The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 331

He shook his head vigorously.

He needed to sort out the countless thoughts swirling in his mind.

Once again, the concepts of focus and purpose reared their heads.

“From the current position…”

Jin-hyuk, having said that much, glanced at Hwang Je-min.

Hwang Je-min raised his index finger and mouthed the words.

One nautical mile.

The fact that they had intercepted the frequency and attempted communication would tell the patrol boat captain that their opponent was not to be trifled with.

Just then, a displeased response came back.

– I’m listening. Speak…

“If you come down one more nautical mile, we will sink you.”

– What nonsense is that? One nautical mile south is also our North Korean-guaranteed waters.

“We didn’t call you to discuss territory. This is a warning not to mess with our navy.”

– Yiaaah! Who do you think you are! You must be that Se-in, huh? So, you’re eavesdropping again like a rat. Tsk, tsk. That’s how it is.

“So, what’s your answer? Let’s not make each other bleed.”

– Alright, I got it. We’re leaving.

As he spoke through gritted teeth, the tone on the other end softened.

It was a reaction that fully demonstrated the status of Hong Ki-joon and Se-in.

– But… who are you? I need to know who I’m talking to.

“It’s not difficult to reveal my name. But are you sure you want to risk your life for the sake of curiosity?”

– Ah, never mind then.

Click.

Haah.

As the communication ended, Hwang Je-min let out a long breath.

“From now on, please give me instructions. It’s better to stick to the scenario. It’s not that Steve’s method is bad, but it’s too aggressive, and if we encounter a crazy person, it could escalate into a full-blown war…”

“Yes… I’m sorry.”

I didn’t think about the scenario. Jin-hyuk, taking two steps back, looked crestfallen.

Still, he had to make sure.

“They might not listen. They’re stubborn. They might have deliberately leaked it, knowing we’re eavesdropping, as if they’d planned it among themselves. If that’s the case, their words and actions might differ.”

“I agree.”

Jin-hyuk pointed to the West Sea’s five islands on the display.

“Have an Ardi-class submarine waiting around here, and if they do anything suspicious, sink them immediately. I’ll take responsibility if any problems arise.”

Responsibility.

An action that only those with power can mention and take.

Hwang Je-min knew that Jin-hyuk was a shield in Seoul, reducing the burden on the employees. So, he thought that the responsibility Jin-hyuk was talking about would be more than just a simple apology.

If Jin-hyuk stepped in, Hong Ki-joon wouldn’t stay still. Considering Se-in’s capabilities and Hong Ki-joon’s tendencies, it wouldn’t be strange if they pushed the North and established another country.

He waited silently for Jin-hyuk’s next words.

“I grant the captain the right to engage.”

Hwang Je-min brought his feet together and stood up straight.

“I will deploy the Ardi-class.”

The Ardi-class submarine, meaning ‘sea snake,’ was a 2,400-ton medium-sized nuclear submarine secretly developed by Se-in Technica under Hong Ki-joon’s leadership. It could have been made larger, but it was miniaturized to be suitable for the Korean peninsula’s waters. It was armed with 600mm torpedoes, surface-to-air missiles, and surface-to-ground missiles, and could navigate the seabed almost permanently.

Above all, what set it apart from other countries was that, thanks to its automatic navigation and combat functions, it could carry out operations with just one well-versed crew member. And that was the true power of the Ardi-class. It was a terrifying weapon that could wage war against the world alone if it didn’t run out of weapons, which was why it could never be revealed. Thanks to the special nature of submarines and the underwater base, it could remain hidden.

‘The power that Chairman Hong gave me.’

If you have power, you should use it.

To protect our side.

That’s when you launch a preemptive strike.

“Don’t be afraid of exposure, and when you neutralize them, do it thoroughly.”

“Understood.”

Hwang Je-min, having answered firmly, looked at the large monitor beyond the blinds.

Let’s watch the remaining World Cup matches in peace. You bastards.

“Keep a close watch. Enemy ships, our navy ships, fishing boats, Chinese fishing boats, even cruise ships. Chase away those who need to be chased, and save lives. In emergencies, we’ll follow the principle of ‘act first, report later.’ As long as I’m in charge, the purpose of the Sakdo underwater base is not territorial defense but the protection of human lives. When values conflict, we prioritize our own citizens.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

He organized the situation and grabbed the blind control handle.

If the shielding was prolonged, it would arouse the curiosity of the outside personnel.

“Is Steve staying here again today?”

“That’s the plan. If I go above ground, there are accommodations and places to exercise.”

“Well, do as you please, but don’t just work too much, and when you’re young…”

Jin-hyuk chuckled as he raised the blinds.

Is this guy trying to act like Grandpa Cheon Gil-ryong?

Still, they’re friendly when they’re off duty, so I don’t mind their nagging.

“Yes, I think I’ll live like that starting next year.”

***

The tumultuous year of 2002 passed peacefully.

He couldn’t keep his promise to go to university with Hong Su-jeong.

Among the things he had started, there were many businesses that needed to be watched with tension.

He had to admit it.

The romantic idea of strolling through campus with his arms crossed was just that, a romantic idea. Even a superhuman couldn’t be free from the priorities and responsibilities of reality.

“Sorry.”

I can’t quit my job when I have so many businesses to expand and things I want to do, just because I want to date.

“It’s okay. It was a promise we made when we were young. It would be nice if all promises were kept, and no one would fight, but how many promises in the world are broken?”

“Still, I’m sorry and it’s a shame. I also wanted to go to school with Su-jeong.”

“Situations change from time to time. So, you have to know how to change and adapt to the situation. Still, thank you for remembering that promise. I also know that you’re apologizing because you think of me as special.”

“Yeah. That’s right. Thank you for understanding.”

“You wrote so many letters in training camp, wouldn’t it be stupid not to know? Eheh-”

He did write a lot of letters.

He wrote over 30 letters during his four-week training.

It was something a stalker would do.

Hong Su-jeong had laminated those letters and made them into an album.

Fortunately, she only showed it to Jin-hyuk, so the misfortune of him looking for a mouse hole didn’t happen.

In Gwanghwamun in January 2003, after watching a performance and leaving the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, snow was falling heavily on the frozen road.

Hong Su-jeong, who was about to graduate from high school and enter university, wasn’t upset that they couldn’t go to university together. She resembled her mother, but her personality and actions were completely different, making her mature.

“Oppa is very busy. Even if I don’t know all the details, like what Dad always says, I know that you’re a busy and important person.”

Hong Su-jeong also said that she didn’t have high expectations for university life.

Her standards for people had risen, her view of the world wasn’t as romantic as her peers, and it was a natural reflection of someone who knew how many people were fighting their own battles in their respective places every moment. Hong Su-jeong had a perspective that looked down on the world from a high place, not her own.

Hong Su-jeong gave a somewhat deflated smile.

“If I had known it would be like this, it might have been better to go study abroad.”

“Don’t go.”

At that moment, Hong Su-jeong’s eyes widened as she looked up.

It felt like the frozen city had become bright in an instant.

Unfortunately, Jin-hyuk didn’t know what else to say here.

– “Grab her! Just grab her and eat her all up!”

He ignored the advice of Choi Mi-kyung, now a fourth-year medical student. She had become so eccentric that she reminded him of the married Choi Mi-kyung of the past.

– “Lure her to see a UFO at night and drag her to the warehouse. Of course, you have to grab her by the collar.”

He laughed at the bizarre coaching of Kim Eun-jeong, a company worker at General. The image of Jo Seul-chan being dragged by the collar into the warehouse also made him laugh. The Ojakgyo Motel was still standing, so why were they going in and out of the warehouse?

“Don’t go anywhere.”

He took Hong Su-jeong’s hand, which was pale and cold, and put it in his coat pocket.

He held her hand tightly.

“Stay by my side from now on. Always.”

Day, night, dawn-.

Ah, maybe dawn is still a bit much. It’s a good thing he only thought the last part.

Whether she was surprised or pondering the meaning, Hong Su-jeong’s eyes trembled a few times, and her chest heaved, but she soon turned into a mischievous face.

She stuck out her tongue and glared at Jin-hyuk.

“What are you talking about? I’ve always been by your side, Oppa?”

That’s right.

She was always there.

Since she was a kid, her only interest was Son Jin-hyuk.

“I’m so precious that I wouldn’t go anywhere. That’s why I’m always anxious.”

“Don’t be anxious.”

“Can I help it…”

There were no pebbles on the street, but Hong Su-jeong pretended to kick one.

Her shin, not covered by her boots, stretched out.

“Well, I’m the same.”

“What is?”

Um-.

He had never thought about it specifically. What was he anxious about?

However, he could speak honestly. He had enough courage to do so. Now, unlike before, he had the heart of an ordinary human.

“I’m just anxious. I worry when I don’t see you, I feel sad when you don’t answer my calls, I feel lonely when you don’t reply to my texts, and even when I’m working out, I keep checking my phone…”

“Wow-. You think like that too, Oppa? You do that too? I thought you didn’t have any of those feelings. But why didn’t you ever say anything?”

“Because I was afraid that Su-jeong would get tired of me and run away.”

He said that and smiled gently.

Because of Choi Mi-kyung’s advice not to be clingy, he had pretended to be okay, but he always thought about her and missed her.

Emotions that had become a star that no longer existed, emotions that he had cherished and carried over from another world.

Love.

Hong Su-jeong’s reaction was strange.

“Ehehehehe-”

Hehehe-. She lowered her head and shook her shoulders.

Eek-! She punched Jin-hyuk’s shoulder like a cat.

Ehem! She fanned her flushed face with her hand.

He could tell that it wasn’t a reaction of dislike.

Because the hand she was holding in his coat pocket squeezed his hand tightly.

It wasn’t flashy or passionate, but.

He was happy that his sincere confession seemed to be accepted.

‘Wow, why is my heart beating so fast-.’

He pressed his heart with his right hand and took a breath.

He had learned from Choi Mi-kyung that it wasn’t good to be ambiguous.

Even if it wasn’t flashy, the confession had to be clear-.

“Su-jeong, we-”

That’s when it happened.

Thump-.

“Ugh-!”

An unexpected headache struck him.

The hand that had been on his chest naturally moved to his head.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Uh, uh-. I’m okay. It’s just a toothache.”

“What’s wrong with you, Oppa, who doesn’t even have cavities?”

He reassured Hong Su-jeong with a lie and calmly moved forward.

‘Hey, what are you doing?’

【I came because it was urgent. Is that woman not listening? If so, knock her out first. Your Stone Age ancestors used to knock out the females they liked with stone axes and drag them to their caves-.】

What nonsense are you talking about all of a sudden…?

‘Weren’t you gone?’

【I have things to do.】

‘Things to do?’

【There are such things. I have plans.】

This guy has become unfriendly again.

It must be because it’s not related to Jin-hyuk.

‘Anyway, go. See you later. My head hurts.’

As Dugu Elil slowly erased his presence, the headache disappeared as if it were a lie.

Hong Su-jeong shook the hand she was holding in his coat pocket.

Her eyes shone with worry and curiosity.

“Oppa, what were you about to say?”

“We should officially-”

As expected, putting thoughts into action wasn’t easy.

Injecting a purpose derived from extremely personal emotions into another person, person to person. Social actions that cannot be explained logically required more courage than he had thought.

“Officially what? Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”

Hong Su-jeong was a braver soul than Jin-hyuk.

She was like that in the past, and she was the same now.

Her expectant, sparkling eyes and her smiling mouth resembled Hong Su-jeong from another star.

Yes, there was only one Hong Su-jeong.

Jin-hyuk smiled awkwardly and nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Hmm-”

Finally, he had mustered the courage, but Hong Su-jeong made a bored expression and made a nasal sound.

‘Huh? Isn’t this reaction bad? Should I have bought her flowers?’

While Jin-hyuk was fidgeting for a moment, Hong Su-jeong took her hand out of her coat and started walking ahead.

“Take off your school uniform first.”

Already?!

Jin-hyuk’s eyes widened.

You’re a student, and I’m a company worker!

Besides, there are many people watching, and it’s snowing a lot…

‘Ah, that’s not what she meant.’

He realized he had misunderstood as he watched her back, taking small steps to avoid slipping.

The clothes she was wearing now weren’t a school uniform either, but he almost overreacted.

Hong Su-jeong only turned her head towards the man who was hurriedly chasing after her.

“I’ll see how you do.”

Then, she stuck out her tongue as if to show off. Bleah-.

It was an old-fashioned aegyo [acting cute], but if you think about it, Hong Su-jeong was also an old person.

But this is a push-and-pull, right?

‘Ah… please don’t do this to me.’

He narrowed his stride to avoid slipping but increased his speed.

His body was burning as he scurried after her, resembling Son Gwang-yeon.

“Hey, Su-jeong… Even if it’s after graduation, at least answer-”

“Ehehe-. It’s a punishment, a punishment.”

What punishment! What did I do so wrong!

He wanted to argue, but he shouldn’t provoke her.

“Su-jeong-”

“I should ask Mom to buy me dinner in Sogong-dong-”

All he could do was follow Hong Su-jeong, who was walking on the frozen road with her excellent sense of balance.

{The distance from Ruby is increasing. Catch up.}

{Ack!}

{The road is slippery. Number 2 has fallen.}

{The mission comes first. Abandon the stragglers.}

{Shoes are not enough.}

{No need for words. Steve is also wearing shoes.}

{Thump-.}

{Another one has fallen behind.}

{You better learn how to fall properly.}

For the SSS, who were hiding in the shadows of the city and secretly watching the sweet lovey-dovey scene, a sudden arduous march began.

“Su-jeong-”

“Ehehehehe-. I want some bone broth kalguksu [Korean noodle soup with bone broth]-“