NIS Agents Tearing Up the Japanese Empire - Chapter 69



Only Krnovel

Rabbit Hunting (6)

Lieutenant Colonel Kojima of the Central Management Division under the Command of the Korean Garrison Forces was clutching his head as he tried to make up for the massive damage suffered by two companies at Geumchon Station the other day.

From above, there was only an order to somehow conceal and minimize this damage. There was no specific order on what to do or how to do it.

Therefore, everything that happens after that is his responsibility.

The situation where if things went well it was the superiors’ credit, but if things went wrong it was his own fault seemed to have caused a lot of stress to Major Kojima.

So that’s why all my hair fell out.

Anyway, it seems that Lieutenant Colonel Kojima had been requesting supplies from mainland Japan under various pretexts in order to secure the supplies for the two companies that had disappeared from Geumchon Station.

“From firearms to ammunition, clothing for soldiers, oil for vehicles and heating… … and even chemical, biological, and radiological warfare sets… … .”

It seemed like they were taking out a lot of different things.

It is unclear whether Lieutenant Kojima has a separate line on the mainland or whether he gets it from people he knows, but it seems like he faithfully follows orders from his superiors.

“Wow… … You packed it so frugally.”

After carefully looking over the report he had, it seemed that he had prepared for possible inspection from the mainland by creating several secret warehouses within the base and dispersing the items there.

“A guy who orders something to be done… … A guy who does it exactly as he is told to do… … .”

This is why people say that the Japanese military is a mess.

If this were our country’s army, the uniform would have burst and evaporated, but since the Japanese army was my enemy, should I be happy instead…?

“This is confiscated.”

I managed to steal a reasonably high-ranking officer’s uniform that I originally needed.

But when I was about to end it here, I couldn’t easily move forward because my eyes were dazzled by the military supplies that no one would notice even if I glanced at them.

‘Take this too?’

But when I actually thought about taking it, it was nearly impossible considering the volume and number of items.

Even if they somehow managed to get them, it would be difficult to find a place to store them in Gyeongseong, where the police and military are keeping strict surveillance.

But if I leave this behind, my heart aches, as if I were leaving behind children who are desperately searching for their parents.

‘I don’t know about anything else, but if we could just take a few heavy weapons and reverse engineer them to reproduce them, the Manchurian independence army wouldn’t have to suffer from a shortage of heavy weapons any longer… … .’

The worries continued one after another.

But the result was the same as before.

‘No. It’s too greedy to take care of all of this.’

Now was not the time to be greedy.

If I could just grab the bare necessities and get out of here, I would be considered successful.

Heavy weapons to support the independence army? If the counterfeiting factory in Shanghai started to operate properly, they could just take over the entire factory overseas and start printing them.

So, rather than being blinded by immediate profits, it seemed better to look further ahead.

“It’s too bad… … . It’s too bad.”

Still, the regret was unavoidable.

I shook off my regrets and carefully packed away Lieutenant Kojima’s report.

Because it was something that could be used as negotiation information to someone later on.

After packing up my military uniform and putting it in the briefcase I had brought with me, I glanced at my watch.

“16 minutes… … .”

Now it was time to slowly go back.

If we delay any longer here, even the oblivious soldiers will start to sense that something is strange.

As I returned to the conference hall, avoiding people’s gazes and movements, the madam who was ordering the officers around like servants welcomed me.

“Are you here?”

“uh…….”

As I looked around, I noticed an armchair that I couldn’t figure out where it came from, some expensive liquor that looked like it was going to be quite expensive, and some snacks that looked like they had been hastily brought out.

“What is all this?”

“It was too uncomfortable here, so I changed it a bit.”

“Well done.”

I brought out the wines by type and handed the briefcase I had just prepared to the worried madam.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your personal hobby, Madam, but would you like to run an errand for me?”

“You can just ask the people over there to do that.”

I shoved my briefcase back at the madam, who looked up at me and smiled.

“I think I would have been there around that time.”

“Haa… … . Since the Lord says so, I should follow his example as a wife. Right?”

“then.”

Madame left the conference room carrying her briefcase.

Then, the officers who had been serving her all breathed a sigh of relief and looked at her with a look of regret for having such a difficult wife.

“What are you all looking at?”

“Oh, no.”

“Everyone, go and take a look at the work.”

“Our job is to protect the young master, Lee Byeong-gil, the heir to the Marquisate of Rinoue.”

“I don’t really feel like I’m being watched.”

“Then outside… … .”

“This is a military base anyway! Where in the world would anyone have the guts to mess with the invincible imperial army on Joseon soil!”

“The Imperial Army… … ?”

“Does that matter now!”

“Oh, no.”

The officers also seemed slightly embarrassed as I pressed on them with my authority.

“But because of the current situation… … .”

“What is the current situation… … . Is it a serious enough issue to be discussed as the current situation when a single bastard, a ghost of Gyeongseong or something, is making a fuss because he can’t do anything about it?”

“… … .”

“I will stay here for the time being, as my grandfather has asked me to do. However, I hope you will refrain from trying to do anything to me or try to tie me down. What I am saying is, just leave me alone!”

The officers seemed to have a slight feeling towards the orthodox words, so they kept their mouths shut and exchanged glances.

Then the officer with the shining captain’s insignia spoke to me cautiously.

“Then let’s do that. Just as you said, the ghosts of Gyeongseong won’t come rushing into the military base.”

Does this guy really know that the person he’s talking to is the person he’s been searching for?

You probably don’t know.

It’s because you don’t know that you can say such peaceful things.

“You should have done that a long time ago!”

Of course, it would be good for me if they let their guard down and got caught up in their own poor military discipline and bad habits.

Thanks to that, I will be out of their sight.

“Then I guess I’ll be going now.”

“Yes, take a look.”

I left the command building, seeing off the officers like that.

Then, at the entrance, Chunsik was waiting, smoking a cigarette and leaving a pile of cigarette butts behind, and Madam was already on the rickshaw, ready to leave.

“You’re a little late.”

“The men kept making a fuss.”

“Oh my, it looks like this teacher has become someone who steals not only women’s hearts but also men’s hearts.”

“Stop talking nonsense and let’s go.”

Leaving the base was easier than coming in.

In the first place, there was no one to block our path, and instead, they even sent us off, saying goodbye.

“Everyone is waving their hands without knowing anything.”

“People who have been fooled are happy until they realize they have been fooled.”

“Wow… … When you say it like that, I really sound like a scammer.”

“A conman? You’re a conman, right?”

With the money I immediately extorted from my secret friend the Black Dragon Society, the Japanese government, and His Majesty the Grand Emperor Gojong, I was able to import expensive machine tools from across the ocean all the way to the United States, expand my factory, and jump into the counterfeiting business in earnest.

Well… … If we really look at it this way, it’s closer to pickpocketing or robbery, stealing things from someone’s wallet rather than fraud, but since he deceived someone and stole their money, can’t we still call him a fraud?

I guess there’s something more to being called a conman than a robber or a pickpocket.

“But if you detonate a bomb at the Yongsan base, wouldn’t the attention be drawn to that area, making it easier to enter Lord Noda’s mansion later?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve asked such a foolish question, Madam.”

“yes?”

She frowned as if in displeasure.

But I also have something to say… … .

“Where did our ancestors make the bomb? These days, the defense of Gyeongseong is so tight that there is no place to bring the bomb in, madam.”

When he answered in a tone that was slightly serious but not too heavy with a hint of humor, the wrinkles on Madam’s forehead went back to normal.

“Yes? But at Geumchon Station… … .”

“At that time, all the bombs that were supposed to be brought into Gyeongseong were used up.”

“I never dreamed that there would be such a backstory to the Geumchon Station incident.”

“Right? Maybe the Jjabaris are like that too.”

“Jjabari… …? What is that?”

There was a hint of playfulness in the Madame’s curious appearance.

“There is something like that.”

“Tell me!”

“Hurray! How can a woman know a man’s business!”

“Isn’t this some kind of swear word you learned in a back alley somewhere?”

“I know~”

“… … .”

Meanwhile, Chun-sik was pulling the rickshaw with all his might, sweating profusely.

He looked no different than usual, but was it his imagination that made Chunshik’s shoulders look heavier than usual?

Yeah, maybe it’s just my mood.

* * *

We are ready to infiltrate Song Byeong-jun’s house and kill him, a member of the Jeongmi Chil-jeok and a prominent pro-Japanese figure in Gyeongseong.

Now all that remains is to carry out the operation.

Fortunately, the news of what happened in Yongsan had not yet reached Gyeongseong, and the guards at Song Byeong-jun’s mansion remained unchanged.

“Stop, stop!”

When I went to Song Byeong-jun’s house on a dark night, the soldiers guarding the entrance blocked my way.

“Please show both hands and take two steps forward toward the streetlight.”

He raised his hand and walked out into the streetlight.

The officer, who was wearing an army uniform with the rank of major prominently displayed, had a blue military insignia indicating a military unit and the insignia of the 78th Regiment of the 20th Division in Yongsan engraved on his collar.

That means, to them, I would look like a commissioned officer from Yongsan Base.

He was not a common infantry officer, but a rare heavy officer.

The soldiers lowered their guns, as they had never heard of a story about a ghost from Gyeongseong disguised as a soldier.

“Loyalty!”

“Oh, okay, thank you for your hard work.”

Then he cleared his doubts and saluted.

I also naturally accepted their salute and blended in with the soldiers.

“Are you from Yongsan?”

“Yes, this is Major Tsugimoto, the head of the 20th Division’s garrison.”

“Ah, it was Lieutenant General Tsugimoto.”

After all, most soldiers did not know the faces or names of field-level officers outside of their own units.

“But what happened up to here… … ?”

“Hoo… … . I was looking around after receiving instructions from my superiors to inspect Lord Noda’s residence. Is everything okay here?”

“Yes! There is nothing wrong with working.”

I said something playfully in the voice of a slightly worn-out sergeant.

“How can His Majesty the Emperor’s soldiers have such small voices? They seem to have lost their morale after living in a comfortable place. Would you like to recharge them?”

Then the soldier’s eyes widened, and at the same time, a loud voice hidden deep within his danjeon burst out into the world.

“On duty!!! Abnormal!!! No!!!”

“Okay! The spirit is really set in!!!”

I patted his shoulder a couple of times.

Then, naturally, he opened the front door of Song Byeong-jun’s mansion wide.

“The main gate seems to be fine, so now it’s time to check the back gate.”

“Yes? But why is the door… … ?”

“It’s faster to go across the house like this than to go around the wall.”

“But Lord Noda told us not to let anyone into the house… … .”

I said something while lightly patting the head of the soldier who was talking back.

“You’re so stupid… Don’t you know that as long as you don’t get caught, it won’t be a problem?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

“If it comes up later, I’ll take responsibility… … . What’s your name?”

When I asked his name, the soldier looked embarrassed and asked back.

“Hey, is that your name?”

“Yes, your name.”

“This is Private First Class Tanaka… … .”

“Tanaka, Tanaka… … . Tanaka… … ! Alright, Private Tanaka, if this comes up later, I’ll come find you and ask you if it’s true. Then, it’ll be very tiring for both of us, right?”

“Yes, yes… … .”

“So let’s all keep our mouths shut. What do you think?”

As I said that, I put my hand over my mouth and made a zipper gesture with my hand.

Then Private Tanaka followed suit and zipped his mouth.

“Then, try hard for the rest of your military service.”

“Yes, thank you!!!”

“What are you thankful for?”

I entered the mansion, mourning his future as he soon faced the horrors of military life.

NIS Agent Tears the Japanese Empire Episode 70