Chapter 117: Revolutionarily

TL: LittlePeach

“Croak, you US imperialist bastards!”

“Let the bullets fly, revolutionarily!”

They were outnumbered, but the North Korean assassination squad clearly showed signs of formal military training.

They immediately took cover behind the van and unleashed a coordinated barrage with their AK rifles.

Ratatatatat!

Thanks to that, the Narancia Family’s expensive sports cars were gradually riddled with holes.

“My Ferrari! Have these fucking commies lost their minds?!”

“Fuck! I haven’t even finished paying it off yet!”

Watching their precious cars turn into scrap metal sent the mafia bastards completely over the edge.

They, too, began blasting away indiscriminately with submachine guns and shotguns.

Tires burst, headlights shattered, and decorations all around the mansion were blown to pieces.

“You reactionary bastards! Wipe them all out!”

“Die, you broke-ass backwater bastards!”

Bang, bang-bang!

Every time a muzzle flashed, someone screamed and collapsed.

Whoosh!

Fuel leaking from punctured gas tanks caught fire.

The flames spread furiously, illuminating the garden as brightly as broad daylight.

Ping, clang.

Boom!

“Fuuuck! Kill them already!”

Ping, clang.

BOOM!

“Aaaaargh! You fucking reactionary US imperialist lackeys!”

Ping, claaang.

BOOOOM!

“....”

How much time had passed like that?

By the time the deafening gunfire finally died away.

“Ugh... uuuugh.”

“Sniff... ngh....”

The unexpected gunfight that had erupted in the dead of night came to an anticlimactic end.

Looking down from the balcony, I could hear occasional groans and sobs coming from among the bushes in the garden.

‘Doesn’t look like there are many left.’

That much could easily be ignored.

I casually dusted off my hands and turned toward Bugak No. 1.

“All right. It’s over, so let’s get going.”

“....”

The man’s eyes trembled like those of a terrified deer as he stared at me.

Come to think of it, I was currently wearing Secretary Pak Mun-ju’s face. Maybe I had gone a little overboard.

“This is everyday life in the Republic.”

“....”

“It is a place where they blow up their own uncle-in-law with an anti-aircraft gun, is it not?”

Only then did he seem to understand, at least a little.

***

It took exactly nine hours for the late-night train departing from Rome, Italy, to reach its destination.

We arrived early in the morning in Bern, Switzerland.

It had never been formally designated as such by law, but it was effectively the capital of Switzerland.

“Hsss... haa.”

The moment I stepped out of the train station, the crisp Alpine air filled my lungs.

It felt as though all the tension that had clung to me since Italy had been washed clean away.

Of course, the situation was not relaxed enough for me to completely let my guard down.

“Wow.”

Even so, it was hard to ignore the scenery spread out before me.

The old-fashioned buildings with red roofs lining the Aare River preserved the kind of medieval beauty one would expect to see only in a movie.

There was the centuries-old clock tower standing with the river at its back, and even alleyways beautifully paved with cobblestones.

The entire city was tranquil and beautiful, like a village straight out of a fairy tale.

I did not particularly mind the surreal contrast between this peaceful scenery and the mission I had been given.

“Nice.”

I leisurely took in the surroundings as I naturally blended into the crowd of tourists.

Then I casually raised my phone.

Riiing.

Click.

-Yes, speaking.

“This is Pak Mun-ju.”

-Ah! I’ve been waiting for you, Secretary. This is Halla No. 1.

Unlike the curt Bugak No. 1, Halla No. 1 greeted me in a rather friendly voice.

-Are you at the train station? I happen to be nearby, so I can come pick you up right away.

“Before that, there is one thing I wish to ask.”

-Yes? Ah... what is it?

Previously, I had blindly left the entire operation to Bugak Team and nearly gotten dragged into something troublesome.

This time, I intended to change my approach a little.

“The North Korean inspection team caught wind of me the moment I arrived in Italy, tracked down my location, and sent an assassination squad after me. Has there been any unusual movement at the North Korean embassy in Switzerland in the meantime?”

-...Ah!

Halla No. 1’s voice rose sharply, as though something had just occurred to him.

He muttered to himself in a tone of realization.

-So that’s what happened. Yesterday afternoon, a large number of inspection team personnel left the North Korean embassy in Switzerland. It seems they heard the news from Italy that you had been found and hurriedly dispatched personnel there.

“How many inspection team members are currently staying at the Swiss embassy?”

-There were originally fifteen, but ten of them left.... There should be exactly five remaining.

That meant NIS headquarters’ plan of having me go through Italy before heading to Switzerland had worked quite well.

Since things seemed to be proceeding smoothly, I nodded with a much lighter heart.

“Good. I have an order for Halla Team.”

-What would that be?

“Now that those inspection team bastards from the Republic have gone all the way to Italy only to come up empty-handed, there is no need for more Halla Team agents than necessary to move around and create needless complications.”

-That is certainly true, but....

“So, Halla No. 1, I have decided that only you will accompany me. However, there are many cameras inside and outside the bank, so I plan to enter alone.”

-Hmm. Understood.

Halla No. 1 seemed to accept my instructions.

If anything, he sounded almost pleased.

-Where should I come pick you up?

“I am in front of the Starbucks by the roadside outside Bern station.”

-I’ll be there shortly.

Halla No. 1 really did arrive in front of the train station shortly afterward.

He was a man with an open, straightforward appearance that matched his friendly voice.

“I’ll take you straight to the bank.”

“I will contact you separately once my business is finished.”

“Understood. I’ll stay away from the area in the meantime.”

After about fifteen minutes, we arrived at the Bern branch of Union Swiss Bank, commonly known as USB, one of Switzerland’s most famous banks.

Halla No. 1 immediately drove off somewhere.

“Excuse me. I have an appointment with Branch Chief Mario.”

“Welcome, Secretary Pak. The branch chief is waiting for you.”

Since an appointment had already been made in Pak Mun-ju’s name, getting inside the bank itself was not particularly difficult.

Still, true to the reputation of a strict Swiss bank, there was no avoiding the security checkpoint.

“I would like to leave my bag in safekeeping.”

“Yes. We’ll place it in a locker.”

When I handed over the briefcase containing all my firearms, the bank guard fearlessly grabbed the handle.

Clatter, clatter.

“...?”

While he blinked in confusion at the sound of grenades rolling around inside, I followed another guard and walked into the bank alone.

The process of getting inside went more smoothly than expected.

Security was tight, with X-ray machines installed all over the place, but none of them detected that I was wearing special-effects makeup.

“Welcome, Secretary Pak! It has truly been a long time.”

“Good to see you again, Branch Chief Mario.”

Mario Miller, branch chief of Union Swiss Bank’s Bern branch, had arrived at the VIP counter ahead of me and welcomed me with open arms.

He had jiggling, plump cheeks and a round, pudgy build.

He looked like a living pudding.

“You must have had a tiring journey. Here, I brewed a cup of coffee specifically to your taste, Secretary.”

“Thank you.”

Even while looking at my face from close range, Branch Chief Mario did not appear to harbor the slightest suspicion about my identity.

Considering the disguise was good enough to completely fool someone who had shared meals with the real Pak Mun-ju for decades, that was understandable.

“What brings you to the bank in person after so long? Are you perhaps planning to make an additional deposit?”

Of course, it was not just the exterior that was flawless.

The complicated nominee account numbers and dual passwords, the forged identification and coded messages linked to them, even Branch Chief Mario’s personal tendencies and preferred style of hospitality as he stood there grinning foolishly in front of me.

Every manual and procedure required to transfer the five hundred million dollars in North Korean slush funds deposited in the Swiss bank had been firmly drilled into my head.

“No. I came to withdraw the deposit.”

“Ah, I see. How much would you like to withdraw?”

“All of it.”

“...Pardon?”

At that moment, all the color drained from Branch Chief Mario’s face.

His eyes darted around as he nervously clasped his hands together and kneaded them.

“Ah, hahaha.... W-what exactly do you mean by that? If I have somehow offended you in the past, Secretary, then I would be more than happy to formally apologize right now....”

It was an understandable reaction.

Five hundred million dollars.

That was roughly five hundred billion won in Korean currency, and announcing that I intended to withdraw it all at once was practically the equivalent of dropping a massive bomb on a bank branch.

From the bank’s perspective, this was naturally a situation they would want to back away from.

“No, it is nothing of the sort.... You are surely aware that the international community, led by the US imperialist lackeys, is currently imposing merciless economic sanctions on our Republic.”

A scenario for this situation had already been fully prepared as well.

I stared off into the distance and immersed myself in the act, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Ah, yes. It is most unfortunate. When I saw the news myself, I was absolutely furious....”

Mario wiped away his cold sweat while rubbing his hands together.

It was a desperate gesture meant to keep me in a good mood by any means necessary.

“We received intel that, as part of the international sanctions, the funds belonging to our Republic held in Swiss banks will soon be completely frozen. Therefore, the Party has ordered us to revolutionarily withdraw the funds and temporarily move them somewhere safe.”

“Ah, hmm. If that intel is true, then it is indeed serious.... B-but even so, could you not place your trust in our Swiss bank?”

“Are you questioning the judgment of our Republic?”

“N-no, that is not....”

“Be careful about making statements for which you cannot take responsibility, Branch Chief Mario.”

“Ah, ugh....”

I pressured Branch Chief Mario with the characteristically overbearing attitude of a North Korean diplomat.

I could see the flesh packed into his cheeks trembling.

“B-but Secretary, if such a large sum were to disappear overnight, headquarters might hold me personally responsible and issue a severe reprimand....”

Seeing Mario lower his tail and start whining, I eased off on the pressure.

“Do not worry, Branch Chief Mario. Our Republic will never forget your service in safely managing our funds all this time. However, moving these funds is an unavoidable measure on which my very life depends.”

“Y-yes, of course. Naturally....”

“First, the funds must be transferred to an account I designate. Once the US imperialists’ surveillance loosens and we have reason to use a Swiss bank again, I swear that you will be the first person I seek out.”

I was about to wet my lips with a little spit, no.

I needed to be careful. I might ruin the special-effects makeup.

Anyway, Branch Chief Mario had no way out of this situation.

Just as he rolled his eyes while nervously chewing at his bloodless lips.

Glance.

‘...What was that?’

Something strangely subtle and oily gleamed in Branch Chief Mario’s eyes as his gaze brushed past me, then vanished.

The silence did not last long.

As though I had imagined it, Branch Chief Mario’s gaze settled, and he politely bowed.

“Understood, Secretary. Since your decision is firm, naturally we must process it accordingly.”

“Thank you.”

But sure enough.

Before long, his expression darkened and he cautiously added something.

“However, I am terribly sorry to say that our Bern branch is currently under a liquidity limit. Due to a recent large-scale investment, the authority to deploy funds has been concentrated in other branches.... To process a sum of that size all at once, I believe we will need security approval from headquarters. Would you be willing to give me some time?”

A bad feeling immediately came over me.

It would take time to transfer a massive sum of five hundred million dollars?

Sure, that was possible.

If I had been an ordinary diplomat, I probably would have accepted that explanation without much thought.

“How long will it take?”

“Not very long. Going through the approval chain with the executives at headquarters should take approximately three hours. We will proceed with the transfer immediately, three hours from now.”

But as a black agent, I had instincts of my own.

The excuse did not sound entirely convincing, and that strange look I had caught in his eyes a moment ago still bothered me.

If my instincts were wrong, I would owe him an apology, but to put it plainly, he was just suspicious.

“What do you say?”

“Very well. I shall wait.”

“Thank you, Secretary.”

But at this point, there was nothing else I could do.

For now, I pretended not to notice whatever he might be plotting and nodded.

“I will personally reserve accommodations for you under my name, Secretary. I would be extremely grateful if you could stay there for just a short while.”

At that, Branch Chief Mario pulled out a business card as though he had been waiting for the opportunity.

It was the card for a luxury hotel near the bank.

‘That settles it.’

I could see straight through his kindness, but I did not bother refusing it.

*****

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