December 28th, 2023, 17:30

  Namju, Seoul, Gangnam-gu, National Intelligence Service (Office of the Director of External Intelligence)

  “Come in.”


  The door opened and Deputy Director Kwon Seong-woon came in with an urgent expression on his face.

  “What’s going on, Deputy Director?”


  “There’s big trouble.”


  Director Kang Ki-won, who had an ominous thought at the first words of the deputy director, jumped up from his chair and asked.

  “Big trouble? What’s going on?”


  “There is information that the plasma core technology is currently being traded in Paris, France.”


  “What? The plasma core technology? How did that get to France…”


  “It is said that Shin Baiqing, the captain of the Black Tiger Corps, is trying to make a covert transaction with the intelligence agencies of various countries, including France, England, Germany, and Italy, with the help of a broker named Jackie Lee.”


  “What the heck is that…How did you find out this information?”


  “That is…it’s the Black Tiger Corps.”


  “Are you referring to the Black Tiger Corps, the intelligence agency of New China?”


  “Yes, that’s right.”


  Director Kang Ki-won, who was slightly embarrassed by the incomprehensible situation, sat down again and thought about it. However, no matter how much he thought about it, he could not easily come to terms with the current situation.

  “Are you sure? Did that information come from the Black Tiger Corps?”


  “Yes, this is the information that the Black Tiger Corps provided directly to our agent in the Beijing branch.”


  “No, why did the Black Tiger Corps provide such information?”


  “They said that Shin Baiqing used the position of captain to move the Black Tiger agents to fulfill his greed, and that was the reason why he stole the plasma core technology from Professor Woo Jin-gil. Not long ago, in the President’s office, he was questioned, and when he got caught, it seems he immediately fled to France with the plasma core technology. Therefore, New China is coming forward with the information as it fears that relations with the Republic of Korea would deteriorate.”


  At the deputy director’s words, Director Kang Ki-won made an absurd expression and wrinkled his face.

  “I know it all, but these b*stards tend to write third-rate novels on their own at times! Anyway, aside from that, the most pressing issue is the plasma core technology that Shin Baiqing intends to trade.”


  “Yes, we also provided approximate location information of Shin Baiqing.”


  “As far as the location?”


  “Yes.”


  “Great! First, contact the Paris branch immediately. No matter what happens, we can’t let the plasma core technology be given to any of the Western countries! I will report to the head of the National Intelligence Service immediately, so you should contact the Paris branch and ask them to enter the surveillance system, and if the transaction proceeds, somehow stop it!”


  “Yes, I will contact them right away.”


  Director Kang Ki-won put on his topcoat and draped it, then left his office and ran to the director’s office.

  A minute later, Director Kang Ki-won, who had run to the director’s office, gestured for the secretary to open the door for him to enter.

  “What’s so urgent that made you come here in such a hurry?”


  Director Lee Young-jin, who saw Director Kang Ki-won holding his breath for a while in front of the door, said with a smile.

  “Master! It is a Code black.”


  The National Intelligence Service has set a total of five stages in case of an emergency. Code White for normal, Code Green for slight problems, Code Blue for the level above that, Code Red for emergencies, and Code Black for an extreme emergency.

  “Code Black? What is so bad that we’re experiencing a Code Black?”


  “We have received information that the plasma core technology is currently being traded secretly in Paris, France.”


  Director Kang Ki-won reported what he had heard to Lee Young-jin, director of the National Intelligence Service.

  “Sh*t! It’s really big trouble.”


  “We’ve been in touch with the Paris branch and have instructed them to prevent surveillance and transactions.”


  “Chief Kang! Instruct the agents of the Paris branch to only monitor Shin Baiqing.”


  “Yes? What does that mean? What if the transaction is made after just monitoring…”


  “I know, but think about it. Isn’t it the intelligence department of the European state that Shin Baiqing is dealing with? It can be difficult for the Paris branch agents!”


  “Even so, why not give it a try?”


  Director Kang Ki-won said vigorously.

  “Chief Kang! Black Mamba should handle this case!”


  “Yes? You mean Black Mamba?”


  “Okay! So tell the Paris branch agents to secure the exact location of Shin Baiqing until the Black Mamba arrives in Paris.”


  “Yes, I will.”


  The National Intelligence Service has been operating the Black Mamba, an unauthorized assassination organization, in secret since 2021. Their existence is classified as a Class A secret and only the director-level or higher within the National Intelligence Service knows about them, and only the head of the National Intelligence Service and a few officials from the Blue House know how many people there are and where they are working.

  After a while, when Director Kang Ki-won left the director’s office, Director Lee Young-jin, who took the intercom, said quietly.

  “This is Black Mamba 27.”


  “Code Black Occurred! You have to go to Paris right now!”


  “We will prepare for it.”


  December 29th, 2023, 15:00 (New China Time: 14:00)

  A motel in Hebei District, Tianjin City, New China (External Information Section 1 Temporary Residence)

  The day before, when Director Kang Ki-won informed of what was happening in Paris, France, Lee Ja-seong and Namgoong-won left Beijing immediately and gathered at a shabby motel in Hebei District, which is used by Team 1 and Team 2 as their lodgings.

  “Things are getting weird!”


  Looking at his subordinates who had gathered in one place after a few days, Director Lee Ja-seong explained about the Paris case that he had heard from the headquarters the night before.

  “See if Shin Baiqing, who used to be the captain of the Black Tiger Corps, is currently in contact with the intelligence departments of various countries in Paris, France with the plasma core technology data!”


  “Yes? So are we going to Paris too?”


  Chief Yoon Tae-jin asked a question about Manager Lee Ja-seong’s explanation.

  “No! Another department will take over there, and we must complete the original mission! That is why Manager Namgoong-won and the rest of the team came here in such a hurry.”


  “Oh, I see.”


  “How about the information that you have gathered so far?”


  “Don’t talk about it. As you can see, the fine dust here is no joke. Inverter mode is also affected.”


  Chief Yoon Tae-jin sticks out his tongue and retches.

  “So how much did you get?”


  “Ah! You sure are impatient. I have scanned all the parts that Manager Namgoong-won asked me to check. Assistant manager Jeon! Show it to him.”


  “Yes.”


  At the direction of Chief Yoon Tae-jin, Assistant Manager Jeon Ki-won booted up the laptop. Then, the projected light seemed to radiate from a small terminal placed on the table, and a holographic screen appeared before them.

  “Currently, this is Area 15 as directed by Manager Namgoong-won.”


  Chief Yoon Tae-jin pointed to a place on the screen displayed in the form of a hologram.

  “Um, was there anything suspicious?”


  When Manager Namgoong-won asked if he had seen the screen, Chief Yoon Tae-jin answered with a slight smile.

  “Of course there is. Here it is. Here! Although it looks like a shabby factory from the outside, the security is more thorough than in other places. There are more than 30 CC cameras confirmed from the outside, and there are about 10 strong security guards at the entrance.”


  “What kind of factory is this?”


  This time, Manager Lee Ja-seong asked a question with his gaze fixed on the hologram.

  “From what I checked on the Internet, it is a factory that makes PC cases. The company’s name is Hisan.”


  “For a factory that makes PC cases, the security is high. Something is suspicious! It is highly likely that it is disguised as a factory just as Manager Namgoong-won said. Is the information accurate?”


  “Thank God. I was worried about what to do. Chief Yoon! Or, has an external computer or telephone network been confirmed?”


  “Well, I couldn’t find it. The team members tried several times to see if there was one, but they could not find it.”


  “Well, it seems obvious that there are no externally connected computer networks in such a shabby factory.”


  When Manager Namgoong-won nodded his head and gave him a confident expression, Manager Lee Ja-seong took his eyes off the hologram screen and asked.

  “Manager Namgoong-won! What will we do? Shall we go inside and give it a sweep?”


  “Perhaps so! But, I guess you have to be careful! If it is really the secret lab of the Ministry of General Equipment, there will definitely be a security system that we are not aware of in place.”


  “Hey! Manager Namgoong-won! There’s no place we can’t go! Are you aware of the skills of our agents?”


  “Be careful! Is the Chief of team 1 monitoring right now?”


  “Yes, Chief Park Gi-oong and his team are secretly monitoring near the entrance.”


  Currently, Chief Park Gi-oong and his team members were taking turns monitoring the factory operated by Hisan one at a time.

  “Tonight, when Chief Park returns, let’s have a meeting about infiltration! I’m going to join this infiltration too! It seems unreasonable to discard the plasma core technology through an external hacking attempt!”


  At the words of Manager Namgoong-won, Manager Lee Ja-seong was surprised and tried to discourage him.

  “Hey! Manager Namgoong-won! Infiltrating is what black agents like us do. It’s dangerous for a computer hacker like you. Just leave it to us!”


  “If you don’t blow the whole place over there, how are you going to discard the data on the server?”


  “You can tell me!”


  “Heww! Do you think that is possible?”


  “Look at this b*stard! Are you ignoring me?”


  “It’s not that, b*stard!”


  Two managers arguing like children! Foreign Intelligence Unit 1 and the agents watched them as if they were having fun. Then, Manager Namgoong-won, who felt their gaze on them, said with a sullen expression on his face.

  “What! Let’s stop! All the staff can see us!”


  “Okay! Let’s go out and have a cup of coffee!”


  The two managers, who had grown tired, walked out of the living room, rubbing their shoulders as if they had just been in a fight.

  December 30th, 2023, 10:30 (Ukraine Time: 04:30)

  Dockmark Military Airfield, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine

  When the landing gear of the CC-503 military transport aircraft, which was marked with the Republic of Korea Air Force insignia touched the runway of the Dockmark military airfield, it began to slow down as skid marks appeared and the tires screeched to a halt.

  As a result, the waiting guidance vehicle began to move in a hurry and guide the transport plane that had just landed to the boarding gate area. Currently, there were about 10 CC-503 military transport aircraft circling the sky while waiting to land at the Dockmark Military Airfield.

  When the rear lift of the CC-503 military transport aircraft that had landed first and taxied to the boarding gate area opened, the Marines of the 5th Marine Division, fully armed and equipped with personal gear, walked out one after another.

  The CC-503 military transport is an aircraft that can carry 100 tons of war goods and 550 fully armed soldiers at the same time. In short, it was one of the best transport aircraft of this era that can transport battalion-level troops and equipment at a maximum speed of Mach 1.5.

  As the Marines disembarked from the CC-503 military transport aircraft, they moved to the parking lot behind the airfield building according to the orders of each company commander. In the parking lot, about 300 K-24P-N amphibious assault vehicles and various armored vehicles, which had been airlifted by the CC-1000TSP super-large transport aircraft, were parked in an orderly manner.

  “Come on, move! These children are as slow as slugs!”


  “Hey! Platoon 3! Go over there with armored vehicles 5 and 6!”


  CC-503 military transport aircraft were landing one after another on the runway, as the voices of commanders echoed from all around.

  After two hours, the transportation of more than 10,000 marines and various equipment from the 5th Marine Division (jiryong) to the Dockmark military airfield was completed, and now each battalion started maneuvering to move to the designated place.

  Although there was only one 5th Marine Division (Earth Dragon) sent here to end the nine-year-old civil war in Ukraine, it was provided with the latest equipment developed at the Olympus base as a top priority. It could be seen that the strength surpassed the army.

  Another thing to note here is that although the Republic of Korea Armed Forces enlists men through conscription, 100 percent of the applicants sign up to be part of the Marine Corps. However, the competition is fierce with only one in ten making it, which means that while one may have applied to join the Marines, it doesn’t mean they’ll make it.

  The Marine Corps has a fiercely competitive recruitment system, which commands a lot of respect and pride. As the men have been trained as hard as special forces they are known to be the best of the best.

  The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, unaware of this fact, wanted more troops, but if you see the 5th Marine Division in action in the future, you will feel that one Marine Division is more than capable……