January 8, 2021, 12:30, Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, Tokyo, Japan

  After Vice-minister Kim Hyung-il left, Prime Minister Abe called over the Director of Intelligence urgently to ask him questions, as if to interrogate him.

  “Do you have any idea what is going on?”


  Prime Minister Abe glared at Director Hirochi’s face and scolded him.

  “I apologize, Prime Minister Abe, sir! We still cannot make contact.”


  “Are you saying he did not complete his mission and disappeared?”


  “We are searching for him everywhere, sir.”


  “My, my! Are you sure he didn’t get caught by the Koreans before he could accomplish his mission? Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs made some preposterous demands today.”


  “Agent Akashi Keida is a veteran in the field, sir. He won’t be caught so easily.”


  “Don’t be so sure. Can you truly think that is the case considering how things are right now? Kim Yeo-jeong is still alive and breathing.”


  Prime Minister Abe kicked over the table and spoke in a low tone while glaring at Director Hiroshi.

  “What do we do if Agent Akashi gets caught by the Koreans and blows the whistle on the whole operation?”


  “Prime Minister! That would never happen, but there’s no need to worry, sir. That man has gone through a highly intensive training against interrogations.”


  “What would be the chance he confesses?”


  “In percentages, I would say 20 percent, sir.”


  “Hah! No word about this must be made public. Me asking you to give me a percentage, or you giving me an answer. Understood?”


  “Yes! I understand, Prime Minister!”


  * * *

  January 8, 2021, 14:00, Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, Tokyo, Japan

  Prime Minister Abe, who was highly upset over the events this morning, finished his half-eaten lunch and called for the Minister of Defense and the Commanders from the Joint Command office.

  “Minister, how far along are we in the American weapons import?”


  “Yes, Prime Minister! The purchases for the F-22 Raptor jets and the B-1B Lancer bombers are all agreed and settled, while the purchased 24 F-22 jets have been handed off to our aerial self-defense forces. By next Thursday, the other 24 jets and the B-1B Lancer bombers will be delivered to us as well.”


  “Great. Minister Shibasaki, purchase as many American weapons as we can, provided they are high-quality weapons.”


  Prime Minister Abe showed extreme obsession over American weapons due to his anger from the insulting statements from Vice-minister Kim Hyung-il this morning.

  “Prime Minister, sir! Should we look into the ships from the US Navy’s 7th Fleet?”


  “The 7th Naval Fleet?”


  “Yes, sir. America’s 7th Naval Fleet has six Zumwalt-class Aegis destroyers equipped with the latest Aegis system. If we can manage to purchase two to four ships and reorganize the 2nd Escorting Fleet, then we will be able to reform the 1st Carrier Strike Group, sir.”


  “Hmm, I see! Naval Commander Murakawa!”


  “Yes, sir!”


  “How far along are the repairs for the Kaga aircraft carrier?”


  “The ship’s deck and rear aircraft elevators have all been fixed and the internal aircraft hangars are being repaired, sir.”


  “When will the Kaga be able to be deployed on the field?’


  “Yes! It is estimated to be ready for deployment after ten days. The only issue is we are lacking in operable jets, sir.”


  “Hmm! Minister Shibasaki!”


  “Yes, sir!”


  “Proceed with purchasing the American F-35B jets. It doesn’t matter if they are from the navy or marines—tell them we are buying all of their operating jets at the price of a new one! No matter what! Do you hear me? Also, request for the purchase of all six Zumwalt-class Aegis destroyers! If they are willing to sell additional Aegis ships, then buy all of them! All of them!”


  The thought of losing the naval fleet that he had worked so hard to establish must have angered Prime Minister Abe, and he began to shout while his eyes became bloodshot.

  “Sir? Yes, I understand!”


  “Hmm! I must meet with President Trump in person.”


  * * *

  January 8, 2021, 18:30, Blue House President’s office, Jongro-ku, Seoul

  Vice-minister Kim Hyung-il and Ambassador Lee Yoon-jun, who had stoked the flames of anger within Prime Minister Abe’s heart, reported back to the Blue House. When the response they had expected was coaxed out, Minister Kim Jae-hak visited the Blue House.

  “Hahaha, it seems that the Vice-minister has teased them very well.”


  Minister Kim Jae-hak reported to the President the exact contents the Vice-minister had given to him. However, President Suh Hyun-wu did not seem to be pleased. He soon began to speak in a scolding tone.

  “Minister Kim! Are you happy with Prime Minister Abe calling our elders who were forced as sex slaves, whores?”


  “I apologize, sir. I also was upset but I didn’t think because of Vice-minister Kim’s words at Prime Minister Abe. I am sorry, Mr. President!”


  Minister Kim Jae-hak, who realized his mistake, bowed his head.

  “There is no need to bow your head. I am just emphasizing the fact that we must not have a lax attitude toward matters related to our elders forced into labor. Minister Kim, I apologize if I went too far.”


  “No, sir. It was me who was thoughtless, Mr. President!”


  The President stood up from his seat and picked up the intercom’s receiver.

  – Mr. President, sir. This is Secretary Lee Young-un.

  “Please call over the Secretary of the NIS immediately.”


  – Yes, sir.

  The President put down the receiver of the intercom and spoke to Minister Kim Jae-hak, who was now downtrodden.

  “It will be a while before Secretary Na arrives, so why don’t we grab dinner?”


  “Ah! Of course, sir.”


  * * *

  January 8, 2021, 19:40, Blue House President’s office, Jongro-ku, Seoul

  Secretary Na, who had arrived at the Blue House after receiving the call from the President, was listening intently to President Suh Hyun-wu’s words.

  “Did you make any progress on the things I have asked for?”


  “Do you mean the war-crime corporations and the stolen cultural artifacts, Mr. President?”


  “Yes, exactly.”


  “We are about 50 percent done, sir.”


  President Suh Hyun-wu had asked Secretary Na Bong-il to list up the Japanese corporations that had committed war crimes along with the location of their offices and factories in great detail.

  “Secretary Na, if they are a corporation involved in a war crime, then please have them reported, and don’t let even a corner store slip. None of them must be overlooked. I’m sure you understand, right?”


  “Yes, I will make sure of it, Mr. President!”


  “But, sir? Why are we listing up all the corporations involved in war crimes?”


  “I cannot stand by and watch as those criminal corporations profit from our ancestor’s blood and sweat. Also, I believe our cultural artifacts must be reclaimed. I would like to put an end to this, starting with Japan.”


  “That means while we are at war with Japan.”


  “Yes, exactly.”


  The President answered shortly and walked toward the window with his hands behind his back. Then he spoke softly.

  “We are done dealing with the Japanese imperial loyalists, now we must punish those that have used the blood of our ancestors to profit and turned a blind eye toward their crimes. I cannot contain my anger toward those that claimed our cultural artifacts as their own.”


  “Ah! I understand what you mean, sir.”


  Minister Kim Jae-hak, who had felt the President’s resolve, quietly nodded.

  * * *

  January 9, 20201, 10:30, the 38th Fighter Wing Air Force Base, Jeonbook Gunsan-si

  Above the 38th Fighter Wing’s skies, numerous KF-21P phoenix fighter jets were landing in order. After the Korea–China war was over, the 12 phoenix jets that had been deployed to the Sun-an 8th Fighter Wing Base were returning home.

  Woosh, Woosh.

  Along the long runway, the phoenix jets that landed were greeted by the repairmen and other crew members from the fighter wing.

  “Major Choi! Great work.”


  When Major Choi Young-ho got off from the jet, his best friend Major Jeon Chang-bin smiled brightly and waved at him.

  “Hey, Jeon Chang-bin, you look great since all you’ve done is sit around all day, haven’t you? I fought and put my life on the line this whole time, you know?”


  “Hey, I’ve been busy too! I was busy training people going from fighter wing to fighter wing.”


  Choi Young-ho and Jeon Chang-bin embraced each other while joking around. They were so close to each other that others might have mistaken them as a couple.

  “Hey! You see that over there?”


  Major Choi pointed to the phoenix jet that he flew in on with his thumb.

  “Look at what?”


  “Are you blind! Can’t you see the kill mark?”


  Major Choi Young-ho’s phoenix jet had 28 kill marks on its front. Among them, 16 were for the J-20 fighter jets.

  “Ah! Showing off, are we?”


  “Hey, I’m the top gun in the entire joint aerial forces. Hehehe.”


  “Good for you. Hey, this is great! Since my buddy is now the top gun, drinks are on me tonight!”


  “What? Just drinks? Can’t we get some liquor and uhh . . . meet some ladies too?”


  “Ha! Not a chance! You don’t change, do you? Come on, let’s go!”


  “Fine—drinks it is! Let’s go.”


  “Major Choi, sir! Take me along too, please.”


  Lieutenant Oh Gil-sung, Major Choi Young-ho’s wingman, shouted while running toward them.

  “He’s still alive?”


  “Yeah, thanks to him I am going through all kinds of hell.”


  “Sir, come on. There is no other subordinate like me, is there?”


  “Of course, there are!”


  “What? Hahaha.”


  * * *

  January 9, 2021, 13:20, Yongsan-ku B2 bunker (ROK Military Joint Command Center), Seoul

  North Korea’s 8th Special Forces Corps was divided into multiple groups after being merged with the Korean special forces command. Lieutenant General Kim Un-chul, the 8th Corp’s Commander was discharged; and Major General Lee Hyun-won had been appointed as the second in command of the command headquarters. Also, the eight aerial brigades were changed as the 21st, 31st, 41st, 51st, 61st, 71st, 81st, and 91st Paratrooper divisions consisting of six subordinate brigades.

  The three sniper brigades selected the most skilled veterans and were deployed to the 707th Special Forces Brigade that had been formed with the 707th Special Forces Battalion as a base. Also, the men who were not selected were reorganized as anti-terrorism brigades that were to be placed along Sejong and Pyeongyang. The other four mountain sniper brigades and sentry brigades were to be disbanded and deployed as police at the northern and central Manchu area after they have completed their training.

  After both nation’s special forces were unified as one, the Federal Republic of Korea now had 50,000 special forces in their military, making its numbers on an equal footing to nations like America and Russia.

  Lieutenant General Kang Jeong-hyun, Commander of the newly formed and large special forces command, visited the Joint Chiefs of Staff with his second in command Major General Lee Hyun-won and was conversing with Chairman Kang Ui-sik.

  “The 8th Special Forces Corp’s sniper brigade played a critical role in the march to Beijing and the Shandong Province.”


  Chairman Kang Ui-sik spoke sincerely to the Commanders.

  “No, sir! All we did was focus on the task at hand.”


  “That’s right, Comrade Chairman! We are grateful you allowed our sniper brigade to play a role in the mission, sir.”


  “Hahaha, my . . . both of you are so humble. You can at least praise your men. Understood?”


  “Haha! Yes, sir!”


  “Now, I have asked both of you to come by because of the President’s special orders.”


  “Sir? From the President directly?”


  “Yes! Exactly. Well, it’s not official yet, but I figured you would need to make preparations.”


  “Comrade Chairman, whatever it is, we can handle it. We will put our lives on the line.”


  Major General Lee Hyun-won spoke loudly with confidence.

  “My, my, your words alone already put me at ease. Now, the first step is to bring all the men in the field back to base.”


  “Yes, sir.”


  “After going into training, your men will be deployed when the President gives the official command. The mission is this.”


  When Chairman Kang Ui-sik waved to his aide-de-camp, he plopped down a large stack of documents on the table.

  “The information on the document is only 50 percent. I wanted you to at least take a look first before we were finished.”