Chapter 110: A Body That Can No Longer Be Satisfied

TL: LittlePeach

“But I don't have much money.”

For a moment, her talk about an opportunity to make big money tempted me, but then I wondered what money I even had to invest in something like that.

Yang Mi-ryeong snorted as if I'd said something ridiculous.

“You've got a fair bit of money in your account. You didn't forget about the bankbook you got from me, did you?”

“I haven't exactly been keeping track of every won in there....”

While I was at it, I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out my phone.

The amounts I could remember off the top of my head were the six billion won Yang Mi-ryeong had given me along with the bankbook.

The three billion won Ruixing had written on a blank check.

And the 1.5 billion won bounty that the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) would be sending me.

“Did you happen to send me any more money after we parted ways in Taiwan?”

“You didn't even check? I deposited another 1.5 billion won as payment for protecting me.”

“Good grief. You sent quite a lot.”

“I owed you my life. You should at least take that much, don't you think?”

Altogether, it came to roughly twelve billion won, or twelve million dollars when converted.

When I checked the app, that was indeed about how much was sitting in the account.

Roughly eight percent of the hotel's acquisition price.

‘Turns out I had more money than I thought.’

It was strangely surprising to realize that now.

As if there was nothing more to explain, Yang Mi-ryeong gave me a smug smile.

“You're investing, right?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Good choice. Wait a second.”

When I nodded somewhat dazedly, she immediately produced a sheet of paper as if she'd been waiting for this.

“What's this?”

“A power of attorney. Just sign here, and I'll take care of all the complicated stuff.”

I looked over the document, and it said something along these lines.

[I, Nguyen Kodam, hereby delegate all authority concerning the management of my funds to Yang Mi-ryeong.]

I had no idea when she'd even prepared something like this. Her thoroughness was enough to give me chills all over again.

There was nothing else I could do but sign the document as if I were under a spell.

Scratch, scratch.

“I'll deposit any dividends into your original account, so don't worry.”

For some reason, Yang Mi-ryeong looked rather pleased with herself as she said that.

I gave her the list, and she gave me an investment opportunity.

“It'll take some time to finish all the paperwork. Stay on my penthouse floor until then.”

“Huh.”

“Don't tell me you forgot. Here, you're supposed to be my cover lover.”

“How long are we going to keep that up?”

“Why? Don't you like it?”

“No....”

For some reason, Yang Mi-ryeong looked even more pleased than before as she snorted.

“Make yourself comfortable.”

I had no idea when that would ever start feeling comfortable.

***

Of course, I had no intention of staying cooped up in the hotel until she finished all the paperwork.

Since I'd come all the way to Dandong anyway, I planned to steadily work through my duties as an Eagle agent.

Riiing.

Click.

-Hello?

“Agent, have you been well?”

-Who is this....

“It's Sparrow No. 7.”

-...Ah, ah! Agent! Have you been well?

The first person I contacted was Owl No. 8.

He sounded delighted to hear from me.

-I hadn't heard from you since Russia, so I thought you'd been transferred somewhere else entirely.

“I didn't have a chance to call. I've actually been on a few business trips.”

-Oh, really? Where are you now, then?

“I was in Shenyang for a bit, but I'm in Dandong now.”

-Ooh. Nice. If you've got time, how about grabbing a beer later today? You in?

“Sure.”

The notebook Bureau Director Yang Ui-jin had handed me also contained information about Owl No. 8.

I casually pulled it out and checked, finding the relevant entry right there.

[Owl No. 8]

[Special Notes: Some U.S.-held photographs of the Yalu River area have strikingly similar framing. This agent, a former CIA operative, is suspected of being responsible.]

I already knew perfectly well that he made money taking side jobs from the CIA.

Which was why I had no intention of digging any deeper into this than necessary.

‘People always favor their own.’

Even I had to admit people could be shamelessly biased.

Just because I knew him personally, I'd already decided I was perfectly willing to overlook a minor indiscretion like this.

But if I were going to judge everyone by such strict standards in the first place, then how much had I myself made from side jobs despite being sent here as an Eagle agent?

Anyway.

“Agent! Over here!”

When I arrived at our agreed meeting place, Owl No. 8 waved enthusiastically at me.

He pulled me into a hug with a delighted expression, then smoothly held out a thick envelope.

“You were supposed to come collect this money from me. I was starting to worry because you never showed up.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, there had been a side job we'd done together.

“The CIA credited nine photos in total. The three of us split the money, sixty thousand dollars each.”

At twenty thousand dollars per photo, the total payout came to one hundred eighty thousand dollars.

Sixty thousand each for me, Owl No. 8, and Kite No. 3.

Even as I took the envelope, I couldn't help feeling a little strange.

‘Back then, this felt like a huge amount of money.’

It made sense that I felt that way.

Just a few days ago, I'd received a bounty of 1.5 million dollars for Wei Hong at New Bilibid Prison.

Still, I couldn't exactly show that in front of Owl No. 8, who was grinning happily.

“You can count it if you want.”

“No need. I'm sure you counted it out properly.”

“Heh heh.”

“Since you brought it for me, I'm buying tonight.”

“Oh, yeah! I already called Owl No. 5 hyeong-nim too, so he should be here soon.”

That was welcome news too.

The two of us headed into the restaurant first, ordered a few dishes, and settled in for a leisurely conversation.

“You punk!”

“Oh.”

Before long, Owl No. 5 hurried into the restaurant.

For some reason, he looked extremely tense, and before I could even rise from my seat and greet him....

“I nearly died of nerves wondering when the hell you were finally going to take this back!”

“Huh.”

Thump.

He abruptly shoved a shopping bag into my arms.

“What is this?”

I peeked inside, wondering what the hell it could be.

“Oh.”

My Claymore was tucked neatly inside.

“Come to think of it, I completely forgot about this. Thanks for bringing it all the way here.”

“What? You forgot about it?”

A Glock 19 was also sitting on top of the Claymore box.

They were the things I'd left behind in the rooftop room when I'd rushed off to Russia to rescue Owl No. 5.

“I seriously considered chucking this whole damn thing into the Yalu River several times a day.”

“Come on. It's safe as long as the detonator isn't inserted.”

“What if lightning hits the house and makes it explode anyway?!”

“With luck like that, you should buy a lottery ticket first.”

“Then I'd die when this thing blew up before I ever got the chance!”

After throwing a fit, Owl No. 5 sat down and immediately started airing one complaint after another.

He said that after shivering in bitterly cold Russia while handling frozen cod, his joints now ached whenever the wind blew, and that he'd rather get the hell out to somewhere warm in Southeast Asia.

As I listened to his whining and grumbling, I casually tossed out a suggestion.

“I'm pretty close with the Southeast Asia team leader. Want me to put in a word for you?”

“You? How the hell do you know him?”

“I've got connections here and there.”

“Tsk. Nah, I was just exaggerating a little. Where else am I supposed to make a living besides Dandong?”

Owl No. 5 dropped the theatrics and shrugged.

He blew out a breath through his nose with an awkward smile.

“Actually, things in Dandong have been pretty good lately. Relations between North Korea and China are getting tense, so the number of railcars crossing the border has dropped sharply. All I have to do is turn on the camera and breathe, and I still get paid. Honestly, there aren't many posts this sweet, right?”

Perhaps thanks to those aching joints, Owl No. 5 had become thoroughly devoted to his actual job.

Apparently, his daily routine consisted of lazing around the fourth-floor rooftop room conducting surveillance most of the day, then occasionally wandering around outside while pretending to go to work.

“Anyway, if you ever need a transfer, just let me know.”

“Listen to you, talking like you're some kind of team leader. You're still a Sparrow.”

“Not all Sparrows are created equal.”

“Hah. Forget it, punk.”

After that, we kept drinking and talking for quite a while.

We shared some personal stories, and I also happened to have some good news to pass along.

“Oh, right. Kite No. 3 recently got a promotion transfer to the domestic department. His wife, who'd been a local asset, is pregnant.”

“Wow, seriously? Please tell him congratulations for me!”

“I don't think I've seen that guy since the Sinuiju operation....”

“You wouldn't have, hyeong-nim. But he and I worked together during the Ryanggang Province train operation.”

“Ah, right. I think I heard about that.”

As we chatted idly, quite a few bottles piled up on the table.

Then Owl No. 8 suddenly seemed to remember something and tapped me on the shoulder.

“Agent, we've got to do another side job together soon, right? I've actually got another one coming in before long.”

As it happened, Owl No. 8 had brought up side jobs again.

Hearing the words side job reminded me of Crane No. 14, who was probably getting around somewhere in Dandong by bus about now.

“Taking photos again?”

“Yeah. But this time we have to go all the way to Ji'an instead of staying in Dandong. I was originally going to do it with Owl No. 5 hyeong-nim, but his joints have been giving him trouble lately....”

“Leave me the hell out of it, please. My joints aren't what they used to be. Seriously.”

“Tsk.”

When Owl No. 5 reacted in horror and started exaggerating his aches again, Owl No. 8 smacked his lips in disappointment.

Then he continued explaining.

“Ji'an is connected to North Korea's Manpo Line, so it's about a five-hour drive from here. Still, if the two of us take turns driving, we can make it easily.”

Owl No. 8 gave an eager huff, but I was actually hesitating inside.

My standards had risen far too much to accept that kind of side job without a second thought, and I happened to know someone else who could take it in my place.

“Sorry, Agent, but I already have something scheduled, so I think I'll have to pass on this side job.”

“Aww.... Really?”

“But I'll introduce you to someone I know instead.”

“Oh, who?”

“There's an agent called Crane No. 14. He's normally stationed in Shenyang, but he'll be staying in Dandong for a little while. He's a Crane-code agent, so he'll be well used to long-distance runs.”

“Ooh!”

Owl No. 8 immediately brightened at my suggestion.

While I was at it, I held up my phone.

“Or, since we're already doing this, want me to invite him along for the second round?”

“Sure, sure!”

“Hrrm. Who's paying for round two?”

“I'm covering everything today. Don't even think about pulling out your wallets.”

“Oh, yeah!”

Our rare night of heavy drinking did not end after the first round.

Crane No. 14, who was suddenly summoned for round two, barely had time to look confused before he found himself busy knocking back every drink handed to him.

“Agent, you're definitely doing that side job with me, right?”

“Yes, yes. Of course, of course....”

“I heard you can handle long-distance driving too?”

“Well, that comes with being Crane code....”

“Oh, yeah! Agent, you're definitely doing that side job with me, right?”

“Uh.... Why did you just say the exact same thing twice....”

“Hehehe. Did I? I always do that when I'm drunk!”

The increasingly lively drinking session stubbornly continued through a second and then a third round.

The things drunken agents ended up talking about were mostly the same: the hardships of living abroad, one minor worry after another, and whatever else happened to be on their minds.

“I reaaally thought that womaaaan liked me, so she put an egg in my beef noodle soup every daaay....”

“She even gave you extra sliced meat, didn't she? There must've been some love there.”

“Hah. You call that comforting?”

“Drink up!”

We went to Owl No. 8's place and drank ourselves senseless through a fourth round.

Naturally, since I was the one who hardly ever got drunk, it fell to me to haul the agents back and dump them into the safe house tucked away in a corner of Dandong.

“Nngh, nnngh....”

“Nooo.... Aaaagent... why don't yooou ever get druuunk...?”

“My liver's always been on the large side.”

“Nnghhhh....”

And so, the next morning.

“Hrrrrrr.”

“Nngh, nnnghhh....”

Leaving the three agents sprawled across the living room and snoring, I leisurely went out for a walk by myself.

Owl No. 8 was staying in a residential neighborhood in the industrial district on the outskirts of Dandong, where closed factory buildings stood here and there, reduced to bare, eerie skeletons.

Just then, for some reason, a chill seemed to hang in the air.

Riiiiiing.

“Huh.”

My phone rang this early in the morning.

When I looked at the screen, it was Yang Mi-ryeong.

Was it because the cool predawn wind had just brushed past me?

Without realizing it, I hunched my shoulders.

Click.

“Yes, speaking.”

-You didn't come back to your room last night.

The moment I answered, her voice came through low and flat as she immediately started questioning me.

I instinctively tucked my neck in.

“Yeah, well. Something unavoidable came up.”

-I didn't think you'd make me sleep alone on the very first night....

The chill in her words made me flinch, but only for a moment.

-Well, fine. Anyway, would you be interested in taking another job from me?

“A job?”

-Before my promotion transfer to Hong Kong, I plan to expand the Kowloon Society's Dandong branch operations across all of Liaoning Province. As my first move, I was planning to hit the Qingshe Gang and absorb the entire organization....

Yang Mi-ryeong began calmly laying out her business plan.

Even though her promotion transfer to Hong Kong was coming up soon, her ambition showed absolutely no sign of slowing down.

-It looks like attacking them openly has become difficult. I looked into it just in case, and apparently someone pretty high up in Shenyang is backing the Qingshe Gang. I don't know who.

“Hmm. I see.”

-So I changed the plan. I'm going to abduct the society head of the Qingshe Gang.

That was Yang Mi-ryeong for you. She simply didn't know how to give up.

There was no need to ask what kind of job she wanted me to take.

“So an all-out war is off the table, but abduction is fine?”

-If we abduct him without anyone being the wiser, how would they know it was us?

“Common sense says abducting one society head isn't going to make the entire Qingshe Gang fall into your hands.”

-Normally, you'd think that, but the Qingshe Gang's society head, Hu Tao, is greedy to an absurd degree. The organization itself is structured so that the society head alone controls all of its lucrative interests. Once we abduct him, I plan to threaten him into handing those interests over.

A smile tugged at my lips as I stopped walking.

While I did a quick calculation in my head, deciding whether to take the job....

-I'll pay you three billion won.

Oh.

-If you think it'll be too difficult, you can turn it down.

“No. Nothing difficult about it.”

What more was there to say?

‘Yeah. This is what a side job should be.’

I'd become a body that could no longer be satisfied with payouts in the mere tens of millions of won.

*****

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