After showering, Kwon Taekjoo grabbed his own clothes from Zhenya's wardrobe and started putting them on.
He had stocked up on spared clothes at Zhenya's place, knowing that his rarely surived a night with him.
It wasn't just clothes he had brought over.
The fridge was full of dishes his mother had prepared for Zhenya, and the bathroom was equipped with his toothbrush and razor.
Several household items, from kitchen utensils to slippers, were perfectly paired in twos. By now, it was fair to say they practically lived together.
Kwon Taekjoo was about to leave when he glanced at the bed where Zhenya slept peacefully, for once.
After being awake for nearly a day and a half, it wasn't surprising that even a
monster like Zhenya was exhausted.
Kwon Taekjoo was sure that if he kept up Zhenya's relentless pace, he wouldn't last much longer.
If he hadn't passed out multiple times during their intense sexual encounter last night, he might have ended up in the hospital.
Lost in thoughts as absurd as they were oddly believable, Kwon Taekjoo approached the bed and sat silently at its edge.
Zhenya turned toward him, wrapping an arm around his waist.
"Huh? You're not asleep?"
"I woke up to your sounds. And your scent."
Zhenya smiled with his eyes still closed, rubbing his forehead against Kwon Taekjoo's side like a puppy.
Kwon Taekjoo found the gesture endearing and affectionate, gently stroking Zhenya's warm ears.
Zhenya let out a soft moan, submitting obediently to Kwon Taekjoo's caresses, and then asked in a rough voice,
"Taekjoo, did they call you in for work again?"
"Not yet. I woke up by chance. Maybe because I had nightmares."
Kwon Taekjoo looked at the well-behaved Zhenya and ran his fingers over his furrowed brow.
Feeling his touch, Zhenya's face relaxed, his massive body softened, and his breathing grew deeper and more content.
Zhenya kept his eyes closed as if afraid to ruin the sweet and tender moment, holding Kwon Taekjoo even tighter.
"That boy showed up in my dreams again last night. The one with light blond hair and blue eyes."
"Didn't you say you had nightmares?"
Zhenya chuckled softly. He seemed to know exactly who the boy intruding on Kwon Taekjoo's dreams was, even with such a brief description.
"They say that when a child appears in your dreams, it's often a sign of impending misfortune or trouble."
"I didn't know you believed in superstitions."
"It stuck with me because my mother used to warn me about it all the time. Anyway, tell that kid to stop haunting my dreams. That face always stirs up my emotions."
"They say dreams are a mirror of your subconscious. You're the one who can't let go of that boy. What could I possibly do to stop it?"
Suddenly, Zhenya's eyes opened, and he murmured,
"Taekjoo…"
The same blue eyes from his dream appeared, curved into a smile.
"I must be a very loving partner,"
he remarked cheekily. Kwon Taekjoo gave up on arguing with Zhenya and covered his eyes with his hand.
"Go back to sleep."
Kwon Taekjoo tried to stand and pull away from Zhenya, but the arms wrapped around his waist refused to loosen, pulling him closer.
In the blink of an eye, Kwon Taekjoo was dragged back to the center of the bed.
"You said they didn't call you in for work. Where are you going?"
"I have to go home now. If I stay away too long, my mother will start to worry."
"You can go back with me later."
"Don't you think it would be weird for her son to come back after two days looking exhausted and smelling exactly like his boss? Even my mom would get suspicious."
"That little woman seemed quite oblivious to those kinds of things."
"Obvious? It's more like she can't even imagine it."
"Oh."
"Anyway, be careful. The day my mom finds out about us, she's going to disown me."
Kwon Taekjoo sternly warned Zhenya, who still didn't seem entirely convinced.
"Mmh, I don't know. She seems to like me a lot more than you think."
"Yeah, let's see how much she likes you when she finds out you're fucking her son."
"No matter how you look at it, isn't it beneficial for you? That little woman wants you to have a stable life, Taekjoo. And I'm the only one in the world who can offer you the stability and security you need,"
Zhenya replied with a confidence that left no room for doubt.
Kwon Taekjoo knew Zhenya wasn't harboring romantic illusions; it was true, there was no more powerful ally than Zhenya himself.
Kwon Taekjoo let out a small chuckle and ruffled Zhenya's delicate hair.
"Is that why you tattooed that crap on me? And here I was wondering what you were drawing so carefully."
"Did you see it?"
"Wouldn't you have done the same?"
Zhenya lifted his head, nuzzling against Kwon Taekjoo's hand that stroked his hair.
He kissed the back of Kwon Taekjoo's hand softly.
"But it's true. You're my life, my weakness, and my greatest weapon, which makes me the most powerful man in the world."
Zhenya repeated his usual absurd phrase, one he always reminded Kwon Taekjoo of just when he was about to forget it.
He was the owner of 'Anastasia'… the fact that such an imposing person, someone no one would dare challenge, was now behaving like Kwon
Taekjoo's most loyal dog was both endearing and strangely unsettling.
Kwon Taekjoo shifted his body and gently placed his hand on the pillow beneath Zhenya.
When the pillow sank under Kwon Taekjoo's weight, Zhenya turned his face toward him.
Kwon Taekjoo cupped his chin in his hands and gave him a delicate kiss on the lips.
Soft, warm breaths mingled between their joined lips. Slowly, Kwon Taekjoo pulled away, leaving Zhenya with a content smile on his face.
"Taekjoo, you're being unusually affectionate again."
"I could say the same about you."
"Is there something you want from me?"
"Besides hoping you'll stay still? Not really."
"All your attempts to hold me back only make me more curious. What are you plotting now?"
Kwon Taekjoo gazed carefully into Zhenya's pale eyes. Did he really not know what his family or Russia had planned? It wasn't surprising if he didn't.
From what Kwon Taekjoo had observed of him and what Olga had told him, Zhenya was treated as an outcast by his own family.
But Kwon Taekjoo couldn't bear the thought of Zhenya isolating himself even further because of him. He simply didn't want that to happen.
"Anyway, your hyung will leave first."
Kwon Taekjoo ruffled Zhenya's hair one last time before getting out of bed.
As he headed for the door, he gave Zhenya his usual warning.
"Ah, don't skip meals. Make sure you eat properly."
Zhenya rested his head on his arm and nodded, replying,
"I will."
Kwon Taekjoo stopped in his tracks, throwing him a sarcastic look.
"Don't think that'll work on me."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Your pretty face. It won't work on me, so don't try to charm me with it. I've had enough."
Shaking his head, Kwon Taekjoo finally left the room.
Zhenya let out a disbelieving laugh behind him.
A few moments later, the front door closed with a soft click.
The faint sounds of Kwon Taekjoo disappeared, leaving the house in deep silence.
The previously warm and lively atmosphere now seemed quiet and somber.
Zhenya's expression went blank. He smoothed out his tousled hair and tilted his head.
"Hyung?"
Remembering the Korean word Kwon Taekjoo sometimes used, he grabbed his phone.
After checking its meaning with an online translator, he smiled, satisfied.
A gleam of amusement danced in his blue eyes.
As soon as Kwon Taekjoo walked through the front door of his apartment, he heard bits of someone's voice coming from inside.
His mother seemed to be on the phone with someone.
Feeling the need for water, he headed to the kitchen and poured himself a glass from the tap.
While drinking it, his mother peeked in. Instead of greeting her, he acknowledged her with a small nod.
She gave him a brief disapproving glance before returning to her room.
As he gulped down the water, fragments of her conversation floated into the kitchen.
She was talking to his aunt in Canada.
Kwon Taekjoo sat at the dining table, waiting for his mother, She soon noticed.
Wrapping up the call, she told the other person they would continue the conversation later and then joined him at the table, sitting across from him.
"You're late."
"I had to stop by a few places on my way back."
"You look completely exhausted from working all night. Didn't you say that most of the heavy work was already done?"
"Yes, but Russia has been restless lately, so they've increased my workload. There's not much I can do when the higher-ups tell me to go; I go."
Kwon Taekjoo had told his mother he'd be working extra hours late into the night.
He'd gotten too used to lying to her like this.
After telling himself for years that it was for her own good, the guilt barely lingered anymore.
"The ambassador must be tired too, after such a long trip."
"Bah, it seemed like he was having the time of his life."
"Huh? Taekjoo, you're speaking so rudely about the ambassador again..."
His mother gasped, horrified.
She was ready to start lecturing him when Kwon Taekjoo slid something across the table.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"What is this?"
"A plane ticket. I left the return flight open so you can change it whenever you want."
"I'm not asking why you gave me this all of a sudden."
"Instead of worrying on the phone every day, go visit my aunt."
"What?"
"You told me she's undergoing major surgery. I'm sure the operation will go smoothly, but considering her age, the recovery will be tougher than the surgery itself. She's done a lot for us over the years. You should go support her in person. It'll also put your mind at ease."
Kwon Taekjoo had prepared this small gift, seeing how worried his mother was about her sister.
She wasn't tied down by work or household chores, so he hoped she wouldn't hesitate to go.
In reality, he was encouraging her to leave because he knew she was staying only for him.
More precisely, she always felt an urgent need to keep an eye on the house in case any family member came home.
As expected, she didn't accept the offer easily, despite probably having considered it for some time.
"But…"
"You don't need to worry about the ambassador's birthday. He doesn't seem to care much, and I'll make sure to prepare something nice."
"Even aside from that, what about you, Taekjoo?"
"What about me? Am I a seven-year-old?"
"I'm not treating you like a child. You'll have to handle household chores, your work, and all those extra hours… how will you even find time to eat properly? I'm worried you'll get sick from eating instant ramen every day and staying up too late playing video games."
"Ah... that's not something you need to worry about. Besides my healthy body and soul, I'm practically a zombie."
"You didn't have to put it like that... Are you sure you'll be okay without me?"
"Of course. Have you forgotten how old I am? People will start talking if they see you treating me like an abandoned child."
Kwon Taekjoo chuckled lightly, joking.
But his mother continued to look at him with concerned eyes.
Carefully, Kwon Taekjoo placed the plane ticket into her hesitant hands.
"Whatever you're worried about isn't going to happen. Let's just try to live a normal life like everyone else. We'll each do our part and support each other without worrying so much. Agreed?"
Kwon Taekjoo's mother had made great efforts to control her anxiety and overprotective instincts.
She regularly attended therapy and even went to the hospital for treatment when
needed.
The only reason she was as calm as she was now was thanks to Zhenya.
Because of him, Kwon Taekjoo had managed to avoid danger and return home safely on many occasions.
Zhenya had also stayed by her side and filled in for his absence when he wasn't around.
Kwon Taekjoo took her hand in his and gently squeezed it, trying to reassure her.
"Mom, instead of being just someone's daughter, someone's wife, or someone's mother... you need to find a name for yourself. Do the things you want to do, meet the people you've been putting off seeing."
Kwon Taekjoo had always wanted her to have a life for herself, not just for him. He wanted her to prioritize her own desires.
He wondered if he had managed to express his sincerity. Finally, his mother relaxed her shoulders and let out a small laugh.
She even tightened her grip on the plane ticket in her hands.
"You're sure I can leave and that I can trust you, right?"
"Of course. Who else would you trust but me?"
Kwon Taekjoo gave her a confident smile. She returned it with a contented smile of her own and began looking over the ticket.
Like an excited child, she started mumbling to herself about where she had put her passport, whether it had expired, and whether she was ready for her first trip abroad.
Kwon Taekjoo watched her, pleased.
However, the moment of peace was interrupted by a loud buzzing from his pocket.
He checked the caller ID. As usual, his instincts had been right.
It was another call from NIS headquarters.
As soon as Kwon Taekjoo arrived at headquarters, he headed straight for the director's office.
Even after letting Kwon Taekjoo in, Director Kwak's eyes remained fixed on the screen in front of him, his expression severe.
"Sir."
"Ah, you're here."
He looked up upon hearing Kwon Taekjoo's voice, and his tense expression softened.
"Did you get some rest?"
"Yes."
Director Kwak nodded and immediately launched into the matter at hand—an unusual occurrence that indicated the gravity of the situation.
"The mission has been authorized."
"When should I leave?"
"Before that, there's something you should know."
"What is it?"
"We'll be coordinating with the United States and Japan for this operation in Vladivostok."
Upon hearing this unexpected news, Kwon Taekjoo immediately asked,
"Coordination? Does that mean it won't be a solo mission?"
"Considering how difficult it was to gather the information, it's in our best interest to confirm its validity and handle things quietly on our end. And this way, it's much cleaner. If it turns out to be a false lead, we avoid criticism for raising an unnecessary alarm."
Director Kwak continued explaining in a tone that indicated he fully understood Kwon Taekjoo's concerns.
"But here's the thing... the goal of this mission isn't just to track North Korea's movements. Secret talks between North Korea and Russia could pose a threat to global peace.
If that's the case, we'll be forced to share whatever we find. It's better to involve allied nations now and receive their support than to be accused later of withholding critical information. Especially considering the location—Vladivostok."
It wasn't that Kwon Taekjoo didn't understand what he was saying.
Vladivostok was a hotspot for international diplomacy.
Ideologically, it was a battlefield between democracy and socialism, and geographically, it served as a link between Europe and Asia.
Additionally, it was a hub of high activity for diplomats and agents from various countries.
This meant that any espionage operation in that location could easily be discovered by either side. Instead of
risking unforeseen interference, the smartest course of action was to cooperate with other allied nations.
However, Kwon Taekjoo preferred working alone—that was the problem.
Although Zhenya often helped him, Kwon Taekjoo liked to analyze and resolve situations his way, even if that
meant bending the rules.
It was because he trusted his instincts more than any pre-planned strategy. It was already irritating enough to be forced to team up with another NIS agent or a specialist from time to time, but now he had to collaborate with foreign intelligence agencies.
He didn't like it at all.
"Sir, to be honest, it might look like 'cooperation' on the surface, but it'll quickly turn into an 'every man for himself' situation, with everyone protecting their own national interests."
"I'm aware of that. We're bound to face irregularities and inconveniences. But what choice do we have? The fate of the country is at stake. We can't afford to act on personal whims."
"Aah..."
"However, I'll promise you this: you won't have to interact directly with the foreign agents. We've reached an agreement to keep them on standby, only stepping in if you fail. In the meantime, we can make use of their information.
We still don't know what North Korea plans to bring to the table in Vladivostok or what tactics they'll use. Plus, you're only one person. Think of it as having more clones of yourself out there. Besides, doesn't the idea of giving orders to agents from other countries sound a little fun?"
"How could I even trust them in the first place? The moment things get tough, they'll only look out for themselves. I guarantee they'll intervene in whatever way they see fit and end up causing problems. It's happened to me too many times."
"You know, they asked the same question... how was it possible to trust everything to you?"
A sly smile appeared on Director Kwak's lips.
Just as Kwon Taekjoo didn't trust them, it seemed they had their own doubts about him.
Of course, it was amusing coming from them, considering they were likely aiming for a higher position after stealing information from others.
Frustration welled up inside Kwon Taekjoo, but he kept it in check, clenching his fists.
"We'll be handling this mission from start to finish, so don't worry too much. The NIS will fully support your autonomy. But there are a lot of people counting on this operation, so failure is not an option. Understood?"
"...Yes, sir,"
Kwon Taekjoo replied reluctantly.
Kwon Taekjoo's hesitation was evident, but orders were orders. He was blunt, stubborn, and sometimes bent the rules, but he never crossed the line.
His sharp survival instincts, honed by
the unfortunate circumstances of his family life, also increased his chances of completing the mission successfully.
That's why Kwon Taekjoo had become one of the top agents in the NIS over the past ten years.
Director Kwak turned his tablet toward Kwon Taekjoo, who still seemed wary.
"Let me give you the details of the operation. A few days ago, Kim Gil-ha, a member of North Korea's General Staff Department, visited the North Korean consulate in Vladivostok. Kim Gil-ha is the secretary of Sim Young-il, the head of operations.
It's likely that he went ahead of Sim Young-il to inspect the area before their upcoming secret conference with the Russians.
We've also had reports of other strange activity. For one, the Vladivostok Hotel, owned by the Bogdanov family, has stopped accepting reservations for two weeks.
The hotel usually hosts government events or banquets, not ordinary guests, but since yesterday, they've completely restricted access to visitors and cut off any communication with the outside world.
Additionally, we've learned that some areas of Russky Island in Vladivostok
have been restricted. Apparently, it's for underground water system maintenance and road repairs, but the timing couldn't be more convenient, don't you think?"
"If it's Russky Island, then..."
"Exactly. That's where the Far Eastern Federal University is located. They held a North Korea-Russia summit there a few years ago."
"Would they really meet in a place that's already been in the spotlight?"
"That might be exactly what they're going for. If high-ranking officials from both countries meet in total secrecy, it'll only lead to more speculation about their intentions.
But if they claim it's for technological cooperation, what better cover than a university? We need to keep all possibilities open. That's why we're coordinating with foreign intelligence agencies.
There are three possible meeting points for the North Korea-Russia talks... Russky Island's university, the Vladivostok Hotel where the North Korean delegation is staying, and Khasan train station."
"Khasan?"
"Traveling by plane isn't the only way to get from North Korea to Russia, you know."
Khasan was a small town in Russia's port province, located at the intersection of Russia, North Korea, and China.
With a population of just over three thousand, it had gained notoriety after a North Korean leader transferred trains there during a visit to Russia.
Russian railways were built with a track gauge of 1520 mm, while North Korea used the standard 1435 mm, meaning passengers had to change trains at Khasan station if they wanted to continue their journey by train.
The same went for cargo transport.
The constant flow of freight trains passing through the town was evidence of the enduring alliance between North Korea and Russia.
"A field agent reported some suspicious activity in the area. Despite being a military zone, there's an unusually high number of units stationed there. The surveillance is also tighter than usual."
The three potential locations for the North Korea-Russia conference were all suspicious.
Kwon Taekjoo knew that not even he could cover Khasan, Vladivostok, and Russky Island on his own.
It was also highly likely that the support he could receive from the NIS would be
limited. He had no choice but to admit that cooperation with foreign intelligence was essential.
In a dejected tone, Kwon Taekjoo asked,
"So, should I head to Khasan first?"
"No. There's already an American agent there, working as a train engineer. He'll alert us if anything suspicious happens. Our job is to wait at the airport in case the North Korean delegation decides to travel by plane.
We'll also monitor the Vladivostok Hotel, where the delegation will be staying, around the clock."
"And the Far Eastern Federal University?"
"Japan will take responsibility for that location. Our goal is to track all the delegation's movements and be prepared to meet the others if they head to the university or any other potential meeting sites."
"Hmmm... One wrong move, and all our efforts will go down the drain."
"I trust you won't let that happen. We're heading straight into enemy territory, so be prepared."
"Understood."
"If you fail, we'll have no choice but to resort to Plan B. It would be disheartening to see all our hard work fall into someone else's hands,"
Director Kwak added with a bitter laugh.
At first glance, his words seemed straightforward.
As if sharing the high-level information the NIS had to disclose to other
countries wasn't enough, they would also end up sharing all their successes and failures.
But to Kwon Taekjoo, it sounded more like a veiled warning not to let his relationship with Zhenya ruin the operation.
The fact that he was assigned to the
hotel owned by the Bogdanov family was probably a kind of test to gauge his loyalty.
Considering past events, Kwon Taekjoo wasn't at all surprised they suspected him.
He had already decided that this time he would keep business and his personal life completely separate.
Silently, he clenched his fist.
"I'll be expecting your results."
"Thank you. I'll head out now."
Kwon Taekjoo picked up the passport they had provided him and quietly left the office.
As soon as the door closed, a heavy sigh escaped his lips. His mind was swirling with various thoughts.
He couldn't let his personal feelings interfere with such a critical operation.
If he faltered for even a moment, many people would be hurt.
Was Zhenya really not involved in any of this? If, during the mission, Kwon Taekjoo encountered one of Zhenya's relatives, he would have to draw his weapon.
If Kwon Taekjoo pulled the trigger and harmed one of his family members,
would Zhenya really not care?
What if Zhenya himself showed up?
What if he had been lying about not knowing anything?
And if... As Kwon Taekjoo considered more and more possibilities, his mind became flooded with conflicting thoughts.
He shook his head, pushing aside the endless thoughts crowding his mind, inhaling and exhaling slowly to calm his tormented feelings.
His expression hardened with determination as he looked up again.
If he hesitated, and tightening his lips into a thin line, he strode down the hallway, his shadow flickering under the lights.
At this moment, he could only trust in Zhenya and his own resolve.