Codename Anastasia Novel (End) - Chapter 1

7:49 PM. Busan International Port.

The darkened dock was bustling with preparations for departure. Under the flickering streetlights, the 5,000-ton Bu Kwan Ferry loomed majestically. This regular service, operating once a day, would reach Shimonoseki, Japan, by tomorrow morning.

Early boarding had concluded, and the gates were sealed. The cranes, having finished their final loading tasks, had quietly retreated. As if on cue, all the terminal lights extinguished, and the world plunged into the profound silence of night. Only the moored ferry floated above the darkly rippling sea.

Within, however, a distinctly different atmosphere thrummed. Only the peddlers, weighed down by their wares, had retired early to their allotted rooms. Most passengers, their faces alight with excitement, busied themselves exploring every corner of the ship. They gathered in small groups around impromptu tables in the corridors, drinking and capturing every moment with their cameras. Hearty laughter spilled from every gathering, and a unique charm flowed even onto the cold, windy deck. The anticipation and excitement for the journey, just about to begin, sparked an unending clamor throughout.

Amidst this lively throng was Kwon Taekjoo. Dressed in a casual suit and a mustang jacket, he seemed far removed from the peddlers. Yet, his utterly weary expression was no different from theirs. It certainly wasn’t the face of someone occupying the most expensive suite.

Occasionally, he’d glance at his watch, pushing back his sleeve. A strange precision emanated from his gaze as he followed the second hand. Exactly 8 o’clock. The long blast of the ship’s horn pierced the sea, signaling departure. In sync, he stepped out onto the balcony.

Standing on his private balcony, he could see the deck below clearly. Tourists were still engrossed in taking pictures. It was so dark, they’d hardly capture a decent shot, yet they pressed the shutter incessantly. He watched their relentless movements indifferently when, suddenly, a small mechanical whirring sounded in his left ear. Immediately, someone’s voice followed.

“How is it? Are you enjoying the romance of the night sea?”

“Not bad. Noisy, chaotic, and yet boring.”

A low chuckle erupted from the earpiece. All the while, Kwon Taekjoo’s gaze remained fixed on the deck. He carefully scrutinized each passing person. No one particularly stood out.

“Report.”

“Contact person Kim Younghee, and security officer Lee Cheoljin, both confirmed boarding. Lee Cheoljin is disguised as a Chinese national. He’ll probably depart for China as soon as he arrives in Japan. Kim Younghee has a ferry booked for tomorrow evening from Shimonoseki.”

“Then they’ll make contact before arrival.”

He muttered to himself and swiftly left the balcony. From the other end of the communication device came the query, Are you moving now? Kwon Taekjoo walked out of his room, through the empty corridor, and replied.

“Those who are good at hide-and-seek are, paradoxically, quite bold.”

If the targets were to rendezvous, this chaotic moment would be the optimal time. Using a moment when there were few people would only make them stand out more.

He descended the spiral staircase, skipping two steps at a time. A group of people gathered in front of the restaurant on the second floor. He checked each face as he passed them. Again, no one was particularly noticeable. Kwon Taekjoo continued down the stairs leading to the first-floor lobby, giving a concise instruction.

“Call.”

Immediately, his phone rang. He let it vibrate a couple of times before finally answering it halfway down the stairs. He said, “Hello,” and continued a casual conversation with the silent person on the other end. No one looked suspiciously at him as he aimlessly wandered while talking.

After a while, a woman walked past him from behind. The collar of her coat, pulled high, seemed awkwardly stiff. Kwon Taekjoo’s dark eyes silently followed the woman.

The woman crossed to the information desk and approached the vending machine next to the elevator. She lingered there for a long time, as if choosing a drink. When another person approached, she even yielded her turn.

It wasn’t until the area around her was sparse once more that the woman took out a thousand-yen bill. Despite her prolonged deliberation, her choice was merely green tea. Change spilled out, and with a dull thud, the drink dropped. She picked up the beverage quite naturally, meticulously gathered her change, and ascended back to the second floor. Kwon Taekjoo pretended not to see her, and she, in turn, paid him no mind.

“Target approaching.”

After the woman disappeared upstairs, the voice in his earpiece drew his attention.

“Got it. See you later.”

He ended the call with a mundane farewell. Around that time, a man emerged from the communal room at the back of the lobby. Wearing a dark blue beanie pulled low, he strode purposefully toward the vending machine.

As he rummaged in his pocket for coins, his gaze repeatedly swept the surroundings rather than focusing on the drinks. His caution was excessive. After a considerable pause, the man finally brought a hundred-yen coin to the slot.

Just then, an arm abruptly reached out over the man’s shoulder. A crisp click followed. It was a familiar sound, one that usually accompanies a coin rolling into a narrow slot. Yet, the dark blue beanie still held a hundred-yen coin in his hand. The hand that had so brazenly cut in nonchalantly selected and pressed for a drink.

“…What.”

It was only then that the dark blue beanie registered what had happened. A heavy canned drink clunked down. The dark blue beanie frantically grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s hand, which was already reaching for the product dispenser. His dismay at the unexpected situation was palpable. He let out a raw, unfiltered yell.

“What the hell are you doing, you bastard!”

“You seemed utterly indecisive, like you couldn’t make up your mind. If I waited endlessly, the sun would rise.”

He retorted brazenly, his hand still held. A sharp, twisted tone exuded a strong sense of incongruity. Not a hint of apology could be found on his face, which wore a faint smile. It was almost as if he had been looking forward to this confrontation. Something felt wrong. An unsettling sensation. His instincts, quicker than his mind, detected danger.

The dark blue beanie’s eyebrows twitched. A moment of anger gave way to an anxious look on his increasingly hardened face. His breathing grew ragged. Cold sweat had already beaded on his forehead.

“Damn it!”

The next moment, the dark blue beanie lunged his hand toward the vending machine. His intention was to secure the item first. He swiftly flung open the dispenser flap and grabbed something inside. Kwon Taekjoo unhesitatingly stomped on the flap.

“Aargh!”

A shriek of pain burst from the man whose hand was caught in the flap. Kwon Taekjoo’s expression was calm, as if nothing was amiss.

“You crazy bastard!”

The man, provoked by the continuous taunts, roughly grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s collar. His glaring eyes burned with intensity. Yet, Kwon Taekjoo didn’t flinch. He merely alternated his gaze between his grabbed clothes and the man’s face. The man’s brow furrowed at his unusually relaxed demeanor.

He seized the wrist of the hand that held his collar. His unhurried movements seemed to etch his every action onto his opponent’s mind. The skin beneath the man’s eyes twitched. His eyes, which had been glaring at Kwon Taekjoo, now looked down at his own wrist. He felt an overwhelming, merciless strength that he simply couldn’t ignore. Simultaneously, a certainty settled in, one that was far from hopeful.

Kwon Taekjoo glanced at the growing crowd of onlookers and muttered with a sneer,

“Well, this is annoying. I hate being the center of attention. You understand, don’t you, Lee Cheoljin? Everyone in this line of work is like that.”

As soon as his real name was uttered, Kwon Taekjoo’s identity was clear. The man’s face, which had been stained with irritation, rapidly paled.

Passengers continued to gather, soon encircling the two men. A fight, after all, was the best spectacle, and a strange anticipation flickered in the eyes of those drawn by the commotion. There was no benefit in prolonging this. A cornered rat bites the cat. If he pushed any further, there was no telling what impulsive action Lee Cheoljin might take. Any civilian casualties would not be smoothed over with just one or two incident reports.

He yanked Lee Cheoljin’s arm tightly. At that moment, a self-deprecating chuckle escaped Lee Cheoljin.

“…Yes, so it is.”

He no longer bothered to feign his identity. When an operative’s identity is exposed, there are only two options: suicide by taking the prepared poison, or escaping by force. Since he couldn’t abandon the hard-won item, it would be the latter this time.

Lee Cheoljin instantly thrust his hand inside his coat. Kwon Taekjoo swung his arm upwards, and in the moment of hesitation, he seized Lee Cheoljin’s neck. Then, he slammed the back of his head against the vending machine.

The vending machine shuddered with a thud. Lee Cheoljin staggered, unable to withstand the impact. In that fleeting instant, Kwon Taekjoo twisted his arm, easily snatching the gun. At the sudden appearance of a firearm, the gathered onlookers let out short screams and recoiled.

He paid them no mind and powerfully kicked Lee Cheoljin’s backside. Lee Cheoljin’s body automatically plunged face-first to the floor. He continued to hit his head, remaining disoriented for a while.

Meanwhile, Kwon Taekjoo flipped open the vending machine’s flap and retrieved the USB. It was the one the woman had left behind. According to intelligence, it contained high-level information equivalent to state secrets.

“Excuse me, please move aside! Just a moment.”

At that moment, a crew member pushed through the crowd and approached. It seemed a report had been made. Kwon Taekjoo stared absently in that direction when a sudden, chilling whisper reached his ears.

“There’s no rule that says you just have to die.”

An ominous premonition made him turn his head. His gaze immediately locked with Lee Cheoljin’s. His eyes glowed strangely. It dawned on Kwon Taekjoo too late. Lee Cheoljin had not missed the lifeline presented to him. He lunged instantly at the crew member who was asking, “What’s happening?”

“…Hic!”

It all happened in a flash. Lee Cheoljin wrapped an arm around the crew member’s neck and pulled him close. In his other hand, a sharp weapon glinted.

“Nooooo!” “Aaaargh!”

At the flash of the blade, passengers scattered in a panicked frenzy. Only Kwon Taekjoo remained, standing his ground.

Kwon Taekjoo habitually bit his lower lip. When things went too smoothly, he often felt uneasy. As the saying goes, “beginner’s luck is dog’s luck,” and more often than not, it leaves a bad taste. This time was no different.

Lee Cheoljin transferred the weapon to the hand wrapped around the hostage’s neck. A frantic scream tore from the hostage. Kwon Taekjoo scratched his head, looking troubled.

“Hand that over here.”

Lee Cheoljin held out his hand, demanding it. The sharp blade pressed closer to the hostage’s neck. Kwon Taekjoo simply observed, showing no reaction. Lee Cheoljin nervously shook his outstretched hand. He even yelled, “Give it to me now!” With his every move, the hostage’s face turned ashen. Short, gasping sobs rattled in his throat.

Kwon Taekjoo glanced at the USB in his hand, then tossed it without hesitation. The small USB hit the hostage’s body and fell to the floor. Lee Cheoljin instinctively moved to bend down but quickly changed his mind. He made the hostage pick up the fallen item instead.

The hostage, his hands trembling, picked up the USB. In this life-or-death crisis, his pants became helplessly soaked. Lee Cheoljin forcibly pulled him up, though he could barely stand due to his weakened legs, and began to slowly back away.

Then, Kwon Taekjoo also began to move, closing the distance exactly as Lee Cheoljin retreated. His actions were unhesitant, as if the hostage’s safety was of no concern. One step back, and another step forward from Kwon Taekjoo. Lee Cheoljin’s voice cracked terribly in frustration.

“Don’t follow me!”

But the threat had no effect. For every step back, Kwon Taekjoo unfailingly followed. A constant distance was maintained between them, but the pursuer’s anxiety was indescribable.

“Stop, I said!”

“P-please, save me!”

The hostage pleaded, rubbing his hands together. The urine that had soaked his pants now dripped onto the floor. For a moment, time seemed to stop; all movement and noise ceased.

Lee Cheoljin took a step back as if to confirm. Kwon Taekjoo pursued him again. It was maddening. It seemed as though the blood flowing from the hostage was invisible to him.

“You son of a bitch, didn’t you hear me say stop?!”