March 28, 2035
Gamamusa stood outside the factory, smoking green cannabis. Olga, beside him, did the same. Minutes later, two trucks pulled up. Several men disembarked, short-haired and dressed in military uniforms, looking like soldiers. Olga dropped her cannabis, crushing it underfoot. “…These are the soldiers you mentioned? They look pathetic.” The soldiers bristled. Gamamusa shook his head, tossing his cannabis and stomping it out before approaching them. “…These are my students from Choongsan University. Most were non-commissioned officers serving in the military.” He sighed. “…I called all my students, but only a few showed. Still, this is enough.”
One soldier stepped forward, bowing to Gamamusa. He met his eyes. “…Professor, remember me? I’m Jung Sun-beom. I was top of your class. You promised us jobs, right?” Gamamusa nodded. “I remember. I posed as a professor at that university to recruit you all, didn’t I?” The soldiers nodded. “…Around 2015, wasn’t it? We were shocked when we heard you’d disappeared. Then you emailed us, saying you’d defected to North Korea. We thought it was a prank. We were at our posts and never heard of anyone defecting.”
Gamamusa nodded. “…No one would know I swam to North Korea. Even if they did, no one could stop me.” The soldiers burst into laughter. Olga frowned. “…Ugh, how’d you recruit these guys? Even if they’re your students, they know you spied for North Korea. What if they’re double agents from South Korea?” Gamamusa shook his head. “Don’t worry. I only invited safe students—ones with no ties to South Korea. Orphans who got no state support, soldiers injured in service with no compensation.” The soldiers nodded in agreement.
Gamamusa gave them a warm smile. “…I know how South Korea treated you. Abandoned by the state, you came to Russia to find me. You’re desperate. Some of you are injured, unable to work.” Several soldiers, with prosthetic arms or legs, nodded empathetically. “Join the Wagner Group, and you’d face the same treatment—or worse, they’d reject you for your disabilities. Luckily, I won’t treat you that way. I’ll give you shares in Renya Group and high positions when we form our armed political party.” The soldiers cheered. Gamamusa handed Jung Sun-beom some papers. “…Distribute these to the others. Labor contracts. From now on, you’re my comrades.” He grinned.
…
At the General Reconnaissance Bureau, Director Ri Man-hee scowled as he read a report. Furious, he glared at Kang Min-cheol standing before him. “…Kang Min-cheol, what’s your job here? I sent you to scout enemies, and you botched it like this?” Ri Man-hee tossed the report. It listed male students from Choongsan University. Kang Min-cheol bowed his head. “…I’m sorry. My background as a prison guard doesn’t suit this work.” Ri Man-hee hurled the report. “…Don’t apologize, you fool. Because of you, a traitor and fugitive from our republic is now heading a major company in Russia. He’s gathering allies and will return here.” Kang Min-cheol trembled. “…What’ll he do to us? Swallow our republic and purge us?”
Ri Man-hee glared fiercely. “…Don’t be dramatic. He’s just one man. He’s not a big shot in Russia yet.” Ri Man-hee picked up the phone, dialing. “…Listen up, Brazil field agents. Starting today, we launch the Dmitry Grekov assassination operation. Make sure you get it right. And leave a message for NIS Director Bae Jung-gil—tell him not to interfere.” He made several calls, then hung up and turned to Kang Min-cheol. “…That guy’s still a small-time chain CEO relying on one investor. We need to cut his lifeline by targeting his investor. I’m sending you again, Kang Min-cheol. Don’t screw this up.”
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