2016 March 26th, 22:20 (09:20 In Washington DC),

  Dulles Airport, Washington D.C., United States.

  A petite well-dressed man with a briefcase just walked through customs. This man with yellow skin and black hair looked exhausted, as anyone could see in his face. He just flew 13 hours from Narita Airport in Japan to Dulles Airport.

  The man quickly walked out of the waiting room at the airport, looked around, then proceeded to call someone. Soon, two black-suited men with sunglasses walked behind him, and the tall, black one talked to him.

  “Are you Mr. Genzo?”


  “Yes, I am.”


  “Please follow me.”


  Yagumachi Genzo was the Defense Strategy negotiator from Japan that Prime minister Abe mentioned for the project with the navy. He came to Washington D.C. at the last minute through contact with USSC last night.

  Yagumachi Genzo continued to talk as he followed the two men.

  “What time does the meeting start today?”


  As Yagumachi Genzo asked, the black man who talked to him first turned around and answered.

  “We will discuss the details once we get to the hotel.”


  The man shortly answered and continued to walk ahead. Feeling awkward, Yagumachi Genzo quietly followed the two men. Soon three of them reached the airport parking lot and got into the black van parked in the corner to leave Dulles Airport.

  2016 March 26th, 23:00 (10:00 in Washington D.C.)

  A hotel room, somewhere in Washington D.C., United States.

  After an hour-long ride, they went into a room on the 10th floor of the hotel. Although it was not 5-star quality, the hotel was good enough for Yagumachi Genzo to rest for a while. He looked around the room and sat on the couch in the middle of the living room. The black man talked to him again as he stretched out his body.

  “Today’s meeting will be held at 7 pm. I hope you rest well until then. If there is anything you need or any problem, you can let this guy next to me know. He will be your security guard for the meeting here.”


  “Is the meeting held at a different place?”


  “Yes, it is. I will come to pick you up an hour before the meeting. I will see you then.”


  After he talked to Genzo, he gave a few orders to the other suited man before he left the room. The man who stayed with him soon stood by the door with his hands in front of him.

  Feeling awkward with just the two of them alone in the room, Yamaguchi Genzo opened the little patio and looked over at Washington D.C. The big city was full of environment-friendly nature parks. As he looked over the view, he figured that he must successfully negotiate as Minister of Defense Shibasaki asked……

  Thinking about the negotiation while he was tired exhausted him. Yagumachi Genzo walked into the bedroom and fell asleep right after taking his top off.

  2016 March 27th 07:00 (26th 18:00 in Washington D.C.)

  A hotel room somewhere in Washington D.C., United States.

  Click.

  The door opened, and the black man from earlier walked in. Yagumachi Genzo was drinking coffee after getting ready. As Yagumachi Genzo noticed the man coming in, he put on his jacket.

  “Let’s go.”


  He sat in the back seat of the black van, as the black man briefly answered him. Soon the black man sat next to him and spoke to him quietly.

  “The place we’re heading right now is secured. I must ask you to wear this blindfold.”


  As soon as he said it, he put the blindfold on Yagumachi Genzo. Then the van started to head somewhere.

  After about an hour, the car stopped.

  2016 March 27th, 08:00 (26th 19:00 in Washington D.C.)

  Outskirts of the building at Washington D.C.

  As he took off his blindfold, Yamaguchi Genzo was scared to see a black mask staring at him across the long table. The black mask didn’t seem to mind and spoke to him.

  “Mr. Yamaguchi Genzo? Are you the Defense Strategy Negotiator from Japan?”


  “Yes, I am.”


  The man in the black mask’s glance shifted between his papers and Yagumachi Genzo’s face repeatedly before he continued to talk to him.

  “I am Mars from the United States Supreme Security Council, or USSC for short. What is the emergency negotiation from the Japanese Defense Agency?”


  In the slightly dim office, the guy known as “Mars” sat across from him with his voice disguised. Yagumachi Genzo felt as if he was watching a scary movie. As he wiped his sweat off his forehead, he began to think. He knew that this was just a form of psychological warfare to be in a higher position of negotiation. Impressed by USSC’s negotiation tactics, Yagumachi Genzo answered Mars after he freshened up his voice.

  “Currently, Northeast Asia is a loaded gun that will go off at any moment because of the rumors of war with the United States. On behalf of Japan, we think that it is our mission to eliminate this possibility. Therefore, Japan would like to take over the Nimitz aircraft carrier that is retiring soon so we may strengthen our military.”


  “The aircraft carrier?”


  “Yes.”


  It was surprising to see the Defense Agency from Japan find out and contact USSC, the negotiation was even more surprising. Mars was left in shock.

  “Mr. Genzo, the aircraft carrier is a top tier weapon that is limited for export even within US legislature.”


  “I am aware of that. That is why we’re trying to negotiate with USSC directly.”


  The USSC was a top tier organization with anonymous members that could even control the US legislature or government.

  Yagumachi Genzo was very direct in saying what he wanted.

  “We will pay 500 billion Yen, which would be equal to 4.8 billion US Dollars. During the takeover, we will provide 1 billion dollars for the education of 3000 naval soldiers. Additionally, we would like to buy 80 models of F-35B. We will pay what is asked per model.”


  It was a shocking offer. 4.8 billion dollars for the aircraft carrier made in 1975 and soon to be retired was way more than a regular aircraft carrier. The fact that Japan was willing to pay what is offered for F-35B with all its money was even shocking to Mars, who’s from one of the most powerful groups in the US. However, finance was not the only reason to hand over the most powerful aircraft carrier and F-35B.

  “The price is enough, but if the aircraft carrier gets taken over to Japan, China or Russia might begin strengthening their military as well.”


  Yagumachi Genzo answered immediately as if he expected Mars’ reaction.

  “As mentioned before, northeastern Asia is currently in danger of war that could happen at any moment. Even if Japan does not take over the aircraft carrier, China or Russia has been prepared to strengthen their military internally. How could Japan stand by and watch this happen? Furthermore, Japan will provide 20 percent more on what has been supported to the US Army in Japan for defending our country. As a result of dividing the role in defense between the Japanese army and the American army, the internal cost directly from the US will decrease. Lastly, if this negotiation succeeds, Japan will donate 1 billion dollars to USSC via a bank account in Switzerland.”


  Mars hesitated over how Yagumachi Genzo spoke of a billion dollars like it was a one-dollar tip. Mars finally decided that it should be discussed within the group for the last 1 billion dollars Genzo suggested, and he spoke to Genzo after pretending to think for a moment.

  “I hear your offer. You will be notified after this negotiation goes through the group internally. You will hear back from us within 3 days.”


  “Thank you. I hope to hear good news soon.”


  After he was done talking, Mars disappeared behind the curtain. The two men appeared again and blindfolded Yagumachi Genzo.

  2016 March 28th 19:00,

  The group training center at National Intelligence Service, Gangwon-do.

  About 50 men dressed in white uniforms were partnered up and sweating to follow their instructor and his assistant

  Jujitsu, the martial art that the National Intelligence Service agents learned for when they were in a real scenario and for one’s safety, was one thing Namgoong-won hated. It was interesting to watch on TV, but learning it was draining; his muscles and joints hurt, and he was running out of energy as If he just went for a hiking mission. He barely had any remaining power to hold onto his partner.

  “Attention!”


  “Attention!”


  All the trainees stopped what they were doing and looked at the instructor.

  “This skill is called Naked Choke. For Naked Choke, you wrap the person’s neck with one hand behind him, then wrap the side of his head with the other hand. Your arms should make a cross to choke the person’s neck. From here, tighten the hand wrapped around his neck with and push his head with the other hand. If done correctly, the person should faint within 20 seconds.”


  The instructor continued as he got up from the demonstration with his assistant.

  “This skill basically tightens the artery to stop the blood flow heading to the brain. Therefore, if this skill lasts more than 1 minute, it could lead even to death. Now, we’ll watch the demonstration from the assistant again and repeat after him.”


  Lee Ja-sung, who was partnered up with Namgoong-won performed Naked Choke to Namgoong-won after watching the demonstration from the assistant.

  “Ahhhh!! Ah!”


  Thinking the skill worked successfully, Namgoong-one desperately waved his hands back and forth without being able to say anything. Lee Ja-sung laughed as he took his hands off of him. Namgoong-won, who just got out of the choke glared at Lee Ja-sung as he touched his neck.

  “Hey, I almost died! Calm down, it’s just practice!”


  “What if you were an enemy in real life? Practice like it’s real, you know?”


  “Practice like it’s real, huh? Alright, let me do it to you now.”


  Switching their roles, Namgoong-won choked Lee Ja-sung this time. Although he was trying his best to follow what the assistant demonstrated, Lee Ja-sung didn’t seem to even care. Noticing something was off, he looked at Lee Ja-sung and realized that he was lowering his chin to stop the right arm from choking his neck. Trying to put his arm deeper into Lee Ja-sung’s neck, Lee Ja-sung’s hands pushed into Namgoong-won’s right arm to pull his arm away from himself.

  After a long time of fighting with his arms, Namgoong-won gave up and looked at Lee Ja-sung. He was once again impressed by Lee Ja-sung, who was in special force for 6 years and awarded twice for his excellence. Lee Ja-sung offered his hand to get up as Namgoong-won laughed.