Around then, a corpulent Russian man approached the group, accompanied by a servant. It was Sergey Ilyich, a distant relative of Vissarion—the one who held the real power in the Bogdanov family. He had once served in the Duma,[7] but that was a faded glory of his past. Rumors about him spread, leading to his unofficial removal from Russian politics. After that, Sergey came here essentially to disappear from sight. It was said to be the period when Sergey transitioned from a world of lawful power and influence to one hidden in the shadows of the underworld.
His weathered estate, rooted in the Siberian soil, seemed to mirror the state of its owner. Taekjoo could see why the Bogdanovs had hidden their precious SS-29 here. No one would suspect that the most powerful family in all of Russia had trusted something as important as the SS-29 to a distant relative in such a remote land.
Sergey Ilyich stood with both hands resting on his walking staff. He was quite heavy, but there was nothing wrong with his legs. The staff, adorned with a large stone, was nothing more than an accessory. He stopped in the middle of the staircase and looked down at Taekjoo from above. Kwon Taekjoo calmly returned the gaze. Their eyes met—silent, calculating, each trying to read the other’s intent.
Sergey soon curved his lips into a sly smile.
“What brings you here, gentlemen?”
“I got my hands on something useful. Thought you might want to have a look.”
It was Zhenya who answered. Sergey’s eyes left Taekjoo and set on Zhenya.
“Something useful?”
“Why don’t we head inside and take our time? It’s too valuable to discuss—or reveal—out here.”
“Well, the mansion is quite a mess at the moment...”
Sergey stalled with a half-hearted excuse. Zhenya reassured him in a confident tone.
“I am sure you’ll like it.”
It was the kind of voice that inspired trust in anyone. That must be why they call him the Dealer. Taekjoo sensed both certainty and confidence from Zhenya, along with a cold edge that hinted this might be the first and last opportunity to see the product. Sergey’s expression suddenly turned serious.
It was no surprise he couldn’t make the call right away. He currently had Hong Yeowook as his guest, and SS-29 was also hidden right here in his mansion. Taking in guests meant risking a leak—or worse—that could put him in a difficult position. But he couldn’t simply turn Zhenya away without seeing what he had brought.
Sergey offered a hesitant smile. His gaze flicked between Taekjoo and Zhenya. Then, he nodded, having arrived at his decision. When Sergey turned around and went up the stairs, the guards let go of his two new guests. Taekjoo smoothed his wrinkled jacket and followed after Zhenya. They successfully piqued Sergey’s curiosity. It was a good start.
The two were led to Sergey’s personal study. Seated at the center, he was the first to extend a hand.
“It’s been a while.”
Zhenya gave a slight nod and accepted the handshake. Sergey turned to Taekjoo, silently requesting an introduction.
“He’s with Korean intelligence. This is...”
“Lim Daehyung.”
Taekjoo extended his hand first. He didn’t mind stealing Mr. Lim’s identity in the slightest. The man was safe and sound back in Korea, and using his name here wouldn’t cause him any trouble. He might suffer a few headaches from how the mission was unfolding, but that was the price for dragging Taekjoo into this mess.
Sergey took Taekjoo’s hand with enthusiasm.
“I see. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Each of his thick fingers bore a ring. If anyone ever lamented having only ten fingers, it would be this man. As Taekjoo pulled his hand back from the handshake, Sergey’s fingers lingered just a moment too long. Taekjoo flinched before he could even stop himself. Zhenya grinned silently. He had definitely seen the whole thing.
“I don’t have much time. Let’s get to the point. You’re here to show me something, aren’t you?”
Sergey got straight to the point, and so did Zhenya. He launched into his prepared pitch, detailing the product.
“It’s not widely known in the industry yet, but a software program has been developed through collaboration between the US and South Korea. The two countries recognized early on the value of information and wasted no time devising a way to spy on their enemies. With this software, you don’t need to send an agent or struggle to penetrate high-level cybersecurity. Though it’s a hacking tool, it leaves no trace behind. You don’t need physical contact with your target, nor do you expose yourself to any risk. All you need to do is access the phone of anyone your target knows. Once that person calls, texts, or emails the target, the software spreads autonomously. It grants real-time access to entering or leaving the target’s device—without them ever knowing their data is being leaked. So, what do you think? Fascinating, isn’t it?”
“Hmm. Sounds like something you’d see in a spy movie.”
“Well, now it’s reality.”
Zhenya pulled out his phone. Skeptical, Sergey took it slowly from his hand. The first thing he checked was the inbox. He scrolled through thousands of messages, his face twitching now and then. He was smiling—and yet, he wasn’t. It was a strange, unsettling expression. What must it feel like to see their own private messages on a complete stranger’s phone?
Sergey set the phone down and rubbed his hands together with a glint of anticipation in his eyes.
“My, my... I just can’t decide.”
“No need to decide right away. We have a day to wait for your decision.”
A day to think. Sergey gave Zhenya a charged look, then smirked. He still appeared lost in thought, tapping his forehead. His gaze shifted between Taekjoo and Zhenya, as if weighing his options. He wanted the product badly, but it was suspicious that Zhenya had brought something so valuable to him.
Sergey deliberated for a while, then finally nodded.
“Alright. Let me think before making my decision. I’m sure it will cost me an arm and a leg, but it’s just too tempting to pass up. In the meantime, would you do me the honor of staying as my guests?”
It would take at least a day for the SS-29 party to arrive, and Sergey only had to decide before they came. If he truly wanted the product, he would take it. But if suspicion lingered, he could always send the two salesmen packing. He simply had to ensure the SS-29 remained hidden from them.
In other words, Taekjoo had to locate the SS-29 before Sergey made up his mind.
Taekjoo smiled as he accepted Sergey’s offer.
“Of course.”