DP Episode 67
by BrieDeep Pivot, Episode 67
“A new terrorist group?”
Major General Park Jin-chul frowned as he reviewed the report submitted by Colonel Jin. His office was filled with rare orchids, almost making it feel like a botanical garden.
Colonel Jin unconsciously fiddled with the leaves of an orchid next to him, but quickly pulled his hand away when he sensed Major General Park’s gaze.
“It’s been over ten years since the Gates first opened, and yet we’re still dealing with these guys.”
“…Indeed.”
Major General Park slammed his hand on the desk and stood up. Colonel Jin flinched at the noise, clasping his hands behind his back and watching the Major General as he moved toward the window.
“That this new terrorist group could find information on our country’s No-Named and even attempt an assassination is a serious issue.”
Major General Park turned back, his expression grim. Colonel Jin quickly removed his hand from the orchid he’d been touching.
“Are No-Named’s details public property now, or what? Even if word gets out through intelligence networks, this is unacceptable.”
“Absolutely…”
“So, does this mean they’ll try this again in the future? We can’t just lock Ji Seo-joon up somewhere. What is this new terrorist group, anyway? What’s their identity?”
“We’ll take responsibility for finding out at the SAU.”
“What am I supposed to report to the higher-ups about this…?”
Sweat formed on Colonel Jin’s furrowed brow.
“Does the higher command already know about this incident?”
“Do you even need to ask? A No-Named was attacked, not just any Esper. Some of the top brass already know.”
“Uh, well…”
Colonel Jin trailed off, unable to continue. Major General Park looked at him expectantly.
“We’ll request cooperation from allied nations and continue the investigation through the SAU.”
“That’s the bare minimum you should be doing.”
“…So, um, could we delay the report to the higher-ups for a bit?”
Major General Park pondered his response. He suddenly picked up a towel and began wiping down the orchid leaves Colonel Jin had touched. After a long pause, he asked, “For how long?”
“Until the case is resolved…”
“Oh, come on!”
Major General Park cut off Colonel Jin’s words sharply and inspected the orchid leaves closely.
“Look at this! Colonel Jin, you’ve touched them so much that the leaves are damaged here. Can you see?”
Colonel Jin glanced at the leaves in Major General Park’s hand. He couldn’t see what was wrong, but nodded reluctantly.
“I’ll replace it with another one.”
“This is a first-class rare orchid.”
“Yes…”
“Colonel Jin, you should aim for a promotion. You only have two years left. How long will you keep taking care of your son? Do you really want to retire as just a colonel?”
“…”
Colonel Jin looked at Major General Park, whose hair was turning gray. Climbing from a junior officer to a senior officer wasn’t impossible, but moving from senior officer to general was much more challenging.
Honestly, he didn’t want to stay in the military until he was as old as Major General Park, and he had always wanted to retire as a colonel. He dreamed of traveling leisurely and someday enjoying time with grandchildren who looked like Cheong-oh.
But with only two years left until retirement, this major trial had appeared.
“Get going. Don’t worry about anything else.”
“Yes.”
Colonel Jin saluted and left, letting out a sigh as he stepped into the elevator.
“Kang Hee-min…”
A resentful groan escaped as the elevator doors slid shut. Leaning against the wall, Colonel Jin was lost in thought.
Regardless of how awkward his position had become, Kang Hee-min’s story itself was shocking.
If his theory was correct, that there was some connection between the No-Named and Gate openings…
And if one day Ji Seo-joon, like the Russian No-Named, were to go berserk…
Would the Gates disappear completely?
The world had been in a state of disaster for over ten years. Once, the worst disasters were typhoons or fires. But now, things were different.
Even in the safety of one’s home, nothing felt secure. Gates could open anywhere at any time, and strange creatures could attack suddenly. People had endured this anxiety for over a decade.
Humans adapt, and so they eventually learned to live with these disasters and built the current system. But if the Gates, the source of all this, were to disappear…
If Ji Seo-joon’s sacrifice would achieve that…
And if they could return to life as it was over a decade ago…
“…”
Ding. The elevator announced its arrival. Even as the doors opened, Colonel Jin remained motionless for a long time.
✽✽✽
Two weeks after leaving the safe house, Ji Seo-joon and Cha Yeon-woo were finally granted permission to return.
“No other instructions?”
“Well, your home wasn’t compromised, so it’s okay to return to daily life.”
This signaled the end of the incident, at least for Ji Seo-joon and Cha Yeon-woo.
“Is that really all? What about the extent of the information leak on our end…?”
“Oh, you think this was simple?”
Colonel Jin interrupted Seo-joon.
“Do you have any idea how many new wrinkles I’ve gotten in the past few weeks?”
“…”
“We’ve asked Russia and other allies for help. The investigation will be handed off to another department, which will track those guys to the end. So, Lieutenant Ji, don’t worry about anything!”
Seo-joon couldn’t shake the feeling that Colonel Jin was covering something up. He was the one nearly assassinated, yet it seemed like the most crucial matters were being handled without him.
“But we can’t keep you cooped up forever. It’s not like taking down terrorist groups is a one-day job.”
“…Which department is handling the investigation?”
Colonel Jin blinked at Seo-joon, then looked into the distance before finally replying, “Major General Park will handle it.”
“Major General Park Jin-chul…?”
Despite Seo-joon’s questioning tone, Colonel Jin continued to avoid meeting his gaze. As Seo-joon observed him, he glanced at Kang Hee-min, who was busy advising Yeon-woo.
A few staff members were tidying up the hospital room. While Seo-joon looked around, lost in thought, Colonel Jin gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
“…Good job, Lieutenant Ji. Don’t worry and just trust us.”
For the first time in a while, Colonel Jin looked directly at him.
“We’re doing this to protect you as best we can.”
Colonel Jin’s serious tone suggested that there was something he couldn’t reveal. At this point, Seo-joon had nothing left to say and simply bowed.
“I understand. Thank you for all your hard work.”
With a couple of light pats on Seo-joon’s shoulder, Colonel Jin walked away. True to his words, his face seemed to have aged significantly in the past few weeks. After seeing him off, Seo-joon looked at Yeon-woo, who was dressed and ready.
“You still need to take your medicine at home, Yeon-woo. Even if it seems like you’re all healed outside, it doesn’t mean you’re fully recovered inside. Let’s keep up outpatient treatment until you’re completely better.”
“Yes.”
“The car’s waiting downstairs, so come down when you’re ready.”
Kang Hee-min patted Seo-joon and Yeon-woo on the shoulder before heading for the door, but Seo-joon grabbed his arm.
“Dr. Kang, the video I mentioned earlier. You haven’t sent it yet.”
Kang Hee-min looked puzzled. “What video?”
“The No-Named interview video.”
Adjusting his crooked glasses, Kang Hee-min asked, confused, “Now? Wasn’t that case already resolved? We identified Viktor from that video.”
“I just… want to see it again. Maybe it’s because I’m also a No-Named, but I’m curious about the interview content. I don’t think I watched it all last time.”
Hee-min fiddled with his glasses and smiled awkwardly.
“That video is classified. You can’t just watch it out of curiosity, Lieutenant Ji.”
Seo-joon gave him a light punch to the chest.
“I’m classified too, right? Can’t you send it to me, a top-secret No-Named?”
Hee-min looked toward Colonel Jin outside and then glanced at the staff nearby before adjusting his glasses again. Seo-joon watched him closely.
Eventually, Hee-min nodded.
“Come to the lab sometime. I can’t send you the classified video, but I can show it to you.”
He hesitated briefly before patting Seo-joon’s shoulder and leaving the room. Left alone, Seo-joon looked at Yeon-woo.
It felt like everyone was hiding something from him.
Seo-joon was quick to pick up on these things. Since his earliest memories at six years old, he’d felt like an outsider in every moment of his life. He could spot even the smallest hint of a wall between himself and others.
But with Cha Yeon-woo, Seo-joon felt no such barriers.
“Lieutenant.”
Yeon-woo smiled and offered Seo-joon his hand, which Seo-joon took instinctively.
After all, it was time to return to their daily lives.