God of Blackfield

Seok Kang-Ho brought over galbi-tang that he bought for lunch. He then ate with Kang Chan.

“What about the kids?” Kang Chan asked.

“Their eyes are sparkling with the motivation to learn, so they should be worth teaching. I’ve more or less decided what to do in the evening before coming here.”

They finished their meal while talking about school.

“You know where the funeral home is, right?” Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho.

“I’m thinking of going there in a little bit,” Seok Kang-Ho answered while putting the empty plates in a large bag.

“Let’s go together. I’ll just wash up.”

“Are you sure? I talked to Mr. Kim Tae-Jin in the morning, and he said that he doesn’t know how it would go since there are a lot of reporters.”

“Even if so, I don’t think staying here is the right thing to do.”

“Let’s do that.”

“Buy some clothes.”

“Alright.”

When Kang Chan came out of the bathroom after washing his hair, Seok Kang-Ho had prepared a black suit, a shirt, and shoes. The bandages showed through from under his shirt, but it didn’t look that bad.

Kang Chan got in the car that Seok Kang-Ho had brought over from the parking lot and left.

Sixteen people had died, even though they weren’t in Africa.

Kang Chan should’ve looked after them starting the day before instead. If he did, then there wouldn’t have been this many casualties. He felt sorry to the dead employees for expressing the situation like this, but amateurs had been placed in front of professionals.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

Tsk!

They likely lowered their guard under the assumption that the enemies were going to go at them wielding knives like the gangsters, leading them to believe there wouldn’t be a gunfight. That could be the reason why so many employees were killed in that incident.

It took Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho around fifteen minutes to arrive at the hospital. At the entrance of the mortuary hung a large placard that said ‘Yoo Bi-Corp Group Memorial Altar.’ Kang Chan also noticed several cars with antennas and the logos of broadcasting stations on them.

The Yoo Bi-Corp employee that was controlling the cars immediately saluted and opened the front door when he saw Seok Kang-Ho. As they were going down to the basement, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho were greeted by more Yoo Bi-Corp employees, many of which had bandaged arms or legs.

The portraits of the deceased employees were placed within the white chrysanthemums that fully filled up an entire wall.

Kang Chan went up to the front with Seok Kang-Ho and bowed his head after burning out an incense[1].

‘I’m sorry.’

Kang Chan tried not to let anyone get emotionally close to him because he was afraid of saying goodbye like this. When he lifted his head and turned around, Kim Tae-Jin gave a pained smile.

“How are you?” Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan.

“I’m okay.”

“The TV reporters’ eyes are blazing with curiosity. It’ll be good for you to just go quickly since that would suggest that you just dropped by.”

“Understood.”

Kim Tae-Jin shook Kang Chan’s hand. His eyes were bloodshot.

Kang Chan knew how Kim Tae-Jin was feeling better than anyone. After Seok Kang-Ho finished greeting Kim Tae-Jin, Kang Chan walked away.

At one side of the mortuary, he saw people crying plaintively. Among them were old mothers, young wives, and children that hadn’t accepted the situation yet.

Things like this were different from what happened in Africa, where it was hard to find a family member even if they died. There were too many people here in South Korea that had to live on with their grief.

Before leaving the funeral home, Kang Chan turned around and looked behind him, finding pictures of people smiling brightly.

He also saw Kim Tae-Jin, who had bowed his head while gritting his teeth.

“Mr. Kang Chan.”

Kang Chan turned his head to the sound of someone calling him. Suh Sang-Hyun was limping toward him. Kang Chan couldn’t say anything. No, he didn’t know what to say.

“I have a favor to ask you.” Behind Suh Sang-Hyun stood two Yoo Bi-Corp employees.

“I’m training again starting next week. At this timely opportunity, we’re also thinking of forming an elite forces. If you by any chance come across our enemies again from yesterday, then please allow me to participate no matter what,” Suh Sang-Hyun’s eyes were burning with anger.

“Let’s discuss this after the funeral.”

“Understood.”

Just when their conversation was ending…

“My precious son! Oh god, you good-for-nothing child! How could you do this to me? You said you’re going to come home today! You told me to make yukgaejang [2]! Get up! Get up and eat the yukgaejang that I made! You ungrateful child!”

A wailing elderly woman whose wrinkled face reflected the hardship she had gone through fell in front of the altar. It seemed like she had only just arrived.

The broadcast journalists trusted the cameras onto the elderly woman.

“Who did this? Who did this to my son?!”

Kim Tae-Jin walked out and kneeled on the floor.

“Please say something! Did you do this to my son?!” The elderly woman asked Kim Tae-Jin, then threw herself toward him and grabbed his jacket.

Kang Chan noticed Kim Tae-Jin’s hand gesture. He then saw the employees in the vicinity turning their heads and wiping their tears.

“Please say something! Did you do this to my son? Say something! Please!”

“It’s my fault. I’m sorry,” Kim Tae-Jin was fighting back tears while gritting his teeth.

A grandmother that was around the same age as the elderly woman soon approached them and hugged the wailing elderly woman.

“This gentleman is innocent! He’s the President of the company that my son had always bragged about! Please don’t do this to him!”

“This happened because of my mistakes,” said Kim Tae-Jin.

“Why are you blaming yourself when they died serving the country?!” The grandmother cried. “My son had an honorable death! He died confidently!”

Crying, the two elderly women wrapped their arms around Kim Tae-Jin’s neck.

This was something that Kang Chan couldn't have imagined in Africa.

***

When they returned from the hospital where the funeral was being held, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho smoked a cigarette.

That mission was difficult for an ordinary security company to handle.

“I feel like shit,” Kang Chan commented.

Seok Kang-Ho nodded.

“Is the ‘Unicorn’ worth this much suffering?”

“We were like this when so many people died in Africa, remember? That’s why you felt even more sorry for the kids that died,” said Seok Kang-Ho.

Kang Chan couldn’t think of anything that he could do right now. It felt like things suddenly got too out of hand, which made him feel shocked. It was as if he got attacked while he was defenseless. If Lanok’s schedule didn’t leak out from the National Intelligence Service, then that would mean there was a problem in France.

‘This means that Lanok is also in danger.’

With the Yoo Bi-Corp employees’ current level, it would be difficult for them to fight professionals if the latter pounced on them, just like yesterday..

They needed a specialized team. A group of professionals that could take on the enemies.

While Kang Chan was drinking a cup of water while frowning, the door of his hospital room opened. Kim Hyung-Jung entered.

“Welcome,” Kang Chan wasn’t that pleased to see him anymore.

“Mr. Kang Chan, the President wants to see you. Let’s go together.”

What’s he saying?

“The location is Hwalang[3], the place where you met the Prime Minister last time. As for your attire, you can just go with what you’re wearing right now,” Kim Hyung-Jung continued.

“Right now?” Kang Chan asked.

“Yes. He hastily scheduled this to avoid unwanted attention.”

The sense of duty that was in Kim Hyung-Jung’s face stimulated Kang Chan.

“Do I need to go out right now?” Kang Chan asked again.

“We have a car prepared at the entrance.”

Kang Chan got up from his spot.

“You should also come with us, Mr. Seok Kang-Ho. The President has been wanting to see you because you were mentioned in the security guard office.”

Seok Kang-Ho looked at Kang Chan with a flustered face.

“Let’s go,” Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho.

“Alright.”

Seok Kang-Ho breathed in deeply, then stood up as well.

The three of them got in the car that had been waiting at the entrance and left the hospital. Immediately after, another car followed right behind them.

“I reported what you said yesterday to the director myself. We’re performing a self-inspection on the fact that Lanok’s schedule got leaked, so I’ll let you know when the results come out.” As expected, Kim Hyung-Jung looked like he had a knot in his stomach about this issue.

Kang Chan didn’t have anything to reply to that, so he just listened.

“National Intelligence Service agents can’t leave their names behind, even if they die. We just engrave a star on the wall of the entrance to symbolize that we won’t forget them. All of us work with that determination. In spite of myself, I think I likely forced you to act the same way since I’ve been living with the promise I made to myself that I won’t become an embarrassment to the agents that had become stars on the wall. I realized a lot of things with this incident.”

The promise was good, but it felt like it was slightly off the mark from the key point.

“A decision was made this morning. The President, the National Intelligence Service Director and the Prime Minister have given their approval for me to form a separate organization. The organization won’t even report to the National Intelligence Service. An SDT (Special Duty Team) is going to form that only gets support in the form of the required personnel, weapons, and expenses, and it’s the first time in Korean history that this is happening.”

Kim Hyung-Jung’s expression looked very grim.

“On paper, I’ll be the person in charge. I’m going to take responsibility, regardless of what problems arise.”

Kim Hyung-Jung turned his head, so Kang Chan looked at him.

“Please lead the organization, just like how you led everyone at the golf club. This is the best that I can do.”

Kang Chan never thought of something like this.

“I’d be happy even if I can’t be a star. I’d be satisfied with just completing the ‘Unicorn’ project or if you do your best to help us.”

Kang Chan smiled lightly.

Why are men like him crowding around me?

1. In Korean funerals, incense is traditionally burned as a part of the funeral. This Korean culture dates back thousands of years. Burning incense is believed to remove unclean spirits and refresh the body and soul, which links the deceased to heaven. The incense’s fumes are also believed to alert the spirit of the dead ☜

2. Yukgaejang is a spicy beef soup Korean dish consisting of shredded beef, scallions, and other ingredients simmered for a long time ☜

3. This refers to the art gallery that was mentioned in Book 4 ☜