October 17, 2030

  Jung Min-ju, a Level 5 agent of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), began reviewing a report holding with her two hands. She tossed the report onto the desk in front of a Level 4 agent standing before her. “...And who did you say this information came from?” The Level 4 agent was sweating profusely. “...Well, it’s informed by a man named Lee Byung-soo, a military prosecutor. He suspects that the person who crossed the border during the ‘DMZ intrusion incident’ last May wasn’t the civilian Lee Yeol-gi. He believes the intruder was disguised as the cook, Park Sung-jae. Moreover, he thinks that the real Park Sung-jae is not dead, and is posing as Lee Yeol-gi.” Jung Min-ju’s instincts, honed at the NIS, told her something major was afoot. “Arrange a meeting with Military Prosecutor Lee Byung-soo immediately.”

  Lee Byung-soo entered the NIS office, visibly nervous. Jung Min-ju, seated at her desk, gestured to the chair in front of her. “Sit.” Lee Byung-soo swallowed hard. He quietly took a seat and faced Agent Jung Min-ju. For a military prosecutor like him, meeting an NIS agent in person was a first. “...I’ve heard your tip. You’re saying that the missing Park Sung-jae is actually posing as someone named Lee Yeol-gi? How do you know this? As a military prosecutor, you must have evidence, right?” Lee Byung-soo shook his head. “...There’s no evidence. There’s no clear proof that the person isn’t Lee Yeol-gi. His fingerprints matched, so we can only conclude it’s the same person. His appearance on his ID has changed slightly, but if you say he had plastic surgery, there’s nothing more to argue.”

  Lee Byung-soo lowered his head. “But... the person posing as Lee Yeol-gi isn’t Lee Yeol-gi. Because Lee Yeol-gi... is my cousin.” Jung Min-ju was puzzled by his words. “What do you mean? Are you saying that Lee Yeol-gi is connected to you?” Lee Byung-soo nodded. “...Yes, I was thrown into confusion when I saw his ID. Lee Yeol-gi went missing two years ago. His family treated him like a burden because he was living at home as a jobless freeloader. Then one day, he left a note saying he was going independent and ran away from home. I insisted that he was missing, and that we should find him, but his parents said they couldn’t keep supporting a grown adult and didn’t file a missing person report.”

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  Lee Byung-soo took a moment to steady his breath before continuing with difficulty. “...When I heard news of Lee Yeol-gi, I was overjoyed. I even bought his favorite cigarettes on my way to interrogate him. But... the person I met in the interrogation room wasn’t Lee Yeol-gi.” His arms trembled. “...He was definitely not Lee Yeol-gi. It was a mockery... someone dared to steal a missing person’s identity to manipulate this case. I... I sensed that there’s a massive conspiracy behind this.” Jung Min-ju listened closely to his words and felt a gut instinct that there was something to this case. She handed Lee Byung-soo a piece of paper. “Write down all the personal information you have on Lee Yeol-gi. Don’t leave out a single detail.”

  …

  Jang Cheol-dae was performing brain surgery on Baek Hyung-jin, who lay on a bed in the infirmary of the abandoned building. Go Ah-young and Lee Yeol-gi anxiously watched the procedure. “...Is this really okay? I can’t figure out what Baek Hyung-jin is thinking. To actually agree to this kind of surgery...” Go Ah-young looked uneasy. Lee Yeol-gi shrugged. “What can I say? If he joins our team like this, it’s a win for us, right?” 'Beep beep'. Suddenly, a phone rang from Lee Yeol-gi’s waist. He answered it. “Yo, Nagato-san. What’s up? Something happen with Goyeun?” Gamamusa’s serious voice came through the phone. “Shut up and listen. They’re investigating who the real Lee Yeol-gi is.” Park Sung-jae, posing as Lee Yeol-gi, shrugged. “So what? Isn’t it a good thing if the NIS is investigating us now?” Gamamusa sighed. “...They can’t find the real Lee Yeol-gi’s body. If they do, your cover will be blown.”

  Park Sung-jae sighed. “Ha... fine. So, I just need to go to the ‘Slave Islands,’ right? I’ll head there and burn the body.” Park Sung-jae hung up and turned to Jang Cheol-dae and Go Ah-young. “...Well, I have no choice. I’ve been assigned to Shinan this time. I’ll go there and find out where the salt farm owners hid the body.”