---

good to go!”

It was a time of parting and severance.

Yesterday and today had bid farewell to each other, and the connections and unity had scattered like ashes in the wind.

Every moment was filled with suffocating silence. While masks protected people from infectious diseases, they also stifled even the roars rising from our throats.

Daily life floundered like a lonely signal in the void, desperately searching for lost normalcy. Yet nobody could dare to believe that we could return to the old days.

In this breathless silence, an empty wail echoed throughout the era.

What could be cut off was severed, and what could be hidden was shoved under the carpet in a time filled with disconnection.

We were now traversing such an era.

—

Side Episode – Razor Blade and Broom

Official confirmation finally came after a noticeable drop in COVID-19 cases: the ban on gatherings was officially lifted.

Masks said their goodbyes.

The daily life that had been on hold for three years began to rise again within less than a year, fueled by the repressed backlash and compensatory psychology.

However, amidst the gradual recovery of daily life, the world was suffering from severe economic issues and military conflicts.

Just as the pain of the pandemic was fading, a paradoxical situation arose where blood and tears shook the world.

But ironically, my daily life was as peaceful as could be.

“Hey, check this out.”

While scooping a spoonful from my earthenware pot, my colleague, who was staring at his smartphone, shoved the screen in front of my face.

It was Al-Jazeera.

The footage on the tiny iPhone was unmistakably produced by the Qatari state-run media, evident from the Al-Jazeera logo clearly occupying the lower left corner of the screen.

I paused stirring my pot and slowly checked the video.

The protagonist of the video, which was more than 70% covered in mosaic, turned out to be a man.

He was furiously firing shells at somewhere while his Soviet-made mortar remained fixed on the terrace.

Once the mortar shook a couple of times, I easily guessed the man’s identity.

“That’s a Hamas member.”

“You recognized him? How did you know?”

“The strap tied to the mortar.”

The strap, written in white Arabic on a green background, hung between the legs and body of the Soviet mortar. It was an object that anyone could identify as belonging to Hamas.

And what media outlet was reporting it? Al-Jazeera, of course.

“They’ve only been reporting on Israel lately. If they’re dressed in civilian clothing and firing a mortar, they must be Hamas.”

Since the conflict erupted between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Al-Jazeera had relentlessly criticized the Israeli government.

Bending your arm inward—naturally, the Qatari state-run media, Al-Jazeera, would lean towards Palestine rather than the Jewish state of Israel. (For reference, Qatar is an Islamic nation.)

And how severe must Israel have been?

A junior colleague, splitting a piece of grilled meat, added in a small voice.

“Last year, an Al-Jazeera correspondent was killed during an IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) airstrike. It created quite a hostile atmosphere in Doha.”

“Doha? How do you know about that?”

“I have a friend working in Doha. He’s in his second year now.”

“He must be quite the go-getter to head to Qatar by now.”

My colleague from Busan cast a sidelong glance at the junior sitting next to him and tossed out a question.

He was a friend who had earned the nickname “Moon Bear” ever since a drill instructor joked, “Did you come down from Jirisan and not from Busan?” after seeing him.

Additionally, the junior was nicknamed “Parrot,” not because he was cute like one, but because when asked about his hobbies during an interview, he shockingly replied, “Watching parrot videos,” and the office staff started calling him that.

(For reference, the person who heard that response was so stunned they couldn’t utter a word.)

“Israel and Palestine are fighting like there’s no tomorrow, making it hard to catch a break. How does the Middle East keep on fighting like this?”

The “Puri Duo” comprising the Moon Bear of Jirisan and the Parrot quickly ignited the peaceful lunch atmosphere with their banter.

As each employee seated around the table began speaking up, the surrounding buzz quickly grew louder.

“The Middle East has always been like that. Where have you been? If you’re in charge, it’s about time you got used to it.”

“I’m a specialist in Persia, okay? How dare you compare those Arabian riff-raffs to me? Doesn’t the Persian empire look like a joke?”

“Eastern Europe is equally noisy, right? Moscow and Kyiv are like that too. I heard Yerevan and Baku are also going through some tension.”

“Have those Azeris fired up again? Haven’t they been quiet since ’22?”

“A friend went on a business trip to Nouméa, and I’m worried. The rumors from the Paris office are rather unsettling. The on-ground news is all grim.”

“Well, they’re on the better side compared to Beijing. Can’t you see those bastards acting up again? Seriously, those thugs know no bounds.”

The world is a chaotic place.

The disputes between Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Armenia… they’re all ready to tear each other apart.

When a familiar topic came up, the employees spoke up, leading to a noisy debate. Regardless, I quietly continued to scoop up bulgogi while waiting for the conversation to subside.

While issues regarding military conflicts may seem profound, nowadays, in the 21st century, the stories of war are mere snippets of interest passing by on screens.

No matter how you phrase it, it ultimately seems like stories of far-off lands.

The once hot topics that stirred the globe have long since cooled off.

Like the North Korean Red’s overflown waste disposal plots (missile test) that barely made it to the Naver news page.

Similarly, the employees of the company lost interest in them as well.

Not surprisingly, what my colleague brought up soon got overshadowed by an entertainer’s comeback news streaming out from the gookbap shop TV.

“Hey? Yo! Lee Song-ha’s comeback is finalized!”

“Really? How many years has it been since he last appeared?”

“When’s the last time it’s been since we heard from Lee Song-ha? Honestly, I’d much prefer Baek Seol-ha. Don’t you think so, Team Leader?”

“Has it been about seven years? When I was following Lee Song-ha’s concerts, I was stationed in Yeoncheon. Time flies.”

“Stop with that old-time rant and just eat. Don’t complain about not having the energy and trembling hands this afternoon.”

“Why would you say something like that?”

“Did you forget about last month when you were stuck on duty and complained about feeling weak in front of the manager?”

“Aah…”

In the blink of an eye, the topic shifted once more. Conversations flowed like a stream of consciousness.

“Everyone, buy some NVIDIA stocks. They’re hot right now.”

“I’m stuck, can’t buy.”

“Stuck where?”

“Intel.”

—

Stock talk.

“So, who’s going on vacation?”

“That’s me.”

“Oh~ our Dong-wook is taking a vacation after six months? Jealous, you bastard. Congratulations.”

—

Talk of vacations.

“Right. I heard you guys are going for a dispatch to Japan?”

“Ah, seriously? I didn’t hear about that. Where to?”

“Tokyo. It’s a embassy thing.”

“Looks like a fortunate spin. Bring a girlfriend back with you. You have to bring one back.”

“2D? Or 3D?”

“Are you crazy?”

“Oh, I almost forgot. But don’t mention this in front of Deputy Director Choi. He’s in a bad mood now.”

“Wow, is it again?”

“He got rejected.”

“Wasn’t this the second time? Sigh… it seems he’ll only go up to Major.”

—

Talk about promotions and more.

Gathering among employees, the conversations hardly landed on anything extraordinary.

In the monotony of repetitive days, the occurrence of extraordinary events is as rare as a meteor striking your head.

My life consisted mostly of humble ordinary moments.

—

The day always starts with exhaustion.

“I don’t want to go to work.”

Hoping that a meteor might fall from the sky while sleeping, I opened my eyes after 3 hours and 53 minutes to find a gloomy morning.

Once again, I cursed the sun, a cosmic slave that has never participated in a strike, then stepped into the bathroom.

Getting ready for work is just a matter of cleaning up and slapping on some civilian clothes before wearing a tie—done. The problem was not the preparation, but the act of going to work itself.

“Excuse me! I’ll be passing through!”

The road to the bus stop near the office was long and treacherous. First, I had to brave through the overcrowded rush hour to catch public transport.

The overcrowding in the bus, combined with the smell of passengers, posed a risk comparable to the Jewish transport train to Auschwitz. Young kids were bullying each other while proudly adorned with backpacks, leaving one wondering if their family education was obtained through Maple.

Not to mention, the middle-aged man shouting at me to get out of the way, the elderly man speaking loudly on the phone, and the other passengers who had settled in at the entrance, among whom the list goes on.

After navigating through that perilous gauntlet for about an hour and 12 minutes, I finally arrived at the office.

“Ah…”

Letting out a sigh of relief at the sight of the office, I immediately headed over to the GS convenience store next door.

I bought bread and milk with the “National Loyalty Card,” which I had haphazardly skipped breakfast for, along with snacks for work and cigarettes that I dropped while on duty yesterday.

Once I piled various items up at the register, glancing at the clock as the cashier hurried to scan the barcodes, I noticed it was 07:19.

With a relaxed heart, I exited the convenience store and entered the building, greeting the security guard by the door.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yes~ have a great day!”

After greeting the guard while carrying my bag, I scanned my RFID access card, chatted a bit, and then shuffled up to my office, where I lit a cigarette with other staff members.

Just as my behind met the seat at my partitioned area, the clicking of the Ministry of Defense clock initiated my day.

“Ah, it’s cold.”

“Hey, Jong-heon. Hurry up; why are you moving so slowly?”

“I’m on it; I’ll start right away.”

“Good. Don’t slack off on morning exercises today. If you’re as limp as before, I’ll just yank your spine out!”

Ignoring the voice of the director scolding the junior behind, we synchronized our movements to the exercise.

Just like every other morning, the morning exercise was just morning exercise. The difference lay in the fact that unlike field troops, we did them sitting at our desks.

Crack, pop, creak. The sounds of bones and joints screaming were resounding. Ugh, ow, aghh. Wailing echoed from all around.

Am I really hearing those sounds come from human bodies? I couldn’t help but wonder as old officials seemed to have eaten two bowls of rice cake soup as kids, throwing in eerie remarks of “Oh~ so refreshing!”

(For reference, these people are still in their 30s and 40s.)

Having stealthily completed the morning exercises from the back row, we dispersed to our offices, and when situational reports were finished, it was time for work.

When it came down to it, work wasn’t all that special and mostly consisted of ongoing administrative tasks.

“Where’s that personnel officer?”

“The personnel officer just went to the bathroom.”

“What? That guy’s no matter what I’m asking for, he’s never around.”

“I’ll let him know when he comes back. Is it alright if we guide you to the office?”

“Sure.”

“Who was in charge of Vietnamese translations again?”

“Private Soon-jae.”

“Should I call him over?”

“Yeah, bring him over.”

“Loyalty! Did you call for me?”

“Hey, you made it? Can you just translate a few documents?”

“Um… isn’t that what Staff Sergeant Kwon usually did? He’s better at Vietnamese than me.”

“He’s on leave. You’re the only one in the office who can translate right now. Plus, you’re in the department of Vietnamese studies, aren’t you?”

“But I’m only a freshman!”

“Well, good luck. I’m always rooting for you.”

“Team Leader? I accidentally entered an incorrect value in this document; what should I do?”

“What do you mean, what should you do? Fix it!”

“The submission deadline is 11 AM today. This is supposed to go to the national document…”

“…Hey you idiot! How can a Captain like you not keep track of your paperwork? You should’ve checked that beforehand! See you later.”

“What are you looking at?”

“Stocks.”

“What an idiot, doing stocks in the office… What did you buy?”

“NVIDIA. Their stock price is skyrocketing lately. You should buy some too.”

“Not a chance. I’m too scared. Just be careful not to get caught during the security check. Don’t let the Executive Director see you.”

“How long have I been around? Don’t sweat it, buddy.”

“Damn, is everyone preparing well for the sports day?”

“Yes, we’re preparing well.”

“Great, let’s achieve some good results at this sports day, and show our unit as one. Got it?”

“Yes! We’ll do that!”

“Um… Senior? Isn’t our workload piling up, and now we’re preparing for the sports day too?”

“I don’t know. Don’t ask me…”

“I know a senior who went to the measurements department, and they’ve got new equipment.”

“Equipment? What kind of equipment?”

“Super low-frequency machinery. They say the performance is incredible! I heard it’s really awesome.”

“Oh… I should’ve applied for that instead. Why did I end up in human intelligence… I could’ve enjoyed candy in the office there.”

“Yeah, that senior is currently stranded on a deserted island~”

“Seriously? Why did they end up there?”

“It’s probably because the collection facility is in a remote area. There are several monitoring sites in remote areas too, right?”

“I can see why people want to enlist.”

“Director, have you seen him? I have urgent materials to report.”

“Director? Is there anyone here who has seen him?”

“Oh, oh— what about the back mountain? You should check the back mountain. He mentioned he was going there for some wild greens a while back.”

“It probably isn’t wild greens; I saw him flying a drone when I was leaving work. He’s been practicing to get his license.”

—

Of course, we don’t only work; we also take breaks when we can.

Can one really just work all day? That’s more like a robot.

Once I went up to the outdoor smoking area, several colleagues gathered and welcomed me.

“What’s with this tasteless mugwort tea? You look like the servant who’s come to catch a nobleman, yet your palate is refined?”

“And you! Are you not the one boiling mix coffee like Kim Sun-dal at the Han River?” You did the same when you were sent to Georgetown.”

“A true spectacle, a spectacle… how come you guys come out to smoke but don’t inhale, only exhale?”

“Because you’re like an air purifier. You suck in all our smoke—loyalty.”

“Oh, you all were here.”

“Yes, sir. We were just taking a smoking break.”

“Alright. Hurry up and finish so you can get back to work. If you have leftover cigarettes, give me one.”

“Sorry, sir. We’re on duty.”

“Oh… okay, I see.”

So, after chatting in the smoking area, if I happened to run into the superior who brought coffee with his change (sails) in hand, we all nervously escaped down the stairs.

“Phew— that was a close one.”

I exhaled a breath of surprise, wiping my brow.

As we headed back down to the office, we resumed our usual banter while sipping on half-finished drinks.

“Hey, what’s on today’s lunch menu?”

“Chicken!”

—

And at last, the moment of meal time.

At this time, the beasts hiding in the forest of partitions would dash out towards the restaurant.

Even though all food at the company was catered out to another vendor, the flavor and quality were generally good, thanks to the catering manager’s attention. Compared to the mess that fluctuated like Bitcoin depending on the interests of the field staff, it was relatively stable.

While chicken dishes were served by strict portion control rather than self-service, the military is indeed a rigid hierarchical society.

“No can do. It’s a strict two-piece portion per person!” Regardless of how much they tried to serve according to standard, as soldiers couldn’t withstand the pressure of “Hurry up and just add three more!” those arriving late had to settle for dogfood and soup.

As soon as lunchtime hit, we dashed out from the partitions toward the cafeteria.

Among us, the sprinting skills of my colleague, a former Special Forces member, were a work of art. He displayed unbelievable power that no elegant martial artist could match.

But then again, what was this?

“What’s this?”

“Hey, it’s chicken. Where’s the chicken in this? It’s a pigeon.”

“Did you sneak away to grab a pigeon from Tapgol Park while we weren’t looking? Why is the chicken so small?”

“… Is this really chicken? It looks like coal.”

—

Expectations inflated as we faced the chicken, which could be deemed suspiciously pitiful, as if it had been fished out during a famine in Ireland.

We witnessed the tragic fate of our former Special Forces colleague as he approached the stainless steel tray piled with chunks of coal.

In a rush, we cast aside our plates and fled to the convenience store. With the powers of frozen food, instant noodles, and those miraculous convenience store meals, we erased all recollections of chicken from our minds.

Afterward, we returned to the office after having a smoke on the rooftop, facing our pending afternoon work.

“Excuse me. Did you really just say that? … No way, you promised to deliver it by the 14th. Where’s the logic in changing it now?”

“What’s the matter?”

“Haah… remember the guys we were supposed to exchange information with? They have deadlines to meet by midnight today, and I just contacted them, and they already forgot.”

“Can you believe the morons out there? You’re really suffering.”

“My head hurts…”

“Where have the Deputy Directors gone?”

“To the Headquarters. There’s a meeting today.”

“We’ve received a report from the workshop. I need to report it, but what should I do?”

“Give it to me, I’ll follow up.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What’s taking the other office so long with a meeting for over four hours?”

“I’m not sure but I heard something happened on-site. They contacted from Ynxx with the Executive’s business phone.”

“If it’s Young-joo’s case, it’s probably something in Eastern Europe… Hopefully, it’s nothing serious.”

—

“By the way, regarding the report sent from the workshop earlier. MIC (Ministry of Information and Communication) is accompanying the dispatched unit for publicity, and something popped up in their radar.”

“I heard there may potentially be a mole among the local civil servants?”

“That’s the opinion of the personnel in charge—it holds considerable probability.”

“Let me dig into it at the workshop, and if it’s looking serious, I’ll give a call. Sigh… more headaches, let’s not go to Africa anymore…”

“You, who speak English, Arabic, French, and Swahili, shouldn’t be saying that…”

“Shut your mouth, please, colleague.”

“Someone please throw some chocolate into that guy’s mouth.”

—

Days filled with exploding events and paperwork bomb after bomb left me burning to exit the company, but until the moment I would leave, that desire only flickered momentarily.

As quitting time neared, my lips inexplicably curved upward. While hoping that today would bring no unexpected events, I endured until, as if in response to my prayer, a miracle happened when I packed up early and escaped from the office.

Of course, not everyone was that lucky.

“Manager Kwon has had an urgent matter come up today. We’re looking for someone to switch shifts—does anyone here have time?”

“Are you serious? Why now? There’s a set schedule.”

“There’s been a little situation. Please understand.”

“Everyone’s got their own situations.”

“The truth is, his daughter’s amniotic fluid ruptured earlier than expected, so they went to the emergency room right now—just got a call from his wife…”

“First, the main section chief has already left, and he’s currently in a discussion with the manager.”

“…Uh. Hmm.”

“Wow, that trash over there.”

“I can’t have that. You’re on duty today.”

“Didn’t he say tomorrow is his 100-day anniversary with his girlfriend? We’re in big trouble, Jung-gu….”

“…Well, I’ll take the duty today. Please let the section chief know.”

“Someone is subbing in for the duty.”

“What are you doing there?”

“Ah… nothing at all.”

“Wait a minute. Hey, did you just cry?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“What is it? Why are you crying? You’re a grown man.”

“…Well, I picked up a cat at the dorm, but the squad leader caught me. I just got scolded.”

“Hey… what on earth were you thinking raising a stray cat in the quarters? It could carry diseases.”

“I got all the vaccinations and tests done.”

“Still, man. It’s against the rules. By the way, it’s really ridiculous. The squad leader raises a dog in the residence, but a cat is a problem? He even has the kids take it for walks. Tsk tsk… Wipe your tears and follow me. I ordered chicken, so eat and sleep.”

“Living in the quarters or something.”

“Seo Jong-woo. You have a call.”

“Team Leader Jo! Come to the office right now.”

“Are you talking about the company…?”

“Yeah! Can’t you find anything?!”

“Alright. …But I just clocked out; why are you calling me again…?”

Another poor soul dragged back to the office after clocking out.

But really, it wasn’t much. Isn’t the army all the same?

“This is quite the— cough—”

“….”

“…Excuse me, Commander? Are we waking up the officer?”

“Leave him be. He’s had two chickens and pushed the chair back to sleep. I’ll wait.”

“Ah—”

“But is this a shame?”

“Yes.”

“But it’s on the desk?”

“…Yes.”

“What a hassle.”

There’s an officer enjoying chicken and sweet sleep during duty only to get caught by the commander.

“Got it!”

“Really?”

“Yeah! I’m a lieutenant colonel now!”

“Wow, congratulations!”

Some are happy about their promotion.

“Oh— Lieutenant Park passed the second test? What a blessing! Should we celebrate the promotion with a drink today?”

“…….”

“…….”

“Huh? No?”

“…No! I will reserve a nice place!”

Then there’s the superior congratulating (not really) his subordinate and the one scheduled for discharge who, even though failed the promotion, celebrates together (his heart might not be in it).

“Can we reach the staff?”

“…Not yet.”

“It’s already been over 40 minutes since I called them to come in within an hour; where the heck are they!? You’re a major, yet you can’t manage your subordinates properly!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Is anyone on vacation among the team?”

“There are no vacations or passes.”

“But these kids… are they all taking a jump?”

“I’ll check again and bring them back immediately.”

“20 minutes left. If you don’t make it on time, be prepared!”

“Yes. I’ll do it right away.”

“…….”

“…Oh, damn it.”

Some are jumping across the river of no return to open a mill.

“Hey, hey. The smell of pig’s feet is overwhelming. Can you ventilate a bit?”

“We’d love to, but we have no windows.”

“Open the door, old man. Is it just people moving in and out? Even your mouth can let in solids, liquids, and gases, you know. What a pain in the ass.”

Some are a bit frustrating.

“Seriously, this security app never works right. Why isn’t the beacon registering?”

“Does it need network connection? Hey! We’re in the middle of Busan; how can there be no network! Ah, this is driving me crazy.”

“Latest version… I don’t know, damn it.”

There are people whose patience crumbles because of the security app.

“…You’re getting discharged? Hey— is that something you say in front of your senior? What will you do for a living after you quit?”

“I’m going to take the 7th grade public recruitment exam for the NIS.”

“Really? So that’s why you were checking out the NIAT? That’s impressive.”

“And for the next military intelligence 6th grade supplemental exam~”

“…Shut up, kid. Anyway, tell me why you’re getting discharged.”

“I don’t think I can get promoted.”

“Isn’t being a civil servant an easier job? Honestly, my department appears to be much better than yours.”

“Well, that’s because it’s a national intelligence agency. What else?”

“I can’t shake the feeling that this job doesn’t match my aptitude. I want to try other things in society.”

“Elden Ring DLC came out.”

“If I get discharged and get older, I won’t have many options. I just figured that leaving now would be more beneficial.”

“I see… If everyone feels that way, then there’s nothing we can do. Except for the guy who brought up the Elden Ring DLC, get out of here.”

Some are deciding to be discharged after consulting their position officer.

Occasionally, I run into people from other companies, mostly inspectors. They are the counterintelligence officers checking security.

Aside from that, I sometimes come across NIS or 777 headquarters staff. Occasionally, I encounter those from cyber command or police security investigations, but if I don’t know, I just pass by and later realize “Oh, those were the guys from earlier,” and even if I do know, there’s nothing special going on. We just brush past each other saying ‘You’re doing a great job~.’

It’s not like every day has spectacular and dynamic adventures as one might think; those tales are just for movies. Reality is merely a continuous cycle of administrative tasks. Such adventures happen now and then, like finding a pea in a haystack.

I, too, am the same.

A fast-paced routine. Each moment brings an involuntary sigh, with my throat choking at times.

That’s the kind of life I was living.

*

After clocking out and on my way home.

Just as I was about to wrap up an ordinary day, an extraordinary guest came by.

“Uncle?”

As I was about to step into the house with a bag emitting a savory fried food smell, a familiar middle-aged man occupied the front door.

It was my uncle.

“Oh, you’re back? You’re pretty late.”

“What are you doing here? You didn’t let me know in advance.”

“I just passed by and thought of you.”

For someone who just “stopped by,” the coldness radiating from his body seemed unusual. His skin felt like ice, suggesting he had been waiting outside for quite a while.

Of course, his cheerful smile was still there.

I guided my uncle inside and started setting the table. Dried snacks, chicken, and alcohol were neatly laid out, and he looked around while resting on the floor.

“Hey… don’t tell me a man living alone has no hobbies? Your room’s emptier than the Taklamakan Desert.”

“Should really have a hobby. This is the moment his typical lecture began again.”

As always, my response was practically predetermined.

“I’d love to have a hobby, but the situation is a problem. I’m constantly traveling for business trips and deployments; how can I have time for hobbies?”

“Hobbies don’t have to be done in one specific spot. There are plenty of options like fishing, hiking, or board games.”

“No. I’m not at an age where I can run around playing board games or going fishing….”

Having hobbies in an information agency is quite tricky, particularly in military or overseas intelligence.

With periodic rotations and postings, many employees have given up on hobbies once they joined. Those who love animals and plants nearly shed tears.

Of course, there are exceptions. Once veterans clock out at retirement age, they can keep any animals or plants they want.

Watching those who keep tropical fish in the office and struggle daily for supplies made me think that’s a true wage thief.

Nevertheless, when you encounter people who’ve served 20 or 30 years, it’s impressive to see them devouring multiple servings.

But I wasn’t one of them.

“Maybe when I get some seniority, I’ll cultivate something like you do.”

“Ha! Are you telling me to get retired quickly and start collecting pension?”

“Come on… what are you talking about? When did I say that?”

Joking back and forth, I sat with my uncle for some drinks.

It felt oddly surreal to drink with someone who could be my father, but I didn’t feel particularly tired or burdened. We used to do this often.

“Pour me a drink.”

My uncle filled a mug with soju and tore into a salted chicken wing.

The well-seasoned side dish was passable. I munched on spicy fried peppers while my uncle twisted his joints and added seasoning.

“Where do you currently work? Was it Daejeon?”

“Yes. That’s right. What about you, uncle?”

“I’m at headquarters.”

The middle-aged man with a protruding belly was a soldier. To be precise, an information officer, or in other words, a military intelligence officer.

I didn’t know he worked at headquarters, which surprised me. I couldn’t help but display a startled expression.

“Headquarters? Didn’t you get promoted a few years ago? But now you’re at headquarters?”

“Of course, the departments must have changed.”

“When did you get promoted?”

“Last year.”

I paused mid-dipping a fry in ketchup to calculate in my head.

If you consider the class year, the promotion to colonel was first seen last year. In other words, my uncle got promoted to colonel in the first round, the first among his peers.

“Wow. First time for lieutenant colonel, first time for colonel… how come you’ve promoted without missing a beat?”

“That’s called skill, kid.”

“Learn from it.”

He added with a pleasant smile, an attitude only visible in those who have successfully been promoted.

“You too. Isn’t it time for your promotion to major the day after tomorrow? You should climb up at once. It’s about time you ditch that diamond badge. How many years have you been wearing it?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his incredulous tone.

“Promotions aren’t something you can just will. If that were the case, nobody would ever discharge.”

“Why do you bring up such a gruesome topic? You’re not thinking of getting discharged, are you?”

“Who knows.”

“Oh dear… has that boy rolled around in the desert and lost his mind?”

Upon hearing about my potential discharge, my uncle began to fuss around. The colonel, who had just thrown his chicken aside, raised his voice like someone witnessing a stock’s delisting.

“Hey! What do you think you’ll do if you get discharged? Society is hell.”

“But you’ve never experienced society.”

“That may be, but… anyway!”

At that age, most people seem to have a repertoire they rely on. My uncle launched into a familiar monologue about “101 reasons not to discharge.”

Honestly, I let my uncle’s words flow in one ear and out the other. It was all too predictable, and I didn’t feel the need to really pay attention.

“Do you know how great our company is? They send you overseas so you can earn a master’s or doctorate.”

Pitching in several millions for living and lodging costs. If you can’t obtain your degree within the timeframe, you risk promotion penalties.

It’s a bonus that your mandatory service gets extended.

“Getting sent out as an ambassador to enjoy life. Even unofficially, I can travel the world on the government’s budget, right? There’s no other job like this in the world.”

You’ll end up racing to fill out documents all night, and when problems arise later, inspectors will come asking you why this or that isn’t right, making your life a living hell.

Sure, you can go out and enjoy life as an ambassador, but with a lack of opportunities to advance to developed countries, it’s almost like trying to fit a camel through a needle’s eye. Go on an unofficial dispatch and you’re just another agent, getting grilled by intelligence agencies.

If you’re unlucky, you might spend a year in prison.

Listening silently to my uncle’s rant, I put down my squid and retorted briefly.

“Uncle. I worked 6 AM to 9 PM today; does that seem important right now?”

“…Ah, you got me there.”

Unable to refute the undeniable fact, my uncle gulped down his beer.

Munching on peanuts quietly, my uncle, after a moment of contemplation, opened his mouth in a bitter voice.

“Are you really thinking about getting discharged?”

I thought for a moment and shook my head.

“I’m still not sure.”

“Hyah… There are many employees thinking like you getting discharged. From captain, sergeant, to major, and even first sergeant are leaving.”

“A few juniors from the next office are getting discharged too.”

“What will they do after they discharge?”

“I don’t know. Maybe they’ll try to get into the NIS public recruitment exam?”

“Damn it.”

The truth that civil servants are the best was proven even among intelligence agencies. It’s no joke; there’s no other place like the National Intelligence Service for intel officers.

Everyone can handle things well. However, things weren’t 100% guaranteed; even current intelligence officers sometimes fail.

I was torn between whether to cheer for those trying to take that difficult road or dissuade them by saying it’d collapse if they all left.

If it were me, I would have encouraged them with some platitudes like, “You’ve got talent. Work hard,” but it seemed my uncle chose to pull me back. He started drilling into my ears again about the perils of society.

“Can you stop it already?”

“I’m being serious.”

“There’s no way you won’t find something to do. There are tons of jobs out there.”

“Let’s go up to major at least. If you keep going like this, you’ll make it, you know? Ah— you’re excited about your next posting. Middle East, Africa— that’s unique. Why don’t you go ask the personnel officer?”

After he finished that remark, my uncle didn’t say another word. That was because I loudly set down my cup.

After putting down the barely half-finished drink, I placed my hands on my knees.

“You said you just stopped by. But how do you know my next posting?”

“…….”

“Just say anything you need to say clearly. Don’t beat around the bush… at this rate, we’ll be traveling the world.”

“Kid.”

My uncle chuckled while bringing the glass to his lips.

“You’ve really grown up.”

Downing the large glass full of alcohol in one go, the colonel pulled out a file from his bag.

“Take a look.”

*

To cut to the chase, the file was an operational report.

I read through hundreds of pages of documents prepared by headquarters while lighting a cigarette, while my uncle scratched his lighter and began explaining.

“Eight days ago, a ship passing through the waters off Saudi Arabia was hijacked. It’s a 14,000-ton multipurpose freighter, with a total crew of 28 identified.”

If it’s off Saudi, that means the Somali pirates are the issue. The Somali Strait is as dangerous as the Malacca and Sunda Straits.

Just for reference, the “Aden Gulf” known through the media refers to that area.

“I feel like it was just yesterday when they were coming out near Socotra (the island between Somalia and Yemen), and now they’re rampaging off Saudi Arabia?”

“With advancements in equipment, the scale of operations can only grow. The idea of within 200 nautical miles is outdated.”

Pirates have seized a freighter. Thankfully, it’s not a South Korean vessel.

Alright.

I perused the details in the report while pondering. The information about the leading organization was less than I expected.

“Is this all the data? Why is it so sparse?”

“We couldn’t gather much locally.”

“Why not?”

While Somalia is a dangerous mess, there are still intelligence officers there. As for me, I’ve tripped through Mogadishu; besides, isn’t that the operation area for the Cheonghae Unit?

It’s a long-standing mission for the military units deployed overseas to always have intelligence officers deployed alongside them.

Even during the 90s when the Sanggok Unit briefly operated in Somalia, an intelligence major was involved. This practice has seen a long history.

The problem is.

“The cover was compromised.”

That means their identity was exposed.

What in the world does it take for someone’s cover to be blown in Somalia? Was it the third country that proved to be problematic after all?

I looked at my uncle with a serious expression.

“Is the officer safe?”

“Yeah. They managed to get to the adjacent country via emergency transport, but there’s no one to fill their spot right now. Since this request came from abroad, it’s quite tricky.”

“So you want me to go?”

“You’ve been to Somalia a few times, haven’t you?”

“There must be others who’ve been dispatched there besides me.”

“Hey. How many Arabic and Swahili speakers do you think there are in the company? Everyone else is too busy.”

By the way, the primary languages in Somalia are Somali and Arabic. English, Italian, and Swahili are also part of the melting pot of languages used there.

The problem is that finding someone fluent in niche languages like Arabic and Swahili is so scarce that even within the intelligence agency, it’s hard to find a speaker. Therefore, they often pull someone out and rotate people like this. There’s never been a company as exploitative as this; the Ministry of Employment and Labor wouldn’t know a thing.

Unfortunately, it looks like I’m the lucky one this time. I managed to avoid it last time, but not today.

“Ugh… this is why it’s important to keep a middle ground.”

“But don’t think too negatively. Think positively! It’s a unique opportunity due to your rarity! Doesn’t the NIS need speakers for niche languages?”

“Exactly. I should’ve taken the NIS exam instead of going to the military training corps… Ouch.”

I got hit for talking nonsense.

Anyway, it seems that after looking around, it’s my turn in the cycle.

I tossed the butt into the ashtray and lit up a fresh cigarette. Then I started rummaging through my closet to pack my gear.

“After this dispatch, where will I go? Since I hit East Africa, will it be West Africa next? I heard the Sahel Triangle is really hot these days.”

“I can send you there if you want. But if not, you can come to our office. A spot will open up soon.”

“Do they really create positions at headquarters? There’s plenty of people wanting to go there.”

“If we make it, then it exists.”

“Oh man….”

Finally, could I be achieving that dream of switching to an office job like this? This is such an odd situation.

As I dawdled out to the entrance while packing my travel bag, my uncle handed me my identification and an envelope.

“Your ID. And this is for travel expenses.”

“Aren’t the travel expenses covered by the company?”

“Just keep it, kid. Think of it as pocket money.”

It’s pretty thick for pocket money.

I was going to refuse, but my uncle forcibly thrust the envelope into my hands. After landing a soft punch on my abdomen, he quickly executed the maneuver to sneak a hand into his pocket.

Even at that age, his punches were remarkably sharp. The tales of him knocking down red agents with his bare hands back in the day weren’t just empty words.

After passing me the cash, my uncle patted my shoulder and casually spoke.

“Take care.”

“Yes.”

“Your father would have been proud of you.”

“…….”

I opened the front door without a word.

The time displayed on my screen read 12:04 AM.

That was the closing of another ordinary day.

Side Episode – Razor Blade and Broom – END –

 

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