21st Century Goguryeo

December 6th, 2023, 14:20

Namju National Intelligence Service, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Cyber Security Bureau Director's Office)

When the long-awaited reports came up, Director Cheok Hyuk-jun received the reports one after another from the two departments with a withdrawn expression on his face. Director Cheok Hyuk-jun was also hunched over feeling like a criminal at the executive meeting because he had not shown any significant results in connection with the investigation of Professor Woo Jin-gil's confidentiality leak.

"According to your report, the man named Jjang Chun of the Black Tiger Corps, who was being chased by the Department of Foreign Intelligence, is the same person who kidnapped Woo Jin-gil's family?"

"I believe so. It's possible, by chance, that two people may have called at the same time, but if the originating location of the call is the same, it seems to be unmistakable."

When Section 2 Manager Kim Ki-won spoke in a confident voice, Section 3 Manager Na Tae-hwan, who was next to him, nodded saying the same thing.

"I think it is the same person as well."

"What did Woo Eun-seo say?"

The External Information Division 3 had sent the recorded voice to Woo Eun-seo to confirm if it was the same as the voice of the criminal.

"Yes, according to Woo Eun-seo the voice of the criminal at that time was very similar."

"Um, the Foreign Intelligence Division 1 was chasing the right culprit. Have you sent any information over to them?"

"Yes, we are currently sharing the confirmed information with them."

"What about Section three?"

"Yes, we forwarded it to them as soon as it was confirmed."

As soon as Section 3 finished with Na Tae-hwan's answer, Director Cheok Hyuk-jun lightly tapped the table, got up from his seat, looked around at the managers, and spoke vigorously.

"Great! Section 2 and 3 continue to maintain the monitoring system, and Section 4!"

"Yes, Director?"

"Find out everything you can about the Venetian Hotel! Secure all information of guests staying five days or longer and check the CC cameras! This is Code Red. Don't miss a single ant in the Venetian Hotel. Search them all!"

"All right. We will get started right away."

At this time, Section 1 Manager Kang Pil-ho carefully spoke out.

"Chief, as long as it is revealed that the New China government is behind it, shouldn't we move nationally?"

"Not yet. If we want to catch Jjang Chun, secure the evidence, and destroy all leaked confidential data, shouldn't we continue to move secretly and carefully?"

"Well, I guess so. I didn't think of that."

"What about the situation in Beijing?"

"Currently, we have been contacted that they are decrypting the encrypted documents among the hacked documents. They seem to be having a hard time with the double encryption module that the Chinese b*stards put on them."

Section 4, Manager Kim Ki-won, who are supporting Manager Namgoong-won and his party answered.

"If it takes time, shouldn't we support it from our side?"

"Chief Director, Manager Namgoong-won, and the agents over there are far superior to the agents from the headquarters. I think it would be better to trust them on this."

"Okay then, let's proceed with Section 4 as instructed! Let's work harder for our Black Agents who are struggling in Macau. I'm going to report this to the manager."

"Yes. All right."

* * *

December 6th, 2023, 16:10 (Macao time 15:10)

Casino at the Sands Cotai Venetian Hotel, Macau Special District, China

In the lobby, cafes, and casinos of the Venetian Hotel, External Information Division 1's agents, who were disguised as tourists, tried to blend in while looking around.

Two hours ago, accurate location information about Jjang Chun was delivered from the headquarters, and all other agents, except for department 4, were deployed to the Venetian Hotel.

However, there was one problem. While the location was confirmed, there was no clear information about Jjang Chun. Even with all these agents deployed, it was likely that the agents would not be able to find him because they didn't know what Jjang Chun looked like. It was only known that he was an Asian man in his late thirties. With their keen observation skills, the agents could only look closely at the people around them.

Team leader Park Gi-oong, who was playing blackjack again on the VIP floor, looked at the people playing at the various tables as well as those walking around during the game. Perhaps that's why the coins changed from the special expenses funds were noticeably decreasing due to his lack of concentration.

"Chief Park! Isn't there anything special about it?"

The voice of Manager Lee Ja-sung came out through silent communication.

"Yeah, there is nothing special."

"I get it. Keep on doing your job"

"Confirmed!"

At the moment, one floor below the VIP floor, in the game room for the general public, various agents were enjoying different games in multiple places while keeping a close eye on everyone around them.

* * *

December 6th, 2023, 18:00 (New China time 17:00)

New World Beijing Hotel, Dongcheng, Beijing, New China

Namgoong-won and his party, who were in a hurry to secure the location of Jjang Chun, who was being pursued by the 1st Department of Foreign Information, solved the first encryption document but devoted themselves to solving the second encryption document without a short break due to the unexpected double encryption module.

"Ah! Damn these Chinese b*stards. I'm going to vomit. I'm going to throw up."

Director Kim Young-kyun, whose eyes were red and bloodshot, spat abusive language day and night and continued tapping on the keyboard.

"Hey! You are being too noisy! I can't concentrate because of you!"

Assistant Manager Na Sung-hyun, who was working next to him, frowned and scolded him.

"Have pity on me. If I don't do this, I feel like I'm going to fall asleep."

"Then talk quietly and mumble."

"Okay, I get it."

The two agents, who had been wrestling with a small laptop for more than 72 hours without sleeping, were nervous that they had almost reached the limit of their physical strength.

"You guys take a break! I'm going to finish the last one."

Namgoong-won who was also tapping away on the keyboard, forced himself to fight off sleepiness.

"Oh! How can we rest when the manager is working? We have to finish it together."

"No! It's almost done. Send me the source that you worked on!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Send it right away!"

"Yes, all right."

After a while, Namgoong-won, who received the source from the two agents, combined it with his source and completed a dismantling program that could unlock the encrypted module. Two hours later, after several trials and errors, the encrypted folders finally began to be unlocked one by one.

"It opened! It is done!"

The two agents, who had been asleep on the sofa, jumped up due to Namgoong-won's cheers, and their faces reflected on Namgoong-won's laptop screen.

"Wow! It's finally unlocked."

"Wow! It's worth the trouble. Hahaha, Manager Namgoong-won is surely a legend."

"Are you going to keep saying things like that?"

Namgoong-won, who seemed to be in a good mood at the word legend gave an awkward smile and clicked on each folder where the encryption was unlocked with his mouse to see if he could uncover any useful information. The moment he clicked on the fourth folder, several documents belonging to New China's office appeared.

"What is this?"

Namgoong-won immediately launched a translation program to understand the contents of the document written in Chinese.

"Yeah, that's right. I think I found the right one."

The title of the document entered into the translation program showed up as 'Plasma confidentiality report.'

"Those motherf*ckers..."

Namgoong-won, who was reading the translated report while turning over the note, cursed without realizing it. The document contained details on how the Black Tiger agents had stolen the confidential reports on plasma core technology in Hong Kong.

Assuming that the New China government were behind Professor Woo Jin-gil's plasma core technology leak, Namgoong-won had carried out a dangerous mission by going to Beijing. As soon as he saw the evidence, he instantly burst into anger.

"These punks! Even after what had happened two years ago, they still haven't come to their senses. We have to catch all the people who are involved in this case and put them in jail until they die."

"Chief Kim! Would that work? You should just erase them from the map! It'll be very clean."

While the two agents were swearing in an excited tone, Namgoong-won continued to go through the document. When he was halfway through, the right hand holding the mouse stopped.

It was the personal information of the Black Tiger agents who had participated in the leak of the confidential plasma core technology.

It was finally the moment when the personal information of the gang, under the guise of a criminal organization, who had stolen the confidential reports by holding Professor Woo Jin-gil and his young grandchildren hostage and threatening them, was finally revealed.

A total of 12 Black Tiger agents that were active in Hong Kong, were agents belonging to the intelligence agency or special forces in China.

"Ah! But there's no one named as Jjang Chun."

Deputy Na Sung-hyun, who was reading the document at the same time, said with his head raised.

"Jjang Chun may not be his real name! Anyway, since it said that he is the team leader, so wouldn't it be him?"

With the cursor of the mouse, Namgoong-won pointed to a man's profile that stated he was the team leader of the Black Tiger agents.

His name was Zhang Yixing, 182 centimeters tall and weighing 85 kilograms. He was from PLA, a former Chinese special force. In the photo, the good-looking man had a strong presence and looked to be in his late thirties.

"You're saying that this could be Jjang Chun?"

"Deputy Na, send this picture to Manager Lee right now! He will be walking around looking for him eagerly without even knowing what he looks like."

"Yes, I'll send it right away."

* * *

December 6th, 2023, 20:10 (Macao time 19:10)

Sands Cotai Venetian Hotel Casino, Macau SAR, Republic of China.

As if falling on barren ground, the information about Jjang chun, like rain, came as a welcome relief for Foreign Information Division 1. They had been looking for Jjang Chun using only their intuition and now they finally had the picture of a person believed to be Jjang Chun.

On all agents' smartphones, photos of a man assumed to be Jjang Chun were sent from Namgoong-won and his team in Beijing.

"Huh? I think I've seen this face before."

Chief Park Gi-oong looked closely at the photos on his smartphone and nodded to jog his memory.

"That's right! He's similar to the man I saw in front of the VVIP elevator yesterday."

Chief Park Gi-oong smiled without realizing it and gestured to the dealer, indicating that he would stop playing the game. He got up from his seat and moved to a quiet place. Then, he sent a silent communication to Chief Sung Sang-hyun in the accommodation.

"Chief Sung!"

"Yes, Chief Park?"

"Did you receive the picture too?"

"Yes, we have started photo-matching now."

"Then, start matching the photos that I took!"

"Yes?"

"Hurry! It's similar to a man I saw yesterday."

"Ah! All right. I will check the pictures you took."

"Hurry!"

"Yes, it may take a few minutes."

"Okay. I'll wait"

After a while, a silent communication flew in from Chief Sung Sang-hyun.

"Chief Park! Among the photos taken by you, there is a photo in which the matching analysis result is 95 percent accurate. Even though the picture was taken from a slightly diagonal angle, it is safe to say that 95 percent is 100 percent."

"What time was it taken?"

"It states that it was taken at 11:23."

"Right! It is that b*stard."

"Yes?"

"I met him briefly at the elevator going to the VVIP room. When I first saw him, I thought that he felt a little off, but it was that b*stard."

"Woah! That's awesome."

"Just in case, keep matching other photos! I will report this to Manager Lee right away."

"Yes, all right."

After ending the communication, Chief Park Gi-oong tapped on the terminal and sent a silent communication to Manager Lee Ja-seong this time.

"Lee Ja-seong! Did you get the picture?"

"Yes! Chief Park! I got it. Did you find anything?"

"Yeah, that's why I called."

"Yeah, what is it?"

"That picture is the guy that I saw yesterday in front of the elevator going to the VVIP room."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I just got news from Chief Sung that the pictures I had taken had matched with a 95 percent accuracy. That's him."

"Okay? That's good, things are starting to work out."

"Chief! Now that we have the photos, let's move on to Code Black."

"Well, you have to be more careful at times like this! When it's a clear opportunity, you have to catch it without mistakes. So for now, your team will continue to monitor from your current location, and the rest of the team will be sent back to the dormitory to prepare for the arrest operation tonight. Okay?"

"All right."