The Returner

1. Ah, I was the old man (2)

“Do I have to? ”

“Then who will? ”

Kim Da-hyun looked at Seo Ah-young.

Oh, no.

If you make Seo Ah-young give a speech or something, burn them all to the ground! ’The same will come out.

That's a lot of morale.

‘... why didn't you come with Director Jeong In Soo? ’

If Jung Myung Soo came, he could pass it on and get out, but if he didn't, only Jung-hoon would be able to clean up the situation here. That was even more sad today.

“Hmph.”

If it's inevitable.

“Actually, I don't really like someone talking big before I start anything. ”

The crew begins to grumble.

“That's what you like, right? ”

“They say you can hear it upside down. ”

No, I'm not!

Why are you driving people around when you told them to?

It was unfair, but there were too many eyes to see.

“Come on, then. ”

“… Yes. ”

Choi Jung-hoon clears his throat again and opens his mouth.

“In fact, this is very historic for Korea. ”

“I think you're starting the car. ”

“Oh, I'm already asleep. ”

“That's a great start. Isn't this an hour? ”

Choi Jung-hoon kept his mouth shut.

I will avenge you, men.

Seo Ah-young raised her hand.

“Yes.”

“It's too long. ”

“I didn't even start! ”

“I thought it would be long. ”

Choi Jung-hoon shook his head excitedly.

But fortunately, they seem to be very relaxed. Watching you play around like that.

“I'm sorry for making you do unfamiliar things. But please think that this is also part of protecting the people. ”

Choi Jung-hoon took a deep breath and said.

“At the end of the operation, I want everyone back together for a cup of coffee. That's it."

“Oh, it's short. ”

“Isn't it because you're tired? Or are you still awake? ”

“It could be. ”

Don't tell me what to do!

Choi Jung-hoon gritted his teeth badly. These humans felt like they were becoming more and more playful as they went on.

“Jung-hoon Choi. ”

“Yes.”

“10 minutes left to breach. ”

Choi Jung-hoon nodded his head at Guk Min-ho's words.

“Ten minutes from now, the NDF will be launched into the Pacific with capabilities from China, Russia and Japan. The Korean and Chinese landing forces are now close to the Pacific Ocean. ”

“Hmmm, yes. ”

“In five minutes, U.S. Special Forces and capabilities will begin their descent. We will start the teleport at the same time, so please be prepared from now on. ”

“Yes.”

Choi Jung-hoon looked back and said,

“You heard it all, right? ”

“Yes.”

The crew responded grudgingly.

“ ……. ”

Choi Jung-hoon was overwhelmed by strange emotions as he watched the reaction.

‘I wish there was a reaction like that after this. ’

I know it's not easy.

But…….

“Let's meet... no one else. ”

The odd answer came back.

“Jung-hoon Choi, you have to prepare now. ”

“Yes, I understand. ”

Choi Jung-hoon once looked at the faces of the crew and walked towards the location of the teleporter as led by Kwak Min-ho.

‘It's a strange feeling. ’

There was anxiety and excitement. Choi Jung-hoon swept his face once and slowly walked forward.

* * *

“Agents are rushing to Pyongyang soon. ”

“Mmmm... ”

Yoon Young-min looked at the map on the screen with a tense face.

Locations of troops in close proximity to the Pyongyang were being checked in real time within the map.

“Engagement? No engagement? ”

The minister replied with a heavy voice.

“There's not really much of a fight yet. Although there was a sporadic resistance near the border, it's penetrating more easily than expected. ”

“Is that so?"

Yoon Young-min's face widened.

“At this rate, we should be able to solve this without any sacrifices. ”

“That's right.”

Then I heard the sound of my tongue kicking.

Yoon Young-min frowned at Song Jeong-soo.

“Do you have any other comments, Governor? ”

Yoon Young-min, who thought it was difficult to solve this situation by himself, elected Song Jeong-su as prime minister, although it was supposed to be a secret meeting room.

In the past, I would not have thought that Song Jung-soo would be prime minister under Yun Young-min, but I accepted the prime minister's position without saying a word because the matter was so important.

“Madam President, do you have an accurate understanding of North Korea's military strengths? ”

“... to be exact. ”

“Of course, even though the Allied forces are overwhelming, there is something odd about no resistance from infantry. ”

“Well, that's for sure. ”

“Secretary of Defense. ”

“Yes, Prime Minister. ”

“What's the situation on the truce line? Are there any anomalies? ”

“Quiet as a dead rat. ”

“Strange.”

Yoon Young-min nodded, looking at Song Jeong-soo instead of taking the cigarette out of his pocket.

Song Jung-soo, who sought permission, put a cigarette in his mouth and lit a fire.

“The war would have spread all over North Korea. Then there should be some movement towards the most concentrated truce line in the military. And there's no movement? ”

Song Jung-soo shakes his head.

“This doesn't make any sense. Let's call the US. Looks like something's going wrong. We need to slow down the entry into Pyongyang, if possible. ”

“But we're about to enter. ”

Song Jung-soo's voice rises.

“That's why I want you to contact me! I mean, a life of its own could be killed! Don't you get it?”

The Secretary of Defense nods and runs out.

“Mmmm... ”

Seeing that scene, Song Jung-soo sighed.

‘Frozen.’

This judgment should originally come from the Ministry of Defense, not from him. However, the accident was not flexible because they had never experienced the practice before.

‘I would have done the same. ’

If Lee Hyuk hadn't sent him to another world, Song Jeong-su wouldn't be making such a different decision right now if he hadn't experienced hell there.

‘There's no such thing as easy. It just seems so easy. ’

If it's easy right now, there are only a few times more difficult situations waiting behind it.

I was anxious to look at the screen, but soon the Minister of Defense came back.

“… the U.S. has a position that changing operational hours is difficult. ”

“Why?”

“You should talk to him... ”

Song Jung-soo frowned and picked up the phone.

“It's a true number.”

― Boyrek, Secretary of Defense.

“Christopher MacLaren, please. ”

- What did you just say?

“I'm at war. I need a quick communication with the Viceroy, and I'm asking you to connect me with Christopher MacLaren. ”

- That's not possible.

“Tell Christopher McClaren that if you don't want to see the Black Gate in front of his house, he better answer the phone. If you do not deliver this message, you will be crushed in his hands. ”

I felt a silence behind the handset for a moment.

- Wait.

Yoon Young-min couldn't help but admire Song Jung-soo's call. The U.S. Secretary of Defense was more influential than the president of South Korea. Even if he made the call himself, he wouldn't be able to say anything that changed, but Song Jin-su was cooking him up very easily.

‘The millennium and administration. ’

It was what he didn't have. Soon, I was not jealous of Yoon Young-min who had to step down from the political front. I felt relieved again.

‘He's a much better fit than I am. ’

- I changed my phone. Christopher McClaren. You there?

“Prime Minister Song Jeong-soo from South Korea. ”

- Oh, my God, you're a big shot.

Listening to Christopher's relaxed voice, the minister of defense, who I spoke to earlier, seemed like a child.

“We don't have much time, so I'd like to get right to the point. There's an unusual trend in North Korea right now. I'd like to slow down the entry into Pyongyang a little bit.

- It's hard.

“Why is that?”

- There are already crews departing from here. And this is not a problem that we're going to discuss with you. It's a matter of pride in each country. They are allies, not in our position to take orders from them.

“But you can do it if you want to. ”

― Hmm…….

You hear Christopher's heavy sigh.

― Prime Minister Song Jeong-soo.

“Speak, Mr. McClaren. ”

- I know you're worried about sacrifice. But freedom and peace are like flowers blooming on a sacrifice. If you miss the moment because of a moment's hesitation, there will be a sacrifice you can't compare.

“Do you have any information? ”

- There is a situation where the most reluctant person on our side intervened. This is more dangerous than Lee Jae-hyuk.

“... There is such a person? ”

― I can't explain it all right now. But know this: We, too, are rapidly deploying to Pyongyang. It's not just your abilities that are at risk. Even if they are in danger, it is best to go to Pyongyang now. Please make a wise decision for the country and the world!

“… damn it. ”

Song Jing-soo felt a crush on her shoulder.

Yoon Young-min, who was supposed to make a decision, was looking only at Song Jeong-soo after listening to all the phone calls. Even though she had gone through all the obstacles in politics and personally went through all the trouble, it couldn't have been easy to make this decision.

“Let's proceed.”

- It's the right choice. Yeah, sure.

Song Jung-soo sighed deeply and took out another cigarette and asked.

"Freedom is a flower on a corpse. ’

Does the word "sacrifice" mean knowing how much it weighs?

Song Jung-soo shakes his head.

If you have already made a decision, you do not look back. Perhaps his choice will lead many to their deaths, but being the ruler is a place where people are less likely to die.

“But we can do something about it. ”

“Yes?”

When Yoon Young-min asked as if she didn't know English, Song Jung-soo got up from his seat, took out his cell phone, and called somewhere.

“Ah, me. ”

Who are you talking to? ’

“You need to go to Lee Ji-hyuk's house right now and ask him for a countermeasure. You don't want to die? Will I kill you?”

The air that was nervous began to change strangely.

“resignation? This asshole? ”

“ ……. ”

“You're still my assistant until I get my resignation, so just do what I say. What, did you swear at me, you bastard? ”

Yoon Young-min covered her face.

‘There's no answer, really. ’