PTT - 53

After ensuring no one was around, he spoke in a low, controlled voice.

“You’ve had a long journey. Nox, and…?”

“Yeon.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kwon Seok-tae, stationed in Vladivostok. You can call me Zero for short.”

“Yes, Zero. Shall we go inside to discuss further?”

Si-heon, gripping the suitcase handle, opened the front door. Beyond the shoe rack lay a modest fifteen-pyeong space consisting of a single bedroom, living room, and bathroom.

Thud. As the door closed and Ra-on began massaging her stiff neck, she opened her mouth to speak when—

“Shh.”

Seok-tae placed a finger over his lips, signaling silence. He then continued speaking in an altered voice as he pulled out a black signal detector and began scanning the living room. The goal was to locate any potential wiretaps or hidden cameras. Si-heon and Ra-on quickly caught on, chiming in with casual responses while surveying their surroundings.

“You must have been through so much, Tae-hyuk. And your wife too—she must’ve suffered greatly. I couldn’t believe it when I saw him drunk-dialing for the first time ever. It made me wonder how tough things must’ve been.”

Seok-tae meticulously swept every corner of the house, including the bedroom and bathroom. Once satisfied, he exhaled deeply and approached the two agents. Thankfully, the detector remained silent—a crucial step for operatives who always operated under the assumption of surveillance. Dropping his cover as “Kwon Jung-hyun” and returning to being “Kwon Seok-tae,” he let out a heavy sigh.

“It seems safe. So… where should we begin?”

“The scale is larger than expected. And the fact that there are several more villages like this scattered across Russia…”

“That’s right, Yeon. Even I was shocked when I first arrived here. It appears open but is actually quite insular. Entry requires an introduction from current residents.”

Ra-on opened her suitcase, retrieving the concealed pistol inside. As NIS agents, they couldn’t board planes armed, so local operatives had supplied them with weapons near the airport. She tucked a small palm-sized revolver into her coat pocket.

Meanwhile, Si-heon sat on the sofa, engaging in earnest conversation with Seok-tae.

“We never imagined there’d be Korean enclaves outside our overseas team’s radar. Digging deeper revealed numerous red flags… but the most critical issue is their cohesion—it’s incredibly strong.”

“Cohesion?”

“Even those burdened by suffering find solace here, believing all their worries will vanish once they arrive. They call it ‘the power of positivity.’”

The keyword “infertile couple” now made sense. Si-heon nodded slowly, piecing it together. Listening to Jeong-suk and the villagers’ conversations earlier only deepened his unease. Instead of taking sick children to hospitals, they relied on “positive energy” throughout the night.

“It feels like a religious cult, yet it’s hard to classify it as such because… there’s no deity they worship. No blind devotion to anyone.”

“How does such a society form?”

“They do mention one person collectively—their equivalent of a cult leader. They refer to this individual as ‘the Pioneer.’”

The Pioneer. Something about the term struck a chord with Ra-on. A memory surfaced vividly, like a panoramic flashback:

〈I don’t believe in gods. Rather, I believe in human strength and hope. That person… yes, not a god, but more like a comrade. A pioneer who showed me the right path when I was lost and wandering.〉

〈Do you revere this person as a god?〉

〈Not at all. We don’t worship transcendent beings or await revelations. Nor do we blindly follow this trailblazer. We simply strive equally toward creating a better world.〉

The same word Gwak Seon-gi used during interrogation. If so, who exactly were these people following so devoutly? Sensing Ra-on’s unspoken question, Seok-tae spoke up.

“Based on my investigation, the person they call the Pioneer is Mayor Bang Won-gyeol.”

“Mayor Bang Won-gyeol… of Seoul?”

“That’s correct. Though direct connections are few, it seems Mayor Bang oversees and funds this Cheonji Village.”

At the mention of Bang Won-gyeol, Si-heon’s expression hardened instantly. Noticing the shift, Ra-on blinked and asked cautiously:

“Does this ring a bell, Team Leader?”

“…No. Don’t worry about it. So, Zero. Are you saying Mayor Bang instructed Gwak Seon-gi to carry out the attack?”

“Possibly. But we need to dig deeper to confirm. Information here is hard to come by.”

Unbuttoning the top button of his shirt in frustration, Seok-tae lowered his voice as he scanned the area.

“The key point is that these people practice self-sufficiency. Over half work outside the village, but they donate all their earnings to a communal fund.”

“All of it?”

“Every penny. Whether Russian currency or money sent by relatives in Korea—it all goes into the central fund box at the village management office.”

“…Is that even feasible? How do they live without money?”

In a capitalist society, such practices seemed implausible. Seok-tae nodded, understanding Ra-on’s skepticism.

“That’s why they emphasize self-sufficiency. Tomorrow, when you tour the village, you’ll see they grow their own crops. The food is distributed equally among residents without monetary transactions. Their motto is unity—they function as one body.”

“Wow… impressive.”

“They believe in eliminating conflict and inequality, achieving happiness together. Most came here after enduring hardships, and through subtle gaslighting, their ideologies shifted. Messages like ‘You’ll be happier together’ and ‘Collective strength overcomes pain’ echo endlessly—I’ve heard them so often my ears hurt.”

Si-heon stroked his chin thoughtfully, his sharp gaze turning toward the window. His suspicions crystallized into rational doubt.

“We need to investigate where the pooled funds end up.”

Likely funneling into Mayor Bang Won-gyeol’s pockets—or perhaps Min Young-nam’s. Could Cheonsung-won, who bore the same tattoo as Gwak Seon-gi, have laundered money to enrich Bang Won-gyeol? Si-heon grabbed a tissue from the coffee table and sketched something with a pen retrieved from his pocket—a specialized tool equipped with recording capabilities.

“Have you seen anyone here with a tattoo like this?”

Drawing the symbol found on Gwak Seon-gi’s body, Si-heon waited. Seok-tae frowned, shaking his head uncertainly.

“If they share common tattoos, they’re likely hidden in inconspicuous places. I haven’t reached that level of access yet, but I’ll check later.”

“…Good. If anything arises, contact us immediately via the secondary phone, Zero. Yeon and I plan to scout the area starting tonight.”

“Thank you for your efforts, Zero.”

“Yes. Wishing you both good luck. See you tomorrow.”

After seeing Seok-tae off, the two exchanged glances. Beneath its serene facade, this village harbored secrets they needed to uncover. Outside, the tranquil darkness enveloped the neighborhood, growing denser with each passing moment.