Codename Anastasia Novel (End) - Chapter 73

“Oh, Philip. You’ve clenched your teeth. You’ve met your match.”

“Not at all. I was just tense without realizing it.”

He forced his stiff face to relax and smiled brightly. Zhenya snickered derisively.

“But you shouldn’t show your displeasure so openly, especially to a customer.”

“It’s a misunderstanding. I’m just a little tired.”

His lips twitched painfully as he struggled to force a smile. Zhenya deftly rolled a chip between his long fingers and murmured,

“If you’re tired, why don’t you rest? I happened to book a room.”

Immediately, he raised his eyes and stared at Kwon Taekjoo. For some reason, it didn’t seem like a joke. However, Choi Yeonhwa seemed to think it was just another mischievous prank, laughing, “What, was that a pickup line?” He felt like he was being hammered, moment by moment.

Once again, the cards were shuffled. Zhenya’s two cards totaled 14. It was a somewhat ambiguous hand, neither good enough to stand nor bad enough to hit for another card. In contrast, Kwon Taekjoo’s card was an ‘A’. Zhenya, without even buying insurance, boldly hit. Kwon Taekjoo handed him one more card. A ‘6’ card was added, completing a total of 20. Immediately, Zhenya pushed all his chips forward. Even the onlookers around them stirred at the sudden all-in.

He almost let out a “Crazy bastard,” involuntarily. Did Zhenya even know how much that was? He had never worried about Zhenya’s financial situation, but he didn’t expect him to just throw money away like this. Choi Yeonhwa, too, couldn’t help but express concern.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m not one for nibbling slowly.”

Everyone was on edge as if it were their own money, but only he remained unperturbed. He threw a meaningful glance at Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo sighed softly and resumed the game.

“Checking the hidden card.”

He flipped the face-down card. For a moment, the surrounding noise seemed to cease. Everyone held their breath, gazing only at Kwon Taekjoo’s hand.

An ‘8’ card appeared. It was Zhenya’s victory once again. It was a result Kwon Taekjoo himself dealt with, yet couldn’t believe. Cheers and applause erupted from around them.

“You’re too good. I keep losing. Do you have some kind of secret?”

Choi Yeonhwa was agitated, as if she had won herself. Zhenya, who had been staring at Kwon Taekjoo’s momentarily stunned face, leaned back deeply into his chair. Then he naturally met Choi Yeonhwa’s eyes.

“Shall I teach you?”

His tone was notably softened. For a moment, Kwon Taekjoo’s hand, reaching for the chips, paused. Choi Yeonhwa showed keen interest.

“Is there really a way?”

“There might be, and there might not be.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Why don’t you check it out for yourself right now? I can’t just tell you.”

He drew out his words, leaving room for interpretation. He also slightly crinkled his eyes, flirting.

What is this crazy bastard talking about?

Perhaps it was the lighting, but Zhenya’s long eyelashes seemed to sparkle unusually. Choi Yeonhwa merely looked at him with a bewildered expression at the unexpected proposal. Soon, her smile deepened.

“Then, shall we have a drink together? I happened to be without company.”

“Let’s.”

Zhenya readily nodded. Choi Yeonhwa immediately gathered her bag and stood up. As their eyes met, she nonchalantly bid farewell to Kwon Taekjoo.

“Philip, see you next time.”

It was at that moment, when he was contemplating how to deal with the sudden turn of events, that Zhenya flicked a chip to him as a tip. He took it instinctively, only to realize it was a $500,000 chip. Zhenya smiled sweetly at the speechless Kwon Taekjoo, then escorted Choi Yeonhwa out of the casino.

He was dumbfounded, watching the two of them walk away. How much time had passed? Someone tapped the table. Other customers had already taken the empty chairs.

“Aren’t you dealing the cards?”

“Ah, yes.”

He mechanically shuffled the cards, his mind blank. The pit boss, who had been standing behind him, strongly kneaded Kwon Taekjoo’s shoulder before stepping back.

He shook his head, composing himself. For now, he had to focus on ‘Philip’s’ duties. But his mind was filled only with thoughts of Zhenya and Choi Yeonhwa. He couldn’t fathom what Zhenya’s intentions were. Just, vaguely, he felt extremely uneasy. Damn it, there was still an hour left until his shift ended.

Finally, it was time for his shift change. He hurried to the changing room and changed his clothes. Colleagues who were friendly with ‘Philip’ made idle chatter, but he didn’t have the luxury of joining them like usual. He declined invitations for a drink, saying he had to go home quickly. Then, without even properly buttoning his shirt, he rushed out of the changing room.

Just then, Annie, a concierge staff member, approached. She handed Kwon Taekjoo an envelope, explaining that a customer had left it for ‘Philip.’ Inside the envelope was a room key card for a famous nearby hotel. It was clearly sent by Zhenya.

Leaving his teasing colleagues behind, who asked if he was meeting his lover, he headed to the staff parking lot. He drove his old Cadillac to a safe location. Then, in a nearby restroom, he removed all his disguises. When he entered, he was unmistakably ‘Philip,’ but when he emerged, he was perfectly transformed back into Kwon Taekjoo.

Parked where ‘Philip’s Cadillac had been was a brand new BMW sedan. He started the car from outside, then got into the driver’s seat. His destination was the luxury hotel printed on the key card.

The hotel was situated in a prime location on the Las Vegas Strip. Standing by the window, one would have a clear view of the entire Las Vegas skyline. As such, it was grand in scale, with vehicles and people ceaselessly coming and going. He merged into the long line, handed over his car for valet parking, and went straight inside.

Upon reaching the elevator exclusively for guest rooms, an attendant requested his key card. He handed over the key card he had received without hesitation. The attendant asked him to wait for a moment, then called another staff member. A dedicated attendant quickly appeared and guided Kwon Taekjoo with utmost courtesy. The place they arrived at was in front of a separate elevator. That side was particularly quiet and deserted, seemingly for special suites.

It was unsettling from then on. When he swiped the key card inside the elevator, the top floor lit up. Upon stepping off on that floor, he saw only a few entrance doors in the corridor. The room he entered with the attendant seemed to be at least 150 pyeong (approximately 5,300 sq ft). It appeared to be the Presidential Suite, costing 30-40 million won per night. There were three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a spacious reception room, a private bar, a comfortable terrace with a sofa bed, and even a private swimming pool. The opulent Persian-style interior disoriented his vision. He was intimidated by its sheer size and extravagance.

The dedicated attendant stated he could be called anytime if anything was needed, then quietly withdrew. Kwon Taekjoo, still warily looking around, didn’t even explore the room but went straight to the reception room. He took the whiskey and glasses placed there and sat on the sofa. The seat cushion softly sank, comfortably supporting his tired body.

As soon as he filled the glass, he emptied it in one gulp, as if to quench a thirst. The stuffiness that had been weighing on his chest seemed to wash away, leaving a cool sensation. But it was only temporary relief; his mind quickly became complicated again. As he repeatedly poured and emptied his glass, his gaze remained fixed on the door.

There wasn’t a day he wasn’t stressed because of Zhenya. Even when he sternly told him not to interfere with official duties, he just wouldn’t listen. If he was going to show up like that, he should at least give a heads-up beforehand. He constantly startled people. He couldn’t tell if he was trying to help or deliberately obstruct.

He was a diplomat by title, yet he had no caution. With a face that was unforgettable once seen, he never bothered to disguise himself. It seemed the possibility of him causing international problems didn’t even exist in his mind. Did Russia even know he was gallivanting around like this? Why on earth did he have to be the one on edge?

If he were to list Zhenya’s misdeeds, ten fingers wouldn’t be enough. Was it when he was on a business trip to Dubai? He tried to be home for holidays or his mother’s birthday whenever possible, but there was an emergency, and he had no choice. At that time, Zhenya visited Kwon Taekjoo’s family home and brought his mother’s homemade rice cake soup all the way to Dubai. He had heard that Koreans absolutely had to eat rice cake soup on New Year’s Day. He couldn’t fathom how they communicated, each speaking their own native language and only saying what they wanted to say. Due to the long flight, there was no broth left in the rice cake soup. Kwon Taekjoo declined, saying it wasn’t absolutely necessary to eat it, but it was useless. Zhenya abruptly threatened him, saying if he ignored his sincerity, wouldn’t Kwon Taekjoo’s sincerity towards his target also be in vain? It seemed the suddenly vanished target was in Zhenya’s hands. He had no choice but to force down the mushy rice cake soup in the middle of the desert.

Was that all? There was also a time he had trouble because the target happened to be an acquaintance of Zhenya’s. It was during an operation in Iran, a traditional ally of North Korea. The two countries had long engaged in illegal arms trading and supported nuclear program development under the pretext of ‘scientific and academic cooperation.’ U.S. intelligence agencies stated that exchanges between the two countries gradually diminished starting from 2013.

However, intelligence obtained from a UN member state directly contradicted this. The two countries were still actively supporting missile development and vigorously trading weapons until recently. It also stated that a North Korean trading company named ‘Cheongun,’ located in Tehran, was brokering this. Evidence was even found of ballistic missile-related components being transported via the national airlines of both countries, Air Koryo and Iran Air.

To obtain more detailed information, he tried to approach Iran’s military commander. But then, as always, Zhenya appeared. The target recognized Zhenya first, and Kwon Taekjoo ended up exchanging greetings by chance. Zhenya introduced Kwon Taekjoo to the commander as his lover. When both the target and Kwon Taekjoo were shocked, Zhenya then said it was a joke and corrected Kwon Taekjoo’s identity to that of his subordinate. Superficially, Kwon Taekjoo was affiliated with the Russian embassy, which dispelled the target’s suspicion. This extremely dangerous operation was easily concluded thanks to Russia and Iran having a common enemy in ‘America’ and the long-standing cooperation between the two countries in security and economic fields. Of course, he only suffered less physically, but his mental strain was several times greater than usual.

Zhenya always intruded like that, messing up his plans, and then he would boast that the mission’s completion was entirely due to him. As a reward, he had been dragged to Ajinoki Island for forced vacations several times. He would always stop by Russia after completing a mission, and Director Gwak had once taken issue with it. Director Gwak didn’t easily accept Kwon Taekjoo’s explanation that he had developed an adversarial affection for Zhenya after constantly fighting with him during his deployment in Russia. Kwon Taekjoo himself would have been the same.

It bothered him considerably that Zhenya frequented his family home and met his mother. It was due to Zhenya’s nature of not distinguishing between what should and shouldn’t be said. One day, his mother, who felt uncomfortable communicating with him, asked how to use a translator, saying she heard such a thing existed, and he broke out in a cold sweat. He barely managed to make excuses, saying that Russian translators were rare, and even if there were any, they would translate terribly. His mother, though greatly disappointed, obediently believed her son’s words. But he never knew when the lie would be exposed. What if his mother tried to translate Zhenya’s words through a translator? Just imagining it made him feel overwhelmed. It felt like walking on a tightrope every single day.

Recalling the past, a sigh escaped him. How did he end up with such a massive burden? He had resolved to try and tame Zhenya rather than constantly run away from him. But it was proving more difficult than expected. He had been with him for a year already, but he still couldn’t predict Zhenya’s moves. Even watching him all day, he couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

“…Anyway, where is this bastard and what is he doing?”

He repeatedly glared with discontent at the quiet door. It was about time he returned. Two hours had passed since Zhenya and Choi Yeonhwa left the casino, and there was no news from him. Had what he feared happened? He didn’t know Zhenya’s intentions, so it was hard to guess what he was doing right now. They had gotten up to have a drink together, but it didn’t seem like they were actually doing that.

Was he perhaps just lounging in bed? Even so, it wouldn’t be surprising. He was, after all, naturally loose-legged and promiscuous, not discriminating against women by age, nationality, or style. On the contrary, he worried if Choi Yeonhwa’s life was in danger. He couldn’t relax knowing he was the type to resort to violence if his temper was provoked. The subtle anxiety and restlessness he felt were purely because of that.

He kept tapping his wristwatch. The rapidly moving second hand, especially today, made him extremely anxious. Finally, Kwon Taekjoo let out a low click of his tongue and stood up abruptly. He strode towards the door, without any disguise, not even knowing where the two of them were. No clever solution had occurred to him. In his mind, there was only one thought: he had to find Zhenya quickly.

He was about to grab the doorknob, his impatience growing. Suddenly, the lock clicked open, and the door swung inward from outside. Zhenya brazenly appeared before the startled Kwon Taekjoo. With a rather serious expression, he slowly scanned Kwon Taekjoo from head to toe, who stood at the doorway.

[Where are you going?]

[And where have you been, only just showing up now?]

[You saw us, leaving with that woman. What do you think we’ve been doing, the two of us?]

He spoke suggestively, then smirked. It was unpleasant. As Zhenya intended, Kwon Taekjoo’s mood steadily sank. He leisurely walked past Kwon Taekjoo, who glared at him disapprovingly, and went to the sofa. Then he poured the whiskey that Kwon Taekjoo had nearly half-finished into a glass. He didn’t drink the shimmering amber liquid right away, but slowly swirled it in the glass.

[You didn’t do anything to Choi Yeonhwa, did you?]

[Why, do you think I might have killed her?]

He subtly narrowed his eyes, probing. Kwon Taekjoo involuntarily flinched, then chuckled derisively.

[You’re not that inflexible.]

[Then what did you do?]

[Taekjoo, what were you planning to do, luring that woman? Were you thinking of using a honey trap if necessary?]

[And who used the honey trap, then?]

It was absurd. He had spent days working on a target, only for Zhenya to swoop in and snatch her, and now he was pulling this reversal. Zhenya, who had been listening silently, suddenly smiled broadly. It seemed he liked Kwon Taekjoo’s answer.

[Ah, so you were about to come after us, then? Because you thought that woman and I were having a wild time?]

[No. Because I didn’t know if you’d harm her. If you touch her, things get complicated.]

[I told you, didn’t I? I don’t attack unless I’m provoked first.]

He gasped. They say when you’re too dumbfounded, you can’t say anything, and it was true.

Zhenya nonchalantly gestured to the seat beside him. When Kwon Taekjoo stood firm with his arms crossed, Zhenya suddenly said, “Looks like you don’t need this, then?” In his hand was a small microchip.

[What is that?]

[Information on North Korea’s European nominee accounts. And the sources of the funds deposited in each account, and so on?]

What others struggled to obtain, he secured with ease. It was always like this. That’s why he always felt like he was losing.

He glared at Zhenya with a displeased face, then reluctantly approached. He reached for the microchip, but Zhenya suddenly pulled it back.

[You wasted all that time just to get this one thing?]

[Unlike some people, I don’t have the luxury of exposing my face everywhere. And I don’t have anyone covering my back either.]

He sneered through gritted teeth. Zhenya chuckled, then subtly squared his shoulders. His expression seemed even more arrogant. This bastard clearly had no learning curve.

[That’s not a compliment, you bastard. Haven’t you figured that out yet?]

[Still so modest, Taekjoo.]

[It’s not modesty; you’re making me die of secondhand embarrassment.]

[I didn’t know you cared so much about my reputation.]

His head throbbed. It often happened when he talked to Zhenya. It was easier to give in than to argue endlessly. He sighed deeply and held out his hand.

[What’s there to say to you? Just give me that.]

But Zhenya did not readily hand over the microchip. He merely twirled it around, as if showing off.

[I never said I’d give this to you, Taekjoo.]

[What? You don’t need it anyway.]

[That’s true, but since it’s in my possession now, it’s up to me what I do with it.]

He said he paid a rather hefty price for it. A sigh escaped him.

[Is your dick plated with gold or something? Enjoying yourself thoroughly and now acting like you made some grand sacrifice.]

[Ah, are you pouting because of that?]

[Who…!]

[How naive. She’s a woman who stole 400 billion from a dictator’s slush fund. She’d be dead if caught, yet she dared to do something so audacious. Do you think such a woman would be lax enough to drop her guard to a dealer she’d only met for a few days? If I hadn’t intervened, you’d be dissected on her bed right now. They would have questioned your body to find out who sent you and your purpose for approaching her. She’s a woman with nothing but money; a half-baked honey trap wouldn’t work on her.]

When Choi Yeonhwa had suddenly tried to seduce ‘Philip,’ he had been suspicious. Though tastes differ, ‘Philip’ was not a particularly sexually attractive man. Choi Yeonhwa had said she liked demure men, but whether that was sincere was unknown. She hadn’t shown any such inclination before.

In the end, had she been suspicious of ‘Philip’ all along? Perhaps she had induced a private meeting to verify his identity.

“But,” Zhenya added, making an exception.

[With me, it’s a different story.]

[What do you mean?]

[Now seems like the perfect time to unleash your honey trap.]

It was his habit to speak indirectly, smiling. Kwon Taekjoo frowned, a sense of foreboding settling in. Zhenya seemed to enjoy his reaction, taking a sip of whiskey and chuckling softly.

[Try it. Though I don’t know if it’ll work.]

He then pulled something from a nearby drawer and tossed it to Kwon Taekjoo. It was a small shopping bag. A part of the contents peeked out from the overturned bag. At first glance, it looked like a bow tie.

[…What am I supposed to do with this?]

He looked at Zhenya with suspicious eyes. Zhenya’s lips curved into a long arc.

[Wear it.]

Even a demon wouldn’t smile like that.

“Ha, this crazy bastard, really…”

Kwon Taekjoo sighed as he put on the clothes Zhenya had given him. No, it was difficult to call them ‘clothes.’ The black pants clung tightly to his lower body, featuring a long zipper along the crotch, and for a top, there was only a bow tie and cuffs. He would genuinely believe it if someone said he was a Chippendales show performer. Wouldn’t it be less embarrassing to just take everything off?

He checked his reflection in the mirror again and sighed deeply. The sensation of the pants rubbing against his bare skin felt utterly strange. The top, which he seemed to be wearing yet not wearing, felt as if it was itching to flaunt his chest. What kind of taste was this, anyway? He glared disapprovingly at his reflection, when Zhenya from outside urged him, saying it would be dawn soon. He brushed the mirror as if scratching it and walked out.

If he showed even a hint of embarrassment, only Zhenya would enjoy it. Before leaving the room, he composed himself and headed towards the living room. Zhenya, who had been lounging on the sofa, smirked when he spotted Kwon Taekjoo.

[See? I told you it would suit you, didn’t I?]

His body, which had been leaning back, also tilted forward. The loosely draped robe parted widely. He seemed to have showered in the meantime; his skin was smoother, and his ivory hair held moisture. His clearer, cerulean eyes slowly rolled, scrutinizing Kwon Taekjoo. They were persistent, as if wanting to lick every hidden part of his body. He had known it before, but Zhenya, with that pretty face, was quite the pervert.

[Come here.]

After a complete appraisal, he beckoned with his hand. Zhenya’s arrogant attitude was rather irritating, but there was nothing he could do. The one who needed something had to give in.

He walked and stood in front of Zhenya. Then Zhenya reached out and firmly grasped the back of Kwon Taekjoo’s thigh. His long fingers pressed tightly into the dense flesh. The pants were pulled along, subtly constricting his penis inside. He involuntarily tensed his abdomen. Zhenya seemed to detect even that subtle change, and his lips curved upward.

Disgusted by him, Kwon Taekjoo preempted. He knelt and placed his knees between Zhenya’s splayed legs. Then, with one hand, he gripped the back of the sofa where Zhenya had been leaning. As their proximity suddenly increased, Zhenya looked up at Kwon Taekjoo with a satisfied expression. Kwon Taekjoo gazed steadily at him, then gently stroked Zhenya’s ear. He massaged the cool earlobe until it became soft, then rubbed his entire auricle as if giving a massage. A languid sigh escaped Zhenya. His long eyelashes fluttered faintly. Whenever he saw Zhenya relax and enjoy it like this, a strange sense of accomplishment arose. As if he had truly tamed the wild beast.

He lifted Zhenya’s chin, which had been looking only at him, and kissed him. Zhenya’s lips seemed to twitch. When he slid his tongue over Zhenya’s upper lip, Zhenya firmly grasped Kwon Taekjoo’s round, upturned buttocks. He silently savored Zhenya’s upper lip, then released it. Suddenly, he twisted his head and pushed his tongue in. Zhenya, as if he had been waiting, pulled Kwon Taekjoo’s body closer and firmly bit his tongue. With moist, squelching sounds, their red tongues intimately intertwined.

The hands that had been continuously kneading his buttocks moved up to his back. A faint static electricity sparked wherever his fingertips touched. His waist trembled from the sensation. Zhenya’s smile deepened.

The touch of his hand tracing his straight spine made his crotch throb quickly. He grasped Zhenya’s hand, which had been lightly tickling his back, and pressed it down. Simultaneously, their interlocked lips parted.

Immediately, Zhenya leaned his head further and kissed him again. He held Kwon Taekjoo’s plump lower lip, repeatedly entangling their tongues. It was useless to push him away by the shoulders. Finally, after indulging him a little longer, Kwon Taekjoo pulled his head away again. Zhenya then licked his glistening lips, savoring the taste.

[What a waste of a strip show to only be seen by one person.]

[You’re a strange one. Who else would want to watch something like this besides you?]

[Surprisingly low self-esteem. Are you pretending not to know?]

He chuckled, pulling Kwon Taekjoo’s body closer. Then he fiddled with his shoulder blades, gently rubbing his nose against Kwon Taekjoo’s smooth nipples. A strange sensation made Kwon Taekjoo’s eyebrows subtly furrow. The untouched flesh, under Zhenya’s movements, was helplessly rubbed and pressed. A long-forgotten sensation revived, stimulating his crotch even faster.

“…Ugh.”

[Look at this. Because I don’t suck them regularly, they’ve flattened again. Didn’t you touch yourself? Or did you only care about your dick? You can cum plenty just from this, but you neglect it.]