Chapter 52 · 9 min

Chapter 52

"Why is the CIA approaching Mr. Song?"

That was Yu Min-seon's sharp opening question. She fired it off the moment the meal was over and the coffee was served. True to her nature, she never bothered beating around the bush.

Of course, Seldy wasn't one to meekly accept an interrogation either. She had made quite a name for herself in the CIA's Directorate of Operations.

"Before I answer, why are you asking? Is there any reason I should have to explain myself to you?"

The room fell silent. Leaving the two women glaring at each other, Yi-hyeon picked up his mug and stood. The room had an excellent view, and beyond the window, Gyeongbokgung Palace lay spread out against the night like a painting.

Yu Min-seon's ringing voice sounded behind him.

"Then I'll go first. Our agency intends to recruit Mr. Song as an operative. As you know, he's already proven his abilities."

Seldy was momentarily taken aback. She hadn't expected the rough-looking woman before her to lay her cards on the table so readily. After thinking for a moment, she set down her teacup and spoke.

"It seems our objectives conflict. I've already offered him 'assignments as an operative' in America, and he's agreed."

An intelligent woman indeed. Seldy's words were cleverly chosen in more ways than one.

For starters, it was Bill, not Seldy, who had proposed 'cooperation.' She was subtly twisting that fact to elevate her own standing, making it sound as though she were the person in charge of matters concerning Yi-hyeon.

Furthermore, the agreement between Yi-hyeon and Bill involved exchanging information and cooperating selectively. He had never agreed to fully cooperate with 'assignments as an operative,' as she was suggesting.

Most importantly, there was the condition Yi-hyeon had imposed: he didn't want to see her again.

Seldy was attempting to seize control of the conversation without so much as mentioning that fact.

Things were getting increasingly ridiculous, but Yi-hyeon decided to watch a little longer.

"What are you talking about! Are you saying Mr. Song wholeheartedly accepted your proposal?"

Yu Min-seon raised her voice in disbelief. She trusted what Director Lee Gyu-seong of Bureau Seven had told her. According to their investigation, Yi-hyeon possessed an enormous fortune. Most of it had been earned through investments he'd made during his military service.

Now that he'd been discharged, it was only a matter of time before he became a financial tycoon. Why would someone like him have any reason to work as a mercenary for the American CIA? Surely the CIA had investigated Song Yi-hyeon's wealth?

Yu Min-seon immediately dismissed that last thought. The CIA she knew would never overlook such a thing. They were an exceptionally thorough and relentless organization.

"Well··· I wouldn't say he agreed wholeheartedly. He does have a life of his own, after all."

Seldy subtly changed her wording again, leaving herself an escape route.

Yi-hyeon, who had been watching until then, suddenly came to a realization.

Leaving matters to these two would never produce a conclusion. Neither woman had the authority to make the final decision.

He poured himself another cup of coffee from the pot on a side table, filling his mug.

"I'll settle this myself."

At Yi-hyeon's low voice, both women flinched and turned toward him.

"The reason neither of you can reach a conclusion is that neither of you is actually in charge."

"Well, that's not necessarily···."

Embarrassed, Seldy tried to interrupt, but Yi-hyeon raised a hand to stop her.

"Since it happened on American soil, the CIA probably knows more about it, but I need to uncover the truth surrounding my parents' deaths. That's how I became involved with the CIA in the first place. When I told your superior, Bill, that I would 'cooperate,' I meant that I would help with matters related to that investigation whenever I could. Let me make this clear once again. That is the full extent of the 'cooperation' I offered. Seldy, do you have any objections?"

"······."

Seldy had nothing to say. Everything Yi-hyeon had said was absolutely correct.

Meanwhile, Yu Min-seon, who had been listening beside them, found her thoughts racing. She was beginning to understand why the CIA wanted Song Yi-hyeon.

Something connected to his parents' deaths···.

This required a thorough investigation.

As far as Yu Min-seon remembered from Yi-hyeon's records, his parents had died in a traffic accident near New York before he enlisted. But what he was saying now implied that there was something hidden behind that accident, something that needed to be uncovered.

Then could the faction within the NIS that had previously investigated Song Yi-hyeon's assets somehow be connected to it?

Yu Min-seon suddenly grew tense. If her suspicions were correct, it meant the National Intelligence Service had been 'compromised.'

Yi-hyeon now turned to Yu Min-seon.

"Next, let's discuss my relationship with the NIS. The reason your agency has wanted me all this time is my combat ability in the field, isn't it?"

"That's right."

Yi-hyeon gave an equally straightforward response.

"Then let me say it once again. I reject that offer from the NIS. Officially."

"······."

Now both Yu Min-seon and Seldy fell silent. Yi-hyeon's expression was so resolute that neither woman could find an opening to argue.

"However, there is one arrangement I'd be willing to consider. If the NIS helps me investigate matters related to my parents' deaths, as the CIA has agreed to do, then I'm willing to cooperate with your agency as well."

At Yi-hyeon's unequivocal words, Yu Min-seon swallowed.

'So that's it! Those CIA bastards managed to draw Song Yi-hyeon into a limited agreement by offering to help uncover the truth about his parents' deaths.'

Both women now understood Yi-hyeon's intentions perfectly.

"Let's take a short break."

Yu Min-seon looked at Yi-hyeon as she spoke. She had simply said, "Take a break," but her actual intention was to consult Bureau Seven Director Lee Gyu-seong. Seldy apparently had the same idea, because she nodded immediately.

As Seldy rose from her seat, Yi-hyeon addressed her.

"And··· you haven't forgotten what I told you, have you?"

"······."

Seldy ground her teeth inwardly.

She hadn't expected this man to hold a grudge for so long. He was referring to his demand that he never see her face again.

The two women left the room with their phones, each wrestling with complicated emotions, while Yi-hyeon leisurely admired the nighttime view of Gyeongbokgung Palace through the window. Apparently, it had snowed in Seoul a few days earlier, because patches of snow still covered parts of the palace roofs.

He intended to settle his relationship with both agencies before the day was over.

While Yi-hyeon, now holding virtually all the leverage, relaxed without a care, the two women were frantic. Each found a suitable spot and began practically shouting into her phone.

First, Yu Min-seon.

"Director! I've finally figured out what those bastards are plotting(?)! Would you believe they're trying to sweet-talk Song Yi-hyeon into working as their mercenary? What I'm saying is that we should also start by investigating the circumstances surrounding his parents' deaths···."

Then Seldy.

"Bill, the KCIA has barged in just when we had everything settled. We cannot afford to lose Mr. Song. I've confirmed what he really wants. He has no intention of working exclusively for either the KCIA or us. So···."

Between the two women reporting to their immediate superiors and those superiors verifying the situation and working out their responses, an entire hour passed. The women returned to the room at roughly the same time.

Seldy spoke first.

"We will accept all of Mr. Song's conditions."

Then she shut her mouth firmly.

Now it was Yu Min-seon's turn.

She actually looked more relaxed than Seldy.

"We also accept Mr. Song's proposal. I've just spoken with our director, and we'll be forming an official investigation team to look into the accident involving Dr. Song Su-yong and his wife. Naturally, I'll be leading that team."

The truth was slightly different.

Yu Min-seon had voiced her concerns to Director Lee Gyu-seong about the faction inside the NIS that had previously accessed Yi-hyeon's stock accounts. She'd proposed forming an investigation team to look into the possible 'compromise' of the NIS while simultaneously bringing Yi-hyeon into their orbit. There was no need to mention that here, however.

Yi-hyeon let out a long breath and spoke.

"Good! That settles everything. Except for one thing."

As he said this, he glared at Seldy. Seldy studied Yi-hyeon, her mind racing, while Yu Min-seon looked back and forth between them in confusion.

Seldy glanced discreetly at Yu Min-seon before speaking.

"Mr. Song. Let's discuss this after Miss Yu leaves. I···."

"Enough! Say it right here. What we're deciding is whether I should continue working with someone who agreed to become my colleague yet still doesn't trust me, or whether you should stop appearing before me altogether."

Seldy's face flushed crimson with humiliation.

She had actually planned to send Yu Min-seon away and then make peace with Yi-hyeon over a drink. But looking at him now, she realized that approach wouldn't stand a chance.

Seldy drew a long breath before opening her mouth.

"I··· made a serious mistake. From now on, I won't distrust or behave rudely toward someone I'm supposed to work alongside."

Yu Min-seon had no idea what this was about, but she watched with considerable interest. Yi-hyeon studied Seldy for a moment before speaking slowly.

"During my military service, I carried out numerous operations, and I never left unfinished business behind. What I mean is that I don't tolerate people scheming behind my back. I'll accept your apology now, Seldy. Make sure you convey that point clearly to your superior, Bill, as well."

"Understood."

Seldy sighed inwardly. For the moment, she'd made it through the crisis. Now that she knew how prickly this man could be, she would have to handle him carefully.

Meanwhile, Yu Min-seon, who had been watching the exchange from the side, thought to herself.

'That was a warning to me, too. He's telling me not to try anything underhanded from now on.'

She, too, had gained a clear understanding of Yi-hyeon's personality. He wasn't someone who could be manipulated with half-baked tricks.

Thus, Yi-hyeon's trip to America finally came to a close, though it had taken his return to Seoul to settle everything.

* * *

A sprawling mansion near Moriches on Long Island, United States.

"You're telling me you still haven't found the bastards who abducted O'Neil?"

A gruff voice asked the question, and another elderly man answered.

"···My apologies, Chairman. We've reviewed every CCTV camera in the vicinity that day and questioned anyone who might have seen people resembling the attackers, but we haven't found a single trace of them."

"Urgh! And you still haven't found that pickup truck?"

"No, sir. They disabled the navigation system while driving. The CCTV footage only shows them heading north, and we haven't found anything beyond that yet. But we'll locate them soon. We've confirmed they took Route 202, and there are no traces of them beyond Bear Mountain State Park to the north. We're assuming their destination was somewhere around there and concentrating our search on that area."

That reasoning was sound. If they found the pickup truck, they might uncover a lead to the attackers. But that alone wasn't enough.

"I doubt O'Neil is still alive. Investigate everything he's been working on recently. Look into everyone connected to those operations, too. Something about this doesn't feel right."

"Understood."

This mansion belonged to one of the bosses of Ekran, a new mafia organization that had seized control of the eastern United States. Once his subordinate had left, the man known as the Chairman began turning things over in his mind.

'Could those people have intervened directly again and used O'Neil? He may have been a low-ranking member, but he had extensive connections throughout New York and knew how to keep his mouth shut. That made him useful···.'

He needed to look into it.

According to intelligence received recently, the American government had formed a special team to investigate Ekran's upper leadership. Perhaps this incident was somehow connected to that investigation.

The Chairman opened a drawer, took out another phone, and began calling someone. This cell phone was equipped with advanced technology designed to prevent wiretapping.