Codename Anastasia Novel (End) - Chapter 30

Zhenya then spilled out stories he hadn’t even been asked for. What state Kwon Taekjoo’s scalp was in when he was found, how much blood he had lost, the characteristics of the weapon that had struck the back of his head, and what it felt like to staple living flesh. Every time Zhenya spoke, the pain he had suppressed seemed to revive. He had to change the subject somehow.

“More importantly, did you say a proper goodbye to Louise?”
“Who’s that?”
“Who else? The Frenchwoman you were supposed to marry soon. You liked her quite a bit, didn’t you?”
“Me?”
Zhenya put on a clueless face. He even pointed at himself with his index finger. Why was he feigning ignorance now?

“You said you wouldn’t sleep with someone twice if you’d already slept with them once. Yet, she’s someone you’ve slept with three times.”
He didn’t know why he had to explain such things. A displeased expression settled on his face. Zhenya, who had been staring into the rearview mirror, chuckled. “Oh, that’s what it was,” he muttered, his tone utterly casual.

“Strictly speaking, she was more your type.”
“What?”
“You said you liked women with big breasts and a voluptuous figure, right? I thought she’d satisfy you enough.”
So, he had lured Louise purely for that reason? Because she matched Kwon Taekjoo’s carelessly blurted ideal type?

Suddenly, past events flashed like a kaleidoscope. The last night on the trans-Siberian train, how he had given in to Zhenya and Louise’s temptations and ended up entangled with them. Zhenya’s grinning face, smearing cum on someone else’s face, remained vividly in his mind.

He abruptly rolled down the rear window. A merciless wind swirled in through the open pane. His hair, the bandage, and his collar flapped wildly. In the midst of it, he stared into the distant sky, trying to quell his bursting anger. His eyes, tightly shut for a moment, then slowly opened, burning with an unprecedented fighting spirit.

“You’ve kept it so tightly hidden that I’ve never seen it properly. Do you even have abs?”
He asked, clenching his teeth. It felt like he was squeezing out each word. Zhenya glanced at the rearview mirror, as if taken aback.

“Suddenly?”
“Just thought I’d personally sculpt them for you once this job is done.”
A furious declaration of war followed. After a moment of silence, Zhenya burst into hearty laughter. Kwon Taekjoo was serious, but Zhenya didn’t perceive it as a threat at all. He finally stifled his laughter after a long while and rolled the rear window back up.

“I look forward to it.”
The corner of his mouth still held a playful curve.

Lake Baikal, the blue heart of Siberia, boasts a long history of 25 million years. Its area alone spans 31,500 square kilometers, with a diameter of 636 kilometers and a circumference of 2,200 kilometers. Within this colossal lake are twenty-two islands, the largest and only inhabited one being Olkhon Island.

To visit Olkhon Island, one must time it well. Crossing the lake is only possible in winter, when the enormous lake is completely frozen, or in midsummer, when the water has fully thawed. In summer, one would cross by ferry, but in winter, like now, vehicles cross directly over the ice.

Zhenya sped fearlessly across the trackless surface of the lake. The uneven ice might suggest a detour, but he maintained a straight course. Consequently, the car body rattled incessantly. Even in that situation, Kwon Taekjoo remained silent without complaint. Though it looked like an extension of the road, it was, strictly speaking, over water so deep its depth couldn’t be fathomed. Although the ice was said to be very thick, he couldn’t help but feel a premature tension.

Fortunately, no accidents occurred as they approached the Olkhon Island ferry landing. It seemed even the mighty Baikal couldn’t withstand the bitter cold, which often dropped to negative 50 degrees Celsius.

He briefly got out of the car and looked back at the path they had come. The snow-covered world was silent as a tomb. Everything seemed to be still. Perhaps for a moment, no thoughts or sentiments resided within him, overwhelmed by the vast, breathtaking scenery before his eyes.

From the ferry landing, there was no distinct road. Only the tire tracks of previous cars were carved in various directions. Where they went, that was the road. Their wagon also pioneered a new route, passing over untouched snow.

For quite some time, the target had been staying somewhere on the northwest side of Olkhon Island. Following the blinking red dot over a ridge, a secluded mansion came into view. Compared to the Bogdanov estate, it was smaller, but considering the size of the island, its exterior was quite noticeable.

They stopped the wagon near the mansion. Then, the red dot on the tracking device perfectly aligned with the origin point. Hong Yewook was definitely there.

Kwon Taekjoo leaned his face between the driver’s and passenger’s seats, observing the mansion.

“Is that it?”
“Seems so.”
He first checked all the CCTV cameras installed around. There seemed to be no blind spots.

“We can’t just barge in recklessly.”
“Why not?”
Kwon Taekjoo looked at Zhenya with a bewildered expression. Why not, he asked? Did he truly not know?

The mansion was located on high ground even within Olkhon Island. Below it was a dizzying cliff. The wind swirling around the island constantly pushed up towards the cliff where the mansion stood. That meant aerial infiltration was impossible. At a glance, there were no visible gas pipes or ventilation ducts that could be used for infiltration. CCTV cameras were tightly spaced around the main gate and the wall, and some even had wirelessly controlled automatic turrets installed beneath them.

“You see that and still ask ‘why not’? Do you have nine lives or something?”
He said it sarcastically, but Zhenya’s chin suddenly lifted. His expression became utterly arrogant. No, I wasn’t praising you, Kwon Taekjoo tried to protest with his expression, but it was useless. He turned his eyes away from Zhenya, who was now broadly squaring his shoulders. Watching Zhenya show off made him feel embarrassed.

“We know where Hong Yewook is, so that’s enough. A frontal assault is insane, so how about we just observe the situation from nearby for a bit?”
Zhenya readily agreed. Then, he turned the steering wheel and started heading somewhere. There was no mention of a destination. He sped unhesitatingly down a road that lacked even proper signs, without using a navigation system. He seemed quite familiar with the local geography.

He was just watching the red dot as it moved further away when the car suddenly tilted sharply sideways. It was due to a sudden stop on a steep incline. Had an animal jumped out? He righted his body, which had also lurched, and tried to guess, when Zhenya abruptly opened the car door.

“Get out.”
The ensuing instruction left him bewildered. Was Zhenya suddenly suggesting they camp out here? He looked around, but there were no houses in sight. Kwon Taekjoo hugged the passenger seat and stared at Zhenya. Zhenya, who had been about to close the door and go to the trunk, paused, then leaned in towards Kwon Taekjoo and smirked.

“I won’t eat you, so get out.”
Zhenya constantly teased him. He couldn’t just keep his guard up forever while listening to such remarks. Grumbling with dissatisfaction, he stepped outside. The biting wind he hadn’t felt inside swirled from all directions. Dressed only in a thin shirt and jacket, he involuntarily hunched his shoulders. He bit his teeth harder, as if his teeth would chatter if he spoke. It was miraculous that his heart hadn’t frozen solid.

Meanwhile, Zhenya pulled a fur coat from the trunk and put it on. Even if one were to hunt a living beast and skin it, it probably wouldn’t compare to Zhenya’s fur coat. While Kwon Taekjoo clung to the door, frozen in place, Zhenya strode past him and walked off somewhere. Noticing Kwon Taekjoo wasn’t following, he glanced back. With that unspoken urge, Kwon Taekjoo reluctantly moved his feet and followed him.

Climbing a snow-covered hill in reverse was not easy. He had to face the strong wind that swept over the ridge head-on. Even when he managed to climb, he often slipped on the snow and slid back down. He gasped for air, breathing repeatedly, but only cold, ice-particle-laden air filled his lungs, thick and heavy.

Recalling his time in the special forces, he climbed the hill as if his life depended on it. Soon, he realized Zhenya’s intention. There was a guesthouse directly below the hill. It didn’t seem to have many rooms, but at this moment, even that was a blessing.

As he hesitated, another fierce wind blew. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been following Zhenya like an ox being led to slaughter, quickly passed him and entered the guesthouse. The host happened to be sitting at the front desk. He looked considerably flustered by the intrusion of this stranger, dressed only in a thin shirt in this bitter cold, with a bandage wrapped around his head.

“How may I help you?”
“A-a room…”
“Do you have a reservation?”
The host looked at Kwon Taekjoo as if he were seeing a ghost, as he stuttered with a frozen mouth. Kwon Taekjoo shivered and managed to answer.

“No. I didn’t. Are there absolutely no rooms left?”
“It’s winter season, so there are still empty rooms, but it’s usually 100% reservation-only. You only need one room, right?”
“No. Two. I absolutely need two rooms.”
He emphasized it repeatedly. He even spread out his index and middle fingers, just in case the host couldn’t understand his pronunciation. He no longer wanted to stay in the same space as Zhenya. He understood it was unavoidable during the operation, but he wanted to be comfortable at least when resting.

However, the host’s reaction was far from satisfactory. He let out a low gasp, “Ah.” A look of pity lingered in his eyes as he looked at Kwon Taekjoo. No, it must be Kwon Taekjoo’s own delusion. It had to be. All his attention focused on the host’s lips.

Just then, Zhenya entered, the door creaking open. His fur coat seemed to stir, each strand delicately twitching as if alive. Immediately afterward, a despairing answer came from the host.

“There’s only one room left.”

The assigned room was excessively cramped. A two-person table was placed right in front of the entrance, and next to it, a bed. That was all. There was no minibar, no wardrobe, not even a shelf or space for luggage. The only solace was that the single bed was a bunk bed.

The two men sat facing each other in silence for a long time. Their gazes obliquely met somewhere in a corner of the room.

He had thought that once they got off the train, he wouldn’t have to stay in the same space as Zhenya. He could simply get separate rooms, and he wouldn’t have to endure the trans-Siberian train again, so he just needed to hold on a little longer. But now, it seemed they would be spending a few more days together. Exhausted in both body and mind, he wanted to close his eyes for a moment, but he couldn’t relax because of Zhenya.

The warmth had completely left the mug. There was still no significant conversation between them. The initially awkward atmosphere grew heavier and heavier.

He knew how to be comfortable. Just trust Zhenya. His words and ideology were peculiar, and he was unpredictable, but he wouldn’t betray Kwon Taekjoo. He tried to rationalize it, forcing himself, but then shook his head. It was easy to say, but not something that could be achieved so effortlessly.

His instincts kept him on edge. Unconsciously, he would steal glances at Zhenya’s every move, looking for flaws. Because of that, he quickly became tired whenever he was with Zhenya. Even though he knew they were on the same side now, it was still true. Was it because Zhenya was an opponent he had never managed to subdue? His heart would pound whenever Zhenya acted eccentrically. Even if they were colleagues now, he didn’t know when or how Zhenya would shed that mask.

During his time as an agent, he had met people from all walks of life. Although they became enemies due to complex interests, hardly any could be defined as absolute evil. Everyone had their own beliefs, acted accordingly, and it was simply that their personal justice was injustice to others.

Zhenya was different. What he wanted was clearly the profit to be gained from ‘Anastasia,’ he had said. But in reality, he didn’t seem to be motivated by money or power. Even in situations where real bullets rained down, or while enduring tedious pursuits without proper rest or tangible results, he simply seemed to enjoy himself. He was like a child completely absorbed in a game of spies. He didn’t care how much it cost or how many people died in that game. He was a human driven purely by self-interest; that was Zhenya.

Zhenya would ruthlessly pull out once his current interest cooled. He might not hesitate to point a gun at Kwon Taekjoo himself for a clean finish. That’s why every day, every hour, every second spent with him felt like walking on thin ice.

“I can hear your brain whirring from here.”
Zhenya suddenly hit the nail on the head. Kwon Taekjoo flinched but didn’t show it.

“I was just sorting out my thoughts. This and that…”
He feigned ignorance, offering an excuse that wasn’t really an excuse. Zhenya artificially nodded, saying, “Ah.” The smirk remained on his lips. His face was pretty enough to naturally draw his gaze, but when their eyes met, a strange feeling arose. It was because of Zhenya’s scrutinizing eyes. Like a reptile, he would narrow his pupils and relentlessly observe every expression, gaze, and action of the other person. Being constantly watched like that made him feel as if all his thoughts were being laid bare.

To avoid getting drawn in, he changed the subject.

“Do you know who owns the mansion Hong Yewook is staying in?”
“Roughly. I saw the emblem carved on the main gate.”
An emblem. He replayed the scene of the mansion in his mind. As Zhenya said, there was something embossed in the center of the main gate.

“Any Russian knows that’s the symbol of the Bogdanov family.”
If that was true, they had come to the right place. He had felt like he was grasping at straws, unable to grasp the true nature of ‘SS-29,’ let alone ‘Anastasia,’ but now it felt like he had finally taken a solid step. Once they infiltrated the mansion, they would know whether ‘SS-29’ was Anastasia or not.

Though slight, the progress brought comfort. His past hardships felt like mere trivial incidents. For once, Kwon Taekjoo cheerfully proposed their future plan.

“Good. Then let’s monitor it intermittently—morning, noon, and night—and find an infiltration route.”
Zhenya nodded readily again this time. Then he asked, “Are you done?” When Kwon Taekjoo nodded, Zhenya rose as if he had been waiting. Kwon Taekjoo silently watched him head straight for the door. Perhaps his persistent gaze bothered him. Zhenya stopped before leaving and turned back.

“They say there’s a banya here. Care to join?”
A banya was a Russian wet sauna. He was about to decline out of habit but then hesitated. Days spent cooped up in a cramped cabin had made his whole body stiff. Perhaps due to his injury, his blood didn’t seem to circulate properly, and the brutal cold made a hot steam bath incredibly appealing. It was an offer he couldn’t help but be tempted by. The problem was that Zhenya would be there too.

He wanted to refuse being confined in a small space with Zhenya. Besides, it wouldn’t matter if he used the banya separately after Zhenya was done. Nevertheless, he didn’t immediately turn down the invitation due to a nagging doubt in the back of his mind.

Until now, Zhenya had never shown his naked body. Even during sex, he would only strip his partner, merely unbuckling and unzipping himself. Kwon Taekjoo wondered what he was so intent on hiding. And Kwon Taekjoo was not the type to simply dismiss a question once it had taken root.

“Alright then.”

He poured water over the pezhka. The red-hot stones emitted hot steam. The air quickly heated up, making it difficult to breathe for a moment, but it soon cleared. His frozen body began to warm up comfortably. Sweat beaded on his skin, and it felt as though accumulated fatigue was being released with it. Enjoying a leisurely sauna in the middle of an operation felt like a luxury.

He slowly moved his eyes, scanning the interior of the banya. It was smaller than the host had boasted. It seemed it would be full with two or three large men sitting inside. It was spacious enough with just Kwon Taekjoo for now, but that would change once Zhenya arrived.

He glared at the entrance. He was waiting for Zhenya, who had said he would stop by the kitchen, claiming Russians couldn’t imagine a banya without vodka. This time, Zhenya wouldn’t be able to avoid stripping. He felt triumphant for a moment, then sighed. Was it really worth getting so fixated on another man’s body? Zhenya was the problem in the first place. It wasn’t like he’d wear out if he exposed himself a little; he didn’t know why Zhenya was so dramatic.

He muttered to himself when the door suddenly opened. Zhenya, who he had been impatiently waiting for, stepped inside. His gaze, which should have gone to Zhenya’s face, unexpectedly fixed on his crotch. It was because Zhenya was exceptionally tall. Because of this, he encountered Zhenya’s ‘double’ first. He involuntarily frowned. Zhenya’s penis was nothing short of a weapon. It wasn’t even erect, yet its size… He finally understood why those who had slept with him seemed to moan as if they were dying.

He consciously raised his head. Zhenya gave a strange smile. It felt like his thoughts had been read again. As he feigned composure, Zhenya, pretending to be fooled, quietly sat down on the opposite bench. Between his raised knees, a reddish mass of flesh was visible. One glance was enough to feel its texture and weight. He tried to ignore it and turn his head, but just then, Zhenya’s scrotum dropped to the floor below the seat. Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes instinctively followed the moving object. Zhenya paid no mind to Kwon Taekjoo’s gaze, which was shamelessly fixed on his crotch. Only when he offered a glass did he say, “You might want to stop.”

“Because once it stands, it has to be inserted into some hole.”
Kwon Taekjoo’s gaze shot up instantly. Zhenya chuckled slyly and poured vodka. He then filled his own glass and quenched his thirst. Tilting his glass, he surveyed every corner of Zhenya’s body through it.

It was an incredibly unrealistic body. Slim yet firm, it looked as if someone had meticulously crafted it with the overall structure in mind. Every muscle seemed to be an intended work of art, attached in the most pleasing shape and size everywhere. The straight clavicles perfectly aligned with his broad shoulders, and his distinct Adam’s apple, elbows, and prominent wrist bones continued in strong yet elegant lines. The serratus anterior, resembling a shark’s fin, and clearly defined abs blended perfectly as if he was born with them. His skin was fair and smooth, yet his entire body looked so hard that if one were to prick it with a needle, the needle would likely break.

There were no scars anywhere on that body. Nor were there any skin conditions like atopy. From that perspective, it was difficult to guess why he had kept his true skin so tightly hidden. He sighed in exasperation and grumbled.

“What? You acted so demure, I thought you were hiding something amazing.”
“Do you want to see my body that much? You’re quite lewd.”
Easy for him to say. Kwon Taekjoo mechanically lifted the corners of his mouth and poured a bucket of water onto the pezhka. A hiss sounded as a cloud of white steam rose. Zhenya’s smug face was briefly obscured.

Excessive steam rose, and sweat began to pour down on him. Zhenya’s body also became slick with moisture. With each breath, his shoulders broadened, and the muscles throughout his body rippled. Each seemed to be an independent entity yet also an organism, intertwining and twitching. Even though his own body wasn’t much different, his eyes kept drifting to Zhenya.

Zhenya closed his eyes and leaned his head back. Sweat trickled from his jaw, down his long neck. Clear droplets formed on his Adam’s apple, then rolled down its ridge. Why did it make Kwon Taekjoo feel so anxious?

Had he been staring too obviously? Zhenya suddenly opened his eyes. Their gazes immediately intertwined. No, to be precise, Zhenya was looking down at Kwon Taekjoo’s body, not his face. His blue eyes slowly rolled beneath his glistening eyelashes, wet with moisture. Kwon Taekjoo felt an unnecessary itch all over his body. It felt like a snake’s tongue was licking his skin.

Kwon Taekjoo draped the towel from his neck over his head. He also leaned his upper body forward to block the naked gaze.

Meanwhile, Zhenya poured another glass of vodka. Kwon Taekjoo’s lips were visible beneath the towel he had thrown over his head. His lips, redder than usual from the heat, constantly parted, exhaling cloudy breaths. Was the plump lower lip glistening solely due to the vodka? He eyed the barely visible tongue inside, then tilted his glass. He downed the vodka in one gulp and licked his lower lip. He looked like a famished predator.

“I can understand it a little…”
He raised his head at the sudden murmur. This time, their eyes truly met. A stubbornly intense gaze settled on him, almost too much to bear. It was awkward to avoid it now. As they stared at each other as if in a staring contest, Zhenya suddenly leaned forward. Their faces were now less than half a span apart. Seeing Kwon Taekjoo’s pupils involuntarily contract, Zhenya chuckled vulgarly.

“Your ass, it’s too good to be a man.”
He knew that damn mouth couldn’t stay quiet. Kwon Taekjoo smacked Zhenya’s face with a birch branch from the banya. Water droplets clinging to the branch splattered. Zhenya didn’t react to the rough retaliation. He merely looked up quietly, observing Kwon Taekjoo. Water droplets that had clung to his hair dripped onto the floor. The smirk that had been on his lips moments before had solidified. It was only then that Kwon Taekjoo realized his mistake.

Zhenya’s eyes twitched strangely. In the instant he sensed danger, his wrist was seized. He had no time to react. In a flash, his arm was twisted behind his back, and his face was slammed against the wall. With a thud, a sharp pain echoed in his head. His vision spun. Zhenya pressed his heavy body against Kwon Taekjoo, quietly steadying his breath near his ear. During the scuffle, the towel fluttered to the ground.

He had gotten into trouble. Zhenya’s abruptly chilling face remained as a strong afterimage. He tried to twist his captured arm free, but then as now, he was no match for Zhenya’s monstrous grip.

Zhenya was silent for a while. He merely composed his breathing, staring down at Kwon Taekjoo. His gaze, moving from Kwon Taekjoo’s straight nape to his firm wrist, seemed to be assessing where to shatter him.

Then, he suddenly twisted Kwon Taekjoo’s wrist harder. Kwon Taekjoo’s entire body tensed instinctively to protect his arm. Naturally, his thighs and buttocks also contracted. Zhenya’s gaze, which had slowly slid down his damp spine, fixed on his glutes. His smooth waistline made his round buttocks particularly prominent. The plump flesh was even glistening with sweat. Soon after, the madness in Zhenya’s eyes subsided. In its place was a subtle desire.