Chapter 135

Chapter 135Bomberman(1)

「Berlin, 07:34 PM」 – CIA Mobile Outpost

Inside a food truck adorned with images of Germany’s famous currywurst, the space was filled not with food but with communication equipment and monitors.

-Unidentified individual entering the 6th floor. Please confirm.

A radio crackled, and one of the monitors switched to a hacked CCTV feed of a hotel hallway. As the man passing through the corridor was scanned, the adjacent monitor displayed information: ‘Aziz’, Hamas weapons supply operative.

CIA Europe Division Chief Nathan watched Aziz’s face and asked.

『Have we tapped room 603 yet?』Nnêw n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com

『Millis signaled it will take one minute.』

David, who was operating the communication devices, connected another CCTV feed. An agent disguised as a hotel staff member pushing a room service cart was shown walking down the hallway. The agent knocked on the door of room 603, and the door opened to let in the cart.

-Delivery complete.

Through the tiny camera on the end of the cart, the scene inside the room began transmitting to the monitor.

Ssshhh.

-Welcome. Was your flight comfortable?

-The goods?

The man approaching Aziz was a sleek-looking white male in his forties. The analysis monitor automatically scanned his face and displayed information: ‘Robert Ofron’, arms dealer.

-In a hurry, are we? Well, let me ask quickly. Is the money ready?

-Swiss account. Three million.

Aziz waved his phone displaying the transfer screen, and Robert smiled, nodding to his subordinate. The subordinate placed a black box on the table.

-This is a unique new material. It wasn’t easy to smuggle out.

The box, made of thick metal, opened to reveal a sophisticated sealed container, about the size of two fingers.

『Zoom in.』

Nathan adjusted his glasses and scrutinized the sealed container as it appeared larger on the screen.

『Let’s see. What material are you selling this time? Your finances must be tight if you’re dealing with the notoriously dirty Hamas.』

『Does Robert know he’s a famous CIA intelligence-gathering tool? We’ve uncovered several arms deals thanks to him. Maybe we should draft a contract for him.』

『Don’t joke. If we shove a contract in his face, he’ll disappear. This level of distance is just right...』

At that moment.

A loud crash and the sound of shattering glass came from the surveillance camera in room 603. Nathan and David flinched.

-Intruders! Who the hell are...!

Robert’s scream echoed as the cart with the surveillance device toppled over, sending the screen into a dizzying spin before settling on the wall.

Loud bangs and flashes followed, and then the room went dark.

『Millis!』

The agent disguised as a hotel employee was seen running urgently down the hallway on the CCTV. Pressing his ear against the door of room 603, he listened intently.

-I hear nothing.

『Hold on. External cameras?』

Adjusting the screen, Nathan switched to a CCTV feed from a building across the street, showing the window of room 603.

Two shadowy figures were lowering an unconscious Robert down the window with a rope.

『What the hell is that?』

Another CCTV caught a waiting vehicle. People jumped out to receive Robert and the two shadows rappelled down.

Screech—!

The vehicle sped into the darkness.

『Send a pursuit team. Millis, check inside.』

The agent entered room 603 and immediately radioed back.

-Everyone’s unconscious. This looks like the work of professionals. The goods are gone too.

『What?』

An unknown group had intervened in the weapons deal between the arms dealer and the terrorist, skillfully evading CIA surveillance. They were not ordinary operatives.

『Why did they kidnap Robert?』

A moment later, the operations team pursuing the vehicle reported back.

-We found the car, but no one was inside.

『They executed the escape perfectly. Report the discovery of an illegal arms deal to the German authorities. Millis, clean up the scene and get out.』

The video signal from the surveillance device in room 603 cut out.

Nathan turned his attention to the central screen displaying the sealed container.

『David, what do you think that is?』

『Not sure. Biological weapon? Poison? Nuclear?』

『Send this video to the analysis team.』

David followed the order but asked quietly.

『With all due respect to the team, can they accurately identify the substance just from the video?』

Nathan shared the concern, his expression heavy.

『That chemist...』

『Sir?』

『A year ago, a doctor participated as a consultant in the ‘Mass Destruction Nerve Agents’ discussion at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. He might be able to.』

『Just by looking?』

『He humiliated two of our experts in that session. Find the records and track him down.』

David, quickly gathering information, looked up in surprise.

『Chief, Dr. Cheon Seung-guk is currently in a hospital in Genoa. He’s in critical condition on a ventilator.』

『What?』

「Seoul, 03:05 AM」 – A Chemist’s Private Laboratory

At Kim Rina’s question, Manager Ji, standing to the side, nodded vigorously.

“You’re known for always smiling brightly while singing. One media outlet commented that you seem like someone who transcends trivial emotions. Soft and gentle on the outside, and probably the same on the inside. What do you have to say about that?”

“I’m a person too, so how could I only smile all the time? But on stage, I feel like a fool. Just holding the guitar and sitting there makes me happy without any thoughts. If you want to see me frown, I can try.”

Yoon Yi-seol forced a serious expression, but it still looked bright, causing the cameramen to smile.

“‘In a Dream,’ hailed as the best song of the first half of the year, also made waves as the first love song you’ve sung in two years. Did you write it thinking of someone in particular?”

At the question, Yoon Yi-seol glanced at a new staff member next to Manager Ji, her temporal manager, Han Jeong-woo. Shaking hands with Manager Ji and exchanging greetings, Jeong-woo turned his eyes to Yoon Yi-seol with a warm smile.

With a faint smile, Yoon Yi-seol answered.

“I tend to include a lot of personal experiences in my lyrics. You know, if you think about someone right before falling asleep, it means you really like them.”

“It sounds like you have someone like that.”

“Who knows~”

At this, Jeong-woo paused and took a deep breath. Yoon Yi-seol, amused by his reaction, continued the interview.

“I thought I had someone like that until I realized it was a dream. That’s why it’s ‘In a Dream.’ Now, I think I need to find someone I miss and think about even when I’m awake.”

“Viewers, Yoon Yi-seol is looking for that person. Now, the next question is about fans’ curiosity regarding you as a singer-songwriter. When writing such emotional lyrics...”

The interview, which lasted an hour, ended, and Jeong-woo opened the waiting room door. Yoon Yi-seol, who had been cooling her sun-warmed skin, waved at him.

“If I had known you’d be here so soon, I would have skipped the photo shoot schedule.”

Jeong-woo quickly closed the door, worried someone might overhear, and handed her a cold bottle of water.

“Was it okay to be so candid during the interview?”

“What part?”

“You’re a celebrity with an image to maintain. Saying things that could be misunderstood like that...”

After taking a sip of water, Yoon Yi-seol pouted.

“Since when did you start thinking like that? If you were so worried about my entertainment career, you shouldn’t have confessed.”

“You confessed first.”

“Anyway, I’ll take care of my image, so just make sure to keep showing up on time like today.”

“That’s why I came early.”

Unable to hide her happiness, Yoon Yi-seol’s lips trembled slightly as she stood up to face Jeong-woo. She looked him up and down.

“You’re all dressed up.”

“Just trying to look nice.”

“For whom?”

“Hmm, let me think about that.”

Expecting him to say “you,” Yoon Yi-seol shot him a gentle yet sharp look. Jeong-woo chuckled and asked.

“How have you been?”

“Good.”

“What should we do today?”

“Well, since you said your research failed, unfortunately, let’s start with this.”

She reached out and gently hugged Jeong-woo around his waist, looking up at him. Her bold move took him by surprise.

“I think about you every day, why is it so hard to meet you? Are you playing hard to get?”

Yoon Yi-seol’s eyes, filled with a moist shine, made Jeong-woo’s heart race.

Although he had dressed up, he couldn’t compare to her professional polish. Even up close, her face radiated as if sprinkled with ground jewels.

Looking at her as if mesmerized, Jeong-woo asked.

“Shall we spend the night together?”

He felt her flinch at his words as she held him.

“Remember, we didn’t complete our all-night talk checklist last time.”

“Oh...”

“What were you thinking?”

“That too.”

“Ah. Like hugging without permission?”

“Yes, like that...”

Yoon Yi-seol, who seemed to have been caught off guard, burst into a smile and pointed to her lips.

“Then let’s do this too.”

“To do that, I need to go back to my research.”

“Forget it. You’re not going anywhere today.”

Yoon Yi-seol hugged him tighter, making it clear she wasn’t letting go.

“Yi-seol, it’ll be hard to explain if someone comes in. Let go of my arm first.”

“Be quiet. The only one who might come in at this moment is Manager Ji...”

At that moment, the door clicked open.

“Jeong-woo, there’s someone... Oh, I’m sorry!”

Yoon Yi-seol quickly let go and sat down, muttering, “So hot” while Jeong-woo awkwardly lifted his phone, pretending to struggle with the Wi-Fi.

Manager Ji chuckled at the sight before speaking.

“Jeong-woo, you have a visitor.”

“What? A visitor for me?”

“They’re from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with a foreigner.”

Jeong-woo looked puzzled, wondering how they knew he was here. He glanced back at Yoon Yi-seol.

“I’ll be right back.”

Yoon Yi-seol nodded slightly, her head down.