58 Episode 58 - National Treasure, Part II (2/2)
'Oh, my God!'
Their body froze under the fear that the monster was hurling.
On the contrary, Kim did not move himself.
Tsreung!
What moved was the Sword of the Imperator that Kim carried on his back.
5.
March 18.
The weather was beginning to warm up a little, but the desolation of Gimpo International Airport remained, and the damage that had been hidden was more apparent when the snow melted down.
A group of people were in this desolate place. They were like wolves, tense, wary, and alertness. Only one man in the center of the group was in a completely different mood from the wolves. His plump cheeks, framing a nose that looked to have been smashed flat, did not belong to a wolf.
”Is today the date of the appointment? Why isn't he here?”
The man's name was Lee Dong-seok. He was not a soldier or an Awakener, he was an expert at the National Museum of Korea who was brought to negotiate with Kim Tae-hoon today.
”He's coming.”
And so Kim Tae-hoon was. There was Jang Sung-hoon, who was brought to negotiate along with Kim, who had appeared at the end of the runway.
Lieutenant Colonel Yoo, confirmed the existence of the two, and began to twist his mouth. It was not because he hated Kim.
'He knows where the sniper is.'
The problem was that the direction Kim was coming from was the direction of a sniper in place. It was a signal, ”I know the location of the sniper, so do not do anything wrong.”
”He's more of a monster.”
It was, frankly, hard to understand.
Even if Kim was the world's best specialist in that area, it was not common sense to immediately grasp the position of a sniper who was deployed a day ago.
Of course, it was clear proof. It was clear evidence that in this age a common sense did not work anymore.
Lieutenant Colonel Yoo gave a signal to his men.
The men who received the signal immediately began to wave the white flag. If it had been before, he would have simply sent a message through a walkie-talkie, but now it was impossible.
Soon Kim and Lieutenant Colonel Yoo faced each other again.
”What result?”
”We've decided to accept your offer.”
There was no greeting. Both of them were not the kind of people who wasted words like greetings.
”We'll give you a mission, and if you do it, we'll pay for it. The pay is a relic.”
”This is our wish list. I'll only get what's on the wish list.”
At the same time, they said only what they had to say. The two of them looked at each other. Of the two who had no facial expressions, it was Lieutenant Colonel Yoo's brow that wrinkled first. He frowned and motioned to Lee Dong-seok.
Lee went over to Kim, fixing the round glasses that he was wearing.
”I want to know what you want first.”
”Oh, this one.”
Jang, who was behind Kim, came out immediately. He immediately pulled out a box. It wasn't a box that looked like a paper box, but it looked like a souvenir box that small walnut-flavored cakes were put in. In addition, on the cover of the box, a mysterious animal with an elephant-like nose was painted with a brush.
Lee put his head a little to one side.
”It's a gift. The Mac Guild decided to produce a small walnut-flavored cake. The animal here is Mac. It is our Guild Mascot. Of course, it is not just a small walnut-flavored cake. We put in some of the monster ingredients.It's a delicious restorative. I bet you, if we start mass production, it would be a worldwide hit.”
At the following explanation of Jang, Lee still had his incomprehensible expression, and the frown in the middle of Lieutenant Colonel Yoo's forehead now matched his mouth.
'A small walnut-flavored cake…'
He had received a small walnut-flavored cake as a gift several times.
But at this age, he got a small walnut-flavored cake as a gift?
Even a small walnut-flavored cake made with some of the monster ingredients which made healing possible?
It was unimaginable. He couldn't afford to imagine it.
'I'll have to hear from them, what the hell is going on in Bucheon City.'
Therefore, the small walnut-flavored cake that Jang put out was like a punch more intense than anything else. It was a punch that drove them out of their mind. But a really strong punch flew right behind it.
”This is our wish list.”
Jang handed Lee a folded, crumpled bunch of paper. Inside were three sheets of A4 paper, the letters filled out with ballpoint pens.
Lee began to read the letters and immediately shouted in awe, ”These are all national treasures, aren't they?”
”No!”
”What are you talking about? Golden Crown! Golden Belt! Horse Figure Type Earthenware! The Stone Statute of Mireuk Buddha! Bell of King Seongdeok! They are all national treasures!”
”Danwon Pungsokdo Cheop is a treasure.”
”Well, it's-”
”For reference, The King Muryeong set is all the items from the Tomb of King Muryeong. I'm referring to all the things that came out of the King Muryeong, and the Foot Stand of King Muryeong, as well as the Pillow of the Queen of King Muryeong.”
”Crazy!” Lee made a rough sound at this ridiculous wish list. His tone was rough. ”Just ask for the entire National Museum!”
”Hmm? Is that possible?”
”What are you talking about? All of the items are on display at the National Museum of Korea!”
”Hunminjeongeum, Gilt-bronze Triad Buddha Statue of Gyemimyeong, and Celadon Inlaid Cloud Crane Vase are in the Gansong Museum of Art. When did they go to the National Museum of Korea? Oh, my God, I could not put it in. I forgot Geumgang Naisan in Gyumjae. Can I have the wish list for a minute? I'll write a few more.”
Lee turned his head to look at Lieutenant Colonel Yoo as if he did not want to deal with Jang anymore. Then he mouthed silently, ”These bastards are nuts!”
Lieutenant Colonel Yoo no longer frowned at the words. He glared at Kim with a dull expression.
”You're the one who offered to negotiate, but from our perspective of the situation, you're not going to agree to the deal.”
A national treasure was not just a national treasure. It was a treasure that the nation of Korea had set to protect its identity and history. Among the things on the list, those that were not national treasures were also comparable to national treasures.
The relics with options had amazing powers, and even if they were relics without options, they were things that could not be given to anyone as long as the Republic of Korea existed. They were things that could not be traded.
In other words, Kim had no will to negotiate since he asked for something that they could not give.
”I think it's meaningful to get at least a national treasure as a reward, because it is a job that not a man, but thousands, or tens of thousands of people should do, risking their lives, in a world that is full of monsters.”
However, Kim was serious.
”That's ridiculous.”
”If that sounds ridiculous, I'll negotiate with someone else.” With his serious expression, he attacked Lieutenant Colonel Yoo with a fatal blow.
Lieutenant Colonel Yoo's expression was cold. He stared at Kim as if he were a beast who had stabbed his heart.
Kim did not avoid his eyes. Rather, he said with a more intense gaze, ”All we're getting is on the list, and all you do is get the job that's right for us.”
”... Major Kim Tae-hoon has changed a lot.”
Kim did not answer, because what he wanted to hear was not that kind of talk.
Lieutenant Colonel Yoo did not keep talking at once. He thought for a moment, then slowly spoke. ”There is an important figure in Incheon City, and if you rescue the figure, we can pay a national treasure.”
”I will definitely receive one of the national treasures as a reward, and I will take it somehow after I have completed my duties.”
The negotiations began.