“Foreigners can’t enter the NIS, right?”
― The NIS even forbids people who marry foreigners, let alone their flesh and blood...!
“.......”
― Because of that, my brother-in-law was also immediately fired after it was discovered that he was involved with a woman from North Korea. Recruitment in the NIS is famous for its very strict background checks. If there’s a criminal record, a history of violence issues at school, or a record of losing a civil lawsuit, you’re immediately disqualified without even being seen, even if you divorce a guilty spouse, a foreign spouse, or even if there are relatives with criminal records, you’re immediately and mercilessly disqualified. Some say they even check records for 12 years in elementary, middle, and high school. So, in that case, everything is clear, right?
“.......”
― My niece wrote in her aspirations column that she wanted to be Black Widow, and my brother-in-law almost choked and cruelly crushed her dream...! In intelligence agencies, lineage is like hereditary law.
“So, if for example... my grandfather was Russian...”
― Ah…! What are you saying, Sis…! How can we, in a democratic country like this, be talking about Stalin...! Seoryeong fell silent, feeling confused, while holding her temples, which were starting to ache.
“Channa, you were also offered a position by the NIS, right?”
Hearing that, Channa only snorted. ― I did talk a lot to raise my value, but honestly, it was a threat. The NIS didn’t want me, they only wanted information from the cyber warfare unit. It was an interrogation and a transaction, not recruitment.
“.......”
― And even if they use foreigners, it will definitely be an information tool used by NIS agents in the field. I often meet Chinese people, but South Korea’s allies are America, right…! Then, why would they recruit someone with family in Russia and place them there? That would definitely cause problems! Seoryeong nodded slightly, as if she understood. Was this question just my own worry? Seoryeong felt confused and didn’t want to see her own facial expression. But strangely, the pressure slowly began to ease. Suddenly, the reflection of an expression she had never seen before was cast on the black window. ― Even with a great mission, human instinct is to protect family. That’s why international marriages are forbidden, to avoid such weaknesses...! Because of that, an un-cleanable lineage is even more frightening.
“.......”
Seoryeong’s headache was severe. It felt like a knife was stabbing her teeth, so she rested her forehead against the window for a moment. Every time she closed her eyes, the face of the man who had violently attacked her appeared in her mind, and her eyes would immediately snap open. She really couldn’t sleep. How long had it been since she got off the helicopter… and she still felt like she couldn’t stand firmly on the ground. Maybe she should sleep. If she slept, would this feeling disappear? Seoryeong rubbed her face, which felt foreign, as if she wanted to erase it. What exactly did she want to prove?
“......”
Her heart was pounding, as if she had committed an irreparable sin.
“― Patient Lee Wooshin?”
Hearing his name, Seoryeong stopped at the corner reflexively. The nurses sat at the station, drinking late-night coffee and talking. Seoryeong unconsciously began to pay attention to them.
“Honestly, I slightly misplaced the IV needle in the blood vessel earlier.”
“What?!”
A nurse her age immediately hit her colleague’s arm and then looked around. However, the first nurse to speak seemed hesitant, but her eyes suddenly lit up excitedly.
“But suddenly, the patient himself found the blood vessel on the back of his hand and inserted the needle... He must have been unconscious because he had been given anesthesia... I held his hand tightly, and he just pushed the needle in all at once…!”
“Huh? Is he a doctor?”
“If he were a doctor, he would have been famous since his college days.”
The nurse looked back up as if remembering something, then opened her lips.
“I thought it was going to be a medical accident, but he said, ‘That’s not it,’ and just pulled his hand away... Oh yeah, why isn’t his marital status recorded on the chart? There’s no number for emergency contact...”
“What was he doing?”
“Right? Curious...”
“Hey, please stop being curious and do the treatment properly. Don’t make another mistake.”
“Yeah, yeah―”
Seoryeong looked at the nurses, who looked just as tired with their awkward expressions, and for a moment noticed the slightly flushed cheeks of one of the nurses. Seoryeong watched the redness for a moment, then felt a slight discomfort in her stomach. Suddenly, the muscles in her shoulders felt tense. Seoryeong moved her feet again, while rotating her shoulders. She, who had previously intended to visit the instructors, suddenly felt compelled to change direction. After opening the room door, the cool air from the humidifier and a simple small table with a wide night view greeted her. In the middle of it all, Lee Wooshin lay on the hospital bed, slowly blinking. His once sharp eyes now looked tired, and his slow gaze felt strange. His eyes followed Seoryeong with a slight delay every time she moved. Was he really conscious now? With a puzzled face, Seoryeong held onto the bed frame below and stood sideways. At that moment, Lee Wooshin furrowed his brow and said weakly.
“Why are you so beautiful...”
A chuckle escaped his lips. Suddenly… what did he say? Seoryeong frowned.
“Just like that, then what am I supposed to do?”
“Huh?”
“I’m not going to the office. Just let me get fired. I have so much money saved up...”
“.......”
“But you, why did you come out of that picture?”
What was he saying… Seoryeong was startled and blinked. Hearing him speak in unclear words, Seoryeong suddenly remembered that he was under anesthesia. She briefly thought about calling the medical staff, but immediately turned her gaze away from the round red button. It felt like he would wake up on his own.
“Instructor, wake up.”
“Ah... Who is it?”
His eyes blinked like a turtle’s.
“Staff, ha... Never mind, just lie down.”
“.......”
“Instead, don’t talk anymore later so there won’t be any problems. Then slowly, you’ll regain consciousness.”
“Never mind, bring my phone here.”
“.......”
No, maybe I should just hit him on the head. In the quiet room, the only sound was Lee Wooshin’s heavy voice, and every word he spoke was clearly audible.
“I have to call my wife.”
“.......!”
Seoryeong’s expression became strange. In her uncomfortable and strange confusion, she briefly wondered if she had misheard. However, the man’s gaze was very clear. So, right now, he was still not fully conscious and confused, looking for his wife? It was then that she remembered that Lee Wooshin had also once had a wife. She just stood there stiffly, as if she had been hit on the back of the head without warning. In the unexpected situation, cold blood suddenly ran down her neck. The hand holding the bed frame suddenly tightened. Seoryeong lowered her eyes, as if trying to hide her trembling gaze, and then asked calmly.
“Your wife’s name… who is it?”
“Am I crazy enough to carelessly talk about my beautiful wife?”
“No…―!”
Seoryeong frowned, as if annoyed. A cynical smile appeared on his lips. Who made you tremble because of his wife’s affair…! The words almost escaped her throat, but she hesitated to shock the man who had just woken up. What was it he said about his wife back then? Young, shy, he often hugged her. Yes, that’s what he said. But his wife cheated, and they eventually separated, and Lee Wooshin always said he would never talk about the past. But, if he’s unconsciously looking for his wife like this, doesn’t that mean it’s his true feelings? One thing was certain, the longer she talked to him, the worse she felt.
“You’ll regret your words by tomorrow, you’d better just be quiet.”
“You’re the one who seems to be talking too carelessly. What team are you from?”
“Hah… I’m from the special security team.”
“Your name is nothing special, and you also look like you’re imitating someone and changing your appearance.”
He stared at Seoryeong with sharp eyes, the wrinkles on his forehead becoming more pronounced. His eyes, which initially looked languid, grew colder and colder as he looked at Seoryeong’s facial features. The longer she faced him, the worse his expression became.
“Bring me my phone. Then type this message.”
Seoryeong held her breath and scratched the tip of her eyebrow angrily.
“It’s a message for my wife, so don’t make any typos. Write exactly what I say.”
“……!”
Seoryeong unconsciously squeezed her hair and let out a long sigh, feeling extremely frustrated. Every time I close my eyes, I can’t sleep because of someone’s shadow, while you so quickly look for your wife as soon as you wake up…! With this incomprehensible feeling, Seoryeong stopped as if struck by lightning. Her eyes, which had been flickering, suddenly turned to stone. Wait, I… I couldn’t possibly be like that… This feeling that was growing stronger, and the desire to not hold back her feelings even if it ruined everything, this one feeling —.
“…Come to your senses. Your wife left because she cheated, and your married life ended a long time ago.”