The Blue Velvet Trap - Chapter 39

[That’s nice.]
[You know what’s even better? As soon as the operation ended, he kept his distance again. Whenever we run into each other in the Intelligence Bureau, he just smiles and passes by without asking if I’ve had coffee or anything.]
[Sigh, I wish I could work so cleanly with a senior like that……]

To this, Iliana let out a small cheer while covering her mouth.

[Can’t you work cleanly with the Lieutenant Colonel? Oh my, oh my. Well, his love for his wife is so intense.]

Cedine envied Iliana for having a partner who knew how to maintain boundaries. Would she ever be able to go on a mission with another man in this life? It might be better to accept her fate as Lady Wintermore rather than unnecessarily troubling some innocent male agent.

Anyway, four months ago, Cedine entered the Kohlrov Research Institute in the Republic as Sophia Becker, a level 3 security researcher who had studied abroad. At first, it was difficult to adapt to the rigid atmosphere inside the institute. Everyone seemed reluctant to talk to Cedine.

However, as time passed, it turned out that this place was just like any other workplace. Everyone had the worst expressions on Monday mornings, and by the time they left work on Thursdays, their expressions loosened with anticipation for the weekend.

As people became more relaxed, they approached Cedine one by one. They asked and told Cedine where she lived before returning to her country, whether the men there were more hopeful than here, if they were handsome, which grocery store to go to for good quality potatoes, and so on.

From then on, Cedine focused on understanding the relationships among the insiders. Who was close to whom, which people were at odds with each other, whether any colleagues were close to level 1 security researchers, and so on.

Then, luckily, she actually got to see a text written in code.

There is a rule that says never to use the code except when writing documents. However, human affairs are not that simple. If you don’t do it at all just because you’re told not to, you’ll experience inconveniences in real life.

A man who had recently been promoted to a level 1 researcher was just such a case. The higher-ups told him to take his time learning, but every time he submitted a report, they complained about how long it still took.

He was anxious about having to learn the code quickly. The method he chose was to practice by translating song lyrics into code. The moment Cedine saw his practice notebook, she felt goosebumps all over her body.

At the top of the white paper was a folk song of this country that Cedine was familiar with, written in the language of this country, and at the bottom was the same song in code. On the next page, he had practiced with a different folk song. About a dozen songs that children of this country could hum hundreds of times at home even before entering school continued. The male researcher probably had a similar childhood.

Cedine once again felt that all places where people live are the same, in that he chose songs familiar to him as practice sentences.

Anyway, Cedine copied the contents of the male researcher’s practice notebook. She started analyzing the code right after work that day. While Cedine had entered the research lab, Ivlik was working as an armed guard, a position that only hired people with military backgrounds.

Then, the Wintermore couple received an order that there was a risk their identities would be exposed soon, so they should extract the confidential information and escape the research institute area within three days. The higher-ups ordered them to take an express train from the nearest station to move to the neighboring country as quickly as possible, and then change to a passenger ship to return to their home country.

Suddenly, the schedule became tight. Cedine and Ivlik spread out a map of the institute and planned their route. According to their plan, they had to leave the institute premises no later than 2:59 PM.

[But Ivlik, if we take out the confidential documents, won’t it reveal what we’re after?]

Moreover, it doesn’t make sense to leave carrying a thick bundle of documents. The institute conducts baggage checks every time people enter and leave. There are no exceptions even when going out for a short errand.

[I’ll interpret it on the spot and just memorize the results.]
[Will that be possible?]
[Your question is wrong, Ivlik. You shouldn’t ask if it’s possible, but how you can help to make it possible.]

Sweat began to form on her hand holding the pen. Cedine checked her wristwatch, which was set to run exactly the same as the clock in the institute director’s office. 9 minutes left. They need to get out of the building within that time. The tension, which was bearable when there were still 10 minutes left, suddenly surged.

‘Is Ivlik holding up well?’

They had agreed to signal Ivlik right after she left the confidential document room. She still needed a little more time. Just 2 more minutes, no, 3 more minutes.

‘It’s almost… done. So the Republic’s next plan is……’

Exactly 1 minute and 20 seconds later, Cedine put down her pen. Her heart felt like it was about to burst. She had carried out several operations before, but in terms of tension, this one seemed to be the highest. She quickly put the confidential documents back in their places. Before closing the huge safe door, she stepped back to check. From the outside, there was no sign at all of which documents had been touched by an intruder.

Cedine closed the safe door and looked at the clock. 6 minutes and 55 seconds left. Hurriedly leaving the archives, Cedine sent the agreed-upon signal. Now she and Ivlik just needed to exit the building about 2 minutes apart. What if Ivlik doesn’t come out when the time is up? That’s when it’s time to move to Plan B.

‘No need to worry in advance. First, I need to get out…’

It was when Cedine turned the corner of the corridor.

‘Damn it.’

Cedine cursed inwardly without realizing it. She had run into four armed guards. According to the information Ivlik provided, there shouldn’t have been any guards loitering in this corridor until 2:59 PM. In other words, these guys had left their posts.

They were just as startled. They probably didn’t expect to encounter a researcher while enjoying a brief moment of deviation in a workplace with particularly many regulations. Don’t miss the moment while they’re flustered with “Uh, uh.” Cedine pushed up her angular glasses and slightly bowed her head.

「Excuse me. I’ll just pass through.」

As she passed them, she inwardly begged over and over. Don’t stop me. Don’t stop me. We’ve witnessed each other’s misconduct, so we’re even, right? Should we just let her go? Surely she won’t tattle on our behavior. If she does, we won’t stay quiet either. Well, keep fumbling around saying such things. At least until I turn the next corner.

「Hey.」

They called out to Cedine from behind. Cedine pretended not to hear on purpose. Then, unbelievably, the sound of a gun being loaded was heard.

‘Are these crazy bastards trying to shoot a researcher dead in the corridor?’

Sophia Becker is a researcher brought in by the institute director under quite favorable conditions. She shouldn’t die from being shot by some lousy armed guard’s gun.

「I won’t call twice. Stop right there. Hands on your head and turn around slowly.」

Cedine gauged the distance to the next corner. If they shoot from behind, it’s still a problem even after turning the corner. The escape route shouldn’t be too noisy. Otherwise, the time spent earlier in the archives would be wasted. Ivlik’s efforts to buy time while getting hit would also be in vain.

Cedine had no choice but to follow the guard’s instructions. The one pointing the gun had an ugly expression. He was looking at Cedine with eyes full of suspicion. Meanwhile, the guard next to him was busy eyeing Cedine’s body hidden under the loose researcher’s gown.

「Against the wall.」

「What’s this about? This is unpleasant.」

「I said, against the wall.」

「I’m not deaf. Let’s just check my affiliation and go our separate ways, shall we?」