Chapter 161 ·This crazy—!

This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍crazy—!

Hannam-dong, UN Village 2nd Street.

It was a large two-story mansion on a plot of about 2,600㎡, with a single-story annex and a large yard at the back.

"Is this really the house I'll be living in from now on?"

The protagonist, who let out an exclamation, was Mi-ah.

Standing next to her, In-hyuk nodded.

"This place was prepared with safety as the top priority. The barrier past the yard rises 3 to 5 meters high, so no one will be able to approach easily. Of course, BlueForce will be on guard 24 hours a day, so it won't be dangerous."

Mi-ah, who was looking around the house and yard, widened her eyes and spoke.

"Security? Don't tell me they'll be stationed here?"

"They'll take turns guarding the entrance and the yard during security hours. The rest will stay in the building next door."

"Building next door?"

Mi-ah, standing in the yard, turned her gaze to the side.

There was a three-story multi-family house there.

It was the only building in the area that could look down on the current house from above.

"That's right. That's the BlueForce residence. If there's a problem, they can rush over immediately."

"You really thought this through... Did you buy that building too, by any chance?"

"If you want to be thorough, you have to. If you're worried about the money, don't. I paid for it out of my own earnings."

Mi-ah stared at him as if incredulous.

"Isn't this all a bit much? Don't you think so, guys?"

She directed the question to Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester, who stood behind In-hyuk.

But they only shrugged their shoulders, giving no answer.

With a sigh, In-hyuk took her to the basement, continuing his explanation.

"That's how important what you'll be doing is from now on. In the basement of the mansion, I've set up server equipment that can be linked with Plusystems' Quantum Pulse."

"That's thorough, too."

"And..."

While descending the stairs to the basement, In-hyuk stopped walking.

"What is it?"

"The place you wanted."

The walls on both sides were covered with oak-toned timber boards.

In-hyuk turned the light fixture installed at the top of the wall to the side.

Click—

At the same time, a part of the left wall swung inward like a door, revealing a 15-pyeong-sized space.

"What's this? A hidden room?"

"Looks like the previous owner used it to hide a slush fund. They even hired outsiders for cleaning and equipment checks, so you can use it without worry."

"The person who lived here before, too?"

"It had been left alone for a really long time. The previous owner apparently didn't know about this room, since the opening device was broken."

At such a strange explanation, Mi-ah tilted her head, puzzled.

"Then how did the boss find out?"

"I just found it while checking the server equipment downstairs. I've got a knack for this kind of thing, you know."

In-hyuk's information gathering skills were impressive, enough to leave Mi-ah, a hacking expert, speechless.

"I'm at a loss for words. Anyway, thanks. I think I'll put it to good use."

"You can change the security system however you want."

Having explained the general setup and confirmed the server equipment, they returned upstairs to the living room, and Mi-ah asked a question.

"So, what exactly do I need to do here?"

She was skeptical, perhaps because the preparations seemed excessive.

In-hyuk just shrugged in response.

"I'm sure everyone knows my main target is Kooou."

Mi-ah, Hong Yu-geon, and Van Hester nodded.

"From now on, I'm going to go after the core of those guys. That'll make them much more sensitive, and we might make mistakes in the process. If we slip up, it'll all be over."

The most terrifying enemy is one with nothing to lose.

Ever since Jung Yoon-ju died, Kooou had probably started getting tense, so In-hyuk needed to be just as prepared.

The others seemed to understand him, growing serious.

Then Hong Yu-geon asked a question.

"Did the bait catch on the Im Deok-chang side for sure?"

He knew that In-hyuk had spoken with Jin Jong-man, the National Intelligence Service director, not long ago.

"They won't be able to just sit still there either. But Im Deok-chang would never act himself."

"Then what will you do?"

After a brief pause, In-hyuk looked at Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester and asked,

"Which do you want to choose, A or B?"

Sensing a bad feeling, Hong Yu-geon furrowed his brow slightly.

"What's A, and what's B?"

"A is a barely dangerous job. B is a quickly dangerous job."

At the odd explanation, Hong Yu-geon and the others tilted their heads in confusion.

"They're both dangerous jobs, though."

In-hyuk just shrugged again.

Sighing, Hong Yu-geon looked at Van Hester.

"What do you think?"

"If being quick for B means driving, we'll go with A."

With the question, both men turned their eyes to In-hyuk.

"As expected, Van has good instincts."

While Van Hester smiled, Hong Yu-geon, with his lips three feet forward, asked,

"So what exactly are we supposed to do?"

"Well..."

In-hyuk began explaining slowly.

The faces of his quietly listening companions quickly turned pale with shock.

* * *

Just past midnight.

Jin Jong-man, the National Intelligence Service director, was driving alone down the road.

After a drive that lasted over two hours, he finally arrived at Hangyeryeong Rest Area in Gangwon Province, at an altitude of 920 meters.

It was almost three in the morning. Because it was so late, there were no other parked cars.

Jin Jong-man, still in the car, let out a long, tense sigh.

"What am I supposed to do out here...?"

He had come because of a message from 'HERMIT'.

Of course, as director of the National Intelligence Service, he hadn't agreed to any plan that made him a decoy easily.

But he knew better than anyone the dire situation inside the NIS right now.

Things were so bad, he couldn't even trust the driver or secretarial agents closest to him.

"And will this really lure them in?"

On his way, he hadn't noticed any tail. Nor had he found any bugs or tracking devices in his car.

Just then, Jin Jong-man glanced at the phone he'd left on the dashboard.

"... No way?"

At that moment, as if on cue, it vibrated, and a call came in.

On the screen, the name 'HERMIT' appeared.

[Now, please come to the back of the rest stop.]

Jin Jong-man was wondering if there was tracking software installed on the phone.

But there was no way to check in this situation, so he left the call connected and went outside.

Rounding the back of the rest area, a dark figure was standing there.

"... Are you HERMIT?"

The person who appeared in front of him was none other than In-hyuk.

However, he was now wearing a black skull mask and combat attire.

"You can hang up the call now, can't you?"

[You can hang up the call now, can't you?]

Because of the short physical distance, In-hyuk's disguised voice created a howling effect through the receiver.

"What is it you intend to do here? Are they really following me...?"

In-hyuk quickly covered his mouth with a gloved hand. Then he walked away in the direction opposite to where Jin Jong-man had entered, scanning the surroundings.

Jin Jong-man, too, cautiously peeked out.

Soon after, they saw four vehicles climbing up out of the darkness.

"Still think you can't trust us?"

"How did they...?!"

He looked again at the phone he'd been clutching. Now his suspicion was turning into certainty.

"If you know why you were tracked, may I have this for a moment?"

"You knew about it from the start?"

"Im Deok-chang is cornered, so he'd have prepared thoroughly."

With those words, In-hyuk took his phone and plugged in a USB drive from his pocket.

"What's that?"

He only returned the phone once the progress bar on the screen hit 100%.

"It's a cleaning program. Now, let's go down."

"... Down? Down where?"

"Where else? To shake them off, we have to go to the bottom of the mountain. There's no time, let's move."

In-hyuk pushed him toward the woods behind the rest area.

"How far up are we going?"

After climbing the steep slope for five minutes, Jin Jong-man was very tired.

While they paused, they could hear sounds of people following from below, picking up on their presence.

"We're here."

In-hyuk moved aside the branches covering a tree trunk.

An off-road motorcycle appeared.

"You expect us to ride this down?"

"Would you rather walk?"

"...."

When Jin Jong-man fell silent, In-hyuk tossed him a helmet.

"If you don't want to die, get on the back. Now."

The shadows of those drawing near grew clearer in the darkness.

Jin Jong-man, with no time to hesitate, put on the helmet and climbed behind In-hyuk.

Buaaaang—

At the same time, a loud sound echoed as the engine started.

From below, seeing the brake light, those chasing them sped up as well.

"Don't fall off."

In-hyuk cranked the throttle and shot forward.

With hair-raising maneuvers skimming past trees, Jin Jong-man screamed.

"Aaaagh—!"

.

.

.

At the same time.

Im Deok-chang was sitting in his National Intelligence Service office.

He wasn't in a good mood, having just received some news.

"What? A motorcycle in the mountains?"

It was a report from the agents sent to handle Jin Jong-man and secure the information provider.

[Charlie Team is tracking their direction and likely route with a drone, while we're moving by car.]

"Didn't you confirm who the guy is?"

[Maybe they knew of our moves, but we couldn't confirm in time. Will let you know as soon as we secure them.]

"Keep communications up and don't lose them!"

Im Deok-chang shouted, then leaned back into his chair with a sigh.

Meanwhile, Choi Dong-hoon, who had been standing in front, played back video captured with a drone on the monitor.

But only the rapid-moving motorcycle's lights could be seen through the trees; the rider's identity was obscured.

"Riding through the mountains at that speed?"

Choi Dong-hoon, who had moved beside him, was shocked as well.

"They're definitely no amateur."

"If that's an amateur, the world has gone insane."

After a few minutes,

Grotesque exclamations from the agents on the phone could be heard.

[Huh? Huh? Wha...?]

Of course, Im Deok-chang could see the reason, because he was watching the drone footage.

The motorcycle and the pursuing car on the road were nearly level.

Then suddenly, the motorcycle veered and leapt off the road's edge onto a cliff. It soared across the cars and road as if flying, then disappeared back into the forest.

"This crazy—!"

"Did you see that just now?"

The situation unfolded so fast that Im Deok-chang was clutching his chest in shock.

"What are you talking about?"

"The motorcycle rider was wearing a skull mask."

"So it's Skull again?"

"Looks like he's finally fallen into our trap."

Even after Reina Blackwood left, she'd left a trap for him.

But when Skull didn't show up during the escape, all they could do was keep watching.

So Im Deok-chang spoke into the receiver.

"The enemy is Skull. Do not let them escape, no matter what it takes!"

Screeeech—

Given the situation, the agents seemed to be changing direction urgently.

The chase as seen through the drone continued on.

Watching the screen, Im Deok-chang swallowed and spoke to Choi Dong-hoon.

"I need to hit the restroom for a bit."

It seemed the tension was getting to him.

He went out into the hallway and entered the bathroom.

Moments later, two male agents entered, nodded to Im Deok-chang in greeting, and approached the urinals.

"On duty tonight?"

It was a polite question.

But the two agents exchanged glances instead of replying.

Sensing something off, Im Deok-chang tensed.

In that instant, one man grabbed him from behind, and the other stuck a handkerchief over his mouth.

It didn't take long for all strength to drain from Im Deok-chang's body.

"Whew... He's disgustingly heavy."

"Let's pack him up and move."

The agents' true identities were Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester, disguised with the help of Noah Vantrail's techniques.

RelatedRelatedRelated