After ending the communication with Junho, Min stood in silence for a moment. Junho’s voice had been calm,

  but to Min, it sounded like the voice of someone who still could not see the big picture.

  Min confirmed that Junho did not yet fully understand the current flow of events.

  “Comrade Ri, it is a long way to Pyongyang. Let’s head to Kimchaek City first.”

  “Kimchaek City? Major, are you planning to take a break there?”

  “Let’s sleep in Kimchaek City today. I have someone to meet there.”

  “Ah, understood.” Though surprised, Assistant Ri does not ask any questions.

  The distance from Chongjin to Kimchaek is about 172km. In a normal country, it would take a little over two hours along a smooth highway. But here, things are different.

  As soon as the car leaves Chongjin, the military SUV begins to lose speed.

  The pavement is torn in places, and there are many unpaved sections; cracks and potholes on the road slow the vehicle’s pace even further.

  Assistant Ri is constantly repeating the cycle of braking and accelerating, causing the windows to rattle and shake.

  The calculation of "two hours" is a story only possible on a map. Real time stretches meaninglessly over the dashboard.

  “Major Min, isn’t the road in decent shape for this? If it had rained or the road had frozen in the cold, we would have really struggled,” Assistant Ri says with a sheepish smile.

  “It is fine. Just drive carefully,” Major Min responds without much reaction.

  “Major Min, our NK soldiers fought really well in this U-country battle. At first, they weren't used to the drones, so they moved in groups and took a lot of hits. But what kind of army are we? We adapted quickly, found a way, and started avoiding the drone attacks, didn't we? Haha.”

  Assistant Ri continues to talk to himself.

  “They say while the R-army was trembling and couldn't even enter the battlefield, our NK army took the lead in fighting.

  Even when taken prisoner by U, some soldiers resisted, refused, and committed suicide to avoid being captives. Isn't that truly heroic behavior?”

  Major Min, who was looking out the window, turns his head to glance at Assistant Ri and then looks back outside. He speaks a single word.

  “Yes. It is heroic. Our soldiers are the strongest in the world,” he responds in a low voice.

  Perhaps because of the bitter wind blowing from Siberia and the bone-chilling cold, not a single person is visible on the unpaved road. T

  he houses lined up on both sides of the road look like something huddling low and trembling.

  From the chimneys here and there, faint thin smoke is seen rising. It means that here in the countryside, they are still burning wood to heat the rooms.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Between the single-story houses built of silver-gray concrete, the figures of women and children occasionally flash by like a glimpse, but throughout the journey to Kimchaek, almost no people are seen.

  Nearly four hours pass, and as it nears 6:00 PM, they enter Kimchaek City.

  Having passed several checkpoints, eaten rice balls brought as snacks, and taken a short breath, the journey has become later than expected.

  After entering downtown Kimchaek, the car stops in front of a house near the harbor.

  “Comrade Ri, pull up close to that house.” Major Min points the way with his finger. From the road, the building looks like a small factory, with a thick iron gate completely blocking the entrance. There is hardly any sign of human presence.

  As the car stops, Major Min gets out immediately and thumps on the door. The metallic sound echoes heavily deep into the alley. After a moment, the door opens slightly and a middle-aged man pokes his face out. He exchanges glances with Major Min without saying a word. It is a short but sufficient confirmation. The man soon nods and opens the door wider, gesturing for the SUV to be driven inside and parked.

  Getting out of the car, Major Min shakes hands with the middle-aged man and tells Assistant Ri to move the two large bags from the trunk to another civilian SUV parked there. Assistant Ri opens the trunk and transfers two large Boston bags to the other SUV.

  Major Min says to Assistant Ri:

  “Comrade Ri, follow that man, have dinner, and rest in your room.

  I have someone to meet, so go to sleep first. We will depart at 8:00 AM tomorrow.”

  “Ah... yes, I understand. Have a safe trip,” Assistant Ri says with a smile.

  Leaving Assistant Ri behind, Major Min steps out of the house alone.

  Even at six in the evening, the city of Kimchaek is already submerged in darkness. Even without the wind blowing, the air itself is so cold that it pierces the skin like a thin blade the moment it touches the face.

  With an indifferent expression, he makes his way out of the alley and moves toward the harbor.

  Only the sound of frozen snow crushing under his feet follows him.

  After walking for about twenty minutes, a loading dock where containers are piled like mountains appears in the darkness.

  It is a silent space where not a single human shadow is seen. Major Min enters between the tightly packed containers without hesitation.

  As if he already knows the location, he stops in front of one specific container. He scans the surroundings once and opens the door.

  Inside the container, there is a single old desk, and a lantern placed on it spills a faint light.

  The light pushes back the darkness just enough to identify surrounding objects. T

  here are two people inside. One is sitting, and the other is leaning against the wall, watching him.

  Major Min enters without a word and sits in a chair.

  By the lantern light in the dark container, he can partially see the face of the man sitting opposite him.

  The man speaks. “Major Min. Did you bring it safely from R ?” he says lowly and coldly.

  “Yes, I brought it divided into two bags.”

  “The amount is correct, right? Did you count it?”

  “Yes. There is $2.5 million per bag, so it is a total of $5 million in the two bags.”

  “Haha, as expected, Major Min is thorough in his work. Make sure to take it safely to Pyongyang.

  When you arrive in Pyongyang, the Great Leader will be pleased. You will receive a reward as well...”

  “However... there is one thing I must tell you.”

  “What is it?”

  “When I arrive in Pyongyang, there is an important story I must deliver. I must tell the Great Leader personally.”

  “What kind of story? It will be difficult for you to meet him face-to-face. I don't know how important the content is.”

  “Then, when you return to Pyongyang today, please inform him that I have an important message from the spacecraft for the Great Leader. T

  his fact is a top-secret matter that neither the US nor R knows. Currently, only the people in this room know this.”

  “What... you mean the spacecraft in U-country? Aliens? That thing sent a message to us?”

  “Yes! I must deliver that message.”