บท 356: Chapter 356: This Place is a Whole Different World
Colonel Seth took a sip of coffee, his smile unwavering as he said nothing.
A heavy silence lingered in the barracks, broken only by the ringing phone resting on the table.
"Colonel Seth here. Ah! Instructor!"
Seth's voice carried warmth as he answered the call.
While he focused on the conversation, I glanced at the dirt on my suit from earlier.
'The Taliban…'
Their motive for attacking me must be revenge for thwarting Ahmad's terror plot.
Still, I was surprised the Taliban knew about me. They seemed to target Black Bear, with Eric being the apparent owner.
"Charlie?"
Seth's call pulled me from my thoughts.
He handed me the receiver, and a familiar voice came through.
― "Boss! I'm glad to hear you're safe!"
Eric's words eased my tension just a bit.
"Eric, it's good to hear your voice here."
― "Oh, thank God! That's such a relief, Boss."
He continued to express concern for my wellbeing while asking if I was injured.
Since Eric was the one who informed me about meeting with Ahmad, his worry was understandable.
"I'm fine. By the way…"
I shot a quick glance at Seth and asked,
"Do you know Colonel Seth?"
― "Yes. I taught him when he was in training."
"Oh, really?"
― "He'll be assisting us while we're in Kabul."
"That's great news. Thanks to the quick support, I'm safe now. But how did this happen? It feels like the attackers knew exactly when I would be in Kabul…"
The sounds of gunfire and explosions still echoed in my ears.
― "We haven't figured it out yet. I'm sorry."
"I need information, not apologies. Find out who attacked us. I don't want vague answers. Was it the Taliban? Al-Qaeda? Or someone else?"
― "Understood, Boss. I'll mobilize all our intel resources to figure it out."
If Eric set his mind to it, gathering information wouldn't be difficult. The Black Bear intel team would also be involved.
I nodded, satisfied, and gave Seth another quick glance.
"Let's discuss details later. It feels inappropriate to have this convo in a U.S. barracks."
― "Yes. Boss, Colonel Seth is a prospective talent for our company. He'll be returning home in three months. Think of this as a preliminary meeting with a potential recruit."
I looked at Seth; he still wore a smile.
"For now, I'll head to my lodging and get back to you."
― "Understood, Boss."
I handed Seth the receiver as the call ended.
Seth placed the receiver down casually.
"I heard from the instructor that Charlie is the owner of Black Bear."
"I provided the initial funding to establish the company, but Eric is the one running things. I have no interest in encroaching on his authority. The true owners of Black Bear are the mercenaries working there."
Seth clapped in appreciation. Was it really such a big deal to him?
Despite my first impression, I felt there was something off about him.
Maybe it was because we had just survived an ambush, or perhaps my tension was just wearing me out; I felt exhausted despite our brief conversation.
"Seth, I think it's time to head back to the lodging."
"That sounds fair. But before you go, why not check on the pursuit of the attacker who ambushed Charlie?"
The terrorists who ambushed me fled as soon as they spotted U.S. soldiers.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I nodded.
"You won't find better facilities in Kabul than what you have here. This place is far superior to the hotel you'll be staying at."
I nodded in agreement as I surveyed my surroundings, sensing Seth's pride in his barracks.
"I could easily mix this place up with a war zone or the U.S."
"Haha, the U.S. spares no expense for its soldiers, even if they're stationed this far from home."
America's treatment of its soldiers is among the best in the world.
Unlike countries that neglect their military.
"Whether it's the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, or anyone else, the act of carrying out a terror attack in my jurisdiction is tantamount to defiance. Whoever is behind this will face retribution. Leave it to me."
"That's reassuring. But first, I'd like to freshen up…"
Only then did Seth notice the dirt on my head and pressed the call bell beside him.
As the call went through, Seth's aide entered.
"Loyalty! Did you call for me?"
"Please escort this gentleman to the shower. When he's finished, bring him back here."
"Understood."
He seemed accustomed to giving orders, probably due to his role as an officer. Seth looked at me and said,
"You'll just need to wash up and return here. The aide will be waiting outside for you."
"Thank you."
I stood up and followed the aide.
Igor and Manager Ma, who had been stationed at the barracks entrance, followed behind me.
Manager Ma, who had been injured during the conflict, had a bandage wrapped around his head, indicating he had received first aid.
Suddenly, memories of what transpired in Pyongyang rushed back to me. I turned to him, concern evident on my face.
"Manager, how's the wound?"
"A bullet grazed my temple. It's not severe."
"Glad to hear that. Still, just to be safe, let's get you a thorough check-up when we return to Korea."
"Yes, Boss."
I then turned to Igor, who lowered his head upon catching my gaze.
"Boss, I'm sorry."
"This isn't on you, Igor. What matters is finding out how information got leaked."
Part of me felt there weren't enough personnel in Kabul to blame Igor or the mercenaries for the mishap.
The root cause was really the breach of my itinerary.
Black Bear's headquarters was also clueless about how I was ambushed, so there was no point in blaming him.
Yet Igor bowed his head once more, likely recalling a reprimand from Russia.
"But…"
I cut him off before he could apologize again.
"This was an unpredictable incident. The main thing is everybody is safe. Igor, are you injured at all?"
"No, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Boss."
As we spoke, we arrived at the barracks equipped with the shower facilities.
"This is it. After you shower, I'll bring you back to Colonel's barracks."
Stepping inside the barracks, I couldn't help but admire the setup.
It was hard to believe this was a war zone.
"This place is a whole different world."
The shower facilities were impressive, a stark contrast to the barren atmosphere outside the military base.
Igor, Manager Ma, and I quickly stripped off our clothes and stepped into the shower.
As the hot water cascaded down my head and body, relief enveloped me.
"Ah… this feels amazing."
I felt my tension melt away as I relaxed under the spray. Igor and Manager Ma were also enjoying the water.
Both of them had numerous scars on their bodies, some from old gunshot wounds.
These marks told a story of their dedication and how fiercely they fought on the battlefield.
Had it not been for these two, would I have the chance to enjoy this hot shower?
Noticing my gaze, Igor and Manager Ma turned their heads towards me.
Maybe it was the aftereffects of the battle, but their reactions were quicker than usual.
"Is something on your mind?"
"No, no. Just finish washing up."
After finishing my shower, fresh clothes awaited me.
It seemed Manager Ma had his subordinates prepare them in advance.
Dressed in a crisp suit, I exited the barracks. Seth's aide, waiting outside, eyed me with a stoic expression.
He seemed just as stiff as Manager Ma.
"This way, please."
Following the aide again, I arrived at the front of Colonel Seth's barracks.
Manager Ma and Igor stood waiting outside while I entered alone.
"Oh, the atmosphere is entirely different from before."
As Seth put down the report to chat, he lightened up.
"Thanks to you, I had a good shower."
"Haha, please have a seat."
Once I sat down, Seth spoke up.
"We managed to capture one of the attackers who ambushed Charlie. Most of the rest were killed."
It was good news—they at least captured one. A relief.
"He should be arriving soon…"
Seth trailed off, his hesitation obvious. I quickly picked up on his underlying concern.
"If he comes here, it'll be tricky for us to interrogate him. Instead, why not hand him over to Black Bear? I won't forget this favor."
"Hmmm…"
Seth gulped, seeming apprehensive. Was he still unsure?
"I'll make sure to take care of the soldiers who helped you, Colonel. But bringing him here complicates the matter with human rights and whatnot, making proper interrogation difficult. I'll share what intel we gather with you."
Seth's face broke into a smile once I gave him the assurance he wanted.
Truthfully, interrogations by the U.S. military usually involved serious yelling rather than real questioning.
Given the Geneva Convention prohibiting torture, Seth's hands were tied regarding any brutal treatment of prisoners.
Although rumors suggested the U.S. conducted secret interrogations using drugs, for Seth, who was about to retire, that would be too much stress.
Black Bear's methods were more flexible regarding torture and drug use for interrogation, so us handling it made more sense.
"Alright, then I'll immediately send him over to where Black Bear is stationed."
As Seth instructed via radio, I reflected on the day's events.
Someone was thoroughly tracking our movements and lying in wait.
Initially, we struggled against the sudden ambush, but soon we managed to stabilize the situation and suppress them with overwhelming firepower.
Had there been a regular army set up, I might not be alive today.
I didn't know who was behind it, but…
I was determined to make them pay for attempting to take me down.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. No, they'd have to pay far more.
As Seth finished his orders, he looked about to say something but then flinched at my gaze.
"Charlie."
I found myself instinctively turning my sharp gaze away.
"Um…"
Only after seeing Seth stammer did I manage to soften my expression.
"Ah, sorry. Got lost in my thoughts there."
"I've participated in a few combat missions myself, but I've never seen a look like that in someone's eyes. It feels like you could kill a person just with your gaze!"
Seth forced a hearty laugh, perhaps to mask his discomfort. I smiled gently without responding.
"Anyway, I instructed them to hand the prisoner over to Black Bear."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. We're just helping one another out. I'll probably see you next at Black Bear. Looking forward to it."
"Haha, it'd be wiser to make a good impression on Eric!"
"Ugh, the instructor is way too strict. It's a nightmare!"
It seems he had learned a lot under Eric's guidance, as he seemed quite familiar with him.
Seeing Seth frown while shaking his head made me chuckle.
As our conversation rounded off, he stood up first and extended his hand.
"It was a pleasure meeting you. I'll keep a close eye on things while you're here. Kabul will be safe for you."
I stood up and shook hands with Colonel Seth.
"I appreciate your kindness. Until next time,"
I said, stepping outside to find Igor and Manager Ma waiting for me.
"Let's head into Kabul now."
By the time we'd finished talking, it was later than I'd anticipated. The sun was beginning to set.
Igor must have called a different vehicle from our base camp in Kabul, as he guided me to another car.
We drove away from the U.S. base and soon arrived in downtown Kabul.
Kabul looked desolate; it was my first impression.
Few cars were on the road, and pedestrians were nearly nonexistent.
"It's so bleak here."
"It's still recovering. Under the Taliban rule, freedom was nonexistent."
We soon reached the hotel where I would stay. Most guests were foreigners.
I noticed soldiers stationed by the hotel entrance.
"They're Northern Alliance troops. Because this is a place where people from abroad stay, they want to show that they're committed to security by having soldiers posted here."
I couldn't quite tell if they were guarding the hotel or keeping watch, but tanks were mobilized around the vicinity.
Igor, having gotten out first, exchanged a few words with the soldiers at the front before returning to the vehicle.
"Boss, you can get out now."
With Igor's guidance, I entered the hotel.
Inside, it bustled with people who appeared to be Americans, a stark contrast to the desolate scene outside.
We took the elevator up to the room on the fourth floor.
Inside, the room felt a bit lacking for a hotel.
"I apologize for the inconvenience. Just bear with it for a few days. This is still the best hotel in town."
"I don't mind the discomfort. Igor, make sure you extract everything possible from the captured terrorist. I don't expect much, but there could be some valuable intel."
"Yes, I'll make sure of that."
After Igor nodded and left, I sat on the bed.
Igor suggested that Manager Ma and I share a room for safety against potential threats.
Manager Ma agreed, and we ended up in the same room.
As I tossed my suit jacket onto the bed, Manager Ma picked it up and put it in the closet.
"I'm exhausted. Let's go to bed early tonight. Things are about to get busy starting tomorrow."
I finished speaking and lay back on the bed. After experiencing a taxing day, even the squeaky mattress felt comforting.
As Manager Ma turned off the lights, I drifted off to sleep immediately.
The next day.
I headed to the Northern Alliance's base in downtown Kabul to meet Ahmad.
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