Codename-Anastasia-Chapter 48 - 4.2 Hide and Seek 3

A while later, Kwon Taek Joo boarded the express bus bound for Taebaek. Before entering the main stage of the journey, there was someone he wanted to meet. He reviewed the information related to Kim Young Hee in the investigation documents during the car trip.

Kim Young Hee left Korea for China and then Japan when she was 20 years old. After a year, she went to New York and lived there for ten years to clear her citizenship. By the time she entered Korea, her identity had transformed into that of a perfect second-generation immigrant.

The investigation into Kim Young Hee began with the awareness of that suspicion. Headquarters obtained intelligence about her and then decided to assign the capture task to Kwon Taek Joo as usual. After monitoring media data such as Kim Young Hee's SNS and emails, he determined that she had received instructions from North Korea.

However, the results of eavesdropping or monitoring cannot be used as evidence. Evidence obtained from direct interrogation is needed to prove Kim Young Hee's crime of espionage. Even when the "fish" was caught, appropriate evidence could not be found, so an arrest could not be made. At that moment, Kim Young Hee herself revealed it herself. The investigation became intense and Kwon Taek Joo chased her to Busan to attack the scene where she came into contact with Lee Cheol Jin. Everything went smoothly.

But is that really the case? Kwon Taek Joo may have missed something important. From realizing the existence of a spy to investigation and arrest, it was so easy. On the other hand, the aftertaste of being arrested is not very pleasant. Kim Young Hee and a military officer committed suicide, Kwon Taek Joo and Yoon Jong Woo who participated in the capture mission were unable to follow the operation to the end. As a result, the case was handed over to the prosecution with some evidence missing. Every time she contemplates, Kwon Taek Joo feels more uncomfortable and confused.

He looked at the report that Chief Lim had submitted on his behalf, everything looked very reasonable. The data that Kim Young Hee tried to transfer to Lee Cheol Jin was related to military secrets and could only be accessed by a few people. The military officer who committed suicide was one of them, and he had a very close relationship with Kim Young Hee. He maintained his innocence to the end, but in the report, they recorded that he was a person of high social status so he committed suicide because he could not overcome the psychological pressure. There's nothing to doubt, but there's also no evidence to refute it. Even those who might have objected disappeared. More and more, Kwon Taek Joo wondered if he had misunderstood something.

The bus arrived three hours later. It was starting to get dark. The location that Yoon Jong Woo wrote on the paper was quite far from the bus station and there were only two buses a day, so Kwon Taek Joo decided to take a taxi.

After looking at the address, he agreed with the driver to add a small tip and they departed. The taxi left the city center and drove for a long time on a winding mountain road. The car drove non-stop, approaching the top of the mountain.

When the navigation system ends the instructions, everything around is completely submerged in darkness.

"According to the address, it seems to be somewhere nearby.."

The taxi driver looked out the window with suspicion. Of course. Because there was no light around, not even a streetlight. A place in the middle of a mountain seemed to show no signs of life, but Kwon Taek Joo still paid in full as promised and got out of the car.

He confidently walked down the dark dirt road ahead. The taxi quickly turned around and returned the way it came. The sound of the engine quickly disappeared, but Kwon Taek Joo didn't pay attention. He was too used to the dead silence while being held on a deserted island.

Kwon Taek Joo continued walking, the bumpy dirt road disappeared and a mountain road with dense trees began. This is not a climbing path but just a path leading into the forest. Is there a hermitage in the mountains? Or did Kwon Taek Joo go the wrong way?

Kwon Taek Joo hesitantly stood at the beginning of the road. He walked back and forth then suddenly heard the sound of a car door opening somewhere. He turned around, a man stepped out of an old truck in the darkness. He looked like a ranger wearing a large coat and hiking hat.

"Hey. Don't go in there. The climbing path has been identified."

The man tried to stop Kwon Taek Joo.

"Huh? Who is this?"

"It's been a long time since I last saw you, Doctor."

Kwon Taek Joo recognized the man and greeted him. The man also recognized him and gave him a familiar smile.

"What are you doing here? You're not climbing a mountain in the middle of the night, are you?"

"I'm here to see the Doctor."

"What doctor? It's been a long time since anyone called me that."

Like Kwon Taek Joo, Dr. Jo was a member of the National Security Agency until two years ago. His job is to produce high-tech equipment needed for intelligence activities. Because Kwon Taek Joo performed so many missions, the two naturally became close. But since Dr. Jo retired, Kwon Taek Joo has not seen him again. Partly because of his busy work, but also because he did not leave any contact information.

"Don't stay here, go home first."

Following Dr. Jo's advice, Kwon Taek Joo climbed into the old truck with him. The engine starts making a noise like boiling water.

"Did you come empty-handed?"

"Impossible."

Kwon Taek Joo shook the bag he was holding. Inside, the bottles collided with each other, making clear sounds. Dr. Jo smiled contentedly.

"You're such a tricky person."

He added, "I'll give you the chance to stay in the worst room in the country."

The old truck staggered and crawled in the dark. After about 10 minutes, the two arrived at a small village with only 5 or 6 houses, but enough for shelter.

It seemed like there weren't many people living in this place, and it was already late at night so there were no lights on anywhere.

Dr. Jo's residence is located at the farthest location. The front yard of the house was full of scrap metal from unknown sources. If strangers saw it, they would mistake it for a landfill rather than a place to live.

Inside the house is not much different. One side of the room is covered with a blanket and a table with leftovers from the previous meal left intact.

"Sit down."

Kwon Taek Joo hung the clothes scattered on the floor on the wall and tidied up. Meanwhile, Dr. Jo has set up a table of drinks. Dishes only include kimchi and tuna. Even so, the two of them gulped down two bottles of soju in the blink of an eye.

"You really didn't come here to see this wrinkled face, did you? Why did you suddenly appear?"

"I need your help, Doctor."

Kwon Taek Joo answered honestly. Dr. Jo smiled determinedly.

"You stopped your current work to go see this old man. Are you going to work without letting headquarters know?"

"Yes, it's due to circumstances."

"Then I also have to know a little about that situation. Retired state employees should be able to live comfortably."

Sure. Kwon Taek Joo cannot ask for help without explaining anything. He tried to briefly summarize everything that happened recently.

Dr. Jo listened carefully and then suggested another approach.

"That, wouldn't it be more comfortable to pretend you don't know? If you're worried about the situation later, you can face Chief Lim right now and compromise if you're hated by your superiors and forced to Wrong crime. You are no stranger to such things. You are still young now, so you need to consider which side will benefit more. I think you are not the type of person who will risk your life for justice, right?"

"I've considered it, but I can't accept defeat and just live quietly like that. If there was room for compromise, headquarters wouldn't have issued an arrest warrant so lightly. Now then. The only way is to play the chicken game."

"Tsk tsk. When you're old, you'll regret it. When your bones dry up, you'll regret what you did today."

"Because Dr. Jo doesn't know, that's why I say that. I was abandoned in Russia and went through a lot of things that I will have to suffer from for the rest of my life."

Kwon Taek Joo spoke as if he was about to kill someone, but his mind was still completely clear. Dr. Jo poured him another glass.

"So you want me to be your accomplice?"

"If caught, I'll say it's my fault. Please tell them you were threatened by me."

"It's okay."

Both laughed loudly. Dr. Jo looked at Kwon Taek Joo with a look of mockery and complaint.

"I just want to live a normal and small life when I retire, but bad people have come here to cause trouble."

"Thanks."

"Don't thank me, I haven't decided yet. Let's go take a nap first."

Dr. Jo crawled to the bed and just fell down. Not long after, a steady snoring sound filled the room.

Kwon Taek Joo also laid down on the floor after cleaning up the messy wine table. It's been a long time since he slept comfortably like this. Kwon Taek Joo looked up at the low ceiling and slowly closed his eyes.

That night, he doesn't remember how he slept.

--

Kwon Taek Joo wandered aimlessly through the alleys of Moscow. Then he found a small bar with no sign.

Strong cigarette smoke greeted Kwon Taek Joo as soon as he opened the door and entered. There is no ventilation anywhere, making visibility blurry. Kwon Taek Joo broke through the stuffy atmosphere and went deeper inside. At every step, there seemed to be a persistent gaze following him. That dissatisfied gaze swept across a fearless Asian.

Kwon Taek Joo stood in front of the bar. The man who appeared to be the owner of the shop handed out vodka as usual. He pushed the glass aside and suddenly asked.

"I need a passport."

"Why are you looking for your passport here? You see, this is just a bar."

The man behaved as if he knew nothing. The others who were watching the two of them laughed crudely. Several of them turned towards the bar and swayed their giant bodies. Some threaten by cracking their knuckles.

"I'm busy, don't waste each other's time."

Despite Kwon Taek Joo's warning, the man continued to laugh. There was the sound of a chair being pulled out from behind. Kwon Taek Joo lowered his head as he felt the back of his neck tense. A huge fist cut through the air uselessly. He immediately grabbed a wooden chair and hit him on the head. The giant groaned and fell down.

The other men saw that scene and immediately rushed in without hesitation. Kwon Taek Joo placed his back on the bar table and kicked both legs at the same time. Two men who were trying to lift the table in the back were kicked in the chest and collapsed.

Soon, the inside of the shop became chaotic. In another unexpected turn of events, one of the two men pulled out a knife. He licked his thin lips and gripped the handle of the knife tightly, his half-closed eyes shining strangely. He rushed forward suddenly as if he was going to stab the knife immediately.

But after a moment, he flinched and stopped, because Kwon Taek Joo took out the Colt and aimed it at his forehead. For a moment, all movement and noise in the bar was silent. The only thing that could be heard was the rapid breathing of the excited man.

He rolled his eyes, looked into the void, then suddenly swung his knife. Kwon Taek Joo easily dodged his attack and pulled the trigger.

"Ahh!"

The knife fell with a clear gunshot. Its owner grabbed his right hand with severed fingers and shouted "I will kill you". Kwon Taek Joo picked up the fallen knife and stuck it on the bar. The knife was stuck firmly so it kept swaying from side to side. The energetic bar owner reluctantly retracted his hand and tilted his chin behind the bar. Kwon Taek Joo followed him.

As expected, the room was equipped with fake devices. From identification cards such as passports to certificates and travel documents, the types of transactions are indeed very diverse. Kwon Taek Joo took passport photos on the spot and paid half the cost in advance. He decided to hand over the rest when he received his passport. Kwon Taek Joo gave him some more money and asked him to buy a train ticket to Beijing.

That evening, Kwon Taek Joo received a third-class ticket for the train to Beijing and a fake passport. The passport had a strange name and personal information written on it in Japanese, and even in Kwon Taek Joo's eyes, it was quite perfect. While he was paying the remaining amount, the bar owner secretly asked.

"I heard someone is looking for an Asian who wants to fake a passport. Is it you?"

"Who asked that?"

"Psych Bogdanov."

For a split second, his heart skipped a beat. It's also not something that can be predicted. Kwon Taek Joo thought that Zhenya would chase him as punishment for the beating he suffered. Even so, his heart still pounded when he heard that he was actually moving.

Zhenya clearly predicted Kwon Taek Joo's upcoming moves. If he is captured again, his humble status will be very difficult to maintain. If he can find even a bar that Kwon Taek Joo went to, it's only a matter of time before he gets caught again.

--

Kwon Taek Joo stepped on the train under the bar owner's watchful eyes. The shop owner stood and watched until the train closed all the doors and left the station before leaving. Kwon Taek Joo, who was looking for an opportunity inside the train, immediately opened the window and jumped onto the tracks. He avoided injury thanks to his speed.

Kwon Taek Joo just disappeared and moved to a local airport. He then bought a one-way flight to Shanghai with cash. Immigration officers checked the passport here and there and stamped it without any special problems. A sigh of relief escaped.

But Kwon Taek Joo still couldn't relax even after boarding the plane. He didn't know why he was so restless during the short time before takeoff. Immediately after that, the boarding gate closed and the crew headed to their seats. After getting ready, the plane slowly began to move.

Finally, Kwon Taek Joo left Russia to die. Everything went smoothly, until the plane, moving toward the runway, suddenly stopped.

The crew hurriedly gathered into the cockpit. Passengers also looked around continuously in an unusual atmosphere.

A moment later, the announcement on the plane rang out.

"Please inform passengers. Departure will be delayed for a while due to an emergency request from the airport police. We hope passengers will understand and cooperate."

The passengers' eyes simultaneously turned to the window. Kwon Taek Joo saw an official vehicle driving in the distance. The plane quickly moved off the runway and landed on a separate stand.

The emergency stairs were quickly connected and someone was slowly going up that way. Suddenly Kwon Taek Joo's heart was pounding, pounding heavily. His mouth was dry with an ominous feeling for unknown reasons.

Kwon Taek Joo turned his head to the opposite window. There's no reason for that to be the case, he's probably just worrying for nothing. Kwon Taek Joo denied the thoughts that were dominating and constantly inflating in his head. Finally, the person boarding the plane slowly walked down the aisle. All eyes were on him so Kwon Taek Joo couldn't help but pay attention.

Finally, his steps suddenly stopped. Kwon Taek Joo still ignored him but he was able to recognize his true identity immediately, because that unique scent immediately entered his nose.

Kwon Taek Joo didn't dare turn his head to look at him at all, every cell in his body seemed to be frozen.

"Do you think you can run away like this?"

Every word he spit out was like a sharp needle. The conversation quickly turned cold. Kwon Taek Joo's ears perked up as a beeping sound rang out in his ears.

His cold hand tightened on Kwon Taek Joo's wrist like a handcuff. When Kwon Taek Joo looked back in surprise, the passengers filling the plane had disappeared and the surroundings were in darkness. All that's left is Kwon Taek Joo and the guy controlling him. He whispered under his breath and then tightened his grip to the point where he could crush his bones.

"You can't go, Kwon Taek Joo."

--

"Oh my God!"

Kwon Taek Joo took a deep breath and opened his eyes. His vision was blurry and spinning. The moldy wallpaper and the damp, undulating ceiling met his eyes. Where is this? Kwon Taek Joo tried to calm down and think and finally remembered that he had come to find Dr. Jo.

Drops of sweat formed on his delicate, trembling eyelashes. Kwon Taek Joo's whole body had goosebumps, his heart was beating fast and heavily. He sat up, cold sweat running down his spine, his eyebrows furrowed at the terrible feeling. There was no time for quiet as an even more strange and haunting feeling began to surface. Kwon Taek Joo clenched his fist and quickly placed it on his mouth to suppress his emotions. The suspense has not yet completely dissipated, the breathing and heartbeat become even more intense.

It was just a dream. Kwon Taek Joo does not expect Zhenya to let go lightly. Zhenya is not someone who can simply be ignored, and since when has his attitude towards Kwon Taek Joo changed in such an incomprehensible way. If I'm not wrong, then that means..

Kwon Taek Joo accidentally developed a train of thought and quickly dismissed it. It seemed like he wasn't too miserable yet because he still had time and energy for random ideas.

What happened in the nightmare was quite similar to reality when Kwon Taek Joo fled Russia. He got off the train and boarded a plane to Shanghai at a local airport, but he did not encounter Zhenya.

Kwon Taek Joo faked his passport in Shanghai to enter Korea, he had to use a ship with a relatively lower level of vigilance, because if Kwon Taek Joo himself was falling into someone's plot, entering The scene from the beginning was a difficult hurdle.

His subconscious still reminded him not to let his guard down around Zhenya. Has he ever felt scared and worried about a specific object like this? Even if he sees a ghost, it seems that Kwon Taek Joo will not be as restless and helpless as he is now. He tried to calm his uncomfortably beating heart.

Kwon Taek Joo shook his head to regain his composure. He looked around and realized Dr. Jo was no longer in the room. He must have woken up very early.

Kwon Taek Joo opened the creaky door and went outside, the cool morning air rushing deep into his lungs. He walked to the faucet and turned on the water. Ice-cold water gushed out. His hands were filled with water and then splashed on his sweaty face. After washing his face, his mind also became clearer, and the thinking circuit that had stopped working seemed to return.

"The sun is up and you're just waking up now?"

Kwon Taek Joo turned around when he heard the sound of clicking his tongue. Dr. Jo is preparing the table. He quickly walked over to help lay out the food. Breakfast is simple with two types of kimchi and soy bean soup cooked with sliced onions, potatoes and zucchini.

Kwon Taek Joo didn't have any appetite, maybe because he drank last night or because the nightmare made his stomach hurt, but he still sat down to eat a little while thinking about Dr. Jo's sincerity.

"What did you dream about last night that made you gasp? I was wondering if I needed to call an ambulance."

Kwon Taek Joo choked violently, almost spitting out what he was chewing. He couldn't answer so he just quickly drank water. It wasn't even a dirty dream at all but he suddenly felt embarrassed about being caught. Dr. Jo's eyes widened in surprise at that unusual reaction. He smiled mischievously and then seriously changed the subject.

"What? Sleeping one night and still thinking the same? Do you still want to do that reckless thing?"

"Yes."

Kwon Taek Joo nodded without hesitation.

"There's no other way, right? Then let me know what you need, I'll prepare it right away."

"Thanks."

"It will be quite difficult. Even if I help you, in the end you will have to fight on your own."

Kwon Taek Joo nodded silently. Dr. Jo looked at him with some sympathy then he stood up. The two got on an old truck and drove to a nearby hill. Dr. Jo parked the car at the bottom of the hill and confidently started climbing the mountain road. It was a long and narrow climbing path but there was no trace of anyone passing by. Even the elk don't seem to be going that way.

After climbing for more than an hour, a small cabin appeared. Kwon Taek Joo could tell intuitively, it was Dr. Jo's personal laboratory. The inside was just like his home, with many miscellaneous objects scattered around. Pens, lighters, ties, hats and other common items, but in this context, they take on an unusual look that makes the space more unique.

Dr. Jo suddenly gave a pen to Kwon Taek Joo, who was engrossed in looking around the cabin.

"It's a device that can deflect laser light or move it in a parallel direction. It looks simple but is quite useful."

As if to demonstrate, Dr. Jo pulled down the curtain. Kwon Taek Joo also closed the blackout curtain behind him. The inside of the cabin soon became dark.

As Dr. Jo operates the computer, dark blue lasers bounce off from everywhere forming a grid. Looks like the security device has been activated. Dr. Jo rotated the cap of the pen and held it toward the laser. Then, like pieces of metal being attracted to a magnet, all the laser beams began to move along with the pen. It seems that just having that pen makes most security devices useless.

Dr. Jo said that it could be used in a different way and then picked up a targeting device mounted on the gun. He turned on the laser and aimed it at his heart. He then bent the laser beam again with the pen from before. The red laser beams were strangely broken or stretched straight up.

After explaining, Dr. Jo gave the pen to Kwon Taek Joo and opened the curtains. Kwon Taek Joo then personally prepared the necessary items that were around.

"Here, this looks like a normal laptop, but it is a machine that can create artificial skin, fingerprints, iris lenses, etc. Perfect practical implementation is possible with just a simple scan. The stick here is as soft as clay, but if pressed into the hole, it will quickly harden in that shape and can copy any key. But how did you get here?"

Dr. Jo asked questions instead of happily introducing his inventions. He looked at Kwon Taek Joo's surprised eyes and then pointed to the small screen under the table.

"The detective dogs have already smelled the scent."

The screen showed troops and police climbing through dense trees. Looks like the location has been leaked.

Dr. Jo took out his bag and gave it to Kwon Taek Joo. He also coordinated his hands and feet and swept advanced equipment into it.

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"If you are caught, I will declare that I was threatened by you and give all my belongings to you."

Dr. Jo leads Kwon Taek Joo to the emergency exit. He nodded and patted his back, "Go quickly." Kwon Taek Joo bowed and quickly exited through the emergency exit. He lowered his body and quickly advanced between the dense bushes.

Dr. Jo watched for a moment then locked the door. The table that was pushed aside was also moved back to its original position and the emergency exit was completely obscured.

When everything was finished, there was a knock on the door from outside. The newly arrived army and police were breathing heavily outside the door. Dr. Jo opened the door without hesitation and fulfilled his duties as a park ranger.

"Everyone must have had a hard time climbing up here, but you have to go down now. This is a restricted area."