21st century Goguryeo

Chapter 26

October 19th, 2016 15:00. Seoul Jong-ro ku Blue House President’s Conference Room.

Chief Researcher Dr. Lee Su-jin of the 17th Fighter Wing’s unidentified object was busy reading over the files NIS Secretary Na Bong-il handed her.

Three months have passed since the research about the unidentified object began, but Dr. Lee could not obtain any tangible results. She felt as if she had a safe without a key. She was in awe when she read over the files that she received from the NIS Secretary an hour ago.

Dr. Lee Su-jin, who was astonished as she read the document, asked NIS Secretary Na Bong-il, “How did documents like this...?”

“That’s something I have trouble disclosing.”

“Ah, I apologize. These materials are full of amazing content.”

Dr. Lee was holding the documents in both her hands out of disbelief and happiness.

Those files were from when Namgoong-won hacked Area 51 last year. Strictly speaking, it was during the time when he was a college student, still using the name Kim In-jik.

When the President heard the report that said no progress had been made in the research after three months had passed, he consulted the NIS Secretary and decided to disclose the materials to Dr. Lee Su-jin.

The President asked, “How is it? Would this help you make further progress in research?”

“I can’t give you a definite answer just skimming it like this, but I think it’ll be a big help if we had the time to check it thoroughly. These materials... Can I share them with my research staff?”

NIS Secretary Na Bong-il answered, “If it will help, then we were planning to let you. Also, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.” He pressed on the interphone. “Please tell those in the reception room to come in.”

“Yes, sir.”

A moment later, a knocking could be heard from the door.

“Come in.”

The conference room’s doors opened. Manager An Yeon-woo and Namgoong-won, who wore a very nervous look, from Counter Terrorism Investigation Unit 1 walked in. Namgoong-won seemed to have never dreamt of him coming all the way to the Blue House to meet the President, as he walked up unnaturally.

“Welcome. We’ve heard so much about you; it’s nice we can finally meet face to face.”

The President got up from his seat and greeted them like a middle-aged man from the neighborhood. He shook their hands. Namgoong-won shook the President’s hand and began introducing himself before he knew it. “Hello, sir. I’m Namgoong-won from NIS Counter Terrorism Investigation Unit 1.”

“Yes. Ha, ha, ha, this guy’s handsome and looks like a real manly man, eh?”

Since Dr. Lee Su-jin was sitting down and seemed bewildered at how the President greeted the young man, Secretary Na Bong-il pointed at her and introduced Namgoong-won to her. “Let me introduce you two. This is Chief Researcher Dr. Lee Su-jin from the National Defense and Science Agency.”

“Hello ma’am. I’m Namgoong-won.”

“Hello. I’m Lee Su-jin.”

While they were greeting each other, Secretary Na Bong-il asked Manager An Yeon-woo, “Did you bring it?”

“Yes, Mr. Secretary.”

Manager An Yeon-woo brought out a laptop and put it on the conference room table. It was Namgoong-won’s laptop.

“Dr. Lee Su-jin?”

“Yes!”

“Agent Namgoong-won is highly skilled in computers. He’s one of the top few in Korea. In a few months’ time, he made a program from analyzing the documents and data before you. Agent Namgoong-won, please explain to Dr. Lee Su-jin.”

“Yes.”

Namgoong-won booted up the laptop as he answered and executed his interlocking protocol program. He began explaining the related contents to Dr. Lee Su-jin. After 30 minutes passed, Dr. Lee Su-jin’s face was flustered, as if she saw a new world. She had spent three months trying to find the methods to operate the object and seemed to have no solution, but it was solved when Namgoong-won showed his program’s execution.

“This is amazing. How could this be...?”

The President spoke to Dr. Lee Su-jin, who could not seem to find words, with a hopeful tone. “Dr. Lee, would this help?”

Dr. Lee Su-jin was speaking, but she could not take her eyes off the program running on the laptop. “Yes! If the program interlocks and syncs correctly, then our research might be solved easily.”

“Ha, ha, ha, that’s a relief. Agent Namgoong-won made a big breakthrough. Great work.”

“Thank you, Mr. President.”

Namgoong-won sighed in relief, releasing some of his anxiety and nervousness. It helped seeing how happy Dr. Lee Su-jin was with his program.

Dr. Lee Su-jin said to the President, “Mr. President, may I ask for a favor?”

“Of course, I guaranteed full support. Anything you need, we’ll grant it.”

“If Agent Namgoong-won is willing, I’d like to take him as one of our researchers.”

It was an unexpected request, but it was obvious the program’s creator would be very helpful if he worked directly with the researching staff, so the President looked to NIS Secretary Na Bong-il instead of answering.

“Hmm... If it’s necessary, we must send him, but I believe we should ask Namgoong-won first.”

Secretary Na Bong-il also could not give a sure answer and looked at Namgoong-won. Namgoong-won had many thoughts racing through his mind the moment all four people in the President’s conference room looked at him.

Namgoong-won thought to himself, ‘It would be fun to go! I’d be able to analyze and research the alien spacecraft in person. If I go to the research facility though, then I’d be restricted from going outside or receiving contact, which means I wouldn’t be able to see Assistant Manager...even if I did get to see her, then it’d only be once a while...’

Namgoong-won came up with an idea. “I’ll go; however, I have one request.”

NIS Secretary Na Bong-il asked, “Okay. What is it?”

“I heard that currently, all the staff related to the unidentified objects are assigned bodyguards.”

“Yes! We’re doing that right now.”

“I’d also like a bodyguard assigned to me.”

NIS Secretary Na Bong-il seemed flabbergasted and said, “What...? Why would one of our agents in the NIS need a bodyguard?”

The President laughed and said, “Ha, ha, ha, Secretary Na, of course he needs a bodyguard. He’ll be assigned to the National Defense and Science Agency and no longer be an agent.”

Secretary Na Bong-il could only allow the request, considering the President was laughing so hard and opting to support Namgoong-won. All he could do was send an unspoken signal to Manager An Yeon-woo about how ‘well’ he educated his subordinate. The reason Secretary Na Bong-il felt bitter was because a quarter of the NIS agents were dispatched as bodyguards, causing the NIS to be running low on human resources.

“Find a suitable person from Investigation Unit 1 and report back to me, Manager An.”

“Yes, Mr. Secretary.”

“Could I choose a person?”

Manager An Yeon-woo put his hand on his forehead when Namgoong-won boldly requested to pick the bodyguard himself.

October 19th, 2016 20:30. Seoul Kang nam-ku Teheran-ro.

Manager An Yeon-woo, who was driving the car back from the dinner with the President at the Blue Hosue, began scolding Namgoong-won in a grudging tone. “Did you really have to do that?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Chief Kim is absent and now you’re being sent out... Did you have to take Assistant Manager Lee also?”

“It would be boring if I went alone.”

“Boring? Are you going on vacation? Anyways, you should’ve thought about the people left behind.”

“I’ll work ten times, a hundred times harder when I come back.”

“Let’s just not talk about it...”

Namgoong-won chose Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin as his bodyguard. The Assistant Manager, who willingly agreed, was to pack her things and settle in three days later with Namgoong-won to begin working in the almost completed 17th Fighter Wing research facility in Cheongju.

October 22nd, 2016 18:30. Choongbook Chungju-si 17th Fighter Wing Underground Research Facility X-2 Lab (Namgoong-won Lab).

Namgoong-won and Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin arrived in the morning. They were greeted by the researchers who were hard at work, despite it being a Saturday. They finished the afternoon by being educated on the rules for living and working in the laboratory. Namgoong-won’s lab was large and had many amenities from Dr. Lee Su-jin’s special care. Namgoong-won seemed very satisfied.

After Namgoong-won opened both his arms and spun around, he said with his arms crossed in an arrogant pose, “This is our lab.”

“Must be ‘nice,’ Researcher Namgoong-won.”

“Researcher. That’s a strange title for me. Right?”

“Agent Namgoong-won does suit you better.”

“Well, this place is way more spacious compared to my office with a small desk in Investigation Unit 1... so I’ll just be a researcher.”

“My, it’s like you’re a child...”

“So, the spaceship. I really want to see it soon. When do you think we can?”

“Wouldn’t it be soon? We are here for it after all...”

“Ah, man! I hope we see it soon.”

Namgoong-won opened both his arms and threw himself on the bed.