NIS Small Conference Room.
Taeho connected the USB he had received from Park Seong-u to the large monitor.
Four attendees.
NIS Director Hwang Gi-tae, the NIS Second Deputy Director, and the Chief of the Special Investigation Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office were seated.
“Let’s begin.”
When Taeho opened the USB file, complex blueprints unfurled across the screen.
“This is the schematic for the Yongin BioSynergy facility.”
Three above-ground floors, five underground floors. Cross-sections appeared alongside exterior photos of the building.
“The exterior is relatively ordinary. From basement levels one through three, the interior is disguised as ordinary laboratories. It looks as though they’re conducting legal bio-related research.”
Taeho unfolded the underground levels one by one with his mouse.
The laboratories on the screen looked ordinary. Lab benches, microscopes, incubators, and the like were visible.
“But basement level four is where the problem starts.”
Taeho zoomed in on a specific area.
An isolated space at the center. Surrounded on all sides by thick walls.
“This is the Core Room.”
The NIS Second Deputy Director leaned forward.
“The structure is unusual. For a laboratory wall to be sixty centimeters thick...”
“You noticed well. Compared to ordinary laboratory walls at fifteen centimeters, it’s four times as thick. Reinforced concrete with a special alloy layer added on top.”
At Taeho’s explanation, all the attendees looked surprised.
“At that level, it could stop a bomb.”
“That’s not all.”
Taeho opened another schematic. It was an electrical system diagram.
“Given the independent power supply system, specialized cooling equipment, and electromagnetic shielding, this is highly likely a server room. Meaning, it handles very important data.”
The Special Investigation Division Chief opened his mouth.
“Director, what reason would an ordinary pharmaceutical company have for facilities of this scale?”
“In my opinion, this won’t be simple research data.”
Taeho spoke decisively.
The Second Deputy Director asked.
“The CEO Han Seok-hun frequently entered and exited this place?”
“Yes. Since the time of construction, even other executives had their access restricted.”
“The ventilation system is unusual. Ordinary laboratories circulate outside air, but this is a completely sealed recirculation structure. It seems to purify and reuse the internal air.”
“Correct. It’s BSL-4 level. Biosafety Level 4, the highest grade. Meaning, virus samples are stored here as well.”
Tension permeated the conference room.
Taeho continued with a grave expression.
“The biggest problem is these pipes. At first, I thought they were a simple cooling system. Installed to dissipate heat from supercomputers.”
Taeho zoomed in on the blueprint once more. Tanks connected to nozzles at the ends of the pipes were visible.
“But when I cross-referenced the material supply list the informant left behind, the substance going into these tanks wasn’t coolant.”
“Then what is it?”
“A thermite mixture.”
The Second Deputy Director’s expression hardened.
“Thermite... you mean a high-temperature incendiary material?”
“Yes. Once ignited, it rises to two thousand five hundred degrees in an instant. A temperature that melts even steel.”
Taeho’s voice sank coldly.
“This system is likely linked to an ‘emergency incineration protocol.’ The moment an external intrusion is detected, or power is forcibly cut...”
Taeho snapped his fingers.
Snap.
“Thermite pours down from these nozzles. It physically melts the hard disks into lumps. Not a software deletion—physically vaporizing them.”
“Huh....”
The Special Investigation Division Chief couldn’t close his mouth.
“How long would it take?”
“Just three minutes would be enough for the entire server room to melt down.”
A heavy silence descended on the conference room.
Three minutes.
It was far too short a time to present a raid warrant at the main gate, scuffle with security guards, and take the elevator down to basement level four.
“The moment we ring the doorbell at the main gate, they’ll press the button without hesitation. Then we’ll only be able to seize lumps of melted scrap metal. Their true nature will disappear forever.”
Taeho stared straight at the attendees.
“That’s why we need ‘surgery.’”
“Surgery?”
“Connecting the blood vessels before the patient’s heart stops. We have to cut their neural network before they even have a chance to press the incineration button.”
Taeho pointed at the ventilation duct route with a laser pointer.
“While the main gate team acts as bait and draws their attention, an infiltration team must go inside and physically disarm the thermite discharge device’s fuse. If that isn’t done first, this operation is a one-hundred-percent failure.”
The Second Deputy Director nodded as if in agreement and asked.
“It’s an excellent strategy. But the problem is how the infiltration team gets inside.”
Taeho unfolded another section of the blueprints.
The entire ventilation system structure appeared on the screen.
Complexly intertwined ducts.
“The ventilation ducts.”
Everyone’s gaze focused on the screen.
“This is the part the informant found strange during construction. Usually, ventilation ducts are too narrow for a person to pass through, but this is different.”
Taeho magnified the dimensions.
“As you can see, it’s large enough for an adult man to crawl through.”
“Why would they have made it so wide?”
“It’s probably intended as an emergency escape route as well. Officially it doesn’t exist, but it’s a precaution for contingencies.”
The Second Deputy Director’s eyes gleamed.
“It can be used as an infiltration route.”
“Yes, I think so too. Fortunately, the informant kept the blueprints from fifteen years ago exactly as they were. The duct routes, junction points, inspection hatch locations—everything is on there.”
“But the internal structure could have changed over fifteen years.”
“You’re right. So I think we’ll need preliminary reconnaissance.”
The Second Deputy Director nodded.
“Tomorrow we’ll confirm the external ventilation duct locations with drones. We’ll also deploy thermal cameras to map internal activity patterns.”
“Good.”
The Special Investigation Division Chief said.
“The prosecution will prepare for the warrant issuance. It will probably take a few days.”
“The sooner the better.”
As the meeting was wrapping up, the NIS Second Deputy Director politely called Taeho aside.
“Director Kang. Do you have a moment?”
“Yes, what is it?”
The Second Deputy Director paused for a moment, then opened his mouth with a heavy expression.
“I fear I must impose a rather excessive request upon you, Director.”
“A request?”
“For this ventilation duct infiltration team... I would like you to accompany them, Director.”
Taeho’s eyebrows twitched. It was an unexpected proposal.
“Me? I’m a doctor who holds a scalpel, not an agent who holds a gun.”
“I know. But that is precisely why you are needed even more.”
The Second Deputy Director pointed to the photo of the Core Room’s interior displayed on the screen.
“Even if the agents succeed in entering, inside there will be thousands of servers and unidentified virus samples all mixed together. Our agents are security specialists only; they have no medical knowledge.”
“...”
“The time limit is just fifteen minutes. Someone who can identify what is truly important data, and which sample is the most dangerous trigger, in that short time—you are the only such person in the Republic of Korea, no, in the entire world.”
The Second Deputy Director’s gaze was earnest.
“We need the Director’s ‘eyes.’ Please make immediate judgments on-site.”
Taeho’s deliberation was not long.
“Understood. Let’s go in together.”
“Thank you, Director. Thank you for making a difficult decision.”
The Second Deputy Director bowed deeply.
NIS Director Hwang Gi-tae, who had been watching, also rose from his seat and approached Taeho.
“We have committed the discourtesy of sending a civilian into a life-threatening situation for the sake of national security.”
The NIS Director’s voice carried a grave sense of responsibility.
“I will issue a ‘Code One’ to the team leader on-site. An order to prioritize your safety above the success of the operation. If even a single hair on your head is harmed, that operation will be deemed a failure.”
“Your words alone are reassuring.”
Taeho smiled calmly.
***
The outskirts of Yongin, an abandoned factory parking lot.
Three black buses and six special vehicles were lined up with their lights off.
Fifty police riot officers were inspecting their shields and batons. Twenty prosecution investigators were packing evidence collection equipment, and ten NIS agents were tuning their radio frequencies.
The final briefing was underway inside a special vehicle being used as a temporary command post.
“Operation codename ‘Core Break.’ The objective is a raid and search of the Yongin facility and the securing of the underground Core Room.”
The prosecution investigation chief pointed at the main gate with a baton.
“Team A, seventy personnel, will enter the main gate at exactly five o’clock, execute the warrant, and seal the entire building. On the surface, it will look like a routine raid and search. But this is bait.”
He switched the image on the screen. It was a diagram of the power supply network for the basement level four Core Room.
“The opponent is a group with state-level security technology. If by any chance the thermite installed inside the server room ignites, it will take only three minutes for the hard disks to melt down.”
The room stirred. Three minutes. It was an insufficient amount of time to present a warrant and take an elevator.
“That is why Team C is necessary.”
His gaze turned to Taeho and the agents dressed in black tactical gear.
“While Team A scuffles at the main gate and draws their attention, Team C will pre-infiltrate underground through the rear ventilation ducts. Severing the servers’ physical connections before they can press the incineration button—that will determine the success or failure of this operation.”
Taeho was wearing black work clothes. Unlike the white gown he usually wore, it was tactical gear that clung tightly to his body. Protective pads were attached to his knees and elbows.
Three NIS agents were beside him. Team Leader Kim, in his forties; explosives specialist Agent Park; and communications and hacking specialist Agent Lee. Team Leader Kim asked Taeho.
“Director, are you ready?”
“Yes.”
Taeho nodded. The contents of his training over the past three days flashed through his mind.
Ventilation duct movement techniques. Emergency signals. Confined space breathing methods, and so on.
The investigation chief checked his watch.
“Current time is four forty-two. Operation begins at exactly five o’clock. To your positions.”
“Understood!”
Eighty men answered in unison.
***
Two hundred meters behind the BioSynergy facility.
A temporary waiting post concealed by camouflage netting in the woods.
Taeho and Team C were observing the building through night vision goggles.
“Do you see that? There are three ground-level ventilation ducts behind the building.”
Team Leader Kim pointed with a laser pointer.
Three steel grates were faintly visible in the darkness.
“The center one connects to basement level four.”
“What about security?”
“Thermal camera checks confirmed four night security guards inside the building. They’re all concentrated on the first floor. The rear is empty.”
Agent Lee opened his laptop. A thermal image of the building’s interior appeared on the screen.
“There are twelve CCTV cameras total. But there’s a blind spot in the rear. Here. If we approach along this route, the cameras won’t catch us.”
Agent Park opened a small bag. Inside were a hacksaw, cutters, rope, and a headlamp.
“I’ll cut through the ventilation grate in under five minutes.”
Taeho asked while putting on his gloves.
“What do we do if we’re discovered from inside?”
“Then the front team will force entry. But we have to move as quietly as possible.”
Team Leader Kim checked his radio.
“Frequency three. Frequency two for emergencies. Code name ‘Eagle’ is our team, ‘Hawk’ is the main gate team.”
“Understood.”
Team Leader Kim patted his shoulder.
“Director, are you nervous?”
“I’m fine.”
“You truly are remarkable. Even trained agents get nervous during operations like this.”
Team Leader Kim smiled once and whispered into his radio.
“Eagle Team ready.”
“-Hawk Team ready.”
“-Command standing by.”
The clock pointed to four fifty-eight.
“-Operation commence. Repeat, operation commence.”
The signal came through the radio.
Three black buses turned on their headlights and charged toward the BioSynergy main gate.
Screech!
With the harsh screech of tires, three black buses blocked the front of the main gate.
The moment the doors opened, fifty armed riot police poured out and formed a barricade.
At the same time, searchlights on the special vehicles blazed to life, illuminating the pitch-black research institute main gate like broad daylight.
“This is the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office! We are executing a raid and search warrant issued by the court! Open the door!”
The loudspeaker tore through the dawn air.
The darkened first-floor security room lit up hastily. Two flustered guards rushed out and stood before the intercom. A prosecution investigator shoved the warrant in front of a camera.
“This is a raid and search warrant and emergency arrest warrant for BioSynergy Korea! Open immediately! Refusal will be considered obstruction of official duties!”
A guard grabbed the intercom with a trembling voice.
“W-wait! I’m contacting them now! We need approval from above...”
“No approval is needed! You have thirty seconds. After thirty seconds of non-compliance, we will force entry!”
At the investigator’s signal, riot police officers holding a battering ram and cutters deployed forward. Heavy metallic sounds rang out threateningly.
Then, a radio transmission came through the field commander’s earpiece.
“-This is Command. They’re stalling. Don’t waver, keep up the pressure. Breaching in ten seconds.”
“Roger. All personnel, prepare for entry.”
“Ten seconds! Nine, eight...”
At the instant the countdown was beginning.
The firmly closed automatic door of the main building slowly opened.
The tense gazes of the riot police officers focused on the gap in the door. They had expected armed troops or hired thugs to spring out.
But the person who walked out was entirely unexpected.
A man in a neat suit, tie and all.
He was impeccably composed, as if a dawn raid at five in the morning were nothing out of the ordinary. He did not blink a single eye as he slowly walked out before dozens of searchlights.
“-Target confirmed. Who is it?”
An investigator raised his hand to stop him.
“Stop! Identify yourself!”
The man stopped with a faint smile.
“We have quite a few guests at this hour.”
He opened his mouth leisurely.
“I am Han Seok-hun, CEO of BioSynergy.”