Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Leave and the first operation

Seong-an Hermitage near Gyeongju

“You’re here?”

“Yes. Monk! Senior Brother Bodeok he···.”

As soon as he saw Monk Muae Yi-hyeon began shouting. He reported in detail that Senior Brother Bodeok had a hand in making him unable to take even one leave for over 8 months.

But after hearing all the words Yi-hyeon said the monk said indifferently.

“Ah, that kid. You’ll be there for several more years so what’s the big deal with only eight months.”

“Yes?”

Even with Monk Muae the words don’t connect. He doesn’t understand youth whose blood is hot to the point of boiling over.

“Sit here. Let me see how hard you trained.”

“······.”

When Yi-hyeon sat weakly on the flat bench in the yard, the monk calmly looked into his eyes. And he held Yi-hyeon’s wrist and closed his eyes for a moment.

“Hmm, this progress is too fast···.”

The monk’s expression became serious.

Isn’t fast a good thing?

“Harmony is the problem, harmony···.”

“Yes? What does that mean?”

At the leisurely Yi-hyeon’s words the monk grew irritated.

“This fellow! I’m saying your balance is greatly off right now. Don’t know balance? Or harmony!”

“I know. I also know the monk speaks English well. But since I don’t know what it means, please explain.”

“Tsk, aing. Listen well.”

The monk clicked his tongue and then began explaining.

“In general training is a law that mind and physical ability must grow together. The so-called subtle principle of mind and body as one, but low-level people have no need to worry about such things. But when training rises above a certain realm this becomes an extremely important problem. If the mind cannot follow the body’s progress it becomes dangerous like a child holding a gun.”

“That···. Would it become that big a problem?”

Yi-hyeon asked in a slightly intimidated voice. Because so far there had been no wrong points in what the monk said.

“Aing! At times like this one has to grab firmly from the side, but one can’t do that to a guy in the army.”

The monk who was smacking his lips turned to Yi-hyeon and asked.

“You, you haven’t gone out to real combat yet, right?”

“If real combat···.”

Actual operations? That kind of real combat of jumping into terror or war scenes and firing live rounds or sniping enemy leaders?

If that meaning then he has not experienced it yet. He has only done training close to real combat, really real-combat-like training until he got sick of it from the mouth.

“Not yet.”

The monk sighed long.

“Originally Bodeok delaying your real combat deployment was not a wrong decision but the problem is that you grew too fast. To the point even I can’t understand.”

It seems that Yi-hyeon not being deployed to real combat and only training day and night was all something Senior Brother Bodeok arranged.

“······.”

Seeing Yi-hyeon sitting without words the monk asked abruptly.

“You, hasn’t your mind been a little strange recently? Suddenly anger surging or not being able to sleep at night.”

There are such symptoms. But Yi-hyeon had only thought that it was all because stress accumulated from receiving only harsh training while isolated from the outside for a long time.

Really that training makes even a normal person go crazy. There were times of receiving something like mental education from political officers in spare time or going outside the unit to interview someone who looked like a civilian, but it didn’t seem to have great effect.

“Tsk tsk. This is why breathing and meditation are important but ignoring that and only doing training to kill people so the killing intent rises like this.”

The monk’s conclusion was this. That the current Yi-hyeon’s state has killing intent risen excessively. Hearing it Yi-hyeon also accepted it. Indeed for the past 8 months he had only done training to effectively annihilate the enemy.

“Then, what should I do?”

When Yi-hyeon asked a little earnestly, the monk answered right away.

“What do you mean what. During your leave you have to keep meditating.”

“Yes?”

What is this again? Already 3 days have passed out of the half-month leave and the remaining period also meditate here? How many things are there to do going to Seoul.

The monk said calmly.

“Yi-hyeon-ah, I am concerned that your astonishing progress is because of that foreign object. Because that is not an area I can know, the worry is great. In my current judgment the balance must be matched with intensive meditation. If wrong a big problem will happen later.”

At the monk’s words Yi-hyeon fell into thought. In the world the only one who knows this OOPART besides Yi-hyeon is the monk, but the monk did not ask Yi-hyeon specific things. He only informed that Yi-hyeon had entered the other side of the world.

Together with the words that subsequent matters are your karma.

Yi-hyeon opened his mouth.

“I’ll do it, Monk.”

Did he read Yi-hyeon’s resolve, the monk only nodded quietly.

* * *

When Yi-hyeon finished leave and returned Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun took him and went somewhere. Taking Yi-hyeon to the commander.

“Did you spend the leave fun?”

“······Yes.”

Not fun but he did spend it productively.

Under the monk’s guidance Yi-hyeon did intensive meditation and progressed once more. He himself did not feel it well, but he came to know because the suddenly appearing Sion told him.

Sion had been excited saying that now he had become able to awaken at any time regardless of Yi-hyeon’s consciousness and do things (?) he had to do.

‘So what is that thing to do?’

When Yi-hyeon asked, Sion answered calmly.

- Grasping this world. This is an important matter. This world’s history and power structure. The power that constitutes that power and even human desire for it. To understand the world it can be said to be basic.

Without realizing Yi-hyeon nodded.

One studies history to understand the world and understand humans.

Strangely it was something the national history teacher had said when Yi-hyeon was in middle school. At that time he passed without knowing exactly what the words meant but the more he thought later after maturing the more he thought it was not an ordinary teacher. Reminding students facing the national history subject that had to be memorized blindly of the purpose of learning history.

Anyway Sion told Yi-hyeon to look forward from now and entered dive mode.

The jeep carrying Yi-hyeon entered a military unit near Namtaeryeong.

“Oh? This is.”

“Yeah. Capital Defense Command. Our headquarters is placed here. Though I don’t know when it will move.”

That 707’s headquarters is inside the Capital Defense Command is interesting. According to Sergeant Lee’s words for security it is placed small inside the Capital Defense Command.

After circling countless buildings and entering a corner, there is another guard post together with barbed wire. And a soldier wearing a black beret comes out, checks, and opens the door. This place is precisely the headquarters of the 707 special mission unit,

“Loyalty. Sergeant Song Yi-hyeon.”

When Yi-hyeon saluted the commander the commander said without even looking.

“Oh, sit here.”

Sit?

At the commander’s words pointing to the brown sofa in front of him Yi-hyeon was slightly surprised. Where does a sergeant sit readily when a colonel says to sit.

Yi-hyeon answered by attaching the heel of the military boots once instead of answering.

“Hmm···.”

The commander who was scanning Yi-hyeon up and down opened his mouth. As expected the words to sit seem to have been just said and he does not urge further.

“Yes, Senior Brother Bodeok said that you can now be sent out on operations, is that right?”

“Yes. I will do as ordered.”

“Hmm···. And I won’t talk about that organization anymore. There were also Senior Brother’s words. Still you rascal, as soon as leave was given you ran straight to Senior Brother and told that story?”

At the commander’s words that seemed quite displeased Yi-hyeon laughed inwardly. As the commander said it is true that he ran straight and told because he didn’t want to join that suspicious organization. But he did not snitch to Senior Brother Bodeok. He only said one word to Monk Muae.

At that time after hearing Yi-hyeon’s story the monk said one thing.

“That’s not right. If you put that guy in such an organization and turn him now rather trouble will happen. I’ll talk to Bodeok.”

“Yes.”

“Later if that guy rises to the head of that organization and operates it maybe···.”

“???”

That was the end. Seeing it the commander seems unable to move even a bit against Senior Brother Bodeok.

“Anyway from now you will be deployed to external operations. When going on operations always think of the team first. On site the only person you can entrust your back to is the team member.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

He answered in civilian speech again, but the commander nodded without special words and added to Yi-hyeon.

“While doing operations, among them a few will be agents from our organization. You will recognize them right away. They will be of help to you.”

The commander seems to have called Yi-hyeon to say these words. Since same sect origin there is a sense of homogeneity perhaps.

“Go.”

“Yes.”

* * *

Returning to the training camp again Yi-hyeon was deployed to real combat not a few days later.

“Alpha Team all after evening meal pack gear and stand by!”

“Yes.”

The team leader with full energy jumped into the barracks and shouted, and the team members tensed.

“Is it a big one? All stand by. Another anti-spy operation?”

Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun beside was murmuring while packing gear. And he turned to Yi-hyeon, patted his shoulder and said.

“Youngest, relax the tension. You’ll pee if you do that. Haha.”

This gentleman calls this a joke.

While preparing this and that Yi-hyeon thought it was fortunate that his mind was calmer than expected.

After eating dinner and gathering on the parade ground, a truck with a cover was already starting the engine.

“Board!”

When Team Leader Captain Kim Cheol-ho shouted the members silently climbed onto the truck. And all pull hoods over their heads. During operations this cannot be taken off.

“Look at this?”

Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun who was looking outside toward the back of the truck muttered. Curious Yi-hyeon asked.

“Where are we going?”

At Yi-hyeon’s question Lee Myeong-hun who glanced at him said shortly.

“It seems we are riding a helicopter.”

Riding a helicopter?

It means the operation area is far.

The truck circled and circled the mountain waist without a single light and arrived at some mountain ridge.

Tatatatata-

At the helicopter landing pad made by cutting the mountain placed there a Huey helicopter was waiting while turning the propeller. This helicopter’s official name is UH-1 Iroquois but usually it is called UH-1 or the nickname Huey for short. A model developed by Bell of the United States and practically the standard of Western military helicopters.

When all team members boarded the helicopter immediately rose. After flying south for about an hour like that. The helicopter arrived at some unit.

Outside is under blackout so it is not well visible but one can tell it is an enormously wide site.

“It’s Osan. It seems we are doing a joint operation with the US military.”

As Yi-hyeon muttered while preparing to get off, Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun beside flinched and turned.

“This is Osan? How do you know that?”

Yi-hyeon naturally found out by grasping the helicopter’s speed and movement time, direction with his progressed ability but explaining it one by one is bothersome. Just then the helicopter landed and the group began to get off quickly.

The team members could now know that this place was Osan US Air Force Base.

“What is this. Seeing that we came here it means a joint operation with the US military.”

From Yi-hyeon’s back seat Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon grumbled something but now everyone is tense so there is no one answering.

707 usually exchanges and trains with the US Delta Force, Britain’s SAS, France’s GIGN etc. Doing joint training with the world’s best special forces. So joint operations with the US military are not that new but the tension is a fact.

Something big has happened internationally. They themselves are being deployed to solve it.

“Well, there is no time to rest. Board right there.”

The team leader shouted and pointed to one side, and there a US military transport plane was waiting.

“It’s a C-17.”

Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon said softly and began walking quickly. The rest of the group also walk silently. Now all team members began to tense.

A joint operation with the US military overseas.

Yi-hyeon and the team members all boarded the C-17. This C-17 transport is the representative transport of the US military and though the maximum weight is 256 tons it can take off with only 910 meters of runway distance. Even if unpaved.

The appearance is rough and ugly. Inside the fuselage there are enough seats so the group each chooses a seat they want and sits. But these seats are detachable so when loading a lot of cargo they can all be removed.

Yi-hyeon who boarded the transport was a little dumbfounded. On this super-large transport the only guests are the 12 of Alpha Team. No particular cargo is visible so it is correct that this huge transport was mobilized only to transport Alpha Team.

“This really.”

Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho also said one word while frowning as if he had not expected this.

The transport immediately rose. Alpha Team including Yi-hyeon all take their seats and sleep. This flight time is the only rest time before the full-scale operation begins. Once the operation starts there is no time to close the eyes.

No one tells such things but the agents all know from experience. Yi-hyeon follows by watching the seniors around.

* * *

“Wake up! Landing soon. Prepare.”

When Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho instructed loudly the team members move quickly even while rustling.

Thud, bang bang

Landing a little roughly as befits a military transport the team members got off right away. Since the group is small it does not take time.

“Where is this?”

Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon said while looking around the dark surroundings.

As befits an airport there are only low buildings around and all lights are off. Though they flew for a long while, here it is still the middle of the night.

“It’s Kabul. Afghanistan.”

Yi-hyeon looking at the cheap electronic watch worn on his wrist spat out, and everyone turned to Yi-hyeon. As if how do you know that again eyes.

Looking around Yi-hyeon said in a slightly loud voice.

“We took off from Osan and flew straight west. This C-17 cruise speed is average about Mach 0.7, looking at flight time here is Kabul. Also recently the US military’s conflict area is almost only Afghanistan. Here is 4 hours 30 minutes later than Seoul so it’s still night. But it will brighten soon.”

The group all looked at Yi-hyeon with an expression of finding it amazing and smiled. Because hearing it Yi-hyeon’s words sounded plausible. After the 9/11 terror the US interest is all focused on the Taliban. This place Afghanistan is known as the base of the Taliban.

“Our youngest is really strange. He has all kinds of talents. If only he didn’t dawdle during training he would be an ace.”

Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun approached and said while touching Yi-hyeon’s head.

Then a military truck with headlights not even on approached and stopped. In front and behind the truck there are large jeeps, those famous Humvees.

A US soldier got out from the front seat of the Humvee and looking at the attire he seems an officer. Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho who approached him had a few words of conversation and then the group boarded the truck.

“Really, living and living now we move while receiving US military escort.”

Someone says looking at the Humvees escorting the front and back of the truck but since it is correct words the group did not even laugh. Because it meant this operation was that unusual.

After leaving the airport and moving about 30 minutes, the day gradually brightened and the truck carrying the group arrived at a US military base.

“The base is fierce once.”

Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun muttered. As he said the US military base was built fiercely. On a barren plain with nothing the base entrance has concrete barriers several meters thick stacked in several layers to prevent suicide bomb terror using vehicles.

The group who entered one barracks of the base took a short rest. Everyone goes to the bathroom or smokes at this time. But that rest also ended soon.

A US black soldier came and talked with Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho and then took the group to another barracks.

“Change clothes here. Take off even the underwear and change!”

Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho instructs.

Change of clothes.

It is telling to change clothes, and to 707 it is not a rare thing. Because of the unit characteristic where identity exposure is taboo, camouflage is essential when going on operations.

The prepared clothes are all the attire of the local US stationed forces. On the wide desk there are military uniforms prepared as many as the number of team members. Yi-hyeon examined the note on the well-folded military uniform. On the note each team member’s nickname is written.

[Baby]

Damn! Since youngest in the team they just call him Baby. Do it with another nickname.

For example Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun has the cool nickname [Wind] because his body is light and fast. Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon is called [Guitar] because he plays guitar well. Sergeant Mun Hui-taek is called [Pointer] because he is good at search.

Yi-hyeon grumbled and changed clothes.

These guys really···.

The prepared military uniform and combat boots fit Yi-hyeon’s body exactly. Even the cotton ‘underwear’ fits the body. It means the US military has grasped all of Alpha Team.

After changing clothes and coming out, someone stepped forward.

Also US military attire. But no rank insignia or name tag or such attached and the hair is quite long. Would the age be about 40. Looks like Hispanic mixed blood and the face is tanned to a yellowish color.

“Attention.”

When he said lightly a photo rose on the white screen in front. It looks like a black and white satellite photo.

Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho approached beside that man. To interpret for agents not familiar with English. Agents can do basic communication in English because overseas operations are not rare. But because details can be missed interpretation is needed.

Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho is from the Military Academy and studied hard so he is proficient in English. Of course for Yi-hyeon it is not a situation where interpretation is needed.

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