PTT - 52

March 21, 19:00. Ra-on and Si-heon boarded a flight to Vladivostok. To reach the village where Gwak Seon-gi had lived, they would need to take another small plane and then drive for two more hours.

The village was quite far from the city center and seemed relatively unknown. After a grueling twenty-hour journey, the neighborhood they arrived at appeared brighter and more charming than the photos suggested.

“Yeon-ah, what about the mango?”

“It’s safely packed in the carry-on.”

A strange conversation to outsiders, but within Special Team 4, “mango” was code for a pistol. Understanding his meaning, Si-heon nodded slightly and intertwined his fingers with Ra-on’s.

Their assigned roles were a married couple struggling after three childless years. Kim Ji-yeon, a 29-year-old housewife, and Han Tae-hyuk, a 31-year-old accountant. For such infiltration missions, chemistry between partners and a well-crafted backstory were crucial. They meticulously coordinated their pasts and peculiarities to avoid inconsistencies. Ra-on was tasked with portraying a wife desperate for a child.

Adjusting his horn-rimmed glasses, Si-heon recalled a story shared by an overseas agent two days prior. Kwon Seok-tae, who had infiltrated the area ten days earlier under the alias Kwon Jung-hyun, described the village as deceptively ordinary yet unsettling.

Each carrying a suitcase, they stood at the village entrance when a middle-aged woman approached with Seok-tae. Fixing his gaze ahead, Si-heon whispered softly, moving only his lips:

“Let’s do this well, Yeon-ah.”

“…Yes.”

The fifty-something woman hurried over and warmly clasped Ra-on’s hands.

“You must be exhausted from the journey. I heard everything from Jung-hyun. You’re Ji-yeon, right? And this is…”

“Han Tae-hyuk. Jung-hyun, it’s been so long! You look great. What happened to your face? You’ve gotten so thin—weren’t you the guy who used to eat cafeteria meals three times back in the day? Anyway, it’s good to see you here. Oh! Sister-in-law, nice to meet you. I was worried no one would snatch our Tae-hyuk away, but look at this beautiful wife he’s brought home.”

Seok-tae and Si-heon embraced like old friends despite meeting for the first time. Their acting was so natural that either could have won Best Actor on the spot. Ra-on, playing the role of an innocent housewife, shyly smiled.

“I’ve heard so much about you from my husband. Thank you for introducing us to this place… Truly grateful. Ah, how should I address you?”

“Oh, no need for formalities. I’m Kim Jeong-suk. Just call me Auntie Jeong-suk. Everyone here refers to each other as aunties, uncles, or siblings. Welcome to Cheonji Village, Ji-yeon and Tae-hyuk. We hope you settle in well. Jeong-suk and I will give you a tour of the village.”

“Yes, thank you. Um, honey, can you help me with the luggage…?”

“Oh! Let me take care of that. Gotta earn some points with my sister-in-law.”

With a friendly grin, Seok-tae grabbed the handle of her suitcase. Ra-on bowed slightly in gratitude and stood close to Jeong-suk. At that moment, a large stone engraved with Chinese characters caught her eye.

“Auntie Jeong-suk… What is this rock?”

“Oh, I forgot to explain. It’s ‘Cheonji.’ Simple characters, right? It’s the name of our village—Cheonji Village. It symbolizes living harmoniously between heaven and earth.”

The characters for “heaven” (천) and “earth” (지) were engraved deeply into the stone. Walking behind them, Si-heon slowly raised an eyebrow. His instincts sensed something amiss. He briefly exchanged glances with Seok-tae, who gave a subtle nod.

“How many people live in this village?”

“Hmm, around twenty-five hundred? But there are other Cheonji Villages in Moscow, the west, and the south. Altogether, we might have ten thousand people.”

“So there are multiple Korean villages?”

“Sort of. But they’re different from typical Korean enclaves. Our Cheonji Villages are interconnected through networks. Even if far apart, we consider everyone family.”

“Ah… How heartwarming.”

Though she didn’t feel it, Ra-on feigned admiration, scratching her cheek lightly with her fingertip.

“To be honest, I lost my parents when I was young and had no family until I met my husband. Hearing that everyone here feels like family… it warms my heart just thinking about it.”

“Oh dear, you poor thing. You must have gone through so much… Now that you’re here in Cheonji Village, leave your painful past behind and start anew. Think of me as your real auntie, okay?”

“…Yes, Auntie Jeong-suk. Thank you.”

“That’s right. Oh, Tae-hyuk. You said you’ll stay for about a month, correct?”

Jeong-suk, still holding Ra-on’s hands and tearing up, suddenly turned to ask. Si-heon nodded, pressing his brow thoughtfully.

“Yes, we’re planning to stay for about a month. Jung-hyun suggested staying longer, but I’m not sure if my clients can wait that long.”

“That’s true. Accountants are always busy. I understand completely. Stay for a month first, and if you find our village suits you, you can extend your stay. No need to feel pressured. Over there are our shops, and beyond lies vast farmland.”

As they entered the village center, people of all ages came into view—mothers strolling with strollers, elderly couples walking arm in arm. The scene bore little trace of Russia, making Ra-on wonder inwardly:

‘How did all these people end up here?’

It felt like a Korean countryside village transplanted abroad. Jeong-suk, seemingly influential, greeted most villagers warmly.

“Yes, Jiyul’s mom. I heard your baby was sick yesterday. Is he better now?”

“Yes, thankfully. His fever hit 39 degrees, but he recovered quickly. Maybe healthy energy reached him. Oh, but who are these folks?”

“Oh, I’ll introduce them tomorrow. This is Ji-yeon and Tae-hyuk, a married couple of three years. They’ll be staying in our village for about a month.”

“Nice to meet you. Whatever worries you have, they’ll soon disappear. Oh, I need to pick up my kid. See you later!”

A 30-something woman in a light coat greeted them warmly. Sensing something odd in the conversation between her and Jeong-suk, Ra-on responded with a quiet smile.

Jeong-suk continued chatting with various villagers. The more Ra-on listened, the stronger her suspicions grew.

After walking for thirty minutes, they finally entered a residential area. Hundreds of houses lined up in rows, almost identical in color and size, resembling mass-produced units. To Ra-on, accustomed to Korea’s high-rise buildings, the sight was unfamiliar.

Another 200 meters brought them to a small red-roofed house. Wiping sweat from her forehead, Jeong-suk pointed to a sign by the door.

“See this? 398-2. All the houses look similar, so remember this number. Below it, residents usually write their names, but it seems preparations aren’t complete yet. You must be tired from the long flight, so rest for now. We’ll talk more tomorrow—there’s so much to explain.”

“Thank you for welcoming us so warmly. See you tomorrow.”

“Thank you so much, Auntie. I think I’ll sleep well tonight thanks to you.”

“I’ll chat with Tae-hyuk for a bit. It’s been years since we last saw each other—about six, maybe?”

With a cheerful wave, Seok-tae bid farewell to Jeong-suk. Once she disappeared from sight, his smile vanished entirely.