April 28, 1922
Jimin pretended to be carefree and poured himself a drink. The alcohol tasted sweet. Taehyun, sitting across from him, nodded. It would be foolish to even think about it, but the trial would never turn out in Yeonjun's favor. However, the lack of other solutions was a drawback. The trial date was set before he could even apply for bail. At this point, it seemed like he was just being told to stay in prison. Taehyun tried to hide his anxiety.
“…I have to save them. Somehow…”
“When is the trial date?”
“It’s tomorrow. They said it was 7 o’clock.”
Jimin swept his hair.
“Who was the prosecutor in charge?”
“That’s it……”
“Should I kill all the prosecutors in Gyeongseong……”
Jimin muttered softly.
"yes?"
“Ah. It’s nothing.”
Jimin spoke nonchalantly. He offered Taehyun a drink, but he declined. "It's embarrassing to drink alone." Jimin smiled. "I'll buy it. Enjoy your meal," Taehyun said. Trying to change the subject, Jimin cleared his throat and opened his mouth.
“When will the newspaper be delivered?”
"dawn."
"this."
Comrade Hoeseon's worries were beyond words. Judging by his perfunctory response, Jimin laughed again. Taehyun nodded silently. He felt lost. It was a plain expression. But it seemed like that was the only way to describe Taehyun. The bar bell rang. A familiar face entered. It was Hoseok. Wearing a blue cap and colorful clothes, he walked straight to Jimin and Taehyun's table.
“I didn’t know we would all meet like this!”
“That’s what I mean.”
"Oh, Mr. Seon-sang, you look so unwell. What's wrong?"
Taehyun shook his head, deliberately smiling. Hoseok, who had been resting his hand on his hip, pulled a chair over and sat between Jimin and Taehyun. He poured a glass full of alcohol, then pushed it toward Taehyun. The determination on Hoseok's face to hear the answer was so evident that Taehyun poured himself a drink. He didn't normally enjoy alcohol, but it seemed like there were situations where alcohol could help him endure. Hoseok stared intently at Taehyun, waiting for his answer.
“That’s because my comrade is going to be tried tomorrow.”
It's ironic, but it seems like my fault. If only I hadn't hesitated so much in my interview room, if only I had somehow managed to get him to attend the meeting, things might have been different. I feel a strange melancholy in my voice. "Taehyun," Hoseok said. His mouth fell open. Seeing Taehyun's desolate face, Hoseok briefly considered embracing his small body, then decided against it.
"Oh, right. I heard from Mr. Ho-seok that you're planning to open a school."
Taehyun said. Jimin shrugged.
“We are currently looking for a suitable location.”
“I wish you had discussed it with me.”
"Comrade Hoeseon, you're still under the Japanese's thumb. Don't even think about moving any further."
Don't act any further. Just stick to where you are now. If you're in danger, how will the Korean Youth Association continue? Think of your own safety and don't act like someone who so desperately yearns for death. I beg you. Jimin had so much to say, but he stopped there. But Jimin could sense that Taehyun understood everything he had wanted to say.
Yoongi looked at Jeongguk. Watching him run across the mountain, apparently engaged in shooting practice, made him realize his own age. If only he were ten years younger. But Yoongi quickly dismissed the vain thought. He approached his adjutant and asked.
“Where did you say the Japanese army was marching this time?”
"They said they'd go over Bangogae Pass and head towards Ttangsaebawi Rock. If we make a surprise attack from Bangogae Pass, we'll have a good chance of winning."
The grim-looking adjutant spoke in a gruff voice. Yoon-gi nodded. Bango Pass was the region in Manchuria where frost disappeared the slowest. That meant it would be covered in mud by now. The Japanese troops transporting the bomb carts wouldn't know the characteristics of Bango Pass unless they had locals as their guides. If they did, the wheels would sink under the weight of the carts, slowing down the march. Furthermore, the spiked shoes, which exerted a lot of pressure due to their narrow contact with the ground, would also delay the march. Yoon-gi warned his adjutant to prepare for battle and approached Jeong-guk.
"hey."
“Captain!”
Jungkook suddenly came running. "You're going to fall, kid," Yoongi said. Jungkook ran to stand right in front of Yoongi, staring at him with bright eyes. Yoongi grabbed Jungkook's shoulder.
“We should go to Gyeongseong again. Is that okay?”
“I’m good!”
Jungkook shouted back, already excited. Yoongi patted Jungkook's round head. "Yeah, go ahead and practice more. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning." Jungkook nodded vigorously and ran off. Yoongi watched his back for a long moment.
“There is such a thing as a conscience.”
The nature of the Bangogae Pass was, in a way, a double-edged sword. It was a drain on both allies and enemies. Even after seven years of holding arms, Yun Gi remained uneasy about the political situation. With a fatherly heart, he resolved not to let the political situation remain in Manchuria any longer. In other words, a plan was planned, unknown only to those involved.
April 29, 1942
Beomgyu wasn't sure what expression to make. Should he question him about his father's attempted murder? Should he lament his failed struggle for independence? Or should he explain why he'd kept his family hidden from his colleagues all this time? None of it was clear.
"I...Choi Youngjun (저...최연준 동지)-"
“There’s no need to worry so much. I’ve already guessed.”
Only then did Beomgyu raise his head to face Yeonjun. It was hard for Beomgyu to look Yeonjun in the eye, wondering what had happened in just one day. His lips were cracked and crusted, and blood clung to his long hair. Despite his appearance, Yeonjun seemed calm.
“Endo Yamato. Aren’t you the one who found me when I arrived in Gyeongseong?”
“……”
He seemed to remember that night. The meeting between the twenty-four-year-old who had fled from the Maritime Province and the young man who had just become an adult took place on a rainy day, by a wall. Beomgyu lowered his head, then raised it at Yeonjun's next words.
“Well… I think it was good that you didn’t report us until now in that situation.”
"...Betrayal...Can't you hear this? (배신감이…들진 않으십니까?)"
“What else could I do but feel betrayed by you?”
“……Hold on tight. I’ll somehow get my comrade out.”
A voice announced that visiting hours were up. "I should be going now." Yeonjun stood first. I caught a glimpse of his hand. His fingernails had fallen off, and the tips were covered in ugly scabs. The sight was so grotesque it made me vomit. Beomgyu left the prison and headed straight for the Government-General of Korea building.
"Who is this? Isn't it the eldest son of the Endo family?"
“How was Governor Jiro doing during that time? (지로 총독께서는 그간 평안하셨습니까?)”
Governor-General Jiro chuckled and ordered the tea to be brought out. Beomgyu leisurely sat down in the seat the Governor-General had granted him. As expected, he had a Japanese demeanor. As if prepared in advance, a female employee of the Government-General brought out the tea. Governor-General Jiro drank it hastily. His gesture clearly revealed his origins. A person drinking tea as if he were drinking alcohol. Couldn't even a hat hide his frivolity? Beomgyu thought to himself.
“So, why did Endo Yamato come here? (So, why did Endo Yamato come here?)”
"I heard that someone named Choi Young-jun has been admitted to prison this time."
"You have to understand your intelligence. You tried to kill Chung-yi?"
Beomgyu pretended to savor his drink for a moment, studying the Governor-General. Governor-General Jiro seemed less cautious than the others. Well, that was inevitable. Perhaps it was a good thing. The less cautious someone was, the more arrogant they were, the more likely they were to be lured into this story. Putting down his glass, Beomgyu smiled leisurely and opened his mouth.
“Let’s stop with the low-level talk. Did you like the weapons we sent you recently?
“Your father’s company’s products are always of the highest quality. By the way, seeing that you, the eldest son who is not even the head of the household, have come, it seems you have something else to ask.”
"That's not the case. It's just to solidify our credibility. We promise to continue to show steadfast loyalty to the Empire of Japan."
"Don't do that, just say it quickly."
As expected, the Governor-General, true to his roots, wanted to get to the point quickly. He seemed to regard the "request" as some kind of secret in the young man's private life. His dismissive tone was evident. Beomgyu drank a little more of his beer before calmly speaking.
“There is no other way since that is how the Governor General wants to address the issue.”
He paused for a moment and then spoke.
"Please guarantee Chae Young Joon's innocence."
"What?"
“It’s not a big deal. I got caught before.”
He tried to harm your father, are you okay?
"Such an assassin would have no influence on us, Endo."
To ensure trust, Beomgyu offered a faint smile. But the Governor-General still seemed suspicious. But it didn't matter. He had prepared thoroughly. For this conversation, Beomgyu had calculated the time the members of the struggle group would be away from the base and had already stashed away important data. Above all, he had been tormented all day long by this betrayal, this betrayal that wasn't even a betrayal. But there was no time.
“Still, it is difficult for me to release a prisoner who has a 12-year sentence.”
The Governor rubbed his chin. "He's already decided on the sentences?" They must have been so thrilled by their accomplishments that they were gushing over him. Beomgyu sighed slightly, putting down the card he absolutely refused to play. Handing it over was the way to protect both his family and his colleagues. Even if someone was caught, they could just be released. He reassured himself with that. Fortunately, the Governor didn't seem to notice.
"Did you know I was a spy?"
The governor-general abruptly stood up. His face was pale. "At my father's behest, I have been working as a spy for an independence movement group."
“This is the Mirabeau Hotel, Gyeongseong.”
“…!”
"Their secret base is located there."
Beomgyu, who had shown all the cards he could, smiled faintly. Now, he had no choice but to leave it to chance. While the governor called his aide, Beomgyu considered various variables and worst-case scenarios.
"Assemble the troops at the Mirabeau Hotel in Seoul!"
The governor-general, his face pale, gave the order. Soldiers in yellow uniforms rushed out. "Wait, not yet." Beomgyu raised his hand to stop the soldiers. "Since you've handed me this card, you have to give me something. If the Japanese military police were to barge into our peaceful base, it's obvious who they'd be suspicious of first." His confident and relaxed expression was like that of a master negotiator. He was certain of his victory. The governor-general approached him, his face pale, and he asked,
"Right, Yamato, what do you want?"