October 12th, 2019 03:40 (China Standard Time 02:40)

  China, Chong-qing. Massage parlor office.

  Ten minutes later, the floor was covered with groaning gangsters. The bald boss was passed out in the corner, his face beaten to a pulp.

  “Are you alright? Can you walk?” Park Gi-oong seemed to have taken a few cuts, and his thighs and stomach were bleeding heavily as he sat on the stairs.

  “I can walk. How about you, sir? Are you alright?”


  “Besides the cut on my left arm, I don’t have any serious injuries. Let’s take Ms. Kim Soon-hee and Kyung-hee and get out of here before the police arrive.”


  The two women, who were hiding on the second floor, must have figured from the silence that the commotion was over. They carefully came down the stairs.

  “This is Kim Soon-hee,” Kyung-hee said, introducing an obviously frail woman.

  “Hello, Ms. Kim Soon-hee.”


  “Did my cousin really send you?”


  “Yes. We can talk about the details later, but we have to get out of here before the police or more gang members arrive. Let’s go, Agent Park.”


  Ji Dong-chul’s group exited the building and entered their vehicle just as police cars appeared, driving toward them.

  * * *

  October 13th, 2019 11:50 (China Standard Time 10:50)

  China, Shanghai. Fu-dong shipbuilding yard.

  Head of State Xi-Jin-Ping, Vice Head of State Li-Wui-An-Chao, Prime Minister Jang-Gao-Li, Vice Prime Minister Ma-Kai, Chief Secretary Fu-Di-Fu-Chao, and many other major members of the Chinese government and military had gathered at the Shanghai Fu-dong shipbuilding yard. The men had gathered to attend the launching of the first mid-sized aircraft carrier (displacement of 70,000t) that was made purely with Chinese technology.

  China’s Ministry of National Defense revealed the two Chinese-made aircraft carriers, one built in Beijing and one built in Shanghai, seven years after the deployment of the Lao-Ning aircraft carrier in 2012. China’s navy projected that the addition of aircraft carriers would greatly increase their capacity to carry out naval missions. They would now be capable of operating more efficiently for the nation’s safety, development, and profits.

  China also revealed that they planned to build two additional aircraft carriers that would be added to the four craft already based on the Lao-Ning aircraft carrier. The two carriers would be stationed in the East and South, and plans had already been made to build three more aircraft carriers. China clearly had no intention of backing down from the territorial disputes over the South China Sea, and it also intended to claim naval supremacy over the Pacific. The U.S, the only contender against China, seemed unconcerned by China’s actions.

  The launching ceremony proceeded with Head of State Xi-Jing-Ping in the center. Two brand-new J-20 stealth fighter jets roared across the sky, spewing white smoke. The camera that briefly panned to Xi-Jing-Ping’s face showed him to be full of confidence. Then the video showed a montage of China’s rapid development to reach the status of a G2 nation. China had the makings of a major military power, and various media outlets predicted that a new world order would soon be formed.

  * * *

  October 13th, 2019 12:00 (China Standard Time 11:00)

  China, Fu-nan suburb. A low-class hotel.

  Ji Dong-chul’s party had left Chong-qing two days ago and arrived at Fu-nan. They had hunkered down at a motel in the suburbs to wait for backup to arrive. They had originally planned to go to the embassy in Shanghai, but Park Gi-oong’s injuries were too severe to travel any further, so the destination changed to Fu-nan.

  “Are you alright?”


  Kyung-hee, who was actually named Lee Eun-ah, had been nursing him since they arrived. Park Gi-oong had 20 stitches in his thighs and 10 across his stomach. He was a mess, but his mind was still active.

  “It won’t kill me. Don’t worry. Please take care of Ms. Kim Soon-hee instead.”


  Traveling in a car for a long time had left her even weaker, and she was having difficulty gathering her strength.

  “She’s better than she was yesterday, at least.”


  A moment later, Manager Ji Dong-chul returned from his outing, carrying sacks of food in both hands.

  “What’s it like on the outside?”


  “Luckily, it seems to be quiet. We’re some distance from any densely-populated urban centers. How are you though?”


  “My body is made of steel! Do you really think it will be broken by light wounds?”


  “Stop boasting. When Unit 2 arrives tomorrow night, you’ll be done with this mission. You can recover at the Shanghai embassy, then return to home after that.”


  “I’m fine, sir.”


  “What if you cause problems for the mission?”


  “Are you concerned about the mission or about me?”


  “Stop complaining and do as I say.”


  “Yes, sir.”


  * * *

  October 13th, 2019 12:00

  North Korea, Pyongyang. National Security Department, Director’s office.

  Kim Won-heung from the National Security Department answered the phone with a concerned look on his face.

  “What happened?”


  “We were one step behind,” said the voice on the phone. “Three days ago, two men speaking Korean caused a scene and escaped with Kim Soon-hee.”


  When he heard that, Kim Won-heung stood up from his chair and shouted, “So? You’ve lost them?”


  “I have no words. But we’ve bribed some of the police officials, so when we find a clue, we can start tailing them.”


  “Listen to me, comrade. If we lose that b*tch, then both of our lives are over! Do you understand?”


  “Of course, I know.”


  “You must take care of them.” Kim Won-heung almost threw the receiver to hang up the phone. He stood there for a moment to think.

  “Those men speaking Korean, were they human traffickers? Or the South Koreans, perhaps? If they are, then why?” he thought.

  He couldn’t come up with an answer. He stood still, forcing himself to breathe deeply as he stared at the ceiling.

  * * *

  October 13th, 2019 13:30 (China Standard Time 12:30)

  China, Chong-qing. An old building.

  Captain Oh Ji-wan of the First Foreign Operations Unit finished his phone call with Kim Won-heung and shook his head. Then he began looking at the photographs of the CCTV footage from the Chinese police. The quality of the photos wasn’t great, but he could make out the vehicle’s plates.

  “Captain Oh Ji-wan comrade, I found it,” said Unit Leader Kang Tae-woo. After spending hours scouring the CCTV footage that the Chinese police had handed over, he had finally found the route of their prey.

  “The b*stards left the highway via the Fu-nan toll area.”


  “Fu-nan? They didn’t go very far. Send units one and three to Fu-nan immediately. Also, bribe all the police there for whatever CCTV footage they have.”


  “Yes, sir.”


  The 20 men of the First Foreign Operations Unit packed up to move to Fu-nan immediately, and the black sedan carrying Oh Ji-wan also got on the highway.

  * * *

  October 14th, 2019 19:30 (China Standard Time 18:30)

  China, Fu-nan suburbs. B-class hotel.

  “Good work, Manager Ji.”


  Manager Kim Hyun-joon from the NIS First Foreign Intelligence Unit entered the hotel room, surrounded by South Korean agents. They exchanged greetings with the two men in the hotel room, whom they hadn’t seen for a long time.

  “You came in person, sir?”


  “The Director ordered us to finish the job ourselves. Great work.”


  “Welcome, sir.”


  “You are hurt severely. You’ve been working hard,” Manager Kim said, turning to Park Gi-oong.

  “No, sir. It’s a slight injury, nothing more.”


  Manager Kim Hyun-joon looked at Park Gi-oong on the bed with a sad look on his face. Then he turned to face the two women standing on his left.

  “This is Ms. Kim Soon-hee, and the lady standing next to her is also a North Korean defector, so we brought her along as well,” Manager Ji explained.

  “Is that so? Hello. I am agent Kim Hyun-joon from the NIS. We will guide you safely back to Korea.”


  “Tha–thank you.” The two women bowed their heads repeatedly to express gratitude.

  Kim Hyun-joon bowed in response, then began giving orders. They were short on time.

  “Let’s head out. Team two will escort the two ladies and Agent Park, while team one will act as bodyguards. Since you are also wounded, Team Leader Ji, stay close to me and don’t do anything reckless.”


  “Yes, sir.”


  * * *

  October 14th, 2019 19:40 (China Standard Time 18:40)

  China, Fu-nan suburb. B-class hotel parking lot.

  As the NIS agents were getting into the two vans, others vans swerved into the parking lot entrance. It was Oh Ji-wan and his men from the First Foreign Operations Unit.

  Screeech!

  The three vans parked haphazardly, and a dozen men in black suits jumped out and pulled weapons from their hips.

  “What the……?”


  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Gunshots rang out in the parking lot, punching bullet holes in the NIS vans. A shot hit the last agent’s arm as he got into the car.

  “Ugh!”


  “Hyuck-soo! Take my hand.” Team two’s leader Lee Won-ho grabbed the stumbling agent by the arm and pulled him in.

  “Step on it!”


  The two vans took off amidst the barrage of bullets, slammed into the two parked vans, and barreled through the entrance of the underground parking lot. As the van carrying Kim Soon-hee and Park Gi-oong left the parking lot, the second van spun sideways to block the exit.

  “We will hold them off here!” Manager Kim Hyun-joon shouted.

  The agents began to jump out of the van from the right door. A firefight was about to begin in the middle of a road. If the Chinese police got involved, then the unofficial activities would be revealed, and taking Kim Soon-hee safely back to Korea would become much more difficult.

  “Those b*stards, they blocked the entrance! Charge them head-on!”


  On Oh Ji-wan’s command, one of the North Korean vans accelerated toward the van blocking the exit.

  “Open fire!” Manager Kim Hyun-joon shouted.

  Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

  When the accelerating van was about to slam into the stationary one, the driver’s chest began spewing red blood. The van swerved sharply to the side and rolled over. The NIS agents began firing their pistols at the Foreign Operations agents climbing out of the overturned van.

  “Damn it! Unit two will run to the overturned van, while units one and three will cover you. Okay?”


  “Yes, sir!”


  “Also, Kang Tae-woo, you will take two agents from unit one up the stairs and hit those b*stards from the rear. All right?”


  “Understood!” Kang Tae-woo took two agents with him and ran down the stairs.

  “Unit two, are you ready?”


  “We are ready.”


  “Start running when we start shooting for cover.”


  Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

  When the NIS agents took cover from the collective gunshots, eight men in black clothes sprinted to the overturned van. The NIS agents reloaded their guns, took deep breaths, and began shooting back.

  Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Ugh! Ahh!

  Only two agents arrived at the van safely, while the other six fell under the hail of gunfire. One of the NIS agents caught return-fire and dropped.

  The two groups paused for a split second, staring across the distance at each other. Then gunshots came from the rear.

  Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Kang Tae-woo and two other Foreign Operations agents had infiltrated from the stairs. The NIS agents had been so aggressive in holding off the pursuers that they hadn’t secured their rear. Manager Kim Hyun-joon, Team Leader Ji Dong-chul, and the other agents all turned around and fired back, but they had no cover. After the last of them fell, the gunshots halted.

  “Captain Oh comrade, we took them all out,” Kang Tae-woo reported over the radio, looking at his own agents who were on the ground. In the distance, the Chinese police sirens could be heard. They were getting louder.

  “Damn it, it’s too late for us to give chase. Let’s retreat for now. If we get arrested by the Chinese police, our superiors will be very upset. Take our agents’ bodies and let’s get out of here.”