2.15 Counterattack 4

When Kwon Taek Joo visited, Salman had just removed his bandage. The doctor in charge repeatedly reminded him that he had not fully recovered, so he should absolutely not be abused. The doctor only went out after Salman promised that he would obey. Salman looked at Kwon Taek Joo and slowly moved his arm.

"The nurse said she hasn't seen you since dawn. Where have you been?"

"Are you really going to end it like this?"

As soon as he was asked, Salman did not answer but just stopped and stared at Kwon Taek Joo and shrugged.

"What if it doesn't end?"

"If you complete this mission, what benefits will you receive?"

"You're so unreasonable. What's the use of that?"

"Try it, maybe it might be useful."

Salman looked at Kwon Taek Joo with a puzzled look. For some reason, Kwon Taek Joo looked very excited. Did something happen last night?

He hummed in response because he thought that if he ignored it, he would be bothered more.

"We will get independent funding."

"From the Chechen side?"

He nodded to the next question. Zhenya said that a Russian was involved in this operation to get the blueprints of Anastasia'. He said it was something worth doing, but it was hard to believe. Because it would be dangerous enough to risk one's life, and even if the mission was completed, it would still be selling the country for glory. Surely Salman's story is much more convincing than someone like him who already has rights.

It is understandable that Zhenya and Salman know each other. His 'FSB' is periodically monitoring the movement in Chechnya. An Alpha unit was even stationed in Chechnya under the pretext of preventing unrest. It is possible to guess the extent of Salman's influence if South Korea and the US privately contact each other and even involve them in the operation. That will be a thorn in the side of the Russian government and even Zhenya is no different from their natural enemy.

However, after knowing Salman's real identity, a question arose. Chief Lim has instructed to keep Anastasia's blueprints confidential if possible. The same request will be made to Salman. Then when the design falls into the hands of the two of them, who will own it? Korea sent Kwon Taek Joo? Or did the US make a deal with Salman?

"If we get Anastasia, what happens next?"

The next moment, Salman suddenly pulled out his gun. A black gun was aimed at Kwon Taek Joo.

"I have one more mission."

Kwon Taek Joo without falling, even his outstretched arms did not waver. Those were the eyes of a sniper. A story appeared in Kwon Taek Joo's mind when facing the cold face that seemed to want to pull the trigger before his eyes.

'Do you think you're hated over there anyway? Did the so-called National Intelligence Service send you my photo by mistake?... There's no such thing.'

At that time, Kwon Taek Joo did not pay too much attention to what he said. He couldn't even afford to consider that.

'It's like you knew about the corruption of your superiors that they couldn't reveal.'

That's just Zhenya's guess, but it's good to be able to confirm it on this occasion.

"Is that a directive from the US? Or Korea?"

"I cannot speak."

"Can't you even grant a dying man's wish?"

Kwon Taek Joo persuaded. Salman, who didn't seem to budge even when pricked by the needle, lowered the gun and smiled.

"It's over, why are you asking?"

"Since it's over, I asked."

"If you really want to know, it was a directive from Korea. The US side will operate independent funding, now that I think about it I'm quite curious, what the hell did you do back home? You did it. Why did you get sent all the way here and almost get killed?"

"That's it. I also want to know."

Salman threw a puzzled look. Actually, even Kwon Taek Joo doesn't understand why he became the subject of elimination. He thought about returning to Korea and asking questions.

But there is something more important right now. Kwon Taek Joo remembered why he came to meet Salman. He still hasn't organized his thoughts so his story has no beginning or end.

"Zhenya.. No, that Psych guy shot and killed a politician at a party at his house. I thought he would be wanted immediately but in the end nothing happened. If he was officially invited to come Isn't the Bogdanov estate quite an influential person? How is this possible?"

"If it was that news, I would have heard it too. It's hard to believe, but they are Bogdanov."

"So he leaked state secrets knowing clearly that I was a foreign spy? Is that also because 'they are Bogdanov'?"

"State secret? It depends on how serious it is."

"I heard Russia is developing a new ballistic missile. Like 'SS 29'? There was a serious error but a North Korean engineer recently came and solved the problem. I thought that's it." was 'Anastasia. That's why I chased him all the way to Olkhon Island."

Salman listened silently, looking puzzled. Even though he knew the opponent was an agent of another country, he still took the opponent to a party and even murdered an influential politician for seemingly revealing secrets related to the latest weapon. not enough. In addition, he did not hesitate to act against the country when he became Kwon Taek Joo's colleague.

But Salman also did not hear that Zhenya had been disciplined or reprimanded at all. Even if you are a member of the Bogdanov family, can you not be affected like that? Salman's face looked doubtful, Kwon Taek Joo brought up a possibility.

"There must be a reason why no one can touch him no matter what he does?"

"No matter what you do, you can't touch it?"

"Like, 'He has Anastasia."

Salman was surprised by the sudden inference and then quickly objected strongly as if it were absurd.

"No way. That's the type of weapon that Russia and North Korea have been working on for many years. There's no way they'd let a kid under 30 years old take over it."

Kwon Taek Joo shows the documents he brought to Salman, brief articles about various incidents and accidents.

"All of the deceased listed are people who participated in the development of 'Anastasia'. Coincidentally, they all died on the same day, in an unavoidable accident or in a way that caused death cannot be determined."

"You mean this is all murder?"

"If everything Psych says is true, think about it. 'Anastasia', what would happen if development failed. Russia and North Korea were hoping that the news wouldn't be leaked. leaked out. A unique lethal weapon. Just the title alone, the unfinished 'Anastasia' has made the whole world worried. The fact that you and I face each other like this is proof. On the contrary, if 'Anastasia' cannot be completed, the consequences will not only be limited to its failure, but even Anastasia"'s inherent power will be damaged, even if it develops again later. difficult to be taken as seriously as before. Perhaps that's why they tried to cover up not only the results of the research but also the fact that they had started developing it again. To do that, they would have to calm down, oppress those who know the identity and development achievements of 'Anastasia"

Salman's eyebrows drew closer together. Kwon Taek Joo looked at his suspicious eyes and nodded in conclusion.

"All of them were killed so that 'No one can reveal that Anastasia's development failed and no one can develop such a weapon again"

Salman sighed deeply.

"They had to deal with dozens of people in a short period of time without leaving any clues. Who was in charge of that?"

"If that's the case, of course it's the FSB..."

"They can't send anyone away because this is a special situation."

When Kwon Taek Joo mentioned it, only one person appeared in Salman's mind. He is the sole member of Alpha Unit 3, a special unit of the 'FSB' and the third son of the Bogdanov family, which provided a huge amount of money for the development of 'Anastasia' . There seemed to be no other person better suited for the final phase of research, the purge mission.

Perhaps the government intends to wipe out Zhenya and his family as soon as he returns after completing all his work. But they couldn't. The Bogdanov family has remained since then. No, their influence seems to be much stronger than before. That's the most confusing part. After all, why is the Kremlin holding such a time bomb?

Perhaps the reason is Zhenya. For example, if he didn't completely follow instructions to massacre all the developers and even get rid of the blueprints, or if the failed blueprints fell into Zhenya's hands and let's say he figured it out. the cause of the problem based on his extensive knowledge of weapons, then the answer appeared. It is said to be a powerful enough weapon to rebalance global hegemony. If it's in Zhenya's hands, even the Kremlin can't do anything to him. They had no choice but to turn a blind eye no matter what he did.

"But that's just my guess..."

Salman was about to object but Kwon Taek Joo offered something else. It was a local newspaper in Irkutsk published yesterday. Featured on the front page is a short article about a mysterious body found in Lake Baikal with a photo attached. The unidentified deceased is believed to be an Asian and was found with torn limbs. Because there was no evidence of using a blade to destroy the body, it was tentatively concluded that the body had been attacked by a ferocious animal.

Salman's face was bewildered after reading the article.

"What about this?"

"This is Hong Yeo Wook, a North Korean engineer called in to fix the 'SS-29' error. I saw him at the Bogdanov family's villa. And..."

"And?"

"Anastasia's developer list also includes his father."

"What do you mean?"

"Hong Yeo Wook came here not only to fix 'SS-29' but also to meet with Psych. Sergei will call the Bogdanov family and government officials once the equipment problem is fixed. Really.", and perhaps he recognized Psych from the moment he boarded the Trans-Siberian train. They just pretended not to know each other. We finally met again at Sergei's villa on Olkhon Island, and I wondered if the situation would be reversed when he tries to avenge his deceased father? Looking back, it seems like Hong Yeo Wook often pays attention to Psych."

If Hong Yeo Wook had no other reason to attack Zhenya, then his death would prove the speculations from now on. Kwon Taek Joo's head, which was full of complicated thoughts, was clear.

Kwon Taek Joo confidently asked Salman, who was just reading the newspaper.

"Let's cooperate. Then I will help you receive the promised support money."

Kwon Taek Joo is full of confidence in his tone and expression. Is there anywhere Salman can trust? After a moment, he looked at Kwon Taek Joo and shook his head.

"I told you, right? The headquarters' support ends up being the hospital expenses."

"I don't need support from headquarters."

"What are you talking about? What will you do with a weak body and no support?"

"Don't worry. You can move better now, right? You don't need to worry about weapons either."

"That's not the only problem. What you're trying to do is a single action outside of the campaign. If you fail, that's the end, and if you're unlucky, you die. Do you think headquarters will reclaim your body?"

"Did you prepare for all that when you came here?"

"That's right. But the situation back then was much better than it is now. Why don't you stop and face reality? They already know who we are. If we were noticed, we would be followed immediately." immediately. Besides I don't even know where that damn 'Anastasia' is."

"Let's see. As for how to defeat the immortal Koshichei, that Psych guy already told me about it."

"What was that again?"

"I think I know where the blueprints are."

Kwon Taek Joo assured us that by opening the satellite image he had been wearing since now. It appears to be Bogdanov's mansion. Salman had seen it once before, so he was familiar with it. But what does this mean? Salman's expression became more confused.

Kwon Taek Joo pointed to different places in the photo and told an unexpected story.

"Psych said that there was an uninhabited castle in a vast land, and that there was no way to get there, either on horseback or on foot, and that I couldn't get there without being a fish or a flying beast. In that story, the vast land seems to mean the estate, and the uninhabited castle seems to mean the Bogdanov mansion. Psych has told a similar story before, that their villa has double and triple security and very tight surveillance, so I cannot enter without going through official visitation procedures."

On the night of the secret party held at Bogdanov's mansion, Zhenya said so.

'Isn't this a strange place? It's so crowded now, but normally there's no one.'

Kwon Taek Joo dismissed it at the time as a meaningless statement but he did not expect it to be such a great suggestion. Of course he's still not 100% sure. Kwon Taek Joo is just trying to connect each little piece as if putting a puzzle together.

"And there is a very tall old tree growing in the castle, they say that the age of the tree is equal to the age of Koshichei. Bogdanov's mansion was decorated with many trees in the garden, but only four birches were planted around corners. Since ancient times, the Slavs planted a young birch tree when a child was born, right? Coincidentally, there were 4 children in the Bogdanov family and there was a villa to the south of the trees So, the 'big jewel box' placed on the south side of the tree must mean the building itself. Each room that fills it is a 'little jewel box'.

Intersecting lines are drawn on the satellite image to divide the building into a set of small squares. Each square represents a room.

"Psych says there is a jewelry box that everyone is looking for, but it's neither too much nor too little compared to the other boxes. If there's a blueprint of 'Anastasia' somewhere in the mansion, I think it would be right there. He said that Koshichei's heart may or may not be in there. That means that even if the room is found, the blueprint may not be found right away, right? In the room, right? there's a special device or something like that."

"So, Psych told you where such a design was?"

Salman was skeptical. Kwon Taek Joo nodded in response. A sigh came from Salman.

"Hey, calm down. What was he thinking, revealing such information?"

"I don't know about that either, but he has never revealed false information. He's always been so complacent.

Kwon Taek Joo was not discouraged by the sincere advice. He made an attractive offer to Salman.

"I won't force you to work with me. If you're not interested or not interested, you can refuse, but I can't give you much time so decide quickly. If you really have the ability to design, I'll give it to you."

Salman remained silent. Dangerous and reckless. But he also doesn't want to give up right away. Salman cannot go home empty-handed after such a failure.

"Are you sure there are blueprints in that room?"

Salman did not give up his doubts until the end. Kwon Taek Joo shrugged.

"When I broke into Bogdanov's mansion, I saw one of the rooms. Everyone was at a party so all the lights in the room were on, all the curtains were drawn. But only the curtains were there." in that room it was wide open. There was no furniture in the room, no one was there either. Of course it could just be a coincidence. So I searched for more pictures of the villa. Yes can be seen at a glance. All year round, day or night, that room is always lit. Whether the weather is nice or not, the curtains are always open. Recalling the memory of that room, it seems suspicious. At that time, I was a bit confused so I lurked in front of the room's window. My shadow fell on the floor and something sparkled, even though it was only fleeting. Maybe it was moonlight, but it was different from the light. moon. There's something in that room."

Kwon Taek Joo's conversation with Zhenya at that time also appeared clearly in his mind.

'Why are you hanging there?'

When he looked at Kwon Taek Joo climbing outside the 3rd floor, he said that clearly. He wondered if he would mind him wandering around in front of that room.

Kwon Taek Joo stared at Salman as if he had finished what he needed to say. Salman, who was nervous, suddenly stood up and took the gun.

"I'm really crazy too."

Last Chapter Next Chapter