God of Blackfield

Lanok picked up a cigar. Kang Chan knew from that behavior alone that Lanok was about to open a slightly burdensome topic next, so he took a sip of his tea.

“Have you thought about the training that I recommended?” Lanok asked.

“Yes. I was just about to ask you to send me there if I’m still qualified for it.”

“Brilliant judgment, Mr. Kang Chan.” Lanok smiled brightly, seemingly satisfied. “I’ll schedule it after our meeting with Ethan. That way, I can act accordingly.”

“Mr. Ambassador, if I were to receive training, when are we going to leave?” Kang Chan asked.

“In ten days, most likely.”

We’re going to leave so soon? He’s telling me to leave in ten days for something that will take six months to finish?

Kang Chan had to persuade and say goodbye to quite a lot of people before he could go.

Nevertheless, Lanok looked at Kang Chan with eyes that asked, ‘What’s wrong?’

Fortunately, I’ll still get to go to the festival next week before I go.

“Will the training really take six months?”

“More or less, yes.”

If he was going to go there anyway, it was best to go there as soon as possible—even if that meant just a day earlier. Scheduling it now was a lot better than just waiting around, too.

“Can I still contact people in South Korea while I’m training?” Kang Chan asked.

“Of course. Except when you’re in certain facilities, there shouldn’t be a problem contacting them during your break and dinner.”

That was great—his schedule was a lot more relaxed than he expected. It made him feel as if telling Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook about it tomorrow wouldn’t be difficult.

Kang Chan spent a while longer just talking to Lanok about various topics. At noon, he stood up and left so Lanok could go to his lunch appointment.

Kang Chan took out his phone and called Woo Hee-Seung and Lee Doo-Hee.

“Are you two free? Let’s have lunch,” Kang Chan asked. After getting their confirmation, he gave Seok Kang-Ho a quick call.

- It’s me. Where are you?

Seok Kang-Ho sounded as if he was going to run out at any moment.

“I’m going to have lunch with Woo Hee-Seung and Lee Doo-Hee since I’m already with them. Want to come?”

- Phuhu, where are you guys going?

“One second,” Kang Chan replied, held up his phone, and asked the two what and where they wanted to eat. Since Wui Min-Gook was still in Korea, he wanted to avoid open or crowded areas.

Eventually, they decided to go to the restaurant that Kang Chan went to with Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook.

By the time the three arrived at the restaurant, Seok Kang-Ho was already inside. That was to be expected, though, since it was close to his house.

“Did you get some rest?” Kang Chan asked Seok Kang-Ho.

“I slept all day. What about you?”

“It’s all I’ve been doing lately too.”

Only a day had passed. Seeing Seok Kang-Ho allowed Kang Chan to roughly figure out how he was doing.

They ordered sirloin for the table. Lee Doo-Hee grilled the meat.

Since there were other people at the restaurant, they only caught up with each other and talked about how the meat tasted as they ate.

Still, moments like this were precious to Kang Chan. He was grateful for it.

Although he and these men overcame great danger together and survived in France and China, they never knew when they were going to die in this line of work, so times like this were irreplaceable to them.

In Kang Chan’s previous life, he only had Dayeru and Gerard to share these kinds of moments with. Fortunately, he had more people like them around him now.

“I’m going to a vacation home in Gapyeong with my parents tomorrow,” Kang Chan said.

“Tomorrow?” Seok Kang-Ho replied as he had trouble chewing the hot meat.

“Yeah. Telling him to just stay at home didn’t sit right with me, considering they stayed at the hotel for quite a few days and I only spent half of the day with them during our trip to Jeju Island.”

“That’s a good idea.”

After taking about various other topics and finishing their meal, they headed to the cafe at the intersection.

Woo Hee-Seung and Lee Doo-Hee sat with them for a moment, then left after telling Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho that they were fine just staying in the car.

“Considering how they’re behaving, there are probably more agents in our vicinity,” Seok Kang-Ho commented.

“I think so as well. They seem to have been tasked to guard us from a close distance, so other agents have probably formed another line of defense. Some are likely guarding you as well, which makes it difficult for them to use the radio in front of us.”

“They’re having quite a hard time.”

Kang Chan nodded. They had to twist that bitch Wui Min-Gook’s neck quickly to make everyone’s lives easier.

When Kang Chan found the chance, he decided to bring up his training.

“Have I told you that Lanok told me to go to France to receive training?” Kang Chan asked. He then told Seok Kang-Ho about his conversation with Lanok earlier.

“That doesn’t seem like a bad idea,” Seok Kang-Ho said afterward, which Kang Chan found unexpected.

Kang Chan thought that Seok Kang-Ho would become very angry and say things like, ‘I’m going to be bored all alone,’ and ‘How can you agree to that and leave me behind?’ Unexpectedly, however, Seok Kang-Ho just calmly agreed to it.

“I also met Michelle yesterday. She said that we’ll be able to move into the building in about two weeks. I want you to stay there while I’m in France,” Kang Chan continued. “She also told me that the school’s anniversary is next Friday, which is when they’ll hold the festival as well.”

“The school holds the festival every year on that date because that’s when the senior students can’t go to school due to their upcoming exams.”

“I see.” Kang Chan drank coffee while nodding.

“Shouldn’t you tell Section Chief Jeon and Manager Kim about your training in France as well?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.

“I will. I just thought I’d tell you first. I’ll tell my parents next, then let the others know when I have time.”

“I hope nothing happens while you’re in France.”

“I was told that I won’t have trouble calling people, so there shouldn’t be any problems since you all can just contact me immediately if something comes up,” Kang Chan said as he picked up a cigarette. “I doubt something as intense as what just happened would come up again anyway while I’m away. Honestly, I’m sure the agents can find Wui Min-Gook and the other man who escaped with him without our help.”

“That’s true.” Seok Kang-Ho nodded as he picked up a cigarette as well.

***

Kang Chan returned home at about four in the afternoon.

Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook cleaned the house and rested their fatigued minds and bodies yesterday. Today, they seemed to be leisurely enjoying their spare time.

Is this the right moment to tell them that I’m going to be away in France for six months? If I don’t, will I find the opportunity to tell them at the vacation home? Wouldn’t it be too quiet there?

Kang Chan couldn’t make up his mind.

“Have you had lunch yet? Do you want to have some fruit?” Yoo Hye-Sook warmly asked Kang Chan, who had lightly washed up and changed.

“Do you guys want to have some?” Kang Chan asked back.

“Sure,” Kang Dae-Kyung replied.

Yoo Hye-Sook took two apples and brought them to the living room.

When would I want Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook to tell me about a decision that they have made without informing me about it first?

If Kang Chan had to hear the news anyway, he would want them to tell him as early as possible, even if that meant only an hour earlier.

Yoo Hye-Sook peeled and cut up the apples. She handed one slice to Kang Dae-Kyung first, then gave a slice to Kang Chan as well.

“I have something to tell you two,” Kang Chan started. He couldn’t help but feel bad when he noticed the two immediately becoming nervous. “Ambassador Lanok recommended that I study abroad for a short period in France. He said that it’s going to last about six months. I think it’s going to be very helpful to me in the future, so I’d like to accept the opportunity if the two of you are okay with it.”

Yoo Hye-Sook quickly looked at Kang Dae-Kyung.

“Hmm, are you going to be attending a university there?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked.

“No—the French government has apparently prepared a scholastic course just for me.” While making up excuses, Kang Chan kept in mind not to tell them about intelligence bureaus, France’s DGSE, or that their work could even include the assassination of global key figures.

“Are you thinking of learning about politics and government work, by any chance?” Kang Dae-Kyung vaguely asked.

Kang Chan decided to take this opportunity to tell them what was on his mind. “I recently realized that it would be difficult for me to pull out of work related to the Eurasian Rail. Not only Ambassador Lanok but the people that he introduced me to are all key members of the project. I keep getting connected to them. I even received an offer to become the South Korean representative for the Eurasian Rail. However, if I’m going to continue to work in this field, I want to properly study for it and meet more people.”

Kang Dae-Kyung just held the half-bitten apple slice in silence. Yoo Hye-Sook hadn’t even taken a bite yet.

“What about college?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked.

“I’m thinking of enrolling two years after finishing the scholastic course.”

Yoo Hye-Sook seemed to have figured out from the sudden rise in Kang Chan’s status that there was something suspicious about the situation. She looked as if she just wanted her son to have a normal life.

“When are you leaving?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked.

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Kang Chan looked up toward Kang Dae-Kyung. “I’ll be leaving in ten days if you give me permission to go.”

Kang Chan didn’t even say a word to his parents when he went to France to become a mercenary in his previous life, yet he just asked for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook’s permission.

Kang Dae-Kyung inhaled loudly. Yoo Hye-Sook still looked puzzled.