Tehran, Capital of Iran.
Even in the early hours of dawn, crowds of tourists came and went nonstop at Milad Tower.
From its observation deck, standing 435 meters high, one could enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city.
Blending in as just another tourist, Kwon Taekjoo used his spyglass to scan government buildings, mosques, and the airport in full.
His spyglass had a magnification lens powerful enough to reveal each tile on the Golestan Palace, located 15 kilometers away.
In the sunlight, the glass mosaic tiles shimmered on the palace, showcasing a distinctly Persian architectural style.
Surrounding Tehran was Mount Tochal, where snow remained year-round.
The exotic atmosphere created by the grand bazaar, the Imamzadeh Saleh shrine near the Tajrish bazaar, and the ash-colored houses lining the city made Kwon Taekjoo feel deeply immersed in its heart.
In the city center, security measures were underway in anticipation of the upcoming summit between Russia and Turkey.
Streets designated for official visitors were closed off, while patrol cars and military trucks circulated the area at 10-minute intervals.
Military police, organized in pairs, meticulously inspected each alley, working diligently to maintain public
order.
Kwon Taekjoo even managed to spot a few undercover agents lurking and snipers stationed throughout the area.
The entire city seemed locked down.
He had anticipated this level of surveillance.
From a technical standpoint, the operation was relatively simple.
There was no need to bypass multiple layers of defense to infiltrate enemy
lines, abduct targets, or steal specific items.
His only task was to gain entry to the hotel where the Russian delegation would be staying and establish contact with Park Jeong-ho.
Access and escape routes had already been planned.
Now, it was simply a matter of waiting for their safe arrival.
Given that this was a trilateral summit, security protocol would focus on the presidents.
Moreover, the Russian delegation wouldn't go out of its way to monitor Park Jeong-ho, an Asian man who would stand out among them.
Any attempt to do so would attract far too much attention.
["The Russian president's private jet has entered Iranian airspace."]
Kwon Taekjoo was about to check his wristwatch, expecting their arrival at any moment, when the confirmation he'd been waiting for finally came through his earpiece.
Through his spyglass, he scanned the sky and spotted an approaching plane from the East.
It was the Ilyushin IL-96, the Russian president's private jet.
The escorting Iranian fighter jets suddenly veered off in various directions, vanishing from sight.
Down at the airport, a crowd was already lined up to greet his arrival.
Typically, the prime minister received foreign dignitaries at summits, but today, in a rare display of formality, the Iranian president himself awaited.
["The Russian president's private jet has landed at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran."]
Kwon Taekjoo focused on the airplane door, now stationary.
It soon opened, revealing Russian President Lomonosov and his wife.
The pair paused briefly for a commemorative photo before descending the stairs to meet the Iranian president and his spouse.
Among the entourage, Kwon Taekjoo spotted the Russian president's advisor—a face he recognized all too well.
It was Zhenya's second older brother, Bazim.
"So he came all this way, huh? …I swear, he's always involved somehow,"
muttered Kwon Taekjoo, shifting his gaze to scan the faces of the rest of the group.
However, for some reason, he couldn't spot Park Jeong-ho, let alone any other Asian man.
Was he in disguise?
"Hmm, why would they go to such lengths to hide him? They must be really concerned this time."
Shaking his head, Kwon Taekjoo pulled a single-use contact lens from his jacket pocket.
He tore open the sealed packaging and carefully placed it in his eye, blinking to settle it in place.
After another look through his spyglass, he began scanning the faces in the group once more.
Numbers started appearing in his peripheral vision, listing the height of each individual.
Since Park Jeong-ho was 172 centimeters tall, identifying him wouldn't take long.
Narrowing his eyes, Kwon Taekjoo scrutinized each potential target.
The special lens pressed lightly against his eye, scanning each body within his view.
There was only one person not carrying a firearm.
"Target identified."
He quickly relayed the information and then refocused on the city.
Armed soldiers lined the restricted roads, while undercover agents discreetly took up their assigned positions.
Police officers began clearing pedestrians from the control lines, checking IDs of anyone suspicious.
Snipers were trained from various high structures—mosque towers, pillars, and rooftop terraces.
Just then, the Milad Tower, where Kwon Taekjoo stood, began to close off as well.
Security personnel came up, guiding all visitors down with the pretext of urgent maintenance work.
"I guess it's time I make my exit, too."
Blending in with the stream of tourists, Kwon Taekjoo descended the tower.
Once outside, he slipped into his parked vehicle with practiced ease, secured his phone in its mount, and activated the navigation system.
"G1 on the move. Requesting target location."
Moments later, the target's current position appeared on the screen, along with an estimated travel route and the best approach path to avoid restricted roads.
Kwon Taekjoo selected one of the routes and eased onto the main road.
["The target is moving along the usual route."]
The Iranian and Russian presidents, along with their entourages, sped down the road, flanked by dozens of police and security vehicles.
Traffic signals had been adjusted to clear their path, ensuring a smooth, uninterrupted passage.
Kwon Taekjoo kept a cautious distance,
trying to determine whether his target was moving within the expected zone.
He also needed to observe if his target interacted with others or if there were signs of anyone trailing them.
It was his job to protect the target if danger arose.
The navigation system guided him through narrow, deserted alleyways.
Kwon Taekjoo had no choice but to follow, as he needed to avoid restricted roads.
Although it was challenging to drive there with the numerous parked cars and pedestrians appearing unexpectedly, Kwon Taekjoo didn't slow down for a moment. With his level of experience, he could maneuver through such tight spaces with his eyes closed.
"... Huh?"
Kwon Taekjoo was driving at a steady pace when he felt a sudden wave of unease.
He slowed down to a stop, leaning forward, eyes fixed on the rooftop of a large hotel.
It was the kind of place where snipers would typically be stationed, yet for some reason, he couldn't spot any.
He continued scanning the rooftop with his spyglass, then inspected the building across the street.
The result was the same—no one was there.
Had the snipers already been pulled back?
Impossible.
His target was still en route to the
Sa'dabad Complex for the official assembly.
All security personnel were supposed to remain
in position until both delegations arrived safely at their destination.
Could something have forced the snipers to abandon their posts?
"... Eh?"
Just then, a figure emerged on the rooftop of the hotel Kwon Taekjoo had been watching.
The sniper, who had somehow managed to conceal his presence, had finally reappeared.
A similar movement occurred on the building across the street.
"What on earth are they doing?"
If they were really snipers, they wouldn't be allowed to lose sight of the target until the mission was complete.
That was the one absolute rule for all snipers, whether their purpose was to protect or eliminate a target.
If only one guard had left his position, it might have been understandable, but now more than one was breaking protocol.
Something was off.
Kwon Taekjoo had to find out what was going on.
"This is G1. Noticed an anomaly. I'll need to investigate before proceeding."
["G1, you're authorized to proceed."]
"Calling in support team. Requesting access to Espinas Hotel."
After calling for reinforcements, Kwon Taekjoo drove toward the suspicious hotel.
He flashed an Iranian police ID to the parking attendant who approached his vehicle.
"I'll be right back, so keep the car here."
"Yes, sir."
He exited the vehicle and entered the hotel.
The lobby was bustling, likely because check-in time was nearing its end.
Staff hurried back and forth, rushing to push carts and assist guests.
Kwon Taekjoo quickly reached the reception desk, where he once again presented his police ID.
"I'm with the police. Due to a VIP security issue, I'm here to ensure the hotel's security staff are performing their duties correctly."
"Oh, we were instructed to check the identity of all visitors. If you don't mind, could we make a copy of your ID, sir?"
"Go ahead."
The receptionist left the counter and headed into a back room.
It seemed to be taking a while, likely because they were calling the police station to confirm his credentials.
They were being very thorough in their inspection… could his suspicions have been unfounded?
Although Kwon Taekjoo wondered if he'd wasted his time by stopping here, he couldn't shake the strange feeling of unease.
"Thank you for your patience, sir."
The receptionist soon returned, handing back his ID.
His support team must have successfully intercepted the call.
"You're authorized to inspect the hotel, but due to our policy, we can't provide you with a master key. Our security team will accompany you instead."
"Ah, that won't be necessary. I'm just here for a quick sweep of the area."
"I'm sorry, but we need to keep track of everything happening in the hotel."
They couldn't have been more strict with protocol.
Kwon Taekjoo knew that if he did anything to raise suspicion now, it would only make things harder later on.
Two imposing security guards approached from the surveillance office and escorted him to an exclusive staff elevator.
He followed without protest.
Although the elevator was spacious, the presence of three men made the space feel almost claustrophobic.
One of the guards scanned his access
card and looked at Kwon Taekjoo, waiting for him to select the floor.
Kwon Taekjoo pressed the button, and the doors closed silently.
When the elevator reached the top floor, Kwon Taekjoo was the only one who exited.
He dragged the two unconscious guards into a nearby utility room and left them inside.
After removing their radios and access cards, he quickly ascended the restricted emergency staircase.
Moving soundlessly, he headed toward the rooftop.
It didn't take him long to reach its
entrance.
Silently, he raised his wristwatch toward the heavy door and used a specialized lens to scan the area beyond with a thermal map.
One figure lay collapsed on the ground, while another was poised to fire.
Kwon Taekjoo suspected the downed sniper had been part of the Iranian security team and had been ambushed by an infiltrator with an objective other than protecting the main target.
There was no way to confirm who the intruder on the other side of the door was targeting.
The main issue was that this sniper could disrupt the plans of the Russian delegation and, in turn, ruin Kwon Taekjoo's own mission.
He had to stop him.
Kwon Taekjoo pulled out a small explosive and attached it to the door.
After taking cover by the stairwell, he pressed a side button on his wristwatch.
Moments later, the bomb detonated,
blowing the door off its hinges.
Amid the ensuing chaos, Kwon Taekjoo rolled onto the rooftop and fired at the figure that appeared on his thermal map.
The sniper dropped instantly, with no chance to react.
Suddenly, a bullet whizzed past him from behind.
The sniper in the building across seemed to have noticed the situation.
Ducking as low as he could, Kwon Taekjoo sprinted toward the wall where the sniper's rifle was positioned.
A hail of bullets rained down on him as he advanced.
After narrowly dodging each shot, he slid to the wall and launched his counterattack.
Soon, the torrent of bullets aimed at him ceased.
Kwon Taekjoo hadn't aimed precisely, but it seemed he'd managed a lucky shot.
With the sniper rifle in hand, Kwon Taekjoo scanned the rooftops of nearby buildings through the scope.
Suddenly, he felt a chill at the back of his head—a sense of panic.
He swung around with the rifle, but the sniper he had in his sights was already aiming right at him.
Just as Kwon Taekjoo realized it was too late, the sniper collapsed abruptly, taken down by another shooter.
Kwon Taekjoo moved the rifle from side to side, trying to locate the person who had fired the shot.
But the silhouette that had just saved him lingered in his line of sight for only a moment before vanishing like a wisp of smoke.
Zhenya?
No, it couldn't be.
The aura felt different.
Kwon Taekjoo was sure of that, even though he'd only seen them for a fraction of a second and from far away.
But if it wasn't Zhenya, then who was it?
He didn't have much time to ponder it, because a bullet shattered the railing in front of him.
Kwon Taekjoo quickly swung his rifle in the opposite direction, aiming at the source of the shot, but saw the sniper standing there in full view.
It was an act bordering on suicidal.
Kwon Taekjoo frowned, ready to pull the trigger.
Strangely enough, he could've sworn he locked eyes with the sniper through his scope.
The way he slowly shook his head seemed ominous.
"... What the hell?"
["G1, we have reports of an explosion at the location. Police units are en route. We need your status."]
"Later."
Kwon Taekjoo postponed his report, picking up the communicator from the unconscious sniper beside him and placing it in his ear.
Each time the sniper in the other building moved his lips, words in Persian echoed through his earpiece.
["Panj, chahar, se, do, yek."]
It was a countdown.
Kwon Taekjoo frowned and looked back at the sniper, who had climbed onto the railing and shouted a final word before jumping to his death.
["Inshallah."]
As his last words echoed in the communicator, a thunderous noise erupted from below.
As if on cue, dozens of drones shot up into the sky.
"... What?"
The drones moved in perfect unison in one direction... toward the route where the Russian and Iranian delegations were traveling.
It couldn't be.
As a deep sense of dread seized his
mind, a series of massive explosions shook the city.
The intense shock waves reverberated
through the ground beneath his feet.
Suddenly, the whole city fell silent. Kwon Taekjoo's head began to spin.
The only proof that time hadn't stopped—and that the scene before him was real—was the sight of dark columns of smoke spiraling up from the main road.
The police vehicles patrolling nearby alleys immediately turned toward the site of the explosion.
Meanwhile, pedestrians clung to the edges of the sidewalks, casting anxious glances in all directions.
Kwon Taekjoo, who had instinctively ducked upon hearing the explosions, quickly checked his target's status.
However, there was no marker on his map.
"Damn it, what the hell is going on?"
["G1, an explosion of unknown origin was detected near the target. Suspected terrorist attack."]
"… A terrorist attack?"
It didn't matter who was behind it or why.
Kwon Taekjoo's crowded mind focused on one thought… he needed to locate his target.
Kwon Taekjoo quickly descended from the rooftop and rechecked the location of his target.
"Where is the target now?"
["Unable to confirm location at this time. Please verify the target's position."]
"Damn it…"
Kwon Taekjoo stood by the elevator and impatiently pressed the down button, making the descent feel like an eternity.
He was about to look for another elevator when he noticed something unusual.
Both elevators in service were heading up to the top floor.
It was likely the police had arrived, responding to the explosions and gunfire on the rooftop.
At this rate, Kwon Taekjoo would easily become the prime suspect in the terrorist attack.
"Support team, I need reinforcements."
A moment later, both elevators stopped.
Kwon Taekjoo took this chance to sprint to the emergency stairwell, jumping down several steps at a time.
Using his momentum, he jumped onto the railing, sliding downwards.
Kwon Taekjoo had just reached the lower floor when the emergency stairwell door burst open, revealing two guards.
"Freeze!"
Kwon Taekjoo ignored the command, leaping to the opposite wall and kicking off it to deliver a powerful kick to the face of the guard charging toward him.
Then, he hooked his leg around the other guard's leg, pulling him down, and followed up with a punch.
After subduing both guards with ease, he grabbed their radios and spoke into them.
"Emergency stairwell, all clear."
Then he pushed through the door and made his way outside as if nothing had happened.
The lobby was completely empty, likely evacuated for safety.
Kwon Taekjoo crossed the lobby and got into his vehicle, which was still parked by the entrance.
As soon as he started the engine, he sped toward the main road, the source of the explosions and gunfire.
The unexpected terror attack had thrown the roads into chaos.
Traffic lights were useless, and cars were scattered across multiple lanes, some even crossing the median.
Numerous people abandoned their vehicles in panic, fleeing on foot.
Kwon Taekjoo honked irritably as
pedestrians darted recklessly in front of his car.
"Get out of the way! Ugh, they're putting themselves at risk. Let me through!"
The military police guarding the perimeter were equally disoriented, unable to tell friend from foe.
They seemed unsure where to focus, as if any semblance of control had vanished.
In their defense, there were injured victims everywhere.
As the black smoke began to partially clear, Kwon Taekjoo could see multiple bodies lying in the streets.
Among them were government agents assigned to security protocol, as well as ordinary civilians.
Screams and cries of distress echoed from all directions.
The air was thick with the smell of
gunpowder, molten metal, and blood, making it hard to breathe.
It was a hellish scene.
"Damn it, where is Park Jeong-ho?"
The site of the terrorist attack was even more horrific.
The explosions had shattered the
barricades, scattering debris along the street.
The roads were filled with abandoned vehicles, many riddled with bullets or burning down to their frames.
The pavement, once smooth, was now marked by deep craters and scorch marks.
Human remains and twisted metal littered the area.
Gunfire still echoed nearby.
Apparently, the Iranian special forces were locked in an intense battle with the terrorists.
Overhead, drones swarmed in endless clusters.
There were too many for simple reconnaissance.
Just as Kwon Taekjoo had feared, one of them dove toward the battlefield and erupted in a violent explosion.
At this rate, would the delegations of both countries survive?
And what would happen to Park Jeong-ho?
But amidst the chaos, an exceptionally good piece of news crackled through his
communicator.
["G1, target location identified."]
Moments later, Kwon Taekjoo's phone screen displayed the target's position.
Due to the unexpected terror attack, it was likely that all official plans would be canceled.
Even the summit conference could be called off, which meant there was a strong chance park Jeong-ho would have to return to North Korea.
If that happened, Kwon Taekjoo would be heading back with yet another failed mission.