abcnovels
Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Chapter 21
May 12th, 2016 (US EST: 11th, 18:00). Lockheed Martin Executive office Mayland Bethesda, U.S.
The young woman comfortably sat cross-legged in a leather sofa inside the marble-floored, elegantly decorated executive’s office. She gave a purposeful smile towards Clayton Kershaw, the CEO of Lockheed Martin.
This young woman, who could show a relaxed attitude towards the CEO of Lockheed Martin, was one of two things: either she was a secret lover—or she was someone who had political or economic power that rivaled Clayton Kershaw. It seemed she was closer to the latter. Had she been a lover, she would have met him at a hotel or a private lodge rather than at the executive’s office for the public.
Clayton Kershaw’s first words to her were, “Our sales have reached $130 billion, triple from the previous year. All within the first half of this year.”
The young woman savored the scent of the coffee. She took a sip from the fine Italian china cup. She spoke as she set down the cup. “This business project had a large risk, but it worked out better than expected. That means the first phase will be terminated permanently this round.”
“Lizzy Ahn, already?”
Lizzy Ahn was the Korean American who organized the naval defense industry corruption that shook Korea a couple of months ago. This woman was excluded from the immediate arrests by the Secret Bureau of Corruption Investigation due to American political influence from that time. She was meeting Clayton Kershaw, the CEO of Lockheed Martin.
“Aren’t the results beyond your expectations?”
Lizzy Ahn took out a CD case from her Louis Vuitton bag and handed it to Executive Kershaw. “This is data for the finished research for the next-generation stealth radar system. This will be the main item for the second phase of the business project.”
Clayton Kershaw received the CD case, then walked over to the wall where a painting hung along with a wall safe. As he placed the CD within it, he asked, “What will the main point for the second phase of the project be?”
As Clayton Kershaw put the CD case in the safe and asked his question, Lizzy Ahn stood up from the sofa and walked towards the window where the entire city of Bethesda could be seen. She answered, “Within the next four years, Northeast Asia will be dominated by stealth fighters such as F-35s and many others from each nation. When that happens, the demand for radar systems capable of detecting stealth fighters will rise. Wouldn’t it? When that happens, make an announcement that Lockheed Martin has developed a next-generation radar system capable of detecting these stealth fighters.” Lizzy Ahn continued speaking after she admired the open Bethesda cityscape. “When we make the announcement, the demand will rise, and our American allies and many other nations will flood the company with requests to buy Lockheed Martin’s stealth fighter detecting radar system.”
“We sold them the spear, so now we sell them the shield capable of blocking it. Is that right?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Wouldn’t this pose a problem since our previously developed American F-35s or F-22 fighter jets will become detectable? That could be an issue.”
Lizzy Ahn gave a slight smile. She had expected the question. “No need to worry about that. By that time, new stealth technology will be developed, and it’ll be applied across all of our stealth military equipment that America owns.”
Lizzy Ahn sat back down on the sofa, grabbed her bag, then spoke again. “Executive Kershaw? The orders are to organize the profit-sharing data for the first phase of the project within May. By the end of next month, 30% of the profits should be wired to the previous Swiss bank. I’ve said all I need to, so I’ll get going.”
Executive Clayton Kershaw started to walk towards the door to see Lizzy Ahn off. As he did so, he said, “Ah! I’ll make sure everything’s on time with the help of my staff. Have a safe trip. I’ll see you again. I’m off to work.”
Lizzy Ahn was escorted by a black-suited bodyguard waiting in the hallway to the Executive’s only elevator as she said farewell.
June 20th, 2016 09:00. Seoul National Intelligence Service National Terror Investigation Bureau First Office.
“How’s it going, everyone? The eternal rookie for the first investigative office, Namgoon-won, has safely finished collective training and returned.”
Namgoong-won finished the three-month collective training on June 18th and came back to Seoul on Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday, he went out for a movie and dinner date at a famous restaurant with Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin. They had become lovers after meeting at the training center in Kang-Won Do. He was able to relieve the stress of the three months’ worth of grueling training. He finally returned to work at the NIS office after three months.
Chief Oh-Gisuk, who was the first to come in the office, pleasantly greeted him. “Hey, Namgoon-won, you got a tan and look more manly, eh?”
“Hello, Chief Oh. Is it true you were doing well while I was gone?”
“Huh? Who told you about us during your training?”
‘Oops! Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin told me to keep it a secret that she came to the training center,’ he thought. Namgoong-won, who almost forgot, quickly changed the subject to avoid the question. “Ah, nothing. Did you know I saw everyone in my dreams every night? I saw how you were all happy without me.”
“Is that so? Ha, ha, ha, yeah we were all doing well. What’re you going to do about that, huh? Ha, ha, ha.” Chief Kim-Naun spoke as he jokingly made a strangling pose to Namgoong-won in the back.
Namgoong-won responded out of instinct and used the self-defense techniques from training. With it, he slightly twisted Chief Kim-Naun’s arm. “What will I do? This is what I do, Chief Kim. He, he, he.”
“Hey, Hey! Namgoong-won was trained well? Sorry I wasn’t able to see you out when you left.”
“Don’t worry about it. You couldn’t go because of work.”
Namgoong-won released Chief Kim, put out his hand, and grasped Chief Kim’s hand for a handshake. Manager An Yeon-wu opened the office door and entered. Namgoon-won bowed low, bending his back. “Hello Manager An. I’ve safely finished training and have returned, sir.”
“Yes, good work. You must be exhausted. Did you sustain any injuries?”
“Of course not, sir. Would the man, Namgoon-won, get injured from mere training?”
“Hey Namgoong-won, were you actually trained, or did you just learn how to boast?”
“What?”
“Ha, ha, ha.”
The first investigation office became a sea of laughs, then Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin entered the office.
Namgoong-won acted coyly and greeted the Assistant Manager as if he had seen her for the first time in three months. “Oh! Our Assitant Manager Lee Hye-jin. Long time no see.”
“Hey, you’ve returned? I missed you, Namgoong-won.”
“I missed you every day, Assistant Manager Lee.”
“Get a load of this guy! All we got from him was ‘I was doing well,’ but for Assistant Manager Lee, he missed her every day?” Chief Kim-Naun spoke in a joking tone, as if he was annoyed by what he said.
Namgoon-won smiled and said, “Chief Kim! You owe me pork belly and soju.”
“I do? Right, I said I owe you for not being able to see you off, didn’t I?”
“I used the thought of pork belly and cold soju to keep me going during training.”
“Why don’t we all go after work? It’ll be my treat. Ha, ha, ha.”
“Let’s do that on a different day Chief Kim; you decide on a day. For today, let’s make it the entire first investigative office’s dinner party. Is everyone okay with that?”
“Yes, Assistant Manager.”
July 24th, 2016 14:40. ChungBook Boeun-kun Huinam-myun Bupsoo-ri Daechung Lake
Old man Lee-Kyungchun, who lived on the Daechung lake his whole life, left behind the never-ending nagging of his old wife. The old man hopped on his bike with his fishing rods on his shoulder and started to head out to Daechung Lake.
Grandma Kim-Okja, who was from Chungnam Boo Yer, nagged her husband in a deep, southern accent. “The darn weather’s so hot and muggy. Just stay at home instead of going out. You’ll only catch a few fish anyways. What’s all the fuss for some fish in this terrible weather?”
The old man didn’t answer and began slowly peddling on his bike. He wanted to shoot back with a ‘I was able to put our son and daughter through college by fishing like this,’ to the nagging, but he decided against it. He knew the only response would be even more nagging from his wife. He used to use nets and a boat to catch fish, but since the area became a waterwork protection area, it couldn’t be fished anymore. The old man biked to the westmost area of the bridge to start fishing.
“Let’s get a big catch for the day...” He said those words to himself every time he went fishing. After he hopped off his bike, he began to unpack his things. He said to himself, “This is the ideal spot of the day,” and then he swung his fishing pole energetically at the place he once caught a trout the size of his forearm.
Daechung Lake’s calm waters shone like a silver marble in the sunlight. The cool breeze amidst the silence made the scenery seem like a landscape painting to the old man. Despite the 70 years he had spent here, he never got sick of the view. Due to the hot weather, this leisurely summer afternoon was passing without a person in sight besides the old man.
As time passed, the midday sun was half-hidden behind the Gooksa mountain peak. The old man didn’t catch much fish, but he was in a good mood from the two forearm-sized trout he caught.
“I should head back home,” he said to himself.
As he got up from the fishing chair to stretch his back and glanced at the sky, a black object with a red flame was falling fast from the southern sky.
Pshoo shoo shoo shoong
Boom! Splash!
The black object happened to fall within 100 meters from where the old man had been fishing. It created a large pillar of water. The pillar turned the calm waters to a large wave that spread out in large circles. The shockwave knocked the old man off his chair. After what seemed like a few seconds or minutes, he regained his consciousness and footing. The old man began to look at his surroundings. The water was calm as if nothing had happened and all was quiet.
“Oh my, what’s this? What just fell?”
Still in a bewildered state, he clutched his back. It seemed to have been injured during the fall. He looked towards the spot where the black object fell. When the thought of calling the authorities came to mind, he took out his phone from his pocket and dialed 112 for the police.