February 21, 2021, 16:00

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

  The data that had been downloaded through hacking after infiltrating the server room of the USSC organization outside Washington on the 17th were encrypted with a special program. As such, all personnel of the Cybersecurity Bureau were mobilized to crack this encryption.

  Namgoong-won was struggling with computers to decrypt the allocated data. Of course, Hocula was assigned some data, so he was able to solve some important information. The data about the latest U.S. weaponry also came out from those coded data.

  However, even with the help of the Hocula supercomputer, the remaining encrypted data did not decrease. The whole data was 2PB (2,097,152GB).

  It would be nice to find out only important data by decrypting it first, but it was impossible to know which data was important or not. Therefore, he had to unconditionally solve everything. He was typing on the keyboard excitedly, intending to solve up to 10 files a day. In the meantime, he decrypted the fifth data.

  “Alright! It only took one hour! Hooray!”


  Namgoong-won folded his hands as if in prayer and shook them. He clicked on the unlocked file. On the computer monitor, photos and other articles written in English were seen.

  He scrolled down the screen, checking the information slowly. At that moment, he felt like he was frozen by the shocking data. It was all about the truth that he had been waiting for so far. It was about his dead family and friends.

  Thick tears flowed from Namgoong-won’s eyes.

  Namgoong-won sat down and cried for 30 minutes, thinking about the past. He then shut down the computer after he had put the information in his personal USB stick. He left the manager’s office and headed to the office of the deputy director of the Counterterrorism Bureau. He knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” a voice answered from the inside.

  Namgoong-won opened the door and entered the room. Deputy Director An Yeon-wu stood up and greeted him with a bright smile.

  “Manager Namgoong! Long time no see. Come here and sit,” Deputy Director An Yeon-wu shook hands with Namgoong-won and said, pointing to the sofa.

  “It’s been a while, sir. I’m sorry I got busy as soon as I came back.”


  “It is alright. How is your work going?”


  Deputy Director An Yeon-wu was a man with a warm impression that was odd for the National Intelligence Service. He ordered his secretary to bring some tea and sat back down.

  “When will you do it?”


  “Huh?”


  “I mean, when will you marry Manager Lee?”


  Namgoong-won scratched the back of his head as if he was embarrassed to talk about marriage.

  “I’m just kidding. Ha-ha. Anyway, what brings you here?” Deputy Director An Yeon-wu asked.

  “Oh, yes.”


  Namgoong-won handed his personal USB to the Deputy Director.

  “Isn’t this an unauthorized USB?” Deputy Director An Yeon-wu said.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but please take a look.”


  “Give me that.”


  Deputy Director An Yeon-wu fetched his laptop. He plugged the USB into the laptop and clicked on the removable disk. As he read, Deputy Director An Yeon-wu’s expression became very serious.

  “Where did you get this?”


  “This is what we are secretly working on in our department these days.”


  “Is this the data that was hacked from the USSC organization?”


  “Yes, sir.”


  Deputy Director An Yeon-wu had attended the general meeting at the director level. So, he knew what was going on briefly.

  “Did you find this while unlocking the encrypted data?”


  “Yes,” Namgoong-won answered.

  “Then, why did you bring it to me? Don’t you have to give this to your director?”


  “This data is related to my personal business. And I started this job because of you, so I wanted to discuss it with you, sir.”


  “I see. Then, what do you want to discuss?”


  At the question of Deputy Director An Yeon-wu, Namgoong-won hesitated a moment.

  Then, he said, “Sir! I want to revenge for my parents and friends!”


  “Revenge?” Deputy Director An Yeon-wu was astonished. “What do you mean revenge? You are not Kim In-jik of the past anymore. You are Namgoong-won! Your past all disappeared when you became Namgoong -won.”


  “If you were me, do you think you can just move on?”


  Namgoong-won spoke strongly as if he had already made up his mind. Deputy Director An could not think of anything to say, so he just stared at Namgoong-won.

  “Help me, sir, please!” Namgoong-won bowed his head and asked desperately.

  “Alright. How can I help you?”


  ***

  February 21, 2021, 18:00

  Yomiuri Golf Course, 22 km west of Toyonaka, Hyogo Prefecture, Honshu, Japan

  The 3rd Marine Mobile Division (Fire Drake) and the 12th Mechanized Infantry Brigade who had arrived at the Yomiuri Golf Course this morning took a break. At 5 p.m., they began the operation to occupy Osaka.

  The Search Tank Battalion and the 52nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion of the Mechanized Infantry Brigade who had been in the vanguard took a detour and advanced from 12 o’clock. The 51st Tank Battalion and the 53rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion of the 12th Mechanized Infantry Brigade advanced from 11 o’clock.

  Here at Yomiuri Golf Course, the 3rd Air Defense Regiment, the division’s direct unit, began the anti-aircraft warfare mission against enemy aircraft. The 3rd Artillery Regiment waited in suspense all over the golf course so that they could fire immediately when an allied fire request came.

  The 10th Armored Brigade, a subordinate unit of the 3rd Marine Mobile Division (Fire Drake) which had maneuvered along the southern coast of Honshu after it had occupied Akashi, had taken over Gobe. They were scheduled to advance from 9 o’clock when the mission would start.

  About 20 Spider II drones, which were reconnaissance drones, took off from Yomiuri Golf Course and flew into downtown Osaka, crossing the darkening sky. All the drones that the division had were in use. It was because Osaka was bigger than Seoul and they wanted to find out the exact locations of the enemies.

  Tanks and armored vehicles of the 3rd Marine Mobility Division (Yellow Dragon), advancing from three directions simultaneously, gradually began to enter the city. Until now, there was no special counterattack caused by the enemy’s ambush. Japanese citizens looked through the windows from inside the buildings, as if the search tank battalion maneuvering along the eight-lane road was fascinating. Even though it had been 20 days since the war had started, Japanese citizens seemed to be unaware of the current situation.

  – Stop! Stop the tanks!

  The voice of the commander of tank No. 711, who was also the commander of the 1st Platoon, was heard over the communication network. As a result, 14 tanks of the 7th Tank Company, which were moving in columnar formation, stopped in an instant.

  – What is it? Is there any enemy?

  Captain Gang Sun-ho, who was the company commander of the 7th Company and also was the tank commander of tank No. 701, asked-

  One old man holding the Japanese flag is protesting in front of the tank.

  An old man had jumped in front of tank No. 711. He waved the Japanese flag and shouted something.

  – What the?

  – He says ‘Tennoheika Banzai,’ waving the Japanese flag. What should I do?

  – What do you mean? Drag him out of the road! There is no ambush force here.

  – Yes, sir.

  First Lieutenant Hong Jin-oh, the tank commander of No. 711, terminated the communication. He talked to Staff Sergeant Kim Young-jun, the gunner.

  “Staff Sergeant Kim! Let’s go out and drag that old man off.”


  “Yes, sir!”


  “Does he really think Japan is still an empire? What a pain just because of one crazy old man!”


  “I agree, sir.”


  The entire 7th Company stopped due to one insane old man. First Lieutenant Hong Jin-oh and Staff Sergeant Kim Young-jun opened their hatches and got out of the White Tiger tank. They walked toward the old man.

  “Get lost!”


  Staff Sergeant Kim Young-jun pulled out a pistol and took a shooting position. First Lieutenant Hong Jin-oh gestured at the old man to move over. However, the old man ignored him and continued waving the Japanese flag continuously, shouting for his majesty.

  “I said get lost!”


  First Lieutenant Hong Jin-oh grabbed the old man by the collar and tried to drag him out. At that time, shots rang out.

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  The shots were aimed at First Lieutenant Hong Jin-oh and the old man.

  The old man collapsed as he screamed and vomited dark red blood. First Lieutenant Hong Jin-oh who was holding the old man also fell after being shot by several bullets-

  It’s an ambush! The 3rd floor of a 6-story building, 120 in front at 11 o’clock!

  Photon cannon shot mineral particles to the third floor of the six-story building. The whole building shook and exploded. The black shadows that used to fire heavy weapons were also caught in the explosion and burned. Tank No. 712, which was behind tank No. 711, quickly fired suppression. Then the commander of tank No. 712 gave orders to the driver of No. 711.

  – No. 711! Drive forward and block!

  Tank No. 711 maneuvered in front of the fallen First Lieutenant Hong Jin-oh and stopped.

  “Tank Commander, are you okay?”


  Staff Sergeant Kim Young-jun, surprised by the sudden situation, ran quickly and looked at First Lieutenant Hong Jin-oh who had fallen. Fortunately, he wasn’t fatally injured because of the protective suit, but he was stunned because he was hit by nearly 10 bullets at the same time.

  – This is the battalion commander. The 7th Company, are you engaged?

  The battalion commander, who was maneuvering on the other side of the road, heard the sound of the explosion and sent communications. The 7th Company commander replied.

  – Salute! This is the company commander of 7th Company, Captain Gang Sun-ho. An old man was blocking the road. So, the tank commander and the gunner tried to get him off the road. But there was an attack by ambush.

  – Are you crazy? How could the tank crew get off the vehicle without infantry support during a street war?

  – I’m sorry, sir. According to the reconnaissance information, there was no ambush force. So, I ordered them to get off.

  – Reconnaissance information can change at any time!

  – I’m sorry, sir.

  – So? What happened?

  – The tank commander was shot. But he wasn’t seriously injured. He just blacked out.

  – Take care and maneuver as quickly as possible. Do not damage other companies!

  ***

  February 21, 2021, 19:00

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

  Namgoong-won returned after having a conversation with Deputy Director An Yeon-wu for an hour. He worked on the computer to decrypt the remaining data.

  Knock, knock.

  The door opened. Surprised by this, Namgoong-won closed his laptop in a hurry.

  “Won. It’s me!” It was Manager Lee Hye-jin.

  “You haven’t gone home yet?”


  “I was going to go after seeing you. You working late today as well?”


  “Well, yeah.”


  “Why are you so surprised and close the laptop?”


  “It’s nothing!”


  “Top secret?”


  “Yes, it’s top secret. Very top secret.”


  “Hmm, something smells fishy.”


  Manager Lee Hye-jin folded her hands behind her back. She walked toward Namgoong-won, narrowing her eyes.

  “I swear. It is just a work-related secret.”


  “Really? Then, just show me a little bit. I will check if it is really top secret or not.”


  “Hey, if I can just show you it would not be top-secret, would it? Never.”


  “Alright. Then, I will get off. See you at home!”


  “See you.”


  After Manager Lee Hye-jin left, Namgoong-won opened his laptop again, sighing. On his screen, there were photos and personal information of the Scorpion members who had assassinated his family and friends.

  “I almost got caught.”


  Namgoong-won was getting the personal information of the Scorpion members who had assassinated his family and friends using all his means based on the information from the encrypted data.