Perfect Mission – Chapter 16 – Approaching Danger (1)

Author: Raven

Chapter 16 – Approaching Danger (1)

First Deputy Director Jeon Dongseok of the NIS was presiding over a meeting, something he hadn’t done in a long time. With his short hair and stern features, he still had a sharp gaze and a toned physique despite being over sixty. He had a completely different aura than Second Deputy Director Jeong Sejin. It seemed like he could jump back into active duty at any moment. Even the field agents cowered before him like mice before a cat.

A tiger. That was the best way to describe First Deputy Director Jeon Dongseok.

Before him sat an old, army-green analog device.

“So, you’re saying if we get Kim Junghyun’s fingerprint from France, we can unlock this?”

“Yes, sir.”

Ten people attended the meeting, including members from both Second Deputy Director Jeong Sejin’s Domestic Team and First Deputy Director Jeon Dongseok’s Overseas Team.

Of course, the “star” of the meeting was Director Kim Cheolsoo.

“Seongju, how long will it take?”

Team Leader Hwang Seongju of the Overseas Operations Team spoke into the microphone.

“Just establishing a connection will take three months, maybe even a year. Depending on the operation…”

“Cut the crap. How long to get the fingerprint, and how long to bring him here? Hmm?”

“Sir, considering the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ tendency to avoid public exposure, handling the situation after the abduction will take at least three months. If we try to persuade him to defect, it will take at least a year.”

“So, two years at most?”

“Yes, sir.”

Team Leader Hwang Seongju swallowed the words “It could take longer,” which were on the tip of his tongue.

“Two years for $10 million and access to the North Koreans’ slush fund accounts? Cheolsoo, you’ve done well.”

“Thank you, sir.”

First Deputy Director Jeon Dongseok, without even looking at Director Kim Cheolsoo, who bowed his head, asked Second Deputy Director Jeong Sejin,

“What do you think?”

“It seems worthwhile.”

“Really? Which approach?”

“We should persuade him to defect, of course. If we mess up and leave any traces, it won’t just be one or two people losing their jobs. If we fail, then we can consider the other option.”

“Then let’s do that. We don’t have anyone else we can trust with this anyway.”

Team Leader Hwang Seongju’s head drooped at those words.

“Then let’s prepare thoroughly. Team Leader Hwang, when did Kim Junghyun go to France?”

“It’s been two years since he transferred from Argentina.”

“Then he’ll probably be there for at least another three years. Let’s approach his wife and children.”

First Deputy Director Jeon Dongseok nodded at Second Deputy Director Jeong Sejin’s words.

“Alright. Prepare well. Cheolsoo, what about the girl?”

“I’ve discussed the details of Goblin’s case with her. Whether it was always like this or not, she was quite close to Goblin. She said she even witnessed her father’s torture.”

“Shouldn’t we get her psychiatric help?”

“We thought so too, but she’s… unique.”

“How so?”

“It seems like Goblin trained her.”

First Deputy Director Jeon chuckled.

“Trained? You mean like, killing people?”

“Something like that. She wasn’t intimidated at all during the interrogation. I even threatened to pull out her fingernails if she didn’t tell me about Gorilla, but she didn’t even flinch. I even put pressure on the pliers, and she asked why I wasn’t pulling them out.”

Everyone in the meeting was surprised in their own way. First Deputy Director Jeon frowned, leaned forward, and asked,

“How old is she again?”

“Eighteen.”

“Did she ask for a new identity?”

“Yes, sir.”

“How about we bring her into our agency after she graduates high school?”

Second Deputy Director Jeong Sejin asked in surprise, “Really? You want to recruit her?”

“You heard what he said. You can’t teach that kind of composure. And she’s only eighteen? Even if Goblin trained her, it’s innate. You can’t find someone like that even if you try. A talent like that came to us willingly, so we should nurture her.”

“That makes sense, but her connection to Gorilla is concerning. Especially since she refuses to talk about him, suggesting a rapport that goes beyond mere intimidation.”

“That’s why I can’t give up on her.”

Second Deputy Director Jeong Sejin understood the hidden intention behind First Deputy Director Jeon’s smile.

“You’re thinking of turning her into a double agent?”

“It depends on her. It would be great if she joins us, and even if she doesn’t, we can use her by providing her with information. We can even use her to get to Gorilla if necessary.”

It was a reasonable argument, so Second Deputy Director Jeong nodded.

“That’s true. The problem is whether a young girl like that will accept training…”

“I don’t have a solution for that, but… Cheolsoo, can you persuade her?”

Director Kim Cheolsoo scratched his head.

“Persuading young girls isn’t my forte. I’ll do my best.”

Director Kim Cheolsoo regretted threatening to pull out her fingernails; he should have delegated that task to someone else.

***

Two weeks passed quickly.

After the bloody incident with Goblin, Junho devoted himself even more intensely to his training. He resented the time he had to spend at school, but he couldn’t just drop out and take the GED, so he continued attending grudgingly.

His weight was now down to 85kg, and his waist size had shrunk to 33 inches. He had slimmed down considerably, to the point where “a bit on the larger side” was a more accurate description than “fatty.” He felt much lighter, and he didn’t think he’d be as helpless against Beretta as he was before.

Of course, it was just a feeling.

While his intense diet and training were yielding positive results, there was one thing that caused friction with his mother.

“So you want another school uniform? With only six months left until the CSAT?”

“It’ll be another six months. I can’t keep wearing this. The winter uniform is fine, but I need a new summer uniform.”

“Isn’t it still chilly?”

“No, it’s hot.”

Having lost over 10kg, his uniform was now too loose and embarrassing to wear. His waist was so much smaller that he had to tighten his belt excessively, making the pants wrinkle and look awkward.

“You can go on a diet after the CSAT.”

“My grades will improve, but don’t expect me to get into a top university. That’s too much pressure.”

His mother sighed, knowing his words were true. She had long accepted that he wasn’t academically inclined.

“Alright. I’ll buy you one.”

“Heh~ The mock exam results are out today. I told you to have expectations, right? If it weren’t for my diet, I would have gotten perfect scores, such a shame.”

“Can I really have expectations?”

“Of course~ I’m going now~”

“Okay, be careful~”

When he arrived at school, Ahn Suyeon was sitting there, looking anxious.

“Suyeon, is your liver acting up or something?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Your face looks yellow. Is something wrong at home? Or are you worried about not having enough money for Sim Youngwoong concert tickets?”

“Shut up and get lost.”

“Heh~ the mock exam scores are almost out~ I wonder what grade I’ll get~”

Junho sang along to a popular girl group song, making Suyeon’s face even darker. His unfounded confidence was starting to make her anxious. ‘Did I make a mistake?’

“Alright, the mock exam results are out, so come and get them when I call your name. Kim Geunho.”

It had begun. Junho grinned, waiting for his score report, while Suyeon’s face grew increasingly gloomy.

“Kang Junho.”

“Yes!”

Junho walked up confidently, took the score report from the teacher, and checked it immediately.

“Hehehe!”

He couldn’t help but laugh. Level 2 in Korean, level 5 in math, which was a bit disappointing, but level 1 in English.

Level 1 in English!

He’d never achieved that score in his life, and even the teacher looked slightly dubious. But it didn’t matter.

“Behold.”

Junho returned to his seat and flaunted his score report in front of Suyeon. Seeing her crestfallen expression, he grinned and sat down.

“Ha… that pig got a level 1… No way!”

For once, he didn’t mind being called a pig. It felt like a declaration of defeat, like someone saying, “You suck at this game.”

Suyeon, deflated, trudged to the front when her name was called. She took her score report and looked at it dejectedly. Then, her eyes widened.

“Hehehe~”

She laughed, just like Junho had earlier, and walked over to his desk, flaunting her score report in the same way. Level 1 in English.

“Huh?”

“I got a level 1 too~ You slightly less fat fatty.”

He was speechless. Had she studied even more? While claiming to be busy with dance practice?

Junho, feeling betrayed, ruffled his hair in despair.

“Ugh… I could have given those Sim Youngwoong concert tickets to my mom…”

His plan had been to bring his score report home, give it to his mother, and tell her to go to the concert as a reward for raising him. He’d envisioned his mother shedding tears of joy, saying “I love you, son,” and trying to hug him, but his cool and aloof persona would reject the hug and retreat to his room. He hadn’t anticipated that the sly girl would study even harder.

“Alright, don’t be too disappointed. There’s still plenty of time. There are still opportunities to turn things around. So let’s do our best. Alright?”

“Yes, sir~”

When the teacher left, the students started chattering, some happy, some disappointed, looking at their score reports.

Suyeon, although looking smug, was inwardly shocked. She hadn’t expected the game-obsessed nerd to actually get a level 1. His recent weight loss and academic improvement only piqued her curiosity about him further.

Just then, “Sigh, Sim Youngwoong tickets…”

Someone poked Junho’s shoulder as he sat slumped in despair.

“Who…”

Junho looked up and saw a cute girl with a shy expression he’d never seen before.

“Are you… Senior Kang Junho?”

“Yes…?”

The cute girl with short hair, a sharp nose, and round eyes bowed her head.

“Hello. I’m Sim Yesol, a sophomore. I heard you helped my younger brother.”

“Your brother?”

“Yes. When his shoes were about to be stolen…”

“Ah~ I remember.”

“Thank you so much.”