Yi-hyeon staying at a hotel in downtown Richmond.

While moving riding the car the adjutant drives he received an emergency phone. This too connected through a secure line.

“What is it?”

“General! You have to come to the unit immediately now. It is Lieutenant General Herden’s urgent call.”

“Lieutenant General Herden?”

Major General Kruger tensed wildly at the familiar voice of Lieutenant General Herden’s adjutant.

“Yes. I also have to contact other related persons now. Then.”

Looking blankly at the phone that was cut like that Kruger quickly came to his senses and instructed the adjutant.

“Turn the car. Return to the command.”

“Yes.”

That way the time Major General Kruger was called to Lieutenant General Herden’s room was about 8:30 in the evening.

Lieutenant General Herden without even sitting in the seat instructed Kruger.

“Jimmy, right now gather all the persons related to this matter and write circumstance reports. Call from the operations officer of the Save New Guinea operation to all field execution forces and have each interrogated individually in separate rooms.”

“Yes yes.”

To him who was only answering frantically Lieutenant General Herden continued speaking like a machine gun.

“Jimmy, there must be nothing hidden even a little! Understand? Organize all content from the planning stage of the operation to the final completion by time zone and attach the testimonies of all related persons. Record all testimonies and receive the parties’ pledges.”

Though instructions close to impossible now that leaving work time has long passed, as expected the army rolls if rolled.

Next day 10 in the morning.

Kruger whose face became half from working all night plus receiving all sorts of stress held out a thick report to Lieutenant General Herden.

“Is it all done?”

“··· Yes.”

At Lieutenant General Herden’s question who alternately looks like an eagle at the report bundle placed on the desk and himself Kruger answered low.

What surprised even Kruger who reviewed the report was that when interrogating the Delta agents who performed the operation together with Yi-hyeon unexpected facts were revealed.

For example Master Sergeant Sam Smith who jumped into prisoner rescue together with Yi-hyeon stated in detail how the two people jumped into the rebel camp together and rescued the prisoners and escaped.

But that content had many differences from the report the operations officer reported after the operation ended.

Those bastards made the infiltration plan and rescued the prisoners? Bastards.

First it was proven to some extent even by the video Yi-hyeon revealed at the hearing, but this operation was an operation almost executed and succeeded under Yi-hyeon’s lead.

That fact this Indian-origin agent Sam Sniden stated in detail. Now Team Leader Hesse and a few agents and even the responsible operations officer all became shameless criminals who snatched others’ merits.

This is in short a serious crime.

In any country’s army the act of snatching others’ merits in actual combat is known as a serious crime that must never be done. Even if occasionally there are superiors or colleagues who snatch others’ merits.

“Wait.”

Lieutenant General Herden without even saying sit to Kruger pulled the report and put on the magnifying glass on one side and began to read. Since he has to send this material by mail to Congressman McGregor before that he himself grasps the content.

A little later, Lieutenant General Herden threw the report on the desk and opened his mouth.

“Did all sorts. Are there such crazy guys···.”

Lieutenant General Herden swept his face as if tired. He also did not enter the house last night and stayed at the lodging inside the unit so the body condition is not good.

Brrrr

In the midst of that the secure phone Lieutenant General Herden has rang.

That report. Regarding the movements of Yi-hyeon that the NSA is monitoring.

“Speak.”

At Lieutenant General Herden’s words the NSA person in charge began to report. Somehow the voice was a little larger than usual.

“General, the identity of the woman with the target has been grasped.”

Woman? Yes. He said that guy is with a woman now.

“What kind of woman?”

“···The name is Amy McGregor. She is the daughter of House member Ewing McGregor. Currently a reporter of the New York Herald newspaper company but on leave. Graduated from Princeton and now unmarried. And···.”

“Stop!”

Lieutenant General Herden quickly cut the words. Because the spirit that became blank while listening returned.

“Confirm again. That woman is the daughter of Congressman Ewing McGregor?”

“Accurate. Amy McGregor. 27 years old···.”

Lieutenant General Herden cut the words. There is no way the NSA makes a mistake in such a matter.

“Enough, I will instruct now. Immediately withdraw the monitoring of that woman and the target and quietly retreat. Understood?”

Though low since speaking as if chewing each word gritting teeth the person in charge beyond the phone whether feeling it was not ordinary was silent for a moment. Then immediately answers in a dry voice.

“Confirm. Will immediately withdraw monitoring of the target and withdraw.”

“Good!”

When the call ended Lieutenant General Herden exhaled largely and opened his mouth.

“So Congressman McGregor came to know.”

Though one has to investigate how it became so the young guy from Korea is a guy who has Congressman Ewing McGregor as backing. If the fact that he had the NSA monitor his daughter enters Congressman McGregor’s ears?

Momentarily he poured cold sweat. In short entered a snake den and came out alive. Though within this command he reigns as one under all above ten thousand but seen with Congressman Ewing McGregor’s eyes a life worse than a fly.

He decided. To report this report as is. If he tries to clumsily edit this report and is discovered that day is the end.

“Good! Put this report on a USB and submit. And, all agents who received rewards related to this Save New Guinea operation wait inside the compound. You also wait. Understand?”

“Understood, Your Excellency.”

That way the report went up to Congressman Ewing McGregor.

Two days from then.

Congressman Ewing McGregor came to Richmond city. The nominal was meeting related persons of Richmond city and the mayor, Virginia governor etc. and having broad consultations on regional development.

Though the outwardly revealed reason was that, Lieutenant General Herden accurately knew there was another reason.

Congressman McGregor who arrived in Richmond city called him directly.

“General, after the dinner with the mayor and governor today ends I intend to meet that Korean army soldier directly. That person might be a victim if a victim, after meeting I will stop by the unit tomorrow.”

“Understood, Congressman. I will wait at the unit.”

Lieutenant General Herden who hung up the phone now came to know that his fate depended on that Korean army soldier.

* * *

“The face looks better than then. The name was Yi-hyeon right?”

“Yes. Song Yi-hyeon, Congressman.”

Time almost 11 at night. It is the suite of the Ambassador Hotel in downtown Richmond.

Yi-hyeon and Amy came to the room Congressman McGregor is staying.

“There was a dinner today so a little late, but it seems there will be no time except today.”

He attended the dinner hosted by the governor held at the city hall and was a bit late.

Congressman McGregor chose one bottle of liquor from a small cart placed on one side. Though night is late, it seems liquor thoughts arise.

“Ho. There was this. Glenfiddich 30 years. I have to have a glass. When old sleep disappears so these days I have to have one glass each to sleep. How about it, will you also?”

Though Congressman McGregor showed the liquor bottle to Yi-hyeon, Yi-hyeon declined. Now is not the time to drink liquor.

“I will decline, Congressman.”

Though Yi-hyeon declined like this, Amy beside was different.

“Give me one glass, dad. I went around all day with Yi-hyeon but he didn’t even buy one glass of liquor, humph.”

This damn! What money does a soldier have? If wanting to eat buy with one’s own money.

Of course unusually Yi-hyeon has a lot of money. Recently Sion multiplied the money so it increased exponentially, tremendously.

But why should I buy you liquor? It is not doing so to the benefactor of life.

Congressman McGregor seeming to see even such rude (?) Amy’s tantrum only prettily poured liquor and said.

“You became a reporter and act as if you will drink all New York liquor.”

Congressman McGregor who poured whiskey about one finger joint into his own crystal glass held the glass and sat facing Yi-hyeon.

“I read the report before departing from Washington.”

“······.”

Yi-hyeon silently began to listen to his talk. He came to this room alone now. He stopped Lawyer Kim Gyu-jeong who said he would follow.

“Uncle. First I will go alone and listen. I will not make any decision, and after going consult with uncle.”

“···Do so. You are also smart so will judge. But don’t forget. The initiative is held by us.”

“Of course.”

Congressman McGregor slowly opened his mouth.

“Such a thing. While working for the country one comes to meet various people.”

Seeing the introduction is heavy it seems tonight’s conversation will be long.

But this gentleman surely does not have the intention of winning me over or something? If even Congressman McGregor says strange things, it seems I cannot endure.

“Yi-hyeon? Hmm··· is it okay if I call Yi-hyeon?”

“As you please···.”

Congressman McGregor placed the glass he was holding on the table and looked straight at Yi-hyeon.

“The report I read was a report that recorded all matters regarding that, the Save New Guinea operation.”

Yi-hyeon just nodded. Since in such a position he would have seen the report.

“First I will apologize on behalf of the United States of America to you. Though I don’t know if I am in a position to do so. To specify a little more it would be the US military Special Operations Command, but the meaning would not be greatly different. They are also soldiers under the control of the state.”

He started the main point so plainly like this. Not attaching all sorts of unnecessary words when apologizing but cleanly apologizing first.

“In my judgment that report was perfect. Those guys probably could not dare deceive me but anyway they wrote as is. Especially the content that interrogated all Delta agents who participated in the operation at that time and organized that content was overwhelming. Excluding that team leader and one more.”

Hearing the content he is talking it seems he really read the report properly and came.

“I, did not read that report alone and crush it. I read it together with the members belonging to our party’s armed services committee. All unanimously were indignant. This is America’s shame.”

Even just saying so it is good to hear for now.

“After reading that report we held a long meeting. Whether to hide this shameful fact and call you and apologize and promise appropriate compensation and clean up or reveal all and stand all related persons in military court for more than three hours we discussed.”

When he said this much Yi-hyeon’s interest also rises a lot. The scene of old congressmen gathering in a corner of the Washington Capitol and whispering rose in his head.

“So, did a conclusion come?”

Congressman McGregor spread both hands and laughed vainly.

“A conclusion came. Well in fact it is too natural so nothing to call a conclusion.”

“What is it?”

Yi-hyeon asked concentrating without realizing. He feels Amy in the seat beside swallowing gulp. Seeing her expression it seems she received no prior hint from her father.

“We, decided to entrust everything to you.”

“Yes?”

What is this talk. Entrusting everything to me.

Yi-hyeon looked straight at Congressman McGregor and asked again.

“Please explain accurately. What does entrusting everything to me mean?”

“Literally entrusting to your disposal. If wanting punishment of all related persons even tomorrow it will become so immediately. It means they will be indicted in the US military’s military court.”

Yi-hyeon crossed his arms and leaned his body back. The sofa felt comfortable.

“If I do not want their punishment what happens? For example if wanting only some of them to receive punishment.”

“Then···.”

Opposite to Yi-hyeon this time Congressman McGregor bent his upper body toward Yi-hyeon. In that state looking at Yi-hyeon’s eyes he opened his mouth.

“If you punish only some related persons and delegate the disposal of the rest to us, to me I can give you a very big thing.”

Though nothing shows the two people’s positions as much as the changed posture, anyway Yi-hyeon came to know his inner thoughts. And his eyes are sincere.

Shall I accept.

While Yi-hyeon briefly thought as if reading his inner thoughts Sion stepped forward.

- Yi-hyeon, it would be good to accept his words. He is a more influential figure than he looks. Not only in the US but in all areas of the world where the US military is currently deployed. For Yi-hyeon’s future too I recommend maintaining a good relationship with him.

Is that so? But, how does Sion know that?

Perhaps progressed again.

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