Capítulo 232: Chapter 232: Who? Who Attacked?
Eva was finalizing negotiations with NEC.
Most of the differences had been narrowed down, and she planned to check on the professional details once Chairman Kim Byung-woo and the key personnel from Jungwoo Electronics arrived.
As Eva left the NEC headquarters, she got into the car with the protection of her bodyguards. At that moment, while reviewing urgent documents that needed attention during the drive…
"Duck, Representative!"
At the sudden shout from the head of security, Eva instinctively moved without a second thought.
As she crouched low to the ground of the car, gunfire erupted around her.
The car kept moving undeterred, almost as if it was trying to speed up to evade the rain of bullets.
The vehicle protecting Eva surrounded her car as they sped over the bridge.
However, those chasing them showed no signs of stopping, either.
"Representative, please do not get up under any circumstances."
The security team leader said from the front seat, but nothing reached Eva's ears.
The sound of bullets hitting the bulletproof glass and the violent gunfire triggered terrifying memories, making her tremble all over as memories of what happened in Hong Kong flooded back.
But given the urgency of the situation, the security team leader had no time to worry about Eva shaking in fear.
"Destination is the Russian Embassy! Drive with all you've got! Ignore all signals—Eva's safety comes first!"
The leader had determined the closest refuge was the Russian Embassy.
With no knowledge of who their attackers were, they could only trust the Russian and Korean embassies.
Several motorbikes with helmeted riders had come up behind them, trying everything they could to get close to the car Eva was in.
The vehicle protecting Eva was doing everything it could to block their approach, maneuvering between the cars. Mercenaries patrolling the outskirts joined in, pushing the motorbikes away with their vehicles.
Bang!
At that moment, the lead protective vehicle was rammed by a suddenly appearing dump truck, making a thunderous noise as it was shoved aside.
"Turn the wheel! Get away!"
Through the thick dust, the security team leader shouted urgently as they assessed the situation. The bodyguard at the wheel wrestled with the steering wheel, forcing it into the other lane.
After colliding with several cars, the dump truck finally came to a stop.
A car that narrowly avoided the dump truck fled in the opposite direction to escape oncoming traffic.
The road had turned into chaos, filled with blaring car horns that seemed never-ending. A heavy explosion erupted from a vehicle that had crashed.
The heart of Tokyo had descended into confusion in an instant.
"Damn it! If only I could use a gun right now…"
The head of security in the passenger seat muttered softly while surveying the surroundings. With the mercenary team now fully engaged, Eva's group managed to break free from the chaos.
"How much longer?"
"We'll arrive in five minutes."
Neither the bodyguards nor the mercenary team had imagined an attack would occur in the center of Tokyo.
Thanks to Kim Mu-hyeok's directive to tighly organize the security team, they had managed to escape.
If either of them had not been there… The head of security shook his head at the thought.
"Ha…"
The head of security glanced around, then looked back at Eva, the person they were protecting.
Eva was in complete panic. She crouched low to the car floor, clutching her head with trembling hands.
"Representative."
The flustered head of security called out softly to Eva, noticing her body shaking uncontrollably.
"Representative!"
Even calling her name more forcefully elicited no response from Eva.
But the assault was not done yet. They had no idea who was ambushing them or how it might happen next.
"I can see the Russian Embassy up ahead."
The Russian Embassy was starting to come into view. The head of security, prioritizing an end to the situation over improving Eva's condition, grimly spat,
"Do not stop! Just charge in! Even if we have to smash through the front gate!"
If they stopped the car now, who knows what might happen.
The Japanese police on duty at the embassy began to panic as they saw the speeding car approaching without slowing down.
Crash! Bang!
The lead vehicle crashed through the gates of the Russian Embassy.
The police standing outside, witnessing the chaos for the first time, could do nothing, while Russian FSB agents and soldiers inside aimed their weapons at the halted vehicles as they approached.
"I'll get out and report the situation; wait here."
"Understood, team leader."
As the soldiers approached, the head of security opened the passenger door and stepped out, hands raised slowly above his head.
"Get down!"
Russian agents holding guns shouted orders in English. The security head complied, lying flat on the ground with his arms and legs spread out.
The Russian agents approached the head of security, still aiming their weapons at him as they gave him order to stand.
"Put your hands behind your head!"
The head of security obeyed, interlocking his fingers behind his head.
"Where are you from?"
The highest-ranking Russian agent stepped forward and asked the head of security.
Believing it could be a matter perceivable as a terror attack on the Russian Embassy, the security head responded in as calm a voice as possible.
"We are the security detail for Chairman Kim Mu-hyeok from South Korea."
"South Korea?"
"Yes, if you're not aware, please let the Ambassador inside know that I mentioned Chairman Kim Mu-hyeok's name. There is animportant person in this car right now."
As the man nodded at another agent beside him, one of the agents hurriedly headed inside the embassy.
With the front gate completely shattered, the Japanese police were left standing outside, dumbfounded, watching the chaos ahead, as numerous cars surrounded the embassy.
The man frowned as he took in the disarray around him.
"Ha…"
Even after years of securing various embassies, he found this situation to be utterly demoralizing.
At that moment, the doors of the embassy opened, and a chubby middle-aged man stepped out.
He sighed at the disarray around him before striding over toward his subordinates.
"Enough. Lower your weapons."
"What?"
"Did you not hear me? Lower your guns!"
The Russian Ambassador, ordering his men, approached the head of security.
"It's dangerous, Ambassador."
"It's fine. You said this involved Kim Mu-hyeok, right?"
The ambassador waved off the agents' objections as he turned to the head of security.
"What exactly is going on? Why would Kim Mu-hyeok's security team stom our embassy? And who would dare target someone from Kim Mu-hyeok's inner circle in tis world?"
While bombarded with questions from the ambassador, the head of security replied without turning his body.
"While carrying out Chairman Kim Mu-hyeok's orders, we were abushed. The Russian Embassy was the only safe location closest to the attack site. I apologize for our rudeness."
"Is there anyone inside?"
The ambassador seemed more curious about who was in the car than about the mess outside, shifting his gaze to the vehicle.
"It's Eva Zhu, the representative of Future Investment and Chairman Kim Mu-hyeok's business partner.She's currently in a state of panic and requires medical assistance."
The ambassador nodded slowly at the head of security's response, as if it made sense now. He then ordered his agents,
"Contact medical personnel. Clear out everyone gawking outside and lock the barriers. No one is to enter our embassy from this point forward."
People began to gather, peering into the completely demolished entrance of the Russian Embassy.
"Hands down. Let's take Representative Eva inside. Only the minimum number of people should go in, and the rest should wait outside."
At the ambassador's command, the head of security lowered his hands and turned his body.
Bowing his head, the head of security opened the back door and called out for Eva.
"Representative! Eva!"
But Eva, lost in panic, showed no signs of response, her eyes vacant as she continued to tremble.
The head of security called a few of his men over to carry Eva, taking her into the Russian embassy alongside the ambassador.
Meanwhile, on the rooftop of a building across from the Russian Embassy, a man stood watching.
After observing everything, he frowned in confusion.
"I never expected them to storm the Russian embassy…"
Tsk, clicking his tongue, the man muttered before turning away.
* * *
Inside an airplane, I received news that made me jump up out of my seat without realizing it. The call from Japan was shocking.
—Representative Eva has been attacked.
"What!?"
Startled by my own shout, Manager Ma rushed over to me quickly.
Waving my hand lightly to signal him to stay back, I asked again.
"Is Eva safe?"
—Yes. She's in a panic but unharmed.
"Ha…"
Hearing that Eva was unharmed, I let out a sigh of relief without realizing it, slumping back into my seat and grinding my teeth.
"Who? Who attacked?"
—We haven't determined that yet. However… the attackers used firearms in the middle of Tokyo. There was significant chaos, yet the police did not respond.
If they used guns and the Japanese police didn't respond…
That statement helped narrow the suspect pool. It meant someone with influence over the Japanese police was involved.
'Then it can't be Seo Jae-hoon.'
Caught off guard by the sudden call, I struggled to organize my thoughts. With my mind clouded, I spoke while ruffling my hair.
"So, what's the current location? Is it a safe place?"
At that point, a familiar voice came through, likely having taken over the call. It was the voice of the head of security assigned to Eva.
—Boss, we are currently at the Russian embassy.
"The Russian embassy?"
—Yes. As we have no idea who the attackers are, we deemed the safest place to be either the Russian or Korean embassies. So, we rushed into the Russian embassy. There was some trouble in the process, and I apologize.
The head of security's judgment was correct. Even if this incident involved the Japanese government, they could not enter the Russian embassy without permission.
If they took even a single step inside without permission, it would be akin to declaring war.
"…You did well."
—Currently, Representative Eva is being treated by medical staff with the ambassador's assistance and has been granted permission to stay here until the attackers are identified. We considered moving to the Korean embassy, but…
"No. Stay at the Russian embassy."
The Russian embassy was safer than the Korean one. Japan's attitude toward Korea and Russia was markedly different.
"For now, I will call back to Russia. Once Eva is stable, please instruct her to halt all ongoing negotiations and wait at the Russian embassy."
—Understood, Boss.
I hung up and sighed deeply. Who would have thought something like this would happen to Eva, who I had left alone in Japan?
I had a feeling this might happen, but hearing that she had actually been attacked made my blood boil. How dare they touch my people.
If I could postpone my trip to the U.S., I would. I wanted to fly to Japan immediately.
However, I couldn't break the important appointment I had with the President of the United States.
After putting my phone down, I rubbed my dry face with my hand. A heavy sense of dread settled in my stomach.
"Ha…"
The vague anxiety that had been swirling in my mind became a painful reality. Who could have committed such an act?
The Japanese government? Or Il-sung? There would be no benefit for them to kill Eva.
Deep in thought, Manager Ma entered. Seeing the troubled look on my face, he cautiously asked.
"Boss, what's wrong?"
"I hear Eva was attacked in Tokyo."
Manager Ma's face went pale.
"Is Eva safe?"
Eva is safe. She is unharmed. But the thought that she had fallen into a panic triggered a frown.
"Aside from her panic from what happened in Hong Kong, they say she sustained no serious injuries."
"…That's a relief."
His sincere words elicited a bittersweet smile from me.
Is this truly a relief for Eva? It seems that only she suffers through these troubling events, and a heaviness settled in my heart.
"Such bad luck seems to follow only Eva."
Perhaps because of the complicated expression on my face, Manager Ma stood silently for a while without responding.
"Take-off is delayed a bit."
"I explained the situation as it seemed to be an important call, and the take-off has been pushed back. We should receive clearance to take off in thirty minutes."
If we had taken off as planned, I would have heard about the situation only after arriving in America. Nodding slightly, I said,
"Good job. By the way, Manager Ma, what do you think? Who do you think attacked Eva? Considering they used firearms and yet the Japanese police did not respond, it seems someone on the inside could move them…"
There were far too many potential suspects, making it difficult to provide a definitive answer. Manager Ma, lost in thought, did not respond immediately.
"It cannot be Seo Jae-hoon. Beyond him, who could there be? The Yakuza, or perhaps the Japanese government? If not, another faction?"
"It seems that a third party has no reason to target Representative Eva. Rather than a terrorist attack by the Japanese government, could it be someone manipulating the Japanese government?"
That made sense. If they were not trying to provoke me, a third faction would likely stay out of it.
Yet, the Japanese government would also be acutely aware of the implications of antagonizing me.
As I pondered Manager Ma's insight, my private jet left Gimpo Airport. After a long flight, it landed at Washington Dulles International Airport.
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