February 17, 2021, 03:30 (U.S. time 16, 16:30)

  Office of the President in the White House, Washington, D.C., U.S.A-

  President Trump! How could a single Corean submarine so easily hit our carrier strike group?

  There was anger in the voice. It was surprising that someone could speak with anger like this to the world’s strongest country’s president. She was Victoria, the chairman of the USSC, who had the power to control the U.S……

  “I’m sorry. But we will deal a counter strike in a few days.”


  – Besides counter-strike, what about our reputation? Because of one Corean submarine, America’s reputation has dropped!

  “The Corean submarine seems to be a high-performance one, so it was hard to find.”


  – I don’t want to hear that. The reason I called today is to hand over operational authority to the B-3 Tarantula that is under operational test in Area 51.

  “Is operational test over?” President Trump’s voice suddenly brightened as he heard the word B-3 Tarantula-

  The basic tests are all over. Make sure to use it properly in this large-scale counterattack against Corea.

  “Okay. I think it will be of great help.”


  ***

  February 17, 2021, 05:00

  Office of the Manager, Department of Security Division 2, Cybersecurity Bureau, National Intelligence Service, Gangnam-ku, Seoul

  Twenty people of Cybersecurity Bureau’s Department of Security Division 2 had been working all day to hack the White House’s network system, as ordered by Manager Namgoong-won. However, it was not so easy to hack into the network of a country’s highest authority. Namgoong-won also had difficulty in hacking the White House, which operated an absolute security system.

  He came out to the rooftop outdoors to relax his tired body for a while and breathed in the cold air of late winter.

  “It’s very refreshing!” he thought.

  Breathing in the fresh air cleared up his foggy mind, and suddenly, he wanted to see Manager Lee Hye-jin. So, he took out his smartphone. However, it was very early morning. He didn’t want to wake her up. He put his phone back in his pocket. At that time, he could hear the voice of Hocula from his watch.

  – Namgoong-won!

  “What’s up in this early morning?”


  – I found it.

  “Really?”


  Hocula also hacked into the U.S. wireless network and monitored in real time the contents of calls and text messages sent and received from all mobile phones currently used in the White House-

  I just sent the information by e-mail.

  “Wow. You are great. I was still trying to hack.”


  – Did you really think you can be a match for me?

  At Hocula’s random retort, Namgoong-won made a confused face. Hocula said it so nonchalantly-

  It’s a line from the recent hit movie “Hooligan Guys.”


  “I didn’t watch that movie because I didn’t like the director……”


  – Just check your e-mail.

  Namgoong-won terminated the communication and ran to the office.

  ***

  February 17, 2021, 08:00

  Chugoku Expressway, 15 km west of Kasai City, Honshu, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

  Two days ago, the Search Tank Battalion of the 3rd Marine Mobile Division, which had fought fiercely with the Nihonbara Garrison, mixed forces of the 13th and 14th Mechanized Brigades in Tsuyama, had maintenance time for about a day. After that, they ran the Chugoku road while conducting search and reconnaissance to build a route to Osaka, one of the major Japanese cities.

  First Lieutenant of Headquarters Company Gil Seong-ju was operating the Spider-Drone II. He suddenly spoke through the communication system of the battalion-

  Sir!

  “What?”
-

  The road 10km ahead is destroyed, so it seems impossible to maneuver further.

  The road was destroyed 5km before Kasai City. It seemed that the ground self-defense force’s engineer unit had destroyed the road to stop the advance of the marines for at least a little while.

  “First Lieutenant Gil. Figure out a detour way from that point.”


  – Yes, sir.

  “We will move up to that point, keeping the current speed.”


  Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Man-ho Hong announced by turning the channel through the communication network dedicated to the commanders.

  The 3rd Search Tank Battalion of the 3rd Marine Mobility Division reached 1 km. They kept running on the Chugoku Expressway with roaring engine sounds.

  ***

  February 17, 2021, 11:00 (U.S. time February 16, 2021, 22:00)

  Building outside Washington, D.C., USA (USSC villa)

  After the declaration of war against Corea, military and police officers were scattered throughout downtown Washington, the political center of the United States. They frequently inspected people on the street. In particular, Asian men were subjected to checks dozens of times a day. Under these adverse conditions, the field agents investigated places outside of Washington based on the information received from Team B. But they did not find anything.

  Today, however, four field agents of Team A received information about the site to be investigated by the National Intelligence Service’s Cyber a few hours ago. They were on standby in a slightly remote forest, 10 km from downtown Washington, wearing the latest equipment.

  Using a large tree as cover, Team Leader Lee Ja-sung increased the magnification of the shield glasses and searched the building 1 km ahead. This five-story building was shabby and old, but it looked like a European-style villa. It had black curtains on each window to prevent light from going in, making it feel as if there was a blackout. And inside the building, people with automatic machine guns were stationed on every floor.

  “It’s definitely a suspicious building. There is no way that that’s South or Central America’s drug dealer or gang in Washington.”


  At that time, Assistant Manager Park Gi-oong talked to Team Leader Lee Ja-sung who was searching around.

  “Sir, please check over there in magnetic mode.”


  Assistant Manager Park Gi-oong pointed out a few points of the buildings. Accordingly, Team Leader Lee Ja-sung changed the shield glasses’ vision mode to magnetic field mode and checked the locations pointed out by Assistant Manager Park Gi-oong. Dozens of pillars with sensors that emitted red light were installed around the outside of the building.

  “What’s that?”


  “I think they are motion sensors.” Leaning on the opposite tree and checking with the shield glasses, Assistant Manager Park Gi-oong replied.

  “Hmm. This one must be something.”


  Team Leader Lee Ja-sung, who had been searching in vain for two days, smiled slightly. He called Assistant Manager Shin Bo-ra using silent communication. Currently, she was waiting behind the building with the team’s youngest, Chief Oh Seok-jin.

  “Assistant Manager Shin!”


  – Yes, sir!

  “How is it there?”


  – There seems to be a lot of people on guard for this shabby-looking building.

  “Are there any pillars with sensors there?”
-

  Yes. There are a lot of them.

  “Okay. Be careful not to be caught.”


  Team Leader Lee Ja-sung finished the conversation. He looked at Assistant Manager Park Gi-oong and said, “Shall we begin?”


  Team Leader Lee Ja-sung and Assistant Manager Park Gi-oong operated the X-C01 control devices on their left wrists. As the TCS (transparent concealment system) was activated, the space seemed distorted. Soon, they became transparent.

  Originally, the operating time of the TCS was 1 minute. However, by attaching a medium-sized battery to the back wrist and connecting it to the X-C01, the battery capacity was greatly increased. Accordingly, the current TCS operation time had increased to about 10 minutes.

  “Are you ready?” Team Leader Lee Ja-sung asked.

  – Yes, sir.

  “Good. Let’s go. Assistant Manager Shin, you guys move too when you’re ready.”


  – Yes, sir.

  Team Leader Lee Ja-sung ordered through silent communication and began to run. Assistant Manager Park Gi-oong followed him. Although the footprints were slightly visible on the grass, it was enough to deceive the motion recognition sensors.

  Lee Ja-sung and Park Ki-oong approached the building as carefully as possible, avoiding heavily armed security guards and the motion recognition sensors, and succeeded in approaching the building by 100m.

  “How much time is left for TCS?”


  – About 2 minutes, sir.

  Team leader Ja-sung Lee and Assistant Manager Park Ki-oong, who ran 1 km while looking around for 8 minutes, laid down on the ground to check the remaining time on the X-C01 device.

  “Let’s take a rest and check the inside for the last time. Then, we will move!”


  Currently, the entrance in the center was the only door in front of the building. And there were eight heavily armed guards guarding both inside and outside the door. Now, the problem was how they would open the door and go into the building, avoiding those guards.

  “Assistant Manager Shin, are you ready?”


  – We approached about 500m and are ready.

  “Good. Start moving when I send a signal.”


  – I will wait.

  Assistant Manager Shin Bo-ra was the only woman among the field agents dispatched to Washington. She was a former captain of special warriors, and her main specialty was bombing. She had joined the NIS at the recommendation of the Special Forces Commander. She was one of the few veteran field agents of the National Intelligence Service.

  Lee Ja-sung and Park Ki-oong, who had connected the new batteries and operated the TCS again, carefully walked to the central entrance of the building. They moved as carefully as possible so that no footsteps could be heard, went behind the guards, and leaned on the left and right of the front door.

  “Now!”


  – Yes, sir.

  Boom! Boom!

  A lot of explosions were heard behind the building. As a result, the guards standing on the outside of the building started running to the back at once. Dozens of guards from inside the building also opened the front door and ran out. Lee Ja-sung and Park Gi-oong entered the building with a quick movement before the door closed.

  The inside of the building was dark, as confirmed by the shield glasses from outside the building. But thanks to the shield glasses in the infrared mode, they could see things clearly as though in daylight. They moved to the place that they wanted to go to without difficulty.

  “Assistant Manager Shin! We have successfully sneaked into the building. You guys hide somewhere and stand by.”


  – I have moved to the back and hid with Chief Oh.

  “Good! Wait until the next communication.”
-

  Yes, sir.

  Assistant Manager Shin Bo-ra and Chief Oh Seok-jin had detonated the bombs that they had installed and had run away before the guards rushed in.

  The guards, who were standing inside and outside the building, switched to an emergency and moved back and forth due to the sudden sound of explosions.

  “Assistant Manager Park. Let’s spread out and look around.”


  – I will go upstairs.

  “I will go to the basement. Don’t forget to check the TCS time,” Lee Ja-sung said.

  At the staircase, Team Leader Lee Ja-sung and Assistant Manager Park Gi-oong began to move separately.

  After several minutes, Park Gi-oong went upstairs and found a slightly spacious hall. There was a huge C-shaped table with the sign of the United States Supreme Security Council (USSC) in the middle of the table. Park Gi-oong’s eyes widened.

  “I found it! This is it!” he thought.

  Assistant Manager Park Gi-oong who was cheering silently reported to Team Leader Lee Ja-sung. “Sir! I found a table that has the United States Supreme Security Council (USSC) carved on it at the main hall of the second floor. This place must be the base or hideout of the organization we are looking for.”
-

  Really?

  “I will send out the video.”


  Assistant Manager Park Gi-oong sent a recorded video to Team Leader Lee Ja-sung using the shield glasses.

  – Damn, you got it. Good! Hey, Assistant Manager Park.

  “Yes, sir.”
-

  Check the rest of the area and plant bugs in appropriate places.

  “Yes, sir.”


  Assistant Manager Park Gi-oong took out machines the size of thumb nails from the small bag he was carrying and began to install them.

  Meanwhile, Team Leader Lee Ja-sung, who had gone down to the basement, carefully passed between the guards guarding in the corridor and stood in front of the entrance door made of iron. He looked inside using the shield glasses. Fortunately, it was the server room that he wanted to find. And in the server room, there were no guards or employees doing business. But if he just opened the door and went in, the surveillance cameras would catch him.

  “I guess I have to watch out for this one,” he thought.

  Team Leader Lee Ja-sung checked the surveillance cameras one by one, then went right under the camera monitoring the door of the server room. He attached something to the body of the camera. Then, he sent a communication to the information analysis team.

  “This is Lee Ja-sung of Team A (Team Alpha). Please hack the camera right now.”
-

  This is Team B (Team Bravo), please wait. We will work on it.

  Through a small device attached to a surveillance camera, Team B attempted to hack and manipulate the camera by sending a recorded video.

  – This is Team B (Team Bravo). We have run the recorded video. You have about one minute. It starts now.

  “This is Team A (Team Alpha). Got it.”


  Team Leader Lee Ja-sung quickly approached the iron door.