The reunion, continue late into the night.
Yoon Jongwoo, who had been venting about the difficulties of work began repeating himself before eventually passing out,
Began repeating himself before eventually passing out, clutching an empty bottle.
Taekjoo laid him down on the floor with a pillow and sat on the bed, trying to calm his chaotic mind. Suddenly, he felt the urge to smoke, but he didn't have any cigarettes.
Yoon Jongwoo didn't smoke either. It seemed he had gotten use to smoking Zhenya's cigars.
"Should I head home? I could stop by the convenience store and by a pack of cigarettes."
But Taekjoo only thought about it, without moving. With nothing else to do, he started checking his phone.
["You're doing some adorable things, aren't you?"]
["Don't worry. When I say soon, I really mean soon."]
Kwon Taekjoo looked at the last message he had exchanged with Zhenya. Their conversation had abruptly ended due to a call from headquarters.
"Will he come tomorrow? Will he come before I get assigned a new mission?"
There were things Kwon Taekjoo needed to discuss with him sincerely before that. Perhaps that was why he felt so anxious.
It was 11 p.m. if Zhenya was in Moscow, it would be around 5 p.m. there. Without thinking much, Kwon Taekjoo pressed the call button. The long ringtone kept going, almost about to cut off but never quite doing so.
He could have given up, but he waited stubbornly. The sound of the ringtone echoed in the silence, even beyond the phone.
How long had it been? Suddenly, the ringing stopped, and he heard the voice he had been waiting for.
["Taekjoo?"]
["You're late."]
Taekjoo threw Zhenya's usual reprimand back at him. Catching the tone, Zhenya let out a low laugh.
["You've been drinking."]
["what, can you smell the alcohol?"]
["I told you. I can know anything about you."]
["You're not very convincing. You claim to know everything, yet you haven't shown up."]
["have you had a lot to drink? It's not like you to complain like this."]
He laughed, his throat vibrating, as if in a good mood. Zhenya always brightened up at a word, a look, or a gesture from Kwon Taekjoo, but Taekjoo couldn't understand why he was so hard to reach.
Suddenly, he realized how his exes must have felt when they broke up.
The breakups were always one-sided, and each time, they blamed him for his indifference. You reap what you sow, and how it seemed he was reaping the same.
["Complaining? You always interpret thing your way."]
Kwon Taekjoo muttered in discontent. Meanwhile, Zhenya's laughter continued as if watching a cute animal or child being mischievous. Taekjoo couldn't understand how he could be so carefree without knowing what was on his mind, and it only made him angrier.
["Did you break a finger? Why do I always have to be the one to contact you first, just for you to respond reluctantly"]
["hmm.. I don't get it. You always disappear when you're working, and when we're together, you tell me to keep my distance. But now that we're apart, you miss me? Can't stand being alone for even a moment?"]
Kwon Taekjoo could imagine Zhenya's nose held high with pride, his broad shoulders and arrogant attitude. He couldn't help but let out a sigh. Zhenya laughed openly, then added in a voice still full of laughter.
["Yes, Taekjoo. Keep complaining like that."]
A sigh could be heard. Zhenya seemed to be somewhere outside.
["…Damn bastard. Stop laughing and come quickly. I have something to tell you."]
["sounds like you do. You're doing things you don't usually do."]
Zhenya seemed to have leaned back comfortably.
["If I come, you'll have to explain why you've been at that idiot's house until this hour."]
["what? Where the hell are you…?"]
Kwon Taekjoo shot upright and looked around. He now understood why Zhenya was so relaxed; it seemed like he could see in real-time where he was and what he was doing.
Always watching every move, Zhenya had no curiosity or concern. Even when Kwon Taekjoo was on duty, Zhenya watched him and would show up unexpectedly.
Taekjoo didn't know where to begin to correct this, and it felt overwhelming.
["Ah, forget it. Arguing with a bastard like you is a waste of time. I'm hanging up."]
["see you soon."]
Zhenya hung up, smiling all the way to the end. The room returned to silence, and the sound of Yoon Jongwoo's breathing became more prominent.
With the phone still in hand, kwon Taekjoo leaned his head back and let a out a deep sigh. His mind was as tangled as a ball of yarn.
"…that said, I should go. Seems like my Zainka is quite upset about being left alone."
Zhenya smiled as he glanced at Bazim sitting across from him. Bazim had a look on his face as if he had witnessed something strange.
Hearing the unexpected call on speakerphone, he wondered what was going on, and the content of the conversation was shocking.
That "psycho" was pretending to be in a relationship, which was surprising enough, but hearing the deep male voice on the other end left him astonished.
Though he had suspected, hearing it firsthand was a shock.
Bazim paled and muttered in disbelief.
"That Korean spy…?"
"He's not a spy anymore."
Zhenya's casual response made Bazim groan and hold his head.
Zhenya had returned to the country, and Bazim had dropped everything to come find him. About two weeks ago, an unknown terrorist had attacked civilians in Cuba, and Zhenya had appeared at the scene. Somehow, he had actively helped the terrorist escape
Because of this, Cuba, an old ally, had filled an unofficial complaint, and the Kremlin was not pleased. Before things affected his family, Bazim had to get Zhenya under control.
"Yevgeny, what the hell are you planning?"
"What did I do?"
"Why is an ambassador like you getting involved in things that benefit nether the country nor yourself?"
"You're mistaken, Bazim. It may not be in the national interest, but it's very much related to my personal interest. If my lover is in danger, I'll do whatever it takes to save him. Ask the kremlin you revere so much—if Natasha were about to be devoured by baba Yoga, would he just stand by and watch?"
For someone like that to criticize Zhenya's actions was ironic. What was allowed for one wasn't for the other?
It was absurd watching them undermine themselves.
"You look like a bird with its tail on fire, running around aimlessly. It seems like you've heard something. Go and tell the kremlin not to worry about such a small uproar and to keep their composure as a great nation.
After all, they don't care what others think right? Protests from Cuba? They'll take it as if the neighborhood's dog is barking. If they think they can catch me for this, they're sorely mistaken."
"So, are you just going to keep doing whatever you want? Are you going to turn the kremlin into your enemy?"
"When have you ever been on the same side?"
Zhenya, who had been mocking him, suddenly stood up. Bazim tensed, going rigid. Even though they were comrades-in-arms, he felt the same intimidation as from any other person
Zhenya wasn't swayed by hierarchy of recognition, responding only to his whims. His threshold for excitement was so low that he was no different from a wild animal.
Zhenya looked down at Bazim and made a request.
"Bazim, mind your own business. If your dream is to be a simple servant to the kremlin, keep licking lomonosov's boots as you have been. I've told you many times—so long as you don't touch what's mine, there'll be no need for confrontation. Is that so hard to understand."
Zhenya tilted his head theatrically as if he couldn't grasp it. After holding Bazim's gaze for a moment, he abruptly turned away and began packing his things.
He spoke sweetly on the phone, saying he'd soon be with his lover, and it seemed he was leaving immediately. Faced with his carefree attitude, Bazim raised his voice.
"How long are you going to keep acting so arrogant,Yevgeny? Do you know where all the luxuries you've enjoyed so far come from."
"Do you really think it's thanks to the kremlin? Or do you mean it's due to the prestige of your family."
Zhenya slowly turned towards Bazim. The floating, playful expression disappeared and the atmosphere grew cold.
His blue eyes were as sharp as ever.
"I think I've paid all my debts. Even now, I'm showing more than enough restraint."
"What?"
"Do you really believe Lomonosov hasn't eliminated me Just because of our family? No. That man had wiped out anything that threatens him. It doesn't matter if they're family, a close confidant, or a powerful source of funding. Bogdanov? To him, it's neither a problem nor a concern.
It might be a bit inconvenient, but he'd simply kill everyone and take what's left. There are plenty who could replace 'Bogdanov' but the reason he hasn't done it is…"
Zhenya let his words hang in the air as he thumped his chest. Then he pointed at Bazim.
"It's because this is engraved on my chest and on yours as well. They are afraid of stirring up the hornet's nest without having unraveled the secret of 'Anastasia.'"
"You underestimate that person too much. He believes that losing pride means losing everything. If you keep challenging him, you'll be punished as an example. It doesn't matter who your are; how are you going to face hundreds of thousands of troops?"
"I can't defeat him with troops. But what about firepower?"
"Yevgeny!"
"They still haven't managed to complete a single hypersonic missile, right? They are boasting about missiles that only exists in name."
Suddenly, he mentioned the missiles and laughed. The development of hypersonic missiles was one of Russia's most important national projects.
These missiles could travel 480 km in just five minutes, moving so fast that existing missile defense systems struggled to intercept them.
The kremlin had boasted about successfully developing hypersonic missiles using purely domestic technology and that they were already in practical use. However, in reality, related research had been stalled for years.
"It's not as if Just one part can set an example, is it? If you act foolishly, I'll show you that missile you're so eager to complete right in front of your eyes. Fireworks in the kremlin… it would be quite a spectacle, wouldn't you agree."
This implied that Zhenya had even managed to acquire a hypersonic missile. Bazim let out a sigh.
From what he knew, Zhenya wasn't someone who boasted. The words coming out of Zhenya's mouth, no matter how absurd they seemed, always had the potential to become reality.
"Haa… I don't expect great royalty from you. I only ask that your at least pretend to care for the family. I've given you everything you wanted. Isn't that enough? I just ask you that you keep calm and that your news doesn't reach the kremlin. Is that so difficult."
"For the family, you say. Since you wish it, I'll give you one last warning for the sake of our great family and brotherhood."
Zhenya approached Bazim with firm steps. The enormous shadow the swiftly closed in on Bazim enveloped him immediately.
"Dont return to my island without my permission. Stop sneaking around like a thief and snooping everywhere. It's unless. If you ignore me, the guardian will welcome you from now on."
For some reason that guardian didn't seem human. Unless it was a surface-to-air missile capable of eliminating any intruder without leaving a trace.
.
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End of chapter.