CODENAME: ANASTASIA

What he offered was an invitation card. A party was held in the Kremlin to commemorate the signing of an agreement between Russia and Japan. The Japanese delegation and Russian figures from different social classes were scheduled to attend. Kwon Taek Joo also planned to infiltrate it as Hiro Sakamoto, but the whole plan failed due to the previous surprise terrorist attack.

However, the date written on the invitation card is different from what he knew before. It seems that the schedule was changed due to an unpleasant incident at the hotel where the Japanese delegation was staying. Inspections, search and security will also be enhanced by more than one level.

How to get into it here. While Kwon Taek Joo was still thinking, Zhenya took back the invitation card he was looking at.

"This is just the surface. The real party will be held later."

"A real party?"

"Not far from the Kremlin is the Bogdanov family residence. They are the real representatives of Gazprom. The second son has a close relationship with the President. I heard that after a national-class event, a dinner party would be held shortly thereafter at their mansion. Even those who are not invited to the Kremlin will still come to the party there. The tycoons of the underworld or the big hands that control Russia's cash flow are all real guests of honour. They are people who will do anything to make money, so they are also quite a useful source of information. If you meet them, you don't know if you'll get some clue about 'Anastasia'."

"Could it be that Bogdanov is the Bogdanov I know?"

"Would it not?"

"Do they still organise such a party even though their bloodline has just died?"

Kwon Taek Joo can't understand. By this time, Psych Bogdanov's body had already been found. Even if it is a national event, is it possible to organise it at home?

"Do you really think he's dead?"

"Isn't that so?"

"It's a pity. I heard the news and found that only two bodies were found in that river."

No wonder. It's so easy to kill him, Kwon Taek Joo has been warned many times about him, isn't it? But it is true that he was unconscious and bleeding a lot from the gunshot wound, so it would be difficult to save him. Moreover, the river water is so cold that the riverbank freezes and quickly lowers the body temperature. Surviving in such harsh conditions, as you have heard, he is not an ordinary guy. The survival of Psych Bogdanov means that he can become his target at any time. Kwon Taek Joo felt uncomfortable but he tried to put it aside.

"How do I make sure I get Anastasia's clues there?"

Zhenya immediately gave Kwon Taek Joo something, as if he knew he was going to ask that question. It's an envelope with documents folded in half. He grabbed it and checked the content. Inside is a copy of an old article and a series of identities unknown to who. The list lists dozens of Russian and Korean names.

Kwon Taek Joo looked at the names written while looking at the copy of the article. On each article there is a certain date in the past, who and how they faced death. But how did the names of the deceased seem familiar to Kwon Taek Joo?

He checked the list with a sceptical expression. Soon both of his eyes widened, because most of the names listed on that list matched the names of the deceased people listed in the article. Zhenya explains why.

"These are the people who were involved in the development of Anastasia. They are all dead now."

'How did they die?"

"Let's see, why are they die?"

Zhenya raised the corner of his mouth and asked again. He had a sarcastic face as if teasing a child who didn't know anything. Kwon Taek Joo had a vague thought, but he still couldn't make a hasty conclusion. The intertwined doubts kept hindering his flow of thought. Kwon Taek Joo kicked Zhenya's shoes, urging him to answer quickly. Zhenya only opened his mouth after enjoying Kwon Taek Joo's impatience for a while longer.

"Anastasia is a lethal weapon with unprecedented destructive power. There are many things that are hidden. Everyone talks about Anastasia, but in reality there are many cases where they don't even know what kind of weapon it is. Although they don't know what it is, they are still vaguely afraid. No, because I don't know, I'm afraid. Perhaps not-having-something-to-be-revealed is Anastasia's true power. But once the development is complete, the story will change. The study participants will disperse, and one of them may spread rumours about Anastasia's true identity and principles. This shouldn't happen, should it? Because Anastasia must become an unprecedented fear now and in the future."

Kwon Taek Joo frowned. Even if he didn't hear it to the end, he still felt like he knew the relationship between 'Anastasia' and the other list. Zhenya nodded affirmatively.

"All have been purged, so that such weapons can never be developed again."

Kwon Taek Joo was speechless for a moment. They were not murdered for stealing confidential information or counterintelligence. They were simply removed in advance so that they could not try to do such a thing.

Kwon Taek Joo looked down at the list in shock again. Then he realised the strange point and objected.

"But...!"

"Yes, in the meantime there are still survivors."

Members of the Bogdanov clan also appear on the list. But they are still healthy. With most of the participants in the development of 'Anastasia' facing death, how do they explain their survival? Kwon Taek Joo continued to deduce and then looked at Zhenya with a face as if he had just been hit. A contented smile spread across Zhenya's lips.

The Bogdanov family is clearly involved in the study of 'Anastasia'. But for most of the people involved who are dead, they are the only ones alive. Isn't that proof that they were the ones who eliminated the researchers? To absolutely own this weapon, and so that nothing like it can be born again.

Zhenya looked at Kwon Taek Joo's somewhat serious face.

"What do you think? Do you feel like having a little fun now?"

"It's a tiger cave. I'll jump in there when my hand is okay."

Kwon Taek Joo shook his head lamenting. If the information Zhenya explores is correct, there is a high probability that the Bogdanov family will know Anastasia's whereabouts. The problem is in his own situation. Tomorrow night, the party will be held. Even if he contacted the headquarters through Zhenya, it was difficult to get material support within a day. But he also couldn't run into the tiger's cave with his bare hands.

"I don't think the headquarters is so well prepared."

Zhenya smiled and said "Stand up" After paying for food and leaving the store, a convertible parked in front of Kwon Taek Joo, the same sleek appearance as its owner. Zhenya pushed Kwon Taek Joo, who was standing blankly, collapsed in the passenger seat and quickly drove down the road.

About 30-40 minutes pass like that. High-rise buildings gradually disappear and people are also gradually sparse. What's wrong with this place? Kwon Taek Joo was looking around suspiciously when the car stopped.

"It's here."

Kwon Taek Joo obediently got off the car and kept watching the surroundings. No warehouses or garages were found. All that came into his sight was an abandoned building that was collapsing. First a shop with a bookstore sign. But it seems that it has been closed for a long time so there are no customers at all.

Kwon Taek Joo follows Zhenya, full of suspicion. The guy ahead pulled the shutter up and went inside. Kwon Taek Joo also continued to enter the building without a trace of light.

Zhenya opened another door inside and disappeared down the dark stairs. He chased without thinking and almost slipped and fell. At least you should tell people that there are stairs there, but he is not such a caring person. Kwon Taek Joo suppressed his discontent with Zhenya and continued to grope in the dark walking along the wall where he could not see even a centimetre in front of his eyes.

Finally his feet were laid on the flat floor. Although the vision is still dark, Kwon Taek Joo can feel the rising dust. Each movement is a dust that flies darkly, causing the tip of the nose to also itch.

But something a little strange. The basement of the bookstore often has stacks of old books, but here does not have that specific smell.

After a while, the light came on with a click.

"...?"

The light on the ceiling could distinguish the furniture but his vision was still dark. Kwon Taek Joo frowned slowly looking around. Soon he realised the cause of the discomfort he had felt all along. Large bookcases are located everywhere in the basement, but there are no books there. Only an old phone was in the middle of an empty bookshelf.

After all, why did he pull Kwon Taek Joo all the way here? Just as doubts and complaints were growing in him, Zhenya approached the phone. He took the stethoscope and slowly dialled the number. 3, 9, 1, 6, 5. When the dial was originally pulled to '5', returning to its original position, a mechanical beep sounded from somewhere.

After that, the empty bookshelves began to spin and make heavy noises. As a result, a lot of dust was blown away. When Kwon Taek Joo closed his itchy eyes and opened them, the old bookshelf also disappeared. A glossy steel cabinet instead. All types of guns, high-tech equipment and small bombs are lined up in storage cabinets.