Codename Anastasia Novel (End) - Chapter 63

As he recognized the tattoo’s existence, a humiliating memory accompanied it. The sharp pain of the needle ruthlessly piercing his skin, the stinging sensation as the ink spread over the wound, and even the pressure of fingertips calmly pressing on his hot flesh.

He shook his head. He quickly put on the rest of his clothes. The first thing he needed to do came to mind.

“It’s going to sting quite a bit.”

He nodded at the doctor’s warning. Immediately, a surgical drape covered the treatment area.

“…Hmm. Looks like it hasn’t been long since it was inked?”

The doctor murmured to himself, touching the tattoo here and there. A moment later, with a click, the laser machine turned on.

“Then, let’s begin.”

He tightly closed his eyes. The laser treatment began with its characteristic mechanical sound. It felt as if flashes of light were striking his tense skin. He involuntarily flinched. A persistent stinging and burning pain was conveyed. The smell of burning flesh also continuously wafted up.

The laser was continuously shot at the already stimulated and throbbing area. Although he had firmly braced himself, a moan involuntarily escaped his lips at the repeated digging into his raw flesh.

“Ugh… Ahh…”

Since the dye had penetrated deep into the dermis, the wound for the treatment also deepened. The doctor, checking the laser-treated area, clicked his tongue.

The treatment, which had paused for a moment, began again. Cold sweat continued to form, and his teeth ground at the sharp pain. As the laser hit him according to the shape of the tattoo, the humiliation of that day naturally resurfaced.

‘Some call this a symbol of desire.’

It wasn’t enough to be miserably violated; he was branded like livestock or a slave. The sensation of the hot needle was still vivid. The stinging sensation of the ink seeping into the disturbed wound.

‘It’s just a contract connecting master and servant.’

Zhenya’s sneer was also clearly remembered.

He furrowed his brows. He had resolved to cut off everything, yet the events in Russia kept surfacing haphazardly, occupying his complicated mind. The moment he escaped from the island, which was no different from a prison, Zhenya’s hollow, distorted face remained as a strong afterimage. He shivered. His jaw tightened in anger.

The reason he had been swayed by him for a short time was because they were alone in an isolated space. Because he was the only human he could talk to. In extreme situations, one inevitably seeks something to lean on. There was no room for emotions to interfere with a temporary compromise for survival. Therefore, his feelings towards him, or his own identity, hadn’t particularly changed. He repeated such rationalizations, like a mantra, over and over again.

Even recalling unpleasant memories, his heart began to pound again. It felt like he had a terrible nightmare. A nightmare he never wanted to revisit.

His skin burned, and pus collected in the indented areas. Along with the searing pain, he let his past memories fade one by one.

He would never return.

Incheon International Airport Arrival Hall. Large electronic billboards continuously announced the arrival of flights. People who had come to greet family, relatives, clients, or business partners gathered in front of the gates. Passengers streamed out without a break after passing through customs. As their departure points varied, their appearances and attire were also diverse.

Among them, one man particularly caught the eye. He was tall enough to be seen at a glance even from a distance. Because of this, not only the passengers coming out with him but also the greeters glanced at him. Some even stopped walking and turned to look back. The unusual attention might have been due to his exceptionally striking appearance.

The man slowly scanned the airport interior, unconcerned by the surrounding attention. Everywhere he looked, there were Koreans, and Korean was spoken everywhere. A silent smile spread across his lips. His blue eyes gleamed with a strange radiance.

“It’s fortunate that it was limited to muscle rupture. If it had grazed a little lower, the prognosis wouldn’t have been good. But you mustn’t overexert yourself. You need absolute rest until it’s completely healed, and you must follow through with your rehabilitation.”

Director Im merely nodded roughly at the doctor’s earnest advice. With that, the medical staff finished their examination and left, and Section Chief One entered. When Director Im tried to get up as a matter of course, he was deterred with, “Ah, stay lying down.” When he finally sat up, Section Chief One clicked his tongue as if to say he couldn’t be stopped.

“That person, really.”

Besides the two of them, plainclothes police officers were constantly stationed in the hospital room as a form of personal protection.

“I apologize for interrupting your duties, but could you step out for a moment?”

At Section Chief One’s request, the police officers looked at each other. Director Im also chimed in, “It’ll only be a moment.” They weren’t their superiors, and there was no particular reason to obey their instructions. Yet, they left without much argument.

As soon as the door closed, Section Chief One’s benevolent smile vanished.

“That friend, has his location still not been identified?”

“With the police involved in this matter, we’ll hear something soon from somewhere. Regardless, he’s the most capable talent in the NIS, so he won’t be easily caught. That’s why I told you from the beginning to choose someone else, didn’t I?”

“You’re quite nonchalant in this situation, aren’t you?”

Section Chief One revealed his discomfort. Director Im, with his characteristic sly smile, changed the subject, saying, “More importantly…”

“Isn’t it more urgent to silence Lee Cheoljin?”

“Don’t worry about that. He failed his mission, so he’ll know that death is all that awaits him. Even if he’s murdered, everyone will assume it’s the North’s doing.”

Section Chief One confidently added a subtle remark.

“He probably won’t last beyond today.”

The sound of an iron gate opening echoed from a distance. The prison guard, having passed through several doors in succession, stopped in front of a certain room.

“Number 342. Lawyer’s interview.”

The lock clicked open, and the door opened. However, Lee Cheoljin, sitting inside, didn’t immediately get up. The guard, accustomed to this, personally pulled him out. He put handcuffs on his emaciated wrists and subtly pushed his back.

It took a long time just to get to the interview room. Lee Cheoljin’s lawyer, who had arrived early, stood up. At the invitation to sit, Lee Cheoljin casually pulled out a chair and sat down.

“It’s been a while.”

He only nodded at the greeting that followed. The lawyer observed the lifeless Lee Cheoljin for a moment. His emaciated appearance didn’t seem to be solely due to the difficult prison life. Self-harm marks were clearly visible on his neck and arms. He had heard that he had tried to strangle himself with the sleeve of his prison uniform the previous night.

“Mr. Lee Cheoljin. Why do you keep attempting self-harm?”

“Don’t you know the heart that only waits for death?”

He seemed unconcerned with the outcome of the Korean trial. He seemed to believe that he would die somehow, regardless. He had chosen to take his own life rather than vaguely wait to be eliminated.

Despite the serious situation, the lawyer let out a short laugh. Then, he leaned his straight back leisurely. He took off his glasses with one hand and placed them on the table. The revealed eyes somehow looked unfamiliar. They had a sharp feeling, as if he had never seen them like that before.

“They said Kim Younghee had a lover?”

His words suddenly became short. His tone had completely changed, making him seem like a different person entirely. But that voice, strangely, felt familiar. Where had he heard it before?

“I saw it clearly on the ship, but it’s gone now. The ring Kim Younghee was wearing, I mean.”

The lawyer raised his left hand and wiggled his ring finger. Lee Cheoljin’s eyes widened. He finally understood the cause of the unsettling sense of déjà vu. The man in front of him wasn’t his lawyer, but him. The Korean agent he had gotten into a dispute with by the vending machine on the ferry. The one who had him locked up here.

He sprang to his feet. Then the lawyer, no, Kwon Taekjoo disguised as him, calmly looked up at Lee Cheoljin. He motioned for Lee Cheoljin, whose eyes were shaking in confusion, to sit down again.

“I even gagged him so he couldn’t easily die. That disappeared without a trace too.”

Lee Cheoljin’s face became even more confused. He clearly understood the meaning of the clues Kwon Taekjoo was throwing out. Their gazes held a tense tug-of-war in the air. Lee Cheoljin remained highly suspicious.

“Sit down. I didn’t come here to compromise with you.”

“Then what did you come for?”

“I was wondering if you, too, realized you were stabbed in the back.”

Lee Cheoljin’s brows furrowed sharply. His suspicion deepened even further. He seemed to believe that their mission was incomplete solely due to their own mistakes. And that Kim Younghee’s death was merely her taking responsibility. Reviewing the situation at the time, there were no suspicious parts. But Kwon Taekjoo had suddenly appeared and brought up an entirely different dimension of the story.

Kim Younghee’s death, though she was in no state to commit suicide, and the disappeared ring. These two questions alone brought a certain person to mind. However, Lee Cheoljin did not act rashly. He kept his mouth tightly shut, his eyes asking all sorts of questions.

“It seems that guy might become the next NIS Director.”

“…You said NIS Director?”

“Even a person who sold out their country would drool over that. Perhaps as a NIS Director, he could even enter politics. There are two competitors, and it’s not a position you can win by just accumulating mediocre achievements. And in the midst of it all, they’re secretly desperate to dig up each other’s corruption. How anxious must he have been? If Kim Younghee’s identity or her relationship with him were exposed, he wouldn’t even be able to maintain his current position, let alone become NIS Director.”

Lee Cheoljin’s face darkened further. His aimlessly shaking eyes fully conveyed his confusion. At that point, Kwon Taekjoo straightened his upper body, which had been leaning back. Then, he continued to press Lee Cheoljin, staring intently into his eyes.

“If you have anything to say, now’s the time. I won’t come here again, and no one else will listen to your words, not even your lawyer.”

“Why do you want to reveal this? Isn’t it a headache?”

“Of course it’s troublesome. But what can I do when I’ve already been hit? What can’t be undone must be repaid.”

He smiled, revealing his even teeth. Lee Cheoljin’s expression was rather displeased. They say you can’t spit on a smiling face, but Kwon Taekjoo was an exception. Every time he smiled, he felt anything but cheerful. It had been that way from the start. It must have been because of what he had endured.

The trial, which had lasted for several months, was now nearing its end. He could guess his sentence just from the atmosphere in the courtroom. At least 10 years. He would be lucky if he wasn’t eliminated by someone else before then.

“Don’t overthink it. They abandoned you first. Do you need to stay loyal to such a person?”

He tried to persuade Lee Cheoljin again. But he remained silent, his head bowed. He didn’t even stir.

Was it impossible after all? It would be difficult for him to simply believe the words of the person who had put him in jail. Moreover, to prove Section Chief One’s guilt, he would have to reveal his own identity, affiliation, and purpose of infiltration. That would be an act of abandoning his duty and betraying his homeland.

He waited for a long time, but Lee Cheoljin showed no significant reaction. There was no sign of compromise either. Kwon Taekjoo couldn’t afford to stay in one place for long. With no other option, he got up.

Lee Cheoljin remained motionless. But his demeanor was somewhat strange. On closer inspection, his body was trembling violently. Hey, the moment he said it, Lee Cheoljin suddenly clutched his own neck.

“…Cough!”

White foam drooled from Lee Cheoljin’s mouth as he collapsed onto the table. His eyelids were completely rolled back, showing only the whites of his eyes.

“Hey! Is anyone out there!”

He shouted at the closed door. At that moment, Lee Cheoljin, who was convulsing, grabbed Kwon Taekjoo tightly. Then, struggling with all his might, he lifted his prison uniform. As he ripped off the plaster adhered to his abdomen, a wound that seemed to have been recently sutured was revealed.

“Urgh…”

Lee Cheoljin frantically poked at the wound with his finger. The sutured area opened, and blood flowed from the wound that had barely healed. A moan involuntarily escaped his clenched teeth from the unbearable pain. Just watching, he felt as if the pain was directly transferred to him.

Soon, a small chip was clutched in Lee Cheoljin’s blood-stained hand. Lee Cheoljin feebly held it out to Kwon Taekjoo. When Kwon Taekjoo merely frowned and looked at it, he even personally placed the chip in his hand.

“What’s happening?!”

The prison guards immediately rushed over. They ushered Kwon Taekjoo out of the interview room and administered emergency aid to Lee Cheoljin. The quiet surroundings of the interview room instantly became noisy.

One guard approached Kwon Taekjoo, who was frozen in surprise.

“Did he attempt self-harm?”

“No. He suddenly had a seizure during the interview. Was there a problem with his diet, or was he suffering from an illness?”

“No… not that I know of…”

The guard’s voice trailed off, and he avoided eye contact. He was careful with his words, lest he be caught out by the inmate’s lawyer.

In the end, he had to leave the detention center as if being chased out. The detention center said they would contact him once the cause of the seizure was confirmed. Lee Cheoljin, whom he last saw, was completely unconscious. His face was pale, and his life was uncertain. Perhaps Section Chief One had tried to eliminate Lee Cheoljin as well. If it was revealed that Kwon Taekjoo himself was a fake lawyer, he would also be blamed for that crime.

As soon as he left the detention center, he tore off his artificial skin. He had to move faster.

What Lee Cheoljin had given him was a memory card. What could be stored inside? Given that it was torn from his flesh and hidden deep inside, it must not be ordinary data.

He walked carelessly towards the main road, then stopped abruptly. Three or four patrol cars had passed by in succession, sirens wailing. He immediately turned into a side alley and moved ceaselessly along narrow paths inaccessible to cars.

Then, he fortunately found a photo studio. When he entered, the photographer, who was eating, awkwardly stood up and said, “Welcome.” He immediately presented the memory card to the man, who was wiping his mouth.

“Please develop these.”

The photographer turned the memory card around and around, then inserted it into a reader. It didn’t seem to read well, despite him wiping off the blood, so he took it out and reconnected it several times. The card, finally recognized, contained photos and videos.

“There are quite a lot… All of them?”

The photographer turned to Kwon Taekjoo, seeking confirmation. As he said, there were hundreds of saved photos. In them, he could see Lee Cheoljin, Kim Younghee, and Section Chief One. There were also photos of only Lee Cheoljin and Section Chief One. Given that the subjects’ appearances and backgrounds were all different, the locations and times the photos were taken seemed varied. Unless Lee Cheoljin also volunteered for ‘POC,’ it was clear that these were taken at meeting times. To prepare for the defection of a potential accomplice.

“How long will it take to develop all these photos?”

“There are so many, it’ll take at least a couple of hours.”

The photographer replied as he moved all the images to the printing folder. Around that time, sirens wailed outside again. This time, it wasn’t from a distant main road, but from an adjacent alley. Had his route been caught on CCTV?

“What’s happening outside? It’s been noisy for a while now.”

The photographer glanced outside the shop and handed over the memory card, whose backup was complete. Without a specific reply, Kwon Taekjoo wrote something on a memo pad. Then he gave it to the photographer, asking earnestly.

“Could you send the photos here as soon as they’re done?”

“…The Prosecution Office?”

The memo pad read: ‘Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Public Security Division 1, Prosecutor Seok Jaehee’s Office.’ Kwon Taekjoo didn’t explain the situation to the bewildered photographer. He simply pulled out 50,000 won bills at random and placed them down.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

The photographer nodded dazedly. Kwon Taekjoo bowed lightly, took the memory card, and left the photo studio.

Left alone, the photographer stared blankly at the money on the counter. Great profit often came with a corresponding price. He worried if he might be getting entangled in something unpleasant, but the place he was asked to send the photos was none other than the Prosecution Office. At least it didn’t seem like he would be involved in a crime.

The photographer soon pocketed the money and began the printing work.

The hospital was heavily staffed with plainclothes detectives. Three or four were stationed just outside the main entrance, and two each at the taxi stand and bus stop, keeping watch. There were probably more personnel deployed inside.

It was right not to enter. Nevertheless, Kwon Taekjoo boldly stepped into the hospital. He had to confirm his mother was safe. With each long stride, the hem of his gown fluttered. Inside the white gown, he wore a gray shirt and tie. His hair was neatly parted and fixed, and black-rimmed glasses obscured his sharp eyes. The plainclothes detectives glanced at him as he passed. But no one approached to check his ID. To anyone, he looked exactly like an internal medicine specialist at that hospital.

Detectives were stationed not only at the reception and payment counters but also in the first-floor cafe and restrooms. He passed them naturally. Occasionally, if a medical staff member or employee acknowledged him, he would respond casually.

Thanks to having confirmed the location beforehand, he arrived at the internal medicine ward without getting lost. Detectives were also loitering around the nurses’ station. He took a deep breath and walked calmly past them. When he greeted them, the nurses working also greeted him back. The detectives’ gazes, which had been momentarily focused on Kwon Taekjoo, fell away without suspicion.

He searched for his mother’s name on the computer. This was to confirm her hospital room. The search results appeared immediately. Perhaps because she was a special surveillance target, she seemed to have been assigned a single room.

He was about to leave, saying, “Good work,” when the head nurse coincidentally came out to the station. As he bowed, she tilted her head.

“Oh, Doctor. Weren’t you off today?”

“Ah…”

At her questioning voice, the detectives again paid close attention to the nurses’ station.

“I changed it to tomorrow.”

He spun a lie with a smile and retreated from the station. He also nodded at the watching detectives first. The detectives awkwardly returned the greeting. He smoothly passed them and got back on the elevator. Then, he went up to the 8th floor, where his mother’s hospital room was located.

The problem started now. Since his mother was in a private room, no one would be able to easily access it. It was also highly likely that police personnel would be more concentrated there. He had to approach carefully.

The elevator soon stopped on the 8th floor. The doors opened, but he didn’t immediately get out, first checking the situation in the hallway. For some reason, there was no sign of anyone. After waiting a little longer, he stepped out.

He soon became blank because, unexpectedly, the hallway was empty. Not even a shadow of a person, let alone detectives, was visible. Feeling deeply suspicious, he walked down the hallway.

It was when he reached the emergency exit in the middle. The sense of unease reached its peak. The door, which should have been closed, was slightly ajar. Through the gap, someone’s hand protruded. He pushed the door open further. Then, six or seven large men were seen sprawled on the emergency staircase. They seemed to be detectives and guards.

He looked around again, but no other presence could be detected. He cautiously approached and checked the condition of the unconscious men. Only faint breaths could be detected, and all of them had limp limbs. There were almost no external injuries. It seemed someone had precisely targeted their vital points and subdued them in a short time. Someone had broken in here. Without causing any particular disturbance. The skill was extraordinary.

Then what about mother? His heart sank. A cold sensation spread across his neck. He immediately sprang to his feet and pushed open the hospital room door.

“…”

He hesitated before rushing into the hospital room. Someone was sitting in front of his mother’s bed. Was it an intruder? His heart pounded, wildly surging. He suddenly felt a strong sense of nausea. It wasn’t simply due to antipathy towards an unknown intruder. It was closer to a seizure, stemming from a more ominous premonition.

The back of the person sitting, facing away, was familiar. It wasn’t common for someone to exude such an intimidating aura just from their back. He didn’t turn to look at Kwon Taekjoo. He merely sat idly, looking down at his unconscious mother with indifference. He must have heard the door open.

Should I escape now? He absolutely had to, if he wanted to save his own life. But leave his mother in his clutches? That was out of the question.

Perhaps he wouldn’t be discovered. Kwon Taekjoo himself looked like a doctor belonging to this hospital to anyone. Even if it was him, it would be difficult to discern him at a glance.

He hardened his resolve and entered. He approached the bed and first checked the IV drip. Only then did a direct gaze fall upon him from the side. When he turned his head, their eyes met immediately. The one who sat calmly by his mother’s side was none other than Zhenya.

His heart thumped as if it would burst through his flesh. He worried that the sound might reach him. His self-assured courage quickly tucked its tail and fled. His mind was in chaos, wondering how he had found his way here, and what his intentions were towards his mother.

“…Excuse me, are you a guardian?”

He managed to suppress his bewilderment and opened his mouth. Since it was Korean, there was no way he would understand. His voice, too, was quite different from Kwon Taekjoo’s original voice.

As expected, he merely stared at Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo then said, “Excuse me for a moment, I’ll just check on the patient’s condition,” to him. Then, he thoroughly examined his mother’s bloodless face. Her eyes were, without a doubt, swollen and tired, and her lips were parched. The white crust clinging to her eyelashes and the corners of her eyes were tear stains. Seeing her emaciated cheeks and neck, it seemed she hadn’t been eating properly. Something like a heavy lead weight pressed down on his chest.

Pretending to check the IV needle, he caressed his mother’s thin hand. Judging by her vital signs—heartbeat, blood pressure, brain waves—she didn’t seem to be in critical condition. It might even be better to keep her here until her name was completely cleared.

The problem was Zhenya. He couldn’t leave him by his mother’s side.

“Please come outside with me for a moment. I have something to tell you.”

He gestured towards the outside, who surely couldn’t understand. His plan was to lure him out of the hospital room and then find a chance to escape. With police everywhere, he wouldn’t be able to act recklessly. It wasn’t a very hopeful plan, but for now, he had no choice but to stake everything on it.

He turned first. Following him, he slowly rose to his feet. Walking ahead of him, the distance to the door felt impossibly far. He couldn’t breathe easily. His scent seemed to already fill the hospital room. His heart, unpleasantly pounding, repeatedly pressed against his lungs. His hands tingled all over from the tension.

He pushed the door aside. The door, which had opened for a fleeting moment, however, soon closed again. A hand extended from behind him had already gripped the door. His distinctive scent was strongly present. He felt as if he was suffocating. His shadow had already swallowed Kwon Taekjoo.

His mind was blank. His body was completely stiff and unmoving. He couldn’t have recognized him, he really couldn’t have. He felt as if his neck could be snapped by him at any moment.

Suddenly, his hand slipped into his pocket. He involuntarily flinched. Unconcerned, he took out his phone and turned it on, then brought it to the door. It was also right in front of Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes. In quick succession, he called somewhere on his own phone. His distinctive dial tone clearly reached Kwon Taekjoo’s ears as well.

Drrrr… drrrr….

Immediately after, the phone touching the door rang loudly. The screen displayed the words ‘Caller ID Restricted.’

A short laugh escaped, making his hair sway. His mind continuously flashed, sounding a belated alarm.

Soon, his face approached Kwon Taekjoo’s ear.

“Was hide-and-seek fun?”

The voice, whispering the question, was tinged with deep euphoria. The ground beneath his feet seemed to crumble into blackness.