21st century Goguryeo

Chapter 331

October 16th, 2023, 17:00 (Iran Standard Time 11:30)

Iran, Tehran, 2nd province, the NIS Iranian branch’s safe house

Yesterday afternoon, Iranian television broadcasted the news about the terrorist attack on Minister Kang Kyung-hee along Highway 7 while moving from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Tehran. The news networks broadcasted the news again today and claimed that the bombing was the work of IS and every single news network within Iran was making the same claim. It looked as if the news networks all wanted to give the impression that it was the work of IS.

Assistant Managers Oh Suk-jin and Park Won-ho had seen the news that morning before infiltrating Director Ruslan Nigmatullin’s hotel room. They managed to subdue one of the large SVR (Foreign Intelligence Agency) agents returning from eating breakfast at the lobby and started to interrogate him for information.

The large man leaked quite a bit of crucial information after being injected with the truth serum. The interrogation was a success, but they needed to cross-check the information to back the claims up. The two agents neutralized the SVR agent by disguising it as a heart attack and left the hotel room to meet back up with Manager Lee Ja-sung at the safe house.

The agents then started to discuss what to do with the intel they had collected from the Russian agent. Team Leader Park Gi-oong, who had been keeping tabs on the Iranian foreign ministry officials, returned to the safe house as well.

“How about we report this back to headquarters, sir?” Team Leader Park Gi-oong started the meeting.

“You’re right. But crucial information like this needs to be checked for authenticity and accuracy before it is reported to HQ! If the Russian leaked false information, then we will end up playing their game and it could lead to a full-on war against Russia!” Manager Lee Ja-sung wanted to take care of the matter as cautiously as possible since it was a high priority.

The Russian agent’s confession was as follows:

The SVR (Foreign Intelligence Agency) Middle Eastern branch had heard about the Corean minister of foreign affairs visiting Tehran from the Iranian foreign ministry, and they established a plan for a terrorist attack that will lead to diplomatic and military conflict between Corea and Iran. The Russian agency chose the Su-57 PAK-FA jet piloted by Russian pilots to conduct the terrorist attack to prevent security leaks.

While Minister Kang Kyung-hee was moving along Highway 7 from the Imam Khomeini International Airport, a Su-57 PAK-FA jet took off from the Zanjan air force base for a training exercise. It avoided Iranian radars to fly towards Tehran and fired a long-range air-to-land missile.

This act of terrorism was conducted and overlooked by Iran’s Supreme Leader Mustafa Hosseini Hamanei himself.

Russia chose the Su-57 PAK-FA jet for its stealth capabilities and its inability to be detected by the Iranian radars. Iran would be in a position to feign ignorance from the jet’s activities and the air-to-land missile would have a low chance of failure.

“Wouldn’t the confessions made under the influence of the X-10 truth serum be accurate, sir? I think we should report it immediately to HQ since you say it’s crucial information, sir...,” Team Leader Park Gi-oong suggested reporting the findings first despite what Manager Lee Ja-sung had said.

“Team Leader Park! It won’t be too late for us to report back after we find more intel that backs up the Russian agent’s claims.”

“Hmm, I understand, sir.”

“Since it has boiled down to this, I guess it’s time for us to make some bold movements.”

“Something bold, sir?”

“Yes, why don’t we hear it from that bastard Ruslan Nigmatullin himself, first?”

“So, we’re going to kidnap him, sir?”

“Precisely!”

When Manager Lee Ja-sung answered him, Team Leader Park Gi-oong smiled. “Ha ha, that’s the way I like it, sir. It would have been great if we started the operation like that. Our team will lead the mission.”

From the start and during every meeting, Team Leader Park Gi-oong had suggested that kidnapping the director of the Middle Eastern branch Ruslan Nigmatullin would be the easiest way to collect intel.

“Great! Team 1 will lead the mission to kidnap Nigmatullin.”

“Yes, sir.”

“But be careful. The Russians must be suspicious about one of their agents suddenly dying from a heart attack. They must be conducting an internal investigation and heightened security.”

“Don’t worry, sir. I have already drafted up a plan in my mind. Ha ha ha,” Team leader Park Gi-oong pointed to his head and laughed confidently.

* * *

October 18th, 2023, 18:00

The South State, Seoul, Yongsan-ku, the National Central Medical Center

Minister Kang Kyung-hee and her five staff members all arrived at the central medical facility after flying from Tehran aboard the CFS/-31SP Three-toed Crow space jet for an hour, and they all went into emergency surgery.

The minister’s vehicle was a complete wreck and flew a few meters from the blast. However, it was bulletproof and had one more safety measure besides the seatbelts and airbags. The vehicle had the ASD (Absorption Safety Device) that could fill the interior of the vehicle with a liquid foam that hardens into a sponge-like substance in case of a crash or explosion to protect from fires and collisions.

If the minister was aboard a commercial vehicle, every single bone in her body would have been broken. However, thanks to the high-tech safety device, Minister Kang Kyung-hee, her chief secretary, and the bodyguard driving the minister’s sedan went through light treatment before being sent to their own hospital rooms.

However, the survival of the three bodyguards who were aboard the vehicle without the ASD features could be considered as an act of god. But the men were all covered in severe burns and had to go through a skin reconstruction surgery for over 14 hours. Luckily the operation was a success, and they were all moved to liquid capsule chambers.

President Choo Un-hee visited the National Central Medical Center when visits were allowed after 3 days and listened to Doctor Kim Gook-jin’s briefing about the three bodyguards who were in critical condition.

The men were covered in third-degree burns, but advanced medical technology will heal most of the tissue after being in the liquid capsule chambers for 6 months, and only minor scars will remain.

“That’s a relief. Please take care of the agents and provide them with the best care.”

President Choo Un-hee spoke to the doctor while looking at the three bodyguards under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in stasis at the liquid capsule chambers.

“Yes, we will do our best, Madam President.”

“Thank you. How about we go to where Minister Kang is?”

“Yes, ma’am. I will take you there.”

The president arrived at the patient’s suite where Minister Kang Kyung-hee was being treated.

When the door opened and President Choo Un-hee entered the suite, Minister Kang Kyung-hee attempted to get up. The president stopped her.

“Minister Kang! Don’t get up. Please lay back down.”

“Ah, it’s okay, Madam President!”

“That’s an order. Please stay still.”

“At least let me raise my bed, ma’am.”

The secretary from the ministry of foreign affairs raised the bed when she heard Minister Kang Kyung-hee.

“You must have been terrified. Are they treating you well, minister? anything we can do to help with the pain?” action

“No, I’m fine, ma’am. I heard the three bodyguards are in critical condition. I am worried for their safety.”

Minister Kang Kyung-hee was more concerned about the well-being of her bodyguards than herself.

The president grasped Minister Kang Kyung-hee’s hands and answered her in a tearful tone, “The tissue reconstruction surgery was a success. So just focus on recovering, Minister Kang.”

“Really? That’s great news.”

* * *

October 17th, 2023, 17:00 (Iran Standard Time 11:30)

Iran, Tehran, 12th province, the Ridley Hotel (Room 503)

The SVR (Foreign Intelligence Agency) was in an uproar after one of the agents guarding suite 503 at Tehran was found dead. The doctor’s first diagnosis of death from a heart attack for the 2m tall agent who was alive and well before leaving the hotel made Director Ruslan Nigmatullin suspicious.

Director Ruslan Nigmatullin sent the dead agent’s body back to Russia and ordered a thorough autopsy. He also ordered to check every single security camera within the hotel to find any evidence of a break-in.

The hotel staff and the Iranian police all blocked off suite 503 while the SVR (Foreign Intelligence Agency) brought in their numerous equipment to scan the area for signs of a break-in.

“Don’t leave anything out and keep searching,” Director Ruslan Nigmatullin blew smoke from a cigarette while giving out orders.

Russia’s SVR (Foreign Intelligence Agency) was world-famous besides America’s CIA. The agents started to use their high-tech equipment to search for fingerprints and even a single strand of hair.

Some time had passed, but the agents could not find any signs of a break-in within the entire hotel suite. The only thing the agents could find was a 30-second interval where every security camera went dark and they stopped filming footage. However, that was not enough to conclude.

The results made Director Ruslan Nigmatullin made him consider the fact he may be overreacting. He had worked under the SVR for over 20 years, and he led many missions to success from his impeccable hunches. However, his assumptions were inaccurate today. To be precise, his assumptions were right, but he lacked the evidence to back up his claims.

“We’re moving out.”

Soon, the agents all packed their bags and prepared to leave the hotel room. They had completed a mission, but one of their agents died from a heart attack – an ill-boding sign that made them decide to switch rooms.

* * *

October 19th, 2023, 10:00

The North State, Hamkyung-do, Wonsan-si, the Galma Villa

Ex-supreme leader Kim Jong-un finished his breakfast and prepared for an outing in his favorite khaki jacket and coat. He was preparing to attend the People’s Labor Party’s anniversary ceremony.

It was the first time he left the villa after staying here for over a month, and his first time attending an official ceremony as well. The domestic and international press were already gathered near Galma Villa.

When the vehicle with Kim Jong-un aboard emerged through the Galma Villa’s front gate, news cameras started filming and press agent’s cameras started to take pictures.

Kim Jong-un was scheduled to have a short address at a photo zone, but he glanced at the scene and ordered his secretary.

“Let’s just go!”

“What? We were supposed to spend some time with the reporters at the photo zone...”

“Am I some monkey at a zoo? There’s no need! Let’s go.”

“Very well.”

The secretary answered Kim Jong-un and signaled the driver to continue driving. The car moved through the gate and sped along the road.

The numerous reporters from news networks and filming crews waiting outside in the cold weather all looked shocked by the car driving away. Everyone started to complain.

“That fat pig! He still thinks he’s a king.”

“Yeah. He should be grateful people still give him this much attention...”

“That was a waste of our morning. Let’s go.”

The news reporters and filming crews who had waited since early morning to take a picture or footage of Kim Jong-un emerging from the villa after a whole month, started to rush to the People’s Labor Party anniversary ceremony.