Office of the Chief Director of the NIS Foreign Intelligence Bureau.
A plaque reading,
"Director of Foreign Intelligence, Kwak Younghan"
sat on a large office desk.
Behind it, Director Kwak watched his monitor intently, his expression grim.
With the executive council meeting approaching, he was reviewing the profiles of undercover agents actively deployed in the Middle East.
He needed to find a suitable agent for the latest mission.
The situation called for a seasoned veteran, someone fiercely loyal...
someone with the judgment and determination to carry out the mission, no matter the risks.
Over the past few years, political shifts in Korea had led to significant structural changes within the NIS.
The former counterintelligence unit for North Korea had been merged into
the foreign intelligence division under the first deputy director.
This expansion had increased the agency's scope and responsibilities.
The only problem was that the number of agents had remained stagnant, and there were no new recruits willing to take on such dangerous missions today.
Meanwhile, the number of retiring agents kept rising, and there were fewer and fewer replacements to fill their roles, leaving the department overwhelmed.
Finding an agent familiar with the Middle East posed an even greater challenge.
Occasionally, individuals stationed there long-term would accept missions from the NIS, but many were double agents working for their own benefit.
Additionally, Iran was a state friendly to the North Korean regime.
Thus, he had to be especially careful in choosing whom to send on the mission.
He went over the work histories of several candidates again and again.
But despite the countless reviews, he couldn't find anyone who seemed fit for the mission at hand.
Grabbing his aching head, just about to take a break, a knock echoed through the office.
He quickly closed the files on his screen and called out,
"Come in."
His secretary entered promptly and bowed.
"What is it?"
"G1 wishes to see you urgently, sir."
Kwon Taekjoo?
Now?
What could he be doing here?
According to reports, he had been laying low at home.
Director Kwak had assumed he was quietly accepting his punishment, but perhaps that wasn't the case.
Was he here to plead his innocence again?
"Send him in."
After a brief moment of deliberation, Director Kwak decided to allow Kwon Taekjoo inside.
Once the secretary left, Kwon Taekjoo entered the office.
The director immediately set boundaries while Kwon Taekjoo greeted him with a bow.
"I have an important meeting after this. Ten minutes. That's all I can give you."
"I won't need that long."
"What brings you here? I recall clearly telling you I'd call you when the time was right. You should be resting at home."
"I want to know what happened to Park Jeong-ho."
Director Kwak tilted his head at the sudden request.
"That man should be long forgotten by now."
"I've been going over what happened again and again during my probation. The fact that our intelligence activities were exposed means that Russia and North Korea realized we've been
monitoring them. Despite their reputation for not caring what other nations think, they wouldn't continue their original plans as expected. But neither would they abandon it altogether, given the time and effort they've already invested. Are you sure Park Jeong-ho
returned to North Korea?"
Director Kwak didn't answer, simply staring at Kwon Taekjoo, who held firm with his unwavering gaze.
A long silence hung between them.
Finally, the director leaned back in his chair and shook his head, ending the conversation.
"Whatever happened, it's no longer in your hands."
"If the mission regarding this issue is still ongoing, I'd like to handle it myself."
"Look, I understand you want to tie up loose ends, but you need to stay out of this. Emotions will only interfere with our work."
"Can't you at least give me the chance to explain myself?"
Director Kwak raised his eyebrows at the question.
"Explain yourself?"
"I was pulled from the operation based on suspicions, accused of things I never did. It feels like all my years of work were thrown away. How long will I remain on probation? If I keep waiting, will anyone ever clear my name?"
"The fate of this country is at stake. We can't afford to worry about your personal honor..."
"If we lose even our honor, what else do we have in this line of work?"
"....."
An honorable sacrifice for the country. Without even that statement of respect, there would be nothing left to justify their sacrifices.
The personal lives they gave up and the lies they told their loved ones would have all been in vain.
"Let me finish this. Ambassador Bogdanov won't interfere this time. I'll prove my innocence through results."
Director Kwak's concerns only deepened.
The agency remained divided on what to do with Kwon Taekjoo.
The Anti-Communist Investigation Unit had pushed for a thorough investigation into his potential illegal ties with Ambassador Bogdanov, while the director had argued that Zhenya should be regarded as Kwon Taekjoo's personal informant.
After all, Zhenya's involvement had always played an essential role in NIS plans.
But in the end, they hadn't been able to reach a solution.
It was decided to delay the matter until Zhenya returned to Korea.
In the meantime, Kwon Taekjoo would be sidelined from all missions.
Any attempt to assign him a new mission would only meet strong opposition.
"I heard there's an upcoming tripartite summit with Russia, Iran, and Turkey in Tehran. That wasn't part of their original plans. Given the timing, they're likely going to discuss the Baekdu Mountain microbe."
"Likely? Yes, that's probable."
"And if I'm not mistaken, you don't currently have any agents ready to deploy in the Middle East."
"That is indeed our biggest setback."
Director Kwak relaxed, a smile breaking through his tense expression.
The truth was, the NIS had very few agents assigned to missions in the Middle East.
They needed a determined agent who wasn't motivated by personal gain and who was fiercely loyal to the mission.
A veteran with extensive experience.
Someone fluent in Persian and knowledgeable about the Middle East.
Only one man fit that description—Kwon
Taekjoo.
After a long pause, Director Kwak finally spoke, his tone grave.
"Not long ago, we received an urgent message from Park Jeong-ho."
"Park Jeong-ho?"
"Yes. He says that in exchange for giving us the information we need, he requests asylum in another country."
"But Park Jeong-ho has..."
"A family, yes. A wife and children."
Director Kwak handed Kwon Taekjoo his tablet.
As soon as the screen lit up, he saw a photo of Park Jeong-ho's family.
They looked like any normal, happy family.
When Kwon Taekjoo swiped to the next image, the screen displayed a local map of the border region between North Korea and China.
A theoretical escape route was marked on it.
"As you know, Russia, Turkey, and Iran are about to hold a tripartite summit. What's strange is that Park Jeong-ho will also be attending. He was granted authorization as part of a special
delegation and is now listed as a guest researcher at Pharmzaschita. Given the circumstances, it's likely that Russia will bring up the Baekdu Mountain microorganism during the conference. Iran and Russia have long been anti U.S. powers... and with Turkey's current
government leaning anti-U.S. and pro-Russian, it's no surprise."
"What do we need to do?"
"We need to extract Park Jeong-ho safely. While he's in Iran, a local group opposed to the regime will work with agents in China to evacuate his family from North Korea. Our job is to secure Park Jeong-ho before anyone realizes what's happening. We've already discussed our plans with the embassy in Iran."
So, they had to secure Park Jeong-ho, and in return, they would get information about the Baekdu Mountain microbe.
The mission itself seemed straightforward.
However, they only had one chance, and any mistake in timing would ruin everything.
Given that this was a summit conference, security measures would be tight.
In fact, it could be nearly impossible to
get close to Park Jeong-ho in such a setting.
Still, Kwon Taekjoo had to succeed.
Justifying his past unusual actions and proving his worth through action... was the only solution he could find for himself.
After leaving the director's office, Kwon Taekjoo soon found himself approaching the main entrance.
His gaze drifted to the dark marble panel above it.
Engraved into its surface were
just over twenty stars.
Beneath them, a small inscription read:
"We dedicate our lives to protecting the nation, following the paths of these noble lives, now silent stars."
These so-called
"Nameless Stars"
were a tribute to the agents who had died in the line of duty.
They also represented the footsteps of those who had walked the same dangerous path Kwon Taekjoo was now treading.
Their silent but noble sacrifices were what allowed South Korea to exist as it did today.
Everyone who enjoyed a peaceful life was indebted to them.
Yet, no one would ever know their names.
Such was the fate of intelligence agents.
Kwon Taekjoo had often wondered if he would one day lie among those stars.
He once believed that if he died for his country, it would at least give meaning to his death.
A normal life, success, love, friendship, money, fame...
he had set aside all those personal ambitions to choose a grueling and dangerous path, thinking that death could provide him with some kind of peace.
But did he still think that way?
Could he really spend his final moments at peace, knowing he would die without regrets?
He was lost in thought, questioning himself, when suddenly he heard a voice calling out from behind.
"Sunbae!"
When he turned around, he saw Yoon Jongwoo running towards him, out of breath.
For some reason, his face was pale.
"Hey, hey, you're going to trip."
"Aah, aah..."
"Ugh, you're so out of shape. You're always winded after running just a bit. I've told you before, you should start working out before it's too late."
"Aah, aah, is this really the time to talk about exercise?"
"Why not?"
"I heard you met with the chief director! Don't tell me they actually assigned you to the new mission."
"What do you mean 'don't tell me'? Who would be more suitable for the job than me?"
Yoon Jongwoo clenched his fist at Kwon Taekjoo's indifferent response and started yelling at him.
"I knew it! I knew this would happen. You should be resting... Why are you doing this to yourself when you've just come back? It's not like anyone's going to appreciate your efforts! They falsely accused you of a ton of things again. Do you really still feel so loyal to the
NIS?!"
"You're going to make my ears bleed, Jongwoo."
"I'm frustrated, okay? What are you, Superman? Is the entire country going to fall apart if you're not around? Why do you keep taking on these dangerous missions? That's a mental illness, you know... it's called a savior complex."
"...You bastard. You really laid into me today, didn't you? I was accused of something I didn't do, so I have to clear my name. If I just sit back and do nothing, who's going to do it for me? And,"
he added, as if muttering to himself,
"yeah, maybe I shouldn't go, but I'm not
going to let 'that bastard' turn into a criminal overnight."
Yoon Jongwoo was about to ask what Kwon Taekjoo meant when he suddenly stopped.
Kwon Taekjoo's gaze had shifted from him to the wall in front of them.
Yoon Jongwoo followed his eyes and saw the,
"Nameless Stars."
"Have you ever imagined yourself up there?"
"What? Why would you say something so horrible? That's the last thing I'd ever want!"
"Really?"
"Of course! Dying without anyone even knowing my name? What would be the point of dying for the country? My family would never know how or where I died, and the people I sacrificed my life to protect wouldn't even know I existed. And the government? They'd praise my noble death for a moment, only to set me aside and immediately find my replacement."
"Yet, here you are, still doing this job."
"No one thinks like you anymore, sunbae. What matters most is personal safety. If you have energy left after making sure of that, then you can think about serving your country. You don't have to waste your life to be a patriot... just working for the country and paying your taxes on time is more than enough."
Yoon Jongwoo was getting worked up, defending himself, when he suddenly turned on Kwon Taekjoo again.
"Sunbae, you should take my words to heart, too. Don't let yourself be tempted by grand ideals like loyalty, sacrifice, and honor. Think about your mother. It would be too cruel for her. You'd be the worst son in history!"
"I get it, brat."
Kwon Taekjoo reached out and pinched Yoon Jongwoo's cheek, then let go.
Yoon Jongwoo grabbed his face with both hands, making a show of how much it hurt.
As they bickered back and forth, Kwon Taekjoo couldn't take his eyes off the stars engraved on the monument.
Kwon Taekjoo entered Zhenya's home with a familiar ease.
The sound of the door closing behind him seemed to echo louder than usual.
He had always come here as if it were his own home, but today everything felt strange and foreign.
Maybe it was because the owner wasn't
there to greet him.
He walked slowly, carefully checking for any surveillance devices that weren't there before.
He always did the same, even though he knew Zhenya would never let anyone infiltrate his property easily.
Luckily, there were no signs of anyone else in the place.
Kwon Taekjoo started to open a window to let in some air but stopped himself.
The scent of Zhenya in the house had already faded to the faintest trace.
He didn't want to risk losing what little was left to the outside air.
He stood there, alone in the spacious house, before making his way to the fridge.
When he opened the door, he found some side dishes that he had put in the refrigerator himself, still untouched.
But the scrambled eggs he had made for Zhenya before he left for Vladivostok
were gone.
Had Zhenya eaten them or thrown them out?
He could imagine Zhenya sitting at the table alone, eating the poorly cooked meal, smiling at Kwon Taekjoo's pathetic attempt.
Kwon Taekjoo chuckled at the thought, but quickly composed himself and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
He had made quite a scene on Ajinoki Island, acting as if he would never see Zhenya again.
But now, without Zhenya, all he could think about was him.
He was as much of a lunatic as Zhenya was.
Kwon Taekjoo slowly settled onto the sofa.
His surroundings felt incredibly quiet, making his own breathing stand out.
When would he see Zhenya again?
Would Zhenya return as if nothing had happened once Kwon Taekjoo cleared his name and resolved all the misunderstandings?
And what if he didn't?
"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. The only time I won't be by your side is when you're dead."
When Kwon Taekjoo had left Zhenya on Ajinoki Island, he never thought about ending their relationship.
He had been so furious that his mission had been ruined and that Zhenya had put himself in danger that he couldn't bear to look at him.
Should he have held back?
"Taekjoo. Do what you want to do, and I'll follow you. I came all this way to devote myself to you. Every minute of your life, I'll always be chasing after you, now and forever. I might get annoyed sometimes, but one thing's for sure: I've never found anything as captivating as you."
Did Kwon Taekjoo really believe Zhenya wouldn't chase after him?
Did he really not see it coming?
He already knew exactly why Zhenya was staying in Korea when he had no
personal ties to the country.
"Oh? Are you saying you don't care about dying for your precious work? And I'm supposed to just stand by and watch? You fought desperately to survive when you fell into my hands,
but now you're willing to throw it all away? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard from you. Taekjoo, stop being so stubborn. Is that really what you want?"
Kwon Taekjoo had never worried much about his own safety during missions, believing he only needed to complete his work and return home safely, as he always did.
But maybe that had just been his arrogance talking.
What if the roles were reversed, and it was Zhenya taking on such dangerous missions?
Would Kwon Taekjoo be able to stand idly by if Zhenya said he was willing to sacrifice his life for his country?
No, absolutely not.
He would tell him to stop spouting nonsense and drag him by the collar.
Kwon Taekjoo scratched his head in frustration, scolding himself, when his eyes drifted to the laptop on the table.
A sudden memory came to mind.
He slowly pulled the laptop toward him and turned it on.
When it booted up, the system prompted him to identify himself with his fingerprint and iris.
He leaned forward, placed his thumb on the touchpad, and positioned his eye in front of the camera. After a moment, the
computer unlocked, revealing the home screen.
Only one app was installed.
"A home security camera? What's this about? Are you thinking of getting a dog?"
"Taekjoo, you really should show me more love and attention."
"What the hell are you talking about this time?"
Without a word, Zhenya launched the app.
Instantly, the screen was filled with a live feed from a camera.
Kwon Taekjoo immediately recognized the scene.
It was undoubtedly Zhenya's house on Ajinoki Island.
"Why install a home camera there? Planning to raise a pet on that island? You don't even go there often. Neglect is abuse, you know."
"Mh? So you know that, Taekjoo."
"Know what?"
"That neglect is abuse,"
Zhenya teased, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Kwon Taekjoo cleared his throat, uncomfortable, and changed the subject.
"So? What are you planning to do with this?"
"Taekjoo, you're always missing me and wondering what I'm up to, so I had no choice but to give you a way to check on me. Now, when I'm not around, you don't have to hug my poor pillow and fret. You can complain all you want right here."
"What the hell? When did I ever hug your damn pillow?!"
"Mmm. Still as shy as ever, I see."
"Seriously, why do something so useless like this? You know video calls exist, right? Couldn't you just call me?"
"Not exactly... I'm planning to cut off all communication with the island."
"So you want to isolate yourself even more than you already are?"
"Nothing wrong with that."
"Weirdo. Anyway, I don't need this, so get rid of it."
"I told you, there's no need to be embarrassed. Spy on me all you want."
Zhenya kept pushing the matter, so Kwon Taekjoo eventually gave in.
He figured it didn't matter if Zhenya installed a camera in his house as long as he didn't use it himself.
But, of course, that resolution didn't last long.
Zhenya frequently disappeared on his trips, and each time, Kwon Taekjoo was left without a way to contact him.
Apparently, Zhenya had followed through on his promise to cut off all communication with Ajinoki Island.