21st Century Goguryeo

December 1st, 2023, 11:30 (10:30 Hong Kong time)

The Guryong Peninsula (near Black Tigers Secret hideout) in Hong Kong, Republic of China

On the third day after the investigation into the Black Tigers, a New China spy organization operating in Hong Kong began, they discovered several locations thought to be the Black Tigers' hiding places. As a result, the remaining three teams, except for the Foreign Intelligence Agency's division one team that traveled to Beijing with Namgoong-won, moved to their respective locations and conducted a thorough investigation. The first team led by the team leader, Park Gi-oong, kept watch outside a building on the outskirts of Guryong Peninsula's center.

Despite being the world's best financial city, the outskirts of the Guryong Peninsula were lined with shabby buildings, with several electric wires dangling between them. The team agents watched the opposite building with care, using a variety of equipment.

"Team leader! I think this is their hiding place."

Assistant manager, Yang Jung-suk, said while lying on his stomach and checking the area with his VR-M2 scope. As he approached the side, team leader Park Gi-oong responded.

"That's great. I thought we'd be looking for a few more days."

"By the way, Team Leader! I think breaking in would be difficult."

"Why?"

"The equipment they use is extraordinary."

"What do they have?"

"Here, have a look."

Yang Jung-suk handed over the VR-M2 scope to team leader, Park Gi-oong, who used it to inspect the entire building from the ground floor to the roof. He discovered eight luminous dolls in the four-story building, as well as a variety of equipment installed throughout.

"Oh! Look at these guys! Every corner of the building is filled with action recognition detectors, infrared cameras, and vibration wave detectors."

"Yes, I don't know about anything else, but the vibration wave detector bothers me the most."

When they operate in TCS mode, action recognition detectors and infrared cameras could be tricked, but not vibration detectors, which can detect all fine vibration waves.

"I`ll give it a try."

Chief Youn Gil-soo, the youngest member of the team, approached them and spoke quietly.

"No, we`ll wait. If you move hastily and they notice you, it`ll be troublesome."

"Then, are we just going to sit here and wait?"

Assistant manager, Yang Jung-suk asked.

"Is that so? If we can't get in, we'll just have to wait outside and catch those who come out."

"Hmm."

"Chief Youn Gil-soo and I are going downstairs to the first floor and will wait in the car, so Assistant Manager Yang and Chief Kang keep an eye on them and let us know as soon as you see any signs that someone is coming out! Also, tell Team Four to be prepared! Do you understand what I am saying?"

"Yes, of course. Who am I? Isn't that your plan?"

"That's right! You're quick at catching things, Chief Youn! Bring your equipment! Let's go down!"

"Yes, team leader!"

Team leader, Park Gi-oong, and Chief Youn Gil-soo descended to the first floor using the stairs, went into a black van parked in the alley, and their battle with time began.

* * *

December 1st, 2023 at 12:00 (11:00 New China Time)

Changping-gu, Beijing, Republic of China (temporary residence of the National Intelligence Service's special security department)

Three days ago, Namgoong-won and his team arrived outside Beijing, safely entered downtown Beijing as ordinary tourists, and were now staying at a temporary motel in Changping-gu.

The high-tech equipment brought in the suitcase was arranged in one room, and the two special security agents, as well as Namgoong-won, were busy working on something while staring at their laptop screens.

The agents of Team Three, who were in charge of their safety, were on the lookout for suspicious people outside the motel, in the lobby, and the living room.

Namgoong-won was currently absorbed in the server of the President's Office of the Republic of China, which was connected to the external network while looking at the laptop screen and tapping the keys on the keyboard. Eventually, he would have to directly infiltrate and hack the server that only operates as an internal network, but for the time being, he was attempting to hack the server connected to the external network.

In the small room, the occasional mechanical sound of high-tech equipment and the tapping of keyboards continued until lunchtime.

"Oh! I haven't done this in a long time, so I've lost my skills."

Namgoong-won stopped tapping on the keyboard and complained.

Namgoong-won's hacking abilities were at their peak when he was at college. But after joining the National Intelligence Service, he had never used his hacking skills as he would usually get help from Hocula. As a result, his hacking abilities had deteriorated rather than improved.

"Manager Namgoong-won! What we've obtained so far is also great."

Assistant Manager, Na Sung-hyun, a member of the special security department, smiled with a thumbs up.

"That's what I am saying. In this world, Manager Namgoong-won is a legend. Haha."

After taking his hand off the keyboard for a moment, Chief Kim Young-kyun, the other member of the special security department, said proudly.

"Legend? No way! It was because Hocula helped me then..."

Namgoong-won waved his hands with a bitter look.

"No way! Isn't it true that you hacked into the servers of Area 51?"

"That's correct! You are a legend who will be remembered only as a myth in our world in the future. Hahaha."

The special security guard regarded him as a hero.

"Stop it, guys! That's all an exaggeration. It's already lunchtime, so should we go out and eat?"

"Oh, time flies so fast."

"But isn't it kind of weird to go outside? Our identity…"

"As a tourist, you should go out and eat something delicious. If you're intimidated by having to hide your identity, won't you be more suspicious? Don't you think so, Team leader Shin?"

"Yes, that's right. At times like this, you have to act natural and be bold so that you won't be suspected."

Team leader, Shin Eun-ha of the third team replied with a bright smile.

"You heard that, right? Let's all go out. I'll treat you to lunch."

"Yes, all right. Let's go."

* * *

December 1, 2023, at 14:00 (15:00 Russia time)

Outside Vladivostok, Kray, Primorsky, Russia

After the 5th army was disbanded, two days ago, following the Siberian occupation operation, the 102nd Armored Brigade, a unit under the direct command of the 8th Corps stationed in Hyeongsan (Unmanned Commander), broke through the eastern border and was maneuvering at maximum speed on the A-370 bridge connecting to Vladivostok.

The entire brigade couldn't maneuver on the long bridge in a normal situation. This was due to the possibility of the bridge collapsing or being attacked by enemies, both of which would result in significant damage.

However, because there were no Russian air force or missile power in the Maritime Provinces at this time, the 102nd Armored Brigade took the risk.

Moving in the vanguard, the armored vehicles of the 131st Mechanized Infantry Battalion of the 102nd Armored Brigade occupied all six lanes and moved quickly on the bridge in two lines. The 58th Tank Battalion, on the other hand, was heading to Vladivostok via the Ussuri Highway, which bypassed the coast entirely, rather than the A-370 road.

Meanwhile, the 33rd SS Armored Brigade, the only armored force among the units defending Vladivostok, formed a line outside the city to block the 102nd Armored Brigade. The original plan was to bring the enemy into the city and fight in the streets with the four mobilizing divisions. However, in response to the surprise attack by the First Heavy Armored Brigade, which infiltrated the previous night via airlift, the 33rd SS Armored Brigade quickly changed its defensive strategy to protecting outside the city while entrusting street fighting to the mobilization division.

About a hundred older T-90 tanks formed a long flank toward the A-379 road in preparation for a large-scale armored battle that was scheduled to happen soon.

* * *

December 1, 2023, 14:50 (Hong Kong time: 13:50)

The Guryong Peninsula (near Black Tigers Secret hideout) in Hong Kong, Republic of China

A communication was transmitted after three hours of waiting in the cramped van.

"Team leader!"

"Yes! What? Is something wrong?"

"I think they're going out."

"How many are there?"

"I'm not sure but I think they are two."

Yang Jeong-suk, the assistant manager, replied after noticing two people wearing thick coats inside the building.

"Okay! We'll go after them, so you and Chief Kang keep looking out for the rest."

"Yes, okay. Be careful."

"Okay."

Following the completion of the communication, team leader, Park Gi-oong, instructed Chief Youn Gil-soo, who was sitting in the driver's seat, to start the engine.

Vroom! Vroom!

While the quiet engine sound of the black van spread throughout the alley, the two Black Tiger agents who had emerged from the building made their way to the black sedan parked by the side of the road.

"Chase them while keeping your distance until we get further away from the hideout."

"Yes, team leader!"

The black sedan drove off. After exiting the alley, the black van followed closely behind.

20 minutes later, they left the complex of the Guryong Peninsula and were now driving on a quiet road.

"Team Leader! I think we can do it here."

"Well, you are right. Chief Youn, narrow the distance."

"Yes."

As soon as he replied, Chief Youn Gil-soo stepped on the accelerator. The black van then began closing the gap with the black sedan who was 100 meters ahead.

Clank clank! Clank!

Team leader, Park Gi-oong took something that looked like a gun from the equipment bag in the back seat and opened the right window.

"Get in the first lane!"

"Yes."

The black van entered the first lane and was soon driving right beside the black sedan. Team leader, Park Gi-oong, shot something through the open window.

The flying projectile became stuck between the black sedan's bonnet and the left front fender and immediately emitted a powerful electromagnetic wave. As a result of the damage to the ECU and other electronic components, the black sedan lost its ability to be controlled. The agent who was driving the black sedan freaked out and tried to turn the steering wheel but nothing worked.

Kiiiiik! Kwaaang!

As a result, the black sedan, which had been moving at a high speed, was unable to stay on course, collided with a guard rail, bounced, overturned, skidded for about ten meters, and then stopped.

As white smoke rose from the dented bonnet and the coolant, the black van headed toward the black sedan. Chief Youn Gil-soo and Park Gi-oong got out of the van right away. They opened the door of the overturned black sedan and checked on the passengers. Due to the crash, the driver appeared to be in a daze and was struggling with the exploded airbag. An ambulance, which seemed as if it was waiting right around the corner, blared its siren and drove up to the scene at a frightening speed. Two men dressed in white robes exited the ambulance and dashed towards the black sedan.

They silently nodded when they saw team leader, Park Gi-oong. They then opened the door of the overturned black sedan, dragged out the two unconscious Black Tiger agents, and laid them on the stretchers.

Team leader, Park Gi-oong, and Chief Youn Gil-soo assisted the white-gowned men to load them into the ambulance.

Drivers passing by, slowed down to watch the traffic accident, blocking both lanes. Those who didn't care if they were holding up traffic, stopped to watch without bothering about the cars behind them.

However, this was completely normal following a car accident.

When the ambulance left with its siren blaring once again, team leader, Park Gi-oong, and Chief Youn Gil-soo recovered something left behind in the black sedan and immediately followed the ambulance in their black van.