Codename Anastasia Novel (End) - Chapter 60

He walked without hesitation down the dark, unpaved road. The taxi quickly turned around and headed back the way it came. The engine noise soon faded, but he didn’t mind. He seemed to have grown accustomed to the deathly silence, as if he had been stranded on a deserted island.

As he continued walking, even the rough dirt path disappeared, and a mountain trail overgrown with vegetation began. It was a wild mountain with no designated hiking trail. Was there a hermitage in the mountains? Or had he really come to the wrong place?

He was lingering at the entrance, uncertain, when he heard a car door open somewhere. He turned around, and a man got out of an old truck obscured by the darkness. With a large vest and hiking hat pulled low, he looked like a forest ranger.

“Hey, you. You can’t go in there. The designated hiking trail…” The man, who had been trying to stop Kwon Taekjoo, paused. “…Huh? Look who it is?”

“It’s been a while, Doctor.”

Kwon Taekjoo recognized the man first and greeted him. The man, surprised by the unexpected reunion, soon softened his expression.

“What brings you here? You didn’t come hiking in the middle of the night, did you?”

“I came to see you, Doctor.”

“Doctor, what for. It’s been ages since I quit that life.”

Dr. Jo had also been part of the NIS until two years ago. His job was to produce advanced equipment necessary for intelligence activities. Due to his exceptionally high volume of operations, he naturally became close with Kwon Taekjoo. However, he hadn’t seen him once since his retirement. It was partly due to being busy, but also because Dr. Jo hadn’t left a proper contact number.

“Instead of standing around here, let’s go inside first.”

At Dr. Jo’s suggestion, he got into the old truck. When he started the engine, it made a rattling sound, like a cough.

“Surely you didn’t come empty-handed?”

“Of course not.”

He shook the bag he was holding. Inside, bottles clinked together, making a clear sound. Dr. Jo smiled contentedly.

“As expected, you’re very polite.”

He added that he would give him the opportunity to stay in the most humble room in this country.

The old truck rattled through the darkness. After about ten minutes, a small village appeared. There were only about five or six houses, and even fewer seemed actually inhabited. It was late, so no lights were on.

Dr. Jo’s residence was located in the most secluded part of the village. His front yard was filled with unidentified scrap metal. To an outsider, it might be mistaken for a junkyard rather than a home.

The inside of the house wasn’t much different. A blanket was spread out in one corner of the room, and a half-eaten meal was left untouched on the dining table.

“Just sit anywhere.”

He hung the clothes lying on the floor on the wall to clear space. In the meantime, Dr. Jo brought out a table for drinks. The only side dishes were sour kimchi and tuna. Nevertheless, the two quickly emptied two bottles of soju, exchanging pours.

“You didn’t really come just to see this wrinkled face, did you? Why did you show up out of the blue?”

“I need your help.”

He answered honestly. Dr. Jo chuckled and hit the nail on the head.

“You left a fast-paced career to seek out this old man… Are you planning to move without headquarters knowing?”

“Yes. There are circumstances.”

“I need to know what those circumstances are, don’t I? A public official can’t just live carelessly after retirement.”

Indeed, he couldn’t just ask for help without explaining the situation. He recounted the events as simply as possible.

Dr. Jo listened carefully, then suggested an alternative. “Wouldn’t it be easier to just pretend you don’t know about it and cover it up? If you’re worried about your future, you could try to negotiate with Director Im right now. What if you get on the wrong side of the higher-ups and get framed for everything? You know how this world works. You’re still young, so think carefully about which side is more beneficial. I didn’t really think you were the type to risk your life for justice.”

“You’ve judged me well, but I’m not the type to just take things lying down. If there had been room for compromise, headquarters wouldn’t have issued an arrest warrant out of the blue. Now, it seems like nothing but a chicken game.”

“Tsk, tsk. You’ll regret it when you’re old. When your bones are aching, you’ll be kicking yourself for today’s recklessness.”

“You don’t know, Doctor. What I went through when I was abandoned in Russia… I suffered damage that will haunt me for life.”

He giggled as if exaggerating, but it was a miracle he was still sane. Dr. Jo poured him another drink.

“So, you want me to be your accomplice?”

“If I get caught, I’ll say I did it alone. If the worst comes to worst, say I threatened you.”

“Of course.”

He chuckled. Dr. Jo grumbled, looking at Kwon Taekjoo as if he were an annoying brat. “I just wanted to live a normal, simple life after retirement. But this impure fellow is stirring up trouble again.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, I haven’t decided yet. Let’s get some sleep first.”

Dr. Jo crawled to his bedding and flopped down. Soon, the sound of his sweet snoring filled the air.

Kwon Taekjoo merely cleared away the messy drinking table and lay down on the floor. How long had it been since he could lie down comfortably? He looked up at the low ceiling, then slowly closed his eyes.

That night, he didn’t remember how he fell asleep.

He wandered aimlessly through the back alleys of Moscow. Then he found a small, unmarked bar. As he opened the door, acrid cigarette smoke greeted him. The visibility was hazy, perhaps due to poor ventilation. He pushed through the stuffy air and walked further inside. Persistent gazes followed him with every step. The eyes scrutinizing the fearless Asian man were distinctly displeased.

He stood in front of the bar. The man who seemed to be the owner poured him vodka and handed it over. Kwon Taekjoo pushed the glass aside and made an abrupt demand. ‘I need a passport.’

‘Why are you looking for a passport here? As you can see, this is just a bar.’

The man feigned ignorance. Those watching them snickered vulgarly. Some of them turned to face the bar, swaying their bulky bodies. One even deliberately cracked his knuckles to intimidate him.

‘I’m busy, so let’s not waste each other’s time.’

Despite Kwon Taekjoo’s warning, the man scoffed as if he found it amusing. Immediately, the sound of chairs scraping behind him followed. He ducked his head as a sharp sensation tightened at the back of his skull. A large fist fruitlessly cut through the air. In a split second, he grabbed a wooden stool and struck the man’s head. The large man cried out and collapsed.

Seeing this, the other men rushed forward without hesitation. Kwon Taekjoo braced himself against the bar table behind him and simultaneously kicked out with both feet. Two men, kicked in the chest, stumbled backward, sweeping tables as they fell.

The inside of the bar quickly turned into chaos. Faced with an unexpected turn of events, one of the men pulled out a knife. He licked his thin lips and gripped the handle tightly. His half-dilated eyes gleamed sharply. He feinted, trying to stab, then suddenly lunged forward.

However, he flinched and stopped shortly after. It was because Kwon Taekjoo had pulled out a Colt and aimed it directly at his forehead. Instantly, all movement and noise inside the bar ceased. Only the panting breath of the excited man echoed loudly.

The man, rolling his eyes and looking for an opening, suddenly swung his knife. Kwon Taekjoo easily dodged the attack and pulled the trigger.

‘Argh!’

With a clear gunshot, the knife fell. Its owner clutched his severed right finger, screaming that he was dying. Kwon Taekjoo picked up the dropped knife and plunged it vertically into the bar table. The knife trembled violently from side to side, unable to withstand the force applied. The previously arrogant bar owner reluctantly gestured with his chin towards the back of the bar. Kwon Taekjoo followed him inside.

As expected, the room was equipped with various counterfeiting facilities. From passports and other IDs to various certificates and access cards, the types of transactions were truly diverse. He took a passport photo on the spot and paid half the fee upfront. The remaining half would be paid when he received the completed passport. He added some more money and asked for a train ticket to Beijing.

That evening, he received a third-class ticket for the Beijing train and the forged passport. The passport, with an unfamiliar name and personal information, was Japanese, and even to Kwon Taekjoo, it looked authentic. As he paid the remaining balance, the bar owner casually asked, ‘Someone was looking for an Asian who counterfeits passports. Was that you?’

‘Who?’

‘Psikh Bogdanov.’

His heart sank instantly. It wasn’t entirely unexpected. He thought Zenia would pursue him to retaliate for the blow he had dealt. Nevertheless, the news that Zenia was actually moving made his heart pound wildly.

Zenia had clearly foreseen Kwon Taekjoo’s movements. If he were caught by Zenia again, it would truly be difficult to survive. If Zenia even found the bar Kwon Taekjoo had used, it would only be a matter of time before he was caught.

First, he boarded the train under the bar owner’s watchful eye. Soon, the train closed all its doors and departed the platform. The bar owner watched until the very end before turning back. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been constantly looking for an opportunity inside the train, immediately opened a window and jumped onto the tracks. Thanks to the slow speed, he avoided injury.

He then went into hiding and later moved to a local airport. There, he purchased a flight ticket to Shanghai with cash. The immigration officer at the check-in counter flipped through his passport, then stamped it without any particular objection. A sigh of relief escaped him.

Even after boarding the plane, he couldn’t let his guard down. He didn’t know how anxious that brief moment of preparing for takeoff was. Soon, the boarding gate closed, and the flight attendants went to their respective seats. The fully prepared aircraft slowly began to back up.

Finally, he was leaving the dreaded Russia. Everything was going smoothly. Until the plane, which was heading to the runway, suddenly stopped.

The cabin crew hastily gathered in the galley. The passengers, sensing the unusual atmosphere, constantly looked around.

After a moment, an announcement came over the intercom. ‘Dear passengers, we apologize for this inconvenience. Takeoff will be temporarily delayed due to an emergency search request from airport police. We kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation.’

All passengers’ gazes turned towards the window. In the distance, official vehicles were approaching rapidly. The aircraft soon left the runway and moved to a separate parking stand.

An emergency staircase was quickly connected. Someone slowly ascended through it. Suddenly, his heart began to pound heavily. His mouth went dry with an unknown foreboding.

He tried to turn his head towards the opposite window. It couldn’t be, it was just unnecessary worry. He tried to deny the dominant thought that kept growing. Finally, the person who had entered the cabin slowly walked down the aisle. Everyone’s attention was on him, so it was impossible not to notice him.

Finally, his footsteps stopped. Though he still avoided looking at him, he immediately recognized his identity. Because of the peculiar scent that instantly penetrated his nostrils.

He couldn’t bring himself to turn towards him. It felt as if every cell in his body was freezing.

‘Did you think you could escape like this?’

Every single word Zenia uttered felt like a needle piercing him. A chill ran down his spine. His ears went numb, and a high-pitched ringing sound filled them.

Zenia’s cold hand clamped around his wrist like handcuffs. When he flinched and looked back, the passengers who had filled the cabin were gone, swallowed by the darkness. All that remained were Kwon Taekjoo and Zenia, who was restraining him. Zenia gripped him so tightly it felt like his bones would shatter, and whispered eerily, ‘You can’t go, Taekjoo.’

“…Hmph!”

He opened his eyes with a harsh gasp. His vision blurred giddily. Mildewed wallpaper and a ceiling warped by humidity came into view. Where was this place again? He calmly searched his memories and recalled he had come to see Dr. Jo.

Sweat beaded at the ends of his thinly trembling eyelashes. Goosebumps covered his entire body, and his heart pounded fast and heavily. As he sat up, cold sweat ran down his spine. His brow furrowed at the terrible sensation. A churning feeling rose within him before he could stabilize. He raised the back of his hand and urgently covered his mouth. He barely swallowed the urge to vomit, but his breathing and pulse became more violent.

Was it a dream? He hadn’t expected Zenia to let him go so easily. Zenia wasn’t one to let someone who had gotten the better of him off the hook, and Zenia’s attitude towards Kwon Taekjoo himself had subtly changed at some point. If it wasn’t a massive misconception, then…

He unconsciously continued his thoughts, then quickly shook them off. The fact that useless thoughts were entering his mind probably meant he hadn’t suffered enough.

The content of the nightmare was largely similar to his actual escape from Russia. Up to the point of getting off the train and taking a flight to Shanghai from a provincial airport, it was the same. However, he hadn’t encountered Zenia.

When he re-forged his passport in Shanghai and entered Korea, he used a relatively less heavily guarded ship. He had guessed that if he was truly caught in someone’s conspiracy, entering the country itself would be difficult.

His unconscious mind still couldn’t let go of its guard against Zenia. Had he ever felt such fear and anxiety towards a specific person before? Even seeing a ghost wouldn’t make him feel this nervous and helpless. He tried to calm his wildly thumping heart.

He shook his head to clear his mind. He consciously looked at his bedding, and Dr. Jo was not there. He must have woken up early.

He opened the creaking door and went outside. The cool air of the early morning rushed deep into his lungs. He went down to the faucet and turned on the water. Ice-cold water gushed out. He filled his hands with the water and splashed it repeatedly on his sweat-soaked face. After washing his face, his mind felt much clearer. His thought process felt as if it had frozen.

“The sun’s high in the sky, and you’re just getting up now?”

He turned around at the clucking sound. Dr. Jo was coming out, having set the table. Kwon Taekjoo quickly went and received the table. It was a simple meal consisting only of doenjang jjigae with sliced onions, potatoes, and zucchini, and two kinds of kimchi.

Perhaps due to the alcohol he drank last night, or the nightmare that churned his stomach, he didn’t have much of an appetite, but he took a spoonful out of consideration for the effort.

“What kind of dream did you have that you were gasping for breath like that? I even worried if I should call an ambulance all night.”

“……”

He choked and coughed. He almost spat out what he was chewing. Unable to answer, he just gulped down water. It wasn’t even an erotic dream, but he felt embarrassed, as if he had been caught. At his unusual reaction, Dr. Jo’s eyes narrowed mischievously. Even when Kwon Taekjoo belatedly said “It wasn’t like that,” Dr. Jo just smiled playfully and didn’t listen.

“Anyway. After sleeping for a night, are your thoughts still the same? Do you still want to do that reckless thing?”

“Yes.”

At his unwavering answer, Dr. Jo shook his head.

“There’s no helping it, then. Tell me what you want. I’ll prepare it right away.”

“Thank you.”

“It’ll be quite tough. Even if I help, you’ll ultimately have to fight alone.”

He nodded silently. Dr. Jo looked at Kwon Taekjoo with disapproval, then said, “Follow me,” and led the way. They got into his truck and headed for a nearby undeveloped mountain. Dr. Jo parked the car at the foot of the mountain and familiar walked up the mountain path. It was called a path, but it was a slope with no signs of anyone having passed through. It seemed even deer wouldn’t venture there.

After about an hour of continuous climbing, a small hut appeared. He instinctively knew it was Dr. Jo’s private laboratory. Inside, like the house, it was cluttered with all sorts of odds and ends. Pens, lighters, ties, hats—objects easily found in everyday life—but given the location, they felt unusual.

Dr. Jo suddenly held out a pen to Kwon Taekjoo, who was engrossed in looking around the hut. “This is a device that can refract or parallelize lasers. It’s a simple principle, but it’ll be quite useful.”

As if to demonstrate, he gestured towards the curtain with his chin. Kwon Taekjoo, understanding, closed the blackout curtain behind him. The inside of the hut immediately became dark.

As Dr. Jo operated the computer, a deep green laser emanated from all directions, forming a net. It seemed like a security device was activated. Dr. Jo twisted the pen cap and brought it towards the laser. Then, like metal drawn to a magnet, the entire laser began to move along with the pen. With just that, he seemed capable of rendering most security systems useless.

“You can also use it like this,” Dr. Jo said, then threw him a target designator that could be attached to a firearm. Kwon Taekjoo turned on the laser and aimed it at Dr. Jo’s heart. Then, Dr. Jo used the same pen to disrupt the laser again. The red laser was strangely refracted or completely extended upwards.

After finishing his explanation, Dr. Jo handed the pen to Kwon Taekjoo and opened the curtain. Then, he autonomously packed the necessary items for Kwon Taekjoo.

“This here looks like a normal laptop, but it’s a machine that can produce artificial skin, fingerprints, iris lenses, and such. With a simple scan, it can create a perfect physical replica. This stick here is soft like clay, but if you push it into a keyhole, it quickly hardens into that shape, allowing you to duplicate any key. By the way, how did you get here?”

He asked, interrupting his enthusiastic introduction of his inventions. Seeing Kwon Taekjoo’s puzzled expression, he pointed to a small monitor under the table.

“The tracking dogs have already picked up the scent.”

The monitor showed military police making their way through the dense trees. It seemed his location had been exposed.

Dr. Jo took out a bag and thrust it into Kwon Taekjoo’s arms. Kwon Taekjoo, also acting in sync, frantically swept the advanced gadgets into it. “If you get caught, I’ll testify that you threatened me and forced me to give you my belongings.”

Dr. Jo urged him as he led Kwon Taekjoo to the emergency exit. Kwon Taekjoo nodded, and Dr. Jo patted his back, saying, “Now, go.” He bowed his head in thanks and quickly exited through the emergency door. He crouched low and moved rapidly through the dense bushes.

Dr. Jo watched him for a moment, then locked the door. He also moved the desk, which had been pushed aside, back into its original position, completely concealing the emergency exit.