Chapter 97
There was nothing unpleasant about meeting either the FBI or the CIA.
The CIA had even asked to meet in Korea.
In that case, there was no reason to decline.
"All right. Let's do that."
When I nodded, he went outside.
A short while later, he returned with an Asian man.
The CIA's deputy director for its Asia branch.
Philip Lee.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kang."
His Korean was fluent.
Given that he worked internationally and was the deputy director of the Asia branch, he must have been quite proficient in Korean.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Kang Noah."
"It is truly an honor to meet America's hero."
"But I'm Korean."
"You saved thousands of Americans."
I had prevented a shooting and predicted the typhoon in Oregon, allowing people to prepare for it.
If I hadn't, how many people would have died and suffered?
Philip seemed to be making me out to be an American hero based on those things.
Well, he wasn't putting me down, so I decided to accept it.
"The reason I wanted to meet Mr. Kang is... Hmm. I'm not sure how to explain this."
"Shall we use this, then?"
There was a hint of apprehension in his gaze as he looked at the card I held out.
He was worried that I might know the classified information he knew.
"In this line of work, you come across all sorts of secrets."
"I suppose so. People have more than one or two secrets they need to hide."
"I don't deliberately reveal things like that. Even the FBI trusts me."
"I trust Mr. Kang. However..."
What if I were kidnapped?
What would they do if they tortured me and extracted information from me?
The question made me laugh.
"Do I look like someone who could be kidnapped?"
"Hmm..."
"I read my fortune every morning."
Strictly speaking, it was more like looking at my face in the bathroom than actually reading my fortune.
Even that was enough to avoid most dangers.
"All right. Then I'll ask you to do it."
Philip eventually turned over the card I had held out.
It was the upright Chariot.
"It's the Moon of Allah case."
"That's right."
The Moon of Allah.
It was an Arab terrorist organization that the FBI had caught in the past and that had later organized terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia as well.
"You know that they're carrying out terrorist attacks in numerous countries, including the United States, right?"
"Yes."
"We've confirmed intelligence that the Moon of Allah is currently preparing a terrorist attack. We've received information that the weapons Hezbollah is sending them have increased."
"Can't you catch them by using that intelligence source?"
"Unfortunately..."
"I see. Then I..."
"Yes. We'd like you to identify the location where they'll carry out the attack. If possible, we'd also like to know its scale..."
"Hmm. Have you detained anyone connected to them?"
"Unfortunately, we haven't."
Of course. If they had caught someone, they would have interrogated that person and obtained the information themselves.
"Could you use me to find out more about the terrorist attack?"
I shook my head at Philip's suggestion.
"I can't see anything from you, Mr. Philip."
"I'm the deputy director of the Asia branch. Is there really no information even for me?"
"Information does reach you, but you don't receive the details."
He squeezed his eyes shut.
He knew the reason.
It was because of political problems within the CIA.
"We can narrow down the places they might attack. Couldn't we find out through the past and future of the agents working there?"
"We'll have to try it to know, won't we?"
"...Haa. Then we'd have to look at other people..."
"A video call would work too."
"Ah, I see. Since you were able to do that while broadcasting as well... All right. Then I'll meet them directly through a video call."
"Yes. That would be more convenient for me. Though I could go there myself, if you'd prefer..."
"Mr. Kang, that might be a little difficult..."
The NIS seemed to be opposed to the idea.
That was probably because they knew where the CIA's Asia branch agents were staying.
Then again, those weren't exactly countries one could casually visit as a tourist.
"Then may I call you tomorrow?"
"Yes. We'd appreciate that."
"Thank you. And... I heard you had an unpleasant incident with Japan last time."
"Yes."
"We may be able to join you in taking action against them."
Japan was a country heavily influenced by the United States.
If the United States raised concerns about this incident, the Japanese government wouldn't be able to complain.
"But what does Korea get out of this?"
"You can gain quite a lot. For starters, we may be able to resolve the Dokdo issue and gain an advantage regarding historical matters as well."
That wasn't all.
Starting with trade tariffs,
we could gain an advantage in numerous areas, from trade tariffs to arms exports.
These were benefits difficult to quantify in monetary terms, and I nodded.
"That's good."
"Yes. It will also benefit our agents stationed overseas. They may be able to receive help from Japan's HUMINT and black agents."
"That's very fortunate."
"It's all thanks to you, Mr. Kang."
"Come on. We all worked hard together."
Without the NIS, we couldn't have caught them so easily or stopped them like this.
"However, an official announcement may be difficult."
"Well, naturally."
If they made it official, they would have to give up most of the benefits they stood to gain.
"But then wouldn't the administration be dissatisfied?"
It was an achievement, after all.
Wouldn't they want to take credit for it?
Jang Min-su smiled bitterly at my question.
"There will probably be some pressure over this... But shouldn't the national interest come first?"
"Hahaha. That's true. Oh, if there are any politicians who pressure you excessively, let me know."
"Oh? Why?"
"I'll use divination to tell you a few of their weaknesses."
"Hahaha!! Thank you!!"
Philip muttered as he watched Jang Min-su and me laughing.
"Wow... I'm so jealous..."
I gave a broad grin to the man who clearly wanted to take me to America right away.
"By the way, what is that?"
"Ah. This?"
Philip smiled awkwardly and held out a paper envelope he had brought.
It was stuffed with documents... all in English.
What does this say?
"Dual citizenship...?"
It was paperwork from the CIA authorizing dual citizenship.
Jang Min-su explained that it was paperwork offering me U.S. citizenship, leaving me dumbfounded.
"America would go this far for me?"
"I was instructed to present it if the opportunity arose."
"By whom? The governor?"
He shook his head.
"Higher up."
What sort of important person was making an offer like this?
.
.
.
There was nothing left to do at Combined Forces Command.
Since we'd come all this way, I accepted Philip's offer to eat before leaving.
We could choose between a regular dining hall and an upscale officers' dining hall.
When they told me to choose one, I chose the regular dining hall.
And so we headed for the DFAC.
That is, the military dining facility at the U.S. military base in Korea.
"To be honest, the DFAC isn't exactly a delicious restaurant."
"Really?"
"Yes. Mr. Kang, you've been to the United States, haven't you? Compared to the restaurants there, the quality of the dining facility at the Yongsan base isn't particularly good. But isn't this also an interesting experience?"
That was true.
Why would I, as someone exempt from military service, ever have a reason to visit the Combined Forces Command dining hall?
"The pizza is good, though."
"As long as the pizza is good, that's enough."
I sometimes found myself craving the greasy, salty taste unique to American pizza.
Good.
Once our credentials were checked and we entered, I saw a spacious dining hall.
There were Americans in uniform, and a few Koreans as well.
They were Korean officers working at the Combined Forces Command, along with KATUSA soldiers.
One of the soldiers who recognized me was startled.
"It's Noah hyung!!"
"Oh. You know me?"
"Of course! How many of your broadcasts do you think I watch? Hyung! Could I have your autograph?"
The soldier, whose name was Go Min-jun, happily took out a notebook and held it out to me.
After I signed it, some of the American soldiers apparently recognized me as well, and they approached with bright smiles.
Hmm... English.
"What is he saying?"
"His name is Malcolm Perex. He says he's from Oregon. Thanks to you, Mr. Kang, his family didn't suffer any major harm."
"Hahaha. I see."
"He wants to know if he can take a picture with you."
"Of course."
I took a picture with him, who was delighted, and shook his hand as well.
Then he asked if I could read his fortune, so I did.
"He may be promoted around next month, but please tell him that he needs to keep working as hard as he is now."
"Yes."
After hearing Philip's translation, Malcolm grew ecstatic and made a huge fuss.
In the meantime, several people approached to express their thanks, and others took away autographs and photos.
"You're popular in America too."
"Well, I'm always a superstar who drives both fans and haters crazy. Anyway, can we start eating soon?"
The DFAC was buffet-style.
Since we could simply take whatever we wanted, I piled various things onto my plate.
"Mmm. This unhealthy flavor."
"Hahaha... Shall I bring you some salad as well?"
"No, this is fine."
I wanted to enjoy the sweet, salty, greasy flavor.
I told Philip with a smile and emptied one plate.
Then, as I went to fill another plate, I ran into a middle-aged officer.
"Oh. Sorry... Oh!?"
He yielded with a light apology.
Then, when he was startled to see me, I held out a card.
"What?"
Though puzzled, he obediently turned over the card.
It was the Moon reversed.
He said something in confusion, but it was in English, so I couldn't understand him.
"What's wrong?"
Philip approached, puzzled by the sight of the two of us facing each other.
He said something to the middle-aged officer in English, and the man marveled before shaking my hand.
"I'm Lieutenant Colonel Cuffs Wilson, the U.S. Army Inspector General."
"Ah. Lieutenant Colonel Cuffs Wilson. Mr. Philip, could you relay something to the lieutenant colonel?"
"Do you have something you'd like to say?"
"There will be an outbreak of food poisoning in this dining hall."
"......"
Philip fell silent.
He seemed bewildered by what I had said.
So I smiled at him and said,
"There's a freezer behind this place, right? A lot of the meat in the back has spoiled. Please tell him to dispose of it. And, um... How should I put this..."
Flustered, Philip said something in English.
Cuffs listened without a word and ground his teeth.
"He's asking whether this is military procurement corruption... Is it?"
"Yes."
I told him what I had seen in the man's future, and he moved quickly.