NIS Agents Tearing Up the Japanese Empire - Chapter 78



Only Krnovel

Paperman (7)

The Ghost of Gyeongseong.

Who is he?

He delivered a bomb to Jongno Police Station, kidnapped the chief of police and turned him into a half-cripple, and was also the mastermind behind arranging a group funeral for unidentified ronin who had come from Japan.

Just the rumor of his recent return made the Governor-General and the Japanese military nervous, so much so that they increased the number of guards in Gyeongseong and increased surveillance.

There were even rumors going around that he was involved in the recent Geumchon Station accident and Song Byeong-jun’s death… … It was difficult to describe in words how important his status was in Gyeongseong.

But one thing is certain.

The Ghost of Gyeongseong.

He is truly a ghostly man.

“Do I look like a ghost?”

“… … .”

Namgoong Hoon couldn’t answer easily.

I couldn’t open my mouth easily for fear that if I answered incorrectly he might kill me.

The other person seemed to have noticed Namgoong Hoon’s condition, so he tried to put his mind at ease a little by giving him a friendly smile.

“If I had ill intentions toward Mr. Namgung, he would have done so long ago. But am I acting like that now?”

“… … .”

Although it wasn’t a very good behavior to sneak into someone else’s living room without anyone knowing, Namgoong Hoon didn’t necessarily point it out.

Because he wasn’t a fool who would neglect his life by worrying about such trivial details.

“Then why did you come to see me…?”

I was trying to be polite as usual, but I stopped and started to be polite without realizing it, but no one in the room noticed.

“Why would a stranger come to the newspaper president? Guess what.”

“… … .”

Sweat formed on Namgoong Hoon’s forehead as he faced the best (not the worst!) problem of his life.

Even though the room wasn’t that hot thanks to the cool breeze blowing in from outside, the beads of sweat on Namgung Hoon’s forehead grew bigger and bigger.

The thick beads of sweat that had formed in this way soon gathered together and hung precariously on his wrinkles, looking as if they might fall off at any moment.

“… … I don’t know if you already know, but it’s been a long time since I was fired from my position as president of the Chosun Ilbo. So I don’t think I can be of much help to you.”

After much thought and consideration, Namgung Hoon came up with an appropriate answer, and large beads of sweat ran down his forehead.

“Huh? He was fired? I don’t think so.”

“I don’t know if you know, but the Chosun Ilbo changed hands a while ago.”

“Yes, I know that. Why did Lord Noda die?”

“What… … ?”

Namgoong Hoon felt a chill run down his spine for a moment.

This meant that the ghost of Gyeongseong was directly involved in the sudden death of Lord Noda, which had been rumored for some time.

The other person brushed it off as if it was nothing serious, but did the ghost of Gyeongseong, who had been meticulously evading the imperial police and military, really say that without thinking?

On the contrary, I thought it was quite normal.

So why did the ghost of Gyeongseong say this to him?

This too, the answer came to me after just a little bit of thinking.

‘It’s an unspoken pressure to go together, whether you like it or not.’

If he had coldly refused here, even Buddha would not have known what kind of misfortune would have occurred.

If you make one mistake, you may have to watch Lord Noda, who went ahead of you, hold his breath and dive into hell.

Thinking about it like that, I couldn’t help but feel tense and my lungs took a deep breath.

“That, that incident at that time caused the owner of the Chosun Ilbo to change, and the new owner didn’t like me, so he kicked me out.”

“That’s impossible. The owner probably didn’t even know that Mr. Namgung had left the company.”

“What? That’s nonsense… … .”

“I won’t say much. Please go back to the company. Then, Mr. Kuroda, the owner of the Chosun Ilbo, will come out to greet you barefoot.”

The ghost’s eyes lit up.

His gaze, like a sharp dagger, pierced Namgoong Hoon’s innermost heart.

His gaze seemed to be telling you that all your problems were solved, so just obey me.

“how……?”

Namgung Hoon had no intention of disobeying him.

Who wouldn’t like it if someone suddenly showed up and offered to reinstate them to the job they were fired from?

However, I was curious.

I was curious as to how that bastard who was just wiping after those Japanese bastards changed his mind.

“I am friendly with Mr. Kuroda, the owner of that company, so we were able to resolve the issue through discussion.”

“conversation?”

Namgoong Hoon nodded without realizing it.

Even if he was a guy who had been cleaning up after the Japanese, he would be convinced if he faced a ghost and had a conversation with it.

Even I, who have done nothing wrong, feel suffocated when I come face to face with a ghost like this, so how would I feel if I were to face that guy who is notorious for his many shortcomings?

“Could it be that he killed… …?”

“Haha, no. Do I look like some evil terrorist who goes around killing people without permission?”

“… … That’s not it.”

Namgoong Hoon almost revealed his true feelings without realizing it.

If I were 20 years younger than I am now, I might have made a mistake with my tongue because I couldn’t control my youthful energy.

But for someone who was well into his twenties, it was impossible for him to make a slip of the tongue.

“Hmm… … . But still, going back to the Chosun Ilbo all of a sudden is a bit… … . I see.”

“Am I not pretty?”

“That’s not the story. I, I was kicked out of the Chosun Ilbo without notice!”

“Yes.”

“But if I go back there on my own feet… … . It looks a bit… … . Right?”

Even though he has spent his entire life in the nascent Korean media industry and has been exposed to all kinds of filth, he still has pride.

Who is he? I am ashamed to brag about it, but he was a self-made man who started out as a reporter at the Hwangseong Shinmun and rose to the position of president in just a few years.

Of course, at a time when the concept of subscription fees was still vague, it was difficult for the newspaper to secure finances in Chosun, so he had to end his short term without resolving the company’s rampant financial deficit. However, he proved his ability by reviving the Chosun Ilbo, which was on the verge of collapse.

But he was kicked out without saying a word.

This was quite a blow to my pride.

If they had recommended that I resign voluntarily for health reasons or some other reason, I would have been a little upset, but I would have accepted it.

But that crazy guy Kuroda didn’t have anything like that.

“If that bastard Kuroda comes to me in person and bows his head and apologizes, I will go back.”

That is why, for the first and last time in his life, Namgoong Hoon showed off his pride as just Namgoong Hoon, not as journalist Namgoong Hoon.

“Hmm… … Is it really true that all I have to do is come here, bow my head, and apologize?”

“exactly.”

The other person sat quietly for a moment, pondering something, then suddenly took off the outerwear he was wearing and unbuttoned the collar of his shirt.

Then, he started making strange gestures while rubbing his neck, and all of a sudden, I could feel his skin peeling off.

Naturally, Namgoong Hoon was shocked by his antics and asked him.

“Hey, what are you doing now?”

“I’m bringing Kuroda.”

After a couple of such strokes, the skin on his face peeled off coolly, revealing a new face I had seen before.

Namgoong Hoon turned his head and shut his eyes tightly as he looked at the hideous face fluttering on the floor.

“Why are you suddenly closing your eyes?”

“I, I was wrong. I apologized, but the terrible thing I did was… … .”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly refusing to accept my apology?”

“Uh, I’m sorry!”

Namgoong Hoon was afraid that he too would become like the owner of the face skin that fell to the floor.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this, but please open your eyes.”

“… … .”

“Come on.”

At the other person’s urging, Namgoong Hoon opened his eyes half-heartedly and examined his face.

Then, as if it were a lie, a different person than before was sitting there.

Even that face was one he knew.

“So, you… … ?”

“Nice to meet you. Mr. Namgoong Hoon, my name is Kyuichi Kuroda, who has recently taken over the Chosun Ilbo.”

It was truly a horrifying sight.

“Then… … . That Japanese scoundrel named Kuroda Kyuichi who took over the Chosun Ilbo with the support of the Governor-General’s Office… … . was the ghost of Gyeongseong… … ?”

He was shocked, like someone who had learned a truth he shouldn’t know.

So does that mean that the Governor-General didn’t even know that he was a ghost of Gyeongseong and gave him a huge sum of money?

No, does the Governor-General know about this fact?

His mind became confused.

“Oh, how did you know that I received support from the Governor-General?”

“Well… … . I’ve heard from reporters working at the Governor-General’s Office and citizens on the street that the Governor-General often meets people who look like you… … . No, that’s not the point!”

“It’s important.”

The ghost that had disguised itself as Kuroda suddenly thrust its face toward him and met his eyes.

“You came to know that Mr. Namgung’s information power is extraordinary.”

“… … .”

“Okay, then let’s finish what we were doing.”

The ghost of Gyeongseong… … No, now he was Kuroda, bowing his head politely and apologizing.

“I would like to apologize for the unpleasant incident that occurred a few days ago. So please come back to the Chosun Ilbo and run the company.”

“… … .”

This wasn’t a recommendation or anything.

If you really wanted to recommend it to him, you could have just come back later in disguise.

However, by coming to Gyeongseong in the form of a ghost and disguising himself as Kuroda, he revealed to him the secret that the two were the same person.

What does this mean?

‘If you refuse, I will follow Lord Noda.’

No one in Gyeongseong knows his identity.

The fact that no one knew his true identity despite causing so much trouble in Gyeongseong and committing all sorts of terrible acts means that he was very good at hiding his identity.

That person revealed his identity.

Of course, it is questionable whether this is his real identity… …. But still, he revealed his identity in front of me.

“Oh, are you trying to kill me?”

“No? Why would I kill Mr. Namgung? Really… … .”

“Then why are you revealing your identity… … .”

“Well… … isn’t it common for people to reveal a secret or two to each other in order to show trust?”

“faith……?”

The other party said they trusted him.

We just met for the first time today!

‘why?’

Dozens, hundreds, thousands of hooks formed in his head, but unfortunately, he could not resolve all of these questions.

“I revealed my identity because I trust you, sir. I need comrades to do this kind of work.”

“This kind of thing… … is what is it called?”

“Of course it’s independence.”

“… … !”

Korean independence.

Namgoong Hoon also thought about it sometimes.

However, he gave up, thinking that it would be a long way off for Joseon to regain its sovereignty against the powerful Japanese Empire.

But, this young man whom I met for the first time today… …. No, this man whose age, let alone gender, I couldn’t even tell, brought up the word independence as if it were something very obvious.

“Mr. Namgung, please join us.”

He did not persuade him by adding dazzling words or words full of hope.

I just recommended it to him as if it were a given.

There was no hostility, anger, or fear in his words.

It was a comfortable and casual conversation, like the everyday conversation that citizens walking down the street might have.

“… … .”

Namgoong Hoon thought.

Is independence for Korea possible?

This was also a question about ghosts.

“it’s possible.”

“Why is that so?”

“Because I’m here.”

“her…….”

It was a rather disheartening answer, but it was also a strong answer.

“In a dark time when a great evil has engulfed the peninsula, all that remains is struggle.”

“Someone will have blood flowing from their bodies and tears streaming from their eyes, but it won’t be us.”

“I guess so.”

Namgoong Hoon nodded.

“I don’t know you.”

“Me too.”

“I don’t think we’ll ever know what happens in the future.”

“Me too.”

“So, no matter what article the Chosun Ilbo writes about you… … . Are you confident that you can tolerate it?”

“I have no connection with you whatsoever.”

“good.”

Namgoong Hoon, who was once again guaranteed free management rights, naturally extended his hand to shake hands.

Then the other person also shook my hand and accepted the handshake.

“Professor Namgung, by the way, the Chosun Ilbo is planning to hold a large-scale contest soon.”

“… … Contest?”

“Yes, I receive serial novels from writers in Japan and Korea.”

“… … Didn’t you say a little while ago that you have no connection with the Chosun Ilbo?”

“Haha, that’s the Ghost of Gyeongseong, and now it’s Kuroda Kyuichi, the owner of the Chosun Ilbo.”

“… … .”

NIS Agent Tears the Japanese Empire Episode 79