It was 7:49 p.m. at Busan International Port, and preparations for the ferry's departure were in full swing as darkness fell. The 5,000-ton deputy ferry stood majestically under the flickering street lights.
This liner, which sailed once a day, was bound for Shimonoseki, Japan, arriving the next morning. As the early boarding deadline passed, the entrance door closed, and the last loading crane silently withdrew. The terminal's lights were turned off, enveloping the night in silence, except for the ferry afloat on the black rippling sea.
Inside, a different atmosphere prevailed.
I had entered my assigned room early and lied on a bunk. Most passengers were busy exploring the ship with excited faces, drinking in small groups, or capturing everything with their cameras. Laughter and a unique sense of adventure filled the air, even on the deck where the cold wind blew.
The excitement and anticipation of the journey about to begin were palpable everywhere.
Among the crowd, there was Kwon Taek-joo. He wore a casual suit and a mustang jacket, looking out of place with his extremely bored expression.
The person occupying the most expensive suite was bored. Hah.
Occasionally, I pulled up my sleeve to check the time, feeling an odd sense following the clock's second hand. It struck 8 o'clock precisely, and a long horn blast signaled the departure into the sea. I stepped out onto the balcony.
From the balcony, I had a clear view of the lower deck where tourists were still busy taking pictures. It was challenging to get a good shot in the dark, but they kept pressing the shutter. Amidst this, a small mechanical sound came from my left ear, followed by a voice.
"Kwon Taek-joo, How are you holding up? Does it feel nice to be enjoying what they would call a romance night at sea?"
"Partner, not as bad. It's loud, bustling, and dull."
A low chuckle came from the communicator in my ear. Meanwhile, Kwon Taek-joo's gaze remained fixed on the deck, meticulously inspecting each passerby. No one particularly stood out.
"Report.""Ahem, liaison agent Kim Young-hee and MSS officer Ri Cheol-jin are both confirmed as boarded passengers. Ri Cheol-jin is posing as a Chinese citizen and is likely heading to China upon arrival in Japan. Younghee Kim has a reservation for a ferry departing from Shimonoseki tomorrow evening."
"Then they'll contact each other before arriving to Japan," I murmured, then hurriedly left the balcony.
"Are you planning to make a move now??" My partner asked.
Kwon Taek-joo didn't mind him as he exited the room and walked down an empty aisle.
"They say those who are good at hide-and-seek tend to be bold," I replied.
If the targets were to make contact, this crowded moment would be the ideal time. Blending in when there are fewer people would attract more attention.
I descended the spiral staircase one by one, and a group of people had gathered in front of the restaurant on the second floor. I passed by them, scanning each person, but no one particulary stood out.
My partner gave brief instructions as I descended the stairs leading to the first-floor lobby.
"Call me." I said.
The cell phone rang immediately, and I allowed it to vibrate a couple of times before answering. I greeted my "partner" and engaged in an imaginary conversation, trying not to draw any suspicion.
After a while, a woman passed behind me, her coat collar awkwardly pulled up. After crossing the information desk, she approached a vending machine next to the elevator.
She seemed to take her time choosing a drink, even giving up her turn when someone else approached.Only after the surroundings quieted down did she finally insert a thousand-yen bill.
Despite her prolonged indecision, she ended up choosing a simple green tea. She carefully collected her change and then headed back upstairs.
Kwon Taek-jojo, feigning ignorance, paid no special attention to the woman, and she appeared equally unaware of him.
"Target approaching," a voice from the communicator alerted me as the woman disappeared upstairs.
I directly understood. "Okay. See you later," I replied.
After the usual greeting, I ended the call.
Around that time, a man emerged from a shared room at the back of the lobby. He wore an ultramarine blue beanie and approached the vending machine, fumbling for coins but constantly glancing over at his
surroundings rather than selecting a drink.
His cautious demeanor caught my attention.
After a while, the man finally inserted a 100-yen coin into the machine's slot.
Suddenly, an arm stretched out from over his shoulder, followed by a soft clicking sound. It was a familiar noise, like a coin rolling into a narrow groove.
However, the 100-yen coin remained in the navy blue beanie's hand. Kwon Taekjoo's hand had darted into the line, instinctively choosing and pressing the drink.
"... What's going on?" The navy blue beanie seemed puzzled.
The next moment, he realized the situation. The heavy canned beverage clattered and fell, and he hurriedly grabbed Kwon Taek-joo's hand as he reached for the product.
He was clearly taken aback by this unexpected turn of events.
"What the fuck are you doing? Are you nuts?" The man in the beanieseemed angry.
"I had a feeling an indecisive person like you would never make a decision. If I had waited, you might as well kept me here all day," Kwon Taek-joo retorted shamelessly, locking hands with the man.
There was a strange tension. Though he had been anticipating a confrontation like this, something didn't feel right—Kwon Taekjoo had a deeply uncomfortable feeling.
My instinct warned of impending danger, but I didn't pay much attention to it. The man's eyebrows twitched and anger gave way for a moment to uneasiness in his hard expression. His breathing grew labored and cold sweat formed on his forehead.
"Shit!" The man exclaimed.
Suddenly, the man reached for the vending machine, as if trying to secure something first. Kwon Taek-joo didn't hesitate to step on the cover, with the man's hand under it.
"Ah!" The man, whose hand had gotten caught in the cover, cried out in pain. Kwon Taek-joo wore an untroubled expression, as if nothing were amiss.
"You crazy bastard!"
With each provocation, the man's irritation became increasingly evident. He grabbed Kwon Taek-joo by the collar, his gaze intense, but Kwon Taek-joo remained unfazed, alternately inspecting the man's face.
The man's glare slowly shifted to Kwon Taek-joo's wrist, which he was holding. Great, now my suit was ruined.
I felt an irresistible force, impossible to ignore. At the same time, I became certain—though not hopeful. Kwon Taek-joo turned his gaze to the onlookers who had gathered and muttered something.
"Ugh, I despise drawing attention. Do you too, Mr. Ri Cheol-jin? Everyone in this line of work is like that, huh?" As soon as his real name was uttered, Ri Cheol-jin turned pale. 'Wha-...Ah, I see.'
Passengers poured in, quickly surrounding the two of us, and amid the commotion, the most captivating spectacle was, of course, a fight.
I harbored peculiar expectations as I studied the expressions of those watching the drama. It was like an arena. Drawing out the situation seemed ideal.
A cornered mouse might yet outsmart the cat.
I pondered the unpredictable actions Ri Cheol-jin might take if I applied more pressure. I firmly gripped Ri Cheol-jin's arm, prompting an unexpected self-deprecating chuckle from him.
"...Kwon Taekjoo."
'!!'
I abandoned any pretense of hiding my identity. When an operative's cover was blown, only two choices remained: a pre-prepared poison for self-termination or a desperate escape.
This time, I didn't plan on dying; escape was my only option...
Before Ri Cheol-jin swiftly reached into his coat, I raised my hands and grasped his neck, slamming his head against the vending machine. The vending machine rattled, and Ri Cheol-jin staggered from the impact.
Seizing the opportunity, I snatched his gun, causing a brief scream and retreat from the onlookers.
I paid no mind to the panic and forcefully pushed Ri Cheol-jin, sending him sprawling to the floor. I continued to strike his head, my actions relentless.
After some minutes, I flipped open the vending machine's cover and retrieved the USB, left behind by the woman Kim Younghee. According to our mission, it likely contained high-level national classified information.
"Step aside for a moment, sir! Wait!"
A flight attendant emerged amid the chaos, having likely been alerted. As I absentmindedly stared at him, overhearing everything. It was too loud here...
"Even if I die here, I will atleast not die alone!!"
A foreboding chill crept over me as I turned my head to meet Ri Cheoljin's oddly gleaming eyes.
Fuck. No wonder things were going a little too smoothly. I knew the man was going to use the crewman as a hostage, but I was too late.
"...Hick!"
Everything happened in an instant. Ri Cheol-jin tightened around the crewman's neck and pulled a sharp weapon from his other hand, smirking.
"Aaaaaagh!"
Passengers scattered in confusion as the blade gleamed menacingly. Only Kwon Taek-joo remained composed.
Kwon Taek-joo bit his lower lip. Operations like this one made him uneasy; he always did everything right, then why not right now? What went wrong?
But there was no room for complacency. I must think of something. Ri Cheol-jin grasped the weapon with his hand wrapped around the hostage's neck, eliciting a frantic scream.
Kwon Taek-joo bit his lip again, what do I do now...
"Give it here, you motherfucker."
Ri Cheol-jin extended his hand, demanding the USB. The sharp, blue blade pressed closer to the hostage's neck. Kwon Taek-joo watched, unmoved.Ri Cheol-jin shook his outstretched hand nervously, shouting impatiently.
I grew weary of his every move and the hostage's bluish face. Breathless, like a little girl who was scared, there was a rapid rasping of breath.
Kwon Taek-joo glanced at the USB in his hand and handed it off without hesitation. He threw it towards the man. The small device struck the hostage and tumbled to the floor.
Ri Cheol-jin, who had reflexively bent to retrieve it, quickly changed his mind. Instead, he forced the trembling hostage to pick it up.
The hostage peed in his pants through fear. Ri Cheol-jin, lifting him back up again, stepped back slowly.
Simultaneously, Kwon Taek-joo began to shift his position. For every step Ri Chul-jin retreated, Kwon Taek-joo advanced, seemingly indifferent to the hostage's safety.
Ri Cheol-jin's voice cracked in embarrassment. "Don't follow me!"
His threat fell on deaf ears. For each step backward, Kwon Taek-joo matched it with one of his own forward. A certain distance was maintained, but the hostage couldnt keep himself calm anymore.
'HELP ME!!! PLEASE! I HAVE A WIFE-...'
"Don't you dare come closer! Step back!"
"PLEASE, HELP ME!"
The hostage's pleas poured out as he rubbed his trembling hands together.
The urine that had soaked his pants now dripped onto the floor. Time seemed to stand still.
"You son of a bitch, didn't you just hear what I said?!"
As if to test me, Ri Cheol-jin took another step back. Kwon Taek-joo, followed, relentless in his pursuit. Ri Cheol-jin appeared frantic, while the hostage's face turned an alarming shade of blue. Breath came in desperate, jagged gasps, like sobbing. There was blood dripping from his neck.
Ri Cheol-jin eventually gave up, shoving the hostage away and hastily ascending a nearby staircase. Kwon Taek-joo helped the fallen hostage aside and pursued Ri Cheol-jin.
As he reached the second floor, chaos erupted from the deck access. I quickly turned and headed in that direction, catching sight of the fleeing Ri Cheol-jin.
Kwon Taek-joo, on the other hand, maintained a measured pace. There was no need for haste; after all, the ship was in the middle of the sea. It's not like he has anywhere to run off to.
The water was surrounding Ri Cheol-jin like a vulnurable rat in poison. Kwon Taekjoo calmly trailed Ri Cheol-jin, with
his dark hair fluttering in the strong sea breeze, creating an eerie aura.
'Sir, I've informed the Coast Guard on Adjutant Ferry about the armed individual on board. What's your plan?'
"Let's talk later. It seems things are about to get busier."