DW | Chapter 1.1

It was where the sea and the river met. Saltwater and freshwater of different densities mixed together. The seawater sank, and the river water floated. Different temperatures and water qualities intertwined and spread out.

This estuary was the final destination of a vast ecosystem. It was the root of life extending into the sea. It was a habitat for various creatures—and a special brackish water zone. And it was the world’s major production and supply site for the new drug Gracledine, also known as Wicked.

A dynamic city that thrived around the coastal trading port.

Bardiff was slowly dying.

[Year of Visiting Bardiff]

Standing behind a long banner written in Hangul, Go Haedeun waved at the bustling crowd. As a consul belonging to the South Korean Consulate in Bardiff, he warmly welcomed the veterans arriving at the airport.

“Welcome to Bardiff, the city of water, Korean War veterans!”

There were three main types of intelligence agents dispatched overseas by the National Intelligence Service: Black agents, White agents, and Gray agents—somewhere in between.

Black agents, or Blacks, were those who concealed their true identities and disguised themselves as civilians—businessmen, religious figures, and so on.

They secretly collected confidential information or intelligence from the host country’s agencies or contributed to national interests through illegal means, risking their lives on dangerous operations.

On the other hand, White agents, or Whites, were mostly officially dispatched to embassies or consulates to perform diplomatic duties and enjoy the protections of their position. Unlike Blacks, they were within the sight of local intelligence agencies and could only engage in legal intelligence activities.

Go Haedeun, the consul stationed in Yojeta Bardiff City, was precisely that: a White.

“The Earth began in the sea, and its end is unknown. Sometimes the sea is a vast wilderness, but there, humans are never alone. You can feel the tremor of life everywhere. Bardiff is a very beautiful city adjacent to this sea. I hope you have a happy time. This way, please! Exit 8!”

The reason he had appeared at Bardiff Airport for a task that wasn’t even part of his job was due to an operation by the National Intelligence Service.

Today, intel was received that one of the domestic distribution brokers of Wicked would be entering Korea. The top Black agent of the National Intelligence Service was the architect of this operation. Rumor had it this person had never failed—even once. The operation was supposed to proceed smoothly.

The problem was that this place was Bardiff—rapidly becoming a ruin.

If there was an operative agent executing the operation, there had to be a support agent backing them. That very support officer was indiscriminately attacked on the way home early yesterday morning. The overseas intelligence team 3, already short on manpower, was thrown into chaos.

Desperate, they sought help from Haedeun at the consulate.

In other words, he’d been involuntarily drafted into another team’s work.

‘They should be arriving soon.’

Checking his wristwatch, Haedeun skillfully guided the elderly veterans. They all seemed excited, looking at the changed airport and reflecting on the decades that had passed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs—aiming to avoid provoking neighboring countries—had been debating whether to relocate the consulate. If the veterans hadn’t been elderly, the plan would’ve been killed in the early stages.

Swallowing a bitter smile, he sent off the last person and began walking with his colleagues behind them. He was anxiously checking his watch once more when it happened.

Someone in a black suit suddenly appeared beside him.

There had been no presence—he hadn’t even realized someone was approaching until they lightly bumped shoulders. Judging by the shadow cast to the side, it was a tall and handsome person.

Haedeun spoke in fluent Yojeta, his accent rather elegant.

[Ah, excuse me. Have a pleasant trip…]

“1265.”

The other person cut in abruptly, catching him off guard.

The low voice was impressive.

The four-digit code was a unique format used by the National Intelligence Service, typically to indicate one’s affiliation. 1265 referred to the 2nd Bureau under the 1st Deputy Director in charge of overseas affairs, the Overseas Investigation Team 6, and a Grade 5 agent. It was a code that referred to Haedeun.

Haedeun took a deep breath inwardly. ‘This person must be Cha Jaeha.’ Since this person knew his identity, it had to be the agent he was scheduled to meet. He had been eagerly waiting for the day he would meet him.

Keeping his composure, Haedeun carefully replied so that the elderly people a few steps ahead wouldn’t hear. His gaze was fixed straight ahead.

“That’s correct. Team Leader Cha Jaeha?”

“Next to the escalator we just passed.”

As expected, his Korean was mature. They said he was from the military. His tone was oddly concise and bureaucratic.

“Which side of the escalator exactly…?”

Before he could even finish his sentence, the presence disappeared. He quickly turned around, but the black silhouette he was looking for was gone.

Feeling perplexed, Haedeun turned towards the opposite direction from where people were gathering. He naturally blended into the crowd and headed towards the escalator they had just passed.

There was no man on the escalator, either above or below. That left only behind the pillar next to it.

As he approached quickly, as he had guessed, the side profile of a man in an immaculate black suit appeared.

His tall and well-built frame immediately caught the eye.

“Excuse me. Team Leader Cha?”

The man, leaning against the pillar with his arms crossed, turned to look at him.

At that moment, Haedeun’s movement came to a sudden halt.

The man who was finally revealed was a handsome man with a pale and cold face. His features were drawn sharply on his flawless skin under his slightly parted bangs. The line from his T-zone to the tip of his nose was delicate and sharp. His almond-shaped eyes, elegantly extending like the hull of a ship, exuded a classical elegance. Perhaps because of the cold gaze beneath them, he gave off a peripheral and dangerous impression.

It felt like looking at the result of an eugenics study.

The man’s well-shaped lips, tinged with a hint of red, parted smoothly.

“Did you bring it?”

His tone was polite yet authoritative.

It seemed this man was indeed the right one.

“Yes, Team Leader. The automatic immigration process is complete, and the ticket is one-way. You’ll be contacted by headquarters for the ticket when you return.”

Haedeun rummaged through his bag and handed the man a pouch containing a forged passport and flight ticket. Cha Jaeha unzipped it, checked the passport, took only the contents, and swiftly returned the pouch.

“Yes, thank you for your work. You can go now.”

When Haedeun, who had received it absentmindedly, looked up, he was already walking away.

Haedeun hurriedly ran to block his path.

“Team Leader. Just a moment.”

Cha Jaeha, who was moving quickly as if pressed for time, looked puzzled.

He seemed to not understand why his view was blocked by a person.

“When a subordinate blocks a superior without permission, there must be a good reason, right?”

Even though his tone was smooth, it sounded like he wouldn’t let it slide unless there was a good reason.

His demeanor was calm, but it seemed like a rather urgent situation, so Haedeun quickly got to the point.

“It’ll only take a moment. I heard that another operative who was supposed to arrive at the airport is late. I was told you might need help, and if that’s the case, I’d like to assist.”

Cha Jaeha, who had tucked the passport inside his jacket, looked directly at him. His gaze was so calm it was almost serene, yet when it met his, it was surprisingly intense. It seemed he was indeed in need of assistance, as he was carefully observing him, assessing both his appearance and endurance.

Haedeun bit his lip tightly, trying to maintain his composure.

After a moment of patience, Cha Jaeha finally spoke.

“1265?”

Haedeun, eager to make him recognize his name, quickly stated his rank and name.

“Ah. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m from the 2nd Bureau, Team 6, Go…”

“Let’s skip the introductions since we probably won’t see each other again. You’re a White, right?”

He wasn’t interested in hearing it, so it was a valiant failure.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Have you ever been on the field?”

“I was in the intelligence team 3 years ago.”

“Three years, huh. So you haven’t been on the field in the past three years.”

“Yes, although I’m currently with the investigation team.”

He tilted his head slightly and cut off Haedeun’s words.

“It’s a busy field. Just answer concisely to what I don’t know.”

Haedeun reflexively clamped his mouth shut, wasting a few seconds as he racked his brain.

The National Intelligence Service was a group extremely sensitive to hierarchy, even more so than the military at times. If he said to go, Haedeun would have to turn back without question.

He had come this far. There might not be another excuse to meet Cha Jaeha again. He couldn’t let this golden opportunity slip away.

After much deliberation, Haedeun squeezed out every element that might make Cha Jaeha choose him.

“I’m fluent in Yojeta. Just in case, I thoroughly reviewed the airport terminal service map. I’ve visited Bardiff Airport multiple times for consulate work, so I’m capable of handling emergencies. I have a rough idea of the current situation, so I believe I can be useful.”

“Are there any other agents besides 1265 at the airport?”

“I’m the only one with field experience.”

Cha Jaeha didn’t seem very keen. It was as if he had eaten expensive but tasteless food. He seemed to not understand why a peculiar White would volunteer to help with Black’s work, which was usually avoided.

Perhaps luck was on his side. Cha Jaeha seemed to have decided that having even a cat’s paw was better than nothing. He moved to a more secluded area and gestured with a nod.

As Haedeun quietly followed, he spoke in a low voice.

He used a tone adept at managing people.

“How much do you know?”

“I understand it’s an operation to transport a domestic distribution broker of Wicked. I heard Incheon Customs, the National Police Agency, and the company are cooperating. There’s enough evidence, so they’ll arrest him right at Incheon Airport.”

“If you know that, you know everything. Just follow orders.”

“I’ll do my best to assist you, Team Leader, to ensure no civilian casualties.”

It was clear he wasn’t pleased with the declaration.

He seemed to scrutinize him with narrowed eyes, then pointed out in a calm tone.

“The field isn’t a place to complete a mission of saving the public. Your mission is to follow orders, and your duty is to do your job even if your family’s life is at stake. If you don’t understand, memorize it.”

No one understood that better than he did.

Haedeun didn’t bother to voice that dreary talk.

“Yes, understood.”

“I’ll explain as we go, so follow me.”

There was no time to ask questions. He turned around immediately.

Haedeun, with words he wanted to say filling his mouth, followed him for now.

By the way.

‘Wow, Cha Jaeha really is a real person.’