Chapter 122
***
Hong Si-yeon couldn't say anything as she watched the horrifying scene.
A massive station used by more than 100 million people every year.
The enormous station, a hub connecting central, eastern, and southern France, had become a scene of utter chaos.
People screaming.
People collapsed, covered in blood.
People fleeing.
People trapped beneath the crumbling wreckage, unable even to move.
"Si-yeon..!! You have to run!!"
She slowly turned her head.
Yang Chun-ja.
Her grandmother was bleeding, a huge piece of metal impaled in her abdomen.
But her eyes still held a will to survive.
"G-Grandma..."
"Hurry!!"
Her grandmother's shout brought her to her senses.
She hurriedly looked around.
More than half the bodyguards appeared to be unharmed.
Then they could leave.
Hong Si-yeon took her grandmother's hand.
She spoke firmly to the bodyguards.
"We're getting out of here now."
"Yes. This way."
It was then, as the bodyguards quickly shielded the two women and tried to lead them outside.
She saw it.
The Muslim refugee who had been begging when they entered the station earlier.
The gun in his hand as he knelt and begged.
Fortunately, he wasn't paying attention to them, but his gun was firing toward the police and soldiers.
'Is he the terrorist...'
No, he wasn't the only one.
The gunshots ringing out from all over the station told her this wasn't a lone attack.
'The Moon of Allah.'
An Islamic extremist terrorist organization.
They had clearly made their move.
Hong Si-yeon ground her teeth.
Why had something like this happened?
What on earth did they want?
That was how she managed to escape Lyon Station with her grandmother. Only after barely getting her grandmother admitted to a hospital and sitting there blankly watching TV did she learn the truth.
Just as she had thought, the terrorist attack had been carried out by the Moon of Allah.
They had worked with refugees who had gone to France to strike at France from within.
"Ha... Hahaha...!!"
Hong Si-yeon laughed.
Because it was absurd.
Because it was unbelievable that so many people had died or been injured in the name of their faith.
Because she was furious that her grandmother had been hurt by bastards whose names and whereabouts she didn't even know.
That was why she laughed.
And when that laughter stopped.
Hong Si-yeon clenched her teeth.
Those bastards.
She could never forgive them.
No matter what it took.
She would tear every last one of them to pieces and kill them.
She could no longer laugh.
***
I told her about the future I had seen.
The future that would unfold at Lyon Station in Paris.
The horrific future in which dozens would die and thousands would be injured.
"Why on earth would they..."
"Who knows? How would I know what terrorists are thinking?"
Would people who considered themselves normal commit a terrorist attack in the first place?
"In any case, I think it would be best to refrain from going to France."
"...I understand. I'll tell Grandma."
Hong Si-yeon called with a sober expression, the alcohol having completely worn off.
While she spoke with Madam Yang Chun-ja, I picked up my phone as well.
Who should I call at a time like this?
The CIA would be best, right?
I called Seira of the CIA, a member of 'our' organization.
After the call rang for a moment, Seira's face appeared on the screen.
-Oh my. Mr. Noah. What brings you here?
"Long time no see. How have you been?"
For starters, some light small talk.
She smiled and spoke as if pleased to see me.
-As it happens, there was something I wanted to ask you about.
"One moment."
A little performance of turning over a card.
Then I spoke.
"It seems there's a problem with the operation you're conducting in the Philippines. The answer is simple. The ones currently interfering with the operation are the Russian mafia group Trotsky. They're preparing to smuggle drugs as well."
That's why they were interfering with the CIA's operation.
She seemed to think for a moment, then ground her teeth.
It seemed something had come to mind.
-I knew it... Thank you. The pieces fit now.
"Shall I put you in touch with Mr. Kalinin?"
-I'll handle it myself. Thank you. Talking to you always makes things so simple, Mr. Noah.
There was no need for an explanation.
She could simply obtain the answer she wanted.
Seira looked extremely satisfied.
-But what brings you here?
"Well..."
I told her about the terrorist attack that would occur at Lyon Station in Paris.
The Moon of Allah.
Dozens would die and thousands would be severely injured in the terrorist attack they would carry out.
Seira fell silent for a long while after hearing that.
-Since it's you saying it, Mr. Noah, it can't be a lie. All right. How can I help?
"Can you put me in touch with the French intelligence service, or an organization equivalent to it?"
-That shouldn't be difficult. But why are you getting involved in this, Mr. Noah?
"What kind of strange question is that?"
That was the stranger question.
"Isn't it only natural to stop a dangerous incident when it can be prevented?"
I had seen countless people die or be injured in Hong Si-yeon's future.
I didn't know what grand cause the Moon of Allah believed it was pursuing.
But was that cause more important than dozens dying and thousands being injured?
Was it worth accepting the death of an innocent family's father, leaving his child to grow up without one?
Was it worth accepting a grandfather who had come to meet his grandchild crying while clutching the child's corpse?
Was it worth accepting the grief of a granddaughter who could only watch her seriously injured grandmother?
Was it worth accepting that a woman with a beautiful smile would no longer be able to smile?
I didn't think so.
Whatever their cause, that tragedy must never happen.
-...I agree. I'm sorry, Mr. Noah. That was a foolish question.
"It's all right. That happens."
-I know someone in France. However, they don't speak Korean.
"Really? It doesn't matter. We have Papago."
"Don't worry. I can handle it."
"Wow. You're quite capable, Si-yeon."
Just how many languages could this young lady speak?
"Have you finished speaking with your grandmother?"
"Yes. But it would be difficult not to go to France... So instead, I don't plan to go to Lyon Station."
The future changed in an instant.
Into a future where she was watching the news at a hotel with her grandmother.
The news was reporting that the worst terrorist attack, which had nearly taken place at Lyon Station, had been prevented.
Good. At least it's stopped for now.
But that news alone couldn't tell me the details.
In the end, I would have to meet someone who could find out the important information...
Then the phone rang again.
It was Seira when I answered.
-I contacted the first deputy director of France's domestic intelligence service. I'm planning to fly to Seoul tomorrow.
"Yes. Then I'll leave it in your hands. Oh, and don't worry about interpretation. I have someone who can serve as an interpreter."
-I was planning to do it myself... This person. Can we trust them?
At her question, I looked at Hong Si-yeon.
Could I trust Hong Si-yeon?
"Of course."
A smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.
.
.
.
The next day.
I had hamburgers for lunch with Mr. Cheolhon.
Today it was Burger King instead of McDonald's.
The reason was simple.
"I couldn't pass up a Whopper buy-one-get-one-free deal."
"I agree. But why did you buy so many?"
"I'll keep them at home and eat them if I get hungry while playing games at night."
Did you know?
Whoppers still taste good even when reheated in the microwave.
"But Teacher, you have so much money..."
"I guess it's hard to shake that ordinary-citizen mindset."
"You're truly something."
"Haha. It's nothing."
Anyway, after eating one of the Whoppers I bought and taking the rest with me, I was on my way home when...
A foreigner I'd never seen before and an Asian man I knew were standing outside my officetel.
"Ms. Seira."
"Haha. Mr. Kang."
The woman, speaking fluent Korean, pointed to the foreigner beside her.
"This is Leo Switma, the first deputy director of France's domestic intelligence service."
He greeted me in French, but I honestly didn't understand much, so I just gave him an awkward nod.
"Mr. Cheolhon. Could you take care of these for me?"
"Yes. I'll take them upstairs right away."
Mr. Cheolhon took the Whoppers upstairs.
I texted Hong Si-yeon.
She said she'd be here within twenty minutes.
Good. Then next...
"Let's go to a café."
When we entered the café I often visited, the manager greeted us with a smile.
He showed no particular reaction even to the foreigner he'd never seen before, took our order, and brought us our drinks.
"Oh my. The coffee here is really good."
"Right?"
"He says it's good too. The cake as well."
While we chatted, suppressing the tension with light small talk, Mr. Cheolhon came in, and a little while later Hong Si-yeon arrived.
All right. Now for the real matter.
"I've heard a great deal about Teacher Kang Noah. And the French intelligence service sincerely thanks you for informing us about this terrorist attack."
Hong Si-yeon's smooth translation.
"Don't mention it. Isn't it only natural to do what must be done? Before that, though—here. Would you like to turn this over first?"
He turned over the card I held out and looked at me expressionlessly.
I looked straight at him.
I brought up the future I had wanted to mention ever since I saw him earlier, but had kept silent about.
"Mr. Leo Switma. You don't know that your subordinate, Roydorin Marcelim, is receiving money from the Moon of Allah, do you?"
".....!!"
His eyes widened.
"He's working with the French police to help the Moon of Allah plant bombs. I'll tell you where the bombs will be planted."
His eyes grew sharper than ever.