Free Web NovelAn unprecedented situation occurred in the United States, the superpower—an airplane crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in the very heart of New York, the center of global finance.
For now, everyone might still be mistaking it for an accident.
Perhaps President Bush thought so as well; he didn’t leave the inauguration venue immediately.
“...Let’s go to the hotel first.”
I barely pulled myself together and stood up again as I spoke. Tonight’s inaugural celebration party will be canceled.
The light sleet that had been falling began turning into heavy, thick snow.
On the way back to the hotel in the limousine, there was no conversation at all; everyone in the car was holding their breath.
“Boss.”
Manager Ma broke the silence and carefully called me.
“It’s a call from Grandmother in Busan.”
Why would Grandmother call? I quickly answered.
— Oh dear, Muhyuk.
“Yeah, Grandma. What? Did something happen?”
Her voice over the receiver was full of worry—so much that it felt anxious.
— Are you all right? The TV says America is in an uproar...
“I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong here.”
— Ah, really? Thank goodness. Huh? Oh, oh... Oh my!
She let out a sigh of relief—and then suddenly cried out in surprise. Alarmed, I asked quickly.
“Grandma? What’s wrong? What happened?”
— Oh dear, what do we do... What can we do, Muhyuk.
“What is it, what happened?”
— Another airplane crashed into the building.
So the other tower of the Twin Towers must have been hit. The images were probably being broadcast live around the world...
“I’m fine, so please don’t worry too much.”
— All right, I just called because I was worried about you. Sorry to bother you when you’re busy. Go on with your work.
After reassuring her that I was safe, I briefly told Grandmother how things were and ended the call.
Handing the phone back to Manager Ma, I spoke to Eric and Han Kyungyeong.
“Another plane crashed into the other tower. It seems it’s being broadcast live around the world.”
“What?”
Eric’s face went ashen. Han Kyungyeong also looked startled, though less than Eric.
“I don’t think this is the end.”
“What do you mean?”
Eric’s voice trembled. Being American himself, he probably couldn’t bring himself to think that America was under attack.
“This isn’t a simple plane accident. This is only the beginning.”
“Boss, do you know something?”
In truth I did, but I couldn’t say it. I shook my head slightly.
“No, it’s conjecture. But think it through. On the very day a new president is inaugurated, two airplanes crash into the Twin Towers—the symbol of New York. And this is the United States, where air-traffic control systems are among the best in the world. Do you really think that’s a coincidence?”
I didn’t know why they had carried out the terror eight months early, but their objective was clear.
It was to instill fear that even the U.S. mainland could be attacked at any time.
But it was the wrong choice. The United States will never yield.
The War on Terror—the opening salvo announcing the start of a war that would not end even by the time I died.
“Then...”
“Someone launched an attack in the middle of America. They hijacked civilian airliners.”
“No way! Who would dare? There isn’t a single country that can challenge the United States.”
That was a very American answer. Eric’s voice, brimming with pride, was thick with anger.
It was the reaction I expected, and I smiled faintly.
“I didn’t say it was a country.”
“Pardon?”
“It seems a new era is opening.”
I spoke obliquely, knowing the two wouldn’t understand. There were many layers of meaning in it, but they wouldn’t grasp them now.
We soon arrived at the reserved hotel and turned on the TV.
Live on air, the Twin Towers collapsed.
“Uh... uh...?”
Han Kyungyeong’s jaw dropped. A skyscraper fell in an instant.
Even the anchors on TV, stunned by the unbelievable scene, forgot their role and stared speechlessly at the screen.
Only shock and silence filled the room.
“Now, let’s discuss countermeasures.”
I clapped lightly to clear the air.
“Hyung, send everyone in the New York office on leave. Only have the managers come in; all the other traders get time off.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“I’m saying send them all on leave so they don’t hang around and do anything foolish.”
With his face full of questions, Han Kyungyeong asked again, frustrated.
“Why are you acting like this since earlier? Opportunities like this don’t come twice, you know? There’s been a plane accident in the middle of New York. The stock and bond markets will definitely convulse, and that’s the time to make money. Of course there’s risk, but...”
What he said was correct. It was a chance to make a lot of money.
But once it was revealed to be terrorism and the authorities launched a massive investigation into the forces behind it, scrutiny would begin on investors who profited from the stock market during the event.
Those targeted had not only their accounts, but their private lives torn apart and examined.
“Hyung, not this time. This is an attack on the United States. Don’t take it lightly.”
“Then explain it. I need to be convinced. Since when have we ever watched our step to invest?”
True. All this time—the U.S., Japan, Russia... we never watched anyone’s face; we moved only for the money.
It was understandable he couldn’t accept it.
“If this is revealed as an attack on the United States, they’ll conduct a thorough probe into anyone who profited from it. No matter how cleanly we laundered things, we’re not exactly above reproach. Don’t scratch at this and make it fester.”
“The U.S. administration already turned our company inside out. They still found nothing.”
“No, not this time. That’s the problem. They’ll go beyond that level—wiretaps, surveillance... They won’t hesitate to cross legal lines. And when it becomes controversial, they’ll say this: ‘Security takes precedence over freedom.’”
Both Han Kyungyeong and Eric looked doubtful. Whether they believed it or not, it would happen.
Instead of trying to persuade them again, I spoke firmly.
“It will happen. This isn’t something to gloss over. Brace yourselves. Anyway, call right now and send everyone on leave, hyung. Tell the managers to be on emergency standby.”
Reluctantly nodding, Han Kyungyeong picked up the phone and went into another room.
“Eric, what do you think?”
“About what, Boss?”
“If this is terror, who’s behind it?”
Eric groaned as if in pain, sorted his thoughts for a long moment, then answered.
“Russia, or Iran, or perhaps North Korea.”
“Would they directly attack the United States unless they went insane? No country can win a war against America right now.”
“But I can’t think of anyone else. If a state did something of this scale...”
Eric chewed his lip in thought, then shook his head. I patted his shoulder lightly and continued.
“As I said before—what if it isn’t a state?”
“Sir? You mean a force that isn’t even a country would carry out terror against America? Impossible. I can’t even imagine a mere terrorist organization threatening the United States.”
His thinking matched that of the U.S. government, intelligence agencies, and military brass.
Because their minds were rigid, there had been many harbingers, yet they waved them off without thought.
That’s how this catastrophe happened.
“Reports from Congress and the administration have been sent to the White House several times recently. The core of those reports was that vulnerabilities in U.S. aviation security needed to be addressed and security strengthened. But the White House focused on the Kosovo situation. You were there on the ground, Eric—you know.”
Every American eye was fixed on the Kosovo war.
The Clinton administration had already identified al-Qaeda as a terror organization and planned the assassination of Osama bin Laden.
But for this to happen on the very day of a transition of power—it was obvious the confusion would be far worse than before.
It was clear someone had intervened...
“That may be so, but...”
“Eric, an Islamic terror organization could be the culprit.”
“But they...”
“You remember the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, right?”
That was the first case where al-Qaeda terrorized the United States—or rather, the first attack on the U.S. mainland by an Islamic terror group.
“The Kenya U.S. embassy bombings, and last year’s attack on a U.S. Navy destroyer. Do you still think they can’t pull off terror?”
Ironically, the forerunners of these Islamic terror groups were the rebel guerrillas who fought the Soviets in the Soviet–Afghan War.
They received funds and weapons from the United States during the Cold War to resist the Soviets. But even after the Soviets withdrew, their momentum didn’t wane.
After a long civil war, a group called the Taliban became the ruling power in Afghanistan.
Taliban, al-Qaeda, and the other armed groups alike had grown with American support.
All of that eventually boomeranged back to the United States.
“Terror organizations have grown more and more audacious. First it was the World Trade Center, the symbol of global capitalism and democracy; next it was U.S. embassies; and then, a U.S. warship. Yet no one paid them any mind.”
“There’s no way those people could do this...”
Eric denied it to the end. A soldier to the bone, he refused to acknowledge terror groups.
“Look. Over there.”
I pointed at the TV. Only then did Eric turn his gaze to the screen.
A news caption crawled by: “Collision at the Pentagon.”
“Do you see it? The center of American security—the Pentagon, the Department of Defense—was also struck by a plane. Does it feel real now?”
Eric’s eyes quivered. For a soldier, the Department of Defense was sacred ground.
The Pentagon, never once directly attacked by an external force—
It had been attacked.
“Eric, do you get a sense now of what you have to do? Remember, you’re not an American soldier—you’re the power behind Black Bear. So, what happens next?”
I asked with a smile. Seeing the chill in that smile, Eric flinched.
“Let’s keep it simple. America was attacked, and it will hunt down the culprits and tear them to shreds. It needs a target for vengeance.” fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
“Yes, that’s right. America won’t just sit and take it.”
“President Bush and the White House must have realized by now this wasn’t an accident. Then, Eric, what’s your move?”
“I should cooperate with the U.S. administration and prepare for war.”
“This is an opportunity. A golden chance to raise Black Bear’s price and bulk.”
It might be a cruel, cold-blooded judgment.
But I wasn’t an American politician—just an investor. So I needed only to pursue my own interests. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
As long as my interests didn’t run counter to America’s national interest, the administration wouldn’t bother to block me.
“If a war breaks out, accept the U.S. government’s contracts without fail. In return, securing operating permits for various new weapons is essential.”
“Understood.”
“I know you’re patriotic, Eric. But for someone running a business, devotion to the company comes before patriotism. I trust you—that’s why you’re in that seat. You understand what I’m saying, Eric?”
He nodded with resolute eyes. Only then could I feel relieved.
“Of course, all of this is hypothetical. But with the Pentagon attacked, I doubt this will pass quietly.”
The TV showed the World Trade Center and the Pentagon simultaneously.
Just then, Han Kyungyeong finished his call and came back out.
“What the... What’s going on ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) there now?”
Seeing the Pentagon burning, he was aghast. I lightly tapped his dropped jaw and asked,
“Did you give the order?”
“Yeah, everyone’s on leave except the managers. They’re all leaving New York.”
“Good.”
Rubbing his chin without taking his eyes off the screen, Han Kyungyeong muttered,
“Wow... We were going to move in there too, but you told me not to and to just buy a building. Did you know this would happen?”
“Am I a god? Stop spouting nonsense and sit down.”
He sat without another word. On TV, the anchor reported the situation with a trembling voice.
“So what’s going on there now?”
“Another plane crashed into the Pentagon. You can roughly grasp the situation now, right?”
But this wasn’t the end.
It should have ended here, but an even bigger blow was waiting.
