March 14th, 2016 09:30. Seoul NIS shooting range.

Namgoong-won had fired a K2 assault rifle before during his two-year military service, but it was his first time using a pistol. He spoke as he held the K5-A1 in his hand. “This is heavy-duty.”

“What? You didn’t shoot it when we issued it to you?”

“Well, who fiddles around with a pistol in a hospital? Ha, ha, ha.”

“The K5-A1 is the latest model. The recoil was reduced, and its accuracy has been increased significantly. The standard firing stance…” Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin began explaining the basics of the K5-A1 and demonstrated the standard firing stances. “Take a stance with your feet as wide as your chest. Make an isosceles triangle with your legs and bend your knees slightly. If you don’t, then the recoil will make you lose your form… Stretch out both hands naturally, hold the pistol with your left hand, and fold it over the pistol with your right. Focus on the pistol’s sights, and make sure to aim the sight and crosshairs at the same height. Most importantly, make sure to use only the first segment of your index finger to pull the trigger smoothly, it’ll increase your accuracy.”

Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin glanced over at Namgoong-won, who was copying her stance.

She commented while laughing, “You need to pull your rear end back! What are you going to do with your rear end pointed outwards like a duck? Pull your upper body up more. Yes, now you’re good! Keep that posture and try again.”

“Man, enough with the nagging. Who gets it on their first try?”

“I did! Ho, ho, ho.”

Lately, Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin seemed to live for teasing Namgoong-won. Namgoong-won stood on the range’s lane. Perhaps it was a man’s desire for victory? He glanced over at Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin and spoke. “Don’t be surprised. My shooting skills…”

“Just shoot.”

Namgoong-won breathed slowly, looked at the target, and pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Namgoong-won, who fired a pistol for the first time in his life, got used to the recoil. It had less impact than expected, and he shot 12 rounds in a row before putting the pistol down on the table. Soon, the target moved towards the lane automatically. Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin saw the shot group on the target, then slapped Namgoong-won on the back with a slightly impressed look on her face.

Slap!

“Ouch!”

Namgoong-won practiced on the range a few more times.

“Not bad for your first try. So, want to shoot for real?”

“Sure. I’ll go first.”

“As you wish; doesn’t matter to me.”

Namgoong-won replaced the magazine, took the stance, and began to aim the center of the target while slowly maintaining the sights at a parallel position.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang~

Namgoong-won had a smug look on his face after finishing with a more stable stance than he had before.

“You’re going to regret that soon.”

Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin walked into the next lane and began shooting the pistol without hesitation.

A moment later.

Smack!

“Ahhh!”

Namgoong-won’s scream filled the range along with the sound of his forehead being smacked.

Namgoong-won clutched his reddened forehead with a frown and spoke as he looked at Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin. “How did you hit the target with all 12 rounds?”

“A natural gift maybe? What should I wish for?”

“Fine! Say whatever you want.”

“All right! I got it. Let’s go out for eel.”

“Would that be enough? I have some money from the reward I got.”

“Just use that for living expenses. You’re gonna have to go through the three-month training exercise for the new recruits, so I’m asking for eel so you can feel energized. The training isn’t easy, you know?”

“The mandatory military service for two years was hard enough. Now I have to go through another hardship…”

“It’s training and education that will serve as the foundation for your job! When you return, you’ll be a true man rather than a boy, you know?”

“I’m not a weak boy.”

“So we’re going after work then?”

“Yes!”

* * *

March 15th, 2016 09:30. North Korea Pyung yang-si Presidential Palace.

The woman seated in the middle of the conference table glanced to her left and asked, “Traitor of the people! What happened to the rest of the conspirators and their families?”

“Yes, comrade Vice Director of the Labor Party! We’ve purged all those involved betraying our new Chairman Kim Jong-un’s regime, including: Director Choi Tae-bok of the National People’s Congress, Director Choi Boo-il of the North Korean Police, Director Oh Guk-ryul of the National Defense Committee, Director Lee Young-ho of the General Staff Department, and the rest of the traitorous groups. We’ve also arrested their families, and we’ve taken them to the 14th management center. They’re being held at the internment camps there. We can execute them when you give us the order.”

He may have been a higher rank, but the Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Park Young-sik stood stiffly and answered, “The terrorist bombing of Pyeong yang put Chairman Kim Jeong-un in a coma, and the struggle for power spread to the higher-ups in politics. Since there have been various incidents within the party, the political situation was chaotic. Chairman Kim Jong-un’s close associates got their power by putting Vice Director of the Labor Party Kim Yo-jong as their frontman and silencing the political turmoil. Kim Yo-jong had used this opportunity amidst the chaos to accuse the high-ranking, greedy North Korean politicians of treason; she then ordered a bloodbath to affirm her new position of power.”

“Do they really deserve such an easy death? Shouldn’t we make them suffer more for their treasonous actions and for the greed they showed during Chairman Kim Jong-un’s absence?”

Prime Minister of National People’s Congress Park Bong-ju, who was listening to the conversation from the Vice Director’s side, slapped the table lightly and spoke to Vice Director Kim Yo-jong. “Prime Minister Park Bong-ju is right. For now, let’s put them under weaponry manufacturing labor reformation and execute them immediately after our party’s meeting.”

“Yes, understood, comrade Kim Yo-jong Vice Director of the Labor Party.”

Vice Director Kim Yo-jong stood up and charismatically lead the conversation despite dealing with 20 or so men who could be older than her grandfather. “All the comrades here must work together with a sense of duty to protect the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s safety and prosperity until Chairman Kim Jong-un wakes up. Every single action of South Korea’s puppet government must not go unnoticed.”

All of the political powers in North Korea answered loudly at once to Vice Director Kim Yo-jong. “Yes, comrade Vice Director Kim Yo-jong!”

Vice Director Lee Byung-chul of the National Defense Committee, who was sitting on the left, spoke energetically as if to elevate the mood in the room. “No need to worry, Kim Yo-jung. There are millions of people from the North Korean People’s army, escorts, the Labor Party Red Army, and the 7.7 million Red Youth Guards who have sworn fielty to our great sun Chairman Kim Jong-un. They’re all ready to give their lives to tear out the hearts of the puppet army in South Korea. ”

As soon as Vice Director Lee Byung-chul finished speaking, everyone in the room gave a standing ovation. The rising political power of Vice Director of the Labor Party Kim Yo-jong to the party’s Director of the 7th North Korean Labor Party election in April became a stepping stone for shaking up the Korean peninsula’s circumstances.

* * *

March 21st, 2016 09:00. Seoul NIS office lobby.

There were two large busses parked outside the NIS office lobby. About 50 men stood in front of the lobby; they conversed with others from their respective departments, giving encouragement. Namgoong-won was also there with a large backpack.

“It can feel short or long, depending on your mindset. Don’t think of it as something to suffer through, but rather a time to further self-improvement. Come back safely.”

“Don’t worry. I survived two years in the military. Won’t three months be a cakewalk? Ha, ha, ha.”

Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin was silent and hiding behind Manager An Yeon-wu, as if she could hide her tears. She could not seem to look at Namgoong-won as he smiled heartily.

“Assistant Manager Lee. What are you doing? You’re not going to say goodbye?”

Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin finally showed her face and spoke to Namgoong-won. “Don’t get hurt, and you better come back in good health.”

“Of course. How dare I get hurt under your orders? Don’t worry. In three months, I’ll come back transformed as a true special agent of the NIS. Ha, ha, ha.”

Namgoong-won was smiling brighter than usual, but honestly felt differently. Manager An and Assistant Manager Lee were like family to him. After he lost his friends and family and was forced to cut ties with everyone he knew, after taking on his new identity—they felt like family. Namgoong-won felt sad, as he was going to be forced to be away from the only people who know about his past. He tried his best to show a bright smile. Namgoong-won was determined that his life would have no more tears. He wanted to at least show his friends and families in heaven that he could live his new life well…

Chief Oh Gi-suk, who had kept watch on him 24 hours a day at the safehouse hospital, spoke. “Namgoong-won, have a good time! It’s not much. Think of it as doing ranger training for three months in the military. Also, Chief Kim was unable to see you off because of a mission. He promised to treat you to soju and pork belly. Alright, Trainee Namgoong-won?”

“Yes, Chief Oh. I’ll return safely after training.”

Namgoong-won and Oh Gi-suk touched hands for a fist bump.

A moment later, one of the marshals made an announcement with a megaphone. “All participants of the 122nd class of the group training exercise must board the bus.”

Namgoong-won felt sorrow because he did not want to leave Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin, but he clenched his fists with a beaming face and shouted, “The newbie of Investigation Unit 1 will return as an invincible agent!”