Chapter 235.1

Chapter 235.1

Chirp, chirp! 

Seoryeong woke from a light sleep to the loud chirping of birds early in the morning. With a disheveled face, she wrapped a white blanket around her bare body and waddled out like a penguin.

She had returned to their first honeymoon villa a few months ago. The two had spent quite a long time on their honeymoon, hopping between vacation spots, and only returned to Korea when they had grown tired of foreign food.

The house, remodeled in a neat wood tone, was so different from the burnt-out past that it still amazed her, and it made her heart flutter every time she saw it.

As she habitually pulled up the living room blinds, pink cherry blossom trees surged in like waves.

“Spring really is here.”

At that moment, the door lock beeped. Seoryeong, stumbling with the cumbersome blanket, dashed toward the inner door.

Finally, the person she had been waiting for opened the front door and walked in.

“Why are you up so early?”

He was holding a paper bag, possibly from shopping since early morning. The bag was overflowing with green onions, a baguette, and a delicious-looking red apple.

Lifting the hem of the blanket like a skirt, Seoryeong leaned forward, and immediately, kisses showered down on her.

Lee Wooshin, covering her bare, rounded shoulder with the blanket, gave her a playful tap on the backside.

“Go back and sleep some more.”

She yawned, glaring at her husband as if irritated. Lee Wooshin, oblivious to the apple that had fallen, kissed her lips forcefully before releasing her. With a sly smile, he walked into the kitchen, and Seoryeong always felt helpless in front of him.

She groaned, stretching her stiff body against the mattress. As she stared intensely at Lee Wooshin, who was organizing the refrigerator, she reached her hand toward the headboard.

Her fingers brushed against something small, like a marble. Inserting the clear in-ear device into one ear, a red signal flickered, as if it had been waiting for her.

As soon as the communication connected, a voice she had grown too familiar with filled her ears.

—Hello!

In fact, since her husband had left the National Intelligence Service, she had been receiving love calls from Na Wonchang.

It made sense, considering that if you needed to live with a hidden identity, wouldn’t it be best to have a profession designed to erase your existence in the first place?

Moreover, as a Black Ops agent, like Lee Wooshin, she was perfect for hiding identities.

Coincidentally, when the invasion of Ukraine began, the NIS was recruiting new overseas agents who spoke Russian, and Seoryeong had officially received an offer to be scouted.

During their honeymoon, she had secretly communicated with Na Wonchang several times, her nerves frayed, but in the end, only the final test remained.

—I’m Na Wonchang, the veteran backup who’ll be escorting the trainee agent for the time being! To think I’d meet my previous boss’ spouse, or rather, an agent, at the same workplace, this is an honor for my family!

His energetic voice buzzed in her ear.

—For confidential information, my previous boss was incredibly difficult, rude, and would tear you down for the slightest mistake!

Seoryeong blinked in surprise.

—Right now, I’m so happy, I could die without regrets! I think this is what they call a ‘success story’! If the volume bothers you, or if you have a favorite voice, just let me know. I can adjust everything for you!

“…”

Seoryeong pressed her lips with her tongue. She felt like it was more uncomfortable for him than for her… but what could she do?

She scratched her chin while glancing sideways at her husband, chopping onions. She also felt strangely like she had stolen one of Lee Wooshin’s subordinates, as if she had taken him for herself.

—The reason Agent Seoryeong is being urgently dispatched to the field is because of the missing Ukrainian children who were kidnapped in Russia! Even though allied countries are sharing information, it’s still woefully insufficient, and everyone’s fighting over it.

Na Wonchang began complaining.

—Moreover, there have been recent revelations that the Russian military has been kidnapping children and selling them to pornographic filmmakers.

Her face froze.

—Right now, Russia is attempting to indoctrinate Ukrainian children. The Russian government is leading the kidnappings and adoptions. You’ve checked the materials I sent, right?

“Yes.”

She barely managed to swallow her trembling voice.

Coincidentally, due to changes in Russian law that simplified adoption procedures, the number of Ukrainian children being abducted had exceeded ten thousand.

Of those, fewer than four hundred had returned alive. Every time Seoryeong reviewed the documents, her childhood memories surfaced, and she clenched her fists.

—By the way, Agent Seoryeong, have you decided on a codename?

At that, Seoryeong’s gaze landed on Lee Wooshin.

After quickly slicing an onion, Lee Wooshin began sautéing it in a frying pan. A red signal flickered in his ear as well. The tiny in-ear device he had tucked deep into his ear was also glowing.

—Ki Taemin and Jin Hojae have already moved to the Gaza Strip in Palestine. They’ve delivered emergency supplies to Al-Quds Hospital, and starting today, they’ll begin child patient protection and security duty.

Lee Wooshin glanced briefly at the closed bedroom before continuing.

“Got it. Keep me updated.”